Game Wardens and Nixon Guide Young Anglers To Vexus Varsity™ Bonus

If the tiny community of Bee Branch, Arkansas, sounds familiar to serious bass fishing fans, blame it on Bass Fishing Hall of Famer Larry Nixon, who has called the rural community home for decades.

The area is also home to Nixon’s nephew and talented high school angler Cole Pennington, who partnered with Vexus® Boats angler Ely Hagans to become one of the very first teams to win a celebratory banner and $500 in Tackle Warehouse gift cards.

“Uncle Larry (Nixon) has been a huge influence. He’s taught us a lot about fishing but also to trust the Lord and His plan. He and Joey Cifuentes have told us to keep our faith, trust our gut, and never give up easily. We were both raised to believe that,” says Pennington.

The new Vexus Varsity program rewards qualifying high school teams who win a sanctioned tournament while competing in a Vexus boat with a Tackle Warehouse gift card for $500. Qualifying college teams who win a sanctioned tournament in a Vexus boat will win a $1,000 Tackle Warehouse gift card.

Pennington and Hagans won the Vexus Varsity prizes as a result of their victory at the Arkansas Game & Fish Commissioners’ Cup event on Lake Hamilton, where they cast big Zoom worms and Jewel finesse jigs on Powell rods to boat a winning weight of 13.92 pounds.

Ironically, Pennington’s grandfather and Hagan’s father worked together as Arkansas Game Wardens. So, there’s no doubt these two young fishermen have been mentored with a double helping of morality, integrity, and a rare insight into all things outdoors.

Hagans, who fishes out of a Vexus AVX1980 aluminum boat, says he’s already spent his portion of the $500 Tackle Warehouse gift card on Aaron’s Magic-colored drop-shot worms, light wire hooks, and Berkley Dredger 17.5 crankbaits.

When asked what he likes most about his Vexus, the future Bethel University angler responded without hesitation, “This boat floats in super shallow water, which allows us to fish in places some people won’t even try to take a fiberglass boat.”

Given the incredible guidance these two young anglers have been given, coupled with high aspirations to fish for a living someday, this will likely be their first of many times to hang a Vexus banner in their boat garage or dorm room. There’s also a strong chance they’ll keep Bee Branch, Clinton, and the rest of Van Buren County, Arkansas, recognizable to fishing fans for years to come.

Young anglers who wish to join the Vexus contingency programs are encouraged to register under the “Info” tab at vexusboats.com.


Weaver Withdraws from Final Two Bass Pro Tour Events of 2024, Trailering Policy Enacted for Week

WHAT:
Bass Pro Tour angler Joshua Weaver of Macon, Georgia, has withdrawn from the final two Bass Pro Tour events of 2024, including this week’s General Tire Stage Six at the James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts, due to undisclosed personal reasons.

Pro Kelly Jordon has been moved from Group B to Group A to even the fields at 39 anglers each for the event this week.

Bass Pro Tour Tournament Director Daniel Fennel has also enacted the MLF’s trailering policy this week on the James River at Stage Six – in effect for each day of competition.

Anglers can launch at any public boat launch within the tournament boundaries on the James River and can also put their boat back on the trailer and drive to a different boat ramp during competition hours, if they so choose.

WHEN:
Tuesday-Sunday, June 25-30
Departure from Osborne Landing for anglers launching from other landings: 6:45 a.m. ET
Takeoff from desired launch ramp: 7:30 a.m. ET
General Tire Takeout: 4 p.m. ET

WHERE:
*Osborne Landing, 9530 Osborne Turnpike, Richmond, Va.
*Trailering policy enacted – anglers can launch from any public ramp

NOTES:
Major League Fishing (MLF) and the Bass Pro Tour are visiting Richmond, Virginia, and the James River this week, June 25-30, for the sixth regular-season event of the 2024 Bass Pro Tour season – General Tire Stage Six at the James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts.

The six-day tournament, hosted by Richmond Region Tourism, will feature a field of 78 professional anglers competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

The 39 anglers in Group A will compete in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 39 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finish first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

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 FacebookXInstagram and YouTube.

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


O’Connell Posts Second Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Clarks Hill

North Carolina’s Spurlin Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

APPLING, Ga. (June 24, 2024) – Boater Matt O’Connell of Brooks, Georgia, caught a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Clarks Hill . Hosted by Visit Columbia County, Georgia, the tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL South Carolina Division. O’Connell earned $6,805, including the lucrative $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.

O’Connell fished a Savannah River Division tournament on Clarks Hill a week prior and found some fish on brush piles. This time around, he realized the schools had set up a little bit shallower. He kicked the day off throwing a topwater.

“I used a CAST The OG to get a key fish early – a 4-pounder,” he said. “Last week, my biggest fish was like 3 1/2. Then I just kind of mixed in various other blueback baits; other topwaters, flukes, stuff like that. Basically, I caught most of my weight before 8 o’clock in the morning and then continued catching a bunch of other fish throughout the day, but they were mostly 1- to 2-pounders.”

A big boating event on the lake presented some challenges for O’Connell’s offshore bite in the middle of the day because he had to work around a lot of extra traffic. Thankfully, his first spot produced that 4-pounder, and his second put out a 4½  and 3¾ .

“My initial spot was a shallow hump,” he said. “There was a ton of bluebacks moving through. The fish would school around you off and on. The second spot wasn’t a hump. It was just a long point.”

After he left those areas, O’Connell targeted brush piles. The shining spot in the afternoon was a key cull that came with 45 minutes remaining. He was able to gain about a half-pound, giving him a solid cushion over second place.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Matt O’Connell, Brooks, Ga., five bass, 18-0, $6,805 (includes $2,500 Phoenix MLF Continency Bonus)
2nd:       Aspen Martin, White, Ga., five bass, 16-15, $1,753
3rd:       Jason Burroughs, Hodges, S.C., five bass, 15-10, $1,169
4th:        Norm Attaway, Clearwater, S.C., five bass, 15-1, $1,258
5th:        Hunter Eubanks, Landrum, S.C., five bass, 15-0, $672
5th:        Logan Mills, Chapin, S.C., five bass, 15-0, $672
7th:        Joe Anders, Easley, S.C., five bass, 14-15, $584
8th:        Jeffrey Borne, Prosperity, S.C., five bass, 14-9, $526
9th:        Tyler Campbell, Martin, Ga., five bass, 14-6, $438
9th:        Jeff Coble, Manson, N.C., five bass, 14-6, $438

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Norm Attaway of Clearwater, South Carolina, caught a bass that weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $440.

Braxton Spurlin of Ellenboro, North Carolina, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,753 Saturday, after bringing four bass to the scale that totaled 11 pounds, 14 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Braxton Spurlin, Ellenboro, N.C., four bass, 11-14, $1,753
2nd:       Wayne Smelser, Wytheville, Va., five bass, 9-14, $876
3rd:       Ross Doolittle, Greenwood, S.C., five bass, 9-13, $585
4th:        Riley Smallwood, Shallotte, N.C., five bass, 9-7, $509
5th:        Trent Killian, Bostic, N.C., five bass, 8-11, $351
6th:        Carter Jefferies, Mount Pleasant, S.C., five bass, 8-4, $321
7th:        Jacob Yaden, Evans, Ga., five bass, 8-1, $442
8th:        Rodney Tapp, Inman, S.C., five bass, 7-12, $263
9th:        Kevin Henderson, Honea Path, S.C., five bass, 7-8, $219
9th:        Dale Ball, Asheville, N.C., four bass, 7-8, $219

Travis Ruff of Connelly Springs, North Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $220, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 11 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After four events, Joe Anders of Easley, South Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash South Carolina Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 955 points, while Trent Killian of Bostic, North Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash South Carolina Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 952 points.

The next event for BFL South Carolina Division anglers will be held Sept.7-8, at Lake Murray in Prosperity, South Carolina. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-5 BFL Regional tournament on Kerr Lake in Henderson, North Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

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


Muskogee’s Capps Secures the Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Arkansas River Presented by Suzuki Marine

Owasso’s Corriveau Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (June 24, 2024) – Boater Blake Capps of Muskogee, Oklahoma, caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 9 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Arkansas River Presented by Suzuki Marine . The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Okie Division. Capps earned $10,877, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.

Capps employed simple, shallow-water river fishing tactics to get the win. He also decided not to lock to maximize his fishing time.

“There’s a lot of current on the main Arkansas River,” he said. “I was mainly focusing on the main-river eddies and stuff like that – places for them to kind of slide out of the current – whether that be a rock or bend in the river or laydown.”

Capps kicked off the morning throwing a Heddon Super Spook topwater bait in current seams, primarily around rock jetties. He also caught some on a Gene Larew Biffle Bug in those same areas. The topwater bait produced the biggest fish of the day.

“Later in the day, I went farther downriver, and I made some of my best culls on a Booyah (XCS1 Series) square bill,” he added. “The laydowns were the main thing I was focusing on with the square bill. There was a ton of current right on the logs.”

According to Capps, a depth of 2 feet of water was “deep” for this pattern. And it was clearly a quality bite, as his co-angler, Jeff Corriveau, also came out victorious.

“We caught ’em all day,” Capps said. “It was a lot of fun. It really surprised me there weren’t more people out there doing it with me. I never really had any company wherever I went.

“It was a pretty simple pattern,” he added. “Not a whole lot of rods out on the deck. My front graphs were turned off. I just went fishing. It was all visual stuff, too. It’s nice going to the bank and turning the locaters off and just going fishing.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Blake Capps, Muskogee, Okla., five bass, 20-9, $10,877 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd:       Joel Baker, Talala, Okla., five bass, 16-5, $1,408
2nd:       Nic Conger, Fort Smith, Ark., five bass, 16-5, $1,823
4th:        Dale Andrews, Jay, Okla., five bass, 15-15, $788
5th:        Zachery Fowler, Konawa, Okla., five bass, 13-3, $675
6th:        Shane Pickett, Rose Hill, Kan., five bass, 13-1, $919
7th:        Ian Leybas, McAlester, Okla., five bass, 12-12, $563
8th:        Brett Brumnett, Wagoner, Okla., five bass, 12-1, $507
9th:        Mike Hesson, Hackett, Ark., five bass, 11-15, $450
10th:     Shonn Goodwin, Moore, Okla., five bass, 11-7, $394

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Nic Conger of Fort Smith, Arkansas, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $415.

Jeff Corriveau of Owasso, Oklahoma, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,689 Saturday, after bringing four bass to the scale that totaled 12 pounds, 2 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Jeff Corriveau, Owasso, Okla., four bass, 12-2, $1,689
2nd:       Thad Hewitt, Delaware, Okla., five bass, 11-14, $944
3rd:       Russell Malone, Grove, Okla., four bass, 10-0, $564
4th:        David Blankinship, Cushing, Okla., three bass, 9-12, $394
5th:        Randy Peoples, Prairie Grove, Ark., three bass, 9-1, $338
6th:        Nathan McCartney, Inola, Okla., four bass, 8-0, $310
7th:        Charles Covington, Claremore, Okla., three bass, 7-10, $281
8th:        Marco Flores, Topeka, Kan., four bass, 7-6, $253
9th:        Daniel Payne, Warr Acres, Okla., three bass, 7-5, $225
10th:     Lane McCartney, Braggs, Okla., three bass, 6-13, $197

Stephen Vogel of Muenster, Texas, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $207, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 3 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After four events, Chris M. Jones of Bokoshe, Oklahoma, leads the Fishing Clash Okie Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 965 points, while Alan Hill of Ada, Oklahoma, leads the Fishing Clash Okie Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 936 points.

The next event for BFL Okie Division anglers will be held Sept. 14-15, at Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 17-19 BFL Regional tournament on Wright Patman Lake in Texarkana, Texas. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

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


Brownsville’s Logsdon Earns First Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Barren River

Tennessee’s Suratt Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

SCOTTSVILLE, Ky. (June 24, 2024) – Boater Cole Logsdon of Brownsville, Kentucky, caught a three-bass limit weighing 12 pounds, 4 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Barren River. The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Mountain Division. Logsdon earned $3,418 for his victory.

In the Barren River Lake event, anglers were limited to weighing three fish. Add in a field of more than 80 boaters on a small reservoir, and it was almost a guarantee that weights would be tight in this tournament. Logsdon overcame those challenges by relying on a ton of experience on the lake.

“I live 20 minutes down the road,” he said. “I’ve spent a lot of time out on Barren River over the years. Especially, I’ve had a lot of help over the years from some people who mentored me. That kind of came into play with the late boat draw I had. Some of the history stuff I had was the deal. I got lucky because I was the second-to-last boat out and I couldn’t get on a lot of my stuff.”

Logsdon spent most of his practice scanning the lake for offshore schools. He didn’t even take rods with him for practice. In the tournament, he started the morning by running to one of his better areas only to find another boat there. When he shifted to his second spot – a shallow drop – Logsdon found the type of school he’d been hunting for all through practice.

“I eased up the lake, set the trolling motor down and there they were,” he said. “I knew it was about to go down right then. I got right in a hurry.

“It’s a place that we’ve fished for a long time, and when they get there, they get there. It’s a place I knew, but it’s a place I wasn’t expecting the fish to be there. I sat there for probably 45 minutes.”

After he left that area, Logsdon started running and gunning. He figures he deployed the trolling motor 40 to 50 times throughout the day and wound up making some key culls that bumped up his three-fish limit to more than a pound better than second place.

“I knew with 80 boats it was going to be a packed house, and these guys are so good I knew they were going to find a lot,” Logsdon said. “I just got lucky and got on a spot I knew and they were there, and it worked out in my favor.”

Logsdon’s key lures were a homemade football-head jig, a Strike King 6XD crankbait and a Stealth Lures umbrella rig with 6th Sense 3.2-inch Divine Swimbaits.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Cole Logsdon, Brownsville, Ky., three bass, 12-4, $3,418
2nd:       Dathan Jones, Harrodsburg, Ky., three bass, 11-0, $1,709
3rd:       Michael Morrison, Stamping Ground, Ky., three bass, 10-15, $1,263
4th:        Trent Suratt, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., three bass, 10-14, $798
5th:        Josh Boone, Richmond, Ky., three bass, 10-13, $655
5th:        Christopher O’Bryan, Harned, Ky., three bass, 10-13, $1,075
7th:        Lee Sinclair, Albany, Ky., three bass, 10-7, $570
8th:        Isaac Peavyhouse, Jamestown, Tenn., three bass, 10-4, $513
9th:        Grant Adams, Campbellsville, Ky., three bass, 9-12, $456
10th:     Clint Brodsky, Burlington, Ky., three bass, 9-7, $1,199 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Christopher O’Bryan of Harned, Kentucky, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 8 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $420.

Johnny Suratt of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,709 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 8 pounds, 14 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Johnny Suratt, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., three bass, 8-14, $1,709
2nd:       Robert Pepiot III, Lexington, Ky., three bass, 8-12, $712
2nd:       Devin Brown, Richmond, Ky., three bass, 8-12, $712
4th:        Chevy King, Russell Springs, Ky., three bass, 8-10, $609
5th:        Josh Smith, Williamsburg, Ky., three bass, 7-6, $342
6th:        Jerry Wittmer, Shepherdsville, Ky., three bass, 7-3, $313
7th:        Dan Basham, Taylorsville, Ky., three bass, 6-15, $285
8th:        Jeff Johnston, Nashville, Tenn., three bass, 6-11, $256
9th:        Ben Carter, Lancaster, Ky., three bass, 6-5, $228
10th:     Pete Balishin, Sharps Chapel, Tenn., three bass, 6-1, $349

Chevy King of Russell Springs, Kentucky, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $210, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 3 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After four events, Michael Morrison of Stamping Ground, Kentucky, leads the Fishing Clash Mountain Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 969 points, while Johnny Suratt of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, leads the Fishing Clash Mountain Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 949 points.

The next event for BFL Mountain Division anglers will be held Sept. 14-15, at Lake Cumberland in Monticello, Kentucky. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-5 BFL Regional tournament on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

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


North Carolina Angler Hodges Mines One Spot for the Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Potomac River

Virginia’s Steinberg Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

MARBURY, Md. (June 24, 2024) – Boater Richard Hodges, Jr., of Camden, North Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 10 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Potomac River . Hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners, the tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Shenandoah Division. Hodges earned $6,139 for his victory.

Hodges’ winning experience proves that even though things sometimes don’t start the way you expect, they can still turn around real quickly.

“It was a struggle for about the first hour,” he said. “I went to what I thought was my best spot, and I left there with one 13-inch fish. But the day before, I found a school of what I thought was 2-pounders. I went running to them – they were back in a deep hole – and they ended up being bigger than what I saw the first day (practice). I caught them on a swimbait and a ChatterBait Jack Hammer. My co-angler and I, out of a 50-yard stretch, we caught 40 or 50 bass.”

When Hodges found the spot in practice, the tide was at its lowest, and the water was clear enough that he could see the fish swimming around. In the tournament, the water had dirtied, so he couldn’t see them. So he sat on the edge of the hole and blind-cast into it.

The perimeter of the spot was about 2 feet deep, with the middle dropping to about 4 feet. He’d found it while trolling across a shallow flat.

“I’ve been fishing that area for years and never saw it before,” he added. “We sat there for probably four or five hours until we quit getting bites. I caught the first big one (a 5-pound, 12-ounce fish) on a ChatterBait almost instantly when we got there. We fished it and fished it until we quit getting bites, and then we left for an hour and went to fish some grass. When we came back, on my first cast with the ChatterBait I ended up catching a 5-4.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Richard Hodges, Jr., Camden, N.C., five bass, 20-10, $6,139
2nd:       Jessie Moore, Severn, Md., five bass, 17-14, $2,952
3rd:       Brian Laclair, Denton, Md., five bass, 17-13, $1,768
4th:        Jonathan Hamilton, Newburg, Md., five bass, 17-7, $1,238
5th:        John Duarte, Middle River, Md., five bass, 16-15, $1,686 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
6th:        Ed Milton, Chester, Va., five bass, 16-13, $972
7th:        Chris Brummett, Lynch Station, Va., five bass, 16-7, $884
8th:        Michael Duarte, Baltimore, Md., five bass, 16-5, $796
9th:        Jarvis Raynor, Spotsylvania, Va., five bass, 16-3, $707
10th:     Joshua Greenberg, Bumpass, Va., five bass, 16-2, $619

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Hodges caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 12 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $835.

Josh Steinberg of Midland, Virginia, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,631 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 16 pounds, 14 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Josh Steinberg, Midland, Va., five bass, 16-14, $2,631
2nd:       Glenn Eskin, Henderson, N.C., five bass, 16-1, $1,725
3rd:       Lenny Baird, Stafford, Va., five bass, 15-2, $1,127
4th:        Lew Jenkins, Waldorf, Md., five bass, 15-0, $614
5th:        Matthew Ross, Barton, Md., five bass, 14-12, $526
6th:        Jeff McBeth, New Philadelphia, Ohio, five bass, 14-6, $482
7th:        Eric Nelson, Gainesville, Va., five bass, 14-3, $438
8th:        Keyshawn Bratcher, Altamonte Springs, Fla., five bass, 14-2, $395
9th:        Jeff Turner, Morris, Ill., five bass, 14-1, $351
10th:     Stephen Barr, Wilmington, N.C., five bass, 14-0, $307

Glenn Eskin of Henderson, North Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $410, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 4 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After three events, Chris Brummett of Lynch Station, Virginia, leads the Fishing Clash Shenandoah Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 733 points, while David Williams of Fredericksburg, Virginia, leads the Fishing Clash Shenandoah Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 720 points.

The next event for BFL Shenandoah Division anglers will be held July 27, at James River in Henrico, Virginia. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-5 BFL Regional tournament on Kerr Lake in Henderson, North Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

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


Huk A1A Collection Elevates Anglers’ Experience with Style and Functionality

Charleston, SC (May 24, 2024) - Huk, a trailblazer in outdoor apparel, is thrilled to introduce its latest innovation, the A1A Performance Collection. Inspired by the iconic Florida highway known for its access to coveted fishing spots, this collection's meticulous design enhances every angler's experience on the water.

The A1A Performance Collection is committed to ensuring anglers' comfort, protection, and performance. Crafted from a blend of premium polyester and elastane materials, each garment in the A1A Collection ensures exceptional breathability and 4-way stretch. This thoughtful design allows anglers to cast, reel, and move effortlessly, enhancing the fishing experience by providing flexibility and comfort to fully enjoy long days on the water.

The standout feature of the A1A Performance Crew Neck is the exceptional UPF rating, which offers anglers the most protection against the sun's harmful rays while keeping them cool. With the 50+ UPF rating, anglers can fish with peace of mind, knowing they can rely on A1A Performance Shirts to keep them comfortable and shielded from the sun.

The A1A Performance Hoodie expands upon the performance of the A1A Performance Crew Neck shirt. Crafted with a full-mesh fabric to boost breathability, this hoodie ensures anglers remain focused on their catch, not the rising temperatures. The hood and built-in face gaiter provide exceptional sun protection, so anglers can fully immerse themselves in their passion without worrying about the sun's harsh rays.

The A1A Collection features a woven button-down shirt that blends style with functionality. This shirt features a full laser perforation for enhanced breathability, essential to staying cool on the water. Equipped with the same UPF protection and stretch as the performance shirts, the woven button-down shirt is for those who prefer a classic, long-sleeve option without sacrificing performance.

The collection includes lightweight and durable shorts for warmer days, ensuring comfort no matter the conditions. The A1A Short features full laser perforation, increasing breathability for long hours under the sun. Keep items secure and close by with the side cargo pockets. With the comfortable design, stain resistance, and 30+ UPF rating, anglers can rely on the A1A Short for wherever their adventure takes them.

 

The A1A Performance line enhances any fishing experience with a wide array of garments. With the A1A Collection, anglers can stay protected, cool, and comfortable without compromising style.

A1A Crew Neck Features

  • Superior 50+ UPF Sun Protection
  • Comfortable 4-Way Stretch
  • 92% Polyester and 8% Elastane blend
  • Available Sizes S-XXXL

A1A Hoodie Features

  • Superior 50+ UPF Sun Protection
  • Comfortable 4-Way Stretch
  • 92% Polyester and 8% Elastane blend
  • Built-in Face Gaiter
  • Available Sizes S-XXXL

A1A Woven Button-down Features

  • Superior 50+ UPF Sun Protection
  • Comfortable 4-Way Stretch
  • 92% Polyester and 8% Elastane blend
  • Available Sizes S-XXXL

A1A Short Features

  • 30+ UPF Sun Protection
  • Comfortable 4-Way Stretch
  • 89% Polyester and 11% Elastane blend
  • Stain Resistant
  • Superior Breathability
  • 5-inch Inseam
  • Available Sizes S-XXXL

About Marolina Outdoor

Marolina Outdoor Inc. was founded to bring deep-seated product expertise across all outdoor categories. Our innovative designs and technologically focused products create the foundation of our authentic outdoor apparel. Huk clothing represents a fresh take and a unique understanding of angling needs, offering functional styles that appeal to anglers of all ages. Huk is motivated to provide quality apparel so anglers can maximize their fishing adventures and provide quality comfort and style regardless of the size of the fish or where their pursuit leads them. For more information, please visit www.hukgear.com.


Pennsylvania’s Carey and Kauffman Conquer Lake Hartwell to Win 2024 High School Fishing National Championship

High School Anglers Josh Kauffman and Trent Carey and Claim Title with Three-Day Total of Nine Bass Weighing 29-15

ANDERSON, S.C. (June 24, 2024) – On one hand, Trent Carey of York Springs, Pennsylvania, and Josh Kauffman of Marysville, Pennsylvania, knew how difficult it would be to top a field containing 249 of the country’s best teams at the  Abu Garcia High School Fishing National Championship. As Carey said on stage Friday, “that just doesn’t happen; you don’t get these opportunities.”

But as the Fishaholics team made the drive from their home in Pennsylvania to Lake Hartwell earlier in the week, they had a feeling they could contend for the title. In fact, Kauffman set his sights on winning not only the National Championship but the accompanying World Finals, a concurrent event held by the Student Angler Federation.

“To our knowledge, I don’t think anybody has ever won nationals and worlds,” Kauffman said. “And coming down here, I thought to myself, you know what, that’s our goal. I want to win both.”

The two recently graduated seniors punctuated a strong three days on Hartwell with a three-bass limit Friday weighing 9 pounds, 3 ounces. That brought their three-day total to 29-15, 1-4 clear of Lanier High School’s Angel Cornejo and Bryson Dover.

For the win, Carey and Kauffman earned $5,000 apiece in college scholarship money plus entry into the Toyota Series Championship on Wheeler Lake in November, where they will compete as co-anglers.

“I wish I could put it into words, but I can’t comprehend that we just did this,” Carey said. “It feels amazing that all the hard work paid off.”

Carey and Kauffman’s optimism about contending on Lake Hartwell sprang from the last time the famed fishery hosted the National Championship and World Finals, in 2021. Freshmen at the time, they finished 13th in the World Finals and fell in love with the lake. They’ve returned to fish it every summer since.

The knowledge gained during those trips proved invaluable this week. They arrived at Hartwell with a sizable stash of offshore waypoints, then added more during practice. With 437 boats on the water between the two tournaments, having so many spots at their disposal came in handy.

“With a 400-plus boat field out here, there are people on a lot of spots 24/7,” Kauffman said. “So, running down the lake, you’re like, ‘Oh, they’re there, they’re there. Oh, this spot is open.’ So, just having a large amount of spots to fish really helped. Just running waypoint after waypoint after waypoint all day long; eventually ran into the right ones at the right time when they’re schooling, actively feeding.”

Carey and Kauffman spent all their time offshore targeting brush and humps. While they weighed four largemouth compared to two spotted bass across the first two days of competition, Friday’s bag was all spots. They used “traditional herring baits” to catch them, rotating between a chrome Sebile Magic Swimmer, a flutter spoon and a rising bait. They only caught one fish they weighed on a fluke, but the Hartwell staple produced their biggest bass of the week, a 4-11 spot on Day 1.

That fish anchored a 12-2 opening-day bag, which had Carey and Kauffman in second place (although they thought they were leading at the conclusion of weigh-in due to a clerical error that excluded a 12-8 limit from the National Championship results). Despite losing a “giant” when a treble hook pulled off a split ring, they added 8-10 on Day 2 and climbed into the lead.

Friday, while most of the field reported a slower bite, Carey and Kauffman arrived at their starting spot to find fish actively feeding. While Carey said their bite wasn’t fast and furious, it didn’t take too long to put a similar limit to the previous day in the livewell. Then, around noon, Carey caught a 2 3/4-pounder, which culled a 2-pounder. At that point, the teammates let themselves believe they might actually be national champs.

“Whenever we caught that one, we both just kind of looked at each other, and we were like, ‘dude, I got a feeling,’” Carey said. “I’m always the most nervous person, the most down person, ‘we’re never going to win.’ And we kind of just looked at each other, and we’re like, this feels right. This feels like it might happen.”

Carey and Kauffman both plan to continue their fishing careers. Carey will join the accomplished team at Lander University in the fall, while Kauffman plans to keep competing in the Phoenix Bass Fishing League. Topping such a massive field should send both off with a shot of confidence.

“It’s a huge jumpstart to any career winning a tournament of this caliber, winning a tournament with this number of boats,” Carey said.

The 2024 Abu Garcia High School Fishing National Championship featured 249 teams, and the top 10 teams on Lake Hartwell finished:

1st:        Rock Proof – Trent Carey, York Springs, Pa., and Josh Kauffman, Marysville, Pa., nine bass, 29-15
2nd:      Georgia High School Fishing  – Angel Cornejo, Sugar Hill, Ga., and Bryson Dover, Buford, Ga., nine bass, 28-11
3rd:       South Forsyth High School, Cumming, Ga. – Reece Mutter and Charles Roberts, nine bass, 26-11
4th:        Dawson County High School, Dawsonville, Ga. – Carter Cunningham and Landon Glander, nine bass, 26-10
5th:        Cherokee High School, Canton, Ga. – Noah Dzyuba and Lane Parker, nine bass, 25-11
6th:        Alcoa Fishing Team, Alcoa, Tenn. – Walker Larue and Joe Vaulton, nine bass, 25-7
7th:        Arizona High School Bassmasters – Dash Dawson, Chandler, Ariz., and James Murphy, Jr., Gilbert, Ariz., nine bass, 24-15
8th:        Shelby County High School, Columbiana, Ala. – Brody Holliman and Aiden King, nine bass, 24-7
9th:        Highland Park High School, University Park, Texas – Cullum Brown and Dylan Sorrells, nine bass, 24-6
10th:     West Virginia Student Angler Federation – Micah Osborne, Clay, W.Va., and Luke Stewart, Procious, W.Va., nine bass, 24-4

Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2024 Abu Garcia High School Fishing National Championship on Lake Hartwell was hosted by Visit Anderson. MLF High School Fishing tournaments are free, two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and are open to any MLF and TBF Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school club. The top 10 percent of teams at each Open event, along with the TBF High School Fishing state championships, advanced to the 2024 High School Fishing National Championship.

Proud sponsors of the MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

About The Bass Federation
The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF) is a member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and headquartered out of Ponca City, Oklahoma. TBF is owned by those we serve and dedicated to the sport of fishing. The Federation is the largest and oldest, organized grassroots fishing, youth, and conservation organization there is. TBF, our affiliated state federations, and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 events each year and have provided a foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for over 55 years. TBF founded not only the Junior program in 1994 and the Student Angler Federation (SAF) and the National High School Fishing program in 2007 to promote clean family fun and education through fishing. Visit  bassfederation.com or highschoolfishing.org and “LIKE US” on Facebook.

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


Huge kicker pushes Fothergill to victory in St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Eufaula

Opens_StCroix_Sevin_4C-RASTER.png

EUFAULA, Okla. — Easton Fothergill’s an easygoing guy with no apparent mean streak, but he started Day 3 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula presented by SEVIIN with a chip on his shoulder. Suffice to say, his winning total of 52 pounds, 8 ounces more than settled the score.

Keeping himself near the top, the pro from Grand Rapids, Minn., weighed a third-place limit of 17-12 on Day 1 and held his position with a second-round limit of 16-11. Championship Saturday saw Fothergill charge ahead with his biggest bag, a limit of 18-1 that pushed him across the finish line.

Edging Andrew Loberg by 2-12, Fothergill collected the $44,155 top prize and received an invitation to fish the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors March 21-23 on Lake Ray Roberts.

“In practice, I was thinking the fish were residential, but I learned that they’re not,” said Fothergill, who earned his first Classic berth by winning the 2023 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s. “The key was just to cover water and make sure you’re putting your bait in front of as many fish as possible.

“If you found a spot and caught one fish off it, you could go back a half hour later and another one would be pulled on it.”

Fothergill’s final-round consternation stemmed from a heartbreaking Day 2 loss. After randomly finding a school of big fish under a dock on Day 1, he started the second day on that spot, but lost a 5-pounder and scattered the school.

Day 3 erased that pain with another random encounter — this time, with a triumphant conclusion. Naturally, Fothergill gave that special dock an early look, but the fish had inexplicably vanished.

Continuing on, Fothergill ran a few more of his key areas, but none produced. Around 10:30 a.m. he happened upon a particularly interesting point with a mix of mostly scattered rock.

“I wasn’t seeing anything, and I wasn’t catching anything, so I thought I should check something new,” Fothergill said. “That point caught my eye as I was running by it, so I pulled in there and the first fish I caught was that giant one.

“It was just a slow tapering chunk rock point with basketball-sized boulders on one side of it, and it had a super sharp break, which provided immediate deep-water access.”

The sweet spot, Fothergill said, was the thin line of bigger rocks that were dotted with big fish. Casting his Neko-rigged Strike King Cut-R-Worm toward that sweet spot, he came tight on an absolute Eufaula mud monster that went 8-12.

“I knew I was right back in it with that fish,” Fothergill said. “The fish jumped 4 feet out of the water and then it dove under the boat. I had to get on the trolling motor and chase him down a couple of times.

“I was super excited. I couldn’t put my worm back on my hook, I was shaking so bad.”

Prior to that fish, Fothergill used the Neko rig to box a small keeper on a rock pile near his dock.

After his massive kicker busted up the school, Fothergill let the point rest. Around noon, he gave it one more look and found another keeper on a nearby boulder.

At 12:45 p.m., he made his final move and filled his limit by throwing a Chatterbait over a shallow, wind-blown gravel point.

“When I caught my fifth keeper, I was thinking, ‘Okay, I got some EQ points,’” Fothergill said. “I had no idea how far an 8 3/4-pound bass would go.”

Hailing from Grant, Ala., Loberg finished second with 49-12. Focusing on the mid lake region, he turned in daily limits of 18-01, 15-4 and 16-7.

Doing most of his work on isolated rock just off the bank, Loberg caught his fish on a hand-tied custom-made football jig with a Yamamoto Flappin’ Hog, a Damiki-rigged Strike King Z-Too, and a dropshot with a 6-inch Roboworm.

“You really had to try and get it in their face in the muddy water,” Loberg said. “In the cleaner water, if you messed a school up, you had to leave because they were done.”

Connor Jacob of Auburn, Ala. finished third with 48-9. His daily weights were 14-3, 17-9 and 16-13.

“Going into this tournament, after last year, I heard how pressured the lake was and how brush piles get beat on,” Jacob said. “So instead of bigger brush piles, I fished smaller brush, shallower brush — anything that might not get hit as hard.”

That plan served him well on Day 1, but the second day saw Jacob establish a good marina bite. On Day 3, the marina produced four of his keepers, with his fifth biting on a stump.

A dropshot with a 6-inch Roboworm in morning dawn produced most of Jacob’s fish. A late day crankbait fish gave him a 1 1/2-pound cull.

Fothergill won the $750 Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 8-12.

Fothergill leads the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers standings with 878 points. Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas is in second place with 869, followed by Evan Kung of Pickering, Can. with 853, Cody Meyer of Eagle, Idaho with 853, and Matt Adams of Oxford, Ala. with 850.

The event was hosted by Visit Lake Eufaula.

 

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN

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

 

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 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), 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.

-30-

Connect with #Bassmaster on FacebookInstagramTwitter and TikTok.

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.com

 

2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula - OK 6/20-6/22
Lake Eufaula, Eufaula  OK.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3

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

1.  Easton Fothergill      Grand Rapids , MN       15  52-08  200  $44,155.00
Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   16-11     Day 3: 5   18-01
2.  Andrew Loberg          Grant, AL               15  49-12  199  $17,362.00
Day 1: 5   18-01     Day 2: 5   15-04     Day 3: 5   16-07
3.  Connor Jacob           Auburn, AL              15  48-09  198  $13,022.00
Day 1: 5   14-03     Day 2: 5   17-09     Day 3: 5   16-13
4.  Trey Swindle           Cleveland, AL           15  46-05  197  $12,453.00
Day 1: 5   17-02     Day 2: 5   16-09     Day 3: 5   12-10
5.  Bo Thomas              Edwardsburg, MI         15  46-02  196  $11,486.00
Day 1: 5   15-08     Day 2: 5   19-00     Day 3: 5   11-10
6.  Ty Faber               Pagosa Springs, CO      14  43-08  195  $10,417.00
Day 1: 5   15-11     Day 2: 5   19-01     Day 3: 4   08-12
7.  Matt Adams             Oxford, AL              13  40-14  194   $9,549.00
Day 1: 5   17-09     Day 2: 5   15-08     Day 3: 3   07-13
8.  Jack York              Emory, TX               14  40-07  193   $8,681.00
Day 1: 5   14-05     Day 2: 5   14-03     Day 3: 4   11-15
9.  Cody Meyer             Eagle, ID               11  36-06  192   $8,681.00
Day 1: 5   17-01     Day 2: 4   13-11     Day 3: 2   05-10
10. Matt Messer            Warfield, KY            10  30-01  191   $8,681.00
Day 1: 5   13-10     Day 2: 5   16-07     Day 3: 0   00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        71       622      1495-06
2        57       536      1286-15
3         5        38       109-11
----------------------------------
133      1196      2892-00


O’Reilly Auto Parts Named Presenting Sponsor of Bass Pro Tour Stage Six at the James River

BENTON, Ky. (June 21, 2024) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today that O’Reilly Auto Parts, a leading specialty retailer of automotive aftermarket parts, tools, supplies, equipment and accessories, has been named the official presenting sponsor of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour event at the James River next week. MLF Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts will take place June 25-30 in Richmond, Virginia.

“This is a great opportunity for O’Reilly Auto Parts to support a fan-favorite outdoor sport, while also reminding customers that our expertise extends beyond highway vehicles,” said Hugo Sanchez, vice president of Advertising and Marketing for O’Reilly Auto Parts. “Customers can visit O’Reilly Auto Parts or oreillyauto.com for a wide variety of marine, agricultural and heavy-duty parts and accessories that we carry. We’re here to help whether you’re cruising down the highway, enjoying your favorite fishery or working on your land.”

While the James River has hosted numerous bass tournaments over the years, this will be the Bass Pro Tour’s maiden voyage on the fishery. MLF’s experience on the James includes Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournaments, several Toyota Series events, the 2003 Forrest Wood Cup and a Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit event in 2022. The Bass Pro Tour features anglers competing using 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.

General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts will feature live coverage on the final two days of the Qualifying Rounds, the Knockout Round and the Championship Round of competition. MLFNOW!® is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) and Rumble apps.

Television coverage of General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts will air as a two-hour episode on Discovery, starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 9. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.

For additional information about MLF, its tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about O’Reilly Auto Parts and its full line of automotive replacement parts, visit OReillyAuto.com.

About O’Reilly Automotive, Inc.
Since 1957, O’Reilly Automotive, Inc., has grown from a family-owned company to a leader in the automotive replacement parts industry. It supplies equipment, tools, parts, and accessories to professional service providers and doit-yourself customers across the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Canada. With more than 6,100 store locations and growing, the O’Reilly Professional Parts People deliver excellent customer service, knowledge and value to the communities they serve.

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


Wool Sunshirt?

Whitewater Fishing innovative new Merino Fishing Hoodie blends the natural qualities of premium Merino wool with added features and performance for fishing. 

MUSKEGON, Mich. (June 20, 2024) – Yes, a wool sunshirt. Leave it to Whitewater Fishing with their combined 100-years of apparel design expertise to leverage the inherent comfort, moisture-wicking, and cooling properties of Merino wool and merge them with sunshirt features and technologies. And it’s called the Merino Fishing Hoodie

What is Merino wool?

For starters, it’s not that itchy, scratchy fabric in your ugly Christmas sweater. Rather, it’s a superfine natural fiber that’s sheared from Merino sheep. Originally from Spain, Merino sheep are now raised in South America, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States.

Key to Merino wool of the highest quality is the diameter of its fibers, measured in microns (one millionth of a meter). For example, routine Merino wool measures in the low 20’s, whereas Whitewater’s new Merino Hoodie comes in at 18.5 microns. That means more of Merino wool’s beneficial properties per square inch of material. (To give you an idea of how fine that is, human hairs average between 50 and 100 microns.)

So, what are those beneficial properties?

Temperature Regulation

Merino wool adapts to your body’s needs. It provides a degree of warmth when it’s cold and offers breathability when it’s warmer. So, in the case of Whitewater’s Merino Fishing Hoodie, it can perform as a lone outer-layer if it’s warm – or – there’s a bit of a nip in the air. Additionally, the Merino Fishing Hoodie serves as the ultimate mid-layer under raingear, such as Whitewater’s Great Lakes Pro and Tamer jacket.

Sun Protection

Perhaps surprising to some, Merino fibers possess natural pigments that absorb UV light. This inherent UV resistance provides some level of sun protection, but not enough for Whitewater. They jacked up the sun protection on the Merino Fishing Hoodie to 50+ UPF.

Odor Resistance

While Whitewater is famous for its antimicrobial treatments, in the case of the Merino Hoodie, the fabric alone offers native antimicrobial properties. This comes from a sheep’s ability to produce a natural wax (sheep grease) that repels water and prevents the accumulation of bacteria, mold, and fungus.

Moisture Wicking

Specialty fabrics and treatments, including some of those from Whitewater, are purposed for wicking moisture off your skin. Merino wool? It naturally lifts perspiration off and away as it does for sheep. Mother Nature is amazing…

Elasticity

Unlike conventional wool, Merino wool offers a degree of elasticity. Meaning, the fabric holds its shape. For the purposes of the Merino Fishing Hoodie, Whitewater blended in nylon and elastane to add the stretch and motion-promotion required for fishing.

Comfort and Softness

This is the no-brainer. Instantly feel the softness with one touch of the fabric. This softness translates into unrivaled comfort against your skin.

Hypoallergenic

Maybe not a requirement for fishing, but it’s factual, nonetheless. Merino wool is officially recognized as asthma and allergy friendly by the international certification body Allergy Standards Limited (ASL).

Fire-Resistant

Yes, it’s true. Merino wool fibers are difficult to ignite, have limited ability to sustain a flame, and can self-extinguish. Merino wool clothing is worn by firemen, police, soldiers, and rescue teams because of its natural fire protection.

Construction-wise, the Merino Fishing Hoodie features flatlock seams for maximum durability and comfort. The exceptional flatlock seams are visible on the outside and designed to keep the smooth Merino feel on the inside.

The Merino Fishing Hoodie’s premium 3-piece hood is designed for fit and comfort, as well as sun protection. And, in cooler conditions, it yields a level warmth.

You might pay a little more for the Merino Fishing Hoodie, but when you consider all the benefits of Merino wool, it’s really more of an investment.

Merino Fishing Hoodie FEATURES:

  • Featuring 83% 18.5-micron Merino wool, 12% nylon, and 5% elastane for the perfect blend of stretch with all the benefits of Merino wool
  • Lightweight 120g fabric
  • Natural thermal regulation
  • Natural moisture-wicking
  • Natural antimicrobial
  • Natural sun protection increased to 50+ UPF
  • 3-piece hood offers sun protection and warmth if temps drop
  • Flatlock seams for next-to-skin comfort and overall durability

$129.99


Minimal Footprint Rain Gear

Whitewater Fishing’s Packable Rain Jacket and Pant scrunches into a grapefruit-sized bag—perfect for “those days” 

MUSKEGON, Mich. (June 18, 2024) – If there’s a constant in fishing, it’s unpredictable weather, like wind, spray, rain. Spend any time on the water and you’ll encounter them all, occasionally at the same time… Yes, “those days” are as certain as death and taxes.

But we all know that anglers who keep dry and comfortable can stay focused on the business at hand – namely rigging, presenting, and catching fish – catch way more fish, while lesser prepared anglers run for the barn.

STEEL GREY

Whitewater Fishing makes apparel that inspires confidence, helping anglers brave Mother Nature so they can fish longer, better, more often, and ultimately earn more success. While Whitewater’s rain gear products run the gamut – one of our favorites is the wallet-friendly Packable Rain Jacket and Pant, foundational apparel pieces that employ the best materials, technologies, and tailoring so anglers can enjoy versatile, comfortable, and highly packable, breathable waterproof protection on demand.

Plus, the Packable Rain Jacket and Pant scrunches to the size of a grapefruit for easy storage in boat compartments, under a truck seat, in your backpack, or even larger tackle boxes. And, given minimal cost, they’re the perfect rainsuit to buy for guests who inevitably show up to fish with little or no gear… Just keep ‘em in your boat storage locker and prepare to play hero when the skies turn gray and release the wet stuff…

Gear designed to keep anglers dry serves no purpose if they soak themselves with sweat because it doesn’t breathe. The remarkable performance of the new Whitewater Packable Rain Jacket and Pant begins with a 100% polyester interlock fabric with a laminated interior lining and optimal balance of 10K water resistance and 10K breathability. Fully taped seams, waterproof zippers, and adjustable Velcro cuff closures at the wrists and ankles further defy the elements. The result is comfortable, lightweight rainwear that wicks moisture from the inside as well as it protects on the outside.

The Whitewater Packable Rain Jacket features a zip-away adjustable hood and high storm collar that offer protection by design. Two zippered side pockets deliver hand warming and secure gear storage, while a sculpted, tailored fit looks great, but feels and moves even better. The Whitewater Packable Rain Pant features an elastic waistband with adjustable drawcord. Both highly packable garments stow conveniently inside included bags for easy storage and access.

BLACK

Whitewater Packable Rain Jacket Features & Specs

  • Polyester interlock fabric with laminated interior lining with optimal balance of water resistance and breathability
  • Moisture wicking for comfort and fast drying
  • Fully taped seams
  • Premium waterproof zippers
  • Adjustable Velcro cuff closures
  • Zip-away adjustable hood
  • Tailored fit for comfort and mobility
  • Two zippered side pockets
  • Highly packable design stows in included stuff bag
  • Available in five sizes, men’s SM-3X
  • Available in Black or Steel Gray

MSRP $99.99

Whitewater Packable Rain Pant Features & Specs

  • Polyester interlock fabric with laminated interior lining with optimal balance of water resistance and breathability
  • Moisture wicking for comfort and fast drying
  • Fully taped seams
  • Elastic waistband with adjustable drawcord
  • Adjustable Velcro cuff closures
  • Tailored fit for comfort and mobility
  • Highly packable design stows in included stuff bag
  • Available in five sizes, men’s SM-3X
  • Available in Black or Steel Grey

MSRP $89.99

BLACK

STEEL GREY

Do yourself a favor and invest in a Whitewater Packable Rain Jacket and Pant for easy storage, transport, and supreme performance – all on a budget. They’re the perfect suit to outfit the entire family, big or small, and go on that week-long canoe trip or hit the big water without having to worry about grimaces and complaints…


Moynagh manages Eufaula for Day 1 lead at Bassmaster Open

June 20, 2024

Moynagh manages Eufaula for Day 1 lead at Bassmaster Open

Opens_StCroix_Sevin_4C-RASTER.png

EUFAULA, Okla. — It’s a big lake, but Jim Moynagh committed to what he believed was the region with the greatest potential and caught a five-bass limit of 19 pounds, 5 ounces to lead Day 1 of the 2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula presented by SEVIIN.

The seasoned pro from Remer, Minn., said he took his best shot and paid close attention to the response from the bass. Doing so gave Moynagh a lead of 1-4 over Andrew Loberg.

“Practice was pretty sporadic and pretty sparse, so I went with what I thought would give me the best chance to catch a 5-pounder,” Moynagh said. “Things just started to develop and each bite became a feel for what I needed to do today.

“Every bite’s a clue and when you run into the right size fish, that (confirms your belief.)”

On a day when high heat and falling water presented tough fishing conditions, Moynagh was understandably guarded with his details. Noting that he stayed in one of the lake’s main basins, Moynagh said he fished a variety of habitat features, but none yielded much consistency.

“I caught eight keepers today and it was one here, one there,” Moynagh said. “I didn’t catch two on any one location.”

As Moynagh explained, the limited success he found in practice proved helpful — but more as a deterrent than encouragement.

“So much of practice I spent not catching anything, so I knew a lot of what not to do,” Moynagh said. “So, I kinda went with how I caught one that was about 5 pounds in practice. I didn’t catch many in practice. When I tried that pattern, I didn’t do that great, but I caught that one 5-pounder.

“Today, I went with that pattern, got a bite. A little while later, I got another bite. I was ecstatic because they were decent fish.”

With nearly a 4-pound average, Moynagh said his day exceeded his expectations.

“Realistically, I was hoping I could get 10 pounds each day,” he said. “On my best days of practice, one day I had 12 pounds, one day I had 10.

“Both of those days were in different basins. Today, I almost went to the basin where I had more bites in practice. I went to where I had fewer bites, but that’s where I caught the 5-pounder. I guess that was a good decision.”

Moynagh said two unspecified baits produced his weight. He had his limit around 10:30 a.m. and made his last cull with 90 minutes left in his fishing day.

“If I can just get five keepers tomorrow, it should be a decent amount of weight,” Moynagh said.

Hailing from Grant, Ala., Loberg is in second place with 18-1. Knowing he’d be facing a challenging scenario, he committed to a game plan based on diligence and probability.

“I just picked a few different spots and a handful of baits and really just ground away,” he said. “I was just keeping my lines wet.

“When the lake’s not fishing very good, you want to run around and hopefully find a better spot. But, in reality, you have to stay where you’re at and pick everything apart.”

Loberg anchored his bag with a 6-6. Despite seeing Eufaula’s potential during the days leading up to the tournament, he said his Day 1 kicker proved pleasantly surprising.

“I know there are big ones in this lake and I was lucky to catch a couple of them in practice,” Loberg said. “It was one of those deals where if you’re in the right area at the right time, you might get a good bite.

“There was definitely a lot of boats running around in my area and the pressure definitely got to them. But they live there.”

Easton Fothergill, a native of Grand Rapids, Minn., and a veteran of the powerhouse fishing team at the University of Montevallo (Ala.), is in third place with 17-12. Taking off in the 12th of 14 flights, Fothergill enjoyed the rare gift of fishing in nearly complete solitude.

“I was expecting a lot of boats in my area and I actually fished alone most of the day, which was super surprising to me,” Fothergill said. “I was boat 161 today and when I got to my spot, there was no one there.”

Fothergill said his area had five main spots. Rotating through his spots kept the him in the action.

Using a single slow-moving bait, Fothergill said his productivity started quickly.

“I caught a 4-pounder in the first five minutes I was there, so that was a super-good start,” he said. “Tomorrow’s a different day. I just have to go out and work on them and see how we do.”

Loberg is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 6-6.

Zach Roberts of Morris, Okla., leads the co-angler division with 8-7.

Michael Harp of Linden, Texas, holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead among co-anglers with a 6-1.

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6 a.m. CT at Nichols Point. The weigh-in will be held at the Nichols Point at 2 p.m.

The event is being hosted by Visit Lake Eufaula.

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN

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

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 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), 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.

-30-

Connect with #Bassmaster on FacebookInstagramTwitter and TikTok.

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.com

 

2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula - OK 6/20-6/22
Lake Eufaula, Eufaula  OK.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1.  Jim Moynagh            Remer, MN                5  19-05  200
Day 1: 5   19-05
2.  Andrew Loberg          Grant, AL                5  18-01  199
Day 1: 5   18-01
3.  Easton Fothergill      Grand Rapids , MN        5  17-12  198
Day 1: 5   17-12
4.  Matt Adams             Oxford, AL               5  17-09  197
Day 1: 5   17-09
5.  Trey Swindle           Cleveland, AL            5  17-02  196
Day 1: 5   17-02
6.  Cody Meyer             Eagle, ID                5  17-01  195
Day 1: 5   17-01
7.  Sean Clayton           Seneca, SC               5  16-11  194
Day 1: 5   16-11
7.  John Soukup            Sapulpa, OK              5  16-11  194
Day 1: 5   16-11
9.  Justin Phillips        Checotah, OK             5  16-03  192
Day 1: 5   16-03
10. Ty Faber               Pagosa Springs, CO       5  15-11  191
Day 1: 5   15-11
11. Bo Thomas              Edwardsburg, MI          5  15-08  190
Day 1: 5   15-08
12. Blake Smith            Lakeland, FL             5  15-05  189
Day 1: 5   15-05
13. Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK             5  15-04  188
Day 1: 5   15-04
14. Emil Wagner            Marietta, GA             5  15-01  187
Day 1: 5   15-01
15. Brett Cannon           Kiln, MS                 5  15-00  186
Day 1: 5   15-00
16. Kyle Austin            Ridgeville, SC           5  14-14  185
Day 1: 5   14-14
17. Jack York              Emory, TX                5  14-05  184
Day 1: 5   14-05
18. Keith Brashers         Rogers, AR               5  14-03  183
Day 1: 5   14-03
18. Shane Fields           Mcalester, OK            5  14-03  183
Day 1: 5   14-03
18. Connor Jacob           Auburn, AL               5  14-03  183
Day 1: 5   14-03
21. Mike Rhinehart         Pottsville, AR           5  13-15  180
Day 1: 5   13-15
22. Danny McGarry          Newcastle CANADA         5  13-14  179
Day 1: 5   13-14
23. Matt Messer            Warfield, KY             5  13-10  178
Day 1: 5   13-10
24. Cody Stahl             Barnsville, GA           5  13-03  177
Day 1: 5   13-03
25. Kevin Dritschler       Prosper, TX              5  13-02  176
Day 1: 5   13-02
26. Brock Belik            Orchard, NE              5  13-00  175
Day 1: 5   13-00
27. Brandon McMillan       Clewiston, FL            4  12-15  174
Day 1: 4   12-15
28. Laker Howell           Guntersville, AL         4  12-14  173
Day 1: 4   12-14
29. Daisuke Kita           Ostu Shiga JAPAN         5  12-13  172
Day 1: 5   12-13
30. Dylan Mayo             Athens, TX               5  12-13  171
Day 1: 5   12-13
31. Blake Schroeder        Whitehouse, TX           5  12-12  170
Day 1: 5   12-12
32. Kollin Crawford        Broken Bow, OK           5  12-10  169
Day 1: 5   12-10
32. Teb Jones              Yalaha, MS               5  12-10  169
Day 1: 5   12-10
34. Chris Beaudrie         Princeton, KY            4  12-10  167
Day 1: 4   12-10
35. Bobby Bakewell         Orlando, FL              5  12-07  166
Day 1: 5   12-07
35. Ish Monroe             Oakdale, CA              5  12-07  166
Day 1: 5   12-07
35. Tripp Noojin           Bryant, AL               5  12-07  166
Day 1: 5   12-07
38. Paul Browning          Monahans, TX             5  12-06  163
Day 1: 5   12-06
38. Derek Lehtonen         Woodruff, SC             5  12-06  163
Day 1: 5   12-06
40. Sam Hanggi             Knoxville, TN            5  12-05  161
Day 1: 5   12-05
41. Tim Frederick          Leesburg, FL             5  12-03  160
Day 1: 5   12-03
41. Kenta Kimura           Osaka OK JAPAN           5  12-03  160
Day 1: 5   12-03
43. Adam Rasmussen         Sturgeon Bay, WI         5  12-01  158
Day 1: 5   12-01
44. Josh Butler            Hayden, AL               4  12-01  157
Day 1: 4   12-01
45. Alex Heintze           Denham Springs, LA       5  11-15  156
Day 1: 5   11-15
45. Mike McClelland        Blue Eye, MO             5  11-15  156
Day 1: 5   11-15
47. Mark Watson            Victoria, TX             4  11-12  154
Day 1: 4   11-12
48. Eli Brumnett           Wagoner, OK              5  11-11  153
Day 1: 5   11-11
49. Kyle Palmer            Winchester, TN           5  11-09  152
Day 1: 5   11-09
50. Chris Blanchette       Edisto Island, SC        5  11-05  151
Day 1: 5   11-05
50. Brady Vernon           Sterrett, AL             5  11-05  151
Day 1: 5   11-05
52. Tommy Dunaway          Havana, FL               5  11-02  149
Day 1: 5   11-02
52. Jimmy Washam           Stantonville, TN         5  11-02  149
Day 1: 5   11-02
52. Kyle Weisenburger      Columbus Grv, OH         5  11-02  149
Day 1: 5   11-02
55. Caden Cowan            Stephenville, TX         5  11-01  146
Day 1: 5   11-01
56. Cole Drummond          Effingham, SC            5  11-00  145
Day 1: 5   11-00
57. Cody Bird              Granbury, TX             5  10-14  144
Day 1: 5   10-14
57. Keith Tuma             Brainerd, MN             5  10-14  144
Day 1: 5   10-14
59. Avery Williams         Murrells Inlt, SC        5  10-13  142
Day 1: 5   10-13
60. Jason Borofka          Lavon, TX                5  10-12  141
Day 1: 5   10-12
61. Hunter Stanley         Mustang, OK              3  10-10  140
Day 1: 3   10-10
62. Garrett Paquette       Canton, MI               4  10-07  139
Day 1: 4   10-07
63. Yui Aoki               Minamitsurugun JAPAN     5  10-06  138
Day 1: 5   10-06
63. Matt Pangrac           Shawnee, OK              5  10-06  138
Day 1: 5   10-06
65. Yusuke Miyazaki        Forney, TX               4  10-06  136
Day 1: 4   10-06
66. Scout Echols           Monticello, AR           5  10-05  135
Day 1: 5   10-05
66. Dalton Smith           Taylorsville, KY         5  10-05  135
Day 1: 5   10-05
66. Tucker Smith           Birmingham, AL           5  10-05  135
Day 1: 5   10-05
69. Beau Browning          Hot Springs National Pa  5  10-04  132
Day 1: 5   10-04
70. Zach Goutremout        Chaumont, NY             5  10-00  131
Day 1: 5   10-00
71. Jason Abram            Piney Flats, TN          3  09-15  130
Day 1: 3   09-15
72. Lafe Messer            Warfield, KY             5  09-14  129
Day 1: 5   09-14
73. James Niggemeyer       Van, TX                  5  09-11  128
Day 1: 5   09-11
74. Richard Lowitzki       Fort Myers, FL           4  09-09  127
Day 1: 4   09-09
75. Dakota Ebare           Brookeland, TX           5  09-07  126
Day 1: 5   09-07
76. Charlie Hartley        Grove City, OH           5  09-05  125
Day 1: 5   09-05
76. Jay Nyce               Rogers, AR               5  09-05  125
Day 1: 5   09-05
78. Bryan Finch            Belton, TX               4  09-04  123
Day 1: 4   09-04
79. Ben Burk               Norman, OK               5  09-02  122
Day 1: 5   09-02
80. Austin Cranford        Norman, OK               5  09-00  121
Day 1: 5   09-00
81. Lucas Ragusa           Gonzales, LA             3  09-00  120
Day 1: 3   09-00
82. Jonathan Dietz         Corry, PA                4  08-15  119
Day 1: 4   08-15
83. Ian Leybas             Mcalester, OK            4  08-12  118
Day 1: 4   08-12
84. Jack Dice              Lynchburg, VA            5  08-11  117
Day 1: 5   08-11
85. Danny Ramsey           Trinidad, TX             3  08-10  116
Day 1: 3   08-10
86. Mike Mayo              Athens, TX               4  08-09  115
Day 1: 4   08-09
87. Kevin Ledoux           Choctaw, OK              4  08-08  114
Day 1: 4   08-08
88. Andrew Harp            Linden, TX               3  08-06  113
Day 1: 3   08-06
89. Josh Wiesner           Fon du Lac, WI           4  08-04  112
Day 1: 4   08-04
90. Russ Lane              Prattville, AL           5  08-03  111
Day 1: 5   08-03
91. Allan Nail             Sand Springs, OK         4  08-02  110
Day 1: 4   08-02
92. Tanner Barton          Edmond, OK               4  08-01  109
Day 1: 4   08-01
93. Joey Nania             Cropwell, AL             4  07-15  108
Day 1: 4   07-15
94. Evan Kung              Pickering Ontario CANAD  4  07-13  107
Day 1: 4   07-13
94. Mike Surman            Boca Raton, FL           4  07-13  107
Day 1: 4   07-13
96. Bryan Partak           Marseilles, IL           4  07-12  105
Day 1: 4   07-12
97. Naohiro Maruo          Ayagawa Town Ayauta Kag  3  07-12  104
Day 1: 3   07-12
98. Steven Doolittle       Chelsea, OK              3  07-11  103
Day 1: 3   07-11
99. Joey Hanna             Corsicana, TX            4  07-09  102
Day 1: 4   07-09
100. Jeremy Radford         Huntly, VA               2  07-09  101
Day 1: 2   07-09
101. Seiji Kato             Los Alamitos CA JAPAN    3  07-06  100
Day 1: 3   07-06
102. Paul Marks             Cumming, GA              3  07-05   99
Day 1: 3   07-05
103. Kyoya Fujita           Yamanashi CA JAPAN       2  07-02   98
Day 1: 2   07-02
104. Jackson Swisher        Lake City, FL            4  06-15   97
Day 1: 4   06-15
105. Greg Bohannan          Bentonville, AR          3  06-15   96
Day 1: 3   06-15
106. Craig Danna            West Monroe, LA          3  06-13   95
Day 1: 3   06-13
107. Tristan McCormick      Burns, TN                4  06-10   94
Day 1: 4   06-10
108. Masayuki Matsushita    Porter TX JAPAN          3  06-10   93
Day 1: 3   06-10
109. Brett Hite             Phoenix, AZ              3  06-09   92
Day 1: 3   06-09
110. Bailey Bleser          Burlington, WI           3  06-08   91
Day 1: 3   06-08
111. Brian Post             Janesville, WI           3  06-04   90
Day 1: 3   06-04
111. Randall Tharp          Port St. Joe, FL         3  06-04   90
Day 1: 3   06-04
113. Keith Brumfield        Vicksburg, MS            3  06-01   88
Day 1: 3   06-01
114. Gary Hall              Wardville, OK            4  05-15   87
Day 1: 4   05-15
115. Stephanie Hemphill - Pellerin Village Mills, TX        3  05-15   86
Day 1: 3   05-15
115. Jack Tindel III        Orange, TX               3  05-15   86
Day 1: 3   05-15
117. Dale Hightower         Mannford, OK             3  05-13   84
Day 1: 3   05-13
118. Andy Newcomb           Camdenton, MO            3  05-11   83
Day 1: 3   05-11
119. Wardell Motley III     Little Rock, AR          2  05-11   82
Day 1: 2   05-11
120. Chris Kingree          Inverness, FL            2  05-10   81
Day 1: 2   05-10
121. Steve Drinnon          Wetumpka, AL             2  05-09   80
Day 1: 2   05-09
122. Lance Owen             Greer, SC                2  05-03   79
Day 1: 2   05-03
123. Joe Wieberg            Freeburg, MO             1  05-03   78
Day 1: 1   05-03
124. Lance Crawford         Broken Bow, OK           3  05-02   77
Day 1: 3   05-02
124. Colton White           Moore, OK                3  05-02   77
Day 1: 3   05-02
126. Allen Armour           Cumming, GA              2  05-00   75
Day 1: 2   05-00
126. Andy Beloat            Montgomery, TX           2  05-00   75
Day 1: 2   05-00
128. Clint Leonard Jr       Saint Cloud, FL          2  04-14   73
Day 1: 2   04-14
129. Trey Schroeder         Theodosia, MO            3  04-11   72
Day 1: 3   04-11
130. Shane Lineberger       Lincolnton, NC           3  04-10   71
Day 1: 3   04-10
131. Kyle Metzger           Pearl River, LA          3  04-09   70
Day 1: 3   04-09
131. Cliff Pace             Ovett, MS                3  04-09   70
Day 1: 3   04-09
131. Derrick Sadlowski      Monaca, PA               3  04-09   70
Day 1: 3   04-09
134. Billy Billeaud         Lafayette, LA            1  04-09   67
Day 1: 1   04-09
135. Billy Smith            Montgomery, TX           2  04-08   66
Day 1: 2   04-08
135. Roland Stevens         Prairieville, LA         2  04-08   66
Day 1: 2   04-08
137. Trace Antunes III      Henderson, TX            3  04-07   64
Day 1: 3   04-07
138. John Voyles            Petersburg, IN           3  04-05   63
Day 1: 3   04-05
139. Stan Kaminski          Jonestown, TX            2  04-05   62
Day 1: 2   04-05
140. Brayden Rakes          Winston Salem, NC        2  04-04   61
Day 1: 2   04-04
141. Cody Detweiler         Guntersville, AL         2  04-03   60
Day 1: 2   04-03
141. Frank Williams         Mountain Home, AR        2  04-03   60
Day 1: 2   04-03
143. Kevin Rogers           Pleasant Hill, MO        2  04-02   58
Day 1: 2   04-02
143. Casey Scanlon          Eldon, MO                2  04-02   58
Day 1: 2   04-02
145. Scott Kerslake         Okeechobee, FL           1  04-02   56
Day 1: 1   04-02
146. Nick Trim              Galesville, WI           2  04-01   55
Day 1: 2   04-01
147. Tai Au                 Glendale, AZ             2  03-15   54
Day 1: 2   03-15
148. Scott Isaacs           Ladonia, TX              2  03-14   53
Day 1: 2   03-14
149. Phillip Kroll          Otego, NY                2  03-13   52
Day 1: 2   03-13
150. Clay Dyer              Fayetteville, TN         1  03-13   51
Day 1: 1   03-13
150. Bart Stanisz           Austin, TX               1  03-13   51
Day 1: 1   03-13
152. Jason Lambert          Savannah, TN             2  03-12   49
Day 1: 2   03-12
153. Jeremiah Kindy         Benton, AR               2  03-10   48
Day 1: 2   03-10
154. Clark Reehm            Elm Grove, LA            2  03-07   47
Day 1: 2   03-07
155. Jacob Thompkins        Myrtle Beach, SC         2  03-05   46
Day 1: 2   03-05
156. Elijah Benson          Dahlonega, GA            2  03-04   45
Day 1: 2   03-04
157. Brent Shores           Boise, ID                1  03-02   44
Day 1: 1   03-02
158. Zack Williams          Shell Knob, MO           2  02-15   43
Day 1: 2   02-15
159. Alex Murray            Lake Charles, LA         1  02-13   42
Day 1: 1   02-13
160. Trevor McKinney        Noble, IL                1  02-08   41
Day 1: 1   02-08
161. Chad Grigsby           Maple Grove, MN          1  02-06   40
Day 1: 1   02-06
161. Tom Lloyd Jr           Springfield, MO          1  02-06   40
Day 1: 1   02-06
163. Jacob Bigelow          Cecil, WI                1  02-05   38
Day 1: 1   02-05
163. Freddy  Palmer         Estill Springs, TN       1  02-05   38
Day 1: 1   02-05
165. Andrew Hargrove        Moody, TX                1  02-01   36
Day 1: 1   02-01
165. Garrett Warren         Scottsboro, AL           1  02-01   36
Day 1: 1   02-01
167. Evan Ferguson          Catlettsburg, KY         1  02-00   34
Day 1: 1   02-00
168. Andrew Upshaw          Hemphill, TX             1  01-15   33
Day 1: 1   01-15
169. Philip Roesener        Choctaw, OK              1  01-13   32
Day 1: 1   01-13
170. Dustin Reneau          Mckinney, TX             1  01-11   31
Day 1: 1   01-11
171. Brad Leuthner          Victoria, MN             1  01-10   30
Day 1: 1   01-10
172. Darold Gleason         Many, LA                 1  01-09   29
Day 1: 1   01-09
173. Andrew Behnke          Fond Du Lac, WI          1  01-08   28
Day 1: 1   01-08
173. Tim Tyndell            Mineola, TX              1  01-08   28
Day 1: 1   01-08
175. Billy Gilbert          Hamburg, NY              1  01-07   26
Day 1: 1   01-07
176. Richard Kaluba         Litchfield, OH           1  01-06   25
Day 1: 1   01-06
176. Nathan Thompson        Eagan, MN                1  01-06   25
Day 1: 1   01-06
178. Christian Ostrander    Turlock, CA              1  01-05   23
Day 1: 1   01-05
179. Wardell Motley Jr      Cleburne, TX             1  00-04   22
Day 1: 1   00-04
180. Sean Anderson          Leesville, SC            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
180. Paul Bouvier           Kingston CANADA          0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
180. Chase Clarke           Virginia Beach, VA       0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
180. Gary Clouse            Winchester, TN           0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
180. Tony Dumitras          Winston, GA              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
180. Chris Hellebuyck       White Lake, MI           0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
180. Brian Mathis           Manchaca, TX             0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
180. Billy McDonald         Greenwood, IN            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
180. Yukihiro Sawamura      Harker Heights, TX       0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
180. Cody Steckel           Las Vegas, NV            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
180. Chancy Walters         West Des Moines, IA      0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
180. Dylan Welton           Middleville, MI          0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
180. Kelvin Wilcox          Hazlehurst, GA           0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
180. Wyatt Wimberley        Broaddus, TX             0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
180. Doc Wootton            Collierville, TN         0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
195. Logan Johnson          Jasper, AL               0  -1-00    0
Day 1: 0   -01-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        71       622      1495-06
----------------------------------
71       622      1495-06

 

2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula - OK 6/20-6/22
Lake Eufaula, Eufaula  OK.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1.  Zach Roberts           Morris, OK               3  08-07  200
Day 1: 3   08-07
2.  Craig Schmidt          Prague, NE               3  08-01  199
Day 1: 3   08-01
3.  Mike Bennett           Eufaula, OK              3  07-11  198
Day 1: 3   07-11
4.  Adam Tims              Royse City, TX           3  06-12  197
Day 1: 3   06-12
5.  Michael Harp           Linden, TX               3  06-01  196
Day 1: 3   06-01
6.  Lonnie Miller          Broken Arrow, OK         3  05-15  195
Day 1: 3   05-15
7.  Landon Lawson          Jonesborough, TN         3  05-10  194
Day 1: 3   05-10
7.  Mike Steckel           Las Vegas, NV            3  05-10  194
Day 1: 3   05-10
9.  Takaaki Kojima         Temecula CA JAPAN        3  05-08  192
Day 1: 3   05-08
10. Neill Beckham          Jacksonville, TX         2  05-00  191
Day 1: 2   05-00
11. Daniel Vasquez         Boynton Beach, FL        1  04-09  190
Day 1: 1   04-09
12. John Yezak             Spring, TX               2  04-08  189
Day 1: 2   04-08
13. Sakae Ushio            Tonawanda, NY            2  04-05  188
Day 1: 2   04-05
13. David Waack            Cary, NC                 2  04-05  188
Day 1: 2   04-05
15. Sam Mitchell           Kiowa, OK                3  04-02  186
Day 1: 3   04-02
16. Willy  Becker          Kansas City, MO          2  04-00  185
Day 1: 2   04-00
16. Tristian Dupuis        Shreveport, LA           2  04-00  185
Day 1: 2   04-00
16. Morgan Payne           Kilgore, TX              2  04-00  185
Day 1: 2   04-00
19. Ryan Rodgers           Perry, OK                1  03-12  182
Day 1: 1   03-12
20. Darrell Hille          Springfield, TN          2  03-09  181
Day 1: 2   03-09
21. Chris Gaudin           East Camden, AR          2  03-06  180
Day 1: 2   03-06
22. Tristan Bramblett      Tiger, GA                2  03-03  179
Day 1: 2   03-03
22. Marty Trent            Dodge City, KS           2  03-03  179
Day 1: 2   03-03
24. Jimmy Fellegy          Mustang, OK              1  02-13  177
Day 1: 1   02-13
25. Jay Northcutt          Little Elm, TX           1  02-12  176
Day 1: 1   02-12
26. Jimmy Brumfield        Madison, MS              1  02-11  175
Day 1: 1   02-11
27. Troy Enmeier           Enid, OK                 1  02-07  174
Day 1: 1   02-07
28. Eddie Kidd             Fort Moore, GA           1  02-06  173
Day 1: 1   02-06
29. Andrew Shores          Boise, ID                1  02-01  172
Day 1: 1   02-01
30. Chris Harrell          Conroe, TX               1  02-00  171
Day 1: 1   02-00
30. Albert Jones  Jr       Covington, GA            1  02-00  171
Day 1: 1   02-00
32. Robert Jacuzzi         Mount Ida, AR            1  01-15  169
Day 1: 1   01-15
32. Chad Stahl             Barnesville, GA          1  01-15  169
Day 1: 1   01-15
34. Mark Cowart            Kearney, MO              1  01-12  167
Day 1: 1   01-12
34. Kyle Gates             Little Rock, AR          1  01-12  167
Day 1: 1   01-12
34. Noel Rendon            Mansfield, TX            1  01-12  167
Day 1: 1   01-12
37. Niko Romero            Coldspring, TX           1  01-09  164
Day 1: 1   01-09
38. Frank Clymer           Kinta, OK                1  01-08  163
Day 1: 1   01-08
39. Brandon Clayton        Haslet , TX              1  01-07  162
Day 1: 1   01-07
40. Ronald Robbs           Fredericktown, MO        1  01-06  161
Day 1: 1   01-06
40. Kevin Roberts          Cherokee, OK             1  01-06  161
Day 1: 1   01-06
42. Donald Biggs           Murphysboro, IL          1  01-04  159
Day 1: 1   01-04
43. Johnny Ramos           Odessa, TX               1  00-10  158
Day 1: 1   00-10
44. Stephen Babcock        Belton, MO               0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Jason Barber           Gun Barrel City, TX      0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Gary Bates             Athens, AL               0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Rex Ellis              Gore, OK                 0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Jack Evans             Bucklin, KS              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. John Goul              Philadelphia, MS         0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Richard Greene         Ocala, FL                0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Danny Hanna  Jr        Corsicana, TX            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Gary Haraguchi         Murfreesboro, TN         0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Nathan Harbison        Jasper, TX               0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Allen Heston           Pittsburg, TX            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Colten Hutson          Edmond, OK               0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Michael Leach          Shenandoah, TX           0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Tiffany Leal           Austin, TX               0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Kevin Mallow           Kansas, OK               0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Aaron Miller           Wichita Falls, TX        0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Gene Mitchell          Stuart, OK               0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Jon Mohon Sr           Metairie, LA             0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Kara Moss              Tyler, TX                0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Jimmy Obrien           Southampton, NY          0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. David Palma            Hobbs, NM                0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. William Payne          Kilgore, TX              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Ethan Puller           Guthrie, OK              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Clark Smallwood        Paris, TX                0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Hayden Spradling       Gilbert, AZ              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Scott Springer         Lisle, IL                0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. James Thompson         Dodge City, KS           0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Kerry Trent            Dodge City, KS           0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Travis Villines        Kansas City, MO          0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Craig Wiser            Independence, MO         0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
44. Melvin Yezak           Bremond, TX              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        10        74       152-15
----------------------------------
10        74       152-15


Bassmaster Elite Series event at Smith Lake could be ‘mystery’ for anglers

June 20, 2024

Bassmaster Elite Series event at Smith Lake could be ‘mystery’ for anglers

Elite_eventLogo_2024_SmithLake_Raster.pngCULLMAN, Ala. — Though he won’t be competing in the 2024 TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith LakeDavid Kilgore knows a thing or two when it comes to fishing this central Alabama hotbed.

The 50-year-old Jasper, Ala., resident is known as something of a wizard on the lake, having won a Bassmaster Southern Open tournament here a decade ago — one of four B.A.S.S. victories in his lengthy career, and all coming in his home state. Kilgore is a fierce stick on Smith, and he proved it by winning consecutive one-day derbies on the 21,000-acre fishery last month.

So how does the hometown ace, who's currently fishing the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN, think his favorite fishery will perform when 99 Elite anglers compete here June 27-30?

“No one knows really,” he said. “It’s a mystery.”

Kilgore’s not being coy or trying to keep the world’s best bass anglers from hitting his Smith Lake honey holes. Not at all. He said he really isn’t sure what the Elite Series crew should expect later this month.

And why?

“This tournament is pretty late in the season and there have already been a lot of tournaments in there this year,” he said. “I won two up there with 15.8 and 17 pounds a month ago. But the 15- and 16-inch spotted bass the place was filled with three or four years ago, those 3 1/2- and 4-pounders, they’ve been much harder to find.

“So, I think you’re gonna see a lot of 9-, 10- (and) 11-pound bags coming in. The bass have been a bit smaller, and while that may be promising for the future, it’s not especially great for right now.”

Kilgore suspects the best bags will come from anglers who locate pockets of herring off points in the lake. He assumes most anglers will be using forward-facing sonar and thinks key offshore bites could play a role, too.

The scalding Alabama heat should also play a role, and likely in more ways than one.

“Thursday and Friday fishing should be OK, but by Saturday, boats are going to be everywhere on the water,” he said. “I took off recently from Cullman about 5 a.m. with no problem, but when I got back at noon, it was absolute chaos over there. The recreational boat traffic on the weekend — the ski boats, the Jet Skis — those boats are throwing big wakes.

“They’re not doing it because they’re mad at us or anything. They just don’t realize how a 4-foot wave can knock you around in a bass boat. They’ll smile and wave as they zip by. It’ll be interesting to see how the LiveScopers handle that, trying to hold a spot on a fish when they’re bouncing around out there.”

Kilgore thinks anglers with early bites will have the best chance. When the summer sun gets overhead, though, he thinks action could slow to a crawl.

“If there’s some chop out there, they could be OK,” he said. “But if it’s slick, it could be a long day for a lot of guys. I’d fish super-shallow early, looking for a largemouth bite on a bluff. You might get a couple hours out of that. Then I’d fish every point I know, LiveScoping with a topwater bait like a Strike King Sexy Dawg. I might try a Fluke-style bait if I need to be under the water a little bit.”

As for a winning weight, Kilgore made a conservative estimate.

“I think 15 pounds a day wins it, unless someone finds the mother lode of big spots out there,” he said. “But if I had 15 pounds a day, I’d be thrilled.”

Only time will tell if competitors will feel the same come tournament time.

The TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake will begin at 6 a.m. CT each day from Smith Lake Park in Cullman. Weigh-ins are scheduled for 2 p.m. The full field will fish for the first two days of the derby with a cut to the Top 50 on Day 3 and to the Top 10 on the final day. Fans can follow the action live on Bassmaster.com.

Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com all four days, and coverage will also be available on FS1 on Saturday at 7:00-10:00 a.m. and Sunday at 7:00-a.m.-12:00 p.m.

VisitCullman.com is hosting the tournament.

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

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 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), 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.

-30-

Connect with #Bassmaster on FacebookInstagramTwitter and TikTok.

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


Unified Pros Announces the Ultimate Angler World Championship

Unified Pros and the State of Alabama Join Forces to Offer the Largest Pro & Amateur Bass Fishing Tournament and Payout Ever on Lake Guntersville, Scottsboro, AL, October 5th-11th, 2025.

Scottsboro, AL (June 19, 2024) – Dig into tournament bass fishing and history reveals the blood, sweat, and tears of a dedicated group of bass anglers and hard-working folks in Alabama. Front and center, we are talking about the late Ray Scott, the genius behind the first pro bass fishing tournaments going back to the 1960s.

Years after the launch of the Bassmaster Series and the Bassmaster Classic (aka “The Super Bowl of Bass Fishing”), numerous other national pro bass fishing circuits popped up, many of which still exist today, like Bassmaster itself, MLF, NPFL, and many others.

Well, meet a new organization similarly founded in Scott’s home state of Alabama, a group that refers to itself as Unified Pros, a nonprofit with no ownership, promising to be the biggest news in tournament bass fishing since those early days of Ray Scott, Roland Martin, Bill Dance, Jimmy Houston, and other passionate anglers who got the whole ball of wax started, thus creating a billion-dollar-plus industry across the world.

Working hand-in-hand, the new organization Unified Pros and the state of Alabama will launch its first tournament, the Ultimate Angler Championship—October 5th- 11th on Lake
Guntersville, near Scottsboro, AL. with a guaranteed 1st Place payout of $500,000—the largest pot in bass fishing’s history—the tournament will over a total of over 1 million in cash
payouts.

The vision is to inspire and unify a global community of professional athletes from all leagues to champion the power of the outdoors, fostering unity, excellence, competition, and philanthropy—and elevate the sportfishing, the outdoors, and conservation.  Alabama State Senator Majority Leader, Steve Livingston, comments: “Alabama offers outdoor recreational activities unlike any other place in the world, and we are committed to conserving our abundant, God-given natural resources. We are absolutely thrilled to host The Ultimate Angler World Championship in Scottsboro, as we put Alabama on the map for competitive fishing and will continue to raise funds for further conservation initiatives.”

How did the group conceive and underwrite such an amazing tournament?  The team’s concept was driven by passionate pro anglers and other industry folks looking for a way to unite and raise bass fishing to an entirely new level for “the love of the game.” In combination with the state of Alabama, as well as local partners, City of Scottsboro, Jackson County and state leadership, the group also wanted to raise awareness of the state’s healthy bass fisheries and help raise funds for conservation—ultimately, to fund grants for federal matched dollars for conservation grants. The unprecedented payout is secured and over $1 million will go to a guaranteed, top 10 finish payout to kickstart United Pros’ and greater Alabama’s first event, which is slated to occur every year in Alabama.

The team modeled the Ultimate Angler Tournament after the Masters US Open, and like the Masters US Open, Ultimate Angler will be open to qualifying college anglers, amateurs, and
pros. United Pros also modeled the tournament after AP college football, essentially creating a bass fishing version of an FCS game, the first and only champion crowned across multiple
leagues and tournament trails.

The other thing that separates United Pros inaugural event from other tournaments is that it will not be sponsor-driven. All of the money is being underwritten by the state of Alabama,
Jackson County, and the City of Scottsboro.

Also note: This tournament will have a five fish limit and prohibit use of forward-facing sonar.

Nothing against today’s fishing technology, but United Pros really wanted to bring the sport back to what it used to be before forward-facing sonar. This event will showcase all the lures
and techniques that make up professional bass fishing. It may just bring more intuition, hard work, and even luck back into the game; After all, that’s how bass fishing started with conservation and love for the outdoors.

Event Formats: Unified Pros’ “Ultimate Angler” Intro—World Championship

Get ready for the most exhilarating showdown in the world of bass fishing—the Ultimate Angler Championship! The largest payout ever to declare a champion across all professional
fishing leagues, and with one of the largest cash payouts in bass fishing history.  Brace yourself as fearless anglers paint a breathtaking backdrop; this championship promises heart-pounding action and jaw-dropping catches that will leave you in awe. The anticipation is palpable as top-notch fishermen armed with their skillful techniques, cutting edge gear, and unwavering determination prepare to battle it out for the coveted title of “Ultimate Angler.”

Goose Pond on Lake Guntersville sets the stage like no other venue can. With its pristine waters shimmering under the golden sun and surrounded by lush greenery, it is a true angler’s paradise. The legendary body of water boasts some of the biggest and most elusive bass known to mankind. Only those who can decipher their secretive behavior and masterfully lure them into biting will triumph over these formidable opponents.

The atmosphere crackles with excitement as spectators line the shores, eagerly awaiting each cast and electrifying hookset. As boats race across the crystal-clear lake surface, adrenaline courses through every angler’s veins while they navigate through hidden cover and strategic hotspots in pursuit of that mythical catch.

The Ultimate Angler Championship is not just a fishing tournament; it is a celebration of the enduring spirit of those who dare to chase their dreams. It unites anglers from diverse backgrounds, highlighting their talents while fostering camaraderie and mutual respect for the sport we all love at a place “Where tournament bass fishing all began… Alabama.”

So, mark your calendars for October 5-11, 2025, and make your way to Jackson County, in Scottsboro, Alabama. Witness history unfold as the finest qualified bass anglers in the world battle against nature in an epic quest to become the Ultimate Angler World Champion.

Prepare for non-stop thrills, heart-stopping moments, and an experience that will forever be etched in your memory—and bass fishing history.

About Unified Pros
Unified Pros, a nonprofit alliance of professional athletes, through our sanctioned competitions, charity events, and membership, aim to elevate the love for outdoor competition while raising awareness for our fisheries, habitat, and their continued conservation. We envision an inclusive world where athletes collaborate and compete in the outdoor arena to create transformative experiences that make a lasting impact on individuals, communities, professional athletes, and the Sport of Bass Fishing.  Through collaborative partnerships with esteemed organizations such as the Major League Fishing Anglers Association (MLFAA), Bassmaster Professional Anglers, National Professional Fishing league (NPFL), NFL Professional Players Association (NFLPA), MLB Players Association (MLBPA), NBA Players Association (NBAPA), and Professional Golfers Association (PGA), we aim to create Pro-Pro events that bring together professionals from various sports disciplines in unique competitive formats. These events will not only offer major payments to winners but also serve as platforms to raise awareness for outdoor activities and conservation efforts. By harnessing the collective influence of these associations, we envision creating extraordinary experiences that unite athletes, build camaraderie, and promote the importance of preserving our outdoors and fisheries.

REGISTRATION OPENS JULY 1, 2024

https://www.theultimateangler.org/

Contact: info@theultimate.fishing


Travel Tuesday - Have You Truly Been Tested?

By Pete Robbins - Half Past First Cast

My personal best largemouth bass is 12 pounds. I’m immensely proud of that fish and thankful that I had a chance to capture it, but nothing about it truly stressed my tackle. The fight was certainly less than a minute long. In fact, while I’ve had bass strip drag and otherwise test my gear, I’ve never had one that truly provided a physical challenge.

That’s what I love about our trips to Panama – catching tuna, some of which weigh more than me. I’ve been part of landing a 205-pounder. This year one of our traveling partners handled a 247-pounder on his own – over two hours of backbreaking labor. Two days later, he and I were part of a four-angler team that spent over three hours working on a tuna that would’ve gone north of 300 before the hook pulled. It was exhausting and demoralizing. Everyone on the boat just silently retreated to separate corners and we started the long ride back to the lodge, an hour late for appetizers.

Nevertheless, while bass fishing will always be my bread and butter, I love our opportunities to try – and occasionally fail – to beat up on true giants. On our first trip to Panama, tangling with a 135 convinced me to join a gym. Subsequent trips and lots of questions have led me to understand more about how to properly tire them out, while conserving my own energy. It has also led me to understand more about tackle design and choice, and how to make the most of what you’ve got. All of that translates into every type of angling that I do.

Fortunately, we get lots of chances at 60-90 pound fish down there. Those are the “rebellious teenagers” that’ll test every aspect of your game without “wasting” half of your day bringing them in. Afterwards, you deserve a cold Panama beer and high fives from your boatmates – as well as the fillets that you’ll bring home.

If you’ve never tangled with giant fish, I strongly recommend that you give it a try, not just for bragging rights, but rather to really see what kind of angler you are. You may be able to do it in your backyard with big catfish or gar. Or maybe you want to see a tail-walking marlin. But for my money, and all of the species I’ve caught, tuna are the champs. Maybe I’ll reconsider when I catch a Giant Trevally, but for sheer bulldogging power and trickery, yellowfin will put you to the test. They’ll make you a better angler.

If you’d like to learn more about our trips to Panama, email us any time. We’d love to get you down there for a test of your stamina and angling skills.


Gallatin’s Womack Earns First Career Win at Rescheduled Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Old Hickory

Sparta’s England Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

GALLATIN, Tenn. (June 17, 2024) – Boater Josh Womack of Gallatin, Tennessee, caught a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 9 ounces, Sunday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Old Hickory Lake . Hosted by Sumner County Tourism, the tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Music City Division. This was a makeup event for the tournament originally scheduled for May 11 at Center Hill Lake, which had to be cancelled due to unsafe boating conditions. Womack earned $2,748 for his victory.

When asked to break it down to the most important key for him on Old Hickory, Womack kept it simple: “Covering a lot of water.”

He spent Sunday running and gunning in the mid-lake area.

“I was fishing a mixture of brush piles and grass,” he said. “Just a jig and a crankbait in brush piles and a ChatterBait in grass. The brush piles were offshore a little deeper. The grass was shallow, like 1 to 3 feet.”

In Saturday’s Old Hickory tournament, Womack finished 25th and spent most of the day trying to “make a deep bite work.” He didn’t make that same mistake on Sunday.

“At the end of the day yesterday (Saturday) I went up shallow and caught a few,” he said. “And it kind of clued me in that the fish were not as deep as I tried to make them be. I spent a lot more time up shallow today (Sunday).”

Womack started the day shallow, then worked some deeper brush. Then Womack went back shallow to the grass and made a couple key culls. Later in the day, he culled a couple more times from the brush.

That back-and-forth, shallow-to-deep-to-shallow approach got him over the hump and into the winner’s circle for a Father’s Day victory.

Womack’s go-to lure up shallow was a white Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer. His main brush pile bait was a homemade 3/8-ounce jig with a green pumpkin skirt with some blue mixed in.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:          Josh Womack, Gallatin, Tenn., five bass, 16-9, $2,748
2nd:        Jacob Woods, Loudon, Tenn., five bass, 14-15, $1,374
3rd:         Josh Tramel, Smithville, Tenn., five bass, 14-0, $916
4th:         Jeremy Walker, Mount Juliet, Tenn., five bass, 13-12, $1,141 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
5th:         Tim Messer, Hendersonville, Tenn., five bass, 13-9, $550
6th:         Anthony Guffie, Lafayette, Tenn., five bass, 13-3, $504
7th:         Joey Mallicoat, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 12-10, $458
8th:         Willie McMullen, Covington, Ga., five bass, 12-4, $412
9th:         Mickey Beck, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 11-15, $366
10th:       Brady Duncan, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 11-12, $321

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Jay Melton of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $305.

Ricky England of Sparta, Tennessee, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,370 Sunday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 11 pounds, 3 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:         Ricky England, Sparta, Tenn., five bass, 11-3, $1,370
2nd:        Barry McEntire, Lebanon, Tenn., four bass, 9-14, $832
3rd:         Ike Gillentine, Quebeck, Tenn., five bass, 9-5, $457
4th:         Roderick Green, Columbia, Tenn., five bass, 9-2, $320
5th:         Alex Roberts, Franklin, Tenn., four bass, 9-1, $274
6th:         Earl Ross Jr., Soddy-Daisy, Tenn., five bass, 9-0, $251
7th:         Kyle Pillars, Ashland City, Tenn., five bass, 8-6, $228
8th:         Taylor McMullen, Oxford, Ga., three bass, 7-13, $206
9th:         Adam Radovic, Brecksville, Ohio, four bass, 7-10, $183
10th:       Rodney Powell, Many, La., four bass, 7-3, $160

Barry McEntire of Lebanon, Tennessee, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $147, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 4 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After four events, Jacob Woods of Loudon, Tennessee, leads the Fishing Clash Music City Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 971 points, while Wayne Crouch of Jamestown, Tennessee, leads the Fishing Clash Music City Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 975 points.

The next event for BFL Music City Division anglers will be held Sept. 7-8, at Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 17-19 BFL Regional tournament on Clarks Hill Lake in Appling, Georgia. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

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


Galena’s Statler Earns First Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Truman Lake

Oronogo’s Moss Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

WARSAW, Mo. (June 17, 2024) – Boater Dillon Statler of Galena, Missouri, caught a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 6 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Truman Lake . The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Ozark Division. Statler earned $4,119 for his victory.

Typically, Statler flips bushes when the water’s up at Truman Lake. He tried that this time around with the water up and didn’t like what he found.

“I started in a couple places that have some grass in the water and caught one on a buzzbait first thing this morning. Then I flipped for five or six hours and didn’t catch a thing,” Statler said.

“I went out to a hump just down the lake with a rock pile on it. It was 10 or 15 feet deep on top. I caught a 4 (pounder) and a 3½, back to back. And then on the end of it I caught a 2½.”

After the quick action offshore, Statler ran around trying to find other similar places.

“The last place I pulled up to is another rock vein I’ve caught them off before,” he said. “My first cast I caught one around 3. That was pretty much all she wrote.”

Five bites was all Statler could get throughout the day, and five bites was all he needed.

He figures he got in a bad rotation on the flipping bite, and that’s why it never panned out. Regardless, adapting to the conditions paid off.

“It happened pretty quick,” he said. “They kicked the current up this afternoon, and those places I was fishing were down around the dam. So all the current they were running was rolling right through there. They just set up on it. It happened to be the right place at the right time, really.”

Statler caught his fish on a buzzbait with a toad trailer and a 1/2-ounce Chompers football jig.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:          Dillon Statler, Galena, Mo., five bass, 16-6, $4,119
2nd:        Anthony Johnson, Excelsior Springs, Mo., five bass, 16-5, $2,059
3rd:        Adam Boehle, Warrenton, Mo., five bass, 15-9, $1,874 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
4th:         David Hughes, Olathe, Kan., five bass, 14-12, $961
5th:         Darin Lankford, Clinton, Mo., five bass, 14-9, $1,389
6th:         Zac Udock, Belton, Mo., five bass, 14-2, $720
6th:         Greg Nicks, Kansas City, Mo., five bass, 14-2, $845
8th:         Doug Henzlik, Overland Park, Kan., five bass, 13-14, $618
9th:         Tom Statler, Kimberling City, Mo., five bass, 13-8, $549
10th:       Ronnie Dobbs, Shell Knob, Mo., five bass, 13-6, $480

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Darin Lankford of Clinton, Missouri, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 1 ounce, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $565.

Jeff Moss of Oronogo, Missouri, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,609 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 15 pounds even.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:           Jeff Moss, Oronogo, Mo., five bass, 15-0, $2,609
2nd:         Jim Kopff, Old Monroe, Mo., five bass, 13-3, $1,030
3rd:         Alex Waisner, Greenwood, Mo., four bass, 11-7, $687
4th:         Craig Rose, Olathe, Kan., five bass, 10-15, $480
5th:         Josh Colley, O’Fallon, Mo., five bass, 10-3, $412
6th:         Kirk Short, St. Clair, Mo., five bass, 10-2, $378
7th:         Koby Murrell, Lebanon, Mo., five bass, 9-14, $343
8th:         Ben Bromley, Odessa, Mo., four bass, 9-4, $309
9th:         Peyton Keathley, Ashland, Mo., three bass, 9-0, $275
10th:       Bryce Atchison, Tonganoxie, Kan., three bass, 8-5, $240

Tyler Neis of Arnold, Missouri, and Vincent Jones of Robertsville, Missouri, tied for the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of by each catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 15 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day. They each took home $141 for their share of the prize.

After four events, Eric Olliverson of Shell Knob, Missouri, leads the Fishing Clash Ozark Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 948 points, while Kirk Short of St. Clair, Missouri, leads the Fishing Clash Ozark Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 980 points.

The next event for BFL Ozark Division anglers will be held Sept. 7-8, at Table Rock Lake in Kimberling City, Missouri. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-5 BFL Regional tournament on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

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


La Crosse’s Fitzpatrick Earns Third Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at the Wolf River Chain

Illinois’ Strepacki Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

WINNECONNE, Wis. (June 17, 2024) – Boater Brian Fitzpatrick of La Crosse, Wisconsin, caught a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 10 ounces Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Wolf River Chain . The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Great Lakes Division. Fitzpatrick earned $4,052 for his victory.

After 30 years of fishing the Wolf River Chain, Fitzpatrick knows plenty of spots to get a bite in a summertime tournament.

“It’s not like I had one area I could just stay in, so I just ran a bunch of different spots that are kind of like one- or two-fish spots,” Fitzpatrick said. “Some had fish, some didn’t. I was just fishing fast, mainly throwing a swim jig and buzz bait.

“A (Yamamoto) Senko was big for me,” he added. “A lot of them weren’t hitting the topwater real good, so I’d get a hit and follow up with a Senko. I think I weighed three with a Senko, and all three of them were off a topwater hit first. It was weird. I’d try throwing the Senko first and wouldn’t get any bites. It almost seemed like they needed that topwater first to get going.”

Fitzpatrick said he fished just about every lake and area on the system except for Winnebago. He fished some grass, rock, wood and even clean-bottom areas within grass.

“I maybe caught 10 keepers,” he added. “It wasn’t fast and furious.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:          Brian Fitzpatrick, La Crosse, Wis., five bass, 16-10, $4,052
2nd:        Jeff Ritter, Prairie du Chien, Wis., five bass, 15-9, $1,921
3rd:         Mike Feldermann, Galena, Ill., five bass, 15-1, $1,201
4th:         Severin Tubbin, Viroqua, Wis., five bass, 14-7, $838
5th:         Parker Kratochvill, Onalaska, Wis., five bass, 14-5, $718
6th:         Joseph Johnson, Maquoketa, Iowa, five bass, 14-0, $659
7th:         Brandon Briscoe, McHenry, Ill., five bass, 13-14, $599
8th:         Mike Brueggen, La Crosse, Wis., five bass, 13-11, $539
9th:         Rick Bosshard, Hartland, Wis., five bass, 13-10, $479
10th:       Chris Aswegan, Tiffin, Iowa, five bass, 13-8, $919 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Fitzpatrick caught a bass that weighed 4 pounds, 6 ounces, and also earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $460.


Luka Strepacki of Naperville, Illinois, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,796 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 12 pounds, 14 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:          Luka Strepacki, Naperville, Ill., five bass, 12-14, $1,796
2nd:        Robert Johnson, Omro, Wis., five bass, 12-4, $898
3rd:        Jason Hull, Belleville, Wis., five bass, 12-2, $598
4th:         Jason Swanson, Waterloo, Iowa, five bass, 12-0, $419
5th:         Matthew Vang, Milwaukee, Wis., five bass, 11-11, $359
6th:         David Ondrla, Elmhurst, Ill., five bass, 11-9, $329
7th:         Chia Xiong, Onalaska, Wis., five bass, 10-15, $299
8th:         Brian Brecka, Alma, Wis., five bass, 10-10, $239
8th:         Dan McAdams, Reedsburg, Wis., five bass, 10-10, $389
8th:         Will Ahnen, Fennimore, Wis., five bass, 10-10, $389

Anthony Gray of Menasha, Wisconsin, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $230, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After three events, Brandon Briscoe of McHenry, Illinois, leads the Fishing Clash Great Lakes Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 709 points, while Jason Olson of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, leads the Fishing Clash Great Lakes Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 728 points.

The next event for BFL Great Lakes Division anglers will be held Aug. 17, at the Mississippi River in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-12 BFL Regional tournament on Mississippi River Pools 13-17 in Quad Cities, Illinois. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

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


Burroughs and Rowland Tie for the Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Clarks Hill Lake

Honea Path’s Henderson Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

APPLING, Ga. (June 17, 2024) – Boaters Jason Burroughs of Hodges, South Carolina, and Hampton Rowland of Appling, Georgia, each caught five-bass limits weighing 21 pounds, 1 ounce, Saturday to tie for the win at the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Clarks Hill Lake . Hosted by Visit Columbia County, Georgia, the tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Savannah River Division. For his share of the win, Burroughs earned $9,741 thanks to the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus. Rowland earned $2,841.

On tournament day, Burroughs and Rowland went in opposite directions, so to speak. Burroughs fished shallow and Rowland stayed out deep.

“I decided to fish shallow and fish for bream eaters,” Burroughs added. “I caught them on a popping frog and a Buckeye buzz bait.”

Burroughs ran a milk run of shallow pockets and caught his fish from shallow grass and bushes. He added one late offshore kicker that boosted him from 19 pounds to his winning weight.

“It really went down early,” Burroughs said. “I had all of them but one by 9 o’clock. I actually caught one out deep late in the day. But everything had already died (up shallow), and I fished one little swing and caught one deep late.”

Rowland’s day worked in reverse.

“I actually didn’t catch my first fish until probably 9:15,” he said. “I messed around trying to catch some schooling fish thinking they were going to school that morning, and they never did.”

He spent the rest of the day cycling as fast as he could through 50 to 60 offshore spots – mostly rocks and humps.

“It’s my home lake, so I’ve got a lot of hours there,” he said. “So I just kind of fished off memory and past. I don’t have time to go like I used to. I just picked up the (3/4-ounce football) jig and went to work. That’s what I love to do.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Jason Burroughs, Hodges, S.C., five bass, 21-1, $9,741 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
1st:        Hampton Rowland, Appling, Ga., five bass, 21-1, $2,841
3rd:       Kyle Brown, Easley, S.C., five bass, 17-2, $1,084
4th:        Eric Allen, Powder Springs, Ga., five bass, 15-10, $760
5th:        Matt O’Connell, Brooks, Ga., five bass, 15-5, $776
6th:        Caleb Hudson, Lincolnton, Ga., five bass, 14-13, $597
7th:        Justin Raines, Easley, S.C., five bass, 14-10, $515
7th:        Brandon Martin, Lula, Ga., five bass, 14-10, $515
9th:        Joe Anders, Easley, S.C., five bass, 14-6, $434
10th:     Hogan Benson, Boiling Springs, S.C., five bass, 14-3, $380

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Rowland caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 8 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $400.

Kevin Henderson of Honea Path, South Carolina, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,603 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 12 pounds, 15 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Kevin Henderson, Honea Path, S.C., five bass, 12-15, $1,603
2nd:       Matthew Johnson, Evans, Ga., five bass, 10-11, $801
3rd:       JD Carter, Honea Path, S.C., two bass, 10-9, $725
4th:        River Huffman, Young Harris, Ga., five bass, 9-14, $374
5th:        Chase Gurkin, Simpsonville, S.C., five bass, 9-2, $321
6th:        William Thomas Cowart, Danielsville, Ga., five bass, 8-14, $294
7th:        Matthew Hamilton, Hoschton, Ga., five bass, 8-10, $267
8th:        Gibson Huntley, Inman, S.C., two bass, 8-8, $240
9th:        Rodney Tapp, Inman, S.C., five bass, 8-1, $314
10th:     Matthew Guffey, Simpsonville, S.C., five bass, 8-0, $187

JD Carter of Honea Path, South Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $192, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 15 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After four events, Joe Anders of Easley, South Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash Savannah River Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 955 points, while Andy Burgess of Greenville, South Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash Savannah River Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 938 points.

The next event for BFL Savannah River Division anglers will be held Aug. 17-18, at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-5 BFL Regional tournament on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

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


China Grove’s Smith Works Offshore for Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at High Rock Lake

Arlington, Virginia’s Grant Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

LEXINGTON, N.C. (June 17, 2024) – Boater Ronnie Smith of China Grove, North Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 5 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on High Rock Lake. The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL North Carolina Division. Smith earned $3,838 for his victory.

“I’ve been catching them pretty good for about three weeks out deep,” Smith said. “I fished deep today (Saturday). I caught them on a big worm and a jig in about 18 feet of water. They were set up on stumps, brush, high places in the mid-lake.”

Smith says a tip from a buddy led to his starting the day out in deep water, even though he’d been fishing shallow water in the mornings leading up to the tournament. After losing his first fish, he quickly landed three quality bass, including a 6-pound, 15-ounce kicker that earned him the Berkley Big Bass award on the boater side.

With those three in the box, Smith ran to another creek and caught a 5-pounder, then moved again and landed several more quality fish to solidify his limit early.

“They bit good this morning,” said Smith, who has decades of experience on High Rock.

“That’s the key,” he said of his experience. “I’ve fished that lake for about 40 years. Over 40 years. Fifty years, probably. So I’ve got a lot of seat time down there. And the fish aren’t everywhere. They’re just in certain areas.”

His key baits were a 3/4-ounce football-head jig and a 10-inch Zoom Ol’ Monster Worm.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Ronnie Smith, China Grove, N.C., five bass, 20-5, $3,838
2nd:       Ron Wolfarth, Oakboro, N.C., five bass, 18-11, $1,709
3rd:       Mike Kiser, Linwood, N.C., five bass, 18-3, $1,138
4th:        David Bright, Mooresville, N.C., five bass, 17-11, $923
5th:        Adam Flora, Red House, W.Va., five bass, 16-14, $684
6th:        David Wright, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 16-12, $1,127 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
7th:        Jason Thomas, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 15-13, $570
8th:        Scott Hamrick, Denver, N.C., five bass, 14-8, $513
9th:        Landon Whicker, Winston-Salem, N.C., five bass, 13-13, $756
10th:     Chad Sims, Lancaster, S.C., four bass, 13-8, $399

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Smith caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $420.

David Grant of Arlington, Virginia, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,709 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 16 pounds, 10 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        David Grant, Arlington, Va., five bass, 16-10, $1,709
2nd:       Greg Mauldin, Archdale, N.C., five bass, 15-0, $855
3rd:       David Deciucis, Chester, Va., five bass, 14-4, $570
4th:        Jean Lacerte, Elm City, N.C., five bass, 9-12, $399
5th:        Alex Moss, Lambsburg, Va., three bass, 8-6, $442
6th:        Chip Crews, Trinity, N.C., two bass, 8-3, $313
7th:        Dustan Hudson, Grover, N.C., four bass, 7-12, $285
8th:        Joel Cerv, North Wilkesboro, N.C., two bass, 7-1, $256
9th:        Andy Kearns, Trinity, N.C., four bass, 6-15, $228
10th:     Jason Hinger, Timberlake, N.C., four bass, 6-13, $349

Richard Young of Rutherfordton, N.C., earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $210, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 14 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After four events, Scott Hamrick of Denver, North Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash North Carolina Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 953 points, while Hunter Alexander of China Grove, North Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash North Carolina Co-Angler of the Year race with 963 points.

The next event for BFL North Carolina Division anglers will be held Sept. 28-29, at Lake Norman in Mooresville, North Carolina. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-12 BFL Regional tournament on Santee Cooper Lakes in Clarendon County, South Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON 1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

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


Munson Flips for the Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on the Ohio River at Tanners Creek

Boater winner Braxton Munson of Anderson, Indiana, and Strike-King co-angler winner Rod Yoder of Lafayette, Indiana.
West Lafayette’s Yoder Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. (June 17, 2024) – Boater Braxton Munson of Anderson, Indiana, caught a five-bass limit weighing 10 pounds, 14 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Ohio River-Tanners Creek. The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Hoosier Division. Munson earned $4,684 for his victory.

Sometimes tournament practice reveals a hot bite or a key area. For Munson, it didn’t exactly work out that way. Instead, he figured out where not to fish in practice, then uncovered the winning pattern during competition.

“Basically, in practice I fished the main lake (river) and went down and fished a few creeks and never really figured anything out,” he said. “I didn’t catch a single keeper. So fast-forward to tournament day, I decided to stick to Tanners Creek and basically just fished in there. I was just trying to get five bites. I wasn’t really on anything at all.”

Keeping it simple and staying close to takeoff paid off despite needing to fish within a crowd.

“I kept my head down,” Munson said. “I flipped a creature bait just like everybody else and just got the right five.”

Munson’s primary targets were wood, including stumps and laydowns. He flipped a Reaction Innovations Smallie Beaver to catch six keepers throughout the day.

Reflecting on his win, Munson pointed to his thoroughness as a key to success.

“Just picking everything apart and not getting in a hurry. That’s my biggest key,” he said. “Sometimes you’re not getting a bite so you think you’ve got to move, but really they’re right there and you’ve just got to make them bite.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Braxton Munson, Anderson, Ind., five bass, 10-14, $4,684
2nd:       Eric Moore, Hamilton, Ohio, five bass, 8-9, $2,059
3rd:       Clay Ennis, Ludow, Ky., four bass, 8-4, $1,374
4th:        Chris Myers, Madison, Ind., five bass, 7-14, $1,192
4th:        Rob Flowers, West Harrison, Ind., five bass, 7-14, $892
6th:        Jordan Nauert, Fillmore, Ind., five bass, 7-8, $1,255 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
7th:        Chris Malas, Cincinnati, Ohio, five bass, 7-5, $652
7th:        Joseph House, Terre Haute, Ind., five bass, 7-5, $652
9th:        Jamil Abdullah, Indianapolis, Ind., five bass, 7-4, $549
10th:     Chris Wilkinson, Farmersburg, Ind., five bass, 7-1, $480

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Munson caught a bass that weighed 3 pounds, 15 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $565.

Rod Yoder of West Lafayette, Indiana, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,005 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 8 pounds, 4 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Rod Yoder, West Lafayette, Ind., five bass, 9-8, $2,005
2nd:       Dustin Cronenwett, Dayton, Ohio, five bass, 8-4, $1,102
3rd:       Gary Baker, Vallonia, Ind., four bass, 7-8, $668
4th:        Jeremy Aslinger, Richmond, Ind., five bass, 7-7, $468
5th:        Travis Lakes, Miamisburg, Ohio, five bass, 6-1, $551
6th:        Rob Campbell, Martinsville, Ind., five bass, 5-13, $368
7th:        Mark Goodridge, Burlington, Ky., three bass, 5-7, $334
8th:        Mark Bouchie, Evansville, Ind., five bass, 5-3, $301
9th:        Danny Robinson, Fairland, Ind., four bass, 4-15, $267
10th:     Paul Eckert, Jasper, Ind., three bass, 4-12, $234

Tanner McCartney of Tipton, Indiana, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $275, catching a bass that weighed in at 3 pounds, 15 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After three events, Braxton Munson of Anderson, Indiana, leads the Fishing Clash Hoosier Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 711 points, while Paul Eckert of Jasper, Indiana, leads the Fishing Clash Hoosier Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 731 points.

The next event for BFL Hoosier Division anglers will be held July 27, at Lake Monroe in Bloomington, Indiana. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-12 BFL Regional tournament on the Mississippi River Pools 13-17 in Quad Cities, Illinois. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

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


Clarksville’s Timms Gets Career Win No. 2 at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Old Hickory Lake

Rickman’s Burgess Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

GALLATIN, Tenn. (June 17, 2024) – Boater Robert Timms of Clarksville, Tennessee, caught a five-bass limit weighing 14 pounds, 11 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Old Hickory Lake. Hosted by Sumner County Tourism, the tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Music City Division. Timms earned $3,526 for his victory.

For Timms, it was a last-minute decision to enter the tournament. And even though he’s a recent transplant to Tennessee from Connecticut, he had some good background to go on during the tournament.

“I got into the tournament like three days ago,” he said on Saturday. “I signed up just to do something on the weekend. I never even practiced, which probably helped me for once.

“I fished a benefit tournament two weeks ago and took second place,” Timms added. “I went to that same spot (that he fished in the benefit tournament) and it was loaded. They were there.”

The key spot was a point in the back of a creek arm.

“There was some milfoil that sits off the point in 4 to 5 feet of water,” he said. “It drops off to 8 to 10 feet. I could see on my (Lowrance) ActiveTarget that the fish were moving in and out, and there’s a lot of bait in the area. They were feeding on the bait. I started throwing a ChatterBait up on the point and bringing it out, and those fish were coming up and just crushing it.”

While Timms could see fish on his ActiveTarget unit, he was primarily fan-casting across the point instead of casting to specific fish. He caught his limit using a white and chartreuse Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer with a 4-inch Keitech Easy Shiner trailer in the sexy shad color.

Timms was pretty well done by about 10 a.m. – his winning weight anchored by a 5-pound, 9-ounce fish that earned the Berkley Big Bass award among boaters.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Robert Timms, Clarksville, Tenn., five bass, 14-11, $3,526
2nd:       Jacob Hudson, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 14-3, $1,578
3rd:       Michael Stout, Gallatin, Tenn., five bass, 12-12, $894
3rd:       Nathan Reynolds, Nashville, Tenn., five bass, 12-12, $894
5th:        Terry Steele, Sparta, Tenn., five bass, 12-9, $605
5th:        Cody Mackie, McMinnville, Tenn., five bass, 12-9, $605
7th:        Matt Underhill, Lascassas, Tenn., five bass, 12-3, $999 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
7th:        Jason Dies, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 12-3, $499
9th:        Brady Duncan, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 12-2, $421
10th:     Brent Sain, Manchester, Tenn., five bass, 12-0, $368

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Timms caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 9 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $370.

Parker Burgess of Rickman, Tennessee, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,535 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 10 pounds, 15 ounces.

The top 11 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Parker Burgess, Rickman, Tenn., five bass, 10-15, $1,535
2nd:       Gary Haraguchi, Murfreesboro, Tenn., five bass, 9-5, $768
3rd:       Douglas Gibbons, Dunlap, Tenn., two bass, 9-0, $513
4th:        Taylor McMullen, Oxford, Ga., five bass, 8-2, $332
4th:        Jason Barr, Fort Campbell, Ky., four bass, 8-2, $432
6th:        Trenton Webb, Goodlettsville, Tenn., five bass, 7-9, $281
7th:        Jenn Nolan, Hitchcock, Tenn., four bass, 7-6, $256
8th:        Daniel Nolen, Lexington, N.C., four bass, 7-5, $230
9th:        Wayne Crouch, Jamestown, Tenn., three bass, 7-2, $181
9th:        Teddy Baggett, Nashville, Tenn., three bass, 7-2, $181
9th:        Barry McEntire, Lebanon, Tenn., two bass, 7-2, $361

Barry McEntire of Lebanon, Tennessee, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $180, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 14 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

Music City Division anglers competed again on Old Hickory Lake on Sunday in an event that was originally scheduled for May 11 on Center Hill Lake but had to be cancelled due to high water. Sunday’s tournament was the division’s fourth event this season. Jacob Woods of Loudon, Tennessee, now leads the Fishing Clash Music City Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 971 points, while Wayne Crouch of Jamestown, Tennessee, leads the Fishing Clash Music City Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 975 points.

The next event for BFL Music City Division anglers will be held Sept. 7-8, at Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 17-19 BFL Regional tournament on Clarks Hill Lake in Appling, Georgia. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

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


Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners Tournament Celebrates Success at Pickwick Lake

 

David Mullis Takes Home $50,000 Grand Prize Amidst Tough Competition and Challenging Weather on Historic Pickwick Lake.

RACINE, Wis. (June 17, 2024) – The Second Annual Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners Tournament, held at Pickwick Landing State Park May 30 to June 1, 2024, attracted over 700 anglers from 27 different states and distributed over $180,000 in cash and prizes. The tournament, set against the backdrop of Tennessee's historic Pickwick Lake, showcased three days of intense competition, culminating in outstanding performances and memorable catches. Minn Kota and Humminbird partnered with Trifecta Fishing (Big Bass Tour) to manage the tournament, marketing and event execution. Trifecta operates one of the largest big bass tournament organizations in the country and has been in business since 2010.

The event kicked off with registration day on May 29, featuring a Clean Earth Challenge trash clean-up event in collaboration with Johnson Outdoors (parent company of Minn Kota and Humminbird) and the Tennessee Bass Nation. The local fishing team from Scotts Hill High participated in the Clean Earth Challenge, a global cleanup initiative launched in 2022 by Johnson Outdoors and the National Wildlife Federation, collecting over 2000 pieces of litter weighing over 200 pounds. Since its inception in 2022, the initiative has removed over 7 million pieces of trash from natural spaces worldwide.

Tournament competitors vied for hourly prizes, with seven weigh-ins each day, awarding cash to the top ten anglers for the biggest catch every hour. The grand prize of $50,000 was awarded to Tennessee angler David Mullis, weighing in a 7.12-pound largemouth bass during the first weigh-in hour on the final day. The top five overall winners also received Minn Kota and Humminbird products including all-new Ultrex QUEST Trolling Motors and APEX 13 Fish Finders.

How Mullis Made It Happen
Despite 20 mph winds and torrential downpours on Pickwick, Mullis and his dog “Scout” set out just after the official start time on Saturday and got set up on some structure that produced a quality bass for him back in 2023. He fished from his Scout Sportfish 185 Center Console boat, got in position with the Minn Kota Terrova Trolling Motor using Spot-Lock®, and started fishing.

“I had formulated a game plan based on last year and thought that first thing was my best chance to catch a big one. I got to the ‘structure’ and on my first cast I felt one bite, but I missed it,” Mullis said. “On the very next cast, I got bit again and set into what I initially thought was a catfish.”

After what felt like an eternity, the Tennessee angler finally got eyes on the lunker bass and the adrenaline rush began. With the Minn Kota locked in place, he had the spinning rod in one hand and the net in the other while the bass took him all around the boat. It was soon over with the fish in the boat and the celebration with his dog began.

“I knew it was a money fish, but I had no idea it was even a bass at first; my dog was barking and I was shaking,” he added. “It was definitely one of those forever memorable moments. I was in a bay boat, competing against hundreds of other anglers in bass boats, and through my experience and planning, I was able to make it happen. I had no idea it was that big.”

With the fish safely in the livewell just before 6:00 am, Mullis had some time to enjoy the moment and spent his efforts on making sure the fish was well kept until the scales opened at 7:00 am. After weighing his fish over 7 pounds, the weight master told him it was the biggest fish thus far, but he was shocked that it actually held up.

“I cannot believe with all the anglers in the field that I would end up winning, but that is one of the reasons I love the Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners Tournament. With the flexibility of these events, anyone at any age, with any boat or any skill level, has a shot - I love it. If you get into a school, you could weigh in every hour and earn prizes. Or you can hunt for one fish the entire time like I did. There are plenty of good incentives just for signing up including an Abu Garcia fishing rod for being one of the first, and the swag bag at registration. It was another fun event.”

In addition to utilizing Spot-Lock®, Mullis gained confidence in locating structure and fish by studying available maps on his electronics and his phone. The One-Boat Network App revealed several key areas where he was able to mark pins and visit when he got to the water.

“I've noticed that each of the lake maps on the market will usually reveal something, but Humminbird Lakemaster is the most current, up-to-date mapping available to anglers, and it helped me locate structure and those really defined, detailed edges. I had a ton of confidence in the area I was fishing,” he concluded.

With over $30,000 in draw prizes awarded to randomly selected anglers and more than 210 hourly payouts, the tournament provided amateur anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to participate and win.

Overall Winning Weights:
First Place: 7.12
Second Place: 6.96
Third Place: 6.76
Fourth Place: 6.67
Fifth Place: 6.51

“We extend our gratitude to all the anglers who participated in this year’s annual Owners Tournament,” said Brad Henry, Sr. Brand Manager. “Your passion, dedication, and genuine love for the sport and our Minn Kota and Humminbird brands have truly made this event the best one yet.  We are already looking forward to next year, where we will continue to raise awareness for our sport and strengthen our incredible fishing community.”

The success of the Second Annual Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners Tournament underscores the enduring popularity and competitive spirit of the event, setting a high bar for future tournaments and further solidifying the legacy of Minn Kota and Humminbird in the angling community.

For more information about the tournament results, visit minnkotaowners.com.

To learn more about Minn Kota, visit minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us.
To learn more about Humminbird, visit humminbird.johnsonoutdoors.com/us.

  -30-

About Johnson Outdoors
JOHNSON OUTDOORS FISHING is comprised of the Humminbird®, Minn Kota® and Cannon® brands. Humminbird is a leading global innovator and manufacturer of marine electronics products including fish finders, multifunction displays, autopilots, ice flashers, and premium cartography products. Minn Kota is the world’s leading manufacturer of electric trolling motors, as well as a complete line of shallow water anchors, battery chargers and marine accessories. Cannon is the leader in controlled-depth fishing and includes a full line of downrigger products and accessories.

JOHNSON OUTDOORS is a leading global outdoor recreation company that inspires more people to experience the awe of the great outdoors with innovative, top-quality products. The company designs, manufactures and markets a portfolio of winning, consumer-preferred brands across four categories: Watercraft, Fishing, Diving and Camping.

Visit Johnson Outdoors at www.johnsonoutdoors.com

Media Contacts:
Ben Anderson: (612) 655-1122 or bena@gunpowderinc.com
Justin Brouillard: (802) 342-2078 or justinb@gunpowderinc.com

 


Alabama Pro Jacob Walker Declared Winner at Weather-Shortened Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 5 at Lake Champlain

Inclement Weather Forces MLF to Cancel Day 3, Walker Earns Victory and $80,000 Top Prize

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (June 17, 2024) – It wasn’t a total shock when the final day of Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 5 Presented by 7 Brew on Lake Champlain was called off Monday morning. With a lot of wind at takeoff and more in the forecast, it was setting up to be a pretty rough day on the lake. With a 2-pound margin on his competition, Springville, Alabama pro Jacob Walker  hoisted the trophy in the parking lot at the Plattsburgh City Marina around 8 o’clock Monday morning, while gulls wheeled overhead and most folks were clocking in or starting their morning coffee.

With a two-day total of 42 pounds, 5 ounces, Walker caught over 21 pounds each day of the event to win handily. In second, pro Nick Hatfield of Greeneville, Tennessee, had 40-5, and local favorite Alec Morrison of Peru, New York, weighed 40-4 for third. For the win, which is his first with MLF, Walker pocketed $80,000 and locked up a trip to REDCREST 2025 next year in his home state of Alabama.

Well-schooled with a jig and a minnow, Walker was a first-timer to Champlain, but he was in his element as far as the fishing goes. Perhaps the biggest thing that set him apart this week was his location. Walker fished in the Alburg Passage and could pick and choose what he caught with little competition.

“The first day of practice, I wanted to try to find some spawners to get an idea of what stage the fish were in,” he said. “I was running through the Alburg Pass, and the wind was blowing, and it was a little calmer in there.

“I pulled over and I cruised down the bank for 15 minutes and saw probably 30 empty beds. I had a feeling that those fish had probably spawned before we got there – I knew they couldn’t be far. I was on the phone with my buddy Mark [Condron], told him I saw some beds, and I was on the phone and I trolled out there, off the flat into that channel. As I trolled out, I saw a smallmouth sitting on that break – made a cast, and it was a 3½-pounder. I could tell by how she acted, there had to be a lot of them around, to be so aggressive and eat so easily.”

Walker could have cranked his Mercury to leave. Instead, he trolled and looked at the screen. The rest is history.

“I cruised around for a second, saw another, caught it, and it was a 3-15,” he said. “They were both fat, so I knew there had to be some bait around. I put my rod down, trolled around for a second and saw some bait and some groups in the bait and I left. I was in there no more than 10 minutes.”

After re-checking the area on the final day of practice, Walker was feeling pretty good.

“I knew it was a safe bet I could catch five in there and probably guarantee myself a check,” Walker said. “I had no clue it would be like that. I had no clue that bigger-than-average fish would be in there. Now it makes sense now that I’ve spent so much time in there – if I wanted to, I could catch over 100 fish per day.”

Throwing a 5- or 6-inch Deps Sakamata Shad in the sliver shiner color on mostly a 3/16-ounce Owner Range Roller head, Walker whooped up on the bass every day he went fishing.

“It’s identical to the alewives, and it looks like the smelt,” said Walker of his bait. “I could have gone through 100 of them a day if I wanted to. I caught an alewife yesterday [that] I showed the camera man. It’s incredible how similar it really is – it’s identical.”

Using 16-pound-test mainline and a 10-pound-test fluoro leader, Walker went with a G. Loomis GLX 863 rod, which he thought was the perfect rod for the task.

“It’s a medium-heavy, but it’s extremely parabolic,” he said. “So, I have the backbone to carry that big bait, make a good cast with it and pin the fish. But it’s very parabolic, so I don’t lose them. If you see in pictures, a lot of that rod is bending, but it’s still strong enough to where I can pin them and put a hook in them, especially those real big ones.”

As far as catching the fish, Walker had his boat in 20 to 35 feet most of the time but caught fish throughout the water column. A big part of his success was making very precise presentations, and sometimes trying to wait for bigger fish to show themselves or become available.

“I run my (Garmin) LiveScope at 80 feet because I can really see a fish and really decipher where the fish is,” Walker explained. “It’s a big deal with how you present a bait. A lot of times, I think if your bait is too close to them, and you come over their backs, it spooks them. The real big ones, the smart ones, if you spook them, you might catch some but a lot of times they’ll spin around and they’ll look at it but they know it’s not natural.

“How many times does a bologna sandwich hit you in the face? It never happens. Most of the time, I try to present my bait first, very high, and get an initial reaction to get them to come up and eat it. If it’s too high, and they don’t see it, I’ll make a cast closer to them, but maybe 5 or 10 feet to their left or right. I’m very patient – I don’t just see a fish and bomb on it.”

To hear him tell it, Walker could have been burning through 100 bass a day, but he took a more considered approach.

“At some point, I had to stop,” he said. “I would sit on a group of fish and wait until I knew I could get a good cast on a 4-pounder. When my trolling motor was in the water, very rarely was I not looking at fish. I had to really be patient and understand that if there’s a group, there’s a big one in there, and I had to watch them and try to pick them out.”

With the wind whipping at takeoff and a trophy in hand, Walker was adamant that he wanted to win it all the way.

“It’s a big move; it’s a very big deal,” he said. “It’s not real yet. When I get back home to reality it’ll probably set in. It’ll set in eventually, but I just want to go do it again. I love bass fishing.”

The top 30 pros at the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 5 on Lake Champlain Presented by 7 Brew finished:

1st:        Jacob Walker, Springville, Ala., 10 bass, 42-5, $115,000
2nd:       Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., 10 bass, 40-5, $50,000
3rd:       Alec Morrison, Peru, N.Y., 10 bass, 40-4, $20,000
4th:        Kurt Mitchell, Milford, Del., 10 bass, 39-1, $18,000
5th:        Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 10 bass, 38-11, $17,000
6th:        Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 10 bass, 38-11, $16,000
7th:        Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 10 bass, 38-2, $15,000
8th:        Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 38-1, $14,000
9th:        Hunter Eubanks, Landrum, S.C., 10 bass, 37-14, $13,000
10th:     Jake Lawrence, Buchanan, Tenn., 10 bass, 37-12, $12,000
11th:     Troy Stokes, Trenton, Mich., 10 bass, 37-11, $10,000
12th:     Brett Carnright, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 bass, 37-10, $10,000
13th:     Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 10 bass, 37-7, $10,000
14th:     Erik Luzak, Fenelon Falls, Ontario, Canada, 10 bass, 37-6, $10,000
15th:     Jaden Parrish, Liberty, Texas, 10 bass, 37-5, $10,000
16th:     Colby Dark, West Monroe, La., 10 bass, 37-0, $10,000
17th:     Britt Myers, Jr., Lake Wylie, S.C., 10 bass, 37-0, $10,000
18th:     Chad Mrazek, Montgomery, Texas, 10 bass, 36-15, $10,000
19th:     Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas, 10 bass, 36-15, $10,000
20th:     Mitchell Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 10 bass, 36-14, $10,000
21st:      Flint Davis, Leesburg, Ga., 10 bass, 36-12, $10,000
22nd:    Bryan Labelle, Hinesburg, Vt., 10 bass, 36-10, $10,000
23rd:     Evan Barnes, Dardanelle, Ark., 10 bass, 36-9, $10,000
24th:     Ken Thompson, Roaring Springs, Pa., 10 bass, 36-9, $10,000
25th:     Cole Breeden, Lebanon, Mo., 10 bass, 36-9, $10,000
26th:     Spike Stoker, Cisco, Texas, 10 bass, 36-9, $10,000
27th:     Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 10 bass, 36-7, $10,000
28th:     Ryan Latinville, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 bass, 36-6, $10,000
29th:     Jason Reyes, Huffman, Texas, 10 bass, 36-5, $10,000
30th:     Jordan Wiggins, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 36-4, $10,000

Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The three-day tournament, hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau, featured a roster of 150 anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000. The final Tackle Warehouse Invitational event of the 2024 season will take place next month, July 26-28 at the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 6 Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches on the Detroit River in Trenton, Michigan .

In Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Saturday and Sunday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 30 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, advanced to the final round on Championship Monday. The winner of the weather-shortened Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 5 at Lake Champlain Presented by 7 Brew was be determined by the heaviest two-day cumulative weight and now receives an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2025 on Lake Guntersville in Huntsville, Alabama.

Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 5 at Lake Champlain Presented by 7 Brew will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 2 on CBS Sports Network.

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

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Tackle Warehouse Invitational 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 Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.


Walker Adds to Lead at Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 5 at Lake Champlain

Alabama pro brings 2-pound lead into Monday’s final day of competition

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (June 16, 2024) – Through two days, pro Jacob Walker of Springville, Alabama, has been in command on Lake Champlain. Sacking up over 21 pounds on Day 1 and 21-1 on Day 2 for a 42-5 total, the first-year Invitationals pro is handily leading Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 5 Presented by 7 Brew Coffee.

Leading the way with LiveScope and smallmouth bass, Walker has an impressive cast in pursuit. Also ‘Scoping for smallmouth, pro Nick Hatfield of Greeneville, Tennessee, and local favorite Alec Morrison of Peru, New York, are both over the 40-pound mark and on his heels. In fourth with 39-1, Milford, Delaware’s Kurt Mitchell is relying on largemouth from docks and rocks, and there are some other notable largemouth anglers in the hunt as well (plus the usual cadre of folks looking at screens). Day 2 on Champlain did put one pattern pretty much to bed – it looks like the smallmouth spawn is about wrapped up.

Only the top 30 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, now advance to Championship Monday. The three-day tournament, hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau, featured a roster of 150 anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2025.

Over the last few years, with the development of the open water bite on Champlain, fishing with company has become more common than ever before on the big lake. It makes sense – you can see a long way, and smallmouth are not sneaky about being hooked. But it might make finding something new – or an untapped area – all the more valuable. This week, Walker has been able to fish in relative peace and quiet, and he seems to have a lot of fish at his disposal.

“It was a little slower start than I expected,” said Walker, who works for a tackle shop in Alabama. “I wasn’t nervous, I was just excited. I was kind of rushing myself, I think. I lost a couple. On one particular rod, I had the drag at a certain point, and then I changed it last night – I think that’s why I was losing them. It was too loose, and they were eating it, and I would swing on them and it would peel. I tightened the drag down and hit ‘em with it hard, I lost a few more, but I caught a lot more.

“I don’t know at what point I had 20 (pounds), I feel like it was probably pretty early, 10 o’clock or so,” he added. “Today was a game of numbers, I swung on a lot more today, to try to catch as much as I could – I caught at least 60 today. The last place I found, I caught at least 25, and they were all over 3 pounds. But, I was trying to catch one over 4, to make a big difference, and I did, eventually.”

Fishing a few areas in a couple of miles of water, Walker isn’t doing anything groundbreaking from a technique standpoint. But, he’s doing it well, and he’s on the cusp of a huge win.

“I still don’t feel like I’m leading,” he said. “It’s really hard to get excited when I catch one, because they’re all pretty close, and I can’t really tell how big they are. If I knew it was a 4½ (pounder), I’d probably be screaming. I’m not anxious or nervous or anything like that, but I still have to catch them. They’re going to catch them even if I don’t – the job’s not done, so I’m not fired up yet.”

Walker has finished runner-up in a Bassmaster Open on Lay Lake – his home fishery – and he’s had a lot of success this season, including some close calls along the way. Now, he’s a day away from his first high-level W.

“Not that I doubt myself, or that anyone doubts me, but it’d prove it – to myself and everybody,” he said. “It would be a big deal for sure, but, I don’t know what’d it’d mean – I hope I can tell you tomorrow.”

The top 30 pros now advancing to the final day of competition on Lake Champlain are:

1st:        Jacob Walker, Springville, Ala., 10 bass, 42-5
2nd:       Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., 10 bass, 40-5
3rd:       Alec Morrison, Peru, N.Y., 10 bass, 40-4
4th:        Kurt Mitchell, Milford, Del., 10 bass, 39-1
5th:        Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 10 bass, 38-11
6th:        Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 10 bass, 38-11
7th:        Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 10 bass, 38-2
8th:        Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 38-1
9th:        Hunter Eubanks, Landrum, S.C., 10 bass, 37-14
10th:     Jake Lawrence, Buchanan, Tenn., 10 bass, 37-12
11th:     Troy Stokes, Trenton, Mich., 10 bass, 37-11
12th:     Brett Carnright, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 bass, 37-10
13th:     Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 10 bass, 37-7
14th:     Erik Luzak, Fenelon Falls, Ontario, Canada, 10 bass, 37-6
15th:     Jaden Parrish, Liberty, Texas, 10 bass, 37-5
16th:     Colby Dark, West Monroe, La., 10 bass, 37-0
17th:     Britt Myers, Jr., Lake Wylie, S.C., 10 bass, 37-0
18th:     Chad Mrazek, Montgomery, Texas, 10 bass, 36-15
19th:     Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas, 10 bass, 36-15
20th:     Mitchell Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 10 bass, 36-14
21st:      Flint Davis, Leesburg, Ga., 10 bass, 36-12
22nd:    Bryan Labelle, Hinesburg, Vt., 10 bass, 36-10
23rd:     Evan Barnes, Dardanelle, Ark., 10 bass, 36-9
24th:     Ken Thompson, Roaring Springs, Pa., 10 bass, 36-9
25th:     Cole Breeden, Lebanon, Mo., 10 bass, 36-9
26th:     Spike Stoker, Cisco, Texas, 10 bass, 36-9
27th:     Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 10 bass, 36-7
28th:     Ryan Latinville, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 10 bass, 36-6
29th:     Jason Reyes, Huffman, Texas, 10 bass, 36-5
30th:     Jordan Wiggins, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 36-4

Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Pro Taylor Parker of Lake View, Alabama, was the recipient of Sunday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award, as he brought a bass to the scale that weighed in at 6 pounds, 3 ounces to earn the prize.

Overall, there were 625 bass weighing 2,047 pounds, 1 ounce caught by 127 pros Sunday. The catch included 124 five-bass limits.

In Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Saturday and Sunday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 30 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, advance to the final round on Championship Monday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $115,000. The winner of the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 5 at Lake Champlain Presented by 7 Brew will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight and will receive an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2025 on Lake Guntersville in Huntsville, Alabama.

The final 30 anglers will launch at 6:30 a.m. ET Monday from the Plattsburgh City Marina, located at 5 Dock St. in Plattsburgh. Monday’s Championship weigh-in will also be held at the marina 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 MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live on Championship Monday from 7 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) and Rumble apps.

Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 5 at Lake Champlain Presented by 7 Brew will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 2 on CBS Sports Network.

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

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Tackle Warehouse Invitational 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 Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.


Florida flair helps Prince win his first Bassmaster Elite Series trophy at Wheeler Lake

June 16, 2024

Florida flair helps Prince win his first Bassmaster Elite Series trophy at Wheeler Lake

 

Wak01JwQ.pngDECATUR, Ala. — Cliff Prince has suffered several difficult defeats in his 12-year career on the Bassmaster Elite Series, but this week he made sure he wasn’t going to beat himself.

By catching 15 pounds, 2 ounces on Championship Sunday, Prince collected his first Elite Series victory at the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Wheeler Lake with a four-day total of 80-15. He survived a hard charge from Ray Hanselman Jr. on the final day to hoist the blue trophy and earn a $100,000 payday.

“I’ve been close several times and I let it slip through my fingers,” Prince said. “I told myself, ‘I’m not going to beat myself this week. If I’m going to get beat, it is going to be by somebody else, not me.’ I think I did that. I accomplished what I set out to do once I saw that I had a chance to win.”

Throughout his career, Prince admittedly does not have a great track record on the Tennessee River, including a 105th-place finish on this particular lake when the Elites last visited in 2016. With that in mind, Prince wanted to come into this event with a clean slate and did not study for Wheeler before arriving.

“I was hoping to survive,” Prince said. “I know how to ledge fish, and this time of year I do well at home. But this is way different than at home. I don’t have all the secret hidey holes.

“To beat these guys outside of your own state that means you got it done.”

All week, Prince maximized one main-lake sweet spot on the Decatur Flats. That spot featured two prominent hard spots surrounded by submergent grass. While a 4-pound smallmouth on Day 1 came specifically out of the grass, the rest of his bites came from those hard spots.

To get to those bass, Prince needed to incorporate his Florida flair. He tossed a white/chartreuse Z-Man Evergreen JackHammer with a snow storm-colored Bass Assassin Little Boss trailer and reeled it slowly through the grass and over the hard spots.

His casting setup was a 7-foot-3 medium Fitzgerald baitcasting rod, a 7:4 gear ratio Shimano reel and 17-pound Seagaur Tatsu fluorocarbon.

“That’s kind of what we do at home. It was right up my alley,” he said. “The slower you could fish it the better. If you could keep it on the bottom with a slight wobble, that is when they would eat it. Sometimes they would eat it on the fall for whatever reason. If you threw it and started cranking, they would not eat it. You had to let it hit the bottom.”

He also mixed in a 7-inch green pumpkin Bass Assassin Tapout worm on a 1/8-ounce Texas Rig from time to time, landing several key bass with it. He fished that bait on a 6-10 Fitzgerald medium-heavy spinning rod with 20-pound Seaguar Smackdown braid and a 15-pound Tatsu fluorocarbon leader.

The first three days, Prince caught early limits of 19-4, 20-7 and then a remarkable 26-2, which stood as the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament. Championship Sunday was no different, as Prince landed his biggest bass of Day 4, a 4-pounder, just seven minutes after leaving takeoff at Ingalls Harbor at 6 a.m.

He filled his limit at 6:32 a.m. and 20 minutes later, he capitalized on another flurry and culled twice. Prince added a 2 1/2-pounder close to 8:30, but the following hours were agonizing, as he did not hook another bass before 2 p.m.

“Obviously they didn’t bite as well as they did the days before,” he said. “For whatever reason they didn’t bite when the wind was blowing. It blew pretty much all day. Yesterday when I really crushed them, it was slick calm.”

The wait was well worth it, as the “Prince of Palatka” landed a 4-pounder as his family watched from a pontoon boat.

“That fish was obviously a pound upgrade, and a pound in this tournament is a lot,” Prince said. “They were all whooping and hollering. That bass right there, I went from 13 1/2 to 15.”

Catching bags of 15-8, 17-12 and 20-7 the first three days and entering the final day with a 12-pound deficit, Hanselman made a heroic comeback in the final round by landing 23-5 Sunday.

During the first hour of the day, the veteran pro from Del Rio, Texas, landed two bass over 5 pounds and filled his limit by 7 a.m. A half hour later, he caught another 5-pounder and added several more key bass by 9:30 a.m. to secure his best finish as an Elite Series angler.

“I had a feeling they were going to be there,” Hanselman said. “I just started out catching them. I wanted them to get going fast and furious with a moving bait like a big squarebill, but the first one that nipped it, I reeled it in reel fast and picked up a worm and hammered on them.”

Most of Hanselman’s bass were caught off a shellbar he stumbled on during Day 1 as he was targeting isolated stumps. He started on that spot the final three days of the tournament, catching numerous quality bass using several 6th Sense presentations including a Crush 50X squarebill, a prototype crankbait, a 6th Sense Flock Hair Jig and a 6th Sense Boosa ribbontail worm on a 3/8-ounce Texas rig.

“I was radio silent all week. No forward-facing sonar, just my map and a big worm,” Hanselman said.

As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Hanselman earned an additional $4,000.

With bags of 22-2, 12-11, 17-12 and 17-15, Florida’s John Cox finished third with a total of 70-8. It is the first Top 10 of the season for an angler known for always plying the shallows. He also earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program.

“We made the most of it,” he said. “I was super fortunate with the weather and how the bass were really holding tight to the milfoil. It helped tremendously. I don’t know how it would have played out if the weather would have been different.”

Cox spent most of his tournament inside a backwater pond on Wheeler Lake that featured a big milfoil mat. A shad-colored Berkley Swamp Lord frog was his weapon of choice.

“I couldn’t move the trolling motor because it seemed like anytime I did, it seemed to throw the whole area off,” he explained. “I would just drift in and Power Pole down.”

Prince and Louisiana pro Greg Hackney tied for Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors after both anglers landed 7-9 largemouth, Hackney on Day 1 and Prince on Day 3. Prince also earned a $3,000 bonus for being the highest-finishing angler in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program.

Hawaiian pro Matty Wong earned the $1,000 BassTrakk contingency prize for accurate reporting during the first two days of the tournament.

Carbondale, Ill., rookie Trey McKinney continues to lead the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 560 points. Alabama’s Justin Hamner is second with 501 points, followed by Missouri’s Cody Huff in third with 474, Tennessee’s Jacob Foutz in fourth with 473 and Canadian pro Chris Johnston in fifth with 470.

McKinney also leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings, followed by Tennessee’s John Garrett in second with 460 points and Alabama’s Wesley Gore in third, also with 460 points. South Carolina’s JT Thompkins is fourth with 451 points and Maine’s Tyler Williams is fifth with 415.

The tournament was hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism.

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

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 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), 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.

-30-

Connect with #Bassmaster on FacebookInstagramTwitter and TikTok.

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.com

2024 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Wheeler Lake 6/13-6/16
Wheeler Lake, Decatur  AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4

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

1.  Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL             20  80-15  103 $104,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-04     Day 2: 5   20-07     Day 3: 5   26-02     Day 4: 5   15-02
2.  Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX             20  77-00  102  $36,000.00
Day 1: 5   15-08     Day 2: 5   17-12     Day 3: 5   20-07     Day 4: 5   23-05
3.  John Cox               Debary, FL              20  70-08  101  $30,000.00
Day 1: 5   22-02     Day 2: 5   12-11     Day 3: 5   17-12     Day 4: 5   17-15
4.  John Garrett           Union City, TN          20  68-09  100  $25,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-07     Day 2: 5   14-06     Day 3: 5   17-13     Day 4: 5   16-15
5.  Alex Wetherell         Middletown, CT          20  66-13   99  $20,000.00
Day 1: 5   16-03     Day 2: 5   15-07     Day 3: 5   17-08     Day 4: 5   17-11
6.  Jay Przekurat          Plover, WI              20  64-09   98  $19,000.00
Day 1: 5   13-08     Day 2: 5   18-01     Day 3: 5   16-12     Day 4: 5   16-04
7.  Wesley Gore            Clanton, AL             20  62-14   97  $19,000.00
Day 1: 5   17-09     Day 2: 5   15-02     Day 3: 5   16-09     Day 4: 5   13-10
8.  Logan Parks            Auburn, AL              20  62-11   96  $17,000.00
Day 1: 5   13-02     Day 2: 5   16-05     Day 3: 5   17-08     Day 4: 5   15-12
9.  Justin Hamner          Northport, AL           20  58-10   95  $16,000.00
Day 1: 5   16-11     Day 2: 5   20-08     Day 3: 5   10-02     Day 4: 5   11-05
10. Alex Redwine           Blue Ash, OH            20  57-12   94  $15,000.00
Day 1: 5   13-11     Day 2: 5   19-08     Day 3: 5   16-03     Day 4: 5   08-06
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1   Greg Hackney             Gonzales, LA        07-09      $1,000.00
2   Wesley Gore              Clanton, AL         05-13      $1,000.00
3   Cliff Prince             Palatka, FL         07-09      $1,000.00
4   Ray Hanselman Jr         Del Rio, TX         05-03      $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Greg Hackney             Gonzales, LA        07-09      $1,000.00
Cliff Prince             Palatka, FL         07-09      $1,000.00
CRUSHCITY MONSTER BAG

Cliff Prince             Palatka, FL         26-02      $2,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        94       485      1227-13
2        88       474      1161-02
3        47       246       616-13
4        10        50       156-05
----------------------------------
239      1255      3162-01


Alabama Pro Jacob Walker Powers Through Wind to Takes Early Day 1 Lead at Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 5 at Lake Champlain Presented by 7 Brew

Lake Champlain kicks out 12 limits in excess of 19 Pounds on windy day of fishing

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (June 15, 2024) –So far, so good at Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 5 Presented by 7 Brew  on Lake Champlain. Day 1 of the event was windy, so much that few ventured very far south of Malletts Bay, but the results showed that the bass on Champlain are alive and well. Though the smallmouth spawn was not as major a factor as it theoretically should be, the pros proved that there are plenty of ways to catch a bass. Notably, though not the case for the leader, quite a few largemouth hit the scale. With good weather for a run to Ticonderoga in the forecast for tomorrow, those numbers could increase tomorrow.

In the lead, pro Jacob Walker of Springville, Alabama, sacked up 21 pounds, 4 ounces, fishing for exclusively smallmouth. Behind him, Milford, Delaware’s Kurt Mitchell and Aspen Martin  of White, Georgia, both crossed into 20-pound territory, and nine others caught something in the 19-pound range. So, the rest of the way looks like a horse race.

The full field of 150 anglers will conclude the two-day opening round on Sunday, with only the top 30 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advancing to Championship Sunday. The three-day tournament, hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau, features a roster of 150 anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2025.

Raised on flipping a jig in Alabama, Walker is no slouch with forward-facing sonar, and he made it work to perfection today. Beaming up a big limit quickly, Walker looked like a local in his first trip to Champlain.

“It was very fun,” said Walker. “I caught a lot of big bass and I’m ready to go catch more big bass tomorrow.”

According to Walker, practice was good, but 21 pounds wasn’t on the menu – things really went well today.

“I was confident that I could catch 18 pounds today. I didn’t really fish my areas super hard, but I knew I could catch at least 18, which, I would have been happy with,” he said. “I was fortunate today to catch the bigger than average fish – hopefully tomorrow it’s like that again. I don’t think 20 pounds will be a problem, and I know I can catch 18. I can survive tomorrow for sure.”

Fishing without too much competition around, Walker has been able to trigger fish to bite consistently, which not everyone can say.

“A bigger bait, a bigger profile, is part of it,” he said. “And I think I’m just around the right quality. They just weigh a little bit more than the average in the couple areas I’m fishing.”

With calmer water and live cameras with all the leaders, we’ll have a much better read on trends tomorrow. Today, the fishing was a blast, and Champlain appears to be living up to the hype as usual.

The top 20 pros after Day 1 on Lake Champlain are:

1st:        Jacob Walker, Springville, Ala., five bass, 21-4
2nd:       Kurt Mitchell, Milford, Del., five bass, 20-7
3rd:       Aspen Martin, White, Ga., five bass, 20-2
4th:        Alec Morrison, Peru, N.Y., five bass, 19-14
5th:        Troy Stokes, Trenton, Mich., five bass, 19-7
5th:        Kyle Cortiana, Broken Arrow, Okla., five bass, 19-7
5th:        Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., five bass, 19-7
5th:        Brett Carnright, Plattsburgh, N.Y., five bass, 19-7
9th:        Evan Barnes, Dardanelle, Ark., five bass, 19-6
9th:        Jack Daniel Williams, Kingsport, Tenn., five bass, 19-6
11th:     Ryan Latinville, Plattsburgh, N.Y., five bass, 19-3
12th:     Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., five bass, 19-2
13th:     Flint Davis, Leesburg, Ga., five bass, 18-15
14th:     Colby Miller, Elmer, La., five bass, 18-14
14th:     Ken Thompson, Roaring Springs, Pa., five bass, 18-14
16th:     Hunter Eubanks, Landrum, S.C., five bass, 18-12
16th:     Chad Mrazek, Montgomery, Texas, five bass, 18-12
18th:     Jason Carpenter, Castle Pines, Colo., five bass, 18-11
18th:     Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 18-11
18th:     Britt Myers, Jr., Lake Wylie, S.C., five bass, 18-11
18th:     Mitchell Robinson, Landrum, S.C., five bass, 18-11

Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Mitchell earned the Day 1 $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award Saturday with a largemouth bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 4 ounces.

Overall, there were 701 bass weighing 2,233 pounds even ounces caught by 143 pros Saturday. The catch included 136 five-bass limits.

In Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Saturday and Sunday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 30 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, advance to the final round on Championship Monday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $115,000. The winner of the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 5 at Lake Champlain Presented by 7 Brew will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight and will receive an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2025 on Lake Guntersville in Huntsville, Alabama.

Anglers will launch at 6:30 a.m. ET each day from the Plattsburgh City Marina, located at 5 Dock St. in Plattsburgh. Weigh-ins will also be held at the marina 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 MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee and Rob Newell will break down the extended action live each day of competition from 7 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) and Rumble apps.

Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 5 at Lake Champlain Presented by 7 Brew will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 2 on CBS Sports Network.

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

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Tackle Warehouse Invitational 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 Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.


Prince increases lead, eyes first career Bassmaster Elite Series victory at Wheeler Lake

DECATUR, Ala. — For each of the first two days of the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Wheeler Lake, Florida pro Cliff Prince secured heavy limits within the opening hours of competition. On Semifinal Saturday, “The Prince of Palatka” enjoyed his best morning yet.

By taking the lead for Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag of the tournament on Day 3 with a 26-pound, 2-ounce limit of largemouth, Prince increased his lead at Wheeler with a three-day total of 65-13. He now holds a 12-2 advantage over second-place Ray Hanselman Jr. (53-11) heading into Championship Sunday.

“We are going to go catch five tomorrow and let the chips fall where they may,” said Prince, a three-time qualifier for the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors. “It is everybody’s dream to beat these guys. This is the toughest crowd I’ve ever fished against and to beat them, you’ve done something.”

Not only did Prince catch the biggest bag caught this week at Wheeler Lake on Saturday, he anchored that bag with a 7-9 largemouth, tying Greg Hackney for the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament.

Prince has been close to victory before, notably finishing third at Lake Okeechobee in 2017 and notching several top finishes on the St. Johns River where he calls home. With a substantial lead heading into the final day at Wheeler, Prince knows simply catching a limit will be crucial in achieving a victory.

Most of his weight so far has been caught off one hard spot near the takeoff spot at Ingalls Park. That hard spot is surrounded by grass, and Prince has had to work his baits through that grass to get to it.

For the most part, Prince has kept his depthfinders turned off. During the afternoon hours of Day 3, however, he powered them on just long enough to see a plethora of baitfish in his area, including gizzard shad.

“I don’t know if it is shell or if it is rock, but it is hard and they are relating to it for whatever reason,” he said. “You can’t look down at the (Garmin) Perspective mode and not see a school of bait. That tells me why they are there.”

Prince’s special spot, which yielded bags of 19-4 and 20-7 the first two days, continued to produce early and often on Day 3. Despite losing a couple of bigger bass in the flurry, he landed a limit weighing around 18 pounds by 6:30 a.m. using a moving bait as well as a Texas-rigged Bass Assassin stickbait.

“I told myself if I catch 15, I’m still going to be in contention,” Prince said. “At about that time, I figured I had 17 or 18 pounds. I was pretty much done, but the locals were coming in and I decided to circle around. I got a different angle on the spot. Then I caught a giant.”

He said the beast was a gift, considering it came after he had almost decided to let the spot rest.

“I casted up to the juice and I got four bites in one cast,” he explained. “The one that finally ate it was that 7-plus. When I set the hook, I knew it was a good one, but it didn’t really pull that hard. Then when I got it up by the side of the boat, it was a giant.

“It was pretty much torture not to throw back up there when I caught that one.”

While all of his bites have come in the morning hours, mostly because he has stopped fishing, Prince is confident his bite will last all day if needed. It comes in waves, he said, and he’s seen bass school every afternoon as he is trolling around.

“I feel like there are more left there and if they do what they have been doing, we’ll be good,” Prince said. “They came up schooling a little after 1 p.m. today. And when I found them (in practice), it was after 1. If you notice on BassTrakk, I’ll catch three and then have a lull.

“So I feel like if I leave them alone for a while and then go back to the juice, I can catch a fish or two. I feel like I can catch five.”

Hanselman brought in the second-biggest bag of the day — a 20-7 sack anchored by a 6-8 largemouth — increasing his three-day total to 53-11 and jumping him into second place. It is the two-time Classic qualifier’s seventh Top 10 in Bassmaster competition.

Hailing from Del Rio, Texas, Hanselman has taken advantage of two patterns this week. On Day 1, he started by fishing stretches of eelgrass with milfoil and little patches of hydrilla mixed in before stumbling upon a shellbed in 5 feet of water that was loaded with bass. There are also isolated stumps close to the shellbed that Hanselman has caught fish around.

“I think the gizzard shad are up there spawning and that is what is holding the bass there,” he explained. “A couple of those bass have puked up 8-inch gizzard shad. There is definitely something going on down there.”

After switching from treble-hook baits to a 6th Sense Flock hair jig and a Texas-rigged 6th Sense Boosa ribbon tail worm Saturday morning, Hanselman stopped missing bites and began landing quality bass. He worked his way to 20 pounds, landing his biggest bass around 7:30 a.m.

John Cox remains in third place with a three-day total of 52-9. The DeBary, Fla., pro landed 17-12 on Day 3 to complement his first two limits of 22-2 and 12-11. Most of the week, Cox has picked apart milfoil mats with a Berkley Swamp Lord in a backwater pond. After falling a couple inches on Day 2, the water rose just enough on Day 3 to make the frog bite more effective. Some of the gizzard shad Cox saw on Day 1 also returned.

“I think it came up about 2 inches. It was just enough to loosen the mats up a little bit. Yesterday they were really packed. Today, I knew as soon as I got to the ramp I felt good. My mood changed from, ‘Okay, let's get as many points as I can,’ to, ‘I’m going to make my first Top 10 of the year.’”

Carbondale, Ill., rookie Trey McKinney continues to lead the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 560 points. Alabama’s Justin Hamner, winner of the 2024 Classic, is second with 501 points, followed by Missouri’s Cody Huff in third with 474, Tennessee’s Jacob Foutz in fourth with 473 and Canadian Chris Johnston in fifth with 470.

McKinney also leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings, followed by Alabama’s Wesley Gore in second with 461 points and Tennessee’s John Garrett in third with 460.

The Top 10 remaining pros will launch from Ingalls Harbor at 6 a.m. CT Sunday and return for weigh-in at 2 p.m. The winner will earn the $100,000 top prize and a coveted blue trophy.

Bassmaster LIVE coverage begins at 9 a.m. ET Saturday on FS1 and runs through noon before moving to Fox from noon until weigh-in at 2 p.m. LIVE coverage will continue on Bassmaster.com at 2 p.m. and conclude at 3 p.m.

The tournament is being hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism.

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

 

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 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), 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.

-30-

Connect with #Bassmaster on FacebookInstagramTwitter and TikTok.

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.com

 

2024 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Wheeler Lake 6/13-6/16
Wheeler Lake, Decatur  AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3

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

1.  Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL             15  65-13  103   $1,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-04     Day 2: 5   20-07     Day 3: 5   26-02
2.  Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX             15  53-11  102
Day 1: 5   15-08     Day 2: 5   17-12     Day 3: 5   20-07
3.  John Cox               Debary, FL              15  52-09  101
Day 1: 5   22-02     Day 2: 5   12-11     Day 3: 5   17-12
4.  John Garrett           Union City, TN          15  51-10  100
Day 1: 5   19-07     Day 2: 5   14-06     Day 3: 5   17-13
5.  Alex Redwine           Blue Ash, OH            15  49-06   99
Day 1: 5   13-11     Day 2: 5   19-08     Day 3: 5   16-03
6.  Wesley Gore            Clanton, AL             15  49-04   98   $1,000.00
Day 1: 5   17-09     Day 2: 5   15-02     Day 3: 5   16-09
7.  Alex Wetherell         Middletown, CT          15  49-02   97
Day 1: 5   16-03     Day 2: 5   15-07     Day 3: 5   17-08
8.  Jay Przekurat          Plover, WI              15  48-05   96
Day 1: 5   13-08     Day 2: 5   18-01     Day 3: 5   16-12
9.  Justin Hamner          Northport, AL           15  47-05   95
Day 1: 5   16-11     Day 2: 5   20-08     Day 3: 5   10-02
10. Logan Parks            Auburn, AL              15  46-15   94
Day 1: 5   13-02     Day 2: 5   16-05     Day 3: 5   17-08
11. Hunter Shryock         Ooltewah, TN            15  45-05   93  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   14-06     Day 2: 5   15-05     Day 3: 5   15-10
12. Lee Livesay            Longview, TX            15  45-00   92  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   15-04     Day 2: 5   13-12     Day 3: 5   16-00
13. Matty Wong             Honolulu, HI            15  43-02   91  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-06     Day 2: 5   10-09     Day 3: 5   13-03
14. Jacob Foutz            Charleston, TN          15  42-10   90  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   14-04     Day 2: 5   14-05     Day 3: 5   14-01
15. KJ Queen               Catawba, NC             15  42-09   89  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   13-15     Day 2: 5   15-11     Day 3: 5   12-15
16. Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ           15  42-03   88  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   12-05     Day 2: 5   14-13     Day 3: 5   15-01
17. Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID            15  42-01   87  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   15-12     Day 2: 5   13-02     Day 3: 5   13-03
18. Patrick Walters        Eutawville, SC          15  42-01   86  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   14-00     Day 2: 5   12-14     Day 3: 5   15-03
19. Cole Sands             Calhoun , TN            15  41-09   85  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   14-02     Day 2: 5   16-03     Day 3: 5   11-04
20. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA               15  41-06   84  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-02     Day 2: 5   16-06     Day 3: 5   06-14
21. Seth Feider            New Market, MN          15  41-03   83  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   15-14     Day 2: 5   15-03     Day 3: 5   10-02
22. Trey McKinney          Carbondale, IL          15  41-03   82  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   12-14     Day 2: 5   14-09     Day 3: 5   13-12
23. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX          15  40-12   81  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   12-14     Day 2: 5   15-03     Day 3: 5   12-11
24. Wes Logan              Springville, AL         15  40-05   80  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   14-12     Day 2: 5   14-12     Day 3: 5   10-13
25. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA            15  40-04   79  $11,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   11-15     Day 3: 5   10-00
26. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA          15  40-02   78  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   14-01     Day 2: 5   15-13     Day 3: 5   10-04
27. Kyle Welcher           Valley, AL              15  39-15   77  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   15-06     Day 2: 5   11-05     Day 3: 5   13-04
28. Drew Cook              Cairo, GA               15  39-10   76  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 5   09-12     Day 3: 5   11-14
29. Brad Whatley           Bivins, TX              15  39-10   75  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   15-07     Day 2: 5   12-09     Day 3: 5   11-10
30. Justin Atkins          Florence, AL            15  39-07   74  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   16-00     Day 2: 5   12-14     Day 3: 5   10-09
31. JT Thompkins           Myrtle Beach, SC        14  39-05   73  $10,000.00
Day 1: 4   11-03     Day 2: 5   13-14     Day 3: 5   14-04
32. Cooper Gallant         Bowmanville Ontario CAN 15  39-03   72  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   15-09     Day 2: 5   12-05     Day 3: 5   11-05
33. Clark Wendlandt        Leander, TX             15  38-13   71  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   16-09     Day 2: 5   11-13     Day 3: 5   10-07
34. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL         15  38-10   70  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   12-01     Day 2: 5   16-11     Day 3: 5   09-14
35. Pat Schlapper          Eleva, WI               15  37-15   69  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   11-00     Day 2: 5   13-14     Day 3: 5   13-01
36. Caleb Kuphall          Mukwonago, WI           15  37-11   68  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   12-05     Day 2: 5   15-09     Day 3: 5   09-13
37. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY             15  37-11   67  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   14-05     Day 2: 5   12-10     Day 3: 5   10-12
38. Frank Talley           Belton, TX              15  37-08   66  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   13-14     Day 2: 5   12-13     Day 3: 5   10-13
39. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 15  36-15   65  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   09-13     Day 2: 5   15-04     Day 3: 5   11-14
40. Bob Downey             Detroit Lakes, MN       15  35-14   64  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   08-03     Day 2: 5   16-00     Day 3: 5   11-11
41. Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC           15  35-11   63  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   11-08     Day 2: 5   15-10     Day 3: 5   08-09
42. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL        15  35-08   62  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   10-00     Day 2: 5   14-12     Day 3: 5   10-12
43. Cody Huff              Ava, MO                 15  35-06   61  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   12-12     Day 2: 5   13-11     Day 3: 5   08-15
44. Scott Canterbury       Odenville, AL           15  34-02   60  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   11-14     Day 2: 5   13-02     Day 3: 5   09-02
45. Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA 14  34-00   59  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   12-10     Day 2: 5   15-07     Day 3: 4   05-15
46. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC          15  33-13   58  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   10-07     Day 2: 5   14-04     Day 3: 5   09-02
47. Tyler Williams         Belgrade, ME            14  33-05   57  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   12-12     Day 2: 5   13-03     Day 3: 4   07-06
48. Will Davis Jr          Sylacauga, AL           15  33-02   56  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   14-04     Day 2: 5   12-00     Day 3: 5   06-14
49. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ              15  31-07   55  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   14-10     Day 2: 5   09-08     Day 3: 5   07-05
50. Brandon Card           Salisbury, NC           13  28-02   54  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   16-10     Day 2: 5   07-10     Day 3: 3   03-14
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1   Greg Hackney             Gonzales, LA        07-09      $1,000.00
2   Wesley Gore              Clanton, AL         05-13      $1,000.00
3   Cliff Prince             Palatka, FL         07-09      $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        94       485      1227-13
2        88       474      1161-02
3        47       246       616-13
----------------------------------
229      1205      3005-12


Magical day 1 guides Cox to lead at Bassmaster Elite Series event on Wheeler Lake

DECATUR, Ala. — Butterflies and heatwaves are seemingly important ingredients to success for John Cox when he shows up at Wheeler Lake. The DeBary, Fla., pro caught 22 pounds, 2 ounces to claim the Day 1 lead at the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Wheeler Lake, nearly eight years after winning a Forrest Wood Cup on this fishery.

Cox holds a 2-11 advantage over second-place John Garrett while Hawaii’s Matty Wong follows in third with 19-6 and Florida’s Cliff Prince is fourth with 19-4.

“It was just one of those days,” said Cox, a six-time Classic qualifier. “It was awesome and I just caught big ones. I hope there are a few more in there. The water is falling quickly and it might be an issue even getting in there. It was really cool.”

During his Forrest Wood Cup victory in August of 2016 at Wheeler, a butterfly floated around Cox’s boat nearly the entire tournament, even landing on his nose at one point. After landing his final bass this afternoon, he noticed a butterfly flying around his marshal.

In search of his first Elite Series victory, Cox is hoping it’s a sign of things to come.

“It is nuts. I catch the last big one and this butterfly lands on my marshal's head,” Cox explained. “And when I won the Cup, that butterfly was landing on me the entire tournament. I got the chills thinking about that. It is so weird.”

Temperatures have been on the rise across northern Alabama this week, reaching the 90-degree mark on Thursday. With no rain in the forecast either, current generation at the Wheeler Dam has slowed down and made the fishing across the lake a little tougher than many anglers anticipated.

Cox landed just one limit during his three days of practice and said he would have been happy if he caught 10 pounds on Day 1.

“Today was a miracle, honestly,” he said. “I only caught a couple fish the other days of practice and I was just hoping I could get five somehow so I didn’t finish dead last. It was so incredible. As incredible as the Cup.”

After trying to find a vacant area first thing in the morning, Cox settled in and caught the majority of his weight in one small area featuring shallow grass. He caught most of his bag early in the day, but made two key culls in the afternoon hours.

The biggest key to his area was the presence of gizzard shad. A Berkley Swamp Lord produced his best bites, including a 6-12 largemouth that anchored his bag.

“I think they were eating the gizzard shad and then all of a sudden the gizzards pushed up into this area. I smoked them on the Swamp Lord,” Cox said. “They don’t look like shallow fish. I think they came out of deep water.

“You go in this area and think, ‘How can they be in this tiny, narrow creek and how can there be enough to keep catching them?’ They just kept showing up.”

There is one particular issue with Cox’s area. The water is dropping out, and if it falls any more, he is concerned he won’t be able to get to his spot.

“It has fallen a foot (since practice started), maybe a little more,” he said. “I’ll just start running if I can’t get in there.”

Garrett, a veteran of Kentucky Lake on the same Tennessee River system as Wheeler Lake, landed a 19-7 mixed-bag limit to land in second place after Day 1. The Elite Series rookie and winner of the Elite at Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes earlier this year anchored his bag with a 4 1/2-pound largemouth as well as a 4 1/2-pound smallmouth.

“It was a perfect day today,” Garrett said. “I was able to pull up on a couple places early that I wanted to get on, which is kind of rare here. I got bigger-than-average bites today.”

The Union City, Tenn., pro opened the day by catching those two big bass on a topwater lure. After searching for another place to fish that wasn’t occupied by other boats, he pulled into a spot and filled a limit weighing about 18 pounds. A key cull late in the day lifted Garrett to his final tally.

“I didn’t think it was that good and I caught them really well on it. I caught a dozen within a 30-minute timespan probably,” Garrett said. “My timing was really good this morning. Open spots don’t come around. I have two places that not everybody knows about.”

Garrett is fishing shellbeds and hard-bottom spots in 6 to 12 feet of water. The majority of the bass he is catching are largemouth, but there are smallmouth mixed in. The brown fish, however, are more difficult to catch.

In his first trip to Wheeler Lake, Wong caught an early limit before making key upgrades late in the day to reach his Day 1 weight of 19-6.

“This is my third season on tour and I have learned to settle in and take my little tips that I get from the fish and try to implement them on gameday,” Wong said. “I can’t wait to do it again tomorrow.”

While the quality bass did not show during practice, the 2022 B.A.S.S. Nation Champion found several key areas that produced big bites on Day 1. Three baits played a role in his success. On his best stretch, Wong landed a 5-pounder, a 3-pounder and a 2-pounder.

Stumps in about 5 feet of water have been the most productive pieces of cover. He has found those using his forward-facing sonar.

“The lake is fishing unlike people thought it would. The way I figured out my bite is fitting to my style and I’m glad it all came together,” Wong said. “The afternoon heat helps the bite.”

Louisiana pro Greg Hackney landed the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day, a 7-9 largemouth that anchored his 18-5 fifth-place limit.

Carbondale, Ill., rookie Trey McKinney leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 539 points. Alabama’s Justin Hamner, winner of 2024 the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors, is second with 500 points, followed by two-time Classic champ Jordan Lee of Alabama in third with 489 points. Missouri’s Cody Huff is fourth with 472 points and Chris Johnston of Canada is fifth with 462.

McKinney also leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings, followed by Garrett in second with 462 points and Alabama’s Wesley Gore in third with 459.

The full field will launch from Ingalls Harbor beginning at 6 a.m. CT Friday and return for weigh-in at 2 p.m. The Top 50 after the Day 2 weigh-in will advance to Day 3 before the Top 10 anglers compete on Championship Sunday.

The tournament is being hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism.

 

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

 

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 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), 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.

-30-

Connect with #Bassmaster on FacebookInstagramTwitter and TikTok.

Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.com

 

2024 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Wheeler Lake 6/13-6/16
Wheeler Lake, Decatur  AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

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

1.  John Cox               Debary, FL               5  22-02  103
Day 1: 5   22-02
2.  John Garrett           Union City, TN           5  19-07  102
Day 1: 5   19-07
3.  Matty Wong             Honolulu, HI             5  19-06  101
Day 1: 5   19-06
4.  Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL              5  19-04  100
Day 1: 5   19-04
5.  Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA             5  18-05   99   $1,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-05
6.  John Crews Jr          Salem, VA                5  18-02   98
Day 1: 5   18-02
7.  Drew Cook              Cairo, GA                5  18-00   97
Day 1: 5   18-00
8.  Wesley Gore            Clanton, AL              5  17-09   96
Day 1: 5   17-09
9.  Bryant Smith           Roseville, CA            5  16-13   95
Day 1: 5   16-13
10. Justin Hamner          Northport, AL            5  16-11   94
Day 1: 5   16-11
11. Brandon Card           Salisbury, NC            5  16-10   93
Day 1: 5   16-10
12. Clark Wendlandt        Leander, TX              5  16-09   92
Day 1: 5   16-09
13. Timothy Dube           Nashua , NH              5  16-09   91
Day 1: 5   16-09
14. Alex Wetherell         Middletown, CT           5  16-03   90
Day 1: 5   16-03
15. Justin Atkins          Florence, AL             5  16-00   89
Day 1: 5   16-00
16. Seth Feider            New Market, MN           5  15-14   88
Day 1: 5   15-14
17. Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID             5  15-12   87
Day 1: 5   15-12
18. Cooper Gallant         Bowmanville Ontario CAN  5  15-09   86
Day 1: 5   15-09
19. Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX              5  15-08   85
Day 1: 5   15-08
20. Brad Whatley           Bivins, TX               5  15-07   84
Day 1: 5   15-07
21. Kyle Welcher           Valley, AL               5  15-06   83
Day 1: 5   15-06
22. Lee Livesay            Longview, TX             5  15-04   82
Day 1: 5   15-04
23. Wes Logan              Springville, AL          5  14-12   81
Day 1: 5   14-12
24. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ               5  14-10   80
Day 1: 5   14-10
25. Hunter Shryock         Ooltewah, TN             5  14-06   79
Day 1: 5   14-06
26. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY              5  14-05   78
Day 1: 5   14-05
27. Will Davis Jr          Sylacauga, AL            5  14-04   77
Day 1: 5   14-04
27. Jacob Foutz            Charleston, TN           5  14-04   77
Day 1: 5   14-04
29. Cole Sands             Calhoun , TN             5  14-02   75
Day 1: 5   14-02
30. Jeff Gustafson         Kenora, ON Ontario CANA  5  14-01   74
Day 1: 5   14-01
30. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA           5  14-01   74
Day 1: 5   14-01
32. Patrick Walters        Eutawville, SC           5  14-00   72
Day 1: 5   14-00
33. KJ Queen               Catawba, NC              5  13-15   71
Day 1: 5   13-15
34. Frank Talley           Belton, TX               5  13-14   70
Day 1: 5   13-14
35. Alex Redwine           Blue Ash, OH             5  13-11   69
Day 1: 5   13-11
36. Jay Przekurat          Plover, WI               5  13-08   68
Day 1: 5   13-08
37. Kyle Patrick           Cooperstown, NY          5  13-06   67
Day 1: 5   13-06
38. David Gaston           Sylacauga, AL            5  13-05   66
Day 1: 5   13-05
39. Chad Pipkens           Dewitt, MI               5  13-03   65
Day 1: 5   13-03
40. Logan Parks            Auburn, AL               5  13-02   64
Day 1: 5   13-02
40. Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA             5  13-02   64
Day 1: 5   13-02
42. Ben Milliken           New Caney, TX            5  13-00   62
Day 1: 5   13-00
43. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX           5  12-14   61
Day 1: 5   12-14
43. Trey McKinney          Carbondale, IL           5  12-14   61
Day 1: 5   12-14
45. Cody Huff              Ava, MO                  5  12-12   59
Day 1: 5   12-12
45. Tyler Williams         Belgrade, ME             5  12-12   59
Day 1: 5   12-12
47. Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC              5  12-12   57
Day 1: 5   12-12
48. Drew Benton            Panama City, FL          5  12-11   56
Day 1: 5   12-11
49. Robert Gee             Knoxville, TN            5  12-10   55
Day 1: 5   12-10
49. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN           5  12-10   55
Day 1: 5   12-10
51. Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA  5  12-10   53
Day 1: 5   12-10
52. Joey Cifuentes III     Clinton, AR              5  12-07   52
Day 1: 5   12-07
53. Jonathan Kelley        Old Forge, PA            5  12-06   51
Day 1: 5   12-06
54. Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ            5  12-05   50
Day 1: 5   12-05
55. Koby Kreiger           Alva, FL                 5  12-05   49
Day 1: 5   12-05
55. Caleb Kuphall          Mukwonago, WI            5  12-05   49
Day 1: 5   12-05
57. Austin Felix           Eden Prairie, MN         5  12-01   47
Day 1: 5   12-01
57. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL          5  12-01   47
Day 1: 5   12-01
59. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                  5  12-01   45
Day 1: 5   12-01
60. Scott Canterbury       Odenville, AL            5  11-14   44
Day 1: 5   11-14
61. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL             5  11-13   43
Day 1: 5   11-13
61. Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK             5  11-13   43
Day 1: 5   11-13
63. Jordan Lee             Cullman, AL              5  11-12   41
Day 1: 5   11-12
64. Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS         5  11-11   40
Day 1: 5   11-11
65. Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA  5  11-11   39
Day 1: 5   11-11
66. Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC            5  11-08   38
Day 1: 5   11-08
67. Kenta Kimura           Osaka OK JAPAN           5  11-05   37
Day 1: 5   11-05
67. Chris Zaldain          Fort Worth, TX           5  11-05   37
Day 1: 5   11-05
69. JT Thompkins           Myrtle Beach, SC         4  11-03   35
Day 1: 4   11-03
70. Pat Schlapper          Eleva, WI                5  11-00   34
Day 1: 5   11-00
71. Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY              5  10-13   33
Day 1: 5   10-13
72. Matt Arey              Shelby, NC               5  10-09   32
Day 1: 5   10-09
73. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC           5  10-07   31
Day 1: 5   10-07
73. Bryan New              Leesville, SC            5  10-07   31
Day 1: 5   10-07
75. Logan Latuso           Gonzales, LA             5  10-00   29
Day 1: 5   10-00
75. John Soukup            Sapulpa, OK              5  10-00   29
Day 1: 5   10-00
75. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL         5  10-00   29
Day 1: 5   10-00
78. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN            5  09-15   26
Day 1: 5   09-15
79. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland TN AUSTRALIA  5  09-13   25
Day 1: 5   09-13
80. Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL            5  09-11   24
Day 1: 5   09-11
81. Cory Johnston          Otonabee CANADA          5  09-09   23
Day 1: 5   09-09
82. Jake Whitaker          Hendersonville, NC       5  09-02   22
Day 1: 5   09-02
83. Jason Christie         Dry Creek, OK            5  08-10   21
Day 1: 5   08-10
84. Todd Auten             Clover, SC               5  08-08   20
Day 1: 5   08-08
85. Bob Downey             Detroit Lakes, MN        5  08-03   19
Day 1: 5   08-03
86. Jason Williamson       Aiken, SC                5  08-02   18
Day 1: 5   08-02
87. Marc Frazier           Newnan, GA               5  08-00   17
Day 1: 5   08-00
87. Kyle Norsetter         Cottage Grove, WI        5  08-00   17
Day 1: 5   08-00
89. Joseph Webster         Hamilton, AL             5  07-14   15
Day 1: 5   07-14
90. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN         5  07-11   14
Day 1: 5   07-11
91. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR               4  07-08   13
Day 1: 4   07-08
92. Taku Ito               Dalton GA JAPAN          5  07-07   12
Day 1: 5   07-07
93. Kyoya Fujita           Yamanashi CA JAPAN       5  07-04   11
Day 1: 5   07-04
94. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT            5  06-15   10
Day 1: 5   06-15
95. Buddy Gross            Chattanooga, TN          5  06-06    9
Day 1: 5   06-06
96. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD                5  05-14    8
Day 1: 5   05-14
97. Mike Huff              London, KY               2  04-11    7
Day 1: 2   04-11
98. Michael Iaconelli      Pitts Grove, NJ          3  02-13    6
Day 1: 3   02-13
99. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL               2  00-13    5
Day 1: 2   00-13
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1   Greg Hackney             Gonzales, LA        07-09      $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        94       485      1227-13
----------------------------------
94       485      1227-13


BAM Heads to Columbia River June 28-30

BAM Boards the Boat for Boardman: Columbia River Is the Next Stop for The Pro/Am Series

By Jody Only

The BAM Tournament Trail Pro/Am series heads to its fourth stop of the 2024 season in Boardman, Ore. for what is expected to be a smallmouth slugfest at the Columbia River presented by the Boardman Chamber of Commerce.

Two-time BAM Pro Tour champion, Oregon angler Colby Pearson from Klamath Falls anticipates big numbers of bass to be caught. “The Columbia is one of the most bountiful fisheries in the region,” he shared. “The smallmouth will be post-spawn and the largemouth will likely be found in all stages with spawners, as well as pre- and post-spawners.”

Launching in Boardman, Pearson doesn’t think he will make much of a run. “Most likely it won’t be necessary,” he said. “Boardman is the hub, the pool that most people fish or that most people lock down to, generally within 5 to 10 miles of the area.”

Equipped with an arsenal of lures that include topwater options, small swimbaits and spinnerbaits for smallies alongside traditional flippin’ and pitchin’ gear for largemouth, Pearson doesn’t think that Forward Facing Sonar will be a winning factor. “Here, there are speedy free-flowing rivers,” he explained. “It isn’t like the Delta, which has a more stable current movement. Forward Facing will catch some fish here, but I don’t think that is what is going to win it.”

His advice for his Am draw partner involves finesse tactics such as tubes, a dropshot, and small swimbaits. “The most important thing will be to use techniques that are catching big numbers,” he added. “More bites will help the Am to cull through to the biggest ones and then something like a Super Spook Jr in the low light conditions for a kicker fish.”

Mel Williams of Kennewick, Wash. is also Columbia River bound for the competition. “It has been getting warmer here and the fish are in a post-spawn movement toward the main channels to feed,” he shared. “I’m a largemouth guy, but the biggest target will be the smallmouth.”

Williams anticipates tempting largemouth with a War Eagle spinnerbait, and a flippin’ presentation.  For smallies, he will tie on a dropshot rig, flukes or Yamamoto creature baits.

“I also would say a Spook in the morning,” he shared. “For my co-angler, it would be mostly the fishing the same thing.

The three-day event kicks off on June 26. Registration is underway.

About BAM Tournament Trail

The Bass Angler Magazine Tournament Trail (BAM TT), offers an unparalleled platform for anglers and sponsors, alike combining vast exposure opportunities that celebrate the skills of western bass anglers. The circuit garners extensive media coverage across print and online magazines, websites, videos, television, and multiple social media channels.

Proud Sponsors of the BAM Tournament Trail: Bass Boat Technologies, Tackle WarehouseBoardman ChamberGarmin,  Storquest, and, Bass Cat Boats, Ford FairfieldDish - Accel MarketingPower PoleMercury OutboardsBob’s MachineWood Bros, Sticky Graphics, Jean Deleonardi Real EstateValley OutdoorsEternal Lithium and, Alpha Angler Rods, and Fisherman’s Warehouse.

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

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

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

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


James River Set for MLF Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts

RICHMOND, Va. (June 13, 2024) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour is set to visit the James River in Richmond, Virginia, June 25-30, for the sixth event of the 2024 season – the General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O'Reilly Auto Parts.

The six-day tournament, hosted by Richmond Region Tourism, will feature a field of 79 professional anglers, including Ott DeFoe , back-to-back Angler of the Year (AOY) Jacob Wheeler, two-time reigning REDCREST Champion Dustin Connell, and Virginia pros like David Dudley of Lynchburg, Virginia, and Martin Villa of Charlottesville, Virginia. They’ll be competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

“We’re excited to welcome Major League Fishing organizers, anglers and fans to the Richmond Region,” said Jerrine Lee, Vice President of Sales at Richmond Region Tourism. “The James River is known for its world-class fishing and exciting outdoor activities. We know anglers will experience some incredible bass fishing during the tournament and we can’t wait to cheer them all on.”

The tournament will feature 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. The tournament is being filmed for broadcast later this year on Discovery.

While the James River has hosted numerous bass tournaments over the years, this will be the Bass Pro Tour’s maiden voyage on the fishery. The majority of MLF experience is limited to a few Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournaments, several Toyota Series events, the 2003 Forrest Wood Cup and a Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit event in 2022.

Charlottesville, Virginia’s Martin Villa will be competing in the tournament and said he’s looking forward to an excellent event on one of Virginia’s big bass factories.

“The James River is an exceptional tidal fishery,” said Villa. “It’s very versatile, so anglers will definitely be able to play to their strengths and catch them in a variety of ways, anywhere from cranking to ‘scoping. The river has a lot of vegetation around it with a pretty heavy tide and is very fertile.”

Although fish typically spawn later on a tidal fishery, Villa said the spawning season should be wrapped up by the time the tournament hits the river, making for a great postspawn event.

“I expect to see a lot of shallow-water angling, with guys flipping, throwing topwater baits and squarebills,” said Villa. “I think we will see guys doing really good flipping creature baits and soft plastics and throwing a frog. It really could be won multiple ways. It’s a known spinnerbait hole and a known jig hole, but it really just depends on the mood of the fish.”

The James River is Virginia’s largest tributary to the Chesapeake Bay and Villa said viewers can expect to see bass caught all across the river.

“It’s massive, with a lot of nooks and crannies, so the competition will really go down all over the river,” said Villa. “I think it will take 45 to 50 pounds to make the cut into the Knockout Round, and we’ll definitely see some big fish caught throughout the event – there’s potential for some good Heavy Hitters fish opportunities.”

Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from Osborne Landing, located at 9530 Osborne Turnpike in Richmond. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the landing, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at  MajorLeagueFishing.com.

On Saturday and Sunday, June 29-30, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit Osborne Landing for the MLF Watch Party and Kids Fishing Derby. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing each day. Additional fishing gear will be provided onsite for the fishing derby or kids can bring their own. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.

The General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts will feature anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce 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 Bass Pro Tour features a field of 79 of the top 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 General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.

The 39 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finish first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on the final four days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

Television coverage of the General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts Championship Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 9 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, Rapala, REDCON1, Star brite, Suzuki, Toyota, U.S. Air Force and WIX Filters.

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 FacebookX,  Instagram and YouTube.

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


Is Your Shirt Cool…and Cool?

Whitewater Fishing’s Rapids Short Sleeve Fishing Shirt is tailored like a tuxedo and fishes like your favorite gym shirt.

MUSKEGON, Mich. (June 12, 2024) – Swing a cat in any direction and you’ll hit a fishing shirt. The stylish, fishing-oriented shirts have become a mainstay with the angling crowd. First popularized on the coasts, button-down fishing shirts have become everyday-wear throughout North America.

Never one to tender me-too products, Whitewater Fishing’s Rapids Short Sleeve Fishing Shirt is an intelligently designed and fairly priced garment that deserves a hanger or two in your closet – no matter how many fishing shirts you own.

BLUE BELL

Snazzy enough for church and comfortable on the water, the Rapids Short Sleeve Fishing Shirt is constructed with a lightweight poly-spandex blend with a moisture wicking skillset. Always thinking fabric first, Whitewater selected an elite material with surprising stretch, while also yielding durability. It’s moisture wicking capabilities pull sweat off your skin, urging bodily moisture to evaporate while the material dries quickly.

The same comfortable material is also wrinkle-resistant. So, if you prefer a dresser door over a hanger, you’re in fine shape. To that, Whitewater’s Rapids Short Sleeve Fishing Shirt boasts a UPF 50 rating to guard against harmful UV rays, as well as an antimicrobial treatment to maintain freshness over multiple uses.

Vented back with poly mesh

The relaxed fit Rapids Short Sleeve Shirt also sports a caped-back with poly mesh ventilation. The vented back encourages airflow, assisting the wicking material to keep you cool.

Feel cool. Look cool. Make the Whitewater Rapids Short Sleeve Fishing Shirt the your next piece of fishing gear.

WHITE

GLACIER GREY

DEEP SEA

Rapids Short Sleeve Fishing Shirt FEATURES:

  • Relaxed fit
  • Poly-spandex fabric blend for maximum stretch
  • Vented back with poly mesh
  • UPF 50 sun protection
  • Moisture-wicking and quick drying
  • Antimicrobial Treatment
  • Two low profile buttoned chest pockets
  • Button-up collared design
  • 2-button closure chest pockets
  • Available in White, Blue Bell, Glacier Grey, and Deep Sea
  • Sizes Small through 3XL

MSRP $39.99


The Best Rigging for Today’s New 36V Trolling Motors

The Best Rigging for Today’s New 36V Trolling Motors

Connect-Ease® 2.0 PRO 24, Pro 36 Trolling Connection Kits provides anglers with quick, easy, and reliable rigging systems (w/onboard charging) for today’s newest 12-, 24-, and 36-volt trolling motors and lithium or AGM batteries

PRIOR LAKE, MN (June 12, 2024) – For anglers or recreational boaters running today’s newest brushed or brushless, direct-drive, and more powerful 12-, 24-, and 36-volt bow-mount trolling motors, Connect-Ease is proud to introduce the Connect-Ease 2.0 PRO Trolling Motor Connection systems w/and w/o Onboard Charging, which features heavier-duty 6-gauge wire (a power requirement change over previous 8 gauge) and many other engineering advances.

For 36-volt trolling motors like the new Minn Kota QUEST Series, Garmin Force Kraken,  Lowrance GHOST, Power-Pole MOVE, Rhodan HD GPS, Newport Vessels NV and MotorGuide Tour Pro, the Connect-Ease 2.0 36V Series PRO Trolling Motor Connection Kit W/Onboard Charging is incredibly easy-to-install, protects your investment, and offers peace of mind while fishing mission-critical, tournament or big water situations.

But you don’t have to be a pro angler to utilize the new Connect-Ease 2.0 kit—any boater who simply wants his boat or pontoon to work perfectly every time on the water—will benefit from the Connect-Ease 2.0 Pro 36V Series Trolling Motor Connection Kit W/Onboard Charging.

What’s Included: NEW Connect-Ease 2.0 Pro 36 36V Trolling Motor/Charger Kit

The Connect-Ease 2.0 PRO 36V Trolling Motor/Charger Kit includes three 12-volt battery series connections and leads to connect both your bow-mount trolling motor and charging leads.

While the components could be considered over-engineered, Connect-Ease 2.0’s mission was to provide a no-fail power distribution network no matter what kind of on-the-water situations you encounter, from fishing the Great Lakes or heavy current river fisheries to a weekend off work relaxing on the pontoon at the cabin.

Fact: Believe it or not, but a lot of boat manufacturers, dealers, and riggers do not use marine-grade wire…

On the contrary, every Connect-Ease 2.0 PRO 36V Series Pro Trolling Motor Connection Kit w/Onboard Charging includes thick, efficient, and long-lasting 6-gauge (AWG) marine-grade tinned copper wire and components that protect from corrosion, electrolysis, and fatigue due to boat vibration and flexing in waves and wind. Heavy-duty insulation offers additional heat, cold, abrasion, and vibration resistance.

In fact, Connect-Ease 6-gauge (AWG) marine-grade wire exceeds all UL 1426 U.S. Coast Guard Charter Boat and ABYC standards, something we didn’t have to do, but did.

While it cost us more at the onset, we built-these professional components into the new kit anyway because we wanted all anglers and boaters to benefit from the same, pro-grade materials we use in our own 36-volt trolling motor rigging for problem-free operation in critical fishing and boating situations—from big league tournaments to hard-earned time-off-work for on-water relaxation.

Additionally, the Connect-Ease 2.0 36V Series PRO Trolling Motor Connection Kit w/Onboard Charging includes a 60 amp Resettable Circuit Breaker and Negative Connection Block with direct connection leads and heat-shrinkable butt splices to quickly and securely connect the kit to chargers manufactured by Minn Kota, NoCo, PowerPole, Battery Tender, Dakota Lithium and countless others.

Photo courtesy of MotorGuide

The end result for the angler/boater?

You’ll never have to worry about your 36-volt trolling motor being powered correctly again with Connect-Ease 2.0.

Whether you’re running a high-output Minn Kota, Garmin, Lowrance, PowerPole, or MotorGuide 24- and 36-volt trolling motors, what you get with the Connect-Ease 2.0 12-, 24-, and 36V Series Pro Trolling Motor Connection Kits w/Onboard Charging is pure, clean power from your batteries to the trolling motor and charger, end of story.

Talking specs, the new Connect-Ease 2.0 36V Series PRO Trolling Motor Connection Kit w/Onboard Charging will distribute and manage up to 150 amps of power.

Whether you’re going to rig a new boat, re-rig an older boat, or seek out marine professionals to help you switch out trolling motor batteries, power distribution, and marine electronics for the season, Connect-Ease products promise problem-free operation of today’s latest and greatest, from today’s more powerful and advanced trolling motors to forward-facing sonar technologies.

We like to say: “More time fishing, less time rigging.”


Lake Hartwell Set to Host 15th Annual High School Fishing National Championship and World Finals Next Week

High School Fishing National Championship to offer millions to student anglers in scholarships and prizes

ANDERSON, S.C. (June 12, 2024) – The 15th Annual High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship , the world’s premier high school fishing event, is set to take place at Lake Hartwell and Anderson, South Carolina, next week, June 19-22.  Teams from most U.S. States and multiple foreign countries, including Canada and South Africa, are scheduled to compete for a share of the richest prize pool in all of high school bass fishing – the total amount of scholarships and prizes offered up for grabs at this event is an eye-popping $3.2 million dollars, according to The Bass Federation (TBF) Student Angler Federation (SAF).

Each High School team consists of three people to a boat – two High School Fishing anglers and their adult boat captain or coach. The 2024 High School Fishing World Finals and National Championship, hosted by Visit Anderson, are set to bring an estimated 3,000 people to Lake Hartwell and Anderson, South Carolina for the week-long event.

“We’re so excited to be hosting the High School Fishing National Championship in Anderson County, Green Pond Landing and Lake Hartwell, said Neil Paul, Executive Director of Visit Anderson. “The leadership of Anderson County has given us one of the finest facilities in America with Green Pond Landing and the resources to host first-class events such as the High School Fishing National Championship.

“This event will serve as a tremendous economic success for our community, and we look forward to hosting the anglers, their families, and the tremendous folks from The Bass Federation and Major League Fishing in our community.”

Student anglers will launch each day at 6 a.m. (or first safe light) from Green Pond Landing, located at 470 Green Pond Road Anderson. Weigh-ins will also be held at Green Pond Landing and will begin at 1:30 p.m. each day. Fans are welcome to attend and encouraged to follow the event live online through weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at HighSchoolFishing.org.

The student anglers pay no entry fee to compete in this one-of-a-kind dual event. The World Finals portion is the largest of all national High School events, and where the bulk of the prizes and scholarships are awarded. It is also the most difficult to win. The World Finals is open to any SAF member in the world, so all anglers attending will be competing in the World Finals. At the same time, on the dual-stage, the top 10% of High School teams from all SAF sanctioned events – including MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Opens Presented by Tackle Warehouse – in the last year are qualified to compete in the National Championship event, with its own set of prizes and scholarships that will top $500,000. The National Championship qualified teams are entered into both events and have a chance at both prize pools all in one trip.

In addition to the college scholarships and prizes offered, the High School Fishing National Champions will also advance to the 2024 MLF Toyota Series Championship, held Nov. 7-9 on Wheeler Lake in Huntsville, Alabama, Missouri, to compete as co-anglers and a shot at the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.

Proud sponsors of the MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

About The Bass Federation
The Bass Federation Inc., (TBF) is a member of the Freshwater Fishing Hall of Fame and headquartered out of Ponca City, Oklahoma. TBF is owned by those we serve and dedicated to the sport of fishing. The Federation is the largest and oldest, organized grassroots fishing, youth, and conservation organization there is. TBF, our affiliated state federations, and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 events each year and have provided a foundation for the entire bass fishing industry for over 55 years. TBF founded not only the Junior program in 1994 and the Student Angler Federation (SAF) and the National High School Fishing program in 2007 to promote clean family fun and education through fishing. Visit  bassfederation.com or highschoolfishing.org and “LIKE US” on Facebook.

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


Major League Fishing Reverses Zack Birge Penalty

BENTON, Ky. (June 12, 2024) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced Wednesday that it is reversing a penalty that was assessed on Zack Birge of Blanchard, Oklahoma, during Sunday’s final round of Bass Pro Tour Stage Five on the Chowan River. MLF is reinstating the weight of seven bass that were removed from SCORETRACKER®. The weight – 14 pounds, 13 ounces – moves Birge from eighth to seventh place in the final standings.

While it was ruled that Birge violated Bass Pro Tour rule 18 A, which prohibits an angler from leaving his boat to make it more accessible to fishing waters, it was subsequently determined that he did so with the understanding that permission had been granted by the tournament director and assistant tournament director.

Birge asked for permission to remove his drain plug so that his boat would temporarily fill with water, float lower and pass under a bridge to access water that he had not previously fished. The question was asked Sunday morning prior to takeoff, and permission was granted by the tournament director, as this is not a rule violation. Birge was not reminded at the time, however, that he could not exit his boat per rule 18 A to remove the drain plug. The tournament director operated under the incorrect assumption that Birge could reach the plug and remove it without leaving his boat, and Birge understood the ruling to mean that he could enter the water and remove his drain plug so long as he didn’t let go of the boat.

“After investigating the incident, it is clear that MLF tournament officials contributed to the violation,” said Kathy Fennel, MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager. “As such, it is unfair for us to hold an angler responsible for a violation when our actions and inactions implied express permission. We are therefore reinstating the weight of the bass Birge caught after passing under the low-hanging bridge.”

The assistant tournament director was the official in the boat with Birge at the time of the incident, and he did not immediately inform Birge that exiting his boat to remove his drain plug in this situation constituted a rule violation. If he had, the situation could have been resolved in real time.

“Mistakes were made,” Fennel said. “Our team has learned from them to make sure they do not happen again.”

Updated results from Bass Pro Tour Stage Five are as follows:

1st:         Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 22 bass, 58-14, $100,000
2nd:        Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 18 bass, 44-14, $45,000
3rd:        Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 20 bass, 41-14, $38,000
4th:         Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 12 bass, 36-1, $32,000
5th:         Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 12 bass, 31-4, $30,000
6th:         Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 13 bass, 31-0, $26,000
7th:         Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 12 bass, 26-5, $23,000
8th:         Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., seven bass, 25-10, $21,000
9th:         Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., six bass, 11-8, $19,000
10th:       Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., three bass, 9-15, $16,000

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


AC Insider Podcast - BPT Champion Drew Gill

 

The guys catch up with fellow AC Insider Drew Gill.  Fresh off his first BPT WIN, Drew has notched a 1st, 2nd, 3rd, AND 4th in FIVE starts on the Bass Pro Tour.  He dishes on the mindset and some of the techiniques that's making him one of the hottest rookies to hit the trail.  LOTS of info and some great perspective to make you a better angler in this one!

 


I Grew up Wanting to Be My Dad

By Alan McGuckin - Vexus Boats

One of the best pieces of advice any dad can give a child is to find a profession you truly love. Not just a job but a career that won’t make you dread Monday mornings. Blue collar or white collar, it doesn’t matter; just do your best to make a living doing something that brings soulful rewards each day. After all, most of us spend around 40 years working, so life’s way better when your work is centered on something you love. 

For three generations, the passion-based vocational path for talented fishing boatbuilders Burness “Nubbin” Stoner, his son, David, and grandson, Travis, has seemingly flowed as naturally as Jimmie Creek making its way into nearby Bull Shoals Lake. 

Grandfather “Nubbin” Stoner, now 84, was a legendary White River fishing guide and homebuilder who helped Forrest L. Wood build his first bass boats 56 years ago. He eventually became Wood’s top supervisor of all daily maintenance at the iconic facility—the same facility where his son David started sweeping floors and cleaning gel coat pumps soon after graduating from Flippin High School in 1988.

“I was just a kid trying to get my foot in the door. I was willing to do anything it took to learn how my dad and other craftsmen built a great bass boat. I paid close attention to everything they did and tried to make myself useful,” says David Stoner.

It’s fair to say his attentiveness back in 1988 paid off. Thirty-six years later, he is a highly respected and appreciated product design engineer for Vexus® Boats—in the same town where he once swept floors. 

“I took CAD classes and eventually moved into engineering, working closely with “White Cloud.” He was as good of a mentor as a person could ever ask for. Eventually, I was working with suppliers and even developing plumbing schematics for livewell and bilge systems,” reflects Stoner. 

“I joke that when we started Vexus, we didn’t even have a spare screw, but we had 50 years of experienced craftsmanship. Now, seven years later, I get to help engineer boats that look like pieces of art when they leave this top-notch facility and head to our dealers’ showrooms and customers’ garages. That’s extremely rewarding,” says David Stoner.

It’s the same kind of soulful satisfaction you’ll hear when you talk to David’s son, Travis. At age 31, you’ll find a young man who grew up following his dad around in the boatbuilding culture from the time he was a toddler, and now he’s the lead supervisor for the Vexus fabrication shop. 

“Dad would drop me off at the boat ramp on Bull Shoals before he went to work at the boat plant. I’d fish while he built boats. That’s who we are: fishermen and boatbuilders. Now I take my two little boys fishing nearly every weekend on the White River,” smiles Travis. 

Vexus V.P. of Operations Lance Newton is certainly proud of “Nubbin’s Grandson,” stating, “Not only is Travis completely committed to building the best product we possibly can each day, but he’s a great leader. He’s great with his crew, and perhaps the best compliment I can give him is that he’s a great family man who’s naturally instilling all the same values in his two young sons.” 

Travis Stoner’s perspective on life is indeed mature beyond his birthdays. He understands the big-time blessing of not only following in his family’s footsteps but doing something you love. 

“Vexus is still a fairly young company. We’ve grown really fast, and to achieve the level of quality we’re currently at while working with folks that are like family gives me a huge source of pride and daily satisfaction,” he says.

“I truly love it here, and getting to work under the same roof as my dad every day is a huge bonus too. I’ve looked up to him my whole life. I grew up wanting to be my dad. And now my little boy, Holden, tells me he’s gonna grow up and build boats with me and “Pa Pa” someday,” he smiles. 

If that comes true, it’s fair to say young Holden Stoner will someday be the fourth generation of highly talented Flippin, Arkansas, boatbuilders to never dread going to work on Monday morning and, instead, be much admired for continuing a family tradition known for the highest levels of commitment and craftsmanship. 


MLF Returns to Lake Champlain for Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 5 Presented by 7 Brew

150 Professional Anglers competing in Plattsburgh, New York next week for top prize of up to $115,000 and qualification into REDCREST 2025

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (June 10, 2024) – Major League Fishing (MLF) is set to return to Upstate New York this week, June 15-17, to launch the fifth Tackle Warehouse Invitational of the season – the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 5 at Lake Champlain Presented by 7 Brew . The three-day tournament will feature a roster of 150 anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2025 – MLF’s most prestigious event – for the chance to win up to $300,000.

Hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau, the event also showcases competitors competing for valuable points to win the coveted Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) title – including a $50,000 payout – and to qualify for the 2025 Bass Pro Tour, MLF’s premiere circuit.

This tournament marks the 73rd MLF (and FLW) tournament that Lake Champlain has hosted over the past 30 years. The scenic venue is a bucket-list destination for many MLF anglers, as the fishery is known for its plentiful largemouth and smallmouth bass populations. In this year’s event expect to see smallmouth reign supreme, as most of the fish will likely still be in their spawning and postspawn phases, according to local pro Ryan Latinville of Plattsburgh, who will be among the 150 competitors on the water next week.

“Typically this time of the year, they’re spawning, and I expect mid-lake to the northern end to really be a dominating factor next week,” Latinville said. “The smallmouth should play pretty big, and it’s going to be crucial to mix in the occasional largemouth.

“That’s going to be the real key to doing well in this one – figuring out how to catch the random big largemouth,” Latinville continued. “The weights are going to be stacked. Lake Champlain is loaded with 3-pounders. So a 5-pound largemouth is going to go a real long way in separating yourself from the pack.”

Latinville said that due to recent warmer temperatures, some fish may be further ahead than others.

“We’re going to see guys catching them on beds, and we’re going to see guys fishing offshore,” Latinville said. “The bed fish are typically smaller, but they’re attractive because you can see them. But with the fish that are further along, we might see some patterns and areas develop that we normally wouldn’t see this time of the year.”

Latinville predicted that the majority of anglers would be fishing typical Lake Champlain baits – drop-shot rigs, Ned rigs, topwater baits, flukes and spybaits.

“People have the northern end figured out, and I expect that is where the majority of the anglers will be. But Ticonderoga absolutely has the potential to go off. If someone can figure the largemouth out down there, they could absolutely win the tournament there.

“With the field of anglers that are competing in this one, it’s going to be a really competitive tournament,” Latinville went on to say. “I predict at the end, the three-day winner is going to have 60 pounds, 12 ounces.”

Anglers will launch at 6:30 a.m. ET each day from the Plattsburgh City Marina, located at 5 Dock St. in Plattsburgh. Weigh-ins will also be held at the marina 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 2024 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals feature a field of 150 professional anglers competing across six invitational tournaments around the country, for a total purse of $3.9 million and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points to qualify for a coveted spot on the MLF Bass Pro Tour, the sport’s top level.

In Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Saturday and Sunday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 30 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, advance to the final round on Championship Monday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $115,000. The winner of the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 5 at Lake Champlain Presented by 7 Brew will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight and will receive an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2025 on Lake Guntersville in Huntsville, Alabama.

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. ET. MLFNOW! will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

Television coverage of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Stop 5 at Lake Champlain Presented by 7 Brew will air as a two-hour episode, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 2 on CBS Sports Network.

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

For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Tackle Warehouse Invitational 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 Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.


BoatUS Foundation Opens Grant Program for $7.5M Effort to Remove Abandoned and Derelict Vessels (ADVs) from Nation’s Waterways

From June 10-August 12, organizations are invited to apply for grant funding to clean up their local waterways
WHAT:
In a nationwide effort to remove abandoned and neglected boats from our nation’s waterways, the Boat Owners Association of the United States (BoatUS) Foundation is seeking qualified, diverse and experienced organizations to submit projects for funding. The massive cleanup effort to remove abandoned and derelict vessels (ADV) in U.S. coastal waterways and the Great Lakes is fueled by a four-year, $10 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program with funding provided by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Applicants are encouraged to submit a letter of intent between June 10 and August 12.
ADVs litter ports, waterways, and estuaries all over the country and can cause major problems. These boats can crush or smother sensitive plants and corals, sink or move during coastal storms, threaten safe navigation, and contribute to economic losses. Removing ADVs is a costly effort, often averaging more than $24,000 to remove a single boat. For many communities, there may be no local funding for removal of vessels, and navigating complicated funding programs can be challenging for communities with limited time or resources. This is why the BoatUS Foundation grant program is so important.
“We’re excited about building upon our years of experience with ADV removals,” said BoatUS Foundation Director of Outreach and Grant Program Director, Alanna Keating. “This is a unique program that is open to any organization, nonprofit or for-profit, as well as local, state, territorial, tribal, and regional government agencies. Some of our focus will be seeking underserved or marginalized communities that don’t have the local resources to rid their shores of abandoned and derelict vessels.”
“Abandoned and derelict vessels are a widespread problem across the United States," said Nancy Wallace, Director of the NOAA Marine Debris Program. “We are pleased to partner with the BoatUS Foundation to maximize our impact, while reducing the accumulation of costly and damaging debris in our ports, waterways, and coasts.”
WHY:
The goal of the BoatUS Foundation program is to improve U.S. coastal and Great Lakes waters affected by ADVs and create a first-of-its-kind national online database to track ADV location and removal efforts. By removing the associated pollution, navigation and safety hazards ADVs can cause in waters for years, the 20-75 awardees of this grant program will have a lasting, positive impact on the environment and our waters locally and nationally for years to come.
HOW:
Organizations are invited to apply for ADV removal funds by submitting a letter of intent that answers the following questions:
  • Body of water from which the debris will be removed
  • The purpose of the project and the planned steps to complete it
  • Anticipated outcomes of the project on the environment and the community
  • How diversity, equity, justice and inclusion will be part of the project
  • Project budget and expenses to be covered by the grant funding
  • Authorizations and/or permits needed to complete the work
Priority will be given to projects that include input from and benefit tribal, underserved, or low-income communities; demonstrate strong community support; benefit marine animals and their habitats, local coastal communities, and/or local economies; and include local outreach and education activities directed toward the boating community and general public to prevent abandoned and derelict vessels.
More information on how to apply and grant guidelines can be found here. 

Simpson University Gets Second Consecutive Win at MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament on the California Delta Presented by Tackle Warehouse

OAKLEY, Calif. (June 10, 2024) – Simpson University angler James Hawkinson of Granite Bay, California, won the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on the California Delta presented by Tackle Warehouse Saturday with a five-bass limit weighing 13 pounds, 2 ounces. The victory earned the Redhawks’ bass club $2,000 and a qualification into the 2025 MLF College Fishing National Championship.

What a year it’s been already for Hawkinson. In May, he and partner Landon Ford won the College Fishing event at Lake Havasu. Fishing solo at the Cal Delta, Hawkinson made it back-to-back victories.

Playing the tides and hunting clean water in areas where he has experience and knows the grass beds were the keys to getting it done on the sprawling Cal Delta.

“I ran up north to Sycamore Slough, and I was throwing a topwater, a Teckel Kicknocker,” Hawkinson said. “I caught my big one on that, right over 5 pounds. After that, once the sun finally came up, I fished troughs while we still had a high tide. After that tide fell, I just chased that clean water back toward the central delta.”

Timing was critical. By running north, Hawkinson was able to capitalize on about 20 minutes of incoming tide first thing in the morning. That pushed bait and bass up onto a grass flat, which is where he fooled his kicker with the topwater lure. Once the tide was high, he worked a hard-bottom trough with a drop-shot and a wacky-rigged Yamamoto Senko, and he was able to catch his key fish within about an hour window centered around the high-tide switch.

“I culled a few times after, but it was all small culls,” Hawkinson added.

For his drop-shot, the senior business major used a 1/32-ounce weight.

“I put more fish in the boat with the drop-shot (than the topwater), for sure,” he said. “It was a super small weight because I didn’t want it to go through the grass. I just wanted it to sit on top.”

Hawkinson plans to graduate in about six months, and he’ll earn his degree a semester early. Then he can ride the solid momentum of this season into the business world while continuing to work his way up the bass fishing ranks.

The top 10 teams finished:

1st:        Simpson University – James Hawkinson, Granite Bay, Calif., five bass, 13-2
2nd:       Fresno State – Kent Moua and Seth Moua, Fresno, Calif., five bass, 11-7
3rd:       Chico State – Justin Hurney, Oakley, Calif., and Peter Khoury, Walnut Creek, Calif., five bass, 11-0
4th:        Sonoma State University – Justin Keegan, San Francisco, Calif., five bass, 10-9
5th:        Simpson University – Brayden Bishop, Anderson, Calif., and Jacob Greene, American Canyon, Calif., five bass, 10-4
6th:        Chico State – Brandon Huse, Gualala, Calif., and Austin Soucy, Dixon, Calif., five bass, 10-3
7th:        Chico State – Jordan Harris, Elk Grove, Calif., and Fisher Perkins, Rocklin, Calif., five bass, 8-7
8th:        Sacramento State – Jim Emory, Sacramento, Calif., and Chad Lo, Stockton, Calif., five bass, 8-5
9th:        Fresno State – Adam Lee, Sanger, Calif., and Aiden Vang, Fresno, Calif., three bass, 4-11
10th:     Fresno State – Jake Fritz, Lodi, Calif., and Bryce Powell, Acampo, Calif., four bass, 0-0

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on the Cal Delta was hosted by the City of Oakley. The next tournament for MLF College Fishing anglers will be the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on the St. Lawrence River, Aug. 25 in Massena, New York

The 2024 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI season features college teams from across the country competing in nine regular-season tournaments. The top 12 percent of teams from each regular-season tournament advance to the 2025 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship.

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

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

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


Off 2 Fish Fishing Club Wins MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse Open on California Delta

OAKLEY, Calif. (June 10, 2024) – The MLF High School Fishing team of Carter Martin of Rocklin, California, and Ryan Vinci of Lincoln, California, representing Club Off 2 Fish, brought five bass to the scale Saturday weighing 18 pounds, 3 ounces to win the MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse Open at the California Delta in Oakley, California.

A field of 30 teams competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which was hosted by the City of Oakley. In MLF High School Fishing competition, the top 10 percent of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.

The top three teams that advanced to the 2025 High School Fishing National Championship are:

1st: Club Off 2 Fish, Carter Martin, Rocklin, Calif.,  and Ryan Vinci, Lincoln, Calif., five bass, 18-3
2nd: Hughson High School, Hughson, Calif., Logan Dekleva and Landon Mason, five bass, 16-13
3rd: Vista del Lago High School, Folsom, Calif., Gavin Benson and Jack Constantino, five bass, 14-7

Rounding out the top 10 teams were:

4th: Liberty/Heritage High School, Brentwood, Calif., Rhylan McMurray and Ryan Reddoch, five bass, 13-8
5th: Delta Saints Bass Team, Clarksburg, Calif., Jax Soto and Nathan Tritt, five bass, 12-15
6th: Delta Saints Bass Team, Clarksburg, Calif., Gabe Gonzalez and Garret Hickman, five bass, 12-14
7th: Oakdale High School, Oakdale, Calif., Troy Cox and Zane Ravalin, five bass, 12-12
8th: Liberty/Heritage High School, Brentwood, Calif., Mikey Armstrong and JD Farage, five bass, 12-5
9th: SoCal Junior Bass Anglers, Poway, Calif., Chris Cangas and Kaine Navarro, five bass, 11-2
10th: Vista del Lago High School, Folsom, Calif., Murdoc McGinnis and Andrew Norberto, five bass, 10-15

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

MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing presented by Tackle Warehouse tournaments are free, two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and are open to any MLF and TBF Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school club. The top 10 percent of teams at each Open event, along with the TBF High School Fishing state championships, advance to the 2025 High School Fishing National Championship.

The 2024 Abu Garcia High School Fishing National Championship & World Finals events will take place next week, June 19-22, at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina. The High School Fishing National Champions each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice and advance to the 2024 MLF Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

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


Winston-Salem’s Whicker Posts Second Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at High Rock Lake

Riddle, of Hiwassee, Virginia, Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

LEXINGTON, N.C. (June 10, 2024) – Boater Ladd Whicker of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 21 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on High Rock Lake . The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Piedmont Division. Whicker earned $9,089, including the lucrative $5,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.

Whicker was able to secure the win at High Rock by making a key move mid-morning.

“I caught the fish offshore,” he said. “I thought we were going to fish shallow. And that’s how I’d gotten most of the bites (in practice). This morning (Saturday) I didn’t get many bites that way so I went and fished offshore. It very fortunately worked out. There’s really not a lot of fish out in the lake right now. There are more fish shallow than deep, but the right size is out there and that’s what worked out.”

Whicker gave the shallow bite a couple hours in the morning. Thankfully, he’d practiced offshore too, and he has many years of experience on the lake. So he had some spots to fall back on during the tournament. Plus, he found a couple new spots. Once he made the adjustment to fish out, Whicker kept it simple.

“I caught ’em on plastics – a Texas rig and shaky head. Normal stuff,” Whicker added.

“I think most people were fishing shallow, so there weren’t that many people fishing out,” he added. “That left everything pretty open. That probably had as much to do with me being able to catch them as anything.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Ladd Whicker, Winston-Salem, N.C., five bass, 21-3, $9,089 (includes $5,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd:       Jake Frye, Charlotte, N.C., five bass, 19-12, $1,644
3rd:       Jonathan Bailey, Peterstown, W.Va., five bass, 17-12, $1,097
4th:        Conrad Manuel, Pilot Mountain, N.C., five bass, 17-0, $767
5th:        Kevin Chandler, New London, N.C., five bass, 15-15, $658
6th:        Ben Robertson, Walnut Cove, N.C., five bass, 15-14, $603
7th:        Keith Roberts, Hurt, Va., four bass, 15-13, $548
8th:        Ron Rousseau, Raleigh, N.C., five bass, 15-9, $465
8th:        Chris Brummett, Lynch Station, Va., four bass, 15-9, $465
10th:     Harrison McCall, Salisbury, N.C., five bass, 15-8, $384

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Mitch Drew of Gold Hill, North Carolina, caught a bass that weighed 7 pounds and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $395.

Dustin Riddle of Hiwassee, Virginia, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,578 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 14 pounds, 6 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Dustin Riddle, Hiwassee, Va., five bass, 14-6, $1,578
2nd:       Alex Moss, Lambsburg, Va., five bass, 12-5, $889
3rd:       Randall Gardner, Salisbury, N.C., five bass, 11-8, $526
4th:        Les Tate, China Grove, N.C., four bass, 11-5, $368
5th:        Jonathan Lowe, Lexington, N.C., three bass, 10-11, $501
6th:        Trent McBride, Galax, Va., four bass, 10-8, $289
7th:        Jeff Rikard, Leesville, S.C., four bass, 9-7, $413
8th:        Travis Owens, Hurt, Va., three bass, 9-2, $237
9th:        Mekye Barnes, Knightdale, N.C., two bass, 8-15, $210
10th:     Bryson Giles, Bedford, Va., four bass, 8-8, $184

Jonathan Lowe of Lexington, North Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $185, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 4 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After three events, Adam Lester of Huddleston, Virginia, leads the Fishing Clash Piedmont Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 713 points, while Dustin Riddle of Hiwassee, Virginia, leads the Fishing Clash Piedmont Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 733 points.

The next event for BFL Piedmont Division anglers will be held Aug. 3, at the James River in Henrico, Virginia. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 17-19 BFL Regional tournament on Clarks Hill Lake in Appling, Georgia. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

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

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

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


Batesville’s Pieper Frogs His Way to the Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Dardanelle

Mountainburg’s Vanourny Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (June 10, 2024) – Boater Richard Pieper of Batesville, Arkansas, caught a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds, 15 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Dardanelle. Hosted by Russellville Tourism, the tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Arkie Division. Pieper earned $4,009 for his victory.

Pieper caught his fish the way every bass angler wants to catch them in early summer – on a frog.

“I was fishing shallow-water weeds, probably anywhere from 2 1/2 feet or less,” he said. “All my fish that hit the scales were on a frog. I had to have current. It had to be around current-based weeds where there was a little bit of flow through the weeds.”

Snag Proof Bobby’s Perfect Frog was Pieper’s go-to. He said he spent the tournament in “what you would call the river part” of Lake Dardanelle.

“It was either just on the main river or just off the main river, in the heavier flow of current,” he said.

The fish came from a mix of grass. It really didn’t matter the type, just as long as it was close to the bank and being hit by current.

“I probably caught 50 or 60 fish today,” Pieper said. “I would probably say 75 percent of those fish were on a frog. I fished the same pattern all day. A lot of them (that he weighed in) came on probably a 300-yard stretch. I had eight different areas I caught fish on, but three of the big ones came on that stretch.

“My last cull was probably in the last hour and a half of the day. I caught another one over 4 (pounds). It was one of those days I couldn’t do anything wrong.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Richard Pieper, Batesville, Ark., five bass, 18-15, $4,009
2nd:       Mike Rhinehart, Pottsville, Ark., five bass, 18-1, $2,005
3rd:       Kirk Smith, Edmond, Okla., five bass, 17-4, $1,336
4th:        Blake Anschultz, Newport, Ark., five bass, 17-2, $1,485
5th:        Cloys Warren, Tuckerman, Ark., five bass, 16-11, $802
6th:        Sawyer Grace, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 15-15, $1,035
7th:        Matt Hamby, Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 15-14, $668
8th:        Chris Huselton, Conway, Ark., five bass, 15-8, $601
9th:        Reid Prescott, Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 15-4, $535
10th:     Ethan Stokes, Dover, Ark., five bass, 14-10, $468

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Blake Anschultz of Newport, Arkansas, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 5 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $550.

Stephen Vanourny of Mountainburg, Arkansas, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,005 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 14 pounds, 1 ounce.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Stephen Vanourny, Mountainburg, Ark., five bass, 14-1, $2,005
2nd:       Kelly Shamlin Jr., Benton, Ark., five bass, 12-15, $1,002
3rd:       Jonathan Dotson, Dover, Ark., five bass, 12-11, $668
4th:        Alan Bernicky, Joliet, Ill., four bass, 12-0, $993
5th:        Stephen Simms, Hot Springs, Ark., four bass, 11-12, $401
6th:        Mike Flory, London, Ark., five bass, 11-1, $368
7th:        Kelvin Trotter, North Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 10-6, $334
8th:        Clayton Self, Mabelvale, Ark., five bass, 10-3, $301
9th:        Randy Allen, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 10-1, $267
10th:     Isaiah Vickers, Sherwood, Ark., five bass, 9-9, $234

Alan Bernicky of Joliet, Illinois, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $275, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 13 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After four events, Chris Darby of Hot Springs, Arkansas, leads the Fishing Clash Arkie Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 952 points, while Jonathan Dotson of Dover, Arkansas, leads the Fishing Clash Arkie Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 946 points.

The next event for BFL Arkie Division anglers will be held Sept. 21-22, at Bull Shoals Lake in Bull Shoals, Arkansas. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 17-19 BFL Regional tournament on Wright Patman Lake in Texarkana, Texas. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

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

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

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


Oakwood’s Quisno Catches Winning Limit from Lily Pads at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Mosquito Lake

Franklin’s Prater Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

CORTLAND, Ohio (June 10, 2024) – Boater Benjamin Quisno of Oakwood, Ohio, caught a five-bass limit weighing 19 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Mosquito Lake. The tournament was the second event of the season for the BFL Buckeye Division. Quisno earned $4,244 for his victory.

Mosquito Lake is one of the hotter inland bass fisheries in Ohio right now, and it’s stacked with fish. For Quisno, the key was getting dialed in on the right bass to win a tournament against the best anglers in the Buckeye State.

“Catching fish was not a problem, and that’s not a problem most of the time there,” he said. “It’s just catching better quality fish. In practice, I started out marking bluegill beds and crappie beds in grass in 8 to 12 foot of water. And that’s not really my strength.

“I started out (the tournament) fishing shallow around the pads. And if you could find hydrilla and milfoil that was still there, that was like a magic combo. If you could find hydrilla or milfoil the amount of bites you would get would go through the roof.”

Quisno sorted out the right grass combo by throwing a topwater in practice, but in the tournament, he changed it up.

He ran to his starting area and caught a limit within about 45 minutes on a ChatterBait. Quisno then bounced around to areas with sparse grass until ultimately circling back to a key stretch of lily pads – a move that ultimately led to his win.

“It wasn’t until probably the middle of the morning that the sun came out and it actually stayed out; it wasn’t partly cloudy,” Quisno said. “The fish just started munching in the pads. I don’t think those fish were there in the morning.”

The lily pad bite got hot quickly, with Quisno “intercepting” fish that were moving in from scattered grass through the pads to shallower cover.

“There were three pad fields that I would say are probably average size for there, and I know those pad fields were a little clearer,” he said. “There were two of them that had other boats that were fishing them. For some strange reason the one pad field I was catching them in – it was crazy – I don’t think another boat came within 400 yards from noon to the time I came in.”

Most of the pad fish bit a Yamamoto Senko.

“It seemed like the bigger fish just wanted something slow and dragging,” said Quisno, who relied on past experience fishing in Florida to know that he’d have to slow way down and occasionally dead-stick his worm on bottom to get bit. “I was fishing it weightless or Texas-rigged. It depended on how thick the pads were. Sometimes the wind would be blowing. Then other times it would be gusting for 20 to 30 minutes to where I would use a small sinker.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Benjamin Quisno, Oakwood, Ohio, five bass, 19-3, $4,244
2nd:       Sean Wieda, Alexandria, Ky., five bass, 18-12, $2,122
3rd:       Nathan Digiacobbe, Girard, Ohio, five bass, 17-7, $2,013
4th:        Donald Sibley, Strasburg, Ohio, five bass, 16-10, $990
5th:        Brian Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, five bass, 16-1, $1,149
6th:        Tim Snively, Trenton, Ohio, five bass, 15-7, $778
7th:        Jeremy Tenwalde, Ft. Jennings, Ohio, five bass, 15-5, $707
8th:        Mike Blake, Carrollton, Ohio, five bass, 14-9, $1,137 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
9th:        Brandon Freer, Youngstown, Ohio, five bass, 14-8, $566
10th:     Randy Dustin, Falconer, N.Y., five bass, 14-5, $495

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Nathan Digiacobbe of Girard, Ohio, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 1 ounce, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $600.

David Prater of Franklin, Ohio, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,122 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 16 pounds, 11 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        David Prater, Franklin, Ohio, five bass, 16-11, $2,122
2nd:       James Anderson, Valley City, Ohio, five bass, 15-3, $1,061
3rd:       Jason Stock, Maineville, Ohio, five bass, 15-0, $707
4th:        Brett Warrick, Powell, Ohio, five bass, 13-11, $495
5th:        Dan Minor, Norwalk, Ohio, five bass, 12-1, $424
6th:        Douglas Shope, Arcanum, Ohio, five bass, 11-10, $389
7th:        Ryan Kriegel, Delphos, Ohio, five bass, 10-11, $354
8th:        John C. Miller, Washington, Pa., four bass, 10-8, $318
9th:        Anthony Bell Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio, five bass, 10-7, $283
10th:     Brent Jones, Okeana, Ohio, four bass, 10-3, $248

Donnie Phillips of Albany, Ohio, and Kenneth Wessel of Fayetteville, Ohio, tied for the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award by each catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 8 ounces. They each took home $150 for their share of the prize.

After two events, Sean Wieda of Alexandria, Kentucky, leads the Fishing Clash Buckeye Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 499 points, while Douglas Shope of Arcanum, Ohio, leads the Fishing Clash Buckeye Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 491 points.

The next event for BFL Buckeye Division anglers will be held June 29, at Ohio River-Tanners Creek in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-5 BFL Regional tournament on Kerr Lake in Henderson, North Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

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

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

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


Harriman’s Moore Earns First Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Watts Bar Lake

Wartburg’s Malone Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

SPRING CITY, Tenn. (June 10, 2024) – Boater Jeffery Moore of Harriman, Tennessee, caught a three-bass limit weighing 13 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Watts Bar Lake . The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Volunteer Division. Moore earned $8,889, including the lucrative $5,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.

To protect the resource, the anglers competing at Watts Bar were held to a three-fish limit. For Moore, catching a 13-plus-pound three-fish bag was a solid showing for this time of year

“I grew up on that lake fishing,” he said. “I ran history. I’ve been catching a few fish off a place cranking. I pulled up there today (Saturday) and I caught a good one and a keeper. Then I ran another spot and caught my third one. And then I went flipping after that. I put a jig in my hand and went flipping the rest of the day. I caught my biggest fish flipping and probably caught two limits flipping.”

Later in the day, Moore pulled up on a key brush pile sunk in about 11 feet of water and, using a worm, landed a 3-pounder that gave him the final boost he needed to lock up the win by just 8 ounces over second place.

It was classic summertime run-and-gun fishing. After he caught his initial limit cranking, Moore was confident that if he could get a quality bite up shallow on a jig, which he did, that he’d have a chance to win it. But he knew he had to mix it up, too. Moore’s final three-fish limit consisted of one caught on a crankbait, one on a worm and one on a jig.

“The lake’s not fishing as good as it used to. Used to this time of year you could stay deep and you could just hit holes. They’d school up. They don’t school up like they used to. You just kind of have to run water.”

While reflecting on his win, Moore thanked Phoenix Boats dealer Bunch Marine in Harriman, Tennessee, for their support.

“They take really good care of me,” he added. “They’ve treated me really well. Super nice people.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Jeffery Moore, Harriman, Tenn., three bass, 13-2, $8,889 (includes $5,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd:       Jake Gardner, Lenoir City, Tenn., three bass, 12-10, $1,944
3rd:       Travis Bowen, Duffield, Va., three bass, 9-11, $1,297
4th:        Dustin Dyer, Johnson City, Tenn., three bass, 9-8, $907
5th:        Randy Oliver, Johnston City, Tenn., three bass, 9-7, $778
6th:        Derrick Blake, Rockwood, Tenn., three bass, 9-6, $713
7th:        John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., three bass, 9-5, $583
7th:        Blake Wheat, Evensville, Tenn., three bass, 9-5, $583
7th:        Dalton Munsey, Washburn, Tenn., three bass, 9-5, $1,108
10th:     Chase Henley, Kingston, Tenn., three bass, 9-4, $579

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Dalton Munsey of Washburn, Tennessee, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 15 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $525.

Travis Malone of Wartburg, Tennessee, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,494 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 8 pounds, 13 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Travis Malone, Wartburg, Tenn., three bass, 8-13, $2,494
2nd:       Matt Burgess, Knoxville, Tenn., three bass, 8-5, $972
3rd:       Konnor Sweet, Abingdon, Va., three bass, 8-4, $649
4th:        Don Bible, Knoxville, Tenn., three bass, 7-5, $454
5th:        Conner Hicks, Tazewell, Va., three bass, 7-3, $389
6th:        Shaun Godsey, Decatur, Tenn., three bass, 6-15, $356
7th:        Tyler Wyrick, Sharps Chapel, Tenn., two bass, 6-8, $308
7th:        Corey Smith, Hazard, Ky., three bass, 6-8, $308
9th:        Rex Henry, Hixson, Tenn., three bass, 6-7, $259
10th:     Harold Addison II, Columbia, S.C., three bass, 6-0, $227

Dewayne Drummonds of Gray, Kentucky, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $262, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 5 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After four events, Corey Neece of Bristol, Tennessee, leads the Fishing Clash Volunteer Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 943 points, while Keith Gunsauls of Dandridge, Tennessee, leads the Fishing Clash Volunteer Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 946 points.

The next event for BFL Volunteer Division anglers will be held Sept. 28-29, at Lake Cherokee in Jefferson City, Tennessee. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 17-19 BFL Regional tournament on Clarks Hill Lake in Appling, Georgia. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.

The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

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

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

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


Rookie Drew Gill Conquers Chowan River to Claim First Bass Pro Tour Win at U.S. Air Force Stage Five Presented by WIX Filters

Illinois pro catches 22 bass totaling 58-14 on final day to earn top award of $100,000

EDENTON, N.C. (June 9, 2024) – Over the past two years, Bass Pro Tour rookie Drew Gill of Mount Carmel, Illinois, has rocketed up the tournament-fishing ranks about as rapidly as any angler in recent memory. Competing in his fifth Bass Pro Tour event at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour U.S. Air Force Stage Five Presented by WIX Filters on the Chowan River, he made it to the mountaintop.

Gill put together an epic run during the second period of Sunday’s Championship Round on the Chowan River. In a little less than 2 hours, the 22-year-old rookie stacked 10 bass totaling 31 pounds, 12 ounces onto SCORETRACKER®. The best period logged by any angler during the event, it turned a nearly 9-pound deficit to Michael Neal of Dayton, Tennessee , into better than a 14-pound advantage. The rest of the way, Gill would add another 10 pounds and change, bringing his total to 58-14 — also the best day for any angler all week. That topped Neal by 14 pounds, earning Gill $100,000 and his first BPT trophy.

“All I’ve wanted for the last few years was to just make it to this field and get to compete against these guys,” Gill said. “To make it to this field and get to compete against them and get a win in my rookie season, the feeling is absolutely unquantifiable.”

On one hand, it might seem like Gill, who started fishing tournaments in 2021 and was competing at the Abu Garcia College Fishing level as recently as this January, came out of nowhere to reach this point. On the other, the victory almost feels like a long time coming.

After qualifying for the Bass Pro Tour during his first season fishing the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Gill wasted little time showing he could hang with the best. He finished third in his debut event on Toledo Bend, then fourth at Stage Three on Dale Hollow and second in his most recent BPT start on Lake Eufaula in Oklahoma. Add in his three Top 10s at the Invitationals level this season — including his first pro win on Sam Rayburn Reservoir in February — and it seemed like only a matter of time until Gill would hoist a Bass Pro Tour trophy.

“It's not really felt like a long time coming, it’s just felt like a lot of chances coming,” Gill said.

Still, Gill admitted he didn’t think this would be the week he broke into the winner’s circle. While he cruised through the Qualifying Rounds, finishing second in Group B, he said Friday afternoon that he hadn’t expected to make the Knockout Round following a “mediocre at best” practice, and he worried that he was running out of water to fish.

“I’ve always been a small-wins guy, a small-victories guy — like, a check here, making a Top 10 when you don’t expect it, things like that,” Gill said. “I’ve never been the kind of guy to expect to win.”

While he wound up making the Top 10 with relative ease, Gill’s chances of winning looked especially slim at 9:45 a.m. Sunday. At that point, he’d caught just two scorable bass for 3-15 — 24-9 back of Neal, who stacked up more than 17 pounds in 18 minutes during a furious flurry.

That all changed when Gill made a move to an area he’d discovered on the second day of Qualifying Rounds. Already one of the savviest strategists in the game, Gill marked the spot while searching for new water once he knew he’d secured a spot in the Knockout Round. Then, after a quick start Saturday, he decided to keep it in reserve for the Championship Round.

“I found that at the end of the Qualifying Round,” he said. “I actually was about to go pull the trigger and go there yesterday, and I caught a couple scorable bass, and it kept me from going.”

Even Gill didn’t realize how important that decision would be.

“I thought it had like 10- or 12-pounds’ worth of potential, and just went to absolutely waylaying on them.”

Gill described the area as the mouth of a major tributary of the Chowan River. While offshore, the water was “decently shallow” and dotted with fallen cypress trees, brushpiles and other wood cover. It produced not only numbers of bites but big ones — seven of the 10 fish he caught during the second period weighed 3 pounds or more.

“There was a good baitfish population in that area,” Gill explained. “The water fell a little bit today, and any time you’re fishing out in front of a major tributary and the water falls, you’re going to gain a population. And man, it was textbook, the fish were a little more grouped up per piece of cover, and the more you had on a single piece of cover, the more likely you were to get bit.”

It’s no secret that Gill’s rise has resulted from his mastery of Garmin LiveScope. On paper, this didn’t figure to be an event that would fit that skillset — what little local knowledge there was of the Chowan River prior to the first national event on its waters suggested that shallow, target-oriented power fishing would be the way to win.

But, as he’s proven multiple times this year, the type of tournaments where many don’t think to lean on forward-facing sonar are where Gill tends to shine. He’s not just a savant at beaming bass, but understanding, anticipating and patterning their behavior.

“Non-traditional ‘Scope tournaments are generally single-fish tournaments where you’ve got to catch single fish off single targets, and I feel like I’m really in tune with how to pattern that and how to run around and find more when I need it,” Gill said. “Just in terms of knowing when to make those decisions and knowing how to keep fishing fresh water, knowing the importance of it.”

Making short pitches to cover on the Chowan, Gill set his LiveScope to 62 feet out and 16 feet down. All his fish Sunday ate a Big Bite Baits Finesse Worm on a drop-shot with a 1/8-ounce weight, which he threw on a 7-foot, medium-heavy, extra-fast Ark Reinforcer spinning rod.

“I could keep it off the bottom, off the silt and off the little stubble cover on the bottom, but I could still pitch it effectively and quick,” Gill said of the drop-shot. “I could be real efficient, and I could keep it from getting snagged up, because I had it Tex-posed.”

Shortly after noon, Gill added a 3-14 to his rapidly rising total and took the lead for the first time. At that moment, the “small-wins guy” realized that the biggest win of his life was there for the taking. After three close calls in the past four events, he wasn’t about to let this one slip away.

“As soon as we took that lead, I kind of mentally just locked into what I was doing and knew that I was probably going to get the opportunities I needed to get it done this afternoon,” Gill said. “Thankfully, I made good on most of those, and it ended up being enough.”

The top 10 pros from the U.S. Air Force Stage Five at Chowan River Presented by WIX Filters finished:

1st:         Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 22 bass, 58-14, $100,000
2nd:        Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 18 bass, 44-14, $45,000
3rd:        Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 20 bass, 41-14, $38,000
4th:         Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 12 bass, 36-1, $32,000
5th:         Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 12 bass, 31-4, $30,000
6th:         Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 13 bass, 31-0, $26,000
7th:         Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., seven bass, 25-10, $23,000
8th:         Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., five bass, 11-8, $21,000
9th:         Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., six bass, 11-8, $19,000
10th:       Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., three bass, 9-15, $16,000

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 118 scorable bass weighing 302 pounds, 8 ounces, caught by 10 pros Sunday, which included two 8-pounders, one 6-pounder, four 5-pounders, four 4-pounders and 14 3-pounders.

Matt Becker of Ten Mile, Pennsylvania, earned Sunday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with an 8-pound, 4-ounce largemouth bass that he caught on a jerkbait during Period 2. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

Zack Birge of Blanchard, Oklahoma, had seven bass removed from his total catch for violating Bass Pro Tour rule No. 18-A. Birge ended the day with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 8 ounces and finished the event in 8thplace.

The stage is set for another four-way race for the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year award down the season’s home stretch. Jacob Wheeler, who entered Stage Five leading the season-long points standings, padded his advantage a bit. The two-time AOY winner now leads Alton Jones Jr. by 14 points, while Dustin Connell lurks 11½  points back of Jones with two events left.

Don’t discount Gill, either. The rookie climbed to fourth place in the standings with his victory, just four points back of Connell. While Gill would need the anglers in front of him to stumble to become the second consecutive rookie to win AOY (he’s 28.5 points back of Wheeler), it’s not out of the question.

Fishing Clash, an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide, is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League. You can download Fishing Clash for free in the App Store and on Google Play or log on to www.fishingclash.game for more information.

The U.S. Air Force Stage Five at Chowan River Presented by WIX Filters featured the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers caught as much weight as they could each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament featured anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce 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 six-day tournament, hosted by the Town of Edenton, the Chowan County Tourism Development Authority and Harbor Towns Cruises, showcased 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

Television coverage of the U.S. Air Force Stage Five at Chowan River Presented by WIX Filters Knockout Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 26 on Discovery, with the Championship Round premiering on Nov. 2. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.

The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 79 of the top 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 General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Rapala, REDCON1, Star brite, Suzuki, Toyota, WIX Filters and U.S. Air Force.

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 FacebookXInstagram and YouTube.

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


River fishing suits Tithof and Hardebeck as they win Bassmaster High School Series event on Saginaw Bay

June 9, 2024

River fishing suits Tithof and Hardebeck as they win Bassmaster High School Series event on Saginaw Bay

BAY CITY, Mich. — The big waters might have been off-limits due to weather Sunday for the Strike King Bassmaster High School Series at Saginaw Bay, but Carson Tithof and Maverick Hardebeck had no problem catching a big limit in the confines of the Saginaw River and clinching the tournament title.

Tithof and Hardebeck, fishing as part of Grand Haven Bassmasters (Mich.) Fishing Team, caught five bass totaling 17 pounds, 4 ounces, giving them an 8-ounce edge over the field of 60 teams competing in the one-day derby in northeast Michigan.

The duo won $1,006 cash for placing first at Saginaw. The boys also qualified for the Strike King Bassmaster High School National Championship, which is scheduled for Aug. 1-3 at Chickamauga Lake in Dayton, Tenn.

The Saginaw system might be in their home state, but Tithof and Hardebeck have only fished it once before. Still, they were completely confident river fishing on Sunday — something they do several times a week on the Grand River back home in western Michigan.

“It’s pretty much exactly the same,” Tithof said. “We didn’t plan on going into the bay at all, so that being off-limits didn’t affect us. We knew we wanted to fish in the river because it’s what we’re used to doing.”

The boys’ day started strong, with a limit of bass in the livewell within 30 minutes of their first cast. They culled a few times over the next few hours, but by 10 a.m., their bite was done. Luckily, they already had enough weight to be atop the leaderboard by that time.

“It really was a grind for a while,” Tithof said. “And it was hard to fish in the wind, as hard as it was blowing.”

The victors threw white swim jigs on about 90% of their casts. They looked for breaks in current, typically near logs and other floating structure, where a mix of largemouth and smallmouth bass were stacked.

“We mixed in a beaver (creature bait), too,” Hardebeck said.

The combination was just what they’d have done on the Grand River, and the similarities paid dividends. They weighed three largemouth and two smallmouth, with one of the smallies (4-10) winning Big Bass of the Tournament honors.

The High School National Championship berth is the first for both Tithof, 17, and Hardebeck, 15. They previously competed in the Bassmaster Junior Nationals a couple of seasons ago.

A whopping 44 of 60 competing teams caught limits. Behind Tithof and Hardebeck, top tandems included second place, Landon Gabby and Kolby Baker, Marion (Ill.) High School Bass Fishing Team, 16-12; third, Olevir Johnson and Allen Moore, Oldham County (Ky.) High School Bass Team, 16-10; fourth, Oliver Neumann and Wyatt Feiguy, Zimmerman Thunder (Minn.) Bass Team, 16-3; and fifth, Michael Harris and Kayden Waller, Mt. Juliet (Tenn.) Fishing Team, 15-7.

The derby was the last of the 2024 Strike King Bassmaster High School regular season, with tournaments previously held at Clarks Hill Reservoir in Georgia, Douglas Lake in Tennessee and Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Texas.

Go Great Lakes Bay hosted this week’s events.

2024 Bassmaster High School Series Title Sponsor: Strike King

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

2024 Bassmaster High School Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano

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 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), 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.

-30-

Connect with #Bassmaster on FacebookInstagramTwitter and TikTok.

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

 

2024 Strike King Bassmaster High School Series at Saginaw Bay 6/9-6/9
Saginaw Bay, Bay City,  MI.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

Angler                                       Club/School                       Pts

1.  Carson Tithof - Maverick Hardebeck           Grand Haven Lakeshore Middle Sch      0
Day 1: 5   17-04   Total:   5  17-04
2.  Landon Gabby - Kolby Baker                   Marion High School Bass Fishing       0
Day 1: 5   16-12   Total:   5  16-12
3.  Olevir Johnson - Allen Moore                 Oldham Co High School Bass Team       0
Day 1: 5   16-10   Total:   5  16-10
4.  Oliver Neumann - Wyatt Feiguy                Zimmerman Thunder - MN                0
Day 1: 5   16-03   Total:   5  16-03
5.  Michael Harris - Kayden Waller               Mt Juliet Fishing Team                0
Day 1: 5   15-07   Total:   5  15-07
6.  Tanner Russell - Daniel Lowhorn              Mt. Juliet High School - TN           0
Day 1: 5   15-06   Total:   5  15-06
7.  Nate Helmreich - Luke Farminer               Freeland Bass Fishing                 0
Day 1: 5   15-02   Total:   5  15-02
8.  Carter Pjesky - JD McBroom                   Off the Hook Bassmasters - IL         0
Day 1: 5   14-15   Total:   5  14-15
9.  Easton Drennon - Cole Petroff                Mt Juliet Fishing Team                0
Day 1: 5   14-12   Total:   5  14-12
10. Harrison Hobbs - Cade Speligene              Music City Bass                       0
Day 1: 5   14-10   Total:   5  14-10
11. Brayden Tisdale - Reece Kilian               Emerald Coast Youth Bassmasters       0
Day 1: 5   14-03   Total:   5  14-03
12. Kaden Dorman - Owen Nepple                   Iowa Youth Fishing League High S      0
Day 1: 5   13-04   Total:   5  13-04
13. Rylan Hamlin - Luke Hendrick                 Jackson High School Bass Fishing      0
Day 1: 5   12-14   Total:   5  12-14
14. Brayden Vallie - Carson Vallie               Fruitport High School - MI            0
Day 1: 5   12-12   Total:   5  12-12
15. Zach Knight - Luke Malik                     Gallatin High School                  0
Day 1: 5   12-07   Total:   5  12-07
16. Elijah Ambrose - Jarren Crowder              Hs Potomac River Bassmasters          0
Day 1: 5   12-06   Total:   5  12-06
17. Max Himmel - Connor Hebert                   Catholic High School Fishing          0
Day 1: 5   12-02   Total:   5  12-02
18. Brody Brinson - Greer Gammon                 Mt Juliet Fishing Team                0
Day 1: 5   11-13   Total:   5  11-13
19. Jesse Lancaster - Fisher Lancaster           Triangle Bass Club                    0
Day 1: 5   11-11   Total:   5  11-11
19. Derek Davis - Evan Wood                      Mt Pleasant High School Bass Tea      0
Day 1: 5   11-11   Total:   5  11-11
21. Hollis Rose - Grant Arnold                   Jefferson County Patriot Anglers      0
Day 1: 5   11-10   Total:   5  11-10
22. Parker Hill - Wesson Vint                    Track And Channel Youth               0
Day 1: 5   11-07   Total:   5  11-07
22. Sam Volbert - Brody  Alderman                Music City Bass                       0
Day 1: 5   11-07   Total:   5  11-07
24. Daniel Ruhe - Michael Duvall                 Black Swamp High School Fishing       0
Day 1: 5   10-15   Total:   5  10-15
25. Andrew Terry - Carson Bryant                 Dchs Fishing Team                     0
Day 1: 5   10-13   Total:   5  10-13
26. Luke Childs - David Stockard                 Music City Bass                       0
Day 1: 5   10-10   Total:   5  10-10
27. Grant Nore - Marshall Nesheim                Iowa Youth Fishing League High S      0
Day 1: 5   10-09   Total:   5  10-09
28. Jaxson Pierce - Tucker Larrance              Jefferson County Patriot Anglers      0
Day 1: 5   10-06   Total:   5  10-06
29. Presley Lannom - Trevor Sanford              Mt. Juliet High School - TN           0
Day 1: 5   10-03   Total:   5  10-03
30. Brooks Putnam - Daylin Doak                  Mt. Juliet High School - TN           0
Day 1: 5   10-02   Total:   5  10-02
30. Trey Richardson III - Reid Luckett           Free State Bass                       0
Day 1: 5   10-02   Total:   5  10-02
30. Luke Somerville - Leeand Fox                  Gaylord High School Bass Angler      0
Day 1: 5   10-02   Total:   5  10-02
33. Ryan Kahut - Cole Stead                      Brighton High School                  0
Day 1: 5   10-01   Total:   5  10-01
34. Hayden Barnett - Camdyn Cranfill             Kingston High School - TN             0
Day 1: 5   09-08   Total:   5  09-08
35. Porter Morrison - Brayden Morgan             Catholic High School Fishing          0
Day 1: 5   09-07   Total:   5  09-07
36. Tyler Gentry - Abe Sledge                    Loudon Bass Club                      0
Day 1: 5   09-06   Total:   5  09-06
37. Annie Lassiter - Crew Morrone                Warren Co High School Pioneer An      0
Day 1: 5   09-04   Total:   5  09-04
38. Jacob Burkhead - Carter Berry                Benton Panther Fishing Team           0
Day 1: 5   09-02   Total:   5  09-02
38. Joseph Elliott - Avry Morehouse              Anchor Bay - MI                       0
Day 1: 5   09-02   Total:   5  09-02
40. Luke Barriger - Drew Lafave                  Meridian Early College High Scho      0
Day 1: 5   09-00   Total:   5  09-00
40. Camden Randall - James Roop                  Mt Pleasant High School Bass Tea      0
Day 1: 5   09-00   Total:   5  09-00
40. Danil Williams - Chance Knight               Mt Juliet Fishing Team                0
Day 1: 5   09-00   Total:   5  09-00
43. Wyatt Carr - Jamie Neel                      Reeths-Puffer High School             0
Day 1: 5   08-12   Total:   5  08-12
44. Colten Dickerson - Tyler Baumann             Zeeland Fishhawx                      0
Day 1: 4   08-08   Total:   4  08-08
45. Kaleb Page -                                 Coffee County High School - TN        0
Day 1: 5   08-01   Total:   5  08-01
46. Charles Dawson - Wyatt Dawson                Creekwood Hs Redhawks Fishing         0
Day 1: 3   06-09   Total:   3  06-09
47. Quinn Barbee - Oliver Lewis                  St. Pius X Catholic School - IN       0
Day 1: 3   06-06   Total:   3  06-06
48. Nathaniel Terbush - Dima Griffiths           Dexter High School                    0
Day 1: 3   05-11   Total:   3  05-11
49. Kaleb Allmon - Dallas Brewster               Loudon Bass Club                      0
Day 1: 3   05-08   Total:   3  05-08
50. Lainie Holbert - Sarah Swindle               Riverside High School Bass Fishi      0
Day 1: 3   05-05   Total:   3  05-05
51. Banks Barber - Aaron Morrison                Polk County High School               0
Day 1: 2   05-02   Total:   2  05-02
52. Connor Mcnally - Lillian Moss                Clare Hs Fishing Team                 0
Day 1: 2   03-10   Total:   2  03-10
53. Nicholas Sabisch - Adin Drake                Clare Hs Fishing Team                 0
Day 1: 2   03-09   Total:   2  03-09
54. Jackson Dowdle -                             Mcdowell High School Bass Fishin      0
Day 1: 2   03-05   Total:   2  03-05
55. Brodie Craft - Joseph Fisher IV              Summerfield Bulldogs                  0
Day 1: 1   03-04   Total:   1  03-04
56. Jeffrey Mansfield - Garrett Schultz          Howell High School                    0
Day 1: 2   03-03   Total:   2  03-03
57. Connor Wallace - Brendan Scripps             Howell High School                    0
Day 1: 1   01-10   Total:   1  01-10
58. Chase Aaron - Beckham Matt                   White Lake Lakeland                   0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
58. Hayden Persyn - Carter Persyn                Freeland                              0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
58. Easton Waite - Mason Johnston                Clare Hs Fishing Team                 0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURN
Carson Tithof            Grand Haven, MI     04-10          $0.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        44       251       581-15
----------------------------------
44       251       581-15


History Made at Toyota Series at California Delta Presented by Suzuki Marine

Menifee’s Melton Earns Pro Victory, Moreno Tops Co-anglers as Female Anglers Finish 1-2 for First Time in History
OAKLEY, Calif. (June 9, 2024) – Pro Cristian Melton closed out his first professional win the same way he punctuated a dominant season in the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse — with style.

Melton, who led after Day 2 of the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats event on the California Delta, which was presented by Suzuki Marine, weighed in 20 pounds, 13 ounces on the final day to put an exclamation point on his victory. The biggest bag of Day 3, that brought his total to 61-7, putting him 4-15 clear of runner-up  Christian Ostrander.

Not only did Melton pocket $22,866 for the win, he added another $5,000 as the winner of the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year award for the Western Division. That title, too, he claimed in convincing fashion after finishing fifth at the season-opener on Clear Lake and second on Lake Havasu  prior to his triumph at the Delta.

“It’s crazy,” Melton said. “It’s going to take me probably two days for it to really soak in. I’m just going to be like, oh my gosh, that just happened.”

Melton arrived at the Delta solely focused on securing the AOY title. And even as well as he performed during the first two days, with each of the second- through fourth-place anglers entering the event also making the Top 25 cut, he had some work to do Friday before he could turn his attention to hoisting his first trophy.

It took him about 10 minutes to assuage those concerns.

Returning to the area where he’d caught most of his 22-pound Day 2 bag, on about his fifth cast, Melton hooked up with a Delta giant. The bass weighed 8-12 — the biggest caught by any angler during the event. Once it entered the net, Melton knew he had one victory wrapped up and was well on his way to a second.

“Me and my co-angler, Deanna (Moreno), we were just ecstatic,” Melton said. “I was like, well, that’s my AOY fish.”

Staying in that area, Melton filled his limit by 7:30 a.m. After running around for a few hours and catching “one here and one there,” he returned to the honey hole and upgraded a couple more times, all but sealing a second victory.

Melton described the spot as a slack-water pocket in the central San Joaquin River. Protected from the current and the wind, it featured cleaner water and healthier vegetation than most of the surrounding areas. As a result, while there was a lot of fishless water in the massive system this week, the spot was “teeming with life,” producing regardless of the tide.

“Clean water is a big thing,” Melton said. “Clean, healthy grass, just a clean ecosystem. Not like blown-out stuff that’s getting new water every day. Just more protected from the elements, whether it be the wind, the current, just anything, stuff pushing into it all the time. And these fish somehow find it, and they just load up.”

Melton believes the area held bass in all three phases of the spawn. He sight-fished a few off beds, but “90 percent” of his keepers (including the 8-12) ate a wacky-rigged 5-inch Yamamoto Senko.

“It was just a mixture of what I believe is prespawn, spawn and postspawn (bass), because there were bluegill beds, and then right next to it was bass beds, and then there was postspawners off the bank, and I was watching fish funnel in these areas,” Melton explained.

The top 10 pros on the California Delta finished:

1st:        Cristian Melton, Menifee, Calif., 15 bass, 61-7, $22,866
2nd:       Christian Ostrander, Turlock, Calif., 15 bass, 56-8, $8,860
3rd:       Rodney Brinser, Discovery Bay, Calif., 15 bass, 54-2, $6,860
4th:        David Valdivia, Riverside, Calif., 15 bass, 50-0, $6,016
5th:        Mark Cobey, Woodland, Calif., 15 bass, 49-10, $5,645
6th:        Hunter Schlander, Modesto, Calif., 15 bass, 48-7, $4,573
7th:        Phil Tilbury, Escalon, Calif., 15 bass, 45-10, $4,001
8th:        Jon Strelic, El Cajon, Calif., 15 bass, 45-4, $3,430
9th:        Louis Fernandes, Santa Maria, Calif., 15 bass, 44-12, $3,358
10th:     Micah Jones, Kingman, Ariz., 15 bass, 43-10, $2,287

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Fernandes earned Thursday’s $500 Berkley Big Bass Award with a largemouth bass weighing 8 pounds, 2 ounces. Pro Mark Cobey of Woodland, California, earned the $500 Berkley Big Bass Award on Friday with a 7-pound, 7-ounce bass.

History was also made, Friday, in the Strike King Co-angler division. Although females have won previously in the Toyota Series, this event marked the first time in MLF history that female anglers finished in both first and second place,

Deanna Moreno of Salida, California, brought a limit of bass to the scale totaling 13 pounds, 1 ounce to the scales on Day 3 of the event on the California Delta, slamming the door on her first career win in the Strike King co-angler division. Her three-day total of 40-15 topped runner-up  Rachel Uribe  of San Diego, California, by 4-5 in the event, which was presented by Suzuki Marine. For the victory, she earned a Phoenix Boats prize package worth $33,500.

Moreno, who had fished 17 previous Toyota Series events as a co-angler, traveling alongside her husband to compete in the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse, described celebrating her breakthrough win with Mike (who finished 23rd on the boater side) as “a rush.”

“I just couldn’t believe it,” she said. “Without his support, I wouldn’t be where I am as a fisherman today. He’s taught me everything. I know he’s been hard on me, but I know why he’s been hard on me. He’s my biggest supporter.”

The result wasn’t only cause for celebration for the Moreno family. Deanna’s victory made history. She became the third woman in MLF/FLW history to win a Toyota Series event and the first since 2001, when Renee Hensley won the co-angler competition at the Toyota Series Championship on Pickwick Lake.

“That’s an honor,” Deanna said. “Not that I want to be separated from males, because we’re all fishermen. But it’s an honor to do it as a female.”

At least on paper, Moreno made the win look easy. Filling out a limit all three days, she sat in second after Day 1 with 15-0, then climbed into the lead with 12-14 on Day 2. Her 40-15 total would have landed a top-20 finish on the pro side.

But Moreno said it took plenty of patience and a few key adjustments to generate the winning bites, as she caught most of her weight on different baits each day.

On Day 1, she didn’t catch a keeper during the first half of the day, but she stayed calm, reminding herself that the outgoing tide should improve the bite. Indeed, fishing alongside Jon Strelic, she boated five keepers within a span of minutes from the same spot. Then, she culled in a big way with a 6-2 lunker. All of her Day 1 fish ate an M.M. III-colored Roboworm Straight Tail Worm on a drop-shot

“All of a sudden, in probably a 10-foot stretch, it was like one right after another on a drop-shot,” Moreno said. “Got my five, and then I was like, OK, they’re all schooled up, what is going on here? And I just kept throwing out there, and all of a sudden, I caught that 6-2.”

Moreno once again started slow on Day 2. This time, as the tide fell, she switched to a walking topwater, which produced the majority of her weight.

Mercifully, given that she was “super nervous” after sleeping on the lead, she didn’t have to wait nearly as long for the action to pick up on Day 3. Fishing alongside pro winner Cristian Melton, Moreno used a wacky-rigged Yamamoto Senko to fill her limit by 7:30 a.m.

“I had four little ones and then a nice one, and I was like, OK, I’ve got all day to upgrade here,” she said. “It did calm the nerves a little bit.”

Around noon, Moreno upgraded in style. Just as the boat containing MLF photographer John Zeolla found her and Melton, she boated her biggest fish of the day.

“You know how some people don’t like the camera boat around them?” Moreno said with a laugh. “Well, when the camera boat came around like noon, I caught a 3.8 on a Senko right in front of the camera boat. So, that was pretty cool. I really feel the camera boat is lucky.”

Moreno insisted that she never wants to be treated differently than another co-angler because of her gender. Like any other tournament winner, her triumph on the Delta was memorable because of the work that went into it, the puzzle pieces clicking together, the thrill of fighting and landing big bass.

“We’re just out there, we enjoy this sport; it’s a passion,” she said. “I wish I could bottle up that feeling of the 6-pounder, the 5-pounder. It’s just great. It’s awesome. There’s nothing like it.”

But Moreno also recognizes the gravity of her and Uribe’s performances. Her message to other women who might see her with a trophy and want to give tournament fishing a try: “Get out there and fish.”

“Don’t be intimidated by it,” she said. “The guys that are out there, they help you, they support you. It’s just like fishing with your friends. I really feel like if women just go out there, you start doing it, you get confident, just work through it, you’ll do it.”

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on the California Delta finished:

1st:        Deanna Moreno, Salida, Calif., 15 bass, 40-15, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard
2nd:       Rachel Uribe, San Diego, Calif., 13 bass, 36-10, $3,003
3rd:       Mike Alvarez, Clovis, Calif., 15 bass, 35-11, $2,403
4th:        Paul Buccola, Dayton, Nev., 15 bass, 35-6, $2,102
5th:        Brandon Gee, Yuba City, Calif., 15 bass, 34-0, $1,802
6th:        Tracy Patton, Oakdale, Calif., 15 bass, 32-11, $1,652
7th:        Blaine Christiansen, San Jose, Calif., 15 bass, 32-9, $1,201
8th:        Rodney Brown, Sacramento, Calif., 15 bass, 31-1, $1,051
9th:        Keith Adams, Redding, Calif., 15 bass, 30-6, $901
10th:     Colton Underwood-Garside, Riverside, Calif., 15 bass, 30-0, $751

Strike King Co-angler Firuz Gizatullin of Discovery Bay, California, earned the $150 Berkley Big Bass on Thursday with a 7-pound, 13-ounce bass, while Friday’s Day 2 $150 co-angler award went to Jonathan Green of San Pablo, California, who brought a 6-pound, 9-ounce bass to the scale.

The Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at the California Delta Presented by Suzuki Marine was hosted by the City of Oakley. It was the third and final regular-season tournament for the Toyota Series Western Division. The next event for Western Division anglers will be the Toyota Series Championship at Wheeler Lake, Nov. 7-9 in Huntsville, Alabama. For a complete schedule of events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2024 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2025. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2024 Toyota Series Championship is hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Madison County Commission, and the Huntsville Sports Commission.

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

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

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


Major League Fishing to Host Celebration for Local Fans with Championship Trophy Ceremony at Colonial Waterfront Park in Edenton

WHAT:
On Sunday, Major League Fishing (MLF) will host a Celebration Event for MLF fans of all ages, inviting fans to come out and celebrate with the final 10 professional anglers from the Bass Pro Tour as they crown the champion of the U.S. Air Force Stage Five on Chowan River Presented by WIX Filters.

WHEN:
Sunday, June 9
1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – MLF Bass Pro Tour Watch Party & Kids Fishing Derby
4:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Trophy Ceremony & Champion Celebration

WHERE:
Colonial Waterfront Park
510 S. Broad St.
Edenton, N.C.

NOTES:
The FREE, family-friendly event will be fun for fishing fans of all ages. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing. Additional fishing gear will be provided onsite for the fishing derby or kids can bring their own. The final 10 Bass Pro Tour anglers will be returning from their competition day on the water and available to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, take selfies and talk about their day on the Chowan River.

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 FacebookXInstagram and YouTube.

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


Bassmaster Elite Series event at Wheeler Lake could offer perfect ledge-fishing opportunities

June 7, 2024

Bassmaster Elite Series event at Wheeler Lake could offer perfect ledge-fishing opportunities

 

Wak01JwQ.pngDECATUR, Ala. — The Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Wheeler Lake will mark the first time the top-level pros from B.A.S.S. have visited the fishery in seven years, and conditions are setting up for classic early-summer patterns on the Tennessee River.

Sam George, who fishes the Tackle Warehouse Elite Qualifiers Division of the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN, says the event might reveal the true potential of a lake that has improved significantly over the past several years.

“I think they are going to hit it at a good time. We’ve had quite a bit of rain and storms, so the water has a good color to it and we have a lot of current right now,” said the veteran Alabama pro, who considers Wheeler his home lake. “Our quality right now is really good. When you swing the bat on this lake, it is a good one. There are a lot of 3- and 4-pound bass. It has been cool to see the lake come back.”

Tournament days are scheduled for June 13-16, with anglers launching at 6 a.m. CT each day from Ingalls Harbor and returning to the Harbor for weigh-in at 2 p.m. The field will be cut to the Top 50 anglers after the Day 2 weigh-in, while only the Top 10 anglers after Day 3 will advance to Championship Sunday for a shot at the $100,000 prize.

The Elite Series last visited this Tennessee River impoundment in 2016. Takahiro Omori claimed the title that week with a four-day total weighing 81 pounds, 6 ounces fishing specific offshore spots in the Decatur area. Wisconsin’s Adam Rasmussen claimed an Opens title on the fishery last year by maximizing an early-morning shad spawn and then focusing on offshore areas to weigh in a three-day bag of 54-15.

George believes next week’s Elite event could mirror those past tournaments.

“I would expect it to be pretty similar to the Open, but I think the weights will be a lot better. We had pretty clean water and hardly any current at all,” said George, who finished fourth in the 2023 Open. “Weight-wise, through and through, it will be quite a bit better.”

With a colder winter and fluctuating water conditions, the bass on Wheeler only recently spawned, according to George, and many are just now starting to move to their summertime haunts on ledges.

“For some reason, they are some of the last bass to go to the bank,” he said. “A lot of them even spawn off the bank on stumps and bars. A lot of the fish are really just now, in the last week or two, starting to show up offshore (and are) really good as far as numbers and schools of fish.

“For the last few weeks, there has been a lot of shad spawn stuff going on with no bass on it.”

In recent years, the Decatur area of Wheeler has gotten much of the attention from anglers wanting to fish ledges and other offshore elements. Those areas will be fished hard by the Elite anglers as well, George said. But with fewer boats on the water, those spots will likely be much more productive.

“Somebody will probably do something similar to what Takahiro did a few years ago where you find a magic cast and have one or two really specific lineups in one little bitty area that has a pile of them,” George said. “This place, to me, is one of the more unique areas out of anywhere in the country I have been.

“You find a lot of it by just fishing.”

Compared to other TVA lakes like Guntersville and Kentucky Lake, Wheeler’s ledges are in much shallower water. They often start in 2 or 3 feet and drop into 25, while other ledge fisheries start in 10 or 12 feet and fall into 25. This makes scanning difficult, but anglers who fish around these areas can find productive sweet spots.

Those spots could be anything from a shellbed, a hard spot or a high spot. While inconsistent, there are also patches of offshore hydrilla and eelgrass.

Largemouth get much of the attention on Wheeler, but big smallmouth roam these areas as well. Often, the key to these offshore areas is the presence of gizzard shad.

“I like it more this time of year because the gizzards start to show up really well on those bars as the threadfin start to clear out,” George said. “When you find (a bar) that has gizzards on it, you take a 17-pound bag up to 24 pounds. It is hard to find and hard to stay on it, but when you do, it is unbelievable what happens.”

Bigger squarebill crankbaits, topwaters, Carolina rigs and drop shots will be popular selections for anglers fishing offshore, as well as swimbaits and jigs. While George believes bags over 25 pounds can be caught on the offshore ledges, he says replicating it from day to day will be a challenge.

“You could make a spot last for four days, but I doubt it,” he said. “I think you’ll have to have several little places and (have a) milk run. The bait roams a lot out there and it is typical to pull up on a place and blast them and show back up the next day and not get a bite.”

With the water high, the shallows may also become a factor. George said plenty of postspawners are still making their way back out to the offshore areas, and bushes, bank grass and lily pads will all hold bass in certain areas. Flipping baits, swim jigs and frogs will come into play in those spots.

“I expect a lot of fish to get caught in the dirt,” George said. “When you get up there it's pads, willow grass and bushes. The lily pads are a lot further ahead this year than where they were last year.”

Illinois rookie Trey McKinney leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 478 points. Two-time Bassmaster Classic champion Jordan Lee is second with 448 points, followed by Canadians Chris and Cory Johnston in third and fourth, respectively, with 423 and 415 points.

McKinney also leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings.

All fans can attend the weekend’s Outdoors Expo at Ingalls Park beginning at 11 a.m. CT on June 15-16, which will feature many Bassmaster sponsors. There will also be a BassmastHER workshop on June 15 designed for women interested in learning about bass fishing. Registration for this event is already full, but interested participants can register for the next BassmastHER workshop which will be held August 17 in conjunction with the Humminbird Bassmaster Elite at the St. Lawrence River. More information can be found on Bassmaster.com.

The tournament is being hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism.

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

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 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), 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.

-30-

Connect with #Bassmaster on FacebookInstagramTwitter and TikTok.

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