Virginia's Ferguson and Thomas take lead in scorching hot first round of Bassmaster High School Championship on Lake Hartwell

Kasey Ferguson and Jakari Thomas of Virginia's Ringgold Bassin' team are leading after Day 1 of the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors on historic Lake Hartwell with 12 pounds, 7 ounces. 

Photo by Tyler Bridges/B.A.S.S.

July 27, 2023

ANDERSON, S.C. — Kasey Ferguson and Jakari Thomas certainly weren’t wild about the 100-degree heat index anglers faced on Day 1 of the Strike King Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors on Lake Hartwell.

But the 18-year-olds countered the scorching temperatures with some hot fishing on Thursday. The duo from Virginia’s Ringgold Bassin’ team caught a three-fish limit weighing 12 pounds, 7 ounces to take a narrow lead in this three-day event.

Ferguson and Thomas found an early bite before the South Carolina sun climbed high and beat down relentlessly on each of Lake Hartwell’s 56,000 acres. In fact, they were pleased enough with their catch to leave the water early, weighing in well before their scheduled 3:40 p.m. check-in.

“It was brutal,” Thomas said, referencing the oppressive heat.

Still, it wasn’t harsh enough to keep the team from grabbing the lead. They fished the backs of pockets and some boat docks with wacky-rigged Senko worms (green pumpkin, black/blue), and they threw a variety of flukes to any shaded area they could find.

“If you saw a piece of wood and it had some shade on it, there likely was a fish on it,” Ferguson said. “There definitely was a pattern.”

Ferguson and Thomas won three consecutive Virginia B.A.S.S. Nation High School state titles, the last one coming just before they graduated from Dan River High School in Ringgold, Va. They also are familiar with Hartwell, which they said helped their cause on Day 1. The duo placed 12th in last year’s national tournament on this famed reservoir straddling the South Carolina/Georgia border.

“Knowing the body of water definitely is a plus,” Ferguson said. “We did some of the same stuff we did last year, and we obviously couldn’t do that on a place new to us.”

The leaders are hoping they’ll have some of the same fortunes on Friday when the massive full field competes again. The field will be trimmed to the Top 12 for Saturday’s championship round.

“We’ll pray,” Thomas said, talking about the Day 2 game plan. “We’ll put it in God’s hands. That, and we’ll have plenty of water and ice.”

This is the 10th year B.A.S.S. has held a national championship tournament, and the second-straight year it’s been at Lake Hartwell. Teams from 35 states and Canada are vying for part of $22,950 in scholarships, including $5,000 to be split by the eventual winning duo.

Rounding out the Top 5 teams on Day 1 were, second place, Alabama’s Spencer Grooms and Hudson Gallimore, 12-6; third, South Carolina’s Mitchell Robinson and Cody Abbott, 11-15; fourth, Alabama’s Avery Padgett and Ethan Young, 11-14; and fifth, Illinois’ Chase and Carter Logue, 11-3. Florida’s Claude Loftin and Isaac Dorland also caught 11-3 on Thursday but are in sixth place after tiebreakers.

Tennessee’s Ty Trentham and Chase McCarter have the early lead in the race for the Big Bass Award with a 6-15 largemouth.

Trentham caught the lunker late Thursday afternoon, giving his team more than a 5-pound upgrade. They’re in ninth place overall with 10-10.

“We went to our backup plan,” Trentham said. “About 10 casts into it, the big one was on. It was on structure in about 10 feet of water.”

Day 2 will begin with a 6:20 a.m. ET takeoff from the legendary Green Pond Landing and Event Center. The weigh-in will be held back at Green Pond at 2:20 p.m. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.

2023 Strike King Bassmaster High School Championship presented
by Academy Sports + Outdoors 7/27-7/29
Lake Hartwell, Anderson  SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

Angler                                       Club/School                       Pts

1.  Kasey Ferguson - Jakari Thomas               Ringgold Bassin - VA                  0
Day 1: 3   12-07   Total:   3  12-07
2.  Spencer Grooms - Hudson Galimore             Auburn High School - AL               0
Day 1: 3   12-06   Total:   3  12-06
3.  Mitchell Robinson - Cody Abbott              Byrnes High School - SC               0
Day 1: 3   11-15   Total:   3  11-15
4.  Avery Padgett - Ethan Young                  Zion Chapel High School - AL          0
Day 1: 3   11-14   Total:   3  11-14
5.  Chase Logue - Carter Logue                   Argenta Oreana High School - IL       0
Day 1: 3   11-03   Total:   3  11-03
6.  Claude Loftin - Isaac Dorland                Marion County High School - FL        0
Day 1: 3   11-03   Total:   3  11-03
7.  Wyatt Richards - Colby Goforth               Pickens County High School - GA       0
Day 1: 3   11-01   Total:   3  11-01
8.  Bryson Gurley - Ethan Evatt                  Palmetto High School - SC             0
Day 1: 3   11-00   Total:   3  11-00
9.  Ty Trentham - Chase Mccarter                 Sevier County High School - TN        0
Day 1: 3   10-10   Total:   3  10-10
10. Presley Lannom - Trevor Sanford              Mt. Juliet High School - TN           0
Day 1: 3   10-07   Total:   3  10-07
11. Destin Morales - Samuel Cobb Jr              Livingston Parish Bassmasters -       0
Day 1: 3   10-04   Total:   3  10-04
12. Cole Martin - Josh Bowen                     Lakeside High School - AR             0
Day 1: 3   10-02   Total:   3  10-02
13. Nicholas Frumkin - Jack Houghton             Mass Nation High School - MA          0
Day 1: 3   10-01   Total:   3  10-01
14. Dylan Quilatan - Tommy Rust                  Seminole Junior Anglers - FL          0
Day 1: 3   10-01   Total:   3  10-01
15. Ashton Feck - William Crawford               Boyle County High School - KY         0
Day 1: 3   10-00   Total:   3  10-00
16. Jack Pickett - Luke Baugh                    Skyline High School - AL              0
Day 1: 3   09-14   Total:   3  09-14
17. Bryce Balentine - Bryce Dimauro              Seminole Junior Anglers - FL          0
Day 1: 3   09-14   Total:   3  09-14
18. Drew Bradstreet - Kamden Bradstreet          Seminole Junior Anglers - FL          0
Day 1: 3   09-14   Total:   3  09-14
19. Ely Hagans - Cole Pennington                 Greenbrier High School - AR           0
Day 1: 3   09-11   Total:   3  09-11
20. Jacob Longlois - Slade Nunnally              Little Cypress-Mauriceville - TX      0
Day 1: 3   09-09   Total:   3  09-09
21. Thomas Newman - Camdon Fauver                Frederick County High School - V      0
Day 1: 3   09-07   Total:   3  09-07
21. Landon Watts - Josiah Shockley               Livingston Parish Bassmasters -       0
Day 1: 3   09-07   Total:   3  09-07
23. Nolan Holloway - Jackson Fanning             Morgan County High School - GA        0
Day 1: 3   09-04   Total:   3  09-04
24. Chris Fallon - Briar Dodson                  Gardendale High School - AL           0
Day 1: 3   09-03   Total:   3  09-03
25. Blalock Eskew - Ellis Turner                 Heard County High School - GA         0
Day 1: 3   09-02   Total:   3  09-02
26. BJ Collins - Elijah Benson                   Chatuge Anglers - GA                  0
Day 1: 3   08-14   Total:   3  08-14
27. Dylan Sorrells - Cullum Brown                Highland Park High School - TX        0
Day 1: 3   08-12   Total:   3  08-12
28. Jack Swihart - Rylan Hamlin                  A1 Anglers - MI                       0
Day 1: 3   08-12   Total:   3  08-12
29. Jace Anderson - Ty Downs                     Savage Fishing - OK                   0
Day 1: 3   08-10   Total:   3  08-10
30. Connor Crawford - Brody Beam                 Liberty County High School - FL       0
Day 1: 3   08-07   Total:   3  08-07
30. Andrew Jones - Carson Underwood              Hewitt-Trussville High School -       0
Day 1: 3   08-07   Total:   3  08-07
32. Elijah Bryant - Patrick Locker               Jessamine County High School - K      0
Day 1: 3   08-06   Total:   3  08-06
33. Jacob Policka -                              Fruitport High School - MI            0
Day 1: 3   08-03   Total:   3  08-03
33. Coleman Stewart - Keenan Stewart             Boyle County High School - KY         0
Day 1: 3   08-03   Total:   3  08-03
35. Jake Mattingly -                             Danville Christian Academy - KY       0
Day 1: 3   08-03   Total:   3  08-03
36. Joseph Mashburn - Kobe Walden                Clinton High School - TN              0
Day 1: 3   07-15   Total:   3  07-15
37. Evan Newell - Kody Glass                     Mid Florida Youth Anglers - FL        0
Day 1: 3   07-14   Total:   3  07-14
38. Peyton Dunn - Gavin Guy                      Irwin County High School - GA         0
Day 1: 3   07-13   Total:   3  07-13
39. Justin Blais -                               Glenmora High School - LA             0
Day 1: 3   07-12   Total:   3  07-12
40. Gracie Gregory - Trent Allen                 George Jenkins High School - FL       0
Day 1: 3   07-12   Total:   3  07-12
40. Brayden Hoehn - Gibby Gibson                 Saint Mary's High School - OH         0
Day 1: 3   07-12   Total:   3  07-12
42. Jackie Hatfield - Graham Willis              Alcoa Fishing Team - TN               0
Day 1: 3   07-12   Total:   3  07-12
43. Grant Thomas - Riley Peppers                 Franklin High School- TN              0
Day 1: 3   07-12   Total:   3  07-12
44. Jack Mcillwain - Dyson Weaver                Creekwood High School - TN            0
Day 1: 3   07-12   Total:   3  07-12
45. Rex Reagan - Max Moody                       Pickett County High School - TN       0
Day 1: 3   07-11   Total:   3  07-11
46. Conner Balthis - Cooper Johnson              Mannford High School - OK             0
Day 1: 3   07-10   Total:   3  07-10
47. Reed Rooke - Hayden Seabolt                  Dawson County High School - GA        0
Day 1: 3   07-10   Total:   3  07-10
48. Elijah Cruze - Malcolm Leger                 Sam Houston High School - LA          0
Day 1: 3   07-09   Total:   3  07-09
49. Hunter Hightower - Jake Bennett              Brookeland ISD - TX                   0
Day 1: 3   07-08   Total:   3  07-08
49. Gunner Willoughby - Bryce Alfrey             George Rogers Clark High School       0
Day 1: 3   07-08   Total:   3  07-08
51. Jacob Janning - Ben Wilson                   Jefferson High School - GA            0
Day 1: 3   07-08   Total:   3  07-08
52. Makenzie Bailey - Dalton Bailey              Seminole Junior Anglers - FL          0
Day 1: 3   07-07   Total:   3  07-07
52. Slade Davis - Stihl Smith                    Benjamin Russell High School - A      0
Day 1: 3   07-07   Total:   3  07-07
52. Brady Vest - Brody Hopper                    Cullman High School - AL              0
Day 1: 3   07-07   Total:   3  07-07
55. Miles Allen - Ethan Roths                    St. Xavier High School - KY           0
Day 1: 3   07-05   Total:   3  07-05
55. hunter Brewer - Ethan Tedder                 Lawrence County High School - TN      0
Day 1: 3   07-05   Total:   3  07-05
55. Ethen Gardner - Hayes Boyd                   Alabama Christian Academy - AL        0
Day 1: 3   07-05   Total:   3  07-05
55. Luke McGuffin - Kaleb Butts                  Crescent High School - SC             0
Day 1: 3   07-05   Total:   3  07-05
59. Wesley Perreault - Tyler Mahood              CT Bass Thunder - CT                  0
Day 1: 3   07-05   Total:   3  07-05
60. Hayes Finch - James Lamberth                 Alabama Christian Academy - AL        0
Day 1: 3   07-04   Total:   3  07-04
61. Kaden Mueck - Lane Ward                      Livingston High School - TX           0
Day 1: 3   07-03   Total:   3  07-03
61. Nicholas Wells - William Spears              Genoa Central High School - AR        0
Day 1: 3   07-03   Total:   3  07-03
63. Hayden Short - Abigail Short                 Burgin Independent - KY               0
Day 1: 3   07-03   Total:   3  07-03
64. Rylee Calcaterra - Brock Dury                Herrin High School - IL               0
Day 1: 3   07-02   Total:   3  07-02
64. Aiden King - Brody Porter                    Shelby County High School - AL        0
Day 1: 3   07-02   Total:   3  07-02
64. Justin McGee - Sadie Wallace                 Bibb County - AL                      0
Day 1: 3   07-02   Total:   3  07-02
64. Nick Noyes - Tim Raducka                     Plainfield South High School - I      0
Day 1: 3   07-02   Total:   3  07-02
68. Ethan Lewis - Carter Wilson                  Chiles High School - FL               0
Day 1: 3   07-01   Total:   3  07-01
69. Cole Hargrave - Noah Vincent                 Kaplan High School - LA               0
Day 1: 3   07-00   Total:   3  07-00
70. Carson Falk - Trey Blackmon III              Capital City Bass Hunters - FL        0
Day 1: 3   07-00   Total:   3  07-00
71. Fisher Anaya - Cody Brooks                   Brewer High School - AL               0
Day 1: 3   06-15   Total:   3  06-15
71. Caleb Boackle - Logan Lightsey               Cornerstone Christian School - A      0
Day 1: 3   06-15   Total:   3  06-15
71. Easton Morrow - RJ Sanger                    Lakeland Christian School - FL        0
Day 1: 3   06-15   Total:   3  06-15
71. C.J. Stanley - Colton Parten                 Rhea County High School - TN          0
Day 1: 3   06-15   Total:   3  06-15
75. Alex Gore - Colby Reece                      Jefferson County High School - T      0
Day 1: 3   06-14   Total:   3  06-14
75. Brody Kellum - Carson Thompson               Franklin County High School - GA      0
Day 1: 3   06-14   Total:   3  06-14
75. Jackson Mitchell - Evan Mabrey               Hueytown Student Anglers - AL         0
Day 1: 3   06-14   Total:   3  06-14
78. Johnathan Welch - Elijah Hamilton            East Hickman Fishing - TN             0
Day 1: 3   06-14   Total:   3  06-14
79. Aaron Yavorsky - Jett Stanley                Tampa Bay Jr. Bass Club - FL          0
Day 1: 3   06-14   Total:   3  06-14
80. Kael Moore - Lane Weichman                   Cedar Falls High School - IA          0
Day 1: 3   06-12   Total:   3  06-12
81. Jamison Conyer - Brendan Brown               Gallatin High School - TN             0
Day 1: 3   06-12   Total:   3  06-12
81. William Guidry - Tanner Meyer                Rayne High School - LA                0
Day 1: 3   06-12   Total:   3  06-12
81. Caleb Martinez - Logan Carter                Lincoln County High School - TN       0
Day 1: 3   06-12   Total:   3  06-12
84. Cole Mcneely - Caden Cranford                Arkansas Youth Anglers - AR           0
Day 1: 3   06-11   Total:   3  06-11
85. Jacob Baugh - Brody Berninger                Skyline High School - AL              0
Day 1: 3   06-10   Total:   3  06-10
85. Easton Morris - Hunter Thrash                Jemison High School - AL              0
Day 1: 3   06-10   Total:   3  06-10
85. Jackson Rogers - Caden Sellers               Denham Springs High School - LA       0
Day 1: 3   06-10   Total:   3  06-10
88. Brady Horton - Hayden Black                  Greenbrier High School - AR           0
Day 1: 3   06-10   Total:   3  06-10
89. Ty Allison - Brayden Padgett                 McDowell High School - NC             0
Day 1: 3   06-09   Total:   3  06-09
89. Doyce Beard - Cooper Rouse                   Auburn High School - AL               0
Day 1: 3   06-09   Total:   3  06-09
89. Joe Vaulton - Walker LaRue                   Alcoa Fishing Team - TN               0
Day 1: 3   06-09   Total:   3  06-09
92. Mason Cheek - Sam Walls                      Mercer County High School - KY        0
Day 1: 3   06-07   Total:   3  06-07
92. Logan Holdan - Dakota Wooten                 Genoa Central High School - AR        0
Day 1: 3   06-07   Total:   3  06-07
92. Blane Smith - Tate Reynolds                  Russell County High School - KY       0
Day 1: 3   06-07   Total:   3  06-07
92. Kane Weekley -                               Hendry County High School - FL        0
Day 1: 3   06-07   Total:   3  06-07
96. Travis Ogle - Garrett Taylor                 Lincoln County High School - TN       0
Day 1: 3   06-07   Total:   3  06-07
96. Hunter Petrovic - Hayden Host                Minooka High School - IL              0
Day 1: 3   06-07   Total:   3  06-07
96. Brady Talbot - Bryce Distefano               Live Oak High School - LA             0
Day 1: 3   06-07   Total:   3  06-07
99. Cameron Yates - Lucas Snyder                 Kingswood High School - NH            0
Day 1: 3   06-06   Total:   3  06-06
100. Jacob Berryhill - Landon Davis               Cherokee Chiefs - TN                  0
Day 1: 3   06-05   Total:   3  06-05
100. Charlie M Grisamore - Matthew Qualich        Adlai E. Stevenson High School -      0
Day 1: 3   06-05   Total:   3  06-05
100. Eddie Hook - Tanner Wolf                     Club Florida High School Bassmas      0
Day 1: 3   06-05   Total:   3  06-05
100. Morgan Restivo - Hudson Craig                Herrin High School - IL               0
Day 1: 3   06-05   Total:   3  06-05
104. Alexander Blanchard - Noah Deshotel          Assumption High School - LA           0
Day 1: 3   06-05   Total:   3  06-05
105. Caleb Logue - Hayden Reynolds                Bainbridge High School - GA           0
Day 1: 3   06-05   Total:   3  06-05
106. Colden Baker - Jaylin White                  Wateree Anglers - SC                  0
Day 1: 3   06-04   Total:   3  06-04
106. Barrett Bennefield - Cason Mancill           Chireno - TX                          0
Day 1: 3   06-04   Total:   3  06-04
108. Cole Bowen - Tate Bowen                      Mecklenburg High School - VA          0
Day 1: 3   06-04   Total:   3  06-04
108. Riley Spring - Easton Douglas                Dixie County High School - FL         0
Day 1: 3   06-04   Total:   3  06-04
110. Riley Richard - Jacob Treml                  Luxemburg-Casco High School - WI      0
Day 1: 2   06-04   Total:   2  06-04
111. Tyler Covington - Brantley Tate              Walker High School - LA               0
Day 1: 3   06-03   Total:   3  06-03
112. Jace Mcmasters - Dominick Willard            Reeds Spring High School - MO         0
Day 1: 3   06-03   Total:   3  06-03
113. Phillip Herring - Calup Williams             Greene County Bassmasters - MS        0
Day 1: 3   06-02   Total:   3  06-02
113. Lake  Johnson - Beau England                 Alabama Bass Academy - AL             0
Day 1: 3   06-02   Total:   3  06-02
113. Hunter Proctor - Hammy Gatlin                Lenoir City High School - TN          0
Day 1: 3   06-02   Total:   3  06-02
116. Hogan Benson - Jacob Clayton                 Chesnee High School - SC              0
Day 1: 3   06-01   Total:   3  06-01
117. Nicholas Boggs - Brady Howard                Louisa Bass Club High School - K      0
Day 1: 3   06-00   Total:   3  06-00
117. Caleb Cason - Hayden Robinson                Lone Star JR Bassmasters - TX         0
Day 1: 3   06-00   Total:   3  06-00
117. Parker Eubanks - Garrett Evans               Wilson High School - OK               0
Day 1: 3   06-00   Total:   3  06-00
117. Kieran Stephenson - Grady Stanley            Fuquay Varina High School  - NC       0
Day 1: 3   06-00   Total:   3  06-00
121. Brody Brinson - Isaiah Mussnug               Sumner County Bass Team - TN          0
Day 1: 3   06-00   Total:   3  06-00
121. Storm Clark - Levi Bolton                    Harris County High School - GA        0
Day 1: 3   06-00   Total:   3  06-00
123. Alex Douglas - Will Douglas                  Cumberland Gap High School - TN       0
Day 1: 3   05-15   Total:   3  05-15
124. Caiden Ellis - Gage Byars                    Henry County High School - TN         0
Day 1: 3   05-14   Total:   3  05-14
124. Isaac Garvin - Blake Gibson                  Arkansas Youth Anglers - AR           0
Day 1: 3   05-14   Total:   3  05-14
124. Levi Loe - Trace Loe                         Magnolia Bass Cats - AR               0
Day 1: 3   05-14   Total:   3  05-14
124. Boone Stewart - Clayton Griffith             Hendry County High School - FL        0
Day 1: 3   05-14   Total:   3  05-14
124. Hunter Travis - Jameson Norris               Baldwin County High School - AL       0
Day 1: 3   05-14   Total:   3  05-14
124. Alex Tyler - Briley West                     McKeel High School - FL               0
Day 1: 3   05-14   Total:   3  05-14
124. Clayton Vote - Casey Tissue                  Central Arkansas Bass Club - AR       0
Day 1: 3   05-14   Total:   3  05-14
131. Matt Dooley - Jacob Dooley                   Adamsville High School - TN           0
Day 1: 3   05-13   Total:   3  05-13
131. Jonathan Fann - Gunter Pitts                 Cannon County High School - TN        0
Day 1: 3   05-13   Total:   3  05-13
131. Jacob Lange - Shane Lochner                  Eastern Iowa Bassmasters - IA         0
Day 1: 3   05-13   Total:   3  05-13
131. Payton Thompson - Reed Dowdy                 Blue Mountain Bassmasters - VA        0
Day 1: 3   05-13   Total:   3  05-13
135. Trey Tennill - Ryan Robertson                Bullitt East High School - KY         0
Day 1: 3   05-12   Total:   3  05-12
135. Caden Williamson - Braden Norton             Vidor High School - TX                0
Day 1: 3   05-12   Total:   3  05-12
137. Jakob Stamper - Jack Hay                     Howell High School - MI               0
Day 1: 2   05-12   Total:   2  05-12
138. Bradley Childers - Gee Fowler                Gaffney High School - SC              0
Day 1: 3   05-11   Total:   3  05-11
138. Emma Dayton - Ryder Fontenot                 Walker High School - LA               0
Day 1: 3   05-11   Total:   3  05-11
140. Ryan Kahut - Noah Varitek                    A1 Anglers - MI                       0
Day 1: 2   05-11   Total:   2  05-11
141. Austin Bloemer - Garrett Gaddis              Teutopolis High School - IL           0
Day 1: 3   05-10   Total:   3  05-10
141. Jacob Sledge - Ethan Hargrove                Eagleville High School - TN           0
Day 1: 3   05-10   Total:   3  05-10
143. Grayson Bonfils - Gage Collins               East Baton Rouge Bassmaster - LA      0
Day 1: 3   05-10   Total:   3  05-10
143. Zach Wolfe - Jackson Kotara                  Lincoln-Way Central High School       0
Day 1: 3   05-10   Total:   3  05-10
145. Cade Calkins - Brayden Vallie                Fruitport High School - MI            0
Day 1: 3   05-09   Total:   3  05-09
145. Ross Deters - Dawson Hoene                   Teutopolis High School - IL           0
Day 1: 3   05-09   Total:   3  05-09
145. Reese Ray - Connor Mccown                    Glenmora High School - LA             0
Day 1: 3   05-09   Total:   3  05-09
148. Rafe Sexton - Hilary Sue Martin              Hendry County High School - FL        0
Day 1: 3   05-09   Total:   3  05-09
149. Luca Thies - Quentin Nebel                   Jacksonville High School - IL         0
Day 1: 3   05-09   Total:   3  05-09
150. Hunter Alexander - Chase Wodzinski           Roco Anglers - NC                     0
Day 1: 3   05-09   Total:   3  05-09
150. Landon Haynes - Jason Haynes                 Marion County High School - FL        0
Day 1: 3   05-09   Total:   3  05-09
152. Drayke Clayton - Spencer Lovett              Mt. Pleasant High School - TN         0
Day 1: 3   05-08   Total:   3  05-08
152. Bennett Fontenot - Braxton Speyrer           Port Barre High School - LA           0
Day 1: 3   05-08   Total:   3  05-08
152. Jeremiah Proulx - Dylan Rhiney               Arkansas Youth Anglers - AR           0
Day 1: 3   05-08   Total:   3  05-08
155. Tanner Seabolt - Ragyn Mohney                Okeechobee Brahmans - FL              0
Day 1: 3   05-08   Total:   3  05-08
156. Ridge Faircloth - Chaff Foran                Liberty County High School - FL       0
Day 1: 3   05-07   Total:   3  05-07
156. Mac Fritts - Reid Chapman                    Campbell County High School - TN      0
Day 1: 3   05-07   Total:   3  05-07
156. Levi Huffstetler - Carson Weber              Alcoa Fishing Team - TN               0
Day 1: 3   05-07   Total:   3  05-07
156. Joseph Miskovich - Ryder Miskovich           Grand Rapids - MN                     0
Day 1: 3   05-07   Total:   3  05-07
156. Griffin Ralph - Kaleb Snow                   Lakeside High School - AR             0
Day 1: 3   05-07   Total:   3  05-07
161. Kylan Mantooth - Brent Boehman               Coffee County High School - TN        0
Day 1: 3   05-07   Total:   3  05-07
162. Corbin Bornstein - Thomas James              Lipscomb Academy - TN                 0
Day 1: 3   05-06   Total:   3  05-06
162. Austin Denmark - Gavin Sigler                Citronelle High School - AL           0
Day 1: 3   05-06   Total:   3  05-06
164. Peyton Rose - Tyler Conrad                   Flora High School - IL                0
Day 1: 3   05-06   Total:   3  05-06
165. Wilson Bennett - Lang Raughton               Auburn High School - AL               0
Day 1: 3   05-05   Total:   3  05-05
165. Logan Evans - Annie Lassiter                 Soddy Daisy High School - TN          0
Day 1: 3   05-05   Total:   3  05-05
165. Drew Fleener - Hunter Prough                 Chipley Bassmasters - FL              0
Day 1: 3   05-05   Total:   3  05-05
165. Benjamin Jumonville - David Gummow           Catholic High of Pointe Coupee -      0
Day 1: 3   05-05   Total:   3  05-05
169. Gabe Amburgey - Tryton Amburgey              Montgomery County High School -       0
Day 1: 3   05-04   Total:   3  05-04
169. Tyler Michael - Hayden Alexander             Buckeye Student Anglers - OH          0
Day 1: 3   05-04   Total:   3  05-04
169. Ryan Olsen - Delaney Platt                   Gardner South Wilmington High Sc      0
Day 1: 3   05-04   Total:   3  05-04
172. Jacob Holt - John Prater                     Warren County High School - TN        0
Day 1: 3   05-04   Total:   3  05-04
173. Brady McCormick - Harris Jones               Briarwood Christian School - AL       0
Day 1: 2   05-04   Total:   2  05-04
173. Owen Ray - Camdyn Cranfill                   Rhea County High School - TN          0
Day 1: 2   05-04   Total:   2  05-04
175. Lukaus Bateson - Ryan Stapleton              Clinton High - IL                     0
Day 1: 3   05-03   Total:   3  05-03
176. Brody Boudreaux - Cooper Callahan            Lafourche Bassmasters - LA            0
Day 1: 3   05-03   Total:   3  05-03
177. Reece Knight - Noah Gipson                   Albertville High School - AL          0
Day 1: 2   05-03   Total:   2  05-03
178. Charly Hutson - Chloe Wisniewski             Tennessee Valley Bass Club - TN       0
Day 1: 3   05-02   Total:   3  05-02
178. Garrett Ring - Elijah Ruple                  Greenbrier High School - AR           0
Day 1: 3   05-02   Total:   3  05-02
178. Lake Smith - Micah Horton                    Woodruff High School - SC             0
Day 1: 3   05-02   Total:   3  05-02
181. Trey Richardson - Reid Luckett               Free State Bass - MD                  0
Day 1: 3   05-02   Total:   3  05-02
182. Dylan Mladick - Jeff Giffen                  Team Arizona - AZ                     0
Day 1: 2   05-02   Total:   2  05-02
183. Timothy Finley - Conner Frederick            Nassau Christian Bass Club - FL       0
Day 1: 3   05-01   Total:   3  05-01
183. Nathaniel Floyd - Christian Bales            Jessamine County High School - K      0
Day 1: 3   05-01   Total:   3  05-01
183. Ashton Ozolins - Luke Malik                  Sumner County Bass Team - TN          0
Day 1: 3   05-01   Total:   3  05-01
186. Kasen Pemberton - Ethan Berry                Chipley Bassmasters - FL              0
Day 1: 3   05-01   Total:   3  05-01
187. Layne Mercer - Solomon Apperson              Lumberton High School - TX            0
Day 1: 3   05-01   Total:   3  05-01
188. Jackson Edenfield - Hunter Harris            Chiles High School - FL               0
Day 1: 2   05-01   Total:   2  05-01
189. Rodney Elliott - Cooper Wilson               Greenwave Bassmasters - SC            0
Day 1: 3   05-00   Total:   3  05-00
189. Max Himmel - Tyler Morris                    Catholic High School - LA             0
Day 1: 3   05-00   Total:   3  05-00
189. Jayden Pfeuffer - Logan Tennant              Tampa Bay Jr. Bass Club - FL          0
Day 1: 3   05-00   Total:   3  05-00
192. Hunter Stuckey - Logan Clark                 Sabine-Hallsville High School -       0
Day 1: 2   05-00   Total:   2  05-00
193. Luke Barriger - Luke Bailey                  Meridian Early College High Scho      0
Day 1: 3   04-15   Total:   3  04-15
194. Peter West - Zach Knight                     Gallatin High School - TN             0
Day 1: 3   04-15   Total:   3  04-15
195. Keaton Bassham - Madison Busch               Arkansas Youth Anglers - AR           0
Day 1: 3   04-14   Total:   3  04-14
195. Kaden Snavely - Logan Cardwell               Central Florida Youth Anglers -       0
Day 1: 3   04-14   Total:   3  04-14
197. Caden Pearson - Zachary Schmitt              Naperville North High School - I      0
Day 1: 3   04-14   Total:   3  04-14
198. Logan Allen - Stone Grove                    Creekwood High School - TN            0
Day 1: 3   04-13   Total:   3  04-13
198. Alex Barrett - Davis Ray                     Fayetteville High School - AL         0
Day 1: 3   04-13   Total:   3  04-13
198. Brody Jones - Parker Batts                   Jefferson County High School - T      0
Day 1: 3   04-13   Total:   3  04-13
198. Ethan Stant - Vanessa Gaines                 Kent Fishing Club - DE                0
Day 1: 3   04-13   Total:   3  04-13
198. Jeffery Stewart - JW Holloway                Monterey High School - TN             0
Day 1: 3   04-13   Total:   3  04-13
203. Cameron Prokop - Sophia Janulis              Plainfield South High School - I      0
Day 1: 2   04-13   Total:   2  04-13
204. Mason Mccormick - Alexis Virgillito          Bossier Parish High School - LA       0
Day 1: 3   04-12   Total:   3  04-12
204. Colegan Stiner - Connor Kapp                 Wellsboro High School - PA            0
Day 1: 3   04-12   Total:   3  04-12
206. Carson Holbert - Caden Davis                 Eagleton College and Career Acad      0
Day 1: 3   04-12   Total:   3  04-12
207. Hayden Stolz - Austin Levy                   Windsor High School - CO              0
Day 1: 2   04-12   Total:   2  04-12
208. Ben Buchanan - Christopher Raines            University School of Jackson - T      0
Day 1: 3   04-11   Total:   3  04-11
208. Joah Coley - Jarren Crowder                  HS Potomac River Bassmasters - M      0
Day 1: 3   04-11   Total:   3  04-11
208. Ty Kreis - Braeden Anderson                  Gothenburg Bassmasters - NE           0
Day 1: 3   04-11   Total:   3  04-11
211. Cody Keith - Samuel Nicholas                 Oak Grove High School - MS            0
Day 1: 1   04-11   Total:   1  04-11
212. Trevor Wilburn - Kagen Hill                  Century High School - IL              0
Day 1: 3   04-10   Total:   3  04-10
212. Logan Withrow - Braden Crumley               Chilhowee Bassmasters - TN            0
Day 1: 3   04-10   Total:   3  04-10
214. Will Brantley - Johnson Mcguire              Auburn High School - AL               0
Day 1: 3   04-09   Total:   3  04-09
214. Lawson Gamble - Gray Hardy                   Headland High School - AL             0
Day 1: 3   04-09   Total:   3  04-09
214. Kobi May - Cayden Haney                      Jefferson County High School - T      0
Day 1: 3   04-09   Total:   3  04-09
214. Cameron Whitehead - Christopher Johnson      Rehobeth High School - AL             0
Day 1: 3   04-09   Total:   3  04-09
214. Tilynn Willett - Aiden Kerney                West Greene High School - TN          0
Day 1: 3   04-09   Total:   3  04-09
219. Brayson Claunch - Cameron Owens              Boyle County High School - KY         0
Day 1: 3   04-09   Total:   3  04-09
220. Clayton Barry - Tanner Sikes                 Columbia High School - FL             0
Day 1: 3   04-08   Total:   3  04-08
220. Gus Dietrich - Max Phillpotts                Powers Catholic High School - MI      0
Day 1: 3   04-08   Total:   3  04-08
220. Will Hart - Logan Fisher                     Madison County High School - GA       0
Day 1: 3   04-08   Total:   3  04-08
220. Zachary Morris - Chaz Elston                 ME Bass High School - ME              0
Day 1: 3   04-08   Total:   3  04-08
224. Ben Puckett - Jesse Klutts                   Henry County High School - TN         0
Day 1: 3   04-08   Total:   3  04-08
225. Gavin Seewald - Judson Touchstone            Hoover High School - AL               0
Day 1: 3   04-07   Total:   3  04-07
226. Ryan Kotara -                                Lincoln-Way Central High School       0
Day 1: 2   04-07   Total:   2  04-07
227. Caleb Cook -                                 Eastside Elites - MI                  0
Day 1: 1   04-07   Total:   1  04-07
228. Paul Baker - Ashton Albert                   CT Bass Thunder - CT                  0
Day 1: 3   04-06   Total:   3  04-06
228. Landon Childers - Weston Childers            Thomas Nelson High School - KY        0
Day 1: 3   04-06   Total:   3  04-06
228. Hollis Rose - Grant Arnold                   Jefferson County High School - T      0
Day 1: 3   04-06   Total:   3  04-06
231. Hunter Thomas - Lane Lipscomb                Chesnee High School - SC              0
Day 1: 3   04-06   Total:   3  04-06
232. Wyatt Gabehart - Eli Ward                    UKV Warriors - WV                     0
Day 1: 3   04-05   Total:   3  04-05
232. Levi Harris - Zane Roberts                   Fairview High School - AL             0
Day 1: 3   04-05   Total:   3  04-05
232. Lainie Holbert - Sarah Swindle               Riverside High School - TN            0
Day 1: 3   04-05   Total:   3  04-05
232. Tucker Oakes - Thomas Woodard                Batavia High School - IL              0
Day 1: 3   04-05   Total:   3  04-05
236. Ben Holzer - Chayton Witham                  Indian Creek High School - IN         0
Day 1: 2   04-05   Total:   2  04-05
237. Dylan Holcomb - Grayson Faircloth            Liberty County High School - FL       0
Day 1: 2   04-05   Total:   2  04-05
238. Bre Arnold - Connor Clark                    Good Hope Fishing Team - AL           0
Day 1: 3   04-04   Total:   3  04-04
238. Scotty Hagan - Mason Hagan                   Edmonson County High School - KY      0
Day 1: 3   04-04   Total:   3  04-04
238. Hunter Holland - Breanna Holland             Walker High School - LA               0
Day 1: 3   04-04   Total:   3  04-04
238. Lane Jacobs - Maddison Johnson               Vidor High School - TX                0
Day 1: 3   04-04   Total:   3  04-04
238. Noah Perkins - Annamarie Malone              Citronelle High School - AL           0
Day 1: 3   04-04   Total:   3  04-04
243. Trace Antunes - Griffin Antunes              Henderson High School - TX            0
Day 1: 3   04-04   Total:   3  04-04
244. Landon Rollison - Chris Hackle               Dixie County High School - FL         0
Day 1: 3   04-03   Total:   3  04-03
244. Brayden Ruckman - Nate Helmreich             Freeland High School - MI             0
Day 1: 3   04-03   Total:   3  04-03
244. Jase White - Carsen Adcock                   Bossier Parish High School - LA       0
Day 1: 3   04-03   Total:   3  04-03
247. Myles Mcdaniel - Will Shepherd               Kickback High School - KS             0
Day 1: 3   04-03   Total:   3  04-03
247. Rhiauna Switzer - Abigail Panak              Berryhill 1 - OK                      0
Day 1: 3   04-03   Total:   3  04-03
249. Landon Pierce - Korbin Neat                  Casey County High School - KY         0
Day 1: 2   04-03   Total:   2  04-03
250. Kaden Casey -                                Montgomery County High School -       0
Day 1: 1   04-03   Total:   1  04-03
251. Christian Bradford - Dakota Jones            Franklin County High School - TN      0
Day 1: 3   04-02   Total:   3  04-02
251. Johann Cloete - Luke Ayotte                  Tampa Bay Jr. Bass Club - FL          0
Day 1: 3   04-02   Total:   3  04-02
251. Lucas Fashho - Nick Fashho                   Eastside Elites - MI                  0
Day 1: 3   04-02   Total:   3  04-02
251. Garrett Hooker - Samuel Rachal               Oak Hill High School - LA             0
Day 1: 3   04-02   Total:   3  04-02
251. Caleb Kuykendall - Pate Willis               Murfreesboro High School - AR         0
Day 1: 3   04-02   Total:   3  04-02
256. Joe Rothwell - Luke Maiden                   Montgomery County High School -       0
Day 1: 3   04-02   Total:   3  04-02
257. Christian Williamson - Hunter Murphy         West Sabine Bass Club - TX            0
Day 1: 3   04-02   Total:   3  04-02
258. Hunter Hamilton - Noah Higgins               Parkview Baptist School - LA          0
Day 1: 3   04-01   Total:   3  04-01
258. John Mullins - Jayden Douglas                Eagleville High School - TN           0
Day 1: 3   04-01   Total:   3  04-01
258. Colten Privett - Jonathan Cole               West Volusia School River Ratz -      0
Day 1: 3   04-01   Total:   3  04-01
261. Brock Lovering - Dallas Hurd                 863 Anglers - FL                      0
Day 1: 3   04-01   Total:   3  04-01
262. Drake Carret - Evan Leboeuf                  Teurlings Catholic High School -      0
Day 1: 3   04-00   Total:   3  04-00
262. Nicholas England - Tyler Medica              Alexandria Senior High School -       0
Day 1: 3   04-00   Total:   3  04-00
262. Lane Fontenot - Deaton Leblanc               Denham Springs High School - LA       0
Day 1: 3   04-00   Total:   3  04-00
262. Barrett Newton - Landon Krauss               Upperman High School - TN             0
Day 1: 3   04-00   Total:   3  04-00
262. Cristian Norris - Carli Norris               Oneida Lake High School - NY          0
Day 1: 3   04-00   Total:   3  04-00
262. Carson Owen - Cade Smith                     Plainview Bass Club - OK              0
Day 1: 3   04-00   Total:   3  04-00
262. Colin Smith - Peyton Smith                   Pell City High School - AL            0
Day 1: 3   04-00   Total:   3  04-00
262. Gabryel St John - Mason Dople                Campbell County High School - TN      0
Day 1: 3   04-00   Total:   3  04-00
270. Hayden Vavak - Grayson Bryant                NEA Youth Fishing - AR                0
Day 1: 3   04-00   Total:   3  04-00
271. Tyler Camp - Kason Carmichiel                Pine Grove High School - MS           0
Day 1: 3   03-15   Total:   3  03-15
271. Mikey Gammons - Gage Richbourg               SC Hawg Hunters - SC                  0
Day 1: 3   03-15   Total:   3  03-15
273. Garrett Christy - Cayden Moore               Roco Anglers - NC                     0
Day 1: 3   03-15   Total:   3  03-15
274. Alexander Costanza - Joshua Brannen          Alabama Christian Academy - AL        0
Day 1: 3   03-14   Total:   3  03-14
274. Zachary Helton - Jackson Bennett             Alcoa Fishing Team - TN               0
Day 1: 3   03-14   Total:   3  03-14
274. Hunter Owens - Clayton Kelley                Karns High School - TN                0
Day 1: 3   03-14   Total:   3  03-14
274. Colton Walker - Cordell Sanders              Capital City Bass Hunters - FL        0
Day 1: 3   03-14   Total:   3  03-14
278. Jayden Corr - Jase Corr                      Lone Star JR Bassmasters - TX         0
Day 1: 2   03-14   Total:   2  03-14
279. Easton Drennon - Zeb Major                   Mt. Juliet High School - TN           0
Day 1: 3   03-13   Total:   3  03-13
279. Kyle Herrman - Nick Herrman                  Capital City High School Bass Cl      0
Day 1: 3   03-13   Total:   3  03-13
279. Wesley Kent - Mason Taylor                   Dekalb Fishing Team - TN              0
Day 1: 3   03-13   Total:   3  03-13
279. Kayden Townsend - Briley Knowles             Genoa Central High School - AR        0
Day 1: 3   03-13   Total:   3  03-13
283. Richard Skiff - Evan Mccormick               Edwardsville High School - IL         0
Day 1: 3   03-13   Total:   3  03-13
284. Braci Ault - Brody Ault                      Frontier Falcons - IN                 0
Day 1: 3   03-12   Total:   3  03-12
284. Drew Danielson - Theo Edeburn                Sartell-St. Stephen - MN              0
Day 1: 3   03-12   Total:   3  03-12
284. Syler Prince - Austin Peters                 Putnam County Bassmasters - FL        0
Day 1: 3   03-12   Total:   3  03-12
284. Turner Tharpe - Blake James                  Rhea County High School - TN          0
Day 1: 3   03-12   Total:   3  03-12
288. Caleb Johnston - Colin Cosenza               Many High School - LA                 0
Day 1: 3   03-12   Total:   3  03-12
289. Brody Mitchell - James Mitchell              Grissom High School - AL              0
Day 1: 3   03-11   Total:   3  03-11
290. Jack Varnado - Dylan Johnson                 Denham Springs High School - LA       0
Day 1: 3   03-11   Total:   3  03-11
291. Max Hondorp - Tyler Hondorp                  Panhandle Youth Anglers - FL          0
Day 1: 3   03-10   Total:   3  03-10
292. Carter Lanclos - Brandon Courville           Sulphur High School - LA              0
Day 1: 3   03-10   Total:   3  03-10
293. Alex Bradley - Rylan Green                   Chapman High School - SC              0
Day 1: 3   03-09   Total:   3  03-09
293. Hinesley Bryant - Arlen Francois             Central High School - LA              0
Day 1: 3   03-09   Total:   3  03-09
293. Blake Streck - Noah Jerke                    Panther Fishing Team - KS             0
Day 1: 3   03-09   Total:   3  03-09
296. Gavin Burnett - Kade Ellender                Sulphur High School - LA              0
Day 1: 2   03-09   Total:   2  03-09
297. Elijah Coleman - Will Dombroskas             Montgomery County High School -       0
Day 1: 3   03-08   Total:   3  03-08
297. Henry Fleetwood - Jackson Neibert            Indian Creek High School - IN         0
Day 1: 3   03-08   Total:   3  03-08
297. Holt Owens - Rylan Brewer                    Midway High School - TN               0
Day 1: 3   03-08   Total:   3  03-08
297. Drew Turnbull - Thomas Turnbull              Evangel Christian School - AL         0
Day 1: 3   03-08   Total:   3  03-08
301. Dean Fincher - Payton Schabeck               Lee County High School - GA           0
Day 1: 1   03-08   Total:   1  03-08
302. Hayden Barnett -                             Kingston High School - TN             0
Day 1: 3   03-07   Total:   3  03-07
302. Blair Sinks - Peyton Jones                   Warren County High School - TN        0
Day 1: 3   03-07   Total:   3  03-07
304. Noah Loxley - Eli Buck                       Springfield High School - TN          0
Day 1: 1   03-07   Total:   1  03-07
305. Jonbrady Buttram - Cadence Barrett           Fayetteville High School - AL         0
Day 1: 3   03-06   Total:   3  03-06
306. Maxwell Coughlin - Parker Welch              Kickback High School - KS             0
Day 1: 3   03-06   Total:   3  03-06
307. Tanner Mason -                               DAR High School - AL                  0
Day 1: 2   03-06   Total:   2  03-06
308. Carter Pjesky - JD McBroom                   Off the Hook Bassmasters - IL         0
Day 1: 3   03-05   Total:   3  03-05
308. Rowdie Thacker - Hunter King                 Live Oak High School - LA             0
Day 1: 3   03-05   Total:   3  03-05
310. Carter Davidson - Michael Markham            Tallassee High School - AL            0
Day 1: 3   03-04   Total:   3  03-04
310. Carter Johnson - Eli Anderson                Warrensburg High School - MO          0
Day 1: 3   03-04   Total:   3  03-04
312. Dillon May - Ethan Allen                     Wayne High School - WV                0
Day 1: 2   03-04   Total:   2  03-04
313. Cole Griggs - Candler Cain                   Jefferson High School - GA            0
Day 1: 3   03-03   Total:   3  03-03
313. Drake Pfeiffer -                             Rochester Bass Club - IL              0
Day 1: 3   03-03   Total:   3  03-03
315. Mason Lynn - Sullivan May                    Jackson County High School - MS       0
Day 1: 3   03-02   Total:   3  03-02
315. Luke Salvail - Tyler Seikel                  Grissom High School - AL              0
Day 1: 3   03-02   Total:   3  03-02
317. Will Boyd Jr - Luke Fancher                  Quincy High School Bassmasters -      0
Day 1: 3   03-01   Total:   3  03-01
318. Braxton Copeland - Chase Johnson             Livingston Academy - TN               0
Day 1: 3   03-01   Total:   3  03-01
319. Mason Fasching - Chase Messner               Holy Family - MN                      0
Day 1: 2   03-01   Total:   2  03-01
320. Lucy Humphrey - Luke Robinson                South Florence High School - SC       0
Day 1: 3   03-00   Total:   3  03-00
320. James Saylor -                               Garrard County High School - KY       0
Day 1: 3   03-00   Total:   3  03-00
322. Jonah Durden - Austyn Bolick                 Mid Florida Youth Anglers - FL        0
Day 1: 2   03-00   Total:   2  03-00
322. Mark Murdock - Landen Shirey                 Rison Bass Fishing Team - AR          0
Day 1: 2   03-00   Total:   2  03-00
324. Lane Argo - Jacob Flanagan                   Edinburg High School - IL             0
Day 1: 3   02-15   Total:   3  02-15
324. Caden Stevens - Hunter Crittenden            Franklin County High School - TN      0
Day 1: 3   02-15   Total:   3  02-15
326. Logan Sparkman - Austin Reed                 Chiles High School - FL               0
Day 1: 3   02-15   Total:   3  02-15
327. Mason Carden -                               Shelby County High School - AL        0
Day 1: 2   02-15   Total:   2  02-15
327. Avery Johnson - Drake Middleton              Riverside High School - TN            0
Day 1: 2   02-15   Total:   2  02-15
327. Brant Langley - Cody Morgan                  Marion County High School - FL        0
Day 1: 2   02-15   Total:   2  02-15
330. Ben Chance - River Rushlow                   Franklin High School - TN             0
Day 1: 3   02-14   Total:   3  02-14
330. Carter Hazlett - Christian Ferguson          Siegel High School - TN               0
Day 1: 3   02-14   Total:   3  02-14
330. Brady Holtgrave - Gabe Kay                   Wesclin High School - IL              0
Day 1: 3   02-14   Total:   3  02-14
333. Reed Best - JW Mitcham                       Colmesneil High School - TX           0
Day 1: 2   02-14   Total:   2  02-14
334. Logan Cargle - Cole Mcdaniel                 Tift County High School - GA          0
Day 1: 3   02-13   Total:   3  02-13
335. Jackson Rollins - Caleb Edwards              Alabama Bass Academy - AL             0
Day 1: 2   02-13   Total:   2  02-13
335. Skipper Stallings - Kade Crowson             Evangel Christian School - AL         0
Day 1: 2   02-13   Total:   2  02-13
337. Taylor Hubert - Brayden Tramel               Porter High School - TX               0
Day 1: 1   02-13   Total:   1  02-13
337. Brett Mouw - Logan Kinsella                  Hill Toppers - IL                     0
Day 1: 1   02-13   Total:   1  02-13
339. Travis Meche - Chance Watson                 Rayne High School - LA                0
Day 1: 3   02-12   Total:   3  02-12
340. Caleb Roblin - Luke Clark                    Denham Springs High School - LA       0
Day 1: 3   02-12   Total:   3  02-12
341. Carson Harrell - William Copleston           Chapman High School - SC              0
Day 1: 2   02-12   Total:   2  02-12
341. Cole Jimkoski - Jack Sprague                 Freeland High School - MI             0
Day 1: 2   02-12   Total:   2  02-12
343. Jon Foster - Carter Simmons                  Bandys High School - NC               0
Day 1: 1   02-12   Total:   1  02-12
343. Olivia Mauldin - Elliott Ward                Grace Christian Academy - TN          0
Day 1: 1   02-12   Total:   1  02-12
345. Bryson Dotson - Holden Pistello              Campbell County High School - TN      0
Day 1: 3   02-11   Total:   3  02-11
346. Blake Conrad - Marshall Caudill              Jessamine County High School - K      0
Day 1: 2   02-11   Total:   2  02-11
346. Finn Norsworthy - Graham Gilmore             Park Place Christian Academy - M      0
Day 1: 2   02-11   Total:   2  02-11
346. James Sumrell - Brody Harp                   Hixon Bass Team - TN                  0
Day 1: 2   02-11   Total:   2  02-11
349. Jack Gross - Jacob Poferl                    Forest Lake - MN                      0
Day 1: 1   02-11   Total:   1  02-11
350. Landon Loper - Bradley Manuel                MGM Vikings Fishing Team - AL         0
Day 1: 3   02-10   Total:   3  02-10
351. Luke Behon - Nate Neuherz                    Avonworth High School - PA            0
Day 1: 3   02-10   Total:   3  02-10
352. Hayden Corrent - Tanner Reed                 Brusly High School - LA               0
Day 1: 2   02-09   Total:   2  02-09
352. Wyatt Drawdy - Tyson Griffin                 Plant City Bassmasters - FL           0
Day 1: 2   02-09   Total:   2  02-09
352. Kaden Holley - Caleb Pourciau                Brusly High School - LA               0
Day 1: 2   02-09   Total:   2  02-09
355. Blake Marcum - Aaron Mills                   Louisa Bass Club High School - K      0
Day 1: 3   02-08   Total:   3  02-08
355. Grant Raney - Mason Martin                   East Limestone High School - AL       0
Day 1: 3   02-08   Total:   3  02-08
357. Jason Garrison - Noah Sparks                 George Rogers Clark High School       0
Day 1: 3   02-08   Total:   3  02-08
358. Parker Allen - Kadin Cooper                  New Market Bass Anglers - AL          0
Day 1: 2   02-08   Total:   2  02-08
358. Brise Hazelton -                             Huntington High School - TX           0
Day 1: 2   02-08   Total:   2  02-08
360. Trenton Tervin - Kyle Beasley                George Jenkins High School - FL       0
Day 1: 1   02-08   Total:   1  02-08
361. Jayden Black - Davin Dages                   863 Anglers - FL                      0
Day 1: 2   02-07   Total:   2  02-07
361. Jackson Long - Nick Siebert                  Olympia High School - IL              0
Day 1: 2   02-07   Total:   2  02-07
363. Easton Booth - Isaac Pryor                   Geneva High School - AL               0
Day 1: 3   02-06   Total:   3  02-06
364. Lane Davis - Korbyn Lewis                    Okeechobee Brahmans - FL              0
Day 1: 2   02-06   Total:   2  02-06
365. Carson Yero - Ryder Krueger                  Highlands County Anglers - FL         0
Day 1: 2   02-04   Total:   2  02-04
366. Jace Buxton - Ethan Graham                   Jackson County High School - MS       0
Day 1: 2   02-03   Total:   2  02-03
366. Karson Denton - Drake Miller                 Splendora High School - TX            0
Day 1: 2   02-03   Total:   2  02-03
368. Ross Kliebert - Zane Zeringue                Lafourche Bassmasters - LA            0
Day 1: 1   02-03   Total:   1  02-03
369. Logan Ethington - Dylan Teater               Jessamine County High School - K      0
Day 1: 1   02-03   Total:   1  02-03
370. Jordan Bivins - Dylan Morrison               863 Anglers - FL                      0
Day 1: 2   02-02   Total:   2  02-02
370. Caden Bradley - Michael Sojourner            Strong River Bassmasters - MS         0
Day 1: 2   02-02   Total:   2  02-02
372. Ethan Belanger - Jared Coates                Mass Nation High School - MA          0
Day 1: 2   02-01   Total:   2  02-01
373. Liam Plautz - John Wall                      Adlai E. Stevenson High School -      0
Day 1: 2   02-00   Total:   2  02-00
373. Will Stephens - Lucas Wray                   Russell County High School - KY       0
Day 1: 2   02-00   Total:   2  02-00
375. Jake Lovingood - Harlyn Nelson               Alcoa Fishing Team - TN               0
Day 1: 1   02-00   Total:   1  02-00
375. Dallas Taylor - Hayden Thomas                Stilwell High School - OK             0
Day 1: 1   02-00   Total:   1  02-00
377. Jackson Farmer - Tanner Sullivan             Seymour High School - TN              0
Day 1: 2   01-15   Total:   2  01-15
377. Hunter Mize - Cason Lyon                     Little River Bass Bandits - AR        0
Day 1: 2   01-15   Total:   2  01-15
379. Collin Hampton - Lucas Cheatham              Magnolia Bass Cats - AR               0
Day 1: 2   01-14   Total:   2  01-14
379. Hunter Oney - Austin Comer                   Hallsville Bobcats - TX               0
Day 1: 2   01-14   Total:   2  01-14
379. Gage Phillips - Caden Nelson                 Morris Community High School - I      0
Day 1: 2   01-14   Total:   2  01-14
382. Cason Price - Gabe Winham                    Rocky Mount Academy - NC              0
Day 1: 1   01-14   Total:   1  01-14
383. Caleb Morgan - Ethan Campbell                Kawartha High School - ON             0
Day 1: 2   01-13   Total:   2  01-13
383. Levi  Sowell - Cassidy Woodall               Broaddus High School - TX             0
Day 1: 2   01-13   Total:   2  01-13
385. Brezlyn Hightower - Peyton Bryant            Choctaw High School - OK              0
Day 1: 2   01-12   Total:   2  01-12
385. Landon Rivette - William Cramer              Teurlings Catholic High School -      0
Day 1: 2   01-12   Total:   2  01-12
385. Cambre Webb - Jackson Mcdaniel               Silliman Fishing - LA                 0
Day 1: 2   01-12   Total:   2  01-12
388. Camden Randall - James Roop                  Mt. Pleasant High School - TN         0
Day 1: 2   01-12   Total:   2  01-12
389. John Cooper - Gabriel Avalos                 Scotts Hill Student Anglers - TN      0
Day 1: 1   01-12   Total:   1  01-12
389. Talon Stone - Hayden Jennette                Benton County Bass Anglers - TN       0
Day 1: 1   01-12   Total:   1  01-12
391. Clayburn Reed -                              Central Florida Youth Anglers -       0
Day 1: 2   01-10   Total:   2  01-10
392. Cole Watts - Cody Cochrum                    Central High School of Clay Coun      0
Day 1: 1   01-10   Total:   1  01-10
393. Joe Hanna - John Oziemkowski                 Lincoln-Way Central High School       0
Day 1: 2   01-08   Total:   2  01-08
394. Clay Gough - Hudson Montgomery               George Rogers Clark High School       0
Day 1: 1   01-07   Total:   1  01-07
395. Chris Hoskins - Gavin Harvey                 Meigs County High School - TN         0
Day 1: 1   01-06   Total:   1  01-06
396. Gage Sellars - Brock Lewis                   Bainbridge High School - GA           0
Day 1: 1   01-05   Total:   1  01-05
396. Wesson Vint - Hunter Duracz                  Track and Channel Youth - IN          0
Day 1: 1   01-05   Total:   1  01-05
398. Will Cali -                                  Marmion Academy - IL                  0
Day 1: 2   01-02   Total:   2  01-02
399. Alyssa Agosto - Sarah Rising                 George Jenkins High School - FL       0
Day 1: 1   01-02   Total:   1  01-02
399. Ethan Castle - Jacob Willis                  Whitwell High School - TN             0
Day 1: 1   01-02   Total:   1  01-02
401. Easton Clark - Cohen Stentz                  Eastmont High School - WA             0
Day 1: 1   01-01   Total:   1  01-01
401. Kenny Smith - Joshua Lalonde                 Soddy Daisy High School - TN          0
Day 1: 1   01-01   Total:   1  01-01
403. Jake Bangert - Bryleigh Fox                  Winchester High School - IL           0
Day 1: 1   01-00   Total:   1  01-00
403. Caden Branch - Connor Beach                  Liberty County High School - FL       0
Day 1: 1   01-00   Total:   1  01-00
403. Kaden Randles - Landon Black                 DAR High School - AL                  0
Day 1: 1   01-00   Total:   1  01-00
406. Nick Claussen -                              Central Florida Youth Anglers -       0
Day 1: 1   00-15   Total:   1  00-15
406. Kylee Hickman -                              Huntington High School - TX           0
Day 1: 1   00-15   Total:   1  00-15
406. Kade Palmer - Evan Burris                    Walker High School - LA               0
Day 1: 1   00-15   Total:   1  00-15
406. Shepard Rowe -                               Vidor High School - TX                0
Day 1: 1   00-15   Total:   1  00-15
410. John Anderson - Bryce Tucker                 Bledsoe County High School - TN       0
Day 1: 1   00-14   Total:   1  00-14
410. Landon Chenault - Nathan Hoskins             George Rogers Clark High School       0
Day 1: 1   00-14   Total:   1  00-14
410. Tanner Moulton - Peyton Sargent              Mascoma Valley High School - NH       0
Day 1: 1   00-14   Total:   1  00-14
413. Luke Leblanc - Colin Sittig                  Notre Dame High School - LA           0
Day 1: 2   00-13   Total:   2  00-13
414. Jackson Daugherty - James Lane               Kingston High School - TN             0
Day 1: 1   00-13   Total:   1  00-13
414. Jackson Fuller - Davis Barnett               Benjamin Russell High School - A      0
Day 1: 1   00-13   Total:   1  00-13
414. Noah Howell - Harrison Kirkpatrick           Catholic High School - LA             0
Day 1: 1   00-13   Total:   1  00-13
414. Cody Mundy - Brody Clendennen                Broaddus High School - TX             0
Day 1: 1   00-13   Total:   1  00-13
418. John James Coco - Wesley Macdonald           Oak Mountain High School - AL         0
Day 1: 1   00-12   Total:   1  00-12
418. Connor Hebert -                              Catholic High School - LA             0
Day 1: 1   00-12   Total:   1  00-12
418. Waylon Hill - Deken Williams                 Malad High School - ID                0
Day 1: 1   00-12   Total:   1  00-12
418. Joey Punko - Riley Petrone                   Front Range - CO                      0
Day 1: 1   00-12   Total:   1  00-12
418. Tucker Sutherland - Wyatt Hornsby            Opp High School - AL                  0
Day 1: 1   00-12   Total:   1  00-12
423. Hayden Buchanan - Barrett Choquette          Headland High School - AL             0
Day 1: 1   00-11   Total:   1  00-11
423. Jaxon Humphrey - Hasten Waggoner             Dekalb Fishing Team - TN              0
Day 1: 1   00-11   Total:   1  00-11
423. Ridge Hurley - Samuel Bierworth              Oneida Lake High School - NY          0
Day 1: 1   00-11   Total:   1  00-11
423. Landon Parker - Jake Watson                  DeWitt High School - AR               0
Day 1: 1   00-11   Total:   1  00-11
423. Justin Waggener - Eli Pauley                 Burgin Independent - KY               0
Day 1: 1   00-11   Total:   1  00-11
428. Rayburn Mcclelland - Levi Brown              West Sabine Bass Club - TX            0
Day 1: 1   00-08   Total:   1  00-08
429. Jake Woodward - Lucas Mast                   Evangel Christian School - AL         0
Day 1: 2   00-00   Total:   2  00-00
430. Taedem Ashworth - Evan Wood                  Mt. Pleasant High School - TN         0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Gabe Blair - Landon Steele                   Mercer County High School - KY        0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Murphy Childers - Ryder Colee                Brewer High School - AL               0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Brent Christopher - Connor Young             Boyle County High School - KY         0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Maddox Crain - Gavin Skelcher                Southern Illinois Future Anglers      0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Max Deroche - Jesse Boudreaux                North Vermilion High School - LA      0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Jamison Drake - Alex Girodo                  East Limestone High School - AL       0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Ian Fehrenbacher - Lain Burgener             Newton Community High School - I      0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Traydun Freeze - Austin Hayes                Roco Anglers - NC                     0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Triton Graham - Garrett Sullivan             Citronelle High School - AL           0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Foster Hall -                                Central Kentucky High School Bas      0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Hunter Hamilton - Tyler Hammond              Collins High School - KY              0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Tanner Hamilton - Richard Johnson            Mid Florida Youth Anglers - FL        0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Nolan Hamm - Austin Rhodus                   Lincoln County High School - KY       0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Jerrod Haney - Brayden Blankenship           Martin County High School - KY        0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Holden Harris - Elijah Myers                 Grundy County High School - TN        0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Dayton Head -                                Mid Florida Youth Anglers - FL        0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Brody Herron - Liam Tanner                   Mynderse Academy - NY                 0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Cade Howard - Kolton Scott                   Christian Academy of Louisville       0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Isaac Jerabek - John Hanmann                 Luxemburg-Casco High School - WI      0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Ashton Johnson - Eli Colley                  Sand Rock High School - AL            0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Nick Keith Jr. - Jagger Wells                Munford High School - AL              0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Connor Kennedy - Cricket Coates              Mid Florida Youth Anglers - FL        0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Brody Loiko - Brandon Wood                   ME Bass High School - ME              0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Dakota Manuel - Kellen Katchur               Barbe High School - LA                0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Tyler Martin - Blake Rogers                  Sequatchie County High School -       0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Brantley Mckinney - Phillip Dodson           Burgin Independent - KY               0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Blake Meeks - Colton Hall                    Smith Mountain Lake Christian Ac      0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Sam Mink - Zavian Smith                      Lake Cumberland High School - KY      0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Mason Mullins - Caden Graham                 Soddy Daisy High School - TN          0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. James Murphy - Dash Dawson                   Team Arizona - AZ                     0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Oliver Neumann - Jacob Wold                  Zimmerman Thunder - MN                0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Kaleb Page - Kasen Page                      Coffee County High School - TN        0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Hayden Peck - Elijah Laflin                  Christian Academy of Louisville       0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Madison Pendergraph - Ethan Roach            Warren County High School - TN        0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Mason Pike - Cayden Black                    Grace Christian Academy - TN          0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Jacob Pourciau - Kaden Leblanc               Brusly High School - LA               0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. James Quinlivan - Fletcher Brasington        Headland High School - AL             0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Benjamin Reinsch - Cole Petroff              Mt. Juliet High School - TN           0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Wyatt Roach - Cameron Courville              Sulphur High School - LA              0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Hannah Robertson - Hunter Robertson          Denham Springs High School - LA       0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Lane Roddy - Colton Myers                    Gallatin High School - TN             0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Dillon Rogers - Zane Thomason                Arkadelphia High School - AR          0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Tony Romanelli - Logan Lee                   Kawartha High School - ON             0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Edward San Juan - Joshua Sonnier             Orangefield High School - TX          0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Jack Sebring - Mason Turner                  Highlands County Anglers - FL         0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Finn Taylor -                                Highlands County Anglers - FL         0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Charlie Thompson - Reece Williams            SC Lower State Bass Club - SC         0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Nolan Westadt - Dierks Sayer                 Cambridge Trojan Bass Anglers -       0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Caid Wilkerson - Gavin Foote                 Maybank High School - TX              0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Carson Winn - Jake Krauth                    Franklin High School - TN             0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
430. Tanner Young -                               Martin County High School - KY        0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       312      1118      2048-13
----------------------------------
312      1118      2048-13


Matthew Stefan Picks Up First Career Win at MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Mercury Stop 6 at the Mississippi River in La Crosse

Junction City, Wisconsin Pro Earns $80,000 Top Prize and Qualification into REDCREST 2024 With Three-Day Total of 15 Bass Weighing 48-6

LA CROSSE, Wis. (July 27, 2023) – Thirteen seasons as a professional angler. Eighty-eight professional-level events. Numerous top-10 and top-20 finishes. Now, finally, pro Matthew Stefan of Junction City, Wisconsin, can add another accolade to his impressive resume – champion.

Stefan brought a five-bass limit to the scale, Thursday, weighing 15 pounds, 8 ounces, to overtake Oconomowoc, Wisconsin’s Steve Lopez and win the Major League Fishing (MLF) Tackle Warehouse Invitational Mercury Stop 6 at the Mississippi River – his first career victory – and the first-place prize of $80,000.

Stefan’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 48 pounds, 6 ounces, earned him the win by a 10-ounce margin over Lopez, who weighed in 15 bass for 47-12, good for second place. The top 10 was extremely Wisconsin-heavy, as fellow Wisconsinites Tom Monsoor of La Crosse (3rd), Nick Trim of Galesville (4th), Cade Laufenberg of Onalaska (6th) and Mike Brueggen of La Crosse (7th) all finished inside the top 10.

Stefan won the event by running to a key stretch of eel grass in Pool No. 7 each day. He said that he found the stretch during practice but had no idea that it would turn into something special.

“I fished all three pools in practice – I spent a day in each, but I didn’t feel good about any of it,” Stefan said. “I found one stretch of eel grass in Pool 7 where I was able to get some bites when I slowed down and fished finesse. I caught two quality fish in practice, and shook off four or five more, so I decided I would go there the first day. It turned into something more than I thought it would be, and I spent all three days on the same stretch.”

Although Stefan was never confident that he had enough weight to win the tournament until after the final bass had been weighed, he and multiple other anglers almost didn’t make it back to weigh-in on Thursday. An unexpected barge was in the lock when Stefan and numerous other anglers were trying to pass through, and as MLF NOW! live coverage stopped rolling Thursday, the barge was still working its way through. After some sweating, and praying, the anglers made it back to weigh-in with just minutes to spare.

“I’ve had some close calls with the lock before, but nothing like this,” Stefan said. “Nothing where I knew I had a good bag, and whether I won or not I knew I was going to be getting a good check. The reality of it is that it’s part of the game when you play the river, and as anglers we know that. But, as careful as we try to be – we’ve all got apps for the barge traffic – none of us knew that barge was there. It was a surprise to all of us, and I don’t know that any of us thought we were going to get back.”

Of the 15 keepers that Stefan weighed in throughout the week, 13 came on a 5-inch wacky-rigged Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General in green-pumpkin or black-and-blue, and two came on a discontinued Reaction Innovations Vixen topwater bait.

“There are so many wonderful things about winning a tournament and the season that I’ve had,” Stefan said. “It really has been a dream. I’ve been doing this for 13 years, and I wanted a win so bad. To do it here in La Crosse this week has just been so special. I’ve always dreamed of holding one of these trophies up on stage, and I did. Now I get to take this back home to the tackle room, and this trophy will be front and center.”

The top 50 pros at the Mercury Stop 6 at the Mississippi River in La Crosse finished:

1st:        Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis., 15 bass, 48-6, $81,000
2nd:       Steve Lopez, Oconomowoc, Wis., 15 bass, 47-12, $50,000
3rd:       Tom Monsoor, La Crosse, Wis., 15 bass, 45-14, $20,000
4th:        Nick Trim, Galesville, Wis., 15 bass, 44-15, $18,000
5th:        Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 15 bass, 44-7, $17,000
6th:        Cade Laufenberg, Onalaska, Wis., 15 bass, 44-7, $16,000
7th:        Mike Brueggen, La Crosse, Wis., 15 bass, 44-0, $15,000
8th:        Cody Meyer, Eagle, Idaho, 15 bass, 44-0, $14,000
9th:        Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 15 bass, 42-6, $13,000
10th:     Tristan McCormick, Burns, Tenn., 15 bass, 42-5, $12,000
11th:     Scott Wiley, Bay Minette, Ala., 15 bass, 42-5, $11,000
12th:     Alex Davis, Albertville, Ala., 15 bass, 42-5, $10,000
13th:     Jeff Ritter, Prairie du Chien, Wis., 15 bass, 41-14, $10,000
14th:     Matt Reed, Madisonville, Texas, 15 bass, 41-12, $10,000
15th:     Flint Davis, Leesburg, Ga., 15 bass, 41-4, $10,000
16th:     Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 15 bass, 40-14, $10,000
17th:     Kevin Ruh, Onalaska, Wis., 15 bass, 40-11, $10,000
18th:     Jordan Hirt, Glenwood, Iowa, 15 bass, 40-4, $10,000
19th:     Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., 15 bass, 40-2, $10,000
20th:     Mark Condron, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 14 bass, 40-1, $10,000
21st:      Hunter Litchfield, Macomb, Ill., 15 bass, 40-0, $10,000
22nd:    Mike McClelland, Blue Eye, Mo., 15 bass, 39-12, $10,000
23rd:     Grae Buck, Green Lane, Pa., 15 bass, 39-9, $10,300
24th:     Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 15 bass, 39-9, $10,000
25th:     Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 15 bass, 39-1, $10,000
26th:     Jacopo Gallelli, Florence, Italy, 15 bass, 39-0, $10,000
27th:     Brad Jelinek, Lincoln, Mo., 15 bass, 38-14, $10,000
28th:     Jason Grape, Attalla, Ala., 15 bass, 38-13, $10,000
29th:     Derik Hudson, Concord, Va., 15 bass, 38-12, $10,200
30th:     Jack Daniel Williams, Kingsport, Tenn., 15 bass, 38-9, $10,000
31st:      Colby Schrumpf, Highland, Ill., 15 bass, 38-6, $8,000
32nd:    Cole Breeden, Lebanon, Mo., 15 bass, 38-4, $8,000
33rd:     Blake Felix, Warsaw, Mo., 15 bass, 37-14, $8,000
34th:     Lane Olson, Forest Grove, Ore., 15 bass, 37-14, $8,000
35th:     Paul Elias, Laurel, Miss., 15 bass, 37-12, $8,000
36th:     Clayton Batts, Butler, Ga., 15 bass, 37-10, $8,000
37th:     Drew Kleine, Galesburg, Ill., 15 bass, 37-7, $8,000
38th:     Frank Kitchens, III, Oxford, Ga., 15 bass, 37-4, $8,000
39th:     Jason Vance, Battle Ground, Ind., 15 bass, 37-2, $8,000
40th:     Kyle Cortiana, Broken Arrow, Okla., 15 bass, 36-13, $8,000
41st:      Ethan Greene, Eufaula, Ala., 15 bass, 36-8, $8,000
42nd:    Jesse Millsaps, Jasper, Ga., 15 bass, 36-6, $8,000
43rd:     Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 15 bass, 36-1, $8,000
44th:     Shaw Grigsby, Gainesville, Fla., 15 bass, 35-6, $8,000
45th:     Cal Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 35-3, $8,000
46th:     Todd Walters, Kernersville, N.C., 15 bass, 35-1, $8,000
47th:     Robby Lefere, Jackson, Mich, 13 bass, 32-15, $8,000
48th:     Bryan Partak, Marseilles, Ill., 12 bass, 32-0, $8,000
49th:     William Fletcher, Dallas, Ga., 11 bass, 30-12, $8,000
50th:     Robert Nakatomi, Sacramento, Calif., 11 bass, 27-4, $8,000

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

Overall, there were 236 bass weighing 607 pounds, 3 ounces caught by the final 50 pros Thursday. The catch included 45 five-bass limits.

Pro Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Michigan, clinched the 2023 Tackle Warehouse Invitational Angler of the Year title Thursday after accumulating 1,094 points in the six Invitational events. It was the second AOY of Nelson’s career, as he was also the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit AOY in 2020. Nelson’s extraordinary season was highlighted by three consecutive top-5 finishes and $75,000 in earnings through six events. Along with the AOY title, Nelson earned an automatic berth into REDCREST 2024 on Lay Lake in Birmingham, Alabama, March 13-17, 2024.

First-year pro Marshall Robinson of Landrum, South Carolina, earned the 2024 Tackle Warehouse Invitational Polaris Rookie of the Year award, which is awarded to the rookie pro angler who finishes the season with the highest point total from the six Invitational events. Robinson finished the season with 973 points and earned a new Polaris Ranger 1000 UTV for his accomplishment.

With all six Tackle Warehouse Invitational tournaments now complete, the top eight pros based on AOY rank now will receive an invitation to compete in the 2024 Bass Pro Tour. The eight pros that qualify are:

1st:        Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich.
2nd:       Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn. (Current Bass Pro Tour angler)
3rd:       Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis.
4th:        Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla.
5th:        Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va.
6th:        Grae Buck, Green Lane, Pa.
7th:        Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn.
8th:        Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C.

The Tackle Warehouse Invitational Mercury Stop 6 at the Mississippi River in La Crosse was hosted by Explore La Crosse. The full field of 150 anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Tuesday and Wednesday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advanced to the final round on Championship Thursday, where they competed for the grand prize of up to $115,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers.

The Tackle Warehouse Invitational Mercury Stop 6 at the Mississippi River in La Crosse featured live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere on the CBS Sports Network on Saturday, November 14.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals on the MLF5 social media outlets at FacebookInstagram and  YouTube.


PURE FISHING’S JON SCHLOSSER PROMOTED TO CHIEF PRODUCT AND BRAND OFFICER

COLUMBIA, SC (July 27, 2023) – Pure Fishing, a global leader in the fishing tackle industry, announces the promotion of Jon Schlosser, former Senior Vice President of Marketing, to Chief Product and Brand Officer. This significant move underscores the company's commitment to leading and innovating in the market by aligning the brand, product, and R&D functions under Schlosser's experienced leadership.

Schlosser, who has been instrumental in guiding the company’s marketing efforts to launch a steady stream of meaningful innovation during his tenure, will now take on a larger role, driving brand and product category strategies across Pure Fishing’s portfolio globally. In this new position, he will lead collaboration with global teams to ensure the company’s pipeline of innovation and brand experiences continue to thrive and resonate with anglers around the world.

"Jon's impressive track record, depth of strategic thinking and passion for the angling community make him the perfect fit for this role," said Dave Allen, CEO of Pure Fishing. "He has been a driving force in our marketing success, and we are excited to see him bring that same level of insight and dedication to our brand development and product innovation across our global business.

As part of the organizational realignment, the Research & Development department will now be reporting directly to Schlosser. This strategic move enhances the synergy between the company's product innovation and brand strategies, strengthening Pure Fishing's commitment to delivering high-quality products. This closer collaboration aims to meet the ever-evolving needs of the global fishing community, reinforcing the company's leading position in the market.

"Having our R&D closely align with our product and brand strategies is a powerful combination," said Schlosser. "Together, we will drive innovation, continue to build amazing brands, and deepen our engagement with anglers everywhere. I am excited about the possibilities this new role brings and I am committed to contributing to our mission of enhancing the fishing experience for all."


SRD20 Joins NPAA As Supporting Partner

Maker of easy-to-use boat cleaning products teams with top advocacy group.

Lafayette, LA (July 27, 2023) – SRD20 is proud to announce it has joined the ever-growing ranks of the National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA) supporting partners. The maker of powerful yet easy-to-use, harbor safe boat cleaning and protectant products sees the partnership as an investment in the future of the recreational fishing industry, and a great way to give back to the recreational fishing community at large.

“I had heard positive things about NPAA through other businesses and individuals in the fishing community, but I didn’t realize just how much this organization accomplishes until I took a look at their website,” says Stewart Delcambre, SRD20’s founder. “At that point, I immediately knew this would be a good association for us to support. This group certainly has the wherewithal to make an impact in every aspect of recreational fishing from protecting angler’s rights to protecting the environment.”

SRD20 is pleased to now be counted among NPAA’s nearly 80 industry partners, continues Delcambre, noting their base includes some of the best-known brands and organizations in fishing, as well as newer and smaller companies that benefit from the association’s superior networking opportunities, sportfishing advocacy, and efforts to recruit, retain and reactivate anglers at every level. “We appreciate how NPAA watches out for all of us who make a living in the sportfishing industry, from guides and captains to tournament anglers, fishing department associates and management, manufacturing personnel, engine mechanics, professional rep groups, tackle shop staff, and more.”

NPAA president, Patrick Neu, says that SRD20 is a solid addition to its supporting partner ranks. “They have a series of unique boat cleaning and protectant products that are powerful, environmentally safe and easy to use. NPAA members spend a significant amount of time on the water fishing throughout the year. To have a partner come aboard that makes products to help maintain and protect their boats is a perfect fit for us. Our members invest substantial amounts of money in their vessels, and many consider their platforms to be on-water offices. As such, they need to do everything they can to maintain their value. The SRD20 product line will help them do that efficiently.”

SRD20 offers easy-to-apply, easy-to-remove, long lasting and highly effective boat cleaning and protectant products that are harbor safe. Infused with cutting-edge nanotechnology that works at a micro level to provide superior results, they make boat cleaning and maintenance a snap. The product line-up includes its popular flagship product, SRD20 Graphene Ceramic Spray Coating and Protectant, SRD20 Waterless Wash and Wax, SRD20 Pink Soap for Boats and SRD20 Vinyl Protectant. All four SRD20 products are made in the USA and are available at Amazon.com and SRD20.com.

NPAA partnerships include Gold, Silver, Business, Tournament, Association & Club, and even a non-profit category. In addition to superior networking opportunities, sportfishing advocacy and promoting entry into the sport, the organization offers a monthly member newsletter, weekly industry news, and access to significant discounts on gear and services provided by many of its nearly 80 partners.


Oconomowoc’s Steve Lopez Vaults to Lead After Rainy Day 2 of MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Mercury Stop 6 at the Mississippi River in La Crosse

Wisconsin Pro Catches 16-Pound Limit to Bring 14-Ounce Advantage into Final Day, Final 50 Anglers Set for Championship Thursday

LA CROSSE, Wis. (July 26, 2023) – The MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Mercury Stop 6 at the Mississippi River is setting up for a dramatic finale on Thursday – the top 20 is stacked with seven local Wisconsin Mississippi River hammers and three full-time Bass Pro Tour pros and both the season-long Angler of the Year (AOY) and Rookie of the Year (ROY) awards are still up for grabs, and numerous anglers remain in striking distance to win the tournament, and claim the top prize of $115,000.

Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, pro Steve Lopez, who started the day in third place, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 16 pounds even to take the lead with a two-day total of 33-12.

Pro Matthew Stefan of Junction City, Wisconsin, (32-14) jumped into second after bringing in a limit weighing 16-6. Local favorite Mike Brueggen of La Crosse, (30-15), Tristan McCormick of Burns, Tennessee, (29-13) and Colby Schrumpf of Highland, Illinois, (29-7) round out the top five. Local anglers, Cade Laufenberg of Onalaska, Jeff Ritter of Prairie du Chien and Tom Monsoor of La Crosse, also made the top 50 cut and will advance to the third and final day of competition.

The three-day tournament, hosted by Explore La Crosse, featured a roster of 150 pro anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024. The full field of 150 anglers concluded the two-day opening round on Wednesday, with only the top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight now advancing to Championship Thursday.

With just a 14-ounce cushion heading into the final day, tournament-leader Lopez is excited to see how it all shakes out on Championship Thursday.

“I found a group of fish that are biting, and I found out how to catch them,” said Lopez. “I mean, they’re just different-sized fish than what other people are catching, but it’s pretty special.”

Lopez is making a run and locking to his fish. As a result, time management has been paramount due to not only a hectic lock schedule, but a massive rainstorm that totally changed the dynamic of Day 2. The good news is his fish have only been leaned on a little through two days.

“I’ve only fished them two and a half hours with the thunderstorms today and barges and all that sort of stuff,” he said. “Time has been very, very key this week. I’ve had to wait and be patient. Just mentally take it all in and be calm because I know the fish live there. I just have to get to them.”

Beyond the primary area that has been his honey hole all week, Lopez also noted he has other groups of fish located that he could very easily lean on if things happen to get tough for him on the final day.

“I checked my other fish (today) and they were still there,” he said. “I had to lean on one of those spots today. Just managing the fish has been so key this week, and so is managing time. I don’t want to get locked out, but could I have caught more today? I think so. But I don’t want to burn fish, and I lost a few fish today, too.”

While Lopez isn’t fully confident that all of his areas are good to go on the final day, he knows that having multiple schools to lean on is going to give him a slight edge on Championship Thursday. If he can maintain the quality bites, he knows he has a good shot to claim his first career win.

“One of those places is burnt up,” he said. “I was going to start there, but there were boats on it that weren’t there yesterday, which is fine (because) I think I caught them all.

“My other fish, no one has been on. It’s got the same caliber of fish. I caught five out of it today and had 16 pounds. If I crush them first thing tomorrow, I’m going to get back early and order a pizza and just Timmy Horton it,” he said, laughing. “But if I don’t, I’m going to burn it all to the ground.”

The top 50 pros advancing to the third and final day of competition at the Mercury Stop 6 at the Mississippi River in La Crosse are:

1st:        Steve Lopez, Oconomowoc, Wis., 10 bass, 33-12
2nd:       Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis., 10 bass, 32-14
3rd:       Mike Brueggen, La Crosse, Wis., 10 bass, 30-15
4th:        Tristan McCormick, Burns, Tenn., 10 bass, 29-13
5th:        Colby Schrumpf, Highland, Ill., 10 bass, 29-7
6th:        Cody Meyer, Eagle, Idaho, 10 bass, 29-4
7th:        Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 10 bass, 29-1
7th:        Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., 10 bass, 28-15
9th:        Matt Reed, Madisonville, Texas, 10 bass, 28-14
9th:        Mark Condron, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 10 bass, 28-14
11th:     Cade Laufenberg, Onalaska, Wis., 10 bass, 28-13
12th:     Jeff Ritter, Prairie du Chien, Wis., 10 bass, 28-13
12th:     Scott Wiley, Bay Minette, Ala., 10 bass, 28-9
14th:     Tom Monsoor, La Crosse, Wis., 10 bass, 28-5
15th:     Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 10 bass, 28-3
16th:     Kevin Ruh, Onalaska, Wis., 10 bass, 28-2
17th:     William Fletcher, Dallas, Ga., 10 bass, 28-0
18th:     Cole Breeden, Lebanon, Mo., 10 bass, 27-14
18th:     Mike McClelland, Blue Eye, Mo., 10 bass, 27-13
20th:     Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 27-12
21st:      Jack Daniel Williams, Kingsport, Tenn., 10 bass, 27-7
22nd:    Hunter Litchfield, Macomb, Ill., 10 bass, 27-5
23rd:     Alex Davis, Albertville, Ala., 10 bass, 27-2
24th:     Jesse Millsaps, Jasper, Ga., 10 bass, 26-15
25th:     Jordan Hirt, Glenwood, Iowa, 10 bass, 26-15
26th:     Grae Buck, Green Lane, Pa., 10 bass, 26-12
27th:     Blake Felix, Warsaw, Mo., 10 bass, 26-9
28th:     Jacopo Gallelli, Florence, Italy, 10 bass, 26-8
29th:     Brad Jelinek, Lincoln, Mo., 10 bass, 26-7
30th:     Robby Lefere, Jackson, Mich, 10 bass, 26-7
31st:      Bryan Partak, Marseilles, Ill., 10 bass, 26-5
32nd:    Lane Olson, Forest Grove, Ore., 10 bass, 26-2
33rd:     Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 10 bass, 26-1
34th:     Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 10 bass, 26-0
35th:     Nick Trim, Galesville, Wis., 10 bass, 25-11
36th:     Todd Walters, Kernersville, N.C., 10 bass, 25-11
37th:     Jason Vance, Battle Ground, Ind., 10 bass, 25-6
38th:     Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 10 bass, 25-6
39th:     Derik Hudson, Concord, Va., 10 bass, 25-5
40th:     Kyle Cortiana, Broken Arrow, Okla., 10 bass, 25-1
41st:      Cal Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 25-0
42nd:    Robert Nakatomi, Sacramento, Calif., 10 bass, 25-0
43rd:     Shaw Grigsby, Gainesville, Fla., 10 bass, 25-0
44th:     Ethan Greene, Eufaula, Ala., 10 bass, 24-15
45th:     Paul Elias, Laurel, Miss., 10 bass, 24-15
46th:     Clayton Batts, Butler, Ga., 10 bass, 24-15
47th:     Drew Kleine, Galesburg, Ill., 10 bass, 24-14
48th:     Jason Grape, Attalla, Ala., 10 bass, 24-13
49th:     Flint Davis, Leesburg, Ga., 10 bass, 24-13
50th:     Frank Kitchens, III, Oxford, Ga., 10 bass, 24-13

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

Pro Scott Wiley of Bay Minette, Alabama, earned Wednesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award after he weighed in a largemouth that totaled 5 pounds, 6 ounces.

Overall, there were 650 bass weighing 1,593 pounds even caught by 141 pros Wednesday. The catch included 117 five-bass limits.

In MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Tuesday and Wednesday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 50 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight now advance to the final round on Championship Thursday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $115,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers. The winner of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Mercury Stop 6 at the Mississippi River in La Crosse will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight and will receive an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024.

The final 50 anglers will launch Thursday at 6:30 a.m. CT from Veterans Freedom Park, located at 1 Clinton St. in La Crosse. The final championship weigh-in will also be held at the park and will begin at 2:45 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the live on-the-water action online on MLF NOW! beginning at 7:30 a.m. CT at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended final-day action from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT. MLF NOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

The MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Mercury Stop 6 at the Mississippi River in La Crosse features live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere on the CBS Sports Network on Saturday, November 14.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals on the MLF5 social media outlets at FacebookInstagram and  YouTube.


Crossing Borders with Gerald Swindle

Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships

The rods are rigged, the knots are tied, and the hatches are battened down for Gerald Swindle and the rest of the Elite Series field set to kick off the 2023 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite tomorrow morning on Lake St. Clair.

Swindle pulled a veteran move for the final day of official practice, having his wife and life partner LuLu pick him up from the lake a few hours early so he could get his rigging done before a soaker of a thunderstorm settled in on eastern Michigan. He accomplished his mission and sounded pretty content as he watched some of his competition suit up in rain gear to get their tackle ready from the comfort of his RV.

This gave the Team Toyota pro ample time to get his gameplan set for this tournament, but it also gave Swindle time to reflect on something he has done a whole lot of throughout his professional fishing career… crossing borders.

“I crossed into Canada a few times during practice this week and it hit me that I had never actually been on Canadian soil,” Swindle said. “I’ve been to Canada in my Phoenix (boat) a pile of times here and on the St. Lawrence River, but I’m always fishing an event or have a goal and never really allow myself to think about it. This bass fishing career has led me to crossing all kinds of borders.”

Swindle is a fan favorite in our sport for a myriad of reasons, notably his fishing ability and his unparalleled humor, but what many might miss is that he is also a deep thinker. The two-time Angler of the Year wondered on how many states borders he had crossed burning up the highway in his Toyota Tundra throughout his career. Or how he had been to Mexico and Canada more times on a bass boat than any other means of travel.

Crossing borders isn’t something you typically associate with bass fishing, but for professional anglers it’s a very real part of their lives. Swindle also mentioned the unfortunate reality that for him, and likely most pro anglers, it’s hard to appreciate their surroundings sometimes because all their focus is dedicated to fishing and competing.

“I’ve seen so many places from the road through the window of my Tundra but unless I see a big deer or a good-looking chunk of ground that snaps me out of it, a lot of times it all just blends together,” Swindle said with a laugh. “We’re always on a deadline with a place to be, we don’t allow ourselves to stop and smell the roses.

“I remember the first time I fished on St Clair being so giddy about crossing the invisible line into Canada. I tried to fish right on the border so I could cast into the U.S. or right into Canada. Now, I hardly think about it and that’s not necessarily a good thing.”

Even in the throes of competition as he attempts to fight his way inside the Classic cut, Swindle is trying to put an emphasis on enjoying the present moment. Deep thoughts and life lessons from bass fishing’s funniest man.

Swindle admitted there is a good chance he won’t fish in Canada at all during competition for the seventh stop of the Elite Series 2023 season. Opting to spend his tournament time on the U.S. side where he didn’t find as many groups of fish, but he found some better-quality smallmouth.

He believes the biggest bass in Lake St. Clair are loaners right now and he is ready to spend eight hours a day chasing five big, solo smallies in hopes it’ll put him where he needs to be on the leaderboard by the end of the weekend.


Major League Fishing’s Kathy Fennel Named 2023 Game Changer by Sports Business Journal

MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager Recognized in SBJ’s 13th Annual Class of Game Changers: Women in Sports Business

BENTON, Ky. (July 26, 2023) – Kathy Fennel, Major League Fishing’s Executive Vice President and General Manager, has been named to Sports Business Journal’s 2023 class of SBJ Game Changers: Women in Sports Business.

SBJ first launched Game Changers: Women in Sports Business in 2011, with a focus on telling the stories of successful women who have played key roles in their respective fields in the sports industry. Fennel and fellow honorees are acknowledged for their contributions as executives, for introducing innovative approaches and ideas to sports business, for leading significant projects and programs and serving as mentors and leaders to other women in the industry.

For more than 40 years, Fennel has been a leading voice in the world of competitive bass fishing, steadily rising through the ranks to become one of the most influential people in the fishing industry. She has broken new ground for recreational and professional anglers alike and helped build the sport of bass fishing from a fragmented collection of regional tournaments into a multi-billion-dollar industry. Her efforts have had a positive impact on anglers across all skill levels, spanning from high school and college students to weekend enthusiasts, and most notably professional anglers competing for millions of dollars in prize money each year.

Fennel oversees day-to-day operations for the entire Major League Fishing (MLF) organization, which includes seven MLF circuits, headlined by the Bass Pro Tour. Under her leadership, MLF produces more than 250 events annually, resulting in televised events that reach more than 20 million viewers with programming across five major television networks. In 2022, Fennel was inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame.

“I’m excited to join the 2023 SBJ Game Changers class and feel honored that my passion and efforts in a sport that I love have been recognized,” said Fennel. “I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to work alongside other powerful women through the years and to have worked for organizations that are supportive of women in our industry. Congratulations to my fellow honorees and the entire SBJ Game Changers class of 2023.”

Fennel was one of 50 women selected, joining leaders from organizations including the NFL, NBA, NHL, WWE, PGA, professional teams, media companies, marketing agencies and more.

“We are incredibly proud of Kathy and the legacy she continues to create for women in our sport,” said Boyd Duckett, MLF President and CEO. “Her selfless service through the years and ability to lead by example have paved the way for future generations of women and there is no one more deserving of this honor. We are thrilled to be able to celebrate with her.”

SBJ will profile members of the 2023 class of Game Changers in the upcoming Sept. 25 issue. Honorees will also be recognized at the SBJ Game Changers Conference, Oct. 24, at the Marriott Marquis Times Square in New York City.

For more details and updated information on Major League Fishing, its tournaments, and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, TwitterInstagram and YouTube.


Nick Hatfield Leads on Day 1 of MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Mercury Stop 6 at the Mississippi River in La Crosse

Tennessee Pro Catches Five-Bass Limit Weighing 18 Pounds Even to Take Early Lead, 150 Pros to Continue Competition Wednesday

LA CROSSE, Wis. (July 25, 2023) – Just one month removed from his victory at the T-H Marine Stop 5 on the Potomac River, pro Nick Hatfield of Greeneville, Tennessee, looks like he has strong intentions to make it two victories in a row. Hatfield brought a five-bass limit to the scale, Tuesday, weighing 18 pounds even to take the early lead after Day 1 of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational T-H Marine Stop 5 at the Potomac River.

Hatfield will bring an ultra-slim 2-ounce lead into Day 2 of competition over Macomb, Illinois’ Hunter Litchfield, who weighed in a five bass limit totaling 17-14 to end the day in second. The local Wisconsin contingent also had a very strong start to the event, as Steve Lopez of Oconomowoc (17-12), Matthew Stefan of Junction City (16-8), Kevin Ruh of Onalaska (16-3) and Mike Bruggen of La Crosse (15-12) also ended the day inside the top 10.

Competition resumes Wednesday, when the full field of 150 anglers will conclude the two-day opening round. Only the top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight will advance to the third and final day of competition on Thursday. The three-day tournament, hosted by Explore La Crosse, features a roster of 150 pro anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024.

“It should have been even more,” Hatfield said of his Day 1 weight. “Unfortunately, I had a fish die on me late in the day and I had to take the 4-ounce penalty. But it was a good day, and I’m happy with how it ended up.

“I started in an area where I thought I could catch 12 to 14 pounds, and my plan was to just go in and catch a limit and get a cushion, then go to a different area and try to catch some bigger ones,” Hatfield continued. “I got in there, and it started kind of slow, but I started to see some big ones cruising and with just a little bit of a bait adjustment I started catching them.”

Hatfield said he was seeing the bigger fish cruising both with his Garmin LiveScope on deeper grass clumps and also casting at ones he could see while sight fishing.

“I don’t know if the area will hold up for tomorrow,” Hatfield said. “I’ll obviously try to start in there again, and I think if I can pull 12 pounds out of there I’ll be in good shape.

“I’ve also got some other areas that I didn’t fish today that I can go to, so I’m confident that I can pull something together,” Hatfield went on to say. “I’ve also got some smallmouth found, so it’s whatever I have to do. I’m going to put together 15 pounds and we’ll see what happens. Fifteen pounds is the goal, then we’ll see what happens going into Day 3.”

The top 20 pros after Day 1 of the Mercury Stop 6 at the Mississippi River in La Crosse are:

1st:        Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., five bass, 18-0
2nd:       Hunter Litchfield, Macomb, Ill., five bass, 17-14
3rd:       Steve Lopez, Oconomowoc, Wis., five bass, 17-12
4th:        Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis., five bass, 16-8
5th:        Matt Reed, Madisonville, Texas, five bass, 16-6
6th:        Kevin Ruh, Onalaska, Wis., five bass, 16-3
7th:        Mike Brueggen, La Crosse, Wis., five bass, 15-12
7th:        Mark Condron, Murfreesboro, Tenn., five bass, 15-12
9th:        Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., five bass, 15-7
9th:        Mike McClelland, Blue Eye, Mo., five bass, 15-7
11th:     Cody Meyer, Eagle, Idaho, five bass, 15-4
12th:     Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., five bass, 14-15
12th:     Tristan McCormick, Burns, Tenn., five bass, 14-15
14th:     Alex Davis, Albertville, Ala., five bass, 14-13
15th:     Grae Buck, Green Lane, Pa., five bass, 14-12
16th:     Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., five bass, 14-9
17th:     Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., five bass, 14-6
18th:     B.J. Miller, Adams, Neb., five bass, 14-5
18th:     Andy Newcomb, Camdenton, Mo., five bass, 14-5
20th:     Cal Lane, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 14-4

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

Pro Matthew Stefan of Junction City, Wisconsin, earned the $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award Tuesday after weighing in a bass largemouth that went 5 pounds, 9 ounces.

Overall, there were 677 bass weighing 1,637 pounds, 6 ounces caught by 146 pros Tuesday. The catch included 117 five-bass limits.

In MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Tuesday and Wednesday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 50 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, will advance to the final round on Championship Thursday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $115,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers. The winner of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Mercury Stop 6 at the Mississippi River in La Crosse will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight and will receive an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024.

Anglers will launch each day at 6:30 a.m. CT, Tuesday through Thursday, from Veterans Freedom Park, located at 1 Clinton St. in La Crosse. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park daily beginning at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the live on-the-water action all three days of competition online on MLF NOW! beginning at 7 a.m. CT at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all three days of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT. MLF NOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

The MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Mercury Stop 6 at the Mississippi River in La Crosse will feature live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere on the CBS Sports Network on Saturday, November 14.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals on the MLF5 social media outlets at FacebookInstagram and  YouTube.


Major League Fishing’s Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship Set to Return to Lake Toho in 2024

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (July 25, 2023) – For the second consecutive year, the best college fishing anglers from across the country will be visiting Lake Toho to crown the top college fishing team in the nation.

Major League Fishing (MLF), the world's largest tournament-fishing organization, in conjunction with the Kissimmee Sports Commission, announced today that the 2024 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship, the national championship of college bass fishing, will take place on Lake Toho in Kissimmee, Jan. 9-11, in 2024.

“We are excited to host the Major League Fishing College National Championship for a second year,” said Tyler Weyant, Director of Sports Development for the Kissimmee Sports Commission. "Following the overwhelming success we had last year at Lake Toho, we are eager to invite everyone to join us once again and experience the excitement firsthand. In addition to the incredible action happening on the water, we encourage the competitors, their families and the MLF staff to explore the local shops and restaurants that make Kissimmee truly unique.”

“The 2023 National Championship on Lake Toho was one of the most thrilling finales to a tournament that we have ever had, with the University of Montevallo weighing in a 27-pound limit on the final day to vault to the top of the leaderboard and win the title,” said Kevin Hunt, MLF Senior Director of Tournament Operations. “There aren’t many fisheries in the country that can produce over three days like Lake Toho can, and we’re excited to return to Kissimmee to let the best college anglers from across the country battle it out to see who our next national champion will be.”

Each day of competition at the 2024 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship will feature weigh-ins livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship will showcase the top teams from the 2023 College Fishing season competing for a top prize of $43,500, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat powered by a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000 in cash. The winning team will also advance to the 2024 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 2025 to compete against the top professional anglers in the sport for a top prize of $300,000.

The second-place club at the 2024 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship will receive a Phoenix 518 Pro boat powered by a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The team also advances to the 2024 Toyota Series Championship to compete as pros. The third-place finishers at the 2024 National Championship will receive $4,000, and the team advances to the 2024 Toyota Series Championship as co-anglers for a shot at winning a new Phoenix 518 Pro powered by a 115 HP Mercury. Every team in the top 10 at the 2024 College Fishing National Championship will receive at least $1,000.

Proud sponsors of MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Black Rifle Coffee Company, E3, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Grundens, Lawless Lures, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X 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.


“Big Show” Scroggins’ Crab Leg Creation

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships

Professional bass fishing is a game of tough-to-control uncertainties, but one thing’s for sure, if you show up to Team Toyota’s Terry “Big Show” Scroggins’ house, you’re going to share great food and a ton of laughs.

His latest kitchen creation is perfect for summer and born out of a night at home with buddies Allen Anderson and Tom Willis, who worked as a chef in Denver, before returning recently to his native Florida.

“Chef Willis asked me if those oranges on the trees in my yard were any good, and if I had any crab legs,” grins Scroggins. “Sure enough I had some crab legs in my freezer, and those oranges in my yard are dang good, so all we needed was some white wine, which I had too, and the next thing you know, he’s showing me this awesome way to make crab legs for a crew of hungry guests,” he smiles.

 

Scroggins and Chef Willis recommend using a deep fry pan, large enough to hold three or four clusters of crab legs, along with three oranges cut in half, and about an inch-deep bath of white wine. Squeeze all the juice from the orange halves into the wine, and then let theorange halves bathe with the crab legs in the wine on a stove top for 10 minutes in medium to high heat.

“I think the citric acid helps soften the spiny shells so you can crack into them easier, and once they’ve cooked for 10 minutes, all you have to do is set them out on a big tray, sprinkle ‘em with a good dash of Old Bay seasoning, and you’ve got a super easy meal that folks can walk past, grab a leg, and have some great summer food while they’re at your pool or picnic,” says Scroggins.

“Big Show” likes king crabs best, but says their spiny legs make them a little more challenging to eat than snow crab, and adds that as far as what white wine you choose, it really doesn’t matter.

He will be choosy next week at Saginaw Bay, Michigan as a he looks to notch his fourth Top 5 finish in recent months of Major League Fishing events. For example, when he finished 5th at St. Clair last month, he felt using a smaller 3.6” MaxScent Flat Worm got him more bites than a slightly larger 4.25” version.

But when it comes to cooking up a fast and easy fun meal in the heat of summer, keep it simple. You only need four ingredients, crab legs, white wine, Old Bay seasoning, and some oranges --- and if you’ve got them growing on the trees in your yard like “Big Show” does, that makes it even easier.


Poche not fishing Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair

July 24, 2023

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Elite Series pro Keith Poche of Cecil, Ala., will not be fishing the upcoming AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair.

Poche fished tournament waters on Michigan’s Lake St. Clair on June 27, which put him on competition waters inside the Elite Series off-limits period and rendered him ineligible to compete. Poche let B.A.S.S. officials know about the conflict with fishing another tournament and that he would be forfeiting the Elite event.

Bassmaster Elite Rule C3. I for Practice and Competition states: “Off-limits for Elite events begins on the Monday closest to 28 days prior to the first practice day.”


Kermit Crowder Claims Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at the James River

Wood and Rustin Tie Atop Strike King Co-Angler Division

HENRICO, Va. (July 24, 2023) – Boater Kermit Crowder of Matoaca, Virginia, caught a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 10 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the James River . The tournament, hosted by Richmond Region Tourism, was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Piedmont Division. Crowder earned $5,830 for his victory.

“My day started off kind of slow,” said Crowder. “I made a run to the Chickahominy (River) and caught two quickly on a frog. I had planned my day to catch them all on a frog, but it just didn’t work like that.”

Crowder said in practice he had success on topwater baits, but his frog bite didn’t work out as expected on tournament day. He switched to a swimjig and found more bites he needed.

“They were just spread out, slow, throughout the day,” said Crowder, who lives 45 minutes from the James River. “There wasn’t one thing that worked and did it all. Whatever was in front of us was what we fished.”

Crowder said late in the day he landed a bass that weighed a little more than five pounds and he estimated his tournament weight to be between 18 and 19 pounds.

“My co-angler said he thought I had the winning weight,” Crowder said. “We started making the hour run back to weigh-in, and I thought then that I might have a shot at winning.”

Crowder’s weight proved to be enough for the win, and he said he was thankful for his eighth Major League Fishing victory.

“I’m not a spring chicken anymore, so this win feels really good,” the 66-year-old Crowder went on to say. “Just to win one running around with these young boys is a hard thing to do.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:          Kermit Crowder, Matoaca, Va., five bass, 22-10, $5,830
2nd:        Frank Poirier, North Prince George, Va., five bass, 20-12, $2,305
3rd:        Keith Roberts, Hurt, Va., five bass, 16-15, $1,536
4th:         Aaron Dixon, Bel Alton, Md., five bass, 16-2, $1,076
5th:         Christopher Wingfield, Richmond, Va., five bass, 15-10, $922
6th:         Dennis Burdette, Pembroke, Va., five bass, 15-8, $1,345 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
7th:         Ryan Lachniet, Gum Spring, Va., five bass, 15-6, $729
7th:         Evan White, Roanoke Rapids, N.C., five bass, 15-6, $729
9th:         Chris Moore, Mechanicsville, Va., five bass, 14-10, $615
10th:      Jonathan Bailey, Peterstown, W.V., five bass, 14-8, $538
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Billy Clark of Disputanta, Virginia, caught a bass that weighed 8 pounds, 10 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $670.

Rickey Wood of Smithfield, Virginia, and Michael Rustin of Henrico, Virginia, tied atop the Strike King co-angler division Saturday. After contingency awards, Wood earned $2,128 and Rustin won $1,728 after they each brought five bass to the scale that totaled 12 pounds, 15 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:          Rickey Wood, Smithfield, Va., five bass, 12-15, $2,128
1st:          Michael Rustin, Henrico, Va., five bass, 12-15, $1,728
3rd:        Sean Tobatto, Greensboro, N.C., five bass, 11-15, $768
4th:         Timothy Kinder, Fairfax, Va., five bass, 11-9, $688
5th:         Robert Wedding, Welcome, Md., five bass, 11-5, $661
6th:         Cornell Badra, Clarksburg, Md., five bass, 11-3, $423
7th:         Thomas Lang, Virginia Beach, Va., five bass, 11-1, $384
8th:         Rich Knisely, Disputanta, Va., five bass, 10-15, $326
8th:         Kyle Whisnant, Gastonia, N.C., four bass, 10-15, $326
10th:      Jared Sutton, Chester, Va., five bass, 10-11, $269
Rumnea Kelly of Boyds, Maryland, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $335, catching a bass that weighed in at 7 pounds even – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After four events, Evan White of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, leads the BFL Piedmont Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 963 points, while Timothy Kinder of Fairfax, Virginia, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 967 points.

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. 5-7 BFL Regional tournament on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury 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 outboard.

The 2023 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 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X 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.


Copley Notches Second Career BFL Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at the Detroit River

O’Neil Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

TRENTON, Mich. (July 24, 2023) – Boater Jeff Copley of Marengo, Ohio, caught a five-bass limit weighing 25 pounds even Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Detroit River . The tournament was the second event of the season for the BFL Michigan Division. Copley earned $7,410, including a $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.

“We started the morning out on some small fish,” said Copley, who made a run to Lake St. Clair to target smallmouth for the event. “I put about 15 pounds in the boat and got keyed in on a soft plastic bite. Then I went to a different area and ended up culling most of those out.”

Copley said he caught around 20 keeper bass during the tournament on a drop-shot rig, as well as a Ned rig, around clumps of grass in 18 feet of water. Copley said he had a good feeling about the day and mentioned that things went smoothly for him during the event.

“I lost a fish, but one bigger than the one I lost had followed the bait in,” said Copley, who posted a BFL win in 2022 on Lake St. Clair. “I cast back out at the big one and it ate it. That’s the way it goes sometimes.

“This win feels great, and I feel blessed to be in this position, that’s for sure,” Copley added. “The second win, I think, is the hardest. It validates the first win and tells me it’s not a fluke.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:          Jeff Copley, Marengo, Ohio, five bass, 25-0, $7,410 (includes $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd:        Nicholas Seitz, Maumee, Ohio, five bass, 23-2, $2,305
3rd:        Heath Wagner, Angola, Ind., five bass, 22-14, $1,536
4th:         Mike Trombly, Belleville, Mich., five bass, 22-9, $1,076
5th:         Brayden Federer, Adrian, Mich., five bass, 22-6, $922
6th:         Scott Dobson, Clarkston, Mich., five bass, 21-14, $1,065
7th:         Patrick Goodman, Sturgis, Mich., five bass, 21-10, $768
8th:         David Horstman, Adrian, Mich., five bass, 21-9, $1,361
9th:         Jonathon Dewey, Fort Gratiot, Mich., five bass, 21-8, $615
10th:      Jared Rhode, Port Clinton, Ohio, five bass, 21-6, $538
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

David Horstman of Adrian, Michigan, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 13 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $670.

Dan O’Neil of Canton, Michigan, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,288 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 20 pounds, 4 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:          Dan O’Neil, Canton, Mich., five bass, 20-4, $2,288
2nd:        Robert Hernandez, Canton, Mich., five bass, 19-2, $1,153
2nd:        Rodney Soles, Dublin, Ga., five bass, 19-2, $953
4th:         Jeffrey Thomson, Birmingham, Mich., five bass, 19-0, $684
5th:         Hunter Ingle, Fort Wayne, Ind., five bass, 18-14, $458
6th:         Michael Hrynewycz, Goshen, Ind., five bass, 18-11, $419
7th:         Ryan Legg, Parma, Ohio, five bass, 18-9, $381
8th:         Aaron Stahley, Batavia, Ohio, five bass, 18-7, $343
9th:         Greg Owens, Clinton Township, Mich., five bass, 18-6, $305
10th:      Jason Cook, Edwardsburg, Mich., five bass, 18-4, $267
James Scott Powers of Toledo, Ohio, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $332, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 7 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After two events, Mike Trombly of Belleville, Michigan, leads the BFL Michigan Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 494 points, while Robert Hernandez of Canton, Michigan, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 489 points.

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. 12-14 BFL Regional tournament on Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury 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 outboard.

The 2023 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 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X 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.


PALMER EARNS FIRST NPFL VICTORY AT SAGINAW BAY

Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons

Catching the biggest bag of the tournament on the final day, Trent Palmer slams the door shut to earn his first NPFL victory with a three-day total weight of 62-pounds, 12 ounces. Surviving the first day with a limit weighing 18 pounds, 8 ounces, he added 21 pounds and 10 ounces on day two, and a final day showing of 22 pounds, 10 ounces giving him the victory.

At the end of the day, Palmer knew his motor was on his last leg and called the tournament director to confirm he could call on his roommate for a tow back in if needed. When he got ahold of Walters, they made the long run back together and got back in time.

“I was praying my motor would hold together and once I got to my last spot, I knew I could make it,” said Palmer. “A big thanks to Patrick for automatically coming over to help me out as soon as I called.”

Palmer got off to a fast start this morning despite thinking the opposite. When he got to his first spot, the fish were biting and he went to work with his electronics and caught his weight.

“I don’t have a ton of experience here and I thought they would be slow first thing, but they were hammering until about noon,” added Palmer. “I had my weight by 11 AM and it was definitely a lot faster than I expected today.”

Owning Sonar Pros, Palmer does his own installs and had access and experience with the best technology and cleanest installs in the industry. The combination of all the major brands gives him an edge on new water and allows him to break things down quicker.

“My boat is completely dialed with all the best technology installed by my company Sonar Pros,” he added. “I have two Lowrance in the console, and all three brands – Humminbird, Lowrance, and Garmin – in the front. That combo, powered by X2 Power batteries, allows me to break down water extremely fast and fish extremely efficiently during the tournament.”

Patrick Walters

Patrick Walters weighed in 15 smallmouth bass to narrowly miss his second consecutive NPFL victory at Saginaw Bay with a total weight of 62 pounds, 10 ounces. Adding 20 pounds, 6 ounces on the final day to his day one limit of 12 pounds, 4 ounces, and day two bag of 22 pounds even, Walters finished just two ounces behind his good friend and roommate.

His goal coming into the event was to earn some redemption from 2022 and put 15 quality smallmouth in the boat. After struggling on day two in the previous year, Walters spent some time in practice to locate some shallow largemouth just in case. On day two, he got going with three keepers before ultimately culling them all out with smallmouth as the wind slacked off mid-morning.

With the final day the calmest of them all, the smallmouth were easier to catch for Walters but the quality went away.

“My first spot this morning had some quality bass but that bite died at 10 AM,” said Walters. “I ran out further to another spot that had some bigger fish earlier in the week and that was mostly small fish too. I don’t know what happened today, but I had a tough practice and got redemption at this place.”

After a tough practice, he was happy to have a good finish and was thrilled his roommates all finished 1-2-3.

“I struggled in practice and made the best of that,” he added. “I got redemption, Trent got his redemption and we all fished how we wanted to fish.”

Mike Corbishley

Putting five smallmouth bass in the boat on day three, Mike Corbishley finished in the third-place spot with a total weight of 52 pounds, 1 ounce. He started the event with 18 pounds, 8 ounces on day one, added 15 pounds, 9 ounces on day two, and caught a final day weight of 18 pounds. With the weather finally cooperating for the offshore anglers, Corbishley was able to get to his fish and effectively catch fish throughout the entire day.

“It was glass today, and you could actually keep the motor in the water,” joked Corbishley. “I wanted to make sure I got back in time so I had to leave them biting but overall, it was a great day.”

Getting off to a fast start this morning, he caught his first keeper within 15 minutes and it set the tone for Showdown Saturday.

“I caught that one and it got me in a groove and a good mood early,” he added. “I did lose one good one, but in the end, it wouldn’t have helped. My goal based on last year was to catch 17 pounds per day and I accomplished that, but the house going 1-2-3 was unreal; we always joke about it but it actually happened.”

Fishing in the big water is not for everyone, and having the best equipment on the market was key to his success this week.

“I was making long runs in the Phoenix 920 and it handled amazing,” he added. “Even with the beating, my Boat Logix mounts, Lowrance graphs, and trolling motor worked flawlessly all week; it made a huge difference in this tournament. Those mounts do not move and my electronics were how I caught all my bass.”

Stu Martel

Stu Martel finished in the fourth-place spot as Saginaw Bay with a three-day total of 49 pounds, 8 ounces. With mixed bags of 18 pounds, 3 ounces, and 28-14 on the first two days, Martel struggled on the final day with a limit of 12 pounds, 7 ounces but is happy with his event.

Martel fished an offshore area throughout the event and caught both smallmouth and largemouth rotating between tubes and drop shot baits.

Barron Adams

Barron Adams focused solely on largemouth bass to finish the event in the fifth-place spot. His day one weight of 16 pounds, 11 ounces, and day two weight of 15 pounds, 5 ounces combined with a final round weight of 16 pounds, 4 ounces gave him a three-day total weight of 48 pounds, 4 ounces.

Rest of the Best:
Todd Goade 47-2
Will Harkins 47-1
Louis Fernandes 46-4
Sheldon Collings 45-8
Hunter Baughman 44-15


White’s magic spot delivers win in Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River

Jody White of Shaftsbury, Vt., has won the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River with a three-day total of 71 pounds, 15 ounces. 

Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.

July 22, 2023

WADDINGTON, N.Y. — The bad news was only one of Jody White’s spots produced.

The good news was that spot yielded a three-day total of 71 pounds, 15 ounces that won the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River.

“I wish I had more spots that produced,” he said. “I wish I did something cool. I wish I dodged and weaved. But I had one spot and it worked.”

Hailing from Shaftsbury, Vt., White notched his first Bassmaster professional win by catching daily limits of 25-11, 22-10 and 23-10. He took home the top prize of $49,700, plus the $500 Garmin Tournament Rewards bonus.

In 2016, the former collegiate angler won the co-angler division for the Bassmaster Open on Smith Lake. This week’s win, White said, tops his career achievements.

“This is No. 1, no question,” he said. “I’m really happy with this win.”

White said his win was sweetened by the fact that he edged Canadian Cory Johnston, the seasoned Bassmaster Elite Series pro who triumphed the last time the Bassmaster Opens visited the St. Lawrence in 2021. After leading Days 1 and 2, Johnston finished second with a three-day total of 70-1.

The first two days, White trailed the lead by 1-3 and 1-4. On Championship Saturday, he edged Johnston by 1-14.

White made a long upriver run nearly to the tournament’s western boundary and fished a familiar ledge near Clayton, N.Y. Describing his spot as a drop-off with fish-friendly structure on the edge and on the flat, he said he caught his fish in 30 to 45 feet.

“It’s a long ledge that faces the current and there’s a couple of sweet spots where two boulders break off from it,” White said. “On one of them, I’ve caught four bass over 5 pounds (during multiple tournaments). It’s good.

“On Day 2, I found another sweet spot back on the flat in 30 to 35 feet. There was a group of fish sitting there. I couldn’t see what they were sitting on; it could have been a little piece of rock, but I have no idea.”

White said that second spot is not one he has typically fished over the years, but it ended up producing three of his fish.

Thinking he needed to hit other spots, White made milk runs the first two days. The final round saw him focus most of his effort on the money spot.

“The first day, I didn’t catch that many; I probably caught 10, but I caught big ones right out of the gate,” he said. “The second day, I stayed longer and caught more. Then, today, I put it in park as soon as I got there and caught a lot of fish.”

White caught most of his fish on a drop shot with a 3/8-ounce weight and a Berkley MaxScent Flat Worm on a No. 2 Gamakatsu split-shot/drop-shot hook. He alternated between brown back and green pumpkin.

White also caught fish on 3.3- and 3.8-inch Keitech Fat Swing Impact swimbaits. He rigged those baits on 3/8-ounce Queen Tackle Tungsten ball-head jigs for their clearer sonar image. Lastly, he threw a Carolina rig with a 3/4-ounce weight and a Zoom Speed Craw on a Gamakatsu hybrid worm hook.

“It’s been an incredible week,” White said. “I love this river. I never could have imagined I would catch them as good as I did. It’s been a pleasure.”

Hailing from Cavan, Ontario, Johnston took the Day 1 lead by catching a limit of 26-14 — the event’s heaviest bag. His second-round catch went 22-11 and he closed with a Day 3 limit of 20-8 that pushed his total to 70-1.

“Anytime you can make the Top 10 and fish the final day, it’s a great week,” Johnston said. “It’s been a frustrating week at the same time. This has been the worst practice I’ve ever had.

“This place is changing. It’s getting a ton of pressure and the fish are doing a lot of different things than they normally do. They’re getting really hard to catch, so I had to do some different stuff and find some new areas.”

Johnston tried multiple spots from the western boundary up to the Waddington area and ultimately ended up catching his fish by targeting deeper flats and looking for isolated rock. A drop shot with a prototype 6th Sense soft-plastic bait produced all of his fish.

Jamie Bruce of Kenora, Ontario, finished third with 69-12. After reaching the final round in third place with daily limits of 23-5 and 24-8, Bruce finished with a Day 3 bag that weighed 21-15.

Fishing upriver, Bruce did most of his work with a 1/4- to 1/2-ounce Smeltinator Underspin and a Z-Man swimbait. Later in the day, he moved shallow and caught a couple of keepers on a 1/16-ounce black marabou jig.

“This is my first time here and because I’m sitting pretty in the (Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifiers) points, I wanted to just lay up and fish near takeoff,” Bruce said. “My practice near Waddington didn’t work out, so I went upriver near Lake Ontario and had 24 pounds one day (in practice).

“I knew that was my best chance. I have a big (deep-v) Lund (aluminum boat), so I ran down there and kept expanding.”

Johnston won the $750 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award for the 6-11 he caught on Day 1.

Eighth-place finisher Rick Ortiz of Fort Ann, N.Y., earned an additional $500 as the highest-finishing registered pro fishing St. Croix rods thanks to the St. Croix Rod Rewards program.

South Carolina’s JT Thompkins leads the Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifiers standings with 1,087 points. Bassmaster Elite Series pro Kenta Kimura of Hirakata Osaka, Japan, is second with 1,080, followed by John Garrett of Union City, Tenn., with 1,067, Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Ill., with 1,034, and Robert Gee of Knoxville, Tenn., with 1,018.

Only anglers who fish all nine Opens this season are eligible for the Elite Qualifiers Division. After the final three Opens of the year, the top nine eligible anglers will receive invitations to fish the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series.

Complete standings are available at Bassmaster.com.

The 2023 event was hosted by the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Village of Waddington. It is part of a series of tournaments and is supported by a Market New York grant from I LOVE NY/New York State’s Division of Tourism through the Regional Economic Development Council initiative.


Temple and Schnell come from behind to win Bassmaster Junior Championship on Lake Hartwell

Kale Temple and Luke Schnell of Georgia's Hart County Junior Anglers have won the 2023 Bassmaster Junior National Championship at Lake Hartwell with a two-day total of 21 pounds, 12 ounces.

Photo by Logan Crumley/B.A.S.S.

July 22, 2023

Temple and Schnell come from behind to win Bassmaster Junior Championship on Lake Hartwell

ANDERSON, S.C. — Kale Temple and Luke Schnell were only 4 ounces out of the Day 1 lead at the 2023 Bassmaster Junior National Championship, so they knew a good finish on Lake Hartwell might lock up the tournament title for them.

It did.

Temple and Schnell, who compete for the Hart County Junior Anglers just across the state line in Georgia, closed the gap with authority on Saturday, catching a three-bass limit of 10 pounds, 15 ounces. Coupled with their 10-13 limit on Friday, the boys posted a two-day total of 21-12, which was nearly 4 pounds more than their closest competitors.

The duo topped 123 teams from 32 states for the win on Lake Hartwell. They earned $2,000 in scholarship money, as well.

Being on their home water didn’t hurt their chances, but Temple and Schnell had to work from behind to win the derby. Their early bites on Saturday weren’t exactly the best, either.

“The water levels today were about 2 feet low,” Temple said. “We knew the shallow bite wouldn’t work, so we went offshore all day. Still, we only had about 5 pounds until about 11:30 or 12 o’clock. That’s when the fish started schooling and we were able to get a 4-pounder and a couple of 3-pounders.”

The boys said a bright and busy Saturday brought additional boat traffic to Hartwell, which actually helped their cause.

“There was a poker run today with about 400 pontoon boats,” Temple said. “All the boats stirred the bait up and the bass started coming up.”

Temple and Schnell, both 14, fished in anywhere from 10 to 35 feet of water, but the sweet spot was between 20 to 30 feet on Saturday. They threw Zoom Fluke worms (smoke/blue and disco ball) to boat their best bass.

“We’d fished this spot before,” Schnell said. “There’s a lot of shallow timber and the fish were in the tops of the trees ... It’s amazing to win because we didn’t think we’d accomplish it with what we had at 11 o’clock.”

Isaac Temple, Kale’s dad and the duo’s boat captain for the tournament, said the teens put the work in to win the national title.

“They fished nonstop, including all the weekends that weren’t off limits,” he said. “They won Junior Anglers of the Year for the state of Georgia, so being on their home lake, I knew they’d be contenders.”

Colton Hembree and Tyson Browning of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Junior Bassmasters finished second with 18-2 and won $1,000 in scholarship money.

Tristan Stewart and DJ Johnson III, in first place after Day 1, wound up third with 17-10 and collected $500 in scholarship money. The duo is part of the Mt. Pleasant (Tenn.) Junior Bass Team.

Anderson Mesplay and Kelby Conrady, of the Mid-Kansas Kastmasters, also caught 17-10 and placed fourth after tiebreakers. The boys earned $400 for their showing and also split the $200 Big Bass Award for the 6-7 largemouth they caught on Saturday. That whopper easily topped Hembree and Browning’s 4-14 which led the Day 1 Big Bass standings.

Teams qualified for the championship through state competitions and four different Junior Opens held earlier this year on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes, Alabama’s Lay Lake, Tennessee’s Chickamauga Lake and the Red River in Louisiana.

Visit Anderson hosted the Bassmaster Junior National Championship.

2023 Bassmaster Junior National Championship 7/21-7/22
Lake Hartwell, Anderson  SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

Angler                                       Club/School                       Pts

1.  Kale Temple - Luke Schnell                   Hart County Jr Anglers - GA           0
Day 1: 3   10-13     Day 2: 3   10-15   Total:   6  21-12
2.  Colton Hembree - Tyson Browning              Bluegrass Junior Bassmasters - KY     0
Day 1: 3   10-07     Day 2: 3   07-11   Total:   6  18-02
3.  Tristan Stewart - DJ Johnson III             Mt. Pleasant Junior Bass Team - TN    0
Day 1: 3   11-01     Day 2: 3   06-09   Total:   6  17-10
4.  Anderson Mesplay - Kelby Conrady             Mid-Kansas Kastmasters - KS           0
Day 1: 3   06-15     Day 2: 3   10-11   Total:   6  17-10
5.  Hank Riley - Ty Montgomery                   Lone Star Jr Bassmasters - TX         0
Day 1: 3   08-06     Day 2: 3   08-05   Total:   6  16-11
6.  Jake Paradis - Nolan Savage                  L/A Junior Bassmasters - ME           0
Day 1: 3   08-09     Day 2: 3   08-01   Total:   6  16-10
7.  Zac Arnold - Ross Clark                      Good Hope Fishing Team - AL           0
Day 1: 3   09-06     Day 2: 3   07-00   Total:   6  16-06
8.  Jaxen White - Christopher Trobaugh           Clay County Anglers - TN              0
Day 1: 3   07-13     Day 2: 3   07-11   Total:   6  15-08
9.  Tyler Nelson - Seth Harrell                  Bandys High School - NC               0
Day 1: 3   06-03     Day 2: 3   08-09   Total:   6  14-12
10. Caleb Toubia - Isaac Toubia                  Kickback High School - KS             0
Day 1: 3   10-07     Day 2: 3   03-15   Total:   6  14-06
11. Cody Carboni - William Reynolds              Live Oak Junior High School - LA      0
Day 1: 3   10-10     Day 2: 2   03-11   Total:   5  14-05
12. Eli Ledbetter - Collin Ledbetter             Jr Southwest Bassmasters-Denham       0
Day 1: 3   08-00     Day 2: 3   06-03   Total:   6  14-03
13. Ryder Milam - Colton Milam                   Mecklenburg High School Junior A      0
Day 1: 3   08-01     Day 2: 3   05-07   Total:   6  13-08
14. Parker Terrell - Cameron Terrell             Port City Jr. Bassmasters - NY        0
Day 1: 3   06-00     Day 2: 3   07-08   Total:   6  13-08
15. Caden Hall - Kaleb Wilson                    Russell County Middle School - K      0
Day 1: 3   09-06     Day 2: 3   03-14   Total:   6  13-04
16. Jack Kennedy - Brentley West                 Mid Florida Youth Anglers - FL        0
Day 1: 3   04-15     Day 2: 3   08-04   Total:   6  13-03
17. Grayson Goodwin - Colton Baker               Renegades Perry County Jr Angler      0
Day 1: 3   06-10     Day 2: 3   06-08   Total:   6  13-02
18. Wyatt North - Wylie North                    Marion County High School Bassma      0
Day 1: 3   06-03     Day 2: 3   06-11   Total:   6  12-14
19. Lucas Gerlach - Brayden Nickless             Denver Jr. Bassmasters - CO           0
Day 1: 3   07-03     Day 2: 3   04-12   Total:   6  11-15
20. Kingston Bartley - Wade Clemmensen           Denver Jr. Bassmasters - CO           0
Day 1: 3   05-15     Day 2: 3   05-15   Total:   6  11-14
21. Jack Naas - JT Cross                         L/A Junior Bassmasters - ME           0
Day 1: 3   07-06     Day 2: 3   04-07   Total:   6  11-13
22. Daniel Ingram - Morgan Carden                Shelby County Jr Anglers - AL         0
Day 1: 2   02-09     Day 2: 3   09-01   Total:   5  11-10
23. Conley Tyler - Tripp Martin                  Arkansas Youth Anglers - AR           0
Day 1: 3   07-05     Day 2: 2   04-04   Total:   5  11-09
24. Brennon Davidson - Hagen Barnes              Brandon High School - MS              0
Day 1: 3   06-03     Day 2: 3   05-04   Total:   6  11-07
25. Luke Stewart - Austin Craze                  Southern WV Jr Bassmasters - WV       0
Day 1: 3   05-02     Day 2: 3   06-04   Total:   6  11-06
26. Ty Magargle - Brady Gunkle                   Junior Wildcats - PA                  0
Day 1: 3   06-15     Day 2: 3   04-05   Total:   6  11-04
27. Vegas Iaconelli - Maxsim Hughen              NJ BASS Nation Juniors - NJ           0
Day 1: 3   04-15     Day 2: 2   06-03   Total:   5  11-02
28. Dawson Turner - Ruby Caldwell                Crescent High School Jr Anglers       0
Day 1: 3   05-10     Day 2: 3   05-07   Total:   6  11-01
29. Landon Grabert -                             Houma Christian School - LA           0
Day 1: 3   05-14     Day 2: 3   05-00   Total:   6  10-14
30. Nickolas Tinkle - Kaden Henderson            Arkansas Youth Anglers - AR           0
Day 1: 3   03-12     Day 2: 3   06-14   Total:   6  10-10
31. Eli Herring - Hunter Lee                     Greene County Bassmasters - MS        0
Day 1: 3   06-15     Day 2: 3   03-10   Total:   6  10-09
32. Landon Horton - Eli Meckert                  Idaho Student Anglers - ID            0
Day 1: 3   07-06     Day 2: 3   03-01   Total:   6  10-07
33. Nash Parham - Jude Gibson                    Sumner County Jr Bass Team - TN       0
Day 1: 3   04-12     Day 2: 3   05-08   Total:   6  10-04
34. Landon Moore - Trig Mchone                   Meigs Middle School - TN              0
Day 1: 3   05-05     Day 2: 2   04-12   Total:   5  10-01
35. Colton Willging - Finn Boyle                 Dubuque Bass Club - IA                0
Day 1: 3   05-05     Day 2: 3   04-09   Total:   6  09-14
36. Fisher Butler - Landon Reel                  Arkansas Youth Anglers - AR           0
Day 1: 3   05-02     Day 2: 2   04-12   Total:   5  09-14
37. Mason Bush - Hayden Berryman                 Club Florida High School Bassmas      0
Day 1: 3   04-08     Day 2: 3   05-03   Total:   6  09-11
38. Boone Baxter - Hunter Stewart                Buckeye State Student Anglers -       0
Day 1: 3   05-09     Day 2: 2   04-00   Total:   5  09-09
39. Cullen Bearden - Chance White                Ark-La-Tex Junior Bassmasters -       0
Day 1: 2   03-03     Day 2: 3   06-05   Total:   5  09-08
40. Kolsyn Sollars - Dylan Barnhart              Southside Junior Anglers - IN         0
Day 1: 3   05-00     Day 2: 3   04-06   Total:   6  09-06
41. Jackson Ray - TJ Murray                      Rhea County Eagle Anglers - TN        0
Day 1: 3   06-04     Day 2: 2   03-01   Total:   5  09-05
42. Eli Milam - Isaiah Crockett                  Southern WV Jr Bassmasters - WV       0
Day 1: 3   04-09     Day 2: 3   04-12   Total:   6  09-05
43. Denver Leblanc - Jackson Gomez               Jr Southwest Bassmasters-Denham       0
Day 1: 3   05-08     Day 2: 3   03-12   Total:   6  09-04
44. Zeb Ates - Cameron Barham                    North Louisiana Jr Bassmasters -      0
Day 1: 3   05-06     Day 2: 3   03-11   Total:   6  09-01
45. Tatum Ceccorulli - Brayden Jenner            St. Martin Bassmasters - MS           0
Day 1: 3   04-07     Day 2: 3   04-10   Total:   6  09-01
46. Walker Woodall - Mason Watkin                Harmony Grove - AR                    0
Day 1: 2   03-15     Day 2: 3   05-01   Total:   5  09-00
47. Evan Bradshaw - Gabe Browning                Russell County Middle School - K      0
Day 1: 3   05-03     Day 2: 3   03-12   Total:   6  08-15
48. Kort Roberts - Katera Roberts                Garfield County High School - OK      0
Day 1: 2   01-15     Day 2: 3   06-14   Total:   5  08-13
49. Brayden Tisdale -                            Opp Middle School - AL                0
Day 1: 1   00-15     Day 2: 3   07-12   Total:   4  08-11
50. Dominick Andux - Peyton Faber                Tampa Bay Junior Bass Club - FL       0
Day 1: 3   06-02     Day 2: 2   02-09   Total:   5  08-11
51. Hudson Clark - Jackson Leath                 Sumner County Jr Bass Team - TN       0
Day 1: 3   05-07     Day 2: 3   03-04   Total:   6  08-11
52. Dj Broome Jr. - Shepard Crumley              Tallulah Falls School Jr Team -       0
Day 1: 3   05-03     Day 2: 2   03-08   Total:   5  08-11
53. Bentley Richardson - Blake Richardson        Southern Outcast Jr - NC              0
Day 1: 2   04-08     Day 2: 3   04-01   Total:   5  08-09
54. Drake Walls - Hunter Shrader                 Mid Florida Youth Anglers - FL        0
Day 1: 3   04-02     Day 2: 3   04-07   Total:   6  08-09
55. Landon Lynch - Colton Miller                 Brunswick Academy - VA                0
Day 1: 3   03-03     Day 2: 3   05-05   Total:   6  08-08
56. Mack Hardee - Jackson Smalls                 Conway High Anglers - SC              0
Day 1: 3   07-05     Day 2: 1   01-02   Total:   4  08-07
57. Avery Schmitt - Maddox Hanson                Eastern Iowa Jr Bassmasters - IA      0
Day 1: 2   02-11     Day 2: 3   05-11   Total:   5  08-06
58. Sawyer Knickerbocker - Conner Tate           Vermilion Junior Anglers - LA         0
Day 1: 1   01-08     Day 2: 3   06-10   Total:   4  08-02
59. Harrison Hobbs - Cade Speligene              Franklin High School - TN             0
Day 1: 1   00-13     Day 2: 3   07-04   Total:   4  08-01
60. Beau McQuade - Kahl Cordell                  Jr. Potomac River Bassmasters -       0
Day 1: 3   04-06     Day 2: 3   03-10   Total:   6  08-00
61. Sam Keely - Bradyn Stubenrauch               Kickback High School - KS             0
Day 1: 3   04-00     Day 2: 3   03-14   Total:   6  07-14
62. Ethan McBrayer - Zachary King                Briarwood Christian School - AL       0
Day 1: 3   05-13     Day 2: 2   02-00   Total:   5  07-13
63. Tom Shumowsky - Amira Glenn                  Off the Hook Jr Bassmasters - IL      0
Day 1: 3   03-04     Day 2: 2   04-09   Total:   5  07-13
64. Bentley Gibson - Reese Carpenter             Junior Keystone Bassmasters - OK      0
Day 1: 1   02-00     Day 2: 3   05-12   Total:   4  07-12
65. Landon Burke - Kolbey Burke                  Dixie Junior Bassmasters - FL         0
Day 1: 3   03-05     Day 2: 3   04-07   Total:   6  07-12
66. Kasey Stamper - Chase Bennett                Howell Junior High School - MI        0
Day 1: 3   02-13     Day 2: 3   04-14   Total:   6  07-11
67. Brayden Rivest - Andrew Crawford             Off the Hook Jr Bassmasters - IL      0
Day 1: 3   06-01     Day 2: 1   01-09   Total:   4  07-10
68. Jesse Lancaster - Fisher Lancaster           Lancaster Academy - NC                0
Day 1: 3   05-13     Day 2: 2   01-09   Total:   5  07-06
69. Piers Picou - Jaxon Plaisance                Central Catholic - LA                 0
Day 1: 3   03-10     Day 2: 3   03-11   Total:   6  07-05
70. Fisher Williams - Cooper Kennedy             Bolivar Middle School - MO            0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   07-03   Total:   3  07-03
71. Connor Magee - Corbin Goode                  Live Oak Junior High School - LA      0
Day 1: 1   03-05     Day 2: 3   03-14   Total:   4  07-03
72. Bo Hollen - Ari Clark                        Mon Valley Junior Bassmasters -       0
Day 1: 2   01-11     Day 2: 3   05-07   Total:   5  07-02
73. Coy Cassady -                                Wateree Anglers Club - SC             0
Day 1: 3   03-08     Day 2: 3   03-10   Total:   6  07-02
74. Landry Scott - Caden Daniel                  Lone Star Jr Bassmasters - TX         0
Day 1: 2   02-07     Day 2: 3   04-10   Total:   5  07-01
75. Tristan Topa - Parker Stevens                Port City Jr. Bassmasters  - NY       0
Day 1: 3   03-06     Day 2: 3   03-10   Total:   6  07-00
76. Carson Stevens - Wesley Osuna                Franklin County Jr Bass Team - T      0
Day 1: 1   01-07     Day 2: 3   05-06   Total:   4  06-13
77. Drew Mcclellan - Noah Hiott                  Indiana Jr Bassmasters - IN           0
Day 1: 1   02-11     Day 2: 3   04-01   Total:   4  06-12
78. Cale Compton - Adam Reed                     Moore HS Fishing Club - OK            0
Day 1: 3   03-15     Day 2: 2   02-13   Total:   5  06-12
79. Sawyer Sheffield - Brody Holliman            Shelby County Jr Anglers - AL         0
Day 1: 2   06-10     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   2  06-10
80. Zack Ramsey - Carson Buchanan                McDowell High School - NC             0
Day 1: 3   04-04     Day 2: 2   02-05   Total:   5  06-09
81. Parker Bilbrey - Tyler Thompson              Livingston Academy - TN               0
Day 1: 3   02-11     Day 2: 3   03-13   Total:   6  06-08
82. Hollis Daigle - Vincent Vilcan-Soprano       Catholic High School New Iberia       0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   06-06   Total:   3  06-06
83. Garrett Hestor - Easton Herman               Junior Wildcats - PA                  0
Day 1: 2   02-09     Day 2: 2   03-13   Total:   4  06-06
84. Boston Werner -                              Northeast Wisconsin Bass - WI         0
Day 1: 3   04-00     Day 2: 1   02-05   Total:   4  06-05
85. Donovan Yang - Logan Xiong                   Anoka Ramsey Bassers    - MN             0
Day 1: 3   05-05     Day 2: 3   00-15   Total:   6  06-04
86. Colton Howell - Cullen Howell                Mt. Pleasant Junior Bass Team -       0
Day 1: 2   02-04     Day 2: 2   03-07   Total:   4  05-11
87. Reiston Ratchford - Ryland Ratchford         Headland Jr High School - AL          0
Day 1: 2   02-00     Day 2: 3   03-09   Total:   5  05-09
88. Carter Shadinger - Aiden Ferguson            Curry High School - AL                0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   05-07   Total:   3  05-07
88. Knox White - Grayson Sanford                 Mt. Juliet Fishing - TN               0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   05-07   Total:   3  05-07
90. Ethan Martinez - Bryson Stewart              Hendry County Junior Bassmasters      0
Day 1: 1   01-10     Day 2: 3   03-12   Total:   4  05-06
91. Chance Washington - Ashton Otto              Aggie Anglers - GA                    0
Day 1: 2   03-05     Day 2: 2   02-01   Total:   4  05-06
92. Jackson Beatty - Gable Eddy                  Independence High School - IA         0
Day 1: 1   02-12     Day 2: 2   02-10   Total:   3  05-06
93. Eben Whalen - Luke Whalen                    L/A Junior Bassmasters - ME           0
Day 1: 3   02-11     Day 2: 2   02-10   Total:   5  05-05
94. Wyatt Michaels - Austin Parsons              Morgan County Junior Bass Master      0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   05-03   Total:   3  05-03
95. Gunner Tate -                                Coffee County Youth Bass Club -       0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   04-14   Total:   3  04-14
96. Jonah Harbison - Thomas Benton               Hayden Jr High School - AL            0
Day 1: 3   02-02     Day 2: 3   02-12   Total:   6  04-14
97. Joey Newman - Logan Robertson                Meigs Middle School - TN              0
Day 1: 3   04-06     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   3  04-06
98. Dean Austin - Liam Holze                     Off the Hook Jr Bassmasters - IL      0
Day 1: 1   00-13     Day 2: 1   03-07   Total:   2  04-04
99. Hunter Brakefield - Landon White             Mt. Juliet Fishing - TN               0
Day 1: 2   04-03     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   2  04-03
100. Blake Meiser - Liam Duncan                   Eureka Youth Club - MO                0
Day 1: 1   00-11     Day 2: 3   03-04   Total:   4  03-15
101. Hunter Moore - Ashton Pogue                  Caledonia Bassmasters - MO            0
Day 1: 1   00-14     Day 2: 3   02-13   Total:   4  03-11
102. Logan Eudy - Brody Clontz                    Stanly County Jr Bassmasters - N      0
Day 1: 3   02-09     Day 2: 1   01-02   Total:   4  03-11
103. Brayden Marcum - Tyler Goble                 Cardinal Youth Fishing Team - KY      0
Day 1: 3   03-09     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   3  03-09
104. Gunner Robbins - Carson Everley              Upperman High School - TN             0
Day 1: 3   03-07     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   3  03-07
105. Landon Verbit - Brody McCoy                  Muddyrun Bassmaster Jr - PA           0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   03-06   Total:   3  03-06
106. Presley Jo Cook - Brody Baber                Ark-La-Tex Junior Bassmasters -       0
Day 1: 2   02-04     Day 2: 1   01-01   Total:   3  03-05
107. Mitchell Boles -                             Clay County Anglers - TN              0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   03-02   Total:   2  03-02
108. Jake Jaracy - Jack Jaracy                    CT BASS Thunder - CT                  0
Day 1: 3   02-14     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   3  02-14
109. James Barkley - Nikolas Foster               NH Junior Bassmasters - NH            0
Day 1: 2   02-13     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   2  02-13
109. Daniel Coley - Elijah Ambrose                Junior Potomac River Bassmasters      0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   02-13   Total:   2  02-13
111. Eastin Gilliland - Gunnar Freeman            Lone Star Jr Bassmasters - TX         0
Day 1: 3   02-11     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   3  02-11
112. Jaxson Pierce - Tucker Larrance              Jefferson County Patriot Anglers      0
Day 1: 2   02-04     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   2  02-04
113. Jason Perkins - Tyler Perkins                Port City Jr. Bassmasters - NY        0
Day 1: 1   02-03     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   1  02-03
114. Bradie Talaski - Carter Osantowski           Bad Axe High School - MI              0
Day 1: 2   01-14     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   2  01-14
115. Cash Holloway - Ava Lowery                   East Clarendon Wolverines - SC        0
Day 1: 2   01-13     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   2  01-13
116. Dalton Adkins - David Potts                  Skyline High School - AL              0
Day 1: 1   00-14     Day 2: 1   00-12   Total:   2  01-10
117. Owen Williams - Jase Quattlebaum             Rehobeth Junior Bass Team - AL        0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   01-09   Total:   2  01-09
118. Ty Landry - Brant Cavalier                   Central Catholic - LA                 0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   01-07   Total:   1  01-07
119. Jace Hickman -                               Teays Valley Toads - OH               0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   00-14   Total:   1  00-14
120. Beckett Kraft - Sullivan Kraft               Port City Jr. Bassmasters - NY        0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 1   00-13   Total:   1  00-13
121. John Parker Deal - Hayes Henderson           Headland Jr High School - AL          0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
121. Liam Jeddry - Luke Laudenklos                Team Outcast Juniors - MD             0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
121. Mason Samson - Luke Adasczik                 NH Junior Bassmasters - NH            0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        74       274       496-07
2        76       282       492-14
----------------------------------
150       556       989-05


WALTERS WHACKS THEM AGAIN AT SAGINAW BAY, EXTENDS LEAD

Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons

With a day two that featured both largemouth and smallmouth, leader Patrick Walters added 22 pounds to his day one weight of 20 pounds, 4 ounces. With a two-day total of 42 pounds, 4 ounces, the South Carolina pro takes an almost 2-pound lead into the final day.

While waiting for the winds to calm, Walters targeted largemouth for a few hours in the morning and was able to put three bass in the boat to get off to a good start. Once the wind began to die off, he knew it was time to make the move.

“The largemouth were finicky this morning and I said the heck with it, I am going,” said Walters. “Once I got out there it took me 45 minutes and I finally caught one.”

With four bass in the box, he made a slight move and slide over to the juice and that’s when it got interesting. As seen on live, Walters went to work and caught his day’s weight.

“It was insane, and I was able to catch four good ones and then a 3.5-pounder,” added Walters. “Tomorrow, I have some stuff I have not messed with; today I ended up fishing a little of that stuff, and on day one I fished a little as well.”

Aside from losing a few fish in the grass first thing, Walters has fished a fairly clean event. His 22-pound bag today, the biggest bag of the event thus far, included “clones” and “no giants.”

“I have a lot of time tomorrow and it’s going to be the best weather of the week,” he concluded. “I am going to settle in and just catch everything I can and see what happens.”

Trent Palmer

Surviving the wind on day one with 18 pounds, 8 ounces, Trent Palmer added 21 pounds, 10 ounces on day two for a total weight of 40 pounds, 2 ounces, putting him in the second-place spot just under two pounds behind Walters.

As planned, he began his day fishing for largemouth to build a limit and wait until the winds died down. At 10:30 AM, he made the move to the smallmouth and started catching fish immediately.

“I fished a new area today and I have two more I saved for tomorrow that I believe are just as productive,” said Palmer. “With no wind, we will have the ability to move around more on the final day and put together a good bag.”

Although his morning began by losing a 4-pound largemouth on a swim jig, he fished another clean day. If the fish make it to the boat, Showdown Saturday could be magical and make for some awesome Live Coverage.

“When the wind blows, the fish scatter,” added Palmer. “When it’s calm and high sun, they group up and the big ones really bite. I think if I can run my three areas, I have the opportunity for a really good day. If a few things go my way, it could be a magical day.”

 

Stu Martel

Increasing his weight from 18 pounds, 3 ounces on day one to 18 pounds, 14 ounces on day two, Stu Martel sits in the third-place spot with a two-day total weight of 37 pounds, 1 ounce.

Mike Corbishley

With a two-day weight of 34 pounds, 1 ounce, Mike Corbishley caught 18 pounds, 8 ounces on day one, and 15 pounds, 9 ounces on day two to sit in fourth place going into Showdown Saturday. After getting his day going with four largemouth first thing, Corbishley found it challenging to stay in his smallmouth areas.

“I spent four hours of my day driving today and then had a hard time fishing when I got to my little smallmouth spot cause the wind was blowing still,” said Corbishley. “Today was a survival day for me so I mixed in some largemouth to get going and I never was able to cull them out.”

He described his area as a “current break” deal where a shallow bar touches deep water and causes fish to set up to feed. With winds blowing through, the fish were there but it was difficult to present a bait.

“For the most part, I couldn’t even keep my trolling motor in the water,” added Corbishley. “It was hard to target individual fish but when I did see one and make a good cast, they would typically bite.”

He noted he is fishing “typical smallmouth baits” and fishing them on Cashion spinning rods with 13 Fishing reels.

Hunter Baughman

With 33 pounds, 2 ounces of largemouth bass over two days, Hunter Baughman is the only guy in the top five yet to weigh in a smallmouth. His day one weight of 15 pounds, 12 ounces, and day two weight of 17 pounds, 6 ounces puts him in the fifth-place spot going into the final day.

Baughman has been targeting specific structures with vegetation the first two days and notes that fish management is key to consistently catching quality bass each day.

“I had a decent practice and scrapped my plan this week to fish for smallmouth one day, and stuck with the shallow bite,” said Baughman. “I am fishing similar to last year and fishing specific stuff holding bigger quality largemouth.”

In 2022, his areas produced almost enough weight to cut a check, but with recent low water for this week, the bigger fish are utilizing his “current-based” areas with deeper water adjacent to shallow cover.

“I have yet to weigh one in over 4 pounds and they are all the same size,” he added. “Once I get to bigger than a 3-pound average I leave, and I have been trying to fish each area only one time per day. I think I hit two twice and was able to make a cull.”

With one more day to go, Baughman can fish his areas more thoroughly and has another place saved he may fish depending on how the day goes.

Rest of the Best:
Todd Goade 32-13
Sheldon Collings 32-5
Barron Adams 32-0
Louis Fernandez 31-12
Will Harkins 30-0


Late rally keeps Johnston atop Bassmaster Open field at St. Lawrence River

2023 Open St Lawrence Day 2 Leader.jpg
Cory Johnston of Cavan, Canada, is leading after Day 2 of the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River with a two-day total of 49 pounds, 9 ounces. 

Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.

July 21, 2023

WADDINGTON, N.Y. — A frustrating start had Cory Johnston scratching his head, but the Bassmaster Elite Series veteran from Cavan, Ontario, put together a late-day rally that delivered what he needed to tally a two-day total of 49 pounds, 9 ounces at the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at the St. Lawrence River.

Johnston took the Day 1 lead by catching a limit of 26-14. His second-round catch went 22-11.

Adding another trophy to the one he earned the last time the Opens visited the St. Lawrence (2021) will require Johnston to hold off Vermont pro Jody White, who trailed the lead by 1-3 on Day 1. White heads into Championship Saturday 1-4 behind Johnston.

Day 1 saw Johnston running back and forth between the tournament’s western boundary near Lake Ontario and waters closer to takeoff. He repeated that routine on Day 2. But while the first day produced bass throughout his range, the second proved stingier.

“I tried that again today and it wasn’t working this morning,” Johnston said. “I ran all the way to the lake and fished a bunch of stuff where I thought I was going to be able to catch them pretty well and never had a bite.

“I just started working my way back down the river and got to a point where I was like, ‘I gotta catch 17 to 18 pounds so I’m fishing (Championship Saturday).’”

Reaching into his deep well of local knowledge, Johnston ran to a promising area and found the jackpot he was hoping for.

“I hit a ton of stuff, and I went back to what I like to do in the last hour and a half,” Johnston said. “I stopped on a spot and there were tons of them. I caught all of my fish in an hour, so I’m excited to go back out there tomorrow.”

Understandably guarded with details on his specific technique, Johnston said he is fishing a replicable pattern and using a mixture of reaction and finesse baits. His only regret was not getting on this pattern earlier.

“Location was key today because all I had time to fish was one little area,” Johnston said. “They’re on all of it, so I’m going to run a lot of (similar spots) tomorrow and see what happens.”

Nabbing all of his fish upriver close to Lake Ontario, Johnston stopped fishing at 1 o’clock and left in plenty of time for a safe return. The day’s windy conditions did not hinder him, but Johnston said the cloudy skies and occasional showers were less than preferable.

“Sun is ideal, but the conditions are the conditions, so you gotta go with it,” Johnston said. “When it’s cloudy, the fish don’t set up right when you’re fishing deep, they’re not off the bottom, so they’re not easy to see on (Garmin) LiveScope.

“Hopefully, we get a little sun tomorrow.”

Hailing from Shaftsbury, Vt., White turned in daily limits of 25-11 and 22-10, for a second-place total of 48-5.

Repeating what worked for him on Day 1, White ran upriver to the Clayton, N.Y., area. There, he fished many of the same spots he worked on Thursday but found his best results in one key area.

“I hit the same starting spot and that was pretty productive again and then I fished my way around,” White said. “Yesterday, my milk run didn’t work really well, so today I tried to run a new milk run and it also didn’t work well.

“I ended up weighing in one fish from somewhere other than my starting spot, which is not what you want. But I’m in the Top 10, so I’m just going to keep trying.”

White caught most of his fish on a ledge break. Using mainly a drop shot, his bites came in 30 to 50 feet.

Jamie Bruce of Kenora, Ontario, is in third with 47-13. Fishing upriver near the lake, Bruce turned in two days of consistent work, his limits weighed 23-5 and 24-8.

“I had no intentions of running there; I stayed near Waddington during practice, but after a couple of days of pre-fishing and seeing what I saw, I wasn’t loving it,” Bruce said. “I went to the lake and it looked a lot like where I’m from in Northwest Ontario and nostalgia was in the air.

“I only had half a day of practice in the area I’m fishing, so I’ve been expanding on it every day. I found another new spot this morning, and I was gassed up and on my way back (to Waddington) by 10 o’clock today.”

Bruce said he caught his fish on a 1/4- to 1/2-ounce Smeltinator Underspin and a Z-Man swimbait. Pinpoint accuracy, he said, was essential to attracting big bites.

Johnston is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with the 6-11 he caught on Day 1.

Perry See of Rochester, Minn., won the co-angler division with 25-6. Turning in daily weights of 13-9 and 11-13, See earned the top prize of $22,452.

Although See has plenty of experience catching smallmouth in his Mississippi River home waters, he initially struggled with the St. Lawrence’s deeper spots. Starting off with a drop shot, he was unproductive, but a key move quickly changed his fortunes.

“The drop shot didn’t pan out for me because, apparently, I wasn’t doing it right,” See said. “Then I went to my trusty Ned rig (1/6-ounce Z-Man ShroomZ head with a green pumpkin Z-Man Finesse TRD.). I threw it out and just let it hang and let the current take it.

“I got my first big one and that’s what I did the rest of the day.”

See actually caught one of his Day 2 keepers on a drop shot after he figured out that he needed to drift his drop shot in a natural presentation, rather than trying to impart action.

See earned free entries into the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens by winning the 2022 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Non-Boater Championship.

See and Dylan Drephal of Black Creek, Wis., split the $250 Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead among co-anglers, each with a 5-12.

Co-angler Cade Bacon finished seventh and earned an additional $250 for being the highest-finishing registered co-angler in the St. Croix Rod Rewards program.

Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6 a.m. ET at Whitaker Park. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 2 p.m. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.

The 2023 event is being hosted by the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Village of Waddington. It is part of a series of tournaments and is supported by a Market New York grant from I LOVE NY/New York State’s Division of Tourism through the Regional Economic Development Council initiative.

2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River 7/20-7/22
St. Lawrence River, Waddington  NY.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1.  Cory Johnston          Cavan CANADA            10  49-09  200
Day 1: 5   26-14     Day 2: 5   22-11
2.  Jody White             Shaftsbury, VT          10  48-05  199
Day 1: 5   25-11     Day 2: 5   22-10
3.  Jamie Bruce            Kenora Ontario CANADA   10  47-13  198
Day 1: 5   23-05     Day 2: 5   24-08
4.  Brent Anderson         Kingston Springs, TN    10  46-11  197
Day 1: 5   24-10     Day 2: 5   22-01
5.  JT Thompkins           Myrtle Beach, SC        10  45-05  196
Day 1: 5   23-08     Day 2: 5   21-13
6.  Bo Thomas              Edwardsburg, MI         10  44-10  195
Day 1: 5   23-07     Day 2: 5   21-03
7.  Josh Bragg             Fayetteville, GA        10  43-14  194
Day 1: 5   21-08     Day 2: 5   22-06
8.  Zach Goutremout        Chaumont, NY            10  42-13  193
Day 1: 5   22-13     Day 2: 5   20-00
9.  Gary Miller            Stouffville Ontario CAN 10  42-08  192
Day 1: 5   20-13     Day 2: 5   21-11
10. Rich Ortiz             Fort Ann, NY            10  42-05  191
Day 1: 5   21-02     Day 2: 5   21-03
11. Erik Luzak             Fenelon Falls CANADA    10  41-11  190   $5,680.00
Day 1: 5   22-02     Day 2: 5   19-09
12. Chris Beaudrie         Princeton, KY           10  41-10  189   $4,970.00
Day 1: 5   23-12     Day 2: 5   17-14
13. Chad Pipkens           Dewitt, MI              10  41-04  188   $3,905.00
Day 1: 5   23-03     Day 2: 5   18-01
14. Evan Kung              Pickering Ontario CANAD 10  41-01  187   $3,905.00
Day 1: 5   21-05     Day 2: 5   19-12
15. Jacob Bigelow          Cecil, WI               10  40-14  186   $3,905.00
Day 1: 5   21-12     Day 2: 5   19-02
16. Joey Cifuentes III     Clinton, AR             10  40-03  185   $3,905.00
Day 1: 5   21-08     Day 2: 5   18-11
17. Kyle Monti             Okeechobee, FL          10  40-03  184   $3,905.00
Day 1: 5   21-04     Day 2: 5   18-15
18. Buck Mallory           Lawton, MI              10  39-15  183   $3,905.00
Day 1: 5   18-14     Day 2: 5   21-01
19. Cody Stahl             Barnsville, GA          10  39-14  182   $3,905.00
Day 1: 5   22-01     Day 2: 5   17-13
20. Brock Belik            Orchard, NE             10  39-11  181   $3,905.00
Day 1: 5   22-14     Day 2: 5   16-13
21. Ty Faber               Pagosa Springs, CO      10  39-06  180   $3,550.00
Day 1: 5   21-05     Day 2: 5   18-01
22. Brian Post             Janesville, WI          10  39-05  179   $3,550.00
Day 1: 5   20-09     Day 2: 5   18-12
23. Matt Pangrac           Shawnee, OK             10  39-01  178   $3,550.00
Day 1: 5   20-06     Day 2: 5   18-11
24. Kyle Goltz             Cornell, WI             10  39-00  177   $3,550.00
Day 1: 5   20-00     Day 2: 5   19-00
25. Scott Hamrick          Denver, NC              10  39-00  176   $3,550.00
Day 1: 5   19-08     Day 2: 5   19-08
26. Harvey Horne           Bella Vista, AR         10  38-13  175   $3,266.00
Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 5   20-13
27. Cameron Smith          Wareham, MA             10  38-11  174   $3,266.00
Day 1: 5   18-07     Day 2: 5   20-04
28. Casey Smith            Victor, NY              10  38-07  173   $3,266.00
Day 1: 5   18-07     Day 2: 5   20-00
29. Kyle Austin            Ridgeville, SC          10  38-06  172   $3,266.00
Day 1: 5   17-14     Day 2: 5   20-08
30. Jack Dice              Lynchburg, VA           10  38-05  171   $3,266.00
Day 1: 5   22-11     Day 2: 5   15-10
31. Kenta Kimura           Osaka JAPAN             10  38-03  170   $3,266.00
Day 1: 5   23-08     Day 2: 5   14-11
32. Craig Chambers         Midland, NC             10  37-15  169   $3,266.00
Day 1: 5   19-13     Day 2: 5   18-02
33. Brandon McMillan       Clewiston, FL           10  37-14  168   $3,266.00
Day 1: 5   18-09     Day 2: 5   19-05
34. David Williams         Newton, NC              10  37-13  167   $3,266.00
Day 1: 5   20-13     Day 2: 5   17-00
35. Jonathan Dietz         Corry, PA               10  37-13  166   $3,266.00
Day 1: 5   19-12     Day 2: 5   18-01
36. Sam George             Athens, AL               9  37-12  165   $3,266.00
Day 1: 4   15-06     Day 2: 5   22-06
37. Chris Dover            Blacksburg, SC          10  37-12  164   $3,266.00
Day 1: 5   18-13     Day 2: 5   18-15
38. Darrell Davis          Dover, FL               10  37-10  163   $3,266.00
Day 1: 5   16-13     Day 2: 5   20-13
39. Austin Cranford        Norman, OK              10  37-10  162   $3,266.00
Day 1: 5   20-06     Day 2: 5   17-04
40. Logan Johnson          Jasper, AL              10  37-04  161   $3,266.00
Day 1: 5   16-11     Day 2: 5   20-09
41. Chris Blanchette       Edisto Island, SC       10  37-04  160
Day 1: 5   17-02     Day 2: 5   20-02
42. Trevor McKinney        Benton, IL              10  37-04  159
Day 1: 5   20-00     Day 2: 5   17-04
43. Robert Gee             Knoxville, TN           10  37-03  158
Day 1: 5   17-03     Day 2: 5   20-00
44. Bobby Lane Jr.         Lakeland, FL            10  37-00  157
Day 1: 5   18-06     Day 2: 5   18-10
45. Zeke Gossett           Pell City, AL           10  36-15  156
Day 1: 5   17-09     Day 2: 5   19-06
46. Jason Tibbetts         Centreville, VA         10  36-15  155
Day 1: 5   17-11     Day 2: 5   19-04
47. Brady Vernon           Sterrett, AL            10  36-14  154
Day 1: 5   21-00     Day 2: 5   15-14
48. Paul Bouvier           Kingston CANADA         10  36-12  153
Day 1: 5   16-12     Day 2: 5   20-00
49. Jason Lambert          Savannah, TN            10  36-11  152
Day 1: 5   19-04     Day 2: 5   17-07
50. Brad Knight            Lancing, TN             10  36-10  151
Day 1: 5   18-07     Day 2: 5   18-03
51. Cal Climpson           Cavan CANADA            10  36-08  150
Day 1: 5   16-03     Day 2: 5   20-05
52. Steve Morella          Townshend, VT           10  36-08  149
Day 1: 5   18-06     Day 2: 5   18-02
53. Andrew Upshaw          Hemphill, TX            10  36-07  148
Day 1: 5   16-13     Day 2: 5   19-10
54. Brett Cannon           Willis, TX              10  36-05  147
Day 1: 5   19-15     Day 2: 5   16-06
55. Wesley Gore            Clanton, AL             10  36-04  146
Day 1: 5   18-03     Day 2: 5   18-01
56. Blake Smith            Lakeland, FL            10  36-03  145
Day 1: 5   20-03     Day 2: 5   16-00
57. Taylor Watkins         Clinton, TN             10  36-03  144
Day 1: 5   17-02     Day 2: 5   19-01
58. Bobby Lanham           Eddyville, KY           10  35-14  143
Day 1: 5   17-07     Day 2: 5   18-07
59. Shaine Campbell        Brookeland, TX          10  35-11  142
Day 1: 5   16-15     Day 2: 5   18-12
60. John Garrett           Union City, TN          10  35-07  141
Day 1: 5   19-13     Day 2: 5   15-10
61. Ryan Broughman         Corapeake, NC           10  35-07  140
Day 1: 5   17-02     Day 2: 5   18-05
62. Joey Nania             Cropwell, AL            10  35-06  139
Day 1: 5   14-01     Day 2: 5   21-05
63. Jimmy Washam           Stantonville, TN        10  35-06  138
Day 1: 5   17-14     Day 2: 5   17-08
64. Pete Gluszek           Mount Laurel, NJ        10  35-05  137
Day 1: 5   13-11     Day 2: 5   21-10
65. Jake Maddux            Birmingham, AL          10  35-04  136
Day 1: 5   17-13     Day 2: 5   17-07
66. Brett Carnright        Plattsburgh, NY         10  35-03  135
Day 1: 5   15-08     Day 2: 5   19-11
67. Kurt Mitchell          Milford, DE             10  35-02  134
Day 1: 5   18-15     Day 2: 5   16-03
68. Louis Monetti          Brielle, NJ             10  35-01  133
Day 1: 5   17-05     Day 2: 5   17-12
69. Hunter Sales           Blaine, TN              10  34-15  132
Day 1: 5   17-00     Day 2: 5   17-15
70. Matt Henry             Milledgeville, GA       10  34-13  131
Day 1: 5   19-08     Day 2: 5   15-05
71. Cole Drummond          Effingham, SC           10  34-13  130
Day 1: 5   18-06     Day 2: 5   16-07
72. Logan Parks            Auburn, AL               9  34-12  129
Day 1: 5   24-04     Day 2: 4   10-08
73. Mike Surman            Boca Raton, FL          10  34-05  128
Day 1: 5   17-10     Day 2: 5   16-11
74. Adam Rasmussen         Sturgeon Bay, WI        10  34-04  127
Day 1: 5   16-06     Day 2: 5   17-14
75. Keith Tuma             Brainerd, MN            10  34-03  126
Day 1: 5   16-12     Day 2: 5   17-07
76. Justin Kimmel          Athens, GA              10  34-01  125
Day 1: 5   19-07     Day 2: 5   14-10
77. Clark Reehm            Elm Grove, LA            9  33-15  124
Day 1: 4   16-00     Day 2: 5   17-15
78. Derek Lehtonen         Woodruff, SC            10  33-15  123
Day 1: 5   17-02     Day 2: 5   16-13
79. Logan Anderson         Catawba, NC             10  33-12  122
Day 1: 5   14-10     Day 2: 5   19-02
80. Allan Nail             Sand Springs, OK        10  33-11  121
Day 1: 5   16-03     Day 2: 5   17-08
81. Ish Monroe             Oakdale, CA             10  33-07  120
Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   15-11
82. Douglas Reed           Bridgeton, NJ           10  33-06  119
Day 1: 5   14-04     Day 2: 5   19-02
83. Tucker Veronee         Gilbert, SC             10  32-12  118
Day 1: 5   17-10     Day 2: 5   15-02
84. Danny McGarry          Newcastle CANADA        10  32-09  117
Day 1: 5   14-04     Day 2: 5   18-05
85. Chad Grigsby           Maple Grove, MN         10  32-08  116
Day 1: 5   16-08     Day 2: 5   16-00
86. Julius Mazy            Phoenix, AZ             10  32-07  115
Day 1: 5   18-11     Day 2: 5   13-12
87. Kevin Ledoux           Choctaw, OK             10  32-07  114
Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   14-11
88. Trey McKinney          Carbondale, IL          10  32-06  113
Day 1: 5   17-13     Day 2: 5   14-09
89. Wesley Cashwell        Roanoke Rapids, NC      10  32-04  112
Day 1: 5   17-09     Day 2: 5   14-11
90. Chase Clarke           Virginia Beach, VA      10  32-01  111
Day 1: 5   13-12     Day 2: 5   18-05
91. JT Russell             Mc Calla, AL            10  32-01  110
Day 1: 5   14-02     Day 2: 5   17-15
92. Michael Spaulding Jr.  Dundee, MI              10  32-00  109
Day 1: 5   17-15     Day 2: 5   14-01
93. Ben Milliken           New Caney, TX           10  32-00  108
Day 1: 5   14-06     Day 2: 5   17-10
94. Brian Mullaney         Ijamsville, MD          10  31-15  107
Day 1: 5   18-08     Day 2: 5   13-07
95. Chad Warren            Sand Springs, OK        10  31-13  106
Day 1: 5   15-01     Day 2: 5   16-12
96. Tyler Williams         Belgrade, ME            10  31-09  105
Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   13-13
97. Tommy Williams         Shepherdsville, KY      10  31-07  104
Day 1: 5   13-03     Day 2: 5   18-04
98. Wil Dieffenbauch III   Hundred, WV             10  31-07  103
Day 1: 5   17-04     Day 2: 5   14-03
99. Jason Abram            Piney Flats, TN         10  31-07  102
Day 1: 5   16-07     Day 2: 5   15-00
100. Jacob Thompkins        Myrtle Beach, SC        10  31-07  101
Day 1: 5   15-10     Day 2: 5   15-13
101. Ed Powell              Sandyville, WV          10  31-05  100
Day 1: 5   14-06     Day 2: 5   16-15
102. Ryan Clark             Whitby Ontario CANADA   10  31-04   99
Day 1: 5   17-06     Day 2: 5   13-14
103. Reece Tremaglio        Dunkirk, MD             10  31-00   98
Day 1: 5   14-10     Day 2: 5   16-06
104. Denny Fiedler          Wabasha, MN             10  30-14   97
Day 1: 5   13-10     Day 2: 5   17-04
105. Jonathan Kelley        Old Forge, PA           10  30-12   96
Day 1: 5   19-00     Day 2: 5   11-12
106. Paul Browning          Pecos, TX               10  30-10   95
Day 1: 5   18-07     Day 2: 5   12-03
107. Greg Bohannan          Bentonville, AR         10  30-07   94
Day 1: 5   14-05     Day 2: 5   16-02
108. John Soukup            Sapulpa, OK             10  30-05   93
Day 1: 5   12-04     Day 2: 5   18-01
109. Jack Tindel III        Orange, TX              10  30-05   92
Day 1: 5   16-09     Day 2: 5   13-12
110. Kyle Patrick           Cooperstown, NY         10  30-03   91
Day 1: 5   17-11     Day 2: 5   12-08
111. Kyoya Fujita           Minamitsuru, Yamanashi  10  30-01   90
Day 1: 5   12-08     Day 2: 5   17-09
111. Chris Hellebuyck       White Lake, MI          10  30-01   90
Day 1: 5   12-08     Day 2: 5   17-09
113. Reese Hudson           Broomall, PA            10  30-01   88
Day 1: 5   16-13     Day 2: 5   13-04
114. Garrett Paquette       Canton, MI              10  30-00   87
Day 1: 5   18-07     Day 2: 5   11-09
115. Brad Leuthner          Victoria, MN            10  29-15   86
Day 1: 5   17-01     Day 2: 5   12-14
116. Shane Lineberger       Lincolnton, NC          10  29-15   85
Day 1: 5   14-04     Day 2: 5   15-11
117. Scout Echols           Monticello, AR          10  29-11   84
Day 1: 5   18-05     Day 2: 5   11-06
118. Bryan Bickell          Newcastle CANADA        10  29-10   83
Day 1: 5   09-14     Day 2: 5   19-12
119. Blake Sylvester        Plaquemine, LA          10  29-10   82
Day 1: 5   13-07     Day 2: 5   16-03
120. Andrew Mlotek          Indianapolis, IN        10  29-07   81
Day 1: 5   17-07     Day 2: 5   12-00
121. Michael Rowe           Providence Forge, VA    10  29-07   80
Day 1: 5   12-12     Day 2: 5   16-11
122. Mike Mayo              Athens, TX              10  29-05   79
Day 1: 5   11-04     Day 2: 5   18-01
123. Chris Whitson          Louisville, TN          10  29-04   78
Day 1: 5   13-00     Day 2: 5   16-04
124. Casey Scanlon          Eldon, MO               10  29-03   77
Day 1: 5   14-02     Day 2: 5   15-01
125. Takayuki Koike         Otsu-City JAPAN          9  29-03   76
Day 1: 4   14-09     Day 2: 5   14-10
126. Josh Hubbard           Dunnellon, FL           10  29-02   75
Day 1: 5   15-00     Day 2: 5   14-02
127. Steve Tennison         Lexington, OK            9  28-15   74
Day 1: 5   18-15     Day 2: 4   10-00
128. Keith Brumfield        Vicksburg, MS           10  28-14   73
Day 1: 5   16-11     Day 2: 5   12-03
129. Hugh Cosculluela       Spring, TX              10  28-13   72
Day 1: 5   14-15     Day 2: 5   13-14
130. Flash Butts            Roanoke Rapids, NC      10  28-10   71
Day 1: 5   13-08     Day 2: 5   15-02
131. Alex Heintze           Denham Springs, LA       9  28-09   70
Day 1: 5   19-11     Day 2: 4   08-14
132. Kenny Mittelstaedt     Minnetonka, MN          10  28-07   69
Day 1: 5   17-02     Day 2: 5   11-05
133. Joe Labarbera          Montrose, PA             7  28-05   68
Day 1: 2   06-10     Day 2: 5   21-11
134. Tyler Lubbat           Wheeling, IL             7  28-03   67
Day 1: 2   08-00     Day 2: 5   20-03
135. John Murray            Spring City, TN         10  28-02   66
Day 1: 5   17-15     Day 2: 5   10-03
136. Tom Frink              Southside, AL           10  28-02   65
Day 1: 5   11-07     Day 2: 5   16-11
137. David Wootton          Collierville, TN        10  28-00   64
Day 1: 5   15-13     Day 2: 5   12-03
138. Cody Detweiler         Guntersville, AL         9  27-15   63
Day 1: 4   12-02     Day 2: 5   15-13
139. Destin DeMarion        Harborcreek, PA         10  27-07   62
Day 1: 5   11-02     Day 2: 5   16-05
140. Trey Swindle           Cleveland, AL            8  27-02   61
Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 3   09-02
141. Powell Kemp            Scotland Neck, NC       10  27-02   60
Day 1: 5   16-15     Day 2: 5   10-03
142. Dale Hightower         Mannford, OK             8  27-01   59
Day 1: 5   18-04     Day 2: 3   08-13
143. Jack York              Emory, TX               10  27-00   58
Day 1: 5   14-15     Day 2: 5   12-01
144. Seiji Kato             Outsu Shiga JAPAN       10  26-14   57
Day 1: 5   17-11     Day 2: 5   09-03
145. Cass Terrance          Akwewsane, NY           10  26-12   56
Day 1: 5   12-14     Day 2: 5   13-14
146. Evan Poroznik          Nestleton Station CANAD  9  26-11   55
Day 1: 5   17-02     Day 2: 4   09-09
147. Shayne Berlo           Mclean, VA              10  26-11   54
Day 1: 5   11-01     Day 2: 5   15-10
148. Bailey Boutries        Springfield, MO          9  26-08   53
Day 1: 5   15-10     Day 2: 4   10-14
149. Griffin Phillips       Mount Olive, AL          9  26-07   52
Day 1: 5   12-12     Day 2: 4   13-11
150. Mark Dimarzio          McDonald, PA             9  26-04   51
Day 1: 5   15-15     Day 2: 4   10-05
151. Billy McDonald         Greenwood, IN           10  26-02   50
Day 1: 5   10-15     Day 2: 5   15-03
152. David Perdue           Wirtz, VA               10  26-01   49
Day 1: 5   11-15     Day 2: 5   14-02
153. Rick Hawkins           Roanoke, VA              9  25-14   48
Day 1: 5   12-08     Day 2: 4   13-06
154. Jason Meninger         Yulee, FL               10  25-11   47
Day 1: 5   12-11     Day 2: 5   13-00
155. Phil Killian           Solomon, AZ             10  25-08   46
Day 1: 5   12-06     Day 2: 5   13-02
156. Jonathan Bowling       Harriman, TN             9  25-06   45
Day 1: 5   15-14     Day 2: 4   09-08
157. Christian Shoda        Homosassa, FL           10  25-04   44
Day 1: 5   11-08     Day 2: 5   13-12
158. Scott Isaacs           Ladonia, TX             10  24-13   43
Day 1: 5   11-04     Day 2: 5   13-09
159. Alex Murray            Lake Charles, LA         9  24-08   42
Day 1: 4   09-12     Day 2: 5   14-12
160. Bart Stanisz           Austin, TX               9  24-03   41
Day 1: 4   08-12     Day 2: 5   15-07
161. Lafe Messer            Warfield, KY             9  24-03   40
Day 1: 4   13-00     Day 2: 5   11-03
162. Rick Hamer             Charleston, WV           8  24-01   39
Day 1: 3   07-12     Day 2: 5   16-05
163. Paul Flint             Valatie, NY             10  24-00   38
Day 1: 5   14-15     Day 2: 5   09-01
164. Jerry Gallogly Jr      North Tazewell, VA       8  23-15   37
Day 1: 3   09-12     Day 2: 5   14-03
165. TJ Dobs                Oneida , NY              9  23-08   36
Day 1: 4   08-03     Day 2: 5   15-05
166. Kayden Tanner          Tolar, TX                9  23-08   35
Day 1: 4   12-00     Day 2: 5   11-08
167. Steven Camp            Mechanicsvlle, VA       10  23-07   34
Day 1: 5   14-04     Day 2: 5   09-03
168. Charlie Hartley        Grove City, OH          10  23-01   33
Day 1: 5   10-09     Day 2: 5   12-08
169. Miles Burghoff         Dayton, TN               9  22-15   32
Day 1: 4   07-15     Day 2: 5   15-00
170. Les Zacny              Orangeville Ontario CAN  9  22-05   31
Day 1: 4   11-02     Day 2: 5   11-03
171. Lucas Bogosian         Harrington Park, NJ     10  22-01   30
Day 1: 5   14-03     Day 2: 5   07-14
172. Daisuke Kita           Ostu Shiga JAPAN         8  22-00   29
Day 1: 5   10-05     Day 2: 3   11-11
173. Whitney Stephens       Waverly, OH             10  21-15   28
Day 1: 5   11-15     Day 2: 5   10-00
174. Chris Kingree          Inverness, FL           10  21-11   27
Day 1: 5   10-11     Day 2: 5   11-00
175. Tim Frederick          Leesburg, FL            10  21-07   26
Day 1: 5   11-09     Day 2: 5   09-14
176. B.J. Usie              Bourg, LA                7  21-05   25
Day 1: 5   16-03     Day 2: 2   05-02
177. Johnathan Crossland    Chapin, SC              10  21-05   24
Day 1: 5   11-15     Day 2: 5   09-06
178. Jordan Sanderlin       Kill Devil Hills, NC     7  21-04   23
Day 1: 4   13-06     Day 2: 3   07-14
179. Chancy Walters         West Des Moines, IA      9  21-03   22
Day 1: 4   13-05     Day 2: 5   07-14
180. Teb Jones              Yalaha, MS              10  20-14   21
Day 1: 5   11-13     Day 2: 5   09-01
181. Matt Messer            Warfield, KY             8  20-12   20
Day 1: 5   12-09     Day 2: 3   08-03
182. Tripp Noojin           Bryant, AL               7  20-10   19
Day 1: 5   14-08     Day 2: 2   06-02
183. Daniel Valois Gomez    Caracas FL VENEZUELA     7  20-00   18
Day 1: 5   14-13     Day 2: 2   05-03
184. Jon Canada             Helena, AL               5  19-11   17
Day 1: 5   19-11     Day 2: 0   00-00
185. Andrew Hargrove        Moody, TX                8  19-05   16
Day 1: 3   08-07     Day 2: 5   10-14
186. Chris Keeble           Lenoir City, TN          5  18-09   15
Day 1: 5   18-09     Day 2: 0   00-00
187. Scott Kerslake         Okeechobee, FL           9  18-05   14
Day 1: 4   08-04     Day 2: 5   10-01
188. Willy Dennison         Willoughby Hills, OH     7  18-02   13
Day 1: 5   12-14     Day 2: 2   05-04
189. Nick Radtke            Greenwood Lake, NY       6  18-00   12
Day 1: 1   02-07     Day 2: 5   15-09
190. Jeff Mcbeth            New Phila, OH            8  18-00   11
Day 1: 3   06-14     Day 2: 5   11-02
191. Gary Krammes Jr.       Pottsville, PA           8  17-11   10
Day 1: 3   06-03     Day 2: 5   11-08
192. Joey Hanna             Corsicana, TX            8  17-09    9
Day 1: 4   09-03     Day 2: 4   08-06
193. Chris Dillow           Waynesboro, VA           9  17-07    8
Day 1: 4   07-15     Day 2: 5   09-08
194. Andrew Harp            Linden, TX               6  16-13    7
Day 1: 5   12-14     Day 2: 1   03-15
195. Brandon Tallhamer      Parkersburg, WV          5  16-11    6
Day 1: 5   16-11     Day 2: 0   00-00
196. John Watts Jr          Flushing, MI             6  16-08    5
Day 1: 4   12-09     Day 2: 2   03-15
197. Jason Carpenter        Castle Pines, CO         8  15-09    4
Day 1: 5   10-08     Day 2: 3   05-01
198. James Niggemeyer       Van, TX                  5  15-00    3
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 5   15-00
199. Lance Owen             Greer, SC                6  14-14    2
Day 1: 5   13-03     Day 2: 1   01-11
200. Tony Dumitras          Winston, GA              6  14-09    1
Day 1: 5   12-15     Day 2: 1   01-10
201. Rick Mitchell          Naples, FL               5  14-01    0
Day 1: 5   14-01     Day 2: 0   00-00
201. Kenji Yamada           Hixson, TN               5  14-01    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 5   14-01
203. Jeff Salmon            Mechanicsville, VA       5  13-13    0
Day 1: 5   13-13     Day 2: 0   00-00
204. Clay Samples           South Boston, VA         5  13-07    0
Day 1: 5   13-07     Day 2: 0   00-00
205. Angela Mayo            Maiden, NC               6  13-07    0
Day 1: 2   03-06     Day 2: 4   10-01
206. Danny Ramsey           Trinidad, TX             5  12-11    0
Day 1: 5   12-11     Day 2: 0   00-00
207. Brayden Rakes          Winston Salem, NC        4  12-02    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 4   12-02
208. Stacey Jefferson       Conway, SC               5  11-12    0
Day 1: 5   11-12     Day 2: 0   00-00
209. Evan Barnes            Dardanelle, AR           5  11-08    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 5   11-08
210. Burke Hutcheson        Hillsborough, NC         5  09-10    0
Day 1: 5   09-10     Day 2: 0   00-00
211. A.J. Menssen           Bloomington, IL          1  01-14    0
Day 1: 1   01-14     Day 2: 0   00-00
212. Bronk Mcdaniel         Alexandria, LA           0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
212. Alec Morrison          Peru, NY                 0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       180       991      3274-15
2       175       954      3048-11
----------------------------------
355      1945      6323-10
 

2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River 7/20-7/22
St. Lawrence River, Waddington  NY.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1.  Perry See              Rochester, MN            6  25-06  200  $22,452.00
Day 1: 3   13-09     Day 2: 3   11-13
2.  Michael Schrader       North Attleboro, MA      6  23-09  199   $5,254.00
Day 1: 3   13-01     Day 2: 3   10-08
3.  David Pilcher          De Ruyter, NY            6  23-07  198   $3,941.00
Day 1: 3   13-07     Day 2: 3   10-00
4.  Aaron Busch            East Syracuse, NY        6  23-07  197   $2,955.00
Day 1: 3   12-05     Day 2: 3   11-02
5.  Dylan Drephal          Black Creek, WI          6  22-15  196   $2,883.00
Day 1: 3   10-12     Day 2: 3   12-03
6.  Alex  Watts            Salem, VA                6  22-14  195   $2,627.00
Day 1: 3   10-11     Day 2: 3   12-03
7.  Cade Bacon             Pennellville, NY         6  22-10  194   $2,496.00
Day 1: 3   11-07     Day 2: 3   11-03
8.  Sakae Ushio            Tonawanda, NY            6  22-08  193   $2,364.00
Day 1: 3   11-10     Day 2: 3   10-14
9.  Rick Cheatham          Carterville, IL          6  22-02  192   $2,167.00
Day 1: 3   12-00     Day 2: 3   10-02
10. Travis Turcotte        Pembroke CANADA          6  21-10  191   $1,970.00
Day 1: 3   08-08     Day 2: 3   13-02
11. Joe Tomasino           Pennsburg, PA            6  21-08  190   $1,839.00
Day 1: 3   09-07     Day 2: 3   12-01
12. Chris Donavant         Yorktown, VA             6  21-01  189   $1,708.00
Day 1: 3   09-08     Day 2: 3   11-09
13. Chad Stahl             Barnesville, GA          6  21-00  188   $1,445.00
Day 1: 3   12-04     Day 2: 3   08-12
14. Yua Kishimoto          Osaka JORDAN             6  20-13  187   $1,314.00
Day 1: 3   09-07     Day 2: 3   11-06
15. Johnnie Garrett        Union City, TN           6  20-12  186   $1,182.00
Day 1: 3   12-11     Day 2: 3   08-01
16. Benjamin Antoniewicz   Mosinee, WI              6  20-12  185   $1,051.00
Day 1: 3   11-06     Day 2: 3   09-06
17. Mark Hughes            Saegertown, PA           6  20-11  184     $985.00
Day 1: 3   10-14     Day 2: 3   09-13
18. Rick Ganoung           Chenango Forks, NY       6  20-10  183     $985.00
Day 1: 3   09-03     Day 2: 3   11-07
19. Tonk Kingphilavanh     Cambridge Ontarion CANA  6  20-06  182     $985.00
Day 1: 3   09-04     Day 2: 3   11-02
20. Darren Marcine         Merlin CANADA            6  20-05  181     $985.00
Day 1: 3   12-01     Day 2: 3   08-04
21. Michael Leach          Shenandoah, TX           6  20-01  180     $919.00
Day 1: 3   09-01     Day 2: 3   11-00
22. Eric Santoro           Oshawa Ontario CANADA    6  20-01  179     $919.00
Day 1: 3   09-13     Day 2: 3   10-04
23. Trenton Carey          York Springs, PA         6  20-00  178     $919.00
Day 1: 3   08-11     Day 2: 3   11-05
24. Dan O'Callaghan        Chalfont, PA             6  19-13  177     $919.00
Day 1: 3   09-07     Day 2: 3   10-06
25. Trevor Easter          Morgan, TX               6  19-11  176     $919.00
Day 1: 3   08-15     Day 2: 3   10-12
26. Bobby Scott            Poultney, VT             6  19-11  175     $788.00
Day 1: 3   10-08     Day 2: 3   09-03
27. Manoshi Mano           Koto-Ku JAPAN            6  19-10  174     $788.00
Day 1: 3   09-12     Day 2: 3   09-14
28. Sergio Render          Crockett, VA             6  19-09  173     $788.00
Day 1: 3   10-10     Day 2: 3   08-15
29. James Tilley           Aylett, VA               6  19-04  172     $788.00
Day 1: 3   11-02     Day 2: 3   08-02
30. Gary Haraguchi         Murfreesboro, TN         6  19-04  171     $788.00
Day 1: 3   10-12     Day 2: 3   08-08
31. John Ciavaglia         Pittsford, NY            6  19-02  170     $723.00
Day 1: 3   10-13     Day 2: 3   08-05
32. Scott Weiland          Saddle Brook, NJ         5  18-15  169     $723.00
Day 1: 2   06-14     Day 2: 3   12-01
33. Michael Hunt           Watertown, NY            6  18-13  168     $723.00
Day 1: 3   10-07     Day 2: 3   08-06
34. Tony Long              Moseley, VA              6  18-12  167     $723.00
Day 1: 3   07-04     Day 2: 3   11-08
35. Tristan Bramblett      Tiger, GA                6  18-12  166     $723.00
Day 1: 3   11-01     Day 2: 3   07-11
36. John Boandl            Moscow, PA               6  18-11  165     $723.00
Day 1: 3   10-11     Day 2: 3   08-00
37. Addison Kelly          Queensbury, NY           6  18-10  164     $723.00
Day 1: 3   11-00     Day 2: 3   07-10
38. Scott Devault          New Philadelphia, OH     6  18-10  163     $723.00
Day 1: 3   08-10     Day 2: 3   10-00
39. Mark Kendra            Great Meadows, NJ        6  18-08  162     $723.00
Day 1: 3   09-06     Day 2: 3   09-02
40. Creed David            Zachary, LA              6  18-06  161     $723.00
Day 1: 3   11-00     Day 2: 3   07-06
41. Erik Fossum            Porter, ME               6  18-06  160
Day 1: 3   08-12     Day 2: 3   09-10
42. Alex Richmond          South Elgin, IL          6  18-04  159
Day 1: 3   07-15     Day 2: 3   10-05
43. Lonnie Mesar           New Richmond, WI         6  18-04  158
Day 1: 3   09-15     Day 2: 3   08-05
44. Austin Olsby           Oak grove, MN            5  18-00  157
Day 1: 3   10-09     Day 2: 2   07-07
45. Brent Temple           BREWERTON, NY            6  18-00  156
Day 1: 3   09-09     Day 2: 3   08-07
46. Joe Lineberry          Ramseaur,, NC            6  17-14  155
Day 1: 3   10-09     Day 2: 3   07-05
47. Jo Jo Walsh            Lyles, TN                6  17-14  154
Day 1: 3   07-09     Day 2: 3   10-05
48. Hayden Reed            Bridgeton, NJ            6  17-13  153
Day 1: 3   07-06     Day 2: 3   10-07
49. Todd Winters           Troy, NY                 5  17-12  152
Day 1: 2   06-08     Day 2: 3   11-04
50. David Camp             Sterling, OH             5  17-10  151
Day 1: 3   12-05     Day 2: 2   05-05
51. Randy Tallhamer        Brandenton, FL           6  17-09  150
Day 1: 3   08-14     Day 2: 3   08-11
52. Russell Hoyle          Hickory, NC              6  17-07  149
Day 1: 3   07-00     Day 2: 3   10-07
53. Jordan LaClair         Ogdensburg, NY           6  17-07  148
Day 1: 3   07-15     Day 2: 3   09-08
54. Dane Morris            Agoura Hills, CA         6  17-06  147
Day 1: 3   06-02     Day 2: 3   11-04
55. Jeff Mellott           Warfordsburg, PA         6  17-06  146
Day 1: 3   07-07     Day 2: 3   09-15
56. John Lewis             Centreville, VA          6  17-02  145
Day 1: 3   06-08     Day 2: 3   10-10
57. Frank McCormick        Warwick, RI              6  17-01  144
Day 1: 3   09-11     Day 2: 3   07-06
58.  Alex Brogan           Fishers, IN              6  17-00  143
Day 1: 3   07-10     Day 2: 3   09-06
59. Chuck Vacanti          Penn Yan, NY             6  16-15  142
Day 1: 3   10-11     Day 2: 3   06-04
60. Logan Powell           West Point, NY           6  16-15  141
Day 1: 3   09-04     Day 2: 3   07-11
61. Fletcher Phillips      Mount Olive, AL          6  16-14  140
Day 1: 3   07-04     Day 2: 3   09-10
62. Ty Kenyon              Dodgeville, WI           6  16-13  139
Day 1: 3   11-03     Day 2: 3   05-10
63. Cody Howard            Snow Hill, NC            5  16-10  138
Day 1: 2   06-09     Day 2: 3   10-01
63. Steven Robbins         Piketon, OH              5  16-10  138
Day 1: 2   06-09     Day 2: 3   10-01
65. Jayden Adrians         Green Bay, WI            5  16-05  136
Day 1: 2   06-07     Day 2: 3   09-14
66. Kenneth Ott            Manahawkin, NJ           6  16-05  135
Day 1: 3   08-14     Day 2: 3   07-07
67. David Waack            Cary, NC                 4  16-03  134
Day 1: 3   13-11     Day 2: 1   02-08
68. Ronald Young           New Braunfels, TX        5  16-03  133
Day 1: 3   10-12     Day 2: 2   05-07
69. Bryce Bason            Mill Hall, PA            6  16-03  132
Day 1: 3   09-06     Day 2: 3   06-13
70. Mathew Thompson        Hogansburg, NY           6  16-02  131
Day 1: 3   06-11     Day 2: 3   09-07
71. Erik Talty             Brick, NJ                6  16-02  130
Day 1: 3   09-03     Day 2: 3   06-15
72. James Cobbs            VINEMONT, AL             6  16-01  129
Day 1: 3   07-14     Day 2: 3   08-03
73. John Herring           Quakertown, PA           4  16-00  128
Day 1: 1   04-07     Day 2: 3   11-09
74. James Roten            West Jefferson, NC       6  16-00  127
Day 1: 3   07-08     Day 2: 3   08-08
75. Jesse Simpkins         Minocqua, WI             6  15-15  126
Day 1: 3   07-05     Day 2: 3   08-10
76. Scott Johnsen          Wallkill, NY             6  15-15  125
Day 1: 3   07-12     Day 2: 3   08-03
77. Marc Letourneau        Brome Quebec CANADA      6  15-14  124
Day 1: 3   09-09     Day 2: 3   06-05
78. Jimmy Schaffer         Oak Ridge, NJ            6  15-13  123
Day 1: 3   11-05     Day 2: 3   04-08
79. Riku Hayashi           Ritto Shiga JAPAN        6  15-12  122
Day 1: 3   10-05     Day 2: 3   05-07
80. Charles Bowman II      Kernersville, NC         6  15-11  121
Day 1: 3   10-03     Day 2: 3   05-08
81. Ricky Fulk             Shenandoah, VA           6  15-10  120
Day 1: 3   08-09     Day 2: 3   07-01
82. Joshua Geyer           Loganton, PA             6  15-10  119
Day 1: 3   08-07     Day 2: 3   07-03
83. Scott Bannerman        Stratford CANADA         6  15-06  118
Day 1: 3   06-15     Day 2: 3   08-07
84. Matt Champion          Scottsville, NY          6  15-06  117
Day 1: 3   08-02     Day 2: 3   07-04
85. Jason Gibson           Iron Station, NC         5  15-05  116
Day 1: 2   06-15     Day 2: 3   08-06
86. John Sanderlin         Chesapeake, VA           5  15-05  115
Day 1: 3   07-14     Day 2: 2   07-07
87. John Mills             Leesville, SC            6  15-04  114
Day 1: 3   10-10     Day 2: 3   04-10
88. Chad Boyer             Elizabethtown, PA        6  15-04  113
Day 1: 3   04-15     Day 2: 3   10-05
89. Joseph Horne           Bella Vista, AR          5  15-01  112
Day 1: 3   10-08     Day 2: 2   04-09
90. Dylan Mayo             Athens, TX               6  15-00  111
Day 1: 3   07-05     Day 2: 3   07-11
91. JK Kutil               Beaufort, SC             5  14-13  110
Day 1: 3   10-04     Day 2: 2   04-09
92. Alec Fernandez         Medford, NJ              6  14-12  109
Day 1: 3   08-08     Day 2: 3   06-04
93. Avery Williams         Murrells Inlt, SC        6  14-11  108
Day 1: 3   08-10     Day 2: 3   06-01
94. Phillip Easterling     Clanton, AL              6  14-10  107
Day 1: 3   09-04     Day 2: 3   05-06
95. Matt Kelly             CAMBRIDGE Ontario CANAD  5  14-09  106
Day 1: 3   09-13     Day 2: 2   04-12
96. Will Nutting           Granger, IN              6  14-09  105
Day 1: 3   09-00     Day 2: 3   05-09
97. Eric Stecker           Quakertown, PA           6  14-09  104
Day 1: 3   06-10     Day 2: 3   07-15
98. Rick Ivy               Ponder, TX               6  14-06  103
Day 1: 3   08-08     Day 2: 3   05-14
99. Kenneth L Brown        Leesburg, VA             5  14-05  102
Day 1: 3   10-01     Day 2: 2   04-04
100. Jeff Giffen            Phoenix, AZ              6  14-05  101
Day 1: 3   05-00     Day 2: 3   09-05
101. Gary Hall              Wardville, OK            5  14-05  100
Day 1: 3   08-00     Day 2: 2   06-05
102. Nikolai Amarose        Franklin, NJ             5  14-04   99
Day 1: 2   04-07     Day 2: 3   09-13
103. Mark Aaron             Gastonia, NC             6  14-03   98
Day 1: 3   05-07     Day 2: 3   08-12
104. David Booth            Erin, TN                 4  13-13   97
Day 1: 3   09-11     Day 2: 1   04-02
105. Ashley Bishop          Chesapeake, VA           5  13-13   96
Day 1: 3   06-05     Day 2: 2   07-08
106. Alex Reece             Greenville, SC           6  13-12   95
Day 1: 3   07-04     Day 2: 3   06-08
107. Weston Phillips        Athens, AL               4  13-11   94
Day 1: 3   10-06     Day 2: 1   03-05
108. Tyler Smith            Portage, MI              6  13-11   93
Day 1: 3   07-06     Day 2: 3   06-05
109. Seth Gabri             Madrid, NY               5  13-08   92
Day 1: 3   07-06     Day 2: 2   06-02
110. Justin Bell            Lacona, NY               6  13-08   91
Day 1: 3   06-09     Day 2: 3   06-15
111. Bob Bauer              China Grove, NC          5  13-06   90
Day 1: 3   09-07     Day 2: 2   03-15
112. Jason Dubernas         Old Forge, PA            6  13-05   89
Day 1: 3   07-01     Day 2: 3   06-04
113. Joseph Shaw            Madison, WI              5  13-03   88
Day 1: 2   07-04     Day 2: 3   05-15
114. Gregory Mintz          Potsdam, NY              6  13-03   87
Day 1: 3   07-00     Day 2: 3   06-03
115. Laz Durham             Dumfries, VA             6  13-03   86
Day 1: 3   06-11     Day 2: 3   06-08
116. Dean Gibbs             North Chesterfield, VA   4  13-00   85
Day 1: 3   09-01     Day 2: 1   03-15
117. Harvey Reece           Chesterfield, VA         6  13-00   84
Day 1: 3   07-11     Day 2: 3   05-05
118. Phillip Arnold         Powhatan, VA             5  12-14   83
Day 1: 3   09-12     Day 2: 2   03-02
119. Alicia Raytrowsky      Delaware CANADA          4  12-13   82
Day 1: 1   01-08     Day 2: 3   11-05
120. William Clute          Hogansburg, NY           5  12-11   81
Day 1: 2   05-04     Day 2: 3   07-07
121. Leslie Brandenburg     Springfield, MO          5  12-11   80
Day 1: 2   06-04     Day 2: 3   06-07
122. Satoshi Egawa          Fort Lee, NJ             6  12-05   79
Day 1: 3   04-15     Day 2: 3   07-06
123. Felicia Pavelich       New Dundee Ontario CANA  4  12-02   78
Day 1: 2   07-03     Day 2: 2   04-15
124. Curtis Gossett         Pell City, AL            4  12-00   77
Day 1: 3   09-15     Day 2: 1   02-01
125. Melvin Bowling         Shenandoah, VA           3  11-15   76
Day 1: 3   11-15     Day 2: 0   00-00
126. Tim Rulon              Downingtown, PA          5  11-15   75
Day 1: 3   09-05     Day 2: 2   02-10
127. Allen Heston           Pittsburg, TX            6  11-15   74
Day 1: 3   06-10     Day 2: 3   05-05
128. Steve Kline            Hilltop Lakes, TX        4  11-14   73
Day 1: 1   03-06     Day 2: 3   08-08
129. Akira Okuyama          Forest Hills, NY         4  11-14   72
Day 1: 2   07-03     Day 2: 2   04-11
130. Steve Williams         Harrington, ME           4  11-11   71
Day 1: 1   01-06     Day 2: 3   10-05
131. John Higginbotham      Slaughter, LA            6  11-11   70
Day 1: 3   06-05     Day 2: 3   05-06
132. Paul Rush              New Martinsville, WV     3  11-06   69
Day 1: 1   03-09     Day 2: 2   07-13
133. Jimmy Fellegy          Mustang, OK              4  11-05   68
Day 1: 1   02-03     Day 2: 3   09-02
134. Cory Weaver            Ankeny, IA               5  11-03   67
Day 1: 2   02-11     Day 2: 3   08-08
135. Clint Bartlett         Sylva, NC                4  11-01   66
Day 1: 2   02-09     Day 2: 2   08-08
136. Bird Jones             Loxahatchee, FL          4  11-00   65
Day 1: 2   04-03     Day 2: 2   06-13
137. David Chamberlain      Hampton, VA              3  10-14   64
Day 1: 3   10-14     Day 2: 0   00-00
138. Matthew Kremers        Pittsford, NY            5  10-14   63
Day 1: 2   04-14     Day 2: 3   06-00
139. Nick Melcher           Gypsum, CO               4  10-12   62
Day 1: 1   01-13     Day 2: 3   08-15
140. Jack Adams             Wynantskill, NY          5  10-11   61
Day 1: 2   03-09     Day 2: 3   07-02
141. Dai Kitajima           Otsu-Shi JAPAN           3  10-10   60
Day 1: 3   10-10     Day 2: 0   00-00
142. Logan Beebe            Marriottsville, MD       3  10-09   59
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   10-09
143. Jimmy Brumfield        Madison, MS              4  10-08   58
Day 1: 3   07-12     Day 2: 1   02-12
144. Mark Shopene           Point Pleasant Beach, N  5  10-06   57
Day 1: 2   05-04     Day 2: 3   05-02
145. Liam Kendra            Great Meadows, NJ        4  10-05   56
Day 1: 3   07-10     Day 2: 1   02-11
146. Joe Tucker             Osceola, MO              6  10-03   55
Day 1: 3   03-12     Day 2: 3   06-07
147. AJ Jones               Lutz, FL                 4  10-00   54
Day 1: 3   06-13     Day 2: 1   03-03
148. Steve Kiser            Tarboro, NC              3  09-08   53
Day 1: 2   05-12     Day 2: 1   03-12
149. Ernest McIntyre Jr     Fayetteville, NC         4  09-06   52
Day 1: 1   02-00     Day 2: 3   07-06
150. Dave McQuate           Doylestown, PA           5  09-06   51
Day 1: 3   06-14     Day 2: 2   02-08
151. Richard Greene         Ocala, FL                6  09-04   50
Day 1: 3   07-15     Day 2: 3   01-05
152. Jason Coughlin         Brasher Falls, NY        4  09-03   49
Day 1: 3   06-06     Day 2: 1   02-13
153. Levi Allgeier          Bardstown, KY            3  09-02   48
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   09-02
154. Nat Lussi              Plains, PA               3  09-01   47
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   09-01
155. David Wright           Ft. Meade, MD            3  08-15   46
Day 1: 3   08-15     Day 2: 0   00-00
156. Dan Loux               Quakertown, PA           3  08-12   45
Day 1: 3   08-12     Day 2: 0   00-00
157. Ian Freeman            Hickory, NC              3  08-10   44
Day 1: 3   08-10     Day 2: 0   00-00
158. Joe Sodora             Garfield, NJ             4  08-09   43
Day 1: 3   07-07     Day 2: 1   01-02
159. RD Roulston            Little Rock, AR          4  08-09   42
Day 1: 3   06-08     Day 2: 1   02-01
160. Cody Smith             South Windsor, CT        4  08-08   41
Day 1: 3   08-06     Day 2: 1   00-02
161. PJ Mcmanamon Jr        Ruby, NY                 3  08-06   40
Day 1: 2   04-15     Day 2: 1   03-07
162. Jacob Zaremski         Rochester, NY            3  08-05   39
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   08-05
163. Chip Stith Jr          Piscataway, NJ           3  08-01   38
Day 1: 3   08-01     Day 2: 0   00-00
164. Billy Limerick         Chandler, TX             3  08-00   37
Day 1: 3   08-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
165. Ryan Patterson         Scott Township, PA       4  07-13   36
Day 1: 1   01-15     Day 2: 3   05-14
166. Jesse Buss             Pennsburg, PA            3  07-12   35
Day 1: 3   07-12     Day 2: 0   00-00
167. George Epley           Livingston Manor, NY     4  07-11   34
Day 1: 1   01-13     Day 2: 3   05-14
168. Dominic Lussi          Danville, PA             4  07-09   33
Day 1: 1   01-09     Day 2: 3   06-00
169. Chad Penney            Mansfield, TX            3  07-05   32
Day 1: 3   07-05     Day 2: 0   00-00
170. Ed Mlotek              Naperville, IL           3  07-04   31
Day 1: 1   01-15     Day 2: 2   05-05
171. Archie Eslinger        Paris, IL                3  07-00   30
Day 1: 3   07-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
172. Brad Hollowell         Azle, TX                 3  06-11   29
Day 1: 3   06-11     Day 2: 0   00-00
173. Phillip Medford        Whitakers, NC            2  06-08   28
Day 1: 2   06-08     Day 2: 0   00-00
174. Shaun Carney           Kincardine Ontario CANA  3  06-07   27
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   06-07
175. Clancy Hefferly        Taylors, SC              4  06-06   26
Day 1: 2   04-01     Day 2: 2   02-05
176. James Schneider        Watervliet, NY           3  06-04   25
Day 1: 3   06-04     Day 2: 0   00-00
177. Bob Harper             Lombard, IL              3  06-02   24
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   06-02
178. Ernest Brabon          Albion, NY               2  06-01   23
Day 1: 2   06-01     Day 2: 0   00-00
179. Robert Bruguiere       Roseland, VA             2  05-13   22
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 2   05-13
180. Jim Boyce              Massena, NY              3  05-10   21
Day 1: 3   05-10     Day 2: 0   00-00
181. Brooks Parker          Bridgeville, DE          3  05-01   20
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 3   05-01
182. Allen Leister III      Kintnersville, PA        3  04-11   19
Day 1: 2   02-11     Day 2: 1   02-00
183. Donny Coffman          Russellville, AR         3  04-00   18
Day 1: 3   04-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
184. Guy Cisternino         Oak Ridge, NJ            3  03-15   17
Day 1: 3   03-15     Day 2: 0   00-00
185. Grady Phillips         Gardendale, AL           2  03-13   16
Day 1: 2   03-13     Day 2: 0   00-00
186. Tracy Shaffer          Mansfield, TX            2  03-10   15
Day 1: 1   02-04     Day 2: 1   01-06
187. Beanie Leuer           Lockport, NY             2  03-09   14
Day 1: 2   03-09     Day 2: 0   00-00
188. Andrew Bechard         Plattsburgh , NY         1  03-07   13
Day 1: 1   03-07     Day 2: 0   00-00
189. Darrell Curl           Winston Salem, NC        2  02-07   12
Day 1: 2   02-07     Day 2: 0   00-00
190. TJ Raytrowsky          Delaware CANADA          1  02-05   11
Day 1: 1   02-05     Day 2: 0   00-00
191. Kevin Mallow           Kansas, OK               1  02-04   10
Day 1: 1   02-04     Day 2: 0   00-00
192. Burley Langford Jr.    South Chesterfield, VA   1  01-13    9
Day 1: 1   01-13     Day 2: 0   00-00
193. Benjamin Demo          Plymouth, MN             0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
193. Gerard Golden          Coopersburg, PA          0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
193. Rick Sweadner          Woodsboro, MD            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
193. Rodney Vaow            Huntersville, NC         0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
197. Calvin Landsberg       Raleigh, NC              0  -1-00    0
Day 1: 0   -01-00     Day 2: 0   00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       140       491      1420-12
2       128       446      1246-11
----------------------------------
268       937      2667-07


Stewart and Johnson take narrow lead in opening round of Bassmaster Junior Championship on Lake Hartwell

Tristan Stewart and DJ Johnson III of Tennessee's Mt. Pleasant Junior Bass Team are leading after Day 1 of the 2023 Bassmaster Junior Championship at Lake Hartwell with 11 pounds, 1 ounce.

Photo by Logan Crumley/B.A.S.S.

July 21, 2023

ANDERSON, S.C. — Tristan Stewart and DJ Johnson III caught a three-bass limit weighing 11 pounds, 1 ounce to grab the Day 1 lead at the 2023 Bassmaster Junior National Championship Friday on Lake Hartwell.

The boys, who are part of the Mt. Pleasant (Tenn.) Junior Bass Team, hold a narrow 4-ounce lead in the tournament, which boasts 123 young duos from 32 different states.

Stewart and Johnson, both 13, enjoyed a consistent bite of largemouth and spotted bass, estimating they caught about 20 fish overall. The best of the bunch was a spot that weighed in the 4-pound range.

Stewart caught that bass in about 15 feet of water, but he preferred to not divulge his bait of choice. That’s because he and Johnson think they can repeat their performance on Day 2 and win the championship.

“We saw it on the Garmin LiveScope,” Stewart said. “It took me a minute or two to get it in, but it was fun. We found a spot in practice that we liked, and we fished it alone (early on Friday). But we had some other boats around us later in the day.”

Johnson said steady bites helped him shake off a hot afternoon on Hartwell. A steady wind made temperatures in the lower 90s bearable, but there’s no doubt the summer heat was rough on all the youngsters as the afternoon sun got overhead.

“Still, today was exciting,” Johnson said. “I started bass fishing was I was 9 or 10 and I’ve gotten a lot better. I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

So is their captain, Glen Stewart, who said he expects a tight finish to the championship.

“When the limit is three, it’s gonna be a game of ounces,” Glen said. “It’s hard to separate from the field. We’ll do the same thing we did today, and if we can get fish that weigh 3 pounds, I think we’ll have a good shot at winning.”

Other top teams on Day 1 include Kale Temple and Luke Schnell of Georgia’s Hart County Junior Anglers,  currently in second place with three bass totaling 10-13. They are followed by Cody Carboni and William Reynolds from Live Oak (La.) Junior High, who weighed a limit registering 10-10, and Colton Hembree and Tyson Browning of the Bluegrass (Ky.) Junior Bassmasters, who are fourth with 10-7.

Hembree and Browning weighed a 4-15 heavy that gave them the big bass on Day 1.

Caleb and Isaac Toubia of Kickback (Kan.) High School are fifth, also with a 10-7 limit. Caden Hall and Caleb Wilson of Russell County (Ky.) Middle School caught a 4-14 on Friday and settled into sixth place with three bass totaling 9-6, while Zac Arnold and Ross Clark of the Good Hope (Ala.) Fishing Team caught a 9-6 limit on Friday as well.

The winners in the two-day tournament will collect $2,000 in scholarship money. The squad in second place will win $1,000, third will earn $500, and fourth will take home $400.

Teams qualified for the championship through state competitions and four different Junior Opens held earlier this year on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes, Alabama’s Lay Lake, Tennessee’s Chickamauga Lake and the Red River in Louisiana.

Day 2 of the 2023 Bassmaster Junior National Championship is scheduled to begin at 6:20 ET at Green Pond Landing and Event Center. Weigh-in will begin at 1:20 p.m., with the champions being crowned shortly after the final bass are weighed. Full coverage is available on Bassmaster.com.

Visit Anderson is hosting the tournament.

2023 Bassmaster Junior National Championship 7/21-7/22
Lake Hartwell, Anderson  SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

Angler                                       Club/School                       Pts

1.  Tristan Stewart - DJ Johnson III             Mt. Pleasant Junior Bass Team - TN    0
Day 1: 3   11-01   Total:   3  11-01
2.  Kale Temple - Luke Schnell                   Hart County Jr Anglers - GA           0
Day 1: 3   10-13   Total:   3  10-13
3.  Cody Carboni - William Reynolds              Live Oak Junior High School - LA      0
Day 1: 3   10-10   Total:   3  10-10
4.  Colton Hembree - Tyson Browning              Bluegrass Junior Bassmasters - KY     0
Day 1: 3   10-07   Total:   3  10-07
5.  Caleb Toubia - Isaac Toubia                  Kickback High School - KS             0
Day 1: 3   10-07   Total:   3  10-07
6.  Caden Hall - Kaleb Wilson                    Russell County Middle School - KY     0
Day 1: 3   09-06   Total:   3  09-06
7.  Zac Arnold - Ross Clark                      Good Hope Fishing Team - AL           0
Day 1: 3   09-06   Total:   3  09-06
8.  Jake Paradis - Nolan Savage                  L/A Junior Bassmasters - ME           0
Day 1: 3   08-09   Total:   3  08-09
9.  Hank Riley - Ty Montgomery                   Lone Star Jr Bassmasters - TX         0
Day 1: 3   08-06   Total:   3  08-06
10. Ryder Milam - Colton Milam                   Mecklenburg High School Junior A      0
Day 1: 3   08-01   Total:   3  08-01
11. Eli Ledbetter - Collin Ledbetter             Jr Southwest Bassmasters-Denham       0
Day 1: 3   08-00   Total:   3  08-00
12. Jaxen White - Christopher Trobaugh           Clay County Anglers - TN              0
Day 1: 3   07-13   Total:   3  07-13
13. Landon Horton - Eli Meckert                  Idaho Student Anglers - ID            0
Day 1: 3   07-06   Total:   3  07-06
13. Jack Naas - JT Cross                         L/A Junior Bassmasters - ME           0
Day 1: 3   07-06   Total:   3  07-06
15. Mack Hardee - Jackson Smalls                 Conway High Anglers - SC              0
Day 1: 3   07-05   Total:   3  07-05
15. Conley Tyler - Tripp Martin                  Arkansas Youth Anglers - AR           0
Day 1: 3   07-05   Total:   3  07-05
17. Lucas Gerlach - Brayden Nickless             Denver Jr. Bassmasters - CO           0
Day 1: 3   07-03   Total:   3  07-03
18. Eli Herring - Hunter Lee                     Greene County Bassmasters - MS        0
Day 1: 3   06-15   Total:   3  06-15
19. Ty Magargle - Brady Gunkle                   Junior Wildcats - PA                  0
Day 1: 3   06-15   Total:   3  06-15
19. Anderson Mesplay - Kelby Conrady             Mid-Kansas Kastmasters - KS           0
Day 1: 3   06-15   Total:   3  06-15
21. Grayson Goodwin - Colton Baker               Renegades Perry County Jr Angler      0
Day 1: 3   06-10   Total:   3  06-10
22. Sawyer Sheffield - Brody Holliman            Shelby County Jr Anglers - AL         0
Day 1: 2   06-10   Total:   2  06-10
23. Jackson Ray - TJ Murray                      Rhea County Eagle Anglers - TN        0
Day 1: 3   06-04   Total:   3  06-04
24. Brennon Davidson - Hagen Barnes              Brandon High School - MS              0
Day 1: 3   06-03   Total:   3  06-03
24. Tyler Nelson - Seth Harrell                  Bandys High School - NC               0
Day 1: 3   06-03   Total:   3  06-03
24. Wyatt North - Wylie North                    Marion County High School Bassma      0
Day 1: 3   06-03   Total:   3  06-03
27. Dominick Andux - Peyton Faber                Tampa Bay Junior Bass Club - FL       0
Day 1: 3   06-02   Total:   3  06-02
28. Brayden Rivest - Andrew Crawford             Off the Hook Jr Bassmasters - IL      0
Day 1: 3   06-01   Total:   3  06-01
29. Parker Terrell - Cameron Terrell             Port City Jr. Bassmasters - NY        0
Day 1: 3   06-00   Total:   3  06-00
30. Kingston Bartley - Wade Clemmensen           Denver Jr. Bassmasters - CO           0
Day 1: 3   05-15   Total:   3  05-15
31. Landon Grabert -                             Houma Christian School - LA           0
Day 1: 3   05-14   Total:   3  05-14
32. Jesse Lancaster - Fisher Lancaster           Lancaster Academy - NC                0
Day 1: 3   05-13   Total:   3  05-13
32. Ethan McBrayer - Zachary King                Briarwood Christian School - AL       0
Day 1: 3   05-13   Total:   3  05-13
34. Dawson Turner - Ruby Caldwell                Crescent High School Jr Anglers       0
Day 1: 3   05-10   Total:   3  05-10
35. Boone Baxter - Hunter Stewart                Buckeye State Student Anglers -       0
Day 1: 3   05-09   Total:   3  05-09
36. Denver Leblanc - Jackson Gomez               Jr Southwest Bassmasters-Denham       0
Day 1: 3   05-08   Total:   3  05-08
37. Hudson Clark - Jackson Leath                 Sumner County Jr Bass Team - TN       0
Day 1: 3   05-07   Total:   3  05-07
38. Zeb Ates - Cameron Barham                    North Louisiana Jr Bassmasters -      0
Day 1: 3   05-06   Total:   3  05-06
39. Landon Moore - Trig Mchone                   Meigs Middle School - TN              0
Day 1: 3   05-05   Total:   3  05-05
39. Colton Willging - Finn Boyle                 Dubuque Bass Club - IA                0
Day 1: 3   05-05   Total:   3  05-05
39. Donovan Yang - Logan Xiong                   Anoka Ramsey Bassers    - MN             0
Day 1: 3   05-05   Total:   3  05-05
42. Evan Bradshaw - Gabe Browning                Russell County Middle School - K      0
Day 1: 3   05-03   Total:   3  05-03
42. Dj Broome Jr. - Shepard Crumley              Tallulah Falls School Jr Team -       0
Day 1: 3   05-03   Total:   3  05-03
44. Fisher Butler - Landon Reel                  Arkansas Youth Anglers - AR           0
Day 1: 3   05-02   Total:   3  05-02
44. Luke Stewart - Austin Craze                  Southern WV Jr Bassmasters - WV       0
Day 1: 3   05-02   Total:   3  05-02
46. Colson Sollars - Dylan Barnhart              Southside Junior Anglers - IN         0
Day 1: 3   05-00   Total:   3  05-00
47. Jack Kennedy - Brentley West                 Mid Florida Youth Anglers - FL        0
Day 1: 3   04-15   Total:   3  04-15
48. Vegas Iaconelli - Maxsim Hughen              NJ BASS Nation Juniors - NJ           0
Day 1: 3   04-15   Total:   3  04-15
49. Nash Parham - Jude Gibson                    Sumner County Jr Bass Team - TN       0
Day 1: 3   04-12   Total:   3  04-12
50. Eli Milam - Isaiah Crockett                  Southern WV Jr Bassmasters - WV       0
Day 1: 3   04-09   Total:   3  04-09
51. Mason Bush - Hayden Berryman                 Club Florida High School Bassmas      0
Day 1: 3   04-08   Total:   3  04-08
52. Bentley Richardson - Blake Richardson        Southern Outcast Jr - NC              0
Day 1: 2   04-08   Total:   2  04-08
53. Tatum Ceccorulli - Brayden Jenner            St. Martin Bassmasters - MS           0
Day 1: 3   04-07   Total:   3  04-07
54. Beau McQuade - Kahl Cordell                  Jr. Potomac River Bassmasters -       0
Day 1: 3   04-06   Total:   3  04-06
54. Joey Newman - Logan Robertson                Meigs Middle School - TN              0
Day 1: 3   04-06   Total:   3  04-06
56. Zack Ramsey - Carson Buchanan                McDowell High School - NC             0
Day 1: 3   04-04   Total:   3  04-04
57. Hunter Brakefield - Landon White             Mt. Juliet Fishing - TN               0
Day 1: 2   04-03   Total:   2  04-03
58. Drake Walls - Hunter Shrader                 Mid Florida Youth Anglers - FL        0
Day 1: 3   04-02   Total:   3  04-02
59. Sam Keely - Bradyn Stubenrauch               Kickback High School - KS             0
Day 1: 3   04-00   Total:   3  04-00
59. Boston Werner -                              Northeast Wisconsin Bass - WI         0
Day 1: 3   04-00   Total:   3  04-00
61. Cale Compton - Adam Reed                     Moore HS Fishing Club - OK            0
Day 1: 3   03-15   Total:   3  03-15
62. Walker Woodall - Mason Watkin                Harmony Grove - AR                    0
Day 1: 2   03-15   Total:   2  03-15
63. Nickolas Tinkle - Kaden Henderson            Arkansas Youth Anglers - AR           0
Day 1: 3   03-12   Total:   3  03-12
64. Piers Picou - Jaxon Plaisance                Central Catholic - LA                 0
Day 1: 3   03-10   Total:   3  03-10
65. Brayden Marcum - Tyler Goble                 Cardinal Youth Fishing Team - KY      0
Day 1: 3   03-09   Total:   3  03-09
66. Coy Cassady -                                Wateree Anglers Club - SC             0
Day 1: 3   03-08   Total:   3  03-08
67. Gunner Robbins - Carson Everley              Upperman High School - TN             0
Day 1: 3   03-07   Total:   3  03-07
68. Tristan Topa - Parker Stevens                Port City Jr. Bassmasters  - NY       0
Day 1: 3   03-06   Total:   3  03-06
69. Landon Burke - Kolbey Burke                  Dixie Junior Bassmasters - FL         0
Day 1: 3   03-05   Total:   3  03-05
70. Chance Washington - Ashton Otto              Aggie Anglers - GA                    0
Day 1: 2   03-05   Total:   2  03-05
71. Connor Magee - Corbin Goode                  Live Oak Junior High School - LA      0
Day 1: 1   03-05   Total:   1  03-05
72. Tom Shumowsky - Amira Glenn                  Off the Hook Jr Bassmasters - IL      0
Day 1: 3   03-04   Total:   3  03-04
73. Landon Lynch - Colton Miller                 Brunswick Academy - VA                0
Day 1: 3   03-03   Total:   3  03-03
74. Cullen Bearden - Chance White                Ark-La-Tex Junior Bassmasters -       0
Day 1: 2   03-03   Total:   2  03-03
75. Jake Jaracy - Jack Jaracy                    CT BASS Thunder - CT                  0
Day 1: 3   02-14   Total:   3  02-14
76. Kasey Stamper - Chase Bennett                Howell Junior High School - MI        0
Day 1: 3   02-13   Total:   3  02-13
77. James Barkley - Nikolas Foster               NH Junior Bassmasters - NH            0
Day 1: 2   02-13   Total:   2  02-13
78. Jackson Beatty - Gable Eddy                  Independence High School - IA         0
Day 1: 1   02-12   Total:   1  02-12
79. Parker Bilbrey - Tyler Thompson              Livingston Academy - TN               0
Day 1: 3   02-11   Total:   3  02-11
79. Eastin Gilliland - Gunnar Freeman            Lone Star Jr Bassmasters - TX         0
Day 1: 3   02-11   Total:   3  02-11
79. Eben Whalen - Luke Whalen                    L/A Junior Bassmasters - ME           0
Day 1: 3   02-11   Total:   3  02-11
82. Avery Schmitt - Maddox Hanson                Eastern Iowa Jr Bassmasters - IA      0
Day 1: 2   02-11   Total:   2  02-11
83. Drew Mcclellan - Noah Hiott                  Indiana Jr Bassmasters - IN           0
Day 1: 1   02-11   Total:   1  02-11
84. Logan Eudy - Brody Clontz                    Stanly County Jr Bassmasters - N      0
Day 1: 3   02-09   Total:   3  02-09
85. Garrett Hestor - Easton Herman               Junior Wildcats - PA                  0
Day 1: 2   02-09   Total:   2  02-09
85. Daniel Ingram - Morgan Carden                Shelby County Jr Anglers - AL         0
Day 1: 2   02-09   Total:   2  02-09
87. Landry Scott - Caden Daniel                  Lone Star Jr Bassmasters - TX         0
Day 1: 2   02-07   Total:   2  02-07
88. Presley Jo Cook - Brody Baber                Ark-La-Tex Junior Bassmasters -       0
Day 1: 2   02-04   Total:   2  02-04
88. Colton Howell - Cullen Howell                Mt. Pleasant Junior Bass Team -       0
Day 1: 2   02-04   Total:   2  02-04
88. Jaxson Pierce - Tucker Larrance              Jefferson County Patriot Anglers      0
Day 1: 2   02-04   Total:   2  02-04
91. Jason Perkins - Tyler Perkins                Port City Jr. Bassmasters - NY        0
Day 1: 1   02-03   Total:   1  02-03
92. Jonah Harbison - Thomas Benton               Hayden Jr High School - AL            0
Day 1: 3   02-02   Total:   3  02-02
93. Reiston Ratchford - Ryland Ratchford         Headland Jr High School - AL          0
Day 1: 2   02-00   Total:   2  02-00
94. Bentley Gibson - Reese Carpenter             Junior Keystone Bassmasters - OK      0
Day 1: 1   02-00   Total:   1  02-00
95. Kort Roberts - Katera Roberts                Garfield County High School - OK      0
Day 1: 2   01-15   Total:   2  01-15
96. Bradie Talaski - Carter Osantowski           Bad Axe High School - MI              0
Day 1: 2   01-14   Total:   2  01-14
97. Cash Holloway - Ava Lowery                   East Clarendon Wolverines - SC        0
Day 1: 2   01-13   Total:   2  01-13
98. Bo Hollen - Ari Clark                        Mon Valley Junior Bassmasters -       0
Day 1: 2   01-11   Total:   2  01-11
99. Ethan Martinez - Bryson Stewart              Hendry County Junior Bassmasters      0
Day 1: 1   01-10   Total:   1  01-10
100. Sawyer Knickerbocker - Conner Tate           Vermilion Junior Anglers - LA         0
Day 1: 1   01-08   Total:   1  01-08
101. Carson Stevens - Wesley Osuna                Franklin County Jr Bass Team - T      0
Day 1: 1   01-07   Total:   1  01-07
102. Brayden Tisdale -                            Opp Middle School - AL                0
Day 1: 1   00-15   Total:   1  00-15
103. Dalton Adkins - David Potts                  Skyline High School - AL              0
Day 1: 1   00-14   Total:   1  00-14
103. Hunter Moore - Ashton Pogue                  Caledonia Bassmasters - MO            0
Day 1: 1   00-14   Total:   1  00-14
105. Dean Austin - Liam Holze                     Off the Hook Jr Bassmasters - IL      0
Day 1: 1   00-13   Total:   1  00-13
105. Harrison Hobbs - Cade Speligene              Franklin High School - TN             0
Day 1: 1   00-13   Total:   1  00-13
107. Blake Meiser - Liam Duncan                   Eureka Youth Club - MO                0
Day 1: 1   00-11   Total:   1  00-11
108. Mitchell Boles -                             Clay County Anglers - TN              0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
108. Daniel Coley - Elijah Ambrose                Junior Potomac River Bassmasters      0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
108. Hollis Daigle - Vincent Vilcan-Soprano       Catholic High School New Iberia       0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
108. John Parker Deal - Hayes Henderson           Headland Jr High School - AL          0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
108. Jace Hickman -                               Teays Valley Toads - OH               0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
108. Liam Jeddry - Luke Laudenklos                Team Outcast Juniors - MD             0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
108. Beckett Kraft - Sullivan Kraft               Port City Jr. Bassmasters - NY        0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
108. Ty Landry - Brant Cavalier                   Central Catholic - LA                 0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
108. Wyatt Michaels - Austin Parsons              Morgan County Junior Bass Master      0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
108. Jeffrey Samson - Luke Adasczik               NH Junior Bassmasters - NH            0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
108. Carter Shadinger - Aiden Ferguson            Curry High School - AL                0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
108. Gunner Tate -                                Coffee County Youth Bass Club -       0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
108. Landon Verbit - Brody McCoy                  Muddyrun Bassmaster Jr - PA           0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
108. Knox White - Grayson Sanford                 Mt. Juliet Fishing - TN               0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
108. Owen Williams - Jase Quattlebaum             Rehobeth Junior Bass Team - AL        0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
108. Fisher Williams - Cooper Kennedy             Bolivar Middle School - MO            0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        74       274       496-07
----------------------------------
74       274       496-07


PATRICK WALTERS SECURE DAY ONE SAGINAW BAY LEAD

With a 20-pound, 4-ounce limit of smallmouth, Patrick Walters takes the lead on day one at Saginaw Bay.

Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons

Coming into the event, Patrick Walters had planned to target smallmouth but after a tough event last year on day two, he dedicated a portion of his practice period to largemouth as a plan B for the event.

“I fished for smallmouth every day last year and it bit me in the butt,” said Walters. “This year, I did spend some time shallow as a plan I could rely on if the wind got too bad and the fish shut down. Today was a good day, I caught about 12 keepers, and I may swap things up tomorrow a little.”

Day two maybe when the plan B approach takes effect. Walters is keeping his eye on the weather forecast and may begin his day in search of a limit of largemouth to let the lake settle down before venturing back offshore.

“Tomorrow is expected to be challenging,” added Walters. “I may wait for a little to let things settle down and the lake conditions improve before fishing for the smallmouth. I did find some areas this year after catching only two bass on day two which cost me in the event.”

Walters noted he is fishing the standard plastic-type baits for both smallmouth and largemouth.

Louis Fernandes

The only angler in the top five weighing all largemouth, Louis Fernandes fished his way to an 18-pound, 12-ounce limit to finish day one in second place. Making a long run and fishing strictly shallow, the California angler believes he figured out a tactic that no other angler is doing to catch bigger quality largemouth.

“I started off making a long run and once I put my trolling motor down, I never picked it up until the end of the day,” said Fernandes. “I am fishing a way nobody else is fishing and caught over 60 fish today.”

With lots of anglers fishing shallow and the weights tight, catching a few bigger quality bass to separate yourself from the pack is key. Fernandes landed two bigger bites today and believes that will be the key to him having a shot on the final day.

“I know I can catch the 3-pound fish but the biggest ones are tough. I landed two today, and I saw the results on the leaderboard. 15 pounds in my areas should be easy but to have a shot I need to get that bigger bass in the boat,” he added.

Todd Goade

Todd Goade began the event in the second-place spot in Progressive Angler of the Year standings and wanted to ensure he remained consistent at Saginaw Bay. With an 18-pound, 8-ounce limit mixed with largemouth and smallmouth, he did exactly what he needed to get his event off on the right track.

“I had a dead fish penalty today which hurt a little bit but the fish were biting great first thing this morning,” said Goade. “I had four quality smallmouth on my starting spot and then went looking for largemouth.”

With wind expected to affect his areas on day two, Goade is planning on visiting some areas from practice he has saved for this wind direction and preventing any shake-up of his plan to stay consistent.

“Once I fish the smallmouth spot tomorrow morning, I am going to a ‘new’ to me area I found in practice and hope to repeat my day today. If that doesn’t work, I have more fish a long way away I was saving for Saturday, but I will run there if needed tomorrow.”

Coming into the event, Saginaw Bay was the one event Goade circled that would make or break his season. He is off to a good start executing his pre-event plan and looking good going into day two.

“I did my job,” added Goade. “I want to have a chance going into the last event at Lanier and I need to keep after it the next two days.”

Trent Palmer

With 18 pounds, 8 ounces on day one, Trent Palmerfished his third and fourth-best areas on day one to finish in the fourth-place spot. With wind forecasted to make running around a challenge, Palmer is playing some defense and managing his smallmouth areas while mixing in some largemouth as necessary this week.

“The areas today has good wind protection and I thought I could catch some good fish and that is what happened,” said Palmer. “Tomorrow is going to be a different story and I am going back to that area to get started while the lake sets up and then make a move to my primary area another 15 plus miles away.”

As he does back home, he is sight fishing for deeper bass using his Livescope and watching schools of 30-plus bass. The hard part, however, is getting them to bite.

“I am going to keep running and gunning and try to hit them on a feeding window,” added Palmer.

Mike Corbishley

With an 18-pound, 8-ounce bag on day one, Mike Corbishley ground out nine bites on his main smallmouth area to finish the day in fifth place. After making a 2.5-hour run in adverse conditions, the outlook for day two will be a game-time decision.

“It’s going to be rough tomorrow and I speared several waves today. I will keep checking the wind and decide when I wake up tomorrow if I am going to attempt the run,” said Corbishley. “The Phoenix ran great all day and it landed seven of my nine bites today.”

Corbishley spent 2.5 days of practice looking for smallmouth and located only three schools, and one with size. He also planned for the worst and looked for largemouth. If the weather is too bad to make the run, he plans to hang back and try to survive day two before calmer winds will make the big lake travel much smoother.

Rest of the best:
Stu Martel 18-3
Barron Adams 16-11
Ron Johnson 15-14
Hunter Baughman 15-12
Dustin Smith 15-10

 


Johnston overcomes crowded waters to lead Day 1 at Bassmaster Open on St. Lawrence River

Cory Johnston of Cavan, Canada, is leading after Day 1 of the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River with 26 pounds, 14 ounces. 

Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.

July 20, 2023

WADDINGTON, N.Y. — Cory Johnston knows the fishery of his youth is hardly a secret, but the Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Cavan, Ontario, battled through extreme crowding to round up a limit of 26 pounds, 14 ounces that leads Day 1 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River.

Johnston, who won the 2021 Bassmaster Open on the same fishery, leads Jody White of Shaftsbury, Vt., by 1-3. Having grown up fishing the river, Johnston has seen this stellar fishery attract a steadily increasing level of attention — and boat traffic.

“This was the toughest practice I’ve ever had,” Johnston said. “This fishery’s changing. It’s getting a ton of pressure and the fish are doing different stuff, so I kinda had to adjust today and came across the right ones.

“When I was here for pre-practice, I have never seen so many boats on this river. I couldn’t even get a spot at a boat ramp. These fish feel the pressure and they don’t go to where they’re typically at.”

Johnston said his main adjustment came down to hunting individual bass in areas with less pressure. Doing most of his work on flats with isolated structure, Johnston relied heavily on his electronics to spot his skittish targets.

“I caught one in 2 feet of water today, and I caught the rest in 35 feet,” Johnston said. “I was using Garmin LiveScope and picking apart the structure and looking for the bigger fish.”

Johnston said he caught all of his bass on a drop shot with a 3/4-ounce weight and a prototype 6th Sense soft-plastic bait. Noting that he burned two full tanks of gas, Johnston said he covered nearly the entire length of the tournament boundaries.

“I spent a lot of time looking for fish today,” he said. “I hit 40 spots and you’d just catch one here, one there. They’re not grouped up anywhere and that’s part of the problem.

“There’s no specific area I’m fishing. I’m just running down the river and I’m like, ‘That looks good,’ and I’ll pull over and fish it. It might be a shallow patch, or it might be a rock in 30 feet of water.”

Last year, Johnston became the first angler to break 100 pounds with all smallmouth in a four-day event, during the Bassmaster Elite at the St. Lawrence. His four-day total weighed 100-5, though he ultimately finished second.

Johnston knows another Century Club Belt isn’t realistic in the three-day Opens format, but he’s hoping to back up his opening-round effort with a solid Day 2 bag. Contrasting Day 1’s calm, sunny complexion, Friday’s forecast for rain and strong winds will likely impact the opportunities.

“I’m glad I caught a big bag today because I can’t see that happening again tomorrow,” Johnston said. “I need to do something to stay in contention and hopefully catch a 23-pound bag.”

White, who sits in second place with 25-11, enjoyed a highly productive morning, despite a later boat number and a deck maintenance issue. He had to stop short of his upriver destination when one of his baits came loose and line started flying off one of his reels.

“This morning was incredible,” he said. “I got to where I wanted to go, and I had my weight by probably 9 o’clock. I thought my late boat draw would hurt me, but it didn’t.”

White said he fished current-related places in 30 to 50 feet and caught his fish on a mix of drop shots and other finesse baits. Intuitively adapting to fish behavior, he said, came easy.

“Champlain is my home lake and I love it, but the St. Lawrence might be my new favorite place to fish,” White said. “There’s just something about it. I feel like I understand it and flow with it pretty well right now — at least the deep side.”

Brent Anderson of Kingston Springs, Tenn., is in third place with 24-10. With a combination of factors pointing him toward something familiar, Anderson stuck with one technique and caught all of his bass within a short run from takeoff.

“I had a short day today and no co-angler, so having no one in the back of the boat, I can be more efficient,” he said. “I’ve guided on the Tennessee River for 20 years, and I just treated these (St. Lawrence River) shoals like Tennessee River ledges.”

Anderson caught fish on a drop shot but added one of his better smallmouth on a goby imitator he designed. Noting that he caught (approximately) 60 bass, Anderson said his day required quantity to find the quality.

“I had to catch so many 3- to 4 1/4-pounders,” Anderson said. “Hopefully, there’s some left, but to get to those 5-pounders, I have to weed through them.”

Johnston is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 6-11.

David Waack of Cary, N.C., leads the co-angler division with 13-11.

Perry See of Rochester, Minn., holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead among co-anglers with a 5-12.

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6 a.m. ET at Whitaker Park. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 2 p.m. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.

The 2023 event is being hosted by the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Village of Waddington. It is part of a series of tournaments and is supported by a Market New York grant from I LOVE NY/New York State’s Division of Tourism through the Regional Economic Development Council initiative.

2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River 7/20-7/22
St. Lawrence River, Waddington  NY.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1.  Cory Johnston          Cavan CANADA             5  26-14  200
Day 1: 5   26-14
2.  Jody White             Shaftsbury, VT           5  25-11  199
Day 1: 5   25-11
3.  Brent Anderson         Kingston Springs, TN     5  24-10  198
Day 1: 5   24-10
4.  Logan Parks            Auburn, AL               5  24-04  197
Day 1: 5   24-04
5.  Chris Beaudrie         Princeton, KY            5  23-12  196
Day 1: 5   23-12
6.  Kenta Kimura           Osaka JAPAN              5  23-08  195
Day 1: 5   23-08
7.  JT Thompkins           Myrtle Beach, SC         5  23-08  194
Day 1: 5   23-08
8.  Bo Thomas              Edwardsburg, MI          5  23-07  193
Day 1: 5   23-07
9.  Jamie Bruce            Kenora Ontario CANADA    5  23-05  192
Day 1: 5   23-05
10. Chad Pipkens           Dewitt, MI               5  23-03  191
Day 1: 5   23-03
11. Brock Belik            Orchard, NE              5  22-14  190
Day 1: 5   22-14
12. Zach Goutremout        Chaumont, NY             5  22-13  189
Day 1: 5   22-13
13. Jack Dice              Lynchburg, VA            5  22-11  188
Day 1: 5   22-11
14. Erik Luzak             Fenelon Falls CANADA     5  22-02  187
Day 1: 5   22-02
15. Cody Stahl             Barnsville, GA           5  22-01  186
Day 1: 5   22-01
16. Jacob Bigelow          Cecil, WI                5  21-12  185
Day 1: 5   21-12
17. Joey Cifuentes III     Clinton, AR              5  21-08  184
Day 1: 5   21-08
18. Josh Bragg             Fayetteville, GA         5  21-08  183
Day 1: 5   21-08
19. Evan Kung              Pickering Ontario CANAD  5  21-05  182
Day 1: 5   21-05
20. Ty Faber               Pagosa Springs, CO       5  21-05  181
Day 1: 5   21-05
21. Kyle Monti             Okeechobee, FL           5  21-04  180
Day 1: 5   21-04
22. Rich Ortiz             Fort Ann, NY             5  21-02  179
Day 1: 5   21-02
23. Brady Vernon           Sterrett, AL             5  21-00  178
Day 1: 5   21-00
24. Gary Miller            Stouffville Ontario CAN  5  20-13  177
Day 1: 5   20-13
24. David Williams         Newton, NC               5  20-13  177
Day 1: 5   20-13
26. Brian Post             Janesville, WI           5  20-09  175
Day 1: 5   20-09
27. Matt Pangrac           Shawnee, OK              5  20-06  174
Day 1: 5   20-06
28. Austin Cranford        Norman, OK               5  20-06  173
Day 1: 5   20-06
29. Blake Smith            Lakeland, FL             5  20-03  172
Day 1: 5   20-03
30. Trevor McKinney        Benton, IL               5  20-00  171
Day 1: 5   20-00
31. Kyle Goltz             Cornell, WI              5  20-00  170
Day 1: 5   20-00
32. Brett Cannon           Willis, TX               5  19-15  169
Day 1: 5   19-15
33. Craig Chambers         Midland, NC              5  19-13  168
Day 1: 5   19-13
33. John Garrett           Union City, TN           5  19-13  168
Day 1: 5   19-13
35. Jonathan Dietz         Corry, PA                5  19-12  166
Day 1: 5   19-12
36. Jon Canada             Helena, AL               5  19-11  165
Day 1: 5   19-11
36. Alex Heintze           Denham Springs, LA       5  19-11  165
Day 1: 5   19-11
38. Scott Hamrick          Denver, NC               5  19-08  163
Day 1: 5   19-08
39. Matt Henry             Milledgeville, GA        5  19-08  162
Day 1: 5   19-08
40. Justin Kimmel          Athens, GA               5  19-07  161
Day 1: 5   19-07
41. Jason Lambert          Savannah, TN             5  19-04  160
Day 1: 5   19-04
42. Jonathan Kelley        Old Forge, PA            5  19-00  159
Day 1: 5   19-00
43. Kurt Mitchell          Milford, DE              5  18-15  158
Day 1: 5   18-15
44. Steve Tennison         Lexington, OK            5  18-15  157
Day 1: 5   18-15
45. Buck Mallory           Lawton, MI               5  18-14  156
Day 1: 5   18-14
46. Chris Dover            Blacksburg, SC           5  18-13  155
Day 1: 5   18-13
47. Julius Mazy            Phoenix, AZ              5  18-11  154
Day 1: 5   18-11
48. Brandon McMillan       Clewiston, FL            5  18-09  153
Day 1: 5   18-09
49. Chris Keeble           Lenoir City, TN          5  18-09  152
Day 1: 5   18-09
50. Brian Mullaney         Ijamsville, MD           5  18-08  151
Day 1: 5   18-08
51. Garrett Paquette       Canton, MI               5  18-07  150
Day 1: 5   18-07
51. Cameron Smith          Wareham, MA              5  18-07  150
Day 1: 5   18-07
53. Brad Knight            Lancing, TN              5  18-07  148
Day 1: 5   18-07
53. Casey Smith            Victor, NY               5  18-07  148
Day 1: 5   18-07
55. Paul Browning          Pecos, TX                5  18-07  146
Day 1: 5   18-07
56. Cole Drummond          Effingham, SC            5  18-06  145
Day 1: 5   18-06
56. Bobby Lane Jr.         Lakeland, FL             5  18-06  145
Day 1: 5   18-06
58. Steve Morella          Townshend, VT            5  18-06  143
Day 1: 5   18-06
59. Scout Echols           Monticello, AR           5  18-05  142
Day 1: 5   18-05
60. Dale Hightower         Mannford, OK             5  18-04  141
Day 1: 5   18-04
61. Wesley Gore            Clanton, AL              5  18-03  140
Day 1: 5   18-03
62. Harvey Horne           Bella Vista, AR          5  18-00  139
Day 1: 5   18-00
63. Trey Swindle           Cleveland, AL            5  18-00  138
Day 1: 5   18-00
64. John Murray            Spring City, TN          5  17-15  137
Day 1: 5   17-15
64. Michael Spaulding Jr.  Dundee, MI               5  17-15  137
Day 1: 5   17-15
66. Kyle Austin            Ridgeville, SC           5  17-14  135
Day 1: 5   17-14
67. Jimmy Washam           Stantonville, TN         5  17-14  134
Day 1: 5   17-14
68. Jake Maddux            Birmingham, AL           5  17-13  133
Day 1: 5   17-13
68. Trey McKinney          Carbondale, IL           5  17-13  133
Day 1: 5   17-13
70. Tyler Williams         Belgrade, ME             5  17-12  131
Day 1: 5   17-12
71. Ish Monroe             Oakdale, CA              5  17-12  130
Day 1: 5   17-12
72. Kevin Ledoux           Choctaw, OK              5  17-12  129
Day 1: 5   17-12
73. Seiji Kato             Outsu Shiga JAPAN        5  17-11  128
Day 1: 5   17-11
74. Kyle Patrick           Cooperstown, NY          5  17-11  127
Day 1: 5   17-11
74. Jason Tibbetts         Centreville, VA          5  17-11  127
Day 1: 5   17-11
76. Mike Surman            Boca Raton, FL           5  17-10  125
Day 1: 5   17-10
76. Tucker Veronee         Gilbert, SC              5  17-10  125
Day 1: 5   17-10
78. Wesley Cashwell        Roanoke Rapids, NC       5  17-09  123
Day 1: 5   17-09
78. Zeke Gossett           Pell City, AL            5  17-09  123
Day 1: 5   17-09
80. Bobby Lanham           Eddyville, KY            5  17-07  121
Day 1: 5   17-07
80. Andrew Mlotek          Indianapolis, IN         5  17-07  121
Day 1: 5   17-07
82. Ryan Clark             Whitby Ontario CANADA    5  17-06  119
Day 1: 5   17-06
83. Louis Monetti          Brielle, NJ              5  17-05  118
Day 1: 5   17-05
84. Wil Dieffenbauch III   Hundred, WV              5  17-04  117
Day 1: 5   17-04
85. Robert Gee             Knoxville, TN            5  17-03  116
Day 1: 5   17-03
86. Chris Blanchette       Edisto Island, SC        5  17-02  115
Day 1: 5   17-02
86. Derek Lehtonen         Woodruff, SC             5  17-02  115
Day 1: 5   17-02
86. Kenny Mittelstaedt     Minnetonka, MN           5  17-02  115
Day 1: 5   17-02
86. Evan Poroznik          Nestleton Station CANAD  5  17-02  115
Day 1: 5   17-02
90. Taylor Watkins         Clinton, TN              5  17-02  111
Day 1: 5   17-02
91. Ryan Broughman         Corapeake, NC            5  17-02  110
Day 1: 5   17-02
92. Brad Leuthner          Victoria, MN             5  17-01  109
Day 1: 5   17-01
93. Hunter Sales           Blaine, TN               5  17-00  108
Day 1: 5   17-00
94. Shaine Campbell        Brookeland, TX           5  16-15  107
Day 1: 5   16-15
95. Powell Kemp            Scotland Neck, NC        5  16-15  106
Day 1: 5   16-15
96. Darrell Davis          Dover, FL                5  16-13  105
Day 1: 5   16-13
96. Reese Hudson           Broomall, PA             5  16-13  105
Day 1: 5   16-13
98. Andrew Upshaw          Hemphill, TX             5  16-13  103
Day 1: 5   16-13
99. Keith Tuma             Brainerd, MN             5  16-12  102
Day 1: 5   16-12
100. Paul Bouvier           Kingston CANADA          5  16-12  101
Day 1: 5   16-12
101. Logan Johnson          Jasper, AL               5  16-11  100
Day 1: 5   16-11
101. Brandon Tallhamer      Parkersburg, WV          5  16-11  100
Day 1: 5   16-11
103. Keith Brumfield        Vicksburg, MS            5  16-11   98
Day 1: 5   16-11
104. Jack Tindel III        Orange, TX               5  16-09   97
Day 1: 5   16-09
105. Chad Grigsby           Maple Grove, MN          5  16-08   96
Day 1: 5   16-08
106. Jason Abram            Piney Flats, TN          5  16-07   95
Day 1: 5   16-07
107. Adam Rasmussen         Sturgeon Bay, WI         5  16-06   94
Day 1: 5   16-06
108. Allan Nail             Sand Springs, OK         5  16-03   93
Day 1: 5   16-03
108. B.J. Usie              Bourg, LA                5  16-03   93
Day 1: 5   16-03
110. Cal Climpson           Cavan CANADA             5  16-03   91
Day 1: 5   16-03
111. Clark Reehm            Elm Grove, LA            4  16-00   90
Day 1: 4   16-00
112. Mark Dimarzio          McDonald, PA             5  15-15   89
Day 1: 5   15-15
113. Jonathan Bowling       Harriman, TN             5  15-14   88
Day 1: 5   15-14
114. David Wootton          Collierville, TN         5  15-13   87
Day 1: 5   15-13
115. Jacob Thompkins        Myrtle Beach, SC         5  15-10   86
Day 1: 5   15-10
116. Bailey Boutries        Springfield, MO          5  15-10   85
Day 1: 5   15-10
117. Brett Carnright        Plattsburgh, NY          5  15-08   84
Day 1: 5   15-08
118. Sam George             Athens, AL               4  15-06   83
Day 1: 4   15-06
119. Chad Warren            Sand Springs, OK         5  15-01   82
Day 1: 5   15-01
120. Josh Hubbard           Dunnellon, FL            5  15-00   81
Day 1: 5   15-00
121. Hugh Cosculluela       Spring, TX               5  14-15   80
Day 1: 5   14-15
121. Paul Flint             Valatie, NY              5  14-15   80
Day 1: 5   14-15
121. Jack York              Emory, TX                5  14-15   80
Day 1: 5   14-15
124. Daniel Valois Gomez    Caracas FL VENEZUELA     5  14-13   77
Day 1: 5   14-13
125. Logan Anderson         Catawba, NC              5  14-10   76
Day 1: 5   14-10
125. Reece Tremaglio        Dunkirk, MD              5  14-10   76
Day 1: 5   14-10
127. Takayuki Koike         Otsu-City JAPAN          4  14-09   74
Day 1: 4   14-09
128. Tripp Noojin           Bryant, AL               5  14-08   73
Day 1: 5   14-08
129. Ben Milliken           New Caney, TX            5  14-06   72
Day 1: 5   14-06
130. Ed Powell              Sandyville, WV           5  14-06   71
Day 1: 5   14-06
131. Greg Bohannan          Bentonville, AR          5  14-05   70
Day 1: 5   14-05
132. Steven Camp            Mechanicsvlle, VA        5  14-04   69
Day 1: 5   14-04
132. Shane Lineberger       Lincolnton, NC           5  14-04   69
Day 1: 5   14-04
132. Danny McGarry          Newcastle CANADA         5  14-04   69
Day 1: 5   14-04
135. Douglas Reed           Bridgeton, NJ            5  14-04   66
Day 1: 5   14-04
136. Lucas Bogosian         Harrington Park, NJ      5  14-03   65
Day 1: 5   14-03
137. Casey Scanlon          Eldon, MO                5  14-02   64
Day 1: 5   14-02
138. JT Russell             Mc Calla, AL             5  14-02   63
Day 1: 5   14-02
139. Rick Mitchell          Naples, FL               5  14-01   62
Day 1: 5   14-01
139. Joey Nania             Cropwell, AL             5  14-01   62
Day 1: 5   14-01
141. Jeff Salmon            Mechanicsville, VA       5  13-13   60
Day 1: 5   13-13
142. Chase Clarke           Virginia Beach, VA       5  13-12   59
Day 1: 5   13-12
143. Pete Gluszek           Mount Laurel, NJ         5  13-11   58
Day 1: 5   13-11
144. Denny Fiedler          Wabasha, MN              5  13-10   57
Day 1: 5   13-10
145. Flash Butts            Roanoke Rapids, NC       5  13-08   56
Day 1: 5   13-08
146. Clay Samples           South Boston, VA         5  13-07   55
Day 1: 5   13-07
147. Blake Sylvester        Plaquemine, LA           5  13-07   54
Day 1: 5   13-07
148. Jordan Sanderlin       Kill Devil Hills, NC     4  13-06   53
Day 1: 4   13-06
149. Chancy Walters         West Des Moines, IA      4  13-05   52
Day 1: 4   13-05
150. Lance Owen             Greer, SC                5  13-03   51
Day 1: 5   13-03
151. Tommy Williams         Shepherdsville, KY       5  13-03   50
Day 1: 5   13-03
152. Chris Whitson          Louisville, TN           5  13-00   49
Day 1: 5   13-00
153. Lafe Messer            Warfield, KY             4  13-00   48
Day 1: 4   13-00
154. Tony Dumitras          Winston, GA              5  12-15   47
Day 1: 5   12-15
155. Willy Dennison         Willoughby Hills, OH     5  12-14   46
Day 1: 5   12-14
155. Andrew Harp            Linden, TX               5  12-14   46
Day 1: 5   12-14
155. Cass Terrance          Akwewsane, NY            5  12-14   46
Day 1: 5   12-14
158. Griffin Phillips       Mount Olive, AL          5  12-12   43
Day 1: 5   12-12
158. Michael Rowe           Providence Forge, VA     5  12-12   43
Day 1: 5   12-12
160. Jason Meninger         Yulee, FL                5  12-11   41
Day 1: 5   12-11
161. Danny Ramsey           Trinidad, TX             5  12-11   40
Day 1: 5   12-11
162. Matt Messer            Warfield, KY             5  12-09   39
Day 1: 5   12-09
163. John Watts Jr          Flushing, MI             4  12-09   38
Day 1: 4   12-09
164. Kyoya Fujita           Minamitsuru, Yamanashi   5  12-08   37
Day 1: 5   12-08
164. Rick Hawkins           Roanoke, VA              5  12-08   37
Day 1: 5   12-08
164. Chris Hellebuyck       White Lake, MI           5  12-08   37
Day 1: 5   12-08
167. Phil Killian           Solomon, AZ              5  12-06   34
Day 1: 5   12-06
168. John Soukup            Sapulpa, OK              5  12-04   33
Day 1: 5   12-04
169. Cody Detweiler         Guntersville, AL         4  12-02   32
Day 1: 4   12-02
170. Kayden Tanner          Tolar, TX                4  12-00   31
Day 1: 4   12-00
171. Johnathan Crossland    Chapin, SC               5  11-15   30
Day 1: 5   11-15
171. Whitney Stephens       Waverly, OH              5  11-15   30
Day 1: 5   11-15
173. David Perdue           Wirtz, VA                5  11-15   28
Day 1: 5   11-15
174. Teb Jones              Yalaha, MS               5  11-13   27
Day 1: 5   11-13
175. Stacey Jefferson       Conway, SC               5  11-12   26
Day 1: 5   11-12
176. Tim Frederick          Leesburg, FL             5  11-09   25
Day 1: 5   11-09
177. Christian Shoda        Homosassa, FL            5  11-08   24
Day 1: 5   11-08
178. Tom Frink              Southside, AL            5  11-07   23
Day 1: 5   11-07
179. Scott Isaacs           Ladonia, TX              5  11-04   22
Day 1: 5   11-04
180. Mike Mayo              Athens, TX               5  11-04   21
Day 1: 5   11-04
181. Destin DeMarion        Harborcreek, PA          5  11-02   20
Day 1: 5   11-02
182. Les Zacny              Orangeville Ontario CAN  4  11-02   19
Day 1: 4   11-02
183. Shayne Berlo           Mclean, VA               5  11-01   18
Day 1: 5   11-01
184. Billy McDonald         Greenwood, IN            5  10-15   17
Day 1: 5   10-15
185. Chris Kingree          Inverness, FL            5  10-11   16
Day 1: 5   10-11
186. Charlie Hartley        Grove City, OH           5  10-09   15
Day 1: 5   10-09
187. Jason Carpenter        Castle Pines, CO         5  10-08   14
Day 1: 5   10-08
188. Daisuke Kita           Ostu Shiga JAPAN         5  10-05   13
Day 1: 5   10-05
189. Bryan Bickell          Newcastle CANADA         5  09-14   12
Day 1: 5   09-14
190. Evan Barnes            Dardanelle, AR           5  09-12   11
Day 1: 5   09-12
191. Alex Murray            Lake Charles, LA         4  09-12   10
Day 1: 4   09-12
192. Jerry Gallogly Jr      North Tazewell, VA       3  09-12    9
Day 1: 3   09-12
193. Burke Hutcheson        Hillsborough, NC         5  09-10    8
Day 1: 5   09-10
194. Joey Hanna             Corsicana, TX            4  09-03    7
Day 1: 4   09-03
195. Bart Stanisz           Austin, TX               4  08-12    6
Day 1: 4   08-12
196. Andrew Hargrove        Moody, TX                3  08-07    5
Day 1: 3   08-07
197. Scott Kerslake         Okeechobee, FL           4  08-04    4
Day 1: 4   08-04
198. TJ Dobs                Oneida , NY              4  08-03    3
Day 1: 4   08-03
199. Tyler Lubbat           Wheeling, IL             2  08-00    2
Day 1: 2   08-00
200. Miles Burghoff         Dayton, TN               4  07-15    1
Day 1: 4   07-15
200. Chris Dillow           Waynesboro, VA           4  07-15    1
Day 1: 4   07-15
202. Rick Hamer             Charleston, WV           3  07-12    0
Day 1: 3   07-12
203. Jeff Mcbeth            New Phila, OH            3  06-14    0
Day 1: 3   06-14
204. Joe Labarbera          Montrose, PA             2  06-10    0
Day 1: 2   06-10
205. Gary Krammes Jr.       Pottsville, PA           3  06-03    0
Day 1: 3   06-03
206. Angela Mayo            Maiden, NC               2  03-06    0
Day 1: 2   03-06
207. Nick Radtke            Greenwood Lake, NY       1  02-07    0
Day 1: 1   02-07
208. A.J. Menssen           Bloomington, IL          1  01-14    0
Day 1: 1   01-14
209. Bronk Mcdaniel         Alexandria, LA           0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
209. Alec Morrison          Peru, NY                 0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
209. James Niggemeyer       Van, TX                  0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
209. Brayden Rakes          Winston Salem, NC        0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
209. Kenji Yamada           Hixson, TN               0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       181       996      3284-11
----------------------------------
181       996      3284-11

 

2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River 7/20-7/22
St. Lawrence River, Waddington  NY.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1.  David Waack            Cary, NC                 3  13-11  200
Day 1: 3   13-11
2.  Perry See              Rochester, MN            3  13-09  199
Day 1: 3   13-09
3.  David Pilcher          De Ruyter, NY            3  13-07  198
Day 1: 3   13-07
4.  Michael Schrader       North Attleboro, MA      3  13-01  197
Day 1: 3   13-01
5.  Johnnie Garrett        Union City, TN           3  12-11  196
Day 1: 3   12-11
6.  Aaron Busch            East Syracuse, NY        3  12-05  195
Day 1: 3   12-05
6.  David Camp             Sterling, OH             3  12-05  195
Day 1: 3   12-05
8.  Chad Stahl             Barnesville, GA          3  12-04  193
Day 1: 3   12-04
9.  Darren Marcine         Merlin CANADA            3  12-01  192
Day 1: 3   12-01
10. Rick Cheatham          Carterville, IL          3  12-00  191
Day 1: 3   12-00
11. Melvin Bowling         Shenandoah, VA           3  11-15  190
Day 1: 3   11-15
12. Sakae Ushio            Tonawanda, NY            3  11-10  189
Day 1: 3   11-10
13. Cade Bacon             Pennellville, NY         3  11-07  188
Day 1: 3   11-07
14. Benjamin Antoniewicz   Mosinee, WI              3  11-06  187
Day 1: 3   11-06
15. Jimmy Schaffer         Oak Ridge, NJ            3  11-05  186
Day 1: 3   11-05
16. Ty Kenyon              Dodgeville, WI           3  11-03  185
Day 1: 3   11-03
17. James Tilley           Aylett, VA               3  11-02  184
Day 1: 3   11-02
18. Tristan Bramblett      Tiger, GA                3  11-01  183
Day 1: 3   11-01
19. Creed David            Zachary, LA              3  11-00  182
Day 1: 3   11-00
19. Addison Kelly          Queensbury, NY           3  11-00  182
Day 1: 3   11-00
21. David Chamberlain      Hampton, VA              3  10-14  180
Day 1: 3   10-14
21. Mark Hughes            Saegertown, PA           3  10-14  180
Day 1: 3   10-14
23. John Ciavaglia         Pittsford, NY            3  10-13  178
Day 1: 3   10-13
24. Dylan Drephal          Black Creek, WI          3  10-12  177
Day 1: 3   10-12
24. Gary Haraguchi         Murfreesboro, TN         3  10-12  177
Day 1: 3   10-12
24. Ronald Young           New Braunfels, TX        3  10-12  177
Day 1: 3   10-12
27. John Boandl            Moscow, PA               3  10-11  174
Day 1: 3   10-11
27. Chuck Vacanti          Penn Yan, NY             3  10-11  174
Day 1: 3   10-11
27. Alex  Watts            Salem, VA                3  10-11  174
Day 1: 3   10-11
30. John Mills             Leesville, SC            3  10-10  171
Day 1: 3   10-10
31. Dai Kitajima           Otsu-Shi JAPAN           3  10-10  170
Day 1: 3   10-10
32. Sergio Render          Crockett, VA             3  10-10  169
Day 1: 3   10-10
33. Austin Olsby           Oak grove, MN            3  10-09  168
Day 1: 3   10-09
34. Joe Lineberry          Ramseaur,, NC            3  10-09  167
Day 1: 3   10-09
35. Joseph Horne           Bella Vista, AR          3  10-08  166
Day 1: 3   10-08
35. Bobby Scott            Poultney, VT             3  10-08  166
Day 1: 3   10-08
37. Michael Hunt           Watertown, NY            3  10-07  164
Day 1: 3   10-07
38. Weston Phillips        Athens, AL               3  10-06  163
Day 1: 3   10-06
39. Riku Hayashi           Ritto Shiga JAPAN        3  10-05  162
Day 1: 3   10-05
40. JK Kutil               Beaufort, SC             3  10-04  161
Day 1: 3   10-04
41. Charles Bowman II      Kernersville, NC         3  10-03  160
Day 1: 3   10-03
42. Kenneth L Brown        Leesburg, VA             3  10-01  159
Day 1: 3   10-01
43. Curtis Gossett         Pell City, AL            3  09-15  158
Day 1: 3   09-15
43. Lonnie Mesar           New Richmond, WI         3  09-15  158
Day 1: 3   09-15
45. Matt Kelly             CAMBRIDGE Ontario CANAD  3  09-13  156
Day 1: 3   09-13
45. Eric Santoro           Oshawa Ontario CANADA    3  09-13  156
Day 1: 3   09-13
47. Manoshi Mano           Koto-Ku JAPAN            3  09-12  154
Day 1: 3   09-12
48. Phillip Arnold         Powhatan, VA             3  09-12  153
Day 1: 3   09-12
49. David Booth            Erin, TN                 3  09-11  152
Day 1: 3   09-11
50. Frank McCormick        Warwick, RI              3  09-11  151
Day 1: 3   09-11
51. Marc Letourneau        Brome Quebec CANADA      3  09-09  150
Day 1: 3   09-09
51. Brent Temple           BREWERTON, NY            3  09-09  150
Day 1: 3   09-09
53. Chris Donavant         Yorktown, VA             3  09-08  148
Day 1: 3   09-08
54. Bob Bauer              China Grove, NC          3  09-07  147
Day 1: 3   09-07
54. Yua Kishimoto          Osaka JORDAN             3  09-07  147
Day 1: 3   09-07
54. Dan O'Callaghan        Chalfont, PA             3  09-07  147
Day 1: 3   09-07
54. Joe Tomasino           Pennsburg, PA            3  09-07  147
Day 1: 3   09-07
58. Bryce Bason            Mill Hall, PA            3  09-06  143
Day 1: 3   09-06
58. Mark Kendra            Great Meadows, NJ        3  09-06  143
Day 1: 3   09-06
60. Tim Rulon              Downingtown, PA          3  09-05  141
Day 1: 3   09-05
61. Phillip Easterling     Clanton, AL              3  09-04  140
Day 1: 3   09-04
61. Tonk Kingphilavanh     Cambridge Ontarion CANA  3  09-04  140
Day 1: 3   09-04
63. Logan Powell           West Point, NY           3  09-04  138
Day 1: 3   09-04
64. Rick Ganoung           Chenango Forks, NY       3  09-03  137
Day 1: 3   09-03
64. Erik Talty             Brick, NJ                3  09-03  137
Day 1: 3   09-03
66. Dean Gibbs             North Chesterfield, VA   3  09-01  135
Day 1: 3   09-01
66. Michael Leach          Shenandoah, TX           3  09-01  135
Day 1: 3   09-01
68. Will Nutting           Granger, IN              3  09-00  133
Day 1: 3   09-00
69. Trevor Easter          Morgan, TX               3  08-15  132
Day 1: 3   08-15
69. David Wright           Ft. Meade, MD            3  08-15  132
Day 1: 3   08-15
71. Randy Tallhamer        Brandenton, FL           3  08-14  130
Day 1: 3   08-14
72. Kenneth Ott            Manahawkin, NJ           3  08-14  129
Day 1: 3   08-14
73. Erik Fossum            Porter, ME               3  08-12  128
Day 1: 3   08-12
73. Dan Loux               Quakertown, PA           3  08-12  128
Day 1: 3   08-12
75. Trenton Carey          York Springs, PA         3  08-11  126
Day 1: 3   08-11
76. Scott Devault          New Philadelphia, OH     3  08-10  125
Day 1: 3   08-10
76. Avery Williams         Murrells Inlt, SC        3  08-10  125
Day 1: 3   08-10
78. Ian Freeman            Hickory, NC              3  08-10  123
Day 1: 3   08-10
79. Ricky Fulk             Shenandoah, VA           3  08-09  122
Day 1: 3   08-09
80. Alec Fernandez         Medford, NJ              3  08-08  121
Day 1: 3   08-08
80. Rick Ivy               Ponder, TX               3  08-08  121
Day 1: 3   08-08
82. Travis Turcotte        Pembroke CANADA          3  08-08  119
Day 1: 3   08-08
83. Joshua Geyer           Loganton, PA             3  08-07  118
Day 1: 3   08-07
84. Cody Smith             South Windsor, CT        3  08-06  117
Day 1: 3   08-06
85. Matt Champion          Scottsville, NY          3  08-02  116
Day 1: 3   08-02
86. Chip Stith Jr          Piscataway, NJ           3  08-01  115
Day 1: 3   08-01
87. Gary Hall              Wardville, OK            3  08-00  114
Day 1: 3   08-00
87. Billy Limerick         Chandler, TX             3  08-00  114
Day 1: 3   08-00
89. Richard Greene         Ocala, FL                3  07-15  112
Day 1: 3   07-15
89. Jordan LaClair         Ogdensburg, NY           3  07-15  112
Day 1: 3   07-15
89. Alex Richmond          South Elgin, IL          3  07-15  112
Day 1: 3   07-15
92. James Cobbs            VINEMONT, AL             3  07-14  109
Day 1: 3   07-14
93. John Sanderlin         Chesapeake, VA           3  07-14  108
Day 1: 3   07-14
94. Jimmy Brumfield        Madison, MS              3  07-12  107
Day 1: 3   07-12
94. Jesse Buss             Pennsburg, PA            3  07-12  107
Day 1: 3   07-12
94. Scott Johnsen          Wallkill, NY             3  07-12  107
Day 1: 3   07-12
97. Harvey Reece           Chesterfield, VA         3  07-11  104
Day 1: 3   07-11
98. Liam Kendra            Great Meadows, NJ        3  07-10  103
Day 1: 3   07-10
99.  Alex Brogan           Fishers, IN              3  07-10  102
Day 1: 3   07-10
100. Jo Jo Walsh            Lyles, TN                3  07-09  101
Day 1: 3   07-09
101. James Roten            West Jefferson, NC       3  07-08  100
Day 1: 3   07-08
102. Jeff Mellott           Warfordsburg, PA         3  07-07   99
Day 1: 3   07-07
102. Joe Sodora             Garfield, NJ             3  07-07   99
Day 1: 3   07-07
104. Seth Gabri             Madrid, NY               3  07-06   97
Day 1: 3   07-06
104. Hayden Reed            Bridgeton, NJ            3  07-06   97
Day 1: 3   07-06
106. Tyler Smith            Portage, MI              3  07-06   95
Day 1: 3   07-06
107. Dylan Mayo             Athens, TX               3  07-05   94
Day 1: 3   07-05
107. Jesse Simpkins         Minocqua, WI             3  07-05   94
Day 1: 3   07-05
109. Chad Penney            Mansfield, TX            3  07-05   92
Day 1: 3   07-05
110. Tony Long              Moseley, VA              3  07-04   91
Day 1: 3   07-04
110. Alex Reece             Greenville, SC           3  07-04   91
Day 1: 3   07-04
112. Fletcher Phillips      Mount Olive, AL          3  07-04   89
Day 1: 3   07-04
113. Joseph Shaw            Madison, WI              2  07-04   88
Day 1: 2   07-04
114. Akira Okuyama          Forest Hills, NY         2  07-03   87
Day 1: 2   07-03
114. Felicia Pavelich       New Dundee Ontario CANA  2  07-03   87
Day 1: 2   07-03
116. Jason Dubernas         Old Forge, PA            3  07-01   85
Day 1: 3   07-01
117. Archie Eslinger        Paris, IL                3  07-00   84
Day 1: 3   07-00
117. Russell Hoyle          Hickory, NC              3  07-00   84
Day 1: 3   07-00
117. Gregory Mintz          Potsdam, NY              3  07-00   84
Day 1: 3   07-00
120. Scott Bannerman        Stratford CANADA         3  06-15   81
Day 1: 3   06-15
121. Jason Gibson           Iron Station, NC         2  06-15   80
Day 1: 2   06-15
122. Dave McQuate           Doylestown, PA           3  06-14   79
Day 1: 3   06-14
123. Scott Weiland          Saddle Brook, NJ         2  06-14   78
Day 1: 2   06-14
124. AJ Jones               Lutz, FL                 3  06-13   77
Day 1: 3   06-13
125. Laz Durham             Dumfries, VA             3  06-11   76
Day 1: 3   06-11
125. Mathew Thompson        Hogansburg, NY           3  06-11   76
Day 1: 3   06-11
127. Brad Hollowell         Azle, TX                 3  06-11   74
Day 1: 3   06-11
128. Allen Heston           Pittsburg, TX            3  06-10   73
Day 1: 3   06-10
128. Eric Stecker           Quakertown, PA           3  06-10   73
Day 1: 3   06-10
130. Justin Bell            Lacona, NY               3  06-09   71
Day 1: 3   06-09
131. Cody Howard            Snow Hill, NC            2  06-09   70
Day 1: 2   06-09
131. Steven Robbins         Piketon, OH              2  06-09   70
Day 1: 2   06-09
133. John Lewis             Centreville, VA          3  06-08   68
Day 1: 3   06-08
133. RD Roulston            Little Rock, AR          3  06-08   68
Day 1: 3   06-08
135. Phillip Medford        Whitakers, NC            2  06-08   66
Day 1: 2   06-08
135. Todd Winters           Troy, NY                 2  06-08   66
Day 1: 2   06-08
137. Jayden Adrians         Green Bay, WI            2  06-07   64
Day 1: 2   06-07
138. Jason Coughlin         Brasher Falls, NY        3  06-06   63
Day 1: 3   06-06
139. Ashley Bishop          Chesapeake, VA           3  06-05   62
Day 1: 3   06-05
139. John Higginbotham      Slaughter, LA            3  06-05   62
Day 1: 3   06-05
141. James Schneider        Watervliet, NY           3  06-04   60
Day 1: 3   06-04
142. Leslie Brandenburg     Springfield, MO          2  06-04   59
Day 1: 2   06-04
143. Dane Morris            Agoura Hills, CA         3  06-02   58
Day 1: 3   06-02
144. Ernest Brabon          Albion, NY               2  06-01   57
Day 1: 2   06-01
145. Steve Kiser            Tarboro, NC              2  05-12   56
Day 1: 2   05-12
146. Jim Boyce              Massena, NY              3  05-10   55
Day 1: 3   05-10
147. Mark Aaron             Gastonia, NC             3  05-07   54
Day 1: 3   05-07
148. William Clute          Hogansburg, NY           2  05-04   53
Day 1: 2   05-04
148. Mark Shopene           Point Pleasant Beach, N  2  05-04   53
Day 1: 2   05-04
150. Jeff Giffen            Phoenix, AZ              3  05-00   51
Day 1: 3   05-00
151. Chad Boyer             Elizabethtown, PA        3  04-15   50
Day 1: 3   04-15
151. Satoshi Egawa          Fort Lee, NJ             3  04-15   50
Day 1: 3   04-15
153. PJ Mcmanamon Jr        Ruby, NY                 2  04-15   48
Day 1: 2   04-15
154. Matthew Kremers        Pittsford, NY            2  04-14   47
Day 1: 2   04-14
155. Nikolai Amarose        Franklin, NJ             2  04-07   46
Day 1: 2   04-07
156. John Herring           Quakertown, PA           1  04-07   45
Day 1: 1   04-07
157. Bird Jones             Loxahatchee, FL          2  04-03   44
Day 1: 2   04-03
158. Clancy Hefferly        Taylors, SC              2  04-01   43
Day 1: 2   04-01
159. Donny Coffman          Russellville, AR         3  04-00   42
Day 1: 3   04-00
160. Guy Cisternino         Oak Ridge, NJ            3  03-15   41
Day 1: 3   03-15
161. Grady Phillips         Gardendale, AL           2  03-13   40
Day 1: 2   03-13
162. Joe Tucker             Osceola, MO              3  03-12   39
Day 1: 3   03-12
163. Jack Adams             Wynantskill, NY          2  03-09   38
Day 1: 2   03-09
163. Beanie Leuer           Lockport, NY             2  03-09   38
Day 1: 2   03-09
165. Paul Rush              New Martinsville, WV     1  03-09   36
Day 1: 1   03-09
166. Andrew Bechard         Plattsburgh , NY         1  03-07   35
Day 1: 1   03-07
167. Steve Kline            Hilltop Lakes, TX        1  03-06   34
Day 1: 1   03-06
168. Allen Leister III      Kintnersville, PA        2  02-11   33
Day 1: 2   02-11
168. Cory Weaver            Ankeny, IA               2  02-11   33
Day 1: 2   02-11
170. Clint Bartlett         Sylva, NC                2  02-09   31
Day 1: 2   02-09
171. Darrell Curl           Winston Salem, NC        2  02-07   30
Day 1: 2   02-07
172. TJ Raytrowsky          Delaware CANADA          1  02-05   29
Day 1: 1   02-05
173. Tracy Shaffer          Mansfield, TX            1  02-04   28
Day 1: 1   02-04
174. Kevin Mallow           Kansas, OK               1  02-04   27
Day 1: 1   02-04
175. Jimmy Fellegy          Mustang, OK              1  02-03   26
Day 1: 1   02-03
176. Ernest McIntyre Jr     Fayetteville, NC         1  02-00   25
Day 1: 1   02-00
177. Ed Mlotek              Naperville, IL           1  01-15   24
Day 1: 1   01-15
177. Ryan Patterson         Scott Township, PA       1  01-15   24
Day 1: 1   01-15
179. George Epley           Livingston Manor, NY     1  01-13   22
Day 1: 1   01-13
179. Burley Langford Jr.    South Chesterfield, VA   1  01-13   22
Day 1: 1   01-13
179. Nick Melcher           Gypsum, CO               1  01-13   22
Day 1: 1   01-13
182. Dominic Lussi          Danville, PA             1  01-09   19
Day 1: 1   01-09
183. Alicia Raytrowsky      Delaware CANADA          1  01-08   18
Day 1: 1   01-08
184. Steve Williams         Harrington, ME           1  01-06   17
Day 1: 1   01-06
185. Levi Allgeier          Bardstown, KY            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
185. Logan Beebe            Marriottsville, MD       0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
185. Robert Bruguiere       Roseland, VA             0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
185. Shaun Carney           Kincardine Ontario CANA  0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
185. Benjamin Demo          Plymouth, MN             0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
185. Gerard Golden          Coopersburg, PA          0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
185. Bob Harper             Lombard, IL              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
185. Nat Lussi              Plains, PA               0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
185. Brooks Parker          Bridgeville, DE          0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
185. Rick Sweadner          Woodsboro, MD            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
185. Rodney Vaow            Huntersville, NC         0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
185. Jacob Zaremski         Rochester, NY            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
197. Calvin Landsberg       Raleigh, NC              0  -1-00    0
Day 1: 0   -01-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       140       491      1420-12
----------------------------------
140       491      1420-12


MLF Bass Pro Tour Season Finale Set for Minn Kota Stage Seven Presented by Suzuki at Saginaw Bay

BAY CITY, Mich. (July 20, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament fishing organization, is set to conclude the fifth season of the Bass Pro Tour, the top level of professional bass fishing, next week, August 1-6, on Saginaw Bay and the Saginaw River at the Minn Kota Stage Seven on Saginaw Bay Presented by Suzuki.

The six-day tournament, hosted by Bay City, Michigan, will feature a field of 80 professional anglers, including bass-fishing superstar Kevin VanDam (KVD) of Kalamazoo, Michigan, who will be fishing in the last regular-season professional tournament of his career. Other anglers in the competition include KVD’s nephew, Kalamazoo’s Jonathon VanDam, REDCREST 2023 Champion  Bryan Thrift, Stage Six at Lake St. Clair winner Jordan Lee and reigning back-to-back Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) Jacob Wheeler. They’ll be competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

“The city of Bay City is honored and excited to host Stage Seven of the MLF Bass Pro Tour,” said Edward Clements, Bay City Commissioner. “Bringing the best bass fisherman in the world, and the number one competitive fishing tournament in the world, to Bay City, Michigan is an opportunity we have been working toward for several years. Our fishing is spectacular, along with our restaurants, bars, shops, parks and the community as a whole. We are confident the professional anglers and families, fans, sponsors and tournament staff are going to have a great stay in Bay City.”

While Saginaw Bay has hosted numerous Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournaments over the years, this will be the first time the Bass Pro Tour or an MLF pro-level circuit has visited the Michigan fishery. However, Kalamazoo’s Jonathon VanDam said he doesn’t expect it to be the last.

“Saginaw Bay is kind of an unknown body of water to a lot of people, but it’s very different than what you would expect from your typical Great Lakes fisheries,” said VanDam. “The bay is relatively shallow compared to most of the Great Lakes and the areas that you see around them, so there are a lot of marshlands, reeds and shallow, matted vegetation.

“It almost looks like Lake Okeechobee in some ways, with a lot of cattails and emergent grass,” VanDam continued. “With that much vegetation, there’s been a substantial population of largemouth the last few years that have definitely become a player in the bay itself.”

Saginaw Bay is a part of Lake Huron, with 1,143 square miles of water – not including the 22-mile-long Saginaw River, which is also in play for competitors – and has been dominated by world-class walleye and perch fishing for the longest time. However, in recent years local bass tournaments have started putting Saginaw Bay on the map, and VanDam said it isn’t hard to see why.

“Some of the biggest smallmouth in the Great Lakes are in Lake Huron,” said VanDam. “They move into Saginaw Bay in the springtime and you’ll see tournament bags of 26 to 27 pounds, but you don’t see that a lot in the summer. They tend to migrate out to the deeper water towards the lake a little more during this time of year, which will be outside the tournament competition areas for this event.”

VanDam said despite the timing, there will definitely still be some quality smallmouth to be caught.

“They are super scattered this time of year and not grouped up, but if a guy can find them and figure them out, they can do really well,” said VanDam. “I expect the majority of the fish caught during the event will be largemouth. We had an abnormally mild winter, with no ice coverage, causing the Great Lakes to drop about 18 inches from last year – that’s a big deal, especially taking into consideration the shallow vegetation in Saginaw Bay.”

VanDam said he expects to see the guys targeting smallmouth to be throwing the typical drop-shot rigs and tubes, while those targeting largemouth will be pulling out frogs, swimjigs, topwater and buzzbaits.

“There have been some pretty solid weights coming out of there the past couple of weeks, so I think it will take about 14 to 15 pounds per day to make it into the Knockout Round and probably 17 to 18 pounds to make the Championship Round cut,” said VanDam. “I’m really excited to see the circuit go to a new fishery. I’ve been there a handful of times, but it’s a really big body of water, so I’m not super familiar with it myself and am looking forward to it.

“My wife’s family is from there, so we’ll have a really good support crew,” continued VanDam. “Obviously, the main focus during this event will be Uncle Kevin’s last Tour event of his career. It’s going to be an exciting time to celebrate with him.”

Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from the Golson Boat Launch, located at 1598 N. Johnson St. in Bay City. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the launch location, 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.

As part of the event, on Saturday, August 5 and Sunday, August 6, the MLF Fan Experience will be taking place at Wenonah Park in Bay City from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate fishing and the outdoors with free giveaways, local vendors, photo opportunities with pro anglers and PAW Patrol characters and the opportunity for fans to hang out and watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! ®  big screen during the MLF Watch Party. The first 100 kids onsite each day will get a free rod and reel combo, and fans can also check out the latest gear and offerings from MLF and MLF sponsors including Toyota, Suzuki, the U.S. Air Force, Humminbird, Minn Kota and Kubota.

On Sunday, the final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and take selfies. Kalamazoo’s own Kevin VanDam will be onsite throughout the weekend to celebrate his final regular-season professional tournament with fans.

The Minn Kota Stage Seven at Saginaw Bay Presented by Suzuki will feature pros competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with each angler’s five (5) heaviest bass per day tallied as their day’s weight. Anglers strive to catch their heaviest five fish each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the live scoring SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, fishing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship, held March 13-17, 2024, on Lay Lake in Birmingham, Alabama.

The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top 20 anglers from each group advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Sunday’s final day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

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

Television coverage of the Minn Kota Stage Seven at Saginaw Bay and Saginaw River Presented by Suzuki Championship Round will air with a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, November 11, on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG by Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.

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, TwitterInstagram and YouTube.


Smallmouth bonanza awaits Bassmaster Elite Series field at Michigan’s Lake St. Clair

Michigan's Macomb County will host the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair July 27-30.

Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.

July 20, 2023

Smallmouth bonanza awaits Bassmaster Elite Series field at Michigan’s Lake St. Clair

 

MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. — The Northern swing of the 2023 Bassmaster Elite Series season will start with a bang as the 102-boat field heads to Michigan for the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Lake St. Clair at one of the best times of year to fish the powerhouse smallmouth destination.

 

“The end of July is almost similar to what would be early June on a TVA lake,” said Garrett Paquette, a St. Croix Bassmaster Opens pro and Canton, Mich., native. “Generally, that time of year the fish have all moved offshore to where they will be for summer and are usually in pretty big schools. They are pretty dumb and easy to catch.”

 

Competition days are scheduled for July 27-30 with daily takeoffs set for 7 a.m. ET at Brandenburg Park. Anglers will return for weigh-in starting at 3 p.m. After the Day 2 weigh-in, the field will be cut to the Top 50 anglers, with only the Top 10 advancing to Championship Sunday. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.

 

Heralded as one of the best smallie destinations in the country, Lake St. Clair has played host for the Elite Series several times in the past, with Bill Weidler winning the most recent event in 2020 and Seth Feider taking the trophy in the three-day Angler of the Year Championship in 2019.

 

Covering 430 square miles in the U.S. and Canada, St. Clair is a relatively small and shallow lake with an average depth of 11 feet. Anglers will be able to fish the lake, the Detroit and St. Clair rivers, the southern portion of Lake Huron and the western side of Lake Erie.

 

Paquette believes almost every section of the playing field could produce a Top 10, although making runs to Erie could be risky depending on the weather.

 

“The nice thing is, St. Clair is almost always fishable,” he said. “It would take a super-strong wind to not be able to navigate. To me, it is for the better. Wind allows you to cover water and triggers the fish to feed.

 

“If someone goes to Erie, that will be a huge factor. It will make the run, which is already 60 or 70 miles, a lot longer. Erie is notorious for getting really rough.”

 

However, for someone with the courage to make Erie part of his game plan, the fishery could be a major X factor.

 

“There have been some bigger bags of fish caught in Erie the last few years,” Paquette said. “For the last five years, it seemed like St. Clair was where you wanted to be. Nowadays, it is probably back to 50/50 as far as which lake it is won out of.”

 

In most years, Paquette said it usually takes about 25 pounds to consistently win tournaments. But so far this year, that number has dipped to around 23 pounds. There are a couple of reasons for that, he said.

 

For one, Michigan had several warm days early in the year followed by an elongated, cooler spring. Paquette also believes an increase in the alewife population has more smallmouth chasing these nomadic herring.

 

“There are a lot of alewives in the system and that can obviously change the way fish act,” he said. “You are used to fish sitting in one area feeding on perch and gobies and crawfish, but they might be becoming a little more nomadic by chasing these alewives. It isn’t making the fishing worse, I just think it is changing it.”

 

The invasive goby is prevalent in the system as well, and the increase in that population over the years has kept the smallmouth close to the bottom to feed. Perch also remain a staple of the smallmouth’s diet in the system.

 

“The gobies have made things more angler friendly. They keep the smallmouth locked down in one area, which makes them easier to target and makes them bigger,” Paquette said.

 

While the alewives may have some smallmouth roaming, Paquette believes the majority will be grouped up in large stretches of Lake St. Clair. With sand and grass patches being the most prevalent cover, smallies will flood football-field-long stretches on the main body of water.

 

“In a normal group, you are working in an area the size of a football field, but some of the schools are so big that you are working a square mile,” he said. “Those are what mega-schools are. There isn’t a fish every 10 feet, but maybe every 100 or so feet. It lets an angler work around and mill around for eight hours in that area.”

 

If anglers choose to run to Erie, rockpiles will be the key, while playing the current around rock, sand and grass will be important in the two rivers.

 

Drop shots, Ned rigs and tubes will be prevalent presentations, while deep crankbaits and spybaits could make appearances as well. Forward-facing sonar will also factor into the equation.

 

“I consider St. Clair to be the mecca of forward-facing sonar,” Paquette said. “It has a really clean bottom, not very many weeds and the fish seem to suspend 1 to 3 feet all the time. You will see a lot of guys hunting them down one at a time on forward sonar.”

 

Largemouth live in the shallows of Lake St. Clair, but Paquette doesn’t believe an angler can compete for the win with them, although they could be key to salvaging points and making the Top 50 cut.

 

Paquette predicted the winner will have a four-day total of around 90 pounds.

 

Alabama pro Kyle Welcher leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings after six events with 511 points. South Carolina pro Brandon Cobb is second with 499 points, followed by Florida’s John Cox in third with 483, Louisiana’s Tyler Rivet in fourth with 467 and Georgia’s Drew Cook in fifth with 456.

 

Alabama’s Will Davis Jr. leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race with 449 points, followed by Arkansas’s Joey Cifuentes III in second with 412 and California’s Bryant Smith in third with 405.

Bassmaster LIVE kicks off tournament coverage Thursday and Friday mornings at 8 a.m. ET on Bassmaster.com, Tubi and the FOX Sports platforms while FS1 will broadcast live with the tournament leaders Saturday and Sunday.

Throughout the weekend, fans can enjoy the Bass, Brews and BBQ Festival, held in conjunction with the Elite Series event.


Ebare On Conservation & Costas

Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships

Pictures courtesy of Tyler Brinks / MLF and Blake McLane/Dynamic Sponsorships

The 2023 tournament season has been quite the coming out party for Major League Fishing pro Dakota Ebare. Though Ebare has consistently knocked on the door of bass fishing superstardom throughout his young career, a ’major’ win eluded him until this year.

After starting the season off with a Toyota Series victory close to home on Sam Rayburn, Ebare backed that up with an MLF Invitational win on Clarks Hill Lake and has since posted three runner-up finishes on the Bass Pro Tour. Fishing fans have gotten used to seeing his name at or near the top of the leaderboard.

The 31-year-old east Texas pro has accumulated an impressive amount of tournament winnings, hardware, and accolades during his 2023 campaign including a boatload of bonus money from contingency programs like Costa Compete + Conserve.

Ebare has earned over $10,000 this year alone for being the highest finishing angler wearing Costa Sunglasses in supported tournaments, donating $2,500 to freshwater conservation efforts in the process. Costa makes a corresponding cash donation to the conservation partner of the winning anglers’ choice for each of its 329 supported tournaments, something Ebare is a huge advocate of.

“I’ve worn Costas my whole career because they make great sunglasses, but more than that I enjoy being a part of a company who supports and protects our fisheries,” Ebare explained. “Conservation is something all of us as bass anglers need to keep top of mind. I want to keep catching healthy bass, and Lord willing one day I want my kids to have the same opportunities, so protecting and improving our lakes, reservoirs, and rivers is super important to me.”

Ebare was getting ready to hit the water with two high school anglers when I called for a couple quotes, doing his part to help inspire the next crop of bass obsessed teenagers. The Strike King pro is a proud product of college fishing, and his experience with the explosion of youth tournament fishing has aided in driving home his views on outdoor stewardship.

“It seems like tournament fishing is only growing every year,” Ebare said. “You look at high school and college tournaments – they are constantly maxing out their fields with 200 to 300 boats. It’s awesome. It’s amazing, and it means now more than ever we need to educate the next generation on our natural resources and raise awareness for conservation efforts. As fishing pressure increases it’s only going to get more important.”

Compete + Conserve sanctions bass tournaments of all degrees; including high school and college events, select team tournament trails, and up through the ranks to the professionallevel. All you have to do is own a pair of Costa Sunglasses, fish in a supported tournament, and it’s completely free to join. Ebare weighed in on what frames he has relied on this year.

“I’ve worn Jose PROs for the vast majority of this season, but I will say I can’t wait to get my hands on the new King Tide frames I just saw at ICAST,” Ebare said. “I switch between Sunrise Silver Mirror and Green Mirror lens colors depending on the conditions and the clarity I’m dealing with. I find myself wearing Sunrise Silver more and more. Everyone knows they are the deal for low-light, but I think they make bass beds pop like nothing else, even in bright sun.”

For more information on Costa’s Compete + Conserve program, a full list of events and payouts, or to get registered before your next tournament visit: https://www.costacompeteandconserve.com/


Opportunity awaits anglers at the Bassmaster High School Championship

The best young anglers from around the country will be part of the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors July 27-29 on the storied waters of Lake Hartwell.

Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.

July 19, 2023

ANDERSON, S.C. — The best youth anglers in the country will head to Lake Hartwell for the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors July 27-29, and Justin Kimmel, who competes in the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens, says the tournament couldn’t be at a better time.

“This is my favorite time of year to fish the lake,” the Athens, Ga., native said. “My biggest bags on Lake Hartwell have come in July. I’m talking, like, 25- to 28-pound days. A lot of these kids may come in thinking this is a blueback herring lake and that is what they have to do to win, and that is just not the case.”

The High School Championship — featuring more than 480 teams from 35 states and Canada — will take off from legendary Green Pond Landing each day at 6:20 a.m. ET and return at 2:20 p.m. for weigh-in. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.

Lake Hartwell continues to be one of the premier fisheries for prestigious tournaments. Last year was the first time the High School Championship was held on the upstate South Carolina reservoir, which has hosted four Bassmaster Classics.

Last year, Wisconsin anglers Reece Keeney and Bryce Moder won the three-day high school event by catching mostly largemouth on a buzz frog, finishing with 43 pounds, 1 ounce. While Moder was still in high school, Keeney moved on to the college fishing ranks, competing for Kentucky Christian University.

Kimmel, a multitime BFL champion on Hartwell as both a co-angler and boater, believes there will be plenty of opportunities for high school anglers to repeat and expand on those largemouth tactics Keeney and Moder used to win.

Those shallow-water largemouth could be around laydowns, docks or around shade lines, but most of those largemouth are going to be eating bream. Kimmel said these bass will get super-shallow. A good largemouth bite also opens up the entire lake.

“Buzzbaits and other topwaters will play,” Kimmel said. “Poppers and bream bed-type stuff like a prop bait. A swim jig is a really big deal for me that time of year. A frog bite will be good around bluegill eaters. The whole tacklebox gets opened up.

“Largemouth should win in July.”

With blueback herring roaming the bottom end of the lake, spotted bass have gotten much of the attention on Lake Hartwell in recent years, and rightly so. A one-day tournament this year was won with over 21 pounds of spotted bass.

“A lot of local stuff gets won with spotted bass because they are more consistent,” Kimmel said. “They will be in the same places, and there are more of them.”

Canepiles, brushpiles and points are classic areas for spotted bass to school up and chase herring. A topwater and fluke could be key to catching those bass that are actively feeding on herring.

“Hartwell is known for the blueback herring deal now and anglers figuring out one of three things — brushpiles, canepiles or standing timber — and finding bass on the lower section or the Andersonville Island area. It usually ends up being whoever has the best milk run. There is always a section that is firing better than others.

“If you stay longer than 10 minutes, you ruin a particular spot for the day. You really have to run and gun to be successful doing that.”

The Strike King Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors is being hosted by Visit Anderson.


Rapala Increases Its Stake In 13 Fishing

Rapala VMC to become the majority owner of DQC International, consolidating the 13 Fishing rod and reel brand into its global product offering, and accelerating the growth of 13 Fishing in the U.S. market.

Helsinki, Finland – Rapala VMC Corporation and James Coble, current majority shareholder of DQC International, which manufactures and markets 13 Fishing rods and reels, have reached an agreement in which Rapala VMC will increase its ownership of DQC International to 60% of the Florida-based company while Coble will retain a 40% share of the company.

Rapala VMC introduced 13 Fishing (13fishing.com) freshwater, saltwater and hardwater (ice fishing) rods and reels to markets outside the United States following the 49% acquisition in DQC International in 2019. Rapala VMC will continue to invest in the marketing and product development of the 13 Fishing brand with the intent of building brand loyalty for 13 Fishing among retailers and consumers around the world, including the United States.

Under the agreement, Coble will continue as Chief Executive Officer of 13 Fishing with a key emphasis on building the 13 Fishing brand and driving new and innovative 13 Fishing products into the worldwide market.

The amalgamation of 13 Fishing’s and Rapala’s product ranges will maximize mutually beneficial distribution and operative synergies.

Rapala is one of the largest players worldwide in our industry. Where 13 Fishing excels in branding, product development and innovation, Rapala excels in driving operations and sales,” said James Coble, President of DQC International Corporation.

“Joining forces in the U.S. and leveraging Rapala’s vast knowledge and customer base will allow 13 Fishing to rapidly accelerate growth in the U.S. market.”

"For almost four years we have been selling 13 Fishing products outside the United States,” said Lars Ollberg, President and CEO of Rapala VMC Corporation.

“Now is the time to join forces in the U.S., in which market Rapala’s operational excellence will truly accelerate the growth of the 13 Fishing brand.”

“13 Fishing already has a proven record of building a dynamic brand, and developing innovative products. It has managed to successfully wedge itself into the world’s most competitive fishing tackle market in a relatively short time,” added Ollberg.

“We are confident that combining our industry knowledge, industry-leading global distribution network, and understanding of the various fishing tackle markets with James Coble and his team’s agility, innovation, and other capabilities, we can grow 13 Fishing into a worldwide rod and reel player. I have full confidence in the partnership with James Coble and the 13 Fishing brand, which will grow as a core brand of Rapala family of high quality fishing brands.”


RELiON® Battery Debuts a New 36V Lithium Battery

This is the first 36V marine battery in the brand's product line

Menomonee Falls, Wis.  (July 11, 2023) – RELiON® Battery, a global leader in the development of lithium batteries, today announced the launch of the new RB36V40, a durable, long-lasting 36V 40Ah marine lithium battery. 

“With more than 20 years of experience in the industry and a comprehensive product portfolio, RELiON continues to provide the latest and greatest in lithium battery technology,” said Eric Lindquist, VP and General Manager, Power Systems at Navico Group. “Product development is a key priority, and our team of experts is dedicated to delivering innovation with unmatched power and performance. We are thrilled to round out our voltage offering with the new 36V battery and provide users with peace of mind and more time on the water.”  

The new RB36V40 provides maximum capacity, 20% more than its series equivalent*, with minimum hassle thanks to its parallel design. The improved connectors and small Group 31 footprint make onboard installation simple, and weighing 70% less than the lead-acid equivalent, speed through the water doesn’t need to be sacrificed. Additionally, the parallel set-up allows for quicker, easier charging and more power in the tank when needed. 

 

 

Built for the marine environment, the 36V battery includes an IP67-rated case, which completely repels dust and resists water ingress for up to 30 minutes submerged at 1 meter. It also features a new glue channel and screw-latched enclosure to protect against airborne contaminants, as well as an internal Battery Management System (BMS) to monitor battery health and protect against short circuits and over-charging.

Key features of the RB36V40 lithium battery

  • Easy installation with a small footprint – Group 31 (13” x 6.8” x 8.4”)
  • Parallel set-up allows for greater capacity with fewer batteries in standard applications
  • Fast recharging 
  • IP67 waterproof rating 
  • 1536-Watt hours

For information about RELiON Battery and its lithium battery options, visit https://relionbattery.com/.


Meet Clint Brannon: Ace pitcher, avid bass angler, and amazing wildlife artist

If you see a guy on Beaver Lake or Bull Shoals casting a Bass X jig with a little added boost of athleticism from the spacious front deck of his Vexus® VX21, it’s probably former Razorbacks and Spokane Indians acepitcher, turned amazing wildlife artist, Clint Brannon.

Brannon grew up fishing with his dad around their tiny town of Bradford, Arkansas, and while art was always a part of his life, his other gift as a young left-handed pitcher led him on a scholarship nearly four hours west to Fayetteville. He had a stellar career that included throwing strikes for the Hogs in the 2004 College World Series.

Drafted by the Texas Rangers, he then proceeded to set records in the minor leagues with the Spokane Indians where he once managed a mega-stingy 0.59 ERA, before injuries ultimately ended his pro career. The faulty rotator cuff and labrum lead him back home to all the things he loves most in Northwest Arkansas, home to the nationally recognized Bikes, Blues, and BBQ charity-focused motorcycle rally each autumn.

“Becoming the official merchandise artist for Bikes, Blues, and BBQ was really the launchpad of my art career,” says a grateful Brannon, who has now completed more than 40 originals, which along with a very limited number of prints, are highly sought after by collectors.

Brannon’s work includes a wide range of wildlife featuring whitetails, trout, turkeys, mallards, and even a bobcat named “Flippin” displayed in profound fashion on the office wall of Keith Daffron, a proud Flippin, Arkansas native who now helps lead the premium quality Vexus Boat company based in the town of 1,300 people.

“Clint is just a special guy, with a talent that absolutely amazes me,” says Daffron. “He’s quickly become a friend who is easy to relate to. Whether that’s sharing a fly fishing trip on the White River, or spending time with his wonderful family. I really admire the way he throws his soul into the detailed and meaningful story behind each piece of art,” adds Daffron.

Brannon’s an All American guy indeed, with an incredible work ethic to support many amazing talents, and that’s what former St. Louis Cardinal and 3-time Gold Glove Award winner, Tom Pagnozzi recognized about Brannon when he helped coach him at the University of Arkansas following his iconic career as a catcher in the big leagues.

So much so, Pagnozzi partnered with Brannon in 2006 to create what’s now a wildly popular clothing company called Southern Trend that employees 35 people who interact like family. Still, the stress of running a business, coupled with a loving commitment to his young family takes a toll that many of us can relate to, and that’s where time in his art studio continues to serve such a therapeutic roll in Brannon’s life.

“My art is what helps me wind down at night. Creating the next meaningful piece serves as my therapy. It tires me out and helps me sleep better in a healthy way,” says Brannon.

A therapy not too unlike fishing for most of us, including Brannon, a highly likeable small-town guy who most swear must have gone through the line two or three times when they were handing out talent.


Travel Tuesday - Get Your Ducks In A Row Before A Fishing Trip

By: Hanna Robbins - Half Past First Cast

After a week of world-class fishing at Anglers Inn El Salto, you might expect that my first blog back would be all about the trip. but for now I’m going to head back to BEFORE the trip even started to help you plan for your next trip.

If you don’t plan properly, you’ll never be able to fully enjoy your time away. I’m a list-maker, even when we go away for just a short weekend, but on longer trips it’s even more important to cover everything. I use a list so nothing gets forgotten.

Number one, at the top of our list, is to make sure your dogsitter is available at the time you will be away. Don’t assume. You don’t want to be scrambling for a place at the last minute. You don’t want to worry about the quality of the care that your baby is getting. Pete and I don’t have kids, so our Australian Shepherd Rooster is our child, and I worry about him constantly.

Not just anyone will do, either. When my prior Aussie Riley was diagnosed with cancer, we still had to make some short trips. I wanted to know that she’d be comfortable, and that if a situation arose the sitter would know what to do.

It’s probably a high-stress moment for your dog, too. If Rooster sees us packing our suitcases he tends to get jittery and occasionally misbehaves.

Here’s one sign that things are good -- Make sure when you get to your sitter’s house or facility that your dog can’t wait to go inside. The minute there is any hesitation you should think twice and find another provider.

The only reason we feel safe and sound when we vacation is because of our “Aussie Whisperer,” Kristina Shaw Whetzel. The minute we get off the highway, still two miles way from her home, Rooster whines. He knows where he’s headed and can’t wait to see his friends and the “camp director.” He’s excited to play with his “pack.” We open the gate of the SUV and Rooster never looks back. It’s actually a bittersweet moment for me. I want him to be at least a little bit sad that we’re going away.

While a responsible dogsitter is the most important factor, it’s even better if you can get someone who is familiar with the specific health and behavioral quirks of your breed. I’m not sure how many Aussies Kristina has, but it’s probably at least eight, and she knows how they play, how they interact, and why they do certain things.

Kristina, you are our godsend and have become a true friend, THANK YOU. Without you our vacations would be a lot more stressful and less enjoyable, even though you may be thousands of miles away.

Other list items:

  • Stop your mail from being delivered (usps.com/manage/hold-mail.htm)
  • Call the number on the back of your credit card and make sure they know the dates and places you will be vacationing so no charges get declined or fraud alerts raised.
  • Contact your home alarm system, if applicable. Let them know the timeframe of your trip and your emergency contacts
  • Figure out which lights, inside and outside, you should keep on to make it look like you are home (change the light bulbs if you haven’t in a while to make sure they don’t go out)
  • Position the cars in the driveway to make it look like you aren’t away
  • Regulate the inside temperature for the time of year you are away. Make sure if you live in a cold environment and will be away not to set the temp too low or the pipes may freeze. Keep the cabinet doors open on all cabinets on outside walls. Perhaps make the faucet have a small drip so there is constant water flow.

Don’t wait for the last minute to set up a ride to the airport, bus depot or train station prior to the day you leave. Check on that ride to make sure it will show up. During our recent trip, I had a problem with my Uber app that required some quick thinking. And if you are a tightwad like me, look for coupons for that ride.

We will assume you are taking your kids with you on all your vacations, if not make sure Grandma and Grandpa spoil them silly.

Even with all these items crossed off you list you can still end up with some issues. We came home from Mexico one year to find out that our freezer had crapped out. We entered a stinky house and we lost the remainder of our sockeye and king salmon we caught, processed and brought home with us from Alaska – nearly 50 pounds.

That’s ok, it just means that we will had to go back to Alaska – and start the travel prep process all over again

Safe travels made easy, that’s why you travel with Half Past First Cast.


Mumford Overcomes Adversity to Win Phoenix Bass Fishing League at Indian Lake Presented by Rabid Baits

Foster Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

LAKEVIEW, Ohio (July 17, 2023) – Boater Zac Mumford of Covington, Ohio, caught a five-bass limit weighing 15 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Indian Lake Presented by Rabid Baits . The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Buckeye Presented by Rabid Baits Division. Mumford earned $12,535, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.

Mumford, who focused his efforts on the main lake area of Indian Lake, said at 9 a.m. he lost the use of his trolling motor after hitting a log with it. Mumford said fellow angler Kyle Weisenburger, who tied for 10th place in Saturday’s event, stopped to help him, and after an hour, the trolling motor came back to life.

“He tried to help me the best he could and got tools out, and he was a major help to me,” Mumford said. “I don’t know what happened, but we got it working again, and it was like the light switch turned on and the fishing got great for me after that.”

Mumford said he had a limit in the livewell before his trolling motor woes, but after he resumed fishing, he started to cull his smaller fish with quality bass.

“The areas I was fishing were very heavily pressured, so I had to do something different to get them to bite,” Mumford said. “So, the retrieve style was very important for me. It was a fast retrieve.”

Mumford said he focused on shallow transitions between rocks and weeds with crankbaits and a vibrating jig to load his livewell.

“I caught between 30 and 40 fish during the tournament and culled a lot,” Mumford said. “I just caught good, quality fish.

“To be honest with you, I never thought I had a chance to win until the fish hit the scale and I saw how heavy they were,” Mumford added. “I’m super excited. My grandpa is going through some health problems right now, and he was the one who introduced me to fishing at Indian Lake, so I’m really excited to share this with him.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:          Zac Mumford, Covington, Ohio, five bass, 15-2, $12,535 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd:        Chris Martinovic, Hamilton, Ohio, five bass, 13-10, $2,907
3rd:        Tony Collins, Dayton, Ohio, five bass, 13-7, $1,439
4th:         Ray McGraw, Chillicothe, Ohio, five bass, 13-0, $1,007
5th:         Josh Smith, Hamilton, Ohio, five bass, 12-13, $863
6th:         Dick Shaffer, Rockford, Ohio, five bass, 12-10, $791
7th:         Mike Reeves, Brecksville, Ohio, five bass, 12-5, $719
8th:         Chuck Willis, Dayton, Ohio, five bass, 12-2, $1,257
9th:         Aaron Lewis, Russells Point, Ohio, five bass, 11-15, $575
10th:      Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, five bass, 11-13, $478
10th:      Kyle Weisenburger, Columbus Grove, Ohio, five bass, 11-13, $478
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Chuck Willis of Dayton, Ohio, caught a bass that weighed 4 pounds, 15 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $610.

Jesse Foster of Franklin, Ohio, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,157 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 13 pounds, 1 ounce.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:          Jesse Foster, Franklin, Ohio, five bass, 13-1, $2,157
2nd:        Ryan Sykes, Fairfield, Ohio, five bass, 11-2, $1,479
3rd:        Rece Kimmel, Lewistown, Ohio, five bass, 9-15, $717
4th:         Alex Richardson, Cincinnati, Ohio, five bass, 9-14, $503
5th:         Todd Taylor, Bargersville, Ind., five bass, 9-4, $431
6th:         Ron Weisenburger, Continental, Ohio, five bass, 9-2, $396
7th:         James Wilcox, Barboursville, W.V., five bass, 9-1, $474
7th:         Richard Rike, Lewisburg, Ohio, five bass, 9-1, $324
7th:         Jeremy Middleton, Marengo, Ohio, five bass, 9-1, $324
10th:      Andrew Simon, Risingsun, Ohio, five bass, 8-15, $252
Greg Marshall of Paris, Kentucky, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $305, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 5 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After three events, Chris Martinovic of Hamilton, Ohio, leads the BFL Buckeye Presented by Rabid Baits Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 738 points, while Steve Sorrell of Beavercreek, Ohio, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 712 points.

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. 5-7 BFL Regional tournament on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury 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 outboard.

The 2023 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 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X 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.


Kircher Claims Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Shelbyville

Null Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

SHELBYVILLE, Ill. (July 17, 2023) – Boater Matthias Kircher of Sorento, Illinois, caught four bass weighing 16 pounds, 9 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Shelbyville . The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Illini Division. Kircher earned $6,641, including a $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.

Kircher said he had fished Lake Shelbyville only 10 times before the BFL event, and this tournament was his second effort as a boater in competition.

“I had all my fish by 9:15,” said Kircher, who focused his efforts on the 9th Street area of Lake Shelbyville. “I only had five bites all day. The other fish was a 13-incher.”

Kircher said he caught his first fish in the treetop of a laydown in about 20 feet of water on a shaky-head rig. His other three keepers came on a watermelon candy red-colored Zoom Ol’ Monster Worm. Kircher said he caught all four of his fish on two laydowns 100 yards apart from each other.

“I pre-fished last Wednesday and caught a 15-inch fish in that treetop,” said Kircher. “I had another bite, and I left it alone. So, during the tournament, I went with my gut instinct and went where I caught that keeper because I wasn’t on anything during practice this week.

“The Lord blessed me with four good bites,” Kircher added. “I told my co-angler I needed one more fish. I thought I needed that fifth fish. But my co-angler said, ‘I think you’ve got this.’ And he was right. This feels great.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:          Matthias Kircher, Sorento, Ill., four bass, 16-9, $6,641 (includes $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd:        Levi Kohl, Edinburg, Ill., three bass, 16-3, $1,835
3rd:        Garrett McDowell, Windsor, Ill., five bass, 15-4, $1,444
4th:         Joshua Tyner, Spencer, Ind., five bass, 14-1, $856
5th:         Joe Bardill, Highland, Ill., five bass, 13-8, $734
6th:         Jeffrey Lee, Olney, Ill., five bass, 13-2, $673
7th:         Ethan Fields, Breese, Ill., five bass, 12-15, $612
8th:         Jeremy Dhom, Teutopolis, Ill., five bass, 12-6, $551
9th:         Jeremy Mull, Pawnee, Ill., five bass, 11-4, $489
10th:      Mike McGill, Findlay, Ill., five bass, 10-15, $428
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Kircher also caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $470.

Jimmy Null of Bethalto, Illinois, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $1,835 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 11 pounds, 13 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:          Jimmy Null, Bethalto, Ill., five bass, 11-13, $1,835
2nd:        Mike Swetland, Tamaroa, Ill., five bass, 8-7, $1,268
3rd:        Aaron Arning, Walnut Hill, Ill., five bass, 8-0, $612
4th:         Nathan Riley, La Place, Ill., four bass, 7-10, $428
5th:         William Hadraba, Willow Springs, Ill., four bass, 7-4, $367
6th:         Dale Renth, Mascoutah, Ill., four bass, 6-15, $336
7th:         Jim Budde, Waterloo, Ill., four bass, 6-13, $306
8th:         Andrew Boring, El Paso, Ill., three bass, 6-6, $275
9th:         Amanda Black, Toledo, Ill., three bass, 6-3, $245
10th:      Rowdy King, Shelbyville, Ill., two bass, 5-15, $214
Jason Korando of Chester, Illinois, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $235, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 1 ounce – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After three events, Garrett McDowell of Windsor, Illinois, leads the BFL Illini Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 737 points, while Aaron Arning of Walnut Hill, Illinois, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 729 points.

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. 12-14 BFL Regional tournament on Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury 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 outboard.

The 2023 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 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X 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.


La Crosse Set to Host Final MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational of Season Next Week – Mercury Stop 6 on the Mississippi River

Field of 150 Professional Anglers to Compete in Final Event of Season for Top Prize of up to $115,000 and Qualification into REDCREST 2024

LA CROSSE, Wis. (July 17, 2023) – Just a few short weeks after hosting the 2023 MLF High School Fishing National Championship, La Crosse, Wisconsin, and the Mississippi River are gearing up for another major bass fishing event.

Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, is set to return to La Crosse, next week, July 25-27, for the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Mercury Stop 6 at the Mississippi River in La Crosse. The three-day Invitational tournament will feature a roster of 150 professional anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000, and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024 – the Bass Pro Tour championship – for the chance to win up to $300,000.

Hosted by Explore La Crosse, the tournament marks the sixth and final MLF Invitational event of 2023, offering competitors a total season purse of more than $3.9 million. In addition to the tournament’s top payout of $115,000, the field is also competing for valuable points to win the coveted Invitational Angler of the Year (AOY) title. The top eight pros in the Tackle Warehouse Invitational AOY standings after this event will receive an invitation to compete at the sport’s top level on the Bass Pro Tour in 2024.

“The Explore La Crosse team and the entire La Crosse region are thrilled to be hosting the Tackle Warehouse Invitational on pools 7, 8, and 9 of the Mississippi River,” said A.J. Frels, Executive Director of Explore La Crosse. “With its wing dams, backwaters, and heavy vegetation, the scenic Upper Mississippi offers some of the best habitat in the country for largemouth and smallmouth bass. It is the ideal setting for incredible fishing and non-stop action. I cannot think of a more outstanding stage for the last stop of the season.”

The Mississippi River is a very familiar destination for MLF as the fishery has played host to countless major bass-fishing tournaments over the years, including six prior MLF professional-level events. The last MLF professional-level event on the river was the Tackle Warehouse TITLE championship in 2021, when pro Jimmy Washam targeted bass set up in shallow water on a rock ridge on the final day with a topwater bait and a Neko rig to earn the victory.

Junction City, Wisconsin pro Matt Stefan will be among the 150 competitors in the event next week. Stefan is an expert at mining the flowages of the upper Midwest and is always a favorite in La Crosse.

“We had extremely low water last year, the whole second half of the year,” Stefan said. “That’s allowed a lot of the grass and rice to grow in new areas. So, I think you’re going to see some differences in vegetation growth. Areas have definitely grown thicker, which could prevent some of us from getting to fish in some areas. And it could help some anglers find things that are overlooked.”

Still, outside of new vegetation, Stefan predicts things won’t be far from the norm.

“This time of year you’re going to have a frog bite,” he said. “You’re gonna have a main-channel wing dam and sand drop bite, cut banks, a topwater bite. Some guys fishing in the Black River more offshore, it’s going to be typical Mississippi River, you’re going to need to find that better pod of fish.”

Stefan said the fish will have moved to their summer haunts pretty solidly and won’t be thinking about a fall migration.

“They’re set up pretty good in their summer patterns,” the Wisconsin pro said. “It’s going to be primarily current-related stuff, the backwaters will not have many fish. The largemouth will move out to the big grass flats and sand flats in the lower ends of the pools, and they’ll start setting up on eddies and wing dams in front of the spawning areas.”

With Stefan figuring on largemouth or a mixed bag to win, he expects some of the locals to have more than a puncher’s chance.

“Mike Brueggen will have 50 pounds,” Stefan said. “Or Tom Monsoor, the last couple years he’s really been on them on the river. I think right around 50 pounds will win for sure, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it’s 45.”

In MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Tuesday and Wednesday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 50 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, will advance to the final round on Championship Thursday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $115,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers.

The winner of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Mercury Stop 6 at the Mississippi River in La Crosse will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight and will receive an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024. In addition, the season-long Invitational AOY will also earn a berth into REDCREST 2024.

Anglers will launch each day at 6:30 a.m. CT, Tuesday through Thursday, from Veterans Freedom Park, located at 1 Clinton St. in La Crosse. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park daily beginning at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the live on-the-water action all three days of competition online on MLF NOW! beginning at 7 a.m. CT at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Mercury Stop 6 at the Mississippi River in La Crosse will feature live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere on the CBS Sports Network on Saturday, November 14.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals on the MLF5 social media outlets at FacebookInstagram and  YouTube.


2024 BASS PRO SHOPS CABELA'S BIG BASS TOUR SCHEDULE

Woodlands, Texas – Tour officials announced the 2024 Big Bass Tour schedule today, at ICAST in Orlando, Florida.
“We are excited to announce our 2024 schedule” said Tournament Director Scott Gordon. “We've got some incredible fisheries and dates lined up for next year!” added Gordon.

  • Feb 9-11 | Harris Chain of Lakes, Florida
  • Feb 29 - March 3 | Lake Conroe, Texas (4 Day Event)
  • March 15-17 | Clarks Hill, Georgia
  • March 22-24 | Lake Eufaula, Alabama
  • April 5-7 | Table Rock Lake, Missouri
  • April 12-14 | Lake Norman, North Carolina
  • April 26-28 | Lake Murray, South Carolina
  • May 2-5 | Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia (4 Day Event)
  • May 16-19 | Lake Chickamauga, Tennessee (4 Day Event)
  • Jul 26-28 | St Lawrence River, New York
  • Aug 2-4 | Upper Mississippi, Wisconsin (La Crosse)
  • Oct 4-6 | Douglas Lake, Tennessee
  • Oct 10-13 | Guntersville Lake, Alabama (4 Day Event)
Registration for the 2024 Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Big Bass Tour will open on Friday December 1st. Visit www.bigbasstour.com for all details. Reminder that we still have five (5) events left in 2023, so be sure to get registered for an event near you!

American Tackle Company Wins “Best of Show” at ICAST 2023

Groundbreaking carbon rod building component takes home top honors in OrlandoOrange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL — July 13, 2023 — A decade of design work paid off on Thursday as American Tackle Company took home “Best of Show” honors at sportfishing’s largest trade show with a sleek, nearly weightless custom rod component: the Tsuka 2 Complete Carbon Handle.

“Components are often overlooked,” said American Tackle Company's Darrin Heim. “But at this point, it’s hard to overlook them because this is true innovation.”

The Tsuka 2 Complete Carbon Handle is a masterwork from the Florida-based custom rod manufacturer, well-known for introducing the MicroWave Guide System about a decade ago. Heim said the company has been working for almost ten years to refine the manufacturing process for its carbon rod handles, first working with reel seats and rod butts before finally borrowing a blown carbon building technology from the bicycle industry to create the new ICAST Best of Show champion.

According to Heim, carbon rod handles have been available in the fishing industry since the 1980s; however, his team believes the time has finally arrived for the material to be seen as a widespread replacement for traditional handles made of cork.

“In my opinion, this is the perfect time to jump on the bandwagon and push carbon along,” said Heim. “There is a demand but there hasn’t yet been the same recognition for carbon in this industry that we see in others like cycling. People are used to using cork, which is essentially tree bark, and they’ve been using that forever. But we think carbon is going to be the preferred material of the future. It’s lightweight, it’s extremely durable and strong. It’s beautiful. It’s sensitive and we feel that the time is right for carbon to be widely accepted.”

Previously, Heim said most carbon products in fishing were cylindrical products that were cut by hand, baked and then sanded to form. Now—using blow molding—more products with curves and ergonomic designs are making their way to the show floor.

This year’s ICAST New Product Showcasefeatured 1,087 new products from 292 companies. After 37 category winners were crowned yesterday, American Tackle Company came out on top as the sole owners of “Best of Show.” Heim said the business has won category awards before, but this is their first Best of Show win at ICAST.

“It’s great to be representing the rest of the custom rod builders and rod component companies in the industry,” Heim added.


Multiple variables at play for Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River

Waddington, N.Y., will host the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River July 20-22. 

Photo by Kyle Jessie/B.A.S.S.

July 13, 2023

WADDINGTON, N.Y. — On one hand, Chris Johnston expects the usual routine during the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River. However, forces at play could shuffle the deck and alter outcomes.

Competition days will be July 20-22 with daily takeoffs from Whitaker Park at 6 a.m. ET and weigh-ins each day back at the park at 2 p.m.

“It’s the same old St. Lawrence River,” Johnston said. “It’s going to be heavy current, clear water. The only thing that usually varies is the water temperature. We haven’t had a ton of hot weather, so it might not get all the fish out deep like they should be by the end of July.

“That’s going to scatter the fish, but it could change in the next two weeks. If we get a bunch of hot weather, it will group the fish up a little better. But if the water temperature stays cool, you’re going to have a bunch of scattered fish in anywhere from 3 to 40 feet of water.”

Noting that early summer has seen atypically cooler weather overtaking early spring heat, Johnston said he expects clarity — above and below the surface — to play a role in this event.

“Part of the (water temperature scenario) has been sunlight penetration,” he said. “We’ve had smoke (from wildfires in Quebec and northern Ontario) for the last month up here. I feel like the sun isn’t penetrating the water like it normally does and that might be slowing the progress of the (spawning season) and the water temperature a little bit.

“The water’s still crystal clear, but you can’t see that well because of the haze. You’re not getting that visibility you’d normally get. It’s kind of like fishing an overcast day.”

Tournament boundaries include the St. Lawrence and all publicly accessible tributaries from the Moses-Saunders Power Dam at Massena, N.Y., westward to Cape Vincent on the U.S. side and Kingston, Ontario, on the Canadian side. Lake Ontario is off-limits, but Johnston said anglers will have no trouble finding quality and quantity in the river.

Anglers running upriver from Waddington (the St. Lawrence flows northeast from the mouth of Lake Ontario to the Gulf of St. Lawrence/Atlantic Ocean) will encounter a speed zone with a 35 mph limit in the Alexandria Bay area. Johnston does not expect this to greatly impede anyone’s day. However, long runs to the west must be carefully calculated, with options prudently weighed.

“If you gamble and make a run toward the lake, you’re losing about 2 1/2 hours of fishing a day, and that can be tough,” Johnston said. “You’re going to have to be on ’em pretty good to (justify that run) and catch them for three days in a row.

“To be honest, the last couple (of) years, the Wolfe Island-Clayton, N.Y., end has played a lot more, but a lot of fish have been taken and released out of Massena, Waddington and that end. I think you could see someone win it out of that end of the river. I’ve talked to some local friends, and they said they’ve never seen so much boat pressure. Not that there’s going to be less fish (in the Clayton area), but they’re going to be more pressured and a lot harder to catch.”

Taking all of this into consideration, Johnston believes anglers who remain closer to takeoff could fare well. Wherever competitors fish, the large, oceangoing cargo ships traversing the St. Lawrence Seaway commonly factor into a day’s dynamics.

On the navigational side, recreational boats must yield to these commercial vessels, as their turning ability is far less. From a fishing perspective, Johnston said the large ship wakes will often stir up the bottom and stimulate a bite.

“The big thing (on the St. Lawrence) is the wind direction,” Johnston said. “If you get an east wind, it blows against the current and it backs it up. That can make for some of the worst fishing because you can’t drift right and the current gets all messed up. The fish don’t relate to bottom, they’ll get up and suspend, and they don’t bite good.

“If you get a west wind, which is the predominant wind, it makes a little more current, and that makes them bite better. But that east wind can really hurt the fishing — and make it hard to run. It stacks the waves up (and) makes it choppy and hard to navigate.”

Overall, Johnston’s looking for a postspawn tournament. In shallow areas, the fish favor anything different, like a sand flat with isolated rock or a grass patch. In deeper areas of 15-plus feet, humps with rock, sandy areas with pea gravel and chunky boulders attract the big smallmouth.

“I think you’re going to need multiple spots,” Johnston said. “It might be a mix of shallow and deep. I think the fish are too spread out this time of year for you to find the mother lode to win.

“I think you’ll need 10 to 15 spots where you can pull up and catch 4- to 6-pound bass. You’re going to need a rotation. I don’t think you’re going to just run to one spot and load the boat for three days.”

Predicting a three-day winning total of about 69 pounds, Johnston stressed the need for a diverse tactical array. It’s hard to beat a drop shot on the St. Lawrence River, and Johnston has found great success with the Spro CJ Smasher he helped design. Tubes and hair jigs work well in the shallows, while a Carolina-rigged craw bait will deliver deep-water results.

Anglers fishing all nine Opens this season are part of the Elite Qualifiers Division and are eligible to earn one of nine invitations to the Bassmaster Elite Series when the Opens season is done. After five tournaments, the top nine anglers in the EQ standings are Tennessee pro John Garrett (926), Illinois pro Trey McKinney (921), Kenta Kimura of Japan (910), South Carolina’s JT Thompkins (893), Minnesota pro Keith Tuma (878), Georgia’s Matt Henry(869), Tennessee’s Robert Gee (860), Texas pro Ben Milliken (851) and Alabama pro Joey Nania (847).

At the conclusion of the season, the top nine anglers from the EQ field will receive invitations to fish the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series. Full standings for the EQ division can be found at Bassmaster.com.

You can follow all the action from the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at St. Lawrence River on Bassmaster.com. Live music, farmers markets, craft shows and paddling races are happening in communities across St. Lawrence County throughout the weekend, so check out VisitSTLC.com to plan a weekend of fishing and fun.

The 2023 event is being hosted by the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Village of Waddington. It is part of a series of tournaments and is supported by a Market New York grant from I LOVE NY/New York State’s Division of Tourism through the Regional Economic Development Council initiative.


Bassmaster Junior National Championship heads to Hartwell

The best young anglers from around the country will be part of the 2023 Bassmaster Junior National Championship July 21-22 on the storied waters of Lake Hartwell.

Photo by Laura Agee/B.A.S.S.

July 13, 2023

Bassmaster Junior National Championship heads to Hartwell

JuniorSeries_4C.jpg

ANDERSON, S.C. — Talented young anglers from 32 states will converge on Lake Hartwell July 21-22 for the 2023 Bassmaster Junior National Championship for second- through eighth-grade anglers. This will mark the first time the championship has been decided outside of the state of Tennessee.

After qualifying for the tournament through state events and four Opens held on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes, Alabama’s Lay Lake, Chickamauga Lake in Tennessee and Louisiana’s Red River, 127 teams will compete for the junior championship crown.

“I think people will be amazed, not only by the knowledge these young anglers have of the sport, but by the size of the fish they bring to the scales,” said Glenn Cale, B.A.S.S. Nation tournament manager — College, High School and Junior. “What they know and how they perform at such a young age really shows how the sport of competitive bass fishing is evolving — and gives us a good idea of the kind of competition we’ll see at the higher ranks in the future.”

In 2022, Mark Cerja Jr. and Gus Richardson of the Lone Star Junior Bassmasters took home the title with a two-day total of 18 pounds, 5 ounces and were honored during the Night of Champions at the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota.

Each two-angler team is accompanied by a coach who runs the boat and can give advice on fishing techniques and patterns.

The full field of competitors will depart each day at 6:20 a.m. ET from Green Pond Landing and return at 1:20 p.m. for weigh-in. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.


ICAST Announces 37 New Product Showcase “Best of Category” Winners for 2023

Prestigious industry awards highlight the best of the best in OrlandoOrange County Convention Center, Orlando, FL — July 12, 2022 — Astronaut Mike Massimino captivated a sold-out State of the Industry Breakfast with tales of space shuttle flights and interstellar telescope repairs as the recreational sportfishing industry’s largest trade show officially blasted off from the Orange County Convention Center on Wednesday.

“Mike Massimino was rejected by NASA three times before he became an astronaut,” said St. Croix Rods V.P. of Sales & Marketing, Jeff Schluter. “For our industry, it was an inspirational message of overcoming obstacles and sticking together to work as a team.”

Massimino’s inspiring stories of unity in space started a countdown clock to one of the most anticipated events at the annual trade show hosted by the American Sportfishing Association—the ICAST Industry Awards Reception. After a jam-packed day of activities on a show floor bustling with thousands of retailers, media members and exhibitors, the votes were tallied for the ICAST’s prestigious “Best of Category” awards. From a field of 1,087 new products representing 292 companies, 37 winners were crowned.

“Winning an award at ICAST puts a product on the map,” said Westin Fishing COO, Thomas Sonotra, who traveled from Denmark to attend the show and will fly back across the Atlantic as a winner. “To get exposure at a show like this really shows that your team has done something remarkable. A lot of hours go behind each product from field testing to making sure that what you design is super unique and capable of competing against tough competition.”

This year’s New Product Showcase featured a bonanza of products ranging from bass boats to personal watercraft, cutting-edge tackle and groundbreaking electronics. Now, after a full day of voting and analysis by an audience of peers, these category winners are left standing. On Thursday, Best of Category winners will go head-to-head to determine an overall ICAST 2023 Best of Show:

Best of Fishing Lifestyle

Novelties and Wellness
Product: The GoMist Drink and Misting Bottle | ExtremeMist Personal Cooling Systems
Contact: Devin Holmgren [email protected]

Motorized Boating Accessories
Product: PowerPole Move ZR | Power-Pole®
Contact: Curt Hill [email protected]

Non-Motorized Boating Accessory
Product: BOTE WATER HAMMOCK | BOTE
Contact: Suzy Hunt [email protected]

Boats and Watercraft
Product: Old Town Sportsman BigWater ePDL + 132 | Johnson Outdoors Watercraft, Inc.
Contact: Alex Sherbino [email protected]

Footwear
Product: Ankle Deck Boots - Black | AFTCO
Contact: Denny Le [email protected]

Ice Fishing
Product: LiveScope™ Plus Ice Fishing Bundle LI with ECHOMAP™ UHD2 93sv | Garmin USA
Contact: Carly Hysell [email protected]

Eyewear
Product: King Tide 8, Black 580G Blue Mirror | Costa Sunglasses
Contact: Hannah Trotter [email protected]

Lifestyle Apparel for Women
Women’s Coverup Dress | Huk Performance Fishing
Contact: Bobby Lader [email protected]

Lifestyle Apparel for Men
Ocean Bound Hooded Performance Shirt | AFTCO
Denny Le [email protected]

Warm Weather Technical Apparel for Women
Product: Mojeaux 1/4 Zip Performance Shirt | AFTCO
Denny Le [email protected]

Warm Weather Technical Apparel for Men
Product: Channel Hooded Performance Shirt | AFTCO
Denny Le [email protected]

Cold Weather Technical Apparel for Women
Product: Women’s Barricade Rain Suit | AFTCO
Denny Le [email protected]

Cold Weather Technical Apparel for Men
Product: Gale Pullover | Blackfish Gear
Contact: Addy Hansen [email protected]

Best of General Tackle

Soft and Hard Coolers
Product: Flop Box 10 | Flop Industries
Contact: Kyle Dougherty [email protected]

Electronics
Product: Westin EscapeCam | Westin Fishing
Contact: Michael Trost [email protected]

Cutlery, Hand Plies or Tools
Product: BUBBA Pro Series Smart Fish Scale | BUBBA
Contact Matt Kinamore [email protected]

Fishing Accessory
Product:  ENGEL USB Rechargeable Lithium-Ion XL Live Bait Aerator Pump | ENGEL Coolers
Contact: Chris Holloway [email protected]

Kids’ Tackle
Product: ProFISHiency Next Gen Crazy Combo | Anything Possible Brands
Contact: Amanda Rispoli [email protected]

Tackle Management
Product: Pontoon Boat Tackle Center | Boat Outfitters
Contact: Jared Walton [email protected]

Terminal Tackle
Product: VMC Swingin’ Ned Rig Jig | Rapala
Contact: Matt Jensen matt.[email protected]

Custom Tackle and Components
American Tackle Tsuka 2 Complete Carbon Handle | American Tackle Company
Contact: Kevin Landers [email protected]

Fishing Line
Product: Mastiff Fluorocarbon | Shimano
Contact: Cory Van Auken [email protected]

Best of Fly Fishing

Fly Fishing Waders & Wading Boots
Product: G4Z Stockingfoot Wader | Simms Fishing Products
Contact: John Frazier John.[email protected]

Fly Lines, Leaders, Tippet and Line Accessories
Product: BUZBE Colony 8T (THIN) | BUZBE
Contact: Caleb Sutton [email protected]

Fly Fishing Packs, Bags & Luggage
Product: Flyweight Vest Pack | Simms Fishing Products
John Frazier [email protected]

Fly Fishing Technical Apparel and Accessories
Product: Master M6014 Edition | Renzetti, Inc.
Contact: Lilly Renzentti [email protected]

Fly Fishing Reel
Product: Cheeky Spray Fly Reel | Cheeky Fishing
Contact: Peter Vandergrift [email protected]

Fly Fishing Rod
Product: Hardy Marksman Z | Pure Fishing, Inc.
Contact: Kimberly Hoffman [email protected]

Best of Lures

Freshwater Soft Lure
Product: Berkley PowerBait Nessie | Pure Fishing, Inc.
Contact: Kimberly Hoffman [email protected]

Saltwater Soft Lure
Product: Mulletron LT (Line Through) Swimbait | Z-Man Fishing Products
Contact: Cory Schmidt [email protected]

Freshwater Hard Lure
Product: ChatterBait Elite EVO | Z-Man Fishing Products
Contact: Cory Schmidt [email protected]

Saltwater Hard Lure
Product: MIrrOlure The Duke Dog | L&S Bait Company
Contact: Michael Tennian [email protected] 

Best of Rods

Freshwater Rod
Product: St. Croix Mojo Bass TRIGON | St. Croix Rods
Contact: Josh Lantz [email protected]

Saltwater Rod
Product: NRX+ Inshore | Shimano
Contact: Cory Van Auken [email protected]

Rod & Reel Combo
Product: Abu Garcia ZATA Baitcast Combo | Pure Fishing, Inc.
Contact: Kimberly Hoffman [email protected]

Best of Reels

Freshwater Reel
Product: Stradic FM | Shimano
Contact: Cory Van Auken [email protected]

Saltwater Reel
Product: Seapower 1200 | Daiwa Corporation
Contact: Chip Cone [email protected]


Berkley Nessie Earns ICAST 2023 New Product Showcase Award for Best Freshwater Soft Bait

ORLANDO, Fla (July 12, 2023) – Entering a challenging market with stiff competition, the Berkley PowerBait Nessie shines brightest to win the Best of Category award for Freshwater Soft Bait at ICAST 2023.

Going where no glide bait has ever gone, the all new scientifically built Berkley PowerBait Nessie allows anglers to fish a big profile glide bait where no big profile bait has ever been able to reach. Allowing anglers to skip, slide, and cast this bait into uncharted water – the PowerBait Nessie is the bait needed to trick the fish of a lifetime that’s lurking in the most challenging of hiding spots.

Available in three different sizes: 5-inch, 7-inch, and up to 9-inches, the PowerBait Nessie presents a big profile bait, with PowerBait infused taste, which is able to be retrieved at various speeds and cadences due to the stabilizing fins that keep the bait running consistent at all times. With a mesh reinforced joint and hook retention clip, the bait’s durability and efficiency are never in question when anglers are looking to catch a fish of a lifetime.

Allowing anglers of all skills to fish it with ease, the Powerbait Nessie unlocks an entirely new and unique use of a glide bait for avid and experienced anglers. In addition, the PowerBait Nessie comes in several custom painted finishes to match any forage profile, showing fish a carbon copy of the real thing. Paired with a sticky sharp Fusion19 treble hook, anglers now have the ultimate bait to catch the fish of a lifetime.

KEY FEATURES
• Soft-bodied glide bait design featuring Berkley’s famous PowerBait flavor
• Mesh reinforced joint provides durability while allowing for free range of motion
• Stabilizing fins for consistent action
• Hook retention clip keeps treble hook secured to the body – suited for keeping the hook in place when skipping under cover
• Premium features and components for ultimate performance and durability
• Sticky sharp Fusion19 treble hook
• Custom painted forage matching finishes
• Slow sinking
• Designed in the Berkley Lab with Berkley pro Mike Iaconelli

"This bait has taken an entire team effort for the past three years, making the action and componentry perfect to bring the Nessie to life.” said Berkley’s Associate Category Manager of Bass Bait, Nathan Ragsdale. “We’ve entered a challenging but thriving big bait market with a bait that provides avid anglers and big bait fishermen with yet another tool to present to fish that never have seen such a presence under docks, overhanging trees, and more. We’ve released an improved fish-catching, PowerBait taste infused design to anglers who desire a big profile bait that is easy to fish and has a friendly price tag. We are extremely proud of this bait and its introduction to the lineup of Berkley’s fish-catching toolbox.”

Sizes: 5-inch • 7-inch • 9-inch
Colors: Golden Shiner • Hitch • Perch • Hickory Shad • Rainbow Trout • Shad • Voltage • Burnt Bone • Raw • Green Pumpkin

MSRP: $7.99 – 5-inch • $9.99 – 7-inch • $12.99 – 9-inch
Available: September 2023


Abu Garcia Zata Casting Combo Claims ICAST 2023 Best in Category for Rod and Reel Combo

ORLANDO, Fla (July 12, 2023) – Taking the crown for 2023 ICAST’s Best of Category for Rod and Reel Combo, the Abu Garcia Zata Casting Combo provides beginner and avid anglers alike a rod-and-reel setup that will perform and that they will thoroughly enjoy. Featuring a 24-ton graphite blank for optimal sensitivity and strength, this new rod-and-reel combo ensures a top-notch performance that enables anglers to detect even the slightest of bites. 

With stainless steel guides offering smooth line movement that minimizes friction and maximizes casting distance, the 7-foot medium heavy Zata baitcast combos are available in right-hand and left-hand configurations, and provide versatility for various different fishing styles.

KEY FEATURES:
• 24 ton Graphite Blank
• Stainless steel guides
• 7-foot Medium Heavy Combos available in both right and left-handed retrieves

MSRP: $219.95
Available: October 2023


PDS Equipment Wins Ninth-Annual ICAST Cup Presented by Major League Fishing on Lake Toho

A Total of $9,200 Raised for Keep America Fishing™ Foundation

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (July 11, 2023) – The PDS Equipment team, represented by Steve Weist, Christian Bellomo and Trevor Bates, brought a three-bass limit totaling 17 pounds, 3 ounces to the stage to win the 2023 ICAST Cup at Lake Toho Presented by Major League Fishing (MLF) Tuesday. The four-hour bass-fishing tournament, hosted by Kissimmee Sports, was the kick-off event to ICAST 2023 and raised a total of $9,200 to benefit the industry’s angler advocacy program, Keep America Fishing™.

The field totaled 46 boats, including a handful of MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and Toyota Series anglers, as well as outdoor media and industry representatives from popular tackle brands and non-profits. In its nine-year history, the charity tournament has raised more than $81,000 for Keep America Fishing™.

“We said a quick prayer, then went out there and just put the hammer down,” said Bellomo. “It was so much fun. Thank you guys for putting this event together.”

Weist said this was the fifth time the team had fished this event, but the first time they’d really gotten on fish during the tournament.

“We came down to pre-fish yesterday and didn’t do very well, but we started out today offshore on some submerged grass and were able to start putting fish in the boat as soon as we rolled up,” said Bates. “We threw a lot of different baits and were able to catch them on pretty much anything we were throwing at them – they were just ready to eat.

“We had certain bite windows throughout the morning, where we would catch three or four fish at a time, then go 20 minutes or so without a bite, then catch three or four more. All in all, we ended the tournament with 30 to 35 fish and our best five would have been around 25 pounds, so it was an amazing day on the water,” Bates continued.

Although many teams ran across the lake and even locked down to Cypress Lake throughout the morning, the PDS Equipment team stayed in the same general area on the south side of Lake Toho for the entirety of the event.

“This win is just a great feeling,” said Bates. “We come to this event every year and you always hear about guys catching these ‘Florida big bags’ and you just wonder when you’re going to have one of those days – and today it was our turn.

“We come to this trade show every year, selling equipment that prints on some of the top favorite baits within the industry,” said Bates. “We started coming to the show because we love fishing and wanted to work with the companies in this industry, so being able to compete against those guys and represent PDS Equipment, and do it well, is an amazing feeling.”

The top 10 teams finished the tournament in:

1st:           PDS Equipment – Steve Weist, Christian Bellomo and Trevor Bates, three bass, 17-3
2nd:          Bull Bay Rods – Jake Stines, Corey Ash and Peter Gluszek, three bass, 15-0
3rd:          Stinky Balls – Aidan Olf and Scott McDonald, three bass, 13-8
4th:           Rusty Hooks Tackle – Jimmy Wilson, Shane Linberger and David Winters, three bass, 12-7
5th:           Boat Outfitters – Donnie Ewers, Christian Greico and Anastasia Patterson, three bass, 12-6
6th:           Fishing Tournament Report/Catch Commander – Brian Stahl, Terry Segraves and Deb Ferns, three bass, 11-12
7th:          Okuma Inspired Fishing and Fishlab Lures – Daniel Ramos, Mark Mitchell and David Sartwell, three bass, 11-10
8th:           Buzbe – Trent Manuel and Alex Murray, three bass, 10-14
9th:           Rather Outdoors – John Carmen, Shaw Grigsby and Matthew Mattingly, three bass, 10-8
10th:        CPF Lures – Scott McIver, Erik Tilson and Jason George, three bass, 10-3

Complete results and photos from the tournament will be posted at ICASTCup.com.

USA Bass partnered with MLF and Keep America Fishing™ to award the top-finishing women’s pair at the ICAST Cup a spot on the 2024 USA Pan American Bass fishing team. The highest-finishing team of female anglers was Rhonda Pitts and Emily Freeman, who brought three bass to the stage totaling 9 pounds, 2 ounces to earn their spot on Team USA Bass at the 2024 Pan American Bass Fishing Championship, alongside Jacob Wheeler, Mark Daniels Jr., Fred Roumbanis and other top pros.

Keep America Fishing™ is leading the fight to preserve our right to sustainably fish on our nation’s waterways. As the voice of the American angler, Keep America Fishing works to keep our public resources – our oceans, lakes, rivers and streams – open, clean and abundant with fish. For more information, please visit KeepAmericaFishing.org.

For more ICAST 2023 coverage, details and tournament information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, TwitterInstagram and YouTube.


MDJ the lumberjack

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships

Like a lot of full-time pro anglers, Team Toyota’s Mark Daniel’s Jr. is in a hurry to get to Orlando this week to lend treasured sponsors a helping hand in revealing new products at the ICAST show, but first he’s taking on the role of lumberjack at his home near Montgomery.

“We moved to this seven-acre property last year in the little town of Shorter, Alabama, and we love it, but it’s got a ton of big mature trees, and we’ve lost four big oaks in the bad storms this area gets. So, I’m headed to the equipment rental place to hitch up a wood splitter, and spend all day cutting up fallen trees before I drive to ICAST,” says the Tuskegee University alum.

A workin’ man can only be as productive as his equipment and energy will allow, so “MDJ” isn’t bashful about bragging on his chainsaw and tow vehicles. He recently posted on social media about turning 100,000 trouble-free miles on his 2020 Toyota Tundra, and he’s currently mind-blown by the tree cutting power of his first ever battery powered chainsaw.

“Toro is a great supporter of Major League Fishing, and they gave us a chainsaw that’s powered by a rechargeable 60-volt battery. I’m gonna be honest, I thought there was no way it could cut wood like a gas saw, but I’m telling you it’s bad to the bone. I can cut down an entire tree and cut up the big branches for firewood without dealing with pull cords or mixing gas and oil. It’s the baddest piece of equipment I own!” exclaims Daniels.

Daniels is also experiencing new power sources in the brand-newTundra he just took delivery on. It features Toyota’s new i-FORCE MAX hybrid powertrain that relies on a twin-turbo V6 engine that couples with a unique motor generator and 10-speed automatic transmission to provide a monstrous 437 horsepower and 583 lb.-ft of torque.

“My brand new Tundra is a towing beast with better fuel economy. It’ll be the Tundra I use on tour, but I’m not getting rid of my 2020 Tundra. Nope, I’m turning that one into my round-town grocery getter and wood splitter towing truck,” grins Daniels.

The California native describes himself as a city kid who now loves his family’s country lifestyle near Montgomery, AL. In fact, he often drives home from a tournament with giddy anticipation of simply mowing his lawn. He finds it to be therapeutic. A great way to unwind from the mental stress of competing against the best anglers in the world.

Or as is the case this week, chainsawing fallen trees for some good solid physical labor, not unlike a lumberjack, before slipping into the white collar business mindset he’ll lend his energies to at ICAST.

 


Bateman Turns Rainy Day into Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on the Ohio River at Rocky Point

Campbell Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

CANNELTON, Ind. (July 10, 2023) – Boater Scott Bateman of Jasper, Indiana, caught a five-bass limit weighing 10 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Ohio River-Rocky Point. The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Hoosier Division. Bateman earned $3,966 for his victory.

“I thought about staying close to takeoff, but I didn’t want to play bumper boats all day, so I made a long run and caught some short fish right off the bat,” said Bateman. “Then it got really slow.”

Bateman said he decided to roam around and check out new fishing spots and finally came to the conclusion that the bass weren’t in the mood for the fast-moving baits he was throwing in the backs of creeks. He moved closer to the mouths of creeks and slowed down his approach. He said he believes fish from the main river had moved into the mouths of the creeks, and he found three 100-foot stretches that held quality fish.

“I made the switch around 11:30 when it started raining,” Bateman said. “I think the rain really helped. During the rain and after the rain – about an hour and a half window – is when I caught all my fish.”

Bateman said he caught 15 fish during the rainy period, including eight keepers. He targeted wood, including wood that usually wasn’t covered by the higher water level. A black/blue/green-pumpkin jig was his bait of choice for the wood structure.

The Rocky Point win is Bateman’s third career BFL win – second win on the Ohio River. His first win on the river came out of Tanner’s Creek in 2019.

“Winning a BFL is always good,” Bateman said. “It’s freaking awesome. They are extremely hard to win.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Scott Bateman, Jasper, Ind., five bass, 10-2, $3,966
2nd:       Chris Wilkinson, Farmersburg, Ind., five bass, 7-15, $1,883
3rd:       Todd Hensley, New Albany, Ind., four bass, 7-8, $1,556
4th:        Tony Eckler, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 7-1, $879
5th:        Braxton Munson, Anderson, Ind., five bass, 6-11, $753
6th:        Dave Wood, Charlestown, Ind, three bass, 6-10, $1,690 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
7th:        Aaron Sisk, Evansville, Ind., five bass, 5-12, $628
8th:        Thomas Foster, Terre Haute, Ind., five bass, 5-9, $785
9th:        Chris Myers, Madison, Ind., five bass, 5-4, $470
9th:        Mark Dove, North Vernon, Ind., four bass, 5-4, $470

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Dave Wood of Charlestown, Indiana, caught a bass that weighed 3 pounds, 11 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $500.

 

Rob Campbell of Martinsville, Indiana, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,133 Saturday, after bringing two bass to the scale that totaled 4 pounds, 11 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Rob Campbell, Martinsville, Ind., two bass, 4-11, $2,133
2nd:       Jacob Parks, Noblesville, Ind., four bass, 4-9, $942
3rd:       Brian Liming, Dillsboro, Ind., two bass, 4-4, $627
4th:        Greg Roberts, Columbus, Ind., three bass, 3-13, $439
5th:        Derrik Cornett, Austin, Ind., two bass, 3-7, $377
6th:        Greg Marshall, Paris, Ky., three bass, 3-5, $345
7th:        Allen Dozier, Aurora, Ill., two bass, 3-3, $314
8th:        Aaron Thomas, Plainfield, Ind., two bass, 3-0, $282
9th:        Tanner McCartney, Fishers, Ind., two bass, 2-15, $251
10th:     Nickolas Myers, Zionsville, Ind., two bass, 2-13, $220

Campbell also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $250, catching a bass that weighed in at 3 pounds, 6 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After four events, Travis Spivey of Union, Kentucky, leads the BFL Hoosier Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 959 points, while Jacob Parks of Noblesville, Indiana, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 959 points.

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. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury 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 outboard.

The 2023 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 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X 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.


Hellebuyck Targets Topwater Smallmouth, Claims Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at the Detroit River

Beach Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

TRENTON, Mich. (July 10, 2023) – Boater Chris Hellebuyck of White Lake, Michigan, caught a five-bass limit weighing 23 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Detroit River . The tournament was the first event of the season for the BFL Michigan Division. Hellebuyck earned $13,795, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.

“I made a good, long run across Lake St. Clair today, and ran up into the St. Clair River,” said Hellebuyck, who earned his second career victory. “I got to my first spot where I had caught a couple of fish in practice, and when I got there, they were biting but it wasn’t that great. We caught a fair number of smaller fish, and then I started throwing a popper and caught a real big one right off the bat. I thought, ‘There’s got to be something to that.’ I kept throwing the popper, and it turned into one of those special days.”

Hellebuyck said he decided on a perch-imitating Booyah Boss Pop Popper after he saw alewife busting the surface on shallow river flats in eight feet of water.

“You’d see the alewife come flying out of the water, then you’d see a big brown bass fly after it,” Hellebuyck said. “We knew they were feeding, and you’d throw the popper over there and almost always catch those fish. But a lot of times just a slow retrieve with the popper worked. The bass would just blow up on it on the pause.

“I had a couple of other places in that area, and I ran over and hit those and caught a couple of big ones here and there,” Hellebuyck added. “It was a short fishing day after such a long run – I only had probably 3½ hours total of fishing time. Then I had to make my way back.”

Hellebuyck, who won his first BFL event on the Detroit River in 2021, said managing his weigh fish and managing his time were critical to his tournament win and special day.

“This win feels really good,” Hellebuyck said. “I don’t know why it feels so good to win the second one. The first one was almost just a blur. It was unexpected. It was so cool to win the second one. It was something to really enjoy - just a special day.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Chris Hellebuyck, White Lake, Mich., five bass, 23-3, $13,795 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd:       Aaron Jagdfeld, Rochester, Mich., five bass, 21-15, $2,288
3rd:       Brayden Federer, Adrian, Mich., five bass, 21-8, $1,525
4th:        Mike Trombly, Belleville, Mich., five bass, 21-7, $1,068
5th:        Elijah Meyers, Fort Wayne, Ind., five bass, 21-6, $1,247
6th:        Scott Dobson, Clarkston, Mich., five bass, 20-12, $1,171
7th:        Noah Stauffer, Gowen, Mich., five bass, 20-10, $763
8th:        Matt Vermilyea, Perrysburg, Ohio, five bass, 20-6, $648
8th:        Patrick Goodman, Sturgis, Mich., five bass, 20-6, $648
10th:     Scott Cooke, Marengo, Ohio, five bass, 20-3, $534

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Scott Dobson of Clarkston, Michigan, and Elijah Meyers of Fort Wayne, Indiana, both caught bass that weighed 5 pounds, 7 ounces to split the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $664.

 

Dan Beach of Clarkston, Michigan, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,288 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 21 pounds, 3 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Dan Beach, Clarkston, Mich., five bass, 21-3, $2,288
2nd:       Emmanuel Schwartz, Colon, Mich., five bass, 19-5, $1,476
3rd:       Chris Kistler, Logansport, Ind., five bass, 18-12, $648
3rd:       Cory Yoder, Goshen, Ind., five bass, 18-12, $648
5th:        Billy Crider, Jr., Kettering, Ohio, five bass, 18-6, $458
6th:        William Gross, Columbia Station, Ohio, five bass, 18-4, $419
7th:        Kaleb Parsell, Caro, Mich., five bass, 17-2, $381
8th:        Steve Doak, Sylvania, Ohio, five bass, 16-13, $343
9th:        Jay Shaffer, Bath, Mich., five bass, 16-11, $305
10th:     Garry Collins, Russell Springs, Ky., five bass, 16-9, $267

Emmanuel Schwartz of Colon, Michigan, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $332, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 14 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

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. 12-14 BFL Regional tournament on Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury 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 outboard.

The 2023 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 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X 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.


LaBelle Claims Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Champlain

Kapp Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

PLATTBURGH, N.Y. (July 10, 2023) – Boater Bryan LaBelle of Hinesburg, Vermont, caught a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 15 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Champlain. The tournament, hosted by the City of Plattsburgh, was the second event of the season for the BFL Northeast Division. Labelle earned $5,925 for his victory.

“I started out fishing for smallmouth, and it wasn’t working out so good, so I decided to go after largemouth,” said LaBelle, who said he has been fishing Lake Champlain since he was five years old. “It came together pretty good.”

LaBelle focused on fishing the northern end of Champlain and said he managed to catch a few smallmouth – including one he included in his final weight – but most were smaller fish. He said his best fish came on bruised- and elite-craw colored Beast Coast Tungsten Lil’ Magnum Jigs thrown at grass and rock. His efforts during the day produced 30 fish – 18 of which were keepers.

LaBelle won a Toyota Series event in August of 2022 on Lake Champlain and has posted numerous wins in other tournament circuits on the fishery, but this was his first BFL victory.

“I told all my buddies, ‘I’ve never won a BFL. I’d like to win one of these,’” LaBelle said. “Leading up to it, I didn’t think it would turn out this way, but I’m glad it did.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Bryan LaBelle, Hinesburg, Vt., five bass, 22-15, $5,925
2nd:       Alec Morrison, Peru, N.Y., five bass, 21-2, $2,657 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
3rd:       Kyle Cortiana, Broken Arrow, Okla., five bass, 19-12, $1,439
4th:        Rob Cruvellier, Alburgh, Vt., five bass, 19-7, $1,007
5th:        Michael Duarte, Baltimore, Md., five bass, 19-2, $827
5th:        Brett Carnright, Plattsburgh, N.Y., five bass, 19-2, $827
7th:        Jaden Parrish, Liberty, Texas, five bass, 19-0, $719
8th:        Jim Sweeney, West Dover, Vt., five bass, 18-15, $611
8th:        Brendan Vinton, Braintree, Vt., five bass, 18-15, $611
10th:     Spencer Cookson, Sheffield, Mass., five bass, 18-12, $503

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

LaBelle also caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $610.

Connor Kapp of Benton, Pennsylvania, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,122 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 18 pounds, 7 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Connor Kapp, Benton, Pa., five bass, 18-7, $2,122
2nd:       Dan Housel, Carlisle, Pa., five bass, 18-1, $1,061
3rd:       Trent Carey, York Springs, Pa., five bass, 15-10, $707
4th:        David Hoolahan, West Deptford, N.J., five bass, 15-7, $795
5th:        Brent Navari, Colchester, Vt., five bass, 14-12, $406
5th:        David Cooper, Rushville, N.Y., five bass, 14-12, $606
7th:        Peter Frumkin, Lincoln, Mass., five bass, 14-9, $354
8th:        Bradley Sargent, Concord, N.H., five bass, 14-5, $318
9th:        Austin Doser, Chazy, N.Y., five bass, 14-2, $283
10th:     David Archibald, Somerset, Mass., five bass, 14-0, $398

David Hoolahan of West Deptford, New Jersey, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $300 with a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 10 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After two events, Alex Korol of Fairport, New York, leads the BFL Northeast Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 485 points, while David Cooper of Rushville, New York, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 484 points.

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. 5-7 BFL Regional tournament on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury 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 outboard.

The 2023 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 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X 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.


Redesigned TATULA 100 at a Great Price

Angler-appealing TATULA 100 entered into ICAST 2023 New Product Showcase and will be available to test at ICAST On the Water, Tuesday, July 11th

FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (July 10, 2023) – Just when you thought the in-demand TATULA reel family couldn’t get any better, DAIWA unleashes a redesigned, and incredibly affordable TATULA 100 that’s extremely palmable and ultra-ergonomic. Daiwa’s progressive product development team redesigned the new TATULA 100 to bring anglers an option perfect for a variety of bass fishing applications.

“We’ve added two significant new features,” says DAIWA marketing manager, Marc Mills. “The first is a new, thinner and lighter 7075 aircraft-grade aluminum spool for greater casting distance and more control. We thinned down the walls of the spool while retaining its rigidity. Ultimately, we created a farther-casting reel with better braking system.”

Mills adds: “We also went to HYPERDRIVE gearing. You find that in our higher end models like STEEZ and ZILLION, but now it’s in the TATULA 100, too, allowing better rotation, durability, while keeping a super-fluid feel to allow the angler to focus more on what’s happening in the water than feeling the rotation when you turn the handle. When you do hang a fish or work a lure it’s noticeably smoother. You can’t feel the gears touch. It’s super smooth.”

What makes the new DAIWA TATULA 100 HYPERDRIVE DESIGN so special, a feature previously reserved for higher-end DAIWA baitcasting reels?

HYPERDRIVE DESIGN provides an ultra-smooth retrieve and powerful winding performance and is comprised of four key technologies: HYPERDRIVE DIGIGEAR, HYPER DOUBLE SUPPORT, HYPER ARMED HOUSING, and HYPER TOUGH CLUTCH.

HYPER DRIVE DIGIGEAR makes the teeth of the gears more efficient at transferring power, therefore making the gear set feel smoother, more powerful, and reduces gear noise.

HYPER TOUGH CLUTCH

HYPER DOUBLE SUPPORT is a two-bearing support system for the reel's pinion gear, which means no flex and an ultra-smooth retrieve/ gear rotation.

HYPER ARMED HOUSING comprises an aluminum frame and side plate for maximum rigidity and precision performance of the internal components.

And lastly, HYPER TOUGH CLUTCH is a redesigned and reinforced clutch mechanism that further increases durability and performance.

HYPERDRIVE DIGIGEAR

DAIWA TATULA 100 FEATURES

  • NEW HYPERDRIVE DESIGN
  • NEW A7075 Spool
  • T-Wing System (TWS)
  • Zero Adjuster
  • Aluminum frame
  • Ultimate Tournament Drag (UTD) Drag
  • 90mm Heavy Swept Handle
  • Available Gear Ratios: (6.3:1) (7.1:1) (8.1:1)

MSRP $179.99

If you’re considering a pro-grade baitcasting reel that won’t break the bank, look no further than DAIWA’s new TATULA 100… a reel intended to bring a whole new level of cutting-edge design, high-end performance, longevity, and stunning good looks to discerning anglers.


Elite Input, Technology, and Performance

New technique-specific DAIWA TATULA Elite AGS Bass Rod Series engineered with significant pro angler input and rigorous testing.

FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (July 10, 2023) – DAIWA continues the 10th year anniversary recognition of its TATULA brand with the introduction of the new premium-level TATULA Elite AGSbass rod series, a new 16 model lineup showcasing the latest advancements in DAIWA rod technology.

Lightweight and sensitivity are the key focus points bass anglers will experience with the TATULA Elite AGS rods, where DAIWA relied on noted professional anglers including Brent Ehrler, Seth Feider, Randy Howell, Chris Johnston, Cory Johnston, Cody Meyer, Ish Monroe, Takahiro Omori, and Patrick Walters in developing the actions and powers.

TTEL741HFB shown

TTEL761MLFS shown

At the core of the TATULA Elite AGS rods are lightweight SVF Nano Plus blanks to provide each rod with its crisp action, along with X45 Bias construction to prevent blank twisting for greater strength, excellent sensitivity, and hook-setting power.

DAIWA also includes its exclusive Air Guide System (AGS), considered the lightest and most sensitive guides on the market, which dampen vibrations during the cast to provide anglers with a quicker response and feel for increased lure action sensitivity. The carbon frame AGS guides are up to 40% lighter and more rigid than those made from titanium and have proven their effectiveness in reducing overall rod weight and added sensitivity.

The Air Sensor reel seats, built with carbon fiber, provide anglers with a further increase in sensitivity throughout the entire rod. Both the AGS guides and Air Sensor reel seats are also found on DAIWA’s flagship Steez AGS bass rod series.

All 16 rods in the series – 10 casting and six spinning – are designed for specific bass fishing techniques. Within the series, for those who prefer more power fishing situations will uncover frog, ‘long cast’ frog and punchin’/flippin’ rods that have Ish Monroe fingerprints all over them, and Tak Omori’s expertise in a cranking rod that has added fiberglass incorporated into the blank along with an extra-heavy power 7’3” pitching rod. Patrick Walters is the brain trust behind the 6’10” TATULA Elite AGS jerkbait rod, while Cory Johnston brings his Canadian roots background to the medium-heavy power, 7’5” soft stickbait/football jig rod.

For those bass fishing situations where finesse techniques are needed, DAIWA relied on the ‘from above the Mason-Dixon Line’ expertise to design the 7’6” Seth Feider hair jig/Neko rig and Chris Johnston split cork grip hair jig spinning rods, with Chris also contributing to his 7’11” Ned rig spinning rod also featuring a split cork grip. Bass anglers can rely on Cody Meyer’s talents on the TATULA Elite AGS 7’4” Neko/wacky rig/tube spinning rod, and when the situation calls for shakey head/drop shot and even small swimbait techniques, Randy Howell provides his knowledge on a TATULA Elite AGS 7’3” spinning rod.

For ‘power finesse’ techniques, Brent Ehrler comes through with a 7’ rod that handles 1/8- to 1-ounce lures, plus Brent completes the TATULA Elite AGS lineup with a versatile 7’3” casting rod.

TTEL801 Ish Monroe Swimbait Rod

Randy Howell notes that anglers will really notice the extreme lightness and sensitivity from the AGS guides, especially when you’re working baits on the bottom and need to feel the most subtle bites. The AGS guides tell you when to set the hook, instead of allowing the bass to shallow your bait, plus the lessened guide weight in the tip provides improved balance.

“With its ‘TATULA – We’ve Got Your Bass Covered’ tagline for all TATULA-branded rods and reels, we’re able to highlight DAIWA’s manufacturing capabilities and technology developed over the years in our TATULA casting and spinning reels, and now our best in brand TATULA Elite AGS bass rods,” said DAIWA’s senior marketing director Marc Mills. “Bass anglers know the dedication DAIWA has for the sport, and the success we’ve have with the TATULA brand over the past 10 years shows it.”

TTEL751MHFB Cody Meyer Soft Stickbait/Football Jig Rod

TATULA Elite AGS FEATURES and SPECIFICATIONS

  • 16 Technique-Specific Models
  • Designed with DAIWA Pro Input
  • DAIWA Exclusive Air Guide System (AGS)
  • DAIWA Exclusive Air Sensor Reel Seats
  • SVF NANOPLUS™ Graphite (most models)
  • Micro-Pitch Blank Taped Tips
  • Un-Sanded Finish Blanks for Uniform Construction
  • X45® Bias Construction
  • GLATECH™ Construction
  • Limited 5 Year Warranty

MSRP $299.99 to $319.99

TTEL711MHFS Randy Howell Power Spin Rod


Cole scores come-from-behind win at Bassmaster Kayak Series event on Upper Mississippi River

Tyler Cole of Delaware, Iowa, has won the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series on the Mississippi River powered by TourneyX with a two-day total of 178.5 inches. 

Photo by Mark Cisneros /B.A.S.S.

July 9, 2023

LA CROSSE, Wis. — Tyler Cole got married last weekend.

This weekend, after winning the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX on the Upper Mississippi River, he joked he had money to pay for the wedding.

Cole, who lives in Delaware, Iowa, about 2 1/2 hours downriver from La Crosse, caught a five-bass limit Sunday that measured 90.25 inches, the highest total of the two-day derby. When added to the 88.25 limit he caught on Day 1, Cole jumped from fourth place to the top of the leaderboard, his overall catch measuring 178.5 inches.

That was 1 1/2 inches more than anyone else in the field of 129 anglers gathered from throughout the U.S.

Cole earned a $7,846 cash prize for the win, his second on the Bassmaster Kayak Series. He also won a kayak tournament on Tennessee’s Chickamauga Lake in 2020.

“This one is probably more gratifying of a win just because I consider it my home water,” he said. “I come up here a lot to fish. It’s nice to win one in a place I love.”

Cole said it’s a good thing he didn’t need much time to scout the area, what with his wedding only eight days before he collected the winner’s check and trophy.

“I came up on Friday to check a spot,” he said. “It was a community hole then and it was a community hole all weekend. It’s the second tournament I’ve won with a Booyah Pad Crasher. It was the big bullfrog, the 2 1/2-incher. I worked it slow over pads next to eelgrass, right off current on the secondary channel.

“I locked the Pad Crasher in my hand and went to work. I found just the right bites. I figured I had fish to catch, but not win the tournament. But here we are.”

Cole said spring floods have made this area of the Mississippi River watershed especially productive.

“It’s as good as I’ve seen it in at least three or four years,” he said. “We had floods for a couple of weeks. I think the fish grouped up when the water went back down.”

Tennessee’s Rus Snyders finished second overall with 177 total inches and collected $3,542. He focused on largemouth bass in grassy spots, relying on a series of swim jigs and a 10-inch worm for his best catches.

The Top 13 anglers cashed checks at La Crosse, splitting a total cash purse of $25,800.

Behind Cole and Snyders are third, Missouri’s Lance Burris, 175.75; fourth, Illinois’ Todd Martens, 174.25; fifth, Minnesota’s Zach Gibbons, 174.25; sixth, New Jersey’s Greg DiPalma, 174.25; seventh, Ohio’s Drew Gregory, 173; eighth, Kentucky’s Anthony Winkleman, 171.25; ninth, Wisconsin’s Nick Berndt, 168; 10th, Iowa’s Jordan Westerman, 165.75; 11th, Tennessee’s Jim Davis, 164.5; 12th, Texas’ Weslie Gray, 164.5; and 13th, Illinois’ Kyle Brenner, 163.5.

Gregory won the $500 Big Bass Award for the 19.75-inch bass he caught Sunday. Snyders also caught a 19.75 on Sunday, but Gregory won the tiebreaker because his next-best bass was longer than Snyders’ biggest fish.

The derby on the Upper Mississippi River was the fourth of five regular-season kayak tournaments on the tour in 2023. The final event is scheduled for the Susquehanna River in Lewisburg, Penn., in October, with previous tournaments taking place on Alabama’s Lake Guntersville, South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell and Texas’ Possum Kingdom Lake.

Competing anglers vied for points in the 2023 Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year race, as well as spots in the 2024 Championship, which will be held at a yet-to-be-disclosed location.


Cartoon Characters Come to Life

New Z-Man® Gobius™ structure swimbait looks, feels and animates like a live Neogobius melanostomus

Ladson, SC (July 9, 2023) – “Over the years, we’ve seen smallmouths turn completely away from traditional patterns and vital forage bases to focus single mindedly on round gobies,” observes Z-Man® pro Grae Buck, whose home waters include Great Lakes Erie and Ontario, where gobies have ballooned bass growth to freakish dimensions.

“Bass never seem to get their fill of these critters, which you have to admit, kind of resemble little cartoon characters,” suggests the Pennsylvania based bass pro with a grin. “If you pay attention to their habits and swimming cadence and put the right bait within sight, a big smallmouth will nearly always eat. Unquestionably, Z-Man’s Gobius™ swimbait checks all the boxes. It clearly bears a striking physical resemblance to the real McCoy. But in terms of body posture and tail action, the new Gobius is also nearly indistinguishable from a live round goby.”

As Buck explains, most anglers think about goby patterns only in spring when bass beds become overrun with armies of the little animals. “Actually, smallmouths grow to these grotesque proportions by foraging on gobies almost year around,” he believes. “These preyfish actually lack an air bladder, so as long as you keep your bait pinned to the bottom, crawling over rocks, shells and other debris, you’ll eventually connect on the biggest smalljaw of your life.”

A split dorsal fin brush guard deflects cover, but when a bass bites, opens and exposes the entire hook gap for solid sets.

The first true-to-nature goby swimbait composed of 10X Tough ElaZtech®, the 3-inch Gobius boasts a convergence of truly valuable qualities: soft and chewable as the actual live invasive species. Tough enough to bounce back from multiple smallmouth chews. Just enough buoyancy to perch upright in typical goby fashion— all assumed advantages of ElaZtech at this point.

Now for the good stuff . . . Combined with its split dorsal fin brushguard, the Gobius’ precise structure jig/harness crawls upright over rocks and other cover, effortlessly deflecting what would otherwise be snag-city. The lure’s natural buoyancy, balanced weighting and flat underbelly further enable its bottom-darting tendencies, nearly indistinguishable from the actual invasive. Mottled, hand painted body details—eyes, belly, fins, gills, tail— complete the illusion.

Addressing a complaint common to most goby baits today, the Gobius’ 1/0 custom-built, sickle-style hook and squeezable body ensure hard-hitting hooksets. “The combination of the bait’s soft, compressible ElaZtech body, deep dorsal hook pocket and situation specific hook will be a pleasant surprise for anglers accustomed to goby baits with low-hookup ratios,” notes Z-Man Director of Product Development, Jose Chavez.

“When a bass bites, the top of the bait’s body compresses away from the hook, while its tail section is built to move down and out of the way, opening the entire hook-gap for easy penetration into the jaw.

“The hook itself works further in the angler’s favor,” adds Chavez. “The apex of the bend lies closer to the shank, so when pressure is applied by the angler, the bass’ jaw moves down and away from the point, eliminating its leverage and ability to dislodge itself.”

Propelling the Gobius and matching the species’ telltale wagging action, a rounded paddletail with subtle t-shaped rudder enhances its quick kick-and-stop cadence. The motion is fast, fluid but not excessive. Oversized pectoral fins add to the illusion, further aiding the bait’s ability to perch atop rocks, surveying the landscape with its bulging, hand-painted eyeballs.

“In terms of bait movement, you’ll notice gobies actually move more like crayfish than minnows,” explains Buck. “Quick tail kicks aided by pectoral fin thrusts are always followed by a gliding sequence and a rest. It’s why gobies are so easy for bass to catch. They lack a swim bladder, too, so gobies always sink back to bottom. They’re physiologically incapable of outrunning a predator.

“Fish the Gobius the same way you might work a jig,” Buck suggests. “One or two quick, dramatic rodtip twitches should always be followed by a pause. The bait’s easily lifelike enough to simply let it soak and attract bass with its physical appearance alone.

“One other really cool thing about the Gobius is that bass recognize it as food, everywhere,” he adds. “Certainly don’t need to have gobies in your favorite lake to catch bass and other species with the bait. Largemouth and spotted bass eat it just as willingly because they’re used to eating other bottom-dwelling forage, like sculpins, darters and bullheads all the time. Not to mention the fact giant trout, pike and walleyes gobble these critters with just as much aggression, Great Lakes and beyond— and very few anglers are tapping these incredible overlooked patterns.”

Available in October, the 3-inch Z-Man Gobius features three weight options (3/8-, 1/2- and 3/4-ounce) in eight lifelike colors, including a mix of goby camo schemes, popular smallmouth hues, and even a high-vis sight fishing pattern. MSRP $5.99 each. www.zmanfishing.com.


Infused with Flagship Quality and Features

DAIWA introduces new SOL AGS Inshore Saltwater Spinning Rod Series

FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (July 7, 2023) – Providing its best in sensitivity and durability blank construction and featuring flagship series components, DAIWA offers the right spinning rod for avid inshore saltwater anglers with its new SOL AGSspinning rods. A six-rod lineup to target everything from redfish, sea trout, snook, permit and ever tarpon, the one-piece, fast action rods are offered in three 7’ models in medium-light and medium-heavy powers, and three 7’6” rods in medium-light, medium-heavy and heavy action powers.

“Our main goal with the SOL AGS rods is to bring all the advancements Daiwa has made in rod development over the five years to the inshore saltwater market,” said Daiwa’s Marc Mills. “Anglers will quickly notice the advantages of our own AGS guides and micro pitch blank construction for inshore action that provides both sensitivity and the needed durability.”

Daiwa uses its HVF NANOPLUS carbon technology to reinforce the blank through a micro-level arrangement of material in the plastic resin, creating a smaller, lighter, and rigid yet powerful blank with impressive fish-stopping power. The Braiding X and X-45 Bias construction processes add better hoop strength for pulling on fish, plus prevents rod twisting and ovalization to contribute to longer, accurate casts.

DAIWA also includes its exclusive carbon framed Air Guide System (AGS) guides, considered some of the lightest and most sensitive on the market, on the SOL AGS rods. These lightweight carbon framed guides provide both more rigidity and sensitivity by dampening vibrations during the cast to provide anglers with a quicker response and feel for increased lure action sensitivity.

Mills notes the new SOL AGS spinning rods match up well with its 2500, 3000 and 4000 size Saltist MG and BG MQ spinning reels, where the Monocoque (MQ) solid one-piece frame which reduces flex and gear binding is a welcomed bonus when hooked up with big redfish or tarpon.

SOL AGS FEATURES:

  • DAIWA’s Exclusive Air Guide System (AGS)
  • X45® Bias Construction High
  • Volume Fiber (HVF) Construction
  • BRAIDING-X Carbon Fiber Braiding
  • Technology Daiwa’s Exclusive Air Sensor Reel Seats
  • Micro Pitch Blanks
  • Limited Lifetime Warranty

MSRP $349.99


Gamakatsu New Hook Products For 2024

Gamakatsu is the World’s Leading Hook manufacturer is known for being on the cutting edge when it comes to hook development for both the freshwater and saltwater markets.  Gamakatsu is proud to introduce several new offerings for its 2024 lineup at ICAST.

Gamakatsu Bead Hook

Bead fishing is one of the most popular techniques for salmon and steelhead.  Threading soft beads onto lines to imitate salmon eggs is an extremely effective method to target both species.  The Gamakatsu Staff set out to build a better hook that would improve hook up ratios for this specific technique.  Salmon and steelhead are strong and acrobatic fish with hard jaw plates and properly hooking these fish can be a challenge for even the most skilled angler.

The Bead Hook is constructed out of Gamakatsu’s TGW (Tournament Grade Wire). The TGW wire is thinner, strong and sharper than the standard wire. The smaller wire penetrates the hard jaw plate more easily, helping keep bigger salmon and steelhead pinned and on the line. The surface of each hook is coated with the Gamakatsu’s Nano Alpha Coating that additionally improves hook penetration. The Nano Alpha Coating offers higher corrosion protection resistance giving anglers longer and better hook longevity. The Bead hook has a longer shank with a wide hook gap. The longer shank results in a higher percentage of landed fish and is better at holding stronger fish that jump a lot.  The Bead Hook is equipped with a needlepoint that generates better hook penetration compared to a beak point common on other styles. Now anglers have a hook that can tackle and land the biggest salmon & steelhead that swim in your waters. Available in sizes #6-3/0.

Gamakatsu Grouper Hook

The Gamakatsu Grouper hook was designed to hold large baits or bait chunks when fishing for groupers or other large predators. This hook is built with an oversize eye to accommodate large lb test line choices including heavy mono, tuna cord or wire.  The Grouper hook is also excellent for large bait chunks used for tuna fishing.  It has the strength to hold and handle the largest saltwater fish.

Available in sizes 10/0, 12/0 and 14/0.

Gamakatsu Catfish Circle Weedless

Bill Dance is a name that is synonymous with bass fishing, but one of his greatest passions is chasing down giant catfish.  Bill teamed up with Gamakatsu to develop a weedless catfish hookthat could be fished in the heaviest wood cover without getting snagged.  Bill frequently targets trophy catfish in rivers, and he often wants his baits in and around snags, laydowns and trashpiles where big catfish live.  This hook allows anglers to deliver their baits into hard-to-reach places, while preventing snags. This hook is designed around Gamakatsu’s 221 SeriesOctopus Circle (Inline Point) Hook and is equipped with a custom weedguard. Gamakatsu tested many different wire weedguards that would allow the angler to be able to fish in the thickest, nastiest cover that big catfish live in, but still being able to hook them effectively. Once hooked the circle design of this hook gives anglers the chance to safely release trophy catfish back into the water unharmed.

“I love fishing for monster catfish in big current in big rivers. I have used Gamakatsu hooks for years to catch these big cats, but I wanted a hook that could get down in those river trash piles without getting snagged. Those monsters love to live in heavy current often around logs and laydowns. We took a great hook and made it better by now being weedless without sacrificing any of the great fish catching features, Bill Dance.”  Available in sizes 6/0-8/0.

Gamakatsu 620 HD

The Gamakatsu 620 HD is designed for the DIY (Do It Yourself) anglers that want to make and use their own assist hooks. These hooks offer anglers the ability to customize the length of the dropper lines and their hook configuration. The 620 HD hook is designed to target tuna, giving anglers a heavy-duty hook optionwith a greater capacity to easily handle larger fish.  The surface of each 620 HD hook has a Hypershield coating that dramatically increases corrosion resistance allowing anglers to spend more time fishing and less time changing out rusty hooks.

Available in sizes 5/0-7/0.

Gamakatsu J60 Crab Pattern

The Gamakatsu J60 Crab pattern hook was designed with a 60-degree eye, wide gap for better hookups, and straight hook point for quick penetration. Those features makes this the ideal hook for fly patterns that require the hook point to ride in the up position. Essentially making it the best choice for crab or shrimp patterns and perfect for redfish fly patterns.

Available in sizes 6 – 1/0.


From the desk of Ken Duke

Davenport, Fla. – Fish Insider LLC believes fishing makes our world a better place. To that end, Fish Insider offers a print and digital magazine, a website (fishinsider.com), an e-newsletter, consulting services, and more.

Fishing industry veteran Ken Duke will serve as editor in chief of Fish Insider. Duke began writing for national outdoor magazines as a teenager. For the past nine years, he served as managing editor of Fishing Tackle Retailer. For a decade before that, he was senior editor of B.A.S.S. Publications. In addition to hundreds of articles published in virtually every fishing magazine and on dozens of websites, Duke is a featured expert in the upcoming documentary film series “The History of Sportfishing.”

“Fish Insider is focused on helping our industry do better business,” Duke says. “If we do that, we grow the sport and the market. It’s been a privilege to work in this industry for the past several decades and to consult with many of the wonderful people in it. Fish Insider is the platform and the tool set I’ve always wanted to help the companies that make our sport great — large and small. Today’s kitchen table operation can be tomorrow’s multinational manufacturer with the right advice and strategy.”

To that end, Fish Insider will offer a print magazine — Fish Insider — that’s free to dealers, wholesalers, distributors, and industry professionals, as well as an e-newsletter — “Fish Insider News” (FIN) — and a variety of consulting services that run the gamut from design to manufacturing to media and much more, to fit any situation.

Travis Loyd is the founder of Fish Insider. He shares Duke’s passion for fishing and believes that a strong fishing industry makes for a better America.

“To anyone interested in improving their industry position and strengthening our sport,” Loyd says, “Fish Insider is ready to help. Whether you’re a manufacturer, a dealer, a wholesaler, a professional angler, or you’re simply looking to find your own path in the industry, we have answers, solutions, and connections.”

Duke, Loyd, and other representatives of Fish Insider will be attending ICAST, July 11-14, in Orlando. If you’d like to meet, please email Duke at [email protected]