Ned Reveals Winter Bass Tricks

A coldwater finesse Q&A with the Ned rig maestro

Ladson, SC (December 6, 2022) – While you’re reading this, huddled around the warm glow of your computer screen, Ned Kehde is almost certainly on the water. So long as one of the dozen or so of his local community reservoirs near Kansas City remain ice free, Ned will be afloat, casting his little finesse jigs, and hooking astonishing numbers of coldwater bass.

“For years, our goal was to catch 101 bass in a four-hour trip,” Ned concedes. “These days, especially on cold winter outings, we’re content to fish for two to three hours between 11am and 3pm. On average, we’re still catching about ten bass per hour—just enough bites to keep this old codger warm.”

Now nearly 83 years young, Ned still fishes more than most, adding hundreds of clicks to his well-worn fish-counter. Recently, between trips, we caught up with our friend, the legendary Ned Kehde, to talk shop and discover his latest tricks. As he’ll graciously tell you, anyone can catch bass with Midwest finesse . . .

Hall of Fame angler Ned Kehde going gloveless on a frosty winter day.
Where are you fishing these days and what’s happening in these fisheries?

Kehde: Nowadays, we’re focusing on our many community reservoirs, catching largemouth bass on shallow water flats endowed with coontail and curly-leaf pondweed. Curly leaf, or crispus, is a winter-hardy aquatic plant that grows and produces foliage and oxygen all through the cold months. Finding either of these species can be a winter bass goldmine, especially while other anglers target submerged brushpiles and offshore structure. Contrary to the notion that coldwater bass stick to deep water, we continue catching bass in 5 to 10 feet of water all winter long.

Any differences between the lures you’re throwing now versus the warmer months?

During winter, we probably rely on lighter jigs than usual. So, we’re wielding a lot of 1/32-, 1/20-, 1/16- and 1/15-ounce jigs, mostly OG™ Mushrooms and Finesse ShroomZ™.

Affixed to these little jigs, which feature lightwire #4 hooks, favorite winter baits are Z-Man® Finesse ShadZ™, Finesse TRDs™ and TRD MinnowZ™. I usually run with five rigged rods, the other two often tied to a TRD BugZ™, TRD TicklerZ™ or shortened (2.5”) ZinkerZ™.

A lot of folks view these tiny, light jigheads and #4 hooks as unacceptably flimsy for bass, but we regularly catch 3-, 4- and occasionally 5- and 6-pound bass on these #4 hooks with no issues. Hooksets are nice and easy, with little force required to plant them firmly in a bass jaw. Moreover, these little hooks slide through and over vegetation and woodcover, rarely snagging; remember, we’re often fishing right in and among the green stuff—and with an exposed hook, no less.

Handfuls of finesse bass goodness: TRD CrawZ, TRD BugZ, TRD TicklerZ & Finesse TRD (L to R, clockwise).
Any tricks or adjustments you’re making to your baits?

Funny you should ask. I’m a huge fan of salted ElaZtech® baits and their propensity to become increasingly alluring to bass as they “age.” As a bait catches more fish and spends more time submerged, some of the salt leaches out of its body, particularly with baits like the TRD, ZinkerZ or Finesse WormZ™. Some anglers pre-soak their baits prior to hitting the water to speed the aging process. Or you can stretch them way out, which instantly sheds some of the salt.

Other anglers I know like to place their baits beneath the truck windshield while driving to the lake to soften them up even more than usual (ElaZtech is already softer than traditional PVC plastics.)

As baits age, they become increasingly buoyant (an aged ZinkerZ will actually float a 1/32-ounce jig, so we often move up to a 1/16- or 1/20-oz jighead.) Other anglers I know have noted that aged, salt impregnated ElaZtech baits develop a slimy outer texture, which they believe bass find more appetizing.

Regardless, in winter, these aged baits really shine because the increased buoyancy means reduced rate of fall and more hovering action above the vegetation— hanging right in the strike zone as you retrieve. These factors really seem to prompt bass with low metabolic rates to gobble our aged baits.

Ned's wife Patty with a dandy early winter largemouth.
How are you retrieving your finesse baits when the water’s cold?

Just yesterday, we had 45-degree water and winds gusting to almost 40-mph. At times, you couldn’t even feel the jig. On days like this, especially when hands get cold, we do a lot of ‘strolling,’ pitching the jig out behind the boat and just moving along slow with the trolling motor. We also employ the shake-and-drag retrieve. Then, when our baits hit a sweet spot, we’ll often stop shaking the bait and just deadstick it in place—for at least several seconds (sometimes much longer). Given the buoyant bait’s ability to stand up and mimic a live invertebrate, you can almost fish it like livebait.

The light jighead and buoyant bait also provides a huge bonus when we’re fishing around vegetation. That hover factor allows us to do what we call ‘polishing the coontail,’ just sweeping the bait over the plant tops—out of snag territory and yet highly visible to bass.

Beyond some of your traditional favorites like green pumpkin, what other colors are hot?

Well, I’ve been a devotee of red jigheads for a long time. Red works everywhere.

More recently, I’ve been using a lot of baby-blue jigheads, which I often hand-paint with a special hue of fingernail polish. This eye-catching blue tone almost exactly replicates the iridescent blue gill plates on green sunfish—a key bass forage.

I couple red and blue jigheads with a lot of different bait colors. Lately been catching bass on a Purple Death pattern TRD TicklerZ. The Hot Snakes pattern has also been productive; that’s a new one for me—sort of an alternative to my old-reliable Coppertreuse.

A sneak peek at the prototypes designer Drew Reese calls the ultimate Ned rig rods.
Heard a rumor you might be testing some new finesse rods.

Can’t tell you how excited I am about these prototype spinning rods, designed by my friend and Midwest finesse guru, Drew Reese. While the rest of the fishing world continues to fish rods in the 7-foot range, these rods run 5’4” and 5’10”. They’re the lightest, most sensitive rods I’ve fished since hefting classic G Loomis jig rods designed by Ray Fincke, propreitor of a renowned tackle shop in Rosedale, Kansas.

The 5’4” is also proving to be a fantastic crappie rod, especially with the new Micro Finesse baits. We’ll be casting these microbaits a lot more, once water temps dip into the low 40s.

 

When you fish as often as we do, it’s a gift to cast with something light enough to eliminate fatigue. Coupled with 4-pound test Berkley Fireline and a 5-foot fluorocarbon leader, these compact, featherlight sticks perfectly fit Midwest finesse retrieves, such as swim-glide-shake. We’re also catching a lot of fish now by working the bait right beneath the boat. These shorter rods give us more vertical control and a super direct connection between your hands and the lure. They greatly enhance presentation and bite detection in wind, as well.

Drew and I think Midwest finesse devotees are really going to love these rods. Though it’ll be a few months yet before folks can get theirs. Hopefully, just in time for spring!

by AnglersChannel

Pair of Heavy Hitters

Bobby Lane, Mike Frenette join Jay & Jason Przekurat and GMAN At NPAA annual Conference

Forestville, WI (December 2, 2022) – The National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA) 2023 Annual Conference kicks off in Fort Myers, Florida, January 6 through 8. Early registration for this can’t miss event ends December 5th, but registration will remain open until all seats are sold out. To reserve a seat online, Click Here To Register.

“I can’t think of a better way to kick off the new year,” says NPAA’s president, Patrick Neu. “It’s the kind of event you don’t want to miss. The theme is ‘Controlling Your Own Destiny,’ and we’re bringing out the big guns for this one.”

Indeed, they are. The irrepressible “GMan,” Gerald Swindle, is slated to be the event’s headline speaker. With 20 Bassmaster Classics, two Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles, and over $2.5 million in prize money under his belt, he’ll divulge what it takes to be a true professional, grow your business and enjoy continued success in the recreational fishing industry. “This meeting isn’t just for pro anglers,” he states. “It’s for anyone making a living in the recreational fishing industry – and you don’t even have to be an NPAA member to attend because everybody’s welcome! We’re all going to be talking about how to make money, and that’s a topic you need to learn more about whether you are just starting out or already established.”

Gerald Swindle alone is worth the price of admission, but now comes news Bobby Lane, the 2022 REDCREST Champion, 2021 General Tires Team Champion, and 2019 Major League Fishing World Champion, will join him, as will pro angler Mike Frenette, owner of Delta Outdoor Marketing and Redfish Lodge of Louisiana, and the Pro Angling family duo of Jay and Jason Prezkurat.

Professional bass fishing icon Bobby Lane.

“All five of these featured speakers are outstanding voices with first-hand, in-depth knowledge of what it takes to not only survive in our industry, but to thrive,” states Neu. “Bobby Lane's perspective on making a living as a tournament angler will be valuable to anyone aspiring to do the same. As for Mike, running a guide business for two decades is only part of his story. He is one of the most respected saltwater anglers in the industry, making him a perfect choice to speak at this year's NPAA conference. Add in Jay and Jason Prezkurat and their success story as a Pro Angling family and we couldn’t be prouder than to have all five of these professionals as headliners for the event."

Already raring to go, Lane is fired-up. “NPAA offers a wonderful opportunity to be involved in the recreational fishing industry,” he says. “The organization is focused on improving the lives of those making a living in this community. We’re teaching members how to be more professional and maximize opportunities. We’re working to bring benefits such as health care options to our members, advocating for our industry, and watching out for the environment. I’ll be talking specifically about how to succeed in this business, how to deal with changes year-to-year and day-to-day, and the importance of not burning bridges because you never know who’s help you’ll need down the line. It’s points like these - things you really need to know to get ahead and increase your revenues - that I’ll be sharing."

Frenette is also excited for the NPAA Annual Conference to get underway. “This event may be the best place to network for anyone in our industry,” he says. “You’ll meet real decision makers who can share their knowledge and offer the kind of advice that sets you on a good path.”

The trophy redfish expert and fishing lodge owner notes that membership in NPAA provides those working in the recreational fishing industry with a national voice while at the same time helping them acquire the business knowledge necessary to stay afloat and get ahead in this rough and tumble world.

“There’s a lot more to being a professional angler, charter skipper, guide, lodge owner, boat mechanic or tackle rep than just fishing,” continues Frenette. “The harder work is the building of your profile, reputation and business model. To come out on top, you need to be professional in all aspects, both on and off the water. It’s the business end of things over which most people stumble. So, we’ll cover how to portray yourself as a professional, build a great reputation, and understand the numbers.”

Jason Prezkurat is also excited to be speaking at the conference, and proud to belong to the NPAA. “This organization provides all members of the recreational fishing industry a platform for tackling important issues that affect our livelihoods,” he states. “At the same time, the networking opportunities, contacts, guidance and insights you’ll gain from being a member can help advance your career – especially if you attend the annual conferences. Many industry leaders make it a point to be there, and it’s great to be able to network and to get to know one another on professional and personal levels.”

Jay agrees with his father. “I especially appreciate the Annual Conference because of the seminars and chance to speak with successful pros that understand the business side of the sport,” he adds. “The discounts from the organization’s supporting partners are another great benefit. Simply put, NPAA helps me from personal, educational and financial standpoints."

The Przekurats will outline how they took control of their collective fishing destiny, including how they’ve managed to fish for a living, run a successful business, and claw their way to the top of the leader board while staying grounded and having fun.

Which brings us back to the conference theme: “Controlling Your Destiny!” With this event NPAA provides a first-class ticket to meet, network, speak with and glimpse the psyche of top professional anglers, industry representatives and sport fishing leaders across the country. The conference features business-related educational seminars, networking opportunities, and partner booths in a fun but professional format. It is a key component of the NPAA platform, which exists to help members grow their professional angling careers and run successful industry businesses. The event will also host a Benefit Banquet for the Future Angler Foundation (FAF), which introduces millions of potential new anglers and boaters each year to the thrill and fun of sportfishing and boating.

The NPAA 2023 Annual Conference will be held at the 5-Star rated Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport - Town Center, which is 5 minutes from the SW Florida Regional Airport (RSW) and just off I75 in Fort Myers. Conference registration fees include all activities, meals, and a ticket for the FAF Banquet. More information on registration can be found on the NPAA Conference Page. (Note: The special $149 a night room rate at the Holiday Inn expires on Dec. 5th at midnight.)

For more information on joining the NPAA, attending the Annual Conference, and exploring the many benefits membership provides, visit www.npaa.net.

by AnglersChannel

Major League Fishing Announces 2023 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Roster

BENTON, Ky. (Dec. 1, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today the roster for the 2023 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, six three-day tournaments that feature a field of 150 pros competing for a top prize of $115,000 and an invitation to compete at REDCREST V in 2024. All six Invitationals are full, with a waiting list, as veteran and aspiring pros vie for a share of more than $3.9 million in cash awards.

Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Power-Pole Stop 1 will take place Feb. 8-10 at Lake Okeechobee in Clewiston, Florida. The sixth and final Invitational of the season will be held July 25-27 on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Every day of competition will broadcast live, on the water, on MLF NOW!® and stream to the Major League Fishing app, MyOutdoorTV (MOTV), and MajorLeagueFishing.com. Each event will also air on the CBS Sports Network, with 12 weeks of 2-hour shows scheduled in 2023.

Tackle Warehouse Invitational pros will compete over three days in a five-fish, weigh-in format. All 150 pros will compete the first two days, with the top 50 pros advancing to the third and final day. The winner of each Invitational will be determined by heaviest three-day cumulative weight. The winner of each of the six Invitationals in 2023 will also receive an invitation to compete in REDCREST V in March of 2024. The season-long Invitational Angler of the Year (AOY) will also earn a berth into REDCREST V, for a total of seven REDCREST V qualification opportunities. In addition, the top eight pros based on Angler of the Year (AOY) rank at the end of the 2023 season
will qualify for the 2024 Bass Pro Tour and the top 75 pros based on AOY rank will requalify for the 2024 Tackle Warehouse Invitationals.

For compete details and up-to-date tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram and YouTube.

The 150 anglers that will compete in the season opener at Lake Okeechobee are:

  • Shannon Abbott, Louisville, Tenn.
  • Charles Abshire, Lake Charles, La.
  • Chad Allison, Carl Junction, Mo.
  • Sean Anderson, Leesville, S.C.
  • Ryan Armstrong, Robinson, Ill.
  • Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C.
  • Tai Au, Glendale, Ariz.
  • Bobby Bakewell, Orlando, Fla.
  • Clayton Batts, Butler, Ga.
  • Mickey Beck, Lebanon, Tenn.
  • Matt Becker, Finleyville, Pa.
  • Andrew Behnke, Fond Du Lac, Wis.
  • Drew Boggs, Lebanon, Tenn.
  • Terry Bolton, Benton, Ky.
  • Cole Breeden, Lebanon, Tenn.
  • Grae Buck, Green Lane, Pa.
  • Josh Butler, Hayden, Ala.
  • Eddie Carper, Valliant, Okla.
  • Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla.
  • Rick Chenoweth, Fredericksburg, Va.
  • Jordan Collom, Canyon Lake, Calif.
  • Ramie Colson, Jr., Cadiz, Ky.
  • Mark Condron, Murfreesboro, Tenn.
  • Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La.
  • Kyle Cortiana, Broken Arrow, Okla.
  • John Cox, DeBary, Fla.
  • Kollin Crawford, Broken Bow, Okla.
  • Lance Crawford, Broken Bow, Okla.
  • Austin Culbertson, Moberly, Mo.
  • Connor Cunningham, Springfield, Mo.
  • Alex Davis, Albertville, Ala.
  • Flint Davis, Leesburg, Ga.
  • Randy Despino, Colfax, La.
  • Tommy Dickerson, Orange, Texas
  • Jonathan Dietz, Corry, Pa.
  • Phillip Dutra, Guntersville, Ala.
  • Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas
  • Paul Elias, Laurel, Miss.
  • Hunter Eubanks, Inman, S.C.
  • Charlie Evans, Berea, Ky.
  • Ron Farrow, Rock Hill, S.C.
  • Blake Felix, Warsaw, Mo.
  • Mark Fisher, Wauconda, Ill.
  • William Fletcher, Dallas, Texas
  • Wyatt Frankens, Corrigan, Texas
  • Robby Frashier, Carrollton, Ga.
  • Jacopo Gallelli, Florence, Italy
  • Nolan Gaskin, Broussard, La.
  • Paul Gettys, Due West, S.C.
  • Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill.
  • Kyle Glasgow, Guin, Ala.
  • Joe Grafeman, Camdenton, Mo.
  • Jason Grape, Attalla, Ala.
  • Cody Greaney, Ledbetter, Texas
  • Matt Greenblatt, Port St. Lucie, Fla.
  • Christian Greico, Tampa, Fla.
  • Shaw Grigsby, Gainesville, Fla.
  • Chris Groh, Spring Grove, Ill.
  • Blake Hall, Rogersville, Ala.
  • Kyle Hall, Granbury, Texas
  • Michael Harlin, Sunrise Beach, Mo.
  • Travis Harriman, Huntsville, Ark.
  • Cole Harris, Raleigh, N.C.
  • Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn.
  • Cole Hewett, Orange Park, Fla.
  • Jordan Hirt, Glenwood, Iowa
  • Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz.
  • Miles Howe, San Juan Capistrano, Calif.
  • Laker Howell, Guntersville, Ala.
  • Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala.
  • Derik Hudson, Concord, Va.
  • Brad Jelinek, Lincoln, Mo.
  • Frank Kitchens, III, Oxford, Ga.
  • Cal Lane, Guntersville, Ala.
  • Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala.
  • Brian Latimer, Belton, S.C.
  • Nick Lebrun, Bossier City, La.
  • Robby Lefere, Jackson, Mich.
  • Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga.
  • Andrew Loberg, Rocklin, Calif.
  • Steve Lopez, Oconomowoc, Wis.
  • Richard Lowitzki, Hampshire, Ill.
  • Terry Luedtke, Burton, Texas
  • Rod Mackinnon III, Middletown, N.Y.
  • Cameron Mattison, Benton, La.
  • Mike McClelland, Blue Eye, Mo.
  • Tristan McCormick, Burns, Tenn.
  • Jared McMillan, Clewiston, Fla.
  • Elijah Meyers, Fort Wayne, Ind.
  • Colby Miller, Elmer, La.
  • John-Dalton Miller, Albertville, Ala.
  • Hunter Mills, Mayfield, Ky.
  • Jesse Millsaps, Jasper, Ga.
  • Kyle Minke, Lindstrom, Minn.
  • Tom Monsoor, La Crosse, Wis.
  • Jim Moynagh, Shakopee, Minn.
  • Chad Mrazek, Montgomery, Texas
  • Robert Nakatomi, Sacramento, Calif.
  • Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn.
  • Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich.
  • Andy Newcomb, Camdenton, Mo.
  • Andrew Nordbye, Guntersville, Ala.
  • Terry Olinger, Louisa, Va.
  • Lane Olson, Tualatin, Ore.
  • Val Osinski, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
  • Kyle Palmer, Winchester, Tenn.
  • Eric Panzironi, Longwood, Fla.
  • Cody Parker, Ball Ground, Ga.
  • Jaden Parrish, Liberty, Texas
  • Bruce Parsons, Arbela, Mo.
  • Bryan Partak, Marseilles, Ill.
  • Cody Petit, Arundel, Maine
  • Cody Pike, Powhatan, Va.
  • Pete Ponds, Madison, Miss.
  • Tom Redington, Royse City, Texas
  • Matt Reed, Madisonville, Texas
  • Jimmy Reese, Witter Springs, Calif.
  • Brock Reinkemeyer, Warsaw, Mo.
  • Jeff Reynolds, Calera, Okla.
  • Ricky Robinson, Greenback, Tenn.
  • Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C.
  • Kevin Rogers, Pleasant Hill, Mo.
  • Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark.
  • Rusty Salewske, Alpine, Calif.
  • Colby Schrumpf, Highland, Ill.
  • Kyle Schutta, Forest Lake, Minn.
  • Braxton Setzer, Wetumpka, Ala.
  • Danny Shanz, Summerton, S.C.
  • Mike Smola, Gravette, Ark.
  • Jeremy Southerly, Fulks Run, Va.
  • Cody Spetz, Menifee, Calif.
  • Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis.
  • Tyler Stewart, Dubach, La.
  • Spike Stoker, Cisco, Texas
  • Troy Stokes, Trenton, Mich.
  • J. Todd Tucker, Moultrie, Ga.
  • Jason Vance, Battle Ground, Ind.
  • Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va.
  • Scotty Villines, Ponca, Ark.
  • John Voyles, Petersburg, Ind.
  • David Walker, Huntingdon, Tenn.
  • Todd Walters, Kernersville, N.C.
  • Joshua Weaver, Macon, Ga.
  • Kyle Weisenburger, Columbus Grove, Ohio
  • Jacob Wheeler, Birchwood, Tenn.
  • Joe Wieberg, Freeburg, Mo.
  • Matt Wieteha, Miami, Fla.
  • Scott Wiley, Bay Minette, Ala.
  • Jack Williams, Kingsport, Tenn.
  • Thomas Wooten, Huddleston, Va.
2023 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Schedule:

Power-Pole Stop 1
Feb. 8-10                               Lake Okeechobee                             Clewiston, Fla.
Hosted by the Hendry County Tourism Development Council

Feb. 28-March 2                  Clarks Hill Lake                                Appling, Ga.
Hosted by Columbia County, Georgia, & Thomson-McDuffie County CVB

April 14-16                           Eufaula Lake                                     Eufaula, Okla.
Hosted by the Eufaula Conservation & Fishing Association

May 4-6                                 Lake of the Ozarks                           Osage Beach, Mo.
Hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association

June 17-19                             Potomac River                                  Marbury, Md.
Hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners

July 25-27                              Mississippi River                              La Crosse, Wis.
Hosted by Explore La Crosse

by AnglersChannel

Final Classic Spot On The Line At Bassmaster Team Championship On Lake Hartwell

South Carolina's legendary Lake Hartwell will host the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship and Classic Fish-Off Dec. 7-10.

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

November 30, 2022

ANDERSON, S.C. — Late fall/early winter is a fun time to fish Lake Hartwell, according to Bassmaster Elite Series pro Todd Auten of Lake Wylie, S.C. But anglers who want a chance at winning the 2022 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship — being held Dec. 7-10 on the legendary fishery — will likely have to catch some quality largemouth to stay in contention.

 

The last tournament on the 2022 Bassmaster tournament series slate, the Team Championship features a unique format — and at the end of the event, one angler will punch a ticket to the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic at Knoxville scheduled for March 24-26.

The team portion of the event will be held Dec. 7-8 and feature the largest field in Bassmaster Team Championship history — more than 250 teams from across the country qualified through B.A.S.S.-sanctioned team trails. The Top 3 teams after the second day will be split into individuals and will compete in a two-day event, with the winner advancing to the Classic.

Hartwell has hosted many compelling events so far in 2022, including the Bassmaster Classic, the St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open presented by Mossy Oak Fishing and the Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors. All of those events had two things in common: the lake was below full pool, and quality largemouth were a factor.

Auten believes this tournament will be the same, and he thinks largemouth will be the predominant species caught, as opposed to spotted bass.

“You can probably win some tournaments with spots, but this time of year I think the largemouth will dominate,” Auten said. “There will be a lot of fish caught I’m sure.”

In early December, depending on how the weather sets up, there will still be opportunities to catch offshore spotted bass in cane and brushpiles. If Auten was fishing, he says he’d be headed to the bank.

“It’s the time of year everything changes. Early December, a lot of those fish will be schooling in the backs of creeks and channels going into the backs, right where the water kind of turns to stain. The shad will stack up in there. That is a good pattern. The dock fishing will still be pretty good.”

ChatterBaits and shallow-running crankbaits are a couple of Auten’s favorite techniques. He added that a jerkbait is another productive way to get bites. If it gets cold enough, a jigging spoon could also come into play.

Takeoff will be each morning at 7 a.m. ET from legendary Green Pond Landing, with weigh-ins held back at Green Pond Landing each day at 3 p.m.Full event coverage will be available at Bassmaster.com.

Visit Anderson is hosting the Bassmaster Team Championship and Bassmaster Classic Fish-Off.

by AnglersChannel

Exceptional Casting Combo Now Available

Daiwa Tatula TWS combines quality and affordability for bass fishing enthusiasts. 

Cypress, CA (November 29, 2022) – Providing anglers with both a proven baitcasting reel matched with the right action and length rod, Daiwa has your bass fishing covered with its new and now available Tatula TWS reel and rod combos. The lineup includes high-speed 7.3:1 gear ratio Tatula 100CT reels in either right- or left-hand retrieves mounted on either a 7-foot or 7-foot-3-inch Daiwa-designed graphite rods. All four available combos retail for $229.99.

“These Tatula TWS combos make it easy for more experienced bass anglers to use quality tackle when fishing a weeknight derby, and also perfect in both performance and price for those taking a serious interest in high school and college bass fishing circuits,” said Marc Mills with Daiwa. “From our interaction with bass anglers at these levels, product quality tops the cost in the tackle they want, but we understand there are limits. The new Tatula TWS combos meet all those needs.”

Daiwa’s Tatula baitcasting reels have the needed features for every bass technique including the T-Wing System (TWS) for long casts and to reduce backlashes. The 100CT with its high-speed gear ratio matched with 7-foot medium action rod is ideal for jig and worm rigs, smaller/medium crankbaits, and topwater action. When combined with the 7-foot-3 medium-heavy rod, the 100CT is ideal for all-around bass fishing action, including fishing heavy cover, and casting bigger spinnerbaits and small swimbaits. Both rods offer all-day fishing comfort from their EVA split grip handle.

These new combos join Daiwa’s ever-expanding Tatula series of bass fishing-focused rods and reels. “As we say when talking about any gear that carries that product name, with the Tatula TWS combos we’ve got your bass covered,” added Mills. “The Tatula TWS combos make it easy to be on the water with rods and reels you can have confidence in.”

TATULA CT CASTING COMBO - Quickview

Daiwa made it easy for any bass angler with the perfect Tatula TWS combo no matter how savvy of an angler you are. The proven Tatula CT with our Daiwa (TWS) T-Wing System gives you longer casting and more control of backlash reduction. Daiwa then paired the TATULA CT reel with a quality eye-catching matte finished graphite composite rod plus modern comfortable EVA handles for the perfect combo to hit the water with. The TATULA TWS casting comb comes in two gear ratios - 6.3:1 and 7.3:1, and in both right- and left-hand retrieve. This Tatula combo is available in 7’ and 7’ 3” rod lengths and two actions, medium and medium-heavy.

MSRP: $239.99

by AnglersChannel

Big Bass Tour Expands its Horizons in 2023 - Registration Opens Friday!

Longtime favorites supplemented by more exceptional fisheries

 

Woodlands, Texas – One goal of the Big Bass Tour is to never rest on our laurels, or in any way remain stagnant, and the expanded 2023 schedule reflects that total level of commitment. All of the longtime favorite venues remain on tap, at the times when they’re likely to show up best, and that murderer’s row of fisheries has been supplemented by a new northern swing: For the first time, we’ll visit New York and Wisconsin, to hit the prolific St. Lawrence River as well as the Upper Mississippi, respectively. If that wasn’t enough, for the first time in its history, the Tour will host four-day mega tournaments at Conroe and Guntersville respectively.

Here's the tale of the tape:

Feb 10-12 | Harris Chain of Lakes, Florida

Florida in February has become a BBT tradition, and with good reason: It’s when the giants show up in the shallows at the heaviest weights they’ll be all year. But the Harris Chain isn’t just any Florida fishery – it offers a wealth of different habitats, and there’s great strategy involved in navigating the chain and employing different techniques. This is one where a double digit isn’t guaranteed to win the top prize.

 

March 2-5 | Lake Conroe, Texas (4 Day Event for 25th Anniversary, 4 day entry will be $325)

The Big Bass Tour was founded on the back of the Lake Conroe Big Bass Classic and in 2023, will celebrate the 25th annual event with a four-day mega tournament. Highly-developed Lake Conroe may be the best urban bass fishery in the country. It’s just a short drive north of Houston, yet it pumps out giants year after year after year. The other major circuits know it, and have scheduled major events here, but while it’s a popular playground in the summer, at this time of year it’ll swallow up boats and lend itself to various strategies.

 

March 10-12 | Clarks Hill, Georgia

Located just a stone’s throw from Augusta, Clarks Hill is a textbook fishery, brimming with endless points for anglers to ply and long stretches of river to spread out. While it may not produce a 10-pounder, expect lots of comparably-sized football-shaped bass to hit the scales.

 

March 24-26 | Lake Norman, North Carolina

Norman is chock full of docks, and that’s always a leading pattern as well as a fallback. The occasional giant largemouth makes a showing, but the increasing population of ever-growing spotted bass should grab some hourly checks.

 

 

 

 

March 31-April 2 | Lake Eufaula, Alabama

South Alabama in March is a recipe for giant bass moving shallow, and while it may not have the reputation of some of the fisheries of Texas or Florida, rest assured that 10 pound potential exists in every corner of this stories lake from bass fishing history.

 

April 14-16 | Table Rock Lake, Missouri

Table Rock presents a three-species opportunity – smallmouths and spots will likely earn some of the hourly checks, but expect a big largemouth to take top honors. This is another venue that fishes exceptionally large, and allows skilled anglers to pattern fish among the beauty of the Ozarks.

April 28-30 | Lake Murray, South Carolina

Back to South Carolina, and back to another fishery in the shadows of a big city, in this case Columbia. Murray also has a storied history on the major bass trails, and while the 10-pounders may not show up with regularity, it’s loaded with 6-, 7- and 8-pound studs that make hourly checks and the overall top prize highly competitive.

 

May 5-7 | Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia (Spring)

The Blue Ridge mountains in the spring are a sight to behold, and Smith Mountain’s clear lower end and two river arms provide anglers with a wide range of habitat for corralling both largemouths and smallmouths. The spawn should be partially over, and everything from a jig to a shakey head or a swimbait could place the winner in his or her prize boat.

 

May 19-21 | Lake Chickamauga, Tennessee

The first stop on the Tennessee River Chain of lakes couldn’t come at a better time or on a better place than Chickamauga, the grass-filled fishery that has produced 50 pound limits and more 10 pounders over the past decade per acre than just about anywhere on earth. The bass could still be shallow, but many will be headed to their summer haunts.

 

July 28-30 | St. Lawrence River, New York

It took over a hundred pounds of smallmouths to win a four day tournament on the St. Lawrence last summer, and even the second place finisher was in triple digits. That necessitated our visit, and while we fully expect that a smallmouth will win, the sheer number of 5- and 6-pounders – plus the vast expanses of water available to competitors – will likely take this one down to the wire.

 

August 4-6 | Upper Mississippi, Wisconsin (LaCrosse)

Our first visit to the Upper Midwest will be held on one of the nation’s most renowned tournament venues, a place where either a largemouth or a smallmouth could claim top honors, and plenty of 3- and 4-pound specimens of both will be caught doing everything from frogging to flipping to cranking to dropshotting.

 

Sept 29-Oct 1 | Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia (Fall)

Virginia is too pretty and too prolific to only visit once. Four months after our first stop we’ll return, and many of the same places and techniques will still be in play, but as summer turns to fall the fish put on the feed bag and all sorts of new opportunities open up.

 

Oct 6-8 | Douglas Lake, Tennessee

Douglas, the jewel of East Tennessee, is absolutely loaded with bass, and while some may still be holding offshore, by early October huge numbers are headed to the bank. A big topwater or even a swimbait can be competitive with finesse techniques when this bite window opens up.

 

Oct 12-15 | Guntersville Lake, Alabama (4 Day Event, 4 day entry will be $325)

We conclude the 2023 season with a four-day mega tournament with a return to the Tennessee River, to perhaps America’s greatest and most resilient tournament lake. Year after year, anglers fish Guntersville’s waters obsessively, and the big bass parade never seems to stop. This is where the Alabama Rig got its first major exposure, but as the fall bite heats up anglers will find multiple big fish patterns.

Registration for the 2023 Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s Big Bass Tour will open on Friday December 2nd. Visit www.bigbasstour.com for all details.

by AnglersChannel

Arey assist Eagle Scout with fish habitat project

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships

Not unlike the success rate of all who aspire to be prosperous full-time professional anglers, only 2-percent of all Boy Scouts achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.

Troop 100 Eagle Scout candidate, Walton Moore, age 17, and Team Toyota pro angler, Matt Arey, both of Shelby, NC, are among the very few to achieve the lofty goal in their respective pursuits, and they’re currently working together to improve fishing habitat on their home lake.

Moore has spent a large portion of his young life trout fishing in Western North Carolina and deer hunting on family land in Chester, SC, but actually lives and bass fishes on Moss Lake where the habitat project is taking place. Arey spends time fishing there when he’s not chasing Bassmaster Elite Series trophies, and credits the lake which is owned by the City of Kings Mountain, for shaping his successful bass fishing career.

“I didn’t actually know about Walton’s project until I was driving past the Boy Scout building in my Tundra and spotted all the artificial trees piled-up. I knew exactly what they were. So, I had to find out more. And that led me to actually going and meeting all the Scouts during their next work day,” Arey explains.

Walton heard about the need for improved aquatic habitat through his Scoutmaster and local landscape architect, Fred Blackley, but it was up to 17-year-old Walton to develop designs, gather materials, and secure approvals for placing the artificial trees in Moss Lake.

Troop 100 has now built 100 artificial trees, and they plan to sink them with supervision from Arey by late November. GPS coordinates will be recorded to document their location. Arey will direct the Scouts on where they will likely attract the most fish and improve the catch rates off all who cast a line on the reservoir located more than an hour’s drive straight west of Charlotte.

“I’m recommending we place them in twenty locations, with five structures per location, in depths ranging from 12 to 20 feet of water,” says Arey. “The cool thing is, they’re made of materials that won’t decompose over time, and they’re pretty snag-free from lures,” he adds.

Man-made brushpiles and boat docks serve as the most fished habitatson Moss Lake currently. Finesse jigs, topwater lures, and small swimbaits rigged on heads like the one Arey helped Pulse Lures designare common lure offerings on the 1,700-acre reservoir that’s now 50-years old.

“I’d probably recommended casting a crankbait at these structures once we get them planted, but for now, I’m just super proud of all the kids in Troop 100, and the community members who helped Walton make this project happen,” says Arey.

“It’s definitely a legacy kind of project Walton created, and the kids even humbled me by asking me to autograph a few of the trees before we sink them,” grins Arey.

That’s a rare autograph request, indeed. Rare like the achievement of Eagle Scout, and one Arey is deeply proud to have a small but guiding hand in.

 

 

 

by AnglersChannel

What we are Thankful For

This week Chris, Kenneth and David do a quick run down of the 2023 Elite Series Roster, KG's Camera work and then finish off the show talking about the Thanksgiving holiday this week and what they are most thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving!!

by AnglersChannel

Two lures Ike’s forever thankful for

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships

On the eve of Thanksgiving, Mike Iaconelli will be the first to tell you he’s got a lot to be thankful for. Including a super supportive wife in Becky, four healthy kids, and a list of professional bass fishing achievements he only dreamed of as a teenager. Plus, a recent epic fishing trip to Venice, Louisiana with three of his lifetime best friends.

Venice, you probably recall, is where “Ike” won the 2003 Bassmaster Classic. In the final seven minutes of that event, he caught a life-changing largemouth from a pond in the massive labyrinth of the Louisiana Delta and screamed the now iconic “Never Give Up!”

“We met some great local ‘bass heads’ last week who took us to see the pond where I won the Classic 19 years ago. But man, the hurricanes have changed the Delta waters so much since I won. The actual pond is not even visible anymore. It was amazing,” reflects Ike.

By no means did the trip disappoint, however. Ike and his three buddies, Brian, John and Tom, caught enough speckled trout on the first day to feed themselves throughout the week. Interestingly, it was Tom’s dad who gave Ike his first Bassmaster Magazine 40 years ago that fostered so many of his future dreams.

Plus, they caught 100 largemouth pitching baits into roseaucane the second day, and boated 30 giant bull redfish to round-out the incredible getaway.

“All we needed was us and the fish. And that’s exactly what we had. It’s a trip with three of my all-time best friends that I’ll treasure forever,” he says.

Ike uses the term ‘bass head’ a lot. It’s a term of endearment he uses to describe folks like he and his buddies who are absolutely obsessed with all things bass fishing. So, what two lures would the polarizing personality of a bass head from suburban Philadelphia say are the two he’s most thankful forthroughout his highly decorated 20+ years as a pro?

“Obviously, a lot of fans will probably guess I’d pick the soft plastics I won the Classic on. But honestly, it’s still tough to describe how much winning the 2006 Angler of the Year title means to me, and the highlight of that season was winning at Guntersville. So, I have to choose a chartreuse blue Rapala DT 6 like the one I used at Guntersville as one of the two lures I’m most thankful for,” says Iaconelli.

While that particular event was largely a bed fishing bash, Iaconelli knew fish were quickly migrating away from their spawning grounds to the first available deeper weedlines as the event progressed. So, the Rapala DT 6 proved perfect for spurring bites when he’d rip it free from the inside edge of the grass beds.

Ike’s other choice for his two most treasured lures is the compact ½-ounce Mini Flip jig he helped design for Missile Baits and used to win in front of his hometown crowd on the stingy Delaware River at the 2014 Bassmaster Elite.

“That win brought everything in my life full circle! To win on the river where my best friends and I dreamed of being pros as teenagers, in front of so many lifelong friends and all of my family is not only a top highlight of my fishing career, but also my life,” says Iaconelli.

“We designed that Mini Flip jig with a super stout hook, and at the time, it was about the only compact jig with a hook like that. I caught fish on that little brown-purple jig that I probably shouldn’t have. I was hooking fish inside sunken old rusty barges and able to pull them out because of that jig. So, it’s absolutely one of the lures I’m most thankful for,” he says.

From a treasured trip to the Delta with lifelong best buddies last week, to Classic wins, an AOY title, and an electric hometown Elite Series victory, along with two very special lures and a loving family are indeed all highlights on a long list of things Ike will celebrate during this week of Thanksgiving.

 

by AnglersChannel

The VanDam's Opening Day Magic

Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships

There are few things on earth that conjure excitement like the first cast on tournament morning for Kevin VanDam but opening day of Michigan’s whitetail deer rifle season is certainly one of them. Since his twin boys Jackson and Nicholas have been old enough to hunt, they have shared the woods with KVD on this sacred day, making cherished memories and enjoying the fellowship together.

The three VanDam men made a memory that will be tough to top this year on November 15th, when the three of them scored on a trio of mature bucks that KVD and his surrounding neighbors have been after for years. The groundwork for this year’s opening day success has been more than a decade in the making and will be something they remember for the rest of their lives.

“It was truly the kind of day dreams are made of,” VanDamreflected. “Whether we fill our tags or not, opening day in Michigan embodies so much of what we love about the outdoors. It’s tradition, it’s laughs around the grill the night before, it’s patience in the field and putting in the effort during the off season to give everyone in deer camp the best possible chance. This year was a fairytale and the culmination of work we’ve put in since I bought the property 18 years ago. It was magic.”

Like many professional anglers, VanDam has long spent his tournament off-season chasing whitetails in the fall. There is a kinship between the two pursuits that is difficult to describe but absolutely exists. Take a look at your favorite bass anglers’ social media pages in the fall and winter; there is a strong chance their posts revolve around hunting.

In the same way he approaches tournament fishing, KVD works tirelessly to “control the controllable” variables in hunting. He spends as much time as his schedule allows managing habitat on his property. Planting Biologic food plots, performing timber harvests and hinge cuts, looking for shed antlers, running trail cams, planting trees in predetermined areas, hanging tree stands and re-thinking access routes to and from these locations.

If his Tundra doesn’t have his Nitro boat hooked up to the hitch, it's likely loaded down with hunting equipment. When the season rolls around each October VanDam spends time talking to his neighbors, pouring over aerial maps, and studying the Drury’s DeerCast app.

“It’s an obsession - that’s no doubt,” VanDam said. “Over the years it’s truly been special to watch the work we’ve put in make a positive impact. But it’s about more than deer, the habitat management benefits everything from songbirds, to turkeys, to squirrels. Watching my boy’s evolution as gamekeepers has been equally as special. The past five or six years everything has really been coming together from in our neighborhood, and that’s largely in part to the work and ethics many of the surrounding properties share, too.”

 

While the VanDam’s were treated to a picture-perfect day on the rifle opener and enjoyed the fruits of their labor, this deer season has had its share of ups and downs for KVD leading up to their magical morning. VanDam had his eyes set on a different mature buck throughout the first six weeks of archery season. This deer was super unique, with drop tines coming off both main beams, a true once-in-a-lifetime Michigan buck according to KVD.

After numerous sightings and several close calls, one of their neighbors ended up harvesting that buck just a day after KVD had the deer at 40-yards, but he offered no shot. While he would have loved to taken that deer, VanDam was thrilled for his neighbor.

He didn’t know it at the time but missing the opportunity at his target buck allowed for the incredible opening morning he experienced with his two boys and family at his side. Big antlers and wall-hanger type trophies are cool, but memories made with friends and loved ones are the real reason for the season

by AnglersChannel

Waylon Mullis Justin Hamner win ABT 100 with 25.03

By Jason Duran

Florence, Ala November 19-The Alabama Bass Trail 100 Series concluded the 2022 season with the third and final stop at Pickwick Lake. 100 Teams competed for over $100,000 total purse. The final event also decided the AOY race. With teams reporting a difficult practice and few fish catches, the competition was expected to be tough. However, Pickwick has been known to produce heavy weights in previous ABT events, and this weekend didn’t disappoint. The team of Waylon Mullis and Justin Hammer crossed the scales with 25.03 pounds of Pickwick bass to take the win.

The first-place team of Waylon Mullis and Justin Hamner have fished the ABT series for a long time. Justin fished before he went on to the Bassmaster Elite Series. When asked what they expected this event to be like, Justin shared, “I always think it’s going to take a big bag to win on Pickwick because the fish just live here, but our practice was pretty brutal. Friday, in practice, we got on a little spot and caught a 5-pound and a 4-pound fish off one little spot, so we decided to run with it and milk it for all it was worth. Honestly it was way better than we expected.” The first 30 minutes was a lot of action. The team focused on a stretch along the seven-mile island area to catch most of their weigh. When asked if they expected it to be this good they said, “if you’re catching them, you know somebody else is probably catching them too, so you can’t back down.” They had their limit before 7am and upgraded throughout the day using a Yo-Zuri deep diving jerkbait as their primary bait throwing it around stumps and grass. They also caught a few fish on a Freedom Tackle Swim Jig in white.  The jerkbait has a long bill on it and with a moderate retrieve it helps the bait to bounce off stumps.  Waylon and Justin were the last team to weigh in. Prior to them there were multiple bags in the 19–20-pound range. However, when they came to the scale and dropped 25.03 it was statement that Pickwick still has the big ones. With this first-place finish, they cashed a $25,000 check.

Jeff Kitchens and Randy Wiggins finished in second-place. “We started on the lower end of the lake on Thursday, and didn’t really find anything. On Friday, we spent our time on the upper end of the lake where we saw a bunch of birds flying around an area we didn’t fish. We spent our time fishing other areas not catching much, so we made a plan Friday night to start in the area where we saw the birds.”  They described the spot as, “scattered grass and stumps along a long bar in the seven-mile island area” fishing within sight of the first-place team. “The area had some fresh new grass, and the current flowed by washing against a hard spot pushing the bait up just right for the fish to come up and feed out of the current.” Jeff and Randy said it was a “quick morning bite flurry.”  They caught their fish using crankbaits- a Bill Lewis MR7 in white and a Lucky Craft square bill.  The team weighed in 20.89 pounds of Pickwick bass giving them a second place and $12,500.

Brandon Groce and Bryan Johnson finished in third-place and won $10,000. They focused on a spot near Brush Creek fishing a “thousand-yard stretch of a river ledge bar in about 5-feet of water. The fish were just holding there. In practice there was very little current, but today the wind and the current helped the fishing. We had a limit by 7:30 and continued to upgrade till 9:30, and it turned on again after a lull about 11:00. We fished a Megabass 110 +1 Jerkbait in pearl.” They caught around 30 fish all day in that spot to upgrade to the 20.59 pounds.

The father and son team of Phillip Dukes and Baily Dukes were the most consistent team this year in the three events they finishing 12th,11th, and 10th. That consistency earned them the 2022 ABT 100 AOY. They earned the highly coveted championship belts which they plan to wear to work tomorrow.

The top five standings are below for a complete list of standings please visit:

https://www.alabamabasstrail100.org/pickwick-lake-results/

Download and listen to the ABT Podcast on your favorite Podcast app by searching for “Alabama Bass Trail Podcast.”  The Podcast is released each week on Tuesday.

 

by AnglersChannel

GMAN on Earning a Living in the Fishing Industry

Controlling your destiny is focus of NPAA’s Annual Conference in Fort Myers, FL.

Forestville, WI (November 18, 2022) – The National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA) 2023 Annual Conference kicks off in Fort Myers, Florida, January 6 through 8, and headline speaker Gerald Swindle can’t wait to get started.

“I hope you’ll be there to hear me because I plan to really bring it,” says Swindle. “This is not just a meeting for professional anglers, it’s for anyone making a living in the recreational fishing industry – and you don’t even have to be an NPAA member to attend because everybody’s welcome. This meeting is going to be a conference where we’re talking about how to make money.”

That’s something Swindle says other industry pros don’t generally discuss but it’s going to get full attention at this event, the focus of which is “Controlling Your Destiny!” With this conference NPAA is providing a first-class ticket to meet, network, speak with and glimpse the psyche of top professional anglers, industry representatives and sport fishing leaders across the country.

“This is your chance to see, hear and learn how top professionals do business,” points out the legendary bass pro from Guntersville, AL, who has appeared in 20 Bassmaster Classics, twice been named Bassmaster’s Angler of the Year, broken the magical 100-pound tournament limit twice, and earned roughly $2.5 million in prize money in the process.

NPAA president, Patrick Neu couldn’t be more thrilled than to have Swindle lined up for the event. “He’s the right guy to headline our speakers,” said Neu. “He’s an NPAA member, a social media icon, and a no-nonsense motivational speaker that knows this industry inside and out. He’s true to himself in every aspect of our sport and not afraid to speak his mind. In short, when the G-Man speaks, everybody listens.”

Swindle has plenty to say, of course, but we’ll let him speak for himself in the video link above. Just know that attendance is limited to 200 and tickets are selling fast - so, don’t wait to sign-up, meet, network, speak with and glimpse the psyche of top professional anglers, industry representatives and sport fishing leaders across the country.

The NPAA Annual Conference features business-related educational seminars, networking opportunities, and partner booths in a fun but professional format. It is a key component of the NPAA platform, which exists to help members grow their professional angling careers and run successful industry businesses. The event will also host a Benefit Banquet for the Future Angler Foundation (FAF), which introduces millions of potential new anglers and boaters each year to the thrill and fun of sportfishing and boating.

Additional seminar speakers will include Jason and Jay Przekurat, MLF Redcrest Champion Bobby Lane, Louisiana guide and Redfish Lodge owner, Mike Frenette, plus a myriad of other angling professionals from top guides to industry veterans, all sharing their knowledge freely in sessions throughout the weekend. Event central is the 5-Star rated Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport - Town Center, which is 5 minutes from the SW Florida Regional Airport (RSW) and just off I75 in Fort Myers.

The NPAA 2023 Annual Conference registration fees include all activities, meals, and a ticket for the FAF Banquet. More information on registration can be found on the NPAA Conference Page. (Note: Non-members who pre-register for the Conference and opt to join the association prior to the end of the Conference will receive a $50 rebate on their Conference Registration Fee.)

For more information on joining the NPAA, attending the Annual Conference, and exploring the many benefits membership provides, visit www.npaa.net.

by AnglersChannel

SITKA Gear Selects Gunpowder, Inc. as Public Relations Agency of Record

DELAFIELD, WI. (Nov. 17, 2022). Leading enthusiast lifestyle agency Gunpowder, Inc. is proud to announce the addition of SITKA Gear to the prominent list of outdoor and lifestyle brands it represents. As the new public relations agency of record, Gunpowder, Inc. will work with SITKA Gear on all earned media outreach initiatives, events, partnerships and activations, as well as commerce content and affiliate programs throughout the year.

Since 2015 Gunpowder has been making waves in outdoor and enthusiast categories providing expertise and creative guidance in marketing communications for its impressive and growing list of clients, including Pure Fishing, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Johnson Outdoors, Breeo, Uncharted Supply Co.,  and THOR Industries among others. The agency is committed to providing a unique and creative approach to its clients’ businesses and has leveraged this approach to realize significant growth over the last two years.

“SITKA is already one of the most iconic outdoor hunting gear brands in the industry—we’re not only huge fans of the brand, but we’re stoked for the opportunity to support a company and products we believe in,” said Ryan Chuckel, Gunpowder President. “Helping our clients reach their business goals and finding creative ways to tell stories is in our blood. With SITKA, as well as our other leading category clients in the outdoors, we get to merge our passion with our profession.”

SITKA Gear has pushed the boundaries of technical apparel since it began in 2006—elevating the standard by which all other outdoor gear is compared. SITKA’s innovative designs and commitment to the hunting lifestyle and wildlife conservation have led both novice and experienced outdoorsmen to choose SITKA for their next adventure. And, with new products reaching new categories, the brand is poised for substantial growth in the coming years.

“Our partnership with Gunpowder comes at an ideal time for SITKA. We have tremendous momentum as a brand with exciting new partnerships and product innovations on the horizon,” said Todd Barker, SITKA Marketing Manager. “The Gunpowder team has the reputation, experience, and a shared passion that will underscore SITKA’s position as a leader in technical hunting apparel and beyond.”

About SITKA Gear
SITKA Gear, based in Bozeman, Montana, created and leads the technical hunting apparel category. The company is recognized for its commitment to continually improving the life experience of the hunter and for its support of healthy ecosystems and wildlife populations. SITKA products work together in systems, and each piece is designed and tested rigorously in both the lab and the field. SITKA is owned by W.L. Gore & Associates, an advanced materials company well known for Gore-Tex™ fabrics and many other industry-leading innovations that provide durable comfort and protection to outdoor enthusiasts. Go to sitkagear.com to learn more about how SITKA enhances the full life experience of the hunter.

About Gunpowder, Inc.
Since 2015 Gunpowder has been driving dynamic communications programs for some of the world’s most influential enthusiast brands including Humminbird, Minn Kota, Pure Fishing, Breeo, Uncharted Supply Co. and THOR Industries. The agency is built on a commitment to driving earned media coverage and social engagement with brand communities through a nimble, creative approach and by understanding how strong strategy and blue-collar work ethic can drive positive business results. The people of Gunpowder live, work and play with its clients’ products and services at the center of their lives. More information is available at www.gunpowderinc.com.

by AnglersChannel

Expanded Elite Series Field Will Feature 104 Anglers In 2023

The 2023 Bassmaster Elite Series field is set with 104 of the world's best anglers, including 13 new qualifiers from the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by Mossy Oak Fishing and TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship. 

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

November 16, 2022

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After a record-breaking 2022 Elite Series season that awarded eight Century Belts, crowned four first-time champions and garnered over 18.5 million views on FOX and the FOX Sports channels, B.A.S.S. announced the new expanded field for the 2023 Elite Series.

Next year, 104 anglers will compete for an Elite Series purse of over $6.9 million. Joining the ranks of the most prominent circuit in sportfishing are 12 qualifiers from the hotly contested St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by Mossy Oak Fishing, the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation champion and legendary Bassmaster Classic champion and two-time Angler of the Year Larry Nixon.

“I can’t wait for the 2023 season to start and think the schedule sets up really well for big catches, big drama and big excitement,” said the Elite Series Tournament Director Lisa Talmadge. “The Elite Series field is absolutely stacked, and fans are going to love following their favorite anglers as well as meeting this talented crop of rookies. And the new guys in the field have such broad appeal to those who love bass fishing, from a true icon of the sport in former Classic and AOY champion Larry Nixon to Cole Sands, who won a College Series National Championship just two years ago.”

With the exception of four anglers who retired, the entire 2022 Elite roster is returning next year. This list of returning anglers includes 2022 Bassmaster Classic champion Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., who also claimed a blue trophy on Chickamauga Lake last season. Idaho pro Brandon Palaniuk took Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year honors — his second time to earn the coveted title — while Jay Przekurat of Stevens Point, Wis., earned a Century Belt with all smallmouth — a feat never before accomplished — to claim a victory on the St. Lawrence River en route to winning Falcon Rods Rookie of the Year.

They will be joined by an accomplished rookie class that includes two international anglers — Kyoya Fujita of Japan and Cooper Gallant of Canada — who earned their spots via the Northern and Southern Opens respectively. Also earning a spot in the Elites via the Northern Opens is Alex Wetherell of Middletown, Conn., who won the 2010 Junior Bassmaster World Championship. Bryant Smith of Roseville, Calif., and Joey Cifuentes IIIof Clinton, Ark., both qualified through the Southern Opens. Kyle Norsetter of Cottage Grove, Wis., and Logan Latuso of Gonzales, La., who has twice been one spot away from realizing his Elite dream, secured their berths via the Central Opens. David Gaston of Sylacauga, Ala., Sands of Calhoun, Tenn., and two-time NPFL tour winner John Soukup of Sapulpa, Okla., qualified via the overall points standings.

Will Davis Jr. of Sylacauga, Ala., won last week’s TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Pickwick Lake and has also been extended an Elite Series invitation. Part of his “Nation’s Best” prize package includes the use of a fully rigged boat and $16,000 toward his entry fees.

Along with Nixon, who is joining the field via a Legends exemption, there are also two former Elite Series anglers who requalified for the tour through the Opens Series points standings.

Keith Poche of Pike Road, Ala., won the Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year title to earn his invitation to rejoin the Elites. He’ll be joined by Central Opens points standings winner Bradley Hallman of Edmond, Okla., who found success with FLW after leaving the Elite Series in 2011.

The 2023 Elite Series season kicks off on Florida’s Lake Okeechobee Feb. 16. From there the tournament trail will wind through seven states as anglers battle each other — and big bass — for cash and prizes and attempt to qualify for the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic.

Each tournament will begin with the full field of anglers on Days 1 and 2 before the field is cut to 50 for the semifinal round on Day 3. Only the Top 10 remaining anglers will fish the final day of each event with a $100,000 first-place prize on the line.

2023 Bassmaster Elite Series Field

Matt Arey, Shelby, N.C.
Justin Atkins, Florence, Ala.
Todd Auten, Lake Wylie, S.C.
Drew Benton, Blakely, Ga.
Stetson Blaylock, Benton, Ark.
Scott Canterbury, Odenville, Ala.
Brandon Card, Salisbury, N.C.
Hank Cherry, Lincolnton, N.C.
Jason Christie, Park Hill, Okla.
Joey Cifuentes III, Clinton, Ark.
Gary Clouse, Winchester, Tenn.
Rick Clunn, Ava, Mo.
Brandon Cobb, Greenwood, S.C.
Keith Combs, Huntington, Texas
Drew Cook, Cairo, Ga.
John Cox, DeBary, Fla.
John Crews, Salem, Va.
Clent Davis, Montevallo, Ala.
Will Davis Jr., Sylacauga, Ala.
Greg DiPalma, Millville, N.J.
Josh Douglas, Isle, Minn.
Bob Downey, Detroit Lakes, Minn.
Seth Feider, New Market, Minn.
Austin Felix, Eden Prairie, Minn.
Jacob Foutz, Charleston, Tenn.
Marc Frazier, Newnan, Ga.
Micah Frazier, Newnan, Ga.
David Fritts, Lexington, N.C.
Kyoya Fujita, Minamitsuru, Yamanashi, Japan
Cooper Gallant, Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada
David Gaston, Sylacauga, Ala.
Darold Gleason, Many, La.
Buddy Gross, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Jeff Gustafson, Keewatin, Ontario, Canada
Greg Hackney, Gonzales, La.
Bradley Hallman, Edmond, Okla.
Skylar Hamilton, Dandridge, Tenn.
Justin Hamner, Northport, Ala.
Ray Hanselman, Del Rio, Texas
Jamie Hartman, Newport, N.Y.
Matt Herren, Ashville, Ala.
Derek Hudnall, Zachary, La.
Cody Huff, Ava, Mo.
Mike Huff, Corbin, Ky.
Mike Iaconelli, Pittsgrove, N.J.
Taku Ito, Chiba, Japan
Carl Jocumsen, Toowoomba, Australia
Chris Johnston, Otonabee, Ontario, Canada
Cory Johnston, Cavan, Ontario, Canada
Jonathan Kelley, Old Forge, Pa.
Steve Kennedy, Auburn, Ala.
Kenta Kimura, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan
Koby Kreiger, Alva, Fla.
Caleb Kuphall, Mukwonago, Wis.
Logan Latuso, Gonzales, La.
Shane LeHew, Catawba, N.C.
Brandon Lester, Fayetteville, Tenn.
Lee Livesay, Longview, Texas
Wes Logan, Springville, Ala.
Ed Loughran III, Richmond, Va.
Bill Lowen, Brookville, Ind.
Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla.
Masayuki Matsushita, Tokoname-Shi, Japan
Mark Menendez, Paducah, Ky.
Brock Mosley, Collinsville, Miss.
Paul Mueller, Naugatuck, Conn.
David Mullins, Mt. Carmel, Tenn.
Bryan New, Saluda, S.C.
Larry Nixon, Quitman, Ark.
Kyle Norsetter, Cottage Grove, Wis.
Brandon Palaniuk, Rathdrum, Idaho
Luke Palmer, Coalgate, Okla.
Chad Pipkens, DeWitt, Mich.
Clifford Pirch, Payson, Ariz.
Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala.
Jacob Powroznik, North Prince George, Va.
Cliff Prince, Palatka, Fla.
Jay Przekurat, Stevens Point, Wis.
KJ Queen, Catawba, N.C.
Alex Redwine, Blue Ash, Ohio
Tyler Rivet, Raceland, La.
Matt Robertson, Kuttawa, Ky.
Cole Sands, Calhoun, Tenn.
Pat Schlapper, Eleva, Wis.
Bryan Schmitt, Deale, Md.
Bernie Schultz, Gainesville, Fla.
Hunter Shryock, Ooltewah, Tenn.
Bryant Smith, Roseville, Calif.
John Soukup, Sapulpa, Okla.
Josh Stracner, Vandiver, Ala.
Caleb Sumrall, New Iberia, La.
Gerald Swindle, Guntersville, Ala.
Frank Talley, Temple, Texas
Patrick Walters, Summerville, S.C.
Joseph Webster, Hamilton, Ala.
Kyle Welcher, Opelika, Ala.
Clark Wendlandt, Leander, Texas
Alex Wetherell, Middletown, Conn.
Brad Whatley, Bivins, Texas
Jake Whitaker, Hendersonville, N.C.
David Williams, Newton, N.C.
Jason Williamson, Aiken, S.C.
Matty Wong, Honolulu, Hawaii
Chris Zaldain, Fort Worth, Texas

by AnglersChannel

"Washing Baits" & Making Dreams Come True

This week Chris & The boys welcome in 2022 BASS NATION Champ Will Davis to the show to talk about the grinding road to the BASS Nation Championship and what it took to take home the win and secure a berth in the 2023 Bassmasters Classic!

by AnglersChannel

MLF Adjusts Dates and Locations for Western Division Toyota Series, Abu Garcia College Fishing and MLF High School Fishing Events

WHAT:
Due to California Department of Fish and Wildlife permit availability following the Annual Black Bass Permit Draw, Major League Fishing (MLF) has adjusted the 2023 dates and locations in the Western division of the Toyota Series, Abu Garcia College Fishing and MLF High School Fishing.

NOTES:
The first stop for the Western Division circuits remains unchanged.

Stop #1: Lake Havasu – Lake Havasu State Park
699 London Bridge Road, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Toyota Series: Feb. 2-4 (Thursday – Saturday)

Abu Garcia College Fishing: Feb. 4 (Saturday)

MLF High School Fishing: Feb. 5 (Sunday)

The dates and locations for the second and third stops have shifted to the following:

Stop #2: California Delta – Russo’s Marina
3995 Willow Road, Bethel Island, Calif.

Toyota Series: March 15-17 (Wednesday – Friday)

Abu Garcia College Fishing: March 17 (Friday)

MLF High School Fishing: March 18 (Saturday)

Stop #3: California Delta – Russo’s Marina
3995 Willow Road, Bethel Island, Calif.

Toyota Series: April 19-21 (Wednesday – Friday)

Abu Garcia College Fishing: April 21 (Friday)

MLF High School Fishing: April 22 (Saturday)

For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com . For regular Toyota Series, Abu Garcia College Fishing and MLF High School Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Make an Angler Happy Over the Holidays

New and potent Northland and Bagley baits finding their way onto angler’s wish lists. 

BEMIDJI, Minn. (November 15, 2022) – For the angler who has everything. Wait a minute... There’s no such thing. “No thank you, I don’t need any more fishing gear,” said no one, ever. So, in that spirit and the greater Holiday Season spirit, Northland offers to fill Santa’s bag with new baits, blanketing everything from southern reservoir bass to ice fishing northern border waters.

Shop till you drop…a line.

Elite Series MVP Jig

Since day one, Northland’s mission has always been the same—to build a better bait for everyday anglers and pros alike. That’s why they’ve partnered with best-in-class hook manufacturer Gamakatsu on the Elite Series MVP Jig. The jig features a Gamakatsu Jig 90 Big River hook with a large gap and acute bend that offers great holding power, locking fish in place. Whether fishing soft plastics or upsized live bait—you’re going to want to give the new Elite Series MVP Series Jig a shot. From vertical fishing to pitching or “strolling,” it’s got a hook that’s simply unforgiving and keeps fish buttoned. Available in four sizes and 14 fishy colors. MSRP is $6.49 (3 pack).

Reed-Runner Walking and Popping Frogs

If it walks like a duck, it’s a duck…or maybe a frog, loon, lab rat, blackbird, or baby turtle. At least that’s what the bass say. These dedicated surface smashers don’t discriminate against much of anything struggling or stroking on the surface that represents a square meal. With topwater mayhem on the mind, Northland brings forth the Reed-Runner Walking and Popping Frogs. The premium baits are heralded for their high hookup ratios, super weedless design, stout and sharp hooks, and expertly crafted patterns. Both models are available in 10 patterns. MSRP is $9.99.

Weedless Fire-Ball and Weedless Stand-Up Fire-Ball Jigs

You’d better be hot if you’re going to be called “Fire-Ball,” and that’s exactly how a new jig from Northland is coming across. Meet the Weedless Fire-Ball and Weedless Stand-Up Fire-Ball Jigs, specialized versions of the perennial favorite Fire-Ball Jig that solve the problem of delivering bait in the weeds without fouling. A double wire titanium weed guard arising from behind the line tie allows these new upstarts to squirt through emerging spring and thickening summer weeds with ease. Unlike steel and plastic weed guards, Northland’s titanium version keeps its shape and better bounces off timber, too. Both versions come in two sizes and eight jarring colors. MSRP is $4.99 (2 pack).

Rumble Shad

Northland made a splash in the premium hardbait category with the Rumble Shad balsawood crankbait series designed by Northland chief bait designer Jarmo Rapala—and fishing is definitely better with balsa. The magical lure is a mid-running crankbait available in three sizes with varying dive depths. You’ll discover walleyes and other species find their unique roll and tight action simply irresistible. The Rumble Shad is formed of balsawood through the unique Heat Compression Molding (HCM) process and features 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. The #5 dives 5’ to 12’; the #7 dives 8’ to 16’; and the #8 dives 14’ to 21’. Available in 15 artisan colors and another seven limited edition paintjobs. MSRP is $9.99.

Glass Buck-Shot Spoon

They’re flying off the shelves... Northland’s highly anticipated Glass Buck-Shot Spoon is constructed of a lead frame and features a high-pitched glass rattle. Its sonic vibrations are unique to the hardwater world. A natural, semi- translucent hard resin protects their marvelous paintjobs against scratches and chips. Available in three sizes and eight proven colors. MSRP is $9.99.

Level-Head Predator Tubes

If you’ve paid any attention to the progression of ice baits for lake trout, pike, and outsized walleyes, you’ve noticed that there’s a trend toward fishing big tubes for more and bigger fish. The dense Level-Head Predator Tube stays around the hole and marks well on electronics. Predator Tubes also hang horizontally and dart like the dickens when jigged. Its primary hook is stout and sharp, supplemented by a blood red treble to finish the job. Available in three sizes and four effective colors. MSRP is $7.99 (1 rigged and an extra body).

Rigged Tungsten Jigs

Anglers looking to get a jump on the hardwater panfish season are absolutely going to love Northland’s new Tungsten Rigged Jigs. With dense heads, a trio of enticing shapes and two sizes, bluegills, crappies, yellow perch and other popular panfish can’t resist, these offerings touch all the bases. Heavy-for-their size tungsten jigs are all the rage in ice-fishing circles these days and Northland leads the way with several versatile shapes and sizes, to include the Rigged Tungsten Bloodworm, Rigged Tungsten Mini Smelt and Rigged Tungsten Mayflyoptions. Each features a Tungsten Mud Bug jighead and soft, ultra-realistic body. Each model is available in two sizes and five proven color combinations. MSRP is $8.59 (2 rigged and 3 extra tails).

RED LAKE SPOON ASSORTMENT – 21 Piece Kit with Tackle Box, Line Clipper and Ruler

Northland’s hot new ice fishing kit was concocted for arguably ice fishing’s hottest walleye lake: Minnesota’s Red Lake. But even if the legendary Red Lake isn’t in your rotisserie, the brilliant assortment of killer shapes, actions, and colors will prove awesome on shallower walleye bites, especially in stained to darker water. Lures to include ice fishing champions: Buck-Shot Coffin Spoon, Bro Bug Spoon, Buck-Shot Rattle Spoon, Macho Minnow Spoon, Forage Minnow Spoon, Forage Minnow Jig, and Glass Buck-Shot Spoon.

$99.99 (save $35)

by AnglersChannel

Third Major League Fishing General Tire Team Series Event Wraps Production in College Station, Texas

Week-Long Television Shoot Concludes as 27 Pro Anglers Compete on Lake Somerville and Gibbons Creek Reservoir to Advance to December’s General Tire Team Series Championship

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (Nov. 15, 2022) – Twenty-seven (27) of the world’s best pro anglers and Major League Fishing (MLF) wrapped production last weekend at the third and final General Tire Team Series qualifying event of the year – the Builders FirstSource Qualifier presented by Berkley, in College Station, Texas. The event, shot over six days and filmed entirely for television broadcast, featured nine teams of three anglers competing to earn the final three spots in the General Tire Team Series Championship in December.

The six-episode, two-hour series features the professional anglers visiting eastern Texas to compete on either Lake Somerville or Gibbons Creek Reservoir on each day of competition. The anglers do not learn where they are competing until they arrive at the launch ramp each morning of competition, creating a reality-based television episode that showcases how the top anglers in the world break down new and unfamiliar waters.

The nine teams that competed in the General Tire Team Series Builders FirstSource Qualifier presented by Berkley in College Station, Texas, were:

Team B&W Trailer Hitches:
Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn.
Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala.
Paul Elias, Laurel, Miss.

Team Builders FirstSource:
Jeff Sprague, Point, Texas
Randall Tharp, Port St. Joe, Fla.
Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La.

Team Crockett Creek:
Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala.
Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio
Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark.

Team Ferguson:
Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark.
Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala.
Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash.

Team Fox Rent A Car:
Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn.
Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala.
Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas

Team Knighten Industries:
Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan
Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C.
Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

Team Kubota:
Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C.
Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho
James Watson, Lampe, Mo.

Team Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff:
Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C.
Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C.
Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla.

Team Star brite:
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla.
Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala.
Jimmy Washam, Stantonville, Tenn.

The MLF General Tire Team Series Builders FirstSource Qualifier presented by Berkley will air on the Outdoor Channel as six, two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting March 25, 2023, airing from 2 to 4 p.m. ET. The full television schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com/tv-schedule.

The winning three-man team in the General Tire Team Series Championship will claim the $300,000 top prize. The second-place team will earn $60,000, and the third-place team will win $30,000. Teams 4-9 in the championship will each earn $15,000 prize. All anglers receive $3,000 for participating in the no-entry fee qualifying events.

Proud sponsors of the MLF General Tire Team Series include: B&W Hitches, Barbasol, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Builders FirstSource, C-MAP, Covercraft, Crockett Creek Beef Jerky, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Frogg Toggs, General Tire, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, NGK Spark Plugs, Onyx, Optima Batteries, Phoenix Boats, Power-Pole, Rapala, Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff, Sonic, Star brite, Strike King, T-H Marine, Toyota, USAA, and YETI.

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

by AnglersChannel

Mercury unveils V10 350 and 400hp Verado outboards

The Evolution of Premium Performance

Meet the V10
Mercury Marine is proud to introduce the world’s first V10 outboard engines. The all-new 5.7L V10 350 and 400hp Verado outboards continue the legendary Verado family’s legacy of providing premium marine performance.

Experience the V10 Verado difference at MercuryMarine.com/V10.

Mercury Verado V10 - New Technology and Features

Since the Mercury V8 and V6 outboards launched in 2018, boaters have been asking for similar technologies in the popular 350 and 400hp engine segment. The new V10 Verado outboards combine many of those technologies with an all-new gearcase and Revolution X™ prop, plus Verado-exclusive features such as the Advanced MidSection, a class-leading 150-amp alternator and precision engine tuning. They deliver the powerful performance and quiet, smooth, premium boating experience that Verado is known for.

Explore All the Features

Mercury Verado V10
As the V10 engines become available, we will continue to support the successful 2.6L L6 supercharged 350 and 400hp Verado models. This includes providing service and maintenance parts for the foreseeable future. While the L6SC engines have been successful in the market, we’re always looking for ways to improve our products for a better boating experience. The shift to high-displacement, naturally aspirated powerheads for our high-horsepower outboard lineup has proven itself with a family of engines renowned for their durability and exceptional overall performance. Additional information about ordering will be shared with you when available.

Mercury Verado V10
V10 Verado outboards set the benchmark for premium performance in their class:
Quiet – The quietest high-horsepower outboards in their class – 45% quieter than a leading competitor at cruising speed
Lightweight – The lightest outboards in their class
Quick – Faster acceleration than leading competitors’ 350 and 425hp outboards

by AnglersChannel

Lee Earns Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Wild Card on Wheeler Lake

DECATUR, Ala. (Nov. 14, 2022) Boater Jake Lee of Powell, Tennessee , brought a two-day total of 10 bass to the scale weighing 29 pounds, 13 ounces to win the no-entry fee Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine Wild Card on Wheeler Lake. For his victory, Lee earned one of the final six berths into the 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship.

The Wild Card tournament is a last-chance shot at the All-American for Bass Fishing League anglers that didn’t qualify for a Regional Championship.

“I wasn’t on anything in practice,” Lee said. “With about an hour left in practice, I was idling in front of a river bar and prayed for the Lord to show me something so easy I couldn’t miss it. And as I went through there, fish started jumping.”

Lee started catching fish, but they turned out to be white bass. He figured with so much feeding action going on, the largemouth had to be near.

“I got to the back side of the river bar, and there were the largemouth,” Lee said. “I spent the entire tournament on the back side of that bar and just went up and down that ½-mile to ¾-mile stretch. That’s all I had. I had nowhere else to go.”

Lee said he caught all of his fish on Day 1 of the event on a River2Sea Whopper Plopper, as the water was too choppy to fish his planned bait, a Heddon Super Spook. On Saturday, Lee found windy conditions and muddy water on his bar.

“I figured they weren’t going to hit a topwater, but I felt like I had to at least make a pass down it,” Lee said. “I didn’t have a fish at 10 o’clock.”

Lee said he backed off the bar a bit and tied on a chartreuse and white Z-Man Evergreen Chatterbait Jack Hammer that produced a seven- or eight-pound limit.

“I asked the Lord to make something happen, and it wasn’t five minutes later that the sun popped out and the wind stopped blowing for 15 minutes,” Lee said. “During that time, I caught two 2½-pounders and a 4-pounder. Then it got nasty and cold again, and I culled one more time. Every fish I caught that day came on the ChatterBait.”

The top six boaters that qualified for 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:

1st: Jake Lee of Powell, Tenn., 10 bass, 29-13
2nd: Darren Ashley of Calhoun Falls, S.C., 10 bass, 27-13
3rd: Jeremy York of Conyers, Ga., 10 bass, 26-2
4th: Dave Hodges of Farmington, Ark., 10 bass, 26-0
5th: Brian Wilson of Nancy, Ky., 10 bass, 25-11
6th: Anthony Johnson of Excelsior Springs, Mo., 10 bass, 25-2

Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:

7th: Ed Casey of Whiteford, Md., 10 bass, 25-1
8th: Dale Gorrell of Camden, Tenn., 10 bass, 24-8
9th: Chris Wooten of West Point, Miss., 10 bass, 24-5
10th: Billy Schroeder of Paducah, Ky., 10 bass, 23-1

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Boater James Ball of Elmwood, Tennessee, weighed the heaviest bass of the tournament in the boater division Saturday – a 6-pound, 15-ouncer – that won the day’s Boater Big Bass Award of $980.

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

Eric Eden of Hartsville, Tennessee, weighed in a two-day total of nine bass weighing 21 pounds, 12 ounces to win the Strike King co-angler Wild Card division and advance to the 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

The top six Strike King co-anglers that qualified for the 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American were:

1st: Eric Eden of Hartsville, Tenn., nine bass, 21-12
2nd: Christopher Stites Jr. of La Vergne, Tenn., 10 bass, 21-2
3rd: Daren Tindle of Hawesville, Ky., seven bass, 20-1
4th: Cornell Badra of Clarksburg, Md., 10 bass, 18-6
5th: David Allen of Mableton, Ga., nine bass, 18-2
6th: Michael Miller of Greenville, S.C., 10 bass, 17-3

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:

7th: Jerry Meece of Flowery Branch, Ga., 10 bass, 17-0
8th: Billy Micciulla of Toms River, N.J., seven bass, 16-15
9th: Greg Roberts of Columbus, Ind., six bass, 16-5
10th: Alex Kerns of Westfield, Ind., nine bass, 15-14

Strike King co-angler Greg Roberts of Columbus, Indiana, weighed the heaviest bass of the tournament among the co-anglers Saturday – a 6-pound, 4-ouncer – that won the day’s Co-Angler Big Bass Award of $410.

The Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine Wild Card tournament on Wheeler Lake was hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism.

The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Regional Championships 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 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

The 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American will be held May 31-June 2 at Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina, and is hosted by Visit Oconee SC. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, AFTCO, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Revital Outdoors, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X, YETI and Yo-Zuri.

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

by AnglersChannel

Gloria Deo Academy Wins MLF High School Fishing Open on Lake of the Pines

JEFFERSON, Texas (Nov. 14, 2022) – Springfield, Missouri’s Gloria Deo Academy team of Caden Ball of Nixa, Missouri, and William Kuzemka of Springfield, Missouri, brought five bass to the scale Saturday weighing 11 pounds, 6 ounces, to win the MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open at Lake of the Pines.

A field of 43 teams competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which was hosted by East Texas Baptist University. In MLF and The Bass Federation (TBF) High School Fishing competition, the top 10% of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.

The top four teams that advanced to the 2023 High School Fishing National Championship are:

1st: Gloria Deo Academy, Springfield, Mo. – Caden Ball and William Kuzemka, five bass, 11-6
2nd: Grand Saline High School, Grand Saline, Texas – Maddux Bartlett and Bryce Henry, five bass, 9-10
3rd: Parkway High School, Bossier City, La. – Chris Bacot and Daegan Bates, three bass, 9-6
4th: Oologah-Talala High School, Oologah, Okla. – Garin Baade and Jack Major, three bass, 9-4

Rounding out the top 10 teams were:

5th: Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School, North Orange, Texas – Jacob Longlois and Slade Nunnally, three bass, 7-2
6th: East Texas Thunder – Collin Foley of Kingwood, Texas, and Zane Parker of Goodrich, Texas, four bass, 6-13
7th: North Desoto High School, Stonewall, La. – Benton Miller and Drake Wadsworth, two bass, 6-3
8th: Quitman High School, Quitman, La. – Hayden Davis and Maddox Duck, two bass, 6-3
9th: Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School, North Orange, Texas – Jay Delk and Kevin Shae Low, three bass, 5-5
10th: Huntington High School, Huntington, Texas – Brise Hazelton and Jovanni Smith, three bass, 5-4

Complete results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

MLF High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing tournaments are free, two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and are open to any MLF and TBF Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school club. The top 10% of teams at each Open event, along with the TBF High School Fishing state championships, will advance to the 2023 High School Fishing National Championship. The 2023 MLF High School Fishing National Championship will be held on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin, June 20-24, and is hosted by Explore La Crosse.

The High School Fishing National Champions will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice and advance to the 2023 MLF Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers.

Proud sponsors of MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, 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 High School Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

LSU-Shreveport Wins MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament on Lake of the Pines

JEFFERSON, Texas (Nov. 14, 2022) – The Louisiana State University-Shreveport duo of Marlee Churchman of Shreveport, Louisiana, and Ty Gentry of Lockesburg, Arkansas, won the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Lake of the Pines Friday with a five-bass limit weighing 19 pounds, 9 ounces. The victory earned the Pilots’ bass club $3,000 and a slot in the 2023 MLF College Fishing National Championship.

With the win, Churchman, an 18-year-old freshman, became the first female event winner in MLF College Fishing history.

“We had an early boat number, and we had a deep point on the lake we wanted to try to hit before everybody else did,” Churchman said. “We pulled up and stayed there for 30 minutes and realized it wasn’t working. We had a couple of shallow spots up north we knew we could get bit on, so we rolled up there, and in the first 30 minutes we had two fish for nine pounds.”

The team decided to fish that same 100-yard stretch of water the rest of the day, fishing in water so shallow they had to pull the trolling motor up to avoid hitting bottom. They used an Owner Flashy Swimmer tipped with a swimbait, and targeted shad hitting the surface in a shell-bed ditch with grass to catch their bass. However, storms moved in around 1 p.m., and the team had to make a run back south to avoid bad weather.

“We went back to the point we started on, but we only caught a couple of short fish there,” Churchman said. “We caught 15 to 20 fish all day, and probably 10 keepers, but the big fish came early. The keepers we caught later in the day didn’t help us out.”

“I’m not going to lie; this win feels good,” Gentry said. “I won several events in high school, and I’ve fished Lake of the Pines a lot because it’s pretty close to my house. It has served me humble pie many, many times, and it just feels really good to finally win there.”

“I’m still speechless,” Churchman went on to say. “We had a decent practice, but if you told us we were going to have 19 pounds, I would not have believed you. I knew we had a good bag, but I didn’t think we had the winning bag.”

The top 10 teams that advanced to the 2023 College Fishing National Championship are:

1st: Louisiana State University-Shreveport – Marlee Churchman, Shreveport, La., and Ty Gentry, Lockesburg, Ark., five bass, 19-9, $3,000
2nd: Arkansas Tech University – Grant Bearden, Hot Springs, Ark, and Jade Craft, Paragould, Ark., five bass, 19-4, $1,000
3rd: Blue Mountain College – John Berry, Mount Olive, Miss., and Blake Bullock, Seminary, Miss., five bass, 18-0, $500
4th: Angelo State University – Ty Smoot and Robert Vance, both of San Angelo, Texas, five bass, 17-6, $500
5th: Drury University – Caleb Coleman, Desoto, Mo., and Cade Lipham, Montgomery, Texas, five bass, 17-2, $500
6th: East Texas Baptist University – Dylan Benson, Atlanta, Texas, and Austin Rose, Mena, Ark., five bass, 17-0
7th: University of Montevallo – Briggs Alavezos, Manteca, Calif., and Solomon Glenn, Lakeville, Minn., five bass, 16-13
8th: University of Montevallo – Tyler Cain, Bessemer, Ala., and Cole Dodson, Gardendale, Ala., five bass, 16-10
9th: East Texas Baptist University – Cody Ross, Livingston, Texas, five bass, 16-4
10th: Dallas Baptist University – Michael Postlewait, Astoria, Ore., and Andrew Rickman, Canton, Texas, five bass, 16-4

MLF also advances one additional team to the National Championship for every 10 teams over 100 that compete. A total of 138 teams participated in this event, so also advancing to the 2023 College Fishing National Championship are:

11th: Texas A&M – Reed Allen and Caleb Bomer, both of Athens, Texas, five bass, 16-4
12th: University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Logan Greeno, Kearney, Neb., and Elijah Strom, Creighton, Neb., five bass, 16-1
13th: East Texas Baptist University – Kaden Proffitt, Marshall, Texas, and Cason Ragsdale, Winnsboro, Texas, five bass, 15-5

Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Lake of the Pines was hosted by East Texas Baptist University. It was the third and final regular-season tournaments for Southern Conference anglers.

MLF College Fishing teams compete in three regular-season tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top 10 teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual Abu Garcia College Fishing Open will advance to the following season’s National Championship. The 2023 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship Presented by Lowrance will be held on Lake Toho in Kissimmee, Florida, Feb. 21-23, and is hosted by the Kissimmee Sports Commission.

Proud sponsors of the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, 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 College Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Davis Rallies To Win B.A.S.S. Nation Championship On Pickwick Lake, Earns Classic Berth

Will Davis Jr. of Sylacauga, Ala., has won the 2022 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Pickwick Lake with a three-day total of 43 pounds, 8 ounces.

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

November 11, 2022

FLORENCE, Ala. — Will Davis, Jr. said earlier this week that despite difficult fishing on Pickwick Lake, the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship was setting up well for him.

Boy, was he right.

Davis, a 30-year-old from Sylacauga, Ala., caught a tournament-best limit of 16-12 during Friday’s final round, including the Big Bass of the tournament – a 5-4 whopper of a smallmouth that anchored his haul — to finish with a three-day total of 43 pounds, 8 ounces and seize a come-from-behind victory at McFarland Park.

“I’m very tired,” Davis said, minutes after hoisting the Bryan J. Kerchel Memorial Trophy and being joined on the Bassmaster stage by family and friends for a joyful, and tearful, celebration.

“I knew this was going to be an absolute grind — and it absolutely was.”

Davis was in second place after both Days 1 and 2, with limits of 13-13 and 12-15 — and on paper, it appeared those catches were effortless. But Pickwick was stingy throughout the week. So tough, that Davis caught only 16 keepers in three days.

He weighed 15 of them, though, making him the only angler in the field of 114 to catch a limit each day.

The work was well worth it. Davis collected a $20,000 cash prize, as well as an invitation to the 2023 Bassmaster Elite Series, including the use of a fully-rigged Nation’s Best boat for the year.

The true prize, however, is a berth in the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic, which will be held March 24-26 on the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tenn.

Wil Dieffenbauch of Morgantown, W. Va., and Jonathan Dietz of Corry, Penn., also won Classic berths after finishing second and third, respectively, at Pickwick. Dieffenbauch weighed a three-day total of 13 bass for 37-5 and Dietz weighed 14 for 33-7.

Worthy efforts, for sure, but Day 3 belonged to Davis.

Overnight rain meant the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was pulling more current at the Wilson Dam, where he fished the tailrace all week. That’s exactly how Davis grew up fishing on the nearby Coosa River, and that experience paid major dividends.

Davis caught a limit by 8 a.m. Friday, with the 5-4 smallmouth coming at 7:15 a.m. That catch won him an additional $1,000 for Big Bass honors.

Four of Davis’ five bass on Friday came on a Davis Bait Company 1/2-ounce Shaky Fish jig with an XSwim Slim Minnow (albino with chartreuse tail). It’s his go-to lure, one his dad (and best friend) Will Davis, Sr. created and markets online and through retail outlets.

“Without my dad, I wouldn’t be in this position, and I wouldn’t have this trophy,” Davis Jr. said, cradling the hardware named for Kerchel — the only angler to ever qualify for the Classic through the B.A.S.S. Nation and then win the sport’s biggest tournament.

“(My dad) has put me in a boat since I was in high school. I can’t tell you how much money I’ve won on his baits. He spent all last week in his shop making these for me.”

Still, the younger Davis had to do the heavy lifting on Pickwick. He fished in 3 to 5 feet of water throughout the event, casting repeatedly — “washing my lures in the current,” he said. One of Friday’s bass came on a 3/8-ounce XWire spinnerbait (Gold Colorado/Willow combo) with a Zoom Bait Company Twin Tail trailer.

Davis also took home $500 in Garmin Tournament Rewards bonus money.

Dieffenbauch led after the first two weigh-ins but dropped to second Friday after catching three bass for 7-15. He lost two hours of fishing time after experiencing boat troubles, but he already was scrambling by that time.

“The first spot I pulled up on, there was a local boat on it,” the 33-year-old angler said. “I made a gamble and ran down to Second Creek knowing there were a lot of fish down there. I was hoping to catch them on a topwater in the rainy conditions ... but I spun my prop.”

It was a disappointing finish, but making the Classic helped Dieffenbauch realize a lifelong dream.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” he said. “Knoxville hasn’t been too kind to me in the past, but hopefully we can change that in a few months.”

As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Dieffenbauch took home an additional $5,000.

Dietz, 26, caught 10-10 on Friday, his lightest bag of the event. But the former Penn State angler said he too was thrilled to try his hand in the Classic.

“I’ll probably cry when my buddy (Colton Higgins) calls me later,” Dietz said. “I grew up fly fishing and he’s the one that got me hooked on bass fishing like this. It’s been a great experience.”

A total of 58 anglers competed in the boater division at Pickwick and 56 more were in the nonboater group. They represented 47 states and seven foreign countries, and they fished for a total cash purse of $96,500.

Other Championship Friday competitors included fourth, Indiana’s Nick Uebelhor, 29-13; fifth, Tennessee’s Joe Johnson, 28-0; sixth, Connecticut’s Tim Talento, 26-14; seventh, New York’s Brad Brodnicki, 22-10; Texas’ Kris Bosley, 19-13; ninth, Texas’ Brian Jones, 18-2; and 10th, Minnesota’s Perry See, 17-2.

See won the nonboater division Thursday with a two-day total of five bass weighing 14-10. He collected a $10,000 cash prize and the Louis “Pee Wee” Powers Memorial Trophy with the win. He caught one bass Friday that weighed 2-8.

Dieffenbauch, Dietz and See have each earned paid entry fees for all divisions of the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Mossy Oak Fishing.

2022 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship 11/9-11/11
Pickwick Lake, Florence AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3

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

1. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 15 43-08 0 $21,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 5 16-12
2. Wil Dieffenbauch Morgantown, WV 13 37-05 0 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 14-02 Day 3: 3 07-15
3. Jonathan Dietz Corry, PA 14 33-07 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 11-08 Day 2: 5 11-05 Day 3: 5 10-10
4. Nick Uebelhor Jasper, IN 12 29-13 0 $5,000.00
Day 1: 4 11-00 Day 2: 3 07-02 Day 3: 5 11-11
5. Joe Johnson Clarksville, TN 12 28-00 0 $4,000.00
Day 1: 2 04-15 Day 2: 5 10-13 Day 3: 5 12-04
6. Tim Talento Meriden, CT 10 26-14 0 $3,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 4 11-02 Day 3: 1 02-13
7. Brad Brodnicki Buffalo, NY 8 22-10 0 $2,000.00
Day 1: 2 03-12 Day 2: 4 12-03 Day 3: 2 06-11
8. Kris Bosley Amarillo, TX 7 19-13 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 2 06-09 Day 3: 0 00-00
9. Brian Jones Conroe, TX 9 18-02 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 3 07-05 Day 3: 1 02-05
10. Pheerayout See Rochester, MN 6 17-02 0 $11,000.00
Day 1: 2 06-03 Day 2: 3 08-07 Day 3: 1 02-08
11. Cole Findley Forsyth, MO 7 16-06 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 4 09-13 Day 3: 0 00-00
12. Kenneth Cleveland Bakersfield, CA 6 15-07 0 $500.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 1 02-07
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURN
Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 05-04 $1000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 5 94 237-01
2 6 113 285-08
3 4 31 82-03
----------------------------------
15 238 604-12

by AnglersChannel

Dieffenbauch Leads Heading Into The Final Round Of The B.A.S.S. Nation Championship On Pickwick

Wil Dieffenbauch of Morgantown, W.Va.., is leading after Day 2 of the 2022 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Pickwick Lake with a two-day total of 29 pounds, 6 ounces.
Photo by Chase Sansom/B.A.S.S.
November 10, 2022

FLORENCE, Ala. — Wil Dieffenbauch wasted no time Thursday cementing his lead in the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Pickwick Lake.

Unlike Wednesday, when he seized the tournament lead in the final minutes of the opening weigh-in, he was second to the stage on Day 2, bringing with him a five-bass limit weighing 14 pounds, 2 ounces. Coupled with his 15-4 limit a day earlier, the Morgantown, W.Va., resident has a two-day total of 29-6 and a clear path to some of the sport’s most-coveted prizes.

Among them is a berth in the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic, a glimmering reward that will go to the Top 3 in this week’s three-day championship in northeast Alabama. The winner here also will earn a spot on the 2023 Bassmaster Elite Series, including the use of a fully-rigged Nation’s Best boat for the year, as well as a $20,000 cash prize.

Right now, Dieffenbauch leads the pack, and he said his earlier start Thursday was key.

“The place where I wanted to start yesterday (near the Wilson Dam) had two boats on it, but today, I got there first,” he said. “I caught three keepers up there in the first hour. Then I was able to make a run to where I caught my best fish yesterday, and I picked up my fourth about 8:15 (a.m.). I went a while until I caught my fifth, but it was the biggest one of the day.”

That kicker bass, which weighed 3-12, came on the same homemade lure Dieffenbauch used to grab the Day 1 lead. After it helped him maintain the pole position on Day 2, he was willing to share details.

“It’s a bladed jig,” said Dieffenbauch, 33. “It has a different sound and it vibrates just a little bit different than everything else ... I’ve caught fish on it everywhere. I’ve made money on the Potomac on it, and I’ve made money back home on it.”

He’s already guaranteed a check on Pickwick Lake. So, the big question is can he bring home the Bryan Kerchal Memorial Trophy that goes to the winner?

“I wasn’t thinking about it until I got up on stage today, and then it hit me a little bit,” Dieffenbauch said. “I’m trying not to think about all of it.”

He was, however, thinking ahead. Only minutes after weighing his Day 2 bass, Dieffenbauch was driving to a nearby tackle shop to pick up a topwater lure he plans to try in Friday’s final round. A light, but steady, rain is expected to begin Thursday evening and drive temperatures down.

“Things might change, so I’m trying to figure out what else I need to have rigged up and ready to go,” he said.

Will Davis Jr. of Sylacauga, Ala., is in second place with 26-12 overall, and he too is curious how the expected weather change might alter his catch. The 30-year-old weighed 12-15 on Thursday after bagging 13-13 on Day 1.

“I worked all day to catch five of them today,” Davis said. “The best fishing is coming, but it’s tough right now. If I can get five more tomorrow like I had today, I’ll be tickled pink.”

Davis is in familiar territory. He’s fishing the tailrace near Wilson Dam and doesn’t expect that much to change on Championship Friday.

“That’s what we do on the Coosa River,” he said. “I grew up fishing this way ... I feel very comfortable with what I’m doing. This is in my wheelhouse.”

Tim Talento of Meriden, Conn., is in third place with 24-1 and is excited about his prospects.

“I almost chest-bumped (my nonboater) off the back of the boat,” Talento said, laughing. “It’s been a struggle, but I made some right decisions today. I only had four fish, but I’m hoping the honey hole I have produces one more time.”

The Top 10 boaters advanced to Friday’s final. Joining Dieffenbauch, Davis and Talento on the water will be, fourth, Pennsylvania’s Jonathan Dietz, 22-13; fifth, Texas’ Kris Bosley, 19-13; sixth, Indiana’s Nick Uebelhor, 18-2; seventh, Missouri’s Cole Findley, 16-6; eighth, New York’s Brad Brodnicki, 15-15; ninth, Texas’ Brian Jones, 15-13; and 10th, Tennessee’s Joe Johnson, 15-12.

Also making the cut from the boater field are California’s Kenneth Cleveland (12th place, 13-0), Idaho’s Keegan Graves (14th place, 12-13), and Ohio’s Eddie Levin (21st place, 9-9). That trio qualified by placing among the Top 2 boaters from their respective B.A.S.S. Nation region. Cleveland and Graves competed in the Western Regional and Levin in the Northern Regional.

Pheerayout See of Rochester, Minn., won the nonboater division on Thursday with a two-day total of five bass weighing 14-10. He collected a $10,000 cash prize and the Louis “Pee Wee” Powers Memorial Trophy with the win.

As the nonboater champ, he also earned a spot in Friday’s final round. In all, 14 anglers will compete for the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship trophy. A total of 58 boaters and 56 nonboaters started in the event.

Doug Thompson of Mabelvale, Ark., maintained the lead for the $1,000 Big Bass Award with the 4-15 he caught on Day 1. Colten Didion of Mount Vernon, Ohio, won $500 for having the heaviest bass (5-8) among nonboaters.

Friday’s championship round will begin at McFarland Park at 6 a.m. CT. Weigh-in is scheduled for 2 p.m. Follow all the action on Bassmaster.com.

2022 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship 11/9-11/11
Pickwick Lake, Florence AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1. Wil Dieffenbauch Morgantown, WV 10 29-06 0
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 14-02
2. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 10 26-12 0
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 12-15
3. Tim Talento Meriden, CT 9 24-01 0
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 4 11-02
4. Jonathan Dietz Corry, PA 9 22-13 0
Day 1: 4 11-08 Day 2: 5 11-05
5. Kris Bosley Amarillo, TX 7 19-13 0
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 2 06-09
6. Nick Uebelhor Jasper, IN 7 18-02 0
Day 1: 4 11-00 Day 2: 3 07-02
7. Cole Findley Forsyth, MO 7 16-06 0
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 4 09-13
8. Brad Brodnicki Buffalo, NY 6 15-15 0
Day 1: 2 03-12 Day 2: 4 12-03
9. Brian Jones Conroe, TX 8 15-13 0
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 3 07-05
10. Joe Johnson Clarksville, TN 7 15-12 0
Day 1: 2 04-15 Day 2: 5 10-13
11. Mike Wolfenden Warwick, RI 5 14-08 0
Day 1: 4 12-14 Day 2: 1 01-10
12. Kenneth Cleveland Bakersfield, CA 5 13-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 13-00
13. Timothy Dube Nashua , NH 5 13-00 0
Day 1: 1 04-13 Day 2: 4 08-03
14. Keegan Graves Meridian, ID 6 12-13 0
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 3 06-10
15. Amos Dixon Camden Wyoming, DE 5 12-12 0
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 2 06-09
16. Michael Boggs II Wheelersburg, OH 5 12-10 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 12-10
17. Brent Tullis Tyrone, GA 5 11-13 0
Day 1: 1 02-10 Day 2: 4 09-03
18. Aaron Orsi Millbury, MA 4 11-04 0
Day 1: 2 05-01 Day 2: 2 06-03
19. Thomas Waltz St. Albans, VT 4 10-14 0
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 3 08-06
20. JJ Gibbs IV Lake Havasu City, AZ 4 10-12 0
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 3 08-04
21. Eddie Levin Westerville, OH 4 09-09 0
Day 1: 1 02-10 Day 2: 3 06-15
22. Justy Varkevisser Johannesburg Gauteng SO 4 09-01 0
Day 1: 1 03-07 Day 2: 3 05-10
23. Tanner Bock Davenport, IA 4 08-13 0
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 1 02-07
24. Tim Carmouche Gonzales, LA 4 08-10 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 3 06-12
25. Matt Judy Moncks Corner, SC 4 08-07 0
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 3 06-05
26. Doug Thompson Mabelvale, AR 2 08-04 0
Day 1: 2 08-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
27. Paul Gietka Abingdon, MD 4 08-04 0
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 3 06-03
28. Jared Miller Norman, OK 3 07-02 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 2 05-04
29. Jurgen Geiger Windhoek Namibia NAMIBI 2 07-01 0
Day 1: 1 03-11 Day 2: 1 03-06
30. Dave Turner Citrus Springs, FL 2 07-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 07-00
31. Brent Shores Boise, ID 3 06-15 0
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 2 04-06
32. Jeremy Montgomery Overland Park, KS 2 06-14 0
Day 1: 2 06-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
33. Jared Knuth Wahoo, NE 2 06-10 0
Day 1: 2 06-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
34. Marco Burighel Pianiga VE ITALY 3 06-07 0
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
35. Monty Fralick Martin, SD 3 05-12 0
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 1 01-14
36. Conor Cahill North East, MD 2 05-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 1 03-09
37. Danny McGarry Newcastle CANADA 2 05-01 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 1 03-05
38. David Winters Rock Hill, SC 2 05-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 05-00
39. Frankie Mueller Kingman, AZ 2 04-11 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 1 02-11
40. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 2 04-04 0
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 1 01-15
41. Ramsey Romanin Wolcott, CO 2 04-01 0
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
42. Pete Saele New Lenox, IL 1 03-12 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-12
43. Nicholas Holt Ellsworth, ME 2 03-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 1 02-01
44. Matt Martin Brookhaven, MS 2 03-08 0
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
45. Nuno Cesar Montemor-o-novo PORTUGA 1 03-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-00
46. Kurt Glass Grovetown, GA 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-10
47. Frank Scarla Amity, OR 1 02-09 0
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
48. Brandon Pedigo Lawton, OK 1 02-06 0
Day 1: 1 02-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
49. Chris Fredrick Marshfield, WI 1 02-05 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-05
49. Dan Mundy Swartz Creek, MI 1 02-05 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-05
51. Jorge Barraza Col Juan de Dios Batiz 1 02-04 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-04
52. Kentaro Yamada Osaka JAPAN 1 02-03 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-03
53. Barry Launder Harare Chisipt ZIMBABWE 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
54. James Graves III Syria, VA 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
55. Justin Campbell Pasco, WA 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
56. Ruben Burgos Yecora Agoncillo SPAIN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
56. Steve Lee Minneapolis, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
56. Joel Leiser Kalispell, MT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 5 92 230-14
2 6 110 277-01
----------------------------------
11 202 507-15

2022 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship 11/9-11/11
Pickwick Lake, Florence AL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1. Pheerayout See Rochester, MN 5 14-10 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 2 06-03 Day 2: 3 08-07
2. David Eades Lexington, KY 5 10-09 0 $7,500.00
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 4 08-14
3. Tim Meeks Elk Grove, CA 4 10-08 0 $5,000.00
Day 1: 1 02-10 Day 2: 3 07-14
4. Grant Aumiller Trout Creek, MT 4 09-10 0 $2,500.00
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 2 06-03
5. Colton Haney Baldwin, WI 3 08-03 0 $2,000.00
Day 1: 1 02-12 Day 2: 2 05-07
6. Luis Jimenez Calahorra SPAIN 3 07-13 0 $1,500.00
Day 1: 1 02-10 Day 2: 2 05-03
7. JT Fitzgerald Lincoln, DE 3 06-12 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 1 02-12
8. Tom Leblanc Jr Omaha, NE 2 06-08 0 $500.00
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 1 04-00
9. Johnny Clark Northport, AL 3 06-05 0 $500.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-05
10. David Porter Rockwall, TX 2 06-05 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 06-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
11. Darren Wilson Las Vegas, NV 3 06-01 0 $250.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-01
12. Jon Pollock Lakewood, CO 2 06-01 0 $250.00
Day 1: 1 03-08 Day 2: 1 02-09
13. Dwight Minogue Benton, LA 3 05-15 0
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 1 02-10
14. JJ Dickens Beaver, WV 5 05-12 0
Day 1: 2 05-12 Day 2: 3 00-00
15. Colten Didion Mount Vernon, OH 1 05-08 0 $500.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 05-08
16. David Bertsch Harrison, ID 1 05-04 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 05-04
17. Ray Cates Overland Park, KS 2 05-02 0
Day 1: 2 05-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
18. Michael Smith Laurel Hill, FL 2 04-13 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-13
19. Jacob Zaremski Rochester, NY 2 04-08 0
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 1 02-00
20. Scott McNeely Acworth , GA 2 04-06 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 1 02-14
21. Terry Wilson Carlsbad, NM 2 03-15 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-15
22. Kenji Suzuki Aichi JAPAN 2 03-07 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 1 01-15
23. Bailey Madere Madisonville, LA 1 03-03 0
Day 1: 1 03-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
24. Eric Frazier Newport, VA 1 02-13 0
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
25. Nigel Dalton West Haven, UT 1 02-12 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-12
25. Josh Giran Elizabeth, PA 1 02-12 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-12
27. Keith Thompson Mooresville, NC 1 02-11 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-11
28. Peter Owen Barnstead, NH 1 02-08 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-08
29. Brandon Logue Greenwood, NE 1 02-07 0
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
30. Tristan Pierce Hollister, MO 1 02-05 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-05
31. James Hollingshead Clarkston, WA 1 02-04 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-04
32. Jacob Bull Seymour, TN 1 02-03 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-03
33. Hieu Nguyen Stillwater, OK 1 02-02 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-02
34. Anthony Dulac Harpswell, ME 1 02-01 0
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
35. Jonathan Lee Honea Path, SC 1 01-15 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-15
36. Kristopher Gaertner Morris, IL 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
37. Lanny Dooley Mountain Home, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
37. Neil Engelbrecht Windhoek Khomas NAMIBIA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
37. Matthew Furtado Attleboro, MA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
37. Matt Goltz Monona, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
37. Francesco Guazzi Modena ITALY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
37. Eric Hammer Peoria, AZ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
37. Tyler Hatfield Augusta, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
37. Devin Hines West Haven, CT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
37. Brian Marino Vineland, NJ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
37. Lewis Mendall Winthrop, MA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
37. Jesus Morales Apodaca Nuevo Leon MEX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
37. Andrew Nienaber Cape Town Western Cape 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
37. Terry Peterson West Jordan, UT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
37. Paulo Ramos STA-Clara PORTUGAL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
37. Tracy Rich North Bay CANADA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
37. Ricky Schlauch Chester, MD 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
37. Garrett Sicely Albany, VT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
37. Dustin Sortor Lafayette, OR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
37. Fraser Speirs Harare ZIMBABWE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
37. Jeff Wehner Fishers, IN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 0 28 67-11
2 0 47 114-02
----------------------------------
0 75 181-13

by AnglersChannel

“Fast Track Your Learning Curve” As A 2023 Bassmaster Marshal

Jake-Whitaker-Marshal-Andy_Crawford.jpg
Bassmaster marshal Bart Stanisz gets a front-row seat to the action as Elite angler Jake Whitaker hooks up on Florida's Harris Chain of Lakes. 

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

November 10, 2022

“Fast Track Your Learning Curve” As A 2023 Bassmaster Marshal

Marshal_4C.pngBIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Bass fishing enthusiasts who want to learn from the world’s best anglers can register for the Bassmaster Marshal Program starting Nov. 29. Not only will marshals learn tips for breaking down a fishery, but AFTCO will be rewarding marshals with apparel, gear, a gift card and other items with a total value of $75, plus a 20% off coupon for future purchases, while those who serve as marshals for more than three events will receive a $100 AFTCO gift card.

“If there is anything that is ever consistent about bass fishing, it's that there is always more to learn, more things to tweak and more things to try,” said multiple-time marshal and tournament angler Bart Stanisz of Wichita Falls, Texas. “Everyone knows the best way to learn is through experience and extensive time on the water. However, if you wanted to really fast track your learning curve, I can't think of a better way than taking part in the Elite Series Marshal program.”

Registration opens for B.A.S.S Nation and Life members beginning Nov. 29 and opens Dec. 1 for all B.A.S.S. members. All registration slots will open at 9 a.m. CT. To register, visit Bassmaster.com or call (877) BASS-USA.

Marshals join different Elite anglers to spend two to three days on the water. Marshals are not allowed to fish, but they are encouraged to take photos, send blog posts to Bassmaster.com and serve as an extra set of eyes for B.A.S.S. tournament officials and the Bassmaster LIVE crew, who frequently reach out to marshals for updates. Additionally, marshals operate the digital BassTrakk scoring system that enables fans to follow the action in real time.

“I got my start with B.A.S.S. working side by side with many of the marshals, and there are so many good stories that are told from their perspective,” said Bassmaster LIVE co-host Ronnie Moore. “Through Skype, photos and short video clips, they give the Bassmaster LIVE crew a look into every boat, (whereas) we may only have cameras or access in 10 boats.”

What does Stansiz love the most about serving as a marshal?

“Being there — in the boat, in the moment — and having an opportunity to ask questions and pick their brain about why they are doing things a certain way is what makes this program an invaluable tool,” he explained. “It's an amazing opportunity for those who want to learn not just the broad strokes of bass fishing, but also the intangibles that you just can't see on TV. Not to mention that it's an insanely cool experience.”

Marshal spots are available for just $99. Every marshal is guaranteed to be on the water for the first two competition days. As the Elite Series field is cut throughout the weekend leading up to Championship Sunday, marshals are chosen for additional competition days based on how early they register for the event as well as their video, blogging and photography in the preliminary rounds.

Learn more about the Elite Series Marshal program and register at Bassmaster.com.

2023 Bassmaster Elite Series Schedule
Feb. 16-19, Okeechobee, Fla., Lake Okeechobee
Feb. 23-26, Bainbridge, Ga., Lake Seminole
April 20-23, Columbia, S.C., Lake Murray
April 27-30, Clarendon County, S.C., Santee Cooper Lakes
May 11-14, Shelby County, Ala., Lay Lake
June 1-4, Orange, Texas, Sabine River
July 27-30, Macomb County, Mich., Lake St. Clair
Aug. 17-20, Plattsburgh, N.Y., Lake Champlain
Aug. 24-27, Clayton, N.Y., St. Lawrence River

by AnglersChannel

Can you Hear me Now?

 

This Week Chris gets a head start on things and welcomes in future MLF Superstar Laker Howell to the program for an impromtu interview. KG and David join in as the boys discuss more MLF Business and try to get Toyota Series Champ Kyle Hall on the show. Try is the optimal word here..... Stay Tuned...

by AnglersChannel

Dieffenbauch Takes Early Lead At B.A.S.S. Nation Championship On Pickwick Lake

Wil Dieffenbauch of Morgantown, W.Va.., is leading after Day 1 of the 2022 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Pickwick Lake with 15 pounds, 4 ounces.
Photo by Chase Sansom/B.A.S.S.
November 9, 2022

Dieffenbauch Takes Early Lead At B.A.S.S. Nation Championship On Pickwick Lake

FLORENCE, Ala. — Wil Dieffenbauch was the second-to-last boater to weigh in on Day 1 of the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, but he’s first on the leaderboard.

Dieffenbauch, 33, of Morgantown, W.Va., caught a five-bass limit weighing 15 pounds, 4 ounces to seize the early lead in this three-day event in northeast Alabama.

Not that Dieffenbauch’s day started with a bang. He went to what he thought was his best spot as soon as he took off Wednesday morning, but with his late draw, two boats were already positioned there. Dieffenbauch tooled around the same general area for two hours with little production before deciding to scrap the spot and look for something better.

It was a wise move.

“I stayed shallow in a 3-mile section of water,” he said. “There was a good amount of wind blowing today which helped me and there’s bait everywhere, at least where I am.”

Dieffenbauch said he caught his best bass on a lure he makes. That was the only detail he was sharing for the time being, though.

“I’ve been making it for a long time, and it’s taken me a long time to perfect it,” he said.

While many of the 100-plus competing anglers struggled mightily on Pickwick, Dieffenbauch said a 2-foot drop in water overnight didn’t affect his bite. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is pulling water on Pickwick currently to get the 47,500-acre impoundment down to winter pool.

“I didn’t even notice a difference, really,” Dieffenbauch said. “I actually saw more shad popping today than I did in practice.”

Will Davis Jr. of Sylacauga, Ala., held the lead for most of the afternoon but dropped to second after Dieffenbauch charged from behind in the waning minutes of the weigh-in. Davis, 30, weighed a 13-13 limit with his two biggest bass coming later in the afternoon on a Davis Bait Company Shaky Fish — a lure his family makes.

“I only had three fish at 1:20 (p.m.), but then I pulled into a different area and caught those two big ones,” he said. “One weighed 3-14 and the other was a largemouth that was a 3 1/2-pounder.

“It was just a lot of different things today,” Davis continued, noting that two earlier keepers came on a spinnerbait and another on a swim jig. “You have to keep the faith and keep on grinding. Today’s a day when you could easily spin out (mentally).”

Kris Bosley of Amarillo, Texas, certainly is within striking distance, ending Day 1 in third place among boaters with a 13-4 limit.

“I had five keepers today on five keeper bites using five different baits,” Bosley said. “It was typical fall fishing. You just have to fish what’s in front of you; cover water. I’ve got two large areas and I’m just picking everything I can apart. There’s not a lot of cover, but I’m fishing riprap, grass, a channel ledge ... being around bait is the whole key.”

Tim Talento of Meriden, Conn., is in fourth place after catching a limit that weighed 12-15. He used a myriad of baits but said his catches came “running across fish” rather than a particular pattern. He’s targeting largemouth, saying his smallmouth bite was too sporadic in practice.

“It’s a real grind out there,” Talento said. “I must have made 10,000 casts and I covered a lot of water. I have a couple of small spots that have been producing, and I lost a couple key fish today that would have really helped me out.”

Doug Thompson, of Mabelvale, Ark., caught a 4-15 to grab the early lead for the Big Bass Award and the $1,000 cash prize that goes with it.

The Top 3 anglers in the tournament will qualify for the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic scheduled for March 24-26 on the Tennessee River in Knoxville, Tenn. The overall winner on Pickwick also will earn an invitation to fish the Bassmaster Elite Series for 2023 and the use of a fully-rigged Nation’s Best boat for the year.

A total of 58 pros and 56 nonboaters are competing in the event. Only five boaters caught limits on Wednesday and no nonboaters caught a three-bass limit.

David Porter, of Rockwall, Texas, caught two bass and leads all nonboaters with a 6-5 total. Pheerayout See of Rochester, Minn., is second with 6-3 and JJ Dickens of Beaver, W.Va., is third with 5-12.

Porter is in the lead for the $500 Big Bass among nonboaters with a 4-6.

The Top 12 anglers in both divisions will claim cash prizes, with $20,000 cash going to the top boater and $10,000 to the leading nonboater.

The full field will compete again Thursday, with the nonboater champion being crowned after the Day 2 weigh-in. The Top 10 boaters will advance to Day 3, as will the two leading boaters from each of the five B.A.S.S. Nation regions (if not already in the Top 10), the nonboater champion and any nonboaters that have enough weight to be among the Top 10 boaters overall.

Day 2 competition will begin Thursday at McFarland Park at 6 a.m. CT. Weigh-in is scheduled for 2 p.m. Follow all the action on Bassmaster.com.

2022 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship 11/9-11/11
Pickwick Lake, Florence AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1. Wil Dieffenbauch Morgantown, WV 5 15-04 0
Day 1: 5 15-04
2. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 5 13-13 0
Day 1: 5 13-13
3. Kris Bosley Amarillo, TX 5 13-04 0
Day 1: 5 13-04
4. Tim Talento Meriden, CT 5 12-15 0
Day 1: 5 12-15
5. Mike Wolfenden Warwick, RI 4 12-14 0
Day 1: 4 12-14
6. Jonathan Dietz Corry, PA 4 11-08 0
Day 1: 4 11-08
7. Nick Uebelhor Jasper, IN 4 11-00 0
Day 1: 4 11-00
8. Brian Jones Conroe, TX 5 08-08 0
Day 1: 5 08-08
9. Doug Thompson Mabelvale, AR 2 08-04 0
Day 1: 2 08-04
10. Jeremy Montgomery Overland Park, KS 2 06-14 0
Day 1: 2 06-14
11. Jared Knuth Wahoo, NE 2 06-10 0
Day 1: 2 06-10
12. Cole Findley Forsyth, MO 3 06-09 0
Day 1: 3 06-09
13. Marco Burighel Pianiga VE ITALY 3 06-07 0
Day 1: 3 06-07
14. Tanner Bock Davenport, IA 3 06-06 0
Day 1: 3 06-06
15. Amos Dixon Camden Wyoming, DE 3 06-03 0
Day 1: 3 06-03
15. Keegan Graves Meridian, ID 3 06-03 0
Day 1: 3 06-03
17. Aaron Orsi Millbury, MA 2 05-01 0
Day 1: 2 05-01
18. Joe Johnson Clarksville, TN 2 04-15 0
Day 1: 2 04-15
19. Timothy Dube Nashua , NH 1 04-13 0
Day 1: 1 04-13
20. Ramsey Romanin Wolcott, CO 2 04-01 0
Day 1: 2 04-01
21. Monty Fralick Martin, SD 2 03-14 0
Day 1: 2 03-14
22. Brad Brodnicki Buffalo, NY 2 03-12 0
Day 1: 2 03-12
23. Jurgen Geiger Windhoek Namibia NAMIBI 1 03-11 0
Day 1: 1 03-11
24. Matt Martin Brookhaven, MS 2 03-08 0
Day 1: 2 03-08
25. Justy Varkevisser Johannesburg Gauteng SO 1 03-07 0
Day 1: 1 03-07
26. Eddie Levin Westerville, OH 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10
26. Brent Tullis Tyrone, GA 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10
28. Frank Scarla Amity, OR 1 02-09 0
Day 1: 1 02-09
28. Brent Shores Boise, ID 1 02-09 0
Day 1: 1 02-09
30. JJ Gibbs IV Lake Havasu City, AZ 1 02-08 0
Day 1: 1 02-08
30. Thomas Waltz St. Albans, VT 1 02-08 0
Day 1: 1 02-08
32. Brandon Pedigo Lawton, OK 1 02-06 0
Day 1: 1 02-06
33. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 1 02-05 0
Day 1: 1 02-05
34. Matt Judy Moncks Corner, SC 1 02-02 0
Day 1: 1 02-02
35. Conor Cahill North East, MD 1 02-01 0
Day 1: 1 02-01
35. Paul Gietka Abingdon, MD 1 02-01 0
Day 1: 1 02-01
37. Barry Launder Harare Chisipt ZIMBABWE 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00
37. Frankie Mueller Kingman, AZ 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00
39. Tim Carmouche Gonzales, LA 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
39. James Graves III Syria, VA 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
39. Jared Miller Norman, OK 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
42. Justin Campbell Pasco, WA 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12
42. Danny McGarry Newcastle CANADA 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12
44. Nicholas Holt Ellsworth, ME 1 01-11 0
Day 1: 1 01-11
45. Jorge Barraza Col Juan de Dios Batiz 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
45. Michael Boggs II Wheelersburg, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
45. Ruben Burgos Yecora Agoncillo SPAIN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
45. Nuno Cesar Montemor-o-novo PORTUGA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
45. Kenneth Cleveland Bakersfield, CA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
45. Chris Fredrick Marshfield, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
45. Kurt Glass Grovetown, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
45. Steve Lee Minneapolis, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
45. Joel Leiser Kalispell, MT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
45. Dan Mundy Swartz Creek, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
45. Pete Saele New Lenox, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
45. Dave Turner Citrus Springs, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
45. David Winters Rock Hill, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
45. Kentaro Yamada Osaka JAPAN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 5 92 230-14
----------------------------------
5 92 230-14

2022 TNT TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship 11/9-11/11
Pickwick Lake, Florence AL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1. David Porter Rockwall, TX 2 06-05 0
Day 1: 2 06-05
2. Pheerayout See Rochester, MN 2 06-03 0
Day 1: 2 06-03
3. JJ Dickens Beaver, WV 2 05-12 0
Day 1: 2 05-12
4. Ray Cates Overland Park, KS 2 05-02 0
Day 1: 2 05-02
5. JT Fitzgerald Lincoln, DE 2 04-00 0
Day 1: 2 04-00
6. Jon Pollock Lakewood, CO 1 03-08 0
Day 1: 1 03-08
7. Grant Aumiller Trout Creek, MT 2 03-07 0
Day 1: 2 03-07
8. Dwight Minogue Benton, LA 2 03-05 0
Day 1: 2 03-05
9. Bailey Madere Madisonville, LA 1 03-03 0
Day 1: 1 03-03
10. Eric Frazier Newport, VA 1 02-13 0
Day 1: 1 02-13
11. Colton Haney Baldwin, WI 1 02-12 0
Day 1: 1 02-12
12. Luis Jimenez Calahorra SPAIN 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10
12. Tim Meeks Elk Grove, CA 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10
14. Tom Leblanc Jr Omaha, NE 1 02-08 0
Day 1: 1 02-08
14. Jacob Zaremski Rochester, NY 1 02-08 0
Day 1: 1 02-08
16. Brandon Logue Greenwood, NE 1 02-07 0
Day 1: 1 02-07
17. Anthony Dulac Harpswell, ME 1 02-01 0
Day 1: 1 02-01
18. Kristopher Gaertner Morris, IL 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
19. David Eades Lexington, KY 1 01-11 0
Day 1: 1 01-11
20. Scott McNeely Acworth , GA 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-08
20. Kenji Suzuki Aichi JAPAN 1 01-08 0
Day 1: 1 01-08
22. David Bertsch Harrison, ID 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Jacob Bull Seymour, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Johnny Clark Northport, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Nigel Dalton West Haven, UT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Colten Didion Mount Vernon, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Lanny Dooley Mountain Home, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Neil Engelbrecht Windhoek Khomas NAMIBIA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Matthew Furtado Attleboro, MA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Josh Giran Elizabeth, PA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Matt Goltz Monona, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Francesco Guazzi Modena ITALY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Eric Hammer Peoria, AZ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Tyler Hatfield Augusta, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Devin Hines West Haven, CT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. James Hollingshead Clarkston, WA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Jonathan Lee Honea Path, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Brian Marino Vineland, NJ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Lewis Mendall Winthrop, MA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Jesus Morales Apodaca Nuevo Leon MEX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Hieu Nguyen Stillwater, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Andrew Nienaber Cape Town Western Cape 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Peter Owen Barnstead, NH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Terry Peterson West Jordan, UT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Tristan Pierce Hollister, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Paulo Ramos STA-Clara PORTUGAL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Tracy Rich North Bay CANADA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Ricky Schlauch Chester, MD 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Garrett Sicely Albany, VT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Michael Smith Laurel Hill, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Dustin Sortor Lafayette, OR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Fraser Speirs Harare ZIMBABWE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Keith Thompson Mooresville, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Jeff Wehner Fishers, IN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Darren Wilson Las Vegas, NV 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
22. Terry Wilson Carlsbad, NM 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 0 28 67-11
----------------------------------
0 28 67-11

by AnglersChannel

Major League Fishing Announces Organizational Changes

BENTON, Ky. (Nov. 9, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today organizational changes along with multiple promotions in leadership and tournament staff to align the business with future goals.

Major League Fishing’s headquarters will relocate from Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Benton, Kentucky. With the majority of tournament operations staff and equipment already residing in Benton, this transition helps streamline logistics and operations for the more than 250 events directly operated and sanctioned annually. Tulsa-based employees will continue to work remotely for MLF, as they have been since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jim Wilburn has stepped down as President and CEO and is moving into a semi-retirement role with Major League Fishing. Jim will remain with the company as President of Sales, where he will oversee select sponsorship accounts and remain as the leader of the MLF Sales team.

“I’ve been mentioning for two or three years that I wanted to cut back my hours. I will be 70 next month and moving into semi-retirement will give me the opportunity to work less and enjoy life more,” Wilburn said.

Wilburn, the driving force behind MLF, is a native Tulsan. In 1981 he founded Winnercomm, an incredibly successful sports production company. With Wilburn as President, Winnercomm went on to win 13 Emmy Awards and two Eclipse Awards. In 2009, Wilburn sold Winnercomm and Sky Cam to the Outdoor Sportsman’s Group, and Winnercomm continues to thrive to this day.

“After a little health scare earlier this summer, I realized I needed to be working less than 70 to 80 hours per week,” Wilburn added, as he will be reducing his sponsor roster from over 60 accounts to 20. “This is a great opportunity for me to turn over the day-to-day reins yet still be involved with the sales and strategy, and also spend much more quality time with my family.

“I’m so grateful for the people who I’ve worked with, who have worked for us, and our sponsors, partners and friends who continue to believe in our mission,” Wilburn went on to say. “I’m not going anywhere, I’m just cutting back, and I can’t wait to see how our team continues to grow the sport of bass fishing.”

Don Rucks will step down as MLF Executive Vice President & General Manager at the end of the year. Rucks will remain active with the company as an Executive Advisor.

Rucks, 71, has been a visionary in the sport of professional bass fishing since 2004 and a leader of MLF since the organization’s inception in 2010. Prior to that, Rucks worked as a marketing consultant in the outdoors industry and was the Vice President and General Manager of B.A.S.S. for 2 years. Previous to his work in the outdoors, Don was a lead marketing strategist and brand development manager for 14 years with Citgo Petroleum.

“MLF is perfectly positioned for continued great success,” Rucks said. “I am confident that we have the right pieces in place to enable MLF to continue leading the sport with game-changing innovations.”

Boyd Duckett, co-founder of Major League Fishing, will move into the role of President and CEO of Major League Fishing, including all tournament operations and support staff.

Kathy Fennel has been promoted to Executive Vice President and General Manager of Major League Fishing. Fennel will oversee all day-to-day operations of the entire organization, including all MLF circuits – the Bass Pro Tour, General Tire Team Series, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series, Phoenix Bass Fishing League, Abu Garcia College Fishing and MLF High School Fishing.

Daniel Fennel has been promoted to MLF Senior Tournament Director of the Bass Pro Tour, which will also include REDCREST, General Tire Heavy Hitters and the General Tire Team Series. Fennel will lead all tournament operations for MLF’s highest-level tournament series.

Kevin Hunt has been promoted to MLF Senior Tournament Director of the new Tackle Warehouse Invitationals. In his new role, Hunt will lead tournament operations for the six Invitationals while continuing to direct the Abu Garcia College Fishing and MLF High School Fishing circuits.

Michael Mulone is now the MLF Vice President of Marketing and Business Development. He will oversee all MLF marketing, communications, licensing, events and hospitality.

The remaining parts of the MLF executive staff will remain intact. Dave Washburn, Vice President of Operations, Randy White, Vice President of Broadcast Production, Joel Shangle, Vice President Digital Media & Editor-in-Chief, Randy Gerstenblatt, Senior Vice President of Sponsorship & Media Sales, Chris Bork, Vice President of Sponsorship & Sales Development, and Jake Wittkop, Vice President of Sponsorship & Sales Development.

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

by AnglersChannel

2023 Bassmaster High School And Junior Schedule Will Test Young Anglers On Familiar Fisheries

The 2023 Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors and the Bassmaster Junior Series will offer talented young anglers from across the country an opportunity to compete for a National Championship.

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

November 9, 2022

2023 Bassmaster High School And Junior Schedule Will Test Young Anglers On Familiar Fisheries

 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Today, B.A.S.S. officials unveiled the Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors and Bassmaster Junior Series 2023 schedule, which will give young anglers from across the country an opportunity to compete on challenging and fun fisheries next spring to qualify for a chance at a berth in the prestigious National Championship tournament.

 

The Bassmaster High School Series will include four regular-season events. The one-day tournaments will be Jan. 29 on the Harris Chain of Lakes, Feb. 25 on Lay Lake, April 15 on Chickamauga Lake and May 7 on the Red River.

 

“We’re really pleased with this schedule,” said Glenn Cale, tournament director for B.A.S.S.’s High School and Junior Series. “It is fun for both the anglers and their families to explore some of the country’s most historic fisheries and the communities surrounding them. These waters have hosted more than 45 major B.A.S.S. events, including six Bassmaster Classics, and countless other tournaments! Our anglers might be young, but there’s a good chance that they’ll do battle on these lakes for the rest of their competitive careers.”

 

When the High School and Junior Series kicks off on Florida’s Harris Chain, they will be hoping for the same eye-popping catches enjoyed in 2022. Bryce Balentine and Dalton Loos of the Central Florida Youth Anglers won the Bassmaster High School tournament with a limit of 25 pounds, 6 ounces.

Late February on Alabama’s Lay Lake will prove more challenging, but anglers will still have options to fish for fat prespawn spotted bass or make a run to fish tailrace conditions below the Logan Martin Dam.

 

“We are so excited to welcome the Bassmaster High School series back to Shelby County in 2023,” said Kendall Williams, manager of tourism and events for Shelby County. “Lay Lake offers some of the best bass fishing in the country, and hosting events like this reminds us how fortunate we are to have this resource in our backyard. It is rewarding to see the community of support that has grown for fishing tournaments. Our local restaurants, stores and other businesses are ready to welcome student anglers and their families! We look forward to having new families discover Shelby and all we have to offer.”

 

The High School and Junior tournaments are not the only 2023 events Shelby County will host. The Bassmaster Elite Series visits Lay Lake in May, while the Strike King Bassmaster College Series Wild Card presented by Bass Pro Shops will be held there in June.

 

A mid-April tournament on Chickamauga Lake mimics the timing of the 2022 Bassmaster Elite event, which saw conditions on the Tennessee River fishery run the gamut between highs in the 70s and frigid days with snow. Hawaiian rookie Matty Wong earned VMC Monster Bag of the Week honors with a 25-13 limit.

 

The High School and Junior Series regular season wraps on Louisiana’s challenging Red River, a fishery sure to test these young anglers’ versatility.

 

Field size will again be capped at 250 boats for high school. Each high school event will also include a field of up to 50 boats for competitors ranging from second to eighth grade as part of the Bassmaster Junior Series. The standard format is for all Junior Series competitors to weigh in first, with the champions being crowned before the High School Series weigh-in begins.

 

“When you consider that we’ve had to cap the field size to keep the tournaments from being too big, that tells you all you need to know about the popularity of fishing at the high school level,” said Cale.

 

Since B.A.S.S. started these circuits in 2013, there has been an astounding 724% increase in the number of clubs and schools competing.

 

Online registration for the High School Series will open Dec. 8, while Junior Series registration opens Dec. 13. For more information, visit Bassmaster.com.

 

2023 Bassmaster High School & Junior Series Schedule
January 29, Harris Chain of Lakes, Leesburg, Fla.

February 25, Lay Lake, Shelby County, Ala.

April 15, Chickamauga Lake, Dayton, Tenn.

May 7, Red River, Natchitoches, La.

by AnglersChannel

Byrd builds Corollas and custom crankbaits

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships

 

Mississippi angler Roy Byrd has never painted cars, but he’s had a serious hand in the assembly of thousands of quality Toyota vehicles as a dedicated manufacturing plant employee the past 25 years at Toyota facilities in both Kentucky and now Northern Mississippi.

But when Byrd’s not working for Toyota, he’s either supporting his sons’ sporting events or custom painting crankbaits, like the one his fellow employees Greg Haddix and Kevin Willoughby used to win last year’s Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners event on Table Rock.

Byrd works each day to make sure parts make their way from trusted vendors to the plant, and ultimately on to the assembly line that produces roughly 700 Toyota Corollas a day, thanks to 2,753 American workers at the plant in Blue Springs.

At home however, the assembly line at Byrd Custom Baits typically involves a staff of just three that includes his wife of 23 years, Tonya and their son Mason, who’s as good with an airbrush as dad.

Together, for last month’s Bonus Bucks tournament, they painted 750 identical Byrd Baits so that every single participant received one as a gift in the color “old school shad” to match the winning lure from the previous year’s event, a Byrd 1.5 Deep Diver that reaches depths of 8-feet.

“I joked that we’d never paint another ‘old school shad’ colored bait the rest of our lives after painting all those,” grins Byrd. “But seriously, the satisfaction of seeing the lures we made being gifted to all those Toyota owners at Table Rock was pretty darn special,” says Byrd, who also makes duck and turkey calls.

The 49-year old who grew up in Albany, Kentucky near famed Dale Hollow Reservoir is the product of a family who has hunting and fishing in their DNA, so it’s no surprise Byrd’s made the outdoors a huge part of his life too – including being an officer for bass clubs comprised of Toyota manufacturing plant employees in both Kentucky and Mississippi.

He has no aspirations of turning his paintbrush hobby into a full-fledged business, it’s truly just a hobby, and a way of putting smiles on the faces of a few anglers who pay him to put his custom touch on their favorite baits.

“One of the gentlemen who fished in the Bonus Bucks event at Table Rock last month caught several bass and a walleye on the crankbait we gave everybody as a gift, so he called and asked me to paint him a few more to fish with near home in Alabama. Stories like that are why we do it. It’s mostly for the fun, not the money,” concludes Byrd with a heartfelt smile.

Whether it’s a hands-on role in the quality assembly of 700 Toyota Corollas each day, painting 700 shad colored crankbaits, or just a small handful for a fishing buddy, one thing’s for certain … passion, perfection, and fun are the key ingredients to everything Roy Byrd touches.

To learn more, check them out at Byrd Custom Baits on Facebook, and to sign-up for Toyota Bonus Bucks visit https://www.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com/.

by AnglersChannel

Two Bassmaster Events On Lake Hartwell Reel In Awards For Economic Impact

Each morning, large crowds of fans gathered at legendary Green Pond Landing in Anderson, S.C., to watch takeoff for the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk on Lake Hartwell.  

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

November 9, 2022

Two Bassmaster Events On Lake Hartwell Reel In Awards For Economic Impact

SDM_2022_AwardsLogo.pngBIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk and the 2022 Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors — both held on Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C. — have been recognized as 2022 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism (Mid-Market Division) by Sports Destination Management after generating an economic impact of more than $25.5 million.

“We are so proud to have the positive impact of the iconic Bassmaster Classic recognized again, but also to highlight the incredible draw of our High School National Championship,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson. “B.A.S.S. has always had a fantastic partnership with Visit Anderson, and over the years, Lake Hartwell and Green Pond Landing have hosted Bassmaster events at every level. It’s our hope that through media coverage of our exciting tournaments and by attracting our signature large, enthusiastic crowds to a fishery, every B.A.S.S. tournament can be an economic win for our host cities.”

The 2022 Bassmaster Classic, hosted by Visit Anderson and VisitGreenvilleSC, drew a record-breaking 154,932 fans to Classic week activities atLake Hartwell and various event venues in Greenville. Long considered the most important event in sportfishing, the Bassmaster Classic has also established itself as a huge economic boon for host communities. For the Upstate of South Carolina, the positive economic impact was fueled by more than just the 10,000-plus room nights booked for the event. Fans lined the exterior of the Greenville Convention Center in eager anticipation of the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by Marathon — an outdoor enthusiast’s dream — where exhibitors from around the world were on-site selling a variety of merchandise for fishing, hunting, camping and more.

2022 marked the first time the Bassmaster High School National Championship has been held on Lake Hartwell. Young anglers from 39 states and Ontario, Canada, qualified for the 315-boat field. The tournament accounted for more than 6,100 room nights and had a total economic impact of $1.5 million for Anderson.

“Anderson County relies heavily on Lake Hartwell and Green Pond Landing as an economic driver for our community, and the relationship we share with B.A.S.S. has been critical to our success as a destination for tournament fishing,” said Neil Paul, executive director of Visit Anderson. “We are extremely grateful to be recognized as a Champion in Economic Impact by Sports Destination Management for our part in hosting the record-breaking Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk as well as the Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.”

Sports Destination Management is the leading publication with the largest circulation of sports event planners and tournament directors in the sports tourism market. Their 2022 Champions of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism awards included a variety of sporting events across small, mid and large-markets.

B.A.S.S. was previously honored by the publication in 2018 as a Champion of Innovation in Sports Tourism for the Greenville, S.C., Bassmaster Classic and recognized as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism for the Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville, Tenn., which will host the 2023 Classic. A report from Visit Knoxville found that the 2019 Bassmaster Classic generated more money for the city than even the first weekend of March Madness.

by AnglersChannel

Major League Fishing Announces 2023 Bass Pro Tour Roster

TULSA, Okla. (Nov. 9, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF) today announced the roster for the 2023 Bass Pro Tour, the fifth season of professional bass fishing’s most competitive tournament circuit. The field of 80 of the world’s top bass-fishing professionals will compete across seven fisheries during the Bass Pro Tour regular season for a total purse of more than $7.7 million.

The 2023 Bass Pro Tour roster includes two-time Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) Jacob Wheeler as well as 2020 AOY Jordan Lee, 2019 AOY Edwin Evers, REDCREST II champion Dustin Connell, two-time AOY runner-up Ott DeFoe, and the most decorated angler in the history of professional bass fishing, Kevin VanDam.

The field represents 22 states plus Japan. Alabama has the most competitors with 16, followed by Tennessee with eight and Arkansas with seven. New to the Bass Pro Tour for 2023 are Matt Becker, Josh Butler, Mitch Crane, John Hunter, Nick LeBrun, Spencer Shuffield and Jacob Wall.

Invitations to compete in the MLF Bass Pro Tour are earned by performance in the previous year’s Bass Pro Tour, overall lifetime BPT average and performance in the previous year’s Tackle Warehouse Invitationals.

The 2023 Bass Pro Tour will kick off Feb. 13-18, with Stage One at the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Kissimmee, Florida. The regular season will conclude with the crowning of the Bally Bet Angler of the Year at Stage Seven at Saginaw Bay in Bay City, Michigan, Aug. 1-6.

In addition to millions of dollars in cash prizes, the 2023 Bass Pro Tour anglers are vying for big bass and valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2024 General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST V, the world championship of professional bass fishing. Each stage of the Bass Pro Tour includes six days of competition using the catch, weigh, immediate-release format, and is broadcast live on the Major League Fishing app, MyOutdoorTV (MOTV), and MajorLeagueFishing.com. Fans can also follow the on-the-water action as it unfolds on the live SCORETRACKER® leaderboard.

The 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour will air on the Discovery Channel beginning in July 2023 and the Outdoor Channel in early 2024.
For compete details and up-to-date tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram, and YouTube.

The 80 professional anglers that will compete on the 2023 Bass Pro Tour are:

  • Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C.
  • Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J.
  • *Matt Becker, Finleyville, Pa.
  • Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz.
  • Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla.
  • Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla.
  • Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark.
  • *Josh Butler, Hayden, Ala.
  • Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan.
  • Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash.
  • Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala.
  • Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn.
  • *Mitch Crane, Columbus, Miss.
  • Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La.
  • Mark Daniels, Jr., Tuskegee, Ala.
  • Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark.
  • Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn.
  • Boyd Duckett, Guntersville, Ala.
  • David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va.
  • Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas
  • Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif.
  • James Elam, Tulsa, Okla.
  • Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla.
  • Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas
  • Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio
  • Shinichi Fukae, Osaka, Japan
  • Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C.
  • Roy Hawk, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
  • Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark.
  • Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz.
  • Timmy Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala.
  • Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala.
  • *John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky.
  • Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas
  • Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas
  • Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas
  • Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas
  • Jeff Kriet, Ardmore, Okla.
  • Chris Lane, Guntersville, Fla.
  • Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala.
  • Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo.
  • *Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La.
  • Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala.
  • Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala.
  • Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa.
  • Jared Lintner, Arroyo Grande, Calif.
  • Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala.
  • Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho
  • Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C.
  • Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn.
  • John Murray, Spring City, Tenn.
  • Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C.
  • Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn.
  • Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan
  • Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss.
  • Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala.
  • Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif.
  • Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C.
  • Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
  • Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark.
  • Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark.
  • Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky.
  • Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala.
  • Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla.
  • Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala.
  • *Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark.
  • Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La.
  • Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas
  • Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn.
  • Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark.
  • Randall Tharp, Port St. Joe, Fla.
  • Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C.
  • Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich.
  • Jonathan VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich.
  • Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala.
  • David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn.
  • *Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala.
  • James Watson, Lampe, Mo.
  • Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn.
  • Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala.

* Denotes 2023 Bass Pro Tour Rookie

2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour Schedule:

Feb. 13-18        Stage One at Kissimmee Chain                                                                     Kissimmee, Fla.
Hosted by the Kissimmee Sports Commission

March 8-12      REDCREST IV at Lake Norman                                                                      Charlotte, N.C.
Hosted by the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority

March 18-23   Stage Two at Lake Cherokee & Douglas Lake                                             Jefferson County, Tenn.
Hosted by the Jefferson County Department of Tourism

April 2-7            Stage Three at Lake Murray                                                                         Columbia, S.C.
Hosted by the Capital City/Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board

April 24-29      General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star Event                                                   Monroe, La.
                          Caney Creek Reservoir & Bussey Brake Wildlife Management Area
Hosted by Discover Monroe-West Monroe and the Louisiana Office of Tourism

May 16-21        Stage Four at Lake Guntersville                                                                    Guntersville, Ala.
Hosted by Marshall County Tourism & Sports

June 6-11          Stage Five at Lake Cayuga                                                                              Union Springs, N.Y.
Hosted by the Union Springs/Springport Chamber, Village of Union Springs, and Cayuga County

June 24-29       Stage Six at Lake St. Clair                                                                                 Harrison Township, Mich.
Hosted by the Detroit Sports Commission, Macomb County, Michigan, and Lake St. Clair Metro Parks

Aug. 1-6             Stage Seven at Saginaw Bay                                                                           Bay City, Mich.
Hosted by Bay City, Michigan

by AnglersChannel

Costa Sunglasses donates $50,000 to Captains for Clean Water for Hurricane Ian Disaster Relief Fund

Funds will go directly to providing supplies and operational support to the ongoing relief and recovery efforts, including support for the local fishing community

JUPITER, Fla. (Nov. 8, 2022) – Born on the water and committed to protecting the watery world it calls home, Costa Sunglasses continues supporting Hurricane Ian relief efforts with a $50,000 donation to its longtime conservation partner Captains for Clean Water. The full donation will go towards the organization's Emergency Disaster Relief Fund to help those impacted by Hurricane Ian get back on their feet.

Hurricane Ian made landfall on Sept. 28 as a category four hurricane, causing catastrophic damage to Southwest, Fla., home to many Costa partners and pros. Costa, Captains for Clean Water and the fishing community in Florida were some of the first responders to jump into action after the hurricane. They worked around the clock on rescue missions, setting up drop sites for critical supplies, clearing debris, and delivering food and clean water to families in need. The initial response has been outstanding, but the work has just begun. The road to recovery will be a long one, but Costa and Captains for Clean Water are in it for the long haul.

“Being in Florida for the past 40 years, Costa is no stranger to hurricanes and the effects they have on our communities,” said Justin Cupps, Senior Vice President at Costa. “As soon as we learned the magnitude of this storm, we were in close communication with our friends at Captains For Clean Water, based in Fort Myers. It’s been incredible to see their response, and how they immediately jumped into action to do whatever was necessary, despite many of them losing their own homes. As a trusted partner, we’re honored to follow their lead and support our community and friends after the tremendous damage Hurricane Ian caused.”

“Fishing guides don’t wait for someone else to take the lead on how to fix a problem, we get to work and do what needs to be done,” said Captains for Clean Water Co-Founder, Chris Wittman. “Hurricane relief isn’t what our organization was created to do, but since this directly impacts the people that fight with us for clean water, it’s our turn to fight for them – and Costa gets that. Always a phone call away, Costa has been on the ground alongside us to help with emergency relief efforts since day one. We’re incredibly grateful for their ongoing support, and know that together, we will rebuild this devastated fishing community.”

Costa was born on the waters in Florida in 1983. Since then, the brand has been committed to protecting the watery world it calls home, including hurricane relief efforts.  In 2017, after Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria ravaged our coasts, Costa started #OneCoast, a program to bring relief efforts to coastal communities affected by natural disasters through the Worldwide Angler’s Relief Fund (WARF). Founded by Costa and IGFA, WARF provides financial aid to local charter captains, guides and outfitters in the wake of major natural disasters.

The $50,000 donation was announced at the Captains for Clean Water annual Restore Gala on November 4th, in Fort Myers, Fla. For additional information about how you can help through the Captains for Clean Water Emergency Relief Fund, visit www.Captainsforcleanwater.org. And for more information about Costa’s #OneCoast program, visit www.CostaSunglasses.com.

About Costa Sunglasses

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

by AnglersChannel

Gary Adkins Take the 2022 NPFL Progressive Angler of the Year Crown

As the 2022 NPFL season comes to close, anglers are looking forward to next season and reflecting on their performance throughout the year, both highs and lows. The Progressive Angler of the Year (AOY) race was up for grabs with one final event in Florida to go and the leader Gary Adkins slammed the door shut.

“This season was all about embracing the challenge,” said Adkins. “I have fished the Bassmaster Opens and did some traveling with my job, so I have definitely fished around the country, but never at the professional level - I was really looking to see how I would stack up. As my confidence built, I fished stronger and stronger.”

Adkins began the season with a 15th place finish on Lake Cumberland earning a cool $10,000 to begin the year. From there, a place where Adkins is familiar with from the past, he finished up 24th at Lake Hartwell and took home $9,000. Stop three took the anglers to Tennessee Watts Bar where Adkins finished in 21st place taking home another $9,000 check.  Then began the northern swing, where Adkins feels most at home and was in a good position to make a run.

“After the Watts Bar event, I think I was in 7th place and as the schedule was taking us North. I knew if I had two good events up where I am comfortable, chasing smallmouth, I might have a shot to win the AOY in Florida.”

Adkins did his job in the North earning a 1st and 2nd place finish in consecutive events to take over the lead. Winning at Saginaw Bay was no surprise, but Adkins was more confident at Sandusky where he had fished several times before.

“I know Sandusky well and I had never been to Saginaw Bay before. Going in, I stuck to my strengths and it worked out.”

Adkins edged Trent Palmer by 4-ounces to take his first NPFL Victory by focusing on smallmouth bass at the mouth of the bay. For his efforts, Adkins earned a cool $50,000 and moved just behind Timmy Reams in the AOY race going into Sandusky.

Adkins struggled slightly on day one catching 19-pounds event and found himself needing two big days to give himself a chance. Adkins stacked two heavy bags together to come back and finish just 1-5 back from winner Scott Siller. His efforts were enough to earn him a nice check and move him into the lead going to Florida.

Timmy Reams began the event just 14 points behind Adkins after a consistent season himself. Reams lead the race for several events and finished 27th at Sandusky to give way to Adkins, going into Florida. Taylor Watkins began the event on Kissimmee 43 points behind and needed to win the event and have both Adkins and Reams struggle.

Reams finished the event in 53rd place and dropped to 4th in AOY points earning him a solid $8,000 check for his great season. Watkins was able to take the win on the Kissimmee Chain putting all the pressure on Adkins to finish higher than 43rd place to seal the victory.

“After day two of practice on Kissimmee, I found the fish I ended up catching during the tournament and knew then I had a legit shot to win the AOY,” added Adkins. I didn't think I found enough to win the event, but 15 to 18-pounds a day was possible.”

He caught 42-pounds, 7-ounces for the event and finished in 21stplace slamming the AOY race shut. With eventual winner Watkins in the top two for the entire event, the pressure was on for Adkins to consistently catch a solid bag with tight weights throughout. Once bag day and the door would have been open.

Adkins too home over $100,000 for his efforts in 2022 while winning a regular season event as well as the coveted golden crown for winning the 2022 Progressive Angler of the Year Title.

“Other than looking beyond to next year, I am excited for the chance to go back-to-back on angler of the year in 2023. I am really pleased and excited to be fishing with the NPFL and can't wait to get going at Amistad in February,” concluded Adkins.

Complete Progressive Angler of the Year Results

Top 10​​​Points​​​Winnings

Gary Adkins ​​1372​​​$107,000

Taylor Watkins​​1349​​​$141,700

John Soukup​​1335​​​$55,000

Timmy Reams​​1326​​​$52,500

Bryant Smith​​1325​​​$52,000

Matt Massey​​1297​​​$55,200

Sheldon Collings​1291​​​$52,500

Jeff Dobson​​1274​​​$52,000

Taylor Umland​​1270​​​$45,000

Logan Milsaps​​1270​​​$39,000

 

by AnglersChannel

It’s All About the Ned

Northland Fishing Tackle’s new Elite Series Nedster Jig and Weedless Nedster Jig further the groundbreaking Ned Rigging technique.

BEMIDJI, Minn. (November 8, 2022) – In pole-vaulting, it was Dick Fosbury who changed the sport with the Fosbury Flop. In ice skating, American Olympian Dorothy Hamill left her mark with the Hamill Camel. And, in fishing, writer and innovator Ned Kehde developed a finesse bass fishing bait that’s now a household name – the Ned Rig.

Combining a mushroom style jig head with a small, buoyant soft plastic, Kehde’s brainchild is responsible for countless catches over the last decade plus. Rather unassuming at first blush, the jig and plastic combo causes curious bass to investigate and slurp what appears to be a small baitfish, crawfish, or aquatic invertebrate.

Now, Northland comes to the table with a custom jig conceived specifically for Ned Rigging. The new Elite Series Nedster Jigand Weedless Nedster Jig feature a mushroom shaped head, designed so that when paired with the right bait, the plastic and hook stand up off the bottom to imbue realism and promote positive hooksets. Speaking of the hook, all Nedster Jigs are established on an incredibly sharp and strong 1/0 Gamakatsu hook. Northland worked with pros to select the perfect gauge wire that is thin enough for quality hooksets on spinning tackle, yet strong so it won't disappoint when you need to fight through cover and boat a slob bass.

Rigging-wise, your preferred plastic is locked in place with the Nedster’s clever wire bait keeper. Its precision placement and supreme architecture won’t tear up your baits.

Recent history teaches that Ned Rigs succeed when others fail. Even moody fish succumb to the innocent appearance and action. More engaged fish quickly suck it to the back of their mouth. Better carry some pliers to pop that jig out…

Operating a Ned Rig is elementary, too. The simplest technique is casting, let the Nedster hit the bottom, and begin a sequence of short hops with pauses in between. It’s not unusual for Ned Rig partisans to let the bait sit still for ten seconds or longer. Speed up or slow the process depending on fish activity or how much water you need to cover. Nedsters can be fished faster than a dropshot, too, while still falling in the finesse category.

BLACK

CHARTREUSE

GREEN PUMPKIN

RUSTY CRAW

Northland’s Nedster Jig functions effectively over sand, gravel, and bounced off rocks – classic smallmouth bass habitat. The Weedless Nedster Jig takes the baton when confronting largemouth bass in vegetation, too. Its durable, titanium weed guard allow the Weedless Nedster to easily travel through short bottom grass and along weededges, not to mention navigating through timber. Note, too, that the titanium weed guard will keep its strength and perfect positioning fish after fish.

A Ned Rig is a worthy choice all year long. With that said, there are times and places it steals the show, especially when other presentations fail. The Nedster does wonders on pressured fish and in clear water where bass are suspicious of everything. Moreover, the Nedster Jig excels during cold water periods when fish are less active, as well as in the fall and winter when bass go deep and hug the bottom.

BLACK

CHARTREUSE

GREEN PUMPKIN

RUSTY CRAW

The marketplace is chockfull of plastics developed specially for Ned Rigs as well. The key to these baits is their buoyancy, diminutive size and subtle, but easily achieved action.

Nedster Jigs are best fished on spinning gear. Choose a medium-light spinning rod in the 7-foot range. Pair it with a 2000 or 2500 size reel spooled with 8- to 10-pound braid finished with a fluorocarbon leader to promote invisibility.

The new Nedster Jig and Weedless Nedster Jig are available in 4 sizes (1/8-, 3/16-, ¼-, and 5/16-ounce) and 4 colors (Black, Chartreuse, Green Pumpkin, and Rusty Craw). Nedster Jigs come 3 per pack, Nedster Weedless Jigs 2 per pack. MSRP for both is $5.99.

Both models will be available in late 2022. 

by AnglersChannel

GMAN To Headline NPAA’s Annual Conference

Fort Meyer’s gathering focused on sport fishing pros controlling their own destiny.

Forestville, WI (November 7, 2022) – The National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA) 2023 Annual Conference is a go for Fort Myers, Florida, January 6 through 8, and the buzz is now hitting fever pitch. That’s no wonder when you consider the incredible slate of speakers scheduled to address business related topics that are paramount to success across the ranks of the recreational fishing industry. The can’t miss event targeted at anglers who make a living fishing will be in tune with the gathering’s laser-focused theme of helping these sport fishing professionals control their own destiny. Driving the latest buzz is news that legendary pro bass angler Gerald Swindle will be headlining the featured speakers list this year.

“We are thrilled to have Gerald lined up for this event,” said NPAA president, Patrick Neu. “He’s a member, a social media icon and a no-nonsense motivational speaker that knows this industry inside and out. He’s true to himself in every aspect of our sport and not afraid to speak his mind, which helps account for his great appeal.”

He’s also enjoyed tremendous success throughout his career. Swindle, 52, from Guntersville, AL, has appeared in 20 Bassmaster Classics, twice been named Bassmaster’s Angler of the Year, broken the magical 100-pound tournament limit twice, and earned roughly $2.5 million in prize money on the circuit. Not bad for, as he describes it, “a dirt road country boy family farmer with little destiny to look forward to as a youngster.”

Swindle says he’ll be telling that story in his seminar - not to pat himself on the back, but to illustrate how you’re in control of your own destiny and he hopes his story will inspire others to take control of their destiny, too. “We’re going to discuss how you get a mindset that won’t take no for an answer, how to push through the tough times, and how to break the chains currently holding you back,” he stated. “If you want to be a winner in the recreational fishing industry, at any level or any job for that matter, you have to develop that hard as steel attitude– and know that your heart is always in the right place at the same time. I hope you’ll be there to hear me because I plan to really bring it.”

“Gerald’s enthusiasm certainly captures the spirit of our Annual Conference,” says Neu, “and those attending will get to meet and rub elbows with plenty of other successful recreational fishing industry pros, leaders and representatives - from the titans, to the small business owners who are the backbone of our sport. It’s that face-to-face networking that makes our conference, and our organization, so valuable.”

Swindle agrees. “One thing this industry really needs to keep growing is to share more information between its professionals, and the NPAA is terrific at promoting that exchange. If you are a fan of any other sport – or any other business – there’s not much opportunity to hear the icons and most successful pros share their marketing strategies, secrets of success, and what they do on a daily basis to control their own destiny. It’s pretty unlikely you’ll get to rub elbows with them at the breakfast buffet or sit down at dinner with a cocktail and ask your questions face-to-face. With this conference, however, NPAA provides a first-class ticket to meet, network, speak with and glimpse the psyche of top professional anglers, industry representatives and sport fishing leaders across the country. This is your chance to see, hear and learn how they do business.”

Neu continued Swindle’s thought process stating, “those are the primary goals of the organization. We strive to help our members grow as professionals by making it easier to enter the sport, offering superior networking opportunities, and providing the tools and education necessary to run a successful business in the recreational fishing industry. At the same time, we’re constantly watching their backs by advocating for the sport from the grass roots to the federal level.”

The NPAA Conference features business related educational seminars, networking opportunities and partner booths in a fun, but professional format. It is a key component of the NPAA platform, which exists to help members grow their professional angling careers and run successful industry businesses. The event will also host a Benefit Banquet for the Future Angler Foundation (FAF), which introduces millions of potential new anglers and boaters each year to the thrill and fun of sportfishing and boating.

Additional seminar speakers will include Jason and Jay Przekurat, MLF Redcrest Champion Bobby Lane, plus a myriad of other angling professionals from top guides to industry veterans, all sharing their knowledge freely in sessions throughout the weekend. Event central is the Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport - Town Center,  which is 5 minutes from the SW Florida Regional Airport (RSW) and just off I75 in Fort Myers. This newly renovated, 5-star rated hotel, offers a conference center, restaurant/bar, outdoor seating and a pool area all overlooking a 25-acre lake. The hotel and conference center can accommodate 225 attendees and will be a perfect venue for this networking event.

NPAA represents all who make a living in the sportfishing industry. Membership includes everyone from guides/captains, to tournament anglers, fishing department associates and management, manufacturing personnel, engine mechanics, professional rep groups and tackle shop staff. In addition to superior networking opportunities, sportfishing advocacy and promoting entry into the sport, the organization offers a monthly member newsletter, a weekly industry NewsBLAST, and access to significant discounts on gear and services provided by many of its nearly 80 supporting partners.

The NPAA 2023 Annual Conference is selling out quickly, but tickets are still available. Open to members and non-members alike on a first-come, first-served basis, registration fees include all activities, meals, and a ticket for the FAF Banquet. More information on registration can be found on the NPAA Conference Page. (Note: Non-members who pre-register for the Conference and opt to join the association prior to the end of the Conference will receive a $50 rebate on their Conference Registration Fee.)

For more information on joining the NPAA, attending the Annual Conference, and exploring the many benefits membership provides, visit www.npaa.net.

by AnglersChannel

SOCC Tournament Results November 5th

Boat Name 1 Name 2 Boat Mfg.
High School Series
Adult    6 - 16
Junior Series
Male / Female
Senior / Senior
Motormate Weight Guess
Total # Bass
Total # Alive
 Big Fish
# of Short Fish
Dead Fish Deduction
Short Fish Deduction
Gross Weight
 Net Weight
1 48 Rob Digh Aaron Digh Caymas 14.96 5.00 5.00 3.72 0.00 0.00 13.81 13.81
2 17 Shane Lineberger John Parker Phoenix 15.42 5.00 5.00 3.52 0.00 0.00 13.61 13.61
3 63 Jeff Queen KJ Queen Nitro 15.33 5.00 5.00 3.52 0.00 0.00 13.00 13.00
4 36 Jeff Hager Darrell Hager Caymas X 14.98 5.00 5.00 2.87 0.00 0.00 12.54 12.54
5 87 Donald Poteat Chris Anderson Caymas 15.33 5.00 5.00 4.37 0.00 0.00 12.21 12.21
6 57 Charlie Sipe Charles Sipe Skeeter 16.38 5.00 5.00 3.27 0.00 0.00 12.04 12.04
7 99 Chuck Douthit Robert Stiltner Ranger 13.73 5.00 5.00 4.86 0.00 0.00 11.86 11.86
8 43 David Hendrick Logan Hendrick Phoenix 16.22 5.00 5.00 2.88 0.00 0.00 11.83 11.83
9 38 Vince Parker Mark Parker Nitro 14.57 5.00 5.00 3.33 0.00 0.00 11.81 11.81
10 56 Roger Hoover Scott Hamrick Ranger 14.24 5.00 5.00 3.62 0.00 0.00 11.72 11.72
11 26 Hunter Harwell Allen Travis Skeeter 17.05 5.00 5.00 3.34 0.00 0.00 11.70 11.70
12 94 Brian Roberts Grant McPeters Falcon 14.64 5.00 5.00 2.69 0.00 0.00 11.04 11.04
13 96 Chris Fuentes Ty Robbins Skeeter 13.53 5.00 5.00 2.73 0.00 0.00 10.95 10.95
14 32 Kenny Seagle Thomas Jones Ranger 14.92 5.00 5.00 3.84 0.00 0.00 10.87 10.87
15 42 Adam Fillmore Steve Dyer Express 16.37 5.00 5.00 3.86 0.00 0.00 10.83 10.83
16 14 Mike Seawright Steve Addington Skeeter 15.74 5.00 5.00 2.72 0.00 0.00 10.59 10.59
17 78 Alvin Shaw Brent White Ranger 16.63 5.00 5.00 3.15 0.00 0.00 10.51 10.51
18 47 Dewight Dellinger Doug Dellinger Ranger 14.35 5.00 5.00 3.09 0.00 0.00 10.51 10.51
19 97 Adam Lockler Aaron Jordan Ranger 15.23 5.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 10.43 10.43
20 27 George Hirapetian Aram Hirapetian Ranger 15.47 5.00 5.00 3.10 0.00 0.00 10.42 10.42
21 6 Cody Hoyle Jessica Peeler Falcon X 15.00 5.00 5.00 3.65 0.00 0.00 10.40 10.40
22 23 Russell Hoyle Jerry Pruitt Caymas 17.84 5.00 5.00 3.32 0.00 0.00 10.31 10.31
23 77 Scott McGinnis Chad Bagwell Nitro 17.31 5.00 5.00 3.35 0.00 0.00 10.16 10.16
24 1 Aric Dwyer Zack Bolick Phoenix 16.75 5.00 5.00 2.34 0.00 0.00 10.09 10.09
25 46 Bucky Helms Marc Humphries Triton 13.89 5.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 10.00 10.00
26 81 Joseph Miller James Miller Skeeter 16.36 5.00 5.00 3.43 0.00 0.00 9.93 9.93
27 44 Michael Stephens Christopher Carnes Skeeter 13.79 5.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 9.74 9.74
28 35 Dave Stevens Jay Stevens Triton 16.21 5.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 9.69 9.69
29 65 Andy Montgomery Ayden Parker Nitro 14.79 5.00 5.00 2.95 0.00 0.00 9.58 9.58
30 30 Isaac Ledford Brian Morgan Skeeter 17.00 5.00 5.00 2.25 0.00 0.00 9.54 9.54
31 29 Preston Harris Stanton Harris Ranger 14.96 5.00 5.00 2.70 0.00 0.00 9.50 9.50
32 12 Stacey Richards Doug Sawyer Skeeter 17.13 5.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 9.36 9.36
33 15 Micheal Franklin Freddie Greer Skeeter 17.58 5.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 9.31 9.31
34 53 Jake Monti Logan Anderson Phoenix 14.87 5.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 9.28 9.28
35 102 James Teague Chris Teague Triton 14.27 5.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 9.23 9.23
36 8 Ronald Farrow Roger Farrow Ranger 15.90 5.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 9.14 9.14
37 71 Corey Stone William Holt Nitro 15.74 5.00 5.00 2.74 0.00 0.00 9.07 9.07
38 11 Travis Dotson Andy Greene Bass Cat 15.38 5.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 9.06 9.06
39 10 Gerald Ramsey Conrad Pogleski Skeeter 13.76 5.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 9.03 9.03
40 33 Stephen Staley Mickey Edwards Triton 16.10 5.00 5.00 2.42 0.00 0.00 8.79 8.79
41 54 Travis Ruff Michale Benfield Ranger 13.92 5.00 5.00 2.36 0.00 0.00 8.69 8.69
42 64 Mike Chronister Brian Huskins Caymas 14.86 5.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 8.62 8.62
43 98 Paul Brittain Joel Cerv Skeeter 16.85 5.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 8.44 8.44
44 37 Ken Nickerson Andrew Swaim Champion 16.78 5.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 8.40 8.40
45 39 Scott Beattie Dwight Beattie Caymas 16.47 5.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 8.38 8.38
46 18 Jason Land Norman Lowe Skeeter 15.25 4.00 4.00 3.20 0.00 0.00 8.14 8.14
47 69 Nick Huddleston Tin Ngou Caymas 15.73 5.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 8.11 8.11
48 3 Tim Harrison Doug Crump Stratos 16.10 5.00 5.00 2.49 0.00 0.00 7.97 7.97
49 60 Wayne Spencer Travis Kilby Bass Cat 14.83 5.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 7.94 7.94
50 4 Mark Chapman Luke Clark Skeeter 16.92 5.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 7.63 7.63
51 22 Derek Barkley Jimmy Melton Skeeter 18.60 5.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 7.60 7.60
52 82 Dylan Smith Austin Smith Nitro 16.45 5.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 7.52 7.52
53 50 Doug Punch Rocky Franklin Ranger X 16.20 5.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 7.40 7.40
54 52 Tyler Walls Carson Bonds Skeeter 13.89 4.00 4.00 0.00 0.00 6.79 6.79
55 66 Larry Fleeman Leon Burke Ranger 16.28 5.00 5.00 0.00 0.00 6.56 6.56
56 70 Garrett Poovey Kevin Poovey Triton 15.46 4.00 4.00 0.00 0.00 6.25 6.25
57 76 Joseph Floyd Mike Stone Nitro 16.98 3.00 3.00 0.00 0.00 6.16 6.16
58 83 Anthony Miller Mickey Miller Stratos X 14.56 4.00 4.00 0.00 0.00 6.02 6.02
59 34 Lane Henson Zach Laughter Phoenix 15.00 4.00 4.00 0.00 0.00 5.99 5.99
60 9 Todd Proctor Kevin Frazier Phoenix 15.38 3.00 3.00 2.92 0.00 0.00 5.87 5.87
61 5 David Snyder John Griffin Ranger 15.04 4.00 4.00 0.00 0.00 5.20 5.20
62 25 Paul McNeilly Christie McNeilly Skeeter X 16.82 3.00 3.00 2.06 0.00 0.00 4.88 4.88
63 49 Jesus Loaces Charlie Foster Skeeter 26.00 3.00 3.00 0.00 0.00 4.49 4.49
64 31 Dan Noel Charlotte Noel Ranger X 17.82 2.00 2.00 0.00 0.00 3.19 3.19
65 24 Michael Truesdell Thomas Camp Nitro 16.03 2.00 2.00 1.58 0.00 0.00 0.00 2.76 2.76
66 41
Jon Gavin Dellinger
 Carter Ross Triton X 15.20 2.00 2.00 0.00 0.00 2.50 2.50
67 2 Tony Elliott Randy Koons Ranger 15.50 0.00 0.00 0.00
68 0.00 0.00 0.00
69 7 Mike Brehm Tracy Schiff Nitro 13.69 0.00 0.00 0.00
70 13 Jarrad Poarch Keith Berry Phoenix 13.75 0.00 0.00 0.00
71 16 Craig Chambers Derek Cummings Caymas 16.42 0.00 0.00 0.00
72 19 James Petitgout Eddie Petitgout Skeeter 15.98 0.00 0.00 0.00
73 20 Christopher Martin Kyle Reese Ranger 14.24 0.00 0.00 0.00
74 21 Nathan Scronce Noah Wilson Triton 18.76 0.00 0.00 0.00
75 28 Chris Dover Anthony Johnson Caymas 14.50 0.00 0.00 0.00
76 40 Norman Wolfrom Darrin Fabiano Skeeter 15.25 0.00 0.00 0.00
77 45 Dale Duncan Skeeter 14.85 0.00 0.00 0.00
78 51 Ted Yandel Chad McLamb Express 14.30 0.00 0.00 0.00
79 55 Jason Rhodes Jody Black Javelin 14.12 0.00 0.00 0.00
80 58 Jerry Goble Gary Little Bass Cat X 14.50 0.00 0.00 0.00
81 59 John Elliott Jason Padgett Legend 16.42 0.00 0.00 0.00
82 61 Michael Miller Jason Phillips Skeeter 14.20 0.00 0.00 0.00
83 62 Ray Rosso Anita Wells Bass Tracker X 13.56 0.00 0.00 0.00
84 67 Michael Fox Danni Fox Ranger X 14.86 0.00 0.00 0.00
85 68 Bobby Thackerson Josh Thackerson Triton 16.59 0.00 0.00 0.00
86 72 Brad Kendrick Jay Nance Javelin 15.23 0.00 0.00 0.00
87 73 Philip McClung Quin Motley Triton 15.29 0.00 0.00 0.00
88 74 Michael Kinard Aaron Harwood Skeeter 15.45 0.00 0.00 0.00
89 75 Heath Settle David Hildebran Skeeter 15.42 0.00 0.00 0.00
90 79 Thomas Richmond Tony Talford Bass Cat 16.25 0.00 0.00 0.00
91 80 Khris Williams Shannon Williams Phoenix 17.25 0.00 0.00 0.00
92 84 Adam Ridings Easton Ridings Phoenix X 14.92 0.00 0.00 0.00
93 85 Matt Stout Kelly Logan Caymas 16.27 0.00 0.00 0.00
94 86 Edward Louthen Mark Gallinger Ranger 15.13 0.00 0.00 0.00
95 88 Travis Donaldson Skeeter 14.92 0.00 0.00 0.00
96 89 Josh Warren Dominic Poulter Champion 15.62 0.00 0.00 0.00
97 90 Chris Tinsley Merit Kuykendall Skeeter 14.78 0.00 0.00 0.00
98 91 Zach Pringle` Adzm Parker Phoenix 13.22 0.00 0.00 0.00
99 92 Alton Rockett Randy Huffman Skeeter 15.35 0.00 0.00 0.00
100 93 David Burgess Jimmy Wallace Skeeter 13.50 0.00 0.00 0.00
101 95 Mark Stankovich Steve Helms Nitro X 16.24 0.00 0.00 0.00
102 100 Jay Adams Phoenix 14.90 0.00 0.00 0.00
103 103 Charles Glenn Pro Craft 16.11 0.00 0.00 0.00
104 104 Spencer Taylor Skeeter 16.17 0.00 0.00 0.00
105 0.00 0.00 0.00
106 0.00 0.00 0.00
107 0.00 0.00 0.00
108 0.00 0.00 0.00
109 0.00 0.00 0.00
110 0.00 0.00 0.00
111 0.00 0.00 0.00
112 0.00 0.00 0.00
113 0.00 0.00 0.00
114 0.00 0.00 0.00
115 0.00 0.00 0.00
116 0.00 0.00 0.00
117 0.00 0.00 0.00
118 0.00 0.00 0.00
119 0.00 0.00 0.00
120 0.00 0.00 0.00
121 0.00 0.00 0.00
122 0.00 0.00 0.00
123 0.00 0.00 0.00
124 0.00 0.00 0.00
125 0.00 0.00 0.00
126 0.00 0.00 0.00
127 0.00 0.00 0.00
128 0.00 0.00 0.00
129 0.00 0.00 0.00
130 0.00 0.00 0.00
131 0.00 0.00 0.00
132 0.00 0.00 0.00
133 0.00 0.00 0.00
134 0.00 0.00 0.00
135 0.00 0.00 0.00
136 0.00 0.00 0.00
137 0.00 0.00 0.00
138 0.00 0.00 0.00
139 0.00 0.00 0.00
140 0.00 0.00 0.00
141 0.00 0.00 0.00
142 0.00 0.00 0.00
143 0.00 0.00 0.00
144 0.00 0.00 0.00
145 0.00 0.00 0.00
146 0.00 0.00 0.00
147 0.00 0.00 0.00
148 0.00 0.00 0.00
149 0.00 0.00 0.00
150 0.00 0.00 0.00
151 0.00 0.00 0.00
152 0.00 0.00 0.00
153 0.00 0.00 0.00
154 0.00 0.00 0.00
155 0.00 0.00 0.00
156 0.00 0.00 0.00
157 0.00 0.00 0.00
158 0.00 0.00 0.00
159 0.00 0.00 0.00
160 0.00 0.00 0.00
161 0.00 0.00 0.00
162 0.00 0.00 0.00
163 0.00 0.00 0.00
164 0.00 0.00 0.00
165 0.00 0.00 0.00
166 0.00 0.00 0.00
167 0.00 0.00 0.00
168 0.00 0.00 0.00
169 0.00 0.00 0.00
170 0.00 0.00 0.00
171 0.00 0.00 0.00
172 0.00 0.00 0.00
173 0.00 0.00 0.00
174 0.00 0.00 0.00
175 0.00 0.00 0.00
176 0.00 0.00 0.00
177 0.00 0.00 0.00
178 0.00 0.00 0.00
179 0.00 0.00 0.00
180 0.00 0.00 0.00
181 0.00 0.00 0.00
182 0.00 0.00 0.00
183 0.00 0.00 0.00
184 0.00 0.00 0.00
185 0.00 0.00 0.00
186 0.00 0.00 0.00
187 0.00 0.00 0.00
188 0.00 0.00 0.00
189 0.00 0.00 0.00
190 0.00 0.00 0.00
191 0.00 0.00 0.00
192 0.00 0.00 0.00
193 0.00 0.00 0.00
194 0.00 0.00 0.00
195 0.00 0.00 0.00
196 0.00 0.00 0.00
197 0.00 0.00 0.00
198 0.00 0.00 0.00
199 0.00 0.00 0.00
200 0.00 0.00 0.00
201 0.00 0.00 0.00
202 0.00 0.00 0.00
203 0.00 0.00 0.00
204 0.00 0.00 0.00
205 0.00 0.00 0.00
206 0.00 0.00 0.00
207 0.00 0.00 0.00
208 0.00 0.00 0.00
209 0.00 0.00 0.00
210 0.00 0.00 0.00
211 0.00 0.00 0.00
212 0.00 0.00 0.00
213 0.00 0.00 0.00
214 0.00 0.00 0.00
215 0.00 0.00 0.00
216 0.00 0.00 0.00
217 0.00 0.00 0.00
218 0.00 0.00 0.00
219 0.00 0.00 0.00
220 0.00 0.00 0.00
221 0.00 0.00 0.00
222 0.00 0.00 0.00
223 0.00 0.00 0.00
224 0.00 0.00 0.00
225 0.00 0.00 0.00
226 0.00 0.00 0.00
227 0.00 0.00 0.00
228 0.00 0.00 0.00
229 0.00 0.00 0.00
230 0.00 0.00 0.00
231 0.00 0.00 0.00
232 0.00 0.00 0.00
233 0.00 0.00 0.00
234 0.00 0.00 0.00
235 0.00 0.00 0.00
236 0.00 0.00 0.00
237 0.00 0.00 0.00
238 0.00 0.00 0.00
239 0.00 0.00 0.00
240 0.00 0.00 0.00
241 0.00 0.00 0.00
242 0.00 0.00 0.00
243 0.00 0.00 0.00
244 0.00 0.00 0.00
245 0.00 0.00 0.00
246 0.00 0.00 0.00
247 0.00 0.00 0.00
248 25 Paul McNeilly Christie McNeilly Skeeter X 16.82
249 104 Spencer Taylor Skeeter 16.17
250 101 Byron Brush Byron Brush Phoenix 14.34
307.00 307.00 108.24 0.00 0.00 594.99 594.99

by AnglersChannel

O’Connell And Adams Claim Victory In Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship

The Redfish World Series team of Edward Adams of Metairie, La., and Sean O'Connell of Mandeville, La., have won the 2022 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter with a three-day total of 48 pounds, 3 ounces.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
November 6, 2022

O’Connell And Adams Claim Victory In Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship

PORT ARANSAS, Texas — One-trick ponies seldom win races, but Sean O’Connell of Mandeville, La., and Edward Adams of Metairie, La., proved they were nothing of the sort by adapting to changing conditions and securing a wire-to-wire win at the Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter with a three-day total of 48 pounds, 3 ounces.

On Day 1, the 2022 Redfish World Series champions took the lead with a two-fish limit of 16-10. O’Connell and Adams held onto the top spot on Day 2 with 15-3, also the day’s best. Not to blow their streak, the winners turned in the heaviest limit of Day 3 with two reds that weighed 16-6.

For their efforts, O’Connell and Adams took home $75,000.

“There’s been a rumor that I can’t win outside of (Louisiana), but I guess this crushes that rumor,” Adams joked. “This is more than I could hope for. I’ve been doing this a long time and it’s my first win out of state, so it’s a really big deal.”

O’Connell echoed that sentiment and noted the scale of this week’s win did a lot to advance the sport.

“The stage that we were fishing and the platform that B.A.S.S. created is unparalleled by anything I’ve ever fished in redfishing,” he said. “We’ve never been able to fish live and have the BassTrakk live standings.

“People now get to see what we do. This brought redfishing to a new stage and I can’t thank B.A.S.S. enough.”

O’Connell and Adams increased their margin each day. In the first round, they established a 13-ounce lead over the all-star team of Bassmaster Elite Series veteran Chris Zaldain of Fort Worth, Texas, and IFA Redfish Tour standout Ryan Rickard of Brandon, Fla., who won last year’s event. Day 2 saw the leaders widen the gap with a 2-3 lead, again with Zaldain and Rickard in second.

Day 3 saw O’Connell and Adams surge across the finish line by a margin of 3-14 over the defending champs.

For two days, the winners had diligently worked a pattern of long drifts across shallow grass flats in Laguna Madre, south of Port Aransas. With dim skies draping the Texas coast, Day 1 brought southeast winds of 15 to 20 mph, with Day 2 blowing at least as hard out of the northeast.

Both days, O’Connell and Adams had to use a drift sock to control their speed for efficient coverage with their swimbaits on 3/8-ounce jigheads. Day 3, however, brought much less wind and that eliminated their ability to drift.

“We made two adjustments,” Adams said. “First, Sean tied on a Yo-Zuri topwater so he could make longer casts and I added a Seaguar fluorocarbon leader to my PowerPro braid (because of the clarity).”

At 7:45 a.m., the topwater broke the ice with a high-slot red that went 7-10. The leaders endured a couple of hours with a lone keeper in the boat before adding one around 3 pounds.

Mid-morning, they had a shot to blow the doors off with a tank of a redfish that crushed O’Connell’s topwater, but the fish measured just over the 28-inch maximum. Fortunately, they’d boat another giant just before 11 a.m. and this one went 8 3/4 pounds and measured just under 28.

“That’s as close as it gets,” Adams said during the Bassmaster Redfish LIVE coverage. “That could be $75,000 right there.”

Zaldain and Rickard posted daily weights of 15-13, 13-13 and 14-11 for a tournament total of 44-5. Throughout the event, the anglers caught fish on a 6-inch Bass Mafia Daingerous swimbait on a 7/0, 1/4-ounce belly-weighted hook, 4-inch paddletails and 1/4-ounce Aqua Dream spoons.

“Today, the spoon produced both of the fish we weighed and I went to a 3/8-ounce to get more distance,” Rickard said.

After fishing a protected area of the upper Laguna Madre between Padre Island and the Intracoastal Waterway, Zaldain and Rickard were hopeful that the final day’s calm, sunny conditions would crack the whip on the big fish they had located.

“There was so much boat traffic in the area we wanted to fish,” Rickard said. “First thing this morning when we pulled in, it was right; we had fish pushing, we had fish tailing — they were there.

“Within about 30 minutes of us arriving on the flat, there was so much drive-through (recreational) traffic that those fish got very aware and they just didn’t want to cooperate.”

Late in the day, the anglers relocated to a backup spot in Corpus Christi Bay and located another group of big redfish. Plucking two good ones from that area gave them their finishing weight.

Zaldain said the experience has heightened his fishing knowledge. “I’ve been on the Bassmaster Elite Series for 10 years, but I have learned so much from Ryan; he is an absolute redfish hammer.”

The all-star team of Elite Series champion and 2019 Rookie of the Year Drew Cook of Cairo, Ga., and Elite Redfish Series pro Kevin Akin of Corpus Christi, Texas, finished third with 43-14. Posting 13-11 on Day 1 put them in fourth place and their second round catch of 14-4 moved them up a notch. In the final round, Cook and Akin turned in their best catch — 15-15.

At the Day 2 weigh-in, Cook alluded to a certain strategy point that he and Akin figured out late in the day. Leveraging this knowledge paid off big in the final round.

“We probably caught more fish today than the first two days combined,” Cook said. “What we figured out was to turn off the electronics. The transducer was pinging and as soon as we turned that off yesterday, we caught five.

“Today, we never ran it and we caught them all day long. It seemed like they were getting a lot closer to the boat and we weren’t catching them only on the superlong casts.”

Cook and Akin caught their fish on soft-body swimbaits with what Akin called a “cracking” technique. Essentially, they would make a cast, let the bait fall and then erratically twitch it in place, rather than immediately starting a forward retrieve. Keeping the bait near the point of entry gave fish time to react to the splash.

2022 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup presented by Skeeter 11/4-11/6
Port Aransas, Port Aransas TX.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3

Angler Hometown Pts

1. Edward Adams - Sean O'Connell Metairie, LA/Mandeville, LA 0
Day 1: 2 16-10 Day 2: 2 15-03 Day 3: 2 16-06 Total: 6 48-03
2. Ryan Rickard - Chris Zaldain Brandon, FL/Fort Worth, TX 0
Day 1: 2 15-13 Day 2: 2 13-13 Day 3: 2 14-11 Total: 6 44-05
3. Kevin Akin - Drew Cook Corpus Christi, TX/Cairo, GA 0
Day 1: 2 13-11 Day 2: 2 14-04 Day 3: 2 15-15 Total: 6 43-14
4. Graham Taylor - Copeland More Dade City, FL/Tampa, FL 0
Day 1: 2 11-05 Day 2: 2 13-07 Day 3: 2 12-02 Total: 6 36-14
5. Barnie White - Dwayne Mills Brewton, AL/Cantonment, FL 0
Day 1: 2 14-00 Day 2: 2 09-10 Day 3: 2 10-04 Total: 6 33-14
6. Michael Goodwine - Brandon Palaniuk Tampa, FL/Rathdrum, ID 0
Day 1: 2 11-04 Day 2: 2 09-10 Day 3: 2 12-12 Total: 6 33-10
7. Gary Moreno - Bo Favre Baytown, TX/Bay St. Louis, MS 0
Day 1: 2 11-05 Day 2: 2 10-12 Day 3: 2 10-06 Total: 6 32-07
8. Chris Cenci - Chris Kennedy Jacksonville Beach, FL/Metairie, LA 0
Day 1: 2 09-06 Day 2: 2 08-04 Day 3: 2 07-01 Total: 6 24-11
9. Johnathan Willis - Scott Martin Perdido Key, FL/Clewiston, FL 0
Day 1: 2 07-15 Day 2: 2 10-13 Day 3: 1 05-06 Total: 5 24-02
10. Brent Roy - Wes Logan Venice, LA/Springville, AL 0
Day 1: 2 08-14 Day 2: 1 05-00 Day 3: 1 03-10 Total: 4 17-08
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 10 20 120-03
2 9 19 110-12
3 8 18 108-09
----------------------------------
27 57 339-08

by AnglersChannel

Taylor Watkins takes home the final NPFL Shield of the 2022 Season with the win on Kissimmee.

Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons

With a 28-pound, 11-ounce giant bag on day three, Taylor Watkins becomes a three-time NPFL Champion with his win on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. Watkins weighed in 23-pounds, 12-ounces on day one and 17-pounds, 7-ounces on day two to go along with his Showdown Saturday bag, giving him a three-day total of 69-pounds, 14-ounces.

To salvage his day two, after the fish had moved off the sweet spot he and Ron Johnson were sharing, Watkins remained calm and kept searching. Two key bites late in the day helped determine the day three game plan which saw him put together the winning bag in short order.

“After I relocated the group of fish in the afternoon of day two, I knew what I was going to do first thing in the morning. I was the first one there so I dropped my motor and scanned the whole area with Livescope and saw they had not set back up for us (on the sweet spot).”

After slipping back into the little “cut through” ditch where he had seen them the day before, Watkins got into position before his graph lit up. He went to work with the worm setup he dialed in throughout the event and put together the winning bag.

“I turned to my camera man and told him to get ready, the fish were there and it was going down. Based on the afternoon prior, I knew I was going to catch them good and it all worked out for me. I upped my Texas rig weight to ½ oz and was dragging the Berkley Power Worm through that little stretch super slow and I could see every fish on Livescope.”

Watkins has to give credit to Bass Boat Electronics for the install and rigging work on all his electronics, and his Pro Guide Batteries for holding up to abuse. Spending his entire event in one spot, he hardly ever had to crank his big motor to charge the system. The batteries kept everything juiced and he was able to work back and forth on his 100-yard stretch looking for bass.

Michael Yoder
With 16-pounds, 9-ounces on day one, 20-pounds, 4-ounces on day two, and his biggest bag of the tournament 27-pounds, 2-ounces on the final day, Michael Yoder finishes the tournament in the 2nd place spot with a total weight of 63-pounds, 15-ounces. Yoder spent his practice period locating a variety of different areas but ended up locating fish in the current from the Kissimmee Dam.

“I tried to make the hydrilla bite and the punching bite work but it never materialized throughout the tournament. The water color was coffee like where I was fishing and back home, it means it’s starting to turn over. When that happens, I always go to current. On the final day of practice, I got up to the dam and was cranking a 6th Sense Lures C6 Crankbait and caught a big fish and knew what I had to do.”

On the final day, he noticed the fish had moved tight to big rocks and were not willing to bite his crankbait. A small adjustment to a hand poured 8-inch worm deemed key to catching his biggest bag of the event.

“I could get bites on the c-rig but they were smaller and they didn’t want the crankbait. I started dragging that worm by four key rocks and I kept going in circles making the same cast over and over to keep getting bites. I was able to catch a couple big fish on back-to-back casts with the 6th Sense crankbait before weigh in today but it was a great tournament.”

Matt Massey
With a three-day total of 62-pounds, 14-ounces, Matt Massey finished the tournament in the 3rd spot. After a slow start on day one with 9-pounds, 7-ounces, Matt Massey stacked a 28-pound, 13-ounce bag on day two with a 24-pound, 10-ounce on the final day to make a big comeback in the event.

“I had another fast start this morning but then never upgraded once after 11 or so. I culled three or four times overall but it was a real struggle up there today. I stuck with my plan and had one rod in my hand all day.”

Massey fished with a new hook worm hook from Trokar and had to downsize his line to get a few key bites that help bring him back from a tough day one.

“Most all of my fish came on a Strike King Shimy Stick and the new Trokar Pro V Worm hook kept all those giants pinned. One key adjustment I made was to downsize my Seaguar line from 20 to 17-pound – that was key to getting some of those bigger bites.”

Massey will look back and kick himself for the decisions he made on day one, staying to fish grass near the ramp but is happy with his rebound and finishing out the season strong.

“It was a great year; I was in Florida fishing and caught big bags two days in a row, so I’ll take it!”

Bryant Smith
Saving his best day for last, Bryan Smith added 21-pounds, 3-ounces to his day one bag of 19-pounds, 7-ounces and day two weight of 20-pounds, 2-ounces to finish the event in the 4th place spot. Smith weighed a three-day total of 60-pounds, 12-ounces and wrapped up a consistent season putting him in the top five in Progressive Angler of the Year Points.

“I got started this morning and had about 14-pounds off the same shell bars but I made a key adjustment to catch two of my bigger bass today. The first was a big laydown I saw all week and was able to coax a 5-pounder on a Strike King Sexy Dog and caught another 5-pounder flipping a Rage Bug on another area.”

Smith was super consistent this season while fishing both the NPFL and the Bassmaster Opens where he was able to finish the season in the top five in points for each, and ultimately qualifying for the Bassmaster Elite Series in 2023.

“The NPFL has been and absolutely amazing experience and helped me tremendously to grow as an angler. We fished two seasons all around the country where I learned a lot of techniques that ultimately helped me in making the Elites. I want to thank all those guys for running an awesome trail.”

Patrick Walters
Patrick Walters finished the tournament in the 5th place spot with a three-day total of 58-pounds, 12-ounces. Adding 22-pounds on day three, Walters began the event with 21-pounds and 15-pounds on day one and 15-pounds, 12-ounces on day two. After burning his main area down, he made move to Kissimmee to put together his biggest bag of the tournament.

“I started this morning in Toho to get a small limit and then ran down to Kissimmee for the day. I had a few hard places and grass edges to myself and had a lot of fun.”

Walters rotated through a mix of reaction baits to catch his fish and is excited to end his season with a top five finish.

“It was a reaction bite tournament and it was a blast. I caught fish on a Storm Arashi Vibe, a Zoom Super Fluke in Watermelon Red and a Rapala Shadow Rap Shad.”

Rest of the Best
6 – Ron Johnson
7 – John Soukup
8 – Jake Boomer
9 – Dustin Williamson
10 – Michael Catt

by AnglersChannel

AnglersChannel Bass Wrap Up brought to you by Sportsmans Warehouse - Season 13 Episode 3

This week show features events from The Rodeheaver Boys Ranch charity Tournament, The Sportsmans Dream Event on Chickamauga and more!!

by AnglersChannel

Kyle Hall Smashes 20-8 on Final Day to Win Toyota Series Championship Presented by A.R.E. on Lake Guntersville

Texas Pro Earns Third Major Career Win by 5-pounds, 13-ounces, Takes Home $235,000

GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (Nov. 5, 2022) – The air was thick with suspense on Saturday as pro Kyle Hall of Granbury, Texas pulled out his final fish onstage at the Toyota Series Championship Presented by A.R.E. at Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Alabama. The rain-soaked crowd clamored with applause as the young pro produced a 5-pound kicker, bringing his five-bass limit to 20 pounds, 8 ounces. Hall’s winning bag – the biggest of the day – brought his three-day total to 59-1, giving him a 5-pound, 13-ounce margin-of-victory over 19-year-old pro Marshall Robinson of Landrum, South Carolina, earning Hall the 2022 Toyota Series Championship win and top prize of $235,000. Robinson’s five-bass limit of 19 pounds even gave him a three-day total of 53-4, good for second place and $50,000.

A regular atop the leaderboard, Hall has padded his career resume with four Top 10’s, a 2018 Toyota Series win at 1000 Islands, Polaris Rookie of the Year (ROY) in 2020 and a Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit win at Lake Champlain earlier this year. With over half a million dollars in earnings in his young career – more than $425,000 this season alone – the Texas pro’s determination and consistency on the water across the country makes him a force to be reckoned with.

“This was such a special week,” said Hall. “I knew it was possible for me to get the win, but I just didn’t think I’d be able to get them to bite, especially consistently over all three days. The first day I probably caught 30 keepers, but the bite really slowed down the last two days. I caught about 7 or 8 fish yesterday and 8 or 9 today, but they were the right ones.

“The difference maker was the big one on the very last cast today,” Hall continued. “With only a few minutes to go, I said I needed a 5-pounder and I reeled in a 5-pounder on the next cast. It was 2:51 p.m. and we had to check in at 3 – it was unbelievable.”

Hall said he got one key bite in practice that clued him in on where the fish were and that he was around some big ones.

“I was fishing in 20 feet of water and the bass were suspended about 10 to 12 feet down,” said Hall. “I was pretty much just chasing bait, but I wouldn’t catch them when they were actually going after the bait. I mainly targeted the single fish around the bait.

“I think the number one thing that has kept me consistent is my Garmin LiveScope. I started depending on that a lot and when I can see the fish, I have a lot of fun trying to catch them. It hurts my back a little bit when I do it all day, but I’ll deal with that if it means a win.”

Hall said he threw a variety of baits throughout the event, but caught most of his fish on a Shane’s Baits umbrella rig with 6th Sense Divine Swimbaits and a ¼-ounce Damiki Vault blade bait.

Saturday’s final weigh-in marked the finale of the 2022 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. season, which featured thousands of anglers from around the world competing for millions in cash and prizes.

The top 10 pros at the 2022 Toyota Series Championship on Lake Guntersville finished:

1st: Kyle Hall of Granbury, Texas, 15 bass, 59-1, $235,000
2nd: Marshall Robinson of Landrum, S.C., 15 bass, 53-4, $50,000
3rd: Drew Gill of Mount Carmel, Ill., 15 bass, 52-6, $40,000
4th: Matt Wieteha of Miami, Fla., 15 bass, 48-9, $35,000
5th: Scout Echols of Monticello, Ark., 14 bass, 47-4, $20,000
6th: Matt Becker of Finleyville, Pa., 15 bass, 47-1, $14,000
7th: Cole Breeden of Lebanon, Mo., 15 bass, 46-6, $13,000
8th: Todd Castledine of Nacogdoches, Texas, 12 bass, 41-12, $22,000 (including $10,000 Division Bonus)
9th: Donny Bass of Naples, Fla., 13 bass, 39-9, $11,000
10th: Seth Davis of Georgetown, Tenn., 10 bass, 32-6, $20,000 (including $10,000 Division Bonus)

For a full list of results visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 39 bass weighing 116 pounds, 1 ounce caught Saturday. Six of the final 10 anglers brought in a five-bass limit.

Jason Sandidge of Centerton, Arkansas, weighed in five bass totaling 16 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the top Strike King co-angler prize of a new Phoenix 518 pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard engine, with a three-day total of 14 bass weighing 40-6. Second place went to co-angler Jason Swanson of Waterloo, Iowa , who weighed in a three-day total of 12 bass weighing 33-1, good for second place and $12,500.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers at the 2022 Toyota Series Championship on Lake Guntersville finished:

1st: Jason Sandidge of Centerton, Ark., 14 bass, 40-6, Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat w/115-horsepower Mercury outboard
2nd: Jason Swanson of Waterloo, Iowa, 12 bass, 33-1, $12,500
3rd: Michael Duarte of Baltimore, Md., 12 bass, 31-12, $10,000
4th: Alan Hults of Gautier, Miss., 11 bass, 29-7, $7,500
5th: Levi Thibodaux of Thibodaux, La., 10 bass, 27-4, $5,000
6th: Jonathan Green of San Pablo, Calif., 10 bass, 26-11, $4,000
7th: Shawn Clark of Afton, Okla., eight bass, 25-1, $3,500
8th: Jacob Smith of Frisco, Texas, eight bass, 22-13, $3,000
9th: David Williams of Fredericksburg, Va., eight bass, 22-12, $2,850
10th: Frank Lauria of Wesley Chapel, Fla., eight bass, 21-10, $2,000

The 2022 Toyota Series Championship Presented by A.R.E. at Lake Guntersville was hosted by Hosted by Marshall County Tourism and Sports. The three-day, no entry fee tournament featured a field of 194 pros and co-anglers from around the world, competing for a top cash award of up to $235,000, plus multiple contingency bonuses.

The 2022 Toyota Series Championship Presented by A.R.E. will premiere on CBS Sports next fall.

The full field of anglers competed on Days 1 and 2 of the event, with the top 10 pros and top 10 Strike King co-anglers based on cumulative weight from the first two days continuing to the third and final day. The 2022 Toyota Series champions were determined by the heaviest three-day total weight.

The 2022 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. consisted of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. The highest finishing pro from each division at the championship claimed a $10,000 bonus.

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

by AnglersChannel

O’Connell And Adams Maintain Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship Lead

The Redfish World Series team of Edward Adams of Metairie, La., and Sean O'Connell of Mandeville, La., are leading after Day 2 of the 2022 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter with a two-day total of 31 pounds, 13 ounces.

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

November 5, 2022

PORT ARANSAS, Texas — Playing the law of averages paid off for Day 1 leaders Sean O’Connell of Mandeville, La., and Edward Adams of Metairie, La., whose two-day total of 31 pounds, 13 ounces kept them atop the leaderboard on Day 2 of the Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter.

After taking the opening lead with a limit of 16-10 the 2022 Redfish World Series champions established a 13-ounce margin over the all-star team of Bassmaster Elite Series veteran Chris Zaldain of Fort Worth, Texas, and IFA Redfish Tour standout Ryan Rickard of Brandon, Fla., who won last year’s event.

Catching the second day’s top bag — 15-3 — O’Connell and Adams extended their lead to 2-3; again, with Zaldain and Rickard in second.

Replicating the pattern that served them well on Day 1, the leaders returned to the Laguna Madre waters south of Port Aransas and made long drifts across key areas in the grass flats. After contending with a strong southeast wind on Day 1, the leaders again used a drift sock to slow their movement when Saturday’s northeast wind blew even harder.

“We were hoping to get two to three bites per drift,” Adams said. “You do that over four drifts, that’s eight to 10 fish a day and we figured a couple of them would be good ones.”

Given the mostly dreary, overcast skies, cooler temperatures and blustery conditions, O’Connell said he was grateful for the way their day came together.

“As we went out there this morning, I was a little worried about that wind switch, but it actually played to our favor because we were able to stay in our zone longer with longer drifts,” O’Connell said. “We got a couple of fish early, which put us at ease so we could just do our thing and fish.

“When you’re not out there just winding and trying to make it happen, getting a couple of fish early definitely takes the pressure off. It was a good day. The weather played out OK and I’m very happy where we’re sitting.”

O’Connell and Adams tried a few different baits but caught the ones they weighed on 3/8-ounce jigheads with Berkley Gulp Ripple Shad swimbaits. With the Day 3 forecast looking considerably calmer, warmer and sunnier, Adams said he’s optimistic about his team’s outlook.

“Same as yesterday, we caught a couple of overs, caught a couple of small ones and two pretty decent fish,” Adams said. “I think if we get a couple of good bites tomorrow, we’ll have a really good chance of winning this thing.”

With their main area clearly suffering from the day’s mostly overcast conditions and barometric pressure rise, Zaldain and Rickard struggled with a slower start, but culled their way to a second-round weight of 13-13. Adding that to their Day 1 weight of 15-13 put them at 29-10.

Spending most of their day in a protected area of Laguna Madre between Padre Island on their east and the Intracoastal Waterway spoil islands to the west, Zaldain and Rickard worked the grass flats interspersed with sandy potholes. They caught their fish on 1/4-ounce Aqua Dream spoons in a blue crab pattern and a 6-inch Bass Mafia Unrigged Daingerous swimbait on a 7/0, 1/4-ounce belly-weighted hook.

“We’re at a higher pace than we were on last year,” Zaldain said. “And just like last year, we had that Day 2 where it was a weird northeast wind and it really shut the fishing down. When that east wind blows through, everything shuts off and things kind of stick to the bottom.

“We’re looking forward to tomorrow. We had those same conditions last year, so we know what to expect and we’re trying to catch (O’Connell and Adams).”

Rickard said the challenge of trying to overtake what he considers a team of highly accomplished redfish pros is just the motivation they need.

“These guys are absolute hammers everywhere they go, and that’s good for me because it pushes me to be better,” he said. “Those guys are so great, but we’re gonna push them.

“It’s going to set up perfectly for us tomorrow. We’ll have our opportunities and we’ll have to make the best of them.”

The all-star team of Bassmaster Elite Series champion and 2019 Rookie of the Year Drew Cook of Cairo, Ga., and Elite Redfish Series pro Kevin Akin of Corpus Christi, Texas, placed third with 27-15. Entering the second round in fourth place with 13-11, they added 14-4.

“It was a better day today and we kind of figured something out late in the day,” Cook said. “We got really lucky this morning when I caught one of the fish we weighed on my second cast. It took us a long time to get something else figured out, but once we did, we caught ‘em pretty well.

“I wish we’d had just another hour today. We had one big one that was over (the 28-inch maximum) and we saw several others with the ones we caught, so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”

Cook caught that early fish on a 3/8-ounce ChatterBait JackHammer with a Big Bite Baits Swimon trailer. They also caught fish on 4-inch morning glory/chartreuse Berkley Gulp Ripple Mullet.

Sunday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:45 a.m. CT from Fisherman’s Wharf. The weigh-in will be held back at the wharf at 3 p.m. FS1 will broadcast Bassmaster Redfish LIVE coverage beginning at 7 with continuing coverage available on Bassmaster.com.

2022 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup presented by Skeeter 11/4-11/6
Port Aransas, Port Aransas TX.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

Angler Hometown Pts

1. Edward Adams - Sean O'Connell Metairie, LA/Mandeville, LA 0
Day 1: 2 16-10 Day 2: 2 15-03 Total: 4 31-13
2. Ryan Rickard - Chris Zaldain Brandon, FL/Fort Worth, TX 0
Day 1: 2 15-13 Day 2: 2 13-13 Total: 4 29-10
3. Kevin Akin - Drew Cook Corpus Christi, TX/Cairo, GA 0
Day 1: 2 13-11 Day 2: 2 14-04 Total: 4 27-15
4. Graham Taylor - Copeland More Dade City, FL/Tampa, FL 0
Day 1: 2 11-05 Day 2: 2 13-07 Total: 4 24-12
5. Barnie White - Dwayne Mills Brewton, AL/Cantonment, FL 0
Day 1: 2 14-00 Day 2: 2 09-10 Total: 4 23-10
6. Gary Moreno - Bo Favre Baytown, TX/Bay St. Louis, MS 0
Day 1: 2 11-05 Day 2: 2 10-12 Total: 4 22-01
7. Michael Goodwine - Brandon Palaniuk Tampa, FL/Rathdrum, ID 0
Day 1: 2 11-04 Day 2: 2 09-10 Total: 4 20-14
8. Johnathan Willis - Scott Martin Perdido Key, FL/Clewiston, FL 0
Day 1: 2 07-15 Day 2: 2 10-13 Total: 4 18-12
9. Chris Cenci - Chris Kennedy Jacksonville Beach, FL/Metairie, LA 0
Day 1: 2 09-06 Day 2: 2 08-04 Total: 4 17-10
10. Brent Roy - Wes Logan Venice, LA/Springville, AL 0
Day 1: 2 08-14 Day 2: 1 05-00 Total: 3 13-14
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 10 20 120-03
2 9 19 110-12
----------------------------------
19 39 230-15

by AnglersChannel

Michael Catt brings 21-14 to the stage to lead the charge going into the Final Showdown.

Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons

Putting on a show on Live Coverage, Michael Catt leads the NPFL season finale on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes with a two-day total of 42-pounds, 13-ounces. Adding 21-pounds, 14-ounces to his day one weight of 20-pounds, 15-ounces, Catt is fishing one main area loaded with bass. Working a Carolina rig and camping out, Catt is weeding through numbers of bites to cull up with bigger fish.

Taylor Watkins
After a slow start on Live Coverage, Taylor Watkins put together a 17-pound, 7-ounce bag to go with his 23-pound, 12-ounce bag on day one. With a two-day total of 41-pounds, 3-ounces, Watkins goes into the final day in the 2nd place spot, just 1-pound, 10-ounces back of Catt.

“It was a grind out there and me and Ron both were dealing with changing conditions in the area. I stayed with it all day and fished some new water and made some crucial culls later after live went out.”

Rotating between a worm and a one-ounce weight he adjusted two at the end, Watkins knows he needs to keep positive and keep covering water if his main area is not firing again in the morning.

“I have nothing for tomorrow other than probably fishing all new water. I have to give that main spot some time but the wind has completely changed the area and it’s not the same. I have a long day so maybe they will set back up.”

Bryant Smith
With 20-pounds, 2-ounces on day two, Bryant Smith sits in the 3rd place spot with a two-day total of 39-pounds 9-ounces. Rotating through a combination of shell bars, Smith is sharing water with another angler and fishing a couple different baits.

“I am getting them on both dragging and moving baits and another angler and I are rotating a few spots and plucking off a few bass each. Coming into the event I had one area I knew had some potential to be good and I caught some good ones early on day one.”

After a quick start, Smith had little else to go fish and working with his travel partner, the two figured out how they could both catch fish on only a few spots.

“I am hoping it keeps up for another day, but the both of us have been going easy on them out there. After a couple fish, we leave and let it rest, and are able to pull in and catch a few more. It seems like the group breaks up and you have to let them get back in position.”

Ron Johnson
With a tougher day two, Ron Johnson added 12-pounds, 2-ounces to his day one bag of 26-pounds, 3-ounces to end the day in the 4th place spot with a two-day total of 38-pounds, 5-ounces. With increased winds in his area, Johnson dealt with moving fish and cooler water temperatures making it hard to present his bait efficiently.

“The biggest thing was the wind; we had white caps and the boat was bouncing and in the shallow water, the fish get spooky. I could see them on Active Target but they were on the move and difficult to catch.”

With no other options but to stick it out for the day and rely on his stellar day one, Johnson is hopeful for a change on Showdown Saturday that could give him a shot at the win.

“It looks like it could calm down over night and until mid-morning tomorrow. These fish live here and deal with these conditions all the time – I am hopeful that those fish might move back in and set up where I can catch them like day one.”

Matt Massey
With the biggest bag of the tournament, and the current lunker weighing 8-pounds, 13-ounces, Matt Massey added 28-pounds, 13-ounces to his day one weight of 9-pounds, 7-ounces. With a two-day total of 38-pounds, 4-ounces, Massey goes into the final day in the 5th place spot.

After talking himself out of running to his main area early on day one, Massey didn’t make the same mistake two days in a row. He went up and got set up and went to work on making a comeback in the event.

“I am kicking myself for yesterday but I was able to get up there today and give Mike his space and I was still catching fish. The trick is weeding through the smaller fish and getting the bigger bites.”

With 4 good fish and one smaller one in his well, Massey planned on leaving the spot for the day once he could get one more good cull.

“I had one 3-pounder to get rid of and I caught that big one. I got out of there and got back. We all have a long day tomorrow and I am going to go and give it my all.”

Jake Boomer
With 20-pounds, 12-ounces on day one, Jake Boomer added another 17-pounds, 8-ounces on day two. Rotating shell bars with his travel partner, Boomer goes into the final day in the 6th place spot with a two-day total of 38-pounds, 4-ounces.

Michael Yoder
Adding 20-pounds, 14-ounces to his day one weight of 16-pounds, 9-ounces, Texarkana angler Michael Yoder sits in the 7th place spot going into the final day with a two-day total of 36-pounds, 13-ounces. Fishing close by two others in the top five, Yoder is

Patrick Walters
Adding 15-pounds, 12-ounces to his day one weight of 21-pounds, Patrick Walters goes into Showdown Saturday with a two-day total of 36-pounds, 12-ounces in 8th place. With changing conditions on day two, Walters dealt with increased winds and tougher conditions for his grass beds.

“It muddied up a little, but the main thing was the increased winds and a slightly different direction. It makes it tough to be efficient and make the exact cast along the grass edges. It was typical Florida, changing conditions daily but I still had a chance for a better bag and I really burned my area up.”

Walters plans on making a long run for Showdown Saturday and has been saving an area for the final day.

“It’s the final day of the year – I am going to have some fun, gamble and go for broke!”

Rest of the best:
9th Keith Carson 36-8
10th Dustin Smith 36-5

by AnglersChannel

O’Connell And Adams Take Lead At Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship

The Redfish World Series team of Edward Adams of Metairie, La., and Sean O'Connell of Mandeville, La., are leading after Day 1 of the 2022 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter with 16 pounds, 10 ounces.

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

November 4, 2022

PORT ARANSAS, Texas — Sean O’Connell of Mandeville, La., and Edward Adams of Metairie, La., dialed in a productive zone, made the right weather adjustments and turned in a two-fish limit of 16 pounds, 10 ounces to lead Day 1 of the Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter.

The leaders head into Saturday’s competition with a 13-ounce advantage over the all-star team of Bassmaster Elite Series veteran Chris Zaldain of Fort Worth, Texas, and IFA Redfish Tour standout Ryan Rickard of Brandon, Fla., who won last year’s event.

O’Connell and Adams, the 2022 Redfish World Series Champions, fished the southern end of tournament waters — which extend from Port O’Connor south to Bird Island — and found their fish in a 1/4-mile area of grass flats with scattered potholes.

“These flats undulate in depth from about 2 to 4 feet and we found these fish were sitting on a specific line that really stood out in pre-fishing,” O’Connell said. “We bounced around a little bit, but we found this one concentrated area and we made probably three drifts within 100 feet of each other and the fish were there.”

Adams said he and his partner got bit two to three times per drift. Happy with that level of productivity, they repeated these passes and made a strategic move to manage the 20- to 25-mph Southeast wind.

“The way the wind was blowing today, we were drifting across the lines, so we had to come back through,” O’Connell said. “We knew we had a couple hundred yards of that line where the fish were sitting, and we slowed down our drift with a drift sock to stay in there a little bit longer. That was our best drift.”

While O’Connell sampled spoons, ChatterBaits and other options, Adams said their fish would only bite 3/8-ounce jigheads with Berkley Gulp swimbait tails. Adams stuck with a 3-inch tail, but when speckled trout became a bycatch nuisance, O’Connell switched to a 4-inch tail in hopes that the larger profile might intimidate the time-wasting trout.

“You had to keep the baits moving because there was so much grass,” Adams said. “It looks like we were really jerking out baits, but we were mostly trying to keep those baits clean.”

While their day produced what they needed, O’Connell lamented missing a few opportunities that didn’t match their current tactics. As he explained, catching “floaters” — redfish hovering just under the surface — requires quick response with short, precise casts. But by the time they were in position, the moment had passed.

“We’re from Louisiana and we’re used to sight fishing, so we keep our eyes peeled all the time,” O’Connell said. “The problem was, our baits were 200 yards away and those fish were right there in front of us. We didn’t have time to get the bait in fast enough to get it in front of their face.

“We saw them and that’s a good sign that they’re there.”

The Day 2 forecast again calls for strong winds, but this time they will come out of the Northeast. Adams said he and O’Connell had their fish by about 11 a.m. and then went scouting to expand their area.

“I’ve fished here before, so I looked for some of the sweet spots,” Adams said. “We’ve been fishing where our best spots are, so if we get one or two of those good bites tomorrow, we’ll be right where we want to be.”

O’Connell agreed: “We’re in an area that holds big fish, but we just got bit right today. Our area got a little mucked up with the wind today, but hopefully, we have enough fish out there tomorrow to do the same thing.”

Returning to the same general area they fished in 2021, Zaldain and Rickard got off to a fast start with an 8-pounder around 8:30. They followed about 20 minutes later with a 5-pounder and recorded the day’s first limit.

Just before 9, Zaldain put the brakes on a 7-pounder that culled their smaller fish and gave them a total of 15-13.

“We really exceeded where I wanted to be by (topping) our Day 1 weight from last year (14-10),” Rickard said. “I said going into Day 1 last year that we need to have about 14 pounds. I knew that wouldn’t be leading the first day, but that’s not really the goal on Day 1.

“I wanted to back that up this year with 14 pounds, so we exceeded what I wanted to do. I feel really good about it because we have (several more spots) to go to if we need it.”

Rickard noted that the fish in their main area didn’t seem to be gathering as much as they did in 2021. Typically, fall sees good schooling activity, but Rickard surmised that higher salinity could have the fish less comfortable.

“The one big thing that stands out this year is less numbers and slightly better quality,” said Zaldain, who cringed at the memory of releasing a 9-pounder that measured slightly over the 28-inch maximum.

While Rickard threw jigheads with paddletails, both of their weight fish ate Zaldain’s 6-inch swimbait rigged on a 5/0 belly-weighted hook.

Elite Redfish Series Team of the Year Barnie White of Brewton, Ala., and Dwayne Mills of Cantonment, Fla., placed third with 14-0. Focusing on marshy shorelines with depths of 2 to 4 feet, they caught their fish on popping cork rigs with jigs and scented Fishbites Butt Kicker paddletails hung on 18-inch leaders.

“Those popping cork rigs work well because the cork simulates the sound of a feeding fish and that attracts the redfish,” Mills said. “They swim toward that noise, then they see and smell that bait.”

White said he and his partner are comfortable with their opening effort and look forward to Day 2.

“On Day 1 all you can do is lose it; you can’t win it,” White said. “All we can ask for is to be in contention when Day 3 gets here and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7:05 a.m. CT from Fisherman’s Wharf. The weigh-in will be held back at the wharf at 3 p.m. FS1 will broadcast Bassmaster Redfish LIVE coverage Saturday from 7-10 a.m. with continuing coverage available on Bassmaster.com.

2022 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup presented by Skeeter 11/4-11/6
Port Aransas, Port Aransas TX.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

Angler Hometown Pts

1. Edward Adams - Sean O'Connell Metairie, LA/Mandeville, LA 0
Day 1: 2 16-10 Total: 2 16-10
2. Ryan Rickard - Chris Zaldain Brandon, FL/Fort Worth, TX 0
Day 1: 2 15-13 Total: 2 15-13
3. Barnie White - Dwayne Mills Brewton, AL/Cantonment, FL 0
Day 1: 2 14-00 Total: 2 14-00
4. Kevin Akin - Drew Cook Corpus Christi, TX/Cairo, GA 0
Day 1: 2 13-11 Total: 2 13-11
5. Gary Moreno - Bo Favre Baytown, TX/Bay St. Louis, MS 0
Day 1: 2 11-05 Total: 2 11-05
5. Graham Taylor - Copeland More Dade City, FL/Tampa, FL 0
Day 1: 2 11-05 Total: 2 11-05
7. Michael Goodwine - Brandon Palaniuk Tampa, FL/Rathdrum, ID 0
Day 1: 2 11-04 Total: 2 11-04
8. Chris Cenci - Chris Kennedy Jacksonville Beach, FL/Metairie, LA 0
Day 1: 2 09-06 Total: 2 09-06
9. Brent Roy - Wes Logan Venice, LA/Springville, AL 0
Day 1: 2 08-14 Total: 2 08-14
10. Johnathan Willis - Scott Martin Perdido Key, FL/Clewiston, FL 0
Day 1: 2 07-15 Total: 2 07-15
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 10 20 120-03
----------------------------------
10 20 120-03

by AnglersChannel

Kyle Hall Takes Day Two Lead at Toyota Series Championship Presented by A.R.E. on Lake Guntersville

Texas Pro Leads by 5-Ounce Margin, Top 10 Set in the Battle for up to $235,000

GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (Nov. 4, 2022) – After a grueling day on the water Friday, pro Kyle Hall of Granbury, Texas, brought a five-bass limit to the stage weighing 18 pounds, 9 ounces to take the lead after Day Two of the Toyota Series Championship Presented by A.R.E. at Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Alabama. Hall’s two-day total of 10 bass weighing 38 pounds, 9 ounces gives him a slim 5-ounce lead over pro Todd Castledine of Nacogdoches, Texas, who brought 17 pounds, 1 ounce to the scale for a two-day total of 38-4, good for second place.

Hosted by Marshall County Tourism and Sports, the championship event features 194 pros and co-anglers from around the world, competing for a top cash award of up to $235,000. The field is now cut to just the top 10 pros and Strike King co-anglers heading into the final day of competition in the Toyota Series Championship, the culmination of the 2022 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. season.

“Today was a lot tougher than yesterday,” Hall said. “I caught about 40 fish yesterday and I only caught 7 or 8 today, so it slowed way down. I think they stopped pulling current off the lake, which greatly affected what the fish were doing. I expect there will be even less current being pulled tomorrow with it being the weekend.

“I spent the last two days targeting bass that were chasing bait, and I’m seeing a lot of them, but with the current changing it definitely messed with the bite.”

Hall said the fish were sitting in about 10 to 20 feet of water and he’s utilized his electronics to find every fish he’s caught.

“I took my co-angler to the bank today for about 10 minutes, but we quickly moved back out to deeper water,” Hall said. “I found the fish around lunchtime on the last day of practice and got a lot of bites quick. What I’m doing has worked for two days so far, but I don’t know if it will hold up through tomorrow.”

Hall said he’s used one bait throughout both days of the event – which he preferred not to reveal before the Championship Round – but said presentation has been key.

“Some have hit on a constant retrieve, others wanted it paused or even jerked like a jerkbait,” Hall said.

Although he’s already had a stellar season, including a Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit win on Lake Champlain in August, Hall said he didn’t take that into consideration heading into the championship event.

“I didn’t come into this week thinking about any of the highlights from earlier in the season,” Hall said. “I just came into this event fresh, with my mind set on winning this event. After practice, I knew I had a good chance to win, but getting them in the boat has been a struggle. I’ve lost several key fish the past few days, but I’m anticipating a good day tomorrow.”

The top 10 pros that advanced to the final day of competition on Lake Guntersville are:

1st:           Kyle Hall of Granbury, Texas, 10 bass, 38-9
2nd:          Todd Castledine of Nacogdoches, Texas, 10 bass, 38-4
3rd:          Scout Echols of Monticello, Ark., 10 bass, 37-7
4th:           Matt Wieteha of Miami, Fla., 10 bass, 36-11
5th:           Marshall Robinson of Landrum, S.C., 10 bass, 34-4
6th:           Matt Becker of Finleyville, Pa., 10 bass, 34-1
7th:           Donny Bass of Naples, Fla., 10 bass, 33-8
8th:           Cole Breeden of Lebanon, Mo., 10 bass, 33-8
9th:           Drew Gill of Mount Carmel, Ill., 10 bass, 32-15
10th:        Seth Davis of Georgetown, Tenn., 10 bass, 32-6

For a full list of results visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 545 bass weighing 1,528 pounds, 14 ounces caught Friday. The catch included 64 five-bass limits.

Jason Sandidge of Centerton, Arkansas, leads the Strike King co-angler division with nine bass weighing 24 pounds, 4 ounces, followed by Jason Swanson of Waterloo, Iowa,  who has weighed nine bass totaling 23 pounds, 7 ounces, to secure his second-place position. Strike King co-anglers are competing for a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers that will fish the final day on Lake Guntersville are:

1st:           Jason Sandidge of Centerton, Ark., nine bass, 24-4
2nd:          Jason Swanson of Waterloo, Iowa, nine bass, 23-7
3rd:          Levi Thibodaux of Thibodaux, La., eight bass, 22-15
4th:           David Williams of Fredericksburg, Va., eight bass, 22-12
5th:           Michael Duarte of Baltimore, Md., nine bass, 22-1
6th:           Alan Hults of Gautier, Miss., eight bass, 21-12
7th:           Jonathan Green of San Pablo, Calif., eight bass, 20-12
8th:           Frank Lauria of Wesley Chapel, Fla., seven bass, 20-11
9th:           Shawn Clark of Afton, Okla., six bass, 19-5
10th:        Jacob Smith of Frisco, Texas, seven bass, 19-3

The final 10 pros and Strike King co-anglers will take off Saturday at 7 a.m. CT from Guntersville Civitan Park, located at 1130 Sunset Drive, in Guntersville. Saturday’s Championship weigh-in will also be held at the park and will begin at 3 p.m. Outdoor vendors will be onsite prior to weigh-in on Saturday from 1-6 p.m. with free giveaways while supplies last. Fans can register for prize drawings for the opportunity to win a YETI Hopper Flip Cooler. The final drawing will take place Saturday following the weigh-in.

Fans are welcome to attend Saturday’s takeoff and weigh-in and also follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcast and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com. The 2022 Toyota Series Championship Presented by A.R.E. will premiere on CBS Sports next fall.

The full field of anglers competed on Days 1 and 2 of the event, with the top 10 pros and top 10 Strike King co-anglers based on cumulative weight from the first two days continuing to the third and final day on Saturday. The 2022 Toyota Series champions will be determined by the heaviest three-day total weight.

Pros and co-anglers can qualify for multiple contingency awards based on final standings in the championship, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for pros. The winning Strike King co-angler will earn a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.

The 2022 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. consisted of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. The highest finishing pro from each division at the championship will claim a $10,000 bonus. The bonus will go to the second-highest finishing pro in the division represented by the overall champion.

The 2022 Toyota Series Championship field features the top 25 pros, top 25 Strike King co-anglers and tournament winners from each of the six divisions; the top 12 pros and 12 co-anglers from the Wild Card division; the highest finishing boater and co-angler from each of the six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regionals and the TBF National Championship at the All-American; the top three teams from the College Fishing National Championship; High School Fishing National Champions; TBF National Champions; and MLF International champions from Canada, China, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Namibia, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and Zimbabwe.

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

by AnglersChannel

Bringing 26.3 to the stage, Ron Johnson sets the pace on Kissimmee.

Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons

Leading the pack after day one on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, Ron Johnson worked through several different areas today to catch his bass. With a 7-pound, 12-ounce kicker to anchor his weight, Johnson brough a limit worth 26-pound 3-ounces to the scales giving him a 2-pound, 7-ounce lead going into the second day.

After arriving to his starting spot to find another angler fishing, the two were able to work together catching solid limits before moving on. Johnson caught three of his bigger bites after leaving and is using his Lowrance Active Target to find fish and line up his casts.

“In practice we didn’t have much wind, but today it blew and the fish were pickier. I caught 95% on one bait and could see them on forward facing sonar sitting in the grass. Going into day two, I have quite a few places that have been hit or miss, as well as a few other key spots I can get some bigger bites like I did today.”

Johnson believes his stuff has a chance to hold up for a couple more days and is excited to get out there tomorrow.

Taylor Watkins
With 23-pounds, 12-ounces, Tennessee pro Taylor Watkins worked a couple different spots to finish the day in the second-place spot. Watkins got off to a hot start first thing in the morning putting a solid limit in his livewell before making two crucial culls later in the day.

“I spent some time graphing and flipping in practice and I ran by this area and something told me I had to check it out. I started working through, spooked a big fish and caught a couple others. I moved a bit further and found the motherload.”

Sharing his starting spot with another angler in the top five, he is unsure if the area will hold up for three days but catching a few later in the day gave him confidence he could have a productive day two.

“It’s the winning spot – the question is if it will hold up with two of us fishing it. I got some good fish and lost some first thing so I am confident we can catch some tomorrow and then hopefully I can make a few culls on my secondary spot again.”

Patrick Walters
Ending the day in the third-place spot, Patrick Walterscovered a lot of water to catch his day one bag of 21-pounds. Walters sampled a bunch of water in practice and made sure he was in his key areas at the key times to capitalize on biting fish.

“I spent a lot of time in practice just looking at different lakes and tried different depths and cover. Although I didn’t get many good bites, I did catch a lot of fish and figured out some places and the timing. Today, I hunkered down in those areas and just weeded through fish to see what was truly there.”

After catching his bag, Walters graphed and located some other areas that may help out as the tournament goes on.

“I wouldn’t mind it cooling down a little bit but we got two more days of work to do out there.”

Michael Catt
With 20-pounds, 15-ounces on day one including a 6-pound, 5-ounce kicker, Michael Catt finished the day in the fourth-place spot, tied with Trent Palmer.

Trent Palmer
Trent Palmer spent a part of the day with four quality bass in his livewell before finishing up a 20-pound, 15-ounce limit putting him in the fifth-place spot. After a productive practice period, Palmer fished three types of patterns on day one to catch his bag.

“I was able to locate a few different ways to get some bites, and this morning I started on a bar and was able to catch a good fish early. I had opportunities for a better day but lost a few fish on treble style baits while ‘junk fishing’ through some key areas from practice.”

Jake Boomer
After abandoning his areas from practice, Jake boomercaught fish on a bunch of different baits to put together his 20-pound, 12-ounce limit on day, finishing in the sixth-place spot. Making a run that included locking, Boomer fished his way back towards the takeoff running into some biting bass along the way.

“I have had good practice days all year long and this week I only had one decent day. I was confident with abandoning that and just going fishing today. I fished through several areas and ran into them.”

Boomer had an early flight and caught fish on every bait in the boat once he located the school he was looking for. Flipping a big weight with a Jaboom Baits Beaver Balls, he was able to scale down his weight as the bait is designed to slip through thick cover.

“This bait allows me to fish behind guys and the big one I caught today ate at before it fell a few inches. It’s a pure a reaction bite and they absolutely crush it. I caught some key fish flipping but caught fish on every rod I had rigged up. It took some time to figure out what was going on in my area but once I started catching a few, it all made sense.”

Rest of the best:
7th Darrell Davis 19-12
8th Bryant Smith 19-7
9th Dan Blackert 19-0
10th Taylor Umland 19-0

by AnglersChannel

Todd Castledine Leads Day One of the Toyota Series Championship Presented by A.R.E. on Lake Guntersville

Texas Pro Leads by 8-Ounce Margin in the Competition for up to $235,000

GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (Nov. 3, 2022) – A tournament field of 194 boats – each featuring a pro and a co-angler – began their three-day competition for a top cash award of up to $235,000 at the 2022 Toyota Series Championship Presented by A.R.E. at Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Alabama, Thursday. The bass-fishing championship, hosted by Marshall County Tourism and Sports, is the culmination of the 2022 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. season.

Pro Todd Castledine of Nacogdoches, Texas, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 21 pounds, 3 ounces to take the early lead after Day 1 of the three-day event. Castledine holds a slim 8-ounce lead over pro Ty Faber of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, who caught five bass weighing 20 pounds, 11 ounces, good for second place.

The Texas pro said he felt like he had a good game plan for the afternoon bite going into Day 1, but everything changed once he hit the water.

“I felt like my best time to catch the fish I was targeting was in the afternoon, but the mornings were still a bit of a mystery for me,” said Castledine. “My goal going into the day was to catch two good bass before 11 a.m., and this morning started out about like I expected it to. By 10:45, I had caught two bass, and one of them was a good one, so I was pretty happy. By 11:15 I had caught six or seven and figured out a few patterns that were working well.”

Castledine said now that he’s located the bass early and figured out what they are doing, the morning bite might actually be better than he anticipated.

“I really thought I had the timing dialed in for the afternoon, but the fish were about two hours later today than I expected, which was a little worrisome at first,” Castledine continued. “Although my afternoon didn’t end up going quite as well as I thought it would, I feel really good having an edge on the morning as well.”

Castledine, who has fished in the Toyota Series Championship nine times and finished in the Top 10 twice, said he threw multiple baits during Day 1, but preferred to keep them under wraps, for now.

“I know it’s early in the event, but I feel good about leading today because I really wasn’t expecting it,” Castledine said. “Last year I made the Top 10 during the championship, but I just barely made it through, and it’s been a while since I caught a decent bag on the first day of an event, so I’m feeling great going into tomorrow.

The top 20 pros after Day One on Lake Guntersville are:

1st:           Todd Castledine of Nacogdoches, Texas, five bass, 21-3
2nd:          Ty Faber of Pagosa Springs, Colo., five bass, 20-11
3rd:          Scout Echols of Monticello, Ark., five bass, 20-9
4th:           Tristan McCormick of Burns, Tenn., five bass, 20-3
5th:           Mark Lassagne of Dixon, Calif., five bass, 20-2
6th:           Nick Salvucci of Atascadero, Calif., five bass, 20-1
7th:           Kyle Hall of Granbury, Texas, five bass, 20-0
8th:           Andrew Nordbye of Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 19-15
9th:           Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, five bass, 19-12
10th:        Randy Deaver of Blanchard, La., five bass, 19-1
11th:        Matt Wieteha of Miami, Fla., five bass, 19-0
12th:        Jacopo Gallelli of Horton, Ala., five bass, 18-11
13th:        Donny Bass of Naples, Fla., five bass, 18-8
13th:        Zach Crider of Tunnel Hill, Ga., five bass, 18-8
15th:        Jeremy Johnson of Kansas City, Kan., five bass, 18-3
16th:        Seth Davis of Georgetown, Tenn., five bass, 18-0
17th:        Jonathan Semento of Okahumpka, Fla., five bass, 17-11
18th:        Cole Breeden of Lebanon, Mo., five bass, 17-8
18th:        Christian Greico of Tampa, Fla., five bass, 17-8
20th:        Tyler Stewart of Dubach, La., five bass, 17-7
For a full list of results visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.Overall, there were 669 bass weighing 1,923 pounds, 9 ounces caught by 182 pros Thursday. The catch included 86 five-bass limits.

Roger Phillips of Delta, Alabama, leads the Strike King co-angler division with five bass weighing 18 pounds, 5 ounces, followed by Robert Chavers of Knoxville, Arkansas , who weighed five bass totaling 16-2 to end the day in second place. Co-anglers are competing for a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The top 20 Strike King co-anglers after Day One on Lake Guntersville are:

1st:           Roger Phillips of Delta, Ala., five bass, 18-5
2nd:          Robert Chavers of Knoxville, Ark., five bass, 16-2
3rd:          Derek Brown of Charlottesville, Va., five bass, 14-0
4th:           Anthony Scoma of Spring Hill, Kan., four bass, 13-13
5th:           Pop Catalin of Cookeville, Tenn., five bass, 13-9
6th:           Skyler Koury of Show Low, Ariz., five bass, 13-6
7th:           Michael Duarte of Baltimore, Md. five bass, 12-15
8th:           Brent Jones of Okeana, Ohio, five bass, 12-14
9th:           David Bozarth of Montgomery, Texas, five bass, 12-11
10th:        Robert Griswold of Lincolnton, N.C., five bass, 12-4
11th:        Clint Horton of Falkner, Miss., five bass, 12-1
12th:        Levi Thibodaux of Thibodaux, La., five bass, 11-14
13th:        Michael Walsh of El Cajon, Calif., five bass, 11-13
14th:        Al Hopkins of Pendleton, Ind., five bass, 10-14
15th:        David Williams of Fredericksburg, Va., four bass, 10-10
16th:        Jason Sandidge of Centerton, Ark., four bass, 10-9
17th:        Alan Hults of Gautier, Miss., three bass, 10-7
18th:        Stephen Draghi of Sparrowbush, N.Y., three bass, 10-2
19th:        Jonathan Green of San Pablo, Calif., four bass, 9-13
20th:        Richard Arnold of Owens Cross Roads, Ala., four bass, 9-12
20th:        Andre Pretorius of Skeerpoort, South Africa, three bass, 9-12
Anglers will take off daily at 7 a.m. CT from Guntersville Civitan Park, located at 1130 Sunset Drive, in Guntersville. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park and will begin at 3 p.m. Outdoor vendors will be onsite prior to and during weigh-ins Friday from 2-6 p.m. and Saturday from 1-6 p.m. with free giveaways while supplies last. Fans can register for daily prize drawings for the opportunity to win a YETI Hopper Flip Cooler. Drawings will take place daily following the weigh-in.Fans are welcome to attend the daily takeoffs and weigh-ins and also follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com. The 2022 Toyota Series Championship Presented by A.R.E. will premiere on CBS Sports next fall.

The full field of anglers will compete on Days 1 and 2 of the event, with the top 10 pros and top 10 Strike King co-anglers based on cumulative weight from the first two days continuing to the third and final day on Saturday. The 2022 Toyota Series champions will be determined by the heaviest three-day total weight.

Pros and co-anglers can qualify for multiple contingency awards based on final standings in the championship, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for pros. The winning Strike King co-angler will earn a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.

The 2022 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. consisted of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International division. The highest finishing pro from each division at the championship will claim a $10,000 bonus. The bonus will go to the second-highest finishing pro in the division represented by the overall champion.

The 2022 Toyota Series Championship field features the top 25 pros, top 25 Strike King co-anglers and tournament winners from each of the six divisions; the top 12 pros and 12 co-anglers from the Wild Card division; the highest finishing boater and co-angler from each of the six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regionals and the TBF National Championship at the All-American; the top three teams from the College Fishing National Championship; High School Fishing National Champions; TBF National Champions; and MLF International champions from Canada, China, Italy, Korea, Mexico, Namibia, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and Zimbabwe.

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

by AnglersChannel

Alabama City Hopes To Leverage Boating Access And New Tournament Facilities For Economic Boon

 

Officials in west Alabama believe the newly opened Demopolis City Landing will help attract larger fishing tournaments and provide a big economic benefit to the region. 

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

November 3, 2022

 

Gov Ivey Dedication.jpgDEMOPOLIS, Ala. — Participation in angling has hit new highs, and officials in Demopolis, Ala., and the State of Alabama are hoping to leverage the newly opened Demopolis City Landing to host larger fishing tournaments and boost the local economy.

“Recreational fishing, and especially tournament fishing, has a huge positive impact on many communities in Alabama,” said Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural ResourcesCommissioner Chris Blankenship. “Building first-class boat ramps with enough launch lanes and parking to host regional and national-size fishing tournaments helps these rural areas capitalize on (their) natural resources and provide economic growth.”

The updated facility features new boat launches, parking and docks as well as a new weigh-in pavilion built in partnership with Alabama Power and B.A.S.S. — the third pavilion the companies have partnered to build around the state.

“The partnerships with B.A.S.S. and Alabama Power to build weigh-in pavilions just adds to the ability to attract tournaments of all sizes,” said Blankenship. “ADCNR is proud to partner with local governments and other organizations to do good work that will pay dividends for decades and help improve the quality of life in Alabama.”

Lay Lake Pavilion.jpgPreviously built tournament pavilions at Alabama’s scenic Lewis Smith Lake, which opened in 2020, and Lay Lake, which was completed in 2014, have hosted high-level tournaments including Bassmaster Opens, College and High School events attracting thousands of anglers to the region and generating millions of dollars for host communities. Lay Lake will also host a 2023 Bassmaster Elite Series event.

According to a study by Auburn University, bass tournament anglers spent, on average, nearly $500 per day on fees, bait, fuel, lodging and food. The 2022 Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors at Lake Hartwell drew anglers, spectators and event sponsors from 39 states, accounted for more than 6,100 room nights and had a total economic impact of $1.5 million in host community Anderson, S.C.

The new Demopolis City Landing project represents a $3 million investment made possible by a partnership between the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, the City of Demopolis and Marengo County. The upgraded facility not only features two new pavilions, but it also provides a four-lane boat launch with 53 paved parking spots, green-space parking for hundreds more and 250 feet of docking space.

Demopolis Dock.jpgAccording to Demopolis Mayor Woody Collins, the city is already attacking much larger tournaments than they’ve previously been able to accommodate. “We’ve been able to host 80 to 90 boat tournaments. I saw today that we had one coming with 250 boats. Now, think about the impact to restaurants, all the grocery stores and gas stations. It’s amazing.”

Officials are turning their sights to bringing in larger regional and national bass fishing tournaments to the Tombigbee and Black Warrior rivers and are excited about the possibilities that will open up for businesses throughout the Black Belt area.

“If you affect one segment of your community, we all know that money turns over four or five times in a community,” said Collins.

“I fully expect to watch the tourism industry grow even more after the opening of this boat ramp in Demopolis,” said Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, who was on hand for the dedication of the landing. “This opening will allow more of our families from far and near to get out and experience this great state. This project is not an end but just a beginning ... Commissioner Blankenship will be developing more boating access facilities like this one, but I know Marengo County will be tough to beat.”

by AnglersChannel

Now Available, Daiwa’s Technique-Specific TATULA XT Bass Rods

Nine Casting, Six Spinning Models Offered at $99.99 (USD)

Cypress, CA (November 3, 2022) – With more and more bass anglers relying on technique-specific rods to quickly grab the necessary set-up with a different bait for changing situations, Daiwa offers an affordable way to have an array of rods rigged and ready with the new Tatula XT bass rod series. Available at select tackle shops for $99.99 (USD), the Tatula XT rods – designed for both savvy anglers and those just discovering the added thrill of tournament bass fishing – include nine casting and six spinning models for everything from finesse baits in clear water to casting frogs with heavy braided line in thick cover.

Six spinning models

Nine casting models

“While we realize many have that one go-to rod for use with their go-to lure, the new Tatula XT rods will enable bass anglers to expand their bass rod arsenal with a series loaded with proven Daiwa rod construction,” said Daiwa’s Marc Mills. “At its $99.99 price, there’s the right Tatula XT rod for those just discovering the thrill of tournament bass fishing, and also for those savvy anglers expanding their tackle assortment, so they’re ready to grab and cast the right lure when the forward-facing sonar shows them a nice fish to entice.”

The model lineup ranges from the Tatula XT731MHFB, a versatile 7-foot-3-inch casting rod, to the 7-foot-6-inch extra-heavy power Tatula XT76XHFB casting rod for flipping and pitching and for use with a heavy Carolina-rig. On the spinning side, “we’re thinking the 7-foot-1 Tatula XT711MLXS will find a home on many boat decks so you’re ready with a drop-shot rig or to work a Neko bait,” Mills said. “If the situat calls for a bigger soft plastics or a wacky rig, check out the Tatula 7-foot XT701MHFS.”

With design features showcased on its proven Tatula Elite bass rods, the Tatula XT rods include lightweight and powerful HVF (High Volume Fiber) graphite blank technology, X45 Bias and Braiding-X blank construction to prevent rod twist for longer casts, added sensitivity, and more hook-setting power. The series also includes two glass blank casting rods designed ideally for medium to larger size crankbaits and bladed jigs.

Both the Tatula XT casting and spinning rods feature ‘JDM’ EVA-style split grips and Daiwa’s exclusive light and sensitive Tatula carbon nut reel seat. A two-piece spinning rod is offered for travel/storage convenience.

“Everything in the bass fishing world is seeing growth – the major professional bass fishing circuits are seeing success from anglers from nearly every state and from a large influx of contenders from Canada, Japan and other countries, and the number of anglers competing in the high school and college bass tournaments continues to amaze,” notes Mills. “And while recent economic challenges find us being prudent with funds for the fun things in life, the fact we’re able to rely on Daiwa’s global abilities to bring both performance and value to these new Tatula XT rods is a bonus to bass anglers everywhere.”

TATULA XT Bass Rod (Overview)

Daiwa introduces the new Tatula XT freshwater rods for both savvy anglers and those just discovering the added thrill of tournament bass fishing. The lineup offers technique-specific rods for a wide assortment of situations in nine casting and six spinning models. Proven rod construction features include lightweight and powerful HVF graphite blank technology, Braiding-X for increased hoop strength and X45 Bias construction for minimal blank twist – which provides advantages to the angler when hooked-up – EVA-style split grips and Daiwa’s exclusive light and sensitive Tatula carbon nut reel seat. The series includes two glass blank cranking models and one all-around two-piece spinning model for travel/storage convenience. MSRP: $99.99 (USD).

by AnglersChannel

Randy Howell - Kings Home Boat Giveaway!

Courtesy of Randy Howell - Bass Pro Tour Pro

This is MLF pro Randy Howell.
The tournament season is finally over and it’s time for our annual Kings Home charity boat giveaway Nov.12th.
This is our 12th anniversary for the boat giveaway, so we want to make this year the biggest EVER!!
The fishing community in all 50 states, and in 8 other countries have helped us raise over 2.3 million dollars the past 11 years with our boat giveaways, and this year we want to break ALL the records!!!
Kings Home is an Alabama based independent charity that houses over 150 kids, teens, and ladies suffering from severe abuse, abandonment, neglect or homelessness.
That’s why this boat giveaway is SO important! It’s become the largest fundraiser of the year for these kids, and ladies homes, and they appreciate your help so much!!
This is an awesome opportunity to win my beautiful FULLY LOADED Triton Bass boat, equipped with all of the latest and greatest products valued at over $100k dollars!
This years boat is my 2022 Triton 21-XRT Elite with a Mercury 250 Pro-XS 4stroke V-8 engine.
It's loaded with
3 Lowrance HDS live units, one 16 and two 12’s on Boatlogix mounts.
Lowrance Ghost troll Mtr, Gatorguard Keelshield,
T-H Marine Atlas HD hydraulic Jackplate,
2- Blue 8' Power-pole blades,
Power-pole Charge system,
T-H marine custom Bluewater LED lighting on boat and trailer,
3 Impulse lithium batteries,
TH marine Hydrowave and accessories,
stainless steel fenders and 17" general tires with custom wheel package.
Retail value of over $100,000!!
Tickets are tax deductible and $100 each. There are NO limits on the number of ticket donations you can make, and you DO NOT have to be present to win. The drawing will be live-streamed at 2pm central time on November 12th on Facebook.com/Randyhowellfishing.
Ticket donations will be taken until 12pm Central on Saturday Nov.12th on Kingshome.com/randyhowell
and by phone at 205-678-8331
Follow the link below to donate online, and
PLEASE SHARE this link at the bottom of the page with your friends, and thanks again for your donations.
Together WE can make a difference!!
God bless!
Randy Howell
Sent from The Kings Home Triton of Randy Howell

by AnglersChannel

Major League Fishing Announces Dates for REDCREST V, VI and VII

TULSA, Okla. (Nov. 3, 2022) – Major League Fishing announced today the dates for REDCREST V in 2024, REDCREST VI in 2025 and REDCREST VII in 2026. REDCREST, the annual Bass Pro Tour championship, showcases the top anglers from the Bass Pro Tour each season competing for the REDCREST Championship trophy and a top prize of $300,000. Locations for REDCREST V, VI and VII will be announced by the end of this year.

REDCREST SCHEDULE:

  • REDCREST IV, Lake Norman, Charlotte, N.C., March 8-12, 2023
  • REDCREST V, March 13-17, 2024
  • REDCREST VI, April 2-6, 2025
  • REDCREST VII, March 18-22, 2026

“Following the success of REDCREST this past March in Tulsa, we have received incredible interest from top notch destinations wanting to host REDCREST in the future,” said Michael Mulone, MLF Vice President of Strategic Business Planning. “The opportunity to announce these dates allows our anglers, sponsors, exhibitors, and internal teams the ability to strategically plan our schedules and initiatives. We are grateful to each of these host cities for their partnership and look forward to working with them to welcome fans to REDCREST.”

In addition to the tournaments, the MLF Outdoor Sports Expo featuring hundreds of sponsors, exhibitors and activities will be held each year in conjunction with the Championship event. Fishing and outdoor enthusiasts will have the opportunity to visit booths and vendors showcasing the latest and greatest in fishing, boating, hunting, camping and more. The biggest names in the outdoor industry will be on hand, including all 80 Bass Pro Tour anglers. Visitors from around the globe will not only watch the world's best bass-fishing action, but they’ll also receive great deals on everything from crankbaits to rods and reels to bass boats at the outdoor show.

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

by AnglersChannel