Bassmaster Classic venues will be carbon-neutral thanks to partnership with TVA
The Knoxville Utilities Board and TVA are helping the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota go green by reducing carbon emissions from Volunteer Landing, the Knoxville Convention Center and Thompson-Boling Arena through Renewable Energy Credits.
Photo by B.A.S.S.
March 14, 2023
Bassmaster Classic venues will be carbon-neutral thanks to partnership with TVA
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Tennessee Valley Authority and B.A.S.S., in conjunction with local authorities and the Knoxville Utilities Board, are partnering to make venues for the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota carbon-neutral.
In a first-of-its-kind partnership, the Knoxville Utilities Board and TVA are helping the Classic go green by reducing carbon emissions from Volunteer Landing, the Knoxville Convention Center and Thompson-Boling Arena through Renewable Energy Credits. While hosting 100,000 or more enthusiastic fishing fans, TVA’s renewable programs will allow the event to match 100% of their electricity usage with renewable energy and create the first-ever carbon-neutral Classic venues. This is just one of many ways the B.A.S.S. organization is working to positively impact the communities we visit and protect precious natural resources throughout the year.
“B.A.S.S. has a history of making conservation of our aquatic resources a high priority. TVA has been a partner in those efforts for many years, working hand-in-hand with our state B.A.S.S. Nation chapters on citizen advisory committees, habitat enhancement projects and lake clean-ups,” said B.A.S.S. Conservation Director Gene Gilliland.
Yamaha Rightwaters and Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful are teaming up with anglers Ish Monroe, Bobby Lane and Bill Lowen for a community litter clean-up event on Tuesday, March 21 near Fort Loudoun. Last year, volunteers from communities in Tennessee, New York and Wisconsin pulled just under 18,200 pounds of trash from the ramps and shores of Chickamauga Lake, Pickwick Lake, Oneida Lake and the Mississippi River as part of the 2022 Bassmaster Lake Clean-Up Challenges sponsored by AFTCO and Yamaha Rightwaters.
The TVA was founded on renewable energy with hydro-power from dams along the Tennessee River, and today solar and other green sources play a growing role in meeting energy needs. As part of their presence at the 2023 Bassmaster Classic, the organization will host an Environmental Stewardship Luncheon to highlight their work in protecting and enhancing vital public lands and water resources.
“TVA’s clean energy portfolio is a key component that everyone can use to help protect our region’s natural resources,” said TVA Senior Vice President of Resource Management and Operations Services Bob Dalrymple. “TVA and B.A.S.S. are environmental leaders and we’re proud to partner with them to make the first-ever carbon-neutral Classic venues possible.”
The Tennessee Valley Authority is a corporate agency of the United States that provides electricity for business customers and local power distributors serving nearly 10 million people in parts of seven southeastern states. TVA receives no taxpayer funding, deriving virtually all of its revenues from sales of electricity. In addition to operating and investing its revenues in its electric system, TVA provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists local power companies and state and local governments with economic development and job creation.
For more information on TVA’s sustainability efforts, visit TVA.com/environment.
The Bassmaster Classic is being hosted by Visit Knoxville.
Rich Scrambles, Wins at Home at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Dale Hollow Lake
Bleiler Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
BYRDSTOWN, Tenn. (March 14, 2023) – Boater Tanner Rich of Byrdstown, Tennessee, caught a five-bass limit weighing 23 pounds, 1 ounce, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Dale Hollow Lake. The tournament, hosted by Star Point Marina, was the first event for the BFL Music City Division. Rich earned $5,261 for his victory.
“I haven’t fished a lot of BFL tournaments as a boater, and I knew I was only going to get one day of practice for the tournament, so I looked for anything that might be different from what everybody else was doing,” said Rich. “I found some fish, but when I pulled up to my first stop those fish were gone.
“I had to scrap my plan and adjust,” Rich said. “And it turned out to be one of those days where I just really caught them well.”
Rich said he scrambled and ran “all over the lake” from Star Point Resort to the dam, targeting prespawn bass that were staging. Rich said he employed the use of a swimbait to catch his winning weight.
“It was like putting a puzzle together,” Rich said about his tournament day. “It was unreal.
“Anybody who fishes a BFL on Dale Hollow knows how hard that tournament is to win,” Rich added. “And it is so hard to win on your home lake because of the pressure you put on yourself. I’ve got a great wife who supports me and allows me go fishing. So, I just put the pressure out of my mind and just went fishing.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Tanner Rich, Byrdstown, Tenn., five bass, 23-1, $5,261
2nd: Lee Sinclair, Albany, Ky., five bass, 22-1, $2,631
3rd: Grant Adams, Campbellsville, Ky., five bass, 21-12, $1,753
4th: Blake Knies, Jasper, Ind., five bass, 21-6, $1,228
5th: Alex Wright, Bowling Green, Ky., five, 21-4, $1,052
6th: Michael Tuck, Old Hickory, Tenn., five bass, 20-13, $965
7th: Gavin Cloutier, Jonesboro, Tenn., five bass, 20-9, $877
8th: Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, five bass, 20-5, $1,089
9th: Blake Smith, Byrdstown, Tenn., five bass, 19-15, $701
10th: Ryan Davidson, Branchland, W.V., five bass, 19-8, $2,154 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Ryan Davidson of Branchland, West Virginia, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds even and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $820.
Chad Bleiler of Old Hickory, Tennessee, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,631 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 17 pounds, 1 ounce.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Chad Bleiler, Old Hickory, Tenn., five bass, 17-1, $2,631
2nd: Martin Green, Nashville, Tenn., five bass, 14-11, $1,315
3rd: Joey von Hoene, Erlanger, Ky., five bass, 14-3, $877
4th: Jacob Frawley, Spring Hill, Tenn., five bass, 14-2, $614
5th: Kevin Jones, Fort Campbell, Ky., five, 12-7, $526
6th: Brian Mahon, Batavia, Ohio, four bass, 12-5, $482
7th: Rocky Williams, Portland, Tenn., five bass, 12-2, $638
8th: Blake Whittaker, Lenoir City, Tenn., four bass, 10-14, $395
9th: Travis Parrott, Byrdstown, Tenn., three bass, 10-6, $351
10th: Christopher Stites Jr., La Vergne, Tenn., four bass, 9-11, $307
Mark Gilbert of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $410, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 2 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
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, 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.
How Bryan Thrift Defended His Home Turf to Win $300,000 and the 2023 MLF REDCREST Title
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MUSKEGON, Mich. (March 13, 2023) – Designed specifically to deliver discerning multispecies anglers with a functional and affordable weather-resistant fishing apparel option for cooler to cold days, the 2023 Whitewater® Tamer™ Softshell Jacket& Bib is unmatched when it comes to staying dry, warm, mobile, and flexible. Whether you’re chasing early- or late-season bass, walleyes, steelhead/salmon, muskies, saltwater species or anything that bites, the Whitewater Tamer is built for the task. |
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Put through-the-paces with the NEXT BITE staff and winning FLW, AIM, and MLF tournament walleye anglers (Gary Parsons, Chase Parsons, Jason Przekurat, Tommy Kemos, and Korey Sprengel), as well as Matt and Jim Schiefelbein; steelhead/salmon guides; notable muskie anglers; and B.A.S.S. Elite Pro, Jay Przekurat, Whitewater’s 2023 Whitewater Tamer Softshell Jacket & Bib is designed top-to-bottom to play well in cool to cold weather fishing situations. |
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NEXUS Outdoors president and product design advisor, Aaron Ambur, remarks: “There’s been a lack of well-designed and rugged fishing apparel for cooler to cold, windy, and wet days whether you’re fishing early- or late-season bass, chasing walleyes, or just out spring or fall fishing. To date, no company has offered the balanced protection and warmth into garments without constricting the highly mobile and athletic movements of an active fisherman. The Whitewater Tamer Softshell Jacket & Bib delivers the perfect balance like no other suit to date, period.” |
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Winning B.A.S.S. Elite pro, Jay Przekurat, offers: “For bass fishing in cooler to cold conditions this is my go-to suit. The range-of-movement is outstanding for standing on the deck and fishing as hard as I do. It’s not bulky or heavy and still windproof, repels wave spray and rain, and has a grid fleece lining to keep me warm on tournament days, from dark and cold early mornings through run and gunning at high speed from spot-to-spot throughout the day on big waters.” |
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Jay’s father, winning walleye pro, Jason Przekurat adds that the Whitewater Tamer Softshell Jacket & Bib makes a great under-layer to the Whitewater Great Lakes Jacket & Bib for added warmth for fishing on-the-ice, midwinter to early-spring open-water river fishing, and anytime when temperatures fall – spring, fall, or winter. “I like to layer the two systems, especially when I’m fishing on the Great Lakes,” notes the elder Przekurat. “It’s really the ultimate system for big-water fishing in cold, wet, and windy conditions. I’ve never worn anything like it. We spent a great deal of time running through prototypes until we got each suit exactly right. When you’re fishing tournaments like Jay and I are, you can’t worry about the elements, but that’s a problem with some of the apparel out there. You still must fish, and we can do that with Whitewater.” |
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Hometown Favorite Bryan Thrift Wins REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch on Lake Norman
Shelby, North Carolina’s Bryan Thrift Dominates REDCREST 2023 to win Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour Championship and Earn $300,000 Top Prize
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 12, 2023) – North Carolina’s own Bryan Thrift caught a five-bass limit Sunday weighing 13 pounds, 10 ounces, to win the Major League Fishing (MLF) REDCREST 2023 presented by Shore Lunch at Lake Norman , the Bass Pro Tour championship, and earn the top prize of $300,000. Thrift’s three-day cumulative total of 46 pounds, 12 ounces garnered him the win by a 4-pound, 6-ounce margin over second-place finisher Alton Jones, Jr. of Waco, Texas, who earned $50,000 for his runner-up finish.
“Oh my god, this feels so good,” said an emotional Thrift in his post-game interview. “Two years ago, at Lake Eufaula (in Alabama) I was leading REDCREST going into the final day, and I thought for sure that I had a really, really good chance to win. Then I ended up barely catching a fish the last day… I’ve thought about that tournament for two years.
“This week has been great, but it’s been a tough, trying last two days,” Thrift continued. “Luckily, I had one spot that I saved in case I got in a pinch today and it worked out.”
Thrift’s history and experience on Lake Norman played a huge role this week, but Thrift also seemed to be the only angler that “cracked the code” up the river. Numerous anglers would try to go up the river each day to target bass, and each day they would come back down unsuccessful. On Sunday Thrift went to his spot up the river and that produced four of the five fish in his limit Sunday, likely saving his tournament.
“I never was able to get the big bites that I needed, but the place I was saving up in the river came through for me with the (Z-Man Jack Hammer) ChatterBait,” Thrift said.
Key baits throughout the week for Thrift was the Jack Hammer, a Damiki Underspin with a Damiki Armor Shad, a Fitzgerald Football jig, and an unnamed 5.8-inch swimbait.
“Everything worked as planned,” Thrift said. “I planned to find a place where I could start and catch a decent limit every day, then I’d go run and throw a swimbait and a jig to try to get a couple of big bites.
“I’m just so happy to get this win, on my home lake, in front of all of my friends and family,” Thrift went on to say as he wiped tears from his eyes. “Lake Norman has been awfully good to me over the years.”
The top 10 pros at REDCREST 2023 on Lake Norman finished:
1st: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 15 bass, 46-12, $300,000
2nd: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, 15 bass, 42-6, $50,000
3rd: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 15 bass, 41-14, $40,000
4th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 15 bass, 40-11, $28,000
5th: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., 15 bass, 40-10, $25,000
6th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 15 bass, 40-4, $20,000
7th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 15 bass, 37-3, $18,000
8th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 15 bass, 36-13, $16,000
9th: Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 35-5, $14,500
10th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 15 bass, 34-14, $12,500
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall there were 82 scorable bass weighing 175 pounds, 10 ounces caught by the final 10 pros Sunday. Throughout the entire five-day event, the 40 Bass Pro Tour REDCREST 2023 competitors caught a total of 1,105 scorable bass weighing 2,321 pounds, 4 ounces.
Pro Casey Ashley of Donalds, South Carolina, earned Sunday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a 5-pound largemouth that he caught on a jig in Period 3. Edwin Evers earned the $3,000 Berkley Big Bass Bonus for weighing in the heaviest bass of the event – a 6-pound largemouth that he caught on the very first day of competition.
REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch on Lake Norman was hosted by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Visit Lake Norman and the Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department, and showcased the top 40 professional anglers from the 2022 Bass Pro Tour.
Television coverage of REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch will be showcased across two, two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, July 1 and July 8 on Discovery Channel. Starting in July 2023, MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery Channel, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG + Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, Toro, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Final 10 Set for Championship Sunday at Major League Fishing’s REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch on Lake Norman
Local Pro Bryan Thrift of Shelby, North Carolina, Brings 1-Pound, 9-Ounce Lead into Final Day of Competition Sunday
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 11, 2023) – With one day left in competition, local favorite Bryan Thrift of Shelby, North Carolina, maintained his lead on Day 4 of the Major League Fishing (MLF) REDCREST 2023 presented by Shore Lunch at Lake Norman , the Bass Pro Tour championship. Thrift caught five bass Saturday totaling 15 pounds, 6 ounces, and his weight now sits at 10 bass for 33-2, giving him a 1-pound, 9-ounce cushion over second place as the event heads into the fifth and final day.
The field is now trimmed to just the top 10, and competition resumes Sunday. The five-day event, hosted by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Visit Lake Norman and the Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department, features anglers competing to become pro bass fishing’s newest world champion, and a top cash prize of $300,000.
“It was a lot tougher for me today,” Thrift said in his post-game interview. “I got into a new area and was able to get a limit of 2½ pounders. That gave me a decent limit where I knew I’d be within striking distance if I wasn’t still in the lead, so I was able to slow down and pick that big swimbait up and luckily caught another big one. I only got two bites on the swimbait, today.
“Tomorrow I’m going to have to do the same thing – I’ve got to get three or four bites from that swimbait if I’m going to have a chance to win this tournament. I’m going to put it in my hand for a large portion of the day and we’ll see what happens,” Thrift went on to say.
Texas pro Alton Jones, Jr., had a great day on Lake Norman, boating a 17-pound limit to vault into second place, just 1 pound, 9 ounces, behind Thrift.
“I caught all of my five-bass limit today on a wacky rig with a 7-foot, medium Kistler Z-Bone rod,” said Jones. “It’s been a lot of fun this week catching the mixed bags – some largemouth and some spots. But we’ve got some weather coming tomorrow, and we’ll see what happens.
“All I wanted was a chance, and we’ve got a really good one at that,” Jones continued. “Tomorrow it’s going to be all about who can get those two 4-pound bites. Somebody is going to do it in the top 10, whether it’s me, Thrift, or someone from further back in the pack. All in all, it was a super blessed day today and I can’t wait to get out there tomorrow.”
The top 10 pros that made the cut and will advance to the final day of competition on Lake Norman:
1st: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 10 bass, 33-2
2nd: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, 10 bass, 31-9
3rd: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 29-0
4th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 28-14
5th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 10 bass, 27-2
6th: Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 25-9
7th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 10 bass, 25-7
8th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 10 bass, 25-1
9th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 10 bass, 24-9
10th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 10 bass, 24-2
Finishing in 11th through 15th place are:
11th: Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, 10 bass, 23-15, $10,000
12th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 10 bass, 23-13, $10,000
13th: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, 10 bass, 22-14, $10,000
14th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., eight bass, 22-7, $10,000
15th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 10 bass, 19-8, $10,000
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 151 scorable bass weighing 327 pounds, 15 ounces caught by the 15 pros Saturday.
Pro Matt Lee of Cullman, Alabama, won the $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award Saturday with a chunky 5-pound, 10-ounce largemouth that he caught on a wacky rig during Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler that weighs the biggest bass each day, and a $1,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the largest bass of the tournament.
All 40 Anglers competed on Days 1 (Wednesday) and 2 (Thursday) of the event. After two days of competition, the field was cut to just the top 20 based on two-day total (10 bass) cumulative weight. Weights were zeroed, and the top 20 anglers competed on Day 3 (Friday). The field was trimmed to 15 anglers on Day 4 (Saturday), then now only the final 10 anglers will compete on Day 5 (Sunday). The winner is determined by the heaviest three-day total (15 bass) cumulative weight with the winner earning the top prize of $300,000 and the REDCREST 2023 trophy.
The General Tire Take Off Ceremony Presented by X2 Power will begin at 7:15 a.m. on Championship Sunday, at Blythe Landing Park, located at 15901 N.C. 73 HY, in Huntersville, North Carolina. Anglers will depart at 8 a.m. on Sunday. Fans are welcome to attend all launch events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In conjunction with the event, the FREE, family-friendly General Tire Outdoor Sports Expo Presented by Shore Lunch will also take place Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at The Park Expo and Conference Center, located at 800 Briar Creek Road, in Charlotte. Fishing and outdoor enthusiasts will have the opportunity to visit numerous booths and vendors, showcasing the latest and greatest in fishing, boating and the outdoors. The biggest names in the outdoor industry will be on hand, including the professional anglers that compete on the Bass Pro Tour and fishing legends like Jimmy Houston, Roland Martin and Hank Parker.
Throughout the day there will be giveaways and prizes, including signed MLF angler jerseys, rods and reels, gift cards, and more. On Sunday one lucky attendee will walk away with a brand new 2023 Toyota Tundra SR5 Crew Max. Fans must be present to win the Toyota Tundra drawing. For more information on the General Tire Outdoor Sports Expo Presented by Shore Lunch, visit REDCRESTExpo.com.
The 2022 Bass Pro Tour featured a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country. The top 40 anglers in the Angler of the Year (AOY) standings after the seven events qualified to compete in REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Championship Sunday. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch will be showcased across two, two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, July 1 and July 8 on Discovery Channel. Starting in July 2023, MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery Channel, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG + Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, Toro, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Bryan Thrift Leads Knockout Round at Major League Fishing’s REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch on Lake Norman
Thrift Leads the Charge with 17-Pound, 12-Ounce Limit to Take 2½-Pound Lead, 15 Anglers Advance to Saturday
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 10, 2023) – Shelby, North Carolina pro Bryan Thrift, caught a five-bass limit Friday weighing 17 pounds, 12 ounces – the largest limit of the tournament thus far – to grab the early Knockout Round lead after Day 3 of the Major League Fishing (MLF) REDCREST 2023 presented by Shore Lunch , the Bass Pro Tour championship. The field is now trimmed to 15, and competition resumes Saturday as the anglers compete to get inside the top 10 to advance to Championship Sunday. The five-day event, hosted by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Visit Lake Norman and the Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department, features anglers competing to become pro bass fishing’s newest world champion, and a top cash prize of $300,000.
“I started the first period on the same place I’ve been starting every day, and I caught a pretty good limit on a little ¼-ounce Damiki Underspin with a 3-inch (Damiki) Armor Shad,” Thrift said. “I came out of there with almost 12 pounds, and that gave me the confidence to go and run my big fish pattern – throwing a bigger swimbait around docks.
“I ended up getting four bites on it and they were all 3-pounders, which is a very good day on Lake Norman. I’m looking forward to getting back out there tomorrow. If they keep biting that swimbait and I can keep catching them on this underspin, we might have a chance at this one.”
Behind Thrift in second place is reigning Bass Pro Tour Angler of the Year Jacob Wheeler, who boated five bass weighing 15 pounds, 4 ounces.
“I had a solid day out on Norman and survived Day 1,” Wheeler said in his post-game interview. “We have our work cut out for us. I’ve got to catch a big bag tomorrow, to sort of make up that margin on Thrift.
“The thing about Lake Norman is it’s really easy to slip up here,” Wheeler continued. “If someone catches 12 pounds and you can catch 16, you can make up that weight margin quickly. But we at least survived and made it to where we have a chance going into the next couple of days. I think I figured something out today, so hopefully we can put that in our hand and go out here and try to reel a couple of bass in again tomorrow.”
The top 15 pros that made the cut and will advance in competition on Lake Norman:
1st: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., five bass, 17-12
2nd: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 15-4
3rd: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, five bass, 14-9
4th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., five bass, 14-4
5th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 14-2
6th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., five bass, 12-3
7th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., five bass, 12-3
8th: Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 12-3
9th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., five bass, 12-0
10th: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, five bass, 11-15
11th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., five bass, 11-11
12th: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 11-9
13th: Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, five bass, 11-7
14th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., five bass, 11-1
15th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., five bass, 10-15
Finishing in 16th through 20th place are:
16th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., five bass, 10-13
17th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., five bass, 10-13
18th: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., five bass, 9-7
19th: Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 8-12
20th: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., four bass, 7-2
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 173 scorable bass weighing 362 pounds, 10 ounces caught by the 20 pros Friday.
Pro Alton Jones, Jr. of Waco, Texas, earned Friday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a stout 5-pound, 7-ounce spotted bass that he caught during Period 1. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler that weighs the biggest bass each day, and a $1,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the largest bass of the tournament.
All 40 Anglers competed on Days 1 (Wednesday) and 2 (Thursday) of the event. After two days of competition, the field was cut to just the top 20 based on two-day total (10 bass) cumulative weight. Weights were zeroed, and the top 20 anglers competed on Day 3 (Friday). Now the field is trimmed to 15 anglers on Day 4 (Saturday), then only the final 10 anglers compete on Day 5 (Sunday). The winner is determined by the heaviest three-day total (15 bass) cumulative weight with the winner earning the top prize of $300,000 and the REDCREST 2023 trophy.
The General Tire Take Off Ceremony Presented by X2 Power will begin at 6:15 a.m., Saturday, and 7:15 a.m. on Championship Sunday, at Blythe Landing Park, located at 15901 N.C. 73 HY, in Huntersville, North Carolina. Anglers will depart at 7 a.m. Saturday, and 8 a.m. on Sunday. Fans are welcome to attend all launch events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In conjunction with the event, the FREE, family-friendly General Tire Outdoor Sports Expo Presented by Shore Lunch will also take place throughout the weekend, March 10-12 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day at The Park Expo and Conference Center, located at 800 Briar Creek Road, in Charlotte. Fishing and outdoor enthusiasts will have the opportunity to visit numerous booths and vendors, showcasing the latest and greatest in fishing, boating and the outdoors. The biggest names in the outdoor industry will be on hand, including the professional anglers that compete on the Bass Pro Tour and fishing legends like Jimmy Houston, Roland Martin and Hank Parker.
Throughout the day there will be giveaways and prizes, including signed MLF angler jerseys, rods and reels, gift cards, and more. On Saturday evening one lucky attendee will win a Tracker Off Road 300 ATV, and on Sunday one lucky attendee will walk away with a brand new 2023 Toyota Tundra SR5 Crew Max. Fans must be present to win the Grand Prize drawings. For more information on the General Tire Outdoor Sports Expo Presented by Shore Lunch, visit REDCRESTExpo.com.
The 2022 Bass Pro Tour featured a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country. The top 40 anglers in the Angler of the Year (AOY) standings after the seven events qualified to compete in REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action from 7:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, and from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Championship Sunday. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch will be showcased across two, two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, July 1 and July 8 on Discovery Channel. Starting in July 2023, MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery Channel, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG + Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, Toro, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Alabama Bass Trail Announces 2024 ABT 100 Tournament Schedule and Payout Priority Registration Opens June 1
Decatur, Ala. (March 10, 2023) – The Alabama Bass Trail (ABT) announces dates and locations of the 2024 ABT 100 tournament series which includes a payout reaching $300,000 for all three tournaments. Returning for the fourth season, the tournament series is held on three different lakes beginning January 20, 2024, attracting professional and amateur anglers from across the United States who will compete for a $25,000 first place prize.
“On behalf of the Alabama Bass Trail Board of Directors, I am excited to announce the schedule for the fourth season of the Alabama Bass Trail 100. This year's schedule offers anglers the opportunity to test their talents against spotted bass, largemouth and smallmouth bass on both the Coosa River and the Tennessee River,” said ABT Program Director Kay Donaldson.
The ABT 100 Series is open to professional and amateur anglers and features three tournaments. The maximum number of boats for each tournament is 100. Entry fee for each event is $1,000 and teams must fish in all three tournaments. (No single entries allowed.)
Tournament dates and locations for the 2024 Alabama Bass Trail 100 Series:
January 20, 2024 Logan Martin Lake hosted by the City of Lincoln
June 1, 2024 Weiss Lake hosted by the City of Leesburg
November 2, 2024 Wheeler hosted by Decatur-Morgan County Tourism
“The Alabama Bass Trail is committed to providing a quality bass fishing tournament trail that provides a one hundred percent payback to our anglers, encourages economic growth in the host communities and promotes outdoor recreation throughout the great state of Alabama,” added Donaldson.
Each tournament features a $25,000 guaranteed first place prize and pays 20 places plus a $1,000 big fish totaling $100,000.
Payout Schedule:
| First place | $25,000 |
| Second place | $12,500 |
| Third place | $10,000 |
| Fourth place | $ 9,000 |
| Fifth place | $ 7,500 |
| Sixth place | $ 6,000 |
| Seventh place | $ 5,000 |
| Eighth place | $ 4,000 |
| Ninth place | $ 3,000 |
| Tenth place | $ 2,000 |
| 11th – 20th | $ 1,500 each |
| Big Fish | $ 1,000 |
The ABT 100 Series will bring four hours of live tournament action to viewers directly from the boats competing in the events and also will be televised later in 2024. The weigh-in and Live Leaderboard for each event will be streamed live on www.AlabamaBassTrail100.org and on Facebook at Alabama Bass Trail 100 Series.
The entry fee is $3,000 per team. Each team may choose to pay a $1500 nonrefundable deposit to hold the team’s spot. The balance of $1500 must be paid by December 1, 2023. Registration is limited to 100 boats and teams that fished the ABT 100 in 2023 will receive priority registration beginning June 1 until June 10, 2023, at www.AlabamaBassTrail100.org. Registration opens for new teams on June 11, 2023, at 6:00 a.m.
The Alabama Bass Trail 100 Series made its debut in January 2021 with professional and amateur anglers from 13 different states competing. According to Donaldson, anglers are traveling from 12 different states to compete in the 2023 ABT 100 Series.
ABT 100 Series sponsors include Alabama State Parks, Bajio Sunglasses, Big Bite Baits, Black Rifle Coffee Company, Busch Light, Freedom Tackle Corporation, Phoenix Bass Boats, FishAlabama.org, Halo Fishing, Bill Penney Automotive, America’s First Federal Credit Union, Alabama Tourism Department, NetBait, Scum Frog, T-H Marine Supplies, Inc., American Baitworks and Garmin.
For more information, call Donaldson at 855.934.7425 or visit online at www.AlabamaBassTrail100.org, on Facebook at Alabama Bass Trail 100 Series and on Instagram at albasstrail100.
Major League Fishing Partners with MONSTERBASS to Create a New Champions Club Subscription Box
BENTON, Ky. (March 10, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, and MONSTERBASS, the industry-leading provider of fishing tackle subscription boxes, announced a partnership to relaunch the MLF Champions Club subscription tackle program. The project allows both companies to combine experience and resources to deliver superior baits, terminal tackle and content for the best subscription box available for passionate anglers.
“Our partnership with Major League Fishing is a huge win-win for all fishing fans and outdoorsmen and for the brands showcased each month,” said Rick Patri, President & CEO of MONSTERBASS. “The new Champions Club gives anglers everything they need to catch more fish each time they hit the water. Every month we provide the best seasonally appropriate baits from the hottest brands in fishing, access to how-to content created by MLF pros, as well as a live call-in show where anglers can ask questions about the baits they received. It’s literally the easiest and most affordable way for someone to become a better angler by learning how to fish new baits & techniques from MLF pros.
Champions Club by MONSTERBASS is a monthly subscription service tailored specifically for anglers looking to take their skills to the next level. In addition to the hottest tournament-winning baits and lures included in each box, subscribers also receive content and products from top MLF pro anglers and industry-leading brands. Each box contains a value of more than $75.
Champions Club by MONSTERBASS is available for preorder at MONSTERBASS.com with new co-branded boxes shipping in May. Subscriptions are available in one, three, six and 12-month terms.
“We’re excited to join forces with MONSTERBASS, as they are a great partner that truly understands what MLF is all about,” said MLF President and CEO Boyd Duckett. “Like MLF, MONSTERBASS consistently strives to improve its products and subscriber engagement. We look forward to continually combining our efforts to provide our fans and anglers with the best bass fishing subscription box on the market.”
Each month Champions Club by MONSTERBASS subscribers will receive:
- 7 to 8 regionally & seasonally appropriate baits
- 24-page guidebook with tips from MLF pros on how to fish each bait
- Access to 400+ instructional videos that’ll help you catch bigger bass
- Weekly livestream with top MLF pros with a 1-800 call-in number
- Individually numbered Golden Ticket – a chance to win $1,000 worth of fishing tackle
- $10 gift card
- Champions Club mobile app - fishing challenges & online tournaments
- Free Bait Friday – Club members receive a code via text to pick out a free bait every Friday
- Stickers & more...
For complete details and updated tournament information, news and more, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about MONSTERBASS and the new Champions Club subscription box, visit MONSTERBASS.com.
EGO Fishing Partners with Traditions Media for Progressive PR and Marketing
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Caldwell, ID (March 10, 2023) – No fishing trip—whether in a freshwater or saltwater boat, kayak, canoe—or even wading or bank fishing—is complete without the right tackle storage, a quality net, tools and accessories, and a cooler for food and beverages or keeping fish fresh and cold on ice. A demonstrated leader in the category of all of these fishing products is technical and tactical fishing equipment manufacturer EGO Fishing Gear, a company that has a product solution for every step from successfully netting the fish boatside to transporting to the tournament weigh-in healthy or to the cleaning shack and table in top-form. |
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Traditions Media Cofounder, Noel Vick, remarks: “Before they were acquired a couple different times, we worked with the then unchallenged leader in landing nets. I still remember one year at ICAST when an unknown brand was named for a “Best New Product” award. We were floored. And that brand was EGO Fishing.” “Now, years later, Traditions Media has the distinct honor to be working with them. The EGO crew knows how to engineer the most advanced landing nets and problem-solving fishing accessories and tools. And we know these categories well, and how to intensify EGO’s momentum,” adds Vick. “Also attractive to us was EGO’s expansion into other fishing categories. They are building some of the most technical and tactical soft-sided coolers, bait coolers, tackle box bags, dry bags, weigh-in bags, in addition to high-end fishing accessories/tools, and probably the best fishing pliers on-the-planet. There’s no shortage of premium gear to talk about,” notes Vick. |
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EGO Brand History Founder and CEO Grant Corbett recalls, “I started EGO in 2004 out of sheer necessity. I was visiting fishing retailers prior to fishing trips looking for products to meet my needs and there just wasn’t a good product selection. In the net and tool space, there had been no change for countless years and the available products were basically the same as what my grandfather bought countless decades ago. I thought I could do it better. So, that’s how EGO was born.” Corbett launched EGO in a small, 10,000-square foot business in Georgia that was aligned with suppliers who could provide what he wanted to do on the fishing side. EGO has greatly expanded since and operates out of giant warehouse and office space near Boise, Idaho—conveniently located amidst some great angling opportunities for Corbett and his growing staff. From a branding perspective, Corbett named the company EGO because he wanted something short, distinctive, memorable, and something with an emotional connection to the angler. “I’ve never heard a fish story where the fish gets smaller. They always get bigger, so I think every fisherman out there has a reasonably healthy ego, myself included,” laughs Corbett. |
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A Fishing Company Run By Anglers “We all fish a lot and keep our fingers on the pulse of what’s going on across all fishing markets in the U.S. We have an extensive network of end-users we stay in touch with constantly as well,” notes Corbett. “I grew up fishing in British Columbia. My dad, my grandfather, and I would fly into a lot of great waters by float plane during summers in northern B.C. That’s where I gained my love of fishing. I grew up in the outdoors with my entire family hunting deer, moose, and everything in between, besides fishing every chance we got.” Not Another Me-Too “I intentionally positioned EGO as a higher-end option, but one where the customer would get more for his/her dollar than competitors. I didn’t want to be the cheapest. I wanted to be the best,” states Corbett. |
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EGO Design “All EGO products are conceived by me in terms of concepts, but I have a designer who takes my ideas and vision and brings it to life graphically. Product design and brand design goes hand in hand with EGO. I want the product to look cool, different than anything out on the market, and function the way I want it to. So, we start with the graphic design side of it and then go to engineering and let our team tell us if we’ll have compromise anywhere. It’s really the design that drives everything,” offers Corbett. EGO Products and Customer-Base Corbett says that while he sells a lot of products to inshore, offshore, fly anglers, and others – and the legion grows. EGO offers a vast selection of nets for boat fishing, bank fishing, wade fishing, river fishing, kayak fishing, float tube/small jon boat fishing—really, the entire spectrum of fishing applications. “We also have the EGO Big Game series for muskie, salmon, saltwater, and catfish anglers—and a very popular bass fishing-driven series of nets with shorter handles. We cover all the bases,” adds Corbett. In terms of their number one seller by volume, that’s the S2 Slider-Reach PVC Large PVC landing net. “You can use it bass fishing, walleye fishing, and saltwater fishing. It’s the all-around best net solution. The handle extends to 60” and that’s just the handle,” notes Corbett. |
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The Only Modular Net System On The Market EGO is the only company that offers a truly customizable net solution. Anglers can select from different hoops, netting materials, and handles to meet their specific needs. This is also unique in the opportunity for retailers to carry all the components they need to customize solutions that perfectly match individual angler needs. |
Oklahoma Pro Edwin Evers Paces Top 20 Anglers That Advance to Weekend at Major League Fishing’s REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch on Lake Norman
Carolina Pros Casey Ashley (2nd), Andy Montgomery (17th), Bryan Thrift (19th) and Anthony Gagliardi (20th) all Advance in Top 20 – Weights Now Zeroed for Three-Day Weekend Shootout
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 9, 2023) – Pro Edwin Evers of Talala, Oklahoma, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 29 pounds, 15 ounces, to pace the Qualifying Round field and advance to the weekend at the Major League Fishing (MLF) REDCREST 2023 presented by Shore Lunch, the Bass Pro Tour championship. Also advancing with Evers was pro Casey Ashley of Donalds, South Carolina, who weighed in 10 bass for 28-8 to end the round in second place, and California’s Brent Ehrler, who boated 10 scorable bass for 27-3, good for third.
Carolina pros Andy Montgomery of Blacksburg, South Carolina (18th), Bryan Thrift of Shelby, North Carolina (19th), and Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, South Carolina (11th) also advanced inside the top 20 cut.
The 40-angler field is now trimmed to 20, and weights are zeroed as competition moves into the Championship Round. The top 20 anglers will compete Friday, the field is cut to 15 on Saturday and then the final 10 anglers compete on Championship Sunday. The five-day event, hosted by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Visit Lake Norman and the Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department, features anglers competing to become pro bass fishing’s newest world champion, and a top cash prize of $300,000.
“For these first two days, I’ve pretty much just put the trolling motor down and fished everything in front of me,” said Evers, who won the inaugural REDCREST Championship event in 2019. “This lake is one of those lakes where you try to duplicate your patterns, and I’ve spent a lot of time really just narrowing down where the bites are coming from. It’s been pretty random – from the back of a pocket to a point, and everything in between – but the more days on the water, the more pieces to the puzzle I get.
“Today it got a little bit clearer, where the better fish were,” Evers said. “I’ll know more tomorrow when I really start running that water again, but I’m not really sure how the spotted bass are going to react to the cloudy conditions (being forecast), so that’s going to be kind of interesting to see what happens.”
Evers caught nine bass Thursday – all spotted bass – with his largest going for 3½ pounds. Fans watching live on the MLF NOW! livestream watched Evers catch some on a big glide bait, some on a boot-tail swimbait and some on a topwater wake bait.
“I’ve been getting it narrowed down as the tournament goes on,” Evers said. “I’ll have three or four baits tied on tomorrow to do what I need to do.”
When asked about his history on Lake Norman, Evers spoke highly of the fishery.
“I love this lake,” Evers said. “I’ve got some history here – I’ve won two major events on this lake. I relate to it really well, and it fits with how I grew up fishing. Lake Norman is just a fun lake to fish.”
Evers went on to predict what the winning weight on Sunday will be.
“The lake is fishing good – it’s going to take every bit of 45 pounds over the next three days,” the Oklahoma pro went on to say. “I think a 15-pound-a-day average is going to do it. And I’m excited to get back out there.”
The top 20 pros that made the cut and will advance in competition on Lake Norman:
1st: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 10 bass, 29-15
2nd: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 10 bass, 28-8
3rd: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 10 bass, 27-3
4th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 10 bass, 27-3
5th: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, 10 bass, 26-12
6th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 10 bass, 26-9
7th: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., 10 bass, 26-7
8th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 10 bass, 25-15
9th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 10 bass, 25-15
10th: Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 25-12
11th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 10 bass, 25-12
12th: Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, 10 bass, 25-11
13th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 10 bass, 25-10
14th: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, 10 bass, 25-9
15th: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 25-9
16th: Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 25-6
17th: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 10 bass, 25-6
18th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 10 bass, 25-6
19th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 10 bass, 25-3
20th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 10 bass, 24-5
Finishing in 21st through 40th are:
21st: Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., 10 bass, 24-2, $5,000
22nd: Shinichi Fukae, Osaka, Japan, 10 bass, 23-15, $5,000
23rd: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 10 bass, 23-10, $5,000
24th: Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 23-2, $5,000
25th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 22-14, $5,000
26th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 10 bass, 22-3, $5,000
27th: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., nine bass, 22-1, $5,000
28th: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 10 bass, 22-0, $5,000
29th: Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., 10 bass, 21-10, $5,000
30th: Mark Daniels, Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 10 bass, 21-7, $5,000
31st: Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 10 bass, 21-7, $5,000
32nd: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 21-3, $5,000
33rd: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 20-12, $5,000
34th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 19-12, $5,000
35th: Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 18-9, $5,000
36th: Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla., eight bass, 18-4, $5,000
37th: Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, six bass, 15-12, $5,000
38th: David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn., seven bass, 14-8, $5,000
39th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, eight bass, 14-2, $5,000
40th: Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., eight bass, 13-10, $5,000
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 336 scorable bass weighing 698 pounds, 10 ounces caught by the 40 pros Thursday.
Pro Casey Ashley of Donalds, South Carolina, won Thursday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award, weighing in a 4-pound, 9-ounce largemouth during Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler that weighs the biggest bass each day, and a $1,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the largest bass of the tournament.
All 40 Anglers competed on Days 1 (Wednesday) and 2 (Thursday) of the event. Now, after two days of competition, the field is cut to just the top 20 based on two-day total (10 bass) cumulative weight. Weights are zeroed, and the top 20 anglers compete on Day 3 (Friday). The field is trimmed to 15 anglers on Day 4 (Saturday), then the final 10 anglers compete on Day 5 (Sunday). The winner is determined by the heaviest three-day total (15 bass) cumulative weight with the winner earning the top prize of $300,000 and the REDCREST 2023 trophy.
The General Tire Take Off Ceremony Presented by X2 Power will begin at 6:15 a.m., Friday and Saturday, and 7:15 a.m. on Championship Sunday, at Blythe Landing Park, located at 15901 N.C. 73 HY, in Huntersville, North Carolina. Anglers will depart at 7 a.m. on Days 1-4, and 8 a.m. on Day 5, and return after competition ends at 4 p.m. on Days 1-4 and 5 p.m. on Day 5. Fans are welcome to attend all launch events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In conjunction with the event, the FREE, family-friendly General Tire Outdoor Sports Expo Presented by Shore Lunch will also take place throughout the weekend, March 10-12 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day at The Park Expo and Conference Center, located at 800 Briar Creek Road, in Charlotte. Fishing and outdoor enthusiasts will have the opportunity to visit numerous booths and vendors, showcasing the latest and greatest in fishing, boating and the outdoors. The biggest names in the outdoor industry will be on hand, including the professional anglers that compete on the Bass Pro Tour and fishing legends like Jimmy Houston, Roland Martin and Hank Parker.
Throughout the day there will be giveaways and prizes, including signed MLF angler jerseys, rods and reels, gift cards, and more. On Friday evening one lucky fan will win a Toro 42-inch TimeCutter Zero Turn Mower, on Saturday night one lucky attendee will win a Tracker Off Road 300 ATV, and on Sunday one lucky attendee will walk away with a brand new 2023 Toyota Tundra SR5 Crew Max. Fans must be present to win the Grand Prize drawings. For more information on the General Tire Outdoor Sports Expo Presented by Shore Lunch, visit REDCRESTExpo.com.
The 2022 Bass Pro Tour featured a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country. The top 40 anglers in the Angler of the Year (AOY) standings after the seven events qualified to compete in REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action from 7:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the first four days of competition, and from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Championship Sunday. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch will be showcased across two, two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, July 1 and July 8 on Discovery Channel. Starting in July 2023, MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery Channel, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG + Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, Toro, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Dustin Connell Leads Day 1 of Major League Fishing’s REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch on Lake Norman
REDCREST 2021 Champ Catches Five-Bass Limit Weighing 16 Pounds, 7 ounces to Grab Early Lead After Day 1, Full field of 40 Anglers to Compete Again Thursday
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (March 8, 2023) – The top 40 professional anglers from the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour launched Wednesday morning on Lake Norman in Charlotte, North Carolina, for Day 1 of MLF’s REDCREST 2023 presented by Shore Lunch , the Bass Pro Tour championship. The five-day event, hosted by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, Visit Lake Norman and the Mecklenburg County Park & Recreation Department, features 40 anglers competing to become pro bass fishing’s newest world champion, and a top cash prize of $300,000.
Favorite Fishing pro Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama, the REDCREST 2021 Champion, caught a five-bass weight of 16 pounds, 7 ounces, to grab the early lead after Day 1 of competition. Right behind Connell in second place is California pro Brent Ehrler, who caught five bass weighing 15-11. Fellow REDCREST Champion, REDCREST 2019 winner Edwin Evers of Talala, Oklahoma , sits in third place with five bass weighing 15-6. The full field of 40 anglers will compete again tomorrow for Day 2 of competition. Only the top 20 anglers after Thursday will advance into the Championship Round of competition.
“Today I had a great day, but the plan is just to take this one day at a time,” Connell said. “This is a long week. I knew coming in that if you could figure out the prespawners, it would last. And today I had a really good start. But all that matters is this weekend. That’s the goal, and we’ve got a long way to go. But I feel good about this start.”
Connell caught 15 scorable keeper bass – 14 spotted bass and one largemouth – Wednesday, mainly on a shaky-head rig, a jerkbait and a weightless Googan Baits Lunker Log.
“I left my best area after I caught 15 pounds and just went practicing,” Connell said. “I was catching fish pretty much the entire time. I was just kind of feeling out new areas, trying to see if the fish were doing this, or doing that.
“I’m running a pattern, and this time of the year it works really great around my house,” the Alabama pro continued. “It’s not a certain spot, it’s not a certain three spots. I’m just running and if it looks good, I’m rolling up and fishing it and I think I can catch them. I just feel like I know where they’re coming to and what they’re doing.”
The standings after Day 1 on Lake Norman are:
1st: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., five bass, 16-7
2nd: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., five bass, 15-11
3rd: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., five bass, 15-6
4th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 15-3
5th: Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, five bass, 14-15
6th: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 14-4
7th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., five bass, 13-12
8th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., five bass, 13-11
9th: Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 13-10
10th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., five bass, 12-15
11th: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, five bass, 12-11
12th: Mark Daniels, Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., five bass, 12-7
13th: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., five bass, 12-6
14th: Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla., five bass, 12-3
15th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., five bass, 12-3
16th: Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., five bass, 12-2
17th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., five bass, 12-2
18th: Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 12-0
19th: Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., five bass, 11-15
20th: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 11-12
21st: Shinichi Fukae, Osaka, Japan, five bass, 11-11
22nd: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., five bass, 11-11
23rd: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., five bass, 11-10
24th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 11-10
25th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 11-7
26th: Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 11-7
27th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., five bass, 11-1
28th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., five bass, 11-0
29th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., five bass, 10-15
30th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 10-15
31st: Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 10-13
32nd: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., four bass, 10-8
33rd: Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 10-1
34th: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, five bass, 10-0
35th: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., five bass, 9-12
36th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 8-12
37th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, four bass, 8-0
38th: Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., five bass, 7-12
39th: Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, one bass, 3-15
40th: David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn., two bass, 3-11
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 363 scorable bass weighing 756 pounds, 7 ounces caught by the 40 pros Wednesday.
Evers caught a 6-pound bass in Period 1, throwing a shallow-diving crankbait to earn the day’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
All 40 Anglers compete on Days 1 (Wednesday) and 2 (Thursday) of the event and will score their five heaviest bass each day. After two days of competition, the field is cut to just the top 20 based on two-day total (10 bass) cumulative weight. Weights are zeroed, and the top 20 anglers compete on Day 3 (Friday). The field is trimmed to 15 anglers on Day 4 (Saturday), then the final 10 anglers compete on Day 5 (Sunday). The winner is determined by the heaviest three-day total (15 bass) cumulative weight with the winner earning the top prize of $300,000 and the REDCREST 2023 trophy.
The General Tire Take Off Ceremony will begin at 6:15 a.m., on Thursday through Saturday, and 7:15 a.m. on Championship Sunday, at Blythe Landing Park, located at 15901 N.C. 73 HY, in Huntersville, North Carolina. Anglers will depart at 7 a.m. on Days 1-4, and 8 a.m. on Day 5, and return after competition ends at 4 p.m. on Days 1-4 and 5 p.m. on Day 5. Fans are welcome to attend all launch events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In conjunction with the event, the FREE, family-friendly General Tire Outdoor Sports Expo Presented by Shore Lunch will also take place throughout the weekend, March 10-12 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day at The Park Expo and Conference Center, located at 800 Briar Creek Road, in Charlotte. Fishing and outdoor enthusiasts will have the opportunity to visit numerous booths and vendors, showcasing the latest and greatest in fishing, boating and the outdoors. The biggest names in the outdoor industry will be on hand, including the professional anglers that compete on the Bass Pro Tour and fishing legends like Jimmy Houston, Roland Martin and Hank Parker.
Throughout the day there will be giveaways and prizes, including signed MLF angler jerseys, rods and reels, gift cards, and more. On Friday evening one lucky fan will win a Toro 42-inch TimeCutter Zero Turn Mower, on Saturday night one lucky attendee will win a Tracker Off Road 300 ATV, and on Sunday one lucky attendee will walk away with a brand new 2023 Toyota Tundra SR5 Crew Max. Fans must be present to win the Grand Prize drawings. For more information on the General Tire Outdoor Sports Expo Presented by Shore Lunch, visit REDCRESTExpo.com.
The 2022 Bass Pro Tour featured a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country. The top 40 anglers in the Angler of the Year (AOY) standings after the seven events qualified to compete in REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action from 7:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the first four days of competition, and from 8:15 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Championship Sunday. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch will be showcased across two, two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, July 1 and July 8 on Discovery Channel. Starting in July 2023, MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery Channel, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG + Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, Toro, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Strategy Equals Success at 2023 REDCREST
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
Casey Ashley is no stranger to championship level bass tournaments. The Costa Sunglasses pro has competed in over a dozen of them throughout his 17-year professional fishing career, which includes taking the hardware home in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic on familiar waters of Lake Hartwell when he had the pressure of being the local favorite weighing on him.
Ashley’s calm, cool demeaner could mislead you into thinking he’s an “awh, shucks” type of bass angler, but make no mistake, Ashley is a calculated technician on the water. He enjoys the game planning that competing for the sports’ biggest trophies brings out.
When talking to Ashley last night before the start of official competition he made it clear that in thinking back through all the Classics, Forrest Wood Cups, or REDCREST Championships he’s competed in, Ashley believes he’s never fished a tournament where strategy would be so important as this 2023 REDCREST on Lake Norman.
“I’ve fished all kinds of events whether it be Opens, Tours, Classics or Cups, but I’m here to tell you this REDCREST is a whole different animal,” Ashley admitted.
When pressed on why strategy is so important for this tournament, Ashley gave a glimpse into what he and surely many of his fellow Bass Pro Tour competitors have been processing this week.
“First of all, we have the SCORETRACKER which lets us know where we stand in real time every minute of this derby,” Ashley said. “You always have a number in your head you feel like you gotta catch to make the cut, for me on Norman this week it’s 12-lb but knowing the score changes all of that. Then we have tofactor in our format for this 5-day event, which includes zeroing the weights after day two. So, if you’re going to have a giant bag of fish and really milk an area for all it’s worth, you don’t really want that to happen on days one or two.
“Next you have Lake Norman itself, which is known for throwing curve balls. I’ve fished this lake plenty over the years. It isn’t the kind of place where you can fish for five big largemouth bites a day and expect to excel. It just doesn’t happen here very often, and if it does, you can bet the house that it ain’t gonna happen again tomorrow. You’re going to have to weigh some spots this week to win here. Making decisions of when to lay off your juice and when to keep catching them will be critical in this deal.”
As Ashley explained all the different factors the 40-person REDCREST field is faced with, it paints a complex and impressive picture. Punctuated by the nuances of Lake Norman’s spotted bass versus largemouth conundrum and the weather forecast for the tournament, which features a considerable cold front after being warm and sunny during practice.
Whoever wins the 2023 REDCREST on Sunday will have absolutely earned it. They’ll have navigated through all these variables and more in route to reaching the pinnacle of the sport. A worthy puzzle and playing field for the Bass Pro Tour’s crowning achievement.
The South Carolina pro isn’t a local on Lake Norman, but his prowess in the Carolinas and experience on this fishery put him on the short list of favorites. I wondered if the other 39 competing anglers were considering all these details.
“This field is full of hammers, and they don’t overlook a thing,” Ashley said with a laugh. “The smart ones have been thinking about the intricacies of strategy for weeks. The best ones probably won’t sleep much tonight. Now that doesn’t mean our plans always work out, they usually don’t, but considering all the factors and having a plan is a must for whoever wins this thing.”
With all these considerations swirling around his head, Ashley was looking forward to this morning when his wife Kenzie would back his Toyota Tundra and Triton boat down the Blythe Landing ramp. Just like it is for me and you on a Saturday morning, at that moment it’s time to clear his mind and go fishin’.
Success Looks Crystal Clear to Anglers Wearing Fin-Nor Sunglasses
Fin-Nor eyewear is making waves in the bass and walleye tours this year, with many freshwater pros turning to Fin-Nor because of their superior angler-designed technology. Fin-Nor's exclusive Lateral Line™ lens technology improves vision on the water by enhancing color without distortion and offers a sharper, clearer view while fishing. Each frame is designed for all-day comfort and helps eliminate the barriers the sun creates between an angler and seeing their success crystal clear.
Bassmaster Elite Series pro Joey Cifuentes III found early success in his first year on the Bassmaster Elite series after dropping 85 pounds, 2 ounces on the scales at Lake Seminole, to take home a grand prize of $100,000. Joey's Fin-Nor Pinder sunglasses played a big part in allowing him to keep his focus clear and decision-making sharp throughout his long tournament days.
“It's incredibly important that my eyewear feels comfortable and eliminates fatigue so I can focus on the task at hand.” Says Joey Cifuentes, Fin-Nor bass Pro. “When the stakes are high, I need every advantage I can find during competitions. Fin-Nor sunglasses keep me prepared for the conditions I face out on the water and help me see my environment clearly which has been beneficial for my recent success.”
Fin-Nor has stepped up its angler presence in 2023 by adding nine freshwater anglers to its pro roster. This year's team includes bass pros Hunter Shryock, Joseph Webster, Joey Cifuentes III, Keith Carson, Tom Redington, Jordan Lee, Keith Poche, and walleye pros Chase Parsons and Mark Courts.
Fin-Nor Technology Features:
- Distortion-free color – A balanced approach to color enhancement that intensifies primary colors without color distortion. It creates a more natural and realistic experience that limits eye fatigue and makes it easier for the brain to quickly identify and process the view on and beneath the water's surface.
- Unmatched sharpness and a new era of polarization - Designed to cut through glare and haze, eliminating confusing light and optimizing visibility in aquatic environments, Fin-Nor's superior lens technology reduces blue light transmittance, allowing your vision to cut through mist and haze like no other.
- Engineered for the elements - Enhanced abrasion resistance and the industry's only hydrophobic/oleophobic coatings on both sides of the lenses significantly reduce the negative impact of smudges, dust, and saltwater, which impede the ability to see and can cause permanent lens scratches.
- Precision optics – Fin-Nor sunglasses feature the world's best 7-layer anti-reflective coating on the glass lenses and 5-layer anti-reflective coating on the polycarbonate lenses, which prevents glare on the backside of lenses, sharpens vision, reduces eye strain, and allows for better visual acuity on the water.
- UV blocking layer – Protects eyes 100% against UVB and UVA light.
For more information about Fin-Nor eyewear, visit www.Fin-Nor.com.
Early season apparel
https://youtu.be/h9rGoobtUzU
Vance talks about an alternative to the options that anglers go with this time of the year
Major League Fishing Announces Locations for REDCREST 2024 and REDCREST 2025
BENTON, Ky. (March 7, 2023) – On the eve of REDCREST 2023 Presented by Shore Lunch – the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour championship – MLF announced the destinations for REDCREST 2024 and REDCREST 2025. Birmingham, Alabama, and Lay Lake will host REDCREST 2024, March 13-17, 2024, while REDCREST 2025 will be hosted by Huntsville, Alabama, April 2-6, 2025, with the competition on Lake Guntersville.
REDCREST showcases top Bass Pro Tour anglers competing for the REDCREST Championship trophy and a $300,000 top prize. Anglers compete using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release live-scoring format, with on-the-water tournament action livestreamed to create the biggest watch party in bass fishing.
In addition to the tournaments, both locations will also host the MLF Outdoor Sports Expo featuring hundreds of exhibitors and activities. Fishing and outdoor enthusiasts from around the globe will watch the world's best bass-fishing action live. Fans on site will enjoy the crowd experience of the watch party as well as engage with sponsors and exhibitors to see the latest new tackle, gear, boats and outdoor equipment.
“Professional bass fishing is always a huge draw in Alabama and hosting this event will bring thousands of bass-fishing enthusiasts from around the country to see top anglers and enjoy our world class restaurants, attractions, retailers, and hotels,” said John Oros, Jr., President and CEO of the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The tournament reinforces the fact that the Greater Birmingham area is a great professional and amateur sports destination, and we hope to host a record-breaking event.”
The MLF Outdoor Sports Expo will be held March 15-17, 2024, at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham, and April 4-6, 2025, at the Von Braun Center in Huntsville.
“We are excited about bringing the fishing world to Huntsville for REDCREST 2025,” said Judy Ryals, President and CEO of the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Sitting in the middle of one of the great bass fishing areas in the United States, we look forward to seeing REDCREST continue to grow when it comes to the Rocket City and the Expo takes over the Von Braun Center as we create a one-of-a-kind experience for everyone interested in the sport.”
“We couldn’t be happier to be announcing REDCREST 2024 and REDCREST 2025 in Alabama,” said Michael Mulone, MLF Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. “Birmingham and Huntsville have been extremely successful hosting a variety of sporting events, and we are pleased to work with these top-notch destinations to roll out the red carpet for our fans.
"Putting the best anglers in the world on Lay Lake and Lake Guntersville during that time of year will light up the SCORETRACKER leaderboard,” Mulone continued. “These great fisheries and fantastic cities are going to make REDCREST fun and exciting for all.”
REDCREST SCHEDULE:
- REDCREST 2024 – Lay Lake, Birmingham, Ala., March 13-17, 2024
- REDCREST 2025 – Lake Guntersville, Huntsville, Ala., April 2-6, 2025
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.
How “MDJ” will find fish on unfamiliar Lake Norman
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
When Team Toyota’s Mark Daniels Jr. competes in his third REDCRESTthis week, he’ll be answering one of bass fishing’s most commonly asked questions … “How do you find and catch fish on a lake you’re unfamiliar with?”
While the task of locating bass in unfamiliar waters can be daunting to amateur anglers, it’s actually a situation “MDJ” embraces. “I’ve never once competed on Lake Norman, but honestly, that doesn’t freak me out. Actually, I kind of like it, because more times than not, too much history can hurt you,” says Daniels.
Lake Norman is fairly massive, and REDCREST pros only have two days of official practice, so Daniels utilized technology, and started dissecting Norman at home by studying Google Earth.
“It’s an interesting body of water that features a lot of offshore structure, rock humps, and a gazillion boat docks that always play a factor in tournaments on Norman. But with limited time and a love of power fishing moving baits, I’m going to focus on the more off-colored, shallower water in the upper stretches of the lake,” explains Daniels.
Sticking to your strengths is a tactic that all top pros utilize, especially on water they’re unfamiliar with. So his plans to sling around a ½-ounce Rat-L-Trap and a squarebill crankbait in the more stained water portions of 32,000 surface acre reservoir come as no surprise.
While busting a big 16 or 18-pound limit on Norman is certainly not out of the question, catching 11 or 12 pounds daily will likely carry Daniels far into the elimination rounds, so his goal is not to swing for grand slam home runs, but to instead remain realistic and maximize what the lake historically surrenders.
Playing the role of part-time meteorologists is also critical to all pros’dissection of the best strategy for any given day on the water, and with chilly spring temps returning to the Charlotte area, Daniels says locating shallower pockets that warm faster will also be a key part of his approach.
“Breaking down unfamiliar water starts at home on the computer, but ultimately rides on finding and fishing areas that feel familiar to me with lures I have the most confidence in,” summarizes Daniels. “And you always have to fish the moment based on what the weather is doing,” he adds.
Not getting too locked-in on a single pattern is essential, and a major difference between the pro approach and the struggles of amateurs. Savvy pros are masters at following their intuition. So Daniels is keeping an open mind.
“I’ve been known to be a little spontaneous. So, I’ll do all I can to figure things out up-lake, but if I’m struggling, I won’t be one bit afraid to eject and run 20-miles down lake to try something new,” he laughs in conclusion.
Map study, followed by pairing seasonal patterns with self-confidence, and paying careful attention to the weather – all keys to how a top pro finds fish in unfamiliar waters. Oh, and a pinch of intuitive spontaneity never hurts either.
Three lures KVD will count-on most at REDCREST
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
In New Orleans, 22 years ago, it was a black and blue jig than won him his first one. Four years later, in ultra-tough Pittsburgh, an old school Rogue brought home the hardware. Then from the cold waters of Lay Lake, a Red Eye Shad scored his third one in 2010, and the very next year, a spinnerbait-squarebill combo in New Orleans made him an undisputable legend.
The lures that helped make “KVD” a 4-time world champion and bass fishing’s G.O.A.T.!
So, what lures will be in his starting line-up as he begins his hunt for his fifth world title at REDCREST 2023, just a few weeks after announcing this will be his final season to compete as a touring professional bass angler?
“Well, no surprise, two of the three are going to be power fishing baits. A jerkbait and a crankbait. Lake Norman has blueback herring, so the bass are pretty nomadic, which means I want to be throwing baits I can stay on the move with, versus slowing down in one spot for too long,” says VanDam.
His third choice is a Strike King Baby Z Too, largely because of its versatility with so many finesse tactics, should the chilly weather that’s forecasted slow the bite way down.
Just as he plans to do in retirement, VanDam graciously explained why he chose each of the three featured lures, to help all of us be better anglers.
Jerkbait
“Lake Norman is largely a clear water reservoir, and jerkbaits really shine in clear water because they attract bass visually. Plus, very few lures will outperform a jerkbait in late winter and early spring. It’s one of my all-time favorite lures, and one I have a ton of confidence in,” says VanDam.
He’ll use the KVD 300 series around docks, and anytime he’s in water less than 10-feet deep but reaches for the 300D to fish depths ranging from 15 to 25-feet of water.
Strike King 3XD Crankbait
“What I love most about the 3XD is its small body. That smaller profile gets bites that bigger-bodied crankbaits won’t get, and it does a great job of diving to that 10-12-foot-deep zone that should be a player at this time of year,” he explains.
If things get tough
“Obviously, I hope I can catch them power fishing, but if things get tough, and I have to slow down, I want a bag of Strike King Baby Z Toos handy. I can put that little 3.5” soft plastic baitfish imitator on a shaky head, or I can put it on a little swimbait jig head. Heck, I can even drop shot with it. So, it’s just super versatile, and at Lake Norman you better always have a finesse presentation ready to go,” advises VanDam.
Three make sense selections for REDCREST as chosen by The G.O.A.T.. Could one of these three possibly deliver world championship #5?
Stay tuned. VanDam will have a ton of eyes on him this week. Everybody’s watching as the best to ever do it competes in his ‘final games’ this season.
Major League Fishing in Oakley Next Week for Toyota Series at California Delta
BETHEL ISLAND, Calif. (March 7, 2023) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is headed to the California Delta next week, March 15-17, for the Toyota Series at the California Delta Presented by Psycho Tuna. The three-day tournament, hosted by the City of Oakley, is the second of three regular-season events in the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse.
The MLF Toyota Series offers the biggest payouts for the lowest entry fees of any national tournament trail. The Toyota Series is the only Western trail that offers advancement to the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship, where pros fish for $235,000, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, and co-anglers compete for a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat powered by a 115 HP Mercury.
“I haven’t been to the Delta in a while, but I know that it is an amazing fishery and the fishing is good right now, so this Toyota Series tournament is going to be a really great event,” said Bass Pro Tour pro Brent Ehrler of Redlands, California. “We’ve gotten a lot of rain, and even some snow, lately, and that could really dirty the water up. So, my guess is that we’re going to see some different baits than usual being really effective there in this one.
“With dirty water, big flashy bright stuff is going to be important,” Ehrler continued. “Guys are going to catch them on spinnerbaits, which always work there but have never been that bait that really shined, there. Reaction-type baits, and red is important. Red ChatterBaits. I’d be throwing a Lucky Craft BDS3 and BDS4 – big shallow-running crankbaits. And then standard flipping stuff will play there as well.”
Ehrler said that for anglers targeting clear water, California Delta staples like Yamamoto Senkos and drop-shot rigs would be important.
“The weird thing about that place is it tough to predict a winning weight,” Ehrler went on to say. “If the fishing is good, and there is a strong prespawn bite, it could take 75 pounds over three days. Or, if it’s tough and they’re not really biting, it could be around 60 pounds. I predict that someone will catch 23 to 25 pounds one day, then he’ll back it up with 20, then 16 on the final day and win the tournament. I think the winner is going to need at least 61 pounds in this one.”
Anglers will take off each day at 7 a.m. PT from Russo’s Marina, located at 3995 Willow Road in Bethel Island. Weigh-ins will also be held at the marina and will begin at 3 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: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Black Rifle Coffee Company, E3, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Gill, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees Readies for Toyota Series Plains Division Opener
GROVE, Okla. (March 7, 2023) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is set to visit Grove, Oklahoma, and Grand Lake, next week, March 16-18, for the Plains Division opener – the Toyota Series at Grand Lake . The three-day tournament, hosted by the City of Grove, will feature a roster of the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers competing for a top prize of up to $100,000 in the pro division and a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor in the co-angler division.
“Things are happening quickly on Grand Lake right now, and everything seems to be changing day to day, but I expect that this event will definitely be a prespawn tournament,” said Bass Pro Tour pro James Elam of Tulsa, Oklahoma. “The fish are still in a solid winter pattern – we may see some very early prespawn action, but keying in on the staging fish is going to be the key.
“A variety of things will work,” Elam continued. “That’s the cool thing about Grand Lake – the tournament can be won anywhere, and guys are going to be able to fish their strengths. I’d figure out a couple of solid areas to go on and then just try to expand on that as the tournament goes on.”
Elam said that he expects umbrella rigs, jerkbaits, crankbaits and jigs to be big players in this event, and that for anglers targeting stained water ChatterBaits and spinnerbaits would be strong options.
“It’s going to be a really similar event to what we saw in REDCREST at Grand Lake last year,” Elam said. “I think someone will probably come in with 23 pounds on the first day, then they’ll back it up with a couple of 17- and 18-pound limits. Over three days, I predict the winner will weigh in right around 56 to 58 pounds – let’s call it 55 to 60 pounds, just to be safe. This is going to be a great tournament.”
Anglers will take off each day at 7:30 a.m. CT from Wolf Creek Park, located at 963 N. 16th St., in Grove. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park and will begin at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend and encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of $40,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of $65,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard (valued at $33,500) plus $5,000 cash.
The 2023 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2024. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2023 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 2-4 on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, and is hosted by ExploreBranson.com.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Toyota Series include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Black Rifle Coffee Company, E3, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Gill, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Wisconsin championship team will take center stage at Bassmaster Classic
The 2022 Strike King Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors champions Reece Keeney and Bryce Moder will be participating in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota in Knoxville, Tenn.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.
March 7, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Northeast Wisconsin Bass Club team of Reece Keeney and Bryce Moder are no strangers to the big stage. Prior to winning the 2022 Strike King Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, the duo competed in the 2016 and 2017 Bassmaster Junior National Championships, too.
Now, Keeney and Moder are preparing to set foot on sportfishing’s biggest stage.
Keeney and Moder will be participating in the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota in Knoxville, Tenn., March 24-26. Each day, the team will lead out the field of 55 anglers onto the Tennessee River in front of scores of enthusiastic fans.
“We’re so appreciative of Academy Sports + Outdoors and B.A.S.S. for the opportunity to do this,” said Moder. “We’re so honored and will cherish this forever … It’s going to be something we never forget.”
In addition to serving as the lead-out boat, Keeney and Moder will be honored at the exclusive Night of Champions event and participate in Bassmaster Classic Media Day presented by Power-Pole.
“Every kid who fishes wants to compete in the Bassmaster Classic. Getting this taste of being part of the Classic will, I think, make me want to work a lot harder to get back and compete one day,” said Keeney, a member of the 2022 Bassmaster High School All-State Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors. “Without Academy Sports + Outdoors, we wouldn’t be able to do this.”
While Moder is still in high school, Keeney has moved on to the college ranks and is currently fishing for Kentucky Christian University.
The Last Dance
Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour angler Kevin VanDam joins to talk about the upcoming REDCREST championship and his future plans
Sabbagha Gets ‘Surprise’ Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Santee Cooper
Robbins Claims Strike King Co-Angler Division Victory
SUMMERTON, S.C. (March 6, 2023) – Boater Joey Sabbagha of Prosperity, South Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 23 pounds, 3 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Santee Cooper . The tournament, hosted by the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce, was the second event for the BFL South Carolina Division. Sabbagha earned $6,000 for his victory.
“During practice I found some fish in the lower lake that were staging in some shallow depressions on some flats,” said Sabbagha, who notched his second BFL win. “So, I ran that pattern of five depressions I found that had fish laying in them. I just rotated through them with a Berkley spinnerbait.”
Sabbagha said he targeted flats in 3½ feet of water, where the subtle depressions lay in four feet of water. The method provided Sabbagha with his weigh fish within his first two stops on tournament day. He said he caught nine keepers during the day, but wasn’t able to improve his weight. That early weight, however, turned out to be enough for the win.
“I expected it to take 26 to 28 pounds to win,” Sabbagha said. “But we had a storm come through the night before the tournament and it muddied up some of the water, and I think that affected the fish.
“To get the win on my favorite lake is pretty awesome,” added Sabbagha. “I’m very surprised and happy with it.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Joey Sabbagha, Prosperity, S.C., five bass, 23-3, $6,000
2nd: Mark Hutson, Moncks Corner, S.C., five bass, 21-1, $3,000
3rd: Robert Clarke III, Pineville, S.C., five bass, 20-10, $2,000
4th: Jack Belt, Fountain Inn, S.C., five bass, 19-12, $1,400
5th: Chuck Howard, Elloree, S.C., five bass, 19-10, $2,200
6th: Greg Rikard, Leesville, S.C., five bass, 18-12, $2,570 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
7th: Bryan Cook, Vance, S.C., five bass, 17-15, $1,000
8th: Matt Wieteha, Miami, Fla., five bass, 17-14, $900
9th: Corey Hymer, Bridgeton, N.J., five bass, 17-5, $800
10th: Freddie Gibbs, Darlington, S.C., five bass, 17-3, $700
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Chuck Howard of Elloree, South Carolina, caught a bass that weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $1,000.
Jerry Robbins of Asheboro, North Carolina, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $3,000 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 17 pounds, 12 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Jerry Robbins, Asheboro, N.C., five bass, 17-12, $3,000
2nd: Samuel Jones, Fuquay Varina, N.C., four bass, 13-5, $1,500
3rd: Bobby Henderson, Charlotte, N.C., five bass, 13-2, $1,400
4th: Alan Bennett, Greenwood, S.C., five bass, 12-10, $700
5th: Scott Bowers, Woodbridge, Va., four bass, 12-7, $600
6th: Jeff Bissen, Lugoff, S.C., four bass, 12-2, $550
7th: Dustin Powell, Lake City, S.C., three bass, 11-12, $500
8th: Justin Antley, Ladson, S.C., four bass, 11-3, $450
9th: Tyler Hensley, Bostic, N.C., four bass, 10-14, $400
10th: Wesley Mullins, Guyton, Ga., four bass, 10-1, $350
Joe Case of Easley, South Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $500, catching a bass that weighed in at 8 pounds, 2 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After two events, Chuck Howard of Elloree, South Carolina, leads the BFL South Carolina Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 494 points, while Bobby Henderson of Charlotte, North Carolina, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 484 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 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: 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, 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.Read more
Burdette Claims Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Smith Mountain Lake
Gray Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
HUDDLESTON, Va. (March 6, 2023) – Boater Dennis Burdette of Pembroke, Virginia, caught a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 15 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Smith Mountain Lake . The tournament was the first event for the BFL Piedmont Division. Burdette earned $12,981, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
“I started out mid-lake around the state park and fished wind-blown banks and points,” said Burdette. “Really, anything that had rock on it that the wind was beating. It was all about the wind; I chased it all day.”
Burdette said his baits of choice during the tournament were a Rapala DT6 crankbait, a Megabass jerkbait and an Alabama rig, and he caught most of his 12 keepers in two to six feet of water.
“They were all right on the bank,” Burdette said. “You’d crank the crankbait two or three times and they were on it. It slowed down later in the day, but thankfully I caught the right ones early on.
“To be on my home lake with all the great fishermen that fish here in the BFLs … it just feels great to win this,” Burdette added.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Dennis Burdette, Pembroke, Va., five bass, 22-15, $12,981 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Dennis Stump, Madison Heights, Va., five bass, 22-5, $2,490
3rd: Paul Worthington, Benson, N.C., five bass, 20-3, $1,662
4th: Chris Brummett, Lynch Station, Va., five bass, 18-0, $2,642
5th: Ian Branson, Salem, Va., five bass, 17-12, $996
6th: Broderick Luckey, Lynchburg, Va., five bass, 17-5, $913
7th: Hunter Smith, Williamsburg, Va., five bass, 17-0, $830
8th: Scott Banton, Midlothian, Va., five bass, 16-8, $747
9th: Adam White, Graham, N.C., five bass, 16-4, $664
10th: Tyler Trent, Nathalie, Va., five bass, 16-3, $581
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Chris Brummett of Lynch Station, Virginia, caught a bass that weighed 8 pounds, 6 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $760.
Dylan Gray of Goode, Virginia, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,490 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 16 pounds, 3 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Dylan Gray, Goode, Va., five bass, 16-3, $2,490
2nd: Dustin Riddle, Hiwassee, Va., five bass, 14-14, $1,245
3rd: Jacob Waller, Chatham, Va., three bass, 11-5, $1,029
4th: Scott Howard, Bedford, Va., five bass, 10-9, $539
4th: Brandon Miskell, Vienna, Va., two bass, 10-9, $729
6th: Dakoda Lucy, South Hill, Va., three bass, 10-5, $647
7th: Trevor Holman, Durham, N.C., four bass, 9-3, $394
7th: Patrick Hash, Roanoke, Va., three bass, 9-3, $394
9th: Brian Byrd, Roanoke, Va., three bass, 9-0, $332
10th: Timothy Kinder, Fairfax, Va., four bass, 8-10, $441
Dakoda Lucy of South Hill, Virginia, and Brandon Miskell of Vienna, Virginia, both caught bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 3 ounces to split the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $380.
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, 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.
Koski Goes Slow and Shallow, Nets Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Ross Barnett Reservoir
Thornton Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
BRANDON, Miss. (March 6, 2023) – Boater Chuck Koski of Madison, Mississippi, caught a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds, 7 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Ross Barnett Reservoir. The tournament was the first event of the season for the BFL Mississippi Division. Koski earned $4,804 for his victory.
Koski said low water and muddy conditions on Ross Barnett forced him to search for better backwater bites. He slowed down his approach and targeted stumps and grass in shallow water with soft-plastic lizards and craw worms to boat his bag.
“I had two little pockets that I idled probably 45 minutes in and out to get to,” Koski said. “But then I found fish and caught them in 1½ to 2 feet of water. The trolling motor was churning mud all day long.”
Koski said he had four fish at 11 a.m. and relocated up river to another backwater hole, where he caught his fifth keeper and managed to cull once to add to his total weight.
“It wasn’t a great day of fishing,” Koski said. “The bites I got were good ones. This is the first BFL tournament I’ve fished in five or six years, so this win was a nice surprise.
“I never thought I had a chance to win this,” Koski added. “I was just hoping to be in the top five. I’ve had my feelings hurt many times coming to weigh-in with bigger bags than this on this lake this time of year. I feel like I never have enough on this lake.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Chuck Koski, Madison, Miss., five bass, 18-7, $4,804
2nd: Michael Aycock, Petal, Miss., five bass, 17-3, $1,902
3rd: Steven McCrea, Vancleave, Miss., five bass, 16-8, $1,267
4th: Terry Whittington, Laurel, Miss., five bass, 13-13, $888
5th: Johnny Simmons, Oxford, Miss., four bass, 13-6, $761
6th: Hayze Hutzel, Flowood, Miss., five bass, 13-3, $697
7th: Teddy Cranford, Collins, Miss., five bass, 12-14, $834
8th: Corey Sullivan, Brandon, Miss., four bass, 12-0, $507
8th: Marc Gatwood, Hattiesburg, Miss., five bass, 12-0, $507
8th: Ivy Bradshaw, Brandon, Miss, four bass, 12-0, $507
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Dakota Fleming of Oak Grove, Louisiana, caught a largemouth that weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $505.
Reggie Thornton of Columbus, Mississippi, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,902 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 15 pounds, 9 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Reggie Thornton, Columbus, Miss., five bass, 15-9, $1,902
2nd: Tanner Peavy, Sumrall, Miss., two bass, 12-13, $1,203
3rd: Kevin Wisnoski, Canton, Miss, three bass, 11-5, $634
4th: Hunter Averett, Carriere, Miss., four bass, 11-1, $444
5th: Chase Fernandez, Mobile, Ala., four bass, 10-6, $380
6th: Austin Waldrup, Ellisville, Miss., four bass, 9-7, $349
7th: Ansel Davis, Tylertown, Miss., three bass, 8-13, $317
8th: David Wheat, Philadelphia, Miss., three bass, 7-11, $285
9th: Jimmy Hughes, Bartlett, Tenn., two bass, 6-14, $254
10th: Clay Chancellor, Louisville, Miss., three bass, 6-5, $222
Tanner Peavy of Sumrall, Mississippi, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $252, catching a largemouth that weighed in at 7 pounds, 9 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
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, 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.
McDonald Kicks Off Season With Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Grand Lake
Moss Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
GROVE, Okla. (March 6, 2023) – Boater Brendon McDonald of Claremore, Oklahoma, caught a five-bass limit weighing 21 pounds, 12 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Grand Lake. The tournament, hosted by the City of Grove, was the first event of the year for the BFL Okie Division. McDonald earned $7,000 for his victory.
“It was a bit chilly this morning,” McDonald said with a laugh. “I ran to my first spot and fished for about 20 minutes and ended up hooking a fish that weighed 7-4, and that was the first fish in the livewell.”
McDonald said he landed another bass in that area and then decided to relocate. The mid-lake move paid off, as McDonald finished out his limit by fishing shallow brush. McDonald said he caught eight fish during the course of the tournament, and had his limit by 10:30 a.m. McDonald utilized an Alabama rig with Keitech swimbaits as well as a Berkley Stunna Jerkbait 12 to boat his bass.
“I didn’t figure I’d win the tournament, but I thought I’d be in the top five,” McDonald said. “This win feels great. I had taken a few years off after fishing with a torn ACL. But I thought, ‘I’m not getting any younger and it’s time to see what I can do. I put my focus on fishing the BFLs this year, and it feels good to get the year started off the right way.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Brendan McDonald, Claremore, Okla., five bass, 21-12, $7,000
2nd: Kyle Kitts, Joplin, Mo., five bass, 19-0, $3,000
3rd: Justin Barbour, Tulsa, Okla., five bass, 18-11, $2,000
4th: Sheldon Collings, Grove, Okla., five bass, 18-0, $1,400
5th: T.J. Martin, Claremore, Okla., five bass, 17-6, $1,700 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
6th: Kirk Smith, Edmond, Okla., five bass, 17-2, $1,300
7th: Mick Fenn, Grove, Okla., five bass, 16-7, $1,520
8th: Roger Fitzpatrick, Eldon, Mo., five bass, 16-4, $900
9th: Nathen Luce, Claremore, Okla., five bass, 16-2, $800
10th: Kevin Miller, Shell Knob, Mo., five bass, 15-11, $700
Complete results can be found at
.com.
McDonald’s 7-pound, 4-ounce bass earned him the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $1,000.
Jeff Moss of Oronogo, Missouri, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $3,750 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 13 pounds, 3 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Jeff Moss, Oronogo, Mo., five bass, 13-3, $3,750
2nd: Jacob Cooper, Leon, Kan., four bass, 11-11, $1,500
3rd: Sydney McCoy, Oklahoma City, Okla., three bass, 11-3, $1,000
4th: Ken Hagar, Colcord, Okla., five bass, 10-1, $700
5th: Tanner Ray, Owasso, Okla., two bass, 9-3, $1,100
6th: Steve Duncan, Amarillo, Texas, two bass, 7-14, $550
7th: Kaleb O’Brien, Wagoner, Okla., two bass, 7-11, $500
8th: Bryce Steel, Wagoner, Okla., two bass, 6-13, $450
9th: Ronnie Weisinger, Miami, Okla., one bass, 6-7, $400
10th: Michael Shistine, Springdale, Ark., one bass, 5-14, $350
Tanner Ray of Owasso, Oklahoma earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $500, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 12 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
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, 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.
Moll Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Debut at Kentucky and Barkley Lakes Event
Ordunez Dominates Strike King Co-Angler Division
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (March 6, 2023) – Boater Sam Moll of Hershey, Pennsylvania, caught a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 7 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 first event of the season for the BFL LBL Division. Moll’s BFL Boater Division debut win earned him $5,024.
Moll, who also fishes for the Murray State College Fishing team in Murray, Kentucky, said the tournament set up well for him, as the TVA was providing a lot of current. Moll said he likes to fish current at his home waters of the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania. Moll said the Pennsylvania concepts applied to the Kentucky waters for the tournament.
“We pulled up and my co-angler caught a 5-pound largemouth early, and I caught about 17 pounds of smallmouth, and I had a limit within 45 minutes,” Moll said. “We just kept running current breaks all day.
“I caught a bunch of little ones – probably 40 that weighed 2½ to 3 pounds,” Moll added. “I was getting a little nervous, though, because I knew I needed some bigger ones.”
Moll said rain that occurred the day before the tournament played a key role in his win. He said he fished in five to seven feet of water from Moors Resort to Paris, Tennessee, and looked for clear water where bass were more likely to be found. He said he threw an Alabama rig, but switched to his go-to – a swimbait – when he found clear water. Moll said his two biggest fish came on the swimbait with an hour left to finish in the tournament.
“I wasn’t confident with my weight,” Moll said. “I thought I would be in the top 3, but I didn’t think I had enough to win. My buddy caught a 7-pounder last week on Kentucky Lake, and I thought that somebody would catch a couple of 4-pounders and then get lucky and catch a real big one, too. So, I was nervous.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Sam Moll, Hershey, Pa., five bass, 22-7, $5,024
2nd: Stephen Barga, Benton, Ky., five bass, 20-15, $2,512
3rd: Dan Morehead, Paducah, Ky., five bass, 20-7, $1,894
4th: Toby Corn, Paducah, Ky, five bass, 20-4, $1,172
5th: Richard Meuth, Henderson, Ky., five bass, 20-1, $1,005
6th: Marty Sisk, Evansville, Ind., five bass, 19-4, $921
7th: Harbor Lovin, New Concord, Ky., five bass, 18-15, $837
8th: David Young, Mayfield, Ky., five bass, 18-11, $754
9th: Todd Hollowell, Fishers, Ind., five bass, 17-4, $670
10th: Mike Summers, Fisherville, Ky., five bass, 16-8, $586
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Keith Bailey of Simpson, Illinois, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 3 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $775.
Jesse Ordunez of Gilbertsville, Kentucky, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,662 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 22 pounds, 1 ounce.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Jesse Ordunez, Gilbertsville, Ky., five bass, 22-1, $2,662
2nd: Jacob Bovara, Wadsworth, Ill., five bass, 14-5, $1,237
3rd: Gary Huber II, Saint Charles, Mo., four bass, 13-4, $824
4th: Cowboy Tidwell, Madisonville, Ky., five bass, 12-10, $577
5th: Andrew Greene, Pegram, Tenn., five bass, 11-14, $495
6th: Cody Oliver, Kokomo, Ind., five bass, 11-5, $454
7th: Kevin Hancock, Marion, Ky., three bass, 11-2, $600
8th: Robert Burnette, Madisonville, Ky., three bass, 10-7, $571
9th: Jerry North II, Three Way, Tenn., four bass, 10-2, $330
10th: Ronald Franks, Hermitage, Tenn., three bass, 10-1, $289
Jesse Ordunez of Gilbertsville, Kentucky, and Kevin Hancock of Marion, Kentucky, each caught bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 6 ounces to split the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $376.
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, 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.
McClung Claims Hometown Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on West Point Lake
Winkler Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
LAGRANGE, Ga. (March 6, 2023) – Boater David McClung of LaGrange, Georgia, caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds even Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on West Point Lake. The tournament, hosted by Visit LaGrange, was the second event for the BFL Bulldog Division. McClung earned $4,729 for his victory.
“I expected to catch a good bag this morning fishing main-lake points,” said McClung. “But that wasn’t happening. We didn’t have any wind and the water was too clear. So, I basically just looked for stained water in the backs of the creeks. We caught 15 to 20 spotted bass in the morning on a crankbait.”
McClung said both of his largest bass were caught on an Untamed Tackle Ace Jig in black and blue. He said he also rotated through chatter-style baits, swimbaits and square-bill crankbaits.
“I just caught them and put them in the livewell,” McClung said. “I didn’t weigh them. I thought I had between 16 to 17 pounds, and I knew that would be good enough for a good shot at a top-3 finish. But you never know at this lake.
“I knew there was a chance for a win,” McClung added. “Usually if you can get two kicker fish and three decent filler fish you always have a chance. This feels good, man. It’s been a long time coming.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: David McClung, LaGrange, Ga., five bass, 20-0, $4,729
2nd: Robert Benson, Dahlonega, Ga., five bass, 18-3, $3,569 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
3rd: Blake Tomlin, Greenville, Ga., five bass, 17-8, $1,576
4th: Holland Harris, Dothan, Ala., five bass, 15-8, $1,103
5th: Bryan Asay, Newnan, Ga., five bass, 14-1, $946
6th: Dustin Smith, Lake Mary, Fla., five bass, 13-4, $867
7th: Lane Wright, Alpharetta, Ga., five bass, 13-2, $788
8th: Rock Crowe, Valley, Ala., five bass, 12-15, $709
9th: Kyle Welcher, Opelika, Ala., five bass, 12-10, $851
10th: Cory Mathis, Newnan, Ga., five bass, 12-9, $552
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Robert Benson of Dahlonega, Georgia, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 11 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $705.
Benjie Winkler of Cleveland, Georgia, won the Strike King co-angler division and a total of $2,305 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 12 pounds, 11 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Benjie Winkler, Cleveland, Ga., five bass, 12-11, $2,305
2nd: Mark Ware, LaGrange, Ga., five bass, 10-12, $960
2nd: Jackson Riddle, Watkinsville, Ga., five bass, 10-12, $960
4th: Tony Stevens, Monroe, Ga., five bass, 10-1, $538
5th: Austin Robinson, Temple, Ga., five bass, 10-0, $461
6th: Lance Spencer, Donalsonville, Ga., five bass, 9-10, $423
7th: Steve Walls, Cumming, Ga., five bass, 9-9, $584
8th: Kelly Reese, Cartersville, Ga., five bass, 9-8, $496
9th: Randy Reese, Woodstock, Ga., five bass, 9-6, $288
9th: Justin Foster, Thomaston, Ga., five bass, 9-6, $288
Donald Dills of Mineral Bluff, Georgia, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $335, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 10 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After two events, Matthew O’Connell of Brooks, Georgia, leads the BFL Bulldog Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 476 points, while Lance Spencer of Donalsonville, Georgia, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 495 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: 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, 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.
BILL TO CAP UNFAIR TOURNAMENT FEES CLEARS FIRST HURDLE
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Grassroots push and NPAA backing float bill to Senate with high hopes for approval. |
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Forestville, WI (March 6, 2023) – The economic impact for a community hosting a major fishing tournament can be substantial. Local and regional tournaments generate commerce, too, and add to the vitality of a region. Student anglers become more engrained in conservation with every moment they spend on the water. And charitable fishing tournaments raise funds for numerous great causes. But in North Dakota, all the above have been hindered by exorbitant state fees. Fortunately, a group of commonsense fishing and conservation advocates in the Peace Garden State invested in making real change... “It’s official, House Bill 1538 has passed through the North Dakota House of Representatives by a vote of 90-2-2!” proclaimed Geremy Olson of Washburn, ND, soon after receiving the good news in late February. “Now it’s onto the North Dakota Senate and then the Governor’s desk to be signed into law, we hope. We really need this bill to go all the way because it’s necessary to put North Dakota on a level playing field with surrounding states when it comes to holding high-quality fishing tournaments on our waters.” |
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House Bill 1538 will remove barriers for high school angling in North Dakota. High school angling is growing rapidly in other states. |
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Designed to right a wrong that has unfairly imposed exorbitant fees on fishing tournament organizers, severely restricted the fundraising potential of charity fishing events, and deterred major fishing tours like the National Walleye Tour (NWT), Masters Walleye Circuit (MWC) and some of the large bass tournaments from investing in North Dakota, passing through the House was a major hurdle to clear. It’s not only a big win for anyone who enjoys competitive tournament fishing across the state, but also small businesses, communities, charities, and future student anglers in North Dakota. According to Olson, who helped author the bill, it was grass roots activism, including individuals and communities that have been negatively affected by the current rule, along with backing from top level recreational fishing advocacy organizations such as the National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA), that culminated in this initial victory – but it will take more effort to push the bill through the North Dakota Senate and, eventually, across the Governor’s desk for a final sign-off. “As things stand now,” explains Olson, who is an NPAA supporting partner and a long time NPAA member, “any entity that wishes to host a fishing tournament in North Dakota must first obtain a permit. The cost for the permit is a 10% conservation fee based on the entry and participation fees generated by the tournament. That formula eats up a significant amount of the profits – or funds raised at charity fishing tournaments. Until recently, there was a $5,000 cap on the conservation fee, which is used for projects such as building and improving boat ramps, but North Dakota Game and Fish quietly removed that cap in 2020 during the pandemic causing the fee for some tournaments to more than double. In the case of the National Walleye Tour, the conservation fee could be over $45,000 with a full field. This is a virtual ban on national tournaments coming to North Dakota. It’s simply price prohibitive. Major fishing trails have been staying away from North Dakota since the fees for them to host such tournaments are now far too high.” |
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Large national events are a huge economic boost to communities. (Bassmaster Classic weigh-in image courtesy of BASS.) |
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The conservation fees are also a serious barrier to student angling. The current rules require a high school fishing team to get a tournament permit just to practice if they have more than 15 boats. A $10,000 conservation fee is also required if a student tournament is free to enter but gives away scholarships. So, the conservation fees student tournaments must pay are now enormous, especially compared to our surrounding states. “Student anglers are losing opportunities, towns that would like to host fishing tournaments are losing hundreds of thousands of dollars in revenue, and North Dakotans who would like to compete on their home waters while fishing on a national stage are taking their competitive efforts to neighboring states,” continues Olson. “In Minnesota, the tournament permit fee costs $250. In Wisconsin, it's $25 – and in South Dakota it’s free no matter the amount of entry fees. “How are we supposed to compete with that?” he asks, incredulously. According to Patrick Neu, NPAA’s president, the organization was quickly notified by members and partners when the rule was changed to remove the cap. NPAA immediately stepped in to initiate and coordinate a rapid and strong response, which included working with Olson and a committed group of anglers and community leaders to write and introduce at the state level a law that would stop hurting communities and businesses in North Dakota, while meeting the needs of those who run and participate in fishing tournaments across the state. |
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Free youth fishing clinics are often part of a tournament weekend. |
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Removing that $5,000 cap on the conservation fee from the current rule drastically affected the future of high-level fishing tournament events in North Dakota,” explained Neu, “Our response was to immediately make our members aware of the change while encouraging them to get involved in rectifying the situation by reaching out to local and state representatives. We also got behind the growing grassroots movement, meeting with the State’s Game and Fish Department and enforcement agencies and rallying support from other significant recreational fishing organizations including the American Sportfishing Association and Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation.” With the bill now headed to the North Dakota Senate, the state’s anglers, NPAA’s members, and a substantial supporting cast from other recreational fishing advocacy organizations, are doubling-down on their grassroots efforts to replace the unjust 10% conservation tax with an equally applied permit fee. Doing this will make student angling possible, allow charities to have successful fundraising events, and bring back national tournament fishing events to North Dakota, while raising more money for conservation and access projects at the local level. “I think we are on the right track now,” says Olson. “Everyone involved intends to keep the pressure on. Removing the cap on the conservation fee was devastating to the communities here. With help from the NPAA, as well as other recreational fishing organizations, individual anglers, and the rest of our grassroots movement, we are hoping this bill gets signed into law and at least some of those well-recognized tournament trails will be back in the future. Thanks to all who have lent support to our efforts, and please keep up the great work. This wouldn’t be possible without your help.” |
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Patrick Neu, NPAA president is among the contingent of industry advocates that met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill in April of 2022. |
LOOKING AHEAD TO THE 2023 SEASON
The 2023 NPFL season is getting ready to blast off with Pickwick Lake first up March 15-17.
Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
As the 2023 season approaches and the anglers make their way to Pickwick Lake for Stop number 1 on March 15-17, the preparation and anticipation have begun, with the anglers looking forward to getting the season started. With lots of returning anglers, and several new folks to the NPFL tournament trail, we connected with a few of each to get the inside scoop of their journey to ‘the league’ and the events they have their eyes on.
Hailing from Georgia, Will Harkins has lots of history on Lake Lanier and is surely looking forward to stop number 6. The spotted bass fishery is within an hour from his home base in Blairsville, and the opportunity to compete on the professional level on one of his favorite lakes is worth the excitement.
“When god opens a door, you walk through, and that is exactly what I did with the NPFL this season,” said Harkins. “Adding Lanier to the schedule is a bonus as I have spent many days out there fishing. October is a weird time of year but anytime I can chase down spotted bass on that fishery, I am happy.”
Harkins loves to spend time offshore with a spinning rod in hand and growing up on Lake Lanier and Chatuge Lake certainly played a hand. With that said, shallow water lakes are not in his wheelhouse but the opportunity to expand and fish new places is something he is looking forward to.
“Wright Patman is one of those lakes where I definitely have no history and my strengths don’t include shallow fishing,” he said. I have the support this season – the Blairsville Chamber of Commerce, Heavens Harvest and Cameo Fencing – and the drive to make it happen. I am excited for the new experience.”
Stephanie Hemphill-Pellerin is from Texas and is certainly not new to the fishing scene. Having spent several years fishing regional and national trails, the opportunity to hop on board with the NPFL was an easy decision.
“I have heard many great things about the NPFL from the “family” environment to the structure of the tournaments,” Said Hemphill-Pellerin. Also, the top prize of $100,000 is enough to catch the attention of any tournament angler.”
While living in Texas, it’s obvious the northern fisheries are not on top of her list of places with history, and the addition of wind and waves is even less appealing. Additionally, Wright Patman is a cool four hour drive from Village Mills. The event that best suits her fishing style for the season is Pickwick Lake.
“I really enjoy fishing bluff walls and current based lakes in general,” she added. “Watching them eat a jerkbait on Humminbird MEGA Live, fishing offshore with a dropshot, or just picking the bank apart with a stick bait are all things I enjoy – I just want to catch fish.”
Brant Cochran is from Illinois and loves fishing lakes with flooded timber and cover. The Santee Cooperevent is on his mind as well as the places that will require more effort in the form of pre practice and planning.
“I am naturally most nervous about the places I have zero history with, so probably Lake Eufaula,” said Cochran. “However, regardless, I will have done my share of pre planning and prep work before those events and I look forward to the challenges.”
Cochran made the switch to the NPFL due to hearing talk of well run events, similar to Hemphill-Pellerin, and had great discussions with owners and other anglers leading up.
“I really like the organization principles and the ownership group and leaders are awesome people,” he said. “My strengths are definitely when I have a plastic in my hand – a Texas rig or wacky rig – but I really am looking forward to this season and the variety of events.”
Another angler looking forward to stop number one has fished the Tennessee River in previous years but mostly in the springtime. Reagan Nelson is another Texas angler in the field and has college level experience on Pickwick specifically.
“I am probably most excited about Pickwick as I have had some good finishes in past college events there – it’s Lake Lanier I am the most worried about,” said Nelson. “I have not been there before nor do I have much time on those types of fisheries in general.”
Like most, Nelson has had a lifelong dream to fish at the professional level and the NPFL was an opportunity he just couldn’t pass up.
As a shallow water angler, Kyle Delong is at his best with heavy gear and a frog tied on. After watching the largemouth beatdown the NPFL anglers put down at Saginaw Bay in 2022, one may think the Michigan angler would have it circled on his calendar.
“It’s actually Pickwick in a few weeks because I am eager and ready to get the year started,” said Delong. “I have no history at Pickwick so the thrill of learning a new body of water has me excited – we will have to wait and see if it fits my fishing style when we get there for practice.”
Fishing at a professional level has been a goal and the NPFL opportunity to fish was one he simply could not pass up.
“I did my research and everyone I talked to had nothing but good things to say,” added Delong. “ I am glad to join in on all the fun. The one place I am least looking forward to is Eufaula – I will be making that drive from Maryland and it’s going to be a long couple weeks, but I am going to put my best foot forward!”
Returning for his third season, John Cox of Carrollton, Georgia has his eyes set on a new destination for the NPFL in 2023.
“I am most looking forward to Santee Cooper, not Lanier, as it fits my preferred style of fishing and I have had some past success on that body of water,” said Cox. “Anywhere I can target cover with moving baits, swim jigs and bladed jigs, that’s my confidence stuff.”
The most recent Progressive Angler of the Year winner Gary Adkins is also back for 2023 and has a big list of lakes he is excited to fish this season.
“There are a lot of lakes this season that fit my style and I am looking forward to getting those events going,” said Adkins. “Lakes such as Pickwick, Saginaw Bay, Eufaula, and Lanier all are places I feel like will fit my style of offshore fishing. I think those events will be won offshore and that is what I will be looking to do.”
On the contrary, there are new lakes for this season that Adkins anticipates will be shallow water events and those are the ones he hopes to survive.
“The lakes that will be shallow, and ones I have not fished before are Wright Patman and Lake Santee Cooper,” added Adkins. “There are a lot of great shallow water anglers in the field.”
Kevin Rogers has done the research on the season and Lake Lanier stood out. Living in Missouri, it’s not a place he has much experience with, but the opportunity to chase fish around with his electronics is something he is excited for.
“Lanier could be one of those special places where I get to do exactly what I like to do,” said Rogers. “There is something about spotted bass, I love to target and catch them, and I have heard that it should be a phenomenal event. Whenever I get a jerkbait or dropshot in hand, and can use Livescope, I am happy.”
On the contrary, Pickwick Lake is probably where Rogers is least excited about.
“I am super excited to get the season going, but Pickwick, I don’t understand that place at all, the current, how they set up, nothing,” added Rogers.
How to Watch
Tune in daily March 15 through 17 to watch daily action from Florence, AL, with Live Coverage here and on the FREE PHYX TV App beginning on Friday.
Follow along and watch the daily LIVE Leaderboard, LIVE Blog, and on the water photo galleries and blogs of the anglers on the Pickwick Lake.
Under the Go Live Tab, choose LIVE Broadcast with links to the real-time LIVE Leaderboard with estimated weights entered by the anglers.
Major League Fishing and Bass Pro Shops Announce Historic 5-Year Sponsorship Extension
Deal Renews in 2024, Establishing North America’s Premier Outdoor and Conservation Retailer to Remain Title Sponsor of Bass Pro Tour and Exclusive Sporting Goods Retailer Through 2028
BENTON, Ky. and SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (March. 6, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, and Bass Pro Shops, North America’s premier outdoor and conservation company, alongside White River Marine Group, the World’s #1 Boat Builder, announced today a historic agreement. Extending and expanding on their original sponsorship agreement, Bass Pro Shops will become the exclusive sporting goods retailer and White River Marine Group brands Nitro, Ranger and Triton will become the exclusive performance fishing boat brands for MLF events, including the Bass Pro Tour, REDCREST, the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the General Tire Team Series. Bass Pro Shops will also remain the title sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour through 2028.
"Bass Pro Shops was an original founding partner in our sponsorship family, and their support of Major League Fishing has been unwavering as we’ve grown and expanded over the past dozen years," said Jim Wilburn, MLF President of Sales. "We’re extremely proud of our long-term partnership with Bass Pro Shops, and we’ve enjoyed building the Bass Pro Tour, REDCREST, Heavy Hitters and the Team Series alongside them. If it weren’t for Johnny Morris’ support, the Bass Pro Tour would have never happened. We look forward to many more successful years to come working alongside Johnny and his teams, the unquestioned leaders in outdoor retail."
The sponsorship agreement marks an extension of the original five-year agreement that Bass Pro Shops signed in 2019 when the MLF Bass Pro Tour was initially launched. In addition to the title sponsorship of the Bass Pro Tour, Bass Pro Shops will also remain the title sponsor of the General Tire Team Series Championship, the presenting sponsor of the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event, and White River Marine Group brands Nitro, Ranger and Triton will become the exclusive boat brands for the Bass Pro Tour, General Tire Heavy Hitters and the General Tire Team Series.
“When Bass Pro Shops became one of our initial sponsors back in 2011, we were confident this partnership would be an ideal fit,” said Boyd Duckett, MLF President and CEO. “Our two organizations have similar corporate values, and we are proud with the direction this relationship has grown. Partnering with a global leader like Bass Pro Shops has allowed us to make significant steps towards building the sport of competitive bass fishing, our conservation efforts, and enhancing the overall tournament angler experience.”
“We are proud to stand alongside Major League Fishing to promote the great sport of fishing to fans around the world,” Bass Pro Shops founder and noted conservationist Johnny Morris said. “Together we can do great things to support conservation while creating many positive opportunities for kids, families, professional anglers and the sport itself.”
Bass Pro Shops will be prominently featured across numerous MLF media platforms, including its tournaments and activations, website and social media channels, and the MLF television programming on CBS, the Discovery Channel, the Outdoor Channel, the World Fishing Network and on-demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). As part of the sponsorship agreement, Bass Pro Shops also will be showcased as a premier retailer at the General Tire Outdoor Sports Expo, March 10-12, in Charlotte, North Carolina, in conjunction with REDCREST 2023, the Bass Pro Tour championship event.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing, its tournaments, and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
DiPalma dazzles in Bassmaster Kayak Series win at Lake Guntersville
Greg DiPalma of Millville, N.J., has won the 2023 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series at Lake Guntersville powered by TourneyX with a two-day total of 189.75 inches.
Photo by Mark Cisneros/B.A.S.S.
March 5, 2023
SCOTTSBORO, Ala. — Greg DiPalma has spent four days total fishing out of his Old Town Sportsman Autopilot 136 kayak.
That did not stop the Bassmaster Elite Series pro from winning the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX at Lake Guntersville with a two-day total of 189.75 inches.
It was the first event of the Kayak Series season and the first victory the New Jersey pro has secured in Bassmaster competition. He is the second Elite Series pro to win a Kayak Series event after Mike Iaconelli won at Chesapeake Bay in 2021.
“I just like bass fishing. I burn to fish tournaments and this is why I do it,” DiPalma said. “I’m super excited. We all want to win, but I wasn’t expecting to just come out here and win the very first one.
“I’m going to take my kayak back home and rub it against my bass boat for good luck.”
After landing in fifth with 93.75 inches after the first day, DiPalma caught 96 inches on Sunday to jump into the top spot.
Since qualifying for the Elite Series, DiPalma had supplemented his Elite schedule with at least one division of the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens — until this year, when he decided to try something new with the Kayak Series.
Although new to kayaking specifically, DiPalma has fished out of other smaller boats before.
He now has four career tournaments under his belt at Guntersville, including a 23rd-place finish during the 2020 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota, an event he firmly believes he would have had a chance to win if a strong storm system not muddied his primary area.
When a powerful cold front brought severe storms and wind to northern Alabama the final day of practice, DiPalma thought the same thing might happen this time around. Fortunately for him, the water in his area wasn’t drastically affected.
Not only did DiPalma win his first-ever kayak event, he won using a bait he designed that just hit the market. That was the new Nomad Swimtrex MAX lipless crankbait, which has been in the making for two years.
“It is like you are reeling a ChatterBait. It is a very hard-thumping lipless crankbait,” he said. “Years ago, when it was lipless season in South Jersey, I always struggled to catch fish on it. It was a bait I could never catch them on. Now, if it is a lipless tournament, I always feel like I have a chance to win.”
Focusing on prespawners, DiPalma fished four little ditches where bass were staging that led into a spawning flat. Those ditches had a mixture of hydrilla, coontail and milfoil on the edges.
On Day 1, the bass were in less than a foot of water and each cast he was either getting caught in the grass or getting bit. On the second day, with an assist from an east wind, the bass moved out toward the ends of those ditches in 5 or 6 feet of water.
With the full moon the night before, DiPalma said more fish moved in too.
“If you had asked me after yesterday, I would have said I was on the winning fish,” he said. “But a whole new batch of fish moved in last night with the full moon and that re-amped my whole day pretty much. I lost a big one, but thought there were new ones coming because I was catching a bunch of fresh males too.”
Not only were more bass moving in, but anglers were moving out. On Day 1, several other kayakers and about 20 bass boats fished around DiPalma. On Day 2, however, he found he had the area mostly to himself and that made a huge difference in his mind.
“I truly think I outfished every person that was in there,” he said. “Today was a blessing, for some odd reason, there were two boats all day in that big stretch. I had it all to myself. At the end of the day, that allowed me to win the tournament.”
South Carolina’s Ryan Thompson finished second with a two-day total of 187.5 inches. He followed his 93.5-inch Day 1 performance with 94 inches on Day 2, jumping him from sixth to runner-up.
With the volatile weather pattern ahead of the tournament, he elected not to practice. Instead, he drove around and checked out all of the eligible ramps on Thursday and then in the small window of calmer weather Friday, he launched by his hotel but did not see anything promising.
Using his Garmin, Thompson decided to focus on two offshore “shoals.” After a frustrating morning, Thompson caught a 22.25-incher on a Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammer.
“When the sun got to its highest point, I pulled up on the shoal where I caught (her),” he said. “I was creeping the JackHammer back up the drop from 15 feet of water and she was in about 13 feet. I swung back around to the other spot and sat on top of the shoal and was fan casting off the drop. It was back to back.”
On Day 2, Thompson returned to the area and had another productive mid-morning and afternoon period. While he was catching good quality and numbers on his best spot, his biggest fish on the final day (a 19.75 largemouth) came off his secondary area.
“It was pretty much nonstop until lines out,” he added.
Keying in on spawners and bass migrating to spawn, former Kayak Series champion Rus Snyders claimed third place with 184.5 inches followed by Dylan Smith in fourth 179.25 and Joshua Diehl in fifth with 177.25.
Jay Muller earned $500 for the Big Bass of the Tournament, a 23-inch largemouth he caught on Day 2.
The record field of 234 anglers earned points toward the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year race. The full standings will be published on Bassmaster.com this week. The second event of the season is scheduled for Lake Hartwell on April 15-16.
Barnes hangs on to win first Bassmaster Open of the season on Alabama’s Lake Eufaula
Justin Barnes of Ellaville, Ga., has won the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula with a two-day total of 48 pounds, 9 ounces.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
March 4, 2023
Barnes hangs on to win first Bassmaster Open of the season on Alabama’s Lake Eufaula
EUFAULA, Ala. — With only a couple hours remaining in the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula, Justin Barnes felt the tournament slipping away.
The Day 1 leader, Barnes was struggling Saturday after foul weather blew through the area Friday and forced cancellation of the day’s competition. But the 28-year-old lineman with Georgia Power was able to flip the switch on his home water.
The move from a football jig to a series of deep-diving crankbaits put a charge in Barnes, who lives an hour away in Ellaville, Ga. He finished with a two-day total of 48 pounds, 9 ounces, and topped the field of 225 anglers from around the U.S. and beyond.
The victory earned Barnes a spot in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota in Tulsa, Okla. He’ll have to fish the remaining two Division I Opens events this year (on Alabama’s Wheeler Lake May 18-20 and Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes Oct. 12-14) to secure the Classic berth, but he said that’s a given with a win on Eufaula in the bag.
“I’m just glad to be able to be out here and fish,” he said, shortly after securing his win before a big crowd at Lakepoint State Park. “It’s what I love.”
But that wasn’t so much the case Saturday, when Barnes was struggling mightily.
“I really felt the wheels falling off,” he said. “I only had two fish at 2 o’clock. I was having a bad day. I was starting to get worried, and I was frustrated.”
The key change, Barnes said, was deciding to go back to the crankbaits that helped him catch a 25-6 limit on Thursday. He said Strike King 6XD and 10XD lures and a Berkley Dredger 20.5 (threadfin shad HD) were essential to his good fortune. He weighed a 23-3 limit Saturday but said the total could have been heavier.
“I lost a few key bites, but still had enough,” Barnes said. “I had to keep hitting the hard spots and secondary points ... The front knocked my fish in the head. I stopped on a whole bunch of fish today and couldn’t get them to eat. And I was throwing the whole boat at ‘em.
“But the higher the sun got, the better the bite got.”
Barnes also won $52,500 for Saturday’s victory, part of a $333,000 total purse split among the Top 40 competitors in both the pro and co-angler divisions competing at Eufaula. He topped his bounty with a $500 contingency prize for being the highest finisher using Garmin electronics.
Shaine Campbell of Brookeland, Texas, cranked his way to a second-place finish (45-14 overall) and won $25,500. He caught 24-8 on Saturday, relying primarily on a Berkley Dredger 20.5 (citrus shad). A 6th Sense 300 Crush DD (blue/chartreuse) crankbait was his go-to lure on Day 1, when he bagged a 21-6 limit and sat in seventh place.
“There were some really nice bite windows today,” Campbell said. “I wasn’t sure what to expect with these warm, bluebird conditions following yesterday’s front. I got on a couple flurries and caught a 6-pounder and a 5-pounder about 10 o’clock.”
As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Campbell also took home an additional $2,000.
Rounding out the Top 5 were third, Texas’ Brett Cannon, 44-11; fourth, Tennessee’s John Garrett, 44-1; and fifth, Texas’ Ben Milliken, 41-5.
Cannon, who guides on Texas’ prolific bass lakes, also relied on crankbaits to get a podium finish at Eufaula.
“I had to cast a few thousand times with that Strike King 10XD chartreuse sexy shad,” he said. “My fish were anywhere in 15 to 20 feet of water. And the hard bottom was key. When you got that crankbait down there and felt it digging on that hard stuff, you knew you were in the right area.”
Garrett had the big bag of the tournament, a 27-6 sack he weighed Saturday, the heaviest bass weighing an even 7 pounds. The former College Series champion said his best bass came on Strike King 6XD crankbaits in citrus shad, green gizzard and chartreuse/blue back.
“I caught fish on flats in 10 to 15 feet of water,” Garrett said. “The spots didn’t hold many fish, but they were the right fish. I’d pull up and catch one then back off for an hour or so, then go back and get another one. I didn’t want to milk it too bad.”
Alex Heintze of Denham Springs, La., won the $750 Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award with the 7-7 hog he weighed Thursday. Greg Bohannan of Bentonville, Ark., caught a 7-4, which was the heaviest bass on Saturday.
Avery Williams, a 20-year-old from Murrells Inlet, S.C., topped the nonboater field with a two-day total of six bass weighing 17-6. Williams was in 10th place among nonboaters after Day 1, but only caught one fish until the closing minutes of Day 2. A pair of late catches helped him win the 116-person division.
Williams collected $13,147 for the win. Steven West of Mooreville, Miss., finished second with 15-10 and Clayton Ellis, of Saltillo, Miss., placed third with 15-6. West had the Big Bass among co-anglers with the 5-13 he caught Thursday, good for a $250 Big Bass prize from Phoenix Boats.
New to this year’s Bassmaster Open Series is the Elite Qualifier division, with 175 participating anglers fishing each all nine events hoping to grab one of nine berths in the prestigious Bassmaster Elite Series in 2024.
After the first of nine Opens, the Top 10 in the points standings are Campbell with 199, followed Cannon with 198, Garrett with 197, Milliken with 196, Jack York of Emory, Texas, with 195, Logan Parks of Auburn, Ala., with 192, Jon Canada of Helena, Ala., with 191, Josh Bragg of Fayetteville, Ga., with 190, Wesley Gore of Clanton, Ala., with 189 and Jacob Bigelow of Cecil, Wis., with 188.
Though he earned the all-important Classic berth, Barnes is not participating in the EQs division.
2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula Alabama 3/2-3/4
Lake Eufaula, Eufaula AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Justin Barnes Ellaville, GA 10 48-09 200 $53,000.00
Day 1: 5 25-06 Day 2: 5 23-03 Day 3: 0 00-00
2. Shaine Campbell Brookeland, TX 10 45-14 199 $25,500.00
Day 1: 5 21-06 Day 2: 5 24-08 Day 3: 0 00-00
3. Brett Cannon Willis, TX 10 44-11 198 $18,000.00
Day 1: 5 23-01 Day 2: 5 21-10 Day 3: 0 00-00
4. John Garrett Union City, TN 10 44-01 197 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 27-06 Day 3: 0 00-00
5. Ben Milliken New Caney, TX 10 41-05 196 $13,050.00
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 23-01 Day 3: 0 00-00
6. Jack York Emory, TX 10 41-01 195 $12,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-04 Day 2: 5 20-13 Day 3: 0 00-00
7. Tucker Smith Shoal Creek, AL 10 40-15 194 $11,250.00
Day 1: 5 17-10 Day 2: 5 23-05 Day 3: 0 00-00
8. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 40-15 193 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 21-09 Day 2: 5 19-06 Day 3: 0 00-00
9. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 10 40-00 192 $8,250.00
Day 1: 5 20-09 Day 2: 5 19-07 Day 3: 0 00-00
10. Jon Canada Helena, AL 10 39-15 191 $6,750.00
Day 1: 5 22-12 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 0 00-00
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PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Alex Heintze Denham Springs, LA 07-07 $750.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 136 905 2640-06
2 110 802 2246-08
3 0 0 00-00
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246 1707 4886-14
2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula Alabama 3/2-3/4
Lake Eufaula, Eufaula AL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Avery Williams Murrells Inlet, SC 6 17-06 200 $13,147.00
Day 1: 3 08-11 Day 2: 3 08-11
2. Steven West Mooreville, MS 6 15-10 199 $3,343.00
Day 1: 3 09-14 Day 2: 3 05-12
3. Clayton Ellis Saltillo, MS 6 15-06 198 $2,320.00
Day 1: 3 08-13 Day 2: 3 06-09
4. Eric Camarote The Villages, FL 6 15-05 197 $1,740.00
Day 1: 3 07-12 Day 2: 3 07-09
5. Billy Limerick Chandler, TX 6 15-02 196 $1,624.00
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 3 08-07
6. Mike Spears Jasper, AL 4 13-10 195 $1,547.00
Day 1: 3 10-05 Day 2: 1 03-05
7. Michael Leach Shenandoah, TX 6 13-09 194 $1,469.00
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 3 07-14
8. Marrell Deering Rome, GA 6 13-04 193 $1,392.00
Day 1: 3 07-09 Day 2: 3 05-11
9. Pheerayout See Rochester, MN 5 12-14 192 $1,276.00
Day 1: 2 03-13 Day 2: 3 09-01
10. Zachery Kuhn Summerfield, FL 5 12-11 191 $1,160.00
Day 1: 3 09-00 Day 2: 2 03-11
11. Parker Knudsen Minnetonka, MN 6 12-11 190 $1,083.00
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 3 07-12
12. Ashton Smith Lake Helen, FL 5 12-06 189 $1,005.00
Day 1: 3 09-03 Day 2: 2 03-03
13. John Higginbotham Slaughter, LA 6 12-05 188 $851.00
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 3 07-00
14. Neal Wisinski Stevens Point, WI 6 12-01 187 $773.00
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 3 05-06
15. Chad Stahl Barnesville, GA 6 12-00 186 $696.00
Day 1: 3 06-15 Day 2: 3 05-01
16. Mark Moore Freeport, FL 5 12-00 185 $619.00
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 2 06-14
17. Bill Hutchison Jr. Bessemer, AL 4 11-15 184 $580.00
Day 1: 3 10-06 Day 2: 1 01-09
18. Dawson Wisner Palatka, FL 5 11-15 183 $580.00
Day 1: 3 07-08 Day 2: 2 04-07
19. Rick Cheatham Carterville, IL 4 11-12 182 $580.00
Day 1: 2 07-00 Day 2: 2 04-12
20. Mark Guhne Hixson, TN 5 11-11 181 $580.00
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 2 05-13
21. Jim Williams Winter Springs, GA 5 11-05 180 $541.00
Day 1: 2 05-01 Day 2: 3 06-04
22. John Hatfield Panama City, FL 6 11-05 179 $541.00
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 3 06-01
23. Corey Yaden Grovetown, GA 5 11-04 178 $541.00
Day 1: 3 07-03 Day 2: 2 04-01
24. Brad Goetz Waunakee, WI 5 11-03 177 $541.00
Day 1: 3 07-02 Day 2: 2 04-01
25. Gary Haraguchi Murfreesboro, TN 5 11-01 176 $541.00
Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 3 07-01
26. Ronald Young New Braunfels, TX 6 11-00 175 $464.00
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 3 06-06
27. Joe Chilcott Williamson, GA 4 10-11 174 $464.00
Day 1: 3 08-04 Day 2: 1 02-07
28. Bob Morin Seymour, TN 5 10-11 173 $464.00
Day 1: 3 06-12 Day 2: 2 03-15
29. Jonathan Barnette Jasper, AL 4 10-09 172 $464.00
Day 1: 3 09-06 Day 2: 1 01-03
30. Joe Stokes Kentwood, LA 4 10-09 171 $464.00
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 3 08-11
31. Johnnie Garrett Union City, TN 4 10-07 170 $425.00
Day 1: 3 08-05 Day 2: 1 02-02
32. Jimmy Brumfield Madison, MS 4 10-06 169 $425.00
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 3 08-14
33. John Ax Eufaula, AL 5 10-03 168 $425.00
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 2 03-08
34. Taylor Burtram Newton, AL 3 09-12 167 $425.00
Day 1: 3 09-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
35. John Goul Philadelphia, MS 4 09-10 166 $425.00
Day 1: 3 08-06 Day 2: 1 01-04
36. Tristan Bramblett Tiger, GA 4 09-07 165 $425.00
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 2 05-09
37. Kenneth Ott Manahawkin, NJ 3 09-05 164 $425.00
Day 1: 1 02-06 Day 2: 2 06-15
38. Justin Yenter Stevens Point, WI 4 09-03 163 $425.00
Day 1: 3 06-13 Day 2: 1 02-06
39. Doug Back Monticello, FL 3 09-00 162 $425.00
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 2 07-03
40. Kristian Dus Roselle, IL 3 09-00 161 $425.00
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 2 07-00
41. Dylan Mayo Athens, TX 3 08-15 160
Day 1: 1 02-11 Day 2: 2 06-04
42. Jimmy Fellegy Lakeville, MN 3 08-12 159
Day 1: 3 08-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
43. Jon Jezierski Troy, MI 4 08-09 158
Day 1: 2 04-05 Day 2: 2 04-04
44. Will Presley Jr Grove City, OH 3 08-08 157
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 2 06-08
45. David Dukes Carrollton, GA 4 08-07 156
Day 1: 2 05-09 Day 2: 2 02-14
46. Christian Bladen Dothan, AL 3 08-06 155
Day 1: 3 08-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
47. Ray Hill Lake City, FL 3 08-04 154
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 08-04
48. Mathew Bertram Worthington, OH 4 08-02 153
Day 1: 3 06-13 Day 2: 1 01-05
49. Wyatt Szymanski Stevens Point, WI 2 07-11 152
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 07-11
50. Cody Richardson Gautier, MS 4 07-09 151
Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 2 03-06
51. Alex Reece Greenville, SC 4 07-07 150
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 3 06-06
52. Nick Richey Aledo, TX 3 07-06 149
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 2 06-01
53. Bill Bruce Hendersonville, TN 3 07-00 148
Day 1: 3 07-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
54. David Booth Erin, TN 4 07-00 147
Day 1: 2 04-02 Day 2: 2 02-14
55. AJ Jones Lutz, FL 4 07-00 146
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 2 03-01
56. Thomas Crosswhite Hartwell, GA 3 06-14 145
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
57. Byong Lee Stedman, NC 3 06-11 144
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-11
58. Philip Morris Jr Raleigh, NC 4 06-07 143
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 1 01-06
59. Travis Culbreth Alexander City, AL 3 06-06 142
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 2 04-13
60. Austin Nelson Apopka, FL 3 06-05 141
Day 1: 2 05-00 Day 2: 1 01-05
61. Satoshi Egawa Fort Lee, NJ 2 06-04 140
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 06-04
62. Carl Hunter Snellville, GA 3 05-02 139
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
63. Randy Tallhamer Parkersburg, FL 2 05-01 138
Day 1: 2 05-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
63. Travis Turcotte Pembroke CANADA 2 05-01 138
Day 1: 2 05-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
65. Morne Duvenhage Whigham GA SOUTH AFRICA 2 05-01 136
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 1 03-01
66. Joe Tucker Osceola, MO 2 05-00 135
Day 1: 2 05-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
67. Thomas Abraham Winchester, TN 3 04-15 134
Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 1 00-12
68. Gus Kneidinger Prospect, PA 2 04-15 133
Day 1: 1 03-05 Day 2: 1 01-10
69. Barney Boutries Mobile, AL 2 04-14 132
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-14
70. Will Thompson Hoover, AL 2 04-13 131
Day 1: 2 04-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
71. Matthew Rogers Chiefland, FL 2 04-11 130
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 1 02-11
72. Jacob Smith Daleville, AL 2 04-10 129
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 1 02-14
73. Wes Kinard Fosters, AL 2 04-10 128
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 1 02-03
74. Skyler Anderson Harlem, GA 2 04-08 127
Day 1: 2 04-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
75. Jp Lopez Jr Carmel, NY 2 04-05 126
Day 1: 2 04-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
75. Lance Spencer Donalsonville, GA 2 04-05 126
Day 1: 2 04-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
77. Matt Roberson Powder Springs, GA 2 03-12 124
Day 1: 2 03-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
78. Cameron Debity Boca Raton, FL 2 03-10 123
Day 1: 2 03-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
79. Jeff Keever Tignall, GA 1 03-06 122
Day 1: 1 03-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
80. Benjamin Demo Plymouth, MN 2 03-03 121
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
81. Michael Padgett Leesburg, GA 2 03-02 120
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
82. Eric Melton Flowood, MS 1 03-02 119
Day 1: 1 03-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
82. Dee Powell Hope Hull, AL 1 03-02 119
Day 1: 1 03-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
84. Russell Hoyle Hickory, NC 2 03-01 117
Day 1: 2 03-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
85. Austin Hubatch Rosholt, WI 1 02-15 116
Day 1: 1 02-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
86. Mark Meadows Hendersonville, NC 1 02-13 115
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
87. Ralph Gibson Locust Grove, OK 1 02-12 114
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-12
88. Captain Black Panama City Beach, FL 1 02-09 113
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
89. Randy Lawrence Pensacola, FL 1 02-08 112
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
89. Danny Richardson Gautier, MS 1 02-08 112
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
89. Clyde Roberts Marshall, NC 1 02-08 112
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
92. Johnny Ward Jr Ludowici, GA 1 02-06 109
Day 1: 1 02-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
93. Allen Heston Pittsburg, TX 1 01-14 108
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
94. Sakae Ushio Tonawanda, NY 1 01-08 107
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-08
95. Dusty Wood Belton, SC 1 01-06 106
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
96. Ryan Shriber Franklin, TN 1 01-04 105
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-04
97. Chris Carroll Franklin, GA 1 00-07 104
Day 1: 1 00-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Steve Deyton Forest City, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Chris Earles Lady Lake, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Jeff Fellows Orlando, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Darrell Hille Springfield, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Kevin Mallow Kansas, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Sherman Marbutt Hackleburg, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Jordan McDonald Jackson, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Lance McWhorter Tyler, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Ronald Miller Attalla, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Troy Mims Suwanee, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. David Patterson Flowood, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Chris Shrader Niceville, WY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Jared Simpson Burlington, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. David Stout Fair Play, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Rick Sweadner Woodsboro, MD 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Justin Thomas Panama City, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Stephen Waldon Ellenwood, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Matthew Williams Westminster, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Bobby Williams Salisbury, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 37 187 438-14
2 21 134 316-04
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58 321 755-02
Balsa-Crafted Shad Available in 18 New Colors
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Northland Fishing Tackle’s popular Rumble Shad is back in even more fish-catching patterns |
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BEMIDJI, Minn. (March 3, 2023) – Northland Fishing Tackle®made a huge splash in the premium hardbait category with their 2022 introduction of the balsawood Rumble crankbait series designed by Northland’s chief bait designer, Jarmo Rapala—proving fishing is better with balsa. A jack-of-trades when it comes to all freshwater species and depths, the mid-running Rumble Shad crankbait is still available in three sizes with varying dive curves. The report was unanimous after a year on pegboards across the country: walleyes, bass, and other gamefish find their unique roll and tight action irresistible. |
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The #5 dives 5’ to 12’; the #7 dives 8’ to 16’; and the #8 dives 14’ to 21’. All are formed of balsawood through the unique Heat Compression Molding (HCM) process and feature a welded through wire construction from the tie-eye to the tail. Designed to imitate shad, perch, and bluegills, the bait features a tight action, whether cast and retrieved or trolled behind the boat. Now, new for Spring 2023, the inimitable Rumble Shad is available in a total of 39 custom artisan colors, from match-the-hatch patterns to vibrant custom paint themes. Adding merit to the mix, each Rumble Shad also features sticky-sharp, short-shank treble hooks and an oval split ring on the line tie for precise tracking. Northland Fishing Tackle Marketing Director, Mike Anselmo, comments: “The feedback we received from pro tournament anglers, guides, and everyday multispecies anglers was unanimous. These baits simply catch fish—period. While the profile is close enough to mimic a shiner, it also matches a lot of different baitfish coast-to-coast. With three dive curves from shallow to deep, and now the addition of dozens of new colors, it’s versatility can’t be beat. Whether cast or trolled, it’s a ‘desert island’ crankbait that you’ll want in your box—and probably in half-a-dozen or more colors to match depth, weather, and predominant forage conditions.” |
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Northland pro, Joel Nelson, adds: “In the spring I troll the bait earlier than most walleye fishermen tend to—like the smaller #5 that dives 5’ to 12. I can cover a lot more ground and put more fish in the boat in a lot of situations—from lakes to rivers. And, come bass opener in many states, the bait does deadly double-duty for hammering on both smallmouths and largemouths. And in the river and on reservoirs? The bait literally catches everything. With even more colors to choose from, I’m really excited about dialing in the right pattern for every body of water I fish.” The new colors include numerous shad-, bluegill-, perch-, and other minnow imitators—to custom “limited edition” paint jobs—and now 7 different crawfish patterns to catch fish in any situation you might encounter. Beyond multispecies use during spring, Nelson sites the transition from early- to late-summer when low-light trolling in the morning and evening is key to boating more walleyes. “Drag a balsawood Rumble Shad along the weedline in natural lakes and you’re going to catch everything: walleyes, pike, bass, and even big, slab crappies.” In the fall, Nelson turns to the #7 and #9 sizes for chunking and winding when the wind comes up. “If the wind starts howling, I go out on that second or third day and cast the bigger size Rumble Shads out on top of the structure and bang ‘em right down into the rocks. If you get wedged, just pop the bait out and give it some line and big walleyes and bass inhale it as it floats out and up.” |
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BONE BELLY GILL |
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BLYUE OLIVE SHAD |
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BURNT CRAWDAD |
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CAMO GREEN CRAW |
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COOKED CRAWDAD |
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GREEN CRAWDAD |
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HOT CLAW CRAWDAD |
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RED CRAWDAD |
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ORANGE BELLY GILL |
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PURPLE GILL |
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ROOT BEER |
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CHARTREUSE ROOT BEER |
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FADED SCHOOL BUS |
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INJURED SHAD |
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TENNESSEE SHAD ORANGE BELLY |
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Northland Team Pro and veteran guide, Brian “Bro” Brosdahl, interjects: “The Rumble Shad has a unique tight wobble that fish rush in to eat. Last year I did a lot of pitching and retrieving, and had everything follow and strike. And now there are even more great match-the-hatch colors and sought-after patterns. You can troll it on a flat line or lead-core, too, to cover water efficiently and sort through neutral- to negative-fish. Even those finicky fish are apt to strike when this thing strolls by, sending off its auditory and visual signals.” Bro adds: “But, personally, I like pitching ‘em – a simple cast and reel, maybe with a few twitches thrown in. It casts well and you can feel the bait thumping while you’re reeling, definitely a plus. I caught a lot of big walleyes on it last year, some big bass and toothy critters, too—even giant crappies.” New colors include Blue Chartreuse Shad (BCSD), Bone Belly Gill (BBG), Blue Olive Shad (BOSD), Burnt Crawdad (BRCW), Camo Green Craw (CGC), Cooked Crawdad (CKCW), Crusty Crawdad (CRCW), Chartreuse Rootbeer (CSRB), Faded Schoolbus (FSB), Green Crawdad (GCW), Hot Claw Crawdad (HCCW), Hot Tiger (HT), Injured Shad (IS), Orange Belly Gill (OBLG), Purple Gill (PBGL), Rootbeer (RB), Red Crawdad (RCW), and Tennessee Shad (TSO). |
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Rumble Shad Features & Specifications:
MSRP $9.99 |
Barnes’ knowledge of Lake Eufaula helps him take lead at first Bassmaster Open of the season
Justin Barnes of Ellaville, Ga., is leading after Day 1 of the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula with 25 pounds, 6 ounces.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
March 2, 2023
Barnes’ knowledge of Lake Eufaula helps him take lead at first Bassmaster Open of the season
EUFAULA, Ala. — Justin Barnes works as a lineman for Georgia Power, so he’s used to being in high-pressure situations.
But he was surprisingly calm following his electrifying start to the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula on Thursday.
Barnes, 28, jumped to the Day 1 lead in the first Open of the season with a five-bass limit of 25 pounds, 6 ounces. It gave him more than a 2-pound cushion in the derby, which attracted 225 of the best anglers from around the U.S. and beyond.
It was an exciting start, for sure, but Barnes and the rest of the field will wait an extra day to see how the script wraps. Significant storms, including winds gusting higher than 40 mph, are expected Friday, which forced tournament officials to cancel the day's competition.
The entire field will return to Lake Eufaula on Saturday in what is now only a two-day tournament.
Barnes said he’s not worried about losing his early momentum, though.
“I’ll be ready whenever we can get back out here,” he said.
And he has history on this 45,000-acre reservoir of the Chattahoochee River to back up his words. Eufaula is Barnes’ home water, with his hometown of Ellaville, Ga., only about an hour northeast of the lake. He said intimate knowledge of the fishery paid off Thursday, though not as much as some might suspect.
“The fish are so scattered right now, it’s really just a matter of finding them,” Barnes said. “And today, I think it was a current deal. For the first 2 1/2 hours of my day, they were pulling water on the lake, and it helped me a lot.”
Barnes’ biggest bass weighed 6-3 — a largemouth he caught within the first 30 minutes. He said he’ll keep his tactics close to the vest for now, though Barnes did say he’s trying a little bit of everything to boat the best bass.
“I’ve had to mix up the baits, fish brushpiles, fish hard spots, fish some grass,” he said. “I’m just running all over the place … The benefit of knowing this lake is that they tend to pull up on certain brushpiles when they’re getting ready to head to shore to spawn. It’s the same thing with secondary points. Knowing where those are helped me today.”
Shane Powell of Dothan, Ala., is in second place with a 23-2 limit. He said he’s exclusively fishing prespawn bass and a day of inclement weather may not hurt his bite at all.
“If it gets cool, I’m hoping it puts the stop sign on them going to the banks,” he said.
Brett Cannon of Willis, Texas, is an ounce behind, in third, with 23-1. He said he caught more than a dozen hybrid striped bass early on Thursday that got his heart pumping and his arms aching. A tweak to his approach finally brought the largemouth bites he needed, however.
“I noticed in practice that the bass were around these hybrids and I think they’re feeding on the same stuff,” Cannon said. “So, I actually started looking for them. I’m cranking in anywhere from 10 to 20 feet, but I have to look for them. The schools of all these fish are just moving around a lot. They’re staging.”
Jon Canada of Helena, Ala., is fourth with 22-12. He caught a 6-10 and a 5-9 — among the heaviest bass caught on Day 1.
“The day off will help me, I think,” he said. “I’m fishing all over the lake because everything is in transition. It’ll probably stay that way.”
Bassmaster Elite Series stalwart Brandon Lester of Fayetteville, Tenn., is fifth with a 21-9 limit. Though all his keepers were in the 4- to 5-pound range, he believes a 30-pound bag is possible.
“I’m confident of that,” he said. “Whether or not I have the time to find the right brushpile that’s holding those bass, I don’t know.”
Alex Heintze of Denham Springs, La., had the Phoenix Boats Big Bass on Day 1 with a 7-7 largemouth.
The winner here will earn a spot in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota when it’s held in Tulsa, Okla., next March, provided they fish in the other two Division I Opens events this year. Those are scheduled for Alabama’s Wheeler Lake, May 18-20 and Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes, Oct. 12-14.
The winner also will collect a $52,500 prize, part of $333,000 total purse to be split among the Top 40 competitors in both the pro and co-angler divisions.
Bill Hutchison Jr. of Bessemer, Ala., leads the co-angler standings with three bass weighing 10-6. Mike Spears of Jasper, Ala., is in second place with 10-5, and Steven West of Mooreville, Miss., is third with 9-14. The top co-angler will win $13,147. West had the Phoenix Boats Big Bass among co-anglers with a 5-13.
New to this year’s Opens is the Elite Qualifiers division, with 175 participating anglers fishing all nine events hoping to grab one of nine berths in the prestigious Bassmaster Elite Series in 2024. Barnes and Powell are not participating in the EQ division.
With Day 2 of the tournament canceled, the entire field will fish again Saturday with a 6:30 a.m. CT takeoff from Lakepoint State Park and conclude back at the park with weigh-in starting at 2:30 p.m.
2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula Alabama 3/2-3/4
Lake Eufaula, Eufaula AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Justin Barnes Ellaville, GA 5 25-06 200
Day 1: 5 25-06
2. Shane Powell Dothan, AL 5 23-02 199
Day 1: 5 23-02
3. Brett Cannon Willis, TX 5 23-01 198
Day 1: 5 23-01
4. Jon Canada Helena, AL 5 22-12 197
Day 1: 5 22-12
5. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 21-09 196
Day 1: 5 21-09
6. Matt Henry Milledgeville, GA 5 21-08 195
Day 1: 5 21-08
7. Shaine Campbell Brookeland, TX 5 21-06 194
Day 1: 5 21-06
8. Takayuki Koike Otsu-City JAPAN 5 20-15 193
Day 1: 5 20-15
9. Logan Anderson Catawba, NC 5 20-11 192
Day 1: 5 20-11
10. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 5 20-09 191
Day 1: 5 20-09
11. Brock Belik Orchard, NE 5 20-07 190
Day 1: 5 20-07
12. Jack York Emory, TX 5 20-04 189
Day 1: 5 20-04
13. Scout Echols Monticello, AR 5 19-09 188
Day 1: 5 19-09
14. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 5 19-07 187
Day 1: 5 19-07
15. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 5 19-04 186
Day 1: 5 19-04
16. Chad Prough Chipley, FL 5 18-15 185
Day 1: 5 18-15
17. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 5 18-12 184
Day 1: 5 18-12
18. Logan Johnson Jasper, AL 5 18-09 183
Day 1: 5 18-09
19. Tom Frink Southside, AL 5 18-08 182
Day 1: 5 18-08
20. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 5 18-07 181
Day 1: 5 18-07
21. Ben Milliken New Caney, TX 5 18-04 180
Day 1: 5 18-04
22. Zeke Gossett Pell City, AL 5 18-00 179
Day 1: 5 18-00
22. Alex Heintze Denham Springs, LA 5 18-00 179
Day 1: 5 18-00
24. Kyle Gelles Pingree, ID 5 17-13 177
Day 1: 5 17-13
24. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 17-13 177
Day 1: 5 17-13
24. Timmy Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 17-13 177
Day 1: 5 17-13
27. Josh Bragg Fayetteville, GA 5 17-12 174
Day 1: 5 17-12
28. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 5 17-11 173
Day 1: 5 17-11
29. Tucker Smith Shoal Creek, AL 5 17-10 172
Day 1: 5 17-10
30. Derek Lehtonen Woodruff, SC 5 17-06 171
Day 1: 5 17-06
31. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 5 17-04 170
Day 1: 5 17-04
31. Alex Murray Lake Charles, LA 5 17-04 170
Day 1: 5 17-04
33. B.J. Usie Bourg, LA 5 17-00 168
Day 1: 5 17-00
34. Jonathan Dietz Corry, PA 5 16-15 167
Day 1: 5 16-15
35. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 5 16-14 166
Day 1: 5 16-14
35. Clark Reehm Elm Grove, LA 5 16-14 166
Day 1: 5 16-14
37. Blake Smith Lakeland, FL 5 16-13 164
Day 1: 5 16-13
38. Michael Johnson Talking Rock, GA 5 16-12 163
Day 1: 5 16-12
39. John Garrett Union City, TN 5 16-11 162
Day 1: 5 16-11
39. Andrew Upshaw Hemphill, TX 5 16-11 162
Day 1: 5 16-11
41. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 5 16-10 160
Day 1: 5 16-10
42. Destin DeMarion Harborcreek, PA 5 16-07 159
Day 1: 5 16-07
42. Ron Ryals Jr Live Oak, FL 5 16-07 159
Day 1: 5 16-07
42. Jack Tindel Orange, TX 5 16-07 159
Day 1: 5 16-07
45. Jacob Bigelow Cecil, WI 5 16-05 156
Day 1: 5 16-05
45. Chris Blanchette Edisto Island, SC 5 16-05 156
Day 1: 5 16-05
47. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 5 16-01 154
Day 1: 5 16-01
48. Greg Bohannan Bentonville, AR 5 16-00 153
Day 1: 5 16-00
48. Miles Burghoff Dayton, TN 5 16-00 153
Day 1: 5 16-00
50. Craig Chambers Midland, NC 5 15-15 151
Day 1: 5 15-15
50. Jason Meninger Yulee, FL 5 15-15 151
Day 1: 5 15-15
52. Jack Dice Lynchburg, VA 5 15-15 149
Day 1: 5 15-15
53. David Kilgore Jasper, AL 5 15-14 148
Day 1: 5 15-14
53. Kurt Mitchell Milford, DE 5 15-14 148
Day 1: 5 15-14
55. Mike Mayo Athens, TX 5 15-13 146
Day 1: 5 15-13
55. Brandon McMillan Clewiston, FL 5 15-13 146
Day 1: 5 15-13
57. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 5 15-12 144
Day 1: 5 15-12
58. Scott Kerslake Okeechobee, FL 5 15-11 143
Day 1: 5 15-11
59. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 4 15-11 142
Day 1: 4 15-11
60. Keith Brumfield Vicksburg, MS 5 15-10 141
Day 1: 5 15-10
61. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 5 15-09 140
Day 1: 5 15-09
62. Taylor Watkins Clinton, TN 5 15-07 139
Day 1: 5 15-07
63. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 5 15-05 138
Day 1: 5 15-05
64. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 5 15-00 137
Day 1: 5 15-00
65. Brad Leuthner Victoria, MN 4 15-00 136
Day 1: 4 15-00
66. Trevor Fitzgerald Belleview, FL 5 14-15 135
Day 1: 5 14-15
66. Joey Hanna Corsicana, TX 5 14-15 135
Day 1: 5 14-15
68. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 14-15 133
Day 1: 5 14-15
69. Brad Knight Lancing, TN 5 14-14 132
Day 1: 5 14-14
69. Tyler Lubbat Wheeling, IL 5 14-14 132
Day 1: 5 14-14
71. Randall Carter Maplesville, AL 5 14-12 130
Day 1: 5 14-12
71. Sam George Athens, AL 5 14-12 130
Day 1: 5 14-12
71. Marc Schilling Carrollton, TX 5 14-12 130
Day 1: 5 14-12
74. Kyle Goltz Cornell, WI 5 14-11 127
Day 1: 5 14-11
74. Jason Lambert Savannah, TN 5 14-11 127
Day 1: 5 14-11
74. Louis Monetti Brielle, NJ 5 14-11 127
Day 1: 5 14-11
74. Casey Scanlon Eldon, MO 5 14-11 127
Day 1: 5 14-11
78. Blake Sylvester Plaquemine, LA 5 14-10 123
Day 1: 5 14-10
79. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 5 14-09 122
Day 1: 5 14-09
79. Ish Monroe Oakdale, CA 5 14-09 122
Day 1: 5 14-09
81. Jerry Riddle Jr Summit, MS 5 14-08 120
Day 1: 5 14-08
82. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 14-06 119
Day 1: 5 14-06
83. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 5 14-03 118
Day 1: 5 14-03
83. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 5 14-03 118
Day 1: 5 14-03
85. Brady Vernon Sterrett, AL 5 14-01 116
Day 1: 5 14-01
86. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 5 14-00 115
Day 1: 5 14-00
86. Jamie Bruce Kenora Ontario CANADA 5 14-00 115
Day 1: 5 14-00
86. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 5 14-00 115
Day 1: 5 14-00
89. Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, MN 5 13-15 112
Day 1: 5 13-15
89. Billy McDonald Greenwood, IN 5 13-15 112
Day 1: 5 13-15
91. Frank Ramsey Spring Grove, IL 5 13-14 110
Day 1: 5 13-14
92. Cody Bertrand Dyer, IN 5 13-14 109
Day 1: 5 13-14
93. David Wootton Collierville, TN 5 13-12 108
Day 1: 5 13-12
94. Julius Mazy Phoenix, AZ 5 13-09 107
Day 1: 5 13-09
94. Matt Pangrac Shawnee, OK 5 13-09 107
Day 1: 5 13-09
94. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 13-09 107
Day 1: 5 13-09
97. Tim Arnold Crane Hill, AL 5 13-08 104
Day 1: 5 13-08
97. Jamie Horton Centerville, AL 5 13-08 104
Day 1: 5 13-08
99. JT Russell Mc Calla, AL 5 13-05 102
Day 1: 5 13-05
100. Buck Mallory Lawton, MI 5 13-04 101
Day 1: 5 13-04
101. Bailey Boutries Springfield, MO 4 13-04 100
Day 1: 4 13-04
102. Paul Browning Pecos, TX 5 13-03 99
Day 1: 5 13-03
102. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 13-03 99
Day 1: 5 13-03
104. Steve Sennikoff Edgewood, TX 5 13-03 97
Day 1: 5 13-03
105. Jimmy Steed Zapata, TX 5 13-01 96
Day 1: 5 13-01
106. Trevor McKinney Benton, IL 5 13-00 95
Day 1: 5 13-00
107. Jason Abram Piney Flats, TN 5 12-15 94
Day 1: 5 12-15
107. Darrell Davis Dover, FL 5 12-15 94
Day 1: 5 12-15
107. Brian Mullaney Ijamsville, MD 5 12-15 94
Day 1: 5 12-15
110. Daisuke Kita Ostu Shiga JAPAN 5 12-11 91
Day 1: 5 12-11
111. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 5 12-10 90
Day 1: 5 12-10
111. Harry Peyton Guntersville, AL 5 12-10 90
Day 1: 5 12-10
113. Tripp Noojin Bryant, AL 5 12-08 88
Day 1: 5 12-08
114. Cliff Overstreet Dothan, AL 5 12-05 87
Day 1: 5 12-05
115. Clayton Batts Butler, GA 5 12-02 86
Day 1: 5 12-02
115. Austin Cranford Norman, OK 5 12-02 86
Day 1: 5 12-02
117. Tim Frederick Leesburg, FL 4 12-02 84
Day 1: 4 12-02
118. Caleb Gibson Locust Grove, OK 5 12-00 83
Day 1: 5 12-00
119. Mike Surman Boca Raton, FL 4 12-00 82
Day 1: 4 12-00
120. Andrew Harp Linden, TX 5 11-15 81
Day 1: 5 11-15
120. Chad Warren Sand Springs, OK 5 11-15 81
Day 1: 5 11-15
122. Kenji Yamada Hixson, TN 5 11-14 79
Day 1: 5 11-14
123. Bryan New Saluda, SC 4 11-14 78
Day 1: 4 11-14
124. Zach Goutremout Chaumont, NY 4 11-13 77
Day 1: 4 11-13
125. Parker Mott Winter Garden, FL 5 11-12 76
Day 1: 5 11-12
126. Erik Brztowski Lemont, IL 5 11-11 75
Day 1: 5 11-11
126. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 11-11 75
Day 1: 5 11-11
128. Bronk Mcdaniel Alexandria, LA 5 11-09 73
Day 1: 5 11-09
129. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 5 11-08 72
Day 1: 5 11-08
129. Danny Ramsey Trinidad, TX 5 11-08 72
Day 1: 5 11-08
131. Wil Dieffenbauch Hundred, WV 4 11-08 70
Day 1: 4 11-08
132. Steve Tennison Lexington, OK 5 11-06 69
Day 1: 5 11-06
133. Griffin Phillips Mount Olive, AL 4 11-04 68
Day 1: 4 11-04
134. Frank Williams Mountain Home, AR 3 11-02 67
Day 1: 3 11-02
135. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 5 10-11 66
Day 1: 5 10-11
136. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 4 10-11 65
Day 1: 4 10-11
137. Jess Beihoffer Soddy Daisy, TN 4 10-10 64
Day 1: 4 10-10
138. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 4 10-10 63
Day 1: 4 10-10
139. Keith Nemcek St Charles, IL 5 10-08 62
Day 1: 5 10-08
140. Hugh Cosculluela Spring, TX 3 10-08 61
Day 1: 3 10-08
141. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 5 10-07 60
Day 1: 5 10-07
142. Frank Talley Temple, TX 4 10-06 59
Day 1: 4 10-06
142. Keith Tuma Brainerd, MN 4 10-06 59
Day 1: 4 10-06
144. Sterling Bougher Mannford, OK 5 10-04 57
Day 1: 5 10-04
145. Tommy Williams Shepherdsville, KY 5 10-03 56
Day 1: 5 10-03
146. Chris Keeble Lenoir City, TN 5 10-03 55
Day 1: 5 10-03
147. Andrew Hargrove Moody, TX 3 10-03 54
Day 1: 3 10-03
148. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 4 10-02 53
Day 1: 4 10-02
149. Lafe Messer Warfield, KY 4 10-01 52
Day 1: 4 10-01
150. Rick Mitchell Naples, FL 4 09-15 51
Day 1: 4 09-15
151. Michael Wooten White House, TN 4 09-12 50
Day 1: 4 09-12
152. Josh Hubbard Dunnellon, FL 4 09-08 49
Day 1: 4 09-08
153. Jake Maddux Birmingham, AL 3 09-08 48
Day 1: 3 09-08
154. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 5 09-07 47
Day 1: 5 09-07
154. Caiden Sinclair Logan, AL 5 09-07 47
Day 1: 5 09-07
156. Steve Morella Townshend, VT 3 09-07 45
Day 1: 3 09-07
157. Richard Cathey San Antonio, TX 5 09-05 44
Day 1: 5 09-05
158. Matt Mollohan Batesburg, SC 4 09-05 43
Day 1: 4 09-05
158. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 4 09-05 43
Day 1: 4 09-05
160. Allen Johnson Trinity, AL 4 09-04 41
Day 1: 4 09-04
161. Jimmy Washam Stantonville, TN 3 09-03 40
Day 1: 3 09-03
162. Derek Hicks Rocky Face, GA 5 09-00 39
Day 1: 5 09-00
163. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 3 09-00 38
Day 1: 3 09-00
164. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 5 08-14 37
Day 1: 5 08-14
165. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 4 08-14 36
Day 1: 4 08-14
165. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 4 08-14 36
Day 1: 4 08-14
167. Scott Gibbs Rome, GA 4 08-10 34
Day 1: 4 08-10
168. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 3 08-04 33
Day 1: 3 08-04
169. Brandon Tallhamer Parkersburg, WV 5 08-03 32
Day 1: 5 08-03
170. Jim Dillard West Monroe, LA 2 08-03 31
Day 1: 2 08-03
171. Jeremy Bogard Wilkesboro, NC 3 08-01 30
Day 1: 3 08-01
172. Paul Tabisz Whitmore Lake, MI 3 07-13 29
Day 1: 3 07-13
173. Bart Stanisz Austin, TX 4 07-10 28
Day 1: 4 07-10
174. Cody Detweiler Guntersville, AL 3 07-10 27
Day 1: 3 07-10
175. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 3 07-09 26
Day 1: 3 07-09
176. Briana Tucker Trinity, AL 3 07-05 25
Day 1: 3 07-05
177. Danny Hardy Cantonment, FL 4 06-14 24
Day 1: 4 06-14
178. Lance Owen Greer, SC 3 06-12 23
Day 1: 3 06-12
179. Danger Kelly Somerset, KY 3 06-11 22
Day 1: 3 06-11
180. Jeff Magee Simpson Co., MS 2 06-09 21
Day 1: 2 06-09
181. Jason Carpenter Castle Pines, CO 3 06-06 20
Day 1: 3 06-06
182. Colby Robertson Summerfield, FL 4 06-01 19
Day 1: 4 06-01
183. Christian Shoda Homosassa, FL 2 06-01 18
Day 1: 2 06-01
184. Clay Dyer Fayetteville, TN 4 05-14 17
Day 1: 4 05-14
185. Tyrel Faber Pagosa Springs, CO 2 05-13 16
Day 1: 2 05-13
186. Evan Barnes Dardanelle, AR 2 05-09 15
Day 1: 2 05-09
186. Danny McGarry Newcastle CANADA 2 05-09 15
Day 1: 2 05-09
188. Gary Caruso Baton Rouge, LA 3 05-08 13
Day 1: 3 05-08
189. Bradley Enfinger Donalsonville, GA 1 05-08 12
Day 1: 1 05-08
190. Daniel Valois Gomez Caracas FL VENEZUELA 2 05-06 11
Day 1: 2 05-06
191. Bobby Lanham Eddyville, KY 2 04-14 10
Day 1: 2 04-14
192. Willy Dennison Willoughby Hills, OH 2 04-13 9
Day 1: 2 04-13
193. Jaxon Sullivan Reagan, TN 2 04-12 8
Day 1: 2 04-12
194. Paul Bouvier Kingston CANADA 2 04-09 7
Day 1: 2 04-09
195. Clayton Barnes Clanton, AL 2 04-08 6
Day 1: 2 04-08
196. Jacob Pyles Nolensville, TN 2 04-06 5
Day 1: 2 04-06
197. Scott Allgood Fair Play, SC 2 04-05 4
Day 1: 2 04-05
197. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 2 04-05 4
Day 1: 2 04-05
199. Keith Bardolf Abbeville, AL 1 04-04 2
Day 1: 1 04-04
200. Seiji Kato Outsu Shiga JAPAN 2 04-03 1
Day 1: 2 04-03
201. Brian Post Janesville, WI 2 04-02 0
Day 1: 2 04-02
202. Reece Tremaglio Dunkirk, MD 2 03-11 0
Day 1: 2 03-11
203. A.J. Menssen Bloomington, IL 2 03-08 0
Day 1: 2 03-08
204. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 2 03-04 0
Day 1: 2 03-04
205. Brayden Rakes Winston Salem, NC 1 03-02 0
Day 1: 1 03-02
206. Jason Lieblong Conway, AR 2 03-01 0
Day 1: 2 03-01
207. Logan Shaddix Cummings, GA 2 03-00 0
Day 1: 2 03-00
208. Justin Kimmel Athens, GA 1 03-00 0
Day 1: 1 03-00
209. Kenny Mittelstaedt Minnetonka, MN 1 02-13 0
Day 1: 1 02-13
210. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 1 02-12 0
Day 1: 1 02-12
211. Ryan Clark Whitby Ontario CANADA 1 02-11 0
Day 1: 1 02-11
212. Scott Isaacs Ladonia, TX 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10
212. Joe Labarbera Montrose, PA 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10
214. James Meers Rome, GA 1 02-06 0
Day 1: 1 02-06
214. Hunter Sales Blaine, TN 1 02-06 0
Day 1: 1 02-06
216. Chris Hellebuyck White Lake, MI 1 02-03 0
Day 1: 1 02-03
217. Nikki Jo Hatten Clanton, AL 2 00-00 0
Day 1: 2 00-00
218. Hunter Bland Williston, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
218. Dalton Dowdy Newberry, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
218. Tony Dumitras Winston, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
218. Phil Killian Solomon, AZ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
218. Mikey Oncale Port Allen, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
218. Daniel Rogers Morriston, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
218. Jason Tibbetts Centreville, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
218. Dave Turner Citrus Springs, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 136 905 2640-06
----------------------------------
136 905 2640-06
2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula Alabama 3/2-3/4
Lake Eufaula, Eufaula AL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Bill Hutchison Jr. Bessemer, AL 3 10-06 200
Day 1: 3 10-06
2. Mike Spears Jasper, AL 3 10-05 199
Day 1: 3 10-05
3. Steven West Mooreville, MS 3 09-14 198
Day 1: 3 09-14
4. Taylor Burtram Newton, AL 3 09-12 197
Day 1: 3 09-12
5. Jonathan Barnette Jasper, AL 3 09-06 196
Day 1: 3 09-06
6. Ashton Smith Lake Helen, FL 3 09-03 195
Day 1: 3 09-03
7. Zachery Kuhn Summerfield, FL 3 09-00 194
Day 1: 3 09-00
8. Clayton Ellis Saltillo, MS 3 08-13 193
Day 1: 3 08-13
9. Jimmy Fellegy Lakeville, MN 3 08-12 192
Day 1: 3 08-12
10. Avery Williams Murrells Inlt, SC 3 08-11 191
Day 1: 3 08-11
11. Christian Bladen Dothan, AL 3 08-06 190
Day 1: 3 08-06
11. John Goul Philadelphia, MS 3 08-06 190
Day 1: 3 08-06
13. Johnnie Garrett Union City, TN 3 08-05 188
Day 1: 3 08-05
14. Joe Chilcott Williamson, GA 3 08-04 187
Day 1: 3 08-04
15. Eric Camarote The Villages, FL 3 07-12 186
Day 1: 3 07-12
16. Marrell Deering Rome, GA 3 07-09 185
Day 1: 3 07-09
17. Dawson Wisner Palatka, FL 3 07-08 184
Day 1: 3 07-08
18. Corey Yaden Grovetown, GA 3 07-03 183
Day 1: 3 07-03
19. Brad Goetz Waunakee, WI 3 07-02 182
Day 1: 3 07-02
20. Bill Bruce Hendersonville, TN 3 07-00 181
Day 1: 3 07-00
21. Rick Cheatham Carterville, IL 2 07-00 180
Day 1: 2 07-00
22. Chad Stahl Barnesville, GA 3 06-15 179
Day 1: 3 06-15
23. Thomas Crosswhite Hartwell, GA 3 06-14 178
Day 1: 3 06-14
24. Mathew Bertram Worthington, OH 3 06-13 177
Day 1: 3 06-13
24. Justin Yenter Stevens Point, WI 3 06-13 177
Day 1: 3 06-13
26. Bob Morin Seymour, TN 3 06-12 175
Day 1: 3 06-12
27. John Ax Eufaula, AL 3 06-11 174
Day 1: 3 06-11
27. Billy Limerick Chandler, TX 3 06-11 174
Day 1: 3 06-11
27. Neal Wisinski Stevens Point, WI 3 06-11 174
Day 1: 3 06-11
30. Mark Guhne Hixson, TN 3 05-14 171
Day 1: 3 05-14
31. Michael Leach Shenandoah, TX 3 05-11 170
Day 1: 3 05-11
32. David Dukes Carrollton, GA 2 05-09 169
Day 1: 2 05-09
33. John Higginbotham Slaughter, LA 3 05-05 168
Day 1: 3 05-05
34. John Hatfield Panama City, FL 3 05-04 167
Day 1: 3 05-04
35. Carl Hunter Snellville, GA 3 05-02 166
Day 1: 3 05-02
35. Mark Moore Freeport, FL 3 05-02 166
Day 1: 3 05-02
37. Philip Morris Jr Raleigh, NC 3 05-01 164
Day 1: 3 05-01
38. Randy Tallhamer Parkersburg, FL 2 05-01 163
Day 1: 2 05-01
38. Travis Turcotte Pembroke CANADA 2 05-01 163
Day 1: 2 05-01
38. Jim Williams Winter Springs, GA 2 05-01 163
Day 1: 2 05-01
41. Austin Nelson Apopka, FL 2 05-00 160
Day 1: 2 05-00
41. Joe Tucker Osceola, MO 2 05-00 160
Day 1: 2 05-00
43. Parker Knudsen Minnetonka, MN 3 04-15 158
Day 1: 3 04-15
44. Will Thompson Hoover, AL 2 04-13 157
Day 1: 2 04-13
45. Ronald Young New Braunfels, TX 3 04-10 156
Day 1: 3 04-10
46. Skyler Anderson Harlem, GA 2 04-08 155
Day 1: 2 04-08
47. Jon Jezierski Troy, MI 2 04-05 154
Day 1: 2 04-05
47. Jp Lopez Jr Carmel, NY 2 04-05 154
Day 1: 2 04-05
47. Lance Spencer Donalsonville, GA 2 04-05 154
Day 1: 2 04-05
50. Thomas Abraham Winchester, TN 2 04-03 151
Day 1: 2 04-03
50. Cody Richardson Gautier, MS 2 04-03 151
Day 1: 2 04-03
52. David Booth Erin, TN 2 04-02 149
Day 1: 2 04-02
53. Gary Haraguchi Murfreesboro, TN 2 04-00 148
Day 1: 2 04-00
54. AJ Jones Lutz, FL 2 03-15 147
Day 1: 2 03-15
55. Tristan Bramblett Tiger, GA 2 03-14 146
Day 1: 2 03-14
56. Pheerayout See Rochester, MN 2 03-13 145
Day 1: 2 03-13
57. Matt Roberson Powder Springs, GA 2 03-12 144
Day 1: 2 03-12
58. Cameron Debity Boca Raton, FL 2 03-10 143
Day 1: 2 03-10
59. Jeff Keever Tignall, GA 1 03-06 142
Day 1: 1 03-06
60. Gus Kneidinger Prospect, PA 1 03-05 141
Day 1: 1 03-05
61. Benjamin Demo Plymouth, MN 2 03-03 140
Day 1: 2 03-03
62. Michael Padgett Leesburg, GA 2 03-02 139
Day 1: 2 03-02
63. Eric Melton Flowood, MS 1 03-02 138
Day 1: 1 03-02
63. Dee Powell Hope Hull, AL 1 03-02 138
Day 1: 1 03-02
65. Russell Hoyle Hickory, NC 2 03-01 136
Day 1: 2 03-01
66. Austin Hubatch Rosholt, WI 1 02-15 135
Day 1: 1 02-15
67. Mark Meadows Hendersonville, NC 1 02-13 134
Day 1: 1 02-13
68. Dylan Mayo Athens, TX 1 02-11 133
Day 1: 1 02-11
69. Captain Black Panama City Beach, FL 1 02-09 132
Day 1: 1 02-09
70. Randy Lawrence Pensacola, FL 1 02-08 131
Day 1: 1 02-08
70. Danny Richardson Gautier, MS 1 02-08 131
Day 1: 1 02-08
70. Clyde Roberts Marshall, NC 1 02-08 131
Day 1: 1 02-08
73. Wes Kinard Fosters, AL 1 02-07 128
Day 1: 1 02-07
74. Kenneth Ott Manahawkin, NJ 1 02-06 127
Day 1: 1 02-06
74. Johnny Ward Jr Ludowici, GA 1 02-06 127
Day 1: 1 02-06
76. Kristian Dus Roselle, IL 1 02-00 125
Day 1: 1 02-00
76. Morne Duvenhage Whigham GA SOUTH AFRICA 1 02-00 125
Day 1: 1 02-00
76. Matthew Rogers Chiefland, FL 1 02-00 125
Day 1: 1 02-00
79. Will Presley Jr Grove City, OH 1 02-00 122
Day 1: 1 02-00
80. Allen Heston Pittsburg, TX 1 01-14 121
Day 1: 1 01-14
80. Joe Stokes Kentwood, LA 1 01-14 121
Day 1: 1 01-14
82. Doug Back Monticello, FL 1 01-13 119
Day 1: 1 01-13
83. Jacob Smith Daleville, AL 1 01-12 118
Day 1: 1 01-12
84. Travis Culbreth Alexander City, AL 1 01-09 117
Day 1: 1 01-09
85. Jimmy Brumfield Madison, MS 1 01-08 116
Day 1: 1 01-08
86. Dusty Wood Belton, SC 1 01-06 115
Day 1: 1 01-06
87. Nick Richey Aledo, TX 1 01-05 114
Day 1: 1 01-05
88. Alex Reece Greenville, SC 1 01-01 113
Day 1: 1 01-01
89. Chris Carroll Franklin, GA 1 00-07 112
Day 1: 1 00-07
90. Barney Boutries Mobile, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Steve Deyton Forest City, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Chris Earles Lady Lake, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Satoshi Egawa Fort Lee, NJ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Jeff Fellows Orlando, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Ralph Gibson Locust Grove, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Ray Hill Lake City, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Darrell Hille Springfield, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Byong Lee Stedman, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Kevin Mallow Kansas, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Sherman Marbutt Hackleburg, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Jordan McDonald Jackson, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Lance McWhorter Tyler, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Ronald Miller Attalla, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Troy Mims Suwanee, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. David Patterson Flowood, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Chris Shrader Niceville, WY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Ryan Shriber Franklin, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Jared Simpson Burlington, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. David Stout Fair Play, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Rick Sweadner Woodsboro, MD 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Wyatt Szymanski Stevens Point, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Justin Thomas Panama City, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Sakae Ushio Tonawanda, NY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Stephen Waldon Ellenwood, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Matthew Williams Westminster, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
90. Bobby Williams Salisbury, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 37 187 438-14
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37 187 438-14
Winds force cancellation of Friday's competition at Bassmaster Open on Lake Eufaula
March 2, 2023
Winds force cancellation of Friday's competition at Bassmaster Open on Lake Eufaula
EUFAULA, Ala. — B.A.S.S. officials have canceled Friday's competition at the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula due to inclement weather and predicted high winds that are expected to make conditions unsafe for boating and related tournament activities. The full field will compete on Saturday, the final day of the tournament.
After Day 1 of the tournament, Justin Barnes of Ellaville, Ga., is leading the tournament with 25 pounds, 6 ounces.
The National Weather Service (NWS) Birmingham office has issued a wind advisory for Eufaula and surrounding areas, including Lake Eufaula, with forecasted southerly winds of 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. The advisory is in effect through Friday night. Severe thunderstorms are possible across the region through early Friday afternoon.
Hank Weldon, executive tournament director for the Bassmaster Opens, had lengthy discussions with NWS forecasters prior to making the decision.
“The concern for us is not the storms, but more so the forecasted sustained gradient winds from the south and gusts accompanying the weather system,” Weldon said. “Strong southerly winds are not good on a lake like Eufaula that runs from north to south.
“Southerly winds collide with the current flow from the north, causing the waves to get stacked up, making it unconducive for boating.”
Competition will resume Saturday at 6:30 a.m. CT with takeoff from Lakepoint State Park with weigh-ins back at the park at 2:30 p.m. Saturday’s forecast is calling for sunny skies, with a high near 76 degrees and west winds from 5 to 10 mph.
Dakota Does It! Ebare Weighs 16-Pound Limit on Final Day to Go Wire-to-Wire and Win Toyota Stop 2 on Clarks Hill
Texas Pro Earns Second Tournament Win of 2023 and Top Payout of $115,000
APPLING, Ga. (March 2, 2023) – When you’re hot, you’re hot. And right now, perhaps no bass angler on planet earth is as hot as Brookeland, Texas pro Dakota Ebare. Ebare boated a five-bass limit Thursday weighing 16 pounds, 7 ounces – enough to win his second major event of the year at the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Toyota Stop 2 at Clarks Hill Lake Presented by Lowrance . Ebare’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 58 pounds, 10 ounces, earned him the win by a 10-ounce margin over hard-charging pro Travis Harriman of Huntsville, Arkansas, who weighed in the largest limit of the tournament Thursday – 23 pounds, 14 ounces – to give Ebare quite the scare. Ebare earned $115,000 for his victory, and will now receive an automatic invitation into REDCREST 2024 next year, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
“Man, what a relief. I’ve been so stressed the last hour since I checked in,” Ebare said. “I wasn’t really nervous until about 2:50, before we started the weigh-in. I knew my time was up, and I just prayed it was enough. If it was meant to be, it was going to happen. And it did!”
Ebare was all over the lake throughout the week, catching fish both shallow and deep. He said the key depth seemed to be in the 12 to 15-foot mid-range, as lots of fish are roaming just waiting to move to the bank for the spawn.
“The key bait for me this week was a 3/16-ounce Strike King shakey-head,” Ebare said. “I don’t know why there were biting the shaky-head for me – my roommate Kyle (Hall) couldn’t get a bite on it at all, but I caught a lot of fish on it this week. I also caught quite a few on a vibrating jig, and a couple of key fish each day on the (Strike King) Rage Bug. But the shaky-head was definitely the major player for me, and I just kept throwing what was working.”
Ebare has been on an absolute tear the last 12 months, accumulating eight top-10 finishes in 2022 – including three second place finishes – but the tournament win always seemed to elude him, no matter how hard he tried.
Until this season.
Now, just two months into the new year, Ebare has already banked two tournament wins and added more than $205,000 to his bank account. The Texas pro credits his grueling travel schedule competing on the Bass Pro Tour, the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and the Toyota Series as being one of the keys to his success.
“Man, I was so close so many times, I did feel like it was inevitable and that I’d eventually get it done, but to be able to do it twice this year, already, just a month into the season, is truly a blessing,” Ebare said. “That’s all I can really say – it’s been great. This is my fifth week in a row on the road with tournaments. REDCREST next week will be six, and I think I’ve got nine weeks in a row that I’ll be fishing. So, I am just in the groove right now and rolling.
“Fishing this much is absolutely helping,” Ebare continued. “That’s really the way I’ve structured the last five years of my career since I started fishing on tour. A tournament every week. Go, go, go. You just get conditioned to fishing new lakes. And when you go to a new tournament, a new lake every week, its different. That’s what has allowed me to move around so freely on this lake and be successful this week, just fishing the moment.
“When you leave Lake Toho in Florida, then come straight to Clarks Hill Lake in Georgia, you can’t get any two lakes that are farther apart in regard to what it’s like on the water. You have to have an open mind and just go fishing, you can’t get too dialed in. Right now, I’m just flowing. And it feels great.”
The top 20 pros at the Toyota Stop 2 at Clarks Hill Lake Presented by Lowrance finished:
1st: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, 15 bass, 58-10, $115,000
2nd: Travis Harriman, Huntsville, Ark., 15 bass, 58-0, $50,000
3rd: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 15 bass, 53-15, $20,000
4th: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 15 bass, 52-13, $18,000
5th: Sean Anderson, Leesville, S.C., 15 bass, 50-0, $17,000
6th: Tristan McCormick, Burns, Tenn., 15 bass, 48-8, $16,000
7th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 15 bass, 48-8, $15,000
8th: Connor Cunningham, Springfield, Mo., 15 bass, 48-4, $14,000
9th: Cal Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 48-1, $13,000
10th: Tom Redington, Royse City, Texas, 15 bass, 48-1, $12,000
11th: Spike Stoker, Cisco, Texas, 15 bass, 48-0, $10,000
12th: Jack Daniel Williams, Kingsport, Tenn., 15 bass, 47-13, $10,000
13th: Christian Greico, Tampa, Fla., 15 bass, 47-9, $10,000
14th: John Cox, DeBary, Fla., 15 bass, 47-6, $10,000
15th: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 15 bass, 47-4, $10,000
16th: Jordan Hirt, Glenwood, Iowa, 15 bass, 46-2, $10,000
17th: Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., 15 bass, 45-7, $10,000
18th: Grae Buck, Green Lane, Pa., 15 bass, 45-0, $10,000
19th: Drew Boggs, Lebanon, Tenn., 15 bass, 44-7, $10,000
20th: Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis., 15 bass, 44-5, $10,000
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 248 bass weighing 678 pounds, 6 ounces caught by the final 50 pros Thursday. The catch included 48 five-bass limits.
The three-day tournament, hosted by the Columbia County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Thomson-McDuffie County Convention & Visitors Bureau, featured a roster of 150 anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024. The next Tackle Warehouse Invitational event will take place April 14-16 at the Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 3 on Lake Eufaula presented by B&W Hitches in Eufaula, Oklahoma.
In MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Tuesday and Wednesday. The top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advanced to the final round on Championship Thursday, where they competed for the grand prize of up to $115,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. The winner of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Toyota Stop 2 at Clarks Hill Lake Presented by Lowrance will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight and will receive an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Toyota Stop 2 at Clarks Hill Lake Presented by Lowrance will also feature a two-hour television broadcast that will premiere on the CBS Sports Network on Saturday, Oct. 7.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, 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.
Z-Man® Signs a Country Star
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Shore Lunch Renews Major League Fishing Sponsorship for 2023 Season
Premier Soup, Breading and Batter Mix Provider Expands on Sponsorship Agreement and Signs on as Presenting Sponsor of REDCREST 2023
BENTON, Ky. (March 2, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today that Shore Lunch, a leading provider of premium soup, breading and batter mixes created by Great Lakes fishing guides, has renewed and expanded their sponsorship with the organization for the 2023 season. In addition to being an Official Sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour and the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event, Shore Lunch will also become the presenting sponsor of REDCREST 2023 and the General Tire Outdoor Sports Expo, held March 8-12 at Lake Norman in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“We’re thrilled to have Shore Lunch renew their Major League Fishing sponsorship and are proud to showcase their products at our biggest events, continuing to reach new audiences together,” said Randy Gerstenblatt, MLF Senior Vice President of Sponsorship & Media Sales. “Through our premier tournament content and coverage, Shore Lunch will be able to connect and engage with our extremely loyal fanbase all across the country.”
Shore Lunch has partnered with MLF, the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, since 2022. The U.S.-based company will receive exposure through multiple MLF outlets, including television and livestream broadcasts, the MLF website and social media outlets, prominent angler boat and jersey exposure at General Tire Heavy Hitters.
“Partnering with Major League Fishing makes perfect sense for Shore Lunch and the many loyal fishing enthusiasts that use our products every day at home and anytime they are out on the lake,” said Jonathan Eubanks, Senior Brand Manager, Shore Lunch. “We are excited to expand our relationship with MLF and look forward to an exciting season out on the water.”
For more information about MLF, their tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about Shore Lunch and their full line of premium soup, breading and batter mixes, visit ShoreLunch.com.
Hackney and Rivet love their Tundras’ fuel mileage and reliability
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Like a lot of young Southern Louisiana bass anglers, Tyler Rivet grew up hoping to be like Greg Hackney, and given his current lead in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year points race, there’s a strong possibility his dreams of an iconic career like Hackney’s could come true.
Not only do the two talented pros come from Cajun country, they both purchased Toyota Tundras, and recently cashed Toyota Bonus Bucks checks as a result of their high finishes at Lake Seminole.
Plus, given Hackney’s unapologetic love of his torque and horsepower packed beast with much improved fuel mileage, it looks like there’s a good chance Rivet will follow further in Hackney’s footsteps by buying a new Tundra.
“We all know Toyota makes the most dependable truck out there, but let me tell you something, the gas mileage on this new Tundra is pretty crazy awesome. I’m getting 14 miles per gallon towing and 18-20 with no boat behind me, Plus, it pulls like a diesel because of the way Toyota engineered it to not shift constantly when you’re towing. I just set it on cruise control and go!” says Hackney.
“I’ll be really honest, now that I know how good the gas mileage is on the new Tundra, I’m probably going to sell the ¾ ton Chevy I drive around home sometimes, and replace it with a new Tundra too,” he adds.
Rivet’s Tundra is a 2019, and he’s been thinking seriously about upgrading to a new one. Given Hackney’s testimony, there’s a good chance he will.
“I bought my 2019 because I wanted to be eligible for Bonus Bucks, plus I wanted to be able to drive it through Elite Series and Classic weigh-ins to show off my sponsors, and we all know it’s a super reliable truck,” says Rivet.
“Hack was definitely a great dude to look up to growing up, and now I realize I have a chance to be a great mentor to all the high school kids where we’re from like he was to me and my buddies,” adds Rivet.
With a heart like that and best-in-the-game fishing talents too, Tyler Rivet is well on his way to becoming Southern Louisiana’s next generation of bass fishing greatness.
To learn more about the all new Toyota Tundra, and to get signed up for Toyota Bonus Bucks like Hackney and Rivet did, please visit https://www.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com/.
Ebare Maintains Lead at Toyota Stop 2 on Clarks Hill
Texas Pro Brings 5-Pound, 5-Ounce Lead into Third and Final Day of Competition, Arkansas’ Spencer Shuffield in Second
APPLING, Ga. (March 1, 2023) – Pro Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, caught a five-bass limit Wednesday weighing 18 pounds, 6 ounces, to extend his lead by a just a couple of ounces after Day 2 of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Toyota Stop 2 at Clarks Hill Lake Presented by Lowrance. Ebare’s two-day total of 10 bass weighing 42 pounds, 3 ounces, will give him a 5-pound, 5-ounce lead over Hot Springs, Arkansas’ Spencer Shuffield, who has weighed in 10 bass totaling 36-14.
The three-day tournament, hosted by the Columbia County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Thomson-McDuffie County Convention & Visitors Bureau, featured a roster of 150 anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024. The field is now trimmed to 50, and the winner will be determined tomorrow by heaviest three-day cumulative weight.
“Today started off really slow and it didn’t seem like there was much activity happening at all, out deep or on the bank,” Ebare said. “I started offshore like I did the first day, and it just wasn’t happening. I decided that if I was going to be grinding for bites, I was going to grind where I could get a kicker largemouth. But then that didn’t work, either.
“I shifted back to the mid-depth range as the afternoon progressed, and then I caught the big one. After that it really picked up.”
Ebare targeted brush piles and caught the biggest bass of the tournament – an 8-pound, 2-ounce stud - with a shaky-head rig. After that, he said the lake turned on and he caught another 20 fish throughout the afternoon.
“I’m pretty much catching fish on three different baits, but the key bait that I caught my bigger fish on yesterday did not work out today,” Ebare said.
Despite a 5-pound cushion, Ebare said that he was not at all comfortable and that he still feels like he needs to have a good day tomorrow in order to see the deal.
“I’m not letting up at all. I have to catch as much as I can and give it everything that I’ve got, tomorrow, because those guys behind me can catch them. Any one of them are capable of catching a big bag and catching me, so I’m not comfortable at all. I’m going to fish hard and do my best to finish this thing out.”
The top 50 pros advancing to the final day of competition on Clarks Hill Lake are:
1st: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, 10 bass, 42-3
2nd: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 36-14
3rd: Tristan McCormick, Burns, Tenn., 10 bass, 35-4
4th: Sean Anderson, Leesville, S.C., 10 bass, 34-14
5th: Cal Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 34-3
6th: Travis Harriman, Huntsville, Ark., 10 bass, 34-2
7th: Tom Redington, Royse City, Texas, 10 bass, 33-3
8th: Mark Condron, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 10 bass, 32-11
9th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 10 bass, 32-1
10th: John Cox, DeBary, Fla., 10 bass, 31-15
11th: Drew Boggs, Lebanon, Tenn., 10 bass, 31-12
12th: Brad Jelinek, Lincoln, Mo., 10 bass, 31-8
13th: Spike Stoker, Cisco, Texas, 10 bass, 31-5
14th: Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., 10 bass, 31-3
15th: Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis., 10 bass, 31-3
16th: Colby Schrumpf, Highland, Ill., 10 bass, 31-2
17th: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 10 bass, 31-0
18th: Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., 10 bass, 30-15
19th: William Fletcher, Dallas, Ga., 10 bass, 30-10
20th: Connor Cunningham, Springfield, Mo., 10 bass, 30-5
21st: Lane Olson, Tualatin, Ore., 10 bass, 30-3
22nd: Chad Mrazek, Montgomery, Texas, 10 bass, 30-2
23rd: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 10 bass, 30-0
24th: Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., 10 bass, 29-14
25th: Michael Harlin, Sunrise Beach, Mo., 10 bass, 29-13
26th: Kyle Hall, Granbury, Texas, 10 bass, 29-10
27th: Ron Farrow, Rock Hill, S.C., 10 bass, 29-7
28th: Jack Daniel Williams, Kingsport, Tenn., 10 bass, 29-7
29th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 10 bass, 29-4
30th: Scotty Villines, Ponca, Ark., 10 bass, 29-3
31st: Steve Lopez, Oconomowoc, Wis., 10 bass, 29-3
32nd: Jordan Hirt, Glenwood, Iowa, 10 bass, 28-11
33rd: Christian Greico, Tampa, Fla., 10 bass, 28-11
34th: Cody Petit, Arundel, Maine, 10 bass, 28-10
35th: Cole Breeden, Lebanon, Mo., 10 bass, 28-9
36th: Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga., 10 bass, 28-6
37th: John Voyles, Petersburg, Ind., 10 bass, 28-6
38th: Eric Panzironi, Longwood, Fla., 10 bass, 28-5
39th: Blake Hall, Rogersville, Ala., 10 bass, 28-3
40th: Lance Crawford, Broken Bow, Okla., 10 bass, 27-13
41st: Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 10 bass, 27-8
42nd: Matt Reed, Madisonville, Texas, 10 bass, 27-6
43rd: Jaden Parrish, Liberty, Texas, 10 bass, 27-5
44th: Grae Buck, Green Lane, Pa., 10 bass, 26-15
45th: Shaw Grigsby, Gaineville, Fla., 10 bass, 26-15
46th: Kollin Crawford, Broken Bow, Okla., 10 bass, 26-12
47th: Brock Reinkemeyer, Warsaw, Mo., 10 bass, 26-12
48th: Ricky Robinson, Greenback, Tenn., 10 bass, 26-9
49th: Jim Moynagh, Shakopee, Minn., 10 bass, 26-8
50th: Kyle Minke, Lindstrom, Minn., 10 bass, 26-7
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Ebare won Wednesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award with his kicker largemouth that weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces.
Overall, there were 743 bass weighing 1,845 pounds, 9 ounces caught by 149 pros Wednesday. The catch included 147 five-bass limits.
In MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Tuesday and Wednesday. Only the top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight now advance to the final round on Championship Thursday, 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 Toyota Stop 2 at Clarks Hill Lake Presented by Lowrance 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 take off at 7 a.m. ET Thursday, from Wildwood Park, located at 6212 Holloway Road in Appling. The final weigh-in and trophy presentation will also be held at the park beginning at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the live on-the-water action all three days of competition online on MLF NOW! beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET 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 7:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 2 at Clarks Hill Lake will also feature a two-hour television broadcast that will premiere on the CBS Sports Network on Saturday, Oct. 7.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, 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.
CANADIAN BASS FISHING EXPERT “BIG JIM” McLAUGHLIN HONORED WITH BASS FISHING HALL OF FAME BOARD’S MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – March 1, 2023 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – In keeping with its mission of celebrating the sport of bass fishing, the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Board of Directors will be honoring Jim McLaughlin from Seely’s Bay, Ontario with its special ‘Meritorious Service Award’ during its upcoming sponsor/donor reception at the Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville.
Established in 2018, the Hall’s Meritorious Service Award gives proper and well-deserved recognition to an individual or organization for their significant contributions within specific areas to bass fishing.
McLaughlin, known throughout the Canadian bass fishing scene as ‘Big Jim’, was once one of the most feared and successful competitive anglers in Canada, as well as its first Pro Bass Classic winner and the first two-time Pro Bass Classic winner. He continues to be a headline presenter at major fishing expos in Ottawa and Toronto, along with handling emcee duties at various bass fishing tournaments throughout Ontario.
In addition to his angling skills, McLaughlin has always had a knack for introducing youngsters to fishing and helping their parents understand the sport and how to make it a family activity. Over the past 25 years, he’s given many kids their first taste of fishing by hosting the Jackpot Casting Pond at the annual Ottawa Boat and Outdoor Show. Over his career, he’s been a driving force behind growing tournament bass fishing in Canada and has inspired many to establish careers in the sport as both professional anglers and in other areas within the industry.
“While Big Jim’s incredible tournament accomplishments are what most bass anglers in Canada would point out, it’s his relentless and tireless work promoting bass fishing that really overshadows all his tournament success,” said noted bass fishing TV celebrity Dave Mercer. “There’s a Greek proverb that says, ‘a society grows great when men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in’ and Big Jim is doing that by physically introducing more anglers to fishing at tournaments, outdoor expos, kid’s events, or often a random lake side meeting, than any other Canadian.”
McLaughlin joins the late Ronnie Everett and Jim Hooven as well as the Western Bass Club as recipients of the Hall’s Meritorious Service Award. Everett started the Mr. Bass of Arkansas tournament trail that served as a breeding ground for many pro bass anglers from the state. Hooven led the Lakeland (Fla.) Bassmaster club for 25 consecutive years and watched as several members went on to successful careers as pro anglers. The Seattle-based Western Bass Club, started in 1938, is considered the oldest bass club still in existence.
“On behalf of the BFHOF Board, we can’t thank Big Jim enough for what he has done for bass fishing and the tournament scene throughout Ontario over the years,” said Board president John Mazurkiewicz. “It’s a pleasure recognizing him for what he does to celebrate, promote and preserve the sport of bass fishing.”
Many BFHOF inductees, the Hall’s Board, leaders from the bass fishing industry, pro anglers and special invited guests will be in attendance at the annual HOF reception at the Bassmaster Classic where McLaughlin will officially be honored with his BFHOF Meritorious Service Award.
More information about the Bass Fishing HOF and its mission of ‘celebrating, promoting and preserving the sport of bass fishing’ is available at www.BassFishingHOF.com, or by contacting BFHOF executive director Barbara Bowman at [email protected].
Bass from the Grass...and Depths
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DAIWA’s new ¾-ounce Ever Green Grass Ripper (GR) jig targets more and bigger bass. |
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Cypress, CA (March 1, 2023) – Come summer, largemouth bass make a habit of burying themselves in the grass. Bass sharpies know they’re in there, of course, but not everyone has the patience to work through waters where the stringy stalks wrap around hooks and jig heads on every cast. That’s why DAIWA and Ever Green International’s Grass Ripper (GR) jig series has been a hit. For 2023, the upsized ¾-ounce Grass Ripper aims to tempt deepwater bass, and, slow crawled in the shallows, to earn the attention of spring bass. |
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Heavyweight jigs like the ¾-ounce Grass Ripper prove instantly effective in 20-feet of water and deeper, especially along steep ledges. One popular technique is swimming them uphill from an inside boat position. Featuring a perfectly positioned eyelet at the front of the jig’s nose, and teardrop-shaped head that angles smoothly from eyelet to base, the Grass Ripper gently slithers and glides over grass instead of trying to power through it. Following this path of least resistance allows the jig to avoid catching grass and other vegetation around the eyelet while its robust weed guard protects the hook. The Grass Ripper’s unique anvil-shaped head also causes the jig to invitingly pendulum swing on the drop, expanding coverage. Run-of-the-mill jigs simply tumble and flop to the bottom. |
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CLEARWATER SHAD |
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SPOT REMOVER |
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CHART SHAD |
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BHITE DELIGHT |
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BRETT'S BLUEGILL |
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FIRE CRAW |
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GREEN PUMPKIN |
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BRUISED GREEN PUMPKIN |
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“Many jigs have the eyelet atop the jig head. Unfortunately, that positioning leads to the jig getting plugged-up as you force it through the grass,” explains Marc Mills, DAIWA’s Marketing Manager. “With the Grass Ripper, the jig head just slides up and over the grass to keep itself weedless more often than not. Try one on a grassy flat and you’ll notice the difference immediately. Fewer weeds on your jig equates to more strikes overall, and better odds of having a lunker take a swipe at your offering.” Available in ¼-, 3/8-, ½-, and now ¾-ounce sizes, the Grass Ripper comes in ten proven colors. Weed guards in black, brown or clear blend with the jig’s primary color pattern, while its high-quality heavy-gauge, 4/0 custom bait-holder hook is a nod to the serious big-bass potential here in North America. Engineered to swim strait and not roll over, the Grass Ripper’s ability to come through grass nice and clean opens new avenues for anglers to explore. Whether looking to fill a limit, set a new personal best, or simply enjoy a day of solid bassin’ at your favorite honey hole, these jigs offer a serious edge. With a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $7.49 to $8.99, they are nearly indestructible, affordable, and sure to help you pull more big bass from the subsurface lawns others avoid. |
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Dakota Lithium inks multiyear deal to sponsor Bassmaster Kayak Angler of the Year
March 1, 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 signed a three-year sponsorship deal for the Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year award.
Every tournament in the 2023 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX has been expanded to two days as anglers compete around the country for the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year title, which comes with a $5,000 cash prize.
“Partnering with B.A.S.S. to honor the top Kayak Series angler is a natural fit and extension of our support for the sport and relationship with Bassmaster tournaments,” said Craig Storms, Dakota Lithium national sales representative and pro staff manager. “Many of the Kayak Series’ top anglers already work with Dakota Lithium, and we want to continue the momentum we’re building through our sponsorship of the Bassmaster Tournament Trail and Elite Series pros to keep reaching more people who fish. B.A.S.S. is committed to using its massive reach and membership base to elevate kayak fishing.”
In addition to sponsoring multiple Bassmaster Kayak Series anglers, including past champions Cody Milton and Rus Snyders, Dakota Lithium is a premier sponsor for the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota and six-circuit Bassmaster Tournament Trail.
“It was no surprise to see Dakota Lithium, a long-time supporter of the sport, step up in a huge way regarding the Bassmaster Kayak Series,” said angler Kristine Fischer, who won the 2021 Hobie Bass Open Series Tournament of Champions on Lake Eufaula and finished 3rd at the season-ending 2022 Bassmaster Kayak Series event on Pickwick Lake. “I’ve been part of the Dakota team for years, and it makes me proud to be part of a family that continuously invests and pours into growing kayak fishing.”
Lithium batteries have become an industry standard for competitive fishing, providing twice the usable power at half the weight of traditional batteries. In a quickly growing market, Dakota Lithium has become the brand of choice for professional athletes, primarily due to Dakota Lithium’s performance, reliability, lifespan and best-in-class 11-year warranty.
The 2023 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX season kicks off March 4-5 on legendary Lake Guntersville. Anglers will earn points in every regular-season tournament with their lowest finish dropped to determine the final Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year standings.
MLF Sponsor Onyx Donates PFDs to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for Life Jacket Loaner Program at Clarks Hill Lake
APPLING, Ga. (March 1, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF) and Onyx, the exclusive life jacket sponsor of the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, are ensuring that the 150 pros competing this week at the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Toyota Stop 2 at Clarks Hill Lakearen’t the only anglers who will be safe on Clarks Hill Lake. In conjunction with the tournament, Onyx donated PFDs to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Life Jacket Loaner program, which places the PFDs at loaner stations located around the lake to be used by local anglers and boaters.
“We are thrilled to partner with Onyx and Major League Fishing in the expansion of our Life Jacket Loaner Program,” said Charlie Fenwick, Park Operations Manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – J. Strom Thurmond Lake. “These donated loaner life jackets will amplify safe recreational opportunities that the more than 4 million annual visitors experience by and in the water, including swimming, boating and fishing. Always wear a lifejacket when you are on or near the water – Life Jackets Worn… Nobody Mourns!”
The PFDs were presented to the U.S. Army Rangers on stage at Tuesday’s weigh-in by MLF Senior Tournament Director Kevin Hunt, on behalf of Onyx.
“Onyx is pleased to partner with the Army Corps of Engineers in providing PFDs for their life jacket loaner stations on Clarks Hill Lake, making sure their visitors stay safe during all their water activities,” said Mary Snyder, Vice President of Marketing for Onyx. “It’s a nice reminder for everyone – the best life jackets are the ones you wear.”
The Tackle Warehouse Invitational Toyota Stop 2 at Clarks Hill Lake Presented by Lowrance is underway this week in Appling, Georgia, through Thursday. The MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals feature a roster of 150 anglers, competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024 – the Bass Pro Tour championship – for the chance to win up to $300,000.
Anglers will launch each morning at 7 a.m. ET from Wildwood Park, located at 6212 Holloway Road in Appling. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park beginning at 3 p.m. each day. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the live on-the-water action all three days of competition online on MLF NOW! beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
For complete details and updated tournament information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. To learn more about Onyx, their PFD lineup and what to look for in your life jacket, visit OnyxOutdoor.com.
Ridin' with the Cowboy
This week, Bassmaster Elite Series winner, Joey Cifuentes, goes over how the west... southwest of Georgia was won.
The Ultimate Rainsuit for Extreme Elements
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New Whitewater® Great Lakes Jacket & Bib fishing rain gear caters to winter, early-, and late-season season multi-species fishing |
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MUSKEGON, Mich. (March 1, 2023) – Conceived to deliver elite-level anglers with the ultimate water-, wind-, and foul weather-resistant fishing rain gear, the 2023 Whitewater®Great Lakes Jacket & Bib delivers the ultimate in elements protection, warmth, comfort, mobility, and flexibility. Prototyped through numerous iterations in tandem with the NEXT BITE staff and winning FLW, AIM, and MLF tournament walleye anglers (Gary Parsons, Chase Parsons, Jason Przekurat, Tommy Kemos, and Korey Sprengel), as well as Matt and Jim Schiefelbein; guides from the cold-weather steelhead/salmon scene; foul-weather muskie sticks; and elite-level tournament bass anglers like the youngest competitor to ever win a B.A.S.S. Elite Series event, Jay Przekurat, Whitewater’s 2023 Great Lakes Jacket & Bib fishing rain gear was designed by serious anglers for serious anglers. |
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Buoy Red |
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Adding to the apparel toolbox of today’s advanced angler, the all-new-for-2023 Great Lakes Jacket & Bib provides an elevated option to anglers doing battle with the special challenges of cold-weather, early-season and late-season – or any time during the fishing calendar when the weather is foul, often the case pursuing walleyes, smallmouths, or salmon/trout on the Great Lakes, or chasing marble eyes in the Dakotas or on the Columbia, Missouri, Mississippi, and Detroit River systems, as well as pounding big-water for muskies. |
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NEXUS Outdoors president and product design advisor, Aaron Ambur, remarks: “From my beginnings on the Missouri River chasing walleyes to currently hitting the Great Lakes hard, I am excited about what we created for authentic, technical anglers who fish no matter the conditions. I have worn all the past brand offerings, and to this date, no one has balanced protection and warmth into garments without constricting the highly mobile and athletic movements of an active fisherman. The Whitewater Great Lakes Jacket and Bib delivers the perfect balance like no other suit to date, and I can’t wait for customers to experience what I have through testing during our development journey on many different waters and in some really bad weather conditions.” |
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Multi-tournament FLW and MLF walleye pro, Jason Przekurat, offers: “Whitewater Great Lakes fishing rain gear is something I’ve been pretty close with as far as designing an extremely high-quality bad weather fishing rain suit with a realistic price-tag—something that has all the features and more of any high-end fishing rain gear. From head to feet, the Great Lakes ensemble has been designed and measured to fit all the things that we as fishermen need in a dependable fishing rain suit . At the end of the day, it has the fit and function to keep serious anglers dry in the worst conditions imaginable, which usually happen during tournament days.” |
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“Everything from the hood to the pockets to the sleeves, it was made to my specs. The most important feature, in my opinion, is that it’s flexible. It has a stretchy fabric to it so you’re never bound in the suit, which is what we’ve seen in the past with stiff rain gear,” shares Przekurat. “For example, you bend over to un-hook a fish and everything binds up in the suit and doesn’t allow you to stretch or stay flexible. One of the problems I’ve seen over the past is I have long legs, and I’d sit down and the bibs would ride up my legs exposing my ankles to the wind, rain, and sleet. With Whitewater’s stretchable fabric, I don’t have to worry about that anymore,” continues Przekurat. |
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Przekurat concludes: “By far, the most important feature of the Great Lakes Jacket and Bib is comfort. It’s the most comfortable rain suit I’ve ever worn over the past several decades. There’s no restriction of movement—the suit moves with you, whether you’re casting, setting out boards, landing a fish, or netting a fish for a partner or co-angler. Ultimately, it’s that rare rain suit that actually flexes with your knees, elbows, arms, and legs, and allows for the athletic motions of today’s competitive fishing.” |
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Features: Whitewater Great Lakes Jacket
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Features: Whitewater Great Lakes Bib
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To complete the Whitewater® Great Lakes system, anglers should also look at the brand’s new-for-2023 Whitewater® Torque Heated Fishing Vest and the Buoy Fishing Hoodie, both of which complete a system approach layered underneath the Great Lakes Jacket. In addition, for extremely cold, winter fishing temperatures, professional anglers like Jason Przekurat are also layering the Whitewater Tamer™ Softshell Jacket and Tamer™ Bib underneath the Great Lakes Jacket and Bib. No matter what species you chase, the goal is to quickly locate and catch fish no matter what Mother Nature throws at you. Designed and engineered with an elite combination of materials and technologies to leverage preparation and maximize opportunities during the unique challenges of foul, cold, and wet conditions, the all-new Great Lakes Jacket & Bib gives serious anglers every possible advantage. Apparel will soon be available at dealers, but is available online NOW at whitewaterfish.com. |
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Lipless crankbaits for prespawn bass
https://youtu.be/L8SVQTYwF-E
Vance shares some lipless crankbait tips for when the bass start to move in from their winter haunts
Dakota Ebare Smacks 23-Pound Limit to Take Early Lead at Toyota Stop 2 on Clarks Hill
Former Rodeo Bullfighter Takes 5-Pound, 2-Ounce Lead into Second Day of Competition Wednesday
APPLING, Ga. (Feb. 28, 2023) – The second Major League Fishing (MLF) Tackle Warehouse Invitational event of the season kicked off this morning at Clarks Hill Lake in Appling, Georgia, and the fishery absolutely showed out. More than 30 pros caught a five-bass limit in excess of 14 pounds, and six pros caught limits weighing more than 17 pounds. However, after all of the fish had been weighed and the scales settled, an angler many consider to be the hottest in the country had jumped out to a Texas-sized lead.
Pro Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, crossed the stage Tuesday with a five-bass limit weighing 23 pounds, 13 ounces, to grab the early lead on Day 1 of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Toyota Stop 2 at Clarks Hill Lake Presented by Lowrance. Ebare now holds a 5-pound,2-ounce lead over Huntsville, Arkansas’ Travis Harriman, who caught five bass weighing 18-11.
The full field of 150 anglers will conclude the two-day opening round on Wednesday, with only the top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advancing to Championship Thursday. The three-day tournament, hosted by the Columbia County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Thomson-McDuffie County Convention & Visitors Bureau, features a roster of 150 anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024.
Although Ebare was predictably mum about a lot of the key details on his big day, he did say that he caught 30 to 40 keepers and that he thinks he can have a similar day tomorrow.
“Today was a little better than I expected,” said Ebare, a former College Fishing angler for Tarleton State University. “I was expecting to go out there and catch some fish and have a good day, but I had a couple of really big bites and it turned out to be a great day. I caught them from every branch (of the lake) that you could possibly catch them in. I did a lot of different stuff and just bounced around. I caught some out, caught some up, and just kept an open mind for the day. I had a lot of fun and just went fishing.
“The deepest I caught one was 30 feet, and the shallowest I caught one was one foot,” Ebare continued. “I was all over, just keeping an open mind. And that’s what we’re going to do tomorrow, just go out and have a good time again, and we’ll see where we end up.”
Ebare has been on an absolute tear on the water over the last 12 months. He finished sixth or better in the final six events of the season on the Bass Pro Tour and Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, including 2nd-place finishes at the James River and at the Pro Circuit TITLE Championship on the St. Lawrence River. He carried the momentum into 2023, earning his first career win at a Toyota Series event on Sam Rayburn last month. Now, with a 5-pound lead in this event, Ebare said the key to his success has been giving the glory to God and just having fun.
“That (Toyota Series) win took off a lot of stress,” Ebare said. “It’s a huge relief to not have to worry about if it’s going to happen, and now I just get to go fishing and have fun.
“It’s just been a blessing and I am very thankful. God has blessed me so much, and I just want to keep having fun and glorifying him. I think that is the most important thing and been the biggest attribute to my success – keeping an open mind and having fun.”
The top 20 pros after Day 1 on Clarks Hill Lake are:
1st: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, five bass, 23-13
2nd: Travis Harriman, Huntsville, Ark., five bass, 18-11
3rd: Drew Boggs, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 18-9
4th: Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., five bass, 18-1
5th: Scotty Villines, Ponca, Ark., five bass, 17-6
6th: Sean Anderson, Leesville, S.C., five bass, 17-3
7th: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., five bass, 17-1
8th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 17-0
9th: Cole Breeden, Lebanon, Mo., five bass, 16-15
10th: Tristan McCormick, Burns, Tenn., five bass, 16-11
11th: Cody Petit, Arundel, Maine, five bass, 16-10
11th: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 16-10
11th: Cal Lane, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 16-10
14th: Colby Schrumpf, Highland, Ill., five bass, 16-9
15th: Spike Stoker, Cisco, Texas, five bass, 16-8
16th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 16-4
17th: Chad Mrazek, Montgomery, Texas, five bass, 16-3
18th: Tyler Stewart, Dubach, La., five bass, 16-2
19th: John Cox, DeBary, Fla., five bass, 16-1
20th: Jacopo Gallelli, Florence, Italy, five bass, 15-12
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Pro Cole Breeden of Lebanon, Missouri, earned Tuesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award with a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces.
Overall, there were 724 bass weighing 1,733 pounds, 4 ounces caught by 149 pros Tuesday. The catch included 140 five-bass limits.
In MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Tuesday and Wednesday 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 Thursday, 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 Toyota Stop 2 at Clarks Hill Lake Presented by Lowrance will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight and will receive an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024.
Anglers will take off at 7 a.m. ET, each day, from Wildwood Park, located at 6212 Holloway Road in Appling. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park beginning at 3 p.m. each day. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the live on-the-water action all three days of competition online on MLF NOW! beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET 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 7:15 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational Stop 1 at Clarks Hill Lake will also feature a two-hour television broadcast that will premiere on the CBS Sports Network on Saturday, Oct. 7.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, 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.
Tulsa and Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees set to host third Bassmaster Classic in 2024
Tulsa, Okla., will host the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota March 22-24.
Photo by Tyler Layne Photography
February 28, 2023
TULSA, Okla. — When it comes to the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota, Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees has more than lived up to its name.
The 46,500-acre fishery provided some of the grandest moments in the history of the event when Classics were held there in 2013 and 2016 — and now, the picturesque reservoir located in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains will add to that grand lore when it plays host to the 54th renewal of the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing March 22-24, 2024.
B.A.S.S. officials alongside hosts from the Tulsa Sports Commission and ASM Global made the announcement at a press conference in Tulsa on Tuesday morning, nearly 13 months before the event will take place.
“Planning the Bassmaster Classic, the greatest celebration of the sport of fishing, is a never-ending process,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson. “The B.A.S.S. team has been working with the people of Tulsa for well over a year to make this a reality.
“Now that it’s official, we couldn’t be more excited to be headed back to a city and fishery that already hold a special place in Classic history and is such an important area to the fishing community.”
As with past Classics held in Tulsa, daily weigh-ins will be held at the BOK Center in downtown Tulsa, with the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo across the street at the Cox Business Convention Center, which boasts 275,000 square feet of event space. Daily takeoffs will be held about 90 miles away at the Wolf Creek Park and Boating Facility on Grand Lake.
“The Tulsa Sports Commission, and Tulsa Regional Tourism as a whole, are beyond excited to welcome the Bassmaster Classic back to Tulsa in 2024 after successful 2013 and 2016 events,” said Renee McKenney, vice president of tourism, Tulsa Regional Chamber and president, Tulsa Regional Tourism. “Tulsa has experienced profound growth since 2016 — welcoming new attractions like the Gathering Place, Discovery Lab, Mother Road Market, Greenwood Rising Black Wall St. History Center and the Bob Dylan Center to name just a few. This is an incredible opportunity to showcase how Tulsa is not only a thriving, vibrant city, but one with convenient access to world-class outdoor splendor.”
Previous Bassmaster Classics drew phenomenal crowds lakeside and to packed venues around the “Capital of Route 66,” and more than 105,000 enthusiastic fans are expected for Classic Week festivities.
“When you saw 3,000 fans standing out in the freezing-cold weather every morning to watch the competitors launch their boats, that pretty much told you everything you needed to know,” said Eric Lopez, director of operations for B.A.S.S. “The people in that area love B.A.S.S. and bass fishing — and for those traveling in from out of town, the area has a fabulous selection of restaurants and hotels to choose from.
“It really is a great place for an event like the Classic, and that’s before you even start discussing the quality of the fishing, which is fantastic.”
During the first Tulsa Classic in 2013, former Elite Series pro Cliff Pace of Mississippi claimed a wire-to-wire victory despite sharing the first-day lead with current Elite Series star Mike Iaconelli during a frigid event when icy precipitation and blistering cold tested the toughness of the 53-angler field. Pace’s closest competition in that Classic came from reigning Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, who finished second by 7 pounds.
That fishing prowess was on display again in 2016 when local favorite Jason Christie led Days 1 and 2 and seemed poised to earn his first Classic trophy until fellow Oklahoma pro Edwin Evers caught a five-bass limit that weighed 29 pounds, 3 ounces to claim a dramatic come-from-behind win.
Christie, who finally earned a Classic victory last year on Lake Hartwell, still calls it one of the most crushing moments of his career.
“When you have a chance to win the biggest title in bass fishing right there at home — that just doesn’t happen very often,” he said. “In a way, I just got beat because Edwin went out and caught that huge bag. But I also only came in with four fish that final day.
“I didn’t do all I could have done to win it — and I love the idea of having another shot at it on that particular fishery.”
“The Grand River Dam Authority is excited to see the Bassmaster Classic make its return to Grand Lake in 2024,” said GRDA President and CEO Dan Sullivan. “Not only will the event provide a tremendous economic benefit to the region but it will once again showcase Grand Lake to interested audiences across the country.
“GRDA places a high priority on caring for the natural resources under its control, and being a three-time host of the Bassmaster Classic reinforces Grand’s reputation as one of the nation’s top fisheries. GRDA is excited to once again support the Bassmaster Classic, which is known as a premier event and competition for anglers.”
On last year’s list of 100 Best Bass Lakes by Bassmaster Magazine, Grand Lake ranked 17th in the Central Division. That marks the 11th straight year — every year the list has been published — that the fishery has ranked in the Top 100.
The field will include 56 anglers who will qualify through the Bassmaster Elite Series, the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens, the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, the Strike King College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops and the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship. They will all be vying for a $300,000 first-place prize and a total purse of over $1 million.
“Since its inception, the Classic has been a tournament that changes lives,” said B.A.S.S. Vice President of Tournaments Chris Bowes. “The payday is great, sure. But the opportunity to refer to yourself as ‘Bassmaster Classic champion’ for the rest of your life — there’s no greater clout in our sport.”
Stephens Earns Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Norman
MOORESVILLE, N.C. (Feb. 27, 2023) – Boater Michael Stephens of Gastonia, North Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds, 5 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Norman . The tournament, hosted by the Mooresville Convention and Visitors Bureau, was the first event of the season for the BFL North Carolina Division. Stephens earned $4,884 for his victory.
“We started out on some rock points and caught three fish,” said Stephens. “I fished deep with a Rapala DT6 for a while, but the deep fish I had found had moved. So, I started skipping docks that held brush with a jig. I caught two of my key fish doing that. The rest of the day I sight-fished in pockets.
“It was really slow … just a fish an hour,” Stephens added. “It was really tough. I had to work for them.”
Stephens said his two biggest fish came in the backs of pockets. He said earlier in the week the bass had been staging to spawn, but a cold front moved through, and the fish moved away and were keying on baitfish in the backs of the pockets.
“This win is kind of a big deal for me,” Stephens said. “I’ve fished a lot and come in second and third and had quite a few top-10s, but I’ve never won. So, it was nice to nail that down finally.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
2nd: Rob Johnson, Schuylkill Haven, Pa., five bass, 17-2, $2,140
3rd: Spencer Taylor, Sherrills Ford, N.C., five bass, 13-11, $1,426
4th: Ben Hudson, Forest, Va., five bass, 13-9, $998
5th: David Cooke, Mooresville, N.C., five bass, 12-11, $856
6th: Jason Wilson, Lincolnton, N.C., five bass, 12-9, $785
7th: Cody Hoyle, Rutherfordton, N.C., five bass, 12-4, $713
8th: George Lambeth, Thomasville, N.C., five bass, 12-1, $642
9th: Michael Webster, Gastonia, N.C., five bass, 11-15, $535
9th: Josh Gowan, Moravian Falls, N.C., five bass, 11-15, $535
Stephens also caught a bass that weighed 4 pounds, 14 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $605.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
2nd: Hunter Alexander, China Grove, N.C., five bass, 13-0, $1,070
3rd: Keith Wood, Mooresville, N.C., five bass, 12-7, $712
4th: Cody Barnes, Zebulon, N.C., five bass, 11-8, $499
5th: Johnathan Strickland, Graham, N.C., five bass, 11-6, $428
6th: Hayden Foster, Moravian Falls, N.C., five bass, 11-3, $392
7th: Zachary Stroupe, Gastonia, N.C., five bass, 11-0, $357
8th: Timothy Pass, Belmont, N.C., five bass, 9-6, $321
9th: David Bright, Mooresville, N.C., three bass, 9-3, $587
10th: William Vaughn, Raleigh, N.C., five bass, 9-1, $237
10th: Jay Kleinfeld, Winston Salem, N.C., five bass, 9-1, $237
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, 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.
