MLF Shifts BFL Regional Tournament to Tennessee’s Watts Bar Lake
WHAT:
The Major League Fishing (MLF) Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Regional Tournament on Clarks Hill Lake, set for Oct. 17-19, has been moved to Watts Bar Lake due to recent storm damage.
WHEN:
Oct. 17-19
WHERE:
Spring City Boat Ramp
417 Toestring Valley Road
Spring City, Tenn. 37321
NOTES:
Hosted by the Rhea County Department of Tourism - Fish Spring City, the three-day regional tournament will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from the BFL Choo Choo, Music City, Piedmont and Volunteer divisions, competing for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.
The top six finishers will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 42nd annual BFL All-American. The highest finishing boater from each division will also receive a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division will receive a $500 bonus.
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 2025 BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 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 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.
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Travel Tuesday – A Trip to the Cutting Edge of Trophy Bass – Red Hills Fishery
By Danny Blandford - AC Insider
We’re doing Travel Tuesday a little different this week; we’re taking you behind the scenes with us to the forefront of TROPHY bass production.
Being an AC Insider certainly has some perks! Vance and I recently had the chance to tag along on a Strike King “outing” to the outskirts of paradise for a bass fisherman. For security purposes, we’ll just call it Lake X…approximately 300 acres of flooded timber and vegetation straddling the Florida and Georgia border, loaded with forage, very little fishing pressure, AND stocked with some “special” bass.
Lake X has been the proving ground for the early stages of a project we’re highlighting in this series, called Titan Bass. The Titan Bass project, by Red Hills Fishery, is the intersection of science, technology, research and bassin’ passion. With a claim to fame of, “Breaking Bass Barriers and Elevating Bass Angling Through Genetics”, we just had to go check it all out first hand.
Now before anyone goes off the deep end thinking about nightmares like Frankenfish, Teenage Mutant Ninja Bass, or some other finned freak of nature, hear us out. Think of this more like pedigree breeding of certain working dogs, done in a way to enhance desirable traits and characteristics. Red Hills isn’t making a “new” kind of bass, it’s making the existing bass even better! (More on Pedigreed Breeding)
We’ve seen a version of this succeed already with the Texas ShareLunker program, where fish that have exhibited trophy characteristics are collected by the state and used for “broodstock” …essentially adult fished collected to make baby fish with “some” of the same genes. The Texas program has proven successful, but it's based on learning a fish is a trophy specimen, only after it’s shown itself as such. What if we could tell a two-inch bass was likely to grow into something spectacular…or better yet what if we could ensure that for an entire school of bass being stocked?
This is where the science of the Titan Bass comes into play…staff at Red Hills Fisheries in partnership with the Center for Aquaculture Technologies compiled MILLIONS of data points regarding trophy potential in Florida bass. As of today’s writing, they’ve located 12 confirmed genetic markers, with a 13th currently being validated, each tied to overall growth potential. These markets and selective breeding are all part of the Titan Maxx line of fish.
Now these markers can pertain to both how fast bass grow, as well as their ultimate size. Ironically, it is often males that grow the “fastest” but the females grow the “biggest” so traditional methods of selecting the bass that are growing the fastest can actually work against your goals of growing big fish. With genetic testing methods, you can not only end up with BIG fish, but you can get them to that size quicker. (More on Genetics)
I heard client stories of bass that were putting on 3 pounds per year! Obviously, growth rates vary by location, the amount of food available, etc, but 2 pounds per year “used” to be a tough benchmark to obtain anywhere and one pound could be considered good.
Now I can already hear the drumbeats of the high fence versus free range whitetail war in the distance, but I think this is different. Don’t get me wrong, Red Hills absolutely wants to sell fish to individuals who want the best fish they can get, but their goal is to make it available everywhere and elevate fishing for everyone. These aren’t an “elite” quarry, or reserved for the privileged. They are simply working to breed a better bass…something aggressive, hardy, and capable of being that “fish of a lifetime”, which will be different for everyone. These fish are still the same species, just “optimized” for the characteristics we enjoy!
Red Hills has already been in collaboration with multiple state agencies and fisheries programs, including the State of Arkansas Game and Fish, as well as other state agencies throughout the southeast. Bringing genetic testing and genetic data abilities to the state level will help managers enrich their own fish populations with quality genetics and healthier fisheries for everyone to enjoy.
There are genetic tissue sample kits available from Red Hills that allow anyone to collect samples, including private pond owners. They mail you a kit, you collect your specimens according to their instructions, and return the samples. You’ll end up with a report that can tell you about the genetic diversity in your lake or pond, as well as make recommendations on how to supplement it with new stockings.
I’m sure many states, including my own, will be slow to respond to something like this, but fortunately, as an individual pond owner, I can reach out to Red Hills Fisheries myself. They have various distributors that they work with, and they can also ship direct, so I can get the appropriate testing and Titan Bass right here in Indiana right now! Notice, I did say “Northern” Titan Bass.
The Titan Bass program has identified these desirable traits for each of the species of bass and has bred them with the genetic integrity of their respective species, i.e. Northern and Florida Strains. They do also offer an F1 hybrid, which is a female Florida Titan Bass crossed with a Northern Titan male. Unfortunately, I’m just north of their recommended climate, so although tempting, anything “Florida” simply aren’t the best choice for me.
As far as my own pond project, we’re actually still in the “prep” phase and not quite ready to offer some Titan Bass a good home. After decades of throwing the bass back so they could get bigger, we ended up with a bass crowded and stunted population of bass, a general lack of cover, and an overall unhealthy bass fishery in need of rejuvenation.
The easy to do physical things have already started. We drew the lake down last winter and added spawning gravel and lots of fresh habitat, spent this past season harvesting bass, adding additional shoreline cover, and we’ll be doing a heavy bluegill stocking this fall and again in early spring. Our goal is to add Titan bass in late March so that the new fingerlings can feed on the existing bass and bluegill fry starting in May with a competitive advantage. Once their home, it’ll be all about keeping them fed!
I’m not sure we can afford all the forage required to grow multiple double digits in my area, but I’m sure excited to get started on the journey! Stay tuned for some fall fish management updates and “sample collection” soon. We’ll be working on that bass crowding issue and finding out just how closely related all my little scrub bass actually are!
To learn more, visit Titanbass.com, and/or give them a call!
NPFL Application Process Now Open!
WILKESVILLE, Ohio, October 1, 2024—The National Professional Fishing League is now accepting applications for the 2025 season. Anglers who wish to be part of the 130-angler field can now complete the application form. Anglers currently on the NPFL roster do not need to reapply, but they must notify the NPFL in writing of their intention to participate in 2025. The application and notification periods end on October 31, 2024.
“We have one more event in the 2024 season,” says league president Brad Fuller, “but we’re already excited about 2025. We look forward to assembling a talented field of 130 anglers and to visiting a variety of diverse fisheries over half a dozen states covering spring, summer, and fall. It’s going to be a true test of the best for the men and women who believe they’re up to the challenge and ready to join the fastest-growing top-level tournament circuit out there."
The 2025 season will feature six regular season tournaments plus the 2025 NPFL Championship. Each event will challenge and showcase the skills of every angler. The NPFL’s dedication to maintaining a level playing field ensures that all participants — from seasoned pros to emerging talents — have an equal opportunity to succeed.
The full 2025 schedule will be announced before the application period closes.
The NPFL made news in September when it became the first major tour to restrict the use of real-time imaging units (commonly referred to as “forward-facing sonar”). Beginning with the 2025 season, such technology is prohibited in NPFL competition. This prohibition does not apply to the 2025 NPFL Championship, for which anglers are currently qualifying under previously established rules.
"We want to work with the anglers who are ready to test themselves under the very highest standards of tournament competition, tradition, and integrity,” Fuller adds. “We’re looking forward to the return of many anglers who have fished with us and become like family, and we’re excited to add new anglers that will help us grow even better and stronger."
Applicants must commit to a locked field and agree to participate in all six regular-season events. This ensures a committed group of anglers for the entire season. Choosing the right anglers for the field is critical to the NPFL’s mission.
“We take our selection process very seriously,” Fuller says. “We interview each angler before they’re selected. No one is automatically accepted into the league just because they have an impressive tournament résumé or a lot of sponsors. The sooner an angler applies, the sooner we can complete our vetting process. We’re not just looking for excellent anglers. We want excellent people who are passionate about the sport — people who share our commitment and vision.”
About the National Professional Fishing League
The National Professional Fishing League was founded to bring competitive fishing to a broader audience and offer anglers a platform to compete at the highest level. The NPFL is committed to fostering integrity, competition, and innovation in the sport, providing anglers and fans alike with an exciting and unique experience.
For more information, visit our website.
Final St. Croix Open presented by SEVIIN moves to Lake Martin, Alabama
MEDIA ALERT
Final St. Croix Open presented by SEVIIN moves to Lake Martin, Alabama
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Due to the extreme flooding and damage caused by the remnants of Hurricane Helene, the final St. Croix Open presented by SEVIIN will be moved to Lake Martin, Alabama. The final event of the season, which will qualify nine anglers from the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers to the Bassmaster Elite Series, was scheduled for South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell on Oct. 10-12. Massive flooding in the area has created dangerous lake conditions, power outages and gas shortages across the state. In an effort to respect the resources and be sensitive to the difficulties storms have created in the area, B.A.S.S. officials have decided to change venues. Alabama’s Lake Martin will now host the final event of the season. This 44,000-acre reservoir located on the Tallapoosa River has not hosted a major B.A.S.S. event since 2018.
The no-information rule for competitors for Lake Martin will go into effect immediately. More details will be released as soon as they are finalized.
MEDIA CONTACT: Chad Gay, B.A.S.S. Communications Manager, c: 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.
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Register For 2024 Media Credentials
Akins Chugs his way to victory at Bassmaster College Classic Bracket on Tims Ford Lake
Sept. 30, 2024
Winchester, Tenn. — It was a slow, but steady pace for Dylan Akins on the final day of the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s at Tims Ford Lake, but it was just the type of day the Emmanuel University graduate needed to earn the top prize.
With a daily total of 14 pounds, 12 ounces, Akins defeated his head-to-head opponent Aaron Jagdfeld (12-12) to earn the victory and a spot in the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic at Lake Ray Roberts in Fort Worth, Texas. Not only will the Georgia native compete in the Classic, he also earned paid entry into the 2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens with the use of a fully rigged Nitro Boat and Toyota Tundra.
“I’m pretty speechless,” Akins said. “I knew it was going to be close, but I had no idea. I’m feeling really blessed right now.”
The Bracket victory puts a bow on what was a special season for Akins. He and partner Chase Carey earned 2024 Bassmaster College Series overall Team of the Year honors with a third-place finish in the Lunkers Division standings and then a Top 10 finish at the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops at Lake Hartwell.
“It has been amazing,” he said. “Chase and I have always been really consistent, but we had a little better finish than average and put them all together. Coming here and having to put a whole string of good days together was crazy.”
Using some of the lessons he has learned on his home waters of Lake Lanier, Akins targeted suspended smallmouth and largemouth that were feeding on threadfin shad. He saw groups of bass all the way down to 50 feet of water, but the bass hanging around in the top section of the water column ate the best.
While a Strike King 3X Z-Too rigged on a 3/16-ounce jighead landed some key bass, a STORM Chug Bug triggered the majority of his bites, especially from the smallmouth swimming just under the surface. He discovered that bite during his practice period when more bass than not did not swim to his Damiki presentation.
After getting several bites, Akins figured it could be the bait that separated him from the other eight competitors.
“Say the bass are 10 feet down; it would take a second to call them up. Unlike a walking bait, the Chug Bug makes a big splash,” Akins explained. “I could keep it in the same spot and work it repeatedly. It triggers a schooling-type deal. The bigger ones would come up and follow it for a second and eventually take it.
“It was one of the most fun topwater bites I’ve been on. The lake was awesome.”
After practice, Akins felt he had a chance to make the final day but wasn’t sure if his primary areas held enough bass to win the whole tournament. As the event progressed, he was able to expand and find several new areas that held keeper bass.
On Hurricane Helene-shortened Day 1, Akins landed 14-4 to land in second before landing 16-0 on Day 2 to advance to the bracket rounds and claim the overall No. 1 seed with a two-day total of 30-4. Then on Day 3, Akins caught 16-7 to narrowly advance past Andrew Blanton, who caught 16-3 in the shallows.
While a light mist fell early in the day, Akins and Jagdfeld fished in calm and cloudy conditions. Akins caught his first keeper in the first hour but suffered a long lull after that.
“Other days, it was like every fish I threw at was crazy. The weather had them (feeding),” he said. “I was seeing so many fish not even close to the surface, or they would come up and nip the bait. For the first three or four hours, I was thinking it was going to be a long day and just hoping for a limit.”
As the day progressed, Akins explored some new water and located one stretch that held quality smallmouth. There, he filled out a limit and made several key culls.
“I saw some surface activity and went over there and expanded on it,” Akins said. “That creek was really good to me. In the afternoon they were going crazy.”
Jagdfeld caught plenty of smallmouth on the final day, but many of them fell below the 18-inch keeper limit, leaving the Adrian College graduate scrambling toward the end of the day. Along with a jighead minnow, Jagdfeld threw a Pop-R and a Spook.
After being stuck on three bass most of the day, Jagdfeld made a late rally to fill his limit and cull, but it wouldn’t be enough to beat Akins.
The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and local businesses hosted the tournament.
2024 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King
2024 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2024 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket Presenting Sponsor: Lew's
2024 Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowarance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
2024 Bassmaster College Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano
Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
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.
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Media Contact: Chad Gay, B.A.S.S. Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, [email protected]
2024 Strike King College Bracket Presented by Bass Pro Shops and Lew's 9/27-9/30
Tim Ford's Lake, Winchester TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 4
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Dylan Akins - Emmanuel University 0
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 16-00 Day 3: 5 16-07 Day 4: 5 14-12 Total: 5 14-12
2. Aaron Jagdfeld - Adrian College 0
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 14-05 Day 3: 5 12-03 Day 4: 5 12-12 Total: 5 12-12
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 2 26 76-12
2 5 31 93-00
3 3 18 52-00
4 2 10 27-08
------------------------------
12 85 249-04
Ohio’s Shaffer Earns 17th Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament on the Ohio River at Tanners Creek
Middletown’s Barker Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. (Sept. 30, 2024) – Boater Dick Shaffer of Rockford, Ohio, caught a two-day total of six bass weighing 16 pounds, 5 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Super Tournament on the Ohio River at Tanners Creek . The tournament, which concluded Sunday, was the fifth and final event of the season for the BFL Hoosier Division. Shaffer earned $5,714 for his victory.
No doubt about it, Shaffer is a BFL legend in the Hoosier and Buckeye divisions. He now has 17 wins in his MLF career, with most of them coming at the BFL level. He’s also made four All-American Championship appearances. If he’s on the roster in a weekend derby in Ohio or Indiana, you can bet he’s going to contend.
Shaffer credits his latest win with not putting any pressure on himself.
“I’m not going to the Regional because I’m going duck hunting that week in North Dakota,” he said. “I decided the last day to sign up for it, and when I saw the weather, I cancelled my motel for the night before because I knew what I was going to do. The way the weather was (for practice), I wasn’t going fishing in the rain. I knew the way the weather was supposed to be (in the tournament), it was going to be a main-river bite.
“There was no pressure. I wasn’t fishing for points. I knew if they bit I had a better-than-average chance to win.”
Shaffer had the fish on each day to weigh a limit but couldn’t get five to the boat. He weighed three smallmouth bass for 8-15 on day one and a mixed bag of one largemouth, one spotted bass and one smallmouth for 7-6 on day two.
The biggest factor in Shaffer’s approach was having prime conditions for the smallmouth bass to bite. With the weather turned gloomy and some stain in the water (the water had come up about 3 feet), he knew the smallmouth bass would be positioned on current breaks and ready to bite, and each day he weighed in a good one, including a 5-pound, 9-ounce fish that earned him the Berkley Big Bass award of $637.
“I caught ’em on just a little bit of everything,” Shaffer added. “I caught ’em dragging a craw around some. I caught some on a buzz bait. I caught ’em on a (Yamamoto) Senko. I caught some off rocks, some off wood, some off barges. I was just basically junk-fishing, just fishing what looked good.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Dick Shaffer, Rockford, Ohio, six bass, 16-5, $5,714
2nd: Doug Ruster, New Palestine, Ind., 10 bass, 13-10, $2,839
3rd: Dave Wood, Charlestown, Ind., seven bass, 12-0, $1,694
4th: Tim Adams, Burlington, Ky., eight bass, 11-1, $1,685 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
5th: Aaron Stahley, Batavia, Ohio, six bass, 10-15, $1,015
6th: Jamie Cunnagin, New Lebanon, Ohio, six bass, 10-12, $1,056
7th: Caleb Carnes, Guston, Ky., eight bass, 10-12, $846
8th: Jeffery Johnson, Austin, Ind., seven bass, 10-7, $762
9th: Todd Hensley, New Albany, Ind., six bass, 10-1, $677
10th: Jordan Nauert, Fillmore, Ind., six bass, 9-6, $592
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Shaffer caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 9 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $637.
Ken Barker of Middletown, Ohio, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,563 Sunday, after bringing a two-day total of five bass to the scale that weighed 8 pounds, 5 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Ken Barker, Middletown, Ohio, five bass, 8-5, $2,563
2nd: Brian Zelinskas, Beavercreek, Ohio, four bass, 7-12, $1,438
3rd: Dylan Grace, Scottsburg, Ind., six bass, 7-6, $953
4th: Ryan Cannon, Indianapolis, Ind., five bass, 6-13, $598
5th: Brandon Houston, Lakeside Park, Ky., five bass, 6-13, $513
6th: Adler Odle, Willow Springs, Mo., four bass, 6-7, $470
7th: Steven Wells, North Vernon, Ind., three bass, 6-3, $427
8th: Jordan Loveless, Beech Grove, Ind., five bass, 6-3, $384
9th: Kade Oliver, Muncie, Ind., five bass, 5-12, $342
10th: Tyler Sloan, Gas City, Ind., three bass, 5-6, $299
Hagen Conley of Florence, Kentucky, and Brian Zelinskas of Beavercreek, Ohio, tied for the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award, each catching a bass that weighed in at 2 pounds, 11 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the tournament. They each took home $157 for their share of the prize.
At the conclusion of the tournament, John Melton of Corydon, Indiana, was crowned the Fishing Clash Hoosier Division Angler of the Year (AOY) with 1,289 points and was awarded the $1,000 payout, while Ryan Cannon of Indianapolis, Indiana, won the Fishing Clash Hoosier Division Co-angler of the Year race with 1,327 points and earned the $500 prize.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, have qualified for the Oct. 10-12 BFL Regional tournament on Pools 13-17 of the Mississippi River 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. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
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 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.
Greensboro’s Inman Posts Fifth Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament at Lake Norman
Elm City’s Lacerte Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Sept. 30, 2024) – Boater Mark Inman of Greensboro, North Carolina, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 30 pounds, 7 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Super Tournament on Lake Norman . The tournament, which concluded Sunday, was the fifth and final event of the season for the BFL North Carolina Division. Inman earned $7,340, including the lucrative $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
After a tough start to practice, Inman got a tip from a friend that helped him eventually piece together a productive pattern fishing a mix of a jig, shaky head and topwater. The key was running and gunning so he could get in front of new fish throughout the tournament.
“Once I learned the pattern, I gave it about 10, 15 minutes on a stretch of shoreline, and if I didn’t get bit I’d just crank up and go somewhere new,” said Inman, who weighed in 12 pounds, 6 ounces on day one.
Heavy rains at the end of the week certainly impacted the bite, as Inman eventually found himself hunting clean water on Sunday. The other key was being around baitfish.
“It wasn’t muddy when I started (on Saturday),” he said. “I caught about 12, 13 fish, but I only caught seven or eight keepers. Then today (Sunday), I started in an area that was close to it (where he fished Saturday), and I ended up losing a couple. I started looking down at the water, and I thought, they don’t eat good in this fresh water. I’ve got to move.
“I went to another place I caught fish yesterday and never got a bite. I told that my co-angler we’re going fishing. My daddy always said, ‘When your stuff gets burned up, you go fishing.’ That’s what I did today, and the good Lord blessed me. Everything just went right. I caught about 30 keepers.”
That impressive catch of 30 keepers included a big kicker that bit at around 11 o’clock. Inman thought he might’ve had it won at that point. Turns out, it wouldn’t have been enough. Thankfully, he landed a 3-plus-pounder late in the day, which culled him up to 18 pounds, 1 ounce – easily the biggest bag of the tournament – for the win.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Mark Inman, Greensboro, N.C., 10 bass, 30-7, $7,340 (includes $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Isaac Ledford, Dallas, N.C., 10 bass, 29-1, $2,270
3rd: Kaden Buchmann, Mooresville, N.C., 10 bass, 26-7, $1,515
4th: Mark Davis, Bear Creek, N.C., 10 bass, 25-12, $1,059
5th: David Bright, Mooresville, N.C., 10 bass, 25-9, $1,033
6th: Rob Digh, Denver, N.C., 10 bass, 25-7, $832
7th: Michael Campbell, Pineville, S.C., 10 bass, 24-15, $1,289
8th: Lucas Murphy, West Columbia, S.C., 10 bass, 24-14, $681
9th: Scott Hamrick, Denver, N.C., 10 bass, 24-9, $605
10th: Jake Monti, Mooresville, N.C., 10 bass, 24-5, $530
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Michael Campbell of Pineville, South Carolina, caught a bass that weighed 4 pounds, 7 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $532.
Jean Lacerte of Elm City, North Carolina, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,270 Sunday, after bringing a two-day total of 10 bass to the scale that weighed 22 pounds, 2 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Jean Lacerte, Elm City, N.C., 10 bass, 22-2, $2,270
2nd: Jason Hinger, Timberlake, N.C., 10 bass, 21-0, $1,385
3rd: Eric Stanbery, Lewisville, N.C., 10 bass, 20-5, $757
4th: David Deciucis, Chester, Va., 10 bass, 20-2, $796
5th: Jerry Morris, Charlotte, N.C., 10 bass, 19-10, $454
6th: Greg Mauldin II, Archdale, N.C., nine bass, 19-2, $416
7th: Hunter Alexander, China Grove, N.C., 10 bass, 18-10, $378
8th: Arthur Harris, York, S.C., 10 bass, 18-9, $341
9th: Adam Radovic, Brecksville, Ohio, eight bass, 17-12, $303
10th: Hunter Carpenter, Lincolnton, N.C., nine bass, 16-15, $265
David Deciucis of Chester, Virginia, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $266, catching a bass that weighed in at 3 pounds, 4 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the tournament.
At the conclusion of the tournament, Scott Hamrick of Denver, North Carolina, was crowned the Fishing Clash North Carolina Division Angler of the Year (AOY) and earned the $1,000 payout with 1,320 points, while Lacerte, the co-angler tournament winner, also sewed up the Fishing Clash North Carolina Division Co-angler of the Year race with 1,338 points to take home the $500 prize.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, have qualified 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. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
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 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.
Tennessee’s Suratt Posts Fifth Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament at Wheeler Lake
Georgia’s Hill Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
ROGERSVILLE, Ala. (Sept. 30, 2024) – Boater Trent Suratt of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 37 pounds, 8 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Super Tournament on Wheeler Lake . The tournament, which concluded Sunday, was hosted by Florence-Lauderdale Tourism. It was the fifth and final event of the season for the BFL Choo Choo Division. Suratt earned $4,465 for his victory.
Suratt didn’t practice for the tournament, but based on the rainy conditions, he knew there’d be gates open on Guntersville Dam, which would position the fish on rock piles in the current. So he knew fishing the tailrace would probably contend for the win, as it often does on the Tennessee River. Yet, he actually started the tournament by running down to First Creek.
“I didn’t have but like 9 pounds (at 9 a.m.),” he said. “I knew I wasn’t going to win down there, so I just struck out toward the dam, got up there and caught them all within about 15 minutes. Then I stayed up there and beat on ’em today (Sunday). I just had one little rock pile that I caught all of them on.”
In two days, Suratt weighed in a mix of four smallmouth and six largemouth bass. He caught his winning fish on an undisclosed swimbait.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Trent Suratt, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., 10 bass, 37-8, $4,465
2nd: Jimmy Carruth, Madison, Ala., 10 bass, 31-0, $2,233
3rd: Corey McMullen, Gurley, Ala., 10 bass, 30-3, $1,998
4th: Harry Peyton II, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 29-11, $1,542 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
5th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 10 bass, 27-12, $893
6th: Kent Ware, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 27-12, $819
7th: Alan McCoy, Blountsville, Ala., 10 bass, 27-4, $744
8th: Daniel Davis, Albertville, Ala., 10 bass, 26-15, $670
9th: Donny Beck, Killen, Ala., 10 bass, 25-4, $595
10th: Jason Henson, Rome, Ga., 10 bass, 23-13, $821
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Corey McMullen of Gurley, Alabama, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $510.
Tony Hill of Chatsworth, Georgia, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,233 Sunday, after bringing a two-day total of 10 bass to the scale that weighed 23 pounds, 3 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Tony Hill, Chatsworth, Ga., 10 bass, 23-3, $2,233
2nd: Brandon Bell, Starkville, Miss., 10 bass, 20-0, $1,116
3rd: Red Calvert, Perdido Key, Fla., 10 bass, 19-8, $844
4th: Brian Carroll, Glencoe, Ala., nine bass, 19-6, $521
5th: Todd Mowery, Madison, Ala., 10 bass, 18-1, $447
6th: Frank Mackin, State Line, Miss., nine bass, 17-13, $409
7th: Jonathan Craig, Madison, Ala., nine bass, 17-2, $372
8th: Ethan Wheeler, Water Valley, Ky., eight bass, 16-8, $335
9th: Richard Bailey, Florence, Ala., seven bass, 16-4, $298
10th: Mekiah Jack, Mount Juliet, Tenn., eight bass, 14-9, $260
Alvis (Slick) Jones of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $255, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 1 ounce – the largest co-angler catch of the tournament.
At the conclusion of the tournament, Dillon Falardeau of Hixson, Tennessee, was crowned the Fishing Clash Choo Choo Division Angler of the Year (AOY) with 1,289 points and earned the $1,000 prize, while Todd Mowery of Madison, Alabama, won the Fishing Clash Choo Choo Division Co-angler of the Year race with 1,324 points and took home the $500 payout.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, have qualified 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. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
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 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.
Louisiana’s Sulphur High School Wins MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Open on Sam Rayburn Reservoir Presented by Simms
BROOKELAND, Texas. (Sept. 30, 2024) – The MLF High School Fishing team of Jackson and Carter Lanclos of Sulphur, Louisiana, representing Sulphur High School, brought five bass to the scale weighing 15 pounds, 5 ounces to win the MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse Open at Sam Rayburn Reservoir Presented by Simms.
A field of 58 teams competed Saturday in the no-entry fee tournament, which was hosted by the Jasper County Development District. In MLF High School Fishing competition, the top 10 percent of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.
The top five teams that advanced to the 2025 High School Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Sulphur High School, Sulphur, La., Jackson Lanclos and Carter Lanclos, five bass, 15-5
2nd: Alexandria Senior High School, Alexandria, La., Corbin Dunn and Clint Turrentine, five bass, 13-11
3rd: Sulphur High School, Sulphur, La., Orin Byrd and Sydnee Byrd, five bass, 13-9
4th: Sulphur High School, Sulphur, La., Justin Ackel and Gavin Burnett, five bass, 13-8
5th: Huntington High School, Huntington, Texas, Caden Alexander and Brise Hazelton, five bass, 13-8
Rounding out the top 10 teams were:
6th: Sulphur High School, Sulphur, La., Bodhi Trahan and Bryce Youngblood, five bass, 12-7
7th: Highland Park, Dallas, Texas, Carson Falk and Dylan Sorrells, five bass, 12-5
8th: D’Arbonne Woods Charter School, Farmerville, La., Bradley Herring and Ethan Thrash, five bass, 12-5
9th: Vidor Pirate Fishing Team, Vidor, Texas, Braden Norton and Caden Williamson, four bass, 12-5
10th: Kats Fishing Team, Conroe, Texas, Brayden Griffin and Austin Sponseller, five bass, 12-3
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 High School Fishing National Championship.
The 2025 Abu Garcia High School Fishing National Championship & World Finals will take place June 25-28, 2025, at Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees in Grove, Oklahoma. The High School Fishing National Champions each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice and advance to the 2025 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, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular High School Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery 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.
Stephen F. Austin University Wins MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament on Sam Rayburn Reservoir Presented by Suzuki Marine
BROOKELAND, Texas (Sept. 30, 2024) – The Stephen F. Austin State University duo of Ben Burns of Lucas, Texas, and Grant Pursifull of Princeton, Texas, won the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Sam Rayburn Reservoir Presented by Suzuki Marine Friday with a five-bass limit weighing 26 pounds, 5 ounces. The victory earned the Lumberjacks’ bass club $2,000 and a qualification into the 2025 MLF College Fishing National Championship.
“I’ve been fishing out here a lot the last two months,” Burns said. “I had a lot of good schools located. We rolled up to our first one, and it didn’t really work out. We ended up catching one good one there. Then we ran around to smaller schools and ended up filling our limit pretty quick.”
The Lumberjacks started off the day throwing a 6th Sense Crush 500DD crankbait on isolated hard spots offshore. They rotated through about 30 schools.
“That was by about 11,” Burns added. “We had a decent little limit, about 15 or 16 pounds. From 11 to 1, it gave us the opportunity to go throw a big 6th Sense Draw and Juggle Minnow and catch some good ones around timber and brush just kind of ‘LiveScoping’ around.”
By switching up tactics, Burns, a junior business major, and Pursifull, a freshman construction management major, only got four more bites, but it was a crucial move to target bigger bass and cull up to their winning weight.
“I think just moving fast and covering water really (was the key),” Burns said. “Hitting as much stuff as we could.”
The top 10 teams finished:
1st: Stephen F. Austin University – Ben Burns, Lucas, Texas, and Grant Pursifull, Princeton, Texas, five bass, 26-5, $2,000
2nd: Wabash Valley College – Sam Ausbrooks, Loogootee, Ind., and Elijah Jaime, Auburn, Mich., five bass, 23-12, $1,000
3rd: Bethel University – Coleman Bingham, Greenville, Ky., and Brayden Wilson, Piedmont, Mo., five bass, 20-7, $700
4th: Tarleton State – Stephenville – Karson Denton, Splendora, Texas, and Hayden Hurst, Stephenville, Texas, five bass, 19-7, $600
5th: LSU Shreveport – Barrett Bennefield, San Augustine, Texas, and Mason McCormick, Shreveport, La., five bass, 19-7, $500
6th: Texas A&M – Clay Jenkins, Lumberton, Texas, and Sid Wallace, San Angelo, Texas, five bass, 18-14
7th: LSU Shreveport – Grayson Bonfils, Baton Rouge, La., and Nevan Osburn, Lipan, Texas, five bass, 18-11
8th: Texas A&M – Hunter Hernandez, Spring, Texas, and Riley Meinke, Austin, Texas, five bass, 18-7
9th: Bethel University – Colby Carrier, Skowhegan, Maine, and Justin Frey, Landisburg, Pa., five bass, 17-1
10th: Southeastern Louisiana University – Rylan Meyers, Loranger, Louisiana, and Chance Shelby, Denim Springs, Louisiana, five bass, 17-9
A total of 22 teams - the top 12% - at Sam Rayburn qualified to compete at the 2025 College Fishing National Championship. The full list of National Championship Qualifiers and results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Sam Rayburn Reservoir was hosted by the Jasper County Development District. The next tournament for MLF College Fishing anglers will be the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Lake Chickamauga, Oct. 18 in Dayton, Tennessee.
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. The 2025 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship will be held on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Alabama from April 9–11, 2025. The tournament is presented by Decatur Morgan County Tourism
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, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular College Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
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.
New Truck Cap Designs from LEER Group for 2024 Toyota Tacoma & Tundra
ELKHART, IN, U.S.A. - September 30, 2024 – LEER Group is proud to showcase bold, fresh truck cap designs for the 2024 Toyota Tacoma. As truck body designs evolve, these new LEER Group caps for the Tacoma raise the bar on innovation and style.
LEER Group has long had outdoorsmen and women covered when it comes to keeping equipment protected, organized, and secure in their truck bed. With the rapidly changing environment of automotive design, LEER Group has been hard at work developing new products to highlight your tow-vehicles’ design, as well as enhancing the look and functionality of your truck. The newly released product line for the 2024 Tacoma and latest generation of Toyota Tundra exemplifies this effort as leaders in the truck accessories industry.
Jeff Hickey, the chief design engineer, has been instrumental in driving new custom cap designs for LEER®, Century®, and SnugTop® to fit the 2024 Tacoma. Jeff commented, “Many people see their vehicle as an expression of themselves, and our products should be an extension of that thinking to create products that resonate with personal expression, making vehicles and accessories that stand out in a crowd.”
The LEER Group Design Team has created head-turning fiberglass caps that echo the style lines of the new Tacoma. Jeff said, “We pushed the boundaries with this new styling based on customers’ feedback, suggesting the industry is ready for new life.”
These new Tacoma caps embrace a bold, new direction in the marketplace. While continuing to offer added storage space, security, and peace of mind for anglers and outdoorsmen who need to keep their expensive gear protected.
LEER Group has a full line of products for the 2024 Toyota Tacoma and 2024 Toyota Tundra, including aluminum caps, rolling, folding and retractable truck bed covers, and sliding cargo trays in addition to fiberglass truck caps to protect, store and organize your valuable gear.
For more information, visit LEER.com, CenturyCaps.com, Snugtop.com, contact an Authorized LEER Group Retailer, or reach out to [email protected] for help getting your truck covered by LEER.
About LEER Group
Leer Group is North America’s largest manufacturer and supplier of fiberglass and aluminum truck caps, tonneau covers and truck accessories. These recreational and commercial/fleet products include LEER®, SnugTop®, Century®, Pace-Edwards by LEER®, BEDSLIDE®, LLC, State Wide Aluminum, Inc. and SE-GI brands. Headquartered in Indiana, LEER Group has manufacturing plants in Indiana, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Mexico, along with more than 1,300 independent dealers across North America. LEER Group is a Business Unit of J.B. Poindexter & Co. (JBPCO), a larger, privately held portfolio of manufacturing businesses that provide premier transportation goods and services. For more information visit LEER.com, SnugTop.com, CenturyCaps.com, Pace-Edwards.com or BEDSLIDE.com.
The Leer Group has been a business unit of JBPCO since 1987. For over 36 years, JBPCO has invested heavily in its people, processes, and facilities to make sure that LEER remains a world-class organization and the #1 manufacturer of fiberglass and aluminum truck caps, tonneau covers and accessories in North America. Expect to see more updates focused on enhancing Leer Group’s team, capacity and products for today and the future.
Cherokee Lake Named Host for 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Wild Card Tournament
FLORENCE, Ala. (Sept. 30, 2024) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced Sunday that Tennessee’s Cherokee Lake has been selected to host the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Wild Card, which will take place in Jefferson County, Tennessee, Oct. 25-26. The two-day event, hosted by Visit Jefferson County TN, will launch from the TVA Cherokee Dam Launch in Jefferson City.
In order to be eligible to fish the Wild Card, anglers must have entered all five events within a Phoenix Bass Fishing League division during the 2024 season, fished at least two of them and not qualify for a regular Regional.
Anglers will take off from the TVA Cherokee Dam Launch, located on Renfro Road in Jefferson City, at 8 a.m. ET each day of competition. Weigh-ins will be held at the marina both days beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The full field competes both days at the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Wild Card, with winners determined by the heaviest two-day catch. The top six boaters and top six Strike King co-anglers will advance to the 2025 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine All-American, held on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, May 29-31, 2025, and is hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
There will be no off-limits period prior to the pretournament meeting for the Wild Card. No contestant may be on tournament waters for the purpose of locating bass or potential fishing waters after the start of the pretournament meeting except during tournament hours.
Entry for the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Wild Card is now open and runs through Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024, at 6 p.m. CT. Anglers can enter by phone at 270.252.1000 on online at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
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 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.
Georgia Pro Jared Lintner Wins MLF Toyota Series at Lake of the Ozarks
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (Sept. 29, 2024) – Pro Jared Lintner of Covington, Georgia, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 15 pounds, 15 ounces to win the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Suzuki Marine and earn the top payout of $38,289. Over the three days of competition Lintner weighed in 15 bass totaling 51-8 to earn the win by a 3-pound, 14-ounce margin over Dennis Berhorst of Holts Summit, Missouri, who finished second with a three-day total of 47-10, good for $15,837.
Three things you can count on in an early-fall tournament on Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks: the bite might be inconsistent to tough, the lake’s multitude of docks will probably play a key role and the winner must avoid any costly one-day fumbles.
Check, check, and check for the Georgia pro, who made the most of an inconsistent fall bite at Lake of the Ozarks by running a wide-open, “hit and run” dock pattern for three days at the Plains Division season finale, wrapping up his first career Toyota Series win.
“We moved out here to be closer to lakes like these,” Lintner said as he accepted the trophy, referring to his move from Central California to Georgia two years ago. “Living where we do now, I can see a tournament like this on the schedule and go ‘Oh, I think I’ll fish that.’ I like fishing all of these Ozarks lakes, but I couldn’t really jump into tournaments like this living in California.”
The California transplant’s consistency was key at Lake of the Ozarks as he followed up a 16-3 first day with 19-6 on Day 2 and 15-15 on Saturday. Berhorst’s 19-4 on Saturday was the second-biggest bag of the event and followed up 16-3 on Day 2, but he only caught 12-3 on Day 1. Newcomb’s tournament was similar: 17-15, 16-15 and 12-15.
Lintner earned the nickname “The Milkman” when he worked as a dairy-delivery driver around his home in Arroyo Grande, California, before committing to a full-time pro career. His approach on Lake of the Ozarks lived up to his nickname – the Tackle Warehouse pro spent all three days with both his big motor and trolling motor warmed up at all times, running “at least 40 or 50 docks a day” in search of docks where he believed he could catch better-than-average fish.
“I covered a ton of water every day, looking for real specific docks,” Lintner said. “I wanted docks that were close to a main lake point and were somewhat isolated. If there were a bunch of docks together, that wasn’t the deal for me. I was looking for real specific areas where there was one, maybe two, docks in a quarter-mile stretch. And the bigger the dock the better.”
Lintner’s dock attack turned up 16-3 on Day 1, good enough for third place, most of it on a 5/16-ounce ARK Wes Logan Swim Jig in blue magic with a white Zoom Z Craw trailer, and a 1/2-ounce ARK Randall Tharp Flipping Jig in old-school brown. He spent that evening poring over the maps on his Garmin EchoMAP Ultra 2 in search of more isolated docks to add to his expanding collection of waypoints.
Day 2 brought clouds and shade on his docks, which Linter exploited with a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer (white/gold blade) with a white Yamamoto Zako trailer and the same ARK swim jig.
“Eighty percent of the water I ran every day was brand new,” Lintner said. “I’d pull up the map and zoom in on docks that looked like what I wanted, and I’d just spent the day running to those docks. That was a key for me in having consistent weights – the volume of docks I ran. I caught a ton of fish every day – probably 50 a day – but only had five to seven keepers a day. Getting those keeper bites was hard, but I think running all new water really helped me. There wasn’t really any reason why a 3 1/2- or 4-pounder would show up, I couldn’t replicate it. I had to just keep fishing as many docks as I could.”
Lintner returned to the reaction baits on the final day, weighing all but one fish on the ChatterBait and swim jig (but catching his biggest fish on the flipping jig).
“I’ve picked up that dock deal over the years fishing all of these lakes around here: Bull Shoals, Table Rock, Lake of the Ozarks,” Lintner said. “It’s something I knew coming into this week, and I caught fish at all kinds of depths doing it. I caught some as shallow as a foot and a half deep, and some where my boat was in 55 feet of water.”
The top 10 pros on Lake of the Ozarks finished:
1st: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 15 bass, 51-8, $38,289
2nd: Dennis Berhorst, Holts Summit, Mo., 15 bass, 47-10, $15,837 (includes $1,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus)
3rd: Andy Newcomb, Camdenton, Mo., 15 bass, 47-8, $11,787
4th: Brock Reinkemeyer, Warsaw, Mo., 14 bass, 43-12, $9,822
5th: Casey Scanlon, Eldon, Mo., 15 bass, 43-10, $8,615
6th: Chris Digino, Dallas, Texas, 15 bass, 42-11, $7,658
7th: Jake Lawrence, Buchanan, Tenn., 15 bass, 42-10, $6,701
8th: Corbin Bailey, Camdenton, Mo., 14 bass, 42-6, $5,743
9th: Jason Moppin, Cross Timbers, Mo., 14 bass, 39-12, $4,786
10th: Lawson Hibdon, Versailles, Mo., 15 bass, 39-6, $3,829
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Pros Brock Reinkemeyer of Warsaw, Missouri, and Jason Sandidge of Centerton, Arkansas, tied for the Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division Thursday, each catching a largemouth weighing 6 pounds, 2 ounces, to take home $250. On Friday, pro Aaron Johnson of Shreveport, Louisiana, earned the $500 Berkley Big Bass prize after bringing a 6-pound, 1-ounce largemouth bass to the scale.
Berhorst took home an extra $1,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $35,000 per event in each Toyota Series tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Mason Chambers of Galena, Missouri, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 10 bass weighing 30 pounds, 3 ounces. Chambers took home the top prize package worth $33,500, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on Lake of the Ozarks finished:
1st: Mason Chambers, Galena, Mo., 10 bass, 30-3, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp outboard
2nd: Shane Kuehn, Bennington, Neb., six bass, 21-7, $4,804
3rd: Albert (Skip) Rayborn, Hammond, La., nine bass, 21-0, $3,843
4th: William Hoffert, Columbia, Mo., eight bass, 18-4, $3,363
5th: Charley Slaton, Valliant, Okla., seven bass, 17-12, $2,882
6th: William Koerber, Phillipsburg, Mo., seven bass, 17-2, $2,402
7th: Clayton Hale, Grove, Okla., eight bass, 16-14, $2,071
8th: Dennis Meyer, Branson West, Mo., six bass, 16-3, $1,681
9th: Les Brandenburg, Springfield, Mo., six bass, 15-13, $1,441
10th: Kenny Miller, Fulton, Mo., seven bass, 15-9, $1,201
Dennis Young of Olathe, Kansas, was the Berkley Big Bass $150 award winner in the Strike King co-angler division, Thursday, with a 6-pound, 6-ounce bass, while the Day 2 $150 award went to Mason Chambers of Galena, Missouri, with a 4-pound, 14-ounce fish.
With all three regular-season events in the Toyota Series Plains Division now complete, pro Jake Lawrence of Buchanan, Tennessee, was crowned the Fishing Clash Plains Division Angler of the Year (AOY), earning the AOY payout of $5,000 with 773 points, while Dennis Young of Olathe, Kansas, was named the Strike King Co-angler of the year with 739 points, taking home the $2,000 prize.
The Toyota Series at Lake of the Ozarks, hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association, was the third and final regular-season event for the Toyota Series Plains Division. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will be the Toyota Series Championship at Wheeler Lake – hosted by the Huntsville Sports Commission – 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.
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 Fishing, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, REDCON1, Simms, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Toyota Series, 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.
Jagdfeld, Akins advance to finals at Bassmaster College Classic Bracket on Tims Ford Lake
Sept. 29, 2024
Winchester, Tenn. — Dylan Akins enjoyed his best day yet at Tims Ford Lake, landing 16 pounds, 7 ounces — the heaviest bag of the tournament so far — on Day 3 of the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s.
Still, there were some anxious moments at weigh-in as the Emmanuel University angler arrived at check-in and realized his head-to-head opponent Andrew Blanton of Lander University had also caught an impressive bag of bass on Day 3.
Blanton fell just 4 ounces short with 16-3, allowing Akins to take a sigh of relief and advance to Championship Monday. He will be joined by Adrian College graduate Aaron Jagdfeld, who caught 12-3 to advance past Caleb Hudson of University of South Carolina-Union (7-3).
“I was feeling pretty optimistic because I had caught a decent sack,” Akins said. “So, I was thinking, if I want to have a chance tomorrow, I don’t know if I can keep grinding on these fish. So, I made a move to a different section of the lake to try and cull up there. I got to weigh-in and realized it was going to be close. I saw he had those two big largemouth.
“Luckily, I slid through. It was nerve-wracking.”
Weights will zero again tomorrow and Akins and Jagdfeld will compete head-to-head for a spot in the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic at Lake Ray Roberts along with paid entries into the 2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens with use of a fully rigged Nitro boat and Toyota Tundra.
A light rain continued to fall over Tims Ford as the remnants of Hurricane Helene continued to swirl around the area. But as the conditions have stabilized, the bite has continued to improve for the Emmanuel University graduate.
“Today was the best day I’ve had,” Akins said. “I fished a couple of new areas I found, which helped a lot. I had some key bass off of those areas. Hopefully tomorrow will be the same, too. The weather is kind of moving out of here, so there’s a chance it could completely change.”
Thus far, Akins has been targeting both smallmouth and largemouth in the southwestern section of the lake. The majority of the bass he’s caught have been feeding around suspended bait balls, but he landed one of his bigger bass on Day 3 in shallower water.
“If I see them around bait, then I’m throwing at them,” Akins said. “Today, every fish for a little while was trying to eat. If I saw them shallow or out on bait, I would throw over there and try to get them to eat the topwater.”
Garmin LiveScope has helped him locate these groups of threadfin shad, and has also allowed him to observe where the bass are sitting in the water column. Akins has seen bass swimming and suspended anywhere from just under the surface to as deep as 50 feet.
The bass located in the top 15 feet of the water column are more willing to bite a topwater, but he’ll drop a bait to the bass if they are deeper. Several groups of bass have moved quickly up and down in the water column, which has shocked Akins.
“I can sit there and watch a school of bass that is 50 feet down all of sudden swim up and get right under the surface like they are ready to feed,” he said. “What is even crazier, I know people catch largemouth shallow ... I have caught some of my biggest largemouth here in 40 feet of water. It blows my mind that they will (rise and fall) so much. The smallmouth will swim everywhere, but the schools of largemouth I’m seeing are swimming twice as fast.”
It was a wet start for Akins, but not because of the rain. While fighting a bass, Akins slipped on the gunnel of the boat and fell into the lake. He did, however, manage to land that bass and proceeded to fill out his limit.
“The first bass I caught kept and from there I filled my limit pretty fast. That hasn’t happened the last few days. I would get stuck on four for a while. After that, I had a flurry that lasted until about 10 or 11. It slowed down from there. I noticed a lot of bass starting to not react the same way.”
Jagdfeld, meanwhile, suffered his worst day of fishing since arriving at Tims Ford. Despite losing several bass early in the morning, he was able to land a respectable limit by midmorning, but the way the bass bit today has him a bit worried about his chances for the final day.
“It is good to be here, but I want to win it all,” Jagdfeld said. “I have no clue what I’m going to do tomorrow. I’m completely out of fish. But I’m going to fish free tomorrow and go bassin’. I’m going to act like I’ve never been here before.”
Throughout the first three days, the Adrian College angler has moved between two large areas of the lake searching for bass feeding on threadfin. He has landed a mix of smallmouth and largemouth with two baits, including a topwater popper and a minnow-style bait.
Like Akins, Jagdfeld has found that bass swimming higher in the water column are more willing to bite.
“Most of the bass I’m catching are within 10 feet of the surface over 15 to 100 feet of water,” Jagdfeld said. “That’s why I’m able to catch them on topwater. I switched from a Spook to a Pop-R today. I’ve seen big schools down in 30 to 50 feet of water, but it is really hard to get to them and they are hard to get to bite anyway.”
When he arrived at his starting spot on Day 3, Jagdfeld discovered the bass in the area were in an odd mode.
“I didn’t connect with the first four or five bass that blew up on my topwater. I made some mistakes. Tried to boat flip some bass I shouldn’t have,” Jagdfeld said. “I was able to grind it out and hit a few stretches that had them. I never had a big bite.”
Jagdfeld suspects the bass are starting to transition to their fall patterns, and with the rise in water levels from the tropical rains, he thinks he will have to make a drastic change in strategy.
“With the water coming up, and now that it is stabilizing, I probably will fish shallow. I haven’t done it much all week. When we first got here, there were a lot more fish on the main lake. The bait is still there, but the bass aren’t there in the numbers they were when we first got here.”
Jagdfeld and Akins will launch from Tims Ford Marina at 6:20 a.m. CT and return for weigh-in at 2:30 p.m. Live coverage on Bassmaster.com will begin at 7 a.m. and continue until 2 p.m.
The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and local businesses are hosting the tournament.
2024 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King
2024 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2024 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket Presenting Sponsor: Lew's
2024 Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowarance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
2024 Bassmaster College Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano
Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
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.
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Media Contact: Chad Gay, B.A.S.S. Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, [email protected]
2024 Strike King College Bracket Presented by Bass Pro Shops and Lew's 9/27-9/30
Tim Ford's Lake, Winchester TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Dylan Akins - Emmanuel University 0
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 16-00 Day 3: 5 16-07 Total: 5 16-07
2. Andrew Blanton - Lander University 0
Day 1: 2 06-03 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 5 16-03 Total: 5 16-03
3. Aaron Jagdfeld - Adrian College 0
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 14-05 Day 3: 5 12-03 Total: 5 12-03
4. Caleb Hudson - University of South Carolina - U 0
Day 1: 4 12-12 Day 2: 5 14-05 Day 3: 3 07-03 Total: 3 07-03
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 2 26 76-12
2 5 31 93-00
3 3 18 52-00
------------------------------
10 75 221-12
Akins overcomes early miscue to lead the way on Day 2 at Bassmaster College Classic Bracket on Tims Ford Lake
Sept. 28, 2024
Winchester, Tenn. — Knowing a full day of fishing was ahead, Emmanuel University’s Dylan Akins knew he would have to take advantage of every quality bite he received on Day 2 of the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s to advance.
By landing the tournament’s biggest bag so far, Akins did just that.
With a two-day total of 30 pounds, 4 ounces, Akins finished at the top of the leaderboard on Day 2 and earned the No. 1 seed heading into the bracket portion of the event. Adrian College angler Aaron Jagdfeld earned the No. 2 seed with 29-2 while Caleb Hudson from the University of South Carolina-Union will be the third seed with 27-1. Lander University’s Andrew Blanton claimed the fourth and final seed with 20-14.
Weights will reset, and Akins will go head-to-head against Blanton on Semifinal Sunday while Jagdfeld will face off against Hudson. The winner of the head-to-head matchups will advance to Championship Monday and the overall victor will claim a spot in the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented By Jockey Outdoors at Lake Ray Roberts along with paid entry into the 2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens.
“I’m feeling kind of confident, but I don’t have the backing like I did yesterday,” Akins said. “I think you are going to have to burn it to the ground every day. It is going to be interesting to see what the weights are when we are pushing our stuff.”
The remnants of Hurricane Helene shortened the first day of the tournament, and while rain and wind persisted on Saturday, the eight competitors were able to launch on time and enjoyed a full day of fishing.
Akins landed 14-4 on Day 1 before catching a tournament best 16-0 on the second day of competition. Along with a morning bite, he feels conditions have stabilized enough to improve the bite across the lake today.
“Today they seemed a little more active and I think you saw that in people’s bags today,” Akins explained. “Tomorrow is supposed to be about the same, so it will be interesting to see if they keep biting like this, shut down or if it gets even better.”
Tims Ford reminds the recent college graduate and Bassmaster Team of the Year champion of the upper end of his home lake of Lake Lanier, which has helped him break down the lake this week. The river sections of Lanier are full of threadfin, which is the prominent baitfish in Tims Ford as well.
Several different patterns have played out for Akins so far this week. No one thing has been better than another, but he has narrowed his rotation down to four key baits.
“I’ll go through a stretch and fish a pattern,” he said. “I’ve been mixing in a little of everything. I’m mixing it up shallow and deep. Everything I’m fishing is kind of similar, but I haven’t seen a correlation between them.”
With how deep Tims Ford generally is, Akins added it hasn’t been super difficult to switch between his deep and shallow patterns. While he has caught a largemouth or two each day, Akins has landed mostly smallmouth.
“You can see the bank, and then you can pan over with (forward-facing sonar) and there it’s as deep as 80 feet of water,” he said. “You can fish shallow points and then deep stuff; you never really know where they will be.”
After landing everything he flipped in the boat on Day 1, Akins started Day 2 by misjudging a boat flip and losing a key bass. He recovered nicely, though, landing four keeper bass before hitting a lull later in the morning.
“Today off the rip, I tried to flip one and it hit off the gunnel,” he said. “That hurt, but I pushed through it, and I knew I had to catch a limit to make it to the next day.”
The four remaining anglers will launch from Tims Ford Marina beginning at 6:20 a.m. CT on Sunday and return for weigh-in at 2:30 p.m. Live coverage will begin on FS1 at 8 a.m. ET and continue through 11 a.m. before moving over to Bassmaster.com at noon.
The Tennessee Department of Tourist Development and local businesses are hosting the tournament.
2024 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King
2024 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2024 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket Presenting Sponsor: Lew's
2024 Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowarance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
2024 Bassmaster College Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano
Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
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.
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Media Contact: Chad Gay, B.A.S.S. Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, [email protected]
2024 Strike King College Bracket Presented by Bass Pro Shops and Lew's 9/27-9/30
Tim Ford's Lake, Winchester TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Dylan Akins - Emmanuel University 0
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 16-00 Total: 10 30-04
2. Aaron Jagdfeld - Adrian College 0
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 14-05 Total: 10 29-02
3. Caleb Hudson - University of South Carolina - U 0
Day 1: 4 12-12 Day 2: 5 14-05 Total: 9 27-01
4. Andrew Blanton - Lander University 0
Day 1: 2 06-03 Day 2: 5 14-11 Total: 7 20-14
5. Garrett Smith - Lander University 0
Day 1: 2 05-09 Day 2: 5 14-14 Total: 7 20-07
6. Chase Carey - Emmanuel University 0
Day 1: 3 08-04 Day 2: 4 11-03 Total: 7 19-07
7. Tanner Hadden - University of South Carolina - U 0
Day 1: 3 08-09 Day 2: 2 07-10 Total: 5 16-03
8. Elliot Wielgopolski - Adrian College 0
Day 1: 2 06-06 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 06-06
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 2 26 76-12
2 5 31 93-00
------------------------------
7 57 169-12
BFL Super Tournament on Cherokee Lake Cancelled
WHAT:
The Major League Fishing (MLF) Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Volunteer Division two-day Super Tournament on Cherokee Lake, scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 28 and Sunday, Sept. 29, has been cancelled due to rapidly rising waters.
MLF and tournament officials are reviewing options regarding a potential rescheduling and more information will be released very soon.
NOTES:
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on final point standings, along with the 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 2025 BFL All-American. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 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 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.
Big Bass Tour | Douglas Lake Event Rescheduled to November 1-3, 2024
Due to the recent flooding in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina, and the resulting infrastructure failures over the last 24 hours, Tour officials have decided, in consultation with local authorities and host partners, to reschedule the Douglas Lake event to November 1-3, 2024.
All entries will automatically be moved to the new dates, and online registration will remain open as usual. If you are unable to attend the rescheduled date, your entry can be transferred to the 2025 Big Bass Tour event. To make this change, please email [email protected] with your name, details, and the event you wish to transfer to. Please note that we will not process changes over the phone.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in the region who's been impacted.
Bass Fishing Hall of Fame welcomes five new members and unveils venue expansion
Arbogast, McKinnis, Reese, Williams, Zona enshrined; Clunn collects Murski award
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— For Immediate Release — Sept. 27, 2024 — To the three bullies on the bridge, Mark Zona has a message for you: Bass fishing is cooler than you’ll ever be.
It has perhaps never been as cool as it was Thursday evening at the White River Conference Center as the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame welcomed the 2024 induction class of Fred Arbogast, Mike McKinnis, Skeet Reese, Alfred Williams and Zona.
Zona’s poignant acceptance speech punctuated a memorable and historic evening by telling the story of what, at the time, was the biggest bass of his life. Zona recalled being heckled by three teenage boys who were perched on a small bridge overlooking the area he was fishing.
“You’re a loser. You’re a dork. You’re not gonna catch anything,” they heckled as Zona did his best to ignore them.
“Just give me a bite so I can shut them up,” he remembers thinking.
With the peanut gallery looking on, a 10-year-old Zona made another cast under the bridge and watched his line jump as a fish inhaled his pre-rigged plastic worm.
“I got ‘em,” he said. “I got ‘em!”
He landed the fish – a smallmouth – put it on his stringer and headed home, bullies in his wake, triumphant and steadfast in his love of fishing.
“All I wanted was for those three bullies to understand that bass fishing’s cool,” Zona said while holding a replica mount of the fish in his left hand.
With 23 other Hall of Fame inductees scattered throughout the crowd, the longtime Bassmaster television and Bassmaster Live analyst and host of “Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show” spoke about the opportunity that arose from a meeting at the 2005 Bassmaster Classic that allowed him to transition from tournament angler to television personality.
“Bassmaster has been a part of my life,” said Zona, who retired from his analyst role after the 2024 Elite Series season. “It was so long before I worked there but the opportunity and the group that I worked with, I took pride in that. I still take pride in that. And even though I’m not going to sit in that seat any more on Bassmaster Live, I’m there. Bassmaster is my life. It’s my family’s life.”
The induction ceremony was the culmination of the Hall’s Celebrate Bass Fishing Week, which also featured a week-long silent auction which helped raise funds that will be used toward the Hall’s conservation grants and scholarship programs.
"It was such a great evening at the White River Conference where we celebrated our 2024 Hall of Fame inductees,” said Hall of Fame president John Mazurkiewicz, “It was also a great, diverse crowd from across the bass fishing world between pro anglers, industry executives, high school and college anglers as well as a room full of blue jackets. We were thrilled to see so many Hall of Fame inductees on hand, including some who were attending for the first time. It was a great evening and on behalf of the entire Board of Directors, a massive thank you to the team at Wonders of Wildlife and Johnny Morris for the support they offer which allows us to provide a fun and exciting evening celebrating the sport of bass fishing.”
The night also allowed the Hall of Fame to unveil its newly-expanded venue located within Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium, featuring 300 square feet of new space and displays. The new layout now ensures all WOW visitors will funnel through the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame and be able to explore the artifacts and history of the sport that are on display.
“I was feeling so blessed to be downstairs [in the Hall of Fame] and look at the pictures and scrapbooks of memories and how blessed we’ve all been to spend a good part of our lives around the great sport of fishing,” said Morris.
In addition, Hall of Famer Rick Clunn, whose Bassmaster tournament career spanned six decades and more than 500 events, was given the Ray Murski Lifetime Achievement Award. Clunn is just the third recipient of the award, joining Ray Scott (2013) and Morris (2017).
Williams began fishing bass tournaments after returning from Vietnam, often as the only Black competitor – and won more than his share. He won the 1983 Bassmaster Classic divisional qualifier at Ross Barnett Reservoir, his home waters, to clinch a spot in the 1983 Classic at the Ohio River, the first African-American to do so. He finished 10th out of 42 contenders, placing ahead of fellow Hall of Famers Hank Parker, Clunn, Denny Brauer and Roland Martin.
“Since it was announced I was going to be inducted, I’ve gotten calls from people I hadn’t heard from in 30, 35 years to congratulate me on this achievement,” Williams said. “It truly is an honor for me to be standing here tonight. They’ve said I’m a trailblazer. I didn’t start out to be a trailblazer. I just started on a trail and it got to be blazing, I guess.”
Williams also recalled his affiliation with Snag Proof Lure Company, which produced some of the first floating frog style lures. Williams made modifications to the bait, such as adding skirted legs and even weights to alter how it sat on the surface.
“All of the fishermen in here now all know that all of the frogs are based on that concept,” he added.” I don’t care what brand it is, it’s based on that concept we came up with at Snag Proof. People didn’t really believe it until they saw it in action.”
Early in his career, Reese helped lead a generation of West Coast anglers who parlayed their regional success into lengthy careers on the national bass fishing scene. Once there, he displayed a unique flair and personality that helped him stand out on and off the water.
In 1997, he won two regional Red Man tournaments, a West Coast Bass event and the Bassmaster Western Invitational Angler of The Year title, the latter of which earned Reese a spot in the Bassmaster Top 150 field and a berth in the 1998 Bassmaster Classic, thus kicking off his career as a national tour pro.
From there, he built one of the most impressive résumés of his era. It includes eight B.A.S.S. victories, including the 2009 Bassmaster Classic and five Elite Series triumphs. He also claimed the 2007 Elite Series AOY title. He’s added three Major League Fishing wins since 2018 and his career earnings of $4.09 million between B.A.S.S. and MLF puts him among the top 5 all-time in the sport.
“I’m really here doing this right now,” Reese said as he looked out at a packed banquet hall. “I look out over this room and I see so many people that influenced the sport and without them we wouldn’t be here today. So, for me to be on stage and be recognized it’s not something I dreamed of doing. I never thought this would happen to me. I was just a kid from California who loved to catch fish. To be up here and be doing this right now is really humbling. I’m grateful and thankful for the opportunity to be up here and be part of history.
“Who would have thought some little toe-haired kid from northern California was going to make black and yellow popular and bring a Bassmaster Classic title back to California.
While Reese was a star on the water, McKinnis and the team at JM Associates, the production company founded by his late father, Jerry, provided the television platform where those stars took shape and connected with fans and viewers around the world.
McKinnis and Co. transformed the way fishing fans consume content around the sport. His productions of one-off fishing tournament programs in the mid-1900s attracted the attention of ESPN, which tapped JM to launch the network’s coverage of the then-new FLW Tour in 1996. In 2015, McKinnis helped shepherd in a new era in tournament coverage when the Bassmaster Classic was live-streamed to the world on Bassmaster.com.
The breakthrough production was an immediate success and helped spawn an era during which live broadcasts of on-the-water action have become the norm across the sport as has live coverage of Bassmaster events on Fox Sports networks – all under McKinnis’ watch.
In typical television producer form, though, McKinnis deflected credit to his colleagues over the years at JM Associates.
“Let me get through the list of the shoulders that I’ve been standing on all these years,” he said before rattling off a roster of editors, engineers, camera operators, executives, on-air hosts and his father, Jerry.
Among those mentioned was longtime editor David Lipke, who’s worked alongside McKinnis for nearly a quarter century.
“If you’ve seen some highlight footage of bass anglers over the last 24 years and it made you want to get up and go fishing, there’s a 95 percent chance that guy cut the footage,” McKinnis said. “I’m standing up here getting this honor, but he and all of these people that I’m talking about are the reason.
“None of us would be here without my best friend, my dad, Jerry McKinnis. I am unbelievably proud to be up here and be honored like this with him. It’s just crazy awesome. To know that the Hall of Fame holds me in this high regard means the world to me.”
Arbogast will be remembered as one of the most creative innovators of fishing lures the sport has ever seen. Born in 1894 in Akron, Ohio, he made a name for himself in distance casting competitions before delving into lure design and utilizing new materials in the 1930s. While seeking an alternative to the labor-intensive feather and hair dressings for his bass baits, he hit upon the idea of rubber skirts, drawing on his experience working for Goodyear and B.F. Goodrich in his hometown since high school.
He called his creation the Hula Skirt, and he used it on his Hawaiian Wiggler (a precursor to the buzzbait), Hula Popper and Hula Dancer. His skirt design led to the use of rubber and other materials to make pliable skirts for a multitude of lures still popular today. By the time of his sudden, premature death in 1947, at the age of 53, Arbogast had designed nearly a dozen deadly bass baits, including the iconic Jitterbug.
During the ceremony, PRADCO presented the Hall of Fame with a check for $12,000, which represents the proceeds from the sale of a limited-edition series of Jitterbugs that were made to commemorate Arbogast’s induction.
If you missed the induction ceremony, click here to watch the induction program. The 2025 Bass Fishing Hall of Fame induction ceremony is scheduled for Sept. 25, 2025, in Springfield, Mo.
About the BFHOF -- The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization led by a volunteer board of directors and is dedicated to celebrating, promoting and preserving the sport of bass fishing. Since 2017, the Hall’s inductees and memorabilia representing the history of bass fishing is showcased in Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri, where it has rapidly become a popular destination. For more information about the Hall, its mission, and to become a supporting member, visit www.BassFishingHOF.com, or contact BFHOF executive director Barbara Bowman at [email protected].
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Barbara Bowman
Executive Director
BassFishingHOF.com
P.O. Box 26584
Little Rock, AR 72221
501-541-6660
We are dedicated to celebrating, promoting and preserving the sport of bass fishing
Be Social - @BassFishingHOF
Jagdfeld paces the field at Bassmaster College Classic Bracket on Tims Ford Lake
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B.A.S.S. announces College, High School and Junior schedules for 2025
Sept. 27, 2024
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. officials today announced the 2025 schedule for the Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series and Junior Series tournament circuits, and the slate features some of the best competition bass lakes in the country for young anglers to showcase their talent.
“Tournament fishing at the student level is continuing to boom in popularity,” said Glenn Cale, B.A.S.S. tournament manager for the College, High School and Junior Series. “From the college level to the junior level, B.A.S.S. continues to provide even more opportunities for young anglers to compete on some of the best bodies of water in the country.
“Today’s anglers are honing their skills at an early age,” Cale went on to say. “This schedule will be a fun one for the up-and-coming anglers and their families. We will visit some of the most popular fisheries in the United States. Some of these anglers will revisit them many times during their tournament career.”
The Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops features a two-division format with three tour stops each — the Legends Trail and the Lunkers Trail.
The Legends Trail kicks off the season Jan. 22-23 at Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Fla., travels to Smith Lake in Cullman, Ala., Feb. 26-27 and makes a final stop at Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Okla., April 2-3.
The Lunkers Trail begins competition at Lake Okeechobee in Clewiston, Fla., Jan. 29-30, then Buggs Island in Mecklenburg County, N.C., April 30-May 1, before ending the regular season at Chickamauga Lake in Dayton, Tenn., May 30-31.
College anglers will be competing for points in the Bassmaster College Team of the Year standings to qualify for both the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops and the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s which will result in a Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic berth for one lucky angler.
Second grade through 12th grade anglers will compete in four regular-season events held in conjunction with several of the college events. Those young anglers will gain valuable tournament-fishing experience on some of the country’s best bass waters. The one-day High School and Junior tournaments will kick off Jan. 26 at Harris Chain of Lakes, followed by stops at Smith Lake on March 2, Lake Tenkiller on March 30 and Buggs Island on May 4.
The College Series and High School Series events will be capped at 250 boats. Each high school event will also include a field of up to 50 boats for competitors ranging from second to eighth grade as part of the Bassmaster Junior Series.
Online registration for the College Series' Legends Trail will open Oct. 22 at 3 p.m. CT, followed by the Lunkers Trail registration which will open Oct. 29 at 3 p.m. Single-event entry will open Nov. 5 at 3 p.m.
Registration for the High School Series will open online Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. and Junior Series registration will open Dec. 10 at 3 p.m.
For more information visit Bassmaster.com.
2025 Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops Schedule
Legends Trail
January 22-23, Harris Chain of Lakes, Leesburg, Fla.
February 26-27, Smith Lake, Cullman, Ala.
April 2-3, Lake Eufaula, Eufaula, Okla.
Lunkers Trail
January 29-30, Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston, Fla.
April 30- May 1, Buggs Island, Mecklenburg County, N.C.
May 30-31, Chickamauga Lake, Dayton, Tenn.
2025 Strike King Bassmaster High School and Junior Series Schedule
January 26, Harris Chain of Lakes, Leesburg, Fla.
March 2, Smith Lake, Cullman Ala.
March 30, Lake Tenkiller, Cookson, Okla.
May 4, Buggs Island, Mecklenburg County, N.C.
2024 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King
2024 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2024 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket Presenting Sponsor: Lew's
2024 Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowarance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
2024 Bassmaster College Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar, Shimano
2024 Bassmaster High School
2024 Bassmaster High School Combine Gear Partners: Lew's, Strike King
2024 Bassmaster 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.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, cgay@bassmaster.
Bassmaster Elite Series welcomes Legendary qualifiers Pace, Howell back to field
Sept. 26, 2024
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. tournament officials today announced former Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic champions Randy Howell and Cliff Pace will rejoin the ranks of Elite anglers in 2025 via Legends invitations. Two Legends spots opened with the retirement of Rick Clunn and the fact that all current Elite anglers with Legends eligibility requalified via Elite Series requalification criteria.
“We are excited to welcome back two legends to the Bassmaster Elites,” said Lisa Talmadge, tournament director for the Elite Series. “We can’t wait to see the incredible moments they’ll bring. Here’s to celebrating their legacy and the excitement of what’s to come.”
Howell’s career has spanned four decades, and he has amassed more than $1.9 million in earnings, four wins including the 2014 Bassmaster Classic and posted 37 Top 10 finishes and 125 Top 30 finishes while finishing in the money 173 times.
“It’s really great to have the opportunity to come back and continue my journey with B.A.S.S. again at 51 years old,” the Guntersville, Ala., angler said. “I fished a lot of years with B.A.S.S., and winning the Classic changed my life and helped make a great career for me. I am definitely looking forward to getting back to weighing in on the Bassmaster stage as well as the Classic stage, hopefully.
“I’ve worked every Classic the past few years I’ve been away and sat and watched every Classic winner and it always makes me emotional,” Howell added. “This past year I sat and watched Justin Hamner win it. I know the difference it makes in an angler’s career and what a big deal it was for him, and I thought, ‘I’ve got to get back and win another Classic.’ And that’s my goal now: to win a second one.”
Howell said his son, Laker, fished the 2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN to try to earn his way to the 2025 Elite Series.
"For Laker to get to the Elites and for us to have a chance to fish a Classic together … that would be a dream come true,” Howell said.
Pace has totaled more than $1.6 million while recording three wins including the 2013 Bassmaster Classic. The Ovett, Miss., angler has also notched 29 Top 10 finishes and finished in the money 105 times in 155 total tournaments.
Pace fished the 2024 Bassmaster Opens in an attempt to qualify for the 2025 Elite Series. However, he said he is thankful for the opportunity to rejoin the circuit as a Legends qualifier.
“I would have loved to do it on my own merit, but I’m thankful to get in with the exemption,” Pace said. “I’m really happy to be coming back. There are a lot of things about the Elites I missed. B.A.S.S. is the organization I’ve loved fishing with, and growing up all my heroes fished with B.A.S.S., and it’s just where I want to be. There are a lot of trails that offer anglers a chance to compete, but I feel B.A.S.S. has the best platform.
“All my friends on social media said I’m right back where I belong,” Pace added. “I’m excited to be back and I’m ready to get started. I’m looking forward to seeing how the season unfolds.”
Anglers earn one Legends point for each Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic victory and one point for each Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year title. According to Elite Series rules, up to two Legends qualifiers can be added to the Elite field per season. Although other former Elite Series pros inquired about the Legends exemption, Howell and Pace received their Legends invitations based upon having one Legends point, fishing the Bassmaster Opens and having the most career B.A.S.S. events fished. No spots are being cut from the 2025 Elite field to make room for the Legends qualifiers.
2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster Elite 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 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.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, cgay@bassmaster.
New format for Opens, Elite Qualifier Series announced
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MLF Cancels Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament at Lake Okeechobee Due to Hurricane Helene
WHAT:
Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today that the Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Super Tournament at Lake Okeechobee, scheduled for Sept. 28-29, has been cancelled due to Hurricane Helene.
The tournament was the fifth and final regular-season event for the Gator Division. With no opportunity to reschedule the tournament prior to the division’s Oct. 10-12 Regional on Santee Cooper Lakes, Gator Division anglers will advance to the regional based on standings from the four qualifiers that have been completed. Anglers who have entered and paid entry fees for the super tournament will be refunded.
NOTES:
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the four 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. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube .
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery 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.
Pickwick Lake Set to Host Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament
Pickwick Lake to Host 200 Boaters and Co-anglers from Four BFL Divisions Competing for Spot in 2025 BFL All-American, Top Prize of $60,000
COUNCE, Tenn. (Sept. 24, 2024) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine’s LBL, Mountain, Ozark and Savannah River divisions will wrap up their 2024 season in Counce, Tennessee, next week, Oct. 3-5, with the Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine Regional Event at Pickwick Lake.
Hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the three-day regional tournament will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.
The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. The highest finishing boater from each division will also receive a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division will receive a $500 bonus.
Dylan Nutt of Nashville, Tennessee, is a junior at the University of North Alabama and currently fishes in the Abu Garcia College Fishing and Phoenix Bass Fishing League circuits. Nutt won the Phoenix BFL Super Tournament on Pickwick Lake this past Sunday and said anglers are in for a great event.
“The fish are really spread out right now, so fishing’s a bit tougher,” said Nutt. “That’s not what you’re used to seeing on Pickwick in May or June, but I still think we’ll see high weights at the top of the leaderboard this time of year. There are some big ones in the lake and even with it being tough, some people are going to figure it out.”
Nutt said he expects to see a variety of patterns in play throughout the event.
“I think we’ll see guys catching fish on Carolina rigs, football jigs and shaky-head rigs,” said Nutt. “But you’ll see other anglers targeting fish that are chasing shad. We’re early in the fall transition and a lot of the fish are starting to feed on baitfish, so you’re going to see a lot of guys catching them on swimbaits, topwater jigs, lipless crankbaits and stuff like that that are shad imitators.”
Although the bite may be tough, Nutt said he expects to see all three species in play.
“There will definitely be a lot of largemouth and smallmouth weighed in, but there’s also the opportunity for guys to catch some big spotted bass,” said Nutt. “I think it will take a 15- to 20-pound bag all three days to be in the top 10 and probably will take 67 to 75 pounds to win.”
Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. CT each morning from Pickwick Landing State Park, located at 120 Playground Loop, in Counce. Weigh-ins will also be held at the State Park and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regionals. The 2025 BFL All-American will be held May 29-31 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
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 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.
Kerr Lake Set to Host Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament
North Carolina-Virginia Reservoir Set to Host 200 Boaters and Strike King Co-anglers from Four BFL Divisions Competing for Spot in 2025 BFL All-American, Top Prize of $60,000
HENDERSON, N.C. (Sept. 24, 2024) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine’s Buckeye, Northeast, Shenandoah and South Carolina divisions will close out the 2024 season in Henderson, North Carolina, Oct. 3-5, with the Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine Regional Tournament at Kerr Lake.
Hosted by the Vance County Tourism Development Authority, the three-day regional tournament will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.
The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the 42nd annual BFL All-American. The highest finishing boater from each division will also receive a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division will receive a $500 bonus.
“This Regional tournament is going to be a good one to follow, because I think MLF is hitting is at just the right time,” said local pro Derik Hudson of Concord, Virginia, who has eight top-10 finishes on Kerr Lake – including a victory in last year’s 2023 BFL Super-Tournament. “This past weekend the water temperatures will still very high – 77 to 79 degrees. But we’re at that time of the year where the fall transition is coming soon. I think in this one the fish are going to be spread out – shallow and deep – and guys are going to be able to catch them fishing their strengths.”
Hudson said that he expects forward-facing sonar to play a large role in this tournament, but he does think that an angler can compete to win strictly by fishing shallow.
“There is a ton of shad in the lake right now, and out deep those fish are going to be keyed in on the shad,” Hudson said. “The majority of fish seem to still be out offshore, but lately it seems like the bigger fish are moving shallow and being caught on transition banks, stumpy points and on rock. That’s what makes this one so interesting – they’re going to hit it right in the middle of the fall transition and it’s still really anybody’s ballgame.”
When Hudson won the BFL Super Tournament on Kerr Lake last year, he weighed in limits totaling 16- and 15- pounds and his 31-pound total won by nearly a 5-pound margin. He expects weights to be down a little bit in this Regional tournament due to the fall transition.
“I feel like if you catch if you catch 13 to 14 pounds a day, you're going to be sitting really good,” Hudson went on to say. “But, like we just saw this last weekend in the Super Tournament, if you get on that right roll offshore or on the bank, the lake has 18 or 19 right around the corner. So, I would say to shoot to stay right in the middle. If you shoot for 15 a day, that'll be a great day for anybody. But know that 18 to 19 (pounds) is still out there somewhere.”
Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. ET each morning from the Nutbrush Bridge Access at the Kerr Lake State Recreation Area, located at 115 Jack Wade Farm Road, in Henderson, North Carolina. Weigh-ins will also be held at the landing and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
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. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour. For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
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 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.
Ken Mah Blows Out BAM Pro Tour, Winning by More Than 12 Pounds at Thermalito
Colby Pearson Prevails as Inaugural Angler of the Year
by Jody Only
OROVILLE, Calif. – The final day of the season-ending bass battle of the BAM Pro Tour concluded today as Ken Mah of Elk Grove, Calif. cruised to a blowout win at the Thermalito Afterbay with a five-fish limit that tipped the scales at 29.82 pounds, outpacing the runner-up by more than 12 pounds. Mah’s effort earned him a $12,073 payday.
“Today was crazy,” said Mah, reflecting on his second major victory at the Oroville fishery. “I’m humbled, I’m blessed, and I’m thankful. It’s so hard to win even one of these multi-day events. It’s crazy to win anywhere, even once, but to win here again – I’m speechless.”
Mah qualified for Championship Sunday with the second-heaviest weight of 32.69 pounds, accumulated over the first two days of fishing. Blasting off with a leaderboard reset to zero, the top 10 anglers launched for their final limit to determine the winner. Fish management was a key part of Mah’s strategy.
“The first day I fished a ChatterBait with a Big Bite Baits Kamikaze Swimon trailer,” he said. “It wasn’t easy, but I caught them fairly early, and once I reached my target weight, I was able to fish more freely.”
A finicky bite on Day Three forced Mah to adjust for his Clear Lake-sized bag. He credited the River2Sea Phat Mat Daddy frog and a flippin’ stick for the big bites.
“I glued a 1-ounce weight and 80-pound Sunline braid to a 7’11” Loomis flippin’ stick and went to work,” he said.
His flippin’ plastics included both a YoMama and College Craw from Big Bite Baits, along with a Missile Baits Craw Father. A specific, slow retrieve with a subtle shake after bottom contact was essential for Mah's success.
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NPFL Cancels St. Johns River Event
DELAND, Fla. — The National Professional Fishing League and the West Volusia Visitor Center have canceled Stop #5 of the 2024 NPFL season on the St. Johns River out of DeLand, Florida, due to potential dangerous weather conditions.
The decision was made after tournament, state and local officials consulted with the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center and determined that imminent weather conditions are likely to make boating and travel unsafe.
“Our commitment is to the safety and well-being of our anglers,” said NPFL president Brad Fuller. “We take that commitment very seriously and believe that the forecasted weather presents a threat that’s too great to risk.”
Georgia Turner, Executive Director of the West Volusia Visitor Center, local host for the event, agreed adding, “We look forward to hosting the NPFL under more favorable conditions in the future. It’s not often that weather threatens our activities here, but when it does, we take it very seriously. Canceling the tournament is in the best interest of all concerned.”
About the National Professional Fishing League
The National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) was founded to bring competitive fishing to a broader audience and offer anglers a platform to compete at the highest level. The NPFL is committed to fostering integrity, competition, and innovation in the sport, providing anglers and fans alike with an exciting and unique experience.
Media Contact: Ken Duke — (407) 574-1898 or [email protected].
B.A.S.S. LLC names Phillip Johnson Chief Operating Officer
Sept. 23, 2024
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S., the world’s largest fishing organization, today announced the promotion of Executive Vice President Phillip Johnson to Chief Operating Officer. For the past two years, Johnson has steered the organization’s content strategy, advertising, events, marketing and communications. Now, he will also assume management responsibilities of the Bassmaster Tournament operations as well as focus on new processes to improve and expand total business operations.
“I am pleased to announce the promotion of Phillip Johnson to Chief Operating Officer, B.A.S.S. LLC,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson. “I have known and worked with Phillip for well over a decade. He has been a trusted executive for the Anderson Companies for 17 years, at one time leading a department of more than 7,000 associates. I have been very impressed with Phillip’s work at B.A.S.S. as he has spearheaded the reorganization of business operations.
“Phillip’s leadership and collaborative approach to working with our associates and customers is taking our company to a new level,” Anderson added. “Phillip’s new expanded role will give him management responsibilities over our operations, and I’m confident we will continue to evolve with an ‘outside-in’ culture and maintain our position of strength and leadership in our industry.”
Johnson’s 25 years of experience in sales and operations management will prove vital to B.A.S.S., as the organization continues to focus on growing the sport and more completely engaging current participants and fans. He will continue to play a crucial part of ad and sponsorship sales, events and content, and has also played a vital role in building the organization's relationship with FOX Sports, which recently led to a contract renewal with increased coverage that has the potential to deliver the biggest audience the sport has ever seen.
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.
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Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, cgay@bassmaster.
Onalaska’s Ruh Has Big Second Day to Win Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament at Mississippi River in La Crosse
Illinois’ Griffin Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
LA CROSSE, Wis. (Sept. 23, 2024) – Boater Kevin Ruh of Onalaska, Wisconsin, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 40 pounds, 7 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Super Tournament on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The tournament, which concluded Sunday, was hosted by Explore La Crosse. It was the fifth and final event of the season for the BFL Great Lakes Division. Ruh earned $7,577, including the lucrative $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
In a way, Ruh owes his tournament win to a misfortunate situation at a Mississippi River lock on day two. More accurately, it was the way he made the most of the situation that made the difference.
But first, Ruh started the tournament by locking down from Pool 8 to Pool 9 on day one.
“My first spot was pretty good,” he said. “I caught a big bag, which allowed me to save a lot of fish down there. So, I locked up. I had some good stuff going on 8. I ran that and culled a little bit on pool 8.”
That “good stuff” on Pool 8 was a frog bite that helped Ruh cull past 18 pounds to get in the hunt. Sunday morning is when things got interesting. When he got to the lock, Ruh – and others – got stopped by a barge.
“We were told we could get down at about 8:30, so I had time for a couple stops,” he said. “So, I stopped on a place. It was just right place, right time, on something I saved the first day. I thought it could be pretty good. I caught a 5-pounder on my first cast.”
From there, Ruh hammered the fish, putting up a 22-pound, 4-ounce limit in about 20 minutes.
“It was a good morning flurry,” he said, putting it lightly. “It was windy this morning out of the north, and it was something I’ve got history with. I knew how those fish were setting up. I thought there could be a good bag there. You can’t imagine catching 22 pounds on the spot, but typically when you blow out a tournament or have a real big bag in a tournament, it’s off a magic spot – one spot – and it’s the right place at the right time.”
Ruh admitted that the barge actually helped him. Since other top competitors weren’t able to get through until about 11 a.m., they lost enough fishing time to open the door for him to make a move up the standings. He also thanked his co-angler, Will Ahnen, for being patient while Ruh fished his program in the morning. Ahnen finished fourth.
Not surprisingly, Ruh was tight-lipped about the exact pattern he fished in the morning. He only said that it was the same pattern each day. Ruh is not done competing on the river this fall and believes it could be a winner again – maybe even at the regional event coming up on the Mississippi River in Quad Cities, Illinois.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Kevin Ruh, Onalaska, Wis., 10 bass, 40-7, $7,577 (includes $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Clayton Weber, West Salem, Wis., 10 bass, 35-0, $2,539
3rd: Tony Puelz, Garnavillo, Iowa, 10 bass, 34-10, $2,331
4th: Adam Crigger, Le Claire, Iowa, 10 bass, 34-2, $1,185
5th: Tom Monsoor, La Crosse, Wis., 10 bass, 32-13, $1,315
6th: Nick Trim, Galesville, Wis., 10 bass, 32-11, $931
7th: Mike Brueggen, La Crosse, Wis., 10 bass, 32-9, $846
8th: Glenn Walker, Savage, Minn., 10 bass, 32-6, $762
9th: Jacob Erickson, Onalaska, Wis., 10 bass, 31-9, $677
10th: Cade Laufenberg, Onalaska, Wis., 10 bass, 31-3, $592
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Tony Puelz of Garnavillo, Iowa, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 12 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $637.
Gage Griffin of Lake Forest, Illinois, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,539 Sunday, after bringing a two-day total of 10 bass to the scale that weighed 30 pounds, 1 ounce.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Gage Griffin, Lake Forest, Ill., 10 bass, 30-1, $2,539
2nd: Blake Miller, Cedar Falls, Iowa, 10 bass, 28-8, $1,419
3rd: Jamie Gomez, Holmen, Wis., 10 bass, 27-14, $846
4th: Will Ahnen, Fennimore, Wis., 10 bass, 27-7, $592
5th: Jason Swanson, Waterloo, Iowa, 10 bass, 25-7, $508
6th: Richard Conrad, Arcadia, Wis., 10 bass, 25-0, $565
7th: Lee Lewis, Ontario, Wis., 10 bass, 23-14, $423
8th: Timothy Wittren, Ontario, Wis., eight bass, 22-12, $381
9th: Dan McAdams, Reedsburg, Wis., eight bass, 20-12, $339
10th: Nick Kramersmeier, Johnston, Iowa, 10 bass, 20-10, $296
Jessie Pollard of Whitehall, Wisconsin, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $319, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 3 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the tournament.
At the conclusion of the tournament, Jeff Ritter of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, was crowned the Fishing Clash Great Lakes Division Angler of the Year (AOY) with 1,311 points and took home the $1,000 payout, while Jason Olson of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, won the Fishing Clash Great Lakes Division Co-angler of the Year race with 1,307 points and earned the $500 award.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, have qualified for the Oct. 10-12 BFL Regional tournament on Pools 13-17 of the Mississippi River 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. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
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 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.
Oldfield’s Marler Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament at Bull Shoals Lake
Salem’s Guiltner Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
BULL SHOALS, Ark. (Sept. 23, 2024) – Boater Wyatt Marler of Oldfield, Missouri, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 33 pounds, 1 ounce, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Super Tournament on Bull Shoals Lake . The tournament, which concluded Sunday, was the fifth and final event of the season for the BFL Arkie Division. Marler earned $5,817 for his victory.
Marler’s winning pattern was a one-two punch.
“I caught a lot of my fish deep on a 6th Sense 1/2- and 3/4-ounce jig, and then the rest were shallow, all mid-lake,” he said.
Marler started each day on his deep fish. He targeted “big runoff points” with rock in about 25 to 30 feet of water. His jig was the 6th Sense Divine Hybrid Jig with a 6th Sense Congo Craw trailer.
When he slid up shallow, Marler didn’t go far. He moved to adjacent flat pockets where he slung a River2Sea Whopper Plopper. It’s a popular fall pattern in the Ozarks, and that bite got better as the day went on.
“Yesterday (Saturday), I had 16 pounds by 9:30, and I actually went and tried to help my co-angler the rest of the day and just kind of left my fish alone for the next day,” Marler said. “Then today (Sunday) I probably caught 40 keepers. I caught a lot of fish. It was a fun day.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Wyatt Marler, Oldfield, Mo., 10 bass, 33-1, $5,817
2nd: Connor Crafton, Paragould, Ark., 10 bass, 31-0, $2,909
3rd: Les Brandenburg, Springfield, Mo., 10 bass, 27-8, $3,011
4th: Cody Huff, Ava, Mo., 10 bass, 26-6, $1,357
5th: Dustin Blevins, Harrison, Ark., 10 bass, 24-7, $1,163
6th: Cloys Warren, Tuckerman, Ark., 10 bass, 23-13, $1,066
7th: Scott Hardin, Little Rock, Ark., nine bass, 23-10, $970
8th: Drew Tabor, Harrison, Ark., 10 bass, 23-0, $873
9th: Colton Welch, Leola, Ark., 10 bass, 22-10, $1,276 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
10th: Cameron Rhodes, Higden, Ark., 10 bass, 22-4, $679
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Les Brandenburg of Springfield, Missouri, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds even and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $772.
Wade Guiltner of Salem, Arkansas, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,909 Sunday, after bringing a two-day total of seven bass to the scale that weighed 17 pounds, 8 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Wade Guiltner, Salem, Ark., seven bass, 17-8, $2,909
2nd: Zachary Ramsey, Little Rock, Ark., seven bass, 17-1, $1,454
3rd: Brock Tabor, Harrison, Ark., seven bass, 14-7, $970
4th: Isaiah Vickers, Sherwood, Ark., seven bass, 14-5, $679
5th: Jackson Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 11-8, $582
6th: Jonathan Dotson, Dover, Ark., six bass, 11-5, $533
7th: Michael Shinstine, Springdale, Ark., five bass, 10-13, $485
8th: BJ Davis, Mountain Home, Ark., five bass, 10-13, $436
9th: Don Billiot, Hot Springs Village, Ark., four bass, 9-8, $388
10th: James Edmonds, Hot Springs Village, Ark., four bass, 9-6, $339
Hayden Vavak of Piggott, Arkansas, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $386, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 9 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the tournament.
At the conclusion of the tournament, Chris Darby of Hot Springs, Arkansas, was crowned the Fishing Clash Arkie Division Angler of the Year (AOY) with 1,315 points and earned the $1,000 prize, while Jonathan Dotson of Dover, Arkansas, won the Fishing Clash Arkie Division Co-angler of the Year race with 1,316 points and earned the $500 prize.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, have qualified 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. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
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 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.
Harrison Township’s Mandel Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament at Detroit River, Locks Down AOY
Ypsilanti’s Bucciarelli Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
TRENTON, Mich. (Sept. 23, 2024) – Boater Nolan Mandel of Harrison Township, Michigan, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 46 pounds, 5 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Super Tournament on the Detroit River . The tournament, which concluded Sunday, was the fifth and final event of the season for the BFL Michigan Division. Mandel earned $12,077, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
It’s been a banner season for Mandel, to put it lightly. He finished in the top 10 in all five Michigan Division events, including wins in the opener and the Super Tournament. Between his regular tournament winnings and Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus dollars, Mandel earned more than $25,000 just in Michigan Division tournaments this season. He also won the Fishing Clash Michigan Division Angler of the Year title in a stacked division of big-water smallmouth anglers.
Of course, what you don’t see in the stats are the unique challenges tournament anglers face. For Mandel, a bad case of food poisoning derailed most of his plans to dissect the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair during Super Tournament practice. Thankfully, he didn’t need much practice time on Friday to figure out where to start the tournament.
“I was fishing and saw a lot of perch fishermen in this section of the lake called the dumping grounds,” he said. “I thought, I’m just going to go try out there because there’s all these perch fishermen, and that’s a pretty good sign. I went out there and took one cast with a jerkbait on a hump and caught a 5-pounder.”
In the tournament, Mandel ran to his starting area and began trying to put together a bag using live sonar. It became clear very quickly that he needed to make an adjustment.
“I wasn’t seeing anything, so I started using heavier weighted Ned rigs and heavier weighted drop-shots. I used 1/2 and 5/8 ounce to get down in the grass. I started catching them doing that.”
Mandel’s go-to baits were a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General and a Z-Man Scented TRD . If he did mark fish on live sonar, he threw a small swimbait at them. But mostly he used the heavy drop-shot and Ned rigs to pitch to holes in the grass or thicker clumps of grass. The clumps were spots where he knew he wouldn’t be able to see fish on live sonar, but where they might be set up.
“I fished two spots,” Mandel said. “One was anywhere from like 16 to 18 feet deep, and then the other area was around 12 foot but had humps that came up to 8 feet of water. I probably covered two miles of water, but I had like four or five different humps that were either thick grass or bald that I would kind of rotate through.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Nolan Mandel, Harrison Township, Mich., 10 bass, 46-5, $12,077 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Dan Mittlestat, Woodhaven, Mich., 10 bass, 44-11, $2,839
3rd: Brayden Federer, Adrian, Mich., 10 bass, 44-3, $1,694
4th: Cody Kelley, Plainwell, Mich., 10 bass, 43-1, $1,822
5th: Noah Stauffer, Gowen, Mich., 10 bass, 41-5, $1,015
6th: Jeff Vizachero, Grosse Ile, Mich., 10 bass, 41-1, $931
7th: Wilson Burton, Findlay, Ohio, 10 bass, 39-0, $846
8th: Pat Upthagrove, Monroe, Mich., 10 bass, 38-14, $762
9th: Matthew Davis, Morenci, Mich., 10 bass, 38-9, $677
10th: Shane Nelson, Wadsworth, Ohio, 10 bass, 36-13, $592
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Cody Kelley of Plainwell, Michigan, caught a bass that weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $637.
Terry Bucciarelli of Ypsilanti, Michigan, won the Strike King co-angler division and $3,082 Sunday, after bringing a two-day total of 10 bass to the scale that weighed 39 pounds, 6 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Terry Bucciarelli, Ypsilanti, Mich., 10 bass, 39-6, $3,082
2nd: Tommy Pritchard, Bargersville, Ind., eight bass, 36-14, $1,266
3rd: Craig Fanning, Elwood, Ill., 10 bass, 36-2, $846
4th: Dayton Land, Coatesville, Ind., 10 bass, 33-6, $591
5th: Michael Sitko, Pinckney, Mich., 10 bass, 33-0, $506
6th: John Wall, Western Springs, Ill., nine bass, 32-13, $464
7th: Ashten Lynch, Waynesville, Ohio, 10 bass, 32-9, $422
8th: Brian Townley, Wyoming, Mich., nine bass, 31-4, $380
9th: Daniel Dumais, Trenton, Mich., 10 bass, 30-5, $338
10th: Kendra Mueller, Fowlerville, Mich., eight bass, 27-13, $295
Jon Angstmann of St. Marys, Ohio, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $311, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 12 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the tournament.
At the conclusion of the tournament, Mandel was crowned the Fishing Clash Michigan Division Angler of the Year (AOY) with 1,364 points to take home the $1,000 payout, while Scott Davis of Morenci, Michigan, won the Fishing Clash Michigan Division Co-angler of the Year race with 1,339 points and earned the $500 prize.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, have qualified for the Oct. 10-12 BFL Regional tournament on Pools 13-17 of the Mississippi River 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. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
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 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.
College Standout Dylan Nutt Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament at Pickwick Lake Presented by Suzuki Marine
Memphis’ Kelly Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
IUKA, Miss. (Sept. 23, 2024) – Boater Dylan Nutt of Nashville, Tennessee, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 47 pounds, 14 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Super Tournament on Pickwick Lake Presented by Suzuki Marine . The tournament, which concluded Sunday, was the fifth and final event of the season for the BFL Mississippi Division. Nutt earned $4,651 for his victory.
Nutt is a great example of a collegiate angler making the most of his opportunities. The junior at the University of North Alabama (UNA) started the year by winning an Abu Garcia College Fishing tournament on the Harris Chain of Lakes. Now, he’s shown what he can do against the best weekend anglers by winning the BFL Super Tournament on Pickwick. To further illustrate the quality of the UNA bass fishing program, Nutt finished just 10 ounces ahead of Banks Shaw, a fellow UNA angler and Nutt’s own roommate.
To get it done on Pickwick, Nutt had a two-part pattern.
“In practice, I located a few schools of fish, and I had one pretty good topwater spot in the morning that was big,” he said. “I caught big ones off it both mornings. Other than that, I caught all my fish on a Scottsboro Tackle Co. Sniper Shad on a Damiki rig and also a Scottsboro Tackle Co. 3/4-ounce football jig.
“Saturday, I caught ’em pretty quick. I had most of my weight by about 8 o’clock, but Sunday was kind of slower. I caught fish throughout the day, but it was definitely better in the afternoon.”
Nutt targeted a couple keys schools of ledge fish as well as a few spots that, as a local, he knew he could rely on if needed. While he caught some of the fish using forward-facing sonar, Nutt found the jig to be more productive for getting bigger bites.
“It really just depended,” he said. “It seemed like I could throw a Damiki rig in there with that Sniper Shad and catch one or two, then I’d have to throw a jig in there. It would just be slow. That’s what I had a lot of my better bites on.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Dylan Nutt, Nashville, Tenn., 10 bass, 47-14, $4,651
2nd: Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn., 10 bass, 47-4, $2,700 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
3rd: Hunter Nanney, Iuka, Miss., 10 bass, 33-10, $1,466
4th: Luke Glasgow, Guin, Ala., nine bass, 33-8, $1,027
5th: Donny Beck, Killen, Ala., 10 bass, 32-13, $880
6th: Lake Johnson, Trinity, Ala., 10 bass, 32-5, $807
7th: Michael Swider, Oxford, Miss., nine bass, 28-3, $733
8th: Mitch Crane, Columbus, Miss., 10 bass, 27-7, $660
9th: Tim McDaniel, Grenada, Miss., 10 bass, 25-7, $587
10th: Chris Quaintance, Muscle Shoals, Ala., nine bass, 22-2, $513
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Nutt and Skip Howell of Okolona, Mississippi, split the Berkley Big Bass Boater award, each taking home $251 for catching a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 4 ounces.
Isiah Kelly of Memphis, Tennessee, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,162 Sunday, after bringing a two-day total of six bass to the scale that weighed 13 pounds, 11 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Isiah Kelly, Memphis, Tenn., six bass, 13-11, $2,162
2nd: Brandon Mast, Mathiston, Miss., five bass, 10-13, $1,081
3rd: Jeffery Reece, Guys, Tenn., four bass, 10-10, $723
4th: Christopher Daughdrill, Foxworth, Miss., four bass, 10-9, $505
5th: Troy Ladner, Bay Saint Louis, Miss., four bass, 8-12, $532
6th: Bobby McKee, Cedar Bluff, Miss., three bass, 8-11, $396
7th: Brent Willey, Anderson, S.C., three bass, 7-15, $360
8th: Reggie Thornton, Columbus, Miss., three bass, 6-12, $324
9th: Anthony Rasberry, New Albany, Miss., three bass, 6-12, $288
10th: John Bates, Hartselle, Ala., two bass, 6-10, $492
John Bates of Hartselle, Alabama, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $240, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 12 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the tournament.
At the conclusion of the tournament, Dakota Fleming of Oak Grove, Louisiana, was crowned the Fishing Clash Mississippi Division Angler of the Year (AOY) with 1,337 points to earn the $1,000 AOY payout, while Thomas Smith of Brandon, Mississippi, won the Fishing Clash Mississippi Division Co-angler of the Year race with 1,338 points and earned the $500 award.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, have qualified 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. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
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 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.
Bainbridge’s Conley Posts Second Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament at Lake Oconee
Williamson’s Chilcott Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
BUCKHEAD, Ga. (Sept. 23, 2024) – Boater Michael Conley of Bainbridge, Georgia, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 25 pounds, 10 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Super Tournament on Lake Oconee. The tournament, which concluded Sunday, was the fifth and final event of the season for the BFL Bulldog Division. Conley earned $4,869 for his victory.
According to Conley, fall experienced a false start around Lake Oconee, and that has the fish in a bit of a funk.
“Right now, being fall of the year, the temperature normally starts dropping on the water, but the weather is kind of backed up a little bit,” he said. “We’ve had some cooler weather the last couple weeks to drop the water temperature some, and all the sudden in the last week it has gotten extremely hot.”
Last weekend, when he was pre-practicing for the tournament, Conley saw water temps around 74 degrees on Oconee. When he finished the tournament on Sunday afternoon, the water temperature was 88.
That sudden turnaround halted the fall transition, at least for now.
“The fish just kind of slammed on the brakes from moving up shallow, and then they started kind of backing out, from what I could tell.”
Conley basically went with them. Oconee is full of docks and seawalls. Once he realized the fish weren’t making their push shallow into creeks, Conley backed off and targeted the deeper docks on the main lake, in areas where the water had a little bit of stain. He also stuck to one area to maximize his fishing time.
Fishing was slow in the mornings for Conley, but as they say, he made hay while the sun was shining.
“When the sun got up, they’d hold tight on certain docks. I did not have a keeper fish in the boat at 10 o’clock yesterday (Saturday),” he said. “I caught my first fish at 10, and I had a limit by 11:30. Once I got dialed into how they were sitting on the docks, I had a limit in an hour and a half.”
Conley made the most of the midday, but eventually culled out three of those keepers between 1 and 3 p.m. in what turned out to be the peak window of activity. On day two, he fished the same areas, but changed up his timing so that he was hitting the docks with the best quality bass within that key afternoon window. That move produced a 5-pound fish that helped seal the win.
Making accurate casts was another key for Conley. The Bainbridge boater caught fish on a mix of soft-plastic lures, including a Zoom Brush Hog, Zoom Trick Worm and Yamamoto Senko, but the lure was less important than the presentation.
“It really didn’t seem to matter (which bait),” he said. “I caught a 5-pounder on a Senko. My co-angler one dock later caught one over 5 on a Trick Worm. It was just a matter of hitting them on the face. You had to hit them in the head. And when they bit it, you couldn’t really feel it. They were just there. They were not aggressive at all.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Michael Conley, Bainbridge, Ga., 10 bass, 25-10, $4,869
2nd: David Lowery, Milledgeville, Ga., 10 bass, 24-14, $2,934 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
3rd: Mike Cleveland, Jackson, Ga., 10 bass, 24-12, $1,623
4th: Grant Kelly, Milledgeville, Ga., 10 bass, 24-2, $1,436
5th: Emil Wagner, Marietta, Ga., 10 bass, 22-8, $974
6th: Michael Wilder, Lizella, Ga., 10 bass, 22-1, $893
7th: Mark Burns, Good Hope, Ga., 10 bass, 21-11, $811
8th: Brooks Anderson, Marietta, Ga., 10 bass, 21-2, $730
9th: Matt O'Connell, Brooks, Ga., 10 bass, 20-15, $774
10th: Joe Eubanks, Marietta, Ga., seven bass, 20-7, $1,153
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Joe Eubanks of Marietta, Georgia, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 10 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $585.
Joseph Chilcott of Williamson, Georgia, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,434 Sunday, after bringing a two-day total of eight bass to the scale that weighed 19 pounds, 2 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Joseph Chilcott, Williamson, Ga., eight bass, 19-2, $2,434
2nd: Richard Causey, Perry, Ga., eight bass, 15-10, $1,217
3rd: Chandler White, Covington, Ga., six bass, 14-10, $1,105
4th: Jackson Riddle, Watkinsville, Ga., six bass, 14-2, $568
5th: Steven King, Cumming, Ga., seven bass, 12-8, $487
6th: Tim Greene, Loganville, Ga., six bass, 12-3, $446
7th: Brad Mullinax, Lula, Ga., four bass, 11-14, $406
8th: Ben Brisbois, Jefferson, Ga., six bass, 10-9, $365
9th: Patrick Watson, Newnan, Ga., six bass, 9-0, $325
10th: John Battle, Gillville, Ga., four bass, 8-4, $284
Chandler White of Covington, Georgia, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $292, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 4 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the tournament.
At the conclusion of the tournament, Michael Wilder of Lizella, Georgia, was crowned the Fishing Clash Bulldog Division Angler of the Year (AOY) with 1,297 points to earn the $1,000 payout, while Steven King of Cumming, Georgia, won the Fishing Clash Bulldog Division Co-angler of the Year race with 1,280 points and earned the $500 prize.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, have qualified 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. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
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 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.
Brummett, Fishing to Honor His Late Friend, Wraps Up Stellar Season at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament at Kerr Lake
Greensboro’s Tobatto Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
HENDERSON, N.C. (Sept. 23, 2024) – Boater Chris Brummett of Lynch Station, Virginia, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 34 pounds even to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine Super Tournament on Kerr Lake . The tournament, which concluded Sunday, was hosted by the Vance County Tourism Development Authority. It was the fifth and final event of the season for the BFL Piedmont Division. Brummett earned $5,379 for his victory.
No one has had a bigger year in BFL competition than Brummett. Just check the standings. It’s remarkable.
Brummett earned seven top-10 finishes in Shenandoah Division and Piedmont Division competition in 2024. He won the Shenandoah opener on Smith Mountain in April. He won again at the Piedmont Division tournament on the James River in August. Then he wrapped up the Piedmont Division by going back to back with his win at Kerr Lake.
All those top finishes helped Brummett win the Angler of the Year title in both the Piedmont and Shenandoah divisions, qualifying him for two regional tournaments and two opportunities to make his first BFL All-American.
“Unbelievable,” Brummett said. “It’s crazy. It was not expected, but I did start the year off pretty good in both divisions, which is why I continued to keep up with both divisions. When you’re doing well, it’s hard to give that up.”
Indeed, good finishes build momentum, and momentum leads to bigger and better things. But what’s most remarkable about Brummett’s season isn’t just how well he’s been catching fish. It’s what he’s been fishing for.
“I had one of my best friends in the world pass away in February,” said Brummett, referring to his friend Rick Tilley. “We traveled together. We did a lot of fishing together, and we kept no secrets. His spots are my spots. I’ve been fishing a lot of his spots. I’ve been fishing a lot of my spots as well, obviously, but that’s kind of been my driving force is just fishing for both of us. He actually fished the Toyota Series Championship last year with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
“It’s definitely more special. I feel like it’s a lot of pressure, but I honestly feel like things have happened this year that shouldn’t have happened. Everything has kind of fallen in place. I’m fishing beyond what I should be fishing.”
The way Brummett tells it, Tilley was a home run hitter. He swung for the fences in zero-or-hero style. Brummett, by contrast, was a plodder. He fished for points and for consistency. He’d won some derbies in the past, but he was more focused on being consistently good than momentarily great.
This season, it seems as though Tilley’s in-it-to-win-it attitude has rubbed off on Brummett and helped fuel his success.
“I was always more consistent, and this year I’ve been more consistent, but it’s been consistent at a whole new level,” Brummett said.
Tilley’s influence was felt again on Kerr Lake. In practice, Brummett was on about 12 pounds per day running as many deep spots a day as he could, which is his preferred way to fish the lake.
“And then Saturday, the first day of the tournament, there was a boat dock that Rick always started on,” Brummett said. “So the national anthem was playing, and I told myself I’m going to go hit that boat dock. It’s the first stop he made every tournament.”
Brummett didn’t catch any on Tilley’s dock. Yet, the decision worked out in a different way.
“When I left the boat dock, there’s a shoal sitting out there that you have to ride right by to get in this pocket, but I typically don’t fish it. I’d fished it before but never really caught any fish on it. But something was telling me to fish that shoal. Within 10 casts, I had a limit of fish. It wasn’t a big limit, but that 10 to 12 pounds gave me the confidence first thing in the morning that I had a limit and could just go fishing and kind of swing for the fences at that point.”
From there, Brummett ran his deep pattern. He eventually added a 5-pound, 5-ounce fish that earned him the tournament’s Berkley Big Bass award of $457. Within 20 minutes, he had another 4-pounder in the boat, which gave him a lead of almost 3 pounds on day one.
Day two started much slower. Brummett caught a few on his starting spot then sat on three fish until about 10:30, when he caught two more keepers on a deep point. He ran around fishing history after that to upgrade to about 11 pounds. It wasn’t until about 1:30 that he finally put a 4-pound kicker in the boat. That fish put the tournament away, but Brummett added another 4-pounder with 30 minutes left to bump his winning margin to 4 1/2 pounds.
Brummett caught most of his fish with a hand-poured green-pumpkin worm and a topwater lure. More important than how he caught them is where this win positions him. A dual AOY. A three-time winner in 2024. A bass angler eyeing two regionals and fishing for one more opportunity on behalf of a late dear friend.
“I really wanna qualify for an All-American,” Brummett added. “That would be the cherry on top.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Chris Brummett, Lynch Station, Va., 10 bass, 34-0, $5,379
2nd: Joe Anders, Easley, S.C., 10 bass, 29-8, $2,561 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
3rd: Robert Hoyt Jr., Union Hall, Va., 10 bass, 27-11, $1,374
4th: Evan White, Roanoke Rapids, N.C., 10 bass, 26-7, $962
5th: Jonathan Bailey, Peterstown, W.Va., 10 bass, 25-13, $824
6th: Derik Hudson, Concord, Va., 10 bass, 25-13, $756
7th: Tyler Trent, Nathalie, Va., 10 bass, 25-1, $687
8th: Greg Rikard, Leesville, S.C., 10 bass, 25-0, $618
9th: Michael Birr, Franklinton, N.C., 10 bass, 23-4, $550
10th: Colin Bennett, Axton, Va., 10 bass, 23-0, $481
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Sean Tobatto of Greensboro, North Carolina, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,027 Sunday, after bringing a two-day total of eight bass to the scale that weighed 17 pounds.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Sean Tobatto, Greensboro, N.C., eight bass, 17-0, $2,027
2nd: Daniel Litwin, Bentonville, Va., six bass, 15-14, $1,126
3rd: Dustin Wilhelm, Buena Vista, Va., five bass, 12-5, $676
4th: Shaquille Freeman, Farmville, Va., six bass, 12-4, $473
5th: Jason Hinger, Timberlake, N.C., five bass, 12-2, $655
6th: Michael Garrett, Buena Vista, Va., five bass, 11-11, $484
7th: Phillip Ragland Jr., Rustburg, Va., six bass, 11-6, $338
8th: Jeff Rikard, Leesville, S.C., five bass, 9-7, $304
9th: Robert Green, Whitsett, N.C., four bass, 8-7, $270
10th: Chuck Willis, Dayton, Ohio, two bass, 5-3, $236
Michael Garrett of Buena Vista, Virginia, and Daniel Litwin of Bentonville, Virginia, tied for the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award by each catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 11 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the tournament. They each took home $112 for their share of the prize.
At the conclusion of the tournament, Brummett was crowned the Fishing Clash Piedmont Division Angler of the Year (AOY) with 1,331 points and earned the $1,000 award, while Mekye Barnes of Knightdale, North Carolina, won the Fishing Clash Piedmont Division Co-angler of the Year race with 1,315 points to take home the $500 prize.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, have qualified 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. The 2025 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, 2025, at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by hosted by Visit Hot Springs and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism.
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 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.
Vexus® builds Hall of Fame cooler for a good cause
There’s a group of folks in Flippin, AR who combine decades of premium boat building experience with an inherit desire to do the right thing.
So, when the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame asked them to donate a unique item to the Hall’s annual fundraising auction, a group of skilled Vexus® Boats employees jumped at the chance to build a one-of-a-kind cooler, that one winning bidder can proudly utilize in their boat garage, or on their back porch.
“When the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame asked for help, I immediately thought of our friend and mentor Forrest L. Wood, who always taught us to do our best to support great causes for the fishing and marine industry,” says longtime Vexus V.P. of Operations, Lance Newton.
The cooler is a replica of those found in the sleek high-end VXs series of Vexus fiberglass bass boats, built of vacuum infused fiberglass by experienced ladies like Paula Burns and Laikynne Whitsel, seen here on the left side of the photo.
The unique vacuum infused process assures a perfect blend of fiberglass and resin with tremendous consistency, in much the same way guys like Elliot Calhoun and Clayton Welch achieved perfection on the cooler’s gel coal and paint finish.
The cooler’s gel coated liner is surrounded by foam insulation, and the lid showcases a classy image of 2001 Bass Fishing Hall of Fame inductee, Forrest L. Wood’s signature cowboy hat. The lid is made with a core material that insulates the cooler from the top side. In all, the custom piece preserves ice for days, in much the same way today’s popular and costly rotomolded coolers do.
However, not content to stop there, David Henley, who has spent more than three decades as a boat builder, then fabricated a custom stand made of steel for the unique showpiece, and Darrin Wilson added the final sizzle by decorating it with high-end hardware and lighting. His co-worker John Payne gave it one final inspection, and buffed it to provide the perfect shine.
Truly, a team effort involving arguably the most experienced and talented folks in the premium fishing boat building business, who never hesitated to showcase their talents for a good cause when the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame called to ask for their help.
Proceeds from the winning bid on this premium cooler will be used to fund academic scholarships for students conducting bass fishing related research, as well as conservation projects aimed to enhance bass fishing.
"While many involved in the bass fishing world have a competitive spirit, be it on the water at a big tournament, or on the business side where we try to gain market share from competing brands, that all gets thrown to the wayside when it come to the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, and this really unique project from Vexus exemplifies that," said HOF Board president John Mazurkiewicz.
For a chance to win this first-class cooler, please visit https://one.bidpal.net/BFHOF/search/cooler(details:item/163) and to learn more about the skilled folks at Vexus, and the premium boats they craft, please visit https://vexusboats.com/.
Evan Mabrey from 6th Ranked Montevallo Wins the Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley
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Julius Mazy Wins WON Bass Lake Mead Open with 45.24 pounds
Las Vegas, Nev. – September 20, 2024 –– Blue skies, light breezes and unusually cool conditions were the conditions for the first two competition days of the 2024 WON Bass Lake Mead Open presented by Ranger Boats and Mercury. The morning launch of Championship Friday was more of the same, if not more pleasant. While those conditions were ideal for a serene day on the water, they often are not ideal for fishing success.
On Lake Mead, those types of conditions can mean downright difficult fishing as the clear water allows the lake’s largemouth and smallmouth bass population to get too good a look at the anglers’ offerings. Following his 19.80-pound performance on day two, leader Julius Mazy opened the day .74 pounds ahead of second place pro Shane Edgar, but with such calm conditions at the beginning of the day, who knew how the pivotal final eight hours of competition would proceed.
While he wasn’t able to match his monster bag from day two, however he watched with nervous excitement as Tournament Director Bill Egan’s scales hit 13.52 pounds, bringing the Phoenix, Arizona pro’s total weight to 45.24 pounds, earning his first WON Bass Open Series trophy, the keys to a 2024 Ranger Boats 518 from Bass Pro Shops powered by a 200HP Mercury ProXS four Stroke valued at $55,000 and an additional $10,000 cash.
Bill Brown, from Grand Junction, Colorado had a 13.83-pound limit of his own on day three, rising one spot to finish in second place with 41.67 pounds. Jeff Baird from Washington, Utah had 13.17 pounds to finish third for the event with 38.34 pounds, while two-time U.S. Open Champion and WON Bass Hall of Fame inductee John Murray from Spring City, Tenn. finished fourth with 37.71 pounds and another past U.S. Open Champion Justin Patti from Peoria, Ariz. rounded out the top five with 37.35 pounds.
Mazy said that he was able to continue his topwater / Livescope approach from day two despite the slick conditions. “I was really targeting pelagic largemouth and smallmouth that were feeding on larger shad around schooling striper in Temple Bar and the Virgin Basin,” he said. “I could catch some on topwater and my jighead minnow but when the striper got too excited by the faster baits, I would dropshot an OSP Dice lure and let it slowly fall under the school; I caught five really key fish on that that made a huge difference.”
Mazy has been chasing the premier events in the West for at least 10 years, he has also competed on the national stage in the Bassmaster Opens; this is his first major win. “I have been close on Lake Mead before and had a bad day two that cost me the win,” he said. "To win this week on a lake that means so much to me, in front of my family and friends is something I just can’t put into words; it is absolutely amazing.”
Brown also fished in the Temple Bar and Virgin Basin areas however, he targeted brush filled ditches from the bank 10 feet deep. “I found the better fish in practice fishing a topwater, but with the exception of a couple that I caught on a buzzbait or Reaction Innovations Vixen and my AAA caught on a topwater, all of my fish came on a Pepper Custom Baits Jig,” he said. “I worked my 1/2-ounce Bill’s Gill jig and color number 953 Yamamoto Baits Flapping Hog through the brush to catch 95-percent of my fish.
“I would have obviously loved to win, but Julius is a great guy and a good friend of mine, so I’m happy for him,” he said. “It’s been a good year, it’s my third top 10 in the WON Bass Opens in a row, so I’m having a year I can be proud of.”
James Scott from Lancaster, Calif. claimed the AAA Division title with 36.88 pounds. He was followed in second place by Huntington Beach, Calif. angler Geoff Peterson with 36.35 pounds. Third place went to Dale Roesener of Las Vegas, Nev. with 36.26 pounds and fourth place AAA went to former U.S. Open Champion Nick Salvucci from Paso Robles, Calif. with 36.20 pounds and Todd Holverson of San Diego, Calif. rounded out the top five with 35.83 pounds.
The top 10 anglers in each division are listed below, for complete standings visit: https://wonbassevents.com/
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WON Bass Lake Mead Open 9/18 to 9/20/2024 |
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Place |
Pro Day 3 | Hometown |
Fish |
Pnlty |
Day 1 |
Day 2 |
Day 3 |
Total |
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1 |
Julius Mazy | Phoenix AZ |
15-15 |
11.92 |
19.80 |
13.52 |
45.24 |
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2 |
Bill Brown | Grand Junction CO |
15-14 |
0.50 |
14.38 |
13.40 |
13.83 |
41.61 |
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3 |
Jeff Baird | Washington UT |
15-13 |
1.00 |
12.18 |
12.99 |
13.17 |
38.34 |
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4 |
John Murray | Spring City TN |
15-15 |
10.95 |
14.15 |
12.61 |
37.71 |
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5 |
Justin Patti | Peoria AZ |
15-14 |
0.50 |
11.20 |
10.92 |
14.73 |
36.85 |
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6 |
Shane Edgar | Glendale AZ |
13-13 |
16.33 |
14.65 |
5.81 |
36.79 |
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7 |
Tom Lowery | Lakeside CA |
15-13 |
1.00 |
15.93 |
11.57 |
9.06 |
36.56 |
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8 |
Kyle Grover | RCHO STA MARG CA |
15-15 |
13.63 |
11.87 |
10.66 |
36.16 |
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9 |
Sean Coffey | Mesa AZ |
15-15 |
11.59 |
9.61 |
14.88 |
36.08 |
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10 |
Trace Myers | Santaquin UT |
15-14 |
0.50 |
12.72 |
10.71 |
12.52 |
35.95 |
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Place |
AAA Angler Day 3 | Hometown |
Fish |
Pnlty |
Day 1 |
Day 2 |
Day 3 |
Total |
|
1 |
James Scott | Lancaster CA |
14-14 |
9.41 |
19.80 |
7.67 |
36.88 |
|
|
2 |
Geoff Peterson | Huntington Beach CA |
15-15 |
12.83 |
8.64 |
14.88 |
36.35 |
|
|
3 |
Dale Roesener | Lav Vegas NV |
15-14 |
0.50 |
9.96 |
11.57 |
14.73 |
36.26 |
|
4 |
Nick Salvucci | Paso Robles CA |
15-14 |
0.50 |
13.98 |
11.49 |
10.73 |
36.20 |
|
5 |
Todd Holverson | San Diego CA |
15-14 |
0.50 |
14.58 |
7.42 |
13.83 |
35.83 |
|
6 |
Jody Lazzaretti | Midland TX |
15-13 |
1.00 |
9.47 |
12.99 |
13.15 |
35.61 |
|
7 |
Jason Randall | Las Vegas NV |
15-15 |
12.80 |
9.14 |
12.81 |
34.75 |
|
|
8 |
Brian Reaves | Bullhead City AZ |
15-15 |
11.12 |
11.87 |
11.43 |
34.42 |
|
|
9 |
Chris Card | North Las Vegas NV |
14-13 |
0.50 |
11.20 |
10.00 |
12.94 |
34.14 |
|
10 |
Tyler Bolin | Valley Springs CA |
15-13 |
1.00 |
15.93 |
9.95 |
7.96 |
33.84 |
That concludes the 2024 WON Bass Lake Mead Open presented by Ranger Boats and Mercury, next up will be the 2024 WON Bass U.S. Open on Lake Mohave October 14 – 16, 2024.
The winner of the 2024 WON Bass Lake Mead Open earned the Ranger Boats / Mercury Motor prize boat, and the Golden Tickets to the 2025 Bassmaster BASS Nation National Championship will be awarded to the top five Pro and AAA anglers and will further develop the season long competition to see who will receive guaranteed slots into the 2025 Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifiers.
The 2024 WON Bass Western Opens Series of events Consisting of five events in California, Arizona and Nevada moves next to the Lake Mead Open September 18 to 20, 2024. The series will culminate with the 2024 WON Bass U.S. Open at Lake Mohave in October. The full schedule of the five event dates are as follows:
Jan. 31–Feb. 2, Lake Shasta - Champion Nick Wood – 47.42 pounds
April 17-19, Clear Lake – Austin Bonjour – 83.28 pounds
May 15-17, Lake Havasu – Joe Uribe Jr. – 57.31 pounds
Sept. 18-20, Lake Mead – Julius Mazy – 45.24 pounds
Oct. 14-16, U.S. Open at Lake Mohave
For complete details or to register, look to wonbassevents.com and WONews.com to hear the latest news about the 2024 season and beyond and follow along at Facebook.com/
The 2024 WON Bass Northern California Lake Mead Open is brought to you by Bass Pro Shops, Ranger Boats, Mercury Marine, Nitro Boats, Triton Boats, Bridgford Foods, Phenix Rods, Yamamoto Baits, Bill Lewis Lures, Buckeye Lures, Steel Shad, Bioenno Power, DD26 Fishing, SOG Knives, Cold Steel Knives, Gamma Line, Power Pole, Lowrance, Daiwa, AFTCO, Costa, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Anderson Toyota, A&M Graphics, Anglers Marine and Signature Gates.
Local presenting sponsors are Callville Bay Marina, Boulder City Chamber of Commerce and Boulder City Tackle
DeFoe and Montgomery Win General Tire Team Series Knighten Industries Heritage Cup
Team REDCON1 catches 29 bass totaling 55-8 in Championship Round to win second event of season and earn Heritage Cup
NEENAH, Wis. (Sept. 20, 2024) – The final four teams were thrown a curveball Friday at the General Tire Team Series Knighten Industries Heritage Cup Presented by Berkley. While they had spent the week targeting mostly largemouth in stained water on several lakes in the Fox River system earlier in the competition, the two-man teams now turned their sights to Green Lake – a crystal-clear, 7,900-acre spring-fed glacial fishery with a maximum depth of 236 feet – a far cry from the shallow, stained water the teams had been fishing earlier in the event.
With no prior knowledge of where they were fishing in the Championship Round, no practice and only a 30-minute ride around before the competition began, it was anyone’s guess how the day would shape up. And while the offshore smallmouth in deeper water were certainly enticing to several of the teams, it was flipping and pitching shallow docks that won the Championship Round on Green Lake.
Team REDCON1 – made up of Ott DeFoe and Andy Montgomery – got off to a good start early in the day, catching eight scorable bass in Period 1, before taking the lead from Team Star Tron – Grae Buck and Martin Villa – midway through the second period. Despite a hard-charge late in the third period by Team Builders First Source – Alton Jones Jr. and Alton Jones Sr. – Team REDCON1 finished the day atop the leaderboard to take home the Heritage Cup. The duo ended the Championship Round with 29 bass weighing 55-8, 5-7 ahead of Team Builders FirstSource, who finished the day with 31 bass weighing 50-1, good for second place.
After winning their Knockout Round on Wednesday, the REDCON1 tandem enjoyed a day off to regroup before the Championship Round. The duo spent the entire day Friday bouncing around the fishery targeting shallow boat docks.
“Period 2 was really good for us,” said Montgomery. “We made a heck of a run about midway through and got a little bit of a cushion between us and second place. It was a grind, though. Even though we were keeping pace, we felt like we just had to keep fresh docks in front of us all day long.”
DeFoe agreed that was key to being around bigger numbers of fish that were willing to bite.
“Don’t get us wrong, we’d still get bites at docks where we’d already caught a couple,” DeFoe said. “But moving and hitting fresh docks and keeping fresh fish constantly in front of us was really important to our success today.
“Green Lake has such clear water, so it was easy to see the fish and see what they were doing,” DeFoe continued. “The fish we found had definitely been caught before. They weren’t really aggressive, and we had to almost trick them to get them to follow the bait.”
The type of docks seemed to make a big difference as well for the entire field of competitors. While the fishery is full of both largemouth and smallmouth bass, the fish were not distributed randomly.
As teams took turns targeting boat docks throughout the day, it became apparent that the longer docks on shallow, flat portions of the bank produced significantly more fish than the steep banks with shorter docks in deeper water. Team REDCON1 made hay on those long, shallow docks.
“The setup that really caught the numbers for us was a 4-inch wacky-rigged stick worm on a spinning rod, using a No. 2 VMC Weedless Neko Hook. That hook was really key,” said DeFoe. “I was throwing it on a 7-foot, 1-inch Johnny Morris Platinum Signature Spinning Rod with 10-pound Bass Pro Shops XPS Hyper Braid and a 12-pound XPS Fluorocarbon leader.”
Montgomery spent the day skipping a swim jig under the docks, letting it fall to the bottom, while DeFoe followed behind him with the wacky rig, a combo that worked great for the duo.
“My whole setup was a skipping rod on a skipping reel with a skipping bait,” Montgomery said, laughing. “Ott is deadly with a spinning rod, and I feel like I can get the job done with a baitcaster. It was definitely a one-two punch. There’s no way either one of these baits alone would have won this thing by itself.”
DeFoe caught a largemouth weighing 4-9 in the final period, a fish that not only added to their weight but bolstered their confidence to finish out the Championship Round on top. While the close friends and traveling roommates had a 10-pound lead over second place going into the third period, that fish was one of many that secured their fairly slim margin of victory.
“We worked hard. I mean every day of this thing, we worked hard,” said a choked up DeFoe in his post-game interview. “My dad had heart surgery two weeks ago and it was tough leaving him so soon after his surgery. My wife Jennie’s there with him. But it was still tough. Dad, I love you. This is for you.
“And this guy right here is my best buddy in the whole world,” DeFoe continued, giving Montgomery a hug to celebrate their victory. “I think I ended up catching the biggest fish, but Andy caught most of the bigger fish throughout the day and we got it done.”
“It’s been a tough year for me, man,” said Montgomery. “This dude’s just one of the most steadfast people in my life. Him and my wife, they just don’t change.”
The duo said they enjoyed spending the week competing together on the boat, not something they get to do very often.
“We know what we have is a God-given talent and we give Him all the glory,” said DeFoe. “Every day of competition this week, we made good, key decisions.”
“And we flat out assaulted some reeds and some docks,” Montgomery added, laughing while reaching for the Heritage Cup trophy. “Where’s the money at, that’s what I’m worried about. You can’t trade this for a cheeseburger.”
The top four teams at the Knighten Industries Heritage Cup Presented by Berkley Championship Round finished:
1st: Team REDCON1, 29 bass, 55-8
Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 16 bass, 28-3
Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 13 bass, 27-5
2nd: Team Builders FirstSource, 31 bass, 50-1
Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 21 bass, 32-9
Alton Jones Sr., Lorena, Texas, 10 bass, 17-8
3rd: Team Star Tron, 12 bass, 28-8
Grae Buck, Green Lane, Pa., five bass, 10-12
Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., seven bass, 17-12
4th: Team Knighten Industries, nine bass, 16-7
Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas., five bass, 9-7
Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., four bass, 7-0
Complete results from throughout the week can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 81 bass weighing 150 pounds, 8 ounces caught by the four teams competing in the Championship Round on Green Lake. Martin Villa caught the Berkley Big Bass of the day with a smallmouth weighing 4 pounds, 12 ounces.
The Knighten Industries Heritage Cup Presented by Berkley was hosted by the Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau and took place over six days in Neenah, Wisconsin. The competition water for each day was top-secret and only revealed to the anglers after they arrived at the boat ramp each morning.
The Heritage Cup featured 12 two-man teams, divided into three groups as they entered the one-day Elimination Round matches. Each of the three Elimination Round matches featured four new teams, with the top two teams from each match of the Elimination Round advancing to the Knockout Round on Days 4 & 5. In the Knockout Rounds, three teams competed each day, with the top two teams from each Knockout Round match moving on to the Championship Round on Day 6. In Friday’s Day 6 Championship Round, the final four teams competed in a one-day shootout to determine which team was the winner of the 2024 Knighten Industries Heritage Cup Presented by Berkley.
The 2024 General Tire Team Series is comprised of four events – Challenge Cup, Heritage Cup, Patriot Cup and Summit Cup – featuring two-man teams of MLF Bass Pro Tour pros competing from the same boat. Each event features a roster of 24 anglers, teamed up and working together to claim part of a season purse of more than $720,000. Teams were formed through a selection process, where 48 team captains – based on Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) standings throughout the 2024 Bass Pro Tour season – selected a teammate. Teams will compete throughout the fall of 2024.
The Knighten Industries Heritage Cup Presented by Berkley 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. With no practice and anglers only getting a few hours to break down brand-new water, the tournament featured anglers competing with a 1-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable.
The next General Tire Team Series event – the Patriot Cup – will take place Oct. 24-29. The location for the event will be announced to anglers thirty days prior to the start of the event.
Television coverage of the Knighten Industries Heritage Cup Presented by Berkley will premiere on Outdoor Channel as six two-hour episodes in February 2025. New MLF General Tire Team Series episodes will premiere each Saturday morning on Outdoor Channel and posted to MOTV.
Proud sponsors of the MLF General Tire Team Series include: 7 Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Barbasol, Bass Boat Technologies, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Builders FirstSource, C-MAP, Coign, Epic Baits, Ferguson, Fishing Clash, General Tire, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Nitro Boats, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala Baits, REDCON1, Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff, Star brite, Toyota, USAA, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the General Tire Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Bass Pro Tour Suzuki Stage Two at Santee Cooper Lakes Presented by Fenwick to Premiere Saturday on Discovery
WHAT:
The Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Suzuki Stage Two Presented by Fenwick at the Santee Cooper Lakes premieres this weekend on Discovery. The event, hosted by the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce, featured a field of 80 professional anglers competing in the second event of the season for a top prize 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.
WHEN:
Saturday, Sept. 21, 7-9 a.m. ET
Saturday, Sept. 28, 7-9 a.m. ET
WHERE:
Discovery – New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel
NOTES:
Although the fishery has hosted numerous MLF bass tournaments over the years, this event marked the first time that the MLF’s top level, the Bass Pro Tour, had visited Santee Cooper Lakes.
The tournament featured the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard.
The Suzuki Stage Two at Santee Cooper Lakes 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.
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, PowerStop Brakes, 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 Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Bass Fishing HOF Celebrate Bass Fishing Week
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — For Immediate Release — Sept. 20, 2024 — Bucket list fishing trips, exotic vacations, autographed tournament jerseys, original artwork, premium fishing tackle and a boat package are among the exclusive auction items up for bids as part of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame’s annual ‘Celebrate Bass Fishing Week.’
Bidding for the Celebrate Bass Fishing online auction, presented by Major League Fishing, begins on Sept. 20 and concludes Sept. 26. View items and participate in the bidding at https://one.bidpal.net/bfhof/
Up for bid for the first time is a 2025 G3 Boats 15 DK Duck Boat with an all-aluminum and welded camo hull. The package includes a Yamaha 25-HP electric start tiller motor with a trailer. The boat is rigged with a duck-bill platform with LED lights, trolling motor wiring, side gun box, front storage and a portable fuel tank.
Also notable on the bucket list of exclusive items:
- Trips to Texas big bass fisheries O.H. Ivie and Lake Fork; a fishing trip with Whiskey Myers lead singer Cody Cannon; guided smallmouth trips on Idaho’s Snake River, and a two-day fishing getaway to the greater Niagara Region in western New York;
- An ultimate mountain vacation experience at Bison Lodge, voted Canada’s best luxury ski lodge, including lodge rental and full service for three nights for up to eight guests;
- Ski package courtesy of Kayak Angler at Revelstoke Mountain Resort in British Columbia (includes three-night stay with six ski lift tickets);
- Rods, reels, lures and other fishing essentials from leading brands, including Daiwa, AFTCO, Strike King, Falcon Rods, Lew’s, PRADCO brands, Rapala, Big Bite Baits, Simms Fishing, SPRO, Sunline, HUK, Kast King, St. Croix, DHUKR, Island Optics, Eagle Claw, TFO Rods, Northland Tackle, EGO and more;
- Hand-crafted custom lures from Epic Eric’s Bass Lab, Angry Sturgeon Lures, Bull Shad Swimbaits and more;
- Kayak package featuring a Vibe Makana 100 Kayak/X Drive, Bixpy K1 Motor Package, Suspenz airless wheeled cart and a five-year subscription to Kayak Angler Magazine.
‘Celebrate Bass Fishing Week’ culminates with the induction dinner and ceremony, presented by B.A.S.S., during which the 2024 Hall of Fame class will be honored on Thursday, Sept. 26 at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium in Springfield, Mo. Event attendees will have another opportunity to bid on items during the silent and live auction, presented by Major League Fishing.
Formally inducted at a plaque unveiling ceremony, presented by Phoenix Boats, inside the BFHOF venue at WOW will be the late lure designer Fred Arbogast, video and TV producer Mike McKinnis, noted pro angler, tackle designer and promoter Skeet Reese, trailblazer and pro angler Alfred Williams and TV analyst and outdoor personality Mark Zona.
Auction proceeds benefit the Hall of Fame’s core mission values of celebrating, preserving and promoting the sport of bass fishing. Funding grants for fisheries conservation, scholarships for fisheries science students, and backing youth fishing are among the many supported initiatives.
The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame wishes to acknowledge the generous financial support provided by Presenting sponsors: B.A.S.S., Major League Fishing, Phoenix Boats; Gold sponsors: Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s, G3 Boats, PRADCO, Wired2Fish, ; Silver sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Rapala, Rather Outdoors; and Bronze sponsors: Bass Forecast, Extreme Outdoors, Simms, Sunline & Visit Anderson
About the BFHOF -- The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization led by a volunteer board of directors and is dedicated to celebrating, promoting and preserving the sport of bass fishing. Since 2017, the Hall’s inductees and memorabilia representing the history of bass fishing is showcased in Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri, where it has rapidly become a popular destination. For more information about the Hall, its mission, and to become a supporting member, visit www.BassFishingHOF.com, or contact BFHOF executive director Barbara Bowman at [email protected].
Buck/Villa and Father-Son Jones Duo Advance to Championship Round at General Tire Team Series Knighten Industries Heritage Cup
But, the second match of the Knockout Round ended with a tale of ‘Keeping up with the Joneses’, with the Team Builders FirstSource father-son duo of Alton Jones Jr. and Alton Jones Sr. finishing atop the leaderboard with 21 bass weighing 38-7 to pace the field and advance to Friday’s Championship Round. Also advancing is Team Star Tron – comprised of Grae Buck and Martin Villa – who ended the day with 11 bass totaling 23 pounds even to finish in second.
Team Star Tron started off with a bang at the top of the leaderboard, holding that lead throughout the first period and finding themselves neck and neck with Builders FirstSource midday. However, the Jones duo pulled ahead at the start of the second period and widened their gap throughout the remainder of the competition day.
Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff & Pouches, made up of Casey Ashley and Terry Scroggins, fought back from a huge deficit period after only catching one scorable bass in Period 1. The tandem rallied and went on an afternoon flurry in Period 2 that brought them above the elimination line. That bite was short-lived, however, and the pair just weren’t around enough quality fish to survive the Knockout Round.
Team Builders FirstSource and Team Star Tron now join Team REDCON1 and Team Knighten Industries to advance to Friday’s Championship Round. Eliminated from competition was Team Smokey Mountain, who caught 10 scorable bass weighing 21-3.
Team Builders FirstSource began the day targeting boat docks, boating one keeper out of a drainage pipe while catching everything else around retaining walls and boat docks the remainder of the day.
“What a great day,” said Jones Sr. “The conditions today really made a difference for us. The bass chased the bait a little bit today, whereas they wouldn’t chase anything in our Elimination Match on Sunday.”
The father-son duo took over the top spot from Team Star Tron at the beginning of the second period and ended the period with an 8-pound lead.
“We finished out the end of the day fishing some main-lake boat docks with wind blowing on them to see if any smallmouth were patternable,” said Jones Jr. “We were just trying to figure out some new patterns and new possibilities. We assume we might be going to Lake Winnebago for the Championship Round, so we decided to come to the other side of the lake, because that was the closest we could get to Winnebago.
“Honestly, I hope they send us to Green Lake and it’s a crystal clear, smallmouth smash fest,” said Jones Jr. “But we had a good cushion toward the end of the day, so we started thinking through possible game plans for tomorrow.”
That strategy may or may not play out for the pair. While the competition waters for the Heritage Cup have included Lakes Poygan, Winneconne and Butte des Morts thus far, anglers won’t find out the competition waters for Friday’s Championship Round until they are driven to the ramp by competition officials Friday morning.
“That’s the hard part, because we really don’t know what we’re going to do until we get there – and find out where ‘there’ is,” Alton Sr. added, laughing.
Jones Jr. spent the majority of the day throwing an unweighted wacky rig on the shallow end of boat docks, while Jones Sr. threw a weighted wacky rig on the deeper end of the docks, a tactic that worked great for the duo.
“We really just caught them junk-fishing today,” said Jones Jr. “Whatever looked right, whatever presentation for the piece of cover in front of us. We caught a lot of fish on a wacky rig, but my biggest and best quality fish today came on a green-pumpkin-colored 3/8-ounce bladed jig with a green-pumpkin-and-white-
“It just seemed like every time I got a bite, it was one of those 2 1/2- to 3-pound class fish, and with SCORETRACKER® as slow as it was, it’s been tough. So, catching those 2-pound or better fish has been really key, because bites have been really hard to come by,” Jones Jr. finished.
Team Star Tron led most of the first period, starting the morning fishing the outside edge of cane grass with a ChatterBait and a wacky rig before moving to boat docks and catching a few fish there. They made another successful move, stacking up more weight targeting riprap before ending the day around willow trees in the third period.
“I was super happy with our first period,” said Villa. “The rest of the day was a grind, but any time you’re at least catching them on pace with the other teams is a good deal. The bridge move we made was a good one. We made a lot of moves today while also trying to spend our time fishing, not just running around.”
While they moved around the fishery more than any other team on Thursday, Team Star Tron strategically slowed their fishing down during Period 1, a decision that definitely played in their favor.
The duo made a move right before the start of the second period that they hoped would continue to propel them up the leaderboard, but the hard-charging Jones duo had other thoughts in mind. Team Star Tron went the final 45 minutes without a scorable bass but were able to hold off Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff and Pouches by a mere 1-13.
“We had a bite right after we made that move, before the first period ended, so we were hoping that would prove to be a good spot,” said Buck. “As the sun got higher, the bite started fading, so we had to try some different things. Thankfully it was enough to move us on to the Championship Round.”
The duo credit a one-two punch to their success on the day, with Buck throwing a Z-Man ChatterBait Jack Hammer Evergreen Custom Bladed Jig and Villa sweeping up behind him with a wacky-rigged worm.
The top two teams now advancing to the Championship Round at the Knighten Industries Heritage Cup Presented by Berkley are:
1st: Team Builders FirstSource, 21 bass, 38-7
Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 13 bass, 25-14
Alton Jones Sr., Lorena, Texas, eight bass, 12-9
2nd: Team Star Tron, 11 bass, 23-0
Grae Buck, Green Lane, Pa., six bass, 12-2
Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., five bass, 10-14
Eliminated from competition are:
3rd: Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff and Pouches, 10 bass, 21-3
Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., five bass, 10-1
Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., five bass, 11-2
Complete results from throughout the week can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 42 bass weighing 82 pounds, 10 ounces caught by the three teams competing in Match 2 of the Knockout Round on Lake Butte des Morts. Jones Jr. caught the Berkley Big Bass of the day – only one of three smallmouth caught on the day – weighing 3 pounds, 2 ounces.
The Knighten Industries Heritage Cup Presented by Berkley is hosted by the Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau and takes place over six days in the Fox Cities in Wisconsin. The competition water for each day is top-secret and is only revealed to the anglers when they arrive at the boat ramp each morning.
The final day Championship Round will take place Friday featuring Team REDCON1 (Ott DeFoe/Andy Montgomery), Team Knighten Industries (Kelly Jordon/Keith Poche), Team Builders FirstSource (Alton Jones Jr./Alton Jones Sr.) and Team Star Tron (Grae Buck/Martin Villa).
Anglers depart the host hotel in Neenah each morning as early as 5:30 a.m. CT. They are driven directly to the day’s competition area launch ramp by their officials. Competition begins on the water at 8:45 a.m.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live every day of competition from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® is live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.
The Heritage Cup features 12 two-man teams, divided into three groups as they enter the one-day Elimination Round matches. Each of the three Elimination Round matches featured four new teams, with the top two teams from each match of the Elimination Round advancing to the Knockout Round on Days 4 & 5. In the Knockout Rounds, three teams competed each day, with the top two teams from each Knockout Round match moving on to the Championship Round on Day 6. In Friday’s Day 6 Championship Round, the final four teams will compete in a one-day shootout to determine which team will win the 2024 Knighten Industries Heritage Cup Presented by Berkley.
The 2024 General Tire Team Series is comprised of four events – Challenge Cup, Heritage Cup, Patriot Cup and Summit Cup – featuring two-man teams of MLF Bass Pro Tour pros competing from the same boat. Each event features a roster of 24 anglers, teamed up and working together to claim part of a season purse of more than $720,000. Teams were formed through a selection process, where 48 team captains – based on Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) standings throughout the 2024 Bass Pro Tour season – selected a teammate. Teams will compete throughout the fall of 2024.
Television coverage of the Knighten Industries Heritage Cup Presented by Berkley will premiere on Outdoor Channel as six two-hour episodes in February 2025. New MLF General Tire Team Series episodes will premiere each Saturday morning on Outdoor Channel and posted to MOTV.
Proud sponsors of the MLF General Tire Team Series include: 7 Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Barbasol, Bass Boat Technologies, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Builders FirstSource, C-MAP, Coign, Epic Baits, Ferguson, Fishing Clash, General Tire, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Nitro Boats, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala Baits, REDCON1, Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff, Star brite, Toyota, USAA, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the General Tire Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Julius Mazy Smashes 19.80 pounds to Take Over Day Two Lead of WON Bass Lake Mead Open with 31.72
Day One Leader Shane Edgar in Second place .74 pounds behind at 30.98.
Las Vegas, Nev. – September 19, 2024 –– When the morning of day two of the 2024 WON Bass Lake Mead Open presented by Ranger Boats and Mercury commenced with clear skies and little to no wind, not too many could have predicted the storm that would arise later in the day. Any time there is a bass tournament, the adage that is often repeated is the “somebody is going to catch them.
On day two at Lake Mead, somebody who figured them out better than the rest was pro Julius Mazy.
The Phoenix, Ariz. pro opened the event with a limit of Lake Mead bass that weighed 11.92 pounds, landing him in a respectable 17th place. But his 19.80-pound limit on day two catapulted him into the lead in the pro division with a two-day total of 31.72 pounds.
Mazy’s effort earned him just short of a three quarter-pound margin over day one leader Shane Edgar from Surprise, Ariz. Edgar added 14.65 pounds on day two to his first day’s 16.33 pounds to bring his total weight to 30.98 pounds heading into the final day. He is followed in third place by Grand Junction Colorado’s Bill Brown who added 13.40 pounds on the second day to bring his total to 27.78 pounds and move up one place in the standings.
Tom Lowery, who opened the event in second place fell to fourth place with 27.50 pounds by posting 11.57 pounds on day two. Santee, Calif. pro Dennis Kolender rounded out the top five by bringing his second consecutive 12.80-pound limit to the Callville Bay scales to total 25.60 pounds.
Mazy reported that he let some opportunities slip through his grasp on day one but adjusted on day two. “I didn’t execute yesterday and it cost me three or four pounds on the first day,” he said. "I knew I needed to make some adjustments, so I fine tuned my rotation and was able to capitalize on my primary areas, then found another that would help later in the day – I didn’t expect to even come close to this weight.”
Mazy, who felt his high-water mark for a great day would be between 15 and 16 pounds, said he had that midday. “I started practicing a little and pulled into a pocket on my way back and culled up with a four pounder,” he reported. “I’m looking for a certain set of ingredients, and when I find them, I can find quality fish.”
He said he switched things up and started throwing topwater in the morning, then started looking deeper with his Livescope and jighead and minnow as the day progressed. “I figured out that I wasn’t fishing deep enough with the finesse tactics yesterday, so I had to go deeper today,” he said. “I also switched up to throwing topwater in the morning with the slick conditions, and that’s what made the difference for me today.”
Edgar flatly said that his day two was one of good fortune. “I got lucky today, and that’s all I can say about it,” he reported. “I had three fish at 11:00 and had 11 pounds at 3:30. I made a move into a cut and caught a four pounder, and while I was culling it, Joe Sr. (AAA Joe Uribe Sr.) caught a three and a half that gave us our weight – I’m lucky to be here in contention.”
In the AAA Division, AAA James Scott of Lancaster, Calif. rode his day two pairing with Mazy to the lead with 29.21 pounds, a leap from 57th place. After helping his pro with a key fish, Uribe Sr. moved into second place on day two with 27.37 pounds. Third place went to Tyler Bolin of Valley Springs, Calif. with a two-day total of 26.38 pounds. He is followed in fourth place by Wes Nunley of Washington, Utah with 26.20 pounds and past U.S. Open Champion filling in as a last-minute AAA Nick Salvucci sits in fifth place with 25.47 pounds.
As a result of mechanical failures, 99 boats ventured out onto the surface of Lake Mead for day two of the 2024 WON Bass Lake Mead Open presented by Ranger Boats and Mercury. The top 10 anglers in each division are listed below, for complete standings visit: https://wonbassevents.com/
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WON Bass Lake Mead Open 9/18 to 9/20/2024 |
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Place |
Pro Day 2 | Hometown |
Fish |
B/B |
Pnlty |
Day 1 |
Day 2 |
Total |
|
1 |
Julius Mazy | Phoenix AZ |
10-10 |
5.99 |
11.92 |
19.80 |
31.72 |
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2 |
Shane Edgar | Glendale AZ |
10-10 |
4.04 |
16.33 |
14.65 |
30.98 |
|
|
3 |
Bill Brown | Grand Junction CO |
10-9 |
5.81 |
0.50 |
14.38 |
13.40 |
27.78 |
|
4 |
Tom Lowery | Lakeside CA |
10-8 |
3.94 |
1.00 |
15.93 |
11.57 |
27.50 |
|
5 |
Dennis Kolender | Santee CA |
10-10 |
4.01 |
12.80 |
12.80 |
25.60 |
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6 |
Kyle Grover | RCHO STA MARG CA |
10-10 |
13.63 |
11.87 |
25.50 |
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7 |
Andy Doudna | Discovery Bay CA |
10-8 |
3.04 |
1.00 |
11.21 |
14.10 |
25.31 |
|
8 |
Jeff Baird | Washington UT |
10-8 |
4.06 |
1.00 |
12.18 |
12.99 |
25.17 |
|
9 |
John Murray | Spring City TN |
10-10 |
5.94 |
10.95 |
14.15 |
25.10 |
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|
10 |
Cody Steckel | Las Vegas NV |
10-9 |
0.50 |
14.58 |
10.49 |
25.07 |
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Place |
AAA Angler Day 2 | Hometown |
Fish |
B/B |
Pnlty |
Day 1 |
Day 2 |
Total |
|
1 |
James Scott | Lancaster CA |
10-10 |
9.41 |
19.80 |
29.21 |
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2 |
Joe Uribe, Sr. | Lake Havasu City AZ |
10-10 |
3.34 |
12.72 |
14.65 |
27.37 |
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3 |
Tyler Bolin | Valley Springs CA |
10-9 |
3.84 |
0.50 |
15.93 |
9.95 |
25.88 |
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4 |
Wes Nunley | Washington UT |
10-9 |
0.50 |
13.63 |
12.07 |
25.70 |
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5 |
Nick Salvucci | Paso Robles CA |
10-10 |
5.78 |
13.98 |
11.49 |
25.47 |
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6 |
Mike Hawkins | Boulder City NV |
10-10 |
13.54 |
10.57 |
24.11 |
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7 |
George Azevedo | Desert Hot Springs CA |
10-10 |
9.18 |
14.15 |
23.33 |
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8 |
Jay Guterding | Redding CA |
10-10 |
3.04 |
10.36 |
12.80 |
23.16 |
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9 |
Brian Reaves | Bullhead City AZ |
10-10 |
2.95 |
11.12 |
11.87 |
22.99 |
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10 |
David Childress | Bakersfield CA |
10-9 |
0.50 |
9.53 |
13.40 |
22.93 |
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The winner of the 2024 WON Bass Lake Mead Open will earn the Ranger Boats / Mercury Motor prize boat, and the Golden Tickets to the 2025 Bassmaster BASS Nation National Championship will be awarded to the top five Pro and AAA anglers and will further develop the season long competition to see who will receive guaranteed slots into the 2025 Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifiers.
The 2024 WON Bass Western Opens Series of events Consisting of five events in California, Arizona and Nevada moves next to the Lake Mead Open September 18 to 20, 2024. The series will culminate with the 2024 WON Bass U.S. Open at Lake Mohave in October. The full schedule of the five event dates are as follows:
Jan. 31–Feb. 2, Lake Shasta - Champion Nick Wood – 47.42 pounds
April 17-19, Clear Lake – Austin Bonjour – 83.28 pounds
May 15-17, Lake Havasu – Joe Uribe Jr. – 57.31 pounds
Sept. 18-20, Lake Mead
Oct. 14-16, U.S. Open at Lake Mohave
For complete details or to register, look to wonbassevents.com and WONews.com to hear the latest news about the 2024 season and beyond and follow along at Facebook.com/
The 2024 WON Bass Lake Mead Open is brought to you by Bass Pro Shops, Ranger Boats, Mercury Marine, Nitro Boats, Triton Boats, Bridgford Foods, Phenix Rods, Yamamoto Baits, Bill Lewis Lures, Buckeye Lures, Steel Shad, Bioenno Power, DD26 Fishing, SOG Knives, Cold Steel Knives, Gamma Line, Power Pole, Lowrance, Daiwa, AFTCO, Costa, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Anderson Toyota, A&M Graphics, Anglers Marine and Signature Gates.
Local presenting sponsors are Callville Bay Marina, Boulder City Chamber of Commerce and Boulder City Tackle
Bassmaster expands LIVE coverage on FOX/FS1 for 2025 season
Sept. 19, 2024
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Following a 2024 season of record viewership and increased interest in Bassmaster LIVE programming, B.A.S.S., FOX and FS1 have announced plans to expand Bassmaster’s live coverage in 2025. The new agreement sets the stage for a monumental surge in viewership for 2025.
“The demand for increased coverage of Bassmaster’s high-quality, professional fishing product is increasing, and FOX has recognized that desire and is stepping up to satisfy the fishing community’s rabid consumption of Bassmaster LIVE content,” said B.A.S.S. Chief Operating Officer Phillip Johnson. “The relationship between FOX/FS1 and B.A.S.S. has been exceptional, and we look forward to continuing to showcase even more tournament coverage from the worldwide authority on bass fishing.”
As part of the new agreement, the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors will now have six hours of broadcast coverage on FOX across Saturday and Sunday, as well as 54 hours of Elite Series coverage on Saturdays and Sundays featured on FS1 next year — with the potential for six additional hours on FOX each season.
“FOX and FS1 are thrilled to extend the relationship with B.A.S.S. and the Bassmaster brand,” said FOX Sports EVP/Head of Programming & Scheduling Bill Wanger. “The new deal with this best-in-class fishing organization continues to deliver unsurpassed action on the water from all over the country, highlighted by live weekend coverage of the Bassmaster Elite Series on FS1.”
The additional coverage follows a season of record-breaking viewership in 2024, with one event still to air. The previous high-water mark for Bassmaster LIVE viewership was 14 million in 2021.
This historic television agreement comes on the heels of B.A.S.S. announcing an Elite Series schedule that will feature diverse venues across the nation. Based on the passionate nature of the fan bases in these host communities, B.A.S.S. expects not only record-breaking viewership numbers, but record-setting attendance in 2025, as well.
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.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, cgay@bassmaster.
Emmanuel College Cashes in with Yamaha Power Pay
Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships
College bass fishing can be a tricky endeavor. With the stress of limited income and maintaining good grades while chasing big bass throughout much of the country, it’s a lot to balance at one time. Staying on the proverbial grind is not an easy thing, but college angler Tyler Campbell figured out a way to keep everything in line while chasing his dream.
Coming off an impressive second-place finish representing Emmanuel University at the 2024 Bassmaster® Strike King College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops with his partner Parker Guy, the Martin, Ga. native is thankful he runs a Yamaha Outboard and took the time to register for the Yamaha Power Pay contingency program.
“I’ve seriously made thousands of dollars through the Power Pay program competing in college,” Campbell said. “That’s a lot of boat payments when you add it all together, and it only takes about 15 minutes to sign up for it. If you’re a college angler, you should be running a Yamaha and if have a qualified outboard, there is absolutely no reason not to sign up for this program.”
The reliability of his Yamaha 250-horsepower V6 V MAX SHO® also played a big role in his run-and-gun strategy on Lake Hartwell. Targeting very specific offshore brush piles with topwater lures was essential to his gameplan, and confidence in his equipment allowed him to fully execute his gameplan.
“I burned a full tank of gas almost every single day,” Campbell said. “I bet I cranked my Yamaha 200 times each day of competition looking for very specific brush piles. My current outboard is about 11 months old, and I already have 400 hours on it. I never give a second thought to motor problems because if you want to stay out of the shop, a Yamaha is the only way to go.”
Campbell recently graduated with honors (not to mention a 3.9 GPA with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Management) and the future proves to be bright with the young bass angler from rural Georgia.
“I’m doing guide trips full-time right now for the sole purpose of saving up enough money to fish every Bassmaster Open next year,” Campbell said. “And you can bet I’ll have a Yamaha on the back of my boat.”
There are dozens of collegiate, amateur and semi-pro tournament trails sanctioned by the Yamaha Power Pay program. But you do have to make sure you are registered to be eligible.
It’s free to sign up and anglers don’t have to place first in their tournament to cash in on the Power Pay money. To learn more, please visit https://yamahapowerpay.com/.
Over 600 Anglers Set to Compete at Kentucky Lake for the Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley
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Alabama’s Choquette claims Overall title at 2024 Skeeter Bassmaster High School Combine
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Shane Edgar Leads Day One of WON Bass Lake Mead Open with 16.33 pounds
Tom Lowery close behind in Second place with 15.93 pounds.
Las Vegas, Nev. – September 18, 2024 –– There was talk in the weeks leading up to the 2024 WON Bass Lake Mead Open presented by Ranger Boats and Mercury that the limits the field would bring to the scales would be heavier than usual for Lake Mead. Following two years of light fishing pressure because of low water levels, the word was that not only have the fish had a chance to grow in relative peace, but they hadn’t seen a lure during that time, so they may be aggressive.
As day one of the event approached, the weather conditions that had been hot and predicted for heavy winds subsided and the temperatures dipped, and the wind forecast eased meaning anglers could go where they wanted and fish how they wanted. The result was a perfect set of circumstances that ended with Shane Edgar of Surprise, Ariz. fishing by himself due to a AAA angler not arriving at the last minute but weighing 16.33 pounds to take the day one lead.
Tom Lowery of Lakeside, Calif. and his AAA partner Tyer Bolin of Valley Springs, Calif. suffered a half pound penalty but stood in second place after day one with 15.93 pounds. Third place went to Las Vegas, Nev. pro Cody Steckel and his AAA partner Todd Holverson of San Diego, Calif. landed in third place for the opening round with 15.08 pounds. Fourth place on the first day went to Grand Junction, Colorado’s Bill Brown and his partner Eric Hammer from Peoria, Ariz. with 14.38 and past U.S. Open Champion Josh Bertrand from San Tan Valley, Ariz. and his AAA partner Larry Llanes from Madera, Calif. rounded out the top five with 14.29 pounds.
Edgar said he had a slightly better day than he expected to open the event. “I had around 15 pounds on one of my practice days, but I didn’t expect to see 16 pounds leading the event,” he said. “I found an area that I had to myself, and I fished hard in there. I had a limit that weighed a little more than 15 pounds at seven thirty this morning and laid off my area to start practicing; I culled one time later in the day to move up to 16.33, and I’m happy with the day.”
The day one leader declined to state what area of the lake he is fishing, but said he was fishing aggressively to get strikes. “I’m definitely fishing a reaction technique, but I don’t know what to expect tomorrow; they could leave the area,” he said. “It’s Lake Mead, and when their forage moves, they will follow them. I’m going to start there tomorrow and see if they’re there. I could catch another good bag, or come in with 8 pounds; it’s Lake Mead, you never know.”
Lowery reported catching numbers of Lake Mead bass on reaction baits himself but was a little concerned that he had leaned on his areas a little too hard. “I’m rotating through four areas that have a lot of bait in them, and probably caught 20 fish today,” he said. “I left for a little while, but felt like I needed one more good fish, so I returned at one o’clock and culled once more, I just hope that I can locate them in there tomorrow and keep making a run at this event.”
Altogether 103 boats ventured out onto the surface of Lake Mead on day one of the 2024 WON Bass Lake Mead Open presented by Ranger Boats and Mercury. The top 10 anglers in each division are listed below, for complete standings visit: https://wonbassevents.com/pages/lake-mead-open-pairings-and-results
| Place | Pro Day 1 | Hometown | Fish | B/B | Pnlty | Day 1 | Total |
| 1 | Shane Edgar | Glendale AZ | 5-5 | 4.04 | 16.33 | 16.33 | |
| 2 | Tom Lowery | Lakeside CA | 5-4 | 3.90 | 0.50 | 16.43 | 15.93 |
| 3 | Cody Steckel | Las Vegas NV | 5-4 | 0.50 | 15.08 | 14.58 | |
| 4 | Bill Brown | Grand Junction CO | 5-5 | 5.81 | 14.38 | 14.38 | |
| 5 | Josh Bertrand | San Tan Valley AZ | 5-5 | 4.05 | 14.29 | 14.29 | |
| 6 | Hayden Metz | Eastvalle CA | 5-5 | 13.98 | 13.98 | ||
| 7 | Kyle Grover | Rcho Sta Marg CA | 5-5 | 13.63 | 13.63 | ||
| 8 | Duke Ayers | Flagstaff AZ | 5-5 | 3.97 | 13.54 | 13.54 | |
| 9 | Scott Hellesen | Paso Robles CA | 5-5 | 12.83 | 12.83 | ||
| 10 | Dennis Kolender | Santee CA | 5-5 | 12.80 | 12.80 | ||
| Place | AAA Angler Day 1 | Hometown | Fish | B/B | Pnlty | Day 1 | Total |
| 1 | Kaliane McMurray Did Not Fish | Dana Point CA | 5-5 | 16.33 | 0.00 | ||
| 2 | Tyler Bolin | Valley Spring CA | 5-4 | 3.84 | 0.50 | 16.43 | 15.93 |
| 3 | Todd Holverson | San Diego CA | 5-4 | 4.16 | 0.50 | 15.08 | 14.58 |
| 4 | Eric Hammer | Peoria AZ | 5-5 | 14.38 | 14.38 | ||
| 5 | Larry Llanes | Madera CA | 5-5 | 14.29 | 14.29 | ||
| 6 | Nick Salvucci | Paso Robles CA | 5-5 | 5.78 | 13.98 | 13.98 | |
| 7 | Wes Nunley | Washington UT | 5-5 | 13.63 | 13.63 | ||
| 8 | Mike Hawkins | Boulder City NV | 5-5 | 13.54 | 13.54 | ||
| 9 | Geoff Peterson | Huntington Beach CA | 5-5 | 12.83 | 12.83 | ||
| 10 | Jason Randall | Las Vegas NV | 5-5 | 12.80 | 12.80 |
The winner of the 2024 WON Bass Lake Mead Open will earn the Ranger Boats / Mercury Motor prize boat, and the Golden Tickets to the 2025 Bassmaster BASS Nation National Championship will be awarded to the top five Pro and AAA anglers and will further develop the season long competition to see who will receive guaranteed slots into the 2025 Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifiers.
There are currently 110 pro anglers, and 104 AAA partners signed up for the event - signups remain open until September 13, 2024.
The 2024 WON Bass Western Opens Series of events Consisting of five events in California, Arizona and Nevada moves next to the Lake Mead Open September 18 to 20, 2024. The series will culminate with the 2024 WON Bass U.S. Open at Lake Mohave in October. The full schedule of the five event dates are as follows:
Jan. 31–Feb. 2, Lake Shasta - Champion Nick Wood – 47.42 pounds
April 17-19, Clear Lake – Austin Bonjour – 83.28 pounds
May 15-17, Lake Havasu – Joe Uribe Jr. – 57.31 pounds
Sept. 18-20, Lake Mead
Oct. 14-16, U.S. Open at Lake Mohave
For complete details or to register, look to wonbassevents.com and WONews.com to hear the latest news about the 2024 season and beyond and follow along at Facebook.com/WONBassTournaments.
The 2024 WON Bass Northern California Lake Mead Open is brought to you by Bass Pro Shops, Ranger Boats, Mercury Marine, Nitro Boats, Triton Boats, Bridgford Foods, Phenix Rods, Yamamoto Baits, Bill Lewis Lures, Buckeye Lures, Steel Shad, Bioenno Power, DD26 Fishing, SOG Knives, Cold Steel Knives, Gamma Line, Power Pole, Lowrance, Daiwa, AFTCO, Costa, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Anderson Toyota, A&M Graphics, Anglers Marine and Signature Gates.
Local presenting sponsors are Callville Bay Marina, Boulder City Chamber of Commerce and Boulder City Tackle
DeFoe/Montgomery and Jordon/Poche Advance to Championship Round at General Tire Team Series Knighten Industries Heritage Cup
Three teams compete on Wisconsin’s Lake Butte des Morts in first match of Knockout Round, Team REDCON1 (DeFoe/Montgomery) catches 18 scorable bass to advance to Championship
NEENAH, Wis. (Sept. 18, 2024) – Lake Butte des Morts was the playing field Wednesday for the three two-man teams competing in Match 1 of the Knockout Round at the General Tire Team Series Knighten Industries Heritage Cup Presented by Berkley. After competitors spent the Elimination Round competing on Lakes Poygan and Winneconne earlier this week, Lake Butte des Morts offered competitors numerous new areas to explore and slightly different conditions.
Despite the change in competition waters, fishing was generally the same as teams relied mainly on frogs, wacky rigs and flipping jigs to break down the 8,500-acre fishery at the second General Tire Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops event of the season.
It was a closely contested day – just 3 1/2 pounds separated the bottom two teams – but as SCORETRACKER® expired, it was the Team REDCON1 duo of Ott DeFoe and Andy Montgomery that stood alone atop the leaderboard. Team REDCON1 caught 18 bass weighing 27 pounds, 14 ounces to pace the field and advance to the Championship Round on Friday. Also advancing in second place was Team Knighten Industries – Kelly Jordon and Keith Poche – who boated 13 bass totaling 22-13.
Team REDCON1 and Team Knighten Industries now advance to Friday’s Championship Round to compete against the top two finishing teams from Match 2 of the Knockout Round on Thursday. Eliminated from competition was Team WIX Filters – David Dudley and Dave Lefebre – who caught 10 scorable bass weighing 18-2.
“Man, we can finally breathe,” Montgomery said as the third period came to an end. “I thought this one was tracking toward an easy day, but we had to work for it today. We did just enough and we are two for two. But the one that matters the most is two days from now. We want to be three for three.”
“It was a hard day of fishing, no doubt,” DeFoe said. “We had to battle, and we ended up catching 18 – just over half of what we caught the other day. It was tough. But we made it to the Championship Round, and that is such a good feeling.”
“We had to work for every dang fish we caught. We had 18 fish, but we made 180,000 casts today,” Montgomery joked.
Team REDCON1 started out the day fishing cane grass, mixing it up throwing and throwing a hodge-podge of lures. DeFoe weighed in scorable keepers on five different baits, the majority coming on a stick-worm, while Montgomery caught them mainly flipping a jig.
“At the end of the day, we came back and were fishing some of the little grass mats back in a canal,” DeFoe said. “It just looked like it would have a good population of fish in it. Andy and I talked, and we thought we could come in and beat out a few bites. I picked up a frog, and it got a few of those bites and was able to give us just enough cushion to make it through.”
The key bait for DeFoe at the end of the day was a Terminator Walking Frog Jr., which DeFoe fished on a Johnny Morris Signature Series 7-foot, 2-inch heavy-action rod paired with a Johnny Morris Platinum high-speed 8:3:1 reel with 50-pound Bass Pro Shops XPS braid.
For the second consecutive day of competition, the Team Knighten Industries duo of Kelly Jordon and Keith Poche advanced as the No. 2 team on the day.
Poche mainly threw a topwater, catching five bass on a frog and adding two more scorable smallmouth on a popper. Jordon committed to a soft-plastic stick worm, adding six keepers as the duo targeted a large grassy area in the northwest portion of the lake for the majority of the day.
“There was a hole in the grass that was our bread and butter,” Poche said. “I honestly didn’t think it had enough, but it had just enough, and we were able to kind of build off of it.”
“I fish better when it’s intense, but I’m enjoying it, and that was the case for us today,” said Jordon. “We found this grassy area, and it turned us on to a few things. There was a key stretch near the end and we managed to catch several from it. It was a tough day, but a great day.”
The top two teams now advancing to the Championship Round at the Knighten Industries Heritage Cup Presented by Berkley are:
1st: Team REDCON1, 18 bass, 27-14
Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 11 bass, 15-2
Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., seven bass, 12-12
2nd: Team Knighten Industries, 13 bass, 22-13
Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas, six bass, 9-14
Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., seven bass, 12-15
Eliminated from competition are:
3rd: Team WIX Filters, 11 bass, 19-6
David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., six bass, 10-0
Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., five bass, 9-6
Complete results from throughout the week can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 42 bass weighing 70 pounds, 1 ounce caught by the three teams competing in Match 1 of the Knockout Round on Lake Butte des Morts. Poche caught the Berkley Big Bass of the day – a largemouth weighing 3 pounds, 5 ounces.
The Knighten Industries Heritage Cup Presented by Berkley is hosted by the Fox Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau and takes place over six days in the Fox Cities in Wisconsin. The competition water for each day is top-secret and is only revealed to the anglers when they arrive at the boat ramp each morning.
Anglers depart the host hotel in Neenah each morning as early as 5:30 a.m. CT. They are driven directly to the day’s competition area launch ramp by their officials. Competition begins on the water at 8:45 a.m.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live every day of competition from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® is live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.
The Heritage Cup features 12 two-man teams, divided into three groups as they enter the one-day Elimination Round matches. Each of the three Elimination Round matches featured four new teams, with the top two teams from each match of the Elimination Round advancing to the Knockout Round on Days 4 & 5. In the Knockout Rounds, three teams compete each day, with the top two teams from each Knockout Round match moving on to the Championship Round on Day 6. In Friday’s Day 6 Championship Round, the final four teams will compete in a one-day shootout to determine which team will win the 2024 Knighten Industries Heritage Cup Presented by Berkley.
The 2024 General Tire Team Series is comprised of four events – Challenge Cup, Heritage Cup, Patriot Cup and Summit Cup – featuring two-man teams of MLF Bass Pro Tour pros competing from the same boat. Each event features a roster of 24 anglers, teamed up and working together to claim part of a season purse of more than $720,000. Teams were formed through a selection process, where 48 team captains – based on Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) standings throughout the 2024 Bass Pro Tour season – selected a teammate. Teams will compete throughout the fall of 2024.
Television coverage of the Knighten Industries Heritage Cup Presented by Berkley will premiere on Outdoor Channel as six two-hour episodes in February 2025. New MLF General Tire Team Series episodes will premiere each Saturday morning on Outdoor Channel and posted to MOTV.
Proud sponsors of the MLF General Tire Team Series include: 7 Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Barbasol, Bass Boat Technologies, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Builders FirstSource, C-MAP, Coign, Epic Baits, Ferguson, Fishing Clash, General Tire, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Nitro Boats, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala Baits, REDCON1, Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff, Star brite, Toyota, USAA, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the General Tire Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
MLF Set to Wrap Toyota Series Plains Division at Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Suzuki Marine
The three-day tournament is the third and final event of the year for Plains Division anglers and is hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association. The event will feature a roster of the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers competing for a top prize of up to $100,000 in the pro division and a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor plus $5,000 in the co-angler division.
Local Tackle Warehouse Invitational pro Michael Harlin of Sunrise Beach, Missouri, has extensive history on the fishery and said he is looking forward to a great event.
“There are a lot of things in play in September on Lake of the Ozarks,” said Harlin. “It really opens up the tacklebox and lets guys fish to their strengths. I expect to see some guys out fishing deep and others up super shallow. They’ll be catching them on reaction baits and bottom baits the same – basically just fall fishing 101.”
Harlin said the entire lake will be in play next week during the tournament, but there’s no specific technique or pattern that’s currently dominating the fishery.
“Most likely there will be some big bags caught at least one or two days of the tournament, and I anticipate those big bags will be caught up shallow, whether it’s throwing topwater or flipping boat docks,” Harlin said. “I think it’s going to take anywhere between 45 to 47 pounds to win the event.
“That isn’t huge weight, but that’s typical here for this time of year,” Harlin continued. “I figure the winning guy will have to catch at least one 17- to 20-pound bag, or a couple 17-pound bags to take home the win.”
While it’s a bit too early to dial in the exact weather conditions anglers will be facing throughout the three-day tournament, Harlin said he expects that to make a big difference in angler’s game plans.
“With everything in play, the weather is probably going to be the deciding factor on how it all goes down,” said Harlin. “Depending on whether it’s sunny and hot, or we get a cold front with overcast, windy conditions – that’s going to really determine the winning pattern.”
Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. CT each day from Public Beach #2 located at 711 Public Beach Road in Osage Beach. Weigh-ins will also be held at that location and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend and encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of up to $75,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of up to $100,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard plus $5,000 cash.
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 will be held Nov. 7-9 on Wheeler Lake in Huntsville, Alabama, and 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 Fishing, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, REDCON1, Simms, Strike King, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
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.
NPFL Looking for a Few Quality Anglers
WILKESVILLE, Ohio, September 17, 2024 — The National Professional Fishing League will be accepting applications for the 2025 season beginning October 1, 2024. Anglers who wish to be part of the 130-angler field should visit www.thenationalprofessionalfishingleague.com and fill out the application form beginning on that date. Anglers currently on the NPFL roster do not need to reapply, but they must notify the NPFL in writing of their intention to participate in 2025. The application and notification periods end on October 31, 2024.
“The NPFL offers a platform for all anglers to prove their skill and dedication at the highest level, regardless of their background,” vows league president Brad Fuller. “We’re committed to providing a fair and competitive environment, and we look forward to assembling a diverse and talented field of 130 anglers."
The 2025 season will feature six regular season tournaments plus the 2025 NPFL Championship, spread across half a dozen states and covering spring, summer and fall. Each event will challenge and showcase the skills of every angler. The NPFL’s dedication to maintaining a level playing field ensures that all participants — from seasoned pros to emerging talents — have an equal opportunity to succeed.
The full 2025 schedule will be announced before the application period closes. The NPFL made news earlier this month when it became the first major tour to restrict the use of real-time imaging units (commonly referred to as “forward-facing sonar”).
Beginning with the 2025 season, such technology is prohibited in NPFL competition. This prohibition does not apply to the 2025 NPFL Championship, for which anglers are currently qualifying under previously established rules." We want to work with the anglers who are ready to test themselves under the very highest standards of tournament competition, tradition, and integrity,” Fuller adds.
“We’re looking forward to the return of many anglers who have fished with us and become like family, and we’re excited to add new anglers that will help us grow even better and stronger. Our sport is at a crossroads, and we’re going to show the angling community that the NPFL is on the right path."
Competition for a berth in the 130-angler field for 2025 will be fierce. Applicants must commit to a locked field and agree to participate in all six regular-season events. This ensures a committed group of anglers for the entire season. Choosing the right anglers for the field is critical to the NPFL’s mission.
“We take our selection process very seriously,” Fuller says. “We interview each angler before they’re selected. No one is automatically accepted into the league simply because they won a big tournament or have a lot of sponsors. We’re not just looking for excellent anglers. We also want excellent people who are passionate about the sport — people who share our commitment and vision.
“You can sign up tournament anglers at any boat ramp on any Saturday morning. We’re looking for partners who are ready to grow with us and improve the sport we all love.”
About the National Professional Fishing League
The National Professional Fishing League was founded to bring competitive fishing to a broader audience and offer anglers a platform to compete at the highest level. The NPFL is committed to fostering integrity, competition, and innovation in the sport, providing anglers and fans alike with an exciting and unique experience.
For more information, visit our website.
