Victor Angler Casey Smith Wins MLF Toyota Series at St. Lawrence River Presented by FX Custom Rods

MASSENA, N.Y. (Aug. 24, 2024) – Pro Casey Smith of Victor, New York, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 26 pounds, 4 ounces to win the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at St. Lawrence River Presented by FX Custom Rods and earn the top payout of $39,750.

Taking off from Massena Intake Boat Launch on Championship Saturday within reach of both a win on the St. Lawrence River and the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year title for the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Northern Division, Smith admitted he felt a bit jittery. He had plenty of time to stew on the ramifications of his performance, too, making a 70-plus mile run upriver to his fishing spot.

But once he arrived, it didn’t take long to settle his nerves.

Within 5 minutes, Smith boated a smallmouth bass that weighed 5 3/4 pounds. That started an epic flurry that saw the New York native put more than 25 pounds in his livewell during his first hour of fishing. He went on to make one afternoon cull, bringing his limit to 26-4 — easily the biggest bag of the final day.

That boosted Smith’s three-day total to 72-1, vaulting him from seventh place to the winner’s circle. Smith topped Oklahoma's Kyle Cortiana by 1 pound, 2 ounces. While Cortiana still edged him by a single point at the top of the AOY standings, a second Toyota Series trophy and the $39,750 payday more than made up for it.

“Today was unbelievable,” Smith said. “Within 5 minutes, I had a 5 3/4, and I had the bulk of that weight within an hour. So, that settled me down and put me in a groove, and I just built it from there.”

In the weeks prior to the event, Smith grappled with the decision of where to fish on the massive St. Lawrence. While Lake Ontario was off-limits to competitors, the waters near the lake have typically produced a better class of bass than the rest of the river in recent years. The catch is, with the field launching from Massena, the runs to and from that area could eat up nearly half the competition day, and Smith had typically struggled in the past when making a long run and fishing in a hurry.

However, when he watched the broadcast of one of the recent national-level events contested on the St. Lawrence, Smith heard a comment about how anglers needed to commit to the long run if they wanted to have a chance to win. That stuck with him as he took a win-or-bust mindset into this event, running between 140 and 180 miles round-trip each day.

“It’s a long way, man,” Smith said with a chuckle. “I’m tired, I’m exhausted, I’m out of gas money.

“Running a long distance like that for me has always been an Achilles (heel),” he added. “I’ve never managed time well. So, that’s where this one is special, I overcame that weakness. I mean, I was running 3 hours a day — an hour and a half down and an hour and a half back — so I was only fishing 5 hours. To overcome that Achilles of the time management, that’s where this one is special.”

After making the long run each morning, Smith targeted his fish a bit differently than most in the field. He found three offshore shoals where, particularly early in the day, schools of smallmouth were suspended chasing bait. Smith targeted them with a Deps Sakamata Shad on a jighead.

“There was a ton of bait in the area, and I was using a minnow, a Sakamata Shad,” he said. “As the day went on, that bite would go away, and then I would resort to drifting with a Ned rig or a football jig. But the bulk of it came early every morning from fish that were up in the bait.”

While the jighead minnow has dominated events across the country in the past couple years, the strong current on the St. Lawrence typically forces fish to remain bottom-oriented, making drop-shots, Ned rigs, jigs and the like more popular. The 39-year-old Smith said he was proud of his ability to not only find the unique bite but target the schoolers with forward-facing sonar, noting he spotted every fish he caught with Garmin LiveScope.

“You don’t need to be 18 years old to do that,” he said. “I don’t know how I got to be an older dude, but I’m representing the experienced group here with this win and showing that we can hang with the electronics, too.”

During practice, Smith knew he’d found an area loaded with bass. But he underestimated just how good it could be.

Prior to the start of the event, Smith predicted that it would take “22 and change” per day to win. So, when he hit the 22-pound mark on Day 1, he left his main area, hoping to save those fish for later in the event. When 18 pros weighed in 23 pounds or more that afternoon, he thought he might have blown his chances at hoisting the trophy.

“I left my area after 2 and a half hours because I was trying to conserve, and when I came in and saw that, I thought I made a major mistake,” he said. “I had to absolutely put the gas on down there the last two days, and I wasn’t sure how much was left after I burned on it yesterday. I did not have any clue it was going to take this average to win this tournament.”

Luckily for Smith, his area produced more weight each day. He followed up his 22-1 total on Day 1 with 23-12 on Day 2. His 26-4 bag on Saturday represented the second-heaviest limit of the week.

“Today, I started on one (shoal), and it just went nuts,” he said. “I thought it was the best one numbers wise. I didn’t realize it was the best one size wise too.”

Smith’s three-day weight puts him in rare company. Since the Toyota Series went to three days of competition in 2009, only once during the 11 events held on the St. Lawrence River has the winner totaled more than his 72-1. That was Chris Johnston with 77-15 in 2021, and he amassed almost all that weight in Lake Ontario. Even without the lake in play, this marked the first Toyota Series event ever on the fishery that three anglers have hit the 70-pound mark in three days.

The win also cements Smith as one of the most accomplished tournament anglers in the Northeast — and maybe the best not to fish for a living. Smith has now won three multi-day events on three different fisheries, adding his St. Lawrence triumph to a resume that includes a 2016 Toyota Series win on the Potomac River and a 2022 Bassmaster Open victory on Oneida Lake.

In the moments after lifting the trophy alongside his son Travis, Smith’s voice caught as he reflected on the hard work that went into his latest triumph.

“I don’t even know how to describe it,” he said. “I’m not sure why I’ve been lucky enough or blessed enough to have that happen to me. I work hard, I love fishing, but I’ve got a job. I have to go to work every Monday. And I show up and I fish as hard as I can, I do as much research as I can, and I guess it’s just a function of that mentality, how much I love it and how much I work for it. It feels unbelievably rewarding.”

The top 10 pros on the St. Lawrence River finished:

1st:         Casey Smith, Victor, N.Y., 15 bass, 72-1, $39,750
2nd:        Kyle Cortiana, Broken Arrow, Okla., 15 bass, 70-15, $15,403
3rd:         Dante Piraino, Baldwinsville, N.Y., 15 bass, 70-0, $11,925
4th:         Colby Miller, Elmer, La., 15 bass, 68-7, $10,938
5th:         Brent Anderson, Kingston Springs, Tenn., 15 bass, 68-1, $8,944
6th:         Adam Howell, Embrun, Ontario, 15 bass, 67-10, $7,950
7th:         Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 15 bass, 67-4, $6,956
8th:         Mitchell Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 15 bass, 66-8, $5,963
9th:         Kyle Hall, Granbury, Texas, 15 bass, 66-3, $4,969
10th:       Lane Olson, Forest Grove, Ore., 15 bass, 66-0, $3,975

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Pro Juan Darte of Middle River, Maryland, won the $500 Day 1 Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division Thursday with a bass weighing 6 pounds, 8 ounces. On Friday, pro Rich Nelson of Smithville, Ontario, earned the $500 Berkley Big Bass prize after bringing a 7-pound, 3-ounce bass to the scale.

Miller 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.

Lenny Baird of Stafford, Virginia, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 58 pounds, 10 ounces. Baird took home the top prize package worth $33,900, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on the St. Lawrence River finished:

1st:          Lenny Baird, Stafford, Virginia, 15 bass, 58-10, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp outboard
2nd:        Ken Golub, Pittsford, N.Y., 15 bass, 54-11, $4,969
3rd:         Sakae Ushio, Tonawanda, N.Y., 15 bass, 52-14, $3,975
4th:         Steven Schantz, Alexandria, Va., 13 bass, 50-10, $3,478
5th:         Gary Marean, Manassas, Va., 15 bass, 49-14, $2,981
6th:         Jimmy Schaffer, Oak Ridge, N.J., 13 bass, 49-12, $2,484
7th:         Hunter Navari, Colchester, Vt., 15 bass, 49-11, $1,987
8th:         Barry Hooper, Monticello, Ga., 13 bass, 48-14, $1,739
9th:         Taylor Wisniewski, Lexington, Ky., 15 bass, 47-5, $1,491
10th:       Chris Hurley, Carlisle, Penn., 14 bass, 45-15, $1,242

David Paszkiewicz of Kearny, New Jersey, was the Berkley Big Bass $150 award winner in the Strike King co-angler division, Thursday, with a 6-pound, 12-ounce bass, while the Day 2 $150 award was split between Neil Keilen of Frederick, Maryland, and Cornell Badra of Clarksburg, Maryland, who each caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 14 ounces to tie for the Berkley Big Bass.

With all three regular-season events in the Toyota Series Northern Division now complete, pro Kyle Cortiana of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, was crowned the Fishing Clash Northern Division Angler of the Year (AOY), earning the AOY payout of $5,000 with 506 points, while Tim McGlenn of Welcome, Maryland, was named the Strike King Co-angler of the year with 500 points, taking home the $2,000 prize.

The Toyota Series at St. Lawrence River Presented by FX Custom Rods was hosted by the Town of Massena, and was the third and final of three regular-season events for the Toyota Series Northern Division. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will be the Toyota Series at Santee Cooper Lakes Presented by Suzuki Marine, Sept. 12-14 in Summerton, South Carolina. For a complete schedule of events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2024 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2025. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2024 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 7-9 on Wheeler Lake in Huntsville, Alabama, and is hosted by 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 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.

by AnglersChannel

Huge bag lifts Smith and Blanton to Bassmaster College National Championship win at Lake Hartwell

August 24, 2024

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ANDERSON, S.C. — After a decent start, Garrett Smith and Andrew Blanton of Lander University saved the best for last by smashing a huge Day 3 limit and tallying a three-day total of 49 pounds to win the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops at Lake Hartwell.

After placing 22nd with an opening weight of 12-6, Smith and Blanton added 16-1 on Day 2 and moved into third. Championship Saturday saw them weigh 20-9 — the event’s heaviest bag — and edge Day 2 leaders Parker Guy and Tyler Campbell of Emmanuel University by 1-3.

“Fishing on this level has been a dream of mine since I was a little boy, and Garrett and I have dedicated our lives to it,” Blanton said. “Being the first to win a National Championship for Lander is amazing. I’m so happy that we get to cherish it with all (our teammates) that were at the weigh in.

“The Lord has blessed me and (Smith) beyond measure. I can’t believe this. It’s great.”

Smith added: “This all came down to making good decisions and executing. We just want to thank our parents and our school for putting us in position to do this.”

While many of their competitors, including Guy and Campbell, targeted the bass that were following blueback herring on the main lake, Smith and Blanton took a dramatically different approach.

“We focused on the Tugaloo River and the Seneca River, because we wanted to fish shallow and chase fish that would be feeding on bream,” Smith said. “We spent all of our practice in those areas.

“We chose to go to the bank and fish the way we were most comfortable, because we felt it was almost impossible for us to go out there and beat the (more experienced) herring guys. So, we chose to go give ourselves a chance to win it our way.”

Blanton said he and his partner fished in 5 feet or less and saw most of their fish before they bit.

“We had to be around steeper pockets more so than just flat pockets,” he said. “That was weird for us because we fish here a good bit in the summer and we usually fish flatter pockets and flatter banks for shallow cruisers and bream eaters.

“This week, the water continued to drop, so we had to fish in steeper pockets and a lot of them had bream beds. The key for us is the areas we were fishing — whether we were throwing at the bream beds or not — had to have a big population of bream.”

Smith, who’s pursuing a master’s degree in business administration, and Blanton, a junior majoring in business, fished reaction and finesse baits.

“We caught 90% of our fish on a buzzbait, but we also threw a wacky rig and we caught a key Day 1 fish on a prop bait,” Blanton said. “We beat the bank all week. We had a great time today.”

The winners caught about 15 keepers on Day 3, including a 6-1. Biting a wacky rig around 1:30, that fish gave them the cull that pushed them over the edge — but not without a double dose of drama.

“Today was one of those days when everything just went right,” Blanton said. “Once we got that big one in the boat, I felt like it was our time, because you don’t have things happen like what happened today unless it’s your time.

“As soon as Garrett hooked that big one, it wrapped him up in a brushpile under a dock twice. It came out and jumped a bunch. Any other day, I feel like we wouldn’t have gotten that fish in the boat, but we were able to get it to come out of that brushpile and catch it.”

Smith and Blanton earned the $5,000 first-place cash prize, along with $10,000 in Minn Kota/Humminbird merchandise. Also, the winners advance to the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s. This head-to-head style competition will send the winner to the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors March 21-23 on Texas’ Lake Ray Roberts.

Guy and Campbell finished second with 47-13. Their daily weights were 16-6, 15-2 and 16-5.

Sticking with the game plan that produced all week, Campbell and Guy committed themselves to a run-and-gun strategy that took them all over the lake. With the lake in drought condition and current generation minimal until later in the afternoon, the morning bite proved most productive.

Targeting brushpiles and cane piles in 15 to 30 feet, Campbell and Guy hit approximately 300 spots. Guy and Campbell caught their fish on a variety of topwater presentations, including a Berkley Krej waking bait and unweighted Texas-rigged Zoom Super Flukes.

Campbell, who guides on Hartwell, said he wouldn’t change anything about his team’s decision. He also said the final field of 12 teams proved advantageous.

“No regrets about the week; everything went perfectly, execution was good and they bit better today than they have all week due to less pressure on the lake,” Campbell said. “The only thing I didn’t account for was somebody catching 20 1/2 pounds.”

Lane Clark and Tallis Morrison of Erskine College placed third with 45-3. They caught limits of 13-11, 15-1 and 16-7.

Clark said he and Morrison fished the lake’s lower end, where they expected to find Hartwell’s bigger fish, along with the largest population of blueback herring. They fished cane piles, brushpiles and timber in depths of 20 to 70 feet.

“We caught our fish on chartreuse and white Zoom Super Flukes and buzzbaits,” Clark said. “We were running and gunning and putting our bait in front of as many fish as possible.”

Dylan Akins and Chase Carey of Emmanuel University won the Strike King Bassmaster College Series Team of the Year honors. Finishing fifth in the tournament, Akins and Carey received $2,500 cash, $5,000 of Minn Kota/Humminbird merchandise and a spot in the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s.

Smith and Blanton won big bass honors for Day 3 with their 6-1.

The tournament was hosted by Visit Anderson.

2024 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King

2024 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops

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, 256-424-2390, [email protected]

 

2024 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops 8/22-8/24
Lake Hartwell, Anderson  SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3

Angler                                       Club/School                       Pts

1.  Garrett Smith - Andrew Blanton               Lander University                   250
Day 1: 5   12-06     Day 2: 5   16-01     Day 3: 5   20-09   Total:  15  49-00
2.  Parker Guy - Tyler Campbell                  Emmanuel University                 249
Day 1: 5   16-06     Day 2: 5   15-02     Day 3: 5   16-05   Total:  15  47-13
3.  Lane Clark - Tallis Morrison                 Erskine College                     248
Day 1: 5   13-11     Day 2: 5   15-01     Day 3: 5   16-07   Total:  15  45-03
4.  Bryson O' Steen - Seth Jones                 Florida Gateway College             247
Day 1: 5   12-00     Day 2: 5   14-11     Day 3: 5   15-14   Total:  15  42-09
5.  Dylan Akins - Chase Carey                    Emmanuel University                 246
Day 1: 5   14-11     Day 2: 5   12-00     Day 3: 5   15-01   Total:  15  41-12
6.  Drake Hemby - Ewing Minor                    Carson-Newman University            245
Day 1: 5   14-12     Day 2: 5   11-14     Day 3: 5   11-15   Total:  15  38-09
7.  Nathan Reynolds - Banks Shaw                 University of North Alabama         244
Day 1: 5   13-14     Day 2: 5   12-11     Day 3: 5   10-11   Total:  15  37-04
8.  Lane Stephens - Ethan Fields                 Mckendree University                243
Day 1: 5   13-00     Day 2: 5   13-03     Day 3: 5   11-01   Total:  15  37-04
9.  Brantley Anders - Reece Keeney               Kentucky Christian University       242
Day 1: 5   14-05     Day 2: 5   13-10     Day 3: 5   06-11   Total:  15  34-10
10. Andrew Oswalt - Evan Mabrey                  University of Montevallo            241
Day 1: 5   13-08     Day 2: 5   12-01     Day 3: 5   07-14   Total:  15  33-07
11. Merrick Diaz - Cade Hayford                  Campbellsville University           240
Day 1: 5   15-02     Day 2: 5   11-12     Day 3: 4   05-04   Total:  14  32-02
12. Hampton Shull -                              Lander University                   239
Day 1: 5   17-00     Day 2: 5   08-10     Day 3: 5   06-05   Total:  15  31-15
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       139       789      1479-10
2       138       757      1424-08
3        11        59       144-01
----------------------------------
288      1605      3048-03

by AnglersChannel

Fothergill chases home-water smallmouth for win at St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake

August 24, 2024

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WALKER, Minn. — The major storyline heading into the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake presented by SEVIIN was that the global bass-fishing community would get its first look at what’s heralded as one of the sport’s best, yet relatively unknown, fisheries.

Everyone watching, meanwhile, already knew that Easton Fothergill is one of the best young anglers on the water today.

The two forces collided during a spectacular two-day derby in northern Minnesota this week, and both shined under pressure — Leech as host of its first B.A.S.S. tournament and Fothergill as the young prodigy looking to make hay on home water.

The 22-year-old Fothergill, a Grand Rapids, Minn., native who grew up 30 minutes from Leech Lake, bagged a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 49 pounds, 13 ounces and clinched the tournament championship Saturday at Walker Public Dock. He collected $45,936 cash with the win, part of a $300,034 purse split among the Top 45 of 203 pros competing at Leech this week.

The victory at Leech continued a hot streak not often seen at any level of professional fishing. In the past 10 months and change, Fothergill won the 2023 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s on Kansas’ Milford Lake last October, finished 16th of 56 anglers in the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in March, and followed with his first St. Croix Bassmaster Opens win of the year in June on Lake Eufaula, also in the Sooner State.

Leech was Fothergill’s second victory in an Open tournament this year, making him only the third angler to accomplish the feat (Terry Scroggins did it in 2007 as did Randall Tharp in 2008).

The young angler had to search for the right words to describe what he was feeling.

“It’s crazy to be in the company of those two great names,” Fothergill said. “I had no idea.”

What Fothergill did know is that he was anticipating this tournament as much as any other this year.

“I absolutely circled this one on the calendar,” he said. “Being 30 minutes away (from home) and the first time B.A.S.S. has come to Leech Lake and Walker, Minnesota ... I’ve spent so much time out here through my childhood … It means the world to me to pull off the win on my home lake.”

Fothergill and the rest of the field would have to wait an extra day to start the tournament as high winds canceled Thursday’s competition. That made this a two-day derby, which despite a full field fishing both days, likely favored Fothergill, whose deep knowledge of Leech belies his young age.

This week, Fothergill favored the chunky smallmouth bass that stay near rockpiles in the main lake each summer. He amassed some 60 waypoints across this 112,000-acre gem and crisscrossed what felt like every inch of it both days of the tournament. He used his electronics to locate sizable smallies and threw soft plastics to spark bites.

“My main bait is called a Dice (a smoky soft plastic bait made in Japan),” he said. “It’s a super finesse-style bait, and with the wind really being calm the last two days it allowed me to really fish to my strength.”

Fothergill said the Dice’s color resembled one type of crawfish Leech’s smallmouth bass love to eat. But because there are so many crawfish in the lake, the fish are well fed and sparking bites can be tricky.

“You get one cast on these fish and then they’re screwed up,” he continued. “They come to the boat and they’re not on their structure anymore. The reason I was running around so much was because I wanted to throw at a fresh fish every time.”

The frenetic pace paid dividends.

Fothergill jumped to the top of Friday’s leaderboard with a 26-10 limit, including a 6-4 monster smallmouth that was the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament. He was just as smooth on Saturday, closing with a 23-3 limit that sealed the victory.

The past year has been a full-circle turn of events for Fothergill. He underwent emergency brain surgery last year and rebounded remarkably, if not unfathomably, well.

“There was a while there where I didn’t know if I would see another sunrise,” he said. “Every tournament takeoff is really meaningful to me now, whether I catch a fish or not. I really think that’s why I’m having so much success. I just appreciate everything so much more.”

The winner of each of the nine 2024 Bassmaster Opens earns a spot in the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors, which is scheduled for March 21-23 at Lake Ray Roberts in Fort Worth, Texas. But because Fothergill already qualified for the Classic with his win at Eufaula, the berth from the Leech Lake Open falls to the Elite angler on the bubble of the 2024 Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings. That lucky pro is Australia’s Carl Jocumsen, who finished 44th in the Elite points race this year.

Others in the Top 5 at Leech Lake are second, Wisconsin’s Jay Przekurat, 43-8, $18,074; third, Virginia’s Chase Clarke, 42-12, $13,556; fourth, Idaho’s Cody Meyer, 42-0, $13,152; and fifth, Mississippi’s Brett Cannon, 41-8, $11,748.

Anglers who compete in each of the nine Opens and finish among the Top 9 in the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers (EQ) standings, will qualify for the Bassmaster Elite Series in 2025.

Also, on Saturday at Leech Lake, Tennessee’s Gary Haraguchi won the non-boater division with a two-day total of six bass weighing 17-9. He won $11,560, as well, part of a $39,923 cash purse divvied among the Top 40 of the 102 competing non-boaters. Minnesota’s Jim Nordlund also caught 17-9 at Leech, but Haraguchi won the tiebreaker (having the biggest bag on Day 1). Nordlund won $2,720. Fellow Minnesotan Curt Blomquist placed third with 17-2, good for $2,040.

Jeff Somers, of Crystal, Minn., won the Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award among non-boaters with a 4-11 on Saturday.

 

The Leech Lake Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the event.

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN

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

 

About B.A.S.S.B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

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

 

2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake presented by SEVIIN 8/23-8/24
Leech Lake, Walker  MN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1.  Easton Fothergill      Grand Rapids , MN       10  49-13  200  $45,936.00
Day 1: 5   26-10     Day 2: 5   23-03
2.  Jay Przekurat          Plover, WI              10  43-08  199  $18,074.00
Day 1: 5   19-09     Day 2: 5   23-15
3.  Chase Clarke           Virginia Beach, VA      10  42-12  198  $13,556.00
Day 1: 5   22-13     Day 2: 5   19-15
4.  Cody Meyer             Eagle, ID               10  42-00  197  $13,152.00
Day 1: 5   17-15     Day 2: 5   24-01
5.  Brett Cannon           Kiln, MS                 9  41-08  196  $11,748.00
Day 1: 5   25-01     Day 2: 4   16-07
6.  Tristan McCormick      Burns, TN               10  41-02  195  $10,845.00
Day 1: 5   20-07     Day 2: 5   20-11
7.  Emil Wagner            Marietta, GA            10  40-15  194   $9,941.00
Day 1: 5   22-02     Day 2: 5   18-13
8.  Jack Dice              Lynchburg, VA           10  40-06  193   $9,037.00
Day 1: 5   17-09     Day 2: 5   22-13
9.  Matt Pangrac           Shawnee, OK              9  40-01  192   $9,037.00
Day 1: 4   16-07     Day 2: 5   23-10
10. Jamie Bruce            Kenora Ontario CANADA   10  39-06  191   $9,037.00
Day 1: 5   19-02     Day 2: 5   20-04
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURNAMENT
Easton Fothergill        Grand Rapids , MN   06-04          $0.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       102       748      2455-15
2        65       595      1946-00

 

2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake presented by SEVIIN 8/23-8/24
Leech Lake, Walker  MN.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1.  Gary Haraguchi         Murfreesboro, TN         6  17-09  200  $11,560.00
Day 1: 3   10-12     Day 2: 3   06-13
2.  Jim Nordlund           Stacy, MN                6  17-09  199   $2,720.00
Day 1: 3   09-05     Day 2: 3   08-04
3.  Curt Blomquist         Wright, MN               6  17-02  198   $2,040.00
Day 1: 3   09-11     Day 2: 3   07-07
4.  Ty Kenyon              Dodgeville, WI           5  16-02  197   $1,530.00
Day 1: 2   06-00     Day 2: 3   10-02
5.  Wilfred Raeker-Rebek   St.Paul, MN              5  14-04  196   $1,428.00
Day 1: 3   09-01     Day 2: 2   05-03
6.  Brian Brecka           Alma, WI                 5  14-02  195   $1,360.00
Day 1: 3   09-04     Day 2: 2   04-14
7.  Robert Vander Kooi     Mesa, AZ                 5  13-11  194   $1,292.00
Day 1: 3   07-09     Day 2: 2   06-02
8.  Willie Meyer           North Mankato, MN        4  13-05  193   $1,224.00
Day 1: 2   06-00     Day 2: 2   07-05
9.  Maggie Carsello        Stoughton, WI            5  13-04  192   $1,122.00
Day 1: 2   05-12     Day 2: 3   07-08
10. Troy Jutting           Savage, MN               5  13-01  191   $1,020.00
Day 1: 2   04-05     Day 2: 3   08-12
11. Eric Naig              Bemidji, MN              4  12-15  190     $952.00
Day 1: 3   09-09     Day 2: 1   03-06
12. Chase Traeger          Lino Lakes, MN           4  12-08  189     $884.00
Day 1: 3   08-09     Day 2: 1   03-15
13. Wyatt Peterson         Excelsior, MN            4  12-01  188     $748.00
Day 1: 2   06-05     Day 2: 2   05-12
14. Justin Oppegard        Eagan, MN                4  11-15  187     $680.00
Day 1: 3   08-02     Day 2: 1   03-13
15. Greg Poetz             Winsted, MN              4  11-10  186     $612.00
Day 1: 3   07-15     Day 2: 1   03-11
16. Richard Conrad         Arcadia, WI              4  11-07  185     $544.00
Day 1: 1   02-15     Day 2: 3   08-08
17. Asher Schmidt          Saint Paul, MN           4  11-05  184     $510.00
Day 1: 2   05-04     Day 2: 2   06-01
18. Cason Hiers            St. Paul, MN             3  11-02  183     $510.00
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   11-02
19. Brad Goetz             Waunakee, WI             3  11-00  182     $510.00
Day 1: 2   08-06     Day 2: 1   02-10
20. Kevin Yeska            Madison, WI              4  10-10  181     $510.00
Day 1: 3   08-00     Day 2: 1   02-10
21. Jason Barber           Gun Barrel City, TX      3  10-00  180     $476.00
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   10-00
22. Jeff Somers            Crystal, MN              2  09-10  179     $726.00
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   09-10
23. Scott Dondlinger       Scottsboro, AL           3  09-05  178     $476.00
Day 1: 1   02-09     Day 2: 2   06-12
24. Troy Simpson           Moline, IL               3  08-14  177     $476.00
Day 1: 3   08-14     Day 2: 0   00-00
25. Alex Grimbos           Innisfil CANADA          3  08-11  176     $476.00
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   08-11
26. Sean Ruegemer          Bloomington, MN          3  08-11  175     $408.00
Day 1: 1   02-08     Day 2: 2   06-03
27. Andrew Tweten          Fargo, ND                3  08-07  174     $408.00
Day 1: 2   06-09     Day 2: 1   01-14
28. Erik Gaffron           Hanover, MN              3  07-15  173     $408.00
Day 1: 1   03-06     Day 2: 2   04-09
29. Greg Spaid             Brainerd, MN             3  07-14  172     $408.00
Day 1: 1   03-03     Day 2: 2   04-11
30. Matt Kelley            Detroit, MI              3  07-12  171     $408.00
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   07-12
31. Jimmy Obrien           Southampton, NY          3  07-02  170     $374.00
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   07-02
32. Hoser Melgaard         Elk Mound, WI            3  07-00  169     $374.00
Day 1: 2   04-09     Day 2: 1   02-07
33. Belle Kusske           Carver, MN               2  06-13  168     $374.00
Day 1: 2   06-13     Day 2: 0   00-00
34. Jason Anakkala         Brainerd, MN             2  06-09  167     $374.00
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   06-09
34. Roy Biwer              Shakopee, MN             2  06-09  167     $374.00
Day 1: 2   06-09     Day 2: 0   00-00
36. Daniel Vasquez         Boynton Beach, FL        2  06-08  165     $374.00
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   06-08
37. Bob Harper             Lombard, IL              2  06-04  164     $374.00
Day 1: 1   03-04     Day 2: 1   03-00
38. Chris Stelter          Chisago City, MN         2  06-00  163     $374.00
Day 1: 1   02-10     Day 2: 1   03-06
39. Niko Romero            Coldspring, TX           2  05-08  162     $374.00
Day 1: 2   05-08     Day 2: 0   00-00
40. Towa Yoshikawa         Kitakatsuragi-Gun JAPAN  2  05-07  161     $374.00
Day 1: 2   05-07     Day 2: 0   00-00
41. Jimmy Fellegy          Mustang, OK              2  05-01  160
Day 1: 2   05-01     Day 2: 0   00-00
42. Darren Gates           Macon, IL                2  05-01  159
Day 1: 1   02-05     Day 2: 1   02-12
43. Joel Erickson          Alexandria, MN           2  04-14  158
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   04-14
43. Paul Schlotfeldt       Saint Paul, MN           2  04-14  158
Day 1: 2   04-14     Day 2: 0   00-00
45. Brent Peterson         Excelsior, MN            2  04-13  156
Day 1: 1   02-02     Day 2: 1   02-11
46. Mike Fischer           Stacy, MN                2  04-12  155
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   04-12
47. Mark Cowart            Kearney, MO              1  04-10  154
Day 1: 1   04-10     Day 2: 0   00-00
47. Mack Traynor           Hanover, MN              1  04-10  154
Day 1: 1   04-10     Day 2: 0   00-00
49. Harrison Barton        Sun Prairie, WI          2  04-09  152
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   04-09
49. David Waack            Cary, NC                 2  04-09  152
Day 1: 2   04-09     Day 2: 0   00-00
51. Tom Lyskawka           Arlington Heights  , IL  2  04-08  150
Day 1: 2   04-08     Day 2: 0   00-00
52. Kristine Fischer       Weeping Water, NE        1  04-08  149
Day 1: 1   04-08     Day 2: 0   00-00
52. Bradley Pierce         Gretna, NE               1  04-08  149
Day 1: 1   04-08     Day 2: 0   00-00
54. Tanner Johnson         Bemidji, MN              1  03-13  147
Day 1: 1   03-13     Day 2: 0   00-00
55. Steven Hiemenz         Clear Lake, MN           1  03-12  146
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   03-12
56. Richard Greene         Ocala, FL                1  03-09  145
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   03-09
57. Brian Forcier          Akron, IA                1  03-07  144
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   03-07
58. Don Kimmel             Fishers, IN              1  03-06  143
Day 1: 1   03-06     Day 2: 0   00-00
59. Patrick Bartley        Waconia, MN              1  03-01  142
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   03-01
60. Rich Bleser            Burlington, WI           1  03-00  141
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   03-00
61. David Slonaker         Howard, OH               1  02-15  140
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   02-15
62. Brett Brandstrom       Shoreview, MN            1  02-14  139
Day 1: 1   02-14     Day 2: 0   00-00
62. Shane Kuehn            Bennington, NE           1  02-14  139
Day 1: 1   02-14     Day 2: 0   00-00
64. Jimmy Brumfield        Madison, MS              1  02-13  137
Day 1: 1   02-13     Day 2: 0   00-00
65. Ryan Hastie            Selkirk CANADA           1  02-12  136
Day 1: 1   02-12     Day 2: 0   00-00
66. Dennis Duffy           Westmont, IL             1  02-11  135
Day 1: 1   02-11     Day 2: 0   00-00
67. Mike Steckel           Las Vegas, NV            1  02-08  134
Day 1: 1   02-08     Day 2: 0   00-00
68. David Riggs            Highland, IL             1  02-07  133
Day 1: 1   02-07     Day 2: 0   00-00
69. Matt Commerford        Wendell, MN              1  02-06  132
Day 1: 1   02-06     Day 2: 0   00-00
69. Adam Omlid             Grand Forks, ND          1  02-06  132
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   02-06
71. Evan Cady              St.Paul, MN              1  02-05  130
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   02-05
71. Kevin Deering          Isanti, MN               1  02-05  130
Day 1: 1   02-05     Day 2: 0   00-00
73. Brian Bottenfield      Mound, MN                1  01-09  128
Day 1: 1   01-09     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Kent Booth             Hackensack, MN           0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Andrew Brandstrom      Shoreview, MN            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Eric Breitkreutz       Sheboygan, WI            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Dan Brown              Groveland , FL           0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Kurt Chelminiak        Delafield, WI            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Jacob Collins          Hillsboro, IL            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Bobby Cowan            Stephenville, TX         0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Gabie Dandurand        Detroit Lakes, MN        0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Dale Dobbins           Maiden, NC               0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Mat Eichinger          Chippewa Fls, WI         0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Scott Gobeil           Fort Frances CANADA      0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Tanner Horton          Pine Island, MN          0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Albert Jones  Jr       Covington, GA            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Klaus Kuester          Forest Park, IL          0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Sean Lofgren           Forest Lake, MN          0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Christopher Majerle    Trenton, MI              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Danny Mancini          Necedah, WI              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Art Monteil            Shawnee, KS              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Eddie Payne            Tomball, TX              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Jesse Piontek          Elk Mound, WI            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Mark Schill            Plymouth, MN             0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Dalon Schmidt          White Bear Lake, MN      0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Jeffrey Shaw           Anoka, MN                0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Hayden Spradling       Gilbert, AZ              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Chad Stahl             Barnesville, GA          0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Kenny Stelter          Forest Lake, MN          0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Martin Terveer         Otsego, MN               0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Brad Thieman           Sioux City, IA           0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
74. Levi Warner            Hilbert, WI              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        12        95       278-10
2        12        88       257-01
----------------------------------
24       183       535-11

----------------------------------
167      1343      4401-15

by AnglersChannel

From College Angler to Coach

Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships

There has been a lot of chatter around the world of tournament fishing in recent weeks, and like many things in this day and age a lion share of the attention has been given to drama and negativity. It’s not something to be proud of, but pessimistic points of view often drown out the overwhelming good that permeates throughout bass fishing and time in the outdoors with people we care about.

Thankfully, the 2024 Strike King Bassmaster College Series National Championship has served as a great reminder of all the positivity surrounding our pastime. To put it simply, college fishing has a pureness to it that is palpable. These anglers take competition seriously, but egos and personal-agendas are overshadowed by an obvious love of the game.

You could spin around 360 degrees at this event and anywhere you look there is something to smile about and a hopeful story to tell. Enter Hunter Sales, the 27-year-old Head Coach for the Carson-Newman Eagle Anglers fishing team, whose story qualifies as deserving more attention than doom or gloom.

Sales graduated from Carson-Newman in 2018 after helping start and compete as a part of the university’s first fishing team, as a senior in college. After having a great experience in college fishing, Sales didn’t waste a minute and was hired on as the full-time coach for his alma mater after graduating with a degree in Business-Management with an MBA in Marketing. He bleeds orange and blue and when his hands aren’t clapping for one of his anglers, he is likely throwing up the Eagles talon.

“There are 1,000 high-paying careers I feel like I could have pursued but I wouldn’t trade all the money in the world for the relationships I’ve been able to make with our anglers over the last six years,” Sales said. “It’s truly humbling to be able to do life with this team and to hopefully have a positive mark on the kids in their journeys. To be there when things are good, and when they’re bad. I try to assist them in any way I can, but it starts with helping them fall in love with the sport the same way I did.”

The Carson-Newman Eagles under Sales tutelage have established themselves as one of the power-houses of college fishing along with schools like Bethel University, Auburn, Emmanuel
College, University of Montevallo and McKendree University to name a few. Carson-Newman’s success continues this week on Lake Hartwell as the team of Drake Hemby and Ewing Minor started the final day in eighth place, just a few pounds behind the leaders.

Sales is ecstatic for these guys to have a chance at the National Championship and the College Series Classic Bracket, and is happily missing a day of practice for his own professional level tournament so he can be here and support his team. On top of coaching, Sales continues to pursue his own fishing dreams, competing at a high level in the National Professional Fishing League and in Bassmaster Opens.

“After weigh-in concludes I’ll start on the 12-hour trek up to Saginaw Bay for my own tournament,” Sales said. “I’ll spend the first official day of practice in my Tundra burning up the highway, but there is nowhere else I’d rather be. Drake and Ewing are hammers and it wouldn’t surprise me one bit to see them have a good day and shoot up the leaderboard. Anything can happen with only twelve boats on the water!”

Within two minutes of talking to Sales it is plain to see his passion and heart for supporting not only his team, but all college anglers and the sport as a whole. He shows up early and stays late, he listens to his teams while also giving advice when they need. And while Sales deserves the spotlight, his story is not entirely unique, as there are dozens of inspiring coaches, parents, and family members at this event displaying more wholesomeness than a 90s Disney movie.

Their dedication is commendable and an indication that the future is bright. Like a song on the radio that snaps you out of your mood and changes the trajectory of your day, people like
Hunter Sales and the College Series National Championship reminds us there is a lot more good than bad in bass fishing.

by AnglersChannel

Mobility puts Guy and Campbell atop Bassmaster College National Championship at Lake Hartwell

August 23, 2024

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ANDERSON, S.C. — Staying mobile and maximizing their peak period allowed Parker Guy and Tyler Campbell to amass a two-day total of 31 pounds, 8 ounces to lead Day 2 of the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops at Lake Hartwell.

Placing second on Day 1 with a limit of 16-6, Guy and Campbell entered the second round 10 ounces off the lead. Adding a Day 2 limit of 15-2, the recent Emmanuel University graduates surged into the top spot and head into Championship Saturday with a lead of 2-12 over Lane Clark and Tallis Morrison of Erskine College.

“The key is hitting as many spots as possible — typical herring fishing,” Campbell said, in reference to the fast-paced nature of bass fixated on the lake’s nomadic blueback herring. “Once you get that school to fire, whether you catch one or not, that spot is done.

“So, once we caught one, we were cranking up and going to the next spot.”

Guy and Campbell fished from Green Pond Landing to the lake’s lower end and then back again. They targeted brushpiles and cane piles with a variety of topwater presentations, including a Berkley Krej waking bait and unweighted Texas-rigged Zoom Super Flukes.

Noting that he and his partner hit approximately 200 spots, Campbell, who guides on Hartwell, said the first couple of hours delivered their greatest opportunity.

“The morning bite is absolutely critical to our success,” Campbell said. “I don’t think we boated a keeper after 11. We caught seven and culled twice.”

Campbell said he and Guy had their limit by 9 a.m. and made their last cull around 11. Day 1 offered a faster start, which delivered their total bag by 8 a.m.

As Campbell explained, the first morning’s cloud cover kept the fish active longer. Day 2 brought sunnier skies, so they had to work a little harder to round up their fish.

“Because the lake is in a drought condition, the (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) is not generating much power until later in the day,” Campbell said of this Savannah River reservoir. “There’s a big lull from about 9 to 1, and then there’s an afternoon bite when that current increases, but we’re missing that afternoon bite because we’re checking in before it starts.”

The leaders weighed three spotted bass and two largemouth. Their biggest, a 4 1/2-pound largemouth, bit around daylight at their first stop.

“We actually hung around that area for a while because we knew what quality was there,” Campbell said. “We caught another good one there before leaving.”

Hartwell’s water level sits about 4.69 feet below the full pool mark of 660. Guy said this had them fishing shallower than they normally would prefer.

“Some of our spots are in 15 feet, but the majority of the ones with the bigger fish are 20 and deeper," Guy said. “We’re running around a lot, but we do have some better spots, so when we get to one of those, we’re sitting there longer.”

Considering the success they’ve experienced thus far, Guy said he and Campbell do not foresee any changes to their game plan.

“On Day 3, we’re going to do the same thing we’ve been doing,” Guy said. “We’re going to put our bait in front of as many fish as we can.”

Clark and Morrison are second place with 28-12. They have turned in daily limits of 13-11 and 15-1.

Garrett Smith and Andrew Blanton of Lander University are in third place with 28-07. Their daily weights were 12-06 and 16-01.

Bryson O'Steen and Seth Jones of Florida Gateway College are in the lead for big bass honors with their 6-5. O’Steen and Jones placed seventh.

After two days of full-field competition, the Top 12 teams compete on Championship Saturday.

Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. ET at Green Pond Landing and Event Center. The weigh-in will be held at the same location at 2:30 p.m.

The tournament is being hosted by Visit Anderson.

2024 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King

2024 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops

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

 

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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, 256-424-2390, [email protected]

 

2024 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops 8/22-8/24
Lake Hartwell, Anderson  SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

Angler                                       Club/School                       Pts

1.  Parker Guy - Tyler Campbell                  Emmanuel University                 250
Day 1: 5   16-06     Day 2: 5   15-02   Total:  10  31-08
2.  Lane Clark - Tallis Morrison                 Erskine College                     249
Day 1: 5   13-11     Day 2: 5   15-01   Total:  10  28-12
3.  Garrett Smith - Andrew Blanton               Lander University                   248
Day 1: 5   12-06     Day 2: 5   16-01   Total:  10  28-07
4.  Brantley Anders - Reece Keeney               Kentucky Christian University       247
Day 1: 5   14-05     Day 2: 5   13-10   Total:  10  27-15
5.  Merrick Diaz - Cade Hayford                  Campbellsville University           246
Day 1: 5   15-02     Day 2: 5   11-12   Total:  10  26-14
6.  Dylan Akins - Chase Carey                    Emmanuel College                    245
Day 1: 5   14-11     Day 2: 5   12-00   Total:  10  26-11
7.  Bryson O' Steen - Seth Jones                 Florida Gateway College             244
Day 1: 5   12-00     Day 2: 5   14-11   Total:  10  26-11
8.  Drake Hemby - Ewing Minor                    Carson-Newman University            243
Day 1: 5   14-12     Day 2: 5   11-14   Total:  10  26-10
9.  Nathan Reynolds - Banks Shaw                 University of North Alabama         242
Day 1: 5   13-14     Day 2: 5   12-11   Total:  10  26-09
10. Lane Stephens - Ethan Fields                 Mckendree University                241
Day 1: 5   13-00     Day 2: 5   13-03   Total:  10  26-03
11. Hampton Shull -                              Lander University                   240
Day 1: 5   17-00     Day 2: 5   08-10   Total:  10  25-10
12. Andrew Oswalt - Evan Mabrey                  University of Montevallo            239
Day 1: 5   13-08     Day 2: 5   12-01   Total:  10  25-09
13. Andrew Rickman - Ty Manterola                Dallas Baptist University           238
Day 1: 5   11-08     Day 2: 5   13-11   Total:  10  25-03
14. Brooks Anderson - Max Heaton                 Emmanuel College                    237
Day 1: 5   11-02     Day 2: 5   13-14   Total:  10  25-00
15. Dalton Phelps - Gannon Stork                 Wabash Valley College               236
Day 1: 5   13-08     Day 2: 5   11-08   Total:  10  25-00
16. Dillon Robertshaw - Robert Hunt              Missouri State University           235
Day 1: 5   12-08     Day 2: 5   12-06   Total:  10  24-14
17. Robert Miller - John Michael Ortman          Emmanuel College                    234
Day 1: 5   13-04     Day 2: 5   11-07   Total:  10  24-11
18. Peyton Harris - Dalton Head                  University of Montevallo            233
Day 1: 5   13-01     Day 2: 5   11-03   Total:  10  24-04
19. Carter Nutt - Dylan Nutt                     University of North Alabama         232
Day 1: 5   11-09     Day 2: 5   12-10   Total:  10  24-03
20. Luke Davis - Chance Schwartz                 University of Montevallo            231
Day 1: 5   12-00     Day 2: 5   12-00   Total:  10  24-00
21. Preston Kolisek - Smith McGregor             University of North Alabama         230
Day 1: 4   10-02     Day 2: 5   13-13   Total:   9  23-15
22. Braylon Eggerding - Lucas Washburn           Adrian College                      229
Day 1: 5   12-09     Day 2: 5   11-06   Total:  10  23-15
23. Eli Jaime - Jack Hay                         Southwestern Michigan College       228
Day 1: 5   10-06     Day 2: 5   13-03   Total:  10  23-09
24. Cameron Yates - Harrison McCall              Lander University                   227
Day 1: 5   10-04     Day 2: 5   13-02   Total:  10  23-06
25. Peyton Sorrow - Garrett Ring                 University of Montevallo            226
Day 1: 5   15-10     Day 2: 5   07-10   Total:  10  23-04
26. Miles Smith - Levi Thibodaux                 LSU Shreveport                      225
Day 1: 5   14-07     Day 2: 5   08-13   Total:  10  23-04
27. Hunter Odom - Brenton Godwin                 University of Montevallo            224
Day 1: 5   12-01     Day 2: 5   11-01   Total:  10  23-02
28. Blake Milligan - Carson Maddux               Auburn University                   223
Day 1: 5   15-11     Day 2: 5   06-15   Total:  10  22-10
29. Alex Standerfer - Tyler Gunter               Catawba Valley Community College    222
Day 1: 5   09-14     Day 2: 5   12-12   Total:  10  22-10
30. Slade Davis - Trace Antunes III              University Of Montevallo            221
Day 1: 5   12-12     Day 2: 5   09-12   Total:  10  22-08
31. Hunter Barrow - Caleb Dugger                 King University                     220
Day 1: 5   10-01     Day 2: 5   12-07   Total:  10  22-08
32. Harmon Marien - Maxwell Trotter              Mckendree University                219
Day 1: 5   11-01     Day 2: 5   11-05   Total:  10  22-06
33. Tyler Combes - James Gillis                  Clarkson University                 218
Day 1: 5   11-03     Day 2: 5   11-03   Total:  10  22-06
34. Tanner Hadden - Caleb Hudson                 University of South Carolina - U    217
Day 1: 5   10-03     Day 2: 5   12-02   Total:  10  22-05
35. Landon Robbins - Will Eriksson               University of Tennessee             216
Day 1: 5   10-05     Day 2: 5   11-08   Total:  10  21-13
36. Wyatt Pearman - Ridge Rutledge               Campbellsville University           215
Day 1: 5   10-07     Day 2: 5   11-05   Total:  10  21-12
37. Trevor Easter - Clayton Easter               Tarleton State University           214
Day 1: 5   11-01     Day 2: 5   10-11   Total:  10  21-12
38. Caden Pearson - Nathan Kallstrand            Wabash Valley College               213
Day 1: 5   11-05     Day 2: 5   10-05   Total:  10  21-10
39. Chase Milholen - Koltyn Harbin               Bethel University                   212
Day 1: 5   08-02     Day 2: 5   13-07   Total:  10  21-09
40. Dylan May - Evan Newell                      Carson-Newman University            211
Day 1: 5   11-08     Day 2: 5   09-13   Total:  10  21-05
41. Anderson Jones -                             Lander University                   210
Day 1: 5   12-12     Day 2: 5   08-08   Total:  10  21-04
42. Evan Fields - Noah Dabney                    Campbellsville University           209
Day 1: 5   10-02     Day 2: 5   11-00   Total:  10  21-02
43. Hayden Gaddis - Ben Cully                    Carson-Newman University            208
Day 1: 5   09-03     Day 2: 5   11-14   Total:  10  21-01
44. Nick Seitz - Paxton Giem                     Adrian College                      207
Day 1: 5   08-00     Day 2: 5   12-14   Total:  10  20-14
45. Hunter Sandschafer - Blake Beckmann          Wabash Valley College               206
Day 1: 5   09-15     Day 2: 5   10-15   Total:  10  20-14
46. Brendan Vinton - Jacob Vanscoik              Catawba Valley Community College    205
Day 1: 5   10-00     Day 2: 5   10-12   Total:  10  20-12
47. Aaron Jagdfeld - Elliot Wielgopolski         Adrian College                      204
Day 1: 5   08-14     Day 2: 5   11-13   Total:  10  20-11
48. Brayden Nichols - William Tew                LSU Shreveport                      203
Day 1: 5   11-04     Day 2: 5   09-06   Total:  10  20-10
49. Dalton Mollenkopf - Derek Rodriguez Jr.      Adrian College                      202
Day 1: 5   09-09     Day 2: 5   11-01   Total:  10  20-10
50. Harrison Heins - Hunter Slone                Tennessee Tech University           201
Day 1: 5   07-15     Day 2: 5   12-08   Total:  10  20-07
51. Luke Wenger - Braxon Hightower               Dallas Baptist University           200
Day 1: 5   09-04     Day 2: 5   11-00   Total:  10  20-04
52. Mitch Straffon - Owen Januszewski            Adrian College                      199
Day 1: 5   08-07     Day 2: 5   11-12   Total:  10  20-03
53. Hayden Short -                               Kentucky Christian University       198
Day 1: 5   08-05     Day 2: 5   11-10   Total:  10  19-15
53. Aric Szambelan - Alex Wood                   Missouri State University           198
Day 1: 5   08-05     Day 2: 5   11-10   Total:  10  19-15
55. Aiden Clark - Jackson Kulijof                Murray State University             196
Day 1: 5   11-01     Day 2: 5   08-14   Total:  10  19-15
56. Lawson Blake - Bailey Mckinney               Marshall University                 195
Day 1: 5   10-01     Day 2: 5   09-14   Total:  10  19-15
57. Jared West - Gus McLarry                     Texas A&M Commerce Fishing Club     194
Day 1: 5   12-07     Day 2: 3   07-07   Total:   8  19-14
58. Brady Metzger - Mason Bohland                Purdue University                   193
Day 1: 5   10-00     Day 2: 5   09-14   Total:  10  19-14
59. Andrew Ready - Trey Garrett                  Southeastern University             192
Day 1: 5   09-06     Day 2: 5   10-06   Total:  10  19-12
60. Jason Qualich - Jack Stephens                Mckendree University                191
Day 1: 5   09-11     Day 2: 5   10-01   Total:  10  19-12
61. Will Harris - Cole Rankin                    Carson-Newman University            190
Day 1: 5   10-03     Day 2: 5   09-07   Total:  10  19-10
62. Andrew Turner - Stevie Mills                 Carson-Newman University            189
Day 1: 5   09-06     Day 2: 5   10-03   Total:  10  19-09
63. Grant Dohle - Jake Mantovani                 Missouri State University           188
Day 1: 5   09-03     Day 2: 5   10-03   Total:  10  19-06
64. Cade Lipham - Caleb Coleman                  Drury University                    187
Day 1: 5   10-08     Day 2: 5   08-12   Total:  10  19-04
65. Tyler Cory - Nick Dumke                      University of Montevallo            186
Day 1: 5   07-12     Day 2: 5   11-07   Total:  10  19-03
66. Cody Monlezun - Caden Denny                  Texas A&M University                185
Day 1: 5   08-13     Day 2: 5   10-06   Total:  10  19-03
67. Tripp Berlinsky - Bryce Dimauro              Bryan College                       184
Day 1: 5   08-14     Day 2: 5   10-02   Total:  10  19-00
68. Hunter Fillmore - Dylan Fogarty              Bethel University                   183
Day 1: 5   09-06     Day 2: 5   09-08   Total:  10  18-14
69. Peyton Rose - Brogan Gregg                   Wabash Valley College               182
Day 1: 5   10-03     Day 2: 5   08-10   Total:  10  18-13
70. Connor Dunn - Cade Johnson                   Texas A&M University                181
Day 1: 5   10-01     Day 2: 5   08-10   Total:  10  18-11
71. Noah Lieberman - Colin Wolinski              Missouri State University           180
Day 1: 5   06-09     Day 2: 5   11-14   Total:  10  18-07
72. Brayden Stoker - Tucker Kendall              Tarleton State University           179
Day 1: 4   09-01     Day 2: 5   09-03   Total:   9  18-04
73. Hudson Choquette - Brooks Parker             University of Montevallo            178
Day 1: 5   08-15     Day 2: 5   09-04   Total:  10  18-03
74. Hunter Keller - Garrett Christy              Catawba Valley Community College    177
Day 1: 5   10-12     Day 2: 5   07-01   Total:  10  17-13
75. Kai Barnett - Parker Welch                   Mckendree University                176
Day 1: 5   10-09     Day 2: 5   07-04   Total:  10  17-13
76. Nick Owens - Quade Lobo                      Adrian College                      175
Day 1: 5   09-09     Day 2: 5   08-02   Total:  10  17-11
77. Hunter Russell - Benny Blank                 Wabash Valley College               174
Day 1: 5   08-06     Day 2: 5   09-05   Total:  10  17-11
78. Trevor Young - Maxwell Schweikert            Grand Valley State University       173
Day 1: 5   06-15     Day 2: 5   10-11   Total:  10  17-10
79. Blair Erickson - Jackson Pontius             University of Montevallo            172
Day 1: 5   10-01     Day 2: 5   07-09   Total:  10  17-10
80. Trace Loe - Levi Loe                         Southern Arkansas University        171
Day 1: 5   07-08     Day 2: 5   10-00   Total:  10  17-08
81. Jerry Brumbaugh Jr. - Brady Pinwar           Adrian College                      170
Day 1: 5   08-08     Day 2: 5   09-00   Total:  10  17-08
82. Emery Burnett - Drake Axon                   Georgia Southern University         169
Day 1: 5   08-07     Day 2: 5   09-00   Total:  10  17-07
83. Hagan Marlin - Chris Fallon                  University of Montevallo            168
Day 1: 5   08-11     Day 2: 5   08-11   Total:  10  17-06
84. Riley Faulkner - Szymon Piton                Carson-Newman University            167
Day 1: 5   09-04     Day 2: 5   08-00   Total:  10  17-04
85. Kaden Buchmann - Chase Wodzinski             Lander University                   166
Day 1: 5   07-05     Day 2: 5   09-13   Total:  10  17-02
86. Callaway Robinson - Tucker Pearson           Georgia College                     165
Day 1: 5   06-05     Day 2: 5   10-11   Total:  10  17-00
87. Avery Padgett - Kasen Pemberton              Troy University                     164
Day 1: 4   09-00     Day 2: 5   08-00   Total:   9  17-00
88. Xander Patton - Stephen Brooks               Emmanuel College                    163
Day 1: 5   08-09     Day 2: 5   08-04   Total:  10  16-13
89. Billy Erdakos - Davis Klimczak               Southwestern Michigan College       162
Day 1: 5   05-03     Day 2: 5   11-09   Total:  10  16-12
90. Kolten Goolsby - Landon Oconnor              Stephen F Austin State Universit    161
Day 1: 5   07-01     Day 2: 5   09-11   Total:  10  16-12
91. Michael Avery - Peyton Dunn                  Emmanuel College                    160
Day 1: 5   10-07     Day 2: 5   06-04   Total:  10  16-11
92. Cameron Smith - Thomas Phillips              Ohio State University               159
Day 1: 5   05-11     Day 2: 5   10-15   Total:  10  16-10
93. Blake Bullock - John Mark Berry              Blue Mountain Christian Universi    158
Day 1: 5   06-11     Day 2: 5   09-15   Total:  10  16-10
94. Bryant Martin - Luke Batts                   LSU Shreveport                      157
Day 1: 5   09-01     Day 2: 5   07-07   Total:  10  16-08
95. Elijah Kelley - Chris Baker                  Kentucky Christian University       156
Day 1: 5   08-04     Day 2: 5   08-03   Total:  10  16-07
96. James Willoughby - Phillip Herring           University of Montevallo            155
Day 1: 5   11-13     Day 2: 3   04-09   Total:   8  16-06
97. Hunter Hamilton - Tyler Morris               LSU Shreveport                      154
Day 1: 5   10-01     Day 2: 5   06-05   Total:  10  16-06
98. Blake Wheat - Zachary Helton                 Carson-Newman University            153
Day 1: 5   08-15     Day 2: 5   07-07   Total:  10  16-06
99. Ben Burns - Riley Aebi                       Stephen F Austin State Universit    152
Day 1: 5   07-09     Day 2: 5   08-13   Total:  10  16-06
100. Adrian Urso - Corbin Templon                 Murray State University             151
Day 1: 5   09-08     Day 2: 5   06-11   Total:  10  16-03
101. Storm Cline - Gabe Fishlock                  Carson-Newman University            150
Day 1: 5   07-08     Day 2: 5   08-11   Total:  10  16-03
102. Nicholas Dellaporta - Drew Pitts             Carson-Newman University            149
Day 1: 5   11-01     Day 2: 5   05-00   Total:  10  16-01
103. Cy Lambert - Austin King                     University of North Alabama         148
Day 1: 4   09-00     Day 2: 5   07-00   Total:   9  16-00
104. Tyler Chmelar - Kase Kramer                  Tarleton State University           147
Day 1: 5   05-12     Day 2: 5   10-02   Total:  10  15-14
105. Tyler Leachman - Mark Bixler                 Murray State University             146
Day 1: 5   08-07     Day 2: 5   07-07   Total:  10  15-14
106. Kade Hillestad - John Kyle  Pearce           University of Louisiana Monroe      145
Day 1: 5   07-15     Day 2: 5   07-15   Total:  10  15-14
107. Luke McGuffin - Rylan Green                  Erskine College                     144
Day 1: 5   07-03     Day 2: 5   08-07   Total:  10  15-10
108. Jackson Paden - Joey Bissing                 University of Tennessee             143
Day 1: 5   09-07     Day 2: 4   06-00   Total:   9  15-07
109. Kane Weekley - Connor Koch                   Southeastern University             142
Day 1: 5   09-02     Day 2: 5   06-04   Total:  10  15-06
110. Justin Latham - Blaine Mattingly             Campbellsville University           141
Day 1: 4   07-04     Day 2: 5   08-02   Total:   9  15-06
111. Louis VerBrugge -                            Mohave Community College            140
Day 1: 2   04-02     Day 2: 5   11-03   Total:   7  15-05
112. Jared Hubbard - Riley Hendricks              Lander University                   139
Day 1: 5   08-01     Day 2: 5   07-04   Total:  10  15-05
113. Hayden Marbut -                              Auburn University                   138
Day 1: 5   09-07     Day 2: 5   05-13   Total:  10  15-04
114. Clay Henderson - Brant Rowland               Drury University                    137
Day 1: 5   08-09     Day 2: 5   06-11   Total:  10  15-04
115. Clay Taylor -                                Lander University                   136
Day 1: 4   07-15     Day 2: 5   07-05   Total:   9  15-04
116. Trevor Johnston - Ashton Hehr                Texas A&M University                135
Day 1: 5   08-03     Day 2: 5   06-15   Total:  10  15-02
117. Easton Lindus - Seth Jenkins                 Emmanuel College                    134
Day 1: 4   05-07     Day 2: 5   09-07   Total:   9  14-14
118. Braden Cox - Joel Berelsman                  Ohio State University               133
Day 1: 5   07-04     Day 2: 4   07-10   Total:   9  14-14
119. Dawson Lynch - Sonny Mann                    Tarleton State University           132
Day 1: 5   07-07     Day 2: 5   07-07   Total:  10  14-14
120. Blair Cox - Zach Adamec                      Missouri State University           131
Day 1: 2   02-07     Day 2: 5   12-06   Total:   7  14-13
121. Corey Morris - Brayden Mercer                East Texas Baptist University       130
Day 1: 5   08-02     Day 2: 5   06-11   Total:  10  14-13
122. Jeremy Monda - Will Boyd Jr                  Florida Gateway College             129
Day 1: 5   06-12     Day 2: 5   08-01   Total:  10  14-13
123. Kaiya Ziga - Hunter Petrovic                 Southwestern Michigan College       128
Day 1: 5   07-00     Day 2: 5   07-13   Total:  10  14-13
124. Nathan Fideldy - Laindree Richardson         Drury University                    127
Day 1: 5   07-00     Day 2: 5   07-12   Total:  10  14-12
125. Logan Greeno - Matthew Nichols               University of Nebraska - Lincoln    126
Day 1: 5   08-09     Day 2: 5   06-02   Total:  10  14-11
126. Cole Moulton - Kaleb Brown                   Lander University                   125
Day 1: 5   10-11     Day 2: 4   03-13   Total:   9  14-08
127. Branden Burrill - Jack Simpson               Western Michigan University         124
Day 1: 5   07-06     Day 2: 5   07-00   Total:  10  14-06
128. Zion Dunaway - Casey Cornelius               Purdue University                   123
Day 1: 5   09-00     Day 2: 5   05-05   Total:  10  14-05
129. Stone Smith - Drake Wadsworth                Northwestern State University       122
Day 1: 5   06-02     Day 2: 5   08-02   Total:  10  14-04
130. Parker Lambert - Aaron Shumaker              Lander University                   121
Day 1: 5   08-12     Day 2: 4   05-05   Total:   9  14-01
131. Jeffrey Jones - Coleman Bingham              Bethel University                   120
Day 1: 5   07-09     Day 2: 5   06-08   Total:  10  14-01
132. TJ Edwards Jr - Sawyer Brady                 Blue Mountain Christian Universi    119
Day 1: 5   08-04     Day 2: 5   05-08   Total:  10  13-12
133. Ty Mundhenke - Matthew Welcher               Auburn University                   118
Day 1: 5   06-07     Day 2: 5   07-05   Total:  10  13-12
134. Logan East - Conner Giles                    Bryan College                       117
Day 1: 5   09-06     Day 2: 4   04-01   Total:   9  13-07
135. Nathan Preston -                             Auburn University                   116
Day 1: 5   06-15     Day 2: 5   06-07   Total:  10  13-06
136. Tripp Bowman - Matthew Nesbit                LSU Shreveport                      115
Day 1: 5   05-12     Day 2: 5   07-05   Total:  10  13-01
137. Grayson Ball - Sellers Odom                  Calhoun Community College           114
Day 1: 5   05-05     Day 2: 5   07-11   Total:  10  13-00
138. Kobe Thompson - Cole Carr                    Adrian College                      113
Day 1: 5   08-01     Day 2: 4   04-11   Total:   9  12-12
139. Brayden Ruckman - Cason Price                Carson-Newman University            112
Day 1: 5   06-09     Day 2: 5   06-03   Total:  10  12-12
140. Cross Campbell - Dylan Armstrong             East Texas Baptist University       111
Day 1: 5   06-09     Day 2: 4   06-00   Total:   9  12-09
141. Jonah Barrow - Logan Russell                 University of Nebraska - Lincoln    110
Day 1: 4   05-05     Day 2: 5   06-06   Total:   9  11-11
142. Trey McMeen - Braydon Kelley                 East Texas Baptist University       109
Day 1: 4   04-10     Day 2: 5   06-14   Total:   9  11-08
143. Delaney Platt - Ryan Olsen                   Southwestern Michigan College       108
Day 1: 4   03-07     Day 2: 5   08-00   Total:   9  11-07
144. Kaleb Butts - Chase Rogers                   University of South Carolina - U    107
Day 1: 4   04-15     Day 2: 5   06-08   Total:   9  11-07
145. Benjamin Travis - Brendin Simich             Auburn University                   106
Day 1: 5   05-06     Day 2: 5   05-15   Total:  10  11-05
146. Hank Sturm - Matt Mosby                      Adrian College                      105
Day 1: 2   02-09     Day 2: 5   08-07   Total:   7  11-00
147. Elijah Jackson -                             University Of Alabama               104
Day 1: 3   03-01     Day 2: 5   07-07   Total:   8  10-08
148. Bryce Balentine - Giancarlo Russo            Florida Gateway College             103
Day 1: 5   08-15     Day 2: 2   01-08   Total:   7  10-07
149. Lake Norsworthy - Calup Williams             Blue Mountain Christian Universi    102
Day 1: 5   09-13     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   5  09-13
150. Alec Poland - Jack Grushecky                 West Virginia University            101
Day 1: 5   07-10     Day 2: 2   02-02   Total:   7  09-12
151. Ryan Thomas - Jack Alexander                 University of Montevallo            100
Day 1: 5   07-05     Day 2: 2   02-02   Total:   7  09-07
152. Logan Plueger - Charlie Wright               University of Montevallo             99
Day 1: 5   09-03     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   5  09-03
153. Scott Sledge -                               University of Montevallo             98
Day 1: 3   03-15     Day 2: 3   04-15   Total:   6  08-14
154. Colby Carrier - Justin Frey                  Bethel University                    97
Day 1: 4   05-05     Day 2: 2   03-07   Total:   6  08-12
155. Caden Cardoza - Judd Morgan                  University of Tennessee              96
Day 1: 3   04-09     Day 2: 2   04-01   Total:   5  08-10
156. Tucker Cory - Michael Witherup               University of Montevallo             95
Day 1: 2   03-00     Day 2: 4   05-07   Total:   6  08-07
157. Alex Gore - Colby Reece                      Carson-Newman University             94
Day 1: 4   03-14     Day 2: 3   04-08   Total:   7  08-06
158. Michael Canonica - Seth Proctor              University of Tennessee              93
Day 1: 3   03-07     Day 2: 3   04-02   Total:   6  07-09
159. Carty Shoen - Jake Peck                      Auburn University                    92
Day 1: 4   03-14     Day 2: 3   03-05   Total:   7  07-03
160. Caden Canaday -                              Virginia Tech                        91
Day 1: 4   06-05     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   4  06-05
161. Peter Radulski Jr - Lane Gerbers             Clemson University                   90
Day 1: 5   06-04     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   5  06-04
162. Hunter Jenkins -                             Dallas Baptist University            89
Day 1: 4   06-00     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   4  06-00
163. Matthew Echols - Christian Stewart           Virginia Tech                        88
Day 1: 4   05-11     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   4  05-11
164. Stetson Southard - Walker Wilburn            Tarleton State University            87
Day 1: 5   05-06     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   5  05-06
165. Colton  Combs - Corbin Joyner                Northeast State University           86
Day 1: 3   04-00     Day 2: 1   01-00   Total:   4  05-00
166. Evan Ludlow - Drake Heath                    Southwestern Michigan College        85
Day 1: 1   00-15     Day 2: 4   03-12   Total:   5  04-11
167. Sean Ferguson -                              Kansas State University              84
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   01-14   Total:   2  01-14
168. Scott Balas - Samuel Gremban                 University of Wisconsin- Madison     83
Day 1: 2   01-07     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   2  01-07
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       139       789      1479-10
2       138       757      1424-08
----------------------------------
277      1546      2904-02

by AnglersChannel

Fothergill runs home water, takes Day 1 lead at St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake

August 23, 2024

Opens_StCroix_Sevin_4C-RASTER.png

WALKER, Minn. — It took a day longer than expected for many bass fishing fans around the globe to get their first glimpse of Leech Lake.

Easton Fothergill wasn’t one of them.

The 22-year-old Grand Rapids, Minn., native is one of the hottest young sticks today and he’s fished Leech for most of his young life. He used that intimate knowledge of the fishery to take the lead on Day 1 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake presented by SEVIIN.

Fothergill weighed a limit of five smallmouth bass on Friday totaling 26 pounds, 10 ounces. The haul included the heaviest catch of the day — a 6-4 lunker that buoyed his big bag. That’s an impressive showing by any standards, no matter the lake or location.

Still, Fothergill was surprised by his total. By his count, he “only had about 25 pounds” in his livewell heading to Friday’s weigh-in at Walker Public Dock, about an hour west of his hometown of Grand Rapids. Not surprisingly, the bass fishing prodigy was met with boisterous cheering when he climbed atop the leaderboard with authority.

“With all the pressure (to perform well at home), to pull that off today was incredible,” he said. “It was definitely unexpected.”

Fothergill said he has dozens of waypoints to target on Leech and that he didn’t hit more than half of them on Day 1. With the three-day tournament shortened to a two-day derby following high winds on Thursday, that leaves him with at least another 30 seemingly productive spots he could exploit Saturday.

“I probably have five gallons (of fuel) left in my boat. That’s how much running I did today,” he said, adding he relied on three primary baits Friday, fishing rockpiles in anywhere from 5 to 20 feet of water.

“The game plan is the same tomorrow,” he said. “I’ll just run every corner of the lake and see if I can find five big ones again.”

Fothergill has already proved his has the chops to close a tournament. He won the 2023 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s last October on Kansas’ Milford Lake to earn a spot in the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors. He finished 16th of 56 anglers in the Classic on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees in March and won the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula presented by SEVIIN, also in the Sooner State, in June.

Now, Fothergill is fishing on home water and from the pole position.

He knows that’s a favorable vantage point, but he’s taking absolutely nothing for granted, even though Friday’s 26-10 was the biggest bag he’s caught in one of his many competitions on Leech Lake.

Still, he can’t help being confident — and rightfully so.

“I just have so many places to hit,” he said. “I know that if I pull up on one and there’s nothing happening, I can come back three, four, five times, and there eventually will be one there. It’s actually very mentally trying. You just have to keep in the game and know your bites will eventually come if you keep working.”

The tournament marks the first time a B.A.S.S. event at any level has been held on Leech Lake — a 112,000-acre jewel located in remote northern Minnesota. And Leech didn’t disappoint in its coming-out party, with 79 of the 203 pro anglers in the field weighing at least 15 pounds on Friday. The competitors hail from 36 different states and two foreign countries.

Brett Cannon, a 40-year-old pro living in Kiln, Miss., is in second place with a 25-1 limit. Cannon said he didn’t expect to catch 25 pounds either, but he discovered a lure that eventually sparked his smallmouth bite.

“When you catch a smallmouth here, it’s a big one, but they’re really hard to get to bite,” he said.

“So, I messed around and tied everything on … I found the right bait and wound up catching about 12 (bass). I threw back a 4½ pounder, a 4 pounder … Every fish I kept was right at 5 pounds. And if … today wasn’t a fluke, I think I can catch 25 again tomorrow.”

Rounding out the Top 5 on Friday are third, Virginia’s Chase Clark, 22-13; fourth, Georgia’s Emil Wagner, 22-2; and fifth, Tennessee’s Jimmy Washam, 21-12.

With the tournament limited to two days, there’s a smaller margin for error for the many pros fighting for points in the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers (EQ) standings. The top nine anglers who fish in each of this year’s nine Opens tournaments will qualify for the Elite Series in 2025. Those nine anglers won’t be determined, however, until the final Open of the year which is scheduled Oct. 10-12 at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C.

A total cash purse of $300,034 will be split among the Top 45 pros fishing at Leech this week. The winner will claim $45,186 in cash, as well as a berth in the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors when it’s held March 21-23 at Lake Ray Roberts in Fort Worth, Texas.

Not be forgotten are the 102 non-boaters competing at Leech this week, too. The Top 40 will divvy up a total of $39,916 in prize money when the tournament concludes Saturday.

Tennessee’s Gary Haraguchi leads that bracket with a limit of three bass for 10-12. Minnesota’s Curt Blomquist is second with 9-11, and fellow Minnesotan Eric Naig is third with 9-9. Missouri’s Mark Cowart, Wisconsin’s Brad Goetz and Minnesota’s Mack Trayner all caught a 4-10 Friday and share the big bass lead among non-boaters.

The second and final takeoff of the tournament will begin at 6:30 a.m. CT from the Walker Public Dock. Weigh-in is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

Coverage of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake presented by SEVIIN will air on FS1 on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET. Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com.

The Leech Lake Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event.

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN

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

 

About B.A.S.S.B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

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

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

 

2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake presented by SEVIIN 8/23-8/24
Leech Lake, Walker  MN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1.  Easton Fothergill      Grand Rapids , MN        5  26-10  200
Day 1: 5   26-10
2.  Brett Cannon           Kiln, MS                 5  25-01  199
Day 1: 5   25-01
3.  Chase Clarke           Virginia Beach, VA       5  22-13  198
Day 1: 5   22-13
4.  Emil Wagner            Marietta, GA             5  22-02  197
Day 1: 5   22-02
5.  Jimmy Washam           Stantonville, TN         5  21-12  196
Day 1: 5   21-12
6.  Billy Gilbert          Hamburg, NY              5  21-05  195
Day 1: 5   21-05
7.  Dakota Ebare           Brookeland, TX           5  21-00  194
Day 1: 5   21-00
8.  Austin Cranford        Norman, OK               5  20-11  193
Day 1: 5   20-11
9.  Tristan McCormick      Burns, TN                5  20-07  192
Day 1: 5   20-07
10. Kenny Mittelstaedt     Minnetonka, MN           5  20-02  191
Day 1: 5   20-02
11. Paul Marks             Cumming, GA              5  19-13  190
Day 1: 5   19-13
12. Trey Schroeder         Theodosia, MO            5  19-10  189
Day 1: 5   19-10
13. Jay Przekurat          Plover, WI               5  19-09  188
Day 1: 5   19-09
14. Elijah Benson          Dahlonega, GA            5  19-08  187
Day 1: 5   19-08
15. Connor Jacob           Auburn, AL               5  19-07  186
Day 1: 5   19-07
15. Jack York              Emory, TX                5  19-07  186
Day 1: 5   19-07
17. Kevin Dritschler       Prosper, TX              5  19-06  184
Day 1: 5   19-06
17. Lucas Murphy           West Columbia, MI        5  19-06  184
Day 1: 5   19-06
19. Mike McClelland        Blue Eye, MO             5  19-05  182
Day 1: 5   19-05
20. Josh Douglas           Isle, MN                 5  19-04  181
Day 1: 5   19-04
20. Daisuke Kita           Ostu Shiga JAPAN         5  19-04  181
Day 1: 5   19-04
22. Evan Kung              Pickering Ontario CANAD  5  19-03  179
Day 1: 5   19-03
23. Jamie Bruce            Kenora Ontario CANADA    5  19-02  178
Day 1: 5   19-02
23. Garrett Warren         Scottsboro, AL           5  19-02  178
Day 1: 5   19-02
25. Fernando Lobato        Sparta, WI               5  18-12  176
Day 1: 5   18-12
25. Cody Stahl             Barnsville, GA           5  18-12  176
Day 1: 5   18-12
27. Beau Browning          Hot Springs National Pa  5  18-11  174
Day 1: 5   18-11
28. Tim Frederick          Leesburg, FL             5  18-10  173
Day 1: 5   18-10
28. Brett Hite             Phoenix, AZ              5  18-10  173
Day 1: 5   18-10
30. Garrett Paquette       Canton, MI               5  18-07  171
Day 1: 5   18-07
31. Andrew Harp            Linden, TX               5  18-03  170
Day 1: 5   18-03
32. Paul Browning          Monahans, TX             5  18-01  169
Day 1: 5   18-01
32. Darold Gleason         Many, LA                 5  18-01  169
Day 1: 5   18-01
32. Logan Johnson          Jasper, AL               5  18-01  169
Day 1: 5   18-01
35. Cody Meyer             Eagle, ID                5  17-15  166
Day 1: 5   17-15
36. Dan Welsh              Elko New Mrkt, MN        5  17-14  165
Day 1: 5   17-14
37. Lance Keene            Manistee, MI             5  17-13  164
Day 1: 5   17-13
38. Laker Howell           Guntersville, AL         5  17-12  163
Day 1: 5   17-12
39. Andrew Loberg          Grant, AL                5  17-11  162
Day 1: 5   17-11
40. Kollin Crawford        Broken Bow, OK           5  17-11  161
Day 1: 5   17-11
41. Matt Messer            Warfield, KY             5  17-10  160
Day 1: 5   17-10
42. Jack Dice              Lynchburg, VA            5  17-09  159
Day 1: 5   17-09
43. Randall Tharp          Port St. Joe, FL         5  17-06  158
Day 1: 5   17-06
44. Brian Post             Janesville, WI           5  17-05  157
Day 1: 5   17-05
44. Kyle Weisenburger      Columbus Grv, OH         5  17-05  157
Day 1: 5   17-05
46. Chris Hellebuyck       White Lake, MI           5  17-03  155
Day 1: 5   17-03
46. Jacob Thompkins        Myrtle Beach, SC         5  17-03  155
Day 1: 5   17-03
48. Casey Scanlon          Eldon, MO                5  17-02  153
Day 1: 5   17-02
49. Kyle Minke             Lindsrom, MN             5  16-15  152
Day 1: 5   16-15
50. Chad Pipkens           Dewitt, MI               5  16-13  151
Day 1: 5   16-13
51. Tommy Parker           Delano, MN               4  16-13  150
Day 1: 4   16-13
52. Casey Ashley           Donalds, SC              5  16-11  149
Day 1: 5   16-11
53. Seth Feider            New Market, MN           5  16-09  148
Day 1: 5   16-09
53. Andy Hribar            Lakeville, MN            5  16-09  148
Day 1: 5   16-09
55. Tyler Lubbat           Wheeling, IL             5  16-08  146
Day 1: 5   16-08
55. Joe Wieberg            Freeburg, MO             5  16-08  146
Day 1: 5   16-08
57. Kyle Palmer            Winchester, TN           5  16-07  144
Day 1: 5   16-07
58. Matt Pangrac           Shawnee, OK              4  16-07  143
Day 1: 4   16-07
59. Masayuki Matsushita    Porter TX JAPAN          5  16-04  142
Day 1: 5   16-04
59. Christian Ostrander    Turlock, CA              5  16-04  142
Day 1: 5   16-04
61. Jeff Johnson           Bemidji, MN              5  16-02  140
Day 1: 5   16-02
62. Brian Bengtson         Bloomington, MN          5  16-01  139
Day 1: 5   16-01
63. Lafe Messer            Warfield, KY             5  15-15  138
Day 1: 5   15-15
64. Derek Lehtonen         Woodruff, SC             5  15-14  137
Day 1: 5   15-14
65. Jim Moynagh            Remer, MN                5  15-13  136
Day 1: 5   15-13
66. Cody Steckel           Las Vegas, NV            4  15-12  135
Day 1: 4   15-12
67. Jacob Bigelow          Cecil, WI                5  15-10  134
Day 1: 5   15-10
68. Chad Grigsby           Maple Grove, MN          5  15-09  133
Day 1: 5   15-09
68. Jason Lambert          Savannah, TN             5  15-09  133
Day 1: 5   15-09
70. Tucker Smith           Birmingham, AL           5  15-06  131
Day 1: 5   15-06
70. James Watson           Lampe, MO                5  15-06  131
Day 1: 5   15-06
72. Josh Butler            Hayden, AL               4  15-06  129
Day 1: 4   15-06
73. Lance Crawford         Broken Bow, OK           5  15-05  128
Day 1: 5   15-05
74. Scott Kerslake         Okeechobee, FL           5  15-03  127
Day 1: 5   15-03
74. Brent Shores           Boise, ID                5  15-03  127
Day 1: 5   15-03
76. Harvey Horne           Bella Vista, AR          5  15-02  125
Day 1: 5   15-02
76. Andrew Julson          Stoughton, WI            5  15-02  125
Day 1: 5   15-02
78. Freddy  Palmer         Estill Springs, TN       5  15-01  123
Day 1: 5   15-01
79. Rich Lindgren          Lakeville, MN            5  15-00  122
Day 1: 5   15-00
80. Joey Nania             Cropwell, AL             5  14-15  121
Day 1: 5   14-15
81. Nathan Whiting         Forest Lake, MN          4  14-15  120
Day 1: 4   14-15
82. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN           5  14-13  119
Day 1: 5   14-13
82. Nick Trim              Galesville, WI           5  14-13  119
Day 1: 5   14-13
84. Josh Wiesner           Fon du Lac, WI           5  14-12  117
Day 1: 5   14-12
85. Adam Bartusek          Clearwater, MN           4  14-10  116
Day 1: 4   14-10
86. Kyoya Fujita           Yamanashi CA JAPAN       4  14-09  115
Day 1: 4   14-09
87. Cody Salzmann          Southgate, MI            5  14-02  114
Day 1: 5   14-02
88. Yui Aoki               Minamitsurugun JAPAN     4  14-01  113
Day 1: 4   14-01
89. Chris Miller           Spirit Lake, IA          5  14-00  112
Day 1: 5   14-00
90. John Voyles            Petersburg, IN           5  13-15  111
Day 1: 5   13-15
91. Shane Lineberger       Lincolnton, NC           4  13-15  110
Day 1: 4   13-15
92. Randy Howell           Guntersville, AL         5  13-14  109
Day 1: 5   13-14
93. Chris Blanchette       Edisto Island, SC        5  13-13  108
Day 1: 5   13-13
93. Brady Vernon           Sterrett, AL             5  13-13  108
Day 1: 5   13-13
95. Brandon McMillan       Clewiston, FL            5  13-13  106
Day 1: 5   13-13
96. Tai Au                 Glendale, AZ             5  13-12  105
Day 1: 5   13-12
97. Tim Tyndell            Mineola, TX              5  13-11  104
Day 1: 5   13-11
98. Vue Thao               Madison, WI              4  13-10  103
Day 1: 4   13-10
99. Jackson Swisher        Lake City, FL            5  13-07  102
Day 1: 5   13-07
100. Sam Hanggi             Knoxville, TN            4  13-07  101
Day 1: 4   13-07
101. Andy Newcomb           Camdenton, MO            5  13-06  100
Day 1: 5   13-06
102. Brad Leuthner          Victoria, MN             5  13-04   99
Day 1: 5   13-04
102. Richard Lowitzki       Fort Myers, FL           5  13-04   99
Day 1: 5   13-04
104. Allan Nail             Sand Springs, OK         5  13-01   97
Day 1: 5   13-01
105. Cody Bird              Granbury, TX             5  13-01   96
Day 1: 5   13-01
106. Ish Monroe             Oakdale, CA              5  12-13   95
Day 1: 5   12-13
107. David Bromenshenkel    Sauk Centre, MN          4  12-13   94
Day 1: 4   12-13
107. Sean Clayton           Seneca, SC               4  12-13   94
Day 1: 4   12-13
107. Cliff Pace             Ovett, MS                4  12-13   94
Day 1: 4   12-13
110. Avery Williams         Murrells Inlt, SC        5  12-11   91
Day 1: 5   12-11
111. Greg Bohannan          Bentonville, AR          5  12-10   90
Day 1: 5   12-10
112. Randy Ramsey           Burlington, MI           5  12-09   89
Day 1: 5   12-09
113. Steve Lee              Crystal, MN              4  12-02   88
Day 1: 4   12-02
114. Tommy Dunaway          Havana, FL               5  11-15   87
Day 1: 5   11-15
115. Tom Monsoor            La Crosse, WI            4  11-14   86
Day 1: 4   11-14
116. Matt Thompson          Stacy, MN                5  11-13   85
Day 1: 5   11-13
117. Bryan Partak           Marseilles, IL           4  11-13   84
Day 1: 4   11-13
118. Blake Schroeder        Whitehouse, TX           4  11-12   83
Day 1: 4   11-12
119. Andy Dassow            Medford, WI              4  11-07   82
Day 1: 4   11-07
120. Josh Leeseberg         Bemidji, MN              3  11-01   81
Day 1: 3   11-01
120. Danny Ramsey           Trinidad, TX             3  11-01   81
Day 1: 3   11-01
122. Chancy Walters         West Des Moines, IA      3  11-00   79
Day 1: 3   11-00
123. Bobby Bakewell         Orlando, FL              4  10-15   78
Day 1: 4   10-15
124. Chris Beaudrie         Princeton, KY            3  10-15   77
Day 1: 3   10-15
125. Jordan Knutson         Saint Croix Falls, WI    5  10-14   76
Day 1: 5   10-14
126. Kevin Rogers           Pleasant Hill, MO        3  10-11   75
Day 1: 3   10-11
127. Russ Lane              Prattville, AL           4  10-09   74
Day 1: 4   10-09
128. Adam Rasmussen         Sturgeon Bay, WI         3  10-03   73
Day 1: 3   10-03
129. Philip Roesener        Choctaw, OK              5  10-01   72
Day 1: 5   10-01
130. Gunnar Meger           Otsego, MN               4  10-01   71
Day 1: 4   10-01
131. Cole Zagrzebski        Stevens Point, WI        3  10-00   70
Day 1: 3   10-00
132. Ty Faber               Pagosa Springs, CO       3  09-13   69
Day 1: 3   09-13
133. Cody Detweiler         Guntersville, AL         3  09-09   68
Day 1: 3   09-09
134. Dale Salzmann          Hazel Green, WI          4  09-08   67
Day 1: 4   09-08
135. Austin Felix           Eden Prairie, MN         3  09-00   66
Day 1: 3   09-00
135. Brayden Rakes          Winston Salem, NC        3  09-00   66
Day 1: 3   09-00
137. Trey Swindle           Cleveland, AL            2  09-00   64
Day 1: 2   09-00
138. Steven Caldwell        Whitesboro, TX           4  08-15   63
Day 1: 4   08-15
139. Joseph Titus           Bemidji, MN              3  08-12   62
Day 1: 3   08-12
140. Ed Czerwinski          Crown Point, IN          3  08-11   61
Day 1: 3   08-11
140. Cole Drummond          Effingham, SC            3  08-11   61
Day 1: 3   08-11
142. Parker Knudsen         Minnetonka, MN           2  08-11   59
Day 1: 2   08-11
143. Dave Parsons           Yantis, TX               3  08-10   58
Day 1: 3   08-10
144. Kyle Austin            Ridgeville, SC           3  08-09   57
Day 1: 3   08-09
144. Samuel Moore           Ramsey, MN               3  08-09   57
Day 1: 3   08-09
146. Bryan Finch            Belton, TX               4  08-07   55
Day 1: 4   08-07
147. Matt Adams             Oxford, AL               2  08-04   54
Day 1: 2   08-04
148. Gary Hall              Wardville, OK            3  08-03   53
Day 1: 3   08-03
149. Bailey Bleser          Burlington, WI           2  08-01   52
Day 1: 2   08-01
150. Cade Laufenberg        Onalaska, WI             3  07-15   51
Day 1: 3   07-15
151. Teb Jones              Yalaha, MS               2  07-11   50
Day 1: 2   07-11
151. Dalton Smith           Taylorsville, KY         2  07-11   50
Day 1: 2   07-11
153. Paul Bouvier           Kingston CANADA          3  07-09   48
Day 1: 3   07-09
154. Danny McGarry          Newcastle CANADA         2  07-09   47
Day 1: 2   07-09
155. Ethen Preston          Tower City, ND           3  07-07   46
Day 1: 3   07-07
156. Brady Hanna            Silvis, IL               3  07-06   45
Day 1: 3   07-06
157. Bo Thomas              Edwardsburg, MI          2  07-06   44
Day 1: 2   07-06
158. Scout Echols           Monticello, AR           2  07-02   43
Day 1: 2   07-02
158. Kenta Kimura           Osaka OK JAPAN           2  07-02   43
Day 1: 2   07-02
160. Nathan Thompson        Eagan, MN                2  07-01   41
Day 1: 2   07-01
161. Derrick Sadlowski      Monaca, PA               2  06-10   40
Day 1: 2   06-10
162. Phillip Kroll          Otego, NY                3  06-07   39
Day 1: 3   06-07
163. Zack Williams          Shell Knob, MO           2  06-06   38
Day 1: 2   06-06
164. Jeremy Radford         Huntly, VA               2  06-03   37
Day 1: 2   06-03
165. Mark Tonjum            Spencer, IA              2  05-14   36
Day 1: 2   05-14
166. Keith Brumfield        Vicksburg, MS            2  05-13   35
Day 1: 2   05-13
167. Tadd Johnson           Lakeville, MN            2  05-10   34
Day 1: 2   05-10
168. Austin Anderson        Ashley, IN               2  05-07   33
Day 1: 2   05-07
169. Alexander Welter       Onalaska, WI             2  05-04   32
Day 1: 2   05-04
170. Tripp Noojin           Bryant, AL               2  05-03   31
Day 1: 2   05-03
171. Mike Mayo              Athens, TX               2  05-01   30
Day 1: 2   05-01
172. Joey Hanna             Corsicana, TX            2  04-13   29
Day 1: 2   04-13
173. Jody Gardner           Tippecanoe, OH           2  04-12   28
Day 1: 2   04-12
173. Al Trapp               Inverness, FL            2  04-12   28
Day 1: 2   04-12
175. Billy McDonald         Greenwood, IN            2  04-11   26
Day 1: 2   04-11
176. James Niggemeyer       Van, TX                  2  04-10   25
Day 1: 2   04-10
177. Brock Belik            Orchard, NE              1  04-08   24
Day 1: 1   04-08
178. Kevin Ledoux           Choctaw, OK              2  04-07   23
Day 1: 2   04-07
178. Kelvin Wilcox          Hazlehurst, GA           2  04-07   23
Day 1: 2   04-07
180. Zach Goutremout        Chaumont, NY             1  04-07   21
Day 1: 1   04-07
181. Scott Isaacs           Ladonia, TX              2  04-05   20
Day 1: 2   04-05
181. Manny Sciberras        Liberty Twp, OH          2  04-05   20
Day 1: 2   04-05
183. A.J. Menssen           Bloomington, IL          1  03-12   18
Day 1: 1   03-12
184. Dylan Mayo             Athens, TX               1  03-09   17
Day 1: 1   03-09
185. Andrew Hargrove        Moody, TX                1  03-07   16
Day 1: 1   03-07
185. Trevor McKinney        Noble, IL                1  03-07   16
Day 1: 1   03-07
187. Caden Cowan            Stephenville, TX         1  03-05   14
Day 1: 1   03-05
188. Lance Owen             Greer, SC                1  03-02   13
Day 1: 1   03-02
189. Daniel Larson          Onamia, MN               1  02-15   12
Day 1: 1   02-15
189. Clint Leonard Jr       Saint Cloud, FL          1  02-15   12
Day 1: 1   02-15
191. Andrew Behnke          Fond Du Lac, WI          1  02-10   10
Day 1: 1   02-10
192. Chris Kingree          Inverness, FL            1  02-04    9
Day 1: 1   02-04
193. Mitchell Jacobs        Prior Lake, MN           1  02-03    8
Day 1: 1   02-03
194. Dustin Bliss           Brooklyn Park, MN        0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
194. Tony Dumitras          Winston, GA              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
194. Jason Elliott          Warsaw, IN               0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
194. Ken Quilt              Prior Lake, MN           0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
194. Brady Schran           Zumbrota, MN             0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
194. Andrew Smith           Chesterfield, MI         0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
194. Blake Smith            Lakeland, FL             0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
194. Bart Stanisz           Austin, TX               0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
194. Jack Tindel III        Orange, TX               0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
194. Keith Tuma             Brainerd, MN             0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       102       752      2466-00
----------------------------------
102       752      2466-00

 

2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake presented by SEVIIN 8/23-8/24
Leech Lake, Walker  MN.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1.  Gary Haraguchi         Murfreesboro, TN         3  10-12  200
Day 1: 3   10-12
2.  Curt Blomquist         Wright, MN               3  09-11  199
Day 1: 3   09-11
3.  Eric Naig              Bemidji, MN              3  09-09  198
Day 1: 3   09-09
4.  Jim Nordlund           Stacy, MN                3  09-05  197
Day 1: 3   09-05
5.  Brian Brecka           Alma, WI                 3  09-04  196
Day 1: 3   09-04
6.  Wilfred Raeker-Rebek   St.Paul, MN              3  09-01  195
Day 1: 3   09-01
7.  Troy Simpson           Moline, IL               3  08-14  194
Day 1: 3   08-14
8.  Chase Traeger          Lino Lakes, MN           3  08-09  193
Day 1: 3   08-09
9.  Brad Goetz             Waunakee, WI             2  08-06  192
Day 1: 2   08-06
10. Justin Oppegard        Eagan, MN                3  08-02  191
Day 1: 3   08-02
11. Kevin Yeska            Madison, WI              3  08-00  190
Day 1: 3   08-00
12. Greg Poetz             Winsted, MN              3  07-15  189
Day 1: 3   07-15
13. Robert Vander Kooi     Mesa, AZ                 3  07-09  188
Day 1: 3   07-09
14. Belle Kusske           Carver, MN               2  06-13  187
Day 1: 2   06-13
15. Roy Biwer              Shakopee, MN             2  06-09  186
Day 1: 2   06-09
15. Andrew Tweten          Fargo, ND                2  06-09  186
Day 1: 2   06-09
17. Wyatt Peterson         Excelsior, MN            2  06-05  184
Day 1: 2   06-05
18. Ty Kenyon              Dodgeville, WI           2  06-00  183
Day 1: 2   06-00
18. Willie Meyer           North Mankato, MN        2  06-00  183
Day 1: 2   06-00
20. Maggie Carsello        Stoughton, WI            2  05-12  181
Day 1: 2   05-12
21. Niko Romero            Coldspring, TX           2  05-08  180
Day 1: 2   05-08
22. Towa Yoshikawa         Kitakatsuragi-Gun JAPAN  2  05-07  179
Day 1: 2   05-07
23. Asher Schmidt          Saint Paul, MN           2  05-04  178
Day 1: 2   05-04
24. Jimmy Fellegy          Mustang, OK              2  05-01  177
Day 1: 2   05-01
25. Paul Schlotfeldt       Saint Paul, MN           2  04-14  176
Day 1: 2   04-14
26. Mark Cowart            Kearney, MO              1  04-10  175
Day 1: 1   04-10
26. Mack Traynor           Hanover, MN              1  04-10  175
Day 1: 1   04-10
28. Hoser Melgaard         Elk Mound, WI            2  04-09  173
Day 1: 2   04-09
28. David Waack            Cary, NC                 2  04-09  173
Day 1: 2   04-09
30. Tom Lyskawka           Arlington Heights  , IL  2  04-08  171
Day 1: 2   04-08
31. Kristine Fischer       Weeping Water, NE        1  04-08  170
Day 1: 1   04-08
31. Bradley Pierce         Gretna, NE               1  04-08  170
Day 1: 1   04-08
33. Troy Jutting           Savage, MN               2  04-05  168
Day 1: 2   04-05
34. Tanner Johnson         Bemidji, MN              1  03-13  167
Day 1: 1   03-13
35. Erik Gaffron           Hanover, MN              1  03-06  166
Day 1: 1   03-06
35. Don Kimmel             Fishers, IN              1  03-06  166
Day 1: 1   03-06
37. Bob Harper             Lombard, IL              1  03-04  164
Day 1: 1   03-04
38. Greg Spaid             Brainerd, MN             1  03-03  163
Day 1: 1   03-03
39. Richard Conrad         Arcadia, WI              1  02-15  162
Day 1: 1   02-15
40. Brett Brandstrom       Shoreview, MN            1  02-14  161
Day 1: 1   02-14
40. Shane Kuehn            Bennington, NE           1  02-14  161
Day 1: 1   02-14
42. Jimmy Brumfield        Madison, MS              1  02-13  159
Day 1: 1   02-13
43. Ryan Hastie            Selkirk CANADA           1  02-12  158
Day 1: 1   02-12
44. Dennis Duffy           Westmont, IL             1  02-11  157
Day 1: 1   02-11
45. Chris Stelter          Chisago City, MN         1  02-10  156
Day 1: 1   02-10
46. Scott Dondlinger       Scottsboro, AL           1  02-09  155
Day 1: 1   02-09
47. Sean Ruegemer          Bloomington, MN          1  02-08  154
Day 1: 1   02-08
47. Mike Steckel           Las Vegas, NV            1  02-08  154
Day 1: 1   02-08
47. Levi Warner            Hilbert, WI              1  02-08  154
Day 1: 1   02-08
50. David Riggs            Highland, IL             1  02-07  151
Day 1: 1   02-07
51. Matt Commerford        Wendell, MN              1  02-06  150
Day 1: 1   02-06
52. Kevin Deering          Isanti, MN               1  02-05  149
Day 1: 1   02-05
52. Darren Gates           Macon, IL                1  02-05  149
Day 1: 1   02-05
54. Brent Peterson         Excelsior, MN            1  02-02  147
Day 1: 1   02-02
55. Brian Bottenfield      Mound, MN                1  01-09  146
Day 1: 1   01-09
56. Jason Anakkala         Brainerd, MN             0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Jason Barber           Gun Barrel City, TX      0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Patrick Bartley        Waconia, MN              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Harrison Barton        Sun Prairie, WI          0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Rich Bleser            Burlington, WI           0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Kent Booth             Hackensack, MN           0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Andrew Brandstrom      Shoreview, MN            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Eric Breitkreutz       Sheboygan, WI            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Dan Brown              Groveland , FL           0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Evan Cady              St.Paul, MN              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Kurt Chelminiak        Delafield, WI            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Jacob Collins          Hillsboro, IL            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Bobby Cowan            Stephenville, TX         0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Gabie Dandurand        Detroit Lakes, MN        0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Dale Dobbins           Maiden, NC               0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Mat Eichinger          Chippewa Fls, WI         0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Joel Erickson          Alexandria, MN           0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Mike Fischer           Stacy, MN                0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Brian Forcier          Akron, IA                0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Scott Gobeil           Fort Frances CANADA      0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Richard Greene         Ocala, FL                0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Alex Grimbos           Innisfil CANADA          0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Steven Hiemenz         Clear Lake, MN           0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Cason Hiers            St. Paul, MN             0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Tanner Horton          Pine Island, MN          0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Albert Jones  Jr       Covington, GA            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Matt Kelley            Detroit, MI              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Klaus Kuester          Forest Park, IL          0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Sean Lofgren           Forest Lake, MN          0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Christopher Majerle    Trenton, MI              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Danny Mancini          Necedah, WI              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Art Monteil            Shawnee, KS              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Jimmy Obrien           Southampton, NY          0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Adam Omlid             Grand Forks, ND          0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Eddie Payne            Tomball, TX              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Jesse Piontek          Elk Mound, WI            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Mark Schill            Plymouth, MN             0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Dalon Schmidt          White Bear Lake, MN      0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Jeffrey Shaw           Anoka, MN                0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. David Slonaker         Howard, OH               0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Jeff Somers            Crystal, MN              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Hayden Spradling       Gilbert, AZ              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
56. Chad Stahl             Barnesville, GA          0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00

by AnglersChannel

Boost Your Power and Casting Distance

DAIWA’s new TATULA SV TW 150 features HYPERDRIVE DESIGN and SV technology to power your bass fishing while extending casting control and distance. 

FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (August 21, 2024) – “The bigger brother of the new TATULA SV100, the new TATULA SV TW 150 is geared for the power-fishing crowd, introducing them to SV spool technology and HYPERDRIVE DESIGN in a mid-priced baitcaster,” said DAIWA Field Marketing Manager, Chris Martin. “They will appreciate how the upsized reel casts and controls bigger baits like swimbaits, deep crankbaits, bladebaits, and smaller A-rigs. The TATULA SV TW 150 is stud when the battle is on, too.”

Energized by SV (Stress-Free, Versatile), the TATULA SV TW 150 yields the ultimate castability with a heavier line. “Bassers who spool 50- and 60-pound braid will notice the improved casting distance compared to their current reels,” said Martin. “The spool is sized to accommodate more and heavier line, too.” Users of monofilament and fluorocarbon will notice the significant line capacity as well.

Beyond providing a jolt to casting distance, SV technology virtually eliminates backlash. By design, spool speed is managed at the onset of a cast – where backlash is most common – and then allows the spool to accelerate as the bait continues its launch sequence. The precision combination of control and increased velocity yields longer casts that don’t start as a bird’s nest. The performance lends confidence to baitcaster-beginners and will knock the socks off veteran bassers.

The TATULA SV TW 150’s second significant feature-set is HYPERDRIVE DESIGN. Once limited to more expensive models, DAIWA employed “trickle down technology,” bringing HYPERDRIVE DESIGN to the TATULA SV 150. HYPERDRIVE DESIGN consists of the HYPERDRIVE ARMED HOUSING, HYPERDRIVE DIGIGEAR, HYPERDRICE DOUBLE SUPPORT, and HYPERDRIVE TOUGH CLUTCH. Read more about each element below.

In summary, DAIWA’s new TATULA SV TW 150 is a powerhouse baitcasting reel that minimizes backlash, casts for distance with control, and will be welcomed by new and experienced anglers alike.

TATULA SV TW 150 KEY FEATURES AND TECHNOLOGIES:

SV TECHNOLOGY

The SV (Stress-free, Versatile) Spool was developed with one thing in mind: casting control. The design of the spool, as well as how the spool interacts with the braking system, gives maximum control on the cast while improving casting distance. No backlashes. Longer casts.

HYPERDRIVE ARMED HOUSING

A distortion-proof aluminum frame steadfastly houses the gear unit within the reel body. The concept comprises a combination of different manufacturing techniques, which considerably improve the functioning and lifespan of the reel.

HYPERDRIVE DIGIGEAR

A technology that makes gear teeth more efficient at transferring power, resulting in a smoother, more powerful gear set that also reduces gear noise. The gears are also strengthened by larger teeth in the traction wheel. And, the gearing has three points of contact – most gearing has only two – which keeps contact between the gear teeth, creating smoothness and longer gear life.

HYPERDRIVE DOUBLE SUPPORT

The pinion gear is mounted via a ball bearing at both sides, leading to a better and more even powered transmission from the handle. Also, the surface of the pinion gear is specially treated to prevent electrostatic corrosion.

HYPERDRIVE TOUGH CLUTCH

The clutch mechanics have been optimized to remain safely in position even on hard casts.

T-WING SYSTEM (TWS)

An innovative “T” shaped mechanical aperture that the line passes through when casting and retrieving baits, which allows the line to flow freely, reducing friction and sharp angles that slow line flow. TWS is unique to DAIWA baitcasting reels.

ULTIMATE TOURNAMENT DRAG (UTD)

The sophisticated drag system uses carbon washers, alloy, stainless steel drag plates, and special lubricant to provide smooth performance. UTD prevents sticking when dragging starts and stable drag for the duration of fighting a fish.

ZERO ADJUSTER

The spool tension knob comes ideally preset at the factory to match the model and reduce backlash when casting into the wind, skipping baits, or with lighter lures. However, anglers can fine tune the spool tension to their personal preferences.

90mm SWEPT HANDLE

The handle is kept tight to the frame for added power and making it easy to quickly locate.

MSRP $219.99

THE PERFECT PAIRING

The new TATULA SV150 matches ideally with the TATULA Elite and TATULA Elite AGS rod series’, particularly Medium and Medium-Heavy baitcasting models.

For Daiwa’s latest color catalog and/or information on Daiwa dealers in your area, call Daiwa’s Customer Service Department at 562-375-6800 or e-mail inquiries to: [email protected]. The URL for Daiwa’s web site is daiwa.us

by AnglersChannel

Dryness is a Virtue

EGO’s Tactical Dry Gear Bag series redefines waterproof transport and storage for the boat, pick-up bed, campsite, canoe, and on the bank.

Caldwell, ID (August 23, 2024) – Waterproof is a powerful word that leaves no room for margin of error. There’s no sort of, almost, or water-resistant when it comes to storing and transporting essential outdoor gear in watery environments, be that rain, sleet, waves, spray, or a combination thereof.

It’s in that spirit that EGO Fishing designed the Tactical Dry Gear Bag series (30L, 55L, and 100L). “Like all of our gear, the EGO Tactical Dry Gear Bags are best of class,” said EGO founder, Grant Corbett. “Many of our product concepts, like the S2 Slider Nets, are 100% original and dedicated to making fishing more fun and efficient. Others, like the Tactical Dry Gear Bags, take existing products and concepts and all their shortcomings and improve upon on them.”

“Every angler, boater, camper, and outdoor enthusiast needs a dry bag or two, so we came up with a better mousetrap,” he added.

As with designing premium fishing apparel, material is at the core of EGO’s Tactical Dry Gear Bags. For years, PVC (polyvinyl chloride) – essentially, vinyl – was the baseline in drybag manufacturing. The good and not-so-good drybag options were relegated to this susceptible material. Surely, PVC can be waterproof, but it’s also vulnerable to aging, resulting in cracking over time. Its resistance to abrasion is marginal, too, and overall strength is also questionable.

So, when EGO entered the drybag category, job-one was utilizing a superior material. “We went straight to high-tech TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) fabric,” said Corbett. “The material costs more, but the benefits are substantial and worth the investment.”

TPU has a high wear resistance and resilience, and can withstand high and low temperatures, ozone, grease, oils, chemicals, and abrasion. TPU is also far more durable than PVC. EGO’s TPU is also flexible over a wide temperature range, maintaining its integrity in hot and cold conditions. Moreover, TPU is resistant to UV rays and won’t fail in saltwater.

Environmental sustainability is also at play. TPU manufacturing consumes less energy to produce than other plastics, like PVC, and doesn't require special additives like silicones and rubbers. TPU is also sustainable because it doesn't contain plasticizers or halogenated products.

Still not sold on TPU? EGO’s TPU fabric has a greater load-bearing capacity than comparable materials as well. Meaning, EGO’s Tactical Dry Gear Bag can be stuffed to the gills and carry more weight than the others.

The Tactical Dry Gear Bag’s waterproofness is the knockout blow. EGO can proudly claim its flagship drybag is 100% waterproof.

Once a fabric was selected, features and function took center stage. First, all the critical seams where TPU fabrics come together are welded for exceptional strength and durability, and to ensure long-lived waterproofness.

All three sizes of the Tactical Dry Gear Bag feature a roll-up top to stop the intrusion of moisture. This, while an added zipper closure holds contents in place, affording safe keeping when the top isn’t rolled up.

Each drybag sports tactical MOLLE strips for hanging and managing items like water bottles and tools on carabiner clips. All three sizes also include a contoured, comfortable, and removable shoulder strap, as well as an easily gripped carrying handle.

She’s a beauty cosmetically as well. The Tactical Dry Gear Bag’s Kryptek pattern says you’re serious about the outdoors in a tactical way, while a Velcro patch awaits personalization, be it military or series of patches telling everyone where you’ve traveled.

30L Tactical Dry Gear Bag

  • WEIGHT: 2.5 lbs
  • SIZE: 20” L x 10” W x 10.5” H
  • Roll top with zipper closure
  • High-performance waterproof TPU fabric
  • 30 liter bag capacity
  • Contoured shoulder strap
  • High abrasion resistance & shear strength
  • Resistant to cold weather cracking
  • Tactical velcro patch area
  • Extra strong welded seams
  • Kryptek camo technology
  • 100% WATERPROOF

$129.99

55L Tactical Dry Gear Bag

  • WEIGHT: 3.0 lbs
  • SIZE: 24” L x 13” W x 10.5” H
  • Roll top with zipper closure
  • High-performance waterproof TPU fabric
  • 55-liter bag capacity
  • Contoured shoulder strap
  • High abrasion resistance & shear strength
  • Resistant to cold weather cracking
  • Tactical velcro patch area
  • Extra strong welded seams
  • Kryptek camo technology
  • 100% waterproof

$162.99

100L Tactical Dry Gear Bag

  • WEIGHT: 4.5 lbs
  • SIZE: 29” L x 15” W x 14” H
  • Roll-top with zipper closure
  • High-performance waterproof TPU fabric
  • 100 liter bag capacity
  • Contoured shoulder strap
  • Contoured removable backpack strap system
  • High abrasion resistance & shear strength
  • Resistant to cold weather cracking
  • Tactical Velcro patch area
  • Extra strong welded seams
  • Kryptek camo technology
  • 100% waterproof

$219.99

ABOUT EGO Fishing

Fourteen years ago, we set out on a simple mission – to develop a better fishing landing net solution that addressed the many functional and performance problems that existed with the traditional products. What started out as a small landing net company has now grown into the innovation leader in the fishing net and accessories category of the sport fishing industry. EGO products are sold at most major sporting goods retail chains and are carried by a large network of distributors and independent dealers in the United States. Distribution has also grown internationally to include countries such as Canada, Russia, South Africa, South Korea and Japan.

CONTACTS:

Noel Vick

Traditions Media

[email protected]

(612) 708-7339

by AnglersChannel

MLF General Tire Team Series B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by Toyota to Premiere Live on Sunday

WHAT:
The first event of the 2024 Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Team Series will premiere Sunday, with every minute of competition livestreamed from Erie, Pennsylvania.

The star-studded event, hosted by VisitErie, features two-man teams of Bass Pro Tour pros competing from the same boat, and working together to claim a piece of a season purse of more than $720,000.

For the first time ever, the General Tire Team Series will be livestreamed daily, meaning every cast and every catch will be covered live and fans can watch teammates work together to break down a brand new body of water in real time. The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live all six days of competition at the Challenge Cup.

WHEN:
Sunday, Aug. 25 – Friday, Aug. 30, 7:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. ET

WHERE:
MLFNOW!®  is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MLF and MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) apps and on Rumble.

NOTES:
The B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by Toyota in Erie is the first of the four-event series.

In keeping with traditional MLF Cup protocols, Erie, Pennsylvania, was not revealed to Team Series anglers until 30 days prior to the start of the tournament. All fishable waters within 60 miles of Erie then went off limits to anglers, and the competitors will discover exactly where they’re competing only after arriving at the boat ramp on the morning of competition. Fans watching the MLFNOW! livestream will find out the fishery right along with the anglers and watch all the action unfold live as teams work together and share their knowledge to break down each fishery in real time.

The 12 teams that will compete in the General Tire Team Series B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by Toyota in Erie, Pennsylvania are:

Team 7 Brew Drive Thru Coffee:
Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J.
Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala.

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

Team Builders FirstSource:
Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn.

Team Coign:
Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill.
Matt Stefan, Junction City, Wis.

Team Ferguson:
Nick Lebrun, Bossier City, La.
Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La.

Team Knighten Industries:
Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn.
Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark.

Team Kubota:
Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn.
Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala.

Team REDCON1:
Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio
Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn.

Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff & Pouches:
Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash.
John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky.

Team Star Tron:
Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala.
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla.

Team U.S. Air Force:
Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C.
Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark.

Team WIX Filters:
Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich.
Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla.

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

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery 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.

by AnglersChannel

Shull single-handedly takes Day 1 lead in Bassmaster College National Championship at Lake Hartwell

August 22, 2024

CollegeSeries_Championship_StrikeKing_BPSjm_Vector_Reversed.png

 

ANDERSON, S.C. — It was awfully lonely on the boat for Hampton Shull, but the Lander University junior used solitude to his advantage and sacked up a five-bass limit of 17 pounds that leads Day 1 of the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops at Lake Hartwell.

Shull, who has fished solo all year, made his mark back in May at the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by Bass Pro Shops, where he caught the event’s biggest bass — a 9-8. Shull heads into Day 2 with a 10-ounce lead over Parker Guy and Tyler Campbell of Emmanuel College.

Competing against a field mostly comprising two-angler teams was no concern for Shull. In fact, it likely contributed to his overall success.

“Being alone didn’t bother me,” Shull said. “It allowed me to fish freely without having to consider other opinions.”

Shull split his time between shallow fish and offshore fish that were in 10 to 50 feet. Hartwell has a mix of natural and man-made structure and Shull fished some of everything.

“It was about 50/50 between shallow and deep fish, but I think the deep bite is (most promising) for a three-day tournament,” Shull said.

After bagging a limit by 12:30 p.m., Shull finished his weight by about 2 o’clock. His biggest fish, a 4-plus-pounder, bit mid-morning and put Shull through the wringer.

“When I was trying to net my biggest one, the net got tangled up in my Minn Kota Raptor switch and I had to reach down and grab the fish with my hand,” he said. “It got dramatic, and the fight stretched out about 2 minutes.

“I didn’t panic because I really don’t use a net unless I’m tournament fishing, so I just treated it like a practice day.”

Moreover, his big-bass achievement at Sam Rayburn gave Shull the confidence to manage a stressful moment.

“Knowing that I could do that calmed my nerves,” he said.

Shull said he fished throughout much of the lake and found each of his eight keepers on different spots.

“I think it had to do with it being August and fish are tough to catch,” he said. “It was just junk fishing all day.

“I was just fishing by the seat of my pants and trusting my gut to fish what looked good.”

Shull fished a mix of baits and caught two of his limit fish on a worm and three on a topwater. As for Day 2, he’s keeping an open mind and trusting the game plan that got him to the top of the leaderboard.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do tomorrow,” Shull said. “I’ll be listening to my gut and not getting locked in on any one thing.”

Guy and Campbell are in second place with 16-6.

Blake Milligan and Carson Maddux of Auburn University are in third place with 15-11.

Andrew Oswalt and Evan Mabrey of University of Montevallo are in the lead for Big Bass honors with their 5-15.

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. ET at Green Pond Landing and Event Center. The weigh-in will be held at the same location at 2:30 p.m.

The tournament is being hosted by Visit Anderson.

2024 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King

2024 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops

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.

-30-

Media Contact: Chad Gay, B.A.S.S. Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, [email protected]

 

2024 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops 8/22-8/24
Lake Hartwell, Anderson  SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

Angler                                       Club/School                       Pts

1.  Hampton Shull -                              Lander University                   250
Day 1: 5   17-00   Total:   5  17-00
2.  Parker Guy - Tyler Campbell                  Emmanuel College                    249
Day 1: 5   16-06   Total:   5  16-06
3.  Blake Milligan - Carson Maddux               Auburn University                   248
Day 1: 5   15-11   Total:   5  15-11
4.  Peyton Sorrow - Garrett Ring                 University of Montevallo            247
Day 1: 5   15-10   Total:   5  15-10
5.  Merrick Diaz - Cade Hayford                  Campbellsville University           246
Day 1: 5   15-02   Total:   5  15-02
6.  Drake Hemby - Ewing Minor                    Carson-Newman University            245
Day 1: 5   14-12   Total:   5  14-12
7.  Dylan Akins - Chase Carey                    Emmanuel College                    244
Day 1: 5   14-11   Total:   5  14-11
8.  Miles Smith - Levi Thibodaux                 LSU Shreveport                      243
Day 1: 5   14-07   Total:   5  14-07
9.  Brantley Anders - Reece Keeney               Kentucky Christian University       242
Day 1: 5   14-05   Total:   5  14-05
10. Nathan Reynolds - Banks Shaw                 University of North Alabama         241
Day 1: 5   13-14   Total:   5  13-14
11. Lane Clark - Tallis Morrison                 Erskine College                     240
Day 1: 5   13-11   Total:   5  13-11
12. Andrew Oswalt - Evan Mabrey                  University of Montevallo            239
Day 1: 5   13-08   Total:   5  13-08
12. Dalton Phelps - Gannon Stork                 Wabash Valley College               239
Day 1: 5   13-08   Total:   5  13-08
14. Robert Miller - John Michael Ortman          Emmanuel College                    237
Day 1: 5   13-04   Total:   5  13-04
15. Peyton Harris - Dalton Head                  University of Montevallo            236
Day 1: 5   13-01   Total:   5  13-01
16. Lane Stephens - Ethan Fields                 Mckendree University                235
Day 1: 5   13-00   Total:   5  13-00
17. Slade Davis - Trace Antunes III              University Of Montevallo            234
Day 1: 5   12-12   Total:   5  12-12
17. Anderson Jones -                             Lander University                   234
Day 1: 5   12-12   Total:   5  12-12
19. Braylon Eggerding - Lucas Washburn           Adrian College                      232
Day 1: 5   12-09   Total:   5  12-09
20. Dillon Robertshaw - Robert Hunt              Missouri State University           231
Day 1: 5   12-08   Total:   5  12-08
21. Jared West - Gus McLarry                     Texas A&M Commerce Fishing Club     230
Day 1: 5   12-07   Total:   5  12-07
22. Garrett Smith - Andrew Blanton               Lander University                   229
Day 1: 5   12-06   Total:   5  12-06
23. Hunter Odom - Brenton Godwin                 University of Montevallo            228
Day 1: 5   12-01   Total:   5  12-01
24. Luke Davis - Chance Schwartz                 University of Montevallo            227
Day 1: 5   12-00   Total:   5  12-00
25. Bryson O' Steen - Seth Jones                 Florida Gateway College             226
Day 1: 5   12-00   Total:   5  12-00
26. James Willoughby - Phillip Herring           University of Montevallo            225
Day 1: 5   11-13   Total:   5  11-13
27. Carter Nutt - Dylan Nutt                     University of North Alabama         224
Day 1: 5   11-09   Total:   5  11-09
28. Dylan May - Evan Newell                      Carson-Newman University            223
Day 1: 5   11-08   Total:   5  11-08
28. Andrew Rickman - Ty Manterola                Dallas Baptist University           223
Day 1: 5   11-08   Total:   5  11-08
30. Caden Pearson - Nathan Kallstrand            Wabash Valley College               221
Day 1: 5   11-05   Total:   5  11-05
31. Brayden Nichols - William Tew                LSU Shreveport                      220
Day 1: 5   11-04   Total:   5  11-04
32. Tyler Combes - James Gillis                  Clarkson University                 219
Day 1: 5   11-03   Total:   5  11-03
33. Brooks Anderson - Max Heaton                 Emmanuel College                    218
Day 1: 5   11-02   Total:   5  11-02
34. Aiden Clark - Jackson Kulijof                Murray State University             217
Day 1: 5   11-01   Total:   5  11-01
34. Nicholas Dellaporta - Drew Pitts             Carson-Newman University            217
Day 1: 5   11-01   Total:   5  11-01
34. Trevor Easter - Clayton Easter               Tarleton State University           217
Day 1: 5   11-01   Total:   5  11-01
34. Harmon Marien - Maxwell Trotter              Mckendree University                217
Day 1: 5   11-01   Total:   5  11-01
38. Hunter Keller - Garrett Christy              Catawba Valley Community College    213
Day 1: 5   10-12   Total:   5  10-12
39. Cole Moulton - Kaleb Brown                   Lander University                   212
Day 1: 5   10-11   Total:   5  10-11
40. Kai Barnett - Parker Welch                   Mckendree University                211
Day 1: 5   10-09   Total:   5  10-09
41. Cade Lipham - Caleb Coleman                  Drury University                    210
Day 1: 5   10-08   Total:   5  10-08
42. Michael Avery - Peyton Dunn                  Emmanuel College                    209
Day 1: 5   10-07   Total:   5  10-07
43. Wyatt Pearman - Ridge Rutledge               Campbellsville University           208
Day 1: 5   10-07   Total:   5  10-07
44. Eli Jaime - Jack Hay                         Southwestern Michigan College       207
Day 1: 5   10-06   Total:   5  10-06
45. Landon Robbins - Will Eriksson               University of Tennessee             206
Day 1: 5   10-05   Total:   5  10-05
46. Cameron Yates - Harrison McCall              Lander University                   205
Day 1: 5   10-04   Total:   5  10-04
47. Tanner Hadden - Caleb Hudson                 University of South Carolina - U    204
Day 1: 5   10-03   Total:   5  10-03
47. Will Harris - Cole Rankin                    Carson-Newman University            204
Day 1: 5   10-03   Total:   5  10-03
47. Peyton Rose - Brogan Gregg                   Wabash Valley College               204
Day 1: 5   10-03   Total:   5  10-03
50. Evan Fields - Noah Dabney                    Campbellsville University           201
Day 1: 5   10-02   Total:   5  10-02
51. Preston Kolisek - Smith McGregor             University of North Alabama         200
Day 1: 4   10-02   Total:   4  10-02
52. Lawson Blake - Bailey Mckinney               Marshall University                 199
Day 1: 5   10-01   Total:   5  10-01
52. Connor Dunn - Cade Johnson                   Texas A&M University                199
Day 1: 5   10-01   Total:   5  10-01
52. Blair Erickson - Jackson Pontius             University of Montevallo            199
Day 1: 5   10-01   Total:   5  10-01
52. Hunter Hamilton - Tyler Morris               LSU Shreveport                      199
Day 1: 5   10-01   Total:   5  10-01
56. Hunter Barrow - Caleb Dugger                 King University                     195
Day 1: 5   10-01   Total:   5  10-01
57. Brady Metzger - Mason Bohland                Purdue University                   194
Day 1: 5   10-00   Total:   5  10-00
58. Brendan Vinton - Jacob Vanscoik              Catawba Valley Community College    193
Day 1: 5   10-00   Total:   5  10-00
59. Hunter Sandschafer - Blake Beckmann          Wabash Valley College               192
Day 1: 5   09-15   Total:   5  09-15
60. Alex Standerfer - Tyler Gunter               Catawba Valley Community College    191
Day 1: 5   09-14   Total:   5  09-14
61. Lake Norsworthy - Calup Williams             Blue Mountain Christian Universi    190
Day 1: 5   09-13   Total:   5  09-13
62. Jason Qualich - Jack Stephens                Mckendree University                189
Day 1: 5   09-11   Total:   5  09-11
63. Dalton Mollenkopf - Derek Rodriguez Jr.      Adrian College                      188
Day 1: 5   09-09   Total:   5  09-09
63. Nick Owens - Quade Lobo                      Adrian College                      188
Day 1: 5   09-09   Total:   5  09-09
65. Adrian Urso - Corbin Templon                 Murray State University             186
Day 1: 5   09-08   Total:   5  09-08
66. Hayden Marbut -                              Auburn University                   185
Day 1: 5   09-07   Total:   5  09-07
67. Jackson Paden - Joey Bissing                 University of Tennessee             184
Day 1: 5   09-07   Total:   5  09-07
68. Logan East - Conner Giles                    Bryan College                       183
Day 1: 5   09-06   Total:   5  09-06
68. Hunter Fillmore - Dylan Fogarty              Bethel University                   183
Day 1: 5   09-06   Total:   5  09-06
68. Andrew Ready - Trey Garrett                  Southeastern University             183
Day 1: 5   09-06   Total:   5  09-06
68. Andrew Turner - Stevie Mills                 Carson-Newman University            183
Day 1: 5   09-06   Total:   5  09-06
72. Riley Faulkner - Szymon Piton                Carson-Newman University            179
Day 1: 5   09-04   Total:   5  09-04
72. Luke Wenger - Braxon Hightower               Dallas Baptist University           179
Day 1: 5   09-04   Total:   5  09-04
74. Grant Dohle - Jake Mantovani                 Missouri State University           177
Day 1: 5   09-03   Total:   5  09-03
74. Hayden Gaddis - Ben Cully                    Carson-Newman University            177
Day 1: 5   09-03   Total:   5  09-03
74. Logan Plueger - Charlie Wright               University of Montevallo            177
Day 1: 5   09-03   Total:   5  09-03
77. Kane Weekley - Connor Koch                   Southeastern University             174
Day 1: 5   09-02   Total:   5  09-02
78. Bryant Martin - Luke Batts                   LSU Shreveport                      173
Day 1: 5   09-01   Total:   5  09-01
79. Brayden Stoker - Tucker Kendall              Tarleton State University           172
Day 1: 4   09-01   Total:   4  09-01
80. Zion Dunaway - Casey Cornelius               Purdue University                   171
Day 1: 5   09-00   Total:   5  09-00
81. Cy Lambert - Austin King                     University of North Alabama         170
Day 1: 4   09-00   Total:   4  09-00
81. Avery Padgett - Kasen Pemberton              Troy University                     170
Day 1: 4   09-00   Total:   4  09-00
83. Bryce Balentine - Giancarlo Russo            Florida Gateway College             168
Day 1: 5   08-15   Total:   5  08-15
83. Blake Wheat - Zachary Helton                 Carson-Newman University            168
Day 1: 5   08-15   Total:   5  08-15
85. Hudson Choquette - Brooks Parker             University of Montevallo            166
Day 1: 5   08-15   Total:   5  08-15
86. Tripp Berlinsky - Bryce Dimauro              Bryan College                       165
Day 1: 5   08-14   Total:   5  08-14
86. Aaron Jagdfeld - Elliot Wielgopolski         Adrian College                      165
Day 1: 5   08-14   Total:   5  08-14
88. Cody Monlezun - Caden Denny                  Texas A&M University                163
Day 1: 5   08-13   Total:   5  08-13
89. Parker Lambert - Aaron Shumaker              Lander University                   162
Day 1: 5   08-12   Total:   5  08-12
90. Hagan Marlin - Chris Fallon                  University of Montevallo            161
Day 1: 5   08-11   Total:   5  08-11
91. Logan Greeno - Matthew Nichols               University of Nebraska - Lincoln    160
Day 1: 5   08-09   Total:   5  08-09
91. Clay Henderson - Brant Rowland               Drury University                    160
Day 1: 5   08-09   Total:   5  08-09
91. Xander Patton - Stephen Brooks               Emmanuel College                    160
Day 1: 5   08-09   Total:   5  08-09
94. Jerry Brumbaugh Jr. - Brady Pinwar           Adrian College                      157
Day 1: 5   08-08   Total:   5  08-08
95. Tyler Leachman - Mark Bixler                 Murray State University             156
Day 1: 5   08-07   Total:   5  08-07
95. Mitch Straffon - Owen Januszewski            Adrian College                      156
Day 1: 5   08-07   Total:   5  08-07
97. Emery Burnett - Drake Axon                   Georgia Southern University         154
Day 1: 5   08-07   Total:   5  08-07
98. Hunter Russell - Benny Blank                 Wabash Valley College               153
Day 1: 5   08-06   Total:   5  08-06
99. Hayden Short -                               Kentucky Christian University       152
Day 1: 5   08-05   Total:   5  08-05
99. Aric Szambelan - Alex Wood                   Missouri State University           152
Day 1: 5   08-05   Total:   5  08-05
101. TJ Edwards Jr - Sawyer Brady                 Blue Mountain Christian Universi    150
Day 1: 5   08-04   Total:   5  08-04
101. Elijah Kelley - Chris Baker                  Kentucky Christian University       150
Day 1: 5   08-04   Total:   5  08-04
103. Trevor Johnston - Ashton Hehr                Texas A&M University                148
Day 1: 5   08-03   Total:   5  08-03
104. Chase Milholen - Koltyn Harbin               Bethel University                   147
Day 1: 5   08-02   Total:   5  08-02
104. Corey Morris - Brayden Mercer                East Texas Baptist University       147
Day 1: 5   08-02   Total:   5  08-02
106. Jared Hubbard - Riley Hendricks              Lander University                   145
Day 1: 5   08-01   Total:   5  08-01
107. Kobe Thompson - Cole Carr                    Adrian College                      144
Day 1: 5   08-01   Total:   5  08-01
108. Nick Seitz - Paxton Giem                     Adrian College                      143
Day 1: 5   08-00   Total:   5  08-00
109. Harrison Heins - Hunter Slone                Tennessee Tech University           142
Day 1: 5   07-15   Total:   5  07-15
109. Kade Hillestad - John Kyle  Pearce           University of Louisiana Monroe      142
Day 1: 5   07-15   Total:   5  07-15
111. Clay Taylor -                                Lander University                   140
Day 1: 4   07-15   Total:   4  07-15
112. Tyler Cory - Nick Dumke                      University of Montevallo            139
Day 1: 5   07-12   Total:   5  07-12
113. Alec Poland - Jack Grushecky                 West Virginia University            138
Day 1: 5   07-10   Total:   5  07-10
114. Ben Burns - Riley Aebi                       Stephen F Austin State Universit    137
Day 1: 5   07-09   Total:   5  07-09
114. Jeffrey Jones - Coleman Bingham              Bethel University                   137
Day 1: 5   07-09   Total:   5  07-09
116. Storm Cline - Gabe Fishlock                  Carson-Newman University            135
Day 1: 5   07-08   Total:   5  07-08
116. Trace Loe - Levi Loe                         Southern Arkansas University        135
Day 1: 5   07-08   Total:   5  07-08
118. Dawson Lynch - Sonny Mann                    Tarleton State University           133
Day 1: 5   07-07   Total:   5  07-07
119. Branden Burrill - Jack Simpson               Western Michigan University         132
Day 1: 5   07-06   Total:   5  07-06
120. Kaden Buchmann - Chase Wodzinski             Lander University                   131
Day 1: 5   07-05   Total:   5  07-05
120. Ryan Thomas - Jack Alexander                 University of Montevallo            131
Day 1: 5   07-05   Total:   5  07-05
122. Braden Cox - Joel Berelsman                  Ohio State University               129
Day 1: 5   07-04   Total:   5  07-04
123. Justin Latham - Blaine Mattingly             Campbellsville University           128
Day 1: 4   07-04   Total:   4  07-04
124. Luke McGuffin - Rylan Green                  Erskine College                     127
Day 1: 5   07-03   Total:   5  07-03
125. Kolten Goolsby - Landon Oconnor              Stephen F Austin State Universit    126
Day 1: 5   07-01   Total:   5  07-01
126. Nathan Fideldy - Laindree Richardson         Drury University                    125
Day 1: 5   07-00   Total:   5  07-00
126. Kaiya Ziga - Hunter Petrovic                 Southwestern Michigan College       125
Day 1: 5   07-00   Total:   5  07-00
128. Nathan Preston -                             Auburn University                   123
Day 1: 5   06-15   Total:   5  06-15
128. Trevor Young - Maxwell Schweikert            Grand Valley State University       123
Day 1: 5   06-15   Total:   5  06-15
130. Jeremy Monda - Will Boyd Jr                  Florida Gateway College             121
Day 1: 5   06-12   Total:   5  06-12
131. Blake Bullock - John Mark Berry              Blue Mountain Christian Universi    120
Day 1: 5   06-11   Total:   5  06-11
132. Cross Campbell - Dylan Armstrong             East Texas Baptist University       119
Day 1: 5   06-09   Total:   5  06-09
132. Noah Lieberman - Colin Wolinski              Missouri State University           119
Day 1: 5   06-09   Total:   5  06-09
134. Brayden Ruckman - Cason Price                Carson-Newman University            117
Day 1: 5   06-09   Total:   5  06-09
135. Ty Mundhenke - Matthew Welcher               Auburn University                   116
Day 1: 5   06-07   Total:   5  06-07
136. Callaway Robinson - Tucker Pearson           Georgia College                     115
Day 1: 5   06-05   Total:   5  06-05
137. Caden Canaday -                              Virginia Tech                       114
Day 1: 4   06-05   Total:   4  06-05
138. Peter Radulski Jr - Lane Gerbers             Clemson University                  113
Day 1: 5   06-04   Total:   5  06-04
139. Stone Smith - Drake Wadsworth                Northwestern State University       112
Day 1: 5   06-02   Total:   5  06-02
140. Hunter Jenkins -                             Dallas Baptist University           111
Day 1: 4   06-00   Total:   4  06-00
141. Tripp Bowman - Matthew Nesbit                LSU Shreveport                      110
Day 1: 5   05-12   Total:   5  05-12
141. Tyler Chmelar - Kase Kramer                  Tarleton State University           110
Day 1: 5   05-12   Total:   5  05-12
143. Cameron Smith - Thomas Phillips              Ohio State University               108
Day 1: 5   05-11   Total:   5  05-11
144. Matthew Echols - Christian Stewart           Virginia Tech                       107
Day 1: 4   05-11   Total:   4  05-11
145. Easton Lindus - Seth Jenkins                 Emmanuel College                    106
Day 1: 4   05-07   Total:   4  05-07
146. Stetson Southard - Walker Wilburn            Tarleton State University           105
Day 1: 5   05-06   Total:   5  05-06
146. Benjamin Travis - Brendin Simich             Auburn University                   105
Day 1: 5   05-06   Total:   5  05-06
148. Grayson Ball - Sellers Odom                  Calhoun Community College           103
Day 1: 5   05-05   Total:   5  05-05
149. Colby Carrier - Justin Frey                  Bethel University                   102
Day 1: 4   05-05   Total:   4  05-05
150. Jonah Barrow - Logan Russell                 University of Nebraska - Lincoln    101
Day 1: 4   05-05   Total:   4  05-05
151. Billy Erdakos - Davis Klimczak               Southwestern Michigan College       100
Day 1: 5   05-03   Total:   5  05-03
152. Kaleb Butts - Chase Rogers                   University of South Carolina - U     99
Day 1: 4   04-15   Total:   4  04-15
153. Trey McMeen - Braydon Kelley                 East Texas Baptist University        98
Day 1: 4   04-10   Total:   4  04-10
154. Caden Cardoza - Judd Morgan                  University of Tennessee              97
Day 1: 3   04-09   Total:   3  04-09
155. Louis VerBrugge -                            Mohave Community College             96
Day 1: 2   04-02   Total:   2  04-02
156. Colton  Combs - Corbin Joyner                Northeast State University           95
Day 1: 3   04-00   Total:   3  04-00
157. Scott Sledge -                               University of Montevallo             94
Day 1: 3   03-15   Total:   3  03-15
158. Alex Gore - Colby Reece                      Carson-Newman University             93
Day 1: 4   03-14   Total:   4  03-14
158. Carty Shoen - Jake Peck                      Auburn University                    93
Day 1: 4   03-14   Total:   4  03-14
160. Delaney Platt - Ryan Olsen                   Southwestern Michigan College        91
Day 1: 4   03-07   Total:   4  03-07
161. Michael Canonica - Seth Proctor              University of Tennessee              90
Day 1: 3   03-07   Total:   3  03-07
162. Elijah Jackson -                             University Of Alabama                89
Day 1: 3   03-01   Total:   3  03-01
163. Tucker Cory - Michael Witherup               University of Montevallo             88
Day 1: 2   03-00   Total:   2  03-00
164. Hank Sturm - Matt Mosby                      Adrian College                       87
Day 1: 2   02-09   Total:   2  02-09
165. Blair Cox - Zach Adamec                      Missouri State University            86
Day 1: 2   02-07   Total:   2  02-07
166. Scott Balas - Samuel Gremban                 University of Wisconsin- Madison     85
Day 1: 2   01-07   Total:   2  01-07
167. Evan Ludlow - Drake Heath                    Southwestern Michigan College        84
Day 1: 1   00-15   Total:   1  00-15
168. Sean Ferguson -                              Kansas State University               0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       139       789      1479-10
----------------------------------
139       789      1479-10

by AnglersChannel

Service Crew Suggestions for College Anglers

Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships

A few hundred yards away from the bright lights of the Bassmaster stage at the 2024 Strike King College Series National Championship sits an equally important part of high-level tournaments; the boat yard. The boat yard is manned by the service crew, who are the true unsung heroes of every level of tournament bass fishing.

These guys stand at-the-ready to help fix any issues, mechanical mishaps, and help problem solve any pickle college anglers find themselves in this week on Lake Hartwell. They are employed by different brands and may wear competitive logos, but the truth is they all work together and are willing to lend a helping hand regardless of what product an angler needs help with.

They are here at 5AM before tournament launch and are oftentimes the last ones to leave the parking lot in the evening after the sun goes down.  The technicians standing guard at the college National Championship this week are Scott Schmitt from Yamaha Outboards, Lance Lewis and Brian Lasater from Lowrance, Mark Martin with Tracker Marine, and Jesse Cloud with Mercury. While they cooked lunch in the parking lot of the impressive Green Pond Landing facility, we asked what tips they have for college anglers to, ideally, stay out of the Boat Yard at during tournament time.

“Yamaha’s slogan of ‘maintenance matters’ could not be more spot on,” Yamaha technician Scott Schmitt said. “It’s usually the simple things that get tournament anglers, whether we’re at college and high school tournaments or the Bassmaster Elite Series, we see a lot of the same things. Take the time to do a walk around your boat and trailer in the morning. It’ll save you a lot of time and frustration in the long run.”

As though they were all speaking from the same collective brain, they each offered simple solves to potential alarms or issues like checking your oil level regularly, or inspecting battery connections if something is array electronically. And they all agreed that the following three tips are things tournament anglers of all levels should practice.

Trailer maintenance

Before your boat ever makes it to the ramp, anglers should start every trip by inspecting their trailer. Check the wear on your tires, the tire pressure, and ensure trailer lights are functioning properly. Make sure you have a spare tire.

At every gas stop en route to your fishing hole, do a quick lap around your rig and touch the hubs on your wheels. If they are hot or leaking grease, you’ve got a problem that needs attention.

“My grandpa told me years ago that a boat is only as good as it’s trailer, and it’s true,”  Lowrance’s Lance Lewis said. “You can spend $25 on grease and a grease gun and keep your axels greased up. That’ll save you a lot of money and time on repairs down the road.”

Check your lights

After you make it to the boat ramp, the next thing the service crew suggests is to turn on your power and check to see if your running lights are working. Even this morning during the most important college tournament of the season, there were at least three boats who lost fishing time due to their running lights not working correctly.  There is nothing worse than missing the morning bite while you’re off to the side trying to troubleshoot a light issue.

“I’ve noticed younger anglers are bad about not turning on their lights until they get on the water,” Schmitt said. “It’s a whole lot easier for us to help you before you launch your boat.  While you’re waiting in line, turn your lights on and then have a backup plan. You can buy a portable light to clamp onto your trolling motor for $30 that’ll keep you legal and safe in a pinch.”

Carry a basic tool kit

The last bit of advice Schmitt and the rest of the service crew offered is to carry a basic tool kit in your boat loaded with hardware specific to your vessel. Things like extra fuses, a wire stripper / crimping tool, screwdrivers, the right sized socket or wrenches for your batteries, an extra prop for your trolling motor or outboard, and even a jump box if possible.  You never know what situation you or a fishing buddy may be in, but if you fish long enough and travel to enough events, chances are you will eventually find yourselves up a creek. Make sure you are not without a paddle when these scenarios arise. Take the proper steps to ensure your rig is tournament ready and be prepared for unexpected problems on the water.

by AnglersChannel

B.A.S.S. postpones Day 1 of St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake

August 22, 2024

Opens_StCroix_Sevin_4C-RASTER.png

WALKER, Minn. — B.A.S.S. officials have canceled Day 1 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake presented by SEVIIN due to high winds, shortening the tournament to two days.

The decision was made after tournament officials consulted with the National Weather Service and determined high winds and the forecast of continuing high winds into the afternoon made conditions unsafe. Leech Lake and all tournament waters will be off limits today.

The full field of 203 boats will now compete Friday and Saturday and both the co-angler and pro champion will be crowned on Saturday.

Coverage of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake presented by SEVIIN will air on FS1 on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET. Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com all three days.

The Leech Lake Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event.

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN

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

 

About B.A.S.S.B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

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

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

by AnglersChannel

What Does Fothergill Foresee for College Series Championship?

Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships

College Fishing’s best and brightest have assembled in Anderson, South Carolina for the 2024 Strike King Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops on Lake Hartwell. Over 300 anglers who qualified from schools all around the country will battle it out over the next three days to see who will become National Champions on Saturday, as well as which eight anglers will advance to the College Series Classic Bracket.

Who better to give their expectations for this tournament other than Easton Fothergill, the 2023 Classic Bracket champion, who competed in the 2024 Bassmaster Classic and become only the fourth college angler to qualify for the third day of bass fishing’s biggest tournament.  He’s been logging lots of miles in his alma mater-wrapped 2024 Toyota Tundra and putting plenty of bass onto the deck of the Z20 Nitro Boat he won full use of in 2024 thanks to winning the Classic Bracket last fall. Fothergill has had an incredible season as the Classic Bracket champion. He’s currently leading the Bassmaster Open EQ points race going into the seventh tournament on the body of water he considers his home pond, Leech Lake.

Easton and his partner Nick Dumke have continued to represent the University of Montevallo in several college events in 2024 as well. They double-qualified to fish the National Championship this year thanks to their second and fourth place finishes on Kentucky Lake and Saginaw Bay, respectively, but Fothergill is having to miss this tournament so he can handle his business in the Opens. Dumke is competing solo this week, so we caught up with Fothergill to get his predictions.

Q – While I’m sure it’s good to be fishing a Bassmaster Open on your home lake, you are having to miss the National Championship. How are you feeling and what would you tell your college fishing peers regarding the opportunity they have in front of them?

“It’s definitely bittersweet… this is my last Bassmaster College Series National Championship and I would love to go out with a bang with Dumke (tournament partner),” Fothergill admitted.  “But on the plus side, it’s been an absolute dream season fishing the Opens and still getting to fish a lot of college tournaments, too. Part of me wishes I could be there, but the chance to fish this Open on a lake I have spent so much time on is such a cool opportunity. I’m blessed for sure.

“I would tell college anglers to have fun and enjoy it, but know what is potentially at stake and do everything you can to get yourself into the Classic Bracket. This whole program really has been life-changing for me and I know it will be for the next person as well. I’m looking forward to following along and seeing who is going to represent college fishing in the 2025 Classic.”

Q – I know your focus has been on the Leech Lake, but how would you plan to fish Lake Hartwell this week?

“I haven’t fished Hartwell since April, when Dumke and I won the ACA Hartwell Slam,” Fothergill said. “We were targeting the herring spawn back then, catching both largemouth and spotted bass. While the herring won’t be spawning right now, I do think it’s the tail end of the herring deal and they will be the dominant forage still. I would be targeting bass chasing herring around brushpiles or just roaming open water. I could see that pattern winning or at least excelling in this tournament.”

Q – If you were tying up baits right now to fish Lake Hartwell tomorrow, what would you make sure to have tied on?

“I would have a hodge-podge of your typical herring staples,” Fothergill offered. “A Strike King Caffeine Shad, or something like a fluke-style bait is a must have. Definitely would have a walking topwater tied on… I doubt they’d smash it all day but there should be some windows that you could get some bites. Lastly would be a spoon. A spoon is a great baitfish imitator and is something a little different to fire those pressured brushpile bass to bite.”

by AnglersChannel

Alabama Bass Trail Announces another successful registration for the upcoming 2025 season, celebrating it's 12th year of competitive fishing

Decatur, Alabama – The Alabama Bass Trail (ABT) is thrilled to announce that registration for the highly anticipated 2025 season has officially closed, with spots selling out in mere minutes. ABT will host 450 teams consisting of 900 anglers, coming from 12 different states across the U.S.  As we gear up for our 12th season, we extend a warm welcome back to our loyal angler teams from the 2024 season and eagerly invite our new teams to join us in what promises to be an exciting year of competition.

Kay Donaldson, Director of the Alabama Bass Trail, expressed her gratitude and excitement, stating, “Once again, the Alabama Bass Trail sells out in minutes. That is a testament to the loyalty of our anglers and the hard work of the ABT team. While we still have work to finish for the 2024 season, the anticipation for 2025 is at an all-time high.”

The ABT prides itself on fostering a vibrant community of passionate anglers who make our tournaments successful. We appreciate the trust you place in us, and we are committed to working tirelessly to ensure that our tournament trail remains the best it can be.

This season, anglers and viewers alike can look forward to enhanced coverage, as the 2025 team trail will broadcast live on Alabama Bass Trail TV - YouTube. Post season episodes will air on Balley Sports Southeast, as well as in various other markets, making it more accessible for fishing enthusiasts across the South.

As we prepare for the upcoming season, we are excited about the future of the Alabama Bass Trail and the incredible experiences that await our anglers. We hope to see everyone come January, ready to cast their lines and compete.

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

by AnglersChannel

Georgia’s O’Connell Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament at Lake Hartwell

Easley’s Wilson Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

ANDERSON, S.C. (Aug. 19, 2024) – Boater Matt O’Connell of Brooks, Georgia, won the MLF Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine two-day Super Tournament on Lake Hartwell Presented by Suzuki Marine on Sunday with a cumulative total of 10 bass weighing 30 pounds, 7 ounces. His daily weights were 14 pounds, 6 ounces on Saturday and 16 pounds, 1 ounce on Sunday. Hosted by the Anderson Convention & Visitors Bureau, the tournament was the fifth and final event of the season for the BFL Savannah River Division. O’Connell earned $7,776, including the lucrative $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.

Though O’Connell said Hartwell is fishing a little weird right now, his winning pattern involved a mix of pretty typical summertime baits and tactics for a blueback herring lake.

“There is a typical blueback pattern going on where the fish are out on bait or on shoals and humps,” he said. “And there’s some schooling going on kind of intermittently throughout the day. I actually probably saw more schooling in the afternoon both days, but it was super tough to catch the schoolers.

“I essentially just got big bites both afternoons. I had 9 pounds at about noon each day and managed to catch about a 4-pounder yesterday (Saturday) out deep over timber. And that pretty much kicked my bag up with a bunch of 2 1/2-pounders. And then today (Sunday) I had probably 9 pounds at noon, and from probably 12:30 ’til 2:30, in about a two-hour period, I caught a 4-pound spot and 5-pound largemouth on the CAST The OG (Floater). It’s a big topwater.”

A couple factors flipped the switch in the afternoons. Part of it was the wind picking up, especially on day two, which made the fish more active. The other factor was timing. O’Connell located some fish during afternoon hours in practice and noticed they just weren’t on those spots in the mornings during the tournament. But come afternoon, they repositioned on brush or on areas where he could be target them more easily, versus roaming like they were in the mornings.

“Day two, I just started running more of the shallow stuff because it was windy,” he said. “Shallow being relative –25 feet or less. The conditions and the fish just combined to give me an opportunity. The fish were being much more aggressive in the afternoon at least.”

O’Connell relied on forward-facing sonar throughout the tournament to “scope” a mix of structure and cover, including brush piles, the ends of points and deep timber.  In addition to the OG topwater, he fished a CAST Fishing Co. Echo soft jerkbait on an under-spin as well as a soft jerkbait without the jighead.

“I probably fished 60 spots today,” he added. “That’s pretty normal for the blueback herring deal. There was one area I spent probably an hour fishing that was over timber around bait, but that was the only time I settled in anywhere.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Matt O’Connell, Brooks, Ga., 10 bass, 30-7, $7,776 (includes $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd:       Brandon Martin, Lula, Ga., 10 bass, 29-3, $2,238
3rd:       Justin Tingen, Moore, S.C., 10 bass, 27-13, $1,492
4th:        Spencer Sato, Gainesville, Ga., 10 bass, 25-13, $1,045
5th:        Wesley Sandifer, Chapin, S.C., 10 bass, 23-11, $895
6th:        Joe Anders, Easley, S.C., 10 bass, 23-5, $821
7th:        Scooter Ligon, Dahlonega, Ga., 10 bass, 22-1, $746
8th:        Alex Prince, Blue Ridge, Ga., 10 bass, 21-5, $671
9th:        Daulton Smith, Martin, Ga., 10 bass, 21-0, $597
10th:     Hayden Seabolt, Dawsonville, Ga., 10 bass, 19-12, $522

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Lucas Black of Saint Simons Island, Georgia, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 12 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $525.

Chris Wilson of Easley, South Carolina, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,500 Sunday, after bringing a two-day total of eight bass to the scale for 13 pounds, 3 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Chris Wilson, Easley, S.C., eight bass, 13-3, $2,500
2nd:       Corey Veal, Royston, Ga., seven bass, 12-11, $1,119
3rd:       Colby Elliott, Blairsville, Ga., seven bass, 12-1, $748
4th:        Mark Garrett, Walhalla, S.C., eight bass, 9-14, $622
5th:        Mark Yarborough, Salem, S.C., eight bass, 9-10, $448
6th:        Russell Woodson, Jonesville, S.C., six bass, 8-14, $410
7th:        Chris Worley, Eastanollee, Ga., five bass, 7-13, $373
8th:        Scott Gerbers, Blackstock, S.C., four bass, 7-9, $336
9th:        Brian Heredos, Simpsonville, S.C., five bass, 6-15, $298
10th:     David Allen, Mableton, Ga., four bass, 6-3, $261

Wilson also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $262, catching a bass that weighed in at 3 pounds, 15 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

With the qualifying season now concluded, Joe Anders of Easley, South Carolina, is the 2024 Fishing Clash Savannah River Division Angler of the Year (AOY) with 1,325 points and earned the $1,000 prize, while Todd Huntley of Inman, South Carolina, won the 2024 Fishing Clash Savannah River Division Co-angler of the Year title with 1,285 points and the $500 prize.

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

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

by AnglersChannel

Prairie du Chien’s Ritter Posts Sixth Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Mississippi River

Illinois’ McLemore Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, Wis. (Aug. 19, 2024) – Boater Jeff Ritter of Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, caught a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 14 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Mississippi River in Prairie du Chien. The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Great Lakes Division. Ritter earned $4,247 for his victory.

According to Ritter, heavy rains and prolonged high water on the Mississippi River earlier this summer led to some serious changes in the shallow-water cover that bass anglers are used to fishing.

“It happened right when our grass and pads should’ve been growing,” he said about the flood. “It was muddy, high water that lasted about a month, and it didn’t allow anything to grow well. It kinda stunk, but I like it now.”

As a result of the change, Ritter and others have had to scramble to either find grass and pads that did make it through, or adjust to fish other types of structure and cover. In the BFL, Ritter ran to a couple of large, shallow mud flats along the main slough in Pool 10. These were areas he fished the prior weekend in a team tournament without much luck. Things certainly turned around in the BFL, which Ritter credits to a couple variables.

First, the water had started dropping compared to last week’s tournament, when it had shot up about 8 inches due to storms. Second, the wind and overcast skies had the fish more active. Ritter also thinks the conditions prevented carp from sliding up to sun themselves in the shallow mud, which kept the carp from muddying the waters.

“They’re flats that normally would’ve had grass on them,” Ritter added. “But there’s not much grass. I caught a lot of fish on mud flats without much eye appeal. I don’t think many people got on it at all. I had everything I wanted to fish pretty much to myself.

“In all honesty, I was shocked to find the fish where I found them because of lack of cover. But as long as they eat, I don’t care.”

Ritter’s fish were scattered out and mostly relating to the edge of the flats, where there was a small drop. These areas were loaded with baitfish and swept with “pretty heavy current,” Ritter said.

“I was fishing anywhere from the boat being stuck to the bottom of the mud out to maybe in 2 feet of water,” he added. “They were really shallow.”

Covering water was key for Ritter, who used “a little bit of everything” to get bit, including a buzz bait, frog and Heddon Super Spook topwater.

The top 12 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Jeff Ritter, Prairie du Chien, Wis., five bass, 17-14, $4,247
2nd:       Rob Leidholdt, Milton, Wis., five bass, 17-4, $1,668
3rd:       Mike Brueggen, La Crosse, Wis., five bass, 16-12, $1,112
4th:        James Keller, Cuba City, Wis., five bass, 16-10, $779
5th:        Joseph Johnson, Maquoketa, Iowa, five bass, 16-8, $639
5th:        Marcus Livingston, Augusta, Wis., five bass, 16-8, $639
7th:        Tony Puelz, Garnavillo, Iowa, five bass, 16-7, $556
8th:        Justin Shepard, Lansing, Iowa, five bass, 16-6, $501
9th:        Mark Myers, Cedar Falls, Iowa, five bass, 16-3, $445
10th:     Tyler Fitch, Fall River, Wis., five bass, 15-15, $354
10th:     Austin Brimeyer, Dubuque, Iowa, five bass, 15-15, $354
10th:     Devon Dvorak, Keystone, Iowa, five bass, 15-15, $354

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Ritter caught a bass that weighed 4 pounds, 13 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $410.

Kenneth McLemore of Antioch, Illinois, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,668 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 15 pounds, 15 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Kenneth McLemore, Antioch, Ill., five bass, 15-15, $1,668
2nd:       Christopher Morgan, Greendale, Wis., five bass, 14-15, $696
2nd:       Lance Olson, Necedah, Wis., five bass, 14-15, $696
4th:        Tim Himsl, Moline, Ill., five bass, 14-9, $389
5th:        Terry Williams, Cedar Falls, Iowa, five bass, 14-1, $320
5th:        Jason Swanson, Waterloo, Iowa, five bass, 14-1, $320
7th:        Will Ahnen, Fennimore, Wis., five bass, 14-0, $428
8th:        Brian Brecka, Alma, Wis., five bass, 13-13, $455
9th:        Ma Xiong, Menomonee Falls, Wis., five bass, 13-6, $222
10th:     Matthew Vang, Milwaukee, Wis., five bass, 13-4, $195

Brian Brecka of Alma, Wisconsin, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $205, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 3 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

In addition to getting the tournament win, Jeff Ritter also leads the Fishing Clash Great Lakes Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 948 points after four events, while Jason Olson of Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, leads the Fishing Clash Great Lakes Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 953 points.

The next event for BFL Great Lakes Division anglers will be held Sept. 21-22, at the Mississippi River out of La Crosse, Wisconsin. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-12 BFL Regional tournament on 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.

by AnglersChannel

West Rutland’s Lavictoire Posts Fourth Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Champlain

Delaware’s Given Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (Aug. 19, 2024) – Boater Thomas Lavictoire Jr. of West Rutland, Vermont, caught a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Champlain . Hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau, the tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Northeast Division. Lavictoire earned $3,377 for his victory.

Lake Champlain is a legendary smallmouth fishery, and in this era of forward-facing sonar technology, it would not be surprising to hear that the Champlain BFL event was won scoping smallmouths with a jighead-minnow.

Of course, with all the focus on that approach, it leaves other opportunities open. And that’s exactly what Lavictoire exploited to get the W.

He said he “went solely for largemouth.”

“Largemouth have been ignored and have replenished, and if you get five of those you’re in good shape,” he said.

High winds challenged the field on Saturday, with 6- to 8-foot waves in some areas. Thankfully for Lavictoire, he had plenty of big-fish spots pegged up north. Though he had to run through some gnarly waves, he was mostly protected once he got to his areas.

“I fished from the ramp in Plattsburgh to Missisquoi Bay and back,” he said. “I mainly fished a jig all day. I fished a lot of rock and grass and a lot of boat docks, pilings, drop-offs, ledges – anything that I’ve fished in the past and caught big ones off of.”

Lavictoire ran a milk run of about 25 spots, mostly tossing a homemade jig (made by a buddy) that resembles a perch or bluegill. He thinks the biggest key was sticking to his game plan of avoiding chasing numbers of fish and targeting big bites.

“I think (the key was) mostly just putting myself in productive areas, ignoring the wind, ignoring the forward-facing sonar thing that everybody does and sticking with my game plan – the idea that if I get five big largemouth I can beat those smallmouth,” he said.

And, in case you were wondering, as exciting as it is to watch fish chase your lure on sonar, it’s also a pretty darn good time catching them by dragging or pitching a jig.

“It’s so much fun,” Lavictoire added. “So much fun.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Thomas Lavictoire Jr., West Rutland, Vt., five bass, 22-3, $3,377
2nd:       Jason Stoddard, St. Albans, Vt., five bass, 22-0, $1,689
3rd:       Jim Sweeney, West Dover, Vt., five bass, 19-4, $1,128
4th:        Ed Casey, Whiteford, Md., five bass, 19-0, $731
4th:        Jason Shipton, Muncy, Pa., five bass, 19-0, $731
6th:        Josh Kauffman, Marysville, Pa., five bass, 18-14, $1,091 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
6th:        Jared Phillips, Addison, N.Y., five bass, 18-14, $591
8th:        Stephen Draghi, Sparrow Bush, N.Y., five bass, 18-12, $507
9th:        Preston Vargo, Port Henry, N.Y., five bass, 18-10, $450
10th:     Christopher Sanno, Landisburg, Pa., five bass, 18-7, $809

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Christopher Sanno of Landisburg, Pennsylvania, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 1 ounce, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $415.

Randall Given of Laurel, Delaware, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,648 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 17 pounds, 5 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Randall Given, Laurel, Del., five bass, 17-5, $1,648
2nd:       Eric Reynolds, Bloomingburg, N.Y., five bass, 16-8, $824
3rd:       Scott Minch, Feasterville, Pa., five bass, 16-4, $549
4th:        Matthew Belmore, Indian Lake, N.Y., five bass, 15-15, $385
5th:        Michael Bell, Ogdensburg, N.Y., five bass, 15-13, $480
6th:        Michael Bahnweg, Union Dale, Pa., 15 - 11 (5)  $302
7th:        Shawn Minch, Feasterville, Pa., five bass, 15-3, $477
8th:        Melvin Smitson, Baltimore, Md., five bass, 15-2, $247
9th:        Brent Navari, Colchester, Vt., five bass, 15-1, $220
10th:     Hunter Navari, Colchester, Vt., five bass, 14-5, $192

Shawn Minch of Feasterville, Pennsylvania, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $202, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 12 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After three events, Christopher Sanno of Landisburg, Pennsylvania, leads the Fishing Clash Northeast Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 712 points, while Lenny Baird of Stafford, Virginia, leads the Fishing Clash Northeast Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 722 points.

The next event for BFL Northeast Division anglers was planned for Aug. 18 on Lake Champlain. That event was a makeup tournament for a previous event that was postponed. However, forecasts for high winds and unsafe conditions forced the Aug. 18 event to also be postponed. It will now be held Sept. 14 at the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. The next day, on Sept. 15, the BFL Northeast Division Super Tournament will also held on the Potomac River in Marbury. This will now be a one-day Super Tournament event. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

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

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

by AnglersChannel

Costa Sunglasses Announces Inaugural Costa Bass Derby

In partnership with Academy Sports + Outdoors, Costa invites anglers to Grand Lake, Oklahoma to participate in its first annual amateur-only bass tournament

JUPITER, Fla.  – (AUG 19, 2024) – Call your fishing partner, grab your Costas and register for Costa Sunglasses’ inaugural Costa Bass Derby – a bass fishing team tournament set to take place on Sunday, October 13, 2024, at beautiful Grand Lake in northeast Oklahoma. Hosted in partnership with Academy Sports + Outdoors, anglers from across the country are invited to partake in this tournament, which promises a $15,000 first-place payout and a weekend of fun, fellowship, and good fishing.

The tournament serves as an extension of Costa’s longtime support of bass fishing and its Compete + Conserve contingency program, that not only awards the highest placing angler wearing Costa Sunglasses in select tournament trails, but it also donates to freshwater conservation on the angler’s behalf.

“The bass fishing community is special to us, so when it came to figuring out a way to show our appreciation while always underscoring our commitment to conservation, the Costa Bass Derby was born," said Costa Sunglasses’ Brand Director, Jed Larkin. “We hope anglers of all skill levels will join us and Academy for the weekend on Grand Lake, where they will experience a great fishery, world-class facilities, and hopefully make some lasting memories on the water.”

Open to amateur teams only (see Rules), the tournament is highlighted by a $15,000 first-place prize, which includes a special $5,000 Costa Compete + Conserve bonus to the highest placing team with both anglers wearing Costa shades. Additionally, through Costa Compete + Conserve, a $1,000 donation will be made in the winning anglers’ names to one of five designated freshwater conservation organizations of their choice.

Entry fee is $200 per team with 100% payback. Upon registering for the tournament, each angler will receive an email with event information and an exclusive promo code for Costa products redeemable in-store at select Academy Sports + Outdoors locations.

Costa Sunglasses will be set up on Friday October 11th and Saturday October 12th at Academy’s 41st Street Tulsa location with product displays, exclusive in-store promotions for tournament participants, and insight on Costa’s latest frame and lens technology, including the new 580G® Gold Mirror lens.

Additionally on Saturday, Costa will host an optional Tournament Welcome / Registration at The Regatta on Grand. Here anglers can pick up swag bags (valued at $150 and guaranteed for the first 100 boats to register), be treated to dinner, meet & greet with Costa pros’, and enjoy some fellowship before a brief rules meeting.

The tournament will launch from Wolf Creek Park in Grove, OK at safe light (7:00AM) on October 13th and weigh-in will begin at 3:00PM.

To register for Costa Bass Derby visit costacompeteandconserve.com/bass-derby/.  Tournament registration closes October 6 and will be capped at 300 boats. Teams are limited to two anglers per boat, and at least one team member must own a pair of Costa Sunglasses and be registered for the free-to-enter Compete + Conserve contingency program. To register for Costa Compete + Conserve visit costacompeteandconserve.com.

To check out Costa Sunglasses’ full collection of performance, lifestyle and optical eyewear, and learn more about its commitment to conservation, visit costasunglasses.com.

About Costa Sunglasses: More than 40 years ago, a group of anglers created Costa Sunglasses to stand up to the harsh light, unforgiving salt and rough conditions of a day at sea. The gear they made was up to the task, and it’s been on the water ever since. Today, Costa combines its superior 580® lens technology with unparalleled fit and durability to make the highest-quality sunglasses and prescription eyewear for adventures on the water. Committed to protecting the watery world it calls home, sustainability and conservation is woven throughout everything they do. From building products made of responsible materials, to Costa-owned initiatives like Kick Plastic® and #OneCoast, and its partnerships with 40+ mission-aligned conservation organizations, Costa inspires its community to help protect the earth’s resources and #SeeWhatsOutThere. Find out more on Costa’s website and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter at @CostaSunglasses.

 

About Academy Sports + Outdoors: Academy is a leading full-line sporting goods and outdoor recreation retailer in the United States. Originally founded in 1938 as a family business in Texas, Academy has grown to 285 stores across 19 states. Academy's mission is to provide "Fun for All" and Academy fulfills this mission with a localized merchandising strategy and value proposition that strongly connects with a broad range of consumers. Academy's product assortment focuses on key categories of outdoor, apparel, sports & recreation and footwear through both leading national brands and a portfolio of private label brands. For more information, visit www.academy.com.

by AnglersChannel

Johnston claims second Bassmaster Elite Title with win at St. Lawrence River

Aug. 18, 2024

Elite_eventLogo_2024_StLawrenceRiver_Raster copy.jpgWADDINGTON, N.Y. —  On a day dimmed by clouds and rain, lightning struck a second time for Canadian superstar Cory Johnston.

After claiming his first blue trophy at the season’s fourth event at the St. Johns River, the pro from Otonabee, Canada, tallied 102 pounds and claimed the $100,000 top prize at the Humminbird Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River.

“It was a lot of hard work; I put a lot of time into this,” Johnston said. “I’ve said it 100 times, this is my favorite place to come, this is my favorite crowd with all my family and friends, all the Canadian support — and it’s a short drive home."

After placing fourth on Day 1 with 25 pounds, Day 2 saw Johnston add 27-7 and tie rookie Robert Gee for second. On Semifinal Saturday, Johnston weighed 24-14 and slipped back to second, 13 ounces behind Gee.

With Championship Sunday delivering 24-11, Johnston surged to the top and edged Gee by 1-9. Enhancing his victory, Johnston earned his second entry into the Bassmaster Century Club, which recognizes an angler for catching 100 pounds or more with four days of five-bass limits.

Notably, Johnston was the first angler to earn a Bassmaster Century Club Belt with all smallmouth by weighing a tournament total of 100-5 during the 2022 Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River. He finished second to Wisconsin’s Jay Przekurat, but Johnston weighed in before Przekurat and wrote his name in the record book.

All week, Johnston made a big run into Lake Ontario and did most of his work on an 80-yard stretch of bottom in 33 feet that was loaded with big smallmouth. The first two days brought calm conditions and fairly easy fishing, but Days 3 and 4 saw big winds roil the lake and severely challenge boat control and presentations.

Confident with what lives on that spot, Johnston said he was committed to his game plan.

“I screwed up here last year and spent too much time in the river the first day and blew my chances at winning,” said Johnston, who placed sixth in the 2023 Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River. “I said, ‘I’ll never make a cast in this river again. I don’t care if there are 12-footers in the lake.’

“There weren’t 12s, but there were 8s and 10s. I didn’t have a lot of fishing time — about three hours a day — but I made it worth it.”

Catching his fish on a drop shot, Johnston used a 6th Sense Party Minnow and a prototype 6th Sense minnow. He rigged his drop shot with a 3/8-ounce weight in all conditions but adjusted his presentations accordingly.

“The first two days, I couldn’t move the drop shot; I’d have to cast it out and let it sit there and that was it,” Johnston said. “The last two days, I’d cast it past them and drag it through them.”

Coming into the season with a trio of second-place finishes, Johnston was yearning for an Elite win.

“It’s been five years, and I hadn’t won (an Elite event) until this year,” Johnston said. “I’ve been close a few times and I just had a feeling. I told (Bassmaster Emcee Dave Mercer), ‘Florida’s not going to be the only one.’"

Sweetening the experience, Johnston’s younger brother Chris (who finished fourth) won the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year title with 758 points. The first Canadian to win a Bassmaster Elite Series tournament — the 2020 event at the St. Lawrence River — Johnston also owns the distinction of being the first Canadian to win the Bassmaster AOY title.

“It’s unbelievable,” Johnston said. “What more can you ask for? It’s been an incredible week, for sure.”

Gee, who makes his home in Knoxville, Tenn., spent most of Day 1 in Lake Ontario and caught a limit of 25-12. The next three days saw him lock onto what’s largely a St. Lawrence River community hole between Carleton Island and the main channel.

Focusing on a point with scattered boulders and breaks, Gee fished a jighead minnow rig with a 1/4-ounce head and a 5-inch bait. He turned in weights of 26-11, 25-11 and a final-round limit of 22-5. Gee’s 100-7 total earned the event’s other Century Club entry.

“I gave it all I had out there up against the two greatest smallmouth fishermen in the world (the Johnstons),” Gee said. “The fish just didn’t bite that well for me. The wind changed direction, so I didn’t get to present my bait directly with the current.

“It was kind of at an angle and I think that kind of threw them off because it wasn’t swimming true with the current.”

Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Ill., finished third with 98-9. His daily weights were 23-10, 25-10, 24-2 and 25-3.

McKinney, who won the Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year title, spent most of his time in the river and caught his fish on a jighead minnow rig with a Strike King Z-Too.

“Today I was out there working as hard as I could to try and catch ‘em,” McKinney said. “I feel absolutely blessed. I never thought I’d stand up here and catch another 25-pound bag.

“It’s an unbelievable fishery. I’d love to live closer.”

McKinney earned the $1,000 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award for Day 4 with his 5-9.

Joey Cifuentes III won the $1,000 Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the tournament honors with his 6-15. He also won the $1,000 daily award on Day 1.

Reigning Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors champion Justin Hamner, who finished 61st, won the $10,000 Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Year award for the 11-pound, 7-ounce giant he caught at the 2024 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork.

Chris Johnston won the $2,000 CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament award with his 29-5 Day 3 limit.

McKinney also took home an additional $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, while Drew Benton earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Gee earned an additional $4,000 while McKinney claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

The St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce hosted the tournament.

 

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, Twitter and TikTok.

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

 

2024 Humminbird Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River 8/15-8/18
St. Lawrence River, Waddington  NY.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4

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

1.  Cory Johnston          Otonabee CANADA         20 102-00  103 $130,000.00
Day 1: 5   25-00     Day 2: 5   27-07     Day 3: 5   24-14     Day 4: 5   24-11
2.  Robert Gee             Knoxville, TN           20 100-07  102  $45,000.00
Day 1: 5   25-12     Day 2: 5   26-11     Day 3: 5   25-11     Day 4: 5   22-05
3.  Trey McKinney          Carbondale, IL          20  98-09  101  $76,000.00
Day 1: 5   23-10     Day 2: 5   25-10     Day 3: 5   24-02     Day 4: 5   25-03
4.  Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA 20  96-02  100 $128,000.00
Day 1: 5   23-02     Day 2: 5   20-11     Day 3: 5   29-05     Day 4: 5   23-00
5.  Jordan Lee             Cullman, AL             20  93-00   99  $35,000.00
Day 1: 5   22-00     Day 2: 5   23-00     Day 3: 5   27-13     Day 4: 5   20-03
6.  Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC             20  92-13   98  $25,000.00
Day 1: 5   24-13     Day 2: 5   25-12     Day 3: 5   20-06     Day 4: 5   21-14
7.  Drew Benton            Panama City, FL         20  91-12   97  $28,000.00
Day 1: 5   24-04     Day 2: 5   23-07     Day 3: 5   21-07     Day 4: 5   22-10
8.  Patrick Walters        Eutawville, SC          20  89-14   96  $27,000.00
Day 1: 5   24-12     Day 2: 5   24-03     Day 3: 5   20-07     Day 4: 5   20-08
9.  Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA          20  87-03   95  $26,000.00
Day 1: 5   24-02     Day 2: 5   23-09     Day 3: 5   20-13     Day 4: 5   18-11
10. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 20  83-10   94  $15,000.00
Day 1: 5   22-15     Day 2: 5   21-08     Day 3: 5   25-15     Day 4: 5   13-04
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1   Joey Cifuentes III       Clinton, AR         06-15      $1,000.00
2   Shane LeHew              Catawba, NC         06-12      $1,000.00
3   Chris Johnston           Otonabee Ontario CANADA06-07      $1,000.00
4   Trey McKinney            Carbondale, IL      05-09      $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Joey Cifuentes III       Clinton, AR         06-15      $2,000.00
CRUSHCITY MONSTER BAG

Chris Johnston           Otonabee,           29-05      $2,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        96       491      2000-08
2        98       494      2015-09
3        48       248      1003-11
4        10        50       212-05
----------------------------------
252      1283      5232-01

by AnglersChannel

Johnston takes Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year title with big rally

Aug. 17, 2024

AOY_Progressive_Bassmaster_4C.pngWADDINGTON, N.Y. — After finishing in 31st place Friday, his second-straight frustrating day on the St. Lawrence River, Chris Johnston still managed a smile.

“I might have one trick up my sleeve still,” Johnston said. “I haven’t practiced it. I’m just going to wing it. I have nothing to lose now. I can fish with no pressure. I know there’s big ones that live there. I hope the wind makes them bite a little better.”

Man, did he ever wing it, rallying with 29 pounds, 5 ounces – the biggest five-bass limit of the tournament so far – and clinched the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year title in the process.

“You have no idea how much stress I was under the last couple of days,” said the 35-year-old Johnston, who is from Otonabee, Ontario. “Everything that could have gone wrong did. A couple of nights I didn’t get to sleep until like one in the morning.

“I got a lot of gray hairs these last three days. I think when I started this year, I didn’t have one. But they’re coming in thick now.”

Johnston was in unfamiliar territory after the first two days of this tournament. In five previous Elite Series events here – 20 competition days – he’d finished in the Top 10 every day and was in the Top 3 on 15 of those 20 days. He became the first Canadian to win an Elite Series tournament in 2020 when he won on the St. Lawrence.

So, when he fell from 16th place on Day 1 to 31st place on Day 2, Thursday and Friday, Johnston was in unfamiliar territory. The trick he had up his sleeve was going to a couple of places near the mouth of the St. Lawrence River, where he’d had much success in the past.

“I got spun out the last couple of days,” Johnston said. “I had too much going through my mind, thinking about where I needed to go to catch the 27 or 28 pounds that live out here. Today, I just said, ‘You know what? It’s too rough on the lake, and I know two spots in the river that have the potential to get the 25 or 30 pounds that I need.’”

Coming into this tournament Justin Hamner, the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors champion, was leading the AOY standings by 13 points over Johnston and 19 points over Jacob Foutz, the third-year pro from Charleston, Tenn. Hamner, who is from Northport, Ala., fell out of the running when he finished 61st on Friday and missed the Day 2/Top 50 cut.

Foutz finished Friday in ninth place but was only 3½ pounds ahead of Johnston in the tightly packed standings. Saturday’s rough water on Lake Ontario kept Foutz from repeating his success of the previous two days. One year ago, he was on the edge of failing to requalify for the Elite Series.

“It’s been an incredible year just have a chance at AOY the last few days of the year,” said Foutz, who weighed only 14-9 Saturday and fell to 35th place. “This time last year I didn’t know if I was going to be back on this stage. Just to turn it around is awesome.

“I feel like I’ve just scratched the surface of this whole deal. It’s been a heck of a year. I have no complaints.”

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, Twitter and TikTok.

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

by AnglersChannel

Gee takes slim lead on Day 3 at Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River

Aug. 17, 2024

Elite_eventLogo_2024_StLawrenceRiver_Raster copy.jpgWADDINGTON, N.Y. —  Rookie standout Robert Gee distanced himself from seasoned veteran Cory Johnston geographically and, more importantly, statistically to tally a 3-day total of 78 pounds, 2 ounces and take over the Day 3 lead at the Humminbird Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River.

Day 2 found Gee and Johnston tied for the top spot with 52-7 each. Now, the young angler from Knoxville, Tenn., heads into Championship Sunday with a 13-ounce lead over Johnston.

“It’s been a blessing; everything’s just going right, and I can’t do anything wrong,” Gee said. “I’m going to keep riding this train as far as it will take me and just give God the glory."

Chris Johnston, Cory’s younger brother, won the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year title with 758 points. The first Canadian to win a Bassmaster Elite Series tournament — the 2020 event at the St. Lawrence River — Johnston also owns the distinction of being the first Canadian to win the Bassmaster AOY title. For this honor, he claimed a top prize of $100,000.

“I couldn’t have done it in a better place,” Johnston said. “Waddington has been great to me.”

Making his home in Otonabee, Ontario, Johnston posted a Day 1 weight of 23-2 and landed in a three-way tie for 15th place with Keith Combs and Jake Whitaker. Johnston added 20-11 on Day 2 and slipped to 31st.

Righting the ship, Johnston caught a Semi-Final Saturday limit of 29-5 and tied California pro Bryant Smith for the largest limit of smallmouth caught in a B.A.S.S. event. Smith set his mark at last year’s St. Lawrence event.

“I remembered how to catch bass today and man, did it ever feel good,” said Johnston, who sits in fourth place with 73-02. “I got spun out the past two days with just too much going through my mind. I was thinking about where I need to run to catch 27 to 28 pounds.

“Today I said, ‘It’s too rough on the lake and I know two spots in the river that have the potential to get the 25 to 30 pounds I need. I put my head down and just went fishing. It’s amazing what happens when you just go grinding.”

Gee, who has notched three Top 10s in his first Elite season (second at Smith Lake, third last week at Champlain and fourth at the season-opener at Toledo Bend), spent most of his first day in Lake Ontario and caught a second-place limit of 25-12.

Shifting gears, he did all of his second-round work just inside the river, where he targeted isolated boulders and shelves along a point running out from Carleton Island. This spot yielded 26-11 — Gee’s personal best smallmouth limit.

Returning to his river deal, Gee added a third-round limit of 25-11.

“I’m on probably the best spot in the river,” Gee said. “I’m going to sit there all day and hopefully I can catch five, because they’re all big.”

Noting that his spot has been loaded with hefty fish, Gee attributes the mix of quality and quantity to a vibrant habitat.

“There’s a lot of life on that spot; there’s a lot of drum, there’s a lot of carp and there’s a lot of bait,” Gee said. “There’s a lot of gobies, too, because I’ve seen them rise up off the bottom and come check out my bait.

“It’s the first main big point facing into the current at the mouth of the lake. It’s just a money hole.”

Gee said he has been rotating through about seven waypoints in the general area. He’s catching his fish on a jighead minnow rig with a 5-inch bait that mimics the gobies.

“They sit on those rocks and shelves, and I just go down and go back, go down and go back,” Gee said. “I have to keep the bait above the fish for them to bite it."

Also hailing from Otonabee, Ontario, Cory Johnston braved the huge waves of a wind-whipped Lake Ontario to sack up a third-round limit of 24-14. Along with his first two days’ limits of 25-0 and 27-7, Johnston sits in second with 77-5.

“It was as big as I’ve ever seen it out there,” Johnston said of the lake’s turbulence. “There were definitely some 10-foot (waves); lots of 8s and lots of 6s. It made things really difficult, but we managed to catch five of the right ones.

“I’m going to go out there tomorrow and do it again. I came back probably 40 minutes early, so I’m going to have an extra 40 minutes tomorrow. We’ll see if we can go catch five great big ones.”

Johnston, who won the year’s fourth Elite at the St. Johns River, has been targeting an 80-yard stretch of bottom in about 40 feet. He’s rotating through four different baits and has caught fish on each.

Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Ill., is in third with 73-6. Turning in daily weights of 23-10, 25-10 and 24-2, McKinney stayed in the St. Lawrence and caught his fish on drop shots and a jighead minnow rig with a Strike King Baby Z Too in Tennessee Shad.

With this performance, McKinney secured the Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year title with 734 points and collected the $10,000 award.

After becoming the youngest angler to win an Elite title in the season’s second event at Lake Fork, the 19-year-old McKinney was disqualified from the Smith Lake Elite tournament for a rules violation. Taking his year’s totality into consideration, McKinney said he considers it all a learning experience.

“To see the highs and lows this year, this (award) means so much,” McKinney said. “This rookie class is so good, it’s an absolute honor.”

Chris Johnston earned the $1,000 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award for Day 3 with his 6-7.

Joey Cifuentes III is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the tournament honors with his 6-15.

Chris Johnston leads the CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament standings with his 29-5.

The Top 10 anglers advance to Championship Sunday. In addition to the $100,000 top prize, the winner earns an invitation to fish the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors March 21-23 on Lake Ray Roberts in Fort Worth, Texas.

Sunday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at Whitaker Park. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 3 p.m.

Coverage of the Humminbird Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River will air on FS1 on Sunday on FS2 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET. Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com.

The St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the tournament.

 

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, Twitter and TikTok.

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

by AnglersChannel

Fishin' Tip Friday: It Takes Hard Work on AND OFF the Water

By Vance McCullough - AC Insider

Today’s Fishin’ Tip is tailored to those who want to pursue our sport at the highest level as a professional angler. It’s based on my experience as a veteran writer/photographer who has worked with all the greatest names in the game along with some disappointing ‘wannabes’.

The job of a professional angler extends well beyond the water.

Sure, you need to catch fish, but the real value of a tournament pro is the interaction with fans and the media on behalf of their sponsors – the face they put on that company.

A lot of folks understand this, so why bring it up? Because, trust me, there are anglers out there who still don’t get it. At the highest levels of our sport, these guys would be the exception though. Most successful pros have figured out how to remain relevant even when they aren’t sacking winning bags of bass.

Among the greatest examples of this:

I was covering a Bassmaster Classic years ago. It was Media Day, our equivalent of speed dating wherein we make the rounds and talk with anglers prior to Day 1 of actual competition. I had generated more content than I could use. In fact, I was the 4th-to-last person exiting the building, security guards creeping ever closer, giving me the side eye. The remaining three people? A Japanese reporter, his interpreter and one Mike Iaconelli.

Ike gets it.

The man deserves every good thing he gets from the fishing industry, off the water, and the fishing gods, on the water.

As this story predates the MLF/B.A.S.S. split, all the greatest pros were assembled at this Media Day, and most had done their usual stellar job of fielding questions and posing for pictures. Most were ready to go rig up some tackle and get some much-needed rest. We all felt it.

But there was Ike, full of energy and intently focused on his interviewer, giving deep, well thought out answers, helping people across the Pacific Ocean catch more bass.

This is the true value of a professional.

Even if a pro wins a big tournament, next week it’s somebody else’s turn in the spotlight. Now what does he bring to the party? What value has he? A wise angler invests in the community of anglers, worldwide, as much as he does in himself.

Ike has won the Bassmaster Classic. He has won B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year. Yet, there are spectacular anglers, great teachers, who have maintained a profitable stable of sponsors for decades without ever taking first place in a major bass tournament.

Those guys understand the assignment. And they execute. They engage with the fishing public. They help people catch more fish, often by enjoying their sponsors’ products designed to help them do so.

More recently I covered a Bassmaster Elite Series tournament. I watched these anglers prepare for each day and then launch their boats. On the final morning, as the Top 10 prepared to launch, I was shocked at how unprepared one of them was. The guy hasn’t been on the Elite Series for very long. And according to the current AOY standings, he may not be for much longer. Long story short, his lack of preparation the night before led to him making himself unavailable for even a short interview on the most important morning of the week – one of the biggest weeks of his young career.

Contrast that with the work ethic of the aforementioned Mike Iaconelli who cut a check that week but missed the final cut. The morning before the final day he had rolled up, backed his boat down, opened the door, saw me standing beside the ramp and volunteered, “hey, man! Do you need me to knock out a quick video?”

Ike looked fresh, ready to take on the day. Before his butt left his truck seat, he filmed two perfect, concise videos to welcome viewers to Day 3 and give a polite nod to his sponsors by mentioning how a particular product or two might come into play under the changing weather conditions.

If you want to succeed as a professional angler, yes, practice the craft of fishing. Then get ready to really get to work. It’s not hard to do. It’s just a mindset. Share your love of fishing with fans in-person as well as through the camera lenses of the media who will take it to all of those who would love to be there but can’t be.

by AnglersChannel

2024 Anglers' Choice Award Voting Starts Sunday

ARE YOU READY TO VOTE FOR THE 2024 ANGLERS' CHOICE AWARD?
One of the most anticipated events each year at ICAST – the world’s largest recreational fishing trade show – is the New Product Showcase featuring hundreds of the latest fishing products. Everyone loves checking out the latest rods, reels and gear that debut at the show. Only 41 products win a “Best of Category” trophy and only one receives the overall “Best of Show” award.

NOW IT'S YOUR TURN TO PICK A FAVORITE

Back again for the third year, anglers everywhere are invited to join in the excitement that defines ICAST and pick their favorite new product for the ICAST 2024 Anglers’ Choice Award. This coveted new award is chosen by anglers and your chance to cast your vote is coming soon!

Voting will open at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 18, Eastern Daylight Time, and closes at midnight on Saturday, August 24, Pacific Daylight Time.

Between now and Sunday, take some time to review the 41 best of category awards and the instructions for voting below.
How to Vote for the ICAST 2024 Anglers’ Choice Award

Please follow these simple steps:

  • Go to the Map Your Show page to create a show planner with your unique email address. Setting up your MYS Planner is simple and takes just a few minutes.
  • When voting starts on August 18, you'll be able to click the “Start Voting” button at the top of the page and select your product. Note: you must be signed in to submit a vote.

In the meantime, check out all the ICAST 2024 Best of Category and Best of Show award winners on the ICAST website.

by AnglersChannel

BAM Trail is excited to unveil its 2025 Pro-Am schedule

This year’s trail hits the top Western fisheries at the prime times of the year, offering anglers opportunities to showcase their skills.

BAM Trail 2025 Two Divisions, Five Exciting Events

For the first time, the BAM Trail will operate two divisions: Pacific Northwest and West, with a total of five exciting events. Lake Shasta will serve as a dual qualifier, (one single entry fee) allowing competitors to earn points in both divisions.

The season kicks off at Lake Shasta from January 24 to 26, immediately following the Sacramento ISE Sports Show. From there, the West Division continues to New Melones from February 21 to 23 and concludes on the California Delta from May 30 to June 1.

BAM Trail Pacific Northwest Division: New Waters Await

The Pacific Northwest Division also begins at Lake Shasta in January, setting the stage for fierce competition. After Shasta, the tour will move to a top-tier lake in Washington, Oregon, or Idaho from June 27 to 29 (location to be announced soon). The division wraps up with a thrilling event on the Columbia River at Boardman.

BAM Trail Championship Event: Lake Almanor in September

The 2025 BAM Trail season will culminate in the Pro-Am Championship, a televised event held at Lake Almanor from September 19 to 21. This finale will feature anglers targeting smallmouth bass, promising a spectacular showdown to the season’s champion.

Stay tuned as the BAM Trail continues to grow, bringing exciting new opportunities and unforgettable moments to anglers across the West and Pacific Northwest.

 

 

For more information, visit www.bamtrail.com and follow us on social media for updates and announcements.

About BAM Tournament Trail

The  Bass Angler Magazine Tournament Trail (BAM Trail) is an exclusive west coast pro level tournament circuit. BAM TT delivers multiple opportunities to showcase the talents of western anglers on several professional platforms.

As the BAM Trail continues to evolve it provides a platform of elite events for competitive anglers. The trail creates a logical avenue for sponsors to have direct contact with our West Coast anglers.

by AnglersChannel

Ito gets the right bites to lead Day 1 at Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River

Aug. 15, 2024

Elite_eventLogo_2024_StLawrenceRiver_Raster copy.jpgWADDINGTON, N.Y. — It was a case of quality over quantity, but Japanese superstar Taku Ito was just fine with the 5-bass limit of 26 pounds, 2 ounces that leads Day 1 of the Humminbird Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River.

Ito, who won the 2021 St. Lawrence Elite event — also run out of Waddington — and claimed his second blue trophy June 30 at Smith Lake, heads into Day 2 with a 6-ounce margin over rookie Robert Gee.

One of the highlight reel moments from Ito’s first Elite win was his crowd-pleasing tale of finding a brown-fish-laden spot he named “Smallmouth Disneyland.” The Lake Ontario goldmine that yielded a 26-pound Championship Sunday limit held so many fish that Ito claimed he got downright picky about only targeting the bigger fish on his screen.

Flash forward three years and Ito said he saw fewer fish, but the ones he saw were the ones he needed.

“The fish were alone today; I couldn’t find (schools) of bass,” said Ito, who makes his home in Chiba, Japan. “I only caught six or seven bass. It was so hard, but they were big ones.

“I think the 3-pounders and 2-pounders are schooling, but the 5- and 6-pounders are always alone.”

Making the 80-plus-mile run to Lake Ontario, Ito fished in 15 to 35 feet of water and looked for scattered rock bottom throughout a 2-mile area. This habitat, he said, holds lots of crawfish, which he believes attracts the bigger fish.

“I used the trolling motor a lot and went everywhere shallow to deep,” Ito said. “When I’d finally find a fish, it was very simple: Cast, hold, shake, bite; easy.

“My area is not perfect. There are (fresher) areas somewhere, but I like the crawfish-eaters. They are swimming very close to the bottom.”

Anchoring his bag with a 6-pounder, Ito said he made a few casts with a Neko rig but ended up catching the majority of his fish on a drop shot. Using a 1/2-ounce weight, Ito tied his drop shot with an 18-inch leader — a detail he believes made a strategic difference in his presentations.

“With a short leader, casting accuracy is good, but a longer leader makes a softer fall and that’s (more stealthy),” Ito said. “When I cast, the fish find the bait (higher in the water column) and with a soft fall, I’ll get a bite.”

With Day 1 bringing mostly calm conditions and Friday’s forecast showing a similar complexion, Ito’s hoping to stack his numbers ahead of what’s expected to become a rougher weekend.

“For my fish, calm weather is good, because they’re swimming close to the bottom,” Ito said. “But in big waves I can’t see them.

“I have a couple of areas that I didn’t check today, so I will find some spots if (the weekend brings rough weather). I’m in a big area, so I’m always looking around.”

Hailing from Knoxville, Tenn., Gee is in second place with 25-12. Doing most of his work in the lake with a drop shot, Gee ended his day by fishing areas close to takeoff. All of his weight came from Lake Ontario.

“I stayed on one spot (in the lake) all day long, caught what I caught by noon and then ran back and threw a spinnerbait around Waddington,” he said.

Gee said he matched his drop shot baits to the gobies and crawfish he believes the big fish are eating.

Notably, Gee finished second to Ito at Smith Lake. Suffice to say, he’s planning to even the score, but he knows that doing so will require a crafty plan.

“The fish are very, very smart here now,” Gee said. “The first time I came here in 2019 for a college tournament, they would meet your drop shot halfway before it got to the bottom and catch it. Now, they’ve been fished for so much, it’s really tough to get them to bite.”

Kyoya Fujita of Yamanishi, Japan, is in third place with 25-8. Fujita, who won the season opener at Toledo Bend Reservoir, fished the mouth of Lake Ontario and caught his fish on a drop shot.

Speaking through a translator, Ito said he fished clean and did not lose any bass. Fujita also noted that he’s optimistic about his position and his potential.

“I’m only 10 ounces behind the leader, and there is a big chance that I can catch 30 pounds (on Day 2),” he said. “It can happen. I just have to have the big fish bite tomorrow and I’m going to go for it.”

Joey Cifuentes III is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 6-15.

Ito leads the CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament standings.

Jacob Foutz of Charleston, Tenn., leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 749 points. Chris Johnston of Otonabee, Canada, is in second with 747, followed by reigning Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors champion Justin Hamner of Northport, Ala., with 746, Cory Johnston of Otonabee, Canada, with 730, and Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Ill., with 724.

McKinney leads the Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year standings with 724 points.

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at Whittaker Park. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 3 p.m.

Coverage of the Humminbird Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River will air on FS1 on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET and Sunday on FS2 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com all four days.

The St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the tournament.

 

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, Twitter and TikTok.

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

 

2024 Humminbird Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River 8/15-8/18
St. Lawrence River, Waddington  NY.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

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

1.  Taku Ito               Dalton GA JAPAN          5  26-02  103
Day 1: 5   26-02
2.  Robert Gee             Knoxville, TN            5  25-12  102
Day 1: 5   25-12
3.  Kyoya Fujita           Yamanashi CA JAPAN       5  25-08  101
Day 1: 5   25-08
4.  Cory Johnston          Otonabee CANADA          5  25-00  100
Day 1: 5   25-00
5.  Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC              5  24-13   99
Day 1: 5   24-13
6.  Patrick Walters        Eutawville, SC           5  24-12   98
Day 1: 5   24-12
7.  Jacob Foutz            Charleston, TN           5  24-07   97
Day 1: 5   24-07
8.  Drew Benton            Panama City, FL          5  24-04   96
Day 1: 5   24-04
9.  Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA           5  24-02   95
Day 1: 5   24-02
10. Joey Cifuentes III     Clinton, AR              5  24-01   94   $1,000.00
Day 1: 5   24-01
11. Alex Wetherell         Middletown, CT           5  23-12   93
Day 1: 5   23-12
12. Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY              5  23-11   92
Day 1: 5   23-11
13. Trey McKinney          Carbondale, IL           5  23-10   91
Day 1: 5   23-10
14. Wesley Gore            Clanton, AL              5  23-04   90
Day 1: 5   23-04
15. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX           5  23-02   89
Day 1: 5   23-02
15. Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA  5  23-02   89
Day 1: 5   23-02
15. Jake Whitaker          Hendersonville, NC       5  23-02   89
Day 1: 5   23-02
18. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland TN AUSTRALIA  5  22-15   86
Day 1: 5   22-15
19. Jeff Gustafson         Kenora, ON Ontario CANA  5  22-09   85
Day 1: 5   22-09
19. Bryan New              Leesville, SC            5  22-09   85
Day 1: 5   22-09
21. Kyle Norsetter         Cottage Grove, WI        5  22-08   83
Day 1: 5   22-08
22. Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL            5  22-08   82
Day 1: 5   22-08
23. Jonathan Kelley        Old Forge, PA            5  22-07   81
Day 1: 5   22-07
24. Timothy Dube           Nashua , NH              5  22-06   80
Day 1: 5   22-06
24. Logan Parks            Auburn, AL               5  22-06   80
Day 1: 5   22-06
26. Drew Cook              Cairo, GA                5  22-05   78
Day 1: 5   22-05
27. Clark Wendlandt        Leander, TX              5  22-03   77
Day 1: 5   22-03
28. Bryant Smith           Roseville, CA            5  22-02   76
Day 1: 5   22-02
29. Justin Hamner          Northport, AL            5  22-01   75
Day 1: 5   22-01
29. Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA  5  22-01   75
Day 1: 5   22-01
31. Jordan Lee             Cullman, AL              5  22-00   73
Day 1: 5   22-00
32. Tyler Williams         Belgrade, ME             5  21-14   72
Day 1: 5   21-14
33. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT            5  21-13   71
Day 1: 5   21-13
33. Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK             5  21-13   71
Day 1: 5   21-13
35. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD                5  21-13   69
Day 1: 5   21-13
36. John Garrett           Union City, TN           5  21-12   68
Day 1: 5   21-12
37. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL              5  21-11   67
Day 1: 5   21-11
38. Cole Sands             Calhoun , TN             5  21-10   66
Day 1: 5   21-10
39. Cody Huff              Ava, MO                  5  21-09   65
Day 1: 5   21-09
40. Ben Milliken           New Caney, TX            5  21-08   64
Day 1: 5   21-08
40. Hunter Shryock         Ooltewah, TN             5  21-08   64
Day 1: 5   21-08
42. Justin Atkins          Florence, AL             5  21-07   62
Day 1: 5   21-07
43. JT Thompkins           Myrtle Beach, SC         5  21-06   61
Day 1: 5   21-06
44. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN         5  21-05   60
Day 1: 5   21-05
45. Kenta Kimura           Osaka OK JAPAN           5  21-01   59
Day 1: 5   21-01
45. Pat Schlapper          Eleva, WI                5  21-01   59
Day 1: 5   21-01
47. Scott Canterbury       Odenville, AL            5  21-00   57
Day 1: 5   21-00
48. Seth Feider            New Market, MN           5  20-14   56
Day 1: 5   20-14
49. Logan Latuso           Gonzales, LA             5  20-13   55
Day 1: 5   20-13
50. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR               5  20-12   54
Day 1: 5   20-12
51. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA             5  20-10   53
Day 1: 5   20-10
52. Matt Arey              Shelby, NC               5  20-09   52
Day 1: 5   20-09
53. Will Davis Jr          Sylacauga, AL            5  20-07   51
Day 1: 5   20-07
53. Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX              5  20-07   51
Day 1: 5   20-07
53. Mike Huff              London, KY               5  20-07   51
Day 1: 5   20-07
56. Jay Przekurat          Plover, WI               5  20-04   48
Day 1: 5   20-04
57. John Soukup            Sapulpa, OK              5  20-02   47
Day 1: 5   20-02
58. KJ Queen               Catawba, NC              5  20-00   46
Day 1: 5   20-00
59. Ed Loughran III        Richmond, VA             5  19-15   45
Day 1: 5   19-15
60. Kyle Patrick           Cooperstown, NY          5  19-12   44
Day 1: 5   19-12
60. Chris Zaldain          Fort Worth, TX           5  19-12   44
Day 1: 5   19-12
62. Kyle Welcher           Valley, AL               5  19-11   42
Day 1: 5   19-11
63. Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ            5  19-10   41
Day 1: 5   19-10
63. Caleb Kuphall          Mukwonago, WI            5  19-10   41
Day 1: 5   19-10
65. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                  5  19-08   39
Day 1: 5   19-08
65. Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY              5  19-08    0
Day 1: 5   19-08
67. Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA             5  19-05   37
Day 1: 5   19-05
68. Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS         5  19-03   36
Day 1: 5   19-03
69. Frank Talley           Belton, TX               5  19-02   35
Day 1: 5   19-02
70. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC           5  18-15   34
Day 1: 5   18-15
71. Austin Felix           Eden Prairie, MN         5  18-14   33
Day 1: 5   18-14
71. Marc Frazier           Newnan, GA               5  18-14   33
Day 1: 5   18-14
73. Todd Auten             Clover, SC               5  18-12   31
Day 1: 5   18-12
74. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY              5  18-11   30
Day 1: 5   18-11
75. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN           5  18-10   29
Day 1: 5   18-10
76. Michael Iaconelli      Pitts Grove, NJ          5  18-10   28
Day 1: 5   18-10
77. Koby Kreiger           Alva, FL                 5  18-08   27
Day 1: 5   18-08
78. John Cox               Debary, FL               5  18-05   26
Day 1: 5   18-05
79. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL               5  18-04   25
Day 1: 5   18-04
80. Brad Whatley           Bivins, TX               5  18-03   24
Day 1: 5   18-03
81. Jason Williamson       Aiken, SC                5  18-01   23
Day 1: 5   18-01
82. Joseph Webster         Hamilton, AL             5  18-00   22
Day 1: 5   18-00
83. Lee Livesay            Longview, TX             5  17-11   21
Day 1: 5   17-11
84. Chad Pipkens           Dewitt, MI               5  17-09   20
Day 1: 5   17-09
85. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL          5  17-07   19
Day 1: 5   17-07
86. Wes Logan              Springville, AL          5  17-06   18
Day 1: 5   17-06
87. David Gaston           Sylacauga, AL            5  17-05   17
Day 1: 5   17-05
88. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA                5  16-11   16
Day 1: 5   16-11
89. Bob Downey             Detroit Lakes, MN        5  16-11   15
Day 1: 5   16-11
90. Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC            5  16-07   14
Day 1: 5   16-07
91. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL         5  16-03   13
Day 1: 5   16-03
92. Matty Wong             Honolulu, HI             5  15-12   12
Day 1: 5   15-12
93. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL             5  15-05   11
Day 1: 5   15-05
94. Jason Christie         Dry Creek, OK            4  14-06   10
Day 1: 4   14-06
95. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN            5  14-05    9
Day 1: 5   14-05
96. Buddy Gross            Chattanooga, TN          5  12-13    8
Day 1: 5   12-13
97. Brandon Card           Salisbury, NC            4  12-02    7
Day 1: 4   12-02
98. Cooper Gallant         Bowmanville Ontario CAN  5  11-13    6
Day 1: 5   11-13
99. Alex Redwine           Blue Ash, OH             5  11-01    5
Day 1: 5   11-01
100. Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID             3  10-04    4
Day 1: 3   10-04
101. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ               0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1   Joey Cifuentes III       Clinton, AR         06-15      $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        97       496      2021-14
----------------------------------
97       496      2021-14

by AnglersChannel

Shallow bite could be key to success at Bassmaster College National Championship

August 15, 2024

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ANDERSON, S.C. — Lake Hartwell is no stranger to big events, and this year the best college anglers from across the country will take center stage for the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. According to Sean Clayton, who fishes the Tackle Warehouse Elite Qualifiers division of the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by SEVIIN, there will be several different bites anglers can chase.

“There’s going to be fish on the bank, offshore and everywhere in between,” the Seneca, S.C., native said. “It is going to be really interesting. It could be anyone's ball game.”

Tournament dates are scheduled for Aug. 22-24, with daily takeoffs and weigh-ins scheduled to happen at Green Pond Landing each day. The full field will compete the first two days before the Top 12 anglers advance to the championship round.

Teams will not only be competing for the first-place prize, but also a coveted spot in the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s, a head-to-head style competition that will send the winner to the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail has seen many different faces of Lake Hartwell over the years, from freezing-cold spring Classics to the late-fall feed. Will Davis Jr. won the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Hartwell last October with a three-day total of 45 pounds, 6 ounces.

Clayton expects the three-day winning weight to be about the same, but he thinks it could be more if a team can unlock a shallow largemouth bite around docks and laydowns. Those largemouth will be feeding on bluegill and will fall for wacky-rigged worms, a variety of topwaters and a frog.

“If someone finds them shallow, they are going to blow them out because a lot of people are going to be offshore and those bass are going to be pressured,” Clayton said. “So, if someone can unlock the code to the shallow bite that will be the team to watch.”

While plenty of big largemouth swim in Hartwell, the growing population and size of the spotted bass get much of the attention. Those spotted bass, along with some largemouth, will chase blueback herring over cane piles, clay points and standing timber.

Topwater baits and Flukes will be some of the best options for the offshore bass.

“Offshore, it is all about the herring,” Clayton said. “We’ve been catching them offshore like that for months now. But they will still bite.”

With either strategy, Hartwell provides a giant playing field and teams should be able to find plenty of real estate to fish.

“Generally speaking, if it is won offshore, it is won below Sadlers Creek toward the dam,” Clayton said. “If it is won shallow, it is won up either the Seneca or the Tugaloo.”

The tournament is being hosted by Visit Anderson.

2024 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King

2024 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops

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]

by AnglersChannel

Anglers eagerly eye diverse waters as Bassmaster Opens head to Leech Lake for the first time

August 15, 2024

Opens_StCroix_Sevin_4C-RASTER.png

WALKER, Minn. — Leech Lake might not be the final frontier, but it’s certainly the first time B.A.S.S. has visited the remote fishery in northern Minnesota.

Leech is far from the great unknown, however, at least to bass anglers here on the fringe of America’s Midwest. To hear them talk, it’s been a destination lake of sorts for several decades now, despite the fact that it’s closer to Canada’s southern border than it is to the state capital of St. Paul (sister city of Minneapolis about 3½ hours southeast).

Competitors from around North America and beyond will get an up close and personal look at the place Aug. 22-24 for the 2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake presented by SEVIIN. It’s the second Division 3 Bassmaster Open of the season, and as many as 225 competitors are expected to battle for some career-defining accolades.

The winner’s bounty includes a berth in the 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors when it’s held March 21-23 at Lake Ray Roberts in Fort Worth, Texas. There will be as much as $332,550 in prize money split between the top participants at Leech and some, who are fishing each of this year’s nine Bassmaster Opens, will be vying for crucial points in the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers (EQ) standings. The top nine anglers who fish in each of the nine Opens in 2024 will qualify for the Bassmaster Elite Series, which opens a world of opportunity to pro anglers.

But before anyone can start focusing on those spoils, they’ll have to conquer Leech, which area pros say provides competitors a buffet of choices to whet a bass angler’s appetite.

“Leech is one of our bigger lakes,” said Minnesota pro Josh Douglas, who is no stranger to the upper echelon of the sport, having fished the Bassmaster Opens since 2012 and two Elite Series seasons in 2022 and 2023. “It’s different from Mille Lacs (which is about an hour south of Leech) in that it’s broken up more. There’s the main basin, and it filters off into backwaters and bog water. It’s filled with wild rice, milfoil – just all the vegetation you could want. And like Mille Lacs, it’s a glacial lake, so there’s plenty of rock ledges and rockpiles to fish.”

Those backwaters, however, might look familiar to a number of anglers whether or not they’re new to the area.

“Leech is a traditional smallmouth lake that looks like (Lake) Okeechobee in some spots,” the 44-year-old Isle, Minn., resident said. “The guys from Florida should feel at home, really,” he added, with a laugh.

Douglas said Leech Lake, which at 112,000 acres is the third-largest lake in a state with some 12,000 of them, was primarily known as a largemouth fishery when he was growing up in the ’80s and ’90s.

“And it was a really good one, too,” he said. “And then somewhat recently, maybe five years or so ago, it started getting a name for smallmouth fishing and people started exploiting that. I’m sure the smallies have been there all along, but only just recently people have started to fish more for them there.”

That duality gives anglers of any persuasion a chance to fish to their strengths, said Douglas, who is entered at the Open on Leech. It’ll be only the third time he’s competed on the lake, however, so he’s not nearly as familiar with this fishery as he is his home waters of Mille Lacs.

Still, he knows the layout plenty well enough to know what’s likely to transpire on Leech.

“You have this big body of water with some wave activity, and that’s all smallmouth area if that’s your thing,” he said. “But if you get off into the bogs, you’re in more shallow water (and are) flipping jigs (or) throwing a frog. It’s two distinctly different things at Leech.”

The sloughs off the main lake contain thick layers of aquatic reeds, cattails, lily pads and the like — all familiar to the bevy of Southern anglers who frequent most tournaments. The open water at Leech is filled with wild rice, which Douglas says “lays down like Kissimmee grass, thick on the water.

“The fish love it. Ducks love it. The Native Americans in the area will be harvesting it pretty hard while we’re there, so there will be some challenges as to where we can go, what water is navigable. But there’s plenty of space for anyone to find something they like … August would be what we consider the dog days of summer here in Minnesota, and it’s been hot most days, getting around 90 degrees. So, I think it’ll be a challenging tournament, but if you can get 15 (smallmouths over three days) you can expect to do well.”

How well remains to be seen, of course.

“I think a good five-fish limit for smallmouth will be about 22 pounds a day,” Douglas said. “If you’re fishing largemouth, I’d say 20 pounds a day is a good day. There are some 5- and 6-pounders in those backwaters. It could be a grind for some, but at the end of the day, it’s northern Minnesota. The fish are gamers. They want to bite.”

Douglas expects traditional lures (tubes, Ned rigs, drop shots) to be best bets on the main body, while anything from topwater baits to flipping Texas-rigged worms and even buzzbaits could be staples in the backwaters.

“My guess is the majority of checks that week will come from people catching largemouth,” he added.

Daily takeoffs begin at 6:30 a.m. CT from the Walker (MN) Public Dock at 310 5th St. in Walker. Weigh-ins on each of the three days are scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

Coverage of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Leech Lake presented by SEVIIN will air on FS1 on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET. Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com all three days.

The Leech Lake Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event.

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix

2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN

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

 

About B.A.S.S.B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

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

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

by AnglersChannel

Erie to Host First General Tire Team Series B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by Toyota Next Week

Two-man teams will compete on unknown fishery for first event of season, all six days of competition livestreamed on MLFNOW! and filmed for broadcast on Outdoor Channel

ERIE, Pa. (Aug. 15, 2024) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today the details for the 2024 General Tire Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops, which kicks off August 25-30, and local fishing fans will be excited to see that Erie, Pennsylvania, is the host of the first event – the B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by Toyota.
“We are extremely excited and honored to be selected as a Challenge Cup location for Major League Fishing’s General Tire Team Series,” said Mark Jeanneret, Executive Director of the Erie Sports Commission. “We are confident that the world’s best professional anglers will find success during the Challenge Cup, while at the same time introduce our world-class bass fisheries to thousands of fishing enthusiasts across the country.”

For the first time ever, the General Tire Team Series will be livestreamed daily, meaning every cast and every catch will be covered live and fans can watch teammates work together to break down a brand new body of water in real time. The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live all six days of competition at the Challenge Cup from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!®  is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MLF and MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) apps and on Rumble.

In keeping with traditional MLF Cup protocols, Erie, Pennsylvania, was not revealed to Team Series anglers until 30 days prior to the start of the tournament. All fishable waters within 60 miles of Erie then went off limits to anglers, and the competitors will discover exactly where they’re competing only after arriving at the boat ramp on the morning of competition. Fans watching the MLFNOW! livestream will find out the fishery right along with the anglers and watch all the action unfold live as teams work together and share their knowledge to break down each fishery in real time.

The 2024 General Tire Team Series revives the highly successful MLF Cup events of prior years, while adding a team-style twist. The 2024 Team Series season is comprised of four Cup events, featuring two-man teams of Bass Pro Tour pros competing from the same boat, and working together to claim part of a season purse of more than $720,000.

The B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by Toyota in Erie is the first of the four-event series.

“After a successful transition from the extremely popular MLF Cup events to the General Tire Team Series in 2022, it has been exciting to watch our Bass Pro Tour anglers strategize and work together to find and catch the winning bass,” said Kathy Fennell, MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager. “With the dynamic of two-man teams fishing from the same boat, and livestream coverage of every moment, we’re thrilled to offer fans a never-before-seen front row seat to the action and drama that the General Tire Team Series creates.”

Fans will have an inside look as teammates like 2022 Team Series Champion Jacob Wheeler and two-time REDCREST Champion Dustin Connell join forces on Team Kubota to compete against Team Star Tron, comprised of pro Jacob Wall and 2022 REDCREST Champion Bobby Lane, or Team Knighten Industries, made up of pros Wesley Strader and Scott Suggs – two-thirds of the winning team from the 2023 Team Series.

“This type of team event is the most relatable way to fish,” Wheeler said of the new format. “Team tournaments are literally what got me started in bass fishing, just those weeknight tournaments with your buddies. That’s some of the most fun fishing.

“Out of everyone in the field, I’ve had the most experience fishing with Dustin, so we’re looking forward to working together,” Wheeler continued. “There will definitely be some shenanigans, but it’s going to be a lot of fun and I’m beyond excited.”

The 12 teams that will compete in the General Tire Team Series B&W Trailer Hitches Challenge Cup Presented by Toyota in Erie, Pennsylvania are:

Team 7 Brew Drive Thru Coffee:
Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J.
Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala.

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

Team Builders FirstSource:
Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn.

Team Coign:
Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill.
Matt Stefan, Junction City, Wis.

Team Ferguson:
Nick Lebrun, Bossier City, La.
Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La.

Team Knighten Industries:
Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn.
Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark.

Team Kubota:
Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn.
Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala.

Team REDCON1:
Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio
Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn.

Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff & Pouches:
Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash.
John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky.

Team Star Tron:
Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala.
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla.

Team U.S. Air Force:
Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C.
Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark.

Team WIX Filters:
Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich.
Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla.

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

Proud sponsors of the MLF General Tire Team Series include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Barbasol, Bass Boat Technologies, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA Scales, Builders FirstSource, 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, REDCON1, Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff, Star brite, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, WIX Filters and YETI.

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

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery 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.

by AnglersChannel

Menendez Prepared for Long Runs, Rough Water and Big Smallies

Bassmaster Elite Series pro Mark Menendez has enjoyed the fruits of a long and fulfilling career over the years. Each year, he looks forward to the prospect of heading North to chase big, hard-fighting smallmouth in an attempt to best his competition while enjoying the beautiful, mild weather compared to the heat and humidity of his hometown in Kentucky.

 

“I love the views, weather and fishing,” Menendez said. “While the previous Champlain tournament gave us the ability to target quality largemouth, the St. Lawrence River is going to be all about smallmouth which is going to make for a fun tournament. It’s going to be an absolute slugfest and we’re all excited to get it going.”

 

The allure and inherent risk of a long run to Lake Ontario is a major challenge for all of the Elite Series anglers. An 81-mile run is required to reach the giant smallies that inhabit those waters and the possibility for a bag nearing 30-pounds is very possible. It sure takes a toll not only an angler’s equipment, but also their body. To negate these risks, he thinks someone can stay in the river and catch 22 pounds per day. While this may seem like an outstanding bag of fish to most anglers, it may be nowhere near enough when fishing against some of the best anglers in the world. 

 

“We’re all going to come away from this tournament with aches and pains; that’s about the only thing we can guarantee,” said the Yamaha Outboards pro. “But it’s absolutely essential that you trust your equipment. Not only is your boat important but also your outboard performance is absolutely imperative to your success. It’s all about confidence and I’ve run a Yamaha outboard for 22 years with no issues. If you break it in correctly, all you have to do is service it every year and you’ll have trouble-free boating—even on these big waters you’ll see us fishing this week.”

 

Menendez has a history of pushing his equipment to the max whether it’s the aforementioned long runs or shallow backwaters he loves to explore. This experience has led to an unbelievable amount of confidence in his outboard of choice. 

 

Speaking of equipment, Menendez said that his 34th season on the Bassmaster circuit has taught him some great lessons about not only fishing, but life itself.

 

“With so much technology out there these days, I have to make a conscious decision to challenge myself to keep an open mind,” Menendez said. “I’ve fished almost every one of these lakes for decades so it’s tempting to think that I know the answers. I’ve learned recently that I don’t. There’s always something new to learn and I’m totally here for it. Whether it’s a practice period or during a tournament, I’m really trying to explore new things and expand on any preconceived notions I may have.”

by AnglersChannel

With Past Success, Schultz Proves to Be a St. Lawrence River Sleeper Pick

By Dynamic Sponsorships

Bassmaster Elite Series pro Bernie Schultz has absolutely crushed the smallmouth bass on the St. Lawrence in past trips. Now he’s hoping to build on that success and hoist a blue trophy. 

There’s something to be said for a long-time fishing pro who has stuck with it through the bad times and the good. One of the more respected professional anglers fishing the Bassmaster Elite Series is Toyota Bonus Bucks member Bernie Schultz. Widely known as one of the hardest workers in the fishing industry, he’s looking to close his 2024 season on a high note as he returns to some of the most productive stomping grounds of his career.

“When we do this Northern swing, I just always love the change of scenery and the weather is so nice,” Schultz said. “I live in Florida, so I’m leaving 100-degree temperatures and when I arrive at the St. Lawrence, my Tundra reads 70-something degrees. It is such a welcome relief from all of the heat in my area.”

Aside from the beautiful weather conditions, however, are the enormous smallmouth that inhabit the crystal-clear waters of the St. Lawrence River. You might think that a Florida-based fisherman might have some difficulties catching these fish but in Bernie’s case, you very well might be mistaken.

“I’ve been coming up here since the 80s and part of the allure is, of course, we don’t have smallmouth where I live,” Schultz said. “But my gosh, when you hook into one, they’re an outstanding game fish. They fight until the very end, they’re acrobatic and they eat all kinds of different lures; everything from bottom-probing baits to topwaters and everything between, they just seem to eat it all when the time is right. It’s just so fun to chase them.”

It might be easy to simply talk about your love of a region of the country and a fishery, but Schultz sincerely loves this area in the throes of summer. When it’s unbearably hot in his home state of Florida, you won’t be hard-pressed to find him around the St. Lawrence area.

“When Bassmaster first started coming here, it was a learning curve but it clicked for me,” Schultz said. “The fish were shallow, aggressive and responded to what I was most comfortable doing. Whether it was spinnerbaits, topwaters, jerkbaits—the stuff I loved doing was really paying off. Then I found out about the 1991 Canadian Open and I drove up just for that tournament and ended up winning it. I’d stay for a month at a time because I loved the fishing, area and climate so much.”

Although he’s still comfortable with the St. Lawrence River, Schultz does admit the fishery has drastically changed since his early days. Smallmouth bass used to be viewed almost as a trash fish in that era, so they faced very little fishing pressure and would be more prone to attack power-fishing techniques such as jerkbaits, topwaters and even spinnerbaits. Now that more Northern anglers have been exposed to the excitement of chasing big smallmouth bass, fishing pressure has certainly changed his approach in recent years.

“Fishing pressure, along with the advent of gobies and zebra mussels, has drastically changed things but make no mistake, it’s still a phenomenal fishery,” Schultz said. “They don’t eat spinnerbaits like they used to and those topwater plugs are a very periodical thing and rarely, if ever, produce a winning bag. It’s much more of a finesse thing now. Light line and forward-facing sonar are pretty much a requirement to win a four-day event.”

The veteran pro has high hopes for this upcoming event despite some recent struggles. In baseball terms, his swing was just barely “off”.

“I feel like I was just a split-second behind the fastball this season,” Schultz said. “I had some outstanding practices where it almost seemed too easy. But for whatever reason, I just didn’t adjust quickly enough during the actual tournament. You can miss by just a smidge but at the end of the tournament, that’s a huge deal. You can be 30 minutes early or late to one of your spots and that can define your entire tournament.”

Will past success equal present victory for the long-time Elite Series veteran? Time will only tell. But one thing is absolutely certain: Bernie Schultz is ready to play hardball with some giant smallies this week on the St. Lawrence River.

by AnglersChannel

Palaniuk Focused on His Mental Game Heading into St. Lawrence

By Dynamic Sponsorships

Yamaha pro and Toyota Bonus Bucks member Brandon Palaniuk is leaning on his extensive smallmouth experience and steadfast mindset as he heads to St. Lawrence River for the last Elite Series tournament of the year. 

We’re at the tail end of the annual smallmouth swing of the Elite Series and few others are looking forward to the St. Lawrence River event more than Yamaha pro Brandon Palaniuk. If you were to search his tournament finishes for just a few minutes, you’ll quickly understand why he’s so excited to get to one of the best smallmouth fisheries in the country. The man is a smallmouth stud and he simply can’t wait to get to lay it all on the line in the proverbial Promised Land.

“I always get so excited when we come up north,” Palaniuk said. “I absolutely love smallmouth fishing and clear water; it reminds me of home in Idaho. To be honest, I love the big water, too. It’s intimidating to some folks but I’ve learned through the years how to manage and navigate it safely and efficiently. I’ve won a few of these derbies before and it’s a good confidence booster going into this event knowing that I might have what it takes to win.”

As far as his feelings go towards smallmouth bass, Palaniuk has strange relationship with them. They’re fun with they’re biting but when they’re not, it can really mess up a tournament day.

“I love everything about smallmouth bass until things go sideways,” Palaniuk said. “Sometimes they jump off even though you did everything right. Other times, they can just totally disappear from an awesome area you found in practice just a few days before. They’re curious, hard-fighting fish and when you can find them, they normally bite. But again, it’s always a game of hit-and-miss when you go to them on tournament day. They can totally leave an area and you’re done. You start back at square one again.”

The decision between long runs and short runs is a very unique dynamic of the St. Lawrence River event. While many anglers factoring in AOY points will choose to stay closer to the launch site throughout the tournament, Palaniuk is not afraid to make the big run to Lake Ontario in search of a 30-pound bag.

“I absolutely love big water,” Palaniuk said, “The biggest reason I run a Yamaha outboard is because we frequent places with big water. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in my career is that you have to have confidence in your equipment. There’s a chance that I’ll be running 100 miles each way during the St. Lawrence tournament and I would not make those runs and take those chances without being totally certain I can get back safely.”

Despite a disappointing finish on Lake Champlain, Palaniuk remains optimistic going into the final event of the year. He believes his execution has been good this year but as we wrap up the tournament season, he wants to focus on the mental side of his fishing more than anything else.

“I’ve always believed that tournament fishing was a mental thing,” Palaniuk said. “But I think it really hit home this year for me. Whether you’re having a great tournament or a really bad one, it’s important to stick with things and grind it out. You have to hang on to any small wins you might get throughout the course of a tournament or season. You’re going to lose so much in this sport. Heck, KVD is the winningest angler in our sport and he has still lost more than he won. Perspective is important. Even if you had a bad tournament, if you climbed from 90th in the AOY standings to 54th, that’s a big win and you should be proud of yourself for it.”

Once Palaniuk parks his Toyota Tundra at the St. Lawrence River, it will be all business for the superstar pro. He’ll shake the cobwebs off from the previous Champlain tournament, get his mind refocused, love on his family and get ready to battle with some giant smallmouth. He’s no stranger to the ups and downs of this game and he’ll be ready for whatever Mother Nature may throw at him.

by AnglersChannel

The Association of Collegiate Anglers Announces Creation of All-Academic Team for Upcoming 20th Season

SAN ANTONIO, TX (August 13, 2024) – The 2024-25 season of the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series will mark the Association of Collegiate Anglers’ 20th year operating major college fishing tournaments. As part of this year-long celebration, the ACA will be creating a variety of new programs and features to showcase the success of student anglers on and off the water, as well as highlight and look back at major milestones from the past 20 years.

New for this upcoming historic season, the ACA is announcing the creation of the All-Academic Team for the 2024-25 school year. This award and nomination process is designed to call attention to, and reward, student anglers for their success in the classroom.

At each ACA tournament during the 2024-25 season, 3 nominees will be selected to the All-Academic Team for that event. Throughout the season, a total of 12 student anglers will be selected to the All-Academic Team. Each of the 12 selected nominees will be presented at that specific tournament, of which they’ll receive a valuable prize package, exposure on ACA social media platforms and television series, as well as have the opportunity to be named the Academic All-American at the end of the season.

The 2024-25 season will conclude at Lake Hartwell in May of 2025 with the 20thCollegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. At the ACA’s annual Angler & Sponsor Banquet, an Academic All-American will be selected from the 12 All-Academic Team recipients from that season.

Anglers can be nominated for the All-Academic Team at this link.

The nomination submission form will require the following information:

  • Angler Name
  • School
  • Year/Classification
  • Degree field
  • Cumulative GPA
  • Semester GPA

Student anglers can be nominated by anyone, including themselves. The above information will be required on behalf of each nominee, to include official documentation confirming the student’s grades and academic standing.

All-Academic Team members and the overall award recipient will be selected based on their all-around performance in the classroom, to include overall GPA, as reviewed by ACA staff through a diligent process.

College fishing is a demanding and rewarding sport that requires anglers to balance their time spent on the water and in the classroom. Remaining dedicated in the classroom and showcasing academic success are great standards for an angler to achieve. It is because of this hard work and required dedication that the ACA has created the All-Academic Team. To find out more information about the program and nominate an angler, click here.

by AnglersChannel

X Zone Lures Releases New Stealth Finesse Series

X Zone Lures, a company known for its development and sales of its finesse bass and walleye fishing baits, has just launched its new Stealth Finesse Series.

The new series of baits is marked by realistic and innovative designs, and proven scent formulas that contain bite stimulants.

The theme of this series is “Small Baits. Big Results!” X Zone Lures recognizes that our fisheries are highly pressured. “Downsizing our baits and presenting them in a finesse style is the key to success in many situations” says Zac Van Ryn of X Zone Lures.

Included in this series of baits are:

  • 2.75” Scented Stealth Minnow
  • 2.5” Scented Stealth Craw
  • 2.75” Scented Stealth Creature
  • 2.25” Scented Stealth Tube
  • Stealth Tube Jig with scent lock design

Using high-quality ingredients, with no cheap fillers, and specific formulas that X Zone Lures is known for, each one of these baits is designed to perform in a way to maximize its own specific required presentation. This includes floating claws on the Craw and Creature, Neutral buoyancy on the Minnow and heavy salt for the Tube.

Designed with input from X Zone Lures top pros Brandon Palaniuk, Carl Jocumsen and Cooper Gallant, these baits are truly pro driven!

Visit the Stealth Finesse Series product page at: https://xzonelures.com/collections/all-stealth-finesse-series-1

by AnglersChannel

Vexus Heart & Soul: Moving Forward Together

We got the chance to tour the state of the art Vexus facility firsthand earlier in the year and it was certainly impressive.  Like the factory itself, the AC Dream Rig AVX 2080 was also equally impressive, BUT most importantly our team was blown away by the people, the heritage, and the vision of the brand.

The video below does an awesome job of capturing some of the people and the process behind the company.  You can find FOUR Seasons of Heart & Soul at Vexusboats.com.  It's an awesome Made in the USA story, and you can learn about the boats from bow to stern!

by AnglersChannel

MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship Returns to Wheeler Lake in 2025

DECATUR, Ala. (Aug. 13, 2024) – Major League Fishing (MLF), in conjunction with Decatur Morgan County Tourism , announced today that the 2025 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship will take place on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Alabama, April 9-11, 2025.

“The decision to bring the MLF College Fishing National Championship to Decatur underscores our commitment to showcasing our region’s natural resources and fostering partnerships within the sports tourism industry,” said Danielle Gibson, President and CEO of Decatur Morgan County Tourism. “We look forward to a successful event that benefits our local economy and community.“

The 16th annual College Fishing National Championship will mark the second time the three-day tournament has been held on Wheeler Lake and will showcase the nation’s top collegiate bass anglers.

“Major League Fishing is excited to be returning to Wheeler Lake, a legendary bass-fishing destination, for the 2025 College Fishing National Championship,” said Kevin Hunt, MLF Senior Director of Tournament Operations . “The lake’s diverse and challenging waters will provide the perfect stage for the nation’s top collegiate anglers to showcase their talents and passion for the sport. We’re looking forward to an exciting event.”

The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship will showcase the top teams from the 2024 MLF College Fishing season competing for a top prize of $43,500, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat powered by a 115-horsepower outboard and $10,000 in cash. The winning team will also advance to the 2025 Toyota Series Championship to compete as pros for a shot at winning as much as $235,000. The highest finishing team member at the Toyota Series Championship will advance to REDCREST 2026 to compete against the top professional anglers in the sport for a top prize of $300,000.

The second-place team at the 2025 College Fishing National Championship will receive a Phoenix 518 Pro boat powered by a 115-horsepower outboard. The team also advances to the 2025 Toyota Series Championship to compete as pros. The third-place finishers at the 2025 College Fishing National Championship will receive $4,000, and the team advances to the 2025 Toyota Series Championship as co-anglers for a shot at winning a new Phoenix 518 Pro powered by a 115 HP Mercury or Suzuki. Every team in the top 10 at the 2025 College Fishing National Championship will receive at least $1,000.

Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI teams compete in nine regular-season qualifying tournaments across the country to qualify for the championship. The top 12 percent of teams from each qualifying event advance to the following year’s College Fishing National Championship.

The 2025 College Fishing National Championship will air on CBS Sports in the fall of 2025. Weigh-ins from each day of competition will be livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com along with the final day’s competition at the championship. The complete schedule and rules for the 2025 College Fishing season will be announced this fall.

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

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

by AnglersChannel

Travel Tuesday: Travel Insurance and Protection Plans for Your Next Fishing Trip

By Pete Robbins - Half Past First Cast

We get questions all the time – from experienced world traveling anglers and first-timers alike – about travel insurance. While we’ve made a few such purchases in the past, we’re not experts. That’s why typically send people to those who are.

Half Past First Cast has teamed up with Global Rescue to get answers to those questions. Whether you’re looking for an insurance policy (which protect your wallet) or a membership plan (which might provide for various medical or security-related services), they can tell you what’s best for your particular trip and your particular situation.

Click here to start your consultation. 

In the meantime, here are some links that might be helpful in informing your future plans and purchases:

by AnglersChannel

Wheeler Claims Third MLF Bass Pro Tour Fishing Clash Angler of the Year Title in Past Four Seasons

By: Mitchell Forde

MASSENA, N.Y. (Aug. 13, 2024) – For a brief moment on Thursday afternoon, the machine that is Jacob Wheeler allowed himself to exhale.

During the break between the second and third periods of the final qualifying day at Minn Kota Stage Seven Presented by Humminbird, Wheeler sat on the front deck of his bass boat. Situated in ninth place in Group B, just a few pounds clear of the elimination line, with rain from Hurricane Debby falling ever harder, Wheeler knew he would be in for a soggy and stressful final two and a half hours on the St. Lawrence River.

But, at that point, he also knew that he’d achieved his biggest goal for the 2024 season: winning the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year title on the Bass Pro Tour. So, while tying a few fresh knots, Wheeler reflected on the achievement.

"I would have never guessed in a million years that I would be sitting in this position right now in the sport,” Wheeler told MLFNOW! viewers. “I’m very thankful to be able to live out my dream as a professional angler. This is what I love to do, this is what I feel like God put me on this earth for, and there’s no rain that can damper our mood today.”

Wheeler, who has held the points lead since the second event of the season, will earn $100,000 from Fishing Clash for his triumph. After winning AOY in both 2021 and 2022 before finishing second to Matt Becker a season ago, he made it his mission to reclaim the title, which he regards as the true measure of the best angler on tour.

“Angler of the Year, to me, is so special because it’s a year-long battle," Wheeler said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a great shallow-water fisherman or a great deep-water fisherman, you have to catch them every single place; you have to understand largemouth, smallmouth, spotted bass, depending on where we go in the year; grass, rock. It’s always changing. I’ve always tried to be a versatile angler, and I think Angler of the Year really sets up for that.”

Wheeler’s third AOY triumph in the past four years illustrated the traits that have made him the most dominant competitor on the Bass Pro Tour: his aforementioned versatility, his decision making, his drive. It also put him in elite historical company, bolstering his fast-growing case to be considered among the greatest tournament anglers of all time.

Learning from last year
For most pros, finishing second in an Angler of the Year race would represent a career milestone. But after Wheeler wound up four points shy of Becker in 2023, he admitted it left a bad taste in his mouth.

“To be honest with you, it stung,” he said. “It stung really bad. I was pretty irritated in the offseason, because I knew I messed up. It was on me.”

That mess-up was Wheeler’s 75th-place finish at Lake Murray — by far the worst event of his Bass Pro Tour career. As a result, his focus for the 2024 campaign was to win events, sure, but also to avoid a similar bomb.

Check and check. Wheeler’s season got off to a dream start. He finished fourth at Stage One on Toledo Bend, then followed it up with a victory on Santee Cooper, which gave him an early AOY lead. He poured on a second straight win on Dale Hollow.

Yet Wheeler doesn’t point to either of those victories as the moment that stands out most from his season, but the following event, Stage Four on Oklahoma’s Lake Eufaula. After the lake level rose dramatically between practice and the start of competition, Wheeler boated just two scorable bass for 3 pounds, 14 ounces on Day 1, which had him in 30th place in his group. On Day 2, he made an adjustment and fought his way inside the cut line with eight bass for 21-11.

“A lot of times, Angler of the Year is not [about] your best event; it’s your worst event that kills you,” Wheeler said. “I was way down there, and to come back after the adversity of not catching them Day 1, to build up and get a little confidence, there was a lot of things that happened in that event that made me appreciate that I could make it work. Those grinder events are always the toughest ones, too.”

Transitioning from rocky, Midwestern reservoirs to East Coast tidal rivers didn’t slow Wheeler down. He cruised to a fourth-place finish on the Chowan River, then finished 11th at the James River. Through six events, his average finish was an absurd 6.3.

Dustin Connell, who travels with Wheeler and pushed him in this year’s AOY chase, attributed Wheeler’s ability to succeed on all types of fisheries not only to his knack for understanding and finding fish but his strategic acumen. Wheeler has mastered the Bass Pro Tour format, understanding how to catch enough weight early during the qualifying rounds to allow himself to keep up with changes in a fishery, all the while saving enough fish for the Championship Round.

“He’s always one step ahead,” Connell said. “He isn’t just thinking about that one day, he’s trying to formulate a plan how to win. He knows how to play this format very well, and he’s always thinking the end goal is the Championship Round.”

Clutch calls on the St. Lawrence
Wheeler arrived at the St. Lawrence with a 19-point lead that, given his track record, felt insurmountable. As long as he made the Knockout Round — something he’d done in 10 straight regular-season events and never failed to accomplish on northern smallmouth waters — Wheeler would clinch the AOY crown.

However, Wheeler’s smallmouth bite didn’t fire as well as he expected on Day 1. So, he swapped his spinning rods for flipping sticks and headed to the shallows to target largemouth. The decision paid off to the tune of 45 pounds during the second half of the day.

When he returned to the water Thursday, Wheeler once again found his smallmouth bite slow. He pivoted to largemouth and caught five bass for more than 16 pounds, which moved him from the wrong side of the cut line into the Top 10. This time, sensing that he needed to stack weight at a higher rate to make the Knockout Round, he returned to offshore smallmouth habitat during the third period and cemented his spot with seven smallmouth for 22-10.

Bass Fishing Hall of Famer Shaw Grigsby pointed to that on-the-water decision making as the aspect of Wheeler’s game that impresses him the most.

“The real key that I see in watching him live on the Bass Pro Tour is how he adjusts on the day,” Grigsby said of Wheeler. “Like, okay, this isn’t happening; let’s go here and do this. I’ve always called it fearlessness.”

Connell said the bold decisiveness fans see from Wheeler during tournaments stems from the work he puts in when nobody is watching. For instance, after Stage Five on the Chowan River, Wheeler drove an extra 12 hours and devoted five days to pre-practice the St. Lawrence. He used that time to familiarize himself with both bass species so that, if one bite wasn’t working, he had a backup plan in place.

“I would consider him a workaholic,” Connell said. “He works, eats, sleeps, breathes bass fishing. He’s always been wired that way, and that’s all he ever thinks about. He’s always working hard, putting in the time. You’ve got to have that devotion and dedication to do that.”

The driving force behind Wheeler’s work ethic? Connell says he’s crazy competitive — no matter if it’s fishing a top-level tournament or playing a board game at the house, he can’t stand not winning. He’s also incapable of sitting still.

“I wouldn’t say he’s ADHD, but I kind of think he is, because he’s just wide open all the time,” Connell said.

Wheeler acknowledged his competitiveness but said the primary source of his motivation is trying to live up to the high expectations he’s established among his fans.

“There’s a lot of fans and people out there that expect me to catch them,” he said. “They almost put you on a pedestal, like, you’re supposed to (win), so if you don’t, you’re not living up to their expectations. ... I try to live up to a lot of people’s expectations of who I am.”

An all-time great run
Wheeler has been a consistent force since the inception of the Bass Pro Tour in 2019, but across the past four years, he’s hit a new gear. There’s no shortage of stats that illustrate his dominance. In 35 events (not counting Stage Seven), he has six wins and 25 Top 10s. That’s a win rate of 17.1% and a Top-10 percentage of 71.4%. He’s earned more than $1.63 million in BPT competition. He’s been ranked by BassFan.com as the No. 1 angler in the world for five years straight. Of course, he’s won the AOY title three times and finished second the one season he didn’t prevail.

Those numbers are in a class of their own compared to Wheeler’s peers on the Bass Pro Tour. It’s time to start looking at how he stacks up against the greatest pros of all time. Grigsby, who started touring nationally in 1984 and competed on the Bass Pro Tour through 2022, wasn’t afraid to mention Wheeler’s name alongside the consensus greatest ever, Kevin VanDam.

“I see Kevin as of course one of the greatest of all time, and I still have him as the GOAT,” Grigsby said. “But I think as Wheeler goes on, depending on what he does in the next five to 10 years, we’ll see.”

Wheeler is now one of 10 anglers to win at least three Angler of the Year titles on national tours. Roland Martin leads the way with nine such wins. VanDam won eight. David Dudley and Clark Wendlandt each won four. Bill Dance, Mark Davis, Aaron Martens, Andy Morgan, Jay Yelas and Wheeler represent the three-time winners.

While the 34-year-old Wheeler may have a ways to go to match the career accolades of Martin and VanDam, his current tear deserves to be in the conversation for the best four-year run in history. Only three other anglers have won three AOY titles in four years. Martin did it twice in the early days of Bassmaster. Morgan won the FLW Tour points crown in 2013, 2014 and 2016. VanDam won four straight AOYs on the Bassmaster Elite Series from 2008-2011.

As impressive as Morgan’s run was, he didn’t win any events during that span, and his Top-10 rate (41.67%) pales in comparison to Wheeler’s. Martin’s numbers stack up better, but it’s difficult to draw comparisons between that era, when there were very few full-time pros, and the modern landscape. Skeet Reese went on a blistering stretch from 2007-2010 during which he won four events (including the 2009 Bassmaster Classic) and finished in the Top 10 25 times. He also won AOY in 2007 and finished second two other seasons. As eye-popping as those marks are, however, he still falls well short of Wheeler’s current stretch in win percentage (8.16%), Top 10 percentage (51.0%) and number of AOY titles (largely because he had the misfortune of competing against peak VanDam).

Ultimately, the only four-year streak in the past 40 years that surpasses Wheeler’s current run is VanDam’s reign of terror — and even that is debatable. Wheeler has won at a comparable rate (VanDam won 18.2% of his events over that span) and finished in the Top 10 more often (VanDam was at 54.5%). Plus, when considering that two of VanDam’s wins and five Top 10s came in postseason events with 12-boat fields, you could justifiably add Wheeler’s 2022 Summit Cup and 2023 Team Series victories to his tallies. Ultimately, though, VanDam's two Bassmaster Classic wins and four straight AOY titles make his 2008-11 run tough to surpass.

Wheeler doesn’t spend much time worrying about his place in the pantheon of bass fishing greats. That mindset is one reason he’s won three AOYs — he's always locked in on the next thing. Before he’d even made it back to Massena on Thursday afternoon, he was less focused on his AOY triumph than what he needs to do to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round.

“I feel like I’m having a crazy run right now, and I recognize that, but I don’t really spend much time thinking about it,” Wheeler explained. “I realize that things are clicking, and things are happening right now that don’t happen every year. So, I’m grateful for it. But I really don’t want to think about it, to be honest with you.

“I can’t even appreciate Angler of the Year right now because I’m still in the middle of a tournament. I’m still wanting to win. That was always the biggest box for me this season, my mindset is still like, alright, accomplished, go to the next deal.”

Once the offseason officially arrives, Wheeler will take some more time to reflect on his season (but probably not much; he’s competing alongside Connell in the General Tire Team Series later this month after all). He also understands that, between the wave of young stars flooding into the sport and an increasing desire to spend more time at home with his two young children, his dominance has an expiration date. Ultimately, his goal is not to match the accomplishments of Martin or VanDam but to be remembered as “the best of my era.”

He's well on his way.

“Michael Jordan was the best of his era; LeBron James was the best of his,” Wheeler said. “There’s an era in time of like, you were the best player for some duration of time, you were the best fisherman for some duration of time. And so, for me, that’s my focus, because you can’t really compare – in a different era of time, it was completely different. So, obviously, I have the utmost respect and look up to Roland and Kevin and some of the great anglers, but it’s not necessarily a competition with any of them. That's not necessarily my goal to try to be called the greatest of all time, because you’ll never get that. You can only be the best of your own time.”

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.

by AnglersChannel

Late-day rally lifts Loughran to victory at Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain

Aug. 12, 2024

Elite_eventLogo_2024_Champlain_Raster.pngPLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — Entering Championship Monday at the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain, Day 3 leader Ed Loughran III thought he needed another 20-pound bag to win his first blue trophy. So, when he finished with a 16-pound, 14-ounce limit of smallmouth, he was just hoping he would still finish in the Top 5.

It turned out he had the exact weight he needed.

With a four-day total of 80-12, the veteran angler from Richmond, Va., notched his first Elite Series title, edging out Canada’s Chris Johnston by 1 ounce to earn the $100,000 check and a blue trophy.

The 2011 Toledo Bend Elite Series event has been the only other Elite Series event settled by a 1-ounce difference in total weight.

“I had zero thought that I had won. I was hoping to just stay in the Top 5,” Loughran said. “It’s unbelievable. I’ve never won a big tournament. I’ve had Top 5s in big tournaments … but I’m always a little short. I didn’t have any realistic expectation of winning one, but after yesterday I thought I might have a chance.

“The money will come and go, but that trophy will not go anywhere.”

Opening the tournament in 38th with 19-1, Loughran landed bags of largemouth weighing 22-15 and 21-14 to jump into the lead on Semi-Final Sunday. But if he didn’t make a critical move on Day 4, Loughran feels he wouldn’t have won.

Toward the end of the day, Loughran left his primary area and moved uplake to a spot he had not yet fished in the tournament. Just before he reached the spot he was intending to fish, he noticed a group of smallmouth on his forward-facing sonar that were piled up around several rocks.

“I sat there and caught a dozen fish,” Loughran said. “One was a 3-10 and I caught two other 3-pounders. Had that not happened, I would not have won. It is nuts. I hadn’t even fished it yet this week.”

A tidal river aficionado, Loughran started fishing Lake Champlain in 1991 and has grown to love the lake. This week, after missing the last two Elites due to medical issues, he traveled south to an area he had never fished before in an attempt to stay away from competitors fishing for Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year points.

Loughran described his best area as a rock ridge in 5 to 10 feet of water with milfoil beds in the vicinity. Using his Garmin LiveScope, he identified three high spots on the ridge that were holding the majority of the bass. The best part: he had the area all to himself.

“There was a lot going on. You had some creeks coming in and some milfoil beds around. You’ve got several high spots with chunk rock and grass mixed in,” he explained. “It was pretty protected, too. All of that offers really good habitat.

“If there was another angler in there, I wouldn’t have won and I wouldn’t have gotten a check.”

Smallmouth and largemouth inhabited the area, but the smallmouth stayed on one side of the ridge while the largemouth hunkered down on the other side. Loughran landed a mixed bag on Day 1, but on the second and third days he brought all largemouth to the scales, including a 5-12 on Day 3.

To generate most of his bites, Loughran dragged either a ½-ounce green pumpkin Missile Baits Ike’s Mini Flip or a ⅜-ounce homemade jig paired with either a Missile Baits Craw Father or Missile Baits Chunky D. He trimmed down the Chunky D to match the profile he felt the bass were eating.

He pitched those jigs using a 7-foot-6 heavy Shimano Expride rod paired with a Shimano Chronarch MGL 8:1:1 baitcasting reel and 20-pound Berkley fluorocarbon.

“I think these fish are eating on small crayfish,” Loughran said.

He also landed several key bass on a ½-ounce green pumpkin Z-Man Evergreen Chatterbait JackHammer with a Missile Baits Spunk Shad trailer in the goby bite color.

Once Loughran reached his primary area on the final day, the Virginia pro landed three smallmouth on consecutive casts around 8:45 a.m. After a short lull, he picked up a topwater walking bait and filled out his limit with two more smallmouth.

From there, however, the bite slowed down tremendously before Loughran executed his last-minute heroics with a drop shot rigged with a Missile Baits Bomb Shot in goby bite.

“The lake was off today for whatever reason,” he said. “I had one largemouth bite all day. It was terrible. Before, I was catching 20. Smallmouth had come in and taken over.”

Johnston, meanwhile, was just an ounce away from claiming his second career Elite Series trophy with bags of 20-0, 21-14, 19-8 and 19-5, totaling 80-11. There were several bass that came unglued this week that would have carried him past Loughran.

“I’m regretting a couple of the fish I lost the last two days,” the five-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier said. “Any of them would have done it for me. Being that close, it sucks. I’d rather lose by 5 pounds, to be honest. It is what it is. That’s fishing, and I’ll try to catch them next week.”

Most of the week, Johnston targeted smallmouth on deeper breaks in the northern section of Lake Champlain. Using his forward-facing sonar, he would comb large areas searching for quality smallmouth with a 4-inch minnow rigged on either a ⅜-ounce or ½-ounce head.

Johnston’s bass were feeding on perch and would move between 15 and 50 feet of water.

The smallmouth bite did not produce first thing on Day 4, so Johnston decided to fish for largemouth and lost two, one of which he believed would have helped his bag. He returned to his smallmouth waters and wrangled up an 18-pound limit before returning to a stretch of shallow reeds in an attempt to catch a kicker largemouth.

“(The smallmouth deal) wasn’t working. I probably gave it too long in hindsight,” h said. “The last hour I went back largemouth fishing and caught a 4-pounder that was pretty damn close, but not enough. One perch it spit up would have done it for me.”

Tennessee’s Robert Gee finished third with a total of 80-9, his third Top 5 of the season. Targeting smallmouth in the Inland Sea and Malletts Bay, the Knoxville rookie never left the Top 10 with bags of 21-1, 19-15, 19-13 and 19-12.

Ridges dropping from 35 feet to 50 feet with perch or alewives were the key areas for Gee. The bigger bass, Gee said, were eating the perch close to the bottom of the lake. He mid-strolled a 5-inch Yamamoto Shad Shape Worm on a ¼-ounce jighead to catch the majority of his smallies. A Juices Jig crappie/bass hair jig in the Tennessee shad color landed a couple of key bass as well.

Gee experienced his best day of smallmouth fishing on Monday morning. He has no idea how many bass he caught, but he quickly reached the 18-pound mark and was able to make several more key culls. Unfortunately, he could not find a 5-pound bass on the final day that would have lifted him to victory.

“It was probably the best day of smallmouth fishing I’ve ever had, numbers wise,” Gee said.

Canada’s Cory Johnston landed the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of Day 4, a 5-5 largemouth. New York rookie Kyle Patrick claimed Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors with a 6-2 largemouth he caught on Day 1, earning a total of 3,000 in bonuses. Patrick also claimed the $1,000 BassTrakk Contingency bonus for accurate weight recording.

Day 1 leader Seth Feider claimed the $2,000 bonus for the CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament with his 23-11 limit of largemouth from the first day.

Alabama’s Will Davis Jr took home an additional $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, while Texas’ Chris Zaldain earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Gee earned an additional $4,000 while South Carolina’s Patrick Walters claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

With one event remaining on the Elite Series schedule, 2024 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors champion Justin Hamner still holds the lead in the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year race with 671 points while Johnston is second with 658 points. Tennessee’s Jacob Foutz is third with 652 points, South Carolina rookie JT Thompkins is fourth with 634 points and Illinois rookie Trey McKinney is fifth with 633 points.

Thompkins leads the Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year race followed by McKinney in second. Tennessee’s John Garrett is third with 622 points, Alabama’s Wesley Gore is fourth with 621 points and Tyler Williams is fifth with 594 points.

The Adirondack Coast and City of Plattsburgh hosted the tournament.

 

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, Twitter and TikTok.

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

 

2024 Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain 8/8-8/12
Lake Champlain, Plattsburg  NY.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4

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

1.  Ed Loughran III        Richmond, VA            20  80-12    0 $100,333.00
Day 1: 5   19-01     Day 2: 5   22-15     Day 3: 5   21-14     Day 4: 5   16-14
2.  Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA 20  80-11  102  $35,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-00     Day 2: 5   21-14     Day 3: 5   19-08     Day 4: 5   19-05
3.  Robert Gee             Knoxville, TN           20  80-09  101  $30,000.00
Day 1: 5   21-01     Day 2: 5   19-15     Day 3: 5   19-13     Day 4: 5   19-12
4.  Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY             20  79-03  100  $25,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-13     Day 2: 5   20-13     Day 3: 5   20-02     Day 4: 5   17-07
5.  Cory Johnston          Otonabee CANADA         20  78-09   99  $21,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-12     Day 2: 5   20-01     Day 3: 5   19-15     Day 4: 5   18-13
6.  Patrick Walters        Eutawville, SC          20  78-03   98  $19,000.00
Day 1: 5   21-10     Day 2: 5   18-03     Day 3: 5   20-06     Day 4: 5   18-00
7.  Will Davis Jr          Sylacauga, AL           20  77-08   97  $18,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-15     Day 2: 5   20-09     Day 3: 5   18-05     Day 4: 5   17-11
8.  Jacob Foutz            Charleston, TN          20  77-03   96  $17,000.00
Day 1: 5   21-04     Day 2: 5   20-11     Day 3: 5   18-07     Day 4: 5   16-13
9.  Chris Zaldain          Fort Worth, TX          20  75-00   95  $16,000.00
Day 1: 5   21-01     Day 2: 5   21-07     Day 3: 5   18-12     Day 4: 5   13-12
10. Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ           20  74-02   94  $15,000.00
Day 1: 5   22-11     Day 2: 5   18-15     Day 3: 5   17-09     Day 4: 5   14-15
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1   Kyle Patrick             Cooperstown, NY     06-02      $1,000.00
2   Greg Hackney             Gonzales, LA        05-07        $333.33
2   Ed Loughran III          Richmond, VA        05-07        $333.33
2   Caleb Sumrall            New Iberia, LA      05-07        $333.33
3   Matt Herren              Ashville, AL        05-15      $1,000.00
4   Cory Johnston            Otonabee CANADA     05-05      $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Kyle Patrick             Cooperstown, NY     06-02      $2,000.00
CRUSHCITY MONSTER BAG

Seth Feider              New Market, MN      23-11      $2,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       100       503      1865-09
2       100       504      1789-03
3        50       250       906-12
4        10        50       173-06
----------------------------------
260      1307      4734-14

by AnglersChannel

General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes Nominated for Best Pro Sports Event Award

Cast your vote to help promote pro bass-fishing to the world!

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Aug. 12, 2024) – The 2024 Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops event that took place in May on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Kissimmee, Florida, is one of six event finalists nominated for the 2024 SportsTravel Award in the category of Best Professional Sports Event.

The SportsTravel Awards honor the best events, venues and hosts in the sports-event industry. Winners of the awards will be announced at TEAMS ’24, September 23–26, in Anaheim.

MLF is asking for fan votes to help earn this honor. This is an opportunity to demonstrate the passion of the fishing and outdoors audiences for the sports world to see. The General Tire Heavy Hitters event is competing against other major professional events including the NFL Draft in Detroit, Michigan, the International Surfing Association World Games, and the X Games.

The star-studded General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops was hosted by Experience Kissimmee and featured 30 anglers who qualified from MLF’s Bass Pro Tour. This one of kind tournament format set a new MLF record of more than 21 million minutes viewed on MLF platforms, passing the previous record set in 2023. The event, held on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, yielded more than 840,000 video views and 9.8 million social media impressions – a 42% increase over the prior year.

Fans are encouraged to cast their vote through Monday, August 19 by clicking here.

MLF also asks you to share this with your family and friends to help celebrate this exciting event in bass fishing and professional sports.

Nominees for Best Professional Sports Event
2023 MLS/Liga MX Leagues Cup, Various Sites
The tournament was staged by both Major League Soccer and Liga MX, the professional soccer league in Mexico. Led by Lionel Messi, Inter Miami won the tournament by defeating Nashville SC at Geodis Park in Nashville. The event featured 77 matches across the U.S. and Canada, attended by more than 1.3 million.

2024 International Surfing Association World Games, San Juan, Puerto Rico
The event held in Puerto Rico created an exceptional impact on the global surfing community and the local economy. The event attracted top surfers from over 40 countries, showcasing a high level of athletic performance and sportsmanship.

2024 Major League Fishing General Tire Heavy Hitters, Kissimmee, FL
The event set a new MLF record of more than 21 million minutes viewed on MLF platforms, passing the previous record set in 2023. The event yielded more than 840,000 video views and 9.8 million social media impressions, a 42 percent increase over the prior year.

2024 NFL Draft, Detroit, MI
The NFL Draft held in downtown Detroit drew an estimated record 775,000 people and generated an estimated $213 million economic impact, including $161 million from visitors coming to Michigan. Hotel occupancy hit a high of 92 percent on the Friday night of the draft with 30 percent traveling more than 100 miles to attend.

2024 Serie del Caribe, Miami, FL
The Serie del Caribe baseball tournament was a celebration of Latin American culture, sportsmanship and community spirit. Throughout the 25 games played at loanDepot Park, over 220,000 people enjoyed the best of professional baseball from top Caribbean teams. It also served as a catalyst for promoting cross-cultural understanding and collaboration, highlighting the positive impact of sports in bridging communities.

2024 X Games Ventura, Ventura, CA
The X Games Ventura returned to the California coastline featuring the world’s leading skateboard, BMX and moto X athletes and an appearance by Tony Hawk. The city of Ventura partnered on the event that included a variety of community events that served to engage fans and spectators at the event including concerts by Wiz Khalifa and Kaskade.

Television coverage of the General Tire Heavy Hitters 2024 Presented by Bass Pro Shops premiered on Discovery on Saturday, Aug. 10, with new two-hour episodes from the event premiering each Saturday at 7 a.m. ET through Sept. 14.

Proud sponsors of General Tire Heavy Hitters 2024 Presented by Bass Pro Shops at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Barbasol, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Fishing Clash, General Tire, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, REDCON1, Star brite, Toyota, U.S. Air Force and YETI.

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.

by AnglersChannel

Bassmaster Elite Series wraps up season at St. Lawrence River

Bassmaster Elite Series wraps up season at St. Lawrence River

WADDINGTON, N.Y. — Ending the 2024 season at the nation’s top-ranked fishery fosters plenty of well-established optimism, and the 101 anglers competing in the Humminbird Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River will do their best to unlock this legendary region’s bounty.

Competition days will be August 15-18 with daily takeoffs from Whitaker Park at 7 a.m. ET and weigh-ins each day at the park at 3 p.m.

Topping Bassmaster Magazine’s 2024 100 Best Bass Lakes rankings, the St. Lawrence River’s Thousand Islands region boasts the nation’s premier smallmouth bass fishing. The Elites have seen this renowned region in various weather complexions, and it never fails to deliver the goods.

“I expect it to be almost a repeat of last year; it’ll be about looking for the better pods of fish,” said third-year Elite Series pro Jay Przekurat. “The water is starting to get up to the peak summer temperatures in the upper 60s and lower 70s in the river, and in the lake you can get into the 70s.

“The water never really gets dirty there, but you want to look for water that isn’t stagnant. So, if you’re finding water temps in the upper 70s on the Great Lakes, chances are you’re in an area that doesn’t have any current. I try and look for areas that have water flowing through them, so you have the conditions you need for smallmouth.”

The Humminbird Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River is free and open to the public.

Coverage of the Humminbird Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River will air on FS1 on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET and Sunday on FS2 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. ET. Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com all four days.

The St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the tournament.

Women who are interested in fishing are encouraged to join a passionate community of female anglers at the St. Lawrence River BassmastHER workshop. Although gender does not dictate how successful you can be on the water, we know it helps to have a like-minded support system for education, travel, inspiration and ideation. BassmastHER was created to build a passionate community of female anglers, to inspire confidence when you make it to the water's edge and to be the conduit for creating lifetime friends and memories. The St. Lawrence River BassmastHER workshop will be held Aug. 17 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Donald M. Martin Civic Center, 100 Pine Street in Waddington, N.Y., 13694 (Lunch included). The BassmastHER workshop for St. Lawrence River is currently full. Coverage from the event will be featured on Bassmaster.com as well as on Bassmaster's social media platforms.

 

WHO: The tournament pits 101 of the top bass anglers in the world — including Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year leader and 2024 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors champion Justin Hamner and New York pro Kyle Patrick — against big bass and one another as they battle for the coveted championship trophy, $100,000 first-place prize and a total purse of more than $750,000.

WHERE: Whitaker Park, 100 Park Lane, Waddington, N.Y., 13694

RESOURCES: B.A.S.S. has a media boat and local angler available in two-hour increments each day of the tournament, launching at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and noon. Please email [email protected] to request a spot.

Angler interviews and photography/video are available to help preview the tournament. Daily results, leader photos and video clips are available upon request.

Backstage access, preferred seating and a designated angler interview area are available at the venue.

WHEN: 

Thursday & Friday, Aug. 15 & 16

7:00 a.m. ET The full field of 101 anglers will launch on St. Lawrence River from Whitaker Park

3:00 p.m. ET Official weigh-in takes place at Whitaker Park. Coverage on Bassmaster.com

Saturday, Aug. 17

7:00 a.m. ET The Top 50 anglers launch from Whitaker Park for Semifinal Saturday

8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. BassmastHER workshop at Donald M. Martin Civic Center in Waddington (Lunch included)

Noon ET Elite Series Outdoors Expo opens

Fun for everyone with Kids' Corner, food trucks and merchandise vendors.

​​​​​​Fishing's BIGGEST brands, including Bass University, the Toyota experience, Power-Pole, Garmin & Yamaha

Free demo boat rides from Nitro/Ranger/Mercury & Skeeter/Yamaha

Military & First Responder Appreciation Day: Show military or first responder ID to a staff person in the Bassmaster merchandise booth for a free hat (while supplies last)

B.A.S.S. Member Appreciation Day: B.A.S.S. members who stop by the Bassmaster merchandise booth will receive a free hat (while supplies last)

​​3:00 p.m. ET Official weigh-in takes place at Whitaker Park. Coverage on Bassmaster.com

Sunday, Aug. 18

7:00 a.m. ET The Top 10 anglers launch for Championship Sunday from Whitaker Park

Noon ET Elite Series Outdoors Expo opens

3:00 p.m. ET Championship Sunday official weigh-in at Whitaker Park. Coverage on Bassmaster.com

MEDIA CONTACT: Chad Gay, B.A.S.S. Communications Manager, c: 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.com

 

by AnglersChannel

Livonia’s Drake Van Dike Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Detroit River

South Carolina’s Clark Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

TRENTON, Mich. (Aug. 12, 2024) – Boater Drake van Dike of Livonia, Michigan, caught a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Detroit River. The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Michigan Division. Van Dike earned $3,505 for his victory.

Winning against a stacked Michigan Division field is always a challenge. What makes it even more impressive for van Dike is that this is his first BFL season, and the Detroit River tournament was only his third BFL event.

“I got into them through a friend,” van Dike said. “I fished through MLF in college, so I just decided to jump in them this year, and it’s gone pretty well for me so far.

“It feels great (to win). I put in a lot of work, and all the stuff I’ve been through with boats lately and everything, it feels amazing to win.”

Van Dike is off to a hot start overall. He’s made two top-10 finishes already and currently sits fourth in the Fishing Clash Michigan Division Angler of the Year race.

According to van Dike, the biggest key to the win was braving wind and nasty weather to get in a good practice on Lake St. Clair, which is where he spent the tournament. The trials continued during the tournament, when the waves were big enough that van Dike reported taking a few over the transom while he was on the front deck using the trolling motor.

“The weather changed some things,” he added. “The fish weren’t up suspended like they normally have been. I just shortened my drop-shot quite a bit. I found that they would eat it better if it wasn’t way above their head.”

The drop-shot did most of the damage for van Dike. He rigged it with a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flatnose Minnow. He also weighed one keeper caught on a River Rock Custom Baits Tube.

“I was on the bait pattern,” van Dike said. “I was following the balls of bait wherever I could find them where they stacked up in an area, and the big ones were hanging out right around the bait. I just put my trolling motor on 10 and followed the bait until I could find a ball. And not far from a ball of bait was a big fish.”

In practice, van Dike used his big motor and his electronics to locate areas with higher concentrations of bait. Then he got up on the trolling motor and used forward-facing sonar to find the bait balls.

“They (the bait balls) are about 20 feet long, and they go almost all the way from the surface down to the bottom,” he added. “They look like tornadoes on your LiveScope.”

To help make his lures stand out from the natural bait, van Dike mixed in some brighter colors, including chartreuse with brown back.

“Once you’re around the bait, you’re picking off the fish that are chasing those bait balls. It doesn’t have to be a specific fish (that you target with forward-facing sonar), but if you get your cast into the bait ball, usually those fish will go find that bait that looks different than the rest.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Drake van Dike, Livonia, Mich., five bass, 22-2, $3,505
2nd:       Pat Upthagrove, Monroe, Mich., five bass, 21-0, $2,053
3rd:       Mark Flick, Delton, Mich., five bass, 20-15, $1,169
4th:        Wilson Burton, Findlay, Ohio, five bass, 20-8, $1,318 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Continency Bonus)
5th:        Scott Dobson, Clarkston, Mich., five bass, 20-3, $701
6th:        Nolan Mandel, Harrison Township, Mich., five bass, 20-2, $643
7th:        Michael Sitko, Pinckney, Mich., five bass, 19-1, $584
8th:        Aaron Limber, Northwood, Ohio, five bass, 18-14, $496
8th:        Noah Stauffer, Gowen, Mich., five bass, 18-14, $496
10th:     Mike Trombly, Belleville, Mich., five bass, 18-10, $849

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Mike Trombly of Belleville, Michigan, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 6 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $440.

Lane Clark of Anderson, South Carolina, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,753 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 18 pounds, 10 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Lane Clark, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 18-10, $1,753
2nd:       Steve Ward, Trenton, Mich., five bass, 16-11, $730
2nd:       Brian Townley, Wyoming, Mich., five bass, 16-11, $950
4th:        Todd Layne, Poca, W.Va., five bass, 16-8, $559
5th:        Ryan Crider, Kettering, Ohio, five bass, 16-5, $351
6th:        Jason Klingaman, Howe, Ind., five bass, 15-15, $321
7th:        Scott Davis, Morenci, Mich., five bass, 15-14, $292
8th:        JD Marcum, Catlettsburg, Ky., five bass, 15-5, $363
9th:        David Roche, Centerline, Mich., five bass, 14-10, $234
10th:     Cullan Parker, Lorain, Ohio, five bass, 14-9, $204

Brian Townley of Wyoming, Michigan, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $220, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After three events, Nolan Mandel of Harrison Township, Michigan, leads the Fishing Clash Michigan Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 743 points, while Scott Davis of Morenci, Michigan, leads the Fishing Clash Michigan Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 735 points.

The next event for BFL Michigan Division anglers will be held Aug. 24, at the Detroit River in Trenton, Michigan. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-12 BFL Regional tournament on 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.

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.

by AnglersChannel

Neal Earns Second Career Win at MLF Bass Pro Tour Minn Kota Stage Seven Presented by Humminbird at the St. Lawrence River

Dayton, Tennessee pro catches 28 bass weighing 88-14 to clinch victory and earn $100,000 top prize

MASSENA, N.Y. (Aug. 11, 2024) – The mighty St. Lawrence River provided a fitting end to the 2024 Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour season at Minn Kota Stage Seven Presented by Humminbird – a season full of drama and excitement, new winners and superstars adding to their résumés. Ultimately, after a back-and-forth third-period slugfest between pros Michael Neal of Dayton, Tennessee, and Shelbyville, Kentucky’s John Hunter, Neal sealed the deal with 28 bass for 88 pounds, 14 ounces. His margin of victory over Hunter was 15-3, but the final day was much closer than the final SCORETRACKER® would indicate.

Hunter led for much of the day, trading blows and the lead with Neal before Neal hit another gear. The final hour saw the eventual winner catch six bass for 17-2 to put it away. The win marks Neal's first since the 2021 season finale on Lake St. Clair and comes after many close calls, including two runner-up finishes this season.

Neal finished the year strong with the win and joined the exclusive list of two-time Bass Pro Tour winners. Both of his victories came on famed northern smallmouth fisheries and both were Stage Seven events.

With 15 regular season Bass Pro Tour Top 10s (second only to three-time Angler of the Year Jacob Wheeler), it's surprising that this is only Neal's second win. The Championship Round experience paid off as he sealed the victory, and Neal was as relieved as anyone.

"It's been a long time coming," he said. "Today was starting to feel like the Chowan River (at Stage Five), where I got out to a big lead, and it slipped away from me. I've had a ton of seconds in my career and felt like I was on that path again. When I won the last event in 2021, I won the first event of the 2022 season on the [Tackle Warehouse] Invitationals, and hopefully I can get on another hot streak like that."

This win here is special to Neal as he was able to clinch his first major title, the 2021 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Angler of the Year, on these same waters. It also cements him as a certified smallmouth specialist after claiming his previous win on Michigan's Lake St. Clair.

"I won my first AOY title right here on the same spot,” he said on the MLFNOW! broadcast. “This place will always be special to me. Growing up on Lake Chickamauga, if I caught a smallmouth, it was by accident. I've never considered myself a smallmouth fisherman, and I never thought I'd win a smallmouth tournament once, let alone twice."

Neal spent much of his time in deeper water than many competitors. He stuck with the tried-and-true drop-shot rig with a slight twist while also mixing in a finesse jig.

"I primarily stayed in the 40 to 60 feet depth range keying on rock, but my biggest fish on the last day was in 65 feet of water," he said. "I don't think depth mattered a lot, and the current was the main thing, and the fish, especially the bigger ones, were on sharper drops. The fish were either on the up-current side or down current, using the breaks as current drops. Most of my weight this week came from one stretch where the bottom was wavy looking with a bunch of rolling ups and downs."

Instead of rigging up a standard drop-shot worm, Neal improvised and went with the current trend of soft plastics with protruding silicone skirting material. His version was homemade, with a Big Bite Baits Scentsation Quarantine Craw serving as the plastic.

"I went to Walmart and bought some sewing needles and cut a banded skirt in half," he said. "I threaded eight stands into each one, so the bait had 16 strands coming out of the bait. They were green pumpkin baits with some green pumpkin purple skirt materials, and they looked just like the gobies the bass were spitting out. I was fishing around guys all week and felt like that got me more bites."

Neal fished his creation on a 7-foot, 6-inch medium Denali Kovert, a 3000-sized spinning reel and 10-pound-test Sunline Overwatch braid with a leader of 7-pound-test Sunline Shooter fluorocarbon. He threaded the bait on a 1/O Gamakatsu G-Finesse Stinger drop-shot hook with a 3/8-ounce Denali Kovert tungsten weight.

"That setup was key for me, and I didn't break off a fish all week," he said. "I also caught some fish on a 1/2-ounce Beast Coast OW Sniper Jig and used that same rod but modified to be a casting model. I had a guy back home turn that blank into a casting rod by changing the handle and the first couple of guides. It's the perfect rod for fighting big smallmouth with a lot of line out because you had to let a lot of line out to keep it on the bottom. And when you'd hook one, there'd be 100 feet of line out there, and you can still land them with that rod."

As much thought as Neal put into his setups for Stage Seven, it begs the question: How did he transform into a smallmouth guru? Neal said a change in thinking and a better understanding of the species are likely the culprits.

"I think it's all because I knew nothing about them,” he admitted. “I've learned that you must have an open mind when smallmouth fishing because they move so much daily. Largemouth are always going to be right on some cover, and smallmouth will always just be around something. That took me a while to figure out. I'm still not sure I like smallmouth fishing, but it seems to suit me."

Hard to argue. He now has two BPT wins to show for it.

The top 10 pros from the Minn Kota Stage Seven Presented by Humminbird at the St. Lawrence River are:

1st:        Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 28 bass, 88-14, $100,000
2nd:       John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 23 bass, 73-12, $45,000
3rd:       Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., 15 bass, 55-14, $38,000
4th:        Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 18 bass, 55-6, $32,000
5th:        Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 17 bass, 53-12, $30,000
6th:        Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 18 bass, 52-1, $26,000
7th:        Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 13 bass, 42-6, $23,000
8th:        Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 13 bass, 40-8, $21,000
9th:        Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 13 bass, 38-4, $19,000
10th:     Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., 12 bass, 34-12, $16,000

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 170 bass weighing 535 pounds, 9 ounces caught by the 20 pros Sunday, which included one 6-pounder, two 5-pounders, and 25 4-pounders.

Pro Nick Hatfield of Greeneville, Tennessee, earned Sunday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a smallmouth bass weighing in at 6 pounds even that he caught during Period 3. The $3,000 prize for heaviest bass of the tournament went to Louisiana’s Cliff Crochet, who caught a largemouth weighing 6 pounds, 7 ounces on Day 2 of Group A competition.

Harrison, Tennessee, pro Jacob Wheeler, clinched the 2024 Fishing Clash Angler of the Year honors and the $100,000 payout on Friday – Wheeler’s third AOY title in the last four years.

Fishing Clash, an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide, is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League. You can download Fishing Clash for free in the App Store and on Google Play or log on to www.fishingclash.game for more information.

The Minn Kota Stage Seven at the St. Lawrence River Presented by Humminbird featured anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The six-day tournament, hosted by the Town of Massena, showcased 78 of the best professional anglers in the world competing for a purse of more than $805,000, with a top prize of $100,000 going to the winner.

Television coverage of the Minn Kota Stage Seven at the St. Lawrence River Presented by Humminbird will premiere as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 16 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.

The 2024 Bass Pro Tour featured a field of 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship, set for April 3-6, 2025, on Lake Guntersville in Huntsville, Alabama.

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.

by AnglersChannel

Largemouth lead Loughran to Day 3 lead at Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain

Aug. 11, 2024

Elite_eventLogo_2024_Champlain_Raster.pngPLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — Distance makes the heart grow fonder. That was certainly the case for Ed Loughran III, who missed the previous two Bassmaster Elite Series events due to medical issues.

Loughran has returned with a vengeance this week at the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain as the soon-to-be 54-year-old from Richmond, Va., claimed the Day 3 lead with a three-day total measuring 63 pounds, 14 ounces.

After landing a 19-1 mixed bag on Day 1, finishing the day in 38th, Loughran jumped into second with a 22-15 limit of largemouth before landing his 21-14 Day 3 limit of green fish.

“It was very painful to sit there and watch everyone fish at Wheeler and Smith Lake,” he said. “You never know how much you miss something until you aren’t able to be there. I’m happy to be back in good shape and hopefully tomorrow I’ll do the same as I did today.”

The 2021 Bassmaster Classic qualifier holds a 2-pound, 2-ounce advantage over Kentucky’s Matt Robertson while Canada’s Chris Johnston moved into third place with a three-day mark of 61-6.

Mother Nature continues to throw curveballs at the Elite pros this week. Anglers enjoyed sunny conditions on Day 1 before the remnants of Hurricane Debby brought heavy rain and wind to the area, delaying the start of Day 2 until Saturday morning.

Clouds and south winds moved into the area once again on Sunday, creating challenging fishing conditions. While weights were not as impressive as the previous two days, all 50 anglers landed a limit of bass.

Loughran has been making a run to the southern section of the lake to an area where he hasn’t seen many of his other competitors. There, he is fishing several different sweet spots in 5 to 10 feet of water that are located on a shallow rock ridge with grass on top. He has caught both smallmouth and largemouth each day, but the largemouth have been the heavier species for Loughran this week.

A homemade jig paired with a Missile Baits Craw Father trailer and a ChatterBait have produced most of his bites this week.

“It’s just a northern thing. You can do it on Oneida or any other northern lake. It is just some high spots with grass,” Loughran said. “You don’t know what you are going to catch on any given cast.”

The wind, along with a mudline and an increase in local fishing pressure created less-than-ideal conditions in Loughran’s area on Day 3.

“It started pretty slow. They were not biting my ChatterBait at all,” he said. “It was a total grind. But I know the area I’m fishing, and I know the little sweet spots. I had to share it with some locals which made it a little more difficult to try and figure out where I was going.

“I had all kinds of things going on.”

Despite the slow start, the Virginia pro slowly began adding bass to his livewell. Once a local angler moved away from one of his spots and the sun peeked out from behind the clouds, Loughran was able to line up the cast he wanted and caught his biggest bass of the day, a 5-12 largemouth.

“The wind was blowing today in a direction that is difficult for this spot,” he said. “I was rarely in the good, controlled position that I wanted to be. Right before I caught that fish I happened to get into a really good spot. The place I wanted to cast was 45 feet away, and the wind had died down, so I put my poles down and the first cast out to the sweet spot, that bass hit.

“It was a huge cull.”

As the day progressed, Loughran landed two more key bass and expanded on his area. He thinks he will need another 20-pound bag to claim his first blue trophy. Sunny conditions improve his bite, but tomorrow’s forecast calls for more clouds.

“I think they are reloading and hopefully tomorrow there is another 20- or 22-pound bag in there and hopefully I can catch it. If I catch anything less than 20 pounds, someone is going to catch me,” Loughran said. “I really need sun and I’m not going to have it tomorrow. But who knows, the weather will come and go up here.”

Robertson has gone all-in on a largemouth-only pattern that has produced bags of 20-13, 20-13 and 20-2 for a three-day total of 61-12. The Kuttawa, Ky., native has fished around shallow docks with a big Berkley flipping jighead and a hand-tied black rubber skirt. A Chigger Craw is his trailer of choice, but he has caught some using different trailers as well.

“It’s as old school as it gets,” Robertson said. “The trailer doesn’t matter. You get it in there and the first one that sees it will bite it. These fish aren’t used to seeing a jig that big.”

There hasn’t been a particular rhyme or reason as to when Robertson gets a bigger-than-average bite. Some of the smaller bass he’s caught have been in some of the backwater areas, but he also landed a 5-pounder in that same area on Day 3.

“I’m fishing what’s in front of me,” Robertson said. “I had some docks where I got bit and shook a few fish off and I caught those. I keep forgetting about some of them, because toward the end of the day I remembered I got a bite (on a particular dock). I slid that big jig under there and caught a 5-pounder.”

After landing 20-0 and 21-14 the first two days of the tournament, the wind hampered Johnston slightly on Day 3 as the Canadian caught 19-8 on Semifinal Sunday.

“I started the day decently,” he said. “I was looking to get a couple 4-pounders in the first hour and I was just getting some 3s. I grinded away and never got that kicker. The wind blew up and I couldn’t present my bait right. I did lose one or two great big ones. They weren’t biting nearly as well today as they were yesterday.”

Johnston has specifically targeted smallmouth in deep water with a jighead minnow, varying the head size on the bait depending on the depth. He has used his forward-facing sonar to watch the smallmouth move up and down in the water column to feed on perch.

“There aren’t any big groups like last year, but you’ll get in an area, and you’ll go 200 yards and see seven or eight individual fish. But not any big wolf packs,” he explained. “They are gorging on perch. They’ll be 15 feet below the surface and then go down to 50 feet where all the perch are and come back up. It’s kind of different because normally when you catch a fish in 50 feet of water you’ll have to fizz them, but they go up and down so much they are used to it.”

Ashville, Ala., pro Matt Herren earned Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day honors on Day 3 as he caught a largemouth weighing 5-15 while New York rookie Kyle Patrick holds Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors with a 6-2 largemouth he caught on Day 1.

Patrick also claimed the $1,000 BassTrakk Contingency bonus for accurate weight recording.

Day 1 leader Seth Feider holds the CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament with his 23-11 limit of largemouth from Thursday.

2024 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors champion Justin Hamner still holds the lead in the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year race after three competition days at Lake Champlain with 671 points while Johnston moved into second with 657 points. Tennessee’s Jacob Foutz is third with 654 points, South Carolina rookie JT Thompkins is fourth with 634 points and Illinois rookie Trey McKinney is fifth with 633 points.

Thompkins leads the Dakota Lithium Elite Series Rookie of the Year race followed by McKinney in second. Tennessee’s John Garrett is third with 622 points, Alabama’s Wesley Gore is fourth with 621 points and Tyler Williams is fifth with 594 points.

The Top 10 anglers will launch from the Plattsburgh City Dock beginning at 7 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. The winner will earn the $100,000 first-place prize and a coveted blue trophy. Bassmaster LIVE will be available on Bassmaster.com from 8 a.m. ET until the start of weigh-in at 3 p.m. Weigh-in will begin shortly after and will also be streamed on Bassmaster.com.

The Adirondack Coast and City of Plattsburgh are hosting the tournament.

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, Twitter and TikTok.

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

 

2024 Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain 8/8-8/12
Lake Champlain, Plattsburg  NY.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3

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

1.  Ed Loughran III        Richmond, VA            15  63-14    0     $333.00
Day 1: 5   19-01     Day 2: 5   22-15     Day 3: 5   21-14
2.  Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY             15  61-12  102
Day 1: 5   20-13     Day 2: 5   20-13     Day 3: 5   20-02
3.  Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA 15  61-06  101
Day 1: 5   20-00     Day 2: 5   21-14     Day 3: 5   19-08
4.  Chris Zaldain          Fort Worth, TX          15  61-04  100
Day 1: 5   21-01     Day 2: 5   21-07     Day 3: 5   18-12
5.  Robert Gee             Knoxville, TN           15  60-13   99
Day 1: 5   21-01     Day 2: 5   19-15     Day 3: 5   19-13
6.  Jacob Foutz            Charleston, TN          15  60-06   98
Day 1: 5   21-04     Day 2: 5   20-11     Day 3: 5   18-07
7.  Patrick Walters        Eutawville, SC          15  60-03   97
Day 1: 5   21-10     Day 2: 5   18-03     Day 3: 5   20-06
8.  Will Davis Jr          Sylacauga, AL           15  59-13   96
Day 1: 5   20-15     Day 2: 5   20-09     Day 3: 5   18-05
9.  Cory Johnston          Otonabee CANADA         15  59-12   95
Day 1: 5   19-12     Day 2: 5   20-01     Day 3: 5   19-15
10. Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ           15  59-03   94
Day 1: 5   22-11     Day 2: 5   18-15     Day 3: 5   17-09
11. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN        15  58-15   93  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   21-08     Day 2: 5   19-07     Day 3: 5   18-00
12. Logan Latuso           Gonzales, LA            15  58-11   92  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-01     Day 2: 5   20-03     Day 3: 5   18-07
13. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA          15  58-07   91  $10,333.00
Day 1: 5   19-07     Day 2: 5   21-11     Day 3: 5   17-05
14. Wesley Gore            Clanton, AL             15  58-04   90  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   21-01     Day 2: 5   20-06     Day 3: 5   16-13
15. Koby Kreiger           Alva, FL                15  58-04   89  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-08     Day 2: 5   20-03     Day 3: 5   17-09
16. Joey Cifuentes III     Clinton, AR             15  57-15   88  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-13     Day 2: 5   18-12     Day 3: 5   18-06
17. JT Thompkins           Myrtle Beach, SC        15  57-13   87  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-10     Day 2: 5   21-07     Day 3: 5   17-12
18. Jason Christie         Dry Creek, OK           15  57-13   86  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-07     Day 2: 5   19-15     Day 3: 5   18-07
19. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL            15  57-06   85  $11,000.00
Day 1: 5   21-00     Day 2: 5   16-11     Day 3: 5   19-11
20. Jay Przekurat          Plover, WI              15  57-05   84  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-09     Day 2: 5   17-15     Day 3: 5   18-13
21. Cooper Gallant         Bowmanville Ontario CAN 15  57-04   83  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-14     Day 2: 5   18-00     Day 3: 5   19-06
22. Seth Feider            New Market, MN          15  57-03   82  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   23-11     Day 2: 5   17-01     Day 3: 5   16-07
23. Kyle Patrick           Cooperstown, NY         15  57-03   81  $11,000.00
Day 1: 5   21-11     Day 2: 5   17-08     Day 3: 5   18-00
24. Tyler Williams         Belgrade, ME            15  57-01   80  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-12     Day 2: 5   20-02     Day 3: 5   17-03
25. Ben Milliken           New Caney, TX           15  56-14   79  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   19-06     Day 3: 5   19-03
26. Jordan Lee             Cullman, AL             15  56-13   78  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   19-07     Day 3: 5   19-10
27. John Cox               Debary, FL              15  56-12   77  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-07     Day 2: 5   16-05     Day 3: 5   20-00
28. Justin Hamner          Northport, AL           15  56-11   76  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-11     Day 2: 5   19-11     Day 3: 5   17-05
29. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL        15  56-09   75  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-07     Day 2: 5   19-12     Day 3: 5   18-06
30. Taku Ito               Dalton GA JAPAN         15  56-07   74  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-00     Day 2: 5   19-05     Day 3: 5   18-02
31. Drew Cook              Cairo, GA               15  56-06   73  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-10     Day 2: 5   19-05     Day 3: 5   17-07
32. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 15  56-05   72  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-12     Day 2: 5   18-01     Day 3: 5   19-08
33. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA            15  56-03   71  $10,333.00
Day 1: 5   17-02     Day 2: 5   20-05     Day 3: 5   18-12
34. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ              15  56-00   70  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-09     Day 2: 5   20-02     Day 3: 5   17-05
35. John Garrett           Union City, TN          15  55-14   69  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-01     Day 2: 5   17-00     Day 3: 5   18-13
36. Austin Felix           Eden Prairie, MN        15  55-11   68  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-14     Day 2: 5   18-03     Day 3: 5   16-10
37. Bob Downey             Detroit Lakes, MN       15  55-11   67  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-13     Day 2: 5   17-10     Day 3: 5   18-04
38. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD               15  55-11   66  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-11     Day 2: 5   18-03     Day 3: 5   17-13
39. Logan Parks            Auburn, AL              15  55-10   65  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-10     Day 2: 5   17-15     Day 3: 5   18-01
40. Lee Livesay            Longview, TX            15  55-10   64  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-01     Day 2: 5   18-01     Day 3: 5   18-08
41. Kyle Norsetter         Cottage Grove, WI       15  55-02   63  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-09     Day 2: 5   18-13     Day 3: 5   17-12
42. Trey McKinney          Carbondale, IL          15  55-01   62  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-15     Day 2: 5   20-03     Day 3: 5   14-15
43. Alex Redwine           Blue Ash, OH            15  55-00   61  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-13     Day 2: 5   18-11     Day 3: 5   17-08
44. Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC             15  54-12   60  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-01     Day 2: 5   18-10     Day 3: 5   17-01
45. Cody Huff              Ava, MO                 15  54-11   59  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   19-15     Day 2: 5   18-07     Day 3: 5   16-05
46. Kyoya Fujita           Yamanashi CA JAPAN      15  54-10   58  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 5   19-09     Day 3: 5   17-01
47. Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY             15  54-05    0  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-06     Day 2: 5   18-04     Day 3: 5   17-11
48. Cole Sands             Calhoun , TN            15  53-14   56  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   17-14     Day 2: 5   19-02     Day 3: 5   16-14
49. Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC           15  53-11   55  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-03     Day 2: 5   18-15     Day 3: 5   16-09
50. Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA 15  52-11   54  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-06     Day 2: 5   17-14     Day 3: 5   14-07
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1   Kyle Patrick             Cooperstown, NY     06-02      $1,000.00
2   Greg Hackney             Gonzales, LA        05-07        $333.33
2   Ed Loughran III          Richmond, VA        05-07        $333.33
2   Caleb Sumrall            New Iberia, LA      05-07        $333.33
3   Matt Herren              Ashville, AL        05-15      $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       100       503      1865-09
2       100       504      1789-03
3        50       250       906-12
----------------------------------
250      1257      4561-08

by AnglersChannel

Two-pronged approach carries Zaldain to Day 2 lead at Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain

Aug. 10, 2024

Elite_eventLogo_2024_Champlain_Raster.pngPLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — When the weights are as tight as they are at the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain, Chris Zaldain knows he needs to fish for bigger-than-average bass in order to separate himself from the field.

The Fort Worth, Texas, pro applied his big-bass style of fishing to near perfection on Day 2, landing 21 pounds 7 ounces to take the lead at Lake Champlain with a two-day total of 42-8. He holds a slim lead over Ed Loughran III in second with 42-0 and third-place Jacob Foutz with 41-15.

Zaldain opened the tournament in seventh place with 21-1 and now finds himself in prime position to win his first Elite Series trophy, a title he almost claimed at this lake in 2021.

“It felt great. This place has been good to me in the past,” he said. “How do you catch bigger-than-average fish? Simply put, you have to fish for them. I’m definitely in my comfort zone.

“These fish set up just like (they did) in California where I grew up,” Zaldain continued. “They set up on the most obvious stuff,” Zaldain explained. “That single sailboat in the middle of the cove, a bridge piling, pillars, rock openings, the real obvious stuff, but that stuff gets absolutely hammered. So, you have to throw something different in there.”

The remnants of Hurricane Debby pushed through New York Friday, bringing heavy rains and wind to the area and ultimately forcing the postponement of Day 2. Mostly sunny skies prevailed today, and the Elite pros continued to put on a bass-fishing clinic, catching 100 limits and 1,789-3 total pounds.

“This place is setting up really nice after the rain we’ve had,” he said. “Rising water and moving water sets the largemouth up like no other.”

Zaldain has attacked Champlain with a two-pronged approach this week. The eight-time Classic qualifier started each day by catching 17 to 18 pounds of smallmouth in one specific area before searching for kicker largemouth later in the day. His two limits have each featured three smallmouth and two largemouth.

The smallmouth he has located are between 10 and 18 feet of water. Zaldain has mixed some “old school” smallmouth fishing with some “new school,” utilizing several dragging baits while also picking a couple of smallies off with his forward-facing sonar. Most of them are under 4 pounds, however.

“Right now, it is hard to catch a brown one over 4 pounds. I’m catching a lot between 3.65 and 3.90. But when you get a largemouth bite, they are all over 4 pounds.”

All of Zaldain’s green fish have come out of grass in 10 feet of water or less in one of four sweet spots, and the amount of current moving through the area plays an important role in how the largemouth set up in the grass. A swimbait has produced many of his larger bites.

“I’m constantly looking at the current,” Zaldain said. “I’m fishing on top of the grass as well as the edges and holes. I’m not using forward-facing sonar. I’m just reading water, reading current and reading wind.”

Zaldain filled out his limit within the first couple of hours of Day 2 before moving to his largemouth area. There, he landed a 4-pound largemouth and a 5-pounder, his two biggest bass of the day.

“That was awesome. The wind was howling on this little spot, and I had caught a couple flipping in the area,” he said. “I caught one that was a 3-pound largemouth that had a 5-pounder and a 4-pounder with it. I kept flipping and (didn’t catch anything), so I picked up my swimbait and I think I caught those two.”

While he’s caught over 21 pounds each day, Zaldain has lost several big bass — including one he believed to be close to 6 pounds today — that could have given him some separation over the field.

“I executed kind of poorly these last few days. I feel like I should be leading this thing by a lot,” he said.

After missing the last two tournaments due to health issues, Loughran finds himself in contention for his first Elite Series title. He opened the tournament in 38th with a 19-1 mixed bag before landing a 22-15 limit of largemouth on Day 2, his biggest bag ever at Lake Champlain.

“Traditionally when I come up here, it is easy for me to catch some decent smallmouth and I really struggled this week,” he said. “I’m a drop-shotter, I’m not a minnow-pinger. I caught some of those drop-shot fish on Day 1 and thought it was going to be good until Day 1.”

On Saturday, Loughran stayed in a small area of the lake with shallow vegetation where he had found both largemouth and smallmouth. The majority of his bites have come between 5 and 10 feet of water. After a little flurry early on, the bite slowed down, but a key bait change helped Loughran cull up to his final tally.

“I changed up a little and just started catching them,” he said. “I’ve got a couple other little spots close by and I haven’t touched them. So hopefully there are bass there, too.”

With bags of 21-4 and 20-11, Foutz jumped from sixth to third on Day 2. The Tennessee angler finished eighth at Lake Champlain last year and is looking to improve that showing this time around.

Foutz has been targeting pelagic smallmouth between 20 and 60 feet of water. Many of the smallmouth are in groups — some groups as small as 3 and some schools as big as 20 and 30.

“If they are grouped up, you are pretty much guaranteed a bite,” he said. “The singles are bigger ones, but they are the hardest to catch. I think I have a bait deal figured out to help trigger the bigger ones in the group to bite instead of having to weed through 3-pounders.”

After landing the majority of his weight within the first 10 minutes of Day 1, the second day started much slower for Foutz, but as the day wore on, he was able to locate several groups of smallmouth.

“I knew the fish had changed and that the wind probably moved them around,” Foutz said. “I went to an area I found late on Day 1 and trolled around and picked a nice one off here and there.”

Greg Hackney, Loughran and Caleb Sumrall split Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day honors on Day 2 as each caught a bass weighing 5-7 while New York rookie Kyle Patrick holds Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors with a 6-2 largemouth he caught on Day 1.

Day 1 leader Seth Feider holds the CrushCity Monster Bag of the Tournament with his 23-11 limit of largemouth from Thursday.

Alabama’s Justin Hamner, winner of the 2024 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Jockey Outdoors, leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 677 points. Illinois rookie Trey McKinney is second with 660 points, followed by Tennessee’s Jacob Foutz in third with 657 points. Chris Johnston of Canada is fourth with 656 points and Missouri’s Cody Huff is fifth with 645.

McKinney leads the Dakota Lithium Elite Series Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 660 points, followed by South Carolina’s JT Thompkins in second with 635 points and Alabama’s Wesley Gore in third with 627.

The Top 50 anglers will launch from the Plattsburgh City Dock beginning at 7 a.m. ET Sunday and return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. The Top 10 anglers take center stage on Championship Monday.

Coverage of the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain will air on FS1 on Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET. Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com each day.

The Adirondack Coast and City of Plattsburgh are hosting the tournament.

 

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, Twitter and TikTok.

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

 

2024 Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain 8/8-8/12
Lake Champlain, Plattsburg  NY.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

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

1.  Chris Zaldain          Fort Worth, TX          10  42-08  103
Day 1: 5   21-01     Day 2: 5   21-07
2.  Ed Loughran III        Richmond, VA            10  42-00    0     $333.00
Day 1: 5   19-01     Day 2: 5   22-15
3.  Jacob Foutz            Charleston, TN          10  41-15  101
Day 1: 5   21-04     Day 2: 5   20-11
4.  Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA 10  41-14  100
Day 1: 5   20-00     Day 2: 5   21-14
5.  Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ           10  41-10   99
Day 1: 5   22-11     Day 2: 5   18-15
6.  Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY             10  41-10   98
Day 1: 5   20-13     Day 2: 5   20-13
7.  Will Davis Jr          Sylacauga, AL           10  41-08   97
Day 1: 5   20-15     Day 2: 5   20-09
8.  Wesley Gore            Clanton, AL             10  41-07   96
Day 1: 5   21-01     Day 2: 5   20-06
9.  Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA          10  41-02   95     $333.00
Day 1: 5   19-07     Day 2: 5   21-11
10. Robert Gee             Knoxville, TN           10  41-00   94
Day 1: 5   21-01     Day 2: 5   19-15
11. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN        10  40-15   93
Day 1: 5   21-08     Day 2: 5   19-07
12. Seth Feider            New Market, MN          10  40-12   92
Day 1: 5   23-11     Day 2: 5   17-01
13. Koby Kreiger           Alva, FL                10  40-11   91
Day 1: 5   20-08     Day 2: 5   20-03
14. Logan Latuso           Gonzales, LA            10  40-04   90
Day 1: 5   20-01     Day 2: 5   20-03
15. Trey McKinney          Carbondale, IL          10  40-02   89
Day 1: 5   19-15     Day 2: 5   20-03
16. JT Thompkins           Myrtle Beach, SC        10  40-01   88
Day 1: 5   18-10     Day 2: 5   21-07
17. Tyler Williams         Belgrade, ME            10  39-14   87
Day 1: 5   19-12     Day 2: 5   20-02
18. Patrick Walters        Eutawville, SC          10  39-13   86
Day 1: 5   21-10     Day 2: 5   18-03
19. Cory Johnston          Otonabee CANADA         10  39-13   85
Day 1: 5   19-12     Day 2: 5   20-01
20. Joey Cifuentes III     Clinton, AR             10  39-09   84
Day 1: 5   20-13     Day 2: 5   18-12
21. Jason Christie         Dry Creek, OK           10  39-06   83
Day 1: 5   19-07     Day 2: 5   19-15
22. Justin Hamner          Northport, AL           10  39-06   82
Day 1: 5   19-11     Day 2: 5   19-11
23. Kyle Patrick           Cooperstown, NY         10  39-03   81   $1,000.00
Day 1: 5   21-11     Day 2: 5   17-08
24. Austin Felix           Eden Prairie, MN        10  39-01   80
Day 1: 5   20-14     Day 2: 5   18-03
25. Drew Cook              Cairo, GA               10  38-15   79
Day 1: 5   19-10     Day 2: 5   19-05
26. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ              10  38-11   78
Day 1: 5   18-09     Day 2: 5   20-02
27. Jay Przekurat          Plover, WI              10  38-08   77
Day 1: 5   20-09     Day 2: 5   17-15
28. Cody Huff              Ava, MO                 10  38-06   76
Day 1: 5   19-15     Day 2: 5   18-07
29. Taku Ito               Dalton GA JAPAN         10  38-05   75
Day 1: 5   19-00     Day 2: 5   19-05
30. Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA 10  38-04   74
Day 1: 5   20-06     Day 2: 5   17-14
31. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL        10  38-03   73
Day 1: 5   18-07     Day 2: 5   19-12
32. Cooper Gallant         Bowmanville Ontario CAN 10  37-14   72
Day 1: 5   19-14     Day 2: 5   18-00
33. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD               10  37-14   71
Day 1: 5   19-11     Day 2: 5   18-03
34. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL            10  37-11   70
Day 1: 5   21-00     Day 2: 5   16-11
35. Ben Milliken           New Caney, TX           10  37-11   69
Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   19-06
36. Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC             10  37-11   68
Day 1: 5   19-01     Day 2: 5   18-10
37. Logan Parks            Auburn, AL              10  37-09   67
Day 1: 5   19-10     Day 2: 5   17-15
38. Kyoya Fujita           Yamanashi CA JAPAN      10  37-09   66
Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 5   19-09
39. Alex Redwine           Blue Ash, OH            10  37-08   65
Day 1: 5   18-13     Day 2: 5   18-11
40. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA            10  37-07   64     $333.00
Day 1: 5   17-02     Day 2: 5   20-05
41. Bob Downey             Detroit Lakes, MN       10  37-07   63
Day 1: 5   19-13     Day 2: 5   17-10
42. Kyle Norsetter         Cottage Grove, WI       10  37-06   62
Day 1: 5   18-09     Day 2: 5   18-13
43. Jordan Lee             Cullman, AL             10  37-03   61
Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   19-07
44. Lee Livesay            Longview, TX            10  37-02   60
Day 1: 5   19-01     Day 2: 5   18-01
45. Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC           10  37-02   59
Day 1: 5   18-03     Day 2: 5   18-15
46. John Garrett           Union City, TN          10  37-01   58
Day 1: 5   20-01     Day 2: 5   17-00
47. Cole Sands             Calhoun , TN            10  37-00   57
Day 1: 5   17-14     Day 2: 5   19-02
48. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 10  36-13   56
Day 1: 5   18-12     Day 2: 5   18-01
49. John Cox               Debary, FL              10  36-12   55
Day 1: 5   20-07     Day 2: 5   16-05
50. Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY             10  36-10    0
Day 1: 5   18-06     Day 2: 5   18-04
51. David Gaston           Sylacauga, AL           10  36-09   53   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   17-07     Day 2: 5   19-02
52. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN          10  36-09   52   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 5   18-09
53. Pat Schlapper          Eleva, WI               10  36-07   51   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   16-14     Day 2: 5   19-09
54. Jeff Gustafson         Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 10  36-06   50   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   19-13     Day 2: 5   16-09
55. Kyle Welcher           Valley, AL              10  36-05   49   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   18-01     Day 2: 5   18-04
56. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL             10  36-03   48   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   18-01     Day 2: 5   18-02
57. Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA            10  36-00   47   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   16-00     Day 2: 5   20-00
58. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN           10  35-14   46   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   18-11     Day 2: 5   17-03
59. Caleb Kuphall          Mukwonago, WI           10  35-14   45   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   18-10     Day 2: 5   17-04
60. Wes Logan              Springville, AL         10  35-13   44   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   20-00     Day 2: 5   15-13
61. Justin Atkins          Florence, AL            10  35-12   43   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   16-05     Day 2: 5   19-07
62. Matt Arey              Shelby, NC              10  35-11   42   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   18-01     Day 2: 5   17-10
63. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY             10  35-10   41   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   17-10     Day 2: 5   18-00
64. Jonathan Kelley        Old Forge, PA           10  35-09   40   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   17-05     Day 2: 5   18-04
65. Alex Wetherell         Middletown, CT          10  35-07   39   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   18-15     Day 2: 5   16-08
66. Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS        10  35-07   38   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   18-02     Day 2: 5   17-05
67. Clark Wendlandt        Leander, TX             10  35-03   37   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   18-09     Day 2: 5   16-10
68. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR              10  35-00   36   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   16-08     Day 2: 5   18-08
69. Timothy Dube           Nashua , NH             10  34-15   35   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   16-10
70. Bryan New              Leesville, SC           10  34-12   34   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 5   16-12
71. Matty Wong             Honolulu, HI            10  34-10   33   $2,500.00
Day 1: 5   18-07     Day 2: 5   16-03
72. Mike Huff              London, KY              10  34-08   32
Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   16-12
73. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL              10  34-06   31
Day 1: 5   15-12     Day 2: 5   18-10
74. Hunter Shryock         Ooltewah, TN            10  34-02   30
Day 1: 5   18-08     Day 2: 5   15-10
75. Drew Benton            Panama City, FL         10  34-01   29
Day 1: 5   18-07     Day 2: 5   15-10
76. Brandon Card           Salisbury, NC           10  34-01   28
Day 1: 5   17-15     Day 2: 5   16-02
77. Buddy Gross            Chattanooga, TN         10  34-01   27
Day 1: 5   16-14     Day 2: 5   17-03
78. KJ Queen               Catawba, NC             10  33-13   26
Day 1: 5   16-10     Day 2: 5   17-03
79. Michael Iaconelli      Pitts Grove, NJ         10  33-10   25
Day 1: 5   18-13     Day 2: 5   14-13
80. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT           10  33-07   24
Day 1: 5   15-13     Day 2: 5   17-10
81. Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK            10  33-05   23
Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 5   15-05
82. Brad Whatley           Bivins, TX              10  33-03   22
Day 1: 5   17-13     Day 2: 5   15-06
83. Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL           10  33-02   21
Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   15-06
84. Bryant Smith           Roseville, CA           10  32-14   20
Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   15-02
85. Marc Frazier           Newnan, GA              10  32-12   19
Day 1: 5   16-13     Day 2: 5   15-15
86. Jake Whitaker          Hendersonville, NC      10  32-10   18
Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   14-05
87. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                 10  32-05   17
Day 1: 5   16-08     Day 2: 5   15-13
88. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA               10  32-02   16
Day 1: 5   15-12     Day 2: 5   16-06
89. Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID            10  32-01   15
Day 1: 5   13-01     Day 2: 5   19-00
90. Scott Canterbury       Odenville, AL           10  31-13   14
Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   13-08
91. Kenta Kimura           Osaka OK JAPAN          10  31-12   13
Day 1: 5   17-00     Day 2: 5   14-12
92. Chad Pipkens           Dewitt, MI              10  31-06   12
Day 1: 5   17-08     Day 2: 5   13-14
93. John Soukup            Sapulpa, OK             10  31-03   11
Day 1: 5   14-00     Day 2: 5   17-03
94. Todd Auten             Clover, SC              10  30-05   10
Day 1: 5   15-05     Day 2: 5   15-00
95. Joseph Webster         Hamilton, AL            10  29-11    9
Day 1: 5   15-03     Day 2: 5   14-08
96. Frank Talley           Belton, TX              10  29-04    8
Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 5   11-04
97. Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX             10  28-08    7
Day 1: 5   14-04     Day 2: 5   14-04
98. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC           9  27-15    6
Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 4   10-03
99. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX          10  27-15    5
Day 1: 5   17-02     Day 2: 5   10-13
100. Jason Williamson       Aiken, SC               10  26-09    4
Day 1: 5   14-15     Day 2: 5   11-10
101. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL          8  23-14    3
Day 1: 3   08-00     Day 2: 5   15-14
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1   Kyle Patrick             Cooperstown, NY     06-02      $1,000.00
2   Greg Hackney             Gonzales, LA        05-07        $333.33
2   Ed Loughran III          Richmond, VA        05-07        $333.33
2   Caleb Sumrall            New Iberia, LA      05-07        $333.33

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       100       503      1865-09
2       100       504      1789-03
----------------------------------
200      1007      3654-12

by AnglersChannel

Neal Leads Final 10 Anglers into Championship Round at MLF Bass Pro Tour Minn Kota Stage Seven Presented by Humminbird at the St. Lawrence River

Dayton, Tennessee pro catches 27 bass weighing 83-11 to lead Saturday’s Knockout Round, 10 Anglers Set for Sunday’s Final Day Championship Round

MASSENA, N.Y. (Aug. 10, 2024) – The 20 anglers contesting the Knockout Round at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Minn Kota Stage Seven Presented by Humminbird got the full St. Lawrence River experience on Saturday — gusty wind, turbulent waters and smallmouth bass by the bunches.

With the vast majority of the field targeting the smallmouth synonymous with the fishery and the bass eager to oblige, anglers lit up SCORETRACKER® early and often. After a handful of competitors traded the top spots throughout the afternoon, Michael Neal wound up atop the leaderboard with 83 pounds, 11 ounces on 27 scorable bass. He finished 15 ounces clear of John Hunter, with Matt Becker just 1-6 back of him.

While Saturday ended with Neal atop SCORETRACKER®, his day got off to a disastrous start long before he thought about making a cast.

Shortly after midnight, a rescue squad knocked on the door of his rental house. Due to the torrential rain from Hurricane Debby, a nearby river had risen 6 to 8 feet, its waters starting to lap on the front porch of the house. The rescue squad told Neal and roommate, fellow Dayton, Tennessee, pro Andy Morgan that it might be wise to seek shelter elsewhere.

With nowhere else to stay, Neal drove to the Massena Intake Boat Launch, where anglers check in and pick up their boat officials each morning before driving to their launch ramp of choice. He tried (unsuccessfully) to sleep in his truck.

“I slept about 30 minutes, maybe,” Neal said.

While he didn’t blame the lack of sleep, once his competition day finally started, Neal struggled to get into a groove. However, he made a move in the second period and caught fire. In the span of 1 hour, 15 minutes, he stacked nine smallmouth totaling 27-10 onto SCORETRACKER®, taking the lead for the first time.

Neal’s key adjustment was focusing more on structure that created current breaks, as the wind blowing in the same direction of the current made it stronger.

“Once I started focusing on the more current-driven areas, I started getting bit a lot more consistently,” he said.

While quite a few anglers have had success targeting smallmouth in water shallow enough to see the bottom, Neal is plying deeper habitat, fishing rock anywhere from 30 to 60 feet deep. Wielding a Big Bite Baits Quarantine Craw on 7-pound Sunline Shooter fluorocarbon, he said he’s rigging the soft plastic “a little bit different.”

“I’ll get into that a little bit more tomorrow, but it seems to make a difference,” Neal said. “I’ve fished around several guys this week, seemed like I’m getting a few more bites.”

As the wind increased in strength throughout the day, Neal said it actually helped his bite — to an extent. When blowing with the current, it positions the fish more predictably. That said, it can also make for an uncomfortable day on the water and cause challenges in accurately presenting a bait, especially on light line. With winds once again forecast to blow out of the southwest and reach the teens on Championship Sunday, conditions should be similar.

Neal thinks he could have continued to fish all his spots amid Saturday’s conditions, but once he’d built a safe advantage over the cut line, he looked for some more protected water. Turns out, he found the bite just as good there, too.

“It got easy this afternoon,” Neal said. “Like, I could call my shot. When I ran back to the American side, I caught four, I think, in the last 30 minutes, and it was the first drift every time.”

Set to compete in his fifth Championship Round of 2024 and third in as many events, Neal will finish in the Top 10 for the 20th time in his Bass Pro Tour career — second only to Jacob Wheeler. He feels overdue to add a second career victory. He believes he’ll be around the fish to win, but given the number of strong smallmouth anglers in the remaining field and the number of bass in the fishery, he knows it’ll take a nearly flawless day to hoist the trophy.

“I’ll definitely be around enough, 100 percent,” he said. “How many of them I’ll get to bite, I don’t know. Where I really started catching them in the second period, I think I’ve just made two drifts there and caught them really good, and there’s way more fish there than what I’ve caught.

“The whole Top 10, anybody can win it. All it takes is landing on one stretch, one current seam that’s just loaded up that you can go back and forth all day on.”

The top 10 pros from Saturday’s Knockout Round that now advance to the final day of competition on the St. Lawrence River are:

1st:        Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 27 bass, 83-11
2nd:       John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 26 bass, 81-12
3rd:       Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 26 bass, 80-6
4th:        Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., 24 bass, 74-5
5th:        Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 22 bass, 69-7
6th:        Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 23 bass, 66-12
7th:        Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 19 bass, 60-11
8th:        Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., 19 bass, 59-5
9th:        Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 18 bass, 57-14
10th:     Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 19 bass, 55-10

Eliminated from competition are:

11th:     Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., 17 bass, 51-8, $10,000
12th:     Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., 16 bass, 49-14, $10,000
13th:     Mark Daniels, Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 17 bass, 47-6, $10,000
14th:     Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 15 bass, 42-14, $10,000
15th:     Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 13 bass, 40-7, $10,000
16th:     Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 13 bass, 38-12, $10,000
17th:     Jason Vance, Battle Ground, Ind., 11 bass, 36-3, $10,000
18th:     Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 10 bass, 31-11, $10,000
19th:     Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., nine bass, 26-8, $10,000
20th:     Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., nine bass, 25-10, $10,000

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 353 bass weighing 1,080 pounds even caught by the 20 pros Saturday. The catch included 10 5-pounders, 37 4-pounders and 115 3-pounders.

Pro Justin Cooper earned Saturday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a largemouth weighing 5 pounds, 13 ounces. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

The six-day tournament, hosted by the Town of Massena, showcases 78 of the best professional anglers in the world competing for a purse of more than $805,000, with a top prize of $100,000 going to the winner.

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

The final 10 anglers will depart at 6:45 a.m. ET Sunday from the Massena Intake Boat Launch, located at 1415 State Highway 131 in Massena. Anglers are allowed to trailer to any ramp of their choosing within the fishing boundaries, and competition will begin on the water at 7:30 a.m. The General Tire Takeout will be held at Massena Intake Boat Launch, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com .

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

On Sunday, Aug. 11, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit the Massena Intake Boat Launch for the MLF Watch Party. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. Live music will begin at 4 p.m. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing, and the final 10 Bass Pro Tour anglers competing in the Championship Round will be on hand to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.

The Minn Kota Stage Seven at the St. Lawrence River Presented by Humminbird features anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The 2024 Bass Pro Tour features a field of 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship, set for April 3-6, 2025, on Lake Guntersville in Huntsville, Alabama.

Fishing Clash, an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide, is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League. You can download Fishing Clash for free in the App Store and on Google Play or log on to www.fishingclash.game for more information.

Television coverage of the Minn Kota Stage Seven at the St. Lawrence River Presented by Humminbird will premiere as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 16 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, 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.

by AnglersChannel

Lester Looking to Turn Bronze into Gold

By Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships

Team Toyota pro Brandon Lester caught over 21-lbs of smallmouth bass on day one of the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Elite on Lake Champlain, which had him in 5 th place at the conclusion of the weigh-in. Lester has fished countless bodies of water throughout his life, 10-years of which have been as a touring professional angler, but Lake Champlain ranks atop them all as his absolute favorite fishery.

This unique body of water that straddles the New York-Vermont border is a 17-hour haul in the Tundra from Lester’s home in middle Tennessee, but this is one long distance
relationship that Lester is OK with.

“This place represents what bass fishing should be in my opinion,” Lester offered. “You can run down the lake and from 40-feet of water to four inches of water if you see something that looks like it should have a bass on it, it probably does. It’s such a diverse fishery, with a guy being able to be competitive in major tournaments with largemouth or smallmouth.”

This diversity that Lester is so fond of is a huge reason why dozens of his peers are quick to claim Champlain as their favorite place to bass fish as well. Not only can anglers catch heavy mixed bags of either species from these clear, fertile waters; but they can truly pick their poison when it comes to lure choices and techniques. The opportunities abound on Lake Champlain.

Though Lester has experienced a lot of success targeting largemouth here in the past, he came into this tournament solely focused on smallmouth bass. While Lester isn’t an Olympian, at least until they add bass fishing as an Olympic sport, he does believe bronze is his best chance at gold this week. Only Lester’s gold would come in the form of his second blue trophy.

“Based off last year’s Elite and what I learned in practice I felt like I could be more consistent with smallmouth,” Lester explained. “I had over 20-lbs of brown fish two of our three days in practice and I feel like that’s the number I need to hit to be competitive and give myself a chance come Championship Monday.”

Lester knew weights would be extremely tight this week and after what he saw in practice, he believed that daily 20-lb benchmark is what it would take to separate himself and keep him near the top of the leaderboard. The even-keeled pro is primarily employing Lowrance Active Target and a few finesse tactics to pick off nomadic smallies roaming the depths of Champlain.

Oddly enough, Lester has openly struggled with FFS when fishing for largemouth, at least when it comes to excelling in tournaments dominated with this approach. But it’s quite the opposite when focusing on smallmouth with the tool, as is evident by his efforts on Champlain and a top 10 finish on Lake St. Clair last year.

“I can’t really explain it, but I have a blast chasing around smallmouth with FFS,” Lester said. “I feel like I understand how to use it to catch smallies and I don’t have to fight the same mental battles I do when using FFS to target largemouth. I guess it’s probably due to how I grew up fishing for largemouth, and I don’t have that experience or history to fall back on with brown ones. Regardless, it sure is fun to come up North and catch these things with light line and Active Target.”

by AnglersChannel

Thrift Wins Qualifying Round, Wheeler Clinches Third AOY Title at MLF Bass Pro Tour Minn Kota Stage Seven Presented by Humminbird at the St. Lawrence River

Wheeler finishes 10th in Qualifying Round to clinch third Angler of the Year title in four years, Thrift throws jig to pace top 10 anglers advancing to Saturday’s Knockout Round

MASSENA, N.Y. (Aug. 9, 2024) – Even the remnants of Hurricane Debby drenching the St. Lawrence River couldn’t extinguish the red-hot fishing Friday at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Minn Kota Stage Seven Presented by Humminbird.

The 39 anglers finishing out Group B’s Qualifying Round on Friday consistently caught fish throughout the day, led by Shelby, North Carolina angler Bryan Thrift, who totaled 31 bass for 91 pounds, 6 ounces for a total of 160-3 over two days. Thrift ended the round just 4 ounces ahead of a hard charging Josh Bertrand, who wound up with 159-15.

The big winner of the day was the 10th place finisher, Harrison, Tennessee, pro Jacob Wheeler, who clinched the 2024 Fishing Clash Angler of the Year honors and the $100,000 payout – Wheeler’s third AOY title in the last four years.

In addition to the battle for the top of the group and the Angler of the Year title, there was plenty of movement on SCORETRACKER® throughout the day. Still, only two anglers below 10th place at the start of the day will advance to the Knockout Round – and both made big jumps as Covington, Georgia, pro Jared Lintner (14th to fourth) and pro Mark Daniels, Jr., of Tuskegee, Alabama, (17th to eighth) replaced Skeet Reese and Fletcher Shryock.

Thrift was firmly ahead of Group B for much of the day until Bertrand made a run and briefly passed him in the final 10 minutes. Thrift immediately added a 3-3 to take the lead for good. The North Carolina pro caught fish early and remained in control of the lead most of the day by fishing his strengths – using baitcast gear and a jig that he designed.

While other baits caught a few late fish for Thrift, a 1/2—and 3/4-ounce green pumpkin yellow Fitzgerald Fishing Bryan Thrift tungsten micro jig was his primary weapon, helping him land nearly 60 pounds in the first period alone.

"The day started really good, catching 50-something pounds," Thrift said. "That allowed me to start looking for new areas, and I spent most of the day just fishing around. I looked for new stuff and went shallow to places I hadn't fished all week."

While he caught a handful of fish on new areas in the late afternoon, Thrift is all in on a particular stretch of the massive river.

"That's where I've caught most of my fish on both days," he said of his location. "I have no idea if that’ll be good enough and don't know what the changing weather will do to them. I don't expect them to bite as well as they did today."

Ever the one to downplay his success, Thrift believes it will take big weights to make the Championship Round and thinks he'll need everything to line up for him to advance.

"I have to think it will take 60, 70 pounds to move on," he said. "I have that one main area, but don't have a lot of other stuff that's real good."

The top 10 pros in Group B that now advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round on the St. Lawrence River are:

1st:        Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 56 bass, 160-3
2nd:      Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., 51 bass, 159-15
3rd:       Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 45 bass, 147-5
4th:        Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 50 bass, 143-9
5th:        Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 48 bass, 137-11
6th:        Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 41 bass, 137-8
7th:        Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 42 bass, 136-6
8th:        Mark Daniels, Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 45 bass, 132-8
9th:        Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 45 bass, 128-6
10th:     Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 45 bass, 123-3

Eliminated from competition are:

11th:     Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 37 bass, 111-8
12th:     Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., 34 bass, 109-13
13th:     Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., 40 bass, 108-15
14th:     Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 35 bass, 105-1
15th:     Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., 32 bass, 104-8
16th:     John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., 34 bass, 102-13
17th:     Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 37 bass, 101-13
18th:     Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 33 bass, 95-12
19th:     Shinichi Fukae, Osaka, Japan, 31 bass, 95-6
20th:     Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 32 bass, 95-0
21st:      Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 30 bass, 94-9
22nd:    Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 33 bass, 91-9
23rd:     Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 28 bass, 86-3
24th:     Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 31 bass, 85-2
25th:     Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 28 bass, 82-11
26th:     Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 27 bass, 82-1
27th:     Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., 26 bass, 80-6
28th:     Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 25 bass, 78-10
29th:     Matt Lee, Guntersville, Ala., 25 bass, 74-1
30th:     Alton Jones, Sr., Lorena, Texas, 24 bass, 73-7
31st:      Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 24 bass, 71-11
32nd:    Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 23 bass, 69-10
33rd:     Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., 23 bass, 64-9
34th:     Jacopo Gallelli, Florence, Italy, 19 bass, 62-0
35th:     David Walker, Huntingdon, Tenn., 22 bass, 60-11
36th:     Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., 17 bass, 50-8
37th:     Gerald Spoher, Gonzales, La., 16 bass, 49-8
38th:     Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, 13 bass, 37-15
39th:     Colby Schrumpf, Highland, Ill., 11 bass, 35-8

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 666 scorable bass weighing 2,004 pounds, 4 ounces caught by the 39 pros on Friday.

The Day 4 $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award went to pro John Murray of Spring City, Tennessee, who caught a 5-pound, 15-ounce largemouth bass with just nine minutes remaining in Period 3 to earn the award. It was the second largemouth bass to win the daily award this week. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and another $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

The six-day tournament, hosted by the Town of Massena, showcases 78 of the best professional anglers in the world competing for a purse of more than $805,000, with a top prize of $100,000 going to the winner.

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

Anglers will depart at 6:45 a.m. ET each day from the Massena Intake Boat Launch, located at 1415 State Highway 131 in Massena. Anglers are allowed to trailer to any ramp of their choosing within the fishing boundaries, and competition will begin on the water at 7:30 a.m. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at Massena Intake Boat Launch, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com .

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live starting Thursday morning from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.

On Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 10-11, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit the Massena Intake Boat Launch for the MLF Watch Party. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. Live music will begin each day at 4 p.m. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing each day. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.

The Minn Kota Stage Seven at the St. Lawrence River Presented by Humminbird features anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The 2024 Bass Pro Tour features a field of 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship, set for April 3-6, 2025, on Lake Guntersville in Huntsville, Alabama.

Fishing Clash, an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide, is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League. You can download Fishing Clash for free in the App Store and on Google Play or log on to www.fishingclash.game for more information.

Television coverage of the Minn Kota Stage Seven at the St. Lawrence River Presented by Humminbird will premiere as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 16 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.

Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, 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.

by AnglersChannel

A New Warrior is Born

DAIWA’s new 8-carrier SAMURAI 8 Braid battles fish with strength, toughness, and a smooth finish.

FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (August 2, 2024) – Hard to believe, but modern fishing was first introduced to braided line way back in 1970. Over the decades, its popularity grew alongside technological advances in available styles and brands. And DAIWA is a leader in that space.

DAIWA’s original Japanese manufactured SAMURAI Braid hit the market in 2009 and quickly gained a following, especially amongst bass anglers – almost cultlike status. True fishing artisans were drawn to its strength, smoothness, and reliability. And now, DAIWA treats those ardent anglers – as well as newcomers to fishing braid – to SAMURAI 8 Braid.

As its name implies, SAMURAI 8 Braid is an 8-carrier braid, meaning eight exceptional microfilaments are meticulously woven together to create a superior finished product. “The tight weaving process is what makes SAMURAI 8 Braid so special,” said DAIWA Field Marketing Manager, Chris Martin. “Impressively, SAMURAI 8 Braid stays exceptionally narrow for its rated strength, and the new weaving process makes it more durable, too.”

Martin noted another resulting characteristic of SAMURAI 8 Braid’s tight weave. “Abrasion resistance is greatly improved. It’s much harder to nick a line when eight individual strands perform as one.”

Additionally, DAIWA added a performance coating to SAMURAI 8 Braid. “The exclusive coating really maximizes casting distance and reduces line noise. There’s so little friction as it passes through the guides,” said Martin.

Another benefit of the performance coating is how it affects the sink rate. “With less friction in the water, SAMURAI 8 Braid can sink faster. That’s important for getting the most out of your crankbaits, keeping lures and rigs pinned to the bottom, and tightening the tether to smaller baits because there’s less bowing in the line.”

And we can’t forget roundness. Irregular shapes with inconsistencies dog some of the braided line on the market. Those are the same ones that cut notches in your guides, too. Fortunately, SAMURAI 8 Braid comes out of the factory perfectly spherical.

SAMURAI 8 Braid is available in nine weights and two spool sizes, 165-yard and 330-yard.

SAMURAI 8 Braid FEATURES:

  • Made with Japan’s finest material
  • 8-carrier braid
  • Tight and round weave
  • Narrow diameter
  • Abrasion resistant
  • Fast sink rate
  • Performance coated for casting distance
  • Available in 165- and 330-yard spools
  • SIZES: 8-lb., 10-lb., 15-lb., 20-lb., 30-lb., 40-lb., 50-lb., 65-lb., and 80-lb.
  • COLOR: Dark green

MSRP $24.99 and $44.99

For Daiwa’s latest color catalog and/or information on Daiwa dealers in your area, call Daiwa’s Customer Service Department at 562-375-6800 or e-mail inquiries to: [email protected]. The URL for Daiwa’s web site is daiwa.us

by AnglersChannel

MLF General Tire Heavy Hitters at the Kissimmee Chain to Premiere Saturday on Discovery

WHAT:
The Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes premieres this weekend on Discovery. The star-studded event, hosted by  Experience Kissimmee, showcased the 30 anglers who qualified from the MLF Bass Pro Tour, competing in a six-day tournament on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes for a purse of more than $500,000.

In addition to the top prize of $100,000, anglers also competed for Berkley Big Bass Bonuses of $10,000 for each day of the four-day Qualifying Rounds, $30,000 for the Knockout Round and an astounding $100,000 reward for the biggest bass in the Championship Round.

WHEN:
Saturday, Aug. 10, 7-9 a.m. ET

WHERE:
Discovery – New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel

NOTES:
To qualify for General Tire Heavy Hitters, the weight of an angler’s single-largest bass from each event of the seven 2023 Bass Pro Tour events was recorded. The 30 anglers with the heaviest total from those seven bass qualified to compete in this event.

The 15 Anglers in Group A and 15 anglers in Group B each compete in their qualifying round over the first four episodes. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top eight anglers from both groups advance to the Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round weights are zeroed, and the remaining 16 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the final-day Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total took home the top prize of $100,000.

In addition to the tournament, Big Bass Bonuses are awarded in each round of competition with payouts of $10,000, $30,000 and $100,000 awarded to the single biggest fish in the Group A & B Qualifying, Knockout and Championship rounds.

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

About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery 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.

by AnglersChannel

Xpress Boats Introduces Its All-New H210 Bay Boat

HOT SPRINGS, AR. August 9, 2024 - Xpress Boats proudly introduces its all-new 21-foot option to the Hyper-Lift Bay Series. The New H210 Bay from Xpress. This newly developed model is an addition to the H Bay lineup and the big brother to the popular H190 Bay. The sleek low-profile design and performance of the Hyper-Lift Hull gives this 21’ boat the look and feel like no other in the market today. The large front casting deck with 2 forward opening storage compartments and fiberglass center console with stainless grab rail and windshield leaves you plenty of floor space for your cooler and gear. The rear casting deck provides you the comfort of SeaDek pad seating on the port and starboard and the versatility of a port baitwell and starboard live-well will take care of your catch for the day whether chasing reds along the coast or hungry stripers on a freshwater lake.

“The development of the H210 Bay was to produce a boat with exceptional value and functionality of higher-priced boats. The H210 Bay is very economically friendly, but is still very functional and handles rough water like our other bay boats,” said PeeWee Strother, National Sales Manager.

This new 21-foot center console shares the same DNA as the #1 selling 20-foot aluminum bay boat on the market and will not disappoint. With a nationally advertised price of $34,995 with a Yamaha F150LC as the power source, this boat will surely exceed your expectations. Our aluminum boats maintain the highest resale value in the industry due to their attention to detail, innovative design, and unibody construction. Affordable adventure awaits!

 

About Xpress Boats:

Xpress Boats is a 58-year-old family-owned and operated company, built on the premise of innovation and manufacturing excellence. The “Original” all-welded aluminum boat company pioneered the use of longitudinal rib construction and injected closed-cell foam to create a unibody, superior fishing platform.

 

www.xpressboats.com

by AnglersChannel

Registration Open for the 2024 AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open

San Antonio, TX (August 8, 2024) – The 2024-25 season of the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series is the 20th anniversary for the Association of Collegiate Anglers. The second stop of this historic season, the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open, will be contested at Lake Dardanelle in Russellville, AR on October 12-13, 2024.  This ACA major tournament is a no-entry-fee, double points event which will feature media coverage on a variety of streaming platforms, live coverage, social media promotions and is nationally televised on several networks.

The no-entry-fee AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open will feature a total payout of over $20,000 in prizes and contingencies. Along with the valuable prizes, teams will be eligible to earn double points to count towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. The ACA’s second event of the 2024-25 season will be a key event in determining the Top 25 teams in the nation entering the second half of the season.

Register for the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open

“The 20th season for the ACA is a great celebration for collegiate bass fishing, our organization, and the many series partners,” said Wade Middleton, ACA Director and CarecoTV President. “As the second ACA major event of the 2024-25 season, the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open will be a very exciting event to compete in, attend, and watch.”

In 2023, the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open set a new attendance record for this event. Close to 500 of the top collegiate anglers, nearly 250 teams, traveled to Russellville, AR to compete at Lake Dardanelle.

“The first half of the 2024-25 season is always a great start to the fall semester for college anglers,” noted Kyle Curry, ACA Managing Director. “Central Arkansas is a beautiful area to travel to that time of year, and the fish will be positioned in high percentage areas for anglers to get a lot bites.”

As mentioned earlier, the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open is the second event on the calendar for the ACA’s historic 20th season. From day one, the ACA has strived to bring expansive media coverage to share the achievements of the competitors on the trail, as well as provide exposure and brand awareness to the companies and products that partnered with the organization. Our goal since that first event was to provide major events without an entry fee or membership, while also providing programs to help more anglers get on the water and pursue their passions. Throughout the 2024-25 season, the ACA is excited to celebrate its 20th anniversary. This is a major milestone for the organization, student anglers, and series partners. Over the next 12 months, the ACA will be introducing new programs, promotions and features across digital media, as well as look backs at some of the great moments that have occurred over the years.

by AnglersChannel