New Personalities Announced for the ABT Live Team
Decatur, Ala. (November 14, 2023) – With the Alabama Bass Trail (ABT) set to enter its eleventh season in 2024, the state’s premier weekend tournament trail announces two new personalities to the ABT Live team, bringing even more excitement of tournament action to the next decade. Luke Dunkin will take over as the on the water analyst and will serve as the official emcee of the ABT Tournament Series and ABT 100 series and Darien Craig has been named the ABT television show host and will also serve as an on the water analyst.
“I am excited to welcome both Luke and Darien to the ABT team. They are no strangers to the ABT as both have fished with us and filled in on live as we needed them. Both young men are very knowledgeable of the lakes we visit and the overall fishing landscape in Alabama. I think their input will be extremely interesting as well as entertaining to our many fans tuning in each week,” said ABT Program Director Kay Donaldson.
Luke Dunkin, host of the Low Budget Live Podcast, will be the official emcee and will serve as an on the water analyst. He will be responsible for engaging the crowd watching the tournament in person as well as those fans watching from home. The new ABT television show host is Darien Craig. In addition to his hosting duties, he will also serve as an on the water analyst, bringing the fans all the action live.
Growing up in southern Tennessee, Dunkin got bit by the tournament bass fishing bug at the age of 10. While competing in tournaments with his father across Tennessee and North Alabama, he decided back then he wanted to pursue a career in the bass fishing world. Fast forward 30 years and he has been fortunate enough to turn that childhood dream into a reality. After competing over the years in events like the Bassmaster Opens and the FLW Tour, Dunkin decided to combine his love of fishing and gift of gab to form the Low Budget Live (LBL) podcast. Now in its sixth year, LBL has become one of the top fishing podcasts in the country, with thousands of loyal “Low Lifers” tuning in every week. Dunkin is also a commentator for the National Professional Fishing League’s live coverage. When he isn’t on the water fishing or running his mouth about fishing, he enjoys spending time with his wife Marissa and their five children hunting and playing music.
Dunkin stated, “I am absolutely honored to have the opportunity to work with the Alabama Bass Trail. I have had the chance to compete in both the Tournament Series and 100 Series over the years and nobody does it better than Kay, Jon and the rest of the crew. I understand that I have some huge shoes to fill on that stage and on live thanks to the great Robbie Floyd, but I am excited to bring my love of tournament fishing, my respect for the ABT anglers, my personality and my sense of humor to the 2024 season.”
Darien Craig, the celebrated 2017 ABT winner at Lake Guntersville, is an experienced angler in the world of bass fishing. Beyond his angling career, he is the entrepreneurial force behind the company he founded, Y'all Sweet Tea. Drawing from a wealth of experience fishing the ABT and providing insightful live show coverage, he is poised to make waves as a member of the ABT team in 2024. His on-the-water proficiency, coupled with authentic relationships among anglers, promises to bring a fresh and compelling perspective to the forefront of the ABT. Darien also finds fulfillment in his roles as a devoted husband to Hannah and a proud father to Canon.
“I am thrilled to announce my collaboration with the ABT for all 11 Tournament Series events plus the 100 Series,” said Craig. “Being on the water live during these events will be an absolute joy, as it combines two of my passions: bass fishing and talking on camera. The 2024 schedule is incredibly promising, with anticipation for some impressive fish bags. Excitement levels soar as I team up with Luke Dunkin for the entire season, bringing a dynamic duo to the coverage. Get ready for an exhilarating season full of big catches and engaging commentary!”
In 2024, the ABT will offer four hours of continuous on the water live coverage at each Tournament Series and 100 Series events. The coverage will feature three roaming camera boats on the water and one in the live studio. The live stream can be viewed on the ABT’s Facebook pages and website.
“On the water live coverage launched in 2021, delivering to fishing enthusiasts, ABT fans and anglers each more than 70 hours of live coverage from 14 tournaments. Since this time, we have had over 200,000 views from live videos on our social media platforms,” said Donaldson.
Fans are encouraged to follow the Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series (https://www.facebook.com/AlabamaBassTrail) and Alabama Bass Trail 100 (https://www.facebook.com/albasstrail100) on Facebook and to bookmark www.alabamabasstrail.org to watch the live coverage.
The ABT Tournament Series will enter its eleventh season in 2024 as the state’s premier weekend tournament trail for amateur bass anglers with an 11-event schedule offering more than $750,000 in awards. The season gets underway February 10, 2024, on Lake Jordan and concludes Oct. 18-19, 2024, with the championship on Lay Lake.
North Division:
| February 17, 2024 | Pickwick Lake hosted by Florence-Lauderdale Tourism |
| March 16, 2024 | Smith Lake hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County |
| April 27, 2024 | Wheeler Lake hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism |
| May 18, 2024 | Neely Henry Lake hosted by City of Gadsden |
| June 22, 2024 | Lake Guntersville hosted by Marshall County Sports and Tourism |
South Division:
| February 10, 2024 | Lake Jordan hosted by the City of Wetumpka and the Elmore County Economic Development |
| March 9, 2024 | Lake Martin hosted by Alexander City Chamber of Commerce |
| April 13, 2024 | Logan Martin Lake hosted by City of Lincoln |
| May 11, 2024 | Alabama River (Cooter's Pond) hosted by City of Prattville |
| June 15, 2024 | Lake Eufaula hosted by Eufaula-Barbour County Chamber of Commerce |
Hosted by the Shelby County Commission, the championship tournament will be held October 18-19, 2024, on Lay Lake.
Returning for the fourth season, the ABT 100 Series is open to professional and amateur anglers and features three tournaments. The maximum number of boats for each tournament is 100. Entry fee for each event is $1,000 and teams must fish in all three tournaments. (No single entries allowed.)
Tournament dates and locations for the 2024 Alabama Bass Trail 100 Series:
January 20, 2024 Logan Martin Lake hosted by the City of Lincoln
June 1, 2024 Weiss Lake hosted by the City of Leesburg
November 2, 2024 Wheeler hosted by Decatur-Morgan County Tourism
For more information on the ABT, call Donaldson at 855.934.7425 or visit www.alabamabasstrail.org.
Travel Tuesday - Hanna's 10 Tips for Towing a Boat
By Hanna Robbins, Half Past First Cast
As we get closer to retirement, our plans are starting to come into focus, and one of those is to buy a fifth wheel and travel the country in it. That means I’ll tow the “house,” and Hanna will have an SUV to pull the boat. She’s starting to practice so she won’t be nervous when we officially hit the road. If she can pull the Bass Cat through the DC area’s treacherous traffic,
she’ll likely be ready for anything.
Larry Nixon retires from Bassmaster Elite Series
Two-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year and 14-time B.A.S.S. champion Larry Nixon of Bee Branch, Ark., who returned to the Bassmaster Elite Series in 2023, has announced his retirement.
Photos by B.A.S.S.
November 14, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Bassmaster’s first “Million Dollar Man,” Larry Nixon of Bee Branch, Ark., is stepping away from the Bassmaster Elite Series in 2024. Nixon decided at the end of the 2023 season that his health would not allow him to compete at his usual high standard.
“The Elite Series grind is more than most people could ever imagine,” said Nixon. “The elements of professional bass fishing are some of the toughest things in all of sports. Over the course of my career I’ve worn out two thumbs, a shoulder, a heart, a knee and an elbow due to competitive repetition.
“My health is OK, but, believe me, everything is just worn out. It’s become really difficult to just do normal things like tie knots and other little things.”
Nixon’s return to the Bassmaster stage in 2023 was much anticipated by the fans of the sport, the anglers and Nixon himself.
“Coming back to B.A.S.S. was one of the highest points of my career,” he said. “Year 46 — or whatever year this is — was absolutely fantastic. The fans at B.A.S.S. are unlike anything else in the sport. It was honestly like I never left.
“The camaraderie, the kids (and) the other Elite competitors all made me smile a lot this year because of the reception I got all year.”
With 14 B.A.S.S. wins and over $1.66 million in career earnings, Nixon cemented his legacy as one of the all-time greats in professional bass fishing.
Nixon’s consistency on the trail has been unmatched. For 12 seasons between 1977 and 1988, Nixon never ranked lower than eighth in the Angler of the Year points standings. For nine consecutive years — 1979-1987 — he was in the Top 5, with AOY titles coming in 1980 and 1982. In addition to winning the 1983 Bassmaster Classic on the Ohio River, the 25-time Classic qualifier finished in the Top 10 an astounding eight times.
In any sport, the athletes who walk away on their own terms are the most fortunate, and they are even more fortunate when they have accomplished as much as Nixon has over his legendary career.
“There is absolutely nothing in this world that I would trade for my career in professional tournament fishing,” said Nixon. “This entire journey — from being in Bassmaster Magazine for exposure, to being on television on TNN, to where the sport is today — has been truly amazing.
“I’ve had the chance to educate fans and anglers across every state in the United States except for one in my time and (have) also been to Japan three times, which is really cool to say.”
While this may be the end of Nixon’s career fishing the Bassmaster Elite Series, he plans to take this time to relax and fish more with friends.
To read more about Nixon’s legendary career, visit Bassmaster.com.
How to Master Layering: A Step-by-Step Guide to Staying Warm on the Water
When it comes to staying warm, layering is a key strategy. Here are some tips on how to layer effectively when spending your days on the water in the cooler months:
- Base Layer: Start with a thin, moisture-wicking base layer that sits directly against your skin. This layer helps to keep you dry by wicking sweat away from your body. Opt for the Crew Neck Long Sleeve and Leggings(men’s and women’s) which provides advanced wicking capabilities help to tackle perspiration, so you can remain dry and comfortable during any activity.
- Insulating Layer – Mid Layer: The next layer is your insulating layer, which adds warmth by trapping air close to your body. Fleece and thermal fabrics like the Dart Hoodie,Langland Hoodie and Cromarty Fleece, down jackets like the Portland or Shannon jacket, or insulated jackets like the Hooded Insulated Jacket are great options for this layer. Elect for a thickness appropriate for the weather conditions you will be facing.
- Outer Layer: The outer layer, also known as the shell layer, provides protection from wind, rain, and snow. Look for a waterproof and windproof jacket that is breathable to prevent overheating. Consider features like adjustable cuffs and a hood for added protection. Chose pieces like the Winter Angler suit, Meridian Suit, and Apex Pro Xsuit.
- Accessories: Don't forget to protect your extremities. Check out our full line of waterproof gloves, hat or beanie, and warm socks. Consider adding a neck gaiter for extra warmth like the Polarclava or OS Thermal Neck Gaiter.
- Adjust and Remove Layers: Layering allows you to adjust your clothing as your activity level and the weather conditions change. If you start to feel too warm, remove a layer or partially unzip your jacket to regulate your body temperature.
Remember, it's important to find the right balance and not overdress, as sweating too much can lead to discomfort and damp clothing that may make you feel colder. Experiment with different combinations of layers to find what works best for you in various weather conditions
AC Insider Podcast - Chad Mrazek - Toyota Series Champ
This week the guys catch up with Chad Mrazek, fresh off his Toyota Series Championship win AND Southern Division AOY. Chad talks about the grind it took to get into the groove he is in now and offers some insights to other young guns out there on the road. The guys also get him to talk about his FFS technique of using a jig to pick off resident fish. Give a listen and learn from one of the up and coming young touring pros!
Respect connects “Paw Paw Arey” and young cameraman Fisher
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
There’s no way a barely out of high school kid from York County, Pennsylvania could have imagined how a phone call he answered during a day trip to New York City in late 2019 would change his life in so many ways.
But that’s exactly what happened when hopeful young videographer Macoy Fisher answered a ring from top Yamaha pro, and highly popular YouTube angler, Scott Martin telling him he’d chosen Fisher as his new lead cameraman from a vast pool of applicants.
Step one of Fisher’s life transformation was moving 17 hours south to Martin’s hometown of Clewiston, FL at Lake Okeechobee. Next was the realization that he’d be part of a traveling circus better known as the Bassmaster Elites Series, in which two men old enough to be his dad would be his roommates.
Not just any ‘ol middle-aged men, but instead Martin’s tournament road mates, and multi-time world championship qualifiers, Scott Canterbury and Team Toyota’s Matt Arey, who before long, in large part thanks to Fisher, became a huge part of Scott Martin’s social media show that’s seen by an average of 70,000 people each time a new episode drops.
Part of the secret sauce of any ultra-successful fishing-based YouTube channel is not just teaching viewers a few fishing tips, tournament coverage, and high-quality video production, but also the daringness to take fans behind the scene, or inside the VRBO rental home, of top tournament pros, which includes getting in their personal space at times to capture the emotional good times and bad times of life on tour.
In Fisher’s case, that might mean capturing anything from Martin doing push-ups and burpees en route to losing 40-pounds, Canterbury’s famous cooking, or Arey telling Fisher to take a hike when it’s time for bed at 9:00 p.m...
“Oh, Matt is definitely the Paw Paw of the group. He’s got a strict 9:00 p.m. bedtime. He has to have his own bedroom at every house we rent, and he gets mad if we’re too loud when it’s his bedtime,” grins Fisher.
However, there’s a shared magic between “Paw Paw Arey” and Macoy Fisher that simply makes the production better. Mutual respect.
“Matt Arey is a straight shooter. Brutally honest. But I know he genuinely cares not only about the value of what I do for the YouTube show, but my life as well. He even invites me to hunt with him in the off-season, and everybody knows Matt takes his deer hunting super serious. So that’s an honor,” says a truly appreciative Fisher.
“Oh, we definitely like to pick on Macoy,” says Arey. “He likes to sleep in. But he’d do anything for ya to make our jobs as pros easier. And let me tell you something, when it’s time to work and make video magic, Macoy is a dang worker! Whether that’s capturing my nappy head getting out of bed at 4:00 a.m. or turning the lights out at 9:00 that night, Macoy is always working,” says Arey.
“Sometimes they treat me like a kid, but they always treat me with respect,” says Fisher.
Respect. Indeed, the common thread virtue between two guys a generation apart, making constant social media magic while sharing the tribulations and triumphs of life on the road as part of pro bass fishing’straveling circus. A life Macoy Fisher could never have fully imagined when he answered Martin’s call that day four years ago in New York City.
Suzuki Marine Becomes Official Outboard Engine Sponsor of Major League Fishing
Renowned Outboard Engine Manufacturer Signs New Multi-Year Sponsorship Agreement for 2024 Season and Beyond
BENTON, Ky. (Nov. 13, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world's largest tournament-fishing organization, and Suzuki Marine USA, a renowned outboard engine manufacturer celebrated for its innovation and reliability, announced today a multi-year partnership between the two industry-leading brands. Suzuki Marine will now serve as an Official Co-Exclusive Engine Sponsor of the MLF Bass Pro Tour and MLF5 circuits.
This expanded partnership encompasses an increased presence within the Bass Pro Tour and REDCREST, along with sponsorship across all MLF5 circuits, including the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats, Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine, Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI and Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse circuits. Suzuki will be the title sponsor of a 2024 event on the Bass Pro Tour and will receive prominent exposure and on-site recognition at all MLF5 tournaments and activations.
“Our goal is to grow the Suzuki brand across the entire boating and fishing industry — and the bass fishing market is definitely an important part of our strategy,” said Brandon Cerka, Suzuki Marine USA General Manager Sales & Marketing. “Our partnership with Major League Fishing and our select team of top anglers are powerful tools for us to showcase the performance, advanced technology, and reliability of Suzuki outboards to the bass fishing world. We’re especially proud of our anglers’ success, and how they represent the Suzuki brand.”
Suzuki Marine's support of Major League Fishing underscores the Florida-based outboard motor manufacturer's unwavering commitment to crafting dependable engines that enhance the boating and fishing experiences of anglers of all skill levels. As an official engine sponsor of MLF, Suzuki will introduce an expanded tournament contingency award program, offering enhanced incentives to tournament anglers who trust Suzuki engines for their competitions.
Additional details about the Suzuki Marine angler contingency program will be available in early 2024.
Kathy Fennel, MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager, expressed her enthusiasm about the expanded partnership: "We take pride in building on our collaboration with Suzuki Marine and eagerly anticipate furthering their involvement in tournament bass fishing. Suzuki has a storied history of committing to innovation and technology, and we’re thrilled to see their expanded presence from our grassroots circuits all the way through the Bass Pro Tour.”
For more information about MLF, their tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about Suzuki Marine’s full array of outboard motors, contact Suzuki Marine USA headquarters at (813) 687-7200 or visit SuzukiMarine.com.
Buddy Benson Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Wild Card Tournament on Pickwick Lake
Elliott Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
FLORENCE, Ala. (Nov. 13, 2023) Boater Buddy Benson of Dahlonega, Georgia, brought a two-day total of nine bass to the scale weighing 34 pounds, 3 ounces to win the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine Wild Card on Pickwick Lake. For his victory, Benson earned $12,610, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus. Benson also earned one of the final berths into the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship.
The Wild Card tournament is a last chance shot at the All-American for Bass Fishing League (BFL) anglers that didn’t qualify for a Regional Tournament.
“I had never been to Pickwick this time of year,” Benson said. “I’d fished there a couple of times during the summer, but that’s it. My confidence wasn’t very good going into the tournament. I tried all practice to make it work and never caught a limit. Every time I did get a bite, though, it was a big one. So I knew during the tournament if I could make it, they would be the right ones.”
Benson said he focused on bass gathering on a hard spot, next to the river channel on the south end of the lake toward the dam. Every fish he caught during the event came off of that spot, on a Damiki rig.
“There were a bunch of fish on the spot, but they were super stubborn,” Benson said. “I wasn’t getting many bites, but when I did get them, they were big smallmouth – most were 4-plus pounders.”
Benson's lack of confidence faded as the 4-pound smallmouth kept coming to his bait.
“I had just caught my fifth fish, and I was pumped because I had finally caught a limit,” Benson said. “Then I saw another one on my graph, and I fired over there and caught another 4-pound smallmouth. When I put it in the net, I told my co-angler I might have just won the tournament.
“This feels awesome,” Benson added. “I’ve been close to winning a couple of times, and it’s great to finally get the win. It feels really good to prove myself away from my home area.”
The top six boaters that qualified for 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:
1st: Buddy Benson, Dahlonega, Ga., nine bass, 34-3, $12,610 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Jackie Flack, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 33-13, $2,305
3rd: Brian Wilson, Nancy, Ky., nine bass, 31-12, $2,506
4th: Jake Lee, Powell, Tenn., 10 bass, 30-15, $1,076
5th: Bo Quinnie, Duncanville, Ala., seven bass, 26-10, $922
6th: Scott Towry, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., eight bass, 26-4, $845
Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:
7th: Gil Summerlin, Guntersville, Ala., six bass, 22-14, $768
8th: Perry Dawson, Rockwood, Tenn., eight bass, 22-7, $911
9th: Angel Rosario, Kalamazoo, Mich., eight bass, 22-2, $615
10th: Darren Ashley, Calhoun Falls, S.C., eight bass, 22-1, $738
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Boater Brian Wilson of Nancy, Kentucky, weighed the heaviest bass of the tournament Saturday – an 8-pound, 1-ounce bass – that won the day’s Boater Big Bass Award of $670.
Benson took home an extra $7,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Contingency bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Larry Elliott of Enoree, South Carolina, weighed in a two-day total of eight bass weighing 14 pounds, 15 ounces to win the co-angler division at the Wild Card and $2,113 Saturday, and advance to the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.
The top six co-anglers that qualified for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:
1st: Larry Elliott, Enoree, S.C., eight bass, 14-15, $2,113
2nd: Dennis Blakely, Norwalk, Ohio, four bass, 12-12, $981
3rd: Bill Hockaday, Nashville, Ark., four bass, 10-13, $855
4th: Bart Burford, Loose Creek, Mo., three bass, 10-6, $458
5th: Melvin Veasey, North Little Rock, Ark., two bass, 10-0, $525
6th: Justin McGaha, Knoxville, Tenn., four bass, 9-7, $560
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
7th: John Morales, Plainfield, Ill., four bass, 9-0, $327
8th: Jason Halverson, Belvidere, Ill., two bass, 8-14, $294
9th: Eian Odle, Willow Springs, Mo., three bass, 8-10, $262
10th: J.P. Sims, Port St. Lucie, Fla., three bass, 8-4, $229
Melvin Veasey of North Little Rock, Arkansas, and Russell Vandiver of Greenfield, Indiana, each weighed in a bass totaling 5 pounds, 5 ounces, Saturday to split the day’s Co-Angler Big Bass Award of $264.
The Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine Wild Card tournament on Pickwick Lake was hosted by Florence-Lauderdale Tourism.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine was 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, advanced to one of six BFL Regional tournaments, or the Wild Card, where they competed to finish in the top six, to qualify them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2024 BFL All-American will take place May 29-31, at Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee, hosted by Visit Jefferson County, TN.
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.
American Sportfishing Association Gives Anglers a Powerful Voice
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NPAA Annual Conference in Ft. Myers, FL features expanded partnership with ASA; VP of ASA Government Affairs, Mike Leonard, to speak |
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Forestville, WI (November 13, 2023) – The National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA) is proud to announce an expanded relationship with the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) at its upcoming 2024 “Passion to Profession” NPAA Conference in Ft. Myers, Florida, January 5 – 7, 2024. (Discounted pre-registration rates are currently in effect but limited capacity is filling up fast.) “For all of us working to earn a living in the sportfishing industry, networking is critical, and building the relationship between NPAA’s diverse membership and ASA is an effective networking strategy. Individual anglers cannot lobby for the future of the sport on their own. They must become part of this larger network,” says NPAA President, Pat Neu. ASA VP of Government Affairs, Mike Leonard, has been with ASA for nearly 15 years, growing the relationship between the ASA and greater NPAA membership over his tenure. |
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“I have worked with NPAA President, Pat Neu, over the past 10 years,” notes Leonard. “Pat serves on our Government Affairs Committee and is active on our Freshwater subcommittee. His expertise—as well as the entire NPAA network—has funneled up information from the ground level concerning tournament regulations, invasive species concerns, and other issues that impact sportfishing.” Leonard continues: “While ASA works extensively with regional fishery management councils in Washington D.C., the close relationship with the NPAA keeps an ear to the ground to help us identify and prioritize everything from local to far-reaching, national issues. It’s been a good partnership, only strengthened through the years as NPAA membership has become more far-reaching and diverse.” |
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ASA SPEAKS IN FT. MYERS Looking forward to January in Ft. Myers, Leonard says the ASA is proud to be involved as a sponsor of the NPAA “Passion to Profession” Conference. “Our current president and past president have spoken at the conference. The in-person relationship has been great. We’ve learned a lot by attending and have tried to share insights from our side, too,” remarks Leonard. “I will be speaking at the upcoming conference, addressing how NPAA members can increase their voice in ASA work. I oversee the ASA Government Affairs Program so my plan is to speak on why fisheries policies and regulations are so important to the future of our sport – and why we need NPAA members to pay attention and use their voices and networks to educate the larger fishing public on the opportunities to influence policy and regulations that have an impact on fishing access, fisheries conservation, trade and commerce, etc. There’s a lot going on and most anglers have no idea how many regulations, policies, and laws affect fishing—and require an organization like ours to manage them to ensure anglers have the opportunity to access the vast amount of public water we have in this country.” Leonard continues: “The NPAA is a powerful organization of people who spend a lot of time on the water and live and breathe fishing every day. From our vantage, we believe it’s critical that all sportfishing professionals join NPAA and gain a greater understanding of what’s going on regionally and nationally with our fisheries. NPAA membership growth will create an even more influential partnership we can leverage to explore issues impacting us collectively as anglers – leading to better management of our fisheries and resources, which impacts the broader fishing community.” |
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NPAA President, Pat Neu, adds: “Having NPAA represented on the ASA Government Affairs Committee is vital to the future of sportfishing. Having the ability to participate and contribute to the work done by ASA on this committee is probably the biggest intangible that NPAA members have with their membership. It gives them a voice on national concerns and opportunities.” “This is why we’re so excited to have Mike Leonard speak at the upcoming conference,” says Neu. “Mike will address how all NPAA members can become watchdogs for our sport by monitoring what’s going on related to sportfishing in their specific regions.” Neu continues: “For example, if one NPAA member hadn’t recently reached out to me to express concern over proposed changes in commercial harvest of gamefish in Michigan, we wouldn’t have been able to work with the ASA and other affiliated organizations to lobby against that legislation.” What Can You Do? The 1,400-member non-profit sportfishing trade association, NPAA, is asking guides, captains, tournament anglers, industry reps, sales/marketing professionals, entrepreneurs, educators and other recreational fishing professionals to join them in creating a united front as a member of an organization that exists to benefit its members, partners, and the sport. Become an NPAA member if you aren’t already—and pre-register now to attend the 2024 NPAA Conference in Ft. Myers, Florida, January 5 – 7, 2024.For information on joining the NPAA and exploring the many benefits membership provides, visit www.npaa.net |
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X Zone Lures signs a legend in the sport of bass fishing
November 14, 2023 - For Immediate Release
X Zone Lures is proud to announce their newly formed relationship with legendary angler, Hank Parker. After conversations including product, business ethics and faith, Hank Parker and Jim Van Ryn, the owner of X Zone Lures, felt there was a path to be followed and the partnership was formed.
Van Ryn says “Hank Parker joining X Zone Lures is a thrill for our company and all those that are associated with it. Having a man that has so much integrity, both personally and professionally, choosing to work with our brand of soft plastic baits, is a blessing that we did not see coming. We have enjoyed great success in the growth of our brand over the last eight years since we bought the company and working with great people, like Hank, has been a major contributor to that success.”
Parker says “I am extremely excited to work with X Zone Lures. They make awesome baits, and they are a company with Christian values. It can’t get any better than this!"
X Zone Lures can be found in the boats of many pros, including top Bassmaster Elite Series anglers, Brandon Palaniuk, Carl Jocumsen and Cooper Gallant. All these great
anglers are influential in the bait designs which make up the X Zone Lures lineup.
About X Zone lures
X Zone Lures is family-owned business operated by the Van Ryn family. X Zone Lures is a brand under the parent company of VRX Fishing Products Ltd. and operates side by side with its sister brand The Rod Glove.
At X Zone Lures the mission is simple: strive to deliver quality products at reasonable prices, with top level designs, complimented by excellent customer service. They serve the freshwater and saltwater market, but the main focus is on bass and walleye fishing. From Elite Series level tournament anglers to fishing hobbyists, they strive to be a brand that can be trusted by all anglers to catch more fish. For more information, visit X Zone Lures.com or email Jim at Jim@vrxfishing.com.
Bradley Hallman steps away from Bassmaster Elite Series
November 10, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After rejoining the Bassmaster Elite Series during the 2023 season, Bradley Hallman of Edmond, Okla., has decided to step away from Elite competition. Every angler fishing the Elite Series understands how much time and effort it takes to be successful, and Hallman — citing among other things a desire to be more connected to his family — decided that this lifestyle was no longer a fit.
“I think it’s just a combination of a lot of different things to be honest,” said Hallman on why he’s decided to step away. “I knew in my heart on the way back from the New York tournaments that I had a lot to think about, and I just wanted to make this decision for myself and my family.
“I knew a few years ago when I jumped (into) the Opens that it would be something to help motivate me to have a goal and want to make the Elites, but I’ve realized that I just don’t burn like I used to in order to compete at the highest level.”
Hallman was part of the 2006 Elite Series rookie class and competed for six consecutive seasons, securing five Top 10 finishes in that stretch. Hallman is a two-time FLW Tour champion who requalified for the Elites via a first-place finish in the 2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Central Opens points standings. Throughout a pro fishing career spanning 16 years, Hallman amassed 38 Top 30 finishes in B.A.S.S. events.
Hallman mentioned that being away from his family, including four children, was a big part of the decision.
“My wife and I just had our 26th wedding anniversary not long ago, so she’s used to this lifestyle. But our life just isn’t built for my family to be able to travel with me all the time,” Hallman explained. “I just don’t feel like this lifestyle allows me to stay connected to my family all the time.
“I think I’m just ready for something else.”
Outside of fishing the Bassmaster Elite Series, Hallman stays busy with his YouTube channel, being a guest host on Bass Talk Live and many other things within the sport. While he plans to stay involved in the sport, Hallman currently has no concrete plans.
“I think I’m just going to feel around with the options and see what makes the most sense,” he said. “I’ve been really blessed with great friends and partners over the course of my career that made this decision difficult, and a lot of that doesn’t necessarily have to end, but I just feel like I want some time away from the competitive fishing at the highest level.”
Fall Fishing with the new Seviin GF Series Baitcaster
Earlier this year, we got our hands on the new Seviin GF Series Baitcasters and we finally got to spend some time on the water doing a little fall fishing. If you missed our first impressions, you can check them out here.
Since we did our initial review, Seviin also came out with more information on the testing that went into the new reels, and you can check that out here.
As far as our take, AC Insider, Danny Blandford shares his thoughts after hitting the river. Check it out below!
Here are the full specs:
• One-piece reinforced composite frame and side covers
• 4 + 1 stainless steel bearing system
• Rock-solid one-way clutch anti-reverse
• 32MM forged aluminum spool holds 110 yards of 12 lb mono
• Custom designed carbon fiber handle with EVA grips
• Multi-stack carbon fiber drag / stainless steel drag system
• Micro-adjustable magnetic cast control
• Precision hobbed hard brass pinion and drive gear
• Line memo indicator dial
Check out the website HERE
Fill 'er Up! - Dual Pro Lithium Battery Fuel Gauge Install
Earlier this year we flipped the switch on our Relion Lithium Batteries. If you missed some of the details and specs on that project, click here The batteries have been fantastic, but we wanted real-time monitoring of everything on board and Dual Pro had the answer. We dropped the Dual Pro Lithium Battery Fuel Gauge into the Angler's Channel River Rig, as a DIY project. Check out this overview of the install...and the "Positive" results! Click here for a product information sheet, and you can even click here to see the instructions for yourself.
Score a front-row seat to Elite Series action as a Bassmaster marshal
Discover the ultimate fishing adventure as you ride shotgun with Elite Series pros and experience the thrill of competition firsthand as a Bassmaster marshal.
Photo by Chase Sansom/B.A.S.S.
November 9, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Bass fishing enthusiasts who want to learn from the world’s best anglers while exploring legendary fisheries can enjoy insider access to their favorite pros as marshals for the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series.
Not only will marshals learn tips for breaking down a fishery and fast-track their learning curve, but AFTCO will be hooking marshals up with apparel, gear, a gift card and other items with a total value of $75, plus a 20% off coupon for future purchases. For those dedicated few who serve as marshals for more than three events, they will receive a $100 AFTCO gift card.
"I enjoy doing it, for one, because I tournament fish as a co-angler ... and you get to learn a lot from the guys,” said Holly Keen, the marshal who had a front-row seat to Lee Livesay’s record-breaking day on Lake Fork in 2021. “If you’ve got questions, they’ll answer them. They’ll tell exactly what they think you should be doing under certain conditions, what to use and why."
Registration for B.A.S.S. Life and Nation members opens online on November 30. All other B.A.S.S. members may register online beginning December 7. Marshal spots are available for just $99.
According to Keen, the learning experience on the water with Elite anglers is invaluable.
“You’re going to get to learn because you’re watching them actually tournament fish,” Keen said. “If you take a guide trip, you’re going to spend anywhere from $600 to $700, if not more. (As a marshal) you’re not on a guide trip where they’re either casting or helping you do this or that. You get to watch how they put into play everything they use to catch fish during an actual tournament. So to me, it’s worth it.”
Marshals join different Elite anglers to spend two to three days on the water. They are not allowed to fish but are encouraged to take photos, send blog posts to Bassmaster.com and serve as an extra set of eyes for B.A.S.S. tournament officials and the Bassmaster LIVE crew, who frequently reach out to marshals for updates. Additionally, marshals operate the digital BassTrakk scoring system that enables fans to follow the action in real time.
Another benefit? Seeing the interplay and camaraderie among competitors on the water.
"It was cool to see the interaction between the anglers on the water,” said former marshal Doug Lezman. “Checking in on how others are doing, asking permission before cutting past someone to fish a certain spot and even talking about what baits are working. Pretty cool to see a bunch of guys competing with each other but also understanding that they all are trying to make a living by catching bass."
Every marshal is guaranteed to be on the water for the first two competition days. As the Elite Series field is cut throughout the weekend leading up to Championship Sunday, marshals are chosen for Semifinal Saturday based on how early they register for the event as well as their content contributions in the preliminary rounds.
To learn more and register for the Elite Series marshal program, visit Bassmaster.com.
2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Schedule
Feb. 22-25, Many, La., Toledo Bend Reservoir
Feb. 29-March 3, Yantis, Texas, Lake Fork
March 22-24, Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic, Tulsa, Okla., Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees
April 11-14, Leesburg, Fla., Harris Chain of Lakes
April 18-21, Palatka, Fla., St. Johns River
May 9-12, Columbia, S.C., Lake Murray
June 13-16, Decatur, Ala., Wheeler Lake
June 27-30, Cullman, Ala., Smith Lake
Aug. 8-11, Plattsburgh, N.Y., Lake Champlain
Aug. 15-18, Waddington, N.Y., St. Lawrence River
Enhanced REVROS LT Spinning Reels
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DAIWA introduces improved, stylistic, high-performing, and smartly priced spinning reel family. |
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FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (November 7, 2023) – DAIWA enthusiastically announces improvements to its gateway spinning reel – REVROS LT. Available in sizes from 1000 to 6000, DAIWA brings anglers of all budgets a quality reel that doesn’t break the bank. “Even at this price—$59.99 to $79.99—we were able to design and bring to market an improved, affordable spinning reel from size 1000 to 6000 for freshwater, inshore, and light-surf applications,” says DAIWA Senior Marketing Manager, Marc Mills. |
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“What’s great about this improved generation of REVROS LT is it now sports a ZAION V body, which is simultaneously lighter and a lot stronger than what other manufacturers are using in this price range. This is true carbon resin graphite. It keeps all the bearings and gears in precise alignment because the material is harder and more rigid. The body doesn’t bend or lose efficiency,” says Mills. Mills continues: “The new REVROS LT also features an AIRDRIVE ROTOR and AIRDRIVE BAIL. Especially with these new design changes, the REVROS LT is a great starting point for beginning to avid anglers. I can remember when I was just starting out on the water; I was looking for spinning reel options in that $60 to $80 price range. This is that reel.” |
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REVROS LT FEATURES:
MSRP's from $59.99 In a world of you get what you pay for, the re-designed REVROS LT spinning reel family gives you more design technology and concept than reels twice the price. |
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Swindle’s Shaq and Deion of the 2023 Elite Series Season
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Long before his tournament jerseys featured a Toyota logo, Gerald Swindle wore green and white as a quick and skinny hoopster, punt returner, and baseball player for the Locust Fork High School Hornets.
So, it should be no surprise when asked to name his best lures of the 2023 Bassmaster Elite Series season, the former three-sport high school athlete, aligned his lure choices to Shaquille O’Neal and Deion Sanders.
Rapala DT 8 = “Prime Time”
“The DT 8 was my Deion Sanders. He was my speedy burner that wasn’t afraid to put in the work. Whether I was grinding him across gravel points in Knoxville at the Classic, cranking grass at Seminole, long shallow points at Murray, or even at Lake Saint Clair for smallmouth, it caught a ton of fish for me this year,” says Swindle.
He typically ties it to 10 or 12-pound Sunline Shooter fluorocarbon line, and cranks with a 7’ 4” moderate action rod. He confidently states if there’s a bass living in less than 10-feet of water, the Rapala DT 8 can catch him.
Zoom Zlinky = “Shaq”
“This is the lure I use to linger around the paint like 300-pound Shaq. I could count on him to hang around the strike zone long enough to pick off a keeper when I was hurtin’ for one,” grins Swindle.
Swindle breaks out the spinning rod when finessing a Zlinky,and rigs it wacky style on a #1 size VMC Redline hook. He caught fish with it around cypress trees at Santee Cooper, off spawning beds at Seminole, and under mega-stingy conditions at the Sabine River.
So even though the 2023 Bassmaster Elite Series season didn’t go nearly as well as Swindle had hoped, all of us can learn from his one-two punch of vastly different lure choices that helped the Blount County Sports Hall of Fame member score a pile of critical keepers amid a wide variety of conditions this past year.
Jesse and Jordan Wiggins Win ABT 100 Smith Lake
By Jason Duran
The third and final stop for the ABT 100 was on Lewis Smith Lake where 100 of the best teams in bass fishing competed for first place of $25,000 and a total payout of over $100,000 in this event. The points race for AOY was very tight with only 1 point separating first and second place. The spotted bass at Smith Lake love the cold weather and Mother Nature dished up a perfect week of practice and tournament day for this event. Teams were anxious and ready to get this event started. However, on tournament morning, the fog rolled in and delayed blast off for one hour. When the fog finally cleared, teams quickly went to work locating fish with the hope of catching enough to take home the first-place trophy.
The team of Jesse and Jordan Wiggins spent the week at another event in Missouri and after making the long trip home, they arrived early Saturday morning just in time to rig some rods for this event. When asked how they prepared for this event Jesse said, “we have had about 34 years to prepare for this event; we have been on this lake every year since we were born, and we can’t really remember when we started fishing it because we were so young. We used all the information we have gained fishing here and knew the areas to stay in to try and win the tournament.” They fished the previous weekend at Smith Lake; “last week, we didn’t have a single fish the first half of the day, and we knew not to go and do that again today. We started today in a different area and were able to catch a couple keepers, and then we made the run to the creek where we ended up catching them. We knew if it was going down in there today that would be where we could win the tournament. We used two main baits; the first was a top water walking bait, and the second was a Jackall Driftfry. Typically, we don’t weigh any fish on the Driftfry, but we found this massive school of fish. We could see them on the forward-facing sonar, so we dropped the bait down to them. I would catch a 3-pounder, and Jordan would drop down and catch a 25-pound stripe. This happened back and forth a couple times, so it was pretty hectic there for about an hour. It was honestly more fish than I have ever seen, and it was all about being in that right area at the right time.” Jesse and Jordan weighed in 17.50 pounds and collected the 25,000 ABT check and bonuses including $7,000 Phoenix Bonus.
The Second-place team of Chad and Chase Schroeder weighed in 15.35. They had a quick practice arriving about noon on Friday for their very first time on the lake. They practiced separately and caught a couple good largemouth up shallow and spent the rest of practice marking docks in the Brushy Creek area. Their home lake is the Alabama River, so they are used to fishing stained water which is much different than the clear water of Smith Lake. They started on tournament day “fishing a gravel point that was holding some decent spotted bass that were schooling in practice, but that didn’t pan out. It seemed the bait was moving around making the fish scatter, so we moved to our primary pattern of fishing docks using a White Magdraft swimbait and an (unnamed) flipping jig. We got three solid bites in practice and figured if we stuck with it, we could get more on tournament day. We ended up catching 8 fish throughout the day.” They collected a $12,500 pay day for their second-place finish.
The third-place team of Trey and Leon Wade are also an Alabama River team finding success on Smith Lake. They spent two days in practice preparing for this event. “We were able to locate spotted bass using our live scope, but they were just not big enough. We caught a good largemouth in practice that helped clue us in to what we needed to do. We made the run up Ryan Creek to the back of a pocket and fished the docks where we located the largemouth in practice. We used a big swimbait that skips easily under the docks. When we got it back deep under the dock, we were able to catch fish. To let the dock fish rest, we made a run to another area that was not productive for us, so we came back to the docks and were able to catch a couple more. We ended up weighing in all largemouth totaling 14.93-pounds.” They collected a $10,000 check for third place finish.
The Angler of the Year title was also awarded at this event. The team of Jonathan Collins and
Derek Hicks came into this event leading by only 1 point. Jonathan fished solo in this event because Derek had some family obligations. Jonathan still came with the hopes of holding onto their lead and winning the Championship belts. Jonathan started the day as boat number one at blast off, so he had his pick of the lake to start. He made a short run to an area where he located some schooling fish in practice. Those fish didn’t produce, so he made a long run towards the Cullman Park area and quickly went to work targeting fish up shallow. “I tried my hardest all day to pick each area apart and keep my bait in the strike zone. I used a Skinny Dipper and an Extreme Lures Drop bait fishing mostly around docks. I fished hard till the very end and at 2:57 when I caught the last fish and quickly made my check in time of 3:00.” He caught 10.66-pounds, enough to finish in 18th place, and collected enough points to earn the title of Angler of the Year in the ABT 100 against the best of the best team fishermen.
The top five standings are below for a complete list of standings please visit:
https://www.alabamabasstrail100.org/lewis-smith-lake-results/
Download and listen to the ABT Podcast on your favorite Podcast app by searching for “Alabama Bass Trail Podcast.” The Podcast is released each week on Tuesday.
The sponsors of the 2023 Alabama Bass Trail 100 include; Phoenix Bass Boats, Bill Penney Automotive Group, Banjio Sunglasses, Garmin, America’s First Federal Credit Union, Sweet Home Alabama, Alabama Tourism Department, T-H Marine Supplies, Big Bite Bait Company, Black Rifle Coffee Company, Anheuser - Busch, Inc., fishalabama.org, Freedom Tackle Corp, Halo Fishing, NetBait, and Scum Frog
The Personal Rewards of Fishing
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Forestville, WI (November 6, 2023) – Why do you fish, or why would you want to try fishing? The short answer is that it's "fun". But it's not that simple. We're all about science and research, so let's take a moment to reveal the deeper meaning of the "fun" of fishing into defined areas of "personal rewards". |
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We're programmed to fish: Believe it or not, some say fishing is part of our DNA and who we are as Paleo-hunters because it fulfills our instinct of pursuing and catching our own food. Besides making us more sustainable as a human on Planet Earth (if you consume some of the fish you catch), fishing both calms and excites our senses. Some say the excitement comes from feeling that shock in your hands when a fish strikes, while others think it’s the thrill of reeling in a thrashing fish fighting on the end of your line. So fulfilling some primal and exciting interaction with something wild is a personal reward. Create Lasting Memories: Studies show that many people equate "happiness" with creating and recalling treasured memories. That makes sense, right? When most people recall a memory of something "fun" or special in their lives, it often includes several key elements: 1) interacting with nature in the outdoors. 2) bonding with family and friends. 3) a first-time experience with something new. Fishing of course checks all those boxes. But so do a lot of things that fail to generate lasting treasured memories. Here's a simple test; ask five people if they remember catching their first baseball, swinging a golf club or hooping their first basket. Chances are few or none will recall those foggy memories of their favorite "sporting pastime". Now ask the same people if they remember catching their first fish. Betcha get a very different response. So, yeah, fishing creates lasting memories that equate to happiness for many people. |
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One of several related classroom lesson plans. |
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A Great Way to Unwind: Let’s admit it. Chores around the house, school homework, and the stress of growing up in a world full of ADULTS can sometimes make kids go coyote crazy with stress. The cure? Fishing is your passport to a stress-free world where you can simply enjoy being outdoors, breathing fresh air, and waiting for a lunker to bite. Some experts believe that fishing brings on a special sense of being free and alive while interacting with nature on the water. Now that’s a sure-fire combo for unwinding. Creating Social Bonds: Look, you can Facebook your way around cyberspace until your thumbs fall off. But nothing forms stronger relationships than face-to-face time with genuine family and friends. And fishing with family and friends can cement bonds that last a lifetime. Besides, who better to help you land that big fish than your parents or peeps? |
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If you like “The Personal Rewards of Fishing,” be sure to check out FAF’s entire online series at Into the Outdoors, or on television in the educational blocks offered on PBS nationwide and other over the air networks. Here you’ll also find shorter, custom video segments complete with lesson plans, for sharing in classroom or fishing club settings. |
Chad Mrazek Wins 2023 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Simms on Table Rock Lake
BRANSON, Mo. (Nov. 4, 2023) – The third time was certainly a charm for pro Chad Mrazek of Montgomery, Texas, who brought a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds even to the scales Saturday to win the 2023 Toyota Series Championship at Table Rock Lake Presented by Simms in Branson, Missouri. Major League Fishing’s signature fall tournament marked the third Toyota Series Championship appearance for the Texas pro, who walked away with the top award of $200,000 and an invitation to compete in REDCREST 2024 – Major League Fishing’s most prestigious event.
After finishing the first day of competition in 22nd place, Mrazek jumped to second place on Day 2 with a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 7 ounces – the second-largest bag of the event. Mrazek backed up the Day 2 limit with another five-bass limit on the final day of competition, weighing 16-0 to catapult to the top of the leaderboard and earn the 2023 Toyota Series Championship win and $200,000. His three-day total of 47 pounds, 2 ounces gave him a slim 7-ounce margin over 2023 All-American champion Emil Wagner of Marietta, Georgia , who brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 16-11, for a three-day total of 46 pounds, 11 ounces, good for second place and $61,300.
Saturday’s final weigh-in marked the finale of the 2023 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats season, which featured thousands of anglers from around the world competing for millions in cash and prizes.
“I have no words,” said Mrazek. “It’s been a really long season and I’ve worked so hard and have so many people to thank, I don’t even know where to start. The 17-pound bag yesterday definitely helped me. I decided to fish comfortably today and fish in a way that I knew could catch a big bag, but I didn’t have a single fish today until about noon, and only had one fish until about 1 p.m.
“Toward the end of the day, I just had this feeling, and I went over to a little drain I’d found just up the river. I caught a 3-pounder and a 4½ -pound smallmouth, and everything just started falling into place. I honestly still wasn’t sure if it was my time or not at that point, but it felt good when it came together.”
Mrazek said he began the event working his LiveScope in water hundreds of feet deep with everyone else, but didn’t believe that pattern would be the winning ticket for him.
“I just wasn’t comfortable doing that,” said Mrazek. “I brought in a decent bag – 13 pounds and some change – but on Day 2 I knew I needed to make some adjustments if I really wanted to make a run at this thing.”
That adjustment meant finding shallow drains, which Mrazek said were few and far between on Table Rock Lake.
“I fished those shallow drains, just like I like to fish back home in Texas, but there aren’t many of them out here, so I only had about 4 to 5 spots to rotate through,” Mrazek said. “I rotated through them all yesterday and weighed in 17-7, then rotated through them all again today, and thankfully it worked out.”
Mrazek’s key bait was a 7/16-ounce football jig with half a 6th Sense Clout as a trailer – a bait Mrazek is super comfortable with and is part of his LiveScope rotation.
“I’ve been scoping with that bait for a while now,” he said. “I used 16-pound Sunline Sniper, and I just can’t break it. There were trees everywhere around most of my better drains, so you’re going to get wrapped up, but I think I only lost two fish all week.”
After a tough rookie year on the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals in 2023, Mrazek’s showing in the 2023 Toyota Series has been a career-saver for the Texas pro.
“This win truly means the world to me,” Mrazek said. “At the beginning of this season, I had some misfortune with a title sponsor backing out on me – it wasn’t anybody’s fault, it’s just the way things go – but since January I’ve been literally fishing paycheck to paycheck. I’ve been cashing a check just to get to the next event, and if it wasn’t for the first few good events this season, I would have been in trouble.
“Those events and those paychecks kept me going. It slowed down a little bit mid-season, but then it picked back up with the Northern Division of the Toyota Series, where I finished strong, and that helped me get here. I think this win might help a little bit as well. I just really want to thank my family and everyone who has supported me since I was five years old and had this crazy dream – everyone who has pushed me to be my best up to this point.
“Hopefully we can keep this momentum going,” Mrazek continued. “I’ve got a lot of big things lined up for next year, sponsor-wise, so I’m excited for the coming year and how this win will continue to help boost those opportunities.”
The top 25 pros at the 2023 Toyota Series Championship on Table Rock Lake finished:
2nd: Emil Wagner of Marietta, Ga., 15 bass, 46-11, $61,300
3rd: Drew Gill of Mount Carmel, Ill., 15 bass, 44-12, $40,000
4th: Jeremy Gordon of Rutledge, Tenn., 15 bass, 44-4, $25,000
5th: Colby Miller of Elmer, La., 15 bass, 43-7, $30,000
6th: Jacob Walker of Springville, Ala., 15 bass, 43-2, $14,000
7th: Christian Ostrander of Turlock, Calif., 15 bass, 43-1, $23,000
8th: Brody Campbell of Oxford, Ohio, 15 bass, 42-12, $12,200
9th: Mike Raber of Elkhart, Ind., 15 bass, 42-11, $21,000
10th: Evan Kung of Pickering, Ontario, 15 bass, 42-9, $20,000
11th: Alec Morrison of Peru, N.Y., 15 bass, 42-2, $14,500
12th: Erik Luzak of Fenelon Falls, Ontario, 15 bass, 42-2, $4,500
13th: Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, 15 bass, 42-0, $4,500
14th: Justin Lucas of Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 41-15, $4,500
15th: Cole Breeden of Lebanon, Mo., 15 bass, 41-10, $4,500
16th: Jason Gramada of Les Cedres, Québec, 15 bass, 40-8, $3,500
17th: Rick Harris of Kingsland, Texas, 15 bass, 40-1, $3,500
18th: Brian Green of North Augusta, Ontario, 15 bass, 40-1, $3,500
19th: Jacob Welch of Jefferson City, Mo., 13 bass, 39-14, $3,500
20th: Travis Harriman of Huntsville, Ark., 14 bass, 39-11, $3,500
21st: Jacob Keenom of Wellston, Okla., 15 bass, 39-2, $3,000
22nd: Martin Villa of Charlottesville, Va., 15 bass, 37-6, $3,000
23rd: Derik Hudson of Concord, Va., 15 bass, 37-1, $3,000
24th: Ken Thompson of Roaring Springs, Pa., 15 bass, 36-3, $3,000
25th: Brad Jelinek of Lincoln, Mo., 11 bass, 29-0, $3,000
Overall, there were 120 bass weighing 326 pounds, 1 ounce caught Saturday. The catch included 23 five-bass limits.
Al Hopkins of Pendleton, Indiana, weighed in five bass totaling 10 pounds, 14 ounces, Saturday to win the top Strike King co-angler prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard engine, with a three-day total of 12 bass weighing 25-10. Second place went to co-angler Will Lancett of Jacksonville, Arkansas , who weighed in a three-day total of 7 bass weighing 19-3, good for second place and $12,500.
The top 25 Strike King co-anglers at the 2023 Toyota Series Championship on Table Rock Lake finished:
2nd: Will Lancett of Jacksonville, Ark., seven bass, 19-3, $12,500
3rd: Zack Barrera of Morriston, Fla., seven bass, 17-9, $10,000
4th: Paul Gelles of Pingree, Idaho, eight bass, 16-13, $7,500
5th: David Matual of Chicago, Ill., eight bass, 16-12, $5,000
6th: Levi Allgeier of Bardstown, Ky., seven bass, 16-7, $4,000
7th: Casey McCommons of Ina, Ill., seven bass, 16-6, $3,500
8th: Nycholas Swanson of Cedar Falls, Ind., six bass, 16-4, $3,000
9th: Bruce Harris of Oakdale, Calif., six bass, 16-1, $2,500
10th: Zack Eggleston of Goleta, Calif., seven bass, 16-1, $2,000
11th: Pop Catalin of Cookeville, Tenn., seven bass, 15-7, $1,500
12th: Justin Curnutte of Grove, Okla., seven bass, 14-10, $1,500
13th: James Fender of Hanahan, S.C., six bass, 14-9, $1,500
14th: Brett Robbins of Solvang, Calif., seven bass, 14-1, $1,500
15th: Morgan White of Jasper, Texas, six bass, 13-6, $1,500
16th: Sakae Ushio of Tonawanda, N.Y., six bass, 13-3, $1,000
17th: Kirk Marshall of Discovery Bay, Calif., six bass, 13-2, $1,000
18th: Robert Griswold of Lincolnton, N.C., five bass, 13-0, $1,350
19th: Robert Massey of Calhoun, La., five bass, 12-12, $1,000
20th: Benjie Winkler of Cleveland, Ga., six bass, 11-13, $1,000
21st: Scott Spencer of Raleigh, N.C., five bass, 11-8, $900
22nd: Kenneth Heckel of Santa Claus, Ind., five bass, 11-5, $900
23rd: William Lewis of Jacksonville, Fla., four bass, 11-2, $900
24th: Riley Nielsen of Murray, Utah, four bass, 10-4, $900
25th: Chad Garton of Des Moines, Iowa, five bass, 9-15, $900
The 2023 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Simms will premiere on CBS Sports in 2024.
The full field of anglers competed on Days 1 and 2 of the event, with the top 25 pros and top 25 Strike King co-anglers based on cumulative weight from the first two days continuing to the third and final day. The 2023 Toyota Series champions were determined by the heaviest three-day total weight.
The 2023 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consisted of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division and the Wild Card. The highest finishing pro from each division at the championship will claim a $10,000 bonus. The bonus will go to the second-highest finishing pro in the division represented by the overall champion.
The 2023 Toyota Series Championship field featured the top 25 pros, top 25 Strike King co-anglers and tournament winners from each of the six divisions; the top 25 pros and 25 co-anglers from the Wild Card division plus tournament winners; the highest finishing boater and co-angler from each of the six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regionals and the TBF at the All-American; the top three teams from the College Fishing National Championship; High School Fishing National Champions; TBF National Champions; and MLF International anglers from Canada, Central Europe, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Namibia, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and Zimbabwe.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Raber Maintains Lead After Day 2 of Toyota Series Championship Presented by Simms on Table Rock Lake
Elkhart, Indiana Pro Leads by Slim 5-Ounce Margin, Top 25 Set in the Battle for up to $235,000
BRANSON, Mo. (Nov. 3, 2023) – Anglers were faced with another day of tough fishing conditions at the 2023 Toyota Series Championship at Table Rock Lake Presented by Simms in Branson, Missouri on Friday. Pro Mike Raber of Elkhart, Indiana , brought a five-bass limit to the stage weighing 13 pounds, 11 ounces to maintain the lead after Day 2 of the long-running championship event. Raber’s two-day total of 10 bass weighing 31 pounds, 7 ounces gives him a slim 5-ounce lead over charging pro Chad Mrazek of Montgomery, Texas, who brought 17 pounds, 7 ounces to the scale – the largest bag of the day – for a two-day total of 31-2, good for second place.
Hosted by ExploreBranson.com, the championship event features more than 400 pros and co-anglers from around the world, competing for a top cash award of up to $235,000. The field is now cut to just the top 25 pros and Strike King co-anglers heading into the final day of competition, the culmination of the 2023 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats season.
Raber said he only caught six keepers throughout the entire second day, and as the day neared its end, he had just three fish with only 25 minutes remaining in the competition day.
“Today was a lot tougher,” said Raber. “I mixed up my rotation a little bit and I honestly think that made me fish a little too quickly. I rotated a lot, and it just wasn’t really happening for me this morning – I didn’t catch a keeper for more than two hours.
“As the day went on, I started to get back in the groove. I caught a few to build some momentum and got a few good bites at the end to save me.”
The Indiana native said he spent the day doing a lot of the same things he did on the first day of competition, but conditions were rapidly changing throughout the day.
“I’m basically running two different patterns – I’m doing some of the LiveScope stuff, just like everybody else. That is how I caught a lot of my bigger fish, but I’ve also mixed it up with some shallow-water patterns,” said Raber. “I’m just flying by the seat of my pants at the moment and don’t really know where my next bite is coming from, so I’m trying to stay on my toes and have things ready to go.”
Although Raber had hoped to have a better understanding of the fishery and the patterns the fish were running after the second day of competition, he said he ended the day just as confused as he was on Day 1 of the championship event.
“I’ve been on this lake for almost a week now, but I still can’t really figure out a rhyme or reason as to why the fish are biting in one area and not in another,” said Raber. “I’ll think I’ve crossed a spot off, then the next day that same spot will be firing. It was like that in practice for me too. So, I could pull up on the right section tomorrow and get it done, or we could stumble really bad, like it felt like we were about to do this morning.”
Raber said he weighed in four largemouth and a spotted bass on Day 2 of the event.
“I caught a couple bass on one pattern and the rest on a second pattern,” said Raber. “Going into the final day, I’m not really sure what I’m better off spending my time on. When it’s right, it’s very obvious what I should be doing, but when I do that for a couple hours and don’t catch anything, I feel like I’m wasting time.
“That’s really the balance I’ve got to find tomorrow if I’m going to survive and do well at all,” Raber continued. “It’s going to be a struggle, but I definitely feel optimistic, and this is a great opportunity. It’s not often that you get to go fish one full day with $200,000 on the line, so I’m super pumped. The possibility of me catching enough to win is definitely there, but it will not come easy.”
The top 25 pros that advanced to the final day of competition on Table Rock Lake are:
1st: Mike Raber of Elkhart, Ind., 10 bass, 31-7
2nd: Chad Mrazek of Montgomery, Texas, 10 bass, 31-2
3rd: Colby Miller of Elmer, La., 10 bass, 30-13
4th: Travis Harriman of Huntsville, Ark., 10 bass, 30-8
5th: Drew Gill of Mount Carmel, Ill., 10 bass, 30-4
6th: Jeremy Gordon of Rutledge, Tenn., 10 bass, 30-1
7th: Emil Wagner of Marietta, Ga., 10 bass, 30-0
8th: Jacob Walker of Springville, Ala., 10 bass, 29-4
9th: Christian Ostrander of Turlock, Calif., 10 bass, 28-11
10th: Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, 10 bass, 28-8
11th: Justin Lucas of Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 28 – 07
12th: Alec Morrison of Peru, N.Y., 10 bass, 27 - 13
13th: Evan Kung of Pickering, Ontario, 10 bass, 27 - 13
14th: Rick Harris of Kingsland, Texas, 10 bass, 27 - 06
15th: Brian Green of North Augusta, Ontario, 10 bass, 27 - 01
16th: Jason Gramada of Les Cedres, Québec, 10 bass, 26 - 15
17th: Brad Jelinek of Lincoln, Mo., 10 bass, 26 - 12
18th: Erik Luzak of Fenelon Falls, Ontario, 10 bass, 26 - 11
19th: Brody Campbell of Oxford, Ohio, 10 bass, 26 - 10
20th: Jacob Welch of Jefferson City, Mo., eight bass, 26 - 08
21st: Cole Breeden of Lebanon, Mo., 10 bass, 26 - 07
22nd: Derik Hudson of Concord, Va., 10 bass, 26 - 06
23rd: Jacob Keenom of Wellston, Okla., 10 bass, 26 - 02
24th: Ken Thompson of Roaring Springs, Pa., 10 bass, 25 - 13
25th: Martin Villa of Charlottesville, Va., 10 bass, 25 - 12
For a full list of results visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 564 bass weighing 1.387 pounds, 2 ounces caught Friday. The catch included 72 five-bass limits.
Levi Allgeier of Bardstown, Kentucky, leads the Strike King co-angler division with seven bass weighing 16 pounds, 7 ounces, followed by Will Lancett of Jacksonville, Arkansas , who weighed in six bass totaling 15 pounds, 10 ounces, to secure his second-place position. Strike King co-anglers are competing for a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The top 25 Strike King co-anglers that will fish the final day on Table Rock Lake are:
1st: Levi Allgeier of Bardstown, Ky., seven bass, 16-7
2nd: Will Lancett of Jacksonville, Ark., six bass, 15-10
3rd: Zack Barrera of Morriston, Fla., six bass, 15-10
4th: Al Hopkins of Pendleton, Ind., seven bass, 14-12
5th: Justin Curnutte of Grove, Okla., seven bass, 14-10
6th: Brett Robbins of Solvang, Calif., seven bass, 14-1
7th: Morgan White of Jasper, Texas, six bass, 13-6
8th: Casey McCommons of Ina, Ill., six bass, 13-4
9th: David Matual of Chicago, Ill., six bass, 12-12
10th: James Fender of Hanahan, S.C., five bass, 12-0
11th: Benjie Winkler of Cleveland, Ga., six bass, 11 - 13
12th: Scott Spencer of Raleigh, N.C., five bass, 11 - 08
13th: Kenneth Heckel of Santa Claus, Ind., five bass, 11 - 05
14th: Pop Catalin of Cookeville, Tenn., five bass, 11 - 04
15th: Nycholas Swanson of Cedar Falls, Ind., four bass, 11 - 03
16th: William Lewis of Jacksonville, Fla., four bass, 11 - 02
17th: Robert Griswold of Lincolnton, N.C., four bass, 10 - 15
18th: Kirk Marshall of Discovery Bay, Calif., five bass, 10 - 14
19th: Sakae Ushio of Tonawanda, N.Y., five bass, 10 - 14
20th: Paul Gelles of Pingree, Idaho, five bass, 10 - 13
21st: Bruce Harris of Oakdale, Calif., four bass, 10 - 12
22nd: Riley Nielsen of Murray, Utah, four bass, 10 - 04
23rd: Zack Eggleston of Goleta, Calif., four bass, 10 - 02
24th: Chad Garton of Des Moines, Iowa, five bass, 9 - 15
25th: Robert Massey of Calhoun, La., four bass, 9 - 14
The final 25 pros and Strike King co-anglers will take off Saturday at 7:30 a.m. CT from Table Rock State Park Marina, located at 380 State Park Marina Road, in Branson. Saturday’s Championship weigh-in will also be held at the marina and will begin at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the daily takeoffs and weigh-ins and also follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com. The 2023 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Simms will premiere on CBS Sports in 2024.
The full field of anglers competed on Days 1 and 2 of the event, with the top 25 pros and top 25 Strike King co-anglers based on cumulative weight from the first two days continuing to the third and final day on Saturday. The 2023 Toyota Series champions will be determined by the heaviest three-day total weight.
Pros and co-anglers can qualify for multiple contingency awards based on final standings in the championship, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for pros. The winning Strike King co-angler will earn a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.
The 2023 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consisted of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division and the Wild Card. The highest finishing pro from each division at the championship will claim a $10,000 bonus. The bonus will go to the second-highest finishing pro in the division represented by the overall champion.
The 2023 Toyota Series Championship field features the top 25 pros, top 25 Strike King co-anglers and tournament winners from each of the six divisions; the top 25 pros and 25 co-anglers from the Wild Card division plus tournament winners; the highest finishing boater and co-angler from each of the six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regionals and the TBF at the All-American; the top three teams from the College Fishing National Championship; High School Fishing National Champions; TBF National Champions; and MLF International anglers from Canada, Central Europe, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Namibia, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and Zimbabwe.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Bassmaster events make economic waves in Tennessee and South Carolina
The Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic and Strike King Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors combined to generate more than $38.2 million for their host communities, earning honors in the Sports Destination Management 2023 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism awards.
Photo by Breanne Jackson/B.A.S.S.
November 3, 2023
Bassmaster events make economic waves in Tennessee and South Carolina
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic and the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors have been recognized by Sports Destination Management after generating a combined economic impact of more than $38.2 million.
“We are so proud to have the positive economic impact of the iconic Bassmaster Classic recognized again, but also to highlight the incredible draw of our High School National Championship,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson. “Through extensive media coverage of our exciting tournaments on the sport’s biggest platform and by attracting our signature large, enthusiastic crowds to a fishery, it is our goal to make every B.A.S.S. tournament an economic win for our host cities.”
The Bassmaster Classic, hosted by the Visit Knoxville Sports Commission, has proven itself as one of the best investments in sports, earning recognition as a 2023 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism (Mid-Market Division). The Super Bowl of Bass Fishing welcomed a staggering crowd of 163,914 fans to Classic Week activities. According to numbers released by Visit Knoxville, the Bassmaster Classic generated an economic windfall of more than $35.5 million for the community. In addition to producing more than $2.85 million in state and local tax revenue, including taxes on sales, restaurant purchases and lodging, the 2023 Bassmaster Classic and associated activities supported a total of 12,698 jobs. Fans traveling from across the nation and from as far away as Australia and Japan also accounted for 31,525 room nights at hotels across Knox County. Tournament coverage reached 4.5 million viewers across the two days of FOX and FS1 coverage.
The Bassmaster Classic was also recently honored as the “Best Professional Event” at the annual SportsTravel Awards.
2022 marked the first time the Bassmaster High School National Championship was held on Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C., and this year’s event enjoyed massive growth among participants and fans, earning the distinction of Sports Tourism Hero in the 2023 Champions of Economic Impact awards. Young anglers from 35 states and Ontario, Canada, qualified for the 480-plus-boat field. The tournament accounted for more than 10,000 room nights and had a total economic impact of $2.73 million for Anderson County.
“The Bassmaster High School Championship has been on our radar since 2016 as a must-have event for our community,” said Neil Paul, executive director of Visit Anderson, which hosted the event. “We knew the impact of this event would be major given the growth pattern of high school fishing and the continued development of high school fishing within the Bassmaster platform. The leadership of Anderson County has provided us with a tremendous facility in Green Pond Landing and the resources to be able to host events such as the Bassmaster High School Championship. This event, with 481 boats, was a landmark event for Anderson County, Green Pond Landing and Lake Hartwell!”
Sports Destination Management is the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market.
“Bass fishing events are some of the heaviest hitters in the travel sports industry in terms of economic impact, bringing in not just dollars and hotel business, but new attention to destinations that can host events or just attract amateur anglers for a weekend of fishing,” said Mary Helen Sprecher, managing editor at Sports Destination Management.
The 2023 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism awards included a variety of sporting events across small, mid and large market
Indiana Pro Mike Raber Leads Day One of the Toyota Series Championship Presented by Simms on Table Rock Lake
BRANSON, Mo. (Nov. 2, 2023) – After several frigid days of practice on Table Rock Lake, over 400 anglers welcomed a bit of a warming trend Thursday to begin the three-day competition for a top cash award of up to $235,000 at the 2023 Toyota Series Championship at Table Rock Lake Presented by Simms in Branson, Missouri.
The long-running bass-fishing championship, hosted by ExploreBranson.com, features the nation’s best Toyota Series pros and international anglers, and is the culmination of the 2023 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats season.
Pro Mike Raber of Elkhart, Indiana, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 17 pounds, 12 ounces to take the early lead after Day 1 of the three-day event. Raber holds a 1-pound, 5-ounce lead over pro Emil Wagner of Marietta, Georgia, who caught five bass weighing 16 pounds, 7 ounces, good for second place. Wagner was followed closely by local pro Brad Jelinek of Lincoln, Missouri, who weighed a five-bass limit totaling 15-12 to finish the day in third place.
After a vicious cold front swept through the Ozark region earlier in the week, warmer temperatures on Thursday seemed to be shaking things up on the Missouri fishery.
“I didn’t expect this outcome at all when I started out this morning,” said Raber. “I caught a couple fish today that were a caliber I never saw in practice, so I think the conditions are starting to change out there. Hopefully that’s going to continue throughout the tournament.
“The warmer weather today really got the fish more mobile,” Raber continued. “I caught about 10 keepers today, nothing too crazy, and not a ton of fish. I think they are pretty pressured, and bites are at a premium right now.”
With hundreds of anglers spread out across Table Rock Lake trying to figure out the bite in the changing conditions, Day 1 began with a wide array of game plans throughout the field.
“I started my morning on one pattern and caught a big one doing that, then transitioned a little throughout the day,” said Raber. “I covered a lot of water – a couple places were firing, and a whole lot of places weren’t. The fishing’s not easy out there – it was brutal – and I think anyone in the field would tell you that right now.”
Raber said the championship event is the first time he’s visited Table Rock Lake, or even fished anywhere near the region, but despite that, the Indiana pro was definitely a force to be reckoned with on Thursday.
“I fished the four days of practice here, but I’ve never fished a lake that looks like this, or even seen a highland reservoir until this week,” said Raber. “It took some getting used to, especially the first couple days of practice – it was like being on the moon. Where I’m from, largemouth fishing is grass, and there’s none of that here – there’s not even moss on the rocks. I’m a smallmouth guy too though, so that helped. But it’s definitely a different type of fishery for me.”
Raber said he caught a mixed bag of fish throughout the day, including spotted, smallmouth and largemouth bass.
“I caught mostly spotted bass, but my big ones were largemouth,” said Raber. “I don’t really have areas for each species, they just kind of caught me by surprise today – especially the places where I found smallmouth. There weren’t smallmouth in those spots earlier in the week.
“This is my very first season fishing the Toyota Series, so I just feel extremely blessed to be here, and doubly blessed for the day today,” Raber continued. “God has given me more than I deserve, so we’ll see what happens. Pulling off a win would obviously mean the world to me, but win, lose or draw, we’re going to go out there and try to do things the right way and see what we can get done.”
The top 20 pros after Day One on Table Rock Lake are:
2nd: Emil Wagner of Marietta, Ga., five bass, 16-7
3rd: Brad Jelinek of Lincoln, Mo., five bass, 15-12
4th: Alec Morrison of Peru, N.Y., five bass, 15-4
5th: Evan Kung of Pickering, Ontario, five bass, 15-2
6th: Ken Thompson of Roaring Springs, Pa., five bass, 15-0
7th: Colby Miller of Elmer, La., five bass, 14-11
8th: Kyle Cortiana of Broken Arrow, Okla., five bass, 14-9
9th: Jacob Keenom of Wellston, Okla., five bass, 14-9
10th: Jeremy Gordon of Rutledge, Tenn., five bass, 14-6
11th: Charlie Weyer of Branson West, Mo., five bass, 14-5
12th: Jacob Welch of Jefferson City, Mo., four bass, 14-3
13th: Derik Hudson of Concord, Va., five bass, 14-0
14th: Erik Luzak of Fenelon Falls, Ontario, five bass, 13-15
14th: Ish Monroe of Oakdale, Calif., five bass, 13-15
16th: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, five bass, 13-14
17th: Travis Harriman of Huntsville, Ark., five bass, 13-13
17th: Brian LaClair of Denton, Md., five bass, 13-13
17th: Justin Lucas of Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 13-13
17th: Andrew Ready of Auburndale, Fla., five bass, 13-13
Overall, there were 745 bass weighing 1767 pounds caught by 196 pros Thursday. The catch included 97 five-bass limits.
Will Lancett of Jacksonville, Arkansas, leads the Strike King co-angler division with four bass weighing 11 pounds, 12 ounces, followed by Al Hopkins of Pendleton, Indiana, who weighed five bass totaling 10-3 to end the day in second place. Co-anglers are competing for a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The top 20 Strike King co-anglers after Day One on Table Rock Lake are:
2nd: Al Hopkins of Pendleton, Ind., five bass, 10-3
3rd: Brett Robbins of Solvang, Calif., five bass, 10-2
4th: Larry Taylor of Seaford, Del., five bass, 9-8
5th: Paul Gelles of Pingree, Idaho, four bass, 8-14
6th: Morgan White of Jasper, Texas, four bass, 8-12
7th: Chad Garton of Des Moines, Iowa, four bass, 7-11
7th: Bruce Harris of Oakdale, Calif., three bass, 7-11
9th: Alex Berry of Pomona Harare, Zimbabwe, four bass, 7-10
10th: Andrew Harper of Shelbyville, Ill., three bass, 7-6
11th: Cole Semler of Dalbo, Minn., three bass, 7-4
12th: Kirk Marshall of Discovery Bay, Calif., three bass, 7-1
12th: Nycholas Swanson of Cedar Falls, Iowa, two bass, 7-1
12th: Todd Woods of Long Beach, Calif., three bass, 7-1
15th: Leigh Lutz of Concord, Calif., three bass, 6-8
16th: Mason Chapman of Lenexa, Kan., three bass, 6-5
16th: Chase Johnson of Quincy, Ill., three bass, 6-5
18th: Sakae Ushio of Tonawanda, N.Y., three bass, 6-0
19th: Akira Okuyama of Forest Hills, N.Y., three bass, 5-11
19th: Chad Roorda of Palm Desert, Calif., three bass, 5-11
19th: Toon Van Ham of Merksplas, Belgium, three bass, 5-11
The full field of anglers compete on Days 1 and 2 of the event, with the top 10 pros and top 10 Strike King co-anglers based on cumulative weight from the first two days continuing to the third and final day. The 2023 Toyota Series champions will be determined by the heaviest three-day total weight.
Pros and co-anglers can qualify for multiple contingency awards based on final standings in the championship, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for pros. The winning Strike King co-angler will earn a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.
The 2023 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consisted of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division and the Wild Card. The highest finishing pro from each division at the championship will claim a $10,000 bonus. The bonus will go to the second-highest finishing pro in the division represented by the overall champion.
The 2023 Toyota Series Championship field features the top 25 pros, top 25 Strike King co-anglers and tournament winners from each of the six divisions; the top 25 pros and 25 co-anglers from the Wild Card division plus tournament winners; the highest finishing boater and co-angler from each of the six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regionals and the TBF at the All-American; the top three teams from the College Fishing National Championship; High School Fishing National Champions; TBF National Champions; and MLF International anglers from Canada, Central Europe, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Namibia, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and Zimbabwe.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Anglers Channel Bass Wrap Up Show, Brought to you by Sportsman’s Warehouse, Premiers Saturday!
Columbia, SC (November 3, 2023) - The Angler’s Channel Bass Wrap Up show brought to you by Sportsman's Warehouse, entering its 14th Season, is set to premiere this Saturday, November 4, 2023 on the Discovery Network at 6:30 am EST. The Angler’s Channel Bass Wrap Up show is an informative recap of professional, amateur, and grassroots-level bass fishing tournaments across the country. Bringing tournament trails of all sizes to the spotlight, by capturing the anglers who fish and finish well in these events. The program also mixes in informative segments on new techniques, new products, and share useful information to help the weekend angler achieve their goals of learning about all things fishing.
The Anglers Channel kicks off the season at the Inaugural Minn Kota / Humminbird Owner’s Tournament, from Pickwick Lake. Anglers Channel was there to cover the event and capture some Humminbird Highlights and document the festivities and fishing. $50,000 was up for grabs for the largest bass of the weekend, as well as countless other prizes, and first-class treatment for customers from across the country.
According to John Byrne, Anglers Channel CEO, “We’re excited to launch our 14th season of the program on the Discovery Network. Each year we work to improve the program and we’re looking forward to our best season yet. After the premieres on Discovery, we’ll also be airing on Pursuit in Q1 and Q2, and we’ve bolstered digital delivery, so we’ll be reaching more anglers than ever with our Anglers Channel Bass Wrap Up Show.”
In addition to the Discovery premiere and runs on Pursuit, The Anglers Channel Bass Wrap Up Show, Presented by Sportsman’s Warehouse, will also be available digitally via OutdoorActionTV.com as well as the network streaming services. Outdoor Action is a 24/7 streaming network that’s free to download on any connected device or to watch on a variety of channels. You’ll find your favorite hunting, fishing, outdoor programming, and more. This platform was built for the avid outdoorsmen and women who crave adventures, stories, tournaments, tips, and tricks from the field and on the water! Currently available via Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, iOS, and Android as well as www.OutdoorAction.com, this is the go-to place for desired outdoor content, on-demand at no cost to the viewer. You can also find Outdoor Action on the TCL Channel and Sports.TV streaming apps for 24×7 entertainment. If you want to catch the action as it unfolds, or see previous episodes, visit www.AnglersChannel.com, and be sure to follow along on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.
About AnglersChannel.com
AnglersChannel.com multimedia platform combines the web, social media platforms, podcasts, on-site event coverage and The Anglers Channel Bass Wrap Up Show on Discovery to bring you the No. 1 resource in tournament bass fishing. Anglers Channel features the web’s most robust tournament database, used by thousands of anglers daily, including schedules, results and searchable details by body of water. Anglers Channel also delivers industry news as it happens, along with coverage of all tournament bass fishing, from BASS and Major League Fishing to the weekend warriors. Visit Anglers Channel via the web, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
For more information contact Danny Blandford at danny@anglerschannel.com
Boasting Unmatched Power, Control, and Reliability; The Minn Kota Ultrex QUEST is Now Shipping
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Wade Fishing Insurance Policy
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EGO Fishing Wade Nets are critical to lake, stream, and river shore/wade fishing success |
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Caldwell, ID (November 2, 2023) – Idaho, USA-based fishing accessories designer and manufacturer, EGO Fishing, offers 17 different nets to meet the wade-fishing needs of anglers across the globe. Whether you’re fishing springfed, back-country trout streams, larger rivers, lake public access points, salty flats, or anywhere in between, EGO Fishing has the solution for you. Choose from three different sizes (small, medium, and large); various netting types including traditional nylon, rubber-coated nylon, clear/black rubber, or PVC-coated netting; and two different handles, either fixed length or Kryptek extending handle. We know one thing (from lots of experience): nothing ends a happy fishing story like a fish dumped because we forgot the net. Whether the fish was intended for the table, a quick water’s surface release photo, or a high-hold to demonstrate prowess to throngs of other wading anglers, a good wading net is critical. And especially this time of year, what with ongoing salmon and steelhead runs through winter; warm-water discharge river smallmouth bass bites; fluff-chucking for big brown trout; chasing minnow-gorging walleyes on smaller rivers; the fall/winter wade bite list goes on. |
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CLEAR RUBBER MESH |
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BLACK RUBBER MESH |
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The downside to rubber mesh—clear or black—says Corbett, is it’s more expensive than other netting material options. It also has the most water drag and isn’t as durable as PVC options. Rubber mesh works exceptionally for fish without fangs, like largemouth and smallmouth bass, and panfish. Releasing healthy fish is major tenet in bass fishing. Rubber mesh is gentle on their fins and doesn’t wipe away the slime. “If you’re fishing for walleyes and you tie into a giant pike or muskie, it's possible that the pike might slip through the bottom of a rubber mesh net because their teeth are so sharp. Pike can literally cut through rubber. If you’re fishing pike, rubber mesh is not the best option. However, we do have the right net for the job,” continues Corbett. For pike, muskies, and toothy saltwater species, Corbett recommends EGO Fishing’s PVC net material options. EGO’s PVC material is a woven fabric that’s completely encased in another coating of PVC rubber. Like rubber mesh, PVC nets do not knot up. While there are countless net options on the market—specifically fly fishing nets—EGO Fishing is likely the only company who spent the time talking with wade anglers of all walks to offer a wide range of options specifically for wade fishing—fly, spinning, center-pinning, you-name-it. Two immediate benefits of EGO Fishing Wade Nets? First, they float – and second, many feature 11” handles. |
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EGO Fishing’s Three Net Hoop Sizes – An Option For Every Species EGO Fishing offers three primary wade net sizes. All feature 11” handles but vary from small, medium, to large with 11” to 20” hoop depth in the small size; 20” to 28” hoop depth in the medium size; and 20” to 31” in large hook depth—all dependent on the netting material chosen. Small wade nets feature a 14” x 16” hoop; medium measure 17” x 19”; and large comes in at 19” x 21”. |
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PVC NETTING |
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EGO Fishing Netting Material Options for Today’s Wade Angler In terms of actual construction materials, EGO fishing utilizes aluminum, corrosion-resistant stainless steel parts, and polypropylene-injected molded parts, besides the obvious netting materials composed of clear and black rubber, PVC, nylon, and coated nylon. We’re big fans of clear rubber mesh wade net material for three reasons: 1) It doesn’t spook fish; 2) It preserves fish slime coating for healthy release; 3) and last, it resists hook snags. It costs a little bit more than other EGO Fishing netting material options, but is worth the small upcharge. Specifically, many on our staff use the EGO Wade – Large Clear Rubber Net, which was bestowed Fish Alaska’s Editors’ Choice Award in 2019. This net features a lightweight, durable hexagonal extruded aluminum handle, innovative grip design, and an 11” elastic adjustable/removable tether. Features an 11” flat bottom bag depth, 19” x 21” hoop size, and 11” handle. |
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COATED NYLON MESH |
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However, all wade anglers have their favorites—and depending on the species and locale—other options may be better suited to the application. For example, some anglers like black rubber mesh, which is also very soft on the fish’s slime-like coating and fins. It also will not knot up when being used. The downside to both clear and black rubber mesh is the material has the most water drag and isn’t quite as durable as some of EGO Fishing’s other options. For anglers chasing toothy critters like pike, EGO Fishing Founder, Grant Corbett, recommends EGO’s PVC material, a woven fabric that’s completely encased in another coating of PVC rubber. Like rubber mesh, PVC nets do not knot up. “Another bonus is that PVC net material is pretty easy on fish health for catch & release fishing. Plus, the woven fabric is a very difficult thing for pike, muskies, and toothy saltwater fish to cut through. So, PVC is actually the most durable landing net material option out there,” notes Corbett. |
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Other pluses to PVC net material? First, less water drag than rubber and it’s slightly less expensive. If there’s a downside, it’s that PVC net material is not quite as “hook friendly” as EGO Fishing’s clear or black rubber mesh options. “In terms of sales, we sell more PVC netting than any other mesh type. It is the most common and popular landing net type out there,” concludes Corbett. EGO Fishing also offers traditional nylon and coated nylonwade nets, the latter which prevents most hook snags, especially if you’re flinging flies and not using baits with multiple treble hooks. The other benefit with nylon EGO Fishing wade fishing net options is they’re extremely affordable. |
Premier Weekend is Coming! - Sneak Peek
The Anglers Channel Bass Wrap Up Show, Presented by Sportsman's Warehouse is premiering this weekend on Discovery! We'll be on Saturday morning, at 6:30 am EST, so be sure to check out our trip to the Minn Kota / Humminbird Owner's Tournament and more. Here's a little sneak peek to get you thinking about the weekend!
Barefooted, Jig-Man Williams Collects Power Pay Bonuses
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin. - Dynamic Sponsorships
With an average snowfall of six feet annually, Maine is probably not a place most think of first when it comes to lighthearted barefoot fun. But that’s exactly how 21-year-old Tyler Williams treated life in the Bassmaster Opens, a long way from his hometown of Belgrade.
This season he amassed an astonishing four Top 10s, including a victory at Watts Barr, a 2024 Bassmaster Classic® qualification, and an Elite Series qualification. On top of that, he earned $5,000 in Yamaha Power Pay bonuses, mostly all with one lure – a ¾ ounce jig with a living rubber skirt.
“Whether I’m in Maine, Florida, Tennessee or wherever, I just feel comfortable and confident when I have that jig in my hands. I don’t know if it’s the jig, or how I work it, but whether I’m dragging it or hopping it, I’m going to trim it with a Yamamoto Flappin’ Hog, and it accounted for about 90 percent of the fish I weighed-in this season,” smiles Williams.
Often asked how a kid from Maine showed such domination throughout the South, Williams explains that he fished just about daily as a kid. In fact, his parents, who own a fence company, would often drop him off at one of the dozens of lakes surrounding their home in Belgrade, as they headed off to the next fence installation project each morning.
Fishing as frequently as Williams does, demands relentless reliability from his equipment. He says that why he bought a Yamaha powered Skeeter and signed up for Yamaha Power Pay.
“I ran a competitive brand of engine before, and so did my buddies, but we had too many mechanical issues. So, we switched to Yamaha because it does its job every day. The Power Pay bonus on top of that kind of reliability makes running a Yamaha a no-brainer,” says Williams.
As the saying goes, “No Shoes, No Problems.” In Williams’ case it seems to be the perfect mantra for a phenomenal young pro bass fishing career anchored in a fun attitude and a ¾-ounce rubber skirted jig.
To learn how you too can cash-in on Yamaha Power Pay money like the young New Englander, please visit https://yamahapowerpay.com/.
Travel Tuesday - Go While It's Good
By Pete Robbins - Half Past FIrst Cast
If you’re as anal and compulsive as I am about scheduling, you probably have some big trips planned for the long term future. I don’t mean the deposits-paid-written-in-ink kind of plan, but rather a general expectation of something to come.
As in: “When the kids all graduate, we’ll go on an African safari.”
Or: “In five more years I’ll treat myself to a trout-by-helicopter adventure in Patagonia.”
I have more goals than I can possibly fulfill, but I’m going to try like hell to achieve as many as I can. I think it’s healthy. So long as you don’t discount being present in your day-to-day life, these goals allow you to celebrate milestones and the long horizon gives you time for planning and $aving.
At the same time, you need to be ready to change those plans, no matter how dear you hold them to your heart.
First, environmental or political forces can wreak havoc on those intentions. For example, if years ago you’d intended to travel to the interior of Venezuela for payara, that eventually became a non-starter. Or if five years ago you’d put Lake Okeechobee on your bucket list for 2020, seeing some of the recent tournament results might lead you to turn your focus elsewhere.
On the flip side, sometimes it pays to move your dreams FORWARD. I’m not saying that you should mortgage your house and sell grandma’s jewelry to do it, but if you infer from reputable sources that a place is peaking, it can make sense to pull the trigger.
I know this from experience. I fished the famous Elite Series event on Falcon in 2008. It was so good that on Day One the tournament director told competitors not to weigh any fish clearly under 10 pounds for the big fish award. During practice with Jeff Kriet, he had to make a phone call, so he set me down on a school of 2- and 3-pounders and let me catch dozens of them, noting that they’d be worthless during competition. After that event, I made an effort to go back every year and it seemed to get a little bit worse each time. By 2012, it seemed every boat was doodling little 4-inch worms. I was so glad that I had been during the heyday, but that time was over. [Note: I continue to monitor the fishing at Falcon through Facebook accounts of Matt Reed and others, and it appears that it has rebounded somewhat. I’m due for a trip sometime in the near future.]
Learning from that lesson, I’d always been curious about ice fishing and had heard about the big stocked brown trout in Lake Michigan. In fact, the IGFA world record had been caught right in Milwaukee Harbor. Those trout were non-reproducing, and when we heard that the state was ending or severely reducing the trout stocking plans going forward, we made plans to be there as soon as the ice was thick enough and we had a free weekend. But for the catalyst of that news, we likely would not have done it that soon, if at all. [Note: After this was initially written, the state of Wisconsin increased stocking numbers to 450,000 fish annually.]
The point is, if you have reason to believe that a particular opportunity may go away, or at least decrease substantially in quality, screw your plan – get there while the getting is good. If it doesn’t get worse you can always go again.
If you want to know where the bite is hot, or you want to know the best time to go to one of our favorite locations, check out www.halfpastfirstcast.com or email us at fishmore@halfpastfirstcast.com.
AC Insider Podcast - A Look Into Kayak Bass Fishing
The guys team up and talk kayak bass fishing in this week's episode of the AC Insider Podcast. They are joined by Steve Owens, Tournament Director for the Bassmaster Kayak Series, to catch up on his first year as captain of the ship, as well as what we can look forward to in 2024. The guys then are joined by Drew Gregory. Drew won AOY in BOTH the Bassmaster AND Hobie Kayak Series, while notching 6 professional wins in 2022! Now he has his sights set on a new endeavor, The Kayak Adventure Series, designed to allow the anglers to "Choose Their Adventure". Check it out!
Fish with John Crews on the St. John’s Sweepstakes from Missile Baits
Salem, Va. – October 30, 2023 –Missile Baits is offering the opportunity to fish with John Crews on the St. John’s River in Florida in April 2024 through a sweepstakes running from October 30 to November 19, 2023. The winner will get a full day of fishing with their guest and John Crews after the BASS Elite in April, travel expenses for two people, accommodations for two people, and a product assortment worth over $200. The promotion is featuring a limited run merch drop of Missile Baits and Missile Jigs apparel only on www.missilebaits.com during the three week sweepstakes period.
Missile Baits owner and pro angler, John Crews, explains, “The St. John’s River is a special fishery to me because of my BASS Elite win in 2022, other high finishes, and it is where I caught my biggest bass ever. I can’t think of a better place to share an amazing day on the water with another angler and their guest. It’s going to be so much fun.”
To enter the sweepstakes, entrants will be able to enter online and through the mail. To enter online, entrants will get one entry per dollar spent on a limited run of new Missile apparel on www.missilebaits.com during the sweepstakes time period. To enter by mail and read all the rules, click on the following link: https://missilebaits.store/pages/sweepstakes-rules . The winner will be randomly selected through an independent service after the sweepstakes time period concludes.
Major League Fishing Wraps Final General Tire Team Series Qualifier in Longview, Texas
MLF Completes Builders FirstSource Qualifier Presented by Berkley Television Shoot on Local Lakes with Nine Three-Man Teams Competing to Advance to Bass Pro Shops Team Series Championship
LONGVIEW, Texas (Oct. 30, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF) and 27 of the top pro anglers in the world officially wrapped production Friday at the third and final regular season event of the 2024 General Tire Team Series season – the Builders FirstSource Qualifier Presented by Berkley in Longview, Texas. The competition was filmed entirely for television broadcast and shot over six days last week, featuring nine teams of three anglers competing to finish in the top three and advance to the Bass Pro Shops Team Series Championship.
The event featured professional anglers visiting East Texas to compete in select areas of Lake O’ the Pines, Lake Bob Sandlin, Brady Branch Reservoir and Martin Creek Lake. The competition waters for each day of the event were not disclosed until the anglers arrived at the launch ramp each morning, creating a reality-based television episode that showcases how the top anglers in the world work with their teammates to break down new and unfamiliar waters.
The nine teams that competed in the General Tire Team Series Builders FirstSource Qualifier Presented by Berkley in Texas were:
Team B&W Trailer Hitches:
Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla.
Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La.
Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala.
Team Builders FirstSource:
Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala.
Kyle Hall, Granbury, Texas
Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas
Team Crockett Creek:
Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn.
Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C.
Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn.
Team Ferguson:
Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark.
Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C.
Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala.
Team Knighten Industries:
Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn.
Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan
Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Team Kubota:
Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas
Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La.
Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C.
Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff & Pouches:
Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz.
Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla.
Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C.
Team Sqwincher:
Mark Daniels, Jr., Tuskegee, Ala.
Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala.
Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La.
Team Star brite:
Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas
Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan.
Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa.
The MLF General Tire Team Series Builders FirstSource Qualifier Presented by Berkey will air on Outdoor Channel as six, two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting March 30, 2024, airing from 2 to 4 p.m. EDT. The full television schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com/tv-schedule.
The 2024 General Tire Team Series is comprised of three Qualifying Events, filmed for production in the fall of 2023, where teams compete for advancement to the Bass Pro Shops Teams Series Championship, set to film in early December 2023. Each of the three Team Series Qualifiers consist of nine teams, each comprising three anglers.
Nearly half a million dollars will be paid out over the three no-entry fee Qualifiers, and the total season-long purse for the General Tire Team Series is more than $720,000.
Proud sponsors of the MLF General Tire Team Series include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Barbasol, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Bubba, Builders FirstSource, Costa, Crockett Creek Beef Jerky, Ferguson, General Tire, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury Marine, Mossy Oak, NITRO Boats, Onyx, Optima Batteries, Power-Pole, Quad Lock, Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff & Pouches, Sqwincher, St. Croix Rods, Star brite, Toyota and YETI.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the General Tire Team Series, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
“Can’t Miss” Event
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Registration Now Open for NPAA Annual Conference In Fort Myers, FL. |
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Forestville, WI (October 30, 2023) – The dates and location have been announced and anticipation is already on the rise for the National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA) 2024 Annual Conference. The premier event for all sportfishing industry professionals ranging from tournament anglers and guides, to tackle shop staff, service crews and industry representatives will commence on Friday, January 5th, and run through Sunday, January 7th, at Southwest Florida’s newly renovated Crown Plaza Fort Myers Gulf Coast, an IHG Hotel. “This is an awesome venue, and we are really looking forward to this event,” says NPAA president, Patrick Neu. Located just five minutes from the SW Florida Regional Airport (RSW), which offers direct flights daily to/from most major cities across the country, the conference promises to be informative, fun and convenient to attend while focusing on its “Passion to Profession” theme. |
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“An NPAA Conference attendee can learn more about making a living in this industry in a weekend at this event than they can in 10 years on their own, just ask anyone who has attended a conference over its 15-year history," states Neu. “The event will zero-in on what it really takes to make a successful transition from passionate angler to a sportfishing industry professional. Speaking from years of experience, I can tell you, it’s a journey that’s a lot easier and faster to undertake if you have a little inside knowledge – which is exactly what the NPAA’s high-power panel of successful industry pros plan to impart through professional workshops, partner and educational breakout sessions, meet and greet parties, networking lunches, banquets and more.” |
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According to Neu, the conference will focus on providing attendees with an understanding of the tools needed to be successful on a professional level in this industry. The early January timing, he adds, is perfect for attendees to sample the amazing fishing opportunities available in this part of the Sunshine State or extend their visit to find out why Southwest Florida is a destination for millions of visitors each year. NPAA’s robust line-up of featured speakers includes a mix of top-level professional anglers and industry leading executives covering subjects you really need to comprehend whether just starting out in the recreational fishing industry or looking to climb to the next level. Among others, you’ll hear from Elite Series bass angler and 2018 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year, Justin Lucas, angling podcast host and sportfishing author Sid Dobrin, Tall Pines Tackle VP of Business Development, Eric Naig, will also step up to the podium, as will Mike Leonard, VP of Government Affairs at the American Sportfishing Association, and Freshwater Fishing Hall of Famer, walleye expert and TV personality, Keith Kavajecz, along with many others whose combined knowledge of the sportfishing industry is both comprehensive and compelling. |
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Featured Educational Workshops and breakouts include titles such as Crafting Impactful 1-Minute Videos, Women Anglers Taking Their Passion to a Profession, Taxes Done Right, Passion Drives Professionalism as a Guide, How to Gain and Retain Sponsorships, Boat Financing in Today’s Market, Maximizing Customer Acquisition & Retention, Batteries: Wet, AGM, Lithium and Why, Safe Boating Practices Save Lives, and more. In addition to superior networking opportunities, sportfishing advocacy and promoting entry into the sport, NPAA offers a monthly member newsletter, a weekly industry NewsBLAST, and access to significant discounts on gear and services provided by many of its nearly 80 supporting partners. |
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The NPAA 2024 Annual Conference is expected to sell out quickly as registration is limited to the first 200 registrants. Registration is now open to any angler looking to take the step from “Passion to Profession”. The registration fee of $300 for Non-Members and $250 for Members includes all activities, meals, and one ticket for the Future Anglers Foundation (FAF Banquet). More information on registration can be found on the NPAA Conference Page. (Note: Non-Members who pre-register for the Conference and opt to join the association prior to the end of the Conference will receive a $50 rebate on their Conference Registration Fee.) For more information on joining the NPAA, attending the Annual Conference, and exploring the many benefits membership provides, visit www.npaa.net. |
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Dawson County High School Wins MLF High School Fishing Open Tournament on Lake Hartwell
ANDERSON, S.C. (Oct. 30, 2023) – Dawsonville, Georgia’s, Dawson County High School team of Carter Cunningham and Landon Glander, both of Dawsonville, Georgia, brought five bass to the scale Saturday weighing 15 pounds, 15 ounces, to win the MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina.
A field of 85 teams competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which was hosted by the Anderson Convention and Visitors Bureau. In MLF High School Fishing competition, the top 10 percent of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.
The top eight teams that advanced to the 2024 High School Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Dawson County High School, Dawsonville, Ga. – Carter Cunningham and Landon Glander, five bass, 15-15
2nd: Greenbrier High School, Evans, Ga. – Landon Brazier and Austin Fulghum, five bass, 14-3
3rd: Cherokee High School, Canton, Ga. – Noah Dzyuba and Lane Parker, five bass, 13-7
4th: South Forsyth High School, Cumming, Ga. – Maddox Ferrell and Grady Williamson, five bass, 13-0
5th: Pickens High School, Pickens. S.C. – Anders Fernstrom and Carter McCollum, five bass, 12-0
6th: Palmetto High School, Williamston, S.C. – Ethan Evatt and Bryson Gurley, five bass, 11-15
7th: Cherokee High School, Canton, Ga. – Hudson Howell and Logan Parker, five bass, 11-15
8th: Dawson County High School, Dawsonville, Ga. – Reed Rooke and Hayden Seabolt, five bass, 11-14
Rounding out the top 10 teams were:
9th: York County High School, York, S.C. – Fielding Faulkenberry and Greyden Hovis, five bass, 11-12
10th: Madison County High School, Danielsville, Ga. – Brady Garrison and Riley Haney, five bass, 11-10
Complete results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
MLF High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing tournaments are free, two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and are open to any MLF and TBF Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school club. The top 10 percent of teams at each Open event, along with the TBF High School Fishing state championships, advanced to the 2024 High School Fishing National Championship held on Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina, June 19, hosted by the Anderson Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing 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 High School Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Lander University Wins MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament on Lake Hartwell
ANDERSON, S.C. (Oct. 30, 2023) – The Lander University duo of Kaleb Brown of Greenwood, South Carolina, and Cole Moulton of Enfield, New Hampshire, bested a full field of 250 boats – the fourth-largest collegiate field in MLF history – to win the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Lake Hartwell Friday with a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 1 ounce. The victory earned the Bearcats’ bass club $2,000 and a qualification into the 2024 MLF College Fishing National Championship.
“We spent a lot of time out here the last couple of weeks because the lake is pretty close to school,” said Moulton, a sophomore. “We found a spot in practice on Thursday morning where we caught 16 pounds in 15 minutes.
“We drew a boat number in the middle of the pack and made a run, and nobody was sitting on our spot,” Moulton continued. “We started off the day with a spotted bass that was just shy of 4 pounds and a couple of 2-pounders off that spot in the first 35 minutes. So that got us some momentum going.”
Moulton said the team used a 7/16- and 5/8-ounce Beast Coast Tungsten Compound Baby Dozer Jig and rotated through a couple of spots, but didn’t catch fish. High temperatures and sunny conditions combined to make tough tournament conditions, so they relocated to a spot they hadn’t fished in three weeks hoping their luck would change.
“Kaleb threw out there with his jig and set his hook, and it was another 4-pound spotted bass,” Moulton said. “We filled our limit there and had 11 pounds, but we had three small ones.”
Moulton said they moved around trying to cull their three smaller fish and ran to a spot where they had found schooling fish previously. As soon as they stopped the boat the fish turned on, and Moulton caught a 3-pound largemouth.
“Largemouth were rare for us all week – we hadn’t caught any in practice – so that largemouth was a bonus fish,” Moulton said.
Brown added another 3¼-pound largemouth and one more spotted bass just shy of 3 pounds to the livewell to set the team’s final weight for the day.
“We didn’t feel confident for a win with a full moon and the way the tournament was setting up, especially with a lot of local hammers here,” Brown said. “We figured we might squeeze out a top-10 finish. As we were running up the lake it dawned on us that we might have a shot at this one.
“With me being a senior, and Cole’s accomplishments as a decorated High School Fishing angler … I’ve been chasing my win for so long; to finally get it is just incredible,” Brown added. “It’s everything I’ve wanted.”
The top 10 teams at the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Lake Hartwell are:
1st: Lander University – Kaleb Brown, Greenwood, S.C., and Cole Moulton, Enfield, N.H., five bass, 17-1, $2,000
2nd: University of South Carolina-Union – Jacob Butts, Starr, S.C., and Mark Kershaw, Fort Mill, S.C., five bass, 15-13, $1,000
3rd: Emmanuel College – Brooks Anderson, Marietta, Ga., and Max Heaton, Hartwell, Ga., five bass, 15-12, $700
4th: Emmanuel College – Dawson Carden, Canon, Ga., and Colby Elliott, Blairsville, Ga., five bass, 15-3, $600
5th: Georgia College – Trice Cannon, Milledgeville, Ga., and Josh Finnerty, Alpharetta, Ga., five bass, 14-12, $500
6th: Emmanuel College – Scooter Ligon, Dahlonega, Ga., and Levi Seagraves, Comer, Ga., five bass, 14-10
7th: University of North Alabama – Nathan Reynolds, Nashville, Tenn., and Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 14-5
8th: Bethel University – David Gummow, New Roads, La., and Coleman Self, Shelby, N.C., five bass, 14-4
9th: Emmanuel University – Tyler Campbell, Martin, Ga., and Parker Guy, Ocilla, Ga., five bass, 13-15
10th: Auburn University – Carson Maddux, Hoover, Ala., and Bennett Slinkard, Huntsville, Ala., five bass, 13-14
Complete results for the entire field, including all 24 MLF College Fishing National Championship qualifiers, can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Lake Hartwell was hosted by the Anderson Convention and Visitors Bureau.
The 2023 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI features college teams from across the country competing in nine regular-season tournaments. The top 12 percent of teams from each regular-season tournament advance to the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship. The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship will be held Jan. 9-11, 2024, at Lake Tohopekaliga (Toho) in Kissimmee, Florida, and is hosted by the Kissimmee Sports Commission.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI 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 College Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
SITKA’s Diverge 12 photo contest celebrates honest and inspiring photos that expand what hunting photography can look like
Submit your entry and be part of the storytelling legacy.
BOZEMAN, Mont. (October 30, 2023) - SITKA Gear, a pioneer in the outdoor apparel industry, presents Diverge 12, the annual photo contest with a unique platform created to deepen the art of hunting storytelling and portray the lives of hunters in an honest and inspiring way. This contest, now in its 12th year, shifts focus from the harvest of game species to the broader, more authentic hunting experience.
Instead of focusing on “grip-and-grin” photos, SITKA Gear’s Diverge 12 photo contest addresses the need to share the “moments in between” that accurately depict and celebrate the hunting experience. It expands the definition of "trophy" to encompass any experience in the field that is hard-earned, ethically considered and mindful of future generations. It's about presenting hunting stories that inspire and honor our shared hunting heritage.
"Capturing the holistic hunting experience is a powerful way to convey the true spirit and beauty of hunting and the outdoors," said Todd Barker, Marketing Director at SITKA Gear. "The SITKA Diverge Photo Contest encourages hunters and photographers to share the real, unfiltered stories from their pursuits."
SITKA Gear invites all hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to participate in Diverge 12 by sharing their moments of triumph, suffering, reflection and adventure.
Contest Categories: Big Game, Whitetail, Waterfowl, Turkey, The Life, and Roughcuts
Category winners, as well as the grand prize winner, will receive exciting prizes from SITKA Gear and participating brand partners.
How to Enter:
Participants can enter the SITKA Diverge Photo Contest through Instagram by using the hashtag #Diverge12, or by submitting their entries online at www.sitkagear.com/diverge.
The submission period for this year's contest is from October 2, 2023, to January 15, 2024.
To learn more about the Diverge 12 Contest or SITKA Gear products, visit the website at www.sitkagear.com/diverge
SITKA Diverge Hall of Fame Link: www.sitkagear.com/experience/diverge-hall-of-fame
Diverge 12 YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZZLQkXbP9I
Myers and Chivas close the deal on Redfish Cup Championship at Winyah Bay
Fred Myers III and Cody Chivas have won the 2023 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter Boats on Winyah Bay with a three-day total of 36 pounds, 7 ounces.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.
October 29, 2023
GEORGETOWN, S.C. — Teamwork made the difference for Fred Myers III and Cody Chivas, who systematically executed a game plan that delivered a three-day total of 36 pounds, 7 ounces to win the Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter Boats at Winyah Bay.
Myers and Chivas turned in daily weights of 8-8, 12-6 and 15-9 — Championship Sunday’s biggest bag — and won by a margin of 1-7 over Elite Redfish Series pros Travis Land and Jeremy Reeves. They won the $75,000 top prize and an automatic invitation to the 2024 event.
“This means the world to us,” Myers said. “I follow a couple of close friends of mine that fish the Bassmaster Elites and to be here on their stage, in their atmosphere, it’s just awesome to compete at this level.”
The tournament included a 10-boat field with a mix of championship-caliber professional redfish teams along with four all-star teams featuring Bassmaster Elite Series pros paired with redfish pros.
Hailing from of Panama City, Fla., and Indian Shores, Fla., respectively, Myers and Chivas qualified for this week’s event through the 2023 Redfish World Series Championship Sept. 27-30 in Lake Charles, La. Chivas said claiming back-to-back wins was overwhelming.
“We came off another big win before we came here, and we were driving home from (the Redfish World Series Championship) trying to figure out what we were going to do,” Chivas said. “This is as good as it gets.”
Myers and Chivas spent most of the tournament working around a marsh island south of takeoff. Dialing in the island’s sweet spots daily, the anglers caught the majority of their fish on popping cork rigs with Berkley Gulp! Shrimp on 1/8-ounce ball-head jigs.
On Days 1 and 2, Myers also used a 4-inch Saltwater Assassin Elite Shiner swimbait rigged weedless on a 4/0, 3/16-ounce belly-weighted hook to target fish over oyster bars.
“We used 25-pound AFTCO Saiko Pro 100% fluorocarbon for leaders on our popping cork rigs, and that is the strongest fluorocarbon I’ve ever used,” Chivas said. “Today, I had a fish completely (entangled) in the marsh grass and I was able to pull him out. I don’t think I could have done that with any other 25-pound fluorocarbon.”
The tournament format allowed anglers to keep redfish measuring between 17 and 23 inches. Each angler could weigh in up to two fish per day for a total of four fish per team. After catching only half a limit on Day 1, Myers and Chivas connected the key details and filled their four-fish limits on the second and final days.
“What we learned was that when you get a bite, you have to get right back in there,” Chivas said of casting discipline. “These tides move so fast here that the bite windows are really short.”
Chivas referenced Winyah Bay’s huge tidal swing of 5 to 7 feet, which is created by the Georgia Bight — a large coastal indentation starting around Cape Hatteras, N.C., and extending to Cape Canaveral, Fla. With rising tides moving farther inward, water piles high and then recedes at a rapid pace.
By comparison, last year’s event in Port Aransas, Texas, saw tides of 1 to 1 1/2 feet.
Given this challenging tidal scenario — accelerated by the influence of Saturday’s full moon — most teams struggled to find “slot” fish. Like their competitors, Myers and Chivas had little trouble getting bites, but picking off legal catches amid the many “shorts” and “overs” required patience and persistence.
“There was one key to targeting those slot fish — you gotta have numbers and you've got to be able to go through those fish and keep going, keep going, keep going because each one is a clue,” Myers said. “We’d catch a bunch of unders and then we’d catch an over, then another over and another over.
“On (Saturday), I caught eight overs, but that made us stay there. Today, we Power-Poled down in a place right after Cody had caught two good ones. I caught a 4-pound slot fish right after I had just caught about 12 shorts. Then we went around the corner, and I caught another slot fish that sealed the deal.”
Hailing from Sequin, Texas, and Orange, Texas, respectively, Land and Reeves finished second with 35 pounds. A lean first round left them with a lone slot fish that weighed 3-7. But with half of the field blanking, they placed fourth.
Land and Reeves rebounded with a Day 2 limit of 16-6 — the event’s heaviest bag —and moved into second. The Texas duo added a final-round limit of 15-3.
“We stuck with our game plan,” Land said. “We were fishing oyster points with water moving over the top of them and (drains) every 25 to 50 yards. We stayed on those all day long.”
Using the same mix of baits that fueled their Day 2 surge, Land and Reeves caught their fish on Berkley Gulp! Shrimp and Paddle Tail Minnows on 1/4-ounce jigheads and a 5-inch Berkley Hollow Belly swimbait rigged weedless on a 1/4-ounce jighead.
“We really needed to make long casts, but the retrieve was the biggest thing to us,” Reeves said. “If you bounced that lure and the fish was anywhere close, he was going to spook. You had to glide that bait slowly and methodically over that oyster bar or over that sand to get that fish to bite.”
Elite Redfish Series pro Dwayne Eschete from Lake Jackson, Texas, and Bassmaster Elite Series pro Drew Cook from Cairo, Ga., finished third with 29-5. Eschete and Cook got off to a blistering start by catching the first round’s only limit — a bag of 16-4 that nearly doubled Myers and Chivas’s starting effort.
The anglers got most of their Day 1 weight in a protected lagoon with a low bridge challenging their entry on the morning high tide and then hastening their falling-tide exit. They would finish the opening limit on a marsh island edge.
Eschete and Cook struggled the next two days with one 3-2 fish on Day 2 and two fish for 9-15 in the final round. Berkley Gulp! Shrimp on 1/4-ounce jigheads produced all of their fish.
The 2023 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter Boats was hosted by Georgetown County, S.C.
2023 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship
presented by Skeeter Boats 10/27-10/29
Winyah Bay, Winyah Bay SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Fred Myers III - Cody Chivas
Day 1: 2 08-08 Day 2: 4 12-06 Day 3: 4 15-09 Total: 10 36-07 $ 75,000.00
2. Travis Land - Jeremy Reeves
Day 1: 1 03-07 Day 2: 4 16-06 Day 3: 4 15-03 Total: 9 35-00 $ 6,000.00
3. Drew Cook - Dwayne Eschete
Day 1: 4 16-04 Day 2: 1 03-02 Day 3: 2 09-15 Total: 7 29-05 $ 4,000.00
4. Pat Schlapper - Ben Powers
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 11-08 Day 3: 3 12-11 Total: 6 24-03 $ 3,500.00
5. Eddie Adams IV - Sean O'Connell
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 13-15 Day 3: 1 04-07 Total: 4 18-06 $ 3,000.00
6. Scott Canterbury - Krista Miller
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 2 07-14 Day 3: 1 04-00 Total: 4 14-05 $ 2,500.00
7. Justin Atkins - Ryan Rickard
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 09-15 Day 3: 1 02-06 Total: 3 12-05 $ 2,000.00
8. Aaron Salazar - Ben Human
Day 1: 1 04-03 Day 2: 0 00-00 Day 3: 1 03-12 Total: 2 07-15 $ 1,500.00
9. Jeff Mullett - Ken Mullett
Day 1: 0 -01-00 Day 2: 2 06-13 Day 3: 0 00-00 Total: 2 05-13 $ 1,500.00
10. Gary Moreno - Tony Viator
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Day 3: 1 02-09 Total: 1 02-09 $ 1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 1 9 33-13
2 2 21 81-15
3 2 18 70-08
----------------------------------
5 48 186-04
WALTERS CLAIMS NPFL VICTORY AT LAKE LANIER, GOADE WINS PROGRESSIVE AOY
Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
Patrick Walters wraps up his third NPFL victory with the winning three-day total weight of 57 pounds, 5 ounces in the season finale on Lake Lanier.
“I just want to thank the NPFL, this is truly a family-oriented league and I can’t thank you all enough,” said Walters. “To my mom, dad, and beautiful wife, I can’t thank you all enough for the support, and thanks for coming up for the weigh-in.”
Walters, who led after Day 2, complemented his first two limits of 19 pounds, 13 ounces, and 20 pounds, 1 ounce with a Day 3 bag that weighed 17 pounds, 7 ounces to seal the victory over Will Harkins.
Like most of the field, Walters was keying in on the vast amount of brush that Lake Lanier has to offer. The big difference in getting bigger fish to bite each day, and surviving the local pressure, was targeting piles with a larger group of fish than normal.
“You had to find brush with a lot of fish, and they had to be set up right within,” he said. “Usually, they didn’t get set up until later in the morning and it was really hard to trick five or ten bass. If you found a pile with twenty, you could get them to compete for it and bite.”
Walters estimated fishing around fifty brush piles on Showdown Saturday and was physically tired from lifting and deploying the trolling motor all day. While he located some key piles in practice, he credits new water for his final two days’ weight leading to his third win.
“I was literally making 2 or 3 casts per spot this afternoon, and it was exhausting. I ran the Falcon/Mercury all over the lake this week. The majority of my bites came in the new brush; I just went fishing and rotated between the Zoom Super Fluke and Zoom Magnum Shakey Head worm each day,” he added.
Walters wanted to credit one of his good friends and travel partner Trent Palmer, and Sonar Pros for getting the Falcon dialed for the season. With all of the tournaments in 2023, it was relaxing to fish with Trent and Mike at the NPFL and stay fresh all season long all over the country.
“Trent, Mike, and I share everything to break down water,” he said before receiving his NPFL trophy. “I don’t know where we all finished in this event, but we had a phenomenal season and it was a pleasure traveling with those guys. We just need Mike to get a trophy next season.”
Will Harkins
After leading on Day 1 with 20 pounds, 6 ounces, Harkins added 18 pounds, 9 ounces on Day 2 — the second biggest bag of the day — and a Showdown Saturday bag that weighed 13 pounds, 9 ounces. With a three-day total of 52 pounds, 8 ounces, Harkins wraps up a phenomenal season with back-to-back second-place finishes, runner-up in the Progressive Angler of the Year, and an NPFL championship qualification.
Leading after day one, Harkins is familiar with Lake Lanier and spent the majority of his time on certain brush piles on high-percentage schooling points and rotating through nearly fifty per day. His two-bait approach this week included pulling out an old reliable bait from the tackle.
“I was not fishing anything special by Lanier standards, but it was off the path enough for most of the field,” he said. “Each day I would typically hit fifty spots and then rotate my best five of those spots later in the day. I was fishing a really old Bomber Wake Bait, and I don’t even know what it’s called.”
When the brush fishing got slow, Harkins hit the bank and targeted small groups of spotted bass chasing baitfish along the bank. His bait of choice, similar to Walters, was a Zoom Super Fluke.
“I would troll down the bank and throw that Fluke at them feeding towards the surface and get them to bite. Today four of the five I weighed in came on the Fluke; on days one and two, it was the wake bait that yielded the best luck,” he added.
With added pressure from over 200 boats on the lake, coupled with high skies and no wind, his bite was tough to execute and it just didn’t work out.
“You really need to have some cloud or wind to mask the bait a little otherwise they get too good a look at it,” he said.” Today with the pressure, I could only fish four of the main places, but it was still a great week.
“Overall, the season was a lot better than I could have expected. I had no expectations, but in the first two events I was too stressed, and then I decided to have fun and fish and ended with a run of 3rd, 7th, 2nd, and 2nd, which put me right behind Todd in the Angler of the Year and qualified me for the Championship. No complaints, it’s been an awesome year and I have an amazing support group.
Todd Goade
With the mentality of simply doing his job every day, Todd Goade closed out a storybook fishing season with a third-place finish in the season finale on Lake Lanier, and wrapped up the 2023 Progressive Angler of the Year award on a body of water he knows so well.
With a three-day total of 48 pounds, 10 ounces, Goade did what he does best and saved his 17 pounds, 15 pounds biggest bag of the week for the final day. He began the week with 17 pounds, 10 ounces on day one, and survived day two with 13 pounds, 1 ounce which set him up for a final day comeback.
“It really was a storybook ending for the season,” said an emotional Goade with his wife on stage. “I said I had to do my job all year, and I am not going to lie, when I caught that last 3.5 pounder this morning I hollered, and I knew I had done it. “It’s what you dream about and work for. I love Lake Lanier and Spotted Bass; it was an incredible way to end the season.”
Although he doesn’t reside in Georgia any longer, Goade’s experience and history with Lanier runs deep, and today he was able to enjoy a lot of the time he spent with good friends in the past.
“I have so many memories on this lake it was amazing to have caught them by 9 AM this morning. I was able to just go fishing and enjoy the day. I went down memory lane fishing some places from the past, and some new places,” he said.
As far as how he caught his bass this week, Goade relied on a bait he feels is one of the best spotted bass baits ever made – Zoom Magnum Shakey head Worm in Green Pumpkin Green color.
“The deep fish didn’t bite for me on day two, but I was able to survive,” he said. “I saw them all, and today it was stupid – I culled a limit of 15 pounds. I still don’t know why yesterday was tough but today was incredible and the Mag Shakey Head Worm fished alongside brush piles was key. I caught fish from 10 to 35 feet.”
Goade was revisiting brush piles from the past as well as lots of new ones in Lanier. After a year of good decisions and making the right moves, first thing this morning Goade had another right call to get his Showdown Saturday off to a great start.
“This morning, I was headed to a spot they have been schooling and I noticed another good spot was open,” he added. “I peeled off and caught them quickly, two of my bigger fish. It’s those kinds of decisions that lead to good finishes and winning the AOY.
“I want to thank my wife for being my rock and biggest fan and supporter. She puts up with all of this and I am glad she could be here today. Also, I have to thank all of my sponsors, family, and friends. I just looked and I have 176 texts on my phone,” he laughed.
Billy Hackworth
With his biggest bag of the day on the final day, Billy Hackworth finished at Lake Lanier with a three-day total of 46 pounds, 8 ounces. Increasing his weights each day, Hackworth started with 14 pounds, 7 ounces on day one, added 15 pounds, 15 ounces on day two, and 16 pounds, 2 ounces on the final day.
Ryan Satterfield 46-7
Increasing his weight each day, Ryan Satterfield added a final day limit weighing 16 pounds, 13 ounces to his day one weight of 13 pounds, 6 ounces and day two weight of 16 pounds, 4 ounces to finish at Lake Lanier in fifth place with a total weight of 46 pounds, 7 ounces.
Like the other, Satterfield rotated through different brush piles using Livescope to locate fish around the edges. He started on day one catching fish with a drop shot but had to change as the lake pressure increased.
“I swapped to a shakey head yesterday and today,” he said. “The bait had to sit on the bottom and shake, but not move. Eventually one would grab it.”
As the pressure increased from local traffic, Satterfield eventually ended up not making a cast until he saw a fish he felt might bite, to allow him to move quicker and cover more water.
“I kept running as many as I could find to find feeding fish. I could tell what fish might be in the mood but they were so finicky it had to be still. The other thing, some of these piles had twenty big ones, but you could only catch one out of each. After 2 PM this afternoon, I culled almost everything which allowed me to slide up to fifth.”
Rest of the Best:
Keith Carson 43-11
Reagan Nelson 42-11
Mike Corbishley 42-6
Hunter Baughman 40-4
Quentin Cappo 40-1
Myers and Chivas play it smart to take Day 2 lead at Redfish Cup Championship
Fred Myers III and Cody Chivas are leading after Day 2 of the 2023 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter Boats on Winyah Bay with a two-day total of 20 pounds, 14 ounces.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.
October 28,2023
GEORGETOWN, S.C. — Efficiency and adjustment proved foundational for Fred Myers III of Panama City, Fla., and Cody Chivas of Indian Shores, Fla., who took over the Day 2 lead at the Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter Boats at Winyah Bay with a two-day total of 20 pounds, 14 ounces.
Myers and Chivas, the 2023 Redfish World Series champions, placed second on Day 1 with two fish for 8-8. The second round was more generous, with both anglers filling their two-fish limits and tallying a team total of four redfish that weighed 12-6.
The leaders edged Elite Redfish Series pros Travis Land and Jeremy Reeves by 1-1.
“We caught a lot of fish yesterday and only came in with two, so we were kinda scratching our heads,” Chivas said. “Today was just as tough. I caught two (keepers) back to back, then we went 2 1/2 hours with Fred on the bow and he did the same thing — boom-boom.”
The tournament format allows anglers to keep redfish measuring between 17 and 23 inches. Each angler can weigh up to two fish per day for a total of four fish per team.
“We just have to do the same thing tomorrow,” Chivas said. “This fishery is actually very good; there’s a ton of fish here. We’ve caught more fish here the last two days than we did all year fishing Texas, Louisiana and Florida.”
The leaders returned to the same marsh island they fished on Day 1 and expanded their game to capitalize on both ends of the tide.
“The bite was a little slower this morning, but once the tide started to turn a little bit, we caught more of the bigger fish today,” Chivas said. “We really only had about one hour where we didn’t catch fish. The slot fish are just tough to come by.”
As Myers explained, securing two angler limits required him and Chivas to fish two different patterns.
“We had a deep-water bite and a shallow-water bite,” he said. “That was the key, in my opinion. Instead of wasting a lot of boat running time, we would just trolling motor over to the next bank.”
During the higher water period, Chivas caught his two keepers on a Berkley Gulp! Shrimp under a popping cork. When the water was lower, Myers got his two on a 4-inch Saltwater Assassin Elite Shiner swimbait rigged weedless on a 4/0, 3/16-ounce belly-weighted hook.
“We sat with the Power-Poles down the majority of the day, waiting for the tide to get right,” Myers said. “We just had fish coming to us.
“Tomorrow, we may not have the fish to win, but we learned a lot about the area, and I believe we can finally target some of those slot fish. The high-water bite, we’re just catching whatever will bite, but the shallow-water fish seem to fit that slot a little better.”
Chivas said he and Myers will start on the same water they’ve fished for two days. But if needed, they have a tempting backup.
“We have some fish in another area that may have been our best day of pre-fishing, but it’s a longer run,” Chivas said. “We haven’t done it because we’re catching fish (closer). The last couple of days, when it got slow, we’ll ask ourselves, ‘Do we make a move?’
“We were going to make a move this morning, but I’m glad we stayed.”
Myers agreed: “It’s hard to leave fish to find fish.”
Hailing from Sequin, Texas, and Orange, Texas, respectively, Land and Reeves placed fourth on Day 1 with a single 3-7 slot fish. The second round saw them step on the gas and sack up a team limit of four redfish that weighed 16-6 — the event’s heaviest bag — for a 19-13 total.
Land said he and Reeves fished the hard edge of oyster bars close to marsh grass. Targeting tidal drains was their main strategy.
Reeves caught his fish on Berkley Gulp! Shrimp and Paddle Tail Minnows on 1/4-ounce jigheads, while Land found success with a 5-inch Berkley Hollow Belly swimbait rigged weedless on a 1/4-ounce jighead.
“We made a small adjustment (in location), but we surely didn’t know what was there,” Reeves said. “We said, ‘Why don’t we go over there and try it,’ and we caught a bunch of fish.”
Land said the area he and Reeves transitioned to rewarded them with astounding action.
“I feel better than I’ve felt in a long time about a redfish tournament,” he said. “We left them biting. That spot is absolutely loaded; we were catching them right off the trolling motor.”
Dwayne Eschete, the Elite Redfish Series pro from Lake Jackson, Texas, and Drew Cook, a Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Cairo, Ga., placed third with 19-6. After topping the first day with the opening round’s only four-fish limit — 16-4 — they added one keeper Saturday that went 3-2.
Seeking to repeat the game plan that served them well in the opening round, Eschete and Cook struggled through a painfully slow day that saw their main spot fizzle.
“Fishing can be weird sometimes,” Eschete said. “We actually put eyes on fish today all around us and they just wouldn’t eat.
“Yesterday, we got the bites. Today, we caught maybe five or six fish and some big flounder. We just didn’t get the slot fish today. But tomorrow we’re going to go back and do the same thing we did today and yesterday, because tomorrow might be another day like Day 1.”
Transitioning to their second area, which produced one of their slot fish on Day 1, Eschete and Cook continued to struggle finding slot fish until Cook nabbed their one keeper about 5 minutes before they had to leave. That fish ate a Berkley Gulp! Shrimp on a 1/4-ounce jighead.
Sunday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7:15 a.m. ET at East Bay Public Ramp. The weigh-in will be held at Francis Marion Park at 3 p.m. Coverage will be simulcast on FS1 and Bassmaster.com beginning at 8 a.m.
The 2023 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter Boats is being hosted by Georgetown County, S.C.
2023 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship
presented by Skeeter Boats 10/27-10/29
Winyah Bay, Winyah Bay SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Fred Myers III - Cody Chivas 0
Day 1: 2 08-08 Day 2: 4 12-06 Total: 6 20-14
2. Travis Land - Jeremy Reeves 0
Day 1: 1 03-07 Day 2: 4 16-06 Total: 5 19-13
3. Drew Cook - Dwayne Eschete 0
Day 1: 4 16-04 Day 2: 1 03-02 Total: 5 19-06
4. Eddie Adams IV - Sean O'Connell 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 13-15 Total: 3 13-15
5. Pat Schlapper - Ben Powers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 11-08 Total: 3 11-08
6. Scott Canterbury - Krista Miller 0
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 2 07-14 Total: 3 10-05
7. Justin Atkins - Ryan Rickard 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 09-15 Total: 2 09-15
8. Jeff Mullett - Ken Mullett 0
Day 1: 0 -01-00 Day 2: 2 06-13 Total: 2 05-13
9. Aaron Salazar - Ben Human 0
Day 1: 1 04-03 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 04-03
10. Gary Moreno - Tony Viator 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 1 9 33-13
2 2 21 81-15
----------------------------------
3 30 115-12
PATRICK WALTERS GRABS NPFL LEAD AT LAKE LANIER
Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
With his biggest bag of the event on day two, Patrick Walters takes over the lead on Lake Lanier with a two-day total of 39 pounds, 14 ounces. He began the day in second place with a bag of 19 pounds, 13 ounces on day one, and his 20-pound, 1-ounce weight today gives him a 15-ounce lead going into the final day.
“It was a good day,” said Walters. “I found some new stuff this afternoon and ran a lot of new water today; I like what I saw, it was good.”
Dealing with changing conditions and finicky fish, he knows that being in the right rotation is key, and with added lake pressure today, and four events on the lake tomorrow, covering water and being efficient will make or break the day.
“I had to throw the kitchen sink today, and will be doing more of it tomorrow,” he said. “You have to keep moving and figure out if you can get some bites. If you’re in a bad rotation, it doesn’t take long to figure that out. You can tell when a spot looks really good and assume you may get a bite, but even when it doesn’t look good, they may still bite.
Will Harkins
Adding 18 pounds, 9 ounces on day two to his day one leading weight of 20 pounds, 6 ounces, Georgia pro Will Harkins goes into Showdown Saturday in second place with a two-day total of 38 pounds, 15 ounces. Despite great bags at the scales, the fishing on day two got tougher for Harkins.
“I only did the ‘Harky’ once today, it was slow overall,” laughed Harkins. “We still have one more day and a lot can happen, we will see. With several close calls in 2023, it would be amazing to get it done here on Lanier. This season, I circled this event; it was one of the reasons I signed up for this year,” he added.
Harkins was seen on live roaming around looking at live sonar, but his pattern is a bit more dialed than that. His bait of choice, which he chose not to go into detail on yet, is something he has confidence in to get some bigger more aggressive fish to commit.
“It’s just a small bait, nothing special, and it seems to be something that will trigger a bite,” he said. “I am around brush, but not necessarily fishing in it much. I am looking for groups of fish that are feeding up and willing to bite.”
With over 2000 waypoints on Lanier from the past, Harkins has no shortage of water to run, but with a big local derby scheduled for Showdown, getting into the right rotation could make or break his final day.
“If you have the right rotation, you are golden. If not, you can be in trouble,” he added. Tomorrow we will have more pressure and we have to see what the pressure does to the fish; anything can happen on the final day.”
Mike Corbishley
In the third-place spot going into the final day, Mike Corbishley added 14 pounds, 4 ounces on day two to his day one bag 17 pounds, 15 ounces. His two-day weight of 32 pounds, 3 ounces once again keeps him at the top of the leaderboard with an outside shot at victory.
“This one feels like Saginaw,” laughed Corbishley. “I am in third and 7-pounds back. It’s crazy, I can shoot for a second again. But in reality, I am in third and will not complain. I feel fortunate to have caught my weight today and the bite has been changing.”
As things change, and the weekend pressure starts to take effect, Corbishley knows he has to adjust on the final day to keep his position.
“It’s changing, and tomorrow I need to adapt. I will keep running as much as I can trying for a good bag. I am staring at my Lowrance and just running the Phoenix/Mercury to as many spots as I can.”
Trent Palmer
Sonar Pros pro Trent Palmer goes into Showdown Saturday in the fourth-place spot with a two-day total of 31 pounds, 10 ounces. Palmer started with 17 pounds, 10 ounces on day one, and added 14 pounds on a much tougher day two.
“This lake is all about timing and making good decisions, and I got into a bad rotation,” he said. “I have fished here for ten years and this is my least favorite time to fish the lake, but they are biting and my goal has now shifted, I want to get a good finish this week. I made the championship with my win (at Saginaw), now we’re just going for a good check.”
It’s no secret that ‘the house’ works together to break down water but when timing becomes so key, it’s easy to miss the window.
“I ran into those guys a few times today and could feel like I was behind on the spots,” he added. “Tomorrow I am going to swap a few things up and try to find some fresh fish. Today, my afternoon bite didn’t really pan out, but I still had some opportunities at fish that missed my plug. Hopefully tomorrow I can combine the limit fish with executing in the afternoon and see what happens.”
John Cox
Beginning the day in eighth with 15 pounds, 15 ounces on day one, Florida pro John Cox slides into the fifth-place spot with 15 pounds, 4 ounces on day two, and a total weight of 31 pounds, 3 ounces. Cox, the only angler at the top not relying on electronics, caught some late schooling fish today to salvage his day.
“I have been throwing the new Berkley Nessie, and the one bait they have been eating I skipped up to a dock this morning and broke it up,” laughed Cox. “I almost cried. I can get them to follow the Berkley CullShad, but they won’t commit.”
Cox was running back near the take-off this afternoon with an hour left to go and saw a school start busting bait. Within ten minutes he filled his limit and caught his day’s weight.
“I shut the engine off and fired up there while the boat was still moving and got bit,” he said. “They actually schooled there yesterday and I caught one, but today it saved me, and I am going to spend the day there tomorrow waiting for them to come up.”
Rest of the Best:
Todd Goade 30-11
Billy Hackworth 30-6
Ryan Satterfield 29-10
Reagan Nelson 28-9
Quentin Cappo 28-0
Eschete and Cook use day’s lone limit to take lead at Redfish Cup Championship
2023 Redfish Day 1 leaders.jpg
The all-star team of Drew Cook and Dwayne Eschete are leading after Day 1 of the 2023 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter Boats on Winyah Bay with 16 pounds, 4 ounces.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.
October 27, 2023
GEORGETOWN, S.C. — On a day marked by grueling leanness and treacherous tides, the all-star team of Elite Redfish Tour pro Dwayne Eschete and Bassmaster Elite Series pro Drew Cook executed perfectly and caught a four-fish limit of 16 pounds, 4 ounces to lead Day 1 of the Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter Boats at Winyah Bay.
The only team to catch their boat limit, Eschete and Cook topped second-place Fred Myers III and Cody Chivas by 7-12.
“The key to our area was deep water,” Cook said. “The fish could stay in there even when the tide dropped. We just had to know when to get out of there so we didn’t get stuck.
“We left them biting — that was so hard to do. But the tide was falling and we had to go.”
Eschete said marsh grass edges comprised their spot’s main habitat feature. As the morning’s high tide fell, the redfish pulled out of the cover and settled into a deeper trough adjacent to the vegetation. The leaders caught their fish on Berkley GULP! Shrimp on light jigheads.
“Once we got in there, it turned out really good because we probably caught 10 to 12 fish in that spot,” Eschete said. “The first fish we caught was our biggest one, so I was feeling pretty good.
“After that, Drew caught two fish back to back. Actually, he caught the second fish that we put in the boat while I was measuring the first fish. He caught his second fish, then the water started getting low and we were like, ‘Man, we need to get out of this creek.’”
After leaving their starting spot, the leaders found their fourth fish — Eschete’s second.
Tournament format allows anglers to keep redfish within South Carolina’s 17- to 23-inch slot limit. Each angler can weigh up to two fish per day for a total of four fish per team.
Cook, who placed third at last year’s event alongside Kevin Akin, said he’s found several similarities between bass and redfish. However, for a bass pro accustomed to seeking five keepers with constant upgrading effort, this year’s tournament format has taken some adjustment.
“I think I caught my second fish at 10:30, so I was done; I just sat there,” Cook said. “That was so hard to do. Whenever we got to another area, I couldn’t stand it. I was just throwing out in the middle and I actually caught a 19-incher that would have helped. Had he caught that one, we would have come in.
“Luckily, on his last cast, Dwayne caught a 22-incher, so it all worked out perfectly. Hopefully, tomorrow, we can get into our area and be able to stay in there a little bit longer. Maybe we can catch our four really quickly, and then we’ll just come in and eat pizza at the dock.”
Hailing from Panama City, Fla., and Indian Shores, Fla., respectively, Myers and Chivas are in second place with a two-fish bag that went 8-8. Targeting a small marsh island, the anglers expected to find the fish in a series of small depressions, but they actually found them on the perimeter.
“Right off the bat this morning, we caught a 15-inch fish and that kind of gave us a clue that they were not in the middle,” Chivas said. “We made a couple of laps around that island and caught a couple more fish — one was just a little too big.
“Then we went down a bank, worked that for about a quarter mile and caught probably 20 fish.”
Berkley GULP! Shrimp under popping corks did much of their work, but when Myers and Chivas found fish feeding over shallow oyster bars, a Bass Assassin jerkbait rigged weedless on a weighted wide-gap hook allowed them to fish right across the snag-prone structure.
“We caught so many fish, just a lot of little fish — 13 to 15 inches,” Chivas said. “We caught a few that were oversized. Fred caught a fish today that was a little over 6 pounds and it was 23 1/4 inches.
“That could have changed our whole weekend for us. It would be easy to get down about that, but we were around a lot of fish. We just have to get on a little roll tomorrow. This place is tough, but we’re gonna keep grinding and hopefully, we can catch ‘em.”
Aaron Salazar and Ben Human of Corpus Christi, Texas, are in third place with one redfish that went 4-3. After starting at the upper end of tournament waters and working their way south with the tides, Salazar and Human caught several fish that did not measure but found their critical keeper in the last hour of their day within sight of the check-in.
“We were fishing a deep bank with some flats, so we wanted to come back to that at the end of the day,” Salazar said. “We’ve caught fish on high tide and low tide (near the weigh-in site).”
A Berkley GULP! Mantis Shrimp fished on a 1/8-ounce jighead produced that lone keeper for Salazar and Human.
South Carolina’s high tides and perilous outgoing cycles created timing challenges for anglers who had to quickly identify bite windows and adjust on the fly. Moreover, the falling water, plus numerous bars made of soft, sticky “pluff mud,” presented daunting navigational challenges.
Defending champions Eddie Adams of Metairie, La., and Sean O’Connell of Mandeville, La., ran aground on a muddy bar and missed the weigh-in. According to BassTrakk’s unofficial standings, Adams and O’Connell would have placed third with two fish that weighed 7 pounds.
IFA Redfish Tour standout Ryan Rickard of Wimauma, Fla., and Elite pro Justin Atkins of Florence, Ala., suffered a similar fate, although they had no keepers for the day. (Rickard won the 2021 event and placed second in 2022, alongside Elite Chris Zaldain).
Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7:15 a.m. ET at East Bay Public Ramp. The weigh-in will be held at Francis Marion Park at 3 p.m. Coverage will be simulcast on FS1 and Bassmaster.com beginning at 8 a.m.
The 2023 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter Boats is being hosted by Georgetown County, S.C.
2023 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter Boats 10/27-10/29
Winyah Bay, Winyah Bay SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Drew Cook - Dwayne Eschete 0
Day 1: 4 16-04 Total: 4 16-04
2. Fred Myers III - Cody Chivas 0
Day 1: 2 08-08 Total: 2 08-08
3. Aaron Salazar - Ben Human 0
Day 1: 1 04-03 Total: 1 04-03
4. Travis Land - Jeremy Reeves 0
Day 1: 1 03-07 Total: 1 03-07
5. Scott Canterbury - Krista Miller 0
Day 1: 1 02-07 Total: 1 02-07
6. Eddie Adams IV - Sean O'Connell 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
6. Justin Atkins - Ryan Rickard 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
6. Gary Moreno - Tony Viator 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
6. Pat Schlapper - Ben Powers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
10. Jeff Mullett - Ken Mullett 0
Day 1: 0 -01-00 Total: 0 -1-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 1 9 33-13
----------------------------------
1 9 33-13
AC Extra - Costa Compete & Conserve
Winning CASH and protecting BASS! Now that is something we support. Check out this AnglersChannel.com Extra, featuring a Costa Compete and Conserve highlight with B.A.S.S. National Conservation Director, Gene Gilliland. Over $72,000 and counting has been awarded to conservation efforts across the country on behalf of Costa anglers. Anglers choose from a list of projects, including: American Rivers, Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, Friends of Reservoirs, National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, and the Johnny Morris Conservation Foundation. It's as simple as - Own Costa Sunglasses - Register at Compete & Conserve - Win - Donate. Time to #seewhatsoutthere
THE NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL FISHING LEAGUE ANNOUNCES 2024 SCHEDULE
Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
WILKESVILLE, OH (OCTOBER 26, 2023) — The National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) announces its 2024 season that kicks off in early February with a stop in Alabama at Lake Logan Martin. The schedule brings anglers to new venues as well as some constants for the NPFL.
With stops ranging from Alabama to South Carolina, and Tennessee to Michigan and Florida, as well as a trip to the Midwest, the League is excited to continue to expand its reach in the fishing industry.
Said Brad Fuller, President of the NPFL. “We dedicated tremendous effort to preserving the essence and identity of The National Professional Fishing League in our 2024 schedule. This is a truly diverse schedule that covers the full spectrum of bass fishing throughout the entire year and the angler who secures the title of Angler of the Year will undoubtedly prove themselves as the most consistently well-rounded contender on our circuit. We’re thrilled to revisit some of the cherished stops from our history while also exploring exciting new venues. It’s of utmost importance that we leverage our schedule to continually expand the League’s brand and introduce ‘The League’ to bass havens around the country.”
Stop number one kicks off in February on Alabama’s Lake Logan Martin where the anglers get the season started on the Coosa River. The 49-mile playing field features over 26 square miles of Spotted and Largemouth bass-filled waters.
Following stop one, the 2024 season pauses briefly for the 2023 NPFL championship. Lake Amistad and the City of Del Rio, Texas, play host to the top anglers from the 2023 Progressive Angler of the Year race on March 7-9. With a $200,000 total purse and a $100,000 first-place prize, the event in Texas will make for a fun tournament.
“The City of Del Rio, Texas is excited to host the quantity and quality of people coming in with the NPFL Championship next spring,” said Blanca Larson, Executive Director of Explore Del Rio Amistad Oasis. “In addition to the financial impact on the local economy, we look forward to the NPFL showcasing all that Del Rio has to offer, on and off the water. We are excited to showcase the value of coming to Del Rio, TX to fish historic Lake Amistad.”
After the 2023 NPFL championship in March, the season resumes, and the anglers return to Anderson, South Carolina for stop number two, and the second trip to Lake Hartwell for ‘The League,’ on May 16 through 18. In 2022, Drew Six took the victory with a three-day total of 51 pounds, 5 ounces, edging out Patrick Walters who weighed 46 pounds, 14 ounces.
“We are thrilled to welcome the NPFL back to Anderson County’s Green Pond Landing and Lake Hartwell! The leadership of Anderson County has provided us with the necessary resources to bring high-level events to our facilities that create an economic impact in our community, and the NPFL delivers,” said Neil Paul, TMP, Executive Director of Visit Anderson. “From their Angler Roundtables, their Community Spotlights, and their Community Service Projects, they go above and beyond in leaving their mark on a host community, and we’re looking forward to the opportunity to welcome them back to Anderson County in 2024!”
From South Carolina, stop three brings the anglers and their families back to the Tennessee River and Pickwick Lake. The City of Counce, Tennessee plays host July 11 – 13, and this marks the third trip to the Tennessee River in four seasons. In 2021, Brandon Perkins took the victory with 55 pounds, 11 ounces. To begin this season, Perkins also took a win on Pickwick with a total of 66 pounds, 3 ounces.
For stop four, the league returns to the North to Bay City, Michigan, and the big water of Lake Huron, on August 29 – 31. This will mark the third consecutive trip to Bay City for the NPFL with Gary Adkins taking the victory in 2022 with 51 pounds, 13 ounces, and this season, Trent Palmer claimed the victory with 62 pounds, 12 ounces.
“Bay City is excited to welcome back The National Professional Fishing League in 2024,” said Ed Clements, Bay City Fishing Committee. “The end of August should provide an excellent event for competitors and fans; weights should be close and the winner will come right down to the wire. Look for largemouth to play a bigger role than ever on Saginaw Bay and river.”
After the trip to the North, the anglers will head South to none only than the St. Johns River. The City of Deland, Florida plays host for stop five on the famed river in the early fall, September 26-28. The NPFL returns to Florida for the third time in four years for the 2024 season. In 2021, the league visited the Harris Chain of Lakes in June with John Soukup winning his second trophy of the season with a total weight of 61 pounds, 15 ounces. In 2022, Taylor Watkins took the victory on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in November with 69 pounds, 14 ounces.
Stop number six will bring the anglers to the Midwest in October with details TBD.
2024 National Professional Fishing League Schedule
Stop 1 – Lake Logan Martin: Oxford, Alabama, February 1 – 3
2023 NPFL Championship – Lake Amistad: Del Rio, Texas, March 7-9
Stop 2 – Lake Hartwell: Anderson, South Carolina, May 16 – 18
Stop 3 – Pickwick Lake: Counce, Tennessee, July 11 – 13
Stop 4 – Saginaw Bay: Bay City, Michigan, August 29 – 31
Stop 5 – St. Johns River, Deland, Florida, September 26-28
Stop 6 – TBD: Midwest, October
WILL HARKINS GRABS DAY ONE LEAD AT LAKE LANIER
Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
With a 6-pound, 12-ounce lunker to anchor his weight, Will Harkins brought a tournament-leading 20-pound, 6-ounce bag to the scales on day one at Lake Lanier. Despite a tie at Lake Eufaula which resulted in a second-place finish after tie-breakers, Harkins bounced back in a big way on a familiar body of water at the NPFL season finale.
“You have to have a short-term memory in these events and just roll into the next one,” said Harkins. “I have a lot of history here and it is fishing tough, the key is execution. We may have 10-pounds, or we may have 20-pounds.”
Harkins is fishing in his comfort zone this week and focusing on various schools of fish all over the lake. As he noted before, execution is key on a lake such as Lanier.
“I have a deck full of rods and you can get them to bite, but you have to get them in the boat,” he added. “I did lose two 5-pounder fish today but that is how it goes. I have two more days and have to execute.”
Patrick Walters
Getting off to a fast start, NPFL pro Patrick Waltersbrought a five-bass limit of 19-pounds, 13-ounces with a 5-pound, 4-ounce lunker to the scales to finish day one at Lake Lanier in second place.
After a tougher practice than he expected, Walters was thrilled to have a solid day one this week with two tournament days remaining.
“We will take it; it was a good day,” said Walters. “I got these two good ones, and another good largemouth, and after an iffy practice, it was good. I hit about ¼ of my water today so we got some more stuff for this week.”
Mike Corbishley
After a near miss at victory in Oklahoma the last event at Lake Eufaula, Mike Corbishley finished day one in third place with a limit weighing 17-pounds, 15-ounces.
“I have fished Lanier a few times with Trent, but overall have not been here much,” said Corbishley. “I have had some close calls this year and I really want to win one of these things; the best way I know how is to do what I do – I ran my Pheonix Boats/Mercury all over and looked at them on my Lowrance Active Target 2 and caught what I could.”
Trent Palmer
With 17-pounds, 10-ounces on day one, Sonar Pros Pro Trent Palmer goes into day two tied with Todd Goade in fourth place.
“This lake is about execution and I did not do that today,” said Palmer. “I had the opportunity this afternoon for a 20-pound bag but that’s how it goes. I didn’t have a fish until 11 AM this morning so I am looking forward to figuring them out a little sooner tomorrow and seeing what happens.”
Despite the lost fish, Palmer is happy the ‘house’ is doing well so far in the tournament but is looking to make up some ground on day two.
“I am happy to see the house do well; they begged me for info and it looks like the tips worked out well,” he laughed.
Todd Goade
As seen on live coverage, Progressive AOY leader Todd Goade finishes day one tied for fourth place with a 17-pound, 10-ounce bag. Starting the event with a 12-point lead over Jesse Wise, Goade “did his job” once again despite a day-one charge by Wise, and leader Will Harkins.
“Today started with a bang but got tough on me after lunch,” said Goade. “I know Fat Cat and Luke won’t like it, but I did my job today, and I have to do it two more days out here. I want to thank everyone who tuned in on the Live Coverage today and watched me fish; thanks for the support.”
Rest of the best:
Hunter Baughman 16-15
Quentin Cappo 16-4
John Cox 15-15
Richard Cooper 15-10
Jesse Wise 15-9
B.A.S.S. boosts Opens with new investment, including expanded live coverage
All nine 2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series tournaments will feature live coverage, while anglers will compete for increased payouts and a new Angler of the Year purse.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.
October 26, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — As buzz continues around the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens, B.A.S.S. officials announced increased payouts and widely expanded coverage for 2024. These enhancements not only reinforce the longstanding stability and popularity of the Opens format, but also highlight the organization's commitment to leadership in serving the bass fishing community.
Live coverage from all nine Bassmaster Opens will be streamed on Bassmaster.com, with expanded coverage for the 2024 season on FS1, FS2, Tubi and the Fox Sports digital platforms. The newly expanded live coverage on multiple platforms will allow fishing fans to follow the intense competition and see every hookset, battle and weigh-in as they get to know the sport’s rising stars.
“B.A.S.S. continues our commitment to fueling a passion for fishing by entertaining and educating fans as well as serving anglers, who pour their time and efforts into our events. We have been exploring opportunities to further support our Opens Series, and after listening to anglers, fans and industry partners, we are thrilled to announce these exciting changes,” said Chase Anderson, B.A.S.S. CEO. “Providing the best possible platform for anglers is a top priority for us, and showcasing all levels of Bassmaster tournament fishing only helps to strengthen the entire sport.”
With nearly 1 million fans tuning in to live, final-day broadcasts of three Opens tournaments on FS1 in 2023, it's clear the fierce competition and dramatic fight for Elite Series invitations resonated with viewers. In total, fishing fans eagerly devoured more than 38.8 million minutes of live Opens coverage across all platforms.
Also beginning in 2024, Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifiers Division anglers will be competing for a combined Angler of the Year purse of $110,000, which includes an increased first-place cash prize of $45,000. The prize payouts for every tournament will also increase, with the top 45 anglers — one in five competitors — in each event earning a check.
Based on a full field of 225 anglers in the pro division, the payout for each Opens event will total more than $332,500. Alongside the new AOY purse, that totals a prize purse of more than $3.1 million over the course of the season.
The EQ Division designation goes to those anglers who are competing in all nine St. Croix Bassmaster Opens and is the only path to earning an Elite Series invitation through the Opens.
“The EQ model is as close as you can get to competing at the Elite level in terms of the diverse skill set, travel, time and financial commitment needed to succeed,” said Executive Director of Tournaments Hank Weldon. “B.A.S.S. is not only bringing even more attention to the skills and incredible commitment made by Opens anglers, but I’m excited that the organization is also honoring and rewarding the anglers financially by backing an Angler of the Year purse with cash payouts to the Top 10 and increasing the overall field payouts.
“It’s impossible to overstate how well-received the new Opens EQ format was last season and the drama that built as anglers fought for coveted Classic berths and spots in the Elite Series field. Now, with an even bigger stage and greater financial awards — both backed by the stability and longevity of B.A.S.S. — I expect the Opens to be even more popular.”
Registration for B.A.S.S. Nation and Life members who want to compete in the Bassmaster Opens EQs opens November 7. For full registration information, visit Bassmaster.com.
2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens
Division 1
Feb. 1-3, Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston, Fla.
March 7-9, Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County, S.C.
Oct. 10-12, Lake Hartwell, Anderson, S.C.
Division 2
Feb. 15-17, Lake Ouachita, Hot Springs, Ark.
May 2-4, Logan Martin Lake, Lincoln, Ala.
June 20-22, Lake Eufaula, Eufaula, Okla.
Division 3
July 11-13, Lake St. Clair, Macomb County, Mich.
Aug. 22-24, Leech Lake, Walker, Minn.
Sept. 12-14, Mississippi River, La Crosse, Wis.
Humminbird Highlight - Breaking down a bluff bank with Side Imaging
AnglersChannel.com had the pleasure of covering the Humminbird/Minn Kota Owners Tournament this year. Check out this Humminbird Highlight with AC Insider, Vance McCullough, and Humminbird Pro Staffer Bill Wilcox. They were idling a bluff wall being fished by several anglers and Bill shows us what he looks for in identifying sweet spots using his Side Scan technology.
Branson Readies for Toyota Series Championship on Table Rock Lake Presented by Simms
More Than 400 Bass Anglers Set to Compete for Top Prize of Up to $235,000 + REDCREST Qualification in 2023 Toyota Series Finale
BRANSON, Mo. (Oct. 24, 2023) – The 2023 Toyota Series Championship at Table Rock Lake Presented by Simms will take place next week in Branson, Missouri, Nov. 2-4, where the nation’s best Toyota Series pros and international anglers will compete for a top award of up to $235,000 cash, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, and an invitation to REDCREST 2024 – Major League Fishing’s most prestigious event. Hosted by ExploreBranson.com, the three-day, no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship is the culmination of the 2023 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats season, a six-division circuit that offers a path to the 2024 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
“I would like to welcome the championship field of anglers and their families to the Branson/Lakes Area,” said Jonas Arjes, Interim President and CEO of Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce and Convention & Visitors Bureau. “After a great day of fishing on Table Rock Lake, I hope anglers and fans will take time to enjoy some of our live music shows and family attractions. There’s family fun for everyone in Branson.”
In addition to the top award of up to $235,000, the signature fall championship hands out thousands in awards to top finishers in each division, while introducing international qualifiers to tournament bass-fishing stateside. The long-running championship also provides advancement opportunities for anglers across the globe, furthering their reach and amplifying their fishing platforms.
The reigning Toyota Series champion, pro Kyle Hall of Granbury, Texas, won the event on Lake Guntersville in 2022. A regular atop the leaderboard in his young career, Hall has an impressive career résumé with four top-10 finishes, a 2018 Toyota Series win at 1000 Islands, Rookie of the Year (ROY) honors in 2020, and a 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit win at Lake Champlain. Hall said the Toyota Series Championship, however, has been his most lucrative career win to date.
“I started fishing the Toyota Series events in 2018, mostly to figure out new bodies of water and to get a feel for tournament fishing away from home,” said Hall. “Going into that event, I didn’t really have much going for me – I had only caught a couple bass on one bait during practice – but I ended up winning the entire tournament on that one bait.
“That win wasn’t something I was expecting at all, but when it happened, it meant the world to me, especially because I was in the process of buying a house,” Hall continued. “Winning that event helped me to purchase the house and pay cash for it, so that was a big step for me and for the future of my fishing career.
“Since the pandemic, sponsors have definitely been pulling back more, but I was able to add a few important sponsors last year and I have a lot more in the works this year, all in direct correlation to that championship win,” said Hall. “I feel like this tournament provides ‘local anglers’ the opportunity to branch out and compete on new fisheries, while strengthening their personal brand and providing significant advancement opportunities to the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals.”
Pro Travis Harriman currently resides in Huntsville, Arkansas, but grew up on Table Rock Lake and said he’s spent more time on the fishery than anywhere else over the past five years. Harriman qualified for the championship after his recent win at the Toyota Series Plains Division finale on Lake of the Ozarks .
“The great thing about Table Rock Lake is that guys can really fish their strengths,” said Harriman. “I think we’ll see a mix of different techniques throughout this event, with guys running up the rivers, fishing both deep and shallow.
“I do expect the fishery to shift a bit before we get there next week,” Harriman continued. “They’re forecasting a cold front, which will really change things up and provide more opportunities for a lot of guys. I expect the shallow game will be strong, with guys throwing buzzbaits, ploppers and jigs. And of course forward-facing sonar is going to be in play as well – Table Rock Lake is a deep, clear lake that sets up well for that.”
Harriman said he expects to see daily weights around the mid- to upper-teens, and a winning weight up around 50 pounds, especially if the shallow bite kicks off.
“The spotted bass are big enough that you can get 16 or 17 pounds easily with just spots,” said Harriman. “I think the coolest part is that you can throw three casts in a row and catch three different species of bass.
“There are particular brush piles, points, cedar trees and other locations that hold fish year to year, and this event has the potential to be a junk fisherman’s paradise,” Harriman continued. “They could catch one on the bank with a plopper-style bait, hit a brush pile or a point with a different bait – that will definitely be the local advantage, knowing which locations hold fish and which baits to throw in each spot.
“There are so many bass in this place – any given creek could fire up at any moment, and you can really win anywhere on the lake,” said Harriman. “That’s what’s a little scary about this fishery. You might write an area off, but someone else might be able to get it firing. No one will be able to really let off the gas during this event.”
Anglers will take off daily at 7:30 a.m. CT from Table Rock State Park Marina, located at 380 State Park Marina Road, in Branson. Weigh-ins will also be held at the marina and will begin at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the daily takeoffs and weigh-ins and also follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com. The 2023 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Simms will premiere on CBS Sports in 2024.
The full field of anglers will compete on Days 1 and 2 of the event, with the top 10 pros and top 10 Strike King co-anglers based on cumulative weight from the first two days continuing to the third and final day. The 2023 Toyota Series champions will be determined by the heaviest three-day total weight.
Pros and co-anglers can qualify for multiple contingency awards based on final standings in the championship, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for pros. The winning Strike King co-angler will earn a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.
The 2023 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consisted of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division and the Wild Card. The highest finishing pro from each division at the championship will claim a $10,000 bonus. The bonus will go to the second-highest finishing pro in the division represented by the overall champion.
The 2023 Toyota Series Championship field features the top 25 pros, top 25 Strike King co-anglers and tournament winners from each of the six divisions; the top 25 pros and 25 co-anglers from the Wild Card division plus tournament winners; the highest finishing boater and co-angler from each of the six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regionals and the TBF at the All-American; the top three teams from the College Fishing National Championship; High School Fishing National Champions; TBF National Champions; and MLF International anglers from Canada, Central Europe, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Namibia, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and Zimbabwe.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Terry Tucker and Jeremy Green win ABT Championship
By Jason Duran
Leesburg, AL Oct. 21—The Alabama Bass Trail concluded the 10th season with the Championship on Weiss Lake. This event was a no entry fee event consisting of two days of fishing by the top 75 teams from the north division, the top 75 teams from the south division, and qualifying couples, student and college teams. The event paid out over $100,000 through 25 places. The team of Terry Tucker and Jeremy Green took home $50,000 cash for their first-place finish.
After two days of fishing, Terry Tucker and Jeremy Green were crowned the 10th team champion of the Alabama Bass Trail making them part of a small group of anglers than can call themselves among the best of the best when it comes to team fishing. Their day one weight was 12.74-pounds, and on day two, they brough the biggest bag of the event to the scales with 19-pounds adding up to a two-day total of 31.74-pounds. In practice the key was “trying to figure out what areas had enough fish to get us through day one in order to really hammer down on day two. We don’t think we really figured it out; it just happened for us.”
“On day one, we went to an area where we knew we could get a limit hoping to get a big bite out of that area. We got a limit, but the big bite never developed. We then moved to other areas, and we lost one good fish which hurt us, but we hoped it wouldn’t kill us. We knew we needed at least 15 to 16-pounds a day to win it. Today, we regrouped, made a different round and changed up the timing of our areas, and it worked out good today. We caught fish today where we didn’t catch them yesterday.”
They said their pattern was to target isolated big fish and move around a lot. On day two, “we caught our first fish at 9:00, and we knew then what was going to happen from there. We didn’t catch a lot of fish, but it was because we weren’t targeting numbers. Instead, we were looking for the bigger fish. When we caught the last fish that moved us up to our final weight, we decided to head back an hour early to make sure we got back in time for weigh in. We caught everything we weighed in on a white spinner bait, but the key was for us to throw a different size- a 1/2 oz. and a 3/8 oz. Throwing different sizes allowed us to target the whole water column.”
The second-place team of CJ Knight and Anthony Goggins reported, “ on day one we had a primary area that was about three miles long in the mid-lake area. We felt like we had some decent fish in practice that would be pulling up shallow on tournament day, but we didn’t get a bite till 11:00, and within an hour, we caught all our day one wight of 14.10 pounds by just continuing to rotate that area. We spent the rest of the day practicing, and we lost one fish that would have moved us up to around 16-pounds. We continued to dial in our area a little more on day one with the hope of expanding it on day two. On day two, we knew the bite was going to be a little later, so we went to an area where we could just catch keepers and fill out our limit. That built our confidence to go to our main area with a limit and upgrade. The fish just bit better on day two. We targeted a lot of wood and docks that seemed to hold fish. One of our key baits was a Shad Rap that we fished really fast in areas that looked good to us. We covered lots of water, and because of the cold front, we noticed we got lots of short strikes where the fish missed the bait, but we didn’t give up. Another key bait for us was a 9/16 ADL Jig in brown made by Jason Howard at the Tackle Box in Oxford, AL. It is a flipping jig, and the key is a hand tied skirt. It doesn’t hang boat dock cross members, and it has a great hook. We also caught some on small crank baits. We knew we needed to catch a big fish each day. On the first day we caught a 5.50, and on the second day we caught a 4-pound fish off the same stump.” The key “was a staying in the area we caught big fish in during practice and not giving up on the area.” They weighed in a total of 28.50 for a pay day of $10,000 and add to that winning a $2,500 Phoenix Boats Pay Day bonus and a $500 Garmin Bonus.
The Third-place team of Michael Wooley and Joe Wooley weighed in a total of 28.03 and collected $5,000. “We didn’t have a good practice, but on the last day late in practice, we found a spot way upriver that was holding fish around laydowns and stumps. We spent day one fishing any wood we could find, and we caught a lot of fish including one that weighed 4.30 pounds and another 4.20 that helped us cull up. We caught all our fish on a green pumpkin 1/8 oz Ned Rig. The boat traffic in our areas on day two seemed to affect the fish some. We worked it the best we could and caught six keepers off one lay down. We caught another big one 4.30 in another area. We made our final cull at 4:10 pm that moved us up to third place with 28.03. The team has qualified to fish the BASS Team Championship and have set the goal to make the Bassmaster Classic.
The Top 10 places are below for a complete list of standings visit:
Download and listen to the ABT Podcast on your favorite Podcast app by searching for “Alabama Bass Trail Podcast.” The podcast is released each week on Tuesday, and this week will feature the winners 2023 ABT Champs
The sponsors of the 2023 Alabama Bass Trail include: Phoenix Boats, Academy Sports, Alabama
Power, America’s First Federal Credit Union, American Trailer Rental Group, BAJIO, Big Bite
Baits, Bill Penney Automotive, Black Rifle Coffee Company, Anheuser – Bush, Inc., E3 Sports
Apparel, Fish Neely Henry Lake.com, Garmin, Jack’s, Lew’s, Mountain Dew, Alabama Mountain
Lakes Tourist Association, Power-Pole, Strike King, Sweet Home Alabama, T-H Marine, Yamaha,
YETI Coolers
Ruler of Topwater Frogs – the Berkley Swamp Lord
A hollow belly topwater frog that elicits explosive bites from big bass in the nastiest of environments
COLUMBIA, SC. (OCT. 24, 2023) – Every angler knows just how much fun a topwater frog bite can be. But not all frogs are made the same. Designed by Berkley Labs in partnership with expert frog fisherman and 2022 Major League Fishing Redcrest Champion Bobby Lane, the Berkley Swamp Lord is the true frog king of fishing.
The Berkley Swamp Lord features optimally angled, sticky sharp Berkley Fusion19 hooks and a soft, yet extremely durable material that easily collapses – maximizing an angler’s hookup ratio. The sealed hook shank allows for a tighter fit with the body of the bait, reducing water intrusion for uninterrupted fishing. Available in both standard and popping models, the Swamp Lord conquers any environment to elicit only the most explosive of topwater blowups.
KEY FEATURES
• Optimized system to increase hook-up ratio
• Ultra soft body and design allows for quick collapse
• Sealed hook shank, body chamber reduces water intrusion
• Optimally angled sticky sharp Berkley Fusion19 hook
• Standard & popping models
Colors: Maverick • Honey Shad • Potomac • Copperhead • Green Pumpkin • Burnt Bone • Bone • Chartreuse Perch • MF Bluegill • Spring Frog • Bully • Voodoo Black
MSRP: $9.99
Available: September, 2023
Ranger Boats Under the Lid - A BOATLOAD of Storage with Bryan Thrift
We caught up with Ranger Boats / Sportsman's Warehouse Pro Bryan Thrift, the 2023 MLF Redcrest Champion. In this Ranger Under the Lid Series, Bryan is going to walk us through his Ranger Z520 R and how he sets it up for domination out there on tour. In this episode, he shows us a few tips and tricks on how he carries everything he can think of in the bow of his 20 foot Ranger. If it works for a champion, it's sure to work for us!
Brumnett Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament on Lake of the Ozarks
| Strike King Co-angler Victory Goes to Oologah’s Parchman
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (Oct. 23, 2023) – Boater Eli Brumnett of Wagoner, Oklahoma, brought a three-day total of 15 bass to the scale weighing 49 pounds, 14 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Event on Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri . For his victory, Brumnett earned $68,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF contingency bonus. Brumnett also received automatic entry into the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship, May 29-June 31, at Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee. “I only got to pre-fish for the tournament for two hours,” Brumnett said. “I made about 100 casts, and I only had one or two bites. “I started out the tournament Thursday with only two 2-pounders until about 11 o’clock,” Brumnett continued. “I idled to the back of a pocket and noticed a cluster of concrete around a marina dock on my Garmin Livescope. I marked it, turned around and made three casts to it, and caught a 5-9 and two 4½-pounders. After I caught those three big ones, I knew I was going to win the tournament. I could see close to 40 fish bigger than 4 pounds swimming around the concrete block.” Brumnett said the large, boat-length concrete blocks needed to have shad around them to hold the bigger bass he was seeking, and he threw a homemade ¾-ounce living rubber green-pumpkin jig with a green pumpkin Strike King Rage Tail Craw trailer, as well as a ½-ounce Greenfish Tackle jig and Rage Tail Craw, both in green pumpkin. Brumnett said he started the second day of competition on the same concrete feature to catch a quick limit. By 8:30 he had his limit, so he left and searched for more pockets that had concrete in 18 to 26 feet of water, near marina docks. His next stop produced two large bass that boosted his second-day weight to 21-8 - all by 9 a.m. The third day of competition was different for Brumnett. He said he fished for five hours and could not get a big bass to bite. He struggled but caught his fifth fish at 2:30. “This tournament was awesome,” Brumnett said. “I’ve had a lot of second-, third- and fourth-place finishes, but not a major win.” The top six boaters that qualified for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were: 1st: Eli Brumnett, Wagoner, Okla., 15 bass, 49-14, $68,000 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MFL Contingency Bonus) Rounding out the top 10 boaters were: 7th: Todd Hollowell, Fishers, Ind., 14 bass, 34-14, $1,600 Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com. |
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| The top four boaters from each division that earned a $1,000 bonus for placing highest in the event were:
Great Lakes: Mike Feldermann, Galena, Ill., 6th Place, $1,000 Brumnett took home an extra $7,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Justin Parchman of Oologah, Oklahoma, weighed in 13 bass over three days totaling 21 pounds, 4 ounces to win the top Strike King co-angler prize package of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. The top six Strike King co-anglers that qualified for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were: 1st: Justin Parchman, Oologah, Okla., 13 bass, 21-4, $50,000 Rounding out the top 10 Strike King co-anglers were: 7th: Jacob Parks, Noblesville, Ind., seven bass, 14-8, $800 The top four Strike King Co-anglers from each division that earned a $500 bonus for placing highest in the event were: Great Lakes: Thomas Bridges, Kankakee, Ill., 5th Place, $500 The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Tournament on Lake of the Ozarks was hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association. It featured the top pros and Strike King co-anglers from the Great Lakes, Hoosier, LBL and Okie divisions. 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. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour. 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. |
Micah Frazier retiring from Bassmaster Elite Series
October 23, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After fishing nine seasons on the Bassmaster Elite Series, Micah Frazierof Newnan, Ga., is stepping away from professional fishing. Over the course of his B.A.S.S. career, Frazier has earned one Elite win, nine Top 10 finishes and 34 Top 30 finishes.
Although Frazier has experienced consistent success in the Elite Series, he felt as if now was the right time to step away for his family and future endeavors.
“This has been a decision that has been two or three years in the making,” said Frazier. “My family has always been able to travel with me, but with my son (Huck) about to start kindergarten, I just can’t come to peace with leaving them so often when they start school.
“I keep reminding myself that if I fish for another 10 years how much time I would miss with my kids, and I truly think that if you gave me the chance at the end of those 10 years, I would absolutely buy that time back.”
The five-time Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic qualifier also feels as if some of the business opportunities he’s passionate about have forced him to step back from providing bass fishing the attention it demands to be successful.
“I’ve really had to come to grips with the fact that I simply can’t do everything I want to do,” he said. “I feel like I have to free up some space in my life and in my mind. I haven’t been giving fishing the attention it deserves.”
Frazier fished his first St. Croix Bassmaster Open in 2013 and has since given bass fishing everything he has. Over the course of time, he’s made relationships that will never be broken and experienced things that most anglers never get to experience.
One of those things is to mentor his brother Marc through his young Elite Series career.
“I’m really proud of my brother and all he’s been able to accomplish in a really short amount of time,” he said. “Not many people get the chance to share those kinds of memories with their siblings. Leaving Marc out there (on the Elite Series) is one of the main reasons this decision was so difficult to make.”
Like all Elite pros, Frazier knows how much of a sacrifice being a professional angler is, and doing it without the support of his wife Anna, parents, friends, sponsors and fans would make it impossible.
“I’ve really been blown away by all the comments and support that I’ve been given since I made the announcement,” he said. “I know I’m doing the right thing. It’s a bittersweet decision, and there are going to be times that I miss it, but it just doesn’t sit in my life the same way it used to.
“The filter in which I see things now and my reason for living is my family and my kids, and it just doesn’t suit them as much as it suits me, which is a big part of the reason I’ve made this decision.”