Alabama’s Jordan Lee Earns Third Career MLF Bass Pro Tour Win at General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair
Berkley Pro Goes Wire-to-Wire Catching a Five-Bass-Limit Weighing 23-4 on Final Day to Earn Third Bass Pro Tour Win and Top Award of $100,000
HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (June 29, 2023) – Championship Thursday on Lake St. Clair started off with a bang, with Berkley pro Jordan Lee of Cullman, Alabama , taking advantage of the early morning bite to put together a five-bass limit weighing 23 pounds, 4 ounces to earn his third Bass Pro Tour win and the top award of $100,000 at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles . Lee’s two-day Knockout and Championship Round total of 10 bass weighing 47-13 earned him the win by a 1-pound, 3-ounce margin over second-place finisher Alton Jones Jr. of Waco, Texas, who weighed in 23 pounds, 8 ounces Thursday to finish the event with a two-day total of 46-10, his second runner-up finish this season.
The Alabama pro whipped up his 23-4 limit on Championship Thursday within the first two hours of competition yet was able to maintain the top position throughout the day despite never upgrading his fish in the second or third period.
“Before I came up here, I knew I wanted to fish on the Canadian side of Lake St. Clair, primarily around the Bell River Hump area,” said Lee. “Tournaments have been won over there, historically, so I felt like it was worth the risk to commit to that for the week, despite not being able to practice over there.
“I bounced around a bit during the first part of the event, but not so much the last two days,” Lee continued. “In practice I was looking for grass clumps and grass lines, but once I started actually fishing, that didn’t seem to be the deal.
“My main area just had a smooth bottom, and the fish were just hanging out there. There wasn’t anything on the map that pointed out fish might be there, but I spent some time scoping around with my Lowrance ActiveTarget and started seeing some fish that clued me in. It just happened to be the winning area.
“I found a couple places that didn’t pay off and others where I didn’t catch anything, but my first fish of the tournament was almost 6 pounds, and that just started me off on the right path,” Lee continued. “I pulled up to my main spot this morning, and the fish weren’t in the area where I had been catching them. They’re notorious for moving out here, so I was a bit worried, but they’d only moved about 200 yards away. Once I found them it was game on. I caught a couple over five pounds early on and those two fish were really the difference makers.”
Lee’s limit of 23-4 included a pair of 5-pounders weighing 5-4 and 5-10.
“Those big bites were definitely key throughout this entire week,” said Lee. “I was getting a couple of them per day, and they were all in different places, so it was just meant to be.”
Lee caught most of his fish throwing a 5-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flatnose Jerk Shad on a drop-shot rig.
“I did well here during a tournament in 2017, throwing a big, fluke-style bait, so I always think about that when I come here,” said Lee. “That 5-inch Berkley Jerk Shad is a little bit bigger than a flatworm or other typical smallmouth baits; but smallmouth on Lake St. Clair eat big stuff, and I saw the giant perch they were spitting up all week, so I knew I wouldn’t scare them off with a bigger bait.”
This victory marks Lee’s first Bass Pro Tour win since 2020, when he went on a season flurry to win Stage One, the Heavy Hitters all-star event and the 2020 Bass Pro Tour Angler of the Year (AOY) title.
“St. Clair is an awesome fishery, and I was looking forward to fishing it, but I never would have dreamed I’d win this event coming into it,” finished an emotional Lee. “You always hope for the win, every tournament, but I sure wasn’t expecting it. God has really blessed me and my family and this has just been a really special week.”
The top 10 pros from the General Tire Stage Six on Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles finished:
2nd: Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 10 bass, 46-10, $45,000
3rd: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 10 bass, 43-12, $38,000
4th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 10 bass, 43-4, $32,000
5th: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 10 bass, 42-14, $30,000
6th: Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 10 bass, 42-8, $26,000
7th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 10 bass, 42-2, $23,000
8th: Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, 10 bass, 41-1, $21,000
9th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 10 bass, 39-9, $19,000
10th: Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., 10 bass, 37-11, $16,000
The General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles features anglers 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 the Detroit Sports Commission, Macomb County and Lake St. Clair Metroparks, 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.
Television coverage of the General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles Championship Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, November 4 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
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.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG by Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Summer showdown on tap for Bassmaster Kayak tournament at La Crosse
The Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX will be held July 8-9 on the Mississippi River.
Photo by Kara Wattunen/B.A.S.S.
June 29, 2023
LA CROSSE, Wis. — For the second time in three seasons, the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX heads north to fish the Upper Mississippi River, and Bassmaster Kayak Series angler Benjamin Wagner of Calmar, Iowa, believes there will be plenty of options for anglers to capitalize on both smallmouth and largemouth.
Competition days are scheduled for July 8-9 on Pools 7, 8 and 9 of the Mississippi River. The live leaderboard can be found on Bassmaster.comthroughout the tournament, with the awards ceremony streaming live on the Bassmaster YouTube channel July 9 at 4 p.m. CT.
This section of river has witnessed several exciting moments in Bassmaster history. Just last year, Bryan Schmitt won an Elite Series event with 63 pounds, 4 ounces.
In the first Bassmaster Kayak Series event on the river in 2021, an event held in September, Jim Davis won the one-day tournament with 85.5 inches.
So far this year, the Upper Mississippi River has experienced rainy and stormy weather. At the beginning of May, the water was 7 feet over normal. Wagner anticipates the water should be back close to normal by the time anglers arrive for practice barring another significant rain event.
“With it starting high this spring, I’m not exactly sure how it will play or if it will get down to normal,” Wagner said. “Last year was the first full year we’ve had a normal year on these pools for about eight years. Most other years the water is higher than what they consider normal. Last year, everyone kept commenting on how low the water was, but it was right at normal.”
The three pools of the Upper Mississippi River in play for this event feature an abundance of shallow grass, milfoil, eelgrass and duckweed for the most part, as well as hard cover like riprap, laydowns and wing dams.
Both smallmouth and largemouth call the river home, and Wagner believes anglers who target either species will have a chance at the victory. Largemouth tend to weigh more than smallmouth, but smallmouth tend to be long and skinny, which helps in a tournament judged by total inches of bass.
Both species will be in their summer patterns.
“The one cool thing about the Mississippi River is (that) last year during a tournament one guy was drop shotting in 15 feet of water for smallmouth and another guy was catching largemouth in 2 feet of water on a Carolina rig. They can be about anywhere, and any technique can play,” Wagner said.
The smallmouth will mostly stick to the main-river areas around hard cover like wing dams and rock. Crankbaits, drop shots, topwaters and jigs tend to be the best-producing baits.
“Below the dams you will have current, and other places on the main channel you will have plenty of current, deep water and breaks,” he said.
The largemouth, meanwhile, will gravitate to the grass, and anglers will be able to catch them on a frog, swim jig, ChatterBait or flipping bait.
“I wouldn’t rule anything out,” Wagner said.
With 727 points after three regular-season events, Nick Dyer is leading the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year standings by just nine points over 2022 Bassmaster Kayak Series national champion Eric Siddiqi. Joshua Diehl, who took home a kayak series trophy in 2021, sits third in the standings with 697 points.
Lock Down Your Soft Plastics
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Throwback Thursday - Quest for the World Record
By Terry Battisti - Bass Fishing Archives
The bass fishing world was rocked on June 23, 1973, when southern California resident Dave Zimmerlee caught the first fish weighing more than 20 pounds since George Perry set the record 42 years earlier at Montgomery Lake, Ga.
Tiny 183-acre Lake Miramar yielded the then-California record. Weighing in at 20-15, the fish dwarfed the existing record of 17-14 caught by James Bates of out of Lake Murray one year earlier.
In 1959, the California Department of Fish and Game joined forces with the Florida Fish and Wildlife to transport and release 20,000 Florida bass fingerlings into San Diego’s Upper Otay reservoir. Upper Otay would act as the brood pond for the Floridas which would then be transplanted into area lakes. The Floridas were chosen because they exhibited a growth rate almost twice as fast as their northern brethren and City Parks officials wanted a fish that would offer a sustainable population for its patrons.
Little did they know what would happen in the near future.
By 1965, the 12-year-old state record of 10-03 had been broken with a 10-10 Florida. The record was again broken in ’66 with a 13-00, in ’68 with a 13-07, in ’69 with a 15-04 and again in 71 with a 16-11. San Diego was on the map as being a likely place for the world record to be broken.
The 1971 record fish, caught by Randall Danio, has some interesting information regarding the catch. He was reportedly fishing for trout at Lake Miramar with a spinner when the big fish ate.
Then, in July of 1972, James Bates caught the next state record, as mentioned above. This fish was the first of the last three state records actually caught by a bass fisherman – the others being caught by trout anglers. He caught his fish on a Grape Mann’s Jelly worm.
California State biologist Larry Bottroff, who was instrumental in the planting of the Florida bass in California’s waters, shed some light on the explosion of trophy largemouth in the state in the Sept/Oct 1972 issue of Bass Master Magazine. Here is an excerpt from that interview with writer Chuck Garrison.
“I believe there are bass of 18 and 19 pounds in some of these waters now! I also believe bass of this size will be taken by 1975. Possibly sooner. The largest I have observed weighed 17-03 and was only 10 years old. The condition of some 12-year-old Floridas I have observed is good. It appears as though they will live four or five more years. If they do and remain in good condition, 20 pound plus bass might become a reality! Time will tell.”
Then came June, 1973.
Dave Zimmerlee had never fished Miramar before that fateful day. He had just relocated to San Diego from Missouri after being in school and the military for eight years. While in Missouri, he had become a bass angler having taken a 12-04 out of Bull Shoals reservoir. Little did he know his next trophy would cause such a stir.
Zimmerlee reported that he hadn’t had any luck fishing the shore in the morning and around noon decided to go rent a boat from the concession. Here are his words from an interview that was printed in the Sept/Oct 1973 issue of Bass Master Magazine, as written by Chuck Garrison.
“… I went up and got a boat and went and fished about three different spots. I got a few little bass but threw them back. Then I started to move up to another spot with the boat and I saw this big fish swimming in the water.”
He dropped the anchor and threw a live nightcrawler at the fish – and it ate it.
The rest is history.
Larry Bottroff was again interviewed for an article published in the 1974 Bass Master Fishing Annual, this time by writer Myron R. Fischer, called Quest for a SUPER BASS. This time Bottroff was again asked why he thought the San Diego lakes produced such giant fish. In Fischer’s words, here was the answer:
“An interesting sidelight, is the fact that fertility of both [Lake] Miramar and [Lake] Murray is low. Bass have attained their size and condition, due to their feeding on trout.”
An interesting fact considering Bottroff, only a year earlier, stated in an interview with Garrison the main diet of the San Diego Floridas was threadfin shad.
Since this time California has produced nine documented largemouths over the 20-pound mark. One of those fish, nicknamed Dotty, was caught at least 5 times by anglers including Jed Dickerson and Mac Weakley – of which three of those catches the fish weighed over 20 pounds. The last time, of course, Dotty weighed an astonishing 25-01 but was released because she was unintentionally snagged.
Although biologists and anglers predicted the world record bass would come from some San Diego lake in the 70s, it didn’t happen. Throughout the 80s and 90s the prediction was still being made. Many anglers got close but it wasn’t until 2009 the record would again be challenged and this time broken.
The fish didn’t get caught in one of the “usual” lakes guessed by experts, either. The record was broken 77 years to the day later by Japanese big-fish hunter Manabu Kurita from Lake Biwa, Japan. So much for the odds.
Alabama’s Jordan Lee Leads Top Ten to Championship Round at MLF General Tire Stage Six
Cullman Pro Catches Five-Bass-Limit Weighing 24-9 to Lead Knockout Round on Lake St. Clair, Final 10 Anglers Set for Championship Thursday in the Competition for $100,000
HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (June 28, 2023) – Berkley pro Jordan Lee of Cullman, Alabama caught 23 scorable bass Wednesday – his best five weighing 24 pounds, 9 ounces – to lead the Knockout Round and advance with the final 10 anglers to the final day of competition at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles.
Lee quickly rose to the top of the leaderboard early in Period 1 and never looked back. His five-fish limit weighing 24-9 gives him a 1-pound, 7-ounce cushion over pro Alton Jones Jr. of Waco, Texas,who ended the day with a five-bass-limit weighing 23-2, good for second place. General Tire pro Mark Rose of Wynne, Arkansas, sits in third place with a limit weighing 22-14, while Texas pro Gary Klein finished the day in fourth with 22-11. Reigning Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, weighed in five bass totaling 22 pounds, 2 ounces to round out the top five.
Wednesday’s Knockout Round was the closest Knockout Round finish in the history of the Bass Pro Tour, featuring six moves in and out of the top 10 in the final hour and ending with a three-way tie on either side of the Toro Cutline, in ninth, tenth and eleventh place. The tiebreaker is decided by each angler’s heaviest bass of the day.
Berkley pro Josh Bertrand of Queen Creek, Arizona made the biggest move on the leaderboard in the final minutes of Period 3, catching a clutch 5-11 smallmouth that moved him from 19th place into the top 10, to finish the day in seventh. Five-pound smallies were key in the Knockout Round, with nine of the top 10 pros finishing the day with at least one 5-pound kicker in their five-fish limit.
The final 10 anglers are now set, and competition resumes Thursday morning with the Championship Round. In the Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total will win the top prize of $100,000.
Lee has been atop the leaderboard every day he’s competed in the event thus far, and it seems he is on the hunt for his first Bass Pro Tour win since 2020.
“We put ourselves in good position today, we just need a big bag tomorrow,” said Lee. “I stopped where I thought the bass were going to be first thing this morning, and they were stacked up. I was throwing a drop-shot rig with a 5-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flatnose Jerk Shad at a depth of 17 feet. I’ve noticed the fish have been spitting up big perch all day long, so that’s what I’m trying to mimic with this bait, and it’s worked really well.”
Lee said he is targeting smallmouth bass and grassy edges in the mid-section of Lake St. Clair, using his Lowrance ActiveTarget.
“I’m just looking for grass edges and fish, then throwing my bait in that direction,” said Lee. “Once it gets to the bottom, they’re eating it up.”
For the third time in three days of competition during this event, Lee captured Berkley Big Bass honors, with a 6-pound, 7-ounce smallmouth – the biggest bass of the event thus far – on a drop-shot rig in the second period.
“I mixed it up a little today by throwing a 3/8-ounce Ned Head with a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Lil’ General and that’s what I caught the 6-7 on,” Lee said. “That fish was definitely one of the top five best smallmouth I’ve ever caught.”
The brown fish weighing 6-7 earned Lee Wednesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award and is the first time in Bass Pro Tour history that an angler has won the award in both days of the Qualifying Round and in the Knockout Round. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and another $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
“I’m just going to keep trying to find the right fish,” said Lee. “That’s the key on Lake St. Clair, getting around a little better quality, bigger than average fish, and we’ve got to do that one more day.”
The top 10 pros from Wednesday’s Knockout Round that now advance to Thursday’s Championship Round on Lake St. Clair are:
1st: Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 24-9
2nd: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, five bass, 23-2
3rd: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., five bass, 22-14
4th: Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, five bass, 22-11
5th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 22-2
6th: Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., five bass, 21-14
7th: Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., five bass, 21-10
8th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., five bass, 21-8
9th: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., five bass, 21-4
10th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., five bass, 21-4
Finishing in 11th through 40th place are:
11th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 21-4
12th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., five bass, 21-3
13th: Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., five bass, 21-0
14th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., five bass, 20-11
15th: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 20-2
16th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 19-13
17th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., five bass, 19-12
18th: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., five bass, 19-7
19th: Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., five bass, 19-7
20th: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, five bass, 19-4
21st: Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 18-7
22nd: Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., five bass, 18-7
23rd: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., five bass, 18-5
24th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 18-2
25th: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., five bass, 17-13
26th: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texs, five bass, 17-12
27th: Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss., five bass, 17-12
28th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., five bass, 17-9
29th: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 17-3
30th: Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., five bass, 17-2
31st: Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., five bass, 16-5
32nd: Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., five bass, 16-4
33rd: Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, five bass, 16-3
34th: Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., five bass, 16-2
35th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., five bass, 15-8
36th: James Watson, Lampe, Mo., five bass, 15-0
37th: Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., five bass, 14-8
38th: Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 14-5
39th: Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., five bass, 14-4
40th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 11-11
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The six-day event, hosted by the Detroit Sports Commission, Macomb County and Lake St. Clair Metroparks, 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 Saturday and Monday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. The top 20 anglers from each group advanced to Wednesday’s Knockout Round, where weights were zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers competed to finish in the top 10 and advance to the Championship Round. In Thursday’s Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
The final 10 anglers will launch Thursday at 7:20 a.m. ET from Lake St. Clair Metropark, located at 31300 Metro Parkway in Harrison Township. The General Tire Takeout will be held at the Metropark, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
On Championship Thursday, June 29, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate the top 10 and crown the General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Champion at the Watch Party and Trophy Presentation. 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 celebration will take place at the Cabela’s, located at 45959 Towne Center Blvd., in Chesterfield, Michigan.
The General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles features anglers 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 MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on Championship Thursday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles Championship Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, November 4 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG by Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube
American Tackle Continues to Redefine Fishing Rod Handles
[Oviedo, Fl, June 28th, 2023] – Today marks the launch of the Tsuka 2, a groundbreaking advancement in fishing rod handles that redefines the angling experience. Designed for discerning anglers and forward-thinking rod designers, the Tsuka 2 pushes the boundaries of carbon handle technology, offering unprecedented possibilities.
Key Features:
- Blow-molded Forged Carbon Fiber construction: Delivering unparalleled durability and performance.
- Molded rubber end cap: Providing added protection for your valuable gear.
- Extreme strength-to-weight ratio: An astonishingly lightweight 1 oz. Single-piece construction without sacrificing toughness.
- Ergonomic trigger handle: Ensuring enhanced comfort and control during extended fishing sessions.
- CCT (Compressed Carbon Technology) hood: Incorporating state-of-the-art technology for unmatched reliability.
- Forged Carbon fiber foregrip with aluminum trim: Combining a sleek, functional, and stylish design to elevate your angling experience.
The Tsuka 2 promises to revolutionize the world of fishing rod handles by merging innovation with practicality, paving the way for the future of fishing.
About American Tackle: American Tackle is a leading innovator in the fishing industry, dedicated to designing and manufacturing high-quality, state-of-the-art fishing gear for enthusiasts and professionals alike. With a focus on exceptional performance and user-friendly designs, American Tackle continues to set new standards in the world of fishing.
Fin-Nor Eyewear Adds Rx Program to 25 Sunglass Models
Fin-Nor joins the prescription market with their angler-built eyewear technology
Columbia, SC (June 28, 2023) - Fin-Nor, leader of angler innovation and technology, is thrilled to announce the new Rx program for their high-end performance sunglasses, purpose-built for anglers and the outdoor lifestyle. This marks the first step into the prescription eyewear market since launching their sunglasses in February 2022.
Fin-Nor performance sunglasses are engineered to withstand the elements and barriers faced on the water daily. Now anglers needing corrective vision can take advantage of this premium eyewear technology through the new Fin-Nor Rx program that will support progressive or single vision prescriptions, with options in the polycarbonate lenses for all 25 models with 193 total style/frame color/lens options to choose from. Prescription lenses will feature the breakthrough Lateral Line™ technology, the most innovative lens technology for people who spend time on the water. This lens technology enhances your vision through distortion-free color, unmatched sharpness, and premium polarization.
Fin-Nor prescription sunglasses use the most advanced digital surfacing technology, lending a more accurate prescription while adding clarity to your vision. The proprietary Lateral Line™ lens technology offers a balanced approach to color enhancement that intensifies primary colors without color distortion. It creates a more natural and realistic experience that limits eye fatigue and makes it easier for the brain to quickly identify and process the view on and beneath the water's surface. Fin-Nor lenses cut through glare, eliminating confusing light and optimizing visibility in aquatic environments; they also reduce blue light transmittance, allowing your vision to cut through mist and haze like no other.
Additional Fin-Nor Rx Program Features:
- Front and Backside hydrophobic/oleophobic coating
- Superior optical grade backside AR coating
- Authentic "Fin-Nor Rx" laser-etched logo
- 100% UV protection
- Uncompromised 100% polarization
Fin-Nor's lightweight frames use advanced, eco-friendly materials designed for all-day comfort and engineered for proper airflow. The performance frames feature an innovative venting system, built-in shields for light management, adjustable nose pads, and spring hinges for flexibility and fit.
Body Piercings and Plastics Surgery
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PLANO EDGE 3700 JERKBAIT BOX
The newest Plano EDGE box is designed with the same performance features that consumers have come to enjoy made specifically for jerkbaits.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (June 28, 2023) — Building on the award-winning Plano EDGE product line, the new 3700 Jerkbait Box was designed to protect, store and extend the life of your favorite jerkbaits. Answering the call from consumers, the new 3700 Jerkbait Box continues to expand upon the Plano EDGE storage solution that avid anglers have come to rely on.
“The Plano EDGE product line delivers a premium storage solution for avid anglers, and we’re excited to offer a new bait-specific utility box for jerkbaits. The design of the new Jerkbait Box incorporates industry-leading innovation to protect the significant investment that anglers make in these baits to protect their finish, hooks, and action,” said Matt Spafford, Director, Category for Plano.
With space to store up to 20 jerkbaits, the Plano EDGE 3700 Jerkbait Box delivers proven EDGE features, including an ultra-clear lid and EZ label system for quick tackle identification, a one-handed latch for easy access, and Rustrictor technology to prevent rust and corrosion. The 3700 Jerkbait Box includes a Dri-Loc o-ring seal to keep water out and comes in a 3700 size designed to fit in 3700-size tackle bags. Through rigorous testing in real-life situations, the new Plano EDGE 3700 Jerkbait Box has been purpose-built with the avid angler in mind.
Key Features
• Designed to store up to 20 jerkbaits
• EZ label system for organization and ultra-clear lid for identification of contents
• Rustrictor and Water Wick technology with 360-degree rust and moisture preventative protection
• Constructed with steel pin hinges and a one-hand latch for secure opening/closing
• 14” L x 9” W x 1.88” H
MSRP: $49.99
Available: September 2023
B.A.S.S. launches new members-only area of website
June 28, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S., the worldwide authority on bass fishing, is launching a new members-only area of its website with exclusive discounts, access to B.A.S.S.’s ultra-popular archived television shows, pro tips and more. The move comes as a direct response to requests voiced by the organization’s 500,000 members.
“In recent surveys, exclusive discounts and members-only content topped the list of most sought-after benefits for B.A.S.S. members,” said Chris Sheppard, B.A.S.S. membership director. “We listened and partnered with our sponsors to provide extra value on fishing-related purchases, opened the vault to look into B.A.S.S. history and added exclusive tips and techniques to create a members-only section of Bassmaster.com that increases the value of a B.A.S.S. membership.”
In addition to the exclusive web content and discounts from B.A.S.S. sponsors and some of fishing’s biggest brands, the annual membership to B.A.S.S. includes a subscription to the renowned Bassmaster Magazine, Rapala Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing bonus prizes, tournament eligibility and automatic entry to prize giveaways throughout the year. Plus, members are eligible to join the B.A.S.S. Nation and compete in B.A.S.S. Nation tournaments. The B.A.S.S. Nation is a global network of locally organized clubs whose members participate in and support a range of activities, including conservation initiatives, youth programs and tournaments, with the opportunity for three members to advance as far as the iconic Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota.
Fishing fans can join B.A.S.S., renew their membership or learn more about valuable member benefits at Bassmaster.com/b-a-s-s-membership-faqs.
Feed big largemouth oversized lures for more summer fun
East Texas bass fishing legend Stephen Johnston doesn’t always carry an inflatable innertube and a fruity drink on the spacious front deck of his Vexus, but when it comes to having summer fun with trophy-sized summer largemouth, he’s never without big plastic worms and deep diving crankbaits.
Fisheries biologist and Bass Fishing Hall of Famer, Gene Gilliland,explains that Johnston is wisely appealing to a big largemouth’s warm water appetite. “Bass are cold-blooded critters, so in the summer, when water temperatures are at their peak, a bass' metabolism is ramped up as high as it gets all year, and that demands a lot of food intake,” says Gilliland.
“Furthermore, Mother Nature programs predators for efficiency. So,eating a big meal is more efficient than burning a lot of calories whilechasing down lots of smaller forage items,” he explains.
First, let the thermocline help you find them
Before you can feed them a big worm or oversized crank, you gotta find them, and Johnston says today’s electronics will easily show a horizontal band of ‘pepper’ across the screen representing the thermocline. This is where a major change in water temperature and oxygen levels exist as you go deeper in the water column.
“There’s hardly any oxygen below a summer thermocline. So, for example, if you see the thermocline is 20-feet deep, then you want to target fish-holding spots a few feet shallower, around 16 or 17 feet deep, because there’s obviously no need to dredge around where there’s no oxygen,” says Johnston, who appreciates the super-wide front deck of his Vexus VX21 that allows him to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with two clients as they line up precise casts on schools of fish he’s located.
Serve the big worm first, and use a ½-ounce sinker
Oversized worms and deep diving crankbaits are often served together like backyard burgers and potato salad during summer, but Johnston says it’s wise to offer a school of hungry largemouth the worm first, because fish hooked on a big crankbait sometimes pull loose, and that spooks the rest of the fish in the school from biting. However, bass seldom come unbuttoned on a plastic worm.
“The one thing I do a little different when fishing a big worm is use a ½-ounce sinker instead of a 3/8 or 5/16. I want that heavier weight to help me get their attention by creating a bigger disturbance on the bottom of the lake,” says Johnston.
Be properly equipped for deep crankin’
Crankbaits that dive to a max depth of around 15-feet or less, and weigh less than an ounce, can be thrown on 12 pound line, but when stepping up to the mega-sized deep divers like Strike King’s 10 XD, which weighs a hefty 2-ounces, and can consistently reach depths of 20-feet or more, you’d better be throwing it on at least 18-pound Sunline Sniper fluorocarbon.
A really long cast is absolutely critical to achieving maximum depth and keeping the lure at that depth for a long period of time. That’s best achieved by utilizing a rod at least 7’ 6” in length with plenty of flex to allow you to ‘sling’ it. Johnston’s deep cranking rod of choice is a Shimano Zodias glass casting rod.
So, don’t be intimidated by the bigger baits preferred by the high metabolic rates of hot weather bass. First, find the thermocline, and then feed ‘em the sort of oversized treat that appeals to them in the same way you’re likely fond of a burger on the grill and a refreshing beverage amid the year’s warmest months.
Introducing the New Ultrex QUEST: a Trolling Motor Built for the Harshest Environments
Ultrex QUEST gives anglers everything they love about Ultrex with an updated brushless design to tackle the most punishing conditions
RACINE, Wis. (June 28, 2023) – Fishing’s most trusted trolling motor has been reimagined to help anglers get out earlier, stay out later and fish in places others can’t. The new QUEST series of dual 24 or 36 volt brushless trolling motors was designed for anglers who demand the best from their equipment – even in the harshest environments. With a programmable foot pedal, re-engineered motor and mount, more advanced GPS functionality than ever and even an eco mode to extend battery life, the new Ultrex was specifically designed for bass anglers and the areas they fish.
The Ultrex line features both traditional brushed options as well as the upgraded QUEST variations. Every new Ultrex model features an updated and integrated GPS-enabled navigation system which is fully compatible with Humminbird fish finders without the need for additional steps or cables. The change simplifies the product line and allows for Humminbird connectivity right out of the box. Anglers who opt for a QUEST model will benefit from the added torque and runtime of the new brushless technology platform as well.
New Features for All Ultrex Models:
- NEW Enhanced GPS Suite Including Drift Mode to allow anglers to spend more time fishing and less time on boat control
o Drift Mode: combats current and wind by automatically adjusting speed and direction to keep the boat on a true drift. Drift Mode acts as a gps drift sock eliminating the need for cumbersome ropes or shallow water anchor paddles - Out of the Box connection to Humminbird via the One-Boat Network by including all necessary adapters required for networking without additional need for setup
- One App for Everything – the One-Boat Network App can control everything on the boat from the trolling motor and shallow water anchors to the Humminbird head units
- Enhanced Built-in 2D Sonar with Dual Spectrum CHIRP adds Humminbird’s unrivaled sonar clarity to every Minn Kota motor
Minn Kota Ultrex QUEST
QUEST models of Ultrex include all of the same updates as brushed options with the addition of an all new technology platform - QUEST. These dual 24 or 36 volt brushless motors boast 30% longer runtime on a given charge and up to 50% greater torque.* QUEST gives anglers everything they love about Ultrex with a more robust and powerful brushless motor capable of enduring the most punishing environments.
New Features for Ultrex QUEST Models:
- Dual 24 or 36 volt Brushless Motor with up to 30% longer runtime and 50% greater torque*
o Up to 30% longer runtime on a single charge provides anglers more time on the water
o Up to 50% greater torque means more precise control in wind and waves and the ability to shed weeds more effectively - Redesigned and Upgraded Mount to accommodate the additional thrust and torque of the lower unit
- Carbon Fiber Infused Shaft for enhanced durability while maintaining flexibility to protect the bow of an angler’s boat
- Peak Performance and Efficiency from Updated Propellors which maximize torque throughout the speed range
- New lift-assist assembly to make getting the motor in and out of the water effortless
- Real-Time Battery Monitoring System lets anglers know time until empty at a given speed setting and prompts users to enter a power saving eco mode when batteries reach 20% charge
- No Loss of Power: constant power throughout the day with no drop in motor performance as battery voltage decreases over the length of a fishing day
- One-Boat Network Programmable Button: customized presets to include stow and deploy Minn Kota shallow water anchors, mark a waypoint, or engage autopilot
MSRP for brushed models: $2999.99-$3499.99
MSRP for QUEST Models: $3699.99-$4199.99
Available: July 1
*Compared to 24 volt brushed motor at maximum speed setting
Dustin Connell Wins Group B Qualifying Round at MLF General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair
Weights Now Zeroed, Top 20 Anglers from Each Group Combine to Compete in Wednesday’s Knockout Round
HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (June 27, 2023) – Favorite Fishing pro Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama , maintained his position atop the leaderboard, catching a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 45 pounds, 9 ounces, to lead Group B and win Tuesday’s Qualifying Round at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles .
The remaining 40 anglers – the top 20 from each group – now advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round, where weights are zeroed, and the anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round on Thursday. 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.
“It’s been a good two days, but now the real derby starts,” said Connell. “I was able to practice and look around a lot today, but it’s strictly business now. I’ve done great in the Qualifying Rounds this season, but I haven’t done too well in the Knockout Round. I have a feeling that might change in this event though.”
Connell spent the day bouncing around various places on the lower section of Lake St. Clair using his Lowrance ActiveTarget. He said he found a new area – and two new schools of fish – where he expects to find some big ones.
“I’m on such a big area and that’s played out well for me,” said Connell. “I’m able to get away from everyone else and there hasn’t been a single boat in sight, which just makes it better. Hopefully the weather lays down on Wednesday, because if it does, a lot of these fish will slide up off the bottom and that will make it easier to see them and catch them.”
Connell’s five-fish limit on Tuesday included a group of 4-pounders and a 5-pound, 7-ounce kicker fish that he weighed in during Period 2. He caught all of his fish on his 7-foot, 2-inch medium heavy Favorite Fishing Hex Rod, throwing a Googan Baits Rattlin’ Ned on a 3/8-ounce drop-shot rig, using 15-pound braid and a 12-pound Seaguar Gold Label Fluorocarbon Leader.
The top 20 pros in Group B that now advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round on Lake St. Clair are:
1st: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 10 bass, 45-9
2nd: Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 10 bass, 42-5
3rd: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 10 bass, 41-4
4th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 10 bass, 40-6
5th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 10 bass, 40-1
6th: Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., 10 bass, 39-11
7th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 10 bass, 39-11
8th: Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 10 bass, 38-14
9th: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 10 bass, 38-5
10th: Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., 10 bass, 38-3
11th: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., 10 bass, 38-2
12th: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 38-1
13th: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 10 bass, 37-4
14th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 36-14
15th: Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss., 10 bass, 36-9
16th: Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., 10 bass, 36-0
17th: Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., 10 bass, 35-7
18th: Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., 10 bass, 35-1
19th: Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, 10 bass, 34-13
20th: Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., 10 bass, 34-5
Eliminated from competition are:
21st: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 10 bass, 34-4
22nd: Shin Fukae, Osaka, Japan, 10 bass, 34-4
23rd: John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., 10 bass, 34-1
24th: Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, 10 bass, 34-0
25th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 10 bass, 33-15
26th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 10 bass, 33-12
27th: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 10 bass, 33-10
28th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 10 bass, 33-10
29th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 10 bass, 32-5
30th: Mike McClelland, Blue Eye, Mo., 10 bass, 32-4
31st: Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., 10 bass, 31-4
32nd: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 10 bass, 30-3
33rd: Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., 10 bass, 30-1
34th: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 29-9
35th: Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala., 10 bass, 28-12
36th: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 10 bass, 28-12
37th: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, eight bass, 28-7
38th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, eight bass, 27-14
39th: Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla., 10 bass, 27-8
40th: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 24-11
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Tuesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award was awarded to pro Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Michigan, who weighed in a 6-pound, 2-ounce smallmouth – the biggest bass of the event thus far – which bit a jerkbait in Period 2. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and another $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The six-day event, hosted by the Detroit Sports Commission, Macomb County and Lake St. Clair Metroparks, 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.
Anglers will launch each day at 7:20 a.m. ET from Lake St. Clair Metropark, located at 31300 Metro Parkway in Harrison Township. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the Metropark, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
On Championship Thursday, June 29, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate the top 10 and crown the General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Champion at the Watch Party and Trophy Presentation. 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 General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles features anglers 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 MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles Championship Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, November 4 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG by Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Amazing Performance, Shocking Price
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WHITEWATER Fishing’s Lightweight Tech Hoodie and Long Sleeve Tech Shirt wear and fish like comparable tops twice their price. |
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By Maynard Lee |
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MUSKEGON, Mich. (June 27, 2023) – $34.99 is a scary price for a fishing shirt. Typically, you wouldn’t expect much. Or, you’d simply thump past it on the rack looking for a better build, different brand. That’s certainly the case with knockoff fishing shirts and private labels. You get what you pay for. But, quite astonishingly, that isn’t the case with WHITEWATER Fishing’s Lightweight Tech Hoodie and Long Sleeve Tech Shirt. Now before my spiel, I solemnly swear having owned and fished both for over a year. That entails too many fishing adventures to tally and dozens of washings, often ending days with fish blood and Frank’s hot sauce on the fabric. |
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Let’s start with a bit about use. Lightweight performance fishing shirts provide comfortable and versatile protection from the sun’s harmful rays while wicking moisture to keep warm-weather anglers cool during the heat of the hunt. But many so-called fishing tech shirts have a downside. It’s called permastink. The lightweight polyester material, which forms the fabrics that perform so well in warm temperatures has a very small pore structure that can trap and tightly grip bacteria and odor molecules. Once trapped, these odors can be difficult or impossible to remove, even with repeated washings. |
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WHITEWATER Fishing’s Long-Sleeve Tech Shirt and Lightweight Tech Hoodie deliver a triple dose of technology to keeps anglers dry, protected from solar radiation, and smelling fresh. Their 100% polyester interlock fabric yields supreme, next-to-skin comfort, while wicking perspiration to keep you comfy and dry. UPF 30 provides both UVA and UVB skin protection that effectively blocks over 96% of ultraviolet radiation. Finally, an antimicrobial treatment controls and prevents odors, including the permastink that can infiltrate untreated polyester garments. The stretchy material is like witchcraft, too. Silky smooth to the touch. And it maintains its athletic fit after numberless wearing and washing. Functions like another layer of skin, one that protects you from the sun and draws moisture away. In these economic times when every purchase is under scrutiny, these top-shelf fishing shirts pass the performance and practicality tests. |
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FEATURES:
Long Sleeve Tech Shirt MSRP $29.99 Lightweight Tech Hoodie MSRP $34.99 |
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St. Clair Smallmouth Snacks
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
Photo - Garrick Dixon/Major League Fishing
Terry Scroggins is headed to the Knockout Round tomorrow after finishing in 5th place of Group A for General Tire Stage Six on Lake St. Clair with a two-day weight of over 38-lbs. Like many anglers in the field, Scroggins is employing a dropshot to catch his weight while bouncing in the steady waves this fishery is famous for.
Big Show’s primary area is on the Canadian side, and he is fishing around a lot of other anglers, both Bass Pro Tour competitors and locals. While his fishing technique and area may not be abnormally unique, Scroggins has figured out a few subtle tackle changes he believes have been key this week.
“I’m feeding them a little snack instead of the main-course meal,” Scroggins said. “With St. Clair having so many big fish in it, most of us started throwing bigger plastics the last few times we’ve come here. But I’ve downsized my rig and it seems like I’m getting more bites than the anglers around me.
“Normally I use the 4.25-inch Berkley Maxscent Flatworm on St. Clair, but all my fish came on the smaller 3.6-inch size, and I’ve gone down to a ¼-ounce weight on my dropshot versus the 3/8-ounce (or heavier) that most of the other guys are throwing.”
These adjustments may not sound too significant, but Scroggins stresses that subtleties are critical when it comes to smallmouth. As a fan watching live coverage, it can seem as though about every angler in the field is doing the same exact thing in a smallie slugfest. The pros will most likely be offshore, looking at their electronics, and dragging around something on a spinning rod. There are exceptions, but these elements are generally the norm, and to the untrained eye it can appear almost monotonous.
But the subtle distinctions of line size, jighead or dropshot weight size, soft plastic profile, and the depth range an angler invests their time in makes all the difference for tournaments like Stage Six on St. Clair. Dropping down is size comes with a cost, especially when fighting three-foot waves, but the results can be worth it.
“The wind has been blowing pretty good this week and it’s been a pain to fish a lighter weight in these conditions,” Scroggins explained. “But it pays to show the fish something different. Sometimes it’s the opposite and it’s best to show fish something bigger than they are used to seeing, but this week a smaller profile and lighter weight have helped me put more weight on the SCORETRACKER.”
Scroggins is also varying his leader lengths on his dropshots to give pressured smallmouth a different look throughout the day, and they are all strung up on a custom built 6’10” DS822-MHX Drop Shot Rod from Mud Hole Custom Tackle. This is Big Show’s go-to spinning rod for just about every application, whether he’s skipping wacky rigs for Florida largemouth or dragging a dropshot for a Michigan smallmouth.
Scroggins will be joined by Team Toyota colleagues Kevin VanDam and Mark Daniels Jr. in the Knockout Round, where they’ll all keep their foot on the gas in hopes of claiming a Bass Pro Tour trophy to ride home with in their Tundras. Follow the action starting at 8 a.m. ET tomorrow morning on MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Allen Hayes and Danny Bishop win ABT Wheeler Lake with 23.23
By Jason Duran
The final stop of the ABT 2023 regular season was held at Wheeler Lake in Decatur. 225 teams from the north division competed for the top prize of $10,000. In this final event, numerous factors were at stake including the AOY points race where the top 9 teams qualified to fish the BASS Team Championship and the top 75 move on to fish the ABT Championship. Teams reported tough fishing in practice, but the team of Allen Hayes and Danny Bishop caught 23.23 for the win lapping field by over two pounds to win $10,000.
Allen and Danny blasted off as boat number 216. Due to the high boat number, they were “hoping that no one would be in our area when we got there.” When they showed up to their area, they were surprised no one else was there, so they quickly went to work. On their second cast, they both caught a fish; one weighed 2-pounds, and the other was over 4-pounds. They were able to spend all their fishing time in that area. They describedthe area as a “river channel ledge that was holding fish because of a hard spot.” They found the area using side scan in practice and noticed there was an abundance of bait in the area. Other fishermen came to the area throughout the day, however, they were there first and were able to hold their ground and protect the area. They started out early with a topwater and crankbait, but quickly realized they needed to make a bait change because it seemed like the fish “didn’t really want to chase the bait.” They made a change to Texas rigged large worms and creature baits in June bug and green pumpkin color. Once they made the change, they were able to fill out their limit and upgrade it to 23.23- pounds. Once they reached that weight, they decided to head back and do their best to protect their fish. They arrived back at the landing 4.5 hours early and waited for the scales to open at 1:30. They weighed in as the first team and lead wire to wire over a very tough ABT field. With this win, they collected the $10,000 payday and automatically qualified for the ABT Championship.
The second-place team of Walker Brown and Sloan Pennington caught 20.65. The team shared, “we caught several small ones in practice, and if we stayed in and around Decatur and the grass,we could get bit. We just never caught any big ones. We spent two and half days looking around for hard spots that should be holding big fish this time of year. On tournament day, we knew we were going to stay in the grass all day.” The first cast of the day they used a “Zoom Ol Monster worm. We cast it all over the Decatur Flats. The goal was to spend time covering lots of water with the trolling motor. We only cranked the big motor twice,but we probably covered three miles on the trolling motor today. We also used a Buck Eye Mop Jig. We never could find the kicker fish; our biggest was 4.25. We were looking for one over 5 pounds. We tried to fish our own water and fish for fish that had not seen as many baits hopefully. We have struggled some this year, so this second place feels good.” With this finish, they collected $5,000 and moved in to 58th place in AOY which qualifies them to fish the ABT Championship.
The third-place team of Bryan Dowdy and Kyle Lewellen caught 18.65. “We put a lot practice time into this event. This lake has been our nemesis; we have never cashed a check here,so we put in the time to find some fish. We put together three patterns. We found some deep fish, some creek fish and some dirt shallow fish. Today we weighed in half our bag from deep and half from dirt shallow. We started out this morning on a deeper spot using a worm and spinnerbait. We really had to wait this morning for the fish to bite, but when they did, we caught a 3-pounder, a 4 –pounder, and 3.80 on back-to-back casts. The first six fish we caught gave us 17-pounds. From there, we went dirt shallow targeting wood and lily pads using a frog and a Jig.“This finish moves them into 6th place in the AOY standing and qualifies them to fish the BASS Team Championship and the ABT Championship. They collected a $3,000 ABT check, a $500 Garmin bonus, and a $2,500 Phoenix Boats payday.
The top ten standings are below for a complete list of standings please visit: https://www.alabamabasstrail.org/wheeler-lake/results/
John Kellett and Zeke Gossett claim the title of Anglers of the Year for the North Division and also qualify with the other top 9 teams to fish the BASS Team Championship:
PLACEANGLERSPOINTS
1John Kellett/Zeke Gossett1021
2Michael Wooley/Joe Wooley992
3Mark Mccaig/Tim Hurst979
4Shane Meers/James Meers975
5Wesley Sams/Jordan Wiggins969
6Bryan Dowdy/Kyle Lewellen968
7Damien Willis/Tyler Kiker967
8Justin Bussey/Ben Webb960
9Craig Daniel /Jackie Flack940
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
Nightwave Marine Digital Night Vision Camera is True Boating Innovation
SIONYX Brings Dark Room Experience to ICAST 2023
Beverly, MASS. (June 27, 2023). The SIONYX Nightwave marine digital night vision camera has been the talk of the marine community since its launch in late 2022, giving anglers and boaters night vision in color at an accessible price. Featuring new upgrades this season, boaters can not only view its video directly from a boat's MFD, but the camera can now WiFi stream video to a tablet or phone with the SIONYX app and to a computer via USB connection. With additional colors added this year, Nightwave is set to introduce the upgrades at ICAST 2023 and is entered in the New Product Showcase within the Electronics category.
“ICAST attendees will be able to experience Nightwave’s low-light vision capabilities for themselves in our dark room at the SIONYX booth, #2005,” Says Michael Hauser, Global Maritime Sales Manager for SIONYX. “There will be no doubt in anyone’s mind after seeing it in action that this new technology for boaters and fishermen will be a major upgrade to how they operate at night.”
SIONYX is changing the night vision landscape with its proprietary digital night vision technology. Nightwave is a first-of-its-kind color digital night vision camera built around SIONYX's patented Black Silicon CMOS sensor that offers unparalleled <1 millilux moonless starlight sensitivity. This advanced technology displays high-resolution color images and videos with exceptional clarity, allowing boaters to experience heightened visual acuity at night. Unlike thermal imaging, which relies on temperature gradients to create images, digital night vision employs state-of-the-art sensors and advanced image processing algorithms to capture detailed and vibrant visuals, showcasing an impressive level of color accuracy, contrast, and depth perception. By providing a true-to-life representation of the scene, Nightwave offers superior object recognition capabilities in the darkness of night. With Nightwave, now mariners of all levels can spot obstacles and debris in moonless starlight without white light or expensive thermal cameras.
Navigating in low-light conditions can be a daunting task for any fisherman. Nightwave's 44-degree, stable field of view significantly enhances situational awareness, enabling you to spot unexpected markers, vessels, and land formations with remarkable clarity. This wide field of view ensures that no details escape your attention, making navigation in the dark more accessible than ever before. Whether you need to locate specific fishing ground before dawn or find your way back to the shore post-sunset, Nightwave provides the visual aid you need for a smooth and safe journey.
The Nightwave camera has a rugged marine-grade housing with an IP67 rating that protects against water, sand, salt, and dust. The camera is dry nitrogen purged to prevent lens fogging, so you can safely use it in inclement weather conditions. Nightwave offers flexible installation options, so you can permanently mount it or use a temporary ¼”-20 mount for a temporary or portable setup. The camera is compatible with most major brand MFDs, so you can view video using your existing electronics, over WiFi through the SIONYX mobile app, or to a computer via USB connection. Stay connected and in control of your movement, no matter where you are on the water.
With SIONYX Nightwave, seeing in the dark is your new superpower. Extend your day on the water and get home safe. Nightwave takes the darkness out of the night.
Nightwave is available in (new) black, white, and gray options for $1995 MSRP. For more information, please click here.
Notable features include:
- <1MLX moonless starlight sensitivity: allows mariners to see well beyond human eyesight and detect a man-sized object at 170 meters.
- Stable 44-degree field of view: increases situational awareness to spot unexpected obstacles, debris, markers, vessels, and more.
- Convenient installation flexibility: permanent mounting hardware is included, as well as a standard 1/4”-20 mount interface. Nightwave can be oriented ball-up or ball-down to meet any challenging mounting requirements.
- Up-to-date performance: the latest firmware and software releases are always available through the SIONYX mobile app.
Abu Garcia Zata Reels and Combos Return With All New Look and Upgraded Performance
Zata Low Profile Casting Reels
The Zata Low Profile casting reels are built to impress with their outstanding functionality and durability. Featuring a graphite frame and side plates, these reels are lightweight yet incredibly strong. The 10 stainless steel ball bearings and one roller bearing ensure smooth operation, while the Carbon Matrix drag system provides consistent drag pressure across the entire range, guaranteeing a reliable and controlled fishing experience. With the inclusion of the Duragear brass gear, the Zata Low Profile casting reels offer extended gear life. Furthermore, the Infini brake system allows for almost limitless adjustability, enabling anglers to tackle any fishing situation with ease. The Zata Low Profile casting reels come in 6.6:1 and 7.1:1 gear ratios, available in both right-hand and left-hand configurations.
KEY FEATURES:
• 10 stainless steel ball bearings + 1 roller bearing provides smooth operation
• Graphite frame and side plates
• Carbon Matri drag system provides smooth, consistent drag pressure across the entire drag range
• Duragear brass gear for extended gear life
• Infini brake system allows almost limitless adjustability to handle any fishing situation
• 6.6:1 & 7.1:1 gear ratios in RH & LH
MSRP: $189.95
Available: October 2023
Zata Spinning Reels
For spinning enthusiasts, the Zata Spinning Reels deliver exceptional performance. With a lightweight aluminum frame, these reels offer a perfect balance between strength and agility. Equipped with 10 stainless steel ball bearings and one roller bearing, the Zata Spinning Reels provide smooth operation and enhance the overall fishing experience. The Rocket Line Management System and Rocket spool lip design offer better control of all types of fishing lines, ensuring accurate and controlled casts. Available in sizes 2000, 3000, and 3500, the Zata pinning Reels cater to a variety of fishing preferences and requirements.
KEY FEATURES:
• 10 stainless-steel ball bearings + 1 roller bearing provides smooth operation
• Lightweight aluminum frame
• Rocket Line Management System & Rocket spool lip design provide better control of all types of fishing lines
• Sizes: 2000, 3000, 3500
MSRP: $189.95
Available: October 2023
Zata LP/SP Combos
In addition to the impressive reels, Abu Garcia is also introducing the Zata Rod/Reel Combos. These combos feature a 24 Ton Graphite Blank for optimal sensitivity and strength, ensuring anglers can detect even the slightest of bites. Stainless steel guides offer smooth line movement, minimizing friction and maximizing casting distance. The 7-foot MH Baitcast Combos are available in right-hand and left-hand configurations, while the 7-foot M Spinning Combos provide versatility for different fishing styles. For those seeking a unique touch, the Zata LTD Combos feature gender-neutral cosmetics, making them appealing to all anglers. The Zata LTD Combos include a 7-foot MH Baitcast Combo and a 7-foot M Spinning Combo.
KEY FEATURES:
• 24 Ton Graphite Blank
• Stainless Steel Guides
• Zata Baitcast & Baitcast LTD Combos: 7’ MH
• Zata Spinning Combos: 6’10” ML and 7’ M
• Zata Spinning LTD Combos: 7’ M
MSRP: $229.95
Available: October 2023
Flipping the RELiON Lithium Battery Switch - Part Two: On the Water
By Danny Blandford
In early June I flipped the switch on Relion Lithium batteries and you can read about that here. Since the install I’ve been able to sneak in about 40 hours on the water…a handful of short pre-fishing days, two LONG days, and two tournament days. Cumulatively, the tournament results were “meh”, but that was the angler, not the equipment that lead to those mediocre results. The electrical equipment, on the other hand, performed flawlessly.
My Observations
Long days and tournament days are the ones that test your equipment, so I started right there, with a solid 6 am to 6 pm fishing day, fishing with my original bass fishing mentor, Dad.
It was windy and we spent the first half of the day on the main lake with the bow into the wind, the foot on the trolling motor, and the screens on. I was using live sonar on the bow, as well as mapping and 2D/side-scan sonar running nonstop. One thing that jumped out at me was how little current drop I noticed. My bow screens consistently showed 13.0 V (volts). On occasion, I’d see a dip to 12.9 V, but any time I fired up the outboard to move, I’d drop the trolling motor on the next spot to see it right back at 13.0 V.
The second half of the day Pops and I headed “up the river”, a narrower stump-filled upper reach of the lake. Being that I hadn’t been up there in quite some time, I spent a lot of the time covering water on the trolling motor, dialed to anywhere from 20% to 60% for the remainder of the day…still with all electronics going full bore.
The fishing picked up and the batteries stayed strong. One thing that jumped out at me regarding trolling power is that I didn’t see that speed dial creeping up as the day wore on.
A setting of 20% on my Minn Kota is the sweet spot for moving about and fishing my style; it’s extremely quiet there and it’s a comfortable pace to pick apart targets and make plenty of casts. Prior to switching to the Relions, I’d have to bump that up to as high as 50% for the same speed that 20% would give me at the start of the day. With the new setup, I was at the 20% setting when I started and I was STILL at 20% at the end of the day.
Day 1 on the water was a success. We ended up stumbling on to a few good fish and the Relion Lithium certainly passed the tests. No voltage drop was noticed over 12 hours on either the RB100HP cranking battery or the RB100 trolling motor batteries.
End-of-the-Day Testing
The first thing I wanted to see was the voltage, so I used a multi-meter directly on the batteries, and just like the graphs said, they were still giving 13+ volts after a nearly daylight-to-dark fishing excursion.
I was impressed, but then I was really impressed when I plugged up the Dual Pro Professional Series Charger. My batteries were at 50% discharge, but still giving me 100% to the devices that relied on them.
After a long day on the water, two things were in order, a good charge for the boat and a good meal for the anglers. Ironically, they both took about the same time. After testing, we plugged in the boat, packed the rods and graphs inside for safekeeping, and went to dinner. Dinner did take a while, but when we returned a few hours later, I was shocked to see the charger showing 90% already! I went ahead and respooled a few reels, tied on a few baits for day two, and then went back out to check before bed. I had three green lights in less than 4 hours, after 12 hours on the water...now that's a good set of batteries AND a good charger!
The Weight Loss Journey
I can’t wrap the article without discussing what happens when you drop 80 pounds out of the back of an aluminum boat; I found the results surprising. Since its first day on the water with the Relions included an extra passenger and gear, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised to see the boat didn’t drop in speed or lift with Dad and his gear joining me, as a matter of fact, I got to top-end speed quicker and noticed the boat was just more “peppy”. What did surprise me was that top-end speed was basically the same as it had always been, although it used to have to just be one person to get those numbers, now I’m getting it with two. The weight savings of lithium allowed me to offset the drag created by passengers and gear with ease. I didn’t gain speed, but I could carry more at the same speeds, whereas before, more gear meant less speed.
The Light Load
Subsequent trips found me out by myself on a few occasions where I was able to check the metrics with a light load and that is where I was surprised. The boat jumped onto plane in a much shorter distance, I could get to max RPMs much quicker, and overall it felt more responsive to the throttle, but I didn’t pick up any top-end speed. My thought is removing the weight from the back has changed the balance of the boat while carrying a light load. I noticed the spray line had moved farther forward towards the bow, regardless of how much trim I used. In simplest terms, the on-pad balance of the boat was designed around a certain amount of weight in the back, in the absence of said weight; the boat rode flatter on the water. A flat running boat has more running surface experiencing friction (drag) from the water, and drag reduces speed. I "may" be able to play with props and find the best of both, but I'm certainly better off than I was.
In summary, the weight savings of lithium provided me with a better hole shot and better throttle response, and it allows the rig to carry a load better at higher speeds. It did not turn my aluminum boat into a rocket, unfortunately…but it does have some new pep in its step. I also noticed my old scum line was about an inch higher than my new scum line, so I’ve reduced my overall draft in the water.
From a power perspective, the Relion Lithium Batteries are ridiculous. You can drink from the well all day and not see a power drop. They charge quickly enough your big motor can help maintain your 12V system while running, and a great charger can bring them back to 100% in hours, not overnight.
At this point, my only concern is that I “could” theoretically run them down and I wouldn’t know I was about out of power until I was actually out of power. Since the Relions give full voltage up until the end, you don’t get those tell-tale clues that you’re running out of juice that lead-acid batteries provide.
I now clearly see the need to better monitor how much juice I’ve used, and most importantly how much juice I have left. The Dual Pro Lithium Battery Gauge and its ap will address this issue. I just need to find a good hole saw for aluminum and the courage to put one more hole in the river rig. That’s going down soon and I’ll be back to share the experience.
Missile Baits Drops Bomba 3.5 and Adds More Spunk Shads
Salem, Va. – June 26, 2023 –Missile Baits is dropping a new bait called the Bomba 3.5 and is adding to their offerings for the Spunk Shad. The Bomba 3.5 is a is a finesse, thick, craw body worm that casts and skips like a rocket. Think combination of a Ned Rig and Senko. The bait visually looks like a crawfish with no appendages and has a hook slot in the belly for easy hook sets. The Bomba 3.5 is mostly fished Texas rigged weightless to erratically fall to the bottom while gliding, rocking, and even going away from you at times.
“The Bomba 3.5 is a simple bait but extremely deadly because of its subtle action and amazing castability. I love that you can use it on a spinning or bait casting setup, and it is basically snag resistant. It will be used by pros on tour to novices catching their first bass in a pond,” says John Crews, BASS pro angler and Missile Baits owner.
The Bomba 3.5 will come in the same 8 colors with some tried and true Missile colors but also a few brand-new colors like Candy Crushed and Green Pumpkin Diablo. The Bomba 3.5 will have 6 baits per bag for a suggested retail of $5.69. Grab the Bomba 3.5 when you need to go finesse but still want an easy bait to cast. The Bomba 3.5 should be available to ship July 24, 2023.
Missile Baits is also adding to their Spunk Shad offerings to build on theirpartnership with Hog Farmer Baits. Missile Baits will be adding the Spunk Shad 3.5 size option to the 4.5 and 5.5 in the same 6 colors plus two more Missile colors. The new colors of Bombshell and Superbug will be available in all 3 size options of the Spunk Shads. The new Spunk Shad offerings should be available to ship in September 2023.
Jordan Lee Earns Group A Qualifying Round Win at MLF General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair
Alabama Pro Catches Two-Day Total of 10 Bass Weighing 46 Pounds, 3 Ounces to Win Group A Qualifying Round – Group B Resumes Competition Tuesday
HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (June 26, 2023) – Despite the dreary, overcast weather and changing conditions, Berkley pro Jordan Lee of Cullman, Alabama , maintained the pace he set for the Group A field Monday, weighing in five bass totaling 23 pounds, 11 ounces to win the Group A Qualifying Round at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles . Lee’s two-day total of 46-3 earned him the Qualifying Round win by a 4-pound, 8-ounce margin over second-place pro Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Arkansas, who maintained his second-place position with a two-day total of 10 scorable bass weighing 41-11.
The top 20 advancing anglers from Group A will now have an off day from competition Tuesday, while the 40 anglers competing in Qualifying Group B will complete their two-day Qualifying Round. The top 20 anglers from each group advance to Wednesday’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 on Thursday. In the final day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
“The past two competition days have been unbelievable, and I feel really blessed,” said Lee. “Since we couldn’t practice on the Canadian side of Lake St. Clair, I came over here on a whim, just gambling. I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but it’s been a great experience.
“I caught a lot of small fish this morning but found a school of big fish late in the day, so I’m excited about moving on to the Knockout Round. These smallmouth are notorious for moving, but I’m not going into panic mode if they move. I just plan to move around and see what else we can find.”
Two hefty smallmouth – weighing 5-11 and 5-2 – anchored Lee’s 23-pound, 11-ounce total on Monday.
“The [Berkley] MaxScent always plays for smallmouth, and this week has been no different,” said Lee. “I’m throwing a drop-shot rig with a 5-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flatnose Jerk Shadon my signature 6-foot, 10-inch super finesse Abu Garcia Jordan Lee Spinning Rod, using 6-pound Berkley x5 Braid and an 8-pound Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon Leader. These fish are out a little deeper and have been feeding on perch, so they seem to like this bigger bait.”
The top 20 pros in Group A that now advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round on Lake St. Clair are:
2nd: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 41-11
3rd: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 10 bass, 41-3
4th: Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., 10 bass, 40-4
5th: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 10 bass, 38-6
6th: Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 10 bass, 38-3
7th: Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, 10 bass, 37-13
8th: Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., 10 bass, 37-10
9th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 10 bass, 37-7
10th: Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 10 bass, 37-3
11th: Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., 10 bass, 37-2
12th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 36-13
13th: James Watson, Lampe, Mo., 10 bass, 36-10
14th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 36-7
15th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 10 bass, 36-6
16th: Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., 10 bass, 35-7
17th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 10 bass, 35-6
18th: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 10 bass, 34-10
19th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 10 bass, 34-9
20th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 10 bass, 34-7
22nd: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 10 bass, 33-12
23rd: Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., 10 bass, 33-9
24th: Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas, 10 bass, 33-7
25th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 10 bass, 33-2
26th: Boyd Duckett, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 32-14
27th: Randall Tharp, Port St. Joe, Fla., 10 bass, 32-10
28th: Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 10 bass, 32-2
29th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 10 bass, 31-15
30th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 10 bass, 31-13
31st: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 10 bass, 31-11
32nd: Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 31-2
33rd: Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., 10 bass, 30-5
34th: Timmy Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala., 10 bass, 29-5
35th: David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn., 10 bass, 28-13
36th: Roy Hawk, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 10 bass, 28-7
37th: Dave Lefebre, Erie, Penn., nine bass, 26-5
38th: Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., eight bass, 25-12
39th: Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 25-9
40th: Mitch Crane, Columbus, Miss., five bass, 12-8
Lee earned Monday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a smallmouth weighing 5 pounds, 11 ounces that he caught in Period 2 on a drop-shot rig. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and another $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The six-day event, hosted by the Detroit Sports Commission, Macomb County and Lake St. Clair Metroparks, 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.
Anglers will launch each day at 7:20 a.m. ET from Lake St. Clair Metropark, located at 31300 Metro Parkway in Harrison Township. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the Metropark, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
On Championship Thursday, June 29, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate the top 10 and crown the General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Champion at the Watch Party and Trophy Presentation. 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 General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles features anglers 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 MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles Championship Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, November 4 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG by Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Springfield Father-Son Pair Sweeps Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Erie
19-Year-Old Ty Fain Wins Boater Division, Father Justen Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
SANDUSKY, Ohio (June 26, 2023) – Boater Ty Fain of Springfield, Ohio, caught a five-bass limit weighing 23 pounds, 12 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Erie Presented by Rabid Baits. The tournament was the second event of the season for the BFL Buckeye Presented by Rabid Baits Division. Fain earned $4,610 for his victory.
“I started out fishing in 12 feet of water on a drop-shot rig and swimbaits,” said the 19-year-old angler. “Then I moved in a little shallower as the sun came out.”
Fain said he targeted large rocks, both isolated rocks and piles, in Canadian waters near Pelee Island, and his efforts resulted in “10 to 15” bites during the day – all keepers. Fain relied on Keitech swimbaits and Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Berkley Flatnose Minnows to land his smallmouth.
Fain said his familiarity with Lake Erie helped boost his confidence during the tournament, even though he didn’t feel comfortable with his final weight.
“I just fished a bunch of old history,” Fain said. “I figured it would take close to 24 pounds to the win tournament. I figured somebody would have that.
“This is pretty cool because I’m up there (Erie) all the time,” Fain added. “I really like the trophy.”
Ty’s father, Justen, won the co-angler side of Saturday’s BFL event and heaped praise on his son for his accomplishment.
“He’s a very good stick, and what he did was pretty awesome,” the elder Fain said. “I don’t know of many guys who could go out there and look at them and catch them the way he caught them today. It’s pretty awesome.
“I knew he’d be top five on the boater side,” Fain went on to say. “It feels pretty awesome to see him do it. I’m not surprised. I’m very proud of him. I think this win is the first one of many.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Ty Fain, Springfield, Ohio, five bass, 23-12, $4,610
2nd: Chris Martinkovic, Hamilton, Ohio, five bass, 21-4, $3,275
3rd: Jared Rhode, Port Clinton, Ohio, five bass, 20-12, $1,536
4th: Steve Clapper, Port Clinton, Ohio, five bass, 20-5, $1,076
5th: Seth Fricke, Oxford, Ohio, five bass, 20-4, $1,592
6th: Wilson Burton, Findlay, Ohio, five bass, 20-2, $1,306 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
6th: Corey Lindsey, Marion, Ohio, five bass, 20-2, $806
8th: Joshua Barr, Louisville, Ohio, five bass, 19-14, $691
9th: Jeremy Reese, Powell, Ohio, five bass, 19-12, $576
9th: Matt Elkins, Spencerville, Ohio, five bass, 19-12, $576
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Seth Fricke of Oxford, Ohio, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 6 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $670.
Justen Fain of Springfield, Ohio, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,305 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 20 pounds, 14 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Justen Fain, Springfield, Ohio, five bass, 20-14, $2,305
2nd: Brett Warrick, Westerville, Ohio, five bass, 19-6, $1,487
3rd: Brian Blinn, Troy, Ohio, five bass, 19-3, $768
4th: Nick Ireland, Davison, Mich., five bass, 18-8, $538
5th: Tyler Land, Coatsville, Ind., five bass, 17-15, $461
6th: Terry Bucciarelli, Ypsilanti, Mich., five bass, 17-9, $773
7th: Dennis Blakely, Norwalk, Ohio, five bass, 17-4, $384
8th: Brian Zelinskas, Beavercreek, Ohio, five bass, 17-3, $346
9th: Steve Sorrell, Beavercreek, Ohio, five bass, 16-14, $307
10th: Matthew Strickland, Portsmouth, Ohio, five bass, 16-12, $269
Brett Warrick of Westerville, Ohio, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $335, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 3 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After two events, Chris Martinkovic of Hamilton, Ohio, leads the BFL Buckeye Presented by Rabid Baits Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 489 points, while Steve Sorrell of Beavercreek, Ohio, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 492 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.
McCaig Claims Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Neely Henry Lake
Macks Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
GADSDEN, Ala. (June 26, 2023) – Boater Mark McCaig of Oxford, Alabama, caught a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Neely Henry Lake Presented by Southern Petroleum Services. The tournament, hosted by the City of Gadsden, was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Bama Presented by Mystik Lubricants Division. McCaig earned $12,155, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
“I fish Neely Henry 10 to 12 times a year in different tournaments,” said the 52-year-old McCaig. “I know the lake pretty well and only fished in practice one morning to see what things looked like.
“I started the tournament out in the grass and caught one that I weighed in,” McCaig added. “I realized the fish weren’t off the river anymore, so I started flipping a jig on the riverbanks and caught a 4½-pounder. So, I started running that.”
For the rest of his limit that he weighed, McCaig said he caught two on a square-bill crankbait and one on a jig aimed at a piece of brush. He caught five 3-pounders or better during the tournament. McCaig said his fish came spread out during the event, with his first coming at 8:30 and his last two on his last two stops.
“I saved a place down by the dam where I had caught some before, and I told my co-angler I was going to save some time to fish one little place that was a bit of a run toward the dam,” McCaig said. “I felt like there could be something there. One spot was a dock, and one was a laydown tree. I caught a 3½-pounder out of the tree, idled across to where there was a dock with a brushpile in front of it, threw a big crankbait up there and caught a 4-pounder. I ran back up to the ramp and got there with 10 or 15 minutes to go.”
Even though he had a good idea of the weight he had to weigh in, McCaig said he wasn’t confident in his chance for a win.
“It took 20 pounds in a local tournament last weekend to win here,” McCaig said. “But that’s a buddy trail, and the lake is just getting tougher and tougher this time of year. I knew that everything I had was between 3½ to 4 pounds.”
McCaig has racked up numerous tournament wins over the years, including four BFLs and one Toyota Series victory.
“My wife and I kind of have a thing,” McCaig said. “Years ago, when I started fishing, I couldn’t afford Red Lobster. We hadn’t been married long, but any time I won a tournament we ate at Red Lobster. So that’s kind of become a tradition.”
McCaig said the victory celebration dinner tradition has been going on for 33 years of marriage.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Mark McCaig, Oxford, Ala., five bass, 17-3, $12,155 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Andrew Johnson, Glencoe, Ala., five bass, 16-2, $2,078
3rd: Wes Logan, Springville, Ala., five bass, 15-0, $1,383
4th: Hunter Hayes, Gadsden, Ala., five bass, 13-6, $900
4th: Gabe Aldridge, Demopolis, Ala., five bass, 13-6, $900
6th: Jack White, Vance, Ala., five bass, 12-10, $762
7th: Roger Shilling, Athens, Ala., five bass, 12-6, $693
8th: Jared Kawalec, Waterloo, Ala., five bass, 12-5, $623
9th: Matthew Knight, Gadsden, Ala., five bass, 12-1, $519
9th: Daniel Buswell, Jr., Fayetteville, Ga., five bass, 12-1, $519
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Roger Peebles of Atmore, Alabama, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 4 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $570.
Chad Macks of Robertsdale, Alabama, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,041 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 14 pounds, 2 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Chad Macks, Robertsdale, Ala., five bass, 14-2, $2,041
2nd: Michael McLaurin, Chickamauga, Ga., five bass, 12-1, $1,021
3rd: Gunter Williams, Linden, Ala., five bass, 11-5, $683
4th: Todd Mowery, Madison, Ala., five bass, 10-6, $676
5th: Larry Franks, Jr., Wilsonville, Ala., five bass, 9-11, $408
6th: Josh McCrimmon, Nashville, Ga., five bass, 9-10, $574
7th: Chad Bailey, Trinity, Ala., three bass, 9-2, $620
8th: Jonathon Cone, Riverside, Ala., four bass, 8-10, $306
9th: Daniel Birmingham, Reform, Ala., five bass, 8-6, $241
9th: James Lehman, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., five bass, 8-6, $241
9th: Blake Dodson, Montevallo, Ala., five bass, 8-6, $241
Chad Bailey of Trinity, Alabama, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $280, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 9 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Michael Smith of Andalusia, Alabama, leads the BFL Bama Presented by Mystik Lubricants Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 938 points, while Chad Macks of Robertsdale, Alabama, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 955 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.
McCoy Boats Big Kicker on Last Cast to Win by 1 Ounce at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Watts Bar Lake
Kent Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
SPRING CITY, Tenn. (June 26, 2023) – Boater Kibbee McCoy of Knoxville, Tennessee, caught a three-bass limit weighing 12 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Watts Bar Lake . The tournament, hosted by Fish Dayton/Rhea Economic & Tourism, was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Volunteer Division. Kibbee earned $7,563, including the lucrative $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
“I’ve been down here every Thursday and Sunday for about two and a half months, so I had kind of developed a one-two punch,” said McCoy. “I was fishing offshore, deep ledges during practice. And, also, since the mid-1980s, I’ve fished the face of that dam. So, I decided to run to the dam and fish it first thing. No luck, though, because they weren’t pulling any current.”
McCoy changed tactics and focused his efforts on deep water, but the change produced no results. He returned to the dam again and fished it this time with a Buckeye Lures Spot Remover 1/8-ounce jig head and a green-pumpkin Zoom Finesse Worm with a chartreuse-dyed tail.
“In practice, I would catch one or two that way and then leave,” McCoy said. “I knew how they positioned themselves based on how much current they were pulling. But I’ve never really caught any big fish off the dam, just some 2½- to 3-pounders.”
McCoy said he would catch a couple of bass on the face of the dam, leave to fish other spots, then return to the dam and repeat the jumping back and forth. McCoy said he caught a total of 20 fish during the course of the day, including one from a brushpile that fell for a Zoom Ol’ Monster worm.
“The last time I went back to the dam, I told my co-angler, ‘This will be our last cast, and then we’re going to have to run to weigh-in,’” McCoy said. “I flipped a Ned rig up there with a 1/10th-ounce Z-Man (Finesse) Shroomz jig (head) and a (Z-Man) Finesse TRD and caught a 6-pound, 11-ouncer on the last cast. It replaced a 1.92 fish on my scales. Needless to say, that was a big upgrade.
“I knew that it would probably take 11 to 12 pounds to win,” McCoy added. “When I first caught that big fish, I thought it was a drum because they stay deep, and usually largemouth came up to the surface. I wasn’t going to give up on it, though. When it came up for a second time and I saw the side of it, I said, ‘That’s her right there.’ She went down again, and I said, ‘When she comes up again, put her in the net.’ I kept the pressure on and was using 10-pound braid and 8-pound Trilene fluorocarbon. She came up, the net was in the right position, and it was history.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Kibbee McCoy, Knoxville, Tenn., three bass, 12-2, $7,563 (includes $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Brandon Young, Kingston, Tenn., three bass, 12-1, $2,214
3rd: Gavin Daniels, Kingston, Tenn., three bass, 10-11, $1,478
4th: Derick Robinson, Friendsville, Tenn., three bass, 9-2, $1,033
5th: Tony Eckler, Lebanon, Tenn., three bass, 8-9, $849
5th: Jacob Woods, Loudon, Tenn., three bass, 8-9, $849
7th: Chase Henley, Kingston, Tenn., three bass, 8-6, $1,188
8th: Joseph Tallent, Knoxville, Tenn., three bass, 8-3, $664
9th: Rob Linkous, Rogersville, Tenn., three bass, 8-2, $590
10th: Tommy Brown, Louisville, Tenn., three bass, 7-14, $517
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
McCoy’s big bass that weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces, also earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $635.
Peyton Kent of McDonald, Tennessee, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,531 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 9 pounds even.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Peyton Kent, McDonald, Tenn., three bass, 9-0, $2,531
2nd: Roger Phillips, Clinton, Tenn., three bass, 8-13, $1,107
3rd: Joey von Hoene, Erlanger, Ky., three bass, 7-6, $738
4th: Wesley Carroll, Wartburg, Tenn., three bass, 7-4, $917
5th: Evan Green, Jacksboro, Tenn., three bass, 6-15, $443
6th: Luke Shrader, Monticello, Ky., three bass, 6-11, $556
7th: Josh Massengale, Oliver Springs, Tenn., three bass, 6-9, $369
8th: Shaun Godsey, Decatur, Tenn., three bass, 6-8, $332
9th: Darren Kelly, Wartburg, Tenn., three bass, 6-7, $276
9th: Billy Joe Wheat, Evensville, Tenn., three bass, 6-7, $276
Kent also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $317, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 13 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Dillon Falardeau of Hixson, Tennessee, leads the BFL Volunteer Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 915 points, while Luke Shrader of Monticello, Kentucky, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 958 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.
Poteat “Squeezes” Out Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at High Rock Lake
House Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
LEXINGTON, N.C. (June 26, 2023) – Boater Chad Poteat of Mount Airy, North 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 High Rock Lake . The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL North Carolina Division. Poteat earned $12,986, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
“The water had come up tremendously over the last few days because of the rain we’ve had,” said Poteat, who owns a lake house on High Rock Lake. “It had come down just enough to let me fish Abbott’s Creek. I removed my motor hood and windshield and a couple of graphs and was able to squeeze up under the bridge and get back in the creek where the water was stable and cleaner.”
Poteat, who said he excels in shallow water, targeted bream beds he had located a week before the tournament with a Texas-rigged Queen Tackle tungsten jig and coaxed eight keeper bites from High Rock for the day.
“I fished High Rock the week before in the Piedmont Division BFL event and finished seventh, so I knew where the fish were,” Poteat said. “I just swam a jig and pitched my worm around, and I was fortunate to get the ‘W’. God blessed me.”
After Poteat caught his third 5-pounder he thought he had a good shot at placing high in the standings.
“I had a limit in the box, then I caught my fourth 5-pounder and I said, ‘Man, I’ve got a shot at this thing,’” Poteat said. “I’ve fished a bunch of BFLs over the year, and to close the deal out on my home lake was a blessing. Plus, I got my fifth career BFL win. It is so hard to win one of these things. There are so many good fishermen nowadays.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
2nd: David Farrington, Greensboro, N.C., five bass, 21-0, $2,383
3rd: Ron Wolfarth, Oakboro, N.C., five bass, 15-15, $1,256
4th: Ladd Whicker, Winston-Salem, N.C., five bass, 15-9, $879
5th: Greg Robertson, King, N.C., five bass, 13-13, $753
6th: Todd Harris, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 13-5, $690
7th: Adam Flora, Red House, W.V., four bass, 13-4, $628
8th: Robert Walser, Lexington, N.C., four bass, 13-0, $565
9th: John Farmer, Sherrills Ford, N.C., three bass, 12-9, $502
10th: Chris Dover, Blacksburg, S.C., five bass, 11-15, $439
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
David Farrington of Greensboro, North Carolina, caught a bass that weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces, to earn the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $500.
Wes House of Knightdale, North Carolina, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $1,883 Saturday, after bringing four bass to the scale that totaled 15 pounds, 5 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
2nd: Lee Williams, Durham, N.C., five bass, 12-6, $942
3rd: Hunter Alexander, China Grove, N.C., five bass, 10-15, $627
4th: Chase Tedder, Walnut Cove, N.C., two bass, 8-2, $889
5th: Andy Kearns, High Point, N.C.., two bass, 7-0, $361
5th: Andrew Weaver, Clemmons, N.C., three bass, 7-0, $361
7th: Greg Fox, Hudson, N.C., two bass, 6-15, $314
8th: April Barrow, Salisbury, N.C., two bass, 6-9, $282
9th: Samuel Jones, Fuquay Varina, N.C., three bass, 6-8, $251
10th: Gregory Haverlock, Indian Trail, N.C., two bass, 6-0, $220
Chase Tedder of Walnut Cove, North Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $250, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 9 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Jason Barnes of Concord, North Carolina, leads the BFL North Carolina Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 945 points, while Wes House of Knightdale, North Carolina, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 969 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.
Italy’s Jacopo Gallelli Claims Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at the James River
Gittings Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
HENRICO, Va. (June 26, 2023) – Boater Jacopo Gallelli of Florence, Italy, caught a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 5 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the James River . The tournament, hosted by Richmond Region Tourism, was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Shenandoah Division. Gallelli earned $12,463, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
“I practiced for this for 1½ days, and the weather was horrible,” said Gallelli, a Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Pro with five career top-10 finishes. “I made the most of it. I felt I could probably put together a decent limit.
“I basically had two situations going on,” said Gallelli, a Tackle Warehouse Invitationals pro with five career top-10 finishes. “One was fishing in the morning with a tiny swimbait and the other was fishing the same stuff – lily pads – but light punching them. In the morning you could catch them on the outside in holes between the pads with the swimbait. Then, when the sun got up, I could flip in there, but I was finesse flipping.”
Gallelli’s finesse approach consisted of lighter line, weights, hooks and small soft-plastic baits, in shad and bluegill colors. His efforts resulted in 20 keepers during the course of the tournament.
“In the mornings, fishing with the smaller hook, I lost a couple of fish,” Gallelli said. “That’s part of it when you fish with a smaller hook and a smaller bait. I lost a 3½-pound and a 4-pound fish. Losing those two big fish I thought I was done. I had a legitimate shot at 20½ pounds. So, going into the weigh-in I thought I would finish in the top 10.
“This win is very good for me,” Gallelli added. “I was starting to worry, ‘Maybe I’m not good enough.’ I came here from Italy pretending to be good enough to make a living doing this. There are days when you second-guess yourself and think you don’t belong here, so this win is so important to me. It is a real confidence injection.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
2nd: Jeff Hamilton, Henrico, Va., five bass, 16-2, $2,232
3rd: Brian Morgan, Maiden, N.C., five bass, 16-0, $1,489
4th: Wayne Vaughan, Chester, Va., five bass, 15-14, $1,041
5th: Bryan Elrod, Mechanicsville, Va., five bass, 15-5, $893
6th: Bryce Henley, Williamsburg, Va., five bass, 15-2, $818
7th: Brian Bersik, Chesterfield, Va., five bass, 14-12, $994
8th: Zachary Stoupa, Prince George, Va., five bass, 14-10, $669
9th: Bo Boltz, New Kent, Va., five bass, 13-15, $595
10th: Scott Banton, Midlothian, Va., five bass, 13-14, $521
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Jeremy Radford of Huntly, Virginia, caught a bass that weighed 8 pounds, 4 ounces to earn the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $640.
Roland Gittings of Perryville, Maryland, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,952 Saturday, after bringing four bass to the scale that totaled 14 pounds, 11 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
2nd: David Torres, Fallston, Md., five bass, 13-7, $1,116
3rd: Kevin Gregory, Midlothian, Va., five bass, 12-10, $743
4th: Joey Deluke, Glen Allen, Va., five bass, 12-6, $521
5th: Brandon Miskell, Vienna, Va., five bass, 11-12, $446
6th: Jonathan Ceaser, Maidens, Va., five bass, 11-11, $409
7th: Keith Allen, Midland, Va., five bass, 10-12, $372
8th: Ryan Sweeney, Secane, Pa., five bass, 10-6, $335
9th: Carl Whipple, Manassas, Va., five bass, 10-4, $298
10th: Philip Hornsby, Hughesville, Md., five bass, 10-0, $260
Gittings also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $320, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 4 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Zachary Stoupa of Prince George, Virginia, leads the BFL Shenandoah Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 970 points, while David Deciucis of Chester, Virginia, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 963 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.
King University Wins MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament on Lake Champlain
“We blasted off and ran to our first spot and caught a 3½-pounder on the bed, then went down the bank and caught a 4-pounder on a Zara Spook and then got another 4-pounder,” Lawson said. “Then we decided to go run to two more big bed fish that we wanted to catch. So, we fired up the motor, and then the motor blew up.
“It couldn’t have blown up in a better place, because we had stayed around the inland sea all week, and that’s where it blew up,” Lawson added. “So, we trolled to a place we had caught some fish, threw the Spook, and filled our limit.”
Lawson said the King University seniors used the trolling motor for an hour and a half while trying to provoke a bedding bass to bite until the trolling motor battery died. They did catch the bedding bass and added a couple more fish that culled to boost their final weigh weight. Lawson said the team caught 13 bass during the course of the day, including 11 keepers that weighed more than three pounds each.
“Sometimes it’s just your day,” Lawson said. “As we were going along, even though it was going wrong, we knew we were on the fish to win as long as somebody didn’t bring in 21 pounds or some crazy bag. We knew we could win it, but it wasn’t the exact circumstances we wanted.”
“We won a College Fishing event last year on Smith Mountain with about the same weight,” McClaskey said. “We blew the motor at that tournament, too, so we’ve got this running joke that we might need to blow a motor to win a tournament every time.”
The top seven teams that qualified to compete at the 2024 College Fishing National Championship are:
2nd: University of Vermont – Joseph Buonanno, Wolcott, Vt., and Hunter Whitman, Shelburne, Vt., five bass, 18-13
3rd: Adrian College – Russel Buffa, Fenton, Mich., and Kobe Thompson, New Lexington, Ohio, five bass, 18-9
4th: State University of New York-Plattsburgh – Cody Peryea, Altona, N.Y., and Theodore Wager, Shelburne, Vt., five bass, 18-3
5th: Adrian College – Braylon Eggerding and Lucas Washburn, both of Grand Rapids, Mich., five bass, 18-1
6th: Catawba Valley Community College – Hunter Keller, Morganton, N.C., and Brendan Vinton, Braintree, Vt., five bass, 18-1
7th: Adrian College – Brady Pinwar, Midland, Mich., and Derek Rodriguez, Okemos, Mich., five bass, 18-0
9th: Lander University – Parker Lambert, Riegelsville, Pa., and Aaron Shumaker, Charlotte, N.C., five bass, 17-8
10th: Adrian College – Gerald Brumbaugh, Martinsburg, Pa., and Mitchell Straffon, Fenton, Mich., five bass, 17-8
The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Lake Champlain was hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau. The next event for College Fishing anglers will be the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Sam Rayburn Reservoir Presented by Crock-O-Gator, Sept. 8 in Brookeland, Texas.
The 2023 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI features college teams from across the country competing in nine regular-season tournaments. The top 12 percent of teams from each regular-season tournament advance to the 2024 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Black Rifle Coffee Company, E3, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Grundens, Lawless Lures, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular College Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Darrell Dodd & Danny Dulude win over $50,000 with 19.88 lbs. at TX-Shootout on Lake Fork
Lake Tawakoni: 6/25/2023 Total Entries: 164 Teams Total Collected: $82,350 Total Payback (C&P): $80,350 Payback Percentage: 98%% Total Fish: 275 Total Weight: 411.55 lbs Average Weight: 1.50 lbs Number of limits: 42 Number of zero's: 101 Top 50 finishers listed below for complete results
go to http://www.basschamps.comBerkley Big Bass on Lake Fork
October 21 & 22
You can now register online.
Place Boat Truck Angler 1 Angler 2 Fish Big Bass Wt. Prize Amt. 1 DARRELL DODD
COMO , TXDANNY DULUDE
GRAND SALINE , TX3 10.68 19.88
$51,200.00 with Big Bass, Garmin, and HUK Bonus 2 BRANDON DAVIS
ALBA , TXRODNEY ESCHBERGER III
VAN , TX5 8.18 12.73
$6000.00 3 ARCHIE HAYLEY
MT VERNON , TXGAGE IVEY
WINNSBORO , TX5 0 9.75
$4000.00 4 TERRY PEACOCK
ROYSE CITY , TXSCOTT DEAN
TERRELL , TX5 0 9.09
$2500.00 5 DARRIN LONGORIA
MINEOLA , TXJAY BALLARD
GRAND SALINE , TX5 0 9.06
$2000.00 6 JONATHAN LANCASTER
QUITMAN , TXJOSH PRIEST
QUITMAN , TX5 0 9.01
$1500.00 7 COLE STILLWELL
ROCKWALL , TXJASON STILLWELL
ROCKWALL , TX5 0 8.98
$1200.00 8 COLLIN GIACOMO
MCALESTER , OKPRESTON TURNEY
MCALESTER , OK5 0 8.87
$1090.00 9 NICK BROWN
LINDALE , TXBYRON CHAVES
MINEOLA , TX5 0 8.71
$1080.00 10 STEVE WRIGHT
PLANO , TXANDREW WRIGHT
PLANO , TX5 0 8.56
$1070.00 11 HUNTER SMITH
SULPHUR SPRINGS , TXGREGORY ALLEN
ALBA , TX5 0 8.55
$1060.00 12 DAVID ROULSTON
ALLEN , TXCARLOS PEREZ
GARLAND , TX5 0 8.44
$1050.00 13 JAMES MOHLER
LONGVIEW , TXKEVIN LIGI
WHITEHOUSE , TX5 0 8.41
$1040.00 14 TOMMY MURRAY
BEDFORD , TXKEITH IVY
PONDER , TX5 0 7.87
$1030.00 15 JACOB CALLAHAN
YANTIS , TXJIMMY CALLAHAN
YANTIS , TX5 0 7.77
$1020.00 16 BRUCE POWELL
WINNSBORO , TXSCOTT SCROGGINS
SULPHUR SPRNGS , TX5 0 7.75
$1010.00 17 DARRELL CAMPBELL
ALBA , TXDON PENICK
ALBA , TX5 0 7.58
$1000.00 18 HADEN SICKLES
SULPHUR SPRINGS , TXCAMERON GRAY
SULPHUR SPRINGS , TX5 0 7.52
$1000.00 19 LARRY LEE
YANTIS , TXRON LEE
YANTIS , TX5 0 7.50
20 MARK RUSSELL
YANTIS , TXCAMERON FOSTER
WAGNER , OK5 0 7.43
21 RICHARD OSBORN
CARROLLTON , TXCHRIS MCLAIN
SANGER , TX5 0 7.32
22 TYLER SCHWEIGERT
FARMERSVILLE , TXWILLIE BUIE
LAVON , TX5 0 7.29
23 TOGMA CHAUVIN
GREENVILLE , TXSAVANA CHAUVIN
GREENVILLE , TX5 0 7.25
24 BYRON BIONDI
BURLESON , TXJOHN BIONDI
ARLINGTON , TX5 0 7.22
25 BRENT CANTRELL
STREETMAN , TXCURT CULBERTSON
GODLEY , TX5 0 7.20
26 JERROD VAUGHT
QUITMAN , TXALEXANDER VAUGHT
QUITMAN , TX5 0 7.08
27 JOHN REDMON
GRAND PRAIRIE , TXTOMMY REDMON
YANTIS , TX5 0 7.03
28 MAX NWANEBU
FAIRVIEW , TXBEN BURNS
ALLEN , TX5 0 7.02
29 WILLIAM PALMER
MIDLOTHIAN , TXJERAMIE BYRD
MIDLOTHIAN , TX5 0 6.94
30 COREY MAPLES
SULPHUR SPRINGS , TXAARON WALKER
MT VERNON , TX5 0 6.85
31 BRAD BARRON
TOLAR , TXNATHANIEL PRIESS
GRANBURY , TX4 0 6.68
32 PHILLIP HOPE
KAUFMAN , TXSTEPHEN HOPE
ALBA , TX5 0 6.64
33 JARED TAYLOR
SOUTHLAKE , TXDANIEL BARNES
BELTON , TX5 0 6.42
34 CASEY MARTZ
HIGHLAND HAVEN , TXTHOMAS BIBLES
FORNEY , TX5 0 6.40
35 ROGER RITCHIE
WICHITA FALLS , TXRICHARD RITCHIE
BENTON , AR4 0 6.24
36 JEFF HOOD
BROWNSBORO , TXRICKY WYATT
BROWNSBORO , TX4 0 6.20
37 GARY BELL
MABANK , TXRICHIE WHITE
SULPHUR SPRINGS , TX5 0 6.12
38 JUSTIN PRATER
BURLESON , TXJOSH KEITHLEY
FORT WORTH , TX4 0 5.78
39 KYLE BRYANT
CANTON , TXMARK INLOW
MABANK , TX5 0 5.76
40 RICK JOHNSON
ROCKWALL , TXMEGAN WADE
GARLAND , TX4 0 5.71
41 CHAD BROZOVICH
DALLAS , TXCARTER BROZOVICH
DALLAS , TX5 0 5.68
42 CALEB ANDREWS
STERLINGTON , LAKOREY DIXON
STRONG , AR5 0 5.61
43 TIMOTHY VERMILLION
WEATHERFORD , TXTHOMAS TREVINO
WEATHERFORD , TX4 0 5.56
44 CURTIS DANIELS
FT TOWSEN , OKWENDELL MOON
EMORY , TX5 0 5.42
45 MATT BONFOEY
ROCKWALL , TXJEFFERY NELSON
MINEOLA , TX5 0 5.32
46 MARC SCHILLING
CARROLLTON , TXTRINETTE CONTRERAS
CARROLLTON , TX5 0 5.30
47 CHRIS FORD
WINNSBORO , TXTRENVER FORD
WINNSBORO , TX5 0 5.25
48 JUSTIN ROPER
CIBOLO , TXROBERT ROPER
CIBOLO , TX3 0 4.63
49 TIM CLINE
SHERMAN , TXRAYMOND SMITH
WHITESBORO , TX5 0 4.62
50 RICHARD UVA
PLANO , TXJASON UVA
PRINCETON , TX4 0 4.35
Minn Kota Announces New and Upgraded Line of Trolling Motors to Fit Every Angler
Minn Kota’s trusted line of bow-mount trolling motors have been re-designed to help anglers get more out of their time on the water - including QUEST, a powerful new brushless technology platform.
RACINE, Wis. (JUN 26, 2023) – Since 1934 Minn Kota has been known for developing real, fishable features that help anglers explore new water, go further, and put more fish in the boat. The best trolling motors available just got even better with a complete restage of Minn Kota’s bow-mount motor lineup and the introduction of QUEST technology. New and upgraded UltrexTM, Ulterra®, Instinct, Terrova®, Riptide Terrova®, PowerDriveTM, and Riptide PowerDriveTM bow mount trolling motors are being reintroduced with a brand new look and updated technology suite full of angler-friendly enhancements.
In addition to all the GPS navigational features anglers have come to expect from Minn Kota like Spot- Lock and Follow-the-contour, all of these new additions to the motor lineup will feature enhanced boat control tools for anglers – no matter their preferred species. Whether fresh or saltwater and regardless of skill level or pursuit, Minn Kota’s redesigned line of trolling motors has an option for any angler looking for bulletproof reliability and unmatched performance on the water.
New Features for All Bow-Mount Models:
- NEW Enhanced GPS Suite Including Drift Mode to allow anglers to spend more time fishing and less time on boat control
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- Drift Mode: combats current and wind by automatically adjusting speed and direction to keep the boat on a true drift. Drift Mode acts as a gps drift sock eliminating the need for cumbersome ropes or shallow water anchor paddles
- Improved Follow-the-Contour functionality: allows for better LakeMaster and CoastMaster integration to stay on the desired course.
- Dodge Mode: allows anglers to quickly leave auto navigation mode to manually steer through waves and around structures and then resume navigating without resetting their route.
- Out of the Box connection to Humminbird via the One-Boat Network by including all necessary adapters required for networking without additional need for setup
- One App for Everything – the One-Boat Network App can control everything on the boat from the trolling motor and shallow water anchors to the Humminbird head units
- Enhanced Built-in 2D Sonar with Dual Spectrum CHIRP adds Humminbird’s unrivaled sonar clarity to every Minn Kota motor
Minn Kota QUEST Technology
Motors with QUEST technology might resemble some of Minn Kota’s most popular and trusted models, but have been completely redesigned from the ground up to tackle the toughest environments. QUEST
motors feature a dual 24 or 36 volt brushless lower unit, a carbon fiber-infused upgraded shaft and reinforced brackets and pivot points. Boasting 30% longer runtime and up to 50% more torque*, these motors are built for the most demanding anglers, helping them get out earlier, stay out later and fish in wind, waves and current that others can’t.
Minn Kota Ultrex, Ulterra, Instinct, Terrova, and Riptide Terrova motors will all now be available with QUEST technology. With available shaft lengths up to 100”, Riptide Terrova and Instinct QUEST motors were made to tackle the toughest offshore environments on bigger boats than ever before.
With improved and upgraded components such as mounts, brackets, shafts, and pivot points, the motors are built to handle the increase in power in the harshest environments. QUEST motors include an upgraded lift assist assembly for effortless stow and deployment, carbon fiber shafts with increased lengths, Auto Park to automatically turn the motor when stowing, new propellers to cut through heavy vegetation while maintaining peak power output and fewer moving parts to prevent unnecessary wear over the life of the product.
New Features for QUEST Models:
- Dual 24 or 36 volt Brushless Motor with up to 30% longer runtime and 50% greater torque*
- Up to 30%longer run time on a single charge provides anglers more time on the water
- Up to 50% greater torque means more precise control in wind and waves and the ability to shed weeds more effectively
- Redesigned and Upgraded Mount to accommodate the additional thrust and torque of the lower unit
- Carbon Fiber Infused Shaft for enhanced durability while maintaining flexibility to protect the bow of an angler’s boat
- Peak Performance and Efficiency from Updated Propellors which maximize torque throughout the speed range
- New lift-assist assembly to make getting the motor in and out of the water effortless (select models)
- Real-Time Battery Monitoring System lets anglers know time until empty at a given speed setting and prompts users to enter a power saving eco mode when batteries reach 20% charge
- No Loss of Power: constant power throughout the day with no drop in motor performance as battery voltage decreases of the length of a fishing day
- One-Boat Network Programmable Button: customized presets to include stow and deploy Minn Kota shallow water anchors, mark a waypoint, or engage autopilot
• QUEST Technology availability: Ultrex, Ulterra, Instinct, Terrova, Riptide Terrova
Click HERE to see the new and upgraded line of bow-mount trolling motors in action.
*Compared to 24 volt brushed motor when run at maximum speed setting
O.H. Ivie named 2023’s Best Bass Lake by Bassmaster Magazine
O.H. Ivie Lake has claimed the top spot in the 2023 Bassmaster Magazine 100 Best Bass Lakes standings for the first time in history.
Photo courtesy of Lynn Wright/TPWD
June 26, 2023
O.H. Ivie named 2023’s Best Bass Lake by Bassmaster Magazine
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Things really are bigger in Texas and that includes the bass coming out of O.H. Ivie Lake, which claims the coveted spot atop the 2023 Bassmaster Magazine 100 Best Bass Lakes standings for the first time in history. This reservoir has stolen the spotlight over the last three years, producing an eye-popping 15 Legacy Class ShareLunker bass — a designation for fish weighing more than 13 pounds — between January and March.
Like the waters anglers love, the rankings of America’s best bass fisheries can surge or ebb, and this year’s 100 Best Bass Lakes list is a true reflection of those fluctuations.
“We are always a little surprised when going through the data how many fisheries make the rankings and then fall off, as well as by those lakes that just always make the list,” explained Bassmaster Magazine Editor-in-Chief James Hall. “Creating the rankings takes more than two months as we dig through current tournament data as well as state fishery information on stocking efforts, catch rates and angler access.
“While the fisheries may change, our goal is to point anglers toward the most productive waters so that their time is spent with rod bent. These rankings provide a bucket list of destinations for anglers.”
As for bragging rights on which state has the most fisheries in the Top 100 rankings, that title goes to Texas with a whopping 10 lakes. Right behind the Lone Star State are California and Florida, each with nine lakes on the list, followed by New York and Michigan (six).
Spectacular scenery and feisty smallmouth meet on the 50-mile stretch of the St. Lawrence River known as the 1000 Islands, which dropped one spot to No. 2 in this year’s rankings. Anglers eager to do battle with giant smallmouth can head north to the 1000 Islands region of the St. Lawrence River. History was made on the clear waters of this seaway straddling the U.S.-Canadian border during the 2022 Bassmaster Elite out of Clayton, N.Y. After four days, two anglers — Jay Przekurat and Cory Johnston — topped the 100-pound mark with solely smallmouth, a first-ever feat for the Elite Series.
While long-considered a West Coast powerhouse, No. 3 Clear Lake fell out of the top spot during the past two years but is enjoying a resurgence thanks to one of the wettest springs in history. After a multiyear drought, there is now plenty of flooded vegetation providing ideal habitat, with an abundance of baitfish keeping hungry bass well fed. Combine the opportunity to catch the limit of a lifetime with a pristine setting in California’s wine country, and you have the definition of a bucket-list fishing destination.
The rankings identify the top lakes in the nation based on head-to-head comparisons, as well as the Top 25 lakes in four geographical regions — Central, Western, Southeastern and Northeastern.
“We divide the nation into four regions and rank the lakes in each region to give anglers perspective on the fisheries they can most likely reach,” Hall explained.
Full rankings can be found in the July/August issue of Bassmaster Magazine and on Bassmaster.com.
Bassmaster Magazine’s Top 10 Best Bass Lakes of 2023
- O.H. Ivie Lake, Texas
- St. Lawrence River (1000 Islands), New York
- Clear Lake, California
- Lake Murray, South Carolina
- Toledo Bend Reservoir, Louisiana/Texas
- Fellsmere Reservoir/Stick Marsh/Kenansville Lake, Florida
- Lake St. Clair, Michigan
- Orange Lake, Florida
- Lake Erie/Upper Niagara River, New York
- Lake Okeechobee, Florida
Best Bass Lakes – Central Division
- O.H. Ivie Lake, Texas
- Toledo Bend Reservoir, Louisiana/Texas
- Lake Fork, Texas
- Possum Kingdom Lake, Texas
- Caney Creek Reservoir, Louisiana
Best Bass Lakes – Western Division
- Clear Lake, California
- Lake Berryessa, California
- Diamond Valley Lake, California
- Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California
- Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Best Bass Lakes – Northeastern Division
- St. Lawrence River (1000 Islands), New York
- Lake St. Clair, Michigan
- Lake Erie/Upper Niagara River, New York
- Burt/Mullett lakes, Michigan
- Lake Champlain, New York/Vermont
Best Bass Lakes – Southeastern Division
- Lake Murray, South Carolina
- Fellsmere Reservoir/Stick Marsh/Kenansville Lake, Florida
- Orange Lake, Florida
- Lake Okeechobee, Florida
- Lake Guntersville, Alabama
Dustin Connell Cruises to Group B Lead at MLF General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles
Alabama Pro Leads by 4 Ounces after Group B Day 1, Group A to Wrap Up Two-Day Qualifying Round Monday
HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (June 25, 2023) – A strong morning bite carried Favorite Fishing pro Dustin Connell through the competition day Sunday, with his five largest bass weighing 22 pounds, 13 ounces. Connell’s hefty limit earned him the Group B Day 1 lead in the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles. Pro John Hunter of Shelbyville, Kentucky finished the day tight on Connell’s heels, weighing in five scorable smallmouth totaling 22-9, good for second place.
“It’s been a heck of a day,” said Connell. “It started out quick and we did good, which put us in a great position for the rest of the week. I found a couple new areas this afternoon, but I’ve got one little spot that’s really good and I’m just hoping that it holds out.”
Connell jumped out to an early lead Sunday, filling his limit within the first 30 minutes of competition and staying atop the SCORETRACKER® throughout the day.
“The fish are there – I mean, there are a bunch of 4- to 5-pounders there,” Connell continued. “I lost one this morning that was over 4 pounds, so hopefully that spot will be sustainable throughout the event.”
Connell spent his day targeting bass offshore with his Lowrance ActiveTarget and caught his fish on a 7-foot, 2-inch medium heavy Favorite Fishing Hex Rod, throwing a drop-shot rig on 15-pound braid.
“This is my favorite way to fish,” said Connell. “It’s just awesome watching the way the fish react to your bait. I’m hoping that the wind dies down as we get further into the event, so we can really get after it.
“Right now, the fish are down deep, stuck to the bottom. With all these waves, they just really want to hunker down low. But when the sun pops out and it gets slick, they slide up closer to the surface and you can see them a little better on your electronics.
“I don’t know how this tournament is going to be won, but I think it’s going to come down to finding a good area that you have to yourself,” Connell finished.
The 40 anglers in Group B will now have an off day on Monday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group A will wrap up their two-day Qualifying Round. Group B will finish their Qualifying Round on Tuesday.
The top 20 pros in Group B after Day 1 on Lake St. Clair are:
2nd: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., five bass, 22-9
3rd: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 20-15
4th: Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky. five bass, 20-11
5th: Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., five bass, 20-8
6th: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, five bass, 20-6
7th: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., five bass, 20-5
8th: Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, five bass, 20-3
9th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, five bass, 19-5
10th: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., five bass, 19-4
11th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 19-2
12th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., five bass, 18-15
13th: Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., five bass, 18-15
14th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 18-13
15th: Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., five bass, 18-12
16th: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., five bass, 18-8
17th: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, five bass, 18-4
18th: Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 18-0
19th: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., five bass, 17-15
20th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., five bass, 17-12
Hunter earned the $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award after a 5-pound, 8-ounce smallmouth bit his drop shot with five minutes remaining in Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and another $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Saturday and Monday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top 20 anglers from each group advance to Wednesday’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 Thursday’s Championship Round. In the 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 7:20 a.m. ET from Lake St. Clair Metropark, located at 31300 Metro Parkway in Harrison Township. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the Metropark, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
On Championship Thursday, June 29, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate the top 10 and crown the General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Champion at the Watch Party and Trophy Presentation. 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 General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles features anglers 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 MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles Championship Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, November 4 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG by Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Local Pro Brett Carnright Earns First Career MLF Victory at Toyota Series at Lake Champlain
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (June 25, 2023) – Local pro Brett Carnright of Plattsburgh, New York, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday totaling 19 pounds, 4 ounces, to win the Toyota Series at Lake Champlain Presented by Rabid Baits. Carnright’s three-day total of 59 pounds, 11 ounces earned him his first career victory by 1½ pounds over his cousin, Ryan Latinville, also of Plattsburgh. Carnright earned $90,500 for his victory, which was the season-opening event in the Toyota Series Northern Division Presented by Rabid Baits.
When it comes to Champlain, especially during the spawn, it’s hard to talk about tournament fishing without bringing up Latinville and Carnright. Between them, they’ve raised the bar on what wins in June, and this tournament certainly fell into their wheelhouse. So, to see the cousins finish 1-2 is no surprise. Though winning with 59-11 is a little shy of some recent Champlain events, considering the time of year and the size of the field, the Carnright’s winning weight is nothing to sneeze at.
It was made possible by a quirky spring that put a lot of big fish right where Carnright needed them.
“I thought it was going to fish a little lighter, just because of where I checked the first day of practice,” Carnright said. “Then, all of a sudden, we had a huge wave come up. We had some really cold weather two weeks before the tournament, I think it shut down a wave of fish that were coming, I checked some areas where they spawn a week prior and there was no evidence of any fish spawning. We got some warm weather, calm weather, the water got hot, and fish started showing up. About a week before the tournament, we started finding some big ones. Originally, I thought 59 was going to be right there, but by the tournament, Ryan and I both thought it would take well over 60.”
Plenty of other pros tried to bed fish to contend with Carnright, but only Latinville really came close, as the others who leaned hard on sight-fishing dipped out of the picture day by day. Meanwhile, Carnright actually improved his weight on Day 2, and caught the third-biggest bag of the final day.
“What helped me the most, which I thought would hurt me the most, was there was a massive amount of clear water and dirty water shifting around the north end of the lake,” he said. “Guys were talking about not being able to see 7 feet deep, and then next day you could see 17 feet deep. I was focusing on 8 to 11 feet of water, and I was able to find all my 11-foot beds prior to the weekend. Over the weekend, we had some bad weather that muddied up the water, so all my fish were protected from people being able to see them. People were coming around me into the area of the lake I was fishing, and I kept seeing less and less boats.”
Dirtier water protected many of his fish from the prying eyes of the competition, but it did make them harder to catch. So, in addition to using a flogger, Carnright had to catch some with his ActiveTarget alone.
“Luckily for me, I had good waypoints, and I was able to utilize my electronics,” he said. “I had to catch those fish, if I don’t, I don’t win the tournament. So, I knew my best bet was to sit there with ActiveTarget and catch those fish. I was able to catch all the fish I had marked, and I actually found a few bonus ones.”
Carnright lives for the smallmouth spawn, and has put days and days into the pursuit. In good shape and willing to go up and down with a flogger all day, he’s also lucky to have a really good eye for what might be a bed.
“It’s a lot of strategy, you have to find your fish before the tournament, finding them during the tournament is really difficult,” he said. “You have to be really strategic with which fish you catch. You have to hope they’re not leaving, and during this tournament a lot of fish acted like they wanted to leave. Over the years, we’ve noticed the spawn shifts earlier into June, so when this was announced, I didn’t think it would be a spawning event. But, with the cooler weather this spring, probably the biggest wave of fish the lake had came this week.”
To catch his bed fish, Carnright used a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm on a drop-shot. He also used a swimbait on a 3/16-ounce head to catch postspawn fish, which was a critical piece of his strategy.
“Day 1, I had one postspawn fish and four fish that were on beds,” he said. “Day 2, I had all bed fish. Today, I had all bed fish, and I caught one postspawn fish that was the same size as my smallest fish.
“When practice started, (the postspawn) fish were easy to catch,” he said. “As the week went on, I think more guys found it. It got a lot tougher, I think a lot of guys put pressure on those fish. They would run up, look at it and not eat it. That was something I figured out before the tournament – I knew I needed something other than bed fish. It was either going to be largemouth or catching postspawn smallies. We had a huge heat wave in April, and I think a lot of smallmouth spawned then. I think those fish went postspawn and started feeding up, and I knew that would be my bonus.”
Edging out his cousin Latinville, plus good friend LaBelle, Carnright has been on the cusp a number of times. Just this spring, he led the ABA championship on the Red River before coughing up the lead. In Toyota Series past, he’s finished fourth, second and fifth on Champlain.
This week, things aligned for Carnright, and also Latinville, to do what they do best on Champlain.
“Spawning fishing is really weird, it’s more like hunting fish, rather than fishing for them,” he said. “You’re looking for them nonstop, looking at rocks, looking at the bottom, hoping you can find some cleaner water where you can see. And it always wins. There really aren’t any major tournaments in June where bed fishing isn’t the major player. So, knowing that, we have to put a lot of time into it. After the 2017 Toyota, and the next one in 2018, that’s when we really got dialed in to bed fishing. If you look at the weights from then to now, it’s astronomical. The field is also learning, but we’re able to dial it in each year better and better. We’ve been able to win some pretty big local events with heavy 21-pound bags or 22 sometimes.”
Still, despite the previous success, Carnright didn’t go into the final day thinking he’d win. With LaBelle ahead of him, he knew things would have to break right.
“Bryan Labelle has been telling me I’m gonna win this tournament since the schedule came out,” he said. “What a way to do it, there’s not a more skilled angler to beat on the final day than Bryan. I’ve been saying for years he’s the best angler to ever fish this lake, I thought the mountain was unclimbable.”
The top 10 pros on Lake Champlain finished:
1st: Brett Carnright, Plattsburgh, New York, 15 bass, 59-11, $90,500 (includes $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus)
2nd: Ryan Latinville, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 15 bass, 59-0, $22,000
3rd: Bryan Labelle, Hinesburg, Vt., 15 bass, 58-3, $15,250
4th: Garrett Rocamora, Lake Wales, Fla., 15 bass, 57-6, $13,250
5th: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 15 bass, 57-1, $12,250
6th: Alec Morrison, Peru, N.Y., 15 bass, 56-11, $9,625
7th: Brayden Federer, Adrian, Mich., 15 bass, 56-10, $8,300
8th: Tyler Woolcott, Port Orange, Fla., 15 bass, 56-6, $7,600
9th: Brian Green, North Augusta, Ontario, Canada, 15 bass, 55-15, $6,300
10th: Kyle Hall, Granbury, Texas, 15 bass, 55-13, $4,700
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Pro Chris Adams of Shrewsbury, Vermont, took home the $500 Day 1 Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division Thursday with a largemouth weighing 4 pounds, 13 ounces. On Friday, pro Nick Radtke of Greenwood Lake, New York, earned the $500 Berkley Big Bass prize after bringing a 5-pound, 15-ounce bass to the scale.
Carnright earned an extra $35,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $35,000 per event in each Toyota Series tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Nicholas Veselka of Fishers, Indiana, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 49 pounds, 15 ounces. Veselka took home the top prize package worth $35,400, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on Lake Champlain finished:
1st: Nicholas Veselka, Fishers, Ind., 15 bass, 49-15, $35,400 incl. Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard
2nd: Randy Nelson, Granger, Ind., 15 bass, 47-7, $6,625
3rd: Jacob Swanson, Framingham, Mass., 15 bass, 46-13, $5,300
4th: Richard Bleser, Burlington, Wis., 15 bass, 46-11, $4,150
5th: Jeremy Vandenbosch, Lowell, Mich., 15 bass, 46-5, $3,650
6th: Mitchell Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 15 bass, 45-7, $3,150
7th: William Lisenby, Centreville, Va., 15 bass, 44-15, $2,650
8th: Shawn Gokey, Georgia, Vt., 15 bass, 44-14, $2,075
9th: Jim Jarvis, Timberville, Va., 15 bass, 43-11, $1,630
10th: Cory Hartfield, Centerburg, Ohio, 15 bass, 43-4, $1,390
Garrett Seppala of New Ipswich, New Hampshire, was the Berkley Big Bass $150 award winner in the Strike King co-angler division, Thursday, weighing in a 4-pound, 14-ouncer. Friday’s Day 2 $150 award went to Brenden Massa of Battle Creek, Michigan, with a 5-pound, 4-ounce bass.
With one regular-season event in the Toyota Series Northern Division now complete, Carnright leads the Northern Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 260 points, while Veska leads the Strike King Co-angler Division AOY race with 260 points.
The Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lake Champlain Presented by Rabid Baits, hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau, was the first of three regular-season events for the Toyota Series Northern Division. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will be the Toyota Series at the St. Lawrence River, Aug. 10-12, in Massena, New York. 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 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.
Minnesota’s Cambridge-Isanti Blue Jackets Edges Field by Six Ounces to Win 2023 High School Fishing National Championship
Student Anglers Zachary Piescher and Cole Semler Claim Title with Three-Day Total of Nine Bass Weighing 32-7
LA CROSSE, Wis. (June 25, 2023) – Minnesota’s Cambridge-Isanti Blue Jackets duo of Zachary Piescher of Cambridge, Minnesota, and Cole Semler, of Dalbo, Minnesota, brought a final-day three-bass limit to the scale Friday weighing 10 pounds, 12 ounces to win the 2023 High School Fishing National Championship on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
The duo’s three-day total of nine bass weighing 32 pounds, 7 ounces, earned them the victory by a slim 6-ounce margin over the runner-up, Illinois’ Kaneland High School, and earned the Cambridge-Isanti duo two $5,000 scholarships to a college of their choosing. The duo also now advances to the 2023 MLF Toyota Series Championship, held Nov. 2-4 on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, to compete as co-anglers and a shot at the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The team from east-central Minnesota has had a variety of roadblocks in their path to overcome in order to make it to the final day, let alone to be in a position to win. After dropping a solid 9-13 on the scales on Day 1, their Day 2 went less than smooth as a variety of setbacks hindered them throughout the day. Close calls while boating, a broken fuel pump, and managing the lock schedule all made for a turbulent time, but the pair were able to scrounge up 11-14 and put themselves in real contention for the title heading into the final day, just 1-6 back from the leaders from Kaneland High School.
“For the past three days it’s been the most adrenalin I’ve ever had,” Piescher said. “Problems come with the good and the bad. We had a couple close calls out there, and then we win this when we weren’t expecting to get first – maybe second or third or whatever.”
The final day of competition got off to another rough start for Cambridge-Isanti as their fuel pump continued to throw a wrench in their tournament plans. Virtually dead in the water, help came from an unlikely source as camera boat driver Brad Wessling offered his boat so that the team could finish out their improbable Championship run.
“We just had to build and build every day,” Semler said. “(Problems) are just something you have got to overcome. First, we had our close call with another boat, then the motor won’t work well (yesterday). Then today we go to take off and it’s just nothing. Then we get permission to jump in the camera boat and things worked out. So, we are pretty lucky.”
After a quick swap and safety check, the boys and their boat captain Jeremiah Semler tore off to Pool No. 7 to chase their largemouth bite up stream. Upon arrival at their destination in Pool 7, the pair sat down and got to work, posting a limit in the first several minutes of their morning.
“We were expecting to get them, and we could almost call our cast,” Cole Semler said. “This place is something special. But, after the camera crew left especially, we calmed down a lot and were able to cull two times.”
“Brad was a lifesaver today,” Piescher said. “We wouldn’t have gotten even nearly close to top five without him. I don’t think we would have been able to catch the same quality in Pool 8.”
The High School Fishing National Championship featured 248 teams, and the top 10 teams at the 2023 High School Fishing National Championship on the Mississippi River finished:
1st: Cambridge-Isanti High School, Cambridge, Minn. – Zachary Piescher and Cole Semler, nine bass, 32-7
2nd: Kaneland High School, Maple Park, Ill. – J.D. McBroom and Carter Pjesky, nine bass, 32-1
3rd: Haughton Fishing Team, Haughton, La. – Carsen Adcock and Jase White, nine bass, 31-0
4th: Ruston High School, Ruston, La. – Rhett Anderson and Jessie Green, six bass, 28-1
5th: Piedmont Academy, Monticello, Ga. – Jaden Hoffman and Jayden Lintner, nine bass, 27-4
6th: Star City High School Anglers, Wahoo, Neb. – Ryder Kahny and Taylor Wagner, nine bass, 27-3
7th: Jackson Bass Fishing, Jackson, Mich. – Rylan Hamlin and Jack Swihart, nine bass, 26-12
8th: Hewitt-Trussville High School, Trussville, Ala. – Andrew Jones and Carson Underwood, nine bass, 26-10
9th: Saint Xavier High School, Louisville, Ky. – Miles Allen and Ethan Roths, eight bass, 26-7
10th: North Paulding High School Bass Team, Dallas, Ga. – Caleb Edwards and Blake Edwards, nine bass, 25-14
Complete results for the entire field can be found at HighSchoolFishing.org.
The 2023 High School Fishing National Championship on the Mississippi River was hosted by Explore La Crosse. MLF High School Fishing tournaments are free, two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and are open to any MLF and TBF Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school club. The top 10 percent of teams at each Open event, along with the TBF High School Fishing state championships, advanced to the 2023 High School Fishing National Championship.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Black Rifle Coffee Company, E3, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Grundens, Lawless Lures, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit HighSchoolFishing.org. For regular High School Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow High School Fishing on Facebook and on MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Jordan Lee Jumps to Early Lead at MLF General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles
Alabama Pro Scores a Five-Fish Limit Weighing 22 Pounds, 8 Ounces to Lead After Day 1 for Group A – Group B Begins Competition Sunday
HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (June 24, 2023) – Berkley pro Jordan Lee of Cullman, Alabama weighed in 12 scorable smallmouth bass, with his best five totaling 22 pounds, 8 ounces to grab the early lead for Group A after Day 1 of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles. Pro Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Arkansas sits 1 ounce behind Lee in second place for Group A with five scorable bass totaling 22-7.
The six-day event, hosted by the Detroit Sports Commission, Macomb County and Lake St. Clair Metroparks, 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 Sunday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group B will begin their first day of competition. Group A will resume competition on Monday.
Lee started the day off with a bang, catching a 5-pound, 14-ounce smallmouth – the biggest fish of the day – in the first 10 minutes of competition to catapult into the early lead.
“I honestly expected to find a lot more schooling fish on this Canada side of Lake St. Clair, but that has not been the case,” said Lee. “I’ve basically just been practicing all day since we couldn’t fish over here during practice. I know it’s all about finding a good area, so I’ve been running around all over, bouncing here and there. The size of fish is just a little bit better over here, though, which is what I was hoping for.
“When you get around them, you catch some smaller ones, but they look healthy – they aren’t paper-thin,” Lee continued. “I also caught a couple bigger fish (today), which is key.”
Lee said his Lowrance ActiveTarget was critical to his success, and he caught his bass on several different baits, including a hair jig and drop-shot rig, a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The Generalon a 3/8-ounce Ned Head and a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Lil’ General.
“I’m not sure what to expect on Monday with the winds that are being forecast, but maybe the bite will be better,” said Lee. “I thought they would be a lot hungrier than they were because these fish haven’t seen a bait in a long time. The slick calm weather we’ve had today was great for being able to move around on the water, but it’s notorious for making fishing more difficult.
“If we get a little wind on Monday, I think the bite will pick up,” Lee continued. “They just weren’t firing today, but I’ll definitely take it. Maybe I can learn a little something and just take it day by day. Winning the first day doesn’t really mean a lot in the grand scheme of the tournament, but it feels great to get off to a good start.”
The top 20 pros in Group A after Day 1 on Lake St. Clair are:
2nd: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 22-7
3rd: Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, five bass, 21-5
4th: Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., five bass, 20-12
5th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., five bass, 20-9
6th: Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., five bass, 20-9
7th: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., five bass, 20-5
8th: Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, five bass, 19-11
9th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 19-6
10th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., five bass, 19-4
11th: Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., five bass, 19-4
12th: Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas, five bass, 18-14
13th: Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 18-12
14th: Andy Morgan, Dayton Tenn., five bass, 18-12
15th: Boyd Duckett, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 18-9
16th: James Watson, Lampe, Mo., five bass, 18-4
17th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., five bass, 17-13
18th: Randall Tharp, Port St. Joe, Fla., five bass, 17-12
19th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., five bass, 17-10
20th: Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., five bass, 17-10
The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Saturday and Monday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top 20 anglers from each group advance to Wednesday’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 Thursday’s Championship Round. In the 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 7:20 a.m. ET from Lake St. Clair Metropark, located at 31300 Metro Parkway in Harrison Township. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the Metropark, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
On Championship Thursday, June 29, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate the top 10 and crown the General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Champion at the Watch Party and Trophy Presentation. 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 General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles features anglers 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 MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles Championship Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, November 4 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG by Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
FIU student wins Females in Fisheries conservation scholarship
Florida International University graduate student Shakira Trabelsi has won the seventh annual Noreen Clough Memorial Scholarship for Females in Fisheries.
Photo courtesy of Shakira Trabelsi
June 23, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The seventh annual Noreen Clough Memorial Scholarship for Females in Fisheries has been awarded to Florida International University grad student Shakira Trabelsi, who began fishing at a young age and considers time spent multispecies fishing throughout Florida “transformative.”
“Fishing began for me in the canal in my backyard with my dad; we would fish there regularly until his passing when I was 7 years old,” said Trabelsi. “Angling in my free time, though, created and reinforced friendships, served as a mental reset and — in a small way — pays homage to my dad.”
Trabelsi, who is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Environmental Science, is investigating the health of the economically important wild redfish throughout Florida’s estuaries to determine if pharmaceuticals are affecting the health of exposed fish. She is evaluating the extent of exposure and assessing fish health through hematological and biochemical analyses.
“Studies in laboratory settings have shown that pharmaceuticals can alter the behavior of fish and negatively impact their health, yet negative impacts to health regarding pharmaceuticals in wild fish has not been assessed,” explained Trabelsi.
After graduating in 2024, Trabelsi hopes to work for a government agency as a biologist on issues regarding water quality and fisheries conservation through an ecotoxicology perspective.
“I can only hope to have even a fraction of Noreen Clough’s tenacity, passion and determination; she truly is an inspiration to women in fisheries like me,” said Trabelsi.
Noreen Clough blazed many trails in the field of fisheries. As the first female regional director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and later as the B.A.S.S. Conservation Director, her distinguished career was dedicated to the conservation and management of fish and wildlife. Clough passed away in January 2015. As a tribute, friends and colleagues established an endowment to provide a scholarship through the Southern Division American Fisheries Society Black Bass Conservation Committee for female students working toward a career in fisheries conservation.
Applicants for the Females in Fisheries scholarship came in from women across the United States and Canada who exemplified what Clough hoped to see in future fishery scientists.
“All of the young women who applied for the Females in Fisheries scholarship have a bright future in fisheries because, in addition to their academic strengths, they are all avid anglers — and that will serve them well as they pursue professional careers,” said Gene Gilliland, B.A.S.S. Conservation Director.
Gordon Robertson, retired Vice President of Government Affairs for the American Sportfishing Association and a longtime colleague of Clough’s added, “Noreen put a high value on lessons learned from recreational fishing from both a resource understanding and appreciation perspective but also from a perspective of understanding anglers and how they think and react to resource and social issues.”
Trabelsi will be awarded a $2,000 scholarship from the Southern Division American Fisheries Society Black Bass Conservation Committee.
Major League Fishing Shifts Takeoff Times for General Tire Stage Six
WHAT:
Major League Fishing (MLF) has shifted the takeoff time at the General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles in Harrison Township, Michigan to allow more time for angler ride through prior to the start of competition.
WHEN:
Saturday, June 24 – Thursday, June 29
Takeoff: Moved up to 7:20 a.m. ET
WHERE:
Lake St. Clair Metropark
31300 Metro Parkway
Harrison Township, MI 48045
NOTES:
Morning takeoff times have been shifted from 7:30 a.m. ET to 7:20 a.m. ET at the General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles to allow more time for angler ride through prior to the start of competition. Competition times and MLFNOW!® live stream times will not be affected. MLFNOW!® will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
The six-day event, hosted by the Detroit Sports Commission , Macomb County and Lake St. Clair Metroparks , showcases 80 of the top professional bass-fishing anglers in the world competing for a total purse of more than $805,000, including a top cash prize 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.
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.
ChatterBait® Creators Reveal Ultra-Refined ElaZtech® Trailer
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Second Annual MLF General Tire Team Series Draft Concludes with Exciting Results
BENTON, Ky. (June 22, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today the results of the 2023 General Tire Team Series Draft, which took place Wednesday in Harrison Township, Michigan. During the second annual General Tire Team Series Draft, the top 27 Bass Pro Tour anglers – based on 2022 Angler of the Year (AOY) point standings – selected two additional Bass Pro Tour anglers to create 27 three-man teams that will compete over three qualifying events.
The General Tire Team Series will showcase the 80 anglers that compete on the Bass Pro Tour, joined by the next available highest-ranking 2022 MLF champion, competing as three-man teams across four events for more than $700,000 in cash payouts.
“After a successful transition from the extremely popular MLF Cup events in 2022, it was exciting to watch our Bass Pro Tour anglers work together again and strategize to create their winning lineups,” said Kathy Fennel, Executive Vice President and General Manager of MLF. “We look forward to another round of exciting programming again this fall.”
2023 General Tire Team Series Draft Results:
CAPTAIN: Greg Vinson, TEAMMATES: Bradley Roy and David Dudley
CAPTAIN: Chris Lane, TEAMMATES: Jared Lintner and John Hunter
CAPTAIN: Wesley Strader, TEAMMATES: Scott Suggs and Matt Becker
CAPTAIN: Todd Faircloth, TEAMMATES: Jeff Sprague and Jeff Kriet
CAPTAIN: Ott DeFoe, TEAMMATES: Andy Montgomery and Brandon Coulter
CAPTAIN: Stephen Browning, TEAMMATES: Anthony Gagliardi and Keith Poche
CAPTAIN: Casey Ashley, TEAMMATES: Terry Scroggins and Jacob Wall
CAPTAIN: Jonathon VanDam, TEAMMATES: James Elam and Matt Lee
CAPTAIN: Bryan Thrift, TEAMMATES: Luke Clausen and Josh Butler
CAPTAIN: Brent Ehrler, TEAMMATES: Brett Hite and John Murray
CAPTAIN: Alton Jones Jr., TEAMMATES: Nick LeBrun and Britt Myers
CAPTAIN: Randall Tharp, TEAMMATES: Gerald Spohrer and Russ Lane
CAPTAIN: Jeremy Lawyer, TEAMMATES: Cody Meyer and Shin Fukae
CAPTAIN: Dustin Connell, TEAMMATES: Cole Floyd and Roy Hawk
CAPTAIN: Adrian Avena, TEAMMATES: Spencer Shuffield and Ryan Salzman
CAPTAIN: Andy Morgan, TEAMMATES: Fletcher Shryock and James Watson
CAPTAIN: Michael Neal, TEAMMATES: Takahiro Omori and Dean Rojas
CAPTAIN: Mark Daniels Jr., TEAMMATES: Randy Howell and Cliff Crochet
CAPTAIN: Justin Lucas, TEAMMATES: Skeet Reese and Fred Roumbanis
CAPTAIN: Zack Birge, TEAMMATES: Mark Rose and Cliff Pace
CAPTAIN: Jesse Wiggins, TEAMMATES: Kyle Hall and Gary Klein
CAPTAIN: Kevin VanDam, TEAMMATES: David Walker and Kelly Jordon
CAPTAIN: Dakota Ebare, TEAMMATES: Mitch Crane and Tommy Biffle
CAPTAIN: Alton Jones Sr., TEAMMATES: Brent Chapman and Dave Lefebre
CAPTAIN: Jordan Lee, TEAMMATES: Mark Davis and Timmy Horton
Throwback Thursday - Bagleys - 1977
By Terry Battisti - Bass Fishing Archives
We’ve written a couple of pieces on the Jim Bagley Bait Company over the course of the last couple of years, but I personally never get tired of looking at their ads from days past. Recently I was scouring all my 1977 magazines for another piece and noticed after a while, how many ads Bagley had placed in the various magazines at the time and decided to scan them all. Here’s Bagleys – 1977
The years 1976 and ‘77 were banner years for the company due to Rick Clunn winning back-to-back Bass Masters Classics and catching some of his fish in each event on Bagley’s baits. This seems to have done a couple of things – namely provide a bunch of sales for the company which, in turn, allowed them to step up their ad campaign to sell more.
After going through nearly 75 magazines, I would say I could count on one hand the number of issues that didn’t have a Bagley ad in them. Most of those ads were the same ad placed over and over but this ad-year they really stepped up in the marketing department by designing several new ads.
Most of the ads that were placed in Bassmaster Magazine are fairly well known. It’s the ads that were placed in magazines such as American Angler, American Bass Fisherman, and National Bass that are really cool – ads I’d never seen before. Maybe you haven’t either?
The first ad, at the top of the article, is one I’d never seen. Although the baits weren’t really known as saltwater lures, you can get the gist of the ad in that the baits were little treasures. After two big wins within a year, who could argue?
That ad featured BB2s, KB2s, Honey Bs, Bang-O-Lures, Balsa Shiner, and what appears to be the full line of DBs, lead pellet in the lips to boot.
The second ad, one we’ve all seen, is of Rick Clunn and makes special note of his 1976 Classic win using the Honey B. The curious thing about the ad is Clunn reported in Bassmaster Magazine that he caught his fish on a crawdad-colored Honey B. Yet, there’s a picture of a Tennessee Shad model in the ad, model HB1-TS to be exact.
The ad reflects on Clunn’s Classic, how he was in 3rd place on the first day but rallied the second day with a 33-pound 5-ounce sack the second day to take a commanding lead. They then state that Clunn relied heavily on the Honey B the third day to bring in another limit (16-01), win the event and break the all-time record for total weight in a Classic.
The third ad, again a Honey B ad, was showing customers that they didn’t just have to throw the shallow-running Honey B. If they needed to go a little deeper, they could fish the Diving Honey B.
This is a great ad in that it shows a number of Bagley’s color patterns complete with their model/color number. Out of that bunch of baits, my favorite color pattern was the Golden Shiner (DHB1-GOS). It mimicked the color of a certain species of crawdad we had on one of the local lakes to a tee. The fished chewed that color.
The fourth ad in the mix is another ad I’d never seen and came from American Angler. It was a picture of a coloring book, opened to a page featuring a bass. The ad was featuring Jim Bagley’s new “little bass” color pattern on the new KB2, or Kill’r B II. The text says:
“Nothing could be more appealing to a largemouth bass than another bass – fingerling size. That’s why Jim Bagley has just introduced his newest color, the “little bass,” to his complete line of famous balsa wood lures. This new life-like color combined with the fantastic action of the Kill’r B II is the most taste-tempting morsel ever to swim thru a brush top. Try it…you’ll it. The bass will too!”
I have to say that the color baby bass was not in my top-5 or even my top-10 color choices. I can count on one hand the number of fish I have caught on that color over the 50 years I’ve been casting for bass. But that probably has to do with the lakes I fished. Your results may vary.
I do wish I had this coloring book – if it ever existed.
The final ad is yet another I don’t recall ever seeing. It again featured the “NEW” Kill’r B II but also another not-so-well-known bait, the new Balsa Shiner – their version of the Cordell Spot and soon-to-be popular Rattle Trap.
The writeup for the Kill’r B II says that it is a smaller brother of the 3-inch Kill’r B, or what should have been called the Kill’r B III. I need to go back and investigate whether the original Kill’r B was given a number or if that came after the advent of the KB2.
Then there’s the Balsa Shiner. Advertised as the newest in the balsa wood family, the Shiner was designed for both fresh and saltwater. The bait would dive no deeper than 2-1/2 feet and was touted as a great fats bait to be fished over grass.
As we find more Bagley ads we’ll post them up. In the meantime, if you remember one we haven’t touched upon, send us a note and let us know about it.
B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Regional heading to Wisconsin's Lake Winnebago
Grass-roots anglers representing 10 states will compete in the 2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Regional at Lake Winnebago June 28-30.
Photo by Grant Moxley/B.A.S.S.
June 21, 2023
APPLETON, Wis. — Anglers fishing the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Regional at Lake Winnebago June 28-30 will likely find both smallmouth and largemouth in a mostly post-spawn stage and 2022 Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year Jay Przekurat of Stevens Point, Wis., believes finding some bigger bites will be the key to success.
The Northern Regional will feature teams from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. Anglers will take off starting at 6 a.m. CT from the Jefferson Park Boat Ramp and weigh-in will be back at the park beginning at 2 p.m. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.
At the end of the tournament, the top boater and top nonboater from each state will qualify for the 2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championshipon legendary Lake Hartwell Oct. 18-20. The winner of the Nation Championship will be crowned “Nation’s Best” and will earn a spot in the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series field along with the use of a fully-rigged Toyota Tundra and Nitro boat.
The Top 3 anglers from the Nation Championship will also punch their ticket to the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota in Tulsa, Okla.
To unlock Winnebago, anglers will need to decipher how each section of the system sets up, Przekurat said.
“That particular system, you have a lot of options,” he said. “You can fish Winnebago, which is more lake-based and wind-driven. Especially with the way the dirty water moves and the wind pushes it. There are smallmouth that get offshore on Winnebago on some of the rock structures. You kind of have to play your cards right there because they aren’t always where they are supposed to be.”
The largemouth will be up close to shore and in the canals on Winnebago and Lake Butte des Morts, as well as in some of the milfoil patches off the bank. Moving west, Lake Poygan has less rock structure but has more opportunities for largemouth with plenty of canals and shallow cover.
For Przekurat, the Wolf River provides some of the better opportunities to win.
“This time of the year, the fish up the river should be getting to their summertime areas,” he said. “They like to run up the tributaries and start to find cooler water. Especially when they get done spawning, they like to feed up on the baitfish that live up those rivers. On the lake, they start to group up and find the right wind areas. I would say the river is more consistent than Winnebago.”
The Winnebago system is also one of the only Northern fisheries with shad.
For largemouth, there will be plenty of opportunities to flip, frog and throw moving baits like a bladed jig and a swim jig around grassy areas. The system has milfoil, eelgrass and duckweed. They will also hang around docks.
The smallmouth love to eat a tube and a Ned rig around rocks, current breaks with wood, cut banks and even docks. Wind will be a major player when targeting the brown fish.
This will be the first visit to Lake Winnebago for the B.A.S.S. Nation since the 2008 season.
Sidewalk chalk for Arey’s new dream truck
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Emily Arey, wife of Team Toyota’s Matt Arey, is the executive director for the Hospice Foundation of Cleveland County, NC, near their home in Shelby, but there’s a strong chance she could turn her amazing talent for drawing images with colored sidewalk chalk into a part time profession too.
“Emily and the girls have been making “good luck” chalk drawings for me the past 10 years, and to this day, I’ve never left for a tournament that they didn’t draw one for me. It’s our thing, and it’s pretty dang special to me,” says Arey.
She and their young daughters draw an inspiring fishing related image specific to every tournament Matt heads-out to compete in, and most recently they drew one to celebrate his dream truck – a Toyota Tundra TRD Pro Series.
“I’ve been pulling boats with Toyotas since I got my driver’s license, and in recent years I’ve really dreamed of running a Tundra TRD Pro Series. I love the aggressive bold looks, and the i-Force MAX V-6 hybrid engine is a 437-horsepowertowing beast with a ton of increased torque, but I love the red interior too. Since I’m a 2003 North Carolina State grad, I call it Wolfpack Red,” grins Arey.
He plans to add some after-market speakers to his new dream rig so he can jam to country music as well as longtime favorites Matchbox Twenty and Dave Matthews. He also needs to get a new graphic wrap placed on its exterior before heading to the next Elite Series at Lake St. Clair in late July.
He says he’ll probably lean heavily on relatively new drop shot baits from Lunkerhunt called the Hover Shot and Versa Fish when he gets to St. Clair. And there’s no doubt in his mind that talented wife Emily, along with his sweet young daughters, will have drawn the perfect image of good luck wishes in sidewalk chalk on the family driveway when he points his new dream truck north to Michigan.
Box it with the Best
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DAIWA’s new system recycles plastic into premium utility tackle trays |
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Cypress, CA (June 21, 2023) – When the technological leader in rod and reel manufacturing introduces a commodity product, you can safely wager it’s better than the others. Such is the case with DAIWA’s new D-BOX Tackle System. |
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Being a DAIWA groupie, it’s time to renew your tackle utility boxes with the brand’s new premium and affordable collection. Available in two sizes (3600 and 3700) and six total configurations, DAIWA’s new D-Boxes features clear weathertight lids with four robust, tight-snapping latches to keep everything in check. Internal tabs are cut clean for instant organizing of each slot, with a total of 12 compartments in the 3600-size and 20 compartments in the 3700-size. Available in shallow, regular, and deep models. And doing its part for the environment, DAIWA’s new D-BOX Tackle System boxes are made from 100% recycled plastic. |
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MSRP $11.99 to $18.99 |
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Mid-Depth Assassin – the Berkley Dime
Berkley’s newest hard bait weapon that bass cannot resist
COLUMBIA, S.C. (Feb 7, 2023) – Berkley understands what balsa crankbaits can do to help anglers catch more fish, but also recognizes the limitations attributed to wooden baits. Building on the success of their first alternative for a flat-sided balsa crankbait with the Berkley Frittside, the team at Berkley Labs has now taken the same method of proven balsa action and durability and applied it to their newest mid-depth crankbait – the Berkley Dime.
Offering anglers the durability and performance of a plastic bait, the Dime features balsa-like action thanks to Berkley’s patented Flash Disc technology. It not only casts further due to the weight transfer system in the smaller sizes, but it tracks perfectly and features sticky sharp Fusion19 treble hooks for when it’s time to fill the boat. Rounding out the offering are first in class finishes and colorway options to match the hatch that balsa baits cannot achieve. Backed by Berkley science to help anglers catch more fish, the Dime is sure to become a go-to mid-depth crankbait at all times of year.
KEY FEATURES
• Patented Flash Disc Technology achieves balsa like action in a plastic bait
• Weight transfer system for further casting in sizes 4 and 6
• Sticky sharp Fusion19 hooks
• First in class finish and colorways unachieved by balsa baits
Sizes: 4 • 6 • 10 • 15
Colors: Red Swamp Craw • HD Brown Craw • Proper Copper • Blaze • Ghost Green Craw • Spray Tan • Special Red Craw • Ghost Red Craw • Blue Shad • Honey Shad • Killer Gill • Citrus Shad • Ghost Morning Dawn • Ghost Gill • Black Chartreuse • HD Blueback Herring • Pixie Dust • River Bream • Rootbeer Craw • Vanilla Chartreuse • Blue Chartreuse
MSRP: $10.99
Available: September 2023
Kayak Bass Fishing…Take Two
By Danny Blandford
I’m starting to dig “back” into kayak bass fishing more and more, but I’ve had to do some homework. I bought a sit-down/sit-in “fishing” kayak as an impulse buy years ago, but the purchase missed the mark and left a lot to be desired. I love the concept, the access the kayak provides, and the simplicity it brings to bass fishing. I didn’t like the kayak…that was a huge roadblock to moving forward, so I shelved it…all of it. My first attempt has made a great birdhouse, not so much of a great fishing platform, so I’ve recently decided to revisit that project. Coming at it from a more informed perspective this time should certainly help with the results.
Fortunately, at AnglersChannel.com, we can get plugged into experts pretty quickly when we’re looking to learn more. I got a chance to chat with Old Town Kayak Pro, Anthony Garcia, of Los Angeles, CA. What an awesome conversation; two anglers from completely different environments and backgrounds, tied with the common thread of bass fishing. It was evident from the start, that Anthony’s California rivers and my local Ohio River, don’t have many parallels, but shallow water bassin’ is shallow water bassin’ regardless of locale, so we hit it off.
Anthony shared his fishing story of going from “Bait and weight” fishing with family as a kid, to getting into kayaks, then fishing kayaks and ultimately, national tournaments. Ironically, he was fresh off his first co-angler bass event, the WON Bass CA Open, on Clear Lake. He was just starting to dive into “our” world, as we were diving into his. He ended up with a 5 bass limit each day and a 15th place finish, so I’d say kayak angling absolutely develops tournament anglers, and he knows his stuff. Curious if I will take to a kayak as well as he did to the back of the boat…
We started with the basics of boat selection. Anthony’s advice was simple, “Get in kayaks…find buddies, or stores that have demos, and get in every style you can access. What works for me is specific to me…my size, my fishing style, even where I fish dictates “why” my boat is right for me. In my case, the Old Town AutoPilot 136 was right for me”
“What you’ll learn by getting in them is what style feels stable to you; stability equals comfort out there on the water. Choosing that first will set you on the right path. You can check out different brands, price points and features once you know what kind YOU like.” Although simple, it was sound advice. I had skipped step one and as a result, I felt like kayak fishing wasn’t a good fit for me…in actuality it was having my butt below the water line and sitting all day that was just too foreign to me. The opportunity to stand up and move around, like I do on the front deck of the boat is likely to make a huge difference. Old Town has a Kayak Selector, but it sounds like seat time is the next step after online research.
The conversation drifted from which boat to which “power”. I found dealing with the paddles for positioning, while also dealing with the rods, to be cumbersome and pretty inefficient to be honest. Anthony had solutions for that as well. “Over the years, we’ve dealt with a lot of those issues, some through our own innovation…things like bungees, milk crates, and pvc tubes can help provide some creature comforts to help with on the water organization.
With my current Old Town setup, I keep 6 to 10 rods rigged and ready, have tackle storage, the whole deal. A while back, pedal drive kayaks really helped things jump forward for us bass guys by freeing up the hands and increasing our range. Now with the addition of Minn Kota Autopilot, lightweight batteries, and electronics we’re pretty set up.”
“These days, when I’m out there, I’m focused completely on fishing, not navigation”, added Garcia.
So I’m sure you’re wondering, and of course I had to ask, How Fast & How Long?? According to Anthony, his Old Town Auto Pilot 136, with a “tournament load” gets about 4 mph at full speed and could run that way for a couple of hours and he could paddle to boost that speed. “I seldom just get in and go full speed ahead, but you can cover some water. I reserve a lot of my juice for moving around throughout the day, in both moving between spots and positioning the boat for good presentations and fishing. In my longest tournament day, I covered about 14 miles, between fishing and moving around the lake.”
14 miles kind of blew my mind; I’m not sure I cover that much water some days with electric and gas at my disposal.
The power to move comes from lithium, Anthony’s is spread around, with some thought put into it. Diving into his setup, he explained, “I do a 100 Ah (Amp/hour) lithium dedicated to my trolling motor and that’s usually all I need, BUT, I run my transducers from a 54 Ah lithium that can be used for the Minn Kota if I deplete my main battery unexpectedly. The graphs themselves are powered by a small 18 Ah that I can easily swap out.”
I can see where the lithium is the way to go for kayak bass fishing, in my earlier article, Flipping the Relion Lithium Battery Switch I dropped in a Relion RB100-HP. This is the same rating as discussed by Anthony for powering his Minn Kota, and it weighed in at 27 pounds, so that’s a lot of power at minimal weight.
It was clear to me that after talking with Anthony, there are fishing kayaks and then there are FISHING kayaks. Thinking about being able to cover MILES of backwater, some that’s inaccessible to my current aluminum boat and being able to do it standing up, with electronics at my disposal has my wheels turning for sure.
In closing, special thanks to Old Town Pro, Anthony Garcia for sharing some insight I should have sought a long time ago. If you’re looking to dive a little deeper like me, the Old Town Website and their blog has some good stuff to check out.
Abu Garcia Introduces the Zenon X Spinning Reel
The Ultimate Tool for Freshwater Anglers Who Want to Fish to Win
COLUMBIA, S.C. (June 20, 2023) – Building on the original Zenon spinning reel, Abu Garcia has added a new model to the Zenon spinning selection with the Zenon X. This new model fills the gap by offering the flexibility to fish lightweight finesse style baits while also providing the power to handle heavier baits when needed.
Building upon the success of the original Zenon spinning reel, the Zenon X features the same efficient asymmetric aluminum frame, combined with an oversized AMG2 machined aluminum gear system that delivers the perfect balance of weight, performance and durability.
“This new addition to the Zenon spinning reel lineup is a game-changer for freshwater anglers,” said Andrew Wheeler, Director of Freshwater at Abu Garcia. “The Zenon X combines lightweight design, durable construction and precision engineering to deliver a reel that excels in finesse fishing techniques while offering the versatility to handle heavier baits with ease. It’s the ultimate tool for passionate anglers seeking exceptional performance on the water.”
KEY FEATURES
• Asymmetric one piece aluminum gear box design delivers a compact reel design that is ultra lightweight
• Air fin spool design helps reduce weight
• V-Rotor design reduces start up inertia
• Carbon handle and co-molded handle knob
• AMG2 fully machined aluminum main gear gives unparalleled smoothness and durability
• 9+1 HPCR bearing system
• Rocket line management system
• Mid-arbor spool design
• 6.2:1 gear ratio
• Weight: 2000 – 6.0-ounces • 2500MS – 6.5-ounces • 3000MS – 6.6-ounces • 3500MS – 6.8-ounces
MSRP: $299.95
Available: September 2023
Travel to El Salto to Dial in Your Crankbait Bite
By Pete Robbins - Half Past First Cast
We just returned from our annual May-June trip to Mexico’s Lake El Salto. I’ve only missed this tradition twice since 2013 – first in 2019 when I had a conflicting trip to Alaska, and second in 2020 when COVID hit. We made up for that latter missed opportunity that November by returning for two full weeks, but I hope to never miss the summertime bite again as long as I live.
That’s because it gives me the opportunity to do something I don’t get to do at home: Deep cranking. I’d guess that well over 90% of the tournaments on my home waters of the Potomac River are won in less than 6 feet of water, many of them in less than 4, and some in less than 1. By the time each new boat is a month old, I’ve banged up the bottom of my trolling motor and worn the paint off the outboard skeg. Shallow water is my comfort zone. That’s why it’s a treat to go and do something that’s out of my wheelhouse.
We actually started going before there was a crankbait that went deep enough for some of the schools. For years, the Fat Free Shad was the gold standard down there – anything deeper and you had to use a jig or a Carolina Rig or a Texas Rig. Then came the 10XD and my mind was officially blown. You’ll need specialized gear to crank it comfortably all day (and bring some Advil), but it fires up fish like nothing else. It produced my El Salto PB in 2017, and I look forward to cranking it every year. Cranking hasn’t always been the dominant ticket for our summer trips, but it’s usually a big part of the show.
The great part of going for a week (go however long you can afford to be there, but more is always better), you can get a crash course in offshore cranking. How do different colors affect the bite? The fish usually want it super-fast, but sometimes slowing down is important, or they’ll eat it almost exclusively on the pause. There are times when the 6XD does the job as well as the 10XD, in the same areas, but there are times when one is clearly better than the other. There are times when a no-rattle bait works best, and times when a loud knocker is superior. By fishing shoulder-to-shoulder with another angler on one of the best fisheries on earth, you can figure all of that out much more quickly.
It's the same sort of education we’ve gotten at other times about the changing bite. One January the fish crushed a Chatterbait on the first day, but wouldn’t react similarly in those same areas on Day Two until we switched to a swim jig. On Day Three, we had to go even more subtle, with a plain ribbed swimbait like a Keitech or Rage Swimmer.
That’s the beauty of going to such a fertile fishery – you can work on whatever technique or techniques you desire, or just go on a “catching” trip.
I’ve been South of the Border to fish in October, November, January, February, May and June, and I can say that not all months are created equally for all techniques. For example, while we’ve had a great plopper bite on occasion in June, on this trip I caught the grand total of one topwater fish. December would be better for that. February, too. The high water months are my favorites for a swim jig and flipping heavy brush. In fact, if you live where there’s an “offseason” those are great months to fine-tune your game before local tournaments start.
If you’d like to book a trip, or inquire about the best time for a particular technique, email us. It’s fishing, so there are no guarantees, but we’ll steer you in the right direction -- as soon as our thumbs and wrists heal from all of that fast-paced cranking. We have some spots on our trip next June, but we’re happy to arrange your trip to bass fishing Disneyland at any time that suits your schedule and your preferences.
Hatfield Hammers 20-Pound, 11-Ounce Final-Day Limit to Win MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational T-H Marine Stop 5 at the Potomac River
Second-Year Pro Catches Biggest Limit of the Tournament on Final Day to Vault to Top of Leaderboard and Earn Top Payout of $117,500
MARBURY, Md. (June 19, 2023) – Pro Nick Hatfield of Greeneville, Tennessee, caught a five-bass limit Monday weighing 20 pounds, 11 ounces – the largest limit weighed throughout the three-day tournament – to win the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational T-H Marine Stop 5 at the Potomac River . Hatfield’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 53 pounds, 12 ounces, earned him the win by a 5-pound, 3-ounce margin over Bass Pro Tour angler Cody Meyer of Star, Idaho, who finished second with a three day total of 15 bass weighing 48-9, good for the $50,000 runner-up payout.
After a Polaris Rookie of the Year win in 2021 on the Pro Circuit, Hatfield signed on to the new-look Invitationals for another go-round. After finishing 101st at Lake of the Ozarks in May, it looked like his Bass Pro Tour dreams may have gone by the wayside; but winning the Potomac vaulted him back into the Top 10 in points and may prove to be a key moment in a long career.
Starting the day in second behind Martin Villa, Hatfield knew he was close to a win. Still, the Top 10 was about as stacked as can be on the Potomac, and he also knew he needed to do more than just hold serve.
“Today I decided to scrap where I’ve been starting because it sucked yesterday,” Hatfield said. “I didn’t want to try to go in there and scrap out 14 or 15 pounds, I wanted to go for the win.”
So, he rolled into Chicamuxen Creek and started fishing in a recently opened spawning sanctuary.
“I knew it hadn’t had the pressure; I didn’t know if I could catch them in there, but I figured it hadn’t had the pressure like everywhere else,” Hatfield said. “So, I went in there and started catching them pretty quick. I got in a few areas there and caught them on a bunch of different things, but there was one little area in there that was a bream bed, and most of the big ones I caught, I caught off of it. When it went down it was pretty crazy.”
After catching a few swimming a jig and frogging in a marshy creek, Hatfield pulled out a popper as he roamed around. Things happened in a hurry after that.
“I stumbled into it as I was fishing, just going down the bank,” he said. “I threw a popper up close to the point, and one engulfed it. I kept throwing over there, and upon further inspection, after I caught some, I saw it was a bream bed. So, I actually went back to it later in the day and caught another 4-pounder off of it.”
Running bream beds has gotten a bit trendy recently, and the Top 10 definitely added them into the mix with the usual Potomac staples. For Hatfield, a big patch of spawning bluegill in Quantico Creek did a lot of the heavy lifting.
“I saw the one in Quantico the second day of practice and I saw there were a bunch of big ones swimming on it and it was easy to get bites,” Hatfield said. “I never found another one until today.
“I’d say out of 15 bass I weighed, maybe four or five came off something else,” he said. “Swimming a jig, a frog, ChatterBait, something like that. It was all on bream beds, basically.”
For his bream beds, Hatfield’s primary weapon was a wacky-rigged Yamamoto Senko with a No. 1 Hayabusa WRM929. He also mixed in a 3/8-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait JackHammer, a 3/8-ounce Hayabusa Lil’ Schmitty Swim Jig , a popping frog and a bone Lobina Rio Rico. He used Doomsday rods for all of his techniques, opting for a 7-foot, medium-heavy model for the wacky rig.
“I’ve wanted to win one of these, I’ve tried hard,” Hatfield went on to say. “I knew that I could do it, and today just shows that I can. I can’t wait for the next one, I’m ready to go right now.”
The top 50 pros at the T-H Marine Stop 5 at the Potomac River finished:
1st: Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., 15 bass, 53-12, $117,500 (includes $35,000 Phoenix Bonus)
2nd: Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, 15 bass, 48-9, $50,000
3rd: Eric Panzironi, Longwood, Fla., 15 bass, 48-8, $20,000
4th: Wyatt Frankens, Corrigan, Texas, 15 bass, 46-9, $18,000
5th: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 15 bass, 46-8, $17,000
6th: Blake Hall, Rogersville, Ala., 15 bass, 46-1, $17,000
7th: Andrew Loberg, Rocklin, Calif., 15 bass, 46-0, $15,000
8th: Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., 15 bass, 45-13, $14,000
9th: Bryan Schmitt, Deale, Md., 15 bass, 45-12, $13,000
10th: Kyle Weisenburger, Columbus Grove, Ohio, 15 bass, 44-11, $12,000
11th: Pete Ponds, Madison, Miss., 15 bass, 44-8, $10,000
12th: Jim Moynagh, Shakopee, Minn., 15 bass, 44-5, $10,000
13th: Jordan Collom, Canyon Lake, Calif., 15 bass, 44-4, $10,000
14th: Troy Stokes, Trenton, Mich., 15 bass, 44-1, $10,000
15th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 15 bass, 43-13, $10,000
16th: Cody Spetz, Hollister, Mo., 15 bass, 43-12, $10,000
17th: Flint Davis, Leesburg, Ga., 15 bass, 43-11, $10,000
18th: Hunter Eubanks, Inman, S.C., 15 bass, 43-11, $10,000
19th: Cole Hewett, Orange Park, Fla., 15 bass, 43-10, $10,000
20th: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 15 bass, 43-9, $10,000
21st: David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn., 15 bass, 43-7, $10,000
22nd: Jeremy Southerly, Fulks Run, Va., 15 bass, 43-6, $10,000
23rd: Robert Nakatomi, Sacramento, Calif., 15 bass, 42-14, $10,000
24th: Jason Vance, Battle Ground, Ind., 15 bass, 42-13, $10,000
25th: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 15 bass, 42-11, $10,000
26th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 15 bass, 42-7, $10,000
27th: Charlie Reed Jr., Gloucester, Va., 15 bass, 42-5, $10,000
28th: Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 15 bass, 42-4, $10,000
29th: Wayne Vaughan, Chester, Va., 15 bass, 42-3, $10,000
30th: Mike McClelland, Blue Eye, Mo., 15 bass, 42-2, $10,000
31st: Blake Felix, Warsaw, Mo., 15 bass, 42-1, $8,000
32nd: Cody Pike, Powhatan, Va., 15 bass, 42-1, $8,000
33rd: Michael Catt, Jacksonville, Fla., 15 bass, 41-14, $8,000
34th: Tyler Stewart, Dubach, La., 15 bass, 41-14, $8,000
35th: Christian Greico, Tampa, Fla., 15 bass, 41-13, $8,000
36th: Kyle Hall, Granbury, Texas, 15 bass, 41-11, $8,000
37th: Joe Wieberg, Freeburg, Mo., 15 bass, 41-9, $8,000
38th: Matt Greenblatt, Port Saint Lucie, Fla., 15 bass, 41-4, $8,000
39th: John Duarte, Middle River, Md., 15 bass, 41-2, $8,000
40th: Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 15 bass, 40-15, $8,000
41st: Braxton Setzer, Wetumpka, Ala., 15 bass, 40-15, $8,000
42nd: Ramie Colson Jr., Cadiz, Ky., 15 bass, 40-10, $8,000
43rd: Terry Olinger, Louisa, Va., 15 bass, 40-9, $8,000
44th: Eddie Carper, Valliant, Okla., 14 bass, 39-11, $8,000
45th: Travis Harriman, Huntsville, Ark., 15 bass, 39-4, $8,000
46th: Austin Culbertson, Moberly, Mo., 14 bass, 39-2, $8,000
47th: Jack Daniel Williams, Kingsport, Tenn., 15 bass, 38-4, $8,000
48th: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 15 bass, 37-7, $8,000
49th: Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga., 15 bass, 36-15, $8,000
50th: Kyle Minke, Lindstrom, Minn., 14 bass, 36-12, $8,000
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 247 bass weighing 663 pounds, 3 ounces caught by the 50 pros Monday. The catch included 47 five-bass limits.
The three-day tournament was hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners and featured a roster of 150 pro anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024. The next Tackle Warehouse Invitational event will take place July 25-27 at the Tackle Warehouse Invitational at the Mississippi River Presented by Mercury in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
In MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Saturday and Sunday in a traditional five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advanced to the final round on Championship Monday, where they competed for the grand prize of up to $115,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers. The winner of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational T-H Marine Stop 5 at the Potomac River was determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight and will now receive an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024.
The season-long Invitational Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) will also earn a berth into REDCREST and the Top 8 anglers in the season-long Invitational AOY point standings will qualify for the 2024 Bass Pro Tour. After four events in the six-event Qualifying Circuit, pro Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Michigan, leads the AOY race with 953 points. Charlottesville, Virginia, pro Martin Villa sits in second place with 929 points, while Keith Carson of DeBary, Florida, is in third with 911 points. Pro Michael Neal of Dayton, Tennessee, is in fourth place with 905 points, while Junction City, Wisconsin’s Matthew Stefan rounds out the top five with 874 points.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational T-H Marine Stop 5 at the Potomac River will feature live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere on the CBS Sports Network on Saturday, October 28.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Gordon Wins by Three Pounds at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Dardanelle
Gooden Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (June 19, 2023) – Boater Shawn Gordon of Russellville, Arkansas, caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Dardanelle. The tournament, hosted by Russellville Tourism, was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Arkie Division. Gordon earned $5,683 for his victory.
“I didn’t catch any fish until 9 o’clock,” said Gordon, who has seven top-10 finishes on Lake Dardanelle in BFL competition. “I finally caught a couple and then hopped around and fished ledges with a (unnamed) Strike King crankbait and a red worm.”
Gordon said he focused his efforts on the lower third of Dardanelle, in water ranging from eight to 15 feet deep. His efforts produced a total of nine keepers during the day.
“Later on in the day I thought I had a pretty good shot, but I really thought I had to cull one more time,” Gordon said. “So, this win feels pretty good.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Shawn Gordon, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 20-3, $5,683
2nd: Sawyer Grace, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 17-3, $2,432
3rd: Kevin Brown, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 16-14, $1,989 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
4th: Jeremiah Kindy, Benton, Ark., five bass, 16-8, $1,041
5th: Jeff Clark, Van Buren, Ark., five bass, 16-7, $1,193
6th: Ben Burk, Norman, Okla., five bass, 15-3, $818
7th: Brent Haggard, Sallisaw, Okla., five bass, 15-0, $994
8th: Quincy Houchin, Mabelvale, Ark., five bass, 14-13, $669
9th: Chris Huselton, Conway, Ark., five bass, 13-9, $595
10th: Mike Webster, Pottsville, Ark., five bass, 13-0, $521
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Brandon Gabe of England, Arkansas, caught a largemouth that weighed 5 pounds, 2 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $640.
Koby Gooden of North Little Rock, Arkansas, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,214 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 15 pounds, 9 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Koby Gooden, North Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 15-9, $2,214
2nd: Ron Knight, Hot Springs Village, Ark., three bass, 7-11, $1,107
3rd: Remington Lawrence, Russellville, Ark., three bass, 6-15, $738
4th: Caden Fuller, Waldron, Ark., five bass, 6-14, $517
5th: Blake Defoor, Waldron, Ark., four bass, 6-13, $443
6th: Demetric Johnson, Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 6-12, $406
7th: Troy Speers, Malvern, Ark., two bass, 6-10, $667
7th: Tim Bowers, Thayer, Mo., three bass, 6-10, $350
9th: Zach Oliver, Coal Hill, Ark., three bass, 6-7, $295
10th: Blake Smith, Benton, Ark., three bass, 6-5, $258
Troy Speers of Malvern, Arkansas, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $317, catching a largemouth that weighed in at 5 pounds, 7 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Wayne Dixon of Morrilton, Arkansas, leads the BFL Arkie Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 962 points, while John Hankins of Atkins, Arkansas, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 962 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 2024 BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Team Crockett Creek Beef Jerky Wins Inaugural General Tire Team Series Bass Pro Shops Championship Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches
Captain Jacob Wheeler Dominates Championship Round with 56 Bass Weighing 101-6 To Lead Team to Commanding Victory and Earn $300,000 Top Prize
LAKE COUNTY, Fla. (June 19, 2023) – The final episode of the Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Team Series Bass Pro Shops Championship Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches premiered Saturday, and Team Crockett Creek Beef Jerky, led by a 56-fish day from captain Jacob Wheeler, dominated the final day of competition to win the inaugural championship event and earn the $300,000 top prize.
Wheeler, along with teammates Jason Lambert and Dylan Hays, caught 68 scorable bass weighing 133 pounds, 4 ounces, to win the event by a huge 72-pound, 8-ounce margin. Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff & Pouches (Bryan Thrift, Terry Scroggins and Anthony Gagliardi) finished the event in second place with 23 scorable bass weighing 60-12, while Team Builders FirstSource (Jeff Sprague, Randall Tharp and Cliff Crochet) finished third with 24 bass weighing 49-15.
“This is unreal,” Wheeler said in his post-game interview. “I was just sitting in one spot, and when you know that you just fired up a school of bass and it is a feeding frenzy – there is nothing like it.
“This event has been so unique, and so much fun,” Wheeler continued. “The teamwork that we’ve had – Jason (Lambert) carried us in Minnesota.”
“Dylan (Hays) has been ‘Steady Eddy’ this whole time, and the last two days Wheeler has just been Wheeler,” Lambert added. “You can’t take any of these for granted. You never know if you’re going to get an opportunity to do something like this again.”
Wheeler’s unbelievable 56-fish day came via a not-yet-released prototype Rapala jerkbait called The Maverick.
“They have been working on this jerkbait for several years now, and the one thing that separates this bait from any other out there on the market is the realistic colors and its unbelievable action,” Wheeler said. “Action is everything in a jerkbait. When the fish were grouped up, I could throw this bait in there and literally make them bite. It was the reaction strike – that’s what it was all about, today. That was the juice, and that is the bait that made our team $300,000 richer.”
“I’m the only rookie in this field, today, and I definitely count this victory as the first big win of my career,” said Hays on his $100,000 payday.
“We compete all the time on the water by ourselves, but when you do click like Dylan, Jason and I have, we go out on the water and battle not individually, but as a team. And I think that is what separated us this week,” Wheeler went on to say.
The final results from the Championship Round of the General Tire Team Series Bass Pro Shops Championship Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches were:
1st: Team Crockett Creek, 68 bass, 133-4
*Jacob Wheeler, 56 bass, 101-6
Jason Lambert, eight bass, 21-15
Dylan Hays, four bass, 9-15
2nd: Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff & Pouches, 23 bass, 60-12
*Bryan Thrift, 10 bass, 28-8
Terry Scroggins, 10 bass, 23-1
Anthony Gagliardi, three bass, 9-3
3rd: Team Builders First Source, 24 bass, 49-15
*Jeff Sprague, 16 bass, 32-3
Cliff Crochet, four bass, 11-10
Randall Tharp, four bass, 6-2
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 115 bass weighing 243 pounds, 15 ounces caught by the nine teams during the Championship Round on Lake Apopka.
The General Tire Team Series Bass Pro Shops Championship Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches was shot over nine days in December and featured nine teams of three anglers visiting Lake County, Florida, to compete on different lakes on the Clermont Chain on each day of competition. Each day the fisheries were unknown to the anglers – they did not learn where they were competing until they arrived at the launch ramp each morning of competition.
The 2023 MLF General Tire Team Series Bass Pro Shops Championship Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches aired on the Outdoor Channel as seven, two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon, debuting on May 6, 2023, and running through June 17, 2023.
All seven episodes of the General Tire Team Series Bass Pro Shops Championship Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches from Lake County, Florida, are now available for viewing on the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) streaming app. The full television schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Proud sponsors of the MLF General Tire Team Series include: B&W Hitches, Barbasol, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Builders FirstSource, C-MAP, Crockett Creek Beef Jerky, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, General Tire, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Optima Batteries, Phoenix Boats, Power-Pole, Rapala Baits, Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff, Star brite, T-H Marine, Toyota, USAA, and YETI.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the MLF General Tire Team Series events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Bell Notches Sixth Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at High Rock Lake
Deciucis Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
LEXINGTON, N.C. (June 19, 2023) – Boater Rodney Bell of Salisbury, North Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 21 pounds, 1 ounce, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on High Rock Lake. The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Piedmont Division. Bell earned $5,024 for his victory.
“I started early with a buzzbait and caught one doing that,” said Bell. “It was extremely crowded where I was, and I live on High Rock, so I switched creeks to get away from the crowd.”
Three of Bell’s six BFL wins have come on High Rock Lake, and his knowledge of the fishery, especially the mid-lake area where he fished during competition, paid off during the tournament. His relocation quickly produced a 4½-pounder and a 6-15 bass, the Berkley Big Bass of the day.
“When I caught that big one, I decided I was there for the duration of the day,” Bell said. “I settled down and fished docks and laydowns with an E&L Lures jig and a couple of bass came on a worm. I stayed shallow all day long and caught nine keepers.
“I’ve fished probably 150 of these BFL events, but it’s always special to win at home,” Bell added.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Rodney Bell, Salisbury, N.C., five bass, 21-1, $5,024
2nd: Travis Donaldson, Cleveland, N.C., five bass, 20-9, $2,197
3rd: Ryan Powroznik, Hopewell, Va., five bass, 20-3, $1,464
4th: Junior Roberts, Alexandria, Va., five bass, 18-4, $1,025
5th: Evan White, Roanoke Rapids, N.C., five bass, 18-2, $879
6th: David Wright, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 17-1, $1,775 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
7th: Chad Poteat, Mount Airy, N.C., five bass, 16-13, $1,232
8th: Ron Wolfarth, Oakboro, N.C., five bass, 16-3, $659
9th: Dennis Burdette, Pembroke, Va., five bass, 15-8, $586
10th: Ladd Whicker, Winston-Salem, N.C., four bass, 15-1, $513
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Bell also caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 15 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $630.
David Deciucis of Chester, Virginia, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,379 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 14 pounds, 12 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: David Deciucis, Chester, Va., five bass, 14-12, $2,379
2nd: Hank Cooke, Emporia, Va., five bass, 13-10, $907
2nd: Cornell Badra, Clarksburg, Md., four bass, 13-10, $907
4th: Eric Nelson, Gainesville, Va., five bass, 13-5, $509
5th: Ben Dacey, Powhatan, Va., five bass, 12-15, $786
6th: Matthew Noraas, Pamplin, Va., five bass, 12-1, $400
7th: Vernon Adams, Clayton, N.C., five bass, 11-15, $363
8th: Mekye Barnes, Raleigh, N.C., five bass, 11-14, $327
9th: Bobby Henderson, Charlotte, N.C., two bass, 10-13, $603
10th: Tim Privette, Jr., Wendell, N.C., five bass, 10-9, $254
Bobby Henderson of Charlotte, N.C., earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $312, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 13 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After three events, Evan White of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, leads the BFL Piedmont Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 719 points, while Timothy Kinder of Fairfax, Virginia, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 720 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 2024 BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Mallicoat Dominates Field at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Old Hickory Lake
Fitzpatrick Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
GALLATIN, Tenn. (June 19, 2023) – Boater Joey Mallicoat of Lebanon, Tennessee, caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 10 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Old Hickory Lake . The tournament, hosted by Sumner County Tourism, was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Music City Division. Mallicoat earned $12,438, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
“I ran down the lake and fished offshore all day,” said Mallicoat. “I caught a 4-pounder on my very first cast of the morning. I had a limit in the first 30 minutes and just culled up throughout the day.”
Mallicoat said he focused his fishing in water from Cedar Creek to the dam and used a football-head jig to target current breaks and hard spots – typical offshore fishing – seven to 15 feet deep.
“Around 12:30 I had a little over 17 pounds, and I thought I would at least have a shot at winning,” Mallicoat said.
Mallicoat said he caught a final 5-pounder with 45 minutes to go in competition to anchor his bag.
“When I caught that one, I thought somebody would really have to catch them in order to beat me,” Mallicoat said. “But there are a lot of good guys fishing out there, and I’ve seen a lot of them catch more than 20 pounds, so I knew it was possible.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Joey Mallicoat, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 20-10, $12,438 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Daniel Johnson, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 15-13, $1,859
3rd: Tim Messer, Hendersonville, Tenn., five bass, 15-12, $1,052
3rd: Jase Jackson, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 15-12, $1,052
5th: Corey Steakley, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 15-2, $744
6th: Josh Womack, Gallatin, Tenn., five bass, 14-3, $1,167
7th: Mickey Beck, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 13-15, $589
7th: Dillon Massia, Lafayette, Tenn., five bass, 13-15, $589
9th: Tony Eckler, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 13-8, $496
10th: Nick Uebelhor, Jasper, Ind., five bass, 13-6, $434
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Josh Womack of Gallatin, Tennessee, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $485.
John Fitzpatrick of Baxter, Tennessee, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,101 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 13 pounds, 2 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: John Fitzpatrick, Baxter, Tenn., five bass, 13-2, $2,101
2nd: Blake Whittaker, Lenoir City, Tenn., five bass, 12-4, $929
3rd: Gilbert Jolley, Livingston, Tenn., five bass, 10-15, $819
4th: Mekiah Jack, Mount Juliet, Tenn., five bass, 10-10, $434
5th: Rocky Williams, Portland, Tenn., five bass, 10-8, $372
6th: Shane Overly, Brentwood, Tenn., five bass, 10-6, $341
7th: John Morrison, McMinnville, Tenn., four bass, 9-15, $310
8th: Jacob Frawley, Spring Hill, Tenn., five bass, 9-13, $279
9th: Mark Manley, Bowling Green, Ky., four bass, 9-6, $248
10th: Ricky England, Sparta, Tenn., four bass, 9-1, $ 217
Fitzpatrick also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $242, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 9 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Dillon Massia of Lafayette, Tennessee, leads the BFL Music City Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 939 points, while Rocky Williams of Portland, Tennessee, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 976 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 Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Alabama. 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 2024 BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
