Laufenberg Notches 10th Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at the Mississippi River at La Crosse
Conrad Claims Strike King Co-Angler Division
LA CROSSE, Wis. (May 22, 2023) – Boater Cade Laufenberg of Onalaska, Wisconsin, caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Mississippi River at La Crosse . The tournament, hosted by Explore La Crosse, was the first event of the season for the BFL Great Lakes Division. Laufenberg earned $13,298, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
“In practice I clued in on the smallmouth that had finished spawning and were starting to pull out,” said Laufenberg. “They were really finicky, so I had to fish super slow and a little deeper than what most people were fishing. I committed to fishing for those smallmouth.”
Laufenberg said he fished 10- to 20-yard stretches for a half an hour to 45 minutes each with a light Texas rig for a quality bite. The stretches consisted of mostly sand bottom with a little bit of wood. To entice wary smallmouth, Laufenberg said he used a 1/8-ounce weight with a green pumpkin Strike King Rage Bug. His approach paid off with 15 keepers during the course of the day.
“This is my 10th win with Major League Fishing, and it feels really good,” Laufenberg said. “I’m really happy to have that milestone. The Phoenix Contingency money has been amazing to me.
“And to add another top-10 finish to my resume and to be leading the points … I couldn’t be happier,” Laufenberg added.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
2nd: Kevin Ruh, Onalaska, Wis., five bass, 18-3, $2,309
3rd: Justin Drljaca, Cape Coral, Fla., five bass, 17-14, $1,539
4th: Clayton Reitz, Morton, Ill., five bass, 16-13, $1,078
5th: Dan Mohn, Lansing, Iowa, five bass, 16-4, $1,644
6th: Nick Trim, Galesville, Wis., five bass, 16-3, $847
7th: Josh Fitzgerald, La Crosse, Wis., five bass, 15-9, $770
8th: Brandon Gann, Sparta, Wis., five bass, 15-6, $693
9th: Austin Brimeyer, Dubuque, Iowa, five bass, 15-2, $616
10th: Curtis Samo, Rochelle, Ill., five bass, 15-0, $762
10th: Mike Brueggen, La Crosse, Wis., five bass, 15-0, $512
Richard Conrad of Arcadia, Wisconsin, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $3,055 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 14 pounds, 13 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
2nd: Nick Kramersmeier, Johnston, Iowa, five bass, 13-2, $1,152
3rd: Thad Vettrus, Chippewa Falls, Wis., five bass, 12-6, $768
4th: Thad Krippendorf, Stockton, Ill., five bass, 12-4, $538
5th: Hertz Skaer, Holmen, Wis., five bass, 12-2, $461
6th: C.J. Reitz, Morton, Ill., five bass, 12-1, $758
7th: Justin Oppegard, Eagan, Minn., five bass, 11-13, $365
7th: Matthew Tinsman, Peoria, Ill., five bass, 11-13, $365
9th: Timothy Wittren, Ontario, Wis., five bass, 11-10, $307
10th: Ron Mairet, Columbus Junction, Iowa, five bass, 11-7, $269
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
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.
Trim Targets Bedding Bass, Claims Victory at Second Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at the Mississippi River of Weekend in La Crosse
LA CROSSE, Wis. (May 22, 2023) – Boater Nick Trim of Galesville, Wisconsin, caught a five-bass limit weighing 19 pounds, 1 ounce, Sunday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Mississippi River at La Crosse . The tournament, hosted by Explore La Crosse, was the second event of the season for the BFL Great Lakes Division. Trim earned $13,024, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
“First thing this morning, I wanted to lock into Pool 7, but there was a barge in the lock, so I pulled into a dead-end pocket and caught a couple of largemouth,” said Trim, who notched his third BFL win.
Trim said a half hour later he locked into Pool No. 7, where he had 10 bed fish he had found in practice and marked on his electronics.
“I went to them and basically picked them off one at a time,” Trim said.
Trim said his largemouth approach consisted of a black and blue Missile Baits D Bomb Creature Bait on a ¼-ounce tungsten weight. The D Bomb also produced three smallmouth for Trim.
Trim said he used his Garmin Livescope in water that was too dirty to be able to see the bedded fish.
“I watched my biggest fish of the day on my Livescope swim away every time the bait hit the bed,” Trim said. “I fished it for 45 minutes, finally hooked up, and then lost it. So, I left, came back later, and tried again. About 20 minutes went by; she finally bit, and it ended up being the big bass of the day.
“I love the spawn and I love fishing beds,” Trim added. “It’s something I’m really confident in. So, this win feels really good.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
2nd: Cade Laufenberg, Onalaska, Wis., five bass, 18-11, $2,197
3rd: Austin Bartholomew, Keosauqua, Iowa, five bass, 15-1, $1,464
4th: Dan Mohn, Lansing, Iowa, five bass, 15-0, $1,745
5th: Jeff Ritter, Prairie Du Chien, Wis., five bass, 14-9, $879
6th: Ben Potaracke, La Crosse, Wis., five bass, 14-7, $805
7th: Aidan Brown, Bangor, Wis., five bass, 14-5, $732
8th: Max Ford, Genoa, Wis., five bass, 14-4, $659
9th: Brent Schroeder, Caledonia, Minn., five bass, 14-3, $549
9th: Austin Brimeyer, Dubuque, Iowa, five bass, 14-3, $549
Trim also caught a bass weighing 4 pounds, 7 ounces to earn the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $630.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
2nd: Kenny Nachtman, Bellevue, Iowa, five bass, 14-0, $1,098
3rd: C.J. Reitz, Morton, Ill., five bass, 12-9, $733
4th: Hertz Skaer, Holmen, Wis., five bass, 12-8, $513
5th: Craig Fanning, Elwood, Ill., five bass, 12-6, $754
6th: Bernard Campos, Round Lake Beach, Ill., five bass, 11-14, $403
7th: Logan Sullivan, Waunakee, Wis., five bass, 11-12, $366
8th: Maddox Cejka, Prairie Du Chien, Wis., five bass, 11-3, $311
8th: Lance Olson, Necedah, Wis., five bass, 11-3, $311
10th: Troy Jutting, Savage, Minn., five bass, 10-15, $256
After two events, Cade Laufenberg of Onalaska, Wisconsin, leads the BFL Great Lakes Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 499 points, while Hertz Skaer of Holmen, Wisconsin, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 493 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
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.
Ryan Davidson Tops Field at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at South Holston Lake
Ray Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
BRISTOL, Tenn. (May 22, 2023) – Boater Ryan Davidson of Branchland, West Virginia, caught a five-bass limit weighing 19 pounds, 15 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on South Holston Lake. The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Volunteer Division. Davidson earned $14,300, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
“There was a shad spawn going on first thing in the morning,” said Davidson. “I caught probably 13 pounds of smallmouth in the first 30 minutes. It was overcast and drizzling rain, and that extended the shad spawn until about 9:30, and I culled up to around 15 pounds.”
Davidson said after the shad spawn bite ended he targeted largemouth around shallow wood cover with a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver. The lake level had recently risen, and Davidson said he believes late spawners took advantage of the water level and moved up to spawn. Davis said he caught 30 keepers during the course of the day, and his final weigh bag consisted of three largemouth and two smallmouth bass.
“At 10 o’clock I had around 18½ pounds,” Davidson said. “I had a 2½-pounder in my bag at that time. I figured if I could get rid of that fish, I could give myself a good shot to win.”
The Volunteer Division event was the first time Davidson had fished South Holston Lake, but he said he had a good idea of what to expect going into the competition.
“I’m real familiar with highland reservoirs,” Davidson said. “I cut my teeth at Dale Hollow and Lake Cumberland. I understand what the fish do and when they do it. With the water rising, I think it helped to have a fresh set of eyes with no past experience here. I had no preconceived notions of what to do and I fished the conditions.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Ryan Davidson, Branchland, W. Va., five bass, 19-15, $14,300 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Clark Warren, Mason, Jefferson City, Tenn., five bass, 15-10, $2,305
3rd: Greg McDavid, Blountville, Tenn., five bass, 15-9, $1,536
4th: Donavan Carson, Bluff City, Tenn., five bass, 15-4, $1,076
5th: Jimmy Neece Jr., Bristol, Tenn., five bass, 14-14, $922
6th: Jacob Woods, Loudon, Tenn., five bass, 14-7, $845
7th: Corey Neece, Bristol, Tenn., five bass, 14-6, $729
7th: Trent Adkins, East Bernstadt, Ky., five bass, 14-6, $729
9th: Tyler Altizer, Abingdon, Va., five bass, 14-4, $615
10th: Cody Seeber, Powell, Tenn., five bass, 14-2, $511
10th: Blaine Miller, Rosedale, Va., five bass, 14-2, $511
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Davidson also caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 8 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $670.
Derek Ray of Swords Creek, Virginia, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,552 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 14 pounds, 7 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Derek Ray, Swords Creek, Va., five bass, 14-7, $2,552
2nd: James Warren, Flat Lick, Ky., five bass, 14-4, $1,116
3rd: Konnor Sweet, Abingdon, Va., five bass, 13-1, $743
4th: Brad Barton, Middlesboro, Ky., five bass, 12-14, $721
5th: Dewayne Drummonds, Gray, Ky., five bass, 12-6, $446
6th: Joe Wasson, Campbellsville, Ky., five bass, 12-5, $409
7th: Garick Robinson, Greenback, Tenn., five bass, 12-4, $372
8th: David Rhea, Meadowview, Va., four bass, 11-11, $335
9th: Bryan Morton, Knoxville, Tenn., four bass, 10-15, $298
10th: Ricky Crider, Dwale, Ky., five bass, 10-6, $410
Ray also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $320, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 5 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After three events, Ryan Davidson of Branchland, West Virginia, leads the BFL Volunteer Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 700 points, while Ricky Crider of Dwale, Kentucky, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 715 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 12-14 BFL Regional tournament on Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
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.
Davidson Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Columbus Pool
Mast Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
COLUMBUS, Miss. (May 22, 2023) – Boater Hunter Davidson of Reform, Alabama, caught a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 11 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Columbus Pool. The tournament, hosted by Visit Columbus, was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Mississippi Division. Davidson earned $3,637 for his victory.
“I started catching them right off the bat on a shad spawn,” said Davidson. “I caught all of my weight pretty quick – around 9 o’clock I had the fish I weighed in. At that point I thought that I might have a chance to win, but I kept fishing hard all day.”
Davidson, who calls the Columbus Pool his home water, said he caught 15 bass during the course of the day on a black, blue and white Dirty Jigs Swim Jig.
“This win was a blast,” Davidson said. “I’ve wanted to win a BFL for a while. I fish all of the events in the Bama Division, and I saw this one that was close to my house on the schedule, so I it was looking forward to it. I was just blessed to get the win.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Hunter Davidson, Reform, Ala., five bass, 17-11, $3,637
2nd: T.J. Free, Carrollton, Ala., five bass, 13-15, $1,623
3rd: Andrew Gordon, Steens, Miss., five bass, 13-7, $1,082
4th: Randy Craft, Seminary, Miss., five bass, 12-7, $758
5th: Barrett Saunders, Hammond, La., five bass, 12-6, $2,119 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
6th: Bill Harrison, Columbus, Miss., five bass, 11-15, $595
7th: Justin McKee, Pheba, Miss., five bass, 11-12, $541
8th: Steve Hatch, Long Beach, Miss., four bass, 11-11, $487
9th: Danny Walden, Columbus, Miss., five bass, 11-7, $433
10th: Dakota Shaw, Millport, Ala., five bass, 11-0, $379
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Davidson also caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 2 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $390.
Brandon Mast of Sturgis, Mississippi, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $1,623 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 10 pounds, 1 ounce.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Brandon Mast, Sturgis, Miss., five bass, 10-1, $1,623
2nd: Bubba Wright, Ridgeland, Miss., four bass, 7-15, $812
3rd: Lance Jackson, Starkville, Miss., three bass, 6-7, $541
4th: Cameron Wagner, Hoover, Ala., two bass, 6-0, $379
5th: Larry McWilliams, Florence, Miss., three bass, 5-14, $325
6th: Anthony Rasberry, New Albany, Miss., two bass, 5-1, $498
7th: Thomas Sanderson, Amory, Miss., two bass, 4-13, $271
8th: Hunter Averett, Carriere, Miss., two bass, 4-11, $244
9th: Caleb Gwaltney, Athens, Ala., one bass, 4-10, $411
10th: Steve Ruth, Columbus, Miss., two bass, 4-8, $179
10th: Jack Danozsky, West Point, Miss., two bass, 4-8, $179
Caleb Gwaltney of Athens, Alabama, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $195, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 10 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Randy Craft of Seminary, Mississippi, leads the BFL Mississippi Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 941 points, while Hunter Averett of Carriere, Mississippi, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 967 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 5-7 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Oklahoma. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
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.
Davis Claims Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Sinclair
Collins Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. (May 22, 2023) – Boater Flint Davis of Leesburg, Georgia, caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds even Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Sinclair Presented by Brown Oil Company. The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Bulldog Presented by Mystik Lubricants Division. Davis earned $4,889 for his victory.
“I fished for a couple of hours during practice, but couldn’t get anything going on,” said Davis. “I just ran down the lake for the first couple of hours trying to find a shad spawn and never had a bite for two hours.”
Davis said he switched tactics and began running bream bed pockets in search of his first bite.
“The first fish is a crazy story,” Davis said. “The first one was a 6-pounder, and I hooked it, and it swam under a dock and got wrapped around some concrete posts for five minutes. I figured there was no way possible I was getting that fish in. I was about to break my line, and I felt it kick one more time. I let all my slack out, and the fish swam out from under the dock and floated right to me. I thought, ‘Today might be one of those days.’”
Davis continued to run bream beds in clear water and targeted fish on his Garmin Livescope. He added two 4-pounders to the livewell, and continued fishing topwater baits in shade to fill his weigh bag.
“It’s been a slow season for me, but I finally turned things around,” said Davis. “It’s been one of those years where everything that could go wrong has, so it feels good to finally get everything to flow and it happened the way it’s supposed to this week.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Flint Davis, Leesburg, Ga., five bass, 20-0, $4,889
2nd: Matthew O’Connell, Brooks, Ga., five bass, 18-2, $2,744 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
3rd: Mark Burns, Good Hope, Ga., five bass, 16-6, $1,297
4th: Noah Armstrong, Fayetteville, Ga., five bass, 16-4, $907
5th: Chris Blair, Newnan, Ga., five bass, 14-8, $778
6th: Kip Carter, Eatonton, Ga., five bass, 14-7, $713
7th: Emil Wagner, Marietta, Ga., five bass, 13-8, $648
8th: Shane Salisbury, Cumming, Ga., five bass, 13-5, $583
9th: Pete Fargo, Acworth, Ga., five bass, 13-0, $486
9th: Jimmy Cassity, Auburn, Ga., five bass, 13-0, $486
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Noah Cobb of Canton, Georgia, caught a bass that weighed 8 pounds, 1 ounce, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $525.
Demetrice Collins of Thomson, Georgia, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $1,944 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 13 pounds, 7 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Demetrice Collins, Thomson, Ga., five bass, 13-7, $1,944
2nd: Conery Williams, Macon, Ga., five bass, 10-2, $972
3rd: Rodney Soles, Dublin, Ga., five bass, 10-0, $649
4th: Tyler Mangum, Canton, Ga., five bass, 9-9, $454
5th: Ryan Soles, Dublin, Ga., five bass, 9-7, $389
6th: Gerald Bennett, Dallas, Ga., five bass, 8-13, $340
6th: Benjie Winkler, Cleveland, Ga., five bass, 8-13, $340
8th: Garry Hutchison, Sharpsburg, Ga., five bass, 8-10, $292
9th: Deondre Cooksey, Thomasville, Ga., five bass, 8-0, $259
10th: Chandler White, Covington, Ga., five bass, 7-14, $227
Colby Matthews of Madison, Georgia, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $262, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 2 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Matthew O’Connell of Brooks, Georgia, leads the BFL Bulldog Presented by Mystik Lubricants Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 938 points, while Benjie Winkler of Cleveland, Georgia, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 930 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Norman in Huntersville, North Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
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.
Foster Bradley and Nick Harris Win ABT Logan Martin Lake
By Jason Duran
The fourth stop of the Alabama Bass Trail South Division was held on Logan Martin Lake. The lake host was the city of Lincoln that developed a premier tournament facility in Lincoln’s Landing. With over 350 parking spaces for trailers and trucks, a very spacious multilane boat ramp, and dock space, Lincoln’s Landing provides ample space for the 225 ABT teams. Logan Martin Lake is also a great lake for teams to catch largemouth and spotted bass. The spotted bass population is in abundance and provides anglers of all ages a fun opportunity to catch fish. Teams competed for the top prize of $10,000 and Angler of the Year points.
Foster Bradley and Nick Harris finished in first place. “After practice, we started this morning down the lake using top water baits. Based on practice, we felt this area was going to be productive for us, but we only caught around 7-pounds fishing down lake. We knew the schedule said they were going to start pulling water around 8 am, so we decided to make a move and head back up the lake to fish. As we started back up, we noticed the current was flowing which helped position the fish in areas where we needed them to be. The retrieve for us was the key. We targeted very shallow grass areas using a Davis Baits Swim jig in a couple different colors including black and blue and white and brim colors. We paired the jig with a Hammer 7-foot heavy rod with 65-pound braid. We have a lot of confidence in that bait, and when we caught a couple of fish using it today, it helped our confidence to keep using it and clued us in more on what we needed to keep doing. We caught about 20 fish today with a mixture of spotted bass and largemouth. This afternoon we culled out all the spotted bass and upgraded them with largemouth. We felt like we needed around 17-18 pounds to win this event, and at the end of our day, thought we were still one bite away. We had a 2-pound fish and spent the last hour and a half trying to cull out with no success.” When the scales closed, 16.66 pounds was enough for first place and $10,000.
The team of Mark McCaig and Tim Hurts finished in second place with 15.86 pounds and a big fish of a 5.85 largemouth. The team has fished Logan Martin Lake for many years. Tim lives on the lake and knows it very well. The key for Mark and Tim was to “fish for largemouth all day long. There are places on this lake you can go and catch spotted bass all day in the 2.5-3- pound range, but you cannot waste time doing that if you want to win tournaments. We knew if we focused on largemouth, we would not get as many bites. However, the bites we did get would be the ones needed to win. We caught the big one, but we needed one more to cull out our small one that was around 2 pounds. Looking back at tournaments here, the teams winning always have big, largemouth to win. We decided that was what we needed to do, so we focused on that all day. We fished four or five big areas targeting fish 5-6 feet or less. The fish are done spawning here, so we tried to fish areas where the fish were coming through headed out towards the ledge. The baits that were productive for us were Shakey Head and Crankbaits. The big fish came one a green pumpkin Senko. With this win, they collected a $5,000 payday plus a $2,500 Phoenix Boats payday bonus, and a $500 Big Fish Bonus.
The third-place team of Ethan King and Fletcher Phillips caught 15.36 pounds. “In practice, we looked around for a shad spawn and found an area to start on tournament day. We were boat 126 and ran to a spot we found in practice about 3 or 4 miles in the back of a creek where we found the shad spawn. When we got there this morning, the shad spawn was still going on and no other boats were on the spot. We were hoping this area would be productive for us and provide a good largemouth. The shad spawn lasted about an hour.” They fished this area “swimming a Dirty Jigs swim jig in white and Jackall Kaera Frog. After the shad spawn, we moved out to fish docks and river ledges fishing a War Eagle ½ oz ball head jig and Rapala DT 6 and 10 Crank Bait in Disco Shad. We caught about 20 fish, about 11 pounds, on the shad spawn and 30-40 fish came the rest of the day on docks and river ledge” to help cull up to the third-place weight of 15.36 pounds. Prior to this event, they were in 15th place in AOY standings and moved into 5th place with a good opportunity to make the AOY top 9 to qualify for the BASS Team Championship. With their third-place finish they earned a $4,000 payday.
The top five standings are below for a complete list of standings please visit:
https://www.alabamabasstrail.org/logan-martin-lake/results/
With only one event left here are the current AOY Standings for the South Division:
PLACE ANGLERS POINTS
1 Chris Rutland/Coby Carden 834
2 Jacob George/Ryan Sweeney 807
3 Rob Lee/Steve Winslett 805
4 Mike Freeman/Zac Freeman 796
5 Ethan King/Fletcher Phillips 793
6 Lanier Burton/Kelly Jaye 791
7 Justin Mott/Randal Hamilton 787
8 Josh Chapple/Paul Davis 784
9 CJ Knight/Anthony Goggins 771
10 Robert Medas /Carlton Alford 769
11 Mark Mccaig/Tim Hurst 764
12 Brian Adamson/Ryan Lloyd 763
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.
For Live coverage from this event and others visit https://www.youtube.com/@alabamabasstrailtv
Wheeler Earns Win at MLF Bass Pro Tour Toro Stage Four on Lake Guntersville
Harrison, Tennessee, Pro Catches Limit Weighing 54-15 to Win by 9-Pound 7-Ounce Margin and Earn $100,000 Top Prize
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (May 21, 2023) – Reigning Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, has six Bass Pro Tour wins – more than any other angler in Major League Fishing History – but he hasn’t hoisted a trophy since Stage Six of 2021. However, Wheeler caught 13 scorable bass Sunday, with his best five weighing 25 pounds, 6 ounces, to win the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Toro Stage Four at Lake Guntersville Presented by Bass Cat Boats and earn the top payout of $100,000.
Wheeler’s two-day total of 10 bass weighing 54 pounds, 15 ounces, gave him the victory by a 9-pound, 7-ounce margin over second-place finisher Jacob Wall of New Hope, Alabama, who weighed in 10 bass totaling 45-8, good for $45,000.
“It’s truly special to win this event,” Wheeler said. “The Tennessee River holds a very special place in my heart. It’s been good to me.”
Lake Guntersville has changed in recent years from a lake that featured typical TVA current, when baits such as a football-head jig and a crankbait were the norm. Eel grass has become prevalent, and it has cleared up the water – to the point where the bottom is visible in 7 to 8 feet of water in some places. Wheeler adjusted and went to a lighter finesse rig and dominated the field.
“I had a couple of places in my back pocket that I knew if I needed to get a bite, I could get one,” Wheeler said. “If I had 25 places, I bet you I caught a bass on 20 of them.”
Wheeler said he relied on a 7-foot medium-action Duckett spinning rod, a Shimano Vanford 2500 spinning reel, 8-pound-test Sufix NanoBraid Nanofilament Braid, and a Sufix fluorocarbon leader to boat his bass during the event. Wheeler said he also relied heavily on a bait he kept secret all week – a bait he said accounted for “99 percent” of his bass.
“I developed a soft plastic line with a company, and it’s really impressive,” Wheeler said. “The Freeloader has a really unique action. I spent a lot of time on this bait to get it to do exactly what I wanted it to do with the action. It has a shad profile, and a lot of these fish were eating threadfin shad. That bait did a phenomenal job of matching the hatch. It’s a fish catcher.”
The soft plastic Freeloader features a VMC hybrid jig head and a hybrid Spro hook. According to Wheeler, the bait will debut at ICAST in July and be available to the public sometime in the fall.
“It triggers big ones into biting,” Wheeler said. “And that really was the key this week. You throw it out and ‘shake and bake it’. The action of that bait just triggers the big fish.”
While Wheeler will savor the long-awaited victory, he isn’t going to be content with a lone win in 2023.
“I had a really great season last year and won Angler of the Year, but I never won an event,” Wheeler said. “And the goal every single year is to win an event. If you win an event, you try to win two, and if you win two, you try to win three… every single win is special.”
The final 10 pros from the Toro Stage Four at Lake Guntersville Presented by Bass Cat Boats are:
1st: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 10 bass, 54-15, $100,000
2nd: Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., 10 bass, 45-8, $45,000
3rd: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 10 bass, 43-11, $38,000
4th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 10 bass, 43-8, $32,000
5th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 10 bass, 43-0, $30,000
6th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 10 bass, 41-5, $26,000
7th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 10 bass, 37-0, $23,000
8th: Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., eight bass, 28-11, $21,000
9th: Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla., six bass, 25-4, $19,000
10th: Ott Defoe, Blaine, Tenn., five bass, 24-8, $16,000
Full results for entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 77 scorable bass weighing 253 pounds, 11 ounces caught by nine pros Sunday.
Wheeler also earned Sunday’s Championship Round $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award with a 6-pound, 2-ounce bass he caught on the Freeloader in Period 2. David Dudley of Lynchburg, Virginia, earned the $3,000 Berkley Big Bass award for the largest bass of the overall event with his 7-pound, 9-ounce largemouth that he weighed on Day 4 of competition.
After four events in the Bass Pro Tour regular season, Ott DeFoe of Blaine, Tennessee, is the leader in the 2023 Bass Pro Tour Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) standings with 302 points. Pro Edwin Evers of Talala, Oklahoma, sits in second place with 260 points, while Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas , rounds out the top three with 254 points. Bally Bet will award $100,000 to the 2023 Bass Pro Tour Bally Bet Angler of the Year winner.
The next regular season Bass Pro Tour event will take place next month – the Favorite Fishing Stage Five at Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG x Wrangler, June 6-11, at Cayuga Lake in Union Springs, New York.
The Toro Stage Four at Lake Guntersville Presented by Bass Cat Boats featured pros competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with each angler’s five (5) heaviest bass per day tallied as their day’s weight. Anglers strive to catch their heaviest five fish each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the live scoring SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The six-day event, hosted by Marshall County Tourism & Sports, showcased a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
Television coverage of the Toro Stage Four at Lake Guntersville Presented by Bass Cat Boats will air as two, two-hour episodes starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 7 and Saturday, Oct. 14 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG + Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Alec Morrison Wins MLF Toyota Series Southwestern Division Finale on Sam Rayburn Reservoir
New York Pro Sets New Toyota Series All-Time Record for Largest Winning Margin with 24-Pound Victory over Tater Reynolds
BROOKELAND, Texas (May 21, 2023) – Pro Alec Morrison of Peru, New York, brought five bass to the scale, Saturday, totaling 16 pounds, 3 ounces, to win the Toyota Series at Sam Rayburn Reservoir and earn the top payout of $70,975, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. The unique thing about that, though, is that Morrison could have taken the day off.
Morrison’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 73-5 earned him the victory by a jaw-dropping 24-pound margin – the largest margin of victory in MLF (and FLW) Toyota Series history. The previous largest winning margin was 17-15 and belonged to Ken Howden, a mark he set in 2011 on Roosevelt Lake.
“Despite the lead I had coming into today, I didn’t sleep at all last night,” Morrison admitted. “I was extremely nervous this morning and all day until I caught my one big one. It was just so hard for me to believe that it was actually coming true, I don’t think my nerves have let up even still.”
The 23-year-old angler started his Day 3 the same way he had all week – ‘scoping out deeper brush piles looking for big ones. That strategy proved extremely effective the first two days, as that’s how the bulk of Morrison’s impressive bags were caught. But on Saturday, Morrison’s pattern took a while to get going.
“It was a slower start to the morning, but I stuck with the same strategy,” Morrison explained. “What I thought was my primary spot going into today didn’t really work out. It was great the first two days, but nothing happened there today. I didn’t freak out, I just ran around a lot and hit some other spots and was able to find what I needed to.”
Morrison was able to hunker down and fill his limit around 9:30 a.m., and then culled a few times to get him up to 16-3 for the day. A few variations of soft plastic worms were the winning bait combinations including a drop-shot, a free rig and a Texas rig with a sliding football head. However, Morrison insists that it was more about the spots he had picked out than any specific bait.
The New York kid now prepares to make the long trek back to upstate New York near the banks of Lake Champlain with a trophy and big check in tow. He has plans to fish a few of the Northern Division stops this summer to prepare himself for his Toyota Series Championship appearance in November.
The top 10 pros on Sam Rayburn Reservoir finished:
1st: Alec Morrison, Peru, N.Y., 15 bass, 73-5, $70,975 (includes $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus)
2nd: Tater Reynolds, Florien, La., 15 bass, 49-5, $14,240
3rd: Cody Huff, Ava, Mo., 15 bass, 48-12, $10,793
4th: Jeff Reynolds, Calera, Okla., 15 bass, 48-1, $8,994
5th: Jaden Parrish, Liberty, Texas, 15 bass, 47-13, $8,594
6th: Kris Wilson, Montgomery, Texas, 15 bass, 47-9, $7,695
7th: Keith Combs, Huntington, Texas, 15 bass, 45-5, $6,296
8th: Brett Preuett, Monroe, La., 15 bass, 44-13, $5,396
9th: Matt Reed, Madisonville, Texas, 15 bass, 44-13, $4,497
10th: Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas, 15 bass, 44-7, $3,598
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
On Thursday, pro Jeff Reynolds earned the $500 Day 1 Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division with a bass weighing 10 pounds, 10 ounces. On Friday pro Matt Reed earned the $500 Berkley Big Bass prize with a largemouth weighing in at 8 pounds, 15 ounces.
Chance Shelby of Denim Springs, Louisiana, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 31 pounds, 9 ounces. Shelby took home the top co-angler prize package worth $33,500, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on Sam Rayburn Reservoir finished:
1st: Chance Shelby, Denim Springs, La., 15 bass, 31-9, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard
2nd: Morgan White, Jasper, Texas, 12 bass, 31-2, $4,549
3rd: Robert Davis, Lufkin, Texas, 15 bass, 30-0, $3,639
4th: Robert Williams, Houston, Texas, 15 bass, 29-15, $3,184
5th: William Easley, Pollok, Texas, 11 bass, 29-4, $2,729
6th: Zack Nick, Lufkin, Texas, 15 bass, 29-3, $2,274
7th: Cedric Jackson, Sicily Island, La., 15 bass, 29-2, $1,819
8th: Casey McCommons, Ina, Ill., 14 bass, 28-13, $1,667
9th: Bryan Hester, Bossier City, La., 11 bass, 26-9, $1,440
10th: Nick Stanislaus, Porter, Texas, 15 bass, 25-11, $1,337
Sloan earned Thursday’s $150 Berkley Big Bass co-angler award after weighing in a 7-pound, 14-ounce largemouth, while Friday’s Day 2 $150 co-angler award was split between Casey McCommons and Bryan Hester, who both weighed in a bass that totaled 7 pounds, 2 ounces.
The three-day tournament was hosted by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Area Chamber of Commerce, and was the third and final regular-season event for the 2023 Toyota Series Southwestern Division.
With the three regular-season events in the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Southwestern Division now complete, pro Todd Castledine of Nacogdoches, Texas, was crowned the 2023 Southwestern Division Pro Angler of the Year (AOY) and earned the $5,000 AOY bonus with a total of 743 points. Cedric Jackson of Sicily Island, Louisiana, won the 2023 Southwestern Division Strike King Co-angler AOY race and the $2,000 AOY bonus with 757 points.
The Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Sam Rayburn Reservoir was hosted by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Area Chamber of Commerce. It was the third and final regular-season event for the Toyota Series Southwestern Division. The next event for the top 25 anglers in the Toyota Series Southwestern Division AOY standings will be the Toyota Series Championship at Table Rock Lake, Nov. 2-4, in Branson, Missouri. For a complete schedule of events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2023 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2024. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2023 Toyota Series Championship on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, is hosted by ExploreBranson.com.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Toyota Series include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Black Rifle Coffee Company, E3, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Gill, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Next Gen Lithium, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Wheeler Leads Going into Final Day at MLF Bass Pro Tour Toro Stage Four on Lake Guntersville
Tennessee Pro Catches Five Largemouth Weighing 29 Pounds, 9 Ounces to Pace Knockout Round Field, Final 10 Anglers Set for Championship Sunday and Shootout for $100,000
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (May 20, 2023) – Reigning Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, caught 21 scorable bass Saturday, with his best five weighing 29 pounds, 9 ounces, to lead the 40-angler Knockout Round and advance along with the top 10 anglers to Sunday’s final day Championship Round at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Toro Stage Four at Lake Guntersville Presented by Bass Cat Boats.
Wheeler will bring a sizeable 5-pound, 1-ounce advantage over second-place pro Ott Defoe of Blaine, Tennessee, who weighed in five bass totaling 24-8 to end the day in second place. Pro Adrian Avena of Vineland, New Jersey, sits in third place with five bass weighing 23-12, while Edwin Evers of Talala, Oklahoma , weighed in five bass totaling 23-11 to finish the day in fourth. Lynchburg, Virginia’s, David Dudley caught five bass weighing 23-1 to round out the top five.
Sunday’s final standings are still up in the air – a 30-pound bag is always a possibility at Guntersville – and less than nine pounds separates the 10 remaining anglers. Competition resumes Sunday morning with the Championship Round, where weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total will win the top prize of $100,000.
“I had a great day on the water, and you live for those days,” Wheeler said. “It was one of those days where every decision I made seemed like the right one.”
Wheeler is known for his tendency to bounce from spot to spot to cover water, but he said recreational boat traffic kept him stationary during part of the day.
“I was bouncing around a little bit,” Wheeler said. “I would spend some time in some zones, but I didn’t spend all my time in those areas. It was tough to get around on a Saturday in some places, so I squatted a little bit more than I would. As the rain hit, things opened up, and I was able to bounce around a little bit.”
Rain fell in the afternoon for 20 to 30 minutes, and the bite turned on as the rain approached. The rain, combined with a slowdown in recreational boat traffic, allowed fish to set back up on schools. As a result, a large number of fish turned on to feed and were caught during that period.
Wheeler said four of his five biggest bass of the day came on a yet-to-be released bait he designed called the Hitchhiker that will debut at ICAST in July. Wheeler’s Saturday catch included nine bass over four pounds – including three that weighed more than six pounds.
“Lake Guntersville is impressive,” Wheeler said. “It might be the best Tennessee River bass-fishing lake in the country. It just pumps them out every single day. There are more 3- to 5-pounders in this lake than just about anywhere else that I’ve ever been.
“Obviously it was a really good day,” Wheeler added. “Better than I anticipated. I was fortunate to get a couple of the right bites, got them in the boat, and hopefully, I can repeat that tomorrow. Anybody can drop a 30-pound bag at any point in time, so I’m definitely not safe. I think I need to catch another 25 pounds to have a real good shot at taking this one home.”
The top 10 pros that now advance to Sunday’s Championship Round on Lake Guntersville are:
1st: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 29-9
2nd: Ott Defoe, Blaine, Tenn., five bass, 24-8
3rd: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., five bass, 23-12
4th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., five bass, 23-11
5th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., five bass, 23-1
6th: Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla, five bass, 22-7
7th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., five bass, 21-7
8th: Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., five bass, 21-2
9th: Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., five bass, 21-1
10th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, five bass, 20-12
Finishing in 11th through 40th are:
11th: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, five bass, 20-2, $10,000
12th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 19-6, $10,000
13th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., five bass, 19-0, $10,000
14th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., five bass, 18-12, $10,000
15th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., five bass, 18-7, $10,000
16th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., five bass, 18-2, $10,000
17th: Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 17-8, $10,000
18th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., five bass, 17-4, $10,000
19th: Josh Butler, Hayden, Ala., five bass, 17-3, $10,000
20th: Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, five bass, 17-0, $10,000
21st: James Watson, Lampe, Mo., five bass, 16-12, $10,000
22nd: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., five bass, 15-12, $10,000
23rd: Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., five bass, 15-10, $10,000
24th: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, five bass, 15-0, $10,000
25th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Ala., five bass, 15-0, $10,000
26th: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 14-15, $10,000
27th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., five bass, 13-15, $10,000
28th: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 13-11, $10,000
29th: Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas, five bass, 13-11, $10,000
30th: Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., five bass, 13-6, $10,000
31st: Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., five bass, 12-11, $10,000
32nd: Mark Daniels, Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., five bass, 12-11, $10,000
33rd: Shin Fukae, Osaka, Japan, five bass, 12-1, $10,000
34th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., five bass, 12-0, $10,000
35th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., four bass, 11-9, $10,000
36th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., four bass, 11-3, $10,000
37th: Timmy Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala., three bass, 9-2, $10,000
38th: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., two bass, 6-4, $10,000
39th: Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., two bass, 4-14, $10,000
40th: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., one bass, 4-10, $10,000
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 334 scorable bass weighing 1,031 pounds, 8 ounces caught by the 40 pros Saturday, which included 13 5-pounders, 10 6-pounders and one 7-pounder.
Saturday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award went to pro Bryan Thrift of Shelby, North Carolina, who caught a 7-pound, 6-ounce largemouth in Period 1 on a Texas-rigged ribbon-tail worm to earn the payout. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The six-day event, hosted by Marshall County Tourism & Sports, showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The 40 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day qualifying round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After the two-day qualifying round, the top 20 anglers from each group advanced to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights were zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers competed to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In the Championship Round on Sunday, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total will win the top prize of $100,000.
The final 10 anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. CT Sunday from the Guntersville Civitan Park, located at 1130 Sunset Drive in Guntersville. The General Tire Takeout will be held at the park beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
As part of the event, on Sunday, May 21 the MLF Fan Experience will be taking place at Civitan Park in Guntersville from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate fishing and the outdoors with concerts in the park, hosted by Explore Lake Guntersville, featuring country music artist Jackson Chase. Food and drinks will be available from local food trucks and fans can check out the latest gear and offerings from MLF and MLF sponsors including Toyota, Favorite Fishing, Kubota, U.S. Air Force, and The Fallen Outdoors. Fans can hang out and watch the pros live on the MLF NOW! big screen during the MLF Watch Party, and the final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and take selfies.
The Toro Stage Four at Lake Guntersville Presented by Bass Cat Boats will feature pros competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with each angler’s five (5) heaviest bass per day tallied as their day’s weight. Anglers strive to catch their heaviest five fish each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the live scoring SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, fishing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship, held March 13-17, 2024, on Lay Lake in Birmingham, Alabama.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Toro Stage Four at Lake Guntersville Presented by Bass Cat Boats will air as two, two-hour episodes starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 7 and Saturday, Oct. 14 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG + Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Huge morning rally lifts Rasmussen to Bassmaster Open win at Wheeler Lake
Adam Rasmussen of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., has won the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Wheeler Lake with a three-day total of 54 pounds, 15 ounces.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
May 20, 2023
DECATUR, Ala. — Adam Rasmussen proved that good things do indeed come to those that wait.
The pro from Sturgeon Bay, Wis., leveraged a blistering morning bite to complete a three-day total of 54 pounds, 15 ounces and claim a close victory in the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Wheeler Lake.
After placing seventh on Day 1 with 19-2, Rasmussen added a second-round limit of 14-2 and held his position. Then Championship Saturday saw him weigh in 21-11 — the final round’s heaviest bag and the second-heaviest of the tournament.
Edging Bassmaster Elite Series star Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, by 7 ounces, Rasmussen notched his first B.A.S.S. win. He earned $51,567 and qualified for the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota March 22-24 in Tulsa, Okla., with fishing on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees.
“I was telling my buddy (fellow Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifier pro) Brad Leuthner, 'I’ve never been to a Classic. I’ve never worked one (for sponsors). I’m not going until I fish one,’” Rasmussen said. “Now I’m going to Grand Lake. It’s awesome.”
After enduring the frustrations of a crowded fishery, Day 3 saw Rasmussen finally able to fish one of his intended targets. As it turned out, he could have trailered his boat in time for breakfast, sat out the rainy, blustery day and still won the tournament.
“It was a spot I didn’t get to fish all week because there were too many boats on it,” Rasmussen said. “There were probably 8 to 10 boats on it every morning, but with only the Top 10 boats out there today, I was able to fish it.
“This was some of the best stuff I found in practice, but I just had bad boat numbers where I couldn’t get there. It was wide open this morning and I landed on them.”
Rasmussen described his key spot as an offshore shellbed on the popular Decatur Flats. Hosting a vigorous morning shad spawn, the structure topped off in 2 1/2 feet.
“I caught everything I had in the first hour and a half — and thank God because it was not good after that,” Rasmussen said. “I looked at the clock after I had just caught an upper 5-pound fish and told my marshal, ‘I think I just won this tournament.’”
Rasmussen caught his shad-spawn fish on a 1/2-ounce Z-Man JackHammer ChatterBait with a new straight-tail trailer that will be released at ICAST. He also used this bait to catch his Day 1 fish on a different shad-spawn location.
Day 2 saw Rasmussen unsuccessfully try to capitalize on the early morning shad spawn. When it was clear that this plan was not going to pay off, he turned his attention to grass and offshore ledges and collected his limit with a VMC Swinging Rugby Head and a craw bait (also set for ICAST release).
“I grew up as a walleye fisherman, so I’m fairly new at this sport,” Rasmussen said. “I just started competitively fishing for bass a few years ago, but you watch all your heroes at the Bassmaster Classic and I finally got to the point in my life where I can stretch my neck out and do this.
“Now I’m going to the Bassmaster Classic. It’s a dream come true.”
Coming off his second-place finish at the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake last week, Palaniuk placed 56th on Day 1 with a modest five-bass limit of 14 pounds. Adding a second-day limit of 19-9, Palaniuk gained 50 spots to sixth. With a Championship Saturday limit that went 20-15, the reigning Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year made a serious run at the top spot but fell just short with 54-8.
“I only got a day and a half of practice out here, so I can’t complain,” Palaniuk said. “I was still figuring them out on Day 1, then I got clued in enough that I was able to continue to dial it in a little bit better.”
Spending most of his time on the Decatur Flats, Palaniuk caught his bass on two Megabass jerkbaits — the Vision OneTen and the hulking Kanata 160 — the same bait Palaniuk used during his fifth-place finish at the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes in April.
Austin Cranford of Norman, Okla., finished third with 53-7. He turned in daily weights of 18-9, 16-13 and 18-1. Cranford anchored his final limit with a 6-10 largemouth.
“My practice was not that great,” Cranford said. “I was on about 12 to 13 pounds a day and they just kind of showed up.”
Cranford noted that the weather impacted his options. On Day 1, he caught his bass on a jerkbait and a drop shot on the main river channel, but the strong winds of Day 2 killed that game plan.
“I went to the bank and landed on ‘em,” Cranford said. “There was a shad spawn on a small grass clump. I threw a ChatterBait over it and on five casts in a row, I caught (nearly) 17 pounds.”
In the final round, Cranford returned to his magic grass clump and caught most of his limit, including the big fish. He finished his day offshore, where he made a couple of small culls.
As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Palaniuk took home an additional $2,000.
Bobby Lanham of Eddyville, Ky., won the $750 Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with the 6-14 he caught on Day 1.
Cranford won the $500 Garmin Tournament Rewards contingency.
During the 2023 Opens season, only anglers who fish all nine events on the schedule will be eligible to earn a spot on the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series.
Through the first four events, Tennessee pro John Garrett leads the Elite Qualifiers standings with 755 points. Elite Series pro Kenta Kimura of Japan is second with 725 points, followed by Trey McKinney of Illinois with 722, Georgia’s Matt Henry with 706 and South Carolina’s JT Thompkins with 706. Rounding out the Top 9 are Brett Cannon, Keith Tuma, Logan Parks and Ben Milliken.
2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Wheeler Lake 5/18-5/20
Wheeler Lake, Decatur AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 15 54-15 200 $51,567.00
Day 1: 5 19-02 Day 2: 5 14-02 Day 3: 5 21-11
2. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 15 54-08 199 $25,047.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 19-09 Day 3: 5 20-15
3. Austin Cranford Norman, OK 15 53-07 198 $18,180.00
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 5 16-13 Day 3: 5 18-01
4. Sam George Athens, AL 15 52-05 197 $14,733.00
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 19-08 Day 3: 5 15-06
5. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 15 51-02 196 $12,818.00
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 16-07 Day 3: 5 16-01
6. JT Russell Mc Calla, AL 15 51-02 195 $11,787.00
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 17-14 Day 3: 5 15-09
7. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 15 50-01 194 $11,050.00
Day 1: 5 21-15 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 5 15-10
8. Harry Peyton Guntersville, AL 15 49-15 193 $10,313.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 17-11 Day 3: 5 17-03
9. Justin Kimmel Athens, GA 15 47-09 192 $8,103.00
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 16-10 Day 3: 5 14-07
10. Allen Johnson Trinity, AL 15 46-12 191 $6,630.00
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 14-12 Day 3: 5 13-11
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURNAMENT
Bobby Lanham Eddyville, KY 06-14 $750.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 181 1016 2513-09
2 175 970 2160-01
3 10 50 168-10
----------------------------------
366 2036 4842-04
George overcomes hardship to lead Bassmaster Open at Wheeler Lake
Sam George of Athens, Ala., is leading after Day 2 of the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Wheeler Lake with a two-day total of 36 pounds, 15 ounces.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
May 19, 2023
DECATUR, Ala. — Despite a demoralizing drought, plus a mechanical issue that threatened to doom his day, Sam George of Athens, Ala., persevered and tallied a two-day total of 36 pounds, 15 ounces to take over the lead at the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Wheeler Lake.
In a tight Top 10, where 4-3 separates first and 10th places, George added 19-8 to his 16th-place Day 1 limit of 17-7. Currently sitting in 28th place in the Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifier standings, George heads into Championship Saturday with a lead of 1-6 over fellow Alabamian JT Russell.
“Man, it was one of those days — I struggled, I struggled bad,” George said. “I caught a big one right off the bat, but I was hung up on four fish forever.”
Complicating his challenge, George experienced a bilge pump failure — not a good thing when strong winds whip the lake into a frothy chop.
“I had to come back in, but the service guys saved me big time,” George said. “I was scared to get back out in that big water, taking waves over the front and I couldn’t get water out of the boat.
“They fixed me in 30 minutes and I was able to get out there in the crowd (on the popular Decatur Flats). I was finally able to get on a little place and caught nearly everything I had in seven casts. I went from about 11 pounds to 19 pretty quickly.”
George said his early fish was likely one he shook off during practice. The bass bit a swim jig on the same cast he had made before the event.
“I’m pretty sure she was spawning up there,” George said. “This lake has so much going on right now — there are fish shallow and deep; just offshore in general. Most of it is offshore, but you’re fishing shallow spots offshore.”
On the Decatur Flats, George worked a depression with reaction baits. With minimal lake current, the day’s strong east wind actually created enough water movement to stimulate the fish utilizing that low spot.
Looking ahead to Saturday’s final round, George said he’ll likely give his Day 2 spot a good look. That being said, he’s considering dipping into his deep well of local experience to see if he can seal the deal on his first Bassmaster win.
“I have some tricks up my sleeve, so I’m going to run places where I’ve always caught a bass,” George said. “I’m going to keep some places honest because I know what can happen if they show up.
“This is where I learned to fish, so it would mean a lot to win here.”
Hailing from McCalla, Ala., Russell is in second place with 35-9. Turning in a consistent performance, Russell placed 14th on Day 1 with 17-11 and made a big move with Friday’s limit of 17-14.
“Yesterday, I didn’t catch a fish until 8:30. This morning, I just went straight to fishing shallow,” Russell said. “I caught two or three good ones right off the bat and then it turned into an absolute grind.
“I ended up catching one more good one at 12 o’clock on the dot and I caught my last good one with three minutes left. I slung the trolling motor and came back over (to check in). I caught fish all day, but the big ones were definitely a lot tougher to come by.”
Russell caught his shallow fish on a mix of moving baits and flipping presentations. Offshore, he threw a jig and a Texas-rigged 10-inch worm.
Austin Cranford of Norman, Okla., placed third with 35-6. After placing 10th with 18-9 Thursday, he improved his position by adding a limit of 16-13 Friday.
“I tried to start out doing what I did to catch them yesterday, but the wind was blowing so bad I couldn’t see the fish (on forward-facing sonar) and keep the trolling motor in the water,” Cranford said. “So, I ran around and fished shallow. I kinda found a one-cast deal on the back end of a shad spawn.”
Bobby Lanham of Eddyville, Ky., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with the 6-14 he caught on Day 1.
Tommy Wood of Sippy Downs, Australia, won the co-angler division with 20-8. In only his third U.S. tournament, Wood led Day 1 with 10-1 and added a second-round limit of 10-7.
“I had no expectations at all,” Wood said. “I just came to the U.S. to learn. This win has made the world so much better. It’s just amazing.”
After catching his Day 1 fish on a jig, Wood got his final morning going early by catching a 4-pounder on a Strike King spinnerbait. He then added another keeper on a wacky-rigged green pumpkin Yamamoto Senko, before closing the deal with another solid fish on a swim jig.
“I caught two early — one was that 4-pounder — and then I didn’t get my third fish for ages,” Wood said. “I ended up catching my third one up shallow. It’s so much fun watching those big fish come up in the willow grass and eat that swim jig.”
Thanking fellow Aussie and Bassmaster Elite Series pro Carl Jocumsen, along with Canadian Elite Jeff Gustafson, for their support and encouragement, Wood said he’s pleased with his progress.
“Two months ago, I hadn’t even caught a bass, so it’s been a steep learning curve,” Wood said. “I got a 15th at my first event at Toledo Bend and at Buggs Island, I got a 21st, so it’s been good.”
Ashton Smith of Lake Helen, Fla., and Travis Turcotte of Pembroke, Canada, tied for the Phoenix Boats Big Bass award among co-anglers, each with a 4-13. Smith and Turcotte split the $250 prize.
The remaining Top 10 anglers will take off at 6 a.m. CT Saturday from Ingalls Harbor. The final weigh-in will be held back at Ingalls Harbor at 2 p.m. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.
2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Wheeler Lake 5/18-5/20
Wheeler Lake, Decatur AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Sam George Athens, AL 10 36-15 200
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 19-08
2. JT Russell McCalla, AL 10 35-09 199
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 17-14
3. Austin Cranford Norman, OK 10 35-06 198
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 5 16-13
4. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 10 35-01 197
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 16-07
5. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 10 34-07 196
Day 1: 5 21-15 Day 2: 5 12-08
6. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 33-09 195
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 19-09
7. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 10 33-04 194
Day 1: 5 19-02 Day 2: 5 14-02
8. Justin Kimmel Athens, GA 10 33-02 193
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 16-10
9. Allen Johnson Trinity, AL 10 33-01 192
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 14-12
10. Harry Peyton Guntersville, AL 10 32-12 191
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 17-11
11. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 32-11 190 $5,893.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 17-00
12. Josh Bragg Fayetteville, GA 10 32-10 189 $5,157.00
Day 1: 5 20-04 Day 2: 5 12-06
13. Trevor McKinney Benton, IL 10 32-04 188 $4,052.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 19-00
14. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 10 31-12 187 $4,052.00
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 15-15
15. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 10 31-04 186 $4,052.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 15-12
16. Brett Cannon Willis, TX 10 30-12 185 $4,052.00
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 20-13
17. Brayden Rakes Winston Salem, NC 10 30-12 184 $4,052.00
Day 1: 5 18-13 Day 2: 5 11-15
18. Timmy Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 30-08 183 $4,052.00
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 17-02
19. Trevor Fitzgerald Belleview, FL 10 30-07 182 $4,052.00
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 14-04
20. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 10 29-15 181 $4,052.00
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 16-00
21. Jacob Bigelow Cecil, WI 10 29-14 180 $3,683.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 16-04
22. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 10 29-12 179 $3,683.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 13-05
23. John Garrett Union City, TN 10 29-09 178 $3,683.00
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 11-01
24. Derek Lehtonen Woodruff, SC 10 29-08 177 $3,683.00
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 11-15
25. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 29-07 176 $3,683.00
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 13-13
26. Kurt Mitchell Milford, DE 10 29-05 175 $3,389.00
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 09-07
27. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 10 29-04 174 $3,389.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 14-15
28. Keith Tuma Brainerd, MN 10 28-12 173 $3,389.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 13-05
29. Daniel Valois Gomez Caracas FL VENEZUELA 10 28-11 172 $3,389.00
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 14-00
30. Andrew Upshaw Hemphill, TX 10 28-09 171 $3,389.00
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 12-03
31. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 10 28-07 170 $3,389.00
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 13-07
32. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 10 28-04 169 $3,389.00
Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 5 08-09
33. Chris Blanchette Edisto Island, SC 10 28-04 168 $3,389.00
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 11-15
33. Shaine Campbell Brookeland, TX 10 28-04 168 $3,389.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 16-05
35. Jake Maddux Birmingham, AL 10 28-02 166 $3,389.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 16-00
36. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 10 28-01 165 $3,389.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 12-03
37. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 10 28-00 164 $3,389.00
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 14-04
38. Clark Reehm Elm Grove, LA 10 27-12 163 $3,389.00
Day 1: 5 19-12 Day 2: 5 08-00
39. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 10 27-12 162 $3,389.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 14-15
40. Matt Henry Milledgeville, GA 10 27-10 161 $3,389.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 12-03
41. Danny McGarry Newcastle CANADA 10 27-10 160
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 12-06
42. Logan Anderson Catawba, NC 10 27-06 159
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 10-10
43. Jeff Magee Simpson Co., MS 10 27-06 158
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 11-15
44. Steve Tennison Lexington, OK 10 27-05 157
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 15-07
45. Danny Ramsey Trinidad, TX 10 27-01 156
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 13-09
46. Jamie Bruce Kenora Ontario CANADA 10 27-00 155
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 12-11
47. Griffin Phillips Mount Olive, AL 10 26-13 154
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 12-12
48. Tucker Smith Shoal Creek, AL 10 26-13 153
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 12-15
49. Logan Johnson Jasper, AL 9 26-12 152
Day 1: 5 20-11 Day 2: 4 06-01
50. Andrew Hargrove Moody, TX 10 26-12 151
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 12-05
51. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 10 26-11 150
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 14-06
52. Bailey Boutries Springfield, MO 10 26-10 149
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 13-07
53. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 10 26-09 148
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 12-11
54. Takayuki Koike Otsu-City JAPAN 10 26-06 147
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 13-10
55. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 10 26-04 146
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 11-11
56. Bryan New Saluda, SC 10 26-03 145
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 11-06
57. Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, MN 10 26-00 144
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 16-14
58. Jimmy Washam Stantonville, TN 10 26-00 143
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 11-03
59. Marc Schilling Carrollton, TX 10 26-00 142
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 11-04
60. Hunter Sales Blaine, TN 10 25-14 141
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 09-03
61. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 10 25-13 140
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 13-08
62. Bronk Mcdaniel Alexandria, LA 10 25-12 139
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 11-12
63. Clayton Batts Butler, GA 10 25-12 138
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 13-11
64. Ben Milliken New Caney, TX 10 25-10 137
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 07-06
65. Kenny Mittelstaedt Minnetonka, MN 9 25-08 136
Day 1: 4 11-03 Day 2: 5 14-05
66. Greg Bohannan Bentonville, AR 10 25-06 135
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 12-02
67. Miles Burghoff Dayton, TN 10 25-06 134
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 12-11
68. Christian Shoda Homosassa, FL 10 25-05 133
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 10-14
69. Steve Morella Townshend, VT 10 25-05 132
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 11-00
70. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 10 25-01 131
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 11-05
71. Jack York Emory, TX 10 25-00 130
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 14-01
72. Blake Sylvester Plaquemine, LA 10 24-15 129
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 09-01
73. Alex Murray Lake Charles, LA 10 24-12 128
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 10-03
74. Ty Faber Pagosa Springs, CO 10 24-11 127
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 10-03
75. Paul Browning Pecos, TX 10 24-11 126
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 10-13
76. Mike Surman Boca Raton, FL 10 24-11 125
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 13-04
77. Billy McDonald Greenwood, IN 10 24-09 124
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 13-03
78. Jaxon Sullivan Reagan, TN 10 24-08 123
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 09-09
79. Scout Echols Monticello, AR 10 24-08 122
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 10-09
80. Daisuke Kita Ostu Shiga JAPAN 10 24-07 121
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 08-03
81. Casey Scanlon Eldon, MO 10 24-04 120
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 13-14
82. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 10 24-01 119
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 11-14
83. Alex Heintze Denham Springs, LA 10 24-00 118
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 13-05
84. Destin DeMarion Harborcreek, PA 10 23-14 117
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 11-09
85. Brandon Tallhamer Parkersburg, WV 10 23-13 116
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 08-10
86. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 23-13 115
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 12-06
87. Kyle Goltz Cornell, WI 10 23-11 114
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 10-00
88. Zeke Gossett Pell City, AL 10 23-11 113
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 10-14
89. Tommy Williams Shepherdsville, KY 10 23-10 112
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 10-10
90. Chad Warren Sand Springs, OK 10 23-09 111
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 14-01
91. Caleb Gibson Locust Grove, OK 9 23-08 110
Day 1: 4 09-04 Day 2: 5 14-04
92. Jon Canada Helena, AL 10 23-00 109
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 12-04
93. Caiden Sinclair Logan, AL 10 22-15 108
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 12-04
94. Darrell Davis Dover, FL 10 22-14 107
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 09-12
95. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 10 22-14 106
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 12-09
96. Buck Mallory Lawton, MI 10 22-09 105
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 09-05
97. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 10 22-09 104
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 10-12
98. Blake Smith Lakeland, FL 10 22-06 103
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 11-14
99. Mike Oncale Port Allen, LA 10 22-02 102
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 09-04
100. Mark Cook Guntersville, AL 10 22-02 101
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 09-14
101. Brian Post Janesville, WI 10 22-01 100
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 11-06
102. Brock Belik Orchard, NE 10 22-00 99
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 10-00
103. Frank Ramsey Spring Grove, IL 10 21-15 98
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 5 13-03
104. Jack Dice Lynchburg, VA 10 21-15 97
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 12-08
105. Sterling Bougher Mannford, OK 10 21-15 96
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 10-05
106. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 10 21-15 95
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 10-10
107. Evan Barnes Dardanelle, AR 10 21-14 94
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 06-13
108. Jason Meninger Yulee, FL 10 21-14 93
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 13-01
109. B.J. Usie Bourg, LA 10 21-13 92
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 09-12
110. Ish Monroe Oakdale, CA 10 21-12 91
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 12-01
111. Jack Tindel III Orange, TX 10 21-12 90
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 11-00
112. Erik Brztowski Lemont, IL 10 21-09 89
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 10-00
113. Jonathan Dietz Corry, PA 10 21-05 88
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 09-01
114. Bobby Lanham Eddyville, KY 9 21-04 87
Day 1: 4 13-00 Day 2: 5 08-04
115. Lafe Messer Warfield, KY 9 21-04 86
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 4 08-10
116. Bart Stanisz Austin, TX 10 21-03 85
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 09-04
117. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 10 21-03 84
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 09-13
118. Matt Pangrac Shawnee, OK 10 20-15 83
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 10-01
119. Keith Brumfield Vicksburg, MS 10 20-13 82
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 09-14
120. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 9 20-11 81
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 4 05-02
121. David Wootton Collierville, TN 10 20-09 80
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 07-14
122. Chad Prough Chipley, FL 10 20-09 79
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 08-15
123. Justin Barnes Ellaville, GA 10 20-08 78
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 10-00
124. Scott Isaacs Ladonia, TX 9 20-06 77
Day 1: 4 07-02 Day 2: 5 13-04
125. Wil Dieffenbauch III Hundred, WV 10 20-05 76
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 12-03
126. Kyle Gelles Pingree, ID 10 20-04 75
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 10-04
127. Keith Bardolf Abbeville, AL 10 20-03 74
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 07-08
128. Brandon McMillan Clewiston, FL 10 20-03 73
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 10-08
129. Ron Ryals Jr Live Oak, FL 10 19-15 72
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 08-13
130. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 19-14 71
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 07-06
131. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 10 19-14 70
Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 5 11-13
132. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 10 19-14 69
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 09-03
133. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 10 19-12 68
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 08-13
134. Andrew Harp Linden, TX 10 19-10 67
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 10-03
135. Phil Killian Solomon, AZ 9 19-09 66
Day 1: 4 07-13 Day 2: 5 11-12
136. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 9 19-08 65
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 4 07-12
137. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 8 19-07 64
Day 1: 4 08-04 Day 2: 4 11-03
138. Tim Arnold Crane Hill, AL 10 19-04 63
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 07-09
139. Jim Dillard West Monroe, LA 10 19-04 62
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 09-13
140. Hugh Cosculluela Spring, TX 10 19-03 61
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 08-13
141. Christopher Simmons Decatur, AL 10 18-13 60
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 06-02
142. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 10 18-12 59
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 09-04
143. Jimmy Steed Zapata, TX 10 18-10 58
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 06-06
144. Chris Keeble Lenoir City, TN 10 18-10 57
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 09-06
145. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 10 18-09 56
Day 1: 5 06-14 Day 2: 5 11-11
146. Briana Tucker Trinity, AL 10 18-09 55
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 08-09
147. Dave Turner Citrus Springs, FL 10 18-08 54
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 09-04
148. Lance Owen Greer, SC 9 18-07 53
Day 1: 4 09-03 Day 2: 5 09-04
149. Rick Mitchell Naples, FL 10 18-03 52
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 07-03
150. Ryan Clark Whitby Ontario CANADA 10 18-03 51
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 09-06
151. Dalton Dowdy Newberry, SC 10 18-02 50
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 09-14
152. Julius Mazy Phoenix, AZ 6 17-15 49
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 1 00-13
153. Joe Labarbera Montrose, PA 10 17-14 48
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 09-12
154. Jason Lambert Savannah, TN 9 17-13 47
Day 1: 4 09-15 Day 2: 5 07-14
155. Jerry Lawler Athens, AL 9 17-13 46
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 4 08-09
156. Jason Tibbetts Centreville, VA 10 17-13 45
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 09-02
157. Tripp Noojin Bryant, AL 7 17-11 44
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 4 10-13
158. Bo Collins Robbinsville, NC 9 17-11 43
Day 1: 4 09-06 Day 2: 5 08-05
159. A.J. Menssen Bloomington, IL 7 17-07 42
Day 1: 3 10-02 Day 2: 4 07-05
160. Reece Tremaglio Dunkirk, MD 10 17-07 41
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 07-08
161. Steve Sennikoff Edgewood, TX 10 17-06 40
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 06-03
162. Kenji Yamada Hixson, TN 9 17-06 39
Day 1: 4 06-12 Day 2: 5 10-10
163. Keith Nemcek St Charles, IL 8 17-05 38
Day 1: 4 09-04 Day 2: 4 08-01
164. Brady Vernon Sterrett, AL 10 17-04 37
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 07-14
165. Clayton Barnes Clanton, AL 10 17-04 36
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 09-00
166. Jess Beihoffer Soddy Daisy, TN 8 17-03 35
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 3 06-08
167. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 10 17-02 34
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 06-12
168. Joey Hanna Corsicana, TX 10 17-01 33
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 08-03
169. Scott Kerslake Okeechobee, FL 10 16-13 32
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 5 08-01
170. Randall Carter Maplesville, AL 8 16-11 31
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 5 11-11
171. Josh Hubbard Dunnellon, FL 8 16-11 30
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 3 05-01
172. Jason Abram Piney Flats, TN 10 16-07 29
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 08-08
173. Destry Ford Tuscaloosa, AL 7 16-05 28
Day 1: 2 04-13 Day 2: 5 11-08
174. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 9 16-05 27
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 4 05-13
175. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 9 16-04 26
Day 1: 4 06-06 Day 2: 5 09-14
176. Brian Mullaney Ijamsville, MD 8 16-03 25
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 5 11-12
177. Seiji Kato Outsu Shiga JAPAN 6 16-01 24
Day 1: 1 02-12 Day 2: 5 13-05
178. Taylor Watkins Clinton, TN 10 15-15 23
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 07-00
179. Cliff Overstreet Dothan, AL 9 15-12 22
Day 1: 4 10-04 Day 2: 5 05-08
180. Nikki Jo Hatten Clanton, AL 7 15-10 21
Day 1: 4 09-03 Day 2: 3 06-07
181. Cody Detweiler Guntersville, AL 9 15-09 20
Day 1: 4 09-03 Day 2: 5 06-06
182. Paul Bouvier Kingston CANADA 7 15-02 19
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 2 03-12
183. David Kilgore Jasper, AL 8 15-02 18
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 3 04-02
184. Brad Leuthner Victoria, MN 10 15-01 17
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 06-14
185. Jason Carpenter Castle Pines, CO 10 15-01 16
Day 1: 5 07-10 Day 2: 5 07-07
186. Parker Mott Winter Garden, FL 9 14-15 15
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 4 05-15
187. Tyler Lubbat Wheeling, IL 7 14-12 14
Day 1: 2 04-13 Day 2: 5 09-15
188. Louis Monetti Brielle, NJ 10 14-09 13
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 07-09
189. Tucker Veronee Gilbert, SC 7 14-07 12
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 2 02-13
190. Tom Frink Southside, AL 7 13-04 11
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 2 03-04
191. Tim Frederick Leesburg, FL 6 13-03 10
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 1 01-06
192. Scott Gibbs Rome, GA 8 12-15 9
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 3 04-00
193. Hunter Bland Williston, FL 6 12-13 8
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 1 02-13
194. Jamie Horton Centerville, AL 5 12-08 7
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
195. Frank Talley Temple, TX 5 12-06 6
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
196. Michael Johnson Talking Rock, GA 5 12-03 5
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
197. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 8 11-12 4
Day 1: 4 04-06 Day 2: 4 07-06
198. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 5 11-01 3
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 11-01
199. Jerry Riddle Jr Summit, MS 7 10-13 2
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 2 01-10
200. James Meers Rome, GA 5 10-12 1
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
201. Scott Allgood Fair Play, SC 7 10-12 0
Day 1: 5 06-07 Day 2: 2 04-05
202. Colby Robertson Summerfield, FL 7 10-11 0
Day 1: 2 02-15 Day 2: 5 07-12
203. Craig Chambers Midland, NC 7 09-09 0
Day 1: 4 05-11 Day 2: 3 03-14
204. Tony Dumitras Winston, GA 5 09-07 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 09-07
205. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 5 09-05 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 09-05
206. Derek Hicks Rocky Face, GA 5 09-04 0
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
207. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 5 09-01 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 4 07-03
208. Frank Williams Mountain Home, AR 6 08-15 0
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 3 03-09
209. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 5 08-09 0
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
210. Michael Wooten White House, TN 5 08-04 0
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
211. Jeremy Bogard Wilkesboro, NC 6 08-01 0
Day 1: 2 03-04 Day 2: 4 04-13
212. Danny Hardy Cantonment, FL 4 07-15 0
Day 1: 4 07-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
213. Clay Dyer Fayetteville, TN 5 07-05 0
Day 1: 5 07-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
214. Mike Mayo Athens, TX 3 06-12 0
Day 1: 3 06-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
215. Daniel Rogers Morriston, FL 3 06-11 0
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
216. Cody Bertrand Dyer, IN 4 06-01 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 06-01
217. Paul Tabisz Whitmore Lake, MI 3 04-14 0
Day 1: 3 04-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
218. Willy Dennison Willoughby Hills, OH 3 04-14 0
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 1 01-09
219. Gary Caruso Baton Rouge, LA 3 04-06 0
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
220. Currey Holley Madison, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
220. Matt Mollohan Batesburg, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 181 1016 2513-09
2 175 970 2160-01
----------------------------------
356 1986 4673-10
2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Wheeler Lake 5/18-5/20
Wheeler Lake, Decatur AL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Tommy Wood Sippy Downs AUSTRALIA 6 20-08 200 $12,127.00
Day 1: 3 10-01 Day 2: 3 10-07
2. Jeremy Duke Gautier, MS 6 17-11 199 $2,854.00
Day 1: 3 09-04 Day 2: 3 08-07
3. Ashton Smith Lake Helen, FL 6 17-03 198 $2,265.00
Day 1: 3 08-07 Day 2: 3 08-12
4. Ray Hill Lake City, FL 6 16-03 197 $1,605.00
Day 1: 3 09-04 Day 2: 3 06-15
5. Dusty Wood Belton, SC 6 15-15 196 $1,498.00
Day 1: 3 09-04 Day 2: 3 06-11
6. Clyde Roberts Marshall, NC 6 15-08 195 $1,427.00
Day 1: 3 05-15 Day 2: 3 09-09
7. Jimmy Brumfield Madison, MS 6 14-12 194 $1,356.00
Day 1: 3 08-10 Day 2: 3 06-02
8. Allen Heston Pittsburg, TX 6 14-09 193 $1,284.00
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 3 08-07
9. Chad Stahl Barnesville, GA 6 14-08 192 $1,177.00
Day 1: 3 06-08 Day 2: 3 08-00
10. Kyle Tonione Earleton, FL 6 14-04 191 $1,070.00
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 3 06-13
11. Nick Richey Aledo, TX 6 14-03 190 $999.00
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 3 08-13
12. Tristan Bramblett Tiger, GA 6 14-01 189 $928.00
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 3 07-15
13. Barney Boutries Mobile, AL 4 13-08 188 $785.00
Day 1: 3 09-11 Day 2: 1 03-13
14. Ryan Shriber Franklin, TN 6 13-04 187 $713.00
Day 1: 3 07-09 Day 2: 3 05-11
15. Brad Goetz Waunakee, WI 6 13-04 186 $642.00
Day 1: 3 06-08 Day 2: 3 06-12
16. Perry See Rochester, MN 6 12-14 185 $571.00
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 3 07-00
17. Dawson Wisner Palatka, FL 5 12-10 184 $535.00
Day 1: 2 05-08 Day 2: 3 07-02
18. John Higginbotham Slaughter, LA 6 12-03 183 $535.00
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 3 07-01
19. Jon Jezierski Troy, MI 6 12-00 182 $535.00
Day 1: 3 07-03 Day 2: 3 04-13
20. Eric Melton Flowood, MS 6 12-00 181 $535.00
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 3 05-10
21. Skyler Anderson Harlem, GA 6 11-13 180 $499.00
Day 1: 3 07-06 Day 2: 3 04-07
22. Steven Doolittle Chelsea, OK 6 11-13 179 $499.00
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 3 05-10
23. Corey Yaden Grovetown, GA 6 11-12 178 $499.00
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 3 06-13
24. Gary Haraguchi Murfreesboro, TN 6 11-10 177 $499.00
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 3 05-15
25. Mark Moore Freeport, FL 5 11-09 176 $499.00
Day 1: 2 05-03 Day 2: 3 06-06
26. Greg Sloan Chipley, FL 6 11-06 175 $428.00
Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 3 04-05
27. Dylan Mayo Athens, TX 6 11-01 174 $428.00
Day 1: 3 03-14 Day 2: 3 07-03
28. Sakae Ushio Tonawanda, NY 6 11-00 173 $428.00
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 3 05-07
29. Troy Mims Suwanee, GA 4 10-12 172 $428.00
Day 1: 2 06-01 Day 2: 2 04-11
30. John Goul Philadelphia, MS 5 10-11 171 $428.00
Day 1: 3 06-10 Day 2: 2 04-01
31. Bobby Williams Salisbury, NC 6 10-09 170 $393.00
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 3 03-04
32. Philip Morris Jr Raleigh, NC 6 10-08 169 $393.00
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 3 05-15
33. Joe Stokes Kentwood, LA 5 10-06 168 $393.00
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 3 06-15
34. Darrell Hille Springfield, TN 4 10-06 167 $393.00
Day 1: 2 04-12 Day 2: 2 05-10
35. Marrell Deering Rome, GA 5 10-05 166 $393.00
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 3 07-00
36. Steven Smith Logan, OH 6 10-02 165 $393.00
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 3 04-05
37. Johnnie Garrett Union City, TN 5 10-01 164 $393.00
Day 1: 3 07-09 Day 2: 2 02-08
38. John Gaivin Decatur, AL 5 10-00 163 $393.00
Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 3 06-00
39. Ralph Gibson Locust Grove, OK 5 09-15 162 $393.00
Day 1: 3 07-08 Day 2: 2 02-07
40. David Booth Erin, TN 4 09-13 161 $393.00
Day 1: 3 08-10 Day 2: 1 01-03
41. Wes Kinard Fosters, AL 6 09-12 160
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 3 04-00
41. Daniel Myers Harvest, AL 6 09-12 160
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 3 04-00
43. Cody Koehler Acworth, GA 4 09-09 158
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 3 07-09
44. Travis Turcotte Pembroke CANADA 4 09-09 157 $125.00
Day 1: 1 04-13 Day 2: 3 04-12
45. Christopher Dirgo Athens , AL 5 09-08 156
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 2 03-02
46. Carl Hunter Snellville, GA 4 09-02 155
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 3 06-14
47. Jonathan Barnette Jasper, AL 6 09-01 154
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 3 03-15
48. Mike Spears Jasper, AL 3 08-15 153
Day 1: 3 08-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
49. Eric White Vinemont, AL 4 08-14 152
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 3 07-02
50. Charles Reed Batesville, MS 4 08-12 151
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 1 03-10
51. Kenneth Ott Manahawkin, NJ 6 08-12 150
Day 1: 3 04-02 Day 2: 3 04-10
52. Louie Parkman Jr Brandon, MS 5 08-11 149
Day 1: 2 04-13 Day 2: 3 03-14
53. Donney Rorie Rienzi, MS 5 08-07 148
Day 1: 3 06-12 Day 2: 2 01-11
54. Chas Mobbs Decatur, AL 4 08-07 147
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 1 02-01
55. Rick Cheatham Carterville, IL 6 08-06 146
Day 1: 3 04-13 Day 2: 3 03-09
56. Kris Mccarter Pheba, MS 5 08-05 145
Day 1: 3 05-15 Day 2: 2 02-06
57. Eric Camarote The Villages, FL 4 08-04 144
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 3 06-04
58. Dehn Ganey Bonneau, SC 6 08-04 143
Day 1: 3 04-12 Day 2: 3 03-08
59. Mark Hughes Saegertown, PA 3 08-02 142
Day 1: 3 08-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
60. Randy Tallhamer Brandenton, FL 4 08-02 141
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 3 05-05
61. Bradley Mealer Columbia, TN 5 08-01 140
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 3 04-00
62. Elliott Malone Tanner, AL 3 07-15 139
Day 1: 3 07-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
63. Archie Eslinger Paris, IL 3 07-11 138
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 2 05-12
64. Thomas Crosswhite Hartwell, GA 4 07-10 137
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 2 03-03
65. Michael Leach Shenandoah, TX 5 07-09 136
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 2 03-02
66. Joe Tucker Osceola, MO 4 07-08 135
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 1 00-10
67. Gary Bates Athens, AL 4 07-08 134
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 3 06-01
68. Byron Hill Miami, FL 3 07-07 133
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
69. Randy Lawrence Pensacola, FL 3 07-03 132
Day 1: 1 04-11 Day 2: 2 02-08
70. Matthew Rogers Chiefland, FL 4 07-01 131
Day 1: 2 04-02 Day 2: 2 02-15
71. Austin Howard Granby, CO 4 07-01 130
Day 1: 1 03-00 Day 2: 3 04-01
72. Ronald Young New Braunfels, TX 3 07-00 129
Day 1: 3 07-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
73. Lynn Hoeffer Chesapeake, VA 3 06-14 128
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Todd Lee Jasper, AL 3 06-08 127
Day 1: 3 06-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
75. WK Luckett Jr Ridgeland, MS 4 06-08 126
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 1 01-13
76. Bob Morin Seymour, TN 3 06-06 125
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
77. Jim O'Connell Jr Castle Rock, CO 3 06-04 124
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-04
78. Eric Kingery Chillicothe, OH 4 06-04 123
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 3 03-15
79. Jordan McDonald Jackson, GA 4 06-03 122
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 1 01-02
80. Steven Fischer Pace, FL 2 06-01 121
Day 1: 2 06-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
81. Clifford Wagner Huntsville, AL 4 05-14 120
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 3 04-06
82. Chad Sims Brownsburg, IN 3 05-13 119
Day 1: 2 04-02 Day 2: 1 01-11
83. David Fischer Broken Arrow, OK 4 05-10 118
Day 1: 2 03-13 Day 2: 2 01-13
84. Kevin Mallow Kansas, OK 3 05-07 117
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 2 03-03
85. Bill Bruce Hendersonville, TN 3 05-06 116
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 05-06
86. Steve Deyton Forest City, NC 3 05-03 115
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 05-03
87. Cole Johnson Seymour, IN 3 05-02 114
Day 1: 2 03-13 Day 2: 1 01-05
88. Hiro Yasumoto Higasikagawashi, Kagawa 3 05-01 113
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
89. Wesley Klees Huntsville, AL 3 05-01 112
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 2 02-08
90. Austin Nelson Apopka, FL 4 04-15 111
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 3 03-10
91. AJ Jones Lutz, FL 4 04-11 110
Day 1: 2 03-00 Day 2: 2 01-11
92. Billy Limerick Chandler, TX 3 03-15 109
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 1 00-00
93. Bill Hutchison Jr. Bessemer, AL 2 03-15 108
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
94. David Stout Fair Play, SC 2 03-13 107
Day 1: 2 03-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
95. Shawn Martin Weirsdale, FL 2 03-11 106
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-11
96. Byong Lee Stedman, NC 2 03-09 105
Day 1: 2 03-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. Jim Williams Winter Springs, GA 1 03-08 104
Day 1: 1 03-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Avery Williams Murrells Inlt, SC 3 03-06 103
Day 1: 2 02-05 Day 2: 1 01-01
99. Cody Richardson Gautier, MS 1 02-07 102
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
100. Chris Earles Lady Lake, FL 1 01-15 101
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
101. Samuel Sharp Hillsboro, AL 1 01-14 100
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
102. George Dirgo Rosamond, CA 1 01-04 99
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-04
103. Thomas Abraham Winchester, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
103. Larry Mcneil Meridianville, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
103. Landon Smith Decatur, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
103. Johnny Ward Jr Ludowici, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
103. Matthew Williams Westminster, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 57 232 510-00
2 55 213 405-04
----------------------------------
112 445 915-04
Becker Wins Group B Qualifying Round at MLF Bass Pro Tour Toro Stage Four on Lake Guntersville
Tennessee Rookie Tops Group B Qualifying Round, Field of 40 Set for Saturday’s Knockout Round
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (May 19, 2023) – Bass Pro Tour rookie Matt Becker of Ten Mile, Tennessee, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 16 pounds, 4 ounces, to maintain his lead throughout the day and win the Qualifying Round for Group B Friday at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Toro Stage Four at Lake Guntersville Presented by Bass Cat Boats . Over two days, Becker caught 10 bass weighing 46 pounds, 13 ounces to earn the first Qualifying Round victory of his career and advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round.
“I’m definitely happy to win the Qualifying Round, but I realize this is just the beginning,” Becker said in his post-game interview. “It’s going to be an absolute slugfest here this weekend, and it’s going to take some serious weight. Hopefully we’ve found enough, but I’m not sure. I’m not feeling too good about it after this afternoon – those guys behind me were catching some big fish.”
Although Becker didn’t come close to matching his 30-pound total from the first day of competition Friday, he also did not fish his best areas. He spent his day covering new water with a Carolina rig, trying to find more options for the weekend.
“I didn’t go to my best stuff today – there really was no reason for me to,” Becker said. “I was pretty much moving on to the Knockout Round no matter what, today, so I drove past some of it to look, but I didn’t go there.
“It’s probably going to be a boat race to the areas with a couple of guys tomorrow,” Becker continued. “It’s kind of a community hole, so we’re really going to have to lighten up the boat and get ready to race in the morning.”
Becker had no problem finding fish, but he struggled to get any bites until he switched to a bait that he doesn’t typically throw – a Carolina rig.
“Today, it was all about the Carolina rig, which if you know me you know that is not me at all,” Becker said. “That was the only thing that I could really get them to bite today. I used a ½-ounce Epic Tungsten Carolina-rig weight, tied to a swivel with a couple of beads, and then running that down to a Trokar TK100 5/0 standard worm hook. I’m throwing it on 15-pound Seaguar Tatsu fluorocarbon line with a Favorite (Fishing) Hex 7-foot, 6-inch heavy rod.
“Just dragging that around today I was able to catch a couple of fish, which was cool, but I really don’t feel very confident going into the Championship Round,” Becker went on to say. “I kind of beat up the fish that I’d been fishing for, and these guys behind me are catching a lot of big ones. It’ll take some serious weight to move onto the Championship round, so I’m going to have to adjust and hopefully find some new ones tomorrow.”
Reigning Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 43-7 to finish the round in second place, while Lynchburg, Virginia pro David Dudley ended the round in third place with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 42-12. Brent Ehrler of Redlands, California, caught 10 bass weighing 42-10 to land in fourth, while Bryan Thrift of Shelby, North Carolina, will advance to the Knockout Round with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 41 pounds, 8 ounces to round out the top five.
The remaining 40 anglers – the top 20 from each group – now advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round, where weights are zeroed, and the anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round on Sunday. Weights will carry over from the Knockout Round into the Championship Round, which will feature the final 10 anglers competing for the heaviest two-day cumulative total and the top prize of $100,000.
The top 20 pros from Group A that now advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round on Lake Guntersville are:
1st: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 10 bass, 46-13
2nd: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 10 bass, 43-7
3rd: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 10 bass, 42-12
4th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 10 bass, 42-10
5th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 10 bass, 41-8
6th: Shin Fukae, Osaka, Japan, 10 bass, 40-8
7th: Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 40-5
8th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 10 bass, 40-0
9th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 10 bass, 36-15
10th: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, 10 bass, 36-13
11th: Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., 10 bass, 36-10
12th: Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., 10 bass, 36-2
13th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Ala., 10 bass, 35-5
14th: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 35-4
15th: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 10 bass, 34-14
16th: Mark Daniels, Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 10 bass, 34-0
17th: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 33-15
18th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 10 bass, 33-14
19th: Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., 10 bass, 33-12
20th: Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., 10 bass, 33-5
Eliminated from competition are:
21st: David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn., 10 bass, 33-2
22nd: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 10 bass, 32-3
23rd: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., nine bass, 32-1
24th: Alton Jones, Sr., Lorena, Texas, 10 bass, 31-13
25th: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 10 bass, 30-6
26th: Boyd Duckett, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 30-3
27th: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 10 bass, 30-3
28th: Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., 10 bass, 29-4
29th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 10 bass, 29-3
30th: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., 10 bass, 28-3
31st: Mitch Crane, Columbus, Miss., 10 bass, 27-8
32nd: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., eight bass, 26-12
33rd: Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., eight bass, 26-5
34th: Jeff Kriet, Ardmore, Okla., 10 bass, 25-7
35th: Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., 10 bass, 23-11
36th: John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., 10 bass, 22-15
37th: Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., eight bass, 21-14
38th: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., nine bass, 21-14
39th: Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, seven bass, 16-1
40th: Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla., four bass, 8-0
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 323 scorable bass weighing 943 pounds, 3 ounces caught by the 40 pros Friday, which included 15 5-pounders, one 6-pounder and two 7-pounders.
Friday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award was awarded to pro David Dudley, who weighed in a 7-pound, 9-ounce largemouth which bit his signature Perfection Lures Wacky Worm in Period 2. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The six-day event, hosted by Marshall County Tourism & Sports, showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The 40 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day qualifying round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. Now that each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top 20 anglers from each group advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Sunday’s final day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
Anglers will launch each day at 7:30 a.m. CT each day from the Guntersville Civitan Park, located at 1130 Sunset Drive in Guntersville. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the launch locations, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
As part of the event, on Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21 the MLF Fan Experience will be taking place at Civitan Park in Guntersville from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate fishing and the outdoors with concerts in the park, hosted by Explore Lake Guntersville, featuring JUICE on Saturday and Jackson Chase on Sunday. Food and drinks will be available from local food trucks and fans can check out the latest gear and offerings from MLF and MLF sponsors including Toyota, Favorite Fishing, Kubota, U.S. Air Force, and The Fallen Outdoors. On Sunday, fans can hang out and watch the pros live on the MLF NOW! big screen during the MLF Watch Party. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and take selfies.
The Toro Stage Four at Lake Guntersville Presented by Bass Cat Boats will feature pros competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with each angler’s five (5) heaviest bass per day tallied as their day’s weight. Anglers strive to catch their heaviest five fish each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the live scoring SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, fishing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship, held March 13-17, 2024, on Lay Lake in Birmingham, Alabama.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Toro Stage Four at Lake Guntersville Presented by Bass Cat Boats will air as two, two-hour episodes starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 7 and Saturday, Oct. 14 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG + Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
McKinney hunts down the lead at Bassmaster Open on Wheeler Lake
Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Ill., is leading after Day 1 of the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Wheeler Lake with 21 pounds, 15 ounces.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
May 18, 202
DECATUR, Ala. — Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Ill., had no problem finding fish, but making sure he found the right ones proved essential to sacking up a limit of 21 pounds, 15 ounces and leading Day 1 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Wheeler Lake.
Currently sixth in the Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifier standings, McKinney divided his time among a few key areas, including the Decatur Flats, where he got bit in practice. Working specific spots within larger areas, he utilized his forward-facing sonar skills to discern bass from other Tennessee River dwellers.
“You have so many drum and catfish on this river, so if they’re not relating to cover, it’s hard to tell (the species),” McKinney explained. “I looked for fish relating to something. If you put several bass in a swimming pool and you put one rock in there, 90% of them are going to relate to that.
“On the flats, it’s the same thing — there’s so much flat bottom. So anytime you get an isolated piece of cover, it’s a high-percentage area. I was looking for stumps, rocks — anything that’s out of the ordinary. I was just covering as much water as I could with my Garmin LiveScope and looking for the right dots.”
After taking off in one of the middle flights, McKinney looked for an early shad spawn. But by the time he reached his area, this overnight/early morning frenzy had subsided. Once he realized that opportunity had fizzled, he transitioned to search mode.
“The shad spawn happens quickly when it does and, today, I really didn’t get it going,” he said. “I started on a spot where I thought I would do it, but the shad spawn is just kinda iffy.
“I might have missed it because I didn’t get there early enough, but they just hang out in the same area. I just put my trolling motor on 5 or 6 and hunted.”
McKinney caught a couple of keepers on a Strike King jig, but he tempted most of his bass on a finesse worm wacky rigged on a 2/0 Gamakatsu G-Finesse hook. He found the action of his 7-foot medium St. Croix Legend X spinning rod ideal for precise casts to submerged targets.
“I don’t know if my weights are going to be consistent for the next day because hunting is one of those things — if you come across them, you come across them,” McKinney said. “It’s not a guaranteed thing. But hopefully, I can get back in that area and see what I can make happen.
“I think they’re in that postspawn funk right now. They’re very inactive. Hopefully, I can see the right dots tomorrow and it can go. If not, we’ll just have to scrounge it out.”
Logan Johnson of Jasper, Ala., is in second place with 20-11. Boat traffic prevented him from starting where he had originally planned, but persistence served him well, as he eventually got into a rhythm of efficiently rotating through areas.
“I was just fishing ledges, hard spots and typical Tennessee River stuff,” Johnson said. “I caught fish from 10 feet out to deeper than that and all over the board.
“I caught fish on a mix of baits. The typical ledge stuff — crankbait, big worm, big bladed jig on the shallower spots. It seemed like you’d pull up on one of those ledges and you’d have to fire a full rotation (of baits) until you finally got one of them to bite.”
Johnson said he never got his ledge fish to fire up. Hot weather, high fishing pressure and low current flow were all likely contributors. As for Day 2, Johnson said he’ll be looking for early opportunities.
“I was boat 197, so I didn’t get any of the shad spawn today,” he said. “I’ll have an earlier boat number tomorrow so hopefully I’ll get some of it.”
Josh Bragg of Fayetteville, Ga., is in third place with 20-4. Fishing offshore ledges and getting off to a quick start, Bragg steadily caught fish throughout the day and eventually worked his way into a solid opening effort.
“I caught quite a few fish early and I had a small limit of 12 to 13 pounds,” Bragg said. “Periodically throughout the day, I just picked up one here and there. The shad spawn is fading away for me. I’m just starting on places where I saw shad spawning in practice. I think the fish are still hanging around.”
Bragg said he started with slower presentations and mostly stuck with that all day. As he noted, intense fishing pressure has the bass extremely wary, so he did best with dragging-style baits.
Bobby Lanham of Eddyville, Ky., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 6-14.
Tommy Wood of Sippy Downs, Australia, leads the co-angler division with 10-1.
Ashton Smith of Lake Helen, Fla., and Travis Turcotte of Pembroke, Canada, are tied for the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead among co-anglers with a 4-13.
Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6 a.m. CT from Ingalls Harbor. The weigh-in will be held back at Ingalls Harbor at 2 p.m. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.
2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Wheeler Lake 5/18-5/20
Wheeler Lake, Decatur AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 5 21-15 200
Day 1: 5 21-15
2. Logan Johnson Jasper, AL 5 20-11 199
Day 1: 5 20-11
3. Josh Bragg Fayetteville, GA 5 20-04 198
Day 1: 5 20-04
4. Kurt Mitchell Milford, DE 5 19-14 197
Day 1: 5 19-14
5. Clark Reehm Elm Grove, LA 5 19-12 196
Day 1: 5 19-12
6. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 5 19-11 195
Day 1: 5 19-11
7. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 5 19-02 194
Day 1: 5 19-02
8. Brayden Rakes Winston Salem, NC 5 18-13 193
Day 1: 5 18-13
9. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 5 18-10 192
Day 1: 5 18-10
10. Austin Cranford Norman, OK 5 18-09 191
Day 1: 5 18-09
11. John Garrett Union City, TN 5 18-08 190
Day 1: 5 18-08
12. Allen Johnson Trinity, AL 5 18-05 189
Day 1: 5 18-05
13. Ben Milliken New Caney, TX 5 18-04 188
Day 1: 5 18-04
14. JT Russell Mc Calla, AL 5 17-11 187
Day 1: 5 17-11
15. Derek Lehtonen Woodruff, SC 5 17-09 186
Day 1: 5 17-09
16. Sam George Athens, AL 5 17-07 185
Day 1: 5 17-07
17. Julius Mazy Phoenix, AZ 5 17-02 184
Day 1: 5 17-02
18. Logan Anderson Catawba, NC 5 16-12 183
Day 1: 5 16-12
19. Hunter Sales Blaine, TN 5 16-11 182
Day 1: 5 16-11
20. Justin Kimmel Athens, GA 5 16-08 181
Day 1: 5 16-08
21. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 5 16-07 180
Day 1: 5 16-07
22. Andrew Upshaw Hemphill, TX 5 16-06 179
Day 1: 5 16-06
23. Chris Blanchette Edisto Island, SC 5 16-05 178
Day 1: 5 16-05
24. Daisuke Kita Ostu Shiga JAPAN 5 16-04 177
Day 1: 5 16-04
25. Trevor Fitzgerald Belleview, FL 5 16-03 176
Day 1: 5 16-03
26. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 5 15-14 175
Day 1: 5 15-14
26. Blake Sylvester Plaquemine, LA 5 15-14 175
Day 1: 5 15-14
28. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 15-13 173
Day 1: 5 15-13
29. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 15-11 172
Day 1: 5 15-11
30. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 15-10 171
Day 1: 5 15-10
31. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 5 15-09 170
Day 1: 5 15-09
32. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 5 15-08 169
Day 1: 5 15-08
33. Matt Henry Milledgeville, GA 5 15-07 168
Day 1: 5 15-07
33. Jeff Magee Simpson Co., MS 5 15-07 168
Day 1: 5 15-07
33. Keith Tuma Brainerd, MN 5 15-07 168
Day 1: 5 15-07
36. Danny McGarry Newcastle CANADA 5 15-04 165
Day 1: 5 15-04
37. Brandon Tallhamer Parkersburg, WV 5 15-03 164
Day 1: 5 15-03
38. Evan Barnes Dardanelle, AR 5 15-01 163
Day 1: 5 15-01
39. Harry Peyton Guntersville, AL 5 15-01 162
Day 1: 5 15-01
40. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 5 15-00 161
Day 1: 5 15-00
41. Jaxon Sullivan Reagan, TN 5 14-15 160
Day 1: 5 14-15
42. Bryan New Saluda, SC 5 14-13 159
Day 1: 5 14-13
42. Jimmy Washam Stantonville, TN 5 14-13 159
Day 1: 5 14-13
44. Marc Schilling Carrollton, TX 5 14-12 157
Day 1: 5 14-12
45. Daniel Valois Gomez Caracas FL VENEZUELA 5 14-11 156
Day 1: 5 14-11
46. Alex Murray Lake Charles, LA 5 14-09 155
Day 1: 5 14-09
46. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 5 14-09 155
Day 1: 5 14-09
48. Ty Faber Pagosa Springs, CO 5 14-08 153
Day 1: 5 14-08
49. Andrew Hargrove Moody, TX 5 14-07 152
Day 1: 5 14-07
49. Christian Shoda Homosassa, FL 5 14-07 152
Day 1: 5 14-07
51. Jamie Bruce Kenora Ontario CANADA 5 14-05 150
Day 1: 5 14-05
51. Steve Morella Townshend, VT 5 14-05 150
Day 1: 5 14-05
51. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 5 14-05 150
Day 1: 5 14-05
54. Griffin Phillips Mount Olive, AL 5 14-01 147
Day 1: 5 14-01
55. Bronk Mcdaniel Alexandria, LA 5 14-00 146
Day 1: 5 14-00
56. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 14-00 145
Day 1: 5 14-00
57. Scout Echols Monticello, AR 5 13-15 144
Day 1: 5 13-15
57. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 5 13-15 144
Day 1: 5 13-15
59. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 5 13-14 142
Day 1: 5 13-14
60. Paul Browning Pecos, TX 5 13-14 141
Day 1: 5 13-14
60. Tucker Smith Shoal Creek, AL 5 13-14 141
Day 1: 5 13-14
62. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 5 13-12 139
Day 1: 5 13-12
62. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 5 13-12 139
Day 1: 5 13-12
64. Kyle Goltz Cornell, WI 5 13-11 137
Day 1: 5 13-11
65. Jacob Bigelow Cecil, WI 5 13-10 136
Day 1: 5 13-10
66. Danny Ramsey Trinidad, TX 5 13-08 135
Day 1: 5 13-08
67. Timmy Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 13-06 134
Day 1: 5 13-06
68. Buck Mallory Lawton, MI 5 13-04 133
Day 1: 5 13-04
68. Trevor McKinney Benton, IL 5 13-04 133
Day 1: 5 13-04
70. Greg Bohannan Bentonville, AR 5 13-04 131
Day 1: 5 13-04
71. Bailey Boutries Springfield, MO 5 13-03 130
Day 1: 5 13-03
72. Darrell Davis Dover, FL 5 13-02 129
Day 1: 5 13-02
73. Tommy Williams Shepherdsville, KY 5 13-00 128
Day 1: 5 13-00
74. Bobby Lanham Eddyville, KY 4 13-00 127
Day 1: 4 13-00
75. Mike Oncale Port Allen, LA 5 12-14 126
Day 1: 5 12-14
76. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 5 12-13 125
Day 1: 5 12-13
77. Zeke Gossett Pell City, AL 5 12-13 124
Day 1: 5 12-13
78. Takayuki Koike Otsu-City JAPAN 5 12-12 123
Day 1: 5 12-12
79. Keith Bardolf Abbeville, AL 5 12-11 122
Day 1: 5 12-11
79. Miles Burghoff Dayton, TN 5 12-11 122
Day 1: 5 12-11
79. Christopher Simmons Decatur, AL 5 12-11 122
Day 1: 5 12-11
79. David Wootton Collierville, TN 5 12-11 122
Day 1: 5 12-11
83. Lafe Messer Warfield, KY 5 12-10 118
Day 1: 5 12-10
84. Jamie Horton Centerville, AL 5 12-08 117
Day 1: 5 12-08
84. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 12-08 117
Day 1: 5 12-08
86. Frank Talley Temple, TX 5 12-06 115
Day 1: 5 12-06
87. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 12-05 114
Day 1: 5 12-05
88. Destin DeMarion Harborcreek, PA 5 12-05 113
Day 1: 5 12-05
88. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 5 12-05 113
Day 1: 5 12-05
90. Mark Cook Guntersville, AL 5 12-04 111
Day 1: 5 12-04
90. Jimmy Steed Zapata, TX 5 12-04 111
Day 1: 5 12-04
92. Jonathan Dietz Corry, PA 5 12-04 109
Day 1: 5 12-04
93. Michael Johnson Talking Rock, GA 5 12-03 108
Day 1: 5 12-03
94. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 5 12-03 107
Day 1: 5 12-03
95. Jake Maddux Birmingham, AL 5 12-02 106
Day 1: 5 12-02
96. Clayton Batts Butler, GA 5 12-01 105
Day 1: 5 12-01
96. B.J. Usie Bourg, LA 5 12-01 105
Day 1: 5 12-01
98. Brock Belik Orchard, NE 5 12-00 103
Day 1: 5 12-00
99. Shaine Campbell Brookeland, TX 5 11-15 102
Day 1: 5 11-15
99. Bart Stanisz Austin, TX 5 11-15 102
Day 1: 5 11-15
101. Steve Tennison Lexington, OK 5 11-14 100
Day 1: 5 11-14
102. Tim Frederick Leesburg, FL 5 11-13 99
Day 1: 5 11-13
102. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 5 11-13 99
Day 1: 5 11-13
104. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 5 11-12 97
Day 1: 5 11-12
105. Tim Arnold Crane Hill, AL 5 11-11 96
Day 1: 5 11-11
106. Sterling Bougher Mannford, OK 5 11-10 95
Day 1: 5 11-10
106. Josh Hubbard Dunnellon, FL 5 11-10 95
Day 1: 5 11-10
106. Chad Prough Chipley, FL 5 11-10 95
Day 1: 5 11-10
106. Tucker Veronee Gilbert, SC 5 11-10 95
Day 1: 5 11-10
110. Erik Brztowski Lemont, IL 5 11-09 91
Day 1: 5 11-09
111. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 11-07 90
Day 1: 5 11-07
111. Mike Surman Boca Raton, FL 5 11-07 90
Day 1: 5 11-07
113. Paul Bouvier Kingston CANADA 5 11-06 88
Day 1: 5 11-06
113. Billy McDonald Greenwood, IN 5 11-06 88
Day 1: 5 11-06
115. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 5 11-06 86
Day 1: 5 11-06
116. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 5 11-05 85
Day 1: 5 11-05
117. Steve Sennikoff Edgewood, TX 5 11-03 84
Day 1: 5 11-03
118. Kenny Mittelstaedt Minnetonka, MN 4 11-03 83
Day 1: 4 11-03
119. Ron Ryals Jr Live Oak, FL 5 11-02 82
Day 1: 5 11-02
120. David Kilgore Jasper, AL 5 11-00 81
Day 1: 5 11-00
120. Rick Mitchell Naples, FL 5 11-00 81
Day 1: 5 11-00
122. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 5 10-15 79
Day 1: 5 10-15
122. Jack York Emory, TX 5 10-15 79
Day 1: 5 10-15
124. Keith Brumfield Vicksburg, MS 5 10-15 77
Day 1: 5 10-15
125. Matt Pangrac Shawnee, OK 5 10-14 76
Day 1: 5 10-14
126. Jon Canada Helena, AL 5 10-12 75
Day 1: 5 10-12
126. James Meers Rome, GA 5 10-12 75
Day 1: 5 10-12
126. Jack Tindel III Orange, TX 5 10-12 75
Day 1: 5 10-12
129. Jess Beihoffer Soddy Daisy, TN 5 10-11 72
Day 1: 5 10-11
129. Alex Heintze Denham Springs, LA 5 10-11 72
Day 1: 5 10-11
129. Brian Post Janesville, WI 5 10-11 72
Day 1: 5 10-11
129. Caiden Sinclair Logan, AL 5 10-11 72
Day 1: 5 10-11
133. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 5 10-11 68
Day 1: 5 10-11
134. Justin Barnes Ellaville, GA 5 10-08 67
Day 1: 5 10-08
134. Blake Smith Lakeland, FL 5 10-08 67
Day 1: 5 10-08
136. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 10-08 65
Day 1: 5 10-08
137. Hugh Cosculluela Spring, TX 5 10-06 64
Day 1: 5 10-06
137. Casey Scanlon Eldon, MO 5 10-06 64
Day 1: 5 10-06
137. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 5 10-06 64
Day 1: 5 10-06
140. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 5 10-05 61
Day 1: 5 10-05
141. Cliff Overstreet Dothan, AL 4 10-04 60
Day 1: 4 10-04
142. A.J. Menssen Bloomington, IL 3 10-02 59
Day 1: 3 10-02
143. Hunter Bland Williston, FL 5 10-00 58
Day 1: 5 10-00
143. Briana Tucker Trinity, AL 5 10-00 58
Day 1: 5 10-00
145. Tom Frink Southside, AL 5 10-00 56
Day 1: 5 10-00
145. Kyle Gelles Pingree, ID 5 10-00 56
Day 1: 5 10-00
147. Brett Cannon Willis, TX 5 09-15 54
Day 1: 5 09-15
147. Reece Tremaglio Dunkirk, MD 5 09-15 54
Day 1: 5 09-15
149. Jason Lambert Savannah, TN 4 09-15 52
Day 1: 4 09-15
150. Brandon McMillan Clewiston, FL 5 09-11 51
Day 1: 5 09-11
150. Ish Monroe Oakdale, CA 5 09-11 51
Day 1: 5 09-11
152. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 09-08 49
Day 1: 5 09-08
152. Chad Warren Sand Springs, OK 5 09-08 49
Day 1: 5 09-08
154. Jim Dillard West Monroe, LA 5 09-07 47
Day 1: 5 09-07
154. Andrew Harp Linden, TX 5 09-07 47
Day 1: 5 09-07
156. Jack Dice Lynchburg, VA 5 09-07 45
Day 1: 5 09-07
157. Brady Vernon Sterrett, AL 5 09-06 44
Day 1: 5 09-06
158. Bo Collins Robbinsville, NC 4 09-06 43
Day 1: 4 09-06
159. Derek Hicks Rocky Face, GA 5 09-04 42
Day 1: 5 09-04
159. Jerry Lawler Athens, AL 5 09-04 42
Day 1: 5 09-04
159. Dave Turner Citrus Springs, FL 5 09-04 42
Day 1: 5 09-04
162. Chris Keeble Lenoir City, TN 5 09-04 39
Day 1: 5 09-04
163. Keith Nemcek St Charles, IL 4 09-04 38
Day 1: 4 09-04
164. Caleb Gibson Locust Grove, OK 4 09-04 37
Day 1: 4 09-04
165. Jerry Riddle Jr Summit, MS 5 09-03 36
Day 1: 5 09-03
166. Cody Detweiler Guntersville, AL 4 09-03 35
Day 1: 4 09-03
166. Nikki Jo Hatten Clanton, AL 4 09-03 35
Day 1: 4 09-03
166. Lance Owen Greer, SC 4 09-03 35
Day 1: 4 09-03
169. Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, MN 5 09-02 32
Day 1: 5 09-02
170. Parker Mott Winter Garden, FL 5 09-00 31
Day 1: 5 09-00
171. Scott Gibbs Rome, GA 5 08-15 30
Day 1: 5 08-15
171. Taylor Watkins Clinton, TN 5 08-15 30
Day 1: 5 08-15
173. Joey Hanna Corsicana, TX 5 08-14 28
Day 1: 5 08-14
174. Ryan Clark Whitby Ontario CANADA 5 08-13 27
Day 1: 5 08-13
174. Jason Meninger Yulee, FL 5 08-13 27
Day 1: 5 08-13
176. Scott Kerslake Okeechobee, FL 5 08-12 25
Day 1: 5 08-12
177. Frank Ramsey Spring Grove, IL 5 08-12 24
Day 1: 5 08-12
178. Jason Tibbetts Centreville, VA 5 08-11 23
Day 1: 5 08-11
179. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 5 08-09 22
Day 1: 5 08-09
180. Dalton Dowdy Newberry, SC 5 08-04 21
Day 1: 5 08-04
180. Michael Wooten White House, TN 5 08-04 21
Day 1: 5 08-04
182. Clayton Barnes Clanton, AL 5 08-04 19
Day 1: 5 08-04
183. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 4 08-04 18
Day 1: 4 08-04
184. Brad Leuthner Victoria, MN 5 08-03 17
Day 1: 5 08-03
185. Joe Labarbera Montrose, PA 5 08-02 16
Day 1: 5 08-02
186. Wil Dieffenbauch III Hundred, WV 5 08-02 15
Day 1: 5 08-02
187. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 5 08-01 14
Day 1: 5 08-01
188. Jason Abram Piney Flats, TN 5 07-15 13
Day 1: 5 07-15
189. Danny Hardy Cantonment, FL 4 07-15 12
Day 1: 4 07-15
190. Phil Killian Solomon, AZ 4 07-13 11
Day 1: 4 07-13
191. Jason Carpenter Castle Pines, CO 5 07-10 10
Day 1: 5 07-10
192. Clay Dyer Fayetteville, TN 5 07-05 9
Day 1: 5 07-05
193. Scott Isaacs Ladonia, TX 4 07-02 8
Day 1: 4 07-02
194. Louis Monetti Brielle, NJ 5 07-00 7
Day 1: 5 07-00
195. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 5 06-14 6
Day 1: 5 06-14
196. Tripp Noojin Bryant, AL 3 06-14 5
Day 1: 3 06-14
197. Kenji Yamada Hixson, TN 4 06-12 4
Day 1: 4 06-12
198. Mike Mayo Athens, TX 3 06-12 3
Day 1: 3 06-12
199. Daniel Rogers Morriston, FL 3 06-11 2
Day 1: 3 06-11
200. Scott Allgood Fair Play, SC 5 06-07 1
Day 1: 5 06-07
201. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 4 06-06 0
Day 1: 4 06-06
202. Craig Chambers Midland, NC 4 05-11 0
Day 1: 4 05-11
203. Frank Williams Mountain Home, AR 3 05-06 0
Day 1: 3 05-06
204. Randall Carter Maplesville, AL 3 05-00 0
Day 1: 3 05-00
205. Paul Tabisz Whitmore Lake, MI 3 04-14 0
Day 1: 3 04-14
206. Destry Ford Tuscaloosa, AL 2 04-13 0
Day 1: 2 04-13
206. Tyler Lubbat Wheeling, IL 2 04-13 0
Day 1: 2 04-13
208. Brian Mullaney Ijamsville, MD 3 04-07 0
Day 1: 3 04-07
209. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 4 04-06 0
Day 1: 4 04-06
210. Gary Caruso Baton Rouge, LA 3 04-06 0
Day 1: 3 04-06
211. Willy Dennison Willoughby Hills, OH 2 03-05 0
Day 1: 2 03-05
212. Jeremy Bogard Wilkesboro, NC 2 03-04 0
Day 1: 2 03-04
213. Colby Robertson Summerfield, FL 2 02-15 0
Day 1: 2 02-15
214. Seiji Kato Outsu Shiga JAPAN 1 02-12 0
Day 1: 1 02-12
215. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
216. Cody Bertrand Dyer, IN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
216. Tony Dumitras Winston, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
216. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
216. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
216. Currey Holley Madison, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
216. Matt Mollohan Batesburg, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 181 1016 2513-09
----------------------------------
181 1016 2513-09
2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Wheeler Lake 5/18-5/20
Wheeler Lake, Decatur AL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Tommy Wood Sippy Downs AUSTRALIA 3 10-01 200
Day 1: 3 10-01
2. Barney Boutries Mobile, AL 3 09-11 199
Day 1: 3 09-11
3. Jeremy Duke Gautier, MS 3 09-04 198
Day 1: 3 09-04
3. Ray Hill Lake City, FL 3 09-04 198
Day 1: 3 09-04
3. Dusty Wood Belton, SC 3 09-04 198
Day 1: 3 09-04
6. Mike Spears Jasper, AL 3 08-15 195
Day 1: 3 08-15
7. David Booth Erin, TN 3 08-10 194
Day 1: 3 08-10
7. Jimmy Brumfield Madison, MS 3 08-10 194
Day 1: 3 08-10
9. Ashton Smith Lake Helen, FL 3 08-07 192
Day 1: 3 08-07
10. Mark Hughes Saegertown, PA 3 08-02 191
Day 1: 3 08-02
11. Elliott Malone Tanner, AL 3 07-15 190
Day 1: 3 07-15
12. Johnnie Garrett Union City, TN 3 07-09 189
Day 1: 3 07-09
12. Ryan Shriber Franklin, TN 3 07-09 189
Day 1: 3 07-09
14. Ralph Gibson Locust Grove, OK 3 07-08 187
Day 1: 3 07-08
15. Byron Hill Miami, FL 3 07-07 186
Day 1: 3 07-07
15. Kyle Tonione Earleton, FL 3 07-07 186
Day 1: 3 07-07
17. Skyler Anderson Harlem, GA 3 07-06 184
Day 1: 3 07-06
18. Bobby Williams Salisbury, NC 3 07-05 183
Day 1: 3 07-05
19. Jon Jezierski Troy, MI 3 07-03 182
Day 1: 3 07-03
20. Greg Sloan Chipley, FL 3 07-01 181
Day 1: 3 07-01
21. Ronald Young New Braunfels, TX 3 07-00 180
Day 1: 3 07-00
22. Lynn Hoeffer Chesapeake, VA 3 06-14 179
Day 1: 3 06-14
22. Joe Tucker Osceola, MO 3 06-14 179
Day 1: 3 06-14
24. Donney Rorie Rienzi, MS 3 06-12 177
Day 1: 3 06-12
25. John Goul Philadelphia, MS 3 06-10 176
Day 1: 3 06-10
26. Brad Goetz Waunakee, WI 3 06-08 175
Day 1: 3 06-08
26. Todd Lee Jasper, AL 3 06-08 175
Day 1: 3 06-08
26. Chad Stahl Barnesville, GA 3 06-08 175
Day 1: 3 06-08
29. Christopher Dirgo Athens , AL 3 06-06 172
Day 1: 3 06-06
29. Eric Melton Flowood, MS 3 06-06 172
Day 1: 3 06-06
29. Chas Mobbs Decatur, AL 3 06-06 172
Day 1: 3 06-06
29. Bob Morin Seymour, TN 3 06-06 172
Day 1: 3 06-06
33. Steven Doolittle Chelsea, OK 3 06-03 168
Day 1: 3 06-03
34. Tristan Bramblett Tiger, GA 3 06-02 167
Day 1: 3 06-02
34. Allen Heston Pittsburg, TX 3 06-02 167
Day 1: 3 06-02
36. Steven Fischer Pace, FL 2 06-01 165
Day 1: 2 06-01
36. Troy Mims Suwanee, GA 2 06-01 165
Day 1: 2 06-01
38. Clyde Roberts Marshall, NC 3 05-15 163
Day 1: 3 05-15
39. Kris Mccarter Pheba, MS 3 05-15 162
Day 1: 3 05-15
40. Perry See Rochester, MN 3 05-14 161
Day 1: 3 05-14
41. Steven Smith Logan, OH 3 05-13 160
Day 1: 3 05-13
42. Wes Kinard Fosters, AL 3 05-12 159
Day 1: 3 05-12
42. Daniel Myers Harvest, AL 3 05-12 159
Day 1: 3 05-12
44. Gary Haraguchi Murfreesboro, TN 3 05-11 157
Day 1: 3 05-11
45. Sakae Ushio Tonawanda, NY 3 05-09 156
Day 1: 3 05-09
46. Dawson Wisner Palatka, FL 2 05-08 155
Day 1: 2 05-08
47. Nick Richey Aledo, TX 3 05-06 154
Day 1: 3 05-06
48. Mark Moore Freeport, FL 2 05-03 153
Day 1: 2 05-03
49. Jonathan Barnette Jasper, AL 3 05-02 152
Day 1: 3 05-02
49. John Higginbotham Slaughter, LA 3 05-02 152
Day 1: 3 05-02
51. Charles Reed Batesville, MS 3 05-02 150
Day 1: 3 05-02
52. Jordan McDonald Jackson, GA 3 05-01 149
Day 1: 3 05-01
52. Hiro Yasumoto Higasikagawashi, Kagawa 3 05-01 149
Day 1: 3 05-01
54. Corey Yaden Grovetown, GA 3 04-15 147
Day 1: 3 04-15
55. Rick Cheatham Carterville, IL 3 04-13 146
Day 1: 3 04-13
56. Louie Parkman Jr Brandon, MS 2 04-13 145
Day 1: 2 04-13
57. Travis Turcotte Pembroke CANADA 1 04-13 144
Day 1: 1 04-13
58. Dehn Ganey Bonneau, SC 3 04-12 143
Day 1: 3 04-12
59. Darrell Hille Springfield, TN 2 04-12 142
Day 1: 2 04-12
60. WK Luckett Jr Ridgeland, MS 3 04-11 141
Day 1: 3 04-11
61. Randy Lawrence Pensacola, FL 1 04-11 140
Day 1: 1 04-11
62. Philip Morris Jr Raleigh, NC 3 04-09 139
Day 1: 3 04-09
63. Michael Leach Shenandoah, TX 3 04-07 138
Day 1: 3 04-07
64. Thomas Crosswhite Hartwell, GA 2 04-07 137
Day 1: 2 04-07
65. Kenneth Ott Manahawkin, NJ 3 04-02 136
Day 1: 3 04-02
66. Matthew Rogers Chiefland, FL 2 04-02 135
Day 1: 2 04-02
66. Chad Sims Brownsburg, IN 2 04-02 135
Day 1: 2 04-02
68. Bradley Mealer Columbia, TN 2 04-01 133
Day 1: 2 04-01
69. John Gaivin Decatur, AL 2 04-00 132
Day 1: 2 04-00
70. Bill Hutchison Jr. Bessemer, AL 2 03-15 131
Day 1: 2 03-15
70. Billy Limerick Chandler, TX 2 03-15 131
Day 1: 2 03-15
72. Dylan Mayo Athens, TX 3 03-14 129
Day 1: 3 03-14
73. David Fischer Broken Arrow, OK 2 03-13 128
Day 1: 2 03-13
73. Cole Johnson Seymour, IN 2 03-13 128
Day 1: 2 03-13
73. David Stout Fair Play, SC 2 03-13 128
Day 1: 2 03-13
76. Byong Lee Stedman, NC 2 03-09 125
Day 1: 2 03-09
77. Jim Williams Winter Springs, GA 1 03-08 124
Day 1: 1 03-08
78. Joe Stokes Kentwood, LA 2 03-07 123
Day 1: 2 03-07
79. Marrell Deering Rome, GA 2 03-05 122
Day 1: 2 03-05
80. AJ Jones Lutz, FL 2 03-00 121
Day 1: 2 03-00
81. Austin Howard Granby, CO 1 03-00 120
Day 1: 1 03-00
82. Randy Tallhamer Brandenton, FL 1 02-13 119
Day 1: 1 02-13
83. Wesley Klees Huntsville, AL 1 02-09 118
Day 1: 1 02-09
84. Cody Richardson Gautier, MS 1 02-07 117
Day 1: 1 02-07
85. Avery Williams Murrells Inlt, SC 2 02-05 116
Day 1: 2 02-05
86. Eric Kingery Chillicothe, OH 1 02-05 115
Day 1: 1 02-05
87. Carl Hunter Snellville, GA 1 02-04 114
Day 1: 1 02-04
87. Kevin Mallow Kansas, OK 1 02-04 114
Day 1: 1 02-04
89. Eric Camarote The Villages, FL 1 02-00 112
Day 1: 1 02-00
89. Cody Koehler Acworth, GA 1 02-00 112
Day 1: 1 02-00
91. Chris Earles Lady Lake, FL 1 01-15 110
Day 1: 1 01-15
91. Archie Eslinger Paris, IL 1 01-15 110
Day 1: 1 01-15
93. Samuel Sharp Hillsboro, AL 1 01-14 108
Day 1: 1 01-14
94. Eric White Vinemont, AL 1 01-12 107
Day 1: 1 01-12
95. Clifford Wagner Huntsville, AL 1 01-08 106
Day 1: 1 01-08
96. Gary Bates Athens, AL 1 01-07 105
Day 1: 1 01-07
97. Austin Nelson Apopka, FL 1 01-05 104
Day 1: 1 01-05
98. Thomas Abraham Winchester, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
98. Bill Bruce Hendersonville, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
98. Steve Deyton Forest City, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
98. George Dirgo Rosamond, CA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
98. Shawn Martin Weirsdale, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
98. Larry Mcneil Meridianville, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
98. Jim O'Connell Jr Castle Rock, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
98. Landon Smith Decatur, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
98. Johnny Ward Jr Ludowici, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
98. Matthew Williams Westminster, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 57 232 510-00
----------------------------------
57 232 510-00
Rookie Jacob Wall Coasts to Qualifying Round Win at MLF Bass Pro Tour Toro Stage Four on Lake Guntersville
New Hope, Alabama Pro Catches Two-Day Total of 10 Bass Weighing 47-13 to Win Group A Qualifying Round, Top 20 Anglers Advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (May 18, 2023) – Bass Pro Tour Rookie Jacob Wall of New Hope, Alabama, launched his boat Thursday morning with a 2-pound, 12-ounce lead, and he never looked back. Wall boated 12 scorable bass Thursday, with his best five weighing 21 pounds, 5 ounces, to easily win the Qualifying Round for Group A at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Toro Stage Four at Lake Guntersville Presented by Bass Cat Boats.
Wall’s two-day total of 10 bass weighing 47 pounds, 13 ounces earned him the win by a 5-pound, 9-ounce margin over Addison, Alabama pro Jesse Wiggins, who finished the round in second place with a two-day catch of 10 bass totaling 42-4. Pro Zack Birge of Blanchard, Oklahoma, boated a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 41-9 to end the round in third place, while Berkley pro Adrian Avena of Vineland, New Jersey , finished in fourth place with a two-day total of 10 bass for 39-13. General Tire Heavy Hitters Champion Alton Jones, Jr., of Waco, Texas, rounded out the top five with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 39-10.
The top 20 anglers advancing from Group A will now have an off day from competition Friday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group B will complete their two-day Qualifying Round. The top 20 anglers from each group advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Sunday’s final day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
“What an awesome day,” Wall said in his post-game interview. “Winning today isn’t giving me anything extra or any sort of advantage, but it is an awesome feeling to be atop this phenomenal group of 40 anglers after two days of fishing on such a world-famous fishery. I have put in a lot of time out here over the last 4½ years since I moved here, and to be here on top amongst not only these really great names, but a lot of phenomenal local anglers – Ryan Salzman, Josh Butler, Chris Lane – a bunch of really big names. And to be on top right now – I’m just. so happy, and so thankful.”
Like Day 1, Wall spent the day targeting fish offshore early with a Nichols Lures Ben Parker Magnum Spoon. He said he pretty much stopped fishing at noon each day, spending the rest of his time scouting locations for the next day of competition.
“I did it again, today, on the spoons,” Wall said. “That has definitely been the key bait for me over the last couple of days, and hopefully they will be for the next couple of days going into the Knockout and Championship rounds.
“I’m throwing two different sizes,” Wall continued. “I’m throwing a big spoon on a little bit bigger, 8-foot Phenix M1 rod, and throwing the little bit smaller spoon on a 7-foot 8-inch medium-heavy Phenix M1. That rod is so versatile – I throw the spoons on it, but I also use it for a lot of other offshore baits this time of the year in the summer. The spoon has definitely been the deal for me this week, though.
“I’ve learned some cool stuff over the last couple of days that has me excited to go out and lay the hammer down on them Saturday in the Knockout Round, because I’ve been holding back the last two days around 11:30 to noon because I didn’t want to burn up too many fish,” Wall went on to say. “I’m excited to get back out there and see what I can catch.”
The top 20 pros from Group A that now advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round on Lake Guntersville are:
1st: Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., 10 bass, 47-13
2nd: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 10 bass, 42-4
3rd: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 10 bass, 41-9
4th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 10 bass, 39-13
5th: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, 10 bass, 39-10
6th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 38-11
7th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 36-8
8th: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 36-4
9th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 10 bass, 36-3
10th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., nine bass, 35-11
11th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 10 bass, 35-8
12th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 10 bass, 35-0
13th: Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas, 10 bass, 33-13
14th: Timmy Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala., nine bass, 33-9
15th: James Watson, Lampe, Mo., 10 bass, 33-7
16th: Josh Butler, Hayden, Ala., 10 bass, 33-5
17th: Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., 10 bass, 32-14
18th: Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla., 10 bass, 32-13
19th: Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, 10 bass, 32-9
20th: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 32-1
Eliminated from competition are:
21st: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 10 bass, 31-12
22nd: Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., 10 bass, 31-8
23rd: Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 10 bass, 31-8
24th: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., nine bass, 30-14
25th: Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 30-5
26th: Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss., 10 bass, 29-13
27th: Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 29-4
28th: Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., 10 bass, 29-0
29th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 28-15
30th: Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., nine bass, 28-4
31st: Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., 10 bass, 28-4
32nd: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 10 bass, 28-3
33rd: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 10 bass, 27-7
34th: Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 10 bass, 27-6
35th: Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., eight bass, 26-1
36th: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 10 bass, 25-0
37th: Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., eight bass, 23-10
38th: Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala., six bass, 21-5
39th: Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., eight bass, 20-3
40th: Roy Hawk, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., six bass, 15-15
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 311 scorable bass weighing 929 pounds, 9 ounces caught by the 40 pros Thursday, which included 11 5-pounders and one 6-pounder.
Pro Ott DeFoe of Blaine, Tennessee, caught the most weight for the day – 24 pounds, 15 ounces – and he also earned Thursday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a 6-pound, 10-ounce largemouth bass that he caught fishing a medium-diving crankbait late in Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The six-day tournament, hosted by Marshall County Tourism & Sports, showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST 2024 at Birmingham, Alabama’s Lay Lake, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The 40 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day qualifying round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top 20 anglers from each group advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Sunday’s final day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
Anglers will launch each morning at 7:30 a.m. CT each day from the Guntersville Civitan Park, located at 1130 Sunset Drive in Guntersville. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the launch locations, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
As part of the event, on Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21 the MLF Fan Experience will be taking place at Civitan Park in Guntersville from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate fishing and the outdoors with concerts in the park, hosted by Explore Lake Guntersville, featuring JUICE on Saturday and Jackson Chase on Sunday. Food and drinks will be available from local food trucks and fans can check out the latest gear and offerings from MLF and MLF sponsors including Toyota, Favorite Fishing, Kubota, U.S. Air Force, and The Fallen Outdoors. On Sunday, fans can hang out and watch the pros live on the MLF NOW! big screen during the MLF Watch Party. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and take selfies.
The Toro Stage Four at Lake Guntersville Presented by Bass Cat Boats features pros competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with each angler’s five (5) heaviest bass per day tallied as their day’s weight. Anglers strive to catch their heaviest five fish each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the live scoring SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, fishing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship, held March 13-17, 2024, on Lay Lake in Birmingham, Alabama.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Toro Stage Four at Lake Guntersville Presented by Bass Cat Boats will air as two, two-hour episodes starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 7 and Saturday, Oct. 14 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG + Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
B.A.S.S. Nation Southeast Regional takes on Douglas Lake
Jefferson County, Tenn., will host the 2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Southeast Regional at Douglas Lake May 24-26.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
May 18, 2023
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Tenn. — Teams from 10 states across the Southeast will converge in east Tennessee May 24-26 for the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Southeast Regional at Douglas Lake, and Bassmaster Elite Series pro Skylar Hamilton believes plenty of bass will be caught.
“You can catch 12 pounds in 30 feet of water or catch 12 pounds flipping shallow or fishing up the river. Whatever you want to do, you can catch 12 pounds,” the Dandridge, Tenn., native said. “A 4-pounder is like gold on Douglas. It will be a fun but frustrating time of year. You will catch a lot of fish, but size will (be hard to come by).”
Nestled in the hills of Jefferson County, Douglas Lake provides the opportunity to catch quality largemouth and spotted bass. Douglas has played host to several B.A.S.S. events, most recently the 2021 St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open won by Daisuke Aoki with 43 pounds, 13 ounces.
The Southeast Regional will feature teams from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Anglers will launch out of the Dandridge Dock Boat Ramp each day at 6:30 a.m. ET, returning to the harbor at 2:30 p.m. for weigh-in. The full field will compete on Days 1 and 2, while Day 3 will feature the Top 16 boaters and nonboaters along with the top two boaters and nonboaters from each state if they are not already in the Top 16. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.
Smallmouth and largemouth bass are the showcase species at Douglas Lake, and both will likely play a big role. The bass will be targeting gizzard and threadfin shad, as well as bluegill and crawfish.
The end of May historically is the time a lot of the bass will make their move to their offshore areas, Hamilton said. Both largemouth and smallmouth will congregate in these areas, which are long points that have slate and gravel patches, brushpiles and rockpiles as well as ledges and dropoffs.
“It’s when the females that just got done spawning are recuperating offshore,” Hamilton said. “That is prime time. The good thing about Douglas is, they don't have far to swim. There isn’t a big migration. They are up in a bush one day, and the next day they can be out on the ledge in 25 feet of water.”
These bass can be caught with the regular assortment of offshore techniques like deep-diving crankbaits, football jigs, spoons and big worms. Finesse presentations have also become popular choices on Douglas. With limited amounts of cover, forward-facing sonar will likely play a big role.
“Those fish get pressured so fast,” Hamilton added. “It will be (whoever) finds a group of fish that isn’t as pressured or rotates as many spots as they can.”
At the same time, there are plenty of bass that stay shallow as well. What those fish will be on will be determined by the water level, which will still be rising up to summer pool. A big rain event could send the water into the bushes, which will provide more cover and opportunity for ambush points.
“The way things are now, you can fish shallow on Douglas and do just as well if not better than someone who is offshore,” Hamilton said. “Anything on Douglas that is shallow can hold a fish. We don’t have any grass, so if there is something in the water up shallow there will likely be a fish next to it.”
It will be the angler's choice on how they want to catch these shallow bass. Topwaters, squarebills and spinnerbaits will likely play a role, as well as swimbaits.
The top-finishing boater and co-angler from each state represented in this tournament will earn a spot in the 2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on legendary Lake Hartwell Oct. 18-20.
Garrett Omnipresent in Bassmaster® Opens Points Race
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
**Photo provided by Dalton Tumblin / B.A.S.S. **
If you follow competitive bass fishing, there’s a good chance you’ve heard the name John Garrett. At only twenty-six yearsold, the Bassmaster Opens EQ competitor has an impressive tournament resume, which includes holding the leader positionof the 2023 St. Croix Opens EQ points standings.
In 2016, Garrett won the Bassmaster® College Series Classic Bracket, earning a spot in the 2017 Bassmaster Classic® as a sophomore in college. After a solid showing in the Classic, Garrett went on to lead the points race in the Central division of the Bassmaster Opens until the final tournament of the season.
Ultimately, he finished one spot out of achieving his dream of qualifying for the Bassmaster Elite Series that year, and then took 2018-19 off from Opens competition to focus on his education and graduate from Bethel University.
Garrett came back to the Opens with a vengeance in 2020, finishing in fifth place overall in the points standings. However, only the top four received Elite invites. In 2021, the Skeeter-Yamaha pro heartbreakingly fell one single point short of qualifying for the Elite Series.
Last year Garrett once again finished in the top ten in the Opens points race, but not high enough to take the next step in his professional fishing career. Garrett has proven his fishing prowess repeatedly at the college and Opens level. Now three tournaments in to the 2023 Opens EQ season, it looks as though he’ll have a chance to knock at the door of Elite Series qualification once again.
The Tennessee native started his 2023 Opens EQ campaign with back-to-back fourth place finishes before ending the Buggs Island tournament in 18th place. In the process, Garrett earned $3,000 of bonus money from Yamaha’s popular Power Pay program.
“That money goes a long way for a guy like me at the Opens level,” explained Garrett. “It’s hard to get a lot of sponsorship support fishing the Opens, and I have a wife with a child on the way, so every single dollar I can earn means the world to our family.”
Garrett was the highest finishing Power Pay eligible angler at the Lake Eufaula Open and the second highest finisher running a 2019 or newer Yamaha Outboard at Toledo Bend, collecting a Power Pay check at each tournament.
“I’ve been a big proponent of the Power Pay program since it was announced, but I’ve had a Yamaha on the back of every boat I’ve owned because of the quality and reliability,” said Garrett. “The first boat I bought my senior year of high school was a used Skeeter powered by a Yamaha. I’ve run a 250-horsepower Yamaha V MAX SHO® on a Skeeter in the Opens competitions since 2020, and I have Yamahas on both of my G3 aluminum boats for my duck guiding business.”
Garrett’s fondness of the Yamaha brand runs deep, beginning in his youth when he would help at his grandpa’s boat dealership, Union City Marine in northwest Tennessee. It’s hard to not wish for continued success for Garrett, who remains humble and steady throughout the peaks and valleys of his young career.
Ideally, he’ll continue to cash in a few more Power Pay bonuses as he continues to work toward achieving his ultimate goal of qualifying for the Elite Series at the end of the 2023 season.
Yamaha Power Pay supports hundreds of tournaments from the high school level to team tournament trails, and all the way up to the professional ranks. For a full list of events and payouts or for more information head to www.yamahapowerpay.com/
Throwback Thursday - Flippin’: A Concept Not Just A Technique – Part 3
By Terry Battisti - Bass Fishing Archives
This is part three of a three-part series on the concept of flipping and the effect it had on the sport. In this final installment, we talked with Hank Parker and Denny Brauer about how the technique changed their careers. To read Part One click here and to read Part Two click here.
Hank Parker
Although Hank Parker may not have designed a lure or piece of equipment having to do with flipping, he is arguably the angler who put the technique on the map for good.
Up until the ’79 Classic on Lake Texoma, flipping wasn’t much more than something serious anglers kept to themselves. Yes, it had been the determining technique to win national events and had been written about in Bass Master Magazine – a six-part series in 1976 –still few anglers had adopted the long rod into their repertoire.
That all changed when Parker won the ’79 Classic – flipping had finally come of age. Parker’s introduction to flipping came early. He was first introduced to it in 1976 when, as he says, “Klein was still in diapers.”
“I saw Dave Gliebe catch 95-15 on Lake Okeechobee in an American Bass event in 1976,” he said. “The conditions for that tournament were horrible and it blew my mind that he could catch that much weight.
“Then six weeks later he won another event on Kentucky Lake under perfect conditions and that really made me think twice about the technique. It was something that worked in all conditions. “After those two events, I started doing a lot of research on the technique and found out that it was invented by Dee Thomas."
“What really intrigued me about it was how well the technique could illicit a reaction strike,” he said. “My dad had always taught me that fish won’t chase a bait down all the time. Sometimes you have to hit them on the head and make them strike out of aggression or territorial rights. Plus, in muddy water, where their field of vision is limited, you sometimes have to hit them on the head – get in their face. There’s never been a better method than flipping for doing that."
“A lot of times during cold-front conditions, the fish bury themselves in the cover and they’re not in an aggressive mood. Back before flipping, who knew you could take a 7- or 8-foot rod and place a lure right on top of their head and get a reaction strike out of them?”
As stated earlier, Parker’s ’79 Classic victory put flipping on the national map. Although Basil Bacon got second, also flipping, the event could have had a different result for a couple of reasons.
“That Classic would have turned out a lot differently if not for two events,” Parker said. “First, the water was perfect for throwing a blade and that’s a bait I’d had great success with over the years."
"I’d been throwing it without much success and then I ran into Forrest Wood. He told me he’d caught two fish flipping and lost a couple of others. After that, I fished an incredible area and didn’t get a bite on the blade. I thought to myself, ‘They had to be there.’ I went back and flipped the same area I’d just gone through and caught three fish on four
flips. I had 11 or 12 pounds which was amazing for Texoma at the time."
“By 10:30 in the morning, I had 16 pounds and left it alone. In the process, I’d also broken my only flipping stick, a prototype that I was testing, and had to switch to a 6-foot pistol-grip rod. I caught a couple fish using that rod but it was by no means the right equipment."
“After the weigh-in, I went to Harold Sharp and asked him if I could get another rod. Back in those days, you were given a weight limit on tackle and a limit on the number of rods you could use. Because I had brought a flipping stick with me, Harold decided it would be okay if I went out and got another rod. Back then, though, you couldn’t find a flipping stick at most tackle shops."
“I knew Gary [Klein] had a few so I went and asked him if I could borrow one of his. He said yes and that’s what helped me win. Gary really came to my rescue. I really doubt I could have won it if I had to fish that 6-foot rod.”
Denny Brauer
1984.
Dee Thomas may have invented the technique, Dave Gliebe may have been the first person to really utilize it east of the Mississippi, Gary Klein and Basil Bacon may have made strides in tackle developed specifically for the technique and Hank Parker may have been the angler who really cemented its place in the sport. It would be tough to argue, though, if there’s ever been another angler over the course of time that’s made more money flipping than Denny Brauer. He’s third on the all-time winners list with 17 Bass Master victories and 37 top-3 finishes. Not only that, he designed the first tube specifically for flipping.
Brauer’s career started in Nebraska as a Federation angler and fishing the now-defunct U.S. Bass circuit in the mid-to late-70s. He learned of the flipping technique from a six-part series published in Bass Master Magazine written by Dee Thomas and Dave Gliebe through Dave Myers. Although he wouldn’t know it for some time, that series would change his life.
“Flipping first came to my attention in Bass Master Magazine around 1976,” he said. “I couldn’t get a Flippin’ Stik but a friend of mine made a couple of them out of long rods and I went out with him in his boat and used one. Then I bought my first flipping stick, a Bass Pro Shops rod called The Dabbler."
“There weren’t many people around here that flipped so I had no choice but to learn it on my own through trial and error,” he said. “I practiced flipping and pitching a bunch and within a year got fairly decent at it. It played a part in a lot of bass club wins right off the bat. “It was deadly on the chain of lakes I was fishing at the time,” he said. “I was fishing for fish that a lot of anglers weren’t targeting."
"The watersheds lakes we competed on in Nebraska back then had lots of cover and were great for the flipping method.”
The technique helped him make the ’78 and ’80 Federation Nationals, which is what jump-started his national debut with BASS. It’d take him two years to make the Classic and another two to win his first event but he was sold on the power of flipping.
“When I started fishing the BASS events in 1980, almost everyone was flipping,” he said. “I remember the first national event I won on Sam Rayburn (TX, 1984). All the fish I caught were on flipping and pitching techniques. The fish were on the deeper willows and you had to be really precise. I landed a very high percentage of my bites that event”
Brauer was never content with the status quo with the technique, though. “The main baits we used back in the early days were jigs, worms, and lizards,” he said. “Tubes were out but no one liked to fish them because they were too short and they were single-walled baits and that didn’t stay on the hook very well. They’d always want to slide down the hook. You had to improvise a lot in order for them to be effective."
“Then I won the ‘98 Classic on High Rock and that changed everything. “I’d been on a good flip bite with jigs and worms before the lake went off limits but when I went back for the one-day official practice, the fish wouldn’t eat the jig. I don’t know what happened but the fish changed. It really surprised me because the fish were locked on the jig the month before."
“I changed up to a tube and they ate it. The forage the fish were eating was the same size as the tube and they keyed in on that size difference. “After the Classic, I met with the folks down at Strike King and they let me design the first flipping tube.”
The ’98 season provided more than his Classic win, though. In all, he won four BassMaster events in which flipping played a role in two of them. He became known as the preeminent flipper. During the interview, I had a chance to ask him how he felt the technique has changed over the years.
“The gear has made it a lot easier to flip all day compared to what we had when I first started,” he said. “My first actual flipping stick was that Bass Pro Shops Dabbler.’ I broke that rod so many times but it was a great rod. The only problem was it was so heavy. You had to be in shape to fish it all day long. The funny thing right now is I’m meeting with a major retailer about a new line of rods I’m launching with Ardent. They’re so much lighter than that old Dabbler. Today’s rods are at a completely new level now compared to the old days."
“Also back then there was only one flipping stick size, action, and power. Today anglers can choose from a number of different rods to fit what they need at the time. For example, I’ve designed four separate flipping sticks for Ardent ranging from a 7’-4” light flipping stick to a 7’-10” heavy action rod."
“The reels have also come a long way,” he said. “The Ardent F700 has a Perma-Lock Drag System and nose cone (no level wind) that allows anglers to pitch a jig a lot farther than a standard-style reel. Plus, the narrow spool doesn’t waste a lot of line."
“With the tackle today anglers are spoiled with how light, sensitive and responsive the gear is. It used to be the rod would work against you.”
Brauer will forever be known in the world of bass fishing as one of the best flippers the sport has ever produced. I was interested in hearing from him how he felt the technique played a role in his career.
“Without a doubt, it did a lot for me,” he said. “Not just for winning and placing but it also played a major role in marketing myself. Flipping has made my career a lot easier. In fact, when I started out I figured I’d be a blade guy. I guess it didn’t turn out that way.”
Matt Becker Smacks 30½-Pound Limit to Lead Group B at MLF Bass Pro Tour Toro Stage Four on Lake Guntersville
Ten Mile, Tennessee Pro Catches 30-9 To Lead Big Early for Group B, Group A Anglers to Wrap Qualifying Round Thursday
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (May 17, 2023) – For the second day in a row, the young talent on the Bass Pro Tour is shining bright. After rookie pro Jacob Wall of New Hope, Alabama, took the lead for Group A on Tuesday, fellow Bass Pro Tour rookie Matt Becker of Ten Mile, Tennessee, followed suit on Wednesday. Becker caught 15 scorable bass Wednesday, with his top five weighing 30 pounds, 9 ounces, to jump out to the early lead for Qualifying Group B at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Toro Stage Four at Lake Guntersville Presented by Bass Cat Boats. Becker will bring a comfortable 7-pound, 15-ounce advantage into Day 2 of competition on Friday over second-place angler Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, South Carolina, who weighed in five bass totaling 22-10 to end the day in second place.
The six-day event, hosted by Marshall County Tourism & Sports, showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The 40 anglers in Group B will now have an off day on Thursday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group A will complete their two-day Qualifying Round of competition. Group B will conclude their Qualifying Round on Friday.
“That was the biggest bag of fish that I have ever caught in my life,” Becker said in his post-game interview. “I can’t believe that happened. That was just incredible. The Lord is so good, and he blessed me so much today. He put me to the test this morning – he really tested my patience. I could not get them to bite. I was looking at them on the graph and I could see them there, but they weren’t biting. Then I broke a couple of off… he was just testing me and putting me through it. And then he gave me a half hour towards the end of the day that was absolutely incredible.”
Becker said he struggled for the majority of the day before his exciting afternoon.
“I struggled pretty much all day,” he said. “I caught a limit in the first period for like 13 pounds, and then just very slowly upgraded. And then at 2:45 I caught a 6-pounder, and that’s when the magic started happening.
“I caught a 6-pounder and it got me to like 18 pounds, and then I decided I’m going to pull the trolling motor and go somewhere else. I ran down to this other spot, and it was mayhem for about 5 minutes. That got me up to 30 pounds, and it was absolutely incredible.”
Of the five fish that Becker scored Wednesday, three came on a crankbait and two came on a white hair jig.
“I had a ton of rods on my deck, and threw a bunch of different baits,” Becker said. “The key bait for me today, though, was the hair jig – a ledge staple and one of my favorite ways to catch them. It’s so much fun when they load up on the hair jig. I was throwing it on my Favorite Signature MDJ Hex rod – it’s a pretty big rod for big fish, 7-foot, 8-inch, heavy – with 15-pound Seaguar Invisx Fluorocarbon line and an 8.1:1 gear ratio reel.
“I’m very excited to have the lead, but I know that the work isn’t done,” Becker went on to say. “There is a lot of work left to do on Friday. Hopefully we can make the Knockout Round and go from there.”
The standings for the 40 pros in Group B after Day 1 on Lake Guntersville are:
1st: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., five bass, 30-9
2nd: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., five bass, 22-10
3rd: Shin Fukae, Osaka, Japan, five bass, 22-6
4th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., five bass, 21-14
5th: Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 21-4
6th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., five bass, 20-15
7th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 20-15
8th: Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., five bass, 20-14
9th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., five bass, 19-14
10th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., three bass, 19-6
11th: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, five bass, 19-1
12th: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., five bass, 18-9
13th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Ala., five bass, 18-9
14th: Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., five bass, 18-6
15th: Alton Jones, Sr., Lorena, Texas, five bass, 17-10
16th: Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., five bass, 17-4
17th: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 16-14
18th: Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., five bass, 16-10
19th: Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., five bass, 16-1
20th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., five bass, 15-15
21st: David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn., five bass, 15-15
22nd: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, five bass, 15-14
23rd: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., five bass, 15-11
24th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., five bass, 15-8
25th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 15-2
26th: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., five bass, 14-11
27th: Mark Daniels, Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., five bass, 14-5
28th: Boyd Duckett, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 13-10
29th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., three bass, 13-5
30th: Mitch Crane, Columbus, Miss., five bass, 12-14
31st: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 12-11
32nd: Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., five bass, 12-8
33rd: Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., five bass, 11-9
34th: Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, five bass, 11-9
35th: Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 11-2
36th: John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., five bass, 11-1
37th: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., three bass, 10-15
38th: Jeff Kriet, Ardmore, Okla., five bass, 10-10
39th: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., four bass, 10-1
40th: Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla., three bass, 5-11
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 344 scorable bass weighing 993 pounds, 10 ounces caught by the 40 pros Wednesday, which included 16 5-pounders and six 6-pounders.
Becker and pro Brett Hite of Phoenix, Arizona, shared Wednesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award, as each weighed in a bass totaling 6-pounds, 13-ounces to split the daily prize. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top 20 anglers from each group advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Sunday’s final day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
Anglers will launch each day at 7:30 a.m. CT each day from the Guntersville Civitan Park, located at 1130 Sunset Drive in Guntersville. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the launch locations, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
As part of the event, on Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21 the MLF Fan Experience will be taking place at Civitan Park in Guntersville from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate fishing and the outdoors with concerts in the park, hosted by Explore Lake Guntersville, featuring JUICE on Saturday and Jackson Chase on Sunday. Food and drinks will be available from local food trucks and fans can check out the latest gear and offerings from MLF and MLF sponsors including Toyota, Favorite Fishing, Kubota, U.S. Air Force, and The Fallen Outdoors. On Sunday, fans can hang out and watch the pros live on the MLF NOW! big screen during the MLF Watch Party. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and take selfies.
The Toro Stage Four at Lake Guntersville Presented by Bass Cat Boats will feature pros competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with each angler’s five (5) heaviest bass per day tallied as their day’s weight. Anglers strive to catch their heaviest five fish each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the live scoring SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, fishing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship, held March 13-17, 2024, on Lay Lake in Birmingham, Alabama.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Toro Stage Four at Lake Guntersville Presented by Bass Cat Boats will air as two, two-hour episodes starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 7 and Saturday, Oct. 14 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG + Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Davis vs Goliath
The latest winner of the Bassmaster Elite Series, Will Davis Jr, talks about fishing on his home pond and what it means to represent the BASS Nation fishing at the top level
Eyes as Important as Electronics on Guntersville
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
Casey Ashley and the rest of Group B are taking on the Tennessee River today for day one of their Qualifying Round for Toro Stage Four of the Bass Pro Tour on legendary Lake Guntersville. The Costa Sunglasses pro said he intends to use his eyes to locate bass this week as much as he’ll use his electronics, something you might not expect to hear at a TVA tournament in mid-May.
“You keep hearing it from everybody but this ain’t the same Guntersville of the past,” said the even-keeled South Carolina pro. “The water is so clear right now in this lake it’s hardly recognizable. I’ve got a few offshore places I’ll stop at throughout the day, but most of my time is going to be spent looking shallow.”
Like we’ve heard from many competitors, Ashley explained that the abundance of eelgrass in Lake Guntersville is not only making certain techniques difficult or impossible to fish, but it’s cleaned the water clarity up in such a way that Guntersville is fishing like a different lake.
“The water clarity is showing we might not know as much about the bass in this pond as we thought we did,” smiled Ashley. “We’ve come here a bunch of times in my career, and you never heard anyone talking about bream beds. I mean I had never seen a bream bed here in my life. I don’t know if that’s just because you couldn’t see them with the dirtier water or what, but you can sure see them this week and that’s what I’m planning to target.”
Ashley spent some hours in practice graphing with his Lowrance electronics, but he spent just as much time covering water on his trolling motor looking for bass and bluegill spawning beds. He’d drop a waypoint anytime he would see or spook a quality bass and will revisit those spots throughout the week relying predominantly on a wacky-rigged Zoom Trick Worm, though he plans to keep a topwater honest when the conditions call for it.
Targeting bream beds and resident shallow bass is one of Ashley’s favorite ways to fish, and is a tactic made much easier with the right pair of sunglasses. Ashley is wearing Costa’s Corbina PRO frame and says the Sunrise Silver lens color has been a major key when visually picking off shallow bass. Small details and subtleties are paramount with any kind of sight fishing.
“Sunrise Silver is the deal for overcast conditions like we have today, but honestly this lens has become my favorite whether it’s sunny or cloudy,” explained Ashley. “I’m actually color blind and there is just something about the contrast you get with Sunrise Silver that helps me see more fish, which leads to catching more fish.”
While Lake Guntersville has undergone a lot of changes, the intense fishing pressure has remained consistent, and Ashley said you need to use every trick in the playbook to catch big shallow bass in this fishery. Long casts, finesse presentations, Power Poles locking your position and lots of patience will be crucial for Ashley and other Bass Pro Tour competitors looking to catch skinny water largemouth on Guntersville this week.
Help Save Lives with Free PSA's
|
The Future Angler Foundation has partnered with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Into the Outdoors Education Network to grow a safety-conscious community of boaters by empowering youth, and the adults around them, to think critically about the consequences of their actions. |
|
Forestville, WI (May 17, 2023) – Many boating accidents are caused by human error and could have been prevented with proper boating knowledge and preparation. The following eight (8) Public Service Announcements reveal some of the most common causes of boating accidents and related deaths, and how viewers can prevent those accidents. To help your audiences and the messaging of your boating safety education programs, please feel free to use these open-source PSAs on your websites, networks, social media outlets, TV shows, videos and safety education campaigns. |
|
|
It only takes a moment to download these free PSAs. Simply click on the linked titles below, then click on the “Download Video” to get the full HD 1920x1080 (h264) version. By all working together on educating the boating public, we can help prevent future accidents with proper boating safety knowledge. Also, explore, download and use these boating safety classroom educational videos and their related classroom lesson activities in your boating safety education programs. Like the PSA's they are free open-source. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Local Favorite Jacob Wall Takes Day 1 Lead at MLF Bass Pro Tour Toro Stage Four on Lake Guntersville
New Hope, Alabama Rookie Catches 26-8 To Lead Early for Group A, 40 Anglers in Group B to Begin Competition Tomorrow
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (May 16, 2023) – Bass Pro Tour Rookie Jacob Wall of New Hope, Alabama, boated 16 scorable bass Tuesday, with his best five weighing 26 pounds, 8 ounces, to take the early lead in Qualifying Group A on Day 1 of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Toro Stage Four at Lake Guntersville Presented by Bass Cat Boats.
Wall will bring a 2-pound, 12-ounce, lead into Thursday’s second day of competition for Group A. In second place on the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard is Addison, Alabama pro Jesse Wiggins, who caught five bass weighing 23-12. New Jersey pro Adrian Avena sits in third place, 3 pounds, 5 ounces back of Wall with five bass weighing 23-3.
The six-day event, hosted by Marshall County Tourism & Sports, showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The 40 anglers in Group A will now have an off day from competition on Wednesday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group B will begin their first day of competition. Group A will resume competition on Thursday.
“What a great way to start the tournament. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to fish for Stage 4,” Wall said in his post-game interview. “Today was just a super fun day. I live about 25 minutes from where I’m sitting in the boat, and I had some of my best friends following me around this morning, and they got to witness me catch right up to 24¾ pounds, which was super cool. It was just one of those days where every decision that I made was the right one.”
Wall spent his morning targeting bass out deep with a Nichols Lures Magnum Spoon. In the afternoon he caught a couple of upgrades on a big glide bait.
“Those last 2 or 3 big ones I caught, I ran to a community hole – a spot that every local, and every pro in this tournament probably knows about it because it’s so obvious – and figured I would experiment with some baits and try some different stuff out,” Wall said. “I picked up a big swimbait and I couldn’t believe it. I caught a 5-something, and then an almost-5, and then another good one on it. And then I didn’t make another cast in there. I didn’t want to educate those fish any more than I already had with those three casts. I only made about five or six casts total with that swimbait and they acted like they had never seen it before.
“Those fish that I caught late this afternoon were 15 to 20 miles away from where I caught my fish this morning, so it was just one of those days,” Wall went on to say. “I’m looking forward to getting back out here in two days to hopefully catch enough to make the Knockout round, so then I can go out there and crush on them again and make the Championship Round. That’s ultimately the goal – to be fishing that final day and have a shot at the title this week on Lake Guntersville.”
The standings for the 40 pros in Group A after Day 1 on Lake Guntersville are:
1st: Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., five bass, 26-8
2nd: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., five bass, 23-12
3rd: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., five bass, 23-3
4th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 21-7
5th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., five bass, 21-0
6th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, five bass, 19-12
7th: Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala., five bass, 19-6
8th: Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, five bass, 19-5
9th: Timmy Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala., five bass, 18-13
10th: Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., five bass, 18-5
11th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 18-1
12th: Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas, five bass, 18-1
13th: Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., five bass, 17-12
14th: Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., five bass, 17-3
15th: Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 16-15
16th: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, five bass, 16-13
17th: Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., five bass, 16-12
18th: Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., five bass, 16-5
19th: Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss., five bass, 16-4
20th: Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla., five bass, 16-2
21st: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, five bass, 15-14
22nd: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 15-8
23rd: Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 15-4
24th: Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 14-15
25th: Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., five bass, 14-14
26th: James Watson, Lampe, Mo., five bass, 14-3
27th: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., five bass, 14-1
28th: Josh Butler, Hayden, Ala., five bass, 14-0
29th: Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., five bass, 14-0
30th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., five bass, 13-14
31st: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., five bass, 13-7
32nd: Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 13-5
33rd: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., five bass, 13-4
34th: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., five bass, 12-7
35th: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 11-13
36th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 11-4
37th: Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., five bass, 11-0
38th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., four bass, 10-12
39th: Nick Lebrun, Bossier City, La., four bass, 10-11
40th: Roy Hawk, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., three bass, 7-0
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 351 scorable bass weighing 1,018 pounds, 11 ounces caught by the 40 pros Tuesday, which included eight 5-pounders and two 6-pounders.
Berkley pro Adrian Avena earned the daily $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award Tuesday with a 6-pound, 3-ounce largemouth bass that bit in Period 2. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top 20 anglers from each group advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Sunday’s final day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
Anglers will launch each day at 7:30 a.m. CT each day from the Guntersville Civitan Park, located at 1130 Sunset Drive in Guntersville. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the launch locations, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
As part of the event, on Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21 the MLF Fan Experience will be taking place at Civitan Park in Guntersville from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate fishing and the outdoors with concerts in the park, hosted by Explore Lake Guntersville, featuring JUICE on Saturday and Jackson Chase on Sunday. Food and drinks will be available from local food trucks and fans can check out the latest gear and offerings from MLF and MLF sponsors including Toyota, Favorite Fishing, Kubota, U.S. Air Force, and The Fallen Outdoors. On Sunday, fans can hang out and watch the pros live on the MLF NOW! big screen during the MLF Watch Party. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and take selfies.
The Toro Stage Four at Lake Guntersville Presented by Bass Cat Boats will feature pros competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with each angler’s five (5) heaviest bass per day tallied as their day’s weight. Anglers strive to catch their heaviest five fish each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the live scoring SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, fishing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship, held March 13-17, 2024, on Lay Lake in Birmingham, Alabama.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Toro Stage Four at Lake Guntersville Presented by Bass Cat Boats will air as two, two-hour episodes starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 7 and Saturday, Oct. 14 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG + Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Dedicated to the Independents
|
DAIWA’s premium KAGE rods and reels are exclusively available at independent dealers. |
|
Cypress, CA (May 16, 2023) – In Japanese, KAGE means “in the shadows”. The English translation is “the shadow that is created by the light.” To DAIWA, KAGE means an exclusive series of premium rods and reels that are available from independent retailers only, and not sold online. “Independent dealers are core to DAIWA’s business,” said DAIWA marketing director Marc Mills. “These shops offer that hands-on, local and regional service that’s the backbone of fishing. So, DAIWA wanted to do something special for them by developing high-quality products that are only available at these specialty stores.” And during these challenging economic times, the smaller guys can be the most vulnerable. Having DAIWA KAGE rods and reels in-stock, however, gives them that little competitive edge. And their loyal customers benefit from buying brilliant products at fair prices. DAIWA’S KAGE roster includes two spinning reels, three freshwater rods series, and even an ice fishing rod lineup. Let’s learn more about DAIWA’s unique KAGE products: |
|
|
Behold the standard in crossover saltwater and freshwater spinning reels, DAIWA’s superbly designed KAGE LT MQ. The KAGE LT MQ embodies rich features, which start with its one-piece MONOCOQUE Zaion body. This design framework yields more space for larger gears, therefore promoting increased torque and power from the get-go. The inventive Zaion MONOCOQUE body also offers 360 degrees of stability and improved waterproofing over standard spinning reels with conventional, screw-in side plates. 360 degrees of stability means the larger gearing is held firmly and in precise alignment; the less gears shift side to side, the less binding and wear take place, and longer your new reel will feel fresh out-of-the-box. KAGE MQ LT employs a proprietary system of waterproofing protection called Magseal. Magsealing uses a special magnetic bushing in conjunction with a magnetic weld to create an airtight and watertight oil seal, virtually eliminating the travel of contaminants or water down the main shaft and into the gear set or roller bearing. |
|
|
A7075 aircraft-grade aluminum DIGIGEAR® technology is another hallmark of the KAGE LT MQ. The especially hard and lightweight aluminum is precision machined and digitally cut, making it considerably more resistant to wear than traditional gear materials on the market. Anglers fishing KAGE LT MQ reels will appreciate DAIWA’s superb Advanced Tournament Drag (ATD™) when setting the hook and fighting fish. The smart system applies an increased, instantaneous, and calculated resistance during the hookset. After the hook drives home and the fish starts pulling, ATD automatically returns to the selected drag setting. Sizes range from 1000 to 4000. MSRP’s $329.99 – $359.99 |
|
|
DAIWA’s KAGE LT embraces Light /Tough Concept and is lighter by weight yet strong and rigid. The body is constructed from Zaion, a “high density” carbon strain material that is 20 percent stronger and 50 percent lighter than traditional nylon and aluminum. The true carbon body is reduced in size and weight yet provides a rigid framework for powerful gearing. The design incorporates the Air Bail and Air Rotor systems that reduce weight by another 15 percent but don’t sacrifice strength and rigidity. The Aluminum Digigear set is precision cut for a smooth, powerful performance with less weight. A unique premium cork handle knob looks smart and provides a solid grip. The smooth and powerful Advanced Tournament Drag (ATD) system will stop the largest gamefish. Available in sizes from 1000 to 2500, the advanced spinning reel can be utilized for a variety of freshwater and light saltwater applications. MSRP $219.99 |
|
|
The clean designs and state of the art construction of KAGE Bass Rods will impress everyday anglers and tournament competitors alike. The fit and finish is impeccable, its matte black look and fine wrapping evoking quality. KAGE’s high tech Fuji Alconite Guides are handsome yet smooth as silk, braid friendly, tangle proof, and rod-locker tough. The cork handles are contoured to provide hours of comfort. With flawless construction, beautiful cosmetics and practical task specific designs, any serious bass angler would be proud to put a rod of this quality on the deck. 14 technique-specific models available, covering casting and spinning. MSRP’s $179.99 to $199.99 |
|
|
Exclusive to independent dealers, perfect for many ultra-light techniques, these perfectly constructed blanks are designed using DAIWA’s X-45 Bias Carbon Construction to keep the blank strong while avoiding blank twist. Built using our Megatop Technology, the tip features a solid blank construction for extra strength, durability, and sensitivity. A tough and rigid SVF Carbon Technology blank gives greater strength and sensitivity. Complete with quality Fuji Alconite Rings in Fuji Tangle-Free Guides, a Fuji VSS Reel Seat, premium cork handles and a matte black finish. If you are looking for a line of rods well suited for Trout or Panfish around the country, then look to your local dealer and test drive one of the 11 unique models. MSRP’s $189.99 to $209.99 |
|
|
Also exclusive to independent dealers, and designed for the dedicated walleye angler, these perfectly constructed blanks utilize X-45 Bias Carbon Construction to keep the blank strong while avoiding blank twist. Ten walleye-specific spinning rod actions will suit all your technique specific needs. A tough and rigid SVF Carbon Technology blank gives greater strength and sensitivity. Complete with quality Fuji Alconite Rings in Fuji Tangle-Free Guides, a Fuji VSS Reel Seat, premium cork handles and a matte black finish. MSRP $199.99. |
|
|
The Innovative lightweight and slim design is achieved through several proprietary DAIWA rod building technologies, allowing for a blank that maintains the strength and durability of a much larger diameter rod. The Super Volume Fiber (SVF) blank manufacturing process utilizes concentrated fiber for more strength, allowing for smaller volume of resin. This results in a lighter, slimmer blank that is sensitive and strong. The unique Megatop rod tip is ultra-sensitive yet strong and durable, ideal for light bites. Fuji Tangle Free Guides with Alconite Inserts are built tough and assure a trouble-free drop. Its crafted cork handle transitions seamlessly with a hand shaped reel seat. Seven models in the series. MSRP $119.99 |
|
Eelgrass Education with Terry Scroggins
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
Iconic Lake Guntersville is the playing field this week for Toro Stage Four of the Bass Pro Tour here in northeast Alabama. Few fisheries have as much history in terms of high-level bass fishing tournaments as this legendary reservoir on the Tennessee River.
Certain aspects of Guntersville have remained consistent, like the abundance of big largemouth bass and the incredible fishing community surrounding the lake, but the consensus among BPT competitors after official practice was that Lake Guntersville is a completely different fishery than what many are used to.
“This won’t be the same offshore dominated, Tennessee River ledge type beatdown that we used to expect when we came to Guntersville in mid-May,” Terry Scroggins said. “This lake is now absolutely full of a type of eelgrass. I mean it is everywhere, from two feet to twelve feet deep, and it has completely changed what we’ve come to expect about Gville.”
Team Toyota’s Terry Scroggins calls the St Johns River in Florida home, and has as much experience fishing around eelgrass and other aquatic vegetation as anyone. We picked Big Show’s brain on how the presence and abundance of eelgrass will affect the fishing this week.
The positives
Eelgrass is also referred to as tape grass or wild celery and is defined as, “any of several submerged aquatic monocotyledonous plants (genus Vallisneria of the family Hydrocharitaceae) with long ribbonlike leaves.” And according to Scroggins, eelgrass has several positive aspects that have already benefitted this famed fishery.
“This lake gets as much pressure as anywhere but the presence of all this eelgrass allows fish to spread out and hide from that pressure a lot better,” Scroggins said. “In the last ten years when the fish would get offshore, they would get torched because they were easy to find with modern electronics, but that’s all changed. A lot more fish are staying shallow, and the ones out deep aren’t grouping up quite the same.”
Scroggins explained the eelgrass has really opened the fishing up here for the summer months and puts more techniques in play versus the typical shad spawn followed by an offshore structure heavy tournament like we’ve seen playout so many times on Lake Guntersville. Expect the shallow fish to be healthier than years past and for there to be more of them caught during Stage Four.
“Eelgrass also serves like a filtration system for the water,” Scroggins said. “It helps clean the lake up after it muddies and has made the water way clearer here on Guntersville. Some anglers might not like that, but better water quality with more places to hide will ultimately just make this a better lake. There is so much life in this place right now.”
The challenges
While eelgrass has predominantly had a positive effect on Guntersville, the abundance of the long-leaved perennial presents certain challenges for anglers, too. Bass love grass, but anyone who has fished around ‘too much grass’ knows it can be frustrating to fish.
“This eelgrass isn’t attached to the bottom like the stuff I am used to in Florida,” Scroggins explained. “There is a lot of floating eel grass here on Guntersville and that makes it nearly impossible to fish some areas, especially offshore spots, if you are trying to wind something like a big crankbait. I’m not saying you can’t catch them offshore, you can, the grass has definitely changed that deal.”
Scroggins Toyota teammate Kevin VanDam, who has used his Strike King XD series of crankbaits to win a pile of money from the famed Lake Guntersville ledges over the years, said he only made a handful of casts with a plug in practice due to the abundance of grass. VanDam said it’s simply hard to fish many moving baits effectively with all the floating eelgrass.
“Over time the eelgrass will just make this lake better, but you will hear some anglers cussing it this week, too,” Scroggins laughed. ““Eelgrass is good for the health of a lake because it spreads the fish out but that makes it harder for us to find bass and fish the areas affectively. It’s a positive and a negative at the same time, but the fish still live here big time and these boys will show out like they always do.”
Lance Whitaker and Jeremy Briscoe win ABT Pickwick with 21.48
By Jason Duran
225 teams converged on Pickwick Lake for the fourth stop for the Alabama Bass Trail North Division. Teams reported a difficult practice due to rain and storms during the week. On tournament Saturday, the weather broke and provided a great day for fishing. All teams are looking to win this event and do well in the AOY points race to make the ABT Championship. The team of Lance Whitaker and Jeremy Briscoe brought a solid bag of 21.48 pounds to win a very tough event on Pickwick Lake.
The first-place team of Lance Whitaker and Jeremy Briscoe weighed in 21.48. “The plan for us this morning was to head downriver to fish a spot we found that was about 100 yards long. We were expecting to catch about 17 pounds in this area based on our practice. However, when we started catching them, we ended up spending the whole day on this one spot. The keys in the area we found were scattered rocks on a point that were in 17-23 feet of water. We got behind the rock pile and threw up past it. To catch these fish, we used a NetBait T-Mac worm in green pumpkin on a Shakey and let the bait bounce down through there. We also used a Zman Ned rig to do some things, and we also used a Keitech Swimbait. We fished the swimbait a little higher in the water column where the bait fish were located.” Lance and Jeremy are no strangers to the winner’s stage with their most recent win coming in 2021 at Wheeler Lake in May. The team is looking forward to getting back there for the final stop of the ABT North Division. For this win, they collected a $10,000 check and automatically qualified for the ABT Championship.
The second-place team of Tony Keef and Bryan Gregory enjoy fishing the Tennessee River and have had some success in the past with a 5th place finish here three years ago- a win they were hoping to capitalize on this year. “We had a terrible practice starting on Wednesday and had to leave the lake at 10 o’clock because of all the storms.” Like many teams in this event, they “located a shad spawn down in the 7-mile island area and quickly caught a limit by 7:15 of about 15 pounds.” After the shad spawn, they made the move even further south to fish a shaded bank where they hoped the shad spawn would still be going on. When they arrived, the shad spawn was over. “We spent some time fishing for a few bed fish we had located and decided we need to get out of there, so we moved towards the Bear Creek area to fish out deep using a Swim Bait. There we caught a 4-pound and a 5-pound fish” to upgrade their limit a little more. They made one more move headed back towards take off and decided to stop and fish another area. “We doubled up and had to quickly release the smaller fish so that we could legally bring the second fish in the boat which was about a 5-pound smallmouth.” This upgraded their limit to the final weight of 20.78 pounds. Their key baits included a Booyah Spinnerbait in White and chartreuse with a gold blade. They also used a Strike King Shadalicious Swimbait. With their second place finish, they earned a $5,000 payday.
The Team of Mitch Mitchell and Candler McCollum finished in third place. Practice for us “was tough with all the storms; we only practiced a little last weekend and in the rain all day on Friday. We found a little shad spawn and got lucky today that it still was there.” They located this spot down in the Trace bridge area. They quickly went to work and “caught one first cast to put together a limit in ten minutes. By 7:30 we had around 19-pounds.” The key baits to fish the shad spawn were a Zoom swimmer and a Zara Spook. Once they filled the limit, they knew they needed to find a bigger bite to help move them up the leader board. “We knew we needed the bigger bite and running shallow stuff would not help us, so we moved out deeper and ran all over the lake searching for them. We bounced around checking different areas and moved down the lake towards Tennessee. This area has deeper ledges with a less grass and more shell beds that the fish tend to like. When we moved out deeper, we culled a couple of 3-pound fish by catching a 4-pound and a 4.30-pound fish” for a final weight of 20.79. “We gave it our best and came up short which is a little disappointing today because we really wanted to win this one.” Their third place finish was worth $4,000.
With one more event left in the North Division the points race is very tight and all eyes will be watching on the next event at Wheeler Lake.
TOP 10 AOY Points Standings after 4 events:
PLACE ANGLERS POINTS
1 John Kellett/Zeke Gossett 804
2 Roman Calvert/Shannon Calvert 803
3 Damien Willis/Tyler Kiker 801
4 Michael Wooley/Joe Wooley 796
5 Wesley Sams/Jordan Wiggins 790
6 Justin Bussey/Ben Webb 780
7 Shane Meers/James Meers 770
8 Bryan Johnson/Brandon Groce 766
9 Greg Tomlin/Jeremy Tomlin 760
10 Mark Mccaig/Tim Hurst 757
The top five standings are below for a complete list of standings please visit:
https://www.alabamabasstrail.org/pickwick-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.
For Live coverage from this event and others visit https://www.youtube.com/@alabamabasstrailtv
Blandford New Director of Business Development for AnglersChannel.com
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Fishing industry veteran Danny Blandford has been hired as Director of Business Development for AnglersChannel.com.
Blandford, 43, brings more than two decades of industry experience to the No. 1 resource in tournament bass fishing. Blandford previously worked with the Professional Anglers Association, Careco Multimedia and as an owner and consultant to several fishing companies. He began working with Anglers Channel in April.
With the PAA, Blandford helped secure television partnerships that put “FishPAA Television” into more than 100 million households, oversaw event creation and execution, including numerous Toyota Texas Bass Classic events. At Careco, Blandford was director of the Association of Collegiate Anglers and the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship Series, where he also aided in the development and implementation of the ACA’s School of the Year Program.
“I’m excited to bring Danny and his years of experience to the team at Anglers Channel,” said CEO John Byrne. “Danny is known in the industry, and has the contacts, passion and determination we have needed to continue to grow.”
Blandford has fished competitively for more than 20 years and recreationally since he was a child. He was president of the Indiana University Bass Club, has fished in FLW (now MLF) and B.A.S.S. Nation events, and competes in local club events with his wife. He continues to hold an affinity for young anglers and collegians seeking a path to follow their dreams.
“I’m excited to join the team of AC Insiders,” Blandford said. “Their team has been providing great coverage of our sport for decades and I look forward to bringing more than 20 years’ experience to the project. AnglersChannel.com is a strong platform and we’re already hitting new records in terms of users and engagement. I believe we can continue to build that out for our readers and advertisers as we add additional content partners, social platforms and fresh ideas under my leadership.”
About AnglersChannel.com
AnglersChannel.com multimedia platform combines the web, social media platforms, podcasts, on-site event coverage and The Anglers Channel Bass Wrapup 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 [email protected]
Money Where Its Mouth Is
|
NPAA President participates in ASA’s Government Affairs spring meeting to sound off in support of recreational sportfishing. |
|
Forestville, WI (May 16, 2023) – What does an NPAAmembership mean? Simple. Having a voice. A voice in decisions – big and small – that affect the health and welfare of recreational fishing and your access to public waters. NPAA puts their money where their mouth is, too. For example, NPAA President Pat Neu recently traveled to Washington, DC to join the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) Government Affairs Committee for its spring meeting. The group is built of opinion leaders and professionals in the recreational fishing industry, and it’s their influence and actions that serve to protect our sport. Neu, who has been involved with the ASA Government Affairs Committee for a decade, talks history, this year’s discussions, and “hot button” items. “When I first got involved, the sportfishing industry was just getting a seat at the table with Congress. Interests like commercial fishing, offshore wind and oil, and environmental groups were influencing policy that affected sportfishing, but the everyday angler wasn’t being forcefully represented.” “Highly funded environmental organizations wield a lot of power. And, sometimes, they’re like wolves in sheep’s clothing. They’re really preservationists, not wanting anyone to utilize certain public natural resources. To be frank, they think of people as invasive species.” “Sometimes, they actually lobby against anglers and hunters, which is ironic, because it’s the fishing license fees and excise taxes we pay on equipment that actually funds a lot of the federal and state investments in natural resources.” |
|
|
The Good Guys There is an enormous difference between “environmentalism” and “conservationism”. The organizations NPAA aligns with are based on conservation, groups promoting the judicious use of our natural resources and investment in habitat improvement – land, air, and water. Neu identifies some of the good guys: “Organizations like the Coastal Conservation Association, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Center for Sportfishing Policy, and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership also have seats at the table, giving voice to the concerns of anglers and hunters.” |
|
|
Hot Button Issues The ASA Government Affairs Committee placed particular focus on current and looming topics that are having or will have a direct impact on recreational boaters and anglers. “The right whale situation off the Atlantic coast is one of those front-and-center topics,” said Neu. “NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) is proposing 10 knot speed restrictions out to 100 miles off the coast to include smaller vessels. That would absolutely cripple recreational anglers, charters, and guides, not to mention smaller commercial fishing outfits.” “It’s not that we’re against protecting right whales, but currently, science doesn’t support the proposed restriction. It’s reactionary. Ironically, but not surprisingly, we’re not hearing much about how offshore windfarms might be adversely affecting the navigational abilities of right whales. The evidence is out there. It needs to part of the discussion.” Sharks were also on the ASA Government Affairs Committee’s agenda. Not JAWS or nurse sharks, but the explosion of shark populations along coastal waters. Shark numbers are growing exponentially, and they continue ranging shallower. Ask any saltwater angler or beach lifeguard. Yet, at present, there’s been no action to address growing conflicts between sharks and recreational fishing, including the issue of “depredation” where a shark eats part or whole of an angler’s catch before it’s landed. “All ASA is asking for is the commencement of a study,” said Neu. “Let science lead to a strategy and then begin managing the situation. No different than timber wolf management in the north or protecting sea turtle nesting sites along the Gulf coast.” “We just can’t ignore the shark problem.” A third major subject was taxation – the excise taxes and tariffs companies pay for importing goods. The up-and-up manufacturing members of ASA pay their fair share. Then what’s the beef? Go on Amazon and search “fishing rods,” for example. Plenty of familiar brands. But you’ll also find scores of obscure brands you’ll never find at retail. They’re selling direct through ecommerce. Who is collecting the tariffs and excise taxes? Likely, no one. And who suffers? You do. Because a large portion of the excise taxes paid by legitimate manufacturers goes toward our woods and waters. If you don’t recognize the brand, there’s a reason why. Cheap stuff. No taxes collected. Circumvention of laws. Bad deal for recreational anglers. Want one more? Okay. The threatening cloud of bans on lead tackle. It’s happening fast in Europe, and not necessarily supported by science. “We’ve all heard the stories about loons eating sinkers and dying,” said Neu. “Really? Where’s the science? Ask about any freshwater angler if they’re seeing more or less loons over the last decade. I’m going with more. Why? Habitat improvement, especially shoreline nesting areas and more forage for the loons due to sound fisheries management.” “Again, let’s see the entire scientific story before reactionary policy is made.” |
|
|
Talk…and then Action Politicians are famous for being all talk and no action. All hat and no cattle, as southerners quip. ASA, however, gets to doing. For example, an ASA staff member is assigned to the legislative side of all the above topics. They track, report, advise, and ultimately the organization lobbies for policy that benefits and protects recreational anglers. Circling back to where we started. What does an NPAA membership mean? Simple. Having a voice. A voice in decisions – big and small – that affect the health and welfare of recreational fishing and your access to public waters. |
Murphy Claims Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League at Lake Murray
Trotter Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
PROSPERITY, S.C. (May 15, 2023) – Boater Lucas Murphy of West Columbia, South Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 23 pounds, 5 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Murray Presented by Cadence Petroleum . The tournament, hosted by the Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board, was the fourth event of the season for the BFL South Carolina Presented by Mystik Lubricants Division. Murphy earned $4,839 for his victory.
“I live pretty close to Murray, but I have been busy with work and hadn’t been there since March,” said Murphy. “I finally got out on Friday afternoon and found some stuff going on.
“I started off the morning by stopping on a community hole, and I threw a buzzbait out and caught a 6-pounder,” Murphy added. “That kind of got the day rolling.”
Murphy said he switched to a deep-summer pattern in the mid lake – using his forward-facing sonar to target fish on brushpiles, wood and rock with a drop-shot rig. Murphy said he caught a number of fish on a Strike King KVD Perfect Plastic Caffeine Shad. He estimated that he had 10 to 20 quality bites during the tournament.
“When I had two fish, I told my co-angler, ‘These 2-pound fish aren’t going to do anything for me,’” Murphy said. “I went out a little deeper and was just looking for three more good bites. It’s a lot easier to do when you have a big one in the livewell.
“I just stuck with it, and it wasn’t until 1:30 when I finally hooked another 4½-pounder, and that was it,” Murphy added. “That was the winning fish, as they say.”
Murphy, who moved from Michigan to South Carolina 2½ years ago, said he has spent a lot of time on the water to learn Lake Murray since his relocation.
“I’ve tried to learn a lot and make progress very quickly,” Murphy said. “It feels good to finally win one of the bigger events here.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Lucas Murphy, West Columbia, S.C., five bass, 23-5, $4,839
2nd: Kameron Harbin, Abbeville, S.C., five bass, 22-0, $3,149
3rd: Tanner Schultz, Lexington, S.C., five bass, 19-14, $1,614
4th: Christopher Chavis, Guyton, Ga., five bass, 18-14, $1,349
5th: Larry Moss, Prosperity, S.C., five bass, 17-12, $927
5th: Carson Orellana, Mooresville, N.C., five bass, 17-12, $927
7th: John Ray, Columbia, S.C., five bass, 17-11, $806
8th: Greg Rikard, Leesville, S.C., five bass, 17-8, $1,976 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
9th: Chris Marshall, Forest City, N.C., four bass, 17-7, $645
10th: Derek Cummings, Denver, N.C., five bass, 17-4, $565
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Kameron Harbin of Abbeville, South Carolina, caught a largemouth that weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $730.
Wesley Trotter of Monroe, North Carolina, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,403 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 19 pounds, 10 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Wesley Trotter of Monroe, N.C., five bass, 19-10, $2,403
2nd: Billy Nicholson, Greenwood, S.C., five bass, 15-3, $1,201
3rd: Thomas Pennell III, Boiling Springs, S.C., five bass, 15-2, $806
4th: Richie Dixon, Greer, S.C., four bass, 14-9, $561
5th: Michael Smith, Piedmont, S.C., five bass, 14-4, $481
6th: Johnny Barfield, Hartsville, S.C., five bass, 14-1, $441
7th: Wesley Mullins, Guyton, Ga., five bass, 13-7, $400
8th: John Joyce II, Inman, S.C., five bass, 13-5, $360
9th: Harold Addison II, Columbia, S.C., five bass, 13-0, $870
10th: Samuel Jones, Fuquay Varina, N.C., five bass, 12-12, $280
Brian Ruppe of Irmo, South Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $362, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 11 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Greg Rikard of Leesville, South Carolina, leads the BFL South Carolina Presented by Mystik Lubricants Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 933 points, while Stephen Sprouse of Pauline, South Carolina, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 937 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Norman in Huntersville, North Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
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.
Morris Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Cumberland
Casada Top of Class in Strike King Co-Angler Division
MONTICELLO, Ky. (May 15, 2023) – Boater Jake Morris of McKee, Kentucky, caught a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 15 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Cumberland. The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Mountain Division. Morris earned $5,122 for his victory.
“Man, it was slow for me,” Morris said. “I never caught a keeper until I got my first one between 11 o’clock and noon. And after that, it wasn’t much better. I caught five keepers. That’s it.”
Morris said he targeted bass in 2 to 3 feet of water, pitching and flipping trees and bushes with a Zoom Brush Hog as well as a Zoom Z Craw. Morris said his fourth fish, a 6-pound 5-ounce bass that took the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award, changed his tournament.
“That helped out tremendously,” Morris said. “That’s what won it for me. If you don’t catch a big one you get stuck in that 12- to 13-pound traffic jam.
“It feels great to win this on my home lake,” Morris added. “I’ve been fishing these things for 20 years now, and it is definitely not easy to win a BFL.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Jake Morris, McKee, Ky., five bass, 16-15, $5,122
2nd: Nick Ratliff, Vine Grove, Ky., five bass, 14-14, $2,236
3rd: Tyler Thompson, Radcliff, Ky., five bass, 14-11, $1,492
4th: Andrew Adams, Science Hill, Ky., five bass, 14-0, $1,243
5th: Clay Reece, Lexington, Ky., five bass, 13-15, $894
6th: Blake Claudill, Hillsboro, Ky., five bass, 13-6, $745
6th: Steve Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, five bass, 13-6, $1,245 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Bonus)
6th: Billy Hall, Russell Springs, Ky., five bass, 13-6, $745
9th: Mike Lemons, Huntington, W.V., five bass, 13-4, $596
10th: Chris Hurd, Nancy, Ky., five bass, 13-1, $522
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Morris’ 6-pound, 5-ounce bass earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $650.
Mike Casada of Stearns, Kentucky, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,179 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 10 pounds, 3 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Mike Casada, Stearns, Ky., five bass, 10-3, $2,179
2nd: Brian Kich, Berea, Ohio, five bass, 9-7, $1,090
3rd: Tracy Helton, London, Ky., five bass, 9-5, $725
4th: Kaleb Ferrell, Smithville, Tenn., five bass, 9-0, $509
5th: Curtis Cline, Hartsville, Tenn., four bass, 8-5, $786
6th: Chris Rushing, Gamaliel, Ky., three bass, 8-2, $400
7th: Allen Neal, Whitley City, Ky., four bass, 7-15, $363
8th: Abbie Greynolds, Liberty, Ky., three bass, 7-8, $327
9th: Anthony Scott, Byrdstown, Tenn., three bass, 7-3, $291
10th: Michael York, Berea, Ky., three bass, 7-1, $254
Timothy Ernst of Winchester, Kentucky, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $312, catching a bass that weighed in at 3 pounds, 13 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After three events, Christian Nash of Allons, Tennessee, leads the BFL Mountain Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 714 points, while Allen Neal of Whitley City, Kentucky, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 715 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Norman in Huntersville, North Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
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.
Haire Edges Field for Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Kerr Lake
Badra Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
HENDERSON, N.C. (May 15, 2023) – Boater Danny Haire of Yadkinville, North Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 15 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Kerr Lake . The tournament, hosted by the Vance County Tourism Development Authority, was the second event of the season for the BFL Piedmont Division. Haire earned $4,279 for his victory.
“The water at Kerr Lake has been up in the bushes lately,” said Haire, who refers to himself as a Carolina-rig specialist. “I hadn’t been faring too well. But they drew the water down out of the bushes, and that caused some fish to get out on shallow points. I know the lake well enough, and the water was just perfect for me.”
Haire said he got the chance to throw the Carolina rig, and he focused on flats in 5 to 12 feet of water in Nutbush Creek and used Zoom plastic baits of all types on the tip of his rig to catch bass. His efforts produced 12 keepers during the tournament.
“I had three fish right at 5 pounds, and two fish that were 15 inches long, and I never could cull the dinks,” Haire said.
Haire was worried about the two small fish in his weigh bag and thought they would cost him the tournament.
“Generally, it’s going to take 17 or 18 pounds to win there, and I thought I was going to be a pound or two short,” Haire said. “I had two good fish that got off, and usually you can’t lose one good one and still win. But the bite was kind of tough, and there were a lot of limits caught, but they included a lot of 2- and 2½-pounders.”
In the end, Haire’s bag was good enough to win by 5 ounces.
“This feels really good,” said Haire, who now has four BFL wins, all on Kerr Lake. “I’m 65 years old, so they get a little sweeter with each one.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Danny Haire, Yadkinville, N.C., five bass, 16-15, $4,279
2nd: Tyler Purcell, Townsville, N.C., five bass, 16-10, $2,140
3rd: Tyler Trent, Nathalie, Va., five bass, 14-15, $1,926 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
4th: Ron Rousseau III, Raleigh, N.C., five bass, 14-11, $1,603
5th: Chris Baldwin, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 14-10, $1,526
6th: Chris Brummett, Lynch Station, Va., five bass, 14-3, $1,085
7th: Billy Bledsoe, Fayetteville, N.C., five bass, 14-1, $713
8th: Evan White, Roanoke Rapids, N.C., five bass, 14-0, $642
9th: Ryan McGee, Battleboro, N.C., five bass, 13-11, $571
10th: Flash Butts, Roanoke Rapids, N.C., five bass, 13-3, $474
10th: Jonathan Bailey, Peterstown, W.V., five bass, 13-3, $474
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Ron Rousseau III of Raleigh, North Carolina, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 9 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $605.
Cornell Badra of Clarksburg, Maryland, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,140 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 12 pounds, 8 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Cornell Badra, Clarksburg, Md., five bass, 12-8, $2,140
2nd: Bud Amend, Pleasant Garden, N.C., five bass, 12-1, $1,070
3rd: Tim Privette, Jr., Wendell, N.C., five bass, 11-13, $912
4th: Robert Wedding, Welcome, Md., five bass, 11-7, $849
5th: Payton Thompson, Rustburg, Va., five bass, 11-2, $428
6th: Phillip Ragland, Jr., Rustburg, Va., five bass, 10-12, $392
7th: Michael Garrett, Buena Vista, Va., five bass, 10-9, $357
8th: Jonathan Ceaser, Maidens, Va., five bass, 10-6, $321
9th: Craig Hamilton, Salisbury, N.C., five bass, 10-2, $285
10th: Stephen Barr, Wilmington, N.C., five bass, 10-1, $250
Victor Cuevas of Supply, North Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $302, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 1 ounce – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After two events, Chris Brummett of Lynch Station, Virginia, leads the BFL Piedmont Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 492 points, while Phillip Ragland Jr. of Rustburg, Virginia, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 484 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 5-7 BFL Regional tournament on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
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.
Dhom Catches Late Kicker for Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Shelbyville
Cain Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
SHELBYVILLE, Ill. (May 15, 2023) – Boater Jeremy Dhom of Teutopolis, Illinois, caught a five-bass limit weighing 15 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Shelbyville. The tournament was the first event of the season for the BFL Illini Division. Dhom earned $4,246 for his victory.
“I drew a good number and was fortunate to get to my starting spot and caught two fish there,” said Dhom. “I bounced around and ended up having a limit by 8:30. Things were going good … I had 10 or 11 pounds on my five fish. Then I went about three hours without a tick in my line.”
Dhom said his drought continued with only one small fish to show for his efforts until late in the afternoon.
“About 1:45 I caught one that went more than 6 pounds, and that changed my day,” Dhom said. “That is a rare fish at Shelbyville. That just doesn’t happen very often. I knew I had it won after I caught that fish. It’s rare to break a 15-pound bag on Shelbyville in May.”
Dhom said he fished shallow flats offshore in his hunt for bass. He added the morning fish were in 3 to 5 feet of water, but the sun came out and his afternoon bites came in 8 to 10 feet. Dhom said he caught 25 fish during the course of the day, including eight keepers.
“I knew I had a good chance at doing well during this event,” Dhom said. “I fish up there all the time. I’ve won probably 15 to 20 team tournaments there. So, this year I said, ‘I’m going to jump up and fish the BFLs.’ And it turned out very well.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Jeremy Dhom, Teutopolis, Ill., five bass, 15-2, $4,246
2nd: Joshua Tyner, Spencer, Ind., four bass, 13-15, $1,878
3rd: Ben Holmes, Altamont, Ill., five bass, 12-2, $1,253
4th: Derick Holmes, Fairfield, Ill., five bass, 11-9, $876
5th: Todd Blakeman, Chatham, Ill., five bass, 11-7, $1,721
6th: Dan Morehead, Paducah, Ky., five bass, 9-15, $689
7th: Garrett McDowell, Windsor, Ill., four bass, 9-14, $626
8th: Corey Bohlmann, Danvers, Ill., five bass, 9-12, $563
9th: Scott Neighbors, Makanda, Ill., five bass, 9-11, $501
10th: Larry Diveley, Saint Jacob, Ill., five bass, 9-10, $438
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Dhom’s 6-pound, 2-ounce bass also earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $490.
Tad Cain of La Place, Illinois, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,478 Saturday, after bringing four bass to the scale that totaled 12 pounds, 4 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Tad Cain, La Place, Ill., four bass, 12-4, $2,478
2nd: Jojo Johnson, Marion, Ill., five bass, 11-3, $1,089
3rd: Andrew Williams, Homer, Ill., four bass, 9-15, $627
4th: Jim Budde, Waterloo, Ill., four bass, 9-10, $438
5th: Lane Argo, Edinburg, Ill., five bass, 9-5, $376
6th: Evan McCormick, Edwardsville, Ill., four bass, 8-2, $344
7th: Rowdy King, Shelbyville, Ill., two bass, 7-11, $558
8th: Aaron Wehmeyer, Bloomington, Ill., four bass, 7-2, $282
9th: Richard Skiff, Edwardsville, Ill., three bass, 6-11, $250
10th: Gary Huber II, Saint Charles, Mo., four bass, 6-8, $219
Rowdy King of Shelbyville, Illinois, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $245, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 11 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After one event, Jeremy Dhom of Teutopolis, Illinois, now leads the BFL Illini Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 250 points, while Tad Cain of La Place, Illinois, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 250 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 12-14 BFL Regional tournament on Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
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.
Wilkinson Posts Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Season Opener at the Ohio River-Tanners Creek
Sorrell Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
LAWRENCEBERG, Ind. (May 15, 2023) – Boater Chris Wilkinson of Farmersburg, Indiana, caught a five-bass limit weighing 12 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine at the Ohio River-Tanners Creek Presented by Rabid Baits . The tournament was the first event of the season for the BFL Buckeye Presented by Rabid Baits Division. Wilkinson earned $5,575 for his victory.
“I hit four different creeks throughout the day and didn’t have a keeper until 10 o’clock,” said Wilkinson, who now has nine career Phoenix Bass Fishing League wins. “I finally figured out a couple of things.”
Wilkinson said he caught most of his fish on a gill-colored Hog Snatcher Baits tube and a few on a Hook Some Bass Bait Company spinnerbait. He said he targeted wood and rock shallow, in 1 to 3 feet of water. Wilkinson said the bait combination produced seven keepers on tournament day.
“Once I figured out what they were doing and where they were positioning, it was pretty easy after that, really,” Wilkinson said.
Wilkinson added that his ninth BFL win was just as special to him as the previous eight.
“This will never get old,” Wilkinson said. “If it does, I won’t do it anymore. I love the competition, and I love to win, and that gets me going that much harder each time I win. Because I want to win another one.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Chris Wilkinson, Farmersburg, Ind., five bass, 12-3, $5,575
2nd: Brady Bickers, Carrollton, Ky., five bass, 10-7, $2,288
3rd: Cody Seeger, Lewistown, Ohio, five bass, 10-3, $1,525
4th: Dick Shaffer, Rockford, Ohio, five bass, 9-14, $1,068
5th: Pete Justice, Sharonville, Ohio, four bass, 9-9, $915
6th: David Spivey, Hamilton, Ohio, five bass, 9-5, $1,389
7th: Hunter Colwell, Sidney, Ohio, five bass, 8-10, $1,263 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
8th: Brad Baldwin, Waynesville, Ohio, three bass, 8-8, $1,313
8th: Zach Graham, Westerville, Ohio, two bass, 8-8, $648
10th: Sean Wieda, Alexandria, Ky., five bass, 8-0, $534
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Brad Baldwin of Waynesville, Ohio, caught a bass that weighed 4 pounds, 11 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $665.
Steve Sorrell of Beavercreek, Ohio, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,620 Saturday, after bringing four bass to the scale that totaled 8 pounds, 13 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Steve Sorrell, Beavercreek, Ohio, four bass, 8-13, $2,620
2nd: Brandon Houston, Lakeside Park, Ky., five bass, 7-4, $1,144
3rd: Brian Short, Oxford, Ohio, five bass, 6-14, $762
4th: Jeffrey Smith, West Chester, Ohio, five bass, 6-5, $534
5th: Dominic Bogolo, Hamilton, Ohio, four bass, 6-4, $658
6th: Sean Hupp, Logan, Ohio, three bass, 6-0, $419
7th: Dean Osborne, Jackson, Ohio, four bass, 5-13, $381
8th: Andrew Cassidy, West Portsmouth, Ohio, three bass, 5-8, $343
9th: Jeremy Middleton, Marengo, Ohio, three bass, 5-0, $305
10th: Jesse Foster, Franklin, Ohio, three bass, 4-12, $267
Sorrell also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $332, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 11 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After one event, Chris Wilkinson of Farmersburg, Indiana, now leads the BFL Buckeye Presented by Rabid Baits Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 250 points, while Steve Sorrell of Beavercreek, Ohio, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 250 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 5-7 BFL Regional tournament on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
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.
Un-layering in the Transition with Major League Fishing Pro Fred Roumbanis
We all know that time between spring and summer means cooler mornings and evenings, calling for layering up and shedding layers as the day warms up. Believe it or not, the bass in their transition phase, kind of do the same thing, Major League Fishing and Gill Pro Fred Roumbanis tells us how and why.
The transition phase from spring to summer when the bass are moving from one habitat to another can last from weeks to months. When bass are spawning, some will linger around shallow areas and follow the brim spawn. However, once they are done many of the females will start to find their comfort zone, which is water around 60–70-degrees.
During this transition period you can find bass in offshore structure or in brush piles. You’re going to want to pick up your crankbaits, deep swimbaits, jigs, Carolina rigs, or a dropshot. Fred is fond of grabbing a topwater bait like an IMA Little Stik or a white Boom Boom Frog in those early morning hours. When the sun warms up the water the bass will go deeper to reach that comfort water and he’ll pick up a heavy bladed jig or spinnerbait in shad imitation or natural colors and in deeper water 15 foot or deeper Fred likes Green Pumpkin.
When you’re out on the water fishing it’s important to remember your apparel is just as essential as your equipment. Just like bass, humans like comfort.
Base layers - choosing base layers that are light will be just the thing to protect you when those temps heat up in the afternoon. We like to stay warm in those cooler morning temperatures and peel those layers off as the sun heats up.
To fight those cool morning temps, you’ll want a Langland Hoodie or the APEX Pro X jacket, and even the bibs. When the sun starts to crank up the heat, you’ll want an XPEL Hoodie or XPEL Long Sleeve and a pair of Pro Expedition Shorts.
Accessories - if you didn’t know, now you know, bass don’t have eyelids, so they hide under docks and go deeper to protect their eyes from the sun. So don’t forget to stock up on our favorite Gill logo trucker caps.
Footwear - looking for footwear too? If it’s a nice sunny day Fred loves his Savona Trainers. They’re lightweight and comfortable for long days on the water.
Get all Fred’s favorites on the water gear at gillfishing.com.
Davis Jr. wins first Bassmaster Elite Series trophy less than an hour from home on Lay Lake
Will Davis Jr. of Sylacauga, Ala., has won the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake with a four-day total of 62 pounds, 12 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
May 14, 2023
SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. — Throughout the years, Will Davis Jr. estimates he and his father Will have won over $300,000 fishing tournaments on Lay Lake. Today, Davis Jr. added another $100,000 to that total by winning the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake with a four-day total of 62 pounds, 12 ounces.
The rookie from Sylacauga, Ala., hoisted the blue trophy in front of what seemed like his entire hometown and the roar that erupted drowned out the thunder from a pop-up thunderstorm.
“It means the world to do it in front of my home crowd,” Davis said. “I did it for my wife, dad, my little girl and everyone who came and watched me. I did it for these guys I fish against around here too. They are good enough to be on the Elite Series. I was just really blessed. I had a good job and a good boss, Chris Landers, who let me take off and fish the B.A.S.S. Nation.”
Davis kept himself firmly in the Top 10 all week. With limits weighing 15-14, 18-5, 14-7 and a final-day limit of 14-2, Davis edged Brandon Palaniuk, who led the tournament for three days, by 2 ounces. Palaniuk suffered a dead-fish penalty that cost him 4 ounces and ultimately the win.
The victory wouldn’t have been possible without a bedding largemouth he affectionately called “White Eye.” Boats had been in the creek where he had seen this 4-pounder in practice, but when he asked Mark Menendez about it in the Day 3 weigh-in line, his fellow competitor confirmed the bass with the white outline around its eye was still there.
“At 1:30, I didn’t think this was going to happen,” he said. “I went into this creek, I saw her and she ran off when I flipped to her. I went down the bank and there was a brand new one. I flipped and flipped and couldn’t make her bite. I tied on a jerkbait, threw it out there and after about five casts in a row, she just opened her mouth at it. The next cast I threw it 2 feet away from her and she sucked it in.”
When he landed that bass, the back hook came unbuttoned from the fish and ended up in Davis’s thumb. He had to push the hook through his finger. With no hook cutters in his own boat, he, fortunately, found a local angler at the mouth of the creek who had a pair he could use.
Once the hook was out of his hand, he went back to where he saw White Eye and caught her with the jerkbait, an old floating Bomber Long A, in a chartreuse foil color.
“She was pulled up and positioned perfectly,” he said. “That is what sealed the deal.”
When Davis qualified for the Bassmaster Elite Series with his victory at the 2022 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Pickwick Lake, he wasn’t thrilled to see his home lake on the schedule.
“I knew I was going to expose this to the world. My dad and I have worked all of our lives to learn this lake,” Davis said. “It took me seven years to figure out that deal up there (below Logan Martin Dam) and a lot of torn-up stuff. That’s why you don’t see a lot of people up there. Boulders up there move.”
After trying several different areas the first day, Davis spent most of the final three days fishing a 5-mile stretch of tailrace that started at the base of the dam for mostly spotted bass that were in all three stages of the spawn. In that stretch, he fished a mix of boulders, brushpiles and current seams as well as the concrete face of the dam.
He caught bass from 2 to 10 feet of water. Making the win even more special, he won using mostly baits developed by his father’s bait company.
A Davis Bait Company Shaky Worm in green pumpkin rigged on a 3/16-ounce Little Wills Series Shaky Worm Head, as well as a new Davis Xswim Fat Minnow rigged on a 1/2-ounce Davis Shaky Fish head, caught the majority of his spotted bass.
He used Seaguar Red Label fluorocarbon on his Daiwa Tatula spinning reels, 12-pound test on the shaky head and 15-pound on the Shaky Fish.
Baitfish were also key. If he did not see little threadfin shad around the boulders, he would not catch anything. The bait moved every day as well. With how quickly the spotted bass were transitioning out of the spawn, Davis said he wouldn’t have won up there if the tournament was a week later.
Davis started the final morning fishing a shad spawn around bank grass and was able to land one keeper on a Davis Beast swim jig in blue glimmer shad with a Zoom Z Craw Jr. After a couple of different stops, he headed upriver and landed two more keepers before moving to the creek where he caught his two quality largemouth.
“I went to my spot hole and I caught my biggest one, about 3 1/2,” he said. “I ran up to the tailrace and fished there for 30 minutes and caught another 3-pounder. I caught another keeper, I mean a 12-incher, and I thought, ‘This is not going to be good.’ I went to my turbine spot and never got bit, not even a drum.”
After leading three days on Lay Lake, a disappointed Palaniuk fell to second with a four-day total of 62-10. He opened the tournament with 19-7 and followed with bags of 16-5 and 15-11. On the final day, the two-time Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year caught the bass he needed to win, but a 4-ounce penalty forced Palaniuk to wait longer for his seventh B.A.S.S. win.
“It is mind-blowing that spot held up and had enough to win,” he said. “I said on camera that it was amazing I even caught a limit every day out of that place. I can’t be mad about it, but it hurts. I had enough to do it. But I have to be thankful. Coming into it, I thought I would have a big bag on Day 1 and it would fall off and I would finish in the 30s.”
The Rathdrum, Idaho, pro caught all of his bass in 3 feet of water or less, using a variety of baits in a wide range of scenarios. An X Zone Lures Deception Worm in green pumpkin/blue was one of his go-to lures, along with a Megabass Vision OneTen jerkbait in the Ito Wakasagi color.
After catching the VMC Monster Bag of the Tournament on Day 3 at 23-0, Oklahoma's Jason Christie added 11-7 on the final day to finish third with 60-9. The 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota champion spent much of the tournament fishing a creek north of the Beeswax Creek takeoff.
Matt Herren earned the $1,000 daily bonus for catching the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day with his 4-5. The 9-4 largemouth Christie caught on Day 3 claimed Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors — good for $3,000 in bonuses. It also leads the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Year standings, which pays $10,000 at the end of the season.
Davis took home an additional $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program while Christie claimed $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.
As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Palaniuk earned an additional $2,500 as the highest-placing entrant and Christie took home an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.
Paul Mueller of Connecticut won the $1,000 BassTrakk contingency award for the most accurate weight reporting.
With four events left in the Elite Series season, Greenwood, S.C., pro Brandon Cobb leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year race with 485 points. Georgia pro Drew Cook is second with 436 points, followed by Louisiana’s Tyler Rivet in third with 415, Florida’s John Cox in fourth with 414 and Alabama’s Kyle Welcher in fifth with 413.
Davis leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race with 383 points, followed by Alabama pro David Gaston in second with 369 and California pro Bryant Smith in third, also with 369.
2023 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake 5/11-5/14
Lay Lake, Shelby County AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 20 62-12 104 $100,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 18-05 Day 3: 5 14-07 Day 4: 5 14-02
2. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 20 62-10 103 $36,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 16-05 Day 3: 5 15-11 Day 4: 5 11-03
3. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 20 60-09 102 $35,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 09-13 Day 3: 5 23-00 Day 4: 5 11-07
4. Bryan New Saluda, SC 18 56-03 101 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 3 08-10 Day 3: 5 13-11 Day 4: 5 15-02
5. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 20 55-13 100 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 5 13-02 Day 4: 5 14-09
6. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 20 55-07 99 $19,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 13-05 Day 4: 5 12-11
7. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 20 54-13 98 $19,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 5 16-03 Day 4: 5 11-08
8. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 20 51-08 97 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 17-14 Day 3: 5 11-06 Day 4: 5 09-13
9. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 16 48-00 96 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 15-06 Day 3: 5 14-06 Day 4: 1 04-05
10. Seth Feider New Market, MN 19 47-09 95 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 16-01 Day 3: 5 12-12 Day 4: 4 05-04
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 05-14 $1,000.00
2 Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 06-04 $1,000.00
3 Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 09-04 $1,000.00
4 Matt Herren Ashville, AL 04-05 $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 09-04 $2,000.00
VMC MONSTER BAG
Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 23-00 $2,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 92 497 1122-07
2 83 478 1069-11
3 43 234 541-10
4 8 45 110-00
----------------------------------
226 1254 2843-12
Justin Lucas Wins MLF Toyota Series at Lake Eufaula Presented by Chewalla Creek Marina
EUFAULA, Ala. (May 14, 2023) – Bass Pro Tour angler Justin Lucas of Guntersville, Alabama, crossed the stage with a five-bass limit Saturday weighing 17 pounds, 12 ounces, to win the final Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Southern Division event of the season – the Toyota Series at Lake Eufaula Presented by Chewalla Creek Marina – and earn the top payout of $79,300, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Lucas’ three-day total of 15 bass weighing 51-13 earned him the victory by a 5-pound, 10-ounce margin over Orlando, Florida, pro Bobby Bakewell, who finished runner-up with 15 bass weighing 46-3 to earn $17,000.
“I’m on cloud nine,” Lucas said to MLF reporters after his victory. “To win on an inland lake that’s not tidal and not in the Great Lakes (region) is amazing.”
The victory marks Lucas’ first Toyota Series as a pro, and he said that it’s just as sweet of a win to him as any of his previous pro-level titles.
“I’ve always said that the level of competition in the Toyota Series is as hard to win at as one of the bigger pro events, because you have the best locals in all of these events,” he said. “A lot of these people, you may not have heard of them before, but they’re hammers here. I’ve always respected these guys and so to be able to win against them is a big deal to me. It’s a great payday too.”
After catching his bass primarily with a spinnerbait and crankbait combination targeting the shad spawn early in the event, Lucas abandoned it quickly on Day 3. Plan B included working slowly and methodically to fish his way into the right caliber of fish. Lucas spent the final day slowly upgrading his catch as the day wore on.
“My plan worked, and everything came together,” he said. “Today it got calm and sunny. I picked up a 5-inch Berkley PowerBait Power Hawg and just got to dragging it really slow. It was just slow and steady bites; you know every time I would catch one, I would upgrade. It just all worked out.”
Lucas focused on shallower fish on the final day, opting to target fish that were more lethargic and just finishing up spawning, or fish that were transitioning out of the spawning phase prior to their migration to deeper water.
“I think some of the fish I was catching today were still late spawners,” he said. “I was targeting 4 to 8 feet of water and just fishing rock, stumps, and some gravel spots. Just trying to fish slowly and pick everything apart.”
Lucas’ victory automatically qualified him to fish the Toyota Series Championship on Table Rock Lake in November. Lucas said that he now gets to stress a little less about the busy schedule he had planned for 2023, bouncing between both Toyota Series events and the Bass Pro Tour.
“I was planning on going to the Potomac and Lake of the Ozarks. So, to be able to make it by winning this event is great because now I don’t have to go to those two places. I was going to be pushing it schedule-wise. I didn’t know if I could even do it for sure, so winning this is awesome,” Lucas went on to say.
The top 10 pros on Lake Eufaula finished:
1st: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 51-13, $79,300 (includes $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus)
2nd: Bobby Bakewell, Orlando, Fla., 15 bass, 46-3, $17,000
3rd: Kyle Austin, Ridgeville, S.C., 15 bass, 44-9, $12,750
4th: Emil Wagner, Marietta, Ga., 15 bass, 43-0, $10,750
5th: Michael Smith, Andalusia, Ala., 15 bass, 42-0, $9,750
6th: Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., 15 bass, 41-12, $8,375
7th: Ethan Greene, Eufaula, Ala., 15 bass, 41-8, $7,300
8th: Mike Cavender, Phenix City, Ala., 15 bass, 39-14, $6,300
9th: Joey Bloom, Winter Springs, Fla., 15 bass, 38-15, $5,300
10th: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 15 bass, 38-10, $4,200
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
On Thursday, pros Keith Bardolf of Abbeville, Alabama, and Robert Crosnoe of Inverness, Florida, split the $500 Day 1 Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division, as each weighed in a bass totaling 6 pounds, 6 ounces. On Friday pro Lonnie O’Neal of Valdosta, Georgia, earned the $500 Berkley Big Bass prize with a largemouth weighing in at 8 pounds, 15 ounces.
Robert Griswold of Lincolnton, North Carolina, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of nine bass weighing 23 pounds, 7 ounces. Griswold took home the top co-angler prize package worth $34,350, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on Lake Eufaula finished:
1st: Robert Griswold, Lincolnton, N.C., nine bass, 23-7, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard
2nd: Larry Mullikin, Jacksonville, Fla., eight bass, 23-6, $5,525
3rd: Roger Phillips, Delta, Ala., 10 bass, 22-4, $4,300
4th: William Lewis, Jacksonville, Fla., nine bass, 20-0, $3,650
5th: James Menold, Amory, Miss., six bass, 18-2, $3,150
6th: Joseph Chilcott, Williamson, Ga., eight bass, 17-12, $2,650
7th: William Grantham, Mobile, Ala., eight bass, 16-13, $2,150
8th: Dax Liner, Mineral Bluff, Ga., 10 bass, 16-3, $1,825
9th: Sean Wooten, Umatilla, Fla., six bass, 13-2, $1,530
10th: Stephen Draghi, Sparrow Bush, N.Y., five bass, 13-0, $1,440
Mullikin earned Thursday’s $150 Berkley Big Bass award after weighing in a 6-pound, 3-ounce largemouth, while the Day 2 $150 award went to Stephen Draghi, who brought a 7-pound, 7-ounce bass to the scale.
With the three regular-season events in the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Southern Division now complete, pro Chad Mrazek of Montgomery, Texas, was crowned the 2023 Southern Division Pro Angler of the Year (AOY) and earned the $5,000 AOY bonus with a total of 749 points. Stephen Draghi of Sparrow Bush, New York, won the 2023 Southern Division Strike King Co-angler AOY race and the $2,000 AOY bonus with 747 points.
The Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lake Eufaula Presented by Chewalla Creek Marina was hosted by the Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce. It was the third and final regular-season event for the Toyota Series Southern Division. The next event for the top 25 anglers in the Toyota Series Southern Division AOY standings will be the Toyota Series Championship at Table Rock Lake, Nov. 2-4, in Branson, Missouri. For a complete schedule of events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2023 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2024. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2023 Toyota Series Championship on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, is hosted by ExploreBranson.com.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Toyota Series include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Black Rifle Coffee Company, E3, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Gill, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Next Gen Lithium, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Palaniuk leads for third day in a row at Bassmaster Elite Series event on Lay Lake
Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, is leading after Day 3 of the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake with a three-day total of 51 pounds, 7 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
May 13, 2023
SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. — When Brandon Palaniuk began his research for the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake, he knew the 2010 Bassmaster Classic had been won in Beeswax Creek where the field launched from this week.
What he didn’t know, however, is that the water he has focused on this week is the exact area Kevin VanDam used to win his third Classic trophy. Now, Palaniuk is just one day away from etching more history into the Beeswax Creek record book.
With a 15-pound, 11-ounce bag on Day 3, “The Prodigy” maintained his lead on the Coosa River impoundment with a three-day total of 51-7. After opening with a 19-7 limit and a 16-5 Day 2 bag, Palaniuk leads Oklahoma's Jason Christie by 2-5 after Christie rocketed up the leaderboard with a Day 3 megabag of 23-0.
“I knew this creek is where (the Classic) was won. I did not know it was behind that bridge,” Palaniuk said. “It blows my mind every day when I come back. Like, how did I catch this much weight? What blows my mind the most is, I feel like I have exhausted everything, like I have caught every bass I can. And then I’ll see a 5-pounder swimming down the bank. It’s like, there is still at least one big one left in here.”
During his 13-year career with B.A.S.S., Palaniuk has six victories, including two that came in wire-to-wire fashion — his first win ever at Bull Shoals in 2012 and his 2013 victory at the St. Lawrence River. Now he’s vying for a seventh overall win and a third in the wire-to-wire category.
Each day, Palaniuk has been unsure of what he would be able to catch in the back of Beeswax. But each day has produced its own pattern.
The first day, he mostly sight fished for bedding bass. Then on the second day, he targeted cruisers and used his Humminbird MEGA 360 to find bream beds where bass were feeding on spawning bluegill.
On Saturday, the late morning and afternoon hours provided the most sunshine of any point in the tournament, and Palaniuk could see more bass cruising around.
“I feel like they were a little more accessible compared to yesterday where I caught more off the 360,” he said. “It positions them some, but it really allows me to see them before they see me.”
Palaniuk has caught all largemouth thus far in less than 3 feet of water. An X Zone Lures Deception Worm continues to generate most of his bites. The lake level fluctuated the first two days, so much so that Palaniuk compared Lay Lake to a tidal fishery. On Day 3, however, the water stayed stable and on the lower side while water temperatures rose to the 80-degree mark.
“As soon as I feel like I know what they are trying to do, it’s like they change a little bit or they change the water level,” he said. “I feel like I understand a couple of things that they are trying to do and how they are trying to move through that area.”
After a 45-minute fog delay on Semifinal Saturday, Palaniuk started his day targeting offshore cover in his primary area and caught a small limit by 9:30 a.m. As he made his way back, he was surprised to find two spawning largemouth. After figuring out where the bed actually was, Palaniuk caught both bass before 11:15 a.m., the second coming just six or seven casts after the first.
After going a couple of hours without a bite, Palaniuk keyed back in on the bream bed and fry guarder pattern and was able to upgrade a couple of times, including his second-biggest bass with 20 minutes to go.
Now that he has been able to hold the lead for three days, Palaniuk is starting to believe he can make his strategy work for one more.
“But nobody knows,” he said. “I lost one big one today and two big ones yesterday. I saw two big ones cruising that I didn't catch. I feel like there are still fish around. It is just whether or not you make the right moves in the right places.”
With bags of 16-5 on Day 1 and a disappointing 9-13 Day 2 performance, Christie ripped the VMC Monster Bag of the Tournament away from Palaniuk with his giant Day 3 bag, which also lifted him into second with a three-day total of 49-2.
That bag was anchored by a 9-4 kicker largemouth that not only leads the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament standings but also became the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Year. The daily award was worth $1,000 — and if it holds, it will pay $2,000 for Big Bass of the Tournament and $10,000 for Big Bass of the Year.
“I’m kind of speechless. That was a surprise. I looked out there and I saw one swimming,” he said. “I told my marshal, ‘That’s a 4- or 5-pounder.’ I threw my frog over there and she didn’t like that. She just kind of turned. I picked up a spinning rod and fired out in front of her and sat there and shook it. She ate it, and the rodeo started. There was stuff all around me.”
Christie’s season to this point has been a rollercoaster and that has continued at Lay. He opened this tournament in fourth place on the first day before falling to 17th after Day 2. Semifinal Saturday didn’t begin particularly well either, as Christie lost two 4-pounders before his good fortune began.
“I’m fishing objects. I’m just going down the bank and if I see one swimming, I’ll stop and throw at it,” Christie said. “It was a great day. I have burned up everything that I have so tomorrow I just have to go fishing somewhere.”
After landing in second yesterday, Sylacauga, Ala., native Will Davis Jr. dropped to third with a three-day total of 48-10. The hometown angler has spent most of the week targeting spawning spotted bass in 2 feet of water. He started the tournament in seventh with 15-14 and moved into second on Day 2 with an 18-5 limit.
Davis spent most of Day 3 within sight of the Logan Martin Dam and has discovered the bigger bass have moved deeper. The fog also hurt him, particularly when he arrived at his starting spot.
“I stopped on one place and had the perfect lineup with the waypoint and a tree, and I couldn’t see my tree,” Davis said.
The day was slow overall for the Elite Series rookie. He got just six bites total, but three of those bass were over 3 pounds. He ended the day with four spotted bass and a largemouth.
“It was tough today,” he said. “I couldn’t get dialed in to what rock they were on and all that stuff. I stayed up there and pulled up on another deal I hadn’t practiced on, and on my second cast, I caught my biggest fish. Then I moved a little deeper and caught another big one.”
Davis said he plans on starting Championship Sunday by fishing around some grass closer to takeoff and hopes a shad spawn will carry him to a quick start.
South Carolina's Brandon Cobb leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year race with 487 points. Georgia pro Drew Cook is second with 436 points, followed by Louisiana’s Tyler Rivet in third with 415, Florida’s John Cox in fourth with 414 and Alabama’s Kyle Welcher in fifth with 413.
Davis leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race with 381 points followed by Alabama pro David Gaston in second with 369 and California pro Bryant Smith in third, also with 369.
The Top 10 remaining anglers will launch from Beeswax Creek Park at 6:30 a.m. CT and return for weigh-in beginning at 3 p.m. The winner will take home $100,000 and a blue trophy.
Bassmaster LIVE will start at 7 a.m. CT on FS1 and move to Bassmaster.com at 12:30 p.m.
2023 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake 5/11-5/14
Lay Lake, Shelby County AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 15 51-07 104 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 16-05 Day 3: 5 15-11
2. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 15 49-02 103 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 09-13 Day 3: 5 23-00
3. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 15 48-10 102
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 18-05 Day 3: 5 14-07
4. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 15 43-11 101
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 15-06 Day 3: 5 14-06
5. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 15 43-05 100
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 5 16-03
6. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 15 42-12 99
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 13-05
7. Seth Feider New Market, MN 15 42-05 98
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 16-01 Day 3: 5 12-12
8. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 15 41-11 97
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 17-14 Day 3: 5 11-06
9. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 15 41-04 96
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 5 13-02
10. Bryan New Saluda, SC 13 41-01 95
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 3 08-10 Day 3: 5 13-11
11. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 15 40-07 94 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 5 15-12
12. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 15 39-11 93 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 14-10 Day 3: 5 13-12
13. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 15 39-05 92 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 10-02 Day 3: 5 13-01
14. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 15 38-15 91 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 11-03 Day 3: 5 13-12
15. John Cox DeBary, FL 15 38-03 90 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 11-07 Day 3: 5 13-07
16. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, Ontario CANADA 15 37-12 89 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 5 12-11
17. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 15 37-02 88 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 5 11-15
18. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 15 37-02 87 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 11-14 Day 3: 5 11-08
19. Cole Sands Calhoun , TN 15 37-01 86 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 12-11
20. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 15 37-00 85 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 15-14 Day 3: 5 07-07
21. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 15 37-00 84 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-07 Day 3: 5 12-05
22. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 15 36-11 83 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 12-06 Day 3: 5 11-07
23. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 15 36-01 82 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-06 Day 2: 5 09-00 Day 3: 5 09-11
24. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 15 36-01 81 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 12-03 Day 3: 5 12-00
25. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 15 35-15 80 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 5 12-05
26. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 15 35-14 79 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 12-13 Day 3: 5 09-12
27. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 15 35-05 78 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-06 Day 3: 5 10-11
28. Joseph Webster Hamilton, AL 15 35-03 77 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 11-08 Day 3: 5 12-13
29. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 15 35-00 76 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 10-07
30. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 15 35-00 75 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 5 12-08
31. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 13 34-12 74 $10,000.00
Day 1: 3 05-07 Day 2: 5 17-06 Day 3: 5 11-15
32. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 14 34-10 73 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 12-14 Day 3: 4 06-14
33. Chad Pipkens DeWitt, MI 15 34-07 72 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 10-10 Day 3: 5 10-12
34. Kyoya Fujita Minamitsuru, Yamanashi 15 34-07 71 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 11-00 Day 3: 5 12-14
35. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 15 34-04 70 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 12-14 Day 3: 5 09-00
36. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 15 33-15 69 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 10-02 Day 3: 5 11-06
37. Frank Talley Temple, TX 15 33-06 68 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 15-11 Day 3: 5 06-10
38. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 15 32-13 67 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 5 11-02
39. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 15 32-10 66 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 11-09 Day 3: 5 09-09
40. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 11 32-09 65 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 1 01-01
41. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 15 32-02 64 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 13-12 Day 3: 5 07-11
42. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 12 31-03 63 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 2 05-00
43. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 15 31-02 62 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 08-04
44. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 14 31-01 61 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 16-10 Day 3: 4 05-09
45. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 15 31-00 60 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 06-11 Day 2: 5 15-12 Day 3: 5 08-09
46. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 15 30-09 59 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 10-10 Day 3: 5 08-00
47. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 12 29-13 58 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 13-07 Day 3: 2 04-06
48. Michael Iaconelli Pittsgrove, NJ 15 29-07 57 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 10-00 Day 3: 5 07-08
49. Derek Hudnall Zachary, LA 14 27-02 56 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 4 05-01
50. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 12 25-02 55 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 11-03 Day 3: 2 02-09
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 05-14 $1,000.00
2 Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 06-04 $1,000.00
3 Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 09-04 $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 92 497 1122-07
2 83 478 1069-11
3 43 234 541-10
----------------------------------
218 1209 2733-12
Puzzled Palaniuk continues to surprise in Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lay Lake
Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, is leading after Day 2 of the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake with a two-day total of 35 pounds, 12 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
May 12, 2023
Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, is leading after Day 2 of the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake with a two-day total of 35 pounds, 12 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
May 12, 2023
SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. — Most of this week, Brandon Palaniuk has worn a wry smile on his face. It is one of disbelief more than anything that he has actually found the quality of bass he has during the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake.
By adding 16 pounds, 5 ounces Friday to his Day 1 tally of 19-7, the Rathdrum, Idaho, native now has a two-day total of 35-12 and holds the lead for the second day in a row. Alabama rookie Will Davis Jr. is second with 34-3 and veteran Florida pro Bernie Schultz is third with 31-8.
“I’m just the clueless leader out there,” Palaniuk said. “I’m 100% in disbelief. The fact I was able to fish for all of those fish the first day blew my mind. The fact I went back there and caught 16 pounds today blows my mind, too. I’m going to have to go again tomorrow because I don’t know what is going to happen. I might have another 15 or 16.”
Palaniuk has been maximizing one specific area of Lay Lake and has had to adjust to the conditions every day. Even though thunderstorms moved through the area Thursday night, the water had dropped a couple of inches when he arrived Friday morning. As the day progressed, it began to rise again.
“It is almost like a tidal fishery this week,” Palaniuk said. “They keep bringing the water up and down, up and down, so it has been hard for me to get dialed in to any one thing. You can see the water clarity change and you can see the current move in one direction and then back the other. It definitely changes everything.”
Friday morning when the water was at its lowest, there was very little activity in the area. The shad were stagnant and the bream beds were not active. But once the water rose, activity increased and the bite improved.
Adding to his disbelief, Palaniuk has had his area largely to himself, with only a couple of anglers filtering in and out.
“The way everyone else fishes it, it is really hard to get a bite,” he said. “The way I am fishing it, I have been able to get bites here and there. That is the biggest difference. I am fishing in an area that has bass, but doing it differently than everyone else. I can’t even describe how obvious it seems, but yet everyone missed it.”
On Thursday, Palaniuk did most of his damage sight fishing and caught the Day 1 Phoenix Boats Big Bass — a 5-14 largemouth — on his second pitch to one particular bed. On Friday, the two-time Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year excelled by finding postspawn bass that were either cruising or in specific cover he saw on his Humminbird MEGA 360.
He pitched his drop shot, rigged with an X Zone Lures Deception Worm to that cover. That presentation produced his biggest bass Friday, which was over 5 pounds. He also caught a couple of bass on a frog.
“I didn’t catch a bass off a bed today. I didn’t even see any,” he said. “I saw one that was maybe set up on a bed but wouldn’t lock on.”
He also caught a 4-pound cruiser and bream came into play as the day progressed.
“They aren’t on all of them, though. Just certain ones for sure,” he said.
Palaniuk added that he had several missed opportunities, including a bass he saw and coaxed into biting with a glidebait. Unfortunately for him, the bass made one big jump as it neared the boat and came free.
That bass went back to the same spot, and Palaniuk said he plans on trying to catch it again Saturday. He also dialed in a specific pattern that led to several culls later in the day.
“I did figure out a little something late where I culled up quite a few times,” he said. “I started catching fish off of my Humminbird 360 that clued me into something different. I don’t know how much I can expand on it.”
After landing in seventh on Day 1 on his home fishery with 15-14, Davis caught 18-5 on the second day with four spotted bass and one largemouth. It was the biggest bag of Day 2.
The Sylacauga, Ala., native’s starting spot had big bass schooling all over it, but Davis was unable to generate a bite.
“It was slick today and that hurt the topwater bite deal I had going on,” he said. “I didn’t have a swim jig bite this morning either.”
As the day wore on, Davis moved to an area on Lay Lake that featured some stronger current and caught close to 12 keepers, six of those coming on consecutive casts. The 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. window was his best window for catching the better quality.
At around noon, he also noticed the dam operators turned on two turbines, which helps position the bigger bass to his liking.
“I think more fish are coming to me,” he said. “I caught a big one late in the day. She was a prespawn spot and she was 10 feet down there. She was almost 5 pounds. I feel good about that for sure.
“They are gorging on shad. I had to clean my livewell screens three times today.”
Davis said the bream bed pattern has not been as good as he anticipated.
“I think a lot of bass are just getting through spawning and they are in that funk,” he said. “In another week, they will definitely be on bream beds. But right now, that’s not the deal — at least not for me.”
Schultz caught 15-4 Friday, anchoring his bag with a 5-11 largemouth he caught early. One bait has done most of the damage this week, a black Hildebrandt SqueakEasy buzzbait he designed with a Zoom Horny Toad as the trailer.
One area has provided the best results for the Gainesville, Fla., native. Schultz said there were so many shad in this area on Day 1 he could walk across them. On Friday, the shad presence wasn’t quite as prevalent, but he got two big bites — the 5-11 and a big spotted bass.
“Yesterday, the bass were active,” he said. “We had a low sky with low pressure. It was a humid kind of morning and it was on. That place had potential because it was right next to deep water and it had so much bait. I don’t know how other people missed it.”
The rest of Day 2, Schultz struggled to get bites but was able to finish his limit in a backwater pond up the river.
Palatka, Fla., angler Cliff Prince claimed the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day — and the $1,000 prize that goes with it — with a 6-4 largemouth. That bass surpassed Palaniuk’s Day 1 lunker to take over Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors. Palaniuk still holds the VMC Monster Bag of the Tournament with his 19-7 Day 1 bag.
South Carolina pro Brandon Cobb continues to lead the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year race with 480 points. Georgia pro Drew Cook is second with 425 points, followed by Louisiana’s Tyler Rivet with 416 and Alabama’s Kyle Welcher and Florida’s John Cox with 401 each.
Davis leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race with 382 points, followed by Alabama pro David Gaston with 381 and California pro Bryant Smith with 364.
The Top 50 remaining anglers will launch from Beeswax Creek Park beginning at 6:30 a.m. CT on Saturday and return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. Only the Top 10 will advance to Championship Sunday with a chance to win the $100,000 first-place prize.
Bassmaster LIVE will begin at 6:30 a.m. CT on FS1 before moving to Bassmaster.com at 9:30 a.m.
2023 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake 5/11-5/14
Lay Lake, Shelby County AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 35-12 104 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 16-05
2. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 10 34-03 103
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 18-05
3. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 10 31-08 102
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 15-04
4. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 10 30-05 101
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 17-14
5. Seth Feider New Market, MN 10 29-09 100
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 16-01
6. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 10 29-09 99
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 15-14
7. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 10 29-07 98
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 15-03
8. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 10 29-05 97
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 15-06
9. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 10 28-02 96
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 14-13
10. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 10 27-12 95
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 12-14
11. Bryan New Saluda, SC 8 27-06 94
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 3 08-10
12. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 10 27-02 93
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 14-01
13. Frank Talley Temple, TX 10 26-12 92
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 15-11
14. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 10 26-06 91
Day 1: 5 17-06 Day 2: 5 09-00
15. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 10 26-04 90
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 10-02
16. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 26-03 89
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 12-15
17. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 10 26-02 88
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 09-13
18. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 10 26-02 87
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 12-13
19. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 10 25-15 86
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 14-10
20. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 10 25-10 85
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 11-14
21. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 10 25-08 84 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 16-10
22. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 10 25-07 83
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 13-07
23. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 10 25-04 82
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 12-14
23. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 10 25-04 82
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 12-06
25. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 10 25-03 80
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 14-13
26. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 10 25-03 79
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 11-03
27. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, Ontario CANADA 10 25-01 78
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 12-04
28. John Cox DeBary, FL 10 24-12 77
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 11-07
29. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 10 24-11 76
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-07
30. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 10 24-11 75
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 12-15
31. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 10 24-10 74
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-06
32. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 10 24-09 73
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 14-04
33. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 10 24-07 72
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 13-12
34. Cole Sands Calhoun, TN 10 24-06 71
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 12-12
35. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 10 24-01 70
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 12-03
36. Chad Pipkens DeWitt, MI 10 23-11 69
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 10-10
37. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 10 23-10 68
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 12-00
38. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 10 23-01 67
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 11-09
39. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 10 22-14 66
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 12-10
40. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 8 22-13 65
Day 1: 3 05-07 Day 2: 5 17-06
41. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 10 22-09 64
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 10-02
42. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 10 22-09 63
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 10-10
43. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 22-09 62
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 11-03
44. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 22-08 61
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 13-00
45. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 10 22-07 60
Day 1: 5 06-11 Day 2: 5 15-12
46. Joseph Webster Hamilton, AL 10 22-06 59
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 11-08
47. Derek Hudnall Zachary, LA 10 22-01 58
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 10-15
48. Michael Iaconelli Pittsgrove, NJ 10 21-15 57
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 10-00
49. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 10 21-11 56
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 13-00
50. Kyoya Fujita Minamitsuru, Yamanashi 10 21-09 55
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 11-00
51. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 10 21-07 54 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 13-02
52. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 10 20-14 53 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 09-01
53. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 9 20-07 52 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 4 08-11
54. Darold Gleason Many, LA 10 20-06 51 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 08-08
55. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 9 20-05 50 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 4 08-11
56. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 10 20-05 49 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 10-10
57. David Williams Newton, NC 10 20-03 48 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 08-06
58. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 10 20-03 47 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 10-12
59. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 10 20-01 46 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 07-09
60. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 8 20-01 45 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 08-15 Day 2: 5 11-02
61. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 10 19-15 44 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 5 11-03
62. Carl Jocumsen Queensland AUSTRALIA 10 19-08 43 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 07-00
63. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 10 19-06 42 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 09-14
64. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 10 19-05 41 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 06-12 Day 2: 5 12-09
65. Josh Douglas Isle, MN 10 19-05 40 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 07-03
66. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 8 19-02 39 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 3 06-00
67. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 10 19-00 38 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 08-07
68. Keith Poche Cecil, AL 9 18-15 37 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 05-12 Day 2: 5 13-03
69. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 10 18-15 36 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 07-06
70. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 10 18-14 35 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 06-08
71. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 10 18-13 34 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 08-05
72. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 10 18-09 33 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 09-07
73. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 18-04 32 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 05-12 Day 2: 5 12-08
74. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 9 18-04 31 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 07-03 Day 2: 5 11-01
75. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 18-03 30 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 08-00
76. Cody Huff Ava, MO 10 18-03 29 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 09-02
77. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 18-02 28 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 07-02
78. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 9 18-00 27
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 4 06-00
79. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 10 17-14 26
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 09-09
80. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 10 17-09 25
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 07-12
81. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 10 17-06 24
Day 1: 5 07-13 Day 2: 5 09-09
82. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 10 17-02 23
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 08-00
83. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 10 16-13 22
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 08-11
84. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 10 16-10 21
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 07-04
85. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 9 16-10 20
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 4 07-08
86. Wes Logan Springville, AL 9 16-08 19
Day 1: 4 05-10 Day 2: 5 10-14
87. Taku Ito Chiba JAPAN 7 16-07 18
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 2 03-04
88. KJ Queen Conover, NC 10 16-07 17
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 06-01
89. Masayuki Matsushita Tokoname-Aichi JAPAN 9 16-06 16
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 4 06-14
90. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 9 16-05 15
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 4 05-12
91. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 10 16-04 14
Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 5 08-11
92. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 8 15-05 13
Day 1: 4 07-01 Day 2: 4 08-04
93. Joshua Stracner Vandiver, AL 8 15-03 12
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 5 08-08
94. Skylar Hamilton Jefferson, TN 6 14-14 11
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 1 02-08
95. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 9 14-04 10
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 4 05-06
96. Mike Huff London, KY 9 12-09 9
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 4 04-13
97. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 6 12-05 8
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 1 01-11
98. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 7 12-03 7
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 2 03-03
99. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, AR 6 11-07 6
Day 1: 3 04-03 Day 2: 3 07-04
100. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 7 10-09 5
Day 1: 5 07-10 Day 2: 2 02-15
101. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 4 09-10 4
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 1 03-01
102. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 5 09-05 3
Day 1: 2 04-02 Day 2: 3 05-03
103. David Fritts Lexington, NC 6 06-15 2
Day 1: 2 02-03 Day 2: 4 04-12
104. Bradley Hallman Edmond, OK 4 05-09 1
Day 1: 2 03-01 Day 2: 2 02-08
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 05-14 $1,000.00
2 Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 06-04 $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 92 497 1122-07
2 83 478 1069-11
----------------------------------
175 975 2192-02
Cox Continues to Thrive in Chaos
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
A few weeks ago, John Cox had just weighed in another five-fish limit on semifinal Saturday of the Bassmaster Elite on Santee Cooper Lakes. His efforts were good enough to land him in 28th place, earning the laid-back Florida pro another solid paycheck, something he’s done in every event he has fished in2023. He was happy to have a good finish, but Cox was chewing on a bit of a pickle he’d found himself in that afternoon.
His tournament had just ended in South Carolina, but Cox was supposed to be starting practice for the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational on Lake of the Ozarks at sunrise the very next morning and he realized he was about due for an oil-change in his 2023 Toyota Tundra. Not ideal when faced with a 16-hour drive, no time to spare, and service departments closed on Sundays.
Fortunately, his wife Melissa, who Cox describes as his teammate and angel, flew into South Carolina so she could drive John, his truck, and his boat out of the Southeast and into the Midwest while he rested and tried to think up a gameplan for LOZ, since he’d be missing at least a full day of practice.
Thanks to the reliability of his wife and his truck, the duo made it to Missouri having only missed the first day of practice. Cox is truly an extraordinary angler, but there is no doubt it takes an equally special significant other to support and at times, ensure the arrival of professional bass fishing’s marathon man to thenext tournament on his jampacked schedule.
Missing even a few hours of official practice would immediately spin 75% of the field out, but Cox actually took the following morning off to catch up on a little more rest. You see, due to Cox’s well-documented tendency to fish every tournament he can reasonably sign up for and his incredible fishing abilities that find him competing on a lot of day three and day fours, this kind of bedlam is not unfamiliar.
“Honestly I think I fish better when I have a little chaos around me,” Cox said with a chuckle. “I guess I feel weird if things are too calm and organized. I tend to fish better when I pretty much abandon any gameplans I had, too.”
When the strain of a chaotic schedule would break most anglers, Cox continues to thrive.
Case in point, Cox went on to win Phoenix Boats Stop 4 on Lake of the Ozarks, regardless of restricted practice time on a body of water he had never fished in his life. The Crestliner pro sight-fished his way to another trophy, beating out his buddy and former local tournament teammate Keith Carson by just over a pound.
“The tournament really couldn’t have worked out much better with Keith and I finishing first and second,” Cox said. ”It was a whirlwind of emotions for me, cause I would have loved for Keith to win, but it all worked out. I was even able to get the oil change I needed on my Tundra during our off day. It was nice!”
In addition to another trophy and an $80,000 payday, Cox took home $3,000 of Toyota Bonus Bucks. Covering more than thepending oil change for the longtime Toyota driver.
Many well-traveled bass anglers tout the reliability of Toyota being one of the deciding factors in their choice of tow vehicle. But when you are John Cox and you’ve booked tournaments on top of tournaments without a day to spare, you absolutely must be able to rely on your truck.
“The Bonus Bucks program is initially what led me to buying my first Tundra, it was a no brainer to me,” Cox explained. “But I’ve grown to just really love the trucks over the years. My new ’23 is awesome. Pulls my boat great, the comfort is unreal, and with the way I live my life the reliability is probably the best part. I trust that thing to get me, my boat, and my family to the next tournament no matter what.”
The rewards of Toyota’s prominent fishing contingency program aren’t just for pro anglers like John Cox. Bonus Bucks supports hundreds of bass fishing events of all levels and for anglers who own or lease an eligible tow-vehicle, it is 100% free to register for.
Head to www.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com for more information, a full list of sanctioned events and payouts, or to get yourself registered today.
Palaniuk powers to opening-round lead at Bassmaster Elite Series event on Lay Lake
Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, is leading after Day 1 of the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake with 19 pounds, 7 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
May 11, 2023
SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. — Benefitting from a quick start, Brandon Palaniuk claimed the Day 1 lead at the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lakewith a 19-pound, 7-ounce limit of largemouth.
Palaniuk has no idea if he can come close to repeating that performance. But for now, the Rathdrum, Idaho, native holds an 11-ounce lead over South Carolina’s Bryan New and a 2-pound lead over North Carolina’s Matt Arey.
“I knew today was super important with what I had and what I found,” he said. “Literally, I was hoping to catch enough today to carry me through a good event. I have no idea what is going to happen tomorrow. I have a brushpile I think I can catch 6 pounds of spotted bass out of. That might be my starting spot.
“I have spent four days on this place and still don’t feel like I have a clue.”
The two-time Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year also claimed the award for Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day with a 5-14 lunker largemouth he caught sight fishing. Palaniuk said that bass weighed at least a pound more when he noticed it in practice on Wednesday.
“She dumped her eggs from yesterday to today. Yesterday she was super wide,” he said.
When he went back this morning, Palaniuk noticed it 40 feet away from the bed.
“It bit on the second cast. I pulled up and could barely see the bed, and I thought I saw a fish swim off. I couldn’t tell if it came back so I pitched up there and didn’t see anything move,” Palaniuk explained. “I reeled it back in and I looked 90 degrees to my right, and 40 feet from the bed, I just see these two bass swimming. It was that pair, the little male and that giant female, and they were heading back to the bed.”
Palaniuk pitched his drop shot, rigged with an X Zone Lures Deception Worm, back in and held his bait steady until he saw the female reach the bed. With one shake, the bass ate and swam off.
That was part of a limit that the six-time B.A.S.S. winner achieved by 10 a.m. Along with the Deception Worm in green pumpkin/blue, he caught bass on a frog and an Adrenaline Craw from X Zone.
Following a weather system that moved through parts of the state on Wednesday morning, cloud cover lingered over Lay Lake all morning and into the afternoon hours. That made for tough fishing conditions for much of the field, with several anglers commenting on Bassmaster LIVE that it was, by far, their toughest morning this week.
The water also dropped throughout practice. But on Thursday, it rose a couple of inches and Palaniuk remarked on LIVE that may have caused some bass to move into the area. Even still, he has seen very few bass on bed like the one he caught on Day 1.
He believes the bass are on the tail end of their spawning cycle.
“I don’t know if there are more coming. I highly doubt it,” Palaniuk said. “I don’t even have a 3-pounder I can run to tomorrow and be like, ‘I saved that one.’ Maybe a 2-pounder.”
Lay Lake was where New officially clinched his Elite Series berth back in 2020 with a 22nd-place showing at the St. Croix Bassmaster Eastern Open. This week, he finds himself in contention again in second place with 18-12.
His biggest bass Thursday weighed 5 pounds.
“I don’t know how tomorrow is going to go, but it was a really good day today,” New said. “A good start. I kind of jive with Lay Lake. I kind of went fishing. I didn’t expect a ton. Practice was garbage. I had a few hints and it went well.”
Running a couple of different areas in the morning, New achieved a limit with a kicker bass in the first two hours using a couple of different baits. In the afternoon, the Elite Series champion made two key upgrades, a 3-6 and a 4-1 that were logged on BassTrakk just before 2 p.m.
“I think I found something that’s obviously pretty special,” New said about his afternoon pattern.
Arey rotated through several baits to catch his limit of 17-6. He caught three of the biggest bass he had seen all week, including two largemouth, one weighing 4-11 and one almost 4 pounds. He also caught a 3-pound spotted bass.
“I caught one off a bed, I caught one flipping, I caught one swimming a jig and I caught two casting a worm. I am really dialed in as you can tell,” Arey said, laughing. “I was fortunate today to get two really big largemouth bites. I’ve got a little deal where I can get a lot of bites, but I only think it is good for 6- to 8-pound limits. I’ve gotta mix in some big-bait power fishing to get a big largemouth.”
With the time of year, Arey said he isn’t surprised the bass are as spread out as they are. He has seen a little bit of everything this week and he says there are bites right now that will mislead anglers. That’s why he’s been switching techniques and areas often.
“The water fluctuation this week is what helps or hurts it,” Arey said. “This system is sensitive to rising and falling water. The water looks like it has come up some now. It had been falling throughout practice, which made the shallow largemouth bite fickle. Hopefully, they don’t drop the bottom out of it and it continues to improve.”
South Carolina pro Brandon Cobb leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 469 points. He is followed by Florida’s John Cox in second with 414 points, Australia's Carl Jocumsen in third with 413, Louisiana’s Tyler Rivet in fourth with 405 and North Carolina’s Shane LeHew in fifth with 394.
Sylacauga, Ala., pro Will Davis Jr. landed in seventh place Thursday with 15-14 and now leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 377 points. He is followed by California pro Bryant Smith in second with 376 points and Alabama’s David Gaston in third with 373.
The full field will launch from Beeswax Creek Park beginning at 6:30 a.m. CT on Friday morning and return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. The field will be cut to the Top 50 anglers following the Day 2 weigh-in before the Top 10 compete on Championship Sunday for the $100,000 first-place prize.
Bassmaster LIVE coverage starts at 7 a.m. and streams through 2 p.m. on Bassmaster.com, Tubi and the FOX Sports digital platforms.
2023 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake 5/11-5/14
Lay Lake, Shelby County AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 19-07 104 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-07
2. Bryan New Saluda, SC 5 18-12 103
Day 1: 5 18-12
3. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 5 17-06 102
Day 1: 5 17-06
4. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 5 16-05 101
Day 1: 5 16-05
5. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 16-04 100
Day 1: 5 16-04
6. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 5 16-02 99
Day 1: 5 16-02
7. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 5 15-14 98
Day 1: 5 15-14
8. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 5 14-14 97
Day 1: 5 14-14
9. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 5 14-04 96
Day 1: 5 14-04
10. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 5 14-00 95
Day 1: 5 14-00
11. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 5 13-15 94
Day 1: 5 13-15
12. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 5 13-12 93
Day 1: 5 13-12
13. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 5 13-11 92
Day 1: 5 13-11
14. Seth Feider New Market, MN 5 13-08 91
Day 1: 5 13-08
15. John Cox DeBary, FL 5 13-05 90
Day 1: 5 13-05
15. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 5 13-05 90
Day 1: 5 13-05
17. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 5 13-05 88
Day 1: 5 13-05
18. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 5 13-04 87
Day 1: 5 13-04
18. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 5 13-04 87
Day 1: 5 13-04
20. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 13-04 85
Day 1: 5 13-04
21. Taku Ito Chiba JAPAN 5 13-03 84
Day 1: 5 13-03
22. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 5 13-02 83
Day 1: 5 13-02
23. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 5 13-01 82
Day 1: 5 13-01
23. Chad Pipkens DeWitt, MI 5 13-01 82
Day 1: 5 13-01
25. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 5 12-14 80
Day 1: 5 12-14
26. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, Ontario CANADA 5 12-13 79
Day 1: 5 12-13
27. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 5 12-08 78
Day 1: 5 12-08
27. Carl Jocumsen Queensland AUSTRALIA 5 12-08 78
Day 1: 5 12-08
29. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 5 12-07 76
Day 1: 5 12-07
29. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 5 12-07 76
Day 1: 5 12-07
31. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 5 12-06 74
Day 1: 5 12-06
31. Skylar Hamilton Jefferson, TN 5 12-06 74
Day 1: 5 12-06
31. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 5 12-06 74
Day 1: 5 12-06
34. Josh Douglas Isle, MN 5 12-02 71
Day 1: 5 12-02
35. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 5 12-00 70
Day 1: 5 12-00
35. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 12-00 70
Day 1: 5 12-00
37. Michael Iaconelli Pittsgrove, NJ 5 11-15 68
Day 1: 5 11-15
37. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 5 11-15 68
Day 1: 5 11-15
39. Darold Gleason Many, LA 5 11-14 66
Day 1: 5 11-14
39. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 11-14 66
Day 1: 5 11-14
41. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 5 11-13 64
Day 1: 5 11-13
41. David Williams Newton, NC 5 11-13 64
Day 1: 5 11-13
43. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 5 11-12 62
Day 1: 5 11-12
43. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 5 11-12 62
Day 1: 5 11-12
45. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 5 11-10 60
Day 1: 5 11-10
45. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 5 11-10 60
Day 1: 5 11-10
47. Cole Sands Calhoun, TN 5 11-10 58
Day 1: 5 11-10
48. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 5 11-09 57
Day 1: 5 11-09
49. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 5 11-08 56
Day 1: 5 11-08
50. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 11-06 55
Day 1: 5 11-06
51. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 5 11-05 54
Day 1: 5 11-05
52. Derek Hudnall Zachary, LA 5 11-02 53
Day 1: 5 11-02
53. Frank Talley Temple, TX 5 11-01 52
Day 1: 5 11-01
54. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 11-00 51
Day 1: 5 11-00
55. Joseph Webster Hamilton, AL 5 10-14 50
Day 1: 5 10-14
56. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 5 10-11 49
Day 1: 5 10-11
57. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 5 10-10 48
Day 1: 5 10-10
58. Kyoya Fujita Minamitsuru, Yamanashi 5 10-09 47
Day 1: 5 10-09
58. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 5 10-09 47
Day 1: 5 10-09
58. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 5 10-09 47
Day 1: 5 10-09
61. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 5 10-08 44
Day 1: 5 10-08
62. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 5 10-06 43
Day 1: 5 10-06
62. KJ Queen Conover, NC 5 10-06 43
Day 1: 5 10-06
64. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 5 10-05 41
Day 1: 5 10-05
65. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 5 10-04 40
Day 1: 5 10-04
66. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 10-03 39
Day 1: 5 10-03
67. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 09-13 38
Day 1: 5 09-13
68. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 5 09-11 37
Day 1: 5 09-11
69. Masayuki Matsushita Tokoname-Aichi JAPAN 5 09-08 36
Day 1: 5 09-08
69. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 09-08 36
Day 1: 5 09-08
71. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 5 09-08 34
Day 1: 5 09-08
72. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 09-07 33
Day 1: 5 09-07
73. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 5 09-06 32
Day 1: 5 09-06
74. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 5 09-02 31
Day 1: 5 09-02
74. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 5 09-02 31
Day 1: 5 09-02
74. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 5 09-02 31
Day 1: 5 09-02
77. Cody Huff Ava, MO 5 09-01 28
Day 1: 5 09-01
78. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 5 09-00 27
Day 1: 5 09-00
79. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 3 08-15 26
Day 1: 3 08-15
80. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 5 08-14 25
Day 1: 5 08-14
80. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 08-14 25
Day 1: 5 08-14
82. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 08-12 23
Day 1: 5 08-12
83. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 5 08-11 22
Day 1: 5 08-11
84. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 5 08-05 21
Day 1: 5 08-05
85. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 5 08-05 20
Day 1: 5 08-05
86. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 5 08-02 19
Day 1: 5 08-02
87. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 5 07-13 18
Day 1: 5 07-13
88. Mike Huff London, KY 5 07-12 17
Day 1: 5 07-12
89. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 5 07-10 16
Day 1: 5 07-10
90. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 5 07-09 15
Day 1: 5 07-09
91. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 4 07-03 14
Day 1: 4 07-03
92. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 4 07-01 13
Day 1: 4 07-01
93. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 5 06-12 12
Day 1: 5 06-12
94. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 5 06-11 11
Day 1: 5 06-11
95. Joshua Stracner Vandiver, AL 3 06-11 10
Day 1: 3 06-11
96. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 3 06-09 9
Day 1: 3 06-09
97. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 05-12 8
Day 1: 5 05-12
98. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 4 05-12 7
Day 1: 4 05-12
99. Wes Logan Springville, AL 4 05-10 6
Day 1: 4 05-10
100. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 3 05-07 5
Day 1: 3 05-07
101. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, AR 3 04-03 4
Day 1: 3 04-03
102. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 2 04-02 3
Day 1: 2 04-02
103. Bradley Hallman Edmond, OK 2 03-01 2
Day 1: 2 03-01
104. David Fritts Lexington, NC 2 02-03 1
Day 1: 2 02-03
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 05-14 $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 92 497 1122-07
----------------------------------
92 497 1122-07
2023 Texas Team Trail Headed to Choke Canyon Next Month!!!
Bassmaster College Championship heads to Pickwick Lake
The country's top college teams will compete on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tenn., August 10-12 at the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.
May 11, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 2023 national championship for the hugely popular Bassmaster
College Series will be decided on the renowned waters of Pickwick Lake, Tennessee. The 2023 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops will head to Counce, Tenn., August 10-12.
This is the first time since 2018 the College Series will compete on Pickwick Lake and the first time that the circuit has launched from the eastern edge of the 43,000-acre impoundment of the Tennessee River, which has hosted an Elite Series event and the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX over the past year.
“Hosting such a big tournament for B.A.S.S. really puts us on the map as a fishing destination. It's good for our economy, restaurants, lodging and small businesses," said Beth Pippin, Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau director of tourism. "We are excited to welcome Bassmaster back to Pickwick, Tennessee!"
Pickwick offers vast opportunities for anglers, with a good mix of offshore fishing and shallow structure and solid populations of largemouth and smallmouth bass. Beautiful scenery paired with a chance to catch a trophy trifecta — smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass of above-average size — are why the fishery was ranked one of the Southeast’s Best Bass Lakes on Bassmaster Magazine’s 2022 100 Best Bass Lakes list.
As many as 130 teams of anglers representing universities across the nation will converge on Counce for the event. Qualifications are based on the teams’ finishes in four regular-season stops held on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes, Cherokee Lake in Tennessee, Virginia’s James River and the Red River in Louisiana. A final Wild Card tournament on Alabama’s Lay Lake gives teams waitlisted for the other events one last chance to make it into the championship field.
“We’re excited to offer college anglers an incredible championship tournament experience,” said Glenn Cale, tournament manager for the College, High School and Junior Series. “I am thrilled that we are able to get these young anglers onto this extraordinary fishery as they compete for a national title and a chance to fish the Classic.”
Competitors will not only be fighting for a national championship but also a berth in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota via the College Classic Bracket tournament.
As the 2023 Bassmaster College Team of the Year, Easton Fothergill and Nick Dumke from the University of Montevallo have already punched their ticket to the College Classic Bracket presented by Lew's, which will be held later this year. The College Classic Bracket takes the Top 3 teams from the National Championship plus the Team of the Year and allows individual anglers to compete head-to-head in bracket-style competition for a berth in the Classic, where they will compete for a prize purse of over $1 million.
The 2022 College Classic Bracket champion Louis Monetti, part of the UNC Charlotte Team of the Year, became just the third college qualifier in history to make the Championship Sunday cut at the Bassmaster Classic earlier this year, finishing 23rd.
Throwback Thursday - FLIPPIN’: A CONCEPT. NOT JUST A TECHNIQUE – PART TWO
By Terry Battisti - Bass Fishing Archives
This is part two of a three-part series on the concept of flipping and the effect it had on the sport. In this installment, we talked with Gary Klein and Basil Bacon about their involvement with the early years of the technique. To read part one, click here.
In part one of this piece, Dave Myers talked about the three factors that came together to form the concept of Flippin’. He also talked about how an angler could thoroughly pick apart a shoreline in half the time it’d take an angler using conventional methods.
For parts two and three, I had the pleasure of interviewing four other anglers who took the ground rules, developed by Thomas, and added considerably to its foundation. Gary Klein, Hank Parker, Basil Bacon, and Denny Brauer all played pivotal roles in the progression of flipping and the way anglers approach shallow targets today.
These four anglers not only helped flipping progress, but they also helped design new equipment, terminal tackle, and baits to increase the effectiveness of the technique.
GARY KLEIN
When you think about the anglers who were there when flipping was invented – Thomas, Hauck, Gliebe, and Myers – if you leave out Gary Klein, you’ve left out one important part of the puzzle.
Klein, still a high school student and working at Lake Oroville in northern California, was making a name for himself fishing the Western Bass circuit. He and Thomas became fast friends, Thomas taking him under his wing.
“I was fortunate to meet Dee at a young age,” he said. “In the beginning, it wasn’t like Dee handed me things. He was smart in only giving me enough information so I had to go and do my homework. He was really smart about that – he made me work for it – and I appreciate it to this day.
“To be a part of the technique since its inception and watching it evolve has been an important part of my career. It’s because of this single technique that I decided to leave California and try to make a career fishing the B.A.S.S. circuit.
“Flipping wasn’t just a new technique – it was a new philosophy,” he said. “It was about how to catch a certain type of fish that’s relating to cover. To sum it up, the technique is just a way to present a lure in shallow water. But it also teaches you to learn patterns within patterns. For example, when I see a log in the water, I don’t just see a log – I see where it enters the water, each individual branch, where the sun is casting shadows, etc. I don’t just cast to a bush. Flipping has taught us to analyze more about what’s going on with respect to cover than any other technique. It made us a lot more efficient.
“Anglers today confuse flipping with pitching,” he said. “Flipping is NOT pitching. To me the flipping technique is all about having the line in your hand and swinging the bait. It’s more efficient and much more precise. If I’m pitching, I can miss fish [miss as in not placing the bait near them]. When I’m flipping, I won’t miss them.
“I said before that Flipping was the number one reason I left California. It wasn’t that I thought I wasn’t as good as the stars of the time – anglers like Roland, Dance, Tommy [Martin] – I just knew that with a Flip Stik in my hand, I was better than any of the other anglers with that type of fish.
“Dee and Dave [Gliebe] had already gotten the word out but the media was slow to cover it. By ’79 when I came out, there was still virtually no one doing it or anyone who really understood it. No one had a Flip Stik in their boat. That’s what gave me the mentality that I could do better against the others.
“When I came out east, I brought seven rods with me – all Flip Stiks,” he said. “I knew I could compete and in my first year on the B.A.S.S. circuit, I finished 10th, 1st, 6th, 26th, 18th and 7th. I missed Angler of the Year in the last event to Roland [Martin] by a little over a pound. Eighty-percent of the fish I caught that year were caught flipping.”
Klein wasn’t just one of the first anglers to utilize flipping on the national circuits, either. He was also a tackle developer with close friend Rich Forhan.
“In the first years when I came on the circuit, my number-one bait was a black 6-inch lizard,” he said. “Over the years, though, I’ve flipped everything.
“Then Rich Forhan and I got together to design a jig. The Weapon Jig and hook evolved because Rich was trying to get the best equipment in my hands.
“We found the original hook through Herters,” he said. “It was a round-bend needle-point hook design, completely contrary to what was popular back then, made by Partridge of England. When I was 18 years old, I met with the owner of Eagle Claw and tried to talk him into making it for us. He didn’t want to do it. So we bought our hooks from Herters.
“The jig head came from a lot of testing. We wanted the head to slide out of the fish’s mouth easily in order for better hookups. We fashioned a number of head shapes out of steel and tested them. What we came up with, coupled with the flat hook eye, was the result.
“A while into making the jigs, we found out that Herters was going to discontinue selling them so we bought all they had left. That’s when Rich went over to England and met with Partridge. That’s when they came up with the black Weapon flipping hook made out of Sheffield steel.
“Mustad later bought the company and they came out with the Ultra Point hook. It’s because of this single technique that we have round needle-point hooks. The hook companies were forced to make them because of flipping. In 1979 when I lost Angler of the Year to Roland, it was because I lost fish due to the wrong hook.
“Another thing that happened right off the bat was the flipping switch,” he said. “Basil Bacon gets the credit for that. In fact he used to work on all my reels in his garage back when we used to hang out together.
“Still today I won’t fish a reel without a flipping switch. In fact, because of me, Zebco still makes a reel model with one on it – and they kid me about it all the time.
“Now we’re seeing all sorts of different tools, maybe not designed for flipping but have made it much more efficient. Tungsten weights, punch skirts and braid have all had an effect on flipping.”
Although Klein is one of the most decorated anglers in the sport, he still hasn’t forgotten his roots.
“I’ll always be indebted to Dee because he let me get close to him and Dave [Gliebe]. He and flipping are why I was so successful. Dee has never received the credit he deserves.”
BASIL BACON
Another angler who was there almost from the start was Basil Bacon. Although Bacon wasn’t from California, he was lucky enough to have competed in the Bull Shoals event in ’75 – the event that Thomas won and put flipping on the map.
“I met Dee at the Bull Shoals event,” he said. “Dee didn’t come back much after that but [Dave] Gliebe did and that’s how I got to know Dave.
“Gliebe and I ended up at a PSI (Project Sports Inc.) event on Rend Lake in Illinois. There was a small grocery store in town and they had an attic above it where they sold beds for the night. Dave and I each rented a bed and that’s where we got acquainted.
“We’d been talking about flipping but nothing came of it.
“The first day of the tournament I did pretty well and was close to the leader. The second day I didn’t do too well and on the third day, I couldn’t even catch a fish. Dave came in with a sack and I think he won it.
“After that, we headed to Lake Cordell Hull in Tennessee. Before we left I asked him about the long pole and that I’d like to spend some time with him and learn about it.
“During practice, we had a thunderstorm roll through and we couldn’t fish. After it cleared I asked him to show me how to flip. He pulled the boat into the back of a cove and flipped this bog ole’ jig into some grass growing on the bank. I’m not talking emergent vegetation, I’m talking lawn-type grass on the shore that was flooded.
“He shook the jig a little and then flipped a 3-pounder in the boat. He ruined me.
“He showed me just enough to get me in trouble and it took me a year to figure out all the mechanics of it. Of course, I developed a lot of my own techniques during that time – as I still do.
“Until ’79 I had flipping all to myself in this part of the world,” he said. “Then at the Classic in ’79, Hank Parker, who didn’t know what flipping or a flipping stick was, got on it and won.
“Flipping was almost 100% of my fishing once I learned how to do it,” he said. “I lived with the theory of how fish position themselves on structure. Current, wind current, no wind, the shade, time of day – all that stuff. A lot of people would come up to a piece of cover and just throw at it. Then maybe they’d get closer and flip it.
“That wasn’t my approach at all. What I’d do is look the cover over, taking all the conditions into account, and then decide how and where I wanted to place my first flip. There was nothing haphazard about what I did. The first flip was the most important.”
Bacon wasn’t just a learner when it came to flipping, he was an innovator.
“Back when Dee and Dave [Myers] were coming back east, Dave showed me how to take the free spool release springs out of an Ambassadeur to make it a flipping reel,” he said. “After that, I’d do the same but always thought there was a better way.
“Gary Klein was following me all over the country at the time and we came to my house here in Springfield [MO]. We were talking and I said, ‘There are too many times we’re flipping and we want the reel to be a casting reel. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a switch on the reel so it could do both?’ He thought it was a good idea too.
“I got a hold of a Langley, an Ambassadeur and a Diawa Millionaire, took them apart and made the parts for a flipping switch for each of them. The Ambassadeur was the best of the bunch.
“I took the reel to Johnny Morris – we’ve been friends since before he opened Bass Pro Shops – and it tripped his trigger. We worked out a deal that we could share and then we went to Ambassadeur (ABU) with it. They were the first to pick up on it in ‘80-‘81. We never patented the idea but sold it to ABU.”
Bacon not only invented the flipping switch, he also had his hands in the development of baits.
“The jigs I used back then were primarily Gary’s Weapon Jig,” he said. “There were a couple of things I thought could be improved on it so I went to a friend, Al Dunning, who had been bugging me to design a jig for him. We designed the jig and it became the Basil Bacon Super Jig manufactured by Al-Ron Lures.
“The jig was designed to come through wood, specifically wood here on Truman Reservoir,” he said. “The thing about Truman wood is one year the lake froze and then dropped two feet while still frozen. When that happened, the trees broke in a downward fashion at it was tough to get a jig through. The design of my jig helped an angler get through it. Every angler who came to fish the lake would by my jigs because they worked.
“In the early days I primarily flipped the jig,” he said. “Then after Hank [Parker] won the Classic in 79, I started using plastics. I won a couple of tournaments using lizards and worms and then developed a bait called the Bacon Rind – one of the first creature baits.
“What drove me to that was the fact I didn’t like to flip tubes because I liked to fish deeper in the trash and the old tubes hung up a lot. The bait was designed like a tube but was solid and had tails and flappers. I’d take and rip the back tails off the bait and it fished just like a tube on the fall. It allowed me to fish heavier cover without getting hung up.”
Bacon feels today’s anglers are confused about what the technique really is.
“Most anglers today pitch instead of flip and that’s been one of the big misconceptions since the beginning. When I first started flipping, an angler by the name of Bill Ward came to me to talk about it. I showed him what I was doing and he said, ‘I do that with a spinning rig.’ What he was actually doing was pitching with a spinning rod.
“An angler who flips has more control than an angler pitching. That’s what is so critical about the technique. You have control of where the lure is going, control of the lure when it’s in the cover and, most importantly, control over the fish once you hook him. Pitchers don’t have this kind of control of the entire situation.”
Overall flipping was a learning process,” he said. “It was very good to me over the course of my career. The only problem was I should have fished other baits and techniques more. I was a diehard with the flipping stick.”
In all Bacon has won 11 big events with the big stick and finished second in the ’79 Classic on Texoma flipping.
In part three of this series, we’ll be talking with Hank Parker and Denny Brauer and how flipping helped their careers.
If we’ve piqued your interest and you’d like to read ahead, check out the rest of the story at Bass Fishing Archives with the link below:
MLF Toyota Series Southwestern Division Finale Set for Sam Rayburn Reservoir
BROOKELAND, Texas (May 11, 2023) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is set to return to Jasper, Brookeland and Sam Rayburn, next week, May 18-20, for the Toyota Series at Sam Rayburn Reservoir . Hosted by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Area Chamber of Commerce, the three-day tournament is the third and final regular-season event in the Toyota Series Southwestern Division.
The tournament will feature a roster of the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers competing for a top prize of up to $100,000 in the pro division and a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor in the co-angler division.
“I think this is going to be a great tournament. There is going to be a lot of fish caught, a lot of different ways,” said Bass Pro Tour angler Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, who won the season-opening Toyota Series event at Sam Rayburn Reservoir earlier this year. “The spawn is over, the shad should be spawning, and there’ll be some bluegill spawning. The lake is in really good shape right now.
“The water is a little up, so there should be plenty of water in the shallow bushes and the cypress trees,” Ebare continued. “There is a lot of hydrilla this year, and there will be some fish set up offshore in the brush piles. A guy can really pick his poison and go with it in this tournament.”
Fellow Bass Pro Tour angler Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, believes that offshore fish will be the key.
“There will be multiple ways that guys can catch fish – that’s what is so fun about this lake, you can fish pretty much any way you’d like and do well,” Faircloth said. “That being said, I believe this event will be won offshore with a big crankbait, a football jig, a big swimbait – something like that.”
Both anglers agreed that big crankbaits – Strike King 6XDs and 10XDs – would be strong. Ebare mentioned that he’d also have a Strike King Sexy Dawg tied on for the early topwater bite, while Faircloth hinted that he’d be throwing a 1-ounce Strike King Slither Rig around the outside edges of the grass.
“Rayburn is really hard to predict – three good days with good weather and it could easily take 68 to 70 pounds,” Ebare said. “But the weather and the conditions always make a huge difference, so you never know. I think it’ll take at least 60 pounds to win the event next week.”
“I think a guy is going to have to average right around 22 (pounds) a day to be in contention at the end,” Faircloth went on to say.
After two regular-season events in the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Southwestern Division, pro Todd Castledine of Nacogdoches, Texas, leads the Southwestern Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 508 points, while Justin Swayze of Gurdon, Arkansas, leads the Strike King Co-angler Division AOY race with 508 points.
Anglers will take off each day at 6:30 a.m. CT from the Umphrey Family Pavilion, located at 5438 Sam Rayburn Parkway in Brookeland. Weigh-ins will also be held at the marina and will begin at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend and encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of $40,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of $65,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard (valued at $33,500) plus $5,000 cash.
The 2023 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2024. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2023 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 2-4 on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, and is hosted by ExploreBranson.com.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Toyota Series include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Black Rifle Coffee Company, E3, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Gill, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Next Gen Lithium, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Frogs and falling water at stingy Lay Lake
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Bassmaster Elite Series pros will face their biggest challenge of the 2023 season thus far when competition kicks-off Thursday at the Whataburger Elite Series tournament on Lay Lake, Alabama.
The 12,000-surface acre Coosa River impoundment simply isn’t a hawg factory like Okeechobee, Seminole, Murray, or Santee, and with water levels falling slightly, the challenge gets even bigger.
Team Toyota’s Matt Arey says with so much focus on the shallow emergent water willow vegetation along the shoreline, a couple inches in decreased water levels at Lay Lake is comparable to the water dropping a foot in two days on other bass fisheries, but topwater frogs and swim jigs still remain the major players.
“There’s a shad spawn happening here, and that’s going to be a major factor in this tournament, so the famous swim jig in the water willow pattern on Lay is still a big deal even thoughthe water has fallen 6-inches during practice,” explains Arey.
He alternates between a 5/16-ounce and a 3/8-ounce white swim jig depending on the depth of the water around the water willow vegetation, and the frog becomes a strong one-two punch combination in situations where the vegetation is a little less thick.
“I’m going to guess 11 or 12 pounds a day on Thursday and Friday will get you into the cut, and if you can average 14 pounds a day here, you’ll most certainly make it to Sunday’s Top 10,” predicts Arey.
So, while the first four events have been full of Triple Meat Whataburgers, this week at Lay might be filled with several sacks of Justaburgers from the kid’s menu, and sometimes tight weight events such as this are the most dramatic and fun to watch.
Bassinova Baits Forms Strategic Partnership With Boing Lures
Two great American-made lures with premium components joining forces
May 10, 2023
Tod Costello, the owner of Idaho’s Bassinova Baits, and Jason Yocum, the owner of Indiana’s Boing Lures, have announced a strategic partnership that will see the two companies collaborate on multiple lures and other projects going forward, starting with a Frog Head Buzzbait that will be available shortly.
“After working as an electrician for 30 years, I realized that there was enough demand to make Bassinova a full-time job to compete on a national level,” Costello said. “My lures are labor-intensive. Each one is built by hand, not on a production line, and all of our components are American-made. That’s important to me and I know it’s important to Jason, so we’ve teamed up to better utilize our respective talents and networks.”
Bassinova, then based in California, started off with Earthshaker Bladed Jigs in August of 2010 and they remain the company’s flagship product. A distinctive bent blade allows them to operate consistently and effectively whether slow-rolled or burned at warp speed. The company powder paints each blade by hand to ensure that it meets their exacting standards, and the lures, available in five sizes from ¼ ounce to a full ounce, are available in paint schemes and skirt patterns tailored to highly specific forage types and water conditions. Customers are also invited to reach out to develop custom patterns, including multiple color heads and distinctive or thicker skirts, all for a price lower than many more well-known brands.
In recent years, Costello has extended his lineup to include various types of jigs, all of which are similarly hand-built with exceptional attention to detail. That’s what attracted Yocum to the partnership.
“Through my years with Boing developing topwater lures, I’ve always placed a premium on being distinctive and different, while also ensuring that each product is best in class,” he said. “I saw a similar spirit in Tod, and I knew that not only were our values aligned, but that we could push each other to produce new gear that would resonate with demanding anglers.”
As noted above, the Buzzbait will be available soon, and additional products should follow shortly thereafter. Boing Lures are available at Tackle Warehouse and many leading online and brick-and-mortar outlets. While Bassinova’s products are currently only available through the company’s website – where a personal touch remains their hallmark – that should change in the near future as the direct result of this partnership.
Bassmaster panel upholds Poche's Toledo Bend disqualification
May 10, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. officials announced today that, after an extensive investigation and appeals process, Keith Poche's Day 1 catch disqualification from the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Toledo Bend has been upheld.
The disqualification was handed down based on a violation of Rule 15 of the Bassmaster Opens Series rules, which reads in part: "Boats must remain in tournament waters during tournament days. Competitors must leave from and return to official checkpoints by boat. Anglers must remain in the boat at all times except in case of dire emergency or with permission from the Tournament Director."
Poche’s appeal was heard today by a three-person panel which included a Bassmaster College Series angler and Bassmaster Opens angler — neither of whom competed in the 2023 Toledo Bend Open — and a B.A.S.S. employee who is not part of the Tournament Department.
Big Bass Tour - Berkley Lake Breakdown - Best Baits for Chickamauga
By Pete Robbins
Here’s the bottom line for the mid-May Big Bass Tour at Lake Chickamauga – don’t expect to win it all with a bass in the 7-pound range.
A bass that size might earn an hourly check, even a good one, but it’s not going to take all the marbles. The question is how much bigger you’ll have to go to earn the top prize. It’s been three years since we’ve seen a 10-pounder at the “Chick,” but in both 2018 and 2020 there were three of them brought to the scales, so not even double digit fish are unthreatened. This is one event where you’ll want to bring your “A” game. It’ll take a minimum of 7-plus pounds to sneak into the top ten, and the top five are almost always at least 8 pounds. Some years, like 2018 through 2020, it takes a 9-pound beast just to crack the top five.
Local pro Casey Majni said that it’s “been such a weird year,” with up and down swings in the weather patterns, but that can be a feature, not a bug. There will be more fish on more different patterns, making Chickamauga fish much bigger than its 21,000 acres.
“I would honestly look for a big one on the bed, especially if we get some sun,” he explained. “The big first wave is already done, but another wave is coming up, and I’m sure there will be at least an 8 in it, possibly a 10.”
He’d focus on the backs of main lake pockets and in the far ends of major creeks, trying to find water that’s clear enough to make out the bedding fish, but with enough tinge to make them less spooky.
“If I couldn’t see them, I’d throw a black and blue Berkley Powerbait Maxscent Creature Hawg to where I think the bed might be,” he said. “If I can see them I’d use that Shape 108 craw. I’d start off by pestering them with a natural color like Green Pumpkin, then switch to white and keep going until the ate it.” If that pattern’s not to your liking, or conditions don’t allow it to work, he said that there will also be a shad spawn going on.
“I love looking for it around the face of the dams, riprap and the locks,” he said. “And also on trees right off the main channel. It’s a little bit different every year, but as a rule I tend to prefer the riprap because it’s all open in front. You don’t have to worry about getting your baits inside the trees.” He’d use various moving baits to exploit this opportunity, including a shad-colored Berkley Swim Jig with a matching Powerbait Crash Craw, and also a spinnerbait, especially if there’s a bit of wind. He’s been whacking fish on early iterations of the new Berkley Cull Shad swimbait and also the Berkley Stunna jerkbait. Those multiple hooks keep slashing fish pinned up.
If the water dirties up due to rain or inflow, he’d put a jig or the Creature Hawg in his hand, attached to a 5/16 to ½ ounce weight, and pitch to every submerged stumps he could barely see. Sometimes, stealth is the best way to catch a big girl who’s just moved up, or one who’s hanging around before heading off to her summer haunts.
This tournament, as always, promises to be a slugfest, and it’ll take a stout fish to even claim hourly money, which makes strategy all that much more important. Pay attention to the live leaderboard, and since this is a comparatively small venue, be judicious about when you make the run in to weigh your prized Chickamauga bass.
Lay Lake is loaded with treasured memories for Swindle
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Team Toyota’s Gerald Swindle sat floating on the front deck of his boat at iconic Beeswax Boat Ramp after a long day of practice Tuesday wearing a heartfelt grin as he recounted 30 years of treasured memories on Lay Lake, one after another, like the steady flow of the Coosa River behind him.
“Lay is where we’d come to fish when we’d get rained-out back when I was still working as a house framer with my Uncle Jimmy and Dan Hayes,” recalls Swindle.
“The three of us spent a ton of rainy days backing a boat into that current up in the river, and I was always the guy that got picked to ride the trolling motor, trying to keep us from drifting too fast downstream. There was no such thing as Spot-Lock on a trolling motor back in 1992,” laughs Swindle.
Laughter has always been a core quality for Swindle, so much so, he admits he and his young buddies would arrive extra early to tournaments at Paradise Point on Lay just to laugh at the stories older fellas like Tim Cornelius would tell while drinking coffee around the marina boat ramp before blast-off.
“Heck, I didn’t even drink coffee back then, I just wanted to hang out and laugh at all their funny stories,” he admits.
The laughter never disappeared, but before long it became apparent Swindle was a serious threat in local tournaments when he and his 6’ 10” buddy, Jason Crain won a big Airport Marine tournament on Lay by drifting heavy ¾-ounce jigs in the current up lake.
“We would literally bring a sack full of nothing but ¾-ounce jigs back then, and spend all day drifting them in the current. I still love doing that, and I love just seeing all the places here where I have memories tied to certain fish-catches. Like the time I had a 7-pounder hooked along some rip-rap, and my buddy Crain couldn’t net it because he was fishing with a broken hand that day,” smiles Swindle.
Of course, Swindle also participated in the well-known Mark’s Outdoors Lay Lake Open held once each year that attracts hundreds of teams that compete not only for prize money, but also truckloads of free fishing equipment. As time progressed, Swindle went from a local participant to one of the featured celebrity pro anglers who always attend to mingle with amateur anglers and represent sponsors.
But perhaps his favorite memory on Lay Lake is tied to family, and their participation in a mid 1990s Red Man tournament.
“I’ll never forget it. It was me, my dad, brother Ernie, and brother Tony all piled into one cheap hotel room the night before the tournament, and I’ll be danged if we didn’t sleep-in and wake up in a panic to get to the launch in time,” he recalls.
“But the funniest part of all, was Tony literally being fully dressed, and waiting on the rest of us out in the truck, in under two minutes. I swear he had to sleep in his clothes, because I’m not sure it was humanly possible to get ready that fast,” laughs Swindle.
One thing becomes apparently obvious when you listen to Swindle tell stories about his many times on Lay Lake. It’s not about the fishing so much, it’s more about the people with whom he shared time on the water.
“I grew up an hour and twenty minutes from Lay, but I swear I wore out four sets of truck tires on I-65 coming down here to fish over the years,” he smiles.
Certainly nothing would punctuate a book full of treasured memories on this Coosa River impoundment more than for the lanky former house-framer to collect his first Elite Series win here, especially with a number of potentially rainy days forecasted during the four-day competition.
Seat of your pants
Wire-to-wire BASS Northern Opens winner Powell Kemp talks about his win on Buggs Island and how it also lead to another win on the day after the tournament
Catch live coverage of the Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Workmanlike Blade
|
EGO’s new Kryptek Fillet Knife is destined to be your new workhorse. |
|
Caldwell, ID (May 9, 2023) – Fillet knife prices are all over the board. There are culinary-grade options pushing two hundred bucks. Inversely, you’re confronted with questionable options floating around five-bucks, and a whole slew between twenty and a hundred bucks. What’s an angler to do? EGO Fishing has an answer. The new Kryptek Fillet Knifegoes for around twenty bucks and blends a cutlery quality blade with workmanlike design to be the ultimate go-to fillet knife. The multi-purpose Kryptek Fillet Knife features a titanium coated blade, preventing corrosion, which is especially important in saltwater environments. It’s rubberized No-Slip-Grip keeps the knife in your hands in the slippery situation that is filleting fish. EGO’s Kryptek Fillet Knife comes standard with a poly sheath to protect the edge, as well as your hands. And with an 11.5-inch blade, it manages wide ranging fish species and sizes. Make kitchen drawer space for the new EGO Kryptek Fillet Knife. Might want to keep one in the boat, too, |
|
|
FEATURES:
MSRP $19.99 |
