AnglersChannel

Minn Kota sponsors Bassmaster Elite showdown on St. Lawrence River

April 6, 2023

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Long-time B.A.S.S. partner Minn Kota is expanding their partnership for 2023 to serve as the title sponsor for a heavy showdown on the St. Lawrence River, which has once more topped Bassmaster’s list as the country’s best bass fishery in 2022. The season-ending Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River will be held August 24-27, and anglers will hope to match the stellar 2022 conditions that produced two historic smallmouth century belts for Jay Przekurat and Cory Johnston.

“Minn Kota is excited to be the title sponsor for the Bassmaster Elite Series event at the St. Lawrence River this coming August,” said Brad Henry, brand manager for Minn Kota. “After Humminbird and Minn Kota pro Jeff Gustafson’s Bassmaster Classic win in Knoxville, we are looking forward to heading to another great venue where our anglers have had a lot of success in the past. It will be a big year for the Minn Kota brand and we look forward to being front and center at this event.”

Gustafson became the first Canadian to win the Ray Scott Trophy at the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota in late March. In the event, “Gussy” used a tactic dating back to his roots to win the coveted title in wire-to-wire fashion. Gustafson’s "moping” technique uses a Z-Man Jerk ShadZ on a 3/8-ounce Smeltinator jighead, fishing straight down for bass he could see on his Humminbird MEGA Live forward-facing sonar.

In addition to its title sponsorship of the Elite at St. Lawrence, Minn Kota is a premier sponsor of the six-circuit Bassmaster Tournament Trail and will continue garnering prime visibility in B.A.S.S. multimedia platforms, magazines and on Bassmaster LIVE, which airs on FOX, FS1, Tubi and the FOX Sports digital platforms.

Full coverage from all four days of the Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River will be available on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will also broadcast live with the tournament leaders on Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, visit Bassmaster.com.

by AnglersChannel

Louisiana’s “Cajun Baby” Cliff Crochet Earns Qualifying Round Win for Group B at Fox Rent A Car Stage Three on Lake Murray Presented by Mercury

Louisiana Pro Catches Two-Day Haul of 41-15 to Pace Group B and Advance, Field of 40 Set for Thursday’s Knockout Round

COLUMBIA, S.C. (April 5, 2023) – An incoming full moon on Thursday night, bright and sunny bluebird skies, and a very light wind made for extremely favorable sight-fishing conditions Wednesday to wrap up the Group B Qualifying Round at the MLF Bass Pro Tour Fox Rent A Car Stage Three at Lake Murray Presented by Mercury in Columbia, South Carolina. Pro Cliff Crochet of Pierre Part, Louisiana , had the best Qualifying Round – 10 bass weighing 41 pounds, 15 ounces, to win Group B and advance along with the top 20 finishers into Thursday’s Knockout Round.

Googan Baits pro Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama, who held the lead early in Period 1 before backing off his fish, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 39-8 to end the Qualifying Round in second place. Day 1 leader, rookie Nick LeBrun of Bossier City, Louisiana, caught 10 bass weighing 39-2 to finish the round in third. Both held the lead for periods of time Wednesday, but both were eventually overtaken by Crochet.

The remaining 40 anglers – the top 20 from each group – now advance to Thursday’s Knockout Round, where weights are zeroed, and the anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round on Friday. Weights will carry over from the Knockout Round into the Championship Round, which will feature the final 10 anglers competing for the heaviest two-day cumulative total and the top prize of $100,000.

“Man, it feels a lot better being inside the cut then it does being outside the cut, when time runs out,” Crochet said in his post-game interview. “It was a perfect day, today. I started out early and caught a couple of fish, and it went down pretty good. Just chunk after chunk, and I caught the weight that I needed to move onto the Knockout Round.”

Most of Crochet’s fish on Wednesday came on a River2Sea Whopper Plopper, but he also added a keeper to his limit using a NetBait BaitFuel Infused Toad.

“One of the coolest things that happened today was that I was catching them on equipment that I helped design for some of my sponsors,” Crochet said. “The KastKing (Speed Demon Elite) Deadbolt reel, which has the lockdown drag system – that’s been a big key to how I’m catching them this week. And the new (KastKing) Hammer Braid line we got – those two products are really playing a big part for me this week.

“I caught a few more at the end of the day, and I think that may play later this week so I feel like my pattern is trending up and life is good,” Crochet went on to say. “I’m very thankful for today. I’m ready to go home, eat supper, and go to sleep so we can get after it again tomorrow.”

The top 20 pros from Group B that advance to Thursday’s Knockout Round on Lake Murray are:

1^st:          Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., 10 bass, 41-15
2^nd:         Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 10 bass, 39-8
3^rd:         Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 10 bass, 39-2
4^th:         Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 10 bass, 38-5
5^th:         Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 10 bass, 37-9
6^th:         Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, 10 bass, 37-5
7^th:         Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., 10 bass, 36-3
8^th:         Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 36-3
9^th:         Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 35-3
10^th:       Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 35-0
11^th:       Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., 10 bass, 34-7
12^th:       Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 34-4
13^th:       Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 33-13
14^th:       Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 10 bass, 33-12
15^th:       Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 10 bass, 33-12
16^th:       James Watson, Lampe, Mo, 10 bass, 33-6
17^th:       Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 10 bass, 33-3
18^th:       Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 10 bass, 33-1
19^th:       Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 10 bass, 32-12
20^th:       Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 10 bass, 32-5

Eliminated from competition are:

21^st:       Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 31-11
22^nd:      Josh Butler, Hayden, Ala., 10 bass, 31-2
23^rd:      Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 10 bass, 30-15
24^th:       Roy Hawk, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 10 bass, 30-15
25^th:       Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., 10 bass, 30-8
26^th:       Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 10 bass, 30-8
27^th:       Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala., nine bass, 29-9
28^th:       Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., 10 bass, 29-1
29^th:       Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla., 10 bass, 27-15
30^th:       Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 27-13
31^st:       Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, 10 bass, 27-11
32^nd:      Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., nine bass, 26-10
33^rd:      Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., nine bass, 26-7
34^th:       Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., 10 bass, 26-7
35^th:       Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., nine bass, 26-6
36^th:       Timmy Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala., 10 bass, 26-3
37^th:       Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas, seven bass, 25-9
38^th:       Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 25-5
39^th:       Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., nine bass, 22-15
40^th:       Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss., 10 bass, 20-12

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 342 scorable bass weighing 921 pounds, 13 ounces caught by the 40 pros Wednesday.

Wednesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award was awarded to General Tire pro Skeet Reese of Auburn, California, who weighed in a 6-pound, 4-ounce largemouth which bit his big glide bait in Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

The six-day bass-fishing event, hosted by Capital City/Lake Murray Country, showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

The 40 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day qualifying round on Sunday and Tuesday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Monday and Wednesday. Now that each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top 20 anglers from each group advance to Thursday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Friday’s final day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

Anglers will launch each day at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from Dreher Island State Park, located at 3677 State Park Road in Prosperity. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the launch locations, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

On Championship Friday, April 7, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF will welcome fans of all ages to visit Dreher Island State Park and celebrate the top 10 and crown the Fox Rent A Car Stage Three at Lake Murray Champion at the Watch Party and Trophy Presentation. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and take selfies.

The Fox Rent A Car Stage Three at Lake Murray Presented by Mercury will feature pros competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with each angler’s five (5) heaviest bass per day tallied as their day’s weight. Anglers strive to catch their heaviest five fish each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the live scoring SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, fishing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship, held March 13-17, 2024, on Lay Lake in Birmingham, Alabama.

The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

Television coverage of the Fox Rent A Car Stage Three at Lake Murray Presented by Mercury will air as two, two-hour episodes starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Sept. 30 and Saturday, Oct. 7 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG + Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.

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

by AnglersChannel

Poche not fishing Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray

April 5, 2023

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Elite Series pro Keith Poche of Cecil, Ala., will not be fishing the upcoming Marathon Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray April 20-23. B.A.S.S. officials have ruled him ineligible for the third stop of the 2023 Bassmaster Elite Series season because he violated the 28-day off-limits rule that all competitors must follow.

Poche fished in a tournament on South Carolina's Lake Murray April 2-5, placing him in violation of the off-limits period for the Elite Series tournament at Murray.

Bassmaster Elite Rule C3. I, for Practice and Competition states: “Off-limits for Elite events begins on the Monday closest to 28 days prior to the first practice day.”

According to B.A.S.S. officials, “Keith Poche violated the 28-day off-limits rule which has deemed him ineligible to compete in the Lake Murray Elite event."

Poche knew going into the season that he had a scheduling conflict between the two tournaments. He told B.A.S.S. tournament officials about the conflict early in the year, knowing that he would need to take a DQ for the Elite on Lake Murray.

by AnglersChannel

2023 Bassmaster Classic features record-breaking numbers, historic firsts

The 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota drew record crowds to Knoxville, Tenn., while also reaching millions of viewers during television coverage on FOX and FS1.

Photo by Breanne Jackson/B.A.S.S.

April 5, 2023

2023 Bassmaster Classic features record-breaking numbers, historic firsts

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — From massive fan attendance and viewership to the first Canadian champion, the 53rd edition of the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing has etched its name in the sportfishing record books.

The 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota reached 4.5 million viewers across the two days of FOX and FS1 coverage. The final hours of Championship Sunday's Bassmaster LIVE coverage on FOX featured high drama as tournament leader Jeff Gustafsonstruggled with just two fish and scores of fans tuned in to see if the field could catch “Gussy,” leading to the most-watched Bassmaster telecast on any network since 2009 according to Nielsen numbers provided by FOX.

When the confetti cleared on Championship Sunday, Gustafson of Kenora, Ontario, was crowned the first Canadian Classic champion and just the second international champion — Japan’s Takahiro Omori took home the coveted title in 2004.

“I was totally wowed by the crowd inside Thompson-Boling Arena, all of the lights, the music … the whole spectacle. It was the highlight of my fishing career and really my life,” said Gustafson. “We have a lot of people in Canada who love bass fishing and a lot of good anglers who aren’t going to have the same chance that I did.”

Those who missed the live final weigh-in, which streamed on Bassmaster.com, could tune-in just hours later for the first-ever Super Six highlight show on FS1.

Host city Knoxville, Tenn., welcomed a staggering crowd of 163,914 fans to Classic Week activities, including Thursday’s Visit Knoxville Kickoff Party presented by TNT Fireworks, daily takeoffs, exciting weigh-in festivities and the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by the U.S. Army, which featured the first carbon-neutral venues in Classic history thanks to a partnership with the TVA.

“Hosting the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota was a huge honor for our destination,” said Chad Culver, senior director of the Visit Knoxville Sports Commission. “We are excited to regain the title of largest Classic ever with a total attendance of 163,914 throughout a weekend of events in Knoxville. All of our local partners enjoy working with the team at B.A.S.S. who continue to do all facets of their events at a very high level.”

Bassmaster.com and the B.A.S.S. social media channels also broke records for engagement as fans devoured content on the web and social channels. During the 2023 Bassmaster Classic, records were set for social media impressions, engagement and video views as well as BassTrakk page views and streams of Bassmaster LIVE coverage — 1.2 million streams for more than 32.7 million minutes across Bassmaster.com, Tubi and the FOX Sports digital platforms.

"The record numbers for digital engagement really show the passion of our fans,” said Jim Sexton, B.A.S.S. vice president of digital. “Fans were obsessed, checking BassTrakk more than 4.7 million times while also closely following some of the fun stories of our anglers and the city of Knoxville highlighted on social.”

The world’s best anglers will take center stage again April 20-23 for the Marathon Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray, with full coverage each day on Bassmaster.com.

by AnglersChannel

Three turkey hunting tips from Matt Arey

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships

Like a lot of bass anglers, April creates a passionate tug-of-war for Team Toyota’s Matt Arey between thoughts of fish moving shallow to spawn and turkeys gobbling, but his addiction to outsmarting the big majestic birds is best traced to a Cleveland County, N.C. grave marker.

Arey credits his high school buddy Josh Ferree for introducing him to turkey hunting. Ferree passed unexpectedly, seemingly way too young at age 24, while hunting. The lower right corner of his grave marker includes an embossed image of a gobbler.

“I shot a gobbler on one of my very first hunts with Josh, and I thought turkey hunting was pretty easy. Boy, was I wrong! I’ve killed a bunch of birds since Josh took me that first time when we were about 18, but man, I’ve taken a lot butt kickings from those birds and learned a lot by losing,” reflects Arey.

He kindly shares three bits of turkey hunting wisdom he’s learned the hard way since that first successful hunt.

Use mapping technology to know the land your hunting

“I use the HuntStand app and website to study whatever land I’m hunting in detail so I can choose the best spot to set up. For example, I always want to avoid making a bird cross a fenceline or walk down a hill to get to me. So it’s critical to know the terrain of wherever you hunt, and mapping technology is a huge help,” explains Arey.

The goal is to avoid putting any sort of barrier between you and the bird, because any obstacle that is unfavorable to a turkey’s naturally desired pathway simply adds to the challenge of the hunt.

Each turkey talks a little different, so be versatile in your calling

“Much like spawning bass, every turkey has a slightly different personality, so you need to put in the work to get good with various kinds of turkey calls in order to best appeal to each individual gobbler’s personality,” says Arey.

For example, Arey may use a typically louder box call to connect with a bird that’s further away, but a slate call on a calmer less windy day. However, a diaphragm mouth call is his all-around favorite because of the versatility it offers. So, learn to use them all.

Walk like a turkey too

It’s critical to talk like a turkey in various tones and pitches to best appeal to each individual bird’s personality, but often overlooked by turkey hunters is how they walk in the woods.

“Deer hunters seem to be naturally mindful of walking softly, but a lot of turkey hunters seem to overlook the sounds their steps make. Gobblers hear well, maybe not as well as they see, but they can still detect unnatural sounds like a human stepping on branches. So, walk cautiously in the turkey woods,” says Arey.

These tips from Arey were mostly cultivated by making mistakes he’s learned to correct, as well as studying great turkey hunters like Dave Owens, Jason Heathcoe, and of our course, his first and much-missed mentor, Josh Ferree.

by AnglersChannel

Welcome to the Gun show!

2023 Elite Series winner and current Angler of the Year leader Tyler Rivet joins to talk about how he got started fishing and the awesome start to this season. The boys dive into the latest feature from BASS Live.

by AnglersChannel

Jonathon VanDam Wins Group A Qualifying Round at Fox Rent A Car Stage Three on Lake Murray Presented by Mercury

Favorite Fishing Pro Catches Two-Day Total of 10 Bass Weighing 41-12 to Win Qualifying Round, 20 Anglers Advance to Thursday’s Knockout Round

COLUMBIA, S.C. (April 4, 2023) – Favorite Fishing pro Jonathon VanDam of Kalamazoo, Michigan, caught six scorable bass, with his best five weighing 19 pounds, 14 ounces to earn the win Tuesday during the Group A Qualifying Round at the MLF Bass Pro Tour Fox Rent A Car Stage Three at Lake Murray Presented by Mercury in Columbia, South Carolina.

VanDam’s two-day Qualifying Round catch of 10 bass totaling 41-12 earned him the win by a 2-pound, 8-ounce margin over General Tire pro Andy Montgomery of Blacksburg, South Carolina, who caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 39-4 to finish in second place. Pro Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 38-10 to finish the round in third, while Leesburg, Ohio’s Cole Floyd , ended the round in fourth place with a two-day total of 10 bass for 38-2. Rounding out the top five was rookie Matt Becker of Ten Mile, Tennessee, who caught 10 bass weighing 36-12 to advance in fifth place.

The six-day bass-fishing tournament, hosted by Capital City/Lake Murray Country, showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

“Today was overall a great day – we did exactly what we had to do,” VanDam said in his post-game interview. “I didn’t catch very many today, but I really wasn’t trying to. We got our work done early in the first period, and then I spent a lot of time looking.

“I’m doing my best to set myself up for the Knockout Round,” VanDam continued. “I found a couple of more groups of fish, and a couple of them with some really big ones around. Hopefully the weather will help a little bit and they’ll get to chewing.”

VanDam started out the day with a 6-pound, 7-ounce lunker that bit his sexy-shad-colored Strike King Red Eye Shad. He caught four of his six keepers on the lipless crankbait, and his last two fish of the day came on a drop-shot rig.

“The weather was a little bit different – it was sunny, it was calm, and I had to switch it up a little bit,” VanDam said.
“I tried not to lean on them too much. I caught a bunch on a Strike King Red Eye Shad, then had to switch to the drop-shot later as it got slick.

“Knowing where those fish are sitting, it’s important to throw a variety of different baits at them to try to get them to react. Sometimes these fish, especially when they’re sitting there for these herring, get educated pretty quickly. So I tried to mix it up, and today went just as planned. I’m looking forward to the Knockout Round.”

The top 20 advancing anglers from Group A will now have an off day from competition Wednesday, while the 40 anglers competing in Qualifying Group B will complete their two-day Qualifying Round. The top 20 anglers from each group advance to Thursday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Friday’s final day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

The top 20 pros from Group A that now advance to Thursday’s Knockout Round on Lake Murray are:

1^st:          Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 10 bass, 41-12
2^nd:         Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 10 bass, 39-4
3^rd:         Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, 10 bass, 38-10
4^th:         Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 10 bass, 38-2
5^th:         Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 10 bass, 36-12
6^th:         Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, 10 bass, 36-9
7^th:         Mitch Crane, Columbus, Miss., 10 bass, 35-15
8^th:         Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 10 bass, 35-14
9^th:         Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 10 bass, 35-4
10^th:       John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 10 bass, 34-11
11^th:       Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., 10 bass, 33-14
12^th:       Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., 10 bass, 33-8
13^th:       Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 10 bass, 33-5
14^th:       Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., 10 bass, 33-1
15^th:       John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., 10 bass, 32-13
16^th:       Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, 10 bass, 32-11
17^th:       Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 10 bass, 32-3
18^th:       Alton Jones, Sr., Lorena, Texas, 10 bass, 32-0
19^th:       Jeff Kriet, Ardmore, Okla., 10 bass, 31-14
20^th:       Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., 10 bass, 31-13

Eliminated from competition are:

21^st:       Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 31-10
22^nd:      Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., 10 bass, 31-10
23^rd:      Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 30-8
24^th:       Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 30-3
25^th:       James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 10 bass, 29-4
26^th:       Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 10 bass, 29-1
27^th:       Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla., 10 bass, 28-9
28^th:       Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., 10 bass, 27-14
29^th:       Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., 10 bass, 27-14
30^th:       Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., 10 bass, 27-12
31^st:       David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn., 10 bass, 27-11
32^nd:      David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 10 bass, 27-10
33^rd:      Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., 10 bass, 26-15
34^th:       Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 10 bass, 26-14
35^th:       Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 10 bass, 25-14
36^th:       Boyd Duckett, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 25-13
37^th:       Shin Fukae, Osaka, Japan, 10 bass, 25-11
38^th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 10 bass, 25-10
39^th: Mark Daniels, Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 10 bass, 25-10
40^th:       Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., six bass, 14-9

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 351 scorable bass weighing 916 pounds, 10 ounces caught by the 40 pros Tuesday.

Pro Andy Montgomery of Blacksburg, South Carolina, earned Tuesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with an 8-pound, 8-ounce largemouth bass that he caught fishing boat docks with a worm late in Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

The 40 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day qualifying round on Sunday and Tuesday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Monday and Wednesday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top 20 anglers from each group advance to Thursday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Friday’s final day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

by AnglersChannel

Costa Sunglasses grows its hybrid category with frames built for life on and off the water

Mainsail and Aleta define versatility with their stylish design and technical feature set

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 4, 2023) – Costa Sunglasses, manufacturer of the first color-enhancing all-polarized glass sunglass lens, celebrates 40 years of making the best sunglasses on the water in 2023 by growing its hybrid category of frames. New to the lineup for the spring, Mainsail and Aleta are your day-to-day sunglasses that stay stylish while relaxed on land and ready to perform while out on the water.

Building off of the success of Costa’s hybrid category - frames that blend performance features with everyday style - Mainsail (unisex) and Aleta (women’s) are built with the same high-quality materials and features you want from the beach to the big blue. The versatile new frames are just at home reeling in a fish as they are checking surf breaks, voyaging to a remote atoll or exploring a coastal village.

Inspired by the watery world Costa is synonymous with, Mainsail gets its name from the mainsail on a sailboat, and Aleta, from the Spanish word for “fin.” Staying true to their roots, Mainsail and Aleta maintain a relaxed look and feel, while their technical features are ready for anything the water throws at you. Integrated micro side shields and hooding help keep additional light out for an improved view, the vented Hydrolite™ nose pad keeps your frames locked in place and helps prevent fogging, sweat management channels and eyewire drains keep sweat out of your eyes, and keeper-ready temples keep your frames from going overboard.

“Our new hybrid category is our most versatile. It has it all, water-ready performance and a stylish, modern design,” says John Acosta, Costa Sunglasses Vice President of Marketing NA. “We took the performance features that Costa is famous for and added them to a more relaxed frame shape that is equally comfortable and durable on any adventure.”

Mainsail and Aleta come with Costa’s polarized, color-enhancing 580® lens technology for next-level clarity. The scratch-resistant lens cuts haze and blur and enhances key colors for superior clarity and definition. Built better with Bio-Resin, Mainsail and Aleta are lightweight and maintain the durability necessary for any watery adventure.

Adventure is fluid, and Mainsail and Aleta are there for the ride. Starting at $182, both are currently available at local dealers or Costasunglasses.com.  For more information about Costa’s full collection of best-selling sunglasses, visit Costasunglasses.com.

by AnglersChannel

Registration for 2023 Bassmaster High School Combine opens April 18

Students will meet with coaches and showcase their fishing skills at the 2023 Bassmaster High School Combine presented by Skeeter Sept. 15-17 in Decatur, Ala.

Photos by Kyle Jessie/B.A.S.S.

April 4, 2023

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Bassmaster High School Combine presented by Skeeter returns to Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Ala., Sept. 15-17 for a weekend combining skills challenges and recruiting visits in hopes of reeling in college fishing scholarship money. The first Combine netted more than $2.6 million in scholarship offers, with tallies for the second event still pouring in as athletes sign with teams from a variety of schools.

“B.A.S.S. is constantly looking for ways to grow the High School and College platforms and give young anglers opportunities to excel not only in the sport, but also in the industry,” said Glenn Cale, B.A.S.S. Nation tournament manager — College, High School and Junior. “The first two Bassmaster High School Combines were a great success, and we’re looking forward to growing this experience for both these high school anglers and the coaches who attend. This has truly become the preeminent event for colleges looking to find and recruit talent from across the country.”

Only schools offering bass fishing scholarships are invited to the High School Combine, and coaches from 25 colleges have already expressed interest in attending. The experience offers young anglers and college coaches a chance to leverage rare face time into finding the best fit for students ready to further both their education and their fishing at the next level.

The Bassmaster High School Combine presented by Skeeter will be a three-day event where anglers will perform multiple tasks to showcase their skills not only on the water, but also display their knowledge of the sport as a whole. Each of the disciplines will operate on a point system and will be timed by an official judge. Each angler will accumulate points to determine an overall winner. After the first day, colleges will have the opportunity to select anglers for a “second look” where they can further explore everything that angler has to offer and see if they would be the perfect fit for their fishing program.

New to the 2022 combine was an on-the-water Technical Challenge designed to test a combination of skills. To complete the challenge, each angler had three minutes to navigate a Skeeter FXR20 bass boat around an obstacle and make three pinpoint casts to floating targets.

“There’s a couple of things I am watching,” explained Carson-Newman University fishing coach Hunter Sales while observing the challenge from the banks of Wheeler Lake. “You watch someone running a trolling motor and want to see if they are balanced on the front deck. Do they look comfortable or is it new to them? Even in the way they handle the rod; are they comfortable doing both? Is their casting form good? I want to see those anglers who are confident making longer casts and pitches. It really shows to me that they are just comfortable bass fishing … which is key.”

After three challenges — Casting Distance, Technical and Casting Accuracy — the 2022 combine’s overall points winner was Phillip Herring of Richton, Miss. In three total challenges, Herring finished no worse than 10th place out of 98 anglers and won the Technical Challenge. Herring was surprised to take home the highest honor from the High School Combine.

“It feels pretty amazing,” Herring said. “I came in expecting to have the opportunity to talk to a few colleges and maybe even get a couple of campus visits out of it, but I didn’t really have any expectations for the competition part of this event.”

Herring, who signed with the powerhouse University of Montevallo fishing team — one of the schools that attended the combine, has qualified for three consecutive Strike King High School National Championships presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors tournaments and also finished seventh at the 2019 Bassmaster Junior Series National Championship.

Once more, attendees will use the well-placed Ingalls Harbor and Pavilion on the shores of Wheeler Lake as base for the three-day event.

“Decatur is honored to partner with B.A.S.S. to continue serving as host of the Bassmaster High School Combine,” said Don Dukemineer, director of sports development for the Decatur Morgan County Tourism. “Now in our third year, our joint efforts with B.A.S.S. continue to strengthen this prestigious event in providing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these anglers to showcase their talents. Ingalls Harbor and Pavilion offer the perfect set-up for this unique event, and we are thrilled with this beneficial relationship that highlights Decatur and Morgan County as a fishing destination.”

Registration for the Bassmaster High School Combine presented by Skeeter will open at 4 p.m. CT on April 18 at Bassmaster.com/high-school and remain open until 100 participants have registered. The $600 registration fee includes accommodations for two nights and four meals.

For more information, visit Bassmaster.com/high-school.

by AnglersChannel

Eufaula, Oklahoma Set to Host MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Epic Baits Stop 3 on Lake Eufaula Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches

Full Field of 150 Professional Anglers to Compete for Top Prize of up to $115,000 and Total Season Purse of More Than $3.9 Million

EUFAULA, Okla. (April 4, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, is set to visit Eufaula, Oklahoma next week, April 14-16, for the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Epic Baits Stop 3 at Lake Eufaula Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches. The MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational features a roster of 150 anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024 – the Bass Pro Tour championship – for the chance to win up to $300,000.

Hosted by the Eufaula Area Chamber of Commerce, the tournament marks the third of six Tackle Warehouse Invitational events in 2023, offering competitors a total season purse of more than $3.9 million. The field is also competing for valuable points to win the coveted Invitational Angler of the Year (AOY) title. The top eight pros in the Tackle Warehouse Invitational AOY standings at the end of the season will receive an invitation to compete on the Bass Pro Tour.

"We appreciate Major League Fishing bringing a significant tournament back to Eufaula, Oklahoma,” said Serina Kleveter, Eufaula Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director. “We are excited to welcome all the anglers and look forward to showing them a slice of our hometown charm."

This is the first major tournament MLF has held at Lake Eufaula, Oklahoma’s largest lake, however it is a fairly regular stop for the Okie Division of the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League, where local Tad Sweitzer of Eufaula racked up a winning weight of 23 pounds, 6 ounces in late March 2022. That same March event featured 23 bags over 15 pounds and a 9-pound big bass from Chris Jones of Bokoshe, Oklahoma, who is competing in this event.

The east-central Oklahoma lake has had two of the largest smallmouth bass in state history pulled from its waters, an 8-pound, 3-ounce smallmouth back in March 2006 holds the state record, while an 8-pound, 1½-ounce smallmouth caught in April 2007 is right behind it.

In late April of 2019, back-to-back events saw winning weights of 21-2 and 18-8, so historically speaking, the tournament will be hitting this fishery at a great time of the year.

B&W Trailer Hitches pro Kyle Cortiana of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma has history on Lake Eufaula and said he believes the tournament will hit the spawn window dead on, which should make for a great event.

“It’s really warm right now, and it’s going to continue to warm up fast,” said Cortiana. “There will still be plenty of fish in prespawn next week, but most will be right in the middle of their spawn.

“The lake was really low a few months ago, then rose fast, so there has been a 6- to 7-foot change in water surface elevation over the past few months,” continued Cortiana. “It’s coming back down and should be more stable at a normal level by next week if we don’t have any heavy rains, which will set the fishery up even more for a stable bite. I think the fishing is going to be really good.”

Covering 105,500 surface acres with 800 miles of shoreline, Lake Eufaula is an enormous body of water, which according to Cortiana will play well during the event.

“You can run 10 to 40 miles in every direction from our takeoff and there are literally fish in every square inch of this lake,” said Cortiana. “The field should be able to spread out, which is something I’m looking forward to as well, because a lot of the places we visit, anglers end up on top of each other, all hitting the same locations. This fishery is unique in that it can be won in all kinds of places on the lake. There’s really no one spot you have to be on to win it, so it should be a lot of fun.

“Eufaula is kind of known to be a flat, muddy lake and I’d say probably 80% of the lake is relatively stained water, so there are a lot of flat, shallow, flooded bushes that come into play when the water isn’t really low,” Cortiana went on to say. “All the typical muddy-water baits are going to be players here – dark-colored flipping baits, spinnerbaits, crankbaits, ChatterBaits and shallow square bills – anything that’s going to put off vibration and displace water.”

The Oklahoma pro said there’s also a small portion of the lake that has cleaner water where other tactics may come into play.

“There are a few big smallmouth in Eufaula as well, but it’s really hard to target them, so I don’t expect anyone to make that their game plan. However, reeling one in would just be a bonus fish,” Cortiana said. “We’ve got 150 anglers fishing this tournament and everyone in the group is solid, plus we have a handful of really good jackpotters in this event, guys from Oklahoma. I think to win the tournament, guys are going to have to be pushing the 20-pound mark per day, for sure, if not more. There will be multiple people catch over 20 pounds on one day, so if they can back that up with multiple bags that size, or close to it, I think they’ll have a shot to win.”

Cortiana also said he believes it will be fairly easy to catch 14 to 15½ pounds per day, and the guys who can bring in around 30 pounds the first two days will make the top 50 cut to move on to the final day.

“I’m really excited about the event being here in Oklahoma and on Lake Eufaula,” said Cortiana. “I don’t really fish the BFL’s, so I’m excited to compete in a tournament on this lake in home water on a place that I have a little history with.

“I’m also a little nervous, because I’ve had the home field advantage bite me before on Grand Lake,” Cortiana continued. “So, the whole curse of ‘knowing too much’ and running around too much is definitely a factor, but I suspect that we are going to crush them next week.”

In MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Friday and Saturday in a traditional five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight will advance to the final round on Championship Sunday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $115,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers. The winner of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Epic Baits Stop 3 at Lake Eufaula Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight and will receive an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024.

In addition, the season-long Invitational AOY will also earn a berth into REDCREST 2024.

Anglers will take off at 7 a.m. CT, Friday through Sunday, from the Peter’s Point South Point Dock Boat Ramp, located on Dabbs Road in Eufaula. Weigh-ins will also be held at the boat ramp daily beginning at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the live on-the-water action all three days of competition online on MLF NOW! beginning at 7:30 a.m. CT at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Epic Baits Stop 3 at Lake Eufaula Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches will feature live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere on the CBS Sports Network on Saturday, October 14^th.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

MN-FISH ANNOUNCES “WORLD’S GREATEST FISHING AUCTION”

MN-FISH auction will include fishing/hunting trips with over 30 outdoor industry celebrities and guides, resort vacation stays, products, and much more.

Rogers, Minn. (April 4, 2023) — An online auction of fishing adventures – called “The World’s Greatest” and starting April 18—will give bidders the chance to share a fishing boat with some of the nation’s leading anglers.

Hosted by non-profit MN-FISH Foundation, the 3-day online auction opens at 7 am on Tuesday, April 18 and ends at 8 pm on Thursday, April 20^th. Auction items may be reviewed and bidders may register at MN-FISH.COM by clicking on the blue ‘’Go To Auction’ prompt on the home page.

MN-FISH president Ron Schara said the first-ever auction is a fund-raising effort by MN-FISH to continue its mission to improve state fish hatcheries, public boat accesses, shoreline fishing sites and other fishing-related goals.

“Top outdoors industry notables have really stepped up to the plate,” said Schara. “Thus far, more than 30 fishing celebrities and guides have donated personal fishing trips for winning auction bidders. From Al Lindner to Babe Winkelman, Ted Takasaki and Dave Genz—and countless others, far too many to name. This is a chance for everyone to spend time with the very best on-the-water.”

“To my knowledge, there’s never been an auction quite like this,” said MN-FISH executive director Mark Holsten. “These trips are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to fish with the best anglers on the planet. I can’t think of better gift ideas for loved ones, friends or even business clients.”

“Pros, guides, resorts, and manufacturers in Minnesota—as well as the Dakotas, Great Lakes, and Canada—have come out to support MN-FISH’s ‘World’s Greatest Fishing Auction,’ said MN-FISH secretary Steve Pennaz. “Even more exciting--every dollar raised will support MN-FISH’s efforts to restore, protect or enhance Minnesota fishing--making it a win for all.”

Fishing is a huge part of our identity as Minnesotans and big business, too, generating $4.4 billion annually in economic impact. This auction represents—albeit on a small scale—the outdoors industry giving back to the state’s diverse angler make-up by giving them the chance to win once-in-a-lifetime fishing experiences, besides resort stays and products.

Non-Profit MN-FISH Foundation was founded in 2018 by a volunteer group of dedicated anglers concerned about the future of fishing in Minnesota. For more information, or to join, visit MN-FISH’s updated website: http://www.mn-fish.com/.

by AnglersChannel

Costa Compete+Conserve

https://youtu.be/qnPe3j4jz5s

BASS Opens pro James Caldemeyer teaches Vance what Costa's Compete+Conserve program is all about

by AnglersChannel

Robert Case Jr. & Morris McCutcheon top 232 teams to win over $20,000 on Cedar Creek with 23.48 lbs

Place Boat Truck Angler 1 Angler 2 Fish Big Bass Wt. Prize Amt.

1 ROBERT CASE JR
PITTSBURG , TX MORRIS MCCUTCHEON
WINNSBORO , TX 5 6.75 23.48

$20,700.00 with Garmin and Sure-Life

2 MARK MCWHIRTER
ARGYLE , TX ZEB STRICKLAND
PILOT POINT , TX 5 9.97 23.43

$8,500.00 with Big Bass and Skeeter Bonus Cash

3 DANIEL RAMSEY
TRINIDAD , TX DEWAYNE THOMAS
MALAKOFF , TX 5 0 22.51

$5,000.00 with Skeeter Bonus Cash

4 BRANDEN HOLLINGSHEAD
AZLE , TX JEREMY LAMBERT
DECATUR , TX 5 0 22.41

$3000.00

5 MIKE BURNS
LUCAS , TX ROB BURNS
PLANO , TX 5 0 22.27

$2750.00

6 DON MCFARLIN
GORDENVILLE , TX JAMES FENNELL
GORDONVILLE , TX 5 0 22.20

$2250.00

7 TOMMY HULSEY JR
CORSICANA , TX JUSTIN GARNETT
FAIRFIELD , TX 5 0 21.60

$6,800.00 with James Wood Motors Bonus

8 BRIAN HALL
BRONTE , TX STEVE ELDRED JR
YANTIS , TX 5 0 20.70

$2,000.00 with Skeeter Bonus Cash

9 SCOT MCDONALD
CELINA , TX KEITH KRZEMINSKI
AUBREY , TX 5 0 20.65

$1300.00

10 KEITH CARNEY
ARLINGTON , TX KEVIN CARNEY
ARLINGTON , TX 5 0 19.95

$1200.00

11 MATT CANNON
TROY , TX JARED SIEGLER
BELTON , TX 5 0 19.67

$1100.00

12 COOPER BUSCH
MALAKOFF , TX PHILIP BUSCH
MALAKOFF , TX 5 7.70 19.47

$1090.00

13 MARK SPURGIN
MCKINNEY , TX TYLER HOLMES
RICHARDSON , TX 5 0 19.10

$1080.00

14 RUSS CHAVERS
ATOKA , OK JEFF CULBREATH
LANE , OK 5 0 18.80

$1070.00

15 CHUCK BISHOP
SANGER , TX LEVI SMITHERS
SANGER , TX 5 0 18.73

$1060.00

16 JONATHAN LANCASTER
QUITMAN , TX JOSH PRIEST
QUITMAN , TX 5 0 18.62

$1050.00

17 TONY CLIMER
MESQUITE , TX TOMMY CLIMER JR
MESQUITE , TX 5 5.74 18.61

$1040.00

18 GENE DEVORE
SHERMAN , TX TIMOTHY SMEAL
FORT WORTH , TX 5 0 18.59

$1030.00

19 KYLE SKOGLUND
DECATUR , TX KENT SKOGLUND
TIOGA , TX 5 0 18.27

$1020.00

20 GORDON WELLS
GUN BARRELL CITY , TX CHRIS RYAN
CRANDALL , TX 5 0 18.05

$1010.00

21 DAVID HOWARD
DALLAS , TX DONNIE ADNEY
BRISTOW , OK 5 0 17.71

$1000.00

22 CALEB HAND
ANNA , TX COLT WHITAKER
ECTOR , TX 5 0 17.65

$1000.00

23 IAIN MCCLELLAND
HICKORY CREEK , TX TRISTAN WHITE
CELINA , TX 5 0 17.53

$1000.00

24 GARRETT THOMAS
MALAKOFF , TX AUSTIN THOMAS
MALAKOFF , TX 5 0 17.43

$1000.00

25 STEVE TRIMBLE
ATHENS , TX TREVER DYKEMA
YANTS , TX 5 0 17.17

$1000.00

26 RANDY TURNER
GREENVILLE , TX TREY TURNER
ROYSE CITY , TX 5 0 16.93

$1000.00

27 KEITH CULLUM
CORINTH , TX LANCE CULLUM
CORINTH , TX 5 0 16.87

$1000.00

28 LANCE SHORTNACY
MABANK , TX STEVEN SIMS
CANTON , TX 5 0 16.73

$1000.00

29 RONNIE CASTLEBURY
ELGIN , OK JAKE CASTLEBURY
ELGIN , OK 5 0 16.71

$1000.00

30 JUSTIN DUBOSE
NEVADA , TX STEVE LYNAM
SOUTHLAKE , TX 5 0 16.61

$1000.00

31 ROY CHEANEY
GRAND SALINE , TX STEVEN HENRY
WILLS POINT , TX 5 0 16.46

$1000.00

32 JONATHAN GREIG
COMBINE , TX MATT ATTAWAY
FORNEY , TX 5 0 16.31

$100 Fun-N-Sun First Out Bonus

33 TYLER OCONNOR
ROCKWALL , TX LANDON OCONNOR
ROCKWALL , TX 5 5.92 16.16

34 SHANNON NICHOL
LONE OAK , TX ANTHONY ROBERTSON
EMORY , TX 5 0 16.14

35 JEFF NORRIS
DECATUR , TX RONNIE NORRIS
BOYD , TX 5 0 16.01

36 WILLIAM PALMER
MIDLOTHIAN , TX JERAMIE BYRD
MIDLOTHIAN , TX 5 0 15.57

37 JOEY RICHARDSON
GRANBURY , TX LOWELL RICHARDSON
KELLER , TX 5 0 15.50

38 TERRY PEACOCK
ROYSE CITY , TX SCOTT DEAN
TERRELL , TX 5 0 15.32

39 RYAN AUTERY
TERRELL , TX JAMIE WILLABY
CADDO MILLS , TX 5 0 15.12

40 DAN BENSON
COMBINE , TX DAVID COLE
FRUITVALE , TX 5 0 14.94

41 SCOTT BARNETT
MANSFIELD , TX SHANNON MCCALEB
JOSHUA , TX 5 0 14.93

42 NEIL RICHEY
CHICO , TX BRIAN LOPER
ALVORD , TX 5 0 14.91

43 TRENT MENEES
NORTHLAKE , TX TERRY BOLLOM
FRISCO , TX 5 0 14.89

44 DUSTY FRANK
WAXAHACHIE , TX COLLYN EASTHAM
RED OAK , TX 5 0 14.87

45 NICK BROWN
LINDALE , TX AUSTIN MILES
FORNEY , TX 5 0 14.63

46 AARON ASHMORE
IVANHOE , TX ROBERT NULL
DENISON , TX 5 0 14.53

47 JAMES HENRY
SACHSE , TX EDUARDO SALAZAR
PLANO , TX 5 0 14.42

47 BRIAN MILLIORN
GRAND SALINE , TX DEREK TYSON
SULPHUR SPRINGS , TX 5 0 14.42

49 HUNTER SMITH
SULPHUR SPRINGS , TX JADE BATES
QUITMAN , TX 5 0 14.17

50 DREW SLOAN
SCURRY , TX NOLAN JACKSON
ROYSE CITY , TX 5 0 13.98

by AnglersChannel

Bass Pro Tour Rookie Nick LeBrun Paces Group B at Fox Rent A Car Stage Three on Lake Murray Presented by Mercury

Bossier City, Louisiana Pro Boats 25-10 to Grab Early Group B Lead, Group A to Wrap Qualifying Round Tuesday

COLUMBIA, S.C. (April 3, 2023) – Bass Pro Tour 2023 newcomer Nick LeBrun of Bossier City, Louisiana, caught 13 scorable largemouth bass Monday, with his best five weighing 25 pounds, 10 ounces to take the early lead for the 40 anglers competing in Group B at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Fox Rent A Car Stage Three at Lake Murray Presented by Mercury . LeBrun will bring a 2-pound, 9-ounce advantage into Day 2 of competition Wednesday over second-place angler Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama, who weighed his best five today totaling 23-1 to end the day in second place.

The 40 anglers in Group B will now have an off day on Tuesday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group A will complete their two-day Qualifying Round of competition. Group B will conclude their Qualifying Round on Wednesday.

“What a day,” said LeBrun, a former Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Champion. “To catch 25 pounds out on Lake Murray on Day 1 for Group B – I couldn’t be more excited. The Lord just blessed me today, above and beyond what I thought I could do. I’m excited to get back out there.”

LeBrun spent the majority of his day targeting largemouth feeding on blueback herring on points and humps.

“It’s not a secret, but you have to find the right areas that are holding the quality largemouth, and not the stripers,” LeBrun said. “The striped bass are everywhere. I probably caught 100 stripers today, but I caught the big bass, too.”

LeBrun said he rotated between a ½-ounce Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap and, “a couple of different swim-style baits.”

“Every fish that I weighed in today was caught on a Hayabusa TBL 930 (NRB Treble) hook,” LeBrun said. “That treble hook has the NRB coat on it, and I’ve won a couple of major events using it. It really helps you get a few more fish to the boat, especially when they’re not aggressive.

“I threw everything on a 7-foot, 3-inch medium-heavy TFO (Tackle Fork Outfitters) Resolve rod, with 16-pound (test) Sunline FC Sniper fluorocarbon, and it’s been a lot of fun. I look forward to getting back out on Wednesday for Day 2.”

The top 20 anglers in Qualifying Group B after Day 1 on Lake Murray are:

1^st:          Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., five bass, 25-10
2^nd:         Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., five bass, 23-1
3^rd:         Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 21-2
4^th:         Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., five bass, 19-11
5^th:         Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 19-9
6^th:         Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., five bass, 19-6
7^th:         Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., five bass, 19-6
8^th:         Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, five bass, 19-2
9^th:         Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., five bass, 18-15
10^th:       Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 18-5
11^th:       Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 17-15
12^th:       Josh Butler, Hayden, Ala., five bass, 17-11
13^th:       Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 17-10
14^th:       Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala., five bass, 17-3
15^th:       Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., five bass, 17-2
16^th:       Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., five bass, 17-2
17^th:       Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, five bass, 17-0
18^th:       Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 16-15
19^th:       Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., five bass, 16-13
20^th:       Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., five bass, 16-12

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 405 scorable bass weighing 630 pounds, 10 ounces caught by the 40 pros Monday, which included 10 five-pounders, four six-pounders and one seven-pounder.

LeBrun earned Monday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a 7-pound, 1-ounce largemouth bass that bit his swimbait in Period 2. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Sunday and Tuesday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Monday and Wednesday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top 20 anglers from each group advance to Thursday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Friday’s final day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

In conjunction with the tournament, on Tuesday, April 4 from 9-10 a.m. at Lake Greenwood State Park, located at 302 State Park Road in Ninety Six, South Carolina, Bass Pro Tour anglers, under the guidance of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and members of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Fisheries Management Division (FMD) in Partnership with Berkley Labs will deploy MossBack Artificial Habitat into Lake Greenwood. The efforts come as part of the Minn Kota Habitat Restoration Program supported by Mercury Marine and MossBack to create habitat for the numerous fish that call Lake Greenwood home. Tuesday’s artificial habitat deployment is the second of three this year for the FMD Minn Kota Habitat Restoration Program at Bass Pro Tour stops across the country.

by AnglersChannel

Cloutier Tops Field for Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Dale Hollow Lake

Whittaker Claims Strike King Co-Angler Division

BYRDSTOWN, Tenn. (April 3, 2023) – Boater Gavin Cloutier of Jonesboro, Tennessee, caught a five-bass limit weighing 21 pounds, 13 ounces, Sunday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Dale Hollow Lake. The tournament, hosted by Star Point Marina, was the second event of the season for the BFL Music City Division. Cloutier earned $4,729 for his victory.

“I started out by running up the river, and my starting spot had gotten blown out from all the rain we’ve had,” said Cloutier. “So, I ran back down to fish some shallow stuff and pulled into a creek where I had found some shad in practice. When I put the trolling motor down, it was like the fish just showed up.

“In practice my biggest fish was 3½ pounds, and today my smallest fish was 3½ pounds,” Cloutier added.

Cloutier said he focused on the shad and targeted larger bass holding away from the baitfish in ambush. Cloutier said he caught most of his bass in 15 to 20 feet of water, on a 2.8-inch electric blue and chartreuse Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbait. His technique produced 14 bass, 13 of which were keepers.

Cloutier said fishing began rather slow for him then died off from 11 to 1 o’clock. He finished the last two hours of the tournament with two late fish that culled to boost his final weight.

“When I had 20 pounds, I felt like I was two fish away from winning,” Cloutier said. “When I caught the two last fish at the very end, something told me I had it.

“This is amazing,” Cloutier added. “Dale Hollow has been special to me, even in high school. I qualified for the 2018 High School National Championship on Dale Hollow and had my first top 10 BFL finish on Dale Hollow last month. And now, the win.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Gavin Cloutier, Jonesboro, Tenn., five bass, 21-13, $4,729
2nd:       Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, five bass, 21-1, $2,884
3rd:       Christian Nash, Allons, Tenn., five bass, 19-13, $2,076 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
4th:        Tony Eckler, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 19-10, $1,103
5th:        Aaron Bidarian, Lexington, Ky., five bass, 19-7, $946
6th:        Grant Adams, Campbellsville, Ky., five bass, 19-5, $867
7th:        Chris Gerrein, Villa Hills, Ky., five bass, 18-11, $788
8th:        Cole Logsdon, Brownsville, Ky., five bass, 18-1, $709
9th:        Michael Morrison, Stamping Ground, Ky., five bass, 17-12, $591
9th:        Brandon Maynard, Cookeville, Tenn., five bass, 17-12, $591

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Eric Ries of Kings Mills, Ohio, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 3 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $705.

Blake Whittaker of Lenoir City, Tennessee, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,540 Sunday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 16 pounds, 2 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Blake Whittaker, Lenoir City, Tenn., five bass, 16-2, $2,540
2nd:       Andrew Rogers, Bristol, Tenn., five bass, 15-0, $1,182
3rd:       Christopher Stites Jr., La Vergne, Tenn., five bass, 14-15, $788
4th:        Brent Clark, Bowling Green, Ky., five bass, 14-11, $688
4th:        Will Prater, McMinnville, Tenn., five bass, 14-11, $512
6th:        Craig Lonkard, Walton, Ky., five bass, 14-7, $433
7th:        Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., five bass, 14-3, $394
8th:        Tim Staples, Shelbyville, Ky., four bass, 14-0, $355
9th:        Rocky Williams, Portland, Tenn., five bass, 13-13, $515
10th:     Brandon Lake, Berea, Ky., five bass, 13-5, $426

Blake Whittaker of Lenoir City, Tennessee, and Brent Clark of Bowling Green, Kentucky, each caught a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds even to split the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $352.

After two events, Gavin Cloutier of Jonesboro, Tennessee, leads the BFL Music City Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 494 points, while Blake Whittaker of Lenoir City, Tennessee, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 493 points.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 12-14 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Alabama. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 4WP, 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

Govreau Gets “Skinny” for Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at the Arkansas River

Ledbetter Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (April 3, 2023) – Boater Brett Govreau of House Springs, Missouri, caught a five-bass limit weighing 19 pounds even Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Arkansas River. The tournament was the second event of the season for the BFL Okie Division. Govreau earned $6,046 for his victory.

“I had a terrible practice,” said Govreau. “I caught five keeper bites in 2½ days.”

Govreau knew he had to change up his approach to the river if he wanted to have any success on tournament day. He decided not to lock through, stayed within eight miles of takeoff and relied on prior experience on the river to pursue his limit.

“I had a spot I had fished back in 2015, and I could have won an Okie Division tournament then, but I lost three big ones off the bank,” Govreau said. “So, this morning I decided to start there because of my history on the spot. I ended up catching every fish off of that bank with a spinnerbait.”

Govreau said he caught only five keepers during the competition – and those by 9 a.m. - as he shared “skinny” water with 11 other tournament boats. Govreau credits his spinnerbait approach to being his competitive edge.

“They were on cover,” Govreau said. “Not just around it. They were in it. I threw it like a soft plastic – under limbs with precise casts. I would roll cast it under limbs of laydowns where the laydown met the bank. As soon as it hit the water, I turned the handle twice and they were on it. I would say every fish came out of eight to 12 inches of water. When they bit it, it would wake the surface like a topwater bite.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Brett Govreau, House Springs, Mo., five bass, 19-0, $6,046
2nd:       Dale Hightower, Mannford, Okla., five bass, 18-8, $2,523
3rd:       Shonn Goodwin, Moore, Okla., five bass, 17-0, $1,902
4th:        Chris Jones, Bokoshe, Okla., five bass, 16-14, $1,177
5th:        Nic Conger, Fort Smith, Ark., five bass, 16-0, $1,009
6th:        Cameron Dahlem, Gans, Okla., five bass, 15-15, $925
7th:        Chad Morrow, Weatherford, Okla., five bass, 15-11, $841
8th:        Brett King, Kinta, Okla., five bass, 15-9, $757
9th:        Rodney Copeland, Sallisaw, Okla., five bass, 15-8, $673
10th:     Kirk Smith, Edmond, Okla., four bass, 14-8, $789

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Caleb Black of McAlester, Oklahoma, caught a largemouth that weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $770.

Wes Ledbetter of Coweta, Oklahoma, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,523 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 14 pounds, 2 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Wes Ledbetter, Coweta, Okla., five bass, 14-2, $2,523
2nd:       Adam O’Connell, Conway, Ark., five bass, 13-15, $1,262
3rd:       Cody Holcomb, Owasso, Okla., four bass, 13-0, $715
3rd:       Cody Torkleson, Sand Springs, Okla., five bass, 13-0, $715
5th:        Porky Roberts, Morris, Okla., five bass, 11-10, $705
6th:        Jered Grooms, Ada, Okla., four bass, 10-15, $613
7th:        Cole Findley, Forsyth, Mo., four bass, 10-12, $399
7th:        Justin Newell, Muskogee, Okla., two bass, 10-12, $399
9th:        Shane McGlothlin, Anadarko, Okla., four bass, 9-6, $336
10th:     Leroy Dee Sheperd, Mountain View, Okla., three bass, 9-1, $294

Rick Blosser of Tulsa, Oklahoma, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $385, catching a largemouth that weighed in at 7 pounds, 7 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After two events, Justin Barbour of Tulsa, Oklahoma, leads the BFL Okie Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 487 points, while Wes Ledbetter of Coweta, Oklahoma, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 486 points.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

by AnglersChannel

Fourth Time’s the Charm for Kentucky’s Sinclair at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Dale Hollow Lake

Zechman Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

BYRDSTOWN, Tenn. (April 3, 2023) – Boater Lee Sinclair of Albany, Kentucky, caught a five-bass limit weighing 23 pounds, 5 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Dale Hollow Lake. The tournament, hosted by Star Point Marina & Resort, was the second event of the season for the BFL Mountain Division. Sinclair earned $6,336 for his victory.

“I started out in a pocket and caught a couple of fish, but the wind started getting bad in there, so I hit a few more pockets mid-lake,” said Sinclair. “I ended up finding some fish schooled up, and I pretty much lived on them the rest of the day.”

Sinclair said he used a Damiki Vault Blade Bait exclusively during the tournament, in 30 feet of water, to catch his bass. The blade bait produced eight keeper largemouth and three or four smallmouth short of the 21-inch keeper restriction during the tournament.

“Once I got on the fish, it was pretty steady,” Sinclair said, who had posted three second-place showings at Dale Hollow - one in 2022 and two in March 2023. “But I have seen a lot of big bags weighed in on Dale Hollow, and I didn’t know for sure what I had would win.

“After coming in second so much it feels good to finally win one,” Sinclair added.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Lee Sinclair, Albany, Ky., five bass, 23-5, $6,336
2nd:       Travis Lloyd, Jamestown, Tenn., five bass, 19-0, $2,868
3rd:       Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, five bass, 18-15, $2,300
4th:        Pat Eichmann, Nancy, Ky., five bass, 18-8, $2,085
5th:        Andrew Haunert, Blue Ash, Ohio, five bass, 18-3, $1,067
6th:        Grant Adams, Campbellsville, Ky., five bass, 17-13, $978
7th:        Michael Morrison, Stamping Ground, Ky., five bass, 17-6, $844
7th:        Paul Speer, Brookville, Ohio, five bass, 17-6, $844
9th:        Brandon Maynard, Cookeville, Tenn., five bass, 16-14, $712
10th:     Clifton King, Sweetwater, Tenn., five bass, 16-13, $623

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Pat Eichmann of Nancy, Kentucky, caught a bass that weighed 7 pounds, 3 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $840.

Sean Zechman of Mount Vernon, Kentucky, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,668 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 16 pounds, 6 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Sean Zechman, Mount Vernon, Ky., five bass, 16-6, $2,668
2nd:       Tommy Glass, Union, Ky., five bass, 14-9, $1,544
3rd:       Gary Haraguchi, Murfreesboro, Tenn., five bass, 14-0, $888
4th:        Gilbert Jolly, Livingston, Tenn., four bass, 13-13, $823
5th:        Garret Moon, Albany, Ky., five bass, 13-7, $534
6th:        Brett Maynard, Lexington, Ky., five bass, 12-12, $489
7th:        Mark Wenger, Louisville, Ky., five bass, 12-10, $445
8th:        Jeff Johnston, Nashville, Tenn., four bass, 12-7, $550
9th:        Larry Elliott, Enoree, S.C., four bass, 12-6, $356
10th:     Lucas Devere, Berea, Ky., four bass, 12-3, $295
10th:     Todd Isaacs, Carrollton, Ky., four bass, 12-3, $295

Tommy Glass of Union, Kentucky, and Brent Clark of Bowling Green, Kentucky, each caught a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 14 ounces to split the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $420.

After two events, Lee Sinclair of Albany, Kentucky, leads the BFL Mountain Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 499 points, while Gilbert Jolly of Livingston, Tennessee, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 490 points.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Norman in Huntersville, North Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

by AnglersChannel

Darren Ashley Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Hartwell

Young Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

LAVONIA, Ga. (April 3, 2023) – Boater Darren Ashley of Calhoun Falls, South Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 25 pounds, 13 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Hartwell Presented by Harrison Oil Company. The tournament, hosted by the City of Lavonia, was the third event of the season for the BFL South Carolina Presented by Mystik Lubricants Division. Ashley earned $5,500 for his victory.

Ashley’s day started off with smaller fish, but he adjusted his approach, and the location changes he made helped build up what would turn out to be a final weigh-in bag that ran away with the tournament.

“I started off with a 2½-pounder and a couple of other little ones, then told my co-angler I wanted to hit a spot I knew of before the sun got up too high on it,” said Ashley, who now has three career BFL wins and 20 top-10 finishes. “So, I hit it and caught a 5-pounder there.”

Two stops later Ashley said he caught another bass that went for 4½ pounds. He relocated to yet another spot, and added a 6-pounder on the second cast there. Ashley said at that point his two smallest fish weighed 2.70 pounds each.

“It was getting to be a little after lunch, and I told my co-angler I wanted to head to the opposite side of the lake,” Ashley said. “I don’t usually fish over there much, but I knew if I got bit, it would be a 4-pounder.”

Ashley said he ran to the new spot, fished for 10 minutes, and caught a 4-pounder that put him at an estimated weight of 24 pounds. Ashley said all of his bass fell for a white-trash-colored Reaction Innovations Skinny Dipper.

“I caught tons of fish,” Ashley said. “I jumped around and caught tons of spotted bass. I tried hard to cull that last fish, and I must have caught 15 more fish, but I couldn’t cull that last one.

“I caught about 40 fish, but I should have done something different to get rid of that last 2.70 fish,” Ashley added. “I could have had 27 or 28 pounds.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:          Darren Ashley, Calhoun Falls, S.C., five bass, 25-13, $5,550
2nd:        Greg Rikard, Leesville, S.C., five bass, 17-14, $3,885 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
3rd:        Bradford Beavers, Summerville, S.C., five bass, 17-4, $1,609
4th:         Dan Geurtsen, Asheville, N.C., five bass, 17-1, $1,127
5th:         Aaron Digh, Denver, N.C., five bass, 16-10, $966
6th:         Christopher Chavis, Guyton, Ga., five bass, 16-8, $845
6th:         Conrad Manuel, Pilot Mountain, N.C., five bass, 16-8, $845
8th:         Michael Richardson, Elgin, S.C., five bass, 16-6, $724
9th:         Lucas Murphy, West Columbia, S.C., five bass, 16-5, $644
10th:      Troy Morrow, Eastanollee, Ga., five bass, 16-2, $563

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Ashley also caught a bass that weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce to earn the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $720.

Bobby Young of Hephzibah, Georgia, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,381 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 14 pounds, 1 ounce.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:          Bobby Young, Hephzibah, Ga., five bass, 14-1, $2,381
2nd:        Rob Uzzle, Hampton, Va., five bass, 14-0, $1,191
3rd:        Arthur Harris, York, S.C., five bass, 12-13, $791
4th:         Brandon Hendrix, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 12-12, $556
5th:         Benjie Winkler, Cleveland, Ga., five bass, 12-9, $476
6th:         Adam Seagle, Lincolnton, N.C., five bass, 11-5, $417
6th:         Wesley Mullins, Guyton, Ga., five bass, 11-5, $417
8th:         Darvin Cannon, Columbia, S.C., five bass, 11-2, $337
8th:         Todd Huntley, Inman, S.C., five bass, 11-2, $337
10th:      Brian Ruppe, Irmo, S.C., five bass, 11-1, $264
10th:      Harold Addison II, Columbia, S.C., five bass, 11-1, $814

Rob Nicholson of Union Mills, North Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $355, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 14 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After three events, Greg Rikard of Leesville, South Carolina, leads the BFL South Carolina Presented by Mystik Lubricants Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 690 points, while Stephen Sprouse of Pauline, South Carolina, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 712 points.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Norman in Huntersville, North Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

by AnglersChannel

Suratt’s Kicker Smallmouth Gives Tennessee Angler Third Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Pickwick Lake

Turner Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

IUKA, Miss. (April 3, 2023) – Boater Trent Suratt of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 14 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Pickwick Lake . The tournament, hosted by Tishomingo County Tourism, was the second event of the season for the BFL Mississippi Division. Suratt earned $4,702 for his victory.

“I didn’t catch much until about 10 or 11 o’clock,” said Surratt, who notched his third BFL win on Lake Pickwick since 2019. “We had a pretty rough day with the wind, and I had run about 40 miles upriver to where I wanted to fish.

“After I found them, they were all in a 20-yard stretch,” Surrat added.

Suratt said he was targeting spawning smallmouth with a 3/16-ounce Johnston Lures shaky head with a green pumpkin Zoom Trick Worm. He said he fished around chunk rock in four to six feet of water to catch nine keepers during the tournament.

“At 1 o’clock I told myself I was going to leave because I knew it was going to be rough going back,” Suratt said. “I had just caught a smallmouth that was the big fish of the tournament (5-10), so I knew I probably needed to be going back after that one.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:          Trent Suratt, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., five bass, 20-14, $4,702
2nd:        Taurian Parks, Clinton, Miss., five bass, 20-7, $2,064
3rd:        Blake Fritts, Florence, Ala., five bass, 19-5, $1,377
4th:         Matt Ferguson, Pontotoc, Miss., five bass, 18-10, $963
5th:         Hunter Brewer, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., five bass, 17-12, $791
5th:         Mike Foster, Terre Haute, Ind., five bass, 17-12, $791
7th:         Michael Wooley, Booneville, Miss., five bass, 16-9, $688
8th:         Doug Taylor, Booneville, Miss., five bass, 16-5, $619
9th:         Thomas Bridges, Newhebron, Miss., five bass, 16-0, $550
10th:      William Camp, Blytheville, Ark., five bass, 15-8, $482

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.Suratt’s smallmouth that weighed 5 pounds, 10 ounces, earned him the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $575.

Jesse Turner of Danville, Alabama, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,059 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 17 pounds, 11 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:          Jesse Turner, Danville, Ala., five bass, 17-11, $2,059
2nd:        Jacob Littrell, Waynesboro, Tenn., five bass, 15-14, $1,030
3rd:        Jason Henson, Rome, Ga., five bass, 14-11, $1,237
4th:         Todd South, Florence, Ala., five bass, 14-10, $480
5th:         Tanner Plumlee, Wildersville, Tenn., four bass, 13-3, $412
6th:         Brian Dodd, Florence, Ala., four bass, 11-10, $378
7th:         Clint Horton, Falkner, Miss., five bass, 11-4, $343
8th:         Brice Cohea, Booneville, Miss., three bass, 11-1, $309
9th:         Ryan Lecompte, Picayune, Miss., three bass, 9-15, $257
9th:         Grey Holland, Guntown, Miss., three bass, 9-15, $257

Randy Holman of Columbus, Mississippi, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $282, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 4 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.After two events, Taurian Parks of Clinton, Mississippi, leads the BFL Mississippi Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 480 points, while Hunter Averett of Carriere, Mississippi, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 479 points.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 5-7 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Oklahoma. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

by AnglersChannel

Jessie Mizell Comes From Behind to Win MLF Toyota Series at Lake Okeechobee

CLEWISTON, Fla. (April 3, 2023) – Pro Jessie Mizell of Myakka City, Florida, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Saturday weighing 22 pounds, 7 ounces to win the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lake Okeechobee and earn the top payout of $51,500. Over the three days of competition Mizell weighed in 15 bass totaling 51-15 to earn the win by a 1-pound, 9-ounce margin over Florida’s Bobby Bakewell of Orlando, who finished second with a three-day total of 14 bass weighing 50-6, good for $20,000.

Mizell came into the final day of competition with a 13-pound deficit to Bakewell, but as weather conditions – namely the strong winds – shifted on the final day, he said he knew he still had a chance.

“I’ve been doing this my whole life,” said Mizell. “This is my home lake, but I always fell a little short. So, to finally capitalize and take it, it means a lot.”

While the strong winds made for a stingy bite, Bakewell had found a shell-bed pattern far up the river that was less weather dependent. However, once the area dried up and the fish moved out, Bakewell only brought in four fish on the final day – and that was all the margin that Mizell needed.

According to Mizell, Okeechobee has tides caused by sustained winds that can raise the water levels in an area as much as 6 inches while muddying up the water. Once that wind dies, there’s a “backflush” of clean water coming in from the marshes as the water recedes.

Armed with his knowledge of the Big O, its “tides” and a special frog, Mizell went into the Championship Round primed and ready to make a massive comeback.

“Those mud mats make a cavern underneath, and the bass will sit around the edge of that or around sparse cattails or buggy whips nearby,” said Mizell. “I’d make very specific casts to the edges of those mats with my frog and always working it like there was a fish watching it.”

Mizell said he caught the majority of his fish on a customized SPRO Bronzeye Poppin Frog 70, mixing in a Medlock Jig, and said he could have made a run at a 30-pound bag, if he hadn’t lost a pair of 7-pounders.

“Had it been different, I might care more about those two lost fish, but right now this is a dream come true,” Mizell finished.

The top 10 pros on Lake Okeechobee finished:

1^st:           Jessie Mizell, Myakka City, Fla., 15 bass, 51-15, $51,500
2^nd:          Bobby Bakewell, Orlando, Fla., 14 bass, 50-6, $20,000
3^rd:          Brandon Medlock, Lake Placid, Fla., 15 bass, 49-10, $14,250
4^th:           Mike Surman, Boca Raton, Fla., 15 bass, 45-4, $12,250
5^th:           Destin Lesesne, Blue Ridge, Ga., 15 bass, 45-2, $11,250
6^th:           Alex Terescenko, West Palm Beach, Fla., 15 bass, 45-0, $9,125
7^th:           Jared McMillan, Clewiston, Fla., 13 bass, 44-11, $8,900
8^th:           Marlon Crowder, Tampa, Fla., 15 bass, 42-12, $7,400
9^th:           Dillon McMillan, Vero Beach, Fla., 15 bass, 41-14, $5,900
10^th:        Casey Warren, Longs, S.C., 15 bass, 41-5, $4,500

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Crowder won the $500 Day 1 Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division Thursday with a bass weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces. On Friday, pro Michael Catt of Jacksonville, Florida earned the $500 Berkley Big Bass prize after bringing an 8-pound, 1-ounce bass to the scale.

McMillan took home an extra $1,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $35,000 per event in each Toyota Series tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

Sam Maxwell of Vincennes, Indiana won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 37 pounds, 4 ounces. Maxwell took home the top prize package worth $33,500, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on Lake Okeechobee finished:

1^st:           Sam Maxwell, Vincennes, Ind., 15 bass, 37-4, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard
2^nd:          Tyler Carey, Lake Worth, Fla., 14 bass, 37-0, $6,125
3^rd:          Skip Reed, Coral Springs, Fla., 12 bass, 34-12, $4,900
4^th:           William Lewis, Jacksonville, Fla., 11 bass, 32-3, $4,150
5^th:           Zack Barrera, Morriston, Fla., 15 bass, 30-2, $3,450
6^th:           Kurt Chelminiak, Delafield, Wis., 12 bass, 29-8, $2,950
7^th:           Stephen Draghi, Sparrowbush, N.Y., 14 bass, 29-7, $2,450
8^th:           Jeff Cox, Saline, Mich., 15 bass, 28-6, $1,975
9^th:           Phil Witmer, Huddleston, Va., 14 bass, 27-15, $1,590
10^th:        David DiMauro, Longwood, Fla., 14 bass, 27-11, $1,350

Bill Fox of Lake Worth, Florida was the Berkley Big Bass $150 award winner in the Strike King co-angler division, Thursday, with a 7-pound, 15-ounce bass, while the Day 2 $150 award went to JP Sims of Port St. Lucie, Florida, with a whopping 9-pound, 10-ounce fish.

With two of three regular-season events in the Toyota Series Southern Division now complete, Mizell leads the Southern Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 510 points, while Alan Hults of Gautier, Mississippi leads the Strike King Co-angler Division AOY race with 509 points.

The Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lake Okeechobee, hosted by the Hendry County Tourism Development Council was the second of three regular-season events for the Toyota Series Southern Division. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will be the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lake Dardanelle, April 4-6, in Russellville, Arkansas. For a complete schedule of events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2023 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST V. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2023 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 2-4 on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, and is hosted by ExploreBranson.com.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Toyota Series include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Black Rifle Coffee Company, E3, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Gill, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

SITKA’S New Mountain Evo Jacket is Made for the Most Extreme Treks

The technical hybrid WINDSTOPPER® jacket offers wind protection and breathability

BOZEMAN, Mont. (April 3, 2023) – SITKA Gear, the leading manufacturer of performance hunting apparel, has released the revolutionary Mountain Evo Jacket. The jacket is designed with high-exertion backcountry pursuits with diverse climates and perspiration in mind and includes strategically placed windproof material where active hunters and outdoorsmen need it most. The innovative stretch panels on the body-mapped jacket allow for enhanced breathability where needed most—under the arms and on the back.

The Mountain Evo Jacket comes in black as well as OPTIFADE Open Country and Subalpine and is perfect for vigorous outdoor activities when a pack is needed from hunting and mountain biking to backpacking and backcountry skiing. The newest addition to SITKA’s line of technical apparel makes any outdoor adventure more comfortable with room to move and room to breathe.

“This versatile Gore WINDSTOPPER^® jacket was built for year-round active pursuits,” said John Barklow, Senior Product Manager at SITKA Gear. “The WINDSTOPPER panels in the Mountain Evo Jacket are the ideal solution to protect from convective cooling and light precipitation, while the breathable 4-way stretch panels limit the need for pit zips and provide unrestricted movement, keeping outdoor goers dry and comfortable during the pursuit. The jacket has been ultrasonically welded and taped seams provide no bulk, save weight and seal out all wind.”

Key Features:

WINDSTOPPER by Gore-Tex Labs product technology offers 100 percent wind protection while remaining light and breathable.
Body-mapped 4-way stretch panels maximize breathability and mobility in key areas.
Ultrasonic welded seams minimize weight and bulk.
Contoured hood offers wind protection and concealment without inhibiting peripheral vision.
Zippered hand and chest pockets offer convenient and secure storage.
13.6 oz weight

“I've been using the Mountain EVO Jacket over my base layer while shed hunting this spring. It breathes extremely well while exerting energy without the back sweat from your pack,” said SITKA Ambassador, Beau Martonik. “When you stop or slow down, it cuts the wind that would normally make you chilled. I'm excited to use this during turkey season while chasing gobbles throughout the Appalachian Mountains.”

MSRP: $329.00
Available: April 3rd, 2023

by AnglersChannel

JVD Leads Day 1 at MLF Bass Pro Tour Fox Rent A Car Stage Three on Lake Murray Presented by Mercury

Kalamazoo, Michigan’s Jonathon VanDam Catches 21-14 To Take Early Lead for Group A

COLUMBIA, S.C. (April 2, 2023) – Favorable conditions greeted the 40 anglers competing in Group A Sunday at Lake Murray on Day 1 at the Fox Rent A Car Stage Three at Lake Murray Presented by Mercury. As predicted, a variety of tactics and baits were in play as all of the top five anglers on caught the majority of their bass in different ways, and nine of the top-10 finishers of the day had at least one 4-pound kicker bass in their limit.

After a dominant first period, Favorite Fishing pro Jonathon VanDam of Kalamazoo, Michigan, grabbed the early lead with a lipless crankbait, and then held it throughout the day. VanDam boated 15 scorable largemouth, with his best five weighing 21 pounds, 14 ounces – good for a 1-pound, 10-ounce advantage over second-place angler Marty Robinson of Lyman, South Carolina. Robinson had struggled early, ending the second period in 39^th place before going on a third-period rally to vault into second place with 20-4.

The six-day event, hosted by Capital City/Lake Murray Country, showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

Weights are stacked up in the remainder of the top five, as just 1-pound separates second place from fifth. Second-year pro Cole Floyd of Leesburg, Ohio, ended the day in third place with five bass totaling 20-3, while rookie Mitch Crane, a practicing dentist from Columbus, Mississippi, ended the day in fourth with five bass weighing 19-4. Toro pro Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas , continued his red-hot pace with a solid start to the round, catching five bass weighing 19-4 to finish the day in fifth place.

The 40 anglers in Group A will now have an off day from competition on Monday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group B will begin their first day of competition. Group A will resume competition on Tuesday.

“Well, we’re off to a good start,” VanDam said. “We did what we needed to do today, and we really rode that first period. I caught a lot of fish, today. That first spot that I stopped on, they were really firing.”

VanDam caught 21 pounds in Period 1, upgrading slightly throughout the day. He did most of his damage with a lipless crankbait – a sexy shad-colored Strike King Red Eye Shad, according to MLFNOW! analyst Marty Stone.

“I had a chance to have a really big bag – I lost a great big one,” VanDam continued. “But I did catch a 6½ pounder there, so we’re sitting right where we want to be.”

After his first period flurry, VanDam spent much of the remainder of his day scouting new water and practicing for the remainder of the week.

“We did a lot of practicing today, and I was able to run around and do some looking,” VanDam went on to say. “I found three or four other places that have a lot of fish on them, so I’m looking forward to the rest of the week and hopefully we can keep this up.”

The top 20 pros in Group A after Day 1 on Lake Murray are:

1^st:          Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 21-14
2^nd:         Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., five bass, 20-4
3^rd:         Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, five bass, 20-3
4^th:         Mitch Crane, Columbus, Miss., five bass, 19-13
5^th:         Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, five bass, 19-4
6^th:         Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., five bass, 18-7
7^th:         Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., five bass, 18-5
8^th:         Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., five bass, 18-2
9^th:         Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 18-0
10^th:       Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, five bass, 17-15
11^th:       Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., five bass, 17-13
12^th:       Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., five bass, 17-13
13^th:       Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., five bass, 17-12
14^th:       David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., five bass, 17-4
15^th:       Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., five bass, 17-2
16^th:       Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, five bass, 16-14
17^th:       Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., five bass, 16-3
18^th:       Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla., five bass, 16-2
19^th:       Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., five bass, 15-15
20^th:       Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 15-13

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Lyman, South Carolina’s Marty Robinson earned the first $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award of the event with a 6-pound, 12-ounce largemouth bass that bit his wacky-rigged worm in Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

by AnglersChannel

Chat with Bryan Thrift at the 2023 Bassmaster Classic

https://youtu.be/jUk4dV6huhw

John and Vance catch up with MLF REDCREST winner Bryan Thrift

by AnglersChannel

Montevallo’s Harris and Head claim narrow win in Bassmaster College Series event on Cherokee Lake

Peyton Harris and Dalton Head from the University of Montevallo have won the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Cherokee Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops with 17 pounds, 4 ounces.

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

March 31, 2023

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Tenn. — Playing a smart game, Peyton Harris and Dalton Head of the University of Montevallo enjoyed a fast start that led to a winning total of 17 pounds, 4 ounces at the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Cherokee Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops.

In a tight race where 1-12 separated first place from 10th, Harris and Head edged Missouri State University’s Aric Szambelan and Tyler Flacke by 3 ounces. The top 27 teams advanced to the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.

“Putting in the work paid off,” Harris said. “We were out there from daylight until dark every day of practice. We knew that putting in that extra work would pay off sooner or later.

“We made every fish count, never gave up and fished until the last minute.”

The sophomore winners committed their day to one stretch of mid-lake bank about 10 miles from takeoff where they targeted long points with big boulders.

“It was tough in practice. I could generate some bites and some of them were 3-pounders, but I only had one or two 4-pound bites,” Head explained. “We looked at the lake and decided that the area we fished had the most (habitat) that matched the pattern I was running.

“It was those isolated boulders and places where bait gets early in the morning, so those smallmouth were feeding up. It just made a lot of sense to be in that area. It seemed like that’s where the fish were congregated.”

Dialing in the contour lines where they found the most boulders, Harris and Head were able to pinpoint their casts and secure a quick limit.

“This morning, the first 20 minutes were unreal,” Head stated. “We had a little over 14 pounds by 9. We were getting two or three bites off every little rock.

“We noticed there were alewives in the area that stayed because of the cloudy and rainy conditions. They didn’t go out deep. It rained off and on until about 10, but it was cloudy all day.”

Harris and Head caught their winning bass on a Berkley Stunna Jerkbait 112+ and a Megabass Vision OneTen.

While others struggled with proximity, the winners fared best by making long casts to stay off their bass. This strategy allowed them to tempt the wary smallmouth.

Szambelan and Flacke finished second with 17-1. Also fishing the mid-lake region, they hunkered down in a large creek and targeted rock piles in 15 to 20 feet.

“They were all kinda staging up,” Szambelan said. “When I could find them on Garmin LiveScope, they’d flurry. Our first fish was probably 9 o’clockand we had our limit by 10:30.

“After that, it got tough and it was hard to get bit. We made our last cull at 3:30.”

Szambelan fished a Damiki rig comprising a 1/4-ounce Queen Tackle Tungsten Live Sonar Head and a Z-man Scented Jerk ShadZ. Also called “moping” by northern anglers, like Canadian Jeff Gustafson who won last week’s Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyotawith the technique, Damiki rigging relies on a perfectly vertical presentation to fish that have been spotted on live sonar.

“It was just getting over them and they would fire up right away,” Szambelan said.

Flacke caught key fish on a drop shot with a 2.8 Keitech FAT Swing Impact swimbait. He also fished this bait on a 1/4-ounce ball-head jig.

Carty Shoen and Bennett Slinkard of Auburn University took third place with 16-11. Targeting classic prespawn staging areas, they leveraged the day’s weather to maximize their bites.

“We targeted sheer rock off channel swings and looked for transition points where it goes from really steep to shallow, or from sedimentary rock to boulders,” Shoen said. “The fish were sitting on those transitions and we caught them mostly in 5 feet.

“We had our limit by 8:30 and we had our weight by 10:30. The rain and that front was the whole ticket for us. That opened up a window for a reaction bite and we capitalized on it to get it done.”

Shoen and Slinkard caught their fish on squarebill crankbaits. Most productive was the Strike King 1.5.

Jonathan Fraley and Jonathan Fitch of Kentucky Christian University won the Big Bass award with their 6-8.

Originally scheduled as a two-day event, the tournament was shortened to one day when B.A.S.S. officials canceled Saturday’s round due to predicted high winds that are expected to make conditions unsafe for boating and related tournament activities.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a wind advisory through Saturday evening calling for southwest winds at 25 to 40 mph with gusts up to 70 mph. Damage and widespread power outages are expected.

“The safety of our competitors is always our top priority,” said Glenn Cale, B.A.S.S. tournament manager of the College Series. “We took a close look at the weather forecast and determined that the conditions would be unsafe.”

2023 Strike King College Series at Cherokee Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops 3/31-4/1
Cherokee Lake, Jefferson County TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1Angler Club/School Pts

1. Peyton Harris - Dalton Head University of Montevallo 250
Day 1: 5 17-04 Total: 5 17-04
2. Aric Szambelan - Tyler Flacke Missouri State University 249
Day 1: 5 17-01 Total: 5 17-01
3. Carty Shoen - Bennett Slinkard Auburn (7982) 248
Day 1: 5 16-11 Total: 5 16-11
4. Charlie Wright - Logan Plueger University of Montevallo 247
Day 1: 5 16-05 Total: 5 16-05
5. Myles Steward - Trey Zagrzebski UW Stevens Point 246
Day 1: 5 16-02 Total: 5 16-02
6. Hunter Fillmore - Dylan Fogarty Bethel University 245
Day 1: 5 16-01 Total: 5 16-01
7. Braden Cox - Joel Berelsman Ohio State 244
Day 1: 5 15-12 Total: 5 15-12
8. Max Heaton - Brooks Anderson Emmanuel College 243
Day 1: 5 15-10 Total: 5 15-10
9. Evan Fields - Drew Gill Campbellsville University 242
Day 1: 5 15-09 Total: 5 15-09
10. Tyler Cory - Scott Sledge University of Montevallo 241
Day 1: 5 15-08 Total: 5 15-08
10. Trevor Easter - Clayton Easter Tarleton State University 241
Day 1: 5 15-08 Total: 5 15-08
10. Sam Harvey - Jordan Brewer Auburn University 241
Day 1: 5 15-08 Total: 5 15-08
13. TJ Edwards Jr - Blue Mountain Univeristy (8430) 238
Day 1: 5 15-04 Total: 5 15-04
14. Chris Baker - Elijah Kelley Kentucky Christian University 237
Day 1: 5 15-03 Total: 5 15-03
15. Drew Fromm - Jonah Potts Wabash Valley College 236
Day 1: 5 15-01 Total: 5 15-01
16. Easton Fothergill - Nick Dumke University of Montevallo 235
Day 1: 5 15-00 Total: 5 15-00
17. Jamison Bagwell - Andrew Blanton Lander University 234
Day 1: 5 14-15 Total: 5 14-15
18. Cade Hayford - Merrick Diaz Campbellsville University 233
Day 1: 5 14-14 Total: 5 14-14
19. Nathan MacDonald - Grant Williams Mississippi State University 232
Day 1: 5 14-13 Total: 5 14-13
20. Connor Jacob - Sam Smith Auburn University 231
Day 1: 5 14-10 Total: 5 14-10
21. Hayden Gaddis - Ben Cully Carson-Newman University 230
Day 1: 5 14-09 Total: 5 14-09
21. Hayden Scott - Gerald Brumbaugh Jr. Adrian College 230
Day 1: 5 14-09 Total: 5 14-09
23. Jonathan Hanna - Tallis Morrison Erskine College 228
Day 1: 5 14-07 Total: 5 14-07
23. Jackson Paden - Joey Bissing University of Tennessee 228
Day 1: 5 14-07 Total: 5 14-07
25. Austin Parr - Hunter White Erskine College 226
Day 1: 5 14-06 Total: 5 14-06
25. Brody Robison - Jack Alexander University of Montevallo 226
Day 1: 5 14-06 Total: 5 14-06
27. Brenton Godwin - Hunter Odom University of Montevallo 224
Day 1: 5 14-04 Total: 5 14-04
27. Owen Januszewski - Matt Mosby Adrian College 224
Day 1: 5 14-04 Total: 5 14-04
29. Nick Redlin - Benjamin Redlin University of Wisonsin-Plattevil 222
Day 1: 5 14-03 Total: 5 14-03
29. Drake Sturgill - Beau Browning University of Montevallo 222
Day 1: 5 14-03 Total: 5 14-03
31. Chase Carey - Dylan Akins Emmanuel College 220
Day 1: 5 14-00 Total: 5 14-00
31. Jake Peck - Garrett Warren Auburn University 220
Day 1: 5 14-00 Total: 5 14-00
33. Tyler Dubois - Bethel University 218
Day 1: 5 13-15 Total: 5 13-15
34. Nathan Reynolds - Banks Shaw University of North Alabama 217
Day 1: 5 13-13 Total: 5 13-13
35. David Ackerman V - Mackenzie Sanders Erskine College 216
Day 1: 5 13-12 Total: 5 13-12
35. Brantley Anders - Cameron Dials Kentucky Christian University 216
Day 1: 5 13-12 Total: 5 13-12
35. Morgan Miracle - Jake Thornbury Campbellsville University 216
Day 1: 5 13-12 Total: 5 13-12
38. Tripp Bowman - Matthew Nesbit Louisiana State University-Shrev 213
Day 1: 5 13-10 Total: 5 13-10
38. Aaron Hawkins - Broxson Daigle Texas A&M University 213
Day 1: 5 13-10 Total: 5 13-10
38. Gus McLarry - Jared West Texas A and M Commerce 213
Day 1: 5 13-10 Total: 5 13-10
41. Tucker Cory - Tristan Beck Drury University (8951) 210
Day 1: 5 13-07 Total: 5 13-07
41. Lane Gerbers - Peter Radulski Jr Clemson University 210
Day 1: 5 13-07 Total: 5 13-07
41. Judd Morgan - Noah Varner University of Tennessee 210
Day 1: 5 13-07 Total: 5 13-07
41. Evan Sutton - Grant Olsen McKendree University 210
Day 1: 5 13-07 Total: 5 13-07
41. Nate Triplett - Cy Lambert University of North Alabama 210
Day 1: 5 13-07 Total: 5 13-07
46. Carson Palmer - Dylan May Carson-Newman University 205
Day 1: 5 13-05 Total: 5 13-05
47. Lane Bailey - Justin Eggers Catawba Valley Community College 204
Day 1: 5 13-04 Total: 5 13-04
47. Jacob Butts - Mark Kershaw-Klara USC Union 204
Day 1: 5 13-04 Total: 5 13-04
49. Brayden Batchelor - Alex Belin Georgia Southern University 202
Day 1: 5 13-03 Total: 5 13-03
49. Colton Hill - Tomas Matual McKendree University 202
Day 1: 5 13-03 Total: 5 13-03
49. Bryant Martin - Luke Batts Louisiana State University Shrev 202
Day 1: 5 13-03 Total: 5 13-03
49. Hunter McClaskey - Landon Lawson King University 202
Day 1: 5 13-03 Total: 5 13-03
53. Jonathan Fraley - Jonathan Fitch Kentucky Christian University 198
Day 1: 5 13-01 Total: 5 13-01
53. Kayden Tanner - Tarleton State University 198
Day 1: 5 13-01 Total: 5 13-01
55. Ryan Park - Sam Niemeyer Murray State University 196
Day 1: 5 12-15 Total: 5 12-15
55. Max Pierlott - Mike Pierlott UNC Charlotte 196
Day 1: 5 12-15 Total: 5 12-15
57. Conner Giles - Christian Wright Bryan College 194
Day 1: 5 12-14 Total: 5 12-14
57. Cade Lipham - Caleb Coleman Drury University 194
Day 1: 5 12-14 Total: 5 12-14
59. Michael Zawicki - Carson Tucker UW Whitewater 192
Day 1: 5 12-13 Total: 5 12-13
60. Wyatt Montle - Noah Lieberman Missouri State University 191
Day 1: 5 12-10 Total: 5 12-10
61. Parker Lambert - Aaron Shumaker Lander University 190
Day 1: 5 12-09 Total: 5 12-09
61. Levi Mullins - Matthew Cummings Bethel University 190
Day 1: 5 12-09 Total: 5 12-09
63. Kyle Workman - Evan Barker Campbellsville University 188
Day 1: 5 12-08 Total: 5 12-08
64. Gavin Clevenger - Szymon Piton Carson-Newman University 187
Day 1: 5 12-07 Total: 5 12-07
64. Landon Howe - John Sells Georgia Southern University 187
Day 1: 5 12-07 Total: 5 12-07
64. Carter Nutt - Dylan Nutt University of North Alabama 187
Day 1: 5 12-07 Total: 5 12-07
67. Sawyer Mccullough - Hunter Bettner Troy University 184
Day 1: 5 12-06 Total: 5 12-06
68. Cal Culpepper - Ryan Thomas University of Montevallo 183
Day 1: 5 12-05 Total: 5 12-05
68. Derek Rodriguez Jr. - Mathias Dahline Adrian College 183
Day 1: 5 12-05 Total: 5 12-05
70. Lafe Messer - Matt Messer Kentucky Christian University 181
Day 1: 4 12-05 Total: 4 12-05
71. Jacob Autry - Will Niebrugge Murray State University 180
Day 1: 5 12-04 Total: 5 12-04
71. Blair Cox - Zach Adamec Missouri State University 180
Day 1: 5 12-04 Total: 5 12-04
71. Blake Milligan - Matthew Parrish Auburn University 180
Day 1: 5 12-04 Total: 5 12-04
71. Christian Turner - John Gray Coastal Carolina University 180
Day 1: 5 12-04 Total: 5 12-04
75. Sid Wallace - Reid Farris Texas A&M University 176
Day 1: 5 12-03 Total: 5 12-03
76. Colton White - Brooks Parker Montevallo (8296) 175
Day 1: 5 12-02 Total: 5 12-02
77. Carson Calvert - Austin Thomas University of North Alabama 174
Day 1: 4 12-02 Total: 4 12-02
78. Rudy Worley - Fisher Overton Blue Mountain College 173
Day 1: 5 12-00 Total: 5 12-00
79. Grant Dohle - Alex Wood Missouri State University 172
Day 1: 5 12-00 Total: 5 12-00
80. Jeremy Dellinger - Garrett Smith Lander University 171
Day 1: 5 11-15 Total: 5 11-15
80. Jaxson Freeman - Maxwell Trotter McKendree University 171
Day 1: 5 11-15 Total: 5 11-15
80. Cole Mitchell - Hayden Mare High Point University 171
Day 1: 5 11-15 Total: 5 11-15
80. Kaden Proffitt - Cason Ragsdale East Texas Baptist University 171
Day 1: 5 11-15 Total: 5 11-15
84. Zach McNary - Mason Phillpotts Grand Valley State University 167
Day 1: 5 11-14 Total: 5 11-14
84. Kollin Smith - Taylor Mcmullen Emmanuel College 167
Day 1: 5 11-14 Total: 5 11-14
86. Clay Oberman - Ryan Lachniet Campbellsville University 165
Day 1: 5 11-13 Total: 5 11-13
87. Tommy Dunaway - Seth Jones Florida Gateway College 164
Day 1: 5 11-12 Total: 5 11-12
87. Brady Duncan - Stevie Mills Carson-Newman University 164
Day 1: 5 11-12 Total: 5 11-12
89. Cole Holloway - Brandon Martin Emmanuel College 162
Day 1: 5 11-10 Total: 5 11-10
89. Hayden Marbut - Tucker Smith Auburn University 162
Day 1: 5 11-10 Total: 5 11-10
89. Andrew Ready - Harley Collins Webber International University 162
Day 1: 5 11-10 Total: 5 11-10
92. Matthew Benson - Spencer Bargfrede Emmanuel College 159
Day 1: 5 11-09 Total: 5 11-09
92. Andrew Leonard - Gannon Stork Wabash Valley College 159
Day 1: 5 11-09 Total: 5 11-09
94. Brock Bila - Dylan Chambers Flint Hills Bass Assoc 157
Day 1: 5 11-07 Total: 5 11-07
94. Zach Bushey - Brandon Traw Tarleton State University 157
Day 1: 5 11-07 Total: 5 11-07
96. Collin Barnett - Sander Ludeman Minnesota State University 155
Day 1: 5 11-05 Total: 5 11-05
96. Hunter Keller - Grant Harris Catawba Valley Community College 155
Day 1: 5 11-05 Total: 5 11-05
96. James Willoughby - Jacob Pfundt University of Montevallo 155
Day 1: 5 11-05 Total: 5 11-05
99. Cody Clifton - Robert Hunt Missouri State University 152
Day 1: 5 11-03 Total: 5 11-03
99. Will Travis - Victor Alford Bryan College 152
Day 1: 5 11-03 Total: 5 11-03
101. Chase Hubble - Brent May University of Florida 150
Day 1: 5 11-02 Total: 5 11-02
102. Kaden Buchmann - Jared Hubbard Lander University 149
Day 1: 5 11-01 Total: 5 11-01
102. Cole Thompson - Benson Dowler University of North Alabama 149
Day 1: 5 11-01 Total: 5 11-01
104. Wil Rigdon - Will Oberman Campbellsville University 147
Day 1: 5 11-00 Total: 5 11-00
105. Caleb Barrow - Corey Yaden Brewton-Parker College 146
Day 1: 5 10-15 Total: 5 10-15
106. Josh Finnerty - Cody Gaynes Georgia College 145
Day 1: 4 10-13 Total: 4 10-13
107. Cody Domingos - Luka Strepacki University of Tennessee 144
Day 1: 5 10-12 Total: 5 10-12
108. Blake Bullock - John Mark Berry Blue Mountain College 143
Day 1: 5 10-08 Total: 5 10-08
109. Andrew Vereen - Connor Cartmell Coastal Carolina University 142
Day 1: 4 10-08 Total: 4 10-08
110. Jake Monti - Samuel Dunson UNC Charlotte 141
Day 1: 4 10-07 Total: 4 10-07
110. Kyle Zainitzer - Avery Whitwell University of North Alabama 141
Day 1: 4 10-07 Total: 4 10-07
112. Carter Koza - Lee Koza Carson-Newman University 139
Day 1: 5 10-05 Total: 5 10-05
112. Kaden Liles - Kolby Clark University of North Alabama 139
Day 1: 5 10-05 Total: 5 10-05
114. Fischer Barber - Tucker Jordan Troy University 137
Day 1: 5 10-04 Total: 5 10-04
115. Anthony Ethridge - Gage Starks Murray State University 136
Day 1: 5 10-04 Total: 5 10-04
116. Brendin Simich - Benjamin Travis Auburn University 135
Day 1: 5 10-03 Total: 5 10-03
117. Drake Hemby - Ewing Minor Carson-Newman University 134
Day 1: 5 10-01 Total: 5 10-01
118. Seth Elkins - Dale Hansard Jacksonville State University 133
Day 1: 5 09-11 Total: 5 09-11
119. Lane Clark - Adam Seagle Erskine College 132
Day 1: 5 09-10 Total: 5 09-10
120. Reece Keeney - Colby Kerr Kentucky Christian University 131
Day 1: 4 09-10 Total: 4 09-10
121. Gunner Whitaker - Mitch Johnson Kentucky Christian University 130
Day 1: 3 09-07 Total: 3 09-07
122. Jeremy Monda - Florida Gateway College 129
Day 1: 4 09-06 Total: 4 09-06
122. Nick Staub - Lake Norsworthy Blue Mountain College 129
Day 1: 4 09-06 Total: 4 09-06
122. Brody Wilson - Chan Barber II NC State University 129
Day 1: 4 09-06 Total: 4 09-06
125. Kyle Dillon - Jesse Mull Western Carolina University 126
Day 1: 4 09-04 Total: 4 09-04
126. Corbin Templon - Murray State University 125
Day 1: 4 09-01 Total: 4 09-01
127. Matthew Zdrazil - Easton Lindus Emmanuel College 124
Day 1: 5 08-15 Total: 5 08-15
128. Colten Drawdy - Hunter Shelton Bethel University 123
Day 1: 4 08-15 Total: 4 08-15
129. Michael Mcnulty - Austin McCartney West Virginia University (7688) 122
Day 1: 3 08-15 Total: 3 08-15
130. Ben Brockwell - Justice Gayhart Kentucky Christian University 121
Day 1: 4 08-13 Total: 4 08-13
130. Harmon Marien - Jack Stephens McKendree University 121
Day 1: 4 08-13 Total: 4 08-13
132. Jacob Panichi - William Serrano St. Cloud State University 119
Day 1: 3 08-13 Total: 3 08-13
133. Clayton Ott - Isaac Bradshaw Western Carolina Universty 118
Day 1: 4 08-12 Total: 4 08-12
133. Seth Slanker - Jackson Swisher Florida Gateway College 118
Day 1: 4 08-12 Total: 4 08-12
135. Carson Kamien - Tyson Verkaik University of Florida 116
Day 1: 4 08-11 Total: 4 08-11
136. Kreed Averhoff - Jordan Kalsbeek Tarleton State University 115
Day 1: 3 08-10 Total: 3 08-10
137. Ryan Michek - Dustin Michek University of Wisconsin-Plattevi 114
Day 1: 4 08-09 Total: 4 08-09
138. Tyler Finley - Lane Lassiter University of North Alabama 113
Day 1: 3 08-09 Total: 3 08-09
139. Matt Brault - Dylan Mclaughlin Erskine College 112
Day 1: 3 08-07 Total: 3 08-07
140. Tanner Brockman - Aidan Kolb Murray State University 111
Day 1: 4 08-06 Total: 4 08-06
140. Hunter Waldrop - Reese Melven University of South Carolina 111
Day 1: 4 08-06 Total: 4 08-06
142. Solomon Glenn - Briggs Alavezos University of Montevallo 109
Day 1: 4 08-05 Total: 4 08-05
143. Archer Smith - Hunter Holguin Murray State University 108
Day 1: 3 08-03 Total: 3 08-03
144. Brycen Williamson - Trevor Gorman Erskine College 107
Day 1: 4 07-14 Total: 4 07-14
145. Jordan Pennington - Andrew Oswalt University of Montevallo 106
Day 1: 3 07-14 Total: 3 07-14
145. Zach Pocos - Trey Budach McKendree University 106
Day 1: 3 07-14 Total: 3 07-14
147. Carter Ball - Austin Tapley Adrian College 104
Day 1: 4 07-13 Total: 4 07-13
147. Elijah Hughey - Jonathan Williams Mississippi State University 104
Day 1: 4 07-13 Total: 4 07-13
149. Elijah Walker - Jess Taylor II Auburn University 102
Day 1: 4 07-12 Total: 4 07-12
150. Drew Pitts - Carson-Newman University 101
Day 1: 3 07-11 Total: 3 07-11
151. Nick Mallmann Conto - Nick Harenda University of Wisconsin-Whitewat 100
Day 1: 3 07-10 Total: 3 07-10
152. Storm Cline - Robbie Linginfelter Carson-Newman University 99
Day 1: 3 07-09 Total: 3 07-09
153. Lee Lambrecht - Drury University 98
Day 1: 3 07-08 Total: 3 07-08
154. Teddy Peznola - Garrett Lewis University of Tennessee 97
Day 1: 3 07-06 Total: 3 07-06
155. Brayden Nichols - William Tew Louisiana State University Shrev 96
Day 1: 4 07-05 Total: 4 07-05
156. Connor Lacy - Levi Kohl Murray State University 95
Day 1: 4 07-04 Total: 4 07-04
156. Landon Surrett - Hampton Shull Lander University 95
Day 1: 4 07-04 Total: 4 07-04
158. Matthew Dettling - Austin Wadzinski University of Tennessee 93
Day 1: 4 07-03 Total: 4 07-03
159. Tyler Altizer - Dylan Thomson King University 92
Day 1: 3 07-02 Total: 3 07-02
160. Trey Schroeder - Lane Stephens McKendree University 91
Day 1: 3 07-01 Total: 3 07-01
161. Evan Thomas - Joey Williams Liberty University 90
Day 1: 4 06-14 Total: 4 06-14
162. Merritt Arnold - Chance Schwartz University of Montevallo 89
Day 1: 3 06-12 Total: 3 06-12
163. JL Simmons - Tanner Herndon Bryan College 88
Day 1: 3 06-11 Total: 3 06-11
164. Jacob Silver - Noah Pressler Western Carolina University 87
Day 1: 3 06-10 Total: 3 06-10
165. Brennan Berglund - Blair Erickson University of Montevallo 86
Day 1: 3 06-09 Total: 3 06-09
166. Carson Aarup - Matt Peine UNC Charlotte 85
Day 1: 4 06-08 Total: 4 06-08
167. Gabe Brown - Evan Eckstrom University of South Carolina 84
Day 1: 3 06-08 Total: 3 06-08
168. Owen Zugel - Cole Edwards University of Montevallo (8246) 83
Day 1: 2 06-08 Total: 2 06-08
169. Hayden Fuhr - John Such Lander University 82
Day 1: 3 06-07 Total: 3 06-07
169. Mason Gross - Braden Thompson Wabash Valley College 82
Day 1: 3 06-07 Total: 3 06-07
171. Clayton Greer - Aiden Larson Georgia College 80
Day 1: 3 06-06 Total: 3 06-06
171. Brady Metzger - Mason Bohland Purdue University 80
Day 1: 3 06-06 Total: 3 06-06
173. Logan Hopper - Austin Owen Clemson University 78
Day 1: 2 06-06 Total: 2 06-06
174. Austin Smith - Jaden Purkey Carson-Newman University 77
Day 1: 3 06-05 Total: 3 06-05
175. Jackson Smith - Sawyer Williams Bethel University 76
Day 1: 2 06-05 Total: 2 06-05
176. Koltyn Harbin - Chase Milholen Bethel University 75
Day 1: 2 06-04 Total: 2 06-04
177. Zane Odomirok - Brandon Sales Roane State Community College 74
Day 1: 3 06-03 Total: 3 06-03
178. Sam Hanggi - Sam Hoesley Auburn University 73
Day 1: 2 06-03 Total: 2 06-03
179. Lane King - Coby Thompson Drury University 72
Day 1: 3 06-00 Total: 3 06-00
180. Caleb Bridges - Matthew Dopp Bryan College 71
Day 1: 3 05-14 Total: 3 05-14
181. Jacob - Maddy Phipps King University 70
Day 1: 2 05-11 Total: 2 05-11
182. Justin Botts - Tim Herrmann Bryan College 69
Day 1: 3 05-10 Total: 3 05-10
183. Jake Brown - Preston Kolisek University of North Alabama 68
Day 1: 3 05-09 Total: 3 05-09
184. Jacob Lauterbach - Jack Hammond High Point University 67
Day 1: 2 05-08 Total: 2 05-08
185. Tyler Campbell - Parker Guy Emmanuel College 66
Day 1: 2 05-07 Total: 2 05-07
185. Logan East - Rob Lindsey IV Bryan College 66
Day 1: 2 05-07 Total: 2 05-07
187. Cy Casey - Tanner Hadden Emmanuel College 64
Day 1: 2 05-05 Total: 2 05-05
188. Bryson O'steen - Ty Jackson Florida Gateway College 63
Day 1: 2 05-04 Total: 2 05-04
189. Camden Schwieterman - Jack Knott Auburn University 62
Day 1: 3 05-03 Total: 3 05-03
190. Devon Rathbun - Harper Burkeen McKendree University 61
Day 1: 2 05-00 Total: 2 05-00
191. Troy Harris - Trice Cannon Georgia College 60
Day 1: 2 04-15 Total: 2 04-15
192. Luke Iles - Northwestern State University 59
Day 1: 2 04-13 Total: 2 04-13
193. Logan Barrett - Luke Glasgow Mississippi State University 58
Day 1: 2 04-12 Total: 2 04-12
193. Kaleb Brown - Lander University 58
Day 1: 2 04-12 Total: 2 04-12
193. Will Harris - Caz Anderson Carson-Newman University 58
Day 1: 2 04-12 Total: 2 04-12
193. Garrett Weiss - Colin Wolinski Missouri State University 58
Day 1: 2 04-12 Total: 2 04-12
197. Seth Jenkins - Emmanuel College 54
Day 1: 2 04-11 Total: 2 04-11
197. Clay Osteen - John Mizell Tarleton State University 54
Day 1: 2 04-11 Total: 2 04-11
199. Eion Patterson - Gavin Ange UNC Charlotte 52
Day 1: 2 04-09 Total: 2 04-09
199. Brendan Vinton - Dalton Eury Catawba Valley Community College 52
Day 1: 2 04-09 Total: 2 04-09
201. Wade Roberts - Kenneth Cheramie LSU - Shreveport 50
Day 1: 2 04-07 Total: 2 04-07
201. William Vega - Sam Houston State University 50
Day 1: 2 04-07 Total: 2 04-07
203. Jacob Swanson - Luke Davis Montevallo 48
Day 1: 2 04-06 Total: 2 04-06
204. Ty Mundhenke - Matthew Welcher Auburn University 47
Day 1: 3 04-04 Total: 3 04-04
205. Andrew Howell - Tommy Sendek University of Montevallo 46
Day 1: 2 04-04 Total: 2 04-04
205. Kyle Knoll - Luke Morgan Southern Union State Community C 46
Day 1: 2 04-04 Total: 2 04-04
207. James Ikerd II - Micah Goosby Mississippi State University 44
Day 1: 2 04-02 Total: 2 04-02
208. Trent Buchholz - Dakota Posey Lamar State College Orange 43
Day 1: 2 04-02 Total: 2 04-02
209. Riley Lawson - Dawson Burton Kentucky Christian University 42
Day 1: 2 03-15 Total: 2 03-15
209. Matt Short Jr - Pruitt Lansdale Eastern Kentucky University 42
Day 1: 2 03-15 Total: 2 03-15
211. Spencer Brister - Roeh Burton Lamar State College Orange 40
Day 1: 2 03-14 Total: 2 03-14
211. Colsyn Head - Jason Qualich McKendree University 40
Day 1: 2 03-14 Total: 2 03-14
213. Caleb Jacob - Dillon Schmidt Illinois State University 38
Day 1: 2 03-11 Total: 2 03-11
214. Drew Morgan - Jackson Kulijof Murray State University 37
Day 1: 2 03-10 Total: 2 03-10
215. Logan Bozeman - Andrew Fryer Southern Union State Community C 36
Day 1: 1 03-10 Total: 1 03-10
216. Cole Moulton - Riley Hendricks Lander University 35
Day 1: 2 03-09 Total: 2 03-09
216. Brock Williams - Brandon Johnson Ohio State University 35
Day 1: 2 03-09 Total: 2 03-09
218. Cameron Smith - Thomas Phillips Ohio State University 33
Day 1: 1 03-08 Total: 1 03-08
219. Nick Shoffner - Lowell Shotton UNC Charlotte 32
Day 1: 3 03-07 Total: 3 03-07
220. Michael Canonica - Seth Proctor University of Tennessee 31
Day 1: 1 03-07 Total: 1 03-07
221. Reagan Mills - Colton Odom Auburn University 30
Day 1: 2 03-05 Total: 2 03-05
222. Cole Rankin - Riley Faulkner Carson-Newman University 29
Day 1: 1 03-04 Total: 1 03-04
223. Johnathon Simmons - Jack Simpson Western Michigan University 28
Day 1: 1 03-03 Total: 1 03-03
224. Brock Blazier - Benjamin Blank Wabash Valley College 27
Day 1: 1 02-15 Total: 1 02-15
225. Dalton Coleman - Job Bob Burchett Kentucky Christian University 26
Day 1: 2 02-13 Total: 2 02-13
226. Brett Hill - Karsten Raney Campbellsville University 25
Day 1: 1 02-12 Total: 1 02-12
226. Braiden Koerber - Cole Hadlock Murray State University 25
Day 1: 1 02-12 Total: 1 02-12
228. Clint Leonard Jr - Nicholas Watson Brewton-Parker College 23
Day 1: 1 02-11 Total: 1 02-11
229. Justin James - Keegan Trahan Lamar State College Orange (8994 22
Day 1: 1 02-09 Total: 1 02-09
229. Matthew Kauffung - Nick Baumer Ohio State University 22
Day 1: 1 02-09 Total: 1 02-09
229. Blaine Mattingly - Lane Pohlman Campbellsville University 22
Day 1: 1 02-09 Total: 1 02-09
232. Austin Paulus - Andrew Berger Ohio State University 19
Day 1: 1 02-08 Total: 1 02-08
233. Jordan Hampton - Tucker Dottley Bethel University 18
Day 1: 1 02-06 Total: 1 02-06
233. Colton Kentopp - UNC Charlotte 18
Day 1: 1 02-06 Total: 1 02-06
235. David Bartlett - Adam Green Greenville University 16
Day 1: 1 02-05 Total: 1 02-05
235. Trey Ernest - Kade Macdonald UW-Whitewater 16
Day 1: 1 02-05 Total: 1 02-05
235. Rees Williams - University of North Alabama 16
Day 1: 1 02-05 Total: 1 02-05
238. Chase Fisher - Logan Niesen UW-Platteville (7621) 13
Day 1: 1 02-04 Total: 1 02-04
239. Jake White - Delta State University 12
Day 1: 1 02-03 Total: 1 02-03
240. Troy Gibson - Jake Novotny University of Louisville 11
Day 1: 1 02-02 Total: 1 02-02
240. Giancarlo Russo - Remington Potter Florida Gateway College 11
Day 1: 1 02-02 Total: 1 02-02
242. Thomas Mingle - Caden Cardoza University of Tennessee 9
Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01
243. Lucas Bowers - Aaron Barbone University of South Carolina 8
Day 1: 1 01-14 Total: 1 01-14
243. Nathan Lee - University of Wisconsin-Plattevi 8
Day 1: 1 01-14 Total: 1 01-14
245. Spencer Knight - Brandon Oakes Ohio State 6
Day 1: 1 01-12 Total: 1 01-12
246. Robert Clegg - Matthew Crawford University of South Carolina 5
Day 1: 1 01-11 Total: 1 01-11
246. Luke Willis - Brandon Wingo University of South Carolina 5
Day 1: 1 01-11 Total: 1 01-11
248. Doug Karker - Erik Stubbendick University of Wisconsin-Plattevi 3
Day 1: 2 01-00 Total: 2 01-00
249. Tanner Barclay - Lloyd Laconsay Auburn University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Stephen Botek - Anthony Riello Penn State University (7487) 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Zachary Bowen - Harrison Terry Bethel University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Ethan Chase - Luke Fletcher Eastern Kentucky University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Tj Davis - Ayden Paxton Greenville University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Mitchell Dean - Jake Bennett Georgia College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Aidan Gordinier - Jonathan Craddock Penn State (7493) 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Avery Hammock - Jackson Ford Erskine College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Turner Hart - Summer Dees Bryan College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Logan Hawkins - Evan Waggener Campbellsville University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Brycen Hendriks - Michael Fugaro UNC Charlotte 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Carson Hickman - Jacob Dobbs Tarleton State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Connor Hicks - University of Tennessee 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Jacob Highley - Will Rooker Kentucky Christian University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. CJ Jobe Jr - Cooper Franklin Western Carolina University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Carson Maddux - Robert Cruvellier Auburn University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Austin Marley - Jack Richardson Georgia Southern University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Riley Meinke - Carson Dillinger Texas A&M University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Wyatt Pearman - Dustin Bauer Campbellsville University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Callaway Robinson - Tucker Pearson Georgia College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Camden Romero - Cade McClenaghan Mississippi State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Tucker Siminak - Kyle Hopping McKendree University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Miles Smith - Zach Henderson Georgia College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Jase Smith Jr. - John Ingram Georgia College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Garrett Thompson - Ethan Perry West Virginia University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Eric Wawrzyniak - Dylan Crystaloski Penn State 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
249. Joseph Woods - Anthony Cicero IV Bethel University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 114 908 2248-05
----------------------------------
114 908 2248-05

by AnglersChannel

Predicted high winds force Championship Saturday cancellation at Bassmaster College tournament on Cherokee

March 31, 2023

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Tenn. — B.A.S.S. officials have canceled Championship Saturday competition at the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Cherokee Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops due to predicted high winds that are expected to make conditions unsafe for boating and related tournament activities.

A winning team will be crowned Friday and the Top 27 teams after this afternoon's weigh-in will advance to the National Championship.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a wind advisory through Saturday eveningcalling for southwest winds 25 to 40 mph with gusts up to 70 mph. Damage and widespread power outages are expected due to the sustained high winds.

Day 1 weigh-in will begin at 2:30 p.m. ET and can be streamed on Bassmaster.com.

The Jefferson County Department of Tourism is hosting the tournament.

by AnglersChannel

Baltimore City man honored with B.A.S.S. Humanitarian Award

March 30, 2023

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Sportfishing’s biggest stage was used to recognize the incredible philanthropic work done by anglers around the country when B.A.S.S. honored the winner of the 2023 C.A.S.T. for Kids B.A.S.S. Humanitarian Award during the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota.

2023 award recipient Robert (Bob) Wall, of Baltimore City, Md., was selected by a panel of judges from a strong field of nominations for his deep commitment to creating fishing and recreational opportunities for the children and adults in underserved areas of his community. No other fishing programs exist in the city.

For Wall, the goal is simple: “When you see the enjoyment a kid gets when catching a fish, it’s absolutely magical. You become part of their life. What can be better than that? Exposing at-risk, marginalized and disadvantaged populations to fishing gives me a deep satisfaction ... It gives me purpose. I tell people all the time youth fishing is good for your soul.”

Wall started working as a volunteer with the Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks in 1972 when he was just 15 and was assigned Patterson Park — the park where he grew up playing — in 1995. Fishing was used as the mechanism to find $3.7 million to renovate the park’s long-neglected lake in 2003. Wall retired as Deputy Director of the department in 2020.

Wall hosts free community Family Fishing Nights at Patterson Park and works with Maryland DNR on stocking the lake with trout. In 2021, Wall, his wife and several childhood friends from the community founded the nonprofit Kids Play in Patterson Park to create free recreational and athletic opportunities, including soccer, baseball, tennis, yoga and, of course, fishing. They have raised more than $50,000 to support recreational activities for area kids at the park.

Bob Wall 12.jpg “As a kid growing up in a jungle of concrete and asphalt, Patterson Park was my oasis of activity,” said Wall.

A portion of his award nomination characterized Wall as an advocate not just for fishing, but for recreation in a place where opportunities to enjoy nature have historically been limited. “Bob is without a doubt the very best advocate for fishing I have ever known; he has brought countless individuals into fishing — in a place nobody would expect, and in a place where options for recreation, much less contact with wildlife, are often limited.”

The C.A.S.T. for Kids B.A.S.S. Humanitarian Award was established in 2020 to honor one B.A.S.S. member annually who has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to serving groups such as children with special needs, veterans, abuse survivors or any people who need extra help and support.

“It was very inspiring to read the stories of all the wonderful nominees for the C.A.S.T. for Kids B.A.S.S. Humanitarian Award,” said Executive Director of the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation, Bassmaster Classic champion and former Elite Series pro Jay Yelas. “There were many deserving people nominated, and I am thrilled to congratulate Bob and thank him for making a difference in the lives of youth in his community.”

by AnglersChannel

MLF Toyota Series Pro Todd Kline Named Honorary Captain at L.A. Clippers Game

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (March 30, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series pro Todd Kline of San Clemente, California, didn’t just earn a heavy trophy and a giant cardboard check earlier this year after winning the first Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse event at Lake Havasu to kick off the season. The California pro was also named the Honorary Captain earlier this week for his hometown Los Angeles Clippers basketball team when they faced off against the Chicago Bulls in an NBA game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

“It was an amazing experience,” Kline said. “Walking out on the court in L.A. and seeing the stars and celebrities sitting courtside in the crowd – pretty awesome. The whole experience was incredible. My mom was in town visiting and it was great to have her there to experience it with me.

“I am a big Clippers fan. My friend and NBA legend Brian Shaw is the assistant coach, and Paul George is a bass fisherman and a friend as well,” Kline continued. “It’s nearing the end of the season and every game is important for them to make sure they are solid heading into the playoffs. I need to give a huge thank you to the Los Angeles Clippers for the opportunity to represent my sponsors, MLF, and WON Bass on the major platform the NBA offers. What an awesome night.”

In an exciting game that had playoff ramifications for both teams, Kline’s Clippers bested the Bulls 124-112. Surely Kline’s presence as honorary captain played a role in the victory.

With two regular-season events in the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse now complete, Kline sits in second place in the Western Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 506 points, just two points behind leader Nick Salvucci of Atascadero, California, who has 508 points.

The next event for Toyota Series Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse anglers will be the third and final regular-season event of the year – the Toyota Series at the California Delta Presented by Psycho Tuna, April 19-21, in Oakley, California. For a complete schedule of events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Toyota Series include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Black Rifle Coffee Company, E3, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Gill, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Next Gen Lithium, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.

by AnglersChannel

Canterbury Collects $20,000 Bonus Through Yamaha Power Pay

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships

Scott Canterbury would’ve needed to work a whole lot of weekend overtime jobs in his previous construction and plumbing career to make the kind of contingency bonusmoney he won after three days of impressive shallow water success at the Bassmaster Classic® in Knoxville. He finished third in the nation’s biggest bass fishing tournament and earned a $20,000 Yamaha Power Pay bonus.

This is the second time Canterbury has captured a big Power Pay bonus. He finished sixth at the 2021 Classic in Fort Worth and took home the $20,000 there, too.

His success illustrates one of the greatest aspects of the Yamaha Power Pay program. You don’t have to win the tournament to win the contingency money. You simply need to make sure you’re signed up and become the highest finishing eligible participant in one of the dozens of sanctioned events, ranging from high school tournaments to America’s top weekend team series events.

“People need to realize you don’t need to fish in the Bassmaster Classic to win Power Pay money. You just have to run the most reliable engine on the water and make sure you’re signed up for Yamaha Power Pay,” says Canterbury, who never caught a bass deeper than four feet from Loudon during the 2023 Classic.

His wisdom regarding bass fishing’s greatest outboard contingency program is simple and straight forward – just like that of a man who once turned pipe wrenches for overtime pay.

It’s free to sign-up, to learn more, please visit https://yamahapowerpay.com/.

by AnglersChannel

The Snow Leopard Tames the Tennessee River

The winner of the 53rd Bassmaster Classic Jeff "Gussy" Gustafson tells us how he beat the rest of the field and made it to the summit of Rocky Top. The guys also give their takes on their experiences at the event as well.

by AnglersChannel

Powerhouse Auburn duo secures College Series legacy on Bassmaster Classic stage in Knoxville

Logan Parks and Tucker Smith of Auburn University have won the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster College Classic presented by Bass Pro Shops with 16 pounds, 3 ounces.

Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S.

March 28, 2023

KINGSTON, Tenn. — Representing Auburn University, Tucker Smith and Logan Parks found redemption on Watts Bar Reservoir, catching 16 pounds, 3 ounces of largemouth bass to win the Strike King Bassmaster College Classic presented by Bass Pro Shops.

Parks and Smith, who won the 2021 Team of the Year title and fished this event last year as well, hoisted the trophy on the stage of the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota inside Thompson-Boling Arena in downtown Knoxville.

Last years’ champions Hayden Gaddis and Ben Cully from Carson-Newman University finished second with 13-4 and Avery Hammock and Garrett Smith from Erskine College finished third with 12-8.

As a St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Elite Qualifiers division competitor, Parks hopes this win is only a preview of what is to come in his career.

“It was really special to hold up a big trophy on the biggest stage in bass fishing,” Parks said. “It is also my last college event ever. I didn’t even expect to be invited. I thought my college career was over. So, it was special to come back with my best friend and get the win.”

Parks and Smith fished an event on Watts Bar several years ago but only managed to catch one bass. For all of practice and much of Sunday, they thought they were doomed to repeat that performance. But with an hour to go, they pulled up on a prespawn staging area and filled their limit.

Their biggest bass weighed over 5 pounds.

“We caught all of our weight in an hour,” Smith said. “We caught our biggest one in the last seven minutes of the day. It was meant to be.”

The bass they found were located around bluff walls in anywhere from 5 to 20 feet of water. With the water temperatures not warm enough to start the spawning process, Smith and Parks believed the bass they found were setting up to spawn.

Spotted bass bit first, but they eventually weeded through them to find some bigger largemouth. The Auburn anglers rotated through a variety of baits including a Berkley Stunna and a Livingston jerkbait, as well as a Picasso spinnerbait and a jig.

“We were just so happy when we caught our second fish,” Parks said. “Then it went down. It was crazy. They were eating.”

Parks hopes he will be able to use what he found this week at the Bassmaster Open at Watts Bar that will be held in September.

“I don’t know if this will work again, but it was good to have a better experience than we did the last time,” he said. “September is a tough month and that will be a season-maker or breaker.”

Coastal Carolina University’s Andrew Vereen and Connor Cartmell, the winners of the 2022 Strike King Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops, claimed Big Bass of the Tournament honors with a 6-7 largemouth.

The city of Kingston hosted the event.

*****Beau Browning transferred from Drury to Montevallo this year and, as first angler, the standings automatically pulled in his school information *****

2023 Strike King Bassmaster College Classic presented by Bass Pro Shops 3/26
Watts Bar Reservoir, Knoxville TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

Angler Club/School Pts

1. Logan Parks - Tucker Smith Auburn University 0
Day 1: 5 16-03 Total: 5 16-03
2. Hayden Gaddis - Ben Cully Carson-Newman University 0
Day 1: 5 13-04 Total: 5 13-04
3. Avery Hammock - Garrett Smith Erskine College 0
Day 1: 5 12-08 Total: 5 12-08
4. Brian Linder - Nathan Thompson Minnesota State - Mankato 0
Day 1: 5 10-14 Total: 5 10-14
5. Seth Jenkins - TJ McKenzie Emmanuel College 0
Day 1: 3 10-07 Total: 3 10-07
6. Beau Browning - Jake Peck Montevallo (8094) 0
Day 1: 5 09-08 Total: 5 09-08
7. Connor Cartmell - Andrew Vereen Coastal Carolina University 0
Day 1: 1 06-07 Total: 1 06-07
8. Michael Fugaro - Brycen Hendriks UNC Charlotte 0
Day 1: 1 04-04 Total: 1 04-04
9. Kaleb Brown - Chad Mrazek Lander University 0
Day 1: 1 03-10 Total: 1 03-10
10. Jackson Swisher - Seth Slanker Florida Gateway College 0
Day 1: 1 03-07 Total: 1 03-07
11. Lafe Messer - Matt Messer Kentucky Christian University 0
Day 1: 1 02-14 Total: 1 02-14
12. Mitch Straffon - Hank Sturm Adrian College Bass Team (8434) 0
Day 1: 1 01-09 Total: 1 01-09
13. Joshua DeKoning - Dalton Mollenkopf Adrian College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 5 34 94-15
----------------------------------
5 34 94-15

by AnglersChannel

Martin Claims Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Harris Chain of Lakes

White Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (March 27, 2023) – Boater T.J. Martin of Claremore, Oklahoma, caught a five-bass limit weighing 26 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake of the Ozarks . The tournament, hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association, was the second event of the season for the BFL Ozark Division. Martin earned $14,000, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.

“I started out mid-lake fishing piles in 8 to 10 feet of water with an Alabama rig,” said Martin. “The first fish I caught was a 3½-pounder. The second was a 6-10. Then I ended up finishing out my limit before I decided to run again.”

Martin said he culled a few fish after relocating, but decided to go back to the general area where he had filled his limit. He added a 4½-pounder and a 5-pounder and filled out his final weigh bag by 1 p.m.

Martin said he was confident in his weight and wanted to work his way back to weigh-in early, and is glad he did, as he encountered motor problems on his way back during the 35-minute run. He made it to weigh-in with minutes to spare.

Martin, who also competes in Toyota Series events, said he fishes Lake of the Ozarks during the early part of every year.

“Lake of the Ozarks sets up for me a lot like my home lake – Grand Lake,” said Martin. “I spend my winters and springs on Grand; I spend a lot of time there. And Lake of the Ozarks, to me, is just a bigger Grand Lake.

“This feels awesome to win here,” Martin added. “I was in shock when I caught my last 5-pounder and culled a 3-pounder. I couldn’t believe the weight I had. It was unbelievable – truly a blessed day.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        T.J. Martin, Claremore, Okla., five bass, 26-2, $14,000 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd:       Joe Wieberg, Freeburg, Mo., five bass, 19-6, $3,000
3rd:       Brandon Ackerson, Afton, Okla., five bass, 18-4, $2,000
4th:        Tyler Stuart, Fenton, Mo., five bass, 18-3, $1,400
5th:        David Brand, Dittmer, Mo., five bass, 18-1, $1,200
6th:        Lawson Hibdon, Versailles, Mo., five bass, 17-15, $1,050
6th:        Kyle Kitts, Joplin, Mo., five bass, 17-15, $1,050
8th:        Kyle Dowdy, Sunrise Beach, Mo., five bass, 16-11, $850
8th:        Scott Hill, Fair Grove, Mo., five bass, 16-11, $850
10th:     James Dill, Sunrise Beach, Mo., five bass, 16-3, $700

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Jared Mataczynski of Wausau, Wis., caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $1,000.

Jeremy White of Dittmer, Missouri, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $3,000 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 13 pounds, 13 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Jeremy White, Dittmer, Mo., three bass, 13-13, $3,000
2nd:       Charlie Knight, Lebanon, Mo., four bass, 10-8, $1,250
2nd:       Jake Hutton, Cornell, Ill., five bass, 10-8, $1,250
4th:        Scott Shinn, Topeka, Kan., three bass, 10-6, $700
5th:        Michael Sanderson, Eureka, Mo., three bass, 8-15, $600
6th:        Jeff Moss, Oronogo, Mo, three bass, 8-14, $1,100
7th:        Brayden Schaben, Westphalia, Mo., three bass, 8-13, $500
8th:        Michael Mulberry, Galena, Mo., three bass, 8-11, $450
9th:        Charles Coleman, Reeds Spring, Mo., four bass, 8-4, $400
10th:     Tim Sisco, Fair Grove, Mo., two bass, 8-0, $850

Tim Sisco of Fair Grove, Missouri, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $500, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 1 ounce – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After two events, T.J. Martin of Claremore, Oklahoma, leads the BFL Ozark Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 489 points, while Adler Odle of Willow Springs, Missouri, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 480 points.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 4WP, 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 Lubricant, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.

by AnglersChannel

Harris Posts Third BFL Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at High Rock Lake

Co-angler Hughes Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

LEXINGTON, N.C. (March 27, 2023) – Boater Todd Harris of Lexington, North Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 5 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on High Rock Lake. The tournament was the second event of the year for the BFL North Carolina Division. Harris earned $4,119 for his victory.

“I’m a little bit sore today. It was a lot of rough water and wind,” said Harris when he was interviewed on Sunday. “I had a really good practice and found some giant females that had already moved into their spawning grounds. They weren’t spawning, but they were really close, and I thought I could catch 20 pounds.

“I ran in there and tried to make that work for at least a couple of hours and never had a bite, so I decided to go to my backup pattern and flip piers around cover,” Harris said.

The flipping began to work for Harris, and he caught two keepers before he decided he had to regroup.

“I took a little break and started to think, ‘Where would they be?’” Harris said. “So, I decided to run in the wind and fish flat shoals next to spawning grounds. When that light bulb came on, I started to catch them.”

Harris said he caught his fish in 3 to 5 feet of water on the main river, and in Abbott’s Creek, with custom flat-sided crankbaits he makes. He said he caught one of his biggest bass on a Strike King 1.5 crankbait he custom painted. Harris had seven keeper bites during the tournament and landed six of the bass.

“High Rock is my home lake, and I’ve won here before, but this one is a lot sweeter because I’m older now and I’m retired,” Harris said. “My last win came in 2014, so it’s been a while, and I always wanted that third one.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Todd Harris, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 22-5, $4,119
2nd:       Josh Stafford, Kernersville, N.C., five bass, 21-3, $2,059
3rd:       Robert Mixon, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 20-2, $1,374
4th:        Bradley Staley, Sophia, N.C., five bass, 18-14, $1,181
5th:        Chad Sims, Lancaster, S.C., five bass, 17-12, $1,024
6th:        Tommy Jones, Salisbury, N.C., five bass, 16-14, $755
7th:        Larry Whittington, Purlear, N.C., five bass, 16-11, $686
8th:        Charlie Saucier, New Orleans, La., five bass, 16-0, $618
9th:        Austin Wike, Salisbury, N.C., five bass, 15-13, $549
10th:     Jacob Adams, Hamptonville, N.C., four bass, 15-12, $480

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Joseph Floyd of Charlotte, North Carolina, caught a bass that weighed 7 pounds, 11 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $565.

Mark Hughes of Lexington, North Carolina, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,059 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 17 pounds, 8 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Mark Hughes, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 17-8, $2,059
2nd:       Christopher Davis, Roanoke Rapids, N.C., four bass, 14-8, $1,030
3rd:       David Deciucis, Chester, Va., five bass, 13-2, $687
4th:        Chip Crews, Trinity, N.C., five bass, 12-15, $480
5th:        Andy Kearns, High Point, N.C., four bass, 11-1, $412
6th:        Greg Fox, Bonita Springs, Fla., two bass, 9-12, $860
7th:        Dustan Hudson, Grover, N.C., three bass, 9-8, $343
8th:        Stacy Metz, Staley, N.C., two bass, 9-1, $309
9th:        Lewis Brown, Asheboro, N.C., four bass, 9-0, $275
10th:     Arthur Harris, York, S.C., four bass, 8-15, $240

Greg Fox of Bonita Springs, Florida, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $282, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 7 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After two events, Todd Harris of Lexington, North Carolina, leads the BFL North Carolina Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 482 points, while Arthur Harris of York, South Carolina, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 479 points.

The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 5-7 BFL Regional tournament on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

by AnglersChannel

Moll Grinds Out Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Kentucky/Barkley Lakes

Bivins Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (March 27, 2023) – Boater Sam Moll of Hershey, Pennsylvania, caught a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 15 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Kentucky and Barkley lakes . The tournament, hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau, was the second event of the season for the BFL LBL Division. Moll earned $4,806 for his victory.

“I started out at my best spot pretty close to the ramp because on the Tennessee River the morning bite is pretty good,” said Moll. “I caught a 5-pounder on my ninth or tenth cast. Then things started to slow down from there.”

Moll said recent rains had muddied a lot of his fishable water, so he relocated to find clean water and added a couple of 3-pound bass to his livewell. Another relocation produced two 4-pounders and a 5-pounder. Moll said his fish came on an Alabama rig as well as a swimbait. He relied heavily on his Garmin LiveScope to target fish.

“There wasn’t a lot of current, so the fish were really hard to catch,” Moll said. “I would see them down there and would just hit them in the face and eventually get them to bite.”

Moll also won the March 4 BFL event on Kentucky/Barkley Lakes. While he said felt like he was on good fish to have a chance to win in the earlier March tournament, he didn’t know what to expect for this event because he thought the lack of current would make fishing very tough. He said he caught only 12 bass during the course of the day.

“I was fishing for big fish, so it worked out,” Moll said. “I didn’t catch a lot, but I caught the right ones.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Sam Moll, Hershey, Penn., five bass, 22-15, $4,806
2nd:       Stephen Barga, Benton, Ky., five bass, 22-1, $2,403
3rd:       Clint Knight, Lewisburg, Ky., five bass, 17-3, $1,805
4th:        David Young, Mayfield, Ky., five bass, 15-5, $1,121
5th:        Drew Boggs, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 14-7, $1,461 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
6th:        Joe Johnson, Clarksville, Tenn., five bass, 13-5, $881
7th:        Marty Sisk, Evansville, Ind., five bass, 12-10, $801
8th:        Dan Shoraga, West Frankfort, Ill., four bass, 12-9, $721
9th:        Tyler Brown, Elsberry, Mo., four bass, 12-6, $641
10th:     Levi Kohl, Edinburg, Ill., five bass, 12-5, $561

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Dustin Vaal of Farmington, Kentucky, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 13 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $725.

Bo Bivins of Evansville, Indiana, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,360 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 13 pounds, 8 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Bo Bivins, Evansville, Ind., five bass, 13-8, $2,360
2nd:       Cayman Wilhelmus, Boonville, Ind., three bass, 10-7, $1,180
3rd:       Ron Robinson, Pittsburg, Ill., five bass, 10-0, $787
4th:        Don Shaffer, Odin, Ill., four bass, 8-15, $551
5th:        Anthony Bell Jr., Cincinnati, Ohio, four bass, 8-4, $472
6th:        Philip Wright, Bedford, Ky., three bass, 7-15, $433
7th:        Marcus Mann, Benton, Ky., three bass, 7-14, $393
8th:        Cody Oliver, Kokomo, Ind., three bass, 7-10, $354
9th:        Todd Haynes, Philpot, Ky., two bass, 7-6, $515
10th:     Mike Westfall, Norris City, Ill., two bass, 6-14, $425

Greg Warren of Rosiclare, Illinois, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $347, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 8 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After two events, Sam Moll of Hershey, Pennsylvania, leads the BFL LBL Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 500 points, while Bo Bivins of Evansville, Indiana, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 489 points.

by AnglersChannel

Bryant Posts Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Toledo Bend

Hawkins Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

ZWOLLE, La. (March 27, 2023) – Boater Daniel Bryant of Scott, Louisiana, caught a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 10 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Toledo Bend. The tournament was the third event of 2023 for the BFL Cowboy Division. Bryant earned $4,509 for his victory.

“When my boat number was called and I left the launch, I didn’t know which way I was going to head – north or south,” said Bryant. “The night before the tournament I had rigged up for both north and south situations that I fished in practice. When it came time to turn the boat, something told me to go north.”

Bryant said he picked an area and started the day with a 2¾-pound fish and knew he had made the right decision. He stayed in a half-mile stretch of Toledo Bend on a hard grass line in 8 feet of water and used a vibrating jig to catch his bass.

“You’d get it up to the edge of the grass, and when it hit the grass you’d pop it free, and that’s when they would it eat it,” Bryant said. “I kept that bait in my hands all day.”

Bryant said he relied on gut instinct to tell him when and where to move the boat when the active bite slowed down, and he kept catching fish as they reloaded in his areas. Bryant said he and his co-angler caught more than 50 fish during the course of the tournament.

“This feels amazing,” said Bryant. “A lot of people this time of year focus on sight-fishing, so the weights can be lower. And it’s not that the fishery is bad; It’s just people get hung up on trying to sight-fish for the bass. They’ll spend two or three hours on fish that aren’t ready to bite yet. I told myself I wasn’t going to get sucked into that. I wanted to target pre-spawn fish.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Daniel Bryant, Scott, La., five bass, 22-10, $4,509
2nd:       Tater Reynolds, Florien, La., five bass, 18-11, $1,897
3rd:       Kristopher Pickett, Coushatta, La., five bass, 18-6, $1,265
4th:        Trent Manuel, Iowa, La., five bass, 18-1, $885
5th:        Ernie Hillebrandt, Lafayette, La., five bass, 17-3, $759
6th:        Dominick Whatley, Colfax, La., five bass, 15-12, $696
7th:        Sieg Kilby, Kilgore, Texas, five bass, 14-11, $632
8th:        Jon Despino, Colfax, La., five bass, 14-9, $569
9th:        John Ellender, Lake Charles, La., five bass, 14-5, $506
10th:     Calvin Bogan, Livingston, Texas, five bass, 13-14, $443

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Bryant also caught a largemouth that weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $495.

Tim Hawkins of Anna, Texas, won the Strike King co-angler division and$1,897 Saturday, after crossing the stage with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 11 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Tim Hawkins, Anna, Texas, five bass, 13-11, $1,897
2nd:       Nick Stanislaus, Porter, Texas, five bass, 13-10, $1,149
3rd:       Tyrell Harmon, Manor, Texas, five bass, 12-6, $633
4th:        Korby Friday, Elizabeth, La., five bass, 12-3, $443
5th:        J.J. Matzke, League City, Texas, five bass, 12-1, $379
6th:        Greg Boik, College Station, Texas, five bass, 12-0, $348
7th:        Michael Mooney, Diana, Texas, five bass, 11-15, $316
8th:        Braden Berryman, Kirbyville, Texas, five bass, 11-3, $285
9th:        Gary Medley, Vidor, Texas, five bass, 10-11, $253
10th:     Velin Sims, Spring, Texas, three bass, 10-7, $468

Velin Sims of Spring, Texas, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $247, catching a largemouth that weighed in at 5 pounds, 13 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After three events, Tater Reynolds of Florien, Louisiana, leads the BFL Cowboy Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 712 points, while J.J. Matzke of League City, Texas, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 730 points.

by AnglersChannel

Way Claims Victory by One Ounce at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Guntersville

Childers Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (March 27, 2023) – Boater Joe Way of Bedford, Indiana, caught a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 12 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Guntersville by one ounce. The tournament, hosted by the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce, was the third event for the BFL Choo Choo Division. Way earned $5,165 for his victory.

“Fishing this tournament was a spur-of-the-moment kind of thing,” said Way, who concentrated his efforts on the south end of Guntersville. “I did not have a good practice. I didn’t really know what I was going to do come tournament day.”

Way said he started his tournament with a couple of quick keepers, then lost three good keepers in a row.

“I felt like I had been punched in the gut,” Way said. “But I was persistent and stayed in the area and knew there were fish there. I ended up collecting five fish and managed to cull three or four of them to bring back what I had.”

Way’s fish came on a vibrating jig in 2 to 4 feet of water, in areas that held grass. Way said finding clumps of grass near a mudline where muddy water met clear water was the key to his win.

“When I caught my fifth fish and had my limit I was satisfied,” Way added. “That was my goal; I just wanted to catch a limit.

“This win is a big monkey off my back,” Way added. “This is the eighth BFL event that I’ve fished, and it really hasn’t even really sunk in yet that I have won.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Joe Way, Bedford, Ind., five bass, 22-12, $5,165
2nd:       Hayden O’Barr, Scottsboro, Ala., five bass, 22-11, $2,882
3rd:       Joshua Butts, Springville, Ala., five bass, 20-8, $1,722
4th:        Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 19-6, $1,205
5th:        Creig Kimbro, Monteagle, Tenn., five bass, 18-3, $1,033
6th:        Charlie Craycraft, Grant, Ala., five bass, 17-9, $1,867 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
7th:        Charles Murphy, Gaylesville, Ala., five bass, 16-1, $818
7th:        Will Robinson, Columbia, Tenn., five bass, 16-1, $818
9th:        Danny Hall, Ellijay, Ga., five bass, 15-11, $689
10th:     Josh Butler, Hayden, Ala., five bass, 15-9, $603

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Lamar Patterson of Fyffe, Alabama, caught a largemouth that weighed 6 pounds, 14 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $805.

Craig Childers of Taft, Tennessee, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,577 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 14 pounds, 12 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Craig Childers, Taft, Tenn., three bass, 14-12, $2,577
2nd:       Clint Haley, Franklin, Ky., five bass, 14-8, $1,288
3rd:       Dennis Putthoff, Old Hickory, Tenn., five bass, 13-13, $729
3rd:       Zach Britton, Fayetteville, Tenn., five bass, 13-13, $729
5th:        Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., five bass, 13-10, $515
6th:        Justin Stephenson, Jasper, Ala., five bass, 13-3, $472
7th:        Jose Serna, Albertville, Ala., four bass, 13-2, $429
8th:        Dalynn Teeftaller, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., three bass, 13-0, $387
9th:        Michael Jones, Rome, Ga., three bass, 12-2, $744
10th:     Michael Corbett, Oxford, Ala., four bass, 9-8, $286
10th:     Neil Strickland, Sulligent, Ala., three bass, 9-8, $286

Daniel Corkern of Florence, Mississippi, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $397, catching a largemouth that weighed in at 7 pounds, 4 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After three events, Jordan Lee of Cullman, Alabama, leads the BFL Choo Choo Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 730 points, while Justin Stephenson of Jasper, Alabama, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 715 points.

by AnglersChannel

Bean Wastes No Time in Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at DeGray Lake

Duggan Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. (March 27, 2023) – Boater Brian Bean of Hot Springs, Arkansas, caught a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds, 6 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on DeGray Lake. The tournament, hosted by the City of Caddo Valley, was the second event of the season for the BFL Arkie Division. Bean earned $5,844 for his victory.

“I started out and was throwing a Berkley PowerBait Power Lizard and caught my big fish, a 9-5, 10 minutes into the tournament,” said Bean. “That started me off right, and I thought all I’d have to do was go catch a couple of two pounders and I’d be in pretty good shape. But, it was a struggle.”

After fishing got a little more challenging for Bean, he changed tactics and began using a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General Worm on a spinning reel near the bank on the edge of the grass line and caught more fish, including a 3-pounder that was his last fish of the day. Bean said he caught only five keepers in the mid-to-lower end of DeGray during the tournament. Those five keepers turned out to be the right five, and Bean posted his second career BFL win.

“The deepest I got was eight feet,” Bean said. “The lake had come up and back down, and there’s some algae that had grown, and I tried to stay in the clean spots where the fish were coming to spawn. I had another 5-pounder I was trying to catch, and I had a few minutes left, but I thought it wasn’t worth it, and decided to head back to weigh-in with what I had.

“I love fishing DeGray,” Bean added. “I have won a ton of money there, but that 9-5 is nowhere the biggest fish I’ve caught there. There are some dang big ones in there. Four years ago I caught one that weighed 12.69 on certified scales.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:

1st:        Brian Bean, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 18-6, $5,844
2nd:       Blake Martin, Dardanelle, Ark., five bass, 13-13, $2,122
3rd:       Quincy Houchin, Mabelvale, Ark., five bass, 13-12, $1,913 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
4th:        Ben Blaschke, Roland, Okla., five bass, 13-6, $990
5th:        Teddy Bogard, White Hall, Ark., five bass, 13-2, $849
6th:        William Mahan, Malvern, Ark., five bass, 12-14, $778
7th:        Mike Rhinehart, Pottsville, Ark., five bass, 12-8, $707
8th:        Wayne Dixon, Morrilton, Ark., five bass, 12-1, $637
9th:        Tim Rasberry, Clarksville, Ark., five bass, 11-6, $566
10th:     Devin Garner, Arkadelphia, Ark., four bass, 11-5, $495

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Bean also caught a largemouth that weighed 9 pounds, 5 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $600.

Steve Duggan of Pearcy, Arkansas, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,122 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that weighed 12 pounds, 12 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:

1st:        Steve Duggan, Pearcy, Ark., five bass, 12-12, $2,122
2nd:       Randy Allen, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 10-12, $1,261
3rd:       Reid Prescott, Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 10-11, $707
4th:        Frank Reynolds, Bryant, Ark., five bass, 10-1, $495
5th:        Todd Christen, Conway, Ark., five bass, 9-12, $424
6th:        John McCullar, Benton, Ark., four bass, 9-9, $389
7th:        John Hankins, Atkins, Ark., five bass, 9-7, $354
8th:        Clayton Self, Benton, Ark., five bass, 9-3, $468
9th:        Colton Arnold, Hope, Ark., five bass, 8-2, $265
9th:        Adam Wright, Benton, Ark., five bass, 8-2, $265

Michael Morgan of Hot Springs, Arkansas, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $300, catching a largemouth that weighed in at 5 pounds, 5 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.

After two events, Blake Martin of Dardanelle, Arkansas, leads the BFL Arkie Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 499 points, while John Hankins of Atkins, Arkansas, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 489 points.

by AnglersChannel

Lake Murray Country Ready to Host MLF Bass Pro Tour Fox Rent A Car Stage Three Presented by Mercury

COLUMBIA, S.C. (March 27, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF) and the Bass Pro Tour, featuring the top anglers in professional bass fishing, is set to visit Columbia, South Carolina, and Lake Murray next week, April 2-7, for the third regular-season event of the 2023 season – the Fox Rent A Car Stage Three at Lake Murray Presented by Mercury.

The six-day tournament, hosted by Capital City/Lake Murray Country, will showcase 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, including bass-fishing superstars like Kevin VanDam, REDCREST 2023 Champion Bryan Thrift, Jacob Wheeler, Jordan Lee , and local favorite Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, South Carolina. They’ll be competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship.

"Lake Murray Country is excited to welcome Major League Fishing's Bass Pro Tour to Lake Murray,” stated Miriam Atria, President and CEO of Capital City/Lake Murray Country. “This event and tournament trail is so popular with bass fishing audiences, and our regional tourism office always loves the community support and television exposure this event provides for our region. Lake Murray is an amazing fishery that offers the professional anglers a competitive experience along with great catches."

The Jewel of South Carolina has hosted prior MLF Cup events and numerous events with FLW and MLF over the years, but the Bass Pro Tour’s arrival for Stage Three marks the tour’s first trip to the famed lake.

Lake Murray’s most recent professional event was a Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit tournament in 2021. That event, also in April, was won by Bass Pro Tour rookie Matt Becker. Second place in that event was Anthony Gagliardi, who also won the 2014 Forrest Wood Cup on his home waters.

Gagliardi says that historically, the first week of April is dead center in the bass spawn.

“There will be fish spawning, but still plenty of fish that are in the prespawn mode and feeding heavily,” Gagliardi said. “It should be a fun event and there will be various ways to catch fish. The lake is in good shape and full of 3- to 5-pound fish.”

While the lake is known for the blueback herring and the nomadic bass that chase them in open water, Gagliardi believes the event’s timing will make them less of a factor.

“It’s awful early for them to be on the bluebacks,” Gagliardi said. “Anything could happen if we get a milder winter and warmer spring, but I believe most of the bass will be on the bank. You should be able to target the prespawn fish or also try to catch spawners.”

by AnglersChannel

James Adams, Many, LA tops over 1500 anglers at Techron Mega Bass on Fork with a 9.64 lbr. Takes home a new Skeeter ZX 200 - Yamaha SHO + $15,000 Cash.

Top 50 finishers below - Full results on http://www.basschamps.com

Angler City State Weight Prize Amount

JAMES ADAMS Many LA 9.64

2023 Skeeter ZX200 YamahaSHO Skeeter Built Trailer

JAMES ADAMS Many LA 9.64

$15000.00

BRANDON POTTER Decatur TX 8.38

$15000.00

DON PENICK Alba TX 2.56

$15000.00

CURT CULBERTSON Godley TX 2.42

$15000.00

JASON MAY Grand Prairie TX 2.33

$15000.00

KURT HAGGARD Orange TX 2.44

$8000.00

DYLAN WASHINGTON Godley TX 2.44

$8000.00

MIKE HARP Linden TX 2.38

$8000.00

JOSHUA JAMISON Lufkin TX 2.38

$8000.00

CHRISTOPHER AMPERSE Terrell TX 2.63

$1000.00

TOMMY GRIMES Baytown TX 2.46

$1000.00

DOUGLAS GIBBONS Longview TX 2.41

$1000.00

NICK BROWN Lindale TX 2.40

$1000.00

KENNETH BARFIELD Belton TX 2.22

$1000.00

LORNE SMITH Ardmore OK 2.49

$900.00

ERIC ELDER Scroggins TX 2.39

$900.00

MATTHEW BROUILLETTE West Monroe LA 2.37

$900.00

DON PENICK Alba TX 2.36

$900.00

CHARLIE BUNCH Spiro OK 2.26

$900.00

AARON WALKER Mt Vernon TX 2.04

$900.00

STEVEN STROMAN Mt Vernon TX 2.44

$800.00

CHRISTOPHER WOODS Ardmore OK 2.33

$800.00

JOHN BLUE Sachse TX 2.32

$800.00

TONY EARLY Cedar Hill TX 2.28

$800.00

ROLAND HOWLE Emory TX 2.28

$800.00

JAMES WATSON Hope AR 2.28

$800.00

KEVIN MACHADO Fort Worth TX 2.01

$800.00

MIKE SWIFT Broken Bow OK 2.38

$750.00

CHAD ARNOLD Mena AR 2.38

$750.00

JOHN LEWIS Kilgore TX 2.24

$750.00

RANDY BUNCH Yantis TX 2.24

$750.00

AUSTIN ROACH Big Sandy TX 2.40

$700.00

JAY KENDRICK Fort Worth TX 2.31

$700.00

DONNIE ADNEY Bristow OK 2.29

$700.00

KENNETH COLE Kennard TX 1.99

$700.00

TYLER GOTTULA Billings OK 2.37

$600.00

JOE DEPAOLA Grapevine Lane TX 2.33

$600.00

PHILLIP MAYFIELD Alba TX 2.29

$600.00

SHAWN OMALLEY Wylie TX 2.28

$600.00

LARRY BEVANS Milam TX 2.27

$600.00

HERB POWELL Yantis TX 2.21

$600.00

COREY STOKES Weatherford TX 1.94

$600.00

JEFF BRINEGAR Waco TX 2.33

$500.00

CALVIN SHORT Rusk TX 2.32

$500.00

TOMMY WASHINGTON Milam TX 2.27

$500.00

STEVEN WOOD Emory TX 2.27

$500.00

DAVID BURTON Wylie TX 2.26

$500.00

DEEN HOPSON Kaufman TX 2.15

$500.00

STEVE HODGE Emory TX 1.92

$500.00

by AnglersChannel

Simms Pro, Jeff Gustafson Takes Top Honors at the 2023 Bassmaster Classic

Bozeman, Mont. (March 26, 2023) – Simms Fishing Products, preeminent manufacturer of waders, outerwear, footwear, and technical apparel in fishing proudly announce the victory of Simms Pro, Jeff Gustafson in what is widely considered to be the most prestigious fishing tournament in the world — the Bassmaster Classic.

The 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic kicked off Friday March 24th, at Volunteer Landing in Downtown Knoxville, Tennessee and concluded at the weigh-ins that took place in the Thompson-Boiling Arena on the campus of the University of Tennessee on Championship Sunday.

Hailing from Kenora, Ontario, Simms Pro, Jeff Gustafson’shighly decorated nine-year career include highlights such as 11 top 20 finishes, one of which was first place at the Bassmaster Elite on the Tennessee River in 2021. When Gustafson launched at Volunteer Landing last Friday, he wasn’t simply aiming to double up on his success history on the Tennessee River, he was focused on fulfilling a childhood dream — winning the Super Bowl of fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

Flowing southwest from Knoxville, through East Tennessee into Chattanooga before crossing into Alabama, the Tennessee River is home to a healthy population of various bass species, most notably, largemouth and smallmouth. On day 1, a fleet of 55 of the best anglers in the world were greeted with hundreds of fans, favorable weather conditions, and stiff competition in the air. Throughout the day, Gustafson methodically worked his zones and managed to find a few solid flurries of action which resulted in a day 1 bag of 18.8 lbs., a mere pound over his closest competitor, Brandon Lester.

On day 2, Gustafson opted to stick with a technique that what was working the day before, and also the same tactic he leaned on to win on the Tennessee River back in 2021 — moping. After his best spot from day 1 became cold, Gustafson motored to his second spot with two smallmouth in the well and high hopes of finding more cooperative fishelsewhere. By the time lines out was called, Gustafson filled his limit with three more smallmouth for a day 2 total weight of 17.3 lbs. and a two-day aggregate weight of 35.11 lbs.

On Championship Sunday, Gustafson set out in the first-place position with a 6 lb. lead over fellow Simms Pro, John Cox. To start his day, Gustafson continued with the tactic that put him in the lead – moping in deep water while using forward facing sonar with a Z-Man Jerk Shad. Compared to the previous two days, the water jumped up in temperature and his tried and true method waned in effectiveness. In many cases in professional bass fishing, finding and catching fish isn’t the hard part — it’s keeping the mental aspect of your game sound. True to form, instead of panicking and scratching his intended game plan, Gustafson remained calm. Anglers focused on largemouth in shallow water slowly began to close the gap on Gustafson’s lead but Gustafson continued grinding until he had two quality smallmouth in the well. At weigh-ins, Gustafson’s bag settled on the scale at 6.12 lbs. for a three-day total weight of 42.7 lbs. — 2.5 lbs. more than runner up, Bryan Schmitt.

“When we signed Gussy on the Simms Pro Team a little over five years ago, it wasn’t because we knew what he was going to accomplish as an angler — it was because of what he’s already done as an individual,” says Simms Director of Brand Marketing, Patterson Leeth. “You would be hard pressed to find a more widely respected angler who not only has the fans cheering him on but also, the vast majority of his competitors as well. We are unbelievably proud to see him raise the 2023 Bassmaster Classic trophy.”

The Bassmaster Classic is never a layup for any particular angler, no matter what their history is on that particular body of water. This year’s event attracted more fans than ever before in the history of the Bassmaster Classic – and the excitement level was also at an all-time high. On behalf of Simms Fishing Products, congratulations to Jeff Gustafson on achieving such a monumental, hard earned, and well-deserved victory on the Tennessee River.

by AnglersChannel

Keith Poche Sees the Roadmap to Victory with Fin-Nor Sunglasses

No fishing condition is too great for pro angler Keith Poche, with Fin-Nor technology in tow

Columbia S.C. (Mar 27, 2023) - With 27 pounds, 2 ounces through two qualifying days, Fin-Nor pro Keith Poche saw a clear path to victory and didn’t let up. Poche added a 16-pound, 4-ounce limit in the knockout round before a massive limit on the final day, weighing 19-pounds, 2 ounces, giving him the first Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour Victory of his career.

Today for Poche, everything was on the line, and he knew what he needed to do - use every tool in his tacklebox to pull off what only skill and perseverance can achieve. It was a cloudy day, visibility was mediocre, and only one pair of sunglasses would do the job. Fin-Nor Flybridge with silver mirrors, a perfect frame, and lens color engineered to give Keith Poche the edge he needed to see below the surface, spot his target, and bring glory home.

“When I look for a pair of sunglasses, I don’t want to worry one moment about my vision or discomfort on my face,” says Poche, Fin-Nor Pro. “I want to be able to see what’s in front of me clearly so that I can do my best on the water. Today I fished under cloud cover and foggy conditions, and never did my vision fail me. I was fishing some tricky areas on the Cherokee, and the polarization of my sunglasses cut through the glare like butter.”

Fin-Nor Flybridge is designed for elite angler performance - lightweight, comfortable, and provides maximum coverage for any weather condition. Fin-Nor silver mirror lenses are designed for full sun or cloudy days, provide excellent contrast for spotting structures and fish below the waterline, and are optimized for clarity with color-enhancing accuracy. Pro anglers like Poche know that when you’re pushing to get over the finish line, having high quality eyewear that combines style, fit, and performance is key.

by AnglersChannel

Jeff Gustafson Bringing Home Canada’s First Ever Bassmaster Classic Crown

X2Power Battery pro Jeff Gustafson becomes the first Canadian angler to ever win the Bassmaster Classic.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (March 26, 2023) – Hailing all the way from Kenora, Ontario, Canada, X2Power pro Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson becomes the second international angler ever to win the Bassmaster Classic. Running his X2Power Battery fueled Lund ProV bass boat all over Fort Loudon and Tellico Lakes, Gustafson put together a total weight of 42-pounds, 7-ounces to become the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic Champion.

After three days of intense competition against fifty-four of the world’s most talented anglers, Gustafson stuck to the same technique that won him the 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series event on the Tennessee River to earn him the Bassmaster Classic crown. Powered by premium X2Power lithium and AGM batteries, his equipment stayed performing at its highest capability from start to finish, providing him with the confidence needed to win the event.

"I can’t win any event if I’m not on the water or my boat isn’t performing at its very best. Anglers overlook batteries because it’s not flashy, but without high-performing batteries, nothing will work to its highest potential,” said Gustafson. “My X2Power batteries kept my entire rig powered up at maximum capacity which was critical in helping me win the Bassmaster Classic.”

When competing on the highest level and biggest stage in bass fishing, never having to worry about your equipment is an absolute must. Gustafson has a unique rig with his Lund ProV bass boat and knows speed is not on his side; but with X2Power batteries, reliability is. Running two Group 31 X2Power AGM batteries and three Group 31 X2Power lithium batteries – power is never in question.

"Our team at X2Power is truly proud of all that Gussy has accomplished in his career and especially this week.” said Vice President of Category Management of X2Power Batteries, Shawn Budiac. “To have our batteries powering his entire boat is an honor and we couldn’t be happier to celebrate this win for him and his family.”

by AnglersChannel

Jeff Gustafson Finds $300,000 of Bassmaster Classic Gold with MEGA Live Imaging

Ontario, Canada native Jeff Gustafson becomes the first Canadian angler to ever win the Bassmaster Classic

After a dominating event in 2021 which saw Humminbird and Minn Kota pro Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson secure his first Bassmaster Elite Series win, a return to the Tennessee River out of Knoxville, Tennessee was all the more rewarding for the Kenora, Ontario native. Through three days of intense competition and changing conditions, Gustafson saw light at the end of the tunnel on his Humminbird MEGA Live™ imaging and became the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic champion.

"To come back to the place where I was able to win an Elite Series event fishing how I like, and do virtually the same thing during the Bassmaster Classic, it feels awesome,” said Gustafson. “I fished how I was comfortable and I just jive with this body of water.”

Gussy started the event off strong with a limit weighing 18-pounds, 8-ounces on day one, following that up with a day two bag weighing 17-pounds, 3-ounces, and his final day effort going 42-pounds, 7-ounces to become the second ever international Bassmaster Classic champion – the first ever champion from Canada.

To find his fish, Gussy scanned through the Tennessee river using a deadly combination of Humminbird LakeMaster® mapping with Humminbird MEGA Side and Down Imaging® to locate areas where schools of smallmouth bass were suspended over deeper water. Once located, he targeted individual groups the same way he did in 2021, and picked off each bass using MEGA Live to seal the deal.

"When I won the Elite event here a couple years ago, I relied heavily on MEGA 360 Imaging and Humminbird 2D Sonar,” added Gustafson. ”Adding MEGA Live this week, I could still pick out rocks and other hard bottom areas on 360, but I could be much more efficient with my bait presentation and quickly learn how the fish were behaving – getting them to bite in real time.”

Dating back to his victory in 2021 to today, Gussy has now led seven straight days of Bassmaster events on the Tennessee River. Locating and presenting his bait to suspended smallmouth bass on creek channels; similar to how he fishes back home in Canada. Gussy caught his tournament-winning weight by keeping his bait just above the fish – which he was able to do accurately and clearly with Humminbird MEGA Live Imaging. Once he had his fish hooked, he was able to use Spot-Lock®on his Minn Kota Ultrex™ to keep his boat positioned on high-percentage areas allowing him to stay on top of the schools of fish he was targeting.

"Those first couple days, it looked easier than it was to get those suspended fish to bite,” he added. “Between catching short fish and the fish not committing to the bait, it was tough to catch five bass a day. It got tougher and tougher each day, and you could see how the pressure affected them on the final day.”

Day three proved tough for the championship Sunday field of anglers as Gussy’s fish became pressured and the legal sized smallmouth bass were harder to come by. One keeper smallmouth bass early in the morning got his day started but it wasn't until after the mid-way point when he finally landed his second keeper. He knew that with MEGA Live Imaging on his Humminbird APEX™ unit, simply catching five keeper smallmouth bass would give him a chance to take the title.

While the last day was not what Gussy would have wanted, the two fish he brought back to the scales were just enough to secure his dream coming true: winning the Bassmaster Classic.

"This is unbelievable. I truly cannot describe what this means to me and to the folks that have supported me on my journey to get here,” said Gustafson. “It was a hard way to win this event; but we won, and we’re bringing this trophy up to Canada for the first time ever and that’s super special to be able to say. I have a lot of respect for the anglers I compete against, the anglers that came before me and the meaning behind winning the first Ray Scott Bassmaster Classic Trophy is indescribable.”

"This weekend was truly incredible and it could not have happened to a better person. You won’t find a single person in the industry that doesn’t love Gussy, and we couldn’t have more pride in him being on our team,” said Field Promotions Manager, Tim Price. “His character is one we model our team after and this win is much deserved. We’re excited to celebrate Gussy and his family in this win, and look forward to seeing what the future holds for him and his career.”

by AnglersChannel

Gustafson struggles on the final day but holds on for historic Bassmaster Classic victory on the Tennessee River

Jeff Gustafson of Kenora, Canada, has won the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota with a three-day total of 42 pounds, 7 ounces, becoming the first Canadian to be crowned the Classic champion.

Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S.

March 26, 2023

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Canadian pro Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson’s bass refused to play fair on the final day of the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota on the Tennessee River.

But fortunately for him, the bulk of his work was already done.

Despite catching only two smallmouth bass that weighed 6 pounds, 12 ounces on Championship Sunday and falling three fish short of the 15 he’d been counting down toward all week, Gustafson held on to win the most treasured title in professional fishing with a three-day total of 42-7.

As the first Canadian Classic champion ever, he takes home the Ray Scott Trophy and a $300,000 first-place check.

“I had an hour ride back to check-in, and it was horrible,” said Gustafson, who now holds two-straight wire-to-wire victories on this fishery. “I thought I’d blown it for sure. I thought there was no way I’d even be in the mix.

“When I got back and looked at BassTrakk, I still wasn’t sure. I knew I didn’t have much more than what mine said and the guys behind me both had limits that might have been heavier than what they had entered.”

As it turned out, Gustafson received hard charges from both Maryland pro Bryan Schmitt and Alabama pro Scott Canterbury, but neither could quite pull it off. Schmitt caught a five-bass limit that weighed 11-1 and finished less than 2 pounds shy of a win at 40-14, while Canterbury caught one of the biggest limits of the day at 12-1 and finished just over 2 pounds back at 40-1.

Gustafson spent the day in Tellico Lake doing the same thing that had worked for him six days in a row on the fishery — four during his 2021 regular-season Elite Series win and two to start this Classic — but something was different. Though plenty of smallmouth were still visible on his Humminbird MEGA Live electronics, they simply weren’t as cooperative as they had been previously.

“I think it was a combination of they’ve been getting fished hard and there’s some heat coming and they’re ready to move up and spawn,” Gustafson said. “I’ve been working them pretty hard, and you could tell they were lazy.

“The last couple of days, they would just skyrocket up to the bait when they saw it. But today it wasn’t like that at all.”

After catching 18-8 on Friday and 17-3 on Saturday, Gustafson didn’t catch his first keeper until around 9:30 a.m. Sunday. Then it was another three hours before he caught his second and final keeper — and by then, he had unofficially lost the lead on BassTrakk.

But in the end, his “moping” tactic won out.

A technique that dates heavily back to his Canadian roots, Gustafson used a Z-Man Jerk ShadZ in the smelt color on a 3/8-ounce Smeltinator jighead with a 1/0 hook, fishing straight down for bass he could see on his Humminbird MEGA Live forward-facing sonar. He fished the rig on a G. Loomis NRX+ 872 rod — a 7-foot, 3-inch medium action rig — with a Shimano Stella 3000 spooled with 10-pound PowerPro and a 10-pound Shimano Mastiff fluorocarbon leader.

He said the angle of the bait was key to many of his bites.

“I use a knot called a San Diego Jam or a three tag-in knot,” he said. “You can really tie whatever knot you want, but you want that bait to sit horizontal and natural in the water.

“I’ve been using that Z-Man Jerk ShadZ for years — long before they sponsored me — just because I feel really comfortable with them and they work.”

As for the action he was imparting to the bait, he said every fish was different.

“There’s no real jigging,” he said. “It’s more of a quiver. If they’re kind of eyeballing it, coming slower toward it, I just give the bait a little bit of a quiver.”

Sometimes Gustafson said he “plays games” with finicky fish.

“When they’re coming slow, I pull it up away from them a little bit sometimes,” he said. “You get a lot of bumps, too, where they hit it with their mouths closed. When they do that, I drop it back down and start the quiver like it’s an injured baitfish.”

Gustafson said he relied heavily on his Minn Kota Ultrex trolling motor to stay on top of the fish, especially on Day 2 when the winds topped 20 mph.

“Spot-Lock is one of the greatest things ever invented,” he said. “Every time I’d catch a fish before I’d even put it in the livewell, I’d hit Spot-Lock because, a lot of times, there were other fish following it. So, Spot-Lock kept me on them.”

Still, he said MEGA Live was the key to his event.

“I know everyone doesn’t love the forward-facing sonar, but it’s mandatory equipment if you want to compete with these guys. Everyone has it, and if you don’t, you’re not even gonna come close to competing.”

The magnitude of being the first Canadian to win a Classic trophy was still dawning on Gustafson 30 minutes after the trophy was placed in his hands.

“It’s insane,” he said. “I’m kind of speechless. I wish I could have spoken a little better up there on stage. There are a lot of good anglers up there, a lot of people who love bass fishing in Canada.

“So, this is for everybody up there.”

The 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota set a new record, welcoming a crowd of 163,914 fans to Classic Week activities.

Gustafson claimed the $7,000 Rapala Monster Bag of the Week with the 18-8 limit he caught on Day 1.

As a member of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Canterbury is bringing home an additional $20,000. He also earned the $1,000 BassTrakk contingency for the closest estimate of his weight throughout the first two days of the event.

Florida's Drew Benton took home an additional $7,500 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, while John Cox earned $2,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

Kentucky pro Matt Robertson won $1,000 for the Mercury Big Bass of the Day with a 5-6. Oklahoma pro Luke Palmer claimed the $2,500 prize for Mercury Big Bass of the Week with a 5-13 he caught on Day 2.

2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota 3/24-3/26
Tennessee River, Knoxville TN.
(ANGLER) Standings Day 3

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

1. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, Ontario CANADA 12 42-07 0 $307,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 2 06-12
2. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 15 40-14 0 $50,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 13-12 Day 3: 5 11-01
3. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 15 40-01 0 $41,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 12-01
4. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 14 38-03 0 $30,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 15-01 Day 3: 4 09-13
5. John Cox DeBary, FL 14 36-13 0 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 15-11 Day 3: 4 06-14
6. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 14 35-10 0 $22,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 10-02 Day 3: 4 08-01
7. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 15 34-09 0 $21,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 11-06 Day 3: 5 09-03
8. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 15 34-00 0 $21,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 09-08 Day 3: 5 12-07
9. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 15 31-12 0 $20,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 08-06 Day 3: 5 10-13
10. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 12 30-14 0 $20,000.00
Day 1: 4 12-07 Day 2: 4 10-04 Day 3: 4 08-03
11. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 12 30-08 0 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 12-07 Day 3: 2 03-15
12. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 13 30-00 0 $15,000.00
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 5 09-06
13. Jonathan Dietz Corry, PA 13 29-15 0 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 3 07-12 Day 3: 5 12-02
14. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 13 29-10 0 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 10-13 Day 3: 3 06-07
15. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 13 28-15 0 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 12-09 Day 3: 3 06-03
16. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 11 28-15 0 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 4 11-03 Day 3: 2 05-13
17. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 12 28-12 0 $13,000.00
Day 1: 4 10-00 Day 2: 3 09-13 Day 3: 5 08-15
18. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 7 26-12 0 $14,000.00
Day 1: 3 10-15 Day 2: 2 08-01 Day 3: 2 07-12
19. Bryan New Saluda, SC 11 25-15 0 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 3 06-08 Day 3: 3 09-15
20. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 13 24-10 0 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 09-02 Day 3: 3 04-06
21. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 12 24-04 0 $13,000.00
Day 1: 4 08-07 Day 2: 4 09-05 Day 3: 4 06-08
22. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 9 23-10 0 $13,000.00
Day 1: 4 07-14 Day 2: 5 15-12 Day 3: 0 00-00
23. Louis Monetti Brielle, NJ 13 22-13 0 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 07-13 Day 2: 5 09-07 Day 3: 3 05-09
24. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 12 21-05 0 $13,000.00
Day 1: 4 08-04 Day 2: 5 08-11 Day 3: 3 04-06
25. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 12 20-15 0 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 08-00 Day 3: 2 03-08
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

BIG BASS
Day
1 Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA04-15 $1,000.00
2 Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 05-13 $1,000.00
3 Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 05-06 $1,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
MERCURY BIG BASS
Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 05-13 $2,500.00
RAPALA MONSTER BAG
Jeff Gustafson Keewatin, 18-08 $7,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 24 200 465-12
2 24 196 442-09
3 8 88 190-01
----------------------------------
56 484 1098-06

by AnglersChannel

Rambo & Clark Take TXTT #2 Tournament on Sam Rayburn Reservoir

BROOKELAND, Tx. (March 25, 2023)– The second stop of the 2023 Bass Pro Shops/ Cabela’s Texas Team Trail presented by Progressive season on Sam Rayburn Reservoir greeted the 193 teams to warmer conditions, clear skies, and over all tough conditions to make things challenging among some of the best anglers in Texas. Once the day ended, Team Cory Rambo and Rusty Clark walked away as champions after weighing a five bass limit for 21 pounds 10 ounces.

“The morning started out pretty solid for us” said Mercury Marine angler Corey Rambo. “We caught a limit pretty quick fishing with a Carolina Rig, when the sun got high and the temperature started getting hot we covered some old school spots with a6 ^th Sense 300DD crankbait to cull up to the weight we weighed in”.

The Orange, TX team walked away with a new 2023 Ranger Z-518 powered by a 150hp Mercury Pro XS. The winning team also cashed in on the Mercury Marine Contingency Bonus, and in all walked away from Sam Rayburn Reservoir with $55,850 in cash and prizes.

Mundy & Bonds for Second

Team Derek Mundy & Jason Bonds took home second place by only 5 ounces after weighing in a five bass limit of 21 pounds 5 ounces andPower-Pole Big Bass honors. Mundy and Bonds also were able to claim the $500 Garmin Contingency Bonus. In total for their efforts, the team was awarded $6,866.00.

At the end of the tournament, the team reported, “…our day was tough. The first part of the day we junk fished up shallow and were able to catch a few key fish off a bed. Later in the day we related to an old secret of ours to catch our big fish”. That fish weighed 9 pounds 6 ounces.

2022 TXTT Championship Winning Team Campbell & Frankens Take Home Third

2022 Texas Team Trail Championship winners Shaine Campbell & Wyatt Frankens took home the third-place spot with a limit that weighed 20 pounds 5 ounces. Cashing a check for a total of $4,579.00

At the end of their fishing day, they went on to say, “like everyone else, we had a very tough tournament. Today we had to run a lot of history and completely scrap what we found in practice. Mid-morning, we had to pick up our confidence bait, a 6^th Sense 300DD crankbait, and run a deep pattern. This helped us finish out a small limit and then cull up to get the weight we had at weigh-in.”

Frankens went on to say, “…one key to our success when fishing a crankbait is changing our treble hooks toGamakatsu EWG Short Shank Trebles. They seem to help pin fish better for us and really decrease potential loss when it comes to treble hook fishing.

Rounding Out the Top-10

4.) Henry Creel & Jason Griffin- 19.12

5.) Brian Brown & Robert Anderson- 19.10

6.) Jeff Bridges & Garret Hilton- 19.02

7.) Seth Furmanek & Robert Kettner- 18.09

8.) Ben Morton & Connor Whisenant- 17.08

9.) Adam Dunn & Shelby Shaw- 17.04

10.) Kris Wilson & Bryan Lohr- 16.14

Texas Team Trail would like to thank local White River Marine Group dealer Premiere Boating Center of Jasper, TX.

The next stop of the 2023 Bass Pro Shops/ Cabela’s Texas Team Trail presented by Progressive event is on Lake Ray Roberts, April 22^nd, 2023. Registration can be found here: https://outdoorteamworks.com/trail/txtt/registration/

Official results are located through this link: https://www.texasteamtrail.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/2023-Sam-Rayburn-2-Final-Results.pdf

by AnglersChannel

Florida anglers conquer Watts Bar in Bassmaster High School Classic

Bryce Balentine and Dalton Loos of Florida's Seminole Junior Anglers have won the Strike King Bassmaster High School Classic presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors with 8 pounds, 2 ounces.

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

March 25, 2023

KINGSTON, Tenn. — Where Bryce Balentine and Dalton Loos are accustomed to fishing, rock is hardly ever a prominent piece of cover to target for a winning bag of bass.

So, when the team from the Seminole Junior Anglers arrived at Watts Bar for the Strike King Bassmaster High School Classic presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, they felt like they were on a different planet.

It didn’t take them long to figure it out, however, as the central Florida duo caught four bass weighing 8 pounds, 2 ounces to win the event. They were awarded the trophy on the stage of the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota inside Thompson-Boling Arena on the campus of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.

“This means a lot to me,” an emotional Balentine said.

“This is what you go to bed and dream about. I’m just glad we were able to come across the stage and bring home (a trophy),” Loos added. “We picked what we liked fishing around the most and went to work. We tried not to worry about what other people were doing.”

BJ Collins and Banks Shaw from Tennessee's Sale Creek High School finished second with 5-14 followed by Clay County High School’s Parker Stalvey and Jacob Deel in third place with 4-15.

Calling the Harris Chain of Lakes home — and being new to the Tennessee River system — Loos and Balentine didn’t catch a single keeper bass during a tough practice. They did, however, catch two nonkeepers on a specific stretch of bank in the back of a creek that keyed them in to their tournament game plan.

The back of this creek featured riprap and other rock elements and also had dirty water moving through it. They caught their largemouth with a red Strike King Chick Magnet.

“We found some dirty water that had a little flow in it, and that current held those bass there,” Loos said. “We were in that one creek all day long.”

It wasn’t an easy day for any of the eight teams competing. Winds were blowing hard out of the southwest all day after heavy thunderstorms moved through the area overnight. No team reached their five-bass limit, and the Florida anglers considered themselves fortunate to get the bites they had.

“We grinded out all day,” Balentine said. “They were in about 5 feet of water. We went all the way to the back and found a certain stretch. We found it in practice. We decided that was (basically) all we had and we were going to come back in the tournament and see what happens. Well, we saw what happened.”

Loos has graduated since qualifying for this event, but Balentine will continue to work this season to reach the Classic stage again next year.

*****Third place in HS was a tie between Clay County HS and Spain Park HS, both with 4-15*****

2023 Strike King Bassmaster High School Classic presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors 3/25-3/25
Watts Bar Reservoir, Knoxville TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

Angler Club/School Pts

1. Bryce Balentine - Dalton Loos Seminole Junior Anglers - FL 0
Day 1: 4 08-02 Total: 4 08-02
2. BJ Collins - Banks Shaw Sale Creek Anglers - TN 0
Day 1: 3 05-14 Total: 3 05-14
3. Parker Stalvey - Jacob Deel Clay County High School - FL 0
Day 1: 2 04-15 Total: 2 04-15
3. Benjamin Travis - Andrew Kunz Auburn University (7892) 0
Day 1: 2 04-15 Total: 2 04-15
5. Mark Cerja Jr - Gus Richardson Lone Star Jr Bassmasters TX 0
Day 1: 2 03-11 Total: 2 03-11
6. Brady Pinwar - Alec Albrecht Midland High School 0
Day 1: 1 03-00 Total: 1 03-00
7. Hunter Holland - Walker High School - LA 0
Day 1: 1 01-07 Total: 1 01-07
8. Huntlee York - Colton Smith Y and S Fishing (10013) 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 0 15 32-00
----------------------------------
0 15 32-00

by AnglersChannel

Gustafson continues march toward possible Bassmaster Classic title with big Day 2 on Tennessee River

Jeff Gustafson of Kenora, Canada, is leading after Day 2 of the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota with a two-day total of 35 pounds, 11 ounces.

Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S.

March 25, 2023

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Since the opening moments of the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota, Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson has been counting down.

Not to a five-bass daily limit, but to the three-day limit of 15 he needs to be crowned a Classic champion.

After Saturday, he can say, “Ten down, five to go.”

Using the same moping technique he used to win a regular-season Bassmaster Elite Series event here on the Tennessee River in 2021 — and to take the lead in this Classic on Friday with 18 pounds, 8 ounces — Gustafson added five more smallmouth Saturday that weighed 17-3 and now holds a commanding lead with a two-day total of 35-11.

His closest competition going into Championship Sunday will be Florida largemouth specialist John Cox, who sits almost 6 pounds back in second with 29-15.

“I’ve just got to go out and get it done tomorrow,” said Gustafson, who has now led all six days of the two tournaments he’s fished here on Fort Loudoun and Tellico lakes. “I don’t have any good backup plans. I just need to keep doing what I’ve been doing.”

In 2021, Gustafson did most of his damage in the canal that connects the two lakes, but his two best spots this week have been in Tellico. He started Saturday morning on the spot where he caught all of his Friday weight but found the bass were finicky after he'd pressured them.

With only two bass in his livewell, he moved to his second spot and quickly found the fish more cooperative.

“I didn’t really have to burn that second spot yesterday, but I went there today and took three fish off it,” he said. “They were three good ones. There were quite a few there when I pulled up, but I just kept missing them and scuffing them.

“Tomorrow, I’ve gotta fish perfectly. I don’t think I was really doing anything wrong. Maybe that’s just a little bit of the luck factor.”

As the water temperature continues to rise, Gustafson said he saw fewer bass in the deep holes he’s been targeting — something he said was predictable as more bass move toward the shallow areas for their annual spring spawn.

He has been identifying smallmouth on Humminbird MEGA Live forward-facing sonar and dropping his bait — a Z-Man Jerk ShadZ on a 3/8-ounce Smeltinator jighead — straight down, with an emphasis on keeping it just above their heads. That was more challenging Saturday with the winds topping 20 mph, and he relied heavily on his trolling motor to stay on the fish.

“It was tougher than it probably looked on TV, and it could get even tougher,” he said. “But I really believe I’ll have my chances. I just have to stay committed and do what has to be done.”

While Gustafson was out deep, Cox was using a technique that was basically the polar opposite. The noted shallow-water specialist employed a Berkley Frittside crankbait in water so shallow he had to hold his rod tip high to keep the bait from digging into the bottom.

With the winds blowing so hard, Cox went back to a protected area where he fished during the 2021 regular-season event where he placed third.

“I stayed in there, bounced around and grinded all day,” Cox said. “I picked up some other stuff — a bladed jig and a couple of other baits — but nothing felt right. So, I just stayed with that Frittside.”

Using the Kentucky blue and ghost morning dawn colors, Cox targeted shallow cover where largemouth are anxious to spawn. He said a predicted cold snap with an expected nighttime low of 49 degrees could actually work in his favor.

“With the water temperature where it is, the bass are ready to spawn,” he said. “I would rather them stay in this prespawn mode where they want to eat. That cooler weather could help out with that.”

Knowing he’s facing a 6-pound deficit and chasing a red-hot angler, Cox said he believes he might need 20 pounds or more to have a chance to win. But he believes that bag is possible.

“When I was fishing that spot back in 2021, there were three of us sharing it,” he said. “Between us, our biggest ones would have weighed 20. So, it can happen.”

Maryland pro Bryan Schmitt started the day in third place and held steady despite a slow start. Schmitt is targeting prespawn largemouth around shallow offshore cover, and he believes he found a spot late in the day Saturday that could play big during the final round.

“I found one little deal this afternoon that, if it fires for me in the morning, we could be good,” he said. “It’s the same scenario I’ve been fishing all week, just new water.”

Even though the bite on that spot took place in the afternoon Saturday, Schmitt believes it could be good early Sunday morning.

“For whatever reason, there’s some current there,” he said. “I’m thinking maybe they don’t have any choice but to be there.

“They’re the same kind of staging fish I’ve been catching all week. One leaves and another one moves in there — and that’s good.”

Gustafson leads the race for Rapala Monster Bag of the Week, which carries a $7,000 bonus, with the 18-8 he caught on Day 1.

Oklahoma pro Luke Palmer claimed the $1,000 prize for Mercury Big Bass of the Day with a 5-13 largemouth and took the lead for Mercury Big Bass of the Week, an honor that pays an additional $2,500.

Competition will continue Sunday with the remaining Top 25 anglers taking off at 7:30 a.m. ET from Volunteer Landing. The weigh-in will start at 3:30 p.m. at Thompson-Boling Arena, with one angler claiming the coveted Ray Scott Trophy and the $300,000 first-place check.

FS1 will broadcast live with the tournament leaders on Sunday beginning at 11 a.m. ET before afternoon action from Championship Sunday picks up on FOX at 12 p.m. with additional coverage on Bassmaster.com. A full viewing schedule can be found at Bassmaster.com/how-to-watch.

The annual Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by the U.S. Army will take place across the Knoxville Convention Center and adjacent World’s Fair Exhibition Hall with exhibitors on-site selling a variety of merchandise for fishing, hunting, camping and more. Hours for the Expo will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.

The Bassmaster Classic is being hosted by Visit Knoxville.

by AnglersChannel

Snyders takes home Bassmaster Kayak Series title at Chickamauga; honored on Classic stage

Rus Snyders of Pegram, Tenn., has won the 2023 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship powered by TourneyX on Chickamauga Lake with a two-day total of 180 inches.

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

March 24, 2023

DAYTON, Tenn. — Rus Snyders has spent 10 years in the state of Tennessee, and in that time he has become one of the most dominant anglers in the state.

On Friday, Snyders continued his success in the Volunteer state by winning the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship at Chickamauga Lake powered by TourneyX with a two-day total of 180 inches.

Snyders landed in third after Day 1 with 93.75 inches before adding 86.25 inches on Day 2 to outlast Damian Thao, Luke Graham and the rest of the 132-boat field.

“It means a lot to win in this state. I love Tennessee,” Snyders said. “I don’t think I’m leaving. This is an awesome place with some great fisheries. Chickamauga is a lake I am pretty familiar with, but (I’ve) never fished it with the conditions we had and the water being so low. It was like being on a whole new lake.”

Normally even-keeled and steady, Snyders’ emotional side shined when he was announced the winner onstage at Thompson-Boling Arena during the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota.

“Bassmaster has been something I have followed my whole life. I always watch the Classic,” Snyders said. “To be on this stage and to hoist that trophy was really special. This is the highest level in kayak fishing right now.”

Snyders focused his efforts on the upper end of Chickamauga. With the water so low, much of the water had been sucked out of the backwater areas, so he targeted stumps on the main river where he believed the bass had moved.

“I had a little bit of current. I didn’t get a lot of bites but I got the right bites,” he said. “I didn’t lose a single fish the entire tournament and that was very fortunate.”

A 7-inch Bass Mafia Daingerous Swimbait rigged on a iRod Genesis III rod with 20-pound Sunline fluorocarbon and a 10/0 Owner Beast Hook was the primary setup for Snyders.

It produced all of his bites but one, including his biggest bass, a 22.5 that he landed first thing on Day 1. The lunker bit several inches from the boat, and when it bit, Snyders said it ran straight under his kayak, running his line to the other side and resulting in a chaotic fight.

He landed his fish and proceeded to quickly fill his limit.

On the final day, he caught three fish in the first half hour and then a fourth shortly after that. It took Snyders six hours to catch his final bass, a 16-incher that bit a red crankbait.

“I went hours without getting a bite. With a couple of hours left, I abandoned everything and went to some new water. I went into a little backwater area and caught a 16-incher that was barely hooked in the corner of the lip. I didn’t know it was going to win it for me, but I knew it was a significant bass.”

Thao, meanwhile, had never fished outside of California before heading to east Tennessee. He made the most of his first time on a Tennessee River reservoir, catching a two-day total of 176 inches.

“Chickamauga has a lot of stuff I like,” he said. “The lake is so huge and there are so many options. You can really fish your strengths. We had a lot of cold conditions and I didn’t think these fish were getting ready to move up. They were still out on the ledges. That is what I do a lot back home.”

Practice did not indicate Thao would have a productive event, as he did not catch a fish the first day of the practice period. But he applied some of the concepts he has learned in his home state to Chickamauga, focusing on a specific ledge that featured standing timber.

He dragged a lighter Carolina rig with a watermelon red-colored Zoom Brush Hog down the ledge, starting in 8 feet of water and ending his retrieve in 25 feet. His bite was consistent, catching 88 inches both days with his biggest measuring 20 inches, which he landed on Day 2.

“They didn’t turn on until the afternoon. It wasn’t until 12 o’clock,” he explained. “As soon as it hit 12, though, the water temperatures started to get a little warmer and I started capitalizing on the bigger bites.”

Graham finished third with 173.25 inches. The Knoxville native anchored his bag with a 21-inch smallmouth. After catching 94 inches on Day 1, Graham struggled much of Day 2 and only had two bass in his total at 2:30 p.m.

But in the last half hour, he landed three bass to achieve 79.25 inches and salvaged a third-place finish.

Ohio angler Aaron Stallbaum landed the big bass of the tournament, a 23.25-inch largemouth.

by AnglersChannel

Gustafson revisits history, takes Day 1 lead at Bassmaster Classic with five smallmouth

Jeff Gustafson of Kenora, Canada, is leading after Day 1 of the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota with 18 pounds, 8 ounces.

Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S.

March 24, 2023

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Jeff Gustafson’s motto during the opening round of the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyotaseemed to be, “Why make it complicated?”

The fifth-year Bassmaster Elite Series angler from Kenora, Ontario, Canada, took the lead Friday in the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing on the Tennessee River — and instead of starting over or trying to reinvent something, he caught his bass the same way he did when he won a regular-season Elite Series event on this same venue back in 2021.

Fishing the same canal that connects Fort Loudoun Reservoir and Tellico Lake where he parked himself during that 2021 event, the 40-year-old pro caught a five-bass limit of smallmouth that weighed 18 pounds, 8 ounces and positioned himself for a run at a spot in pro fishing history.

“There’s just something about this place,” he said. “I’m jiving with it, and it’s worked so far. The technique I’m doing is one of my favorites. It’s a technique that I feel like I’m probably pretty good at compared to the rest of the field.

“You don’t get that opportunity at most of the venues we go to, but here it works.”

During his 2021 victory, Gustafson used a tactic referred to as “moping” that involves identifying smallmouth on forward-facing sonar — he uses Humminbird MEGA Live technology — and dangling a bait just within their strike zone. He did the same thing on Friday and expanded the areas where it will work.

“There’s a lot of fish in those same spots as 2021, but they’ve just been fished so hard that they’re really hard to catch,” he said. “The bites are real nippy and they look at it and they’re lazy.

“In the couple of places that I’ve found where I don’t think they’ve really been fished, they’re a lot easier to catch.”

Since he’s targeting deeper fish, Gustafson didn’t seem quite as concerned as some about an approaching weather system that is expected to bring 20 to 30 mph winds to the region for Saturday’s second round.

“It’s gonna make it a little more challenging, but it’s not like we’re going out on Lake Ontario,” he said. “It’s just going to make it a little more challenging on the motor. You make a bit more noise. But hopefully, it’s not going to bother the fish.”

Gustafson’s total was 1-1 better than that of Brandon Lester, an Elite Series pro from Fayetteville, Tenn., whose five-bass limit of 17-7 gave the impression that he had a much more productive day than he really did.

Lester said he caught only nine keepers — all largemouth — and none of the bass he weighed in were in his livewell until around 11:30 a.m. But a quick flurry saw him put three good keepers in the boat in a little over 30 minutes, and then he finished strong with a 4-10 just before 2 p.m. and a 2-8 just before quitting time at 3.

“I was honestly getting a little tight around 11, but I just kept telling myself it was gonna happen,” said Lester, who claimed his first career Elite Series victory last year on another Tennessee River fishery, Pickwick Lake. “When it started happening, it was just ‘bam, bam, bam.’”

Lester said it was a typical prespawn largemouth scenario, with the bass roaming around during the morning hours with the cooler water temperatures and then locking down on shallow cover as the water temps rose.

“On up in the day, they’ll slide up next to something — something you can pitch a bait next to — and you’ll catch them,” he said. “I did most of my damage in 57.9-degree water today, and that’s what I want to see.

“It was 52 degrees during practice. That’s cold. There’s a big difference between 52- and 57-degree water.”

Lester expects a similarly slow morning Saturday.

“I’m going go into it with the mindset that anything I catch before 10 o’clock is a bonus,” he said. “We’ve got a weather system coming in tomorrow with some wind that’s supposed to blow pretty hard.”

The weather concerns third-place angler Bryan Schmitt of Maryland as well since he’s basically following the same strategy as Lester of fishing shallow cover for largemouth with his best bites coming later in the day.

Schmitt, who has two Elite Series wins on his resume, started slowly just like Lester but then moved from his planned depth of 8 to 12 feet to a shallower range of 4 to 8 feet. That’s where he found all of the bass he weighed in for a solid limit of 16-1.

“What I noticed is that the water has come up a little bit and the water temperature came up a little bit,” Schmitt said. “I kind of moved up with the fish and found them. The patterns and lures were the same, just a little bit further up the hill.”

Schmitt said the bass could move even shallower, but the approaching weather could make his strategy difficult.

“I feel like I’m fishing places where more will just keep coming to me,” he said. “They’re just staging, staging, staging.

“If the water temperature keeps rising, they could go from 4 to 8 feet up into zero to 4 feet. But the wind is supposed to blow 20 to 30, and if there are 3-foot rollers crashing onto the fish, that could mess everything up.”

Canadian pro Chris Johnston claimed $1,000 for Mercury Big Bass of the Day with a 4-15 largemouth.

Competition will continue Saturday with the full field of 55 anglers taking off at 7:30 a.m. ET from Volunteer Landing. The weigh-in will be held at 3:30 p.m. at Thompson-Boling Arena, with only the top 25 anglers advancing to Championship Sunday with a chance to win the Ray Scott Trophy — the most coveted prize in professional angling — and the $300,000 first-place check.

FS1 will broadcast live with the tournament leaders on Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. ET with additional coverage on Bassmaster.com. A full viewing schedule can be found at Bassmaster.com/how-to-watch.

by AnglersChannel

Keith Poche Blasts the Competition on Fenwick Rods to Win Stage Two of the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour

Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie Joey Cifuentes III claims first Bassmaster Elite Series trophy at Lake Seminole with a four day total weight of 85-pounds, 2-ounces.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Mar 23, 2023) – Claiming his first Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour victory, Fenwick Pro Keith Poche crushed the competition on Douglas and Cherokee Lake this week as his weights increased as the tournament progressed. Poche breezed through the qualifying and knockout rounds of the event to make the championship and final day where he posted a dominating performance of 19-pound, 2-ounces to claim victory.

Throughout the event, Poche stuck to his guns and found big bites doing exactly what he likes to do. Getting up shallow or “off the grid” as he likes to say, Poche left his mark on Stage Two of the Major League Fishing BPT.

“I love fishing in places where no one else is able to reach. For me, that’s my passion and the majority of the time the fish I find in those places are untouched,” said Poche. “In this event I put my gear through the ringer by jumping shoals, going all the way up the rivers and creeks on Douglas and Cherokee and found the right fish waiting for me.”

Poche is very passionate about his style of fishing and acknowledges the risks but big rewards of doing so. Getting the win the way he likes to fish is quite an accomplishment, and the way he caught his limit this week is one that truly shows the effectiveness and diversity that his Fenwick Elite bass rods have to offer.

In the Championship round Poche caught the majority of his fish on a Berkley PowerBait Hollow Belly swimbait rigged up on a 7’3” Heavy Fenwick Elite casting rod and Abu Garcia Zenon X casting reel. Fishing in current and around a lot of rocks, he rigged this setup on 15-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon giving him the confidence to get the winning fish in the boat.

“To do what I do, I need to have the right gear that I can trust. I beat my stuff up, and I need to be able to know it can endure the conditions that I endure to get to the spots I am trying to fish,” said Poche. “Fenwick rods are known for their sensitivity, so it is pretty impressive that they are also tough enough to handle some of the places I take them. They have every action I could ask for, and they’ll hold up to every condition I find myself in.”

This win is a big addition to the trophy case for Poche, but there is no time for celebration as his sights are set on the next tournament that is just down the road on the same river system – the 2023 Bassmaster Classic on the Tennessee River.

“I have been fishing professionally for 14 years and anytime you win an event, it’s a huge deal for the angler. It’s all about the confidence, pride and the mindset it allows that angler to fish with moving forward after that win. For me, this is exactly what I needed,” concludes Poche. “It’s a huge accomplishment for me against this stacked field of anglers and gives me just the confidence that I need to throw a few Fenwick rods and Berkley baits in my boat tomorrow to go try and win the Bassmaster Classic.”

by AnglersChannel

DAIWA: New 23 Tatula Elite Rods

New features and models designed by top pro anglers and their signature techniques

Cypress, CA (March 24, 2023) – Relying on extensive input from some of the best pro anglers competing on the B.A.S.S. and Major League Fishing tournament circuits, DAIWA brings new blank construction technology and a lighter ‘Air Sensor’ reel seat to its expanding, now 29-model technique specific Tatula Elite bass rod series. Along with the upgrade to rods in the existing Tatula Elite lineup, models have been added for today’s advanced fishing techniques. In the nine all new rods now being offered, bass anglers will find unique spinning rods for casting hair jigs long distances, and longer length cranking rods built with lighter glass blank material, so baits will dive even deeper.

At the core of the redesigned Tatula Elite bass rods is DAIWA’s exclusive SVF NANOPLUS graphite and X45 Bias blank construction. “Plus, these new rods are even lighter by using our ‘Micropitch’ heating process that puts extensive pressure on the blank to give them more muscle while keeping that light-in-hand feel,” said DAIWA’s Marketing Manager Marc Mills. “The new carbon graphite ‘Air Sensor’ reel also adds to the rods’ overall lightness. And on the Tatula Elite cranking rods, anglers will also notice lighter glass material used, which combined with the Air Sensor reel seat brings better overall sensitivity."

Within new Tatula Elite lineup, bass anglers will also notice new lengths and actions designed for even more advanced techniques, each designed by DAIWA’s Team Tatula pro anglers Brett Ehlers, Randy Howell, Takahiro Omori, Cody Meyer, Seth Feider, Ish Monroe, Patrick Walters, Corey Johnston, and Chris Johnston.

Brett Ehlers’ key contribution to the new rods in the series is the Tatula Elite TTEL801MHRB-G, an 8’ medium-heavy power deep-cranking rod with an EVA split grip so he can make longer casts to make his baits run as deep as possible.

Randy Howell takes the ‘universal’ approach with his Tatula Elite TTEL721MHRB 7’2” EVA split grip power casting rod for finesse techniques and smaller topwater lures when accurate casts are a must.

Takahiro Omari worked on his Tatula Elite TTEL701MHRB-G 7’ glass cranking rod with an EVA split grip to handle 1/2- to 2-ounce cranking and moving baits.

It’s all about small searchbaits and paddle-style swimbaits with Cody Meyer’s new Tatula TTEL761MHRB 7’6” casting rod with an EVA split grip, which he says offers a soft tip for added sensitivity and the length needed for long distance casting.

“DAIWA worked with me to design what I feel is the perfect weapon to fish jerkbaits,” said Seth Feider. His new Tatula TTEL691MLRB 6’9” medium-light power casting rod with an EVA split grip has a medium action, so that big smallmouth won’t pull away from jerkbaits with smaller treble hooks.

Ish Monroe went with an extra-sensitive tip on his Tatula Elite TTEL801XHB 8’ extra heavy power casting rod with an EVA split grip to keep it lighter, making it ideal for punchin’ and flippin’ with heavier J-Braid to handle big bass.

Going with a straight cork grip, Patrick Walters designed his go-to Tatula Elite TTEL761HRB-G heavy-power 7’6” glass cranking rod to make long casts and drive his crankbaits deep. He notes the new ‘Air Sensor’ reel seats now featured on the Tatula Elite rods keep them light and adds sensitivity.

The ‘Canadian Invasion’ makes it mark within the new Tatula Elite rods with two unique models. Corey Johnston brings to the new lineup his Tatula Elite TTEL751MHRB soft stickbaits/football jig 7’5” medium-heavy power casting rod with a straight cork grip. He calls it his ‘everything’ rod for all his bottom contact techniques.

Chris Johnston designed what he says, “is the absolute best rod out there for when it comes to durability and sensitivity.” His Tatula Elite TTEL761MLFS 7’6” medium-light power hair jig spinning rod with a cork split grip enables anglers to make long cast and offers a whip action for solid hooksets when using lighter line.

DAIWA’s new Tatula Elite bass rod lineup offers models in lengths, powers, and actions for every bass fishing technique, from bladed jigs, small and large crankbaits, lipless cranks, dropshot and shaky head situations, to casting frogs and spinnerbaits, and working big worms. “There’s a great deal of excitement as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of our Tatula brand,” said DAIWA’s Mills. “These new Tatula Elite rods take us into the next decade and demonstrate our commitment to bring the best bass fishing tackle we can to avid anglers.”

TATULA ELITE BASS RODS: OVERVIEW

Being introduced at the Bassmaster Classic Expo in Knoxville on Friday, March 24, DAIWA launches a redesign and new models to its popular Tatula Elite bass rod series, which now total 29 technique specific models developed in collaboration with leading B.A.S.S. and MLF tournament pros. Anglers will experience the muscle and light feel from DAIWA’s new Micropitch heating process to the exclusive SVF NANOPLUS graphite and X45 Bias blank construction, along with a component upgrade to Air Sensor reel seats for added sensitivity.

New technique-specific rods being added include a hair jig spinning rod from Chris Johnston and Corey Johnston’s casting rod to work football jigs – both showcasing the impact of the ‘Canadian Invasion’ is having on bass fishing – along with glass cranking rods from Brett Ehlers and Takahiro Omari.

All 29 rods are offered for $189.99 (USD).

by AnglersChannel

Wiggins Wins MLF Toyota Series at Lewis Smith Lake

CULLMAN, Ala. (March 24, 2023) – Pro Jordan Wiggins of Cullman, Alabama, crossed the stage with a five-bass limit Thursday weighing 14 pounds, 8 ounces to win the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lewis Smith Lake and earn the top payout of $90,500, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Wiggins’ three-day total of 15 bass weighing 44-14 earned him the victory by a 4-pound, 3-ounce margin over second-place finisher Emil Wagner of Marietta, Georgia, who weighed in 15 bass totaling 40-11 to earn $22,300.

“Man, I am speechless,” Wiggins said. “I’ve been close so many times. I blew it on an Open down here where all I had to do was catch 12 pounds, and I couldn’t do it. That was not going to happen today. I was going to do whatever I had to do to catch 13 to 15. I went as fast as I could go to places where I have caught them this time of year and it just worked out.”

Wiggins got started early on the final day, limiting and culling quickly to work his way into the low teens.

“The start this morning was just unbelievable,” he said. “I mean I won it in the first hour, to be honest with you. I had 13-something then, and in the end, it all worked out. I thought if I could catch 15 pounds, I was for sure going to win it because 17 pounds down here is hard to do. But you can pull into a spawning pocket on a herring bite and catch 17 pounds, and that was what made me nervous.”

After chasing fish that were staging in ditches and drains to open the event, Wiggins switched gears midway through the morning of Day 2. He went to work on shelf rock and structure with immediate deep-water access that spotted bass were using to spawn. He said he focused on darker-colored banks that featured large chunk rocks and docks, a mix he felt was key to attracting spawners.

“I feel like I kind of got lucky because they were moving up as the tournament went along,” Wiggins said. “I had a ditch bite going the first day. I caught two big ones, like a 4 and about a 3¼ and that’s what got me [almost] 16 the first day. I tried to make the ditch bite work [on Day 2], I caught a limit but there just weren’t any big ones. So, I abandoned it and went to a stretch where they typically spawn every year and they were all the right ones.”

Wiggins attempted to take advantage of the herring spawn as bluebird skies and moderate winds took hold on Lewis Smith, but it didn’t turn out to be productive. Ultimately, the same spawning pattern he’d been on since Day 2 showed him the path to victory, as he used a 3/16-ounce homemade shaky head and a green pumpkin 6.5-inch Reaction Innovations Flirt Worm to seal the deal.

“I tried to make the wake bait bite work and it just wasn’t happening,” he said. “I’d gone into two places towards the end of the day and caught two 3-pounders on the shaky head that kind of bumped me up to what I had.”

Jordan’s brother, Bass Pro Tour angler Jesse Wiggins, made an appearance on Day 3 also, showing up with his own kids in tow to support his brother and lifelong fishing buddy.

“That’s awesome,” he said. “He drove all the way back from the Bass Pro Tour event just to watch me fish. That is special, man. If he fishes in a bigger tournament down here, then I follow him around. It’s just solid support, you can’t ask for anything better. [The family] has my back through thick and thin, it’s awesome. We are just a fishing family.”

Jesse wasn’t the only Wiggins member deserving of a shoutout in Jordan’s eyes, as the whole Wiggins family came out to weigh in to show support throughout the week.

“I got to give a shoutout to my wife Whitney,” said Wiggins. “She puts up with me fishing week in and week out, I’m always gone it seems like, but she’s stuck with me so far. My kids keep me going also, they support me big time.”

The top 10 pros on Lewis Smith Lake finished:

1^st:          Jordan Wiggins, Cullman, Ala., 15 bass, 44-14, $90,500 (includes $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus)
2^nd:         Emil Wagner, Marietta, Ga., 15 bass, 40-11, $22,300
3^rd:         Wesley Sams, Vinemont, Ala., 15 bass, 40-0, $15,250
4^th:         Joseph Webster, Winfield, Ala., 15 bass, 39-6, $13,250
5^th:         Austin Swindle, Grant, Ala., 15 bass, 39-1, $12,250
6^th:         Johnny Patterson, Grant, Ala., 15 bass, 38-6, $9,625
7^th:         Grant Galloway, Houlka, Miss., 15 bass, 38-1, $8,300
8^th:         Jeremy Gordon, Rutledge, Tenn., 15 bass, 37-15, $7,300
9^th:         Paul Marks, Cumming, Ga., 15 bass, 37-5, $6,300
10^th:       Jimmy Neece, Jr., Bristol, Tenn., 15 bass, 36-12, $4,700

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Pro Pat Eichmann of Nancy, Kentucky, won the $500 Day 1 Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division Tuesday with a bass weighing 6 pounds, 2 ounces. On Wednesday, Steele, Alabama’s Josh Johnson earned the $500 Berkley Big Bass prize with a 6-pound, 19-ounce bass.

Chris Graham of Epworth, Georgia, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Thursday with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 37 pounds, 9 ounces. Graham took home the top co-angler prize of $35,250, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on Lewis Smith Lake finished:

1^st:          Chris Graham, Epworth, Ga., 15 bass, 37-9, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard + $1,750
2^nd:         Drexal Hubbard, Connersville, Ind., 15 bass, 36-5, $6,625
3^rd:         Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., 15 bass, 34-13, $5,300
4^th:         Doug Vaughn, Houston, Ala., 15 bass, 34-3, $4,150
5^th:         Sakae Ushio, Tonawanda, N.Y., 14 bass, 28-9, $3,650
6^th:         Hoyt Tidwell, West Point, Tenn., 15 bass, 28-5, $3,150
7^th:         Jose Salgado, Artemus, Ky., 14 bass, 27-11, $2,650
8^th:         Larry James, Helena, Ala., 13 bass, 27-7, $2,075
9^th:         Justin Stephenson, Jasper, Ala., 12 bass, 26-12, $1,630
10^th:       Andrew Harper, Shelbyville, Ill., 12 bass, 25-10, $1,390

Andy Vance of Danville, Indiana, earned Tuesday’s $150 Berkley Big Bass award after weighing in a 5-pound, 14-ounce bass, while the Day 2 $150 award went to Dominic Bogolo of Hamilton, Ohio, with a 4-pound, 14-ounce fish.

With two regular-season events in the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Central Division now complete, Trent Suratt of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, leads the Central Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 481 points, while Alan Hults of Gautier, Mississippi, leads the Strike King Co-angler Division AOY race with 508 points.

The Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats at Lewis Smith Lake was hosted by the Cullman County Tourism Bureau. It was the second of three regular-season events for the Toyota Series Central Division. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will be the Toyota Series at Lake Okeechobee, March 30-April 1, in Clewiston, Florida. For a complete schedule of events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2023 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2024. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2023 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 2-4 on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, and is hosted by ExploreBranson.com.

Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Toyota Series include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Black Rifle Coffee Company, E3, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Gill, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Next Gen Lithium, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.

by AnglersChannel

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