AnglersChannel

Ruler of Topwater Frogs – the Berkley Swamp Lord

A hollow belly topwater frog that elicits explosive bites from big bass in the nastiest of environments

COLUMBIA, SC. (OCT. 24, 2023) – Every angler knows just how much fun a topwater frog bite can be. But not all frogs are made the same. Designed by Berkley Labs in partnership with expert frog fisherman and 2022 Major League Fishing Redcrest Champion Bobby Lane, the Berkley Swamp Lord is the true frog king of fishing.

The Berkley Swamp Lord features optimally angled, sticky sharp Berkley Fusion19 hooks and a soft, yet extremely durable material that easily collapses – maximizing an angler’s hookup ratio. The sealed hook shank allows for a tighter fit with the body of the bait, reducing water intrusion for uninterrupted fishing. Available in both standard and popping models, the Swamp Lord conquers any environment to elicit only the most explosive of topwater blowups.

KEY FEATURES
• Optimized system to increase hook-up ratio
• Ultra soft body and design allows for quick collapse
• Sealed hook shank, body chamber reduces water intrusion
• Optimally angled sticky sharp Berkley Fusion19 hook
• Standard & popping models

Colors: Maverick • Honey Shad • Potomac • Copperhead • Green Pumpkin • Burnt Bone • Bone • Chartreuse Perch • MF Bluegill • Spring Frog • Bully • Voodoo Black

MSRP: $9.99
Available: September, 2023

by AnglersChannel

Ranger Boats Under the Lid - A BOATLOAD of Storage with Bryan Thrift

We caught up with Ranger Boats / Sportsman's Warehouse Pro Bryan Thrift, the 2023 MLF Redcrest Champion. In this Ranger Under the Lid Series, Bryan is going to walk us through his Ranger Z520 R and how he sets it up for domination out there on tour. In this episode, he shows us a few tips and tricks on how he carries everything he can think of in the bow of his 20 foot Ranger. If it works for a champion, it's sure to work for us!

by AnglersChannel

Brumnett Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament on Lake of the Ozarks

Strike King Co-angler Victory Goes to Oologah’s Parchman

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (Oct. 23, 2023) – Boater Eli Brumnett of Wagoner, Oklahoma, brought a three-day total of 15 bass to the scale weighing 49 pounds, 14 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Event on Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri . For his victory, Brumnett earned $68,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF contingency bonus. Brumnett also received automatic entry into the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship, May 29-June 31, at Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee.

“I only got to pre-fish for the tournament for two hours,” Brumnett said. “I made about 100 casts, and I only had one or two bites.

“I started out the tournament Thursday with only two 2-pounders until about 11 o’clock,” Brumnett continued. “I idled to the back of a pocket and noticed a cluster of concrete around a marina dock on my Garmin Livescope. I marked it, turned around and made three casts to it, and caught a 5-9 and two 4½-pounders. After I caught those three big ones, I knew I was going to win the tournament. I could see close to 40 fish bigger than 4 pounds swimming around the concrete block.”

Brumnett said the large, boat-length concrete blocks needed to have shad around them to hold the bigger bass he was seeking, and he threw a homemade ¾-ounce living rubber green-pumpkin jig with a green pumpkin Strike King Rage Tail Craw trailer, as well as a ½-ounce Greenfish Tackle jig and Rage Tail Craw, both in green pumpkin.

Brumnett said he started the second day of competition on the same concrete feature to catch a quick limit. By 8:30 he had his limit, so he left and searched for more pockets that had concrete in 18 to 26 feet of water, near marina docks. His next stop produced two large bass that boosted his second-day weight to 21-8 - all by 9 a.m.

The third day of competition was different for Brumnett. He said he fished for five hours and could not get a big bass to bite. He struggled but caught his fifth fish at 2:30.

“This tournament was awesome,” Brumnett said. “I’ve had a lot of second-, third- and fourth-place finishes, but not a major win.”

The top six boaters that qualified for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:

1st:        Eli Brumnett, Wagoner, Okla., 15 bass, 49-14, $68,000 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MFL Contingency Bonus)
2nd:       Roger Fitzpatrick, Eldon, Mo., 15 bass, 44-1, $11,000
3rd:       Jordan Hartman, Murray, Ky., 15 bass, 38-7, $6,000
4th:        Andy Newcomb, Camdenton, Mo., 15 bass, 38-6, $4,300
5th:        Dan Shoraga, West Frankfort, Ill., 15 bass, 37-6, $2,000
6th:        Mike Feldermann, Galena, Ill., 14 bass, 36-13, $2,800

Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:

7th:        Todd Hollowell, Fishers, Ind., 14 bass, 34-14, $1,600
8th:        Scott Bateman, Jasper, Ind., 11 bass, 34-13, $2,400
9th:        Mark Johnson, Weleetka, Okla., 14 bass, 34-7, $1,200
10th:     Adam Boehle, Warrenton, Mo., 12 bass, 30-14, $1,100

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The top four boaters from each division that earned a $1,000 bonus for placing highest in the event were:

Great Lakes:      Mike Feldermann, Galena, Ill., 6th Place, $1,000
Hoosier:              Scott Bateman, Jasper, Ind., 8th Place, $1,000
LBL:                      Jordan Hartman, Murray, Ky., 3rd Place, $1,000
Okie:                     Roger Fitzpatrick, Eldon, Mo., 2nd Place $1,000

Brumnett took home an extra $7,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

Justin Parchman of Oologah, Oklahoma, weighed in 13 bass over three days totaling 21 pounds, 4 ounces to win the top Strike King co-angler prize package of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The top six Strike King co-anglers that qualified for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:

1st:          Justin Parchman, Oologah, Okla., 13 bass, 21-4, $50,000
2nd:         Chase Fitzpatrick, Eldon, Mo., 10 bass, 19-9, $5,500
3rd:         Jeff Moss, Oronogo, Mo., 10 bass, 19-8, $3,050
4th:         Zion Dunaway, Campbellsburg, Ind., 10 bass, 17-10, $2,000
5th:         Thad Hewitt, Delaware, Okla., eight bass, 15-3, $1,000
6th:         Marcus Mann, Benton, Ky., six bass, 14-12, $1,400

Rounding out the top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

7th:         Jacob Parks, Noblesville, Ind., seven bass, 14-8, $800
8th:         Scott Stallings, Glencoe, Okla., seven bass, 14-1, $700
9th:         Thomas Bridges, Kankakee, Ill., eight bass, 13-9, $1,100
10th:       Lee Lewis, Peoria, Ill., seven bass, 13-4, $550

The top four Strike King Co-anglers from each division that earned a $500 bonus for placing highest in the event were:

Great Lakes:      Thomas Bridges, Kankakee, Ill., 5th Place, $500
Hoosier:              Zion Dunaway, Campbellsburg, Ind., 3rd Place, $500
LBL:                      Marcus Mann, Benton, Ky., 11th Place, $500
Okie:                     Chase Fitzpatrick, Eldon, Mo., 2nd Place $500

The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Tournament on Lake of the Ozarks was hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association. It featured the top pros and Strike King co-anglers from the Great Lakes, Hoosier, LBL and Okie divisions.

The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.

For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Micah Frazier retiring from Bassmaster Elite Series

October 23, 2023

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After fishing nine seasons on the Bassmaster Elite Series, Micah Frazierof Newnan, Ga., is stepping away from professional fishing. Over the course of his B.A.S.S. career, Frazier has earned one Elite win, nine Top 10 finishes and 34 Top 30 finishes.

Although Frazier has experienced consistent success in the Elite Series, he felt as if now was the right time to step away for his family and future endeavors.

“This has been a decision that has been two or three years in the making,” said Frazier. “My family has always been able to travel with me, but with my son (Huck) about to start kindergarten, I just can’t come to peace with leaving them so often when they start school.

“I keep reminding myself that if I fish for another 10 years how much time I would miss with my kids, and I truly think that if you gave me the chance at the end of those 10 years, I would absolutely buy that time back.”

The five-time Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic qualifier also feels as if some of the business opportunities he’s passionate about have forced him to step back from providing bass fishing the attention it demands to be successful.

“I’ve really had to come to grips with the fact that I simply can’t do everything I want to do,” he said. “I feel like I have to free up some space in my life and in my mind. I haven’t been giving fishing the attention it deserves.”

Frazier fished his first St. Croix Bassmaster Open in 2013 and has since given bass fishing everything he has. Over the course of time, he’s made relationships that will never be broken and experienced things that most anglers never get to experience.

One of those things is to mentor his brother Marc through his young Elite Series career.

“I’m really proud of my brother and all he’s been able to accomplish in a really short amount of time,” he said. “Not many people get the chance to share those kinds of memories with their siblings. Leaving Marc out there (on the Elite Series) is one of the main reasons this decision was so difficult to make.”

Like all Elite pros, Frazier knows how much of a sacrifice being a professional angler is, and doing it without the support of his wife Anna, parents, friends, sponsors and fans would make it impossible.

“I’ve really been blown away by all the comments and support that I’ve been given since I made the announcement,” he said. “I know I’m doing the right thing. It’s a bittersweet decision, and there are going to be times that I miss it, but it just doesn’t sit in my life the same way it used to.

“The filter in which I see things now and my reason for living is my family and my kids, and it just doesn’t suit them as much as it suits me, which is a big part of the reason I’ve made this decision.”

by AnglersChannel

Pickwick 9-pounder anchors Bonus Bucks Owners victory

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships

Smallmouth tend to have the same mystical qualities at Pickwick as the many iconic hit songs recorded in the surrounding Shoals region, but on a gorgeous late October Sunday it was a 9-pound largemouth that became the top hit at the 12th annual Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners event.

Jake Lawrence and Monty Williams, both of Northwest Tennessee, leveraged Lawrence’s supreme knowledge of forward-facing sonar to catch the green beast that highlighted their mighty impressive 26 pound 10 ounce limit, and seven pound margin of victory over second place.

“Our boat was in 15-feet of water, but our keepers were swimming in the top third of the water column about 5-feet below the surface,” says Lawrence, a full-time fishing guide who provides forward facing sonar tutorials to his clients.

“The fact this is a no entry fee event is awesome, but it’s the catered food, hanging out with all the top Toyota pros, and hundreds of people walking around smiling that make it so special. Toyota just does so much for people who love to fish, and that played a big role in buying a brand-new Highlander for my wife last week,” added Lawrence, who tows with a Tundra.

Second and third place showed strong reflection of the unique family and fellowship aspect of the Toyota Bonus Bucks event, as husband and wife teams posted very impressive limits. Maddison and Triston Crowder finished second, and Keith and Penny Miller finished third, with 19-pound limits each.

However, you don’t have to be in the Top 3 to go home smiling from this annual event. The 15th place team scored a $1,000 Bass Pro Shops gift card, and the first team outside the guaranteed paycheck line got $1,000 from Yamaha for their 31st place finish.

Simply said, it pays to tow with a Toyota and sign-up for Bonus Bucks. Not only can you win cash throughout the year, but this annual no-entry fee event provides all the good vibes of a #1 song as well.

To learn more, and get signed up, please visit https://www.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com/.

by AnglersChannel

Davis makes history as first back-to-back winner of B.A.S.S. Nation Championship

Will Davis Jr. of Sylacauga, Ala., has become the first angler in history to win back-to-back B.A.S.S. Nation Championships, winning the 2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Lake Hartwell with a three-day total of 45 pounds, 6 ounces.

Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.

October 20, 2023

Davis makes history as first back-to-back winner of B.A.S.S. Nation Championship

ANDERSON, S.C. — Will Davis Jr. made history Friday when he won the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship for the second consecutive year.

Not only did the 31-year-old Sylacauga, Ala., resident become the first angler to win the event in back-to-back seasons, but he started a chain reaction that helped two other anglers receive a bit of B.A.S.S. glory as well.

Davis weighed a five-bass limit of 15 pounds, 1 ounce on Day 3, giving him an overall weight of 15 bass for 45-6. That was nearly 4 pounds more than any other angler competing in this three-day derby on Lake Hartwell, and it guaranteed him a spot in the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series.

Thing is, Davis had already qualified for next year’s Elite Series, so his double qualification opened the door for New Hampshire’s Tim Dube, who finished second at Hartwell, to earn a spot in the Elite Series in 2024.

Davis’ win also had a ripple effect on the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic, which will be held March 22-24 on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees near Tulsa, Okla.

The Top 3 anglers in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship earn spots in the 2024 Classic. But with Davis already having punched his ticket to the sport’s biggest tournament through the 2023 Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings, B.A.S.S. officials said his berth would go to the first Elite out in those rankings.

That lucky angler is Elite Series pro David Gaston, who ironically also hails from Sylacauga, Ala., and who now slides into the 2024 Bassmaster Classic courtesy of his 43rd-place finish in the AOY race and Davis’ victory at Hartwell.

“I had a feeling this week,” Davis said. “I did a lot of praying on it ... I even keep a Bible in the boat, and I’ll read a verse to calm me down.”

Unlike last year, when he had to mount a come-from-behind win on Pickwick Lake to hoist the Bryan V. Kerchal Memorial Trophy, Davis had more than 3 pounds of cushion heading into the final day on Hartwell.

Davis ended Day 1 with a 16-1 limit, only 2 ounces behind Dube for the tournament lead, and he seized it on Day 2 with a 14-4 limit to take the lead. The weather changed overnight, and intermittent rain and steady winds moved through the area Friday morning.

But Davis didn’t blink. He had the big bag of the day and collected $20,000 for the win.

Despite having already secured his spot in the Classic and Elite Series, Davis said he fishes to win every tournament.

And at one point on Friday, Davis said he felt his nerves getting shaky. He switched to a Davis Bait Company spinnerbait (in the peacock color) early, anticipating it would work better in the windy weather. But he only had 9 pounds in his livewell as morning turned to afternoon.

“At that point, I went back to the (Davis) Wood Jig and headed to a hump that was in about 40 feet of water. I hadn’t fished it before, and I could see fish down there at about 35 feet. I dropped the Wood Jig right by them and prayed they’d hit it. I was able to get three big hits in a short amount of time and those few extra pounds made the difference.”

Davis rode last year’s Nation Championship to success in the Elite Series, winning a tournament on Lay Lake in May and finishing fifth in the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings. He wasn’t necessarily expecting to repeat as the B.A.S.S. Nation champ, but he’ll certainly take the victory.

“Last year was more emotional, but every win is sweet,” he said.

Dube, who finished second with a three-day total of 41-11, was amazed by his good fortune. He knew a Bassmaster Classic berth could be in the mix, but the chance to fish the 2024 Elite Series had the 29-year-old searching for words. A $15,000 check for finishing second in the tournament, plus $16,000 to cover Elite Series entry fees should he choose to compete, added to his amazement.

“This is all a dream,” Dube said. “I don’t know if you can say no to it. I’m just a rollercoaster of emotions.”

Dube caught a 14-8 limit on Friday, opting for spinnerbaits in choppy water.

“I’d pull up and bomb a 3/4-ounce spinner as far as I could,” he said. “It was shad color with silver blades. They’d come up and knock it out of the water.”

Wisconsin’s Josh Wiesner finished third with 37 pounds at Lake Hartwell. The performance secured him a Classic bid, as well as $10,000 for a podium finish on this storied fishery.

“This is unbelievable,” he said. “I thought I was maybe seventh place. To pull off a third? Unreal.”

Wiesner caught his best bass on a Hartwell Hammer Custom Rapala Jigging Rap and a 1/4-ounce shaky head with a Bass Assassin Tapout worm (peanut butter and jelly color).

A total of 113 anglers (58 boaters, 55 nonboaters) began the tournament on this 56,000-acre fishery straddling the South Carolina-Georgia border. They hailed from 48 states and eight foreign countries, earning their way into the field with their showings at one of five B.A.S.S. Nation regionals held across the country this year.

Arizona's Hayden Spradling won the nonboater title on Thursday with 10 fish for 18 pounds. He earned $10,000 and was invited to fish in Friday’s final round, finishing with a three-day total of 29-4.

Georgia’s Chris Moody caught the Big Bass of the Tournament among boaters and earned a $1,000 prize. Kansas’ Kyle Klein had the Big Bass among nonboaters (4-8) and won a $500 prize.

Dube also won $500 for being the angler using Garmin electronics who finished highest in the overall boater standings.

The field split a total purse of $96,500.

Visit Anderson hosted the event.

2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship 10/18-10/20
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 15 45-06 0 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 15-01
2. Timothy Dube Nashua, NH 15 41-11 0 $15,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 11-00 Day 3: 5 14-08
3. Josh Wiesner Fon du Lac, WI 15 37-00 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 13-12 Day 3: 5 09-12
4. Zach Taylor Kimberly, ID 15 36-14 0 $5,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 12-11 Day 3: 5 10-03
5. Nic Rand Kalamazoo, MI 15 36-00 0 $4,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 12-09 Day 3: 5 09-02
6. Andrew Nienaber Cape Town Western Cape 15 35-10 0 $3,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 11-14 Day 3: 5 09-05
7. Zeke Gossett Pell City, AL 15 35-05 0 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 13-07 Day 3: 5 10-10
8. Cole Findley Forsyth, MO 15 33-13 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 13-07 Day 3: 5 08-07
9. Brian La Clair Denton, MD 15 32-12 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 15-08 Day 3: 5 06-11
10. Cody Steckel Las Vegas, NV 15 32-12 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 5 09-07
11. Nate Caldwell Fort Collins, CO 15 31-14 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 11-00 Day 3: 5 08-10
12. Jonathan Carter Portland, ME 14 31-10 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 11-02 Day 3: 4 08-00
13. Hayden Spradling Gilbert, AZ 15 29-04 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 08-09 Day 3: 5 11-04
14. Taylor Umland Carlock, IL 10 23-08 0
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 10-11 Day 3: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURN
Chris Moody Brooks, GA 04-04 $0.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 48 268 541-09
2 46 264 504-14
3 12 64 131-00
----------------------------------
106 596 1177-07

by AnglersChannel

Productive fall conditions await Redfish Cup Championship field at Winyah Bay

The 2022 defending champions Edward Adams and Sean O'Connell will be among the field when the 2023 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter Boats takes on South Carolina's Winyah Bay Oct. 27-29.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
October 20, 2023

GEORGETOWN, S.C. — During the 18th century, pirates staked out hidden bays and coastal islands in hopes of capturing their cut of the wealth flowing in and out of Georgetown’s deep-water port.

For three autumn days, 20 anglers will be snooping around some of the same areas in hopes of capturing the winning weight for the Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter Boats at Winyah Bay.

Competition days will be Oct. 27-29 with daily takeoffs from East Bay Public Ramp at 7:15 a.m. ET and weigh-ins each day at Francis Marion Park at 3 p.m. Fans can catch Bassmaster Redfish LIVE coverage all three days of the tournament on Bassmaster.com. FS1 will broadcast live Oct. 28-29 beginning at 8 a.m. ET.

“It should be a great time of year to be out there,” said Ryan Rickard, the Tampa, Fla., angler who won the 2021 Championship alongside Bassmaster Elite Series pro Chris Zaldain. (The pair placed second in 2022.) “The water temperatures have probably cooled down enough to make fish a lot more active than their summer patterns.”

Boasting a history rich with rice and indigo production, Georgetown’s commerce attracted marauding types such as Blackbeard, Anne Bonney, Mary Read and Calico Jack Rackham. The tournament will host a far more congenial group with 10 two-angler teams — six top-tier redfish duos and four all-star teams comprising Bassmaster Elite pros and talented redfish anglers.

Leading the all-star lineup, Rickard is the only angler who has competed both of the past two years. He will pair with Elite pro Justin Atkins, a past Forrest Wood Cup and St. Croix Bassmaster Opens champion hailing from Florence, Ala.

Leading the pure redfish teams will be Louisiana pros Sean O’Connell and Edward Adams, the Redfish World Series champions that won last year’s Redfish Cup Championship in Port Aransas, Texas. Adams said he’s hoping his vast experience guiding the Mississippi Delta marsh will translate into South Carolina success.

Making his first fishing trip to the Palmetto State, Adams expects to gather critical practice recon during the lowest tidal periods. This is when the sea draws back its curtain to reveal key details like oyster bars, rocks and subtle marsh drains.

“I would think a lot of these fish will be in the creeks or little (backwater) pools,” Adams said. “It’s easy to target these spots during low tide, but when they’re covered with water, I’d think you’ll have to blind fish them with spinnerbaits or popping corks (a jig or shrimp suspended beneath a noisy rattling cork).”

The East Coast’s fourth-largest estuary, Winyah Bay marks the southern end of South Carolina’s famous beaches known as the Grand Strand. The bay is fed from the north by the confluence of the Black and the Great Pee Dee rivers and the Waccamaw River, while the Sampit River inflows from the west, through Georgetown.

As Rickard points out, tournament days will start with high tides that slowly drop throughout the competition hours. Outgoing to low tides are generally considered favorable for redfish, as they pull food sources out of hiding.

Falling water also drains shallow arteries and Rickard said this unyielding truth should not be taken lightly.

“This year will be very different, because we’re fishing a lot more tidal flow,” Rickard said. “We’re fishing 6- to 7-foot tidal swings (as opposed to approximately 1 1/2 feet in coastal Texas). A lot of that style fishing is creek fishing and fishing on the Intracoastal Waterway, so you have to be sure that you’re in and out of areas quickly so you don’t get stuck for the rest of the day.”

Notably, the Winyah Bay area also holds a tremendous largemouth bass fishery that has twice attracted Bassmaster Elite Series events (2016 and 2019). Scott Canterbury, the 2019 Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year who partners with veteran redfish angler and charter captain Krista Miller, will be seeking to leverage his Winyah Bay knowledge.

“I am hoping the redfish on the South Carolina coast act like the largemouth bass,” Canterbury said. “I finished second in the 2019 Elite out of there and hope that my knowledge of tides pays off. Being able to run the tide at the right times is definitely going to be key.”

The previous two Redfish Cup Championship events, both held in Port Aransas, Texas, saw a mix of tried-and-true redfish baits and tactics and several traditional bass strategies produce competitive catches. While this event may see a similar mixing of styles, there will be a noticeable departure from the larger, more aggressive presentations that tempt giant reds.

“We won’t be throwing a lot of the same things we were throwing in Texas,” Rickard said. “You’re not targeting the bigger fish. You’re targeting a 23-inch fish, so you’ll probably downsize your bait quite a bit.”

As Rickard alluded, tournament anglers will be targeting redfish in South Carolina’s 17- to 23-inch slot. Each angler can weigh up to two fish per day for a total of four fish per team. These parameters contrast the previous two years’ events in which teams were allowed to weigh a total of two fish between 20 and 28 inches.

Although he and O’Connell clearly demonstrated their ability to put big redfish in the boat, Adams believes his background could provide a Winyah Bay advantage.

“In most of the tournaments I fish, we’re trying to catch 27- or 28-inch redfish (depending on state regulations), so trying to catch 23-inch redfish will be different,” Adams admits. “But that’s pretty much what I target every day when I’m guiding. When people are looking for fish to eat, that’s the size you want.

“Those smaller fish are usually in groups and they’re usually all the same size. There’s usually more of those little fish around than those big ones."

Given the South Carolina slot size, plus Atlantic water that’s relatively cooler than the warm Gulf brine, Rickard expects much of the field to use smaller jigs with soft-plastic jerkbaits, Ned-style rigs and artificial shrimp baits. Other likely baits include topwaters, bladed jigs and gold spoons, as well as those popping cork rigs and spinnerbaits Adams mentioned.

“If someone has the knowledge of that place, I think the entire area could be in play, but my gut tells me the majority of the field is going to run south (through the Intracoastal Waterway) to McClellanville and Isle of Palms,” Rickard said. “To me, it’s better habitat, plus, the Winyah Bay area gets a lot of guide pressure, so I think a lot of us will be trying to get away from that.

“I think, given how the fishery allows you to fish, it would shock me if a team won in one area. You may have one area with multiple spots, but I think you’re going to have to cover a lot of water.”

by AnglersChannel

Fishin' Tip Friday - Greg Hackney on the Head Banger Buzzbait

We're dropping a preview of an upcoming Strike King Gear Review for this week's Fishin' TIp. Greg breaks down his set up for the Hack Attack Select Head Banger Buzz Bait and gives us a few trailer tips that'll come in handy. Catch this and many more tips and tricks on the upcoming Anglers Channel Bass Wrap Up Show. We're premiering on Discovery this fall!

by AnglersChannel

Davis takes lead, eyes repeat at B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Lake Hartwell

Will Davis Jr. of Sylacauga, Ala., is leading after Day 2 of the 2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Lake Hartwell with a two-day total of 30 pounds, 5 ounces.

Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.

October 19, 2023

ANDERSON, S.C. — Will Davis Jr. hoisted the Bryan V. Kerchal Memorial Trophy a year ago, and by all accounts, it looks like he wants to hold on to the hardware that is awarded annually to the winner of the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.

Davis, in second place after Day 1 with 16 pounds, 1 ounce, jumped into the pole position Thursday on Lake Hartwell with another five-bass limit, this one weighing 14-4. That gives the 31-year-old Sylacauga, Ala., resident a two-day total of 30-5 and a 3-pound cushion as the derby heads into the final day on this storied 56,000-acre fishery.

Davis is trying to defend the B.A.S.S. Nation title he won a year ago on Pickwick Lake in his home state. That win earned him a spot in the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville and entry into the 2023 Bassmaster Elite Series. Davis impressed there, winning on Lay Lake in May and finishing fifth in the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings.

He's continued his hot hand at Hartwell.

“I spent a lot of time after winning the championship last year getting used to forward-facing sonar,” Davis said. “You have to be able to do it in the Elite Series, and it’s definitely played a role this week.”

Davis only had eight bites on Day 2, catching six Hartwell spotted bass, but they were quality catches. All came on the same Davis Bait Company Wood Jig he used for his best bass a day earlier.

“That Wood Jig is my go-to for big bass,” he said. “I’m not catching a lot of fish, which is frustrating. But I’m getting the right bites.”

Friday’s weather is supposed to be rainy and windy, which Davis said might force him to change tactics.

“I’ll probably have to throw out a spinnerbait more tomorrow,” he said. “But I won’t change up too much. I think I’m on the right fish. I just have to get them to bite.”

The field of 58 boaters was whittled to 10 after the Day 2 weigh-in at Green Pond Landing.

Wisconsin’s Josh Wiesner jumped from ninth place to second in the boater division, courtesy of a 13-12 limit on Thursday, giving him 27-4 for the tournament.

“The bite was fairly steady throughout the day, but it really started getting active at the end of the day when the wind picked up,” Wiesner said. “I caught my biggest one with about a minute to go today. It was about 3 3/4 pounds and probably a 2-pound upgrade for me.”

Day 1 leader Tim Dube fell to third place in the angler division Thursday after catching an 11-pound limit to give him a two-day total of 27-3.

Unlike Wednesday, when hard-hitting spotted bass were gobbling Dube’s lures, Thursday was much more difficult for the 29-year-old New Hampshire resident.

“They weren’t committing to the bait today,” he said. “Every fish I hooked, it was in the corner of the mouth or barely in the lip. I lost more fish than I can count. But I’m getting past that. It’s good to know the fish are still there.

“I like the way tomorrow’s weather is looking for my bite. I want some cloud cover because they’ll school better.”

Rounding out the Top 10 boaters fishing Friday are Michigan’s Nic Rand, 26-14; fifth, Zach Taylor, who’s fishing for Wyoming, 26-11; sixth, South Africa’s Andrew Nienaber, 26-5; seventh, Brian La Clair, fishing for Delaware, 26-1; eighth, Missouri’s Cole Findley, 25-6; ninth, Alabama’s Zeke Gossett, 24-11; and 10th, Maine’s Jonathan Carter, 23-10.

Hayden Spradling of Gilbert, Ariz., won the nonboater title Thursday with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 18 pounds. He collected the Louis “Pee Wee” Powers Memorial Trophy for being the top nonboater, as well as a $10,000 prize and a spot in Friday’s final round.

It’s the second time Spradling has competed in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, having qualified previously in 2020.

“That experience made me a lot more headstrong about getting to this point, to be able to win,” he said. “I had to throw a little bit of everything this week to win the nonboater (division) and give myself a chance to fish on the last day.”

Kyle Klein, of Kansas, won $500 for the Big Bass among nonboaters (a 4-8 he hooked Wednesday.)

Nevada’s Cody Steckel (12th overall, 23-5) and Colorado’s Nate Caldwell (13th, 23-4) also will fish on Friday, after leading their respective regionals in the Hartwell boater standings.

A total of 113 B.A.S.S. Nation anglers from 48 states and eight other countries are competing at Hartwell.

The remaining 13 anglers will start the third and final day of the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at 7:30 a.m. ET from Green Pond Landing. Weigh-in is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.

The top three anglers will earn berths in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic, which is scheduled for March 22-24 on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees near Tulsa, Okla. The champion will also receive an invitation to fish the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series. The second- and third-place finishers and Spradling will each earn paid entry fees for all divisions of the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens with the opportunity to qualify for the Elites.

2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship 10/18-10/20
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 10 30-05 0
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 14-04
2. Josh Wiesner Fon du Lac, WI 10 27-04 0
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 13-12
3. Timothy Dube Nashua, NH 10 27-03 0
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 11-00
4. Nic Rand Kalamazoo, MI 10 26-14 0
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 12-09
5. Zach Taylor Kimberly, ID 10 26-11 0
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 12-11
6. Andrew Nienaber Cape Town Western Cape 10 26-05 0
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 11-14
7. Brian La Clair Denton, MD 10 26-01 0
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 15-08
8. Cole Findley Forsyth, MO 10 25-06 0
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 13-07
9. Zeke Gossett Pell City, AL 10 24-11 0
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 13-07
10. Jonathan Carter Portland, ME 10 23-10 0
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 11-02
11. Taylor Umland Carlock, IL 10 23-08 0
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 10-11
12. Cody Steckel Las Vegas, NV 10 23-05 0
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 12-04
13. Nate Caldwell Fort Collins, CO 10 23-04 0
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 11-00
14. Aaron Green Everett, PA 10 22-08 0
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 11-01
15. Andrew Sams Easton, MD 10 22-06 0
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 07-14
16. Riley Nielsen Murray, UT 10 21-12 0
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 09-15
17. Austin Bonjour Templeton, CA 10 21-01 0
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 10-07
18. Dave Frost Mount Dora, FL 10 20-15 0
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 10-15
19. Troy Diede Sioux Falls, SD 10 20-14 0
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 11-00
20. Chris Moody Brooks, GA 10 20-10 0
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 06-07
21. Jess Pottenger Harrison, ID 10 20-10 0
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 09-13
22. BJ Baxter Willshire, OH 10 20-09 0
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 09-08
23. Jordan Card Knoxville, TN 10 20-03 0
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 09-02
24. Tyler Darling Rapid City, SD 9 19-15 0
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 4 06-03
25. Matthew Abeyta Albuquerque, NM 10 19-14 0
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 10-10
26. Kevin Walton Norfolk, VA 10 19-13 0
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 08-14
27. Tyler Ramsey Sand Springs, OK 10 19-07 0
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 07-13
28. Blake Wilson Benton, AR 10 19-02 0
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 07-02
29. Gary Pope Georgetown, SC 10 18-01 0
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 08-10
30. Marc Leech Kings Mountian , NC 10 17-15 0
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 10-00
31. Cody Hollen Beaverton, OR 10 17-14 0
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 07-12
32. Frankie Mueller Kingman, AZ 10 17-11 0
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 5 09-11
33. Jerry Pape Bella Vista, AR 10 16-15 0
Day 1: 5 05-10 Day 2: 5 11-05
34. Adam Hamann Prairie Du Chien, IA 9 16-13 0
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 4 07-10
35. Dustin Hollen Buckhannon, WV 10 16-10 0
Day 1: 5 06-13 Day 2: 5 09-13
36. Jay Swanson Lakeville, MN 10 16-10 0
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 08-00
37. Jurgen Geiger Luxury Hill Windoek NA 10 16-08 0
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 08-03
38. Manuel Cruz Clifton, NJ 10 16-07 0
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 5 07-11
39. Luis Tavares Mendes Cernache Do Bonjardim P 10 15-06 0
Day 1: 5 06-11 Day 2: 5 08-11
40. Byron Albrecht Waco, TX 9 15-03 0
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 4 06-07
41. Brian Hensley Edwardsburg, MI 10 15-02 0
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 06-13
42. Matthew Nobile Sorrento, LA 10 14-13 0
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 5 06-13
43. Sean Andrachick Marion, MT 9 14-12 0
Day 1: 4 05-10 Day 2: 5 09-02
44. Ken Day Kennewick, WA 10 14-07 0
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 07-07
45. Andrej Chowaniec Beeton Ontario CANADA 8 12-05 0
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 3 02-15
46. Michael Mello Jr Manville, RI 7 11-13 0
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 2 02-13
47. Lukas Matt Syracuse, NY 10 11-11 0
Day 1: 5 05-02 Day 2: 5 06-09
48. Chad Warnol Moss Point, MS 7 10-13 0
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 5 07-07
49. Thomas Waltz St. Albans, VT 6 10-01 0
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 5 08-12
50. Yoshi Komada Nishinomiya JAPAN 6 09-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 5 08-13
51. Mickey Soler Newington, CT 7 09-10 0
Day 1: 3 03-11 Day 2: 4 05-15
52. Andre Kondonis Harare ZIMBABWE 6 09-07 0
Day 1: 4 06-10 Day 2: 2 02-13
53. Jacob Marcantonio Moosup, CT 7 08-06 0
Day 1: 5 05-11 Day 2: 2 02-11
54. Jorge Trapero Barraza Culiac n Rosales TX MEX 5 07-11 0
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 3 05-00
55. Richard Young Jr Melbourne, KY 6 06-12 0
Day 1: 4 03-15 Day 2: 2 02-13
56. Oscar Gonzalez Barcelona SPAIN 4 06-06 0
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 2 03-11
57. Andy Gill Wellsville, KS 4 04-15 0
Day 1: 3 04-00 Day 2: 1 00-15
58. Jackie Barber West, TX 3 03-06 0
Day 1: 2 02-09 Day 2: 1 00-13
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 47 263 532-02
2 45 259 496-05
----------------------------------
92 522 1028-07

2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship 10/18-10/20
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Hayden Spradling Gilbert, AZ 10 18-00 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 08-09
2. Richard White Alexander City, AL 10 17-13 0 $7,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 07-09
3. Tristan Garriga Lucedale, MS 10 16-11 0 $5,000.00
Day 1: 5 06-15 Day 2: 5 09-12
4. Cooper Haase Duncannon, PA 10 16-07 0 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 09-07
5. Larry Witt Evington, VA 8 16-01 0 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 3 04-06
6. James D'Ambra Hanover, MA 10 15-13 0 $1,500.00
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 5 08-02
7. Kyle Klein Hutchinson, KS 8 15-08 0 $1,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 3 04-09
8. Gary Belanger Plainville, CT 10 14-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 06-02 Day 2: 5 08-13
9. Cole Buser Moscow, ID 7 14-08 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 2 01-08
10. Marshal Allen Greeley, CO 7 14-07 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 07-15 Day 2: 3 06-08
11. Zachary Queeney Atco, NJ 9 14-01 0 $250.00
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 4 05-04
12. Edward Owens Hemingway, SC 8 14-00 0 $250.00
Day 1: 3 05-10 Day 2: 5 08-06
13. Ron Stierstorfer Middle River, MD 9 13-14 0
Day 1: 4 07-15 Day 2: 5 05-15
14. Keisuke Sakamoto Shiga JAPAN 8 13-10 0
Day 1: 4 07-00 Day 2: 4 06-10
15. Colten Hutson Edmond, OK 8 12-14 0
Day 1: 5 06-07 Day 2: 3 06-07
16. Joe Whelan Ozark, MO 9 12-02 0
Day 1: 5 06-10 Day 2: 4 05-08
17. Robert Rull Jr Coventry, RI 7 12-00 0
Day 1: 2 01-13 Day 2: 5 10-03
18. Grant Aumiller Danville, KY 6 11-15 0
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 1 01-10
19. Kin Pui Wong Bakersfield, CA 9 11-15 0
Day 1: 4 05-07 Day 2: 5 06-08
20. Dez Ruffin Tukwila, WA 7 11-11 0
Day 1: 2 01-13 Day 2: 5 09-14
21. Hunter Frederickson Redford, MI 10 11-11 0
Day 1: 5 06-10 Day 2: 5 05-01
22. James Seymour Oglesby, TX 8 11-03 0
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 5 06-14
23. Christian Hanson Rathdrum, ID 5 11-02 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 11-02
24. Dave Roberts Sisters, OR 8 11-02 0
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 3 02-12
25. Tristen Boyd Monteagle, TN 8 11-01 0
Day 1: 4 06-08 Day 2: 4 04-09
26. Andrew Sayles Middleton, ID 9 10-13 0
Day 1: 5 06-10 Day 2: 4 04-03
27. Matt Summers Gassaway, WV 8 10-06 0
Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 5 06-09
28. Matt Luken Independence, KY 7 09-10 0
Day 1: 4 06-09 Day 2: 3 03-01
29. Dean Yamagata Las Vegas, NV 5 09-04 0
Day 1: 2 03-00 Day 2: 3 06-04
30. Jason Campbell Berwick, LA 7 08-13 0
Day 1: 3 03-08 Day 2: 4 05-05
31. Jesus Morales Apodaca Nuevo Leon MEX 6 08-13 0
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 3 04-02
32. David Pfeiffer Milton Mills, NH 5 08-06 0
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 4 07-01
33. Greg Pink Montrose, CO 5 08-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 08-00
34. Fernando Henriques Henriques Cernache Do Bonjardim P 5 07-08 0
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 4 06-09
35. Alex Ellerbrock Sugar Grove, IL 5 07-04 0
Day 1: 2 02-06 Day 2: 3 04-14
36. Mike Bell Ogdensburg, NY 4 07-02 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 07-02
37. Will Presley Jr Grove City, OH 5 06-12 0
Day 1: 2 02-02 Day 2: 3 04-10
38. Eric Moulton Enfield, NH 5 06-12 0
Day 1: 2 02-10 Day 2: 3 04-02
39. Bryan Schumacher Sparta, WI 4 06-10 0
Day 1: 4 06-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
40. Garrett Sicely Albany, VT 5 05-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 4 04-03
41. Miles Lausch Lakeville, MN 6 05-10 0
Day 1: 2 01-10 Day 2: 4 04-00
42. Tyler Guthmiller Yankton, SD 5 04-13 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 04-13
43. Agustin Pintado Salas El Burgo Del Ebro, Zara 3 04-07 0
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
44. Blake Macumber Elkhorn, NE 2 04-06 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-06
45. Neels Beneke Amanzimtoti SOUTH AFRIC 3 03-15 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 2 02-01
46. Brad Gandee Mcdonough, GA 3 03-09 0
Day 1: 2 01-10 Day 2: 1 01-15
47. Roger Foraker Magnolia, DE 2 02-15 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 1 01-03
48. Carl Bowser Indianapolis, IN 2 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 1 00-10
49. Leray Anderson II Crofton, NE 2 01-13 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 01-13
50. Jeremiah Proulx Cherokee Village, AR 1 01-11 0
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
51. Andrew Krauss Seabright CANADA 1 01-03 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-03
52. Grant Harris Maiden, NC 1 01-00 0
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
53. Gavin Fraser Bulawayo ZIMBABWE 1 00-14 0
Day 1: 1 00-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
54. Jerry Duncklee Fayette, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
54. Claude Loftin Jacksonville, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 16 151 240-10
2 17 175 263-15
----------------------------------
33 326 504-09

by AnglersChannel

PLANO EDGE 3700 SWIMBAIT BOX

The new EDGE Swimbait Box is the ultimate solution for organized and protected baits

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Oct. 19, 2023) — Engineered with meticulous attention to detail and designed for the needs of serious swimbait anglers, the innovative Plano EDGE 3700 Swimbait box sets a new standard for protecting and organizing swimbaits. Revolutionizing swimbait storage, the Plano EDGE 3700 Swimbait box provides a reliable and secure environment for storing and protecting up to 24 swimbaits in the horizontal position and 10 in the vertical position. The box utilizes gravity to suspend swimbaits and glide baits, keeping them separated and shielded from tail deformation and preserving bait action during transit and storage.

Equipped with Plano's advanced Rustrictor corrosion and rust-preventive technology to deliver 360 degrees of rust and moisture preventative protection, the EDGE Swimbait box safeguards your baits against the elements to help extend their lifespan. The Dri-Loc O-ring watertight seal guarantees the box remains waterproof when closed, and moisture is no longer a concern, as the WaterWick divider with a moisture-wicking packet protects both wet and dry baits, maintaining their integrity and functionality.

Convenience is at the forefront of the design, with the EZ Label system facilitating effortless organization of your swimbaits. The DuraView crystal-clear transparent polycarbonate lid allows for quick identification of contents, saving you valuable time on the water.

Built to withstand the rigors of angling adventures, the Plano EDGE 3700 Swimbait Box features durable components such as steel pin hinges and a one-hand latch for secure opening and closing. With the Plano EDGE 3700 Swimbait Box, anglers can have peace of mind, knowing that their swimbaits are protected, organized, and always readily accessible when the water is calling.

Key Features
● Dri-Loc O-Ring watertight seal
● WaterWick divider with a moisture-wicking packet
● EZ Label system for effortless organization
● DuraView transparent polycarbonate lid
● 360 degrees of Rustrictor rust prevention technology

Dimensions: 14"L x 9"W x 2.63"H
MSRP: $49.99
Available: October 2023

by AnglersChannel

MLF Announces Entry Dates for 2024 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series, Phoenix Bass Fishing League, Abu Garcia College Fishing and High School Fishing Programs

BENTON, Ky. (Oct. 19, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today the complete rules and entry dates for the 2024 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats, Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine, Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI and High School Fishing seasons.

Tackle Warehouse Invitationals:
With national television coverage on CBS Sports, daily MLFNOW! on-the-water livestreams, a top award of $115,000 (including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus), and advancement to REDCREST 2025 on the line at every stop, the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals are a lucrative proving ground for anglers looking to qualify for the 2025 Bass Pro Tour where they will fish as part of an exclusive field of 50 pros competing for the sport’s most lucrative payouts. Invitations will be distributed this week to qualified anglers from the 2023 Toyota Series, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and Bass Pro Tour.

The complete 2024 Tackle Warehouse Invitational schedule, rules and payouts are available online at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats:
Offering the biggest payouts for the lowest entry fees of any national tournament trail, the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats gives anglers the opportunity to fish close to home for incredible awards and advancement to the nationally televised Toyota Series Championship where pros compete for up to $235,000, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, and co-anglers compete for a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat powered by a 115hp outboard.

The winning pro at the Toyota Series Championship qualifies for REDCREST 2025 for the chance to win $300,000, and the highest-finishing pro from each division, including the Wild Card, at the Toyota Series Championship receives a $10,000 bonus.

The 2024 Toyota Series Championship, hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Madison County Commission and the Huntsville Sports Commission, is scheduled for Nov. 7-9, at Wheeler Lake in Huntsville, Alabama. The championship field will feature the top 25 pros and co-anglers from each of the six U.S. Toyota Series divisions and the Wild Card division plus tournament winners; the highest finishing boater and co-angler from each of the six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regionals and the TBF from the All-American; the top three teams from the Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship; the High School Fishing National Champions; the TBF National Champions; and up to two pros from each MLF International country.

Every Toyota Series tournament features live weigh-in coverage and the Toyota Series Championship will be nationally televised on CBS Sports. New for 2024, the Toyota Series Championship will also include MLFNOW! on-the-water livestream during the final day of competition.

The top five pros from each U.S. division in Angler of the Year standings qualify for the MLF Invitationals. If a top-five pro declines his or her bid or earns qualification through the Invitationals or Bass Pro Tour, the next eligible pro qualifies. This process continues through the top 10 pros in each division.

The Anglers of the Year and Strike King Co-anglers of the Year will also be awarded $5,000 and $2,000, respectively, in each of the six U.S. divisions.

Entry fees are unchanged for 2024 at $1,700 per tournament for pros and $550 per tournament for co-anglers. Anglers can register for the 2024 Toyota Series season at MajorLeagueFishing.com or by calling 270.252.1000, beginning at 8 a.m. CT on the dates listed below:

Entries from the top 25 pros and co-anglers and tournament winners from each division of the 2023 Toyota Series and the top 45 boaters and co-anglers from each division of the 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League – plus the winner of each 2023 Bass Fishing League tournament (who paid an entry fee for all five tournaments in a division and fished at least two tournaments in the same division) and the top 10 anglers from the 2023 College Fishing National Championship – will be accepted beginning November 6. These anglers have until November 27 to secure their priority entry position.
Phoenix boat owners (Phoenix owners with current registrations or confirmation of a boat order who will use their Phoenix boat in Toyota Series competition) may enter beginning November 28.
Anglers who fished a full division of the 2023 Toyota Series or a full division of the 2023 Bass Fishing League may enter beginning November 29.
TBF members may enter beginning November 30.
All other entries will be accepted beginning December 1.

The complete 2024 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats schedule, rules and payouts are available online at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine:
The Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine is the premier grassroots tournament circuit for weekend anglers, maintaining the best payouts and advancement opportunities for the lowest entry fees available in the sport. The BFL is the only circuit offering weekend anglers the opportunity to advance to the prestigious All-American, Toyota Series Championship and REDCREST 2025 for a shot at winning top boater awards of $120,000, $235,000 and $300,000, respectively, including lucrative Phoenix MLF Bonuses.

The 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American will be hosted by Visit Jefferson County, TN on May 29-31 at Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee. The top six boaters and co-anglers from each of six Regional tournaments and the Wild Card will qualify. The highest-finishing boater and co-angler from each Regional and the Wild Card at the All-American advance to the Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning $235,000 (including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus). Beat just five anglers from your regional and advance to a second no-entry-fee championship for a shot at one of the sport’s biggest paydays. The All-American boater champion will also advance to REDCREST 2025 for a shot at winning $300,000.

With every tournament featuring livestreamed weigh-in coverage, the Phoenix Bass Fishing League allows anglers to fish close to home – creating a clear path to the Toyota Series, the MLF Invitationals and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour – while placing anglers in front of the sport’s largest fan base. This also provides grassroots anglers the opportunity to showcase their talents to more than 5 million visitors on MajorLeagueFishing.com and 2.3 million followers on MLF’s social media outlets, as well as coverage in Bass Fishing magazine and in dedicated public relations outreach that generates a potential reach of up to 5.5 billion impressions annually across all MLF circuits.

The Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency award will continue for the 2024 season, enhancing payouts from $500 to $7,000 for registered Phoenix boat owners in every qualifier, super-tournament and regional tournament, an additional $20,000 in the All-American, and $35,000 in the Toyota Series Championship.

Each qualifying tournament will continue to offer a top boater award of up to $13,000, including a $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, and a top Strike King co-angler award of $3,000. Top awards jump up to $16,000 for boaters, including a $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, and $4,500 for Strike King co-anglers in super tournaments.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers, plus the five tournament winners in each division, advance to a Regional. Boaters in each Regional compete for a $67,000 top award, including a Phoenix 819 Pro with 200hp outboard and $10,000 plus a $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers. Co-anglers in each Regional compete for a $50,000 Phoenix 819 Pro with 200hp outboard. Additionally, the highest finishing boater from each division in each Regional receives a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division receives a $500 bonus – you only have to beat 49 anglers from your division to win big. Each Regional also features a $1,000 boater and $500 co-angler Berkley Big Bass award.

Entry fees will remain the same in 2024 – $220 per boater and $110 per co-angler for one-day qualifying tournaments, and $330 per boater and $165 per co-angler in two-day Super Tournaments and Regional events.
.
The Wild Card will maintain its $13,000 top boater award, including Phoenix MLF Bonus, and a top co-angler award of $3,000. Enter all five events in a division, fish at least two and automatically advance to the Wild Card if you are not qualified for a Regional. The top six boaters and co-anglers from each Regional and the Wild Card advance to the All-American.

The 2024 All-American will be nationally televised on CBS Sports, offering Bass Fishing League anglers unmatched media exposure. New for 2024, the All-American will also include MLFNOW! on-the-water livestream during the final day of competition.

Anglers can register for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League season at MajorLeagueFishing.comor by calling 270.252.1000, beginning at 8 a.m. CT on the dates listed below:

Dec. 4, 2023 – Bama, Choo Choo, Cowboy, Gator and Savannah River.
Dec. 5, 2023 – Arkie, Bulldog, North Carolina, South Carolina and Volunteer.
Dec. 6, 2023 – LBL, Mississippi, Okie, Ozark and Piedmont.
Dec. 7, 2023 – Great Lakes, Hoosier, Mountain, Music City and Shenandoah.
Dec. 8, 2023 – Buckeye, Illini, Michigan and Northeast.

Phoenix boat owners (Phoenix owners with current registrations or confirmation of a boat on order who will use their Phoenix boat in Bass Fishing League competition) and TBF members may enter all divisions by phone starting Dec. 1, 2023.

The complete 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine schedule, rules and payouts are available online at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI:
The winning team at the 2024 Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship will receive $43,500, including a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro powered by a 115hp outboard and $10,000. The winning team also advances to the 2024 Toyota Series Championship to compete as pros for a shot at winning as much as $235,000. The highest finishing team member at the Toyota Series Championship advances to REDCREST 2025. The runner-up at the 2024 College Fishing National Championship will receive a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro powered by a 115hp outboard. The team will also advance to the 2024 Toyota Series Championship to compete as pros. Third place at the 2024 National Championship will receive $4,000 and advance to the 2024 Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers for the chance to win a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro powered by a 115hp outboard. Fourth and fifth place will receive $3,000 and $2,000, respectively, with sixth through 10th receiving $1,000 each.

Each angler finishing in the top 10 at the 2024 College Fishing National Championship will receive priority entry into the 2025 Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Invitationals and the Bass Pro Tour. Every tournament will feature live weigh-in coverage and the National Championship will receive national television coverage on CBS Sports. New for 2024, the College Fishing National Championship will also include MLFNOW! on-the-water livestream during the final day of competition.

MLF will recognize the top performing school with the Tackle Warehouse School of the Year Presented by QuikTrip title, which includes a $10,000 award. Each school receives the total points earned by its top two teams in each tournament. School of the Year is awarded to the school with the highest point total from its three best tournaments.

Abu Garcia College Fishing teams can compete in up to nine qualifying tournaments around the country. The top 12 percent of teams from each event will advance to the following year’s College Fishing National Championship.

Registration for the 2024 season opens at 8 a.m. CT on Dec. 11, 2023. Fields are capped at 250 boats per tournament, so teams are encouraged to enter at their earliest opportunity. Teams can register at MajorLeagueFishing.com or by calling 270.252.1000. The entry fee is unchanged at $100 per team.

The complete 2024 Abu Garcia College Fishing schedule, rules and payouts are available online at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

MLF High School Fishing:
The 2024 MLF High School Fishing circuit will feature teams competing in seven open events held in conjunction with Abu Garcia College Fishing events so students and parents can network with prospective college teams and coaches during college weigh-ins. MLF High School Fishing Opens are two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and open to any Student Angler Federation (SAF)-affiliated high school club in the United States. The top 10 percent of teams in each tournament advance to the High School Fishing National Championship. Tournaments held on or before May 6, 2024, advance teams to the 2024 National Championship. Tournaments held after May 6, 2024, advance teams to the 2025 National Championship.

Both members of the winning team at the 2024 High School Fishing National Championship, held simultaneously with the TBF High School Fishing World Finals, are guaranteed $5,000 scholarships to the school of their choice, plus the opportunity to compete for a share of more than $3 million in scholarships and prizes. The 2024 High School Fishing National Champions will also advance to the 2024 Toyota Series Championship as co-anglers to compete on national television for a Phoenix 518 Pro powered by a 115hp outboard.

Registration for the 2024 MLF High School Fishing Opens will begin at 8 a.m. CT on Dec. 13, 2023. Teams can register at MajorLeagueFishing.com or by calling 270.252.1000. There is no entry fee for high school anglers to compete in any MLF or TBF High School Fishing tournament. Both anglers must, however, be a member of the Student Angler Federation (SAF). There is no limit to the number of teams accepted into a tournament from each school or club, but the maximum field size is 250 boats. Teams are encouraged to enter at their earliest opportunity.

The complete 2024 High School Fishing schedule, rules and payouts are available online at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

MLF High School Fishing Camp:
The extremely popular MLF High School Fishing Camp for students and parents will be held July 10-12 at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. The three-day camp experience immerses passionate young anglers and coaches into the world of bass fishing. Students and coaches learn techniques from top MLF pros in small groups, and receive a glimpse into the inner workings of the fishing industry through interaction with MLF staff and special guests. Registration for the 2024 MLF High School Fishing Camp will begin at 8 a.m. CT on Nov. 30, 2023. Visit MajorLeagueFishing.com/camp for details.

For complete details and updated tournament information on all MLF circuits, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Major League Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

2024 B.A.S.S. Nation qualifier schedule announced

The 2024 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series includes four national qualifying events in Alabama, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and New York.

Photo by Mark Cisneros/B.A.S.S.

October 19, 2023

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 2024 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series schedule features four national qualifiers on some of the country’s best bass fisheries along with a new format giving grass-roots anglers more opportunities to qualify for the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship and a shot at a berth in the iconic Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic.

Beginning in 2024, both individual B.A.S.S. Nation anglers and club members from each state will be able to enter national qualifier events, with the Top 20 finishers advancing to the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship. Additionally, club anglers will be able to qualify directly from their state tournaments to the championship.

“Our goal is to give the everyday angler more chances to make it to the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, whether they get in via a state-run event or a national qualifier,” said GL Compton, tournament director for the B.A.S.S. Nation. “We know that for many anglers — especially when you’re working or in college — joining a local club isn’t practical, so opening our regional qualifying events to unaffiliated individuals is a way to accommodate those competitors. But, if you’re a club angler, now you’ll have two paths to qualify for the Nation Championship. It really is an all-around win for grass-roots anglers.”

The schedule will kick off early next year on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Ala., February 7-9. Known as the “Bass Fishing Capital of the World” and the hometown of late fishing industry legend Tom Mann, the brushpile-laden Chattahoochee River fishery has hosted 18 major B.A.S.S. events since 1968.

After a stop in Muskogee, Okla., April 3-5, the schedule will swing to the upper region of the United States in May with a qualifier on the Mississippi River May 8-10 in La Crosse, Wis.

Just weeks before the Elite Series heads to New York, the final national qualifier event will take place July 24-26 on Lake Champlain in Plattsburgh, N.Y. One of the most picturesque fisheries the B.A.S.S. events visit, this 435-square-mile natural lake straddling the New York/Vermont border delights anglers with the bass fishing trifecta — diversity, quantity and quality.

“We're excited to roll out the welcome mat for the B.A.S.S. Nation Series on Lake Champlain in 2024,” said Alyssa Senecal, assistant director of tourism and marketing for the North Country Chamber of Commerce. “Our beautiful lake has been serving up big bass and good times for ages, making it a beloved hotspot for anglers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Get ready for a 'reel' adventure as we proudly showcase our backyard to fellow lake-loving tournament participants who, like us, can't resist the lure of some seriously epic bass action!”

The B.A.S.S. Nation Championship tournament will feature qualifiers from the states and the national qualifier tournaments, as well as international anglers and the Paralyzed Veterans of America Angler of the Year.

Not only will the Top 3 anglers from the overall standings realize a dream of competing in the 2025 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic, the winning angler will also be named the Nation’s Best, punch their ticket to the 2025 Elite Series and enjoy the use of a fully-rigged Nitro Boat and Toyota Tundra. The second- and third-place finishers and nonboater champion will each earn paid entry fees for all divisions of the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens with the opportunity to qualify for the Elites.

“The B.A.S.S. Nation local clubs have been the foundation of our organization for more than five decades and mean so much to so many different people,” said GL Compton, tournament director for the B.A.S.S. Nation. “As someone who grew up fishing with the South Carolina B.A.S.S. Nation, I know that these clubs add so much to the culture and growth of our sport through their conservation efforts and youth events and initiatives.”

For more information on registration, visit Bassmaster.com/b-a-s-s-nation.

2024 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Qualifier Schedule

Southeast Qualifier: February 7-9, Lake Eufaula, Eufaula, Ala.
Central Qualifier: April 3-5, Arkansas River, Muskogee, Okla.
Northern Qualifier: May 8-10, Mississippi River, La Crosse, Wis.
Northeast Qualifier: July 24-26, Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

by AnglersChannel

Costa Sunglasses pioneers first recorded billfish research tagging mission completed on fly

The ultimate culmination of community and conservation, Costa’s Marlin Fly Project benefits the Striped Marlin fishery in Magdalena Bay, Mexico and the people who depend on it

JUPITER, Fla. (Oct. 19, 2023) – Focused on conservation and driven by its community-based ethos, Costa Sunglasses is announcing the Marlin Fly Project, the first recorded billfish research mission solely using fly tackle. In partnership with the locals of San Carlos, Mexico, The Billfish Foundation (TBF) and International Game Fish Association (IGFA), the Marlin Fly Project team successfully deployed 15 satellite tags in two days to better understand and protect this understudied billfish species.

The project, which took place in Southwestern Baja, Mexico, December 2022, stands as the ultimate culmination of community and conservation. Led by Costa, it brought together Costa Pros (professional anglers and fishing guides), leading billfish scientists, conservation organizations, and community partners to pursue this mission in tandem with local captains, guides and the San Carlos community.

“The epic fishing tales coming out of Magdalena “Mag” Bay alone attracted us to the region in 2021, but what we found there was an authentic community, rich with culture, built alongside an untamed ecosystem,” said Jed Larkin, Brand Director for Costa Sunglasses. “That trip sparked a trailblazing idea – what if we brought our global community of scientists, partners and pros together with the local community of San Carlos to research and protect this special resource? And that’s how Marlin Fly was born. Rooted in both community and conservation, this project is everything we stand for as a brand.”

An eight minute documentary on the Marlin Fly Project can be seen HERE.

“There’s no place on earth with an ecosystem quite like Mag Bay. Every year anglers from around the world travel to this unique destination to experience one of the most incredible billfish fisheries on the planet,” said Dr. Bruce Pohlot, IGFA Conservation Director. “But the reality is, there has not been a lot of scientific research done on this population of Striped Marlin in the Eastern Pacific. That’s why the IGFA was happy to jump on board with our longtime partners at Costa when they started asking questions about what can be done to protect this magnificent resource.”

Of the 15 short and long term satellite tags that were deployed during the project, Costa resourced three tags to support IGFA’s Great Marlin Race, and seven were donated by TBF. The tags will track post release survivability, migrational patterns, swimming depth, and water temperature. An additional 20 spaghetti tags were deployed, which will provide important ongoing recapture data. The discoveries from Costa’s Marlin Fly Project will help fill crucial data gaps and aid in global and local efforts to conserve this highly migratory species (HMS).

Scientists from The Billfish Foundation, International Game Fish Association, and the University of Southern Mississippi Center for Fisheries Research & Development, vetted all landed fish to make sure they were viable candidates prior to tagging. All landed and tagged fish were healthy and swam off strong.

"Through this collaboration, Costa's Marlin Fly Project is set to collect unparalleled data about Striped Marlin that will help play a pivotal role in supporting conservation and enhancing fisheries management efforts,” said Peter Chaibongsai, Director of Conservation Programs at The Billfish Foundation. “We’re honored to be a part of such a unique project that puts community at the forefront. The strong bond forged with the locals not only enables them, but also fosters a sense of advocacy. This ensures that the project's impact extends far beyond scientific research – it creates a network of passionate advocates dedicated to conserving this resource for years to come.”

Costa has spent the past four decades carrying out its ‘higher calling’ to protect the waters we love, connect those who come to life on the water, and to conserve the life within. The Marlin Fly Project is an extension of that commitment. In addition to the history-making, field-science study, the project served the local community through the following initiatives.

Community-first nonprofit and original Costa-born project, Indifly, joined the mission to meet with the community of San Carlos and assess a potential social impact project. Inspired by both the people and operation, Indifly plans to collaborate with San Carlos, the Marlin Fly Project, and Los Locos to innovate ways for this vital community to write their own future.

Costa partnered with Los Locos Mag Bay, a unique fly-fishing operation that employs and works directly with the locals of San Carlos, Mexico to support this one-of-a-kind community through angling tourism.

Building on Costa’s One Coast initiative for emergency preparedness, partner Finns West outfitted the Los Locos operation and guideboats with safety equipment and medical training.

Costa partnered with Travel Creel, who hosted cooking classes in the community, and sourced produce, meats and seafood from local fisherman and farmers to prepare dinners each night to feed the crew.

The Marlin Fly team participated in organized clean ups along San Carlos’ coastline, and on the final night hosted local guide families for a celebration, in gratitude for their hospitality and guidance.

The Marlin Fly Project will continue its mission to create advocates for the Striped Marlin fishery, both locally and globally, by fostering dynamic relationships and supporting this ecosystem and the people who depend on it.

In honor of its 40th Anniversary, Costa Sunglasses will release its Second Edition: Protect Purpose Report next month. Led by the success of the Marlin Fly Project, The Protect Report highlights Costa’s commitment to conservation, community and sustainability in 2021-2022.

For more information on Costa’s ongoing work to ‘protect what’s out there,’ as well as its complete collection of award-winning performance, optical and lifestyle frames, visit Costasunglasses.com.

About Costa Sunglasses

As the first manufacturer of color-enhancing all-polarized glass sunglass lenses, Costa combines superior lens technology with unparalleled fit and durability. Costa has made the highest quality, best-performing sunglasses and prescription sunglasses (Rx) for outdoor enthusiasts since 1983, and now its product portfolio includes optical frames. Costa’s growing cult-brand status ties directly to its purpose to provide high-quality products with a focus on sustainability and conservation as the company works hard to protect the waters it calls home. From the use of sustainable and water-friendly materials to its Kick Plastic initiative, IndiFly Foundation, and meaningful partnerships with mission-aligned organizations, Costa encourages people to help protect the Earth’s natural resources in any way they can. Find out more on Costa’s website and join the conversation on Facebook,Instagram, or Twitter at @CostaSunglasses.

by AnglersChannel

Kyle Grover Wins 2023 WON BASS U.S. Open in Wire-to-Wire Fashion

Patrick Touey Rallies to Second Place, Anthony Hunt Wins AAA Division

Laughlin, Nev. – October 18, 2023 – Once again, the final day theme of the 2023 Bass Cat / Mercury WON BASS U.S. Open presented by Laughlin Tourism Commissionand Visit Laughlin turned out to be change. While the weather remained warm as it had been the first two days of competition, the field was treated to stiff breezes that spun the speed gauges up to 25 miles per hour.

Wind can be an angler’s friend, or in the case of precision casting with Forward Facing Sonar and finesse tactics, it can be a massive frustration. With many of the leaders using those type of tactics, the anxiety level of said anglers was elevated with concern of being able to present light lures to their prey.

As day three commenced, the anglers atop the leaderboard were separated by less than five pounds and day two leader Kyle Grover of Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif, and second place pro Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Ark. had a scant .51 pounds as their margin as the day began. With such a tight grouping atop the leaderboard, it really was possible for anyone in the top five to take the victory.

It almost happened.

When fifth place pro Patrick Touey of Santa Maria, Calif. weighed 19.93 pounds to take the lead with four anglers remaining, the story got really interesting. Garrett Howard of Riverside, Calif. fell short with 13.18 pounds. Roseville, Calif. pro Bryant Smith just missed the mark with 17.98 pounds and Shuffield had an atypical off day with 11.98 pounds leaving only Grover to erase Touey’s Cinderella story.

Feeling he had fallen short himself, Grover needed 16.25 pounds to tie Touey, but when the scales bottomed out to 16.49 pounds, Grover erupted in celebration and Touey emotionally left the stage after the pair embraced.

Grover won the 2023 WON Bass U.S. Open in wire-to-wire fashion with a three-day total weight of 56.75 pounds, with a .24-pound winning margin over runner up Touey. Smith retained his third-place position with a total weight of 55.36 pounds. Shuffield finished fourth with 51.73 pounds and Howard rounded out the top five with 50.01 pounds.

As he took the microphone from WON Bass tournament director Bill Egan, Grover exclaimed that he saw a fish move late in the day his AAA partner caught that made the difference. “I saw a good smallmouth bolt under the bow of my Ranger Boat and head towards the back,” he said. “I told him to drop behind the boat, he did and caught it. It was a two pounder that culled us up a half of a pound, and that was the difference.”

Grover said that he spent his competition in the Upper Basin between Cottonwood and the power lines and had three areas that produced. “I had a deep spot that had a school of smallmouth on it, and I caught a couple off of it each day,” he said. “My other spots were guts and pockets that the fish were roaming in chasing shad, which was key, there had to be shad in those pockets.”

Grover used a pair of dropshot baits thrown on 7’3” medium-light St. Croix Legend Elite pinning rods matched with Daiwa Certate reels. He spooled them with 10-pound-test Sunline braid and 6-pound-test Seaguar Tatsu Fluorocarbon leader. He alternated between a 4.5-inch Straight Tailed Roboworm in Morning Dawn color or a Berkley Flatnose Minnow in Brownback Color. He rigged them both on size 1 Gamakatsu Split Shot / Dropshot Hooks and alternated between 1/4 to 3/8-ounce teardrop tungsten dropshot weights depending on depth. Lowrance Active Target 2 was also instrumental in his victory, reporting that he used the Forward Facing technology to catch the majority of his weight.

He said he could not believe he was a U.S. Open Champion. “I remember fishing my first U.S. Open on Lake Mead thinking I was hot stuff, and blanking,” he said. “I realized how tough this tournament was then and watched as guys like Aaron Martens – who has always been my favorite angler – won this trophy, and now I have one of my own; I am so happy, but stunned, it’s a dream come true.”

For his efforts, Grover earned the keys to a 2024 Bass Cat Cougar FTD, Mercury 250 ProXS combo from Bass Cat Boats’ president Rick Pierce, that when rigged with Lithium Pro batteries and charger, a Power-Pole Total Boat Control 8’ Blade, trolling motor and electronics will be valued at $82,000. He also earned a cash prize of $74,000, bringing the Champion’s purse to $156,000.

Touey said that the tale of his tournament would come down to lost fish. He reported having a good practice period but had to adjust with the pressure. “I fished above Cottonwood in the Upper Basin and caught them on a crankbait, a tube and a dropshot,” he said. “I lost 10 pounds of culls that would have closed this out easily, and you just can’t do that in tournaments and expect to win.”

He fished a Bill Norman Little N in Chartreuse Shad color early in the week. that he threw on an iRod Crank Jr Rd, with 10-pound-test Fluorocarbon, but had to turn to finesse tactics more as the event progressed. He chose iRod 722 Air spinning rods with 10-pound-test braid and 6-pound-test leader and a pair of finesse baits, a green pumpkin tube on a tube jig and Berkley Maxscent Flatworm in Green Pumpkin rigged on a dropshot rig with a 3/8-ounce weight.

Anthony Hunt, of Clovis, Calif. earned the title of AAA Champion by moving from fourth place with a 10.39-pound limit to bring his three-day total weight to 41.29 on the final day to take the victory in the AAA Division. The AAA Champions said that he was stunned. “I have fished my whole life, but had to stop for quite a while, and I’ve just gotten back into recently with my father-in-law,” he said. “I love to fish and knew that this was the biggest tournament out here, I can’t believe I’ve won it.”

Hunt reported using a variety of baits to catch fish. “I caught some on finesse baits and some on reaction baits this week, and had a great week with my pros, I’m absolutely in shock.” Hunt earned $8,500 cash and an ATV worth an additional $8,000.

He was followed by Markos Avalos of Las Vegas, Nev. in second place with 40.05 pounds. Third place AAA went to Quincy Lewis, of San Diego, Calif. with 39.98 pounds, fourth place went to Travis Hargis of Chula Vista, Calif. with 38.98 pounds and Bo McNeely of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. rounded out the top five in the AAA Division with 39.19 pounds.

That concludes the 2023 Bass Cat / Mercury WON BASS U.S. Open presented by Laughlin Tourism Commissionand Visit Laughlin. Takeoffs and weigh-ins of 183 pro and AAA anglers occurred daily at Katherine Landing at Lake Mohave Marina located at 2690 Katherine Spur, Bullhead City, AZ 86429.

Complete Standings of both divisions can be found below:

For event news and results look to wonbassevents.comand WONews.com along with WON BASS and Western Outdoor News social media platforms on https://www.facebook.com/WONBassTournaments and https://www.instagram.com/wonbass/ for event details, livestreams and updates of future events.

The 41st Anniversary 2023 WON BASS U.S. Open is presented by the following sponsors; Bass Cat Boats, Mercury Marine, Berkley, Costa, Abu Garcia, Bridgford Foods, Daiwa, Gamakatsu, Phenix, Power-Pole Total Boat Control, Eagle Claw TroKar, Lithium Pros, Lowrance, Anderson Toyota, Loco’s Bar and Cocina, DD26, Top This, Johnon’s Bait and Tackle, LTC Laughlin Tourism Commission, Last Chance Performance Marine, Yamamoto Baits, Huntington Beach Honda, Peregrine 250, Livingston Lures, Roboworm, Trika Premium Fishing Gear, Liqui Moly Marine, Anglers Marine, Stealth Stix, Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff and Pouches, KUIU, Signature Gate Systems and Welding, Sure Life, Visit Laughlin and Western Outdoor News.

2023 Won Bass U.S. Open
Pro Final Results
	Angler	Hometown	Fish	Wght	Pnlty	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Total
1	Kyle Grover	RCHO STA MARG CA	15-15	56.75		20.70	19.56	16.49	56.75
2	Patrick Touey	Santa Maria CA	15-15	56.51		17.74	18.84	19.93	56.51
3	Bryant Smith	Roseville CA	15-15	55.36		18.40	18.98	17.98	55.36
4	Spencer Shuffield	Hot Springs AR	15-15	51.73		20.17	19.58	11.98	51.73
5	Garrett Howard	Riverside CA	15-15	50.01		19.26	17.57	13.18	50.01
6	Chris Zaldain	Fort Worth TX	14-14	48.65		18.83	15.39	14.43	48.65
7	Roy Hawk	Lake Havasu City AZ	15-15	45.23		9.60	18.97	16.66	45.23
8	Zach VerBrugge	Lake Havasu AZ	13-13	43.71		18.94	16.03	8.74	43.71
9	Evan Barnes	Dardanelle AR	11-11	43.41		20.58	14.54	8.29	43.41
10	Jim Vretzos	El Dorodo Hills CA	12-12	41.52		20.23	11.77	9.52	41.52
11	Luke Johns	Folsom CA	14-14	40.54		12.56	9.66	18.32	40.54
12	Max Hernandez	Queen Creek AZ	13-13	40.30		18.30	6.31	15.69	40.30
13	Josh Bertrand	San Tan Valley AZ	14-14	39.73		10.74	14.71	14.28	39.73
14	Joe Uribe, Jr.	Surprise AZ	13-13	39.62		12.98	12.12	14.52	39.62
15	Scott Hellesen	Paso Robles CA	13-12	39.82	0.50	15.87	10.38	13.07	39.32
16	Ray Arbesu	Henderson NV	15-15	38.01		13.31	16.55	8.15	38.01
17	Jon Bell	Campo CA	13-13	37.96		4.33	15.09	18.54	37.96
18	Jonathan Schuyler	Las Vegas NV	11-11	37.66		6.45	14.00	17.21	37.66
19	Randy McAbee, Jr.	Bakersfield CA	11-11	37.07		15.68	17.33	4.06	37.07
20	Robert Nakatomi	Sacramento CA	15-15	36.63		10.83	13.80	12.00	36.63
21	Gary Clouse	Winchester TN	13-13	35.55		11.79	14.60	9.16	35.55
22	Kevin Short	Fairfield Bay AR	13-12	35.78	0.50	14.25	9.21	11.82	35.28
23	Matthew Becker	Finleyville PA	12-12	35.00		17.81	2.70	14.49	35.00
24	Clifford Pirch	Payson AZ	12-12	34.92		7.49	17.31	10.12	34.92
25	Chip Gilbert	Yuma AZ	14-14	34.73		14.93	6.97	12.83	34.73
26	Tai Au	Glendale AZ	11-11	34.71		16.59	12.38	5.74	34.71
27	Todd Kline	San Clemente CA	14-14	34.21		14.90	10.52	8.79	34.21
28	Jeff Baird	Washington UT	11-11	33.77		18.04	3.85	11.88	33.77
29	Justin Kerr	Lake Havasu City AZ	14-14	33.42		11.06	12.65	9.71	33.42
30	Shane Edgar	Glendale AZ	11-11	33.23		18.66	7.26	7.31	33.23
31	Bill Brown	Grand Junction CO	14-14	33.22		14.90	7.43	10.89	33.22
32	Jim Moynagh	Shakopee MN	14-14	33.02		6.81	11.99	14.22	33.02
33	Luke Clausen	Otis Orchards WA	11-10	33.26	0.50	16.95	11.55	4.26	32.76
34	Jason Bryan	Henderson NV	13-13	31.40		12.09	12.22	7.09	31.40
35	Cody Kurz	Oxnard CA	13-12	31.19	0.50	10.39	11.82	8.48	30.69
36	Shane Spinning	Canyon Lake CA	13-13	30.54		9.57	12.05	8.92	30.54
37	Justin Patti	Peoria AZ	15-15	30.35		11.98	10.60	7.77	30.35
38	Matt Shura	Gilbert AZ	12-12	30.19		12.25	14.05	3.89	30.19
39	Bill O'Shinn	Auburn CA	15-15	29.99		9.86	11.66	8.47	29.99
40	Daylon Smith	Frazier Park CA	15-15	29.93		11.12	8.24	10.57	29.93
41	Andrew Napoleon	Mesa AZ	11-11	29.57		15.25	10.82	3.50	29.57
42	Mike Luiere	Henderson NV	14-14	29.51		8.36	10.46	10.69	29.51
43	Brian Tressen	Corona CA	10-10	29.28		15.63	7.43	6.22	29.28
44	Brett Leber	Dixon CA	14-14	29.00		12.20	9.08	7.72	29.00
45	Chris Kinley	Lake Havasu City AZ	13-13	28.64		15.97	4.32	8.35	28.64
46	Jerry Ballesteros	Rancho Cucamonga CA	9-8	29.10	0.50	19.52	4.64	4.44	28.60
47	Dylan Maxon	Pioera AZ	12-12	28.52		16.11	4.90	7.51	28.52
48	Jeff Giffen	Phoenix AZ	11-10	28.98	0.50	14.81	3.93	9.74	28.48
49	Ryan Yamagata	Las Vegas NV	14-14	28.20		13.54	6.20	8.46	28.20
50	Steve Molinari	Waddell AZ	11-11	27.94		8.52	11.79	7.63	27.94
51	Connor Jacob	Auburn AL	12-12	27.94		7.05	11.24	9.65	27.94
52	Darius Arberry	Las Vegas NV	11-11	27.30		15.59	3.11	8.60	27.30
53	Mike Caruso	Peoria AZ	11-11	26.84		15.10	10.30	1.44	26.84
54	Anthony Salazar	Henderson NV	11-11	26.21		8.42	6.99	10.80	26.21
55	Tom White Jr.	Tustin CA	8-8	25.76		17.63	1.26	6.87	25.76
56	Colby Pearson	Rogue River OR	10-10	25.67		4.45	8.80	12.42	25.67
57	Dick Watson	Boulder City NV	10-9	26.10	0.50	12.18	3.09	10.33	25.60
58	Tyler Ivie	West Haven UT	12-12	25.50		7.77	7.95	9.78	25.50
59	Ron Hammett	La Mesa CA	7-7	25.22		7.85	13.81	3.56	25.22
60	Matthew Luna	Santee CA	15-15	25.19		8.33	10.04	6.82	25.19
61	Robert Morales	Williams AZ	10-10	25.08		2.90	13.26	8.92	25.08
62	Adam Cacal	Las Vegas NV	10-10	24.37		13.43	5.80	5.14	24.37
63	Sean Coffey	Mesa AZ	7-7	23.58		5.20	6.34	12.04	23.58
64	John Murray	Spring City TN	12-12	22.98		5.47	9.41	8.10	22.98
65	Joe Cole	Coalville UT	13-13	22.92		7.80	11.96	3.16	22.92
66	Mark Lassagne	San Ramon CA	11-10	23.03	0.50	6.03	11.91	4.59	22.53
67	Tim Klinger	Boulder City NV	11-11	22.48		11.95	6.73	3.80	22.48
68	Greg Halliman	Littlerock CA	10-10	22.39		6.47	10.33	5.59	22.39
69	CJ Hinkle	Fort Mohave AZ	10-10	22.36		7.58	8.94	5.84	22.36
70	Rusty Salewske	Alpine CA	12-12	21.85		11.53	4.94	5.38	21.85
71	Johnny Johnson	Lakeside AZ	10-10	21.70		13.70	1.98	6.02	21.70
72	Jeff Rutt	Lake Havasu City AZ	9-9	21.58		12.42	3.64	5.52	21.58
73	Austin Melville	Gilbert AZ	11-11	21.34		11.00	4.73	5.61	21.34
74	Christopher Allen	Grand Junction CO	10-10	21.29		12.40	1.12	7.77	21.29
75	Pete Marino	Moreno Valley CA	12-12	21.20		7.12	5.10	8.98	21.20
76	Scooter Griffith	Mesa AZ	10-10	21.00		4.99	10.25	5.76	21.00
77	John Basmadjian	Canyon Lakw CA	11-11	20.76		6.14	8.49	6.13	20.76
78	Westly Gritts	Folsom CA	8-8	20.58		13.19	1.52	5.87	20.58
79	Travis Jewell	Tyler TX	9-9	20.35		13.03	2.87	4.45	20.35
80	David Kemper	Tempe AZ	7-7	20.28		9.70		10.58	20.28
81	James Salazar	Chandler AZ	10-10	20.20		11.37	8.83		20.20
82	Randy Pierson	Oakdale CA	8-8	20.11		6.55	11.79	1.77	20.11
83	Mark Dotterer	Phoenix AZ	9-9	19.91		12.78	2.98	4.15	19.91
84	Trace Myers	Santaquin UT	7-7	19.60		11.52	8.08		19.60
85	Tony Lain	Lake Havasu City AZ	6-6	19.59		9.27	8.00	2.32	19.59
86	Marvin Finley	Peoria AZ	6-6	19.49		1.94	4.74	12.81	19.49
87	Micah Jones	Kingman AZ	9-5	21.36	2.00	13.25	6.11		19.36
88	Shawn Herring	Las Vegas NV	9-9	19.33		3.35	8.11	7.87	19.33
89	Todd Woods	Long Beach CA	6-6	19.23		4.41	3.83	10.99	19.23
90	Dan Frazier	Paso Robles CA	11-11	18.72		6.43	5.83	6.46	18.72
91	Dave Davis	Mesa AZ	11-11	18.64		7.46	8.35	2.83	18.64
92	Jeff Hudson	Las Vegas NV	9-9	18.63		8.78	5.94	3.91	18.63
93	Chris Harvey	Idaho Falls ID	7-6	19.10	0.50	3.35	7.80	7.45	18.60
94	Levi Samz	Rock Springs WY	7-7	18.35		1.54	11.57	5.24	18.35
95	Chris Ricci	Ignacio CO	11-10	18.67	0.50	8.68	8.79	0.70	18.17
96	Douglas Jones	North Las vegas NV	10-10	18.05			7.66	10.39	18.05
97	Cameron Karber	Munds Park AZ	9-9	18.04		9.99	6.35	1.70	18.04
98	Victor Azevedo	Filer ID	9-9	17.85		9.33	4.86	3.66	17.85
99	Rodney Reed	Chelan WA	10-10	17.84		9.10	5.33	3.41	17.84
100	Tom Leedom	Escondido CA	11-11	16.91		1.29	8.24	7.38	16.91
101	Matt Thomas	Scottsdale AZ	6-6	16.87		8.25	4.16	4.46	16.87
102	Gary Klein	Mingus TX	9-9	16.75		4.77	10.46	1.52	16.75
103	Jordan Collom	Canyon Lake CA	8-8	16.52		9.38		7.14	16.52
104	Kazuki Kodama	Tokyo Japan	9-9	16.43		8.68	6.51	1.24	16.43
105	Mike Bird	Tonopah NV	9-9	15.97		5.99	3.32	6.66	15.97
106	Dung Van Vu	Paramount CA	8-7	16.41	0.50	9.69	2.99	3.23	15.91
107	Joshua Advocate	Fort Mohave AZ	6-6	15.78		1.52	12.73	1.53	15.78
108	Brandon Gaither	Oakdale CA	9-9	15.69		9.19	2.59	3.91	15.69
109	Jesse A. Marquez	Lake Havasu City AZ	8-8	15.54		1.66	7.86	6.02	15.54
110	Eric Inman	West Jordan UT	7-7	16.21	1.00	12.07		3.14	15.21
111	Shane Noel	California City CA	6-6	14.83		6.15	4.55	4.13	14.83
112	Christopher Owen	Poway CA	8-8	14.78		3.63	3.47	7.68	14.78
113	Phillip Emery	Oxnard CA	5-5	14.66		3.93	9.53	1.20	14.66
114	Darren Wilson	Las Vegas NV	6-6	14.45		2.39	12.06		14.45
115	Clayton Meyer	Henderson NV	6-6	14.41		6.45	3.61	4.35	14.41
116	Joe Ahrens	San Diego CA	8-8	14.35		3.20	6.43	4.72	14.35
117	Rick Correa	Wilsonville OR	4-4	14.19		6.58	3.21	4.40	14.19
118	Daymond Allen	Murrieta CA	6-6	13.99		11.03	2.96		13.99
119	Scott Davis	Preston ID	9-9	13.52		4.41	5.06	4.05	13.52
120	David Meza	Camarillo CA	4-4	13.44		5.85	7.59		13.44
121	Kevin Hugo	Canyon Lake CA	5-5	13.33			13.33		13.33
122	John Morrow	Kingman AZ	8-8	13.30		6.01	1.12	6.17	13.30
123	Nick Young	Lake Havasu City AZ	6-6	13.23		6.34	6.89		13.23
124	Brandon Morton	San Tan Valley AZ	6-6	12.83		3.72	9.11		12.83
125	Matty Wong	Collinsville TX	6-6	12.80		4.19	4.83	3.78	12.80
126	Brian Nunn	Bakersfield CA	6-6	12.75		5.69	1.76	5.30	12.75
127	David Gliebe	Manteca CA	6-6	12.62		2.17	10.45		12.62
128	Jesse Halstead	Bonney Lake WA	8-8	12.44		2.93	8.29	1.22	12.44
129	Russ Barger	Boise ID	6-6	12.39		4.13	4.66	3.60	12.39
130	Mason McAbee	Bakersfield CA	5-5	12.33			9.91	2.42	12.33
131	Allen Clark	Florence AZ	6-6	12.26		7.68		4.58	12.26
132	Jonathan Jackson	Las Vegas NV	7-7	12.18		6.89	2.96	2.33	12.18
133	Steven Bowlin	Atlanta TX	6-6	11.92		4.21	7.71		11.92
134	Craig Taylor	Oceanside CA	7-7	11.86		6.67	5.19		11.86
135	Ken Whalen	Lompoc CA	6-6	11.82		7.86	3.96		11.82
136	Tyson Christman	Glendale AZ	5-5	11.72		8.96	2.76		11.72
137	Keith Nighswonger	La Habra CA	6-6	11.55		9.86	1.69		11.55
138	Brad Szarkowski	Santa Clarita CA	4-3	11.93	0.50	7.70	3.73		11.43
139	Kevin Caruso	Glendale AZ	5-5	11.25			6.18	5.07	11.25
140	Matt Bradley	Henderson CA	6-6	11.06		3.76	2.70	4.60	11.06
141	James Wirts	Mesa AZ	4-4	10.87		1.55	3.86	5.46	10.87
142	Ricky Shabazz	La Mesa CA	4-4	10.76		6.73	4.03		10.76
143	Carl Limbrick, Jr.	Bonita CA	4-4	10.76		5.88	4.88		10.76
144	Josh Albee	Golden Valley AZ	5-5	10.60		9.12	1.48		10.60
145	James Wilcox	Reno CA	4-4	10.34		3.94		6.40	10.34
146	Andy Manahl	Mesa AZ	5-5	10.32		4.92	3.91	1.49	10.32
147	Guy Williams	Perris CA	7-7	10.21		1.43	1.16	7.62	10.21
148	Jeff Stuart	Las Vegas NV	5-5	9.44		7.81	1.63		9.44
149	Kevin Wiggins	Winterheaven CA	5-5	9.10		9.10			9.10
150	Jimmy Reese	Ukiah CA	5-5	8.96		4.05	3.07	1.84	8.96
151	Kyle Richins	Washington UT	3-3	8.88		8.88			8.88
152	Dave Kiesgen	Peorea AZ	6-6	8.87			2.73	6.14	8.87
153	Lowell Mickelson	Anahiem CA	6-6	8.84		6.37	1.02	1.45	8.84
154	Kevin Finley	Phoenix AZ	4-4	8.55		5.92	2.63		8.55
155	David Baca	Humboldt AZ	4-4	8.22		6.98	1.24		8.22
156	Cory Kerber	Madera CA	4-4	7.80		3.35	3.14	1.31	7.80
157	Jeremy Mann	San Jose CA	4-4	6.84		3.10		3.74	6.84
158	Robert Yelland	Coeur d Alene ID	3-3	6.51		2.00		4.51	6.51
159	Philip Roesener	Choctaw OK	3-3	6.27		6.27			6.27
160	Jamie Shaw	Coolidge AZ	4-4	6.22			6.22		6.22
161	George Sholl	Washington UT	2-2	6.04		2.17	3.87		6.04
162	Byron Velvick	Boerne TX	2-2	5.94		5.94			5.94
163	Brett Hite	Phoenix AZ	2-2	5.78		5.78			5.78
164	Gary Martlage	Pheonix AZ	3-3	5.73		3.52	2.21		5.73
165	Paul Ojala	Glendale AZ	3-3	5.62		3.65	1.97		5.62
166	Conrad Demecs	New River AZ	2-2	5.05		5.05			5.05
167	Mark Poe	Coolidge AZ	2-2	4.92		2.67	2.25		4.92
168	Joe Patz	Surprise AZ	3-3	4.81			4.81		4.81
169	Dan Davis	Hurrican UT	2-2	4.52				4.52	4.52
170	Greg Garcia	Cibola AZ	3-3	4.37		1.34		3.03	4.37
171	Dan Merchant	Canyon Lake CA	2-2	4.02				4.02	4.02
172	John Martinez	Las Vegas NV	2-2	3.68			1.30	2.38	3.68
173	Billy Hines	Vacaville CA	3-3	3.56		2.46	1.10		3.56
174	Eslam Moursi	Torrance CA	1-1	3.39				3.39	3.39
175	Mike Huseman	Bullhead City AZ	2-2	3.27		3.27			3.27
176	James Weaver	Lehi UT	2-2	2.88		2.88			2.88
177	Melvin Williams	Chula Vista CA	1-1	1.97		1.97			1.97
178	Jeffery Klicka	Brawley CA	1-1	1.54			1.54		1.54
179	Rob Sanford	San Diego CA	1-1	1.23		1.23			1.23
180	Jerren Slaton	Afton TX	0-0	0.00					0.00
181	Jiggs Benn	Myrtle Creek OR	0-0	0.00					0.00
182	Rick Clunn	Ava MO	0-0	0.00					0.00
183	Rick Mason	Glendale AZ	0-0	0.00					0.00

2023 Won Bass U.S. Open
AAA Final Results
	Angler	Hometown	Fish	Wght	Pnlty	Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Total
1	Anthony Hunt	Clovis CA	15-15	41.28		17.63	13.26	10.39	41.28
2	Markus Avalos	Las Vegas NV	12-12	40.05		18.66	3.07	18.32	40.05
3	Quincy Lewis	San Diego CA	13-13	39.98		20.70	5.06	14.22	39.98
4	Travis Hargis	Chula Vista CA	12-12	38.98		20.23	10.46	8.29	38.98
5	Bo McNeely	Rancho Cucamunga CA	15-14	39.19	0.50	12.18	11.99	14.52	38.69
6	Brian Reaves	Bullhead City AZ	13-12	38.83	0.50	14.90	18.84	4.59	38.33
7	Tony Witt	Orange CA	15-15	37.72		11.79	17.33	8.60	37.72
8	Christopher Tobin	Lompoc CA	13-13	37.25		18.40	7.86	10.99	37.25
9	Steven Cook	Willow AK	11-11	36.35		18.83	16.03	1.49	36.35
10	Robert Murrin	Buelton CA	12-12	35.70		7.81	18.97	8.92	35.70
11	Garrett Ott	Huntington Beach CA	12-12	34.42		13.54	14.71	6.17	34.42
12	Donald Lugert	Needles CA	10-10	34.33		18.94	15.39		34.33
13	Joel Chin	Rosemead CA	13-13	34.18		13.03	10.82	10.33	34.18
14	Andrew Packard	Fresno CA	10-9	33.32	0.50	14.81	10.38	7.63	32.82
15	Ellison Hubbard	LAS VEGAS NV	12-12	32.82		11.00	17.31	4.51	32.82
16	Todd Tobiasson	Las Vegas NV	11-11	32.74		12.09	4.16	16.49	32.74
17	David Childress	Bakersfield CA	14-14	32.49		16.95	5.83	9.71	32.49
18	David Stanberry	Wasilla AK	12-12	32.41		6.01	12.12	14.28	32.41
19	Antonio Paniccia	Phoenix AZ	11-11	32.39		17.74	10.52	4.13	32.39
20	Tim Domingues	San Jose CA	11-11	32.02		6.73	8.08	17.21	32.02
21	John Bitting	Kingman AZ	12-12	31.78		10.83	11.79	9.16	31.78
22	Mike McMillan	Burbank CA	15-15	31.65		13.70	10.33	7.62	31.65
23	Kyle Gelles	Pingree ID	11-11	30.95		15.63	5.80	9.52	30.95
24	Joseph Johnson	Goodyear AZ	13-13	30.85		13.31	10.45	7.09	30.85
25	Makoto Otani	Japan	11-10	31.29	0.50	6.43	11.55	12.81	30.79
26	Brian Pappalardo	Corona CA	8-8	30.75		20.17		10.58	30.75
27	Tom Nokes	Riverton UT	13-13	30.57		13.19	13.33	4.05	30.57
28	Chris White	Clayton CA	10-10	30.54		9.27	2.73	18.54	30.54
29	Greg Wheeler	Atascadero CA	9-9	30.46		18.04		12.42	30.46
30	Tom Creasy	Covina CA	15-15	30.39		7.80	9.41	13.18	30.39
31	Tim Demecs	Pheonix AZ	10-10	30.28		15.68	14.60		30.28
32	Kevin A. Smith	Phoenix AZ	12-12	30.13		12.20	11.91	6.02	30.13
33	Coy Mott	Fruitland ID	8-8	30.11		20.58	9.53		30.11
34	Dylan Watson	Hayward CA	8-8	29.69		2.17	7.59	19.93	29.69
35	Dayne Mendes	Hilmar CA	12-11	30.09	0.50	10.39	12.06	7.14	29.59
36	Michael Croft	Alcoa TN	9-9	29.38		1.66	18.98	8.74	29.38
37	Sean Slonski	Buckeye AZ	8-7	29.64	0.50	19.52	3.86	5.76	29.14
38	Kyle Clark	Port Orchard WA	10-10	29.09		7.12	17.57	4.40	29.09
39	R. Stephen Gustafson	Santa Monica CA	13-13	29.01		13.43	7.43	8.15	29.01
40	Steve Jenkins	Apache Junction AZ	12-12	28.88		6.58	12.65	9.65	28.88
41	Tyler Ford	Tucson AZ	15-15	28.63		11.37	10.60	6.66	28.63
42	Geoff Peterson	Huntington Beach CA	10-10	28.62		19.26	5.10	4.26	28.62
43	Shawn Carnahan	Gilbert AZ	10-10	28.34		18.30	10.04		28.34
44	Ronnie Orbaker	Madera CA	12-11	28.76	0.50	12.56	2.63	13.07	28.26
45	Shawn Wagner	Glendale AZ	12-12	28.26		15.87	3.93	8.46	28.26
46	Mandy Myers	Santaquin UT	12-12	28.10		12.40	4.90	10.80	28.10
47	Wyatt Hansen	Oakdale CA	13-13	27.99		12.78	4.32	10.89	27.99
48	Randy Bruno	Huntington Beach CA	10-10	27.96		3.63	6.35	17.98	27.96
49	David Shearrer	Trabuco Canyon CA	11-11	27.58		5.92	9.66	12.00	27.58
50	Mike Hawkins	Boulder City NV	9-9	27.35			19.58	7.77	27.35
51	Anthony Souza	Rio Vista CA	11-11	27.19		2.17	16.55	8.47	27.19
52	John D. Helm	Tempe AZ	10-10	27.11		14.90	8.80	3.41	27.11
53	Brett Robbins	Solvang CA	11-11	25.89		11.53	10.30	4.06	25.89
54	Daniel Martinez	Murrieta CA	9-9	25.89		9.70	13.81	2.38	25.89
55	Mike Kizis	Belle River ON	9-9	25.70		15.59	6.51	3.60	25.70
56	Noah Sanford	Boulder City NV	12-12	25.44		7.05	9.91	8.48	25.44
57	Randall Coyle	Eagle Mountain UT	9-9	25.40		16.59	4.66	4.15	25.40
58	James Clayton	Prescott AZ	11-11	25.23		6.98	15.09	3.16	25.23
59	Mike Rasso	Phoenix AZ	13-13	25.20		5.47	11.96	7.77	25.20
60	Damon Motley	Orange CA	11-11	24.79		11.03	8.24	5.52	24.79
61	Eric Hammer	Peoria AZ	10-9	24.91	0.50	14.25	8.94	1.22	24.41
62	Andrew Bell	San Tan Valley AZ	11-11	24.03		6.03	9.08	8.92	24.03
63	Bryan Davis	Goleta CA	8-8	23.97		4.41	19.56		23.97
64	Jonathan Emmons	Surprise AZ	9-9	23.81		4.21	12.73	6.87	23.81
65	Zack Hayes	Blythe CA	11-11	23.77		8.68	3.11	11.98	23.77
66	Bill Eastes	Boulder Creek CA	9-9	23.69		5.78	10.46	7.45	23.69
67	Vincent Alcantara	Phoenix AZ	10-10	23.52		6.14	4.55	12.83	23.52
68	Ray Kawabata	Bothel WA	13-13	23.42		7.46	12.05	3.91	23.42
69	Robbie Espinosa	Yorba Linda CA	9-9	23.28		8.88	3.83	10.57	23.28
70	Rick Mikla	Discovery Bay CA	11-11	23.27		9.86	7.95	5.46	23.27
71	Fred Buelna	Chandler AZ	10-10	22.74		11.06	3.21	8.47	22.74
72	Bobby Tidd	Mesa AZ	11-11	22.71		3.76	8.83	10.12	22.71
73	Ron Morrison	Lompoc CA	8-8	22.38		1.23	9.11	12.04	22.38
74	Greg Prather	Mesa AZ	7-7	22.03			6.34	15.69	22.03
75	Hayden Metz	Eastvalle CA	8-8	21.39		11.52	4.03	5.84	21.39
76	Greg Wood	Branson MO	9-9	21.39		14.93		6.46	21.39
77	Robert Gower	Lake Forest CA	8-8	21.34		7.77	1.69	11.88	21.34
78	Mike Gabrielson	Bullhead City AZ	10-10	21.12		9.33	11.79		21.12
79	Rocky Luiere	Henderson NV	11-11	20.97		8.78	4.81	7.38	20.97
80	Paul Gelles	Pingree ID	9-8	21.33	0.50	8.36	11.77	0.70	20.83
81	Jonathan Green	San Pablo CA	8-8	20.82		3.27	14.05	3.50	20.82
82	Gavin Hammer	Peoria AZ	9-9	21.79	1.00	3.65	14.00	3.14	20.79
83	Jacob Crawford	San Pedro CA	11-11	20.76		3.72	11.66	5.38	20.76
84	Todd Belzner	Cave Creek AZ	9-9	20.47		8.25	12.22		20.47
85	Jay Witecki	North Las Vegas NV	9-9	20.43		9.19	3.14	8.10	20.43
86	Donnie Scroggins	Kingman AZ	9-9	20.42		11.98	2.70	5.74	20.42
87	Mike Dailey	Reno NV	8-8	20.35		6.55	13.80		20.35
88	Kirk Marshall	Discovery Bay CA	8-4	22.24	2.00	13.25	6.99		20.24
89	David Sloane	Tousand Oaks CA	6-6	20.17		3.93	14.54	1.70	20.17
90	Daniel Lutz	Las Vegas NV	11-11	20.07		9.10	4.83	6.14	20.07
91	Kevin McBean	Shafter CA	8-8	20.04		15.10	4.94		20.04
92	Joe Aldridge	Escondido CA	5-5	19.67		7.85		11.82	19.67
93	William Duncan	Hollister CA	6-6	19.57		17.81	1.76		19.57
94	Mike Olsen	Bullhead AZ	7-7	19.55		16.11	1.12	2.32	19.55
95	David Hutto	Escondido CA	10-10	19.39		9.12	2.76	7.51	19.39
96	Joseph Lineberry	Ramseur NC	8-8	19.25		8.52	4.86	5.87	19.25
97	Brian Bullis Jr.	Anthem AZ	9-9	19.17		12.98	1.12	5.07	19.17
98	Robert Munoz	Hollister CA	7-7	18.95		15.97	2.98		18.95
99	Mike Crothers	Chandler AZ	7-7	18.78		12.07	3.32	3.39	18.78
100	Jade Larson	Pleasant Grove UT	9-9	18.74		3.35	10.25	5.14	18.74
101	James Darling	Glendale AZ	9-9	18.33		8.42	6.11	3.80	18.33
102	Alex Martinez	Menifee CA	11-11	18.24		5.20	6.22	6.82	18.24
103	Kenny Johnson	Eager AZ	7-7	18.12		15.25	2.87		18.12
104	Steve W. Clark	Fresno CA	6-6	18.02		6.45	11.57		18.02
105	Mike Gowey	Snowflake AZ	9-9	17.98			8.24	9.74	17.98
106	James Murphy	Gilbert AZ	10-10	17.92		9.57	8.35		17.92
107	Chris Beverly	Queen Creek AZ	8-8	17.75		8.96	1.48	7.31	17.75
108	John Carroll	Phoenix AZ	6-6	17.61		1.94	1.24	14.43	17.61
109	Landon Allen	Grand Junction CO	8-8	17.55		5.94	6.89	4.72	17.55
110	Michael McCarville	Lae Havasu City AZ	7-7	17.42		2.93		14.49	17.42
111	Tom Kruse	Cayucos CA	9-8	17.73	0.50	6.37	2.99	7.87	17.23
112	Scott Johnson	Vacaville CA	9-9	17.17		8.68	3.91	4.58	17.17
113	Chris Carpenter	Grants Pass OR	7-6	17.53	0.50	7.70	4.88	4.45	17.03
114	Ken Hromada	Gilbert AZ	8-8	16.79		7.58	9.21		16.79
115	Curtis Tara	Hayward CA	5-5	16.66				16.66	16.66
116	Ethan Hammer	Peoria AZ	7-7	16.55		11.95		4.60	16.55
117	Charlie Crawford	Peoria AZ	7-7	16.51		4.13	12.38		16.51
118	Ron Reed	Boulder City NV	8-8	16.33		12.42		3.91	16.33
119	Nathan Hill	Henderson NV	10-10	16.32		6.67	1.30	8.35	16.32
120	Mario Caporuscio	Las Vegas NZ	8-8	16.17		6.47	1.98	7.72	16.17
121	Fisher Griffith	Mesa AZ	9-9	16.17		6.15	8.49	1.53	16.17
122	Dylan Moore	Bakersfield CA	8-8	16.12		9.99	3.47	2.66	16.12
123	Dave Cole	Roy UT	9-9	16.11		9.38	6.73		16.11
124	Tom Warren	Maricopa AZ	9-9	16.04		4.92	8.79	2.33	16.04
125	Bryan Colby	Prescott AZ	10-10	15.77		8.33	6.20	1.24	15.77
126	Ryan Vilmur	Oakdale CA	7-7	15.75		4.05	7.26	4.44	15.75
127	Kevin Holmgreen	Lake Havasu City AZ	8-8	15.54		4.45	7.43	3.66	15.54
128	Thomas Hanes	Lemoore CA	7-7	15.36		1.52	7.71	6.13	15.36
129	William Penrod	Salome AZ	7-7	15.35		7.86	6.18	1.31	15.35
130	Tom White, Sr.	Fountain Valley CA	8-8	15.28		11.12	2.96	1.20	15.28
131	James Denny	Apache Junction AZ	8-8	15.17		1.55	4.64	8.98	15.17
132	David Thies	Lake Havasu City CA	8-8	14.94		4.99	8.11	1.84	14.94
133	Rick Melead	Yorba Linda CA	8-8	14.93		1.54	3.61	9.78	14.93
134	Craig Miller	Las Vegas NV	8-8	14.73		3.35	2.59	8.79	14.73
135	Randy Weber	Phelan CA	7-7	14.70		10.74	1.54	2.42	14.70
136	Christopher Irigoyen	Henderson NV	7-7	14.69		9.10		5.59	14.69
137	Mike Faherty	Lake Havasu City AZ	7-6	15.19	0.50	6.89	7.80		14.69
138	Rob Copple	Pahrump NV	4-4	14.22			8.00	6.22	14.22
139	Mike Peterson	Hemet CA	6-6	14.21		2.39	11.82		14.21
140	Travis Smith	Canyon Lake CA	6-6	14.03		6.45	1.97	5.61	14.03
141	Len Scinto	Santa Clarita CA	7-7	13.99		7.49	4.73	1.77	13.99
142	Ron Goldshine	Los Angeles CA	7-7	13.54		9.69	1.02	2.83	13.54
143	Benjamin Green	Jasper TN	8-8	13.47		1.29	7.66	4.52	13.47
144	Chance Gammon	Bakersfield CA	6-6	12.73		1.97	4.74	6.02	12.73
145	Joseph Riordan	Bullhead City AZ	7-7	12.68		9.60	1.63	1.45	12.68
146	Cole Daniel	Salinas CA	7-7	12.39		2.46	2.25	7.68	12.39
147	Chad Prochaska	Blythe CA	6-6	12.34			5.94	6.40	12.34
148	Jason Abernathy	Goodyear AZ	7-7	12.28		5.69	2.70	3.89	12.28
149	Jonathan Baker	Boulder City NV	5-5	12.25		12.25			12.25
150	Kevin Gross	Redding CA	6-6	12.21			1.52	10.69	12.21
151	Jordan Werner	Hurricane UT	7-7	12.07			8.29	3.78	12.07
152	Richard Craft	Puyallup WA	6-6	12.02		5.05	6.97		12.02
153	Dave Phillips	Nampa ID	5-5	11.60		3.94	3.64	4.02	11.60
154	Eric Stanley	Antioch CA	3-3	11.24			11.24		11.24
155	Ruben Sandoval	Blythe CA	4-4	11.24		5.85	3.87	1.52	11.24
156	Adam Spies	Costa Mesa CA	6-6	10.64		4.33	6.31		10.64
157	JP Brandvig	Chandler AZ	5-5	10.08		6.34		3.74	10.08
158	Brian P. Day	San Diego CA	4-4	9.99			6.43	3.56	9.99
159	Scott Holman	Orange CA	6-6	9.90		6.81	3.09		9.90
160	Brent Johnson	S. Lake Tahoe CA	5-5	9.89		7.68	2.21		9.89
161	Jay Cranney	Rockford TN	5-5	9.86		9.86			9.86
162	Ray Gauerke	Porterville CA	4-4	9.65		1.34	3.85	4.46	9.65
163	Patrick S. Donoho	Las Vegas NV	3-3	9.61		5.88	3.73		9.61
164	Darin Guglielmo	Santa Barbara CA	6-6	9.52		4.19	5.33		9.52
165	Jacob Yates	Flagstaff AZ	6-6	9.39		4.77	4.62		9.39
166	Justin Sperle	Queen Creek AZ	3-3	9.22		5.99		3.23	9.22
167	Ty Crofts	Cedar City UT	4-4	9.07		2.67	1.10	5.30	9.07
168	Gary Freeman	Las Vegas NV	5-5	8.97			4.62	4.35	8.97
169	Gary Volpe	Payson AZ	4-4	8.76		3.52		5.24	8.76
170	Brian Avila	Lenmoore CA	5-5	7.07		2.88	1.16	3.03	7.07
171	Joe Feola	Riverside CA	4-4	6.63			5.19	1.44	6.63
172	Ralph Wells	Lake Havasu City AZ	8-8	6.31		3.35	2.96		6.31
173	Chuck Turner	Golden Valley AZ	3-3	6.27		6.27			6.27
174	Kevin Burgess	Kingman AZ	2-2	4.41		4.41			4.41
175	Junior Barajas	Las Vegas NV	3-3	4.16		2.90	1.26		4.16
176	Kanin Fife	Mesa AZ	7-7	4.02		3.10		0.92	4.02
177	Scott Robertson	Norco CA	2-2	3.96			3.96		3.96
178	Rick Moore	Salinas CA	2-2	3.20		3.20			3.20
179	Chris Gritts	Folsom CA	1-1	2.00		2.00			2.00

by AnglersChannel

Big limit of spotted bass lifts Dube to lead at B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Lake Hartwell

Tim Dube of Nashua, N. H., is leading after Day 1 of the 2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Lake Hartwell with 16 pounds, 3 ounces.

Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.

October 18, 2023

ANDERSON, S.C. — Tim Dube had never fished a competitive round on Lake Hartwell prior to Wednesday's start of the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.

But he went out and treated the place like home water.

Dube, a 29-year-old New Hampshire resident, caught a limit of five spotted bass for a total of 16 pounds, 3 ounces. That was enough to give him a 2-ounce lead over defending B.A.S.S. Nation Champion and Bassmaster Elite Series pro Will Davis Jr., who finished Day 1 with 16-1.

"It was tough to even get fish to bite in practice," Dube said. "But I got a tip from my co-angler from New Hampshire, and I ran some stuff I found in pre-practices. I just got the right ones to bite today. And I had room to grow, too. I had a 5-pounder break off at the boat."

Dube was tightlipped when it came to the lures he used to hook Day 1's big bag, but he indicated he's covering a lot of water and power fishing.

"I'm doing something different, and I don't have any boats around me," he said. "(The key) has been finding the right brushpiles and the canepiles. The fish need to be set up on them right and to be unpressured, if there is such a thing here."

Dube said he'll continue with the tactics that helped him climb into the pole position on Day 1.

"I could get 8 pounds and I could get 18 pounds," he said. "The good thing is the fish seem to reload every day. There are so many fish in this lake. It's just a matter of getting them to bite."

Davis, 31, already knows what it takes to win a B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, having won the 2022 title on Pickwick Lake. That got the Sylacauga, Ala., resident into the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville (he finished 40th of 55 anglers). It also earned him a spot on the 2023 Bassmaster Elite Series, and he impressed there, winning a derby on Lay Lake back in May and finishing fifth in the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings.

Davis said those experiences have given him plenty of confidence.

"It got my mind right to compete at another level,” he said. “Fishing is all about confidence. If you don’t have it, you might as well not even put a boat in the water.

“And Hartwell fits my style pretty well. I know the way the spotted bass behave some days. But they'll change up on you. I must've fished 50 spots today and I only caught fish on four of them."

Davis said three of his keepers came on a Davis Bait Company Wood Jig, and one each on a Davis 1/2-ounce spinnerbait (peacock color) and a Davis Shaky Head.

"That Wood Jig is a bad dude," he said. "It's a phenomenal bait when you power fish and want to cover a lot of water.”

Maryland’s Andrew Sams is third in the boater division with 14-8. South Africa’s Andrew Nienaber is fourth with 14-7 and Michigan’s Nic Rand is fifth with 14-5. Georgia’s Chris Moody, who’s in sixth place with 14-3, caught the heaviest bass in the boater field (4-4).

Cole Buser, who’s representing New Mexico, leads the nonboater field with a limit that weighed 13 pounds. Virginia’s Larry Witt is second with 11-11 and Kansas’ Kyle Klein is third with 10-15. Klein’s 4-8 spot was the heavy on Wednesday.

A total of 113 B.A.S.S. Nation anglers from 48 states and eight foreign countries are competing at Hartwell — the storied 56,000-acre reservoir straddling the South Carolina-Georgia border. Fifty-eight competitors are in the boater field and another 55 are nonboaters. Each finished atop their state standings at one of five B.A.S.S. Nation regionals this year to qualify for the championship.

Davis is fishing alone, as is customary for the defending champion. So are Jurgen Geiger of Namibia and Texas’ Jack Barber, who is representing the Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Besides the U.S. and Namibia, other countries represented this week include Canada, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, Japan, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

The field will be cut after the Day 2 weigh-in, with the Top 10 boaters advancing to the third and final day of competition. Anglers from each of the five B.A.S.S Nation regions that don’t have a Top 10 weight after Day 2 also will advance to the final round, as will any nonboater whose weight is equal to or greater than any boater in the Top 10.

The Top 10 in each field will split a cash purse of $96,500, including Big Bass awards ($1,000 to the boater and $500 to the nonboater), as well as a $500 award to the angler using Garmin Electronics who finishes highest in the boater field.

The top three boaters will earn a spot in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees near Tulsa, Okla., scheduled for March 22-24. The winner will qualify for the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series.

Day 2 of the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship will begin with a 7:30 a.m. ET takeoff from Green Pond Landing. Weigh-in is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. Follow all the action on Bassmaster.com.

Visit Anderson is hosting the event.

2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship 10/18-10/20
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Timothy Dube Nashua, NH 5 16-03 0
Day 1: 5 16-03
2. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 5 16-01 0
Day 1: 5 16-01
3. Andrew Sams Easton, MD 5 14-08 0
Day 1: 5 14-08
4. Andrew Nienaber Cape Town Western Cape 5 14-07 0
Day 1: 5 14-07
5. Nic Rand Kalamazoo, MI 5 14-05 0
Day 1: 5 14-05
6. Chris Moody Brooks, GA 5 14-03 0
Day 1: 5 14-03
7. Zach Taylor Kimberly, ID 5 14-00 0
Day 1: 5 14-00
8. Tyler Darling Rapid City, SD 5 13-12 0
Day 1: 5 13-12
9. Josh Wiesner Fon du Lac, WI 5 13-08 0
Day 1: 5 13-08
10. Taylor Umland Carlock, IL 5 12-13 0
Day 1: 5 12-13
11. Jonathan Carter Portland, ME 5 12-08 0
Day 1: 5 12-08
12. Nate Caldwell Fort Collins, CO 5 12-04 0
Day 1: 5 12-04
13. Blake Wilson Benton, AR 5 12-00 0
Day 1: 5 12-00
14. Cole Findley Forsyth, MO 5 11-15 0
Day 1: 5 11-15
15. Riley Nielsen Murray, UT 5 11-13 0
Day 1: 5 11-13
16. Tyler Ramsey Sand Springs, OK 5 11-10 0
Day 1: 5 11-10
17. Aaron Green Everett, PA 5 11-07 0
Day 1: 5 11-07
18. Zeke Gossett Pell City, AL 5 11-04 0
Day 1: 5 11-04
19. BJ Baxter Willshire, OH 5 11-01 0
Day 1: 5 11-01
19. Jordan Card Knoxville, TN 5 11-01 0
Day 1: 5 11-01
19. Cody Steckel Las Vegas, NV 5 11-01 0
Day 1: 5 11-01
22. Kevin Walton Norfolk, VA 5 10-15 0
Day 1: 5 10-15
23. Jess Pottenger Harrison, ID 5 10-13 0
Day 1: 5 10-13
24. Austin Bonjour Templeton, CA 5 10-10 0
Day 1: 5 10-10
25. Brian La Clair Denton, MD 5 10-09 0
Day 1: 5 10-09
26. Cody Hollen Beaverton, OR 5 10-02 0
Day 1: 5 10-02
27. Dave Frost Mount Dora, FL 5 10-00 0
Day 1: 5 10-00
28. Troy Diede Sioux Falls, SD 5 09-14 0
Day 1: 5 09-14
29. Gary Pope Georgetown, SC 5 09-07 0
Day 1: 5 09-07
30. Andrej Chowaniec Beeton Ontario CANADA 5 09-06 0
Day 1: 5 09-06
31. Matthew Abeyta Albuquerque, NM 5 09-04 0
Day 1: 5 09-04
32. Adam Hamann Prairie Du Chien, IA 5 09-03 0
Day 1: 5 09-03
33. Michael Mello Jr Manville, RI 5 09-00 0
Day 1: 5 09-00
34. Byron Albrecht Waco, TX 5 08-12 0
Day 1: 5 08-12
34. Manuel Cruz Clifton, NJ 5 08-12 0
Day 1: 5 08-12
36. Jay Swanson Lakeville, MN 5 08-10 0
Day 1: 5 08-10
37. Jurgen Geiger Luxury Hill Windoek NA 5 08-05 0
Day 1: 5 08-05
37. Brian Hensley Edwardsburg, MI 5 08-05 0
Day 1: 5 08-05
39. Frankie Mueller Kingman, AZ 5 08-00 0
Day 1: 5 08-00
39. Matthew Nobile Sorrento, LA 5 08-00 0
Day 1: 5 08-00
41. Marc Leech Kings Mountian , NC 5 07-15 0
Day 1: 5 07-15
42. Ken Day Kennewick, WA 5 07-00 0
Day 1: 5 07-00
43. Dustin Hollen Buckhannon, WV 5 06-13 0
Day 1: 5 06-13
44. Luis Tavares Mendes Cernache Do Bonjardim P 5 06-11 0
Day 1: 5 06-11
45. Andre Kondonis Harare ZIMBABWE 4 06-10 0
Day 1: 4 06-10
46. Jacob Marcantonio Moosup, CT 5 05-11 0
Day 1: 5 05-11
47. Jerry Pape Bella Vista, AR 5 05-10 0
Day 1: 5 05-10
48. Sean Andrachick Marion, MT 4 05-10 0
Day 1: 4 05-10
49. Lukas Matt Syracuse, NY 5 05-02 0
Day 1: 5 05-02
50. Andy Gill Wellsville, KS 3 04-00 0
Day 1: 3 04-00
51. Richard Young Jr Melbourne, KY 4 03-15 0
Day 1: 4 03-15
52. Mickey Soler Newington, CT 3 03-11 0
Day 1: 3 03-11
53. Chad Warnol Moss Point, MS 2 03-06 0
Day 1: 2 03-06
54. Oscar Gonzalez Barcelona SPAIN 2 02-11 0
Day 1: 2 02-11
54. Jorge Trapero Barraza Culiac n Rosales TX MEX 2 02-11 0
Day 1: 2 02-11
56. Jackie Barber West , TX 2 02-09 0
Day 1: 2 02-09
57. Thomas Waltz St. Albans, VT 1 01-05 0
Day 1: 1 01-05
58. Yoshi Komada Nishinomiya JAPAN 1 01-01 0
Day 1: 1 01-01
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 47 263 532-02
----------------------------------
47 263 532-02
2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship 10/18-10/20
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Cole Buser Moscow, ID 5 13-00 0
Day 1: 5 13-00
2. Larry Witt Evington, VA 5 11-11 0
Day 1: 5 11-11
3. Kyle Klein Hutchinson, KS 5 10-15 0
Day 1: 5 10-15
4. Grant Aumiller Danville, KY 5 10-05 0
Day 1: 5 10-05
5. Richard White Alexander City, AL 5 10-04 0
Day 1: 5 10-04
6. Hayden Spradling Gilbert, AZ 5 09-07 0
Day 1: 5 09-07
7. Zachary Queeney Atco, NJ 5 08-13 0
Day 1: 5 08-13
8. Dave Roberts Sisters, OR 5 08-06 0
Day 1: 5 08-06
9. Marshal Allen Greeley, CO 4 07-15 0
Day 1: 4 07-15
9. Ron Stierstorfer Middle River, MD 4 07-15 0
Day 1: 4 07-15
11. James D'Ambra Hanover, MA 5 07-11 0
Day 1: 5 07-11
12. Cooper Haase Duncannon, PA 5 07-00 0
Day 1: 5 07-00
13. Keisuke Sakamoto Shiga JAPAN 4 07-00 0
Day 1: 4 07-00
14. Tristan Garriga Lucedale, MS 5 06-15 0
Day 1: 5 06-15
15. Hunter Frederickson Redford, MI 5 06-10 0
Day 1: 5 06-10
15. Andrew Sayles Middleton, ID 5 06-10 0
Day 1: 5 06-10
15. Joe Whelan Ozark, MO 5 06-10 0
Day 1: 5 06-10
18. Bryan Schumacher Sparta, WI 4 06-10 0
Day 1: 4 06-10
19. Matt Luken Independence, KY 4 06-09 0
Day 1: 4 06-09
20. Tristen Boyd Monteagle, TN 4 06-08 0
Day 1: 4 06-08
21. Colten Hutson Edmond, OK 5 06-07 0
Day 1: 5 06-07
22. Gary Belanger Plainville, CT 5 06-02 0
Day 1: 5 06-02
23. Edward Owens Hemingway, SC 3 05-10 0
Day 1: 3 05-10
24. Kin Pui Wong Bakersfield, CA 4 05-07 0
Day 1: 4 05-07
25. Jesus Morales Apodaca Nuevo Leon MEX 3 04-11 0
Day 1: 3 04-11
26. Agustin Pintado Salas El Burgo Del Ebro, Zara 3 04-07 0
Day 1: 3 04-07
27. James Seymour Oglesby, TX 3 04-05 0
Day 1: 3 04-05
28. Matt Summers Gassaway, WV 3 03-13 0
Day 1: 3 03-13
29. Jason Campbell Berwick, LA 3 03-08 0
Day 1: 3 03-08
30. Dean Yamagata Las Vegas, NV 2 03-00 0
Day 1: 2 03-00
31. Eric Moulton Enfield, NH 2 02-10 0
Day 1: 2 02-10
32. Alex Ellerbrock Sugar Grove, IL 2 02-06 0
Day 1: 2 02-06
33. Will Presley Jr Grove City, OH 2 02-02 0
Day 1: 2 02-02
34. Neels Beneke Amanzimtoti SOUTH AFRIC 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
35. Dez Ruffin Tukwila, WA 2 01-13 0
Day 1: 2 01-13
35. Robert Rull Jr Coventry, RI 2 01-13 0
Day 1: 2 01-13
37. Roger Foraker Magnolia, DE 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12
38. Jeremiah Proulx Cherokee Village, AR 1 01-11 0
Day 1: 1 01-11
39. Brad Gandee Mcdonough, GA 2 01-10 0
Day 1: 2 01-10
39. Miles Lausch Lakeville, MN 2 01-10 0
Day 1: 2 01-10
41. Garrett Sicely Albany, VT 1 01-09 0
Day 1: 1 01-09
42. Carl Bowser Indianapolis, IN 1 01-06 0
Day 1: 1 01-06
43. David Pfeiffer Milton Mills, NH 1 01-05 0
Day 1: 1 01-05
44. Grant Harris Maiden, NC 1 01-00 0
Day 1: 1 01-00
45. Fernando Henriques Henriques Cernache Do Bonjardim P 1 00-15 0
Day 1: 1 00-15
46. Gavin Fraser Bulawayo ZIMBABWE 1 00-14 0
Day 1: 1 00-14
47. Leray Anderson II Crofton, NE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Mike Bell Ogdensburg, NY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Jerry Duncklee Fayette, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Tyler Guthmiller Yankton, SD 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Christian Hanson Rathdrum, ID 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Andrew Krauss Seabright CANADA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Claude Loftin Jacksonville, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Blake Macumber Elkhorn, NE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
47. Greg Pink Montrose, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 16 151 240-10
----------------------------------
16 151 240-10

by AnglersChannel

Flagship Quality and Features

DAIWA's new SOL AGS inshore saltwater spinning rods now available.

FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (October 18, 2023) – Providing its best in sensitivity and durability blank construction and featuring flagship series components, DAIWA offers the right spinning rod for avid inshore saltwater anglers with its new SOL AGS spinning rods. A six-rod lineup to target everything from redfish, sea trout, snook, permit and ever tarpon, the one-piece, fast action rods are offered in three 7’ models in medium-light and medium-heavy powers, and three 7’6” rods in medium-light, medium-heavy and heavy action powers.

“Our main goal with the SOL AGS rods is to bring all the advancements DAIWA has made in rod development over the five years to the inshore saltwater market,” said DAIWA’s Marc Mills. “Anglers will quickly notice the advantages of our own AGS guides and micro pitch blank construction for inshore action that provides both sensitivity and the needed durability.”

DAIWA uses its HVF NANOPLUS carbon technology to reinforce the blank through a micro-level arrangement of material in the plastic resin, creating a smaller, lighter, and rigid yet powerful blank with impressive fish-stopping power. The Braiding X and X-45 Bias construction processes add better hoop strength for pulling on fish, plus prevents rod twisting and ovalization to contribute to longer, accurate casts.

DAIWA also includes its exclusive carbon framed Air Guide System (AGS) guides, considered some of the lightest and most sensitive on the market, on the SOL AGS rods. These lightweight carbon framed guides provide both more rigidity and sensitivity by intensifying vibrations during the cast to provide anglers with a quicker response and feel for increased lure action sensitivity.

Noted west coast Florida saltwater guide – and DAIWA pro staffer – Captain Geoff Page was involved in the early stages of the SOL AGS rod development. “These rods have an ideal slim and lightweight design, and yet are so powerful,” said Page. “Depending on the model, they are great for live bait situations, and perfect for casting a wide range of topwater plugs, jigs, crankbaits and spinnerbaits.”

Page favors the SOL AGS 7’6” medium-heavy power rod paired with a DAIWA Certate LT 5000, along with the 7’6” medium power with a KAGE MQ 4000 spinning reel to target species on his home waters in around the greater Sarasota, Fla. area.

Mills notes the new 7’ and 7’6” SOL AGS rods also match up well with its 2500, 3000 and 4000 size Saltist MQ and BG MQ spinning reels, where the Monocoque (MQ) solid one-piece frame reduces flex and gear binding – a welcomed bonus when hooked up with big redfish or tarpon.

SOL AGS FEATURES:

DAIWA’s Exclusive Air Guide System (AGS)
X45® Bias Construction High
Volume Fiber (HVF) Construction
BRAIDING-X Carbon Fiber Braiding
Technology Daiwa’s Exclusive Air Sensor Reel Seats
Micro Pitch Blanks
Limited Lifetime Warranty

MSRP $349.99

by AnglersChannel

Kyle Grover Holds onto Lead on Day Two of 2023 WON BASS U.S. Open

Spencer Shuffield Moves into Second Place, Steven Cook Leads AAA Division

Laughlin, Nev. – October 17, 2023 – There is one constant that can be counted on in the world of professional bass fishing, and that is… change. When the field for the 2023 WON Bass U.S. Open left Katherine Landing at Lake Mohave Marina, they were greeted with warm, slick-calm environment that contrasted the breezy day one conditions. How that would affect the fishing on the bathwater clear Lake Mohave fishery was at question.

While the 28,000 surface acres of Lake Mohave should provide plenty of real estate to target, the body of water tends to fish small, couple that with high skies, and flat winds, and the result was a high probability of change atop the leaderboard. As the day two weigh-n began, it appeared that the day’s conditions may have an effect on the anglers, as several saw opposite results of their opening round performance.

For opening round leader Kyle Grover from Anaheim, Calif., that was not the case as he backed up his 20.70-pounds limit that gave him the day one lead with a 19.56-pound limit to bring his total weight to 40.26 pounds, enabling him to maintain his lead on day two.

Grover holds a slim .51-pound lead over Hot Springs, Ark. pro Spencer Shuffield who brought 19.58-pound limit of smallmouth to bring his total weight to 39.75 pounds. Bryant Smith of Roseville, Calif. matched his day one 18-pound limit with 18.98 pounds to end the day in third place with 37.38 pounds, while Garrett Howard, from Riverside, Calif. added 17.57 to finish day two in fourth place with 36.83 pounds, and rounding out the top five is Patrick Touey, from Santa Maria, Calif. who brought 18.84 pounds to the scales for a total of 36.58 pounds.

Grover reported having the majority of his day’s weight at 11:00AM but made one key cull in the waning moments of the day that made the difference. He had met the four and a half pounder the day before. “I stopped on this point a couple of miles from takeoff yesterday and made a cast at her, she bit, and I broke her off on the hookset,” he said. “I made the same stop today and she was sitting in the same spot, made the same cast, he bit, and this time I landed her; she culled a three pounder.”

He said he knows there are plenty of fish in his areas but is unsure how they will respond. “I threw at around a hundred fish today and got eight or ten to bite,” he said. “I know I need to back it up with a big bag, I’m just not sure that I’ll be able to; tomorrow is going to be interesting. Winning the U.S. Open would mean so much to me, I’m going to go out and do everything I can to close it out tomorrow.”

Shuffield said he threw at more fish than the leader and managed to catch a few more but is also concerned about what the conditions will do to his ability to present to the fish. “I’m fishing fairly deep, and my main areas are expected to be in heavy winds tomorrow,” he said. “I know the fish are there and I hope I can make them eat, but we’ll have to see how tomorrow goes; I’d love to get this done tomorrow.”

In the AAA Division, Steven Cook of Willow, Alaska weighed 16.03 pounds to take the day one lead with 34.86 pounds. Second place on the AAA side is held by Donald Lugert from Needles, Calif. added 15.39 to bring his total to 34.33 pounds. Bullhead City, Arizona’s Brian Reaves moved into third place in the AAA Division with 18.84 pounds to bring his total to 33.74 pounds. Anthony Hunt of Clovis, Calif. ended the day in fourth place with 30.89 pounds after adding 13.26 pounds on day two. Travis Hargis of Chula Vista, Calif. added 10.46 pounds to bring his total to 30.69 pounds to round out the top five.

Complete Standings of both divisions can be found below:

Day three of the 2023 Bass Cat / Mercury WON BASS U.S. Open presented by Laughlin Tourism Commission and Visit Laughlin will commence tomorrow with a champion being crowned Wednesday at the conclusion of the final weigh-in. Takeoff with 183 pro and AAA anglers will commence at safe light and weigh-ins will occur at 3:00PM daily. Takeoff and weigh-ins will be held at Katherine Landing at Lake Mohave Marina located at 2690 Katherine Spur, Bullhead City, AZ 86429.

WON Bass has reserved Thursday October 19 and Friday October 20 in case any day of the event is postponed due to unsafe conditions by the National Parks Service.

Join us for an historic event and look to wonbassevents.com and WONews.com along with WON BASS and Western Outdoor News social media platforms on https://www.facebook.com/WONBassTournaments and https://www.instagram.com/wonbass/ for event details, livestreams and updates.

2023 WON Bass U.S. Open
Day 2 Pro Standings
	Pro Angler	Hometown	Fish	Wght	Pnlty	B/B	Day 1	Day 2	Total

1	Kyle Grover	RCHO STA MARG CA	10-10	40.26		4.74	20.70	19.56	40.26
2	Spencer Shuffield	Hot Springs AR	10-10	39.75		4.88	20.17	19.58	39.75
3	Bryant Smith	Roseville CA	10-10	37.38			18.40	18.98	37.38
4	Garrett Howard	Riverside CA	10-10	36.83		6.49	19.26	17.57	36.83
5	Patrick Touey	Santa Maria CA	10-10	36.58		4.82	17.74	18.84	36.58
6	Evan Barnes	Dardanelle AR	9-9	35.12		4.58	20.58	14.54	35.12
7	Zach VerBrugge	Lake Havasu AZ	10-10	34.97		4.74	18.94	16.03	34.97
8	Chris Zaldain	Fort Worth TX	10-10	34.22		4.88	18.83	15.39	34.22
9	Randy McAbee, Jr.	Bakersfield CA	10-10	33.01			15.68	17.33	33.01
10	Jim Vretzos	El Dorodo Hills CA	9-9	32.00			20.23	11.77	32.00
11	Ray Arbesu	Henderson NV	10-10	29.86		4.23	13.31	16.55	29.86
12	Tai Au	Glendale AZ	9-9	28.97			16.59	12.38	28.97
13	Roy Hawk	Lake Havasu City AZ	10-10	28.57		4.14	9.60	18.97	28.57
14	Luke Clausen	Otis Orchards WA	9-8	29.00	0.50	4.57	16.95	11.55	28.50
15	Gary Clouse	Winchester TN	10-10	26.39			11.79	14.60	26.39
16	Matt Shura	Gilbert AZ	10-10	26.30		4.52	12.25	14.05	26.30
17	Scott Hellesen	Paso Robles CA	8-8	26.25			15.87	10.38	26.25
18	Andrew Napoleon	Mesa AZ	10-10	26.07		5.70	15.25	10.82	26.07
19	Shane Edgar	Glendale AZ	8-8	25.92		4.59	18.66	7.26	25.92
20	Josh Bertrand	San Tan Valley AZ	9-9	25.45			10.74	14.71	25.45
21	Todd Kline	San Clemente CA	10-10	25.42			14.90	10.52	25.42
22	Mike Caruso	Peoria AZ	10-10	25.40		4.27	15.10	10.30	25.40
23	Joe Uribe, Jr.	Surprise AZ	8-8	25.10		4.40	12.98	12.12	25.10
24	Clifford Pirch	Payson AZ	8-8	24.80		4.75	7.49	17.31	24.80
25	Robert Nakatomi	Sacramento CA	10-10	24.63		3.93	10.83	13.80	24.63
26	Max Hernandez	Queen Creek AZ	8-8	24.61		4.63	18.30	6.31	24.61
27	Jason Bryan	Henderson NV	10-10	24.31			12.09	12.22	24.31
28	Jerry Ballesteros	Rancho Cucamonga CA	7-6	24.66	0.50		19.52	4.64	24.16
29	Justin Kerr	Lake Havasu City AZ	9-9	23.71			11.06	12.65	23.71
30	Kevin Short	Fairfield Bay AR	10-9	23.96	0.50		14.25	9.21	23.46
31	Brian Tressen	Corona CA	8-8	23.06			15.63	7.43	23.06
32	Justin Patti	Peoria AZ	10-10	22.58			11.98	10.60	22.58
33	Bill Brown	Grand Junction CO	9-9	22.33		4.77	14.90	7.43	22.33
34	Luke Johns	Folsom CA	9-9	22.22			12.56	9.66	22.22
35	Cody Kurz	Oxnard CA	9-8	22.71	0.50	4.70	10.39	11.82	22.21
36	Chip Gilbert	Yuma AZ	9-9	21.90			14.93	6.97	21.90
37	Jeff Baird	Washington UT	7-7	21.89		5.44	18.04	3.85	21.89
38	Ron Hammett	La Mesa CA	6-6	21.66		3.99	7.85	13.81	21.66
39	Shane Spinning	Canyon Lake CA	10-10	21.62		4.02	9.57	12.05	21.62
40	Bill O'Shinn	Auburn CA	10-10	21.52		3.86	9.86	11.66	21.52
41	Brett Leber	Dixon CA	10-10	21.28			12.20	9.08	21.28
42	Dylan Maxon	Pioera AZ	7-7	21.01			16.11	4.90	21.01
43	Matthew Becker	Finleyville PA	7-7	20.51			17.81	2.70	20.51
44	Jonathan Schuyler	Las Vegas NV	6-6	20.45		5.08	6.45	14.00	20.45
45	Steve Molinari	Waddell AZ	9-9	20.31		4.15	8.52	11.79	20.31
46	Chris Kinley	Lake Havasu City AZ	8-8	20.29		5.25	15.97	4.32	20.29
47	James Salazar	Chandler AZ	10-10	20.20			11.37	8.83	20.20
48	Joe Cole	Coalville UT	10-10	19.76			7.80	11.96	19.76
49	Ryan Yamagata	Las Vegas NV	9-9	19.74		5.31	13.54	6.20	19.74
50	Trace Myers	Santaquin UT	7-7	19.60			11.52	8.08	19.60
51	Jon Bell	Campo CA	8-8	19.42		4.09	4.33	15.09	19.42
52	Daylon Smith	Frazier Park CA	10-10	19.36			11.12	8.24	19.36
52	Micah Jones	Kingman AZ	9-5	21.36	2.00		13.25	6.11	19.36
54	Adam Cacal	Las Vegas NV	8-8	19.23			13.43	5.80	19.23
55	Tom White Jr.	Tustin CA	6-6	18.89		5.62	17.63	1.26	18.89
56	Mike Luiere	Henderson NV	9-9	18.82			8.36	10.46	18.82
57	Jim Moynagh	Shakopee MN	9-9	18.80		3.88	6.81	11.99	18.80
58	Jeff Giffen	Phoenix AZ	7-6	19.24	0.50		14.81	3.93	18.74
59	Darius Arberry	Las Vegas NV	6-6	18.70			15.59	3.11	18.70
60	Tim Klinger	Boulder City NV	9-9	18.68		5.57	11.95	6.73	18.68
61	Matthew Luna	Santee CA	10-10	18.37			8.33	10.04	18.37
62	Randy Pierson	Oakdale CA	7-7	18.34			6.55	11.79	18.34
63	Connor Jacob	Auburn AL	7-7	18.29			7.05	11.24	18.29
64	Mark Lassagne	San Ramon CA	8-8	17.94			6.03	11.91	17.94
65	Chris Ricci	Ignacio CO	10-10	17.47			8.68	8.79	17.47
66	Tony Lain	Lake Havasu City AZ	5-5	17.27		4.89	9.27	8.00	17.27
67	Greg Halliman	Littlerock CA	8-8	16.80		3.76	6.47	10.33	16.80
68	CJ Hinkle	Fort Mohave AZ	7-7	16.52			7.58	8.94	16.52
69	Rusty Salewske	Alpine CA	8-8	16.47			11.53	4.94	16.47
70	Cameron Karber	Munds Park AZ	8-8	16.34			9.99	6.35	16.34
71	Robert Morales	Williams AZ	7-7	16.16			2.90	13.26	16.16
72	Jeff Rutt	Lake Havasu City AZ	7-7	16.06			12.42	3.64	16.06
73	Travis Jewell	Tyler TX	7-7	15.90			13.03	2.87	15.90
74	Dave Davis	Mesa AZ	10-10	15.81			7.46	8.35	15.81
75	Mark Dotterer	Phoenix AZ	7-7	15.76			12.78	2.98	15.76
76	Austin Melville	Gilbert AZ	8-8	15.73			11.00	4.73	15.73
77	Tyler Ivie	West Haven UT	7-7	15.72		3.92	7.77	7.95	15.72
78	Johnny Johnson	Lakeside AZ	6-6	15.68		3.93	13.70	1.98	15.68
79	Anthony Salazar	Henderson NV	6-6	15.41		3.10	8.42	6.99	15.41
80	Dick Watson	Boulder City NV	7-6	15.77	0.50		12.18	3.09	15.27
81	Scooter Griffith	Mesa AZ	8-8	15.24		3.83	4.99	10.25	15.24
82	Gary Klein	Mingus TX	8-8	15.23			4.77	10.46	15.23
83	Kazuki Kodama	Tokyo Japan	8-8	15.19			8.68	6.51	15.19
84	John Murray	Spring City TN	8-8	14.88			5.47	9.41	14.88
85	Jeff Hudson	Las Vegas NV	6-6	14.72			8.78	5.94	14.72
86	Westly Gritts	Folsom CA	6-6	14.71			13.19	1.52	14.71
87	John Basmadjian	Canyon Lakw CA	8-8	14.63			6.14	8.49	14.63
88	Darren Wilson	Las Vegas NV	6-6	14.45			2.39	12.06	14.45
89	Rodney Reed	Chelan WA	9-9	14.43			9.10	5.33	14.43
90	Joshua Advocate	Fort Mohave AZ	5-5	14.25		4.25	1.52	12.73	14.25
91	Victor Azevedo	Filer ID	7-7	14.19			9.33	4.86	14.19
92	Daymond Allen	Murrieta CA	6-6	13.99			11.03	2.96	13.99
93	Christopher Allen	Grand Junction CO	6-6	13.52			12.40	1.12	13.52
94	Phillip Emery	Oxnard CA	4-4	13.46			3.93	9.53	13.46
95	David Meza	Camarillo CA	4-4	13.44			5.85	7.59	13.44
96	Kevin Hugo	Canyon Lake CA	5-5	13.33				13.33	13.33
97	Colby Pearson	Rogue River OR	6-6	13.25		4.75	4.45	8.80	13.25
98	Nick Young	Lake Havasu City AZ	6-6	13.23			6.34	6.89	13.23
99	Levi Samz	Rock Springs WY	5-5	13.11		4.32	1.54	11.57	13.11
100	Brandon Morton	San Tan Valley AZ	6-6	12.83			3.72	9.11	12.83
101	Dung Van Vu	Paramount CA	7-6	13.18	0.50	3.68	9.69	2.99	12.68
102	David Gliebe	Manteca CA	6-6	12.62		3.00	2.17	10.45	12.62
103	Matt Thomas	Scottsdale AZ	5-5	12.41		4.16	8.25	4.16	12.41
104	Dan Frazier	Paso Robles CA	7-7	12.26			6.43	5.83	12.26
105	Pete Marino	Moreno Valley CA	7-7	12.22			7.12	5.10	12.22
106	Eric Inman	West Jordan UT	4-4	12.07			12.07		12.07
107	Steven Bowlin	Atlanta TX	6-6	11.92			4.21	7.71	11.92
108	Craig Taylor	Oceanside CA	7-7	11.86			6.67	5.19	11.86
109	Ken Whalen	Lompoc CA	6-6	11.82			7.86	3.96	11.82
110	Brandon Gaither	Oakdale CA	6-6	11.78			9.19	2.59	11.78
111	Tyson Christman	Glendale AZ	5-5	11.72			8.96	2.76	11.72
112	Keith Nighswonger	La Habra CA	6-6	11.55		3.80	9.86	1.69	11.55
113	Sean Coffey	Mesa AZ	4-4	11.54			5.20	6.34	11.54
114	Shawn Herring	Las Vegas NV	6-6	11.46			3.35	8.11	11.46
115	Brad Szarkowski	Santa Clarita CA	4-3	11.93	0.50		7.70	3.73	11.43
116	Jesse Halstead	Bonney Lake WA	7-7	11.22			2.93	8.29	11.22
117	Chris Harvey	Idaho Falls ID	5-4	11.65	0.50	4.24	3.35	7.80	11.15
118	Ricky Shabazz	La Mesa CA	4-4	10.76		4.03	6.73	4.03	10.76
118	Carl Limbrick, Jr.	Bonita CA	4-4	10.76			5.88	4.88	10.76
120	Shane Noel	California City CA	5-5	10.70			6.15	4.55	10.70
121	Josh Albee	Golden Valley AZ	5-5	10.60			9.12	1.48	10.60
122	Clayton Meyer	Henderson NV	4-4	10.06			6.45	3.61	10.06
123	Mason McAbee	Bakersfield CA	4-4	9.91				9.91	9.91
124	Jonathan Jackson	Las Vegas NV	5-5	9.85			6.89	2.96	9.85
125	Rick Correa	Wilsonville OR	3-3	9.79			6.58	3.21	9.79
126	David Kemper	Tempe AZ	4-4	9.70		4.10	9.70		9.70
127	Joe Ahrens	San Diego CA	5-5	9.63			3.20	6.43	9.63
128	Tom Leedom	Escondido CA	6-6	9.53			1.29	8.24	9.53
129	Jesse A. Marquez	Lake Havasu City AZ	6-6	9.52			1.66	7.86	9.52
130	Scott Davis	Preston ID	6-6	9.47			4.41	5.06	9.47
131	Jeff Stuart	Las Vegas NV	5-5	9.44			7.81	1.63	9.44
132	Jordan Collom	Canyon Lake CA	5-5	9.38			9.38		9.38
133	Mike Bird	Tonopah NV	4-4	9.31			5.99	3.32	9.31
134	Kevin Wiggins	Winterheaven CA	5-5	9.10			9.10		9.10
135	Matty Wong	Collinsville TX	4-4	9.02			4.19	4.83	9.02
136	Kyle Richins	Washington UT	3-3	8.88		4.51	8.88		8.88
137	Andy Manahl	Mesa AZ	4-4	8.83		4.20	4.92	3.91	8.83
138	Russ Barger	Boise ID	5-5	8.79		3.46	4.13	4.66	8.79
139	Kevin Finley	Phoenix AZ	4-4	8.55			5.92	2.63	8.55
140	Todd Woods	Long Beach CA	3-3	8.24			4.41	3.83	8.24
141	David Baca	Humboldt AZ	4-4	8.22			6.98	1.24	8.22
142	Allen Clark	Florence AZ	4-4	7.68			7.68		7.68
143	Douglas Jones	North Las vegas NV	5-5	7.66				7.66	7.66
144	Brian Nunn	Bakersfield CA	4-4	7.45			5.69	1.76	7.45
145	Lowell Mickelson	Anahiem CA	5-5	7.39			6.37	1.02	7.39
146	John Morrow	Kingman AZ	5-5	7.13			6.01	1.12	7.13
147	Jimmy Reese	Ukiah CA	4-4	7.12			4.05	3.07	7.12
148	Christopher Owen	Poway CA	4-4	7.10			3.63	3.47	7.10
149	Marvin Finley	Peoria AZ	2-2	6.68		4.74	1.94	4.74	6.68
150	Cory Kerber	Madera CA	3-3	6.49			3.35	3.14	6.49
151	Matt Bradley	Henderson CA	4-4	6.46			3.76	2.70	6.46
152	Philip Roesener	Choctaw OK	3-3	6.27			6.27		6.27
153	Jamie Shaw	Coolidge AZ	4-4	6.22				6.22	6.22
154	Kevin Caruso	Glendale AZ	2-2	6.18				6.18	6.18
155	George Sholl	Washington UT	2-2	6.04		3.87	2.17	3.87	6.04
156	Byron Velvick	Boerne TX	2-2	5.94			5.94		5.94
157	Brett Hite	Phoenix AZ	2-2	5.78		4.68	5.78		5.78
158	Gary Martlage	Pheonix AZ	3-3	5.73			3.52	2.21	5.73
159	Paul Ojala	Glendale AZ	3-3	5.62			3.65	1.97	5.62
160	James Wirts	Mesa AZ	2-2	5.41			1.55	3.86	5.41
161	Conrad Demecs	New River AZ	2-2	5.05			5.05		5.05
162	Mark Poe	Coolidge AZ	2-2	4.92			2.67	2.25	4.92
163	Joe Patz	Surprise AZ	3-3	4.81				4.81	4.81
164	Gary Freeman	Las Vegas NV	3-3	4.62				4.62	4.62
165	James Wilcox	Reno CA	1-1	3.94			3.94		3.94
166	Billy Hines	Vacaville CA	3-3	3.56			2.46	1.10	3.56
167	Mike Huseman	Bullhead City AZ	2-2	3.27			3.27		3.27
168	Jeremy Mann	San Jose CA	2-2	3.10			3.10		3.10
169	James Weaver	Lehi UT	2-2	2.88			2.88		2.88
170	Dave Kiesgen	Peorea AZ	2-2	2.73				2.73	2.73
171	Guy Williams	Perris CA	2-2	2.59			1.43	1.16	2.59
172	Robert Yelland	Coeur d Alene ID	1-1	2.00			2.00		2.00
173	Melvin Williams	Chula Vista CA	1-1	1.97			1.97		1.97
174	Jeffery Klicka	Brawley CA	1-1	1.54				1.54	1.54
175	Greg Garcia	Cibola AZ	1-1	1.34			1.34		1.34
176	John Martinez	Las Vegas NV	1-1	1.30				1.30	1.30
177	Rob Sanford	San Diego CA	1-1	1.23			1.23		1.23
178	Dan Davis	Hurrican UT	0-0	0.00					0.00
178	Dan Merchant	Canyon Lake CA	0-0	0.00					0.00
178	Jerren Slaton	Afton TX	0-0	0.00					0.00
178	Jiggs Benn	Myrtle Creek OR	0-0	0.00					0.00
178	Rick Clunn	Ava MO	0-0	0.00					0.00
178	Rick Mason	Glendale AZ	0-0	0.00					0.00
178	Eslam Moursi	Torrance CA	0-0	0.00					0.00

2023 Won Bass U.S. Open
Day 2 AAA Standings
	Angler	Hometown	Fish	Wght	Pnlty	B/B	Day 1	Day 2	Total

1	Steven Cook	Willow AK	10-10	34.86			18.83	16.03	34.86
2	Donald Lugert	Needles CA	10-10	34.33		4.48	18.94	15.39	34.33
3	Brian Reaves	Bullhead City AZ	10-10	33.74		4.11	14.90	18.84	33.74
4	Anthony Hunt	Clovis CA	10-10	30.89		4.16	17.63	13.26	30.89
5	Travis Hargis	Chula Vista CA	10-10	30.69		4.98	20.23	10.46	30.69
6	Tim Demecs	Pheonix AZ	10-10	30.28		4.89	15.68	14.60	30.28
7	Coy Mott	Fruitland ID	8-8	30.11		4.77	20.58	9.53	30.11
8	Tony Witt	Orange CA	10-10	29.12		3.06	11.79	17.33	29.12
9	Shawn Carnahan	Gilbert AZ	10-10	28.34			18.30	10.04	28.34
10	Ellison Hubbard	LAS VEGAS NV	10-10	28.31		2.89	11.00	17.31	28.31
11	Antonio Paniccia	Phoenix AZ	10-10	28.26			17.74	10.52	28.26
12	Garrett Ott	Huntington Beach CA	9-9	28.25			13.54	14.71	28.25
13	Robert Murrin	Buelton CA	9-9	26.78		4.45	7.81	18.97	26.78
14	Tom Nokes	Riverton UT	10-10	26.52		4.31	13.19	13.33	26.52
15	Christopher Tobin	Lompoc CA	10-10	26.26			18.40	7.86	26.26
16	Quincy Lewis	San Diego CA	8-8	25.76			20.70	5.06	25.76
17	Andrew Packard	Fresno CA	8-7	25.69	0.50	4.19	14.81	10.38	25.19
18	Kyle Clark	Port Orchard WA	9-9	24.69			7.12	17.57	24.69
19	Geoff Peterson	Huntington Beach CA	8-8	24.36			19.26	5.10	24.36
20	Bo McNeely	Rancho Cucamunga CA	10-9	24.67	0.50		12.18	11.99	24.17
21	Kevin A. Smith	Phoenix AZ	10-10	24.11		3.68	12.20	11.91	24.11
22	Mike McMillan	Burbank CA	10-10	24.03			13.70	10.33	24.03
23	Bryan Davis	Goleta CA	8-8	23.97			4.41	19.56	23.97
24	Joel Chin	Rosemead CA	10-10	23.85		5.05	13.03	10.82	23.85
25	Joseph Johnson	Goodyear AZ	10-10	23.76		2.99	13.31	10.45	23.76
26	John D. Helm	Tempe AZ	9-9	23.70			14.90	8.80	23.70
27	Daniel Martinez	Murrieta CA	8-8	23.51		5.86	9.70	13.81	23.51
28	Sean Slonski	Buckeye AZ	6-5	23.88	0.50	3.86	19.52	3.86	23.38
29	Eric Hammer	Peoria AZ	9-8	23.69	0.50	4.11	14.25	8.94	23.19
30	David Childress	Bakersfield CA	9-9	22.78		4.27	16.95	5.83	22.78
31	John Bitting	Kingman AZ	9-9	22.62		4.77	10.83	11.79	22.62
32	Dayne Mendes	Hilmar CA	9-8	22.95	0.50		10.39	12.06	22.45
33	Mike Kizis	Belle River ON	8-8	22.10		5.07	15.59	6.51	22.10
34	James Clayton	Prescott AZ	8-8	22.07			6.98	15.09	22.07
35	Tyler Ford	Tucson AZ	10-10	21.97			11.37	10.60	21.97
36	Brett Robbins	Solvang CA	10-10	21.83			11.53	10.30	21.83
37	Markus Avalos	Las Vegas NV	7-7	21.73			18.66	3.07	21.73
38	Kyle Gelles	Pingree ID	8-8	21.43		3.63	15.63	5.80	21.43
39	Randall Coyle	Eagle Mountain UT	7-7	21.25			16.59	4.66	21.25
40	Mike Gabrielson	Bullhead City AZ	10-10	21.12			9.33	11.79	21.12
41	R. Stephen Gustafson	Santa Monica CA	8-8	20.86			13.43	7.43	20.86
42	Michael Croft	Alcoa TN	6-6	20.64		4.63	1.66	18.98	20.64
43	Todd Belzner	Cave Creek AZ	9-9	20.47			8.25	12.22	20.47
44	Mike Dailey	Reno NV	8-8	20.35			6.55	13.80	20.35
45	Kirk Marshall	Discovery Bay CA	8-4	22.24	2.00		13.25	6.99	20.24
46	Brian Pappalardo	Corona CA	5-5	20.17			20.17		20.17
47	Paul Gelles	Pingree ID	8-8	20.13			8.36	11.77	20.13
48	Kevin McBean	Shafter CA	8-8	20.04			15.10	4.94	20.04
49	Shawn Wagner	Glendale AZ	7-7	19.80		3.80	15.87	3.93	19.80
50	Mike Hawkins	Boulder City NV	5-5	19.58				19.58	19.58
51	William Duncan	Hollister CA	6-6	19.57			17.81	1.76	19.57
52	Ray Kawabata	Bothel WA	10-10	19.51			7.46	12.05	19.51
53	Damon Motley	Orange CA	9-9	19.27		3.76	11.03	8.24	19.27
54	Steve Jenkins	Apache Junction AZ	7-7	19.23			6.58	12.65	19.23
55	Robert Munoz	Hollister CA	7-7	18.95			15.97	2.98	18.95
56	Anthony Souza	Rio Vista CA	6-6	18.72		4.03	2.17	16.55	18.72
57	David Sloane	Tousand Oaks CA	5-5	18.47		4.70	3.93	14.54	18.47
58	David Stanberry	Wasilla AK	7-7	18.13			6.01	12.12	18.13
59	Kenny Johnson	Eager AZ	7-7	18.12			15.25	2.87	18.12
60	Greg Wheeler	Atascadero CA	5-5	18.04			18.04		18.04
61	Steve W. Clark	Fresno CA	6-6	18.02		4.94	6.45	11.57	18.02
62	Makoto Otani	Japan	7-6	18.48	0.50		6.43	11.55	17.98
63	James Murphy	Gilbert AZ	10-10	17.92			9.57	8.35	17.92
64	Rick Mikla	Discovery Bay CA	9-9	17.81			9.86	7.95	17.81
65	Gavin Hammer	Peoria AZ	6-6	17.65			3.65	14.00	17.65
66	Mike Rasso	Phoenix AZ	8-8	17.43			5.47	11.96	17.43
67	Jonathan Green	San Pablo CA	7-7	17.32		2.91	3.27	14.05	17.32
68	Mandy Myers	Santaquin UT	7-7	17.30			12.40	4.90	17.30
69	Mike Olsen	Bullhead AZ	6-6	17.23			16.11	1.12	17.23
70	Tom Creasy	Covina CA	10-10	17.21			7.80	9.41	17.21
71	Wyatt Hansen	Oakdale CA	8-8	17.10		4.28	12.78	4.32	17.10
72	Noah Sanford	Boulder City NV	8-8	16.96			7.05	9.91	16.96
73	Jonathan Emmons	Surprise AZ	7-7	16.94			4.21	12.73	16.94
74	Ken Hromada	Gilbert AZ	8-8	16.79			7.58	9.21	16.79
75	Charlie Crawford	Peoria AZ	7-7	16.51		3.93	4.13	12.38	16.51
76	Todd Tobiasson	Las Vegas NV	6-6	16.25			12.09	4.16	16.25
77	Bill Eastes	Boulder Creek CA	7-7	16.24			5.78	10.46	16.24
78	Dave Cole	Roy UT	9-9	16.11			9.38	6.73	16.11
79	David Shearrer	Trabuco Canyon CA	6-6	15.58		3.92	5.92	9.66	15.58
80	Hayden Metz	Eastvalle CA	5-5	15.55		4.62	11.52	4.03	15.55
81	Mike Crothers	Chandler AZ	6-6	15.39			12.07	3.32	15.39
82	Jacob Crawford	San Pedro CA	7-7	15.38			3.72	11.66	15.38
83	Ronnie Orbaker	Madera CA	7-7	15.19			12.56	2.63	15.19
84	Andrew Bell	San Tan Valley AZ	8-8	15.11			6.03	9.08	15.11
85	Greg Wood	Branson MO	5-5	14.93		4.67	14.93		14.93
86	Tim Domingues	San Jose CA	6-6	14.81			6.73	8.08	14.81
87	Mike Faherty	Lake Havasu City AZ	7-6	15.19	0.50		6.89	7.80	14.69
88	Donnie Scroggins	Kingman AZ	7-7	14.68			11.98	2.70	14.68
89	Fisher Griffith	Mesa AZ	8-8	14.64			6.15	8.49	14.64
90	James Darling	Glendale AZ	7-7	14.53			8.42	6.11	14.53
90	Bryan Colby	Prescott AZ	9-9	14.53			8.33	6.20	14.53
92	Fred Buelna	Chandler AZ	5-5	14.27			11.06	3.21	14.27
93	Mike Peterson	Hemet CA	6-6	14.21			2.39	11.82	14.21
94	Brian Bullis Jr.	Anthem AZ	6-6	14.10			12.98	1.12	14.10
95	Tom White, Sr.	Fountain Valley CA	7-7	14.08			11.12	2.96	14.08
96	William Penrod	Salome AZ	6-6	14.04			7.86	6.18	14.04
97	Daniel Lutz	Las Vegas NV	7-7	13.93			9.10	4.83	13.93
98	Tom Warren	Maricopa AZ	7-7	13.71			4.92	8.79	13.71
99	Jade Larson	Pleasant Grove UT	7-7	13.60			3.35	10.25	13.60
100	Rocky Luiere	Henderson NV	6-6	13.59			8.78	4.81	13.59
101	Dylan Moore	Bakersfield CA	7-7	13.46			9.99	3.47	13.46
102	Joseph Lineberry	Ramseur NC	6-6	13.38			8.52	4.86	13.38
103	David Thies	Lake Havasu City CA	7-7	13.10			4.99	8.11	13.10
104	Landon Allen	Grand Junction CO	5-5	12.83		4.29	5.94	6.89	12.83
105	Robbie Espinosa	Yorba Linda CA	4-4	12.71		3.83	8.88	3.83	12.71
106	Bobby Tidd	Mesa AZ	7-7	12.59			3.76	8.83	12.59
106	Scott Johnson	Vacaville CA	7-7	12.59			8.68	3.91	12.59
108	Chris Carpenter	Grants Pass OR	5-4	13.08	0.50	4.16	7.70	4.88	12.58
109	Ron Reed	Boulder City NV	5-5	12.42			12.42		12.42
110	Jay Witecki	North Las Vegas NV	5-5	12.33			9.19	3.14	12.33
111	Randy Weber	Phelan CA	6-6	12.28			10.74	1.54	12.28
112	Jonathan Baker	Boulder City NV	5-5	12.25			12.25		12.25
113	Len Scinto	Santa Clarita CA	6-6	12.22			7.49	4.73	12.22
114	Richard Craft	Puyallup WA	6-6	12.02			5.05	6.97	12.02
115	Chris White	Clayton CA	5-5	12.00			9.27	2.73	12.00
116	Ethan Hammer	Peoria AZ	5-5	11.95			11.95		11.95
117	David Hutto	Escondido CA	5-5	11.88			9.12	2.76	11.88
117	Kevin Holmgreen	Lake Havasu City AZ	6-6	11.88			4.45	7.43	11.88
119	Zack Hayes	Blythe CA	6-6	11.79			8.68	3.11	11.79
120	Alex Martinez	Menifee CA	6-6	11.42			5.20	6.22	11.42
121	Ryan Vilmur	Oakdale CA	5-5	11.31		3.90	4.05	7.26	11.31
122	Eric Stanley	Antioch CA	3-3	11.24				11.24	11.24
123	Joseph Riordan	Bullhead City AZ	6-6	11.23			9.60	1.63	11.23
124	Ron Goldshine	Los Angeles CA	6-6	10.71			9.69	1.02	10.71
125	Vincent Alcantara	Phoenix AZ	5-5	10.69			6.14	4.55	10.69
126	Adam Spies	Costa Mesa CA	6-6	10.64			4.33	6.31	10.64
127	Chris Beverly	Queen Creek AZ	5-5	10.44			8.96	1.48	10.44
128	Ron Morrison	Lompoc CA	5-5	10.34			1.23	9.11	10.34
129	Randy Bruno	Huntington Beach CA	5-5	9.98			3.63	6.35	9.98
130	Scott Holman	Orange CA	6-6	9.90		3.25	6.81	3.09	9.90
131	Brent Johnson	S. Lake Tahoe CA	5-5	9.89			7.68	2.21	9.89
132	Jay Cranney	Rockford TN	5-5	9.86			9.86		9.86
133	Dylan Watson	Hayward CA	3-3	9.76		4.83	2.17	7.59	9.76
134	Ruben Sandoval	Blythe CA	3-3	9.72			5.85	3.87	9.72
135	Patrick S. Donoho	Las Vegas NV	3-3	9.61		3.91	5.88	3.73	9.61
136	Darin Guglielmo	Santa Barbara CA	6-6	9.52			4.19	5.33	9.52
137	Robert Gower	Lake Forest CA	4-4	9.46			7.77	1.69	9.46
138	Jacob Yates	Flagstaff AZ	6-6	9.39			4.77	4.62	9.39
139	Tom Kruse	Cayucos CA	6-5	9.86	0.50		6.37	2.99	9.36
140	Thomas Hanes	Lemoore CA	4-4	9.23			1.52	7.71	9.23
141	Christopher Irigoyen	Henderson NV	5-5	9.10			9.10		9.10
142	Benjamin Green	Jasper TN	6-6	8.95			1.29	7.66	8.95
143	Mario Caporuscio	Las Vegas NZ	4-4	8.45			6.47	1.98	8.45
144	Travis Smith	Canyon Lake CA	3-3	8.42			6.45	1.97	8.42
145	Jason Abernathy	Goodyear AZ	5-5	8.39			5.69	2.70	8.39
146	Jordan Werner	Hurricane UT	5-5	8.29				8.29	8.29
147	Mike Gowey	Snowflake AZ	5-5	8.24				8.24	8.24
148	Rob Copple	Pahrump NV	2-2	8.00				8.00	8.00
149	Nathan Hill	Henderson NV	5-5	7.97			6.67	1.30	7.97
150	Joe Aldridge	Escondido CA	2-2	7.85			7.85		7.85
151	Dave Phillips	Nampa ID	3-3	7.58			3.94	3.64	7.58
152	Chance Gammon	Bakersfield CA	2-2	6.71			1.97	4.74	6.71
153	Brian P. Day	San Diego CA	3-3	6.43				6.43	6.43
154	JP Brandvig	Chandler AZ	3-3	6.34			6.34		6.34
154	Greg Prather	Mesa AZ	2-2	6.34				6.34	6.34
156	Ralph Wells	Lake Havasu City AZ	3-3	6.31			3.35	2.96	6.31
157	Chuck Turner	Golden Valley AZ	3-3	6.27			6.27		6.27
158	James Denny	Apache Junction AZ	3-3	6.19			1.55	4.64	6.19
159	Justin Sperle	Queen Creek AZ	2-2	5.99			5.99		5.99
160	Craig Miller	Las Vegas NV	4-4	5.94			3.35	2.59	5.94
160	Chad Prochaska	Blythe CA	3-3	5.94				5.94	5.94
162	Ray Gauerke	Porterville CA	3-3	5.19			1.34	3.85	5.19
162	Joe Feola	Riverside CA	3-3	5.19				5.19	5.19
164	Rick Melead	Yorba Linda CA	3-3	5.15			1.54	3.61	5.15
165	Cole Daniel	Salinas CA	3-3	4.71			2.46	2.25	4.71
166	Kevin Burgess	Kingman AZ	2-2	4.41			4.41		4.41
167	Junior Barajas	Las Vegas NV	3-3	4.16			2.90	1.26	4.16
168	Brian Avila	Lenmoore CA	3-3	4.04			2.88	1.16	4.04
169	Scott Robertson	Norco CA	2-2	3.96				3.96	3.96
170	Ty Crofts	Cedar City UT	2-2	3.77			2.67	1.10	3.77
171	Gary Volpe	Payson AZ	2-2	3.52			3.52		3.52
172	Rick Moore	Salinas CA	2-2	3.20			3.20		3.20
173	John Carroll	Phoenix AZ	2-2	3.18			1.94	1.24	3.18
174	Kanin Fife	Mesa AZ	2-2	3.10			3.10		3.10
175	Michael McCarville	Lae Havasu City AZ	2-2	2.93			2.93		2.93
176	Chris Gritts	Folsom CA	1-1	2.00			2.00		2.00
177	Kevin Gross	Redding CA	1-1	1.52				1.52	1.52
178	Don Dethloff	Rathdrum ID	1-1	1.43			1.43		1.43
179	Lawrence Bryan	Mohave Valley AZ	0-0	0.00					0.00
179	Curtis Tara	Hayward CA	0-0	0.00					0.00
179	Jose Aguilera	Peoria AZ	0-0	0.00					0.00
179	David King	Compton CA	0-0	0.00					0.00
179	Filler Pro		2-2	0.00					0.00
179	Filler AAA		2-2	0.00					0.00

by AnglersChannel

MLF Announces Strategic Plan for 2024 Bass Pro Tour and Beyond

MLF Returns to Its Roots, Reinstates “Every Fish Counts” Format on the Bass Pro Tour, Announces Exclusive Field of 50 Anglers in 2025 to Showcase Top Performers

BENTON, Ky. (Oct. 17, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, today announced long-term plans for the Bass Pro Tour, including an investment in increased livestreaming of MLF competition, a return to the “every fish counts” scoring format, and an exclusive roster of 50 anglers for the Bass Pro Tour in 2025 to increase visibility and showcase top performers.

2025 Bass Pro Tour:
The 2025 Bass Pro Tour field will feature an all-star roster of 50 anglers comprised of the top 35 pros from the 2024 Bass Pro Tour lifetime Angler of the Year (AOY) standings, the top 10 anglers from the 2024 Bass Pro Tour single-year standings that did not qualify via the top 35 lifetime AOY standings, and the top five (5) anglers from the 2024 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals.

Each regular-season 2025 Bass Pro Tour event will be four days with every angler competing the first two days. The top 20 anglers based on two-day cumulative weight will advance to the Knockout Round (Day 3). Weights will reset in the Knockout Round, and the top 10 anglers will advance to the Championship Round (Day 4). Winners will be determined by heaviest cumulative weight from the Knockout and Championship rounds.

“The future of our sport is livestreaming, catch-weigh-immediate release and every fish counts,” said MLF President and CEO Boyd Duckett. “By focusing on 50 anglers in a more compact event that’s easy for both die-hard and casual fans alike to follow, we’ll do what other successful leagues have done to grow – focus on a small group of the highest performers and make them the most visible personalities in the sport. It also allows us to enhance what are already the sport’s best payouts.”

Each Stage on the 2025 Bass Pro Tour will pay $130,000 to the winner and $2,000 through 50th place. REDCREST will feature the sport’s top award of $300,000 with $10,000 through 20^th place and $5,000 through last place. Heavy Hitters will feature $100,000 for a win with big bass awards in each round of $25,000, $50,000 and $100,000.

Not only does the Bass Pro Tour feature the sport’s best payouts and biggest media platform, its anglers graduate through the sport’s most lucrative qualifying circuits – the nationally-televised and livestreamed Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats, Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine, and Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI.

Reinstating “Every Fish Counts” Scoring:
Scoring on the Bass Pro Tour will return to the “every fish counts” format in 2024. After scoring each anglers’ five biggest bass per day in 2023, the change will recapture the excitement and pressure of the Tour’s original format.

“We responded in 2023 to fans and anglers that wanted to see how five-fish scoring would work with our SCORETRACKER^® live leaderboard,” said MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager Kathy Fennel. “Unfortunately, viewership growth was stagnant. The Bass Pro Tour thrives on intense competition, and the scoring change affected the Tour’s competitiveness in an unexpected way. By reinstating the every fish counts scoring structure and having fewer anglers in the Knockout Round, pros will no longer be able to let their guard down without the risk of being overtaken by someone climbing SCORETRACKER^®.”

2024 Bass Pro Tour Tournament Format:
In addition to the scoring change, the format of each Bass Pro Tour event in 2024 will also be adjusted. Forty anglers in Group A will compete on Days 1 & 3 and 40 anglers in Group B will compete on Days 2 & 4. Only the top 10 anglers from each group – based on the two-day, heaviest cumulative weight – will advance to the Knockout Round (Day 5). Weights will be zeroed for the Knockout Round, and the top 10 anglers will advance to the Championship Round (Day 6). Weights from the Knockout Round will carry over into the Championship Round, and the winner of each event will be decided by the heaviest Knockout and Championship round two-day cumulative weight.

The complete 2024 Bass Pro Tour schedule is available at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

by AnglersChannel

AFTCO Bass Boot Camp Is Back

SANTA ANA, Ca., October 19, 2023- AFTCO is on the hunt for the next B.A.S.S. Opens EQ angler to feature in their YouTube series Bass Boot Camp. This opportunity is open to all registered 2024 B.A.S.S. Opens EQ anglers. If selected, AFTCO will pay your B.A.S.S. Opens EQ entry fees and provide a full product sponsorship. Tournament bass fishing fans can follow your behind-the-scenes journey in a 9-episode vlog series on the AFTCO YouTube channel.

To be eligible for the 2024 AFTCO Bass Boot Camp, simply fill out the application form and produce a 5 minute video telling us why you should be the next Bass Boot Camp recruit. Be creative, unique, and yourself. Show us what sets you apart from the roster and why you should represent AFTCO throughout the 2024 B.A.S.S. Opens EQ tournament season.

The application period is open from Oct 15, 2023 to December 31, 2023. The winner will be selected January 17th, 2024. Applicants must be registered to fish the 2024 B.A.s.S. Opens EQ in their own boat and be able to film, edit, and create their own videos. Video and basic editing skills are a requirement.

Apply here: www.aftco.com/bootcamp

Also, any angler registered to fish the entire Bassmaster Opens in 2024 can sign up for the Best On Tour Buck$ContingencyProgram to gain eligibility for a contingency bonus check of $1,000 that will be paid to the top registered angler after each Opens EQ tournament. Even if you don't get selected as the 2024 AFTCO Bass Boot Camp recruit, you still have an opportunity to get an additional $1,000 payday from Best OnTour.

Best On Tour Buck$ Contingency Program: https://bestontour.net/contingency/

by AnglersChannel

Thompkins takes Bassmaster Opens EQ points title, eight others punch Elite Series ticket

Nine new anglers have earned invitations to fish the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series after competing in all nine St. Croix Bassmaster Opens tournaments as part of the new Elite Qualifiers Division.

Photos by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.

October 17, 2023

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The goal for JT Thompkins entering the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens season was simply to qualify for the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series. But as the season unfolded and an Elite Series berth became more and more likely, Thompkins shifted his focus solely to winning the Opens Elite Qualifiers Division Angler of the Year title.

“Honestly, about two tournaments ago, I completely forgot about the Elite race. It was no longer a thought in my mind,” he explained. “It switched to the AOY race. That is why I have been shooting for the win in the last couple of events.”

Capping off an incredible season with his seventh Top 25 finish of the season, Thompkins clinched the Angler of the Year title in the inaugural season of the Elite Qualifiers Division format by accumulating 1,659 points. Along with the $10,000 cash prize, the Myrtle Beach, S.C., native will be heading to the Bassmaster Elite Series.

Union City, Tenn., pro John Garrett finished second, followed by Illinois’ Trey McKinney in third. Robert Gee, Tyler Williams, Wesley Gore, Logan Parks, Ben Milliken and Kyle Patrick all earned Elite Series berths as well. Elite Series pro Kenta Kimura finished fifth in the EQ standings. Since Kimura double-qualified for the 2024 Elite Series, that allowed one additional angler to earn an Elite invitation.

“This has been one of the most stacked Opens fields of all time,” Thompkins said. “I have always thought about when I did make it to the Elites, I wanted to win Rookie of the Year. Just knowing I have done it once, I’ve beaten all the incoming rookies this year, it gives me confidence I can do it again next year.”

Eight of the nine anglers moving on to the Elite Series are under the age of 30, with Thompkins (21), Williams (21) and McKinney (18) being the three youngest of the group. While the 2022 Elite Series rookie class was heralded as one of the best ever, Thompkins believes this incoming group has a chance to be even better.

“When all us were standing there with our medallions, and me and John Garrett were in the front, that was when a lot of it set in,” he said. “When you talk to all the guys who qualified, none of them are scared. Everyone is saying, ‘We are going to go over there and dominate.’ They are all talking about winning.”

With a 19-point lead over Garrett going into the final tournament, Thompkins was as stressed as he has been this season knowing he needed to keep the momentum going for one more event.

“This week, I’ve been more stressed out than any other week of the year. I had cold sores, I couldn’t sleep, but when I saw that trophy at registration on Wednesday, everything came into focus,” Thompkins said during the cancellation day Thursday. “I have been pretty stressed about it, but usually the more stress I put on myself, the better I do. The more (stressed I am, the more) confident I feel about going out and catching them.”

With a strong performance on Day 1, Thompkins felt another limit on Day 2 would seal the deal. On the final day, Thompkins hooked up with a 4-pounder on a jerkbait, but his first couple turns of the reel collected his microphone cable and, for a moment, Thompkins was worried that bass would come off.

“I leaned into it, and the way I fish, my reel will hit my pocket, and when it did, the mic got wrapped up in it and I couldn’t reel,” he said. “Then all of sudden, the fish jumped in the air with complete slack in the line, and after losing two or three big ones already, I thought I was going to lose that one too. But the way he was hooked, I’m not sure he ever would have gotten off. It worked out. That fish was super-important.”

Once that bass entered the livewell, Thompkins felt he had put it out of reach, but another cull late in the day provided the biggest sigh of relief.

“I threw back a 1-pounder for a 2-pounder,” Thompkins said. “That put me up another pound and I knew for 100% that it was over. John would have needed a 30-pound bag to come back.”

The Angler of the Year title caps off an incredible year for Thompkins. Last September, he notched his first career victory at the Upper Chesapeake Bay, which led to a 24th-place finish at the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic.

Leaving Knoxville with a competitive finish gave Thompkins a ton of confidence heading into the bulk of the Opens season.

“A lot of fishing is confidence,” said Thompkins. “When you get back in the boat each morning with the confidence that you are doing it a lot better than a lot of people, it gives you confidence to stick with it knowing that, if you do, you’ll come out on top. That is what has helped me a lot this year ... being able to stick to a deal more and longer than everyone else around me because I have the confidence I’ll be able to catch them. It has worked out this year perfectly.”

Thompkins spends close to 300 days on the water a year. Other than travel and boat maintenance days, Thompkins said he will be on the water from daylight to dark, scanning and searching for winning spots and techniques. Practice makes perfect, and that’s the philosophy Thompkins has adopted throughout his journey to the Elite Series.

Now, Thompkins will look ahead to the Elite Series schedule. He is most looking forward to the Northern swing at the end of the season, but a return trip to the Harris Chain of Lakes has him intrigued as well. Remarkably, the event in his home state, Lake Murray, is a lake he has only visited a handful of times.

“I’m excited for a lot of tournaments,” he said. “Harris Chain is a big one I’m looking forward to if the grass is right and the water clarity is right. I’m also looking forward to Lake Champlain and St. Lawrence River. I’ve probably spent more time on Champlain than (the) St. Lawrence River. I’m pretty excited for Wheeler Lake and Smith Lake too.”

The Elite Series season kicks off Feb. 22-25 on Toledo Bend in Many, La.

Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifiers Division
Final Standings

Finish	Name	Hometown	Total Points
1	JT Thompkins	Myrtle Beach, SC	1,659
2	John Garrett	Union City, TN	1,644
3	Trey McKinney	Carbondale, IL	1,594
4	Robert Gee	Knoxville, TN	1,526
5	Kenta Kimura	Hirakata, Japan	1,502
6	Tyler Williams	Belgrade, ME	1,463
7	Wesley Gore	Clanton, AL	1,455
8	Logan Parks	Auburn, AL	1,435
9	Ben Milliken	New Caney, TX	1,430
10	Kyle Patrick	Cooperstown, NY	1,426
11	Bobby Lane	Lakeland, FL	1,403
12	Kyle Austin	Ridgeville, SC	1,400
13	Brett Cannon	Kiln, MS	1,396
14	Keith Tuma	Brainerd, MN	1,396
15	Jamie Bruce	Kenora, Canada	1,367
16	Sam George	Athens, AL	1,364
17	Cody Stahl	Barnsville, GA	1,343
18	Joey Nania	Cropwell, AL	1,342
19	Shaine Campbell	Brookeland, TX	1,341
20	Trevor McKinney	Benton, IL	1,334
21	Jacob Bigelow	Cecil, WI	1,334
22	Logan Johnson	Jasper, AL	1,330
23	Dale Hightower	Mannford, OK	1,328
24	Kurt Mitchell	Milford, DE	1,326
25	Adam Rasmussen	Sturgeon Bay, WI	1,294
26	Blake Smith	Lakeland, FL	1,274
27	Matt Henry	Milledgeville, GA	1,270
28	Jack Dice	Lynchburg, VA	1,254
29	Casey Scanlon	Eldon, MO	1,250
30	Blake Sylvester	Plaquemine, LA	1,242
31	Greg Bohannan	Bentonville, AR	1,225
32	Jack York	Emory, TX	1,221
33	Chris Blanchette	Edisto Island, SC	1,212
34	Chad Warren	Sand Springs, OK	1,198
35	Derek Lehtonen	Woodruff, SC	1,190
36	Clark Reehm	Elm Grove, LA	1,182
37	Andrew Upshaw	Hemphill, TX	1,171
38	Austin Cranford	Norman, OK	1,166
39	Josh Bragg	Fayetteville, GA	1,163
40	Jimmy Washam	Stantonville, TN	1,131
41	Ish Monroe	Oakdale, CA	1,124
42	Jonathan Dietz	Corry, PA	1,123
43	Jake Maddux	Birmingham, AL	1,116
44	Ty Faber	Pagosa Springs, CO	1,099
45	Miles Burghoff	Dayton, TN	1,096
46	Andrew Hargrove	Moody, TX	1,088
47	Scout Echols	Monticello, AR	1,083
48	Jason Lambert	Savannah, TN	1,070
49	Jason Meninger	Yulee, FL	1,049
50	Kyle Goltz	Cornell, WI	1,045

by AnglersChannel

BG Means Big Game

FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (October 17, 2023) – Sometimes, choosing what reel size to buy is a headscratcher. Do you get something in the 2000 range for smaller catches and light-action battles? Up in that 6500 realm for serious lunkers? Or perhaps a do-it-all 3500 size?

DAIWA is giving you stab at winning the entire BG spinning reel collection, from the petite 1500-size to the 8000-size kraken.

Winner or not, anglers are encouraged to check out the affordably priced, feature laden DAIWA BG. With models ranging from ultralight freshwater to heavy big game saltwater options, DAIWA’s BG series is designed to handle every conceivable fishing scenario. The reel’s solid black anodized machined aluminum housing, coupled with a secure screw-in handle, guarantees exceptional rigidity and longevity. Lightweight and incredibly strong, aluminum yields the strength and feathery weight without the cost and corrosion issues of other metals.

The BG Series isn't just tough; it's technologically advanced. Featuring DIGIGEAR technology, BG reels come equipped with gears 20% to 40% larger than the competition. The gears’ larger tooth pattern significantly extends their lifespan, making BG’s one to three times more durable than rival reels.

AIR ROTOR

Lighter, stronger, and more balanced than any rotor system that’s come before, ‘Air Rotor’ delivers a great leap forward in rotor design and function and delivers the ultimate reel sensitivity and rotational balance.

ATD DRAG

DAIWA’s Automatic Tournament Drag uses an improved drag grease that exhibits low viscosity at rest yet becomes more viscous immediately after drag start up. This reduces initial drag start-up inertia, and combined with the structural changes of the ATD Drag System, results in a smoother drag from the initial hook up.

DIGIGEAR

Daiwa’s first generation of digitally engineered gear design ensures a perfect mesh between ultra-tough drive gear and pinion gears for optimized speed, power, durability, and smoothness.

MSRP starting at $129.99

by AnglersChannel

Travel Tuesday - This is the Year You Should Go Bass Fishing in Mexico

By Pete Robbins - Half Past First Cast

After a dozen years of averaging two trips annually to Anglers Inn’s Lake El Salto and Lake Picachos properties, I’m all-in on the experience. Even in the supposedly “down” years, the fishing is almost always pretty darn good, and you’re never further away from the fish of a lifetime than just a few casts. Furthermore, some things, like the service, never change. Prepare to be spoiled from start to finish – you’ll never touch a bag, your drink won’t go empty, and if you don’t want to unhook your own fish, someone is there to do it for you.

While those things are constant, as noted above there are differences from year to year. Because I intend to go every year until I’m physically unable to do so, those matter less to me than to someone who may be headed down on a once-in-a-lifetime trip. Still, obviously, I like to hear that things are lining up to be great. Based on what I saw last year, and what I’ve heard from some of my favorite guides lately, I have a feeling that this is going to be one of those
years you really want to go.

First, I’ll tell you what I saw last year: Perfect and predictable water levels from start to finish, beginning high with water in the brush and then dropping slowly but steadily, allowing for a fantastic spawn. On top of that, I experienced a population of mid-to-upper-sized bass in the 3- to 6-pound range that was stocky, healthy and aggressive – a sign of good genetics and good conditions. That was both created and enhanced by the fact that the baitfish population had
exploded. Not just tilapia, but shad and others, too. Sometimes you’d cast a Chatterbait or jig to the trunk of a tree and the water would explode in a fleeing cloud of bait. That will keep these bass well-fed, and while at times they may have too many options, I’ve found that it keeps them on the hunt.

As for weather, while the typical August-September rains rolled through, there was just enough rain to fill the lake, but not so much as to push it over the spillway upsetting the apple cart. Big Florida strain bass love that predictability and a lack of major changes, and that’s what we’ll have.

From a creature comforts standpoint, Anglers Inn has upgraded some of their already best-in-class facilities. Perhaps more importantly, now that we’re hopefully past the worst of COVID world, the once-depleted flight schedule to Mazatlán is getting back to semi-normal. That should give you a few more options. That growth may in part be spurred by the fact that the city has taken off for American tourists and retirees. Accordingly, it’s a double-edged sword –
the flights tend to fill up quickly, so don’t delay when you find a favorable price, either. Don’t delay on booking, either. Most dates in January and February are full at both lakes. You may be able to squeeze in during a brief window, but now most options are limited to before the New Year and after March 1 st .

Email us at fishmore@halfpastfirstcast.com if you’d like to learn about when you should go, which lake (or both) is best for you, and how to get prepared for what we are pretty certain will become an addiction like our own.

by AnglersChannel

AC Insider Podcast - Drew Gill, Toyota Series AOY

Join the guys as they talk with up and coming young gun, Drew Gill. Drew is fresh off a Toyota Series Plans Division Angler of the Year, a great season in the MLF Tacklewarehouse Invitationals, as well as his last season of college fishing. Drew brings a fresh perspective on the incoming "freshman" class of anglers, as well as what it's been like competing against some of them the last few years. Tune in for a great perspective from a very talented young angler...we're betting you're going to hear A LOT more about this fella in the years to come!

by AnglersChannel

GREYS INTRODUCES THE CRUISE REEL AND CRUISE COMBO

For the Adventurous Angler On a Budget

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Oct. 17, 2023) – Greys Fly Fishing is proud to unveil our latest offering, the CRUISE reel and CRUISE combo, designed with the dynamic, modern fly angler in mind. For those whose adventures span beyond just fly fishing, this combo is the ideal companion, marrying impeccable performance with unmatched value. Performance fly gear at an exceptional price is the Greys promise, and we’re sticking to it.

For those who don a backpack, love to capture their adventures, and tread both fresh and light saltwater terrains, the CRUISE range stands out as the perfect blend of utility and sophistication. The new CRUISE reel boasts a robust large arbor, stunning, full cage design, durable aluminum construction, and an efficient disc drag mechanism, ensuring your reel is built to withstand the demands of both freshwater and saltwater encounters.

Beyond just the reel, the all-new CRUISE combo offers beginners and enthusiasts a comprehensive package featuring a medium-fast action 4 pc CRUISE fly rod matched with the Greys CRUISE large arbor fly reel and comes ready to fish with backing, WF line, and leader, all neatly packaged in a premium rod and reel case.

CRUISE REEL FEATURES:

High quality die-cast, machine-finished construction
Rulon disc drag system
Modern large arbor industrial design
Supplied with reel pouch
Available in sizes 5/6 and 7/8

CRUISE COMBO FEATURES:

4 pc medium fast action Cruise fly rod
Aluminum reel seat with carbon spacer
High quality die-cast, machine finished Cruise reel
Modern large arbor industrial design
Rulon disc drag system
Supplied in a quality hard rod and reel tube
Matching backing, WF line, and leader
Available in a 9’ 5-wt, 9’ 8-wt and 10’ 7-wt

In a world teeming with options, we understand the need for simplicity. The CRUISE Combo is the perfect kit for those who value both quality and price. Take the guesswork out of your first fly fishing outfit and opt for this carefully curated combo that ensures both quality and affordability, and dive into a world of fly without breaking the bank. After all, it's not just about catching the fish; it's about cherishing every moment of the journey.

The CRUISE Reel & CRUISE Combo are now available.
Reel MSRP: Starting at $69.95
Combo MSRP: Starting at $189.95

by AnglersChannel

Kyle Grover Leads Day One of 2023 WON BASS U.S. Open

Evan Barnes in Second, Quincy Lewis Leads AAA Division

Laughlin, Nev. – October 16, 2023 – As the 183 pro and AAA partners headed out onto the waters of Lake Mohave for the 2023 Bass Cat / Mercury WON BASS U.S. Open presented by Laughlin Tourism Commission and Visit Laughlin, they were greeted with light winds and sunny skies. What wasn’t known was the kind of welcome they would receive from the bass that inhabit the lake.

The answer to that question was that while the top end of the leaderboard showed strong weights, most of the anglers reported having to grind for every bite as the boat traffic and fishing pressure started having an effect on the fishery. However tough the bite became, the quality of the anglers in a field like this were bound to figure out how to boat the quality fish, and Anaheim, Calif. pro Kyle Grover and his AAA partner Quincy Lewis brought 20.70 pounds to the scales at Katherine Landing to take the day one lead.

A veteran of many U.S. Opens, Grover has proven himself to be a more than worthy competitor in Western tournament trails with many titles to his name, he used his desert fishing experience to catch his mixed bag of four smallmouth and one quality largemouth. “I fished the mid-lake area and found an area that had a good population of fish, but even though I could see them on my Active Target, I was only able to make a few of those fish bite,” he said. “I know there are enough fish there to bring in another limit, but I’m not sure that I’ll be able to duplicate what I did today; we’ll see how tomorrow goes.”

Evan Barnes, a Bassmaster Opens pro from Dardanelle, Ark., fishing his first U.S. Open, caught a full limit of smallmouth with his day one AAA partner Coy Mott that weighed 20.58 pounds to open the event in second place. “Barnes revealed that his experience with northern smallmouth fishing translated to Lake Mohave. “I’ve spent a lot of time fishing the smallmouth up there and it helped me feel comfortable here,” he said. “I had a good day today, but had opportunities to have a better day, I’m hopeful about what I’ve found and there’s not a lot of traffic in the area, so should be able to put something together tomorrow.”

El Dorado Hills, Calif. pro Jim Vretzos and his AAA partner Travis Hargis weighed 20.23 pounds to finish the day in third place. They were followed by last year’s runner up Spencer Shuffield from Hot Springs, Ark. and AAA Brian Pappalardo brought 20.17 pounds to the scales to finish the day in fourth place, and Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. pro Jerry Ballesteros and his AAA Sean Slonski brought 19.58 pounds to the scales to round out the top five.

Complete Standings can be found below:

Day two of the three-day long Bass Cat / Mercury WON BASS U.S. Open presented by Laughlin Tourism Commission and Visit Laughlin competition itself will begin Tuesday, October 17, with a champion being crowned on October 18 at the conclusion of the final weigh-in. Takeoff with 183 pro and AAA anglers will commence at safe light and weigh-ins will occur at 3:00PM daily. Takeoff and weigh-ins will be held at Katherine Landing at Lake Mohave Marina located at 2690 Katherine Spur, Bullhead City, AZ 86429.

WON Bass has reserved Thursday October 19 and Friday October 20 in case any day of the event is postponed due to unsafe conditions by the National Parks Service.

2023 WON Bass U.S. Open
Day 1 Pro Standings
	Pro Angler	Hometown	Fish	Pnlty	B/B	Day 1
1	Kyle Grover	RCHO STA MARG CA	5-5		4.63	20.70
2	Evan Barnes	Dardanelle AR	5-5		4.58	20.58
3	Jim Vretzos	El Dorodo Hills CA	5-5			20.23
4	Spencer Shuffield	Hot Springs AR	5-5		4.88	20.17
5	Jerry Ballesteros	Rancho Cucamonga CA	5-4	0.50		19.52
6	Garrett Howard	Riverside CA	5-5		6.49	19.26
7	Zach VerBrugge	Lake Havasu AZ	5-5		4.30	18.94
8	Chris Zaldain	Fort Worth TX	5-5		4.88	18.83
9	Shane Edgar	Glendale AZ	5-5		4.59	18.66
10	Bryant Smith	Roseville CA	5-5			18.40
11	Max Hernandez	Queen Creek AZ	5-5		4.63	18.30
12	Jeff Baird	Washington UT	5-5		5.44	18.04
13	Matthew Becker	Finleyville PA	5-5			17.81
14	Patrick Touey	Santa Maria CA	5-5		4.82	17.74
15	Tom White Jr.	Tustin CA	5-5		5.62	17.63
16	Luke Clausen	Otis Orchards WA	5-5			16.95
17	Tai Au	Glendale AZ	5-5			16.59
18	Dylan Maxon	Pioera AZ	5-5			16.11
19	Chris Kinley	Lake Havasu City AZ	5-5		5.25	15.97
20	Scott Hellesen	Paso Robles CA	5-5			15.87
21	Randy McAbee, Jr.	Bakersfield CA	5-5			15.68
22	Brian Tressen	Corona CA	5-5			15.63
23	Darius Arberry	Las Vegas NV	5-5			15.59
24	Andrew Napoleon	Mesa AZ	5-5		5.70	15.25
25	Mike Caruso	Peoria AZ	5-5		4.27	15.10
26	Chip Gilbert	Yuma AZ	5-5			14.93
27	Todd Kline	San Clemente CA	5-5			14.90
27	Bill Brown	Grand Junction CO	5-5		4.77	14.90
29	Jeff Giffen	Phoenix AZ	5-4	0.50		14.81
30	Kevin Short	Fairfield Bay AR	5-4	0.50		14.25
31	Johnny Johnson	Lakeside AZ	5-5		3.93	13.70
32	Ryan Yamagata	Las Vegas NV	5-5		5.31	13.54
33	Adam Cacal	Las Vegas NV	5-5			13.43
34	Ray Arbesu	Henderson NV	5-5		4.23	13.31
35	Micah Jones	Kingman AZ	5-1	2.00		13.25
36	Westly Gritts	Folsom CA	5-5			13.19
37	Travis Jewell	Tyler TX	5-5			13.03
38	Joe Uribe, Jr.	Surprise AZ	5-5		4.33	12.98
39	Mark Dotterer	Phoenix AZ	5-5			12.78
40	Luke Johns	Folsom CA	5-5			12.56
41	Jeff Rutt	Lake Havasu City AZ	5-5			12.42
42	Christopher Allen	Grand Junction CO	5-5			12.40
43	Matt Shura	Gilbert AZ	5-5			12.25
44	Brett Leber	Dixon CA	5-5			12.20
45	Dick Watson	Boulder City NV	5-4	0.50		12.18
46	Jason Bryan	Henderson NV	5-5			12.09
47	Eric Inman	West Jordan UT	4-4			12.07
48	Justin Patti	Peoria AZ	5-5			11.98
49	Tim Klinger	Boulder City NV	5-5		5.57	11.95
50	Gary Clouse	Winchester TN	5-5			11.79
51	Rusty Salewske	Alpine CA	5-5			11.53
52	Trace Myers	Santaquin UT	4-4			11.52
53	James Salazar	Chandler AZ	5-5			11.37
54	Daylon Smith	Frazier Park CA	5-5			11.12
55	Justin Kerr	Lake Havasu City AZ	4-4			11.06
56	Daymond Allen	Murrieta CA	4-4			11.03
57	Austin Melville	Gilbert AZ	5-5			11.00
58	Robert Nakatomi	Sacramento CA	5-5		3.93	10.83
59	Josh Bertrand	San Tan Valley AZ	5-5			10.74
60	Cody Kurz	Oxnard CA	4-3	0.50	4.70	10.39
61	Cameron Karber	Munds Park AZ	5-5			9.99
62	Keith Nighswonger	La Habra CA	5-5		3.80	9.86
62	Bill O'Shinn	Auburn CA	5-5			9.86
64	David Kemper	Tempe AZ	4-4		4.10	9.70
65	Dung Van Vu	Paramount CA	5-5		3.68	9.69
66	Roy Hawk	Lake Havasu City AZ	5-5			9.60
67	Shane Spinning	Canyon Lake CA	5-5			9.57
68	Jordan Collom	Canyon Lake CA	5-5			9.38
69	Victor Azevedo	Filer ID	5-5			9.33
70	Tony Lain	Lake Havasu City AZ	3-3		4.13	9.27
71	Brandon Gaither	Oakdale CA	4-4			9.19
72	Josh Albee	Golden Valley AZ	4-4			9.12
73	Rodney Reed	Chelan WA	5-5			9.10
73	Kevin Wiggins	Winterheaven CA	5-5			9.10
75	Tyson Christman	Glendale AZ	4-4			8.96
76	Kyle Richins	Washington UT	3-3		4.51	8.88
77	Jeff Hudson	Las Vegas NV	3-3			8.78
78	Kazuki Kodama	Tokyo Japan	5-5			8.68
78	Chris Ricci	Ignacio CO	5-5			8.68
80	Steve Molinari	Waddell AZ	4-4		4.15	8.52
81	Anthony Salazar	Henderson NV	3-3			8.42
82	Mike Luiere	Henderson NV	4-4			8.36
83	Matthew Luna	Santee CA	5-5			8.33
84	Matt Thomas	Scottsdale AZ	4-4			8.25
85	Ken Whalen	Lompoc CA	4-4			7.86
86	Ron Hammett	La Mesa CA	2-2			7.85
87	Jeff Stuart	Las Vegas NV	4-4			7.81
88	Joe Cole	Coalville UT	5-5			7.80
89	Tyler Ivie	West Haven UT	3-3			7.77
90	Brad Szarkowski	Santa Clarita CA	3-2	0.50		7.70
91	Allen Clark	Florence AZ	4-4			7.68
92	CJ Hinkle	Fort Mohave AZ	3-3			7.58
93	Clifford Pirch	Payson AZ	3-3			7.49
94	Dave Davis	Mesa AZ	5-5			7.46
95	Pete Marino	Moreno Valley CA	4-4			7.12
96	Connor Jacob	Auburn AL	4-4			7.05
97	David Baca	Humboldt AZ	3-3			6.98
98	Jonathan Jackson	Las Vegas NV	4-4			6.89
99	Jim Moynagh	Shakopee MN	4-4			6.81
100	Ricky Shabazz	La Mesa CA	3-3			6.73
101	Craig Taylor	Oceanside CA	4-4			6.67
102	Rick Correa	Wilsonville OR	2-2			6.58
103	Randy Pierson	Oakdale CA	3-3			6.55
104	Greg Halliman	Littlerock CA	3-3		3.76	6.47
105	Jonathan Schuyler	Las Vegas NV	2-2		5.08	6.45
105	Clayton Meyer	Henderson NV	2-2			6.45
107	Dan Frazier	Paso Robles CA	3-3			6.43
108	Lowell Mickelson	Anahiem CA	4-4			6.37
109	Nick Young	Lake Havasu City AZ	3-3			6.34
110	Philip Roesener	Choctaw OK	3-3			6.27
111	Shane Noel	California City CA	3-3			6.15
112	John Basmadjian	Canyon Lakw CA	3-3			6.14
113	Mark Lassagne	San Ramon CA	3-3			6.03
114	Mike Bird	Tonopah NV	2-2			5.99
115	Byron Velvick	Boerne TX	2-2			5.94
116	Kevin Finley	Phoenix AZ	2-2			5.92
117	Carl Limbrick, Jr.	Bonita CA	2-2			5.88
118	David Meza	Camarillo CA	2-2			5.85
119	Brett Hite	Phoenix AZ	2-2		4.68	5.78
120	Brian Nunn	Bakersfield CA	3-3			5.69
121	John Murray	Spring City TN	3-3			5.47
122	Sean Coffey	Mesa AZ	2-2			5.20
123	Conrad Demecs	New River AZ	2-2			5.05
124	Scooter Griffith	Mesa AZ	3-3			4.99
125	Andy Manahl	Mesa AZ	2-2		4.20	4.92
126	Gary Klein	Mingus TX	3-3			4.77
127	Colby Pearson	Rogue River OR	2-2			4.45
128	Scott Davis	Preston ID	3-3			4.41
128	Todd Woods	Long Beach CA	2-2			4.41
130	Jon Bell	Campo CA	3-3			4.33
131	Steven Bowlin	Atlanta TX	3-3			4.21
132	Matty Wong	Collinsville TX	2-2			4.19
133	Russ Barger	Boise ID	3-3			4.13
134	Jimmy Reese	Ukiah CA	2-2			4.05
135	James Wilcox	Reno CA	1-1			3.94
136	Phillip Emery	Oxnard CA	1-1			3.93
137	Matt Bradley	Henderson CA	2-2			3.76
138	Brandon Morton	San Tan Valley AZ	2-2			3.72
139	Paul Ojala	Glendale AZ	2-2			3.65
140	Christopher Owen	Poway CA	2-2			3.63
141	Gary Martlage	Pheonix AZ	2-2			3.52
142	Chris Harvey	Idaho Falls ID	2-2			3.35
142	Cory Kerber	Madera CA	2-2			3.35
142	Shawn Herring	Las Vegas NV	2-2			3.35
145	Mike Huseman	Bullhead City AZ	2-2			3.27
146	Joe Ahrens	San Diego CA	2-2			3.20
147	Jeremy Mann	San Jose CA	2-2			3.10
148	Jesse Halstead	Bonney Lake WA	2-2			2.93
149	Robert Morales	Williams AZ	2-2			2.90
150	James Weaver	Lehi UT	2-2			2.88
151	Mark Poe	Coolidge AZ	1-1			2.67
152	Billy Hines	Vacaville CA	2-2			2.46
153	Darren Wilson	Las Vegas NV	1-1			2.39
154	David Gliebe	Manteca CA	1-1			2.17
154	George Sholl	Washington UT	1-1			2.17
156	Robert Yelland	Coeur d Alene ID	1-1			2.00
157	Melvin Williams	Chula Vista CA	1-1			1.97
158	Marvin Finley	Peoria AZ	1-1			1.94
160	Jesse A. Marquez	Lake Havasu City AZ	1-1			1.66
161	James Wirts	Mesa AZ	1-1			1.55
162	Levi Samz	Rock Springs WY	1-1			1.54
163	Joshua Advocate	Fort Mohave AZ	1-1			1.52
164	Guy Williams	Perris CA	1-1			1.43
165	Greg Garcia	Cibola AZ	1-1			1.34
166	Tom Leedom	Escondido CA	1-1			1.29
167	Rob Sanford	San Diego CA	1-1			1.23
168	Kevin Caruso	Glendale AZ	0-0
168	Dan Davis	Hurrican UT	0-0
168	John Martinez	Las Vegas NV	0-0
168	Dan Merchant	Canyon Lake CA	0-0
168	Jerren Slaton	Afton TX	0-0
168	Kevin Hugo	Canyon Lake CA	0-0
168	Jamie Shaw	Coolidge AZ	0-0
168	Douglas Jones	North Las vegas NV	0-0
168	Jeffery Klicka	Brawley CA	0-0
168	Jiggs Benn	Myrtle Creek OR	0-0
168	Rick Clunn	Ava MO	0-0
168	Mason McAbee	Bakersfield CA	0-0
168	John Morrow	Kingman AZ	4-4
168	Rick Mason	Glendale AZ	0-0
168	Joe Patz	Surprise AZ	0-0
168	Dave Kiesgen	Peorea AZ	0-0
168	Eslam Moursi	Torrance CA	0-0

2023 Won Bass U.S. Open
Day 1 AAA Standings
	AAA Angler	Hometown	Fish	Pnlty	B/B	Day 1
1	Quincy Lewis	San Diego CA	5-5			20.70
2	Coy Mott	Fruitland ID	5-5		4.77	20.58
3	Travis Hargis	Chula Vista CA	5-5		4.98	20.23
4	Brian Pappalardo	Corona CA	5-5			20.17
5	Sean Slonski	Buckeye AZ	5-4	0.50		19.52
6	Geoff Peterson	Huntington Beach CA	5-5			19.26
7	Donald Lugert	Needles CA	5-5		3.93	18.94
8	Steven Cook	Willow AK	5-5			18.83
9	Markus Avalos	Las Vegas NV	5-5			18.66
10	Christopher Tobin	Lompoc CA	5-5			18.40
11	Shawn Carnahan	Gilbert AZ	5-5			18.30
12	Greg Wheeler	Atascadero CA	5-5			18.04
13	William Duncan	Hollister CA	5-5			17.81
14	Antonio Paniccia	Phoenix AZ	5-5			17.74
15	Anthony Hunt	Clovis CA	5-5			17.63
16	David Childress	Bakersfield CA	5-5		4.27	16.95
17	Randall Coyle	Eagle Mountain UT	5-5			16.59
18	Mike Olsen	Bullhead AZ	5-5			16.11
19	Robert Munoz	Hollister CA	5-5			15.97
20	Shawn Wagner	Glendale AZ	5-5		3.80	15.87
21	Tim Demecs	Pheonix AZ	5-5		4.89	15.68
22	Kyle Gelles	Pingree ID	5-5		3.63	15.63
23	Mike Kizis	Belle River ON	5-5		5.07	15.59
24	Kenny Johnson	Eager AZ	5-5			15.25
25	Kevin McBean	Shafter CA	5-5			15.10
26	Greg Wood	Branson MO	5-5		4.67	14.93
27	Brian Reaves	Bullhead City AZ	5-5		3.82	14.90
27	John D. Helm	Tempe AZ	5-5			14.90
29	Andrew Packard	Fresno CA	5-4	0.50	4.19	14.81
30	Eric Hammer	Peoria AZ	5-4	0.50	4.11	14.25
31	Mike McMillan	Burbank CA	5-5			13.70
32	Garrett Ott	Huntington Beach CA	5-5			13.54
33	R. Stephen Gustafson	Santa Monica CA	5-5			13.43
34	Joseph Johnson	Goodyear AZ	5-5			13.31
35	Kirk Marshall	Discovery Bay CA	5-1	2.00		13.25
36	Tom Nokes	Riverton UT	5-5		3.24	13.19
37	Joel Chin	Rosemead CA	5-5		5.05	13.03
38	Brian Bullis Jr.	Anthem AZ	5-5			12.98
39	Wyatt Hansen	Oakdale CA	5-5		4.28	12.78
40	Ronnie Orbaker	Madera CA	5-5			12.56
41	Ron Reed	Boulder City NV	5-5			12.42
42	Mandy Myers	Santaquin UT	5-5			12.40
43	Jonathan Baker	Boulder City NV	5-5			12.25
44	Kevin A. Smith	Phoenix AZ	5-5		3.68	12.20
45	Bo McNeely	Rancho Cucamunga CA	5-4	0.50		12.18
46	Todd Tobiasson	Las Vegas NV	5-5			12.09
47	Mike Crothers	Chandler AZ	4-4			12.07
48	Donnie Scroggins	Kingman AZ	5-5			11.98
49	Ethan Hammer	Peoria AZ	5-5			11.95
50	Tony Witt	Orange CA	5-5		3.06	11.79
51	Brett Robbins	Solvang CA	5-5			11.53
52	Hayden Metz	Eastvalle CA	4-4		4.62	11.52
53	Tyler Ford	Tucson AZ	5-5			11.37
54	Tom White, Sr.	Fountain Valley CA	5-5			11.12
55	Fred Buelna	Chandler AZ	4-4			11.06
56	Damon Motley	Orange CA	4-4		3.76	11.03
57	Ellison Hubbard	LAS VEGAS NV	5-5		2.89	11.00
58	John Bitting	Kingman AZ	5-5			10.83
59	Randy Weber	Phelan CA	5-5			10.74
60	Dayne Mendes	Hilmar CA	4-3	0.50		10.39
61	Dylan Moore	Bakersfield CA	5-5			9.99
62	Rick Mikla	Discovery Bay CA	5-5			9.86
62	Jay Cranney	Rockford TN	5-5			9.86
64	Daniel Martinez	Murrieta CA	4-4			9.70
65	Ron Goldshine	Los Angeles CA	5-5			9.69
66	Joseph Riordan	Bullhead City AZ	5-5			9.60
67	James Murphy	Gilbert AZ	5-5			9.57
68	Dave Cole	Roy UT	5-5			9.38
69	Mike Gabrielson	Bullhead City AZ	5-5			9.33
70	Chris White	Clayton CA	3-3			9.27
71	Jay Witecki	North Las Vegas NV	4-4			9.19
72	David Hutto	Escondido CA	4-4			9.12
73	Christopher Irigoyen	Henderson NV	5-5			9.10
73	Daniel Lutz	Las Vegas NV	5-5			9.10
75	Chris Beverly	Queen Creek AZ	4-4			8.96
76	Robbie Espinosa	Yorba Linda CA	3-3			8.88
77	Rocky Luiere	Henderson NV	3-3			8.78
78	Scott Johnson	Vacaville CA	5-5			8.68
78	Zack Hayes	Blythe CA	5-5			8.68
80	Joseph Lineberry	Ramseur NC	4-4			8.52
81	James Darling	Glendale AZ	3-3			8.42
82	Paul Gelles	Pingree ID	4-4			8.36
83	Bryan Colby	Prescott AZ	5-5			8.33
84	Todd Belzner	Cave Creek AZ	4-4			8.25
85	William Penrod	Salome AZ	4-4			7.86
86	Joe Aldridge	Escondido CA	2-2			7.85
87	Robert Murrin	Buelton CA	4-4			7.81
88	Tom Creasy	Covina CA	5-5			7.80
89	Robert Gower	Lake Forest CA	3-3			7.77
90	Chris Carpenter	Grants Pass OR	3-2	0.50	4.16	7.70
91	Brent Johnson	S. Lake Tahoe CA	4-4			7.68
92	Ken Hromada	Gilbert AZ	3-3			7.58
93	Len Scinto	Santa Clarita CA	3-3			7.49
94	Ray Kawabata	Bothel WA	5-5			7.46
95	Kyle Clark	Port Orchard WA	4-4			7.12
96	Noah Sanford	Boulder City NV	4-4			7.05
97	James Clayton	Prescott AZ	3-3			6.98
98	Mike Faherty	Lake Havasu City AZ	4-4			6.89
99	Scott Holman	Orange CA	4-4		3.25	6.81
100	Tim Domingues	San Jose CA	3-3			6.73
101	Nathan Hill	Henderson NV	4-4			6.67
102	Steve Jenkins	Apache Junction AZ	2-2			6.58
103	Mike Dailey	Reno NV	3-3			6.55
104	Mario Caporuscio	Las Vegas NZ	3-3			6.47
105	Steve W. Clark	Fresno CA	2-2		4.94	6.45
105	Travis Smith	Canyon Lake CA	2-2			6.45
107	Makoto Otani	Japan	3-3			6.43
108	Tom Kruse	Cayucos CA	4-4			6.37
109	JP Brandvig	Chandler AZ	3-3			6.34
110	Chuck Turner	Golden Valley AZ	3-3			6.27
111	Fisher Griffith	Mesa AZ	3-3			6.15
112	Vincent Alcantara	Phoenix AZ	3-3			6.14
113	Andrew Bell	San Tan Valley AZ	3-3			6.03
114	Justin Sperle	Queen Creek AZ	2-2			5.99
115	Landon Allen	Grand Junction CO	2-2		4.29	5.94
116	David Shearrer	Trabuco Canyon CA	2-2		3.92	5.92
117	Patrick S. Donoho	Las Vegas NV	2-2		3.91	5.88
118	Ruben Sandoval	Blythe CA	2-2			5.85
119	Bill Eastes	Boulder Creek CA	2-2			5.78
120	Jason Abernathy	Goodyear AZ	3-3			5.69
121	Mike Rasso	Phoenix AZ	3-3			5.47
122	Alex Martinez	Menifee CA	2-2			5.20
123	Richard Craft	Puyallup WA	2-2			5.05
124	David Thies	Lake Havasu City CA	3-3			4.99
125	Tom Warren	Maricopa AZ	2-2			4.92
126	Jacob Yates	Flagstaff AZ	3-3			4.77
127	Kevin Holmgreen	Lake Havasu City AZ	2-2			4.45
128	Bryan Davis	Goleta CA	3-3			4.41
128	Kevin Burgess	Kingman AZ	2-2			4.41
130	Adam Spies	Costa Mesa CA	3-3			4.33
131	Jonathan Emmons	Surprise AZ	3-3			4.21
132	Darin Guglielmo	Santa Barbara CA	2-2			4.19
133	Charlie Crawford	Peoria AZ	3-3			4.13
134	Ryan Vilmur	Oakdale CA	2-2			4.05
135	Dave Phillips	Nampa ID	1-1			3.94
136	David Sloane	Tousand Oaks CA	1-1			3.93
137	Bobby Tidd	Mesa AZ	2-2			3.76
138	Jacob Crawford	San Pedro CA	2-2			3.72
139	Gavin Hammer	Peoria AZ	2-2			3.65
140	Randy Bruno	Huntington Beach CA	2-2			3.63
141	Gary Volpe	Payson AZ	2-2			3.52
142	Ralph Wells	Lake Havasu City AZ	2-2			3.35
142	Craig Miller	Las Vegas NV	2-2			3.35
142	Jade Larson	Pleasant Grove UT	2-2			3.35
145	Jonathan Green	San Pablo CA	2-2			3.27
146	Rick Moore	Salinas CA	2-2			3.20
147	Kanin Fife	Mesa AZ	2-2			3.10
148	Michael McCarville	Lae Havasu City AZ	2-2			2.93
149	Junior Barajas	Las Vegas NV	2-2			2.90
150	Brian Avila	Lenmoore CA	2-2			2.88
151	Ty Crofts	Cedar City UT	1-1			2.67
152	Cole Daniel	Salinas CA	2-2			2.46
153	Mike Peterson	Hemet CA	1-1			2.39
154	Dylan Watson	Hayward CA	1-1			2.17
154	Anthony Souza	Rio Vista CA	1-1			2.17
156	Chris Gritts	Folsom CA	1-1			2.00
157	Chance Gammon	Bakersfield CA	1-1			1.97
158	John Carroll	Phoenix AZ	1-1			1.94
160	Michael Croft	Alcoa TN	1-1			1.66
161	James Denny	Apache Junction AZ	1-1			1.55
162	Rick Melead	Yorba Linda CA	1-1			1.54
163	Thomas Hanes	Lemoore CA	1-1			1.52
164	Don Dethloff	Rathdrum ID	1-1			1.43
165	Ray Gauerke	Porterville CA	1-1			1.34
166	Benjamin Green	Jasper TN	1-1			1.29
167	Ron Morrison	Lompoc CA	1-1			1.23
168	Kevin Gross	Redding CA	0-0
168	Eric Stanley	Antioch CA	0-0
168	Mike Hawkins	Boulder City NV	0-0
168	Lawrence Bryan	Mohave Valley AZ	0-0
168	Curtis Tara	Hayward CA	0-0
168	David Stanberry	Wasilla AK	4-4		6.01
168	Joe Feola	Riverside CA	0-0
168	Mike Gowey	Snowflake AZ	0-0
168	Gary Freeman	Las Vegas NV	0-0
168	Scott Robertson	Norco CA	0-0
168	Jordan Werner	Hurricane UT	0-0
168	Brian P. Day	San Diego CA	0-0
168	Greg Prather	Mesa AZ	0-0
168	Rob Copple	Pahrump NV	0-0
168	Chad Prochaska	Blythe CA	0-0
168	Jose Aguilera	Peoria AZ	0-0
168	David King	Compton CA	0-0

by AnglersChannel

Marks Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament on Lake Eufaula

Strike King Co-angler Victory Goes to Georgia’s Cowart

EUFAULA, Ala. (Oct. 16, 2023) – Boater Paul Marks of Cumming, Georgia, brought a three-day total of 15 bass to the scale weighing 54 pounds, 11 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Event on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Alabama . For his victory, Marks earned $67,992, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF contingency bonus. Marks also received automatic entry into the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship, May 29-31, at Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee.

Marks said he roamed from Lakepoint State Park to the dam searching for bass during the event, and his first two days produced solid weights. However, he lost a 5-pounder at the end of Day 1 on Thursday and a 6-pounder late on Friday which would have boosted his weight dramatically.

“Then Saturday was tough for me,” said Marks, who noted he had fished Lake Eufaula only once prior to the regional event. “I had to really beat on them to catch what I caught.”

Marks said he spent most of his time dragging a Picasso Fantasy Football Jig with a Zoom Z Craw trailer, as well as a Texas-rigged worm for his bass. He said he targeted points, ledges, and brush in 8 to 25 feet of water that were holding fish.

“At the end of the day on Friday I thought I had a pretty good chance for a win,” Marks said. “I really wrecked them, and I thought I might catch 20 pounds on Saturday.

“I just don’t have words to describe this experience,” Marks added about his win. “It’s very surreal.”

The top six boaters that qualified for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:

1st:        Paul Marks, Cumming, Ga., 15 bass, 54-11, $67,992 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MFL Contingency Bonus)
2nd:       Aaron Yavorsky, Palm Harbor, Fla., 15 bass, 50-9, $10,992
3rd:       Bradley Enfinger, Donalsonville, Ga., 15 bass, 49-9, $4,991
4th:        Cody Mackie, McMinnville, Tenn., 14 bass, 45-14, $4,198
5th:        Jason Burroughs, Hodges, S.C., 15 bass, 45-14, $3,328
6th:        Brandon Medlock, Lake Placid, Fla., 15 bass, 44-4, $1,799

Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:

7th:        Emil Wagner, Marietta, Ga., 15 bass, 44-2, $1,899
8th:        Bobby Padgett, Lagrange, Ga., 15 bass, 43-10, $2,399
9th:        Ben McCann, Bradenton, Fla., 15 bass, 42-9, $1,199
10th:     Josh Butler, Hayden, Ala., 15 bass, 42-3, $1,099

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The top four boaters from each division that earned a $1,000 bonus for placing highest in the event were:

Choo Choo:        Bobby Padgett, LaGrange, Ga., 8th Place, $1,000
Gator:                 Aaron Yavorsky, Palm Harbor, Fla. 2nd Place, $1,000
Music City:         Cody Mackie, McMinnville, Tenn., 4th Place, $1,000
Savannah River: Jason Burroughs, Hodges, S.C., 5th Place $1,000

Marks took home an extra $7,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

Tommy Cowart of Danielsville, Georgia, weighed in 10 bass over three days totaling 34 pounds, 5 ounces to win the top Strike King co-angler prize package of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The top six Strike King co-anglers that qualified for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:

1st:          Tommy Cowart, Danielsville, Ga., 10 bass, 34-5, $50,000
2nd:         Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., 11 bass, 25-15, $5,502
3rd:         Brian Carroll, Glencoe, Ala., 10 bass, 22-0, $3,006
4th:         Tyler Nekolny, Coral Springs, Fla., 12 bass, 21-13, $2,001
5th:         Randy Paquette, Sarasota, Fla., 12 bass, 21-12, $1,000
6th:         Lamar Oxford, Dale, Ind., 12 bass, 21-2, $900

Rounding out the top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

7th:         Justin Stephenson, Jasper, Ala., 10 bass, 20-6, $800
8th:         Timothy Jones, Honea Path, S.C., 10 bass, 20-6, $1,200
9th:         Chad Bleiler, Old Hickory, Tenn., 10 bass, 20-5, $600
10th:       Johnny Suratt, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., 11 bass, 18-8, $550

The top four Strike King Co-anglers from each division that earned a $500 bonus for placing highest in the event were:

Choo Choo:        Brian Carroll, Glencoe, Ala., 3rd Place, $500
Gator:                 Tyler Nekolny, Coral Springs, Fla., 4th Place, $500
Music City:         Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., 2nd Place, $500
Savannah River: Timothy Jones, Honea Path, S.C., 8th Place $500

The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Tournament on Lake Eufaula was hosted by the Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce. It featured the top pros and Strike King co-anglers from the Choo Choo, Gator, Music City and Savannah River divisions.

by AnglersChannel

Eldred Earns Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament on Dale Hollow Lake

Strike King Co-angler Victory Goes to Kentucky’s Shrader

BYRDSTOWN, Tenn. (Oct. 16, 2023) – Boater Evan Eldred of Gaines, Michigan, brought a three-day total of 15 bass to the scale weighing 59 pounds, 10 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Event on Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee . For his victory, Eldred earned $64,330, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000. Eldred also received automatic entry into the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship, May 29-31, at Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee.

“Practice was super tough for me,” Eldred said. “I was running all over and trying different things. I’d never been here before. I was trying shallow and deep. I was Damiki rigging a lot because I had heard it worked well on Dale Hollow.

“Finally, out of frustration, I told myself I was going to drive to the farthest point of the lake that I could,” Eldred continued. “I got to the dam and found a creek and saw some shad blowing up. I graphed over them, saw the bait balls, and the fish below them. I figured they were smallmouth.”

Eldred cast to the bait balls in 30 feet of water and caught two largemouth – a 4-pounder and a 4½-pounder – on back-to-back casts.

Eldred said once the tournament began, he repeated that pattern in every creek he came across. He targeted the bait balls with a 1/8-ounce Megabass Okashira Jig Head tipped with a Strike King 3X ElazTech Baby Z Too Soft Jerkbait in Grey Glimmer Pearl Belly.

“The 1/8-ounce head was the key, and within an hour I had a 20-pound bag,” Eldred said.

Eldred said he landed around 30 keeper largemouth during the tournament, but said he had to work really hard for his bites.

“They would bite in bite windows, I noticed,” Eldred said. “There was only an hour or two every day they would bite.

“After the first day, I thought to myself, ‘Man, I’m leading this thing. I’d better not blow it,’” Eldred went on to say. “I had a target on my back.”

Eldred said a slow Day 2 on Friday almost dashed his hopes of victory, as he didn’t have a fish in the livewell at 11 a.m.

“None of the fish on my spots would bite,” Eldred said. “I had to relocate, and as soon as I did, I got three in the boat. Then it took me until 2 o’clock to catch my fifth fish.”

Eldred said he went into the final day of competition not knowing what to expect.

“I wanted to catch 25 pounds, but it wouldn’t have surprised me if I’d zeroed,” Eldred said. “Those fish were that tough to get to bite.”

Eldred caught his limit Saturday by 10 a.m., then upgraded his final day’s weight seven times during the day to secure the win.

The top six boaters that qualified for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:

1st: Evan Eldred, Gaines, Mich., 15 bass, 59-10, $64,330 (includes $2,500 Phoenix MFL Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Josh Lee, Powell, Tenn., 15 bass, 58-12, $11,000
3rd: Jacob Woods, Loudon, Tenn., 15 bass, 57-7, $5,500
4th: Dillon Falardeau, Hixson, Tenn., 15 bass, 55-6, $3,000
5th: Donavan Carson, Bluff City, Tenn., 15 bass, 53-14, $2,000
6th: Isaac Peavyhouse, Jamestown, Tenn., 15 bass, 53-12, $1,800

Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:

7th: Griffin Heffington, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 15 bass, 53-3, $1,600
8th: Justin Latham, Reelsville, Ind., 15 bass, 51-11, $1,900
9th: Joshua Short, Bean Station, Tenn., 15 bass, 48-4, $1,200
10th: Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 15 bass, 45-9, $2,600

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The top four boaters from each division that earned a $1,000 bonus for placing highest in the event were:

Bama: Blake Davenport, Jemison, Ala., 11th Place, $1,000
Illini: Levi Kohl, Edinburg, Ill., 17th Place, $1,000
Michigan: Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, 10th Place, $1,000
Volunteer: Josh Lee, Powell, Tenn., 2nd Place $1,000

Eldred took home an extra $2,500 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

Luke Shrader of Monticello, Kentucky, weighed in eight bass over three days totaling 17 pounds, 15 ounces to win the top Strike King co-angler prize package of $50,150, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The top six Strike King co-anglers that qualified for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:

1st: Luke Shrader, Monticello, Ky., eight bass, 17-15, $50,150
2nd: Stephen Vick, Dandridge, Tenn., four bass, 12-8, $6,000
3rd: Gary Huber II, St. Charles, Mo., six bass, 11-4, $3,000
4th: Cody Stokes, Ooltewah, Tenn., five bass, 11-2, $1,500
5th: Ryan Legg, Parma, Ohio, three bass, 10-2, $1,500
6th: Darren Kelly, Wartburg, Tenn., four bass, 8-8, $1,300

Rounding out the top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

7th: Jeffery McCoy, Montgomery, Ala., three bass, 8-6, $1,300
8th: Stuart Vitollo, Alabaster, Ala., three bass, 6-11, $700
9th: Rob Miller, Albion, Mich., three bass, 6-11, $600
10th: Corey Smith, Hazard, Ky., three bass, 6-10, $550

The top four Strike King Co-anglers from each division that earned a $500 bonus for placing highest in the event were:

Bama: Jeffery McCoy, Montgomery, Ala., 7th Place, $500
Illini: Gary Huber, II, St. Charles, Mo., 3rd Place, $500
Michigan: Ryan Legg, Parma, Ohio, 5th Place, $500
Volunteer: Stephen Vick, Dandridge, Tenn., 2nd Place $500

The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Tournament on Dale Hollow Lake was hosted by the Byrdstown-Pickett County Chamber of Commerce. It featured the top pros and Strike King co-anglers from the Bama, Illini, Michigan and Volunteer divisions.

by AnglersChannel

2024 TXTT Registration Announcement & WRMG Owner SPECIAL INCENTIVE!

SPRINGFIELD, MO. (October 16, 2023) – As most bass anglers in the state of Texas are putting down the rods for the off-season and picking up the hunting gear, the leadership at Outdoor TeamWorks is still working each day toward the 2024 season.

Today, Texas Team Trail officials are proud to announce registration will be opening January 3rd at 9am for the 2024 season! Along with opening registration, Texas Team Trail has an exciting new reduced entry fee incentive opportunity for ALL Nitro, Ranger, and Triton boat owners. No matter what year model of White River Marine Group boat brand a team owns and is fishing out of in the 2024 season, if a team’s captain and their partner register during the first week of registration and pays for all of the regular season events (4 events), teams will be able to pay a special rate of $200 per event to enter for the full season. This is a $200 savings for the entire year. This incentive will only be available to Nitro, Ranger, and Triton owners from January 3rd to January 10th, 2024! This incentive is only eligible to teams where the team captain is an owner of a White River Marine Group boat brand.

“2023 was a season for the record books”, says tournament director Mike Hastings. “With Russel Cecil & Todd Castledine winning their third Progressive Team of the Year title, to seeing several bags breaking the 30lb mark; this was truly a remarkable year that saw the TXTT award six fully rigged bass boats and over $480,000 in prizes. However, 2024 is destined to be even better with each tournament winning team taking home a brand-new bass boat package, the Progressive Team of the Year winning a new bass boat package, and a chance at over $500,000 in cash and prizes to teams competing in 2024. We are looking forward to the new year and hopefully will see many new anglers, as well as existing team anglers fishing the 2024 season of the TXTT”.

To register for the 2024 Texas Team Trail tournaments, please read the updated 2024 RULES and then follow this link to get registered: https://www.texasteamtrail.com/register/

2024 Texas Team Trail Schedule:
· February 17th - Brookeland, TX | Sam Rayburn Reservoir
· March 23rd - Brookeland, TX | Sam Rayburn Reservoir
· April 13th - Yantis, TX | Lake Fork
· May 4th - Belton, TX | Belton Lake
· June 8-9th - Many, LA | Toledo Bend Reservoir - CHAMPIONSHIP

For more information on the Texas Team Trail, including photos and official tournament results from the past, visit texasteamtrail.com. Be sure to also check out the tournament schedule for the 2024 Texas Team Trail and subscribe to the e-newsletter list for all the up-to-date information, registration announcements, sponsor incentives, and Outdoor TeamWorks news.

by AnglersChannel

Sloan & Jackson top 250 teams at Texoma

1 DREW SLOAN
SCURRY , TX NOLAN JACKSON
ROYSE CITY , TX 10 5.56 39.41

SKEETER FXR20 YAMAHA SHO+$500 Garmin + Surelife

2 DEAN ALEXANDER
CEDAR PARK , TX THOMAS MARTENS
CEDAR PARK , TX 10 5.21 32.06

SKEETER ZXR19 YAMAHA SHO+$2500 Skeeter+$500 Garmin

3 DON MCFARLIN
GORDONVILLE , TX JAMES FENNELL
GORDONVILLE , TX 10 5.19 28.48

$6000.00

4 TREVOR ROMANS
CELINA , TX MATT MCMILLAN
FORT WORTH , TX 10 0 25.82

$5000+$5000 Classic Arlington Cash+$1000 Skeeter

5 MATT HILL
JONESTOWN , TX BARRY MOTT
GEORGETOWN , TX 10 4.06 25.78

$4000.00

6 PAKE SOUTH
WINNSBORO , TX KYLE EVANS
EMORY , TX 10 0 24.75

$3000.00

7 ADAM DUNN
HOUSTON , TX JOSHUA WARE
SPLENDORA , TX 9 0 24.42

$2000.00

8 STERLING MARTIN
COMFORT , TX JUSTIN MADDING
JARRELL , TX 9 5.28 23.97

$1800.00+$500 Skeeter

9 MICHAEL GROSSMAN
DALLAS , TX JAY KENDRICK
FORT WORTH , TX 9 0 22.74

$1700.00

10 CHARLIE GANTENBEIN
TEMPLE , TX JAY STIDHAM
CHINA SPRING , TX 10 0 22.59

$1600.00

11 MIKE BURNS
LUCAS , TX ROB BURNS
PLANO , TX 9 0 21.97

$1500.00

12 KEITH HONEYCUTT
TEMPLE , TX SAM JONES
ROGERS , TX 10 0 21.61

$1500.00

13 TIM CLINE
SHERMAN , TX JAXON CLINE
SHERMAN , TX 9 4.53 20.85

$1500.00

14 WILLIAM BLAINE
SAN ANGELO , TX BEN BLAINE
GOLDWAITE , TX 10 0 20.53

$1500.00

15 MIKE RICHARDSON
THORNDALE , TX ZACH BROWN
GEORGETOWN , TX 8 0 19.38

$1500.00

16 CHRIS STUDINGER
NEW BRAUNFELS , TX JOSHUA RHODES
SAN ANTONIO , TX 7 5.84 19.06

$1500.00 + $750.00 Big Bass

17 DEVIN GIBSON
GONZALES , TX ROBERT PRESCOTT
MOORE , OK 7 4.75 18.95

$1500.00

17 KEVIN DRITSCHLER
PROSPER , TX MIKE WITHROW
CORSICANA , TX 9 0 18.95

$1500.00

19 WILL CARSTENS
ALEXANDRIA , LA ROSS BRYANT
ALEXANDRIA , LA 10 0 18.71

$1500.00

20 GEORGE GLASS
DERRIDER , LA TRENT MANUEL
IOWA , LA 7 0 18.48

$1500.00

21 DANIEL RODRIGUEZ
NEW BRAUNFELS , TX KENDALL DAVIS
ABILENE , TX 8 0 18.11

$1500.00

22 CADE WILSON
EARLY , TX BRANDON DAY
BROWNWOOD , TX 9 0 17.61

$1500.00

23 CHRIS BAKER
POWDERLY , TX BRANDON BEERS
PARIS , TX 9 0 17.60

$1500.00

24 JUSTYN PARRISH
LAGO VISTA , TX JJ LARSON
LEANDER , TX 7 0 17.29

$1500.00

25 BRIAN HALL
BRONTE , TX STEVE ELDRED JR
YANTIS , TX 7 0 17.18

$1500.00

26 BRANDEN HOLLINGSHEAD
AZLE , TX JEREMY LAMBERT
DECATUR , TX 9 0 16.91

$1200.00

27 TERRY KIRCUS
BURNET , TX JASON BUCHANAN
BURNET , TX 9 0 16.75

$1200.00

28 JON DESPINO
COLFAX , LA KEVIN LASYONE
DRY PRONG , LA 7 0 16.49

$1200.00

29 LARRY BENCH
DENISON , TX HI HILLBURN
COLBERT , OK 4 6.48 16.37

$1200.00 + $750.00 Big Bass

30 LANCE DILLARD
LLANO , TX BLAKE DILLARD
LLANO , TX 7 4.22 16.30

$1200.00

31 RON SAUCEMAN
COLLINSVILLE , TX ALEX PISARSKI
COLLINSVILLE , TX 8 0 16.15

$1200.00

32 MARK SPURGIN
MCKINNEY , TX TYLER HOLMES
RICHARDSON , TX 6 0 15.97

$1200.00

33 TRENT MENEES
NORTHLAKE , TX TERRY BOLLOM
FRISCO , TX 9 0 15.90

$1200.00

34 COREY SCHNAUTZ
MARION , TX JASON SCHNAUTZ
ELMENDORF , TX 7 0 15.84

$1200.00

35 GIB COATS
FORT WORTH , TX JOHN HARRIS
FORT WORTH , TX 7 0 15.58

$1200.00

36 JODY HOLUBEK
FORT WORTH , TX DANIEL HERRING
WATUAGA , TX 8 0 15.57

$1000.00

37 DAVE DOBRONSKI
SAN ANTONIO , TX CHASE HUX
FLORESVILLE , TX 6 0 15.19

$1000.00

38 LAMARCUS MCCRAY
HOUSTON , TX JAMES ROZELL
PORTER , TX 8 0 15.11

$1000.00

39 DOUG POSEY
ORANGE , TX DAKOTA POSEY
ORANGE , TX 8 0 15.05

$1000.00

40 RONNY MAYNARD
GEORGETOWN , TX ERIC CRUMLEY
LEANDER , TX 7 0 15.01

$1000.00

41 JOEY RICHARDSON
GRANBURY , TX LOWELL RICHARDSON
KELLER , TX 8 0 14.96

$1000.00

42 JONATHAN LANCASTER
QUITMAN , TX JOSH PRIEST
QUITMAN , TX 7 0 14.94

$1000.00

43 ROGER RITCHIE
WICHITA FALLS , TX RICHARD RITCHIE
BENTON , AR 5 0 14.75

44 RANDY TURNER
GREENVILLE , TX TREY TURNER
ROYSE CITY , TX 6 0 14.66

45 DUANE PITTMAN
GONZALES , LA LUCAS RAGUSA
GONZALES , LA 6 5.26 14.64

46 BLAIR COBBLE
LAGO VISTA , TX TERRY COBBLE
ROUND ROCK , TX 6 0 14.59

47 JEREMY WRIGHT
SAN ANTONIO , TX JASON WILLIAMS
NEW BRAUNFELS , TX 6 0 14.50

48 ROBERT CASE JR
PITTSBURG , TX MORRIS MCCUTCHEON
WINNSBORO , TX 7 0 14.43

49 NICK BROWN
LINDALE , TX BYRON CHAVES
MINEOLA , TX 7 0 14.37

50 STEVE TRIMBLE
ATHENS , TX TREVER DYKEMA
YANTS , TX 8 0 14.27

by AnglersChannel

Topwaters may win Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners event at Pickwick

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships

The goosebump-raising explosion of a bass smashing a topwater surface lure remains the sport’s most magical moment for just about any angler who has ever picked up a baitcasting reel, and this coming weekend’s 12th annual Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners event at Pickwick may very well be won on a frog or Super Spook Jr. according to respected veteran guide, Jimmy Mason.

While the Super Spook Jr. will be a great tool for taming surface schooling smallmouth on shallow gravel bars, the frog will be the perfect snag-free utensil to pull weighty largemouth from miles of milfoil and hydrilla patches that are the most abundant they’ve been in at least five years, and certainly thicker than previous Bonus Bucks events held at Pickwick in 2019 and 2020.

“Not only will the frog bite around the hundreds of acres of grass we’ve got this year get stronger and stronger going into this Bonus Bucks event, but the abundant grass mats will also serve to erase some of the local advantages out-of-state guests face when there’s less grass, and specific local-known ledges or deeper water places play a bigger factor,” says Mason.

He also warns visiting tournament participants that river levels are quite low, and flow is minimal in the famous tailraces not far from tournament headquarters below the Wilson Dam. Mason says not only will the tailraces be far less of a player this year,but recommends extreme caution to anybody who chooses to take a left turn out of McFarland Park toward the tailraces, stating he’s seen rocks and boulders exposed this season that he hasn’t seen in years.

However, they’ll be no issues finding a patch of hydrilla or milfoil to fish. In fact, Mason says once particular grass mat spans roughly 8-miles in length from Seven Mile Island to Natchez Trace Bridge, and that the winning five bites could come from an area the size of an average front lawn if a team lands on the magical spot. He says the average water depth beneath most of the matted vegetation is 3 to 6 feet deep.

Mason’s favorite frog is a Booyah Pad Crasher in the color ole smokey, which offers hints of a shad color, and the time proven bone silver flash is his favorite shade of Super Spook Jr.

No major rains are expected in the days leading up to the event, so fishing conditions should remain stable and productive for Toyota Bonus Bucks guests. But they can expect a strong chance of topwater strike induced goosebumps that may very well result in a winning stringer of around 22-pounds and a guaranteed first place check of $5,000 at this no entry fee fellowship filled event.

by AnglersChannel

41st Anniversary WON BASS U.S. Open starts Tomorrow

Josh Bertrand, Gary Klein and Bryant Smith Preview event

San Clemente, Calif. – October 15, 2023 – The 41st Anniversary Bass Cat / Mercury WON BASS U.S. Open presented by Laughlin Tourism Commission and Visit Laughlin kicks off tomorrow on Lake Mohave out of Katerine Landing at Lake Mohave Marina. This event runs through Wednesday October 18. 2023 and marks the second year that the premier bass fishing event in the Western United States will be held on Lake Mohave following consecutive years of lower water conditions at Lake Mead that forced the move.

The 2023 event looks to be as competitive as last year’s event as 182 pro and co anglers will head out onto the 28,000 surface acres of Lake Mohave in search of the kind of quality bass that will take home the 2024 Bass Cat Cougar and Mercury 250 ProXS as well as the cash prize package the eventual champion will receive. As with any bass fishing tournament, the plans the anglers made during practice will need to be adjusted as the Laughlin area has seen significant swings in weather conditions.

In the pre-practice period, the air temperatures saw cooler temperatures with fall type conditions and some windy conditions. During those days,anglers reported seeing the surface temperatures on Lake Mohave dip as much as 10 degrees. While it appears that change may have triggered some type of fall migration, those conditions will change as the event begins as the mercury will reach as high as 100 degrees and the winds will taper to a typical 10 to 15 mph. What effect that has on the fishery remains to be seen.

2022 U.S. Open Champion and MLF Bass Pro Tour pro Josh Bertrand said that he left the areas he won on last year alone and searched new water for this during practice. “Mohave is fishing differently than it did last a year ago,” said Bertrand. “We fished it like a summer event in 2022, and this is more into the fall conditions this year, so it’s going to influence how we do things. “I searched for new water and found some things that I’ll rely on but saved the areas I used to win last year in hopes that they’ll still be good. It’s a different year and I hope to be in position to contend again, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

Fishing his third WON Bass U.S. Open, is Roseville, Calif. pro Bryant Smith who just completed his rookie season on The Bassmaster Elite Series. Smith said that he realized how much the event meant to him as a Western angler after he fished his first U.S. Open and made it a priority. “This is the marquee event and after I fished it for the first time, it becamean event I wanted to win,” he said. “That won’t be an easy task this week, whoever wins is going to have to do several things and make adjustments along the way between the reaction bite, finesse tactics and fishing Active Target Forward Facing Sonar; we’re going to have to earn it this week.”

A former U.S. Open Champion and veteran of more than half of the 41 holdings of the event is Major League Fishing co-founder Gary Klein. AWestern Original, who now makes his home in Texas said he had an urging to return to his roots. “I entered the event because I really started getting an itch to fish out West again, and this event is one that means something to me and a lot of others,” said Klein. “I’ve been out here for a week doing a lot of looking and a little fishing and like how it’s shaping up. It’s not going to be an easy tournament to win, but I feel like I’ve found something I can build on and give it a run; I would really like to give myself a chance to be in the conversation on day three – that would give me a shot at winning my second U.S. Open title.”

Bertrand won the 2022 WON Bass U.S. Open title with a three-day winning weight of 67.78 pounds and it would be reasonable to expect similar weight ranges to be in play this year. Historical averages for winning weights in events on the lake typically exceeds 20 pounds a day,and even with a field this large, that should hold steady. Fishing pressure is likely to play a role as anglers may find themselves competing for areas as the event grinds on.

The 2023 WON BASS U.S. Open Sponsor Expo will be held October 15from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the E-Center Convention Center, adjacent to the host hotel, the Edgewater Hotel, Casino & Resort located at 2020 S. Casino Drive | Laughlin, NV 89029 and will feature dozens of vendor booths showcasing their wares. That sponsor’s fair will be followed by the induction of the 2023 class of the WON BASS Hall of Fame starting at 5:00PM Both events are open to the general public.

The 2023 WON BASS Hall of Fame induction ceremony will occur immediately following the conclusion of Sponsor’s Expo. The WON BASS Hall of Fame has been established to recognize the efforts of competitors and individuals instrumental in the industry who have left indelible marks on the organization and professional bass fishing in theWestern United States through WON BASS.

Individuals being inducted in this inaugural class are three-time U.S. Open Champion Aaron Martens, two-time U.S. Open Champions John Murray and Byron Velvick and past U.S. Open Champion Pat Donoho and Fred Ward.

The three-day long Bass Cat / Mercury WON BASS U.S. Open presented by Laughlin Tourism Commission and Visit Laughlin competition itselfwill begin Monday, October 16, with a champion being crowned on October 18 at the conclusion of the final weigh-in. Takeoff with 182 pro and AAA anglers will commence at safe light and weigh-ins will occur at 3:00PM each day. Takeoff and weigh-ins will be held at Katherine Landing at Lake Mohave Marina located at 2690 Katherine Spur, Bullhead City, AZ 86429.

WON Bass has reserved Thursday October 19 and Friday October 20 in case any day of the event is postponed due to unsafe conditions by the National Parks Service.

Join us for an historic event and look to wonbassevents.com and WONews.com along with WON BASS and Western Outdoor News social media platforms on https://www.facebook.com/WONBassTournamentsand https://www.instagram.com/wonbass/ for event details, livestreamsand updates.

by AnglersChannel

Late bonus pushes Messer to Bassmaster Open victory at Harris Chain of Lakes

Matt Messer of Warfield, Ky., has won the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Harris Chain of Lakes with a two-day total of 39 pounds, 13 ounces.

Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.

October 14, 2023

LEESBURG, Fla. — Two weeks ago, Matt Messer wondered how he would pay for his 2024 tournament entry fees.

But winning the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Harris Chain of Lakes completely changed that outlook.

After leading Day 1 with 24 pounds, 6 ounces, the Warfield, Ky., angler added a second-round total of 15-7 and tallied 39-13. Edging Blake Sylvester of Plaquemine, La., by 1-12, Messer won $42,467 and an automatic berth in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic scheduled for March 22-24 in Tulsa, Okla.

“I’ve been dreaming of the Classic since I was 5 and now I get a shot at it,” Messer said. “I can hardly talk. I’m torn all to pieces.”

Messer, who won the 2022 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Harris Chain presented by Bass Pro Shops with his brother and Kentucky Christian University teammate Lafe Messer, caught both day's limits in Lake Griffin. While Day 1 yielded a 7-14 and a 7-2, the second round saw his lone shot at a kicker fizzle.

“I did not think I was going to catch ‘em,” Messer admits. “I was grinding and I got one big bite, but I didn’t get it in the boat. It was like a 7-pounder.

“I was (discouraged), but I told myself, ‘If it’s the Lord’s plan, it’s going to happen.’”

Messer would end up catching his fish on a Texas-rigged Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Creature Hawg and a 1/4-ounce Boogerman buzzbait. The latter would deliver the day-making fish right before Messer’s trip back to the weigh-in.

“I came back (from Lake Griffin) and there were boats lined up at the lock,” he said. “I asked (the anglers) if I could fish in front of them while they waited. I trolled by them, threw a buzzbait against the wall and at 3:45, I caught a 3 1/2-pounder.”

Calling the Harris Chain his favorite fishery, Messer said a key Day 1 decision likely determined his fate.

“Yesterday, I was going through the Dead River,” he said. “I was going to go to Lake Dora to catch a limit. I knew I could go and catch enough to get a check. But I started thinking that I really didn’t care about getting a check on this place — I wanted to win.

“I went to Griffin about 11 o’clock with two bass in my livewell. I caught those two 7s, and it just worked out.”

Sylvester finished second with 38-1. Making the long run to Lake Apopka, he caught a limit of 15-14 on Day 1 and then added 22-3 on the final day.

Returning to Apopka for Day 2, Sylvester anchored his big limit with an 8-pounder. He caught his bass by throwing a Prototype Lures Smasher Frog and a Delta Lures Thunder Jig and flipping a Missile Baits D Bomb.

“I was around some big ones,” he said. “I caught a 7-8 (on Friday), and I saw a couple of big ones that missed my frog. I left a lot out there yesterday. I weighed in three 2-pounders and you can’t do that on a place like this.”

Sylvester started his day in Lake Harris. Once he reached Apopka, he caught all of his bass between 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.

Ben Milliken of New Caney, Texas, finished third with 32-3. After placing second on Day 1 with 20-13, he endured a day of frustration but managed to catch a final round limit of 11-6.

“A lot of things went wrong today, and I really had to work hard to overcome a lot of challenges,” Milliken said. “I got to my first spot and there was an angler parked on top of it. I never caught any fish there, so I drove all the way down to Lake Apopka. I got to the lock and there were 20 boats lined up — they can only take three at a time.

“I finally got down to Apopka around 11:30 or noon and got to the brushpile where I caught my whole Day 1 limit. I broke off the first four fish that bit on a drop shot with a 7-inch 6th Sense Divine Shakey Worm.”

Milliken ended up catching two fish out of the brushpile and filled his limit elsewhere.

Lafe Messer of Warfield, Ky., won the $750 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award for his 8-12.

As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Sylvester took home a $2,000 bonus. He also earned an additional $500 Garmin Tournament Rewards bonus.

Pic Dieffenbauch Jr. of Hundred, W.Va., won the nonboater division with 21-5. Dieffenbauch led Day 1 with a limit of 13-14, which he anchored with a 6-15. Adding a limit of 7-7 on Day 2 pushed him past Mike Spears of Jasper, Ala., by 2 pounds.

“Getting a big bag on Day 1 was the key,” he said. “Today was a struggle. It was 10 o’clock before I had my first fish.”

Dieffenbauch caught all of his fish on a Zoom Speed Worm in the junebug color. He rigged the bait with a 3/16-ounce weight and fished it around submerged vegetation.

Rick Adams of Lake Wales, Fla., won the $250 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award among nonboaters with his 8-1.

The tournament was shortened to just two days due to inclement weather on Thursday — and in addition to deciding one of the final Classic berths of the season, it determined the final standings for the Opens Elite Qualifiers division. Only anglers who fished all nine Opens were eligible for the EQs, and the top nine finishers in the season standings will receive invitations to the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series.

JT Thompkins of Myrtle Beach, S.C., won the EQ Division Angler of the Year title with 1,659 points. The other eight EQ anglers earning an Elite invitation were John Garrett of Union City, Tenn., Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Ill., Robert Gee of Knoxville, Tenn., Tyler Williams of Belgrade, Maine., Wesley Gore of Clanton, Ala., Logan Parks of Auburn, Ala., Milliken and Kyle Patrick of Cooperstown, N.Y. Since Kenta Kimura, who finished fifth in the EQ point standings, is already an Elite Series angler, that allowed one additional angler to earn an Elite invitation.

“You look back at the year I had and I don’t think I’ll be able to duplicate a string of tournaments like that again,” Thompkins said of his four Top 10 finishes. “To be able to do that with the kind of people around me was a blessing.

“Big shout out to everyone who made the Elite Series. Those guys really made the race what it was and they made the (EQ Angler of the Year) trophy mean that much more.”

2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Harris Chain 10/13-10/15
Harris Chain Of Lakes, Leesburg FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 10 39-13 200 $42,467.00
Day 1: 5 24-06 Day 2: 5 15-07
2. Blake Sylvester Plaquemine, LA 10 38-01 199 $21,127.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 22-03
3. Ben Milliken New Caney, TX 10 32-03 198 $14,560.00
Day 1: 5 20-13 Day 2: 5 11-06
4. Tyler Lubbat Wheeling, IL 10 32-03 197 $12,133.00
Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 5 14-01
5. Andrew Hargrove Moody, TX 10 31-06 196 $10,556.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 18-04
6. Mike Mayo Athens, TX 10 30-05 195 $9,707.00
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 13-08
7. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 9 30-01 194 $9,100.00
Day 1: 5 19-10 Day 2: 4 10-07
8. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 10 29-15 193 $8,493.00
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 11-00
9. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 10 29-08 192 $6,673.00
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 14-05
10. Jack York Emory, TX 10 29-05 191 $5,460.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 16-08
11. Lafe Messer Warfield, KY 10 29-04 190 $4,853.00
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 19-02
12. Billy Charland Lakeland, FL 10 28-13 189 $4,247.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 15-08
13. Shaine Campbell Brookeland, TX 10 28-08 188 $3,337.00
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 15-14
14. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 10 28-02 187 $3,337.00
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 19-04
15. Chad Prough Chipley, FL 10 28-00 186 $3,337.00
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 10-11
16. Keith Tuma Brainerd, MN 10 27-09 185 $3,337.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 14-00
17. Griffin Phillips Mount Olive, AL 10 27-07 184 $3,337.00
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 13-08
18. John Garrett Union City, TN 10 26-15 183 $3,337.00
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 15-11
19. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 10 26-10 182 $3,337.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 10-12
20. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 10 26-10 181 $3,337.00
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 15-02
21. Trevor McKinney Benton, IL 10 26-09 180 $3,033.00
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 09-13
22. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 26-07 179 $3,033.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 10-12
23. Ish Monroe Oakdale, CA 10 26-02 178 $3,033.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 09-07
24. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 10 26-01 177 $3,033.00
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 13-14
25. Louis Monetti Brielle, NJ 10 26-00 176 $3,033.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 10-12
26. Brett Cannon Kiln, MS 10 25-13 175 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 13-13
27. Kurt Mitchell Milford, DE 10 25-05 174 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 12-09
28. Takayuki Koike Otsu-City JAPAN 10 25-03 173 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 08-06
29. Miles Burghoff Dayton, TN 10 25-01 172 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 11-05
30. Keith Nemcek St Charles, IL 10 25-01 171 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 13-08
31. Alex Murray Lake Charles, LA 10 25-01 170 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 11-15
32. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 10 24-13 169 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 14-15
33. Dave Turner Citrus Springs, FL 10 24-13 168 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 11-06
34. Bryan New Saluda, SC 10 24-10 167 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 11-00
35. Parker Mott Winter Garden, FL 10 24-09 166 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 12-08
36. Allen Johnson Trinity, AL 10 24-07 165 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 11-13
37. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 24-02 164 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 11-06
38. Craig Chambers Midland, NC 10 23-15 163 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 10-03
39. Daniel Valois Gomez Caracas FL VENEZUELA 10 23-14 162 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 10-12
40. Clayton Wiggins Sorrento, FL 10 23-12 161 $2,791.00
Day 1: 5 06-07 Day 2: 5 17-05
41. Tim Arnold Crane Hill, AL 10 23-11 160
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 14-03
42. Ron Ryals Jr Live Oak, FL 10 23-11 159
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 10-13
43. Danny Ramsey Trinidad, TX 10 23-10 158
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 12-09
44. Scout Echols Monticello, AR 10 23-10 157
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 12-08
45. B.J. Usie Bourg, LA 10 23-05 156
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 15-01
46. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 10 23-04 155
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 11-08
47. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 10 22-13 154
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 10-12
48. Chad Warren Sand Springs, OK 10 22-11 153
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 09-15
49. Zack Smith Starke, FL 10 22-07 152
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 08-05
50. Blake Smith Lakeland, FL 10 22-03 151
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 12-15
51. Jason Lambert Savannah, TN 10 22-00 150
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 13-06
52. David Wootton Collierville, TN 10 21-15 149
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 09-12
53. Mike Surman Boca Raton, FL 10 21-13 148
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 10-02
54. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 10 21-13 147
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 10-07
55. Caleb Gibson Locust Grove, OK 10 21-07 146
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 12-01
56. Josh Hubbard Dunnellon, FL 10 21-06 145
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 10-13
57. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 10 21-04 144
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 08-02
58. Keith Bardolf Abbeville, AL 10 21-02 143
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 07-11
59. Chris Blanchette Edisto Island, SC 10 21-00 142
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 08-03
60. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 10 21-00 141
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 11-11
61. Jimmy Washam Stantonville, TN 10 20-15 140
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 09-04
62. Tim Frederick Leesburg, FL 10 20-12 139
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 09-04
63. Brian Post Janesville, WI 10 20-10 138
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 08-09
64. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 9 20-09 137
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 4 11-05
65. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 10 20-09 136
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 10-01
66. Joey Bloom Winter Springs, FL 10 20-06 135
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 11-14
67. Jason Meninger Yulee, FL 10 20-06 134
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 10-09
68. Josh Bragg Fayetteville, GA 9 20-05 133
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 4 10-00
69. Brady Vernon Sterrett, AL 9 20-04 132
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 4 05-13
70. Jonathan Dietz Corry, PA 10 20-01 131
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 5 11-11
71. Cody Bertrand Dyer, IN 10 20-01 130
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 10-13
72. Scott Kerslake Okeechobee, FL 10 20-01 129
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 09-07
73. Justin Kimmel Athens, GA 10 20-00 128
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 07-13
74. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 10 20-00 127
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 09-05
75. Jack Tindel III Orange, TX 10 19-12 126
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 07-10
76. Justin Barnes Ellaville, GA 10 19-12 125
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 10-06
77. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 8 19-11 124
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 3 03-14
78. David Kilgore Jasper, AL 10 19-09 123
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 08-06
79. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 10 19-07 122
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 08-04
80. Darrell Davis Dover, FL 9 19-05 121
Day 1: 4 06-02 Day 2: 5 13-03
81. Andrew Harp Linden, TX 10 19-03 120
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 10-08
82. Dustin Neat Dunnville, KY 10 19-02 119
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 10-13
83. Tony Dumitras Winston, GA 7 18-14 118
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 5 14-13
84. Ryan Clark Whitby Ontario CANADA 10 18-13 117
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 10-00
85. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 10 18-12 116
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 10-13
86. Brayden Rakes Winston Salem, NC 10 18-11 115
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 10-15
87. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 9 18-09 114
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 4 06-08
88. Joey Hanna Corsicana, TX 10 18-09 113
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 10-04
89. Matt Henry Milledgeville, GA 9 18-08 112
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 4 06-15
90. Wil Dieffenbauch III Hundred, WV 10 18-08 111
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 07-03
91. Cody Detweiler Guntersville, AL 10 18-06 110
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 07-08
92. Keith Brumfield Vicksburg, MS 10 18-05 109
Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 5 10-04
93. Sam George Athens, AL 10 18-04 108
Day 1: 5 07-07 Day 2: 5 10-13
94. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 10 18-03 107
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 06-00
95. Colby Robertson Summerfield, FL 10 18-02 106
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 06-03
96. Tripp Noojin Bryant, AL 10 17-15 105
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 06-13
97. Jamie Bruce Kenora Ontario CANADA 10 17-15 104
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 09-08
98. Austin Cranford Norman, OK 10 17-14 103
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 08-07
99. JT Russell Mc Calla, AL 7 17-11 102
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 2 03-11
100. Hunter Bland Williston, FL 9 17-10 101
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 4 06-00
101. Jacob Bigelow Cecil, WI 10 17-10 100
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 07-13
102. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 9 17-10 99
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 4 07-15
103. Daisuke Kita Ostu Shiga JAPAN 10 17-07 98
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 07-08
104. Clark Reehm Elm Grove, LA 10 17-07 97
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 08-15
105. Billy McDonald Greenwood, IN 8 17-05 96
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 3 03-00
106. Derek Lehtonen Woodruff, SC 10 17-05 95
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 07-10
107. Hunter Sales Blaine, TN 10 17-05 94
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 5 07-11
108. Greg Bohannan Bentonville, AR 10 17-04 93
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 06-06
109. Scott Gibbs Rome, GA 10 17-02 92
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 06-05
110. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 10 17-02 91
Day 1: 5 06-13 Day 2: 5 10-05
111. Lance Owen Greer, SC 10 17-02 90
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 07-03
112. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 9 17-01 89
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 4 07-05
113. Warren Gensel Brooksville, FL 8 16-15 88
Day 1: 3 07-10 Day 2: 5 09-05
114. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 10 16-14 87
Day 1: 5 05-09 Day 2: 5 11-05
115. Jack Dice Lynchburg, VA 10 16-14 86
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 07-06
116. Briana Tucker Trinity, AL 9 16-11 85
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 4 05-13
117. Casey Scanlon Eldon, MO 8 16-10 84
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 3 06-09
118. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 9 16-08 83
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 4 07-15
119. Christian Shoda Homosassa, FL 8 16-08 82
Day 1: 3 08-02 Day 2: 5 08-06
120. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 10 16-06 81
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 08-04
121. Brandon McMillan Clewiston, FL 10 16-05 80
Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 5 09-01
122. Kyle Goltz Cornell, WI 10 16-04 79
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 07-06
123. Scott Isaacs Ladonia, TX 9 16-00 78
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 4 06-07
124. Daniel Rogers Morriston, FL 10 15-12 77
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 08-12
125. Erik Brztowski Lemont, IL 10 15-12 76
Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 5 08-08
126. Logan Johnson Jasper, AL 9 15-04 75
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 4 04-06
127. Destin DeMarion Harborcreek, PA 7 15-02 74
Day 1: 4 11-07 Day 2: 3 03-11
128. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 9 14-12 73
Day 1: 4 06-11 Day 2: 5 08-01
129. Bobby Lanham Eddyville, KY 10 14-10 72
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 5 06-10
130. Cole Thompson Saint Cloud, FL 10 14-08 71
Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 5 06-10
131. Jake Maddux Birmingham, AL 9 14-08 70
Day 1: 5 07-07 Day 2: 4 07-01
132. Ty Faber Pagosa Springs, CO 7 14-06 69
Day 1: 4 05-11 Day 2: 3 08-11
133. Paul Bouvier Kingston CANADA 10 14-06 68
Day 1: 5 06-02 Day 2: 5 08-04
134. Michael Wooten White House, TN 7 13-15 67
Day 1: 4 09-00 Day 2: 3 04-15
135. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 9 13-12 66
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 4 00-00
136. D.J. Ellis Leesburg, FL 5 13-12 65
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
137. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 9 13-05 64
Day 1: 4 05-09 Day 2: 5 07-12
138. Brad Leuthner Victoria, MN 7 13-04 63
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 5 08-13
139. Julius Mazy Phoenix, AZ 10 13-04 62
Day 1: 5 05-07 Day 2: 5 07-13
140. Mike Greenwell Alva, FL 8 13-01 61
Day 1: 3 04-02 Day 2: 5 08-15
141. Terry Segraves Kissimmee, FL 5 12-14 60
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
142. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 6 12-12 59
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 3 06-15
143. Mike Oncale Port Allen, LA 9 12-11 58
Day 1: 4 06-07 Day 2: 5 06-04
144. Jason Carpenter Castle Pines, CO 8 12-09 57
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 3 03-00
145. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 5 12-07 56
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
146. Frank Talley Temple, TX 5 12-05 55
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
147. Gary Caruso Baton Rouge, LA 8 12-01 54
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 5 07-10
148. Frank Williams Mountain Home, AR 9 11-10 53
Day 1: 4 05-01 Day 2: 5 06-09
149. Jess Beihoffer Soddy Daisy, TN 8 11-05 52
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 3 03-02
150. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 5 11-04 51
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
150. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 11-04 51
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
152. Harry Peyton Guntersville, AL 9 10-11 49
Day 1: 5 06-01 Day 2: 4 04-10
153. Destry Ford Tuscaloosa, AL 8 10-01 48
Day 1: 3 03-03 Day 2: 5 06-14
154. Paul Browning Pecos, TX 6 10-01 47
Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 4 05-14
155. Jeffrey Fosdyck Umatilla, FL 5 09-15 46
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
155. Brandon Tallhamer Parkersburg, WV 5 09-15 46
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
157. Bryan Jones Zephyrhills, FL 5 09-13 44
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Scott Allgood Fair Play, SC 7 09-09 43
Day 1: 2 04-13 Day 2: 5 04-12
159. Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, MN 5 09-04 42
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
160. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 5 09-02 41
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
160. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 09-02 41
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
162. Christian Greico Tampa, FL 5 09-01 39
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
163. Gary Ogden Sumrall, MS 3 09-00 38
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 2 07-04
164. Danny Hardy Cantonment, FL 5 08-14 37
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 08-14
165. Clayton Batts Butler, GA 5 08-12 36
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Randall Carter Maplesville, AL 5 08-12 36
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
167. Jason Tibbetts Centreville, VA 5 08-04 34
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
168. Jerry Riddle Jr Summit, MS 6 07-13 33
Day 1: 4 05-14 Day 2: 2 01-15
169. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 6 07-10 32
Day 1: 4 05-15 Day 2: 2 01-11
170. Kenji Yamada Hixson, TN 6 07-09 31
Day 1: 2 02-09 Day 2: 4 05-00
171. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 4 07-07 30
Day 1: 4 07-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
172. Frank Ramsey Spring Grove, IL 4 07-02 29
Day 1: 4 07-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
173. Tommy Young Orlando, FL 4 06-11 28
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 1 02-02
174. Clay Dyer Fayetteville, TN 4 06-01 27
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 06-01
175. Taylor Watkins Clinton, TN 4 05-06 26
Day 1: 4 05-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
176. Roland Stevens Prairieville, LA 4 05-00 25
Day 1: 3 04-00 Day 2: 1 01-00
177. A.J. Menssen Bloomington, IL 5 04-12 24
Day 1: 3 02-07 Day 2: 2 02-05
178. Dalton Dowdy Newberry, SC 4 04-06 23
Day 1: 4 04-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
179. Phil Killian Solomon, AZ 2 03-15 22
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
180. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 2 03-05 21
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 1 01-04
181. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
181. Harry Moore Valley, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 147 832 1818-02
2 123 731 1493-15
----------------------------------
270 1563 3312-01

2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Harris Chain 10/13-10/15
Harris Chain Of Lakes, Leesburg FL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Pic Dieffenbauch Jr Hundred, WV 6 21-05 200 $17,000.00
Day 1: 3 13-14 Day 2: 3 07-07
2. Mike Spears Jasper, AL 6 19-05 199 $4,000.00
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 3 13-03
3. Riku Hayashi Ritto Shiga JAPAN 6 16-13 198 $3,000.00
Day 1: 3 10-08 Day 2: 3 06-05
4. Frank Lauria Wesley Chapel, FL 6 16-04 197 $2,250.00
Day 1: 3 08-05 Day 2: 3 07-15
5. Phillip Easterling Clanton, AL 5 15-08 196 $2,100.00
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 3 12-11
6. Clyde Roberts Marshall, NC 6 14-09 195 $2,000.00
Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 3 07-08
7. Yukinori Kusabuka Ibaraki JAPAN 6 14-06 194 $1,900.00
Day 1: 3 10-08 Day 2: 3 03-14
8. Dusty Wood Belton, SC 6 13-12 193 $1,800.00
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 3 09-03
9. Eric Camarote The Villages, FL 6 13-12 192 $1,650.00
Day 1: 3 05-03 Day 2: 3 08-09
10. Dawson Wisner Palatka, FL 6 13-11 191 $1,500.00
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 3 08-12
11. Kyle Graham Flagler Beach, FL 6 13-11 190 $1,400.00
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 3 07-14
12. Chad Stahl Barnesville, GA 6 13-08 189 $1,300.00
Day 1: 3 04-00 Day 2: 3 09-08
13. Nathan Bloom Winter Springs, FL 6 13-08 188 $1,100.00
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 3 06-01
14. Dylan Mayo Athens, TX 5 13-06 187 $1,000.00
Day 1: 2 04-14 Day 2: 3 08-08
15. Larry Mullikin Jacksonville, FL 6 13-04 186 $900.00
Day 1: 3 08-08 Day 2: 3 04-12
16. Shane Davis Jacksonville, FL 5 12-11 185 $800.00
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 3 09-03
17. Sakae Ushio Tonawanda, NY 6 12-07 184 $750.00
Day 1: 3 04-12 Day 2: 3 07-11
18. Satoshi Egawa Fort Lee, NJ 6 12-06 183 $750.00
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 3 06-10
19. Avery Williams Murrells Inlt, SC 6 11-15 182 $750.00
Day 1: 3 08-08 Day 2: 3 03-07
20. Landon Parrish Trenton, FL 5 11-15 181 $750.00
Day 1: 3 07-13 Day 2: 2 04-02
21. Clayton Ellis Saltillo, MS 6 11-15 180 $700.00
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 3 04-08
22. Marrell Deering Rome, GA 6 11-14 179 $700.00
Day 1: 3 08-08 Day 2: 3 03-06
23. Troy Mims Suwanee, GA 6 11-09 178 $700.00
Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 3 07-12
24. David Dimauro Longwood, FL 6 11-09 177 $700.00
Day 1: 3 07-10 Day 2: 3 03-15
25. Bobby Williams Salisbury, NC 6 11-07 176 $700.00
Day 1: 3 08-00 Day 2: 3 03-07
26. John Higginbotham Slaughter, LA 6 11-07 175 $600.00
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 3 07-01
27. Kevin Edwards Ruskin, FL 6 11-07 174 $600.00
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 3 04-12
28. Dylan Johnson Longwood, FL 6 11-07 173 $600.00
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 3 05-15
29. Chandler Howell Guntown, MS 4 11-05 172 $600.00
Day 1: 3 08-11 Day 2: 1 02-10
30. Blake Campbell Bremen, AL 6 11-05 171 $600.00
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 3 05-01
31. Michael Hill Daytona Beach Shores, F 6 11-05 170 $550.00
Day 1: 3 05-10 Day 2: 3 05-11
32. Thomas Crosswhite Hartwell, GA 5 11-02 169 $550.00
Day 1: 3 07-10 Day 2: 2 03-08
33. Ronnie Davidson Leesburg, FL 6 10-15 168 $550.00
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 3 04-11
34. Ronald Miller Attalla, AL 6 10-14 167 $550.00
Day 1: 3 09-04 Day 2: 3 01-10
35. Mark Moore Freeport, FL 6 10-13 166 $550.00
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 3 03-08
36. Wil Flack Smithers BC CANADA 5 10-08 165 $550.00
Day 1: 2 02-03 Day 2: 3 08-05
37. Ralph Gibson Locust Grove, OK 4 10-05 164 $550.00
Day 1: 3 08-15 Day 2: 1 01-06
38. Sho Egawa Osaka JAPAN 6 10-04 163 $550.00
Day 1: 3 03-05 Day 2: 3 06-15
39. Austin Nelson Apopka, FL 6 10-01 162 $550.00
Day 1: 3 03-12 Day 2: 3 06-05
40. Keir Sexton Clermont, FL 6 10-01 161 $550.00
Day 1: 3 06-00 Day 2: 3 04-01
41. Brian Strickland Yantis, TX 4 10-00 160
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 3 09-00
42. David Petrisko Jacksonville, FL 5 10-00 159
Day 1: 3 04-08 Day 2: 2 05-08
43. Ashton Smith Lake Helen, FL 6 09-14 158
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 3 04-01
44. Jimmy Brumfield Madison, MS 6 09-14 157
Day 1: 3 04-02 Day 2: 3 05-12
45. Ron Causey Spring Hill, FL 4 09-12 156
Day 1: 3 07-13 Day 2: 1 01-15
46. Rick Adams Lake Wales, FL 2 09-11 155 $250.00
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 1 08-01
47. Ronald Young New Braunfels, TX 5 09-11 154
Day 1: 3 07-10 Day 2: 2 02-01
48. Byong Lee Stedman, NC 5 09-09 153
Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 2 02-08
49. Jerry Gonzalez Rivero Torreon Coah MEXICO 6 09-09 152
Day 1: 3 04-01 Day 2: 3 05-08
50. AJ Jones Lutz, FL 6 09-08 151
Day 1: 3 03-02 Day 2: 3 06-06
51. Matthew Rogers Chiefland, FL 4 09-07 150
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 1 05-01
52. John Lewis Centreville, VA 4 09-00 149
Day 1: 3 08-03 Day 2: 1 00-13
53. Chris Timmons Apopka, FL 6 08-15 148
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 3 03-13
54. Jordan McDonald Jackson, GA 5 08-15 147
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 2 04-08
55. Perry See Rochester, MN 5 08-14 146
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 2 02-10
56. Tim Rasmussen Orlando, FL 6 08-13 145
Day 1: 3 04-12 Day 2: 3 04-01
57. Jon Jezierski Troy, MI 5 08-11 144
Day 1: 3 04-14 Day 2: 2 03-13
58. Gary Haraguchi Murfreesboro, TN 4 08-10 143
Day 1: 3 06-01 Day 2: 1 02-09
59. Corey Yaden Grovetown, GA 5 08-10 142
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 2 04-01
60. Noah Reville Orlando, FL 6 08-09 141
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 3 02-11
61. John Haynes Gainesville, FL 3 08-06 140
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 08-06
62. Mark Wethington Liberty, KY 4 08-06 139
Day 1: 3 07-03 Day 2: 1 01-03
63. Jacob Altman Edgewood, TX 6 08-03 138
Day 1: 3 03-09 Day 2: 3 04-10
64. Michael Ryan Mount Dora , FL 6 08-02 137
Day 1: 3 03-01 Day 2: 3 05-01
65. Skyler Anderson Harlem, GA 5 08-01 136
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 2 02-04
66. Michael Murphy Umatilla, FL 6 08-01 135
Day 1: 3 04-14 Day 2: 3 03-03
67. Jeff Fellows Orlando, FL 5 08-00 134
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 3 04-02
68. Cal Teneyck Shakopee, MN 5 07-14 133
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 3 03-07
69. Kyle Mckinney Cedartown, GA 3 07-13 132
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 07-13
70. Jack Taft Winter Garden, FL 5 07-13 131
Day 1: 3 03-14 Day 2: 2 03-15
71. Bailey Rothrock Milan, MI 5 07-12 130
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 3 03-14
72. Satoshi Yaguchi Ibaraki JAPAN 4 07-11 129
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 3 05-06
73. Adam Sangster Sanford, FL 6 07-10 128
Day 1: 3 04-03 Day 2: 3 03-07
74. Buddy Rohn Jacksonville, FL 5 07-09 127
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 2 03-03
75. Michael Leach Shenandoah, TX 6 07-09 126
Day 1: 3 03-11 Day 2: 3 03-14
76. Cody Richardson Gautier, MS 5 07-07 125
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 2 02-14
77. Jeffery Davis Palm Bay, FL 5 07-07 124
Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 2 03-10
78. Steve Deyton Forest City, NC 3 07-04 123
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 07-04
79. Jon Brown Brandon, FL 4 07-03 122
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 1 01-05
80. Jay Kamensky Plantation, FL 4 07-03 121
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 2 03-14
81. Rick Ivy Ponder, TX 5 06-14 120
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 3 03-11
82. Rick Cheatham Carterville, IL 4 06-12 119
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 1 02-01
83. Ray Larson Springfield, IL 4 06-11 118
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 1 00-15
84. Mike Tenda Casselberry, FL 3 06-11 117
Day 1: 2 04-14 Day 2: 1 01-13
85. Stephen Mcpherson Minneola, FL 6 06-11 116
Day 1: 3 02-14 Day 2: 3 03-13
86. Larry Davis Gladewater, TX 2 06-09 115
Day 1: 2 06-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
87. Greg Fernandez Palm Harbor, FL 5 06-09 114
Day 1: 2 01-14 Day 2: 3 04-11
88. Frankie Spicer Brandon, FL 5 06-09 113
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 2 02-00
89. Jimmy Bass Ocala, FL 5 06-08 112
Day 1: 2 01-13 Day 2: 3 04-11
90. George Malcolm Gainesville, FL 3 06-06 111
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
91. David Booth Erin, TN 3 06-06 110
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 2 04-01
92. Ray Hill Lake City, FL 6 06-05 109
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 3 00-00
93. Tristan Bramblett Tiger, GA 4 06-04 108
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 3 05-02
94. Steven Obester Palatka, FL 4 06-04 107
Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 1 02-07
95. Jeff Baffa Estero, FL 3 06-01 106
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 2 04-03
96. Jim Bland Ocala, FL 6 06-01 105
Day 1: 3 03-00 Day 2: 3 03-01
97. Robbie Anderson Crystal River, FL 3 05-14 104
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Scott Waters Saint Cloud, FL 3 05-09 103
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
99. Chris Westhelle Sanford, FL 3 05-02 102
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
100. Jackie Flack Cullman, AL 3 05-00 101
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
101. Alvin Jenkins Savannah, GA 4 05-00 100
Day 1: 3 03-11 Day 2: 1 01-05
102. Zach Burell Gainesville, FL 4 04-14 99
Day 1: 1 00-11 Day 2: 3 04-03
103. Allen Heston Pittsburg, TX 3 04-12 98
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 04-12
104. Nick Richey Aledo, TX 3 04-10 97
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
105. Craig Cavanna Spring Hill, FL 3 04-09 96
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
106. John Searles Jr. Townville, SC 4 04-09 95
Day 1: 3 03-08 Day 2: 1 01-01
107. Chris Earles Lady Lake, FL 4 04-09 94
Day 1: 2 02-02 Day 2: 2 02-07
108. Antoni Bicy Ocklawaha, FL 2 04-05 93
Day 1: 1 02-15 Day 2: 1 01-06
109. James Cornell Longwood, FL 3 04-04 92
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
110. Fred Rigdon Belleview, FL 3 04-03 91
Day 1: 3 04-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
111. Michael Robel Bradenton, FL 2 04-02 90
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 1 03-02
112. Emiliano Zucchi Port Orange, FL 2 04-01 89
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 1 02-02
113. James Cottingham Panama City, FL 2 03-15 88
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
114. Philip Morris Jr Raleigh, NC 3 03-14 87
Day 1: 3 03-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
115. Todd Boyd Lynn Haven, FL 2 03-14 86
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
116. Johnnie Garrett Union City, TN 3 03-13 85
Day 1: 2 02-12 Day 2: 1 01-01
117. Eddie Kidd Fort Benning, GA 3 03-08 84
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 2 02-01
118. Dehn Ganey Bonneau, SC 2 03-07 83
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-07
119. Stephen Toth Alachua, FL 2 03-05 82
Day 1: 1 00-14 Day 2: 1 02-07
120. Carl Hunter Snellville, GA 3 03-04 81
Day 1: 3 03-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
120. Randy Tallhamer Brandenton, FL 3 03-04 81
Day 1: 3 03-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
122. Bill Hutchison Jr. Bessemer, AL 2 03-03 79
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
123. Thomas Abraham Winchester, TN 3 03-03 78
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 2 02-02
124. Johnny Ward Jr Ludowici, GA 3 03-02 77
Day 1: 3 03-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
125. Randy Lawrence Pensacola, FL 3 03-01 76
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 2 02-02
126. Jonathan Barnette Jasper, AL 3 02-15 75
Day 1: 3 02-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
127. Brian Rothrock Monticello, IN 2 02-13 74
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
128. Cody Koehler Acworth, GA 2 02-13 73
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 1 01-00
129. Gary Saxarra Tavares, FL 2 02-11 72
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 1 01-10
130. Alonzo Evans Jr Topeka, KS 2 02-09 71
Day 1: 1 00-11 Day 2: 1 01-14
131. Josh Roberts Ocala, FL 1 02-08 70
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
132. Glenn Bailey Temple Terrace, FL 2 02-04 69
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 1 01-03
133. Zachery Kuhn Summerfield, FL 2 02-03 68
Day 1: 2 02-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
134. Zach Pringle Newton, NC 1 02-02 67
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
135. Steven Smith Logan, OH 1 01-11 66
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
136. Akeem Marsh Wildwood, FL 2 01-11 65
Day 1: 1 00-12 Day 2: 1 00-15
137. Matthew Ball Groveland, FL 1 01-10 64
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
137. JW Battle Jr. Orlando, FL 1 01-10 64
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
139. Ben Shuler Nokomis, FL 1 01-09 62
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-09
140. William Carrasquillo Clermont, FL 1 01-07 61
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
141. Brian Jones Meridianville, AL 1 01-03 60
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
142. Jim Williams Winter Springs, GA 1 00-12 59
Day 1: 1 00-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
143. Daniel Hart Orlando, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
143. Darrell Hille Springfield, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
143. Kevin Mallow Kansas, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
143. Bob Morin Seymour, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
143. John Mortimer Mount Pleasant, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
143. David Patterson Flowood, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
143. Greg Sloan Chipley, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
143. Jeffery Strong Sharpsburg, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 89 334 609-12
2 65 267 499-07
----------------------------------
154 601 1109-03

by AnglersChannel

Messer adjusts and takes Bassmaster Open lead at Harris Chain of Lakes

Matt Messer of Warfield, Ky., is leading after Day 1 of the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Harris Chain of Lakes with 24 pounds, 6 ounces.

Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.

October 13, 2023

LEESBURG, Fla. — Most folks love it when a plan comes together.

But Matt Messer is actually pretty stoked that his did not initially work.

As much as it pained Messer to shift gears from his starting area and technique, doing so delivered a limit of 24 pounds, 6 ounces, which leads Day 1 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Harris Chain of Lakes.

Hailing from Warfield, Ky., Messer heads into Championship Saturday — the event was shortened to two days due to inclement weather on Thursday — with a lead of 3-9 over Ben Milliken of New Caney, Texas.

“I had something I was going to run, but I only had two keepers at almost 11 o’clock. I had to completely switch everything,” Messer said. “I have a way that I can catch a limit pretty easily, but I knew I wasn’t going to win doing it, so I completely scrapped that.

“I’ve fished this place a bunch. I love this place and it ended up working out. I got a couple of the right bites.”

Anchoring his bag with a 7-14 largemouth, Messer also had a 7-2.

No stranger to these waters, Messer and his brother, Kentucky Christian University teammate Lafe Messer, won the Bassmaster College Series event at Harris Chain in 2022 with a two-day total of 61 pounds, 13 ounces that included monster bags of 25-6 and 36-7, a College Series single-day record.

After severe weather prompted the postponement of Day 1, the full field is now fishing both Friday and Saturday instead of the traditional format of trimming the field to the Top 10 for the third and final day.

With the heavy rains and strong winds roiling the Harris Chain, Messer found much of his success flipping a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Creature Hawg. While many chose to flip hydrilla and Kissimmee grass, Messer opted to target pads, eelgrass and shellbars.

“This is the dirtiest I’ve seen this water,” Messer said. “I think I could have caught ‘em on some of the stuff I started on this morning. I’m glad I didn’t because I ended up finding good ones elsewhere.”

In addition to his creature bait, Messer caught keepers on a Zoom Speed Worm and a buzzbait.

“I started catching them early, and I junk fished my way to a limit,” he said. “The two big ones came between noon and 1. Both of them were pretty close.

“I fished Lake Harris, Eustis and Griffin. I have a lot of history on this place, so I was just running around checking stuff. I wasn’t really on anything (solid).”

Milliken, who won the Bassmaster Open at Toledo Bend in mid-April, is in second place with 20-13. Stating that he was committed to his areas regardless of weather, Milliken said he was pleasantly surprised with the quality he encountered.

“I was just fortunate to find a spot with a big group of fish on Day 2 of practice,” Milliken said. “I never went back there in practice, so I had no idea what it was going to be like when I got there this morning.

“I fished multiple lakes today, but I’m going to narrow it down tomorrow because I know what I’m doing. One lake had all of them — one spot.”

Fishing in what he described as a mid-depth range, Milliken said he caught his bass on a mixture of dragging baits, cranking and a big glidebait.

Bassmaster Elite Series pro John Soukup of Sapulpa, Okla., is in third place with 19-10. Parking in one lake all day, Soukup put his faith in an offshore grass area he had located during practice.

“It was a whole day of figuring out what the bass were going to do — was (Thursday’s weather) going to pack them into their areas really tight, or was it going to loosen them up because the weather started getting good and they started feeling good,” Soukup pondered. “It was a little bit of both.

“I think the weather drew more fish into the cover, and they started biting early and kept going and going and going.”

Noting he threw mostly reaction baits, Soukup said he had several other boats in close proximity, but none seemed to fare as well as he did. The key, he said, was stepping on the gas.

“It was speed, weight, bait,” Soukup said. “I was being way more aggressive than everyone else.

“When other guys came through my area, I could see they were struggling. When people are struggling, they usually think they have to slow down. But sometimes to trigger fish in Florida, you need a heavier weight and a faster presentation.”

Messer is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 7-14.

Pic Dieffenbauch Jr. of Hundred, W.Va., leads the co-angler division with 13-4. With a 6-15 anchoring his limit, Dieffenbauch established a margin of 3-6 over Yukinori Kusabuka of Ibaraki, Japan.

“I threw some moving baits and I did some flipping,” Dieffenbauch said. “I caught the big one on a flipping bait in the afternoon.

“It kind of surprised me because it was later in the day. It wasn’t even in the cover. It was just out in the open water.”

Dieffenbauch holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead among co-anglers with his 6-15.

JT Thompkins of Myrtle Beach, S.C., leads the Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifiers standings with 1667 points. The EQ season standings will be decided after Saturday’s rounds, with the top nine finishers earning invitations to fish the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series.

Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7:15 a.m. ET at Ski Beach and the weigh-in will be held back at the launch site at 3:15 p.m. FS1 will broadcast live with the leaders beginning at 8 a.m. with continuing coverage on Bassmaster.com.

2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Harris Chain 10/13-10/15
Harris Chain Of Lakes, Leesburg FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 5 24-06 200
Day 1: 5 24-06
2. Ben Milliken New Caney, TX 5 20-13 199
Day 1: 5 20-13
3. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 5 19-10 198
Day 1: 5 19-10
4. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 5 18-15 197
Day 1: 5 18-15
5. Tyler Lubbat Wheeling, IL 5 18-02 196
Day 1: 5 18-02
6. Chad Prough Chipley, FL 5 17-05 195
Day 1: 5 17-05
7. Takayuki Koike Otsu-City JAPAN 5 16-13 194
Day 1: 5 16-13
7. Mike Mayo Athens, TX 5 16-13 194
Day 1: 5 16-13
9. Trevor McKinney Benton, IL 5 16-12 192
Day 1: 5 16-12
10. Ish Monroe Oakdale, CA 5 16-11 191
Day 1: 5 16-11
11. Blake Sylvester Plaquemine, LA 5 15-14 190
Day 1: 5 15-14
11. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 5 15-14 190
Day 1: 5 15-14
13. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 5 15-13 188
Day 1: 5 15-13
14. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 15-11 187
Day 1: 5 15-11
15. Louis Monetti Brielle, NJ 5 15-04 186
Day 1: 5 15-04
16. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 5 15-03 185
Day 1: 5 15-03
17. Brady Vernon Sterrett, AL 5 14-07 184
Day 1: 5 14-07
18. Billy McDonald Greenwood, IN 5 14-05 183
Day 1: 5 14-05
19. Zack Smith Starke, FL 5 14-02 182
Day 1: 5 14-02
20. JT Russell Mc Calla, AL 5 14-00 181
Day 1: 5 14-00
21. Griffin Phillips Mount Olive, AL 5 13-15 180
Day 1: 5 13-15
22. Miles Burghoff Dayton, TN 5 13-12 179
Day 1: 5 13-12
22. Craig Chambers Midland, NC 5 13-12 179
Day 1: 5 13-12
22. D.J. Ellis Leesburg, FL 5 13-12 179
Day 1: 5 13-12
22. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 13-12 179
Day 1: 5 13-12
26. Bryan New Saluda, SC 5 13-10 175
Day 1: 5 13-10
27. Keith Tuma Brainerd, MN 5 13-09 174
Day 1: 5 13-09
28. Keith Bardolf Abbeville, AL 5 13-07 173
Day 1: 5 13-07
29. Dave Turner Citrus Springs, FL 5 13-07 172
Day 1: 5 13-07
30. Billy Charland Lakeland, FL 5 13-05 171
Day 1: 5 13-05
31. Andrew Hargrove Moody, TX 5 13-02 170
Day 1: 5 13-02
31. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 5 13-02 170
Day 1: 5 13-02
31. Alex Murray Lake Charles, LA 5 13-02 170
Day 1: 5 13-02
31. Daniel Valois Gomez Caracas FL VENEZUELA 5 13-02 170
Day 1: 5 13-02
35. Ron Ryals Jr Live Oak, FL 5 12-14 166
Day 1: 5 12-14
35. Terry Segraves Kissimmee, FL 5 12-14 166
Day 1: 5 12-14
37. Chris Blanchette Edisto Island, SC 5 12-13 164
Day 1: 5 12-13
37. Jack York Emory, TX 5 12-13 164
Day 1: 5 12-13
39. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 12-12 162
Day 1: 5 12-12
39. Kurt Mitchell Milford, DE 5 12-12 162
Day 1: 5 12-12
39. Chad Warren Sand Springs, OK 5 12-12 162
Day 1: 5 12-12
42. Shaine Campbell Brookeland, TX 5 12-10 159
Day 1: 5 12-10
42. Allen Johnson Trinity, AL 5 12-10 159
Day 1: 5 12-10
44. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 5 12-07 157
Day 1: 5 12-07
45. Frank Talley Temple, TX 5 12-05 156
Day 1: 5 12-05
46. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 5 12-03 155
Day 1: 5 12-03
46. David Wootton Collierville, TN 5 12-03 155
Day 1: 5 12-03
48. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 5 12-03 153
Day 1: 5 12-03
49. Justin Kimmel Athens, GA 5 12-03 152
Day 1: 5 12-03
50. Jack Tindel III Orange, TX 5 12-02 151
Day 1: 5 12-02
51. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 5 12-01 150
Day 1: 5 12-01
51. Brian Post Janesville, WI 5 12-01 150
Day 1: 5 12-01
53. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 5 12-01 148
Day 1: 5 12-01
53. Parker Mott Winter Garden, FL 5 12-01 148
Day 1: 5 12-01
55. Brett Cannon Kiln, MS 5 12-00 146
Day 1: 5 12-00
56. Colby Robertson Summerfield, FL 5 11-15 145
Day 1: 5 11-15
57. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 5 11-12 144
Day 1: 5 11-12
58. Mike Surman Boca Raton, FL 5 11-11 143
Day 1: 5 11-11
58. Jimmy Washam Stantonville, TN 5 11-11 143
Day 1: 5 11-11
60. Hunter Bland Williston, FL 5 11-10 141
Day 1: 5 11-10
61. Matt Henry Milledgeville, GA 5 11-09 140
Day 1: 5 11-09
61. Keith Nemcek St Charles, IL 5 11-09 140
Day 1: 5 11-09
63. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 5 11-08 138
Day 1: 5 11-08
63. Tim Frederick Leesburg, FL 5 11-08 138
Day 1: 5 11-08
65. Destin DeMarion Harborcreek, PA 4 11-07 136
Day 1: 4 11-07
66. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 5 11-06 135
Day 1: 5 11-06
67. Wil Dieffenbauch III Hundred, WV 5 11-05 134
Day 1: 5 11-05
68. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 5 11-04 133
Day 1: 5 11-04
68. John Garrett Union City, TN 5 11-04 133
Day 1: 5 11-04
68. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 11-04 133
Day 1: 5 11-04
71. David Kilgore Jasper, AL 5 11-03 130
Day 1: 5 11-03
71. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 5 11-03 130
Day 1: 5 11-03
73. Scout Echols Monticello, AR 5 11-02 128
Day 1: 5 11-02
73. Tripp Noojin Bryant, AL 5 11-02 128
Day 1: 5 11-02
75. Danny Ramsey Trinidad, TX 5 11-01 126
Day 1: 5 11-01
76. Cody Detweiler Guntersville, AL 5 10-14 125
Day 1: 5 10-14
76. Logan Johnson Jasper, AL 5 10-14 125
Day 1: 5 10-14
76. Briana Tucker Trinity, AL 5 10-14 125
Day 1: 5 10-14
79. Greg Bohannan Bentonville, AR 5 10-14 122
Day 1: 5 10-14
80. Scott Gibbs Rome, GA 5 10-13 121
Day 1: 5 10-13
81. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 5 10-11 120
Day 1: 5 10-11
82. Scott Kerslake Okeechobee, FL 5 10-10 119
Day 1: 5 10-10
83. Josh Hubbard Dunnellon, FL 5 10-09 118
Day 1: 5 10-09
84. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 5 10-08 117
Day 1: 5 10-08
85. Josh Bragg Fayetteville, GA 5 10-05 116
Day 1: 5 10-05
86. Lafe Messer Warfield, KY 5 10-02 115
Day 1: 5 10-02
87. Casey Scanlon Eldon, MO 5 10-01 114
Day 1: 5 10-01
88. Jeffrey Fosdyck Umatilla, FL 5 09-15 113
Day 1: 5 09-15
88. Daisuke Kita Ostu Shiga JAPAN 5 09-15 113
Day 1: 5 09-15
88. Lance Owen Greer, SC 5 09-15 113
Day 1: 5 09-15
88. Brandon Tallhamer Parkersburg, WV 5 09-15 113
Day 1: 5 09-15
92. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 5 09-14 109
Day 1: 5 09-14
93. Jason Meninger Yulee, FL 5 09-13 108
Day 1: 5 09-13
94. Jacob Bigelow Cecil, WI 5 09-13 107
Day 1: 5 09-13
94. Bryan Jones Zephyrhills, FL 5 09-13 107
Day 1: 5 09-13
96. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 5 09-12 105
Day 1: 5 09-12
97. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 5 09-11 104
Day 1: 5 09-11
97. Derek Lehtonen Woodruff, SC 5 09-11 104
Day 1: 5 09-11
99. Hunter Sales Blaine, TN 5 09-10 102
Day 1: 5 09-10
100. Jason Carpenter Castle Pines, CO 5 09-09 101
Day 1: 5 09-09
100. Scott Isaacs Ladonia, TX 5 09-09 101
Day 1: 5 09-09
102. Jack Dice Lynchburg, VA 5 09-08 99
Day 1: 5 09-08
103. Tim Arnold Crane Hill, AL 5 09-08 98
Day 1: 5 09-08
104. Austin Cranford Norman, OK 5 09-07 97
Day 1: 5 09-07
105. Justin Barnes Ellaville, GA 5 09-06 96
Day 1: 5 09-06
105. Caleb Gibson Locust Grove, OK 5 09-06 96
Day 1: 5 09-06
107. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 5 09-05 94
Day 1: 5 09-05
108. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 5 09-04 93
Day 1: 5 09-04
108. Cody Bertrand Dyer, IN 5 09-04 93
Day 1: 5 09-04
108. Blake Smith Lakeland, FL 5 09-04 93
Day 1: 5 09-04
111. Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, MN 5 09-04 90
Day 1: 5 09-04
112. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 5 09-02 89
Day 1: 5 09-02
112. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 09-02 89
Day 1: 5 09-02
114. Christian Greico Tampa, FL 5 09-01 87
Day 1: 5 09-01
115. Michael Wooten White House, TN 4 09-00 86
Day 1: 4 09-00
116. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 5 08-14 85
Day 1: 5 08-14
116. Kyle Goltz Cornell, WI 5 08-14 85
Day 1: 5 08-14
118. Ryan Clark Whitby Ontario CANADA 5 08-13 83
Day 1: 5 08-13
119. Clayton Batts Butler, GA 5 08-12 82
Day 1: 5 08-12
119. Randall Carter Maplesville, AL 5 08-12 82
Day 1: 5 08-12
121. Andrew Harp Linden, TX 5 08-11 80
Day 1: 5 08-11
122. Jason Lambert Savannah, TN 5 08-10 79
Day 1: 5 08-10
123. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 5 08-09 78
Day 1: 5 08-09
124. Joey Bloom Winter Springs, FL 5 08-08 77
Day 1: 5 08-08
124. Clark Reehm Elm Grove, LA 5 08-08 77
Day 1: 5 08-08
126. Jamie Bruce Kenora Ontario CANADA 5 08-07 75
Day 1: 5 08-07
127. Jonathan Dietz Corry, PA 5 08-06 74
Day 1: 5 08-06
128. Dustin Neat Dunnville, KY 5 08-05 73
Day 1: 5 08-05
129. Joey Hanna Corsicana, TX 5 08-05 72
Day 1: 5 08-05
130. Jason Tibbetts Centreville, VA 5 08-04 71
Day 1: 5 08-04
130. B.J. Usie Bourg, LA 5 08-04 71
Day 1: 5 08-04
132. Jess Beihoffer Soddy Daisy, TN 5 08-03 69
Day 1: 5 08-03
133. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 5 08-02 68
Day 1: 5 08-02
134. Christian Shoda Homosassa, FL 3 08-02 67
Day 1: 3 08-02
135. Keith Brumfield Vicksburg, MS 5 08-01 66
Day 1: 5 08-01
136. Bobby Lanham Eddyville, KY 5 08-00 65
Day 1: 5 08-00
137. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 07-15 64
Day 1: 5 07-15
138. Cole Thompson Saint Cloud, FL 5 07-14 63
Day 1: 5 07-14
139. Brayden Rakes Winston Salem, NC 5 07-12 62
Day 1: 5 07-12
140. Warren Gensel Brooksville, FL 3 07-10 61
Day 1: 3 07-10
141. Sam George Athens, AL 5 07-07 60
Day 1: 5 07-07
141. Jake Maddux Birmingham, AL 5 07-07 60
Day 1: 5 07-07
143. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 4 07-07 58
Day 1: 4 07-07
144. Erik Brztowski Lemont, IL 5 07-04 57
Day 1: 5 07-04
144. Brandon McMillan Clewiston, FL 5 07-04 57
Day 1: 5 07-04
146. Frank Ramsey Spring Grove, IL 4 07-02 55
Day 1: 4 07-02
147. Daniel Rogers Morriston, FL 5 07-00 54
Day 1: 5 07-00
148. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 5 06-13 53
Day 1: 5 06-13
149. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 4 06-11 52
Day 1: 4 06-11
150. Clayton Wiggins Sorrento, FL 5 06-07 51
Day 1: 5 06-07
151. Mike Oncale Port Allen, LA 4 06-07 50
Day 1: 4 06-07
152. Paul Bouvier Kingston CANADA 5 06-02 49
Day 1: 5 06-02
153. Darrell Davis Dover, FL 4 06-02 48
Day 1: 4 06-02
154. Harry Peyton Guntersville, AL 5 06-01 47
Day 1: 5 06-01
155. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 4 05-15 46
Day 1: 4 05-15
156. Jerry Riddle Jr Summit, MS 4 05-14 45
Day 1: 4 05-14
157. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 3 05-13 44
Day 1: 3 05-13
158. Ty Faber Pagosa Springs, CO 4 05-11 43
Day 1: 4 05-11
159. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 5 05-09 42
Day 1: 5 05-09
160. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 4 05-09 41
Day 1: 4 05-09
161. Julius Mazy Phoenix, AZ 5 05-07 40
Day 1: 5 05-07
162. Taylor Watkins Clinton, TN 4 05-06 39
Day 1: 4 05-06
163. Frank Williams Mountain Home, AR 4 05-01 38
Day 1: 4 05-01
164. Scott Allgood Fair Play, SC 2 04-13 37
Day 1: 2 04-13
165. Lee Young Orlando, FL 3 04-09 36
Day 1: 3 04-09
166. Gary Caruso Baton Rouge, LA 3 04-07 35
Day 1: 3 04-07
167. Brad Leuthner Victoria, MN 2 04-07 34
Day 1: 2 04-07
168. Dalton Dowdy Newberry, SC 4 04-06 33
Day 1: 4 04-06
169. Paul Browning Pecos, TX 2 04-03 32
Day 1: 2 04-03
170. Mike Greenwell Alva, FL 3 04-02 31
Day 1: 3 04-02
171. Tony Dumitras Winston, GA 2 04-01 30
Day 1: 2 04-01
172. Roland Stevens Prairieville, LA 3 04-00 29
Day 1: 3 04-00
173. Phil Killian Solomon, AZ 2 03-15 28
Day 1: 2 03-15
174. Destry Ford Tuscaloosa, AL 3 03-03 27
Day 1: 3 03-03
175. Kenji Yamada Hixson, TN 2 02-09 26
Day 1: 2 02-09
176. A.J. Menssen Bloomington, IL 3 02-07 25
Day 1: 3 02-07
177. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 1 02-01 24
Day 1: 1 02-01
178. Gary Ogden Sumrall, MS 1 01-12 23
Day 1: 1 01-12
179. Clay Dyer Fayetteville, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
179. Danny Hardy Cantonment, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
179. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
179. Harry Moore Valley, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 147 832 1818-02
----------------------------------
147 832 1818-02
2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Harris Chain 10/13-10/15
Harris Chain Of Lakes, Leesburg FL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Pic Dieffenbauch Jr Hundred, WV 3 13-14 200
Day 1: 3 13-14
2. Yukinori Kusabuka Ibaraki JAPAN 3 10-08 199
Day 1: 3 10-08
3. Riku Hayashi Ritto Shiga JAPAN 3 10-08 198
Day 1: 3 10-08
4. Ronald Miller Attalla, AL 3 09-04 197
Day 1: 3 09-04
5. Ralph Gibson Locust Grove, OK 3 08-15 196
Day 1: 3 08-15
6. Chandler Howell Guntown, MS 3 08-11 195
Day 1: 3 08-11
7. Marrell Deering Rome, GA 3 08-08 194
Day 1: 3 08-08
7. Larry Mullikin Jacksonville, FL 3 08-08 194
Day 1: 3 08-08
7. Avery Williams Murrells Inlt, SC 3 08-08 194
Day 1: 3 08-08
10. Frank Lauria Wesley Chapel, FL 3 08-05 191
Day 1: 3 08-05
11. John Lewis Centreville, VA 3 08-03 190
Day 1: 3 08-03
12. Bobby Williams Salisbury, NC 3 08-00 189
Day 1: 3 08-00
13. Ron Causey Spring Hill, FL 3 07-13 188
Day 1: 3 07-13
13. Landon Parrish Trenton, FL 3 07-13 188
Day 1: 3 07-13
15. Thomas Crosswhite Hartwell, GA 3 07-10 186
Day 1: 3 07-10
15. David Dimauro Longwood, FL 3 07-10 186
Day 1: 3 07-10
15. Ronald Young New Braunfels, TX 3 07-10 186
Day 1: 3 07-10
18. Nathan Bloom Winter Springs, FL 3 07-07 183
Day 1: 3 07-07
18. Clayton Ellis Saltillo, MS 3 07-07 183
Day 1: 3 07-07
20. Mark Moore Freeport, FL 3 07-05 181
Day 1: 3 07-05
21. Mark Wethington Liberty, KY 3 07-03 180
Day 1: 3 07-03
22. Byong Lee Stedman, NC 3 07-01 179
Day 1: 3 07-01
22. Clyde Roberts Marshall, NC 3 07-01 179
Day 1: 3 07-01
24. Kevin Edwards Ruskin, FL 3 06-11 177
Day 1: 3 06-11
25. Larry Davis Gladewater, TX 2 06-09 176
Day 1: 2 06-09
26. George Malcolm Gainesville, FL 3 06-06 175
Day 1: 3 06-06
27. Ray Hill Lake City, FL 3 06-05 174
Day 1: 3 06-05
28. Blake Campbell Bremen, AL 3 06-04 173
Day 1: 3 06-04
28. Ronnie Davidson Leesburg, FL 3 06-04 173
Day 1: 3 06-04
28. Perry See Rochester, MN 3 06-04 173
Day 1: 3 06-04
31. Mike Spears Jasper, AL 3 06-02 170
Day 1: 3 06-02
32. Gary Haraguchi Murfreesboro, TN 3 06-01 169
Day 1: 3 06-01
33. Keir Sexton Clermont, FL 3 06-00 168
Day 1: 3 06-00
34. Robbie Anderson Crystal River, FL 3 05-14 167
Day 1: 3 05-14
34. Jon Brown Brandon, FL 3 05-14 167
Day 1: 3 05-14
34. Noah Reville Orlando, FL 3 05-14 167
Day 1: 3 05-14
37. Skyler Anderson Harlem, GA 3 05-13 164
Day 1: 3 05-13
37. Kyle Graham Flagler Beach, FL 3 05-13 164
Day 1: 3 05-13
37. Ashton Smith Lake Helen, FL 3 05-13 164
Day 1: 3 05-13
40. Satoshi Egawa Fort Lee, NJ 3 05-12 161
Day 1: 3 05-12
40. Ray Larson Springfield, IL 3 05-12 161
Day 1: 3 05-12
42. Michael Hill Daytona Beach Shores, F 3 05-10 159
Day 1: 3 05-10
43. Scott Waters Saint Cloud, FL 3 05-09 158
Day 1: 3 05-09
44. Dylan Johnson Longwood, FL 3 05-08 157
Day 1: 3 05-08
45. Eric Camarote The Villages, FL 3 05-03 156
Day 1: 3 05-03
46. Chris Timmons Apopka, FL 3 05-02 155
Day 1: 3 05-02
46. Chris Westhelle Sanford, FL 3 05-02 155
Day 1: 3 05-02
48. Jackie Flack Cullman, AL 3 05-00 153
Day 1: 3 05-00
49. Dawson Wisner Palatka, FL 3 04-15 152
Day 1: 3 04-15
50. Jon Jezierski Troy, MI 3 04-14 151
Day 1: 3 04-14
50. Michael Murphy Umatilla, FL 3 04-14 151
Day 1: 3 04-14
52. Dylan Mayo Athens, TX 2 04-14 149
Day 1: 2 04-14
52. Mike Tenda Casselberry, FL 2 04-14 149
Day 1: 2 04-14
54. Tim Rasmussen Orlando, FL 3 04-12 147
Day 1: 3 04-12
54. Sakae Ushio Tonawanda, NY 3 04-12 147
Day 1: 3 04-12
56. Rick Cheatham Carterville, IL 3 04-11 145
Day 1: 3 04-11
57. Nick Richey Aledo, TX 3 04-10 144
Day 1: 3 04-10
58. Craig Cavanna Spring Hill, FL 3 04-09 143
Day 1: 3 04-09
58. Cody Richardson Gautier, MS 3 04-09 143
Day 1: 3 04-09
58. Frankie Spicer Brandon, FL 3 04-09 143
Day 1: 3 04-09
58. Dusty Wood Belton, SC 3 04-09 143
Day 1: 3 04-09
58. Corey Yaden Grovetown, GA 3 04-09 143
Day 1: 3 04-09
63. David Petrisko Jacksonville, FL 3 04-08 138
Day 1: 3 04-08
64. Jordan McDonald Jackson, GA 3 04-07 137
Day 1: 3 04-07
65. Cal Teneyck Shakopee, MN 2 04-07 136
Day 1: 2 04-07
66. John Higginbotham Slaughter, LA 3 04-06 135
Day 1: 3 04-06
66. Matthew Rogers Chiefland, FL 3 04-06 135
Day 1: 3 04-06
66. Buddy Rohn Jacksonville, FL 3 04-06 135
Day 1: 3 04-06
69. James Cornell Longwood, FL 3 04-04 132
Day 1: 3 04-04
70. Fred Rigdon Belleview, FL 3 04-03 131
Day 1: 3 04-03
70. Adam Sangster Sanford, FL 3 04-03 131
Day 1: 3 04-03
72. Jimmy Brumfield Madison, MS 3 04-02 129
Day 1: 3 04-02
73. Jerry Gonzalez Rivero Torreon Coah MEXICO 3 04-01 128
Day 1: 3 04-01
74. Chad Stahl Barnesville, GA 3 04-00 127
Day 1: 3 04-00
75. James Cottingham Panama City, FL 2 03-15 126
Day 1: 2 03-15
76. Philip Morris Jr Raleigh, NC 3 03-14 125
Day 1: 3 03-14
76. Jack Taft Winter Garden, FL 3 03-14 125
Day 1: 3 03-14
78. Todd Boyd Lynn Haven, FL 2 03-14 123
Day 1: 2 03-14
78. Jeff Fellows Orlando, FL 2 03-14 123
Day 1: 2 03-14
80. Bailey Rothrock Milan, MI 2 03-14 121
Day 1: 2 03-14
81. Troy Mims Suwanee, GA 3 03-13 120
Day 1: 3 03-13
81. Steven Obester Palatka, FL 3 03-13 120
Day 1: 3 03-13
83. Jeffery Davis Palm Bay, FL 3 03-13 118
Day 1: 3 03-13
84. Austin Nelson Apopka, FL 3 03-12 117
Day 1: 3 03-12
85. Alvin Jenkins Savannah, GA 3 03-11 116
Day 1: 3 03-11
85. Michael Leach Shenandoah, TX 3 03-11 116
Day 1: 3 03-11
87. Jacob Altman Edgewood, TX 3 03-09 114
Day 1: 3 03-09
88. John Searles Jr. Townville, SC 3 03-08 113
Day 1: 3 03-08
89. Shane Davis Jacksonville, FL 2 03-08 112
Day 1: 2 03-08
90. Sho Egawa Osaka JAPAN 3 03-05 111
Day 1: 3 03-05
91. Jay Kamensky Plantation, FL 2 03-05 110
Day 1: 2 03-05
92. Carl Hunter Snellville, GA 3 03-04 109
Day 1: 3 03-04
92. Randy Tallhamer Brandenton, FL 3 03-04 109
Day 1: 3 03-04
94. Bill Hutchison Jr. Bessemer, AL 2 03-03 107
Day 1: 2 03-03
94. Rick Ivy Ponder, TX 2 03-03 107
Day 1: 2 03-03
96. AJ Jones Lutz, FL 3 03-02 105
Day 1: 3 03-02
96. Johnny Ward Jr Ludowici, GA 3 03-02 105
Day 1: 3 03-02
98. Michael Ryan Mount Dora , FL 3 03-01 103
Day 1: 3 03-01
99. Jim Bland Ocala, FL 3 03-00 102
Day 1: 3 03-00
100. Jonathan Barnette Jasper, AL 3 02-15 101
Day 1: 3 02-15
101. Antoni Bicy Ocklawaha, FL 1 02-15 100
Day 1: 1 02-15
102. Stephen Mcpherson Minneola, FL 3 02-14 99
Day 1: 3 02-14
103. Phillip Easterling Clanton, AL 2 02-13 98
Day 1: 2 02-13
103. Brian Rothrock Monticello, IN 2 02-13 98
Day 1: 2 02-13
105. Johnnie Garrett Union City, TN 2 02-12 96
Day 1: 2 02-12
106. Josh Roberts Ocala, FL 1 02-08 95
Day 1: 1 02-08
107. David Booth Erin, TN 1 02-05 94
Day 1: 1 02-05
107. Satoshi Yaguchi Ibaraki JAPAN 1 02-05 94
Day 1: 1 02-05
109. Wil Flack Smithers BC CANADA 2 02-03 92
Day 1: 2 02-03
109. Zachery Kuhn Summerfield, FL 2 02-03 92
Day 1: 2 02-03
111. Chris Earles Lady Lake, FL 2 02-02 90
Day 1: 2 02-02
112. Zach Pringle Newton, NC 1 02-02 89
Day 1: 1 02-02
113. Emiliano Zucchi Port Orange, FL 1 01-15 88
Day 1: 1 01-15
114. Greg Fernandez Palm Harbor, FL 2 01-14 87
Day 1: 2 01-14
115. Jeff Baffa Estero, FL 1 01-14 86
Day 1: 1 01-14
116. Jimmy Bass Ocala, FL 2 01-13 85
Day 1: 2 01-13
117. Cody Koehler Acworth, GA 1 01-13 84
Day 1: 1 01-13
118. Steven Smith Logan, OH 1 01-11 83
Day 1: 1 01-11
119. Rick Adams Lake Wales, FL 1 01-10 82
Day 1: 1 01-10
119. Matthew Ball Groveland, FL 1 01-10 82
Day 1: 1 01-10
119. JW Battle Jr. Orlando, FL 1 01-10 82
Day 1: 1 01-10
122. William Carrasquillo Clermont, FL 1 01-07 79
Day 1: 1 01-07
122. Eddie Kidd Fort Benning, GA 1 01-07 79
Day 1: 1 01-07
124. Brian Jones Meridianville, AL 1 01-03 77
Day 1: 1 01-03
125. Tristan Bramblett Tiger, GA 1 01-02 76
Day 1: 1 01-02
126. Thomas Abraham Winchester, TN 1 01-01 75
Day 1: 1 01-01
126. Glenn Bailey Temple Terrace, FL 1 01-01 75
Day 1: 1 01-01
126. Gary Saxarra Tavares, FL 1 01-01 75
Day 1: 1 01-01
129. Michael Robel Bradenton, FL 1 01-00 72
Day 1: 1 01-00
129. Brian Strickland Yantis, TX 1 01-00 72
Day 1: 1 01-00
131. Randy Lawrence Pensacola, FL 1 00-15 70
Day 1: 1 00-15
132. Stephen Toth Alachua, FL 1 00-14 69
Day 1: 1 00-14
133. Akeem Marsh Wildwood, FL 1 00-12 68
Day 1: 1 00-12
133. Jim Williams Winter Springs, GA 1 00-12 68
Day 1: 1 00-12
135. Zach Burell Gainesville, FL 1 00-11 66
Day 1: 1 00-11
135. Alonzo Evans Jr Topeka, KS 1 00-11 66
Day 1: 1 00-11
137. Steve Deyton Forest City, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Dehn Ganey Bonneau, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Daniel Hart Orlando, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. John Haynes Gainesville, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Allen Heston Pittsburg, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Darrell Hille Springfield, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Kevin Mallow Kansas, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Kyle Mckinney Cedartown, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Bob Morin Seymour, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. John Mortimer Mount Pleasant, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. David Patterson Flowood, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Ben Shuler Nokomis, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Greg Sloan Chipley, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
137. Jeffery Strong Sharpsburg, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 89 334 609-12
----------------------------------
89 334 609-12

by AnglersChannel

B.A.S.S. creates committee and institutes technology reviews for 2024 Elite Series season

October 13, 2023

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. officials announced today that, while they will continue allowing the use of forward-facing and live sonar during the 2024 Elite Series season, the organization is creating a committee of representatives from across the company to continuously monitor the use of live sonar, listen to angler feedback and gauge the technology’s impact on competition, fan experience and bass populations.

As part of the monitoring, the committee will review data gathered internally to evaluate live sonar’s impact throughout the coming season. A review of onboard technology being used by each Elite Series angler will be conducted by tournament staff and the committee at the beginning of the 2024 season. Subsequent surveys of the Top 10 following each Elite event will also cover the time spent using live sonar and the positioning of transducers.

That data will be reported to the committee alongside information such as catch rates and tournament weights to paint a more accurate picture of the technology’s significance to competitive bass fishing.

B.A.S.S. has emphasized that the organization is committed to listening to anglers, fans and industry insiders while monitoring and evaluating the use of these tools and studying how they impact both competition and fan experience.

For more information on how the committee and B.A.S.S. will evaluate forward-facing technology during the 2024 Elite Series season, visit Bassmaster.com.

by AnglersChannel

Bradley Roy’s 11th Annual High School Open, presented by Covercraft 200 Teams Competed on Lake Cumberland and Cedar Creek Lake

The 2023 Bradley Roy High School Open, presented by Covercraft, was one of the most closely contested chapters in the tournament’s eleven-year history. The winning team on Sunday was Blake Marcum and Reese Hughes of Louisa Bass Club HS. Marcrum, a senior, had qualified for the Top 5 Sunday Fish Off as a freshman four years earlier.

155 high school teams and 45 junior teams (6-8th grade) competed on October 7th at Lake Cumberland and the top five fished the following day at Cedar Creek Lake in Stanford, Kentucky.

The tournament is an officially sanctioned high school event by the Kentucky Bass Nation. Two spots in the 2024 Bassmaster High School National Championship were awarded to Saturday’s top finishers: Andrew Worrall and Will Melching of Central KY Bassmasters (1 st ) and Cole Richerson and Kayden Bickett of Taylor County HS (2 nd ).

The winning team weighed a bag of five fish totaling 9.75 pounds. The runners-up weighed in five fish for 9.31 pounds.

3rd place – Bryce McDonald/Ethan Elliott – Paintsville HS: 8.01
4th place – Landon Pierce/Korbin Neat – Casey County HS: 7.85
5th place – Blake Marcum/Reece Hughes – Louisa Bass Club HS: 7.51

Worrall and Melching caught the Railblaza Big Bass, a largemouth weighing 4.38 pounds. Following the Saturday weigh-in, Roy gathered the top five teams and prepared them for a fish-off on Sunday at a mystery destination.

The Bass Pro Tour angler convened the group at the Riverside Inn in Jamestown at 4:00 CDT on Sunday morning and led a convoy east on the Cumberland Parkway. The teams didn’t know their destination until they arrived at Cedar Creek Lake. “I picked Cedar Creek Lake again this year as our mystery lake; it’s a lake I grew up fishing and thinks it’s one of the best lakes in Kentucky,” said Roy. “It was fun watching these high school anglers approach this body of water because it has so much cover, structure, and fish to target.”

Each team was assigned boat officials trained by Roy and provided two sets of MLF-supplied scales. Teams were given fifteen minutes to ride around on the designated section of the 784-acre fishery.

Roy streamed commentary on his social media pages as he covered the action. The teams fished two 2.5-hour sessions, with a thirty-minute break in between. The conditions on Cedar Creek were cold to begin the morning, with temperatures in the high 30s warming up as the day progressed. Roy noted during the live stream that the weather conditions played a significant factor in the difficulty of the fishing and would make every catch even more crucial to the outcome. As temperatures warmed, the frequency of catches from the teams increased. Marcum and Hughes landed a solid two-pound fish with 12 minutes to go to take the victory over the Casey County HS team of Pierce and Neat.

On Sunday, both team members from the top two teams were offered four-year scholarships to attend Campbellsville University. Kentucky Christian also offered four-year scholarships to teams in the Top Five. In all, potential scholarships were over $400,000. In addition, Drury University will award scholarships to the Kentucky Bass Nation Angler of the Year team.

On Sunday, Marcum/Hughes and Pierce/Neat earned berths in the 2024 Major League Fishing High School National Championship. Significant general scholarships and prizes for all teams were made possible by Covercraft, First
Southern National Bank, The Cain Pole, A Few Good Men Fishing Tournament, City of Jamestown, State Dock, Angler’s Outpost & Marine, BC Lures, Land Big Fish, Lexington Ice Center, Gumm Concrete, Whitaker Bank, Neat Companies, Ark Fishing, Bass Pro Shops, Railblaza, Grundens, Solar Bat, Triton, Mercury, and D&L Tackle.

“I want to thank everyone who helped us pull this tournament off for the eleventh consecutive year. If you have ever run a tournament, you know the work involved; I have an awesome staff, family, and sponsors. Even though this tournament has my name on it, I am just a small part, and none of this happens without them.”

For a video of the event, visit -- https://youtu.be/bPF5U5ATzEg

Media contact: J.D. Blackburn | jd@profishingmanagement.com | (615) 479-7991

For complete tournament results, visit www.kybassnation.org.

For more information on Bradley Roy, visit www.BradleyRoy.com.

by AnglersChannel

Fishin' Tip Friday - JVD on breaking down new water

Happy Fishin' Tip Friday! We're bringing you a fresh video edition just in time for the weekend. Are you headed to a new body of water this weekend? Check out how Jonathon VanDam goes about locating a pattern on unfamiliar waters.

by AnglersChannel

Shallow-water consistency lifts Snyders to Bassmaster Kayak Series AOY title

Rus Snyders of Pegram, Tenn., has won the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year title.

Photos by Mark Cisneros/B.A.S.S.

October 12, 2023

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Rus Snyders entered the 2023 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX season with one goal in mind: win the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Angler of the Year title.

With a total of 746 points accumulated across four events, Snyders accomplished his goal and claimed the AOY title, earning the $5,000 top prize. He capped off his incredible season with a second-place finish at the Susquehanna River last weekend.

“It means a lot to win this,” he said. “It is always the goal of any tournament series that I enter. The AOY is the first thing on my mind as far as my goals to accomplish. Even more so than winning a championship event. It is a reflection of the entire year as a whole and not just one tournament. I cashed a check in every tournament, and I’m happy anytime I can get a check.”

The California native turned Tennessean outlasted Alabama’s Nick Dyer, who finished second with 727 points, and Elite Series pro Greg DiPalma, who finished third with 726 points.

Throughout the year, Snyders continually picked apart shallow-water cover and structure. While the season spanned across vastly different fisheries, his understanding of how water moves around these shallow areas contributed greatly to his success.

“When you are fishing shallow, it is important to recognize ambush points, feeding areas and to be as efficient as possible in mechanics,” he explained. “Efficiency is everything, and the better you can recognize those areas they will use to feed, the more you can eliminate the areas that aren’t going to be as effective.”

Of the four Bassmaster Kayak Series tournaments he fished in 2023, Snyders finished in the Top 15 or better in all four. He opened the season with a third-place finish at Lake Guntersville before traveling to Lake Hartwell and finishing in 15th place.

Between those two events, Snyders also won the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship at Chickamauga Lake and hoisted that trophy on the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic stage.

“It is gratifying when you accomplish such a large goal,” he said.

With one drop to give for AOY eligibility, Snyders did not participate in the Possum Kingdom Lake event but came back strong in La Crosse, Wis., with a second-place finish on the Upper Mississippi River before his runner-up showing at the Susquehanna River.

“That was my fourth tournament in La Crosse, and I fished in the same area I fished in the last three events. It paid off,” he said. “I had to take it tournament by tournament, I didn’t want to get too ahead of myself. But as soon as the La Crosse tournament ended, my main focus at that point was working really hard for the last tournament.”

While he is more comfortable fishing shallow-water situations in a kayak, lakes tend to cater to Snyders’ strengths. So although the Susquehanna River is a shallow fishery, Snyders wasn’t super-confident about his prospects when he arrived in Pennsylvania.

Although calm conditions prevailed most of practice, producing some of the best smallmouth fishing many anglers had ever experienced, a major cold front also moved through the area the last practice day. That made Snyders even more unsure if he could finish where he needed to in order to wrap up AOY.

“When I got into bass fishing, it was in a bass boat,” Snyders explained. “Coming from that world, we go to a lot of the lakes that are similar to what I grew up fishing out of a boat. Drew Gregory, Jody Queen and some of those people, that’s not what they specialize in. But when we go to a place like the Susquehanna River, you can take all of the top guys and they won’t be the favorite because you are competing against guys who have fished rivers like that their whole lives. When we go to these rivers, it is so difficult to do well.

“So I didn’t have a ton of confidence going into that event, even though it is something I really like doing and spend a lot of time doing.”

Snyders combated that by working harder than he has for any other tournament, and when the weather changed on the final day of practice, he marked over 100 waypoints in his primary area to ensure he had enough to fish.

“In order for me to lock it up, I knew I needed a sixth-place finish or better,” he said. “I just tried to keep an open mind. Knowing the weather conditions were playing out that way, I had a strategy to really find as many targets as I could. The bass were really living in places where they could tuck under something. I zigzagged back and forth and between the cuts of every island. I left no stone unturned.”

That hard work paid off, and while he couldn’t see the majority of the targets he marked because of the rising water, he was able to cast to them with a Megabass Magdraft swimbait and a Neko-rigged Z-Man Bang StickZ. His Torqeedo motor was also imperative to proper boat positioning. Snyders made just a few casts at every target before moving to the next waypoint.

That tournament will go down as his favorite of the season.

“When you look at the amount of fish caught, it was the best week of smallmouth fishing I have had in my entire life,” Snyders said. “I’m glad my hard work paid off.”

Snyders will now look ahead to next season and attempt to become the first back-to-back Bassmaster Kayak Series AOY champion in the short history of the kayak series. The 2024 season will kick off at Lake Murray in late February.

by AnglersChannel

Introducing the Upgraded PENN Prevail III Rods

Quality saltwater rods with models for most general fishing applications

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Oct. 10, 2023) PENN’s Prevail line of rods is undergoing significant changes to their composition and performance with the addition of strengthened rod features for surf, inshore, and general boating needs, bringing this already reliable rod to the next level. Saltwater anglers can look to the Prevail III Rod Series for the sensitivity and strength needed to match a variety of fishing situations.

Incorporating the same qualities and features found in high-end saltwater rods, the new PENN Prevail III rod features significant upgrades and comes at an affordable price while offering anglers the quality they demand for harsh saltwater conditions. The rod provides models that span surf, inshore, and general boat needs, with the power to stand up to formidable fish.

The PENN Prevail III rod features 100% 24-ton graphite composition in its inshore-specific models. This enhancement gives anglers the sensitivity to detect a fish strike and the strength required to land the catch successfully. The rods come with premium cork grips, providing a comfortable and secure hold for long fishing days.

A graphite composite blank combines strength, versatility, and outstanding performance for the jig, surf, and heavier boat models. They feature rubber shrink tube handles, delivering all-day comfort and reliable grip for various fishing situations.

All Prevail III rods are equipped with one-piece stainless-steel PENN Dura-Guides, ensuring exceptional durability and flawless performance with all types of fishing lines.

For more information about the Prevail III rods or PENN fishing products, click here.

AVAILABLE: Now
MSRP: $99.95 - $139.95

PREVAIL III INSHORE MODELS

100% 24 Ton Carbon Blank
PENN Dura-Guides
Premium Cork Handles
Comfortable Graphite Reel Seats
Rubber Gimbals (select models)

MODELS: PREINIII612S70 • PREINIII815S70 • PREINIII1017S70 • PREINIII1220S70 • PREINIII1530S70 • PREINIII1017C70 • PREINIII1220C70 • PREINIII1530C70

MSRP: $99.95 - 109.95

PREVAIL III SURF MODELS

Graphite Composite Blank
PENN Dura-Guides
Comfortable Graphite Reel Seats
Rubber Shrink Tube Handles

MODELS: PRESFIII1220S80 • PRESFIII815S90 • PRESFIII1220S90 • PRESFIII1530S10 • PRESFIII1530S11 • PRESFIII2040S12 • PRESFIII1220C10 • PRESFIII1530C10 • PRESFIII1530C11 • PRESFIII2040C12

MSRP: $99.95 - 129.95

PREVAIL III BOAT MODELS

Graphite Composite Blank
PENN Dura-Guides
High Density EVA Handles
Rubber Shrink Tube Rear Grips (select models)
Comfortable Graphite Reel Seats
Rubber Gimbals
Nylon Gimbals (select models)

MODELS: PREBWIII1530S70 • PREBWIII2040S70 • PREBWIII3050S66 • PREBWIII3050S70 • PREBWIII4080S70 • PREBWIII50100S60 • PREBWIII2040C70 • PREBWIII3050C66 • PREBWIII3050C70 • PREBWIII4080C60 • PREBWIII4080C66 • PREBWIII4080C70 • PREBWIII50100C60 • PREBWIII50100C66 • PREBWIII50100C70

MSRP: $129.95 - $139.95

PREVAIL III JIG MODELS

Graphite Composite Blank
PENN Dura-Guides
Comfortable Graphite Reel Seats
Rubber Shrink Tube Handles
Rubber Gimbals

MODELS: PREJGIII3080S66 • PREJGIII50130S64 • PREJGIII80200S60 • PREJGIII3080C66 • PREJGIII50130C62 • PREJGIII80200C58

MSRP: $109.95

by AnglersChannel

B.A.S.S. postpones Day 1 of Bassmaster Open at Harris Chain of Lakes

October 12, 2023

LEESBURG, Fla. — B.A.S.S. officials are postponing Day 1 competition at the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Harris Chain of Lakes due to forecasted severe weather, which includes lightning and winds gusting to 35 mph. The National Weather Service has also issued a Tornado Watch for the area.

The full field of anglers will now compete on Friday and Saturday.

Daily takeoffs will be held from Ski Beach at 7:15 a.m. ET and weigh-ins each day back at the launch site at 3:15 p.m. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com with FS1 broadcasting live with the leaders on Saturday morning beginning at 8 a.m.

by AnglersChannel

Challenging dynamics at play for B.A.S.S. Nation Championship Qualifiers

Top grass-roots anglers from around the world will compete for a berth in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic and an invitation to fish the Elite Series at the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Lake Hartwell Oct. 18-20.

Photo by Chase Sansom/B.A.S.S.

October 11, 2023

ANDERSON, S.C. — Several dynamic scenarios will be at play when anglers take on Lake Hartwell for the 2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, and Bassmaster Elite Series pro Brandon Cobb believes everything will depend on the lake turnover.

“This time of year is kind of a strange time,” the Greenwood, S.C., native said. “On Hartwell the fish act similarly during the late summer until winter. How you catch them, however, changes.”

Competition days are scheduled for Oct. 18-20, with the 7:30 a.m. ET daily takeoffs and 3:30 p.m. weigh-ins being held at the legendary Green Pond Landing. Anglers from across the U.S. and seven other countries — Canada, Japan, Mexico, Namibia, Portugal, South Africa and Spain — qualified for this event. The Paralyzed Veterans of America Tour will also send its Angler of the Year winner to compete. Complete coverage will be available at Bassmaster.com.

Not only will the Top 3 anglers from the overall standings realize a dream of competing in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic in Tulsa, Okla., the winning angler will also be named the Nation’s Best, punch their ticket to the 2024 Elite Series and enjoy the use of a fully-rigged Nitro Boat and Toyota Tundra. The second- and third-place finishers and nonboater champion will each earn paid entry fees for all divisions of the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens with the opportunity to qualify for the Elites.

To win this event, Cobb believes an angler will have to decipher what stage the lake is in, and the tactics they use will be determined by the lake turnover.

“The third week of October is usually within a week of the lake turnover, either way,” he explained. “It will be within a three-week transition period.”

Two scenarios could play out. The first would be the ideal scenario for Cobb — that would be that the main lake is getting close to turning over but hasn’t yet. If that is the case, the two-time Elite Series champion said the topwater bite will be phenomenal and a walking bait like a Yo-Zuri 3DB will be the only thing anglers need on their deck.

“The peak topwater bite is always the week before it turns over,” Cobb said. “Essentially, a turnover is when the deeper water rises to the top. It isn’t an instant process, and the herring get on top during that process. That is when the topwater bite is ridiculous. They will school across the whole lake. Three- and 4-pounders will be on top schooling.

“You will catch 25% largemouth and 75% spotted bass, but your five-bass limit will be mostly largemouth.”

The second, more likely scenario, is that the lake will be in the process of turning over or has already turned over. That will mean the topwater action, at least on the main lake, will likely be nonexistent and anglers will need to utilize forward-facing sonar to target main-lake bass.

“The topwater bite essentially ends. That, call-them-up-out-of-cane piles, cool offshore topwater bite pretty much ends when the lake turns over,” he said. “They aren’t as easy to catch. You have to go to the finesse-type baits like a drop shot, a little bitty swimbait and a spybait. You tend to catch 95% spotted bass.”

Anglers will also have the option to run up the Tugaloo or Seneca rivers in search of shallow wolf packs. While a great way to catch a big bag, Cobb said this can be inconsistent at times.

“There will be a shallow, junk fishing-type bite, even on the main lake,” Cobb said. “You will also have a normal fall creek bite up the rivers in some of the stained water. The problem with both of those bites is, if the topwater bite is really good, you will be wasting your time. But if it is past the turnover, then the bank plays again.”

Over the summer months, water levels on Hartwell were below full pool. But one tropical system could bring water levels back up and also dirty up the creeks and rivers, adding yet another potential wrinkle to this event.

Visit Anderson is hosting the event.

by AnglersChannel

Costa Sunglasses continues to grow its lifestyle offering with two additions to the Del Mar Collection

Inspired by coastal cultures across the globe, Catherine & Kailano feature an eco-friendly design and 580 glass lens technology - so you can take in every detail while soaking up the sun.

JUPITER, Fla. (Sep. 26, 2023) – Costa Sunglasses, manufacturer of the first color-enhancing all-polarized glass sunglass lens, welcomes two new lifestyle frames to its Del Mar Collection, Catherine and Kailano. Bearing inspiration from marine habitats, the two new frames elevate the Del Mar Collection with sophisticated style, eco-friendly materials and 580 glass (580G) lens technology.

For the first time since the Del Mar Collection debuted, Costa is growing the lifestyle collection with a new men’s and women’s frame. The Del Mar Collection is designed around the colors, patterns and textures of the sea and with Costa’s higher calling in mind - craft sunglasses with the highest quality lenses and protect the waters we love. Catherine and Kailano add to the collections offering of Bio-Acetate frames, marking one more step forward in Costa’s journey to reduce its impact on the watery world. Bio-Acetate is made from 67% natural and renewable materials (vegetable-based plasticizers and responsibly sourced wood pulp from FSC forests).

A sister frame to the best-selling Sullivan, Catherine features a soft cat-eye design and is named after St. Catherine Island, home to protected salt marshes that keep the island pristine. The refined frame possesses effortless elegance and modern detailing, including a core-wire temple design pulling straight from the waves. The more masculine Kailano derives its name from a Hawaiian word for the sea. The timeless square-shaped design, water-inspired temple and keyhole bridge are at home exploring coastlines or simply taking a load off. Ready for any adventure, both Catherine and Kailano are a six-base frame with medium wrap and west-coast vibes.

“As we continue to make waves in the lifestyle category, Catherine and Kailano bring a high level of sophistication to the Del Mar Collection, but still stay true to our roots,” says Jed Larkin, Brand Marketing Director at Costa Sunglasses. “These frames are your ideal companion for life on and off the water - whether you’re enjoying a seaside sunset, sailing the coastline or grabbing happy hour at the end of the day.”

Catherine and Kailano come with Costa’s polarized, color-enhancing 580G® lens technology for superior clarity and definition. These scratch-resistant glass lenses effectively reduce haze and blur, while boosting essential colors for superior definition. In addition, the lightweight and durable Bio-Acetate frame reduces the carbon footprint of each new pair by 54% when compared with industry standard acetate.

Starting at $242, Catherine and Kailano are now available at local dealers or Costasunglasses.com. For more information about Costa’s complete collection of award-winning performance, optical and lifestyle frames, visit Costasunglasses.com.

by AnglersChannel

Canadian Expansion

Legacy tackle manufacturer recruits Can-Am Sales Group to multiply sales north of the border.

BEMIDJI, Minn. (October 11, 2023) – Northland Fishing Tackle and Canada are like peanut butter and jelly. If it catches fish in Canada, Northland makes it. And now, the Minnesota-based fishing gear manufacturer further fortifies its relationship with Canadian anglers by recruiting the Can-Am Sales Group, a leading full-service sales organization out of Quebec, Canada.

“We have always had strong business partners in Canada, but now with the signing of Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson, and our purchase of Smeltinator, we are adding the Can-Am Sales Group to help us expand our retail and marketing support throughout all of Canada,” said Northland President and CEO Gregg Wollner.

“We make lures for all Canadian fisheries including crankbaits, soft plastics, ice lures and jigs for every species and every season. We are excited to expand our innovative new products to more consumers in Canada.”

Northland recently announced a licensing agreement with Bass Tactics to produce, distribute, and sell the Smeltinator and Smeltinator Underspin Jigs under the Northland Fishing Tackle brand name.

The Smeltinator is hardly new to the fishing scene. The jig and the moping technique have been dominating the Canadian tournament scene for a decade and is quickly taking root in the US. The “Moping” technique popularized by 2023 Bassmaster Classic victor Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson involves fishing a fluke or minnow style plastic on the Smeltinator Jig and the Smeltinator Underspin Jig over the top of deep suspending smallmouth bass.

Alongside the Smeltinator business deal, Northland inked a title sponsorship deal with Gussy for all B.A.S.S. events moving forward. Along the lines of offering more bass-centric bait designs vis-à-vis Gussy’s recommendations, Northland has already invited input from the influential bass angler that brought products to retailers and consumers in 2023, with more to come in 2024.

Gustafson’s input was utilized when Northland came to market earlier this year with the new Elite Series of jigheads featuring Gamakatsu hooks, as well as the popular Finesse Football Head, Nedster, Weedless Nedster, and Weedless Wacky Jig. For 2024, anglers will discover an all-new Marabou Jig and Bassmaster Elite-winning Smeltinator Jig.

Can-Am is led by founder and President Scott Makway, an experienced sales executive with a proven track record of driving retail performance in the outdoor sporting goods arena. With relationships at many of North America’s leading retailers, Scott has a solid history of partnering with customers to understand and support their unique strategies while delivering comprehensive solutions.

“In our quest to provide our distribution and retail partners with the best and most innovative brands on the market, we are very excited to join forces with Northland Fishing Tackle and add them to our stable of top tier fishing brands,” said Scott Makway. “With Walleye being the number one targeted species in Canada and Northland’s focus and commitment on Walleye lures, this is a win / win for our customers and the Canadian angler.”

by AnglersChannel

Lake Norman Readies to Host Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament

Lake Norman to Host 200 Boaters and Co-anglers from Four BFL Divisions Competing for Spot in 2024 BFL All-American, Top Prize of $60,000

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. (Oct. 11, 2023) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine’s Bulldog, Mountain, Shenandoah and South Carolina divisions will wrap up their 2023 season in Huntersville, N.C. next week, Oct. 19-21, with the Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine Regional Event at Lake Norman.

Hosted by Visit Lake Norman, Visit Charlotte and Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation, the three-day regional tournament will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.

The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. The highest finishing boater from each division will also receive a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division will receive a $500 bonus.

“Lake Norman is always good, but this time of year the tournament is really going to be dependent on the weather,” said pro Bryan Thrift of Shelby, North Carolina, who won REDCREST 2023 – the Bass Pro Tour Championship – on Lake Norman earlier this year. “On a calm, slick day, I’d expect finesse presentations, more use of forward-facing sonar and obviously topwater baits will play a big part.

“We’re also in that transition period where some wind could stir up a really good reaction bait bite, so a jerkbait, Chatterbait or some kind of moving bait could also come into play,” Thrift continued. “This is really going to be an event where you can pick your poison, which is pretty typical for Lake Norman.”

In addition to being able to play the weather to their advantage this time of year, Thrift said with some decent wind, anglers can run a wind pattern that typically results in bigger weights.

“If they hit it when there’s a little bit of wind, or rainy, cloudy weather, I’d expect the weights to be a little higher than if it’s slick and sunny,” said Thrift. “I think anglers that can consistently pull in 14 to 15 pounds every day will have a chance at winning the event.

“The lake has typically turned over by now, so there should be bass scattered from 2 feet of water up to 50 feet of water,” Thrift continued. “I’d expect to see guys throwing drop-shot rigs and spoons in 40 to 50 feet of water, but you’ll also have anglers burning the bank, throwing topwater baits right up on the bank.

“I do think bigger weights will be caught up shallow. Historically on Lake Norman, the bigger fish typically live in 10 feet of water or less this time of year.”

Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET each morning from Blythe Landing, located at 15901 Highway 73, in Huntersville. Weigh-ins will also be held at the landing and will begin at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regionals. The 2024 BFL All-American will be held May 29-31 at Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee.

The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

by AnglersChannel

B.A.S.S. reveals schedule for fifth season of Bassmaster Kayak Series

The 2024 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX season features five regular-season events around the country as anglers compete for the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year title.

Photo by Mark Cisneros/B.A.S.S.

October 10, 2023

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Just days after wrapping their regular season, B.A.S.S. officials announced the schedule for the 2024 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX.

The fifth season of the ever-popular Kayak Series will include five stops in five states — and for the second year in a row will feature all two-day events.

Kayak Tournament Director Steve Owens says excitement has grown exponentially for the trail every year since its inception, and he expects that interest to rise even more next year with five choice destinations.

“Kayak fishing for bass is as popular as it’s ever been,” said Owens. “People buy kayaks for a lot of different reasons. Some don’t want the responsibility of tending to a bass boat. Others just love the freedom a kayak provides for entering places that are off-limits to many others.

“That’s why the technology for kayak bass fishing has improved so much — and why so many people are anxious to compete from one.”

The 2024 Bassmaster Kayak Series schedule will kick off Feb. 24-25 at Lake Murray in Columbia, S.C. The 50,000-acre Palmetto State fishery ranked fourth overall on Bassmaster Magazine’s annual 100 Best Bass Lakes list and hosted one of the more exciting Bassmaster Elite Series events of the 2023 season, which was won by Florida pro Drew Benton with 87 pounds.

“Capital City/Lake Murray Country is excited to kick off the 2024 Bassmaster Kayak Series on Lake Murray. We can’t wait to greet the anglers and showcase our region to all," said Miriam Atria, President/CEO of the Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board.

The second kayak event of the 2024 season will be held April 20-21 at Possum Kingdom Lake in Graford, Texas. Possum Kingdom has become known as one of the top competitive kayak destinations in the country and has been featured heavily in the Bassmaster Kayak Series’ short history. The inaugural 2021 Bassmaster Kayak Series National Championship tournament was held on Possum Kingdom and featured a memorable performance by Mark Pendergraf, who won with what was, at the time, the highest two-day total in TourneyX history — a 10-bass total measuring 209.25 inches. The regular-season event held on Possum Kingdom this year was won by Texas angler Michael Cates with a two-day total of 210.25 inches (an average of more than 21 inches per bass).

Under B.A.S.S. rules, the five longest verified lengths each day will be totaled to determine the angler’s score. Ketch boards and other measuring devices must be brought to and approved at the registration and angler meeting before each event. Scores will be entered and shown, as always, in real time by TourneyX.

“Our relationship with TourneyX has been fantastic,” Owens said. “The system has been virtually flawless for the first four years of the Kayak Series, and we’re proud to have them handle scoring for us again.”

From Possum Kingdom Lake, the Kayak Series will make a return trip to Alabama’s Lake Guntersville in Scottsboro, Ala., May 18-19. Bassmaster Elite Series pro Greg DiPalma of Millville, N.J., made waves during the 2023 Bassmaster Kayak Series event on Guntersville, winning with a two-day total of 189.75 inches.

The fourth stop on the Kayak Series will be July 27-28 on the smallmouth paradise that is the Susquehanna River in Lewisburg, Pa. Those who follow the Kayak Series know that the Susquehanna just hosted a fabulous, season-ending event that was won by Indiana angler Josh Chrenko, who captured the victory with 194 inches of smallies.

Even with the tournament still fresh, officials from that region are excited about the prospect of hosting the Kayak Series again.

“We were thrilled to have Bassmaster consider and select our portion of the Susquehanna River to host their October 2023 Bassmaster Kayak Series (event),” said Andrew Miller, executive director of the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau, the event’s official host. “To learn that a return in 2024 was a possibility was met with great excitement and anticipation.

“Signing the host agreement for next year’s event was the icing on the cake. Bassmaster has been a joy to work with, and together we will introduce the Susquehanna River Valley to fishing enthusiasts and Bassmaster fans all over the world.”

Tennessee’s Rus Snyders took second at the season-ending tournament in the Keystone State, which was more than enough to lock down the 2023 Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year title.

The 2024 season will culminate on Caddo Lake and Lake Bistineau in Shreveport, La., on Oct. 19-20. The 25,400-acre Caddo Lake is one of the first Louisiana fisheries stocked with Florida-strain largemouth, while Lake Bistineau covers 17,200 acres in Bienville, Bossier and Webster parishes.

The Top 5 anglers from each event, plus several dozen from the Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year standings, will be invited to compete in the championship, which will be held at a date and time to be announced later. Anglers will earn points in every regular-season tournament, with their lowest finish dropped to determine the final Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year standings.

The kayak championship is held each year in conjunction with the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic, with the anglers’ weights announced on the Classic stage.

“We’ve seen tremendous growth under Steve’s direction, and I look forward to working with him in 2024 as we continue to build and expand the Bassmaster Kayak Series,” said GL Compton, tournament manager for the B.A.S.S. Nation, who oversees the Kayak Series.
For more information on registration for Bassmaster Kayak Series events, visit Bassmaster.com/kayak.

by AnglersChannel

Deep Dive with Brock Mosley on the Rat-L-Trap

The guys catch up with Brock Mosley and talk about a fall fishing staple, the good ole Rat-L-Trap. Brock dishes on different sizes, techniques, and tactics for a bait that goes all the way back to his childhood. Tune and learn a few things about the "Trap" that you may not have thought about in this episode of The Deep Dive.

https://youtu.be/Wh5PJznlxR8

by AnglersChannel

New performance frames from Costa Sunglasses build on its 40 year legacy of making the best sunglasses on the water

Tailfin and Seadrift maximize every moment on the water with 580 glass lens technology and performance features at an approachable price point.

JUPITER, Fla. (Oct. 10, 2023) - Costa Sunglasses, manufacturer of the first color-enhancing all-polarized glass sunglass lens, welcomes two new performance frames to its collection, Tailfin and Seadrift. At an entry-level price point, the 8-base brother and sister frames offer the performance-level features that you’ve come to know and love from Costa, including its 580 glass lens technology for superior clarity.

Built for all watermen, Tailfin combines a modern design with a comfortable fit. No matter where you’re headed, Tailfin will help you get there — and maximize every moment spent on the water. For waterwomen looking for a frame designed specifically for them, look no further than Seadrift. Similar to Tailfin, the sleek, 8-base frame offers protection from the sun with micro-sculpted side shields and is purposefully-built with Hydrolite™ rubber to keep your frames locked in place. Both Tailfin and Seadrift are ready for whatever the water throws at you.

"Our goal with Tailfin and Seadrift is to introduce a collection of frames built for long days on the water, but at an approachable price point for all anglers and water-lovers,”said Mike Turner, Global Product Director at Costa Sunglasses. “Our community lives to be out on the water and demand frames that hold up to the sun, salt, water - while keeping their vision clear so they can keep their eyes on the prize. That’s where our performance line comes into play. Tailfin and Seadrift are great additions to the collection and add a new, more modern style option to our performance collection.”

For the first time ever, Tailfin and Seadrift will be available in two frame sizes to help you find the perfect fit. Both frames also come equipped with Costa's cutting-edge polarized 580® glass lens technology, providing exceptional clarity and color enhancement. These scratch-resistant lenses effectively reduce haze and blur, while boosting essential colors for superior definition. And built with Costa's proprietary and environmentally friendly Bio-Resin, Tailfin and Seadrift are lightweight and maintain the durability necessary for all water adventures.

Starting at just $160, Tailfin and Seadrift are now available at local dealers or Costasunglasses.com. For more information about Costa’s complete collection of award-winning performance, optical and lifestyle frames, visit Costasunglasses.com.

by AnglersChannel

MLF Returns to Lake of the Ozarks for Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament

Osage Beach Set to Host 200 Boaters and Strike King Co-anglers from Four BFL Divisions Competing for Spot in 2024 BFL All-American, Top Prize of $60,000

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (Oct. 10, 2023) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine’s Great Lakes, Hoosier, LBL and Okie divisions will close out the 2023 season in Osage Beach, Missouri, next week, Oct. 19-21, with the Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine Regional Event at Lake of the Ozarks.

Hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association, the three-day regional tournament will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.

The typical Lake of the Ozarks fall patterns were not really in play at the MLF Toyota Series event earlier this month, but cooler temperatures should have the fish transitioning into their traditional fall routine. Jigs, creature baits and plastic worms will all be popular options, for tournament competitors as will topwater and squarebill crankbaits. A 14- to 16-pound-a-day average over the three-day competition will likely be needed by boaters seeking to advance to the All-American, and the winner is projected to have right around 44 to 48 pounds.

Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. CT each day from Public Beach No. 2 at Lake of the Ozarks State Park, located at 711 Public Beach Road in Osage Beach. Weigh-ins will also be held at the landing and will begin at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

by AnglersChannel

Carl Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament on Lake Eufaula

Strike King Co-angler Victory Goes to Arkansas’ James

EUFAULA, Okla. (Oct. 9, 2023) – Boater Cody Carl of Lotawana, Missouri, brought a three-day total of 14 bass to the scale weighing 41 pounds even to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Event on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Oklahoma . For his victory, Carl earned $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000. Carl also received automatic entry into the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship, May 29-31, at Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee.

“This was a whirlwind,” said Carl. “I didn’t get a keeper bite in four days of practice. The first day of the tournament I started out running points where I thought maybe I could get a keeper bite. That didn’t happen for me, so, I just started fishing my strength – flipping docks.”

Carl said he had never fished Lake Eufaula, and decided his best approach would be to fish how he would on his home water of Lake of the Ozarks and see what happened.

“Before the first day of the tournament I wanted to pack it up and go home,” said Carl. “I knew I just had to put my head down and grind. So, I just started fishing like I knew how, and I stumbled across this ‘magic’ dock that produced all my fish for three days.”

Later in the afternoon on the tournament’s opening day, Carl said he came across a dock that had set up just right for bass at this time of year. There was a cold front moving in, water temperatures were dropping, the dock sat in 8 feet of water on one side and 17 on the other, and shad were funneling into the dock, providing a perfect ambush spot for bass.

“I didn’t have anything else,” said Carl. “I left it Thursday just hoping the fish would be there again on Friday.

“On Day 2 I tried to run some other things early in the morning, but it didn’t pan out, so I returned to the dock about 10:30,” Carl continued. “Within an hour and a half, I had my limit. Saturday, I did the same thing and had a limit of fish by 9:30.”

All told, Carl said he caught 40 keepers off the dock throughout the tournament. In addition to fishing just one dock, Carl said he used just one bait during the tournament to catch his bass – a Zoom Brush Hog with a 3/8-ounce weight.

Carl said when he had landed around 13 pounds by 1:30 on the second day of competition, he left the fish biting to save them for the final day.

“It occurred to me I really had something going on and that I could win it if the fish stayed,” said Carl. “The cold front that moved in late Friday night scared me a little bit, but I rolled in there and caught a 5-pounder on my third cast. I just kept grinding it out for almost 18 pounds Saturday.

“This feels great,” Carl added. “This is my first year as a boater. It’s emotional for me because you want to prove what you can do out here and when it’s your time, it’s your time.”

The top six boaters that qualified for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:

1st:          Cody Carl, Lotawana, Mo., 14 bass, 41-0, $60,000
2nd:        Ian Leybas, McAlester, Okla., 13 bass, 32-13, $11,450
3rd:        Austin Lawson, Charleston, Ark., 15 bass, 31-13, $6,000
4th:         Phil Smith, Orange, Texas, 12 bass, 31-12, $3,000
5th:         Jeff Clark, Van Buren, Ark., 15 bass, 28-14, $2,300
6th:         Thomas Rallo, Eldon, Mo., 12 bass, 28-14, $2,800

Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:

7th:         Lance Williams, Billings, Mo., 13 bass, 28-5, $1,600
8th:         Alton Wilhoit, Noble, Okla., 12 bass, 28-0, $1,400
9th:         Trevor Bartlett, Grain Valley, Mo., 14 bass, 26-6, $1,200
10th:      Christopher Smith, North Branch, Minn., 11 bass, 25-1, $1,600 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The top four boaters from each division that earned a $1,000 bonus for placing highest in the event were:

Arkie: Austin Lawson, Charleston, Ark., 3rd Place, $1,000
Cowboy: Ian Leybas, McAlester, Okla. 2nd Place, $1,000
Mississippi: Adam Brister, Meadville, Miss., 47th Place, $1,000
Ozark: Thomas Rallo, Eldon, Mo., 6th Place $1,000

Smith took home an extra $500 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

Philip James of Benton, Arkansas, weighed in nine bass over three days totaling 22 pounds, 13 ounces to win the top Strike King co-angler prize package of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The top six Strike King co-anglers that qualified for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:

1^st:           Philip James, Benton, Ark., nine bass, 22-13, $50,000
2^nd:          Jody Jones, Harvey, Ark., eight bass, 18-7, $5,500
3^rd:          Jeremy White, Dittmer, Mo., eight bass, 16-9, $3,000
4^th:           Caleb Welch, Bolivar, Mo., five bass, 14-13, $2,000
5^th:           Douglas Guidorzi, Fenton, Mo., seven bass, 14-2, $1,000
6^th:           Kris McCarter, Pheba, Miss., six bass, 13-8, $1,600

Rounding out the top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

7^th:           David Hamilton, Rogers, Ark., five bass, 13-7, $800
8^th:           Bubba Wright, Ridgeland, Miss., five bass, 12-4, $700
9^th:           Ben Bromley, Odessa, Mo., five bass, 11-12, $800
10^th: Shaun Smith, Smithville, Mo., six bass, 10-14, $550

The top four Strike King Co-anglers from each division that earned a $500 bonus for placing highest in the event were:

Arkie: Jody Jones, Harvey, Ark., 2nd Place, $500
Cowboy: Leavitt Hamilton, Gonzales, La., 13th Place, $500
Mississippi: Kris McCarter, Pheba, Miss., 6th Place, $500
Ozark: Jeremy White, Dittmer, Mo., 3rd Place $500

The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Tournament on Lake Eufaula was hosted by the Eufaula Area Chamber of Commerce. It featured the top pros and Strike King co-anglers from the Arkie, Cowboy, Mississippi and Ozark divisions.

The 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Invitationals and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

by AnglersChannel

Barnes Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament on the Potomac River

Co-angler Victory Goes to Tar Heel State’s Metz

MARBURY, Md. (Oct. 9, 2023) – Boater Jason Barnes of Concord, North Carolina, brought a three-day total of 15 bass to the scale weighing 44 pounds, 10 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Event on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland . For his victory, Barnes earned $68,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF contingency bonus. Barnes also received automatic entry into the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship, May 29-June 31, at Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tennessee.

Barnes said he didn’t have a good practice period leading up to the tournament; he had only two bites each day on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Barnes said he started to figure out what the bass might have been looking for on the last day of practice and formed a game plan. He focused his efforts on the creeks – specifically the Potomac, Aquia and Mattawoman – and used a frog, a worm and creature baits to target grass that held bass.

“Once I figured that out, I went back to one particular area the first day of the tournament and got some bites,” said Barnes.

After catching his limit, Barnes spent the rest of Thursday continuing to search for waters that would produce quality bass.

On the third and final day of competition, stormy weather rolled into the area. Barnes said he decided to brave the weather and run to the same areas where he had caught fish the first two days of competition. After he had four fish in the livewell, he made the decision to relocate to a secondary area he had found, closer to the tournament takeoff site. He culled two fish after the move and secured his final day’s weight and the victory.

“I don’t have a lot of history on the Potomac River, so I didn’t know what to expect,” said Barnes. “I knew the weather would change things up, so I just went out and went fishing. After I caught my last fish, I thought I had a pretty good shot at a good finish.

“I’ve fished BFL’s for quite a while and come close, but I’ve never been able to pull off a win,” Barnes added. “To win this one really is special to me.”

The top six boaters that qualified for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:

1st:          Jason Barnes, Concord, N.C., 15 bass, 44-10, $68,000 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MFL Contingency Bonus)
2nd:        Chris Baldwin, Lexington, N.C., 15 bass, 43-5, $11,780
3rd:        Jim Vitaro, Wooster, Ohio, 15 bass, 42-13, $6,000
4th:         Randy Williams, New Richmond, Ohio, 15 bass, 41-13, $3,000
5th:         Michael Duarte, Baltimore, Md., 15 bass, 41-12, $3,000
6th:         Brett Carnright, Plattsburgh, N.Y., 15 bass, 41-6, $1,800

Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:

7th:         Joe Zombek II, Scranton, Pa., 15 bass, 40-3, $1,900
8th:         Conrad Manuel, Pilot Mountain, N.C., 15 bass, 39-1, $2,400
9th:         Richard Hodges, Jr., Camden, N.C., 13 bass, 38-8, $1,200
10th:      Aaron Dixon, Bel Alton, Md., 15 bass, 37-14, $1,100

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The top four boaters from each division that earned a $1,000 bonus for placing highest in the event were:

Buckeye:               Jim Vitaro, Wooster, Ohio, 3rd Place, $1,000
North Carolina: Conrad Manuel, Pilot Mountain, N.C., 8th Place, $1,000
Northeast:           Michael Duarte, Baltimore, Md., 5th Place, $1,000
Piedmont:            Chris Baldwin, Lexington, N.C., 2nrd Place $1,000

Barnes took home an extra $7,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

Stacy Metz of Staley, North Carolina, weighed in 13 bass over three days totaling 33 pounds, 7 ounces to win the top Strike King co-angler prize package of $50,500, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The top six Strike King co-anglers that qualified for the 2024 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:

1^st:           Stacy Metz, Staley, N.C., 13 bass, 33-7, $50,500
2^nd:          Terry Bucciarelli, Ypsilanti, Mich., 14 bass, 31-7, $5,850
3^rd:          Matthew Strickland, Portsmouth, Ohio, 13 bass, 30-12, $2,500
4^th:           Josh Kauffman, Marysville, Pa., 14 bass, 30-7, $2,000
5^th:           Connor Kapp, Benton, Pa., 15 bass, 30-6, $1,000
6^th:           Jonathan Ceaser, Maidens, Va., 14 bass, 28-11, $1,400

Rounding out the top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

7^th:           Matt Hummel, Dillsburg, Pa., 11 bass, 27-12, $800
8^th:           John Chacosky, Media, Pa., 15 bass, 26-11, $700
9^th:           Logan Kaplon, Rural Valley, Pa., 11 bass, 24-12, $600
10^th:        Cornell Badra, Clarksburg, Md., 13 bass, 24-8, $550

The top four Strike King Co-anglers from each division that earned a $500 bonus for placing highest in the event were:

Buckeye:               Terry Bucciarelli, Ypsilanti, Mich., 2nd Place, $500
North Carolina: Stacy Metz, Staley, N.C., 1st Place, $500
Northeast:           Josh Kauffman, Marysville, Pa., 4th Place, $500
Piedmont:            Jonathan Ceaser, Maidens, Va., 2nd Place $500

The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Tournament on the Potomac River was hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners. It featured the top pros and Strike King co-anglers from the Buckeye, North Carolina, Northeast and Piedmont divisions.

by AnglersChannel

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by AnglersChannel

Chrenko flexes his smallmouth muscle to win Bassmaster Kayak Series event on Susquehanna River

Josh Chrenko of Greenwood, Ind., has won the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX on Pennsylvania's Susquehanna River with a two-day total of 194 inches.

Photo by Mark Cisneros/B.A.S.S.

October 8, 2023

LEWISBURG, Pa. — Josh Chrenko said earlier this week that the Susquehanna River is as good as any smallmouth bass river he’s ever fished.

Then he went out and proved it.

Chrenko, 38, won the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX on Sunday in the center of the Keystone State. He took the Day 1 lead with a five-bass limit that measured 96.25 inches and delivered again on the second and final day of the derby with another limit, this one measuring 97.75 inches.

That gave the Greenwood, Ind., resident a total of 194 inches, which was more than enough to claim the tournament’s $8,500 first prize. The Top 15 anglers and Big Bass Award winner split a cash purse of $30,200.

“I’m not a national tournament guy,” Chrenko said, shortly after receiving the championship trophy.

“I’m from Indiana and we don’t have anything like this at home. So, if I get a chance to fish here, I’m gonna go ... And to be standing up here now (after winning the tournament), it’s just surreal.”

Chrenko fished an isolated spot of the river — a gamble, he said, because it was an effort to reach. But the chunky smallmouth bass feeding there, alongside big muskie and flatheads, made it worth the risk.

“I went there on Thursday for my first practice day and in 45 minutes, I had two 20s and two 19s,” Chrenko said. “So, I knew that was my spot. But (if the bite changed) there was nothing else I could fish around it. I would pretty much be stuck.”

Fortunately for Chrenko, no one was on his spot Saturday morning. He caught only eight fish, but they were the ones he needed.

“I only had four fish until about 1:30 that afternoon,” he said. “I had only one Bull Shad in my swimbait box, and I caught my first four keepers on that.”

After a giant muskie broke his bait off, Chrenko threw a Megabass Magslowl swimbait to finish his limit. He loaded up on swimbaits Saturday night, figuring he might need them after the front pushed through fully overnight.

“The water was like chocolate milk today,” he said. “But I put on a Z-Man JackHammer and I wound up catching nine fish. I only had 17 fish in two days, but they were the right ones.”

Rus Snyders of Pegram, Tenn., stormed from fifth place on Saturday into second on Sunday, courtesy of a limit that measured 97.25. That gave him a 191.25-inch total over the weekend — good enough not only for the second-place bounty of $3,800, but also to earn him the 2023 Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year title.

Snyders pocketed an additional $5,000 prize for winning the year’s points race.

“This is the best week of smallmouth fishing I’ve had in my life,” he said. “Every day they were just chewing ... I saw what the forecast was doing over the weekend, and I found a few baits that were working. But over 50% of my time, I was on that Torqeedo and I would zig-zag back and forth all over the place.

“I marked everything I could — a shoal, a big boulder, a rockpile, a laydown.”

With more than 300 waypoints charted, Snyders was able to find fish despite the water dirtying following the front. His best bites on Saturday came on Neko rigs. On Sunday, he leaned on a variety of Megabass Magdraft swimbaits.

Snyders’ second-place finish this weekend capped a spectacular year, in which he won the Kayak Series Championship on Chickamauga Lake in his home state in March. He also had a second-place showing on the Mississippi River in Wisconsin, finished third at Alabama’s Lake Guntersville and 15th at Lake Hartwell in South Carolina.

“Everything this year has gone so smoothly,” Snyders said. “Not just with my fishing, but everything in general.”

Rounding out the Top 5 this weekend on the Susquehanna are Pennsylvania’s Jordan Welliver, third, 190.5, $2,700; Pennsylvania’s Jake Harshman, fourth, 187, $1,950; and West Virginia’s Mark Edwards, fifth, 186.75, $1,800.

Welliver also won the $500 Big Bass Award for the 21.5-inch smallmouth he caught Sunday.

A total of 146 anglers from across the U.S. competed in the derby.

The final berths in the 2024 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship powered by TourneyX will be announced later this week. The Top 5 anglers from each event this season, plus several dozen from the Angler of the Year standings, will be invited to the championship which is scheduled for March 20-21 on Oklahoma’s Lake Tenkiller. The kayak championship will be held in conjunction with the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota, which is scheduled for March 22-24 in Tulsa.

by AnglersChannel

Spencer Shuffield Moves into Second Place, Steven Cook Leads AAA Division

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