Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees to host 2026 TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. today announced that Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in Grove, Okla., will serve as the host site for the 2026 TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, scheduled for Dec. 9-12.
The championship will bring together top grass-roots team trail anglers from across the country to compete on one of the most respected fisheries in the United States. The four-day event will feature team competition followed by an individual finale, where qualifying anglers will compete for a coveted berth in the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
“We’re incredibly excited to host the 2026 Bassmaster Team Championship on Grand Lake,” said Brent Malone, Executive Director of the Grove Convention and Tourism Bureau. “It’s an honor to welcome anglers and fans from around the world to experience Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees. We’re ready to roll out the red carpet for them. Anytime we get to showcase one of the best fisheries in the United States — along with one of the finest facilities and a community that truly loves fishing — it’s a special opportunity. Bassmaster has become a tremendous partner to our city, and we’re always thrilled to host any of their events.”
The TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship represents one of the most unique and exciting formats in competitive bass fishing. Teams will compete over the first two days of the event, combining weights to determine the top-performing duos. From there, the Top 5 teams will advance to the Bassmaster Classic Fish-Off, where they will compete head-to-head for the final spot in the 2027 Bassmaster Classic — bass fishing’s most prestigious championship.
Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, often simply referred to as Grand Lake, is widely recognized for its versatility and consistent production of quality largemouth bass. Spanning more than 46,000 acres with over 1,300 miles of shoreline, the lake features a diverse mix of structure, including rock banks, docks, timber and offshore ledges, providing a variety of patterns for anglers to explore.
December on Grand Lake presents a dynamic challenge, with anglers often targeting bass transitioning between fall and winter patterns. Water temperatures, weather fluctuations and changing baitfish movements create opportunities for both shallow and offshore techniques, making adaptability a key factor in success. Competitors can expect to utilize a wide range of approaches, from power fishing along rocky banks and docks to finesse presentations in deeper water.
“Grand Lake is a proven fishery that offers both consistency and the potential for big limits, which makes it an ideal location for the Team Championship,” said GL Compton, B.A.S.S. Nation Tournament Manager. “The layout of the lake and the seasonal conditions in December will challenge anglers to make smart decisions and adjust quickly. It’s the kind of venue that rewards versatility, and we’re excited to see how these teams perform on such a respected body of water.”
Grove, Okla., has established itself as a premier destination for competitive fishing, with a strong history of hosting major Bassmaster events and a community that embraces anglers and outdoor enthusiasts. The area offers excellent access, facilities and local support, ensuring a first-class experience for competitors and fans alike.
The TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship also highlights the strength of grass-roots fishing, bringing together anglers who have qualified through local and regional circuits to compete on a national stage. The opportunity to advance to the Bassmaster Classic adds an additional level of excitement and stakes, as anglers chase a dream that begins at the club level.
“Events like the Team Championship showcase the foundation of our sport, where everyday anglers have the opportunity to compete for something truly special,” Compton added. “Grand Lake provides the perfect setting for that kind of competition, and we’re looking forward to an outstanding event.”
The 2026 TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship is expected to draw anglers, families and fans from across the country, delivering both high-level competition and a celebration of the passion that drives bass fishing at every level.
For more information on the Bassmaster Team Championship, visit Bassmaster.com.
This event is being hosted by the City of Grove and the Grove Convention and Tourism Bureau.
2026 Bassmaster Team
2026 Bassmaster Team
2026 Bassmaster Team
2026 Bassmaster Team
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
MLF Fisheries Management Division Completes Habitat Restoration Project at Lake Waco
WACO, Texas (April 14, 2026) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Fisheries Management Division (FMD), in partnership with Kubota Tractor Corporation, successfully completed a large-scale habitat restoration project at Lake Waco on Wednesday, April 8, enhancing fish care and long-term sustainability for one of Central Texas’ premier fisheries.
Working from Airport Beach Park and in coordination with an existing Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) habitat site, the project focused on the installation of MossBack Fish Habitat “Tournament Recovery Zones.” These specially designed structures are intended to support the recovery of bass and crappie, helping ensure healthier fish populations and improved post-release survival rates.
The effort brought together a strong coalition of local and industry partners, including MLF pros Alton Jones Jr. of Lorena, Texas, and Kelly Jordon of Flint, Texas, along with MLF co-founder and Bass Fishing Hall of Famer Gary Klein of Mingus, Texas , volunteers from the Waco Bass Club and Texas B.A.S.S. Nation, and biologists from Texas Pro Lake Management (TPLM) and the TPWD Inland Fisheries Waco District staff. Equipment support was provided by WC Tractor of Waco, which supplied two Kubota SVL 75-3 track loaders, while TPWD and TPLM contributed work boats for mapping and deployment.
“We’ve seen firsthand how the Bass Pro Tour’s catch, weigh and immediate-release format can shine a spotlight on some incredible, under-the-radar fisheries,” said Steven Bardin, MLF Fisheries Biologist. “With the support of Kubota, we’re excited to help enhance habitat on Lake Waco in a way that will benefit anglers for years to come.”
The newly installed habitat structures have been strategically GPS-mapped, giving local anglers the ability to locate productive fishing areas while also encouraging increased youth and community engagement on the water.
“These projects are what it’s all about – giving back to the lakes that give us so much,” said Jones Jr. “When you can come together with local anglers, biologists and partners to build something that’s going to help fish populations thrive long after we’re gone, that’s a win for everyone who loves this sport.”
The Lake Waco project is part of a broader MLF Fisheries Management Division habitat restoration initiative across Texas this month, with a similar project scheduled for Lake Brownwood on April 22. These efforts continue to highlight the collaboration between the professional fishing industry, conservation experts and host communities, all working toward the shared goal of preserving and enhancing fisheries for future generations.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook , X, Instagram, Rumble and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Catchin’ up with Card for a preview of this week’s Elite Series event
South winds blew 20-25 mph all day Monday during the first day of practice for this week’s Bassmaster Elite Series event on the Arkansas River at Muskogee, OK. We caught up with veteran pro Brandon Card, a Vexus® pro from North Carolina, at the end of a gusty day on the river to hear his early thoughts on the week ahead.
Q: There have been a handful of Bassmaster Open events here at Muskogee, but never an Elite Series. You live 15 hours east of here in North Carolina, have you ever fished here, or was today your first day on these waters?
Card: I spent two days in the Kerr pool about eight years ago looking around, but today is the first time I’ve been here since then.
Q: How would you describe this place to fishing fans who aren’t familiar with it?
Card: Pretty dingy water, and I think it will get dirtier with more wind and rain forecasted. But dirty water doesn’t bother me. I prefer being able to see my lure about 8” deep, versus 3” deep. That sounds minor, but it can make a big difference in how well they bite.
Q: Elite Series pros will be permitted to lock-up toward the Verdigris River, or lock-down river into Robert S. Kerr Reservoir. What percentage of them would you guess will lock-down river into Kerr?
Card: I’d guess 50%.
Q: What will be the biggest challenge this week?
Card: Figuring out where to spend your time in practice, because there’s so many river miles you have to be careful not to spread your time too thin. I’m already racking my brain on where to start the day on Tuesday.
Q: Given the fact the wind blew 25-mph most of the day, how grateful were you to be able to ride the waves while sitting on the unique, cushy, AirWave™ seats in your Vexus® VXs21?
Card: Ah, man, I love these seats! They’ve been my favorite feature of a Vexus since the first day I test drove one.
Q: What three lures will you be leaning on a bunch this week?
Card: Swim jig, buzzbait, and a Yo-Zuri 3D pencil topwater, that lure has been very good to me every time that we’ve come to Oklahoma for an Elite event.
NPFL Stop 2 Moving to Millwood Lake
Vinton, Ohio—The second event of the National Professional Fishing League’s 2026 season will be relocated from Wright Patman Lake in Texas to Millwood Lake in Arkansas due to water level issues at Wright Patman which create boating safety concerns for the tournament field. The City of Texarkana, Texas will remain the host for the three-day event which runs from April 23-25.
“Moving a tournament is never ideal, but when conditions create safety hazards, we must do what’s best for our anglers,” said NPFL President Brad Fuller. “We’re extremely grateful that our host—the City of Texarkana, Texas—has been supportive of the change of plans. We look forward to scheduling another event at Wright Patman Lake in the future.”
City of Texarkana Texas Mayor Bob Bruggeman noted, “While we’re disappointed that low water levels will prevent anglers from competing on Wright Patman Lake, the safety of everyone involved must always come first. We support the National Professional Fishing League in making the best decision to ensure a successful tournament. We still look forward to welcoming anglers and their families to Texarkana and hope they take time to enjoy our local food, entertainment, and the genuine hospitality our neck of the woods is known for.”
Regarding the change of venue, Fuller said, “Fortunately, we’ve been able to pivot quickly and move our tournament to Millwood Lake in Arkansas, just north of Texarkana.”
The shift to nearby Millwood Lake means the League will be competing on the 29,200-acre reservoir for the first time. Launch and weigh-in all three days will be at Yarborough Landing in Little River County.
Livestream coverage of the weigh-ins is available on YouTube and the NPFL website all three competition days beginning Friday, April 24. Livestream on the water coverage is available on Days 2 and 3, April 24 and 25.
About the National Professional Fishing League
The National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) was founded to bring competitive fishing to a broader audience and offer anglers a platform to compete at the highest level. The NPFL is committed to fostering integrity, competition, and innovation in the sport, providing anglers and fans alike with an exciting and unique experience.
Media Contact: Ken Duke — (407) 574-1898 or [email protected].
Social Media Contact: Maddy Fuller — (850) 293-6200 or [email protected]
Turbidity and current likely to impact Bassmaster Elite at Arkansas River
MUSKOGEE, Okla. — What was good for the soil may prove challenging for fishermen, as 101 competitors head to eastern Oklahoma for the Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Arkansas River.
Competition days will be April 16-19 with daily takeoffs from Three Forks Harbor at 7 a.m. CT and weigh-ins each day at the harbor at 3 p.m.
Offering some relief from extended drought conditions, significant rainfall dampened Central and Eastern Oklahoma the first week of April. Also, the area’s weather forecast calls for thunderstorms the Sunday and Monday before the tournament, with significant rain chances lasting through most of the event.
With all the red clay and loose topsoil surrounding the Arkansas River, Oklahoma pro Luke Palmer said he’s expecting some degree of turbidity to impact the event. Nothing terribly dramatic, the seasoned Elite angler said, but rain creates inflow and that affects fish and fishermen.
“It’s gonna be very challenging,” Palmer predicted. “We hadn’t had rain in Oklahoma for a long period of time and then we had severe weather go through. I visited my dad after the storm and his pond was 4-feet low before the rain, but (as of early April), it’s above the spillway.
“A lot of the lakes are starting to fill up, if they’re not above normal. That’s going to get some more flow in the river and it seems like any type of current is good. That should help the bite.”
As Palmer explained, current stimulates feeding and predictably positions baitfish and bass. The associated turbidity can drastically reduce fishable areas.
“That chocolate milk can make the river fish a little smaller, because really fresh mud can blow out an area,” Palmer said. “Water clarity will be a big thing, but there are several big, clearer backwaters that guys can get into.”
The Arkansas River comprises the main component of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS), a 445-mile inland waterway running through Oklahoma and Arkansas and connecting the Port of Catoosa (near Tulsa, Okla.) to the Mississippi River. Tournament includes pools 15, 16, and 17, along with all connected waters.
The Arkansas River, along with its tributaries and backwaters offers a mix of hard cover, laydowns, stumps, submersed aquatic vegetation and emergent cover like water willow. To reach various habitat preferences and to get away from crowds, competitors may choose to lock up to Pool 17 or down to Pool 15. With the event based on the east side of Pool 16, Palmer believes anglers could find winning potential boundary to boundary.
“Some guys will go south, some guys will go north and some will stay in the local pool,” he said. “That’s a fishery where you can catch 20 pounds anywhere. Guys could stay close and win it or make big runs and win it.”
Locking automatically reduces fishing time and the pressure to make it back through the locks, which operate on set schedules, adds a stressful element to the day. Commercial barge traffic takes navigational priority, so waiting a full lock cycle is a risk when venturing to greener pastures.
Palmer, who generally prefers locking to less crowded areas said the Arkansas River bass fishery is in the best shape he’s seen it in several years. Taking that into consideration, he’s looking for impressive weights.
“It’s gonna take 18 pounds a day to win and it will take close to 17 a day to make the Top 10,” he said. “I’ve been watching local tournament results and there have been several 20-pound bags, with probably 15 to 16 pounds down to 15th place. That’s pretty strong for a river system.”
In April 2024, Arkansas pro Chris Johnson earned a wire-to-wire victory at the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at the Arkansas River presented by Lowrance with a three-day total of 51 pounds, 3 ounces that included daily bags of 19-6, 17-15 and 13-14. Running a few miles upriver from Three Forks Harbor, Johnson slipped his boat through breaks in the rock levees and caught his fish in shallow backwaters.
That 2024 event took place in early April, with a cold spell hindering the final day. Given this year’s mostly mild spring and the progress of fish in waters near his home about 2 hours south of Muskogee, Palmer expects mostly spawn and postspawn action.
“We’e gonna have fish in all 3 stages, but I think quite a few have spawned — I wouldn’t doubt that 65 to 70 percent are already done because we’ve had stable water temperatures,” Palmer said. “It will probably be mostly spawn and postspawn. Those postspawn fish will move out of the backwaters and get on main river stuff, because those backwaters get pretty warm in the Oklahoma heat.”
The 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series schedule includes five events that allow the use of forward facing sonar and four that do not. The Arkansas River event will allow this technology and despite the generally shallow nature of a river fishery, Palmer believes the potential to leverage live sonar is there.
“I think the main river is gonna be a major player,” he said. “Somebody that figures that out can really do well.
“It depends how our weather goes. But I’ve never seen the fish in such good shape. They’re fat and they’re healthy, so this is gonna be a good event.”
Bassmaster LIVE will be available all four days of the event, starting on Bassmaster.com and Roku Sports Channel April 16 and 17. FS1 will host the morning session on April 18 from 8-11:30 a.m. ET before heading to Bassmaster.com from 12:30-3 p.m. On Sunday, April 19 action can be found on FS1 from 8 a.m.-1 p.m. before heading to Bassmaster.com for afternoon coverage. All weigh-ins will be available live on Bassmaster.com starting at 4 p.m. ET.
Visit Muskogee is hosting this event.
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
2026 Bassmaster Elite Series
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
Postspawn bite will be key for kayak anglers at Caddo/Bistineau
SHREVEPORT, La. — Postspawn largemouth will likely be in play when the 2026 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft visits Caddo Lake and Lake Bistineau, according to Vinton, La., angler Jason Willis.
“Both lakes have really good bass populations right now,” he said. “Someone is going to hit the 200-inch mark.”
Tournament dates are scheduled for April 18-19, with tournament headquarters located in Shreveport. Competitors will be able to launch from any approved public landing on the two fisheries. The Top 5 finishers will punch their ticket to the 2026 Kayak Series Championship, details of which will be announced later.
Filled with cypress trees and vegetation, Caddo and Bistineau have been a combined favorite destination for kayak anglers across the country. Nationally, both lakes fly under the radar, but both have the capability of producing giant bags of largemouth.
The last time the Kayak Series visited these two fisheries, in October 2024, Georgia’s Gene Jensen earned the victory with a two-day total of 198.5 inches. Multiple single-day limits over 100 inches were measured in that tournament, and Willis (who finished sixth in that event) expects more impressive limits to be caught.
“Last time we were there, the Top 10 were split between Caddo and Bistineau,” Willis said. “It was a different time of year, but both groups of anglers were catching the same quality of bass, and the leaderboard was really tight.”
What stage the bass are in will greatly depend on weather patterns. Historically, the bass are usually in a spawn or postspawn phase by mid-April, which means a variety of tactics could come into play.
“When the dates were announced, my immediate thought was these bass will be postspawn,” Willis said. “You might have some fry guarders, but for the most part I would think the spawn would be over. But that depends on the weather. It all rides on the water temperature.”
Along with thousands of cypress trees, both lakes feature a variety of vegetation, including hydrilla, and Willis notes that Bistineau has more deep-water access than Caddo.
There are two potential X factors in this tournament: a shad spawn and wind. If the weather is right, the beginnings of a shad spawn could take place, giving anglers the opportunity to reach a quick limit. The wind will also play a role, but not because it is a nuisance.
“If it is a calm day, it is going to be tough for everybody,” said Willis. “I’m not sure what it is about those two bodies of water, but when you turn the wind off, it gets really tough.”
Willis believes a wacky-rigged stickworm will be a top choice among the field, as will shallow power baits like a squarebill or ChatterBait. Frogs, buzzbaits and other topwaters could also generate important strikes throughout the weekend.
Coverage of the 2026 Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series at Caddo Lake/Lake Bistineau presented by Native Watercraft can be found on Bassmaster.com.
This event is being hosted by Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission.
2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series
2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series Presenting Sponsor: Native Watercraft
2026 Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year Sponsor: Pro-Guide Batteries
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
Murfreesboro’s Condron Nabs Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Percy Priest Lake Presented by Suzuki Marine
Hohenwald’s Gallagher Wins Co-Angler Division
ANTIOCH, Tenn. (April 13, 2026) – Boater Mark Condron of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, brought five bass to the scale weighing 19 pounds, 4 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Percy Priest Lake Presented by Suzuki Marine . The tournament was the second of five events of the season for the BFL Music City Division. Dauber earned $2,790 for his victory.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Mark Condron, Murfreesboro, Tenn., five bass, 19-4, $2,790
2nd: Michael Stout, Gallatin, Tenn., five bass, 17-5, $1,330
3rd: Edward Gettys, Dover, Tenn., five bass, 14-13, $1,300 (includes $500 Phoenix bonus)
4th: Daniel Johnson, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 14-10, $570
5th: Jake Cross, Byrdstown, Tenn., five bass, 14-9, $480
5th: Adam Vance, Mount Juliet, Tenn., five bass, 14-9, $480
7th: Matt Underhill, Lascassas, Tenn., five bass, 14-7, $430
8th: Don Williams, Smyrna, Tenn., five bass, 13-13, $410
8th: Tanner Marcum, Murfreesboro, Tenn., five bass, 13-13, $410 (includes $500 Phoenix bonus)
10th: Darrell True, Dickson, Tenn., five bass, 13-10, $390
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Condron also earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award after landing a 4-pound, 15-ounce bass worth $200.
Clif Gallagher II of Hohenwald, Tennessee, won the co-angler division and the top prize of $1,295 Saturday after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 10 pounds, 9 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Clif Gallagher II, Hohenwald, Tenn., three bass, 10-9, $1,295
2nd: Luke Shrader, Monticello, Ky., three bass, 9-11, $815
3rd: Jeff Johnston, Nashville, Tenn., three bass, 9-1, $350
4th: Dylan Beard, Dickson, Tenn., three bass, 9-0, $285
5th: Shane Overly, Brentwood, Tenn., three bass, 8-12, $255
6th: Phillip Thomas, Clarksville, Tenn., three bass, 8-7, $225
7th: John Fitzpatrick, Baxter, Tenn., three bass, 8-5, $220
8th: Javon Booker, Beaver Dam, Ky., three bass, 8-4, $210
9th: Grant Frazier, Manchester, Tenn., three bass, 8-2, $200
10th: Ben Gibbs, Murfreesboro, Tenn., three bass, 8-1, $165
10th: Jonathan Washburn, Wildersville, Tenn., three bass, 8-1, $165
10th: Patrick Thomas, Clarksville, Tenn., three bass, 8-1, $165
Jarod Shelton of Centralia, Missouri, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award after landing a 5-pound, 10-ounce bass worth $100.
After two events, Michael Stout of Gallatin, Tennessee, now leads the 7 Brew Music City Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 494 points, while Dylan Beard of Dickson, Tennessee, leads the Music City Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 493 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 15-17 BFL Regional tournament on Kentucky Lake in Calvert City, Kentucky. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, worth $33,500.
The 2026 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 co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top seven, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2026 BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, Mystik Lubricants, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular BFL updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Rampey Earns 12th Career BFL Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Hartwell Presented by Suzuki Marine
Honea Path’s Henderson Wins Co-Angler Division
SENECA, S.C. (April 13, 2026) – Boater Jayme Rampey of Liberty, South Carolina, brought five bass to the scale weighing 18 pounds, 3 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Hartwell Presented by Suzuki Marine . The tournament, hosted by Visit Oconee SC, was the third of five events of the season for the BFL South Carolina Division. Rampey earned $9,710, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix bonus, for his victory.
Rampey pieced together a mixed “junk-fishing” pattern to catch his winning limit.
“It was honestly kind of tough – it wasn’t as good as I thought it’d be,” Rampey said. “I was doing a little bit of everything – targeting a little bit of herring bite, a little bit of dirty-water bite and a little bit of bed fishing. Pretty much a junk-fishing deal.”
Rampey rotated through multiple baits and adjusted throughout the day, catching numbers but needing to sift through smaller fish to find quality bites.
“I caught probably 20 fish all day, but not the quality of normal,” Rampey said. “I caught a lot of smaller ones on Saturday – 12-inchers, and a bunch of 2½- to 3-pounders.”
The key moment came on a bed fish that produced the biggest bass of the event and ultimately anchored his winning limit.
“The big one came off the bed on a white (Z-Man) Z-Craw on a jig,” Rampey said. “That fish was the key – she was just mad about the jig being in there.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Jayme Rampey, Liberty, S.C., five bass, 18-3, $9,710 (includes $7,000 Phoenix bonus)
2nd: Tanner Schultz, Lexington, S.C., five bass, 14-10, $1,250
3rd: Brad Benfield, Demorest, Ga., five bass, 14-6, $670
4th: Brian Latimer, Belton, S.C., five bass, 14-4, $550
5th: Logan Buttolph, Doswell, Va., five bass, 14-2, $490
6th: Harl Romine, Grant, Ala., five bass, 14-1, $430
7th: Chase Carey, Hoschton, Ga., five bass, 13-15, $420
8th: Joseph Tucci, Salem, S.C., five bass, 13-12, $410
9th: Kerry Partain, Elberton, Ga., five bass, 13-8, $390
10th: Robert Holland, Columbia, S.C., five bass, 12-13, $380
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Rampey also earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award honors with a 5-pound, 1-ouncer worth $200.
Kevin Henderson of Honea Path, South Carolina, won the co-angler division and the top prize of $1,205 Saturday after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 8 pounds, 2 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Kevin Henderson, Honea Path, S.C., three bass, 8-2, $1,205
2nd: David McCarter, Gresham, S.C., three bass, 7-14, $775
3rd: Travis Ruff, Connelly Springs, N.C., three bass, 7-10, $305
3rd: Jeffery Stout, Dalzell, S.C., three bass, 7-10, $305
5th: Michael Smith, Belton, S.C., three bass, 7-3, $245
6th: Gregory Littles Sr., Irmo, S.C., three bass, 6-13, $212
6th: Wesley Trotter, Lancaster, S.C., three bass, 6-13, $212
8th: Tina Berg, Lancaster, S.C., three bass, 6-12, $205
9th: Todd Huntley, Inman, S.C., three bass, 6-11, $200
10th: Dan Marin, Appling, Ga., three bass, 6-10, $190
David McCarter of Gresham, South Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award after landing a 4-pound, 2-ounce bass worth $100.
After three events, Logan Buttolph of Doswell, Virginia, now leads the 7 Brew South Carolina Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 728 points, while Travis Ruff of Connelly Springs, North Carolina, leads the South Carolina Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 728 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 8-10 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula. Alabama. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, worth $33,500.
The 2026 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 co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top seven, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2026 BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, Mystik Lubricants, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular BFL updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Claremore’s Roberts Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Okie Division Tournament at Lake Eufaula
Okmulgee’s Frazier Wins Co-Angler Division
EUFAULA, Okla. (April 13, 2026) – Boater Elmer Roberts of Claremore, Oklahoma, brought five bass to the scale weighing 19 pounds, 4 ounces to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Eufaula . The tournament, hosted by Vision Eufaula, was the second of five events of the season for the BFL Okie Division. Roberts earned $3,340 for his win.
Roberts relied on a shallow-water flipping pattern to catch his limit.
“Everything I caught today was flipping, probably 3 feet deep or less,” Roberts said. “Those fish were all locked in on hard cover and they were bedding.”
Roberts said he dialed in quickly on the only presentation the fish would respond to, committing fully to a single bait and setup throughout the day.
“Nothing else wanted to work – I tried hard with a spinnerbait,” Roberts said. “The only thing I could get them to bite was a black and blue (Strike King) Rage Bug – I caught every fish on it.”
After building an early limit, Roberts simplified his approach even further, focusing on efficiency and fish care to secure the win.
“I turned my electronics off at 9 o’clock to conserve battery power for my livewells because I already had a good limit,” Roberts said. “I just kept culling, and I didn’t need LiveScope today.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Elmer Roberts, Claremore, Okla., five bass, 19-4, $3,340
2nd: Daniel Cowett, Porum, Okla., five bass, 17-3, $1,680
3rd: Sean McAllister, McAlester, Okla., five bass, 16-5, $950
4th: Harmon Davis, Marlow, Okla., five bass, 16-2, $680
5th: Ed Broaddrick, Broken Arrow, Okla., five bass, 15-8, $1,100 (includes $500 Phoenix bonus)
6th: Brett Brumnett, Wagoner, Okla., five bass, 15-4, $510
6th: Arturo Baquera, Noble, Okla., five bass, 15-4, $660
8th: Shonn Goodwin, Moore, Okla., five bass, 15-3, $480
9th: Trenton Underwood, Pocola, Okla., five bass, 15-1, $460
10th: Bryce Steel, Wagoner, Okla., five bass, 14-9, $430
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Boater Darren Hahne of Beggs, Oklahoma, earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award honors with a 5-pound, 15-ouncer, worth $200.
Harold Frazier of Okmulgee, Oklahoma, won the co-angler division and the top prize of $1,670 Saturday after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 10 pounds, 12 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Harold Frazier, Okmulgee, Okla., three bass, 10-12, $1,670
2nd: Randy Staton, Muskogee, Okla., two bass, 9-13, $840
3rd: Fred Fielder, Afton, Okla., three bass, 9-10, $475
4th: Guy Nievez, Oklahoma City, Okla., three bass, 9-0, $340
5th: Joseph Case, Mannford, Okla., two bass, 8-6, $300
6th: Mike Ketcher, Bunch, Okla., three bass, 8-1, $260
7th: Thomas Hill, Providence Village, Texas, three bass, 7-11, $250
8th: Lori Steele, Broken Arrow, Okla., two bass, 7-10, $240
9th: Justin Fuller, Broken Arrow, Okla., two bass, 7-8, $230
10th: Mark King, Gurdon, Ark., three bass, 7-7, $215
Christopher Collins of Miami, Oklahoma, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award and $100 after landing a bass weighing in at 5 pounds even.
After two events, boater Elmer Roberts of Claremore, Oklahoma, now leads the 7 Brew Okie Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 488 points, while Fred Fielder of Afton, Oklahoma, leads the Okie Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 498 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 15-17 BFL Regional tournament on Kentucky Lake in Calvert City, Kentucky. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, worth $33,500.
The 2026 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 co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top seven, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2026 BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, Mystik Lubricants, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular BFL updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Thompsonville’s McCord Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Illini Division Opener at Rend Lake
Shelbyville’s Smith Wins Co-Angler Division
WHITTINGTON, Ill. (April 13, 2026) – Boater Brennon McCord of Thompsonville, Illinois, brought five bass to the scale weighing 18 pounds even to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Rend Lake. The tournament, hosted by Seasons Lodge at Rend Lake, was the first of five events of the season for the BFL Illini Division. McCord earned $5,840, including a $2,500 Phoenix contingency bonus, for his victory.
“I caught three flipping and two on a ChatterBait,” McCord said. “I was pretty much targeting wood and fishing for spawners in the pockets.”
With low water levels positioning fish tighter to available cover, McCord said the conditions helped concentrate bass, but heavy fishing pressure made execution critical throughout the day.
“The water’s low, so there’s nowhere for them to really hide,” McCord said. “It’s kind of congregating them, but they’re getting a lot of pressure too, so it made it tough.”
McCord stayed committed to his pattern around isolated wood and was able to steadily upgrade his limit as the day progressed.
“I culled three times,” McCord went on to say.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Brennon McCord, Thompsonville, Ill., five bass, 18-0, $5,840 (includes $2,500 Phoenix bonus)
2nd: Jeremy Mull, Pawnee, Ill., five bass, 17-13, $1,680
3rd: Adam Eggertsen, Marion, Ill., five bass, 16-14, $850
4th: Matthew Warren, Benton, Ill., four bass, 15-12, $680
5th: Greg Mullins, Mount Vernon, Ill., five bass, 14-11, $700
6th: Jeffrey Farmer, Sesser, Ill., four bass, 14-10, $520
7th: Mario Rossi, Granite City, Ill., four bass, 12-8, $500
8th: Lonnie Bowlin, Benton, Ill., four bass, 11-9, $470
9th: Chad Diedrich, Nashville, Ill., four bass, 11-9, $470
10th: Dan Shoraga, West Frankfort, Ill., two bass, 11-3, $630
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Boater Dan Shoraga of West Frankfort, Illinois, also earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award honors with an 8-pound, 7-ounce bass worth $200.
Gage Smith of Shelbyville, Illinois, won the co-angler division and the top prize of $1,770 Saturday after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 12 pounds, 1 ounce.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Gage Smith, Shelbyville, Ill., three bass, 12-1, $1,770
2nd: Jeff Anderson, St. Louis, Mo., two bass, 9-13, $840
3rd: Thomas Heintz, Marion, Ill., three bass, 9-11, $425
3rd: Hayden Landreth, Texico, Ill., three bass, 9-10, $340
5th: Gage Elder, Decatur, Ill., two bass, 8-13, $300
6th: Amanda Black, Toledo, Ill., three bass, 8-6, $260
6th: Ross Davis, St. Elmo, Ill., three bass, 6-9, $250
8th: Gary Huber II, St. Charles, Mo., three bass, 6-3, $240
9th: Joey Fritts, Red Bud, Ill., two bass, 5-11, $230
10th: Dennis Spell, Bonne Terre, Mo., two bass, 5-7, $215
Smith also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award after landing a 5-pound, 13-ounce bass worth $100.
After one event, Brennon McCord now leads the 7 Brew Illini Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 250 points, while Gage Smith leads the Illini Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 250 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 15-17 BFL Regional tournament on Kentucky Lake in Calvert City, Kentucky. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, worth $33,500.
The 2026 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 co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top seven, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2026 BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, Mystik Lubricants, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular BFL updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Windermere’s Quilatan Smacks 34 Pounds to Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Harris Chain of Lakes
Bradenton’s Robel Wins Co-Angler Division
LEESBURG, Fla. (April 13, 2026) – Boater Dylan Quilatan of Windermere, Florida, brought a five-bass limit to the scale weighing 34 pounds, 7 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Harris Chain of Lakes . The tournament, hosted by Discover Lake County Florida, was the fourth of five events of the season for the BFL Gator Division Presented by Merman’s Revenge. Quilatan earned $4,590 for his victory.
Quilatan said his day began with a clear plan to lean on his electronics and target fish actively feeding on bait.
“I caught them with my ‘scope on,” he said. “I threw a Z-Man Jerk ShadZ and also a 1/2-ounce (Z-Man EverGreen) Jack Hammer, gold shiner color, whenever I’d see them on the bottom chasing bait.”
The Florida angler covered water across multiple fisheries to assemble his winning bag, targeting fish in four different lakes throughout the day.
“I got my fish out of four different lakes – Apopka, Dora, Beauclair and Eustis,” Quilatan said. “I started running new stuff with about an hour and 20 minutes left to scope, and I caught two of the fish right away doing that.”
After a season filled with near-misses, Quilatan said the win was especially rewarding.
“I’ve had a lot of close calls this year – like 50-50 decisions where I make the wrong one,” he said. “This is the first time in a while it all came together. With that three-hour forward-facing sonar rule, it’s so stressful because you have to make the right decision before you even launch, but today I made it work and it feels really good.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Dylan Quilatan, Windermere, Fla., five bass, 34-7, $4,590
2nd: Paul Vanzant, Umatilla, Fla., five bass, 23-4, $2,130
3rd: Sean Wooten, Umatilla, Fla., five bass, 23-3, $1,050
4th: Joey Bloom, Winter Springs, Fla., five bass, 20-4, $1,330 (includes $500 Phoenix bonus)
5th: Connor MacDougall, Cape Coral, Fla., five bass, 18-9, $720
6th: John Kremer, Orange City, Fla., five bass, 17-5, $620
7th: Ronnie Byrd, Williston, Fla., five bass, 17-2, $590
8th: Eric Panzironi, Longwood, Fla., five bass, 17-1, $560
9th: Geoffrey Corah, Tavares, Fla., five bass, 16-9, $540
10th: Dustin Payton, Douglas, Ga., five bass, 16-4, $510
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Quilatan also earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award after landing a 9-pound, 7-ouncer, worth $200.
Michael Robel of Bradenton, Florida, won the co-angler division and the top prize of $2,145 Saturday after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 11 pounds, 14 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Michael Robel, Bradenton, Fla., three bass, 11-14, $2,145
2nd: Aleksander Rak, Jacksonville, Fla., three bass, 9-8, $1,065
3rd: William Lewis, Jacksonville, Fla., three bass, 9-6, $525
4th: Marlei Hunt, Wesley Chapel, Fla., three bass, 9-5, $415
5th: Phillip Ford, Clewiston, Fla., three bass, 8-15, $460
6th: Aymon Wilcox, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., three bass, 8-7, $310
7th: Shannon Bryson, Merritt Island, Fla., three bass, 8-5, $300
8th: James Hanson, Yulan, N.Y., three bass, 8-4, $280
9th: Travis Clark, Lakeland, Fla., three bass, 8-3, $370
10th: Blaine Feagan, Port Richey, Fla., three bass, 7-15, $255
Jarod Shelton of Centralia, Missouri, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award after landing a 5-pound, 10-ounce bass worth $100.
After four events, Dylan Quilatan of Windermere, Florida, now leads the 7 Brew Gator Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 972 points, while William Lewis of Jacksonville, Florida, leads the Gator Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 925 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 8-10 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula. Alabama. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, worth $33,500.
The 2026 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 co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top seven, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2026 BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, Mystik Lubricants, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular BFL updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Eureka High School Wins MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse Open on Table Rock Lake Presented by Columbia PFG
BRANSON, Mo. (April 13, 2026) – The MLF High School Fishing team of Harper Hicks and Dillon Huskey, representing Eureka High School of Eureka, Missouri, brought five bass to the scale Saturday weighing 16 pounds, 1 ounce to win the MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse Open on Table Rock Lake Presented by Columbia PFG in Branson, Missouri.
The no-entry fee tournament was hosted by ExploreBranson.com. In MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing competition, the top 10% of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.
The top two teams that now advance to the 2026 High School Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Eureka High School, Eureka, Mo. – Harper Hicks and Dillon Huskey, five bass, 16-1
2nd: Stockton High School, Stockton, Mo. – Gaige Koontz and Elijah Rice, five bass, 15-6
Rounding out the Top 10 teams were:
3rd: Franklin Technology Center, Joplin, Mo. – Gage Oxendine and Jeran Swaffar, five bass, 14-14
4th: Melbourne High School, Melbourne, Ark. – Matthew Grinder and Nic Sitton, five bass, 13-13
5th: Hawg Dawgz Fishing Club, Iowa – Brody Nydam and Austin Precht, five bass, 13-1
6th: Gloria Deo Academy, Springfield, Mo. – Caden Ball and William Kuzemka, five bass, 12-11
7th: Three Rivers High School, Three Rivers, Mich. – Derek Patch and Freddie Stears, five bass, 12-8
8th: Hawg Dawgz Fishing Club, Iowa – Lincoln Cowell and Sawyer Goss, five bass, 11-10
9th: Junior Bass Legends – Kelby Conrady and Luke Pappas, five bass, 11-1
10th: Joplin High School, Joplin, Mo. – Brycen Trento and Brody Trento, five bass, 11-0
Complete results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing presented by Tackle Warehouse 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% of teams at each Open event, along with the TBF High School Fishing state championships, advance to the High School Fishing National Championship. Tournaments held on or before May 2, 2026, advance teams to the 2026 National Championship. Tournaments held after May 2, 2026, advance teams to the 2027 National Championship.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Abu Garcia High School Fishing Presented by Tackle Warehouse include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Columbia PFG, Epic Baits, Mercury, MillerTech, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular High School Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Oklahoma State University Wins Columbia PFG College Fishing Presented by Abu Garcia Tournament on Table Rock Lake Presented by Suzuki Marine
BRANSON, Mo. (April 13, 2026) – The Oklahoma State University duo of Kaden Abmeyer of Buffalo, Missouri, and Nevan Osburn of Stillwater, Oklahoma, won the MLF Columbia PFG College Fishing Presented by Abu Garcia event on Table Rock Lake Presented by Suzuki Marine Friday with a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 15 ounces. The victory earned the Cowboys’ bass club $2,000 and a qualification into the 2027 MLF College Fishing National Championship.
The Oklahoma State duo combined local knowledge with a LiveScope-driven offshore pattern to catch their five-bass limit.
“We started rolling a minnow in about 12 to 15 feet of water, around stumps and big rock transitions where those fish pull back to,” Abmeyer said. “With that cold snap, we figured they’d back off, and then as the water warmed back up, they’d start moving again.”
The duo leaned heavily on their Garmin LiveScope, using it to break down how fish were positioned on offshore cover and efficiently rotate through productive areas.
“Being able to see those fish on the stumps and how they were set up with LiveScope was huge,” Osburn said. “That Perspective Mode really let us understand how they were relating to the cover.”
Abmeyer said covering water and staying around active fish was key, as the team cycled through a high volume of bites throughout the day.
“I think we went through about 80 fish a day,” Abmeyer said. “We had so many different piles, flats and rock piles that we could bounce around on.”
Despite the numbers, Osburn said the difference came down to execution and staying mentally locked in as a team.
“It was a really fun week, and everything just came together,” Osburn said. “To get the win for Oklahoma State felt amazing.”
The top 10 teams finished:
1st: Oklahoma State University – Kaden Abmeyer, Buffalo, Mo., and Nevan Osburn, Stillwater, Okla., five bass, 20-15, $2,000
2nd: University of Montevallo – Kolby Angell, Jefferson, Iowa, and Bryson Dover, Buford, Ga., five bass, 18-6, $1,000
3rd: Drury University – Jacob Longlois, Orange, Texas, and Seth Prather, Dallas, Texas, five bass, 18-1, $700
4th: University of Montevallo – Brandon Berry, Helena, Ala., and Hunter Bright, Helena, Ala., five bass, 17-11, $600
5th: University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point – Ethan Ferguson, Denver, Colo., and William Weber, Flanagan, Ill., five bass, 17-4, $500
6th: Louisiana State University-Shreveport – Bryce Distefano, Shreveport, La., and Caden Williamson, Vidor, Texas, five bass, 17-2
7th: Drury University – Caleb Coleman, DeSoto, Mo., and Cade Lipham, Montgomery, Texas, five bass, 16-14
8th: University of Pikeville – Cameron Gates, Oregon, Wis., and Nick Giompalo, Louisa, Ky., five bass, 16-14
9th: Wabash Valley College – Elijah Jaime, Auburn, Mich., and Owen Nepple, Carrol, Iowa, five bass, 16-13
10th: Blue Mountain Christian University – Caleb Bass, Columbia, Miss., and Hunter King, Corinth, Miss., five bass, 16-11
Complete results for the entire field, along with the full list of National Championship Qualifier teams can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLF Columbia PFG College Fishing Presented by Abu Garcia event on Table Rock Lake Presented by Suzuki Marine was hosted by ExploreBranson.com. The next tournament for MLF College Fishing anglers will be the Columbia PFG College Fishing Presented by Abu Garcia event on the Potomac River, June 28 in Marbury, Maryland.
The 2026 MLF Columbia PFG College Fishing Presented by Abu Garcia season features college teams from across the country competing in six regular-season open tournaments, plus the Columbia PFG College Fishing Heavy Hitters all-star event. The top 15 percent of teams from each regular-season tournament advance to the 2027 Columbia PFG College Fishing Presented by Abu Garcia National Championship.
Proud sponsors of MLF Columbia PFG College Fishing Presented by Abu Garcia include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, Columbia PFG, Epic Baits, Mercury, MillerTech, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular College Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Lloyd’s Personal Best Reigns Supreme at the 4th Annual Minn Kota & Humminbird Owners Tournament
Mark Lloyd of Kalamazoo, Michigan claims the grand prize at historic Lake Eufaula with the biggest bass of the event — April 10–12, 2026
Day 1 (Friday): Blue Bird Skies and a Big Bass Battle
The 4th Annual Minn Kota & Humminbird Owners Tournament kicked off Friday, April 10th on Lake Eufaula, Alabama, under sunny, calm, bluebird skies — less than ideal conditions for a big bass showdown. Regardless, anglers got off to a quick start, with multiple fish over six pounds hitting the scales in the first two sessions at Lakepoint Resort State Park.
The first true benchmark over seven pounds was weighed in by Scott Power, who tipped the scales at 7.28 lbs during the 10–11 a.m. weigh-in period — one of two big bites he and his partner connected on early with a spinnerbait up shallow. One got away; the other got sacked up and took the lead early. But not for long.
Mark Lloyd from Kalamazoo, Michigan, fishing alongside his son Zack, opted for a different approach than much of the field. Using his Humminbird 360 Imaging, the duo was dialing in deeper weedlines and working Strike King Jerkbaits.
“I started this morning running some deeper weed lines down near where I was staying. The water was cleaner than the north end and thankfully we didn’t have much company, so we went with it. On about my third cast with a Strike King KVD 300 Jerkbait, he hit it. I literally thought I was on a stump, until it pulled down even harder! I knew stumps don’t move like that and the fight was on.”
After what seemed like five minutes, the big bass came to the surface — and it was Zack’s turn to shine.
“All I had in my mind was don’t screw up this netting process!”
Both Zack and Mark executed to perfection, and Mark’s personal best bass was in the net first thing Friday morning. Now it was a game of waiting, hoping, and trying to upgrade. Throughout the rest of Friday, a steady parade of five-pounders and the occasional six made their way across the stage, but nothing threatened Lloyd’s lead.
Day 2 (Saturday): A Challenger Emerges
Saturday opened much like Friday — calm, warm, and bright — and another big bass parade followed. Nothing over six pounds moved the leaderboard in the morning sessions. As anglers made their way in for lunch at Lakepoint, Chase Coker brought in the best challenger of the day: a 6.55-lb bass that tied for 3rd place overall and claimed Big Bass of Day 2.
Day 3 (Sunday): Lloyd Holds On for the Win
Sunday opened with a bang. Jimmy Simmons fired a shot across the bow with a 6.98-lb bass — good for 3rd place at that point, but not enough to dethrone Lloyd. Anglers continued to bring quality fish across the stage throughout the morning, but Mark was cool and calm — until the 1–2 p.m. weigh-in.
Enter Donovan Arias and his “Seven.” To the naked eye it was too close to call — Arias’ fish looked like a potential spoiler for Lloyd. But when the scales locked in at 7.10, Mark could breathe a sigh of relief. Arias settled comfortably into 3rd place, only the third angler in the entire event to eclipse the seven-pound mark.
When the 3 o’clock hour finally rolled around, the tension was palpable. With 10 minutes remaining, Mark reflected:
“I’m very nervous…that last 7.10 that hit the scales about made me and Zack jump in the water!”
When it was all said and done, the Lloyds stayed dry — and in the driver’s seat. Mark’s personal best ended up being the biggest bass caught by any of the over 800 participants across three days on historic Lake Eufaula.
Grand Prize and Final Payouts
The Lloyds took home a fully rigged 2026 Nitro Z20 XL complete with Minn Kota and Humminbird electronics and equipment, valued at over $88,000.
The rest of the field of Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners had a blast at Eufaula, splitting a total of over $63,000 in hourly payouts, along with countless raffle prizes, bonuses, and memories that will last a lifetime.
For complete results, including all session weights, visit: minnkotaowners.com/results/2026/minn-kota-owners-tournament
Windshield Time with Jason Christie
Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships
Jason Christie’s drive home from the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway featured an extra passenger, his sixth blue Elite Series trophy. Christie, a now nine-time Bassmaster winner, showcased his power fishing prowess enroute to a victory at the Mountain Dew Bassmaster Elite on the Tenn-Tomm Waterway.
The east Oklahoma legend employed old school offerings of a swim jig and a spinnerbait to dissect what the river presented. Anyone who has followed his career knows those two techniques are practically synonymous with Jason Christie. But for all the miles he’s swam a jig or slow-rolled a spinnerbait, Christie suspects he’s driven double in his Toyota Tundra.
“That’s one thing a lot of people don’t think about or realize, professional bass anglers are pretty much part-time truck drivers,” Christie said.
Christie and his Elite Series peers typically drive anywhere from 30,000 to 50,000 miles each tournament season. Almost every one of these miles comes with a boat in tow, traversing the country from fishery to fishery in search of the next bite.
That’s a lot of windshield time. A lot of morning cruises to the lake in the pre-dawn darkness, with excited anticipation. And a bunch of exhausted drives home in the dark of night. Christie’s first fishing mentors were his uncles, his dad, and other family members who helped set the tone for Jason’s fishing style and career.
He had their wisdom running through his head during the final day on the Tenn-Tomm Waterway. Phrases like, “you never leave fish to find fish”, or “you only need five”. These nuggets of insight have helped calm the Skeeter-Yamaha pro and keep him focused on the task at hand throughout his entire career. His fishing mentors also set the tone for Christie’s drives to and from the lake.
“When I jump into my Tundra in the morning, my mind turns to the business at hand,” Christie said. “Ever since I was a kid, the ride to the lake has been all about getting your mind right. I don’t listen to a lot of music or really anything on the way to the lake. I look at the forecast and run through my gameplan for the day. What’s plan B and C if plan A doesn’t work out?
“I learned that from my uncles growing up. We didn’t talk about sports or school or work… it was all about fishing. Even the drives home from the lake, whether it was a good day or not so good, we were quiet and would process what took place. What could I have done better or differently? What worked, and why? That’s where my head is during windshield time.”
Knowing your truck is reliable, powerful, and comfortable is imperative for those who compete at the highest levels of tournament fishing. Christie recently purchased a 2026 Toyota Tundra from the folks at Southwest Toyota in Lawton, OK, which helped him earn a $4,000 payout from Toyota Bonus Bucks.
This adds to Christie’s impressive winnings through the popular contingency program that rewards the highest finishing registered angler towing their boat with a 2022 or newer Toyota tow vehicle.
“This is the fourth or fifth Toyota I’ve purchased and there is a reason… reliability + Bonus Bucks,” Christie offered. “If you’re a fisherman, and you compete in tournaments, you should be towing your boat with a Toyota.”
To see a full list of supported tournaments, learn more or register for Bonus Bucks today, follow this link https://www.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com/. Don’t leave money on the table.
Parks and Gibson stay close to win Bassmaster High School Series at Santee Cooper
CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Tripp Parks III and Russell Gibson only ran a mile to catch the winning bag of bass at the 2026 Strike King Bassmaster High School Series at Santee Cooper Lakes.
The Clarks Hill High School duo caught 26 pounds, 11 ounces to claim the title, narrowly edging out the second-place team of Hudson Logan and Weston Rigsby from the A1 Anglers Fishing Team. It is the biggest bag either of the high schoolers have landed in a tournament setting.
“We couldn’t be more blessed,” Gibson, a junior, said.
Gibson and Parks were aiming to qualify for the 2026 Strike King Bassmaster High School National Championship through their state series, where they sit second in points. With the win, they advance to Nationals, a sigh of relief and an instant release of pressure.
“These boys have been fishing really hard together for the last two years. We made Nationals through the state last year,” boat captain Woody Parks said. “When they put their heads down and fish, they are as good as anybody.
“We cranked the motor one time today.”
Parks, who is committed to Erskine College, had only visited Santee Cooper a couple times as an elementary schooler, and Gibson had never fished the mammoth fishery before this week.
Practice was a struggle for Parks and Gibson, but in one patch of grass in a pocket in Taw Caw Creek, they landed two keeper bites and decided that's where they were going to start.
“We got lucky,” Parks said. “We caught two fish back-to-back in practice, a 4-pounder and a 3-pounder. We weren’t on anything else, so that’s where we went this morning.”
That decision was rewarded almost immediately, as they caught two 6-pounders to start the morning. They stayed in the pocket the rest of the day, catching the majority of their bag before 10 a.m.
The duo threw Z-Man JackHammers and Speed Worms through the scattered hydrilla. Parks said most of the largemouth they caught were postspawn and they were using that grass as a staging point before moving out to summer holes.
“It was a big time bedding area, and they were starting to come off the beds. I feel like they were staging in the grass before going back out,” Parks said.
Logan and Rigsby earned second with 26-7 while Logan Parker and Hudson Howell of the Cherokee Bass Team finished third with 26-4. Ten bags weighing 20 pounds or better crossed the stage on Sunday.
Eli Ellege and Aaron Crawford caught the Big Bass of the Tournament, a 7-9 largemouth.
This event was hosted by Santee Cooper Country.
2026 Bassmaster High School Series Title Sponsor: Strike King
2026 Bassmaster High School Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2026 Bassmaster High School Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2026 Bassmaster High School Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Lew's, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, VMC, Yokohama
2026 Bassmaster High School Series Youth Sponsors: Seaguar
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
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Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]
2026 Strike King Bassmaster High School Series at Santee Cooper 4/12-4/12
Santee Cooper Lakes, Manning SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Tripp Parks III - Russell Gibson Clarks Hill HS Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 5 26-11 Total: 5 26-11
2. Hudson Logan - Weston Rigsby A1 Anglers Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 5 26-07 Total: 5 26-07
3. Logan Parker - Hudson Howell Cherokee Bass Team 0
Day 1: 5 26-04 Total: 5 26-04
4. Eli Ellege - Aaron Crawford Warrior Hs Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 26-00 Total: 5 26-00
5. Owen Satterwhite - Wyatt Pinson LDHS Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 24-15 Total: 5 24-15
6. TJ Murray - Brack Robertson Meigs County High School Fishing 0
Day 1: 5 22-01 Total: 5 22-01
7. Ethan Rose - Grant Arnold Jefferson County Patriot Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 21-15 Total: 5 21-15
8. Carter Pjesky - Landon Gabby Southern IllinoisFuture Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 21-00 Total: 5 21-00
9. Aidan Cohan - Tristan Topa Oneida Lake Hs Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 5 20-13 Total: 5 20-13
10. Peyton McAndrew - Cutler Wooten SML Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 20-00 Total: 5 20-00
11. Owen Wiggins - Britton Alery Cartersville Fishing 0
Day 1: 5 19-08 Total: 5 19-08
12. Atticus Adams - Isaiah Adams North Augusta High School Fishin 0
Day 1: 5 19-06 Total: 5 19-06
12. Chamber Stockard - Sam Hayes Music City Bass 0
Day 1: 5 19-06 Total: 5 19-06
14. Reece Williams - Charlie Thompson Sc Lower State Hs Bass Club 0
Day 1: 5 19-00 Total: 5 19-00
15. Nathan Holderness - Sawyer Adams Gilbert Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 18-11 Total: 5 18-11
16. Parker Jones - Brady Jones Sc Lower State Hs Bass Club 0
Day 1: 5 18-06 Total: 5 18-06
17. Kenny Bochenek-Simonis - Kayler Christensen Michigan A1 Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 17-06 Total: 5 17-06
18. Pacey Coyle - Kieran Gowdown Sc Lower State Hs Bass Club 0
Day 1: 5 17-04 Total: 5 17-04
19. Harrison Hobbs - Cade Speligene Music City Bass 0
Day 1: 5 17-02 Total: 5 17-02
19. Memphis Howard - Holt Harmon Central Lion Fishing 0
Day 1: 5 17-02 Total: 5 17-02
21. Porter Morrison - Harrison Kirkpatrick Catholic High School Fishing Bat 0
Day 1: 5 17-01 Total: 5 17-01
22. Nolan Savage - Jack Naas Mebass High School 0
Day 1: 5 17-00 Total: 5 17-00
23. Shade Snyder - Steven Murray Holly Hill Academy 0
Day 1: 5 16-13 Total: 5 16-13
24. Whitt Hickey - Nathan Hickey Trhs Devildog Anglers - Traveler 0
Day 1: 5 16-08 Total: 5 16-08
25. Tucker Larrance - Jaxson Pierce Jefferson County Patriot Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 16-03 Total: 5 16-03
26. Jack Dowdy - Wyatt Galbraith Lowndes High School Lip Rippers 0
Day 1: 5 15-15 Total: 5 15-15
27. Ian Hendricks - Josiah Ennes 314 Fishing Club 0
Day 1: 4 15-00 Total: 4 15-00
28. Anderson Thrower - Wade Spooner Vestavia Hills Rebel Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 14-13 Total: 5 14-13
29. Caden Grose - Hunter Mcclung Southern West Virginia Jr. Bassm 0
Day 1: 5 14-10 Total: 5 14-10
30. Jack Story - Wick Medlin Clarks Hill Hs Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 4 14-10 Total: 4 14-10
31. Austin Miller - Gilbert Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 14-07 Total: 5 14-07
32. Jesse Lancaster - Fisher Lancaster Triangle Bass Club 0
Day 1: 5 14-06 Total: 5 14-06
33. Maddox Kelly - Felix Bradshaw Headland Bass Team 0
Day 1: 5 14-04 Total: 5 14-04
33. Tucker Twelkemeier - Parker Fowler Corinth Holders High School Bass 0
Day 1: 5 14-04 Total: 5 14-04
35. Jake Paradis - JT Cross L/A Junior Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 5 14-00 Total: 5 14-00
36. Bradford Vandemark II - Elias Hitson Eagleville Fishing Club 0
Day 1: 4 13-14 Total: 4 13-14
37. Ayden Rigsbee - Triangle Bass Club 0
Day 1: 5 13-11 Total: 5 13-11
38. Caleb Godson - Jason Wood Jr. North Augusta High School Fishin 0
Day 1: 4 13-04 Total: 4 13-04
39. James Barkley - Lebanon High School 0
Day 1: 5 13-00 Total: 5 13-00
40. William Collins - Curren Malinchak Soddy Daisy High School 0
Day 1: 4 13-00 Total: 4 13-00
41. Walker Brogdon - Drake Walls Bainbridge High School Bass Cats 0
Day 1: 5 12-15 Total: 5 12-15
42. Brody Ensminger - Drew Mayers Central High School 0
Day 1: 5 12-13 Total: 5 12-13
43. Gage Wright - Braxton Bogdansky Sc Upper State Bass Club 0
Day 1: 5 12-10 Total: 5 12-10
44. Crews Mcferrin - Colin Bourne Karns Jr High School 0
Day 1: 4 12-10 Total: 4 12-10
45. Brenson Pulley - Noah Schoviak Rudolph Gordon 0
Day 1: 5 12-09 Total: 5 12-09
46. Paxton Wormsley - Grayson Dykes Campbell County High School 0
Day 1: 3 12-06 Total: 3 12-06
47. Kannon Wood - Gulf Port High School 0
Day 1: 5 12-03 Total: 5 12-03
48. Coy Cassady - Ryan Crane Wateree Anglers Club 0
Day 1: 4 12-02 Total: 4 12-02
49. Jonah Yates - Wyatt Harmon Central Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 5 11-13 Total: 5 11-13
50. MacLane Fritts - Cayden Wright Campbell County High School 0
Day 1: 2 11-13 Total: 2 11-13
51. Banks Stuart - Finn Stuart Pendleton High School Fishing Te 0
Day 1: 5 11-11 Total: 5 11-11
52. Jacob Hicks - Kinsley Wooten Sml Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 11-08 Total: 5 11-08
53. Corbin Bornstein - Logan Tolbert Lipscomb Academy 0
Day 1: 5 11-07 Total: 5 11-07
54. Aiden Alcock - Garrett Brown Triangle Bass Club 0
Day 1: 5 11-06 Total: 5 11-06
55. Dawson Barnett - Jackson Padgett Benjamin Russell Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 11-04 Total: 5 11-04
56. Brodie Gibson - Kolbie Gibson Knight Fishing Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 11-03 Total: 3 11-03
57. Conner Harris - Nathan Mccoy Riley's Catch 0
Day 1: 4 10-15 Total: 4 10-15
58. Connor Strachan - Wyatt Johnson Bryant High School 0
Day 1: 4 10-13 Total: 4 10-13
59. Kaden Tomblin - Jakob Fullerton Southern Garrett Bass Slayer 0
Day 1: 5 10-12 Total: 5 10-12
60. Ayden Parker - Hunter Wilkins Gaffney High School Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 4 10-06 Total: 4 10-06
61. Wallace Rampey - Gage West Lowndes High School Lip Rippers 0
Day 1: 4 10-04 Total: 4 10-04
62. Andrew Carr - Landon Tusing Lake Anna Elite Anglers Junior 0
Day 1: 3 10-04 Total: 3 10-04
63. Eben Bolding - Mason Carter Trhs Devildog Anglers Travelers 0
Day 1: 5 10-02 Total: 5 10-02
63. Allen Rabon - Luke Russell Florence One Schools 0
Day 1: 5 10-02 Total: 5 10-02
65. Tyler Shore - Tyler Morgan Davie High War Eagle Bass Fishin 0
Day 1: 3 09-07 Total: 3 09-07
66. Brody Brinson - Greer Gammon Mt Juliet Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 4 09-03 Total: 4 09-03
67. Brayden Rivest - Zach Stall Off The Hook High School Bassmas 0
Day 1: 3 09-01 Total: 3 09-01
68. Hunter Brakefield - Luke Childs Music City Bass 0
Day 1: 5 09-00 Total: 5 09-00
69. Caden Stevens - Riley Garner Franklin County High School 0
Day 1: 4 09-00 Total: 4 09-00
70. Aiden Roberson-Barber - Daniel Lowhorn Monterey Anglers 0
Day 1: 4 08-15 Total: 4 08-15
71. Jack Kennedy - Mid Florida Youth Anglers HS 0
Day 1: 3 08-15 Total: 3 08-15
72. Griffin Sheets - John Hicks SML Anglers 0
Day 1: 2 08-13 Total: 2 08-13
73. Sullivan Jones - Garrett Canada Jefferson County Patriot Anglers 0
Day 1: 4 08-09 Total: 4 08-09
73. Gavin Nappier - Jimmy Capizzo Byrnes Rebels Jr Anglers 0
Day 1: 4 08-09 Total: 4 08-09
73. Sawyer Taylor - Cooper Taylor Lowndes High School Lip Rippers 0
Day 1: 4 08-09 Total: 4 08-09
76. Grant Perrone - Grayson Theberge York County Juniors 0
Day 1: 4 07-13 Total: 4 07-13
77. Gavin Ebert - Kale Webb Music City Bass 0
Day 1: 3 07-10 Total: 3 07-10
78. Caleb Gurley - Keegan Smith Palmetto High Bass Fishing 0
Day 1: 2 07-10 Total: 2 07-10
79. Hunter Dickinson - Case Payton Central Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 4 07-06 Total: 4 07-06
80. Jack Sharpe - Patrick Givens Sumner County Bass Team - TN 0
Day 1: 3 07-06 Total: 3 07-06
81. Justin Gilpin - Dalton Todd Green Trhs Devildog Anglers Travelers 0
Day 1: 4 07-03 Total: 4 07-03
82. Parker Terrell - Dylan Terrell Port City Jr. Bassmasters - NY 0
Day 1: 2 07-02 Total: 2 07-02
83. William Gunner Willoughby - George Rogers Clark High School 0
Day 1: 1 06-12 Total: 1 06-12
84. Tucker Robertson - Meigs County High School Fishing 0
Day 1: 2 06-11 Total: 2 06-11
85. Jaiden Redd - Bentley Smith Bhp Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 2 06-06 Total: 2 06-06
86. Gavin Corker - Adam Monk Corinth Holders High School Bass 0
Day 1: 3 06-00 Total: 3 06-00
87. Jace Childers - Rhylen Watkins Bandys High School 0
Day 1: 2 05-08 Total: 2 05-08
88. Thomas Newman - Cayden Ryman Frederick County Bass 0
Day 1: 2 05-07 Total: 2 05-07
89. Levi Stanley - Landen Bean Triangle Bass Club 0
Day 1: 5 05-06 Total: 5 05-06
90. Dylan Gregory - Owen Thigpen Riley's Catch 0
Day 1: 5 05-02 Total: 5 05-02
91. Quinn Barbee - Andrew Miller Southeastern Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 2 05-00 Total: 2 05-00
92. Mason Clark - Jonathan Berlin Sc Lower State Hs Bass Club 0
Day 1: 1 05-00 Total: 1 05-00
93. Gage Jones - Liam Taylor Bandys High School 0
Day 1: 2 04-15 Total: 2 04-15
94. Dawson Lytton - Collier Alderman 0
Day 1: 2 04-11 Total: 2 04-11
95. Mitchell Henderson Jr - Joseph Frierson Sc Lower State Hs Bass Club 0
Day 1: 1 04-11 Total: 1 04-11
96. Brayden Tisdale - Straughn High School 0
Day 1: 2 04-07 Total: 2 04-07
97. Caleb Moore - Dean Austin Off The Hook IL Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 2 04-06 Total: 2 04-06
97. Taryn Underwood - Ryder Rowland Ldhs Anglers 0
Day 1: 2 04-06 Total: 2 04-06
99. Landon Hoopaugh - Tyler Harrison Gaffney Jr High School Fishing T 0
Day 1: 2 04-01 Total: 2 04-01
100. Tristan Stewart - Mt Pleasant High School Bass Tea 0
Day 1: 2 03-13 Total: 2 03-13
101. Ashton Feck - Allie Addison Boyle County High School 0
Day 1: 2 03-12 Total: 2 03-12
102. Kyle Wood - Bradley Merritt Central Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 2 03-11 Total: 2 03-11
103. Brady Wells - Zeke Brock Bath County Fishing 0
Day 1: 1 03-10 Total: 1 03-10
104. Jaxson Beard - Landon Vaughn Pendleton High School Fishing Te 0
Day 1: 1 03-05 Total: 1 03-05
105. Brayden Elliott - White Oak High School Bass Fishi 0
Day 1: 1 03-04 Total: 1 03-04
106. Conner Luft - Brennan Maljian Music City Bass 0
Day 1: 1 03-00 Total: 1 03-00
106. Ainsley Lynn - Tanner Howerton Karns High School 0
Day 1: 1 03-00 Total: 1 03-00
108. Noah Wright - Shane Williams South Greene High School 0
Day 1: 1 02-15 Total: 1 02-15
109. Branson Heisig - Knox Heisig Pac Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 02-11 Total: 1 02-11
110. Brody Musser - Cooper Reynolds Swva Bassin 0
Day 1: 1 02-06 Total: 1 02-06
111. Tanner Sims - Tunstall Trojans Bass Team 0
Day 1: 1 02-02 Total: 1 02-02
112. Shane Starnes - Eli Sims Kingston Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01
113. Kohen Dulaney - Carter Lamb Mcdowell High School Bass Fishin 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Total: 1 02-00
114. Gavin Smith - Levi Wood Nicholas County High School Bass 0
Day 1: 1 01-13 Total: 1 01-13
114. Colton Stockdale - Headland Bass Team 0
Day 1: 1 01-13 Total: 1 01-13
114. Emmalyn Vice - Bailey Swartz Bath County Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 1 01-13 Total: 1 01-13
117. Caydan Waters - Cameron Waters 904 Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Total: 1 01-12
118. Gabe Holshouser - Gunner Edwards Roco Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 01-11 Total: 1 01-11
119. John Parker Deal - Vin Radetic Headland Bass Team 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Total: 1 01-08
119. Abe Sledge - Bryson Sutton Loudon Bass Club 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Total: 1 01-08
119. Carly Thomas - Tyler Dunn Dekalb Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Total: 1 01-08
122. Jasper Keogh - Xavier Keogh Riley's Catch 0
Day 1: 1 00-15 Total: 1 00-15
123. Evan Beard - Tyler Wilson Greenbrier High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Taylor Bogard - Wilkes County Bandits 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Logan Brown - Caleb Southerly Lake Anna Elite Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Jackson Brownlee - Tristian Gowdown Sc Lower State Hs Bass Club 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Landon Chenault - Nathan Hoskins George Rogers Clark High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Dalton Cribb - Holliston Manley Gilbert Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Wyatt Crow - Lipscomb Academy 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Landon Daves - Blake Mosteller Gaffney High School Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Cameron Gramling - Liam Hanna Gilbert Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Jake Gwin - Hayden Barnes York Co High School Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Caden Hacay - Jaxon Yaussy Lake Anna Elite Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Michael Harris - Danil Williams Mt Juliet Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Grayden Hovis - Fielding Faulkenberry York Co High School Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Gus Jennings - Noah Weed Pac Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Javin Laws - Jaxon Coates Mcdowell High School Bass Fishin 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Noah Mazzarisi - Wyatt Gill Oregon Panthers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Max McCorkle - Walker Thompson Vestavia Hills Bass Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Hudson Mynatt - Wilson Shepherd Karns High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Kayson Richards - Hagen Fowler Creekview Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Josiah Smith - Andrew Larsen Warrior Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Quentin Stayrook - Mason Noble Bandys High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Ellis Turner - Colby Senn Heard County Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Jackson Turpin - Alex Spakes Kingston Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Colson Webb - Levi Webb Sc Upper State Hs Club 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Ben Welch - Axel Geboy Edgewood Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
123. Gavin Williams - Channing Jordan Chatham Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURN
Eli Ellege Leicester, NC 07-09 $0.00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 52 426 1286-14
------------------------------
52 426 1286-14
Brown and Shook take home Junior title at Santee Cooper
CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Getting away from the crowd on Santee Cooper proved to be the right move for Haywood Anglers duo of Kollin Brown and Cord Shook.
The duo caught a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 1 ounce to claim the 2026 Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Series at Santee Cooper Lakes title, punching their ticket to the 2026 Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior National Championship at Kentucky Lake in the process.
“It feels pretty good. I’m thankful to be able to come out and fish,” Shook said.
Boat captain Dillon Brown said the duo work well together as a team, and that showed in the results.
“I sat back there and watched them catch those fish, and I was just thinking how good God is,” he said. “They worked really well as a team. When Kollin caught that 5-pounder, that got everyone’s blood pumping.”
Brown and Shook fish highland reservoirs like Fontana Lake and Chatuge most often, a much different setup than Santee Cooper. The duo has some experience on the Low Country fishery, which benefitted them in this tournament.
They spent most of their day in the upper region of Lake Marion where they targeted cypress trees in around 3 feet of water. While it took them 45 minutes to get to their starting spot, they had plenty of water to themselves.
The wind generated water movement around the trees, and the duo used that to their advantage. A wacky-rigged worm caught the majority of their bass.
When they reached their area, they caught two quality largemouth to start their day before landing a 5-pounder. They proceeded to fill out their limit, but when the wind settled down, the bite slowed as well.
Late in the day, Brown and Shook ran to a set of mid-lake docks and caught a 4-15, sealing the victory.
“That really saved us,” Brown said.
Jacob Murphy and Kaleb Everhart of the Roco Anglers club finished second with 15-3 while Liam Price and Kinsley Montgomery of the Gaffney Jr. High School Fishing Team finished third with 13-6.
Hunter Lawrence and Bam Kendrick caught the Big Bass of the Tournament, a 6-4.
This event was hosted by Santee Cooper Country.
2026 Bassmaster Junior Series
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]
2026 Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Series at Santee Cooper 4/12-4/12
Santee Cooper Lakes, Manning SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Kollin Brown - Cord Shook Haywood Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 16-01 Total: 5 16-01
2. Jacob Murphy - Kaleb Everhart Roco Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 15-03 Total: 5 15-03
3. Liam Price - Kinsley Montgomery Gaffney Jr High School Fishing T 0
Day 1: 5 13-06 Total: 5 13-06
4. Luke Mcandrew - Brody Witmer Sml Junior Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 10-14 Total: 5 10-14
5. John-Andrew Moss - Ethan Dover Pac Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 10-08 Total: 3 10-08
6. Jace Gilliam - Jett Gilliam Wayne Pioneers Junior Team 0
Day 1: 5 08-07 Total: 5 08-07
7. Blane Davenport - Ethan Rhinehart Palmetto Jr Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 3 08-01 Total: 3 08-01
8. Hunter Lawrence - Bam Kendrick Jefferson Youth Bass Fishing 0
Day 1: 1 06-04 Total: 1 06-04
9. Lincoln Snyder - Lake Murphy Soddy Daisy Jr High 0
Day 1: 3 05-15 Total: 3 05-15
10. Korben Burgess - Mack Josey Cleveland County Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 04-13 Total: 1 04-13
11. Jake Hundley - Connor King Forsyth County Bass Club 0
Day 1: 2 04-12 Total: 2 04-12
12. Colton Osteen - Reed Anderson Clarendon Hall 0
Day 1: 2 04-07 Total: 2 04-07
13. Casey Martin - Gauge Mosier Clarendon Hall 0
Day 1: 1 04-07 Total: 1 04-07
14. Troy Phillips IV - Baylor Rhodus Clarendon Hall 0
Day 1: 2 04-04 Total: 2 04-04
15. Wesley Osuna - Carson Stevens Franklin County Jr Bass Team - T 0
Day 1: 2 03-13 Total: 2 03-13
16. Graeme Shook - Micah Williams Bandys Fishing Team Juniors 0
Day 1: 1 02-07 Total: 1 02-07
17. Jake White - Chris Fortune Lake Anna Elite Anglers Junior 0
Day 1: 1 02-03 Total: 1 02-03
18. Gage Mckee - Franklin County Jr Bass Team 0
Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01
19. Luke Sheppard III - Tillman Jeffcoat Pac Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 01-10 Total: 1 01-10
20. Marley Ashworth - Railynn Hutson Mt Pleasant Junior Bass Team 0
Day 1: 1 01-09 Total: 1 01-09
21. Kolton Morrow - Houston Garner Uchs Anglers - Union County 0
Day 1: 1 01-06 Total: 1 01-06
21. Griffin Sizemore - Bo Sizemore North Laurel High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-06 Total: 1 01-06
23. Cody Aliff - Jon Parker Pope Triangle Bass Club 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
23. Evans Chaney - Jacob Ford Jacksonville Junior Bass Fishing 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
23. Lliam Crisman - Cole Puryear Buggs Island Elite Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
23. Chase Ethridge - Huntley Taylor Heard County Juniors 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
23. Reece Formosa - Nicholas Davis Mt. Juliet Fishing - Juniors 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
23. Dixon Heflin - Bedford County Youth Bass Club - 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
23. Liam Johnson - Drake Penrod Southern Illinois Future Jr Angl 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
23. Jake Morgan - Eureka Youth Club 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
23. Quaid Parker - Aidan Cutshall Kingston Fishing Team Junior 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
23. Clara Grace Phillips - Kinley Ingram Clarendon Hall 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
23. Kaysen Smith - Jonah Osment Crescent High School Jr. Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
23. Carson Terrell - Cameron Terrell Port City Junior Bass Masters 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
23. Avery Watkins - Bentley Mchenry Wilson Christian Academy Juniors 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURN
Hunter Lawrence Avinger, TX 06-04 $0.00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 5 52 133-13
------------------------------
5 52 133-13
Reagan’s massive Day 3 catch carries him to Nation Qualifier victory at Cherokee Lake
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Turano Triumphs at Toyota Series at Kentucky Lake, Sets Sights on REDCREST 2026
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (April 12, 2026) – Matteo Turano waited around to sign up for the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Plains Division event on Kentucky Lake . Not because he wasn’t sure he could do well, or because the event was far from his Tennessee home, but because he has big plans coming up. As the winner of the 2025 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American, he’s qualified for Bass Pro Shops REDCREST Presented by Mercury & Lowrance, and practice at Table Rock Lake starts Monday.
Now, Turano will be starting practice with more momentum than anyone in the field (plus a significant check in the bank). Weighing 18 pounds, 10 ounces on Day 3 at Kentucky Lake, Turano totaled 64-2 to earn the win. For the win, he locked in qualification for the Toyota Series Championship on Pickwick Lake, and pocketed $66,506.
Finishing second, Levi Kohl caught over 20 pounds every day for a 62-12 total. In third, Drew Gill tallied up 62-4, and the legendary Jake Lawrence finished fourth with 62-2.
Turano was scratching his head during the afternoon on Day 2, with his three hours of forward-facing-sonar in the rearview and a livewell full of smallmouth, trying to come up with a big bite. Then, he struck gold, wrangling a 6-12 largemouth on a Ned rig, which put his bag up to 24-1 and gave him a lead he wouldn’t relinquish. Turano never got that bite again on the final day, but still did plenty to take home the title.
“It was a way tougher day today,” he said. “I kept trying to fish for fish that I’d been fishing the last two days, and they were extra smart today.”
Starting with his ‘Scope off, Turano couldn’t muster anything on the bank, which was not uncommon this week.
“I didn’t turn my ‘Scope on until around 10,” he said. “I had zero fish in the boat – I couldn’t figure out how to catch any fish in the morning. So, I was already a little stressed. I was hoping I’d get at least one bonus bite in the morning.”
But when the graphs lit up, Turano kicked it in gear.
“The first fish that I caught was a 4 ½-pounder,” he said. “That got me feeling pretty good. I fished around for a little longer, caught a couple little ones, and ended up catching another 4-pounder in that same area. Which made me stay for way too long, because all the other fish in that area were not eating.
“So, I switched up areas near the end of my ‘Scope period, I think I had 40 minutes left. I found a little area I hadn’t messed with yet, and they were pretty easy to catch. I caught about 10 off that spot, including two good ones, and culled twice with some 3-pounders.”
Coming in to weigh-in with nearly 19 pounds in the livewell, Turano knew that if he was going to win, Day 2 was the day that won it for him.
“I didn’t get another miracle largemouth like yesterday. That largemouth yesterday was really why I won the tournament – it was not today, it was yesterday,” he said. “I got that one lucky bite. There’s not that many big largemouth in here – there’s a lot of little ones. To catch one over 6 pounds is truly a rare fish. The fact that I did it with no ‘Scope, out fan casting in the middle of the lake – it’s just meant to be.”
This week on Kentucky Lake, it was all about the smallmouth spawn. Most of the top finishers relied on it almost exclusively, and a lot of the damage got done in the few hours pros had with forward-facing sonar at their disposal.
According to Turano, he thinks he cast at about 200 beds over three days, which is an astonishing number, considering he did it over only nine hours.
“There was one flat that I was fishing, and every little piece of wood had two or three beds on it,” he said. “I found a ton of fish in practice, I wasn’t sure they would stay the whole week, but I had just enough. I could tell today it was the worst day to do it, but I managed to just get enough.
“I think a big key to my week was moving on to another fish when I couldn’t get one to eat. Almost all the fish I caught this week were on the first or second cast. So, I had to keep that in mind, even if I saw a big one chase it, I knew I was better off just finding a new one.”
Another big key was that Turano didn’t get stuck on last year’s waypoints, and he quickly got dialed on the places that had fish spawning this week.
“At different water levels during the spawn, they spawn on different pieces. It might only be a foot or two difference,” he explained. “The areas I was catching them really good last year, weren’t the same this time. They were nearby, but in practice, I found they were spawning on the other side of the bar, the deeper side. We had really low water, we haven’t had big rains this year, and the water warmed up so quick that they started spawning when they typically wait a little longer, until the water comes up.”
Turano mostly went with the traditional jig and minnow to catch his fish, using a 1/8- or 3/16-ounce head with a 5-inch Yamamoto Hinge Minnow. He threw that on a 7-foot, 1-inch, medium Phenix Feather with 15-pound braid and a 15-pound fluorocarbon leader. He mixed in a drop-shot with a 6-inch Roboworm Straight Tail Worm in bold bluegill, and his largemouth Ned rig consisted of a 3-inch Roboworm Ned Worm and a Northland Tackle Tungsten Nedster.
Turano, and a few others, have perfected the spring smallmouth game on Kentucky Lake in recent years. This week, he and the rest of the locals showed why they’re so dangerous on their home turf, turning in consistency and high-level weights despite limited time with modern sonar. Now, after a good rest, he’ll be rolling west to Table Rock Lake and the biggest tournament he’s ever fished.
“I’m feeling amazing,” he said. “At the end of the day Saturday, I was super stressed out, it was a really close tournament. I’m super grateful I signed up this week and gave it a try. I wasn’t sure if I was going to sign up, because it was so close to REDCREST. I just wanted to make sure I was prepared for REDCREST, but I don’t know of a better way to prepare for a tournament than going out and winning one and getting some momentum.”
The top 10 pros at the Toyota Series at Kentucky Lake finished:
1st: Matteo Turano, Puryear, Tenn., 15 bass, 64-2, $66,506 (includes $35,000 Phoenix MLF bonus)
2nd: Levi Kohl, Edinburg, Ill, 15 bass, 62-12, $11,918
3rd: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill, 15 bass, 62-4, $9,227
4th: Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn., 15 bass, 62-2, $7,689
5th: Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 15 bass, 61-14, $6,920
6th: Grant Meisenhelter, Decatur, Ill, 15 bass, 59-4, $6,151
7th: Brad Jelinek, Lincoln, Mo., 15 bass, 59-4, $5,382
8th: Carter Nutt, Nashville, Tenn., 15 bass, 58-12, $4,613
9th: Ethan Fields, Breese, Ill., 15 bass, 57-3, $3,845
10th: Drew Morgan, Murray, Ky., 15 bass, 56-8, $3,076
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Pro Banks Shaw of Harrison, Tennessee, earned Thursday’s $500 Berkley Big Bass Award with a bass weighing 5. pounds, 11 ounces, while Turano won Friday’s $500 Berkley Big Bass, weighing in a 6-pound, 12-ounce bass to earn the $500 award.
Pop Catalin of Cookeville, Tennessee, won the co-angler division Saturday at Kentucky Lake with a three-day total of 11 bass weighing 37 pounds, 1 ounce. Catalin earned the top co-angler prize package worth $33,500, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor.
The top 10 co-anglers at the Toyota Series at Kentucky Lake finished:
1st: Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., eleven bass, 37-1, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard
2nd: Dustin Seick, Hixson, Tenn., 13 bass, 34-11, $3,933
3rd: John Lovin, Fayetteville, Ohio, 13 bass, 33-4, $3,146
4th: Dennis Young, Olathe, Kan., 11 bass, 33-3, $$2,853
5th: Chris McClellan, Desoto, Mo., 11 bass, 32-2, $2,360
6th: Chase Johnson, Quincy, Ill., 10 bass, 29-12, $1,966
7th: Matt Luken, Independence, Ky., 11 bass, 29-10, $1,573
8th: Johnny Suratt, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., 10 bass, 27-11, $1,376
9th: Troy Karafa, Racine, Wis., eight bass, 25-2, $1,180
10th: Ben Mathis, Murray, Ky., eight bass, 25-0, $983
Co-angler Dakota Ball of Connersville, Indiana, earned the first Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of the week on Thursday with a 5-pound, 10-ounce bass to earn the $150 prize, while Friday’s Day 2 $150 co-angler award went to Matt Chumbler of Carbondale, Illinois, who weighed in a bass totaling 6 pounds, 2 ounces.
The Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Kentucky Lake was hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau. It was the second of three regular-season tournaments for the Toyota Series Plains Division. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will be the Toyota Series at Lake Seminole , April 30 – May 2, in Bainbridge, Georgia. For a complete schedule of events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2026 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern and Southwestern – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the five 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 2027. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard. The 2026 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 5-7 on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee, and is hosted by Explore Pickwick Lake & Hardin County Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PiranhO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
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.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Consistent Loftus jumps into the lead on Day 2 of B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Cherokee Lake
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — The catches weren’t fast and furious, but Iowa pro Chase Loftus weighed in his second consecutive limit of over 15 pounds to leapfrog a pair of Tennesseans into the Day 2 lead at the Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Cherokee Lake presented by Lowrance. Loftus caught 15 pounds 1 ounces of smallmouth today to go along with the 15-14 he boxed yesterday and is ahead of Day 1 leader Rex Reagan by 3 ounces.
Everyone other than Loftus in the top eight is from either Tennessee or Kentucky, as are 15 of the top 20 overall, but the Iowa City resident doesn’t feel intimidated.
“I’ve learned a lot from the Iowa B.A.S.S. Nation boys,” he said. “They’ve taken a lot of my money over the years. I had to learn how to adapt up there and I guess what I learned works down here, too.”
He’s put together over 30 pounds of Tennessee bass by chasing spawners using his electronics, but he’s yet to be able to settle into a single area.
“My stuff from Day 1 was really bad today,” he said. “The day started off really slow, but then I went to a new spot I’ve never fished and caught a limit. Then I went to another new spot and caught a 4-pounder. I think I figured out a little pattern, but I’ve been consistent because I’ve been able to run new water. I still don’t know exactly what I’m going to do tomorrow, but I’m going to have three rods on the deck.”
Reagan had the big bag of the tournament so far yesterday with 16-15, but couldn’t quite back it up today. He added 13-13, still a decent amount, but lost the lead. He too said he was the victim of a tough morning bite.
“It was a slow start to say the least,” he reported. “But I did have one 2-pounder I was working on and a 4 1/2 pounder shot up and took it from him. It was slow from there, with just another 2.70. My fish are moving, they’re leaving the area I’ve fished.”
While he’d said yesterday that the vast majority of his fish were smallmouth, today he weighed in two largemouth. His cousin, also fishing nearby, had a lighter bag, but it included another 4-pounder. Combined, those factors gave him hope that he can push through to victory without having to chase new water. But if burning gas is required, he’ll be ready to get on the throttle.
“I’d like to have multiple backup patterns in case this doesn’t work out, but I haven’t found anything else,” he said. “If it doesn’t work out, I definitely won’t be sitting in my first area as long as I did today. Today I had some motor trouble. It kept cutting on and off, so I didn’t get to move around a lot. But I have a mechanic coming over to fix it. I’m a run and gun fisherman. I like to cover a lot of water.”
If Reagan were to qualify for the 2027 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour he would be in position to become the second straight Nation champ, and the youngest champ in the event’s history. He would not, however, become the youngest qualifier. He’ll turn 18 later this year, several months before the tournament. In 2024, Florida’s Aaron Yavorsky fished the Classic on Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O' the Cherokees a week after his 18th birthday.
Virginia boater Jeff Salmon landed the Big Bass of the Day. It weighed 5 pounds even. Through two days, Kentucky boater Kevin True holds the mark for big bass of the event with yesterday’s 5 pound 6 ounce largemouth.
Clifford Chilson of New York leads the nonboater division with a two-day total weighing 16-9. He added a three-bass limit weighing 8-10 to his Day 1 catch of 7-15 to take the lead by nearly a pound and a half. KB Bridges of Tennessee is second with 15-2 and Ryan Baker of Tennessee is third with 13-3. Today’s big bass on the nonboater side was a 3-8 caught by Bob Zagrzebski of Wisconsin. Julie Price of West Virginia caught the largest nonboater bass of the tournament so far with a 3-11 on Day 1.
The Top 20 boaters and nonboaters will advance to Saturday’s final round.
The cut weight for the Top 20 on the boater side was 25-4, just 5-11 behind the leader, meaning that anyone still fishing on Saturday has a legitimate shot to win. Four anglers are within a pound of Loftus and two more are within 2 pounds. Gavin Clevenger was the only member of the current top five whose weight went up today. He added 15-5 to the 14-10 he weighed in yesterday and jumped up from 8th place to 3rd. Otherwise, the top of the leaderboard has largely contained the same names both days, albeit in different orders.
The Top 10% of boaters and nonboaters after the final-day weigh-in will advance to the 2026 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance, where boaters will compete for a spot on the 2027 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series as well as one of three spots in the 2027 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
The tournament is being hosted by Visit Jefferson County, TN.
2026 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Title Sponsor: Mercury
2026 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Presenting Sponsor: Lowrance
2026 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2026 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mountain Dew, Nitro Boats, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2026 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Lew's, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, VMC, Yokohama
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]
2026 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Cherokee Lake presented by Lowrance 4/10-4/12
Cherokee Lake, Jefferson City TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Chase Loftus Iowa City, IA 10 30-15 0
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 15-01
2. Rex Reagan Livingston, TN 10 30-12 0
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 5 13-13
3. Gavin Clevenger Knoxville, TN 10 29-15 0
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 15-05
4. Wyatt Pearman Hodgenville, KY 10 29-06 0
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 14-07
5. Hunter Price Morristown, TN 10 29-04 0
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 12-12
6. Josh Roark Bean Station, TN 10 28-10 0
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 13-11
7. Joe Vaulton Knoxville, TN 10 28-07 0
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 14-09
8. Andrew Turner Kalispell, MT 10 26-13 0
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 14-12
9. Hayden Seabolt Dawsonville, GA 10 26-10 0
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 12-04
10. Tanner Visco Antioch, IL 10 26-08 0
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 13-15
11. Landon Lawson Jonesborough, TN 10 26-07 0
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 14-04
12. Kevin True Frankfort, KY 10 26-01 0
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 10-08
13. Ethan Shaw Carmel, IN 10 25-13 0
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 13-14
14. Lucas Reagan Byrdstown, TN 9 25-12 0
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 4 10-14
15. Drake Hemby Farragut, TN 10 25-12 0
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 13-07
16. Donavan Carson Piney Flats, TN 10 25-11 0
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 14-08
17. Thy Dinh Charleston, WV 10 25-09 0
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 11-11
18. Nathan Sheehan Danville, KY 10 25-07 0
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 13-12
19. Josh Lee Clinton, TN 10 25-07 0
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 12-06
20. Hayden Gaddis Dandridge, TN 10 25-04 0
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 12-03
21. Matt Mosby Dryden, MI 10 25-02 0 $820.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 11-07
22. Mason Humann Talbott, TN 10 25-01 0 $820.00
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 11-00
23. Terry Ford Harriman, TN 10 24-15 0 $820.00
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 10-12
24. Peyton Sorrow Abbeville, SC 10 24-13 0 $820.00
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 11-07
25. Hunter Bouldin McMinnville, TN 10 24-03 0 $820.00
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 11-15
26. John Fuqua Payson, AZ 10 23-15 0 $754.00
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 12-13
27. Bill Humbard Jr New Market, TN 10 23-14 0 $754.00
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 11-07
28. Nathan Reynolds Nashville, TN 10 23-10 0 $754.00
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 12-00
29. Louis Monetti Brielle, NJ 10 23-08 0 $754.00
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 11-03
30. Casey Majni Knoxville, TN 10 23-08 0 $754.00
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 11-04
31. Walker LaRue Alcoa, TN 10 23-07 0 $754.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 12-14
32. Steven Griffith Schellsburg, PA 10 23-01 0 $754.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 09-09
33. Justin Yenter Stevens Point, WI 10 23-01 0 $754.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 11-11
34. Marcus Warren Jefferson City, TN 9 22-13 0 $754.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 4 09-02
35. Jeff Salmon Mechanicsville, VA 10 22-10 0 $754.00
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 13-03
36. Darryl Halbert Enoree, SC 10 22-08 0 $754.00
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 10-08
37. Szymon Piton Orland Park, IL 8 22-06 0 $754.00
Day 1: 3 08-05 Day 2: 5 14-01
38. Ty Ball Rogersville, TN 9 22-00 0 $754.00
Day 1: 4 08-02 Day 2: 5 13-14
39. Owen Stamm Morristown, TN 10 21-15 0 $754.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 09-09
40. Jake Lee Powell, TN 9 21-13 0 $754.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 4 09-12
41. Richard Cobb V Berea , KY 10 21-04 0
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 10-14
42. Jeremy Homeyer Franklin, TN 10 21-02 0
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 10-12
43. James Myers Lawrenceburg, KY 10 20-14 0
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 10-13
44. Kevin Newcomb Saint Albans, WV 8 20-05 0
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 5 12-14
45. Evan Newell Jefferson City, TN 9 20-04 0
Day 1: 4 10-02 Day 2: 5 10-02
46. Dave Turner Citrus Springs, FL 10 19-14 0
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 09-08
47. Gavin Cloutier Gray, TN 9 19-13 0
Day 1: 4 08-01 Day 2: 5 11-12
48. Tommy Parker Delano, MN 9 19-12 0
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 4 08-09
49. Jason Slagstad Cameron, WI 9 19-06 0
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 4 08-00
50. Joey Baldacchino Arrington, TN 9 19-02 0
Day 1: 4 07-13 Day 2: 5 11-05
51. Russell Hoyle Newton, NC 7 18-13 0
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 2 06-06
52. Chris Miller Spirit Lake, IA 8 18-13 0
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 5 12-04
53. Brad Smith Collierville, TN 9 18-11 0
Day 1: 4 07-11 Day 2: 5 11-00
54. Carter Cunningham Dawsonville, GA 8 18-09 0
Day 1: 4 09-11 Day 2: 4 08-14
55. Bradley Day Anderson, SC 7 18-03 0
Day 1: 3 07-12 Day 2: 4 10-07
56. David Gorman Canton, GA 8 18-01 0
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 3 05-10
57. Brent Shores Savannah, TN 9 18-01 0
Day 1: 4 08-01 Day 2: 5 10-00
58. Cavin Young Sr Prince George, VA 7 17-14 0
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 2 04-06
59. Randy Huffman Charleston, WV 8 17-06 0
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 5 10-15
60. Brian Gunn Savannah, GA 8 17-02 0
Day 1: 4 07-11 Day 2: 4 09-07
61. Tom Spence Cleveland, TN 7 17-00 0
Day 1: 3 06-15 Day 2: 4 10-01
62. Brian Gibler Clarksville, TN 7 16-14 0
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 2 04-08
63. Dylan Wright Murfreesboro, TN 8 16-04 0
Day 1: 4 08-08 Day 2: 4 07-12
64. Daniel Keyes Knoxville, TN 8 16-03 0
Day 1: 4 08-01 Day 2: 4 08-02
65. Ryan West Hartsville, SC 7 15-11 0
Day 1: 2 04-09 Day 2: 5 11-02
66. Miles Howe Soddy Daisy, TN 6 15-10 0
Day 1: 4 08-09 Day 2: 2 07-01
67. Damon Phillips Anderson, SC 7 15-09 0
Day 1: 3 06-12 Day 2: 4 08-13
68. Jacob Berryhill Mooresburg, TN 7 15-07 0
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 4 09-02
69. Bryant Copley Altavista, VA 8 15-02 0
Day 1: 4 08-06 Day 2: 4 06-12
70. Cole Zagrzebski Portage, MI 6 15-00 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 5 13-04
71. William Elmore Culloden, WV 8 14-12 0
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 3 05-08
72. Kenji Yamada Chattanooga, TN 6 14-09 0
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 1 02-11
73. Marc Fields Dover, TN 7 14-02 0
Day 1: 4 08-12 Day 2: 3 05-06
74. Mike Toney Blacksburg, VA 7 14-02 0
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 4 08-06
75. John Conway Jr Henrico, VA 6 14-00 0
Day 1: 2 04-02 Day 2: 4 09-14
76. Jess Beihoffer Soddy Daisy, TN 6 13-15 0
Day 1: 4 09-06 Day 2: 2 04-09
77. Brady LeMarbe Milford, MI 6 13-03 0
Day 1: 3 07-03 Day 2: 3 06-00
78. Derrick Snavely Piney Flats, TN 6 12-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 5 11-02
79. Dylan Fogarty Mechanicsburg, PA 5 12-10 0
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
80. Jesse Dodson Greenville, KY 5 12-04 0
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 2 05-11
81. Lane Clark Anderson, SC 4 12-00 0
Day 1: 2 06-14 Day 2: 2 05-02
82. Dana Brown Buckhannon, WV 5 11-14 0
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 2 04-07
83. Joe Johnson Clarksville, TN 5 11-12 0
Day 1: 4 10-02 Day 2: 1 01-10
84. Shane Nelson Wadsworth, OH 6 11-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 5 10-00
85. Tom Sutton II Bidwell, OH 4 10-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 3 09-04
86. Eric Frazier Newport, VA 4 10-12 0
Day 1: 4 10-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
87. Justin Raines Easley, SC 5 10-08 0
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Nico Urso Union, KY 5 10-07 0
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
89. Jacob Lee Lynchburg, VA 5 10-07 0
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 2 04-01
90. Hank Lowrie Coalmont, TN 5 10-06 0
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 2 05-01
91. Brandon Edel White House, TN 5 10-03 0
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
92. Greg Vance Delhi, IA 5 10-03 0
Day 1: 2 03-09 Day 2: 3 06-10
93. Cole Willis Greenup, KY 4 10-01 0
Day 1: 4 10-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
94. Drexal Hubbard Connersville, IN 5 09-13 0
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
95. Kyle Ricker Greenville, SC 4 09-13 0
Day 1: 4 09-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
96. Josh Long Fraziers Bottom, WV 4 09-11 0
Day 1: 1 02-11 Day 2: 3 07-00
97. Dylan May Brownsburg, IN 4 09-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10 Day 2: 3 07-00
98. David Chase Las Cruces, NM 5 09-08 0
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 2 03-10
99. Brian Portlock West Columbia, SC 5 09-03 0
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
100. Grayson Brewster Anderson, SC 5 09-02 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 09-02
101. Xander Daniel Iron City, TN 4 09-02 0
Day 1: 4 09-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
102. Rick Hamer Charleston, WV 5 09-00 0
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
103. Randall Christopher Danville, KY 5 08-15 0
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
104. Ronald Guthrie Moneta, VA 5 08-15 0
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 3 05-07
105. Brett Rodefer Knoxville, TN 4 08-10 0
Day 1: 4 08-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
106. Mark Cox Hiwassee, VA 4 08-09 0
Day 1: 4 08-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
106. Adam Richardson Littleton, NC 4 08-09 0
Day 1: 4 08-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
106. Cal Rogers Kingsport, TN 4 08-09 0
Day 1: 4 08-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
106. Trevor Topken Hickory, NC 4 08-09 0
Day 1: 4 08-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
110. David McDaniel Dayton, OH 4 08-07 0
Day 1: 4 08-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
111. Evan Polley Elizabethtown, IN 4 08-02 0
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 2 04-10
112. Landon Morgan Murray, KY 3 08-02 0
Day 1: 2 04-05 Day 2: 1 03-13
113. Steve Hardy Staunton, VA 5 08-01 0
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 2 03-06
114. Pat Westbrook West Union, SC 3 08-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 2 05-07
115. Eric Boyd Monteagle, TN 3 07-12 0
Day 1: 3 07-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
116. Randy Gillespie Sanford, NC 4 07-08 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 07-08
117. Steve Wilson Union City, TN 4 07-07 0
Day 1: 4 07-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
118. Nathan Hentschel Hickory, NC 3 07-06 0
Day 1: 3 07-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
119. Wes Wilson Athens, GA 4 07-02 0
Day 1: 4 07-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
120. Jon Mitchell Wendell, NC 3 06-14 0
Day 1: 2 04-13 Day 2: 1 02-01
121. Michael Boggs II Wheelersburg, OH 3 06-12 0
Day 1: 3 06-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
122. Ben Cully Conroe, TX 3 06-04 0
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
123. Tyler Madden Auburn, AL 3 06-03 0
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
123. Mike Williams Lancaster, KY 3 06-03 0
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
125. Tucker Cory Amherst, WI 3 05-15 0
Day 1: 3 05-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
126. Ryan Michek Brooklyn, WI 3 05-14 0
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
127. Phil Curtis Rosseau ONTARIO CANADA 3 05-13 0
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
128. Justin Hrach Rostraver Township, PA 3 05-08 0
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
129. Kevin Postalwait Ripley, WV 3 05-07 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 05-07
130. Dalton Noble Hazard, KY 2 05-07 0
Day 1: 2 05-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
131. Matt Coughlin Dandridge, TN 2 05-06 0
Day 1: 2 05-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
132. Balyn Wolfe Sevierville, TN 2 04-12 0
Day 1: 1 03-00 Day 2: 1 01-12
133. Jacob Frazier Jefferson City, TN 2 04-10 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-10
133. Mark Ochkie California, PA 2 04-10 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-10
135. Greg Walker Manning, SC 2 04-09 0
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 1 02-05
136. Mike Caul South Prince George, VA 2 04-00 0
Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
137. Justin Guck Winder, GA 2 03-15 0
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
138. Nathaniel Melgaard Elk Mound, WI 2 03-14 0
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
139. Mason Gillihan Manchester, IA 1 03-12 0
Day 1: 1 03-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Parker Batts Dandridge, TN 2 03-11 0
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
141. Tom Hill Nicholasville, KY 2 03-10 0
Day 1: 2 03-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
142. Ron Taylor Chicago, IL 2 03-08 0
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
143. Michael Wooten Goodlettsville, TN 2 03-05 0
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
144. Chris Risley Clarkesville, GA 1 02-14 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-14
145. Sid Ryan Bracey, VA 1 02-13 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-13
146. Thom Abraham Winchester, TN 1 02-12 0
Day 1: 1 02-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
147. Bojan Blazeski Cumming, GA 1 02-11 0
Day 1: 1 02-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
148. Tim Davis Mascot, TN 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
149. George Schurr Columbus, GA 1 02-06 0
Day 1: 1 02-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
150. Westin Moss Jasper, TN 1 02-04 0
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Randall Carter Maplesville, AL 1 02-02 0
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
152. Johnny Bigger II Spring Hill, FL 1 02-01 0
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
153. Josh Giroldi Beachville Ontario CANA 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
154. Nathaniel Terbush Ann Arbor, MI 1 01-15 0
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
155. Allen Williford Paducah, KY 1 01-11 0
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
156. Larry Witt Evington, VA 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
157. Ben Green Jasper, TN 1 00-13 0
Day 1: 1 00-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Joe Anders Easley, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Lyle Atkins Culloden, WV 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Shaye Baker Auburn, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Mark Bell Fisherville, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. James Clements Sparta, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Mark Cooper Nicholasville, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Charles Crozier Monticello, IN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Chris Episcopo Canonsburg, PA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Gregg Fogner Conway, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Sean Gavan Midland, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Randy Gibson Jr Moncks Corner, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Donnie Hendrickson Sharpsburg, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Shane Hoelzle Peachtree City, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. JM Howard Lynchburg, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Hayden Lambe Scugog CANADA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Greg McDavid Blountville, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Trey Nanney III Rocky Mount, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Gary Pope Jr Georgetown, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Colby Robertson Summerfield, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Charles Sim Wasaga Beach Ontario CA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 58 532 1239-07
2 54 408 966-11
------------------------------
112 940 2206-02
Teenager Rex Reagan sacks 16-15 to lead Day 1 of B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier at Cherokee Lake
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The War on UV
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From merino to bamboo, Whitewater® Fishing redefines on-water protection to keep anglers out of the heat and in the hunt |
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By Glenn Walker |
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MUSKEGON, Mich. (April 10, 2026) – If you’re a diehard angler or a tournament competitor, downtime isn’t in your vocabulary. But the reality is that overheating and UV overexposure will pull you off the water faster than a mechanical failure. We’ve all seen the long-term toll the sun takes on veteran captains, guides, professional anglers alike – for many of us, me included, those routine precautionary visits to the dermatologist are a sobering reminder that the water reflects as much energy as the sky delivers. When I’m grinding through long days of prefishing for a tournament, I’ve moved past the messy era of constant sunscreen reapplication. Sunscreen is oily, it adds unwanted odors to your hands that can spook fish, and it’s easy to miss a spot. My solution is simple: total coverage via technical UPF apparel. The Hoodie Advantage Most UPF shirts are offered in standard long-sleeve or hoodie silhouettes. My personal choice is always the hoodie. Your neck and ears are the highest points of exposure and the most prone to direct hits from UV rays. A technical hood eliminates the sunscreen reapplication cycle and provides a constant, breathable barrier that keeps you focused on the electronics, not the burn. |
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Whitewater’s Technical Trio Whitewater Fishing has engineered three distinct UPF options that allow anglers to tailor their protection to the heat index. |
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SPINDRIFT MERINO FISHING HOODIE – Gold Standard: In my opinion, this is the pinnacle of technical sunwear. Weighing in at a feather-light 120g, it delivers UPF 50+ protection. The real story here is the merino wool—it’s naturally moisture-wicking and antimicrobial. The material regulates your body temperature on humid days and kills the bacteria that cause end-of-day sweat odors. It’s the ultimate high-performance tool for extended sessions. |
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SLIPSTREAM BAMBOO HOODIE – Breathable Alternative: New to the lineup, the Slipstream utilizes a 149g Bamboo/Poly blend. This fabric is incredibly breathable, promoting rapid evaporation to create a natural cooling effect. With natural UPF 15 protection, it’s a stellar choice for high-activity days where airflow is your primary concern. |
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LIGHTWEIGHT TECH HOODIE – Everyday Essential: The Lightweight Tech Hoodie is the workhorse of the collection—a true everyday essential. With a UPF 50 rating, it offers maximum defense against harmful UV rays, shielding the angler through long days on the water. Built with a rugged construction that handles the relentless abuse of a tournament season, this hoodie combines technical protection with the durability required for elite-level performance. |
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The Lightweight Tech Hoodie and Slipstream Bamboo Hoodie are also available in Vintage Duck Camo. |
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Beyond the Gunwale One design feature that stands out across the Whitewater line—particularly with the Slipstream—is the clean, understated aesthetic. These aren't billboard shirts covered in gaudy logos. They are built with 4-way stretch for total mobility—whether you’re loading a bait net or casting a heavy swimbait—but they look sharp enough to wear straight from the boat to the dinner table. Ultimately, Whitewater isn't just making clothes – they are building gear that extends your time on the water. Stay covered, stay cool, and stay in the hunt. |
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The Ten Protocols of Fish Handling
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EGO® Fishing shares widely accepted standards for sustainable catch-and-release |
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Caldwell, ID (April 8, 2026) – In the modern era of angling, a successful catch is no longer measured solely by the selfie or poundage in the cooler, but by the health of the fish upon release. As pressure on our waterways increases, the responsibility of the angler evolves from simple participation to active resource stewardship. EGO Fishing recognizes that the transition from the hook to the water is the most critical window in a fish’s life cycle—a high-stress period where technical gear and precise handling determine long-term survival. To bridge the gap between performance and conservation, we have established the following 10 protocols. These are not merely suggestions – they are the benchmarks required to ensure that every trophy caught today remains a viable part of the ecosystem tomorrow. Protocol I: Pre-Contact Hydration The fish’s primary defense against infection is the mucosal slime coat. Dry skin or abrasive boat surfaces act as a desiccant, stripping this layer. Protocol: Anglers should thoroughly wet their hands and any contact surfaces before touching the fish. If your hands aren't wet, do not make contact. |
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Protocol II: Non-Abrasive Netting Selection Legacy nylon netting is a known cause of fin-splitting and scale loss. Protocol: Utilize specialized rubber or PVC-coated netting. The smooth surface of a rubber mesh hoop on an EGO S2 Slider cradles the fish while maintaining the integrity of the slime coat and preventing hook snags. |
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Protocol III: Submerged Hook Extraction Air exposure is a primary stressor that leads to metabolic collapse. Protocol: Once the fish is secured in the hoop, keep the net submerged while preparing tools. Perform the unhooking while the fish is still in the water whenever the situation allows. |
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Photo courtesy of DAIWA |
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Protocol IV: Bilateral Weight Distribution Gravity is an unnatural force for aquatic species – vertical holds by the jaw can cause internal organ displacement or skeletal damage. Protocol: Always provide a horizontal cradle. Use one hand for a controlled jaw grip and the second hand to support the belly, distributing the fish’s mass evenly. |
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Photo courtesy of DAIWA |
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Protocol V: Linear Revival Dynamics Fish gills function as one-way valves designed for forward-moving water. Protocol: When reviving, hold the fish upright and move it in a slow, forward-only motion. Never pump a fish backward, as this causes the gill filaments to collapse and hinders oxygen exchange. Protocol VI: The Breathing Benchmark A simple metric for survival: If you can’t breathe, they can’t breathe. Protocol: Limit total out-of-water exposure to the duration you can comfortably hold your own breath. If the fight was grueling, the fish requires immediate and extended water immersion. |
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Protocol VII: Geometric Interception The danger zone for both the angler and the fish is the final ten feet at the boat. Protocol: Use the extended reach of the S2 Slider to intercept the fish further from the gunwale. This minimizes the violent, high-stress thrashing that occurs when a fish is brought too close to the boat's vibration and shadows. |
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EGO's new FIRESTEEL Tool Kit includes pliers, hook remover and fish gripper amongst other fishing gear. |
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Protocol VIII: Tool Readiness & Staging Fumbling for gear while a fish is on the deck is the leading cause of avoidable mortality. Protocol: Pliers, grippers, hook remover, and camera must be staged and accessible before the first cast of the day is made. Protocol IX: Ocular and Branchial Avoidance The gills (branchial arches) and eyes are the most vulnerable anatomical points. Protocol: Keep fingers clear of the gill plates and eye sockets. Any damage to the vascular gill structure is typically fatal, regardless of how strong the fish swims away. |
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Photo courtesy of DAIWA |
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Protocol X: Autonomous Release Verification A successful release is a hand-off, not a toss. Protocol: Maintain a gentle grip on the fish in a swimming position until it regains full equilibrium. Do not release the fish until it demonstrates an active, autonomous kick to exit your grasp. |
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The Future of the Catch By adhering to these 10 Protocols of Fish Handling, anglers transition from passive observers to active participants in the long-term health of our fisheries. The integration of advanced landing tools, such as the EGO S2 Slider, with scientifically-backed release techniques ensures that every encounter—from the initial strike to the final release—is managed with the highest level of precision. Ultimately, the survival of the resource depends on the critical window of time between the net and the water – these protocols serve as the definitive roadmap for the modern, conservation-minded angler to ensure that today’s trophy is tomorrow’s sustainable success. |
FROM CUT LINE TO CONTENTION: JUSTIN LUCAS TURNS SURVIVAL INTO $4,000 BONUS
By Walker Smith, Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships / Photos: MLF
There are some skills related to being a top-level tournament fisherman that only reveal themselves when things go wrong first. For Justin Lucas, that played out in full at the Bass Pro Tour’s Suzuki Marine Stage 4 on O.H. Ivie and Lake Brownwood.
What began as a grind with borderline survival to stay in contention ended with a runner-up finish, a surge of momentum and a well-earned $4,000 payout through Toyota’s Bonus Bucks program. But if you only looked at the final leaderboard, you’d miss the real story.
“Honestly, I struggled at O.H. Ivie,” Lucas said. “I was in 24th place to make the cut and they only take the top 25 finishers. So, I barely made it. I was thankful to even advance.”
That’s the thing about multi-stage events like this one. Survival is equally as important as dominance early on. O.H. Ivie, known for its big-bass potential, didn’t roll out the red carpet for Lucas. Instead, it forced him into a defensive posture, scrambling for just enough bites to squeak into the next round. And squeak, he did. By the time the field transitioned to Lake Brownwood, Lucas wasn’t close to the lead.
But he was still fishing, and that’s all he needed.
“It was a new tournament going into the weekend on Lake Brownwood,” Lucas explained. “I had been there a few times previously, so I felt pretty good. On Saturday, it was cloudy all day and I found a shad spawn with a white swim jig. While shad spawns normally only last for the first few hours of daylight, this one lasted all day long throughout the entire tournament. Sunday was sunny and the shad spawn shut down completely.”
Recognizing an all-day shad spawn when most anglers expect a fleeting morning bite was the turning point. Lucas capitalized in a big way. Fishing docks became his primary pattern but not just any docks. He honed in on specific structural elements that positioned fish perfectly for feeding activity tied to the spawn.
“I mostly targeted docks for the shad spawn,” he said. “I was looking for the deepest docks I could find. I think I was catching mostly post-spawn bass but there were definitely some prespawners mixed in. The water temperature was in the low 60s so it wasn’t too hot at all. It was like the perfect storm to catch bass coming and going.”
That perfect storm is something anglers chase constantly but rarely find. This time, it was a convergence of seasonal timing, water temperature and forage behavior that stacked fish predictably.
Lucas didn’t stumble into it but instead he recognized it, trusted it and exploited it. Saturday’s cloudy conditions extended the bite far beyond its normal window, allowing him to build a critical foundation. As quickly as patterns emerge in fishing, however, they often disappear and Sunday proved that.
“I think Saturday night got too cold,” Lucas said. “That’s when I switched to a dice-style bait to catch my fish on Sunday.”
The adjustment wasn’t optional but necessary. The sunny skies and dropping overnight temperatures shut down the shad spawn entirely, forcing Lucas to pivot from a horizontal, reaction-based presentation to something more methodical.
Many anglers would have tried to force the swim jig bite for too long. Lucas didn’t. He adjusted, executed and climbed. By the end of the event, Lucas had surged all the way to second place, a finish that felt worlds apart from his near elimination just days earlier. It was the kind of comeback that doesn’t just earn points, but reinforces confidence.
Through Toyota’s Bonus Bucks contingency program, Lucas added $4,000 to his winnings simply for running a qualifying tow vehicle. It’s a detail that’s becoming increasingly significant in the economics of professional fishing.
“Toyota is the only truck company that pays you to drive their trucks,” Lucas said. “I’m planning on running a Tundra for the foreseeable future. You can’t beat Bonus Bucks.”
In a sport where travel is relentless and margins can be thin; those bonuses matter. For Lucas, the reliability and comfort of his truck played a role long before the first cast was made.
“It was a 14-hour drive to these lakes, and this new Tundra is the most comfortable truck I’ve ever owned,” he said. “The gas mileage is solid, too. I’d say it’s the best I’ve ever gotten out of a gas truck.”
Lucas’ endorsement reflects the reality of life on tour. There are lots of long hauls, changing conditions and the need for consistency both on and off the water. Thankfully, Lucas found both this week. From barely making the cut at O.H. Ivie to unlocking a fleeting pattern on Lake Brownwood, his tournament was a study in persistence, awareness and execution under pressure.
Emanuel’s Edwards and Lintner claim close win In Bassmaster College Series at Santee-Cooper
CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — A furious start and an afternoon kicker cemented a narrow win for Emmanuel College teammates Caleb Edwards and Jayden Lintner, who topped the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Santee Cooper Lakes presented by Bass Pro Shops with a 5-bass limit of 34-pounds, 9-ounces.
After severe weather prompted B.A.S.S. to cancel Day 1, the one-day event saw 20 bags over 25 pounds, with five over 30. Edwards and Lintner — a sophomore and freshman, respectively — edged University of Montevallo’s Brody Robison and Peyton Sorrow by 3 ounces.
“This means the world to me,” Edwards said. “It’s the biggest tournament win I’ve ever had.”
Lintner agreed and added: “I just want to thank The Lord and my family, friends, teammates and coaches for the support. This win is a good jumpstart to our careers.”
On this fishery where lakes Marion and Moultrie connect via the 6.5-mile Diversion Canal, Edwards and Lintner spent their day on Marion.
“We decided to stay on Lake Marion because, in practice, we found one little grass flat in Potato Creek that had good bit of fish in it and we caught a 4-pounder there on the first day of practice,” Edwards said. “We actually went and practiced on Lake Moultrie on Day 2 of practice, but we didn’t have any luck down there.
“We decided to go back to Marion on the Day 3 of practice and expand on what we found on Day 1. The led us to a school of fish that were staged on a hard spot in 6-12 feet in the milfoil.”
The main spot where the winners did most of their damage was about 100-150 yards long. As Lintner said, that was not their first choice, but fate had other plans.
“We started off with back-to-back 7-pounders (on the flat) and then, we moved to a point with milfoil across the creek,” Lintner said. “That point was going to be our main spot, but first thing in the morning, there were a lot of boats in that area, so we let the spot clear out and then we went to the point and we caught a 5-pounder.
“I believe all of our fish were prespawn. They were pretty fat and a little off the bank. This was the best day that we’ve hadn’t on Santee-Cooper.”
The winners caught their fish on the green pumpkin Coike Fullcast, a solid elastomer sphere with multiple tentacles, aka “spiky ball.” They rigged this bait with a No. 2 treble hook and a 3/32-ounce nail weight.
“In practice, it was hard to get a bite, but that bait produced most of our big bites,” Edwards said. “Our biggest one in practice was 6 1/2.”
Lintner said he and Edwards fished their baits over the grass with snappy retrieves. Most fish required several twitches to seal the deal, especially the 7-9 that Edwards caught at 12:30.
Summarizing his team’s game plan, Lintner said: “Our success was getting into our area and fishing it, and not getting spun out and running all over the lake.”
Robison and Sorrow finished in second place with 34-6. They, too, devoted their day to Lake Marion and stuck to the south end.
“Lake Marion set up more for our style of fishing,” Robison said. “It felt like the fish were more predictable.”
Noting that he and his partner caught about 10 fish, Robison said they started their day targeting an early shad spawn, mixed in some fry guarders (adult male bass watching over recent hatchlings), and finished their day by fishing stumps and brush piles offshore.
“We caught about 28 pounds early on the shad spawn and fry guarders and then went offshore and culled up a few times,” Robison said.
Robison and Sorrow caught their shallow fish and their offshore upgrades on Clutch Baby Boss and KGB glidebaits, along with Berkley Lab Series minnows in the reservoir shad color on 1/8-ounce jig heads.
Tucker McCoy and Connor Bell of University of Montevallo placed third with 32-7.
Philip Smyrl and Murray Deen of Georgia College won the Phoenix Boats Big Bass award with a 8-10.
This event was hosted by Santee Cooper County.
2026 Bassmaster College Series
2026 Bassmaster College Series
2026 Bassmaster College Series
2026 Bassmaster College Series
2026 Bassmaster College Series
2026 Bassmaster College Series
About B.A.S.S.
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2026 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Santee Cooper - Lunkers 4/9-4/10
Santee Cooper Lakes, Manning SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Caleb Edwards - Jayden Lintner Emmanuel University 250
Day 1: 5 34-09 Total: 5 34-09
2. Brody Robison - Peyton Sorrow University of Montevallo 249
Day 1: 5 34-06 Total: 5 34-06
3. Tucker McCoy - Connor Bell University of Montevallo 248
Day 1: 5 32-07 Total: 5 32-07
4. Storm Clark - Elisha Colley University of Montevallo 247
Day 1: 5 31-03 Total: 5 31-03
5. Michael Gammons - Colby Elliott Emmanuel University 246
Day 1: 5 30-06 Total: 5 30-06
6. Max Hondorp - Ridge Faircloth Troy University 245
Day 1: 5 29-08 Total: 5 29-08
7. Luke Wyle - Trey Richardson III Auburn University 244
Day 1: 5 29-06 Total: 5 29-06
8. Cassius Olson - Nolan Smith University of Montevallo 243
Day 1: 5 29-03 Total: 5 29-03
8. Dylan Sorrells - Thomas Turnbull University of Montevallo 243
Day 1: 5 29-03 Total: 5 29-03
10. Colton Trotter - Barrett Choquette Troy University 241
Day 1: 5 28-13 Total: 5 28-13
11. James Dubose - Daylon Milam University of Montevallo 240
Day 1: 5 28-03 Total: 5 28-03
12. Kaden Casey - Lane Parker Carson-Newman University 239
Day 1: 5 28-00 Total: 5 28-00
13. Lane Clark - Tallis Morrison Erskine College 238
Day 1: 5 27-10 Total: 5 27-10
14. Wesson Vint - Jose Alten Adrian College 237
Day 1: 5 27-08 Total: 5 27-08
15. Cody Domingos - Mason Thompson University of Tennessee 236
Day 1: 5 27-02 Total: 5 27-02
16. Nolan Gray - Riley Brown Carson-Newman University 235
Day 1: 5 26-12 Total: 5 26-12
17. Cole Martin - Griffin Ralph University of Montevallo 234
Day 1: 5 26-09 Total: 5 26-09
18. Scooter Ligon Jr - Logan Fisher Emmanuel College 233
Day 1: 5 26-07 Total: 5 26-07
19. Garrett Ring - Trace Antunes III University of Montevallo 232
Day 1: 5 26-06 Total: 5 26-06
20. Phillip Herring - Parker O'Bryan University of Montevallo 231
Day 1: 5 25-01 Total: 5 25-01
21. Michael Canonica - Matthew Dettling University of Tennessee 230
Day 1: 5 24-15 Total: 5 24-15
22. Evan Ainslie - Wills Urquhart Jr Lander University 229
Day 1: 5 24-13 Total: 5 24-13
23. Chase Wodzinski - Trenton Carey Lander University 228
Day 1: 5 24-08 Total: 5 24-08
24. Hayden Williams - Chase Rogers USC - Union 227
Day 1: 5 24-05 Total: 5 24-05
25. Wes Smith II - Caden Gettys Catawba Valley Community College 226
Day 1: 5 23-15 Total: 5 23-15
25. Michael Witherup - Connor Bower University of Montevallo 226
Day 1: 5 23-15 Total: 5 23-15
27. Matthew Gunn - Matthew Massey Erskine College 224
Day 1: 5 23-07 Total: 5 23-07
27. Will Kimbrough - Mac Nail Georgia Southern University 224
Day 1: 5 23-07 Total: 5 23-07
29. Andrew Turner - Evan Powell Carson-Newman University 222
Day 1: 5 23-04 Total: 5 23-04
30. Colby Carrier - Justin Frey Bethel University 221
Day 1: 5 23-02 Total: 5 23-02
31. Anderson Jones - Lander University 220
Day 1: 5 22-13 Total: 5 22-13
31. Zach Knight - James Sumrell Carson-Newman University 220
Day 1: 5 22-13 Total: 5 22-13
33. Nathan Baldwin - Will Smith University of Alabama 218
Day 1: 4 22-12 Total: 4 22-12
34. Fisher Carver - Cohen Cravey Brewton-Parker College 217
Day 1: 5 22-07 Total: 5 22-07
34. Hunter Slone - Tennessee Tech University 217
Day 1: 5 22-07 Total: 5 22-07
36. Andrew Blanton - Wyatt Gabehart Lander University 215
Day 1: 5 22-06 Total: 5 22-06
37. Peyton Harris - Dalton Head University of Montevallo 214
Day 1: 5 22-05 Total: 5 22-05
38. Easton Drennon - Chase McCarter Carson-Newman University 213
Day 1: 5 22-03 Total: 5 22-03
38. Thomas Smith - Kaleb Butts USC - Union 213
Day 1: 5 22-03 Total: 5 22-03
40. Austin Denmark - Matthew Bennett Faulkner University 211
Day 1: 5 22-02 Total: 5 22-02
41. Cole Moulton - Jared Hubbard Lander University 210
Day 1: 5 22-01 Total: 5 22-01
42. Fisher Heard - Hunter Brewer University of North Alabama 209
Day 1: 5 22-00 Total: 5 22-00
43. Trey Marco - Jake Rowlands Carson-Newman University 208
Day 1: 5 21-14 Total: 5 21-14
44. Graham Flaherty - Nathan Preston Auburn University 207
Day 1: 5 21-12 Total: 5 21-12
45. Jake Lovingood - Bryson Hatcher Bryan College 206
Day 1: 5 21-11 Total: 5 21-11
46. Lucas Washburn - Braylon Eggerding Adrian College 205
Day 1: 5 21-09 Total: 5 21-09
47. Zach Helton - Blake Wheat Carson-Newman University 204
Day 1: 5 21-05 Total: 5 21-05
48. Drake Sturgill - University of Montevallo 203
Day 1: 5 21-03 Total: 5 21-03
49. Alex Geroulis - William Brogan Indiana University 202
Day 1: 5 21-00 Total: 5 21-00
50. Colton Boelkes - Conner Lopez University of North Alabama 201
Day 1: 4 20-12 Total: 4 20-12
51. Avery Padgett - Fischer Barber Troy University 200
Day 1: 5 20-10 Total: 5 20-10
52. Brock Vogel - Carson Winn University of North Alabama 199
Day 1: 5 20-09 Total: 5 20-09
53. Zion Dunaway - Andrew Krintz Purdue University 198
Day 1: 5 20-08 Total: 5 20-08
54. Brycen Williamson - Reed Rooke Erskine College 197
Day 1: 5 20-04 Total: 5 20-04
55. Cole Russell - Ty Trentham University of Tennessee 196
Day 1: 5 20-01 Total: 5 20-01
56. Jon Luke Foster - Erskine College 195
Day 1: 5 20-00 Total: 5 20-00
56. Jackson Mitchell - Evan Polley Carson-Newman University 195
Day 1: 5 20-00 Total: 5 20-00
58. Peyton Dunn - Luke Mcguffin Emmanuel University 193
Day 1: 5 19-15 Total: 5 19-15
59. Hogan Benson - Jackson Pruett USC - Union 192
Day 1: 5 19-13 Total: 5 19-13
60. Brennan Berglund - Colton White University of Montevallo 191
Day 1: 5 19-12 Total: 5 19-12
60. Evan Conn - Collin Allison Auburn University 191
Day 1: 5 19-12 Total: 5 19-12
62. Joe Vaulton - Walker LaRue Carson-Newman University 189
Day 1: 5 19-10 Total: 5 19-10
63. Tanner Moulton - Roper Putnam Lander University 188
Day 1: 5 19-09 Total: 5 19-09
64. Fletcher Allen - Jackson Shore UNC - Charlotte 187
Day 1: 3 19-07 Total: 3 19-07
65. Jack Carroll - Cody Tiemann University of North Alabama 186
Day 1: 5 19-06 Total: 5 19-06
66. Jerry Brumbaugh Jr. - Quade Lobo Adrian College 185
Day 1: 5 19-05 Total: 5 19-05
67. Mattix Durst - Jack Kropp Adrian College 184
Day 1: 5 19-04 Total: 5 19-04
67. Landon Myers - Dakota Van Weelden Carson-Newman University 184
Day 1: 5 19-04 Total: 5 19-04
69. Michael John Teate - Southeastern University 182
Day 1: 5 19-02 Total: 5 19-02
70. Garrett Sullivan - Hayes Pate Faulkner University 181
Day 1: 5 19-01 Total: 5 19-01
71. Andrew Terry - Kole Weir Bryan College 180
Day 1: 4 19-01 Total: 4 19-01
72. Drew Kuhnle - Landon Rollison Lander University 179
Day 1: 5 19-00 Total: 5 19-00
73. Will Hammond - John Such Lander University 178
Day 1: 4 18-13 Total: 4 18-13
73. Owen Wheeler - Bethel University 178
Day 1: 4 18-13 Total: 4 18-13
75. Carty Shoen - Myles Vinyard Auburn University 176
Day 1: 5 18-12 Total: 5 18-12
76. Evan Newell - Dylan May Carson-Newman University 175
Day 1: 5 18-11 Total: 5 18-11
77. Hudson Choquette - Wyatt Wood University of Montevallo 174
Day 1: 5 18-06 Total: 5 18-06
77. Ryan Wiener - Mason Qualey Alexandria Technical And Communi 174
Day 1: 5 18-06 Total: 5 18-06
79. Ryder Krueger - Brayden Jordan Troy University 172
Day 1: 5 18-05 Total: 5 18-05
80. Jaxon Leverette - Austin Sawyer Troy University 171
Day 1: 5 18-04 Total: 5 18-04
81. Drew Pitts - Nicholas DellaPorta Carson-Newman University 170
Day 1: 5 18-02 Total: 5 18-02
81. Tucker Sutherland - Brier Hardy Faulkner University 170
Day 1: 5 18-02 Total: 5 18-02
83. Bryson Dotson - Victor Alford Tennessee Wesleyan University 168
Day 1: 5 18-00 Total: 5 18-00
84. Hank Sturm - Gavyn Rapp Adrian College 167
Day 1: 4 18-00 Total: 4 18-00
85. Aidan Ellege - Jacob Berryhill Carson-Newman University 166
Day 1: 5 17-14 Total: 5 17-14
86. Szymon Piton - Riley Faulkner Carson-Newman University 165
Day 1: 5 17-11 Total: 5 17-11
87. Ethan Hospedales - UNC - Charlotte 164
Day 1: 5 17-10 Total: 5 17-10
88. Anna Kay - Briley Mills Emmanuel University 163
Day 1: 5 17-01 Total: 5 17-01
89. Cambell Hall - Tyler Eggers NC State University 162
Day 1: 5 16-15 Total: 5 16-15
90. Skyler Stevens - Grant McCraney Faulkner University 161
Day 1: 5 16-12 Total: 5 16-12
91. Jacob Jerrell - Jarrett Centers-Elpers USC - Union 160
Day 1: 5 16-09 Total: 5 16-09
92. Rylan Green - Luke McGuffin Erskine College 159
Day 1: 5 16-07 Total: 5 16-07
92. Joe Lutz - Braden Stutts UNC - Charlotte 159
Day 1: 5 16-07 Total: 5 16-07
94. Cole Petroff - Noah Loxley Tennessee Tech University 157
Day 1: 4 16-03 Total: 4 16-03
95. Logan Hendrick - Lenoir Rhyne University 156
Day 1: 5 15-05 Total: 5 15-05
95. James Williams - Emory Jackson Georgia Southern University 156
Day 1: 5 15-05 Total: 5 15-05
97. Dane Leopold - Chris Veitch Coastal Carolina University 154
Day 1: 5 15-04 Total: 5 15-04
98. Matthew Mitchell - Fisher Rodgers University of South Carolina 153
Day 1: 5 15-03 Total: 5 15-03
99. Ryan Small - David Buccafuri Penn State University 152
Day 1: 5 15-02 Total: 5 15-02
100. Bennett Gapinski - Trey Visser Alexandria Technical And Communi 151
Day 1: 5 15-01 Total: 5 15-01
101. Colin Chavers - Preston Barnett Auburn University 150
Day 1: 5 15-00 Total: 5 15-00
102. Max Flatten - Kaden Dorman Erskine College 149
Day 1: 4 14-14 Total: 4 14-14
103. Brayden Ruckman - Zach Wolfe Carson-Newman University 148
Day 1: 5 14-13 Total: 5 14-13
104. Loren Oliver - Tyler Harmon University of South Carolina 147
Day 1: 5 14-12 Total: 5 14-12
105. Finn Maher - Jake Buzin University of South Carolina 146
Day 1: 5 14-11 Total: 5 14-11
106. Gavin Seewald - Drew Turnbull University of North Alabama 145
Day 1: 5 14-05 Total: 5 14-05
107. Ely Hagans - Cole Pennington Bethel University 144
Day 1: 4 14-05 Total: 4 14-05
108. John Kinard - Lincoln Kinard Clemson University 143
Day 1: 5 14-04 Total: 5 14-04
109. Hunter Owens - Jackie Hatfield Carson-Newman University 142
Day 1: 3 14-04 Total: 3 14-04
110. Tyler Mccormick - Branson James Alcoa Fishing Team - TN 141
Day 1: 5 14-03 Total: 5 14-03
111. Elijah Kelley - Kyle Smith Kentucky Christian University 140
Day 1: 5 14-02 Total: 5 14-02
112. Drew Moss - Reece Knight Auburn University 139
Day 1: 5 14-00 Total: 5 14-00
112. Wyatt Varney - Jase Mcadams Clemson University 139
Day 1: 5 14-00 Total: 5 14-00
114. Isaac Patrick - Grant Wells Catawba Valley Community College 137
Day 1: 5 13-12 Total: 5 13-12
115. Connor Westerman - Michael Mcnulty West Virginia University 136
Day 1: 5 13-10 Total: 5 13-10
116. Riley Lawson - Jacob Mathis Emmanuel University 135
Day 1: 5 13-08 Total: 5 13-08
117. Carson Peeters - Drew Wagner University of Wisconsin - Steven 134
Day 1: 3 13-03 Total: 3 13-03
118. Jamison Melton - Andrew Christopher Jr Clemson University 133
Day 1: 5 13-02 Total: 5 13-02
119. Philip Smyrl - Murray Deen Georgia College 132
Day 1: 2 13-02 Total: 2 13-02
120. Luca Palermo - Jake Palmieri Clemson University 131
Day 1: 5 13-01 Total: 5 13-01
121. Ryan Soles - Alexander Karp Georgia Southern University 130
Day 1: 5 13-00 Total: 5 13-00
122. Mason King - Isaac Jahn Purdue University 129
Day 1: 3 13-00 Total: 3 13-00
123. Brady Osborn - Connor Racine Adrian College 128
Day 1: 4 12-12 Total: 4 12-12
124. Cole Guck - Jonah Saad Emmanuel University 127
Day 1: 5 12-07 Total: 5 12-07
125. Cole Hunter - Joseph Bontrager USC - Union 126
Day 1: 5 12-05 Total: 5 12-05
126. Lane Evans - Tyler Gross Purdue University 125
Day 1: 5 12-02 Total: 5 12-02
126. James Lamberth - Carter Burdette Troy University 125
Day 1: 5 12-02 Total: 5 12-02
126. Tanner Wassilchalk - Andrew Cianflone West Virginia University 125
Day 1: 5 12-02 Total: 5 12-02
129. Brendan Ellis - Parker Mckee Faulkner University 122
Day 1: 3 12-02 Total: 3 12-02
130. Tate Turner - Judson Touchstone Auburn University 121
Day 1: 3 12-00 Total: 3 12-00
131. Anderson Keim - Adam Hyder Clemson University 120
Day 1: 3 11-14 Total: 3 11-14
132. Dylan Mclaughlin - Lawton Williams Erskine College 119
Day 1: 5 11-13 Total: 5 11-13
133. Quinn Williams - Emery Burnett Georgia Southern University 118
Day 1: 5 11-12 Total: 5 11-12
134. Dawson Woerner - Wyatt Cash Purdue University 117
Day 1: 5 11-10 Total: 5 11-10
135. Hunter Barrow - Kanton Trull Catawba Valley Community College 116
Day 1: 5 11-08 Total: 5 11-08
135. William Gully - Colton Odom Auburn University 116
Day 1: 5 11-08 Total: 5 11-08
137. Hampton Shull - Landon Surrett Lander University 114
Day 1: 5 11-06 Total: 5 11-06
138. Branton Champion - Michael Avery Emmanuel University 113
Day 1: 5 11-04 Total: 5 11-04
139. Brody Mitchell - Michael Markham University of Montevallo 112
Day 1: 3 11-04 Total: 3 11-04
140. Bryce Balentine - Will Boyd Jr Florida Gateway College 111
Day 1: 5 11-02 Total: 5 11-02
141. Luke Davis - Kaden Raichel University of Montevallo 110
Day 1: 3 11-00 Total: 3 11-00
142. Matthew Norton - Ian Schroeder UNC - Charlotte 109
Day 1: 4 10-15 Total: 4 10-15
143. Connor Green - Braden Bevington Faulkner University 108
Day 1: 4 10-13 Total: 4 10-13
144. Rylan Houk - Pete Shumaker East Tennessee State University 107
Day 1: 4 10-06 Total: 4 10-06
145. Noah Haas - Isaac Shafer Purdue University 106
Day 1: 5 10-00 Total: 5 10-00
146. Reece Kilian - Joey Cotromano III Lander University 105
Day 1: 3 10-00 Total: 3 10-00
147. Alex Gore - Collin French Carson-Newman University 104
Day 1: 5 09-14 Total: 5 09-14
148. Peyton Sargent - Joshua Mcguffin USC - Union 103
Day 1: 4 09-13 Total: 4 09-13
149. Robert Miller - Levi Bolton Emmanuel University 102
Day 1: 3 09-12 Total: 3 09-12
150. Jackson Dowdle - Shockley Hiatt UNC - Charlotte 101
Day 1: 4 09-11 Total: 4 09-11
151. Crew Morrone - Elliott Ward University of Tennessee 100
Day 1: 4 09-09 Total: 4 09-09
152. Nicholas Jones - Sampson Brown Indiana University 99
Day 1: 4 09-05 Total: 4 09-05
153. Paxton Giem - Nick Seitz Adrian College 98
Day 1: 3 09-05 Total: 3 09-05
154. Hayden Short - Mason Lyons Kentucky Christian University 97
Day 1: 2 09-03 Total: 2 09-03
155. Brendin Simich - Carter Stambelos Auburn University 96
Day 1: 4 08-12 Total: 4 08-12
155. Alan Ter Molen - Devin Paeschke Grace College 96
Day 1: 4 08-12 Total: 4 08-12
157. Luke Garofalo - Quentin Adams USC - Union 94
Day 1: 2 08-11 Total: 2 08-11
157. Charlie Moomau - Matthew Delaney West Virginia University 94
Day 1: 2 08-11 Total: 2 08-11
159. Konnor Sweet - Josiah Dillard Liberty University 92
Day 1: 3 08-10 Total: 3 08-10
160. Cameron Yates - Harrison McCall Lander University 91
Day 1: 2 08-09 Total: 2 08-09
161. Jack Myers - Zachary Oman Alexandria Technical And Communi 90
Day 1: 4 08-08 Total: 4 08-08
161. Jack Richardson - Georgia Southern University 90
Day 1: 4 08-08 Total: 4 08-08
163. Hunter Starling - William Vickery Georgia Southern University 88
Day 1: 3 08-08 Total: 3 08-08
164. Conner Nichols - Nathanael Eubank East Tennessee State University 87
Day 1: 2 08-02 Total: 2 08-02
165. Logan Greeno - Ty Kreis University of Nebraska - Lincoln 86
Day 1: 3 07-12 Total: 3 07-12
166. Cole Apeldorn - Brenden Leahy Penn State University 85
Day 1: 3 07-10 Total: 3 07-10
167. Bronson Jackson - Jebb Bryan Auburn University 84
Day 1: 3 07-05 Total: 3 07-05
168. GC Furr - Gray Davis Clemson University 83
Day 1: 3 07-04 Total: 3 07-04
169. Lucas Mantini - Jack Halliwill Michigan State University 82
Day 1: 3 07-03 Total: 3 07-03
170. Cole Kennemur - Texas A&M University 81
Day 1: 2 07-01 Total: 2 07-01
171. Palmer Parrish - Clemson University 80
Day 1: 3 07-00 Total: 3 07-00
172. Cole Carr - Rance Eddleblute Adrian College 79
Day 1: 3 06-15 Total: 3 06-15
173. Eli Cooke - Lucas Sheafer Erskine College 78
Day 1: 2 06-15 Total: 2 06-15
174. Tyler Michael - Isaac Greene USC - Union 77
Day 1: 3 06-14 Total: 3 06-14
175. Robert Montgomery - Grason Turnbull IV Auburn University 76
Day 1: 3 06-10 Total: 3 06-10
175. Leo Romano - David Robinson James Madison University 76
Day 1: 3 06-10 Total: 3 06-10
177. Devon Blevins - Lyndon Gaddy East Tennessee State University 74
Day 1: 3 06-04 Total: 3 06-04
177. Peyton Pitts - Lucca Gandolfo Clemson University 74
Day 1: 3 06-04 Total: 3 06-04
179. Bryson Gurley - Ethan Evatt USC - Union 72
Day 1: 3 05-09 Total: 3 05-09
180. Daniel Litwin - Haden James James Madison University 71
Day 1: 2 05-07 Total: 2 05-07
181. Dylan Reid - Jaxson Smoak Georgia Southern University 70
Day 1: 3 05-03 Total: 3 05-03
182. Logan Bozeman - Matt Wilson Auburn University 69
Day 1: 2 05-03 Total: 2 05-03
183. Diego Alea - Carter Teune Southeastern University 68
Day 1: 1 05-03 Total: 1 05-03
183. Colin Oldfield - Jack Miner Michigan State University 68
Day 1: 1 05-03 Total: 1 05-03
185. Dyson Lewis - Cameron Chapman Catawba Valley Community College 66
Day 1: 2 04-13 Total: 2 04-13
186. Kaden Sexton - Thomas Avery University of Alabama 65
Day 1: 1 03-14 Total: 1 03-14
187. Carson Aarup - UNC - Charlotte 64
Day 1: 2 03-12 Total: 2 03-12
188. Chan Barber II - Lee Gwyn NC State University 63
Day 1: 1 03-08 Total: 1 03-08
189. Dan Maciejczyk - John Meyer Penn State University 62
Day 1: 1 03-05 Total: 1 03-05
190. Nick Hawkins - Southeastern University 61
Day 1: 1 03-03 Total: 1 03-03
191. Mitch Straffon - Hoyt Nicely Adrian College 60
Day 1: 1 02-14 Total: 1 02-14
192. Myles Steward - Roslin Johns University of Wisconsin - Steven 59
Day 1: 1 02-13 Total: 1 02-13
193. Carson Volz - Drew Kristoff Franklin College 58
Day 1: 2 02-12 Total: 2 02-12
194. John Bagdasarian - Zachary Steinman High Point University 57
Day 1: 1 02-12 Total: 1 02-12
194. Mason Sills - Catawba Valley Community College 57
Day 1: 1 02-12 Total: 1 02-12
196. Dylan Mcgee - Elisha Toller Kentucky Christian University 55
Day 1: 1 02-10 Total: 1 02-10
196. Emerson Petty - Carson Falk Tennessee Wesleyan University 55
Day 1: 1 02-10 Total: 1 02-10
198. Kole Costello - Trey Horton High Point University 53
Day 1: 1 02-08 Total: 1 02-08
198. Cole Mitchell - Leo Goldman High Point University 53
Day 1: 1 02-08 Total: 1 02-08
200. Robert Shuford - Jacob Spence NC State University 51
Day 1: 1 02-07 Total: 1 02-07
201. Kyle Herrman - Nick Herrman Erskine College 50
Day 1: 1 02-04 Total: 1 02-04
202. Cameron Seay - Nate Campbell USC - Union 49
Day 1: 1 01-15 Total: 1 01-15
203. Caleb Dugger - Easton Honaker King University 48
Day 1: 1 01-14 Total: 1 01-14
204. CJ Chavous Jr. - Landon Bannister USC - Union 47
Day 1: 1 01-10 Total: 1 01-10
205. Brady Biles - Cody Mullis St Johns River State College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Caden Cardoza - Seth Proctor University of Tennessee 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. John Cooper - Daxton Wammack University of North Alabama 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Ryan Dujmovits - Grant Anthony High Point University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Tyler Fink - Evan Francis Purdue University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Jackson Fuller - Grant Steinauer Auburn University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Tanner Herndon - Mason Taylor Bryan College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Carson Hinson - UNC - Charlotte 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Maxwell Johnson - Carter Steed Brewton-Parker College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Knox Jones - Rock Fulton IV Auburn University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Joe Mcnamara - Grady Mcclendon University of North Alabama 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Cole McNeely - Fisher Britt University of Montevallo 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Sellers Odom - Grayson Ball University of North Alabama 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Tanner Paumen - Logan Allen Bryan College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Grant Rice - Blake Marcum Morehead State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Zane Roberts - Elijah McDonalf University of North Alabama 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Benjamin Sapp - Braylin Lewis Faulkner University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Declan Schmidt - Carter Martin University of Tennessee 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Stewart Settle - Liberty University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Gavin Sheffer - Logan Birth Liberty University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Grant Stevison - John Comfort Anderson University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Nicholas Taborelli - Christopher Lassalle Penn State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Alex Thigpen - University of Alabama 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Benjamin Travis - Auburn University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Ethan Vue - Christian Vue UNC - Charlotte 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Peyton Walls - Aiden Futral Faulkner University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Reese Walters - Wes Kinard University of Alabama 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
205. Garrett Wessels - Tennessee Tech University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 123 828 3104-03
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123 828 3104-03
Idaho angler Clark Harman wins MLF Road to REDCREST Sweepstakes, headed to Springfield for REDCREST 2026 championship event
| Fans invited to join the REDCREST excitement in Springfield with giveaways and prizes all weekend at Bass Pro Shops, April 17-19
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (April 9, 2026) – When Clark Harman opens his email each morning, he typically does the same thing – scroll, delete and move on with his day. It’s a routine the 64-year-old crop advisor from Burley, Idaho, has followed for years. But one recent morning, an email from Major League Fishing (MLF) caught his eye. “I thought, if I ever win one of these sweepstakes, I’ll probably just delete it,” Harman said. “And luckily, there was something in the subject line that made me stop. Even then, I still thought, ‘Yeah, right.’” This time, it turned out to be the real thing. Harman is the winner of the 2026 MLF Road to REDCREST Sweepstakes, earning a trip package to attend REDCREST 2026 Presented by Mercury and Lowrance and the Outdoor Sports Expo, April 17–19, in Springfield, Missouri, along with the opportunity to compete for additional prizes during championship weekend. |
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| “At first, I thought it was a scam,” Harman said with a laugh. “Then MLF kept contacting me, and I thought, ‘Well, it must be real.’ And when the swag box full of merchandise showed up, I figured, ‘OK, now it’s definitely real.’”
For Harman, a lifelong outdoorsman, the trip offers a chance to experience in person what he’s followed closely from afar. A dedicated fan of MLF broadcasts, Harman regularly records and watches Bass Pro Tour events and is eager to see the action unfold live on Table Rock Lake and throughout the REDCREST Outdoor Sports Expo at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield. “I’m really hoping to meet anglers like Dustin Connell, Ott DeFoe and Jacob Wheeler,” Harman said. “I watch all the tournaments – the quality of the broadcast, the way it’s presented, it’s just really professional and enjoyable to watch.” Harman’s path to bass fishing came later in life. After decades spent trout fishing and fly tying, he discovered the smallmouth bass fishery near his home on Idaho’s Snake River and quickly became hooked. “I didn’t realize how good the bass fishing was,” Harman said. “I got a little boat and went out, and I was hooked right away. The bite’s harder, the fight’s harder – they’re just tough fish. It’s completely different, and I love it.” That passion led him to purchase a gently used Bass Tracker V16 Pro, a boat he credits with opening up new opportunities on the water. “I used to fish from the bank, and you’re really limited,” Harman said. “Now I’ve got the whole Snake River. It’s an older boat, but it floats, it doesn’t leak, and it’s been great.” Harman, who is married with four children and 10 grandchildren, will make the trip to Springfield with his son – although it means stepping away during one of the busiest times of year in his profession. “This is absolutely the worst week of the whole year for me with planting season,” Harman said. “But I told them, I’m 64 years old – I’ll move heaven and earth to get to Springfield for this.” His family needed some convincing. “They thought I was joking,” Harman said. “I had to send them a picture of the MLF swag they sent me before they believed it.” Harman and his son plan to take in the full REDCREST experience, including the competition, the Outdoor Sports Expo and even time on the water, fishing on Table Rock Lake during their stay. For Springfield-area fans, Harman’s story is just one example of what makes REDCREST more than a tournament weekend. The event brings thousands of fishing fans to the city and offers opportunities for attendees of all ages to get involved. Throughout the three-day Outdoor Sports Expo at Bass Pro Shops, fans can enjoy hourly giveaways featuring rods, reels, gift cards and prize packages from leading fishing brands, along with the popular Mercury and Lowrance Power Hour, where prizes are awarded live on stage in rapid-fire fashion. Each day also concludes with a $500 Bass Pro Shops shopping spree, giving local attendees multiple chances to walk away winners. The free, family-friendly event includes angler meet-and-greets, interactive exhibits and opportunities to see the biggest names in professional bass fishing up close, making it a can’t-miss weekend for outdoor enthusiasts across southwest Missouri and beyond. Harman knows firsthand that showing up, or simply taking a chance, can pay off. “I try to remember to enter these sweepstakes every day,” he said. “This time I actually entered less than I normally do, so I was really surprised when I won.” His advice for others is simple. “Just do it, because somebody’s got to win,” Harman said. “I never thought I would – I’m not that guy. But if you keep entering, maybe you’ll be the one!” REDCREST 2026 Presented by Mercury and Lowrance will take place next week, April 17–19, on Table Rock Lake in Springfield, Missouri, and will feature the top anglers in professional bass fishing competing for a top prize of $300,000. The Outdoor Sports Expo at Bass Pro Shops will run concurrently with the event and is free and open to the public. For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and REDCREST 2026, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X , Instagram, Rumble and YouTube. About Major League Fishing |
SPRO named title sponsor of 2026 Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. announced today that SPRO has been named the title sponsor of the 2026 Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain, scheduled for Aug. 13-16. The event will bring the world’s best bass anglers to one of the most diverse and productive fisheries in the country for four days of competition.
Set along the border of New York and Vermont, Lake Champlain has long been a fan-favorite stop on the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series. Known for its ability to produce both quality and quantity, the fishery offers anglers the rare opportunity to target both largemouth and smallmouth bass at a high level, often forcing competitors to decide between two completely different styles of fishing.
“Lake Champlain is one of the most diverse fisheries in the country, giving Elite Series anglers the opportunity to target both smallmouth and largemouth using a wide range of techniques. No matter the approach, SPRO offers a lineup of proven lures designed to excel for either species,” said Syd Rives, SPRO national sales manager.
“We’re proud to welcome SPRO as the title sponsor for this Elite Series event at Lake Champlain,” said Phillip Johnson, B.A.S.S. Chief Operating Officer. “SPRO has built a strong reputation for innovation and performance, and their products are trusted by many of the top anglers in our sport. Partnering with a brand that shares our passion for competitive fishing helps us continue to deliver high-quality events for both our anglers and fans at one of the best fisheries in the country.”
Lake Champlain spans more than 120 miles and covers approximately 435 square miles, featuring a wide range of habitats including expansive grass flats, shallow bays, rocky shorelines, offshore humps and deep, clear-water structure. This diversity allows anglers to employ a variety of techniques, from flipping and frogging in heavy vegetation for largemouth to finesse presentations like drop shots and Ned rigs for smallmouth.
In August, anglers can expect both species to be in strong summer patterns. Smallmouth bass are typically found relating to offshore structure, where forward-facing sonar and finesse tactics often play a key role. Meanwhile, largemouth bass can be targeted in grass beds and shallow cover throughout the lake’s numerous bays and backwaters. The ability to effectively manage time and capitalize on both fisheries has historically been a deciding factor in Elite Series events on Champlain.
SPRO, a globally recognized fishing tackle brand, has established itself as a leader in high-performance lures and terminal tackle. Known for its collaboration with top professional anglers, SPRO has developed a wide range of innovative products designed to meet the demands of tournament-level fishing. From hard baits and soft plastics to terminal tackle and accessories, SPRO’s lineup is engineered with precision and performance in mind.
The brand’s commitment to quality and angler-driven design has made it a trusted name across both freshwater and saltwater markets. Through partnerships with professional anglers and organizations like B.A.S.S., SPRO continues to expand its reach and showcase its products on some of the sport’s biggest stages.
The 2026 SPRO Bassmaster Elite at Lake Champlain will feature daily takeoffs and weigh-ins, offering fans opportunities to attend in person and experience the excitement firsthand. Tournament coverage will also be available across Bassmaster digital platforms, including Bassmaster.com, live weigh-ins and streaming content.
With a world-class fishery, a stacked field of Elite Series anglers and the support of SPRO as title sponsor, the event is expected to deliver dramatic competition and showcase the versatility required to succeed at the highest level of bass fishing.
Additional details, including host site information and daily schedules, will be availabe on Bassmaster.com.
About SPRO
We are Sports Professionals. SPRO works with America's best anglers to design the world's finest fishing tackle. Using cutting edge technology and innovation, SPRO leads the way in developing premium fishing equipment. SPRO also serves as the North American distributor for leading Japanese brands including Nories, HIDEUP, DSTYLE, MEIHO, and INNO.
For more information, visit www.spro.com
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
Rasmussen’s guide to finding bass quickly in unfamiliar waters
By Alan McGuckin, Courtesy of Vexus Boats
The question of how top pros find bass so well on waters they’re not familiar with may be the most often asked question by fans in the history of the sport we all love.
For insight to the answers, take a quick ride in the Vexus® VXs21 of Adam Rasmussen, an easy-going smallmouth master from Wisconsin who has proven he can win anywhere, including a B.A.S.S. Open and Nation event in Alabama.
Not to mention, he made a serious run at winning the Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake, Oklahoma in 2024, and currently sits near the top of the Opens points standings in 2026 after events in Texas, Florida, and Alabama.
We didn’t make it easy on Adam
The playing field was 10,000-acre reservoir north of Tulsa, OK he had never fished, with both largemouth and smallmouth – but it’s a good 14-hour drive from his home, and to make it tougher, we didn’t launch until high noon, on a bright sunny day with hardly any helpful winds.
Survey the situation and understand the basics of bass behavior
Top pros like Rasmussen don’t take a random approach to finding a ‘lucky spot’ or even a good looking spot, instead they study the topography, the habitat, the water clarity, water temperature, and know what phase of the spawn bass are likely to be in – and you should too.
“I can tell by looking at the map, that most of the smallmouth are probably on the deeper, clearer, rockier east end of the lake, and the largemouth are probably in the major creeks full of trees and shoreline bushes to the west. The water temp is 63, and that tells me smallmouth are probably spawning on shallow points, and largemouth are about to,” says Rasmussen, who once lived on a salmon boat for two years that he piloted on guide trips.
With all that data, where to look first?
Rasmussen’s fast assessment of the lake he’s never seen is highly accurate. So, where’s he going to make his first cast on these unfamiliar waters?
“Looking at my Humminbird mapping, I’m picking this big, but shallow point close to the main lake, because I know spawners want to be shallow, but experience has taught me that the larger spawning fish want to be near the main lake just as much or more than way back in the creek,” he says.
Make use of modern technology
You don’t have to have four or five sonar units on your boat to find and catch bass, but at least one that allows you to ‘split the screen’ to show modern day mapping, forward-facing sonar, and perhaps a 360-degree view of the bottom is a wise investment. A number of those single units exist, and Rasmussen makes full use of all of the ‘views’ they provide.
That didn’t take long
Less than 10-minutes after leaving the dock Rasmussen connected on two keeper sized smallmouth with a Rapala Mavrik jerkbait. It was not magic. It was not luck, or a result of insider information.
It was a classic case of using every bit of knowledge regarding water conditions, bass behavior, and phase of the spawn, to land on a make-sense location. And then he utilized all the available sonar advancements, along with a lure he has great confidence in, to find and catch bass quickly on a lake he had no previous knowledge of.
Kubota Named Title Sponsor of MLF Heavy Hitters
BENTON, Ky. (April 8, 2026) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today that Kubota Corporation has been named title sponsor of Heavy Hitters, the Bass Pro Tour’s premier all-star event that celebrates big-bass performance.
Hosted by the Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau, the 2026 Kubota Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops will take place May 16-21 on Florida’s Orange Lake in Ocala, and showcase 32 of the top Bass Pro Tour anglers competing for a top prize of $100,000 to the winner.
The Kubota Heavy Hitters event stands apart from traditional tournaments by also rewarding anglers for landing trophy-class bass, with daily big bass payouts of $10,000 during the Qualifying Round, a $30,000 Knockout Round bonus and a $100,000 prize for the single heaviest bass caught during the Championship Round.
“We’re excited to feature Kubota as the title sponsor of Heavy Hitters,” said Jim Wilburn, President of Sales for MLF. “Kubota has been a valued partner of Major League Fishing for many years, and this expansion of our relationship is a natural fit for one of the most exciting events on the Bass Pro Tour. Kubota is a trusted, hardworking brand that shares so many of the same values as our anglers and fans.”
“We’re proud to support an event that celebrates passion for the outdoors,” said Theresa Duncan, Associate Director for Marketing and Advertising, Kubota Tractor Corporation. “Kubota customers take pride in their land and rely on our durable, reliable equipment to get the job done, and Heavy Hitters unites a community that shares that same commitment to hard work and performance.”
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live each day of competition on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble. The event will also be filmed for television and premiere on Discovery, Saturday, July 4, with new episodes airing weekly through Aug. 15. The event will also be featured in a one-hour special that will debut on CBS in December.
Orange Lake has emerged as one of the nation’s top big-bass fisheries in recent years, regularly producing double-digit largemouth and providing the perfect stage for the sport’s most exciting big-fish showdown.
For more information about Kubota, visit KubotaUSA.com or follow Kubota on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing, its tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com . For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram, Rumble and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
About Kubota
Kubota Tractor Corporation, Grapevine, Texas, is the U.S. marketer and distributor of Kubota-engineered and manufactured machinery and equipment, including a complete line of tractors of up to 200 Gross hp, performance-matched implements, compact construction equipment, consumer lawn and garden equipment, hay tools, commercial turf products and utility vehicles. For product literature or dealer locations, contact: Kubota Tractor Corporation, 1000 Kubota Drive, Grapevine, TX 76051, (888) 4-KUBOTA [(888) 458-2682], Ext. 900, or visit KubotaUSA.com.
2026 Lew’s Catch Challenge
Lew’s and Fishing Chaos have joined forces to bring you something the fishing world has been missing: a tournament built entirely around the angler, not the other way around.
Introducing the Lew’s Catch Challenge, open to anyone, anywhere, fishing on their own schedule, all the way through December 31, 2026.
The rules are as simple as the concept is powerful. Register once. Fish all year. Submit your best catches. That’s it. No entry fees per fish. No complicated point systems. No tournament weekends that clash with real life. The contingency format means you compete on your terms, whether you’re hitting local lakes at dawn, chasing trophy bass on a Saturday, or sneaking in a quick evening session after work.
Each month, top catches across selected species are evaluated and winners are crowned. Then the leaderboard resets, giving every angler a fresh shot at taking home premium Lew’s gear the following month.
This partnership between Fishing Chaos and Lew’s reflects something both brands have always believed: competitive fishing shouldn’t be reserved for the tournament circuit regulars. Lew’s world-class reels have been in the hands of championship anglers for decades and now that same standard of excellence is coming to the angler who simply loves to fish.
Registration is fast, free, and only happens once. After that, just do what you already do. Go fishing. Snap a photo. Submit your catch. Let the leaderboard do the rest.
Register Here: Fishing Chaos
Register once. Fish all year. Win every month.
Major League Fishing Announces MLF Pro Catch Video Game, A Next-Generation Competitive Fishing Experience
BENTON, Ky. (April 7, 2026) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today the upcoming launch of MLF Pro Catch, a new competitive fishing simulator video game designed to bring the strategy, intensity and decision-making of tournament angling to players around the world. The game launches first on Steam in June 2026, followed by releases for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox and Meta VR platforms in 2026/2027.
MLF Pro Catch blends realistic fishing mechanics with detailed, lifelike environments inspired by real-world fisheries. Players will fish a variety of waters – from expansive freshwater lakes to coastal settings – where conditions shift, weather moves in and adaptability separates success from frustration.
Just like on the water, no two days are the same. Light levels change. Wind direction matters. Fish reposition. Players must adjust their presentation, manage their equipment and make smart decisions to stay ahead.
“Major League Fishing has always been driven by innovation and competition,” said Michael Mulone, Vice President of Sponsorship & Business Development for Major League Fishing. “MLF Pro Catch carries that same mindset into the gaming space. It challenges players to think strategically, adapt to conditions and compete with purpose – just like the top professional anglers that compete on the Bass Pro Tour. Via this licensing partnership, the MLF branded game on these consoles and platforms exposes our league to a passionate worldwide gaming audience.”
“MLF Pro Catch sets a new bar for fishing games, as the first fishing game to feature live tournaments with real-world prizes. MLF Pro Catch delivers unmatched authenticity, competitive stakes, and the most realistic fishing experience ever created” said Joe McHale, Playworks Director of Development.
The game features more than 40 fish species, each designed with distinct behavior patterns that reflect how those species feed, move and fight. Whether targeting bass, trout or offshore gamefish, players will need to refine their approach based on conditions and species tendencies, creating a deeper and more skill-based experience. Each fish in MLF Pro Catch features realistic AI, ensuring no two battles are the same. Every catch is a test of patience, precision and skill.
MLF Pro Catch also incorporates licensed equipment from respected industry brands including Mossy Oak, YETI, Abu Garcia, Fenwick, Greys, Hardy, Pflueger, Zebco, Lowrance and Suzuki Marine. Players can customize rods, reels, tackle, electronics and boats as they progress through career-style modes and competitive events.
Visually, MLF Pro Catch delivers detailed graphics, responsive casting mechanics and a full day-night cycle designed to create immersion without sacrificing realism. Every bite must be earned. Every fish must be landed. Every decision carries weight.
In addition to solo play, the game includes online tournaments, global leaderboards and recurring in-game challenges that reward consistency and performance. Ongoing updates will introduce new locations and new species, allowing the competitive environment to continue evolving.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular MLF Pro Catch updates, photos, tournament news and more, visit MLFProCatch.com and Steam. Follow MLF Pro Catch on social media outlets at TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, X , Discord, Reddit, Rumble and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
About Playworks Partners
Playworks Partners curates and publishes engaging games that bring fun, competition, and authenticity to players everywhere. Their portfolio spans immersive simulations, outdoor sports, and classic arcade experiences across Nintendo, PlayStation, Xbox and Steam. From realistic sports sims to pick-up-and-play arcade fun, Playworks Partners is focused on delivering high-quality experiences that invite players to explore, compete and enjoy the power of play.
About Ultimate Games
Ultimate Games are the proud creators of the 'Ultimate Fishing Simulator', the #1 top-rated fishing game on Steam that sets a high bar for simulation experiences. Ultimate Games’ expansive game portfolio is a testament to their fearless approach to game development, ensuring that every release is not just a game, but an adventure.
The Tactical Tweener by Whitewater
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Revisiting Whitewater® Fishing’s Tamer™ Jacket and Bib – high-density softshell technology delivers the perfect balance of windproof protection and athletic mobility for seasonal transitions |
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MUSKEGON, Mich. (April 6, 2026) – In an era of digital specs and bloated online marketplaces, the Whitewater® Tamer™ Softshell Jacket and Bib remains a rare product that commands attention the moment it is in an angler’s hands. While its technical ratings are impressive on paper, the Tamer is defined by a physical hand-feel and material density that immediately separates it from the crunchy or restrictive outerwear often found in the fishing outerwear category. |
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The Definitive "Tweener" Outer Layer The Tamer Softshell was purpose-built for the in-between days—those common spring and even summer stretches where a hoodie leaves you exposed to the elements, but full storm gear feels like overkill. When the wind picks up, spray starts flying, and the weather threatens without fully committing, the Tamer becomes the perfect outer layer. It allows you to stay protected and dry without sacrificing the mobility required for high-repetition casting or technical boat control. The Material Advantage: A High-Density Stretch Revolution The cornerstone of the Tamer system is a proprietary, high-density polyester stretch softshell. Upon first touch, the material reveals a distinct departure from traditional fabrics – it possesses a rugged, virtually bombproof exterior that remains remarkably supple and quiet. This fabric wasn't just chosen for its windproof and water-resistant properties—it was engineered to provide a physical sense of security. It offers the structural integrity of heavy-duty workwear but with the 4-way stretch and athletic recovery required for tournament-level movement. “The Tamer has become a definitive runaway hit at brick-and-mortar retail because it’s a suit that sells itself the moment an angler actually touches the fabric,” noted Whitewater Fishing Marketing Director, Steve Allie. “Online shoppers are discovering what those in the aisles already know: there is a substantiality and premium feel to this material that simply doesn't exist in other softshells. Once you feel the robust stretch, you understand the protection it offers.” |
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Thermal Regulation: Precision Grid Fleece Architecture The sophistication of the Tamer continues on the interior with its Grid Fleece lining. This isn't a standard, high-loft fleece that feels bulky or traps stagnant heat. Instead, the grid pattern is a calculated geometric layout of fleece pillars and air channels. This architecture provides a tactile cushion of warmth while allowing for a streamlined, low-profile fit. It allows the Tamer to sit closer to the body, moving with the angler’s every reach and cast without the bunching or climbing common in inferior cold-weather suits. This second-skin feel is what allows pros like the father-and-son duo of Jay and Jason Przekurat to remain on the deck for 10-hour days in 40-degree winds without the fatigue caused by fighting their own clothing. |
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Integrated Safety and Tactical Utility Whitewater’s design philosophy is rooted in the one-percenters—the small, physical details that become critical in the field. The Tamer features a 3-piece adjustable hood engineered to stay secure at 60-mph boat speeds and integrated reflective tape on the chest, back, and sleeves for lowlight safety during early launches. The suit also features sewn-in D-rings strategically placed for both safety kill-switch cords and trolling motor fobs. These are not merely loops, but reinforced attachment points that reflect the suit’s heavy-duty construction. |
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Whitewater Tamer™ Softshell Jacket
MSRP: $219.99 (Sizes SM-3X). |
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Whitewater Tamer™ Softshell Bib
MSRP $219.99 (Sizes SM-3X) |
PALANIUK’S BACK-TO-BASICS BATTLE ON THE TENNESSEE-TOMBIGBEE WATERWAY
By Walker Smith, Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships / Photos: Bassmaster
There’s a romance to river tournaments you just don’t find anywhere else in professional bass fishing. Current, color changes, backwaters and spawning pockets are all there, layered together in a way that rewards instinct just as much as execution. For Team Toyota pro Brandon Palaniuk, the recent Mountain Dew Bassmaster Elite at the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway was a welcome reminder of what makes this sport so addictive.
“I really enjoy the alternating format in regard to forward-facing sonar,” Palaniuk said. “It allows me to fish with two entirely different perspectives, and I love to learn as much as I can. For the Tombigbee, there was a real beauty in the simplicity, even on a very complex river system.”
That contrast is what defined the week.
The Tennessee-Tombigbee isn’t a place you can ever fully “solve.” It’s a system of locks, cuts, current seams and shallow backwaters that changes by the hour. Water levels fluctuate, fish reposition and what worked yesterday can burn you today.
Strip away some of the noise, however, and something interesting happens.
“If the technology were to be allowed here, there are so many other things that would go through your mind,” Palaniuk explained. “Should you be scoping deep holes? What about the deep timber? But this past week my approach was super simple and brought me back to my roots.”
That “roots” comment isn’t just lip service. Before the era of hyper-advanced electronics, success in tournaments like this came down to reading the moment and reacting accordingly. It’s less about chasing fish you can see on a screen and more about understanding fish you can’t. That understanding doesn’t always come easy.
“I find myself fishing more freely,” Palaniuk said. “I find myself running through the process of elimination even more than normal. For instance, on the first day of the tournament, I thought I had a gameplan and it didn’t work. Although I thought it was safe, my plan just kind of bombed. I had to scramble all day and only had about 9 1/2 pounds towards the end of the day.”
Anyone who has fished competitively knows that feeling. You spend time in practice building what you believe is a reliable pattern. You dial in locations, presentations and timing but when it matters most, it unravels. It happens to all of us. That’s where experience and maybe more importantly, intuition, steps in.
“That’s when my instinct and guts kicked in,” he said. “It was calm, hot and sunny so I got in a backwater to throw a frog and look for spawners. I figured even a two-pounder would be a good cull at that point. But the first bite I got was almost five pounds. 16-years of experience taught me how to make that adjustment on the fly. That fish had a fresh, bloody tail so I knew she was on a bed.”
It’s easy to gloss over moments like that but they’re everything. A less experienced angler might have committed to the original plan, hoping it would turn around. Palaniuk recognized the conditions and pivoted to something entirely different. That decision didn’t just salvage his day. It changed his entire tournament.
“I kept looking around and I barely could see a tail in the water in the same area,” he continued. “I made one pitch to it and she wouldn’t move. I slowly start dragging and shaking my bait, visualizing in my mind what was happening. Using intuition and experience. I felt the fish on my line for a second, but I could tell she didn’t bite yet. She spun on it.”
That level of awareness is hard to teach. It’s not just about what you feel but rather what you interpret. There’s a difference between a fish bumping a bait, inspecting it or fully committing. In shallow water, especially around spawning fish, those nuances matter.
“I stopped dragging and just started shaking it and right when I did that, she actually bit it,” Palaniuk said. “It was over five pounds, and I went from around nine pounds to over 16 pounds in a matter of minutes right before weigh-in.”
In tournament fishing, we often talk about momentum swings. That was one of them.
“I probably would have been in the 70s after the first day without that instinct and intuition,” he said. “But I ended up in fourth place after day one. That’s a huge difference in Angler of the Year points.”
Events like this magnify every decision. There’s no safety net. There’s no easy way to go find a school of fish you’ve been watching for days. You’re forced to adapt in real time and to trust what you know and commit to it fully.
That’s why anglers like Palaniuk thrive in these conditions. His style has always leaned toward versatility and decision-making rather than locking into a single technique. On a fishery like the Tombigbee, his mindset becomes a major advantage.
There’s a lesson there but it’s not just for pros. It’s easy to get caught up in doing things the “right” way, especially with so much information and technology available today. But sometimes, the best approach is the simplest one. Pay attention to the conditions, trust your instincts and make adjustments without hesitation.
“These kinds of events test your confidence to the core,” Palaniuk said. “And I absolutely love that.”
That love is what separates good anglers from great ones. Most can execute when things go according to plan, it’s what you do when they don’t that defines you. On the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, Brandon Palaniuk didn’t just survive a tough tournament. He leaned into it, embraced the chaos, trusted his gut and let years of experience guide him through the kind of decision-making gauntlet for which river systems are known.
MKOT LAKE EUFAULA · EVENT PREVIEW
The pros just told you exactly how to fish Lake Eufaula. Are you listening?
Pake South just put on a clinic at the Bassmaster Open — 84 pounds in three days on the same lake, the same ramp, and the same exact fish that will be swimming when the Minn Kota & Humminbird Owners Tournament fires off April 10th. Here’s everything the pros just handed you for free.
WHAT JUST HAPPENED AT THE BASSMASTER OPEN
Pake South, a 21-year-old out of Winnsboro, Texas, walked into Lake Eufaula as a last-minute entry — barely knowing the lake — and walked out with back-to-back Bassmaster Opens titles and the third-heaviest winning total in Opens history. His Day 3 bag of 31 pounds, 7 ounces was the largest single-day haul ever recorded in a professional tournament on Lake Eufaula, according to Elite Series pro Kyle Welcher who finished third. He threw back what he estimated was another 24 pounds. Let that sink in for a second
THE PATTERN — AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU
Here’s the insider breakdown of what the top three anglers found this week, and why it maps directly onto what Minn Kota & Humminbird Owners Tournament competitors will encounter April 10–12.
PATTERN 1 · THE POSTSPAWN STAGING BITE
South targeted flats and drains in 6 to 12 feet of water near Lakepoint — the same takeoff site as the Owners Tournament. The bass have been finishing up the spawn, and postspawn fish are aggressive, staged on the first significant piece of cover they find outside the spawning pockets. The key detail: bigger wood held bigger fish. Brushpiles with larger branches consistently outperformed smaller stuff.
“You just had to find something they wanted to sit on. If the brushpiles had bigger branches, it was a little bit better. The bigger the wood, the better usually.” — Pake South, 2026 Bassmaster Open winner at Lake Eufaula
PATTERN 2 · FALLING WATER IS YOUR FRIEND
The lake dropped a couple of inches each day during the tournament, and South specifically credited the falling water level for concentrating more fish on his spots. With Eufaula drawing down heading into the next event, expect the same dynamic — fish pushed tighter to the best remaining cover. The first anglers to identify those high-percentage brushpiles and stumps during their first few hours on the water will have a significant advantage.
PATTERN 3 · THE SHAD SPAWN WILDCARD
Second-place Chase Clarke stumbled onto a shad spawn at his very first stop on Day 3 and caught three quality fish in minutes, including a 5-5. Shad spawning activity on Lake Eufaula in mid-April can happen in an instant — rip-rap, dock posts, laydown logs near the bank at first light. One angler who finds active shad spawn during an hourly big bass event could win the hour right there.
THE BAIT BREAKDOWN
South’s two primary weapons are worth noting even if you can’t replicate them exactly — the principle matters more than the specific bait. A 23mm urchin-style lure fished with jerkbait-style twitches on slack line, and a finesse swimbait on an 1/8-ounce head. The common thread: reaction bites triggered by stop-and-go action on fish he could see with forward-facing sonar. Clarke also used an urchin-style bait near brush piles and a finesse worm on deeper ledges at 14–17 feet. Bassmaster Elite Series Pro, Kyle Welcher ran a jerkbait on shallow rocks and stumps close to spawning areas all three days.
WHY THE OWNERS TOURNAMENT IS A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT CHESS MATCH
Hourly Big Bass format — this changes everything
The Bassmaster Open was a three-day limit grind. The Owners Tournament is hourly big bass — meaning the game resets every period. The pros spent three days protecting their best spots and managing pressure. You get one shot per period. That means the decision-making calculus flips entirely: instead of running once to your best area at safe light, you are constantly weighing whether to commit to a proven big-fish spot versus staying mobile to maximize your shot count. ONE fish at the right moment wins you a period — and potentially the whole event.
Here’s the insider takeaway: what Pake South did — running close to takeoff at Lakepoint and grinding the same productive cover all day — translates perfectly to the hourly format. You don’t need to cover the lake. You need a concentration of big fish within range of a quick run, the confidence to keep going back to it, and the discipline to identify when that spot has gone cold and it’s time to move. The angler who wins this event will likely be fishing close to Lakepoint all weekend long. The pros just proved it can be done.
| 4th Annual Minn Kota & Humminbird Owners Tournament | |
| Dates | April 10–12, 2026 |
| Location | Lake Eufaula, AL · Lakepoint Resort State Park |
| Format | Hourly Big Bass |
| Guaranteed prizes | $230,000 |
| Grand prize | 2026 Nitro Z20 XL — fully rigged |
| Register | minnkotaowners.com |
MLF Announces Dates for 2026 Fishing Clash Team Series
Returning in 2026, the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops will again feature four Cup events, each showcasing two-man teams of Bass Pro Tour anglers competing from the same boat and working together for a share of a season purse of $560,000.
Every minute of competition in the 2026 MLF Fishing Clash Team Series will be livestreamed daily, delivering complete, real-time coverage of every cast and catch as teammates collaborate to break down a new fishery.
Each MLF Team Series Cup event will feature 12 two-man teams, divided into three groups for the one-day Elimination Rounds. The top two teams from each Elimination Round will advance to the Knockout Rounds on Days 4 and 5. The top two teams from each Knockout Round will then advance to the Championship Round on Day 6, where the final four teams will compete for the Cup title.
In keeping with traditional MLF Cup protocols, the host city will not be revealed to anglers until six weeks prior to each event. At that time, all fishable waters within a 60-mile radius will go off-limits, and competitors will learn the specific fishery only upon arrival at the boat ramp on the morning of competition. Fans watching MLFNOW! will discover the fishery alongside the anglers and follow the action live as teams work together to unlock each fishery in real time.
The dates for the 2026 MLF Fishing Clash Team Series are:
- Aug. 16-21, 2026
- Oct. 18-23, 2026
- Nov. 15-20, 2026
- Dec. 6-11, 2026
The first MLF Team Series draft of 2026 was held last week in conjunction with the Bass Pro Tour Suzuki Marine Stage 4 Presented by Plano at O.H. Ivie and Lake Brownwood, where 24 team captains – determined by the 2026 Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) standings after the first three Bass Pro Tour events – selected their teammates. Those 24 teams will compete in the first two events.
The 12 teams that will compete Aug. 16-21 are:
Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill.
Mitchell Robinson, Landrum, S.C.
Team #2:
Jesse Wiggins, Logan, Ala.
Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio
Team #3:
Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla.
Alton Jones Jr., Lorena, Texas
Team #4:
Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark.
Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas
Team #5:
Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala.
Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif.
Team #6:
Jacob Walker, Springville, Ala.
Jake Lawrence, Paris, Tenn.
Team #7:
Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala.
Fletcher Shryock, Cleveland, Tenn.
Team #8:
Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky.
Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala.
Team #9:
Dustin Connell, Deatsville, Ala.
Mark Daniels Jr., Shorter, Ala.
Team #10:
Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas
Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C.
Team #11:
Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La.
Colby Miller, Elmer, La.
Team #12:
Nick Hatfield, Afton, Tenn.
John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky.
Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla.
Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark.
Team #2:
Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan
Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
Team #3:
Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla.
Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C
Team #4:
Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La.
Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas
Team #5:
Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark.
Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn.
Team #6:
Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala.
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla.
Team #7:
Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn.
Dustin Smith, Trussville, Ala.
Team #8:
Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C.
Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich.
Team #9:
Jacob Wheeler, Birchwood, Tenn.
Adrian Avena, Marmora, N.J.
Team #10:
Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn.
Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn.
Team #11:
Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn.
Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C.
Team #12:
Brent Chapman, Lenexa, Kansas
Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas
At Stage 7, 24 new team captains, based on AOY rankings from Stages 4-6, will draft a teammate for the final two Team Series events, Nov. 15-20 and Dec. 6-11.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live every day of competition during the 2026 MLF Team Series. MLFNOW!® is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MLF and MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) apps and on Rumble.
Each MLF Team Series episode will air on Outdoor Channel as six two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting in Q1 of 2027. The complete television schedule will be posted at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Team Series include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Force, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Champion Teamwear, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Ferguson, Grizzly, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, MillerTech, NITRO Boats, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Star brite, Toyota, YETI, Yuengling and Zenni.
For complete details and updated information on the MLF Team Series visit MajorLeagueF
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Osage Beach’s Dauber Edges Field for Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Table Rock Lake Presented by Precision Sonar
Missouri’s Keller Wins Co-Angler Division
KIMBERLING, Mo. (April 6, 2026) – Boater Kolton Dauber of Osage Beach, Missouri, caught a total of five bass weighing 18 pounds, 2 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Table Rock Lake Presented by Precision Sonar. The tournament was the second of five events of the season for the BFL Ozark Division. Dauber earned $2,960 for his victory.
Dauber calls Lake of the Ozarks his home lake but said he is “really familiar” with Table Rock. He said he didn’t let rain on tournament day deter him from going about his business.
“It was raining so hard I didn’t even go two miles from the boat ramp,” the 19-year-old Dauber said. “I pulled into a little pocket and threw a (Z-Man Evergreen) Jack Hammer ChatterBait on a flat and caught a 5-pounder right off the bat.”
Dauber said he then relocated down the lake a couple more miles into the White River and threw the white ChatterBait in pockets that had started to get muddy. He also used a PB&J-colored ½-ounce jig to entice strikes.
“And that’s where it went down,” Dauber said. “I just started catching them; it was every tree in a little pocket.”
Dauber said he caught 12 keepers before noon, but he never thought he had enough weight to be in contention for a win.
“It had been taking more than 20 pounds to win in every tournament there every weekend,” Dauber said. “I thought I needed one more fish to make it happen. But I’m glad it all worked out.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Kolton Dauber, Osage Beach, Mo., five bass, 18-2, $2,960
2nd: Ryan Stagner, Robertsville, Mo., five bass, 17-11, $1,700
3rd: Cody Miller, Shell Knob, Mo., five bass, 17-8, $770
4th: Jacob Christeson, Theodosia, Mo., five bass, 17-4, $620
5th: Cody Huff, Ava, Mo., five bass, 16-11, $550
6th: Clint Williams, Fayetteville, Ark., five bass, 16-9, $480
7th: John Hammersmith, Branson, Mo., five bass, 16-5, $460
8th: Corbin Bailey, Camdenton, Mo., five bass, 16-3, $440
9th: Eric Olliverson, Shell Knob, Mo., five bass, 16-1, $920 (includes $500 Phoenix bonus)
10th: Jeffrey Barrickman, Forsyth, Mo., five bass, 15-15, $410
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Ryan Stagner of Robertsville, Missouri, earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award after landing a 5-pound, 3-ounce bass worth $200.
Jake Keller of Springfield, Missouri, won the co-angler division and the top prize of $1,480 Saturday after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 9 pounds, 7 ounces.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Jake Keller, Springfield, Mo., three bass, 9-7, $1,480
2nd: Lincoln Cowell, Bondurant, Iowa, three bass, 9-5, $750
3rd: Gary Huber II, Saint Charles, Mo., three bass, 9-1, $385
4th: Rich Carpenter, Parkville, Mo., three bass, 8-8, $310
5th: Scott Stallings, Glencoe, Okla., three bass, 8-2, $275
6th: Eric Mahn, Herculaneum, Mo., three bass, 8-0, $240
7th: Troy Stumfoll, Fort Scott, Kan., three bass, 7-15, $230
8th: Thad Hewitt, Delaware, Okla., three bass, 7-14, $320
9th: Chuck Teegardin, Fenton, Mo, three bass, 7-13, $260
10th: Joe Dietz, Ofallon, Mo., three bass, 7-12, $205
Jarod Shelton of Centralia, Missouri, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award after landing a 5-pound, 10-ounce bass worth $100.
After two events, Cody Miller of Shell Knob, Missouri, now leads the 7 Brew Ozark Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 498 points, while Gary Huber II of Saint Charles, Missouri, leads the Ozark Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 493 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 22-24 BFL Regional tournament on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma. Boaters will fish for a top award of a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard worth $50,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard, worth $33,500.
The 2026 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 co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying tournament winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top seven, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2026 BFL All-American will take place May 28-30, at Lake Murray in Columbia, South Carolina, and is hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, Mystik Lubricants, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular BFL updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
15 Teams Earn Automatic Qualification to 2026 Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops
SAN ANTONIO, TX (April 4, 2026) – This past weekend, the Association of Collegiate Anglers contested its first event of 2026 on the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series. The CrushCity Hartwell Slam presented by Sufix was held at Lake Hartwell in Anderson, SC. More than 280 elite college fishing teams competed for more than $20,000 in prizes and contingencies, as well as double points to count towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.
Along with the valuable prizes and contingencies, teams were also able to earn automatic qualification in the upcoming Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.
Here are the Top 15 teams that earned automatic qualification:
1) Emmanuel University – Xander Patton & Stephen Brooks
2) University of Montevallo – Garrett Ring & Trace Antunes
3) University of Montevallo – Peyton Harris & Dalton Head
4) University of Montevallo – Brody Mitchell & Michael Markham
5) Carson-Newman University – Zach Wolfe & Brayden Ruckman
6) University of Montevallo – Nolan Smith & Cassius Olson
7) University of Montevallo – Brody Robison & Peyton Sorrow
8) USC-Union – Austin McCall & Dawson Carden
9) USC-Union – Hogan Benson & Jackson Pruett
10)Lander University – Harrison McCall & Cameron Yates
11)Lander University – Anderson Jones & Cole Taylor
12)USC-Union – CJ Chavous & Landon Bannister
13)University of Tennessee – Makenzie Irwin & Hawkins Russell
14)Wabash Valley College – Lane Argo & Kyson Bradley
15)Carson-Newman University – Dakota Van Weelden & Collin French
View the complete Championship Qualification Criteria here.
At the CrushCity Hartwell Slam presented by Sufix, a total of seven different schools earned automatic qualifications into the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. Four of those seven earned multiple qualifications. Top ranked Montevallo led the way by placing five teams in the Top 15. USC-Union had the second most qualifications of any school, by earning three spots. 2nd ranked Carson-Newman and 5th ranked Lander University each earned two qualifications at Lake Hartwell.
Three Anglers Named to ACA’s Collegiate All-Academic Team presented by Yamaha at Lake Hartwell
SAN ANTONIO, TX (April 3, 2026) – The CrushCity Hartwell Slam presented by Sufix was the Association of Collegiate Anglers’ final regular-season event before the season-ending Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops coming up in Florence, AL.
The recent no-entry-fee, nationally televised event at Lake Hartwell was also the second to last opportunity for anglers to be named to the 2025-26 ACA’s collegiate All-Academic Team presented by Yamaha. Three anglers were named to the team at the angler meeting last Friday night, taking the season total to nine anglers awarded this title.
Here are the three anglers recognized at Lake Hartwell:
Chase Rogers: USC-Union
Carter Lanclos: LSU-Shreveport
Anna Kay: Emmanuel University
On behalf of the ACA and Yamaha, each angler will receive a scholarship for being recognized as a member of the All-Academic Team presented by Yamaha. Each angler will also be eligible to receive the title of Academic All-American presented by Yamaha. That honor will be announced at the ACA’s annual Angler & Sponsor Banquet during Championship Week next month.
Chase Rogers
USC-Union
Year: Senior
Major: Business/Organizational Leadership
The first angler we will highlight in this article is Chase Rogers with USC-Union. He is a senior majoring in Business/Organizational Leadership. Chase is said to consistently demonstrate an elite level of commitment both on the water and in the classroom. Over his four-year collegiate career, he has maintained his grades and earned placement on the President’s List and Dean’s List every academic year—an achievement that speaks to his discipline, focus, and work ethic.
Carter Lanclos
LSU-Shreveport
Year: Freshman
Major: General Business
Next is Carter Lanclos with Top 25 ranked LSU-Shreveport. Carter is a freshman, and is studying General Business. Carter is said to be an exceptional example of a student angler, successfully managing his time and efforts among multiple priorities. Outside of the classroom, he works as a sales intern. No matter what he is doing, whether it be in the classroom, on the water, or as an intern…Carter completes the task at hand with a great attitude and smile.
Anna Kay
Emmanuel University
Year: Junior
Major: Elementary Education
Lastly, we highlight Anna Kay. She is a junior at Top 25 ranked Emmanuel University, and is majoring in Elementary Education. Anna is dedicated to her field of study, Elementary Education. While balancing her course work and fishing, she serves her community through teaching youth at her church,works in community functions that serve meals to needy families, works at a daycare, and dedicates herself to young people.
To nominate a deserving student angler, click here.
15th Annual Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament Set for Lake Guntersville
Guntersville, AL (April 6, 2026) – The Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament is headed back to legendary Lake Guntersville this fall for the 15th annual celebration of all things Toyota and bass fishing. This year’s competition will be held out of Goose Pond Colony Resort October 17-18, 2026.
With this being the 15th annual tournament, Toyota is upping the ante with a $15,000 guaranteed first-place prize and cash prizes awarded to the top 31 teams. Also new for 2026 and even more exciting, every registered angler will be entered into a random drawing to win a 2026 Toyota Tundra!
Whether you find yourself atop the leaderboard or grind through tough conditions, every angler has a shot at leaving Lake Guntersville as the owner of a brand-new Toyota Tundra.
This remains a no-entry fee, amateur-only team tournament. Each registered team will receive gift bags full of Toyota swag, meet & greets with Team Toyota pro anglers, entry into prize drawings, complimentary meals, and more.
“The Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament is a highlight on Toyota’s calendar each year,” said Katherine Helffrich, Sr. Manager for Sports and Lifestyle Sponsorships, Toyota Motor North America. “We value the chance to connect with people who rely on Toyota vehicles to pursue their passion for fishing and the outdoors. We’re excited to return to Lake Guntersville with even bigger rewards and new opportunities to celebrate the loyalty and support these anglers have shown Toyota.”
Located in northeast Alabama, in the heart of bass fishing country, Lake Guntersville has been home to bass fishing’s biggest events, like the Bassmaster Classic and Major League Fishing REDCREST. With its spectacular views, proximity for so many Bonus Bucks members, and fertile fish-filled waters, Lake Guntersville serves as an excellent location for the 15th anniversary of the Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament.
“We had so much fun last year we had to run it back,” said Gerald Swindle, Guntersville local and Team Toyota pro. “Toyota tow vehicles and Guntersville are both synonymous with tournament bass fishing. Guntersville is going to give up big bass and Toyota is rolling out the red carpet with a Tundra giveaway plus $15,000 for first place. You do not want to miss this.”
The weekend begins Saturday afternoon with a registration meeting at the City of Scottsboro Civic Center located within Goose Pond property. Team Toyota pro anglers will be on hand to greet guests and load you up with Toyota Fishing Team gear.
B.A.S.S. tournament staff will conduct the tournament and be onsite Saturday afternoon for a brief rules meeting during angler registration.
Tournament eligibility is contingent on meeting two requirements: at least one of the two team members must be currently registered in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, and the eligible team must use the Bonus Bucks team member’s Toyota truck as the primary tow vehicle during the event.
The deadline to register is October 9th, 2026. To get signed up or for more details, please visit https://ownersevent.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com/. If you have questions, or need assistance, contact the Toyota Bonus Bucks Headquarters via email: [email protected].
Visit toyotafishing.com for more program details. Bassmaster Elite Series, MLF Bass Pro Tour, MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, and NPFL anglers are not eligible to participate in the Toyota Owners Tournament. Participants are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible. Registration is limited to 300 teams.
About Toyota
Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for nearly 70 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships.
Toyota directly employs nearly 48,000 people in the U.S. who have contributed to the design, engineering, and assembly of more than 35 million cars and trucks at our 11 manufacturing plants. In 2025, Toyota’s plant in North Carolina began to assemble automotive batteries for electrified vehicles.
For more information about Toyota, visit www.ToyotaNewsroom.com.
Media Contacts:
Sam Mahoney
980-900-8573
Expect spawning bass to dominate Nation Qualifier at Cherokee Lake
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — Spawning largemouth and smallmouth will play an important factor at Cherokee Lake in east Tennessee in the first Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier presented by Lowrance event of 2026 according to Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Sam Hanggi.
“It is a super-diverse time to fish Cherokee,” said Hanggi, who lives in nearby Knoxville. “You can do a lot of different things. You can go shallow and do the spawning largemouth and smallmouth deal; you can get a little farther offshore and target bait balls with forward-facing sonar; and you can go farther up the lake and target channel swings with dirtier water.”
Tournament days are scheduled for April 10-12, with daily takeoffs and weigh-ins set for the TVA Cherokee Dam Launch at 7:10 a.m. and 3:10 p.m., respectively. The Top 10% of boaters and nonboaters after the final-day weigh-in will advance to the 2026 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship presented by Lowrance, where boaters will compete for a spot on the 2027 Bassmaster Elite Series as well as one of three spots in the 2027 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
Cherokee Lake has been a popular stop on the Bassmaster Tournament Trail for several years. Most recently, Lander University’s Andrew Blanton and Garrett Smith won the 2025 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops there in the middle of July.
Unlike last year’s summer event, where collegiate anglers could only keep one 18-inch smallmouth a day, Nation anglers will be able to target smallmouth with less restrictive limits. Boaters can keep five black bass of any species per day as long as they measure 15 inches, while nonboaters can keep three.
Comfortable spring air will likely be moving into the region, and generally it is the time of the year when most bass in the lake have spawning on their minds. Barring a significant rain event, water levels should still be below summer pool.
With the water low, several cover options — such as shallow laydowns, shoreline bushes and water willows — will be unfishable, leaving lots of rock structure to target, as well as docks. While anglers will be able to find quality fish on the northern end of the lake, there likely won’t be enough water to make it to the Sevier Dam tailrace.
For the bass moving up to or already spawning, several techniques will come into play. Shallow-diving crankbaits and swimbaits like a 6-inch Megabass Magdraft are proven bite-getters during the spring, while shaky heads and other traditional bed-fishing baits will also see plenty of use.
“I think you will see a lot of people have success targeting spawning smallmouth on boulders in 3 to 12 feet of water,” Hanggi said. “They usually spawn a little earlier than largemouth.”
Hanggi also anticipates anglers trying to unlock a forward-facing sonar bite on the main lake for prespawn and postspawn bass. Jighead minnows will be key to getting those bass to bite.
“You will have a population of smallmouth that are a little farther out chasing bait, so that is going to play,” he added.
While catching a limit shouldn’t be overly difficult, Hanggi said there isn’t a lot of size variation on Cherokee Lake right now, making one or two kicker bites even more important.
“There are fish all over the lake, but there is a prominent average size,” he said. “The majority of bass are 2 or 2 1/2 pounds. Someone will need to have a limit of solid ones and then one or two big bites every day. Those bigger bites will probably be from largemouth.”
The tournament is being hosted by Visit Jefferson County, TN.
2026 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Title Sponsor: Mercury
2026 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Presenting Sponsor: Lowrance
2026 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Platinum Sponsor: Progressive, Toyota
2026 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mountain Dew, Nitro Boats, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2026 B.A.S.S. Nation Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Lew's, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, VMC, Yokohama
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
South continues Opens onslaught with win at Lake Eufaula
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O’Barr Earns Victory at MLF Toyota Series Event at Pickwick Lake Presented by Suzuki Marine
COUNCE, Tenn. (April 2, 2026) – The king of second-place finishes, pro Hayden O'Barr of Scottsboro, Alabama, finished runner-up four times in MLF events in 2025 and stacked up eight top-10 finishes in the process – great stats and good paydays, but missing the finishing touch. This week, in the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Central Division event on Pickwick Lake Presented by Suzuki Marine, the young Alabama pro took the lead on Day 2 with nearly 27 pounds and closed it out in style with 25-10 on Day 3 for a 76-10 three-day winning total. For the win, O’Barr earned a check worth $70,081, including the Phoenix MLF Bonus, and he locked in his qualification for the Toyota Series Championship (which happens to be right back on Pickwick).
Finishing second, Killen, Alabama, pro Jonny Beck weighed mostly smallmouth and totaled up 67-10. Pro Jade Keeton of Florence, Alabama, weighed 64-3 for third and Harrison, Tennessee’s Banks Shaw failed to limit on Day 3 and finished fourth with an even 63 pounds.
Something of a sleeper lake, running out of Pickwick and down the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway gives anglers access to Bay Springs Reservoir. There, several anglers did well this week, and O’Barr absolutely crushed, knocking out bags in the mid-20s every day. Funnily enough, he didn’t go there because he wanted to – practice in Pickwick was bad enough that he knew he’d be in the mix for a bottom-tier finish if he stayed there.
“I didn’t have a chance to catch them in Pickwick; I knew I had to go to Bay,” O’Barr said. “In my head, I thought I was going to Bay to lay up, just cut a check, get by, go to the next one. Somehow it turned into winning.”
Despite never having fished there before, the lake was right up his alley.
“It really sets up like a place I fished all winter, just a county pond,” he said. “It sets up like it, and the fish act just like it. I think that’s partially why I did so well, because I was comfortable all week. I had terrible mapping for the place, so I would drive around and find stuff that I didn’t even know existed.”
Excellent with the screens on, O’Barr made full use of his three hours of forward-facing sonar every day. On Day 1, he caught a 6-pounder and a 4-pounder on a ChatterBait with sonar off, but he put all his weight in the boat during his ‘Scope periods on Days 2 and 3.
“I caught a lot of my fish pretty shallow. I was sticking to the shallow bite and not seeing many,” O’Barr explained. “I would see occasional big ones and they were kind of dumb. They didn’t really swerve. They all were just dumb. I don’t feel like they had really been fished for, and I luckily had a three-mile stretch all to myself and no one messed with me, which was amazing. I knew a lot of people knew where I was catching them because they would see me, but, luckily, I had it all to myself.”
O’Barr returned to one fish specifically on Day 3: a big bass he thought was spawning that he found at the end of his forward-facing sonar period on Day 2. That fish turned out to be a 7-5 kicker – obviously key to the win. But, for the most part, specifically pre-found fish or objects were not the gameplan for the University of Alabama graduate.
“I had a stretch and I dropped my trolling motor every day and would go down it,” O’Barr explained. “It wasn’t like I was fishing structure or cover. Every now and then, I would catch one and Power-Pole or Spot-Lock, and then see some coming behind me that I had never seen. It was just a constant flow of fish through that area. You could miss them very easily when they would suck to the bottom and they would disappear – there were so many big ones I lost and could never find again.”
For his baits, O’Barr used a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait JackHammer in dirty shad and a 5-inch minnow on a 1/8-ounce head. He used a 6-foot, 10-inch, medium-light model from TigeRodz for his minnow and a 7-3, medium-heavy TigeRodz stick for his ChatterBait.
On Day 1, a pretty big portion of O’Barr’s weight came with the ‘Scope off, and he did it fishing instinctually, putting himself in the wind and obviously around fish.
“Going off how I have practiced all year for the Pro Circuit, I just go out and try to find the very best ‘Scope bite I can find that will get me through the week,” O’Barr said. “In all honesty, I just winged it for the no-‘Scope. The first day, I threw a ChatterBait on a bank I knew that had shallow grass, and then I went and threw the ChatterBait in places I had never seen before. I caught a 6-pounder on the ChatterBait and I hadn’t even tied one on in practice. I knew they were up there; I’d seen them up shallow in practice. I thought that was my best strategy to trick one – just fish the same areas you’re seeing fish, and throw different stuff.”
As O’Barr plopped his winning bag on the scale, the young pro didn’t even try to hide his smile. After a week of mechanical difficulties (both self-inflicted and out of his control) and a year of close calls, everyone at Pickwick Landing State Park could see how much he valued the win.
“I’m on top of the world,” he said. “I definitely never expected this at the start of the week. It was absolutely brutal off the water. I had something go wrong every day. Thankfully, it was really good on the water.
“There was nothing I could do wrong out there,” he continued. “I made a bad decision about when to turn my ‘Scope on today – it was rolling 1-footers out there with pollen everywhere – I couldn’t even see anything. I somehow still caught three giants – my 7-4 ate at the trolling motor, I watched her eat it.”
Tallying up more than a 25-pound average, O’Barr beat everyone in the field by a wide margin, even others like Beck, who fished nearly perfect events of their own, or Shaw, who is the hottest thing going on the Tennessee River.
“I told Banks I thought 66 to 68 pounds [would win],” O’Barr said. “The biggest fish I caught all practice was a 5-pounder. I caught three of those and that was it. I would have never imagined catching big bags three days in a row – it was just meant to be.”
The top 10 pros at the Toyota Series at Pickwick Lake Presented by Suzuki Marine finished:
1st: Hayden O’Barr, Scottsboro, Ala., 15 bass, 76-10, $70,081 (includes $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus)
2nd: Donny Beck, Killen, Ala., 15 bass, 67-10, $13,303
3rd: Jade Keeton, Florence, Ala., 15 bass, 64-3, $10,299
4th: Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn., 15 bass, 63-0, $8,583
5th: Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 15 bass, 61-0, $7,725
6th: Dylan Nutt, Nashville, Tenn., 15 bass, 58-15, $6,866
7th: Lake Johnson, Trinity, Ala., 15 bass, 58-0, $6,008
8th: Trent Suratt, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., 15 bass, 57-5, $5,150
9th: Benjamin Travis, Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 55-12, $4,291
10th: Hunter Brewer, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., 15 bass, 54-14, $3,433
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Tallis Morrison of Royston, Georgia, earned Tuesday’s $500 Berkley Big Bass Award with a bass weighing 7 pounds, 4 ounces, while O’Barr also won Wednesday’s $500 Berkley Big Bass, with a bass weighing 7 pounds even to earn the $500 award.
Jakob Labelle of Hinesburg, Vermont, won the co-angler division Thursday at Pickwick Lake with a three-day total of 11 bass weighing 40 pounds, 13 ounces. Labelle earned the top co-angler prize package worth $33,650, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor.
The top 10 co-anglers at the Toyota Series at Pickwick Lake Presented by Suzuki Marine finished:
1st: Jakob Labelle, Hinesburg, Vt., 11 bass, 40-13, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard
2nd: Nathan Brewer, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., 12 bass, 36-9, $4,359
3rd: Jonathan Poole, Trinity, Ala., 13 bass, 33-8, $3,487
4th: Alan Hults, Gautier, Miss., 11 bass, 31-9, $3,151
5th: Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., 10 bass, 28-12, $2,615
6th: Keith Gunsauls, Dandridge, Tenn., eight bass, 28-8, $2,180
7th: James Cobbs, Vinemont, Ala., 11 bass, 28-4, $1,744
8th: Chuck Willis, Dayton, Ohio, nine bass, 27-10, $1,526
9th: Chris Harcrow, Dawson, Ala., eight bass, 27-3, $1,308
10th: Frank Haysley, Louisville, Ky., nine bass, 26-0, $1,190
Co-angler Red Calvert of Perdido Key, Florida, earned the first Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of the week on Tuesday with a 6-pound, 8-ounce bass to earn the $150 prize, while Wednesday’s Day 2 $150 co-angler award went to Vance Hines of Addison, Alabama, who weighed in a 5-pound, 8-ounce bass.
The three-day Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Pickwick Lake Presented by Suzuki Marine was hosted by Explore Pickwick Lake/Hardin County Tourism. It was the second of three regular-season tournaments for the Toyota Series Central Division. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will be the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Kentucky Lake, April 9-11 in Gilbertsville, Kentucky. For a complete schedule of events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2026 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern and Southwestern – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the five 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 2027. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard. The 2026 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 5-7 on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee, and is hosted by Explore Pickwick Lake & Hardin County Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats include: 7 Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
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 on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Postspawn approach lifts South to Day 2 lead at Eufaula
EUFAULA, Ala. — Pake South is on a remarkable heater in Bassmaster Opens competition, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to end anytime soon.
The Winnsboro, Texas native claimed the lead at the Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula presented by Battery Tender with a two-day total weighing 52 pounds, 10 ounces, adding 24-10 on Friday to his 28-0 limit from Day 1. He holds a 1-14 advantage over second-place Chase Clarke.
South has already won an Open in 2026, the Division II opener at Sam Rayburn. If he were to win this event, South would become only the fourth angler to win multiple Opens in a single season, joining Terry Scroggins, Randall Tharp and Easton Fothergill in that exclusive club.
“It would be pretty awesome to win two, especially back-to-back Opens. We’ll see if we can seal the deal tomorrow,” the Elite Series rookie said.
In eight Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens presented by Battery Tender and Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifier presented by Bass Pro Shops events, including this week's tournament, South has seven Top 25 finishes and six Top 10s.
Staying primarily on the northern side of Lake Eufaula, South is targeting postspawn largemouth staging in 6 to 12 feet of water. Brushpiles and stumps have been the abundant cover options in the region, but South has also found rockpiles and even some grass patches that have produced key bites.
“The bass are further along in the spawn in this region,” South explained. “The further south you go, the more scattered they get. So rather than trying to fish for bass in all stages, I wanted to only target postspawners. I feel like I have them coming to me, so I’m targeting those bass where they are pulling out to.”
Several brushpiles have held groups of eight or nine bass, but more often than not, South is targeting individual bass or wolfpacks of two or three. If he gets one to bite, he added, it’s almost impossible to get the rest of the group to bite.
A 23 mm dice-style bait with a light weight and a Berkley Lab Series Minnow have been South’s best presentations, with the dice bait being the most productive on Day 2.
“They have been sitting right off the edge of the brushpiles, and some of them are hovering a foot above them. They are pretty much touching the stumps,” he said. “When they are going to bite it, there is no doubt about it. There haven’t been many that I have had to mess with to get them to bite.”
Similarly to Day 1, South opened the day by catching his biggest bass, in this case a 5-pounder. That 5-pounder came off the same stump as another 5-pounder he caught on Day 1. He quickly filled out a limit close to 19 pounds before bouncing around and making key culls as the day progressed.
“It was really about the same as yesterday, except all my bass today were about a half-pound smaller than the ones yesterday,” South said. “They were all about the same size. Once I had about 20 pounds, I made small upgrades. I ran some new water and found some more new stuff.”
Clarke had one of his best days of fishing ever on Friday, landing 27-3 to move into second-place with a two-day total of 50-12. That limit was anchored by an 8-15 largemouth, the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day and the second-biggest bass Clarke has ever landed.
“That is the biggest bag I’ve ever weighed in. Today was just a blessing,” the 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour qualifier said. “Lake Eufaula feels like home to me.”
The Virginia Beach native who now calls Auburn, Ala., home has been running two patterns this week. Clarke has been throwing a rotation of baits on river ledges in 14 to 17 feet of water as well as brushpiles between 4 and 8 feet of water. The majority of the largemouth he’s caught have been prespawn.
“They are still in prespawn in my area. I saw quite a few bass in my area,” he said. “With that being said, they are hard to catch.”
Early in the day, Clarke pulled up to a brushpile where he felt he could land several keeper spotted bass, but when he panned his forward-facing sonar to the pile, he didn’t see any bass at all. He decided to make a cast anyway and was rewarded.
“I saw her swim out. When I set the hook, I thought it was a giant catfish. It was a pretty special catch. It is the biggest bass I’ve ever weighed in at a tournament, and to do it at Lake Eufaula makes it that much more special.”
After landing that fish, Clarke filled out a limit quickly before making a couple key culls in the afternoon. Late in the day, he added a 4-pounder to his limit to reach his final tally for the day.
Alabama’s Fisher Anaya, meanwhile, added 23-7 to his Day 1 limit of 19-9 to jump into third place with a total of 43 pounds. The Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series rookie has been fishing Lake Eufaula for several years now, and the fishery has become one of his favorite places to fish.
Three hard spots in 8 to 10 feet of water have produced the bulk of his bites throughout the tournament. Both postspawn and prespawn largemouth are utilizing those hard spots, and most of those fish have been sitting on the bottom.
A Rapala Mavrick 100 jerkbait was his best bait on Friday while a dice-style bait and a jighead minnow have also produced key bites.
While he is nearly 10 pounds behind his roommate, Anaya also knows a 30-pound bag is possible on any given day at Lake Eufaula.
“We have some weight to make up, but it is doable. 30 pounds is swimming in this place,” he said.
Georgia’s Cody Stahl leads the Division I points race with 378 points followed by fellow Georgia angler Buddy Benson in second with 378 points. Florida’s Bryson Osteen is third with 369 points, Alabama’s Connor Jacob is fourth with 361 points and Texas’s Niko Romero is fifth with 361 points. Dillon Falardeau (359), Bo Thomas (354), Clarke (351), David Williams (350) and Jonathan Kelley (348) round out the Top 10.
The Top 10 anglers will launch from Lakepoint State Park beginning at 6:30 a.m. CT and return for weigh-in at 2:30 p.m. The winner will earn a spot in the 2027 Bassmaster Classic, given they fish each of the four Division I events.
Bassmaster LIVE will be available on Bassmaster.com and the ROKU Sports Channel beginning at 8 a.m. ET and continue until 3 p.m. ET.
The event is being hosted by the Eufaula Chamber of Commerce.
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series P
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
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Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]
2026 Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula presented by Battery Tender 4/1-4/3
Lake Eufaula, Eufaula AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Pake South Winnsboro, TX 10 52-10 0
Day 1: 5 28-00 Day 2: 5 24-10
2. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 10 50-12 200
Day 1: 5 23-09 Day 2: 5 27-03
3. Fisher Anaya Eva, AL 10 43-00 0
Day 1: 5 19-09 Day 2: 5 23-07
4. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 10 41-04 0
Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 22-06
5. Connor Jacob Peoria, IL 10 39-02 199
Day 1: 5 21-09 Day 2: 5 17-09
6. Bryson Osteen Live Oak, FL 10 37-07 198
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 16-05
7. Derek Rodriguez Jr. Okemos, MI 10 37-04 197
Day 1: 5 21-07 Day 2: 5 15-13
8. Parker Guy Ocilla, GA 10 37-03 196
Day 1: 5 20-12 Day 2: 5 16-07
9. Willie Mcmullen Covington, GA 10 37-02 195
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 19-04
10. Jace Lindsay Beckville, TX 10 36-07 0
Day 1: 5 20-04 Day 2: 5 16-03
11. Justin Barnes Ellaville, GA 10 36-06 0 $7,172.00
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 22-04
12. Aaron Yavorsky Palm Harbor, FL 10 36-03 194 $5,578.00
Day 1: 5 20-03 Day 2: 5 16-00
13. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 10 35-14 0 $4,781.00
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 18-01
14. Jamie Fountain East Dublin, GA 10 35-12 193 $3,984.00
Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 5 18-11
15. Buddy Benson Dahlonega, GA 10 35-08 192 $3,984.00
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 5 18-09
16. Blaine Bunney Claremore, OK 10 35-06 191 $3,984.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 21-12
17. Trey Schroeder Theodosia, MO 10 35-04 190 $3,984.00
Day 1: 5 20-04 Day 2: 5 15-00
18. Jake Maddux Alpharetta, GA 10 35-02 189 $3,984.00
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 20-02
19. Tanner Hadden Appling, GA 10 35-00 188 $3,984.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 19-00
20. Sam Hanggi Knoxville, TN 10 34-14 0 $3,984.00
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 20-01
21. Ryan Barnes Ellaville, GA 10 34-08 0 $3,984.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 19-04
22. Ryan Broughman Corapeake, NC 10 34-03 187 $3,984.00
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 5 14-04
23. Fred Roumbanis Russellville, AR 8 33-15 186 $3,984.00
Day 1: 5 28-05 Day 2: 3 05-10
24. David Williams Maiden, NC 10 33-15 185 $3,984.00
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 15-05
25. Hayden Seabolt Dawsonville, GA 10 33-13 0 $3,984.00
Day 1: 5 21-03 Day 2: 5 12-10
26. Cole McAusland Tuscaloosa, AL 10 33-10 184 $3,984.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 18-09
27. Dillon Falardeau Hixson, TN 10 32-12 183 $3,984.00
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 16-06
28. Jack Daniel Williams Kingsport, TN 10 32-06 182 $3,984.00
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 14-08
29. Colden Baker Ridgeway, SC 10 32-05 181 $3,984.00
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 16-02
30. Ish Monroe Oakdale, CA 10 32-02 180 $3,984.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 17-06
31. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 10 32-00 0 $3,187.00
Day 1: 5 19-10 Day 2: 5 12-06
32. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 31-11 179 $3,187.00
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 15-14
33. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 10 31-08 178 $3,187.00
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 16-09
34. Wyatt Burkhalter Coker, AL 10 31-08 177 $3,187.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 15-01
35. Kaden Buchmann Troutman, NC 10 31-05 176 $3,187.00
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 15-03
36. John Pollard Eclectic, AL 10 31-02 175 $3,187.00
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 21-04
37. Bobby Bakewell Orlando, FL 10 31-01 174 $3,187.00
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 12-02
38. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 10 31-00 173 $3,187.00
Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 11-11
39. Lucas Murphy West Columbia, MI 10 31-00 172 $3,187.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 16-02
40. Brock Bila Republic, MO 10 30-13 171 $3,187.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 16-01
41. Trent Palmer Cumming, GA 10 30-09 170 $3,187.00
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 15-12
42. Colt Blanton Piketon, OH 10 30-08 169 $3,187.00
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 13-05
43. Niko Romero Coldspring, TX 10 30-08 168 $3,187.00
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 14-02
44. Brady Vernon Sterrett, AL 10 30-06 167 $3,187.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 13-15
45. Brayden Rakes Winston Salem, NC 10 30-02 166 $3,187.00
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 13-02
46. Colton Trotter Dothan, AL 8 30-00 165
Day 1: 3 14-13 Day 2: 5 15-03
47. Cody Ross Livingston, TX 10 29-13 164
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 18-07
48. Blake Milligan Nashville, TN 10 29-09 163
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 13-12
49. Justin Kimmel Athens, GA 10 29-07 162
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 15-11
50. Darold Gleason Leesville, LA 10 29-07 161
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 14-04
51. Michael Smith Laurel Hill, AL 10 28-15 0
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 18-08
52. Evan White Roanoke Rapids, NC 10 28-14 160
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 13-00
53. Lucas Toliver Paw Paw, MI 10 28-14 159
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 14-04
54. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 10 28-13 158
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 15-15
55. Garrett Smith Mount Holly, NC 10 28-09 157
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 17-11
56. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 10 28-09 156
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 11-09
57. Timmy Sheridan Troy, VA 10 28-06 155
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 15-00
58. Pete Pisello Phillipsburg, NJ 10 28-04 154
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 11-10
59. Jack Dice Lynchburg, VA 10 27-08 153
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 12-06
60. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 10 27-07 152
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 10-03
61. Freddy Palmer Estill Springs, TN 10 27-07 151
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 15-04
62. Billy Gilbert Hamburg, NY 10 27-07 150
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 12-13
63. Easton Lindus Woodville, WI 10 27-06 149
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 13-10
64. Noah Winslow Naugatuck, CT 10 27-06 148
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 13-11
65. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 10 27-04 147
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 14-15
66. Guy Eaker Sr Cherryville, NC 10 27-02 146
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 15-11
67. Zach Goutremout Chaumont, NY 10 27-02 145
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 11-14
68. Alex Heintze Denham Springs, LA 10 27-02 144
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 12-06
69. Lucas Lindsay Auburn , AL 10 26-15 143
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 14-12
70. Jeremy Radford Huntly, VA 10 26-14 142
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 14-11
71. Mike McClelland Blue Eye, MO 10 26-11 141
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 13-01
72. Ryan Lachniet Gum Spring, VA 10 26-10 140
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 14-09
73. Grant Neubauer Medford, WI 10 26-10 139
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 13-02
74. Brooks Anderson Marietta, GA 10 26-09 138
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 13-13
75. Bryden Mugleston Lebanon, TN 10 26-06 137
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 10-03
76. Dylan Akins Flowery Branch, GA 10 26-04 136
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 12-10
77. Hayden Gaddis Dandridge, TN 10 26-02 135
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 13-13
78. Michael Corbishley Raleigh, NC 10 26-01 134
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 12-10
79. Wes Wilson Athens, GA 10 25-13 0
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 10-06
80. Ryan Salzman Huntsville, AL 10 25-13 133
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 14-07
81. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 10 25-12 132
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 11-02
82. Tommy Dunaway Havana, FL 10 25-10 131
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 14-15
83. Matthew Dettling El Macero, CA 10 25-08 130
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 13-14
84. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 10 25-04 129
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 14-08
85. Jonathon VanDam Gobles, MI 10 25-02 128
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 14-05
86. Tyler Conde Chepachet, RI 10 25-01 127
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 09-06
87. Avery Padgett Elba, AL 10 25-01 0
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 12-10
88. Johnathan Crossland Chapin, SC 10 24-15 126
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 13-07
89. Ty Austin Rush, NY 10 24-12 125
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 12-04
90. Casey Smith Victor, NY 10 24-09 124
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 10-02
91. Cody Abbott Woodruff, SC 10 24-06 123
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 14-04
92. Alex Johnson Milltown, NJ 10 24-03 122
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 10-01
93. Zac Ridenhour Salisbury, NC 10 24-00 121
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 12-05
94. Byron Kenney Jr Monticello, GA 10 23-13 120
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 12-12
95. Nic Rand Paw Paw, MI 10 23-09 119
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 11-07
96. Nathan Quince Imperial, PA 10 23-02 118
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 13-02
97. Joshua Weaver Macon, GA 10 22-15 117
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 11-14
98. Grae Buck Green Lane, PA 10 22-14 116
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 09-09
99. Damian Szlachta Dawsonville, GA 8 22-12 115
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 3 06-01
100. Robert Hoyt Union Hall, VA 10 22-09 114
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 11-11
101. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 10 22-06 113
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 09-05
102. Tyler Lubbat Naples, FL 10 22-03 112
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 11-06
103. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 10 21-13 111
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 10-10
104. Matt Mosby Dryden, MI 8 21-07 110
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 3 05-01
105. Ron Farrow Rock Hill, SC 10 21-05 109
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 09-04
106. Doug Chapin Tigerton, WI 9 21-03 108
Day 1: 4 09-15 Day 2: 5 11-04
107. Timothy Reams Morgantown, WV 9 21-02 107
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 4 07-09
108. Shayne Berlo Mclean, VA 10 20-12 106
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 08-01
109. Shane Powell Dothan, AL 10 20-07 0
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 12-03
110. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 9 20-06 105
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 4 04-06
111. Michael Webster Gastonia, NC 10 20-01 104
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 07-15
112. Chase Carey Hoschton, GA 10 20-01 103
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 09-14
113. Michael Spaulding Jr. Dundee, MI 9 19-14 0
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 4 08-05
114. Brian Hatfield Spring City, TN 9 19-11 102
Day 1: 4 10-11 Day 2: 5 09-00
115. Paul Browning Monahans, TX 10 19-11 0
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 09-09
116. Laker Howell Guntersville, AL 7 18-15 101
Day 1: 2 05-02 Day 2: 5 13-13
117. Donald Tripoli Webster, NY 10 18-15 100
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 09-07
118. Whitney Stephens Waverly, OH 8 18-14 99
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 5 13-10
119. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 10 18-13 98
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 08-15
120. Canon Murphy Thomaston, GA 9 18-11 0
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 4 06-12
121. Ed Powell Sandyville, WV 6 18-11 97
Day 1: 4 11-07 Day 2: 2 07-04
122. Chris Miller Spirit Lake, IA 9 18-11 96
Day 1: 4 08-15 Day 2: 5 09-12
123. Clayton Batts Warner Robins, GA 8 18-10 95
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 3 06-02
124. Steve Dimatteo Lancaster, PA 8 18-10 0
Day 1: 3 08-01 Day 2: 5 10-09
125. Kristian Johnson Belvidere, NJ 10 18-06 94
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 08-00
126. Yukihiro Sawamura Harker Heights, TX 10 17-14 93
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 07-09
127. Kenny Mittelstaedt Minnetonka, MN 9 17-10 92
Day 1: 4 07-02 Day 2: 5 10-08
128. Lee Harper Abbeville, AL 7 17-04 0
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 2 02-12
129. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 8 17-04 91
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 3 04-13
130. Dylan Fogarty Mechanicsburg, PA 10 17-04 90
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 5 08-01
131. Cody Detweiler Guntersville, AL 7 17-03 0
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 2 03-03
132. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 8 17-01 89
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 3 05-09
133. Kevin Jones Valley, AL 8 16-08 88
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 3 06-03
134. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 7 16-03 0
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 2 03-13
135. Logan Johnson Nauvoo, AL 7 16-02 87
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 5 12-03
136. Joey Hanna Corsicana, TX 6 15-13 86
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 5 13-06
137. Nick Mandes North Stonington, CT 10 15-13 85
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 07-09
138. Josh Hubbard Citrus Springs, FL 8 15-11 84
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 3 04-13
139. CJ Maddux Birmingham, AL 5 14-05 83
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 14-05
140. Troy Coney Owego, NY 6 13-15 82
Day 1: 1 02-15 Day 2: 5 11-00
141. Robert Davenport Brooksville, FL 5 13-12 81
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 2 06-14
142. Phil Kroll Otego, NY 5 13-11 80
Day 1: 4 10-14 Day 2: 1 02-13
143. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 7 13-07 79
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 2 03-11
144. Jeremy Sadowski Voluntown, CT 7 12-15 78
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 5 09-10
145. Lance Owen Greer, SC 5 12-11 77
Day 1: 3 07-12 Day 2: 2 04-15
146. Darrell Ivey Lebanon, MO 5 12-09 76
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
147. John Branch Magnolia, KY 6 12-09 75
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 4 08-14
148. Tripp Berlinsky Florence, AL 5 12-02 74
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
149. Seiji Kato Forney TX JAPAN 6 11-15 73
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 3 05-11
150. Ryan Michl Newton, IL 5 11-11 72
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 11-11
151. Destry Ford Tuscaloosa, AL 3 11-07 0
Day 1: 2 09-07 Day 2: 1 02-00
152. David Parsons Dothan, AL 4 10-10 0
Day 1: 4 10-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
153. Gunnar Brown Swainsboro, GA 3 10-10 0
Day 1: 3 10-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
154. Cory Mcglamery Madisonville, TN 5 10-10 71
Day 1: 1 03-04 Day 2: 4 07-06
155. Paul Tabisz Livonia, MI 3 10-06 70
Day 1: 3 10-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
156. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 5 10-03 69
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 2 03-14
157. Greg Alexander Hebron, MD 5 10-00 68
Day 1: 3 07-00 Day 2: 2 03-00
158. Brandon Parson Erwin, NC 4 09-08 67
Day 1: 3 08-04 Day 2: 1 01-04
159. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 09-08 66
Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 3 05-05
160. Ben Quisno Oakwood, OH 5 09-01 65
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
161. Dave Miller Stratford, CT 4 09-01 64
Day 1: 2 05-06 Day 2: 2 03-11
162. Mike Blevins Burnsville, NC 4 09-00 63
Day 1: 4 09-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
163. Stu Martel Northbrook, IL 5 08-13 62
Day 1: 4 07-05 Day 2: 1 01-08
164. Matt Keezer Kirkland Quebec CANADA 4 08-11 61
Day 1: 4 08-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Bubba Baker Ridgeway, SC 5 08-01 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 08-01
166. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 4 07-12 60
Day 1: 4 07-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
167. Blake Thompson Conway, SC 3 06-05 59
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
168. Neal Gilmore Magnolia, TX 3 05-05 58
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
169. Mikey Weems Hull, TX 3 04-13 57
Day 1: 3 04-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
170. Rick Greene Ocala, FL 2 04-06 56
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 1 02-13
171. Anastasia Patterson Sumter, SC 2 04-00 55
Day 1: 1 02-03 Day 2: 1 01-13
172. Chris McCarthy Woonsocket, RI 2 03-12 54
Day 1: 2 03-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
173. Trey Thompson Sanford, NC 2 03-07 53
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-07
174. Matthew Mcbee Concord, NC 1 02-04 52
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Charles Sim Wasaga Beach Ontario CA 1 02-04 52
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
176. Michael Johns Waynesville, GA 1 01-12 50
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
177. Ken Chadwick Harvard, MA 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
177. Gene Grinstead Cairo, GA 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
179. Stephen Burlington Jupiter, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
179. Jaron Burr Bowling Green, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
179. George Hirapetian Lancaster, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
179. Bryan Hoffman Andrews, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
179. River Lee Diboll, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
179. Neil Vandebiezen Otsego, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
179. Brien Vaughn Lampe, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
179. Emory Walden Jr Newnan, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 131 767 2158-02
2 127 717 1928-11
------------------------------
258 1484 4086-13
MLF’s Fishing Clash Team Series Patriot Cup Filmed in Oxford to Premiere Saturday on Outdoor Channel
WHAT:
The first episode of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Fishing Clash Team Series Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches from Oxford, Alabama, will premiere this Saturday, April 4, on Outdoor Channel.
WHEN:
Saturdays, April 4 – May 9, 2-4 p.m. ET
April 4 Elimination Match 1 (Lake Wedowee)
April 11 Elimination Match 2 (Lake Wedowee)
April 18 Elimination Match 3 (Lake Wedowee)
April 25 Knockout Match 1 (Weiss Lake)
May 2 Knockout Match 2 (Weiss Lake)
May 9 Championship Round (Logan Martin Lake)
WHERE:
Outdoor Channel – New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Outdoor Channel, with re-airings available on the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
NOTES:
The Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches was hosted by the City of Oxford and took place over six days last fall in Oxford, Alabama. The competition waters for each day of competition were top-secret and only revealed to the anglers when they arrived at the boat ramp each morning. Anglers were driven directly to the day’s competition area launch ramp by their officials.
“After hosting the Patriot Cup, the city of Oxford saw a tremendous influx of anglers traveling to the area and visiting the surrounding bodies of water showcased during the event,” said Thomas “Alfa-Man” Shelton, Oxford Business Leader and Marketing Consultant. We’ve also welcomed an increase in tournament trails choosing to stay in Oxford, and the overall impact has been incredibly positive. It was a very successful event all the way around, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with Major League Fishing.”
The Patriot Cup featured 12 two-man teams divided into three groups as they entered the one-day Elimination Round matches. Each of the three Elimination Round matches featured four new teams, with the top two teams from each match of the Elimination Round advancing to the Knockout Round on Days 4 & 5. In the Knockout Rounds, three teams competed each day, with the top two teams from each Knockout Round match moving on to the Championship Round on Day 6. In the Day 6 Championship Round, the final four teams compete in a one-day shootout to determine which team will win the Folds of Honor Patriot Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches.
The MLF Fishing Clash Team Series Presented by Bass Pro Shops featured four Cup events in 2025 – the Challenge, Heritage, Patriot, and Summit Cups – with 12 two-man teams of Bass Pro Tour anglers competing for a share of $560,000 in prize money. Teams were formed through a selection process, where 48 team captains – based on Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) standings throughout the Bass Pro Tour season – selected a teammate. Teams competed throughout the fall of 2025.
Proud sponsors of the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series include: 7 Brew Coffee, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Boat Technologies, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, E3 Sport Apparel, Epic Baits, Ferguson, Fishing Clash, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, NITRO Boats, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Smokey Mountain Caffeinated Pouches, Star brite, Toyota, YETI and Zenni.
For complete details and updated information on the MLF Fishing Clash Team Series, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
The Ozarks Ready to Host Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2026 Presented by Mercury and Lowrance at Table Rock Lake
MLF’s world championship to feature massive Outdoor Sports Expo at Springfield’s Bass Pro Shops along with top 35 pro anglers competing on Table Rock Lake for $300,000 grand prize
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (April 2, 2026) – The top 35 professional bass fishing anglers from Major League Fishing (MLF), including the top 30 pros from the Bass Pro Tour, will compete for the top prize of $300,000 and to crown bass fishing’s newest world champion at Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2026 Presented by Mercury and Lowrance on Table Rock Lake near Springfield, Missouri, April 17-19. In conjunction with the event, the FREE, family-friendly MLF Outdoor Sports Expo will also take place throughout the weekend, April 17-19 at the Bass Pro Shops National Headquarters campus in Springfield.
The three-day event will showcase the top 35 MLF anglers from 2025 competing for the prestigious REDCREST Championship and a total prize pool of more than $700,000.
Springfield is home to the “Grandaddy of All Outdoor Stores” – the Bass Pro Shops National Headquarters – and Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium, voted “America’s Best Aquarium” an unprecedented seven times and “America’s Best New Attraction.” This one-of-a-kind destination is home to the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame and draws millions of visitors each year to experience immersive wildlife galleries, hands-on adventures and the world’s largest wildlife collection.
Bass Pro Shops founder and noted conservationist Johnny Morris has spent decades building experiences that connect people to nature, championing conservation and celebrating the heritage of fishing and the outdoors. His commitment to inspiring new generations to enjoy and protect the resources we share is the perfect complement to MLF’s mission, making the Ozarks the ideal home for REDCREST 2026 and the Outdoor Sports Expo.
Across his unparalleled pro career, Kevin VanDam has fished just about every waterway in the country that regularly hosts tournaments. He estimates he’s spent more time on Table Rock than any other lake, and he believes it’s overdue to host its first tour championship.
“With my relationship with Bass Pro Shops and Nitro, I’ve spent, for sure, more days on the water at Table Rock Lake than any other tournament body of water in the country,” VanDam said. “It’s a really awesome lake, especially this time of the year.”
VanDam identified a few factors that make Table Rock unique. For one, it’s one of the only fisheries in the country where anglers can expect to catch all three black bass species – largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass – on a given day. Add in the fact that Table Rock is a sprawling playing field comprised of three different river arms with a myriad of habitat options, and VanDam thinks it will make for a dynamic event.
“It won’t be the top 10 guys all doing the same thing,” he said. “You’re going to see a really big mix of techniques, locations and patterns.”
Shane Bush, a fisheries biologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation who manages Table Rock Lake, echoed VanDam’s prediction that all three species of bass should be well represented on SCORETRACKER® during REDCREST. He said the fishery’s spotted bass population “is at an all-time high right now.” Meanwhile, the number of quality largemouth has been steadily trending upward.
“We had some high-water events, most recently in 2020 and 2021, which has equated to some really big year classes of largemouth bass being in the system right now,” Bush said. “They should be in that 17- to 18-inch range now. So, I would foresee there being good numbers of 2- to 4-pound bass.”
Both Bush and VanDam noted that Table Rock is ideally suited for the Bass Pro Tour’s every-fish-counts format. While the lake has been known to yield the occasional lunker, it’s typically a fishery where weights in the teens win five-fish events for much of the year. However, on a good day, pros might catch 50-plus bass over 2 pounds.
“Especially with the format, with every fish counts, and having the diversity that the lake has and having all three species and a really great population of all three, there’s going to be a ton of strategy to put up a game plan that’s going to put you there in contention on the Championship Day,” VanDam said.
Anglers will launch each morning from Long Creek Marina, located at 1368 Long Creek Road in Ridgedale, Missouri, at 7:15 a.m. Fans are invited to attend all launch events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The free, family-friendly MLF Outdoor Sports Expo will also take place April 17–19 at Bass Pro Shops, located at 1 Bass Pro Drive in Springfield, offering something for fans of all ages. Attendees can shop the latest in fishing, boating and outdoor gear, enjoy live seminars, meet Bass Pro Tour anglers and Bass Fishing Hall of Famers like Kevin VanDam, Gary Klein and Jimmy Houston, and snap photos with special guests Skye and Marshall from Paw Patrol. Kids 14 and under can score a free Shakespeare rod and reel presented by KY3 (first 200 each day, Saturday and Sunday), while MLF members can access exclusive giveaways, including autograph cards and free lures for the first 50 members daily. With hourly prizes and daily $500 Bass Pro Shops shopping sprees presented by KTTS, the Expo delivers nonstop action all weekend long.
The tournament will showcase the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2026 Presented by Mercury and Lowrance at Table Rock Lake will feature anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable.
The 2025 Bass Pro Tour featured a field of 66 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to finish in the top 30 and qualify for Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2026 Presented by Mercury and Lowrance. The field also features the 2025 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Champion, 2025 Toyota Series Pro Division Champion and International Division Champion, 2025 All-American Boater Champion and the highest finishing member of the 2025 College Fishing National Championship team from the Toyota Series Championship.
The full field of 35 anglers will compete in the two-day Qualifying Round on Friday and Saturday. After the Qualifying Round is complete the top 10 pros, based on two-day cumulative weight, advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $300,000.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live each day of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT. MLFNOW!® is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com, the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app and Rumble.
Television coverage of MLF’s Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2026 Presented by Mercury and Lowrance at Table Rock Lake will premiere as a one-hour episode in December on CBS, immediately following an NFL game.
Proud sponsors of the MLF Bass Pro Tour and REDCREST 2026 include: Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing Co., B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Force, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Grizzly, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, NITRO Boats, OFF! Deep Woods, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Star brite, Suzuki Marine, Toyota, Yuengling and Zenni.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X , Instagram , Rumble and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Gill’s Meridian Pro X 2.0 Spotlight
Jacksonville, FL — 4/2/26 — Gill continues to showcase its Meridian-X 2.0 Rain Suit, a proven solution for anglers fishing in cold, wet, and demanding conditions across all environments.
When the weather turns, the Meridian-X 2.0 is built to keep anglers comfortable and protected—helping them stay on the water longer. Constructed with XPLORE+® 3-layer waterproof, breathable fabric and a SHIELD® PFAS-free water-repellent finish, it delivers dependable protection from wind and rain while allowing heat and moisture to escape during active use.
The jacket features a high-cut thermal collar, a lined Vortex hood for stability in the wind, angled double cuffs, and a YKK® anti-corrosion zipper with storm flaps to seal out water. Multiple secure pockets keep essential gear close at hand, while an adjustable fit enhances comfort in changing conditions.
The bib completes the system with insulated coverage, an ergonomic stretch bracer system, reinforced panels in high-wear areas, and thigh-length side zips for easy layering. Additional features—including adjustable ankle closures, ample storage, and a relief zipper—add convenience for long days on the water.
Rainsuits, re-engineered. Ready when the weather turns.
The Meridian-X 2.0 Rain Suit is available now through authorized retailers and online at gillmarine.com/fishing-
About Gill
Founded in 1975, Gill is a global leader in technical marine apparel engineered for life on the water. Established by lifelong sailor Nick Gill, the brand was built on a no-compromise approach—premium fabrics, purpose-driven features, and uncompromising quality. Today, Gill is trusted by anglers, sailors, and adventurers worldwide, with every product designed, engineered, and tested beyond standards in the Gill Lab and on the water.
More than a clothing company, Gill is an engineering company, creating wearable technology that delivers maximum protection from the elements. For over 50 years, the focus has remained the same: Engineered for the Elements—providing anglers with performance-driven gear that works when conditions turn and it matters most.
Gamakatsu named title sponsor of 2026 Bassmaster Elite at Arkansas River
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. announced today that Gamakatsu will serve as the title sponsor of the 2026 Bassmaster Elite at Arkansas River, scheduled for April 16-19 out of Muskogee, Okla.
The event marks a new stop on the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series schedule and will bring the sport’s top professional anglers to the Arkansas River for four days of competition. Launching from Muskogee, the tournament is expected to showcase both the fishery and the local community while highlighting one of the most challenging and dynamic river systems in the country.
“We’re excited to welcome Gamakatsu as the title sponsor for this Elite Series event,” said Phillip Johnson, B.A.S.S. Chief Operating Officer. “Gamakatsu has built a reputation for quality and innovation across the fishing industry, and their continued investment in the Bassmaster platform speaks to their commitment to the sport. This partnership helps us elevate the Elite Series while introducing a new venue that will challenge our anglers and create exciting opportunities for our fans.”
Stretching through Oklahoma, the Arkansas River system offers a unique mix of current, navigation pools, backwaters and shallow cover that will test anglers’ versatility. Seasonal conditions in mid-April could create a wide range of patterns, with prespawn and spawning bass both potentially playing a role. Competitors will need to manage fluctuating water levels, current flow and changing weather conditions as they pursue a blue trophy and valuable Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year points.
Gamakatsu, a globally recognized leader in fishing tackle, has long been known for manufacturing some of the sharpest and strongest hooks in the world. Founded in Japan in 1955, the company has built its reputation on precision engineering, high-carbon steel construction and a commitment to innovation. Over the years, Gamakatsu has expanded its product lineup well beyond hooks to include rods, terminal tackle and a wide range of fishing accessories designed to meet the needs of anglers at every level.
Today, Gamakatsu USA continues to grow its presence in both freshwater and saltwater markets, supporting anglers through product development, sponsorships and partnerships with major tournament organizations like B.A.S.S. The company’s involvement in the Bassmaster Elite Series provides a platform to showcase its expanding lineup while connecting directly with dedicated bass fishing fans.
“The Bassmater Elite Series has been a great platform to showcase the Gamakatsu brand. The range of our products continues to grow beyond hooks and we are excited to be the title sponsor for this new stop on the Elite Series,” said Ted Thibault, sales manager for Gamakatsu USA.
The 2026 Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Arkansas River will feature daily takeoffs and weigh-ins in Muskogee, giving fans an opportunity to watch the action unfold in person as Elite Series anglers navigate the river system. Spectators can also follow the tournament through comprehensive coverage on Bassmaster.com, including live weigh-ins, standings and on-the-water updates.
As a first-time Elite Series stop, the Arkansas River out of Muskogee is expected to produce unpredictable and highly competitive fishing, rewarding anglers who can adjust to changing conditions and make strategic decisions throughout the four-day event.
With the addition of Gamakatsu as title sponsor, a new and challenging fishery and a field of the world’s best anglers, the 2026 Gamakatsu Bassmaster Elite at Arkansas River is poised to be one of the most compelling events of the season.
Full event details, including specific launch and weigh-in locations, will be available on Bassmaster.com.
About Gamakatsu
From humble beginnings as Japan’s smallest fishing hook manufacturer in 1955, Gamakatsu has evolved into the world’s preeminent hook manufacturer. Continuous manufacturing upgrades and cutting-edge innovation have fueled Gamakatsu’s growth as a leading producer of fishing hooks, apparel, and performance gear. When anglers purchase Gamakatsu products, they are investing in original designs manufactured exclusively by the company. Gamakatsu remains committed to testing new materials and advancing technology that continues to set the industry standard. For more information, please visit www.gamakatsu.com.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
2026 Minn Kota & Humminbird Owners Tournament - NEXT WEEK!
Racine, WI – Minn Kota and Humminbird are excited to kick off the 4th Annual Owners Tournament. The tournament is returning to Lake Eufaula, Alabama, the home of Humminbird and one of the most historically rich bass fisheries in the country. This event has quickly become a signature event for Minn Kota and Humminbird customers, bringing together anglers from across the nation for a weekend of competition, community, and shared passion for time on the water.
This year’s event will take place April 10–12, 2026, at Lakepoint State Park, featuring three days of big-bass excitement, exclusive on-site experiences, and opportunities to connect with the brands and products anglers rely on every day. Go to minnkotaowners.com for all event details and to get registered.
Event Details
Guaranteed Prizes & Payouts: $230,000
Grand Prize: 2026 Nitro Z20 XL fully rigged with Minn Kota & Humminbird product
Format: Hourly Big Bass
Dates: April 10–12, 2026
Location: Lake Eufaula, Alabama
Weigh-In Site: Lakepoint State Park, 104 Lakepoint Dr., Eufaula, AL 36027
Lodging Information
For lodging options, visit the Eufaula Chamber of Commerce Lodging page for a list of nearby accommodations.
About Minn Kota and Humminbird
JOHNSON OUTDOORS is comprised of the Humminbird®, Minn Kota® and Cannon® brands. Humminbird is a leading global innovator and manufacturer of marine electronics products including fish finders, multifunction displays, autopilots, ice flashers, and premium cartography products. Minn Kota is the world’s leading manufacturer of electric trolling motors, as well as a complete line of shallow water anchors, battery chargers and marine accessories. Cannon is the leader in controlled-depth fishing and includes a full line of downrigger products and accessories.
Visit Humminbird at www.humminbird.com
Visit Minn Kota at www.minnkotamotors.com
Visit Cannon at www.cannondownriggers.com
JOHNSON OUTDOORS is a leading global outdoor recreation company that inspires more people to experience the awe of the great outdoors with innovative, top-quality products. The company designs, manufactures and markets a portfolio of winning, consumer-preferred brands across four categories: Watercraft, Fishing, Diving and Camping.
Visit Johnson Outdoors at www.johnsonoutdoors.com
Shallow nuances lead Roumbanis to Day 1 lead at Lake Eufaula
EUFAULA, Ala. — Had you told Fred Roumbanis he’d catch over 28 pounds of largemouth on Day 1 of the 2026 Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula presented by Battery Tender, he wouldn’t have believed you. But that’s exactly what happened.
The Russellville, Ark., pro nicknamed “Boom Boom” claimed the Day 1 lead with a limit weighing 28 pounds, 5 ounces, anchoring his total with a 7-1 and a 6-14. Roumbanis holds a 5-ounce lead over second-place Pake South heading into Day 2 while the gap between him and third place Chase Clarke is almost 5 pounds.
“It is so enjoyable to be back fishing Bassmaster tournaments. I just had a smile on my face all day,” he explained. “I ran (around) all day and fished little staging areas where I felt there could be a couple of big ones, and I was doing what I like to do.
“It was a special day.”
This week has been an emotional week for many in the bass fishing industry as they mourn the loss of long-time Humminbird service crew member Joby Smith. Roumbanis attended Smith’s funeral on Tuesday and dedicated his Day 1 performance to his memory.
“I wanted to catch them for Joby, and it happened,” Roumbanis said. “I couldn’t tell you I was going to catch them like that, it just did. It was pretty magical.”
Roumbanis and South were in a class of their own to start this tournament on the Chattahoochee River impoundment, but the weights throughout the field were impressive despite a drop in water levels. Of the 186 anglers, 50 caught limits weighing 15 pounds or better, with 11 of those bags weighing 20 pounds or more.
During his three days of practice, Roumbanis saw almost the entirety of Lake Eufaula, but one bite gave him the clue he needed to find success during the opening round of this event.
“I shook off a big bite in practice, and I made a crazy run to this one bite today,” the two-tome B.A.S.S. winner said. “I knew it was going to happen right there, and that was that 7-1.”
The four-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier is running a very specific shallow water pattern, with one bait producing the entirety of his Day 1 limit. Roumbanis hit as many of those spots as he could find, running until he found what he liked.
He only caught nine keepers during the day, but they were the right size.
“There is one key thing I am looking for when I’m running, and when I see that, that’s when I stop,” he said.
Summer-like air temperatures and a full moon, Roumbanis said he was expecting more bass to be guarding nests. The water has dropped over a foot since the start of practice, however, making some spawning habitat unreachable.
“If the water was up, it would be wide open for everyone. Because it's not, I spent my time trying to find the little nuances where the big ones might be,” Roumbanis said. “They want to come in. The water is so shallow, and the cleaner area I saw some in, none of them were sitting on a bed. It is a really weird deal.”
With an earlier boat draw tomorrow, Roumbanis hopes to capitalize on a shad spawn bite before moving to his run-and-gun pattern later in the morning.
“I feel like I have a lot of water to myself, which is a really good feeling,” he said. “Did I catch them all? I’m not sure. I’m still kind of in practice mode.”
South, who won the Division II opener at Sam Rayburn, only had a day-and-a-half of practice after making the Day 3 cut at the Elite Series event at the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, but made the most of his limited practice.
The Texan finished Day 1 with 28-0 and feels right at home in southeastern Alabama.
“I’m fishing free, taking some risks and doing what my gut tells me,” he said. “This is the most similar thing I’ve seen to east Texas so far.”
Staying between 6 and 12 feet of water, South is targeting flats and drains that lead into spawning areas. These areas have a mix of cover, including brushpiles, stumps and rockpiles. All the bass he caught were postspawners.
Several of the same baits he used to win at Sam Rayburn are playing this week at Lake Eufaula, including a dice-style bait and the 6.5-inch Berkley Lab Series Minnow.
After landing his two biggest bites in a flurry first thing in the morning, South bounced around the rest of the day looking for new areas, essentially using Day 1 as another practice day.
Despite early morning struggles, Clarke rebounded nicely to finish the day in third with 23-0. The 2026 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour qualifier learned the nuances of Lake Eufaula as an Auburn University angler, which helped him make the needed adjustments on Day 1 of this tournament.
Clarke’s first three spots didn’t produce a bite. As he was trolling around in his fourth spot, he noticed a bass on a brushpile but was moving too fast and ran over the pile before he could make a cast. An hour later, he returned and landed a 5-pounder, his first keeper of the day.
From there, he landed several more quality bass with a rotation of five baits before using the last three hours of the day as a practice period. The bass he caught had similar builds, which has Clarke hopeful for the next two days.
“That (5-pounder) got the ball rolling,” he said. “That fish was really fat. The next couple I caught were really fat too. I hadn’t seen that in practice, which leads me to believe there is a new wave of bass pulling up where I’m fishing.”
Piketon, Ohio’s Colt Blanton caught the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day, a 7-4 largemouth.
The full field of anglers will launch from Lakepoint State Park beginning at 6:30 a.m. CT and return for weigh-in starting at 2:30 p.m. The Top 10 anglers after Day 2 will compete on Championship Friday and the winner will earn a spot in the 2027 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
Full coverage, including select live angler cameras, will be available on Bassmaster.com all day long.
The event is being hosted by the Eufaula Chamber of Commerce.
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series P
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series
2026 Bassmaster Opens Series
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Mandy Pascal, Communications Manager, 334-414-8677, [email protected]
2026 Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula presented by Battery Tender 4/1-4/3
Lake Eufaula, Eufaula AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Fred Roumbanis Russellville, AR 5 28-05 200
Day 1: 5 28-05
2. Pake South Winnsboro, TX 5 28-00 0
Day 1: 5 28-00
3. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 5 23-09 199
Day 1: 5 23-09
4. Connor Jacob Peoria, IL 5 21-09 198
Day 1: 5 21-09
5. Derek Rodriguez Jr. Okemos, MI 5 21-07 197
Day 1: 5 21-07
6. Hayden Seabolt Dawsonville, GA 5 21-03 0
Day 1: 5 21-03
7. Bryson Osteen Live Oak, FL 5 21-02 196
Day 1: 5 21-02
8. Parker Guy Ocilla, GA 5 20-12 195
Day 1: 5 20-12
9. Jace Lindsay Beckville, TX 5 20-04 0
Day 1: 5 20-04
9. Trey Schroeder Theodosia, MO 5 20-04 194
Day 1: 5 20-04
11. Aaron Yavorsky Palm Harbor, FL 5 20-03 193
Day 1: 5 20-03
12. Ryan Broughman Corapeake, NC 5 19-15 192
Day 1: 5 19-15
13. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 5 19-10 0
Day 1: 5 19-10
14. Fisher Anaya Eva, AL 5 19-09 0
Day 1: 5 19-09
15. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 5 19-05 191
Day 1: 5 19-05
16. Bobby Bakewell Orlando, FL 5 18-15 190
Day 1: 5 18-15
17. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 5 18-14 0
Day 1: 5 18-14
18. David Williams Maiden, NC 5 18-10 189
Day 1: 5 18-10
19. Willie Mcmullen Covington, GA 5 17-14 188
Day 1: 5 17-14
19. Jack Daniel Williams Kingsport, TN 5 17-14 188
Day 1: 5 17-14
21. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 5 17-13 0
Day 1: 5 17-13
22. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 5 17-04 186
Day 1: 5 17-04
23. Colt Blanton Piketon, OH 5 17-03 185
Day 1: 5 17-03
24. Jamie Fountain East Dublin, GA 5 17-01 184
Day 1: 5 17-01
25. Brayden Rakes Winston Salem, NC 5 17-00 183
Day 1: 5 17-00
26. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 5 17-00 182
Day 1: 5 17-00
27. Buddy Benson Dahlonega, GA 5 16-15 181
Day 1: 5 16-15
28. Damian Szlachta Dawsonville, GA 5 16-11 180
Day 1: 5 16-11
29. Pete Pisello Phillipsburg, NJ 5 16-10 179
Day 1: 5 16-10
30. Wyatt Burkhalter Coker, AL 5 16-07 178
Day 1: 5 16-07
30. Brady Vernon Sterrett, AL 5 16-07 178
Day 1: 5 16-07
32. Dillon Falardeau Hixson, TN 5 16-06 176
Day 1: 5 16-06
32. Matt Mosby Dryden, MI 5 16-06 176
Day 1: 5 16-06
32. Niko Romero Coldspring, TX 5 16-06 176
Day 1: 5 16-06
35. Bryden Mugleston Lebanon, TN 5 16-03 173
Day 1: 5 16-03
36. Colden Baker Ridgeway, SC 5 16-03 172
Day 1: 5 16-03
37. Kaden Buchmann Troutman, NC 5 16-02 171
Day 1: 5 16-02
38. Tanner Hadden Appling, GA 5 16-00 170
Day 1: 5 16-00
38. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 16-00 170
Day 1: 5 16-00
40. Evan White Roanoke Rapids, NC 5 15-14 168
Day 1: 5 15-14
41. Blake Milligan Nashville, TN 5 15-13 167
Day 1: 5 15-13
41. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 15-13 167
Day 1: 5 15-13
43. Tyler Conde Chepachet, RI 5 15-11 165
Day 1: 5 15-11
44. Wes Wilson Athens, GA 5 15-07 0
Day 1: 5 15-07
45. Ryan Barnes Ellaville, GA 5 15-04 0
Day 1: 5 15-04
45. Zach Goutremout Chaumont, NY 5 15-04 164
Day 1: 5 15-04
47. Darold Gleason Leesville, LA 5 15-03 163
Day 1: 5 15-03
48. Jack Dice Lynchburg, VA 5 15-02 162
Day 1: 5 15-02
49. Cole McAusland Tuscaloosa, AL 5 15-01 161
Day 1: 5 15-01
50. Jake Maddux Alpharetta, GA 5 15-00 160
Day 1: 5 15-00
51. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 5 14-15 159
Day 1: 5 14-15
52. Lucas Murphy West Columbia, MI 5 14-14 158
Day 1: 5 14-14
53. Sam Hanggi Knoxville, TN 5 14-13 0
Day 1: 5 14-13
53. Trent Palmer Cumming, GA 5 14-13 157
Day 1: 5 14-13
55. Colton Trotter Dothan, AL 3 14-13 156
Day 1: 3 14-13
56. Brock Bila Republic, MO 5 14-12 155
Day 1: 5 14-12
56. Alex Heintze Denham Springs, LA 5 14-12 155
Day 1: 5 14-12
56. Ish Monroe Oakdale, CA 5 14-12 155
Day 1: 5 14-12
59. Billy Gilbert Hamburg, NY 5 14-10 152
Day 1: 5 14-10
59. Lucas Toliver Paw Paw, MI 5 14-10 152
Day 1: 5 14-10
59. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 5 14-10 152
Day 1: 5 14-10
62. Lee Harper Abbeville, AL 5 14-08 0
Day 1: 5 14-08
63. Casey Smith Victor, NY 5 14-07 149
Day 1: 5 14-07
64. Justin Barnes Ellaville, GA 5 14-02 0
Day 1: 5 14-02
64. Alex Johnson Milltown, NJ 5 14-02 148
Day 1: 5 14-02
66. Cody Detweiler Guntersville, AL 5 14-00 0
Day 1: 5 14-00
67. Justin Kimmel Athens, GA 5 13-12 147
Day 1: 5 13-12
67. Easton Lindus Woodville, WI 5 13-12 147
Day 1: 5 13-12
69. Noah Winslow Naugatuck, CT 5 13-11 145
Day 1: 5 13-11
70. Dylan Akins Flowery Branch, GA 5 13-10 144
Day 1: 5 13-10
70. Mike McClelland Blue Eye, MO 5 13-10 144
Day 1: 5 13-10
72. Blaine Bunney Claremore, OK 5 13-10 142
Day 1: 5 13-10
73. Timothy Reams Morgantown, WV 5 13-09 141
Day 1: 5 13-09
74. Grant Neubauer Medford, WI 5 13-08 140
Day 1: 5 13-08
75. Michael Corbishley Raleigh, NC 5 13-07 139
Day 1: 5 13-07
76. Timmy Sheridan Troy, VA 5 13-06 138
Day 1: 5 13-06
77. Grae Buck Green Lane, PA 5 13-05 137
Day 1: 5 13-05
78. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 5 13-01 136
Day 1: 5 13-01
79. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 5 12-14 135
Day 1: 5 12-14
80. Brooks Anderson Marietta, GA 5 12-12 134
Day 1: 5 12-12
81. Shayne Berlo Mclean, VA 5 12-11 133
Day 1: 5 12-11
82. Darrell Ivey Lebanon, MO 5 12-09 132
Day 1: 5 12-09
83. Ty Austin Rush, NY 5 12-08 131
Day 1: 5 12-08
83. Clayton Batts Warner Robins, GA 5 12-08 131
Day 1: 5 12-08
85. Avery Padgett Elba, AL 5 12-07 0
Day 1: 5 12-07
85. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 5 12-07 129
Day 1: 5 12-07
87. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 5 12-06 0
Day 1: 5 12-06
88. Hayden Gaddis Dandridge, TN 5 12-05 128
Day 1: 5 12-05
88. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 5 12-05 128
Day 1: 5 12-05
90. Lucas Lindsay Auburn , AL 5 12-03 126
Day 1: 5 12-03
90. Jeremy Radford Huntly, VA 5 12-03 126
Day 1: 5 12-03
92. Freddy Palmer Estill Springs, TN 5 12-03 124
Day 1: 5 12-03
93. Tripp Berlinsky Florence, AL 5 12-02 123
Day 1: 5 12-02
93. Nic Rand Paw Paw, MI 5 12-02 123
Day 1: 5 12-02
93. Michael Webster Gastonia, NC 5 12-02 123
Day 1: 5 12-02
96. Ron Farrow Rock Hill, SC 5 12-01 120
Day 1: 5 12-01
96. Ryan Lachniet Gum Spring, VA 5 12-01 120
Day 1: 5 12-01
98. Canon Murphy Thomaston, GA 5 11-15 0
Day 1: 5 11-15
99. Zac Ridenhour Salisbury, NC 5 11-11 118
Day 1: 5 11-11
100. Matthew Dettling El Macero, CA 5 11-10 117
Day 1: 5 11-10
101. Michael Spaulding Jr. Dundee, MI 5 11-09 0
Day 1: 5 11-09
102. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 11-08 116
Day 1: 5 11-08
102. Johnathan Crossland Chapin, SC 5 11-08 116
Day 1: 5 11-08
104. Guy Eaker Sr Cherryville, NC 5 11-07 114
Day 1: 5 11-07
105. Ed Powell Sandyville, WV 4 11-07 113
Day 1: 4 11-07
106. Cody Ross Livingston, TX 5 11-06 112
Day 1: 5 11-06
106. Ryan Salzman Huntsville, AL 5 11-06 112
Day 1: 5 11-06
108. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 11-03 110
Day 1: 5 11-03
109. Byron Kenney Jr Monticello, GA 5 11-01 109
Day 1: 5 11-01
109. Joshua Weaver Macon, GA 5 11-01 109
Day 1: 5 11-01
111. Robert Hoyt Union Hall, VA 5 10-14 107
Day 1: 5 10-14
111. Josh Hubbard Citrus Springs, FL 5 10-14 107
Day 1: 5 10-14
111. Garrett Smith Mount Holly, NC 5 10-14 107
Day 1: 5 10-14
114. Phil Kroll Otego, NY 4 10-14 104
Day 1: 4 10-14
115. Tyler Lubbat Naples, FL 5 10-13 103
Day 1: 5 10-13
115. Jonathon VanDam Gobles, MI 5 10-13 103
Day 1: 5 10-13
117. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 10-12 101
Day 1: 5 10-12
118. Tommy Dunaway Havana, FL 5 10-11 100
Day 1: 5 10-11
119. Brian Hatfield Spring City, TN 4 10-11 99
Day 1: 4 10-11
120. David Parsons Dothan, AL 4 10-10 0
Day 1: 4 10-10
121. Gunnar Brown Swainsboro, GA 3 10-10 0
Day 1: 3 10-10
122. Michael Smith Laurel Hill, AL 5 10-07 0
Day 1: 5 10-07
123. Kristian Johnson Belvidere, NJ 5 10-06 98
Day 1: 5 10-06
124. Paul Tabisz Livonia, MI 3 10-06 97
Day 1: 3 10-06
125. Kevin Jones Valley, AL 5 10-05 96
Day 1: 5 10-05
125. Yukihiro Sawamura Harker Heights, TX 5 10-05 96
Day 1: 5 10-05
127. Chase Carey Hoschton, GA 5 10-03 94
Day 1: 5 10-03
128. Cody Abbott Woodruff, SC 5 10-02 93
Day 1: 5 10-02
128. Paul Browning Monahans, TX 5 10-02 0
Day 1: 5 10-02
130. Nathan Quince Imperial, PA 5 10-00 92
Day 1: 5 10-00
131. Doug Chapin Tigerton, WI 4 09-15 91
Day 1: 4 09-15
132. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 5 09-14 90
Day 1: 5 09-14
132. John Pollard Eclectic, AL 5 09-14 90
Day 1: 5 09-14
134. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 5 09-12 88
Day 1: 5 09-12
135. Donald Tripoli Webster, NY 5 09-08 87
Day 1: 5 09-08
136. Destry Ford Tuscaloosa, AL 2 09-07 0
Day 1: 2 09-07
137. Dylan Fogarty Mechanicsburg, PA 5 09-03 86
Day 1: 5 09-03
138. Ben Quisno Oakwood, OH 5 09-01 85
Day 1: 5 09-01
139. Mike Blevins Burnsville, NC 4 09-00 84
Day 1: 4 09-00
140. Chris Miller Spirit Lake, IA 4 08-15 83
Day 1: 4 08-15
141. Matt Keezer Kirkland Quebec CANADA 4 08-11 82
Day 1: 4 08-11
142. Nick Mandes North Stonington, CT 5 08-04 81
Day 1: 5 08-04
142. Shane Powell Dothan, AL 5 08-04 0
Day 1: 5 08-04
144. Brandon Parson Erwin, NC 3 08-04 80
Day 1: 3 08-04
145. Steve Dimatteo Lancaster, PA 3 08-01 0
Day 1: 3 08-01
146. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 4 07-12 79
Day 1: 4 07-12
147. Lance Owen Greer, SC 3 07-12 78
Day 1: 3 07-12
148. Stu Martel Northbrook, IL 4 07-05 77
Day 1: 4 07-05
149. Kenny Mittelstaedt Minnetonka, MN 4 07-02 76
Day 1: 4 07-02
150. Greg Alexander Hebron, MD 3 07-00 75
Day 1: 3 07-00
151. Robert Davenport Brooksville, FL 3 06-14 74
Day 1: 3 06-14
152. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 3 06-05 73
Day 1: 3 06-05
152. Blake Thompson Conway, SC 3 06-05 73
Day 1: 3 06-05
154. Seiji Kato Forney TX JAPAN 3 06-04 71
Day 1: 3 06-04
155. Dave Miller Stratford, CT 2 05-06 70
Day 1: 2 05-06
156. Neal Gilmore Magnolia, TX 3 05-05 69
Day 1: 3 05-05
157. Whitney Stephens Waverly, OH 3 05-04 68
Day 1: 3 05-04
158. Laker Howell Guntersville, AL 2 05-02 67
Day 1: 2 05-02
159. Mikey Weems Hull, TX 3 04-13 66
Day 1: 3 04-13
160. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 2 04-03 65
Day 1: 2 04-03
161. Logan Johnson Nauvoo, AL 2 03-15 64
Day 1: 2 03-15
162. Chris McCarthy Woonsocket, RI 2 03-12 63
Day 1: 2 03-12
163. John Branch Magnolia, KY 2 03-11 62
Day 1: 2 03-11
164. Jeremy Sadowski Voluntown, CT 2 03-05 61
Day 1: 2 03-05
165. Cory Mcglamery Madisonville, TN 1 03-04 60
Day 1: 1 03-04
166. Troy Coney Owego, NY 1 02-15 59
Day 1: 1 02-15
167. Joey Hanna Corsicana, TX 1 02-07 58
Day 1: 1 02-07
168. Matthew Mcbee Concord, NC 1 02-04 57
Day 1: 1 02-04
168. Charles Sim Wasaga Beach Ontario CA 1 02-04 57
Day 1: 1 02-04
170. Anastasia Patterson Sumter, SC 1 02-03 55
Day 1: 1 02-03
171. Michael Johns Waynesville, GA 1 01-12 54
Day 1: 1 01-12
172. Rick Greene Ocala, FL 1 01-09 53
Day 1: 1 01-09
173. Ken Chadwick Harvard, MA 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-08
173. Gene Grinstead Cairo, GA 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-08
175. Bubba Baker Ridgeway, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Stephen Burlington Jupiter, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Jaron Burr Bowling Green, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. George Hirapetian Lancaster, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Bryan Hoffman Andrews, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. River Lee Diboll, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. CJ Maddux Birmingham, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Ryan Michl Newton, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Trey Thompson Sanford, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Neil Vandebiezen Otsego, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Brien Vaughn Lampe, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Emory Walden Jr Newnan, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 131 767 2158-02
------------------------------
131 767 2158-02
Gilbertsville, Kentucky Readies for MLF Toyota Series at Kentucky Lake
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (April 1, 2026) –The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is set to visit Gilbertsville, Kentucky, next week, April 9-11, for the second event of the Plains division – the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Kentucky Lake.
The three-day tournament, hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau, will feature a roster of the region’s best bass-fishing pros and co-anglers competing for a top prize of up to $100,000 in the pro division and a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor plus $5,000 in the co-angler division.
Shelbyville, Kentucky pro John Hunter said he expects Kentucky Lake to showcase a mix of traditional springtime patterns and evolving strategies as anglers adjust to the 2026 forward-facing sonar limitations during the upcoming Toyota Series event.
“Everything I’m hearing is that the lake has been fishing really well all spring,” said Hunter. “It should be getting right around that spawning window, which always makes things interesting.”
With spawning smallmouth historically dominating April events on Kentucky Lake, Hunter believes this year’s format adjustments could open the door for a more balanced approach.
“In the past, smallmouth have really carried events this time of year,” Hunter said. “But with limited forward-facing sonar, I think you’re going to see more patterns come into play. Smallmouth will still be the key player, but I really think largemouth could show up strong and play a bigger role than they have in recent years.”
Hunter noted that Kentucky Lake continues to rebound as a fishery, with strong showings in recent seasons reinforcing its upward trend.
“The fish are really healthy right now, and the lake has been on the comeback for a few years,” Hunter said. “We saw that last year when we were there for Bass Pro Tour Stage 5, and it shows every spring. It’s definitely exciting to think about the kind of weights we could see.”
While conditions will ultimately dictate how the event unfolds, Hunter expects a wide range of techniques to be in play – from offshore finesse approaches to power fishing along the bank.
“You’re going to see a little bit of everything,” Hunter said. “Some guys will still utilize forward-facing sonar when they can, and others will be winding down the bank targeting largemouth. It really just depends on how the fish set up with water levels and temperatures.”
Hunter said he expects to see a mix of classic springtime baits and typical forward-facing sonar baits, and he anticipates strong weights over the three-day event.
“I think it’s going to take around 20 pounds a day to be competitive,” Hunter said. “You’re probably looking at 60 pounds or more to have a shot at the win.”
Anglers will begin each day at 6:30 a.m. CT, launching from Moors Resort & Marina at 570 Moors Road in Gilbertsville. Weigh-ins will take place at the marina, starting at 2:30 p.m. daily. Fans are invited to attend in person and can also stay connected by following the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily updates on MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of up to $75,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of up to $100,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard plus $5,000 cash.
The 2026 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern and Southwestern – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the five 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 2027. The winning co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard. The 2026 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 5-7 on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee, and is hosted by Explore Pickwick Lake & Hardin County Tourism.
Proud sponsors of the 2026 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, Athletic Brewing, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Buffalo, BUBBA, Cigars International, Epic Baits, Grizzly, Mercury, MillerTech, OFF! Deep Woods, Onyx, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Phoenix Boats, PirahnO2, Power-Pole, Precision Sonar, Suzuki Marine, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, VOSKER, YETI and Yuengling.
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.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery, Outdoor Channel, VICE, World Fishing Network, RFD-TV, Game & Fish TV and Rumble, and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 20 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Shallow-water paradise awaits College Series at Santee Cooper
Shallow-water paradise awaits College Series at Santee Cooper
CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Deciphering the spawning stages will be key to finding success during the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Santee Cooper Lakes presented by Bass Pro Shops.
“The lakes are really healthy,” said Lucas Murphy, a Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens presented by Battery Tender pro from West Columbia, S.C. “There is a lot of grass right now. April and May were lights-out last year during the postspawn. It is good old-fashioned fishing.”
Tournament days are scheduled for April 8-9, with daily takeoffs and weigh-ins taking place at John C. Land III Boating & Sports Fishing Facility in Summerton, S.C. The Top 10% of the field will punch a ticket to the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops later this year.
One-day Strike King Bassmaster High School and Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Series events will follow on Santee Cooper Lakes on April 12.
Consistently near the top of Bassmaster Magazine’s yearly 100 Best Bass Lakes, the Santee Cooper lakes are full of pristine scenery and lunker largemouth. Two lakes make up the fishery — Lake Marion to the northwest and Lake Moultrie to the southeast — with a diversion canal connecting them.
Over the past five seasons, the Bassmaster Tournament Trails have made several trips to Santee Cooper, most recently during the 2024 season, when Kyle Austin won an early March Bassmaster Open with 83 pounds, 7 ounces.
What will happen during the College Series event hinges on the weather trends. In a normal year, many of the bass in the system would be in a postspawn phase, with a few late spawners hitting the beds, Murphy said. There is also the possibility of a shad spawn starting up, which could provide the opportunity to catch an early limit. Of course, timelines can shift depending on the severity of late-season cold snaps.
“The biggest thing will be dialing in which portion of the spawn the bass will be in,” said Murphy, a former Grand Valley State University angler. “I think there will be some stragglers that are spawning, but for the most part I think they will be postspawn. It fishes kind of like Florida. You want nice, warm weather. These bass can be a little temperamental.”
Thousands of cypress trees fill the shallows of both lakes, providing plenty of cover. Over the past few years, the aquatic vegetation has increased significantly, especially on Lake Moultrie.
“Moultrie is loaded with grass and has been one of the most consistent sections of the lake. Marion is typically where a lot of tournaments get won,” Murphy said. “There’s a lot of grass, so it is about taking the time to find the sweet spots.”
Murphy predicts several baits could come into play, including a wacky-rigged Strike King Ocho and a Strike King Rage Cut-R-Worm. Jerkbaits and some topwater action could work for anglers targeting the grass. And around cypress trees, on the northern end of Marion especially, anglers can catch fish with buzzbaits, spinnerbaits and Texas-rigged creature baits.
For more information on the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Santee Cooper Lakes presented by Bass Pro Shops, the Strike King Bassmaster High School Series at Santee Cooper Lakes and the Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Series at Santee Cooper Lakes visit Bassmaster.com.
These events are being hosted by Santee Cooper County.
2026 Bassmaster College Series
2026 Bassmaster College Series
2026 Bassmaster College Series
2026 Bassmaster College Series
2026 Bassmaster College Series
2026 Bassmaster College Series
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series, Turtlebox Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Battery Tender, Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Qualifiers Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Series presented by Lowrance, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series, Tackle Warehouse Bassmaster Junior Series, TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Team Championship, Newport Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by Native Watercraft, Bassmaster College Kayak Series, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.
