Dedicated to the Independents
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DAIWA’s premium KAGE rods and reels are exclusively available at independent dealers. |
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Cypress, CA (May 16, 2023) – In Japanese, KAGE means “in the shadows”. The English translation is “the shadow that is created by the light.” To DAIWA, KAGE means an exclusive series of premium rods and reels that are available from independent retailers only, and not sold online. “Independent dealers are core to DAIWA’s business,” said DAIWA marketing director Marc Mills. “These shops offer that hands-on, local and regional service that’s the backbone of fishing. So, DAIWA wanted to do something special for them by developing high-quality products that are only available at these specialty stores.” And during these challenging economic times, the smaller guys can be the most vulnerable. Having DAIWA KAGE rods and reels in-stock, however, gives them that little competitive edge. And their loyal customers benefit from buying brilliant products at fair prices. DAIWA’S KAGE roster includes two spinning reels, three freshwater rods series, and even an ice fishing rod lineup. Let’s learn more about DAIWA’s unique KAGE products: |
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Behold the standard in crossover saltwater and freshwater spinning reels, DAIWA’s superbly designed KAGE LT MQ. The KAGE LT MQ embodies rich features, which start with its one-piece MONOCOQUE Zaion body. This design framework yields more space for larger gears, therefore promoting increased torque and power from the get-go. The inventive Zaion MONOCOQUE body also offers 360 degrees of stability and improved waterproofing over standard spinning reels with conventional, screw-in side plates. 360 degrees of stability means the larger gearing is held firmly and in precise alignment; the less gears shift side to side, the less binding and wear take place, and longer your new reel will feel fresh out-of-the-box. KAGE MQ LT employs a proprietary system of waterproofing protection called Magseal. Magsealing uses a special magnetic bushing in conjunction with a magnetic weld to create an airtight and watertight oil seal, virtually eliminating the travel of contaminants or water down the main shaft and into the gear set or roller bearing. |
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A7075 aircraft-grade aluminum DIGIGEAR® technology is another hallmark of the KAGE LT MQ. The especially hard and lightweight aluminum is precision machined and digitally cut, making it considerably more resistant to wear than traditional gear materials on the market. Anglers fishing KAGE LT MQ reels will appreciate DAIWA’s superb Advanced Tournament Drag (ATD™) when setting the hook and fighting fish. The smart system applies an increased, instantaneous, and calculated resistance during the hookset. After the hook drives home and the fish starts pulling, ATD automatically returns to the selected drag setting. Sizes range from 1000 to 4000. MSRP’s $329.99 – $359.99 |
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DAIWA’s KAGE LT embraces Light /Tough Concept and is lighter by weight yet strong and rigid. The body is constructed from Zaion, a “high density” carbon strain material that is 20 percent stronger and 50 percent lighter than traditional nylon and aluminum. The true carbon body is reduced in size and weight yet provides a rigid framework for powerful gearing. The design incorporates the Air Bail and Air Rotor systems that reduce weight by another 15 percent but don’t sacrifice strength and rigidity. The Aluminum Digigear set is precision cut for a smooth, powerful performance with less weight. A unique premium cork handle knob looks smart and provides a solid grip. The smooth and powerful Advanced Tournament Drag (ATD) system will stop the largest gamefish. Available in sizes from 1000 to 2500, the advanced spinning reel can be utilized for a variety of freshwater and light saltwater applications. MSRP $219.99 |
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The clean designs and state of the art construction of KAGE Bass Rods will impress everyday anglers and tournament competitors alike. The fit and finish is impeccable, its matte black look and fine wrapping evoking quality. KAGE’s high tech Fuji Alconite Guides are handsome yet smooth as silk, braid friendly, tangle proof, and rod-locker tough. The cork handles are contoured to provide hours of comfort. With flawless construction, beautiful cosmetics and practical task specific designs, any serious bass angler would be proud to put a rod of this quality on the deck. 14 technique-specific models available, covering casting and spinning. MSRP’s $179.99 to $199.99 |
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Exclusive to independent dealers, perfect for many ultra-light techniques, these perfectly constructed blanks are designed using DAIWA’s X-45 Bias Carbon Construction to keep the blank strong while avoiding blank twist. Built using our Megatop Technology, the tip features a solid blank construction for extra strength, durability, and sensitivity. A tough and rigid SVF Carbon Technology blank gives greater strength and sensitivity. Complete with quality Fuji Alconite Rings in Fuji Tangle-Free Guides, a Fuji VSS Reel Seat, premium cork handles and a matte black finish. If you are looking for a line of rods well suited for Trout or Panfish around the country, then look to your local dealer and test drive one of the 11 unique models. MSRP’s $189.99 to $209.99 |
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Also exclusive to independent dealers, and designed for the dedicated walleye angler, these perfectly constructed blanks utilize X-45 Bias Carbon Construction to keep the blank strong while avoiding blank twist. Ten walleye-specific spinning rod actions will suit all your technique specific needs. A tough and rigid SVF Carbon Technology blank gives greater strength and sensitivity. Complete with quality Fuji Alconite Rings in Fuji Tangle-Free Guides, a Fuji VSS Reel Seat, premium cork handles and a matte black finish. MSRP $199.99. |
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The Innovative lightweight and slim design is achieved through several proprietary DAIWA rod building technologies, allowing for a blank that maintains the strength and durability of a much larger diameter rod. The Super Volume Fiber (SVF) blank manufacturing process utilizes concentrated fiber for more strength, allowing for smaller volume of resin. This results in a lighter, slimmer blank that is sensitive and strong. The unique Megatop rod tip is ultra-sensitive yet strong and durable, ideal for light bites. Fuji Tangle Free Guides with Alconite Inserts are built tough and assure a trouble-free drop. Its crafted cork handle transitions seamlessly with a hand shaped reel seat. Seven models in the series. MSRP $119.99 |
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Eelgrass Education with Terry Scroggins
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
Iconic Lake Guntersville is the playing field this week for Toro Stage Four of the Bass Pro Tour here in northeast Alabama. Few fisheries have as much history in terms of high-level bass fishing tournaments as this legendary reservoir on the Tennessee River.
Certain aspects of Guntersville have remained consistent, like the abundance of big largemouth bass and the incredible fishing community surrounding the lake, but the consensus among BPT competitors after official practice was that Lake Guntersville is a completely different fishery than what many are used to.
“This won’t be the same offshore dominated, Tennessee River ledge type beatdown that we used to expect when we came to Guntersville in mid-May,” Terry Scroggins said. “This lake is now absolutely full of a type of eelgrass. I mean it is everywhere, from two feet to twelve feet deep, and it has completely changed what we’ve come to expect about Gville.”
Team Toyota’s Terry Scroggins calls the St Johns River in Florida home, and has as much experience fishing around eelgrass and other aquatic vegetation as anyone. We picked Big Show’s brain on how the presence and abundance of eelgrass will affect the fishing this week.
The positives
Eelgrass is also referred to as tape grass or wild celery and is defined as, “any of several submerged aquatic monocotyledonous plants (genus Vallisneria of the family Hydrocharitaceae) with long ribbonlike leaves.” And according to Scroggins, eelgrass has several positive aspects that have already benefitted this famed fishery.
“This lake gets as much pressure as anywhere but the presence of all this eelgrass allows fish to spread out and hide from that pressure a lot better,” Scroggins said. “In the last ten years when the fish would get offshore, they would get torched because they were easy to find with modern electronics, but that’s all changed. A lot more fish are staying shallow, and the ones out deep aren’t grouping up quite the same.”
Scroggins explained the eelgrass has really opened the fishing up here for the summer months and puts more techniques in play versus the typical shad spawn followed by an offshore structure heavy tournament like we’ve seen playout so many times on Lake Guntersville. Expect the shallow fish to be healthier than years past and for there to be more of them caught during Stage Four.
“Eelgrass also serves like a filtration system for the water,” Scroggins said. “It helps clean the lake up after it muddies and has made the water way clearer here on Guntersville. Some anglers might not like that, but better water quality with more places to hide will ultimately just make this a better lake. There is so much life in this place right now.”
The challenges
While eelgrass has predominantly had a positive effect on Guntersville, the abundance of the long-leaved perennial presents certain challenges for anglers, too. Bass love grass, but anyone who has fished around ‘too much grass’ knows it can be frustrating to fish.
“This eelgrass isn’t attached to the bottom like the stuff I am used to in Florida,” Scroggins explained. “There is a lot of floating eel grass here on Guntersville and that makes it nearly impossible to fish some areas, especially offshore spots, if you are trying to wind something like a big crankbait. I’m not saying you can’t catch them offshore, you can, the grass has definitely changed that deal.”
Scroggins Toyota teammate Kevin VanDam, who has used his Strike King XD series of crankbaits to win a pile of money from the famed Lake Guntersville ledges over the years, said he only made a handful of casts with a plug in practice due to the abundance of grass. VanDam said it’s simply hard to fish many moving baits effectively with all the floating eelgrass.
“Over time the eelgrass will just make this lake better, but you will hear some anglers cussing it this week, too,” Scroggins laughed. ““Eelgrass is good for the health of a lake because it spreads the fish out but that makes it harder for us to find bass and fish the areas affectively. It’s a positive and a negative at the same time, but the fish still live here big time and these boys will show out like they always do.”
Lance Whitaker and Jeremy Briscoe win ABT Pickwick with 21.48
By Jason Duran
225 teams converged on Pickwick Lake for the fourth stop for the Alabama Bass Trail North Division. Teams reported a difficult practice due to rain and storms during the week. On tournament Saturday, the weather broke and provided a great day for fishing. All teams are looking to win this event and do well in the AOY points race to make the ABT Championship. The team of Lance Whitaker and Jeremy Briscoe brought a solid bag of 21.48 pounds to win a very tough event on Pickwick Lake.
The first-place team of Lance Whitaker and Jeremy Briscoe weighed in 21.48. “The plan for us this morning was to head downriver to fish a spot we found that was about 100 yards long. We were expecting to catch about 17 pounds in this area based on our practice. However, when we started catching them, we ended up spending the whole day on this one spot. The keys in the area we found were scattered rocks on a point that were in 17-23 feet of water. We got behind the rock pile and threw up past it. To catch these fish, we used a NetBait T-Mac worm in green pumpkin on a Shakey and let the bait bounce down through there. We also used a Zman Ned rig to do some things, and we also used a Keitech Swimbait. We fished the swimbait a little higher in the water column where the bait fish were located.” Lance and Jeremy are no strangers to the winner’s stage with their most recent win coming in 2021 at Wheeler Lake in May. The team is looking forward to getting back there for the final stop of the ABT North Division. For this win, they collected a $10,000 check and automatically qualified for the ABT Championship.
The second-place team of Tony Keef and Bryan Gregory enjoy fishing the Tennessee River and have had some success in the past with a 5th place finish here three years ago- a win they were hoping to capitalize on this year. “We had a terrible practice starting on Wednesday and had to leave the lake at 10 o’clock because of all the storms.” Like many teams in this event, they “located a shad spawn down in the 7-mile island area and quickly caught a limit by 7:15 of about 15 pounds.” After the shad spawn, they made the move even further south to fish a shaded bank where they hoped the shad spawn would still be going on. When they arrived, the shad spawn was over. “We spent some time fishing for a few bed fish we had located and decided we need to get out of there, so we moved towards the Bear Creek area to fish out deep using a Swim Bait. There we caught a 4-pound and a 5-pound fish” to upgrade their limit a little more. They made one more move headed back towards take off and decided to stop and fish another area. “We doubled up and had to quickly release the smaller fish so that we could legally bring the second fish in the boat which was about a 5-pound smallmouth.” This upgraded their limit to the final weight of 20.78 pounds. Their key baits included a Booyah Spinnerbait in White and chartreuse with a gold blade. They also used a Strike King Shadalicious Swimbait. With their second place finish, they earned a $5,000 payday.
The Team of Mitch Mitchell and Candler McCollum finished in third place. Practice for us “was tough with all the storms; we only practiced a little last weekend and in the rain all day on Friday. We found a little shad spawn and got lucky today that it still was there.” They located this spot down in the Trace bridge area. They quickly went to work and “caught one first cast to put together a limit in ten minutes. By 7:30 we had around 19-pounds.” The key baits to fish the shad spawn were a Zoom swimmer and a Zara Spook. Once they filled the limit, they knew they needed to find a bigger bite to help move them up the leader board. “We knew we needed the bigger bite and running shallow stuff would not help us, so we moved out deeper and ran all over the lake searching for them. We bounced around checking different areas and moved down the lake towards Tennessee. This area has deeper ledges with a less grass and more shell beds that the fish tend to like. When we moved out deeper, we culled a couple of 3-pound fish by catching a 4-pound and a 4.30-pound fish” for a final weight of 20.79. “We gave it our best and came up short which is a little disappointing today because we really wanted to win this one.” Their third place finish was worth $4,000.
With one more event left in the North Division the points race is very tight and all eyes will be watching on the next event at Wheeler Lake.
TOP 10 AOY Points Standings after 4 events:
PLACE ANGLERS POINTS
1 John Kellett/Zeke Gossett 804
2 Roman Calvert/Shannon Calvert 803
3 Damien Willis/Tyler Kiker 801
4 Michael Wooley/Joe Wooley 796
5 Wesley Sams/Jordan Wiggins 790
6 Justin Bussey/Ben Webb 780
7 Shane Meers/James Meers 770
8 Bryan Johnson/Brandon Groce 766
9 Greg Tomlin/Jeremy Tomlin 760
10 Mark Mccaig/Tim Hurst 757
The top five standings are below for a complete list of standings please visit:
https://www.alabamabasstrail.org/pickwick-lake/results/
Download and listen to the ABT Podcast on your favorite Podcast app by searching for “Alabama Bass Trail Podcast.” The Podcast is released each week on Tuesday.
For Live coverage from this event and others visit https://www.youtube.com/@alabamabasstrailtv
Blandford New Director of Business Development for AnglersChannel.com
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Fishing industry veteran Danny Blandford has been hired as Director of Business Development for AnglersChannel.com.
Blandford, 43, brings more than two decades of industry experience to the No. 1 resource in tournament bass fishing. Blandford previously worked with the Professional Anglers Association, Careco Multimedia and as an owner and consultant to several fishing companies. He began working with Anglers Channel in April.
With the PAA, Blandford helped secure television partnerships that put “FishPAA Television” into more than 100 million households, oversaw event creation and execution, including numerous Toyota Texas Bass Classic events. At Careco, Blandford was director of the Association of Collegiate Anglers and the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship Series, where he also aided in the development and implementation of the ACA’s School of the Year Program.
“I’m excited to bring Danny and his years of experience to the team at Anglers Channel,” said CEO John Byrne. “Danny is known in the industry, and has the contacts, passion and determination we have needed to continue to grow.”
Blandford has fished competitively for more than 20 years and recreationally since he was a child. He was president of the Indiana University Bass Club, has fished in FLW (now MLF) and B.A.S.S. Nation events, and competes in local club events with his wife. He continues to hold an affinity for young anglers and collegians seeking a path to follow their dreams.
“I’m excited to join the team of AC Insiders,” Blandford said. “Their team has been providing great coverage of our sport for decades and I look forward to bringing more than 20 years’ experience to the project. AnglersChannel.com is a strong platform and we’re already hitting new records in terms of users and engagement. I believe we can continue to build that out for our readers and advertisers as we add additional content partners, social platforms and fresh ideas under my leadership.”
About AnglersChannel.com
AnglersChannel.com multimedia platform combines the web, social media platforms, podcasts, on-site event coverage and The Anglers Channel Bass Wrapup Show on Discovery to bring you the No. 1 resource in tournament bass fishing. Anglers Channel features the web’s most robust tournament database, used by thousands of anglers daily, including schedules, results and searchable details by body of water. Anglers Channel also delivers industry news as it happens, along with coverage of all tournament bass fishing, from BASS and Major League Fishing to the weekend warriors. Visit Anglers Channel via the web, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
For more information contact Danny Blandford at [email protected]
Money Where Its Mouth Is
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NPAA President participates in ASA’s Government Affairs spring meeting to sound off in support of recreational sportfishing. |
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Forestville, WI (May 16, 2023) – What does an NPAAmembership mean? Simple. Having a voice. A voice in decisions – big and small – that affect the health and welfare of recreational fishing and your access to public waters. NPAA puts their money where their mouth is, too. For example, NPAA President Pat Neu recently traveled to Washington, DC to join the American Sportfishing Association (ASA) Government Affairs Committee for its spring meeting. The group is built of opinion leaders and professionals in the recreational fishing industry, and it’s their influence and actions that serve to protect our sport. Neu, who has been involved with the ASA Government Affairs Committee for a decade, talks history, this year’s discussions, and “hot button” items. “When I first got involved, the sportfishing industry was just getting a seat at the table with Congress. Interests like commercial fishing, offshore wind and oil, and environmental groups were influencing policy that affected sportfishing, but the everyday angler wasn’t being forcefully represented.” “Highly funded environmental organizations wield a lot of power. And, sometimes, they’re like wolves in sheep’s clothing. They’re really preservationists, not wanting anyone to utilize certain public natural resources. To be frank, they think of people as invasive species.” “Sometimes, they actually lobby against anglers and hunters, which is ironic, because it’s the fishing license fees and excise taxes we pay on equipment that actually funds a lot of the federal and state investments in natural resources.” |
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The Good Guys There is an enormous difference between “environmentalism” and “conservationism”. The organizations NPAA aligns with are based on conservation, groups promoting the judicious use of our natural resources and investment in habitat improvement – land, air, and water. Neu identifies some of the good guys: “Organizations like the Coastal Conservation Association, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Center for Sportfishing Policy, and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership also have seats at the table, giving voice to the concerns of anglers and hunters.” |
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Hot Button Issues The ASA Government Affairs Committee placed particular focus on current and looming topics that are having or will have a direct impact on recreational boaters and anglers. “The right whale situation off the Atlantic coast is one of those front-and-center topics,” said Neu. “NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) is proposing 10 knot speed restrictions out to 100 miles off the coast to include smaller vessels. That would absolutely cripple recreational anglers, charters, and guides, not to mention smaller commercial fishing outfits.” “It’s not that we’re against protecting right whales, but currently, science doesn’t support the proposed restriction. It’s reactionary. Ironically, but not surprisingly, we’re not hearing much about how offshore windfarms might be adversely affecting the navigational abilities of right whales. The evidence is out there. It needs to part of the discussion.” Sharks were also on the ASA Government Affairs Committee’s agenda. Not JAWS or nurse sharks, but the explosion of shark populations along coastal waters. Shark numbers are growing exponentially, and they continue ranging shallower. Ask any saltwater angler or beach lifeguard. Yet, at present, there’s been no action to address growing conflicts between sharks and recreational fishing, including the issue of “depredation” where a shark eats part or whole of an angler’s catch before it’s landed. “All ASA is asking for is the commencement of a study,” said Neu. “Let science lead to a strategy and then begin managing the situation. No different than timber wolf management in the north or protecting sea turtle nesting sites along the Gulf coast.” “We just can’t ignore the shark problem.” A third major subject was taxation – the excise taxes and tariffs companies pay for importing goods. The up-and-up manufacturing members of ASA pay their fair share. Then what’s the beef? Go on Amazon and search “fishing rods,” for example. Plenty of familiar brands. But you’ll also find scores of obscure brands you’ll never find at retail. They’re selling direct through ecommerce. Who is collecting the tariffs and excise taxes? Likely, no one. And who suffers? You do. Because a large portion of the excise taxes paid by legitimate manufacturers goes toward our woods and waters. If you don’t recognize the brand, there’s a reason why. Cheap stuff. No taxes collected. Circumvention of laws. Bad deal for recreational anglers. Want one more? Okay. The threatening cloud of bans on lead tackle. It’s happening fast in Europe, and not necessarily supported by science. “We’ve all heard the stories about loons eating sinkers and dying,” said Neu. “Really? Where’s the science? Ask about any freshwater angler if they’re seeing more or less loons over the last decade. I’m going with more. Why? Habitat improvement, especially shoreline nesting areas and more forage for the loons due to sound fisheries management.” “Again, let’s see the entire scientific story before reactionary policy is made.” |
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Talk…and then Action Politicians are famous for being all talk and no action. All hat and no cattle, as southerners quip. ASA, however, gets to doing. For example, an ASA staff member is assigned to the legislative side of all the above topics. They track, report, advise, and ultimately the organization lobbies for policy that benefits and protects recreational anglers. Circling back to where we started. What does an NPAA membership mean? Simple. Having a voice. A voice in decisions – big and small – that affect the health and welfare of recreational fishing and your access to public waters. |
Murphy Claims Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League at Lake Murray
Trotter Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
PROSPERITY, S.C. (May 15, 2023) – Boater Lucas Murphy of West Columbia, South Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 23 pounds, 5 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Murray Presented by Cadence Petroleum . The tournament, hosted by the Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board, was the fourth event of the season for the BFL South Carolina Presented by Mystik Lubricants Division. Murphy earned $4,839 for his victory.
“I live pretty close to Murray, but I have been busy with work and hadn’t been there since March,” said Murphy. “I finally got out on Friday afternoon and found some stuff going on.
“I started off the morning by stopping on a community hole, and I threw a buzzbait out and caught a 6-pounder,” Murphy added. “That kind of got the day rolling.”
Murphy said he switched to a deep-summer pattern in the mid lake – using his forward-facing sonar to target fish on brushpiles, wood and rock with a drop-shot rig. Murphy said he caught a number of fish on a Strike King KVD Perfect Plastic Caffeine Shad. He estimated that he had 10 to 20 quality bites during the tournament.
“When I had two fish, I told my co-angler, ‘These 2-pound fish aren’t going to do anything for me,’” Murphy said. “I went out a little deeper and was just looking for three more good bites. It’s a lot easier to do when you have a big one in the livewell.
“I just stuck with it, and it wasn’t until 1:30 when I finally hooked another 4½-pounder, and that was it,” Murphy added. “That was the winning fish, as they say.”
Murphy, who moved from Michigan to South Carolina 2½ years ago, said he has spent a lot of time on the water to learn Lake Murray since his relocation.
“I’ve tried to learn a lot and make progress very quickly,” Murphy said. “It feels good to finally win one of the bigger events here.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Lucas Murphy, West Columbia, S.C., five bass, 23-5, $4,839
2nd: Kameron Harbin, Abbeville, S.C., five bass, 22-0, $3,149
3rd: Tanner Schultz, Lexington, S.C., five bass, 19-14, $1,614
4th: Christopher Chavis, Guyton, Ga., five bass, 18-14, $1,349
5th: Larry Moss, Prosperity, S.C., five bass, 17-12, $927
5th: Carson Orellana, Mooresville, N.C., five bass, 17-12, $927
7th: John Ray, Columbia, S.C., five bass, 17-11, $806
8th: Greg Rikard, Leesville, S.C., five bass, 17-8, $1,976 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
9th: Chris Marshall, Forest City, N.C., four bass, 17-7, $645
10th: Derek Cummings, Denver, N.C., five bass, 17-4, $565
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Kameron Harbin of Abbeville, South Carolina, caught a largemouth that weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $730.
Wesley Trotter of Monroe, North Carolina, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,403 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 19 pounds, 10 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Wesley Trotter of Monroe, N.C., five bass, 19-10, $2,403
2nd: Billy Nicholson, Greenwood, S.C., five bass, 15-3, $1,201
3rd: Thomas Pennell III, Boiling Springs, S.C., five bass, 15-2, $806
4th: Richie Dixon, Greer, S.C., four bass, 14-9, $561
5th: Michael Smith, Piedmont, S.C., five bass, 14-4, $481
6th: Johnny Barfield, Hartsville, S.C., five bass, 14-1, $441
7th: Wesley Mullins, Guyton, Ga., five bass, 13-7, $400
8th: John Joyce II, Inman, S.C., five bass, 13-5, $360
9th: Harold Addison II, Columbia, S.C., five bass, 13-0, $870
10th: Samuel Jones, Fuquay Varina, N.C., five bass, 12-12, $280
Brian Ruppe of Irmo, South Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $362, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 11 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Greg Rikard of Leesville, South Carolina, leads the BFL South Carolina Presented by Mystik Lubricants Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 933 points, while Stephen Sprouse of Pauline, South Carolina, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 937 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Norman in Huntersville, North Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Morris Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Cumberland
Casada Top of Class in Strike King Co-Angler Division
MONTICELLO, Ky. (May 15, 2023) – Boater Jake Morris of McKee, Kentucky, caught a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 15 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Cumberland. The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Mountain Division. Morris earned $5,122 for his victory.
“Man, it was slow for me,” Morris said. “I never caught a keeper until I got my first one between 11 o’clock and noon. And after that, it wasn’t much better. I caught five keepers. That’s it.”
Morris said he targeted bass in 2 to 3 feet of water, pitching and flipping trees and bushes with a Zoom Brush Hog as well as a Zoom Z Craw. Morris said his fourth fish, a 6-pound 5-ounce bass that took the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award, changed his tournament.
“That helped out tremendously,” Morris said. “That’s what won it for me. If you don’t catch a big one you get stuck in that 12- to 13-pound traffic jam.
“It feels great to win this on my home lake,” Morris added. “I’ve been fishing these things for 20 years now, and it is definitely not easy to win a BFL.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Jake Morris, McKee, Ky., five bass, 16-15, $5,122
2nd: Nick Ratliff, Vine Grove, Ky., five bass, 14-14, $2,236
3rd: Tyler Thompson, Radcliff, Ky., five bass, 14-11, $1,492
4th: Andrew Adams, Science Hill, Ky., five bass, 14-0, $1,243
5th: Clay Reece, Lexington, Ky., five bass, 13-15, $894
6th: Blake Claudill, Hillsboro, Ky., five bass, 13-6, $745
6th: Steve Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, five bass, 13-6, $1,245 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Bonus)
6th: Billy Hall, Russell Springs, Ky., five bass, 13-6, $745
9th: Mike Lemons, Huntington, W.V., five bass, 13-4, $596
10th: Chris Hurd, Nancy, Ky., five bass, 13-1, $522
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Morris’ 6-pound, 5-ounce bass earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $650.
Mike Casada of Stearns, Kentucky, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,179 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 10 pounds, 3 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Mike Casada, Stearns, Ky., five bass, 10-3, $2,179
2nd: Brian Kich, Berea, Ohio, five bass, 9-7, $1,090
3rd: Tracy Helton, London, Ky., five bass, 9-5, $725
4th: Kaleb Ferrell, Smithville, Tenn., five bass, 9-0, $509
5th: Curtis Cline, Hartsville, Tenn., four bass, 8-5, $786
6th: Chris Rushing, Gamaliel, Ky., three bass, 8-2, $400
7th: Allen Neal, Whitley City, Ky., four bass, 7-15, $363
8th: Abbie Greynolds, Liberty, Ky., three bass, 7-8, $327
9th: Anthony Scott, Byrdstown, Tenn., three bass, 7-3, $291
10th: Michael York, Berea, Ky., three bass, 7-1, $254
Timothy Ernst of Winchester, Kentucky, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $312, catching a bass that weighed in at 3 pounds, 13 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After three events, Christian Nash of Allons, Tennessee, leads the BFL Mountain Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 714 points, while Allen Neal of Whitley City, Kentucky, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 715 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Norman in Huntersville, North Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Haire Edges Field for Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Kerr Lake
Badra Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
HENDERSON, N.C. (May 15, 2023) – Boater Danny Haire of Yadkinville, North Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 15 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Kerr Lake . The tournament, hosted by the Vance County Tourism Development Authority, was the second event of the season for the BFL Piedmont Division. Haire earned $4,279 for his victory.
“The water at Kerr Lake has been up in the bushes lately,” said Haire, who refers to himself as a Carolina-rig specialist. “I hadn’t been faring too well. But they drew the water down out of the bushes, and that caused some fish to get out on shallow points. I know the lake well enough, and the water was just perfect for me.”
Haire said he got the chance to throw the Carolina rig, and he focused on flats in 5 to 12 feet of water in Nutbush Creek and used Zoom plastic baits of all types on the tip of his rig to catch bass. His efforts produced 12 keepers during the tournament.
“I had three fish right at 5 pounds, and two fish that were 15 inches long, and I never could cull the dinks,” Haire said.
Haire was worried about the two small fish in his weigh bag and thought they would cost him the tournament.
“Generally, it’s going to take 17 or 18 pounds to win there, and I thought I was going to be a pound or two short,” Haire said. “I had two good fish that got off, and usually you can’t lose one good one and still win. But the bite was kind of tough, and there were a lot of limits caught, but they included a lot of 2- and 2½-pounders.”
In the end, Haire’s bag was good enough to win by 5 ounces.
“This feels really good,” said Haire, who now has four BFL wins, all on Kerr Lake. “I’m 65 years old, so they get a little sweeter with each one.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Danny Haire, Yadkinville, N.C., five bass, 16-15, $4,279
2nd: Tyler Purcell, Townsville, N.C., five bass, 16-10, $2,140
3rd: Tyler Trent, Nathalie, Va., five bass, 14-15, $1,926 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
4th: Ron Rousseau III, Raleigh, N.C., five bass, 14-11, $1,603
5th: Chris Baldwin, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 14-10, $1,526
6th: Chris Brummett, Lynch Station, Va., five bass, 14-3, $1,085
7th: Billy Bledsoe, Fayetteville, N.C., five bass, 14-1, $713
8th: Evan White, Roanoke Rapids, N.C., five bass, 14-0, $642
9th: Ryan McGee, Battleboro, N.C., five bass, 13-11, $571
10th: Flash Butts, Roanoke Rapids, N.C., five bass, 13-3, $474
10th: Jonathan Bailey, Peterstown, W.V., five bass, 13-3, $474
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Ron Rousseau III of Raleigh, North Carolina, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 9 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $605.
Cornell Badra of Clarksburg, Maryland, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,140 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 12 pounds, 8 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Cornell Badra, Clarksburg, Md., five bass, 12-8, $2,140
2nd: Bud Amend, Pleasant Garden, N.C., five bass, 12-1, $1,070
3rd: Tim Privette, Jr., Wendell, N.C., five bass, 11-13, $912
4th: Robert Wedding, Welcome, Md., five bass, 11-7, $849
5th: Payton Thompson, Rustburg, Va., five bass, 11-2, $428
6th: Phillip Ragland, Jr., Rustburg, Va., five bass, 10-12, $392
7th: Michael Garrett, Buena Vista, Va., five bass, 10-9, $357
8th: Jonathan Ceaser, Maidens, Va., five bass, 10-6, $321
9th: Craig Hamilton, Salisbury, N.C., five bass, 10-2, $285
10th: Stephen Barr, Wilmington, N.C., five bass, 10-1, $250
Victor Cuevas of Supply, North Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $302, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 1 ounce – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After two events, Chris Brummett of Lynch Station, Virginia, leads the BFL Piedmont Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 492 points, while Phillip Ragland Jr. of Rustburg, Virginia, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 484 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 5-7 BFL Regional tournament on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Dhom Catches Late Kicker for Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Shelbyville
Cain Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
SHELBYVILLE, Ill. (May 15, 2023) – Boater Jeremy Dhom of Teutopolis, Illinois, caught a five-bass limit weighing 15 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Shelbyville. The tournament was the first event of the season for the BFL Illini Division. Dhom earned $4,246 for his victory.
“I drew a good number and was fortunate to get to my starting spot and caught two fish there,” said Dhom. “I bounced around and ended up having a limit by 8:30. Things were going good … I had 10 or 11 pounds on my five fish. Then I went about three hours without a tick in my line.”
Dhom said his drought continued with only one small fish to show for his efforts until late in the afternoon.
“About 1:45 I caught one that went more than 6 pounds, and that changed my day,” Dhom said. “That is a rare fish at Shelbyville. That just doesn’t happen very often. I knew I had it won after I caught that fish. It’s rare to break a 15-pound bag on Shelbyville in May.”
Dhom said he fished shallow flats offshore in his hunt for bass. He added the morning fish were in 3 to 5 feet of water, but the sun came out and his afternoon bites came in 8 to 10 feet. Dhom said he caught 25 fish during the course of the day, including eight keepers.
“I knew I had a good chance at doing well during this event,” Dhom said. “I fish up there all the time. I’ve won probably 15 to 20 team tournaments there. So, this year I said, ‘I’m going to jump up and fish the BFLs.’ And it turned out very well.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Jeremy Dhom, Teutopolis, Ill., five bass, 15-2, $4,246
2nd: Joshua Tyner, Spencer, Ind., four bass, 13-15, $1,878
3rd: Ben Holmes, Altamont, Ill., five bass, 12-2, $1,253
4th: Derick Holmes, Fairfield, Ill., five bass, 11-9, $876
5th: Todd Blakeman, Chatham, Ill., five bass, 11-7, $1,721
6th: Dan Morehead, Paducah, Ky., five bass, 9-15, $689
7th: Garrett McDowell, Windsor, Ill., four bass, 9-14, $626
8th: Corey Bohlmann, Danvers, Ill., five bass, 9-12, $563
9th: Scott Neighbors, Makanda, Ill., five bass, 9-11, $501
10th: Larry Diveley, Saint Jacob, Ill., five bass, 9-10, $438
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Dhom’s 6-pound, 2-ounce bass also earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $490.
Tad Cain of La Place, Illinois, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,478 Saturday, after bringing four bass to the scale that totaled 12 pounds, 4 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Tad Cain, La Place, Ill., four bass, 12-4, $2,478
2nd: Jojo Johnson, Marion, Ill., five bass, 11-3, $1,089
3rd: Andrew Williams, Homer, Ill., four bass, 9-15, $627
4th: Jim Budde, Waterloo, Ill., four bass, 9-10, $438
5th: Lane Argo, Edinburg, Ill., five bass, 9-5, $376
6th: Evan McCormick, Edwardsville, Ill., four bass, 8-2, $344
7th: Rowdy King, Shelbyville, Ill., two bass, 7-11, $558
8th: Aaron Wehmeyer, Bloomington, Ill., four bass, 7-2, $282
9th: Richard Skiff, Edwardsville, Ill., three bass, 6-11, $250
10th: Gary Huber II, Saint Charles, Mo., four bass, 6-8, $219
Rowdy King of Shelbyville, Illinois, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $245, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 11 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After one event, Jeremy Dhom of Teutopolis, Illinois, now leads the BFL Illini Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 250 points, while Tad Cain of La Place, Illinois, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 250 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 12-14 BFL Regional tournament on Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Wilkinson Posts Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Season Opener at the Ohio River-Tanners Creek
Sorrell Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
LAWRENCEBERG, Ind. (May 15, 2023) – Boater Chris Wilkinson of Farmersburg, Indiana, caught a five-bass limit weighing 12 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine at the Ohio River-Tanners Creek Presented by Rabid Baits . The tournament was the first event of the season for the BFL Buckeye Presented by Rabid Baits Division. Wilkinson earned $5,575 for his victory.
“I hit four different creeks throughout the day and didn’t have a keeper until 10 o’clock,” said Wilkinson, who now has nine career Phoenix Bass Fishing League wins. “I finally figured out a couple of things.”
Wilkinson said he caught most of his fish on a gill-colored Hog Snatcher Baits tube and a few on a Hook Some Bass Bait Company spinnerbait. He said he targeted wood and rock shallow, in 1 to 3 feet of water. Wilkinson said the bait combination produced seven keepers on tournament day.
“Once I figured out what they were doing and where they were positioning, it was pretty easy after that, really,” Wilkinson said.
Wilkinson added that his ninth BFL win was just as special to him as the previous eight.
“This will never get old,” Wilkinson said. “If it does, I won’t do it anymore. I love the competition, and I love to win, and that gets me going that much harder each time I win. Because I want to win another one.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Chris Wilkinson, Farmersburg, Ind., five bass, 12-3, $5,575
2nd: Brady Bickers, Carrollton, Ky., five bass, 10-7, $2,288
3rd: Cody Seeger, Lewistown, Ohio, five bass, 10-3, $1,525
4th: Dick Shaffer, Rockford, Ohio, five bass, 9-14, $1,068
5th: Pete Justice, Sharonville, Ohio, four bass, 9-9, $915
6th: David Spivey, Hamilton, Ohio, five bass, 9-5, $1,389
7th: Hunter Colwell, Sidney, Ohio, five bass, 8-10, $1,263 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
8th: Brad Baldwin, Waynesville, Ohio, three bass, 8-8, $1,313
8th: Zach Graham, Westerville, Ohio, two bass, 8-8, $648
10th: Sean Wieda, Alexandria, Ky., five bass, 8-0, $534
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Brad Baldwin of Waynesville, Ohio, caught a bass that weighed 4 pounds, 11 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $665.
Steve Sorrell of Beavercreek, Ohio, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,620 Saturday, after bringing four bass to the scale that totaled 8 pounds, 13 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Steve Sorrell, Beavercreek, Ohio, four bass, 8-13, $2,620
2nd: Brandon Houston, Lakeside Park, Ky., five bass, 7-4, $1,144
3rd: Brian Short, Oxford, Ohio, five bass, 6-14, $762
4th: Jeffrey Smith, West Chester, Ohio, five bass, 6-5, $534
5th: Dominic Bogolo, Hamilton, Ohio, four bass, 6-4, $658
6th: Sean Hupp, Logan, Ohio, three bass, 6-0, $419
7th: Dean Osborne, Jackson, Ohio, four bass, 5-13, $381
8th: Andrew Cassidy, West Portsmouth, Ohio, three bass, 5-8, $343
9th: Jeremy Middleton, Marengo, Ohio, three bass, 5-0, $305
10th: Jesse Foster, Franklin, Ohio, three bass, 4-12, $267
Sorrell also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $332, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 11 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After one event, Chris Wilkinson of Farmersburg, Indiana, now leads the BFL Buckeye Presented by Rabid Baits Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 250 points, while Steve Sorrell of Beavercreek, Ohio, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 250 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 5-7 BFL Regional tournament on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Un-layering in the Transition with Major League Fishing Pro Fred Roumbanis
We all know that time between spring and summer means cooler mornings and evenings, calling for layering up and shedding layers as the day warms up. Believe it or not, the bass in their transition phase, kind of do the same thing, Major League Fishing and Gill Pro Fred Roumbanis tells us how and why.
The transition phase from spring to summer when the bass are moving from one habitat to another can last from weeks to months. When bass are spawning, some will linger around shallow areas and follow the brim spawn. However, once they are done many of the females will start to find their comfort zone, which is water around 60–70-degrees.
During this transition period you can find bass in offshore structure or in brush piles. You’re going to want to pick up your crankbaits, deep swimbaits, jigs, Carolina rigs, or a dropshot. Fred is fond of grabbing a topwater bait like an IMA Little Stik or a white Boom Boom Frog in those early morning hours. When the sun warms up the water the bass will go deeper to reach that comfort water and he’ll pick up a heavy bladed jig or spinnerbait in shad imitation or natural colors and in deeper water 15 foot or deeper Fred likes Green Pumpkin.
When you’re out on the water fishing it’s important to remember your apparel is just as essential as your equipment. Just like bass, humans like comfort.
Base layers - choosing base layers that are light will be just the thing to protect you when those temps heat up in the afternoon. We like to stay warm in those cooler morning temperatures and peel those layers off as the sun heats up.
To fight those cool morning temps, you’ll want a Langland Hoodie or the APEX Pro X jacket, and even the bibs. When the sun starts to crank up the heat, you’ll want an XPEL Hoodie or XPEL Long Sleeve and a pair of Pro Expedition Shorts.
Accessories - if you didn’t know, now you know, bass don’t have eyelids, so they hide under docks and go deeper to protect their eyes from the sun. So don’t forget to stock up on our favorite Gill logo trucker caps.
Footwear - looking for footwear too? If it’s a nice sunny day Fred loves his Savona Trainers. They’re lightweight and comfortable for long days on the water.
Get all Fred’s favorites on the water gear at gillfishing.com.
Davis Jr. wins first Bassmaster Elite Series trophy less than an hour from home on Lay Lake
Will Davis Jr. of Sylacauga, Ala., has won the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake with a four-day total of 62 pounds, 12 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
May 14, 2023
SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. — Throughout the years, Will Davis Jr. estimates he and his father Will have won over $300,000 fishing tournaments on Lay Lake. Today, Davis Jr. added another $100,000 to that total by winning the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake with a four-day total of 62 pounds, 12 ounces.
The rookie from Sylacauga, Ala., hoisted the blue trophy in front of what seemed like his entire hometown and the roar that erupted drowned out the thunder from a pop-up thunderstorm.
“It means the world to do it in front of my home crowd,” Davis said. “I did it for my wife, dad, my little girl and everyone who came and watched me. I did it for these guys I fish against around here too. They are good enough to be on the Elite Series. I was just really blessed. I had a good job and a good boss, Chris Landers, who let me take off and fish the B.A.S.S. Nation.”
Davis kept himself firmly in the Top 10 all week. With limits weighing 15-14, 18-5, 14-7 and a final-day limit of 14-2, Davis edged Brandon Palaniuk, who led the tournament for three days, by 2 ounces. Palaniuk suffered a dead-fish penalty that cost him 4 ounces and ultimately the win.
The victory wouldn’t have been possible without a bedding largemouth he affectionately called “White Eye.” Boats had been in the creek where he had seen this 4-pounder in practice, but when he asked Mark Menendez about it in the Day 3 weigh-in line, his fellow competitor confirmed the bass with the white outline around its eye was still there.
“At 1:30, I didn’t think this was going to happen,” he said. “I went into this creek, I saw her and she ran off when I flipped to her. I went down the bank and there was a brand new one. I flipped and flipped and couldn’t make her bite. I tied on a jerkbait, threw it out there and after about five casts in a row, she just opened her mouth at it. The next cast I threw it 2 feet away from her and she sucked it in.”
When he landed that bass, the back hook came unbuttoned from the fish and ended up in Davis’s thumb. He had to push the hook through his finger. With no hook cutters in his own boat, he, fortunately, found a local angler at the mouth of the creek who had a pair he could use.
Once the hook was out of his hand, he went back to where he saw White Eye and caught her with the jerkbait, an old floating Bomber Long A, in a chartreuse foil color.
“She was pulled up and positioned perfectly,” he said. “That is what sealed the deal.”
When Davis qualified for the Bassmaster Elite Series with his victory at the 2022 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Pickwick Lake, he wasn’t thrilled to see his home lake on the schedule.
“I knew I was going to expose this to the world. My dad and I have worked all of our lives to learn this lake,” Davis said. “It took me seven years to figure out that deal up there (below Logan Martin Dam) and a lot of torn-up stuff. That’s why you don’t see a lot of people up there. Boulders up there move.”
After trying several different areas the first day, Davis spent most of the final three days fishing a 5-mile stretch of tailrace that started at the base of the dam for mostly spotted bass that were in all three stages of the spawn. In that stretch, he fished a mix of boulders, brushpiles and current seams as well as the concrete face of the dam.
He caught bass from 2 to 10 feet of water. Making the win even more special, he won using mostly baits developed by his father’s bait company.
A Davis Bait Company Shaky Worm in green pumpkin rigged on a 3/16-ounce Little Wills Series Shaky Worm Head, as well as a new Davis Xswim Fat Minnow rigged on a 1/2-ounce Davis Shaky Fish head, caught the majority of his spotted bass.
He used Seaguar Red Label fluorocarbon on his Daiwa Tatula spinning reels, 12-pound test on the shaky head and 15-pound on the Shaky Fish.
Baitfish were also key. If he did not see little threadfin shad around the boulders, he would not catch anything. The bait moved every day as well. With how quickly the spotted bass were transitioning out of the spawn, Davis said he wouldn’t have won up there if the tournament was a week later.
Davis started the final morning fishing a shad spawn around bank grass and was able to land one keeper on a Davis Beast swim jig in blue glimmer shad with a Zoom Z Craw Jr. After a couple of different stops, he headed upriver and landed two more keepers before moving to the creek where he caught his two quality largemouth.
“I went to my spot hole and I caught my biggest one, about 3 1/2,” he said. “I ran up to the tailrace and fished there for 30 minutes and caught another 3-pounder. I caught another keeper, I mean a 12-incher, and I thought, ‘This is not going to be good.’ I went to my turbine spot and never got bit, not even a drum.”
After leading three days on Lay Lake, a disappointed Palaniuk fell to second with a four-day total of 62-10. He opened the tournament with 19-7 and followed with bags of 16-5 and 15-11. On the final day, the two-time Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year caught the bass he needed to win, but a 4-ounce penalty forced Palaniuk to wait longer for his seventh B.A.S.S. win.
“It is mind-blowing that spot held up and had enough to win,” he said. “I said on camera that it was amazing I even caught a limit every day out of that place. I can’t be mad about it, but it hurts. I had enough to do it. But I have to be thankful. Coming into it, I thought I would have a big bag on Day 1 and it would fall off and I would finish in the 30s.”
The Rathdrum, Idaho, pro caught all of his bass in 3 feet of water or less, using a variety of baits in a wide range of scenarios. An X Zone Lures Deception Worm in green pumpkin/blue was one of his go-to lures, along with a Megabass Vision OneTen jerkbait in the Ito Wakasagi color.
After catching the VMC Monster Bag of the Tournament on Day 3 at 23-0, Oklahoma's Jason Christie added 11-7 on the final day to finish third with 60-9. The 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota champion spent much of the tournament fishing a creek north of the Beeswax Creek takeoff.
Matt Herren earned the $1,000 daily bonus for catching the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day with his 4-5. The 9-4 largemouth Christie caught on Day 3 claimed Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors — good for $3,000 in bonuses. It also leads the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Year standings, which pays $10,000 at the end of the season.
Davis took home an additional $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program while Christie claimed $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.
As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Palaniuk earned an additional $2,500 as the highest-placing entrant and Christie took home an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.
Paul Mueller of Connecticut won the $1,000 BassTrakk contingency award for the most accurate weight reporting.
With four events left in the Elite Series season, Greenwood, S.C., pro Brandon Cobb leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year race with 485 points. Georgia pro Drew Cook is second with 436 points, followed by Louisiana’s Tyler Rivet in third with 415, Florida’s John Cox in fourth with 414 and Alabama’s Kyle Welcher in fifth with 413.
Davis leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race with 383 points, followed by Alabama pro David Gaston in second with 369 and California pro Bryant Smith in third, also with 369.
2023 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake 5/11-5/14
Lay Lake, Shelby County AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 20 62-12 104 $100,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 18-05 Day 3: 5 14-07 Day 4: 5 14-02
2. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 20 62-10 103 $36,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 16-05 Day 3: 5 15-11 Day 4: 5 11-03
3. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 20 60-09 102 $35,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 09-13 Day 3: 5 23-00 Day 4: 5 11-07
4. Bryan New Saluda, SC 18 56-03 101 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 3 08-10 Day 3: 5 13-11 Day 4: 5 15-02
5. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 20 55-13 100 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 5 13-02 Day 4: 5 14-09
6. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 20 55-07 99 $19,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 13-05 Day 4: 5 12-11
7. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 20 54-13 98 $19,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 5 16-03 Day 4: 5 11-08
8. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 20 51-08 97 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 17-14 Day 3: 5 11-06 Day 4: 5 09-13
9. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 16 48-00 96 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 15-06 Day 3: 5 14-06 Day 4: 1 04-05
10. Seth Feider New Market, MN 19 47-09 95 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 16-01 Day 3: 5 12-12 Day 4: 4 05-04
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 05-14 $1,000.00
2 Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 06-04 $1,000.00
3 Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 09-04 $1,000.00
4 Matt Herren Ashville, AL 04-05 $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 09-04 $2,000.00
VMC MONSTER BAG
Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 23-00 $2,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 92 497 1122-07
2 83 478 1069-11
3 43 234 541-10
4 8 45 110-00
----------------------------------
226 1254 2843-12
Justin Lucas Wins MLF Toyota Series at Lake Eufaula Presented by Chewalla Creek Marina
EUFAULA, Ala. (May 14, 2023) – Bass Pro Tour angler Justin Lucas of Guntersville, Alabama, crossed the stage with a five-bass limit Saturday weighing 17 pounds, 12 ounces, to win the final Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Southern Division event of the season – the Toyota Series at Lake Eufaula Presented by Chewalla Creek Marina – and earn the top payout of $79,300, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Lucas’ three-day total of 15 bass weighing 51-13 earned him the victory by a 5-pound, 10-ounce margin over Orlando, Florida, pro Bobby Bakewell, who finished runner-up with 15 bass weighing 46-3 to earn $17,000.
“I’m on cloud nine,” Lucas said to MLF reporters after his victory. “To win on an inland lake that’s not tidal and not in the Great Lakes (region) is amazing.”
The victory marks Lucas’ first Toyota Series as a pro, and he said that it’s just as sweet of a win to him as any of his previous pro-level titles.
“I’ve always said that the level of competition in the Toyota Series is as hard to win at as one of the bigger pro events, because you have the best locals in all of these events,” he said. “A lot of these people, you may not have heard of them before, but they’re hammers here. I’ve always respected these guys and so to be able to win against them is a big deal to me. It’s a great payday too.”
After catching his bass primarily with a spinnerbait and crankbait combination targeting the shad spawn early in the event, Lucas abandoned it quickly on Day 3. Plan B included working slowly and methodically to fish his way into the right caliber of fish. Lucas spent the final day slowly upgrading his catch as the day wore on.
“My plan worked, and everything came together,” he said. “Today it got calm and sunny. I picked up a 5-inch Berkley PowerBait Power Hawg and just got to dragging it really slow. It was just slow and steady bites; you know every time I would catch one, I would upgrade. It just all worked out.”
Lucas focused on shallower fish on the final day, opting to target fish that were more lethargic and just finishing up spawning, or fish that were transitioning out of the spawning phase prior to their migration to deeper water.
“I think some of the fish I was catching today were still late spawners,” he said. “I was targeting 4 to 8 feet of water and just fishing rock, stumps, and some gravel spots. Just trying to fish slowly and pick everything apart.”
Lucas’ victory automatically qualified him to fish the Toyota Series Championship on Table Rock Lake in November. Lucas said that he now gets to stress a little less about the busy schedule he had planned for 2023, bouncing between both Toyota Series events and the Bass Pro Tour.
“I was planning on going to the Potomac and Lake of the Ozarks. So, to be able to make it by winning this event is great because now I don’t have to go to those two places. I was going to be pushing it schedule-wise. I didn’t know if I could even do it for sure, so winning this is awesome,” Lucas went on to say.
The top 10 pros on Lake Eufaula finished:
1st: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 51-13, $79,300 (includes $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus)
2nd: Bobby Bakewell, Orlando, Fla., 15 bass, 46-3, $17,000
3rd: Kyle Austin, Ridgeville, S.C., 15 bass, 44-9, $12,750
4th: Emil Wagner, Marietta, Ga., 15 bass, 43-0, $10,750
5th: Michael Smith, Andalusia, Ala., 15 bass, 42-0, $9,750
6th: Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., 15 bass, 41-12, $8,375
7th: Ethan Greene, Eufaula, Ala., 15 bass, 41-8, $7,300
8th: Mike Cavender, Phenix City, Ala., 15 bass, 39-14, $6,300
9th: Joey Bloom, Winter Springs, Fla., 15 bass, 38-15, $5,300
10th: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 15 bass, 38-10, $4,200
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
On Thursday, pros Keith Bardolf of Abbeville, Alabama, and Robert Crosnoe of Inverness, Florida, split the $500 Day 1 Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division, as each weighed in a bass totaling 6 pounds, 6 ounces. On Friday pro Lonnie O’Neal of Valdosta, Georgia, earned the $500 Berkley Big Bass prize with a largemouth weighing in at 8 pounds, 15 ounces.
Robert Griswold of Lincolnton, North Carolina, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of nine bass weighing 23 pounds, 7 ounces. Griswold took home the top co-angler prize package worth $34,350, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on Lake Eufaula finished:
1st: Robert Griswold, Lincolnton, N.C., nine bass, 23-7, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard
2nd: Larry Mullikin, Jacksonville, Fla., eight bass, 23-6, $5,525
3rd: Roger Phillips, Delta, Ala., 10 bass, 22-4, $4,300
4th: William Lewis, Jacksonville, Fla., nine bass, 20-0, $3,650
5th: James Menold, Amory, Miss., six bass, 18-2, $3,150
6th: Joseph Chilcott, Williamson, Ga., eight bass, 17-12, $2,650
7th: William Grantham, Mobile, Ala., eight bass, 16-13, $2,150
8th: Dax Liner, Mineral Bluff, Ga., 10 bass, 16-3, $1,825
9th: Sean Wooten, Umatilla, Fla., six bass, 13-2, $1,530
10th: Stephen Draghi, Sparrow Bush, N.Y., five bass, 13-0, $1,440
Mullikin earned Thursday’s $150 Berkley Big Bass award after weighing in a 6-pound, 3-ounce largemouth, while the Day 2 $150 award went to Stephen Draghi, who brought a 7-pound, 7-ounce bass to the scale.
With the three regular-season events in the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Southern Division now complete, pro Chad Mrazek of Montgomery, Texas, was crowned the 2023 Southern Division Pro Angler of the Year (AOY) and earned the $5,000 AOY bonus with a total of 749 points. Stephen Draghi of Sparrow Bush, New York, won the 2023 Southern Division Strike King Co-angler AOY race and the $2,000 AOY bonus with 747 points.
The Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lake Eufaula Presented by Chewalla Creek Marina was hosted by the Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce. It was the third and final regular-season event for the Toyota Series Southern Division. The next event for the top 25 anglers in the Toyota Series Southern Division AOY standings will be the Toyota Series Championship at Table Rock Lake, Nov. 2-4, in Branson, Missouri. For a complete schedule of events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2023 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2024. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2023 Toyota Series Championship on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, is hosted by ExploreBranson.com.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Toyota Series include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Black Rifle Coffee Company, E3, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Gill, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Next Gen Lithium, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Palaniuk leads for third day in a row at Bassmaster Elite Series event on Lay Lake
Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, is leading after Day 3 of the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake with a three-day total of 51 pounds, 7 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
May 13, 2023
SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. — When Brandon Palaniuk began his research for the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake, he knew the 2010 Bassmaster Classic had been won in Beeswax Creek where the field launched from this week.
What he didn’t know, however, is that the water he has focused on this week is the exact area Kevin VanDam used to win his third Classic trophy. Now, Palaniuk is just one day away from etching more history into the Beeswax Creek record book.
With a 15-pound, 11-ounce bag on Day 3, “The Prodigy” maintained his lead on the Coosa River impoundment with a three-day total of 51-7. After opening with a 19-7 limit and a 16-5 Day 2 bag, Palaniuk leads Oklahoma's Jason Christie by 2-5 after Christie rocketed up the leaderboard with a Day 3 megabag of 23-0.
“I knew this creek is where (the Classic) was won. I did not know it was behind that bridge,” Palaniuk said. “It blows my mind every day when I come back. Like, how did I catch this much weight? What blows my mind the most is, I feel like I have exhausted everything, like I have caught every bass I can. And then I’ll see a 5-pounder swimming down the bank. It’s like, there is still at least one big one left in here.”
During his 13-year career with B.A.S.S., Palaniuk has six victories, including two that came in wire-to-wire fashion — his first win ever at Bull Shoals in 2012 and his 2013 victory at the St. Lawrence River. Now he’s vying for a seventh overall win and a third in the wire-to-wire category.
Each day, Palaniuk has been unsure of what he would be able to catch in the back of Beeswax. But each day has produced its own pattern.
The first day, he mostly sight fished for bedding bass. Then on the second day, he targeted cruisers and used his Humminbird MEGA 360 to find bream beds where bass were feeding on spawning bluegill.
On Saturday, the late morning and afternoon hours provided the most sunshine of any point in the tournament, and Palaniuk could see more bass cruising around.
“I feel like they were a little more accessible compared to yesterday where I caught more off the 360,” he said. “It positions them some, but it really allows me to see them before they see me.”
Palaniuk has caught all largemouth thus far in less than 3 feet of water. An X Zone Lures Deception Worm continues to generate most of his bites. The lake level fluctuated the first two days, so much so that Palaniuk compared Lay Lake to a tidal fishery. On Day 3, however, the water stayed stable and on the lower side while water temperatures rose to the 80-degree mark.
“As soon as I feel like I know what they are trying to do, it’s like they change a little bit or they change the water level,” he said. “I feel like I understand a couple of things that they are trying to do and how they are trying to move through that area.”
After a 45-minute fog delay on Semifinal Saturday, Palaniuk started his day targeting offshore cover in his primary area and caught a small limit by 9:30 a.m. As he made his way back, he was surprised to find two spawning largemouth. After figuring out where the bed actually was, Palaniuk caught both bass before 11:15 a.m., the second coming just six or seven casts after the first.
After going a couple of hours without a bite, Palaniuk keyed back in on the bream bed and fry guarder pattern and was able to upgrade a couple of times, including his second-biggest bass with 20 minutes to go.
Now that he has been able to hold the lead for three days, Palaniuk is starting to believe he can make his strategy work for one more.
“But nobody knows,” he said. “I lost one big one today and two big ones yesterday. I saw two big ones cruising that I didn't catch. I feel like there are still fish around. It is just whether or not you make the right moves in the right places.”
With bags of 16-5 on Day 1 and a disappointing 9-13 Day 2 performance, Christie ripped the VMC Monster Bag of the Tournament away from Palaniuk with his giant Day 3 bag, which also lifted him into second with a three-day total of 49-2.
That bag was anchored by a 9-4 kicker largemouth that not only leads the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament standings but also became the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Year. The daily award was worth $1,000 — and if it holds, it will pay $2,000 for Big Bass of the Tournament and $10,000 for Big Bass of the Year.
“I’m kind of speechless. That was a surprise. I looked out there and I saw one swimming,” he said. “I told my marshal, ‘That’s a 4- or 5-pounder.’ I threw my frog over there and she didn’t like that. She just kind of turned. I picked up a spinning rod and fired out in front of her and sat there and shook it. She ate it, and the rodeo started. There was stuff all around me.”
Christie’s season to this point has been a rollercoaster and that has continued at Lay. He opened this tournament in fourth place on the first day before falling to 17th after Day 2. Semifinal Saturday didn’t begin particularly well either, as Christie lost two 4-pounders before his good fortune began.
“I’m fishing objects. I’m just going down the bank and if I see one swimming, I’ll stop and throw at it,” Christie said. “It was a great day. I have burned up everything that I have so tomorrow I just have to go fishing somewhere.”
After landing in second yesterday, Sylacauga, Ala., native Will Davis Jr. dropped to third with a three-day total of 48-10. The hometown angler has spent most of the week targeting spawning spotted bass in 2 feet of water. He started the tournament in seventh with 15-14 and moved into second on Day 2 with an 18-5 limit.
Davis spent most of Day 3 within sight of the Logan Martin Dam and has discovered the bigger bass have moved deeper. The fog also hurt him, particularly when he arrived at his starting spot.
“I stopped on one place and had the perfect lineup with the waypoint and a tree, and I couldn’t see my tree,” Davis said.
The day was slow overall for the Elite Series rookie. He got just six bites total, but three of those bass were over 3 pounds. He ended the day with four spotted bass and a largemouth.
“It was tough today,” he said. “I couldn’t get dialed in to what rock they were on and all that stuff. I stayed up there and pulled up on another deal I hadn’t practiced on, and on my second cast, I caught my biggest fish. Then I moved a little deeper and caught another big one.”
Davis said he plans on starting Championship Sunday by fishing around some grass closer to takeoff and hopes a shad spawn will carry him to a quick start.
South Carolina's Brandon Cobb leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year race with 487 points. Georgia pro Drew Cook is second with 436 points, followed by Louisiana’s Tyler Rivet in third with 415, Florida’s John Cox in fourth with 414 and Alabama’s Kyle Welcher in fifth with 413.
Davis leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race with 381 points followed by Alabama pro David Gaston in second with 369 and California pro Bryant Smith in third, also with 369.
The Top 10 remaining anglers will launch from Beeswax Creek Park at 6:30 a.m. CT and return for weigh-in beginning at 3 p.m. The winner will take home $100,000 and a blue trophy.
Bassmaster LIVE will start at 7 a.m. CT on FS1 and move to Bassmaster.com at 12:30 p.m.
2023 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake 5/11-5/14
Lay Lake, Shelby County AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 15 51-07 104 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 16-05 Day 3: 5 15-11
2. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 15 49-02 103 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 09-13 Day 3: 5 23-00
3. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 15 48-10 102
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 18-05 Day 3: 5 14-07
4. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 15 43-11 101
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 15-06 Day 3: 5 14-06
5. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 15 43-05 100
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 5 16-03
6. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 15 42-12 99
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 13-05
7. Seth Feider New Market, MN 15 42-05 98
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 16-01 Day 3: 5 12-12
8. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 15 41-11 97
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 17-14 Day 3: 5 11-06
9. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 15 41-04 96
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 5 13-02
10. Bryan New Saluda, SC 13 41-01 95
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 3 08-10 Day 3: 5 13-11
11. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 15 40-07 94 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 5 15-12
12. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 15 39-11 93 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 14-10 Day 3: 5 13-12
13. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 15 39-05 92 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 10-02 Day 3: 5 13-01
14. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 15 38-15 91 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 11-03 Day 3: 5 13-12
15. John Cox DeBary, FL 15 38-03 90 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 11-07 Day 3: 5 13-07
16. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, Ontario CANADA 15 37-12 89 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 5 12-11
17. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 15 37-02 88 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 5 11-15
18. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 15 37-02 87 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 11-14 Day 3: 5 11-08
19. Cole Sands Calhoun , TN 15 37-01 86 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 12-11
20. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 15 37-00 85 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 15-14 Day 3: 5 07-07
21. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 15 37-00 84 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-07 Day 3: 5 12-05
22. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 15 36-11 83 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 12-06 Day 3: 5 11-07
23. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 15 36-01 82 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-06 Day 2: 5 09-00 Day 3: 5 09-11
24. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 15 36-01 81 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 12-03 Day 3: 5 12-00
25. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 15 35-15 80 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 5 12-05
26. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 15 35-14 79 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 12-13 Day 3: 5 09-12
27. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 15 35-05 78 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-06 Day 3: 5 10-11
28. Joseph Webster Hamilton, AL 15 35-03 77 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 11-08 Day 3: 5 12-13
29. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 15 35-00 76 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 10-07
30. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 15 35-00 75 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 5 12-08
31. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 13 34-12 74 $10,000.00
Day 1: 3 05-07 Day 2: 5 17-06 Day 3: 5 11-15
32. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 14 34-10 73 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 12-14 Day 3: 4 06-14
33. Chad Pipkens DeWitt, MI 15 34-07 72 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 10-10 Day 3: 5 10-12
34. Kyoya Fujita Minamitsuru, Yamanashi 15 34-07 71 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 11-00 Day 3: 5 12-14
35. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 15 34-04 70 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 12-14 Day 3: 5 09-00
36. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 15 33-15 69 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 10-02 Day 3: 5 11-06
37. Frank Talley Temple, TX 15 33-06 68 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 15-11 Day 3: 5 06-10
38. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 15 32-13 67 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 5 11-02
39. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 15 32-10 66 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 11-09 Day 3: 5 09-09
40. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 11 32-09 65 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 1 01-01
41. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 15 32-02 64 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 13-12 Day 3: 5 07-11
42. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 12 31-03 63 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 2 05-00
43. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 15 31-02 62 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 08-04
44. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 14 31-01 61 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 16-10 Day 3: 4 05-09
45. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 15 31-00 60 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 06-11 Day 2: 5 15-12 Day 3: 5 08-09
46. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 15 30-09 59 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 10-10 Day 3: 5 08-00
47. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 12 29-13 58 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 13-07 Day 3: 2 04-06
48. Michael Iaconelli Pittsgrove, NJ 15 29-07 57 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 10-00 Day 3: 5 07-08
49. Derek Hudnall Zachary, LA 14 27-02 56 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 4 05-01
50. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 12 25-02 55 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 11-03 Day 3: 2 02-09
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 05-14 $1,000.00
2 Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 06-04 $1,000.00
3 Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 09-04 $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 92 497 1122-07
2 83 478 1069-11
3 43 234 541-10
----------------------------------
218 1209 2733-12
Puzzled Palaniuk continues to surprise in Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lay Lake
Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, is leading after Day 2 of the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake with a two-day total of 35 pounds, 12 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
May 12, 2023
Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, is leading after Day 2 of the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake with a two-day total of 35 pounds, 12 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
May 12, 2023
SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. — Most of this week, Brandon Palaniuk has worn a wry smile on his face. It is one of disbelief more than anything that he has actually found the quality of bass he has during the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake.
By adding 16 pounds, 5 ounces Friday to his Day 1 tally of 19-7, the Rathdrum, Idaho, native now has a two-day total of 35-12 and holds the lead for the second day in a row. Alabama rookie Will Davis Jr. is second with 34-3 and veteran Florida pro Bernie Schultz is third with 31-8.
“I’m just the clueless leader out there,” Palaniuk said. “I’m 100% in disbelief. The fact I was able to fish for all of those fish the first day blew my mind. The fact I went back there and caught 16 pounds today blows my mind, too. I’m going to have to go again tomorrow because I don’t know what is going to happen. I might have another 15 or 16.”
Palaniuk has been maximizing one specific area of Lay Lake and has had to adjust to the conditions every day. Even though thunderstorms moved through the area Thursday night, the water had dropped a couple of inches when he arrived Friday morning. As the day progressed, it began to rise again.
“It is almost like a tidal fishery this week,” Palaniuk said. “They keep bringing the water up and down, up and down, so it has been hard for me to get dialed in to any one thing. You can see the water clarity change and you can see the current move in one direction and then back the other. It definitely changes everything.”
Friday morning when the water was at its lowest, there was very little activity in the area. The shad were stagnant and the bream beds were not active. But once the water rose, activity increased and the bite improved.
Adding to his disbelief, Palaniuk has had his area largely to himself, with only a couple of anglers filtering in and out.
“The way everyone else fishes it, it is really hard to get a bite,” he said. “The way I am fishing it, I have been able to get bites here and there. That is the biggest difference. I am fishing in an area that has bass, but doing it differently than everyone else. I can’t even describe how obvious it seems, but yet everyone missed it.”
On Thursday, Palaniuk did most of his damage sight fishing and caught the Day 1 Phoenix Boats Big Bass — a 5-14 largemouth — on his second pitch to one particular bed. On Friday, the two-time Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year excelled by finding postspawn bass that were either cruising or in specific cover he saw on his Humminbird MEGA 360.
He pitched his drop shot, rigged with an X Zone Lures Deception Worm to that cover. That presentation produced his biggest bass Friday, which was over 5 pounds. He also caught a couple of bass on a frog.
“I didn’t catch a bass off a bed today. I didn’t even see any,” he said. “I saw one that was maybe set up on a bed but wouldn’t lock on.”
He also caught a 4-pound cruiser and bream came into play as the day progressed.
“They aren’t on all of them, though. Just certain ones for sure,” he said.
Palaniuk added that he had several missed opportunities, including a bass he saw and coaxed into biting with a glidebait. Unfortunately for him, the bass made one big jump as it neared the boat and came free.
That bass went back to the same spot, and Palaniuk said he plans on trying to catch it again Saturday. He also dialed in a specific pattern that led to several culls later in the day.
“I did figure out a little something late where I culled up quite a few times,” he said. “I started catching fish off of my Humminbird 360 that clued me into something different. I don’t know how much I can expand on it.”
After landing in seventh on Day 1 on his home fishery with 15-14, Davis caught 18-5 on the second day with four spotted bass and one largemouth. It was the biggest bag of Day 2.
The Sylacauga, Ala., native’s starting spot had big bass schooling all over it, but Davis was unable to generate a bite.
“It was slick today and that hurt the topwater bite deal I had going on,” he said. “I didn’t have a swim jig bite this morning either.”
As the day wore on, Davis moved to an area on Lay Lake that featured some stronger current and caught close to 12 keepers, six of those coming on consecutive casts. The 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. window was his best window for catching the better quality.
At around noon, he also noticed the dam operators turned on two turbines, which helps position the bigger bass to his liking.
“I think more fish are coming to me,” he said. “I caught a big one late in the day. She was a prespawn spot and she was 10 feet down there. She was almost 5 pounds. I feel good about that for sure.
“They are gorging on shad. I had to clean my livewell screens three times today.”
Davis said the bream bed pattern has not been as good as he anticipated.
“I think a lot of bass are just getting through spawning and they are in that funk,” he said. “In another week, they will definitely be on bream beds. But right now, that’s not the deal — at least not for me.”
Schultz caught 15-4 Friday, anchoring his bag with a 5-11 largemouth he caught early. One bait has done most of the damage this week, a black Hildebrandt SqueakEasy buzzbait he designed with a Zoom Horny Toad as the trailer.
One area has provided the best results for the Gainesville, Fla., native. Schultz said there were so many shad in this area on Day 1 he could walk across them. On Friday, the shad presence wasn’t quite as prevalent, but he got two big bites — the 5-11 and a big spotted bass.
“Yesterday, the bass were active,” he said. “We had a low sky with low pressure. It was a humid kind of morning and it was on. That place had potential because it was right next to deep water and it had so much bait. I don’t know how other people missed it.”
The rest of Day 2, Schultz struggled to get bites but was able to finish his limit in a backwater pond up the river.
Palatka, Fla., angler Cliff Prince claimed the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day — and the $1,000 prize that goes with it — with a 6-4 largemouth. That bass surpassed Palaniuk’s Day 1 lunker to take over Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors. Palaniuk still holds the VMC Monster Bag of the Tournament with his 19-7 Day 1 bag.
South Carolina pro Brandon Cobb continues to lead the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year race with 480 points. Georgia pro Drew Cook is second with 425 points, followed by Louisiana’s Tyler Rivet with 416 and Alabama’s Kyle Welcher and Florida’s John Cox with 401 each.
Davis leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race with 382 points, followed by Alabama pro David Gaston with 381 and California pro Bryant Smith with 364.
The Top 50 remaining anglers will launch from Beeswax Creek Park beginning at 6:30 a.m. CT on Saturday and return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. Only the Top 10 will advance to Championship Sunday with a chance to win the $100,000 first-place prize.
Bassmaster LIVE will begin at 6:30 a.m. CT on FS1 before moving to Bassmaster.com at 9:30 a.m.
2023 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake 5/11-5/14
Lay Lake, Shelby County AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 35-12 104 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 16-05
2. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 10 34-03 103
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 18-05
3. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 10 31-08 102
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 15-04
4. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 10 30-05 101
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 17-14
5. Seth Feider New Market, MN 10 29-09 100
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 16-01
6. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 10 29-09 99
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 15-14
7. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 10 29-07 98
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 15-03
8. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 10 29-05 97
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 15-06
9. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 10 28-02 96
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 14-13
10. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 10 27-12 95
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 12-14
11. Bryan New Saluda, SC 8 27-06 94
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 3 08-10
12. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 10 27-02 93
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 14-01
13. Frank Talley Temple, TX 10 26-12 92
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 15-11
14. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 10 26-06 91
Day 1: 5 17-06 Day 2: 5 09-00
15. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 10 26-04 90
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 10-02
16. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 26-03 89
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 12-15
17. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 10 26-02 88
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 09-13
18. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 10 26-02 87
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 12-13
19. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 10 25-15 86
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 14-10
20. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 10 25-10 85
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 11-14
21. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 10 25-08 84 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 16-10
22. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 10 25-07 83
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 13-07
23. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 10 25-04 82
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 12-14
23. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 10 25-04 82
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 12-06
25. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 10 25-03 80
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 14-13
26. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 10 25-03 79
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 11-03
27. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, Ontario CANADA 10 25-01 78
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 12-04
28. John Cox DeBary, FL 10 24-12 77
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 11-07
29. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 10 24-11 76
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-07
30. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 10 24-11 75
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 12-15
31. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 10 24-10 74
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-06
32. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 10 24-09 73
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 14-04
33. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 10 24-07 72
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 13-12
34. Cole Sands Calhoun, TN 10 24-06 71
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 12-12
35. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 10 24-01 70
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 12-03
36. Chad Pipkens DeWitt, MI 10 23-11 69
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 10-10
37. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 10 23-10 68
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 12-00
38. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 10 23-01 67
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 11-09
39. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 10 22-14 66
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 12-10
40. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 8 22-13 65
Day 1: 3 05-07 Day 2: 5 17-06
41. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 10 22-09 64
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 10-02
42. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 10 22-09 63
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 10-10
43. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 22-09 62
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 11-03
44. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 22-08 61
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 13-00
45. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 10 22-07 60
Day 1: 5 06-11 Day 2: 5 15-12
46. Joseph Webster Hamilton, AL 10 22-06 59
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 11-08
47. Derek Hudnall Zachary, LA 10 22-01 58
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 10-15
48. Michael Iaconelli Pittsgrove, NJ 10 21-15 57
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 10-00
49. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 10 21-11 56
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 13-00
50. Kyoya Fujita Minamitsuru, Yamanashi 10 21-09 55
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 11-00
51. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 10 21-07 54 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 13-02
52. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 10 20-14 53 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 09-01
53. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 9 20-07 52 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 4 08-11
54. Darold Gleason Many, LA 10 20-06 51 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 08-08
55. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 9 20-05 50 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 4 08-11
56. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 10 20-05 49 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 10-10
57. David Williams Newton, NC 10 20-03 48 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 08-06
58. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 10 20-03 47 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 10-12
59. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 10 20-01 46 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 07-09
60. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 8 20-01 45 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 08-15 Day 2: 5 11-02
61. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 10 19-15 44 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 5 11-03
62. Carl Jocumsen Queensland AUSTRALIA 10 19-08 43 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 07-00
63. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 10 19-06 42 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 09-14
64. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 10 19-05 41 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 06-12 Day 2: 5 12-09
65. Josh Douglas Isle, MN 10 19-05 40 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 07-03
66. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 8 19-02 39 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 3 06-00
67. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 10 19-00 38 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 08-07
68. Keith Poche Cecil, AL 9 18-15 37 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 05-12 Day 2: 5 13-03
69. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 10 18-15 36 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 07-06
70. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 10 18-14 35 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 06-08
71. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 10 18-13 34 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 08-05
72. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 10 18-09 33 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 09-07
73. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 18-04 32 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 05-12 Day 2: 5 12-08
74. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 9 18-04 31 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 07-03 Day 2: 5 11-01
75. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 18-03 30 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 08-00
76. Cody Huff Ava, MO 10 18-03 29 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 09-02
77. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 18-02 28 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 07-02
78. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 9 18-00 27
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 4 06-00
79. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 10 17-14 26
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 09-09
80. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 10 17-09 25
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 07-12
81. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 10 17-06 24
Day 1: 5 07-13 Day 2: 5 09-09
82. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 10 17-02 23
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 08-00
83. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 10 16-13 22
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 08-11
84. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 10 16-10 21
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 07-04
85. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 9 16-10 20
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 4 07-08
86. Wes Logan Springville, AL 9 16-08 19
Day 1: 4 05-10 Day 2: 5 10-14
87. Taku Ito Chiba JAPAN 7 16-07 18
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 2 03-04
88. KJ Queen Conover, NC 10 16-07 17
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 06-01
89. Masayuki Matsushita Tokoname-Aichi JAPAN 9 16-06 16
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 4 06-14
90. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 9 16-05 15
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 4 05-12
91. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 10 16-04 14
Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 5 08-11
92. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 8 15-05 13
Day 1: 4 07-01 Day 2: 4 08-04
93. Joshua Stracner Vandiver, AL 8 15-03 12
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 5 08-08
94. Skylar Hamilton Jefferson, TN 6 14-14 11
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 1 02-08
95. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 9 14-04 10
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 4 05-06
96. Mike Huff London, KY 9 12-09 9
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 4 04-13
97. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 6 12-05 8
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 1 01-11
98. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 7 12-03 7
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 2 03-03
99. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, AR 6 11-07 6
Day 1: 3 04-03 Day 2: 3 07-04
100. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 7 10-09 5
Day 1: 5 07-10 Day 2: 2 02-15
101. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 4 09-10 4
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 1 03-01
102. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 5 09-05 3
Day 1: 2 04-02 Day 2: 3 05-03
103. David Fritts Lexington, NC 6 06-15 2
Day 1: 2 02-03 Day 2: 4 04-12
104. Bradley Hallman Edmond, OK 4 05-09 1
Day 1: 2 03-01 Day 2: 2 02-08
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 05-14 $1,000.00
2 Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 06-04 $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 92 497 1122-07
2 83 478 1069-11
----------------------------------
175 975 2192-02
Cox Continues to Thrive in Chaos
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
A few weeks ago, John Cox had just weighed in another five-fish limit on semifinal Saturday of the Bassmaster Elite on Santee Cooper Lakes. His efforts were good enough to land him in 28th place, earning the laid-back Florida pro another solid paycheck, something he’s done in every event he has fished in2023. He was happy to have a good finish, but Cox was chewing on a bit of a pickle he’d found himself in that afternoon.
His tournament had just ended in South Carolina, but Cox was supposed to be starting practice for the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational on Lake of the Ozarks at sunrise the very next morning and he realized he was about due for an oil-change in his 2023 Toyota Tundra. Not ideal when faced with a 16-hour drive, no time to spare, and service departments closed on Sundays.
Fortunately, his wife Melissa, who Cox describes as his teammate and angel, flew into South Carolina so she could drive John, his truck, and his boat out of the Southeast and into the Midwest while he rested and tried to think up a gameplan for LOZ, since he’d be missing at least a full day of practice.
Thanks to the reliability of his wife and his truck, the duo made it to Missouri having only missed the first day of practice. Cox is truly an extraordinary angler, but there is no doubt it takes an equally special significant other to support and at times, ensure the arrival of professional bass fishing’s marathon man to thenext tournament on his jampacked schedule.
Missing even a few hours of official practice would immediately spin 75% of the field out, but Cox actually took the following morning off to catch up on a little more rest. You see, due to Cox’s well-documented tendency to fish every tournament he can reasonably sign up for and his incredible fishing abilities that find him competing on a lot of day three and day fours, this kind of bedlam is not unfamiliar.
“Honestly I think I fish better when I have a little chaos around me,” Cox said with a chuckle. “I guess I feel weird if things are too calm and organized. I tend to fish better when I pretty much abandon any gameplans I had, too.”
When the strain of a chaotic schedule would break most anglers, Cox continues to thrive.
Case in point, Cox went on to win Phoenix Boats Stop 4 on Lake of the Ozarks, regardless of restricted practice time on a body of water he had never fished in his life. The Crestliner pro sight-fished his way to another trophy, beating out his buddy and former local tournament teammate Keith Carson by just over a pound.
“The tournament really couldn’t have worked out much better with Keith and I finishing first and second,” Cox said. ”It was a whirlwind of emotions for me, cause I would have loved for Keith to win, but it all worked out. I was even able to get the oil change I needed on my Tundra during our off day. It was nice!”
In addition to another trophy and an $80,000 payday, Cox took home $3,000 of Toyota Bonus Bucks. Covering more than thepending oil change for the longtime Toyota driver.
Many well-traveled bass anglers tout the reliability of Toyota being one of the deciding factors in their choice of tow vehicle. But when you are John Cox and you’ve booked tournaments on top of tournaments without a day to spare, you absolutely must be able to rely on your truck.
“The Bonus Bucks program is initially what led me to buying my first Tundra, it was a no brainer to me,” Cox explained. “But I’ve grown to just really love the trucks over the years. My new ’23 is awesome. Pulls my boat great, the comfort is unreal, and with the way I live my life the reliability is probably the best part. I trust that thing to get me, my boat, and my family to the next tournament no matter what.”
The rewards of Toyota’s prominent fishing contingency program aren’t just for pro anglers like John Cox. Bonus Bucks supports hundreds of bass fishing events of all levels and for anglers who own or lease an eligible tow-vehicle, it is 100% free to register for.
Head to www.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com for more information, a full list of sanctioned events and payouts, or to get yourself registered today.
Palaniuk powers to opening-round lead at Bassmaster Elite Series event on Lay Lake
Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, is leading after Day 1 of the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake with 19 pounds, 7 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
May 11, 2023
SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. — Benefitting from a quick start, Brandon Palaniuk claimed the Day 1 lead at the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lakewith a 19-pound, 7-ounce limit of largemouth.
Palaniuk has no idea if he can come close to repeating that performance. But for now, the Rathdrum, Idaho, native holds an 11-ounce lead over South Carolina’s Bryan New and a 2-pound lead over North Carolina’s Matt Arey.
“I knew today was super important with what I had and what I found,” he said. “Literally, I was hoping to catch enough today to carry me through a good event. I have no idea what is going to happen tomorrow. I have a brushpile I think I can catch 6 pounds of spotted bass out of. That might be my starting spot.
“I have spent four days on this place and still don’t feel like I have a clue.”
The two-time Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year also claimed the award for Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day with a 5-14 lunker largemouth he caught sight fishing. Palaniuk said that bass weighed at least a pound more when he noticed it in practice on Wednesday.
“She dumped her eggs from yesterday to today. Yesterday she was super wide,” he said.
When he went back this morning, Palaniuk noticed it 40 feet away from the bed.
“It bit on the second cast. I pulled up and could barely see the bed, and I thought I saw a fish swim off. I couldn’t tell if it came back so I pitched up there and didn’t see anything move,” Palaniuk explained. “I reeled it back in and I looked 90 degrees to my right, and 40 feet from the bed, I just see these two bass swimming. It was that pair, the little male and that giant female, and they were heading back to the bed.”
Palaniuk pitched his drop shot, rigged with an X Zone Lures Deception Worm, back in and held his bait steady until he saw the female reach the bed. With one shake, the bass ate and swam off.
That was part of a limit that the six-time B.A.S.S. winner achieved by 10 a.m. Along with the Deception Worm in green pumpkin/blue, he caught bass on a frog and an Adrenaline Craw from X Zone.
Following a weather system that moved through parts of the state on Wednesday morning, cloud cover lingered over Lay Lake all morning and into the afternoon hours. That made for tough fishing conditions for much of the field, with several anglers commenting on Bassmaster LIVE that it was, by far, their toughest morning this week.
The water also dropped throughout practice. But on Thursday, it rose a couple of inches and Palaniuk remarked on LIVE that may have caused some bass to move into the area. Even still, he has seen very few bass on bed like the one he caught on Day 1.
He believes the bass are on the tail end of their spawning cycle.
“I don’t know if there are more coming. I highly doubt it,” Palaniuk said. “I don’t even have a 3-pounder I can run to tomorrow and be like, ‘I saved that one.’ Maybe a 2-pounder.”
Lay Lake was where New officially clinched his Elite Series berth back in 2020 with a 22nd-place showing at the St. Croix Bassmaster Eastern Open. This week, he finds himself in contention again in second place with 18-12.
His biggest bass Thursday weighed 5 pounds.
“I don’t know how tomorrow is going to go, but it was a really good day today,” New said. “A good start. I kind of jive with Lay Lake. I kind of went fishing. I didn’t expect a ton. Practice was garbage. I had a few hints and it went well.”
Running a couple of different areas in the morning, New achieved a limit with a kicker bass in the first two hours using a couple of different baits. In the afternoon, the Elite Series champion made two key upgrades, a 3-6 and a 4-1 that were logged on BassTrakk just before 2 p.m.
“I think I found something that’s obviously pretty special,” New said about his afternoon pattern.
Arey rotated through several baits to catch his limit of 17-6. He caught three of the biggest bass he had seen all week, including two largemouth, one weighing 4-11 and one almost 4 pounds. He also caught a 3-pound spotted bass.
“I caught one off a bed, I caught one flipping, I caught one swimming a jig and I caught two casting a worm. I am really dialed in as you can tell,” Arey said, laughing. “I was fortunate today to get two really big largemouth bites. I’ve got a little deal where I can get a lot of bites, but I only think it is good for 6- to 8-pound limits. I’ve gotta mix in some big-bait power fishing to get a big largemouth.”
With the time of year, Arey said he isn’t surprised the bass are as spread out as they are. He has seen a little bit of everything this week and he says there are bites right now that will mislead anglers. That’s why he’s been switching techniques and areas often.
“The water fluctuation this week is what helps or hurts it,” Arey said. “This system is sensitive to rising and falling water. The water looks like it has come up some now. It had been falling throughout practice, which made the shallow largemouth bite fickle. Hopefully, they don’t drop the bottom out of it and it continues to improve.”
South Carolina pro Brandon Cobb leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 469 points. He is followed by Florida’s John Cox in second with 414 points, Australia's Carl Jocumsen in third with 413, Louisiana’s Tyler Rivet in fourth with 405 and North Carolina’s Shane LeHew in fifth with 394.
Sylacauga, Ala., pro Will Davis Jr. landed in seventh place Thursday with 15-14 and now leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 377 points. He is followed by California pro Bryant Smith in second with 376 points and Alabama’s David Gaston in third with 373.
The full field will launch from Beeswax Creek Park beginning at 6:30 a.m. CT on Friday morning and return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. The field will be cut to the Top 50 anglers following the Day 2 weigh-in before the Top 10 compete on Championship Sunday for the $100,000 first-place prize.
Bassmaster LIVE coverage starts at 7 a.m. and streams through 2 p.m. on Bassmaster.com, Tubi and the FOX Sports digital platforms.
2023 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake 5/11-5/14
Lay Lake, Shelby County AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 19-07 104 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-07
2. Bryan New Saluda, SC 5 18-12 103
Day 1: 5 18-12
3. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 5 17-06 102
Day 1: 5 17-06
4. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 5 16-05 101
Day 1: 5 16-05
5. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 16-04 100
Day 1: 5 16-04
6. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 5 16-02 99
Day 1: 5 16-02
7. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 5 15-14 98
Day 1: 5 15-14
8. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 5 14-14 97
Day 1: 5 14-14
9. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 5 14-04 96
Day 1: 5 14-04
10. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 5 14-00 95
Day 1: 5 14-00
11. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 5 13-15 94
Day 1: 5 13-15
12. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 5 13-12 93
Day 1: 5 13-12
13. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 5 13-11 92
Day 1: 5 13-11
14. Seth Feider New Market, MN 5 13-08 91
Day 1: 5 13-08
15. John Cox DeBary, FL 5 13-05 90
Day 1: 5 13-05
15. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 5 13-05 90
Day 1: 5 13-05
17. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 5 13-05 88
Day 1: 5 13-05
18. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 5 13-04 87
Day 1: 5 13-04
18. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 5 13-04 87
Day 1: 5 13-04
20. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 13-04 85
Day 1: 5 13-04
21. Taku Ito Chiba JAPAN 5 13-03 84
Day 1: 5 13-03
22. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 5 13-02 83
Day 1: 5 13-02
23. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 5 13-01 82
Day 1: 5 13-01
23. Chad Pipkens DeWitt, MI 5 13-01 82
Day 1: 5 13-01
25. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 5 12-14 80
Day 1: 5 12-14
26. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, Ontario CANADA 5 12-13 79
Day 1: 5 12-13
27. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 5 12-08 78
Day 1: 5 12-08
27. Carl Jocumsen Queensland AUSTRALIA 5 12-08 78
Day 1: 5 12-08
29. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 5 12-07 76
Day 1: 5 12-07
29. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 5 12-07 76
Day 1: 5 12-07
31. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 5 12-06 74
Day 1: 5 12-06
31. Skylar Hamilton Jefferson, TN 5 12-06 74
Day 1: 5 12-06
31. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 5 12-06 74
Day 1: 5 12-06
34. Josh Douglas Isle, MN 5 12-02 71
Day 1: 5 12-02
35. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 5 12-00 70
Day 1: 5 12-00
35. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 12-00 70
Day 1: 5 12-00
37. Michael Iaconelli Pittsgrove, NJ 5 11-15 68
Day 1: 5 11-15
37. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 5 11-15 68
Day 1: 5 11-15
39. Darold Gleason Many, LA 5 11-14 66
Day 1: 5 11-14
39. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 11-14 66
Day 1: 5 11-14
41. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 5 11-13 64
Day 1: 5 11-13
41. David Williams Newton, NC 5 11-13 64
Day 1: 5 11-13
43. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 5 11-12 62
Day 1: 5 11-12
43. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 5 11-12 62
Day 1: 5 11-12
45. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 5 11-10 60
Day 1: 5 11-10
45. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 5 11-10 60
Day 1: 5 11-10
47. Cole Sands Calhoun, TN 5 11-10 58
Day 1: 5 11-10
48. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 5 11-09 57
Day 1: 5 11-09
49. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 5 11-08 56
Day 1: 5 11-08
50. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 11-06 55
Day 1: 5 11-06
51. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 5 11-05 54
Day 1: 5 11-05
52. Derek Hudnall Zachary, LA 5 11-02 53
Day 1: 5 11-02
53. Frank Talley Temple, TX 5 11-01 52
Day 1: 5 11-01
54. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 11-00 51
Day 1: 5 11-00
55. Joseph Webster Hamilton, AL 5 10-14 50
Day 1: 5 10-14
56. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 5 10-11 49
Day 1: 5 10-11
57. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 5 10-10 48
Day 1: 5 10-10
58. Kyoya Fujita Minamitsuru, Yamanashi 5 10-09 47
Day 1: 5 10-09
58. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 5 10-09 47
Day 1: 5 10-09
58. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 5 10-09 47
Day 1: 5 10-09
61. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 5 10-08 44
Day 1: 5 10-08
62. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 5 10-06 43
Day 1: 5 10-06
62. KJ Queen Conover, NC 5 10-06 43
Day 1: 5 10-06
64. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 5 10-05 41
Day 1: 5 10-05
65. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 5 10-04 40
Day 1: 5 10-04
66. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 10-03 39
Day 1: 5 10-03
67. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 09-13 38
Day 1: 5 09-13
68. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 5 09-11 37
Day 1: 5 09-11
69. Masayuki Matsushita Tokoname-Aichi JAPAN 5 09-08 36
Day 1: 5 09-08
69. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 09-08 36
Day 1: 5 09-08
71. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 5 09-08 34
Day 1: 5 09-08
72. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 09-07 33
Day 1: 5 09-07
73. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 5 09-06 32
Day 1: 5 09-06
74. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 5 09-02 31
Day 1: 5 09-02
74. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 5 09-02 31
Day 1: 5 09-02
74. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 5 09-02 31
Day 1: 5 09-02
77. Cody Huff Ava, MO 5 09-01 28
Day 1: 5 09-01
78. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 5 09-00 27
Day 1: 5 09-00
79. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 3 08-15 26
Day 1: 3 08-15
80. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 5 08-14 25
Day 1: 5 08-14
80. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 08-14 25
Day 1: 5 08-14
82. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 08-12 23
Day 1: 5 08-12
83. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 5 08-11 22
Day 1: 5 08-11
84. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 5 08-05 21
Day 1: 5 08-05
85. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 5 08-05 20
Day 1: 5 08-05
86. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 5 08-02 19
Day 1: 5 08-02
87. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 5 07-13 18
Day 1: 5 07-13
88. Mike Huff London, KY 5 07-12 17
Day 1: 5 07-12
89. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 5 07-10 16
Day 1: 5 07-10
90. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 5 07-09 15
Day 1: 5 07-09
91. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 4 07-03 14
Day 1: 4 07-03
92. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 4 07-01 13
Day 1: 4 07-01
93. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 5 06-12 12
Day 1: 5 06-12
94. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 5 06-11 11
Day 1: 5 06-11
95. Joshua Stracner Vandiver, AL 3 06-11 10
Day 1: 3 06-11
96. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 3 06-09 9
Day 1: 3 06-09
97. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 05-12 8
Day 1: 5 05-12
98. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 4 05-12 7
Day 1: 4 05-12
99. Wes Logan Springville, AL 4 05-10 6
Day 1: 4 05-10
100. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 3 05-07 5
Day 1: 3 05-07
101. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, AR 3 04-03 4
Day 1: 3 04-03
102. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 2 04-02 3
Day 1: 2 04-02
103. Bradley Hallman Edmond, OK 2 03-01 2
Day 1: 2 03-01
104. David Fritts Lexington, NC 2 02-03 1
Day 1: 2 02-03
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 05-14 $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 92 497 1122-07
----------------------------------
92 497 1122-07
2023 Texas Team Trail Headed to Choke Canyon Next Month!!!
Bassmaster College Championship heads to Pickwick Lake
The country's top college teams will compete on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tenn., August 10-12 at the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.
May 11, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 2023 national championship for the hugely popular Bassmaster
College Series will be decided on the renowned waters of Pickwick Lake, Tennessee. The 2023 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops will head to Counce, Tenn., August 10-12.
This is the first time since 2018 the College Series will compete on Pickwick Lake and the first time that the circuit has launched from the eastern edge of the 43,000-acre impoundment of the Tennessee River, which has hosted an Elite Series event and the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX over the past year.
“Hosting such a big tournament for B.A.S.S. really puts us on the map as a fishing destination. It's good for our economy, restaurants, lodging and small businesses," said Beth Pippin, Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau director of tourism. "We are excited to welcome Bassmaster back to Pickwick, Tennessee!"
Pickwick offers vast opportunities for anglers, with a good mix of offshore fishing and shallow structure and solid populations of largemouth and smallmouth bass. Beautiful scenery paired with a chance to catch a trophy trifecta — smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass of above-average size — are why the fishery was ranked one of the Southeast’s Best Bass Lakes on Bassmaster Magazine’s 2022 100 Best Bass Lakes list.
As many as 130 teams of anglers representing universities across the nation will converge on Counce for the event. Qualifications are based on the teams’ finishes in four regular-season stops held on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes, Cherokee Lake in Tennessee, Virginia’s James River and the Red River in Louisiana. A final Wild Card tournament on Alabama’s Lay Lake gives teams waitlisted for the other events one last chance to make it into the championship field.
“We’re excited to offer college anglers an incredible championship tournament experience,” said Glenn Cale, tournament manager for the College, High School and Junior Series. “I am thrilled that we are able to get these young anglers onto this extraordinary fishery as they compete for a national title and a chance to fish the Classic.”
Competitors will not only be fighting for a national championship but also a berth in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota via the College Classic Bracket tournament.
As the 2023 Bassmaster College Team of the Year, Easton Fothergill and Nick Dumke from the University of Montevallo have already punched their ticket to the College Classic Bracket presented by Lew's, which will be held later this year. The College Classic Bracket takes the Top 3 teams from the National Championship plus the Team of the Year and allows individual anglers to compete head-to-head in bracket-style competition for a berth in the Classic, where they will compete for a prize purse of over $1 million.
The 2022 College Classic Bracket champion Louis Monetti, part of the UNC Charlotte Team of the Year, became just the third college qualifier in history to make the Championship Sunday cut at the Bassmaster Classic earlier this year, finishing 23rd.
Throwback Thursday - FLIPPIN’: A CONCEPT. NOT JUST A TECHNIQUE – PART TWO
By Terry Battisti - Bass Fishing Archives
This is part two of a three-part series on the concept of flipping and the effect it had on the sport. In this installment, we talked with Gary Klein and Basil Bacon about their involvement with the early years of the technique. To read part one, click here.
In part one of this piece, Dave Myers talked about the three factors that came together to form the concept of Flippin’. He also talked about how an angler could thoroughly pick apart a shoreline in half the time it’d take an angler using conventional methods.
For parts two and three, I had the pleasure of interviewing four other anglers who took the ground rules, developed by Thomas, and added considerably to its foundation. Gary Klein, Hank Parker, Basil Bacon, and Denny Brauer all played pivotal roles in the progression of flipping and the way anglers approach shallow targets today.
These four anglers not only helped flipping progress, but they also helped design new equipment, terminal tackle, and baits to increase the effectiveness of the technique.
GARY KLEIN
When you think about the anglers who were there when flipping was invented – Thomas, Hauck, Gliebe, and Myers – if you leave out Gary Klein, you’ve left out one important part of the puzzle.
Klein, still a high school student and working at Lake Oroville in northern California, was making a name for himself fishing the Western Bass circuit. He and Thomas became fast friends, Thomas taking him under his wing.
“I was fortunate to meet Dee at a young age,” he said. “In the beginning, it wasn’t like Dee handed me things. He was smart in only giving me enough information so I had to go and do my homework. He was really smart about that – he made me work for it – and I appreciate it to this day.
“To be a part of the technique since its inception and watching it evolve has been an important part of my career. It’s because of this single technique that I decided to leave California and try to make a career fishing the B.A.S.S. circuit.
“Flipping wasn’t just a new technique – it was a new philosophy,” he said. “It was about how to catch a certain type of fish that’s relating to cover. To sum it up, the technique is just a way to present a lure in shallow water. But it also teaches you to learn patterns within patterns. For example, when I see a log in the water, I don’t just see a log – I see where it enters the water, each individual branch, where the sun is casting shadows, etc. I don’t just cast to a bush. Flipping has taught us to analyze more about what’s going on with respect to cover than any other technique. It made us a lot more efficient.
“Anglers today confuse flipping with pitching,” he said. “Flipping is NOT pitching. To me the flipping technique is all about having the line in your hand and swinging the bait. It’s more efficient and much more precise. If I’m pitching, I can miss fish [miss as in not placing the bait near them]. When I’m flipping, I won’t miss them.
“I said before that Flipping was the number one reason I left California. It wasn’t that I thought I wasn’t as good as the stars of the time – anglers like Roland, Dance, Tommy [Martin] – I just knew that with a Flip Stik in my hand, I was better than any of the other anglers with that type of fish.
“Dee and Dave [Gliebe] had already gotten the word out but the media was slow to cover it. By ’79 when I came out, there was still virtually no one doing it or anyone who really understood it. No one had a Flip Stik in their boat. That’s what gave me the mentality that I could do better against the others.
“When I came out east, I brought seven rods with me – all Flip Stiks,” he said. “I knew I could compete and in my first year on the B.A.S.S. circuit, I finished 10th, 1st, 6th, 26th, 18th and 7th. I missed Angler of the Year in the last event to Roland [Martin] by a little over a pound. Eighty-percent of the fish I caught that year were caught flipping.”
Klein wasn’t just one of the first anglers to utilize flipping on the national circuits, either. He was also a tackle developer with close friend Rich Forhan.
“In the first years when I came on the circuit, my number-one bait was a black 6-inch lizard,” he said. “Over the years, though, I’ve flipped everything.
“Then Rich Forhan and I got together to design a jig. The Weapon Jig and hook evolved because Rich was trying to get the best equipment in my hands.
“We found the original hook through Herters,” he said. “It was a round-bend needle-point hook design, completely contrary to what was popular back then, made by Partridge of England. When I was 18 years old, I met with the owner of Eagle Claw and tried to talk him into making it for us. He didn’t want to do it. So we bought our hooks from Herters.
“The jig head came from a lot of testing. We wanted the head to slide out of the fish’s mouth easily in order for better hookups. We fashioned a number of head shapes out of steel and tested them. What we came up with, coupled with the flat hook eye, was the result.
“A while into making the jigs, we found out that Herters was going to discontinue selling them so we bought all they had left. That’s when Rich went over to England and met with Partridge. That’s when they came up with the black Weapon flipping hook made out of Sheffield steel.
“Mustad later bought the company and they came out with the Ultra Point hook. It’s because of this single technique that we have round needle-point hooks. The hook companies were forced to make them because of flipping. In 1979 when I lost Angler of the Year to Roland, it was because I lost fish due to the wrong hook.
“Another thing that happened right off the bat was the flipping switch,” he said. “Basil Bacon gets the credit for that. In fact he used to work on all my reels in his garage back when we used to hang out together.
“Still today I won’t fish a reel without a flipping switch. In fact, because of me, Zebco still makes a reel model with one on it – and they kid me about it all the time.
“Now we’re seeing all sorts of different tools, maybe not designed for flipping but have made it much more efficient. Tungsten weights, punch skirts and braid have all had an effect on flipping.”
Although Klein is one of the most decorated anglers in the sport, he still hasn’t forgotten his roots.
“I’ll always be indebted to Dee because he let me get close to him and Dave [Gliebe]. He and flipping are why I was so successful. Dee has never received the credit he deserves.”
BASIL BACON
Another angler who was there almost from the start was Basil Bacon. Although Bacon wasn’t from California, he was lucky enough to have competed in the Bull Shoals event in ’75 – the event that Thomas won and put flipping on the map.
“I met Dee at the Bull Shoals event,” he said. “Dee didn’t come back much after that but [Dave] Gliebe did and that’s how I got to know Dave.
“Gliebe and I ended up at a PSI (Project Sports Inc.) event on Rend Lake in Illinois. There was a small grocery store in town and they had an attic above it where they sold beds for the night. Dave and I each rented a bed and that’s where we got acquainted.
“We’d been talking about flipping but nothing came of it.
“The first day of the tournament I did pretty well and was close to the leader. The second day I didn’t do too well and on the third day, I couldn’t even catch a fish. Dave came in with a sack and I think he won it.
“After that, we headed to Lake Cordell Hull in Tennessee. Before we left I asked him about the long pole and that I’d like to spend some time with him and learn about it.
“During practice, we had a thunderstorm roll through and we couldn’t fish. After it cleared I asked him to show me how to flip. He pulled the boat into the back of a cove and flipped this bog ole’ jig into some grass growing on the bank. I’m not talking emergent vegetation, I’m talking lawn-type grass on the shore that was flooded.
“He shook the jig a little and then flipped a 3-pounder in the boat. He ruined me.
“He showed me just enough to get me in trouble and it took me a year to figure out all the mechanics of it. Of course, I developed a lot of my own techniques during that time – as I still do.
“Until ’79 I had flipping all to myself in this part of the world,” he said. “Then at the Classic in ’79, Hank Parker, who didn’t know what flipping or a flipping stick was, got on it and won.
“Flipping was almost 100% of my fishing once I learned how to do it,” he said. “I lived with the theory of how fish position themselves on structure. Current, wind current, no wind, the shade, time of day – all that stuff. A lot of people would come up to a piece of cover and just throw at it. Then maybe they’d get closer and flip it.
“That wasn’t my approach at all. What I’d do is look the cover over, taking all the conditions into account, and then decide how and where I wanted to place my first flip. There was nothing haphazard about what I did. The first flip was the most important.”
Bacon wasn’t just a learner when it came to flipping, he was an innovator.
“Back when Dee and Dave [Myers] were coming back east, Dave showed me how to take the free spool release springs out of an Ambassadeur to make it a flipping reel,” he said. “After that, I’d do the same but always thought there was a better way.
“Gary Klein was following me all over the country at the time and we came to my house here in Springfield [MO]. We were talking and I said, ‘There are too many times we’re flipping and we want the reel to be a casting reel. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a switch on the reel so it could do both?’ He thought it was a good idea too.
“I got a hold of a Langley, an Ambassadeur and a Diawa Millionaire, took them apart and made the parts for a flipping switch for each of them. The Ambassadeur was the best of the bunch.
“I took the reel to Johnny Morris – we’ve been friends since before he opened Bass Pro Shops – and it tripped his trigger. We worked out a deal that we could share and then we went to Ambassadeur (ABU) with it. They were the first to pick up on it in ‘80-‘81. We never patented the idea but sold it to ABU.”
Bacon not only invented the flipping switch, he also had his hands in the development of baits.
“The jigs I used back then were primarily Gary’s Weapon Jig,” he said. “There were a couple of things I thought could be improved on it so I went to a friend, Al Dunning, who had been bugging me to design a jig for him. We designed the jig and it became the Basil Bacon Super Jig manufactured by Al-Ron Lures.
“The jig was designed to come through wood, specifically wood here on Truman Reservoir,” he said. “The thing about Truman wood is one year the lake froze and then dropped two feet while still frozen. When that happened, the trees broke in a downward fashion at it was tough to get a jig through. The design of my jig helped an angler get through it. Every angler who came to fish the lake would by my jigs because they worked.
“In the early days I primarily flipped the jig,” he said. “Then after Hank [Parker] won the Classic in 79, I started using plastics. I won a couple of tournaments using lizards and worms and then developed a bait called the Bacon Rind – one of the first creature baits.
“What drove me to that was the fact I didn’t like to flip tubes because I liked to fish deeper in the trash and the old tubes hung up a lot. The bait was designed like a tube but was solid and had tails and flappers. I’d take and rip the back tails off the bait and it fished just like a tube on the fall. It allowed me to fish heavier cover without getting hung up.”
Bacon feels today’s anglers are confused about what the technique really is.
“Most anglers today pitch instead of flip and that’s been one of the big misconceptions since the beginning. When I first started flipping, an angler by the name of Bill Ward came to me to talk about it. I showed him what I was doing and he said, ‘I do that with a spinning rig.’ What he was actually doing was pitching with a spinning rod.
“An angler who flips has more control than an angler pitching. That’s what is so critical about the technique. You have control of where the lure is going, control of the lure when it’s in the cover and, most importantly, control over the fish once you hook him. Pitchers don’t have this kind of control of the entire situation.”
Overall flipping was a learning process,” he said. “It was very good to me over the course of my career. The only problem was I should have fished other baits and techniques more. I was a diehard with the flipping stick.”
In all Bacon has won 11 big events with the big stick and finished second in the ’79 Classic on Texoma flipping.
In part three of this series, we’ll be talking with Hank Parker and Denny Brauer and how flipping helped their careers.
If we’ve piqued your interest and you’d like to read ahead, check out the rest of the story at Bass Fishing Archives with the link below:
MLF Toyota Series Southwestern Division Finale Set for Sam Rayburn Reservoir
BROOKELAND, Texas (May 11, 2023) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is set to return to Jasper, Brookeland and Sam Rayburn, next week, May 18-20, for the Toyota Series at Sam Rayburn Reservoir . Hosted by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Area Chamber of Commerce, the three-day tournament is the third and final regular-season event in the Toyota Series Southwestern Division.
The tournament will feature a roster of the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers competing for a top prize of up to $100,000 in the pro division and a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor in the co-angler division.
“I think this is going to be a great tournament. There is going to be a lot of fish caught, a lot of different ways,” said Bass Pro Tour angler Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, who won the season-opening Toyota Series event at Sam Rayburn Reservoir earlier this year. “The spawn is over, the shad should be spawning, and there’ll be some bluegill spawning. The lake is in really good shape right now.
“The water is a little up, so there should be plenty of water in the shallow bushes and the cypress trees,” Ebare continued. “There is a lot of hydrilla this year, and there will be some fish set up offshore in the brush piles. A guy can really pick his poison and go with it in this tournament.”
Fellow Bass Pro Tour angler Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, believes that offshore fish will be the key.
“There will be multiple ways that guys can catch fish – that’s what is so fun about this lake, you can fish pretty much any way you’d like and do well,” Faircloth said. “That being said, I believe this event will be won offshore with a big crankbait, a football jig, a big swimbait – something like that.”
Both anglers agreed that big crankbaits – Strike King 6XDs and 10XDs – would be strong. Ebare mentioned that he’d also have a Strike King Sexy Dawg tied on for the early topwater bite, while Faircloth hinted that he’d be throwing a 1-ounce Strike King Slither Rig around the outside edges of the grass.
“Rayburn is really hard to predict – three good days with good weather and it could easily take 68 to 70 pounds,” Ebare said. “But the weather and the conditions always make a huge difference, so you never know. I think it’ll take at least 60 pounds to win the event next week.”
“I think a guy is going to have to average right around 22 (pounds) a day to be in contention at the end,” Faircloth went on to say.
After two regular-season events in the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Southwestern Division, pro Todd Castledine of Nacogdoches, Texas, leads the Southwestern Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 508 points, while Justin Swayze of Gurdon, Arkansas, leads the Strike King Co-angler Division AOY race with 508 points.
Anglers will take off each day at 6:30 a.m. CT from the Umphrey Family Pavilion, located at 5438 Sam Rayburn Parkway in Brookeland. Weigh-ins will also be held at the marina and will begin at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend and encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of $40,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of $65,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard (valued at $33,500) plus $5,000 cash.
The 2023 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2024. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2023 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 2-4 on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, and is hosted by ExploreBranson.com.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Toyota Series include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Black Rifle Coffee Company, E3, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Gill, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Next Gen Lithium, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Frogs and falling water at stingy Lay Lake
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Bassmaster Elite Series pros will face their biggest challenge of the 2023 season thus far when competition kicks-off Thursday at the Whataburger Elite Series tournament on Lay Lake, Alabama.
The 12,000-surface acre Coosa River impoundment simply isn’t a hawg factory like Okeechobee, Seminole, Murray, or Santee, and with water levels falling slightly, the challenge gets even bigger.
Team Toyota’s Matt Arey says with so much focus on the shallow emergent water willow vegetation along the shoreline, a couple inches in decreased water levels at Lay Lake is comparable to the water dropping a foot in two days on other bass fisheries, but topwater frogs and swim jigs still remain the major players.
“There’s a shad spawn happening here, and that’s going to be a major factor in this tournament, so the famous swim jig in the water willow pattern on Lay is still a big deal even thoughthe water has fallen 6-inches during practice,” explains Arey.
He alternates between a 5/16-ounce and a 3/8-ounce white swim jig depending on the depth of the water around the water willow vegetation, and the frog becomes a strong one-two punch combination in situations where the vegetation is a little less thick.
“I’m going to guess 11 or 12 pounds a day on Thursday and Friday will get you into the cut, and if you can average 14 pounds a day here, you’ll most certainly make it to Sunday’s Top 10,” predicts Arey.
So, while the first four events have been full of Triple Meat Whataburgers, this week at Lay might be filled with several sacks of Justaburgers from the kid’s menu, and sometimes tight weight events such as this are the most dramatic and fun to watch.
Bassinova Baits Forms Strategic Partnership With Boing Lures
Two great American-made lures with premium components joining forces
May 10, 2023
Tod Costello, the owner of Idaho’s Bassinova Baits, and Jason Yocum, the owner of Indiana’s Boing Lures, have announced a strategic partnership that will see the two companies collaborate on multiple lures and other projects going forward, starting with a Frog Head Buzzbait that will be available shortly.
“After working as an electrician for 30 years, I realized that there was enough demand to make Bassinova a full-time job to compete on a national level,” Costello said. “My lures are labor-intensive. Each one is built by hand, not on a production line, and all of our components are American-made. That’s important to me and I know it’s important to Jason, so we’ve teamed up to better utilize our respective talents and networks.”
Bassinova, then based in California, started off with Earthshaker Bladed Jigs in August of 2010 and they remain the company’s flagship product. A distinctive bent blade allows them to operate consistently and effectively whether slow-rolled or burned at warp speed. The company powder paints each blade by hand to ensure that it meets their exacting standards, and the lures, available in five sizes from ¼ ounce to a full ounce, are available in paint schemes and skirt patterns tailored to highly specific forage types and water conditions. Customers are also invited to reach out to develop custom patterns, including multiple color heads and distinctive or thicker skirts, all for a price lower than many more well-known brands.
In recent years, Costello has extended his lineup to include various types of jigs, all of which are similarly hand-built with exceptional attention to detail. That’s what attracted Yocum to the partnership.
“Through my years with Boing developing topwater lures, I’ve always placed a premium on being distinctive and different, while also ensuring that each product is best in class,” he said. “I saw a similar spirit in Tod, and I knew that not only were our values aligned, but that we could push each other to produce new gear that would resonate with demanding anglers.”
As noted above, the Buzzbait will be available soon, and additional products should follow shortly thereafter. Boing Lures are available at Tackle Warehouse and many leading online and brick-and-mortar outlets. While Bassinova’s products are currently only available through the company’s website – where a personal touch remains their hallmark – that should change in the near future as the direct result of this partnership.
Bassmaster panel upholds Poche's Toledo Bend disqualification
May 10, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. officials announced today that, after an extensive investigation and appeals process, Keith Poche's Day 1 catch disqualification from the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Toledo Bend has been upheld.
The disqualification was handed down based on a violation of Rule 15 of the Bassmaster Opens Series rules, which reads in part: "Boats must remain in tournament waters during tournament days. Competitors must leave from and return to official checkpoints by boat. Anglers must remain in the boat at all times except in case of dire emergency or with permission from the Tournament Director."
Poche’s appeal was heard today by a three-person panel which included a Bassmaster College Series angler and Bassmaster Opens angler — neither of whom competed in the 2023 Toledo Bend Open — and a B.A.S.S. employee who is not part of the Tournament Department.
Big Bass Tour - Berkley Lake Breakdown - Best Baits for Chickamauga
By Pete Robbins
Here’s the bottom line for the mid-May Big Bass Tour at Lake Chickamauga – don’t expect to win it all with a bass in the 7-pound range.
A bass that size might earn an hourly check, even a good one, but it’s not going to take all the marbles. The question is how much bigger you’ll have to go to earn the top prize. It’s been three years since we’ve seen a 10-pounder at the “Chick,” but in both 2018 and 2020 there were three of them brought to the scales, so not even double digit fish are unthreatened. This is one event where you’ll want to bring your “A” game. It’ll take a minimum of 7-plus pounds to sneak into the top ten, and the top five are almost always at least 8 pounds. Some years, like 2018 through 2020, it takes a 9-pound beast just to crack the top five.
Local pro Casey Majni said that it’s “been such a weird year,” with up and down swings in the weather patterns, but that can be a feature, not a bug. There will be more fish on more different patterns, making Chickamauga fish much bigger than its 21,000 acres.
“I would honestly look for a big one on the bed, especially if we get some sun,” he explained. “The big first wave is already done, but another wave is coming up, and I’m sure there will be at least an 8 in it, possibly a 10.”
He’d focus on the backs of main lake pockets and in the far ends of major creeks, trying to find water that’s clear enough to make out the bedding fish, but with enough tinge to make them less spooky.
“If I couldn’t see them, I’d throw a black and blue Berkley Powerbait Maxscent Creature Hawg to where I think the bed might be,” he said. “If I can see them I’d use that Shape 108 craw. I’d start off by pestering them with a natural color like Green Pumpkin, then switch to white and keep going until the ate it.” If that pattern’s not to your liking, or conditions don’t allow it to work, he said that there will also be a shad spawn going on.
“I love looking for it around the face of the dams, riprap and the locks,” he said. “And also on trees right off the main channel. It’s a little bit different every year, but as a rule I tend to prefer the riprap because it’s all open in front. You don’t have to worry about getting your baits inside the trees.” He’d use various moving baits to exploit this opportunity, including a shad-colored Berkley Swim Jig with a matching Powerbait Crash Craw, and also a spinnerbait, especially if there’s a bit of wind. He’s been whacking fish on early iterations of the new Berkley Cull Shad swimbait and also the Berkley Stunna jerkbait. Those multiple hooks keep slashing fish pinned up.
If the water dirties up due to rain or inflow, he’d put a jig or the Creature Hawg in his hand, attached to a 5/16 to ½ ounce weight, and pitch to every submerged stumps he could barely see. Sometimes, stealth is the best way to catch a big girl who’s just moved up, or one who’s hanging around before heading off to her summer haunts.
This tournament, as always, promises to be a slugfest, and it’ll take a stout fish to even claim hourly money, which makes strategy all that much more important. Pay attention to the live leaderboard, and since this is a comparatively small venue, be judicious about when you make the run in to weigh your prized Chickamauga bass.
Lay Lake is loaded with treasured memories for Swindle
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Team Toyota’s Gerald Swindle sat floating on the front deck of his boat at iconic Beeswax Boat Ramp after a long day of practice Tuesday wearing a heartfelt grin as he recounted 30 years of treasured memories on Lay Lake, one after another, like the steady flow of the Coosa River behind him.
“Lay is where we’d come to fish when we’d get rained-out back when I was still working as a house framer with my Uncle Jimmy and Dan Hayes,” recalls Swindle.
“The three of us spent a ton of rainy days backing a boat into that current up in the river, and I was always the guy that got picked to ride the trolling motor, trying to keep us from drifting too fast downstream. There was no such thing as Spot-Lock on a trolling motor back in 1992,” laughs Swindle.
Laughter has always been a core quality for Swindle, so much so, he admits he and his young buddies would arrive extra early to tournaments at Paradise Point on Lay just to laugh at the stories older fellas like Tim Cornelius would tell while drinking coffee around the marina boat ramp before blast-off.
“Heck, I didn’t even drink coffee back then, I just wanted to hang out and laugh at all their funny stories,” he admits.
The laughter never disappeared, but before long it became apparent Swindle was a serious threat in local tournaments when he and his 6’ 10” buddy, Jason Crain won a big Airport Marine tournament on Lay by drifting heavy ¾-ounce jigs in the current up lake.
“We would literally bring a sack full of nothing but ¾-ounce jigs back then, and spend all day drifting them in the current. I still love doing that, and I love just seeing all the places here where I have memories tied to certain fish-catches. Like the time I had a 7-pounder hooked along some rip-rap, and my buddy Crain couldn’t net it because he was fishing with a broken hand that day,” smiles Swindle.
Of course, Swindle also participated in the well-known Mark’s Outdoors Lay Lake Open held once each year that attracts hundreds of teams that compete not only for prize money, but also truckloads of free fishing equipment. As time progressed, Swindle went from a local participant to one of the featured celebrity pro anglers who always attend to mingle with amateur anglers and represent sponsors.
But perhaps his favorite memory on Lay Lake is tied to family, and their participation in a mid 1990s Red Man tournament.
“I’ll never forget it. It was me, my dad, brother Ernie, and brother Tony all piled into one cheap hotel room the night before the tournament, and I’ll be danged if we didn’t sleep-in and wake up in a panic to get to the launch in time,” he recalls.
“But the funniest part of all, was Tony literally being fully dressed, and waiting on the rest of us out in the truck, in under two minutes. I swear he had to sleep in his clothes, because I’m not sure it was humanly possible to get ready that fast,” laughs Swindle.
One thing becomes apparently obvious when you listen to Swindle tell stories about his many times on Lay Lake. It’s not about the fishing so much, it’s more about the people with whom he shared time on the water.
“I grew up an hour and twenty minutes from Lay, but I swear I wore out four sets of truck tires on I-65 coming down here to fish over the years,” he smiles.
Certainly nothing would punctuate a book full of treasured memories on this Coosa River impoundment more than for the lanky former house-framer to collect his first Elite Series win here, especially with a number of potentially rainy days forecasted during the four-day competition.
Seat of your pants
Wire-to-wire BASS Northern Opens winner Powell Kemp talks about his win on Buggs Island and how it also lead to another win on the day after the tournament
Catch live coverage of the Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake
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Workmanlike Blade
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EGO’s new Kryptek Fillet Knife is destined to be your new workhorse. |
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Caldwell, ID (May 9, 2023) – Fillet knife prices are all over the board. There are culinary-grade options pushing two hundred bucks. Inversely, you’re confronted with questionable options floating around five-bucks, and a whole slew between twenty and a hundred bucks. What’s an angler to do? EGO Fishing has an answer. The new Kryptek Fillet Knifegoes for around twenty bucks and blends a cutlery quality blade with workmanlike design to be the ultimate go-to fillet knife. The multi-purpose Kryptek Fillet Knife features a titanium coated blade, preventing corrosion, which is especially important in saltwater environments. It’s rubberized No-Slip-Grip keeps the knife in your hands in the slippery situation that is filleting fish. EGO’s Kryptek Fillet Knife comes standard with a poly sheath to protect the edge, as well as your hands. And with an 11.5-inch blade, it manages wide ranging fish species and sizes. Make kitchen drawer space for the new EGO Kryptek Fillet Knife. Might want to keep one in the boat, too, |
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FEATURES:
MSRP $19.99 |
Travel Tuesday Extra - Hooked On: Bonefish
In keeping with our Travel Tuesday theme, check out this recent Costa | Films project! The scenery is first class, the fishing looks amazing, and the video production...well, see it for yourself! IF you're like us, you can feel the sun and taste the salt after this short story! It's got us thinking about a different kind of fishing trip...you know...to #SeeWhatsOutThere
MLF Bass Pro Tour Toro Stage Four Presented by Bass Cat Boats Set for Lake Guntersville
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (May 9, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF) and the Bass Pro Tour, showcasing the top anglers in the sport of professional bass fishing, is set to visit Guntersville, Alabama, and Lake Guntersville next week, May 16-21, for the fourth regular-season event of the 2023 Bass Pro Tour season – the Toro Stage Four at Lake Guntersville Presented by Bass Cat Boats.
The six-day tournament, hosted by Marshall County Tourism & Sports, will feature a field of 80 professional anglers, including bass-fishing superstars like Kevin VanDam, REDCREST 2023 Champion Bryan Thrift, reigning back-to-back Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) Jacob Wheeler, Jordan Lee, and Guntersville’s own Boyd Duckett, Randy Howell, Chris Lane, Justin Lucas, Fletcher Shryock and Jacob Wall. They’ll be competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
Although Lake Guntersville has hosted hundreds of professional level bass tournaments over the years, this event will mark the first time that the MLF Bass Pro Tour has visited Alabama’s largest lake.
“We are extremely excited here in Marshall County to be hosting the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour at Lake Guntersville and Civitan Park,” said Katy Norton, President of Marshall County Tourism & Sports. “Lake Guntersville’s natural beauty provides the best venue for bass fishing in the country, and the economic impact that this event will provide is fantastic for our local community. We’re thrilled to showcase the best fishing and all that our area has to offer to a national audience.”
“There were some down years between 2016-19, but it’s been getting better every year,” said local pro Randy Howell. “The grass is healthy and there have been some really good spawns. The lake is full of 2- to 4-pound fish right now. It’s as good as it’s been in 10 years or longer.”
With the lake fishing well and the event held during an excellent time of year, Howell expects big things from his adopted home lake.
“Boy, the fish are going to be biting,” Howell said. “What’s good about this time of year is you will be able to catch them however you want to, there will be some fish shallow and some out deeper already. It will be an event where everything seems to be working.”
Anglers will launch each day at 7:30 a.m. CT each day from the Guntersville Civitan Park, located at 1130 Sunset Drive in Guntersville. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the launch locations, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
As part of the event, on Saturday, May 20 and Sunday, May 21 the MLF Fan Experience will be taking place at Civitan Park in Guntersville from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate fishing and the outdoors with concerts in the park, hosted by Explore Lake Guntersville, featuring JUICE on Saturday and Jackson Chase on Sunday. Food and drinks will be available from local food trucks and fans can check out the latest gear and offerings from MLF and MLF sponsors including Toyota, Favorite Fishing, Kubota, U.S. Air Force, and The Fallen Outdoors. On Sunday, fans can hang out and watch the pros live on the MLF NOW! big screen during the MLF Watch Party. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and take selfies.
The Toro Stage Four at Lake Guntersville Presented by Bass Cat Boats will feature pros competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with each angler’s five (5) heaviest bass per day tallied as their day’s weight. Anglers strive to catch their heaviest five fish each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the live scoring SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, fishing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship, held March 13-17, 2024, on Lay Lake in Birmingham, Alabama.
The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top 20 anglers from each group advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Sunday’s final day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Toro Stage Four at Lake Guntersville Presented by Bass Cat Boats will air as two, two-hour episodes starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 7 and Saturday, Oct. 14 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG + Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Dakota Lithium signs on as new Bassmaster Rookie of the Year sponsor
May 9, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Dakota Lithium, a U.S. battery manufacturer founded in 2008 and the Official Lithium Battery of Bassmaster, has expanded its partnership with B.A.S.S. and will serve as the title sponsor for the hotly contested Bassmaster Rookie of the Year award through 2025.
“Powering the future of fishing, one battery at a time,” said Craig Storms, Dakota Lithium national sales representative and pro staff manager. “Dakota Lithium is a proud sponsor of Bassmaster's Rookie of the Year race, where the best and brightest anglers rise to the top, just like our high-performance lithium batteries.”
The 2023 Elite Series rookie class is already making a huge impact. In just the second event of the season, Joey Cifuentes III took home a win on Lake Seminole, while the other rookies have already amassed 10 Top 20 finishes. After four events, Bryant Smith of Roseville, Calif., leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 300 points, but he holds just a one-point advantage over David Gaston of Sylacauga, Ala.
Along with the coveted Rookie of the Year title, the winner will take home a $10,000 prize.
“We’re excited that Dakota Lithium has decided to encourage and reward up-and-coming anglers on the Bassmaster Elite Series by sponsoring Rookie of the Year,” said Lisa Talmadge, Bassmaster Elite Series tournament director. “The 11 rookies who qualified for the Bassmaster Elite Series this year are incredibly strong and include veteran Opens competitors, a highly decorated and successful college angler, celebrated international competitors and even a former Bassmaster Junior champion.”
Earlier this year, Dakota Lithium signed a three-year sponsorship deal for the Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year award. In addition to entitling the Kayak Series Angler of the Year and Elite Series Rookie of the Year points races, Dakota Lithium also serves as a premier sponsor of the six-circuit Bassmaster Tournament Trail and iconic Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic.
John Cox and Keith Carson Realize Childhood Dream By Finishing 1st & 2nd in MLF Invitational
Abu Garcia and Berkley Pros John Cox and Keith Carson have dreamt of fishing professionally their whole lives and with their first and second-place finishes at the Major League Fishing Tackle Warehouse Invitational, their dreams became a reality.
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (May 9, 2023) – When the MLF Invitational at Lake of the Ozarks was scheduled for early May, both Cox and Carson had it circled on their calendars. Both anglers have proven to be deadly anytime the bass get shallow, but even more so when the event can be won sight fishing. Since growing up together in Debary, Florida, learning and honing their fishing skills, the multi-tour pros have been working for this moment their entire lives.
Cox, winning his ninth MLF event with this victory, arrived at Lake of the Ozarks with only a day and a half of practice time remaining. After struggling to settle in with tournament boats and locals virtually in every part of the lake he chose to fish, Carson clued his travel partner into the area which eventually led to the duo earning a combined $130,000 for their efforts.
“I was stressing out a little but like the Abu Garcia commercial, Keith told me to ‘relax and go fish on the other side of the lake’ from where he was fishing.” laughed Cox. “So I went to the other side and just went fishing. I noticed the beds were few and far between where I was and I think it kept a lot of other boats out of my area; I was able to settle in and try to catch five.”
Cox started strong on day one boating a limit of 20 pounds, 1 ounce, added 18 pounds, 4 ounces on day two, and caught a final-day limit of 17 pounds, 9 ounces to take the victory by just over a pound. The victory was bittersweet as Cox was excited to have qualified for Redcrest, but disappointed that it came down to him and Carson.
"Keith is my buddy; I was hoping he would win. We both want each other to do well every time,” said Cox. “It felt great to win this event and to get back to Redcrest. Keith and I got to do what we grew up doing (click link for video) and we had a blast.”
With the lack of dirty water in the area, Cox relied on finesse techniques to trick spawning bass and fry guarders each day. His main setup was a John Cox Abu Garcia Pro Series rod paired with an Abu Garcia Zenon spinning reel. He opted for a Berkley FireLine main line with a 10-pound-test Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbonleader. He rotated between two soft plastics to catch the majority of his bigger bass - a wacky-rigged PowerBait® MaxScent The General and a PowerBait® Power® Jerk Shad.
Carson Overcomes Day One to Finish Second
Despite being one fish shy of a limit on day one with his 14 pounds, 15 ounces, Keith Carson added 20 pounds, 12 ounces on day two, and 19 pounds, 2 ounces on the final day to finish just over a pound behind Cox.
While Cox was fishing up the river on the afternoon of the second day of practice, Carson was fishing near the dam and locating lots of spawning bass. Wanting Cox to do well in the event, he convinced him to spend a portion of the final day sight fishing and it paid off.
"Cox got sucked into the river; neither of us had been here before and with the amount of docks on this lake, it was tough to scout using google earth,” said Carson. “I found over 100 bass on beds early in practice and knew what I was going to do. Cox found some big fish on the last day and he just went with it.”
Like Cox, Carson effortlessly executed his sight fishing plan all week to put himself in contention after two days of competition. Sitting in fourth, while Cox led, the two Florida anglers knew they both had a shot going into Saturday.
"I never settled in on day one of the tournament and it ultimately cost me the victory,” added Carson. “I tried to catch only big fish and was one short of the limit. Cox and I both knew whoever caught 20 pounds on day three would win and while neither of us ended up doing it, we were able to fish how we like and finished one, two in a major event; it was amazing.”
Carson rotated between a main spinning combo and a main casting combo to catch all of his bass. For the 5-inch PowerBait® MaxScent The General, Carson used a John Cox Abu Garcia Pro Series rod paired with an Abu Garcia Zenon spinning reel. He used a 6-pound Berkley FireLine main line with a 10-pound-test Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon leader.
"That was my main setup, but I also fished a casting combo,” said Carson. “It was a 7-foot, 6-inch medium-heavy action Abu Garcia Fantasista X rod, with an Abu Garcia Zenon MG-X reel and a 20-pound Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon line rigged with a PowerBait® Power® Jerk Shad.”
Travel Tuesday - Enjoy the Mexican Combo Plate
By Hanna Robbins - Half Past First Cast
As many of you may know, I am from Chicago. Up there, the word “Combo” refers to a very special high-calorie, high-fat sandwich -- an Italian sausage under thin-sliced roast beef, slow-cooked in garlic au jus, topped with spicy or sweet peppers, all on an Italian-style roll.
When I moved to the DC area 16 plus years ago, no one here seemed to have heard of the real combo. There’s plenty of good food here, but you’ll have to go to the Windy City if you want a true taste of the combo. That doesn’t really matter in our household, anyway. My sandwich days are pretty much behind me, and at our dinner table conversations aren’t about our workday, they aren’t about date night, they are about bass fishing.
“When is our next Anglers Inn bass fishing trip?”
“Which lake do we want to go to, Picachos or El Salto?”
I have a severe case of FOMO (fear of missing out) so it’s lucky that Anglers Inn provides the only “Combo” that matters at this stage of my life: Two similar but distinct lakes that both offer great service and great food, but which can fish differently on any given day.
If Anglers Inn is on your bucket list and you aren’t sure which lake to choose now you don’t have to, choose both.
The best of both worlds: three nights, and two and a half days at each location.
The “conventional wisdom” tells us that Lake El Salto is known for trophy bass and Lake Picachos is known for numbers.
That can be true, but it’s not always the case. My largest bass was a 9 pound 12 ounce bass out of Lake Picachos and Pete and I have caught 103 fish off one spot in an afternoon at Lake El Salto.
Neither lake will disappoint.
What more can you ask for?
If that’s not incentive enough for you, I’ll present you with a special challenge: Try to one-up my personal best day of fishing. On one day in May of 2014, I caught a 9 pound 5 ounce bass at Lake El Salto in the morning and a 9 pound 12 ounce bug-eyed beast that same afternoon at Lake Picachos. Maybe you’ve caught two 9-pounders on the same day, but I doubt you’ve done it on two different lakes. That puts me in a special “combo club.”
Think of it as a double bucket list trip.
For any and all questions please contact me at [email protected]. Let’s get you to the lake…or lakes!
Cleanliness is Next to Godliness
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SRD20 adds Traditions Media to its promotional formulation, bringing public awareness to the company's novel and specialized marine care products. |
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Lafayette, LA (May 5, 2023) – It’s said that cleanliness is next to godliness. And, hypothetically, if you queried Neptune and Poseidon, they’d add boat cleanliness into the equation. Preferred by a growing legion of discerning boaters – and mythological aquatic gods – SRD20 boat washes, waxes, and protectants, represent the future of boat care. Like all great entrepreneurial stories, and many now famous brands and products, it all started in a garage. SRD20 founder and CM (Chief Mixologist) Stewart Delcambre made his mark in the oil business. “Small oil” compared to say Chevron or ExxonMobil, but big enough to fund his pursuit of developing boat care products that rivaled the automobile industry. In Delcambre’s mind, what was available and marketed to boaters lacked modern technology. |
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“I saw what was in the automobile world,” explained Delcambre. “Their base formulas were far superior to the marine industry. They were using nanotechnology. Those are ingredients at a micro level that have a big impact on the effectiveness of the final formula. I knew from the get-go that SRD20 would utilize nanotechnology.” Meanwhile, back in his garage laboratory, Delcambre began extensive testing with formula after formula he blended in collaboration with professional chemists – the highly educated dudes in lab coats. Sample after sample went out to his boating and fishing friends and family. They’d test the contents of mini bottles with handwritten labels and file reports. |
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Ultimately, his tester’s input combined with his own exhaustive analysis led to SRD20’s first release and flagship product, Graphene Ceramic Spray Coating and Protectant. More information to come about this unrivaled formula and others in the SRD20 product line. “Since moving part of our operation to coastal Texas, I’ve become acutely aware of the toll the marine environment can take on a boat,” said Traditions Media President and cofounder Noel Vick. “Baking sun and corrosive saltwater can age the aesthetics, surfaces, and hardware in a heartbeat. The number of faded and oxidized boats on rusty trailers I see is staggering. And, it doesn’t have to be that way.” Vick continues: “If only they knew how quick and easy it is to keep their boat clean and protected with SRD20 products. Our job is to share the SRD20 story and help more anglers and boaters realize that a small investment of time and money will protect their big investment…the boat.” |
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Pirowski Earns Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at the Potomac River
Driscoll Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
MARBURY, Md. (May 8, 2023) – Boater Alex Pirowski of Occoquan, Virginia, caught a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Potomac River . The tournament, hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners, was the third event of the season for the BFL Shenandoah Division. Pirowski earned $5,607 for his victory.
“I ran into Belmont Bay, a creek in the middle of the river, and jumped around to a few key areas I had found about a week ago,” said Pirowski. “I slowed down, fished Yamamoto Senkos and Z-Man ChatterBaits and just grinded through it.”
Pirowski said he targeted both grass and hard bottom in search of bass, and also caught a few off of docks. Most of his bass came shallow, in 2 to 4 feet of water. Pirowski said his efforts produced 12 keepers throughout the day.
“It has been taking 19½ pounds lately to even cash a check,” Pirowski said. “I thought I might end up getting some money back, but I never thought I had a chance at winning. So, this feels great. My friend and I have been putting some good hours in on the river, so to see it come together with a big win just feels really good.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Alex Pirowski, Occoquan, Va., five bass, 18-2, $5,607
2nd: Myles Paugh, Aurora, W.V., five bass, 16-13, $2,436
3rd: Mike Morris, Dover, Del., five bass, 16-9, $1,380
3rd: Zachary Stoupa, Prince George, Va., five bass, 16-9, $1,380
5th: Mike Hicks, Goochland, Va., five bass, 16-0, $893
5th: Jim Jarvis, Timberville, Va., five bass, 16-0, $893
5th: Roy Dixon, Welcome, Md., five bass, 16-0, $893
8th: Brad Melton, Manassas, Va., five bass, 15-15, $731
9th: John Duarte, Middle River, Md., five bass, 15-11, $1,670 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
10th: Trevor Holman, Durham, N.C., five bass, 15-10, $768
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Pirowski also caught the largest bass of the day that weighed 5 pounds, 1 ounce, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $735.
Thomas Driscoll of Annandale, Virginia, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,436 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 15 pounds, 6 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Thomas Driscoll, Annandale, Va., five bass, 15-6, $2,436
2nd: David Williams, Fredericksburg, Va., five bass, 15-2, $1,568
3rd: Brandon Miskell, Vienna, Va., five bass, 14-12, $814
4th: Curtis Vick, Boydton, Va., five bass, 13-14, $768
5th: Tyrone Adams, Jr., Fredericksburg, Va., five bass, 13-11, $487
6th: David Deciucis, Chester, Va., five bass, 13-10, $447
7th: Safulla Rana, Warrenton, Va., five bass, 13-8, $406
8th: Tim Sunderman, Chesapeake, Va., five bass, 13-7, $365
9th: Matt Stoupa, Prince George, Va., five bass, 13-5, $325
10th: Justin Faison, South Prince George, Va., five bass, 12-13, $284
Danny Crickenberger, Jr., of Charlottesville, Va., earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $367, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 2 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After three events, Zachary Stoupa of Prince George, Virginia, leads the BFL Shenandoah Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 727 points, while David Deciucis of Chester, Virginia, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 728 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Norman in Huntersville, North Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
FATHER AND SON WIN BIG ON AN EVEN BIGGER DAY ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE
CLEWISTON, FL – Imagine it’s tournament day and the bite is on fire. You’re catching them on top, flipping, casting — they’re eating everything. You’re culling 4 and 5 pounders and you’re picturing your name on the big check. You take your bag to the stage and it tips the scales at almost 30 pounds. Usually that’s cause for celebration. Wait. That doesn’t even crack the top 20? What?! That was the story of the day on Lake Okeechobee for the first qualifier of the 2023 Roland Martin Marine Center Series presented by HUK on May 6, 2023.
One monster bag after another hit the stage in Clewiston. A recent tournament on Lake Okeechobee posted a top 11 weighing in over 30 pounds. Impressive, but the leaderboard on Saturday afternoon passed that after only a third of the 177 teams had weighed in. Another one. Another one. Somebody get the Guinness people on the phone.
Weights that would win most tournaments received nothing more than a ‘thanks for playing’ as the top-heavy leaderboard kept going. When the last team weighed in, the top-20 teams had weighed in limits over 30 pounds. 20 teams! An even more ridiculous number is that 66 teams had 20-pound plus limits. A Florida record for sure and a mark that hasn’t been hit in a very long time in the tournament fishing world.
Why stop there? Let’s give this unbelievable story and an even more surprising hero. Let’s celebrate the youngest competitor in the field, 11-year-old Tavyn Heisler that shared the boat with his dad and the winning check for $6,500.
The father and son team of Preston and Tavyn Heisler out weighed all the heavy weights with a winning weight of 36.82 pounds.
“It was an amazing day,” said the proud father after sharing the day with his son. “I’m still shaking and I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
“I was netting at the start,” said the younger Heisler. “But toward the end I caught an 8-pounder.”
Since Tevyn hasn’t been doing this long enough and probably told not to lie, he had no problem sharing his bait of choice — a black and blue Chatterbait. Their success came from the North and the reward was the Champion’s check.
The 2nd place team featured a familiar duo that came just ounces from the winner’s circle. Gary Milicevic and Barrett Ringstaff weighed in 36.19 pounds that earned them $3,250 for 2nd place finish.
“We had so many big fish on today that we lost,” admitted Milicevic when asked if they ever had the winning fish on. “I broke a rod. Barrett broke a rod. We probably culled 25 pounds today.”
In third place was another familiar team to the series leaderboard. Jeff Kaulbars and Donny Bass weighed in 35.36 pounds to round out the top three and earned $2,150.
“We were throwing back 5 and 6 pounders,” said Bass. “I’ve been fishing this lake for many, many years and this was probably one of the top three or four days I’ve ever had here.”
That was a constant theme coming from the stage as angler after angler threw out superlatives, expletives, best-day-ever, etc. They may not have come out on top, but they were part of a day that doesn’t come around too often.
As the highest paying team tournament trail in Florida, the payouts continued deep into the 177 team field to make the day even more memorable.
The U.S. Sugar Big Bass and $500 went to Steve Broughton with 8.69 pound bass while the 2nd Big Bass of 8.48 earned the team of Ray Ruiz and Ryan Tran $100 Gambler Bucks. The highest finishers crossing the stage in HUK Gear earned the winning Heisler team an additional $250 on top of the Champion’s check. Bruiser Baits added another $150 to Team Heisler as the top team. Jenna Vlaar received $100 from Mary Ann Martin as the highest fishing Female Angler. Gilbert Chevrolet presented the Ron Veale $250 as the highest finishing Gilbert Chevrolet owner. And representing the upside down (smile), the team of John Tavano and Ernie Johnson turned the smallest limit of 4.92 pounds into $300 from AV Inspection.
It was quite a day on Lake Okeechobee that will be talked about (no lying necessary) for a long time. You might want to print out the leaderboard and frame it since days like this don’t come around very often. But then again, Qualifier #2 of the 2023 Season is June 10th. Stranger things have happened. We’ll see you then.
Hulsey Edges Field for Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Table Rock Lake
Bechard Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
KIMBERLING CITY, Mo. (May 8, 2023) – Boater Bryan Hulsey of Troy, Missouri, caught a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 13 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Table Rock Lake. The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Ozark Division. Hulsey earned $4,720 for his victory.
“My morning started off really slow,” said Hulsey. “I had a 4½-pounder in the first 20 minutes, but I couldn’t get a bite in my primary area, so I kind of just bounced around looking for bites.”
Hulsey said he searched for bites with a Crock-O-Gator Swamp Bug where bluffs transitioned to pea gravel in 3 to 7 feet of water, but only had only two keepers by noon. He then returned to his primary area to find more bites.
“It was like somebody had just flipped a switch,” Hulsey said. “Not only did I catch them, but my co-angler (winner Ryan Bechard) caught them, too.
“I was pretty nervous at noon,” Hulsey added. “I know from past experience that you just keep your head down and give it 100 percent. If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.”
Hulsey said he wasn’t confident in his weight, even after taking the lead, and was waiting for another angler to weigh a 20- to 21-pound sack. The big bag never came.
“This win is pretty special,” Hulsey said. “To come away with the win and qualify for the Regional … what a surprise. It’s one of those things you just don’t expect to happen.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Bryan Hulsey, Troy, Mo., five bass, 17-13, $4,720
2nd: Anthony Johnson, Excelsior Springs, Mo., five bass, 17-2, $3,055
3rd: Quenten Reed, Osage Beach, Mo., five bass, 16-7, $1,574
4th: Brock Bolden, Rogers, Ark., five bass, 16-1, $1,601 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
5th: Tyler Stuart, Fenton, Mo., five bass, 15-10, $944
6th: Eric Olliverson, Lampe, Mo., five bass, 15-9, $865
7th: Wesley Rogers, Thayer, Mo., five bass, 15-2, $747
7th: Aaron Stanphill, Bella Vista, Ark., five bass, 15-2, $747
9th: Dustin Lippe, Blue Eye, Mo., five bass, 14-13, $1,099
10th: Bobby Shockley, Springfield, Mo., five bass, 14-12, $551
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Anthony Johnson of Excelsior Springs, Missouri, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 11 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $695.
Ryan Bechard of Hays, Kansas, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $3,307 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 16 pounds even.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Ryan Bechard, Hays, Kan., five bass, 16-0, $3,307
2nd: Eric Wright, Bella Vista, Ark., five bass, 14-1, $1,180
3rd: Corey Henderson, Fenton, Mo., five bass, 13-13, $787
4th: Travis McKee, Fayetteville, Ark., five bass, 13-1, $551
5th: Sam Box, Rogers, Ark., five bass, 11-13, $472
6th: Charles Coleman, Reeds Spring, Mo., five bass, 11-11, $433
7th: Tom Alsop, Overland Park, Kan., five bass, 11-10, $354
7th: D.J. Pugh, Overland Park, Kan, five bass, 11-10, $354
7th: Kirk Short, St. Clair, Mo., five bass, 11-10, $354
10th: Michael Shinstine, Springdale, Ark., five bass, 10-15, $275
Bechard also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $347, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 10 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Justin Luetkemeyer of Lake Ozark, Missouri, leads the BFL Ozark Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 914 points, while Ryan Bechard of Hays, Kansas, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 924 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 5-7 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Oklahoma. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Langton Flips His Way to Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Kentucky-Barkley Lakes
Mann Rides Hometown Water to Strike King Co-Angler Division Victory
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (May 8, 2023) – Boater Daniel Langton of Evansville, Indiana, caught a five-bass limit weighing 19 pounds, 10 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Kentucky-Barkley Lakes . The tournament, hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau, was the fourth event of the season for the BFL LBL Division. Langton earned $4,082 for his victory.
“I headed over to Barkley and flipped shallow all day,” said Langton. “I figured the full moon would make a fresh wave of spawning fish come up, since the water temperature is still pretty cool.”
Langdon said his tactic paid off well, and every bass he caught was either spawning or pre-spawn. He targeted isolated wood and bushes with a Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog, which produced seven keepers during the course of the day. He added the bass didn’t hit the bait as well in early, low-light conditions where bass would swipe at the bait and miss it.
“Once the sun popped out at 10:30, that was the game changer,” Langton said. “That’s when they started eating it really well.
“About noon I started culling,” Langton added. “Then I caught a big one that weighed 5-4 with about 10 minutes to go before I had to make the run back.”
Langton said the 5-4 bass came from a spot where he knew big fish lived and had stopped to flip a few bushes before heading to weigh-in. He said four bushes into the stop the big bass fell for the Fighting Frog.
“I really didn’t think I was going to win, because I had a 15-incher in my bag,” Langton said. “I think that’s about to change, because the fishery is coming back and getting a lot healthier, and we’re seeing a lot more 4- to 5-pound fish than we have been seeing.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Daniel Langton, Evansville, Ind., five bass, 19-10, $4,082
2nd: Adrian Urso, Union, Ky., five bass, 18-11, $2,041
3rd: Jordan Hartman, Murray, Ky., five bass, 17-4, $1,362
4th: Drew Morgan, Noblesville, Ind., five bass, 16-6, $952
5th: Scott McWaters, Clarksville, Tenn., five bass, 16-2, $1,036
6th: Drew Lynch, Paducah, Ky., five bass, 15-5, $748
7th: Gary Singleton, Dickson, Tenn., five bass, 14-11, $680
8th: Ray Barga, Benton, Ky., five bass, 14-7, $612
9th: Brian Futch, Herrin, Ill., five bass, 14-6, $1,044 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
10th: Richard Meuth, Henderson, Ky., five bass, 14-2, $476
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Edward Gettys of Dover, Tennessee, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $560.
Sam Mann of Gilbertsville, Kentucky, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,005 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 15 pounds even.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Sam Mann, Gilbertsville, Ky., five bass, 15-0, $2,005
2nd: Bernard Campos, Round Lake Beach, Ill., five bass, 13-6, $1,002
3rd: Ron Robinson, Pittsburg, Ill., five bass, 12-6, $668
4th: Cowboy Tidwell, Madisonville, Ky., four bass, 11-9, $468
5th: Marcus Mann, Benton, Ky., three bass, 10-15, $601
6th: Carl Oelker, Greenbrier, Tenn., five bass, 10-11, $368
7th: Sean O’Brien, McKenzie, Tenn., five bass, 10-6, $334
8th: Daren Tindle, Owensboro, Ky., four bass, 9-8, $301
9th: C.J. Canada, Kevil, Ky., three bass, 7-13, $267
10th: Philip Wright, Bedford, Ky., four bass, 7-6, $234
Michael Blumer of Louisville, Kentucky, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $275, catching a bass that weighed in at 3 pounds, 15 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Sam Moll of Hershey, Pennsylvania, leads the BFL LBL Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 975 points, while Sean O’Brien of McKenzie, Tennessee, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 957 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Suratt Claims Fourth BFL Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Pickwick Lake
Stephenson Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
FLORENCE, Ala. (May 8, 2023) – Boater Trent Suratt of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, caught a five-bass limit weighing 23 pounds, 8 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Pickwick Lake. The tournament, hosted by Florence-Lauderdale Tourism, was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Choo Choo Division. Suratt earned $4,127 for his victory.
Suratt won a Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournament at Lake Pickwick on April 1, and Saturday’s victory makes the fourth career BFL event he has won on Pickwick since 2019.
“I started out making a drift in what little current we had, and after the first drift I had five fish for right at 18 pounds,” said Suratt. “That was by 6:45 (a.m).
“I just kept beating that all day and finally lucked up and caught a big largemouth, and that was it,” Suratt added.
Suratt said he relied on a swimbait fished near rockpiles, in current below Wilson Dam, for his fish. Suratt said he caught a mix of 10 smallmouth and two largemouth during the tournament. He said he had fish located in another area, but those spots were only producing 2- to 3-pound fish.
“I said, ‘This isn’t going to do me any good,’” Suratt said. “So, I stuck with what was working, and then I caught the 5½-pound largemouth, and I knew I had a good bag then. I knew if somebody was going to beat me, they were going to have to catch them good.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Trent Suratt, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., five bass, 23-8, $4,127
2nd: Charlie Craycraft, Grant, Ala., five bass, 20-11, $2,984 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
3rd: Michael Hood, Winchester, Tenn., five bass, 15-12, $1,377
4th: Andrew Clayton, Westpoint, Tenn., five bass, 14-9, $963
5th: Jennings Earnest, Guin, Ala., five bass, 14-0, $825
6th: Westin Moss, Jasper, Tenn., five bass, 13-15, $757
7th: John Janick, Adams, Tenn., five bass, 13-10, $688
8th: Tim Macknair, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 13-9, $619
9th: Jordan Thompson, Hartselle, Ala., five bass, 13-0, $550
10th: Evan Horne, Tuscumbia, Ala., five bass, 12-10, $457
10th: Corey McMullen, Gurley, Ala., five bass, 12-10, $457
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Keith Miller of Chattanooga, Tennessee, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 12 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $575.
Justin Stephenson of Jasper, Alabama, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,351 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 18 pounds, 4 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Justin Stephenson, Jasper, Ala., five bass, 18-4, $2,351
2nd: Tanner Plumlee, Wildersville, Tenn., four bass, 11-0, $1,032
3rd: Deon Smith, Guntersville, Ala., four bass, 9-11, $688
4th: Neal Goulas, Madison, Ala., three bass, 8-7, $482
5th: Lewis Ritchie, Bogalusa, La., three bass, 7-13, $413
6th: Aaron Krieger, Robertsdale, Ala., three bass, 7-12, $378
7th: Alan Barrett, Cullman, Ala., two bass, 7-4, $344
8th: Nick Carter, Cartersville, Ga., three bass, 6-10, $310
9th: Joey Wright, Cullman, Ala., three bass, 6-5, $275
10th: Roderick Green, Columbia, Tenn., three bass, 5-9, $241
Stephenson also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $287, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 7 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Jordan Lee of Cullman, Alabama, leads the BFL Choo Choo Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 937 points, while Justin Stephenson of Jasper, Alabama, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 965 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 12-14 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Alabama. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Donaldson Grinds Out Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Kerr Lake
Hughes Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
HENDERSON, N.C. (May 8, 2023) – Boater Travis Donaldson of Cleveland, North Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 19 pounds even Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Kerr Lake . The tournament, hosted by the Vance County Tourism Development Authority, was the third event of the season for the BFL North Carolina Division. Donaldson earned $3,671 for his victory.
“If you had told me I’d catch 19 pounds out there today I would have called you a liar,” said Donaldson. “I’m telling you, it was a grind out there. I can’t believe I caught that bag.”
Donaldson, a self-proclaimed “river rat,” said that a couple of weeks ago he fished the upriver section of Kerr, and while he caught a number of fish, he couldn’t amass a solid weight. He returned upriver to practice for the BFL event, and after similar results decided to change tactics.
“I said, ‘I’m not doing this again,’” Donaldson said. “So, I ran to the Nutbush Bridge area.”
Donaldson said he began using his Garmin Livescope to search for bass under docks and keyed in on docks that held baitfish. That pattern would be the key to his success on tournament day.
“They were up shallow, and I was throwing a jig, and I immediately started catching them,” Donaldson said. “My first fish was a 5-pounder, and the day just went on from there. I lost a couple of fish, and it started getting in my head, but I continued to run the pattern. Everything I pulled up on had a 3- or 4-pounder on it.
“At the end of the day I pulled up to a spot close to the boat ramp, threw the jig, and saw a green flash,” Donaldson continued. “I set the hook and it was another 4-pounder. It did everything in its power to come off. I landed the fish and my co-angler said, ‘You just won this thing.’”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Travis Donaldson, Cleveland, N.C., five bass, 19-0, $3,671
2nd: David Cooke, Mooresville, N.C., five bass, 18-2, $1,835
3rd: Shawn Hammack, Gasburg, Va., five bass, 16-4, $2,194 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
4th: Rodney Bell, Salisbury, N.C., five bass, 15-2, $856
5th: Jeremy Talbert, Albemarle, N.C., five bass, 14-13, $734
6th: Kevin Chandler, New London, N.C., five bass, 14-9, $673
7th: Bradley Staley, Sophia, N.C., five bass, 14-2, $612
8th: Tyler Trent, Nathalie, Va., five bass, 13-15, $551
9th: Landon Whicker, Winston-Salem, N.C., five bass, 13-14, $789
10th: Brian Morgan, Maiden, N.C., five bass, 13-13, $428
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
John Wiese of Charlotte, North Carolina, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 11 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $470.
Mark Hughes of Lexington, North Carolina, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $1,816 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 12 pounds, 14 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Mark Hughes, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 12-14, $1,816
2nd: Bobby Henderson, Charlotte, N.C., five bass, 12-5, $1,308
3rd: Matthew Talbert, New London, N.C., five bass, 11-0, $606
4th: Justin Bach, Kannapolis, N.C., three bass, 10-11, $656
5th: Ty Cooke, Mooresville, N.C., five bass, 10-5, $363
6th: Wes House, Knightdale, N.C., five bass, 10-2, $333
7th: Jesse Jodon, Windber, Pa., five bass, 10-1, $303
8th: Samuel Jones, Fuquay Varina, N.C., five bass, 9-14, $272
9th: Teddy Drew, Gold Hill, N.C., five bass, 9-1, $242
10th: Jeff Luckadoo, Mount Holly, N.C., four bass, 9-0, $212
Justin Bach of Kannapolis, North Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $232, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 2 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After three events, David Cooke of Mooresville, North Carolina, leads the BFL North Carolina Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 723 points, while Matthew Talbert of New London, North Carolina, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 719 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 5-7 BFL Regional tournament on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Elshout & Price win over $20,000 with 24.26 lbs. Rambo & Clark win East AOY
1 MARTIN ELSHOUT
ABITA SPRINGS , LAMARK PRICE
RUSTON , LA5 7.63 24.26
$20,500.00 with Garmin Bonus 2 BENJAMIN GULETT
CONVERSE , LADUSTIN RIVERS
NOBLE , LA5 0 20.22
$1500.00 3 TATER REYNOLDS
FLORIEN , LAHAROLD MOORE
CALDWELL , TX5 0 19.75
$1100.00 4 CASEY WELDON
VIDOR , TXTERRY HOTARD
HEMPHILL , TX5 0 19.72
$1000.00 5 ANDRE MARTIN
MANY , LAJUSTIN MARTIN
MANY , LA5 0 19.68
$1000.00 6 MARSHALL HUGHES
HEMPHILL , TXCOLE STEWART
HEMPHILL , TX5 0 18.95
$900.00 7 COLBY HAND
SHREVEPORT , LATY HUMPHRIES
STONEWALL , LA5 0 18.47
$3,350.00 with Skeeter Bonus Cash 8 GENE BAGLEY
BEAUMONT , TXMITCH STEPHENSON
BEAUMONT , TX5 0 16.61
$1,800.00 with Skeeter Bonus Cash 9 TRENT MANUEL
IOWA , LAGEORGE GLASS
DERRIDER , LA5 0 16.60
$1,250.00 with Skeeter Bonus Cash 10 MATTHEW BOYT
CONVERSE , LAJENNIFER CARTER
CONVERSE , LA5 7.91 16.42
$1,400.00 with Big Bass and HUK Bonus 11 WILL CARSTENS
ALEXANDRIA , LAROSS BRYANT
ALEXANDRIA , LA5 0 16.13
$700.00 12 JONATHAN EDWARDS
HEMPHILL , TXBRENT EDWARDS
HEMPHILL , TX5 0 16.10
$700.00 13 LANE MASTERS
FISHER , LACODY PITT
ELMER , LA5 0 15.35
$700.00 14 NEIL MATHEWS
PORTER , TXJOEY HAINES
CARENCRO , LA5 0 15.34
$350.00 14 TRAVIS PITRE
HOUMA , LAHOWARD BEETZ JR
HOUMA , LA5 0 15.34
$350.00 16 JERE BICE
LAKE CHARLES , LAMICHAEL MCDONALD
IOWA , LA5 0 15.17
17 WILLIAM COPELAND
NEW BRAUNFELS , TX5 0 14.67
18 JIM ROBERTSON
HEMPHILL , TXROGER KIRBY
COLUMBIA , LA5 0 14.64
19 CHRIS BREAUX
LAKE CHARLES , LASCOTT BREAUX
IOWA , LA5 0 14.44
20 RUSTY CLARK
SAM RAYBURN , TXCORY RAMBO
ORANGE , TX5 0 14.43
21 BEAU LOUGHMAN
MANSURA , LAJARRED WILLIAMS
BUNKIE , LA5 0 14.20
22 ADAM DUNN
HOUSTON , TXJOSHUA WARE
NEW CANEY , TX5 0 14.07
23 JERAMY COLE
KENNARD , TXKENNY COLE
KENNARD , TX5 0 14.00
24 JOHN HRAPMANN
NATCHITOCHES , LAKEITH JENSCHKE
NATCHITOCHES , LA5 0 13.96
25 BUBBA NUGENT
POLLOCK , LAMATTHEW NUGENT
DRY PRONG , LA5 0 13.71
26 BUCKY CROWSON
LAFAYETTE , LABRET ROGERS
MIDLAND , TX5 0 13.66
27 CHRIS BEANE
LUMBERTON , TXRILEY HARRIS
ORANGE , TX5 0 13.64
28 LEE BROWN
LEESVILLE , LAIKE STEPHENS
LEESVILLE , LA5 0 13.51
29 HORACE FRAZIER
MANY , LAJAMES CARHEE
MANY , LA5 0 13.40
30 TODD JACKSON
SHREVEPORT , LA5 0 13.14
31 YARRI SCHREIBVOGEL
BROOKLAND , TX5 0 12.83
32 LARRY COTTEN JR
HUFFMAN , TXLARRY COTTEN
HUFFMAN , TX5 0 12.53
33 GLENN ROBERTSON
SHREVEPORT , LAJONATHAN SOLBERG
SHREVEPORT , LA5 0 11.47
34 JORDAN KNUTSON
SAINT CROIX FALLS , WIERIC KNUTSON
MOUNT OLIVE , IL5 0 11.00
35 CRAIG MASSEY
HOUSTON , TXSAM BORDON
GAUTIER , MS5 0 10.81
36 MASON MCCAIN
LAKE CHARLES , LADOUG MCCAIN
LAKE CHARLES , LA5 0 10.71
37 ROBERT MORE
LEESVILLE , LAJERRY COUTEE
MONTGOMERY , LA2 0 9.42
38 JOSEPH DUHON
SULPHUR , LASTEPHANIE DUHON
SULPHUR , LA5 0 8.54
39 GREG MUSGROVE
BASTROP , LAMICHAEL MUSGROVE
BASTROP , LA3 0 6.47
40 DOUG POSEY
ORANGE , TXDAKOTA POSEY
ORANGE , TX3 0 6.36
41 PHILLIP MATTERN
WILLIS , TXDANNY CANTU
HOUSTON , TX3 0 5.51
42 RICHARD FAULKNER
SHREVEPORT , LAWENDE FAULKNER
BROADDUS , TX1 0 3.52
43 DONALD DICKENS
MONTGOMERY , TXWILLIE DICKENS
BAYTOWN , TX1 0 2.69
44 CHRISTOPHER KUYKENDALL
SEVEN POINTS , TXBLAKE SWILLING
MABANK , TX1 0 2.33
45 SAMUEL ROE
SPRINGFIELD , LA1 0 2.14
46 GREG OSTERTAG
BOGATA , TX0 0 0.00
46 MIKE PERKINS
DALLAS , TXSTAN GERZENYI
DEL RIO , TX0 0 0.00
46 JIM EDWARDS
BLUM , TX0 0 0.00
46 CASEY TATE
OAKDALE , LAJOSH DUNAWAY
DEQUINCY , LA0 0 0.00
46 JARRETT LATTA
LIBERTY HILL , TXBART BLAKELOCK
WAELDER , TX0 0 0.00
White and Adcock make long run to win Bassmaster High School Series event on Red River
Jase White and Carsen Adcock of Louisiana's Bossier Parish team have won the Strike King Bassmaster High School Series at Red River presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors with 14 pounds, 12 ounces.
Photo by Chase Sansom/B.A.S.S.
May 7, 2023
NATCHITOCHES, La. — Jase White and Carsen Adcock consider the Red River their home water, so they fished with confidence here on Sunday in the Strike King Bassmaster High School Series at Red River presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
The teenagers, who attend Haughton High School and are part of the Bossier Parish (La.) team, caught a five-bass limit weighing 14 pounds, 12 ounces to clinch the title in northwest Louisiana.
White, 18, and Adcock, 16, fished in Pool 5, about 2 1/2 hours one-way from Grand ECORE Recreational Area where the day began and ended. The long run left them with a shorter window to fish, but they made the most of what time they had.
“We didn’t get to our starting spot until about 9:30 or 10 o’clock this morning,” White said. “But as soon as we got there, some clouds and a little wind blew through. I threw my buzzbait out there and a 3 1/4-pounder blew up on it.”
When White says “my buzzbait,” he actually means one he designed. He began making the lures about 18 months ago and the young entrepreneur began selling them in January as Jase’s Custom Baits.
“It’s got a black back with a white or silver belly, like a shad,” White said. “I had a Strike King Rage Swimmer (shad color) as a trailer.”
Three of their keeper bites came on a 3/8-ounce War Eagle Double Willow spinnerbait (spot remover) and another came on a Lucky Craft 2.5 squarebill (black/yellow).
Once in Pool 5, the duo fished a slough off the main river. Their best bass came in about 3 feet of water where vegetation was thick.
Adcock said making such a long run was a gamble, but their knowledge of the river helped them pick a pattern that proved a winner.
“It means a lot to us to get this win,” Adcock said. “Jase and I go out on the weekends. We put a lot of effort into this. We’ve had a couple of close finishes this year, with a second and some other Top 10s. So, to win one here is a great feeling.”
White and Adcock split a $1,076 first-place cash prize. A total of 97 teams from eight states competed, with the Top 12 teams getting part of a $3,711 cash purse.
Rounding out the Top 5 teams were, second, Dylan Sorrells and Cullum Brown, of Highland Park (Tex.) High School, 13-8; third, Max Hondorp and Tyler Hondorp, of Florida Panhandle Youth Anglers, 10-8; fourth, William Guidry and Tanner Meyer, of Rayne (La.) Bass Club, 10-1; and fifth, Carson Winn and Jake Krauth, of Franklin (Tenn.) High School, 9-7.
Sorrells and Brown had the Big Bass of the tournament — a 3-13 that helped them to second place overall. Sorrels landed the lunker on a Zoom Speed Craw (junebug).
“Our best spot was about two minutes from the ramp on some laydowns,” Sorrels said. “We slowed down and were flipping an area that was getting pressure from all the boats moving through. After a couple of hours, the fish started biting.”
The tournament caps an exciting week for White, who was named to the 2023 Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors on Friday.
The Top 25 teams in the tournament qualified for the Strike King Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors when it’s held July 27-29 on Lake Hartwell in South Carolina.
2023 Strike King Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors 4/15-4/15
Red River, Natchitoches LA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Jase White - Carsen Adcock Bossier Parish High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 14-12 Total: 5 14-12
2. Dylan Sorrells - Cullum Brown Highland Park High School - TX 0
Day 1: 5 13-08 Total: 5 13-08
3. Max Hondorp - Tyler Hondorp Panhandle Youth Anglers - FL 0
Day 1: 5 10-08 Total: 5 10-08
4. William Guidry - Tanner Meyer Rayne Bass Club - LA 0
Day 1: 5 10-01 Total: 5 10-01
5. Carson Winn - Jake Krauth Franklin High School - TN 0
Day 1: 5 09-07 Total: 5 09-07
6. Landon Parker - Jake Watson DeWitt High School - AR 0
Day 1: 5 09-05 Total: 5 09-05
7. Luke Leblanc - Colin Sittig Notre Dame High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 09-00 Total: 5 09-00
8. Gavin Choate - Luke Mire Central High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 08-12 Total: 5 08-12
9. Landon Watts - Josiah Shockley Livingston Parish High School - 0
Day 1: 5 08-08 Total: 5 08-08
10. Carson Falk - Trey Blackmon III Capital City Bass Hunters - FL 0
Day 1: 5 08-04 Total: 5 08-04
11. Hayden Corrent - Tanner Reed Brusly High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 07-09 Total: 5 07-09
12. Justin Blais - Glenmora High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 07-08 Total: 5 07-08
13. Isaac Garvin - Blake Gibson Valley Springs High School - AR 0
Day 1: 5 07-06 Total: 5 07-06
14. Benjamin Jumonville - David Gummow Catholic High of Pointe Coupee - 0
Day 1: 5 07-03 Total: 5 07-03
15. Hunter Holland - Breanna Holland Walker High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 07-02 Total: 5 07-02
16. Jayden Corr - Jase Corr Lone Star JR Bassmasters - TX 0
Day 1: 5 07-01 Total: 5 07-01
16. Max Deroche - Jesse Boudreaux North Vermilion High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 07-01 Total: 5 07-01
18. Levi Loe - Trace Loe Magnolia Bass Cats - AR 0
Day 1: 5 06-14 Total: 5 06-14
19. Emma Dayton - Ryder Fontenot Walker High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 06-11 Total: 5 06-11
19. Jack Varnado - Dylan Johnson Denham Springs High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 06-11 Total: 5 06-11
21. Bennett Fontenot - Braxton Speyrer Port Barre High School - LA 0
Day 1: 3 06-10 Total: 3 06-10
22. Connor Hebert - Catholic High School - LA 0
Day 1: 4 06-07 Total: 4 06-07
23. Nicholas England - Tyler Medica Alexandria Senior High School - 0
Day 1: 5 06-05 Total: 5 06-05
24. Garrett Hooker - Samuel Rachal Oak Hill High School - LA 0
Day 1: 4 06-02 Total: 4 06-02
24. Brady Talbot - Bryce Distefano Live Oak High School - LA 0
Day 1: 4 06-02 Total: 4 06-02
26. Kaleb Page - Kasen Page Coffee County High School - TN 0
Day 1: 5 05-15 Total: 5 05-15
26. Reese Ray - Connor Mccown Glenmora High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 05-15 Total: 5 05-15
26. Wyatt Roach - Cameron Courville Sulphur High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 05-15 Total: 5 05-15
29. Briley Knowles - Kayden Townsend Genoa Central - AR 0
Day 1: 4 05-12 Total: 4 05-12
30. Jacob Longlois - Slade Nunnally Little Cypress-Mauriceville - TX 0
Day 1: 3 05-10 Total: 3 05-10
31. Kolby Leger - Nicholas Vitello Sulphur High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 05-06 Total: 5 05-06
32. Kayden Waller - Michael Harris Mt. Juliet High School - TN 0
Day 1: 4 05-03 Total: 4 05-03
33. Christopher Kahrs - William Lounsberry Barbe Fishing Club - LA 0
Day 1: 3 05-01 Total: 3 05-01
34. Elijah Cruze - Malcolm Leger Sam Houston High School - LA 0
Day 1: 3 04-14 Total: 3 04-14
35. Daymon Columbia - Wyatt Jones Walker High School - LA 0
Day 1: 4 04-11 Total: 4 04-11
36. Trevor Huval - Aiden Mouton Erath High School - LA 0
Day 1: 3 04-11 Total: 3 04-11
37. Caleb Cason - Hayden Robinson Lone Star JR Bassmasters - TX 0
Day 1: 3 04-09 Total: 3 04-09
38. Temern Pfaffenberger - Reece Chambless DeWitt High School - AR 0
Day 1: 2 04-09 Total: 2 04-09
39. Baylen Guy - Brandt Babineaux Teurlings Catholic High School - 0
Day 1: 4 04-08 Total: 4 04-08
40. Braden Pujol - Ty Milazzo Assumption High School - LA 0
Day 1: 4 04-05 Total: 4 04-05
41. Bradley Gravouia - Austin Hebert Erath High School - LA 0
Day 1: 2 04-04 Total: 2 04-04
42. Will Turrentine Jr. - Clint Turrentine Alexandria Senior High School - 0
Day 1: 4 04-03 Total: 4 04-03
43. Drake Carret - Evan Leboeuf Teurlings Catholic High School - 0
Day 1: 3 04-03 Total: 3 04-03
44. Sean Blue - Jaylin Wilson Alexandria Senior High School - 0
Day 1: 4 03-15 Total: 4 03-15
45. Rowdie Thacker - Hunter King Live Oak High School - LA 0
Day 1: 4 03-14 Total: 4 03-14
46. Kaden Leblanc - Jacob Pourciau Brusly High School - LA 0
Day 1: 2 03-14 Total: 2 03-14
46. Franklin Mangrum - Kaden Mangrum Sulphur High School - LA 0
Day 1: 2 03-14 Total: 2 03-14
48. Deaton Leblanc - Denham Springs High School (9149 0
Day 1: 3 03-11 Total: 3 03-11
49. Evan Breaux - Cole Breaux Lafourche Bassmasters - LA 0
Day 1: 3 03-10 Total: 3 03-10
50. Hunter Hamilton - Noah Higgins Parkview Baptist School - LA 0
Day 1: 3 03-09 Total: 3 03-09
51. Cole Pickett - Dutch Kor Many High School - LA 0
Day 1: 2 03-08 Total: 2 03-08
52. John Michael Klanchar - Wyatt Womack Benton High School - AR 0
Day 1: 2 03-07 Total: 2 03-07
53. Dylan Gorsulowsky - Kyce Daigle Sulphur High School - LA 0
Day 1: 3 03-05 Total: 3 03-05
54. Noah Roberts - Jacob LaCroix Tioga High School - LA 0
Day 1: 2 03-04 Total: 2 03-04
55. Colton Caskey - Brayden Pearah Riverdale Bassmasters - LA 0
Day 1: 2 03-02 Total: 2 03-02
56. Collin Hampton - Lucas Cheatham Magnolia Bass Cats - AR 0
Day 1: 2 02-11 Total: 2 02-11
56. Langston Martin - Lee County Anglers - AL 0
Day 1: 2 02-11 Total: 2 02-11
58. Ethan Glascock - Cullen Bishop Walker High School - LA 0
Day 1: 2 02-10 Total: 2 02-10
59. Aidan Manuel - Noah Harmon Teurlings High School - LA 0
Day 1: 2 02-08 Total: 2 02-08
59. Landon Rhine - Gabe Morrow Lamar High School - AR 0
Day 1: 2 02-08 Total: 2 02-08
61. Lily Girouard - Tuerlings Rebel Fishing Team - L 0
Day 1: 2 02-07 Total: 2 02-07
62. Logan Patterson - Landon Patterson Central High School - LA 0
Day 1: 2 02-06 Total: 2 02-06
63. John Carboni - Hunter Ott Live Oak High School - LA 0
Day 1: 1 02-06 Total: 1 02-06
64. Grayson Bonfils - East Baton Rouge Bassmaster - LA 0
Day 1: 2 02-01 Total: 2 02-01
64. Caleb Johnston - Colin Cosenza Many High School - LA 0
Day 1: 2 02-01 Total: 2 02-01
64. Ross Miller - Notre Dame High School - LA 0
Day 1: 2 02-01 Total: 2 02-01
67. Cooper Lemons - Connor Lafargue Kinder High School - LA 0
Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01
68. Hannah Robertson - Hunter Robertson Denham Springs High School - LA 0
Day 1: 2 02-00 Total: 2 02-00
69. Brayden Landry - Branson Word Erath High School - LA 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Total: 1 02-00
69. Michael Watkins - Clark Robinson Alexandria Senior High School - 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Total: 1 02-00
71. Keegan Robbins - Mason Gregg Salem High School - AR 0
Day 1: 1 01-13 Total: 1 01-13
72. Tyler Covington - Brantley Tate Walker High School - LA 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Total: 1 01-08
73. Caleb Kuykendall - Pate Willis Murfreesboro High School - AR 0
Day 1: 1 01-07 Total: 1 01-07
74. Grant Brouillette - St Michael The Archangel - LA 0
Day 1: 1 01-05 Total: 1 01-05
75. Devon Kessler - Charlie Ellis Lakeside High School - AR 0
Day 1: 1 01-02 Total: 1 01-02
76. Abigail Brewer - Live Oak High School - LA 0
Day 1: 1 01-00 Total: 1 01-00
77. Hinesley Bryant - Arlen Francois Central High School - LA 0
Day 1: 1 00-15 Total: 1 00-15
78. Kaden Holley - Caleb Pourciau Brusly High School - LA 0
Day 1: 1 00-14 Total: 1 00-14
79. Gage Booty - Hayden Murphy Central High School - LA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Logan Brice - Michael Crossland Hallsville High School - TX 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Kira Calvert - Aiden Martin Natchitoches Central High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Thomas Cramer - Joshua Burrows Teurlings Catholic High School - 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Derek Davis - Connor Jaco Mt. Pleasant High School - TN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Daylin Doak - Brooks Putnam Mt. Juliet High School - TN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Michael Doucet - Brylee Williams Teurlings High School - LA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Thomas Dupuis - Alex Mcdaniel North Vermilion High School - LA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Trace Feazell - Kayne Calvert Magnolia Bend Academy - LA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Chance Fontenot - Todd Thompson Natchitoches Central High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Joseph Hathcox - Jude Gilmore Denham Springs High School - LA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Spencer Hebert - Colston Olivier Teurlings Catholic High School - 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Max Himmel - Tyler Morris Catholic High School - LA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Carter Lanclos - Brandon Courville Sulphur High School - LA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Caden Mauldin - Lane Black SpringHill High School - AR 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Jerry Nugent III - Landon Stockstill Tuerlings Rebel Fishing Team - L 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Caleb Roblin - Luke Clark Denham Springs High School - LA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Hayden Talley - Central High School - LA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Clayton Towns - Logan Canales Cedar Creek Fishing Team - LA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURN
Dylan Sorrells Dallas, TX 03-13 $0.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 25 252 381-15
----------------------------------
25 252 381-15
Lee & Ware Take TXTT Event on Richland Chambers Reservoir
John Cox Holds on To Win Phoenix Boats Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks
Florida Pro Catches 17-pound, 9-ounce Final-Day Limit to Earn Victory by 1-pound, 1-ounce Margin Over Longtime Friend and Tournament Partner Keith Carson
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (May 6, 2023) – As the MLF NOW! live stream ended on Saturday afternoon, the weights were still too close to call as the top three pros were in a virtual tie as the broadcasters signed off with the anglers headed toward the weigh-in. However after the final fish had been weighed at the Lake of the Ozarks State Park, it was a familiar name atop the leaderboard.
Berkley pro John Cox of DeBary, Florida, weighed in five bass totaling 17 pounds, 9 ounces to hold onto his lead and win the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Phoenix Boats Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Mystik Lubricants and the top payout of $80,000. Cox’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 55 pounds, 14 ounces, edged out his longtime friend and tournament partner Keith Carson, also of DeBary, Florida , who weighed in a three-day total of 14 bass for 54-13, good for $50,000. Nineteen-year-old pro Marshall Robinson of Landrum, South Carolina, son of Bass Pro Tour angler Marty Robinson, finished in third place with 53-13 to earn $20,000.
“Me and Keith have fished together for a long time, and I’ve dreamt of this day – when me and him would be 1-2 in a tournament. And here we are,” an emotional Cox said on-stage. “I truly love this. I am just so thankful. The fact that we get to do this for a living is unreal. Me and Keith used to paint apartments together. I can’t believe we’re here – this is just so unreal I feel like I’m in a dream right now.
“When we left the house this morning, I told him we could be coming out of here with 130 grand to bring back to DeBary, and now here we are,” Cox continued. “This has been just an incredibly awesome week.”
Cox spent the week on Lake of the Ozarks sight fishing, finding bedding bass and fry guarders. Often tucked oddly behind docks or under cables, Cox finesse fished with his signature Abu Garcia Pro Series rod, an Abu Garcia Zenon spinning reel, Berkley FireLine and a 10-pound-test Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon leader. For baits, he rolled with either a wacky-rigged Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General or a Berkley PowerBait Jerk Shad.
One of the differences for Cox may have been that he was fishing for less pressured bass.
“I don’t think there were that many where I was at,” he said. “What Keith was saying he was seeing, there were a lot more fish. I think a lot of the other guys might have been fishing over there. Where I was fishing, they were few and far between, it kind of opened it up to where I had a lot of it to myself. We were talking in practice about making something out of nothing. That’s what I did, I just tried to run into five you can catch.”
Still, even as a good sight fisherman, Cox couldn’t really dial it in.
“I tried to figure a pattern, but every time I thought I figured a pattern, it didn’t play out anywhere else,” he said. “I didn’t catch more than one fish in a creek until today.”
The win was bittersweet for Cox. Although he was thrilled to earn the top payout and automatic REDCREST qualification, he was disappointed that his best friend didn’t get the first major win of his career.
“I felt stuff at that weigh-in that I’ve never felt at any other weigh-in before,” Cox said. “I wanted Keith to win, because he’s my buddy. I always want him to do well.
“It’s bittersweet, but it felt good to win, and to get to go to REDCREST. That’s huge. When I heard that, I was like ‘Please let me win.’ Every time I miss one of those, it’s terrible. I watched it at Lake Norman this year, and I was heartbroken I wasn’t there.”
The top 50 pros at the Phoenix Boats Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks finished:
1st: John Cox, DeBary, Fla., 15 bass, 55-14, $82,500
2nd: Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., 14 bass, 54-13, $50,000
3rd: Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 15 bass, 53-13, $20,000
4th: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 15 bass 53-13, $18,000
5th: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 15 bass, 52-7, $17,000
6th: Andy Newcomb, Camdenton, Mo., 15 bass, 49-15, $16,300
7th: Andrew Nordbye, Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 49-10, $15,000
8th: Shaw Grigsby, Gainesville, Fla., 15 bass, 46-9, $14,000
9th: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 15 bass, 46-2, $13,000
10th: Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis., 15 bass, 45-5, $12,000
11th: Grae Buck, Green Lane, Pa., 15 bass, 45-5, $10,000
12th: Tai Au, Glendale, Ariz., 15 bass, 44-0, $10,000
13th: Tom Redington, Royse City, Texas, 15 bass, 43-11, $10,000
14th: Jordan Collom, Canyon Lake, Calif., 15 bass, 43-8, $10,000
15th: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 15 bass, 43-3, $10,000
16th: Robby Lefere, Jackson, Mich., 15 bass, 42-13, $10,000
17th: Brock Reinkemeyer. Warsaw, Mo., 15 bass, 42-9, $10,000
18th: Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga., 15 bass, 42-3, $10,000
19th: Jordan Hirt, Glenwood, Iowa, 15 bass, 41-10, $10,000
20th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 15 bass, 41-9, $10,000
21st: Derik Hudson, Concord, Va., 15 bass, 41-3, $10,000
22nd: Connor Cunningham, Springfield, Mo., 15 bass, 41-0, $10,000
23rd: Troy Stokes, Trenton, Mich., 15 bass, 40-12, $10,000
24th: Charley Slaton, Valliant, Okla, 14 bass, 40-8, $10,000
25th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 15 bass, 40-5, $10,000
26th: J. Todd Tucker, Moultrie, Ga., 15 bass, 40-2, $10,000
27th: Joe Grafeman, Camdenton, Mo., 15 bass, 40-0, $10,000
28th: Kyle Schutta, Forest Lake, Minn., 15 bass, 39-11, $10,000
29th: Thomas Wooten, Huddleston, Va., 15 bass, 38-15, $10,000
30th: Brian Latimer, Belton, S.C., 15 bass, 38-11, $10,000
31st: Brad Jelinek, Lincoln, Mo., 15 bass, 38-8, $8,000
32nd: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 15 bass, 38-7, $8,000
33rd: Cody Parker, Ball Ground, Ga., 15 bass, 38-5, $8,000
34th: Jaden Parrish, Liberty, Texas, 15 bass, 38-4, $8,000
35th: Bobby Bakewell, Orlando, Fla, 15 bass, 38-3, $8,000
36th: Kyle Palmer, Winchester, Tenn., 15 bass, 38-3, $8,000
37th: Tyler Stewart, Dubach, La., 15 bass, 38-3, $8,000
38th: Jeremy Southerly, Fulks Run, Va., 15 bass, 38-1, $8,000
39th: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, 15 bass, 37-9, $8,000
40th: Kyle Hall, Granbury, Texas, 15 bass, 37-8, $8,000
41st: Rick Chenoweth, Fredericksburg, Va., 15 bass, 37-6, $8,000
42nd: Hunter Eubanks, Inman, S.C., 15 bass, 37-2, $8,000
43rd: Austin Culbertson, Moberly, Mo., 15 bass, 36-14, $8,000
44th: Colby Schrumpf, Highland, Ill., 15 bass, 36-14, $8,000
45th: Mike McClelland, Blue Eye, Mo., 14 bass, 35-11, $8,000
46th: Cody Pike, Powhatan, Va., 15 bass, 35-9, $8,000
47th: Joe Bennett, Ashland, Mo., 13 bass, 35-8, $8,000
48th: Kyle Weisenburger, Columbus Grove, Ohio, 15 bass, 35-8, $8,000
49th: Andrew Behnke, Fond du Lac, Wis., 13 bass, 34-14, $8,000
50th: David Walker, Huntingdon, Tenn., 11 bass, 29-4, $8,000
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 240 bass weighing 619 pounds, 15 ounces caught by the 50 pros Saturday. The catch included 45 five-bass limits.
The three-day tournament was hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association and featured a roster of 150 anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024, Major League Fishing’s most prestigious event. The next Tackle Warehouse Invitational event will take place June 17-19 at the Tackle Warehouse Invitational at the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
In MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Thursday and Friday in a traditional five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advanced to the final round on Championship Saturday, where they competed for the grand prize of up to $115,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers. The winner of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Phoenix Boats Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Mystik Lubricants was determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight and will now receive an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024.
The season-long Invitational Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) will also earn a berth into REDCREST and the Top 8 anglers in the season-long Invitational AOY point standings will qualify for the 2024 Bass Pro Tour. After four events in the six-event Qualifying Circuit, pro Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Michigan, leads the AOY race with 777 points. Junction City, Wisconsin, pro Matthew Stefan sits in second place with 735 points, while Martin Villa of Charlottesville, Virginia is in third with 733 points. Pro Grae Buck of Green Lane, Pennsylvania is in fourth place with 724 points, while Bass Pro Tour angler Michael Neal rounds out the top five with 719 points.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Phoenix Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Mystik Lubricants will feature a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere on the CBS Sports Network on Saturday, October 21.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
John Cox Sight-Fishes Way to Day 2 Lead at Phoenix Boats Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks
Florida Pro Catches 18-pound, 4-ounce Limit to Take Slim 7-ounce Lead into Championship Saturday – Field Cut to Final 50
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (May 5, 2023) – Pro John Cox of DeBary, Florida, weighed in five bass totaling 18 pounds, 4 ounces Friday to take the lead after Day 2 at the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Phoenix Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Mystik Lubricants. Cox’s two-day total of 38 pounds, 5 ounces give him a slim 7-ounce advantage over 19-year-old pro Marshall Robinson of Landrum, South Carolina, who has weighed in 10 bass totaling 37-14 to end the day in second place.
The three-day tournament, hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association, features a roster of 150 anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024, Major League Fishing’s most prestigious event. The full field of 150 anglers concluded the two-day opening round on Friday, with only the top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight now advancing to Championship Saturday.
“It feels good to be here again,” Cox said in his post-game interview. “The last one I won was at Smith Lake (March 2021), and that feels very similar to this place. I do feel like if I end up winning tomorrow it’s going to be because I land on something. Either a pocket with two or three big ones, or something like that. Cause so far, it’s just been super random and I’ve had to do a lot of trolling to run into one of them.
“Luckily today I got a 5-pounder,” Cox continued. “That fish was everything. I worked on that one for a really long time. I had to come back to her, and the wind was blowing hard – it was just terrible. I was just blind pitching and somehow ended up getting her, so I was just super lucky on that one. If I somehow win this thing, I’ll definitely remember that fish catch for a long time.”
Cox spent the majority of the day roaming the shallows targeting bed fish with a 5-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General worm.
“I saw one really nice one right at the end of the day and I was going to try to catch it, but it was getting really close on check-in time so I decided that I’ll just need to start on it in the morning,” Cox said. “It’s a solid 5 (pounder). If I can catch that first thing, then we’re looking at only needing to catch four for the rest of the day, and I’d feel really good about that.”
The top 50 pros advancing to Championship Saturday at the Phoenix Boats Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks are:
1st: John Cox, DeBary, Fla., 10 bass, 38-5
2nd: Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 10 bass, 37-14
3rd: Drew Gill, Mount Carmell, Ill., 10 bass 37-11
4th: Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., nine bass, 35-11
5th: Andrew Nordbye, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 35-4
6th: Andy Newcomb, Camdenton, Mo., 10 bass, 33-4
7th: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 10 bass, 33-2
8th: Tom Redington, Royse City, Texas, 10 bass, 32-7
9th: Tai Au, Glendale, Ariz., 10 bass, 32-0
10th: Charley Slaton, Valliant, Okla, 10 bass, 31-15
11th: Joe Bennett, Ashland, Mo., 10 bass, 31-4
12th: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 30-10
13th: Connor Cunningham, Springfield, Mo., 10 bass, 30-9
14th: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 10 bass, 30-4
15th: Jordan Hirt, Glenwood, Iowa, 10 bass, 29-13
16th: Robby Lefere, Jackson, Mich., 10 bass, 29-12
17th: Thomas Wooten, Huddleston, Va., 10 bass, 29-7
18th: Jaden Parrish, Liberty, Texas, 10 bass, 29-5
19th: Derik Hudson, Concord, Va., 10 bass, 29-3
20th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 29-0
21st: Kyle Schutta, Forest Lake, Minn., 10 bass, 29-0
22nd: Jeremy Southerly, Fulks Run, Va., 10 bass, 28-5
23rd: Brock Reinkemeyer. Warsaw, Mo., 10 bass, 28-10
24th: Bobby Bakewell, Orlando, Fla, 10 bass, 27-14
25th: Kyle Palmer, Winchester, Tenn., 10 bass, 27-13
26th: Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga., 10 bass, 27-13
27th: Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis., 10 bass, 27-12
28th: Shaw Grigsby, Gainesville, Fla., 10 bass, 27-12
29th: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 10 bass, 27-11
30th: Tyler Stewart, Dubach, La., 10 bass, 27-8
31st: Troy Stokes, Trenton, Mich., 10 bass, 27-8
32nd: Brian Latimer, Belton, S.C., 10 bass, 27-7
33rd: Grae Buck, Green Lane, Pa., 10 bass, 27-5
34th: Cody Pike, Powhatan, Va., 10 bass, 27-1
35th: Cody Parker, Ball Ground, Ga., 10 bass, 27-1
36th: David Walker, Huntingdon, Tenn., 10 bass, 27-1
37th: Jordan Collom, Canyon Lake, Calif., 10 bass, 26-14
38th: Kyle Hall, Granbury, Texas, 10 bass, 26-11
39th: Brad Jelinek, Lincoln, Mo., 10 bass, 26-11
40th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 10 bass, 26-10
41st: J. Todd Tucker, Moultrie, Ga., 10 bass, 26-10
42nd: Rick Chenoweth, Fredericksburg, Va., 10 bass, 26-6
43rd: Mike McClelland, Blue Eye, Mo., 10 bass, 26-3
44th: Kyle Weisenburger, Columbus Grove, Ohio, 10 bass, 26-0
45th: Andrew Behnke, Fond du Lac, Wis., 10 bass, 25-13
46th: Austin Culbertson, Moberly, Mo., 10 bass, 25-12
47th: Joe Grafeman, Camdenton, Mo., 10 bass, 25-10
48th: Colby Schrumpf, Highland, Ill., 10 bass, 25-10
49th: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, 10 bass, 25-10
50th: Hunter Eubanks, Inman, S.C., 10 bass, 25-9
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Pro William Fletcher of Dallas, Georgia, weighed in a 5-pound, 12-ounce largemouth to earn Friday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award.
Overall, there were 673 bass weighing 1,647 pounds, 10 ounces caught by 145 pros Friday. The catch included 120 five-bass limits.
In MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Thursday and Friday in a traditional five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight now advance to the final round on Championship Saturday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $115,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers. The winner of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Phoenix Boats Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Mystik Lubricants will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight and will receive an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024.
The final 50 anglers will launch Saturday at 6:30 a.m. CT from the Grand Glaize Beach Boat Ramp (Public Beach No. 2) at Lake of the Ozarks State Park, located at 711 Public Beach Road in Osage Beach, Missouri. The final weigh-in will also be held at the boat ramp beginning at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the live on-the-water action online on MLF NOW!beginning at 7 a.m. CT at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all three days of competition from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Phoenix Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Mystik Lubricants will feature live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere on the CBS Sports Network on Saturday, October 21.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Jacksonville State's Elkins and Hansard win Bassmaster College Series event on Louisiana’s Red River
Seth Elkinsand Dale Hansard of Alabama's Jacksonville State University have won the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Red River presented by Bass Pro Shops with a two-day total of 29 pounds, 9 ounces.
Photo by Chase Sansom/B.A.S.S.
May 5, 2023
Jacksonville State's Elkins and Hansard win Bassmaster College Series event on Louisiana’s Red River
NATCHITOCHES, La. — Seth Elkins and Dale Hansard burned an estimated 80 gallons of gas over two days of the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Red River presented by Bass Pro Shops.
It was worth every last drop.
The tandem from Jacksonville (Ala.) State University finished with a total of 10 bass that weighed 29 pounds, 9 ounces, which was enough to win the derby in northwest Louisiana.
Elkins and Hansard claimed their spot in the College Series National Championship with authority, but they had to work for the win. They made a 2 1/2-hour, one-way run from Grand ECORE Recreational Area to Pool 5 of the Red River, where they fished a creek in the Caspiana area.
That left them with only three hours of fishing time each day, but they made the most of it. They fished in about 9 feet of water on Thursday but went a bit deeper on Friday.
“It was about 12 feet today,” Elkins said. “We noticed the fish had pulled off the tree stumps and some were closer to the bank. We were throwing a black Whopper Plopper 110 yesterday and a lighter-colored model today.
“But the main lure for us was an Ima Skimmer walking bait in a pearl or bone color. That was drawing the bigger bites. And really, those are the only two lures that were working for us at all.”
Hansard caught a 6-5 largemouth on Day 1 which anchored their bag of 13-12 and also was the big bass of the tournament. They didn’t have one as big on Day 2, but the catch was consistent.
“The heaviest today was a 4-pounder, but we had more quality bites,” Elkins said. “We had to fish slow. You really had to make the bait look appetizing or make them mad enough to eat it.”
Hansard said winning a tournament was a special way to qualify for the College National Championship.
“It’s the first time either of us have made it,” Hansard said. “It feels good like a weight is off our shoulders. And I’d like to think the win is for our past teammates ... We had (eight people on our team) last year and now we’re the only ones here.”
Day 1 leaders Cole Holloway and Brandon Martin of Georgia’s Emmanuel College slipped to second overall with 10 bass weighing 28-9. Rounding out the Top 5 tandems were Brayden Nichols and William Tew of LSU-Shreveport, third, 23-11; Tripp Bowman and Matthew Nesbit, also of LSU-Shreveport, fourth, 23-2; and fifth, Nicholas Holtgrave and Colsyn Head, of McKendree University in Illinois, 23-0.
B.A.S.S. officials will verify Team of the Year standings in the coming days, which will earn one duo a spot in the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew's later this year. The Top 3 teams (six anglers in all) from the Strike King Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops will earn the other three spots in the head-to-head competition.
Those eight anglers then will compete for a spot in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota when it’s held next March in Tulsa, Okla., with fishing on Grand Lake O' the Cherokees.
A total of 135 teams competed, and 14 of them punched their tickets to the College National Championship, which will be held later this year on a fishery yet to be announced.
The fishing action isn’t complete just yet here on the Red River, though.
Following a day off on Saturday, the Strike King Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors will hit the water Sunday, as will the Junior Series anglers. Coverage from those two events will be available on Bassmaster.com.
2023 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Red River presented by Bass Pro Shops 5/4-5/5
Red River, Natchitoches LA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Seth Elkins - Dale Hansard Jacksonville State University 250
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 15-13 Total: 10 29-09
2. Cole Holloway - Brandon Martin Emmanuel College 249
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 12-11 Total: 10 28-09
3. Brayden Nichols - William Tew LSU - Shreveport 248
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 11-15 Total: 10 23-11
4. Tripp Bowman - Matthew Nesbit LSU - Shreveport 247
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 12-04 Total: 10 23-02
5. Nicholas Holtgrave - Colsyn Head McKendree University 246
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 12-07 Total: 10 23-00
6. Caleb Dachenhaus - Sam Shoemaker Adrian College 245
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 12-00 Total: 10 22-01
7. Kyle Zainitzer - Avery Whitwell University of North Alabama 244
Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 5 14-08 Total: 10 21-12
8. Blake Bullock - John Mark Berry Blue Mountain College 243
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 10-09 Total: 10 21-10
9. Cal Culpepper - Ryan Thomas University of Montevallo 242
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 10-02 Total: 10 20-14
10. Trey Schroeder - Lane Stephens McKendree University 241
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 09-13 Total: 10 20-01
11. Kaden Proffitt - Cason Ragsdale East Texas Baptist University 240
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 09-10 Total: 10 20-00
12. Tyler Cory - Scott Sledge University of Montevallo 239
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 10-07 Total: 10 19-15
13. Levi Mullins - Matthew Cummings Bethel University 238
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 09-12 Total: 10 19-15
14. Bryson O'steen - Ty Jackson Florida Gateway College 237
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 09-10 Total: 10 19-10
15. Hunter McClaskey - Landon Lawson King University 236
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 09-04 Total: 10 19-07
16. Corey Morris - Brayden Mercer East Texas Baptist University 235
Day 1: 5 07-10 Day 2: 5 11-06 Total: 10 19-00
17. Gus McLarry - Jared West Texas A & M Commerce 234
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 07-07 Total: 10 18-14
18. Turner Hart - Summer Dees Bryan College 233
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 10-04 Total: 10 18-14
19. Morgan Miracle - Jake Thornbury Campbellsville University 232
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 08-11 Total: 10 18-11
20. William Travis - Victor Alford Bryan College 231
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 09-04 Total: 10 18-11
21. Zach Pocos - Trey Budach McKendree University 230
Day 1: 5 07-10 Day 2: 5 10-14 Total: 10 18-08
22. Hayden Marbut - Tucker Smith Auburn University 229
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 08-14 Total: 10 18-07
23. James Willoughby - Jacob Pfundt University of Montevallo 228
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 5 08-09 Total: 10 18-03
24. Parker O'Bryan - Miller Dowling University of Montevallo 227
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 3 06-02 Total: 8 18-01
25. Tommy Dunaway - Seth Jones Florida Gateway College 226
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 07-13 Total: 10 17-05
26. Jeremy Dellinger - Garrett Smith Lander University 225
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 07-09 Total: 10 16-15
27. Carter Koza - Drew Pitts Carson-Newman University 224
Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 5 08-13 Total: 10 16-14
28. Cole Rankin - Riley Faulkner Carson-Newman University 223
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 4 05-15 Total: 9 16-10
29. Easton Fothergill - Nick Dumke University of Montevallo 222
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 09-09 Total: 10 16-09
30. Ben Brockwell - Justice Gayhart Kentucky Christian University 221
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 07-09 Total: 10 16-07
31. Cy Lambert - University of North Alabama 220
Day 1: 5 06-07 Day 2: 5 09-15 Total: 10 16-06
32. Levi Thibodaux - Chance Shelby LSU - Shreveport 219
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 4 07-00 Total: 9 16-00
33. Connor Jacob - Sam Smith Auburn University 218
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 07-10 Total: 10 15-12
34. Christian Turner - John Gray Coastal Carolina University 217
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 06-13 Total: 10 15-08
35. Harmon Marien - Jack Stephens McKendree University 216
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 07-08 Total: 10 15-07
36. Reid Farris - Colton Swize Texas A&M University 215
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 3 03-12 Total: 8 15-06
37. Zach Bushey - Brandon Traw Tarleton State University 214
Day 1: 5 06-08 Day 2: 5 08-13 Total: 10 15-05
38. Matthew Dettling - Austin Wadzinski University of Tennessee 213
Day 1: 4 05-06 Day 2: 5 09-13 Total: 9 15-03
39. Jaxson Freeman - Maxwell Trotter McKendree University 212
Day 1: 5 05-07 Day 2: 5 09-12 Total: 10 15-03
40. Cody Domingos - Luka Strepacki University of Tennessee 211
Day 1: 5 06-15 Day 2: 5 08-02 Total: 10 15-01
41. Drake Sturgill - Beau Browning University of Montevallo 210
Day 1: 5 07-01 Day 2: 5 07-14 Total: 10 14-15
42. Seth Slanker - Jackson Swisher Florida Gateway College 209
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 06-01 Total: 10 14-14
43. Trevor Easter - Clayton Easter Tarleton State University 208
Day 1: 5 05-11 Day 2: 5 09-02 Total: 10 14-13
44. Tyler Cain - Cole Dodson University of Montevallo 207
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 5 08-11 Total: 8 14-09
45. Zach McNary - Mason Phillpotts Grand Valley State University 206
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 06-06 Total: 10 14-08
46. Cade Lipham - Caleb Coleman Drury University 205
Day 1: 5 05-11 Day 2: 5 08-12 Total: 10 14-07
47. Wade Roberts - LSU - Shreveport 204
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 4 05-06 Total: 9 14-06
48. Brendan Vinton - Dalton Eury Catawba Valley Community College 203
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 05-11 Total: 10 14-02
49. Kaden Buchmann - Jared Hubbard Lander University 202
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 3 03-04 Total: 8 14-01
50. Ridge Rutledge - Ryan Daugherty Campbellsville University 201
Day 1: 5 07-01 Day 2: 5 07-00 Total: 10 14-01
51. Carson Kamien - Tyson Verkaik University of Florida 200
Day 1: 5 06-01 Day 2: 5 07-07 Total: 10 13-08
52. Ryan Park - Sam Niemeyer Murray State University 199
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 3 04-03 Total: 8 13-07
53. Noah Trant - Evan Howe Northwestern State University (8 198
Day 1: 5 05-00 Day 2: 5 08-07 Total: 10 13-07
54. Cody Monlezun - Atlan Pfluger Texas A&M University 197
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 3 04-06 Total: 8 13-03
55. Wyatt Pearman - Dustin Bauer Campbellsville University 196
Day 1: 4 05-12 Day 2: 5 07-07 Total: 9 13-03
56. Matt Short - Pruitt Lansdale Eastern Kentucky University 195
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 4 06-03 Total: 9 13-03
57. Evan Sutton - Grant Olsen McKendree University 194
Day 1: 5 07-02 Day 2: 5 06-00 Total: 10 13-02
58. Hunter Fillmore - Dylan Fogarty Bethel University 193
Day 1: 5 06-00 Day 2: 3 07-01 Total: 8 13-01
59. Tucker Siminak - Kyle Hopping McKendree University 192
Day 1: 5 06-09 Day 2: 4 06-06 Total: 9 12-15
60. Brantley Anders - Cameron Dials Kentucky Christian University 191
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 4 05-14 Total: 9 12-14
61. Trent Buchholz - Dakota Posey Lamar State College Orange 190
Day 1: 5 06-05 Day 2: 5 06-09 Total: 10 12-14
62. Parker Brown - Layton Brown Dallas Baptist University 189
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 4 04-08 Total: 9 12-12
63. Chris Baker - Elijah Kelley Kentucky Christian University 188
Day 1: 4 06-03 Day 2: 5 06-08 Total: 9 12-11
64. Solomon Glenn - Briggs Alavezos University of Montevallo 187
Day 1: 5 06-14 Day 2: 5 05-12 Total: 10 12-10
65. Brock Blazier - Benjamin Blank Wabash Valley College 186
Day 1: 5 05-14 Day 2: 5 06-11 Total: 10 12-09
66. Bryant Martin - Luke Batts LSU - Shreveport 185
Day 1: 5 05-15 Day 2: 5 06-10 Total: 10 12-09
67. Drake Hemby - Szymon Piton Carson-Newman University 184
Day 1: 4 06-02 Day 2: 5 06-07 Total: 9 12-09
68. Giancarlo Russo - Remington Potter Florida Gateway College 183
Day 1: 5 06-11 Day 2: 5 05-12 Total: 10 12-07
69. Carson Hickman - Jacob Dobbs Tarleton State University 182
Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 5 04-12 Total: 10 12-05
70. William Vega - Will Emmert Sam Houston State University 181
Day 1: 5 06-14 Day 2: 5 05-03 Total: 10 12-01
71. Hunter Keller - Grant Harris Catawba Valley Community College 180
Day 1: 5 05-13 Day 2: 5 06-04 Total: 10 12-01
72. Clay Osteen - John Mizell Tarleton State University 179
Day 1: 5 07-08 Day 2: 4 04-06 Total: 9 11-14
73. Max Heaton - Brooks Anderson Emmanuel College 178
Day 1: 5 07-05 Day 2: 3 04-05 Total: 8 11-10
74. Derek Rodriguez Jr. - Mathias Dahline Adrian College 177
Day 1: 4 04-07 Day 2: 5 07-00 Total: 9 11-07
75. Justin Botts - Tim Herrmann Bryan College 176
Day 1: 4 06-07 Day 2: 4 04-14 Total: 8 11-05
76. Ashton Hehr - Trevor Johnston Texas A&M University 175
Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 2 03-14 Total: 7 11-02
77. Dustin Weinberg - Sawyer Brady Blue Mountain Christian Universi 174
Day 1: 5 06-14 Day 2: 3 04-04 Total: 8 11-02
78. Sawyer McCullough - Hunter Bettner Troy University 173
Day 1: 2 02-05 Day 2: 5 08-07 Total: 7 10-12
79. Jadon Spencer - Chase Martin Catawba Valley Community College 172
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 2 02-08 Total: 7 10-12
80. Russel Buffa - Dalton Mollenkopf Adrian College 171
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 3 03-09 Total: 8 10-09
81. Cross Campbell - Ethan Thurston East Texas Baptist University 170
Day 1: 4 06-00 Day 2: 3 04-08 Total: 7 10-08
82. Carter Ball - Austin Tapley Adrian College 169
Day 1: 5 05-10 Day 2: 5 04-14 Total: 10 10-08
83. Chase Hubble - Brent May University of Florida 168
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 2 02-01 Total: 7 10-05
84. Taylor McMullen - Emmanuel College 167
Day 1: 4 06-05 Day 2: 2 04-00 Total: 6 10-05
85. Carter Smith - Gannon Stork Wabash Valley College 166
Day 1: 1 03-01 Day 2: 4 07-03 Total: 5 10-04
86. Caleb Bridges - Matthew Dopp Bryan College 165
Day 1: 5 07-01 Day 2: 3 03-03 Total: 8 10-04
87. John Karisny - Brodie Paige Louisiana Tech University 164
Day 1: 5 05-07 Day 2: 3 04-13 Total: 8 10-04
88. Matthew Zdrazil - Easton Lindus Emmanuel College 163
Day 1: 5 07-06 Day 2: 2 02-09 Total: 7 09-15
89. Miles Smith - Zach Henderson Georgia College 162
Day 1: 5 06-12 Day 2: 1 03-00 Total: 6 09-12
90. Dylan Breaux - Joel Richard Nicholls State University 161
Day 1: 5 07-01 Day 2: 2 02-04 Total: 7 09-05
91. Colton Hill - Tomas Matual McKendree University 160
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 3 04-09 Total: 6 09-03
92. Jordan Pennington - Andrew Oswalt University of Montevallo 159
Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 2 01-14 Total: 7 09-02
93. Justin James - Keegan Trahan Lamar State College Orange 158
Day 1: 3 02-14 Day 2: 4 06-04 Total: 7 09-02
94. Reece Keeney - Colby Kerr Kentucky Christian University 157
Day 1: 4 06-09 Day 2: 1 02-07 Total: 5 09-00
95. Cooper Arthur - Luke Frankowicz Louisiana Tech University 156
Day 1: 3 04-13 Day 2: 4 04-00 Total: 7 08-13
96. Gavin Schmitz - Addison Sikes University of Montevallo 155
Day 1: 5 06-05 Day 2: 2 02-05 Total: 7 08-10
97. Roy Crush - Hunter Hernandez Texas A&M University 154
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 5 07-05 Total: 6 08-04
98. Brody Robison - Jack Alexander University of Montevallo 153
Day 1: 5 06-14 Day 2: 3 01-02 Total: 8 08-00
99. Max Gosdin - Andrew Howell University of Montevallo 152
Day 1: 5 06-13 Day 2: 1 01-02 Total: 6 07-15
100. Stephen Bovia - Preston Madere Louisiana Tech University 151
Day 1: 2 03-09 Day 2: 4 04-06 Total: 6 07-15
101. Wesley Smith II - Jacob Oliver Catawba Valley Community College 150
Day 1: 4 06-13 Day 2: 1 00-14 Total: 5 07-11
102. Nathan Coffman - Garrett Mawalls LSU - Shreveport 149
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 07-09 Total: 5 07-09
103. Brett Jolley Jr. - Cade Nettles East Texas Baptist University 148
Day 1: 5 04-15 Day 2: 2 02-10 Total: 7 07-09
104. Brenton Godwin - Hunter Odom University of Montevallo 147
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 2 02-09 Total: 5 07-08
105. Spencer Brister - Roeh Burton Lamar State College Orange 146
Day 1: 4 04-12 Day 2: 3 02-11 Total: 7 07-07
106. Gunner Whitaker - Mitch Johnson Kentucky Christian University 145
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 07-00
107. Hank Sturm - Mitch Straffon Adrian College 144
Day 1: 5 06-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 06-14
108. Conner Giles - Christian Wright Bryan College 143
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 4 04-01 Total: 6 06-12
109. Dylan Benson - Austin Rose East Texas Baptist University 142
Day 1: 5 06-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 06-04
110. Cole Thompson - Rees Williams University of North Alabama 141
Day 1: 5 06-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 06-01
111. Jacob Autry - Will Niebrugge Murray State University 140
Day 1: 4 04-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 04-13
112. Luke Iles - Northwestern State University 139
Day 1: 1 00-13 Day 2: 2 03-14 Total: 3 04-11
113. Zeb Roberts - Cabe Mackey Catawba Valley Community College 138
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 2 03-08 Total: 3 04-08
114. Kreed Averhoff - Jordan Kalsbeek Tarleton State University 137
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 1 01-05 Total: 3 04-07
115. Thomas Mingle - Braxton Simmons University of Tennessee 136
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 04-06
116. Lane Bailey - Justin Eggers Catawba Valley Community College 135
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 1 01-04 Total: 3 04-06
117. Hampton Shull - Landon Surrett Lander University 134
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 2 02-14 Total: 3 04-01
118. Seth Jenkins - TJ McKenzie Emmanuel College 133
Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 03-13
119. Fischer Barber - Tucker Jordan Troy University 132
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 3 02-12 Total: 4 03-13
120. Riley Lawson - Dawson Burton Kentucky Christian University 131
Day 1: 3 03-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 03-04
121. Caleb Hart - Connor Vanderploeg Grand Valley State University 130
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-03 Total: 2 03-03
122. Hunter Palmer - Eli Stevenson Bryan College 129
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 1 01-05 Total: 2 03-00
123. Kyle Knoll - Luke Morgan Southern Union State Community C 128
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 02-13
124. Sid Wallace - Broxson Daigle Texas A&M University 127
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 02-02
125. Caleb Jacob - Illinois State University 126
Day 1: 2 01-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 01-15
126. Kaden Liles - Kolby Clark University of North Alabama 125
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-01
127. Hunter Starling - William Vickery Georgia Southern University 124
Day 1: 1 00-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 00-14
128. Jacob Butts - Mark Kershaw-Klara USC Union 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
128. Carson Calvert - Austin Thomas University of North Alabama 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
128. Marlee Churchman - Ty Gentry LSU - Shreveport 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
128. Cody Clifton - Robert Hunt Missouri State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
128. Logan East - Rob Lindsey Bryan College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
128. Connor Lynch - Domenic Bartel Grand Valley State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
128. Chandler Pruett - Wes Bailey Blue Mountain College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
128. Rudy Worley - Fisher Overton Blue Mountain College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 88 536 853-13
2 63 454 732-10
----------------------------------
151 990 1586-07
Kemp completes wire-to-wire victory at Bassmaster Open on Buggs Island Reservoir
Powell Kemp of Scotland Neck, N.C., has won the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Buggs Island Reservoir with a three-day total of 48 pounds, 13 ounces.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
May 5, 2023
CLARKSVILLE, Va. — Powell Kemp admits he was mostly trying to avoid criticism for ending early. But in doing so, the local pro from Scotland Neck, N.C., stumbled across a key area that helped him tally a three-day total of 48 pounds, 13 ounces to secure a wire-to-wire victory at the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Buggs Island.
Kemp started his run by nabbing the tournament’s heaviest bag — a Day 1 limit of 19-8. Adding 16-12 in the second round, then a Championship Friday limit of 12-9, Kemp cruised to victory by a margin of 3-2 over Bassmaster Elite Series pro David Williams.
For his achievement, Kemp took home over $52,000 and earned a spot in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota March 22-24 in Tulsa, Okla.
“That sounds unbelievable,” Kemp said upon hearing his winnings announced. “The Classic is the goal for every fisherman out there. Weekend guys, tour guys — that’s what everyone wants. Dream come true.
“I’ve been blessed; my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has done this. Everything I’ve done, I can’t explain. It just happened.”
With Buggs Island rattled by a recent cold front and fluctuating water levels, the Roanoke River reservoir proved challenging. Each day, Kemp noted that, due to the lack of consistency, he was simply fishing instinctively.
Toward the end of Day 2, marrying that instinct with the aforementioned criticism concern led Kemp to what was likely a game-clinching decision.
“Yesterday (Thursday), I was running in with about 30 minutes left and I knew if I went in then, my friends would say, ‘You are crazy. You came in 30 minutes early.’
“So, I stopped at one place 500 yards outside the off-limits area, caught three fish and culled one. I started there the final morning and caught most of what I weighed really quick.”
With his Day 3 nerves settled and a good limit in the boat, Kemp ran down to one of his key areas in Nutbush Creek but ended up catching all of his weight on the lake’s upper end. Flooded gumtrees and buckbrush were his top targets.
Kemp caught all of his bass on a 1/2-ounce Hawg Caller spinnerbait and an unnamed spinnerbait with oversized gold blades for the dirtier water. Slow rolling his baits was the best presentation. Kemp used no plastic trailers, but he rigged both baits with trailer hooks.
“That 20-pound P-Line CXX X-tra Strong line ripped them all out of the bushes,” Kemp said. “I didn’t lose any; I didn’t break any off.”
Kemp said the cold air that chilled the region likely limited the shad spawn that would normally be on fire this time of year. Lacking this morning jumpstart, his first two days were somewhat disjointed.
“I’ve fished here hundreds of days, but it was just a wind deal,” Kemp said. “I went where the wind said go and where the good Lord told me to go.”
Day 1 was particularly difficult due to strong winds, which built 4- to 5-foot waves on the main lake. Kemp was moving around a lot and just as he was about to relocate, the tournament’s biggest bass gave him a much-needed boost of confidence.
“I went through the shad spawn deal and when I got to the end of the stretch, I said: ‘Let me hit this little corner where some bushes are.’ I missed the male (of a spawning pair) so I threw back over there and caught the 5-13 (female).
“I was losing my mind while she was out there jumping. I finally got my hands on her. I’m glad I didn’t hurt her when I grabbed her. I was so excited to get her in the boat.”
Hailing from Newton, N.C., Williams finished second with 45-11. He started at a moderate pace with 11-5 but stepped on the gas in the latter two rounds with 17-0 and 17-6.
“My first day, I stumbled a little bit, but these last two days were incredible,” Williams said. “I covered a lot of water and never fished the same water twice. I fished from one end to the other — from Nutbush Creek to up the river.
“I covered water and the last two days, it just seemed like they bit everywhere I went. It’s an awesome lake and I’ve had a lot of success here. It holds a special place in my heart.
On Days 2 and 3, Williams focused on areas that had been windblown the first day. He caught his bass on a 1/2-ounce homemade white spinnerbait with two blade combinations. He used a double willow-leaf model in clear water and a Colorado/Indiana combo in stained water. Both carried Zoom Split Tail trailers.
Casey Scanlon of Eldon, Mo., placed third with 44-13. His daily weights were 14-11, 13-14 and 16-4.
Noting that he contended with dynamic conditions, Scanlon said he found success by sticking with his go-to bait.
“I pretty much kept my 1/2-ounce Trophy Bass Company spinnerbait with a 2/0 Hayabusa trailer hook in my hand,” he said. “The spinnerbait was a morning deal. A 1/2-ounce Z-Man Jackhammer ChatterBait with a Tackle HD Minnow Fluke trailer was an afternoon deal. Today, I caught four on the spinnerbait and one on the ChatterBait.
“I took it easy on that Nitro and Mercury. I didn’t make any long runs; I stayed within about 5 miles of here. Conditions changed for me every day and I had to change with it.”
As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Birmingham, Ala., angler Jake Maddux, who finished 11th, took home an additional $2,000.
Kemp won the $750 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award for his 5-13 largemouth. He also won the $500 Garmin Tournament Rewards.
Kemp leads the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Division 3 standings with 200 points. Williams is in second with 199, followed by Scanlon with 198, Jack Dice of Lynchburg, Va., with 197 and Ryan Broughman of Corapeake, N.C., with 196.
John Garrett of Union City, Tenn., leads the Opens Elite Qualifiers standings with 577 points. Matt Henry of Milledgeville, Ga., is second with 545, followed by Kenta Kimura of Osaka, Japan, with 539, Wesley Gore of Clanton, Ala., with 538 and Ben Milliken of New Caney, Texas, with 535. Rounding out the nine anglers who are in position to qualify for the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series via the Opens EQ are Trey McKinney, Keith Tuma, Brett Cannon and JT Thompkins. Follow the Opens EQ race all season at Bassmaster.com.
2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Buggs Island 5/3-5/5
Buggs Island Reservoir, Clarksville VA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Powell Kemp Scotland Neck, NC 15 48-13 200 $53,284.00
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 16-12 Day 3: 5 12-09
2. David Williams Newton, NC 15 45-11 199 $25,274.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 17-00 Day 3: 5 17-06
3. Casey Scanlon Eldon, MO 15 44-13 198 $17,840.00
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 13-14 Day 3: 5 16-04
4. Jack Dice Lynchburg, VA 15 42-11 197 $14,867.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 16-02 Day 3: 5 13-13
5. Ryan Broughman Corapeake, NC 15 42-07 196 $12,934.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 15-02 Day 3: 5 15-03
6. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 15 42-01 195 $11,893.00
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 14-09 Day 3: 5 13-05
7. Casey Smith Victor, NY 15 41-00 194 $11,150.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 16-04 Day 3: 5 12-00
8. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 15 40-07 193 $10,407.00
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 14-07 Day 3: 5 12-04
9. Shayne Berlo Mclean, VA 15 38-07 192 $8,177.00
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 17-13 Day 3: 5 09-11
10. Evan Barnes Dardanelle, AR 15 37-12 191 $6,690.00
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 09-01
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Powell Kemp Scotland Neck, NC 05-13 $750.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 160 964 2096-08
2 157 932 2013-01
3 10 50 131-08
----------------------------------
327 1946 4241-01
Findley comes from behind to win B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional on Arkansas River
Cole Findley of Forsyth, Mo., has won the 2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional at Arkansas River with a three-day total of 36 pounds, 4 ounces.
Photo by Mark Cisneros/B.A.S.S.
May 5, 2023
MUSKOGEE, Okla. — Cole Findley didn’t lead the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional at Arkansas River until it mattered most.
And that’s all that mattered.
Findley, a 39-year-old resident of Forsyth, Mo., caught limits of five bass on each of the tournament’s three days, finishing with a total weight of 36 pounds, 4 ounces. He won $5,000 for finishing atop the 80-angler field. Findley also earned a $500 in Garmin Rewards money.
He also locked up a spot in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship scheduled for South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell Oct. 18-20. A Top 3 finish there would earn him a berth in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota which is scheduled for March 22-24 in Tulsa, Okla.
But first thing’s first, and that includes relishing Friday’s B.A.S.S. Nation win on the Arkansas River, the first regional on the Nation calendar in 2023.
“A lot of things have to happen to win a tournament, and everything came together for me this week,” Findley said shortly after lofting the tournament trophy at Three Forks Harbor, where the derby began and ended each day.
“I had a great time this week. The Team (Missouri) was great. My co-anglers were all I could ask for ... It’s just been a perfect week.”
Findley locked downriver into the McClellan-Kerr area where he targeted reaction bites around stands of reeds instead of the rock and wood structures many of his fellow competitors were fishing.
“I needed deeper water, from 4 to 6 feet and 12 to 14 feet,” he said. “I got off the main channel and was flipping a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver (black/blue) and I caught a few on a 6th Sense Vega Frog. But nothing was easy.”
That might be an understatement, considering Findley only had 19 keeper bites throughout the three-day competition.
“I was making a flip every four seconds,” he said. “The lure was going in and coming out just as quick ... I caught a lot of shorts on the first day, but the bigger bites were just not happening often at all.”
Findley has had momentum on his side recently. He finished 11th in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Alabama’s Pickwick Lake last November and paired with Jeffrey Barrickman to place 17th in the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship at Hartwell a month later.
“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve calmed down,” Findley said. “I don’t spin out. I’m easygoing and relaxed.”
As for his pending return trip to the Nation Championship, Findley was single-minded.
“There’s only one goal and that’s to make the Classic,” he said.
Oklahoma’s Tyler Ramsay slipped into second place in the angler field with a cumulative weight of 34-14. He caught 11-12 on Friday, which was the third-heaviest bag caught by the 40 anglers who made the cut.
“I fished in Kerr all three days,” the 33-year-old Sand Springs, Okla., resident said. “I was catching them in around 2 feet of water in some backwaters and oxbows, around lily pads and reeds.”
Ramsay used a SPRO Bronzeye Frog in black and a variety of white swim jigs to boat his best bass. He won $3,000 for finishing second in the angler field.
“The vegetation was important,” he said. “If there was water behind it, postspawn bass were coming in to feed on shad.”
Jesse Jordan of Stilwell, Kan., took home Big Bass of the Tournament honors and $500 for the 5-4 he caught Thursday.
James Seymour, of Oglesby, Texas, led the 80 competitors in the co-angler division with a three-day total of six bass weighing 19-8. Seymour caught a three-bass limit of 11-1 on Friday to jump to the top of his field and earn the $2,500 cash prize.
Seymour, 44, rallied after catching only one bass for 2-4 on Day 1 and a pair of fish totaling 6-3 on Day 2.
“I was grinding and knew I had to do something different,” Seymour said.
That involved Texas-rigging a Zoom Trick Worm (green pumpkin/purple flake) with its tail dipped in red dye. He popped a tungsten nail weight into the other end of the lure, which gave it a unique fall.
Seymour will be making his first trip to the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship. He also won the co-angler division of the Texas Nation Championship.
“It’s been pretty amazing,” he said. “We have a tough region. To win here and go to Nationals, it’s really a dream coming true.”
A total of 16 anglers qualified for the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at this week’s event — the leading angler and co-angler from each of the eight states represented.
The team championship of the derby concluded Thursday. Kansas finished first in that contest, with 71 bass weighing a total of 171-2, which was good for $5,000 for their Nation program. Team Louisiana finished second (77 bass, 166-12) and won $3,000, while Team Oklahoma (67 bass, 155-13) was third and won $2,000.
A total of $34,500 was awarded between individual and team competitions.
Four B.A.S.S. Nation Regionals remain on this year’s schedule — at Tennessee’s Douglas Lake (May 24-26), the Potomac River in Maryland (June 7-9), Wisconsin’s Lake Winnebago (June 28-30) and the Western Regional, which is still to be announced.
The tournament was hosted by the Muskogee Tourism Authority.
2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional 5/3-5/5
Arkansas River, Muskogee OK.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Cole Findley Forsyth, MO (MO) 15 36-04 0
2. Tyler Ramsey Sand Springs, OK (OK) 15 34-14 0
3. Blake Wilson Benton, AR (AR) 14 33-14 0
4. Brock Enmeier Bixby, OK (OK) 11 30-02 0
5. Nate Caldwell Fort Collins, CO (CO) 12 28-07 0
6. Matthew Nobile Sorrento, LA (LA) 11 28-07 0
7. Howard Hartley Jr Berwick, LA (LA) 13 28-02 0
8. Andy Gill Wellsville, KS (KS) 11 27-10 0
9. Matthew Abeyta Albuquerque, NM (NM) 9 27-06 0
10. Jamie Laiche Gonzales, LA (LA) 11 25-02 0
11. Chris Johnson Farmington, AR (KS) 10 24-09 0
12. Byron Albrecht Waco, TX (TX) 9 24-08 0
13. Jay Beffa Festus, MO (MO) 10 24-05 0
14. Kris Bosley Amarillo, TX (NM) 9 23-01 0
15. Tray Huddleston Russellville, AR (AR) 7 21-13 0
16. Tyler Wilson Carlsbad, NM (NM) 9 19-08 0
17. Grayson Morrow San Angelo, TX (TX) 8 19-00 0
18. Gabriel Rivera Portales, NM (NM) 8 18-03 0
19. Jesse Jordan Stilwel, KS (KS) 6 17-02 0
20. Keith Allen Okemah, OK (OK) 6 14-07 0
21. Brock Bila Louisburg, KS (KS) 7 14-03 0
22. Joe Conway Colorado Springs, CO (C 6 13-15 0
23. Kenny Turpin El Dorado, KS (KS) 6 13-11 0
24. Johnny Johnson Bloomfield, NM (NM) 5 13-09 0
25. Kevin Crady De Soto, MO (MO) 5 12-14 0
26. Chuck Major Morganza, LA (LA) 5 12-03 0
27. Austin Abadie Saint Amant, LA (LA) 5 11-13 0
28. Jeff Lugar Princeton, TX (TX) 6 11-06 0
29. Ross Roper Lutcher, LA (LA) 6 11-03 0
30. Tucker Pierce Hollister, MO (MO) 6 10-15 0
31. Chad Petrie Scroggins, TX (TX) 4 10-11 0
32. Jared Knuth Wahoo, NE (MO) 6 10-09 0
33. Nick Luna Buckner, MO (KS) 5 10-02 0
34. Steve Schneider Tijeras, NM (NM) 5 10-02 0
35. Austin O'Dell Cushing , OK (OK) 5 10-01 0
36. Klint VonFeldt Hays, KS (KS) 4 09-14 0
37. Drew Tabor Harrison, AR (AR) 7 09-14 0
38. Adam Deakin Windsor, CO (CO) 4 09-05 0
39. Teddy Granier Thibodaux, LA (LA) 4 09-03 0
40. Matthew Peter Saint James, MO (MO) 4 08-15 0
41. Dalton Ross Centerton, AR (AR) 4 08-06 0
42. Tony Halford Perkins, OK (OK) 3 08-05 0
43. Ramsey Romanin Wolcott, CO (CO) 3 08-03 0
44. Adam Johnson Pontiac, MO (AR) 2 07-13 0
45. Ryan Watkins Rockport, TX (TX) 3 07-10 0
46. Larry Stoafer Leavenworth, KS (KS) 4 07-05 0
47. Brian Dickirson Choctaw, OK (OK) 3 07-03 0
48. Brian Reinert Rathdrum, ID (CO) 4 07-02 0
49. David Henning Augusta, KS (KS) 3 07-02 0
50. Tim Cartwright Sand Springs, OK (OK) 3 07-01 0
50. Zachery Fowler Konawa, OK (OK) 3 07-01 0
52. Pete DuBois Mountain Home, AR (AR) 3 06-15 0
53. Kyle Torkelson Coweta, OK (KS) 3 06-13 0
54. Alan Daniels Kansas City, KS (MO) 3 06-02 0
55. Buddy Jorde II Clovis, NM (NM) 2 05-10 0
56. Brent Breznik Borger, TX (NM) 3 05-09 0
57. Kevin Late Pocahontas, AR (AR) 2 05-06 0
57. Casey Welch Arvada, CO (CO) 2 05-06 0
59. Steven Caldwell Whitesboro, TX (TX) 3 05-06 0
60. Boyd Gautreau Saint Amant, LA (LA) 2 04-15 0
61. Christian Gladfelter Winters, TX (NM) 2 04-07 0
62. Corey Stewart III Lees Summit, MO (MO) 1 04-01 0
63. Robert Thierry III Sugarland, TX (TX) 2 04-00 0
64. Charles Dodd Tyler, TX (TX) 2 03-15 0
65. Ron Strickland Pueblo West, CO (CO) 2 03-08 0
66. Wesley Baxley Cypress, TX (TX) 2 03-07 0
67. Larry Triplett Castle Rock, CO (CO) 1 03-03 0
68. Bradley Sullivan Shawnee, OK (OK) 2 02-12 0
69. Christopher Dollard Mountain Home, AR (AR) 3 02-09 0
70. Ira Lynn Adkins, TX (TX) 1 02-08 0
71. Preston Havens Mountain Home, AR (AR) 1 02-05 0
72. Chris Jarvis Albuquerque, NM (NM) 1 02-03 0
73. Austin Plaisance Belle Chasse, LA (LA) 1 01-14 0
74. Brian Murphy Sulphur, LA (LA) 1 01-03 0
75. Matthew Cesar Crane, MO (MO) 0 00-00 0
75. Tyler Frahm Kirbyville, MO (MO) 0 00-00 0
75. Jason Gasper Peyton, CO (CO) 0 00-00 0
75. Kris Lee Coweta, OK (OK) 0 00-00 0
75. Derek Leek Monticello, AR (AR) 0 00-00 0
75. Jerod Rosten Windsor, CO (CO) 0 00-00 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 10 164 368-02
2 12 166 404-14
3 4 59 135-08
----------------------------------
26 389 908-08
TEAM STANDINGS Day 3
----------------------------------
State Lbs-Oz
1 LOUISIANA 200-12
2 KANSAS 196-13
3 OKLAHOMA 194-03
4 ARKANSAS 166-07
5 NEW MEXICO 157-10
6 MISSOURI 150-14
7 TEXAS 140-06
8 COLORADO 105-14
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
KANSAS
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Andy Gill Wellsville, KS 11 27-10 0
2 Chris Johnson Farmington, AR 10 24-09 0
3 Jesse Jordan Stilwel, KS 6 17-02 0
4 Brock Bila Louisburg, KS 7 14-03 0
5 Kenny Turpin El Dorado, KS 6 13-11 0
6 Nick Luna Buckner, MO 5 10-02 0
7 Klint VonFeldt Hays, KS 4 09-14 0
8 Larry Stoafer Leavenworth, KS 4 07-05 0
9 David Henning Augusta, KS 3 07-02 0
10 Kyle Torkelson Coweta, OK 3 06-13 0
OKLAHOMA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Tyler Ramsey Sand Springs, OK 15 34-14 0
2 Brock Enmeier Bixby, OK 11 30-02 0
3 Keith Allen Okemah, OK 6 14-07 0
4 Austin O'Dell Cushing , OK 5 10-01 0
5 Tony Halford Perkins, OK 3 08-05 0
6 Brian Dickirson Choctaw, OK 3 07-03 0
7 Tim Cartwright Sand Springs, OK 3 07-01 0
7 Zachery Fowler Konawa, OK 3 07-01 0
9 Bradley Sullivan Shawnee, OK 2 02-12 0
10 Kris Lee Coweta, OK 0 00-00 0
LOUISIANA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Matthew Nobile Sorrento, LA 11 28-07 0
2 Howard Hartley Jr Berwick, LA 13 28-02 0
3 Jamie Laiche Gonzales, LA 11 25-02 0
4 Chuck Major Morganza, LA 5 12-03 0
5 Austin Abadie Saint Amant, LA 5 11-13 0
6 Ross Roper Lutcher, LA 6 11-03 0
7 Teddy Granier Thibodaux, LA 4 09-03 0
8 Boyd Gautreau Saint Amant, LA 2 04-15 0
9 Austin Plaisance Belle Chasse, LA 1 01-14 0
10 Brian Murphy Sulphur, LA 1 01-03 0
MISSOURI
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Cole Findley Forsyth, MO 15 36-04 0
2 Jay Beffa Festus, MO 10 24-05 0
3 Kevin Crady De Soto, MO 5 12-14 0
4 Tucker Pierce Hollister, MO 6 10-15 0
5 Jared Knuth Wahoo, NE 6 10-09 0
6 Matthew Peter Saint James, MO 4 08-15 0
7 Alan Daniels Kansas City, KS 3 06-02 0
8 Corey Stewart III Lees Summit, MO 1 04-01 0
9 Matthew Cesar Crane, MO 0 00-00 0
9 Tyler Frahm Kirbyville, MO 0 00-00 0
ARKANSAS
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Blake Wilson Benton, AR 14 33-14 0
2 Tray Huddleston Russellville, AR 7 21-13 0
3 Drew Tabor Harrison, AR 7 09-14 0
4 Dalton Ross Centerton, AR 4 08-06 0
5 Adam Johnson Pontiac, MO 2 07-13 0
6 Pete DuBois Mountain Home, AR 3 06-15 0
7 Kevin Late Pocahontas, AR 2 05-06 0
8 Christopher Dollard Mountain Home, AR 3 02-09 0
9 Preston Havens Mountain Home, AR 1 02-05 0
10 Derek Leek Monticello, AR 0 00-00 0
TEXAS
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Byron Albrecht Waco, TX 9 24-08 0
2 Grayson Morrow San Angelo, TX 8 19-00 0
3 Jeff Lugar Princeton, TX 6 11-06 0
4 Chad Petrie Scroggins, TX 4 10-11 0
5 Ryan Watkins Rockport, TX 3 07-10 0
6 Steven Caldwell Whitesboro, TX 3 05-06 0
7 Robert Thierry III Sugarland, TX 2 04-00 0
8 Charles Dodd Tyler, TX 2 03-15 0
9 Wesley Baxley Cypress, TX 2 03-07 0
10 Ira Lynn Adkins, TX 1 02-08 0
NEW MEXICO
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Matthew Abeyta Albuquerque, NM 9 27-06 0
2 Kris Bosley Amarillo, TX 9 23-01 0
3 Tyler Wilson Carlsbad, NM 9 19-08 0
4 Gabriel Rivera Portales, NM 8 18-03 0
5 Johnny Johnson Bloomfield, NM 5 13-09 0
6 Steve Schneider Tijeras, NM 5 10-02 0
7 Buddy Jorde II Clovis, NM 2 05-10 0
8 Brent Breznik Borger, TX 3 05-09 0
9 Christian Gladfelter Winters, TX 2 04-07 0
10 Chris Jarvis Albuquerque, NM 1 02-03 0
COLORADO
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Nate Caldwell Fort Collins, CO 12 28-07 0
2 Joe Conway Colorado Springs, CO 6 13-15 0
3 Adam Deakin Windsor, CO 4 09-05 0
4 Ramsey Romanin Wolcott, CO 3 08-03 0
5 Brian Reinert Rathdrum, ID 4 07-02 0
6 Casey Welch Arvada, CO 2 05-06 0
7 Ron Strickland Pueblo West, CO 2 03-08 0
8 Larry Triplett Castle Rock, CO 1 03-03 0
9 Jason Gasper Peyton, CO 0 00-00 0
9 Jerod Rosten Windsor, CO 0 00-00 0
2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional 5/3-5/5
Arkansas River, Muskogee OK.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. James Seymour Oglesby, TX (TX) 6 19-08 0
2. Cole Buser Moscow, ID (NM) 8 17-10 0
3. Kyle Klein Hutchinson, KS (KS) 6 17-00 0
4. Colten Hutson Edmond, OK (OK) 7 16-15 0
5. Jason Campbell Berwick, LA (LA) 6 16-10 0
6. Jeremiah Proulx Cherokee Village, AR (A 6 16-08 0
7. Kevin Sullivan Tecumseh, OK (OK) 7 16-01 0
8. Lanny Dooley Mountain Home, AR (AR) 6 15-09 0
9. Jobie Vongpraphanh Springdale, AR (AR) 7 14-15 0
10. Parker Welch Spring Hill, KS (KS) 4 13-03 0
11. Billy Freeny Sperry, OK (OK) 4 10-13 0
12. Marshal Allen Greeley, CO (CO) 4 10-06 0
13. Travis Bodin Erwinville, LA (LA) 5 10-04 0
14. Dennis Dustmann Oklahoma City, OK (OK) 5 09-12 0
15. Joe Whelan Ozark, MO (MO) 3 09-07 0
16. Ron Darr Kirksville, MO (MO) 4 09-05 0
17. Clayton Smith Montgomery, TX (TX) 4 09-02 0
18. Jesse Cornell Abilene, KS (KS) 3 07-09 0
19. Jonathan Small Pleasant Hill, MO (MO) 4 07-08 0
20. Logan Farrimond Garden City, MO (MO) 2 06-13 0
21. Dylan Eschette Brusly, LA (LA) 4 06-09 0
22. Kit Lueg Stilwell, KS (KS) 2 06-06 0
23. Kelly Ross Solomon, KS (KS) 3 06-05 0
24. Cambre Webb Walker, LA (LA) 3 06-04 0
25. Scott Guitreau St Amant, LA (LA) 2 05-11 0
26. R.J. Leblanc Jr Franklin, LA (LA) 3 05-09 0
27. David Gummow New Roads, LA (LA) 2 05-06 0
28. Aaron Danos Jr Bella Vista, AR (AR) 2 05-03 0
29. Shayne Dupree Haslet, TX (TX) 3 05-02 0
30. Garrett Smith Vidor, TX (TX) 2 05-01 0
31. Levi Evans Ava, MO (AR) 3 05-00 0
32. Korbyn Parker Sand Springs, OK (OK) 2 05-00 0
33. Sean Bowen Midwest City, OK (OK) 2 04-15 0
34. Jake Beach Opelousas, LA (LA) 5 04-14 0
35. Joshua Plott Sumner, TX (TX) 2 04-14 0
36. Lance Henderson Springdale, AR (AR) 2 04-04 0
37. Neil Raedel Colorado Springs, CO (C 2 04-03 0
38. Scott Hausman Owasso, OK (OK) 2 04-02 0
39. Pam Horne Bella Vista, AR (AR) 2 04-01 0
40. Larry Fralick Wichita, KS (KS) 2 04-00 0
41. Melissa Jarvis Albuquerque, NM (NM) 2 04-00 0
42. Mark Warren Kiowa, CO (CO) 2 03-15 0
43. Richard Crine Columbine Valley, CO (C 2 03-09 0
44. Alex Falcon Morgan City, LA (LA) 2 03-08 0
45. Steven Temple Carlsbad, NM (NM) 2 03-05 0
46. Johnnie Large Owasso, OK (OK) 1 03-00 0
47. Zack Busch Festus, MO (MO) 1 02-04 0
48. Tai Hunt Denver, CO (CO) 1 02-01 0
49. Greg Brown Overland Park, KS (KS) 1 02-00 0
49. Mark Laird Springdale, AR (AR) 1 02-00 0
49. Tiger Manuel Jr Sulphur, LA (LA) 1 02-00 0
52. Larry Brumley Topeka, KS (KS) 1 01-15 0
53. Kirk Fulton Nolanville, TX (TX) 1 01-12 0
54. Brezlyn Hightower Choctaw, OK (OK) 1 01-11 0
55. Ronnie Hill Canadian, TX (NM) 1 01-10 0
56. Glenn Hahn San Antonio, TX (TX) 1 01-09 0
57. Cameron Anielak Saint Peters, MO (MO) 1 01-08 0
58. Christopher Sanchez Albuquerque, NM (NM) 1 01-07 0
59. Don Evans Canon City, CO (CO) 1 01-06 0
60. Andrew Bowman Aurora, CO (CO) 1 01-05 0
61. David Porter Rockwall, TX (TX) 3 00-15 0
62. Kevin Hallemann Saint Louis, MO (MO) 1 00-00 0
63. Michael Arndt Potosi, MO (MO) 0 00-00 0
63. Macky Bosley III Canyon, TX (NM) 0 00-00 0
63. Bruce Carter Carrollton, TX (TX) 0 00-00 0
63. Richard Castellese Albuquerque, NM (NM) 0 00-00 0
63. Ray Cates Overland Park, KS (KS) 0 00-00 0
63. Luke Davidson Centennial , CO (CO) 0 00-00 0
63. Mike Estrada Belen, NM (NM) 0 00-00 0
63. Jim Evers Edmond, OK (OK) 0 00-00 0
63. Jon Gipson Magnolia, TX (TX) 0 00-00 0
63. Bob Howard Colorado Springs, CO (C 0 00-00 0
63. Matt Hyde Springfield, MO (MO) 0 00-00 0
63. Ron Kless Rio Rancho, NM (NM) 0 00-00 0
63. Turner Mason Thornton, CO (CO) 0 00-00 0
63. AJ Rongey Osage Beach, MO (MO) 0 00-00 0
63. Jim Vielhauer Shawnee, KS (KS) 0 00-00 0
63. Marty Whisnant Gainesville, MO (AR) 0 00-00 0
63. John Widner Albuquerque, NM (NM) 0 00-00 0
63. Chuck Wisdom Jr Beebe, AR (AR) 0 00-00 0
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 7 66 129-15
2 15 88 211-06
3 5 26 63-02
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27 180 404-07
TEAM STANDINGS Day 3
----------------------------------
State Lbs-Oz
1 LOUISIANA 200-12
2 KANSAS 196-13
3 OKLAHOMA 194-03
4 ARKANSAS 166-07
5 NEW MEXICO 157-10
6 MISSOURI 150-14
7 TEXAS 140-06
8 COLORADO 105-14
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
KANSAS
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Kyle Klein Hutchinson, KS 6 17-00 0
2 Parker Welch Spring Hill, KS 4 13-03 0
3 Jesse Cornell Abilene, KS 3 07-09 0
4 Kit Lueg Stilwell, KS 2 06-06 0
5 Kelly Ross Solomon, KS 3 06-05 0
6 Larry Fralick Wichita, KS 2 04-00 0
7 Greg Brown Overland Park, KS 1 02-00 0
8 Larry Brumley Topeka, KS 1 01-15 0
9 Ray Cates Overland Park, KS 0 00-00 0
9 Jim Vielhauer Shawnee, KS 0 00-00 0
OKLAHOMA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Colten Hutson Edmond, OK 7 16-15 0
2 Kevin Sullivan Tecumseh, OK 7 16-01 0
3 Billy Freeny Sperry, OK 4 10-13 0
4 Dennis Dustmann Oklahoma City, OK 5 09-12 0
5 Korbyn Parker Sand Springs, OK 2 05-00 0
6 Sean Bowen Midwest City, OK 2 04-15 0
7 Scott Hausman Owasso, OK 2 04-02 0
8 Johnnie Large Owasso, OK 1 03-00 0
9 Brezlyn Hightower Choctaw, OK 1 01-11 0
10 Jim Evers Edmond, OK 0 00-00 0
LOUISIANA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jason Campbell Berwick, LA 6 16-10 0
2 Travis Bodin Erwinville, LA 5 10-04 0
3 Dylan Eschette Brusly, LA 4 06-09 0
4 Cambre Webb Walker, LA 3 06-04 0
5 Scott Guitreau St Amant, LA 2 05-11 0
6 R.J. Leblanc Jr Franklin, LA 3 05-09 0
7 David Gummow New Roads, LA 2 05-06 0
8 Jake Beach Opelousas, LA 5 04-14 0
9 Alex Falcon Morgan City, LA 2 03-08 0
10 Tiger Manuel Jr Sulphur, LA 1 02-00 0
MISSOURI
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Joe Whelan Ozark, MO 3 09-07 0
2 Ron Darr Kirksville, MO 4 09-05 0
3 Jonathan Small Pleasant Hill, MO 4 07-08 0
4 Logan Farrimond Garden City, MO 2 06-13 0
5 Zack Busch Festus, MO 1 02-04 0
6 Cameron Anielak Saint Peters, MO 1 01-08 0
7 Kevin Hallemann Saint Louis, MO 1 00-00 0
8 Michael Arndt Potosi, MO 0 00-00 0
8 Matt Hyde Springfield, MO 0 00-00 0
8 AJ Rongey Osage Beach, MO 0 00-00 0
ARKANSAS
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jeremiah Proulx Cherokee Village, AR 6 16-08 0
2 Lanny Dooley Mountain Home, AR 6 15-09 0
3 Jobie Vongpraphanh Springdale, AR 7 14-15 0
4 Aaron Danos Jr Bella Vista, AR 2 05-03 0
5 Levi Evans Ava, MO 3 05-00 0
6 Lance Henderson Springdale, AR 2 04-04 0
7 Pam Horne Bella Vista, AR 2 04-01 0
8 Mark Laird Springdale, AR 1 02-00 0
9 Marty Whisnant Gainesville, MO 0 00-00 0
9 Chuck Wisdom Jr Beebe, AR 0 00-00 0
TEXAS
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 James Seymour Oglesby, TX 6 19-08 0
2 Clayton Smith Montgomery, TX 4 09-02 0
3 Shayne Dupree Haslet, TX 3 05-02 0
4 Garrett Smith Vidor, TX 2 05-01 0
5 Joshua Plott Sumner, TX 2 04-14 0
6 Kirk Fulton Nolanville, TX 1 01-12 0
7 Glenn Hahn San Antonio, TX 1 01-09 0
8 David Porter Rockwall, TX 3 00-15 0
9 Bruce Carter Carrollton, TX 0 00-00 0
9 Jon Gipson Magnolia, TX 0 00-00 0
NEW MEXICO
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Cole Buser Moscow, ID 8 17-10 0
2 Melissa Jarvis Albuquerque, NM 2 04-00 0
3 Steven Temple Carlsbad, NM 2 03-05 0
4 Ronnie Hill Canadian, TX 1 01-10 0
5 Christopher Sanchez Albuquerque, NM 1 01-07 0
6 Macky Bosley III Canyon, TX 0 00-00 0
6 Richard Castellese Albuquerque, NM 0 00-00 0
6 Mike Estrada Belen, NM 0 00-00 0
6 Ron Kless Rio Rancho, NM 0 00-00 0
6 John Widner Albuquerque, NM 0 00-00 0
COLORADO
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Marshal Allen Greeley, CO 4 10-06 0
2 Neil Raedel Colorado Springs, CO 2 04-03 0
3 Mark Warren Kiowa, CO 2 03-15 0
4 Richard Crine Columbine Valley, CO 2 03-09 0
5 Tai Hunt Denver, CO 1 02-01 0
6 Don Evans Canon City, CO 1 01-06 0
7 Andrew Bowman Aurora, CO 1 01-05 0
8 Luke Davidson Centennial , CO 0 00-00 0
8 Bob Howard Colorado Springs, CO 0 00-00 0
8 Turner Mason Thornton, CO 0 00-00 0
2023 Bassmaster High School All-American Team names 12 new members
The Top 12 high school anglers in the country have been named to the 2023 Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
May 5, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Twelve of the top high school anglers in the country have been selected as new members of the notable Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
“For nine years, the Bassmaster High School All-American program has identified and honored some of the most accomplished student anglers in the country,” said Chase Anderson, B.A.S.S. CEO. “We’ve seen past members go on to decorated college fishing careers, compete in the Bassmaster Opens EQs and iconic Bassmaster Classic and begin promising careers in the fishing industry. This group of 12 outstanding All-Americans is equally as talented and poised to do amazing things. We appreciate Academy Sports + Outdoors for partnering with B.A.S.S. to recognize these anglers’ fishing skills and commitment to academics, conservation and community service.”
Over 300 applications nominating students in grades 10-12 were submitted from 33 states across the nation. Of these, 52 students were chosen as Bassmaster All-State anglers. After considering tournament resumes, conservation efforts, community service activities and recommendations from school officials and coaches, a panel of judges consisting of representatives from the sportfishing industry, media and conservation groups further narrowed the field to the Top 12 high school anglers in the country.
“Congratulations! This goes to show your efforts on and off the water do not go unnoticed,” said Glenn Cale, B.A.S.S. Nation tournament manager — College, High School and Junior, to the student anglers. “I’m super-proud of you all and look forward to sharing this special moment with you. Be sure to chase all of your dreams, because they do not chase you back.”
The 2023 All-American team has been invited to participate in an exclusive Bassmaster High School All-American Tournament, which will be held in conjunction with the Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River scheduled for June 1-4 in Orange, Texas. Each All-American angler will be paired with an Elite Series pro for the one-day derby to be held on a nearby fishery.
Congratulations to the following student anglers for being named to the 2023 Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors. Following are short biographies of the 2023 team members.
Triton Graham, Citronelle, Ala.
Jackson Academy junior Triton Graham amassed an impressive three wins during this past season, as well as three Top 5 finishes and three Top 20 finishes. His past accolades include being named the 2021-2022 Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation High School Angler of the Year and winning the 2019 TBF Junior World Championship as well as the 2019 Alabama Bass Federation Junior State Championship.
“Triton has undeniable talent, but his service and compassion for others is what makes him truly unique,” said Eddie Denmark, coach of the Citronelle Fishing Team. “Triton is dedicated to the conservation of local resources and he spends his free time mentoring young anglers.”
When Graham is not excelling on the water, he devotes his time to helping others in his community. He has spent countless hours volunteering at numerous weigh-ins, aided in the annual Hope Hunt which allows handicapped hunters to hunt and enjoy the outdoors numerous times and assisted elderly people in maintaining their yards. He is very involved with the Citronelle Community Lake, where he provides cover for fry hatchlings by adding brush. He also does his part to ensure there is no trash left behind by campers to ensure the lake remains free of pollution. Graham plans to pursue bass fishing at the collegiate and professional levels.
Evan Newell, Lakeland, Fla.
A senior at Santa Fe Catholic High School, Evan Newell has earned a spectacular three wins, five Top 5 finishes and eight Top 20 finishes. He was named the 2022 B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional Co-Angler of the Year as well as the 2022 B.A.S.S. Nation State of Florida Co-Angler of the Year. Newell is a four-time B.A.S.S. Nation High School State Championship qualifier and is currently leading four of the six Florida B.A.S.S. Nation trails with his partner.
“Evan is an extremely hard-working young man with many talents,” said Matt Franzino, the president of Santa Fe Catholic High School. “His love for the water and fishing has opened many doors for him, and I see great things ahead.”
Newell spends much of his time off the water helping others. He participates in AFTCO lake cleanups and is currently working on an educational project to better educate Floridians on the spraying that goes on in the state’s lakes. He is a strong advocate for fish care and is constantly researching ways to keep fish alive after being caught in tournaments. Evan recently signed with Carson-Newman University, where he will be fishing in the fall.
Peyton Dunn, Fitzgerald, Ga.
A senior at Ben Hill County High School, Peyton Dunn has amassed an impressive four wins this past year, including at the Georgia B.A.S.S. Nation Trial event on Lake Lanier where he defeated a field of over 180 boats. In addition to those wins, Dunn has three Top 5 finishes, two Top 20 finishes and a plethora of other tournament successes. He was named the 2021 Georgia B.A.S.S. Nation High School Angler of the Year.
“There is no argument that winning is very important, but I am sure you can agree with me that there are some things that are even more important than that,” said Joshua P. Guy, head coach of the Irwin Bass Anglers. “In Peyton’s case, it is character and compassion that proved more important. What sets Peyton apart from the crowd is the fact that he is willing to forfeit all of the accolades and awards just to give someone the chance of a lifetime to experience the sport he loves.”
Peyton is currently involved with the Flex Competition which gives students the opportunity to create, develop and plan a business model. His team decided to create and market fishing lures. Dunn also had the opportunity to aid in rescuing a male and female on the Ocmulgee River who were stranded and injured. He is very passionate about conservation and spends much of his time creating brushpiles for his community ponds and lakes.
Hunter Petrovic, Minooka, Ill.
Minooka Community High School senior Hunter Petrovic has an impressive five wins this past year, including a first-place finish in an event with a field size of over 100 boats. He has eight Top 5 finishes and six Top 20 finishes to add to his list of accomplishments.
“Hunter has been exemplary in every aspect of life,” said Joseph W. Host, a teacher at Minooka Community High School. “He naturally represents everything that we as educators treasure. He has made all of those around him better by example. He always does things the right way and is never looking for the easy way out. He handles both success and adversity with integrity.”
When Hunter is not excelling on the water and in the classroom, he devotes his time to helping others. He has tutored his peers and assisted with many different projects at his high school and in his community. Petrovic’s goals include qualifying for the Bassmaster High School National Championship, winning a state title at the high school level and excelling on the fishing team at Southwestern Michigan College.
Braci Ault, Brookston, Ind.
Frontier High School senior Braci Ault collected one win during her 2022 tournament season alongside two Top 5 finishes and five Top 20 finishes, including a seventh-place finish at the Bassmaster High School Championship out of a field of 300-plus teams. Ault placed second in the 2022 Indiana B.A.S.S. Nation High School points race, following an impressive 2021 season where she captured two wins in Indiana B.A.S.S. Nation High School events to place fourth overall.
“Braci is a sweet and caring young lady who is an asset to our school and all of the people that she is around,” said Amy Turner, a teacher at Frontier High School. “Her character and integrity are top-notch, and she excels in her schoolwork and all of her extracurricular activities.”
Ault spends her time off the water serving her community, volunteering at the Salvation Army and the White County Fairgrounds, taking up collections for the Bravely Women’s Health group and assisting at Frontier Junior High track meets and with concessions during games at Purdue University. She is also involved in her school’s National Honor Society and the J-Unit Chalmers Community Church Youth Group, as well as the White County 4-H group. She does all of this while maintaining a 3.5 GPA and participating in a work-based learning program in Animal Research and Education in the Poultry Unit at Purdue University.
Jase White, Haughton, La.
Jase White, a senior at Haughton High School, collected a notable six wins over the course of the 2022 season, as well as seven Top 5 finishes and six Top 20 finishes. He is a four-time TBF/MLF High School National Championship qualifier, as well as a back-to-back North Louisiana High School Fishing League Angler of the Year and the 2022 Youth Fishing Challenge Angler of the Year. During the 2022 season, he finished in the Top 10 in points for both the Louisiana High School B.A.S.S. Nation West Region and North Region.
Describing White as hardworking and well-rounded, Tammy Hall, a math teacher at Haughton High School, said, “Jase goes above and beyond any expectations for himself while exhibiting the most positive attitude. He has consistently demonstrated the ability to rise to any challenge he must face.”
White participates in multiple activities and clubs that contribute to his community, including mentoring troubled students, serving as a member in the Random Acts of Kindness Club and as president of the Haughton High School National Honor Society. He does all of this while maintaining a 4.27 GPA and taking AP and dual enrollment classes. White was selected to represent Haughton High School at Boys State the summer leading into his senior year and was selected as the 2023 Haughton High School Student of the Year out of a class of over 250 students. He has received additional awards for integrity and excellence, including the Masonic Lodge Honesty & Integrity Award and the Bossier Parish School Board Award of Excellence. White was offered both an academic and fishing scholarship from Drury University and plans to begin attending in the fall.
Nicholas DellaPorta, Pequannock, N.J.
Nicholas DellaPorta, a senior at Pequannock Township High School, earned an impressive four wins during the 2022 season, as well as three Top 5 finishes and one Top 10. He qualified for both the 2022 NY/TBF World Championship and the 2022 New Jersey B.A.S.S. Nation National Championship and was the 2022 New Jersey B.A.S.S. Nation High School Angler of the Year. After initially being selected as an Honorable Mention in 2021 and going on to earn a Bassmaster All-State title in 2022, DellaPorta’s continued commitment to his craft and his community has netted him the title of 2023 Bassmaster High School All-American.
“Nicholas continually pushes himself to find the time to ‘pay it forward’ and help teach others about fishing,” said BBZ JC Director William Siemantel. “His attitude and demeanor is nothing less than that of a seasoned professional that has grace, poise and dedication.”
DellaPorta started the first Pequannock Township high school fishing club and has worked with his local parks and recreation department to start a program on Pequannock’s private lake holding fishing seminars and tournaments for young anglers. He is a member of the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance, serves as a fishing guide and camp counselor at Candlewood Lake Fishing Camp in Connecticut and assists the New Jersey Junior B.A.S.S. Nation with scheduling and tournament day organization. DellaPorta started the Junior Angler Nation Instagram account with the mission of celebrating the fishing achievements of junior anglers — an account that has gained 3,700 followers. He does all of this while maintaining a 3.8 GPA and being enrolled in the STEM high school program. DellaPorta plans on attending Carson-Newman University in the fall as a member of their fishing team.
BJ Collins, Robbinsville, N.C.
Abeka Academy senior BJ Collins netted an impressive three wins during his 2022 season, all in fields of 100 or more boats, as well as five Top 5 finishes in both high school and adult-level events and three Top 20 finishes. Collins double-qualified for the 2023 Bassmaster High School Classic through both the Tennessee B.A.S.S. Nation High School Series and the Bassmaster High School Series, where he placed second.
“In our small community, BJ is known for his willingness to help others,” said E. Chantal Matheson, chief administrator at East Buffalo Christian Academy. “BJ strives to do his best in everything that he does and makes an attempt to face every adversity that comes his way with a positive attitude.”
Collins has volunteered time to his community in a myriad of ways, including assisting in fundraisers for the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina, Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the National Rifle Association’s Fundraiser Banquet, as well as performing lawn care for elderly members of his community, collecting donations for those struggling with addiction through Celebrate Recovery - Grace Ministries and constructing walking paths in Lone Oak Cemetery. He has also taken part in multiple habitat restoration and cleanup projects on Lake Santeetlah and has assisted with fish habitat and population surveys on the Cheoah and Tusquitee Ranger Districts. Collins does this while maintaining a 4.02 GPA and working 30 hours a week at Ace Clearing & Construction to help fund his fishing pursuits.
Kaleb Butts, Anderson, S.C.
Kaleb Butts, a senior at Crescent High School, is enjoying a stellar 2022/2023 season, collecting seven wins, 10 Top 10s and 10 Top 20 finishes. Among Butts’ long list of career highlights are four trips to the Bassmaster Junior Series and High School Series National Championships and a state championship at March’s 2023 SCDNR Youth Bass Fishing Championship. Butts and his partner — fellow All-American Luke McGuffin — are well-positioned to qualify for the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
Butts is also a champion in the classroom — his 4.7 GPA has landed him a spot in the Top 10% of his graduating class and scholarship offers at three different universities. Additionally, Butts is active in the community, volunteering for a range of jobs at fishing tournaments including fish care and lake cleanups, assisting in habitat restoration efforts at Lake Hartwell and working to feed homeless teens and families through his church.
According to his father, Butts has long dreamed and worked toward achieving All-American status. “Kaleb has dreamed of being selected for the Bassmaster High School All-American team since his older brother Jacob was selected for the Bassmaster South Carolina All-State team his senior year (2019) … Kaleb has continually taken the time to give back to the Crescent fishing team by taking younger anglers out on the lake and showing them how to be successful in tournament fishing as well as in the community.”
Luke McGuffin, Iva, S.C.
Luke McGuffin, a senior at Crescent High School, collected eight wins over the past year, including at the SCDNR Youth Bass Fishing Championship. Along with six Top 5 finishes and five Top 20s in youth tournaments, McGuffin also has a third-place finish at an ABA Open on his resume.
“I have watched Luke McGuffin grow over his high school career as an angler and a person,” said Marty Walker, Palmetto Boat Center High School Tournament Trail tournament director. “Luke presents himself very professionally at tournaments when fishing and even more so when he volunteers. His dedication to his tournament craft has grown him into a contender that everyone pays attention to when he weighs in.”
Off the water, McGuffin has not only worked with refurbishing fish habitats in Lake Hartwell, but also serves as a volunteer firefighter. As a volunteer firefighter, he has distributed backpacks and Christmas gifts to children in need and taught fire safety and awareness to elementary students. McGuffin dreams of qualifying for the Bassmaster Elite Series and will take the next step in his fishing career while competing for Erskine College.
Easton Drennon, Lebanon, Tenn.
Easton Drennon, a junior at Friendship Christian School, has earned three wins over the past year while competing for the Mt. Juliet Fishing Team, as well as two Top 5s and four Top 20s, including an eighth-place finish at the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster High School Series at Harris Chain of Lakes presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, and is a two-time Bassmaster High School National Championship qualifier.
Drennon is an active member in his school’s Leadership through Volunteerism Program, amassing 83 community service hours through projects such as installing clean drinking water systems and distributing food for the residents of Tennessee’s most impoverished community, mentoring other students and building fish habitats. Drennon’s commitment to bass fishing hasn’t diverted his attention away from his studies, as he has maintained a GPA of 4.28 with a cumulative grade average of 98.
“In addition to his fishing skills, Easton has a solid academic record and is a positive role model in his school and community,” said Jon Shoulders, president of the Friendship Christian School. “He understands that being a part of the All-American Fishing Team is not just about being a skilled angler but also about representing the sport of fishing. Furthermore, Easton demonstrates leadership qualities and a commitment to conservation and environmental stewardship.”
Jacob Longlois, Orange, Texas
Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School junior Jacob Longlois has one of the highest winning/placing percentages in the 10-year history of east Texas high school fishing, including seven wins, two Top 5s and 10 Top 20 finishes over the past year. In addition to finishing in the Top 10% of the field at the 2022 MLF World Championship, Longlois is a two-time Bassmaster High School National Championship qualifier.
Terry Sympson, founder of the Deep East High School Fishing Series, described Longlois as, “an All-American student angler under any system measurement. He is both an excellent student academically, and his accomplishments on the water place him at the very top of the class.” The same sentiment was echoed by School Official Jose Ochoa, who commended Longlois for being “able to be involved in multiple activities and still dedicate himself fully to being successful in each one.”
In the classroom, Longlois is managing a difficult academic load of both AP and dual enrollment classes while maintaining a 5.12 GPA. Longlois is captain of the LCM drumline and active in the National Honor Society. Longlois is well-known within the community for the three used fishing line collection tubes he created at local boat ramps as well as the innovative “life jacket tree” he built and maintains at a boat ramp on Toledo Bend.
Cool Lids & Sun-Protected Faces & Hands
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New for 2023: Whitewater® Fishing hats, gaiter, and gloves sure to please anglers of all walks |
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MUSKEGON, Mich. (May 5, 2023) – Fishing is like baseball. No angler looks fully in uniform without a proper lid. For some, that’s flat-brimming a Richardson tucked down to the darn near eyebrows, while others like the Texas-bred relief pitcher look with the brim bent into an upside-down “U.” Of course, that’s all just looking the part, but good hats do serve to keep the sun out of your eyes and prevent hair from flying all over while rooster-tailing to a hot spot at over 6000 RPMs. |
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If you’re into hats like we are, you need to add these cool caps to your collection. There’s the Whitewater Watermark Hat with its front Blue Bell panel, white mesh back paneling, woven Whitewater logo patch, and adjustable snapback design, the perfect lid for flat-billing it… |
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Whitewater’s Silhouette Hat is another top pick for an angler’s noggin. Featuring a subtle, heathered grey front panel, it too has cooling white mesh back paneling, a woven Whitewater logo patch, and adjustable snapback design. |
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And for those of you looking to go a bit more “country”, there’s Whitewater’s Distressed Logo Hat, with factory-distressed black front panel, embroidered Whitewater logo, grey mesh back paneling, and adjustable Velcro enclosure—the perfect cap for wiping your hands on after belly-gripping a big ol’ flathead for photos. |
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SUN PROTECTION Veteran anglers will tell you that lifelong sun exposure can cause some health problems down-the-road. But young anglers are taking precautions—just like wearing a PFD on throttle—to ensure a long career or chunking and winding. The new school of all things bass is fond of gaiters and gloves. Not only do they offer protection, but they also signify fishing ninja status. |
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Starting at the head, meet Whitewater’s Sun Protection Gaiter, which fits nicely over neck and facial areas. Rated UPF 50 for sun protection, it’s also a comfortable gaiter, manufactured of an ultra-soft poly/nylon/spandex blend for next-to-skin comfort, breathability, and stretch. Better still, it’s not prone to stink after long days on the water since it’s manufactured with polygiene StayFresh™ for odor prevention and Odor Crunch for breaking up potential stench. One-size-fits-all. Available in Grey (105) or Open Water (blue camo) (274). MSRP: $24.99. |
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Hands and digits are vulnerable to the sun, too. Enter Whitewater’s Sun Protection Gloves (which are barely noticeable while wearing), also made of ultra-soft poly/nylon/spandex blend for next-to-skin comfort, breathability, and stretch. And, like Whitewater’s gaiter, Sun Protection Gloves are manufactured with polygiene StayFresh™ for odor prevention and Odor Crunch for breaking up sinky combo of palm sweat and fish slime. Available patterns include Grey (105) and Open Water (blue camo) (274). MSRP: $24.99. Two things we like about the gloves? First, they have a silicone palm grip for a secure hold at the console when running from spot-to-spot—and an extended wrist area to protect you there, too. One last thing: If you fish where there are mosquitoes, black flies, and other nasty, biting critters, both the Whitewater gaiter and gloves provide more than just sun protection. They can really keep bugs at bay. |
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