Bassmaster Elite Series Event Earns North Carolina Main Street Award
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. announced that the Bassmaster Elite Series event held in Elizabeth City, N.C., was honored with a 2025 North Carolina Main Street Award for Best Downtown Special Event or Event Series. The award recognized the community's "Bassmaster Elite Series — Hooked on the Harbor" initiative, which centered around the 2025 Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound.
The award was presented March 11 during the North Carolina Main Street Awards Ceremony in New Bern by the North Carolina Department of Commerce. The annual awards program recognizes outstanding projects and initiatives that strengthen downtown districts through economic vitality, promotion, design and organization. Elizabeth City was one of 13 communities statewide recognized for excellence in downtown revitalization.
"We are honored that the Bassmaster Elite Series event helped earn this recognition for Elizabeth City," said B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson. "Our events are designed to showcase world-class bass fishing while creating meaningful economic impact for our host communities. Elizabeth City embraced the Bassmaster Elite Series, and this award reflects the tremendous partnership between local leaders, businesses, volunteers and B.A.S.S."
The 2025 Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound brought the sport's top professional anglers to northeastern North Carolina and drew fans to Elizabeth City's downtown waterfront district for daily weigh-ins and festivities.
The award-winning "Hooked on the Harbor" campaign highlighted the city's waterfront, downtown businesses and local attractions while leveraging the national exposure generated by the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series.
B.A.S.S. will return to Elizabeth City June 11-14 for the Maxam Tire Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River and Albemarle Sound. Daily takeoffs will be held at Waterfront Park, with afternoon weigh-ins and Bassmaster Outdoors Expo activities taking place in downtown Elizabeth City. The event will feature the world's best bass anglers competing on one of the nation's most unique fisheries while generating tourism and economic activity throughout the region.
"We look forward to returning to Elizabeth City in 2026," Anderson said. "The community's enthusiasm, hospitality and commitment to creating a memorable experience for anglers and fans make it an outstanding destination for the Bassmaster Elite Series."
For more information about the Bassmaster Elite Series, visit Bassmaster.com.
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
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, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, 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, Tackle Warehouse 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.
Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees Readies for MLF Bass Pro Tour Zenni Stage 6 Presented by Toyota
51 pro anglers to compete on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma, competition live all four days at MajorLeagueFishing.com
GROVE, Okla. (June 9, 2026) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour (BPT) will make its return to Grand Lake next week, June 18-21, as Zenni Stage 6 Presented by Toyota brings the league’s high-intensity, every-fish-counts format back to Oklahoma.
Hosted by the City of Grove and the Grove Convention and Tourism Bureau , t he four-day tournament will feature 51 of the world’s top professional anglers competing for a $125,000 top prize and their share of a $600,000 purse, along with valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for REDCREST 2027 – the Bass Pro Tour championship – and the Kubota Heavy Hitters all-star event. Competition will unfold under MLF’s catch, weigh, immediate-release format, where every bass over the 2-pound minimum counts and SCORETRACKER® – the MLF live leaderboard – keeps the pressure on throughout the day.
“We host many tournaments each year, but having the best of the best come to our city and lake is truly something special,” said Brent Malone, Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau Director. “It’s an incredible opportunity to showcase our amazing fishery and the natural beauty that makes Grove a top destination for anglers. We’re also super excited to show off our brand-new, 50,000-square-foot Expo Center located right in the heart of Wolf Creek Park. This state-of-the-art facility is a game changer for our community, and we can’t wait for everyone to experience it during this premier event.”
The field heading to Grand Lake brings together a blend of the Bass Pro Tour’s most accomplished veterans and current title contenders, led by reigning Bass Pro Tour Angler of the Year and REDCREST 2026 champion Jacob Wheeler and three-time REDCREST champion Dustin Connell. Proven winners and fan favorites like Edwin Evers, Ott DeFoe and Zack Birge continue to anchor the roster, while Grand Lake’s history adds another compelling layer to the competition. Oklahoma’s Birge enters the event as the most decorated Grand Lake winner in the field with two career victories on the fishery, while Bobby Lane and Mark Daniels Jr. each own notable tournament wins there as well.
While Grand Lake has hosted more than 120 MLF tournaments through the years, Zenni Stage 6 Presented by Toyota marks only the second time the Bass Pro Tour has visited the fishery. Grand Lake previously hosted the 2022 REDCREST championship, where Lane claimed the $300,000 top prize, and over half the field – 28 of the 51 pros competing next week – fished in that event. With SCORETRACKER® and the BPT’s catch, weigh and immediate-release format once again in play, pros will have the opportunity to revisit one of Oklahoma’s premier bass fisheries and see how it has evolved since REDCREST was last contested there.
Talala, Oklahoma, pro Edwin Evers said he believes Grand Lake is setting up to showcase its reputation as one of the nation's premier bass fisheries when the Bass Pro Tour arrives next week.
“Over the last 10 years, Grand has been one of the best lakes in the country,” Evers said. “It's going to be a great tournament. I think we're hitting it perfectly. We haven't had any monster floods, and the lake looks like it's going to be fishing really good.”
Evers said one of Grand Lake's defining characteristics is the diversity of patterns available to competitors. With water levels currently sitting at the base of shoreline willow trees and favorable conditions across the fishery, anglers are expected to have a wide range of options.
“The lake's going to be wide open,” Evers explained. “Anglers will have the opportunity to fish shallow or out deep and really fish their strengths.”
If water levels rise even slightly, Evers said shallow-water anglers could find success targeting bushes, willow trees, laydowns and rock banks in the upper reaches of the lake. Power-fishing techniques such as spinnerbaits, swim jigs, vibrating jigs and buzzbaits are also all expected to play a key role.
“You can basically just pick your favorite power-fishing technique, put it in your hand and go,” Evers said.
Grand Lake's offshore bite should also remain a major factor. Evers said he expects anglers targeting deeper fish to rely on traditional staples such as crankbaits, minnows, Carolina rigs and football jigs. He also believes forward-facing sonar will play an important role, despite the Bass Pro Tour's one-period sonar restriction.
As for weights, Evers anticipates a highly productive event from top to bottom. He estimates anglers may need nearly 50 pounds per day to survive the elimination rounds, while the leaders could eclipse the century mark on their best days.
“I expect a lot of fish to be caught,” Evers said. “I think you're going to see more than 100 pounds a day on the top end of things.”
For Evers, the event also offers the added benefit of competing close to home. Grand Lake sits just over an hour from his residence, providing a welcome break from the extensive travel that typically accompanies a Bass Pro Tour season.
“I’m just super excited to be competing close to the house,” Evers said. “It's been a nice year for us on the BPT, not having to travel far, and now we're going to have one that's within about an hour of the house, which is exciting.”
Anglers will arrive each morning at 6:15 a.m. CT to Wolf Creek Park, located at 963 N. 16th St. in Grove, Oklahoma, with takeoff starting at 7:15 a.m. Anglers will return to Wolf Creek Park each evening following the end of competition at 3:45 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to watch the event live online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® livestream and follow along with SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
On Saturday and Sunday, June 20-21, from 3 to 6 p.m., MLF invites fans of all ages to Wolf Creek Park for the MLF Fan Experience & Watch Party. Fans can watch the Bass Pro Tour pros live on the MLFNOW!® big screen, enjoy free food for the first 100 fans each day, enter hourly giveaways, browse MLF merchandise and the bargain bait bin, participate in a free fishing derby and casting contest, and cheer on their favorite anglers. Live music begins at 4 p.m., (Brad Hemphill on Saturday and Morgan Rohrs on Sunday) followed by top-10 angler interviews and the trophy presentation at 5 p.m., including autographs and photos with Bass Pro Tour finalists. The first 50 kids ages 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel each day.
Student anglers from sixth grade through college are invited to join MLF pros at the free Columbia PFG Student Angler Clinic on Saturday, June 20 from 2 to 6 p.m. The clinic will also be held at Wolf Creek Park, and offers a unique opportunity for students to learn from the BPT pros, gain hands-on fishing instruction and compete in the national MLF Casting Competition. For more information or to register for the Columbia PFG Student Angler Clinic, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The Zenni Stage 6 at Grand Lake Presented by Toyota will feature anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The 2026 Bass Pro Tour features a field of 51 of the best professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual Kubota Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2027 championship.
The full field of anglers will compete in the two-day Qualifying Round on Thursday and Friday. After the Qualifying Round is complete, the pro with the heaviest two-day total will advance directly to Sunday’s Championship Round. Anglers who finish 2nd through 25th will advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining anglers compete to finish in the top nine to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $125,000.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the action live on all four days of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® will be livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.
Television coverage of the Zenni Stage 6 at Grand Lake Presented by Toyota will premiere as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Sept. 26 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing Co., B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Force, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, NITRO Boats, OFF! Deep Woods, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Star brite, Suzuki Marine, Toyota, Yuengling 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, Rumble 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, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
Utica’s Hedges Beats Brushpiles for Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Kentucky-Barkley Lakes
Mount Washington’s Hamilton Earns Victory in Co-Angler Division
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (June 8, 2026) – Boater Zach Hedges of Utica, Kentucky, caught a three-bass limit weighing 13 pounds, 1 ounce, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Kentucky-Barkley Lake . The tournament, hosted by Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau, was the fourth of five events of the season for the BFL LBL Division. Hedges earned $2,590 for his victory.
Hedges, who is only 19 years old, began his morning using his Garmin LiveScope for the first three hours of the day to target schooling bass. He headed south toward Paris Landing to what he thought would be his most promising school and landed 12 pounds in his first hour of fishing.
“I ran some more schools after that and even after my LiveScope period hoping I could pick up one or two more,” Hedges said. “But that never happened. So, I went back to my starting school and caught one that went almost 4 pounds and that one put me at 13 pounds.”
Hedges said he targeted the schools on ledges with a spoon as well as a Zoom Magnum Trick Worm on a shaky-head rig. His method produced around 30 keepers during the day, but Hedges said he wasn’t confident in his chances for a win.
“I figured I was going to be the first or second guy out of reach of winning it,” Hedges said. “I really thought it would take more than 13 pounds. This just feels amazing – feels really good.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Zach Hedges, Utica, Ky., three bass, 13-1, $2,590
2nd: Jon Fatheree, Grantsburg, Ill., three bass, 12-10, $1,530
3rd: Sam Boss, Paducah, Ky., three bass, 12-9, $700
4th: Brad Galbreath, Ashland City, Tenn., three bass, 11-12, $570
5th: Cody Santel, Benton, Ky., three bass, 11-9, $610
6th: Toby Corn, Paducah, Ky., three bass, 11-5, $450
7th: Noah Morgan, Russellville, Ky., three bass, 11-3, $430
8th: Sam Lashlee, Camden, Tenn., three bass, 11-0, $420
9th: Ryan Kirkpatrick, Benton, Ky., three bass, 10-11, $400
10th: Damon Brown, Mayfield, Ky., three bass, 10-4, $390
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Jon Fatheree of Grantsburg, Illinois, earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award after landing a 5-pound, 12-ounce bass worth $200.
Kristin Hamilton of Mount Washington, Kentucky, won the co-angler division and the top prize of $1,295 Saturday after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 10 pounds, 14 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Kristin Hamilton, Mount Washington, Ky., three bass, 10-14, $1,295
2nd: Daniel Nolen, Lexington, Tenn., three bass, 9-9, $665
3rd: Matt Chumbler, Carbondale, Ill., three bass, 9-2, $400
4th: Brian Huber, St. Charles, Mo., three bass, 8-2, $285
5th: Joey Cambron, Morganfield, Ky., three bass, 7-13, $255
6th: Jaren Frick, Boaz, Ky., three bass, 7-9, $225
7th: Owen Ray, Spring City, Tenn., three bass, 7-8, $220
8th: Josh Mileur, Murphysboro, Ill., three bass, 7-0, $210
9th: Corey Green, Paducah, Ky., three bass, 6-14, $200
10th: Micah Walker, Murphysboro, Ill., three bass, 6-11, $195
Michael League of Sparta, Tennessee, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award after landing a 4-pound, 4-ounce bass worth $100.
After four events, Noah Morgan of Russellville, Kentucky, now leads the 7 Brew LBL Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 989 points, while Marcus Mann of Benton, Kentucky, leads the LBL Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 964 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 22-24 BFL Regional tournament on Watts Bar Lake in Spring City, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, worth $33,500.
The 2026 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top seven, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2026 BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, Mystik Lubricants, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
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, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
Newton’s Smith Dominates at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at High Rock Lake
Gastonia’s Lee Wins in Co-Angler Division
SALISBURY, N.C. (June 8, 2026) – Boater Jacob Smith of Newton, North Carolina, caught a total of five bass weighing 24 pounds, 11 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on High Rock Lake . The tournament was the fourth of five events of the season for the BFL North Carolina Division. Smith earned $2,590 for his victory.
The High Rock Lake tournament was the first BFL event for Smith to fish, and he said his history with High Rock hadn't been very successful. But he didn’t let that stop him from competing.
“I’m not super familiar with High Rock Lake,” Smith said. “I have fished it a few times, maybe six times, and I’ve never really done super well there, but I was able to put a little something together last weekend in a tournament. They were doing what they were doing the weekend before, and I was able to catch them.
“I made a short run first thing to my first spot, but somebody was already there, but I guess it was kind of a blessing, because I went to my next spot, sat down and caught a 4-8 on my first cast,” Smith went on to say. “I was like, ‘Heck, yeah.’
Smith said he used a newly released 20mm Queen Tackle Porcupine Ball rigged on a 2/0 Ryugi Talisman hook as a Jika Rig to target points and docks. He hopped the rig along the bottom to entice bass to strike. Smith said the docks were loaded with bass during the midday hours.
Smith added the early morning bite was best for him in the Abbott’s Creek and Flat Swamp Creek areas of High Rock, and the action slowed considerably for him as the day progressed.
“Once I was able to turn my (Garmin) LiveScope on, I was able to cull out a few times, and that’s how I ended up with what I had.” Smith said.
Smith said he was confident in the weight in his livewell, and the lack of afternoon action made for a long day.
“Any time you catch them early in the morning it just leads to a super-long day,” Smith laughed. “I was ready to weigh in. I came in 30 minutes early because I was like, ‘I just can’t do it anymore.’ The good Lord blessed me.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Jacob Smith, Newton, N.C., five bass, 24-11, $2,590
2nd: Ron Rousseau, Raleigh, N.C., five bass, 19-13, $1,330
3rd: Shane Lineberger, Lincolnton, N.C., five bass, 19-6, $1,200 (includes $500 Phoenix bonus)
4th: Jason Barnes, Concord, N.C., five bass, 19-3, $820
5th: Brandon Eggers, North Wilkesboro, N.C., five bass, 19-2, $510
6th: Conrad Manuel, Pilot Mountain, N.C., five bass, 18-3, $450
7th: Robert Walser, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 17-6, $680
8th: Kaden Buchmann, Troutman, N.C., five bass, 16-12, $420
9th: Ben Robertson, Walnut Cove, N.C., five bass, 15-9, $400
10th: Kevin Chandler, New London, N.C., five bass, 15-5, $390
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Tommy Jones of Salisbury, North Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award after landing a 7-pound, 3-ounce bass, worth $200.
Mark Lee of Gastonia, North Carolina, won the co-angler division and the top prize of $1,345 Saturday after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 13 pounds, 13 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Mark Lee, Gastonia, N.C., three bass, 13-13, $1,345
2nd: Jean Lacerte, Elm City, N.C., three bass, 11-5, $665
3rd: Thomas McDermott, Madison, N.C., three bass, 10-12, $350
4th: Justin Bach, Kannapolis, N.C., three bass, 9-1, $270
4th: Adam Oxendine, Pembroke, N.C., three bass, 9-1, $270
6th: Wayne Smelser, Wytheville, Va., three bass, 9-0, $325
7th: Thomas Pennell III, Boiling Springs, S.C., three bass, 8-15, $220
8th: Richard Williams, Sutherland, Va., three bass, 8-12, $210
9th: Bart Hill, Clemmons, N.C., three bass, 8-10, $200
10th: Charles Wood, Thomasville, N.C., three bass, 8-9, $195
Wayne Smelser of Wytheville, Virginia, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award after landing a 5-pound, 14-ounce bass worth $100.
After four events, Jason Barnes of Concord, North Carolina, now leads the 7 Brew North Carolina Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 966 points, while Thomas Pennell III of Boiling Springs, South Carolina, leads the North Carolina Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 970 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 15-17 BFL Regional tournament on Clarks Hill Lake in Appling, Georgia. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, worth $33,500.
The 2026 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top seven, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2026 BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, Mystik Lubricants, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
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, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
St. Louis’ Fitzpatrick Earns Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Truman Lake Presented by Precision Sonar
shland’s Bradford Tops Co-Angler Division
WARSAW, Mo. (June 8, 2026) – Boater Chase Fitzpatrick of St. Louis, Missouri, caught a total of five bass weighing 20 pounds, 6 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Truman Lake Presented by Precision Sonar . The tournament was the fourth of five events of the season for the BFL Ozark Division. Fitzpatrick earned $2,590 for his victory.
Fitzpatrick said he used knowledge from a previous event on Truman Lake to set his tournament strategy, and he focused on fishing in the Tebo Arm of the lake.
“In the BFL last year at Truman, I caught 6-pounders late in the day that kind of clued me into something that I could maybe try this year,” Fitzpatrick said. “And when I got to the tournament waters on Thursday to practice, that’s what I committed to. I was able to find a patch of trees that had fish on them, and I caught a 6- and a 4-pounder there in practice.
“I didn’t really know what to expect going into tournament day, but I was able to get the right kind of bites and land them,” Fitzpatrick went on to say. “Fishing those trees can be kind of dangerous at times.”
Fitzpatrick said he focused on combing through the trees by flipping a Zoom Brush Hog with a ¼-ounce weight and just let the bait make its way through the tree limbs. The submerged trees ranged in depths from 5 feet to 25 feet, but Fitzpatrick pointed out the “money depth” was around 15 feet. He added he culled only three times during the day.
“I had 16½ pounds at the end of my (Garmin) LiveScope period,” Fitzpatrick said. “I had one of my 6-pounders in the boat by the end of my LiveScope period, and I knew I had a chance (at a win) with that, but I thought I needed one more big one to really solidify my chances at a win.”
Fitzpatrick got his second 6-pounder later in the day and secured the BFL win.
“It was a blessed day,” Fitzpatrick said. “I’ve always wanted to hold up one of those silver fish trophies one day, so yeah, this felt really good. I have a lot of room to learn and grow, so I’m trying to learn from the great anglers that are around me.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Chase Fitzpatrick, St. Louis, Mo., five bass, 20-6, $2,590
2nd: Shawn Kowal, Linn Creek, Mo., five bass, 16-7, $1,330
3rd: Roger Fitzpatrick, Eldon, Mo., five bass, 16-4, $700
4th: Kenny Sloan, Gaylord, Kan., five bass, 16-3, $570
5th: Randy Blaukat, Springfield, Mo., five bass, 16-0, $510
6th: Kyle Alsop, Overland Park, Kan., five bass, 15-10, $950 (includes $500 Phoenix bonus)
7th: Ryan Stagner, Robertsville, Mo., five bass, 15-5, $430
8th: T.J. Martin, Claremore, Okla., five bass, 14-11, $420
9th: Les Brandenburg, Springfield, Mo., five bass, 14-9, $400
10th: Chad Allison, Carl Junction, Mo., five bass, 14-8, $390
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Keith Pearson of Lenexa, Kansas, earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award after landing a 6-pound, 5-ounce bass worth $200.
Roy Bradford of Ashland, Missouri, won the co-angler division and the top prize of $1,295 Saturday after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 10 pounds, 3 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Roy Bradford, Ashland, Mo., three bass, 10-3, $1,295
2nd: Spencer Martinez, Wichita, Kans., three bass, 9-12, $715
3rd: Josh Falter, Dixon, Mo., three bass, 8-12, $317
3rd: Shawn Lindsay, Lebanon, Mo., three bass, 8-12, $317
5th: Matt Zimmerly, Hillsboro, Mo., three bass, 8-8, $255
6th: Jeff Anderson, St. Louis, Mo., three bass, 8-7, $225
7th: Derek Vahey, Columbia, Mo., three bass, 8-0, $220
8th: Greg Lundquist, Independence, Mo., three bass, 7-13, $210
9th: Donnie Agnew, Farmington, Mo., two bass, 7-12, $300
10th: Alan Quick, Springfield, Mo., three bass, 7-7, $195
Donnie Agnew of Farmington, Missouri, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award after landing a 5-pound, 7-ounce bass worth $100.
After four events, Shawn Kowal of Linn Creek, Missouri, now leads the 7 Brew Ozark Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 961 points, while Josh Falter of Dixon, Missouri, leads the Ozark Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 942 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 22-24 BFL Regional tournament on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, worth $33,500.
The 2026 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top seven, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2026 BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, Mystik Lubricants, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
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, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
Georgia’s Parker Guy Holds Off Field for Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Eufaula Presented by Suzuki Marine
Warner Robins’ McNear Wins Co-Angler Division
EUFAULA, Ala. (June 8, 2026) – Boater Parker Guy of Ocilla, Georgia, caught a total of five bass weighing 22 pounds, 1 ounce, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Eufaula Presented by Suzuki Marine . The tournament, hosted by Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce, was the fourth of five events of the season for the BFL Bulldog Division. Guy earned $4,100 for his victory.
“I started out fishing shallow throwing a buzzbait, a swim jig and a frog,” said Guy, who focused his efforts mainly mid-lake on his home water of Lake Eufaula. “I was just mixing it up, and I caught a couple of my key fish doing that. I did that for an hour and let the sun get up good, because I knew I had a lot of brushpiles I wanted to fish when I turned my (Garmin) LiveScope on.”
When Guy utilized his LiveScope, he began running from brushpile to brushpile in 6 to 12 feet of water. Guy said a jerkbait was very productive for him, and he had 18½ pounds of fish early in the morning.
“I had 2 minutes left in my LiveScope period, and I caught a 6¼-pounder that pretty much sealed the deal for me,” Guy said. “I had a 2½-pounder in the box I needed to get rid of before my LiveScope period ended. I got lucky and caught that big one. Once I got up to 22 pounds I knew I had a shot at winning.
“This is only the third BFL I’ve ever fished, and this feels great,” said Guy, who cut his teeth fishing competitively as a member of the Emmanuel University College Fishing team.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Parker Guy, Ocilla, Ga., five bass, 22-1, $4,100
2nd: Justin Barnes, Elaville, Ga., five bass, 19-6, $2,000
3rd: Todd Beaver, Richland, Ga., five bass, 18-9, $1,400 (includes $500 Phoenix bonus)
3rd: Avery Padgett, Alba, Ala., five bass, 18-9, $900
5th: Ryan Barnes, Elaville, Ga., five bass, 17-13, $700
6th: Jamie Fountain, East Dublin, Ga., five bass, 17-2, $600
7th: Kyle Sellers, Lumpkin, Ga., five bass, 16-12, $575
8th: Brad Stalnaker, Eatonton, Ga., five bass, 16-7, $550
9th: Mike Cavender, Phenix City, Ala., five bass, 16-4, $525
10th: Chase Clarke, Virginia Beach, Va., five bass, 15-5, $500
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Andrew Cochran of Smithville, Georgia, earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award after landing a 7-pound, 12-ounce bass worth $200.
Robert McNear of Warner Robins, Georgia, won the co-angler division and the top prize of $2,100 Saturday after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 11 pounds, 13 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Robert McNear, Warner Robins, Ga., three bass, 11-13, $2,100
2nd: Dave Parker, Hahira, Ga., three bass, 9-1, $1,000
3rd: William Cowart, Danielsville, Ga., three bass, 7-13, $500
4th: Mark Black, Selma, Ala., three bass, 7-11, $400
5th: Korby Friday, Elizabeth, La., three bass, 7-9, $350
6th: Bobby Otto, Lumpkin, Ga., three bass, 7-7, $300
7th: James Griffin, Pelham, Ga., two bass, 7-3, $290
8th: Wayne Hancock, Cumming, Ga., three bass, 7-0, $267
8th: Bodie Lachina, Freeport, Fla., two bass, 7-0, $267
10th: Robert Holliday, White Plains, Ga., three bass, 6-6, $250
Robert McNear of Warner Robins, Georgia, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award after landing a 6-pound, 15-ounce bass worth $100.
After four events, John Duvall of Madison, Georgia, now leads the 7 Brew Bulldog Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 928 points, while Dennis McGouirk of Carrollton, Georgia, leads the Bulldog Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 894 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 15-17 BFL Regional tournament on Clarks Hill Lake in Appling, Georgia. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, worth $33,500.
The 2026 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top seven, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2026 BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, Mystik Lubricants, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
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, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound set for dynamic Elite Series return
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. — Could the 2026 Maxam Tire Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound be even better than the record-setting 2025 event? Local tournament angler and guide Matt Greschak believes it could definitely match those standards, albeit in a much different fashion.
“The way it is setting up, it is going to be good. There will be big weights caught again,” Greschak, who runs Avery’s Guide Service, said. “If someone brings back 35 pounds one day, I won’t be surprised and another bass over 10 pounds will be weighed in, I think.
“Someone should get a (Century) belt, if not a couple people.”
Tournament days are set for June 11-14. Waterfront Park in Elizabeth City will host daily takeoffs starting at 6:30 a.m. ET and weigh-ins at 3 p.m. The full field of 98 pros will compete the first two days of the tournament before the field is cut to 50 anglers on Semifinal Saturday. The Top 10 anglers will then compete on Championship Sunday for a chance at $100,000 and a coveted blue trophy.
The Albemarle Sound is an overwhelmingly large fishery with multiple freshwater river branches flowing into it. Although coastal, and brackish in the Sound itself, it does not experience tidal influence like Winyah Bay or Chesapeake Bay does. Water levels are all wind and rain driven.
The area has experienced an unusually dry spring, and as a result, some of that brackish water has made its way further up the rivers than normal.
In its maiden voyage to Elizabeth City, the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series added new chapters to the record book. Alabama’s Kyle Welcher stayed close to takeoff in the Pasquotank River and caught 118 pounds, 12 ounces of spawning largemouth during the four days of competition, beating second-place Brandon Lester by a historic 45-7 margin.
“He caught 13 bass over 7 pounds,” Greschak recalled. “That was a good thing for the area. So many more people have been coming to fish. It gave it the exposure the city was looking for.”
Seasonally, things will be much different this time, but the quality of bass is still off the charts. Summer is setting in, and over the past few weeks, it has taken 34 pounds, 28 pounds and 32 pounds to win three local events the last several weeks. One of those was won by Turtelbox Bassmaster Opens presented by Battery Tender pro Ryan Lachniet.
Those were won in the Chowan River and Perquimans River to the west of takeoff. Those two rivers, and the Roanoke River to the far southwest are where Greschak expects most of the top finishers to find their bass.
“Everything to the west of Elizabeth City has been playing (this year). The Chowan has been putting them out and the Perquimans has been fishing really well.” the North Carolinian said. “The North River towards the Outer Banks hasn’t been as good and the Alligator River has been fishing tough too.”
As it stands, the wind forecast is favorable, with winds out of the west at 5 to 10 mph. That could change, but those conditions make for a more manageable run across the Sound than anglers experienced in 2025.
Forward-facing technology is allowed in this tournament, which is a big deal Greschak added. Finding isolated offshore hard spots and wood cover will be a primary pattern and has resulted in many big bags over the past several years. Shad and herring drive the western bite while bluegill and crawfish are the primary forage towards the east.
“The Chowan and the Roanoke have drains in them that pour fresh water in constantly,” Greschak explained. “That helps keep the salinity lower, and the bass do better in those conditions. River herring are also in the Chowan like nowhere else.”
Urchin-style baits like the Hideup Coike and jighead minnows will play a big role in this pattern as well as jerkbaits, big swimbaits and glidebaits.
A shallow water flipping and frogging bite in lily pad fields will also present itself, although the low water in the Roanoke River will limit the high-end potential of that bite in that river.
“The river doesn’t have a lot of current right now. It is still good, but a lot of the lily pad fields I thought would be good are kind of dry right now,” Greschak said. “You’ll still see guys catch them on a frog, but I don’t think that will be the winning deal.”
The Pasquotank where Welcher won in 2025 still has winning potential as well, but Greschak notes that the area has received a lot of fishing pressure over the past year, which will make it harder to replicate success.
Canadian pro Cory Johnston leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year race with 483 points followed by Illinois pro Trey McKinney in second with 463 points and Texas pro Dakota Ebare in third with 455 points. Tennessee’s Cole Sands is fourth with 454 points; South Carolina’s Brandon Cobb is fifth with 446 points; Tennessee’s John Garrett is sixth with 443 points; Georgia’s Drew Cook is seventh with 440 points; Georgia’s Caleb Hudson is eighth with 430 points; Minnesota’s Bob Downey is ninth with 426 points and Alabama’s Justin Atkins is 10th with 411 points.
Hudson leads the Pro-Guide Batteries Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race followed by Alabama’s Fisher Anaya in second with 372 points and Texas’s Pake South in third with 322 points. Tennessee’s Tristan McCormick (306) and Kentucky’s Matt Messer (233) round out the Top 5.
Live coverage of the 2026 Maxam Bassmaster Elite at Pasquotank River/Albemarle Sound will be available starting June 11 and 12 at 8 a.m. ET on Bassmaster.com and the Roku Sports Channel through 3 p.m. ET. FS1 takes the reins on June 13 and 14 starting at 8 a.m. ET and will carry coverage through 12:30 p.m. Live will resume on Bassmaster.com beginning at 1:30 p.m. and continue until weigh-in the final two days.
Weigh-ins will be streamed live on Bassmaster.com each day starting at 3 p.m. ET.
The Elizabeth City Hooked on the Harbor Festival will be held in conjunction with the final two days of the Elite Series event. A number of local vendors and food trucks will be showcased at Waterfront Park from Noon to 5 p.m.
Visit Elizabeth City is hosting the tournament.
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
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, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, 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, Tackle Warehouse 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.
Banks Shaw Wins Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 5 on Lake Eufaula Presented by K&N Filters
EUFAULA, Okla. (June 7, 2026) – Starting the final day of Stop 5 Presented by K&N Filters in third place, Banks Shaw looked like the odds-on favorite to win. While Cal Lane and Drew Boggs had the edge by weight and place, environmental factors well outside their control didn’t look good. The deluge of rain on Day 2 affected all the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech pros, but Lane and Boggs were fishing shallow, well up a creek that rose higher and flowed faster by the minute.
On the main lake and fishing for more stable fish, Shaw didn’t have those same concerns. After sacking up 20 pounds, 6 ounces to jump into contention on Day 2, he followed up with an even 18 pounds on Day 3 for a 52-10 total and the win. Also walloping them on Day 3, Dylan Nutt moved up to finish second with 51-12 for the second event in a row, and Lane and Boggs fell to third and fourth, respectively.
For the win, which was his second Pro Circuit win of the season, Shaw pocketed $100,000. He also moved into the 7 Brew Angler of the Year lead, and with a 13-point edge over Ryan Lachniet, he’ll look to go back-to-back. The winner of the Invitationals Angler of the Year in 2025, Shaw stands a great chance to close it out when the Pro Circuit regular season finishes up at Lake Champlain in July.
Shaw better every time out
In 2025, it was possible to find chinks in Shaw’s armor if you used a magnifying glass, and this year on the Bass Pro Tour, he’s looked mortal several times. But fishing for five, especially when the fish are headed toward a summer pattern, Shaw is very hard to handle. This week at Eufaula (a lake he’d never fished before), he showed off all his skills yet again.
Shaw weighed two fish without the aid of forward-facing sonar: one on Day 1 and one big one on Day 3. He buoyed his weights with a shad spawn.
“I committed the entire [morning] to a shad spawn,” he said. “I was catching some good ones off a gizzard spawn. I committed to a Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammer Baby Jack in golden shiner, with a 4.25 Rapala CrushCity Freeloader in gizzard shad.
“It was isolated rockpiles; it seemed like if I could find rock in an area where there wasn’t a lot of rock, it was a guarantee,” he added. “I didn’t realize it was a gizzard shad spawn until the first day of the tournament – I caught them there really good the last day of practice. Then, the first day, gizzards were following me to the boat and bumping my ChatterBait pretty much every cast.”
Shaw and a lot of the other top anglers who ran a sonar-heavy gameplan saved their three hours until later in the morning, or even the afternoon in some cases. It was the right strategy for the week, but it was also a little nerve-racking if the morning wasn’t going well.
“It was definitely a key player,” Shaw explained. “I was able to catch a few fish each day to settle me down. This place changes so much; you can stumble and not catch a limit even when you’re around them.”
Once Shaw fired up his sonar, he fished brush in Longtown and near the dam, staying pretty deep on brush and using a 3/16-ounce VMC Redline Tungsten Swimbait Jighead with a 5 3/4-inch Rapala CrushCity Freeloader in green shad. He threw his minnow on a 6-foot, 10-inch, medium-light 13 Fishing Myth, with 8-pound-test Sufix 832 braid and a 14-pound-test Sufix Advance Fluorocarbon leader.
“I stayed out a little deeper than most guys,” Shaw detailed. “I caught some fish in 15 foot, but a lot of them were out in 20 foot – they weren’t even there in practice. I weighed eight fish over the last two days running new water.
“You could pull up to a brush pile and most people would see all the crappie and everything and not really see the bass. But if you slowed down and dissected everything, the bass would be sitting somewhere around them.”
Using his forward-facing sonar time later in the day was key for Shaw, but he also was able to gamble a little more effectively than some. All three days, he fished both Longtown and the Porum area during his sonar period.
“After fishing the BPT, a 20-minute run doesn’t bother me much anymore,” he said. “That’s what I did at Wheeler. I’ll take a gamble. A lot of guys think they need to stay in the same area, because three hours isn’t a lot. After fishing the BPT, having to catch so many in two and a half hours, if I know I could run a good ways and get around fish that are biting or not going to be pressured, I’m going to do it.”
Going for it all at Champlain
With three major wins under his belt already this year and three Top 10s on the BPT, he’s in the midst of another incredible year. In this one, after a tough Day 1, Shaw never laid up and got the win because of it.
“I feel a lot better now than I was feeling after the first day,” he said. “I made the call today to make a 20-minute run during my forward-facing period, and it definitely worked out. I ran way down the lake and I caught 4-pounder and a 3-pounder and definitely sealed the deal.”
He’s also pretty excited about what is next, and he’s already contemplating a pre-practice run up the Champlain.
“To be going into the next event in the lead for AOY with two wins under my belt already, the pressure is going to be on these guys,” he said. “They’re going to have to run me down. I’m going to be as consistent as I can be, and I love it up there. I couldn’t describe the feeling to go back-to-back for Angler of the Year, and to win two tournaments – it’d be pretty special.”
The top 20 pros at the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 5 on Lake Eufaula Presented by K&N Filters finished:
1st: Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn., 15 bass, 52-10, $100,000
2nd: Dylan Nutt, Nashville, Tenn., 15 bass, 51-12, $23,000
3rd: Cal Lane, Grant, Ala., 15 bass, 51-7, $18,700
4th: Drew Boggs, Lebanon, Tenn., 15 bass, 50-10, $17,000
5th: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 15 bass, 50-9, $16,100
6th: Tripp Berlinsky, St. Cloud, Fla., 15 bass, 49-7, $15,200
7th: Ryan Lachniet, Gum Spring, Va., 15 bass, 48-14, $14,400
8th: Riley Nielsen, Murray, Utah, 15 bass, 47-13, $13,500
9th: Connor Jacob, Peoria, Ill., 15 bass, 46-0, $12,600
10th: Austin Pemberton, Tuscola, Texas, 15 bass, 45-12, $11,800
11th: Ethan Fields, Breese, Ill., 15 bass, 45-1, $10,000
12th: Levi Thibodaux, Thibodaux, La., 15 bass, 44-13, $10,000
13th: Ty Faber, Pagosa Springs, Colo., 15 bass, 44-6, $10,000
14th: Hayden O’Barr, Scottsboro, Ala., 15 bass, 44-4, $10,000
15th: Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 15 bass, 44-1, $10,000
16th: Bobby Bakewell, Orlando, Fla., 15 bass, 43-0, $10,000
17th: Levi Kohl, Edinburg, Ill., 15 bass, 42-9, $10,000
18th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 15 bass, 42-2, $10,000
19th: Matteo Turano, Puryear, Tenn., 15 bass, 42-2, $10,000
20th: Will Harkins, Blairsville, Ga., 15 bass, 41-6, $10,000
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 174 bass weighing 486 pounds, 5 ounces caught by the final 43 pros Sunday. The catch included 29 five-bass limits.
The full field of pros competed in the two-day opening round on Friday and Saturday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top third of the field – 43 pros in this event – based on their two-day cumulative weight, advanced to the final round on Championship Sunday. The winner was determined by heaviest cumulative weight from all three days and awarded the grand prize of up to $135,000.
Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech Stop 5 on Lake Eufaula Presented by K&N Filters will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 4 on Vice TV.
The 2026 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech features a field of up to 150 professional anglers competing across six tournaments around the country, for a total purse of $3.8 million and valuable 7 Brew Angler of the Year (AOY) points to qualify for the Pro Circuit Championship, set for Sept. 18-20 on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Kissimmee, Florida, and a coveted spot on the MLF Bass Pro Tour – the sport’s premier circuit.
The next event for the 2026 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech is Stop 6 at Lake Champlain, July 24-26 in Plattsburgh, New York.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, Bubba, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit 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, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
Matthew Brannon has monster final day to win Kayak Series event at Clear Lake
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Matthew Brannon said not much went right for him on Day 1 of the 2026 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series at Clear Lake presented by Native Watercraft. And still, he entered the second and final day of the tournament in second place.
Then everything went right for Brannon on Sunday, and he left all competitors in his wake.
Brannon, a 49-year-old Santa Rosa, Calif., resident, measured five bass on Sunday for a remarkable 108.5 inches. That gave him a two-day catch of 10 bass totaling 207.75 inches which was plenty enough to blow past Day 1 leader Simon Her, who finished second with 197.5 inches. No other angler in the field of 76 finished within 14 inches of Brannon on legendary Clear Lake.
Brannon earned $4,500 for the win, his first Bassmaster victory.
“I absolutely smashed them for four days when I came up for practice,” Brannon said. “But the weather deteriorated on Saturday. I wanted to go south on the lake, but the wind was gusting up to 33 miles per hour down there and the waves were about 3 or 4 feet at the ramp I was going to use. It looked like the ocean.
“But this is my home water and I knew I could go out of Lakeport, which is mid-lake, and be in the lee side of the wind,” he continued. “But it was cold at daybreak, about 48 degrees, and I was looking for shade lines around docks. Because it was overcast early and I struggled getting fish in the boat. When the sun came out, I started catching. I was somewhat happy with 99 inches, but then I saw Simon was putting on a clinic and I thought I might have gave up the tournament.”
When he saw Sunday morning was sunny and calm, Brannon decided to make a bold move.
“The wind report said it would be pretty mild out there till 11 o’clock, so I decided to cross the lake,” he said. “No one was able to get over there yesterday, so I knew the fish would be fresh. The first fish I caught was 22 1/2 inches. (A camera boat) came by and I told him ‘From now until the end, it’s gonna’ be on fire.’”
It most certainly was.
Brannon fished a series of five docks on the east side of 44,000-acre Clear Lake, each that held multiple bass. He used a Hag’s Prickly Pear 19mm creature bait in Hag Pumpkin color to catch all of his fish, and he only had two rods in his kayak this week. Brannon said having less gear made it possible for him to slip underneath the dock walkways, maximizing his efficiency as he navigated the shoreline.
“I had two that weighed over 8 pounds, and the 19 3/4-inch fish I had weighed 6-8,” he said. “The five fish I kept weighed between 36 and 37 pounds, total. They were all filled with (threadfin) shad. They’re all gorging. There’s more bait in the lake than locals have seen in a long time, maybe ever.”
Brannon said the urchin bait he used is new to bass on Clear Lake, and he believes that’s the overwhelming reason bass have been attacking it.
“When we first started shaking a minnow out here, the bass would hit it with reckless abandon,” he said. “You can’t do that anymore. You have to coax them in. The urchin is what the minnow used to be. They immediately come up on it. You can’t just hang it there, though. You give them a look at it, and pop it, moving it away from them. They have a hard time resisting it when you do that.”
Brannon is a 24-year veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, serving currently as a Senior Chief Electronics Technician. With the incredible productivity of Clear Lake just more than an hour from his home, it’s no wonder he’s petitioned to stay more than half of his military career in coastal California.
“I do two things,” he said, “and that’s fish for bass and hunt for ducks. And both of them are pretty incredible here.”
The Top 5 anglers in the derby earned a spot in the Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship presented by Native Watercraft. That event is scheduled for Oct. 14-16 on South Carolina’s Lake Murray.
The Top 7 finishers at Clear Lake also collected cash winnings. Behind Brannon and Her are third, Oregon’s Brandon Hua, 193 inches, $1,800; fourth, California’s Aaron Hart, 182.25, $1,500; fifth, Utah’s Caymen Rasmussen, 182, $1,200; sixth, California’s Solwazi Allah, 181.5, $1,000; and seventh, California’s Dang Xiong, 174.25, $800.
A full list of results from the Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series at Clear Lake presented by Native Watercraft can be found here.
Her caught the big bass of the event — a 23.5 inch largemouth he hooked on Day 2, good for an additional $500 prize. That hefty bass helped him shake a rough morning and claw his way back to a podium finish.
Jackson Family Wines and Trimyc Mechanical, Inc. hosted the tournament.
2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series
2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series Presenting Sponsor: Native Watercraft
2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year Sponsor: Pro-Guide Batteries
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, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, 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, Tackle Warehouse 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.
Simon Her jumps to Day 1 lead on legendary Clear Lake
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Simon Her wasn’t sure how windy conditions would affect his bite on Day 1 of the 2026 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series at Clear Lake presented by Native Watercraft.
When the “bass started hitting like carp”, however, he had his answer.
Her, a 29-year-old medical information technology specialist from Oroville, Calif., caught a five-bass limit Saturday that measured 103.75 inches. That gave Her a 4.5-inch lead over his closest competitor (Matthew Brannon of Santa Rosa, Calif., 99.25 inches) heading into Sunday’s finale on the famed lake that is regularly listed near the top of Bassmaster Magazine’s 100 Best Bass Lakes.
As predicted, spawning threadfin shad meant forage was ample throughout the 44,000-acre freshwater lake, located approximately 120 miles north of San Francisco. Her said the amount of shad he found during Thursday’s practice was intimidating because it made choosing where to fish a more difficult decision than usual.
By Saturday, though, the shad spawn had slowed to a mild roar. It was a perfect balance, he said, at least during an impressive bite window that had him pulling impressive largemouths “pretty much one after the other.”
“I really did think a few of them were carp,” he said, laughing. “My biggest fish was only 21 3/4 inches, but she weighed 8 1/2 pounds. Her belly was full of shad. If I had to guess a total weight on the five bass I entered, I’d say between 29 and 31 pounds. The fish here weren’t very long, but when they hit, they were hitting hard.”
So much so that Her was content to leave his favored spot at noon Saturday, with about two hours of competition time to spare.
“I knew where I’d be heading the next day, so I wanted to leave some there for tomorrow,” Her said. “I’m not 100% sure I’ll catch them like I did today, but maybe 75% sure. I don’t know if what I’m doing is patternable tomorrow. It’s supposed to be warmer Sunday. It’s been in the mid-80s recently and then today, it was in the 70s, overcast with some pretty solid winds.”
Her wasn’t ready to discuss lures he’s using on Clear Lake or how he’s getting his biggest bites. He did note, however, that he’s been able to fish both on the banks and offshore.
“I caught fish in anywhere from maybe 5 feet to 30 feet,” he said. “What I’m doing is not unique, but a lot of people aren’t doing it, as far as I can tell. But by no means am I the only person who’s on big fish here.”
The trick now is to repeat Saturday’s successes on Sunday.
“Clear Lake is known for being feast or famine,” Her said. “You can smash ’em one day and the next, you can leave disappointed. I’ve been on both ends of it, so hopefully I’m on the good end tomorrow.”
Behind Her and Brannon are third, Oregon’s Brandon Hua, 94.25; fourth, California’s Aaron Hart, 93; and fifth, Arizona’s Andrew Martin, 91. Brannon caught the longest bass of the day — a 23.25-inch largemouth he hooked between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Saturday. The angler with the longest bass in the tournament will earn a $500 prize.
In all, 76 anglers are competing in the event on Clear Lake. A total of $15,200 in prize money is up for grabs, the fourth of six regular-season stops on the Kayak Series this year. The winner will earn $4,500, as well as one of five spots in the Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship presented by Native Watercraft, which will be held Oct. 14-16 on Lake Murray in South Carolina.
The second and final day of the Clear Lake derby will begin Sunday at 6 a.m. PT and end at 2 p.m. Fish must be entered into the TourneyX scoring system by 3 p.m. to count toward an angler’s total. The top finishers will be honored at an awards ceremony at 5 p.m. at Konocti Casino & Resort in Lakeport, Calif.
Follow all the action online at Bassmaster.com.
Jackson Family Wines and Trimyc Mechanical, Inc. are hosting this event.
2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series
2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series Presenting Sponsor: Native Watercraft
2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year Sponsor: Pro-Guide Batteries
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, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, 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, Tackle Warehouse 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.
Alabama’s Cal Lane Brings Lead into Final Day at Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 5 on Lake Eufaula Presented by K&N Filters
EUFAULA, Okla. (June 6, 2026) – Cal Lane did exactly what he needed to do to stay in the lead of Stop 5 Presented by K&N Filters on Lake Eufaula. Weighing 15 pounds, 15 ounces for a 37-12 two-day total, the Alabama pro caught a five-fish limit fairly quickly, and a key 4-pounder fairly late in the day made sure he ended where he started in the standings.
With most of the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech field fishing the majority of the day in varying levels of downpour, the leaderboard got a little topsy-turvy. Climbing up, Drew Boggs tallied 19-15 for a 36-11 total and enters the final day of competition just 1-1 off the lead. In third, Banks Shaw put together the biggest bag of the day (20-6) and sits at 34-10 in third. In fourth and fifth, Drew Gill and Adam Lynn stayed very consistent, and, considering the unpredictability of Eufaula, it looks like we’re in for a very exciting final day on MLFNOW!.
A classic example of the close calls that are the story of life for most tournament anglers, Lane is in position to win again, for maybe the third or fourth time this year alone. Shaw and Dylan Nutt make winning look easy, but Lane has lived the reality and knows Day 3 contains plenty of pitfalls. Even Day 2 wasn’t especially easy for the leader.
“It was a grinder,” he said. “I went to one other area where I shook a good one off and I caught a 4-pounder. I got more bites today, but not the same quality. I feel very confident I can go catch a limit, but the size, I have no idea.”
Having shaken off fish both days, Lane is maybe as well prepared as possible for the conditions everyone will be facing tomorrow. Some parts of the Eufaula drainage have received more than three inches of rain in the last 24 hours, and where Lane and Boggs have spent most of their time has picked up between 0.7 inches and 1.7 inches. But Lane isn’t solely reliant on one part of the lake, though he is fishing shallow, and some of his places might see an outsized effect of the inflow.
“I checked some deep stuff and it wasn’t my game,” Lane said of practice. “The schools weren’t big. I burned a full tank of gas every day of practice; I looked at every inch of the lake, but once I figured out the deal, I knew I needed to run the whole lake to find as much of it as I could. About 99 percent of it is dead, but there’s a couple stretches that aren’t.”
As far as prepping for Championship Sunday goes, Lane has done all he can do.
“I feel confident I can go catch some fish,” he said. “I think it’s just up to the Lord if they’re big enough or not. It isn’t up to my plan – it’s in His hands now.”
The top 20 pros after Day 2 on Oklahoma’s Lake Eufaula are:
1st: Cal Lane, Grant, Ala., 10 bass, 37-10
2nd: Drew Boggs, Lebanon, Tenn., 10 bass, 36-11
3rd: Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn., 10 bass, 34-10
4th: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 10 bass, 34-8
5th: Adam Lynn, Culleoka, Tenn., 10 bass, 33-11
6th: Ryan Lachniet, Gum Spring, Va., 10 bass, 32-14
7th: Hayden O’Barr, Scottsboro, Ala., 10 bass, 32-7
8th: Riley Nielsen, Murray, Utah, 10 bass, 31-7
9th: Dylan Nutt, Nashville, Tenn., 10 bass, 31-7
10th: Andrew Nordbye, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 30-14
11th: Will Harkins, Blairsville, Ga., 10 bass, 30-14
12th: Ty Faber, Pagosa Springs, Colo., 10 bass, 30-9
13th: Kyle Goldstein, Paso Robles, Calif., 10 bass, 30-8
14th: Austin Pemberton, Tuscola, Texas, 10 bass, 30-01
15th: Ethan Fields, Breese, Ill., 10 bass, 29-15
16th: Mark Condron, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 10 bass, 29-14
17th: Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 10 bass, 29-10
18th: Levi Kohl, Edinburg, Ill., 10 bass, 28-14
19th: Miles Burghoff, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 28-9
20th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 10 bass, 28-7
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 476 bass weighing 1,173 pounds, 1 ounce caught by 111 pros Saturday. The catch included 68 five-bass limits.
Pro Carter Nutt of Nashville, Tennessee, earned the Day 2 $500 Berkley Big Bass award Saturday with a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 2 ounces.
In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of 129 pros competed in the two-day opening round on Friday and Saturday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Now only the top third of the field – 43 pros – based on their two-day cumulative weight, advance to the final round on Championship Sunday. The winner is determined by heaviest cumulative weight from all three days and will be awarded the grand prize of up to $135,000. Forward-facing and/or 360-degree sonar is limited to only 3 hours of competition each day.
The final 43 pros will launch at 6:30 a.m. CT Sunday from the Nichols Point Boat Ramp, located at 400 Lakeshore Drive in Eufaula, Oklahoma. Sunday’s Championship weigh-in will also be held at the Nichols Point Boat Ramp and will begin at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and weigh-in events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2026 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech features a field of up to 150 professional anglers competing across six tournaments around the country, for a total purse of $3.8 million and valuable 7 Brew Angler of the Year (AOY) points to qualify for the Pro Circuit Championship, set for Sept. 18-20 on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Kissimmee, Florida, and a coveted spot on the MLF Bass Pro Tour – the sport’s premier circuit.
The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live on Championship Sunday from 7 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. CT. MLFNOW! will be livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.
Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech Stop 5 on Lake Eufaula Presented by K&N Filters will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 4 on Vice TV.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, Bubba, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit 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, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
The YETI Open Returns to Table Rock Lake This September
Explore Branson and Table Rock Lake to host the 2026 YETI Open Tournament.
Austin, Texas – The YETI Open returns to Table Rock Lake this fall, bringing anglers from across the country together for three days of competition, community, and life outdoors. Scheduled for September 25–27, 2026, the event is produced in partnership with Trifecta Fishing (Big Bass Tour) and features $385,000 in guaranteed prizes and payouts, making it one of the premier amateur bass fishing events in the country.
The YETI Open isn’t just a fishing tournament. It’s a celebration of the outdoor lifestyle and the people who live it every day. Whether you’re chasing a personal best, competing for a life-changing prize package, or simply looking to spend an unforgettable weekend on the water, the YETI Open is built around big bass, great company, and stories worth sharing.
The three-day, amateur-only tournament utilizes a unique hourly big bass format, giving anglers multiple opportunities to cash in throughout the weekend. The event’s Grand Prize Package is valued at $138,000 and includes $50,000 in cash plus a fully rigged 2026 NITRO® Z20 XL powered by a Mercury® 250L Pro XS TorqueMaster outboard and equipped with the latest Humminbird and Minn Kota technology.
Registration opens Friday, June 5 at 9:00 AM CST at www.yetiopen.com.
Registration set to open for 2026 Bassmaster High School Combine presented by Skeeter
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — One hundred young anglers will have the opportunity to showcase their on-the-water skills and network with 25 of the best colleges in the country when the fifth-annual Bassmaster High School Combine presented by Skeeter returns to Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Ala., Sept. 11-13. The weekend will feature multiple skills challenges and recruiting visits with college coaches in hopes of reeling in fishing scholarship money. Registration will open on Monday, June 8 at 9 a.m. CT.
"The Bassmaster High School Combine has become one of the most important events we offer for young anglers looking to continue their fishing careers at the collegiate level," said Glenn Cale, B.A.S.S. tournament manager for the College, High School and Junior Series. "As we enter the sixth year of the Combine, we're excited to welcome 100 of the nation's top high school anglers and representatives from 25 outstanding college fishing programs to Decatur, Alabama.
"This event provides a unique opportunity for student athletes to showcase their skills, meet college coaches and learn more about the opportunities available to them beyond high school competition. We've seen countless connections made through the Combine over the years, and we look forward to helping another group of anglers take the next step in their academic and fishing journeys this September."
The Bassmaster High School Com
The weekend’s activities will take place at Ingalls Harbor and Pavilion in Decatur, Ala., which is conveniently located on the shores of Wheeler Lake.
Registration for the Bassmaste
For more information, visit Bassmaster.com/high-
2026 Bassmaster High School Series Title Sponsor: Strike King
2026 Bassmaster High School Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2026 Bassmaster High School Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2026 Bassmaster High School Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Lew's, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, VMC, Yokohama
2026 Bassmaster High School Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar
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, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, 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, Tackle Warehouse 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.
The University of Montevallo Wins the 2025-26 Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia
1st – University of Montevallo, 2nd – Carson-Newman University, 3rd – University of North Alabama
SAN ANTONIO, TX – The 2025-26 season is complete for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. The top three were made up of perineal bass fishing powerhouse names with the University of Montevallo earning its 6thSchool of Year title, followed by 2nd place Carson-Newman University, and the University of North Alabama rounds out the Top 3.
To see all of the schools ranking in the Top 25 in the nation, as well as where the rest of the schools in the nation finished the season, you can view the final rankings here.
The 2025-26 season of the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia marks the 15th season in which the ACA has awarded this title. During this historic 15thseason, a total of 129 teams earned points. 55 points earning events were contested, with close to 1,000,000 points being awarded. From Michigan down to Florida, and many places in between, thousands of elite college anglers competed in local, regional, and major national tournaments.
Numerous major milestones and accomplishments were achieved by multiple different schools. The University of Montevallo secured its 6th straight title as Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. Carson-Newman earned its highest-ever finish by placing 2nd.
The last event of the season was recently contested on the James River and both Carson-Newman and UNA earned points at the B.A.S.S. event last week. This allowed those schools to close the gap between themselves and the top spot, however the lead Montevallo had too much to overcome thanks to high finishes at the recent ACA Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.
Montevallo earned a total of 40,285 points this season. Carson-Newman finished 1,765 points behind in 2nd, and UNA amassed 34,430 points.
Here is a look at teams that also made significant moves at the James River event to end the year higher up in the rankings for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia:
4) Adrian College – Previously Ranked 7th
13) Auburn University – Previously Ranked 14th
15) Troy University – Previously ranked 17th
20) University of South Carolina-Union – Previously Ranked 23rd
Congratulations to all the teams in the Top 25 this past season. The 2026-27 season for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia is now underway. View the program details here, and see a schedule of points earning events at this link.
Darryl Burkhardt Wins 2026 BAM Northwest Pro-Am On Moses Lake
MOSES LAKE, Wash. – In a come from behind win, Darryl Burkhardt of Boring, Ore., who had finished outside of the top-10 on Day One, fished his way to victory on Championship Sunday at the 2026 BAM Northwest Pro-Am season-opener on Moses Lake.
His tournament total of 62.98 earned a grand prize package that included a Vexus Boat valued at $40,000 in the BAM Trail Mercury / Vexus Boats Pro-Am presented by Tackle Warehouse and conservation sponsor Fisherman’s Warehouse.
Watch the Live Weigh In Show Here
“It’s been a long time and I’m really happy to finally get one under my belt,” said Burkhardt. “Without my Lord and Savior, I couldn’t be here and I thank him graciously.”
Over the course of the three-day bass battle, Burkhart put together five-fish limits each day over 20-pounds in a less-visited backwater area.
“I thought it would be crowded, but I a lot of folks must not have found it,” he said. “I threw finesse the first day for 21-pounds. The second day, I went back and the wind was blowing right into the bank, so I made a switch to a spinnerbait and basically never looked back.”
Burhardt and the spinnerbait camped on the area for the two final days, adding 21.11 and 20.82 to his Day One 21.05.
“I kept going back to the primary area and it just kept producing fish after fish after fish,” he recalled.
Yamamoto Senko
An old school presentation of a chartreuse and white Yamamoto Senko on a 1/16-ounce Charlie Brewer slider head tempted his first day’s catches. Burkhardt threw it on a Lews spinning rod and reel spooled with 30-pound braid.
Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper
His Nichols spinnerbait was equipped with silver willow leaf blades and trailed by a white and chartreuse Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper. It was a direct tie to braid and thrown on a Lew’s 761 medium-heavy rod with a Lews reel. Burkhardt revealed a slow presentation with a quick decision for his win.
“I was pitching it up to the tules, letting it fall to the bottom and then I would lift it off the bottom with a slow retrieve and they would hit it almost immediately,” he said. “The fish were right there on the face of the tules. If I didn’t get bit within the first two or three turns of the handle, I would burn it in and make another cast.”
Sweitzer Secures Co-Angler Win
Chad Sweitzer of Kelseyville CA
Maintaining his Day Two lead, California co Chad Sweitzer of Kelseyville, added a final day’s sack of 16.54 to his previous days 15.73 and 19.56 for a final weight of 51.74 to claim the co-angler victory and a cash payout of $4,000.
Although he only caught five keepers on the final day, Sweitzer made the win sound easy.
“I got here at 1 o’clock in the morning the day of the tournament and had never seen the lake the before,” he said. “I was just draggin’ a Senko”
Sweitzer tied his Senko to 12-pound Trilene fluorocarbon and fished it on a Western Angler Melones Neko rod paired to a Revo Rocket spinning reel.
His advice for co-angler success is to take advantage of the info that can be gained from the pro in front of the boat.
“They make a cast 6-feet over to the left, and when it comes my turn from the back of the boat, I’m trying not to cast to the exact same spot, so I’m covering different water,” he explained saying it was the luck of the draw but he “ended up landing on the better fish.”
The next opportunity to fish a BAM Northwest Pro-Am is at the second stop of the 2026 season on June 19-21 at Potholes Reservoir.
Registration is underway. Tune in to BAM social channels or the BamTrail.com website to sign up or follow the action.
Urchin Uproar with Brandon Palaniuk
Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships
If you tuned into live coverage of the 2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes, you were witness to something special. More than an impressive parade of heavyweight largemouth that we’ve almost come to expect out of Santee, we watched the arrival of a lure and presentation unfold in real time. The urchin.
Sure, several tournaments had already been won in the past 18-months on these Japanese inspired baits. Many bass fishing junkies knew of these lures, but what happened on Santee Cooper opened the eyes and piqued the interest of anglers across the country. More than just the funky looking lure, it was the way in which the top ten employed their Hideup Coikes’, urchins, or spiked ball baits.
Eventual tournament champion Chris Johnston and his brother Cory skipped docks with their urchins. Using heavy line, baitcasting gear and fished the lure like a grown-man’s wacky-rig. While 2nd place finisher Brandon Palaniuk boated numerous Santee Cooper giants on urchins pitching to Cypress trees, shallow grass lines, and other visible cover.
Notably, this all took place without the aid of forward-facing sonar, something most anglers had connected to this bait and style of fishing. Watching the tournament leaders use these offerings to catch shallow, cover-orientated fish other competitors fished over was spellbinding.
It felt like we were watching the early days of the Senko or the umbrella rig, when bass seemingly couldn’t help but to react because these presentations had seldom been seen.
There has been and will continue to be myriad videos, articles and photo galleries exploring the equipment side of the urchin craze and how to fish them, but the mental side of employing this relatively novel presentation at the Santee Cooper Elite is equally as interesting.
Team Toyota pro Brandon Palaniuk found himself in the middle of this phenomenon and knew it was notable as it happened.
“I dialed in the Coike bite during practice and knew it was something special,” Palaniuk said. “This bait was triggering 4-pound plus bites, and the fish were reacting in a way I hadn’t seen before. Every one that bit had the bait in its crushers, and when I switched to no hooks, I could hardly shake the fish off. I had multiple bass swim out from the cover and chase the bait to eat it two or three times. That’s when you know you’re onto something.”
Palaniuk caught a five fish limit of nearly 30-pounds the first two days of the event, and everyone came on the urchin. The two-time Angler of the Year led the tournament heading into Saturday and never slipped lower than 2nd place. What may come as a surprise to many is that prior to Santee Cooper, Palaniuk said his experience with these baits was really limited.
“I’ve owned some of the baits a little over a year and had heard all the chatter about them, but to be honest I took them out of my Tundra for the second half of the season,” Palaniuk admitted. “With our split FFS schedule, I just didn’t think the bait would be a player in South Carolina. But prior to our South Carolina swing, it got to a point where I couldn’t ignore it (the urchin) any longer.
“Several tournaments had already been won on Coikes this year, so I started playing around with them more. I caught a bunch of fish during a media event at Guntersville and saw a unique response to that bait. So much so, I had Kyle (his videographer) grab some urchins out of my garage in Idaho and ship them, so I’d have them for Lake Murray and Santee.”
As it has been many times before, Palaniuk’s gut feeling proved to be right on the mark. The “Prodigy” used the baits that had been sitting idle in his garage to boat 94-pounds of Santee Cooper bass and notch his best finish of the 2026 season.
Palaniuk will be the first to tell you that top-level tournament fishing often comes down to the mental side in between your ears. Non-tangible things like decision making, when and how to adjust, confidence and momentum often impact an angler’s success or failure more so than equipment, according to Palaniuk.
Knowing how much Palaniuk leans into the mental aspect of fishing, was it a challenge for BP to go ‘all-in’ with a lure and presentation he had hardly any experience with?
“I felt a bit weird starting the tournament on a new bite, so to speak, but after that first day it was not mentally challenging,” Palaniuk explained. “Days 3 and 4 look tougher on paper, but I was getting the right bites each day, it was just my execution that suffered. There were winning fish moving through my primary area, and the way those fish were reacting to the bait… my confidence never wavered.”
That confidence allowed Palaniuk to overcome inexperience with this style of lure and employ it to great success on the biggest of stages. Besting all but one of his fellow Elite Series pros. As he and his peers tinker with rigging options and continue to optimize the urchin presentation, this confidence will only grow.
If you believed the interest and popularity over these urchin-style lures was overblown and destined to be a temporary trend, I’ve got bad news for you. The Elite on Santee Cooper recalibrated how this bait could be used, especially in terms of power fishing.
Top pros like Palaniuk have already seen enough, and “BP” promises he won’t be taking these baits out of his boat or truck for the foreseeable future.
Lew’s Introduces the Custom TLX 150 Baitcast Reel built for Coastal and Freshwater Anglers
Holding to a tradition of building reels for exceptional performance in the most challenging fishing conditions, Lew’s® is pleased to announce the release of the Custom TLX 150 baitcast reel.
While it is an outstanding choice for many applications on the water, the Custom TLX 150 is constructed to handle harsh coastal environments while remaining equally at home on your favorite lake, making it a great all-water reel.
Built on a rigid aluminum frame with lightweight C45 carbon side plates, the reel provides the durability needed for battling hard-fighting inshore species while maintaining a compact, comfortable profile for all-day fishing. The reel features Lew’s ParaMag® RX magnetic cast control system for micro-precise braking adjustments, smoother casts, and reduced backlash, while machined aluminum Speed Gears® with a P2 Super Pinion® deliver long-lasting durability and consistently smooth retrieves.
"I’ve put the new Lew’s Custom TLX through some of the harshest environments on the South Texas coast for the past year. The TLX has proven to be the pinnacle of durability and reliability. It took everything I threw at it and just kept proving to be the reel I went to grab day in and day out." – Capt. Brett Sweeny
Additional features include anti-rust, double-shielded ball bearings, a titanium-coated two-stage line guide for improved casting performance with braided line, a braid-ready knurled aluminum spool, and an aluminum handle with hybrid EVA/cork knobs for a secure, comfortable grip on the water.
Major League Fishing Fisheries Management Division and Zoeller Pumps Award $5,000 “We Work For Water” Grant to Mighty River Recovery
Grant supports St. Johns River habitat restoration, research and citizen-led conservation efforts
OCALA, Fla. (June 1, 2026) – Major League Fishing’s Fisheries Management Division (MLF FMD), in partnership with the Zoeller Pump Company, has awarded a $5,000 grant to Mighty River Recovery through the Zoeller “We Work For Water” program. The grant will support Mighty River Recovery’s ongoing work to restore native habitat, improve water quality and better understand the causes behind the decline of Florida’s historic St. Johns River system.
The check presentation took place in conjunction with MLF’s Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops all-star event at Orange Lake in Ocala, Florida.
Mighty River Recovery, led by Executive Director Joe Balog, is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to reversing the decline of the St. Johns River, one of Florida’s most iconic fisheries and a longtime cornerstone of recreational and tournament bass fishing. The organization’s work focuses on habitat research, submerged aquatic vegetation restoration, water-quality monitoring and citizen-led conservation projects designed to help rebuild the river’s ecosystem.
“On behalf of Major League Fishing, our Fisheries Management Division and Zoeller Pumps’ We Work For Water program, we’re proud to present this $5,000 grant to Joe Balog and Mighty River Recovery to support the important work they’re doing on the St. Johns River,” said Gary Klein, MLF co-founder. “The St. Johns River is a special place to so many anglers, including me. I started my professional B.A.S.S. career there in 1979, and it has played a major role in the history of organized bass fishing for decades. Supporting work that helps protect and restore that resource is exactly what this program is all about.”
The grant marks the second round of support awarded through the Zoeller “We Work For Water” program. The initiative launched at REDCREST 2026, where Klein presented the program’s inaugural grant to the James River Basin Partnership in support of its “Fresh Flush Program,” which targets water-quality improvements through proactive septic tank pump-outs.
Mighty River Recovery was established in 2024 to address the decline of native submerged aquatic vegetation throughout the St. Johns River system. The organization has developed a multifaceted approach to ecosystem recovery, including research stations along the river, citizen-built enclosures that protect native vegetation, sediment and water-quality research, and monitoring efforts designed to better understand fish and wildlife activity around active restoration sites.
“Mighty River Recovery is determined to end the decline of the St. Johns River,” said Balog. “This river has been an important part of organized fishing, recreational fishing and tourism in Florida for decades, but over the last 20 to 30 years we’ve seen declines in water quality, aquatic vegetation, habitat and fish numbers. We’re working to figure out why that’s happening and what we can do to help drive management and resources toward rebuilding the ecosystem.”
Balog said the $5,000 grant will go directly toward Mighty River Recovery’s on-the-water conservation work.
“This money will go directly into our habitat research and restoration work on the St. Johns River,” Balog said. “There’s no administrative fee. This is $5,000 of boots-on-the-ground effort. We appreciate companies like Zoeller Pumps that see the value of conservation, fisheries and habitat improvement, and we’ll use this money wisely.”
Mighty River Recovery’s work includes its Citizens Enclosure Project, which protects native aquatic vegetation inside fenced areas while researchers track plant growth. The organization also conducts sediment and water-quality research, partners with academic and state resource professionals, and monitors restoration sites with underwater and trail cameras.
Balog also credits Mighty River Recovery’s volunteer base for helping move the organization’s work forward.
“We have a couple hundred volunteers now helping us every day in the water, and we couldn’t do it without them,” Balog said. “We also couldn’t do it without support from groups like Major League Fishing, so we’re thankful for what MLF and Zoeller Pumps are doing to support this work.”
For more information about Mighty River Recovery, visit MightyRiverRecovery.org. For more information about the Major League Fishing Fisheries Management Division, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram, Rumble 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, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
Why These Pros Run Suzuki — And Why It Might Be the Last Engine Decision You Ever Have to Make
There's a version of bass fishing where you spend real mental energy — before every tournament day, before every long pre-fish run — wondering if the motor is going to cooperate. Whether it'll start clean in the cold, push through the chop, handle the hydrilla wrap. That low-grade anxiety lives in the back of your head whether you admit it or not.
The guys in this video don't have that problem anymore.
Cody Meyer, Anthony Gagliardi, and Keith Carson are three of the better tournament anglers in the country. They fish different circuits, different bodies of water, different styles. But they landed on the same answer. We sat down with all three to talk about what matters most when your livelihood depends on getting from point A to point B — and getting back.
The word that keeps coming up is reliability. Not horsepower specs. Not cowling design. Reliability.
"You turn that key and it starts so quiet and you just go," Carson told us. He fishes the MLF Bass Pro Tour, which means big water, long runs, and conditions that will expose a weak link fast. He talks about running through rough water and thick grass without the motor skipping a beat — what he calls "motor anxiety." He doesn't have it anymore. That's not a small thing.
Meyer came to Suzuki the way a lot of people do: word of mouth. "When I talk to so many guys, everyone raves about durability," he said. That reputation travels fast in tournament circles. Meyer isn't just talking about getting away from the ramp and the crowds — he's talking about knowing he'll make it home. Every trip out. That kind of confidence changes how you fish.
Gagliardi might have put it most plainly. He said if he had zero affiliation with Suzuki — no deal, no sponsorship, nothing — he'd still be running this engine. For a recreational angler who doesn't want to think about motor problems, he called it a no-brainer. Coming from a guy who makes his living on the water, that lands.
It lines up with what Suzuki has built toward since they put their first outboard in the water back in 1965. Nine NMMA Innovation Awards. A full lineup from 2.5 horses up to the flagship DF350 V6. The engineering philosophy behind every one of those motors is the same — lightweight, efficient, 4-stroke power that holds up over thousands of hours and doesn't apologize for it. Beneath the cowling is precision-grade construction that's been tested, refined, and stress-tested again before it ever hits a dealer floor.
Right now, Suzuki is backing all of that with their 7-Year Factory Limited Warranty — their best coverage ever. It applies to all eligible 150–350HP pleasure models, and it's the kind of offer that makes the decision even easier. The promotion runs through July 3, 2026, so if you've been on the fence, that's the window. Talk to your local authorized Suzuki Marine dealer for details.
Watch the video above. These three guys aren't reading from a script — they're telling you what they've told other anglers privately for years. Then go find a dealer and see what the right Suzuki looks like for your rig.
To learn more, visit SuzukiMarine.com.
Minor wins weather-shortened kayak event at Santee Cooper Lakes
CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Ewing Minor is not only one of the best young anglers on any of the Bassmaster circuits, but he’s a competitor at heart.
So, naturally, he was disappointed when the second and final day of the 2026 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series at Santee Cooper Lakes presented by Native Watercraft was cancelled due to the potential for dangerous winds.
“When you prepare for a two-day tournament and you only fish one day, you feel like the job isn’t done,” he said Sunday morning after B.A.S.S. officials had already called off Day 2 of the derby that boasted 214 anglers fishing for part of a $42,800 cash purse.
Still, Minor felt it was the right decision to cancel, given the possibility for hazardous conditions.
“Not everyone will have enough sense to stay safe when there’s money on the line,” the 24-year-old Dandridge, Tenn., resident said. “And to be honest, when I’m in a tournament, I’m going where the fish are. Unless it’s just ridiculously rough, I’d do things I wouldn’t do outside of a tournament.”
Tournament Director Steve Owens said it’s always difficult to cancel an event, especially one that attracted competitors from around the country to the Palmetto State for what was the third of six regular-season derbies scheduled on the 2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series.
“Based on a compilation of data from multiple weather outlets … it looked like the best decision for overall angler safety was to cancel Day 2,” Owens said Sunday morning. “We waited overnight, hoping the strength of sustained and gusting winds would diminish. We understand that there are areas that can be protected from the wind, as well.
“However,” Owens continued, “we are an open series which means we not only have seasoned hardcore competitors, but we also have anglers in the beginning stages of learning navigation, safety, what to do in dangerous situations and even identifying what is a dangerous situation. We have anglers from 16 years old up to nearly 70 years old; anglers who may have limited physical abilities, as well. So, we must account for all of those who may not be able to make the types of decisions to keep themselves safe.”
Minor took the Day 1 lead Saturday with a five-bass limit that measured 106.75 inches. He caught the majority of his keepers around a dock not far from take-off and said he planned to return there to begin Day 2.
“I was gonna’ start there and hopefully pull a fish or two off that same dock,” he said. “There still were fish there. After I finished my limit there, I spent half the day yesterday just practicing in other places. The last 35 to 45 minutes of the day, I was pulling my bait away from fish.
“You can’t feel too confident, not with the number of people fishing you’re against in a tournament this size,” he added. “But I definitely was confident I’d catch fish today.”
A Hideup Coike Full Cast soft bait was Minor’s lure of choice at Santee. The lure has been popular in Japan for a couple decades, but only recently caught on in America. It’s a confidence bait for Minor — one he’s seemingly mastered while some competitors are only beginning to tinker with the lure (which resembles a sea urchin).
“I saw a bait that was winning a bunch of tournaments and said ‘I need to figure this thing out,’” Minor said. “It’s like a combination of a wacky rig and a jerkbait. And it’s hard to argue with it. The fish eat it.”
Minor’s tournament results in 2026, and with a Hideup Coike tied on, speak for themselves. He finished sixth in the Bassmaster Kayak Series season opener on Florida’s Kissimmee Chain in February and placed 13th at Caddo Lake/Lake Bistineau in north Louisiana in April. Between those two regular-season events, he placed 12th in the 2025 Championship, held in March on lakes Chickamauga and Nickajack in his native Tennessee.
And now he’s added a victory to his resume at Santee. The win earned Minor a $10,550 first prize as well as a berth in the 2026 Newport Bassmaster Series Championship presented by Native Watercraft, when it’s held Oct. 14-16 on Lake Murray a couple hours further inland from the Santee Lakes. It will be the first-ever standalone Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship after years of being held during Classic week.
Also finishing in the Top 5 at Santee Cooper, and securing spots in the series championship are second, Tennessee’s Rus Snyders, 105.5 inches, $4,775; third, North Carolina’s Will Lambert, 104.75, $2,975; fourth, Pennsylvania’s Greg Polec, 104.5, $2,300; and fifth North Carolina’s Cher Tou Thao, 100.25, $2,200. Full results of the Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series at Santee Cooper Lakes presented by Native Watercraft can be found here.
Lambert caught the big bass on Saturday — a 24.5-inch largemouth he hooked between 7 and 8 a.m. ET. The catch earned him a $500 prize.
The Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce hosted the event.
2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series
2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series Presenting Sponsor: Native Watercraft
2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year Sponsor: Pro-Guide Batteries
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, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, 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, Tackle Warehouse 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.
Georgia’s Jack Story Goes Wire-to-Wire to Win 43rd Annual Phoenix BFL All-American Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Murray
South Carolina Division boater catches final day limit weighing 17-7 to earn 2026 All-American title and top payout of $100,000
COLUMBIA, S.C. (May 30, 2026) – Jack Story of Atlanta, Georgia, was supposed to walk across the graduation stage with his high school classmates this weekend. Instead, he left the weigh-in stage at the 43rd annual Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) All-American Championship Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Murray atop the leaderboard all three days.
After taking the lead with 22 pounds, 11 ounces on Day 1, Story made all the right adjustments to wrap up a wire-to-wire victory. The youngest-ever winner of the annual grassroots championship, surpassing a mark set by Jacob Wheeler 15 years ago on Cross Lake, the 18-year-old earned $100,000 and qualified for REDCREST 2027, Major League Fishing’s most prestigious event.
Weighing 17-7 on Day 3 brought Story’s total to 61-8, which proved just enough to hold off Brooks Anderson of Marietta, Georgia, who charged up the leaderboard with 22-11 on Day 3 and finished with a 60-14 total. In third, Caz Anderson of Haysville, North Carolina, weighed 59-13, and Tom Frink of Southside, Alabama, finished fourth with 59-8 to round out a very compelling race through much of the day on the MLFNOW! livestream.
Young anglers have been winning the All-American since the beginning. Back in 1984, Shaw Grigsby took the trophy at just 28, and Emil Wagner was 25 when he won a few years ago at Lake Hartwell. But this is the first time the winner skipped high school graduation for Day 1. In doing so, Story set a high-water mark that is going to be very hard to top.
Mostly cool and collected throughout the event, Story erupted on stage when his final weight was called, andit was apparent how much the win meant to him.
“This morning, I had to tie my leader knot four or five times, because my hands were shaking so bad,” he said. “In hindsight, it’s awesome – but not when you can’t tie your leader knot and there are fish schooling around the boat.”
Even though he spent all week fishing in his element, triggering herring-eaters to bite, Story had a trying final day.
“I don’t know what to even say,” he added. “Everybody who has supported me, they’ve made all of this possible. It’s the only reason it can happen. When it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be, and today it was just meant to be.”
Raised on Lake Lanier and schooled on LiveScope by Wagner, Story is preternaturally good with a Zoom Fluke and highly in tune with bass that chase blueback herring. So, he wasn’t at all mad about the chance to fish his first All-American on Lake Murray.
“I was confident,” he said. “I’d say I’m pretty good at herring fishing – I don’t want to be overconfident, but when I saw it was here, I was way happier than other places it could have been. I was excited for it to be somewhere relatively close to home, doing what I like doing.”
On Day 1, everything went exactly to plan. Story ran down the lake to his best point, waited until the conditions seemed right, turned on his LiveScope and waylaid 22-11.
It wasn’t that easy the rest of the way.
“Day 2, I went back to the same place, and I started my ‘Scope period,” he said. “They wouldn’t really eat the Fluke that well, so I started throwing a minnow, and I caught some of my weight on a minnow. Day 2, I didn’t have much. I needed something to happen. I ran up the lake to get to a bed fish, because I thought it was sunny. It was sunny when I started running. When I got to the bed fish, I couldn’t see her because it was cloudy. So, I ran out to fish more Fluke stuff. I don’t know what did it, but I looked down the lake and saw clouds and wind. I was like ‘Those fish are going to bite.’ I did a U-turn, got down, threw over them, caught a 3½-pounder, threw again, caught a 5.70, and left them again.”
It was the kind of gut call that wins tournaments if it works, yet could just as easily leave an angler looking frazzled if it doesn’t.
“I ran straight up the lake and straight back. My co-angler was probably confused; I would be too,” he said. “But the conditions are what make smart fish bite – bottom line.”
On Day 3, things went even less smoothly – Story only had 14 or 15 pounds for a long time, and his offshore, herring-oriented fish were not playing nice. So, he burned some of his three hours with LiveScope looking for fry guarders he’d marked during practice.
“I had four of them, and I was saving them,” Story explained. “I ran to the first one – gone. The second one – gone. Third one – gone. The fourth one, by luck, was still there. I threw to her with four or five different minnows, and the fifth minnow got her. I knew if I could get one good fish during my ‘Scope period, I felt confident I could do one more after.”
A Zoom Fluke in chartreuse or chartreuse herring did most of the damage for Story, and he mostly threw them weightless. However, for his last cull, Story pulled out a D-Style Geelacanth to pluck a bed fish.
“I thought the pocket looked good – I don’t really know what else to say,” explained Story. “It just looked perfect. I pulled up, it looked how I liked it, and I was weaving in and out between the docks. I looked down, and I saw one of the bigger fish I’ve seen on this lake over a light spot. I put a dot down, fished though the entire cove and went straight to that bed. I caught the male – it was 3-14 – and the female had to have been two times the size. It looked like a grass carp.”
That one didn’t make it in the boat, but Story’s final cull was enough to keep him ahead of Anderson and cement his name in the history books of bass fishing.
“I caught four of my fish without ‘Scope today, and I wouldn’t have believed that (beforehand),” he said. “I found some in practice, but I really wouldn’t have believed I’d have weighed the fish that won the All-American off a bed. When it’s your time, it’s your time.”
The top 10 boaters at the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American on Lake Murray finished:
1st: Jack Story, Atlanta, Ga., 15 bass, 61-8, $100,000
2nd: Brooks Anderson, Marietta, Ga., 15 bass, 60-14, $35,000
3rd: Caz Anderson, Haysville, N.C., 15 bass, 59-13, $15,000
4th: Tom Frink, Southside, Ala., 15 bass, 59-8, $21,000
5th: Lucas Murphy, West Columbia, S.C., 15 bass, 57-6, $18,000
6th: Matt McCluskey, Ashburn, Va., 15 bass, 57-1, $12,000
7th: Landon Lawson, Jonesborough, Tenn., 14 bass, 54-3, $12,000
8th: Cody Mackie, McMinnville, Tenn., 15 bass, 50-12, $10,000
9th: William Bates, Alpharetta, Ga., 13 bass, 49-12, $9,000
10th: Zeke Gossett, Pell City, Ala., 14 bass, 49-7, $8,000
A full list of boater results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 46 bass weighing 161 pounds, 4 ounces caught by 10 boaters on Saturday. The catch included seven five-bass limits.
The highest-finishing boater from each Regional Championship (including the Wild Card and TBF) at the All-American also now advance to the 2026 Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning $235,000.
The 14 boaters that finished highest from their region and earned an automatic qualification to compete at the 2026 Toyota Series Championship on Tennessee’s Pickwick Lake are:
Matt McCluskey, Ashburn, Va.
Jack Story, Atlanta, Ga.
Jeremy Mull, Pawnee, Ill.
Nicholas Seitz, Monclova, Ohio
Cody Mackie, McMinnville, Tenn.
Joshua Teply, Harrah, Okla.
Justin Berger, Murray, Ky.
Tom Frink, Southside, Ala.
Landon Lawson, Jonesborough, Tenn.
Brooks Anderson, Marietta, Ga.
Corey Neece, Bristol, Tenn.
Riley Harris, Orange, Texas
Michael Murphy, Gilbert, S.C.
Caz Anderson, Haysville N.C.
Zachary Howell of Tipton, Iowa, won the All-American co-angler division on Saturday with a three-day total of nine bass weighing 28 pounds, 6 ounces to earn the top prize package of $50,000. Co-angler James Ramsey of Boaz, Alabama, finished runner up in second place with a three-day total of eight bass weighing 26 pounds, 9 ounces, good for $10,000.
“My dad, brother and I came down here and practiced, but we couldn’t really figure them out,” said Howell. “It annoyed us a bit. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but my boater had us around fish, and I was just throwing the right bait at the right time and got some fish in the boat.”
That bait was, of course, a Zoom Fluke in white and chartreuse.
“It was the same thing every day,” said Howell. “Day 1, I caught two on a Fluke and then one on a drop-shot. Then, it was a Fluke bite the rest of the way. Just like everybody else, you had to hit them early, because around 10 or 11 o’clock, the bite shut off.”
The main story is that Howell almost didn’t come to the event, as his grandma Rose was in the hospital.
“She’s been in the hospital the last three weeks battling cancer; she’s been battling it for over a year,” said Howell. “She wasn’t doing well. We went and saw her last week, and we were talking about the tournament, and I told her initially that I wasn’t going to go because of how sick she was. I wanted to be around family. She grabbed my hand and told me ‘Go win $50,000.’ She passed away on Tuesday. I couldn’t help but think that she had a front row seat up there.”
Howell has real-life uses for the paycheck: He wants to re-power his Phoenix and pay off his truck. But those are not likely to be his primary takeaways from the week.
“I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. It’s an unreal feeling,” he said after winning. “I never thought something like this could happen to me. I gave it hell this week, but I couldn’t help but think that my grandma was watching over me.”
The top 10 co-anglers at the 2026 Phoenix BFL All-American on Lake Murray finished:
1st: Zachary Howell, Tipton, Iowa, nine bass, 28-6, $50,000
2nd: James Ramsey, Boaz, Ala., eight bass, 26-9, $10,000
3rd: Jordan Smith, Middletown, Ohio, eight bass, 25-1, $6,000
4th: Dustin Forrest, Knob Lick, Ky., nine bass, 24-10, $5,000
5th: Mason Franklin, McCalla, Ala., seven bass, 24-4, $4,500
6th: Wayne Smelser, Wytheville, Va., seven bass, 23-1, $4,000
7th: Tyson Giesbrecht, Gurley, Ala., six bass, 20-9, $3,500
8th: Darren Kelly, Wartburg, Tenn., nine bass, 20-4, $3,000
9th: Jordan Clayton, Archer City, Texas, five bass, 18-0, $2,500
10th: Jeff Rikard, Leesville, S.C., seven bass, 17-5, $2,000
A full list of co-angler results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 18 bass weighing 49 pounds, 10 ounces caught by the final 10 co-anglers on Saturday. The catch included three three-bass limits.
The 14 co-anglers that finished highest from their region and earned an automatic qualification to compete at the 2026 Toyota Series Championship on Tennessee’s Pickwick Lake are:
Richard Williams, Sutherland, Va.
Jeff Rikard, Leesville, S.C.
Zachary Howell, Tipton, Iowa
Jordan Smith, Middletown, Ohio
Dustin Forrest, Knob Lick, Ky.
Jordan Clayton, Archer City, Texas
Larry Stewart Jr., Brandon, Miss.
Mason Franklin, McCalla, Ala.
Wayne Smelser, Wytheville, Va.
Preston Williams, Tallahassee, Fla.
Darren Kelly, Wartburg, Tenn.
John McCullar, Benton, Ark.
Nolan Clark, Apex, N.C.
James Ramsey, Boaz, Ala.
The three-day All-American was hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism, and showcased the nation’s best weekend grassroots anglers. It awarded the winning boater a top prize of up to $120,000 – and an automatic qualification into REDCREST 2027, MLF’s most prestigious event – and the winning co-angler a top prize of $50,000.
Television coverage of the 2026 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Presented by T-H Marine will premiere Sunday, Aug. 23 at 10 a.m. ET on VICE TV. The full television air schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The full field of 47 boaters and 47 co-anglers competed on Days 1 (Thursday) and 2 (Friday) of the event. After two days of competition, the field was cut to just the top 10 boaters and co-anglers, based on two-day total cumulative weight, and the final 10 anglers competed on Championship Saturday. The boater and co-angler that caught the heaviest three-day total weight were crowned the 43rd Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Champions.
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 event winners, advanced to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they competed to finish in the top three, which then advanced them to compete in the 2026 BFL All-American. The field also includes the top eligible finisher from each of seven The Bass Federation (TBF) divisions in the 2026 TBF National Championship.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, Mystik Lubricants, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
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, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
Minor is major on Day 1 of kayak series event at Santee Cooper Lakes
CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Ewing Minor’s original plan for Day 1 of the 2026 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft at Santee Cooper Lakes was a dud.
Realizing that, he made a mid-morning move that was more than beneficial to his cause.
The 24-year-old Dandridge, Tenn., resident set up early Saturday on an offshore spot he thought would be productive. It made sense, given that Santee Cooper bass have fully transitioned into post-spawn behavior. But try as he might, Minor couldn’t get the South Carolina bass to bite. With the clock nearing 10:30 a.m. ET and with only one keeper bass to his credit, he decided to move to a secondary spot.
While motoring there, he decided to cast toward a particular dock. Considering there are dozens between the far-flung location he’d originally chosen to fish and the spot he was heading, he could have chosen any dock.
But the one he picked was all aces.
Minor caught more than 100 inches of bass around the dock, finishing Saturday’s competition with a total weight of 106.75 inches and the Day 1 lead in this tournament — the third of six regular-season events in the 2026 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft.
“Today was very calm and cloudy,” Minor said. “The fish I planned to focus on just wouldn’t bite. Nothing was working. So, I scrapped everything and was moving to a backup spot. Before I got there, I stopped on this one dock and it didn’t take long to catch 100 inches. After that, I just practiced the rest of the day.”
Minor caught his bass using a Hideup Coike Full Cast softbait in anywhere from 3 to 8 feet of water. He wasn’t quite ready to divulge how he fished the lure on Saturday, noting that many anglers haven’t figured out how to best work the coike (which resembles a sea urchin). The lure has been popular in Japan (where it originated) for 20 years, but only last year did it become a hot-ticket bait on American fishing circuits.
Minor, however, is so fond of the coike, his profile photo on the Tourney X standings page pictures him with the lure, its soft plastic spines dangling toward the camera lens.
And now, of course, his name is atop the same standings page entering the second and final day of this tournament on Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie, collectively known as the Santee Cooper system. Minor said he’s not sure what to expect on Day 2 of the event, but figures to hit a variety of places looking for the right bites.
“I don’t know what to think about tomorrow, honestly,” Minor said. “But I wasn’t really sure what to expect today, though I knew I was around some big fish. Hopefully I can put together a solid limit again.”
Minor’s hot start at Santee continues a string of success he’s had to date in 2026. He finished sixth in the Bassmaster Kayak Series season opener on Florida’s Kissimmee Chain in February and 13th at Lake Caddo/Lake Bistineau in north Louisiana in April. Between those two regular-season events, he placed 12th in the 2025 Championship, held in March on lakes Chickamauga and Nickajack in his native Tennessee.
Rounding out the Top 5 after Day 1 at Santee are second, Tennessee’s Rus Snyders, 105.5 inches; third, North Carolina’s Will Lambert, 104.75; fourth, Pennsylvania’s Greg Polec, 104.5; and fifth North Carolina’s Cher Tou Thao, 100.25.
The Top 5 anglers in each regular-season tournament qualify for the first ever standalone series title event, the 2026 Newport Bassmaster Series Championship presented by Native Watercraft, when it’s held Oct. 14-16 on Lake Murray a couple hours further inland from the Santee Lakes.
A total of 214 anglers from throughout the U.S. are competing this weekend at Santee Cooper for a portion of a cash purse totaling $42,800. Lambert caught the big bass of the day — a 24.5-inch largemouth he hooked between 7 and 8 a.m. ET Saturday morning.
The second and final day of the tournament will begin with a 5:30 a.m. ET launch and lines in at 6 a.m. ET. Competition ends at 2 p.m. ET with a 3 p.m. ET deadline for all catches submitted into the Tourney X scoring system. An awards ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. ET at Manning (S.C.) Junior High School.
Follow the action as it unfolds on Bassmaster.com.
The Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce is hosting this event.
2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series
2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series Presenting Sponsor: Native Watercraft
2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year Sponsor: Pro-Guide Batteries
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, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, 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, Tackle Warehouse 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.
Jones secures College Bracket berth with James River victory
RICHMOND, Va. — Anderson Jones knew he would have to win the 2026 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at James River presented by Bass Pro Shops if he had any chance of leaving eastern Virginia as Lunkers Trail Team of the Year recipient.
His strategy was risky, but with conditions trending in his favor, all the ingredients came together to do just that.
In his final regular season College Series event, the Lander University senior claimed his second career victory, landing a two-day total of 40 pounds, 11 ounces to outlast West Alabama’s Phillip Herring & Parker O'Bryan and the rest of the 170-boat field. His first win came at Clarks Hills in 2024, a vastly different fishery than the James River.
His trophy will also join the 2025 College Classic exhibition trophy from Eagle Mountain Lake, a tournament he won with a remarkable 35-pound limit.
“I can’t really believe it,” Jones said. “I told myself that if I wanted a shot at winning points, I’d have to win. It’s crazy it happened again. Everything added up perfectly.”
The 24-year-old opened the tournament by catching 23-15, a limit anchored by an 8-10 largemouth that earned Big Bass of the Tournament honors before landing 16-10 on the final day. With the win, Jones claimed Lunkers Trail Team of the Year honors and punched his ticket to the College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s, a goal he had come so close to achieving the previous two seasons.
Even though winning was the objective, Jones went into the tournament with a relaxed attitude wanting to make sure he enjoyed his final regular season event.
“I wanted to have fun regardless of the outcome. My college career is coming to an end,” Jones said. “I got second in points the last two seasons, but I didn’t want to put extra pressure on myself this week. I just wanted to fish how I fish during a fun weekend.”
With a change in tide, and a congregation of teams in certain areas, Day 2 was much tougher on the field. Only one 20-pound bag crossed the scales and most teams struggled to reach 13 pounds.
Heading into the tournament, Jones knew he wanted to target the Florida-strain bass that live in the Chickahominy River despite the long run and a gas gauge that was only semi-accurate. In the river, he found one small area of vegetation in less than 6 feet of water, a mix of hydrilla and another thicker grass, that held quality largemouth.
“Finding that super green, healthy grass was super key,” he added.
A red 17mm HideUp Coike produced all of his bites. While he couldn’t see individual bass on his forward-facing sonar, he could pitch the bait to the edges and the bass would reveal themselves. He rigged it on a Ryugi quad hook with a 1/8-ounce nail weight.
With the moving water, positioning the bait was a bit of a challenge.
“I would have to predict where the bait would drift,” Jones said.
The outgoing tide cycle wasn’t favorable during practice, but on Day 1 Jones arrived just in time to enjoy an hour of out-going tide. In that time, he landed all of his limit. With an early boat number on Day 1, Jones enjoyed less traffic in his area. He counted five boats in the vicinity Friday, but when he arrived on Day 2, more than 20 boats were already in the general area.
“I had a feeling there would be more boats in there today,” he said. “Where I caught them, there were 25 boats plus boats. A lot of the same baits being thrown at the same fish. I was startled. The tide was reaching its end when I pulled up.”
Jones made the most of the final push of outgoing tide, landing three quality largemouth before the tide slacked off and the bite died for him and the rest of the teams around him. From there, he moved to his secondary area and landed two good bass, one off a cypress stump and another cruising along a shade line.
Now that he is qualified for the Bracket, Jones can go into the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship at Leech Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops with a similar attitude he used at the James River.
Herring and O’Bryan were the most consistent team of the week, catching limits weighing 18-14 and 18-6 to earn their spot in the College National Championship.
“I grew up on the Pascagoula River, so the tide is normal for me,” Herring said. “I understand how it works and what the bass do, so that helped a lot.”
Instead of joining the crowd in the Chickahominy, the West Alabama duo stayed closer to takeoff in the James River to maximize their fishing time. On Day 1, a tributary that led to a backwater pond produced all of their bites during the outgoing tide cycle. A ChatterBait and a Berkley Pit Boss were key in that area.
The second day, Herring and O’Bryan stayed even closer to takeoff and tossed the new Berkley Moeba and a Berkley Cull Shad around main river current breaks like laydown trees, wing dams and stumps.
“We started on trees that stuck out way further than anything else,” O’Bryan said. “Then anything that stuck out so the bass could sit behind and have bait rush by them.”
Troy University’s Colton Trotter and Barrett Choquette finished third with 36-11 followed by Hunter Owens and Jackie Hatfield from Carson-Newman University in fourth with 34-13. West Alabama’s Daylon Milam and James Dubose rounded out the Top 5 with 34-6.
The Top 10 percent of the field earned berths to the 2026 Strike King Bassmaster College Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops at Leech Lake in Minnesota.
Jones claimed Lunkers Trail Team of the Year points with 714 points, just two points more than second-place Luke Wyle and Trey Richardson from Auburn University. Carson-Newman’s Riley Brown and Nolan Gray finished third with 710 points.
The Henrico Sports and Entertainment Authority and Richmond Region Tourism hosted this tournament.
2026 Bassmaster College Series
2026 Bassmaster College Series
2026 Bassmaster College Series
2026 Bassmaster College Series
2026 Bassmaster College Series
2026 Bassmaster College Series
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, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, 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, Tackle Warehouse 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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Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]
2026 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at James River presented by Bass Pro Shops 5/29-5/30
James River, Richmond VA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Anderson Jones - Lander University 250
Day 1: 5 23-15 Day 2: 5 16-12 Total: 10 40-11
2. Phillip Herring - Parker O'Bryan University of West Alabama 249
Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 18-06 Total: 10 37-04
3. Colton Trotter - Barrett Choquette Troy University 248
Day 1: 5 18-13 Day 2: 5 17-14 Total: 10 36-11
4. Hunter Owens - Jackie Hatfield Carson-Newman University 247
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 14-12 Total: 10 34-13
5. Daylon Milam - James Dubose University of West Alabama 246
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 17-13 Total: 10 34-06
6. Tyler Zwick - Ryan Kahut Adrian College 245
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 22-01 Total: 10 34-00
7. Zion Dunaway - Andrew Krintz Purdue University 244
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 14-08 Total: 10 33-00
8. Brady Osborn - Connor Racine Adrian College 243
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 2 12-00 Total: 7 31-15
9. Luke Wyle - Trey Richardson III Auburn University 242
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 15-12 Total: 10 31-01
10. Cameron Yates - Harrison McCall Lander University 241
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 16-07 Total: 10 30-11
11. Landon Myers - Dylan May Carson-Newman University 240
Day 1: 5 21-10 Day 2: 4 07-14 Total: 9 29-08
12. Drew Pitts - Nicholas DellaPorta Carson-Newman University 239
Day 1: 4 09-15 Day 2: 5 19-06 Total: 9 29-05
13. Brady Pinwar - Hoyt Nicely Adrian College 238
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 18-06 Total: 10 29-05
14. Tanner Paumen - Logan Allen Bryan College 237
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 16-00 Total: 10 29-03
15. Peyton Walls - Aiden Futral Faulkner University 236
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 14-07 Total: 10 29-03
16. Jerry Brumbaugh Jr. - Quade Lobo Adrian College 235
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 13-11 Total: 10 28-02
17. Zach Helton - Blake Wheat Carson-Newman University 234
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 12-08 Total: 10 28-01
18. Jake Lovingood - Bryson Hatcher Bryan College 233
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 14-00 Total: 10 27-08
19. Garrett Sullivan - Hayes Pate Faulkner University 232
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 12-13 Total: 10 27-06
20. Hunter Slone - Barrett Newton Tennessee Tech University 231
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 16-04 Total: 10 27-05
21. Cody Domingos - University of Tennessee 230
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 13-06 Total: 10 27-04
22. Nolan Gray - Riley Brown Carson-Newman University 229
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 10-11 Total: 10 27-01
23. Zach Knight - James Sumrell Carson-Newman University 228
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 16-13 Total: 10 26-15
24. Daniel Litwin - Haden James James Madison University 227
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 14-00 Total: 10 26-15
25. Jack Myers - Nicholas Dulas Alexandria Technical And Communi 226
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 14-15 Total: 10 26-13
26. Caleb Neu - Justin Frey Bethel University 225
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 14-11 Total: 10 26-12
27. Max Flatten - Jon Luke Foster Erskine College 224
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 12-09 Total: 10 26-12
28. Alex Thigpen - Nathan Baldwin University of Alabama 223
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 13-05 Total: 10 26-12
29. Joe Vaulton - Walker LaRue Carson-Newman University 222
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 15-12 Total: 10 26-06
30. Skyler Stevens - Grant McCraney Faulkner University 221
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 13-05 Total: 10 26-06
31. Szymon Piton - Riley Faulkner Carson-Newman University 220
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 13-08 Total: 10 26-02
32. Wyatt Varney - Logan Buttolph Clemson University 219
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 14-04 Total: 10 26-01
33. John Cooper - Cody Tiemann University of North Alabama 218
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 14-00 Total: 10 26-01
34. Andrew Turner - Evan Powell Carson-Newman University 217
Day 1: 4 11-00 Day 2: 5 14-12 Total: 9 25-12
35. Andrew Terry - Kole Weir Bryan College 216
Day 1: 4 13-08 Day 2: 3 12-03 Total: 7 25-11
36. Jacob Jerrell - Cameron Seay University Of South Carolina Uni 215
Day 1: 4 11-05 Day 2: 5 13-15 Total: 9 25-04
37. Levi Bolton - Scooter Ligon Jr Emmanuel University 214
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-14 Total: 10 25-02
38. Wes Smith II - Caden Gettys Catawba Valley Community College 213
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 13-04 Total: 10 25-01
39. Mason Kornegay - Kaden Raichel University of West Alabama 212
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 13-01 Total: 10 24-12
40. Reese Walters - Wes Kinard University of Alabama 211
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 13-09 Total: 10 24-10
41. Hogan Benson - Jackson Pruett USC - Union 210
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 09-11 Total: 10 24-05
42. Connor Green - Braden Bevington Faulkner University 209
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 11-08 Total: 10 24-00
43. Cole McNeely - Fisher Britt University of West Alabama 208
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 12-09 Total: 10 23-15
44. Lucas Washburn - Braylon Eggerding Adrian College 207
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 4 07-04 Total: 9 23-14
45. Cambell Hall - Tyler Eggers NC State University 206
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 14-01 Total: 10 23-14
46. Brendan Ellis - Parker Mckee Faulkner University 205
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 11-01 Total: 10 23-09
47. Trey Marco - Jake Rowlands Carson-Newman University 204
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 12-09 Total: 10 23-07
48. Tate Turner - Judson Touchstone Auburn University 203
Day 1: 4 12-13 Day 2: 4 10-02 Total: 8 22-15
49. Grant Laney - Mason Carden University of West Alabama 202
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 12-13 Total: 10 22-11
50. Michael Gammons - Jackson Thomas Emmanuel University 201
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 14-03 Total: 10 22-10
51. Peyton Dunn - Luke Mcguffin Emmanuel University 200
Day 1: 4 11-05 Day 2: 5 11-05 Total: 9 22-10
52. Rylan Houk - Pete Shumaker East Tennessee State University 199
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 08-05 Total: 10 22-05
53. Michael Markham - David Robinson University of West Alabama 198
Day 1: 3 07-11 Day 2: 5 14-02 Total: 8 21-13
54. Hunter Starling - William Vickery Georgia Southern University 197
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 4 08-13 Total: 9 21-11
55. Brayden Ruckman - Zach Wolfe Carson-Newman University 196
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 4 08-11 Total: 9 21-10
56. Elijah Kelley - Kyle Smith Kentucky Christian University 195
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 11-07 Total: 10 21-04
57. Ryan Small - David Buccafuri Penn State University 194
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 10-03 Total: 10 21-03
58. Lane Clark - Tallis Morrison Erskine College 193
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 4 08-09 Total: 9 21-01
59. Cole Guck - Jonah Saad Emmanuel University 192
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 3 09-06 Total: 8 21-01
60. Max Hondorp - Ridge Faircloth Troy University 191
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 09-13 Total: 10 21-00
61. Chan Barber II - Lee Gwyn NC State University 190
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 3 09-05 Total: 8 20-11
62. Fisher Heard - Hunter Brewer University of North Alabama 189
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 4 09-10 Total: 9 20-06
63. Dylan Sorrells - Thomas Turnbull University of Montevallo 188
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 3 05-05 Total: 8 20-01
64. Joe Lutz - Braden Stutts UNC - Charlotte 187
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 09-05 Total: 10 20-01
65. Avery Padgett - Fischer Barber Troy University 186
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 08-13 Total: 10 20-00
66. Hayden Short - Mason Lyons Kentucky Christian University 185
Day 1: 3 07-14 Day 2: 4 12-00 Total: 7 19-14
67. Cole Russell - Ty Trentham University of Tennessee 184
Day 1: 4 08-03 Day 2: 5 11-10 Total: 9 19-13
68. Jeremy Harmon - Hayden Hart The Apprentice School Fishing Te 183
Day 1: 5 07-06 Day 2: 5 12-05 Total: 10 19-11
69. Brycen Williamson - Reed Rooke Erskine College 182
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 3 09-03 Total: 8 19-09
70. William Gully - Colton Odom Auburn University 181
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 11-04 Total: 10 19-07
71. Brendin Simich - Carter Stambelos Auburn University 180
Day 1: 4 06-11 Day 2: 5 12-02 Total: 9 18-13
72. Griffin Ralph - University of West Alabama 179
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 3 05-13 Total: 8 18-12
73. Cole Moulton - Jared Hubbard Lander University 178
Day 1: 4 08-06 Day 2: 5 09-14 Total: 9 18-04
74. Brooks Parker - Cole Edwards University of Montevallo 177
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 3 05-13 Total: 8 18-00
75. Chris Fallon - Asa Putnam University of West Alabama 176
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 17-12
76. Charlie Moomau - Matthew Delaney West Virginia University 175
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 3 06-08 Total: 8 17-11
77. Graham Flaherty - Nathan Preston Auburn University 174
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 4 07-05 Total: 9 17-11
78. Bryce Balentine - Will Boyd Jr Florida Gateway College 173
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 08-06 Total: 10 17-11
79. Noah Haas - Tyler Gross Purdue University 172
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 2 03-13 Total: 7 17-07
80. Dylan Mcgee - Elisha Toller Kentucky Christian University 171
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 2 03-15 Total: 7 17-00
81. Tucker McCoy - Connor Bell University of West Alabama 170
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 3 11-07 Total: 6 17-00
82. Hampton Shull - Landon Surrett Lander University 169
Day 1: 3 09-14 Day 2: 4 06-15 Total: 7 16-13
83. Trenton Carey - Lander University 168
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 2 03-10 Total: 7 16-10
84. Gavin Seewald - Drew Turnbull University of North Alabama 167
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 3 10-01 Total: 6 16-10
85. Kaden Casey - Lane Parker Carson-Newman University 166
Day 1: 4 10-05 Day 2: 3 06-03 Total: 7 16-08
86. Nick Pemberton - Jarren Crowder University of Montevallo 165
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 3 06-12 Total: 8 16-05
87. Aidan Ellege - Jacob Berryhill Carson-Newman University 164
Day 1: 4 06-13 Day 2: 4 09-06 Total: 8 16-03
88. Will Hammond - John Such Lander University 163
Day 1: 2 05-08 Day 2: 5 10-10 Total: 7 16-02
89. Logan Greeno - Ty Kreis University of Nebraska - Lincoln 162
Day 1: 2 06-09 Day 2: 5 09-05 Total: 7 15-14
90. Caleb Edwards - Jayden Lintner Emmanuel University 161
Day 1: 3 04-13 Day 2: 5 10-12 Total: 8 15-09
91. Will Kimbrough - Mac Nail Georgia Southern University 160
Day 1: 4 06-13 Day 2: 3 08-08 Total: 7 15-05
92. Tanner Herndon - Mason Taylor Bryan College 159
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 1 01-11 Total: 6 14-13
93. Matthew Norton - Ian Schroeder UNC - Charlotte 158
Day 1: 2 04-04 Day 2: 2 10-06 Total: 4 14-10
94. Andrew Blanton - Wyatt Gabehart Lander University 157
Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 5 11-11 Total: 7 14-09
95. Kyle Herrman - Nick Herrman Erskine College 156
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 1 01-13 Total: 6 14-04
96. Jake Arnold - Andrew Marsh James Madison University 155
Day 1: 4 07-03 Day 2: 2 06-15 Total: 6 14-02
97. Carty Shoen - Myles Vinyard Auburn University 154
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 5 09-07 Total: 7 13-08
98. Carson Peeters - Drew Wagner University of Wisconsin - Steven 153
Day 1: 3 08-04 Day 2: 1 05-03 Total: 4 13-07
99. Matthew Gunn - Matthew Massey Erskine College 152
Day 1: 3 11-06 Day 2: 1 01-14 Total: 4 13-04
100. Paul Baker - Chandler Cook Auburn University 151
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 1 01-08 Total: 6 13-03
101. Fletcher Allen - Jackson Shore UNC - Charlotte 150
Day 1: 2 04-14 Day 2: 4 08-04 Total: 6 13-02
102. Matthew Mitchell - University of South Carolina 149
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 2 03-13 Total: 7 13-00
103. Jackson Dowdle - Shockley Hiatt UNC - Charlotte 148
Day 1: 3 10-03 Day 2: 1 02-12 Total: 4 12-15
104. Tanner Moulton - Roper Putnam Lander University 147
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 2 03-04 Total: 7 12-12
105. Conner Nichols - Nathanael Eubank East Tennessee State University 146
Day 1: 4 07-07 Day 2: 3 05-04 Total: 7 12-11
106. Evan Newell - Hunter Olivet Carson-Newman University 145
Day 1: 2 03-13 Day 2: 3 08-10 Total: 5 12-07
107. Evan Polley - Dakota Van Weelden Carson-Newman University 144
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 3 06-01 Total: 6 12-04
108. GC Furr - Peyton Pitts Clemson University 143
Day 1: 3 09-00 Day 2: 2 03-03 Total: 5 12-03
109. Easton Drennon - Chase McCarter Carson-Newman University 142
Day 1: 3 09-14 Day 2: 1 02-03 Total: 4 12-01
110. Will Hadley - Charles Garrison Ohio State 141
Day 1: 3 06-10 Day 2: 2 05-06 Total: 5 12-00
111. Preston Barnett - Auburn University 140
Day 1: 4 07-01 Day 2: 2 04-13 Total: 6 11-14
112. Alex Geroulis - William Brogan Indiana University 139
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 11-04
113. Parker Welch - Zach Widelski McKendree University 138
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 3 07-04 Total: 5 11-03
114. Drew Kuhnle - Landon Rollison Lander University 137
Day 1: 1 02-12 Day 2: 3 08-04 Total: 4 11-00
115. Cooper Moon - Carson Holbert University of West Alabama 136
Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 3 06-13 Total: 5 11-00
116. Cole Mitchell - Leo Goldman High Point University 135
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 1 02-01 Total: 6 10-14
117. Devon Blevins - Lyndon Gaddy East Tennessee State University 134
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 10-12
118. Steven Deschene - Hunter King Blue Mountain Christian Universi 133
Day 1: 1 05-01 Day 2: 3 05-11 Total: 4 10-12
119. Robie Vines Jr - Catawba Valley Community College 132
Day 1: 1 03-02 Day 2: 3 07-07 Total: 4 10-09
120. Paxton Giem - Gavyn Rapp Adrian College 131
Day 1: 4 06-05 Day 2: 2 04-04 Total: 6 10-09
121. Matthew Knopp - Lander University 130
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 10-08
122. Colton Boelkes - Conner Lopez University of North Alabama 129
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 10-01
123. Knox Jones - Rock Fulton IV Auburn University 128
Day 1: 3 06-10 Day 2: 2 03-06 Total: 5 10-00
124. Cole Apeldorn - Scott Pantall Penn State University 127
Day 1: 3 06-00 Day 2: 2 04-00 Total: 5 10-00
125. Dylan Reid - Jaxson Smoak Georgia Southern University 126
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 3 05-04 Total: 6 09-15
126. John Kinard - Lincoln Kinard Clemson University 125
Day 1: 4 07-10 Day 2: 1 02-04 Total: 5 09-14
127. Nolan Fernandez - JonBrady Buttram University of West Alabama 124
Day 1: 2 08-01 Day 2: 1 01-11 Total: 3 09-12
128. Cole Carr - Rance Eddleblute Adrian College 123
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 2 04-08 Total: 5 09-10
129. Cabe Mackey - Aden Tompkins Catawba Valley Community College 122
Day 1: 2 03-10 Day 2: 2 05-13 Total: 4 09-07
130. Konnor Sweet - Jacob Baynes Liberty University 121
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 09-06
131. Leo Romano - Miller Kieran James Madison University 120
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 2 03-08 Total: 5 09-03
132. Anderson Keim - Palmer Parrish Clemson University 119
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 3 04-11 Total: 5 09-02
133. Rylan Green - Luke McGuffin Erskine College 118
Day 1: 3 07-08 Day 2: 1 01-09 Total: 4 09-01
134. Dustin Swafford - Grant Wells Catawba Valley Community College 117
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 4 07-05 Total: 5 09-01
135. Scott Balas - University of Wisconsin 116
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 2 05-14 Total: 4 09-01
136. Ethen Gardner - Clayton Allen University of West Alabama 115
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 1 04-04 Total: 4 08-15
137. Carson Hinson - UNC - Charlotte 114
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 08-14
138. Joe Mcnamara - University of North Alabama 113
Day 1: 3 08-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 08-05
139. Hunter Musick - Nicholas Palazzo East Tennessee State University 112
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 08-04
140. Jaxon Leverette - Austin Sawyer Troy University 111
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 2 04-00 Total: 5 08-04
141. Owen Kirkpatrick - Jack Daniel Jmu Bass Fishing 110
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 4 06-03 Total: 5 07-12
142. Dylan Mclaughlin - Lawton Williams Erskine College 109
Day 1: 4 07-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 07-07
143. Anna Kay - Briley Mills Emmanuel University 108
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 3 05-08 Total: 4 07-07
144. Maxwell Johnson - Carter Steed Brewton-Parker College 107
Day 1: 4 07-02 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 07-02
145. Tucker Sutherland - Brier Hardy Faulkner University 106
Day 1: 4 06-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 06-15
146. Rebekah Boyd - Luke Ray Shelton State Community College 105
Day 1: 2 06-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 06-11
147. Robert Shuford - Jacob Spence NC State University 104
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 2 03-06 Total: 4 06-08
148. Ethan Vue - Christian Vue UNC - Charlotte 103
Day 1: 4 06-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 06-07
149. Jacob Mitchell - Jordan Ramsey Marshall University 102
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 06-04
150. Mattix Durst - Jack Kropp Adrian College 101
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 06-02
151. Eli Cooke - Lucas Sheafer Erskine College 100
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 2 03-07 Total: 3 05-06
152. Holden Mcclung - Nathan Bennett Lander University 99
Day 1: 1 02-03 Day 2: 1 03-00 Total: 2 05-03
153. Colton Essner - Blake Davis University of Missouri 98
Day 1: 2 04-10 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 04-10
154. Mason Sills - Catawba Valley Community College 97
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 04-07 Total: 1 04-07
155. Nicholas Jones - Jacob Ditton Indiana University 96
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 04-02 Total: 1 04-02
156. Reed Williams - Emory Jackson Georgia Southern University 95
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-13 Total: 2 03-13
157. Owen Wheeler - Bethel University 94
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 1 01-15 Total: 2 03-12
158. Jake Buzin - University of South Carolina 93
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-11 Total: 1 03-11
159. Dyson Lewis - Cameron Chapman Catawba Valley Community College 92
Day 1: 2 03-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 03-00
160. Ryan Soles - Alexander Karp Georgia Southern University 91
Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 02-14
161. Ethan Hospedales - UNC - Charlotte 90
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 02-01
162. Nicholas Taborelli - Christopher Lassalle Penn State University 89
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-15
163. Tanner Wassilchalk - Andrew Cianflone West Virginia University 88
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-13 Total: 1 01-13
164. Keaton Suh - John Hwang Ohio State University 87
Day 1: 1 00-06 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 00-06
165. Carter Jerdon - Nate Giaimo Ohio State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
165. Brayden Jordan - Troy University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
165. Ryder Kahny - Shelton State Community College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
165. Blayne Leeman - Kentucky Christian University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
165. Dan Maciejczyk - John Meyer Penn State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
165. Gary Wilmuth - Shelton State Community College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURN
Anderson Jones Greenville, SC 08-10 $0.00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 84 624 1520-13
2 64 510 1302-15
------------------------------
148 1134 2823-12
Expect big bags from college anglers at James River
RICHMOND, Va. — According to Virginia pro Ryan Lachniet, college anglers will need to hit the tides right to unlock the magic of the James River during the 2026 Strike King Bassmaster College Series event presented by Bass Pro Shops.
“It should be really good,” the former Campbellsville University angler said. “Last October, I won a tournament out there with a two-day total of 49 pounds. The James has been really good the last couple of years.”
Tournament days are scheduled for May 29-30. Daily takeoffs and weigh-ins will take place at Osborne Park and Boat Landing in Richmond, Va. This is the final regular-season event for the College Series and the last chance for teams to qualify for the 2026 Strike King Bassmaster College Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops and earn points toward Team of the Year standings.
The James River has been a popular stop for the Bassmaster Tournament Trail over the past several years. Lachniet, who qualified for the 2025 Nitro Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers presented by Bass Pro Shops, won the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at James River presented by Lowrance last April with a three-day total of 53 pounds, 6 ounces, but he anticipates the fishing will be better for this College Series event.
“You can catch them anywhere in the system this time of year, but it will probably be dominated within three miles of the ramp or as far away as you can run,” Lachniet said. “The top half of the Chickahominy and then close to Osborne are going to be the two areas that dominate.”
Lachniet anticipates the bass will be in either a postspawn phase or in their early summer patterns. The bass in the early summer pattern will be set up around tide-related current breaks, and the college teams are in luck, because the tide forecasts call for an outgoing tide for much of the tournament.
“High tide is good for catching a lot of fish, but a lot of the really big bags come from low tide,” Lachniet said. “Someone is going to catch a mega-bag.”
The Chickahominy River is historically the place to win on the James River. Lily pads, hydrilla and cypress trees are key cover elements, as well as the Walkers Dam tailrace. A cold winter caused some of the hydrilla to die off, which Lachniet thinks could make for much better fishing.
The closer anglers stay to takeoff, the less the tide comes into play, but finding the right current breaks will be critical. Kenta Kimura won an April Bassmaster Open within sight of Osborne Landing in 2022.
“There could be 20 4-pounders on one of those current breaks, and you can catch 20 pounds in five casts,” Lachniet said. “I think one-cast spots will be really important.”
With shad and bream being the key forage, Lachniet anticipates that anglers who are willing to commit to a big glidebait or swimbait can have a lot of success. ChatterBaits and frogs around the vegetation and lily pads can produce key bites, as well as wacky rigs and Texas-rigged stickbaits or creature baits.
Richmond Region Tourism and Henrico Sports & Entertainment Authority are hosting the tournament.
2026 Bassmaster College Series
2026 Bassmaster College Series
2026 Bassmaster College Series
2026 Bassmaster College Series
2026 Bassmaster College Series
2026 Bassmaster College Series
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, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, 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, Tackle Warehouse 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.
Oklahoma Readies for Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 5 on Lake Eufaula Presented by K&N Filters
EUFAULA, Okla. – The fifth stop of the 2026 Major League Fishing (MLF) Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech will launch next week, June 5-7, in Eufaula, Oklahoma – the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 5 on Lake Eufaula Presented by K&N Filters.
The three-day Pro Circuit event will feature up to 150 professional bass anglers competing for a top prize of up to $135,000. Anglers will take to Lake Eufaula to catch their five biggest bass each day, and the winner will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative total.
MLF hasn’t had many events in June at Oklahoma’s Lake Eufaula, though the May 2024 Toyota Series event could provide some solid predictions. Won by Bokoshe, Oklahoma pro Chris Jones with a little better than 15 pounds a day, it featured a wide variety of patterns. Jones won the event running south, power fishing shallow, and others caught fish on finesse tactics on cover, offshore, and on a shad spawn.
“It’s very much transition, it’s definitely postspawn 100%,” said Moore, Oklahoma’s Shonn Goodwin. “It will depend very much on the water level. If it is up in the bushes, they’ll still be up in the bushes; you can win it or compete very well in the bushes.”
If the water isn’t up, it might really broaden the possibilities.
“A big thing is the shad spawn, I stopped at Eufaula once in early June, and the shad spawn was incredible, like I had never seen it,” Goodwin said. “That time of year, it can be very muddy, so it can make it difficult to get much of a deep bite. If the water is low, it’ll be cleared up, and it will be postspawn, and there will be good offshore stuff – rough spots, small drop-offs, brush, places that will hold them really well.”
Forward-facing sonar is a powerful tool at Eufaula to fish brush and small targets with shaky heads, Neko rigs and drop-shots. Though there’s a good chance the winner fishes in the dirt the whole event, there’s also plenty of room for modern technology to heavily influence the outcome, despite Oklahoma mud.
Anglers will launch at 6:30 a.m. CT each day from the Nichols Point Boat Ramp, located at 400 Lakeshore Drive in Eufaula, Oklahoma. Weigh-ins will also be held at the Nichols Point Boat Ramp and will begin at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and weigh-in events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2026 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech features a field of up to 150 professional anglers competing across six tournaments around the country for a total purse of $3.8 million and valuable 7 Brew Angler of the Year (AOY) points to qualify for the Pro Circuit Championship, set for Sept. 18-20 on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Kissimmee, Florida, and a coveted spot on the MLF Bass Pro Tour – the sport’s premier circuit.
In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of pros compete in the two-day opening round on Friday and Saturday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 50 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, advance to the final round on Championship Sunday. The winner is determined by heaviest cumulative weight from all three days and they will be awarded the grand prize of up to $135,000. Forward-facing and/or 360-degree sonar is limited to only 3 hours of competition each day.
The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live all three days of competition from 7 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. CT. MLFNOW! will be livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.
Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech Stop 5 on Lake Eufaula Presented by K&N Filters will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 4 on Vice TV.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by MillerTech include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
For complete details and updated information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit 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, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
Summer showdown set for Santee Cooper Kayak Series event
CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Summer will likely be in full swing when anglers arrive at Santee Cooper Lakes for the third stop of the 2026 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft season.
Tournament days are scheduled for May 30-31. Competitors will be able to launch from any approved public boat launch in this catch-weigh-release format event. The Top 5 anglers at the end of the tournament will punch their tickets to the 2026 National Championship, details of which will be announced later, and all anglers will earn points toward the Pro-Guide Batteries Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year race.
Lakes Marion and Moultrie have undergone a transformation over the last several years. A variety of vegetation, including eelgrass and hydrilla, has taken hold, making the two lakes even better than they already were. For years, Lake Marion was viewed as the superior lake, but with the grass, Lake Moultrie has become the more consistent of the two fisheries.
The water is clearer than it’s been in years, and during the spring, stringers in the upper 30s and lower 40s were brought to multiple tournament scales. Along with the vegetation, thousands of cypress trees stand in the lake. Plus, offshore brushpiles start to play more in the summer months.
By the end of May, the largemouth bass in the system will be either late in their postspawn phase or already in summer patterns. Expect topwaters, frogs, ChatterBaits, soft-plastic stickbaits and Texas-rigged worms to be top-performing baits.
Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce is hosting this event.
2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series
2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series Presenting Sponsor: Native Watercraft
2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year Sponsor: Pro-Guide Batteries
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, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, 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, Tackle Warehouse 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.
Summer boating season just got even better with Suzuki Marine!
Starting Memorial Day through Independence Day, Suzuki Marine is turning up the heat with the Ultimate 7-Year Warranty on qualifying new 150-350hp outboards with no participation fee. Whether you’re planning offshore runs, sandbar weekends, fishing trips, or sunset cruises, there’s never been a better time to power your adventures with Suzuki Marine. Built for dependable performance and exceptional fuel efficiency, Suzuki outboards are engineered to keep you on the water longer and worry less.
A 7-year warranty speaks volumes about the confidence Suzuki Marine has in its products — and now customers can experience that peace of mind all summer long. If you’ve been considering a repower or shopping for a new boat, now is the time to visit your authorized Suzuki Marine dealer or visit suzukimarine.com and take advantage of one of the best promotions of the season!
Running May 22 through July 3, this limited time 7-Year Warranty gives boaters even more confidence in the performance and durability Suzuki outboards are known for.
Davis Dominates NPFL at Lay Lake
Alabama pro Alex Davis earns his first NPFL win at Lay Lake with a three-day total weight of 51-10.
While things were changing across Lay Lake, the one thing that did not change at the Work Sharp NPFL Stop 3 was Alabama angler Alex Davis’ game plan. He started strong, stayed consistent, and caught fish early and often all three days to seal the deal.
Davis weighed 19-5 on Day One to take a share of the lead, added 18-5 on Day Two to move into the solo lead, and caught 14-0 early on the final day to build a comfortable cushion heading into the afternoon. While things got tougher across the fishery with increased boat traffic and fishing pressure, Davis had done enough to earn the NPFL shield and $100,000 with a three-day total of 51-10.
No stranger to NPFL victories, South Carolina angler Patrick Walters came close to earning another. Walters started strong on Day One with 19-4, including a 5-3 kicker, added 16-7 on Day Two, and weighed 15-1 on the final day to finish second with a three-day total of 50-12.
South Carolina angler Kristopher Queen finished third with a three-day total of 49-5 after weighing 15-2 on Day One, 17-8 on Day Two, and 16-11 on the final day. Georgia pro Drew Cook finished fourth with a total weight of 49-1, while fellow South Carolina angler Wesley Gore rounded out the top five with 47-8.
Big Bass of the event belonged to Ryan Satterfield, who finished just outside the top ten in 12th place with a three-day total of 42-4, anchored by a 7-10 kicker caught on the opening day of competition.
“I found those fish in practice after shaking off two fish, and I saw a big one boil,” said Satterfield. “I had no idea the quality of fish I was around, but I probably caught 30 fish in that little area this week. Every fish I weighed came within 40 yards of that big fish. I caught it on a wacky Senko around shallow grass, and it really kicked off my event.”
Davis Employs the Urchin
Earning his first major victory on an urchin-style bait was not on Alex Davis’ bingo card coming into the event. But after a day of practice and a few key bites, it quickly became a pattern that gave him the confidence to dedicate time to throughout practice.
“I would have never guessed my first big win would be on an urchin bait, but here we are,” Davis said. “I had no idea coming in that I would even throw one, and honestly, I only had six of them to my name. On the first day of practice, I fished for four hours and only had a few small fish. Luke Clausen told me he got a few bites on one (Hags baits), and I gave it a try. We ended up overnighting more of those baits to the house before the tournament.”
Over the rest of Day One, Davis boated roughly 21 pounds worth of Lay Lake bass. On Day Two of practice, he committed to it all day, and while the bite was slower, he was still able to catch numbers of fish while covering water and finding fish. On the final day of practice, he started learning which areas would be best. He boated over 20 bass and also found a jerkbait bite that gave him some added confidence.
“I actually started on the jerkbait bite the first day of the event and caught a few small fish,” he said. “I got sick of it and started throwing the urchin, and within the first few hours I had my Day One limit. I was simply going down the bank, keeping my eyes on Humminbird MEGA 360, fishing every dock, brush pile, stump, or patch of grass I could find. I knew after Day One I had a shot.”
On Day Two, during Live Coverage, his first fish was a 5-pounder that immediately got things rolling. Before lunch, he had over 18 pounds and did enough to take over the solo lead. But it was a decision on Day Two that ultimately set the stage for his victory on the final day.
“At one point I was catching so many fish yesterday that were not helping me, I was throwing back 3-pounders and realized I cannot do this,” he said. “Conserving fish was key. Having a bunch of different places was key. MEGA 360 was key. I just fished slow and methodical, and I knew it was my time going into this morning. I just put my head down and fished.”
On the final day, before Live Coverage had even kicked off, Davis got to work. He boated over 13 pounds early, calming himself down and giving him confidence that he could close it out. Later in the morning, a 2.75-pound cull brought him to his eventual winning weight and was enough to hold off the late charge from Patrick Walters.
“When I came in for weigh-in, I talked to Derek (second place to start the day) and he said he struggled. I talked to Patrick and he showed me his scale, and I thought I may have had it,” Davis said. “This is something I have worked my whole career for. I have been close and finished second several times, and this time was my time. I knew it was my time, and I made it happen. It was a great week.”
Walters Climbs to Second
Practice started well for Patrick Walters, and he turned it into a near victory. In practice, he checked some deeper places and got bit quickly, mostly on a prototype Rapala jerkbait. He then went to the bank, trying to see where the bass were and what they were doing.
“I was looking for any sign of life; brim beds, spawners, shad spawn, just gauging where things were,” he said. “I had enough deeper stuff from the Elite three years ago, so I knew I could run around. We had Scope back then, so I knew how things set up and what the piles looked like. This time, I had to use Humminbird MEGA 360 to be as efficient as possible.”
With a plan in place, Walters sacked them up on Day One, starting the event in third place, and realized he may have a better shot than expected coming in. Each day, he mixed it up, as he generally does, throwing a variety of different baits both shallow and offshore.
“I rotated through a topwater, a new Rapala jerkbait, a Zoom Fluke Stick, and just went down the bank covering water and looking for fish,” Walters said. “The hardest thing when I got offshore was being efficient. It takes so long to fish the brush, but there were fish out there. MEGA 360 helped some; it was three or four casts rather than ten. It also helped me dial in the exact cast.”
On Day Two, he remained in third place with a shot on the final day. Each morning, he started shallow looking for a shad spawn, which turned out to be a huge letdown. Knowing he was one bite away, he may have spent just a little too much time shallow today chasing the big bite rather than trying to make a few culls offshore.
“This event was in my wheelhouse, and I made good decisions all week,” he said. “I shook two off in practice and caught them on Day One, things just worked out. Today, the sun peeked out some and I had a feeling I was one bite away. I went looking for a 5-pounder, and I probably should have tried to cull up offshore.”
To begin Showdown Saturday, he had a fast morning and built what he called a good baseline weight. Wrapping up the week in second, Walters added valuable AOY points and once again did what he does best — make things happen.
Final Leaderboard:
Alex Davis 51-10
Patrick Walters 50-12
Kristopher Queen 49-5
Drew Cook 49-1
Wesley Gore 47-8
Brandon Cobb 46-1
Derek Lehtonen 45-12
Richard Cooper 45-5
John Cox (FL) 44-9
Jason Burroughs 44-2
Darrell Davis 43-9
Ryan Satterfield 42-4
Jon Canada 41-14
Tim Cales 41-5
Luke Clausen 40-13
Jordan Osborne 40-6
Buddy Gross 39-10
Gerald Spohrer 39-1
Jacob Powroznik 39-0
Hank Cherry 38-15
Zack Birge 38-12
Matt Herren 38-7
Kyle Glasgow 37-11
Garrett Smith 37-11
Brock Mosley 37-6
Greg Vinson 37-5
Harmon Davis 36-10
Paul Browning 36-10
Bill Lowen 36-8
Nick Brown 35-15
James Niggemeyer 35-15
Randall Tharp 35-14
Fred Roumbanis 35-9
Greg Hackney 35-8
Josh Butler 35-7
Gary Adkins 35-4
JT Russell 34-14
Jared Lintner 34-13
Chad Grigsby 34-10
Andrew Upshaw 34-3
Scott Hamrick 34-0
Chad Marler 33-15
Wes Logan 33-8
Brad Whatley 33-7
J. Todd Tucker 33-4
Scott Suggs 33-2
Corey Casey 32-4
Stacey James 32-3
Timothy Reams 32-3
Todd Goade 31-14
Chris Baker 31-13
David Wootton 31-7
Lavoyd Lemmond 31-6
Barron Adams 30-15
Jason Meninger 30-13
Ron Johnson 30-4
Ray Hanselman 30-3
Dustin Williamson 30-2
Joey Bloom 30-2
Mike Quinlin 29-15
Andy Morgan 29-13
Pete Ponds 29-12
William Fletcher 29-10
Shane Lineberger 29-5
James Watson 29-3
Quentin Cappo 28-15
Jason Wilson 28-13
Jamie Pierce 28-11
Jason Reyes 28-10
Keith Bardolf 28-8
Logan Latuso 28-6
Russ Lane 28-4
Scott Canterbury 28-2
Gerald Swindle 27-15
Bo Collins 27-15
Hunter Sales 27-11
Todd Auten 27-2
David Williams 27-1
Brad Staley 26-15
Dustin Reneau 26-15
Jason Williamson 26-4
Michael Comeau 25-10
Charlie Apperson 25-7
Troy Roder 25-6
Bob Behrle 25-1
Dylan Freeze 24-14
Cole Harris 24-4
Josh Hooks 24-2
Adam Savage 23-15
Timothy Wilson 23-1
John Cox (GA) 22-12
Lendell Martin 22-12
Kevin Rogers 21-14
Matthew McBee 20-15
Cliff Crochet 20-8
Josh Watkins 20-5
T-Roy Broussard 20-2
Tim Frederick 19-6
Hunter Baughman 17-13
Scott Wiley 17-12
Craig Chambers 17-9
Joseph Lineberry 17-1
Sean Alvarez 16-13
Chip Harrington 16-13
Travis Jewell 15-3
Darrel Robertson 11-11
Alton Wilhoit 11-7
Bill Day 10-11
Johnnie Adams 9-6
Mitchell Webb 9-5
Christopher Whisenant 8-10
Austin Garland 3-4
Knight overcomes adversity to win Bassmaster Open at Kentucky/Barkley Lakes
PARIS, Tenn. — Clint Knight’s lifetime of fishing Kentucky Lake gave him complete confidence in his final-round game plan, but calling an audible set him up for a rain-soaked victory at the Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley presented by Battery Tender.
With the morning’s light drizzle turning into afternoon downpours, Knight tallied a three-day total of 62 pounds, 2 ounces and edged Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series rookie and fellow Kentucky Lake hammer Tristan McCormick by a margin of 1-3.
“I’m just speechless, right now,” Knight said of his accomplishment. “I think the world of Tristan. Me and him have been good friends for the last three or four years. We’ve learned a lot just growing up fishing the way we fish, so I’m really happy for his (Top 10 finish)."
Knight’s day started with an equipment issue, as his side imaging transducer was not working. He’d later make a wise adjustment that kept him in the hunt, but probably his best call was to delay his initial plan of running down to the Kentucky Lake Dam.
“I took off this morning thinking I was gonna swing for it, but I just had a gut feeling that things were going to change with all the rain, so I started on a little spot right out in front of Paris (north side of US Highway 79 Bridge) that I haven’t even fished this week,” Knight said. “I wanted to make sure I had a limit before I went swinging for it.
“It was just a gut feeling. I was on my way to the dam, but I had a feeling I needed to start there. It’s just a big community hole; a high spot in 20 feet on the edge of the river.”
The plan worked and Knight boated his first keeper — a 4 1/2-pound smallmouth — 11 minutes after the 6:30 a.m. takeoff. Quickly gathering a decent limit, he proceeded to his primary game plan of starting at the dam and working his way back to the Paris Landing area.
Knight caught those early fish with a jighead minnow. Most were eating the bait near the bottom, but when the fish came up schooling on baitfish, Knight would burn his minnow across the surface to draw aggressive bites.
“That made me feel good knowing that I made the right decision,” Knight said. “I fish with more confidence when I have a limit in the boat.”
From the Dam, Knight fished 30 to 40 spots, mostly bars and ledges. With today’s exception, recent weeks have seen minimal rain fall across the region, so the Tennessee Valley Authority has moved very little water through Kentucky Lake.
“When there’s a lack of current, those fish have no reason to be where they’re supposed to be,” Knight said. “I was not very efficient today because I didn’t have my SideScan. All the places I’d look for schools, I just put the trolling motor on 10 and looked for them.”
Describing his strategy, Knight said he’d make a strategic cast to likely areas and watch his forward facing sonar to see if he spotted any fish coming off the bottom to chase his bait.
Along with the jighead minnow, Knight caught the rest of his fish on a 3/4-ounce Green Fish Tackle Living Rubber Jig with a Berkley MaxScent Creature Hog, and a Hideup Coike Fullcast Neko rigged with a 3/0 flipping hook.
Earning his first Bassmaster win, Knight took home the $39,176 top prize and received an invitation to fish the 2027 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour, March 19-21 at Lake Hartwell.
“I was scared to death this morning when I realized I didn’t have any side-imaging,” Knight said. “I had been finding new schools about 1 or 2 o’clock every day, so I didn’t know how this was gonna work out, but it did."
McCormick, who lives in Bon Aqua, Tenn., finished second with 60-15. A Day 1 limit of 21-9 put him in third place, but McCormick added a second-round bag that went 25-4 — the event’s heaviest catch — and surged into the lead. A disjointed final round yielded 14-2.
Since Day 1, McCormick has made a long run upriver to New Johnsonville, which he considers his “home” section of the lake. Unfortunately, Championship Friday required multiple changes, the last of which delivered a late-day opportunity that he was unable to fully exploit.
“I checked a couple places where I expect them to show up and they did not show up,” McCormick said. “I ran all the way down there and all the way back up, past Paris and then I ran all the way down about halfway to New Johnsonville.
“I just couldn’t get in a grove. Everywhere I pulled up, I wasn’t getting a bite and I just knew that if I just kept going and kept going, I’d run into them.”
On his way back to weigh-in, McCormick finally found what he was looking for, but time was not on his side.
“Literally in the last 10 minutes, I scanned over a spot and there they were,” he said. “I turned around and made three casts and caught my three biggest ones. I just ran out of time.”
McCormick caught his fish on a jighead minnow with a Strike King Wing Minnow on a 1/8-ounce head, a Strike King 6XD crankbait, and a Hideup Coike Fullcast.
Trey Schroeder of Theodora, Mo., finished third with 57-12. His daily weights were 21-2, 16-5 and 20-5.
Schroeder did most of his work on a set of bars in 10 to 16 feet not far from the tournament site. He found the fish in different positions throughout the event, but noted that he looked for the aggressive fish that were in a feeding position.
“Every day around at about 1:30-2 o’clock, there was water running and that’s when those fish would set up on the point,” Schroeder said. “If they would set up, you could get right in a hurry.”
Schroeder caught his fish on a football jig, a jighead minnow with a 7-inch Deps Sackamata Shad on a 1/4-ounce head, and a Rapala DT-20.
Jack York of Emory, Texas won the $500 Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead with an 8-1.
Zane Parker of Kingwood, Texas leads the Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens presented by Battery Tender Division 2 standings with 569 points. Yui Aoki of Minamitsurugun, Japan is in second with 561, followed by Brody Robison of Dawson, Ala., with 559, Wyatt Burkhalter of Coker, Ala., with 550, and Ethan Fields of Carlyle, Ill., with 548.
Henry County Tourism Authority hosted this event.
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series P
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series
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, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, 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, Tackle Warehouse 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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2026 Div 2 Open 3 Kentucky Barkley Lake 5/20-5/22
Kentucky and Barkley Lakes, TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Clint Knight Russellville, KY 15 62-02 0 $39,176.00
Day 1: 5 21-08 Day 2: 5 20-15 Day 3: 5 19-11
2. Tristan McCormick Bon Aqua, TN 15 60-15 200 $15,670.00
Day 1: 5 21-09 Day 2: 5 25-04 Day 3: 5 14-02
3. Trey Schroeder Theodosia, MO 15 57-12 199 $11,753.00
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 16-05 Day 3: 5 20-05
4. Cole McAusland Tuscaloosa, AL 15 56-05 198 $10,969.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 21-00 Day 3: 5 19-05
5. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 15 55-11 197 $10,186.00
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 20-11 Day 3: 5 19-06
6. Jace Lindsay Beckville, TX 15 54-08 196 $9,402.00
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 5 19-00 Day 3: 5 16-08
7. Jack York Emory, TX 14 53-09 195 $9,119.00
Day 1: 5 23-00 Day 2: 4 17-05 Day 3: 5 13-04
8. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 15 51-15 0 $7,835.00
Day 1: 5 19-12 Day 2: 5 19-04 Day 3: 5 12-15
9. Riley Nielsen Salt Lake City, UT 15 51-14 194 $7,835.00
Day 1: 5 23-05 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 5 15-07
10. Zane Parker Kingwood, TX 15 49-05 193 $7,835.00
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 19-10 Day 3: 5 13-01
------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURNAMENT
Jack York Emory, TX 08-01 $500.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 105 678 1990-03
2 95 633 1828-12
3 10 50 164-00
------------------------------
210 1361 3982-15
Auburn University Anglers Shoen & Travis Win Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops
FLORENCE, AL (May 22, 2026) – The scales are closed, and results have been finalized as competition concludes for the 2026 Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. The Association of Collegiate Anglers’ 21st National Championship was contested each of the last two days at Pickwick Lake in Florence, AL. An elite field of close to 220 teams competed both days for more than $30,000 in prizes and contingencies, as well as triple points to count towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.
Benjamin Travis & Carty Shoen from 15th ranked Auburn University win the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops with a two-day total weight of 45.30 pounds. From 3rd ranked University of North Alabama, Fisher Heard & Hunter Brewer finish in 2nd, and Peyton Sorrow & Brady McCormick of top ranked University of Montevallo round out the Top 3.
View the final event standings.
Auburn University anglers Benjamin Travis & Carty Shoen entered the final day of tournament competition at the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops with the lead after weighing 26.91 pounds on Day 1. They backed that up today with 18.39 pounds to take their total weight to 45.30 pounds. That two-day total edges out their closest competitor by just over one pound. For their victory, Travis & Shoen earn $5,000 along with an additional $1,000 for the ACA logo contingency. Today’s victory marks Auburn’s third ACA National Championship title in the event’s 20-plus year history. Auburn joins Bethel University as the only two schools to have won college fishing’s longest-running National Championship event three times.
Finishing the tournament in 2nd place are Fisher Heard & Hunter Brewer. Representing 3rd ranked University of North Alabama, they finished the event with a two-day total weight of 44.27 pounds. After Day 1 of tournament competition, Heard & Brewer were in 9th place. That had them just over seven pounds out of the top spot. The UNA anglers followed up their Day 1 weight of 22.60 pounds with 21.67 pounds here on Day 2 to jump from 9th to 2nd overall. Along with the $2,500 2nd place prize, the UNA anglers also earn $2,000 as the highest-placing Yamaha Power Pay eligible team.
Rounding out the Top 3 are two anglers for top ranked University of Montevallo. Peyton Sorrow & Brady McCormick finish the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops in 3rd. Sorrow & McCormick rallied on Day 2 with what is likely one of the largest moves amongst the entire field today. The pair was tied for 63rd after bringing in 16.29 pounds yesterday. Here on Championship Day, they managed to catch the largest five fish limit of the entire event. Their Day 2 weight was 27.97 pounds, anchored by the Overall Big Bass for the tournament at 10.09 pounds. A two-day total weight of 44.26 pounds places them in 3rd and pays out $1,500 to go with the new Power-Pole for Overall Big Bass.
The ACA National Championship was a triple points event to count towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. Bolstered by Sorrow & McCormick’s 3rd place finish, Montevallo earned enough points to secure its sixth straight title at Pickwick Lake this weekend. Next week, the ACA will update the points total for this season and provide a full breakdown of how this tournament could impact the final standings for the 2025-26 season in the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.
The ACA would like to thank the team at Visit the Shoals and Florence, AL for hosting us this week. As always, Pickwick Lake proves to be a phenomenal fishery, and the community again continues to provide great hospitality.
Shoen & Travis from 15th Ranked Auburn Surge to Day 1 Lead at Pickwick Lake
22 Teams Top 20 pound limits
FLORENCE, AL (May 21, 2026) – Day 1 of tournament competition has concluded for the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. Close to 220 of the top college fishing teams in the nation took to Pickwick Lake to begin the event this morning. At weigh-in this afternoon, approximately eight hours later, a total of 22 limits eclipsing 20 pounds crossed the scales at McFarland Park in Florence, AL.
Leading the pack in 1st place overall are Benjamin Travis & Carty Shoen with 15th ranked Auburn University. Kaden Buchmann with 7th ranked Lander University is in 2nd. Representing 6th ranked Blue Mountain Christian University, Blake Bullock & Steven Deschene are in 3rd.
View the complete Day 1 standings.
On Day 1 of tournament competition for the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops, Pickwick Lake proved once again why it is one of the best fisheries in the nation. A total of 22 limits over 20 pounds were weighed in by the elite field. The current Overall Big Bass is 9.00 pounds.
Anglers were greeted with light rain and considerable cloud cover this morning. A late season shad spawn, combined with those overcast conditions, provided many anglers with a great opportunity to capitalize on an early morning bite. As the day progressed, some of those clouds burned off and the sun popped out periodically. That then allowed the teams focusing on the deep bite to better target those bass as they set up better on that offshore structure.
One team that capitalized on the changing conditions later in the day was the Auburn University pairing of Benjamin Travis & Carty Shoen. On stage at weigh-in, the two anglers representing the 15th ranked team in the nation stated that they did not have much weight around noon. In the final hours of the day, they cracked the code and rallied to sack up 26.91 pounds, which includes the current Overall Big Bass at 9.00 pounds. They lead 2nd place by more than 2.50 pounds, and Auburn’s two best teams at the moment are in the Top 11.
Sitting in 2nd place is Kaden Buchmann from 7th ranked Lander University. Fishing by himself, Kaden was able to wrangle in 24.33 pounds. Three teams weighed in limits in the 24-pound range.
In 3rd place is one of those teams, Blake Bullock & Steven Deschene representing 6th ranked Blue Mountain Christian University with 24.25 pounds. Blue Mountain Christian anglers have a good deal of experience on Pickwick Lake, as their university is located not too far away in Mississippi. They fellow teammates, Chandler & Clayton, are in 6th.
Going into the final day of tournament competition tomorrow, while all eyes will be on the top of the leaderboard as teams vie for a National Championship title, the race for Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia will be top of mind too. The University of Montevallo did not have a team weigh-in a 20 plus pound limit today. 2nd ranked Carson-Newman and 3rd ranked UNA each had one. Many of the teams in the Top 10 have multiple boats lingering near the top of the leaderboard. It will be interesting to see how the chips fall when the scales close tomorrow, and teams try to move as high up in the standings as possible as the season winds down.
Take off will be streamed live each morning on the series Facebook page, followed by live blog coverage and updates. Teams start weighing in at McFarland Park beginning at 2 pm (CST) and fans are encouraged to attend. The weigh-in will also be streamed live beginning at 2 pm. Keep up with all things pertaining to the 2026 ACA National Championship, including live streams and coverage here.
Lefebre Catches $100K Big Bass, Wins MLF Kubota Heavy Hitters on Orange Lake Presented by Bass Pro Shops
Pennsylvania pro Dave Lefebre catches seven bass weighing 31-3 – including 9-3 largemouth – to earn $100,000 for victory and $100,000 Berkley Big Bass
OCALA, Fla. (May 21, 2026) – Erie, Pennsylvania’s Dave Lefebre never publicly announced whether he’s retired as a professional angler. He’s not sure if Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops will mark his last event.
But this much is clear: He saved his best performance for what was likely his final Bass Pro Tour event.
Lefebre not only topped the field on Florida’s Orange Lake to win the Heavy Hitters championship belt and $100,000, he also caught the Berkley Big Bass during the Championship Round – a 9-pound, 3-ounce lunker – to earn a second $100,000 paycheck. He’s now the second angler in the history of Heavy Hitters to walk away with $200,000, joining Jordan Lee at the inaugural Heavy Hitters event in 2020.
Lefebre’s total of 31 pounds, 3 ounces on seven scorable bass topped Ron Nelson by 3-12. His first Bass Pro Tour win and first national victory since 2015 just might go down as a storybook ending to his 23-year pro career.
“It’s been an emotional, spiritual battle for the last five years,” Lefebre said. “And it feels like God’s way of telling me I’m doing the right thing by getting out – going out this way.”
Rallying to make the Championship Round
With three FLW Tour wins and a victory at the 2009 Toyota Texas Bass Classic, Lefebre has enjoyed plenty of success during his career. But it had been a while since he even found himself in contention to win a top-level tournament. Before Heavy Hitters, he’d made just two Top 10s and never finished better than seventh in 50 Bass Pro Tour events. He failed to requalify for the tour in 2026 and hasn’t fished any other tournaments this year.
Still, Lefebre earned a spot in Heavy Hitters thanks to his big-bass success a year ago, and he arrived at Orange Lake optimistic. He used to fish the lake often with his late friend Glenn Browne, who passed away from cancer in 2019, and he felt like it would be fitting to end his career on a high note.
“I knew the potential that it was the end, the last one, and I just have learned how God works,” he said. “And I needed it.”
Practice buoyed Lefebre’s hopes. While he didn’t get many bites, he did discover a pair of spots about a quarter mile apart that he thought could be the winning areas if he got them to himself. Sure enough, no other boats tried to fish them during Group A’s first day of qualifying … and yet Lefebre only mustered two scorable bass for 6-4.
“When I didn’t catch them, I felt like I let the spot down,” he said. “Like, I’m in the winning spot, and I sucked that bad.”
Still, he stayed positive. He described the spots as ditches located at the mouth of a big bay. The first deep water outside of the bay, which had become choked out with hydrilla due to Orange Lake’s low water level, he figured the area would continue to replenish.
“Everybody I talked to, I said, ‘I’m going to bust them tomorrow,’ because I’m figuring it out a little bit at a time,” he continued. “They’re there. I just gotta slow down.”
Lefebre started his second day of qualifying by “running around helter-skelter” in an effort to find new, productive water before forcing himself to return to the spots where he’d spend the rest of the event. He switched from a white swim jig, which had produced all his bites during practice and Day 1, to a black-and-blue bladed jig. He also swapped out his braided line for 20-pound fluorocarbon so he could feather the bait more slowly around the hydrilla clumps. He promptly caught an 8-3, followed by a pair of 5-pounders.
“I went back in there and just drifted with the wind instead of using the trolling motor – just Florida stuff, doing what you’re supposed to do,” Lefebre said. “I started making shorter pitches and just letting that ChatterBait flutter, and that black-and-blue one was the deal.”
While Lefebre knew he’d figured out something special, he still had to rally to make it out of the Qualifying Round. He caught a 6-3 with about 30 minutes left on Day 2 to finally climb above the Lucas Oil Cut Line. But with a couple minutes before lines out, Takahiro Omori caught a 6-pounder of his own that knocked him back out. Lefebre landed a 3-5 on his literal last cast to extend his final event – the first of three straight days with clutch catches in the final period.
“I just swung it in like it didn’t matter,” Lefebre said of his Day 2 buzzer-beater. “I didn’t even know that I had fallen (out of the cut). But I fell to ninth, and then that 3-pounder I swung in put me back to eighth, and I didn’t even think I needed that fish. And then yesterday, in the Knockout Round, same thing as today – I caught like a 7-something with an hour and a half, two hours to go, and the fish just shut down.”
One bass worth $200,000
Lefebre once again flirted with the cut line during the Knockout Round, squeaking into the Championship Round field in eighth. Still, he remained confident. He noted that, even as impressive as the quality had been on Orange Lake, bites weren’t easy to come by. No one appeared likely to build a big lead and run away with the win. He was also interacting with a lot more fish than SCORETRACKER® indicated.
“I knew what the potential was,” Lefebre said. “I lost seven fish the first day, 20 (in the Knockout Round) and more than 20 today. I would just miss them a lot more than I’d catch them. Just stupid stuff – stuff you shouldn’t be able to overcome.”
Ironically, one of the few times during the event that Lefebre felt like his chances had slipped away came early in Period 3 on Championship Thursday. He’d hung around by boating a 3-pounder roughly every hour. Then, when he finally got a bigger bite, the fish came off. He then hooked and lost another one around 5 pounds.
“I was devastated,” he said. “Like, I waited all day for that bite. Then I stood up, made two casts, saw that 5-pounder; it ate. I was like 9 pounds back at the time, I think. And I was just like, ‘Man, I just blew it.’”
A couple casts later, Lefebre caught a 3-9. Then another that didn’t quite make the 3-pound minimum weight. Then, he connected with the 9-pounder – the biggest bass Lefebre has ever caught in a tournament, and certainly the most lucrative.
He admitted that he probably should have lost that fish, too. But this one stayed hooked and proved to be worth $200,000.
“I’m kind of out of fishing shape,” he said with a chuckle. “I sat down in the driver’s seat, and it was coming at my hand, and I had a little too much line. I couldn’t make a mistake. My arms were stretched as far as I could. It was just crazy. I barely got my hand on his face because I let too much slack in.”
Suddenly leading both on SCORETRACKER® and in the Berkley Big Bass standings, Lefebre found himself choked up. He called the last 2 hours the most stressful experience he’s ever had in a tournament.
“When you win something like this, you want to run away with it,” he said. “You don’t want the stress. I lost 15 years off my life today.”
When his victory finally became official, Lefebre teared up again. He needed this, he said. He and his wife are working to open a music venue and café in his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania, and financing the project had been stressful.
“There’s just a lot at stake right now,” Lefebre said. “It’s a big investment. We’re turning the chapter, next page. So, we needed some breathing room. We didn’t get a loan yet, stuff like that. We needed a little bit of breathing room to do what we want to do.”
A $200,000 payday should help. Meanwhile, tasting victory one more time – and winning both of the coveted prizes on offer at Heavy Hitters at that – will make for a fitting ending should Lefebre indeed decide to retire as a touring pro.
The final 10 pros at Orange Lake at Kubota Heavy Hitters 2026 Presented by Bass Pro Shops on Orange Lake finished:
1st: Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., seven bass, 31-3
2nd: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., five bass, 27-7
3rd: Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn., four bass, 24-2
4th: Mark Davis, Mound Ida, Ark, five bass, 21-1
5th: Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas, three bass, 18-7
6th: Alton Jones Jr., Lorena, Texas, three bass, 10-2
7th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., two bass, 7-2
8th: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., one bass, 6-3
9th: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, one bass, 3-1
10th: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas., one bass, 3-0
Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 32 bass weighing 151 pounds, 12 ounces caught by the final 10 pros on Thursday, which included one 9-pounder, two 8-pounders and three 7-pounders caught from Orange Lake.
Berkley Big Bass Bonus Award Winners:
Group A Day 1: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan (10-1), $10,000
Group B Day 1: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn. (11-0), $10,000
Group A Day 2: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn. (10-1), $10,000
Group B Day 2: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn. (9-8), $10,000
Knockout Round: Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn. (9-8), $30,000
Championship Round: Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa. (9-3), $100,000
Hosted by the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau, the Kubota Heavy Hitters at Orange Lake Presented by Bass Pro Shops featured the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. A bass must have met the 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable in the Qualifying and Knockout Rounds, and in the Championship Round a bass must have weighed at least 3 pounds to be deemed scorable.
To qualify for Kubota Heavy Hitters, the weight of an angler’s single-largest bass from each event of the seven 2025 Bass Pro Tour events was recorded. The 32 anglers with the heaviest total from those seven bass qualified to compete in this event.
Television coverage of Kubota Heavy Hitters 2026 Presented by Bass Pro Shops will be showcased across six two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET on July 4 and running each Saturday through Aug. 15 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Force, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Grizzly, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, MillerTech, NITRO Boats, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Star brite, Toyota, YETI, Yuengling 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, Rumble 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, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
McCormick’s local knowledge delivers Day 2 lead in Bassmaster Open at Kentucky/Barkley Lakes
PARIS, Tenn. — Tournament anglers often self-motivate with the phrase “Go big or go home.” Tristan McCormick did both and that aggressive strategy delivered the Day 2 lead in the Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley presented by Battery Tender.
Day 1 saw the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series rookie from Bon Aqua, Tenn., place third with 21-9, but McCormick rocked the second round with the event’s heaviest catch — 25-4. Tallying a 2-day total of 46-13, he heads into Championship Friday with a lead of 4-6 over Clint Knight.
“It was a really special day,” McCormick said. “It started out really slow, I was losing fish and getting really mad, but I had all my buddies out there and they were telling me, ‘Stay calm.’
“I finally ran into them and I caught like 20 pounds pretty quick and then I ran back down here (to the Paris area), scanned a couple places, turned around and caught ’em.”
Fishing a mix of traditional offshore current breaks and wood, McCormick targeted a mix of spawning fish, fry guarders and big postspawners. He caught most of his fish on a jighead minnow with a Strike King Wing Minnow on a 1/8-ounce head. A Strike King 6XD crankbait produced one of McCormick’s better fish.
McCormick started his day by running upriver to New Johnsonville, about an hour west of his home. With a lifetime of experience on Kentucky Lake’s 160,300-acres, he knew that was where he’d find his best options.
“I call New Johnsonville ‘home’ and I’ve never fished a major tournament up there and I’m literally the only guy up there,” McCormick said. “Usually, when we have an event here, I go north, or we run out of Kentucky Dam Marina.
“This time, I told my buddies, ‘If I’m gonna win this thing, it’s gonna be going home.’”
Essential to that objective was leveraging his understanding of geography and seasonal progressions.
“This lake is so big and vast and I grew up here, so I know what areas go off first,” McCormick said. “I know where they get offshore first and where the heavier fish are gonna be. It’s just time behind the wheel.
“I have probably 16,000 waypoints out here, everything from stumps, to schools, the whole 9 yards.”
McCormick, who weighed a mixed bag of largemouth and smallmouth said he’s optimistic about his final-round potential.
“It’s definitely not fast and in a hurry, but I like what I saw in the last 30 minutes, so I’m excited to start on that hole in the morning, because I know what lives there,” McCormick said. “I only made one cast on that spot and caught one.
“I don’t know what’s gonna happen tomorrow, but I’ve dreamed of this a long time on this lake, so I’m excited to get back out there.”
Knight, who makes his home in Russellville, Ky., is in second with 42-7. After placing fourth on Day 1 with 21-8, Knight added 20-15 and gained two spots.
“I found a school yesterday afternoon pretty close to takeoff and I started on them this morning but they weren’t there,” Knight said. “I actually ran all the way to Kentucky Dam and caught a limit but it wasn’t but 12 to 13 pounds. I just started working my way upriver and checking things.”
As Knight observed, the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Kentucky Dam release schedule is pulling such a low level of current through the lake that the fish are simply not as active as he’d like. He addressed this limitation by using the lake to his advantage.
“I ran pretty far upriver and the more narrow it gets in the area I fished, the more current it creates (due to a more constricted flow),” Knight said.
Knight kept his bait details guarded, but he said he’s using a slow presentation.
Jack York of Emory, Texas holds the third-place spot with 40-5. York placed second on Day 1 with a limit of 23-0, but yielded one spot with a Day 2 bag of 17-5.
Notably, York missed his 5-bass limit by one fish, but with over a 4-pound average, he was around the right quality. Ultimately, he surmised that the schools he fished on Day 1 had fractured with the day’s weather.
“I think that with two days of overcast conditions and really strong rain yesterday afternoon, the two schools I was rotating through weren’t setting up right,” York said. “I know I’m around the right kind, they’re just not tight.
“When I get a bite, it’s a big one. Yesterday, I only caught seven and today, just the four. But I’m around the fish to do really well, if I can just catch five of them tomorrow.”
York caught his fish on a 7-inch Sixth Sense Shendo minnow on a 3/16-ounce jig.
York holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead with an 8-1 from Day 1.
Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. CT at Paris Landing Marina. The weigh-in will be held at the marina at 2:30 p.m.
Follow along with all of the action from the Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley presented by Battery Tender on Bassmaster.com.
Henry County Tourism Authority is hosting this event.
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series P
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series
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2026 Div 2 Open 3 Kentucky Barkley Lake 5/20-5/22
Kentucky and Barkley Lakes, TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Tristan McCormick Bon Aqua, TN 10 46-13 200
Day 1: 5 21-09 Day 2: 5 25-04
2. Clint Knight Russellville, KY 10 42-07 0
Day 1: 5 21-08 Day 2: 5 20-15
3. Jack York Emory, TX 9 40-05 199
Day 1: 5 23-00 Day 2: 4 17-05
4. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 10 39-00 0
Day 1: 5 19-12 Day 2: 5 19-04
5. Jace Lindsay Beckville, TX 10 38-00 198
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 5 19-00
6. Trey Schroeder Theodosia, MO 10 37-07 197
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 16-05
7. Cole McAusland Tuscaloosa, AL 10 37-00 196
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 21-00
8. Riley Nielsen Salt Lake City, UT 10 36-07 195
Day 1: 5 23-05 Day 2: 5 13-02
9. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 10 36-05 194
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 20-11
10. Zane Parker Kingwood, TX 10 36-04 193
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 19-10
11. Brody Robison Dawson, AL 10 36-01 192 $7,052.00
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 21-14
12. Bailey Gay Union, KY 10 35-03 191 $5,485.00
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 20-03
13. Brandon Ackerson Afton, OK 10 34-14 190 $4,701.00
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 5 16-05
14. Erik Brztowski Lemont, IL 10 34-11 189 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 19-05
15. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 10 34-05 0 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 5 15-02
16. Evan Cox-VanVliet Loveland, CO 10 34-05 188 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 17-01
17. Laker Howell Guntersville, AL 10 34-04 187 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 18-04
18. Brad Jelinek Lincoln, MO 10 34-00 186 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 17-15
19. Anthony Garcia Los Angeles, CA 10 34-00 185 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 17-12
20. Yui Aoki Minamitsurugun JAPAN 10 33-14 184 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 19-01
21. Nathan Thompson Eagan, MN 10 33-06 183 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 5 14-06
22. Andrew Jones Trussville, AL 10 33-00 182 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 16-14
23. Mike McClelland Blue Eye, MO 10 32-12 181 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 18-11
24. Dalton Head Moody, AL 10 32-07 180 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 15-11
25. Brennan Flick West Monroe, LA 10 32-05 179 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 16-06
26. Chris Johnson Farmington, AR 10 32-04 178 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 19-06
27. Garrett McWilliams Florence, MS 10 32-04 177 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 17-00
28. Lane Stephens Owasso, OK 10 32-02 176 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 17-04
29. Casey Scanlon Eldon, MO 10 32-01 175 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 17-02
30. Peyton Harris Birmingham, AL 10 31-13 174 $3,918.00
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 5 14-14
31. Lucas Toliver Paw Paw, MI 10 31-08 173 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 15-05
32. Dillon Falardeau Hixson, TN 10 31-07 172 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 15-05
33. Nathan Reynolds Nashville, TN 10 31-06 171 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 13-11
34. Wyatt Burkhalter Coker, AL 10 31-06 170 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 5 14-07
35. Grant Neubauer Medford, WI 10 31-03 169 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 16-01
36. Jeremy Lawyer Sarcoxie, MO 10 30-13 168 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 16-08
37. Michael Harlin Osage Beach, MO 10 30-09 167 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 13-14
38. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 30-07 166 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 13-10
39. Hugh Cosculluela Spring, TX 10 30-05 165 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 11-04
40. Alex Heintze Denham Springs, LA 10 30-01 164 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 13-11
41. Ethan Fields Carlyle, IL 10 30-01 163 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 14-09
42. Rylan Hamlin Jackson, MI 10 30-01 162 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 14-14
43. Brody Campbell Oxford, OH 10 29-14 0 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 14-03
44. Brian Post Janesville, WI 10 29-08 161 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 13-10
45. Harmon Marien Eagle River, WI 10 29-08 160 $3,134.00
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 14-02
46. Jeremiah Kindy Benton, AR 10 29-02 159
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 11-11
47. Trace Freeman Northport, AL 10 29-02 158
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 16-07
48. Jonathan Pimentel Camdenton, MO 10 29-02 157
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 16-05
49. Connor Cunningham Springfield , MO 10 28-13 156
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 12-05
50. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 10 28-13 155
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 13-09
50. Ryan Thompson Seymour, MO 10 28-13 155
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 13-09
52. Fisher Anaya Eva, AL 10 28-08 0
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 13-02
53. TJ Edwards Jr Tremont, MS 9 28-05 153
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 4 11-03
54. Jordan Hartman Benton, KY 10 28-04 152
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 16-00
55. Wyatt Marler Oldfield, MO 10 28-03 151
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 17-13
56. Nate Caldwell Fort Collins, CO 10 28-02 150
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 16-14
57. Colby Dark West Monroe, LA 10 27-12 149
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 15-14
58. Andy Newcomb Camdenton, MO 10 27-08 148
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 15-01
59. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 10 27-07 147
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 13-12
60. Matt Pangrac Shawnee, OK 10 27-01 146
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 11-12
61. Mason Woley Paducah, KY 9 26-08 0
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 4 07-09
62. Ty Faber Pagosa Springs, CO 10 26-08 145
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 12-03
63. Brock Bila Republic, MO 10 26-06 144
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 15-03
64. Trevor McKinney Noble, IL 9 26-05 143
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 4 13-01
65. Matt Stefan Junction City, WI 10 26-03 142
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 13-10
66. Riley Harris Orange, TX 10 26-00 141
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 13-11
67. Blake Schroeder Bullard, TX 8 25-15 140
Day 1: 3 10-10 Day 2: 5 15-05
68. Darold Gleason Leesville, LA 10 25-15 139
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 11-14
69. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 6 25-12 0
Day 1: 1 06-07 Day 2: 5 19-05
70. Wesley Baxley Conroe, TX 10 25-08 138
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 11-00
71. Kyle Palmer Elora, TN 10 25-08 137
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 11-13
72. Ian Waterer East Selkirk CANADA 9 25-03 136
Day 1: 4 11-11 Day 2: 5 13-08
73. Rick Harris Jr Carlsbad, NM 6 25-01 135
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 1 03-15
74. Blaine Bunney Claremore, OK 8 25-00 134
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 5 17-12
75. Jaron Burr Bowling Green, KY 8 25-00 133
Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 3 07-15
76. Nick Marsh White Lake, MI 9 24-07 132
Day 1: 4 07-14 Day 2: 5 16-09
77. Kollin Crawford Broken Bow, OK 9 24-04 131
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 4 10-11
78. Jacob Welch Roach, MO 7 24-02 130
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 5 19-12
79. Colby Bryant Houston, TX 9 24-02 129
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 4 10-12
80. Byron Hill Clermont, FL 6 23-08 128
Day 1: 1 03-04 Day 2: 5 20-04
81. Jason Adams Guthrie, OK 10 23-08 127
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 13-00
82. Brent Shores Savannah, TN 9 23-05 126
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 4 07-12
83. Cameron Mattison Benton, LA 9 23-04 125
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 4 08-04
84. Lonnie Cochran Section, AL 7 22-13 124
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 2 04-01
85. Tanner Visco Antioch, IL 8 22-01 123
Day 1: 3 09-09 Day 2: 5 12-08
86. Doug Chapin Tigerton, WI 9 21-13 122
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 4 08-13
87. Luke Kerstetter Seymour, TN 10 21-11 121
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 10-06
88. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 8 21-09 120
Day 1: 4 10-03 Day 2: 4 11-06
89. Chris Hellebuyck White Lake, MI 7 21-08 119
Day 1: 2 04-14 Day 2: 5 16-10
90. Jordan Knutson Saint Croix Falls, WI 9 21-08 118
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 4 10-00
91. Kyle Metzger Pearl River, LA 7 21-07 117
Day 1: 2 05-09 Day 2: 5 15-14
92. John Branch Magnolia, KY 8 21-07 116
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 3 07-04
93. Freddy Palmer Estill Springs, TN 9 21-06 115
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 4 10-02
94. Dylan Fogarty Mechanicsburg, PA 9 21-03 114
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 4 09-15
95. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 8 21-00 113
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 3 07-03
96. Kyle Zacharuk Keswick Ontario CANADA 8 20-11 112
Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 5 13-10
97. David Walker Huntingdon, TN 8 20-10 0
Day 1: 3 07-12 Day 2: 5 12-14
98. Tommy Dickerson Orange, TX 9 20-10 111
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 4 09-12
99. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 8 20-08 110
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 3 07-03
100. Bryan Partak Marseilles, IL 8 20-08 109
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 3 07-10
101. Yukihiro Sawamura Harker Heights, TX 9 20-05 108
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 4 06-09
102. Joe Wieberg Freeburg, MO 8 20-05 107
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 5 12-14
103. Steve Tennison Lexington, OK 8 20-05 106
Day 1: 3 07-14 Day 2: 5 12-07
104. Joey Punko Broomfield, CO 8 20-04 105
Day 1: 3 07-12 Day 2: 5 12-08
105. Grae Buck Green Lane, PA 7 20-02 104
Day 1: 2 07-04 Day 2: 5 12-14
106. Sam Ausbrooks Loogootee, IN 7 20-00 103
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 5 15-09
107. Danny Ramsey Trinidad, TX 8 19-11 102
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 3 06-08
108. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 5 19-10 101
Day 1: 5 19-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
109. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 8 19-05 100
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 3 06-01
110. James Campise Brookeland, TX 8 19-05 99
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 3 06-15
111. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 8 19-04 98
Day 1: 3 09-04 Day 2: 5 10-00
112. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 7 19-03 97
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 2 04-02
113. David Brand Dittmer, MO 7 19-00 96
Day 1: 2 05-04 Day 2: 5 13-12
114. Zachary Ward Cabot, AR 8 18-09 95
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 3 06-13
115. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 8 18-05 94
Day 1: 4 09-04 Day 2: 4 09-01
116. Hayden Marbut Birmingham, AL 9 18-04 93
Day 1: 4 07-06 Day 2: 5 10-14
117. Billy Gilbert Hamburg, NY 7 18-03 92
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 2 06-12
118. Darrell Ivey Lebanon, MO 7 18-02 91
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 2 05-03
119. Jacob Wood Pleasant View, TN 6 18-01 0
Day 1: 4 11-10 Day 2: 2 06-07
120. Eddie Carper Valliant, OK 7 18-01 90
Day 1: 3 08-02 Day 2: 4 09-15
121. Easton Lindus Woodville, WI 7 17-14 89
Day 1: 2 05-09 Day 2: 5 12-05
122. Niko Romero Coldspring, TX 7 16-15 88
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 2 04-13
123. Josh Giroldi Beachville Ontario CANA 7 16-13 87
Day 1: 4 10-04 Day 2: 3 06-09
124. Tommy Parker Delano, MN 7 16-10 86
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 2 04-04
125. Hunter Crossland San Angelo, TX 5 16-07 85
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
126. Ken Day Kennewick, WA 7 16-05 84
Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 5 12-02
127. Kurt Dove Del Rio, TX 6 16-04 83
Day 1: 4 11-03 Day 2: 2 05-01
128. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 8 16-04 82
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 3 05-14
129. Josh Pladies Lees Summit, MO 6 16-00 81
Day 1: 1 02-06 Day 2: 5 13-10
130. Clay Henderson Purdy, MO 6 15-10 80
Day 1: 2 05-11 Day 2: 4 09-15
131. Joseph Hardy China Spring, TX 7 15-08 79
Day 1: 2 04-15 Day 2: 5 10-09
132. Dylan Welton Middleville, MI 7 15-06 78
Day 1: 2 04-08 Day 2: 5 10-14
133. Kristine Fischer Spring City, NE 6 15-04 77
Day 1: 3 09-06 Day 2: 3 05-14
134. Chris Lewis Hallsville, TX 5 14-11 76
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
135. Seiji Kato Forney TX JAPAN 6 14-09 75
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 1 02-00
136. Bj Miller Adams, NE 6 14-04 74
Day 1: 3 08-00 Day 2: 3 06-04
137. Chris Whitson Louisville, TN 5 14-02 73
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
138. Chris Miller Spirit Lake, IA 5 14-01 72
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
139. Nick Lawler Ava, MO 5 13-15 71
Day 1: 4 09-09 Day 2: 1 04-06
140. Ryan Michl Newton, IL 5 13-11 70
Day 1: 2 06-13 Day 2: 3 06-14
141. Sho Egawa Osaka JAPAN 6 13-07 69
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 5 10-10
142. Andrew Behnke Fond Du Lac, WI 5 13-06 68
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 13-06
143. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 6 12-09 67
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 1 02-11
144. John Engler III Vinton, IA 5 11-07 66
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 2 05-01
145. Jim Dillard West Monroe, LA 5 10-15 65
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 10-15
146. Nic Rand Paw Paw, MI 5 10-11 64
Day 1: 1 02-03 Day 2: 4 08-08
147. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 5 10-11 63
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 2 04-02
148. Rick Pierce Mountain Home, AR 4 09-14 62
Day 1: 2 03-10 Day 2: 2 06-04
149. Ish Monroe Oakdale, CA 3 09-10 61
Day 1: 3 09-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
150. Satoshi Egawa Belton, TX 4 09-09 0
Day 1: 3 07-08 Day 2: 1 02-01
151. Gary Hall Wardville, OK 4 09-07 60
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 1 02-03
152. Frank Scalish Mount Gilead, OH 3 09-06 59
Day 1: 3 09-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
153. Justin Latham Reelsville, IN 3 08-15 58
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 2 06-02
154. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 3 08-14 0
Day 1: 3 08-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
155. Tyler Smith Troup, TX 4 08-10 0
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 1 02-03
156. Matt Keezer Kirkland Quebec CANADA 3 08-09 57
Day 1: 3 08-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
157. Wyatt Wisian Ardmore, OK 3 08-06 56
Day 1: 3 08-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Andy Beloat Montgomery, TX 2 07-11 55
Day 1: 2 07-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
159. John Mark Berry Mount Olive, MS 2 07-04 54
Day 1: 2 07-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
160. A.J. Menssen Bloomington, IL 2 06-04 53
Day 1: 2 06-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
161. Ryan Salzman Huntsville, AL 3 06-02 52
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 1 02-01
162. Clark Reehm Elm Grove, LA 2 05-12 51
Day 1: 2 05-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
163. Tracy Mitchell Springfield, MO 2 04-14 50
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 1 02-10
164. Chris Bailey Eddy, TX 2 04-12 49
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-12
165. Joey Hanna Corsicana, TX 2 04-10 48
Day 1: 2 04-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
166. Dylan Minch Stevens Point, WI 2 04-08 47
Day 1: 2 04-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
167. Jim Moynagh Outing, MN 1 03-08 46
Day 1: 1 03-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
168. Johnny Grice Arp, TX 1 03-03 45
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-03
169. Clay Dyer Fayetteville, TN 1 02-07 44
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
170. Tyler Wolf Creston, IA 1 02-05 43
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
171. Anastasia Patterson Sumter, SC 1 02-00 42
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-00
171. Laindree Richardson Benton, IL 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
173. Bryan Hoffman Andrews, TX 3 00-00 41
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 00-00
174. Cody Bertrand Dyer, IN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. David Boelkins Waukesha, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Jason Bonds Lufkin, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Joe Lucarelli Benton, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Frank Mixon Abilene, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Scott Nielsen Murray, UT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Isaac Peavyhouse Monroe, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Tim Sprouse Clarksville, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Mikey Weems Hull, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 105 678 1990-03
2 95 633 1828-12
------------------------------
200 1311 3818-15
Lawrence Catches $30K Big Bass, Paces Final 10 into Championship Round at MLF Kubota Heavy Hitters on Orange Lake Presented by Bass Pro Shops
Tennessee pro Jake Lawrence lands 9-8 to win Knockout Round Big Bass, tops Knockout Round with 40-8, final 10 anglers set for Thursday’s Championship Round
OCALA, Fla. (May 20, 2026) – After the opening period of the Knockout Round at Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops, Jake Lawrence found himself at the bottom of SCORETRACKER®. But even though he’d mustered just one scorable bass, Lawrence reassured himself that on the giant bass factory that is Orange Lake, he only needed a couple bites to put himself right back in the mix.
Indeed, it took him all of 10 minutes and two fish to vault all the way from the bottom of the standings to the top. That’s where Lawrence finished the day with a total of 40 pounds, 8 ounces on seven scorable bass, 1-11 ahead of Mark Davis.
Lawrence found a group of the lunker bass that Orange Lake has been kicking out all week. After boating an 8-pounder and a 6-pounder in the first 10 minutes of Period 2, he added an exclamation point with a 9-8 giant that edged Cole Floyd by 1 ounce for Berkley Big Bass honors, which earned Lawrence an extra $30,000.
Weights will zero overnight, then Lawrence will lead the Top-10 finishers onto the water for Thursday’s Championship Round. If he can replicate his Knockout Round performance, he would take home both of the $100,000 paychecks up for grabs – one for the winner and the other for the angler who catches the biggest bass.
Prior to the flurry that launched him from last to first, Lawrence hadn’t caught a bass from that spot during the event. He’d gotten two quick bites there in practice but revisited it on the first Qualifying Round day and never caught a fish.
Lawrence opened the day in the area that produced most of his Day 2 weight, but as often happens at Heavy Hitters, where Groups A and B trade days during the Qualifying Round before coming together for the Knockout Round, he arrived to find a host of other anglers starting on the same stretch. So, he decided to give his secondary area – which he described as a strip of clean water behind a hydrilla mat – another shot.
“I decided to stop in there at the beginning of the second period, and buddy, it was happening,” Lawrence said. “I had an 8-12. Moved the boat about 10 feet, caught a 6-11. I went and picked my camera operator up so he wouldn’t disturb the area, and once I got back in that zone, I caught the 9 ½-pounder. I actually had another great big one that swirled right behind my ChatterBait. It never actually touched the bait, but had she not boiled, I would have never even known that it happened. But man, the size of that boil, there is no telling how big that fish was. It was another big, big one.”
The 9-8 represented the biggest bass Lawrence has ever weighed during a tournament. Yet at the time, he didn’t think it would be enough to win the $30,000 prize.
“This sounds crazy – obviously I was extremely excited to catch that fish – but I truly did not think that it would hold,” he said. “It had only been one day that it hadn’t taken a double-digit, and we were still fairly early in the day. I just felt like it was going to take a 10-pounder to do it. But super fortunate for that extra ounce.”
Lawrence caught one more bass, a 4-7, from his honey hole before leaving to conserve it for the Championship Round. While he plans to start there Thursday and “probably spend a good portion of my day inside that area,” he also discovered another area during Period 3 that he thinks has potential, where he added two more over 4 pounds.
In all, six of Lawrence’s seven scorable bass weighed over 4 pounds. That could be huge during the Championship Round – the one day during the Bass Pro Tour season that the minimum weight for a scorable bass exceeds 2 pounds. It’ll take at least a 3-pounder to hit SCORETRACKER® on Thursday.
Had the 3-pound minimum been in effect during the Knockout Round, Lawrence would have led the way by more than 10 pounds. Marshall Hughes – who, like Lawrence, only caught one scorable bass under 3 pounds Wednesday – would have finished second with 27-11. Davis would have been third with 26-9, and Floyd would have been the only other angler over 20 pounds with 21-2.
“It gives me a ton of confidence going into that Championship Round with that 3-pound minimum,” Lawrence said. “I know where that caliber is living, and it’s just about settling into those little, key areas and getting the bites and getting them in the boat.”
Lawrence took the Bass Pro Tour by storm as a rookie in 2025, winning an event and knocking out five Top 10s en route to a runner-up finish in the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year race. At least compared to that, 2026 hasn’t been as smooth. This will be his first Championship Round appearance of the year.
A Top 10 and a payday of at least $30,000 is a nice way to turn things around. Leaving Florida with another $200,000 would be even better.
“I’m ecstatic,” Lawrence said. “This season has been a challenge for me, there’s no question. It’s bass fishing; it’s hard to keep everything going in the right direction at all times. And I’ve just had one of those starts to the season. It just seems like what could go wrong does.
“I’m extremely excited to have an opportunity at both winning
Davis looks like he has a real chance to claim the first Bass Pro Tour victory and tour-level win of his career in Florida, both of which have narrowly eluded him. The Bass Fishing Hall of Famer has twice finished second at BPT events in the Sunshine State, on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in 2023 and the Harris Chain last year. Both times, he led during the Championship Round before being passed by one of the Lane brothers (Bobby Lane is in the Championship Round field as well, so watch out for him).
Alton Jones Jr. has proven to be dangerous once he reaches this point in a Heavy Hitters event. He has won both the championship belt (in 2023) and cashed the $100,000 Berkley Big Bass prize (in 2022) in past Championship Rounds.
Likewise, Jeff Sprague will look to make it three-for-three at catching the $100,000 bass during his Heavy Hitters Championship Round appearances. When he did so last year on Smith Mountain Lake, he became the first angler to catch the $100,000 bass multiple times. Sprague is also looking to notch his long-awaited first Bass Pro Tour win. This will mark his 17th Top 10 in BPT competition. That’s second only to Brent Ehrler (22) among anglers without a Bass Pro Tour victory and Ehrler is also in the Championship Round field after sneaking across the Lucas Oil Cut Line late for the second day in a row.
The top 10 pros from the Knockout Round that now advance to Thursday’s Championship Round on Orange Lake are:
1st: Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn., seven bass, 40-8
2nd: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark, 12 bass, 38-13
3rd: Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas, six bass, 29-11
4th: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, seven bass, 28-8
5th: Alton Jones Jr., Lorena, Texas, 10 bass, 28-4
6th: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 11 bass, 28-2
7th: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas., 10 bass, 26-9
8th: Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., four bass, 16-1
9th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., five bass, 15-3
10th: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., five bass, 14-12
Eliminated from competition after the Knockout Round on Orange Lake are:
11th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas., five bass, 14-3
12th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, four bass, 13-8
13th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., four bass, 12-6
14th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., four bass, 9-3
15th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., two bass, 9-1
16th: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., two bass, 8-11
Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 98 bass weighing 333 pounds, 7 ounces caught by the 16 pros on Wednesday, which included two 9-pounders, two 8-pounders, one 7-pounder and four 6-pounders caught from Orange Lake.
Berkley Big Bass Bonus Award Winners:
Group A Day 1: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan (10-1), $10,000
Group B Day 1: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn. (11-0), $10,000
Group A Day 2: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn. (10-1), $10,000
Group B Day 2: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn. (9-8), $10,000
Knockout Round: Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn. (9-8), $30,000
Championship Round: TBD, $100,000
The 16 anglers in Group A competed in their two-day qualifying round on Saturday and Monday – the 16 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. After the two-day qualifying round, the top eight anglers from both groups advanced to Wednesday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round weights were zeroed, and the remaining 16 anglers competed to finish in the Top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Thursday’s final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
Hosted by the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau , Kubota Heavy Hitters at Orange Lake Presented by Bass Pro Shops features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. A bass must meet the 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable in the Qualifying and Knockout Rounds, but for tomorrow’s Championship Round a bass must weigh at least 3 pounds to be deemed scorable.
In addition to overall tournament awards, Berkley Big Bass bonuses are awarded in each round of competition with payouts of $10,000 for the single biggest bass on each day of the Qualifying Round, $30,000 for the biggest bass in the Knockout Round and $100,000 for the biggest bass in the Championship Round.
Fans are encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW! livestream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
To qualify for Kubota Heavy Hitters, the weight of an angler’s single-largest bass from each event of the seven 2025 Bass Pro Tour events was recorded. The 32 anglers with the heaviest total from those seven bass qualified to compete in this event.
The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live each day of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! will be livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app, and Rumble.
Television coverage of Kubota Heavy Hitters 2026 Presented by Bass Pro Shops will be showcased across six two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET on July 4 and running each Saturday through Aug. 15 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Force, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Grizzly, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, MillerTech, NITRO Boats, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Star brite, Toyota, YETI, Yuengling 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, Rumble 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, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
Nielsen’s key catch delivers slim lead in Bassmaster Open at Kentucky/Barkley Lakes
PARIS, Tenn. — A quick tackle inspection likely prevented the loss of an afternoon kicker that gave Riley Nielsen the Day 1 lead in the Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley presented by Battery Tender.
When a 6-pound, 15-ounce bass surfaced with one point of one treble hook barely pinned in its mouth, fortune’s favor could have tilted one of two ways. Thankfully for the Salt Lake City, Utah pro, the point held and his limit of 23-5 sends him into Day 2 with a 5-ounce lead over Jack York.
“It was a blessing to have that fish,” Nielsen said. “I was shaking like a leaf when I got it in. It was a super-hard day on me, honestly. I didn’t get very many bites, but when I got a bite, it was a pretty nice one.”
Nielsen’s kicker came from a different place than where he began his day. He started on a mile-long stretch with scattered stumps and put together a solid limit by midday.
“I had 18 pounds around noon, so I laid off because I thought 18 would be good,” Nielsen said. “I found another little area that had a bunch of fish and the first one I caught was that big one. I’m hoping they stay there so I can beat on them tomorrow.”
Nielsen said his second spot was only 4 miles from his first. Both were fairly close to take off.
“I fished the 2025 Open here and the area I fished today is where I caught ’em last year,” Nielsen said. “Every time I’ve been to this lake, I try to go practice away from Paris Landing (the tournament site), but I never can find anything away from Paris, so I’ve stuck here.”
Nielsen said he was unsure of what his opening spot would offer, but after an earlier disappointment, he had to make something happen.
“I didn’t have anything else to do,” Nielsen said. “I had a shad spawn in the morning and I went and did that first, but it was terrible. I don’t know if it was the thunder last night, or the fact that we took off a little bit later than I was catching them.
“If my first spot with the stumps didn’t work out, I probably would have been in a lot of trouble, but I just made it work out there.”
Essential to making it work was Nielsen’s bait choice — and the specific bait he chose. Nielsen caught his fish on a Megabass Vision 110+1 jerkbait. He wasn’t picky about the color pattern; he was more concerned with the hardware.
“Whichever one had the best hooks, I just grabbed it and tied it on,” Nielsen said. “That was the key because my big fish literally had one point in its mouth.”
Looking ahead to his Day 2 game plan, Nielsen said he’s not optimistic that his first-round spots can carry him another day.
“I really don’t think so, because I didn’t see very many of them down there and the few that were down there, I caught,” Nielsen said. “I’m a little bit worried about it, but we’re gonna go try our best out there.
“I’m going to look for more stumps. That’s all I have, so I’m gonna live or die by it.”
York of Emory, Texas is in second place with 23-0. After a good start, York made a key move that delivered an afternoon game-changer.
“I had a couple of spots where it went down for me,” York said. “I had about 15 pounds until 1 o’clock and I went and hit a different school that wasn’t set up right this morning.
“I caught an 8-1 on my first drop and then caught a couple good ones to cull up to 23. Honestly, it was kind of an unexpected day, but I’ll take it.”
York caught most of his fish, including his biggest, on a jighead minnow presentation with a 7-inch Sixth Sense Shendo. He also caught a few on a deep-diving crankbait.
“The fish were set up on pretty textbook stuff, points facing into current,” York said. “In practice, it would pick up later and later. Tomorrow, I have a late boat number, so hopefully, I can do it again.
Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series pro Tristan McCormick of Bon Aqua, Tenn., is in third place with 21-9. Drawing on his extensive Kentucky Lake experience, McCormick said he planned his day based on seasonality.
“Right now, there’s a lot of different things going on in each section of the lake,” McCormick said. “I’m fishing a section where the fish have been done spawning longer, so they weigh more. They’re more in their summer patterns.
“I caught a lot of bass today, I just have to run through them to find the right size. I lost a big one today that really would have put me up there on the leaderboard. All in all, I like what I’m seeing.”
McCormick said he caught his fish on a crankbait and a jighead minnow.
York holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead with an 8-1.
Thursday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. CT at Paris Landing Marina. The weigh-in will be held at the marina at 2:30 p.m.
Follow along with all of the action from the Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Kentucky Lake/Lake Barkley presented by Battery Tender on Bassmaster.com.
Henry County Tourism Authority is hosting this event.
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series P
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series
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, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, 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, Tackle Warehouse 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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2026 Div 2 Open 3 Kentucky Barkley Lake 5/20-5/22
Kentucky and Barkley Lakes, TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Riley Nielsen Salt Lake City, UT 5 23-05 200
Day 1: 5 23-05
2. Jack York Emory, TX 5 23-00 199
Day 1: 5 23-00
3. Tristan McCormick Bon Aqua, TN 5 21-09 198
Day 1: 5 21-09
4. Clint Knight Russellville, KY 5 21-08 0
Day 1: 5 21-08
5. Rick Harris Jr Carlsbad, NM 5 21-02 197
Day 1: 5 21-02
5. Trey Schroeder Theodosia, MO 5 21-02 197
Day 1: 5 21-02
7. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 5 19-12 0
Day 1: 5 19-12
8. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 5 19-10 195
Day 1: 5 19-10
9. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 5 19-03 0
Day 1: 5 19-03
10. Hugh Cosculluela Spring, TX 5 19-01 194
Day 1: 5 19-01
11. Nathan Thompson Eagan, MN 5 19-00 193
Day 1: 5 19-00
12. Jace Lindsay Beckville, TX 5 19-00 192
Day 1: 5 19-00
13. Mason Woley Paducah, KY 5 18-15 0
Day 1: 5 18-15
14. Lonnie Cochran Section, AL 5 18-12 191
Day 1: 5 18-12
15. Brandon Ackerson Afton, OK 5 18-09 190
Day 1: 5 18-09
16. Nathan Reynolds Nashville, TN 5 17-11 189
Day 1: 5 17-11
17. Jeremiah Kindy Benton, AR 5 17-07 188
Day 1: 5 17-07
18. Evan Cox-VanVliet Loveland, CO 5 17-04 187
Day 1: 5 17-04
19. TJ Edwards Jr Tremont, MS 5 17-02 186
Day 1: 5 17-02
20. Jaron Burr Bowling Green, KY 5 17-01 185
Day 1: 5 17-01
21. Wyatt Burkhalter Coker, AL 5 16-15 184
Day 1: 5 16-15
21. Peyton Harris Birmingham, AL 5 16-15 184
Day 1: 5 16-15
23. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 16-13 182
Day 1: 5 16-13
24. Dalton Head Moody, AL 5 16-12 181
Day 1: 5 16-12
25. Michael Harlin Osage Beach, MO 5 16-11 180
Day 1: 5 16-11
26. Zane Parker Kingwood, TX 5 16-10 179
Day 1: 5 16-10
27. Connor Cunningham Springfield , MO 5 16-08 178
Day 1: 5 16-08
28. Hunter Crossland San Angelo, TX 5 16-07 177
Day 1: 5 16-07
29. Alex Heintze Denham Springs, LA 5 16-06 176
Day 1: 5 16-06
30. Anthony Garcia Los Angeles, CA 5 16-04 175
Day 1: 5 16-04
31. Lucas Toliver Paw Paw, MI 5 16-03 174
Day 1: 5 16-03
32. Dillon Falardeau Hixson, TN 5 16-02 173
Day 1: 5 16-02
32. Andrew Jones Trussville, AL 5 16-02 173
Day 1: 5 16-02
34. Brad Jelinek Lincoln, MO 5 16-01 171
Day 1: 5 16-01
35. Laker Howell Guntersville, AL 5 16-00 170
Day 1: 5 16-00
35. Cole McAusland Tuscaloosa, AL 5 16-00 170
Day 1: 5 16-00
37. Brennan Flick West Monroe, LA 5 15-15 168
Day 1: 5 15-15
38. Brian Post Janesville, WI 5 15-14 167
Day 1: 5 15-14
39. Brody Campbell Oxford, OH 5 15-11 0
Day 1: 5 15-11
40. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 5 15-10 166
Day 1: 5 15-10
41. Brent Shores Savannah, TN 5 15-09 165
Day 1: 5 15-09
42. Ethan Fields Carlyle, IL 5 15-08 164
Day 1: 5 15-08
43. Fisher Anaya Eva, AL 5 15-06 0
Day 1: 5 15-06
43. Erik Brztowski Lemont, IL 5 15-06 163
Day 1: 5 15-06
43. Harmon Marien Eagle River, WI 5 15-06 163
Day 1: 5 15-06
46. Matt Pangrac Shawnee, OK 5 15-05 161
Day 1: 5 15-05
47. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 5 15-04 160
Day 1: 5 15-04
47. Garrett McWilliams Florence, MS 5 15-04 160
Day 1: 5 15-04
47. Ryan Thompson Seymour, MO 5 15-04 160
Day 1: 5 15-04
50. Rylan Hamlin Jackson, MI 5 15-03 157
Day 1: 5 15-03
51. Grant Neubauer Medford, WI 5 15-02 156
Day 1: 5 15-02
52. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 5 15-01 155
Day 1: 5 15-01
53. Bailey Gay Union, KY 5 15-00 154
Day 1: 5 15-00
53. Cameron Mattison Benton, LA 5 15-00 154
Day 1: 5 15-00
55. Casey Scanlon Eldon, MO 5 14-15 152
Day 1: 5 14-15
56. Lane Stephens Owasso, OK 5 14-14 151
Day 1: 5 14-14
57. Yui Aoki Minamitsurugun JAPAN 5 14-13 150
Day 1: 5 14-13
58. Chris Lewis Hallsville, TX 5 14-11 149
Day 1: 5 14-11
59. Wesley Baxley Conroe, TX 5 14-08 148
Day 1: 5 14-08
60. Jeremy Lawyer Sarcoxie, MO 5 14-05 147
Day 1: 5 14-05
61. Ty Faber Pagosa Springs, CO 5 14-05 146
Day 1: 5 14-05
62. John Branch Magnolia, KY 5 14-03 145
Day 1: 5 14-03
62. Brody Robison Dawson, AL 5 14-03 145
Day 1: 5 14-03
64. Chris Whitson Louisville, TN 5 14-02 143
Day 1: 5 14-02
65. Darold Gleason Leesville, LA 5 14-01 142
Day 1: 5 14-01
65. Mike McClelland Blue Eye, MO 5 14-01 142
Day 1: 5 14-01
65. Chris Miller Spirit Lake, IA 5 14-01 142
Day 1: 5 14-01
68. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 5 13-13 139
Day 1: 5 13-13
69. Yukihiro Sawamura Harker Heights, TX 5 13-12 138
Day 1: 5 13-12
70. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 13-11 137
Day 1: 5 13-11
70. Kyle Palmer Elora, TN 5 13-11 137
Day 1: 5 13-11
72. Kollin Crawford Broken Bow, OK 5 13-09 135
Day 1: 5 13-09
73. Colby Bryant Houston, TX 5 13-06 134
Day 1: 5 13-06
74. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 5 13-05 133
Day 1: 5 13-05
75. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 13-04 132
Day 1: 5 13-04
75. Trevor McKinney Noble, IL 5 13-04 132
Day 1: 5 13-04
77. Danny Ramsey Trinidad, TX 5 13-03 130
Day 1: 5 13-03
78. Doug Chapin Tigerton, WI 5 13-00 129
Day 1: 5 13-00
79. Darrell Ivey Lebanon, MO 5 12-15 128
Day 1: 5 12-15
80. Chris Johnson Farmington, AR 5 12-14 127
Day 1: 5 12-14
80. Bryan Partak Marseilles, IL 5 12-14 127
Day 1: 5 12-14
82. Jonathan Pimentel Camdenton, MO 5 12-13 125
Day 1: 5 12-13
83. Trace Freeman Northport, AL 5 12-11 124
Day 1: 5 12-11
84. Seiji Kato Forney TX JAPAN 5 12-09 123
Day 1: 5 12-09
84. Matt Stefan Junction City, WI 5 12-09 123
Day 1: 5 12-09
86. Andy Newcomb Camdenton, MO 5 12-07 121
Day 1: 5 12-07
87. James Campise Brookeland, TX 5 12-06 120
Day 1: 5 12-06
87. Tommy Parker Delano, MN 5 12-06 120
Day 1: 5 12-06
89. Riley Harris Orange, TX 5 12-05 118
Day 1: 5 12-05
90. Jordan Hartman Benton, KY 5 12-04 117
Day 1: 5 12-04
91. Niko Romero Coldspring, TX 5 12-02 116
Day 1: 5 12-02
92. Colby Dark West Monroe, LA 5 11-14 115
Day 1: 5 11-14
93. Zachary Ward Cabot, AR 5 11-12 114
Day 1: 5 11-12
94. Ian Waterer East Selkirk CANADA 4 11-11 113
Day 1: 4 11-11
95. Jacob Wood Pleasant View, TN 4 11-10 0
Day 1: 4 11-10
96. Jordan Knutson Saint Croix Falls, WI 5 11-08 112
Day 1: 5 11-08
97. Billy Gilbert Hamburg, NY 5 11-07 111
Day 1: 5 11-07
98. Luke Kerstetter Seymour, TN 5 11-05 110
Day 1: 5 11-05
99. Nate Caldwell Fort Collins, CO 5 11-04 109
Day 1: 5 11-04
99. Dylan Fogarty Mechanicsburg, PA 5 11-04 109
Day 1: 5 11-04
99. Freddy Palmer Estill Springs, TN 5 11-04 109
Day 1: 5 11-04
102. Brock Bila Republic, MO 5 11-03 106
Day 1: 5 11-03
103. Kurt Dove Del Rio, TX 4 11-03 105
Day 1: 4 11-03
104. Tommy Dickerson Orange, TX 5 10-14 104
Day 1: 5 10-14
105. Blake Schroeder Bullard, TX 3 10-10 103
Day 1: 3 10-10
106. Jason Adams Guthrie, OK 5 10-08 102
Day 1: 5 10-08
107. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 5 10-06 101
Day 1: 5 10-06
107. Wyatt Marler Oldfield, MO 5 10-06 101
Day 1: 5 10-06
109. Josh Giroldi Beachville Ontario CANA 4 10-04 99
Day 1: 4 10-04
110. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 4 10-03 98
Day 1: 4 10-03
111. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 09-14 97
Day 1: 5 09-14
112. Ish Monroe Oakdale, CA 3 09-10 96
Day 1: 3 09-10
113. Nick Lawler Ava, MO 4 09-09 95
Day 1: 4 09-09
114. Tanner Visco Antioch, IL 3 09-09 94
Day 1: 3 09-09
115. Kristine Fischer Spring City, NE 3 09-06 93
Day 1: 3 09-06
115. Frank Scalish Mount Gilead, OH 3 09-06 93
Day 1: 3 09-06
117. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 4 09-04 91
Day 1: 4 09-04
118. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 3 09-04 90
Day 1: 3 09-04
119. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 3 08-14 0
Day 1: 3 08-14
120. Matt Keezer Kirkland Quebec CANADA 3 08-09 89
Day 1: 3 08-09
121. Wyatt Wisian Ardmore, OK 3 08-06 88
Day 1: 3 08-06
122. Eddie Carper Valliant, OK 3 08-02 87
Day 1: 3 08-02
123. Bj Miller Adams, NE 3 08-00 86
Day 1: 3 08-00
124. Nick Marsh White Lake, MI 4 07-14 85
Day 1: 4 07-14
125. Steve Tennison Lexington, OK 3 07-14 84
Day 1: 3 07-14
126. Joey Punko Broomfield, CO 3 07-12 83
Day 1: 3 07-12
126. David Walker Huntingdon, TN 3 07-12 0
Day 1: 3 07-12
128. Andy Beloat Montgomery, TX 2 07-11 82
Day 1: 2 07-11
129. Satoshi Egawa Belton, TX 3 07-08 0
Day 1: 3 07-08
130. Joe Wieberg Freeburg, MO 3 07-07 81
Day 1: 3 07-07
131. Hayden Marbut Birmingham, AL 4 07-06 80
Day 1: 4 07-06
132. Blaine Bunney Claremore, OK 3 07-04 79
Day 1: 3 07-04
132. Gary Hall Wardville, OK 3 07-04 79
Day 1: 3 07-04
134. John Mark Berry Mount Olive, MS 2 07-04 77
Day 1: 2 07-04
134. Grae Buck Green Lane, PA 2 07-04 77
Day 1: 2 07-04
136. Kyle Zacharuk Keswick Ontario CANADA 3 07-01 75
Day 1: 3 07-01
137. Ryan Michl Newton, IL 2 06-13 74
Day 1: 2 06-13
138. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 3 06-09 73
Day 1: 3 06-09
139. Tyler Smith Troup, TX 3 06-07 0
Day 1: 3 06-07
140. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 1 06-07 0
Day 1: 1 06-07
141. John Engler III Vinton, IA 3 06-06 72
Day 1: 3 06-06
142. A.J. Menssen Bloomington, IL 2 06-04 71
Day 1: 2 06-04
143. Clark Reehm Elm Grove, LA 2 05-12 70
Day 1: 2 05-12
144. Clay Henderson Purdy, MO 2 05-11 69
Day 1: 2 05-11
145. Easton Lindus Woodville, WI 2 05-09 68
Day 1: 2 05-09
145. Kyle Metzger Pearl River, LA 2 05-09 68
Day 1: 2 05-09
147. David Brand Dittmer, MO 2 05-04 66
Day 1: 2 05-04
148. Joseph Hardy China Spring, TX 2 04-15 65
Day 1: 2 04-15
149. Chris Hellebuyck White Lake, MI 2 04-14 64
Day 1: 2 04-14
150. Joey Hanna Corsicana, TX 2 04-10 63
Day 1: 2 04-10
151. Dylan Minch Stevens Point, WI 2 04-08 62
Day 1: 2 04-08
151. Dylan Welton Middleville, MI 2 04-08 62
Day 1: 2 04-08
153. Sam Ausbrooks Loogootee, IN 2 04-07 60
Day 1: 2 04-07
154. Jacob Welch Roach, MO 2 04-06 59
Day 1: 2 04-06
155. Ken Day Kennewick, WA 2 04-03 58
Day 1: 2 04-03
156. Ryan Salzman Huntsville, AL 2 04-01 57
Day 1: 2 04-01
157. Rick Pierce Mountain Home, AR 2 03-10 56
Day 1: 2 03-10
158. Jim Moynagh Outing, MN 1 03-08 55
Day 1: 1 03-08
159. Byron Hill Clermont, FL 1 03-04 54
Day 1: 1 03-04
160. Sho Egawa Osaka JAPAN 1 02-13 53
Day 1: 1 02-13
160. Justin Latham Reelsville, IN 1 02-13 53
Day 1: 1 02-13
162. Clay Dyer Fayetteville, TN 1 02-07 51
Day 1: 1 02-07
163. Josh Pladies Lees Summit, MO 1 02-06 50
Day 1: 1 02-06
164. Tyler Wolf Creston, IA 1 02-05 49
Day 1: 1 02-05
165. Tracy Mitchell Springfield, MO 1 02-04 48
Day 1: 1 02-04
166. Nic Rand Paw Paw, MI 1 02-03 47
Day 1: 1 02-03
167. Laindree Richardson Benton, IL 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00
168. Chris Bailey Eddy, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Andrew Behnke Fond Du Lac, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Cody Bertrand Dyer, IN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. David Boelkins Waukesha, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Jason Bonds Lufkin, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Jim Dillard West Monroe, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Johnny Grice Arp, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Bryan Hoffman Andrews, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Joe Lucarelli Benton, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Frank Mixon Abilene, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Scott Nielsen Murray, UT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Anastasia Patterson Sumter, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Isaac Peavyhouse Monroe, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Tim Sprouse Clarksville, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
168. Mikey Weems Hull, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 105 678 1990-03
------------------------------
105 678 1990-03
A Hot Rod of a Boat Builder
There’s a unique and admirable amount of craftsmanship in Flippin, Arkansas, for building premium quality fishing boats that now spans nearly 60 years, and Vexus® leader Greg Hopper and his older brother Randy have been at the core of it the entire time.
“I’ve had a spray gun in my hand since age 5. Of course, back then, I was painting everything from trees to tractors,” laughs the younger of the two lifetime boat-building brothers.
About five years later, at only age 10, he and Randy rebuilt a ’37 Ford, and by age 15, Greg was working with Forrest L. Wood doing everything from sweeping floors to cleaning the gel coat booths in a role that would lead to a lifetime career he’s still treasuring 51 years later.
As you might imagine, there’s not much he hasn’t done in a boat factory over five decades – from perfecting fiberglass, to warranty repair, small parts, and production supervisor too – Greg Hopper has had a highly capable hand in it. To this day, he has a prominent seat at the table once a month as Vexus engineers and designers gather to talk openly and honestly about how to keep innovating and improving.
It’s a soulful commitment to doing things at a superior level, and it’s rooted in his childhood as a boy in Flippin whose home was just a long cast from his early mentor Bill Baladge’s auto shop.
“Bill did it all, from brakes to auto body, but the biggest thing he taught us was that anybody could swap out parts; however, only a truly great mechanic knew how to fix the existing parts,” says Hopper.
“Maybe that’s why today’s Bible verse resonated with me. It’s from Proverbs 13, and it says, ‘Walk with the wise, and you’ll become wise, but a companion of fools suffers evil,’” he reflected.
It’s a philosophy that’s also made Greg Hopper one of the most sought-after engine builders by race car drivers in the region. A job he does nearly every evening inside a shop next to his home, only two miles from the state-of-the-art Vexus factory he helped build.
Small block Chevy engines are his specialty, but at the time of this writing, the shop is home to a Yamaha 250 Enduro motorcycle that needs his expertise, and an outboard engine cowling from a friend’s pontoon awaiting fiberglass repair.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt that some of the innovation you see in a Vexus was born out of Randy and me seeing something in the hot rod world, and challenging ourselves to use the same parts or processes to build a better fishing boat,” he explains.
“Forrest always taught us we had to do three things better than anybody else: Build a superior quality boat. Tell people about it. And take care of our customers after we sell them one. I’ve tried my very best to do all those things for 51 years,” he says.
Greg Hopper has succeeded admirably. He’s walked with the wise since childhood. From Bill Baladge to Forrest Wood and his own brother, Randy. When combined with his own supreme talents, it’s resulted in five decades of building both trophy hot rods and award-winning fishing boats.
Columbia and Lake Murray Set to Host 43rd Annual Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Presented by T-H Marine
Sport’s Longest-Running Grassroots Championship Brings 94 Top Anglers to Lake Murray for High-Stakes Competition at Dreher Island State Park
COLUMBIA, S.C. (May 19, 2026) – Major League Fishing (MLF) is set to return to Columbia, South Carolina next week, May 28-30, for the 43rd annual Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) All-American Championship Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Murray. The three-day tournament, hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism, will showcase the nation’s best weekend grassroots anglers, and award the winning boater a top prize of up to $120,000, plus qualification to REDCREST 2027 – the Bass Pro Tour Championship – as well as a top prize of $50,000 to the winning co-angler.
“The All-American Championship represents the heart of competitive bass fishing as the longest-running championship in professional fishing history,” said Vickie Davis, Executive Director, Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism. “We are proud to welcome anglers and fans to Lake Murray, the Jewel of South Carolina, and showcase why this region continues to be recognized as one of the top fisheries in the nation. The ongoing commitment of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources to conservation, fisheries management and outdoor recreation plays a vital role in maintaining Lake Murray’s reputation as a world-class bass fishing destination.”
While Lake Murray is no stranger to Major League Fishing competition – with 66 events held on the fishery over the past three decades, the majority coming through BFL tournaments – the 43rd annual All-American marks the first time the circuit’s premier championship visits the renowned South Carolina lake. The field brings a blend of seasoned experience and local knowledge, as 25 of the 94 anglers have previously competed in the All-American – including reigning All-American champion Matteo Turano of Puryear, Tennessee – and four anglers in the lineup already boast victories on Lake Murray, adding an extra layer of familiarity and intrigue to one of the most anticipated events of the season.
Few titles in grassroots bass fishing carry the prestige, tradition and lasting honor of winning the BFL All-American – a championship that has defined careers and elevated anglers to the sport’s biggest stages for more than four decades. Etched into its history are names that have gone on to shape the modern era of the sport, with former champions now competing at the highest levels across the Bass Pro Tour and Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, including Jacob Wheeler (2011), Nick LeBrun (2018) and Matteo Turano (2025).
Local standout Lucas Murphy of West Columbia, South Carolina, has won two Phoenix Bass Fishing League events and finished in the top 10 in three other events on Lake Murray. The local pro, who will be among the competitors, said Lake Murray is setting up to fish differently than a typical late-spring event, with unusual conditions extending the spawn.
“There’s big fish doing a little bit of everything,” said Murphy. “Normally, this time of year the spawn would be completely over, but it seems like it’s been a little bit cooler and lower water, which has kind of elongated the entire spawn process.”
While many bass have moved into a postspawn phase, Murphy noted that some fish are still actively spawning, giving anglers a wide range of opportunities. He added that warming conditions and water temperatures in the mid-70s should continue to push fish into more predictable patterns as the event approaches.
As for techniques, Murphy expects the fishery to offer versatility, with herring-driven patterns playing a key role alongside traditional Carolina staples.
“Guys will be able to fish a little bit of everything in this event,” said Murphy. “You’re going to see a lot of herring fish caught, so I expect to see fluke-style baits like the Strike King KVD Perfect Plastic Caffeine Shad and chrome topwaters like the Strike King KVD Sexy Dawg in Carolina Chrome be key players.”
Murphy added that shallow patterns around bream and shellcracker spawns could also produce, with buzzbaits and plopper-style lures in play, while bottom-contact baits like jigs, shaky heads and drop-shot rigs will remain consistent producers. With forward-facing sonar limited during competition, he believes anglers will need to adjust throughout the day, mixing offshore targets with docks and shallow cover.
When it comes to weights, Murphy said recent tournaments have shown the lake’s potential, but conditions will ultimately dictate how the event unfolds.
“To make the Top 10, I think guys will need anywhere from 36 to 40 pounds,” said Murphy. “To win the tournament, I feel like it’s going to be somewhere in the realm of mid, upper 60s.”
Murphy emphasized that weather will be a major factor, noting that wind and cloud cover typically improve the herring bite, while calm, sunny conditions can make fish difficult to catch despite the lake’s exceptional clarity.
“Getting those fish to see your bait is not hard at all – getting them to bite it is incredibly difficult,” said Murphy. “If we get some wind or some decent weather, it’s going to take more weight.”
Despite his familiarity with Lake Murray, Murphy said the fishery’s current conditions have leveled the playing field, even for local anglers.
“It’s not fishing super friendly to some of the local expertise,” said Murphy, noting the lake is nearly three feet lower than usual. “A lot of the places fish are getting aren’t the normal stuff.”
Murphy said he plans to approach the event with a fresh perspective, adding that success could hinge on timing and capitalizing on a handful of key bites.
“I won’t be surprised to do really, really well, but I also won’t be surprised to struggle,” said Murphy. “It’s just the time of year where a few big bites can make or break it.”
Competing close to home adds another layer of excitement for Murphy, who said having family in attendance and spending an extended stretch on the water makes the opportunity even more meaningful.
“Just being a part of the All-American is exciting,” said Murphy. “It’s one of the cooler experiences I’ve been a part of. I’m looking forward to that experience again but just planning to focus on trying to catch some fish this time.”
Anglers will launch each day at 6:30 a.m. ET from Dreher Island State Park, located at 3677 State Park Road in Prosperity. Weigh-in each day will be held at the park and will begin at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and weigh-in events and encouraged to follow the event’s online coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The full field of 47 boaters and 47 co-anglers will compete on Days 1 (Thursday) and 2 (Friday) of the event. After two days of competition, the field is cut to just the top 10 boaters and co-anglers, based on two-day total cumulative weight, and the final 10 anglers compete on Championship Saturday. The boater and co-angler that catch the heaviest three-day total weight will be crowned the 43rd Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Champions.
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 event winners, advanced to one of 12 BFL Regional tournaments where they competed to finish in the top three, which then advanced them to compete in the 2026 BFL All-American. The field also includes the top eligible finisher from each of seven The Bass Federation (TBF) divisions in the 2026 TBF National Championship.
Television coverage of the 2026 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Presented by T-H Marine will premiere this fall on CBS Sports. The full television air schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, Mystik Lubricants, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
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, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
Sprague Wins Qualifying Round, Neal Catches Second $10k Big Bass Award at MLF Kubota Heavy Hitters on Orange Lake
Knockout Round field of 16 set for Wednesday as eight pros advance from Group B
OCALA, Fla. (May 19, 2026) – Wills Point, Texas, pro Jeff Sprague had no intention of taking the top spot on SCORETRACKER® during Group B’s second day of qualifying at Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops. But, in his words, “it got kind of silly there for a few minutes,” and the Texan took advantage.
Sprague found a fresh group of Orange Lake bass Tuesday afternoon and stacked up 37 pounds, 1 ounce on eight scorable bass. That brought his two-day total to 74-4, which earned him the Qualifying Round win for Group B – narrowly topping Mark Davis and Marshall Hughes, who totaled 73-6 and 72-7, respectively.
Meanwhile, the star of the group’s first day on the water, Michael Neal, picked up right where he left off. Less than 5 minutes after lines in, Neal caught a 9-8 lunker on a topwater walking bait. While he didn’t catch another scorable bass for the rest of the day, that was enough to earn his second $10,000 Berkley Big Bass prize in as many days on Orange Lake. Neal caught the biggest bass of the event so far – an 11-pounder – on Sunday.
Weights will zero overnight, then the top eight finishers from each of Group A and Group B will come together for Wednesday’s Knockout Round. They’ll not only fish for 10 spots in the Championship Round but $30,000 for whoever catches the biggest bass.
Sprague keeps Heavy Hitters mojo rolling
Sprague took the water Tuesday morning with a plan and executed it to perfection.
After starting the day in third place, he figured he’d need to catch three or four scorable bass to assure himself a spot in the Knockout Round. He did just that in the first period, revisiting an area that produced for him on Sunday and catching four scorables for 14-2.
Then, he spent the rest of the day exploring new water. During the second period, he stumbled upon a zone loaded with biting bass. Sprague purposely avoided trying to catch all he could from the area, but as he made a few casts to get a feel for the boundaries of the productive stretch, he kept getting bit. He added four more bass during the period, including a 6-7 and an 8-5.
“It was just one of them deals where you can’t do anything wrong,” he said. “I was trying to get out of there, and just every now and again, I’d make a cast. And it seemed like when I made a cast, then I’d catch another bass. It’s a 6, and then it’s an 8. I didn’t intentionally catch those fish to try and win the round. That was a new area to me, and those were new fish, so that’s kind of how that panned out.”
No surprise, Sprague is excited to revisit that spot during the Knockout Round and see just how productive it can be. Given how small Orange Lake is fishing with its water level low, having multiple areas to turn to could give him an edge.
“Just having the confidence to know that the fish are in the area,” he said when asked what he learned Tuesday. “And here’s the thing: I think that there’s so many fish condensed right now at any given moment that new fish are coming to some of these areas. We’re pricking some, they’re moving around, and then there’s some more fish coming in there.”
Sprague is optimistic for the Knockout Round not just because of the new area he found but how he was catching those fish. After he didn’t land a bass over 6 pounds on Day 1, he made a bait adjustment in an effort to appeal to some of the giants that live in Orange Lake. Three of his eight scorable bass Tuesday topped 6 pounds.
“I think I’ve got a little bit of a different bait, and I’m fishing a little bit differently,” Sprague said. “I’m not winding fast, and I’m not just flipping. I’m kind of dragging a big, bulky bait around.”
Seeing Sprague near the top of SCORETRACKER® at Heavy Hitters is nothing new. He’s now made the Knockout Round at each of his five Heavy Hitters appearances. Twice, including last year at Smith Mountain Lake, he’s qualified for the Championship Round and caught the $100,000 Berkley Big Bass on the final day.
Sprague attributes his Heavy Hitters success to his understanding of big bass honed during a lifetime of fishing in Texas. While he knows better than to “put the cart in front of the horse,” that’s another reason he’ll be confident when he returns to the water Wednesday.
“I like the areas and the lakes that they take us to for the Heavy Hitters,” he said. “Growing up in Texas and catching big bass, Florida-strain bass, it just falls into place for what we’re doing here. I feel like it falls into line to the way I like to fish.”
Back-to-back Berkley Big Bass for Neal
Neal enjoyed his best day ever for catching big bass on Sunday, when he caught the biggest bass of his life (the aforementioned 11-pounder) to go along with an 8-pounder and four more over 6. Those bass all came from the same area, but he opted to start Tuesday “on the complete opposite end of the lake.”
It didn’t seem to matter. On one of his first few casts of the morning, a giant largemouth jumped clear out of the water to eat his topwater bait. After a rodeo that at one point saw the fish jump on the opposite side of the boat from where Neal was fighting it, he landed it and set a big bass bar that wouldn’t be topped.
“That was about as bad a job as you could ever imagine,” Neal said with a chuckle. “If you write a script on how to not land a bass, that was pretty much it. But I was fortunate; it had the whole bait in its mouth and had a couple of the hooks. So, it definitely wasn’t going anywhere. I had to get the pliers to get it off.”
Neal hadn’t fished the area that produced the lunker before. He located the sneaky spot by using the new Power-Pole VISION units that are installed on the league-issued boats for this event to access Google Earth.
“Anytime you’re in Florida, when you look around and there’s not another competitor within sight, typically that’s a bad sign,” he said. “And there was not another tournament boat anywhere remotely close to me. … There was a depression there I saw with the Power-Pole VISION, Google Earth, and I was just following that depression. That was the only bite I had there.”
Starting the day well clear of the Lucas Oil Cut Line, that bass quickly achieved Neal’s main objective for Tuesday. He spent the rest of the day continuing to explore new water. While it wasn’t by design that he never caught another scorable bass, he was at least able to eliminate water and zero in on his plan for the Knockout Round.
“I’m going to lean on the area where I caught them the first day way harder than anything else and probably never leave sight of there,” he said. “I feel like that will be my best option. Now, whether I get too antsy to do that – if I don’t catch a fish the whole period, something like that, then you probably gotta give. But I feel like my best chance of making it is to just hunker down in one area.”
Ehrler’s late rally ends Reese’s last event
For the second day in a row, the battle to finish inside the cut line came down to the wire and featured some clutch catches in the final minutes.
With 30 minutes left in Period 3, Brent Ehrler sat nearly 7 pounds back of eighth place, and he hadn’t caught a scorable bass for 2 1/2 hours. Yet Ehrler made a late move that resulted in three quick scorable bass, which pushed him to the right side of the cut. He then punctuated his comeback with a 4-13 in the final 5 minutes.
Ehrler’s late rally bumped his fellow Californian and traveling companion Skeet Reese out of the top eight, officially bringing Reese’s Hall of Fame career to an end. Reese was competing in his final national-level event after retiring following the 2025 Bass Pro Tour season.
The top eight pros from Qualifying Group B that now advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round on Orange Lake are:
1st: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 19 bass, 74-4
2nd: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 18 bass, 73-6
3rd: Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas, 20 bass, 72-7
4th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 63-0
5th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 16 bass, 51-6
6th: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 15 bass, 48-7
7th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 16 bass, 47-3
8th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 15 bass, 46-2
Finishing the event in 9th through 15th place in Group B are:
9th: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 11 bass, 39-15
10th: Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 13 bass, 39-6
11th: Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 11 bass, 35-5
12th: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., nine bass, 26-3
13th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., six bass, 25-15
14th: Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., seven bass, 24-14
15th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., five bass, 16-0
16th: Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, three bass, 8-8
Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 91 bass weighing 325 pounds, 4 ounces caught by the 16 pros on Tuesday, which included one 9-pounder, three 8-pounders and eight 6-pounders caught from Orange Lake.
Hosted by the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau, the Kubota Heavy Hitters at Orange Lake Presented by Bass Pro Shops features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. A bass must meet the 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable in the Qualifying and Knockout Rounds, but for the final day Championship Round a bass must weigh at least 3 pounds to be deemed scorable.
The 16 anglers in Group A competed in their two-day qualifying round on Saturday and Monday – the 16 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. With each two-day qualifying round now complete, the top eight anglers from both groups advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round weights are zeroed, and the remaining 16 anglers compete to finish in the Top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Thursday’s final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
In addition to overall tournament awards, Berkley Big Bass bonuses are awarded in each round of competition with payouts of $10,000 for the single biggest bass on each day of the Qualifying Round, $30,000 for the biggest bass in the Knockout Round and $100,000 for the biggest bass in the Championship Round.
Fans are encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW! live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
To qualify for Kubota Heavy Hitters, the weight of an angler’s single-largest bass from each event of the seven 2025 Bass Pro Tour events was recorded. The 32 anglers with the heaviest total from those seven bass qualified to compete in this event.
The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live each day of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! will be livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app, and Rumble.
Television coverage of Kubota Heavy Hitters 2026 Presented by Bass Pro Shops will be showcased across six two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET on July 4 and running each Saturday through Aug. 15 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Force, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Grizzly, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, MillerTech, NITRO Boats, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Star brite, Toyota, YETI, Yuengling 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, Rumble 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, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
Terry Scroggins Tops Qualifying Round for Group A, DeFoe Earns $10k Big Bass Award at MLF Kubota Heavy Hitters on Orange Lake
Florida pro paces field for top eight anglers advancing in competition, 16 Anglers in Group B to wrap Qualifying Round Tuesday
OCALA, Fla. (May 18, 2026) – There wasn’t much drama at the top of SCORETRACKER® during Group A’s second day of qualifying at Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops. Yet it was far from a boring day on Orange Lake.
After building a big lead on Day 1, San Mateo, Florida's Terry Scroggins spent most of Monday scouting new water and hunting for a lunker bite that never came, but no one ever threatened his lead. The Florida native added 16 pounds, 7 ounces on the day, bringing his total to 78-10 and winning the round by nearly 25 pounds over Cole Floyd .
The real excitement came farther down the standings. Monday saw five anglers who started the day below the Lucas Oil Cut Line climb into the top eight and advance to the Knockout Round. Takahiro Omori got his boat stuck and missed nearly half the competition day before catching a clutch 6-pounder in the final minutes to make the cut. And the trophy bass factory kicked out yet another double-digit largemouth – a 10-1 that earned Ott DeFoe $10,000 in Berkley Big Bass cash.
While Scroggins didn’t achieve his top objective of catching the Berkley Big Bass, he still had a productive day. He started in the same area where he caught most of his Day 1 weight, then ran all new water from there. He “feels pretty good” about the fact that he conserved some areas that he can revisit during Wednesday’s Knockout Round and found a few more that have potential.
“I just ran around the lake trying to find some more groups of fish and trying to catch a Heavy Hitters fish,” he said. “I didn’t do that, but I did find a couple areas that I think look promising. I didn’t have to hit any of my other stuff – I saved it – so that should be good.”
Scroggins, who lives about an hour away from Orange Lake and knows the fishery well, doesn’t think anyone is likely to find a magical, unpressured group of fish at this point in the competition. Already a small lake at about 12,500 acres, it’s fishing much smaller than that due to the low water level. So, having multiple different areas he can rotate could be important.
“I feel like at this point you’re probably going to have to deal with some pressured fish,” Scroggins said. “The lake’s not that big. I’ve been all the way around it. I’ve been inside and outside and everywhere you can go, and I’ve got a couple areas that I feel like there’s some fish in. Other than that, it’s tough.”
Even though he’s been splitting it with Floyd and Omori, Scroggins plans to revisit his starting spot from the past two days to open the Knockout Round. From there, he has a few more areas in mind where he feels like he can get a number of bites.
His primary focus, of course, will be qualifying for the Championship Round. Ideally, he’ll be able to stack up enough weight early that he can spend the afternoon searching for a big bass (which pays $30,000 in the Knockout Round) without having to worry about the cut line.
“Every day is a different day out there, but I feel like, where I’m catching them at, I don’t think I can catch a Heavy Hitters fish, but I can advance to the next round,” Scroggins said. “I’m going to have to mix it up and do a little bit of both on Wednesday.”
For much of his two days on Orange Lake, Ott DeFoe found the fishing tough. He boated four scorable bass in the opening period of Day 1, then caught just one over the next four periods.
However, with less than an hour before lines out on Monday, DeFoe got a $10,000 bite, illustrating the beauty of Heavy Hitters – you’re always one cast away from a big payday. His 10-1 one-upped a 9-10 that Ron Nelson had caught less than 10 minutes earlier for Berkley Big Bass honors.
The second 10-pounder DeFoe has ever caught, it marked his first time winning one of the boosted big-bass payouts at Heavy Hitters (even though he won the event in 2022). DeFoe caught the lunker flipping hydrilla with a Bass Pro Shops XPS Crawdigy Bug Jr. in the “best of both worlds” color with a 1/2-ounce weight and a 3/0 VMC Redline straight-shank flipping hook.
While he would have loved to advance to the Knockout Round, DeFoe views the week as a success. He spent a day wrangling gators with Bass Fishing Hall of Famer Shaw Grigsby, caught his second 10-pound bass and leaves Florida with a five-figure paycheck.
“This is a fun event,” he said. “Not a lot of pressure; no points. Just coming with the intent to have a good week and win some money – and I got to have a good time and do a lot of fun things while I was here. And I’m leaving with some jingle in my pocket.”
After he totaled an even 35 pounds on eight scorable bass on Day 1, Monday figured to be a low-stress day for Omori. He’d only need to catch one or two scorable bass to cement his spot in the Knockout Round; then he could use the rest of his day to look for a second straight $10,000 bite.
Instead, Omori failed to catch a scorable bass in the first period. Partway through Period 2, he tried to access a backwater pond but beached his bass boat in shallow water. An air boat had to come to the rescue – first shuttling Omori, his boat official and his camera operator to shore, then dislodging the boat, then taking the trio back. Omori still had to serve a 15-minute penalty for requiring official assistance before he could make another cast.
All of that caused Omori to miss about 3 hours of competition time. He finally resumed fishing with about 30 minutes left, then promptly fell to the wrong side of the cut line. But with less than 2 minutes before lines out, a 6-3 engulfed his topwater walking bait. Omori’s only scorable bass of the day, it was enough to send him to the Knockout Round, continuing a dream season in which the 55-year-old has earned his first Bass Pro Tour win, finished second at REDCREST, caught his first tournament 10-pounder and learned that he’ll be inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame.
That wasn’t the only drama around the cut line, though. Dave Lefebre had climbed all the way from 15th place at the start of the day into eighth, but Omori’s fish pushed him to the wrong side of the cut. Lefebre boated a 3-5 of his own in the final seconds to jump back into the top eight and push Bryan Thrift out of the Knockout Round field. A day after he caught just two scorable bass for 6-4, Lefebre caught four bass over 5 pounds, totaling 33-10 on seven scorables.
Ultimately, the last four fish that hit SCORETRACKER® all carried major significance – DeFoe’s $10,000 10-pounder, followed by a 6-13 that put Lefebre inside the top eight and knocked Omori out, followed by Omori’s aforementioned 6-3, then Lefebre’s 3-5.
The top eight pros from Qualifying Group A that now advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round on Orange Lake are:
1st: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 20 bass, 78-10
2nd: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 12 bass, 53-13
3rd: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, 17 bass, 52-5
4th: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 15 bass, 52-3
5th: Alton Jones Jr., Lorena, Texas, 16 bass, 45-2
6th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, nine bass, 41-3
7th: Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn., 13 bass, 41-2
8th: Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., nine bass, 39-14
Finishing the event in 9th through 15th place are:
9th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 10 bass, 37-5
10th: Colby Miller, Elmer, La., seven bass, 33-2
11th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., six bass, 30-15
12th: Brent Chapman, Lenexa, Kan., 10 bass, 30-10
13th: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., seven bass, 23-1
14th: Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, eight bass, 20-14
15th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., seven bass, 18-11
16th: Nick LeBrun, Benton, La., seven bass, 18-4
Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 81 bass weighing 290 pounds, 4 ounces caught by the 16 pros on Monday, which included one 10-pounder, one 9-pounder, two 8-pounders and one 7-pounder caught from Orange Lake.
Hosted by the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau , the Kubota Heavy Hitters at Orange Lake Presented by Bass Pro Shops features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. A bass must meet the 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable in the Qualifying and Knockout Rounds, but for the final day Championship Round a bass must weigh at least 3 pounds to be deemed scorable.
The 16 anglers in Group A competed in their two-day qualifying round on Saturday and Monday – the 16 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top eight anglers from both groups advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round weights are zeroed, and the remaining 16 anglers compete to finish in the Top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Thursday’s final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
In addition to overall tournament awards, Berkley Big Bass bonuses are awarded in each round of competition with payouts of $10,000 for the single biggest bass on each day of the Group A & B Qualifying Round, $30,000 for the biggest bass in the Knockout Round and $100,000 for the biggest bass in the Championship Round.
Fans are encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW! live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
To qualify for Kubota Heavy Hitters, the weight of an angler’s single-largest bass from each event of the seven 2025 Bass Pro Tour events was recorded. The 32 anglers with the heaviest total from those seven bass qualified to compete in this event.
The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live each day of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! will be livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app, and Rumble.
Television coverage of Kubota Heavy Hitters 2026 Presented by Bass Pro Shops will be showcased across six two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET on July 4 and running each Saturday through Aug. 15 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Force, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Grizzly, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, MillerTech, NITRO Boats, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Star brite, Toyota, YETI, Yuengling 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, Rumble 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, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
Mount Airy’s Watson Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on High Rock Lake
Elm City’s Jean Lacerte Earns Victory in Co-Angler Division
SALISBURY, N.C. (May 18, 2026) – Boater Troy Watson of Mount Airy, North Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 6 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on High Rock Lake. The tournament was the third of five events of the season for the BFL Piedmont Division. Watson earned $2,980 for the win.
Watson put together his winning bag by capitalizing on an early-morning shad spawn bite before making a key adjustment later in the day. He got off to a fast start with a topwater presentation during low-light conditions, building momentum before the bite began to fade.
“Started off with a shad spawn in the morning and got it done with a Megabass popper real early,” Watson said.
When the action slowed, Watson changed gears and moved to a bridge, where a dropshot-rig produced the biggest bass of his tournament – a 5-pound, 9-ounce kicker that anchored his winning limit. The timely adjustment helped him separate himself from the field and secure the victory at High Rock Lake.
Watson credited more than just fishing decisions for the win, pointing first to his faith and support system.
“I think the key to victory was the good Lord above,” he said. “And I want to credit my parents – I’ve got a great support team.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Troy Watson, Mount Airy, N.C., five bass, 20-6, $2,980
2nd: Conrad Manuel, Pilot Mountain, N.C., five bass, 20-4, $1,420
3rd: Otis Darnell, Linden, Va., five bass, 19-2, $840
4th: Andrew George, Poplar Branch, N.C., five bass, 19-1, $1,100 (includes $500 Phoenix Bonus)
5th: Steve Allender, Fallston, Md., five bass, 18-11, $530
6th: Ben Reynolds, Callands, Va., five bass, 18-6, $455
6th: Donghyeon Kim, Ridgefield, N.J., five bass, 18-6, $455
8th: Adam Flora, Red House, W. Va., five bass, 18-1, $430
9th: Chris Brummett, Lynch Station, Va., five bass, 17-15, $410
10th: Carl Enos, Bracey, Va., five bass, 17-7, $400
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Boater winner Troy Watson and fellow boater Otis Darnell split the Berkley Big Bass Boater award, as each landed a 5-pound, 9-ouncer, and each took home $100 after splitting the $200 prize.
Jean Lacerte of Elm City, North Carolina, earned the victory in the co-angler division on Saturday with three bass weighing 12 pounds, 13 ounces. Lacerte earned $1,490 for his victory.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Jean Lacerte, Elm City, N.C., three bass, 12-13, $1,490
2nd: Allen Haigh, Prospect Hill, N.C., three bass, 9-14, $760
3rd: Chip Crews, Trinity, N.C., three bass, 9-13, $370
4th: Shane Clark, Statesville, N.C., three bass, 9-6, $300
5th: Sean Tobatto, Greensboro, N.C., three bass, 9-1, $247
5th: David Everly, Conway, S.C., three bass, 9-1, $247
7th: James Roten, West Jefferson, N.C., three bass, 8-13, $230
8th: Demon Pittman, Timberlake, N.C., three bass, 8-12, $215
9th: Bart Hill, Clemmons, N.C., three bass, 8-11, $210
10th: Robert Wedding, Welcome, Md., three bass, 8-10, $300
Lacert also caught the Berkley Big Bass, landing a 5-pound, 10-ounce kicker to with the co-angler award and $100.
After three events, Chris Brummett of Lynch Station, Virginia, now leads the 7 Brew Piedmont Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 716 points, while Allen Haigh of Prospect Hill, North Carolina, leads the Piedmont Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 737 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 8-10 BFL Regional tournament on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, worth $33,500.
The 2026 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top seven, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2026 BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, Mystik Lubricants, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
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, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
Onalaska’s Laufenberg Earns 12th Career Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Mississippi River in La Crosse
Minnesota’s Hansen Wins Co-Angler Division
LA CROSSE, Wis. (May 18, 2026) – Boater Cade Laufenberg of Onalaska, Wisconsin, brought a five-bass limit to the scale weighing 19 pounds even to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Mississippi River in La Crosse . The tournament was the second of five events of the season for the BFL Great Lakes Division. Laufenberg earned $2,780 for his victory.
Laufenberg relied on a patient finesse approach to earn his 12th career BFL victory, targeting postspawn smallmouth bass throughout Pool No. 8 on the Mississippi River. Fishing slowly around bass recovering from the spawn or guarding fry, he used subtle presentations to coax reluctant fish into biting.
“It’s that time of year that I’ve done well in the past,” Laufenberg said. “Just dragging super slow and fishing finesse presentations for those weary postspawn smallmouth.”
A Strike King Rage Scounbug accounted for multiple key fish, while additional finesse baits helped him pick apart areas holding inactive bass. Rather than covering large amounts of water, Laufenberg focused on thoroughly working individual fish and trusting that patience would eventually pay off. That persistence proved to be the defining factor in the victory.
“Sometimes a fish would take 45 minutes to catch,” he said. “Just having the confidence that it’s the right fish and it’s worth giving that time to when you only got those three hours to make it happen with the scope.”
Laufenberg added that forward-facing sonar played a critical role in allowing him to stay locked onto specific fish.
“Without the scope, I couldn’t catch any of those fish,” he said.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Cade Laufenberg, Onalaska, Wis., five bass, 19-0, $2,780
2nd: Kevin Ruh, Onalaska, Wis., five bass, 16-12, $2,020 (includes $500 Phoenix Bonus)
3rd: Wyatt Becker, West Salem, Wis., five bass, 16-9, $740
4th: Fernando Lobato, Sparta, Wis., five bass, 15-5, $700
5th: Tyler Fitch, Fall River, Wis., five bass, 14-15, $530
6th: Dan Mohn, Lansing, Iowa, five bass, 14-13, $460
7th: Rob Leidholdt, Milton, Wis., five bass, 14-9, $440
7th: Brandyn Baum, La Crosse, Wis., five bass, 14-9, $440
9th: Clayton Reitz, Morton, Ill., five bass, 14-8, $410
10th: Devin Teigen, Nelson, Wis., five bass, 14-6, $400
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Kevin Ruh of Onalaska, Wisconsin, and Brent Schroeder of Caledonia, Minnesota, split the Berkley Big Bass Boater award after each brought a bass weighing 4 pounds, 2 ounces, to the scale to split the $200 award.
Shaun Hansen of Spring Grove, Minnesota, earned the win the co-angler division on Saturday with a three-bass limit weighing in at 10 pounds, 8 ounces. Hanser earned the top co-angler payout of $1,390 for his victory.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Shaun Hansen, Spring Grove, Minn., three bass, 10-8, $1,390
2nd: Blake Miller, Cedar Falls, Iowa, three bass, 8-11, $760
3rd: Dan Goeke, West Point, Iowa, three bass, 8-10, $370
4th: Danny Mancini, Necedah, Wis., three bass, 8-7, $282
4th: Ian Wiese, Slinger, Wis., three bass, 8-7, $282
6th: Shane Treu, Belvidere, Ill., two bass, 8-6, $330
6th: Lee Lewis, Peoria, Ill., three bass, 8-6, $230
8th: David Ondrla, Elmhurst, Ill., three bass, 8-2, $212
8th: Thomas Bridges, Kanakee, Ill., three bass, 8-2, $212
10th: Mike Bonewitz, Dakota, Minn., three bass, 8-0, $200
Shane Treu of Belvidere, Illinois, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award after landing a 5-pound, 3-ounce bass, good for the $100 prize.
After two events, Wyatt Becker of West Salem, Wisconsin, now leads the 7 Brew Great Lakes Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 494 points, while David Ondrla of Elmhurst, Illinois, leads the Great Lakes Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 488 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 22-24 BFL Regional tournament on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, worth $33,500.
The 2026 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top seven, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2026 BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, Mystik Lubricants, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
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, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
Edinburg’s Kohl Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Kentucky and Barkley Lakes
West Frankfort’s Daniell Wins Co-Angler Division
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (May 18, 2026) – Boater Levi Kohl of Edinburg, Illinois, caught five bass totaling 19 pounds, 11 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Kentucky and Barkley Lakes. The tournament, hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau, was the third of five events of the season for the BFL LBL Division. Kohl earned $2,590 for his victory.
Kohl adjusted to a difficult bite by slowing down and thoroughly working productive areas, a strategy that helped him separate himself from the field. With conditions making bites hard to come by, Kohl stayed patient and methodical throughout the day.
“It was not easy to get one to bite,” Kohl said. “I just slowed way down on the same spots I was fishing and picked them apart.”
While many anglers leaned heavily on forward-facing sonar, Kohl found most of his success without his electronics. He built the majority of his weight before even turning on his unit, relying primarily on blind-casting a minnow-style bait around productive areas.
“I had most of my weight before I even turned my ‘scope on,” he said. “I had 15 pounds before I turned it on, and then I only got up to 16 when I started scoping.”
In addition to the minnow presentation, Kohl mixed in a crankbait to round out his bag, with two key fish coming from roughly 10 feet of water.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Levi Kohl, Edinburg, Ill., five bass, 19-11, $2,590
2nd: Noah Morgan, Russellville, Ky., five bass, 16-4, $1,330
3rd: Michael Weimann, Murfreesboro, Tenn., five bass, 14-10, $700
4th: Robert Wade, Jackson, Mo., five bass, 14-8, $770
5th: Daniel Johnson, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 14-2, $610
6th: Harlan Thomas, Paducah, Ky., five bass, 13-10, $450
7th: Ron Smith, Walton, Ky., five bass, 13-8, $425
8th: Scott McWaters, Clarksville, Tenn., five bass, 13-8, $425
9th: Kain Joiner, Benton, Ky., five bass, 13-6, $400
9th: Grant Meisenhelter, Decatur, Ill., five bass, 13-4, $390
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Robert Wade of Jackson, Missouri, earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award with a 5-pound, 1-ounce bass worth $200.
Ed Daniell of West Frankfort, Illinois, won the co-angler division on Saturday with a three-bass limit totaling 11 pounds, 6 ounces. Daniell brought home $1,295 for his victory.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Ed Daniell, West Frankfort, Ill., three bass, 11-6, $1,295
2nd: Brendan Murphy, Cape Girardeau, Mo., three bass, 7-14, $715
3rd: Brady Kendall, Paducah, Ky., three bass, 7-7, $350
4th: Douglas Colson, Cadiz, Ky., three bass, 7-5, $285
5th: Joey Cambron, Morganfield, Ky., two bass, 7-3, $255
6th: Brian Huber, Saint Charles, Mo., three bass, 6-11, $222
6th: Corey Green, Paducah, Ky., three bass, 6-11, $222
8th: Mike Westfall, Norris City, Ill., three bass, 6-8, $210
9th: Marcus Mann, Benton, Ky., three bass, 6-3, $300
10th: Angel Sierra, St. Louis, Mo., three bass, 5-14, $195
Daniell also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award after landing a 5-pounder, worth $100.
After two events, Noah Morgan of Russellville, Kentucky, now leads the 7 Brew LBL Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 745 points, while Marcus Mann of Benton, Kentucky, leads the LBL Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 739 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 22-24 BFL Regional tournament on Watts Bar Lake in Spring City, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, worth $33,500.
The 2026 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top seven, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2026 BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, Mystik Lubricants, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
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, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
Clarksville’s Williams Earns Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Dardanelle
Benton’s McCullar Earns Victory in Co-Angler Division
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (May 18, 2026) – Boater Charles Williams of Clarksville, Arkansas, caught five bass totaling 23 pounds even to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Dardanelle . The tournament, hosted by Russellville Tourism, was the fourth of five events of the season for the BFL Arkie Division. Williams earned $10,150, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, for his victory.
Williams had a stellar day on Lake Dardanelle, targeting wind-blown mats around the Spadra area to earn his third career BFL victory. Focusing on shallow water where wind and current positioned fish correctly, Williams spent the day swimming a jig around matted cover and isolated targets.
“We were focusing on mats and the things the wind was blowing into,” Williams said. “The wind had to be hitting it just right.”
Using a Strike King swimjig in a sexy shad color paired with a white Zoom Speed Craw trailer, Williams was able to generate consistent quality bites throughout the day.
“Everything I caught came on that swimjig,” he said.
After boating around 17 pounds by 10 a.m., Williams continued upgrading through midday, including two of his biggest fish around noon.
“I got three more after 10 that put me up over 23 pounds,” he said.
Williams credited quickly recognizing how the fish were positioned in relation to both the wind and river flow as the key to victory.
“Figuring the pattern out early and running with it all day,” he explained. “Once I got figured out how they were set up in the wind versus how the river flows, and the depth range around 2 to 3 feet, I was able to run that pattern all the way back down to weigh-in.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Charles Williams, Clarksville, Ark., five bass, 23-0, $10,150 (includes $7,000 Phoenix Bonus)
2nd: Walker Woodall, Benton, Ark., five bass, 22-11, $1,590
3rd: Mike Rhinehart, Pottsville, Ark., five bass, 19-4, $910
4th: Jon Paulovich, Benton, Ark., five bass, 18-14, $650
5th: Brandon Lee, Ratcliff, Ark., five bass, 18-8, $730
5th: Matt Baker, Glenwood, Ark., five bass, 18-8, $500
7th: Ben Blaschke, Roland, Okla., five bass, 17-2, $480
7th: Zack Freeman, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 17-2, $460
9th: Shawn Gordon, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 16-15, $630
10th: Leland Nixon, Bee Branch, Ark., five bass, 16-11, $430
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Mike Scoggins of Danville, Arkansas, earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award after landing a 5-pound, 15-ounce bass worth $200.
John McCullar of Benton, Arkansas, won the co-angler division on Saturday with a three-bass limit that weighed in at 10 pounds, 9 ounces. McCullar brought home $1,865 for his victory.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: John McCullar, Benton, Ark., three bass, 10-9, $1,865
2nd: Michael Snowden, Malvern, Ark., three bass, 10-8, $885
3rd: Alan Bernicky, Dardanelle, Ark., three bass, 10-1, $550
3rd: Cole Allen, Carlisle, Ark., three bass, 10-1, $550
5th: Joe Tucker, Osceola, Mo., three bass, 9-15, $315
6th: Ray Cates, Texarkana, Ark., three bass, 9-8, $270
7th: Randy Allen, Russellville, Ark., three bass, 8-13, $252
7th: Tony Wherry, Malvern, Ark., three bass, 8-13, $252
9th: Jason Phillips, Rison, Ark., three bass, 8-7, $240
10th: Ricco Johnson, Conway, Ark., three bass, 8-4, $225
McCullar also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award after landing a 5-pound, 6-ounce bass worth $100.
After four events, Matt Baker of Glenwood, Arkansas, leads the 7 Brew Arkie Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 990 points, while Alan Bernicky of Dardanelle, Arkansas, leads the Arkie Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 985 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 22-24 BFL Regional tournament on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, worth $33,500.
The 2026 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top seven, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2026 BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, Mystik Lubricants, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
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, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
Scottsburg’s McClain Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Patoka
Greenwood’s McDougal Earns Victory in Co-Angler Division
BIRDSEYE, Ind. (May 18, 2026) – Boater Frank McClain of Scottsburg, Indiana, caught a total of five bass weighing 19 pounds, 11 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Patoka . The tournament was the second of five events of the season for the BFL Hoosier Division. For his victory, McClain earned the top payout of $4,000.
McClain used a two-part pattern to earn the victory at Lake Patoka, capitalizing on an early-morning shad spawn before moving upriver later in the day to finish out his limit. Targeting main-lake points during the morning hours, McClain relied heavily on topwater presentations to trigger feeding fish.
“There was a good shad spawn going on, and it was mostly topwater bites,” McClain said.
Throwing a Evergreen SB-style topwater bait along with a jerkbait, McClain focused on productive points until the morning bite faded around 10 a.m. After that, he made a move upriver where he switched gears and flipped shallow cover to add key fish to his total.
“I went up the river and was able to flip and catch a couple more keepers,” he said. “I ended up catching eight keepers today and luckily culled out a couple of small ones.”
McClain credited both timing and local knowledge for helping him put together the winning pattern.
“A little luck finding some good points and a good shad spawn,” he said. “And I know the lake pretty good up the river, and I had some good spots where I knew I could pick up some good fish.”
The victory marked the ninth BFL win of McClain’s career.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Frank McClain, Scottsburg, Ind., five bass, 19-11, $4,000
2nd: Richard Ison, North Vernon, Ind., five bass, 18-12, $2,500 (includes $500 Phoenix Bonus)
3rd: Blake Knies, Jasper, Ind., five bass, 17-14, $1,100
4th: Patrick Myers, Lebanon, Ind., five bass, 17-8, $800
5th: Chris Myers, Madison, Ind., five bass, 17-6, $700
6th: Rich Fye, Galveston, Ind., four bass, 16-14, $787
6th: Scott Sledge, Greenwood, Ind., five bass, 16-14, $587
8th: Randy French, Laurel, Ind., five bass, 16-9, $550
9th: Dave Tinsman, Losantville, Ind., five bass, 16-1, $775
10th: Nick Uebelhor, Jasper, Ind., five bass, 15-13, $500
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Rich Fye of Galveston, Indiana, earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award after landing a 5-pound, 13-ounce bass, worth $200.
Greenwood, Indiana’s Brennan McDougal won the co-angler division at Lake Patoka on Saturday with a three-bass limit totaling 11 pounds, 8 ounces. For his victory, McDougal brought home the top co-angler prize of $2,000.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Brennan McDougal, Greenwood, Ind., three bass, 11-8, $2,000
2nd: Ben Gilbert, Mooresville, Ind., three bass, 11-5, $1,000
3rd: Tony Burke, Bloomington, Ind., three bass, 11-4, $550
4th: Brian Ferguson, Louisville, Ky., three bass, 10-15, $500
5th: David Prater, Franklin, Ohio, three bass, 10-8, $350
6th: Jericho Laney, Greenwood, Ind., three bass, 10-4, $300
7th: Yaounde Howard, Bolingbrook, Ill., three bass, 10-3, $282
7th: Nathaniel Hester, Indianapolis, Ind., three bass, 10-3, $282
9th: Josh Weber, West Harrison, Ind., three bass, 10-1, $260
10th: Derrik Cornett, Scottsburg, Ind., two bass, 9-8, $250
Rich Fye of Galveston, Indiana, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award after landing a 5-pound, 13-ounce bass worth $200.
After two events, Blake Knies of Jasper, Indiana, now leads the 7 Brew Hoosier Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 496 points, while Derrik Cornett of Scottsburg, Indiana, leads the Hoosier Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 491 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 15-17 BFL Regional tournament on Kentucky and Barkley Lakes in Calvert City, Kentucky. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, worth $33,500.
The 2026 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top seven, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2026 BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, Mystik Lubricants, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
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, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
Peavyhouse Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Cumberland
Ashland’s Jones Earns Win in Co-Angler Division
MONTICELLO, Ky. (May 18, 2026) – Boater Isaac Peavyhouse of Jamestown, Tennessee, caught five bass weighing 17 pounds, 9 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Cumberland . The tournament was the third of five events of the season for the BFL Mountain Division. Peavyhouse earned the top prize of $3,280 for the win.
Peavyhouse pieced together a multi-stage pattern to earn the win on Lake Cumberland, targeting fish from the mid-lake area down to the dam with a mix of topwater, finesse and forward-facing sonar techniques. He got off to a fast start early in the morning, boating several quality keepers on a custom-built walking topwater bait that he pours and paints himself.
“I caught probably six or seven pretty good keepers on topwater for the first two hours,” Peavyhouse said. “It’s just a chrome walking-style bait that I make myself.”
As the morning progressed, Peavyhouse adjusted by targeting brush with a Ned rig, where he added a couple more key fish before entering his forward-facing sonar period later in the day. During that final stretch, he upgraded multiple times using a jighead minnow presentation.
“I culled up a couple times during my scope period,” he said. “I caught probably 20 to 25 keepers total and caught them all day pretty much.”
Peavyhouse also mixed in a Megabass Magdraft swimbait, which produced his biggest bass of the tournament. The diverse approach allowed him to adapt as conditions changed and maximize bites throughout the day.
“The topwater caught quite a few, then I caught several on the Ned rig,” he said. “But I caught my biggest one on the Magdraft.”
The victory marked the fifth win of Peavyhouse’s MLF career.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Isaac Peavyhouse, Jamestown, Tenn., five bass, 17-9, $3,280
2nd: Jason Smith, Union, Ky., five bass, 14-11, $1,920 (includes $500 Phoenix Bonus)
3rd: Branden Grubb, Lily, Ky., five bass, 14-10, $740
4th: Dustin Bishop, Mount Vernon, Ky., five bass, 13-10, $600
5th: Clay Reece, Lexington, Ky., five bass, 13-9, $530
6th: Billy Hall, Russell Springs, Ky., five bass, 12-10, $460
7th: Greg Perry, Byrdstown, Tenn., five bass, 12-9, $450
8th: Freddy Adkins, East Bernstadt, Ky., five bass, 12-5, $430
9th: Lucas Reagan, Byrdstown, Tenn., five bass, 11-15, $405
9th: Bradley Stringfield, Oliver Springs, Tenn., five bass, 11-15, $405
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Seth Rittenberry of Cookeville, Tennessee, earned the $200 Berkley Big Bass boater award with a bass weighing 4 pounds, 7 ounces.
Brent Jones of Ashland, Kentucky, won the co-angler division on Saturday at Lake Cumberland, as he caught a three-bass limit weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces. Jones earned $1,390 for his victory.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Brent Jones, Ashland, Ky., three bass, 7-13, $1,390
2nd: Glenn Alan Ruth, Frankfort, Ky., three bass, 7-12, $540
2nd: Doug Back, Jackson, Ky., three bass, 7-12, $540
4th: Timothy Ernst, Winchester, Ky., three bass, 7-9, $350
5th: Kevin Conner, Mitchell, Ind., three bass, 7-1, $265
6th: Michael Anderson, Knoxville, Tenn., three bass, 6-15, $230
7th: Mitchell Green, Crandall, Texas, three bass, 6-13, $230
8th: John Rediess, Smiths Grove, Ky., three bass, 6-12, $215
9th: Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., three bass, 6-6, $210
10th: Barry King, Liberty, Ky., three bass, 6-4, $200
Jimmy Rhodus of Versailles, Kentucky, and Timothy Ernst of Winchester, Kentucky, tied for the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award as each weighed in a bass totaling 3 pounds, 9 ounces to split the $100 prize.
After three events, Greg Perry of Byrdstown, Tennessee, now leads the 7 Brew Mountain Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 725 points, while Pop Catalin of Cookeville, Tennessee, leads the Mountain Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 735 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 22-24 BFL Regional tournament on Watts Bar Lake in Spring City, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, worth $33,500.
The 2026 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top seven, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2026 BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, Mystik Lubricants, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
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, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
Davis Leads Group B, Neal Catches 11-Pound Big Bass to win $10K on Day 2 of MLF Kubota Heavy Hitters on Orange Lake
Arkansas pro catches 12 bass weighing 53-12 to lead Group B Qualifying Round, 16 anglers in Group A to wrap Qualifying Round on Monday
OCALA, Fla. (May 17, 2026) – On his first day competing on Orange Lake, Bass Fishing Hall of Famer Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Arkansas, boated three bass over 6 pounds and topped SCORETRACKER® with a total of 53 pounds, 12 ounces on 12 scorable bass – a banner day by just about any standard.
Yet it wasn’t Davis who called Group B’s first day of the Qualifying Round at Major League Fishing’s (MLF) Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops “a once-in-a-lifetime day.”
That would be Michael Neal. While he concluded Sunday 4 ounces behind Davis, Neal stole the show with a big-bass bonanza that included an 11-pounder, which won him $10,000 as the Berkley Big Bass. In all, Neal caught six bass over 6 pounds for a total of 53-8 on nine scorable bass.
Davis and Neal put plenty of distance between themselves and the rest of the field. They’re both more than 16 pounds ahead of Jeff Sprague in third place and more than 36 pounds clear of the Lucas Oil Cut Line, virtually assuring themselves spots in Wednesday’s Knockout Round.
Davis has always gotten along well with Florida bass. In fact, his two best events on the Bass Pro Tour – a pair of second-place finishes – both came in the Sunshine State. He quipped that’s because Florida bass are “cantankerous” and “hard-headed” like himself.
“There’s just something about it, I get along well with Florida bass,” he said. “They’re cantankerous. They can be hard to catch and hard-headed. You've got to be hard-headed with them. That was kind of the case today.”
Davis clarified that succeeding in Florida usually means finding an area with a population of bass then slowing down and picking it apart, which has long been his specialty. He showed that Sunday. Even though he caught all of his bass with a moving bait (a bladed jig), he spent most of the day with his Power-Poles down, methodically dissecting the same area.
While that’s always key in Florida, Davis said it’s especially vital given the low water on Orange Lake, which has the bass grouped into small areas and less willing than usual to bite.
“If you fish too fast, you can fish right over these fish,” he said. “You’ve got to really be diligent and slow down and pick it apart and trigger those fish to bite.”
Davis found his honey hole during practice. It took him a little while to relocate the school of bass there, but once he did, he surged to the top of SCORETRACKER® in a hurry with five bass for 23-8 in the first period. He added a couple more scorable bass early in Period 2 before going more than 2 hours without another fish.
Davis said he tried checking a few other spots during that lull, but when they didn’t produce, he returned to his starting spot. Afternoon showers reignited the bite, and he added five more bass for 22-5 during the latter half of Period 3. That included a 7-5, his biggest of the day.
“I got out of that area, and I went to fish some other areas, and they weren’t any good,” Davis said. “Then we got some cloud cover this afternoon – some storms and whatnot – and I just went back to that primary area and spent the rest of the day in there, and it worked out pretty well.”
Davis doesn’t think that same spot will be able to hold up for the rest of the event. The good news is his cushion over the cut line earned him the opportunity to spend all of Tuesday looking for more productive water.
“The nice thing about it is with 53 pounds, I can afford to go look for some fish on that second day,” he said. “That's what I’m
As much success as Davis has enjoyed in Florida during his Hall of Fame career, he’s never won a tour-level event in the state. Both his runner-up finishes on the Bass Pro Tour were heartbreakers, too, in which he held the lead during the Championship Round before getting passed late by one of the Lane brothers.
So, Davis would love to earn some redemption and get his long-awaited first Bass Pro Tour victory all at once this week. But he’s not ready to think about that quite yet.
“I’d like to finally win one down here,” he said. “This would be a great one to win. But you just never know. Everything has to work out perfectly to win one of these. It would be nice to win, but you don’t want to get ahead of yourself.”
Neal has experienced a lot of special days on the water during a career that’s seen him win three tour-level events and two Angler of the Year titles on the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit. But never has the Tennessee pro had a day like Sunday when it comes to catching big bass.
Neal accounted for six of the 12 bass over 6 pounds caught by the 16-angler field on the day. His five biggest bass combined to weigh 38-13 – easily the heaviest five-fish limit of his life.
“We had almost 38 in a team tournament, but I didn’t catch any of them,” he said. “I netted them, so that’s part of it. But I’d never caught 30 by myself.”
Neal’s 11-0 big bass represented the first bass he’s ever caught over 10 pounds – and he did it during a tournament with $10,000 up for grabs. He knew the fish was sizable upon setting the hook, but it wasn’t until he grabbed its lip and unearthed it from a mound of hydrilla that he realized just how big it was.
“I knew it was big,” he said. “I figured it was like an 8-pounder until I got my hands on it. Then I knew it had a real good shot at being a double-digit.”
Making Neal’s day all the more impressive was the fact that he caught all his fish on a technique he called “not my strong suit” – punching. Neal tried to start the day fishing his strengths by winding a bladed jig, but he couldn’t muster a scorable bass during the first period. Late in the period, he went to a football field-sized area where the hydrilla had formed a canopy with open space beneath it – the only place he could find that wasn’t choked out, he said.
“I know (flipping) is always a thing here in Florida, and anytime you’ve got hydrilla – not just in Florida – it's going to be a player,” he said. “But 99 percent of the areas that I was in, it’s still too thick underneath it. But that one football field section, it’s actually canopied. So, I think that’s why the fish were holding there.”
Every time Neal thought about putting down his flipping stick (with a Big Bite Baits YoMama on the business end), he’d get another bite. He never ended up leaving, catching all nine of his scorable bass from the same area.
“That exact area, there’s really nothing – you can get on the outskirts of it, but as far as getting up in it, there’s nothing else you can do but punch it,” he explained. “I made the comment on camera, every time I’m about zoned out or falling asleep, I get a bite.”
As special as that spot was, Neal figures he’ll need to find something new to win his first Heavy Hitters belt. He plans to start Day 2 playing some defense before spending the rest of the day looking for similar areas.
“I’ve got to find something else,” he said. “My best bet at this point is probably show up, make your presence known, try and defend your ground a little bit, and then try and practice and cover as much water as I can the rest of the day.”
The 16 anglers in Group B will now have the day off Monday, while the 16 anglers in Group A will conclude their two-day Qualifying Round. Group B will complete their two-day Qualifying Round of competition on Tuesday.
The standings for the 16 pros from Qualifying Group B after Day 1 on Orange Lake are:
1st: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 12 bass, 53-12
2nd: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., nine bass, 53-8
3rd: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 11 bass, 37-3
4th: Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas, 11 bass, 34-0
5th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 10 bass, 29-4
6th: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., eight bass, 26-3
7th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., eight bass, 25-2
8th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., seven bass, 20-3
9th: Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., six bass, 16-14
10th: Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., five bass, 15-5
11th: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., five bass, 14-14
12th: Adrian Avena, Marmora, N.J., three bass, 12-13
13th: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., four bass, 10-12
14th: Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., one bass, 9-1
15th: Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, two bass, 5-14
16th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., one bass, 2-5
Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 103 bass weighing 367 pounds, 1 ounce caught by the 16 pros on Sunday, which included one 11-pounder, one 9-pounder, one 8-pounder and three 7-pounders caught from Orange Lake.
Hosted by the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau , the Kubota Heavy Hitters at Orange Lake Presented by Bass Pro Shops features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. A bass must meet the 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable in the Qualifying and Knockout Rounds, but for the final day Championship Round a bass must weigh at least 3 pounds to be deemed scorable.
The 16 anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Saturday and Monday – the 16 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top eight anglers from both groups advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round weights are zeroed, and the remaining 16 anglers compete to finish in the Top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Thursday’s final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
In addition to overall tournament awards, Berkley Big Bass bonuses are awarded in each round of competition with payouts of $10,000 for the single biggest bass on each day of the Group A & B Qualifying Round, $30,000 for the biggest bass in the Knockout Round and $100,000 for the biggest bass in the Championship Round.
Fans are encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW! live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
To qualify for Kubota Heavy Hitters, the weight of an angler’s single-largest bass from each event of the seven 2025 Bass Pro Tour events was recorded. The 32 anglers with the heaviest total from those seven bass qualified to compete in this event.
The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live each day of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! will be livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app, and Rumble.
Television coverage of Kubota Heavy Hitters 2026 Presented by Bass Pro Shops will be showcased across six two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET on July 4 and running each Saturday through Aug. 15 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Force, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Grizzly, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, MillerTech, NITRO Boats, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Star brite, Toyota, YETI, Yuengling 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, Rumble 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, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
Johnston Coike’s his way to victory at Santee Cooper Lakes
CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Ever since joining the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, Chris Johnston has wanted to win a tournament centered around southern largemouth.
The Peterborough, Ontario native achieved that goal this week by winning the Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes with a four-day total of 113 pounds, 12 ounces, breaking away from second-place Brandon Palaniuk to earn his second blue trophy and the $100,000 first-place prize, a margin of victory of 19-12.
“I’ve been pegged as a smallmouth guy up north, but I have been very consistent with these southern fisheries and had some close calls with Bassmaster,” Johnston said. “So, to win one in this fashion is unbelievable. To have the week I had, catching 5-,6- and 7-pounders the whole time, you couldn’t ask for anything more.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been that dialed in a tournament ever.”
Not only is it Johnston’s second career Elite Series win, his first coming at the St. Lawrence River in 2020, but he also earned his second career Century Belt and became the third angler to earn a belt on both a smallmouth fishery (St. Lawrence River in 2023) and a largemouth fishery.
Lakes Marion and Moultrie have now produced nine Century Belts since the inaugural 2006 Elite Series season, and Johnston’s four-day total is the second-highest winning weight after Preston Clark’s 115-15 beatdown in 2006.
The 10th-year-pro’s game plan centered around main lake docks in less than 10 feet of water that Johnston believes harbored resident largemouth. Because of the abundance of vegetation and cypress trees, those docks are often ignored, making them a perfect option in this tournament.
“I don’t think they get a lot of pressure, and I don’t think there are a lot of bass that live on them,” the two-time reigning Angler of the Year said. “There aren’t really any spawning pockets nearby. But the ones that do live there are big ones.”
He skipped and pitched a Hideup Coike Fullcast under those docks, a bait he said very few of those Santee Cooper bass have seen. He rigged it using a Gamakatsu treble hook and pushed a 1/8-ounce tungsten sinker into the bottom of the bait so the buoyant material would sink.
Although it was a non-forward-facing sonar event, Johnston applied the concepts he learned from using the bait with his Garmin LiveScope. To keep the bait above the heads of the bass, he would count down to his desired depth and then begin his presentation.
“As soon as I felt it was in the depth range I wanted, I would jerk it. I learned from watching on LiveScope that usually would get the fish’s attention. Then if you give it a double twitch, that gets the bass aggravated. It was almost like working a jerkbait.”
For the tight-quarters style of fishing, Johnston used a 7-foot-3 medium-heavy Daiwa Tatula Multi-Purpose casting rod paired with an 8:1:1 Daiwa Tatula SV baitcaster and tied his Coike to 22-pound Seaguar Tatsu fluorocarbon.
“I could have just put one rod on my deck,” he remarked.
He discovered his pattern on Lake Moultrie his first day of practice, receiving a 4-pound bite before shaking off two more quality bass. Day 1 on Moultrie was a struggle, forcing Johnston to move into Lake Marion, where he finished out a 21-3 limit. The upper lake is where he would spend the rest of his tournament and sacked up 32-8 on Day 2 (the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament) before backing it up with 29-2 and 30-15 the final two days.
Johnston opened Championship Sunday by catching a 6-pounder, filling out a decent limit before making a long run up Lake Marion to a new area. There, he tossed his Coike up under a dock and hooked up with a 7-7, the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day. Once he got it in the boat, he knew it would be hard to be beat by anyone in the Top 10.
“I set the hook and it didn’t move,” Johnston explained. “It started going sideways and it must have gone around four different poles. My line was one way and it jumped 4 feet to the right of that. Somehow, it swam back through all the poles and to the boat. My small one was 3 pounds at that point.”
The rest of the day was icing on the cake, as he caught two more weighing around 5 pounds and another 6-pounder to cull one of those 5-pounders.
“I had one of the best afternoons of the week as far as catching fish goes,” he said. “I wish I had two more hours.”
Palaniuk called Jack’s Creek on the north side of Lake Marion home this week, landing limits weighing 29-1, 29-15, 20-11 and 14-5 to notch his fourth Top 5 at Santee Cooper, his best finish at the fishery since winning in the fall of 2020.
“It was an incredible week,” Palaniuk said. “The first two days were some of the best days I’ve had on this place. Really, they were some of the most fun days I’ve had fishing. Today, I would have had to have had 34 pounds to win. I’m glad (Chris) caught them that well, it eases the pain. What makes me mad though is that I’ve had the chance to break 100 twice, basically punts, and I screwed it up both times.”
Each year, the Idaho pro has taken a new approach to the fishery. This year, he targeted shallow cypress trees harboring postspawn largemouth. A certain contour break and a mix of vegetation were key ingredients for finding high percentage groups of trees.
“There was a combination of dollar pads, star grass and some other fluffy stuff,” he explained. “If there were dollar pads around and a little bit of scattered star grass, that’s where the big ones wanted to be. Only a few places had that.”
A Hideup Coike Fullcast produced the bulk of his bites the first two days. Later on Day 2, a 6-pounder tore up his last Coike, so he switched to a homemade urchin-style bait. Since his homemade one wasn’t as buoyant as the Coike, he had reservations about how effective it would be, but within the first couple casts using it he landed a 4-pounder.
He used the same hook in both, a BKK Spear 21 treble hook, but used a 3/32-ounce X-Zone tungsten nail weight in the Coike while the other he left weightless. 20 or 22-pound Seaguar Tatsu fluorocarbon kept Palaniuk from breaking off around the thick cover.
With limits measuring 21-8, 24-14, 25-11 and 20-8, Georgia pro Drew Cook finished third with a total of 92-9. The 2022 Santee Cooper Lakes champion once again fished for spawning largemouth on Lake Marion, although it was much harder to find areas where bass were spawning this go-round than in 2022.
Most of the time, he sight-fished in clearer water areas with a mix of vegetation in short pockets. Some other quality bites came around cypress trees and docks where he had shaken off bites in practice.
“It was strictly bed fishing and we milked it for all it was worth,” Cook said. “There would be a pocket in a creek that really wouldn’t look that good and they were all in there. You’d go to the next pocket, and there would be nothing in there. I just had to hunt and peck around.”
The 2020 Rookie of the Year rotated through three baits this week. A Spro Wacky Snack was the most productive of the bunch the first three days while a Nories Front Flapper was his sight-fishing bait of choice. He also mixed in a Coike around a variety of cover elements.
Wisconsin pro Kyle Norsetter earned Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors with a 9-14 he caught on Day 3, earning a $3,000 bonus. The 9-14 is also the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Year, which pays out $10,000 at the end of the season. Additionally, Norsetter earned another $1,000 for catching the daily big bass on Day 1 while Palaniuk (8-6) and Johnston (7-7) also cashed $1,000 bonuses for their daily big bass on Days 2 and 4.
Johnston earned $2,000 for the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament while John Crews Jr. took home the $1,000 BassTrakk Contingency bonus for accurate reporting.
Cook claimed the $4,000 Toyota Bonus Bucks contingency for highest-placing eligible angler while Alabama’s Kyle Welcher earned $3,000 as the second-place angler.
Palaniuk also won the $2,500 Yamaha Power Pay contingency award for the highest-placing eligible angler. Cook earned the $1,500 second-place award.
Canadian pro Cory Johnston leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year race with 483 points, followed by Illinois pro Trey McKinney in second with 463 points and Texas pro Dakota Ebare in third with 455 points. Cole Sands is fourth with 454 points; Brandon Cobb is fifth with 446 points; John Garrett is sixth with 443 points; Drew Cook is seventh with 440 points; Caleb Hudson is eighth with 430 points; Bob Downey is ninth with 426 points; and Justin Atkins is 10th with 411 points.
Hudson leads the Pro-Guide Batteries Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race followed by Fisher Anaya in second with 372 points and Pake South in third with 322 points. Tristan McCormick is fourth with 306 points and Matt Messer is fifth with 233 points.
Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce hosted the tournament.
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
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, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, 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, Tackle Warehouse 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, Twitte
Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]
2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes 5/14-5/17
Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Chris Johnston Peterborough Ontario CA 20 113-12 101 $103,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-03 Day 2: 5 32-08 Day 3: 5 29-02 Day 4: 5 30-15
2. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 20 94-00 100 $21,000.00
Day 1: 5 29-01 Day 2: 5 29-15 Day 3: 5 20-11 Day 4: 5 14-05
3. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 20 92-09 99 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-08 Day 2: 5 24-14 Day 3: 5 25-11 Day 4: 5 20-08
4. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 20 92-03 98 $13,500.00
Day 1: 5 29-06 Day 2: 5 17-08 Day 3: 5 23-09 Day 4: 5 21-12
5. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 20 90-03 97 $11,750.00
Day 1: 5 21-13 Day 2: 5 23-12 Day 3: 5 20-11 Day 4: 5 23-15
6. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 20 85-10 96 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 23-12 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 28-15 Day 4: 5 17-12
7. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 20 83-09 95 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 26-09 Day 3: 5 19-04 Day 4: 5 21-00
8. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 20 82-08 94 $10,300.00
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 5 21-03 Day 3: 5 22-00 Day 4: 5 19-06
9. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 20 77-05 93 $10,200.00
Day 1: 5 23-12 Day 2: 5 19-02 Day 3: 5 24-07 Day 4: 5 10-00
10. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 19 71-02 92 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-05 Day 2: 5 23-00 Day 3: 5 17-05 Day 4: 4 08-08
------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 07-14 $1,000.00
2 Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 08-06 $1,000.00
3 Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 09-14 $1,000.00
4 Chris Johnston Peterborough Ontario CANADA07-07 $1,000.00
------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 09-14 $2,000.00
RAPALA CRUSHCITY MONSTER BAG
Chris Johnston Peterborough, 32-08 $2,000.00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 481 1613-10
2 87 476 1598-15
3 46 242 828-10
4 9 49 188-01
------------------------------
235 1248 4229-04
Scroggins Leads Group A, Omori Wins $10K Big Bass Award with 10-1 on Day 1 of MLF Kubota Heavy Hitters on Orange Lake Presented by Bass Pro Shops
San Mateo, Florida, pro catches 15 Bass weighing 62 Pounds, 3 ounces to pace Group A Qualifying Round, 16 anglers in Group B to compete Sunday
OCALA, Fla. (May 16, 2026) – Low, dirty water had some pros tempering expectations ahead of Orange Lake’s national tournament debut at Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops. Florida native Terry Scroggins, who knows the fishery as well as anyone in the field, said it’s “100% fishing tough for Orange Lake right now.”
Yet, on Saturday, the lake showed why it’s earned a reputation as Florida’s premier big-bass factory.
The bite may not have been fast and furious throughout the opening day of the Qualifying Round for Group A, but the 16 anglers combined to catch 10 bass over 6 pounds, including some savage topwater strikes. Scroggins used his local expertise to boat three over 7 on his own. He racked up 62 pounds, 3 ounces on 15 scorable bass to take a commanding lead. He’s 27-3 ahead of Takahiro Omori in second place and nearly 44 pounds clear of the Lucas Oil Cut Line.
Omori, meanwhile, earned the first of the boosted Berkley Big Bass payouts that are unique to Heavy Hitters by landing a 10-1 lunker. The biggest bass in Heavy Hitters history, it earned Omori $10,000.
Scroggins entered Day 1 feeling like he could catch 15 scorable bass, which proved dead on. But the way his day unfolded has him more optimistic about the rest of the event than he was at takeoff.
Scroggins, who resides about an hour away from Orange Lake, started Saturday on the southern end of the fishery in an area that featured cleaner water and gaps in the hydrilla – two ingredients that aren’t easy to find right now. Thus, he figured it would attract quite a bit of pressure. Indeed, Omori and Cole Floyd – the two anglers right behind him on SCORETRACKER® – spent most of the morning within eyesight.
That area produced nine scorable bass for Scroggins before noon, headlined by an 8-9 and a 7-14. He then spent the latter half of the day running new water and was pleased to add six more bass to his total, including a 7-5.
“I went to an area where I thought I could catch four or five scorables, and I ended up catching eight or nine out of there,” Scroggins said. “But I left out of there pretty early and just went and ran some new stuff and found a couple more areas that’s got ‘em. So, I feel good about it.”
Getting extra time to scout new water during competition could be especially valuable at this event. With Orange Lake fishing small due to the low water and Heavy Hitters spanning six days, Scroggins doesn’t think the best spots from Day 1 (like the area he started in) will still be viable come the Knockout and Championship Rounds.
“Where we caught them, I was in there, Takahiro was in there, Cole Floyd was in there, and then Todd Faircloth came in there,” he said. “And then there’s no telling who’s going to be in there tomorrow. That area is going to get beat up. It's not going to be good. So, it’s important to find some new stuff.”
The other thing that has Scroggins feeling optimistic is how he caught many of his fish. In addition to a vibrating jig, he mixed in a topwater prop bait. While far from a secret, he thinks his years of experience throwing the bait in Florida could give him an edge. It yielded eight of his bass Saturday, including four of the five he caught over 4 pounds.
With a huge cushion over the cut line, Scroggins plans to devote the entire second day of qualifying to looking for even more new water – and hunting for a $10,000 big bass, of course.
“I feel pretty good,” he said. “I left out of there where I caught them this morning around 12 o’clock or so – partway through the second period. And I caught a 5, a 7 and a 4, and I got just as many bites not in that area as I was in there. So, I feel good about it.”
Omori lands first tournament 10
There have been a lot of big bass caught during the first six editions of Heavy Hitters, both in terms of size and the paychecks they’ve earned the anglers who caught them. But never had one cracked double digits.
It took less than one period on Orange Lake for Omori to change that. His 10-1 claimed Berkley Big Bass honors by more than a pound over Floyd’s 8-14, earning him the first of four $10,000 prizes that will be handed out each day of the Qualifying Round.
Like all eight scorable bass Omori caught on the day, that giant ate a topwater walking bait. It also marked the first 10-pounder the newly minted Bass Fishing Hall of Famer has ever caught in a tournament.
The 15 anglers in Group A will now have the day off Sunday, while the 15 anglers in Group B will begin their Day 1 Qualifying Round. Group A will complete their two-day Qualifying Round of competition on Monday.
The standings for the 16 pros from Qualifying Group A after Day 1 on Orange Lake are:
1st: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 15 bass, 62-3
2nd: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, eight bass, 35-0
3rd: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, seven bass, 31-13
4th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., seven bass, 22-11
5th: Brent Chapman, Lenexa, Kan., seven bass, 22-1
6th: Colby Miller, Elmer, La., three bass, 19-14
7th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., seven bass, 18-11
8th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., four bass, 18-8
9th: Alton Jones Jr., Lorena, Texas, seven bass, 18-5
10th: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., five bass, 15-10
11th: Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn., five bass, 15-5
12th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, five bass, 13-14
13th: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., five bass, 13-5
14th: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., three bass, 8-8
15th: Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., two bass, 6-4
16th: Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, two bass, 4-14
Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 92 bass weighing 326 pounds, 14 ounces caught by the 16 pros on Saturday, which included one 10-pounder, three 8-pounders and three 7-pounders caught from Orange Lake.
Hosted by the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau, the Kubota Heavy Hitters at Orange Lake Presented by Bass Pro Shops features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. A bass must meet the 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable in the Qualifying and Knockout Rounds, but for the final day Championship Round a bass must weigh at least 3 pounds to be deemed scorable.
The 16 anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Saturday and Monday – the 16 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top eight anglers from both groups advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round weights are zeroed, and the remaining 16 anglers compete to finish in the Top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Thursday’s final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
In addition to overall tournament awards, Berkley Big Bass bonuses are awarded in each round of competition with payouts of $10,000 for the single biggest bass on each day of the Group A & B Qualifying Round, $30,000 for the biggest bass in the Knockout Round and $100,000 for the biggest bass in the Championship Round.
Fans are encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW! live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
To qualify for Kubota Heavy Hitters, the weight of an angler’s single-largest bass from each event of the seven 2025 Bass Pro Tour events was recorded. The 32 anglers with the heaviest total from those seven bass qualified to compete in this event.
The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live each day of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! will be livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app, and Rumble.
Television coverage of Kubota Heavy Hitters 2026 Presented by Bass Pro Shops will be showcased across six two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET on July 4 and running each Saturday through Aug. 15 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Force, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Grizzly, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, MillerTech, NITRO Boats, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Star brite, Toyota, YETI, Yuengling 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, Rumble 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, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, 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.
Johnston’s big bass pattern vaults him to Day 3 lead at Santee Coooper Lakes
CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Not much went right for Chris Johnston on Day 3 of the 2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes. He got hung up a lot, fell in the lake and left a pair of sunglasses and a flip flop in the water, but what he took out of the lake was much more important.
The Peterborough, Ontario pro caught 29 pounds, 2 ounces on Day 3 to claim the lead with 82-13. He will carry a 3-2 advantage over second-place Brandon Palaniuk into Championship Sunday.
“It felt like I couldn’t do anything wrong other than falling in the lake. Maybe that’s good juju, I don’t know. I smell like Santee Cooper for sure,” Johnston said.
The tournament lead has changed every day so far, and multiple anglers have a chance at breaking the century mark this week on Lakes Marion and Moultrie. If he can keep pace for one more day, this will be Johnston’s second Elite Series win and potentially his second Century Belt.
“It would be awesome to win here, especially catching all of these giants,” he said. “This is the way to do it. You are having so much fun, but it stresses me out when they are going crazy jumping and swimming around the wood. Getting them in the boat is a feat all its own.”
Johnston has ran a pattern centered around wood docks on one lake in the Santee Cooper system. These particular pieces of cover are in 3 to 8 feet of water, and postspawn largemouth are using the wood to stage and feed. Johnston feels like there are bass deeper than that, but they are hard to target without forward-facing sonar.
His pattern also involves one very specific lure. With how the bait suspends, the 10th-year-pro can keep it over the heads of the bass and trigger reaction strikes.
“It is a technique that the bass haven’t seen a lot yet. Once they do, I think they will catch on to it pretty quick,” Johnston said. “But it is something different, and they are curious creatures, so when they put their mouth on it that is when I get my crack at them.
“I can run my pattern anywhere on the lake.”
After landing 21-3 on Day 1 to start in 16th, Johnston caught the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the tournament on Day 2, a limit that weighed 32-8 to jump into second.
Johnston’s day started with a bang, landing a 5-pounder right out of the gate, but didn’t receive many bites for a while after. Around mid-morning, he landed a 5-pounder and two more 2-pounders to reach the 18-pound mark.
“That’s what I wanted, because where I was going next, I wasn’t going to get a lot of bites,” he said. “And I didn’t. I went an hour and a half without a bite. I lost a 3 3/4 and then caught a 5 1/2-pounder.”
He continued to fish new water the rest of the day, and in the process, made several key culls. At one point, Johnston culled out a 5-2 with a 6-pounder.
While he isn’t getting many bites, Johnston is confident he can run the pattern throughout the lake and still has one area he has yet to return to.
“I’m going to fish new stuff tomorrow, but the stuff I fished today I will probably fish pretty quickly,” he said.
Palaniuk stumbled for the first time this tournament, catching 20-11 after landing 29-1 and 29-15 the first two tournament days. The Day 2 leader now sits in second with a three-day total of 79-11. Not a whole lot changed for the eight-time Bassmaster champion. He still got the bites he needed, they just didn’t make it to the boat.
“Execution was the only difference. Every day I’ve had two flurries; a mid-morning flurry and an afternoon flurry,” Palaniuk said. “I had those today, but I didn’t land the bites. I broke a 6-pounder off, lost one that was 6 at the boat and another one that was 7 or 8 pounds. You can’t do that, and now it’s going to be interesting.”
The 2020 Santee Cooper Lakes champion has been targeting cypress trees in one broad area of Lake Marion. Not all trees are productive. Palaniuk is looking for specific contour lines on his Humminbird LakeMaster combined with a certain type of vegetation.
One bait has caught most of his bass. While it worked flawlessly the first two days, the hook-to-land ratio was not good on Day 3.
“I’m just learning how to use it,” he said. “There are probably better ways to rig it and other things to figure out with it. It is the first time I’ve really put it in my hands and went to work with it.
“It is wild to watch how the bass respond to it, thought”
Georgia’s pro Drew Cook climbed his way into the Top 3 with a total of 72-1. His tournament had steadily gotten better, opening the tournament with 21-8 before landing 24-14 and 25-11 the next two days.
The 2020 Rookie of the Year has utilized the same game plan he used to win the 2022 Santee Cooper Lakes Elite; sight fishing for spawning largemouth. Unlike in 2022 when he used one area to win, he has bounced around a couple different regions. Four baits have produced bites around these beds, which have been located in 3 to 8 feet of water.
“I’m surprised (I’ve been able to do this),” Cook said. “The main contributor to that is the low lakes levels. That’s why there are still enough up shallow to make it work. We had a new moon today, and I’m hoping more will trickle up.
“I never imagined that I’d ever sight fish a bass in 7 feet of water on Santee Cooper.”
There were promising signs as Day 3 wore on. As he scanned the shallows, Cook located a 9-pounder swimming near a 2-pound male and left both bass alone in hopes they would pair up tomorrow.
Wisconsin’s Kyle Norsetter claimed the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day, a 9-14 that also claimed the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors. It is also the current Big Bass of the Year, which pays $10,000 at the end of the year.
Canadian pro Cory Johnston leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year race with 483 points, followed by Illinois pro Trey McKinney in second with 463 points and Texas pro Dakota Ebare in third with 454 points. Cole Sands is fourth with 454 points, Brandon Cobb is fifth with 446 points, John Garrett is sixth with 446 points, Drew Cook is seventh with 440 points, Caleb Hudson is eighth with 430 points; Bob Downey is ninth with 429 points and Justin Atkins is 10th with 411 points.
Hudson leads the Pro-Guide Batteries Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race followed by Fisher Anaya in second with 372 points and Pake South in third with 322 points.
The Top 10 anglers following the Day 3 weigh-in advance to Championship Sunday for a chance to win $100,000 and a coveted blue trophy. Takeoff begins at 6:30 a.m. ET at John C. Land Sport Fishing Facility and weigh-in will begin at 3 p.m.
Bassmaster LIVE will begin coverage at 9 a.m. ET and continue until noon. Bassmaster.com will take the reins at noon and last until weigh-in time at 3 p.m.
Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event.
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
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, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, 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, Tackle Warehouse 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, Twitte
Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]
2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes 5/14-5/17
Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Chris Johnston Peterborough Ontario CA 15 82-13 101
Day 1: 5 21-03 Day 2: 5 32-08 Day 3: 5 29-02
2. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 15 79-11 100 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 29-01 Day 2: 5 29-15 Day 3: 5 20-11
3. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 15 72-01 99
Day 1: 5 21-08 Day 2: 5 24-14 Day 3: 5 25-11
4. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 15 70-07 98
Day 1: 5 29-06 Day 2: 5 17-08 Day 3: 5 23-09
5. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 15 67-14 97
Day 1: 5 23-12 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 28-15
6. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 15 67-05 96
Day 1: 5 23-12 Day 2: 5 19-02 Day 3: 5 24-07
7. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 15 66-04 95
Day 1: 5 21-13 Day 2: 5 23-12 Day 3: 5 20-11
8. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 15 63-02 94
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 5 21-03 Day 3: 5 22-00
9. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 15 62-10 93
Day 1: 5 22-05 Day 2: 5 23-00 Day 3: 5 17-05
10. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 15 62-09 92
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 26-09 Day 3: 5 19-04
11. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 15 62-01 91 $9,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 15-08 Day 3: 5 28-14
12. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 14 60-09 90 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-06 Day 2: 5 26-06 Day 3: 4 12-13
13. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 15 59-08 89 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 18-07 Day 3: 5 25-09
14. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 15 59-06 88 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-03 Day 2: 5 20-04 Day 3: 5 16-15
15. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 15 59-00 87 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-14 Day 2: 5 19-05 Day 3: 5 16-13
16. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 15 58-15 86 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 21-10 Day 3: 5 23-04
17. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 15 55-10 85 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 23-07 Day 3: 5 16-08
18. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 15 55-08 84 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 23-07 Day 3: 5 16-10
19. Cole Sands Johnson City, TN 15 55-08 83 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-13 Day 2: 5 15-00 Day 3: 5 20-11
20. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 15 54-14 82 $6,500.00
Day 1: 5 23-08 Day 2: 5 16-07 Day 3: 5 14-15
21. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 15 54-04 81 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-14 Day 2: 5 14-07 Day 3: 5 18-15
22. John Garrett Union City, TN 15 54-01 80 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-03 Day 2: 5 18-07 Day 3: 5 13-07
23. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 15 54-01 79 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 5 15-10 Day 3: 5 18-12
24. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 15 53-04 78 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 20-12 Day 3: 5 16-00
25. Dakota Ebare Brookeland, TX 15 52-12 77 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 5 17-15 Day 3: 5 16-11
26. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 15 52-10 76 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-13 Day 2: 5 20-06 Day 3: 5 13-07
27. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 15 52-06 75 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 22-09 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 14-10
28. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 15 52-00 74 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 21-09 Day 3: 5 15-12
29. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 15 51-01 73 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-11 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 18-06
30. Cliff Pace Ovett, MS 15 50-15 72 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-11 Day 2: 5 15-05 Day 3: 5 14-15
31. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 15 50-09 71 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 19-12 Day 3: 5 12-13
32. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 15 50-04 70 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 18-08 Day 3: 5 13-07
33. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 15 49-15 69 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 22-07 Day 3: 5 12-00
34. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 15 49-10 68 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 17-12 Day 3: 5 14-06
35. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 15 49-07 67 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 21-08 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 5 13-14
36. Jacob Foutz Philadelphia, TN 15 49-00 66 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 17-12 Day 3: 5 14-07
37. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 15 48-12 65 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 15-07 Day 3: 5 13-04
38. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 15 48-11 64 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-06 Day 2: 5 17-01 Day 3: 5 12-04
39. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 15 48-10 63 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 24-08 Day 3: 5 14-03
40. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 15 48-10 62 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 15-13 Day 3: 5 12-15
41. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 15 48-03 61 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 17-08 Day 3: 5 13-00
42. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 15 48-00 60 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 21-10 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 5 13-02
43. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 15 47-05 59 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 5 16-14 Day 3: 5 10-08
44. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 15 47-04 58 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 18-03 Day 3: 5 14-04
45. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 15 47-03 57 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-15 Day 2: 5 16-04 Day 3: 5 13-00
46. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 15 46-13 56 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 5 11-10
47. Tristan McCormick Bon Aqua, TN 15 44-15 55 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 11-15
48. Fisher Anaya Eva, AL 13 44-02 54 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 15-11 Day 3: 3 08-15
49. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 12 40-12 53 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 20-12 Day 3: 2 05-09
50. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 13 40-06 52 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 18-07 Day 3: 3 07-08
------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 07-14 $1,000.00
2 Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 08-06 $1,000.00
3 Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 09-14 $1,000.00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 481 1613-10
2 87 476 1598-15
3 46 242 828-10
------------------------------
226 1199 4041-03
Palaniuk’s big bag vaults him to the lead at Santee Cooper Lakes
CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Brandon Palaniuk’s Santee Cooper Lakes hot streak continued on Day 2 of the 2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes. The Idaho native landed 29 pounds, 15 ounces to take the lead with a two-day total of 59-0.
“The Prodigy” anchored his limit with an 8-6 postspawn largemouth, a bass that helped him build a 4-5 advantage over Canadian pro Chris Johnston. The gap from Johnston to third-place Carl Jocumsen is 5-15.
“I was nervous after practice, to be honest, that I was gonna blow the good reputation I have here,” Palaniuk said. “Today was unreal. I didn’t see it coming yesterday and I didn’t see it coming today.”
Palaniuk has yet to miss a Championship Sunday cut, let alone a Day 3 cut, at Santee Cooper Lakes in three attempts. He’s 4/4 now with Semifinal Saturday’s and in prime position again to make the final day.
So far this week, Palaniuk has called one broad area of Lake Marion home, targeting postspawn largemouth around particular pieces of cover. One bait has generated most of his bites so far. While the one area has stayed the same, the eight-time Bassmaster champion said the same pieces of cover have produced bites two days in a row.
Overall, he received more bites on Friday than Thursday, but most were 2-pounders, which don’t count for much on this body of water.
“I’m not catching them off the same places. On a place I haven’t gotten a bite all week, I caught the majority of my bag there today,” he said. “An 8-pounder, a 6-pounder and a 4-pounder. Then places I did get bites before I didn’t get bites today. That’s nerve-wracking but also appealing because any stop I make could be the difference.”
On Day 1, Palaniuk steadily worked his way to his 29-1 limit. On Day 2, he fished through several spots before catching his first bass, a 4-pounder. He followed that up with 6-pounder and then a 4-pounder.
“That settled me down a lot,” he said.
He rounded out his initial limit with 2-pounders before landing the 8-6, a bass that surely would have weighed close to 10 pounds had it not been postspawn. Later, he added a 6-pounder to cap off the day.
“I was like, now I don’t know what to do,” he said. “I kind of burned through some other areas and caught some later in the day on different stuff. So, I think I can go run new water if I have to, and there is still some stuff I haven’t fished yet I had big bites on in practice.
“But if they are going to keep biting in the same area, I’m going to keep putting it to them.”
The one potential hiccup Palaniuk foresees is an increase in fishing pressure in his area from a local tournament, an area where several other competitors have landed quality bags.
Johnston, meanwhile, caught 32-8 to rocket from 16th all the way to second place with a total of 53-11. After winning back-to-back Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles, the Canadian pro has had an uncharacteristically tough 2026 season. All of that seemed to wash away as the day progressed.
“It feels like it turned my season around,” he explained. “I haven’t been having a good year. I feel like a day like this gets your mojo going and gets you back in a groove. Suddenly you can’t do anything wrong, which is what happened a lot last year. Today was the same, I couldn’t do anything wrong.”
The Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series champion opened Day 2 fishing around submerged vegetation before moving to a stretch with prominent wood cover. It took about an hour, but once I got my first bite I had a 5 3/4 and a 7.
“I was like, oh, we have a chance now,” Johnston said. “It definitely took some pressure off.”
From there, Johnston moved to a new area and added another 7-pounder and a 5-pounder. With his impressive limit, he was able to practice a good portion of the afternoon and received good bites at each stop. At his last stop, he added a 6 1/2 to the team.
Two baits triggered quality bites on Day 2 around that wood cover, most of which was in 3 to 5 feet of water. His really big bites seemed to come in a little bit deeper water. Most of the bass he catches are postspawners.
“It’s old school fishing. If it looks good, I pull in and fish it,” Johnston said.
Australian pro Carl Jocumsen moved into third place with a two-day total of 47-12. Jocumsen landed 21-6 on Day 1 before catching a 26-6 limit on Friday. The three-time Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour qualifier opened the morning by landing a 7-pounder, a bite that relieved some pressure.
“It was a good decision this morning. I turned left and went away from my main area and went to some big fish I wanted to try and catch in low light. I got one of them to bite, so that was super cool.”
From there, he moved to his best region and built his limit with several more 5-pounders. The opportunities were there to have an even bigger bag, however.
“I lost two, one that was about 8 and the other looked about 9 pounds,” he said. “The way I am fishing, sometimes you either hook them really good or they come off.”
Jocumsen has fished several different shallow water elements so far this week with one main presentation. He said he doesn’t really know where his next bite will come from, but he has been able to figure out a couple hot spots.
Palaniuk’s 8-6 earned him Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day honors, which comes with a $1,000 bonus, and currently holds the overall Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament, unseating Kyle Norsetter’s 7-14 from Day 1.
Johnston holds the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament with his Day 2 limit.
Cory Johnston leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year competition with 483 points. Illinois pro Trey McKinney is second with 463 points followed by Texas pro Dakota Ebare in third with 453 points, Tennessee’s John Garrett in fourth with 452 points and South Carolina’s Brandon Cobb in fifth with 446 points. Drew Cook, Cole Sands, Caleb Hudson, Bob Downey and Justin Atkins round out the Top 10.
The Top 50 anglers after the Day 2 weigh-in will launch from John C. Land III Sport Fishing Facility Saturday at 6:30 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. Only the Top 10 pros will advance to Championship Sunday to compete for a blue trophy and $100,000.
Bassmaster LIVE will begin coverage at 8 a.m. ET on FS1 before moving to FOX at noon ET. Bassmaster.com will carry the live weigh-in at 3 p.m.
Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the tournament.
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
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.
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2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes 5/14-5/17
Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 59-00 101 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 29-01 Day 2: 5 29-15
2. Chris Johnston Peterborough Ontario CA 10 53-11 100
Day 1: 5 21-03 Day 2: 5 32-08
3. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 10 47-12 99
Day 1: 5 21-06 Day 2: 5 26-06
4. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 10 46-14 98
Day 1: 5 29-06 Day 2: 5 17-08
5. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 10 46-06 97
Day 1: 5 21-08 Day 2: 5 24-14
6. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 10 45-09 96
Day 1: 5 21-13 Day 2: 5 23-12
7. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 45-05 95
Day 1: 5 22-05 Day 2: 5 23-00
8. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 10 43-05 94
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 26-09
9. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 10 42-14 93
Day 1: 5 23-12 Day 2: 5 19-02
10. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 10 42-07 92
Day 1: 5 22-03 Day 2: 5 20-04
11. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 42-03 91
Day 1: 5 22-14 Day 2: 5 19-05
12. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 10 41-02 90
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 5 21-03
13. John Garrett Union City, TN 10 40-10 89
Day 1: 5 22-03 Day 2: 5 18-07
14. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 10 39-15 88
Day 1: 5 23-08 Day 2: 5 16-07
15. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 10 39-03 87
Day 1: 5 18-13 Day 2: 5 20-06
16. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 10 39-02 86
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 23-07
17. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 10 38-15 85
Day 1: 5 23-12 Day 2: 5 15-03
18. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 10 38-14 84
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 23-07
19. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 10 37-15 83
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 22-07
20. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 10 37-12 82
Day 1: 5 22-09 Day 2: 5 15-03
21. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 10 37-12 81
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 19-12
22. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 10 37-04 80
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 20-12
23. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 10 36-13 79
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 5 16-14
24. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 10 36-13 78
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 18-08
25. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 10 36-07 77
Day 1: 5 19-06 Day 2: 5 17-01
26. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 10 36-04 76
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 21-09
27. Dakota Ebare Brookeland, TX 10 36-01 75
Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 5 17-15
28. Cliff Pace Ovett, MS 10 36-00 74
Day 1: 5 20-11 Day 2: 5 15-05
29. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 10 35-11 73
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 21-10
30. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 10 35-11 72
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 15-13
31. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 10 35-09 71
Day 1: 5 21-08 Day 2: 5 14-01
32. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 10 35-08 70
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 15-07
33. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 10 35-05 69
Day 1: 5 20-14 Day 2: 5 14-07
34. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 35-05 68
Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 5 15-10
35. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 10 35-04 67
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 17-12
36. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 10 35-03 66
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 20-12
37. Fisher Anaya Eva, AL 10 35-03 65
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 15-11
38. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 10 35-03 64
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 17-03
39. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 10 35-03 63
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 17-08
40. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 10 34-14 62
Day 1: 5 21-10 Day 2: 5 13-04
41. Cole Sands Johnson City, TN 10 34-13 61
Day 1: 5 19-13 Day 2: 5 15-00
42. Jacob Foutz Philadelphia, TN 10 34-09 60
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 17-12
43. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 34-07 59
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 24-08
44. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 10 34-03 58
Day 1: 5 17-15 Day 2: 5 16-04
45. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 10 33-15 57
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 18-07
46. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 10 33-03 56 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 15-08
47. Tristan McCormick Bon Aqua, TN 10 33-00 55
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 5 14-04
48. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 33-00 54
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 18-03
49. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 10 32-14 53
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 18-07
50. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 10 32-11 52
Day 1: 5 18-11 Day 2: 5 14-00
51. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 10 32-11 51
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 14-01
52. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 10 32-00 50
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 11-15
53. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 10 31-12 49
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 18-01
54. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 10 31-12 48
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 15-13
55. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 10 31-11 47
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 16-06
56. Austin Cranford Oklahoma City, OK 10 31-03 46
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 21-00
57. John Cox Debary, FL 10 30-15 45
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 15-07
58. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 10 30-07 44
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 5 11-11
59. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 10 30-07 43
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 13-11
60. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 10 29-15 42
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 14-11
61. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 10 29-14 41
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 17-11
62. Brock Reinkemeyer Warsaw, MO 10 29-13 40
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 16-14
63. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 10 29-09 39
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 18-03
64. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 10 29-04 38
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 12-15
65. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 10 29-03 37
Day 1: 5 20-05 Day 2: 5 08-14
66. Bryan New Leesville, SC 10 29-03 36
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 11-08
67. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 10 29-03 35
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 13-11
68. Luke Palmer Atoka, OK 10 29-02 34
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 14-13
69. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 10 29-01 33
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 15-03
70. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 28-14 32
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 14-15
71. Wes Logan Springville, AL 10 27-12 31
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 15-08
72. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 10 27-07 30
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 13-15
73. Pake South Winnsboro, TX 10 27-03 29
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 15-09
74. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 27-03 28
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 12-02
75. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 10 26-13 27
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 12-15
76. Beau Browning Hot Springs, AR 10 26-12 26
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 12-11
77. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 10 26-10 25
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 16-05
78. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 10 25-10 24
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 12-05
79. Aaron Jagdfeld Rochester Hills, MI 10 25-03 23
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 11-13
80. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 9 24-13 22
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 4 07-14
81. Caleb Hudson Lincolnton, GA 9 24-12 21
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 4 11-02
82. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 10 24-11 20
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 11-11
83. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 10 24-05 19
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 13-09
84. Andrew Loberg Guntersville, AL 10 23-09 18
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 13-09
85. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 10 23-07 17
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 09-01
86. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 23-06 16
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 23-06
87. Tyler Williams Barnett, MO 7 23-06 15
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 2 07-11
88. Cody Huff Ava, MO 9 23-05 14
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 4 08-11
89. Sam Hanggi Knoxville, TN 6 22-11 13
Day 1: 3 10-15 Day 2: 3 11-12
90. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 8 22-10 12
Day 1: 4 10-01 Day 2: 4 12-09
91. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 9 22-04 11
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 4 07-15
92. Blake Capps Muskogee, OK 9 22-00 10
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 4 10-11
93. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 8 21-14 9
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 5 16-06
94. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 8 21-11 8
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 3 08-12
95. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 10 20-12 7
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 5 12-03
96. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 10 19-12 6
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 5 10-09
97. Nick Trim Galesville, WI 6 19-03 5
Day 1: 2 06-01 Day 2: 4 13-02
98. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 7 17-09 4
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 2 03-09
99. Chris Zaldain Boyd, TX 7 17-03 3
Day 1: 4 11-08 Day 2: 3 05-11
------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 07-14 $1,000.00
2 Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 08-06 $1,000.00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 481 1613-10
2 87 476 1598-15
------------------------------
180 957 3212-09
Johnston’s stellar day lifts him to Day 1 lead at Santee Cooper
CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — On paper, there are few similarities between southern Canada and the Lowcountry of South Carolina, but Cory Johnston feels at home one way or the other.
The 41-year-old from Peterborough, Ontario brought in a limit weighing 29 pounds, 6 ounces to take the Day 1 lead at the 2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes. Johnston holds a 5-ounce advantage over second-place Brandon Palaniuk.
“I love fishing shallow. That is kind of my deal,” Johnston said. “It really fishes a lot like home. It may not look like it, but with the grass and everything it does feel like home.”
It is a two-man breakaway at the stop of the standings on Day 1. The gap between Palaniuk and the third-place tie between Bob Downey and Justin Hamner is 5-6. In total, 28 anglers caught over 19 pounds on Lakes Marion and Moultrie and nearly the entire field reached a limit.
Both Johnston and Palaniuk have dueled at the top of the Santee Cooper leaderboard before. When “The Prodigy” won in the fall of 2020, Johnston finished third while each earned a Top 10 finish in 2022.
Coming off a 70th-place finish at Lake Murray, Johnston made the most of his “decent” practice period, mixing in several different areas in one lake using three different baits to collect his Day 1 total. Several of his keepers were spawning, and he caught those sight fishing. He also caught prespawners and postspawners around stumps and hydrilla.
“I caught them a few different ways,” he said. “I’m pretty surprised by how many bass are still on bed. I’m shocked, and I still feel like there are a few more coming too.”
Johnston had the opportunities to have an even bigger bag, but he lost a 7-pounder at the boat and another 6-pounder in the opening hours of the tournament.
“I went to my first area and didn’t get a single bite. I went to my second area and didn’t get a bite either. I went to my third area, and the first bass I hooked was that 7-pounder. It came off at the side of the boat. The next bite was a 2-pounder and it came off. At that point I was about ready to throw my gear in the water. We kept it together and made the best of the (rest of) the day.”
Throughout the rest of the day, Johnston landed two almost 7-pounders and another around 6-pounds before rounding out the limit with an almost 5-pounder and a 4-pounder.
Palaniuk, meanwhile, has found success each time the Elite Series has visited Santee Cooper, notching three Top 5 finishes. The fishery has changed drastically since he won in 2020.
“When we came here in the fall, if you found grass, it was like finding a needle in a haystack. Now there is grass everywhere,” he explained. “It seems like every time we come the conditions are a little different. With that, you have to fish differently. It is one of those lakes that sets up well for me.
“But for a long-time during practice, and for a little while today, it didn’t feel like I was going to figure it out (this week).”
Staying in one of the two sister lakes, Palaniuk threw two different baits to land his hefty Day 1 limit of postspawners. He only received eight bites throughout the day, but when he did catch one, it was big. Once he reached a weight he felt comfortable bringing back to check-in, Palaniuk switched tactics and landed a 6-pounder that culled out a 3 1/2.
“That’s when I was like, all right, this is one of those days you can’t make up.”
Palaniuk leaned heavily on one strategy on Day 1 and said he is looking for certain cover and depth elements. With that said, he isn’t sure what the rest of the week might bring.
“I don’t know if any of it is sustainable,” he said. “But there are (consistencies) where I feel like I should get a bite here.”
Downey and Hamner are tied for third with 23-12. Downey said he utilized one main area of the lake, starting the morning with a quick limit before making key upgrades throughout the day. Hamner, though, junk-fished his way into the Top 5, landing all five of his limit fillers on five different baits.
Wisconsin pro Kyle Norsetter caught the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day, a 7-14 largemouth that earned the $1,000 daily bonus.
After falling to third in the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year race after Murray, Johnston now leads the season-long competition with 486 points. South Carolina’s Brandon Cobb is second with 462 points and Illinois's Trey McKinney is third with 461 points. Tennesseans John Garrett and Cole Sands are fourth and fifth with 456 points and 448 points respectively. Dakota Ebare, Caleb Hudson, Bob Downey, Drew Cook and Matt Robertson round out the Top 10.
The full field of 99 anglers will launch from John C. Land III Sport Fishing Facility Friday at 6:30 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. After Day 2 weigh-in, the Top 50 anglers will move onto Semifinal Saturday before ten pros compete on Championship Sunday.
Bassmaster LIVE will begin coverage at 8 a.m. ET on Bassmaster.com and the Roku Sports Channel and the Day 2 weigh-in will be livestreamed on Bassmaster.com as well.
Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the tournament.
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
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.
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2026 Yokohama Tire Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes 5/14-5/17
Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 5 29-06 101
Day 1: 5 29-06
2. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 29-01 100
Day 1: 5 29-01
3. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 5 23-12 99
Day 1: 5 23-12
3. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 5 23-12 99
Day 1: 5 23-12
5. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 5 23-08 97
Day 1: 5 23-08
6. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 22-14 96
Day 1: 5 22-14
7. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 22-09 95
Day 1: 5 22-09
8. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 22-05 94
Day 1: 5 22-05
9. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 5 22-03 93
Day 1: 5 22-03
9. John Garrett Union City, TN 5 22-03 93
Day 1: 5 22-03
11. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 5 21-13 91
Day 1: 5 21-13
12. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 5 21-10 90
Day 1: 5 21-10
13. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 5 21-08 89
Day 1: 5 21-08
13. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 5 21-08 89
Day 1: 5 21-08
15. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 5 21-06 87
Day 1: 5 21-06
16. Chris Johnston Peterborough Ontario CA 5 21-03 86
Day 1: 5 21-03
17. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 5 20-14 85
Day 1: 5 20-14
18. Cliff Pace Ovett, MS 5 20-11 84
Day 1: 5 20-11
19. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 5 20-05 83
Day 1: 5 20-05
20. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 5 20-01 82
Day 1: 5 20-01
20. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 5 20-01 82
Day 1: 5 20-01
22. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 5 19-15 80
Day 1: 5 19-15
22. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 5 19-15 80
Day 1: 5 19-15
24. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 5 19-14 78
Day 1: 5 19-14
25. Cole Sands Johnson City, TN 5 19-13 77
Day 1: 5 19-13
26. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 19-11 76
Day 1: 5 19-11
27. Fisher Anaya Eva, AL 5 19-08 75
Day 1: 5 19-08
28. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 5 19-06 74
Day 1: 5 19-06
29. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 5 18-13 73
Day 1: 5 18-13
30. Tristan McCormick Bon Aqua, TN 5 18-12 72
Day 1: 5 18-12
30. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 5 18-12 72
Day 1: 5 18-12
32. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 5 18-11 70
Day 1: 5 18-11
33. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 5 18-10 69
Day 1: 5 18-10
34. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 5 18-05 68
Day 1: 5 18-05
35. Dakota Ebare Brookeland, TX 5 18-02 67
Day 1: 5 18-02
36. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 5 18-00 66
Day 1: 5 18-00
36. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 5 18-00 66
Day 1: 5 18-00
38. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 5 17-15 64
Day 1: 5 17-15
39. Bryan New Leesville, SC 5 17-11 63
Day 1: 5 17-11
39. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 5 17-11 63 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-11
39. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 5 17-11 63
Day 1: 5 17-11
42. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 5 17-08 60
Day 1: 5 17-08
43. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 5 16-15 59
Day 1: 5 16-15
44. Jacob Foutz Philadelphia, TN 5 16-13 58
Day 1: 5 16-13
45. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 16-12 57
Day 1: 5 16-12
45. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 5 16-12 57
Day 1: 5 16-12
47. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 5 16-08 55
Day 1: 5 16-08
48. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 5 16-05 54
Day 1: 5 16-05
49. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 15-15 53
Day 1: 5 15-15
50. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 5 15-11 52
Day 1: 5 15-11
50. Tyler Williams Barnett, MO 5 15-11 52
Day 1: 5 15-11
52. John Cox Debary, FL 5 15-08 50
Day 1: 5 15-08
52. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 5 15-08 50
Day 1: 5 15-08
52. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 15-08 50
Day 1: 5 15-08
52. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 15-08 50
Day 1: 5 15-08
56. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 5 15-07 46
Day 1: 5 15-07
57. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 5 15-05 45
Day 1: 5 15-05
58. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 5 15-04 44
Day 1: 5 15-04
59. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 15-01 43
Day 1: 5 15-01
60. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 14-13 42
Day 1: 5 14-13
61. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 5 14-11 41
Day 1: 5 14-11
62. Cody Huff Ava, MO 5 14-10 40
Day 1: 5 14-10
63. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 5 14-07 39
Day 1: 5 14-07
63. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 5 14-07 39
Day 1: 5 14-07
65. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 5 14-06 37
Day 1: 5 14-06
66. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 14-05 36
Day 1: 5 14-05
66. Luke Palmer Atoka, OK 5 14-05 36
Day 1: 5 14-05
68. Beau Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 14-01 34
Day 1: 5 14-01
68. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 5 14-01 34
Day 1: 5 14-01
70. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 5 14-00 32
Day 1: 5 14-00
71. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 13-15 31
Day 1: 5 13-15
72. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 5 13-14 30
Day 1: 5 13-14
72. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 5 13-14 30
Day 1: 5 13-14
74. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 5 13-11 28
Day 1: 5 13-11
75. Caleb Hudson Lincolnton, GA 5 13-10 27
Day 1: 5 13-10
76. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 5 13-08 26
Day 1: 5 13-08
77. Aaron Jagdfeld Rochester Hills, MI 5 13-06 25
Day 1: 5 13-06
78. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 5 13-05 24
Day 1: 5 13-05
79. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 5 13-00 23
Day 1: 5 13-00
80. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 5 12-15 22
Day 1: 5 12-15
80. Brock Reinkemeyer Warsaw, MO 5 12-15 22
Day 1: 5 12-15
82. Wes Logan Springville, AL 5 12-04 20
Day 1: 5 12-04
83. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 5 12-03 19
Day 1: 5 12-03
84. Pake South Winnsboro, TX 5 11-10 18
Day 1: 5 11-10
85. Chris Zaldain Boyd, TX 4 11-08 17
Day 1: 4 11-08
86. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 5 11-06 16
Day 1: 5 11-06
87. Blake Capps Muskogee, OK 5 11-05 15
Day 1: 5 11-05
88. Sam Hanggi Knoxville, TN 3 10-15 14
Day 1: 3 10-15
89. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 5 10-12 13
Day 1: 5 10-12
90. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 5 10-05 12
Day 1: 5 10-05
91. Austin Cranford Oklahoma City, OK 5 10-03 11
Day 1: 5 10-03
92. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 4 10-01 10
Day 1: 4 10-01
93. Andrew Loberg Guntersville, AL 5 10-00 9
Day 1: 5 10-00
94. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 09-15 8
Day 1: 5 09-15
95. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 5 09-03 7
Day 1: 5 09-03
96. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 5 08-09 6
Day 1: 5 08-09
97. Nick Trim Galesville, WI 2 06-01 5
Day 1: 2 06-01
98. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 3 05-08 4
Day 1: 3 05-08
99. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 07-14 $1,000.00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 481 1613-10
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93 481 1613-10
