Dakota Lithium signs on as new Bassmaster Rookie of the Year sponsor
May 9, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Dakota Lithium, a U.S. battery manufacturer founded in 2008 and the Official Lithium Battery of Bassmaster, has expanded its partnership with B.A.S.S. and will serve as the title sponsor for the hotly contested Bassmaster Rookie of the Year award through 2025.
“Powering the future of fishing, one battery at a time,” said Craig Storms, Dakota Lithium national sales representative and pro staff manager. “Dakota Lithium is a proud sponsor of Bassmaster's Rookie of the Year race, where the best and brightest anglers rise to the top, just like our high-performance lithium batteries.”
The 2023 Elite Series rookie class is already making a huge impact. In just the second event of the season, Joey Cifuentes III took home a win on Lake Seminole, while the other rookies have already amassed 10 Top 20 finishes. After four events, Bryant Smith of Roseville, Calif., leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 300 points, but he holds just a one-point advantage over David Gaston of Sylacauga, Ala.
Along with the coveted Rookie of the Year title, the winner will take home a $10,000 prize.
“We’re excited that Dakota Lithium has decided to encourage and reward up-and-coming anglers on the Bassmaster Elite Series by sponsoring Rookie of the Year,” said Lisa Talmadge, Bassmaster Elite Series tournament director. “The 11 rookies who qualified for the Bassmaster Elite Series this year are incredibly strong and include veteran Opens competitors, a highly decorated and successful college angler, celebrated international competitors and even a former Bassmaster Junior champion.”
Earlier this year, Dakota Lithium signed a three-year sponsorship deal for the Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year award. In addition to entitling the Kayak Series Angler of the Year and Elite Series Rookie of the Year points races, Dakota Lithium also serves as a premier sponsor of the six-circuit Bassmaster Tournament Trail and iconic Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic.
John Cox and Keith Carson Realize Childhood Dream By Finishing 1st & 2nd in MLF Invitational
Abu Garcia and Berkley Pros John Cox and Keith Carson have dreamt of fishing professionally their whole lives and with their first and second-place finishes at the Major League Fishing Tackle Warehouse Invitational, their dreams became a reality.
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (May 9, 2023) – When the MLF Invitational at Lake of the Ozarks was scheduled for early May, both Cox and Carson had it circled on their calendars. Both anglers have proven to be deadly anytime the bass get shallow, but even more so when the event can be won sight fishing. Since growing up together in Debary, Florida, learning and honing their fishing skills, the multi-tour pros have been working for this moment their entire lives.
Cox, winning his ninth MLF event with this victory, arrived at Lake of the Ozarks with only a day and a half of practice time remaining. After struggling to settle in with tournament boats and locals virtually in every part of the lake he chose to fish, Carson clued his travel partner into the area which eventually led to the duo earning a combined $130,000 for their efforts.
“I was stressing out a little but like the Abu Garcia commercial, Keith told me to ‘relax and go fish on the other side of the lake’ from where he was fishing.” laughed Cox. “So I went to the other side and just went fishing. I noticed the beds were few and far between where I was and I think it kept a lot of other boats out of my area; I was able to settle in and try to catch five.”
Cox started strong on day one boating a limit of 20 pounds, 1 ounce, added 18 pounds, 4 ounces on day two, and caught a final-day limit of 17 pounds, 9 ounces to take the victory by just over a pound. The victory was bittersweet as Cox was excited to have qualified for Redcrest, but disappointed that it came down to him and Carson.
"Keith is my buddy; I was hoping he would win. We both want each other to do well every time,” said Cox. “It felt great to win this event and to get back to Redcrest. Keith and I got to do what we grew up doing (click link for video) and we had a blast.”
With the lack of dirty water in the area, Cox relied on finesse techniques to trick spawning bass and fry guarders each day. His main setup was a John Cox Abu Garcia Pro Series rod paired with an Abu Garcia Zenon spinning reel. He opted for a Berkley FireLine main line with a 10-pound-test Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbonleader. He rotated between two soft plastics to catch the majority of his bigger bass - a wacky-rigged PowerBait® MaxScent The General and a PowerBait® Power® Jerk Shad.
Carson Overcomes Day One to Finish Second
Despite being one fish shy of a limit on day one with his 14 pounds, 15 ounces, Keith Carson added 20 pounds, 12 ounces on day two, and 19 pounds, 2 ounces on the final day to finish just over a pound behind Cox.
While Cox was fishing up the river on the afternoon of the second day of practice, Carson was fishing near the dam and locating lots of spawning bass. Wanting Cox to do well in the event, he convinced him to spend a portion of the final day sight fishing and it paid off.
"Cox got sucked into the river; neither of us had been here before and with the amount of docks on this lake, it was tough to scout using google earth,” said Carson. “I found over 100 bass on beds early in practice and knew what I was going to do. Cox found some big fish on the last day and he just went with it.”
Like Cox, Carson effortlessly executed his sight fishing plan all week to put himself in contention after two days of competition. Sitting in fourth, while Cox led, the two Florida anglers knew they both had a shot going into Saturday.
"I never settled in on day one of the tournament and it ultimately cost me the victory,” added Carson. “I tried to catch only big fish and was one short of the limit. Cox and I both knew whoever caught 20 pounds on day three would win and while neither of us ended up doing it, we were able to fish how we like and finished one, two in a major event; it was amazing.”
Carson rotated between a main spinning combo and a main casting combo to catch all of his bass. For the 5-inch PowerBait® MaxScent The General, Carson used a John Cox Abu Garcia Pro Series rod paired with an Abu Garcia Zenon spinning reel. He used a 6-pound Berkley FireLine main line with a 10-pound-test Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon leader.
"That was my main setup, but I also fished a casting combo,” said Carson. “It was a 7-foot, 6-inch medium-heavy action Abu Garcia Fantasista X rod, with an Abu Garcia Zenon MG-X reel and a 20-pound Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon line rigged with a PowerBait® Power® Jerk Shad.”
Travel Tuesday - Enjoy the Mexican Combo Plate
By Hanna Robbins - Half Past First Cast
As many of you may know, I am from Chicago. Up there, the word “Combo” refers to a very special high-calorie, high-fat sandwich -- an Italian sausage under thin-sliced roast beef, slow-cooked in garlic au jus, topped with spicy or sweet peppers, all on an Italian-style roll.
When I moved to the DC area 16 plus years ago, no one here seemed to have heard of the real combo. There’s plenty of good food here, but you’ll have to go to the Windy City if you want a true taste of the combo. That doesn’t really matter in our household, anyway. My sandwich days are pretty much behind me, and at our dinner table conversations aren’t about our workday, they aren’t about date night, they are about bass fishing.
“When is our next Anglers Inn bass fishing trip?”
“Which lake do we want to go to, Picachos or El Salto?”
I have a severe case of FOMO (fear of missing out) so it’s lucky that Anglers Inn provides the only “Combo” that matters at this stage of my life: Two similar but distinct lakes that both offer great service and great food, but which can fish differently on any given day.
If Anglers Inn is on your bucket list and you aren’t sure which lake to choose now you don’t have to, choose both.
The best of both worlds: three nights, and two and a half days at each location.
The “conventional wisdom” tells us that Lake El Salto is known for trophy bass and Lake Picachos is known for numbers.
That can be true, but it’s not always the case. My largest bass was a 9 pound 12 ounce bass out of Lake Picachos and Pete and I have caught 103 fish off one spot in an afternoon at Lake El Salto.
Neither lake will disappoint.
What more can you ask for?
If that’s not incentive enough for you, I’ll present you with a special challenge: Try to one-up my personal best day of fishing. On one day in May of 2014, I caught a 9 pound 5 ounce bass at Lake El Salto in the morning and a 9 pound 12 ounce bug-eyed beast that same afternoon at Lake Picachos. Maybe you’ve caught two 9-pounders on the same day, but I doubt you’ve done it on two different lakes. That puts me in a special “combo club.”
Think of it as a double bucket list trip.
For any and all questions please contact me at [email protected]. Let’s get you to the lake…or lakes!
Cleanliness is Next to Godliness
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SRD20 adds Traditions Media to its promotional formulation, bringing public awareness to the company's novel and specialized marine care products. |
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Lafayette, LA (May 5, 2023) – It’s said that cleanliness is next to godliness. And, hypothetically, if you queried Neptune and Poseidon, they’d add boat cleanliness into the equation. Preferred by a growing legion of discerning boaters – and mythological aquatic gods – SRD20 boat washes, waxes, and protectants, represent the future of boat care. Like all great entrepreneurial stories, and many now famous brands and products, it all started in a garage. SRD20 founder and CM (Chief Mixologist) Stewart Delcambre made his mark in the oil business. “Small oil” compared to say Chevron or ExxonMobil, but big enough to fund his pursuit of developing boat care products that rivaled the automobile industry. In Delcambre’s mind, what was available and marketed to boaters lacked modern technology. |
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“I saw what was in the automobile world,” explained Delcambre. “Their base formulas were far superior to the marine industry. They were using nanotechnology. Those are ingredients at a micro level that have a big impact on the effectiveness of the final formula. I knew from the get-go that SRD20 would utilize nanotechnology.” Meanwhile, back in his garage laboratory, Delcambre began extensive testing with formula after formula he blended in collaboration with professional chemists – the highly educated dudes in lab coats. Sample after sample went out to his boating and fishing friends and family. They’d test the contents of mini bottles with handwritten labels and file reports. |
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Ultimately, his tester’s input combined with his own exhaustive analysis led to SRD20’s first release and flagship product, Graphene Ceramic Spray Coating and Protectant. More information to come about this unrivaled formula and others in the SRD20 product line. “Since moving part of our operation to coastal Texas, I’ve become acutely aware of the toll the marine environment can take on a boat,” said Traditions Media President and cofounder Noel Vick. “Baking sun and corrosive saltwater can age the aesthetics, surfaces, and hardware in a heartbeat. The number of faded and oxidized boats on rusty trailers I see is staggering. And, it doesn’t have to be that way.” Vick continues: “If only they knew how quick and easy it is to keep their boat clean and protected with SRD20 products. Our job is to share the SRD20 story and help more anglers and boaters realize that a small investment of time and money will protect their big investment…the boat.” |
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Pirowski Earns Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at the Potomac River
Driscoll Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
MARBURY, Md. (May 8, 2023) – Boater Alex Pirowski of Occoquan, Virginia, caught a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Potomac River . The tournament, hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners, was the third event of the season for the BFL Shenandoah Division. Pirowski earned $5,607 for his victory.
“I ran into Belmont Bay, a creek in the middle of the river, and jumped around to a few key areas I had found about a week ago,” said Pirowski. “I slowed down, fished Yamamoto Senkos and Z-Man ChatterBaits and just grinded through it.”
Pirowski said he targeted both grass and hard bottom in search of bass, and also caught a few off of docks. Most of his bass came shallow, in 2 to 4 feet of water. Pirowski said his efforts produced 12 keepers throughout the day.
“It has been taking 19½ pounds lately to even cash a check,” Pirowski said. “I thought I might end up getting some money back, but I never thought I had a chance at winning. So, this feels great. My friend and I have been putting some good hours in on the river, so to see it come together with a big win just feels really good.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Alex Pirowski, Occoquan, Va., five bass, 18-2, $5,607
2nd: Myles Paugh, Aurora, W.V., five bass, 16-13, $2,436
3rd: Mike Morris, Dover, Del., five bass, 16-9, $1,380
3rd: Zachary Stoupa, Prince George, Va., five bass, 16-9, $1,380
5th: Mike Hicks, Goochland, Va., five bass, 16-0, $893
5th: Jim Jarvis, Timberville, Va., five bass, 16-0, $893
5th: Roy Dixon, Welcome, Md., five bass, 16-0, $893
8th: Brad Melton, Manassas, Va., five bass, 15-15, $731
9th: John Duarte, Middle River, Md., five bass, 15-11, $1,670 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
10th: Trevor Holman, Durham, N.C., five bass, 15-10, $768
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Pirowski also caught the largest bass of the day that weighed 5 pounds, 1 ounce, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $735.
Thomas Driscoll of Annandale, Virginia, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,436 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 15 pounds, 6 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Thomas Driscoll, Annandale, Va., five bass, 15-6, $2,436
2nd: David Williams, Fredericksburg, Va., five bass, 15-2, $1,568
3rd: Brandon Miskell, Vienna, Va., five bass, 14-12, $814
4th: Curtis Vick, Boydton, Va., five bass, 13-14, $768
5th: Tyrone Adams, Jr., Fredericksburg, Va., five bass, 13-11, $487
6th: David Deciucis, Chester, Va., five bass, 13-10, $447
7th: Safulla Rana, Warrenton, Va., five bass, 13-8, $406
8th: Tim Sunderman, Chesapeake, Va., five bass, 13-7, $365
9th: Matt Stoupa, Prince George, Va., five bass, 13-5, $325
10th: Justin Faison, South Prince George, Va., five bass, 12-13, $284
Danny Crickenberger, Jr., of Charlottesville, Va., earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $367, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 2 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After three events, Zachary Stoupa of Prince George, Virginia, leads the BFL Shenandoah Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 727 points, while David Deciucis of Chester, Virginia, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 728 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Norman in Huntersville, North Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
FATHER AND SON WIN BIG ON AN EVEN BIGGER DAY ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE
CLEWISTON, FL – Imagine it’s tournament day and the bite is on fire. You’re catching them on top, flipping, casting — they’re eating everything. You’re culling 4 and 5 pounders and you’re picturing your name on the big check. You take your bag to the stage and it tips the scales at almost 30 pounds. Usually that’s cause for celebration. Wait. That doesn’t even crack the top 20? What?! That was the story of the day on Lake Okeechobee for the first qualifier of the 2023 Roland Martin Marine Center Series presented by HUK on May 6, 2023.
One monster bag after another hit the stage in Clewiston. A recent tournament on Lake Okeechobee posted a top 11 weighing in over 30 pounds. Impressive, but the leaderboard on Saturday afternoon passed that after only a third of the 177 teams had weighed in. Another one. Another one. Somebody get the Guinness people on the phone.
Weights that would win most tournaments received nothing more than a ‘thanks for playing’ as the top-heavy leaderboard kept going. When the last team weighed in, the top-20 teams had weighed in limits over 30 pounds. 20 teams! An even more ridiculous number is that 66 teams had 20-pound plus limits. A Florida record for sure and a mark that hasn’t been hit in a very long time in the tournament fishing world.
Why stop there? Let’s give this unbelievable story and an even more surprising hero. Let’s celebrate the youngest competitor in the field, 11-year-old Tavyn Heisler that shared the boat with his dad and the winning check for $6,500.
The father and son team of Preston and Tavyn Heisler out weighed all the heavy weights with a winning weight of 36.82 pounds.
“It was an amazing day,” said the proud father after sharing the day with his son. “I’m still shaking and I couldn’t ask for anything better.”
“I was netting at the start,” said the younger Heisler. “But toward the end I caught an 8-pounder.”
Since Tevyn hasn’t been doing this long enough and probably told not to lie, he had no problem sharing his bait of choice — a black and blue Chatterbait. Their success came from the North and the reward was the Champion’s check.
The 2nd place team featured a familiar duo that came just ounces from the winner’s circle. Gary Milicevic and Barrett Ringstaff weighed in 36.19 pounds that earned them $3,250 for 2nd place finish.
“We had so many big fish on today that we lost,” admitted Milicevic when asked if they ever had the winning fish on. “I broke a rod. Barrett broke a rod. We probably culled 25 pounds today.”
In third place was another familiar team to the series leaderboard. Jeff Kaulbars and Donny Bass weighed in 35.36 pounds to round out the top three and earned $2,150.
“We were throwing back 5 and 6 pounders,” said Bass. “I’ve been fishing this lake for many, many years and this was probably one of the top three or four days I’ve ever had here.”
That was a constant theme coming from the stage as angler after angler threw out superlatives, expletives, best-day-ever, etc. They may not have come out on top, but they were part of a day that doesn’t come around too often.
As the highest paying team tournament trail in Florida, the payouts continued deep into the 177 team field to make the day even more memorable.
The U.S. Sugar Big Bass and $500 went to Steve Broughton with 8.69 pound bass while the 2nd Big Bass of 8.48 earned the team of Ray Ruiz and Ryan Tran $100 Gambler Bucks. The highest finishers crossing the stage in HUK Gear earned the winning Heisler team an additional $250 on top of the Champion’s check. Bruiser Baits added another $150 to Team Heisler as the top team. Jenna Vlaar received $100 from Mary Ann Martin as the highest fishing Female Angler. Gilbert Chevrolet presented the Ron Veale $250 as the highest finishing Gilbert Chevrolet owner. And representing the upside down (smile), the team of John Tavano and Ernie Johnson turned the smallest limit of 4.92 pounds into $300 from AV Inspection.
It was quite a day on Lake Okeechobee that will be talked about (no lying necessary) for a long time. You might want to print out the leaderboard and frame it since days like this don’t come around very often. But then again, Qualifier #2 of the 2023 Season is June 10th. Stranger things have happened. We’ll see you then.
Hulsey Edges Field for Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Table Rock Lake
Bechard Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
KIMBERLING CITY, Mo. (May 8, 2023) – Boater Bryan Hulsey of Troy, Missouri, caught a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 13 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Table Rock Lake. The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Ozark Division. Hulsey earned $4,720 for his victory.
“My morning started off really slow,” said Hulsey. “I had a 4½-pounder in the first 20 minutes, but I couldn’t get a bite in my primary area, so I kind of just bounced around looking for bites.”
Hulsey said he searched for bites with a Crock-O-Gator Swamp Bug where bluffs transitioned to pea gravel in 3 to 7 feet of water, but only had only two keepers by noon. He then returned to his primary area to find more bites.
“It was like somebody had just flipped a switch,” Hulsey said. “Not only did I catch them, but my co-angler (winner Ryan Bechard) caught them, too.
“I was pretty nervous at noon,” Hulsey added. “I know from past experience that you just keep your head down and give it 100 percent. If it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen.”
Hulsey said he wasn’t confident in his weight, even after taking the lead, and was waiting for another angler to weigh a 20- to 21-pound sack. The big bag never came.
“This win is pretty special,” Hulsey said. “To come away with the win and qualify for the Regional … what a surprise. It’s one of those things you just don’t expect to happen.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Bryan Hulsey, Troy, Mo., five bass, 17-13, $4,720
2nd: Anthony Johnson, Excelsior Springs, Mo., five bass, 17-2, $3,055
3rd: Quenten Reed, Osage Beach, Mo., five bass, 16-7, $1,574
4th: Brock Bolden, Rogers, Ark., five bass, 16-1, $1,601 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
5th: Tyler Stuart, Fenton, Mo., five bass, 15-10, $944
6th: Eric Olliverson, Lampe, Mo., five bass, 15-9, $865
7th: Wesley Rogers, Thayer, Mo., five bass, 15-2, $747
7th: Aaron Stanphill, Bella Vista, Ark., five bass, 15-2, $747
9th: Dustin Lippe, Blue Eye, Mo., five bass, 14-13, $1,099
10th: Bobby Shockley, Springfield, Mo., five bass, 14-12, $551
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Anthony Johnson of Excelsior Springs, Missouri, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 11 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $695.
Ryan Bechard of Hays, Kansas, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $3,307 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 16 pounds even.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Ryan Bechard, Hays, Kan., five bass, 16-0, $3,307
2nd: Eric Wright, Bella Vista, Ark., five bass, 14-1, $1,180
3rd: Corey Henderson, Fenton, Mo., five bass, 13-13, $787
4th: Travis McKee, Fayetteville, Ark., five bass, 13-1, $551
5th: Sam Box, Rogers, Ark., five bass, 11-13, $472
6th: Charles Coleman, Reeds Spring, Mo., five bass, 11-11, $433
7th: Tom Alsop, Overland Park, Kan., five bass, 11-10, $354
7th: D.J. Pugh, Overland Park, Kan, five bass, 11-10, $354
7th: Kirk Short, St. Clair, Mo., five bass, 11-10, $354
10th: Michael Shinstine, Springdale, Ark., five bass, 10-15, $275
Bechard also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $347, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 10 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Justin Luetkemeyer of Lake Ozark, Missouri, leads the BFL Ozark Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 914 points, while Ryan Bechard of Hays, Kansas, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 924 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 5-7 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Oklahoma. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Langton Flips His Way to Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Kentucky-Barkley Lakes
Mann Rides Hometown Water to Strike King Co-Angler Division Victory
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (May 8, 2023) – Boater Daniel Langton of Evansville, Indiana, caught a five-bass limit weighing 19 pounds, 10 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Kentucky-Barkley Lakes . The tournament, hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau, was the fourth event of the season for the BFL LBL Division. Langton earned $4,082 for his victory.
“I headed over to Barkley and flipped shallow all day,” said Langton. “I figured the full moon would make a fresh wave of spawning fish come up, since the water temperature is still pretty cool.”
Langdon said his tactic paid off well, and every bass he caught was either spawning or pre-spawn. He targeted isolated wood and bushes with a Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog, which produced seven keepers during the course of the day. He added the bass didn’t hit the bait as well in early, low-light conditions where bass would swipe at the bait and miss it.
“Once the sun popped out at 10:30, that was the game changer,” Langton said. “That’s when they started eating it really well.
“About noon I started culling,” Langton added. “Then I caught a big one that weighed 5-4 with about 10 minutes to go before I had to make the run back.”
Langton said the 5-4 bass came from a spot where he knew big fish lived and had stopped to flip a few bushes before heading to weigh-in. He said four bushes into the stop the big bass fell for the Fighting Frog.
“I really didn’t think I was going to win, because I had a 15-incher in my bag,” Langton said. “I think that’s about to change, because the fishery is coming back and getting a lot healthier, and we’re seeing a lot more 4- to 5-pound fish than we have been seeing.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Daniel Langton, Evansville, Ind., five bass, 19-10, $4,082
2nd: Adrian Urso, Union, Ky., five bass, 18-11, $2,041
3rd: Jordan Hartman, Murray, Ky., five bass, 17-4, $1,362
4th: Drew Morgan, Noblesville, Ind., five bass, 16-6, $952
5th: Scott McWaters, Clarksville, Tenn., five bass, 16-2, $1,036
6th: Drew Lynch, Paducah, Ky., five bass, 15-5, $748
7th: Gary Singleton, Dickson, Tenn., five bass, 14-11, $680
8th: Ray Barga, Benton, Ky., five bass, 14-7, $612
9th: Brian Futch, Herrin, Ill., five bass, 14-6, $1,044 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
10th: Richard Meuth, Henderson, Ky., five bass, 14-2, $476
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Edward Gettys of Dover, Tennessee, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $560.
Sam Mann of Gilbertsville, Kentucky, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,005 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 15 pounds even.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Sam Mann, Gilbertsville, Ky., five bass, 15-0, $2,005
2nd: Bernard Campos, Round Lake Beach, Ill., five bass, 13-6, $1,002
3rd: Ron Robinson, Pittsburg, Ill., five bass, 12-6, $668
4th: Cowboy Tidwell, Madisonville, Ky., four bass, 11-9, $468
5th: Marcus Mann, Benton, Ky., three bass, 10-15, $601
6th: Carl Oelker, Greenbrier, Tenn., five bass, 10-11, $368
7th: Sean O’Brien, McKenzie, Tenn., five bass, 10-6, $334
8th: Daren Tindle, Owensboro, Ky., four bass, 9-8, $301
9th: C.J. Canada, Kevil, Ky., three bass, 7-13, $267
10th: Philip Wright, Bedford, Ky., four bass, 7-6, $234
Michael Blumer of Louisville, Kentucky, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $275, catching a bass that weighed in at 3 pounds, 15 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Sam Moll of Hershey, Pennsylvania, leads the BFL LBL Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 975 points, while Sean O’Brien of McKenzie, Tennessee, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 957 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Suratt Claims Fourth BFL Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Pickwick Lake
Stephenson Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
FLORENCE, Ala. (May 8, 2023) – Boater Trent Suratt of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, caught a five-bass limit weighing 23 pounds, 8 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Pickwick Lake. The tournament, hosted by Florence-Lauderdale Tourism, was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Choo Choo Division. Suratt earned $4,127 for his victory.
Suratt won a Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournament at Lake Pickwick on April 1, and Saturday’s victory makes the fourth career BFL event he has won on Pickwick since 2019.
“I started out making a drift in what little current we had, and after the first drift I had five fish for right at 18 pounds,” said Suratt. “That was by 6:45 (a.m).
“I just kept beating that all day and finally lucked up and caught a big largemouth, and that was it,” Suratt added.
Suratt said he relied on a swimbait fished near rockpiles, in current below Wilson Dam, for his fish. Suratt said he caught a mix of 10 smallmouth and two largemouth during the tournament. He said he had fish located in another area, but those spots were only producing 2- to 3-pound fish.
“I said, ‘This isn’t going to do me any good,’” Suratt said. “So, I stuck with what was working, and then I caught the 5½-pound largemouth, and I knew I had a good bag then. I knew if somebody was going to beat me, they were going to have to catch them good.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Trent Suratt, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., five bass, 23-8, $4,127
2nd: Charlie Craycraft, Grant, Ala., five bass, 20-11, $2,984 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
3rd: Michael Hood, Winchester, Tenn., five bass, 15-12, $1,377
4th: Andrew Clayton, Westpoint, Tenn., five bass, 14-9, $963
5th: Jennings Earnest, Guin, Ala., five bass, 14-0, $825
6th: Westin Moss, Jasper, Tenn., five bass, 13-15, $757
7th: John Janick, Adams, Tenn., five bass, 13-10, $688
8th: Tim Macknair, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 13-9, $619
9th: Jordan Thompson, Hartselle, Ala., five bass, 13-0, $550
10th: Evan Horne, Tuscumbia, Ala., five bass, 12-10, $457
10th: Corey McMullen, Gurley, Ala., five bass, 12-10, $457
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Keith Miller of Chattanooga, Tennessee, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 12 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $575.
Justin Stephenson of Jasper, Alabama, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,351 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 18 pounds, 4 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Justin Stephenson, Jasper, Ala., five bass, 18-4, $2,351
2nd: Tanner Plumlee, Wildersville, Tenn., four bass, 11-0, $1,032
3rd: Deon Smith, Guntersville, Ala., four bass, 9-11, $688
4th: Neal Goulas, Madison, Ala., three bass, 8-7, $482
5th: Lewis Ritchie, Bogalusa, La., three bass, 7-13, $413
6th: Aaron Krieger, Robertsdale, Ala., three bass, 7-12, $378
7th: Alan Barrett, Cullman, Ala., two bass, 7-4, $344
8th: Nick Carter, Cartersville, Ga., three bass, 6-10, $310
9th: Joey Wright, Cullman, Ala., three bass, 6-5, $275
10th: Roderick Green, Columbia, Tenn., three bass, 5-9, $241
Stephenson also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $287, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 7 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Jordan Lee of Cullman, Alabama, leads the BFL Choo Choo Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 937 points, while Justin Stephenson of Jasper, Alabama, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 965 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 12-14 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Alabama. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Donaldson Grinds Out Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Kerr Lake
Hughes Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
HENDERSON, N.C. (May 8, 2023) – Boater Travis Donaldson of Cleveland, North Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 19 pounds even Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Kerr Lake . The tournament, hosted by the Vance County Tourism Development Authority, was the third event of the season for the BFL North Carolina Division. Donaldson earned $3,671 for his victory.
“If you had told me I’d catch 19 pounds out there today I would have called you a liar,” said Donaldson. “I’m telling you, it was a grind out there. I can’t believe I caught that bag.”
Donaldson, a self-proclaimed “river rat,” said that a couple of weeks ago he fished the upriver section of Kerr, and while he caught a number of fish, he couldn’t amass a solid weight. He returned upriver to practice for the BFL event, and after similar results decided to change tactics.
“I said, ‘I’m not doing this again,’” Donaldson said. “So, I ran to the Nutbush Bridge area.”
Donaldson said he began using his Garmin Livescope to search for bass under docks and keyed in on docks that held baitfish. That pattern would be the key to his success on tournament day.
“They were up shallow, and I was throwing a jig, and I immediately started catching them,” Donaldson said. “My first fish was a 5-pounder, and the day just went on from there. I lost a couple of fish, and it started getting in my head, but I continued to run the pattern. Everything I pulled up on had a 3- or 4-pounder on it.
“At the end of the day I pulled up to a spot close to the boat ramp, threw the jig, and saw a green flash,” Donaldson continued. “I set the hook and it was another 4-pounder. It did everything in its power to come off. I landed the fish and my co-angler said, ‘You just won this thing.’”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Travis Donaldson, Cleveland, N.C., five bass, 19-0, $3,671
2nd: David Cooke, Mooresville, N.C., five bass, 18-2, $1,835
3rd: Shawn Hammack, Gasburg, Va., five bass, 16-4, $2,194 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
4th: Rodney Bell, Salisbury, N.C., five bass, 15-2, $856
5th: Jeremy Talbert, Albemarle, N.C., five bass, 14-13, $734
6th: Kevin Chandler, New London, N.C., five bass, 14-9, $673
7th: Bradley Staley, Sophia, N.C., five bass, 14-2, $612
8th: Tyler Trent, Nathalie, Va., five bass, 13-15, $551
9th: Landon Whicker, Winston-Salem, N.C., five bass, 13-14, $789
10th: Brian Morgan, Maiden, N.C., five bass, 13-13, $428
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
John Wiese of Charlotte, North Carolina, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 11 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $470.
Mark Hughes of Lexington, North Carolina, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $1,816 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 12 pounds, 14 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Mark Hughes, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 12-14, $1,816
2nd: Bobby Henderson, Charlotte, N.C., five bass, 12-5, $1,308
3rd: Matthew Talbert, New London, N.C., five bass, 11-0, $606
4th: Justin Bach, Kannapolis, N.C., three bass, 10-11, $656
5th: Ty Cooke, Mooresville, N.C., five bass, 10-5, $363
6th: Wes House, Knightdale, N.C., five bass, 10-2, $333
7th: Jesse Jodon, Windber, Pa., five bass, 10-1, $303
8th: Samuel Jones, Fuquay Varina, N.C., five bass, 9-14, $272
9th: Teddy Drew, Gold Hill, N.C., five bass, 9-1, $242
10th: Jeff Luckadoo, Mount Holly, N.C., four bass, 9-0, $212
Justin Bach of Kannapolis, North Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $232, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 2 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After three events, David Cooke of Mooresville, North Carolina, leads the BFL North Carolina Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 723 points, while Matthew Talbert of New London, North Carolina, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 719 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 5-7 BFL Regional tournament on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Elshout & Price win over $20,000 with 24.26 lbs. Rambo & Clark win East AOY
1 MARTIN ELSHOUT
ABITA SPRINGS , LAMARK PRICE
RUSTON , LA5 7.63 24.26
$20,500.00 with Garmin Bonus 2 BENJAMIN GULETT
CONVERSE , LADUSTIN RIVERS
NOBLE , LA5 0 20.22
$1500.00 3 TATER REYNOLDS
FLORIEN , LAHAROLD MOORE
CALDWELL , TX5 0 19.75
$1100.00 4 CASEY WELDON
VIDOR , TXTERRY HOTARD
HEMPHILL , TX5 0 19.72
$1000.00 5 ANDRE MARTIN
MANY , LAJUSTIN MARTIN
MANY , LA5 0 19.68
$1000.00 6 MARSHALL HUGHES
HEMPHILL , TXCOLE STEWART
HEMPHILL , TX5 0 18.95
$900.00 7 COLBY HAND
SHREVEPORT , LATY HUMPHRIES
STONEWALL , LA5 0 18.47
$3,350.00 with Skeeter Bonus Cash 8 GENE BAGLEY
BEAUMONT , TXMITCH STEPHENSON
BEAUMONT , TX5 0 16.61
$1,800.00 with Skeeter Bonus Cash 9 TRENT MANUEL
IOWA , LAGEORGE GLASS
DERRIDER , LA5 0 16.60
$1,250.00 with Skeeter Bonus Cash 10 MATTHEW BOYT
CONVERSE , LAJENNIFER CARTER
CONVERSE , LA5 7.91 16.42
$1,400.00 with Big Bass and HUK Bonus 11 WILL CARSTENS
ALEXANDRIA , LAROSS BRYANT
ALEXANDRIA , LA5 0 16.13
$700.00 12 JONATHAN EDWARDS
HEMPHILL , TXBRENT EDWARDS
HEMPHILL , TX5 0 16.10
$700.00 13 LANE MASTERS
FISHER , LACODY PITT
ELMER , LA5 0 15.35
$700.00 14 NEIL MATHEWS
PORTER , TXJOEY HAINES
CARENCRO , LA5 0 15.34
$350.00 14 TRAVIS PITRE
HOUMA , LAHOWARD BEETZ JR
HOUMA , LA5 0 15.34
$350.00 16 JERE BICE
LAKE CHARLES , LAMICHAEL MCDONALD
IOWA , LA5 0 15.17
17 WILLIAM COPELAND
NEW BRAUNFELS , TX5 0 14.67
18 JIM ROBERTSON
HEMPHILL , TXROGER KIRBY
COLUMBIA , LA5 0 14.64
19 CHRIS BREAUX
LAKE CHARLES , LASCOTT BREAUX
IOWA , LA5 0 14.44
20 RUSTY CLARK
SAM RAYBURN , TXCORY RAMBO
ORANGE , TX5 0 14.43
21 BEAU LOUGHMAN
MANSURA , LAJARRED WILLIAMS
BUNKIE , LA5 0 14.20
22 ADAM DUNN
HOUSTON , TXJOSHUA WARE
NEW CANEY , TX5 0 14.07
23 JERAMY COLE
KENNARD , TXKENNY COLE
KENNARD , TX5 0 14.00
24 JOHN HRAPMANN
NATCHITOCHES , LAKEITH JENSCHKE
NATCHITOCHES , LA5 0 13.96
25 BUBBA NUGENT
POLLOCK , LAMATTHEW NUGENT
DRY PRONG , LA5 0 13.71
26 BUCKY CROWSON
LAFAYETTE , LABRET ROGERS
MIDLAND , TX5 0 13.66
27 CHRIS BEANE
LUMBERTON , TXRILEY HARRIS
ORANGE , TX5 0 13.64
28 LEE BROWN
LEESVILLE , LAIKE STEPHENS
LEESVILLE , LA5 0 13.51
29 HORACE FRAZIER
MANY , LAJAMES CARHEE
MANY , LA5 0 13.40
30 TODD JACKSON
SHREVEPORT , LA5 0 13.14
31 YARRI SCHREIBVOGEL
BROOKLAND , TX5 0 12.83
32 LARRY COTTEN JR
HUFFMAN , TXLARRY COTTEN
HUFFMAN , TX5 0 12.53
33 GLENN ROBERTSON
SHREVEPORT , LAJONATHAN SOLBERG
SHREVEPORT , LA5 0 11.47
34 JORDAN KNUTSON
SAINT CROIX FALLS , WIERIC KNUTSON
MOUNT OLIVE , IL5 0 11.00
35 CRAIG MASSEY
HOUSTON , TXSAM BORDON
GAUTIER , MS5 0 10.81
36 MASON MCCAIN
LAKE CHARLES , LADOUG MCCAIN
LAKE CHARLES , LA5 0 10.71
37 ROBERT MORE
LEESVILLE , LAJERRY COUTEE
MONTGOMERY , LA2 0 9.42
38 JOSEPH DUHON
SULPHUR , LASTEPHANIE DUHON
SULPHUR , LA5 0 8.54
39 GREG MUSGROVE
BASTROP , LAMICHAEL MUSGROVE
BASTROP , LA3 0 6.47
40 DOUG POSEY
ORANGE , TXDAKOTA POSEY
ORANGE , TX3 0 6.36
41 PHILLIP MATTERN
WILLIS , TXDANNY CANTU
HOUSTON , TX3 0 5.51
42 RICHARD FAULKNER
SHREVEPORT , LAWENDE FAULKNER
BROADDUS , TX1 0 3.52
43 DONALD DICKENS
MONTGOMERY , TXWILLIE DICKENS
BAYTOWN , TX1 0 2.69
44 CHRISTOPHER KUYKENDALL
SEVEN POINTS , TXBLAKE SWILLING
MABANK , TX1 0 2.33
45 SAMUEL ROE
SPRINGFIELD , LA1 0 2.14
46 GREG OSTERTAG
BOGATA , TX0 0 0.00
46 MIKE PERKINS
DALLAS , TXSTAN GERZENYI
DEL RIO , TX0 0 0.00
46 JIM EDWARDS
BLUM , TX0 0 0.00
46 CASEY TATE
OAKDALE , LAJOSH DUNAWAY
DEQUINCY , LA0 0 0.00
46 JARRETT LATTA
LIBERTY HILL , TXBART BLAKELOCK
WAELDER , TX0 0 0.00
White and Adcock make long run to win Bassmaster High School Series event on Red River
Jase White and Carsen Adcock of Louisiana's Bossier Parish team have won the Strike King Bassmaster High School Series at Red River presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors with 14 pounds, 12 ounces.
Photo by Chase Sansom/B.A.S.S.
May 7, 2023
NATCHITOCHES, La. — Jase White and Carsen Adcock consider the Red River their home water, so they fished with confidence here on Sunday in the Strike King Bassmaster High School Series at Red River presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
The teenagers, who attend Haughton High School and are part of the Bossier Parish (La.) team, caught a five-bass limit weighing 14 pounds, 12 ounces to clinch the title in northwest Louisiana.
White, 18, and Adcock, 16, fished in Pool 5, about 2 1/2 hours one-way from Grand ECORE Recreational Area where the day began and ended. The long run left them with a shorter window to fish, but they made the most of what time they had.
“We didn’t get to our starting spot until about 9:30 or 10 o’clock this morning,” White said. “But as soon as we got there, some clouds and a little wind blew through. I threw my buzzbait out there and a 3 1/4-pounder blew up on it.”
When White says “my buzzbait,” he actually means one he designed. He began making the lures about 18 months ago and the young entrepreneur began selling them in January as Jase’s Custom Baits.
“It’s got a black back with a white or silver belly, like a shad,” White said. “I had a Strike King Rage Swimmer (shad color) as a trailer.”
Three of their keeper bites came on a 3/8-ounce War Eagle Double Willow spinnerbait (spot remover) and another came on a Lucky Craft 2.5 squarebill (black/yellow).
Once in Pool 5, the duo fished a slough off the main river. Their best bass came in about 3 feet of water where vegetation was thick.
Adcock said making such a long run was a gamble, but their knowledge of the river helped them pick a pattern that proved a winner.
“It means a lot to us to get this win,” Adcock said. “Jase and I go out on the weekends. We put a lot of effort into this. We’ve had a couple of close finishes this year, with a second and some other Top 10s. So, to win one here is a great feeling.”
White and Adcock split a $1,076 first-place cash prize. A total of 97 teams from eight states competed, with the Top 12 teams getting part of a $3,711 cash purse.
Rounding out the Top 5 teams were, second, Dylan Sorrells and Cullum Brown, of Highland Park (Tex.) High School, 13-8; third, Max Hondorp and Tyler Hondorp, of Florida Panhandle Youth Anglers, 10-8; fourth, William Guidry and Tanner Meyer, of Rayne (La.) Bass Club, 10-1; and fifth, Carson Winn and Jake Krauth, of Franklin (Tenn.) High School, 9-7.
Sorrells and Brown had the Big Bass of the tournament — a 3-13 that helped them to second place overall. Sorrels landed the lunker on a Zoom Speed Craw (junebug).
“Our best spot was about two minutes from the ramp on some laydowns,” Sorrels said. “We slowed down and were flipping an area that was getting pressure from all the boats moving through. After a couple of hours, the fish started biting.”
The tournament caps an exciting week for White, who was named to the 2023 Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors on Friday.
The Top 25 teams in the tournament qualified for the Strike King Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors when it’s held July 27-29 on Lake Hartwell in South Carolina.
2023 Strike King Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors 4/15-4/15
Red River, Natchitoches LA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Jase White - Carsen Adcock Bossier Parish High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 14-12 Total: 5 14-12
2. Dylan Sorrells - Cullum Brown Highland Park High School - TX 0
Day 1: 5 13-08 Total: 5 13-08
3. Max Hondorp - Tyler Hondorp Panhandle Youth Anglers - FL 0
Day 1: 5 10-08 Total: 5 10-08
4. William Guidry - Tanner Meyer Rayne Bass Club - LA 0
Day 1: 5 10-01 Total: 5 10-01
5. Carson Winn - Jake Krauth Franklin High School - TN 0
Day 1: 5 09-07 Total: 5 09-07
6. Landon Parker - Jake Watson DeWitt High School - AR 0
Day 1: 5 09-05 Total: 5 09-05
7. Luke Leblanc - Colin Sittig Notre Dame High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 09-00 Total: 5 09-00
8. Gavin Choate - Luke Mire Central High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 08-12 Total: 5 08-12
9. Landon Watts - Josiah Shockley Livingston Parish High School - 0
Day 1: 5 08-08 Total: 5 08-08
10. Carson Falk - Trey Blackmon III Capital City Bass Hunters - FL 0
Day 1: 5 08-04 Total: 5 08-04
11. Hayden Corrent - Tanner Reed Brusly High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 07-09 Total: 5 07-09
12. Justin Blais - Glenmora High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 07-08 Total: 5 07-08
13. Isaac Garvin - Blake Gibson Valley Springs High School - AR 0
Day 1: 5 07-06 Total: 5 07-06
14. Benjamin Jumonville - David Gummow Catholic High of Pointe Coupee - 0
Day 1: 5 07-03 Total: 5 07-03
15. Hunter Holland - Breanna Holland Walker High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 07-02 Total: 5 07-02
16. Jayden Corr - Jase Corr Lone Star JR Bassmasters - TX 0
Day 1: 5 07-01 Total: 5 07-01
16. Max Deroche - Jesse Boudreaux North Vermilion High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 07-01 Total: 5 07-01
18. Levi Loe - Trace Loe Magnolia Bass Cats - AR 0
Day 1: 5 06-14 Total: 5 06-14
19. Emma Dayton - Ryder Fontenot Walker High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 06-11 Total: 5 06-11
19. Jack Varnado - Dylan Johnson Denham Springs High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 06-11 Total: 5 06-11
21. Bennett Fontenot - Braxton Speyrer Port Barre High School - LA 0
Day 1: 3 06-10 Total: 3 06-10
22. Connor Hebert - Catholic High School - LA 0
Day 1: 4 06-07 Total: 4 06-07
23. Nicholas England - Tyler Medica Alexandria Senior High School - 0
Day 1: 5 06-05 Total: 5 06-05
24. Garrett Hooker - Samuel Rachal Oak Hill High School - LA 0
Day 1: 4 06-02 Total: 4 06-02
24. Brady Talbot - Bryce Distefano Live Oak High School - LA 0
Day 1: 4 06-02 Total: 4 06-02
26. Kaleb Page - Kasen Page Coffee County High School - TN 0
Day 1: 5 05-15 Total: 5 05-15
26. Reese Ray - Connor Mccown Glenmora High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 05-15 Total: 5 05-15
26. Wyatt Roach - Cameron Courville Sulphur High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 05-15 Total: 5 05-15
29. Briley Knowles - Kayden Townsend Genoa Central - AR 0
Day 1: 4 05-12 Total: 4 05-12
30. Jacob Longlois - Slade Nunnally Little Cypress-Mauriceville - TX 0
Day 1: 3 05-10 Total: 3 05-10
31. Kolby Leger - Nicholas Vitello Sulphur High School - LA 0
Day 1: 5 05-06 Total: 5 05-06
32. Kayden Waller - Michael Harris Mt. Juliet High School - TN 0
Day 1: 4 05-03 Total: 4 05-03
33. Christopher Kahrs - William Lounsberry Barbe Fishing Club - LA 0
Day 1: 3 05-01 Total: 3 05-01
34. Elijah Cruze - Malcolm Leger Sam Houston High School - LA 0
Day 1: 3 04-14 Total: 3 04-14
35. Daymon Columbia - Wyatt Jones Walker High School - LA 0
Day 1: 4 04-11 Total: 4 04-11
36. Trevor Huval - Aiden Mouton Erath High School - LA 0
Day 1: 3 04-11 Total: 3 04-11
37. Caleb Cason - Hayden Robinson Lone Star JR Bassmasters - TX 0
Day 1: 3 04-09 Total: 3 04-09
38. Temern Pfaffenberger - Reece Chambless DeWitt High School - AR 0
Day 1: 2 04-09 Total: 2 04-09
39. Baylen Guy - Brandt Babineaux Teurlings Catholic High School - 0
Day 1: 4 04-08 Total: 4 04-08
40. Braden Pujol - Ty Milazzo Assumption High School - LA 0
Day 1: 4 04-05 Total: 4 04-05
41. Bradley Gravouia - Austin Hebert Erath High School - LA 0
Day 1: 2 04-04 Total: 2 04-04
42. Will Turrentine Jr. - Clint Turrentine Alexandria Senior High School - 0
Day 1: 4 04-03 Total: 4 04-03
43. Drake Carret - Evan Leboeuf Teurlings Catholic High School - 0
Day 1: 3 04-03 Total: 3 04-03
44. Sean Blue - Jaylin Wilson Alexandria Senior High School - 0
Day 1: 4 03-15 Total: 4 03-15
45. Rowdie Thacker - Hunter King Live Oak High School - LA 0
Day 1: 4 03-14 Total: 4 03-14
46. Kaden Leblanc - Jacob Pourciau Brusly High School - LA 0
Day 1: 2 03-14 Total: 2 03-14
46. Franklin Mangrum - Kaden Mangrum Sulphur High School - LA 0
Day 1: 2 03-14 Total: 2 03-14
48. Deaton Leblanc - Denham Springs High School (9149 0
Day 1: 3 03-11 Total: 3 03-11
49. Evan Breaux - Cole Breaux Lafourche Bassmasters - LA 0
Day 1: 3 03-10 Total: 3 03-10
50. Hunter Hamilton - Noah Higgins Parkview Baptist School - LA 0
Day 1: 3 03-09 Total: 3 03-09
51. Cole Pickett - Dutch Kor Many High School - LA 0
Day 1: 2 03-08 Total: 2 03-08
52. John Michael Klanchar - Wyatt Womack Benton High School - AR 0
Day 1: 2 03-07 Total: 2 03-07
53. Dylan Gorsulowsky - Kyce Daigle Sulphur High School - LA 0
Day 1: 3 03-05 Total: 3 03-05
54. Noah Roberts - Jacob LaCroix Tioga High School - LA 0
Day 1: 2 03-04 Total: 2 03-04
55. Colton Caskey - Brayden Pearah Riverdale Bassmasters - LA 0
Day 1: 2 03-02 Total: 2 03-02
56. Collin Hampton - Lucas Cheatham Magnolia Bass Cats - AR 0
Day 1: 2 02-11 Total: 2 02-11
56. Langston Martin - Lee County Anglers - AL 0
Day 1: 2 02-11 Total: 2 02-11
58. Ethan Glascock - Cullen Bishop Walker High School - LA 0
Day 1: 2 02-10 Total: 2 02-10
59. Aidan Manuel - Noah Harmon Teurlings High School - LA 0
Day 1: 2 02-08 Total: 2 02-08
59. Landon Rhine - Gabe Morrow Lamar High School - AR 0
Day 1: 2 02-08 Total: 2 02-08
61. Lily Girouard - Tuerlings Rebel Fishing Team - L 0
Day 1: 2 02-07 Total: 2 02-07
62. Logan Patterson - Landon Patterson Central High School - LA 0
Day 1: 2 02-06 Total: 2 02-06
63. John Carboni - Hunter Ott Live Oak High School - LA 0
Day 1: 1 02-06 Total: 1 02-06
64. Grayson Bonfils - East Baton Rouge Bassmaster - LA 0
Day 1: 2 02-01 Total: 2 02-01
64. Caleb Johnston - Colin Cosenza Many High School - LA 0
Day 1: 2 02-01 Total: 2 02-01
64. Ross Miller - Notre Dame High School - LA 0
Day 1: 2 02-01 Total: 2 02-01
67. Cooper Lemons - Connor Lafargue Kinder High School - LA 0
Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01
68. Hannah Robertson - Hunter Robertson Denham Springs High School - LA 0
Day 1: 2 02-00 Total: 2 02-00
69. Brayden Landry - Branson Word Erath High School - LA 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Total: 1 02-00
69. Michael Watkins - Clark Robinson Alexandria Senior High School - 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Total: 1 02-00
71. Keegan Robbins - Mason Gregg Salem High School - AR 0
Day 1: 1 01-13 Total: 1 01-13
72. Tyler Covington - Brantley Tate Walker High School - LA 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Total: 1 01-08
73. Caleb Kuykendall - Pate Willis Murfreesboro High School - AR 0
Day 1: 1 01-07 Total: 1 01-07
74. Grant Brouillette - St Michael The Archangel - LA 0
Day 1: 1 01-05 Total: 1 01-05
75. Devon Kessler - Charlie Ellis Lakeside High School - AR 0
Day 1: 1 01-02 Total: 1 01-02
76. Abigail Brewer - Live Oak High School - LA 0
Day 1: 1 01-00 Total: 1 01-00
77. Hinesley Bryant - Arlen Francois Central High School - LA 0
Day 1: 1 00-15 Total: 1 00-15
78. Kaden Holley - Caleb Pourciau Brusly High School - LA 0
Day 1: 1 00-14 Total: 1 00-14
79. Gage Booty - Hayden Murphy Central High School - LA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Logan Brice - Michael Crossland Hallsville High School - TX 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Kira Calvert - Aiden Martin Natchitoches Central High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Thomas Cramer - Joshua Burrows Teurlings Catholic High School - 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Derek Davis - Connor Jaco Mt. Pleasant High School - TN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Daylin Doak - Brooks Putnam Mt. Juliet High School - TN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Michael Doucet - Brylee Williams Teurlings High School - LA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Thomas Dupuis - Alex Mcdaniel North Vermilion High School - LA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Trace Feazell - Kayne Calvert Magnolia Bend Academy - LA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Chance Fontenot - Todd Thompson Natchitoches Central High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Joseph Hathcox - Jude Gilmore Denham Springs High School - LA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Spencer Hebert - Colston Olivier Teurlings Catholic High School - 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Max Himmel - Tyler Morris Catholic High School - LA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Carter Lanclos - Brandon Courville Sulphur High School - LA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Caden Mauldin - Lane Black SpringHill High School - AR 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Jerry Nugent III - Landon Stockstill Tuerlings Rebel Fishing Team - L 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Caleb Roblin - Luke Clark Denham Springs High School - LA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Hayden Talley - Central High School - LA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
79. Clayton Towns - Logan Canales Cedar Creek Fishing Team - LA 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURN
Dylan Sorrells Dallas, TX 03-13 $0.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 25 252 381-15
----------------------------------
25 252 381-15
Lee & Ware Take TXTT Event on Richland Chambers Reservoir
John Cox Holds on To Win Phoenix Boats Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks
Florida Pro Catches 17-pound, 9-ounce Final-Day Limit to Earn Victory by 1-pound, 1-ounce Margin Over Longtime Friend and Tournament Partner Keith Carson
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (May 6, 2023) – As the MLF NOW! live stream ended on Saturday afternoon, the weights were still too close to call as the top three pros were in a virtual tie as the broadcasters signed off with the anglers headed toward the weigh-in. However after the final fish had been weighed at the Lake of the Ozarks State Park, it was a familiar name atop the leaderboard.
Berkley pro John Cox of DeBary, Florida, weighed in five bass totaling 17 pounds, 9 ounces to hold onto his lead and win the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Phoenix Boats Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Mystik Lubricants and the top payout of $80,000. Cox’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 55 pounds, 14 ounces, edged out his longtime friend and tournament partner Keith Carson, also of DeBary, Florida , who weighed in a three-day total of 14 bass for 54-13, good for $50,000. Nineteen-year-old pro Marshall Robinson of Landrum, South Carolina, son of Bass Pro Tour angler Marty Robinson, finished in third place with 53-13 to earn $20,000.
“Me and Keith have fished together for a long time, and I’ve dreamt of this day – when me and him would be 1-2 in a tournament. And here we are,” an emotional Cox said on-stage. “I truly love this. I am just so thankful. The fact that we get to do this for a living is unreal. Me and Keith used to paint apartments together. I can’t believe we’re here – this is just so unreal I feel like I’m in a dream right now.
“When we left the house this morning, I told him we could be coming out of here with 130 grand to bring back to DeBary, and now here we are,” Cox continued. “This has been just an incredibly awesome week.”
Cox spent the week on Lake of the Ozarks sight fishing, finding bedding bass and fry guarders. Often tucked oddly behind docks or under cables, Cox finesse fished with his signature Abu Garcia Pro Series rod, an Abu Garcia Zenon spinning reel, Berkley FireLine and a 10-pound-test Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon leader. For baits, he rolled with either a wacky-rigged Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General or a Berkley PowerBait Jerk Shad.
One of the differences for Cox may have been that he was fishing for less pressured bass.
“I don’t think there were that many where I was at,” he said. “What Keith was saying he was seeing, there were a lot more fish. I think a lot of the other guys might have been fishing over there. Where I was fishing, they were few and far between, it kind of opened it up to where I had a lot of it to myself. We were talking in practice about making something out of nothing. That’s what I did, I just tried to run into five you can catch.”
Still, even as a good sight fisherman, Cox couldn’t really dial it in.
“I tried to figure a pattern, but every time I thought I figured a pattern, it didn’t play out anywhere else,” he said. “I didn’t catch more than one fish in a creek until today.”
The win was bittersweet for Cox. Although he was thrilled to earn the top payout and automatic REDCREST qualification, he was disappointed that his best friend didn’t get the first major win of his career.
“I felt stuff at that weigh-in that I’ve never felt at any other weigh-in before,” Cox said. “I wanted Keith to win, because he’s my buddy. I always want him to do well.
“It’s bittersweet, but it felt good to win, and to get to go to REDCREST. That’s huge. When I heard that, I was like ‘Please let me win.’ Every time I miss one of those, it’s terrible. I watched it at Lake Norman this year, and I was heartbroken I wasn’t there.”
The top 50 pros at the Phoenix Boats Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks finished:
1st: John Cox, DeBary, Fla., 15 bass, 55-14, $82,500
2nd: Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., 14 bass, 54-13, $50,000
3rd: Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 15 bass, 53-13, $20,000
4th: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 15 bass 53-13, $18,000
5th: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 15 bass, 52-7, $17,000
6th: Andy Newcomb, Camdenton, Mo., 15 bass, 49-15, $16,300
7th: Andrew Nordbye, Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 49-10, $15,000
8th: Shaw Grigsby, Gainesville, Fla., 15 bass, 46-9, $14,000
9th: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 15 bass, 46-2, $13,000
10th: Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis., 15 bass, 45-5, $12,000
11th: Grae Buck, Green Lane, Pa., 15 bass, 45-5, $10,000
12th: Tai Au, Glendale, Ariz., 15 bass, 44-0, $10,000
13th: Tom Redington, Royse City, Texas, 15 bass, 43-11, $10,000
14th: Jordan Collom, Canyon Lake, Calif., 15 bass, 43-8, $10,000
15th: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 15 bass, 43-3, $10,000
16th: Robby Lefere, Jackson, Mich., 15 bass, 42-13, $10,000
17th: Brock Reinkemeyer. Warsaw, Mo., 15 bass, 42-9, $10,000
18th: Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga., 15 bass, 42-3, $10,000
19th: Jordan Hirt, Glenwood, Iowa, 15 bass, 41-10, $10,000
20th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 15 bass, 41-9, $10,000
21st: Derik Hudson, Concord, Va., 15 bass, 41-3, $10,000
22nd: Connor Cunningham, Springfield, Mo., 15 bass, 41-0, $10,000
23rd: Troy Stokes, Trenton, Mich., 15 bass, 40-12, $10,000
24th: Charley Slaton, Valliant, Okla, 14 bass, 40-8, $10,000
25th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 15 bass, 40-5, $10,000
26th: J. Todd Tucker, Moultrie, Ga., 15 bass, 40-2, $10,000
27th: Joe Grafeman, Camdenton, Mo., 15 bass, 40-0, $10,000
28th: Kyle Schutta, Forest Lake, Minn., 15 bass, 39-11, $10,000
29th: Thomas Wooten, Huddleston, Va., 15 bass, 38-15, $10,000
30th: Brian Latimer, Belton, S.C., 15 bass, 38-11, $10,000
31st: Brad Jelinek, Lincoln, Mo., 15 bass, 38-8, $8,000
32nd: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 15 bass, 38-7, $8,000
33rd: Cody Parker, Ball Ground, Ga., 15 bass, 38-5, $8,000
34th: Jaden Parrish, Liberty, Texas, 15 bass, 38-4, $8,000
35th: Bobby Bakewell, Orlando, Fla, 15 bass, 38-3, $8,000
36th: Kyle Palmer, Winchester, Tenn., 15 bass, 38-3, $8,000
37th: Tyler Stewart, Dubach, La., 15 bass, 38-3, $8,000
38th: Jeremy Southerly, Fulks Run, Va., 15 bass, 38-1, $8,000
39th: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, 15 bass, 37-9, $8,000
40th: Kyle Hall, Granbury, Texas, 15 bass, 37-8, $8,000
41st: Rick Chenoweth, Fredericksburg, Va., 15 bass, 37-6, $8,000
42nd: Hunter Eubanks, Inman, S.C., 15 bass, 37-2, $8,000
43rd: Austin Culbertson, Moberly, Mo., 15 bass, 36-14, $8,000
44th: Colby Schrumpf, Highland, Ill., 15 bass, 36-14, $8,000
45th: Mike McClelland, Blue Eye, Mo., 14 bass, 35-11, $8,000
46th: Cody Pike, Powhatan, Va., 15 bass, 35-9, $8,000
47th: Joe Bennett, Ashland, Mo., 13 bass, 35-8, $8,000
48th: Kyle Weisenburger, Columbus Grove, Ohio, 15 bass, 35-8, $8,000
49th: Andrew Behnke, Fond du Lac, Wis., 13 bass, 34-14, $8,000
50th: David Walker, Huntingdon, Tenn., 11 bass, 29-4, $8,000
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 240 bass weighing 619 pounds, 15 ounces caught by the 50 pros Saturday. The catch included 45 five-bass limits.
The three-day tournament was hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association and featured a roster of 150 anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024, Major League Fishing’s most prestigious event. The next Tackle Warehouse Invitational event will take place June 17-19 at the Tackle Warehouse Invitational at the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland.
In MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Thursday and Friday in a traditional five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advanced to the final round on Championship Saturday, where they competed for the grand prize of up to $115,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers. The winner of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Phoenix Boats Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Mystik Lubricants was determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight and will now receive an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024.
The season-long Invitational Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) will also earn a berth into REDCREST and the Top 8 anglers in the season-long Invitational AOY point standings will qualify for the 2024 Bass Pro Tour. After four events in the six-event Qualifying Circuit, pro Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Michigan, leads the AOY race with 777 points. Junction City, Wisconsin, pro Matthew Stefan sits in second place with 735 points, while Martin Villa of Charlottesville, Virginia is in third with 733 points. Pro Grae Buck of Green Lane, Pennsylvania is in fourth place with 724 points, while Bass Pro Tour angler Michael Neal rounds out the top five with 719 points.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Phoenix Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Mystik Lubricants will feature a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere on the CBS Sports Network on Saturday, October 21.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
John Cox Sight-Fishes Way to Day 2 Lead at Phoenix Boats Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks
Florida Pro Catches 18-pound, 4-ounce Limit to Take Slim 7-ounce Lead into Championship Saturday – Field Cut to Final 50
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (May 5, 2023) – Pro John Cox of DeBary, Florida, weighed in five bass totaling 18 pounds, 4 ounces Friday to take the lead after Day 2 at the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Phoenix Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Mystik Lubricants. Cox’s two-day total of 38 pounds, 5 ounces give him a slim 7-ounce advantage over 19-year-old pro Marshall Robinson of Landrum, South Carolina, who has weighed in 10 bass totaling 37-14 to end the day in second place.
The three-day tournament, hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association, features a roster of 150 anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024, Major League Fishing’s most prestigious event. The full field of 150 anglers concluded the two-day opening round on Friday, with only the top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight now advancing to Championship Saturday.
“It feels good to be here again,” Cox said in his post-game interview. “The last one I won was at Smith Lake (March 2021), and that feels very similar to this place. I do feel like if I end up winning tomorrow it’s going to be because I land on something. Either a pocket with two or three big ones, or something like that. Cause so far, it’s just been super random and I’ve had to do a lot of trolling to run into one of them.
“Luckily today I got a 5-pounder,” Cox continued. “That fish was everything. I worked on that one for a really long time. I had to come back to her, and the wind was blowing hard – it was just terrible. I was just blind pitching and somehow ended up getting her, so I was just super lucky on that one. If I somehow win this thing, I’ll definitely remember that fish catch for a long time.”
Cox spent the majority of the day roaming the shallows targeting bed fish with a 5-inch Berkley PowerBait MaxScent The General worm.
“I saw one really nice one right at the end of the day and I was going to try to catch it, but it was getting really close on check-in time so I decided that I’ll just need to start on it in the morning,” Cox said. “It’s a solid 5 (pounder). If I can catch that first thing, then we’re looking at only needing to catch four for the rest of the day, and I’d feel really good about that.”
The top 50 pros advancing to Championship Saturday at the Phoenix Boats Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks are:
1st: John Cox, DeBary, Fla., 10 bass, 38-5
2nd: Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 10 bass, 37-14
3rd: Drew Gill, Mount Carmell, Ill., 10 bass 37-11
4th: Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., nine bass, 35-11
5th: Andrew Nordbye, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 35-4
6th: Andy Newcomb, Camdenton, Mo., 10 bass, 33-4
7th: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 10 bass, 33-2
8th: Tom Redington, Royse City, Texas, 10 bass, 32-7
9th: Tai Au, Glendale, Ariz., 10 bass, 32-0
10th: Charley Slaton, Valliant, Okla, 10 bass, 31-15
11th: Joe Bennett, Ashland, Mo., 10 bass, 31-4
12th: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 30-10
13th: Connor Cunningham, Springfield, Mo., 10 bass, 30-9
14th: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 10 bass, 30-4
15th: Jordan Hirt, Glenwood, Iowa, 10 bass, 29-13
16th: Robby Lefere, Jackson, Mich., 10 bass, 29-12
17th: Thomas Wooten, Huddleston, Va., 10 bass, 29-7
18th: Jaden Parrish, Liberty, Texas, 10 bass, 29-5
19th: Derik Hudson, Concord, Va., 10 bass, 29-3
20th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 29-0
21st: Kyle Schutta, Forest Lake, Minn., 10 bass, 29-0
22nd: Jeremy Southerly, Fulks Run, Va., 10 bass, 28-5
23rd: Brock Reinkemeyer. Warsaw, Mo., 10 bass, 28-10
24th: Bobby Bakewell, Orlando, Fla, 10 bass, 27-14
25th: Kyle Palmer, Winchester, Tenn., 10 bass, 27-13
26th: Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga., 10 bass, 27-13
27th: Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis., 10 bass, 27-12
28th: Shaw Grigsby, Gainesville, Fla., 10 bass, 27-12
29th: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 10 bass, 27-11
30th: Tyler Stewart, Dubach, La., 10 bass, 27-8
31st: Troy Stokes, Trenton, Mich., 10 bass, 27-8
32nd: Brian Latimer, Belton, S.C., 10 bass, 27-7
33rd: Grae Buck, Green Lane, Pa., 10 bass, 27-5
34th: Cody Pike, Powhatan, Va., 10 bass, 27-1
35th: Cody Parker, Ball Ground, Ga., 10 bass, 27-1
36th: David Walker, Huntingdon, Tenn., 10 bass, 27-1
37th: Jordan Collom, Canyon Lake, Calif., 10 bass, 26-14
38th: Kyle Hall, Granbury, Texas, 10 bass, 26-11
39th: Brad Jelinek, Lincoln, Mo., 10 bass, 26-11
40th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 10 bass, 26-10
41st: J. Todd Tucker, Moultrie, Ga., 10 bass, 26-10
42nd: Rick Chenoweth, Fredericksburg, Va., 10 bass, 26-6
43rd: Mike McClelland, Blue Eye, Mo., 10 bass, 26-3
44th: Kyle Weisenburger, Columbus Grove, Ohio, 10 bass, 26-0
45th: Andrew Behnke, Fond du Lac, Wis., 10 bass, 25-13
46th: Austin Culbertson, Moberly, Mo., 10 bass, 25-12
47th: Joe Grafeman, Camdenton, Mo., 10 bass, 25-10
48th: Colby Schrumpf, Highland, Ill., 10 bass, 25-10
49th: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, 10 bass, 25-10
50th: Hunter Eubanks, Inman, S.C., 10 bass, 25-9
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Pro William Fletcher of Dallas, Georgia, weighed in a 5-pound, 12-ounce largemouth to earn Friday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award.
Overall, there were 673 bass weighing 1,647 pounds, 10 ounces caught by 145 pros Friday. The catch included 120 five-bass limits.
In MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Thursday and Friday in a traditional five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight now advance to the final round on Championship Saturday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $115,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers. The winner of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Phoenix Boats Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Mystik Lubricants will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight and will receive an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024.
The final 50 anglers will launch Saturday at 6:30 a.m. CT from the Grand Glaize Beach Boat Ramp (Public Beach No. 2) at Lake of the Ozarks State Park, located at 711 Public Beach Road in Osage Beach, Missouri. The final weigh-in will also be held at the boat ramp beginning at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the live on-the-water action online on MLF NOW!beginning at 7 a.m. CT at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all three days of competition from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Phoenix Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Mystik Lubricants will feature live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere on the CBS Sports Network on Saturday, October 21.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Jacksonville State's Elkins and Hansard win Bassmaster College Series event on Louisiana’s Red River
Seth Elkinsand Dale Hansard of Alabama's Jacksonville State University have won the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Red River presented by Bass Pro Shops with a two-day total of 29 pounds, 9 ounces.
Photo by Chase Sansom/B.A.S.S.
May 5, 2023
Jacksonville State's Elkins and Hansard win Bassmaster College Series event on Louisiana’s Red River
NATCHITOCHES, La. — Seth Elkins and Dale Hansard burned an estimated 80 gallons of gas over two days of the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Red River presented by Bass Pro Shops.
It was worth every last drop.
The tandem from Jacksonville (Ala.) State University finished with a total of 10 bass that weighed 29 pounds, 9 ounces, which was enough to win the derby in northwest Louisiana.
Elkins and Hansard claimed their spot in the College Series National Championship with authority, but they had to work for the win. They made a 2 1/2-hour, one-way run from Grand ECORE Recreational Area to Pool 5 of the Red River, where they fished a creek in the Caspiana area.
That left them with only three hours of fishing time each day, but they made the most of it. They fished in about 9 feet of water on Thursday but went a bit deeper on Friday.
“It was about 12 feet today,” Elkins said. “We noticed the fish had pulled off the tree stumps and some were closer to the bank. We were throwing a black Whopper Plopper 110 yesterday and a lighter-colored model today.
“But the main lure for us was an Ima Skimmer walking bait in a pearl or bone color. That was drawing the bigger bites. And really, those are the only two lures that were working for us at all.”
Hansard caught a 6-5 largemouth on Day 1 which anchored their bag of 13-12 and also was the big bass of the tournament. They didn’t have one as big on Day 2, but the catch was consistent.
“The heaviest today was a 4-pounder, but we had more quality bites,” Elkins said. “We had to fish slow. You really had to make the bait look appetizing or make them mad enough to eat it.”
Hansard said winning a tournament was a special way to qualify for the College National Championship.
“It’s the first time either of us have made it,” Hansard said. “It feels good like a weight is off our shoulders. And I’d like to think the win is for our past teammates ... We had (eight people on our team) last year and now we’re the only ones here.”
Day 1 leaders Cole Holloway and Brandon Martin of Georgia’s Emmanuel College slipped to second overall with 10 bass weighing 28-9. Rounding out the Top 5 tandems were Brayden Nichols and William Tew of LSU-Shreveport, third, 23-11; Tripp Bowman and Matthew Nesbit, also of LSU-Shreveport, fourth, 23-2; and fifth, Nicholas Holtgrave and Colsyn Head, of McKendree University in Illinois, 23-0.
B.A.S.S. officials will verify Team of the Year standings in the coming days, which will earn one duo a spot in the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew's later this year. The Top 3 teams (six anglers in all) from the Strike King Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops will earn the other three spots in the head-to-head competition.
Those eight anglers then will compete for a spot in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota when it’s held next March in Tulsa, Okla., with fishing on Grand Lake O' the Cherokees.
A total of 135 teams competed, and 14 of them punched their tickets to the College National Championship, which will be held later this year on a fishery yet to be announced.
The fishing action isn’t complete just yet here on the Red River, though.
Following a day off on Saturday, the Strike King Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors will hit the water Sunday, as will the Junior Series anglers. Coverage from those two events will be available on Bassmaster.com.
2023 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Red River presented by Bass Pro Shops 5/4-5/5
Red River, Natchitoches LA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Seth Elkins - Dale Hansard Jacksonville State University 250
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 15-13 Total: 10 29-09
2. Cole Holloway - Brandon Martin Emmanuel College 249
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 12-11 Total: 10 28-09
3. Brayden Nichols - William Tew LSU - Shreveport 248
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 11-15 Total: 10 23-11
4. Tripp Bowman - Matthew Nesbit LSU - Shreveport 247
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 12-04 Total: 10 23-02
5. Nicholas Holtgrave - Colsyn Head McKendree University 246
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 12-07 Total: 10 23-00
6. Caleb Dachenhaus - Sam Shoemaker Adrian College 245
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 12-00 Total: 10 22-01
7. Kyle Zainitzer - Avery Whitwell University of North Alabama 244
Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 5 14-08 Total: 10 21-12
8. Blake Bullock - John Mark Berry Blue Mountain College 243
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 10-09 Total: 10 21-10
9. Cal Culpepper - Ryan Thomas University of Montevallo 242
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 10-02 Total: 10 20-14
10. Trey Schroeder - Lane Stephens McKendree University 241
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 09-13 Total: 10 20-01
11. Kaden Proffitt - Cason Ragsdale East Texas Baptist University 240
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 09-10 Total: 10 20-00
12. Tyler Cory - Scott Sledge University of Montevallo 239
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 10-07 Total: 10 19-15
13. Levi Mullins - Matthew Cummings Bethel University 238
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 09-12 Total: 10 19-15
14. Bryson O'steen - Ty Jackson Florida Gateway College 237
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 09-10 Total: 10 19-10
15. Hunter McClaskey - Landon Lawson King University 236
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 09-04 Total: 10 19-07
16. Corey Morris - Brayden Mercer East Texas Baptist University 235
Day 1: 5 07-10 Day 2: 5 11-06 Total: 10 19-00
17. Gus McLarry - Jared West Texas A & M Commerce 234
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 07-07 Total: 10 18-14
18. Turner Hart - Summer Dees Bryan College 233
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 10-04 Total: 10 18-14
19. Morgan Miracle - Jake Thornbury Campbellsville University 232
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 08-11 Total: 10 18-11
20. William Travis - Victor Alford Bryan College 231
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 09-04 Total: 10 18-11
21. Zach Pocos - Trey Budach McKendree University 230
Day 1: 5 07-10 Day 2: 5 10-14 Total: 10 18-08
22. Hayden Marbut - Tucker Smith Auburn University 229
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 08-14 Total: 10 18-07
23. James Willoughby - Jacob Pfundt University of Montevallo 228
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 5 08-09 Total: 10 18-03
24. Parker O'Bryan - Miller Dowling University of Montevallo 227
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 3 06-02 Total: 8 18-01
25. Tommy Dunaway - Seth Jones Florida Gateway College 226
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 07-13 Total: 10 17-05
26. Jeremy Dellinger - Garrett Smith Lander University 225
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 07-09 Total: 10 16-15
27. Carter Koza - Drew Pitts Carson-Newman University 224
Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 5 08-13 Total: 10 16-14
28. Cole Rankin - Riley Faulkner Carson-Newman University 223
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 4 05-15 Total: 9 16-10
29. Easton Fothergill - Nick Dumke University of Montevallo 222
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 09-09 Total: 10 16-09
30. Ben Brockwell - Justice Gayhart Kentucky Christian University 221
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 07-09 Total: 10 16-07
31. Cy Lambert - University of North Alabama 220
Day 1: 5 06-07 Day 2: 5 09-15 Total: 10 16-06
32. Levi Thibodaux - Chance Shelby LSU - Shreveport 219
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 4 07-00 Total: 9 16-00
33. Connor Jacob - Sam Smith Auburn University 218
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 07-10 Total: 10 15-12
34. Christian Turner - John Gray Coastal Carolina University 217
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 06-13 Total: 10 15-08
35. Harmon Marien - Jack Stephens McKendree University 216
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 07-08 Total: 10 15-07
36. Reid Farris - Colton Swize Texas A&M University 215
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 3 03-12 Total: 8 15-06
37. Zach Bushey - Brandon Traw Tarleton State University 214
Day 1: 5 06-08 Day 2: 5 08-13 Total: 10 15-05
38. Matthew Dettling - Austin Wadzinski University of Tennessee 213
Day 1: 4 05-06 Day 2: 5 09-13 Total: 9 15-03
39. Jaxson Freeman - Maxwell Trotter McKendree University 212
Day 1: 5 05-07 Day 2: 5 09-12 Total: 10 15-03
40. Cody Domingos - Luka Strepacki University of Tennessee 211
Day 1: 5 06-15 Day 2: 5 08-02 Total: 10 15-01
41. Drake Sturgill - Beau Browning University of Montevallo 210
Day 1: 5 07-01 Day 2: 5 07-14 Total: 10 14-15
42. Seth Slanker - Jackson Swisher Florida Gateway College 209
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 06-01 Total: 10 14-14
43. Trevor Easter - Clayton Easter Tarleton State University 208
Day 1: 5 05-11 Day 2: 5 09-02 Total: 10 14-13
44. Tyler Cain - Cole Dodson University of Montevallo 207
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 5 08-11 Total: 8 14-09
45. Zach McNary - Mason Phillpotts Grand Valley State University 206
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 06-06 Total: 10 14-08
46. Cade Lipham - Caleb Coleman Drury University 205
Day 1: 5 05-11 Day 2: 5 08-12 Total: 10 14-07
47. Wade Roberts - LSU - Shreveport 204
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 4 05-06 Total: 9 14-06
48. Brendan Vinton - Dalton Eury Catawba Valley Community College 203
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 05-11 Total: 10 14-02
49. Kaden Buchmann - Jared Hubbard Lander University 202
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 3 03-04 Total: 8 14-01
50. Ridge Rutledge - Ryan Daugherty Campbellsville University 201
Day 1: 5 07-01 Day 2: 5 07-00 Total: 10 14-01
51. Carson Kamien - Tyson Verkaik University of Florida 200
Day 1: 5 06-01 Day 2: 5 07-07 Total: 10 13-08
52. Ryan Park - Sam Niemeyer Murray State University 199
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 3 04-03 Total: 8 13-07
53. Noah Trant - Evan Howe Northwestern State University (8 198
Day 1: 5 05-00 Day 2: 5 08-07 Total: 10 13-07
54. Cody Monlezun - Atlan Pfluger Texas A&M University 197
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 3 04-06 Total: 8 13-03
55. Wyatt Pearman - Dustin Bauer Campbellsville University 196
Day 1: 4 05-12 Day 2: 5 07-07 Total: 9 13-03
56. Matt Short - Pruitt Lansdale Eastern Kentucky University 195
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 4 06-03 Total: 9 13-03
57. Evan Sutton - Grant Olsen McKendree University 194
Day 1: 5 07-02 Day 2: 5 06-00 Total: 10 13-02
58. Hunter Fillmore - Dylan Fogarty Bethel University 193
Day 1: 5 06-00 Day 2: 3 07-01 Total: 8 13-01
59. Tucker Siminak - Kyle Hopping McKendree University 192
Day 1: 5 06-09 Day 2: 4 06-06 Total: 9 12-15
60. Brantley Anders - Cameron Dials Kentucky Christian University 191
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 4 05-14 Total: 9 12-14
61. Trent Buchholz - Dakota Posey Lamar State College Orange 190
Day 1: 5 06-05 Day 2: 5 06-09 Total: 10 12-14
62. Parker Brown - Layton Brown Dallas Baptist University 189
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 4 04-08 Total: 9 12-12
63. Chris Baker - Elijah Kelley Kentucky Christian University 188
Day 1: 4 06-03 Day 2: 5 06-08 Total: 9 12-11
64. Solomon Glenn - Briggs Alavezos University of Montevallo 187
Day 1: 5 06-14 Day 2: 5 05-12 Total: 10 12-10
65. Brock Blazier - Benjamin Blank Wabash Valley College 186
Day 1: 5 05-14 Day 2: 5 06-11 Total: 10 12-09
66. Bryant Martin - Luke Batts LSU - Shreveport 185
Day 1: 5 05-15 Day 2: 5 06-10 Total: 10 12-09
67. Drake Hemby - Szymon Piton Carson-Newman University 184
Day 1: 4 06-02 Day 2: 5 06-07 Total: 9 12-09
68. Giancarlo Russo - Remington Potter Florida Gateway College 183
Day 1: 5 06-11 Day 2: 5 05-12 Total: 10 12-07
69. Carson Hickman - Jacob Dobbs Tarleton State University 182
Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 5 04-12 Total: 10 12-05
70. William Vega - Will Emmert Sam Houston State University 181
Day 1: 5 06-14 Day 2: 5 05-03 Total: 10 12-01
71. Hunter Keller - Grant Harris Catawba Valley Community College 180
Day 1: 5 05-13 Day 2: 5 06-04 Total: 10 12-01
72. Clay Osteen - John Mizell Tarleton State University 179
Day 1: 5 07-08 Day 2: 4 04-06 Total: 9 11-14
73. Max Heaton - Brooks Anderson Emmanuel College 178
Day 1: 5 07-05 Day 2: 3 04-05 Total: 8 11-10
74. Derek Rodriguez Jr. - Mathias Dahline Adrian College 177
Day 1: 4 04-07 Day 2: 5 07-00 Total: 9 11-07
75. Justin Botts - Tim Herrmann Bryan College 176
Day 1: 4 06-07 Day 2: 4 04-14 Total: 8 11-05
76. Ashton Hehr - Trevor Johnston Texas A&M University 175
Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 2 03-14 Total: 7 11-02
77. Dustin Weinberg - Sawyer Brady Blue Mountain Christian Universi 174
Day 1: 5 06-14 Day 2: 3 04-04 Total: 8 11-02
78. Sawyer McCullough - Hunter Bettner Troy University 173
Day 1: 2 02-05 Day 2: 5 08-07 Total: 7 10-12
79. Jadon Spencer - Chase Martin Catawba Valley Community College 172
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 2 02-08 Total: 7 10-12
80. Russel Buffa - Dalton Mollenkopf Adrian College 171
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 3 03-09 Total: 8 10-09
81. Cross Campbell - Ethan Thurston East Texas Baptist University 170
Day 1: 4 06-00 Day 2: 3 04-08 Total: 7 10-08
82. Carter Ball - Austin Tapley Adrian College 169
Day 1: 5 05-10 Day 2: 5 04-14 Total: 10 10-08
83. Chase Hubble - Brent May University of Florida 168
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 2 02-01 Total: 7 10-05
84. Taylor McMullen - Emmanuel College 167
Day 1: 4 06-05 Day 2: 2 04-00 Total: 6 10-05
85. Carter Smith - Gannon Stork Wabash Valley College 166
Day 1: 1 03-01 Day 2: 4 07-03 Total: 5 10-04
86. Caleb Bridges - Matthew Dopp Bryan College 165
Day 1: 5 07-01 Day 2: 3 03-03 Total: 8 10-04
87. John Karisny - Brodie Paige Louisiana Tech University 164
Day 1: 5 05-07 Day 2: 3 04-13 Total: 8 10-04
88. Matthew Zdrazil - Easton Lindus Emmanuel College 163
Day 1: 5 07-06 Day 2: 2 02-09 Total: 7 09-15
89. Miles Smith - Zach Henderson Georgia College 162
Day 1: 5 06-12 Day 2: 1 03-00 Total: 6 09-12
90. Dylan Breaux - Joel Richard Nicholls State University 161
Day 1: 5 07-01 Day 2: 2 02-04 Total: 7 09-05
91. Colton Hill - Tomas Matual McKendree University 160
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 3 04-09 Total: 6 09-03
92. Jordan Pennington - Andrew Oswalt University of Montevallo 159
Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 2 01-14 Total: 7 09-02
93. Justin James - Keegan Trahan Lamar State College Orange 158
Day 1: 3 02-14 Day 2: 4 06-04 Total: 7 09-02
94. Reece Keeney - Colby Kerr Kentucky Christian University 157
Day 1: 4 06-09 Day 2: 1 02-07 Total: 5 09-00
95. Cooper Arthur - Luke Frankowicz Louisiana Tech University 156
Day 1: 3 04-13 Day 2: 4 04-00 Total: 7 08-13
96. Gavin Schmitz - Addison Sikes University of Montevallo 155
Day 1: 5 06-05 Day 2: 2 02-05 Total: 7 08-10
97. Roy Crush - Hunter Hernandez Texas A&M University 154
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 5 07-05 Total: 6 08-04
98. Brody Robison - Jack Alexander University of Montevallo 153
Day 1: 5 06-14 Day 2: 3 01-02 Total: 8 08-00
99. Max Gosdin - Andrew Howell University of Montevallo 152
Day 1: 5 06-13 Day 2: 1 01-02 Total: 6 07-15
100. Stephen Bovia - Preston Madere Louisiana Tech University 151
Day 1: 2 03-09 Day 2: 4 04-06 Total: 6 07-15
101. Wesley Smith II - Jacob Oliver Catawba Valley Community College 150
Day 1: 4 06-13 Day 2: 1 00-14 Total: 5 07-11
102. Nathan Coffman - Garrett Mawalls LSU - Shreveport 149
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 07-09 Total: 5 07-09
103. Brett Jolley Jr. - Cade Nettles East Texas Baptist University 148
Day 1: 5 04-15 Day 2: 2 02-10 Total: 7 07-09
104. Brenton Godwin - Hunter Odom University of Montevallo 147
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 2 02-09 Total: 5 07-08
105. Spencer Brister - Roeh Burton Lamar State College Orange 146
Day 1: 4 04-12 Day 2: 3 02-11 Total: 7 07-07
106. Gunner Whitaker - Mitch Johnson Kentucky Christian University 145
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 07-00
107. Hank Sturm - Mitch Straffon Adrian College 144
Day 1: 5 06-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 06-14
108. Conner Giles - Christian Wright Bryan College 143
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 4 04-01 Total: 6 06-12
109. Dylan Benson - Austin Rose East Texas Baptist University 142
Day 1: 5 06-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 06-04
110. Cole Thompson - Rees Williams University of North Alabama 141
Day 1: 5 06-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 06-01
111. Jacob Autry - Will Niebrugge Murray State University 140
Day 1: 4 04-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 04-13
112. Luke Iles - Northwestern State University 139
Day 1: 1 00-13 Day 2: 2 03-14 Total: 3 04-11
113. Zeb Roberts - Cabe Mackey Catawba Valley Community College 138
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 2 03-08 Total: 3 04-08
114. Kreed Averhoff - Jordan Kalsbeek Tarleton State University 137
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 1 01-05 Total: 3 04-07
115. Thomas Mingle - Braxton Simmons University of Tennessee 136
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 04-06
116. Lane Bailey - Justin Eggers Catawba Valley Community College 135
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 1 01-04 Total: 3 04-06
117. Hampton Shull - Landon Surrett Lander University 134
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 2 02-14 Total: 3 04-01
118. Seth Jenkins - TJ McKenzie Emmanuel College 133
Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 03-13
119. Fischer Barber - Tucker Jordan Troy University 132
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 3 02-12 Total: 4 03-13
120. Riley Lawson - Dawson Burton Kentucky Christian University 131
Day 1: 3 03-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 03-04
121. Caleb Hart - Connor Vanderploeg Grand Valley State University 130
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-03 Total: 2 03-03
122. Hunter Palmer - Eli Stevenson Bryan College 129
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 1 01-05 Total: 2 03-00
123. Kyle Knoll - Luke Morgan Southern Union State Community C 128
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 02-13
124. Sid Wallace - Broxson Daigle Texas A&M University 127
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 02-02
125. Caleb Jacob - Illinois State University 126
Day 1: 2 01-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 01-15
126. Kaden Liles - Kolby Clark University of North Alabama 125
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-01
127. Hunter Starling - William Vickery Georgia Southern University 124
Day 1: 1 00-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 00-14
128. Jacob Butts - Mark Kershaw-Klara USC Union 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
128. Carson Calvert - Austin Thomas University of North Alabama 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
128. Marlee Churchman - Ty Gentry LSU - Shreveport 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
128. Cody Clifton - Robert Hunt Missouri State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
128. Logan East - Rob Lindsey Bryan College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
128. Connor Lynch - Domenic Bartel Grand Valley State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
128. Chandler Pruett - Wes Bailey Blue Mountain College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
128. Rudy Worley - Fisher Overton Blue Mountain College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 88 536 853-13
2 63 454 732-10
----------------------------------
151 990 1586-07
Kemp completes wire-to-wire victory at Bassmaster Open on Buggs Island Reservoir
Powell Kemp of Scotland Neck, N.C., has won the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Buggs Island Reservoir with a three-day total of 48 pounds, 13 ounces.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
May 5, 2023
CLARKSVILLE, Va. — Powell Kemp admits he was mostly trying to avoid criticism for ending early. But in doing so, the local pro from Scotland Neck, N.C., stumbled across a key area that helped him tally a three-day total of 48 pounds, 13 ounces to secure a wire-to-wire victory at the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Buggs Island.
Kemp started his run by nabbing the tournament’s heaviest bag — a Day 1 limit of 19-8. Adding 16-12 in the second round, then a Championship Friday limit of 12-9, Kemp cruised to victory by a margin of 3-2 over Bassmaster Elite Series pro David Williams.
For his achievement, Kemp took home over $52,000 and earned a spot in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota March 22-24 in Tulsa, Okla.
“That sounds unbelievable,” Kemp said upon hearing his winnings announced. “The Classic is the goal for every fisherman out there. Weekend guys, tour guys — that’s what everyone wants. Dream come true.
“I’ve been blessed; my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has done this. Everything I’ve done, I can’t explain. It just happened.”
With Buggs Island rattled by a recent cold front and fluctuating water levels, the Roanoke River reservoir proved challenging. Each day, Kemp noted that, due to the lack of consistency, he was simply fishing instinctively.
Toward the end of Day 2, marrying that instinct with the aforementioned criticism concern led Kemp to what was likely a game-clinching decision.
“Yesterday (Thursday), I was running in with about 30 minutes left and I knew if I went in then, my friends would say, ‘You are crazy. You came in 30 minutes early.’
“So, I stopped at one place 500 yards outside the off-limits area, caught three fish and culled one. I started there the final morning and caught most of what I weighed really quick.”
With his Day 3 nerves settled and a good limit in the boat, Kemp ran down to one of his key areas in Nutbush Creek but ended up catching all of his weight on the lake’s upper end. Flooded gumtrees and buckbrush were his top targets.
Kemp caught all of his bass on a 1/2-ounce Hawg Caller spinnerbait and an unnamed spinnerbait with oversized gold blades for the dirtier water. Slow rolling his baits was the best presentation. Kemp used no plastic trailers, but he rigged both baits with trailer hooks.
“That 20-pound P-Line CXX X-tra Strong line ripped them all out of the bushes,” Kemp said. “I didn’t lose any; I didn’t break any off.”
Kemp said the cold air that chilled the region likely limited the shad spawn that would normally be on fire this time of year. Lacking this morning jumpstart, his first two days were somewhat disjointed.
“I’ve fished here hundreds of days, but it was just a wind deal,” Kemp said. “I went where the wind said go and where the good Lord told me to go.”
Day 1 was particularly difficult due to strong winds, which built 4- to 5-foot waves on the main lake. Kemp was moving around a lot and just as he was about to relocate, the tournament’s biggest bass gave him a much-needed boost of confidence.
“I went through the shad spawn deal and when I got to the end of the stretch, I said: ‘Let me hit this little corner where some bushes are.’ I missed the male (of a spawning pair) so I threw back over there and caught the 5-13 (female).
“I was losing my mind while she was out there jumping. I finally got my hands on her. I’m glad I didn’t hurt her when I grabbed her. I was so excited to get her in the boat.”
Hailing from Newton, N.C., Williams finished second with 45-11. He started at a moderate pace with 11-5 but stepped on the gas in the latter two rounds with 17-0 and 17-6.
“My first day, I stumbled a little bit, but these last two days were incredible,” Williams said. “I covered a lot of water and never fished the same water twice. I fished from one end to the other — from Nutbush Creek to up the river.
“I covered water and the last two days, it just seemed like they bit everywhere I went. It’s an awesome lake and I’ve had a lot of success here. It holds a special place in my heart.
On Days 2 and 3, Williams focused on areas that had been windblown the first day. He caught his bass on a 1/2-ounce homemade white spinnerbait with two blade combinations. He used a double willow-leaf model in clear water and a Colorado/Indiana combo in stained water. Both carried Zoom Split Tail trailers.
Casey Scanlon of Eldon, Mo., placed third with 44-13. His daily weights were 14-11, 13-14 and 16-4.
Noting that he contended with dynamic conditions, Scanlon said he found success by sticking with his go-to bait.
“I pretty much kept my 1/2-ounce Trophy Bass Company spinnerbait with a 2/0 Hayabusa trailer hook in my hand,” he said. “The spinnerbait was a morning deal. A 1/2-ounce Z-Man Jackhammer ChatterBait with a Tackle HD Minnow Fluke trailer was an afternoon deal. Today, I caught four on the spinnerbait and one on the ChatterBait.
“I took it easy on that Nitro and Mercury. I didn’t make any long runs; I stayed within about 5 miles of here. Conditions changed for me every day and I had to change with it.”
As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Birmingham, Ala., angler Jake Maddux, who finished 11th, took home an additional $2,000.
Kemp won the $750 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award for his 5-13 largemouth. He also won the $500 Garmin Tournament Rewards.
Kemp leads the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Division 3 standings with 200 points. Williams is in second with 199, followed by Scanlon with 198, Jack Dice of Lynchburg, Va., with 197 and Ryan Broughman of Corapeake, N.C., with 196.
John Garrett of Union City, Tenn., leads the Opens Elite Qualifiers standings with 577 points. Matt Henry of Milledgeville, Ga., is second with 545, followed by Kenta Kimura of Osaka, Japan, with 539, Wesley Gore of Clanton, Ala., with 538 and Ben Milliken of New Caney, Texas, with 535. Rounding out the nine anglers who are in position to qualify for the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series via the Opens EQ are Trey McKinney, Keith Tuma, Brett Cannon and JT Thompkins. Follow the Opens EQ race all season at Bassmaster.com.
2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Buggs Island 5/3-5/5
Buggs Island Reservoir, Clarksville VA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Powell Kemp Scotland Neck, NC 15 48-13 200 $53,284.00
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 16-12 Day 3: 5 12-09
2. David Williams Newton, NC 15 45-11 199 $25,274.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 17-00 Day 3: 5 17-06
3. Casey Scanlon Eldon, MO 15 44-13 198 $17,840.00
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 13-14 Day 3: 5 16-04
4. Jack Dice Lynchburg, VA 15 42-11 197 $14,867.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 16-02 Day 3: 5 13-13
5. Ryan Broughman Corapeake, NC 15 42-07 196 $12,934.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 15-02 Day 3: 5 15-03
6. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 15 42-01 195 $11,893.00
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 14-09 Day 3: 5 13-05
7. Casey Smith Victor, NY 15 41-00 194 $11,150.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 16-04 Day 3: 5 12-00
8. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 15 40-07 193 $10,407.00
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 14-07 Day 3: 5 12-04
9. Shayne Berlo Mclean, VA 15 38-07 192 $8,177.00
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 17-13 Day 3: 5 09-11
10. Evan Barnes Dardanelle, AR 15 37-12 191 $6,690.00
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 09-01
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Powell Kemp Scotland Neck, NC 05-13 $750.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 160 964 2096-08
2 157 932 2013-01
3 10 50 131-08
----------------------------------
327 1946 4241-01
Findley comes from behind to win B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional on Arkansas River
Cole Findley of Forsyth, Mo., has won the 2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional at Arkansas River with a three-day total of 36 pounds, 4 ounces.
Photo by Mark Cisneros/B.A.S.S.
May 5, 2023
MUSKOGEE, Okla. — Cole Findley didn’t lead the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional at Arkansas River until it mattered most.
And that’s all that mattered.
Findley, a 39-year-old resident of Forsyth, Mo., caught limits of five bass on each of the tournament’s three days, finishing with a total weight of 36 pounds, 4 ounces. He won $5,000 for finishing atop the 80-angler field. Findley also earned a $500 in Garmin Rewards money.
He also locked up a spot in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship scheduled for South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell Oct. 18-20. A Top 3 finish there would earn him a berth in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota which is scheduled for March 22-24 in Tulsa, Okla.
But first thing’s first, and that includes relishing Friday’s B.A.S.S. Nation win on the Arkansas River, the first regional on the Nation calendar in 2023.
“A lot of things have to happen to win a tournament, and everything came together for me this week,” Findley said shortly after lofting the tournament trophy at Three Forks Harbor, where the derby began and ended each day.
“I had a great time this week. The Team (Missouri) was great. My co-anglers were all I could ask for ... It’s just been a perfect week.”
Findley locked downriver into the McClellan-Kerr area where he targeted reaction bites around stands of reeds instead of the rock and wood structures many of his fellow competitors were fishing.
“I needed deeper water, from 4 to 6 feet and 12 to 14 feet,” he said. “I got off the main channel and was flipping a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver (black/blue) and I caught a few on a 6th Sense Vega Frog. But nothing was easy.”
That might be an understatement, considering Findley only had 19 keeper bites throughout the three-day competition.
“I was making a flip every four seconds,” he said. “The lure was going in and coming out just as quick ... I caught a lot of shorts on the first day, but the bigger bites were just not happening often at all.”
Findley has had momentum on his side recently. He finished 11th in the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Alabama’s Pickwick Lake last November and paired with Jeffrey Barrickman to place 17th in the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship at Hartwell a month later.
“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve calmed down,” Findley said. “I don’t spin out. I’m easygoing and relaxed.”
As for his pending return trip to the Nation Championship, Findley was single-minded.
“There’s only one goal and that’s to make the Classic,” he said.
Oklahoma’s Tyler Ramsay slipped into second place in the angler field with a cumulative weight of 34-14. He caught 11-12 on Friday, which was the third-heaviest bag caught by the 40 anglers who made the cut.
“I fished in Kerr all three days,” the 33-year-old Sand Springs, Okla., resident said. “I was catching them in around 2 feet of water in some backwaters and oxbows, around lily pads and reeds.”
Ramsay used a SPRO Bronzeye Frog in black and a variety of white swim jigs to boat his best bass. He won $3,000 for finishing second in the angler field.
“The vegetation was important,” he said. “If there was water behind it, postspawn bass were coming in to feed on shad.”
Jesse Jordan of Stilwell, Kan., took home Big Bass of the Tournament honors and $500 for the 5-4 he caught Thursday.
James Seymour, of Oglesby, Texas, led the 80 competitors in the co-angler division with a three-day total of six bass weighing 19-8. Seymour caught a three-bass limit of 11-1 on Friday to jump to the top of his field and earn the $2,500 cash prize.
Seymour, 44, rallied after catching only one bass for 2-4 on Day 1 and a pair of fish totaling 6-3 on Day 2.
“I was grinding and knew I had to do something different,” Seymour said.
That involved Texas-rigging a Zoom Trick Worm (green pumpkin/purple flake) with its tail dipped in red dye. He popped a tungsten nail weight into the other end of the lure, which gave it a unique fall.
Seymour will be making his first trip to the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship. He also won the co-angler division of the Texas Nation Championship.
“It’s been pretty amazing,” he said. “We have a tough region. To win here and go to Nationals, it’s really a dream coming true.”
A total of 16 anglers qualified for the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at this week’s event — the leading angler and co-angler from each of the eight states represented.
The team championship of the derby concluded Thursday. Kansas finished first in that contest, with 71 bass weighing a total of 171-2, which was good for $5,000 for their Nation program. Team Louisiana finished second (77 bass, 166-12) and won $3,000, while Team Oklahoma (67 bass, 155-13) was third and won $2,000.
A total of $34,500 was awarded between individual and team competitions.
Four B.A.S.S. Nation Regionals remain on this year’s schedule — at Tennessee’s Douglas Lake (May 24-26), the Potomac River in Maryland (June 7-9), Wisconsin’s Lake Winnebago (June 28-30) and the Western Regional, which is still to be announced.
The tournament was hosted by the Muskogee Tourism Authority.
2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional 5/3-5/5
Arkansas River, Muskogee OK.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Cole Findley Forsyth, MO (MO) 15 36-04 0
2. Tyler Ramsey Sand Springs, OK (OK) 15 34-14 0
3. Blake Wilson Benton, AR (AR) 14 33-14 0
4. Brock Enmeier Bixby, OK (OK) 11 30-02 0
5. Nate Caldwell Fort Collins, CO (CO) 12 28-07 0
6. Matthew Nobile Sorrento, LA (LA) 11 28-07 0
7. Howard Hartley Jr Berwick, LA (LA) 13 28-02 0
8. Andy Gill Wellsville, KS (KS) 11 27-10 0
9. Matthew Abeyta Albuquerque, NM (NM) 9 27-06 0
10. Jamie Laiche Gonzales, LA (LA) 11 25-02 0
11. Chris Johnson Farmington, AR (KS) 10 24-09 0
12. Byron Albrecht Waco, TX (TX) 9 24-08 0
13. Jay Beffa Festus, MO (MO) 10 24-05 0
14. Kris Bosley Amarillo, TX (NM) 9 23-01 0
15. Tray Huddleston Russellville, AR (AR) 7 21-13 0
16. Tyler Wilson Carlsbad, NM (NM) 9 19-08 0
17. Grayson Morrow San Angelo, TX (TX) 8 19-00 0
18. Gabriel Rivera Portales, NM (NM) 8 18-03 0
19. Jesse Jordan Stilwel, KS (KS) 6 17-02 0
20. Keith Allen Okemah, OK (OK) 6 14-07 0
21. Brock Bila Louisburg, KS (KS) 7 14-03 0
22. Joe Conway Colorado Springs, CO (C 6 13-15 0
23. Kenny Turpin El Dorado, KS (KS) 6 13-11 0
24. Johnny Johnson Bloomfield, NM (NM) 5 13-09 0
25. Kevin Crady De Soto, MO (MO) 5 12-14 0
26. Chuck Major Morganza, LA (LA) 5 12-03 0
27. Austin Abadie Saint Amant, LA (LA) 5 11-13 0
28. Jeff Lugar Princeton, TX (TX) 6 11-06 0
29. Ross Roper Lutcher, LA (LA) 6 11-03 0
30. Tucker Pierce Hollister, MO (MO) 6 10-15 0
31. Chad Petrie Scroggins, TX (TX) 4 10-11 0
32. Jared Knuth Wahoo, NE (MO) 6 10-09 0
33. Nick Luna Buckner, MO (KS) 5 10-02 0
34. Steve Schneider Tijeras, NM (NM) 5 10-02 0
35. Austin O'Dell Cushing , OK (OK) 5 10-01 0
36. Klint VonFeldt Hays, KS (KS) 4 09-14 0
37. Drew Tabor Harrison, AR (AR) 7 09-14 0
38. Adam Deakin Windsor, CO (CO) 4 09-05 0
39. Teddy Granier Thibodaux, LA (LA) 4 09-03 0
40. Matthew Peter Saint James, MO (MO) 4 08-15 0
41. Dalton Ross Centerton, AR (AR) 4 08-06 0
42. Tony Halford Perkins, OK (OK) 3 08-05 0
43. Ramsey Romanin Wolcott, CO (CO) 3 08-03 0
44. Adam Johnson Pontiac, MO (AR) 2 07-13 0
45. Ryan Watkins Rockport, TX (TX) 3 07-10 0
46. Larry Stoafer Leavenworth, KS (KS) 4 07-05 0
47. Brian Dickirson Choctaw, OK (OK) 3 07-03 0
48. Brian Reinert Rathdrum, ID (CO) 4 07-02 0
49. David Henning Augusta, KS (KS) 3 07-02 0
50. Tim Cartwright Sand Springs, OK (OK) 3 07-01 0
50. Zachery Fowler Konawa, OK (OK) 3 07-01 0
52. Pete DuBois Mountain Home, AR (AR) 3 06-15 0
53. Kyle Torkelson Coweta, OK (KS) 3 06-13 0
54. Alan Daniels Kansas City, KS (MO) 3 06-02 0
55. Buddy Jorde II Clovis, NM (NM) 2 05-10 0
56. Brent Breznik Borger, TX (NM) 3 05-09 0
57. Kevin Late Pocahontas, AR (AR) 2 05-06 0
57. Casey Welch Arvada, CO (CO) 2 05-06 0
59. Steven Caldwell Whitesboro, TX (TX) 3 05-06 0
60. Boyd Gautreau Saint Amant, LA (LA) 2 04-15 0
61. Christian Gladfelter Winters, TX (NM) 2 04-07 0
62. Corey Stewart III Lees Summit, MO (MO) 1 04-01 0
63. Robert Thierry III Sugarland, TX (TX) 2 04-00 0
64. Charles Dodd Tyler, TX (TX) 2 03-15 0
65. Ron Strickland Pueblo West, CO (CO) 2 03-08 0
66. Wesley Baxley Cypress, TX (TX) 2 03-07 0
67. Larry Triplett Castle Rock, CO (CO) 1 03-03 0
68. Bradley Sullivan Shawnee, OK (OK) 2 02-12 0
69. Christopher Dollard Mountain Home, AR (AR) 3 02-09 0
70. Ira Lynn Adkins, TX (TX) 1 02-08 0
71. Preston Havens Mountain Home, AR (AR) 1 02-05 0
72. Chris Jarvis Albuquerque, NM (NM) 1 02-03 0
73. Austin Plaisance Belle Chasse, LA (LA) 1 01-14 0
74. Brian Murphy Sulphur, LA (LA) 1 01-03 0
75. Matthew Cesar Crane, MO (MO) 0 00-00 0
75. Tyler Frahm Kirbyville, MO (MO) 0 00-00 0
75. Jason Gasper Peyton, CO (CO) 0 00-00 0
75. Kris Lee Coweta, OK (OK) 0 00-00 0
75. Derek Leek Monticello, AR (AR) 0 00-00 0
75. Jerod Rosten Windsor, CO (CO) 0 00-00 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 10 164 368-02
2 12 166 404-14
3 4 59 135-08
----------------------------------
26 389 908-08
TEAM STANDINGS Day 3
----------------------------------
State Lbs-Oz
1 LOUISIANA 200-12
2 KANSAS 196-13
3 OKLAHOMA 194-03
4 ARKANSAS 166-07
5 NEW MEXICO 157-10
6 MISSOURI 150-14
7 TEXAS 140-06
8 COLORADO 105-14
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
KANSAS
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Andy Gill Wellsville, KS 11 27-10 0
2 Chris Johnson Farmington, AR 10 24-09 0
3 Jesse Jordan Stilwel, KS 6 17-02 0
4 Brock Bila Louisburg, KS 7 14-03 0
5 Kenny Turpin El Dorado, KS 6 13-11 0
6 Nick Luna Buckner, MO 5 10-02 0
7 Klint VonFeldt Hays, KS 4 09-14 0
8 Larry Stoafer Leavenworth, KS 4 07-05 0
9 David Henning Augusta, KS 3 07-02 0
10 Kyle Torkelson Coweta, OK 3 06-13 0
OKLAHOMA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Tyler Ramsey Sand Springs, OK 15 34-14 0
2 Brock Enmeier Bixby, OK 11 30-02 0
3 Keith Allen Okemah, OK 6 14-07 0
4 Austin O'Dell Cushing , OK 5 10-01 0
5 Tony Halford Perkins, OK 3 08-05 0
6 Brian Dickirson Choctaw, OK 3 07-03 0
7 Tim Cartwright Sand Springs, OK 3 07-01 0
7 Zachery Fowler Konawa, OK 3 07-01 0
9 Bradley Sullivan Shawnee, OK 2 02-12 0
10 Kris Lee Coweta, OK 0 00-00 0
LOUISIANA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Matthew Nobile Sorrento, LA 11 28-07 0
2 Howard Hartley Jr Berwick, LA 13 28-02 0
3 Jamie Laiche Gonzales, LA 11 25-02 0
4 Chuck Major Morganza, LA 5 12-03 0
5 Austin Abadie Saint Amant, LA 5 11-13 0
6 Ross Roper Lutcher, LA 6 11-03 0
7 Teddy Granier Thibodaux, LA 4 09-03 0
8 Boyd Gautreau Saint Amant, LA 2 04-15 0
9 Austin Plaisance Belle Chasse, LA 1 01-14 0
10 Brian Murphy Sulphur, LA 1 01-03 0
MISSOURI
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Cole Findley Forsyth, MO 15 36-04 0
2 Jay Beffa Festus, MO 10 24-05 0
3 Kevin Crady De Soto, MO 5 12-14 0
4 Tucker Pierce Hollister, MO 6 10-15 0
5 Jared Knuth Wahoo, NE 6 10-09 0
6 Matthew Peter Saint James, MO 4 08-15 0
7 Alan Daniels Kansas City, KS 3 06-02 0
8 Corey Stewart III Lees Summit, MO 1 04-01 0
9 Matthew Cesar Crane, MO 0 00-00 0
9 Tyler Frahm Kirbyville, MO 0 00-00 0
ARKANSAS
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Blake Wilson Benton, AR 14 33-14 0
2 Tray Huddleston Russellville, AR 7 21-13 0
3 Drew Tabor Harrison, AR 7 09-14 0
4 Dalton Ross Centerton, AR 4 08-06 0
5 Adam Johnson Pontiac, MO 2 07-13 0
6 Pete DuBois Mountain Home, AR 3 06-15 0
7 Kevin Late Pocahontas, AR 2 05-06 0
8 Christopher Dollard Mountain Home, AR 3 02-09 0
9 Preston Havens Mountain Home, AR 1 02-05 0
10 Derek Leek Monticello, AR 0 00-00 0
TEXAS
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Byron Albrecht Waco, TX 9 24-08 0
2 Grayson Morrow San Angelo, TX 8 19-00 0
3 Jeff Lugar Princeton, TX 6 11-06 0
4 Chad Petrie Scroggins, TX 4 10-11 0
5 Ryan Watkins Rockport, TX 3 07-10 0
6 Steven Caldwell Whitesboro, TX 3 05-06 0
7 Robert Thierry III Sugarland, TX 2 04-00 0
8 Charles Dodd Tyler, TX 2 03-15 0
9 Wesley Baxley Cypress, TX 2 03-07 0
10 Ira Lynn Adkins, TX 1 02-08 0
NEW MEXICO
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Matthew Abeyta Albuquerque, NM 9 27-06 0
2 Kris Bosley Amarillo, TX 9 23-01 0
3 Tyler Wilson Carlsbad, NM 9 19-08 0
4 Gabriel Rivera Portales, NM 8 18-03 0
5 Johnny Johnson Bloomfield, NM 5 13-09 0
6 Steve Schneider Tijeras, NM 5 10-02 0
7 Buddy Jorde II Clovis, NM 2 05-10 0
8 Brent Breznik Borger, TX 3 05-09 0
9 Christian Gladfelter Winters, TX 2 04-07 0
10 Chris Jarvis Albuquerque, NM 1 02-03 0
COLORADO
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Nate Caldwell Fort Collins, CO 12 28-07 0
2 Joe Conway Colorado Springs, CO 6 13-15 0
3 Adam Deakin Windsor, CO 4 09-05 0
4 Ramsey Romanin Wolcott, CO 3 08-03 0
5 Brian Reinert Rathdrum, ID 4 07-02 0
6 Casey Welch Arvada, CO 2 05-06 0
7 Ron Strickland Pueblo West, CO 2 03-08 0
8 Larry Triplett Castle Rock, CO 1 03-03 0
9 Jason Gasper Peyton, CO 0 00-00 0
9 Jerod Rosten Windsor, CO 0 00-00 0
2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional 5/3-5/5
Arkansas River, Muskogee OK.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. James Seymour Oglesby, TX (TX) 6 19-08 0
2. Cole Buser Moscow, ID (NM) 8 17-10 0
3. Kyle Klein Hutchinson, KS (KS) 6 17-00 0
4. Colten Hutson Edmond, OK (OK) 7 16-15 0
5. Jason Campbell Berwick, LA (LA) 6 16-10 0
6. Jeremiah Proulx Cherokee Village, AR (A 6 16-08 0
7. Kevin Sullivan Tecumseh, OK (OK) 7 16-01 0
8. Lanny Dooley Mountain Home, AR (AR) 6 15-09 0
9. Jobie Vongpraphanh Springdale, AR (AR) 7 14-15 0
10. Parker Welch Spring Hill, KS (KS) 4 13-03 0
11. Billy Freeny Sperry, OK (OK) 4 10-13 0
12. Marshal Allen Greeley, CO (CO) 4 10-06 0
13. Travis Bodin Erwinville, LA (LA) 5 10-04 0
14. Dennis Dustmann Oklahoma City, OK (OK) 5 09-12 0
15. Joe Whelan Ozark, MO (MO) 3 09-07 0
16. Ron Darr Kirksville, MO (MO) 4 09-05 0
17. Clayton Smith Montgomery, TX (TX) 4 09-02 0
18. Jesse Cornell Abilene, KS (KS) 3 07-09 0
19. Jonathan Small Pleasant Hill, MO (MO) 4 07-08 0
20. Logan Farrimond Garden City, MO (MO) 2 06-13 0
21. Dylan Eschette Brusly, LA (LA) 4 06-09 0
22. Kit Lueg Stilwell, KS (KS) 2 06-06 0
23. Kelly Ross Solomon, KS (KS) 3 06-05 0
24. Cambre Webb Walker, LA (LA) 3 06-04 0
25. Scott Guitreau St Amant, LA (LA) 2 05-11 0
26. R.J. Leblanc Jr Franklin, LA (LA) 3 05-09 0
27. David Gummow New Roads, LA (LA) 2 05-06 0
28. Aaron Danos Jr Bella Vista, AR (AR) 2 05-03 0
29. Shayne Dupree Haslet, TX (TX) 3 05-02 0
30. Garrett Smith Vidor, TX (TX) 2 05-01 0
31. Levi Evans Ava, MO (AR) 3 05-00 0
32. Korbyn Parker Sand Springs, OK (OK) 2 05-00 0
33. Sean Bowen Midwest City, OK (OK) 2 04-15 0
34. Jake Beach Opelousas, LA (LA) 5 04-14 0
35. Joshua Plott Sumner, TX (TX) 2 04-14 0
36. Lance Henderson Springdale, AR (AR) 2 04-04 0
37. Neil Raedel Colorado Springs, CO (C 2 04-03 0
38. Scott Hausman Owasso, OK (OK) 2 04-02 0
39. Pam Horne Bella Vista, AR (AR) 2 04-01 0
40. Larry Fralick Wichita, KS (KS) 2 04-00 0
41. Melissa Jarvis Albuquerque, NM (NM) 2 04-00 0
42. Mark Warren Kiowa, CO (CO) 2 03-15 0
43. Richard Crine Columbine Valley, CO (C 2 03-09 0
44. Alex Falcon Morgan City, LA (LA) 2 03-08 0
45. Steven Temple Carlsbad, NM (NM) 2 03-05 0
46. Johnnie Large Owasso, OK (OK) 1 03-00 0
47. Zack Busch Festus, MO (MO) 1 02-04 0
48. Tai Hunt Denver, CO (CO) 1 02-01 0
49. Greg Brown Overland Park, KS (KS) 1 02-00 0
49. Mark Laird Springdale, AR (AR) 1 02-00 0
49. Tiger Manuel Jr Sulphur, LA (LA) 1 02-00 0
52. Larry Brumley Topeka, KS (KS) 1 01-15 0
53. Kirk Fulton Nolanville, TX (TX) 1 01-12 0
54. Brezlyn Hightower Choctaw, OK (OK) 1 01-11 0
55. Ronnie Hill Canadian, TX (NM) 1 01-10 0
56. Glenn Hahn San Antonio, TX (TX) 1 01-09 0
57. Cameron Anielak Saint Peters, MO (MO) 1 01-08 0
58. Christopher Sanchez Albuquerque, NM (NM) 1 01-07 0
59. Don Evans Canon City, CO (CO) 1 01-06 0
60. Andrew Bowman Aurora, CO (CO) 1 01-05 0
61. David Porter Rockwall, TX (TX) 3 00-15 0
62. Kevin Hallemann Saint Louis, MO (MO) 1 00-00 0
63. Michael Arndt Potosi, MO (MO) 0 00-00 0
63. Macky Bosley III Canyon, TX (NM) 0 00-00 0
63. Bruce Carter Carrollton, TX (TX) 0 00-00 0
63. Richard Castellese Albuquerque, NM (NM) 0 00-00 0
63. Ray Cates Overland Park, KS (KS) 0 00-00 0
63. Luke Davidson Centennial , CO (CO) 0 00-00 0
63. Mike Estrada Belen, NM (NM) 0 00-00 0
63. Jim Evers Edmond, OK (OK) 0 00-00 0
63. Jon Gipson Magnolia, TX (TX) 0 00-00 0
63. Bob Howard Colorado Springs, CO (C 0 00-00 0
63. Matt Hyde Springfield, MO (MO) 0 00-00 0
63. Ron Kless Rio Rancho, NM (NM) 0 00-00 0
63. Turner Mason Thornton, CO (CO) 0 00-00 0
63. AJ Rongey Osage Beach, MO (MO) 0 00-00 0
63. Jim Vielhauer Shawnee, KS (KS) 0 00-00 0
63. Marty Whisnant Gainesville, MO (AR) 0 00-00 0
63. John Widner Albuquerque, NM (NM) 0 00-00 0
63. Chuck Wisdom Jr Beebe, AR (AR) 0 00-00 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 7 66 129-15
2 15 88 211-06
3 5 26 63-02
----------------------------------
27 180 404-07
TEAM STANDINGS Day 3
----------------------------------
State Lbs-Oz
1 LOUISIANA 200-12
2 KANSAS 196-13
3 OKLAHOMA 194-03
4 ARKANSAS 166-07
5 NEW MEXICO 157-10
6 MISSOURI 150-14
7 TEXAS 140-06
8 COLORADO 105-14
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
KANSAS
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Kyle Klein Hutchinson, KS 6 17-00 0
2 Parker Welch Spring Hill, KS 4 13-03 0
3 Jesse Cornell Abilene, KS 3 07-09 0
4 Kit Lueg Stilwell, KS 2 06-06 0
5 Kelly Ross Solomon, KS 3 06-05 0
6 Larry Fralick Wichita, KS 2 04-00 0
7 Greg Brown Overland Park, KS 1 02-00 0
8 Larry Brumley Topeka, KS 1 01-15 0
9 Ray Cates Overland Park, KS 0 00-00 0
9 Jim Vielhauer Shawnee, KS 0 00-00 0
OKLAHOMA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Colten Hutson Edmond, OK 7 16-15 0
2 Kevin Sullivan Tecumseh, OK 7 16-01 0
3 Billy Freeny Sperry, OK 4 10-13 0
4 Dennis Dustmann Oklahoma City, OK 5 09-12 0
5 Korbyn Parker Sand Springs, OK 2 05-00 0
6 Sean Bowen Midwest City, OK 2 04-15 0
7 Scott Hausman Owasso, OK 2 04-02 0
8 Johnnie Large Owasso, OK 1 03-00 0
9 Brezlyn Hightower Choctaw, OK 1 01-11 0
10 Jim Evers Edmond, OK 0 00-00 0
LOUISIANA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jason Campbell Berwick, LA 6 16-10 0
2 Travis Bodin Erwinville, LA 5 10-04 0
3 Dylan Eschette Brusly, LA 4 06-09 0
4 Cambre Webb Walker, LA 3 06-04 0
5 Scott Guitreau St Amant, LA 2 05-11 0
6 R.J. Leblanc Jr Franklin, LA 3 05-09 0
7 David Gummow New Roads, LA 2 05-06 0
8 Jake Beach Opelousas, LA 5 04-14 0
9 Alex Falcon Morgan City, LA 2 03-08 0
10 Tiger Manuel Jr Sulphur, LA 1 02-00 0
MISSOURI
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Joe Whelan Ozark, MO 3 09-07 0
2 Ron Darr Kirksville, MO 4 09-05 0
3 Jonathan Small Pleasant Hill, MO 4 07-08 0
4 Logan Farrimond Garden City, MO 2 06-13 0
5 Zack Busch Festus, MO 1 02-04 0
6 Cameron Anielak Saint Peters, MO 1 01-08 0
7 Kevin Hallemann Saint Louis, MO 1 00-00 0
8 Michael Arndt Potosi, MO 0 00-00 0
8 Matt Hyde Springfield, MO 0 00-00 0
8 AJ Rongey Osage Beach, MO 0 00-00 0
ARKANSAS
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jeremiah Proulx Cherokee Village, AR 6 16-08 0
2 Lanny Dooley Mountain Home, AR 6 15-09 0
3 Jobie Vongpraphanh Springdale, AR 7 14-15 0
4 Aaron Danos Jr Bella Vista, AR 2 05-03 0
5 Levi Evans Ava, MO 3 05-00 0
6 Lance Henderson Springdale, AR 2 04-04 0
7 Pam Horne Bella Vista, AR 2 04-01 0
8 Mark Laird Springdale, AR 1 02-00 0
9 Marty Whisnant Gainesville, MO 0 00-00 0
9 Chuck Wisdom Jr Beebe, AR 0 00-00 0
TEXAS
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 James Seymour Oglesby, TX 6 19-08 0
2 Clayton Smith Montgomery, TX 4 09-02 0
3 Shayne Dupree Haslet, TX 3 05-02 0
4 Garrett Smith Vidor, TX 2 05-01 0
5 Joshua Plott Sumner, TX 2 04-14 0
6 Kirk Fulton Nolanville, TX 1 01-12 0
7 Glenn Hahn San Antonio, TX 1 01-09 0
8 David Porter Rockwall, TX 3 00-15 0
9 Bruce Carter Carrollton, TX 0 00-00 0
9 Jon Gipson Magnolia, TX 0 00-00 0
NEW MEXICO
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Cole Buser Moscow, ID 8 17-10 0
2 Melissa Jarvis Albuquerque, NM 2 04-00 0
3 Steven Temple Carlsbad, NM 2 03-05 0
4 Ronnie Hill Canadian, TX 1 01-10 0
5 Christopher Sanchez Albuquerque, NM 1 01-07 0
6 Macky Bosley III Canyon, TX 0 00-00 0
6 Richard Castellese Albuquerque, NM 0 00-00 0
6 Mike Estrada Belen, NM 0 00-00 0
6 Ron Kless Rio Rancho, NM 0 00-00 0
6 John Widner Albuquerque, NM 0 00-00 0
COLORADO
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Marshal Allen Greeley, CO 4 10-06 0
2 Neil Raedel Colorado Springs, CO 2 04-03 0
3 Mark Warren Kiowa, CO 2 03-15 0
4 Richard Crine Columbine Valley, CO 2 03-09 0
5 Tai Hunt Denver, CO 1 02-01 0
6 Don Evans Canon City, CO 1 01-06 0
7 Andrew Bowman Aurora, CO 1 01-05 0
8 Luke Davidson Centennial , CO 0 00-00 0
8 Bob Howard Colorado Springs, CO 0 00-00 0
8 Turner Mason Thornton, CO 0 00-00 0
2023 Bassmaster High School All-American Team names 12 new members
The Top 12 high school anglers in the country have been named to the 2023 Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
May 5, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Twelve of the top high school anglers in the country have been selected as new members of the notable Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
“For nine years, the Bassmaster High School All-American program has identified and honored some of the most accomplished student anglers in the country,” said Chase Anderson, B.A.S.S. CEO. “We’ve seen past members go on to decorated college fishing careers, compete in the Bassmaster Opens EQs and iconic Bassmaster Classic and begin promising careers in the fishing industry. This group of 12 outstanding All-Americans is equally as talented and poised to do amazing things. We appreciate Academy Sports + Outdoors for partnering with B.A.S.S. to recognize these anglers’ fishing skills and commitment to academics, conservation and community service.”
Over 300 applications nominating students in grades 10-12 were submitted from 33 states across the nation. Of these, 52 students were chosen as Bassmaster All-State anglers. After considering tournament resumes, conservation efforts, community service activities and recommendations from school officials and coaches, a panel of judges consisting of representatives from the sportfishing industry, media and conservation groups further narrowed the field to the Top 12 high school anglers in the country.
“Congratulations! This goes to show your efforts on and off the water do not go unnoticed,” said Glenn Cale, B.A.S.S. Nation tournament manager — College, High School and Junior, to the student anglers. “I’m super-proud of you all and look forward to sharing this special moment with you. Be sure to chase all of your dreams, because they do not chase you back.”
The 2023 All-American team has been invited to participate in an exclusive Bassmaster High School All-American Tournament, which will be held in conjunction with the Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River scheduled for June 1-4 in Orange, Texas. Each All-American angler will be paired with an Elite Series pro for the one-day derby to be held on a nearby fishery.
Congratulations to the following student anglers for being named to the 2023 Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors. Following are short biographies of the 2023 team members.
Triton Graham, Citronelle, Ala.
Jackson Academy junior Triton Graham amassed an impressive three wins during this past season, as well as three Top 5 finishes and three Top 20 finishes. His past accolades include being named the 2021-2022 Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation High School Angler of the Year and winning the 2019 TBF Junior World Championship as well as the 2019 Alabama Bass Federation Junior State Championship.
“Triton has undeniable talent, but his service and compassion for others is what makes him truly unique,” said Eddie Denmark, coach of the Citronelle Fishing Team. “Triton is dedicated to the conservation of local resources and he spends his free time mentoring young anglers.”
When Graham is not excelling on the water, he devotes his time to helping others in his community. He has spent countless hours volunteering at numerous weigh-ins, aided in the annual Hope Hunt which allows handicapped hunters to hunt and enjoy the outdoors numerous times and assisted elderly people in maintaining their yards. He is very involved with the Citronelle Community Lake, where he provides cover for fry hatchlings by adding brush. He also does his part to ensure there is no trash left behind by campers to ensure the lake remains free of pollution. Graham plans to pursue bass fishing at the collegiate and professional levels.
Evan Newell, Lakeland, Fla.
A senior at Santa Fe Catholic High School, Evan Newell has earned a spectacular three wins, five Top 5 finishes and eight Top 20 finishes. He was named the 2022 B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional Co-Angler of the Year as well as the 2022 B.A.S.S. Nation State of Florida Co-Angler of the Year. Newell is a four-time B.A.S.S. Nation High School State Championship qualifier and is currently leading four of the six Florida B.A.S.S. Nation trails with his partner.
“Evan is an extremely hard-working young man with many talents,” said Matt Franzino, the president of Santa Fe Catholic High School. “His love for the water and fishing has opened many doors for him, and I see great things ahead.”
Newell spends much of his time off the water helping others. He participates in AFTCO lake cleanups and is currently working on an educational project to better educate Floridians on the spraying that goes on in the state’s lakes. He is a strong advocate for fish care and is constantly researching ways to keep fish alive after being caught in tournaments. Evan recently signed with Carson-Newman University, where he will be fishing in the fall.
Peyton Dunn, Fitzgerald, Ga.
A senior at Ben Hill County High School, Peyton Dunn has amassed an impressive four wins this past year, including at the Georgia B.A.S.S. Nation Trial event on Lake Lanier where he defeated a field of over 180 boats. In addition to those wins, Dunn has three Top 5 finishes, two Top 20 finishes and a plethora of other tournament successes. He was named the 2021 Georgia B.A.S.S. Nation High School Angler of the Year.
“There is no argument that winning is very important, but I am sure you can agree with me that there are some things that are even more important than that,” said Joshua P. Guy, head coach of the Irwin Bass Anglers. “In Peyton’s case, it is character and compassion that proved more important. What sets Peyton apart from the crowd is the fact that he is willing to forfeit all of the accolades and awards just to give someone the chance of a lifetime to experience the sport he loves.”
Peyton is currently involved with the Flex Competition which gives students the opportunity to create, develop and plan a business model. His team decided to create and market fishing lures. Dunn also had the opportunity to aid in rescuing a male and female on the Ocmulgee River who were stranded and injured. He is very passionate about conservation and spends much of his time creating brushpiles for his community ponds and lakes.
Hunter Petrovic, Minooka, Ill.
Minooka Community High School senior Hunter Petrovic has an impressive five wins this past year, including a first-place finish in an event with a field size of over 100 boats. He has eight Top 5 finishes and six Top 20 finishes to add to his list of accomplishments.
“Hunter has been exemplary in every aspect of life,” said Joseph W. Host, a teacher at Minooka Community High School. “He naturally represents everything that we as educators treasure. He has made all of those around him better by example. He always does things the right way and is never looking for the easy way out. He handles both success and adversity with integrity.”
When Hunter is not excelling on the water and in the classroom, he devotes his time to helping others. He has tutored his peers and assisted with many different projects at his high school and in his community. Petrovic’s goals include qualifying for the Bassmaster High School National Championship, winning a state title at the high school level and excelling on the fishing team at Southwestern Michigan College.
Braci Ault, Brookston, Ind.
Frontier High School senior Braci Ault collected one win during her 2022 tournament season alongside two Top 5 finishes and five Top 20 finishes, including a seventh-place finish at the Bassmaster High School Championship out of a field of 300-plus teams. Ault placed second in the 2022 Indiana B.A.S.S. Nation High School points race, following an impressive 2021 season where she captured two wins in Indiana B.A.S.S. Nation High School events to place fourth overall.
“Braci is a sweet and caring young lady who is an asset to our school and all of the people that she is around,” said Amy Turner, a teacher at Frontier High School. “Her character and integrity are top-notch, and she excels in her schoolwork and all of her extracurricular activities.”
Ault spends her time off the water serving her community, volunteering at the Salvation Army and the White County Fairgrounds, taking up collections for the Bravely Women’s Health group and assisting at Frontier Junior High track meets and with concessions during games at Purdue University. She is also involved in her school’s National Honor Society and the J-Unit Chalmers Community Church Youth Group, as well as the White County 4-H group. She does all of this while maintaining a 3.5 GPA and participating in a work-based learning program in Animal Research and Education in the Poultry Unit at Purdue University.
Jase White, Haughton, La.
Jase White, a senior at Haughton High School, collected a notable six wins over the course of the 2022 season, as well as seven Top 5 finishes and six Top 20 finishes. He is a four-time TBF/MLF High School National Championship qualifier, as well as a back-to-back North Louisiana High School Fishing League Angler of the Year and the 2022 Youth Fishing Challenge Angler of the Year. During the 2022 season, he finished in the Top 10 in points for both the Louisiana High School B.A.S.S. Nation West Region and North Region.
Describing White as hardworking and well-rounded, Tammy Hall, a math teacher at Haughton High School, said, “Jase goes above and beyond any expectations for himself while exhibiting the most positive attitude. He has consistently demonstrated the ability to rise to any challenge he must face.”
White participates in multiple activities and clubs that contribute to his community, including mentoring troubled students, serving as a member in the Random Acts of Kindness Club and as president of the Haughton High School National Honor Society. He does all of this while maintaining a 4.27 GPA and taking AP and dual enrollment classes. White was selected to represent Haughton High School at Boys State the summer leading into his senior year and was selected as the 2023 Haughton High School Student of the Year out of a class of over 250 students. He has received additional awards for integrity and excellence, including the Masonic Lodge Honesty & Integrity Award and the Bossier Parish School Board Award of Excellence. White was offered both an academic and fishing scholarship from Drury University and plans to begin attending in the fall.
Nicholas DellaPorta, Pequannock, N.J.
Nicholas DellaPorta, a senior at Pequannock Township High School, earned an impressive four wins during the 2022 season, as well as three Top 5 finishes and one Top 10. He qualified for both the 2022 NY/TBF World Championship and the 2022 New Jersey B.A.S.S. Nation National Championship and was the 2022 New Jersey B.A.S.S. Nation High School Angler of the Year. After initially being selected as an Honorable Mention in 2021 and going on to earn a Bassmaster All-State title in 2022, DellaPorta’s continued commitment to his craft and his community has netted him the title of 2023 Bassmaster High School All-American.
“Nicholas continually pushes himself to find the time to ‘pay it forward’ and help teach others about fishing,” said BBZ JC Director William Siemantel. “His attitude and demeanor is nothing less than that of a seasoned professional that has grace, poise and dedication.”
DellaPorta started the first Pequannock Township high school fishing club and has worked with his local parks and recreation department to start a program on Pequannock’s private lake holding fishing seminars and tournaments for young anglers. He is a member of the New Jersey Outdoor Alliance, serves as a fishing guide and camp counselor at Candlewood Lake Fishing Camp in Connecticut and assists the New Jersey Junior B.A.S.S. Nation with scheduling and tournament day organization. DellaPorta started the Junior Angler Nation Instagram account with the mission of celebrating the fishing achievements of junior anglers — an account that has gained 3,700 followers. He does all of this while maintaining a 3.8 GPA and being enrolled in the STEM high school program. DellaPorta plans on attending Carson-Newman University in the fall as a member of their fishing team.
BJ Collins, Robbinsville, N.C.
Abeka Academy senior BJ Collins netted an impressive three wins during his 2022 season, all in fields of 100 or more boats, as well as five Top 5 finishes in both high school and adult-level events and three Top 20 finishes. Collins double-qualified for the 2023 Bassmaster High School Classic through both the Tennessee B.A.S.S. Nation High School Series and the Bassmaster High School Series, where he placed second.
“In our small community, BJ is known for his willingness to help others,” said E. Chantal Matheson, chief administrator at East Buffalo Christian Academy. “BJ strives to do his best in everything that he does and makes an attempt to face every adversity that comes his way with a positive attitude.”
Collins has volunteered time to his community in a myriad of ways, including assisting in fundraisers for the Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina, Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the National Rifle Association’s Fundraiser Banquet, as well as performing lawn care for elderly members of his community, collecting donations for those struggling with addiction through Celebrate Recovery - Grace Ministries and constructing walking paths in Lone Oak Cemetery. He has also taken part in multiple habitat restoration and cleanup projects on Lake Santeetlah and has assisted with fish habitat and population surveys on the Cheoah and Tusquitee Ranger Districts. Collins does this while maintaining a 4.02 GPA and working 30 hours a week at Ace Clearing & Construction to help fund his fishing pursuits.
Kaleb Butts, Anderson, S.C.
Kaleb Butts, a senior at Crescent High School, is enjoying a stellar 2022/2023 season, collecting seven wins, 10 Top 10s and 10 Top 20 finishes. Among Butts’ long list of career highlights are four trips to the Bassmaster Junior Series and High School Series National Championships and a state championship at March’s 2023 SCDNR Youth Bass Fishing Championship. Butts and his partner — fellow All-American Luke McGuffin — are well-positioned to qualify for the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
Butts is also a champion in the classroom — his 4.7 GPA has landed him a spot in the Top 10% of his graduating class and scholarship offers at three different universities. Additionally, Butts is active in the community, volunteering for a range of jobs at fishing tournaments including fish care and lake cleanups, assisting in habitat restoration efforts at Lake Hartwell and working to feed homeless teens and families through his church.
According to his father, Butts has long dreamed and worked toward achieving All-American status. “Kaleb has dreamed of being selected for the Bassmaster High School All-American team since his older brother Jacob was selected for the Bassmaster South Carolina All-State team his senior year (2019) … Kaleb has continually taken the time to give back to the Crescent fishing team by taking younger anglers out on the lake and showing them how to be successful in tournament fishing as well as in the community.”
Luke McGuffin, Iva, S.C.
Luke McGuffin, a senior at Crescent High School, collected eight wins over the past year, including at the SCDNR Youth Bass Fishing Championship. Along with six Top 5 finishes and five Top 20s in youth tournaments, McGuffin also has a third-place finish at an ABA Open on his resume.
“I have watched Luke McGuffin grow over his high school career as an angler and a person,” said Marty Walker, Palmetto Boat Center High School Tournament Trail tournament director. “Luke presents himself very professionally at tournaments when fishing and even more so when he volunteers. His dedication to his tournament craft has grown him into a contender that everyone pays attention to when he weighs in.”
Off the water, McGuffin has not only worked with refurbishing fish habitats in Lake Hartwell, but also serves as a volunteer firefighter. As a volunteer firefighter, he has distributed backpacks and Christmas gifts to children in need and taught fire safety and awareness to elementary students. McGuffin dreams of qualifying for the Bassmaster Elite Series and will take the next step in his fishing career while competing for Erskine College.
Easton Drennon, Lebanon, Tenn.
Easton Drennon, a junior at Friendship Christian School, has earned three wins over the past year while competing for the Mt. Juliet Fishing Team, as well as two Top 5s and four Top 20s, including an eighth-place finish at the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster High School Series at Harris Chain of Lakes presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, and is a two-time Bassmaster High School National Championship qualifier.
Drennon is an active member in his school’s Leadership through Volunteerism Program, amassing 83 community service hours through projects such as installing clean drinking water systems and distributing food for the residents of Tennessee’s most impoverished community, mentoring other students and building fish habitats. Drennon’s commitment to bass fishing hasn’t diverted his attention away from his studies, as he has maintained a GPA of 4.28 with a cumulative grade average of 98.
“In addition to his fishing skills, Easton has a solid academic record and is a positive role model in his school and community,” said Jon Shoulders, president of the Friendship Christian School. “He understands that being a part of the All-American Fishing Team is not just about being a skilled angler but also about representing the sport of fishing. Furthermore, Easton demonstrates leadership qualities and a commitment to conservation and environmental stewardship.”
Jacob Longlois, Orange, Texas
Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School junior Jacob Longlois has one of the highest winning/placing percentages in the 10-year history of east Texas high school fishing, including seven wins, two Top 5s and 10 Top 20 finishes over the past year. In addition to finishing in the Top 10% of the field at the 2022 MLF World Championship, Longlois is a two-time Bassmaster High School National Championship qualifier.
Terry Sympson, founder of the Deep East High School Fishing Series, described Longlois as, “an All-American student angler under any system measurement. He is both an excellent student academically, and his accomplishments on the water place him at the very top of the class.” The same sentiment was echoed by School Official Jose Ochoa, who commended Longlois for being “able to be involved in multiple activities and still dedicate himself fully to being successful in each one.”
In the classroom, Longlois is managing a difficult academic load of both AP and dual enrollment classes while maintaining a 5.12 GPA. Longlois is captain of the LCM drumline and active in the National Honor Society. Longlois is well-known within the community for the three used fishing line collection tubes he created at local boat ramps as well as the innovative “life jacket tree” he built and maintains at a boat ramp on Toledo Bend.
Cool Lids & Sun-Protected Faces & Hands
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New for 2023: Whitewater® Fishing hats, gaiter, and gloves sure to please anglers of all walks |
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MUSKEGON, Mich. (May 5, 2023) – Fishing is like baseball. No angler looks fully in uniform without a proper lid. For some, that’s flat-brimming a Richardson tucked down to the darn near eyebrows, while others like the Texas-bred relief pitcher look with the brim bent into an upside-down “U.” Of course, that’s all just looking the part, but good hats do serve to keep the sun out of your eyes and prevent hair from flying all over while rooster-tailing to a hot spot at over 6000 RPMs. |
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If you’re into hats like we are, you need to add these cool caps to your collection. There’s the Whitewater Watermark Hat with its front Blue Bell panel, white mesh back paneling, woven Whitewater logo patch, and adjustable snapback design, the perfect lid for flat-billing it… |
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Whitewater’s Silhouette Hat is another top pick for an angler’s noggin. Featuring a subtle, heathered grey front panel, it too has cooling white mesh back paneling, a woven Whitewater logo patch, and adjustable snapback design. |
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And for those of you looking to go a bit more “country”, there’s Whitewater’s Distressed Logo Hat, with factory-distressed black front panel, embroidered Whitewater logo, grey mesh back paneling, and adjustable Velcro enclosure—the perfect cap for wiping your hands on after belly-gripping a big ol’ flathead for photos. |
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SUN PROTECTION Veteran anglers will tell you that lifelong sun exposure can cause some health problems down-the-road. But young anglers are taking precautions—just like wearing a PFD on throttle—to ensure a long career or chunking and winding. The new school of all things bass is fond of gaiters and gloves. Not only do they offer protection, but they also signify fishing ninja status. |
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Starting at the head, meet Whitewater’s Sun Protection Gaiter, which fits nicely over neck and facial areas. Rated UPF 50 for sun protection, it’s also a comfortable gaiter, manufactured of an ultra-soft poly/nylon/spandex blend for next-to-skin comfort, breathability, and stretch. Better still, it’s not prone to stink after long days on the water since it’s manufactured with polygiene StayFresh™ for odor prevention and Odor Crunch for breaking up potential stench. One-size-fits-all. Available in Grey (105) or Open Water (blue camo) (274). MSRP: $24.99. |
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Hands and digits are vulnerable to the sun, too. Enter Whitewater’s Sun Protection Gloves (which are barely noticeable while wearing), also made of ultra-soft poly/nylon/spandex blend for next-to-skin comfort, breathability, and stretch. And, like Whitewater’s gaiter, Sun Protection Gloves are manufactured with polygiene StayFresh™ for odor prevention and Odor Crunch for breaking up sinky combo of palm sweat and fish slime. Available patterns include Grey (105) and Open Water (blue camo) (274). MSRP: $24.99. Two things we like about the gloves? First, they have a silicone palm grip for a secure hold at the console when running from spot-to-spot—and an extended wrist area to protect you there, too. One last thing: If you fish where there are mosquitoes, black flies, and other nasty, biting critters, both the Whitewater gaiter and gloves provide more than just sun protection. They can really keep bugs at bay. |
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Minn Kota & Humminbird Owners Tournament June 3-4, 2023
The first Annual Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners Tournament will be held at Pickwick Landing State Park on June 3-4, 2023. Minn Kota and Humminbird have partnered with Trifecta Fishing (Big Bass Tour) to manage the tournament marketing and event execution. Trfiecta operates one of the largest big bass tournament organizations in the country and has been in business since 2010. The tournament is open to any *amateur boat owner with at least one Minn Kota trolling motor, shallow water anchor, on-board charger or Humminbird fishfinder installed on their vessel. With over $150,000 in total payouts, and the grand prize for the 1st place finisher taking home $50,000, anglers will have the opportunity to win additional Minn Kota and Humminbird products, more cash and other prizes for finishing in the top 5 overall.
With two days of competition, anglers will be able to compete one or both days of competition for hourly prizes. This big bass event features seven hourly weigh-ins per day giving anglers several chances to snag top 10 cash prize payouts for catching the biggest fish each hour.
Event details
• June 2: Check-in day with dinner and prizes, 5-8pm*Registration closes at 9pm CST Thursday June 1.Anglers must register online before this time.
• June 3 & 4: Tournament fishing days (anglers can fish one or both days)
• Open to amateur anglers owning at least one Minn Kota or Humminbird product
• Co-anglers (non-boat owners) are not required to own Minn Kota or Humminbird product
• Seven hourly weigh-ins daily with top 10 in each winning cash payouts
• Overall event top 5 winning cash & prizes
• $150,000+ in cash and prizes with $50,000 grand prize winner
• Anglers are allowed up to three anglers total in their boat during tournament hours
In addition, those in attendance will be part of a special announcement from the Minn Kota and Humminbird brands and learn exclusive information about new products coming for 2023.
*- no professional anglers are permitted
For more information or to register for the Minn Kota & Humminbird Owners Tournament, click www.minnkotaowners.com
Kemp extends his lead at Bassmaster Open on Buggs Island Reservoir
Powell Kemp of Scotland Neck, N.C., is leading after Day 2 of the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Buggs Island Reservoir with a two-day total of 36 pounds, 4 ounces.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
May 4, 2023
CLARKSVILLE, Va. — Persistence delivered a double shot of productivity for Powell Kemp, who sacked up a Day 2 bag of 16 pounds, 12 ounces Thursday to maintain his lead at the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Buggs Island with a two-day total of 36-4.
After catching a first-round limit of 19-8 Wednesday, Thursday’s catch sends Kemp into Championship Friday with a 7-4 lead over New York pro Casey Smith.
Despite his 20 years of Buggs Island experience, Kemp said the impact of a pre-tournament cold front, plus the lake’s fluctuating water level, has him struggling to establish consistency. In the absence of dependable patterns, he’s fared well by sticking with what he believes in.
“It’s not any particular areas; it’s just one fish here, one fish there,” Kemp said. “It’s just keeping the trolling motor down and fishing. It’s not really run and gun; it’s just fishing and you get a bite every once in a while.”
Twice, he caught quality keepers just before making a move.
“I got ready to jerk the trolling motor up around 10 o’clock, and I was going to change areas. It was really slow and I had three fish in the livewell,” Kemp said. “There were three bushes left on the shoreline and I threw at the second-to-the-last bush and (an estimated 5-pounder) came up and got my spinnerbait.
“I thought the bite was over, but it kinda regenerated and I caught a couple more keepers.”
In the second instance of last-minute heroics, Kemp decided to run uplake to fish a creek where he caught bass on Day 1. He found the area crowded with boats, but rather than leave, he made a key adjustment.
“I pulled out to a point on the main drag and fished around, but got nothing,” Kemp said. “I fished around the second one really slow, and right as I went to jerk the trolling motor up on the last tree, I caught a 4 1/2 pounder. She wasn’t even where she should’ve been.
“I can’t even describe what’s going on. I don’t know if it will hold up one more day. It’s very random, there’s no pattern, it’s just fishing.”
Noting that he caught all of his fish on a spinnerbait and a flipping bait, Kemp said the day’s relatively calm conditions dramatically contrasted the strong winds and cold air that plagued Day 1.
“I went to a whole different area today; I didn’t fish anything I fished yesterday,” Kemp said. “I got lucky this morning and caught a keeper to get my nerves settled down a little bit.
“I said, ‘I just have to fish. It’s about a bite an hour.’”
Expounding on the day’s randomness, Kemp said: “I caught one in (muddy water) and one in super-clear water. One of them was on a gum tree and one was on buckbrush.
“I think most of what I’ve caught are late spawners. They’re just sitting on the kind of stuff they’d spawn on.”
Despite the inconsistency, Kemp said he has exceeded his expectations.
“I’ve gotten lucky and caught two big females each day (including a 5-13 that took Day 1 Big Fish honors),” Kemp said. “The lake is fishing pretty tough and I told myself, ‘You’ll have a shot if you catch two (5-pounders) over three days.’
“I wasn’t expecting the other good ones I’ve caught. I was thinking one decent fish a day is what anchors your bag.”
Smith, a 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota qualifier who makes his home in Victor, N.Y., caught a Day 1 limit of 12-12 and placed 35th. Adding 16-4 Friday, he jumped all the way into second place with 29 pounds.
“I changed up what I did today from yesterday, based on the wind,” Smith said. “Yesterday, it was hard to even fish. Even back in a pocket or back in a creek, the wind was blowing you around.
“Today, I was running shallow water; literally picking the trolling motor up 50 times. Just bouncing, bouncing, bouncing and fishing the conditions. I based my moves on what the wind was doing, what the sun was doing and all those things.
“I was flipping bushes and flipping trees. I never knew where I was going to go next or where I was going to catch my next one.”
Jack Dice of Lynchburg, Va., is in third place with 28-14 after catching daily weights and of 12-12 and 16-2.
Dice caught his fish on a wacky-rigged 5-inch green pumpkin Yamamoto Senko and a 1/2-ounce homemade shad-colored spinnerbait with double willow-leaf blades and a Yamamoto D-Shad trailer.
“I caught some on rocks and some on wood,” Dice said. “I ran all over the lake; I fished in front of the dam and I fished above the bridge in Clarksville.”
Kemp is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with the 5-13 he caught on Day 1.
Alex Watts of Salem, Va., made his Buggs Island debut by winning the co-angler division with 19-3. Turning in daily three-bass limits of 10-13 and 8-6, Watts edged Jerry Bono of Lexington, N.C., by 3-6 and claimed the $18,361 top prize.
“Today was a grind, but yesterday was a little easier,” said Watts, who anchored his Day 1 bag with a 4-7. “I caught a good one early on and then another good one. Then it was a long time until I got another bite.”
Watts did most of his work on a wacky-rigged Missile Baits Magic Worm. Specific targeting proved essential for his win.
“I was using a floating worm presentation and that was important for my early morning bites because those fish would come up to feed,” Watts said. “Getting it around big gum trees in deep water was the key.”
As part of the St. Croix Rod Rewards Program, eighth-place finisher Bird Jones of Loxahatchee, Fla., earned an extra $250 for being the highest-finishing registered co-angler using St. Croix rods.
Rick Cheatham of Carterville, Ill., won the $250 Phoenix Boats Big Bass bonus among co-anglers for his 6-1.
Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. ET at Occoneechee State Park. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 2:30 p.m.
2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Buggs Island 5/3-5/5
Buggs Island Reservoir, Clarksville VA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Powell Kemp Scotland Neck, NC 10 36-04 200
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 16-12
2. Casey Smith Victor, NY 10 29-00 199
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 16-04
3. Jack Dice Lynchburg, VA 10 28-14 198
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 16-02
4. Shayne Berlo Mclean, VA 10 28-12 197
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 17-13
5. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 10 28-12 196
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 14-09
6. Evan Barnes Dardanelle, AR 10 28-11 195
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 14-00
7. Casey Scanlon Eldon, MO 10 28-09 194
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 13-14
8. David Williams Newton, NC 10 28-05 193
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 17-00
9. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 28-03 192
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 14-07
10. Ryan Broughman Corapeake, NC 10 27-04 191
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 15-02
11. Jake Maddux Birmingham, AL 10 26-09 190 $5,947.00
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 13-14
12. Brad Knight Lancing, TN 10 26-04 189 $5,203.00
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 09-12
13. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 9 26-01 188 $4,088.00
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 4 10-02
14. Shawn Hammack Gasburg, VA 10 25-15 187 $4,088.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 14-10
15. Andrew Upshaw Hemphill, TX 10 25-14 186 $4,088.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 12-04
16. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 10 25-14 185 $4,088.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 13-02
17. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 10 25-14 184 $4,088.00
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 12-14
18. John Garrett Union City, TN 10 25-13 183 $4,088.00
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 11-15
19. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 10 25-13 182 $4,088.00
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 12-12
20. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 10 25-10 181 $4,088.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 14-05
21. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 10 25-10 180 $3,717.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 11-15
22. Cody Detweiler Guntersville, AL 10 25-09 179 $3,717.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 11-02
23. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 10 25-05 178 $3,717.00
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 12-02
24. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 10 24-15 177 $3,717.00
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 13-13
25. Alex Heintze Denham Springs, LA 10 24-13 176 $3,717.00
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 12-02
26. Scout Echols Monticello, AR 10 24-11 175 $3,419.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 09-13
27. Greg Bohannan Bentonville, AR 10 24-11 174 $3,419.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 11-06
28. Matt Pangrac Shawnee, OK 10 24-08 173 $3,419.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-04
29. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 10 24-06 172 $3,419.00
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 10-10
30. Jamie Bruce Kenora Ontario CANADA 10 24-06 171 $3,419.00
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 12-01
31. Jason Carpenter Castle Pines, CO 10 24-03 170 $3,419.00
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 13-07
32. Reese Hudson Broomall, PA 10 23-12 169 $3,419.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 08-05
33. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 9 23-12 168 $3,419.00
Day 1: 4 10-10 Day 2: 5 13-02
34. Jeff Mcbeth New Phila, OH 10 23-11 167 $3,419.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 11-03
35. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 10 23-09 166 $3,419.00
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 11-02
36. Clay Samples South Boston, VA 8 23-07 165 $3,419.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 3 07-09
37. Tyrel Faber Pagosa Springs, CO 10 23-07 164 $3,419.00
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 14-07
38. Chris Keeble Lenoir City, TN 10 23-07 163 $3,419.00
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 10-07
39. Matt Henry Milledgeville, GA 9 23-07 162 $3,419.00
Day 1: 4 10-14 Day 2: 5 12-09
40. Jordan Sanderlin Kill Devil Hills, NC 10 23-05 161 $3,419.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 09-10
41. Blake Smith Lakeland, FL 10 23-04 160
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 12-00
42. Clark Reehm Elm Grove, LA 10 23-01 159
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 08-14
43. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 10 23-01 158
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 10-14
43. Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, MN 10 23-01 158
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 12-03
45. Keith Tuma Brainerd, MN 10 22-15 156
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 11-14
46. Mike Surman Boca Raton, FL 10 22-13 155
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 12-13
47. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 10 22-13 154
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 10-06
48. Jeff Coble Manson, NC 10 22-13 153
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 10-14
49. Timmy Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 22-11 152
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 11-15
50. Chris Blanchette Edisto Island, SC 10 22-11 151
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 11-12
51. Jack Tindel III Orange, TX 10 22-10 150
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 5 14-01
52. Buck Mallory Lawton, MI 10 22-10 149
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 08-10
53. Chris Dover Blacksburg, SC 10 22-08 148
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 12-12
54. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 10 22-08 147
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 11-01
55. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 8 22-07 146
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 5 16-04
56. Jaxon Sullivan Reagan, TN 10 22-06 145
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 12-06
57. Logan Johnson Jasper, AL 10 22-06 144
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 10-09
58. Jack York Emory, TX 10 22-05 143
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 10-13
59. Destin DeMarion Harborcreek, PA 10 22-03 142
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 08-15
60. Logan Shaddix Cummings, GA 10 22-02 141
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 11-02
61. Jason Meninger Yulee, FL 10 22-00 140
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 08-10
62. Ben Milliken New Caney, TX 10 21-15 139
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 10-08
63. Rob Digh Denver, NC 10 21-15 138
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 10-12
64. Steve Morella Townshend, VT 10 21-13 137
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 12-06
65. Wil Dieffenbauch III Hundred, WV 10 21-13 136
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 09-15
66. Billy McDonald Greenwood, IN 10 21-13 135
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 11-05
67. Andrew Harp Linden, TX 10 21-10 134
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 13-02
68. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 10 21-10 133
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 08-12
69. Brian Post Janesville, WI 10 21-10 132
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 11-03
70. Craig Chambers Midland, NC 10 21-09 131
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 11-08
71. Mike Mayo Athens, TX 10 21-09 130
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 10-15
72. Brandon McMillan Clewiston, FL 8 21-08 129
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 3 07-05
73. Alex Murray Lake Charles, LA 10 21-08 128
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 09-03
74. Blake Sylvester Plaquemine, LA 10 21-07 127
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 09-03
75. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 10 21-07 126
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 5 11-13
76. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 8 21-06 125
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 3 05-00
77. Tyler Lubbat Wheeling, IL 10 21-06 124
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 10-07
78. Derek Lehtonen Woodruff, SC 10 21-05 123
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 11-05
79. Zeke Gossett Pell City, AL 10 21-04 122
Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 5 13-03
80. Andrew Hargrove Moody, TX 9 21-04 121
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 4 08-07
81. Brett Cannon Willis, TX 10 21-04 120
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 11-15
82. Chad Warren Sand Springs, OK 10 21-04 119
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 11-08
83. Tim Frederick Leesburg, FL 9 21-03 118
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 4 08-00
84. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 10 21-02 117
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 09-06
85. Andrew Mlotek Indianapolis, IN 10 21-00 116
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 09-08
86. Jimmy Washam Stantonville, TN 10 21-00 115
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 09-10
87. Hugh Cosculluela Spring, TX 10 21-00 114
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 11-04
88. Whitney Stephens Waverly, OH 10 20-15 113
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 09-07
89. Sam George Athens, AL 10 20-14 112
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 12-11
90. Jacob Bigelow Cecil, WI 10 20-14 111
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 11-00
91. Jason Lambert Savannah, TN 10 20-14 110
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 10-09
92. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 10 20-14 109
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 10-08
93. Danny Ramsey Trinidad, TX 10 20-12 108
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 10-02
94. Johnathan Crossland Chapin, SC 10 20-11 107
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 10-04
95. Austin Cranford Norman, OK 10 20-11 106
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 10-06
96. JT Russell Mc Calla, AL 10 20-10 105
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 10-00
97. Justin Kimmel Athens, GA 10 20-08 104
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 09-07
98. Bryan Bickell Newcastle CANADA 9 20-08 103
Day 1: 4 09-12 Day 2: 5 10-12
99. John Murray Spring City, TN 8 20-08 102
Day 1: 3 10-05 Day 2: 5 10-03
100. Rich Ortiz Fort Ann, NY 9 20-07 101
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 4 06-13
101. Christian Shoda Homosassa, FL 9 20-06 100
Day 1: 4 09-07 Day 2: 5 10-15
102. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 8 20-04 99
Day 1: 3 06-15 Day 2: 5 13-05
103. Scott Kerslake Okeechobee, FL 10 20-04 98
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 11-10
104. Joey Hanna Corsicana, TX 9 20-04 97
Day 1: 4 09-11 Day 2: 5 10-09
105. Danny McGarry Newcastle CANADA 10 20-04 96
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 09-12
106. Jimmy Steed Zapata, TX 9 20-02 95
Day 1: 4 08-06 Day 2: 5 11-12
107. Daisuke Kita Ostu Shiga JAPAN 9 20-02 94
Day 1: 4 08-11 Day 2: 5 11-07
108. Brandon Tallhamer Parkersburg, WV 10 20-02 93
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 08-12
109. Josh Bragg Fayetteville, GA 10 20-01 92
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 10-10
110. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 8 20-00 91
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 3 07-06
111. Griffin Phillips Mount Olive, AL 10 19-15 90
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 08-00
112. Jonathan Dietz Corry, PA 10 19-14 89
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 10-09
113. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 10 19-14 88
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 09-09
113. Kyle Goltz Cornell, WI 10 19-14 88
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 09-09
113. Kayden Tanner Tolar, TX 10 19-14 88
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 10-05
116. Jeff Salmon Mechanicsville, VA 10 19-13 85
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 09-03
117. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 10 19-13 84
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 09-13
118. Logan Anderson Catawba, NC 9 19-11 83
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 4 08-08
119. Brock Belik Orchard, NE 10 19-10 82
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 08-15
120. Seiji Kato Outsu Shiga JAPAN 8 19-09 81
Day 1: 3 07-02 Day 2: 5 12-07
121. Tom Frink Southside, AL 10 19-09 80
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 11-06
122. Bronk Mcdaniel Alexandria, LA 10 19-09 79
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 10-03
123. Chris Brummett Lynch Station, VA 10 19-09 78
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 09-07
124. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 10 19-08 77
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 09-00
125. Jim Dillard West Monroe, LA 9 19-08 76
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 4 09-07
126. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 10 19-08 75
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 09-13
127. Lucas Murphy West Columbia, MI 10 19-07 74
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 5 11-07
128. Darrell Davis Dover, FL 10 19-06 73
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 08-14
129. Takayuki Koike Otsu-City JAPAN 10 19-06 72
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 10-01
130. Brent Anderson Kingston Springs, TN 10 19-05 71
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 09-01
131. Brad Leuthner Victoria, MN 9 19-03 70
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 4 05-15
132. Ish Monroe Oakdale, CA 10 19-00 69
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 08-12
133. Kyle Gelles Pingree, ID 10 18-13 68
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 10-09
134. Jonathan Bowling Harriman, TN 8 18-12 67
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 3 07-10
135. Bobby Lanham Eddyville, KY 10 18-12 66
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 09-11
136. Marc Schilling Carrollton, TX 10 18-12 65
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 09-08
137. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 10 18-11 64
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 10-15
138. Chris Hellebuyck White Lake, MI 10 18-07 63
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 09-03
139. Taylor Watkins Clinton, TN 10 18-06 62
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 07-11
140. Christiana Bradley Goldvein, VA 10 18-05 61
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 10-03
141. Kurt Mitchell Milford, DE 10 18-04 60
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 10-05
142. Jason Abram Piney Flats, TN 10 18-02 59
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 09-07
143. Chris Merritt Chester , VA 10 18-01 58
Day 1: 5 07-10 Day 2: 5 10-07
144. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 10 18-01 57
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 5 08-14
145. Woo Daves Spring Grove, VA 9 18-00 56
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 4 07-15
146. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 10 17-14 55
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 07-13
147. Jeffrey Davis Jr Raleigh, NC 9 17-12 54
Day 1: 4 08-06 Day 2: 5 09-06
148. Louis Monetti Brielle, NJ 10 17-11 53
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 08-07
149. Douglas Reed Bridgeton, NJ 10 17-11 52
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 08-09
150. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 8 17-10 51
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 3 04-11
151. Stacey Jefferson Conway, SC 7 17-04 50
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 2 07-04
152. John Conway Jr Henrico, VA 10 17-04 49
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 5 09-04
153. Shaine Campbell Brookeland, TX 8 17-01 48
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 5 10-12
154. Clayton Barnes Clanton, AL 7 16-13 47
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 5 13-08
155. Trevor McKinney Benton, IL 8 16-12 46
Day 1: 3 06-15 Day 2: 5 09-13
156. Steven Camp Mechanicsvlle, VA 9 16-07 45
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 4 07-09
157. Scott Hamrick Denver, NC 9 16-05 44
Day 1: 4 06-06 Day 2: 5 09-15
158. Pete Gluszek Mount Laurel, NJ 9 16-03 43
Day 1: 4 06-06 Day 2: 5 09-13
159. Zach Goutremout Chaumont, NY 10 16-01 42
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 5 08-01
160. Bailey Boutries Springfield, MO 8 16-00 41
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 3 05-11
161. Scott Isaacs Ladonia, TX 8 15-15 40
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 3 04-03
162. Bart Stanisz Austin, TX 8 15-13 39
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 5 09-07
163. Miles Burghoff Dayton, TN 10 15-10 38
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 06-13
164. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 8 15-08 37
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 5 09-05
165. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 8 15-03 36
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 5 08-12
166. Josh Hubbard Dunnellon, FL 9 15-03 35
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 4 06-13
167. Paul Browning Pecos, TX 8 15-02 34
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 3 04-04
168. Brian Mullaney Ijamsville, MD 9 15-00 33
Day 1: 4 06-09 Day 2: 5 08-07
169. Hunter Sales Blaine, TN 7 14-11 32
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 2 03-02
170. Brayden Rakes Winston Salem, NC 7 14-08 31
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 4 08-03
171. Jerry Gallogly Jr North Tazewell, VA 10 14-05 30
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 5 06-10
172. Steve Tennison Lexington, OK 8 14-05 29
Day 1: 4 07-05 Day 2: 4 07-00
173. Caiden Sinclair Logan, AL 8 14-04 28
Day 1: 3 05-03 Day 2: 5 09-01
174. Lucas Bogosian Harrington Park, NJ 8 14-03 27
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 3 05-13
175. Chris Whitson Louisville, TN 7 13-14 26
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 5 10-11
176. Keith Brumfield Vicksburg, MS 7 13-14 25
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 5 09-08
177. Kenny Mittelstaedt Minnetonka, MN 8 13-11 24
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 5 09-02
178. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 6 13-10 23
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 5 11-15
179. B.J. Usie Bourg, LA 7 13-09 22
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 4 06-11
180. Sterling Bougher Mannford, OK 7 13-06 21
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 2 04-01
181. Paul Bouvier Kingston CANADA 7 13-06 20
Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 4 06-05
182. Rick Hawkins Roanoke, VA 6 13-02 19
Day 1: 3 05-07 Day 2: 3 07-11
183. George Lambeth Thomasville, NC 6 12-05 18
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 5 10-15
184. Cameron Smith Wareham, MA 8 12-04 17
Day 1: 4 06-01 Day 2: 4 06-03
185. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 6 12-01 16
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 1 02-07
186. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 7 12-01 15
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 2 03-03
187. Jason Tibbetts Centreville, VA 6 11-14 14
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 5 10-02
188. John Watts Jr Flushing, MI 6 11-12 13
Day 1: 4 06-15 Day 2: 2 04-13
189. Lafe Messer Warfield, KY 4 11-08 12
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 2 07-07
190. Jeremy Bogard Wilkesboro, NC 6 11-04 11
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 1 02-02
191. Rick Mitchell Naples, FL 6 11-00 10
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 1 02-07
192. Joe Labarbera Montrose, PA 5 10-12 9
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 3 07-04
193. David Wootton Collierville, TN 6 10-07 8
Day 1: 2 03-12 Day 2: 4 06-11
194. Burke Hutcheson Hillsborough, NC 6 10-04 7
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 1 01-11
195. Phil Killian Solomon, AZ 5 10-03 6
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 2 05-10
196. Kenji Yamada Hixson, TN 5 09-15 5
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 2 04-02
197. Brady Vernon Sterrett, AL 5 09-11 4
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 09-11
198. Wesley Cashwell Roanoke Rapids, NC 5 09-07 3
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
199. A.J. Menssen Bloomington, IL 4 09-04 2
Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 2 05-04
200. Chris Dillow Waynesboro, VA 5 09-03 1
Day 1: 2 03-00 Day 2: 3 06-03
201. Angela Mayo Maiden, NC 4 08-13 0
Day 1: 3 07-02 Day 2: 1 01-11
202. Rick Hamer Charleston, WV 5 08-12 0
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
203. Lance Owen Greer, SC 4 08-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 3 06-05
204. Steve Sennikoff Edgewood, TX 6 08-08 0
Day 1: 4 05-09 Day 2: 2 02-15
205. Ryan Clark Whitby Ontario CANADA 5 08-08 0
Day 1: 3 05-03 Day 2: 2 03-05
206. Tripp Noojin Bryant, AL 5 08-06 0
Day 1: 4 06-13 Day 2: 1 01-09
207. Jacob Pyles Nolensville, TN 5 08-04 0
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
208. Tommy Williams Shepherdsville, KY 5 08-02 0
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
209. Jon Canada Helena, AL 5 08-02 0
Day 1: 2 03-12 Day 2: 3 04-06
210. Andrew George Poplar Branch, NC 4 07-03 0
Day 1: 4 07-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
211. Willy Dennison Willoughby Hills, OH 3 06-09 0
Day 1: 1 03-05 Day 2: 2 03-04
212. Michael Rowe Providence Forge, VA 4 05-15 0
Day 1: 4 05-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
213. Jerry Riddle Jr Summit, MS 3 05-12 0
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 2 03-10
214. Julius Mazy Phoenix, AZ 4 05-06 0
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 3 03-15
215. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 3 05-00 0
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
216. Clemente Gutierrez Woodbridge, VA 3 04-14 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 04-14
217. Nikki Jo Hatten Clanton, AL 2 04-03 0
Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
218. Tony Dumitras Winston, GA 2 03-02 0
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
219. Paul Tabisz Whitmore Lake, MI 1 03-01 0
Day 1: 1 03-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
220. Mark Dimarzio McDonald, PA 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
221. Flash Butts Roanoke Rapids, NC 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
222. Matt Mollohan Batesburg, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
222. Daniel Valois Gomez Caracas FL VENEZUELA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 160 964 2096-08
2 157 932 2013-01
----------------------------------
317 1896 4109-09
2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Buggs Island 5/3-5/5
Buggs Island Reservoir, Clarksville VA.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Alex Watts Salem, VA 6 19-03 200 $18,361.00
Day 1: 3 10-13 Day 2: 3 08-06
2. Jerry Bono Lexington, NC 6 15-13 199 $4,321.00
Day 1: 3 07-03 Day 2: 3 08-10
3. David Deciucis CHESTER, VA 6 15-01 198 $3,241.00
Day 1: 3 10-03 Day 2: 3 04-14
4. David Waack Cary, NC 6 15-01 197 $2,430.00
Day 1: 3 08-00 Day 2: 3 07-01
5. Joshua Geyer Loganton, PA 6 14-09 196 $2,268.00
Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 3 07-08
6. Jonathan Ceaser Maidens, VA 6 13-15 195 $2,160.00
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 3 08-01
7. John Higginbotham Slaughter, LA 6 12-15 194 $2,052.00
Day 1: 3 05-07 Day 2: 3 07-08
8. Bird Jones Loxahatchee, FL 6 12-12 193 $1,944.00
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 3 05-05
9. Jesse Jodon St Michael , PA 6 12-10 192 $1,782.00
Day 1: 3 06-10 Day 2: 3 06-00
10. Michael Leach Shenandoah, TX 6 12-06 191 $1,620.00
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 3 06-04
11. Gary Haraguchi Murfreesboro, TN 6 12-04 190 $1,512.00
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 3 07-03
12. EJ Thomas Roanoke, VA 5 12-04 189 $1,404.00
Day 1: 2 06-04 Day 2: 3 06-00
13. Bobby Davis Jr South Prince, VA 5 12-02 188 $1,188.00
Day 1: 2 06-04 Day 2: 3 05-14
14. Tyler Smith Portage, MI 6 11-14 187 $1,080.00
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 3 05-05
15. Ryan Patterson Scott Township, PA 6 11-11 186 $972.00
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 3 07-02
16. Rick Cheatham Carterville, IL 4 11-06 185 $1,114.00
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 3 09-02
17. William Cross Brodnax, VA 6 11-05 184 $810.00
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 3 04-14
18. Zach Pringle Newton, NC 5 11-00 183 $810.00
Day 1: 2 04-12 Day 2: 3 06-04
19. Jimmy Batts Raleigh, NC 5 10-15 182 $810.00
Day 1: 2 04-02 Day 2: 3 06-13
20. Levi Allgeier Bardstown, KY 5 10-15 181 $810.00
Day 1: 2 05-13 Day 2: 3 05-02
21. Tommy Wood Sippy Downs AUSTRALIA 6 10-14 180 $756.00
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 3 04-10
22. Perry See Rochester, MN 5 10-12 179 $756.00
Day 1: 3 07-02 Day 2: 2 03-10
23. Joey Price Powhatan, VA 4 10-10 178 $756.00
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 3 08-12
24. Burley Langford Jr. South Chesterfield, VA 5 10-03 177 $756.00
Day 1: 3 07-02 Day 2: 2 03-01
25. David Slaybaugh Colonial Heights, VA 5 10-03 176 $756.00
Day 1: 3 06-10 Day 2: 2 03-09
26. Mark Whitman Burlington, NC 5 10-02 175 $648.00
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 2 04-13
27. Brian Howard Franklinton, NC 3 10-01 174 $648.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 10-01
28. Jc Condrey Saxe, VA 6 10-00 173 $648.00
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 3 05-00
29. RD Roulston Little Rock, AR 5 09-15 172 $648.00
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 2 04-11
30. Bryce Bason Mill Hall, PA 6 09-14 171 $648.00
Day 1: 3 05-07 Day 2: 3 04-07
31. Larry Kempler Bluemont, VA 3 09-11 170 $594.00
Day 1: 2 07-00 Day 2: 1 02-11
32. Mike Toney Blacksburg, VA 5 09-11 169 $594.00
Day 1: 2 04-13 Day 2: 3 04-14
33. Ricky Meyers Fredericksburg, VA 5 09-09 168 $594.00
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 2 05-00
34. Ben Dacey Powhatan, VA 5 09-08 167 $594.00
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 3 06-03
35. John Sanderlin Chesapeake, VA 6 09-08 166 $594.00
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 3 04-07
36. Travis Turcotte Pembroke CANADA 6 09-05 165 $594.00
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 3 04-00
37. Dean Gibbs North Chesterfield, VA 5 09-02 164 $594.00
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 3 05-13
38. Avery Williams Murrells Inlt, SC 5 09-02 163 $594.00
Day 1: 2 04-14 Day 2: 3 04-04
39. Chad Boyer Elizabethtown, PA 5 09-00 162 $594.00
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 3 04-10
40. Chad Stahl Barnesville, GA 5 08-15 161 $594.00
Day 1: 3 05-03 Day 2: 2 03-12
41. Carter Wijangco Naperville, IL 5 08-13 160
Day 1: 3 05-10 Day 2: 2 03-03
42. Rick Sweadner Woodsboro, MD 5 08-08 159
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 3 04-09
43. Joshua Torres Port Tobacco, MD 5 08-07 158
Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 3 04-07
44. Craig Ferguson Emporia, VA 5 08-06 157
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 3 04-15
45. Mark Aaron Gastonia, NC 4 08-04 156
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 1 01-09
46. Richard Slomba Dundalk, MD 5 08-04 155
Day 1: 2 03-09 Day 2: 3 04-11
47. Steven Robbins Piketon, OH 4 08-03 154
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 1 01-08
48. Lou Britos Disputanta, VA 4 08-03 153
Day 1: 2 04-04 Day 2: 2 03-15
49. Todd Long Midlothian, VA 4 08-02 152
Day 1: 2 04-13 Day 2: 2 03-05
50. Michael Andrews Sandston, VA 5 08-00 151
Day 1: 2 02-12 Day 2: 3 05-04
51. Ronald Young New Braunfels, TX 5 08-00 150
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 2 03-05
52. Bob Bauer China Grove, NC 6 07-15 149
Day 1: 3 05-15 Day 2: 3 02-00
53. Michael Rustin Henrico, VA 4 07-13 148
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 3 06-01
54. Satoshi Egawa Fort Lee, NJ 4 07-12 147
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 3 05-14
55. Bobby Barton Hardy, VA 5 07-12 146
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 2 03-03
56. Kenneth Ott Manahawkin, NJ 4 07-11 145
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 3 05-12
57. Jacob Stephens Lynchburg, VA 4 07-10 144
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 3 06-01
58. Calvin Landsberg Raleigh, NC 4 07-09 143
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 3 05-13
59. Tyrone Adams Fredericksburg, VA 4 07-09 142
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 2 03-08
60. Kalin Blount Timberlake, NC 4 07-08 141
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 2 03-10
61. Dan Glosson Rougemont, NC 4 07-07 140
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 3 05-13
62. Ernest McIntyre Jr Fayetteville, NC 4 07-06 139
Day 1: 2 02-15 Day 2: 2 04-07
63. Paul Worthington Benson, NC 5 07-06 138
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 2 03-02
64. Tyler Caldwell Portsmouth, VA 4 07-04 137
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 3 05-08
65. Sergio Render Crockett, VA 4 07-04 136
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 2 03-06
66. Alicia Raytrowsky Delaware CANADA 3 07-02 135
Day 1: 3 07-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
67. Kyle Richardt Weymouth, MA 3 07-01 134
Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
68. Melvin Bowling Shenandoah, VA 4 07-01 133
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 1 01-09
69. Zach Huey Pittsboro, NC 4 07-01 132
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 3 05-02
70. Ty Kenyon Dodgeville, WI 4 07-01 131
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 2 04-06
71. Percy Settle Pittsboro, NC 4 07-00 130
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 3 05-07
72. Kevin Mallow Kansas, OK 3 07-00 129
Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 1 03-00
73. David Camp Sterling, OH 3 06-15 128
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 2 04-11
74. Matt Leicester Hertford, NC 4 06-14 127
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 2 03-03
75. James Tilley Aylett, VA 4 06-12 126
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 1 01-10
76. Bobby Barrett Youngsville, NC 4 06-11 125
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 1 01-07
77. Joe Sodora Garfield, NJ 4 06-10 124
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 1 01-10
78. James Stowers Narrows, VA 4 06-10 123
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 3 04-12
79. George Myers Franklinton, NC 2 06-09 122
Day 1: 2 06-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
80. Brian Langford Chesterfield, VA 4 06-09 121
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 2 02-14
81. Ricky Fulk Shenandoah, VA 4 06-08 120
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 1 01-03
82. Will Nutting Granger, IN 3 06-07 119
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-07
83. John Rico Daisytown, PA 3 06-05 118
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
84. Dylan Mayo Athens, TX 2 06-05 117
Day 1: 2 06-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
85. Joe Tucker Osceola, MO 3 06-03 116
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 2 03-15
86. Dan Murphy Epping, NH 2 06-01 115
Day 1: 2 06-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
87. Floyd Willis Grayson, KY 3 06-00 114
Day 1: 3 06-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Joe Lineberry Ramseaur,, NC 3 05-12 113
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
89. Shane Jones Virginia Beach, VA 3 05-12 112
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 2 03-13
90. Nick Melcher Gypsum, CO 4 05-11 111
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 1 01-06
91. Timothy Mayhew Danville, VA 3 05-10 110
Day 1: 3 05-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
92. Scott Spencer Raleigh, NC 2 05-06 109
Day 1: 2 05-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
93. Josh Hollins Chapel Hill, NC 3 05-04 108
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 2 03-12
94. Robert Bruguiere Roseland, VA 3 05-03 107
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 05-03
94. Phil Jarmon Apex, NC 3 05-03 107
Day 1: 3 05-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
96. Alton Rockett Newton, NC 3 05-02 105
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. Seth Gabri Madrid, NY 3 05-02 104
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 2 03-07
98. Clancy Hefferly Taylors, SC 3 05-00 103
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 2 03-06
99. Jimmy Brumfield Madison, MS 3 04-15 102
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
100. Brandt Thompson North Chesterfield, VA 3 04-14 101
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 1 02-01
101. Lynn Hoeffer Chesapeake, VA 2 04-12 100
Day 1: 2 04-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
102. Harvey Reece Chesterfield, VA 3 04-11 99
Day 1: 2 02-05 Day 2: 1 02-06
103. Wayne Morris Somerdale, NJ 3 04-10 98
Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 1 01-12
104. James Whitehead Hayes, VA 2 04-09 97
Day 1: 2 04-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
105. David Wilson Brodnax, VA 3 04-08 96
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 2 02-13
106. Russell Davidson, Jr Lynchburg, VA 2 04-06 95
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
107. Curtis Vick Boydton, VA 2 04-05 94
Day 1: 1 02-15 Day 2: 1 01-06
108. Kevin Hensley Clarksville, VA 2 04-04 93
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 1 02-13
109. Bill Turonis Jr Kill Devil Hills, NC 2 04-03 92
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 1 02-05
110. James Roten West Jefferson, NC 2 04-02 91
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 1 02-11
111. Steve Powers Crestview, FL 3 04-01 90
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 0 -01-00
112. Michael Morris Hubert, NC 2 04-00 89
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 1 01-07
113. William House Lynchburg, OH 2 03-13 88
Day 1: 2 03-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
113. Sakae Ushio Tonawanda, NY 2 03-13 88
Day 1: 2 03-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
115. Anthony Glassco Powhatan, VA 2 03-12 86
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 1 02-01
116. AJ Jones Lutz, FL 2 03-12 85
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 1 02-00
117. Mikki Sprenkle Linden, NC 3 03-09 84
Day 1: 2 03-00 Day 2: 1 00-09
118. Mike Trivette Blackstone, VA 2 03-08 83
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
119. Marty Tanner Tolar, TX 2 03-06 82
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
120. Alex Brogan Fishers, IN 1 03-04 81
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-04
120. John Lewis Centreville, VA 1 03-04 81
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-04
122. Benjamin Fisher Elizabeth City, NC 2 03-03 79
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
123. Chris Donavant Yorktown, VA 2 03-01 78
Day 1: 2 03-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
124. William Stallings Midlothian, VA 2 02-15 77
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 1 01-09
125. David Chamberlain Hampton, VA 1 02-07 76
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
126. Bill Butler Chester, VA 1 02-05 75
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
127. Kristofer Goin Farmville, VA 1 02-04 74
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
128. Darrell Curl Winston Salem, NC 1 02-02 73
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-02
128. Johnnie Garrett Union City, TN 1 02-02 73
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
130. Randy Goss Stem, NC 1 02-01 71
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
131. Laz Durham Dumfries, VA 1 01-15 70
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
132. Jarred Hall Richmond, VA 1 01-13 69
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
132. Gary Hall Wardville, OK 1 01-13 69
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-13
132. Tom McDermott Madison, NC 1 01-13 69
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
132. Devon Norwood Kitson Montclair , NJ 1 01-13 69
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
136. Dallas Blount Timberlake, NC 1 01-12 65
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
137. Charles Bowman II Kernersville, NC 1 01-11 64
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
137. Justin Dodson Chesterfield, VA 1 01-11 64
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-11
139. Carl Enos Bracey, VA 1 01-10 62
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
139. Mark Ludwig Chesterfield, VA 1 01-10 62
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
139. Randy Tallhamer Brandenton, FL 1 01-10 62
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-10
139. Jason Tinsley Pamplin, VA 1 01-10 62
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
139. Wesley Watson Huntington, WV 1 01-10 62
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
139. Michael Williams Mechanicsvlle, VA 1 01-10 62
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
145. David Wright Ft. Meade, MD 1 01-09 56
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
146. David Booth Erin, TN 1 01-08 55
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-08
147. Kenneth L Brown Leesburg, VA 1 01-07 54
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-07
148. Eugene Hall Glen Allen, VA 1 01-06 53
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
149. Travis Chilcot Denver, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
149. Michael Crocker Pasadena, MD 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
149. Thomas Crosswhite Hartwell, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
149. Lucas Dewson Keewatin CANADA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
149. Kevin Gonyea Franklinton, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
149. Bob Harper Lombard, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
149. Blake Herrmann Bremo Bluff, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
149. Gary Huff Semora, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
149. Tony Long Moseley, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
149. Ryan Nash Blackstone, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
149. Jamie Olive Sanford, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
149. Paul Rush New Martinsville, WV 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
149. Donald West II Apex, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
162. Brandon Smith Knightdale, NC 0 -1-00 0
Day 1: 0 -01-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 49 278 554-12
2 50 234 450-00
----------------------------------
99 512 1004-12
Andrew Nordbye Leads Day 1 at Phoenix Boats Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks
Guntersville Pro Catches 21-pound, 8-ounce Limit to Bring 1-pound, 7-ounce Lead into Second Day of Competition Friday
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (May 4, 2023) – Guntersville, Alabama, pro Andrew Nordbye brought a five-bass limit to the stage weighing 21 pounds, 8 ounces, Thursday to lead after Day 1 of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Phoenix Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Mystik Lubricants. Nordbye now brings a 1-pound, 7-ounce lead into Day 2 of the three-day event.
Pro John Cox of DeBary, Florida, caught five bass weighing 20-1 to end the day in second place, while Charley Slaton of Valiant, Oklahoma, rounds out the top three with five bass weighing 19-10.
The three-day tournament, hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association, features a roster of 150 anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024, Major League Fishing’s most prestigious event. The full field of 150 anglers will conclude the two-day opening round on Friday, with only the top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advancing to Championship Saturday.
“It was a blessed day,” said Nordbye, who is also the creator of Fishing with Nordbye – a successful YouTube channel. “I had found some bigger ones in practice, and I caught a couple, but I decided to just graph around and find some more stuff just like it. I fished it all today and had 19¼ pounds by 11 (a.m.) – I was feeling really good.
“Then I went and ran new water the rest of the day, that I hadn’t fished,” Nordbye continued. “I was kind of doing similar stuff and was able to cull twice. I caught one right at the end that was 4½ and that bumped me over 21.”
Nordbye said that he had not originally planned to fish this tournament the way he did today.
“I have so much to fish, which is a blessing,” Nordbye said. “I had over 100 bass on beds (marked), but most of them are tiny – 1- to 2-pounders, maybe a few 3s. I figured that maybe today the females would pull up with them, but I didn’t even get a chance to go look at them.
“I stayed in that mid-depth range, targeting fish that are either staging or just coming off of the bed. I feel like my pattern can be consistent, but I don’t feel like what I’m fishing will reload, so I need to find new water doing the same thing.”
Nordbye said that he has fished numerous different times of the year and phases of the bass spawn at Lake of the Ozarks, but never during the spawn like the tournament this week.
“It was a new experience and I’m excited. It was a lot of fun today,” Nordbye went on to say. “I feel like I’m going with the flow a little more right now rather than just locking into exactly what I do in practice. The Lord is just blessing me, and I’ll take all of the blessing I can get.”
The top 20 pros after Day 1 of the Phoenix Boats Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks are:
1st: Andrew Nordbye, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 21-8
2nd: John Cox, DeBary, Fla., five bass, 20-1
3rd: Charley Slaton, Valliant, Okla., five bass, 19-10
4th: Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis., five bass, 19-9
5th: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., five bass, 19-1
6th: Jordan Hirt, Glenwood, Iowa, five bass, 18-9
6th: Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., five bass, 18-9
8th: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., five bass, 18-3
9th: Tai Au, Glendale, Ariz., five bass, 17-3
10th: Cody Pike, Powhatan, Va., five bass, 17-2
11th: Jaden Parrish, Liberty, Texas, five bass, 16-13
12th: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 16-9
13th: Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 16-5
13th: Cole Breeden, Lebanon, Mo., five bass, 16-5
15th: Thomas Wooten, Huddleston, Va., five bass, 16-3
16th: Derik Hudson, Concord, Va., five bass, 16-2
17th: Joe Grafeman, Camdenton, Mo., five bass, 15-13
18th: Robby Lefere, Jackson, Mich., five bass, 15-7
19th: Kyle Palmer, Winchester, Tenn., five bass, 15-5
20th: Cameron Mattison, Benton, La., five bass, 15-2
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Pro Jordan Hirt of Glenwood, Iowa, earned the $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award Thursday after weighing in a largemouth that went 5 pounds, 6 ounces.
Overall, there were 697 bass weighing 1,719 pounds, 3 ounces caught by 149 pros Thursday. The catch included 125 five-bass limits.
In MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Thursday and Friday in a traditional five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight will advance to the final round on Championship Saturday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $115,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers. The winner of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Phoenix Boats Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Mystik Lubricants will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight and will receive an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024.
Anglers will launch each day at 6:30 a.m. CT from the Grand Glaize Beach Boat Ramp (Public Beach No. 2) at Lake of the Ozarks State Park, located at 711 Public Beach Road in Osage Beach, Missouri. Weigh-ins will also be held at the boat ramp daily beginning at 2:30 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 a.m. CT at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all three days of competition from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Phoenix Stop 4 at Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Mystik Lubricants will feature live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere on the CBS Sports Network on Saturday, October 21.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Holloway and Martin of Emmanuel College strike fast to take lead at Bassmaster College Series event on Red River
Cole Holloway and Brandon Martin of Georgia's Emmanuel College are leading after Day 1 of the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Red River presented by Bass Pro Shops with 15 pounds, 14 ounces.
Photo by Chase Sansom/B.A.S.S.
May 4, 2023
NATCHITOCHES, La. — Each of the 135 teams in the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Red River presented by Bass Pro Shops had eight hours to fish on Thursday, but Cole Holloway and Brandon Martin only needed about two hours to make their mark.
The duo from Georgia’s Emmanuel College had a limit of five bass in the livewell by mid-morning that weighed 15 pounds, 14 ounces. That was good enough for the Day 1 lead in this two-day collegiate derby in northwest Louisiana.
Holloway, a 20-year-old resident of Madison, Ga., said early success on the Red River boosted his and Martin’s confidence.
“We had everything we weighed today by about 9 a.m.,” Holloway said. “We didn’t make another cast after that. We had a small limit on a shad spawn really early today when we were fishing an oxbow. Then we went to this backwater area and the 2-pounders became 3-pounders.”
The backwater bite was consistent, too, with the tandem’s heaviest bass weighing 3-12. A quartet of smaller 3-pounders rounded out an exciting morning. They targeted a ditch in the backwater where water ebbed and flowed.
“It happened quickly and we didn’t beat up on them,” Holloway said. “There are fish there for tomorrow.”
Martin agreed.
“We found the spot in practice and there really hasn’t been reason to go anywhere else,” said the 20-year-old Lula, Ga., resident.
Seth Elkins and Dale Hansard of Jacksonville (Ala.) State University are in second place with a limit weighing 13-12. That included the day’s biggest bass — a 6-5 largemouth Hansard hooked near a tree stump.
“It was picture perfect, like something you’d see in a magazine,” Hansard said. “It fought like crazy, too. I wasn’t sure it was a bass at first because there are a lot of gar and gators around here ... It catches you off guard when you catch something like that, especially since we were catching 1 1/2-pounders all day.”
Elkins and Hansard made a long run to Pool 5, which is filled with underwater wood. They said they’ll go there again Friday, looking to make up a few pounds and bring a trophy back to Alabama.
Rounding out the Top 5 are, third, Parker O’Bryan and Miller Dowling, University of Montevallo (Ala.), 11-15; fourth, Brayden Nichols and William Tew, LSU-Shreveport, 11-12; and fifth, Reid Farris and Colton Swize, Texas A&M, 11-10.
A total of 88 of the 135 teams caught a five-bass limit on Day 1 on this, the fourth tournament of the 2023 Bassmaster College Series schedule. The top 14 teams here qualify for the College National Championship which will be held later this year at a location yet to be announced.
Day 2 will begin with a 6:10 a.m. CT takeoff from Grand ECORE Recreational Arena. Weigh-in is scheduled for 2:10 p.m. back at the arena, with full coverage on Bassmaster.com.
Following the two-day College Series event, the Strike King Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors and the Junior Series will compete Sunday.
2023 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Red River presented by Bass Pro Shops 5/4-5/5
Red River, Natchitoches LA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Cole Holloway - Brandon Martin Emmanuel College 250
Day 1: 5 15-14 Total: 5 15-14
2. Seth Elkins - Dale Hansard Jacksonville State University 249
Day 1: 5 13-12 Total: 5 13-12
3. Parker O'Bryan - Miller Dowling University of Montevallo 248
Day 1: 5 11-15 Total: 5 11-15
4. Brayden Nichols - William Tew LSU - Shreveport 247
Day 1: 5 11-12 Total: 5 11-12
5. Reid Farris - Colton Swize Texas A&M University 246
Day 1: 5 11-10 Total: 5 11-10
6. Gus McLarry - Jared West Texas A & M Commerce 245
Day 1: 5 11-07 Total: 5 11-07
7. Blake Bullock - John Mark Berry Blue Mountain College 244
Day 1: 5 11-01 Total: 5 11-01
8. Tripp Bowman - Matthew Nesbit LSU - Shreveport 243
Day 1: 5 10-14 Total: 5 10-14
9. Kaden Buchmann - Jared Hubbard Lander University 242
Day 1: 5 10-13 Total: 5 10-13
10. Cal Culpepper - Ryan Thomas University of Montevallo 241
Day 1: 5 10-12 Total: 5 10-12
11. Cole Rankin - Riley Faulkner Carson-Newman University 240
Day 1: 5 10-11 Total: 5 10-11
12. Nicholas Holtgrave - Colsyn Head McKendree University 239
Day 1: 5 10-09 Total: 5 10-09
13. Kaden Proffitt - Cason Ragsdale East Texas Baptist University 238
Day 1: 5 10-06 Total: 5 10-06
14. Trey Schroeder - Lane Stephens McKendree University 237
Day 1: 5 10-04 Total: 5 10-04
15. Hunter McClaskey - Landon Lawson King University 236
Day 1: 5 10-03 Total: 5 10-03
15. Levi Mullins - Matthew Cummings Bethel University 236
Day 1: 5 10-03 Total: 5 10-03
17. Caleb Dachenhaus - Sam Shoemaker Adrian College 234
Day 1: 5 10-01 Total: 5 10-01
18. Bryson O'steen - Ty Jackson Florida Gateway College 233
Day 1: 5 10-00 Total: 5 10-00
19. Morgan Miracle - Jake Thornbury Campbellsville University 232
Day 1: 5 10-00 Total: 5 10-00
20. James Willoughby - Jacob Pfundt University of Montevallo 231
Day 1: 5 09-10 Total: 5 09-10
21. Hayden Marbut - Tucker Smith Auburn University 230
Day 1: 5 09-09 Total: 5 09-09
22. Tyler Cory - Scott Sledge University of Montevallo 229
Day 1: 5 09-08 Total: 5 09-08
22. Tommy Dunaway - Seth Jones Florida Gateway College 229
Day 1: 5 09-08 Total: 5 09-08
24. William Travis - Victor Alford Bryan College 227
Day 1: 5 09-07 Total: 5 09-07
25. Jeremy Dellinger - Garrett Smith Lander University 226
Day 1: 5 09-06 Total: 5 09-06
26. Ryan Park - Sam Niemeyer Murray State University 225
Day 1: 5 09-04 Total: 5 09-04
27. Wade Roberts - LSU - Shreveport 224
Day 1: 5 09-00 Total: 5 09-00
27. Levi Thibodaux - Chance Shelby LSU - Shreveport 224
Day 1: 5 09-00 Total: 5 09-00
29. Ben Brockwell - Justice Gayhart Kentucky Christian University 222
Day 1: 5 08-14 Total: 5 08-14
30. Cody Monlezun - Atlan Pfluger Texas A&M University 221
Day 1: 5 08-13 Total: 5 08-13
30. Seth Slanker - Jackson Swisher Florida Gateway College 221
Day 1: 5 08-13 Total: 5 08-13
32. Christian Turner - John Gray Coastal Carolina University 219
Day 1: 5 08-11 Total: 5 08-11
33. Turner Hart - Summer Dees Bryan College 218
Day 1: 5 08-10 Total: 5 08-10
34. Brendan Vinton - Dalton Eury Catawba Valley Community College 217
Day 1: 5 08-07 Total: 5 08-07
35. Chase Hubble - Brent May University of Florida 216
Day 1: 5 08-04 Total: 5 08-04
35. Jadon Spencer - Chase Martin Catawba Valley Community College 216
Day 1: 5 08-04 Total: 5 08-04
37. Parker Brown - Layton Brown Dallas Baptist University 214
Day 1: 5 08-04 Total: 5 08-04
38. Connor Jacob - Sam Smith Auburn University 213
Day 1: 5 08-02 Total: 5 08-02
38. Zach McNary - Mason Phillpotts Grand Valley State University 213
Day 1: 5 08-02 Total: 5 08-02
40. Carter Koza - Drew Pitts Carson-Newman University 211
Day 1: 5 08-01 Total: 5 08-01
41. Harmon Marien - Jack Stephens McKendree University 210
Day 1: 5 07-15 Total: 5 07-15
42. Corey Morris - Brayden Mercer East Texas Baptist University 209
Day 1: 5 07-10 Total: 5 07-10
42. Zach Pocos - Trey Budach McKendree University 209
Day 1: 5 07-10 Total: 5 07-10
44. Carson Hickman - Jacob Dobbs Tarleton State University 207
Day 1: 5 07-09 Total: 5 07-09
45. Clay Osteen - John Mizell Tarleton State University 206
Day 1: 5 07-08 Total: 5 07-08
46. Matthew Zdrazil - Easton Lindus Emmanuel College 205
Day 1: 5 07-06 Total: 5 07-06
47. Max Heaton - Brooks Anderson Emmanuel College 204
Day 1: 5 07-05 Total: 5 07-05
48. Ashton Hehr - Trevor Johnston Texas A&M University 203
Day 1: 5 07-04 Total: 5 07-04
48. Jordan Pennington - Andrew Oswalt University of Montevallo 203
Day 1: 5 07-04 Total: 5 07-04
48. Kyle Zainitzer - Avery Whitwell University of North Alabama 203
Day 1: 5 07-04 Total: 5 07-04
51. Evan Sutton - Grant Olsen McKendree University 200
Day 1: 5 07-02 Total: 5 07-02
52. Dylan Breaux - Joel Richard Nicholls State University 199
Day 1: 5 07-01 Total: 5 07-01
52. Caleb Bridges - Matthew Dopp Bryan College 199
Day 1: 5 07-01 Total: 5 07-01
52. Ridge Rutledge - Ryan Daugherty Campbellsville University 199
Day 1: 5 07-01 Total: 5 07-01
52. Drake Sturgill - Beau Browning University of Montevallo 199
Day 1: 5 07-01 Total: 5 07-01
56. Brantley Anders - Cameron Dials Kentucky Christian University 195
Day 1: 5 07-00 Total: 5 07-00
56. Russel Buffa - Dalton Mollenkopf Adrian College 195
Day 1: 5 07-00 Total: 5 07-00
56. Easton Fothergill - Nick Dumke University of Montevallo 195
Day 1: 5 07-00 Total: 5 07-00
56. Matt Short - Pruitt Lansdale Eastern Kentucky University 195
Day 1: 5 07-00 Total: 5 07-00
56. Gunner Whitaker - Mitch Johnson Kentucky Christian University 195
Day 1: 5 07-00 Total: 5 07-00
61. Cody Domingos - Luka Strepacki University of Tennessee 190
Day 1: 5 06-15 Total: 5 06-15
62. Solomon Glenn - Briggs Alavezos University of Montevallo 189
Day 1: 5 06-14 Total: 5 06-14
62. Hank Sturm - Mitch Straffon Adrian College 189
Day 1: 5 06-14 Total: 5 06-14
62. William Vega - Will Emmert Sam Houston State University 189
Day 1: 5 06-14 Total: 5 06-14
62. Dustin Weinberg - Sawyer Brady Blue Mountain Christian Universi 189
Day 1: 5 06-14 Total: 5 06-14
66. Brody Robison - Jack Alexander University of Montevallo 185
Day 1: 5 06-14 Total: 5 06-14
67. Max Gosdin - Andrew Howell University of Montevallo 184
Day 1: 5 06-13 Total: 5 06-13
68. Wesley Smith II - Jacob Oliver Catawba Valley Community College 183
Day 1: 4 06-13 Total: 4 06-13
69. Miles Smith - Zach Henderson Georgia College 182
Day 1: 5 06-12 Total: 5 06-12
70. Giancarlo Russo - Remington Potter Florida Gateway College 181
Day 1: 5 06-11 Total: 5 06-11
71. Tucker Siminak - Kyle Hopping McKendree University 180
Day 1: 5 06-09 Total: 5 06-09
72. Reece Keeney - Colby Kerr Kentucky Christian University 179
Day 1: 4 06-09 Total: 4 06-09
73. Zach Bushey - Brandon Traw Tarleton State University 178
Day 1: 5 06-08 Total: 5 06-08
74. Cy Lambert - University of North Alabama 177
Day 1: 5 06-07 Total: 5 06-07
75. Justin Botts - Tim Herrmann Bryan College 176
Day 1: 4 06-07 Total: 4 06-07
76. Trent Buchholz - Dakota Posey Lamar State College Orange 175
Day 1: 5 06-05 Total: 5 06-05
76. Gavin Schmitz - Addison Sikes University of Montevallo 175
Day 1: 5 06-05 Total: 5 06-05
78. Taylor McMullen - Emmanuel College 173
Day 1: 4 06-05 Total: 4 06-05
79. Dylan Benson - Austin Rose East Texas Baptist University 172
Day 1: 5 06-04 Total: 5 06-04
80. Chris Baker - Elijah Kelley Kentucky Christian University 171
Day 1: 4 06-03 Total: 4 06-03
81. Drake Hemby - Szymon Piton Carson-Newman University 170
Day 1: 4 06-02 Total: 4 06-02
82. Carson Kamien - Tyson Verkaik University of Florida 169
Day 1: 5 06-01 Total: 5 06-01
82. Cole Thompson - Rees Williams University of North Alabama 169
Day 1: 5 06-01 Total: 5 06-01
84. Hunter Fillmore - Dylan Fogarty Bethel University 167
Day 1: 5 06-00 Total: 5 06-00
85. Cross Campbell - Ethan Thurston East Texas Baptist University 166
Day 1: 4 06-00 Total: 4 06-00
86. Bryant Martin - Luke Batts LSU - Shreveport 165
Day 1: 5 05-15 Total: 5 05-15
87. Brock Blazier - Benjamin Blank Wabash Valley College 164
Day 1: 5 05-14 Total: 5 05-14
88. Tyler Cain - Cole Dodson University of Montevallo 163
Day 1: 3 05-14 Total: 3 05-14
89. Hunter Keller - Grant Harris Catawba Valley Community College 162
Day 1: 5 05-13 Total: 5 05-13
90. Wyatt Pearman - Dustin Bauer Campbellsville University 161
Day 1: 4 05-12 Total: 4 05-12
91. Trevor Easter - Clayton Easter Tarleton State University 160
Day 1: 5 05-11 Total: 5 05-11
91. Cade Lipham - Caleb Coleman Drury University 160
Day 1: 5 05-11 Total: 5 05-11
93. Carter Ball - Austin Tapley Adrian College 158
Day 1: 5 05-10 Total: 5 05-10
94. Jaxson Freeman - Maxwell Trotter McKendree University 157
Day 1: 5 05-07 Total: 5 05-07
95. John Karisny - Brodie Paige Louisiana Tech University 156
Day 1: 5 05-07 Total: 5 05-07
96. Matthew Dettling - Austin Wadzinski University of Tennessee 155
Day 1: 4 05-06 Total: 4 05-06
97. Noah Trant - Evan Howe Northwestern State University (8 154
Day 1: 5 05-00 Total: 5 05-00
98. Brett Jolley Jr. - Cade Nettles East Texas Baptist University 153
Day 1: 5 04-15 Total: 5 04-15
99. Brenton Godwin - Hunter Odom University of Montevallo 152
Day 1: 3 04-15 Total: 3 04-15
100. Jacob Autry - Will Niebrugge Murray State University 151
Day 1: 4 04-13 Total: 4 04-13
101. Cooper Arthur - Luke Frankowicz Louisiana Tech University 150
Day 1: 3 04-13 Total: 3 04-13
102. Spencer Brister - Roeh Burton Lamar State College Orange 149
Day 1: 4 04-12 Total: 4 04-12
103. Colton Hill - Tomas Matual McKendree University 148
Day 1: 3 04-10 Total: 3 04-10
104. Derek Rodriguez Jr. - Mathias Dahline Adrian College 147
Day 1: 4 04-07 Total: 4 04-07
105. Thomas Mingle - Braxton Simmons University of Tennessee 146
Day 1: 3 04-06 Total: 3 04-06
106. Seth Jenkins - TJ McKenzie Emmanuel College 145
Day 1: 3 03-13 Total: 3 03-13
107. Stephen Bovia - Preston Madere Louisiana Tech University 144
Day 1: 2 03-09 Total: 2 03-09
108. Riley Lawson - Dawson Burton Kentucky Christian University 143
Day 1: 3 03-04 Total: 3 03-04
109. Kreed Averhoff - Jordan Kalsbeek Tarleton State University 142
Day 1: 2 03-02 Total: 2 03-02
109. Lane Bailey - Justin Eggers Catawba Valley Community College 142
Day 1: 2 03-02 Total: 2 03-02
111. Carter Smith - Gannon Stork Wabash Valley College 140
Day 1: 1 03-01 Total: 1 03-01
112. Justin James - Keegan Trahan Lamar State College Orange 139
Day 1: 3 02-14 Total: 3 02-14
113. Kyle Knoll - Luke Morgan Southern Union State Community C 138
Day 1: 2 02-13 Total: 2 02-13
114. Conner Giles - Christian Wright Bryan College 137
Day 1: 2 02-11 Total: 2 02-11
115. Sawyer McCullough - Hunter Bettner Troy University 136
Day 1: 2 02-05 Total: 2 02-05
116. Sid Wallace - Broxson Daigle Texas A&M University 135
Day 1: 1 02-02 Total: 1 02-02
117. Caleb Jacob - Illinois State University 134
Day 1: 2 01-15 Total: 2 01-15
118. Hunter Palmer - Eli Stevenson Bryan College 133
Day 1: 1 01-11 Total: 1 01-11
119. Hampton Shull - Landon Surrett Lander University 132
Day 1: 1 01-03 Total: 1 01-03
120. Fischer Barber - Tucker Jordan Troy University 131
Day 1: 1 01-01 Total: 1 01-01
120. Kaden Liles - Kolby Clark University of North Alabama 131
Day 1: 1 01-01 Total: 1 01-01
122. Zeb Roberts - Cabe Mackey Catawba Valley Community College 129
Day 1: 1 01-00 Total: 1 01-00
123. Roy Crush - Hunter Hernandez Texas A&M University 128
Day 1: 1 00-15 Total: 1 00-15
124. Hunter Starling - William Vickery Georgia Southern University 127
Day 1: 1 00-14 Total: 1 00-14
125. Luke Iles - Northwestern State University 126
Day 1: 1 00-13 Total: 1 00-13
126. Jacob Butts - Mark Kershaw-Klara USC Union 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
126. Carson Calvert - Austin Thomas University of North Alabama 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
126. Marlee Churchman - Ty Gentry LSU - Shreveport 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
126. Cody Clifton - Robert Hunt Missouri State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
126. Nathan Coffman - Garrett Mawalls LSU - Shreveport 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
126. Logan East - Rob Lindsey Bryan College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
126. Caleb Hart - Connor Vanderploeg Grand Valley State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
126. Connor Lynch - Domenic Bartel Grand Valley State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
126. Chandler Pruett - Wes Bailey Blue Mountain College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
126. Rudy Worley - Fisher Overton Blue Mountain College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 88 536 853-13
----------------------------------
88 536 853-13
2023 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship returns to Lake Hartwell
Legendary Green Pond Landing in Anderson, S.C., will host the 2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship Oct. 18-20.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
May 4, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Grass-roots anglers from around the country will take to the waters of legendary Lake Hartwell to compete for one of three berths into the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota during the 2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship October 18-20 in Anderson, S.C.
“When Anderson County hosted our first B.A.S.S. Nation Championship in 2017, the leadership of Anderson County identified the Nation Championship as a must-have event in our community,” said Neil Paul, executive director of Visit Anderson, which is hosting the events. “Many of the amenities that Anderson County has included in the development of Green Pond Landing were a result of hosting our initial Nation Championship. Our community enjoys a significant benefit from hosting the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, and our (Anderson) County leadership is to be commended for the resources they provide us to bring championship events to our community.
“We take great pride in being able to host anglers from all over the country and the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship is yet another opportunity to host a championship event in our championship facility on our championship lake!”
2023 will mark the first time the Nation Championship has been hosted on Hartwell since 2019 when Oregon’s Cody Hollen caught the heaviest bag of the tournament — a five-bass limit that weighed 13 pounds, 12 ounces — to vault from 10th place to the tournament title. Alabama angler Will Davis Jr.is the most recent angler to hoist the Bryan J. Kerchal Memorial Trophy, winning the 2022 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Pickwick Lake.
“B.A.S.S. has had such great experiences in Anderson, with Hartwell hosting incredible events at every level of Bassmaster competition,” said GL Compton, tournament director for the B.A.S.S. Nation. “As in years past, the competition should be incredible.
“It is fun and inspirational to see the talented anglers coming out of the B.A.S.S. Nation and to watch as Nation champions go on to success at the Elite level, whether it's reigning Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year Brandon Palaniuk — the 2010 Nation champion — or Will Davis Jr., who has made the Semifinal Saturday cut in his first three Elite Series events.”
Anglers will qualify via five regional championship tournaments. The Paralyzed Veterans of America Tour will also send its Angler of the Year winner to compete.
Not only will the Top 3 anglers from the overall standings realize a dream of competing in the Bassmaster Classic, but the Nation champion will earn the title of “Nation’s Best,” which includes the use of a fully-rigged tournament boat for a year, an invitation to join the Bassmaster Elite Series and a cash prize. The second- and third-place finishers and nonboater champion will each earn paid entry fees for all divisions of the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens with the opportunity to qualify for the Elites.
The B.A.S.S. Nation Championship is just one of several championship-level Bassmaster tournaments that will launch from Green Pond Landing in 2023. This year the national championships for the hugely popular Bassmaster High School and Junior Series will be decided on the renowned waters of Lake Hartwell. The 2023 Bassmaster Junior National Championship for second- through eighth-grade anglers will head to Anderson, S.C., July 21-22, while the Strike King Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors will be held July 27-29.
“Since Green Pond Landing opened in 2015, we have hosted numerous B.A.S.S. events across all platforms,” said Paul. “Anderson County recognizes that B.A.S.S. is the leader among tournament organizations and our community has enjoyed a significant impact with each Bassmaster visit. The leadership of Anderson County has placed a great deal of confidence in the leadership at B.A.S.S. such that B.A.S.S. has served as an integral part of the continued development of Green Pond Landing.”
The championship tournament is being hosted by Visit Anderson.
Plano Pro Series Tackle Bags
The new Pro Series Tackle Bag is packed with awesome features to keep up with even the most demanding angler.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (May 4, 2023) — Plano, already the leader in tackle storage solutions, is again breaking the rules with the new Pro Series bags that deliver pro-level features and a fresh new look that even the most hardcore angler will appreciate.
Available in two sizes - 3600 and 3700, the Pro Series bags feature fast access top openings with high strength magnets and a molded pull tab for quick access. They are outfitted with an impact-resistant waterproof base to keep tackle moisture-free and a durable UV-resistant hex weave outer shell fabric that can keep up with any angler. The oversized T-handles make for easy access to three external pockets and are fitted with water-resistant zippers that keep everything clean and dry. The Pro Series bag is an essential storage solution for your gear in any scenario.
Key Features
• Quick-access, magnetic top closure
• UV-resistant fabric to prevent fading
• Impact-resistant waterproof base
• Water resistant front slash pocket
• Heavy-duty, water-resistant zippers for easy access to external compartments
• Holds up to four (4) StowAway utility boxes, (2 included)
MSRP: 3600 Series $74.99 | 3700 Series $99.99
Throwback Thursday - FLIPPIN’: A CONCEPT. NOT JUST A TECHNIQUE – PART ONE
By Terry Battisti - Bass Fishing Archives
Although the first responses to Flippin’ weren’t too positive, it didn’t take long for anglers to realize its effectiveness. The technique was winning nearly all of the early tournaments in the West and even though anglers hated this form of “tule dippin’,” what they didn’t realize was this form of fishing was way more than just a technique.
Yes, Flippin’ is a technique in which to catch bass but, more so, it was a complete lure-presentation concept. The concept, once fully embraced, allowed the angler the utmost in lure control and speed.
In contemporary bass fishing, the phrase ‘power fishing’ means to cover a lot of water quickly, effectively, without any waste of motion while keeping the lure in the bass’ strike zone for the longest period of time. Flipping, and nowadays pitching, defines this better than any other form of bass fishing.
“Flipping embraces three basic concepts,” Dave Myers said. “First, there are always some fish in shallow water, second, most shallow fish are biting fish, and third, the key to getting these shallow fish to bite is a precision presentation.
“But there’s more to the concept than just flipping a lure out to cover,” he added. “It was a lot of other things put together. The fact that the anglers made Dee fish a shorter rod helped a tremendous amount in the development of this concept.
“Dee found that by using the short flip, he could fish the visible targets along with any other unseen targets between the bank and the boat and his lure was always in the strike zone. He could completely pick apart a shoreline in less than half the time it would take an angler fishing by conventional casting methods. There was no wasted portion of his cast.
“Not only that, he was always in position to have total control over a fish should it strike. The anglers that complained about his long rod, which eventually led to him to fish a shorter rod, actually helped in the development of the concept and technique.”
After Thomas and Myers concluded the development of the first Flippin’ Stik, Myers convinced Thomas to take his concept national. Off they went to the 1975 Bassmaster Toledo Bend Invitational.
Upon getting to the lake, Thomas was completely overcome by the amount of visible cover. It didn’t look like anything he’d ever seen in his native California. He went out the first day and tried flipping everything and it didn’t work out. The next day he went back to conventional methods but by that time, he was out of the race. The effectiveness of the Flippin’ rod and concept didn’t even get noticed. The second Bassmaster event of Thomas’ career, though, wouldn’t go unnoticed.
In April of that same year, Thomas and Myers traveled to Bull Shoals, AR for the second Invitational on the Bassmaster schedule. Bull Shoals, unlike Toledo Bend, resembled the California waters he was so accustomed to. It had steep banks, clear water, and a lot of visible cover. Not only that, a severe cold front had moved through the area right before the start of the event. All of these variables coupled together set up an event that would play directly into Thomas’ strength.
Thomas went out and in three days put together a combined sack that weighed nearly 10 pounds more than second-place angler Tommy Martin’s catch. What’s even more amazing is out of the 175 anglers in competition, 100 blanked the first day. Thomas weighed in 16 bass (10 bass per day was the limit back then) for a total of 35-06 and Martin weighed in 12 bass for 25-10. Thomas clearly ran away with the event.
At this point, Harold Sharp and Ray Scott had a situation on their hands. Anglers were complaining of the method in which Thomas had won and Sharp and Scott had to do something fast.
“Harold [Sharp] and Ray [Scott] came and asked me to tell them about this technique,” Myers recalled. “All the big guns were all complaining and they needed to get ahead of it. So we explained the method to them, how it differed from tule dippin’, and that the technique was based on the accurate presentation of a jig using a long rod. We told them about the 7’ 6” length restriction we’d instilled in the west and they thought about it. After that, they decided that the western restriction was good and then they went with an 8-foot restriction after that.”
Sharp has a little different recollection of what happened.
“The first we were aware of Dee was when he entered the Bull Shoals tournament in April 1975,” Sharp recalled. “Because Dee won this event with a new style of tournament fishing, it made much more impact than if he had just finished in the money – it was new and different and a winner.
“B.A.S.S. had no rules on the length of the rod,” he said. “In fact, at the time we had a contestant that fished with a standard fly rod with a spincast reel attached to the butt end loaded with mono line. He did very well with it and used it to fish plastic worms without a weight. At that time, our rules stated that only casting, spinning or spincasting equipment could be used, but his rig was more spincasting than flyfishing so we let him use it.
“Although Dee introduced the long rod in April, ’75, B.A.S.S. didn’t change rules mid-season,” Sharp said. “But we could see where it could create a problem as most angling in those days was done several yards from the target and Flippin’ moved the boat up on the target, which handicapped one angler, unless both were Flippin’.
“We also saw a problem with the use of longer rods so as to outreach your partner,” Sharp said. “So we took a long look at Flippin’ and decided to install the 8-foot rod rule the following year [Jan 1976]. We didn’t see that an 8-foot rule would stop or hurt Flippin’ and we always promoted new stuff. Our concern was to keep tournament fishing equal to all contestants, so we installed the length limit to keep everyone in the boat on an equal basis. We hadn’t heard of the restriction on the west coast, we made our decision on what we thought best for BASS events and keep the BASS rules equal for all contestants.”
Thomas ended up finishing high enough that year to qualify for the 1975 Bass Masters Classic held on the Currituck Sound in North Carolina, where he finished in 9th place.
In 1976, Thomas took western stick Dave Gliebe back east with him but unfortunately, neither did well enough to qualify for the 1976 Bass Master Classic. That year Thomas stopped fishing the Bass Masters circuit in order to stay closer to home but Gliebe would continue to fish through 1979, making three consecutive Classics (1977-79), namely on the Flippin’ technique.
In the next installment of this feature, Basil Bacon, Hank Parker and Denny Brauer talk about how flippin’ changed the face of tournament angling.
If we’ve piqued your interest and you’d like to read ahead, check out the rest of the story at Bass Fishing Archives with the links below:
Postspawners await field for Bassmaster Elite Series event at Alabama’s Lay Lake
Alabama's historic Lay Lake will host the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake May 11-14.
Photo by B.A.S.S.
May 4, 2023
SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. — Temperatures are warming up around central Alabama just in time for the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Lay Lake, and for Sylacauga, Ala., rookie Will Davis Jr., that means the bass on the Coosa River impoundment should be feeding up after a tough spawning season.
“It is setting up to be a catch fest I believe,” Davis said.
Although it has hosted four Bassmaster Classics in the past, this will be the first Elite Series tournament ever on Lay Lake. Since 2010, the last time Lay Lake hosted the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota, there have been several Bassmaster events here, including a St. Croix Bassmaster Open won by Keith Carson in 2020 and a Strike King College Series Wild Card presented by Bass Pro Shops tournament in 2021.
Tournament days are scheduled for May 11-14. The full field of 104 anglers will compete the first two days before the field is cut to 50 for Semifinal Saturday. The Top 10 anglers will compete on Championship Sunday for the top prize of $100,000 and a blue trophy. Anglers will launch from Beeswax Creek Park starting at 6:30 a.m. CT every day and return to the park for weigh-in at 3 p.m. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.
Lay Lake isn’t the biggest fishery, covering just 12,000 acres, but Davis believes anglers will be able to spread out and find spotted and largemouth bass throughout the system. While there may be some lingering spawners, Davis anticipates most of the bass will be postspawn and moving toward their summer feeding areas.
“The fish down the lake usually do their deal quicker. They spawn in late February and March,” he said. “(The spawn) works its way up the lake. Around midlake, (the bass) are more in a funk this time of year. But any part of the lake can play a factor. It won’t be just one section.”
The threadfin shad and the bream spawn, meanwhile, will likely be in full swing, with the full moon arriving a few days ahead of official practice. The gizzard shad spawn will also be in play, and anglers who are able to dial in on that bite will be one step ahead of the game.
“The shad will be spawning for sure and there will be bream beds,” he said. “In the morning, you really have to capitalize on that, because after that, it can be a grinder.”
The top end of the lake features a little dirtier water, and current will be a dominant factor. On the bottom end, anglers will find clearer water, standing timber and brushpiles. Forward-facing sonar will be an important tool for fishing those pieces of cover, and jerkbaits and crankbaits will be key baits.
Much of the shallow bite revolves around the willow and bank grass, Davis said. There is a little bit of milfoil growing in the lake too. Swim jigs, frogs, buzzbaits and soft plastics are some of the more productive presentations for anglers fishing around vegetation.
Davis said the key to the grass bite will be finding areas that have not been sprayed by lake management.
“If they go in an area and spray, you can hang it up for a long time,” Davis said. “They don’t live in that dead stuff.”
Along with the shallow grass, docks will come into play, especially if sunny skies and high pressure prevail. But looking ahead at the forecast, for what it’s worth, there is a chance of showers and storms each day leading up to and during the tournament.
“If it muddies it up, that will make it a little tougher,” Davis said. “But current always helps on the Coosa River.”
While Davis believes there will be several 20-pound bags caught, he thinks it will take around 17 pounds per day to have a chance at taking home the blue trophy. He added that the winner will almost certainly have to catch both spotted bass and largemouth.
“I don’t think you will be able to win on all largemouth,” he said. “I think you will have to weigh in one or two spots a day. Or, maybe catch 20 pounds of largemouth one day and 17 pounds of a mixed bag the rest of the tournament. I don’t think a guy can weigh in strictly largemouth for four days and win. That’s just me, but they might surprise me.”
After a stellar swing in his home state, Greenwood, S.C., pro Brandon Cobb leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 387 points. Georgia pro Drew Cook is second with 369 points, followed by Louisiana’s Tyler Rivet with 349. Australia’s Carl Jocumsen sits in fourth with 335, and Alabama’s Kyle Welcher is fifth with 333.
California pro Bryant Smith vaulted to the top of the Dakota Lithium Rookie of the Year standings with 300 points after back-to-back Top 15 finishes at Lake Murray and Santee Cooper Lakes. He is followed by Alabama’s David Gaston in second with 299 points, with Davis sitting in third with 279.
New for 2023, fans can enjoy predictions, conditions and live hits from the lake as part of the LIVE Preview show streaming on Bassmaster.comWednesday, May 10 at 8 a.m. CT. Bassmaster LIVE kicks off tournament coverage Thursday and Friday mornings at 7 a.m. on Bassmaster.com, Tubi and the FOX Sports platforms while FS1 will broadcast live with the tournament leaders on Saturday and Sunday.
Major League Fishing’s General Tire Team Series Bass Pro Shops Championship Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches to Premiere Saturday on Outdoor Channel
BENTON, Ky. (May 4, 2023) – The first episode of the Major League Fishing General Tire Team Series Bass Pro Shops Championship Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches, the culmination of the General Tire Team Series that was filmed on the Clermont Chain of Lakes in Lake County, Florida, will premiere nationwide this Saturday, May 6, on the Outdoor Channel from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET. Episodes will premiere each Saturday, and the series will culminate with the crowning of the General Tire Team Series Champions on Saturday, June 17.
The seven-episode series will showcase the nine three-man teams that won their match in each of the three Qualifying Events competing for a $300,000 top prize. The second-place team will earn $60,000, and the third-place team will win $30,000. Teams fourth through ninth in the championship will each earn $15,000.
“On behalf of our partners, the City of Clermont and the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, we are thrilled to have hosted the Major League Fishing General Tire Team Championship in Lake County,” said Ryan Ritchie, Director of Discover Lake County, Florida – Office of Tourism and Sports. “Without the support from the Lake County Board of County Commissioners and Tourist Development Council, opportunities like this would not be possible. Events like this, create national exposure and bring attention to the championship fishing in Lake County, as well as enhancing our economic development and impact with anglers, visitors, production crews and staff visiting our communities.”
Saturday’s airing on the Outdoor Channel will showcase Team Ferguson, Team Star brite and Team Builders First Source competing in Match 1, along with highlights from the competition and behind-the-scenes angler commentary and interviews.
The nine teams that are competing in the inaugural General Tire Team Series Bass Pro Shops Championship Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches are:
Team B&W Trailer Hitches:
Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas
David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn.
Team Builders First Source:
Jeff Sprague, Point, Texas
Randall Tharp, Port St. Joe, Fla.
Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La.
Team Crockett Creek:
Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn.
Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark.
Jason Lambert, Michie, Tenn.
Team Ferguson:
James Elam, Tulsa, Okla.
Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan.
Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Team Fox Rent A Car:
Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J.
Mark Daniels, Jr., Tuskegee, Ala.
Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala.
Team Knighten Industries:
Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn.
Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark.
Mike McClelland, Blue Eye, Mo.
Team Kubota:
Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn.
Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala.
Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas
Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff:
Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C.
Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C.
Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla.
Team Star brite:
Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif.
Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo.
Shaw Grigsby, Gainesville, Fla.
The full, updated television schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
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Kemp takes opening-round lead at Bassmaster Open on Buggs Island Reservoir
Powell Kemp of Scotland Neck, N.C., is leading after Day 1 of the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Buggs Island Reservoir with 19 pounds, 8 ounces.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
May 3, 2023
CLARKSVILLE, Va. — Powell Kemp said the best thing he did this week was take a big eraser to his practice findings and fish what was in front of him. Doing so rewarded the local pro with a five-bass limit of 19 pounds, 8 ounces that leads Day 1 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Buggs Island.
With recent rains raising the lake’s water level and a cold front bringing big winds and a sharp temperature drop, anglers largely found unsettled bass and a Roanoke River reservoir whipped into a navigational nightmare. Nevertheless, the pro from Scotland Neck, N.C., said his historical insight served him well.
“When I practiced late Friday and all day Saturday, the lake was at 301 (a foot above normal pool) and I said ‘This isn’t going to be right.’ I actually fished a tournament on Lake Gaston Sunday,” Kemp said. “I didn’t even practice because the lake came up a foot, and I said ‘It’s going to change every day.’
“I knew what I did Friday and Saturday was junk. Any bites I had those days — just throw it out.”
As Kemp notes, knowing what to do during the dramatic change in conditions gave him a significant advantage over anglers trying to figure out the lake’s evolving complexion.
“The lake did exactly what it needed for a local to have an advantage because I’ve seen so much over 20 years of fishing here,” he said. “It was just run here, run there.
“A lot of guys had three days of practice in their minds, but I’ve seen it so much I knew you can’t do what you were doing.”
Kemp, who holds a 3-pound margin over Tennessee pro Brad Knight, said the 15- to 20-mph winds certainly limited his mobility. But while he wasn’t able to run as much water as he’d planned, the curtailment likely aided his cause.
“As rough as it was today, I had to bear down on one area,” Kemp said. “I couldn’t run and gun like I’m used to, but maybe that worked to my advantage.”
Kemp said he caught his bass by throwing a spinnerbait and flipping bushes.
“I was just fishing and keeping them honest because they move so much on this lake,” he said. “Some of them moved farther back than they were in practice. It was really random today. There were some on the points, some on the sides (of creeks) and some in the backs.
“There was no rhyme or reason. It was just a blessing; one of those days you dream about. The Lord blessed me.”
Knowing he’d have to grind through a lean day, Kemp said he was delighted to jumpstart his morning with a 5-13, which leads the Phoenix Boats Big Bass standings.
“The lake is fishing really tough and she was the first bite I got this morning,” Kemp said. “That really settled me down.”
Kemp said he started his day by looking for a shad spawn but to no avail. During his search, he saw a smaller fish swirl and miss his bait. Assuming it was the male from a spawning pair, he targeted the point of attack and connected with a big female.
“I threw to the gum tree just to the right and she came out and ate it,” he said. “Overall, it was still a bite every hour to an hour and a half. It wasn’t (on fire) like the lake should be doing.
“I just think the lake is in a transition, the shad aren’t doing what they’re supposed to do. I think what bass are left (up shallow) are spawning.”
Kemp’s day ended with another stroke of good fortune. With a bass of about 2 1/4 pounds in his bag and 2 1/2 hours left to fish, he started to make a move but had trouble getting his boat on plane.
Pulling into a creek with calm water, Kemp jumped on plane but he could tell something was not right with his engine. With a good run between his position and the check-in point, he decided to return early to make sure he made it.
“I came back to the creek (where the check-in site was located) and while I was just fishing around, I caught one about 3 1/4 to cull out my 2 1/4,” he recalled. “It was really slow to get bit and the lake was fishing tough, but it was an amazing day. Everything went perfectly.”
Knight, a former Forrest Wood Cup winner who hails from Lancing, Tenn., is in second place with 16-8. Coming off a South Texas turkey hunt, he got minimal practice time and, same as Powell, Knight believes that worked to his benefit.
“I rode around on Tuesday and I knew the lake had come up and it was going to be flooded bushes. That fits my strengths — I like to fish shallow,” Knight said. “From there, it was just a matter of adapting to the conditions.”
Knight said he started with about 12 baits on his deck, but whittled that selection down to about half. His top producers were a swim jig, a bladed jig, a spinnerbait and flipping rigs.
“A lot of people call it junk fishing, but to me, it’s reading the bank; knowing when to pick up one bait or another,” Knight said. “I have a lot of experience fishing this way (on the Tennessee River) when things are changing. It was just taking that experience and applying it here.”
Jacob Thompkins of Myrtle Beach, S.C., is third with 16-6. Flipping bushes with a Strike King Rage Bug and throwing a spinnerbait produced his bites.
“I came here a month and a half ago for pre-practice and I caught a 4-pounder while (Garmin) LiveScoping them on some stumps just off the bank,” Thompkins said. “I caught my biggest one today doing that.
“I watched him eat the spinnerbait on LiveScope and barely got him in the boat before the hook popped out. So, I got lucky on that one.”
Alex Watts of Salem, Va., leads the co-angler division with 10-13. Anchoring his bag with a 4-7, Watts holds a 10-ounce lead over David Deciucis of Chester, Va.
Watts caught his big bass on a wacky rig. Later in the day, when he fished more windward areas, a spinnerbait worked best.
Larry Kempler of Bluemont, Va., and George Myers of Franklinton, N.C., are tied for the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead among co-anglers, each with a 5-2.
Thursday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. ET from Occoneechee State Park. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 2:30 p.m.
The St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Buggs Island Reservoir is being hosted by Mecklenburg County, Va., Tourism.
2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Buggs Island 5/3-5/5
Buggs Island Reservoir, Clarksville VA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Powell Kemp Scotland Neck, NC 5 19-08 200
Day 1: 5 19-08
2. Brad Knight Lancing, TN 5 16-08 199
Day 1: 5 16-08
3. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 16-06 198
Day 1: 5 16-06
4. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 5 15-15 197
Day 1: 5 15-15
5. Clay Samples South Boston, VA 5 15-14 196
Day 1: 5 15-14
6. Reese Hudson Broomall, PA 5 15-07 195
Day 1: 5 15-07
7. Scout Echols Monticello, AR 5 14-14 194
Day 1: 5 14-14
8. Evan Barnes Dardanelle, AR 5 14-11 193
Day 1: 5 14-11
8. Casey Scanlon Eldon, MO 5 14-11 193
Day 1: 5 14-11
10. Cody Detweiler Guntersville, AL 5 14-07 191
Day 1: 5 14-07
11. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 5 14-03 190
Day 1: 5 14-03
11. Brandon McMillan Clewiston, FL 5 14-03 190
Day 1: 5 14-03
11. Clark Reehm Elm Grove, LA 5 14-03 190
Day 1: 5 14-03
14. Buck Mallory Lawton, MI 5 14-00 187
Day 1: 5 14-00
15. John Garrett Union City, TN 5 13-14 186
Day 1: 5 13-14
16. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 5 13-12 185
Day 1: 5 13-12
16. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 13-12 185
Day 1: 5 13-12
18. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 13-11 183
Day 1: 5 13-11
18. Jordan Sanderlin Kill Devil Hills, NC 5 13-11 183
Day 1: 5 13-11
20. Rich Ortiz Fort Ann, NY 5 13-10 181
Day 1: 5 13-10
20. Andrew Upshaw Hemphill, TX 5 13-10 181
Day 1: 5 13-10
22. Jason Meninger Yulee, FL 5 13-06 179
Day 1: 5 13-06
23. Greg Bohannan Bentonville, AR 5 13-05 178
Day 1: 5 13-05
24. Destin DeMarion Harborcreek, PA 5 13-04 177
Day 1: 5 13-04
24. Brad Leuthner Victoria, MN 5 13-04 177
Day 1: 5 13-04
24. Matt Pangrac Shawnee, OK 5 13-04 177
Day 1: 5 13-04
27. Tim Frederick Leesburg, FL 5 13-03 174
Day 1: 5 13-03
27. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 5 13-03 174
Day 1: 5 13-03
29. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 5 13-01 172
Day 1: 5 13-01
30. Chris Keeble Lenoir City, TN 5 13-00 171
Day 1: 5 13-00
30. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 5 13-00 171
Day 1: 5 13-00
32. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 5 12-15 169
Day 1: 5 12-15
33. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 5 12-14 168
Day 1: 5 12-14
34. Andrew Hargrove Moody, TX 5 12-13 167
Day 1: 5 12-13
35. Jack Dice Lynchburg, VA 5 12-12 166
Day 1: 5 12-12
35. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 5 12-12 166
Day 1: 5 12-12
35. Casey Smith Victor, NY 5 12-12 166
Day 1: 5 12-12
38. Alex Heintze Denham Springs, LA 5 12-11 163
Day 1: 5 12-11
38. Jake Maddux Birmingham, AL 5 12-11 163
Day 1: 5 12-11
40. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 5 12-10 161
Day 1: 5 12-10
41. Jeff Mcbeth New Phila, OH 5 12-08 160
Day 1: 5 12-08
42. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 5 12-07 159
Day 1: 5 12-07
42. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 5 12-07 159
Day 1: 5 12-07
44. Jamie Bruce Kenora Ontario CANADA 5 12-05 157
Day 1: 5 12-05
44. Alex Murray Lake Charles, LA 5 12-05 157
Day 1: 5 12-05
46. Blake Sylvester Plaquemine, LA 5 12-04 155
Day 1: 5 12-04
47. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 5 12-03 154
Day 1: 5 12-03
48. Ryan Broughman Corapeake, NC 5 12-02 153
Day 1: 5 12-02
49. Jeff Coble Manson, NC 5 11-15 152
Day 1: 5 11-15
49. Griffin Phillips Mount Olive, AL 5 11-15 152
Day 1: 5 11-15
51. Wil Dieffenbauch III Hundred, WV 5 11-14 150
Day 1: 5 11-14
52. Logan Johnson Jasper, AL 5 11-13 149
Day 1: 5 11-13
53. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 5 11-12 148
Day 1: 5 11-12
53. Scott Isaacs Ladonia, TX 5 11-12 148
Day 1: 5 11-12
55. Hunter Sales Blaine, TN 5 11-09 146
Day 1: 5 11-09
56. Andrew Mlotek Indianapolis, IN 5 11-08 145
Day 1: 5 11-08
56. Whitney Stephens Waverly, OH 5 11-08 145
Day 1: 5 11-08
56. Jack York Emory, TX 5 11-08 145
Day 1: 5 11-08
59. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 5 11-07 142
Day 1: 5 11-07
59. Ben Milliken New Caney, TX 5 11-07 142
Day 1: 5 11-07
61. Brandon Tallhamer Parkersburg, WV 5 11-06 140
Day 1: 5 11-06
61. Jimmy Washam Stantonville, TN 5 11-06 140
Day 1: 5 11-06
63. Shawn Hammack Gasburg, VA 5 11-05 138
Day 1: 5 11-05
63. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 5 11-05 138
Day 1: 5 11-05
63. David Williams Newton, NC 5 11-05 138
Day 1: 5 11-05
66. Blake Smith Lakeland, FL 5 11-04 135
Day 1: 5 11-04
67. Logan Anderson Catawba, NC 5 11-03 134
Day 1: 5 11-03
67. Rob Digh Denver, NC 5 11-03 134
Day 1: 5 11-03
69. Jonathan Bowling Harriman, TN 5 11-02 132
Day 1: 5 11-02
69. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 5 11-02 132
Day 1: 5 11-02
71. Justin Kimmel Athens, GA 5 11-01 130
Day 1: 5 11-01
72. Keith Tuma Brainerd, MN 5 11-01 129
Day 1: 5 11-01
73. Logan Shaddix Cummings, GA 5 11-00 128
Day 1: 5 11-00
74. Shayne Berlo Mclean, VA 5 10-15 127
Day 1: 5 10-15
74. Chris Blanchette Edisto Island, SC 5 10-15 127
Day 1: 5 10-15
74. Tyler Lubbat Wheeling, IL 5 10-15 127
Day 1: 5 10-15
77. Paul Browning Pecos, TX 5 10-14 124
Day 1: 5 10-14
77. Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, MN 5 10-14 124
Day 1: 5 10-14
79. Matt Henry Milledgeville, GA 4 10-14 122
Day 1: 4 10-14
80. Jason Carpenter Castle Pines, CO 5 10-12 121
Day 1: 5 10-12
80. Timmy Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 10-12 121
Day 1: 5 10-12
82. Brock Belik Orchard, NE 5 10-11 119
Day 1: 5 10-11
82. Taylor Watkins Clinton, TN 5 10-11 119
Day 1: 5 10-11
84. Mike Mayo Athens, TX 5 10-10 117
Day 1: 5 10-10
84. Danny Ramsey Trinidad, TX 5 10-10 117
Day 1: 5 10-10
84. JT Russell Mc Calla, AL 5 10-10 117
Day 1: 5 10-10
84. Jeff Salmon Mechanicsville, VA 5 10-10 117
Day 1: 5 10-10
88. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 4 10-10 113
Day 1: 4 10-10
89. Darrell Davis Dover, FL 5 10-08 112
Day 1: 5 10-08
89. Billy McDonald Greenwood, IN 5 10-08 112
Day 1: 5 10-08
89. Danny McGarry Newcastle CANADA 5 10-08 112
Day 1: 5 10-08
89. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 5 10-08 112
Day 1: 5 10-08
93. Johnathan Crossland Chapin, SC 5 10-07 108
Day 1: 5 10-07
93. Brian Post Janesville, WI 5 10-07 108
Day 1: 5 10-07
95. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 5 10-06 106
Day 1: 5 10-06
96. Bailey Boutries Springfield, MO 5 10-05 105
Day 1: 5 10-05
96. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 5 10-05 105
Day 1: 5 10-05
96. Austin Cranford Norman, OK 5 10-05 105
Day 1: 5 10-05
96. Kyle Goltz Cornell, WI 5 10-05 105
Day 1: 5 10-05
96. Jason Lambert Savannah, TN 5 10-05 105
Day 1: 5 10-05
101. John Murray Spring City, TN 3 10-05 100
Day 1: 3 10-05
102. Brent Anderson Kingston Springs, TN 5 10-04 99
Day 1: 5 10-04
102. Ish Monroe Oakdale, CA 5 10-04 99
Day 1: 5 10-04
104. Chris Brummett Lynch Station, VA 5 10-02 97
Day 1: 5 10-02
105. Craig Chambers Midland, NC 5 10-01 96
Day 1: 5 10-01
105. Woo Daves Spring Grove, VA 5 10-01 96
Day 1: 5 10-01
105. Jim Dillard West Monroe, LA 5 10-01 96
Day 1: 5 10-01
105. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 5 10-01 96
Day 1: 5 10-01
109. Stacey Jefferson Conway, SC 5 10-00 92
Day 1: 5 10-00
109. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 5 10-00 92
Day 1: 5 10-00
109. Derek Lehtonen Woodruff, SC 5 10-00 92
Day 1: 5 10-00
109. Jaxon Sullivan Reagan, TN 5 10-00 92
Day 1: 5 10-00
113. Mike Surman Boca Raton, FL 5 10-00 88
Day 1: 5 10-00
114. Jacob Bigelow Cecil, WI 5 09-14 87
Day 1: 5 09-14
115. Hugh Cosculluela Spring, TX 5 09-12 86
Day 1: 5 09-12
115. Chris Dover Blacksburg, SC 5 09-12 86
Day 1: 5 09-12
115. Chad Warren Sand Springs, OK 5 09-12 86
Day 1: 5 09-12
118. Bryan Bickell Newcastle CANADA 4 09-12 83
Day 1: 4 09-12
119. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 5 09-11 82
Day 1: 5 09-11
120. Joey Hanna Corsicana, TX 4 09-11 81
Day 1: 4 09-11
121. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 5 09-10 80
Day 1: 5 09-10
121. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 5 09-10 80
Day 1: 5 09-10
123. Kayden Tanner Tolar, TX 5 09-09 78
Day 1: 5 09-09
124. Josh Bragg Fayetteville, GA 5 09-07 77
Day 1: 5 09-07
124. Wesley Cashwell Roanoke Rapids, NC 5 09-07 77
Day 1: 5 09-07
124. Steve Morella Townshend, VT 5 09-07 77
Day 1: 5 09-07
127. Christian Shoda Homosassa, FL 4 09-07 74
Day 1: 4 09-07
128. Bronk Mcdaniel Alexandria, LA 5 09-06 73
Day 1: 5 09-06
129. Sterling Bougher Mannford, OK 5 09-05 72
Day 1: 5 09-05
129. Brett Cannon Willis, TX 5 09-05 72
Day 1: 5 09-05
129. Jonathan Dietz Corry, PA 5 09-05 72
Day 1: 5 09-05
129. Takayuki Koike Otsu-City JAPAN 5 09-05 72
Day 1: 5 09-05
133. Chris Hellebuyck White Lake, MI 5 09-04 68
Day 1: 5 09-04
133. Louis Monetti Brielle, NJ 5 09-04 68
Day 1: 5 09-04
133. Marc Schilling Carrollton, TX 5 09-04 68
Day 1: 5 09-04
136. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 09-03 65
Day 1: 5 09-03
137. Jeremy Bogard Wilkesboro, NC 5 09-02 64
Day 1: 5 09-02
137. Douglas Reed Bridgeton, NJ 5 09-02 64
Day 1: 5 09-02
139. Bobby Lanham Eddyville, KY 5 09-01 62
Day 1: 5 09-01
140. Tyrel Faber Pagosa Springs, CO 5 09-00 61
Day 1: 5 09-00
141. Steven Camp Mechanicsvlle, VA 5 08-14 60
Day 1: 5 08-14
141. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 5 08-14 60
Day 1: 5 08-14
143. Miles Burghoff Dayton, TN 5 08-13 58
Day 1: 5 08-13
144. Rick Hamer Charleston, WV 5 08-12 57
Day 1: 5 08-12
145. Jason Abram Piney Flats, TN 5 08-11 56
Day 1: 5 08-11
146. Daisuke Kita Ostu Shiga JAPAN 4 08-11 55
Day 1: 4 08-11
147. Scott Kerslake Okeechobee, FL 5 08-10 54
Day 1: 5 08-10
148. Burke Hutcheson Hillsborough, NC 5 08-09 53
Day 1: 5 08-09
148. Rick Mitchell Naples, FL 5 08-09 53
Day 1: 5 08-09
148. Jack Tindel III Orange, TX 5 08-09 53
Day 1: 5 08-09
151. Andrew Harp Linden, TX 5 08-08 50
Day 1: 5 08-08
152. Lucas Bogosian Harrington Park, NJ 5 08-06 49
Day 1: 5 08-06
152. Josh Hubbard Dunnellon, FL 5 08-06 49
Day 1: 5 08-06
154. Jeffrey Davis Jr Raleigh, NC 4 08-06 47
Day 1: 4 08-06
154. Jimmy Steed Zapata, TX 4 08-06 47
Day 1: 4 08-06
156. Kyle Gelles Pingree, ID 5 08-04 45
Day 1: 5 08-04
156. Jacob Pyles Nolensville, TN 5 08-04 45
Day 1: 5 08-04
158. Tom Frink Southside, AL 5 08-03 43
Day 1: 5 08-03
158. Sam George Athens, AL 5 08-03 43
Day 1: 5 08-03
160. Christiana Bradley Goldvein, VA 5 08-02 41
Day 1: 5 08-02
160. Tommy Williams Shepherdsville, KY 5 08-02 41
Day 1: 5 08-02
162. Zeke Gossett Pell City, AL 5 08-01 39
Day 1: 5 08-01
163. John Conway Jr Henrico, VA 5 08-00 38
Day 1: 5 08-00
163. Zach Goutremout Chaumont, NY 5 08-00 38
Day 1: 5 08-00
163. Lucas Murphy West Columbia, MI 5 08-00 38
Day 1: 5 08-00
166. Kurt Mitchell Milford, DE 5 07-15 35
Day 1: 5 07-15
167. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 5 07-12 34
Day 1: 5 07-12
168. Jerry Gallogly Jr North Tazewell, VA 5 07-11 33
Day 1: 5 07-11
169. Chris Merritt Chester , VA 5 07-10 32
Day 1: 5 07-10
170. Steve Tennison Lexington, OK 4 07-05 31
Day 1: 4 07-05
171. Andrew George Poplar Branch, NC 4 07-03 30
Day 1: 4 07-03
172. Seiji Kato Outsu Shiga JAPAN 3 07-02 29
Day 1: 3 07-02
172. Angela Mayo Maiden, NC 3 07-02 29
Day 1: 3 07-02
174. Paul Bouvier Kingston CANADA 3 07-01 27
Day 1: 3 07-01
175. John Watts Jr Flushing, MI 4 06-15 26
Day 1: 4 06-15
176. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 3 06-15 25
Day 1: 3 06-15
176. Trevor McKinney Benton, IL 3 06-15 25
Day 1: 3 06-15
178. B.J. Usie Bourg, LA 3 06-14 23
Day 1: 3 06-14
179. Tripp Noojin Bryant, AL 4 06-13 22
Day 1: 4 06-13
180. Brian Mullaney Ijamsville, MD 4 06-09 21
Day 1: 4 06-09
181. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 3 06-07 20
Day 1: 3 06-07
182. Pete Gluszek Mount Laurel, NJ 4 06-06 19
Day 1: 4 06-06
182. Scott Hamrick Denver, NC 4 06-06 19
Day 1: 4 06-06
184. Bart Stanisz Austin, TX 3 06-06 17
Day 1: 3 06-06
185. Shaine Campbell Brookeland, TX 3 06-05 16
Day 1: 3 06-05
185. Brayden Rakes Winston Salem, NC 3 06-05 16
Day 1: 3 06-05
187. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 3 06-03 14
Day 1: 3 06-03
187. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 3 06-03 14
Day 1: 3 06-03
189. Cameron Smith Wareham, MA 4 06-01 12
Day 1: 4 06-01
190. Michael Rowe Providence Forge, VA 4 05-15 11
Day 1: 4 05-15
191. Kenji Yamada Hixson, TN 3 05-13 10
Day 1: 3 05-13
192. Steve Sennikoff Edgewood, TX 4 05-09 9
Day 1: 4 05-09
193. Rick Hawkins Roanoke, VA 3 05-07 8
Day 1: 3 05-07
194. Ryan Clark Whitby Ontario CANADA 3 05-03 7
Day 1: 3 05-03
194. Caiden Sinclair Logan, AL 3 05-03 7
Day 1: 3 05-03
196. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 3 05-00 5
Day 1: 3 05-00
197. Phil Killian Solomon, AZ 3 04-09 4
Day 1: 3 04-09
197. Kenny Mittelstaedt Minnetonka, MN 3 04-09 4
Day 1: 3 04-09
199. Keith Brumfield Vicksburg, MS 2 04-06 2
Day 1: 2 04-06
200. Nikki Jo Hatten Clanton, AL 2 04-03 1
Day 1: 2 04-03
201. Lafe Messer Warfield, KY 2 04-01 0
Day 1: 2 04-01
202. A.J. Menssen Bloomington, IL 2 04-00 0
Day 1: 2 04-00
203. Jon Canada Helena, AL 2 03-12 0
Day 1: 2 03-12
203. David Wootton Collierville, TN 2 03-12 0
Day 1: 2 03-12
205. Joe Labarbera Montrose, PA 2 03-08 0
Day 1: 2 03-08
206. Clayton Barnes Clanton, AL 2 03-05 0
Day 1: 2 03-05
207. Willy Dennison Willoughby Hills, OH 1 03-05 0
Day 1: 1 03-05
208. Chris Whitson Louisville, TN 2 03-03 0
Day 1: 2 03-03
209. Tony Dumitras Winston, GA 2 03-02 0
Day 1: 2 03-02
210. Paul Tabisz Whitmore Lake, MI 1 03-01 0
Day 1: 1 03-01
211. Chris Dillow Waynesboro, VA 2 03-00 0
Day 1: 2 03-00
212. Lance Owen Greer, SC 1 02-05 0
Day 1: 1 02-05
213. Jerry Riddle Jr Summit, MS 1 02-02 0
Day 1: 1 02-02
214. Mark Dimarzio McDonald, PA 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12
214. Jason Tibbetts Centreville, VA 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12
216. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 1 01-11 0
Day 1: 1 01-11
217. Flash Butts Roanoke Rapids, NC 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-08
218. Julius Mazy Phoenix, AZ 1 01-07 0
Day 1: 1 01-07
219. George Lambeth Thomasville, NC 1 01-06 0
Day 1: 1 01-06
220. Clemente Gutierrez Woodbridge, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
220. Matt Mollohan Batesburg, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
220. Daniel Valois Gomez Caracas FL VENEZUELA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
220. Brady Vernon Sterrett, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 160 964 2096-08
----------------------------------
160 964 2096-08
2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Buggs Island 5/3-5/5
Buggs Island Reservoir, Clarksville VA.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Alex Watts Salem, VA 3 10-13 200
Day 1: 3 10-13
2. David Deciucis CHESTER, VA 3 10-03 199
Day 1: 3 10-03
3. David Waack Cary, NC 3 08-00 198
Day 1: 3 08-00
4. Bird Jones Loxahatchee, FL 3 07-07 197
Day 1: 3 07-07
5. Jerry Bono Lexington, NC 3 07-03 196
Day 1: 3 07-03
6. Burley Langford Jr. South Chesterfield, VA 3 07-02 195
Day 1: 3 07-02
6. Alicia Raytrowsky Delaware CANADA 3 07-02 195
Day 1: 3 07-02
6. Perry See Rochester, MN 3 07-02 195
Day 1: 3 07-02
9. Joshua Geyer Loganton, PA 3 07-01 192
Day 1: 3 07-01
9. Kyle Richardt Weymouth, MA 3 07-01 192
Day 1: 3 07-01
11. Larry Kempler Bluemont, VA 2 07-00 190
Day 1: 2 07-00
12. Mark Aaron Gastonia, NC 3 06-11 189
Day 1: 3 06-11
12. Steven Robbins Piketon, OH 3 06-11 189
Day 1: 3 06-11
14. Jesse Jodon St Michael , PA 3 06-10 187
Day 1: 3 06-10
14. David Slaybaugh Colonial Heights, VA 3 06-10 187
Day 1: 3 06-10
16. Tyler Smith Portage, MI 3 06-09 185
Day 1: 3 06-09
17. George Myers Franklinton, NC 2 06-09 184
Day 1: 2 06-09
18. William Cross Brodnax, VA 3 06-07 183
Day 1: 3 06-07
19. John Rico Daisytown, PA 3 06-05 182
Day 1: 3 06-05
20. Dylan Mayo Athens, TX 2 06-05 181
Day 1: 2 06-05
21. Tommy Wood Sippy Downs AUSTRALIA 3 06-04 180
Day 1: 3 06-04
22. Bobby Davis Jr South Prince, VA 2 06-04 179
Day 1: 2 06-04
22. EJ Thomas Roanoke, VA 2 06-04 179
Day 1: 2 06-04
24. Michael Leach Shenandoah, TX 3 06-02 177
Day 1: 3 06-02
25. Dan Murphy Epping, NH 2 06-01 176
Day 1: 2 06-01
26. Floyd Willis Grayson, KY 3 06-00 175
Day 1: 3 06-00
27. Bob Bauer China Grove, NC 3 05-15 174
Day 1: 3 05-15
28. Jonathan Ceaser Maidens, VA 3 05-14 173
Day 1: 3 05-14
29. Levi Allgeier Bardstown, KY 2 05-13 172
Day 1: 2 05-13
30. Joe Lineberry Ramseaur,, NC 3 05-12 171
Day 1: 3 05-12
31. Timothy Mayhew Danville, VA 3 05-10 170
Day 1: 3 05-10
31. Carter Wijangco Naperville, IL 3 05-10 170
Day 1: 3 05-10
33. Melvin Bowling Shenandoah, VA 3 05-08 168
Day 1: 3 05-08
34. Bryce Bason Mill Hall, PA 3 05-07 167
Day 1: 3 05-07
34. John Higginbotham Slaughter, LA 3 05-07 167
Day 1: 3 05-07
36. Scott Spencer Raleigh, NC 2 05-06 165
Day 1: 2 05-06
37. Ricky Fulk Shenandoah, VA 3 05-05 164
Day 1: 3 05-05
37. Travis Turcotte Pembroke CANADA 3 05-05 164
Day 1: 3 05-05
37. Mark Whitman Burlington, NC 3 05-05 164
Day 1: 3 05-05
40. Bobby Barrett Youngsville, NC 3 05-04 161
Day 1: 3 05-04
40. RD Roulston Little Rock, AR 3 05-04 161
Day 1: 3 05-04
42. Phil Jarmon Apex, NC 3 05-03 159
Day 1: 3 05-03
42. Chad Stahl Barnesville, GA 3 05-03 159
Day 1: 3 05-03
44. Alton Rockett Newton, NC 3 05-02 157
Day 1: 3 05-02
44. James Tilley Aylett, VA 3 05-02 157
Day 1: 3 05-02
46. Gary Haraguchi Murfreesboro, TN 3 05-01 155
Day 1: 3 05-01
46. Steve Powers Crestview, FL 3 05-01 155
Day 1: 3 05-01
46. John Sanderlin Chesapeake, VA 3 05-01 155
Day 1: 3 05-01
49. Jc Condrey Saxe, VA 3 05-00 152
Day 1: 3 05-00
49. Joe Sodora Garfield, NJ 3 05-00 152
Day 1: 3 05-00
51. Jimmy Brumfield Madison, MS 3 04-15 150
Day 1: 3 04-15
52. Avery Williams Murrells Inlt, SC 2 04-14 149
Day 1: 2 04-14
53. Todd Long Midlothian, VA 2 04-13 148
Day 1: 2 04-13
53. Mike Toney Blacksburg, VA 2 04-13 148
Day 1: 2 04-13
55. Lynn Hoeffer Chesapeake, VA 2 04-12 146
Day 1: 2 04-12
55. Zach Pringle Newton, NC 2 04-12 146
Day 1: 2 04-12
57. Ronald Young New Braunfels, TX 3 04-11 144
Day 1: 3 04-11
58. Bobby Barton Hardy, VA 3 04-09 143
Day 1: 3 04-09
58. Ricky Meyers Fredericksburg, VA 3 04-09 143
Day 1: 3 04-09
58. Ryan Patterson Scott Township, PA 3 04-09 143
Day 1: 3 04-09
61. James Whitehead Hayes, VA 2 04-09 140
Day 1: 2 04-09
62. Chad Boyer Elizabethtown, PA 2 04-06 139
Day 1: 2 04-06
62. Russell Davidson, Jr Lynchburg, VA 2 04-06 139
Day 1: 2 04-06
64. Nick Melcher Gypsum, CO 3 04-05 137
Day 1: 3 04-05
65. Paul Worthington Benson, NC 3 04-04 136
Day 1: 3 04-04
66. Lou Britos Disputanta, VA 2 04-04 135
Day 1: 2 04-04
67. Jimmy Batts Raleigh, NC 2 04-02 134
Day 1: 2 04-02
68. Tyrone Adams Fredericksburg, VA 2 04-01 133
Day 1: 2 04-01
69. Kevin Mallow Kansas, OK 2 04-00 132
Day 1: 2 04-00
69. Joshua Torres Port Tobacco, MD 2 04-00 132
Day 1: 2 04-00
71. Rick Sweadner Woodsboro, MD 2 03-15 130
Day 1: 2 03-15
72. Kalin Blount Timberlake, NC 2 03-14 129
Day 1: 2 03-14
72. Sergio Render Crockett, VA 2 03-14 129
Day 1: 2 03-14
74. William House Lynchburg, OH 2 03-13 127
Day 1: 2 03-13
74. Sakae Ushio Tonawanda, NY 2 03-13 127
Day 1: 2 03-13
76. Brian Langford Chesterfield, VA 2 03-11 125
Day 1: 2 03-11
76. Matt Leicester Hertford, NC 2 03-11 125
Day 1: 2 03-11
78. Richard Slomba Dundalk, MD 2 03-09 123
Day 1: 2 03-09
79. Mike Trivette Blackstone, VA 2 03-08 122
Day 1: 2 03-08
80. Craig Ferguson Emporia, VA 2 03-07 121
Day 1: 2 03-07
81. Marty Tanner Tolar, TX 2 03-06 120
Day 1: 2 03-06
82. Ben Dacey Powhatan, VA 2 03-05 119
Day 1: 2 03-05
82. Dean Gibbs North Chesterfield, VA 2 03-05 119
Day 1: 2 03-05
84. Benjamin Fisher Elizabeth City, NC 2 03-03 117
Day 1: 2 03-03
85. Chris Donavant Yorktown, VA 2 03-01 116
Day 1: 2 03-01
86. Mikki Sprenkle Linden, NC 2 03-00 115
Day 1: 2 03-00
87. Ernest McIntyre Jr Fayetteville, NC 2 02-15 114
Day 1: 2 02-15
88. Curtis Vick Boydton, VA 1 02-15 113
Day 1: 1 02-15
89. Wayne Morris Somerdale, NJ 2 02-14 112
Day 1: 2 02-14
90. Brandt Thompson North Chesterfield, VA 2 02-13 111
Day 1: 2 02-13
91. Michael Andrews Sandston, VA 2 02-12 110
Day 1: 2 02-12
92. Ty Kenyon Dodgeville, WI 2 02-11 109
Day 1: 2 02-11
93. Michael Morris Hubert, NC 1 02-09 108
Day 1: 1 02-09
94. David Chamberlain Hampton, VA 1 02-07 107
Day 1: 1 02-07
95. Harvey Reece Chesterfield, VA 2 02-05 106
Day 1: 2 02-05
96. Bill Butler Chester, VA 1 02-05 105
Day 1: 1 02-05
97. David Camp Sterling, OH 1 02-04 104
Day 1: 1 02-04
97. Rick Cheatham Carterville, IL 1 02-04 104
Day 1: 1 02-04
97. Kristofer Goin Farmville, VA 1 02-04 104
Day 1: 1 02-04
97. Joe Tucker Osceola, MO 1 02-04 104
Day 1: 1 02-04
101. Johnnie Garrett Union City, TN 1 02-02 100
Day 1: 1 02-02
102. Randy Goss Stem, NC 1 02-01 99
Day 1: 1 02-01
103. Laz Durham Dumfries, VA 1 01-15 98
Day 1: 1 01-15
103. Zach Huey Pittsboro, NC 1 01-15 98
Day 1: 1 01-15
103. Shane Jones Virginia Beach, VA 1 01-15 98
Day 1: 1 01-15
103. Kenneth Ott Manahawkin, NJ 1 01-15 98
Day 1: 1 01-15
107. Satoshi Egawa Fort Lee, NJ 1 01-14 94
Day 1: 1 01-14
107. Joey Price Powhatan, VA 1 01-14 94
Day 1: 1 01-14
107. James Stowers Narrows, VA 1 01-14 94
Day 1: 1 01-14
107. Bill Turonis Jr Kill Devil Hills, NC 1 01-14 94
Day 1: 1 01-14
111. Jarred Hall Richmond, VA 1 01-13 90
Day 1: 1 01-13
111. Tom McDermott Madison, NC 1 01-13 90
Day 1: 1 01-13
111. Devon Norwood Kitson Montclair , NJ 1 01-13 90
Day 1: 1 01-13
114. Dallas Blount Timberlake, NC 1 01-12 87
Day 1: 1 01-12
114. Tyler Caldwell Portsmouth, VA 1 01-12 87
Day 1: 1 01-12
114. AJ Jones Lutz, FL 1 01-12 87
Day 1: 1 01-12
114. Calvin Landsberg Raleigh, NC 1 01-12 87
Day 1: 1 01-12
114. Michael Rustin Henrico, VA 1 01-12 87
Day 1: 1 01-12
119. Charles Bowman II Kernersville, NC 1 01-11 82
Day 1: 1 01-11
119. Seth Gabri Madrid, NY 1 01-11 82
Day 1: 1 01-11
119. Anthony Glassco Powhatan, VA 1 01-11 82
Day 1: 1 01-11
119. David Wilson Brodnax, VA 1 01-11 82
Day 1: 1 01-11
123. Carl Enos Bracey, VA 1 01-10 78
Day 1: 1 01-10
123. Dan Glosson Rougemont, NC 1 01-10 78
Day 1: 1 01-10
123. Clancy Hefferly Taylors, SC 1 01-10 78
Day 1: 1 01-10
123. Mark Ludwig Chesterfield, VA 1 01-10 78
Day 1: 1 01-10
123. Jason Tinsley Pamplin, VA 1 01-10 78
Day 1: 1 01-10
123. Wesley Watson Huntington, WV 1 01-10 78
Day 1: 1 01-10
123. Michael Williams Mechanicsvlle, VA 1 01-10 78
Day 1: 1 01-10
130. Percy Settle Pittsboro, NC 1 01-09 71
Day 1: 1 01-09
130. Jacob Stephens Lynchburg, VA 1 01-09 71
Day 1: 1 01-09
130. David Wright Ft. Meade, MD 1 01-09 71
Day 1: 1 01-09
133. Josh Hollins Chapel Hill, NC 1 01-08 68
Day 1: 1 01-08
134. Kevin Hensley Clarksville, VA 1 01-07 67
Day 1: 1 01-07
134. James Roten West Jefferson, NC 1 01-07 67
Day 1: 1 01-07
136. Eugene Hall Glen Allen, VA 1 01-06 65
Day 1: 1 01-06
136. William Stallings Midlothian, VA 1 01-06 65
Day 1: 1 01-06
138. David Booth Erin, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Alex Brogan Fishers, IN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Kenneth L Brown Leesburg, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Robert Bruguiere Roseland, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Travis Chilcot Denver, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Michael Crocker Pasadena, MD 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Thomas Crosswhite Hartwell, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Darrell Curl Winston Salem, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Lucas Dewson Keewatin CANADA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Justin Dodson Chesterfield, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Kevin Gonyea Franklinton, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Gary Hall Wardville, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Bob Harper Lombard, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Blake Herrmann Bremo Bluff, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Brian Howard Franklinton, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Gary Huff Semora, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. John Lewis Centreville, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Tony Long Moseley, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Ryan Nash Blackstone, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Will Nutting Granger, IN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Jamie Olive Sanford, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Paul Rush New Martinsville, WV 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Randy Tallhamer Brandenton, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
138. Donald West II Apex, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
162. Brandon Smith Knightdale, NC 0 -1-00 0
Day 1: 0 -01-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 49 278 554-12
----------------------------------
49 278 554-12
Phoenix Boats Renews and Expands Major League Fishing Sponsorship
Leading Boat Manufacturer to Remain Exclusive Bass Boat Sponsor of MLF5
BENTON, Ky. (May 3, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, and Phoenix Boats, a leading boat manufacturer known for innovation and performance, announced today a renewed and expanded multi-year partnership.
Per terms of the agreement, Phoenix Boats will remain the exclusive bass boat sponsor of MLF5, including the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series, Phoenix Bass Fishing League, Abu Garcia College Fishing and MLF High School Fishing circuits. Phoenix Boats will continue as the title sponsor of the Phoenix Bass Fishing League and the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship. Additionally, Phoenix Boats has become the presenting sponsor of the Toyota Series.
“We, at Phoenix Boats, are proud to continue our relationship with Major League Fishing with this multi-year agreement,” said Teresa Johnson, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Phoenix Boats. “With both of our organizations focused on customer relationships, industry innovation and a steadfast commitment to the sport of bass fishing, this partnership will allow our sport to continue expanding from the grassroots level and allow us to continue to invest in the sport of tournament bass fishing and its growth.”
Gary Clouse, Co-Founder and President/CEO of Phoenix Boats added, “When I fished my first BFL in 1981, I realized Major League Fishing’s investment in the sport of tournament bass fishing and its anglers. Since then, I have fished numerous MLF5 events and their dedication has only become more apparent as they continue to grow the organization and platform. We are excited to continue our long-term commitment with Major League Fishing by remaining the exclusive bass boat sponsor of the MLF5.”
The lucrative Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program will continue to offer additional tournament rewards of up to $35,000 for qualified Phoenix Boat owners that win an MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational or a Toyota Series event and up to $7,000 for qualified Phoenix Boat owners that win a Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event. The highest-finishing Phoenix Boat owner in Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League events will receive a bonus if a qualified Phoenix Boat owner does not win the event. Phoenix Boat owners must be registered and qualified in the Phoenix MLF Bonus program prior to the start of the event.
“We are proud to extend our partnership with Phoenix Boats and are excited to continue working with their outstanding team in the coming years,” said Kathy Fennel, MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager. “Together we have seen incredible growth in the sport of bass-fishing and a deepening passion for MLF competition and are looking forward to building on this mutually beneficial partnership to continue expanding the sport.”
Phoenix Boats began their partnership with MLF in 2020. The brand will continue to receive increased exposure through multiple MLF outlets, including television and livestream broadcasts, the MLF website and social media outlets and onsite activation opportunities and signage at all MLF5 events.
For more information about MLF, their tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about Phoenix Boats, their performance, quality and design, visit PhoenixBassBoats.com.
X2Power Batteries Introduces Seven Kayak Anglers to the 2023 Pro Team
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Why buzzbaits make Swindle smile
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Bass fishing’s funniest man, Gerald Swindle, doesn’t draw smiley faces on all his tackle boxes, but he inked one on his buzzbait box for several good reasons.
Along with skipping a jig around docks, no lure brings Swindle more joy than a buzzbait. He’s cashed a ton of tournament paychecks using the classic topwater, and perhaps as much as anything, they’re a sentimental connection to many weekday evening jackpot tournaments when thoughts of fishing for a living first became a heartfelt dream.
“Growin up, buzzbaits were a way for me and Johnny McCombs to win jackpots on Smith Lake in my early 20s when I was trying to figure out a way to stop framing houses in the Alabama heat for a living,” reflects the much-loved Team Toyota angler.
Three decades later, with $2 Million dollars in prize money and two Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles to his credit, it’s been a long time since Swindle swung a framing hammer. However, his in-depth love of tinkering with buzzbaits to catch bass is as strong as ever, and he graciously offers 30 years of wisdom about these bite-generating topwaters.
They’re not all created equal
Swindle’s shade tree mechanic mentality figured out years ago the key to reducing lost bites on a buzzbait was to set a sharper angle on the wire as it exits the lead head, in turn, forcing the hook to ride lower in the water column for better hook-ups.
As a result, the buzzbait he’s about to launch with Buckeye Lures features an exceptionally heavy wire, that’s bent at a better angle than most buzzbaits to reduce lost fish. Plus, the heavier wire creates more friction where it makes contact with the blade for a louder fish-attracting squeak.
Not too heavy, not too fast
“One of the biggest mistakes people make with buzzbaits is they try to fish them way too fast. The goal is to retrieve them just fast enough to keep them on the surface, and the two keys to achieving that are using a ¼ or 3/8-ounce bait, not a ½ ounce, and don’t use a fast retrieve reel. I don’t like anything faster than my 6.6:1 Inception reels from 13 Fishing,” emphasizes Swindle.
His rod is a 7’ 4” medium heavy action, also from 13 Fishing, and his go-to line for buzzbaits is 18-pound Sunline Shooter fluorocarbon. He avoids braided line on his buzzers at all costs, because braided line pulls the bait away from the bite way too fast in his opinion.
Postspawn is primetime for buzzbaits
Depending on what latitude you call home, obviously, the phases of the spawn occur at different dates on the calendar, but one thing’s for certain, soon after fish are done spawning is a fantastic time for buzzbaits.
“Whether you’re getting fry-guarding males to eat it, or a big old hungry female laying around a dock resting up after she spawns, there aren’t many lures that allow you to cover more water and generate more bites during the early postspawn than a buzzbait,” says Swindle.
And he should know, it’s been 26 years since he buzzed his way out of the house framing business.
Stay Humble
Major League Fishing Heavy Hitters winner Alton Jones Jr talks about how he conquered Caney Creek Reservoir and Bussey Brake and took home the championship belt.
MLF Toyota Series at Lake Eufaula Presented by Chewalla Creek Marina Set to Visit Eufaula
EUFAULA, Ala. (May 2, 2023) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is set to return to Eufaula, Alabama, next week, May 11-13, for the Toyota Series at Lake Eufaula Presented by Chewalla Creek Marina. Hosted by the Eufaula Barbour County Chamber of Commerce, the three-day tournament is the third and final regular-season event in the Toyota Series Southern Division.
“We had an early spring, so a lot of fish spawned early,” said Bass Pro Tour pro Randy Howell of Guntersville, Alabama. “But it’s been a cooler latter part of spring, so I think that’s kept some fish still in the shallows. But for the most part, there are a lot of fish already offshore and I think deep offshore cranking and big worms will probably dominate this tournament.”
Howell said that if he was competing in this event that he would have a 1-2 punch of baits ready to go.
“Usually at Eufaula, in April and May, there is typically a shad spawn going on early in the morning,” Howell said. “For the first two hours of the day, I’d be throwing a white Lunker Lures HD swimjig around the shallow grass. And a spinnerbait, and maybe even a buzzbait or topwater stuff. I’d be pushing that in the first hour.
“Then, after that sun comes up, I’d head out to the depths and be looking at brush piles and ledges and things like that,” Howell continued. “I’d throw a big Livingston Deep Impact crankbait. Another bait that’s always good on Eufauls – big worms. A big Yamamoto Kut Tail worm, a big Senko – they always seem to do really well there.”
Howell predicted that the winner is going to weigh in a big limit on the first day of competition and then back it up with a couple of solid days.
“A big bag this time of year is going to be 25 pounds,” Howell went on to say. “I think we’ll probably see a big bag on the first day. But putting that together for three full days is the hard part. I think 64 pounds for three days will win this tournament.”
After two regular-season events in the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Southern Division, Jessie Mizell of Myakka City, Florida, leads the Southern Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 510 points, while Alan Hults of Gautier, Mississippi, who has already won the Central Division Co-angler of the Year, also leads the Strike King Co-angler Southern Division AOY race with 509 points.
Anglers will launch each day at 6 a.m. CT from Lakepoint Resort State Park, located at 104 Lakepoint Drive in Eufaula. Weigh-ins will also be held at the State Park and will begin at 2 p.m.Fans are welcome to attend and encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of $40,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of $65,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard (valued at $33,500) plus $5,000 cash.
The 2023 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 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: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Black Rifle Coffee Company, E3, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Gill, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Next Gen Lithium, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Orecchio Wins Northeast Division Opener at Phoenix Bass Fishing League at Chesapeake Bay
Sweeney Takes Strike King Co-Angler Division
NORTHEAST, Md. (May 2, 2023) – Boater Jason Orecchio of Andover, New Jersey, weighed in five bass totaling 20 pounds, 4 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Chesapeake Bay. The tournament was the first event of the season for the BFL Northeast Division. Orecchio earned $4,119 for his victory.
“It feels nice to get the win,” Orrechio said. “I was fishing up the Susquhanna River, targeting smallmouth. I found them mainly in the rocks, in 5 to 10 feet of water.
“The key bait for me today was a green-pumpkin-colored Keitech (swimbait) on a drop-shot rig,” Orrechio went on to say.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Jason Orecchio, Andover, N.J., five bass, 20-4, $4,119
2nd: Michael Sentore, Gloucester City, N.J., five bass, 18-11, $2,059
3rd: Steven Dimatteo, Lancaster, Pa., four bass, 16-12, $1,374
4th: Alex Korol, Fairpoint, N.Y., five bass, 15-11, $961
5th: Christopher Sperling, Cato, N.Y., five bass, 14-12, $824
6th: Rick McFaul, Phoenix, Md., five bass, 14-5, $755
7th: Peter Yanni, Gaithersburg, Md., four bass, 13-9, $1,186 (includes $500 Phoenix Bonus)
8th: Conor Cahill, Swedesboro, N.J., four bass, 12-10, $618
9th: Michael Gardner, Townsend, Del., four bass, 12-6, $549
10th: Dave Williams, Jackson, N.J., five bass, 11-11, $480
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
John Welsh of Slatington, Pennsylvania, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 14 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $565.
Ryan Sweeney of Secane, Pennsylvania, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,059 Saturday, after bringing four bass to the scale that totaled 16 pounds, 1 ounce.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Ryan Sweeney, Secane, Pa., four bass, 16-1, $2,059
2nd: Kenny Ibberson, Lindwold, N.J., four bass, 14-14, $1,312
3rd: Andre Wynn, Windsor Mill, Md., five bass, 13-3, $687
4th: John Alexander, Mount Airy, Md., four bass, 12-15, $480
5th: John Chacosky, Media, Pa,, four bass, 12-4, $562
6th: Kevin Collins, Morristown, N.J., four bass, 11-5, $378
7th: Michael Bahnweg, Union Dale, Pa., three bass, 11-3, $326
7th: Harry Moore, Clarington, Ohio, four bass, 11-3, $326
9th: Matt Hummel, Dillsburg, Pa., three bass, 9-7, $275
10th: Anthony Ell, Stanhope, N.J., three bass, 9-1, $240
Ibberson earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $282, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 12 ounces.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 5-7 BFL Regional tournament on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 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.
Pike County High School Wins MLF High School Fishing Open Tournament on Lake Guntersville
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (May 2, 2023) – The Pike County High School team of Joe Haren of Molena, Georgia, and Cohen Smith of Williamson, Georgia, brought five bass to the scale Saturday weighing 20 pounds, 3 ounces, to win the MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open on Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Alabama.
A field of 70 teams competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which was hosted Marshall County Tourism & Sports. In MLF High School Fishing competition, the top 10% of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.
The top seven teams that advanced to the 2023 High School Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Pike County High School, Zebulon, Ga. – Joe Haren and Cohen Smith, five bass, 20-3
2nd: Albert P Brewer High School, Somerville, Ala. – Murphy Childer and Ryder Colee, five bass, 18-3
3rd: South Forsyth High School, Cumming, Ga. – Fisher Edwards and Christian Wehman, five bass, 17-6
4th: Trion High School, Trion, Ga. – Rayne Melton and Ethan Willingham, five bass, 16-12
5th: Alabama Bass Academy – Fisher Anaya and Lake Johnson, five bass, 15-12
6th: Kaneland High School, Maple Park, Ill. – J.D. McBroom and Carter Pjesky, five bass, 15-8
Rounding out the top 10 teams were:
7th: North Paulding High School, Dallas, Ga. – Caden O’Neal and Matthew Wright, five bass, 15-6
8th: Alabama Bass Academy – Caleb Edwards and Jackson Rollins, five bass, 15-3
9th: Salem Community High School, Salem, Ill. – Seth Bailey and Brogan Gregg, five bass, 14-15
10th: American Christian Academy – Cole McAusland and Lawson Sudduth, five bass, 14-12
Complete results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
MLF High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing tournaments are free, two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and are open to any MLF and TBF Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school club. The top 10% of teams at each Open event, along with the TBF High School Fishing state championships, will advance to the 2023 High School Fishing National Championship. The 2023 MLF High School Fishing National Championship will be held on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin, June 20-24, and is hosted by Explore La Crosse.
The High School Fishing National Champions will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice and advance to the 2023 MLF Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Black Rifle Coffee Company, E3, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Grundens, Lawless Lures, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular High School Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
University of Missouri Wins MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament on Lake Guntersville
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (May 2, 2023) – The University of Missouri duo of Cale McCandless of Wentzville, Missouri, and Mitchell Post of Columbia, Missouri, won the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Lake Guntersville Presented by Crock-O-Gator on Friday with a five-bass limit weighing 21 pounds, 15 ounces. The victory earned the Tiger’s bass club $2,000 and a qualification into the 2024 MLF College Fishing National Championship.
“What an experience this has been,” a happy McCandless said on-stage after being crowned champions. “We were on the waiting list, and we got a call on Tuesday asking if we wanted to get in. We sent it, drove down here to Alabama, and had no idea that this was going to turn out this way.”
“I don’t fish grass – we don’t even know what grass it,” McCandless continued. “We just fished our strengths and sat on the same spots out deep for 5 to 6 hours.”
The duo said they caught all of their fish on a 6th Sense C20 crankbait and a Cellar Baits swimbait on the deep grassline edges.
“We didn’t have a lot of bites, but they were all big bites,” Post said. “It was an amazing day.”
The 10 teams at the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Lake Guntersville Presented by Crock-O-Gator finished:
1st: University of Missouri – Cale McCandless, Wentzville, Mo., and Mitchell Post, Columbia, Mo., five bass, 21-15, $2,000
2nd: Bethel University – Hunter Fillmore, Waynesville, Ohio, and Dylan Fogarty, Mechanicsburg, Pa., five bass, 21-5, $1,000
3rd: Auburn University – Hayden Marbut, Birmingham, Ala., and Tucker Smith, Birmingham, Ala., five bass, 20-15, $700
4th: Carson-Newman University – Caz Anderson, Haysville, N.C., and Will Harris, Athens, Tenn., five bass, 20-15, $600
5th: University of North Alabama – Nathan Reynolds, Nashville, Tenn., and Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 20-2, $500
6th: Louisiana State University-Shreveport – Brayden Nichols, Blanchard, La., and William Tew, Bossier City, La., five bass, 20-0
7th: Auburn University – Jordan Brewer, Roswell, Ga., and Sam Harvey, Auburn, Ala., five bass, 19-13
8th: University of Tennessee – Jackson Paden, Knoxville, Tenn., and Chad Sentell, Cottontown, Tenn., five bass, 19-7
9th: University of Montevallo – Aaron Cherry, Dothan, Ala., and Hudson Choquette, Headland, Ala., five bass, 19-6
10th: King University – Tyler Altizer, Abingdon, Va., and Dylan Thomson, Shady Valley, Tenn., five bass, 19-4
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Lake Guntersville Presented by Crock-O-Gator was hosted by Marshall County Tourism & Sports. The next event for College Fishing anglers will be the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI on Lake Champlain, June 25 in Plattsburgh, New York.
The 2023 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI features college teams from across the country competing in nine regular-season tournaments. The top 12 percent of teams from each regular-season tournament advance to the 2024 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Black Rifle Coffee Company, E3, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Grundens, Lawless Lures, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular College Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Burroughs Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League at Lake Hartwell
Jeter Earns Strike King Co-Angler Win
ANDERSON, S.C. (May 1, 2023) – Boater Jason Burroughs of Hodges, South Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 19 pounds, 6 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Hartwell . The tournament, hosted by the Anderson Convention & Visitors Bureau, was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Savannah River Division. Burroughs earned $12,346 for his victory, including the $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for winning the tournament while competing in a Phoenix boat.
“This feels great,” said Burroughs, who earned his sixth career victory in MLF competition. “I have won a few of these BFL events before, but you never know when the next one is going to come. You can very easily have a 3-, 4-, 5-year window where you don’t win one, so I’m always very thankful to win one.
“I’m very pleased with how my day went,” Burroughs continued. “I fished from Andersonville to the dam, targeting the herring bite and fishing all main-lake points. I made probably 60 stops, just point to point to point to point.”
Burroughs credited three baits as being the key for him on Saturday.
“I caught some fish on a swimbait and some other key fish on a Buckeye Lures shaky-head and a Mule Skinner Baits trick worm.
“I was fortunate enough to the right bites,” Burroughs went on to say. “Everybody caught fish – there were a bunch of fish caught. But I had two 4½-pounders that went a long way.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Jason Burroughs, Hodges, S.C., five bass, 19-6, $12,346 (includes $7000 Phoenix Bonus)
2nd: Lane Clark, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 18-13, $1,963
3rd: Jayme Rampey, Liberty, S.C., five bass, 18-9, $,1309
4th: Chase Stewart, Ware Shoals, S.C., five bass, 17-10, $916
5th: Buddy Benson, Dahlonega, Ga., five bass, 17-4, $785
6th: Paul Marks, Cumming, Ga., five bass, 16-11, $720
7th: Adam Rice, Belton, S.C., five bass, 16-9, $621
7th: Tallis Morrison, Royston, Ga., five bass, 16-9, $621
9th: Anthony Moore, Colbert, Ga., five bass, 16-7, $523
10th: Justin Raines, Easley, S.C., five bass, 16-2, $458
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Tim Eplee Sr. of Hendersonville, North Carolina, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 15 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $530.
Darren Jeter of Chandler, North Carolina, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,228 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 13 pounds, 15 ounces, just 1 ounce more than the second-place finisher.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Darren Jeter, Chandler, N.C., five bass, 13-5, $2,228
2nd: Shawn Malcom, Monroe, Ga., five bass, 13-14, $981
3rd: William Chris Bensel, Abbeville, S.C., five bass, 13-8, $1,005
4th: Jamison Bagwell, Chesnee, S.C., five bass, 13-1, $458
5th: Wesley Mullins, Guyton, Ga., five bass, 12-13, $393
6th: Harold Addison II, Columbia, S.C., five bass, 11-1, $560
7th: Kevin Henderson, Honea Path, S.C., five bass, 10-14, $310
7th: Justin Lemaster, Royston, Ga., five bass, 10-14, $310
9th: Ronnie Cutshall, Piedmont, S.C., five bass, 10-5, $262
10th: Johnny Hancox, West Union, S.C., five bass, 10-3, $229
Jeter also earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $265, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 8 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Paul Marks of Cumming, Georgia, leads the BFL Savannah River Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 987 points, while Michael Miller of Greenville, South Carolina, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 952 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.
Sullivan Earns Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Lake Eufaula
Dominguez Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division Title
EUFAULA, Okla. (May 2, 2023) – Boater Bradley Sullivan of Shawnee, Oklahoma, caught a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 6 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Eufaula. The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Okie Division. Sullivan earned $5,014 for his victory.
“I started out the day and I ran up north to Porum,” Sullivan said. “It was a long run, and it was pretty rough out there.
It was a super slow day for me,” Sullivan continued. “I caught a couple early on a jerkbait, and then I just had to slow down and drag. I had to slow way, way down. I was watching them on my (Garmin) LiveScope and those fish were not reacting to anything. I had to fish incredibly slow.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Bradley Sullivan, Shawnee, Okla., five bass, 17-6, $5,014
2nd: Chris Jones, Bokoshe, Okla., five bass, 15-9, $2,507
3rd: Chris Torkleson, Sand Springs, Okla., five bass, 15-8, $1,670
4th: Fred Fiedler, Fort Gibson, Okla., five bass, 15-7, $1170
5th: Lance Williams, Billings, Mo., five bass, 15-5, $961
5th: Dale Andrews, Jay, Okla., five bass, 15-5, $961
7th: Brad Ragsdale, Fairland, Okla., five bass, 15-2, $836
8th: Phillip Lunceford, Stigler, Okla., five bass, 15-1, $752
9th: Dalton Ross, Centerton, Ark., five bass, 14-15, $1,433
9th: Justin Lillie, Edmond, Okla., five bass, 14-13, $1,085 (includes $500 Phoenix Bonus)
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Ross caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 12 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $765.
Blake Dominguez of Edmond, Oklahoma, won the Strike King co-angler division a total of $2,458 Saturday, after bringing four bass to the scale that weighed 12 pounds, 10 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Blake Dominguez, Edmond, Okla., four bass, 12-10, $2,458
2nd: Tom Fink, Tulsa, Okla., three bass, 11-1, $1,229
3rd: Jon Ray, Owasso, Okla., four bass, 10-8, $817
4th: Arturo Baquera, Noble, Okla., five bass, 10-4, $723
5th: Chase Fitzpatrick, Eldon, Mo., three bass, 9-12, $492
6th: Jim Kopff, Old Monroe, Mo., four bass, 9-5, $451
7th: Jason Brown, Miami, Okla., four bass, 9-0, $410
8th: Dylan Johnson, Miami, Okla., five bass, 8-11, $369
9th: Rick Blosser, Tulsa, Okla., three bass, 8-2, $328
10th: Joe Tucker, Osceloa, Mo., four bass, 8-1, $687
Steve Logan of Hugo, Oklahoma, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $375, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 12 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After three events, Chris Jones of Bokoshe, Oklahoma, leads the BFL Okie Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 726 points, while Wes Ledbetter of Coweta, Oklahoma, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 705 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 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.
Barber Bests Field at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Ross Barnett Reservoir
Rasberry Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division Title
EUFAULA, Okla. (May 2, 2023) – Boater Joel Barber of Brandon, Mississippi, caught a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 13 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Ross Barnett Reservoir. The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Mississippi Division. Barber earned $3,426 for his victory.
“I caught one probably 5 (pounds) and one 4 – both spawned out and skinny as a rail,” Barber said. “I caught them on a frog, fishing extremely slow. I didn’t catch a lot of fish, I only culled twice. But overall, it was a very good day and I really enjoyed it.”
Barber said that his two big fish came on the frog, but he also added a couple of keepers on a ChatterBait. He fished offshore, in just 3 to 4 feet of water targeting points in an area that had a couple of creeks flowing into it.
“I was throwing a (Heddon Zara) Spook and a big buzzbait, trying to get the big bite,” Barber said. “My co-angler probably caught 10 or 12 and he had a good shot at winning, but he couldn’t keep them on. They were jumping on him and he just missed them. I’m grateful that I was able to get the right ones in the boat.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Joel Barber, Brandon, Miss., five bass, 16-13, $3,426
2nd: Taurian Parks, Clinton, Miss., five bass, 16-3, $1,713
3rd: Alfred Williams, Jackson, Miss., five bass, 16-1, $1,141
4th: Jared Smith, Petal, Miss., five bass, 14-14, $799
5th: Doug Taylor, Booneville, Miss., five bass, 13-13, $685
6th: Christian Rushing, Wiggins, Miss., five bass, 13-9, $628
7th: Mike Jones, Brandon, Miss., five bass, 13-4, $542
7th: Todd Reed, Brandon, Miss., five bass, 13-4, $542
9th: Clint Pegg, Caledonia, Miss., five bass, 13-3, $1,927 (includes $500 Phoenix Bonus)
10th: Mark Gwin, Tupelo, Miss., five bass, 12-15, $400
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Anthony Reid of Kenner, Louisiana, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 3 ounces, to earn the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $430.
Anthony Rasberry of New Albany, Mississippi, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,909 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that weighed 13 pounds, 6 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Anthony Rasberry, New Albany, Miss., five bass, 13-6, $1,909
2nd: Louis Stevens, Grenada, Miss., five bass, 13-1, $855
3rd: Troy Ladner, Bay Saint Louis, Miss., five bass, 11-14, $770
4th: Mitchell Bond, Collins, Miss., five bass, 11-11, $399
5th: Corey Carson, Blue Mountain, Miss., five bass, 11-3, $342
6th: Hunter Averett, Carriere, Miss., three bass, 11-1, $523
7th: Ryan Lecompte, Picayune, Miss., three bass, 9-12, $285
8th: Shawn Gaar, Brandon, Miss., five bass, 9-11, $256
9th: Shane Long, Pontotoc, Miss., three bass, 8-10, $228
10th: Buddy French, Monticello, Miss., four bass, 8-8, $199
Averett earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $210, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 9 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After three events, Taurian Parks of Clinton, Mississippi, leads the BFL Mississippi Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 729 points, while Hunter Averett of Carriere, Mississippi, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 724 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 5-7 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Oklahoma. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 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.
Brown Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Center Hill Lake
Catalin Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division Title
SPARTA, Tenn. (May 2, 2023) – Boater Rodney Brown of Gainesboro, Tennessee, caught a five-bass limit weighing 15 pounds, 14 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Center Hill Lake. The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Music City Division. Brown earned $3,794 for his victory.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Rodney Brown, Gainesboro, Tenn., five bass, 15-14, $3,794
2nd: Josh Tramel, Smithville, Tenn., five bass, 15-6, $1,897
3rd: Josh Womack, Gallatin, Tenn., five bass, 15-4, $1,265
4th: Jay Melton, Murfreesboro, Tenn., five bass, 15-1, $885
5th: Joey Mallicoat, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 14-8, $1,697 (includes $500 Phoenix Bonus)
5th: Cody Mackie, McMinnville, Tenn., five bass, 14-8, $927
7th: Jeremy Walker, Mount Juliet, Tenn., five bass, 14-7, $632
8th: Zach Youngblood, Smithville, Tenn., five bass, 14-0, $569
9th: Matt Underhill, Lascassas, Tenn., five bass, 13-10, $474
9th: Christian Nash, Allons, Tenn., five bass, 13-10, $474
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Braxton Campbell of McMinnville, Tennessee, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 5 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $495.
Pop Catalin of Cookeville, Tennessee, won the Strike King co-angler division a total of $1,605 Saturday, after bringing five bass each to the scale that weighed 16 pounds, 3 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., five bass, 16-3, $1,859
2nd: Robert Russell, Murfreesboro, Tenn., five bass, 13-3, $1,129
3rd: Richard Payne, Elkton, Ky., five bass, 12-12, $619
4th: Andrew Rogers, Bristol, Tenn., four bass, 11-6, $434
5th: John Carman, Berea, Ky., five bass, 10-13, $372
6th: Austin Mitchell, Antioch, Tenn., four bass, 9-15, $341
7th: Rocky Williams, Portland, Tenn., five bass, 9-10, $310
8th: Adam Radovic, Brecksville, Ohio, four bass, 8-5, $279
9th: Kenny Botts, Alvaton, Ky., three bass, 8-3, $490
10th: Kenny Manning, Westmoreland, Tenn., three bass, 8-2, $217
Botts earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $242, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 1 ounce – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After three events, Gavin Cloutier of Jonesboro, Tennessee, leads the BFL Music City Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 715 points, while Rocky Williams of Portland, Tennessee, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 730 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.
Rutland and Carden Secure Win Number Five at Lake Eufaula
By Jason Duran
Lake Eufaula was stop number three of five for the Alabama Bass Trail South Division. Lake Eufaula is known as the Big Bass Capital of the world. In the weeks leading up to this event teams were reporting tough fishing conditions. The fish for the most part were in a post spawn pattern. Lake levels were fluctuating and falling leading up to tournament morning. The team of Chris Rutland and Coby Carden came out on top with 20.63 pounds on a very stingy Lake Eufaula.
When it comes to raising up the ABT First place trophies and big checks, Rutland and Carden are no strangers. This win makes ABT number five for the pair. With this win it makes them the ABT winningest team in history. They were previously tied with another team with four wins. They have four wins on Lay Lake and one win on Lake Eufaula. The team shared “we have been close a couple times at winning on other lakes thanLay Lake but today was a good win.”
Chris shared, “We thought it would take 18-19 pounds to week Colby practiced for three days and found a good shad spawn. We had a late number boat draw and we were worried that the shad spawn would be over by the time we got there. Typically, it only lasts a little while.” The team continued, “This morning we started in the shad spawn area, and we caught two good onesthere.” Chris spent two and a half days just idling brush pilesmarking them and looking. We found lots of brush piles we had about a dozen that were new, big and green. The piles were in about 10-foot of water After we left the shad spawn area, we rotated those for about four hours caught about six fish doing that and weighed in four of those. We used a SPRO Frog, it is probably the best shad spawn bait on a grass lake like this.Fishing in the brush piles we used a William Davis Spinner bait and a William Davis Jig teamed up with 65-pound braid and 20-pound fluorocarbon line.” The team weighed in 20.63-Pounds for first place and collected a $10,000 pay day. This win also secures their spot in ABT Championship and moves them up to 5th place in the AOY Standings.
The second-place team of Blake Davenport and Zach Lightseycaught 19.39 Pounds. Blake shared “I started practicing on Wednesday found a shad spawn that we were kind of hoping would work for us, as the week went on it started to dissipate. So, I went to try and find some fish in the brush piles and spent two days and it didn’t work out either. On friday we went up into the back of a creek and found an area that had some good grass that seemed to be holding fish. We started fishing and we shook some off we knew we had a decent chance to catch 16-18 pounds. However, today that area really exceeded our expectations.” The team continues “today we spent the whole day in that area using a SPRO black popping frog and Crusher Lures black and blue swimming a jig.” They described this areaas “a channel swing on the main creek in about 3 feet of water with grass. The stretch took aid a bout an hour to fish though. With the water dropping it really helped us by pulling the fish out of the grass a little. This concentrated them more in the areawe were fishing. We just fished the same area over and over and the fish kept reloading every time we went through. We caught over 20 fish running that pattern today.” Their second-placefinish earned them a $5000 payday in this event.
Joey Davidson and Tullis Lanier finished in third-place with 19.25 pounds. They began Monday practicing separately for this event. They both had the opposite experience in practice. “We spent a lot of time flipping the shallow grass up the lake. The lake is way down and with the water continuing to fall it scared us. We didn’t know if the fish we found would still be there, but we got lucky, and they were. The used a unnamed creature bait in black and blue and caught around 20 fish all day. “We caught two big fish today doing the shad spawn shad spawn. We have not caught any fish all week on the shad spawn but today was when it counted.” A third-place finish earned them a $4,000 paycheck and some valuable AOY points moving them into 20thplace.
The top five standings are below for a complete list of standings please visit:
https://www.alabamabasstrail.org/lake-eufaula/results/
Download and listen to the ABT Podcast on your favorite Podcast app by searching for “Alabama Bass Trail Podcast.” The Podcast is released each week on Tuesday.
For Live coverage from this event and others visit https://www.youtube.com/@alabamabasstrailtv
TXTT Coming to Richland Chambers THIS WEEKEND!
Fuel The Fun This Summer
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Three Teams Advance from General Tire Team Series Builders First Source Qualifier
Team Fox Rent A Car (DeFoe-Poche-Jordon), Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff (Thrift-Scroggins-Gagliardi) and Team Builders First Source (Sprague-Tharp-Crochet) Advance to Team Series Championship
COLLEGE STATION, Texas (May 1, 2023) – The final episode of the Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Team Series Builders First Source Qualifier Presented by Berkley premiered Saturday, and three teams have now advanced to the Bass Pro Shops Championship Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches to compete for the $300,000 top prize. The first episode of the General Tire Team Series Bass Pro Shops Championship Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches will premiere this Saturday, May 6 on the Outdoor Channel at 2p-4p ET.
Team Fox Rent A Car (Ott DeFoe, Keith Poche and Kelly Jordon) advanced in Match 1 with 110 bass weighing 204 pounds, 1 ounce, as team captain Ott DeFoe led the way with 95-13 along with Keith Poche’s 64-11 and Kelly Jordon’s 43-9.
In Match 2, Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff & Pouches (Bryan Thrift, Terry Scroggins and Anthony Gagliardi) dominated to earn the victory by a margin of 42 pounds. Thrift was the top performer for Team Smokey Mountain, as the reigning REDCREST Champion caught 23 bass over the two days weighing 44 pounds, 4 ounces to pace his team.
In the third and final match, which premiered on Outdoor Channel this past weekend, Team Builders First Source (Jeff Sprague, Randall Tharp and Cliff Crochet) won a nailbiter over Team Ferguson. The Team Builders First Source squad weighed in 66 bass totaling 137 pounds, 12 ounces, edging Team Ferguson by just 1 pound, 13 ounces – the narrowest margin of victory this season on the General Tire Team Series.
The final results from Match 1 at the Builders First Source Qualifier Presented by Berkley in College Station, Texas, were:
1st: Team Fox Rent A Car, 110 bass, 204-1
Ott DeFoe, 46 bass, 95-13
Keith Poche, 39 bass, 64-11
Kelly Jordon, 25 bass, 43-9
2nd: Team Knighten Industries, 90 bass, 169-11
Casey Ashley, 26 bass, 57-14
Dean Rojas, 31 bass, 56-14
Takahiro Omori, 33 bass, 54-15
3rd: Team Kubota, 61 bass, 123-13
Cody Meyer, 21 bass, 42-7
Andy Montgomery, 21 bass, 41-15
James Watson, 19 bass, 39-7
The final results from Match 2 at the Builders First Source Qualifier Presented by Berkley in College Station, Texas, were:
1st: Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff & Pouches, 58 bass, 108-6
Bryan Thrift, 23 bass, 44-4
Terry Scroggins, 20 bass, 37-0
Anthony Gagliardi, 15 bass, 27-2
2nd: Team Crockett Creek, 34 bass, 65-13
Dustin Connell, 16 bass, 33-3
Cole Floyd, 10 bass, 19-5
Fred Roumbanis, eight bass, 13-5
3rd: Team B&W Trailer Hitches, 22 bass, 40-8
Russ Lane, eight bass, 13-15
Michael Neal, nine bass, 13-7
Paul Elias, five bass, 13-2
The final results from Match 3 at the Builders First Source Qualifier Presented by Berkley in College Station, Texas, were:
1st: Team Builders First Source, 66 bass, 137-12
Jeff Sprague, 35 bass, 67-1
Randall Tharp, 23 bass, 46-2
Cliff Crochet, eight bass, 24-9
2nd: Team Ferguson, 74 bass, 135-15
Mark Rose, 34 bass, 62-15
Jordan Lee, 23 bass, 44-14
Luke Clausen, 17 bass, 28-2
3rd: Team Star brite, 58 bass, 89-0
Bobby Lane, 22 bass, 34-7
Chris Lane, 22 bass, 32-9
Jimmy Washam, 14 bass, 22-0
Complete results along with photos from the events can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, for the entire week, there were 573 bass weighing 1,074 pounds, 15 ounces caught by the nine teams during three matches in the Builders First Source Qualifier Presented by Berkley in College Station, Texas.
The 2023 MLF General Tire Team Series Builders First Source Qualifier Presented by Berkley aired on the Outdoor Channel as six, two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon, debuting on March 25, 2023, and running through April 29, 2023.
The next General Tire Team Series event will premiere on the Outdoor Channel on Saturday, May 6– the General Tire Team Series Bass Pro Shops Championship Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches. For a complete schedule of General Tire Team Series events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The Builders First Source Qualifier Presented by Berkley was shot over six days in November and featured nine teams of three anglers visiting College Station to compete on private lakes in the area on each day of competition. The fisheries were unknown to the anglers – they did not learn where they were competing until they arrived at the launch ramp each morning of competition.
All six episodes of the General Tire Team Series Builders First Source Qualifier Presented by Berkley from College Station, Texas, are now available for viewing on the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) streaming app. The full television schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Proud sponsors of the MLF General Tire Team Series include: B&W Hitches, Barbasol, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Builders FirstSource, C-MAP, Crockett Creek Beef Jerky, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, General Tire, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Optima Batteries, Phoenix Boats, Power-Pole, Rapala Baits, Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff, Star brite, T-H Marine, Toyota, USAA, and YETI.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the MLF General Tire Team Series events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Lambert & Hollingshead win over $20,000 on Ray Roberts. Toledo Bend this weekend
Place Boat Truck Angler 1 Angler 2 Fish Big Bass Wt. Prize Amt. 1 BRANDEN HOLLINGSHEAD
AZLE , TXJEREMY LAMBERT
DECATUR , TX5 7.95 23.98
$20,700.00 with Garmin and Sure-Life Bonus 2 CRAIG DOWIS
DALLAS , TXTOMMY YATES
SCURRY , TX5 0 20.69
$4000.00 3 NICK BROWN
LINDALE , TXBYRON CHAVES
MINEOLA , TX5 0 20.63
$3250.00 4 DREW SLOAN
SCURRY , TXNOLAN JACKSON
ROYSE CITY , TX5 0 19.28
$2200.00 5 RYAN AUTERY
TERRELL , TXJAMIE WILLABY
CADDO MILLS , TX5 0 19.27
$2000.00 6 DON MCFARLIN
GORDENVILLE , TXJAMES FENNELL
GORDONVILLE , TX4 0 18.84
$1500.00 7 JUSTIN KELLEY
JOSHUA , TXRAY BOSQUEZ JR
FORT WORTH , TX5 0 18.79
$4,900.00 w/ Skeeter Bonus Cash , Fun n Sun Bonus 8 JD LAUGHERY
ROCKWALL , TXCOLTON LAUGHERY
ROCKWALL , TX5 0 18.40
$2,300.00 w/ Skeeter Bonus Cash 9 ZACHARY WYMER
HURST , TXDAVID WYMER
HALTOM CITY , TX4 0 18.09
$1200.00 10 KEITH TRIMBLE
TRINIDAD , TXTOM KRESSLEY
SHERMAN , TX5 0 17.83
$1100.00 11 BRYON HARRISON
QUINLAN , TXDIRK SMITH
CADDO MILLS , TX5 0 17.66
$1090.00 12 RANDY TURNER
GREENVILLE , TXTREY TURNER
ROYSE CITY , TX4 0 17.49
$1075.00 12 CODY MCBEE
DENTON , TXSTEVEN SCHOFIELD
DENTON , TX5 0 17.49
$1075.00 14 SCOTT BARNETT
MANSFIELD , TXSHANNON MCCALEB
JOSHUA , TX5 0 17.20
$1060.00 15 KEITH CARNEY
ARLINGTON , TXKEVIN CARNEY
ARLINGTON , TX4 8.09 16.75
$6,150.00 with James Wood Motors Bonus 16 KENNETH MOORE
RED OAK , TXCOLTON MOORE
MIDLOTHIAN , TX5 0 16.37
$1040.00 17 TIM CLINE
SHERMAN , TXRED MCPEEK
YANTIS , TX5 0 16.15
$1030.00 18 MICHAEL GROSSMAN
DALLAS , TXJAY KENDRICK
FORT WORTH , TX4 8.16 15.72
$1020.00 19 TREVOR ROMANS
CELINA , TXMATT MCMILLAN
FORT WORTH , TX5 0 15.52
$1,510.00 w/ Skeeter Bonus Cash 20 BRIAN HALL
BRONTE , TXSTEVE ELDRED JR
YANTIS , TX4 0 15.36
$1000.00 21 MARK BIONDI JR
BURLESON , TXMARK BIONDI SR
BURLESON , TX5 0 14.89
$1000.00 22 KEITH CULLUM
CORINTH , TXLANCE CULLUM
CORINTH , TX4 0 14.77
$950.00 23 CHRIS TILTON
WYLIE , TX5 0 14.73
$900.00 24 DAVID BURNHAM SR
TROPHY CLUB , TXSTEVE SANNER
EULESS , TX3 0 14.64
$900.00 25 GENE DEVORE
SHERMAN , TXTIMOTHY SMEAL
FORT WORTH , TX5 0 14.55
$900.00 26 BEAU SULLIVAN
ALEDO , TXJOE SWANEY
GAINESVILLE , TX5 0 14.27
$450.00 26 TERRY PEACOCK
ROYSE CITY , TXSCOTT DEAN
TERRELL , TX5 0 14.27
$450.00 28 MIKE BURNS
LUCAS , TXROB BURNS
PLANO , TX5 0 14.19
$100 Fun n Sun First Out Bonus 29 CLINT CLOPTON
LEWISVILLE , TXRANDALE DAVIS
SANGER , TX3 5.92 13.90
30 COREY WALDROP
FT WORTH , TXCRAIG WALDROP
BENBROOK , TX3 0 13.77
31 RICHARD OSBORN
CARROLLTON , TXCHRIS MCLAIN
SANGER , TX5 0 13.15
32 MARK SPURGIN
MCKINNEY , TXTYLER HOLMES
RICHARDSON , TX3 0 13.11
33 DENNIS HASTINGS
FLOWER MOUND , TXRONNIE SIMS
LEWISVILLE , TX5 0 13.02
34 ARCHIE HAYLEY
MT VERNON , TXGAGE IVEY
WINNSBORO , TX5 0 12.51
35 DUSTY FRANK
WAXAHACHIE , TXCOLLYN EASTHAM
RED OAK , TX5 0 12.38
36 SCOT MCDONALD
CELINA , TXKEITH KRZEMINSKI
AUBREY , TX4 0 12.31
37 KEVIN KOLB
GAINESVILLE , TXDAVID CAHAL
LONGVIEW , TX4 0 11.86
38 RYAN MULKEY
LEWISVILLE , TXROBERT MULKEY
LEWISVILLE , TX4 0 11.61
39 MATT MORTON
DALLAS , TXMICHAEL BURNSIDE
ANNA , TX4 0 11.52
40 NATHAN SPRABARY
SANGER , TXBILLY YOUNG
SANGER , TX3 0 11.46
41 VIRGIL KUYKENDALL
KEMP , TXDON KUYKENDALL
GUN BARRREL CITY , TX5 0 11.42
42 DON STAPLETON
YANTIS , TXHADEN SICKLES
SULPHUR SPRINGS , TX2 0 11.41
43 TRENT MENEES
NORTHLAKE , TXTERRY BOLLOM
FRISCO , TX4 0 11.06
44 ANDY HOWARD
MEXIA , TXJEFF LOONEY
TEAGUE , TX5 0 11.00
45 COLE TEMPLE
GRAPEVINE , TXSHAWN TEMPLE
KRUGERVILLE , TX3 0 10.96
46 KEITH BRYAN
DECATUR , TXBRIAN CLARK
HALTOM CITY , TX5 0 10.60
47 CHRIS SEMCHENKO
GARLAND , TXCHRISTOPHER DAGLEY
DENTON , TX3 0 10.59
48 KYLE SKOGLUND
DECATUR , TXKENT SKOGLUND
TIOGA , TX3 0 10.57
49 JOSH KEITHLEY
FORT WORTH , TXJUSTIN KEITHLEY
ARLINGTON , TX3 0 10.21
50 ALLEN SHELTON
FARMERS BRANCH , TXJOHN MCCALMONT
ROCKWALL , TX3 0 10.15
Palmer slams the door on Bassmaster Elite Series win at Santee Cooper Lakes
Luke Palmer of Coalgate, Okla., has won the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes with a four-day total of 96 pounds, 14 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
April 30, 2023
CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — At the Championship Sunday takeoff, an ominous weather forecast told of a coming storm. By day’s end, it was clear Luke Palmer was the storm.
Turning in an absolutely crushing final-round performance, the fifth-year pro from Coalgate, Okla., posted a four-day total of 96 pounds, 14 ounces to win the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes.
Palmer started the event strong with a Day 1 limit of 21-3 that put him in 10th place and followed with a second-round bag of 23-9 that moved him up to third. After adding 26-3 on Semifinal Saturday, Palmer slammed the door on the victory with a massive limit of 25-15 on Championship Sunday.
He earned his first blue trophy and the $100,000 first-place prize, besting second-place angler Mark Menendez (82-11) by a whopping margin of 14-3.
“I’ve been waiting a long time to hear you say that,” Palmer told Bassmaster Emcee Dave Mercer after his ‘Elite Series Champion’ announcement. “I was so close to doing it last year, to finally get it done — I wanted to break 100 pounds, but I’ll take 96-14.”
Notably, Palmer’s winning margin was the sixth-largest in Bassmaster history. The victory, Palmer said, provided an important shot of confidence.
“This is special,” said Palmer, who finished fourth in the 2022 Elite on Santee Cooper. “You work your whole life and you start second guessing yourself and you wonder ‘Am I good enough to do it?’ I was good one time and one time is better than no time.”
Anchoring his final bag with a 7-5 Santee Cooper stud, Palmer was the only angler to catch a limit every day of the event. The final day would bring significant limitations, but Palmer outpaced the impediments.
After three relatively calm days, Championship Sunday dawned damp from overnight/early morning showers. The mid- to late morning period saw a mix of sun and threatening clouds, with a daunting weather system unleashing substantial rain and strong winds from about noon through the end of the fishing day.
Fortunately, Palmer got all of his work done early. According to BassTrakk’s unofficial standings, he had his weight at 10:05.
Spending all four days on Lake Marion’s southwest side, Palmer’s main technique was old school — big rod, heavy line and flipping to cypress trees. In the early going, he threw a bladed jig with a Gene Larew Long John Minnow through the eelgrass, but switching techniques late on the first day ignited his run to the top.
“It took me until 1:30 of Day 1 to realize what was happening,” Palmer said. “It had warmed up; we finally got some sun. It seems those fish were staging out in that eelgrass (during practice) to go up and spawn on those trees.
“When that sun came out and it warmed up, those fish went ahead and moved to the trees.”
Arming himself with a 7-foot-3 heavy action Falcon Amistad rod with a high-speed reel spooled with 20-pound Sunline Shooter fluorocarbon, Palmer flipped a YUM Wooly Bug and a YUM Bad Mamma, both Texas-rigged with a 3/16- or 5/16-ounce Rougarou Tungsten weight, depending on depth.
With thousands of cypress trees spread throughout Marion, Palmer focused on the ones closest to deep water. Knowing the tournament fell at the tail end of the Santee Cooper spawn, he fished the zone most likely to host the late spawners.
Palmer said his Power-Poles allowed him to hold in perfect position, while his Humminbird MEGA Live forward-facing sonar provided a clear picture of what each tree held. Finding the particular “sweet spot” on each tree he fished was the key to triggering bites from territorial bass.
Menendez, the tenured pro from Paducah, Ky., got off to a good start with a sixth-place limit of 21-14. A Day 2 stumble left him with only four fish for 9-7 and dropped him to 34th place.
Menendez rebounded on Semifinal Saturday by weighing 27-13 — the event’s second-heaviest bag. That pushed Menendez up from 34th place to fourth. He gained two more spots with a final-round limit of 23-9.
“I knew Day 2 would come back to haunt me,” Menendez said. “Anytime you don’t fill a limit, it generally does. I’m really kicking myself because I fished right over those fish on Day 2. I wanted to make sure I made the 50 cut so I could fish Day 3 and I fished too fast.
“I got back to my area on Day 3 and I slowed down. It was just a slow process. You’d male lots of casts and all of a sudden, you’d get a bite and you were off to the races. Sometimes you’d catch a whopper, sometimes it was a double whopper.”
Menendez caught some of his bass on a Strike King 4.0 squarebill, but he did most of his work with a Texas-rigged Strike King Rage Cut-R-Worm in the junebug color. Proximity was key, as Menendez said he had to hit the base of a tree to trigger a bite.
Drew Cook of Cairo, Ga., finished third with 74-9. The 2022 Santee Cooper Elite winner, he turned in daily limits that weighed 21-13, 17-12, 23-4 and 11-12.
Despite this year’s event falling considerably later in the season, Cook remained committed to the sight-fishing techniques that delivered his first Elite win. He caught his bass on a Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog and the Big Bite Baits Quarantine Craw that he designed — both Texas rigged.
“I can’t complain at all,” he said. “I’ve done exactly what I’ve wanted to do in the last two events (including a seventh place at last week’s Elite at Lake Murray).
“Today, with the weather like it was, I made the decision to stay in Taw Caw Creek (where daily takeoffs occurred). I had seven bites today and caught four.”
Brandon Cobb of Greenwood, S.C., took home an additional $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program while ninth-place finisher Jacob Powroznik of North Prince George, Va., earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.
As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Menendez earned an additional $2,500 as the highest-placing entrant and Cook claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.
Palmer earned the $1,000 daily bonus for catching the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day with his 7-5, while David Gaston of Sylacauga, Ala., earned Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the week — an honor that pays $2,000 — with the 8-5 he caught on Day 1.
Matt Robertson of Kuttawa, Ky., won the $2,000 VMC Monster Bag of the Week with his 28-1 limit from Thursday’s opening round.
Veteran pro Clifford Pirch of Payson, Ariz., won the $1,000 BassTrakk contingency award for the most accurate weight reporting.
After three events, Cobb leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 387 points. Cook is in second with 369 points, followed by Tyler Rivet of Raceland, La., with 349, Carl Jocumsen of Queensland, Australia, with 335 and Kyle Welcher of Opelika, Ala., with 333.
Bryant Smith of Roseville, Calif., leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 300 points.
2023 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes 4/27-4/30
Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 20 96-14 104 $101,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-03 Day 2: 5 23-09 Day 3: 5 26-03 Day 4: 5 25-15
2. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 19 82-11 103 $35,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-14 Day 2: 4 09-07 Day 3: 5 27-13 Day 4: 5 23-09
3. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 19 74-09 102 $30,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-13 Day 2: 5 17-12 Day 3: 5 23-04 Day 4: 4 11-12
4. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 18 74-07 101 $27,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-00 Day 2: 5 24-15 Day 3: 5 21-08 Day 4: 3 07-00
5. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 17 68-15 100 $20,000.00
Day 1: 4 21-14 Day 2: 5 14-05 Day 3: 5 21-11 Day 4: 3 11-01
6. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 16 67-02 99 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 25-10 Day 2: 5 15-15 Day 3: 4 15-08 Day 4: 2 10-01
7. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 15 60-13 98 $18,000.00
Day 1: 5 26-15 Day 2: 3 09-10 Day 3: 4 18-00 Day 4: 3 06-04
8. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 15 58-09 97 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 22-03 Day 3: 3 12-01 Day 4: 2 06-07
9. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 15 55-10 96 $16,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 20-12 Day 3: 5 16-14 Day 4: 0 00-00
10. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 12 54-04 95 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 28-01 Day 2: 5 21-13 Day 3: 2 04-06 Day 4: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 08-05 $1,000.00
2 Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 07-11 $1,000.00
3 Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 07-10 $1,000.00
4 Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 07-05 $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 08-05 $2,000.00
VMC MONSTER BAG
Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 28-01 $2,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 72 450 1465-12
2 54 413 1295-04
3 27 203 646-13
4 2 27 102-01
----------------------------------
155 1093 3509-14
Palmer powers into lead at Bassmaster Elite Series event on Santee Cooper Lakes
Luke Palmer of Coalgate, Okla., is leading after Day 3 of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes with a three-day total of 70 pounds, 15 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
April 29, 2023
CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Building on the momentum he established through a Friday adjustment, Luke Palmer stepped on the gas to sack up a Semifinal Saturday limit of 26 pounds, 3 ounces. He took over the lead at the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes with a three-day total of 70-15.
A fifth-year Elite from Coalgate, Okla., Palmer holds a lead of 3-8 over South Carolina’s Brandon Cobb (67-7) heading into Championship Sunday with a $100,000 first-place prize on the line.
“It has been a week; things have finally gone right,” said Palmer, who finished fourth at last year’s Elite at Santee Cooper. “I’ve never led one. It dang sure feels good, I’m not gonna lie about that.”
Palmer placed 10th during Thursday’s opening round with 21-3 and then moved into third with a Friday limit of 23-9.
Friday’s round saw Palmer abandon a bladed jig in favor of flipping a Texas-rigged YUM Wooly Bug with a 3/16- to 5/16-ounce weight. On Saturday, he did most of his work with that bait, along with a YUM Bad Mamma on the same rig.
“Even when you’re struggling, it’s one flip away here,” Palmer said. “I’ve gotten to put those Falcon Rods to work. I’ve gotten to do it my way and I’ve gotten to enjoy it.”
Fishing the southwest side of Lake Marion, Palmer was mainly looking for spawning bass around cypress trees skirted with eelgrass. Gaps between a tree and grass were the most consistent, but Day 2 showed him the need for specificity.
“You gotta find the sweet spot,” he said. “When you find that sweet spot, it’s over. My biggest one this morning, I spent 25 minutes on her. I finally figured out the spot and the angle and once I did, it took me five minutes to catch her.”
Palmer said Sunday’s game plan could find him running new water, with the idea that the fish he caught Saturday were spawners.
“The trees I’m fishing are kind of sporadic,” he said. “I caught one of my fish today off a tree I’ve never fished in my life, and I’ve fished here for four years. I think I need to move around more tomorrow and come across new pairs (of spawning fish). I didn’t move around enough today.”
After two days of mostly dimmer skies and breezy conditions, Day 3 brought a sunny, calm complexion that seemed to favor Palmer’s plan. Despite the ideal setup, Palmer said a slow period prompted him to throw a jerkbait and a drop shot with a YUM Finesse Worm.
“I caught three or four fish (on those baits), so that was crucial for me — one of them was a big one,” Palmer said. “I had a big one come up on the jerkbait and if I could have caught her, it would have been (a big help). Hopefully, that fish is there tomorrow.”
Looking ahead to Sunday’s forecast for thunderstorms and strong winds, Palmer believes his positioning could protect him. Nevertheless, he’s prepared to make a key adjustment to overcome any weather interference.
“We’ll see how it’s going to pan out tomorrow with the wind that’s forecast,” Palmer said. “I might just throw a heavier weight so I can crack ‘em harder.”
Cobb remained in second place after adding 21-8 to his previous two bags that went 21-0 and 24-15.
Having earned Top 10 finishes in the previous three Elite Series events — including a third place at the season opener on Lake Okeechobee — and placing 20th at the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota, Cobb is riding an unparalleled wave of momentum.
“This is my 10th year of professional fishing and I’ve never had a start like this,” he said. “Everything is going right and when you get on a streak, you have to keep riding it. I’m enjoying every minute.”
Cobb is committed to throwing a wacky-rigged green pumpkin Zoom Fluke Stick around cypress trees. Same as Day 2, he said he only got eight bites, but he’s obviously around the right quality.
“Every day, I think I’m out of fish and then I end up getting two or three big bites,” Cobb said. “I get to go again tomorrow, so hopefully there are at least five big bites to catch because it’s going to take a big bag to win.”
Drew Cook of Cairo, Ga., who won last year’s event, is third with 62-13. He’s had daily weights of 21-13, 17-12 and 23-4. Anchoring his Day 3 bag with a 7-pounder, Cook has spent most of his time sight fishing — the same way he won in 2022.
When Bassmaster Emcee Dave Mercer asked Cook if he believed the general consensus that the Santee Cooper sight-fishing game was virtually done, Cook’s response was emphatic.
“It ain’t over until I say it’s over!” Cook quipped. “There are five left out there — I know, but they’re few and far between.
“I did a whole lot of trolling today and don’t have a whole lot to go to tomorrow. I was fortunate enough to find a 5- and a 7-pounder today. I love this place.”
Cook, the 2019 Bassmaster Rookie of the Year, caught his bass by flipping a Big Bite Baits Fighting Frog and the Big Bite Baits Quarantine Craw that he designed.
Paul Mueller of Naugatuck, Conn., earned the $1,000 daily bonus for catching the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day with his 7-10. David Gaston of Sylacauga, Ala., leads the race for Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the week — an honor that pays $2,000 — with the 8-5 he caught on Day 1.
Matt Robertson of Kuttawa, Ky., had his toughest day of the week with only two bass that weighed 4-6, falling from first place to ninth. But he still leads the race for VMC Monster Bag of the Week with his 28-1 limit from Thursday’s opening round.
Cobb leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 389 points. Cook is in second with 369 points, followed by Tyler Rivet of Raceland, La., with 349, Carl Jocumsen of Queensland, Australia, with 335 and Kyle Welcher of Opelika, Ala., with 333.
Gaston leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 299 points.
The Top 10 remaining anglers will take off at 7 a.m. ET Sunday from John C. Land III Sport Fishing Facility. The weigh-in will be held at the facility at 3 p.m. FS1 will broadcast live with the tournament leaders from 8-11 a.m. Live coverage will transition to Bassmaster.com afterward.
2023 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes 4/27-4/30
Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 15 70-15 104
Day 1: 5 21-03 Day 2: 5 23-09 Day 3: 5 26-03
2. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 15 67-07 103 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-00 Day 2: 5 24-15 Day 3: 5 21-08
3. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 15 62-13 102
Day 1: 5 21-13 Day 2: 5 17-12 Day 3: 5 23-04
4. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 14 59-02 101
Day 1: 5 21-14 Day 2: 4 09-07 Day 3: 5 27-13
5. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 14 57-14 100
Day 1: 4 21-14 Day 2: 5 14-05 Day 3: 5 21-11
6. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 14 57-01 99 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 25-10 Day 2: 5 15-15 Day 3: 4 15-08
7. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 15 55-10 98
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 20-12 Day 3: 5 16-14
8. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 12 54-09 97
Day 1: 5 26-15 Day 2: 3 09-10 Day 3: 4 18-00
9. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 12 54-04 96
Day 1: 5 28-01 Day 2: 5 21-13 Day 3: 2 04-06
10. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 13 52-02 95
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 22-03 Day 3: 3 12-01
11. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 15 52-00 94 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 18-13 Day 3: 5 19-02
12. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 14 51-11 93 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-15 Day 2: 5 15-10 Day 3: 4 15-02
13. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 14 51-01 92 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 09-06 Day 2: 5 22-05 Day 3: 5 19-06
14. Darold Gleason Many, LA 15 49-15 91 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-08 Day 2: 5 13-05 Day 3: 5 15-02
15. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 14 49-08 90 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 20-05 Day 3: 4 15-02
16. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 13 48-13 89 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-13 Day 2: 3 15-10 Day 3: 5 14-06
17. Joshua Stracner Vandiver, AL 15 48-12 88 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-07 Day 2: 5 19-00 Day 3: 5 09-05
18. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 15 47-07 87 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 13-11 Day 3: 5 16-00
19. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 15 47-06 86 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 20-09 Day 3: 5 17-04
20. Masayuki Matsushita Tokoname-Aichi JAPAN 15 45-14 85 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-06 Day 2: 5 15-06 Day 3: 5 11-02
21. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 13 45-06 84 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 3 14-08
22. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 14 45-05 83 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 4 14-07 Day 3: 5 13-03
23. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 14 45-02 82 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 4 09-13
24. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 14 45-02 81 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 4 15-03 Day 3: 5 14-07
25. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 15 45-01 80 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 5 09-12 Day 3: 5 17-03
26. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 15 45-01 79 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 17-00 Day 3: 5 10-05
27. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 12 45-00 78 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 23-05 Day 3: 2 05-08
28. John Cox DeBary, FL 15 45-00 77 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 5 14-09
29. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 13 44-15 76 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 22-07 Day 3: 3 10-15
30. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 14 44-15 75 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 17-10 Day 3: 4 11-12
31. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 15 44-10 74 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 20-14 Day 3: 5 10-12
32. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 15 44-09 73 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 17-01 Day 3: 5 15-03
33. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 15 44-03 72 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 16-09 Day 3: 5 15-15
34. Michael Iaconelli Pittsgrove, NJ 15 43-14 71 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 5 15-03
35. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 15 43-08 70 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 13-03
36. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 13 43-07 69 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 3 13-02
37. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 15 43-02 68 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 16-07 Day 3: 5 15-03
38. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 13 42-09 67 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-11 Day 2: 5 15-10 Day 3: 3 06-04
39. Joseph Webster Hamilton, AL 15 42-07 66 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 11-02 Day 3: 5 12-04
40. Seth Feider New Market, MN 14 42-07 65 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 4 14-06 Day 3: 5 13-10
41. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 13 42-03 64 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 23-00 Day 2: 4 12-09 Day 3: 4 06-10
42. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, Ontario CANADA 14 41-11 63 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 15-15 Day 3: 4 10-13
43. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 12 40-06 62 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 4 14-11 Day 3: 3 07-11
44. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 12 39-08 61 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 12-04 Day 2: 5 19-11 Day 3: 3 07-09
45. Carl Jocumsen Queensland AUSTRALIA 12 38-06 60 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-10 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 2 03-08
46. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 13 36-07 59 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 3 04-09
47. Cole Sands Calhoun, TN 13 35-07 58 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 11-03 Day 3: 3 06-07
48. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 8 35-00 57 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 24-13 Day 2: 2 07-07 Day 3: 1 02-12
49. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 12 33-08 56 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 16-09 Day 3: 2 04-13
50. Taku Ito Chiba JAPAN 9 32-12 55 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 18-01 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 08-05 $1,000.00
2 Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 07-11 $1,000.00
3 Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 07-10 $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 72 450 1465-12
2 54 413 1295-04
3 27 203 646-13
----------------------------------
153 1066 3407-13
Alton Jones Jr. Wins Major League Fishing’s 2023 General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops to Earn $100K, Thrift Catches $100K Big Bass
Two Years After Father Wins Event, Jr. Catches 19 Bass Weighing 81 Pounds, 15 Ounces to Dominate Championship Round and Win $100,000 Top Prize, Thrift Lands 9-6 Largemouth to Earn $100,000 Big Bass Bonus
MONROE-WEST MONROE, La. (April 29, 2023) – It’s safe to say that the Jones’ love the Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops all-star event. Two years ago, at Heavy Hitters 2021, Alton Jones, Sr., of Lorena, Texas , put on a sight-fishing clinic at North Carolina’s Shearon Harris Reservoir to earn the Heavy Hitters title belt and the top payout of $100,000. At Heavy Hitters 2022, his son Alton Jones, Jr., didn’t win the title belt, but he was the big winner at the event, as the Waco, Texas pro weighed the biggest bass in both the Knockout and Championship Rounds to earn the $50,000 and $100,000 Big Bass Bonuses and walk away from the event with $165,000 in winnings.
On Saturday, Alton Jr. got his title belt.
Jones weighed in 19 scorable bass Saturday weighing 81 pounds, 15 ounces – a whopping 59 pounds higher than his closest competitor – to run away with the 2023 title and win the General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops.
The victory was the second major MLF win of the younger Jones’ career.
“Man, what a day,” Jones said in his post-game interview. “Everything went right. I felt really good about my chances when I got to Bussey, flipping the willows with a white Geecrack Bellows Shad. I had one little stretch of cypress trees that I really wanted to fish. After spending the first period in another area I decided to roll over there and fish it.
“I was going to fish that one stretch for just a little bit, but then I caught one,” Jones continued. “Then I caught a short, and then lost one. I kept making these marks for myself as I’m moving down the bank – I’m going to fish 10 more trees and if I don’t get a bite, I’m out – and then I’d catch one. Then another one. After the fifth or sixth bite I figured okay, maybe I’m not going to be leaving this today. And we didn’t.”
Jones boated 19 scorable bass – for comparison, the other nine competitors only caught 21 bass combined. The key techniques for Jones was flipping the Geecrack Bellows Shad and also throwing a spinnerbait with the Bellow Shad as a trailer.
“I did several things today, but the main staple – every bass I caught today came in some way, shape, or form on the Geecrack Bellows Shad,” Jones said. “I was flipping it in the willows, and when I got around those cypress trees I was throwing it on the back of a spinnerbait as a trailer. I caught them on my signature series Kistler Chungus rod – it’s just appropriate, catching chungus’ on the Chungus. I used 20-pound Gamma (fluorocarbon line).
“What a week,” Jones went on to say. “It was such a grind, so difficult just to make it to Bussey Brake. To trick those bass on Caney to get here, then catching them the way I like to catch them. On my own bait, on my own rod. This week has just been a magical, magical experience.”
Also adding to his trophy case this week, and his bank account, is reigning MLF REDCREST Champion Bryan Thrift of Shelby, North Carolina. Although Thrift boated just one scorable bass Saturday, it was the right one. Thrift caught a 9-pound, 6-once giant in Period 2 flipping a jig to win the Heavy Hitters $100,000 Championship Round Berkley Big Bass.
“I had one bite all day long, and it was for 100 grand,” Thrift said in his post-game interview. “Wow, that is just unreal. I caught it flipping, and I’m not a very good flipper. I don’t like flipping at all. So I have to give credit to my equipment. I was flipping a 7-foot, 6-inch (Original) Hydrilla (Grass Flippin’) rod from Fitzgerald Fishing with a Fitzgerald Fishing VLD10 reel. I was throwing 25-pound P-Line (Tactical) 100% fluorocarbon line, flipping a ¾ ounce weight with a punch skirt to get that one big bite. And it worked out. We didn’t get many bites, but we got the right one.”
The top 10 pros from the General Tire Heavy Hitters Championship Round on Bussey Brake finished:
1st: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, 19 bass, 81-15, $100,000
2nd: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, five bass, 22-15, $50,000
3rd: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., four bass, 15-0, $20,000
4th: Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., three bass, 13-9, $68,000
5th: Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., two bass, 11-2, $15,000
6th: Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., two bass, 10-11, $14,500
7th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., one bass, 9-6, $113,500
8th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., two bass, 7-3, $12,500
9th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., one bass, 3-10, $36,000
10th: Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., one bass, 3-2, $8,000
Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 40 scorable bass weighing 178 pounds, 9 ounces caught by the final 10 pros in Saturday’s Championship Round. A bass had to weigh at least 3 pounds to be deemed scorable in the Championship Round.
The six-day General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops all-star event was hosted by Discover Monroe-West Monroe and the Louisiana Office of Tourism and showcased the top 30 pros that qualified via the Bass Pro Tour competing in a no-entry fee tournament for a purse of more than $500,000, including numerous massive Big Bass Bonuses and a payout of $100,000 to the winner.
Different from Bass Pro Tour regular-season events, General Tire Heavy Hitters featured anglers competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format in which anglers catch as many scorable bass and as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. A bass must have met the 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable in the Qualifying and Knockout Rounds, and at least 3 pounds to be deemed scorable in the Championship Round.
Television coverage of the General Tire Heavy Hitters 2023 Presented by Bass Pro Shops will be showcased across six two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, Aug. 5 and running each Saturday through Sept. 9 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on the Discovery Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel. Each two-hour long reality-based episode goes in-depth to break down each day of competition.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF General Tire Heavy Hitters Event include: Abu Garcia, B&W Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Builders First Source, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, NITRO Boats, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Plano, Power-Pole, Shore Lunch, StarBrite, Sqwincher, T-H Marine, Toyota, United States Airforce, Yellowstone Bourbon, and YETI.
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.
Iaconelli Reinvigorated
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
After enduring one of the worst seasons of his professional fishing career in 2022, Team Toyota pro Mike Iaconelli came into this year with a different mindset for the Bassmaster Elite Series. After reflecting on last year’s challenges with his wife Becky, Iaconelli set a simple but difficult goal of making every top 50 cut of the 2023 Elite Series season.
We’re now four tournaments into the season and so far, Iaconelli has accomplished his lofty goal. He’s earned a paycheck and fished every semifinal Saturday of Elite Series competition, which has Ike firmly in the top ten of the Angler of the Year standings and perhaps more importantly, he’s having fun.
“I think last year I was trying to overachieve,” Iaconelli said. “I was trying to win every event instead of just finding groups of fish in practice and focusing on consistency, which has been a huge strength throughout my career. This year I’ve recalibrated all that and man, it feels great.”
Iaconelli spent a lot of time analyzing his efforts last year during the offseason and came to two conclusions. He feels he was putting too much pressure on himself and secondly, he admits he may have gotten too complacent when it came to the work he was putting in off the water for each tournament.
Both elements have a way of stripping the fun out of tournament fishing and complicating the delicate mental side of this sport that is crucial in the outcome of not only every event, but every single day on the water.
“Last year was my return to the Elite Series and I was excited,” Iaconelli reflected. “I wanted to show out and put myself in position to win each tournament but that backfired for my fishing style. Subconsciously I was putting a lot of pressure on myself. On top of that, I was trying to fall back on history instead of breaking things down and fishing the moment. I got complacent. I think that probably comes with age, but it absolutely didn’t work for me. This year I’ve gotten back to basics.”
Iaconelli has spent a few days pre-practicing every fishery on the schedule this year before they went off-limits to competitors. He credits this extra effort for a lot of success earlier in his career but is something didn’t do at all in 2022. In Ike’s defense, he has a lot more responsibilities at this point in his life than he did in his twenties and thirties.
He’s a father and a husband, runs the Ike Live podcast, The Ike Foundation, and the Bass University with Becky and team, is extremely active for his sponsors, and he’s built a larger-than-life persona on social media that requires a lot of time to maintain. It’s hard to blame the Yamaha Outboards pro for spending a little less time grinding like he did in his youth.
The stark contrast between 2022 and 2023 for Iaconelli is a great example for anglers of all levels to take time to evaluate your efforts on the water. Celebrate the good, but you can’t avoid the bad and don’t be afraid to make a change if you feel like you aren’t fishing to your full potential. Above all, make sure you enjoy yourself.
“I got into this because I love it and I feel like I’m fifteen years old every time I catch a fish,” Iaconelli smiled. “When fishing doesn’t feel fun, there is a serious problem and that’s where I was last year. It’s a rut that’s easy to fall into when you expect too much out of yourself. So, learn from me… don’t do that! Focus on having fun, fish the moment, and let the result happen instead of trying to force it.”
Iaconelli’s bounce back this season has been super impressive but not shocking if you’ve followed his career closely. His work ethic and passion for fishing are unique even amongst his peers and helped him reach the pinnacle of the sport when he began his professional fishing journey. Now that he is reinvigorated it is no surprise to see Ike consistently finish near the top of the leaderboard, where he belongs.
