Flipping the RELiON Lithium Battery switch – Part One: Shop Work
By: Danny Blandford
I’ve been in the bass tournament scene in one capacity or another for most of my adult life. I’ve worked with major boat and motor manufacturers, boat dealers, and brands throughout most of my professional career. With that said, at heart, I’m still just a weekend warrior who loves the competition that comes with bass fishing. 
A Thursday nighter at home with our local river rats or something bigger, I do my best to show up and be in contention. It doesn’t always work out, but that is the nature of the beast we call bass fishing.
I’ve been fortunate over the years to win some events and most of those winnings are redeployed on more bass fishing gear, boat accessories, and electronics. I’m kind of a “bass geek” so I play to pay for the latest and greatest…partly out of curiosity, and partly to make sure I’ve got any edges that may be available. In recent years I’ve added a Humminbird 360, a TH Marine Hydrowave, an electric shallow water anchor, an additional forward facing sonar setup, as well as a few USB ports to keep cameras and electronics charged for “work”. What I hadn’t done yet was address the old heavy lead-acid batteries in the back of my aluminum boat. For the last year I was feeling like I was underpowered AND overweight. I knew I could make it all better by flipping the lithium battery switch, but I was suffering from analysis paralysis, unsure of some details and if I’d be happy with the investment.
Prior to making the switch I did my charger research by visiting our partners at Pro Charging Systems, where I learned WAY more than I expected. Having been a boat guy for years, I have seen plenty of factory rigs leaving with Dual Pro chargers and thought I was very familiar with them. As a matter of fact, I had been running a Dual Pro Sportsman Series Charger for over 10 years without so much of a hiccup. What I learned was I had a great charger, but not the best charger for the new lithium batteries, so a swap was in order there too.
The Dual Pro Professional Series PS3 Auto was the perfect tool for the job. 15 amps for each of three banks, the intelligence to know what “kind” of battery it was charging, AND the ability to charge lead-acid, AGM, and lithium…even if I chose to have different types in the same system. The Autoprofile system was sharper than me for sure. I really like the idea that if I ever end up having to replace a battery while out on the road, I’m not limited on what I can use in a pinch.
In regards to the process in the shop, any reasonable DIYer would feel very comfortable with what was required. A couple hours in the garage, a 13 millimeter socket, and a screwdriver was all it took to repower the Angler’s Channel River Rig. Older deep cycle Group 27s were replaced with Group 31 Relion RB100s. I also swapped a group 27 sized cranking battery, with a Relion RB100-HP.
In my case, I unhooked all my various leads from the old setup and kept them together and labeled. Popping the latches on my TH Marine battery trays and getting the old batteries out was the most work, since they weighed in at 54 lbs each. Prior to dropping in the Relion batteries, I ran them across the scales and the RB100s weighed in at 27 lbs each. In total, I shaved off around 80 pounds from the transom area of the boat. When you’re talking tin rigs built for shallow water access, that’s a BIG deal.
Mounting the charger was as simple as hanging a picture on the wall. Since it was about 25% bigger than the Sportsman Series, I had to add a few new holes in the rigging plate where it was mounted, but otherwise, plug and play comes to mind. It even included the stainless steel screws and hardware required to mount it. I’ll be adding a Dual Pro Lithium Battery Gauge to the project next, and will follow up with more details on this addition soon.
Overall, my wiring setup was already good to go, it was just the juice that was lacking. I do have to say I love the terminals on the Relions…I know that seems like a silly thing with such sophisticated power, but they’re simply better. Instead of traditional posts, these come with studs/bolts that securely thread into the battery itself and they feature a plate to ensure solid connection, and have a lock washer to ensure they stay that way.
The RB100-HP has the added benefit of having three pairs of terminals, which I REALLY like. In my case, Terminal Set 1 has the charger and the engine hooked up, Terminal Set 2 has all the standard 12v factory boat wiring for accessories, leaving me a third terminal to run my electronics feed exclusively with nothing else interfering.
Overall, it was an easy switch and a pretty simple project. I knocked it out quickly the night before heading out for a long tournament weekend. I plugged everything in around 6 pm and all three batteries climbed from 50% to 100% by 10 pm and I was ready to roll. I have some tidying up to do with some of my wires and cabling, but I plan to clean that up when I do the Gauge Project.
In the next installment, I’ll report on my first 24 hours on the water with this new set-up. Spoiler Alert: I’m JUICED!
Bassmaster Open Winner Rasmussen Bags a Vexus® Buckle
There’s a rumor that Forrest L. Wood actually wore a pair of shorts one time to play softball, but without photo evidence, the tall and much-admired boatbuilding icon will forever be fondly remembered for his boots, jeans, button down shirt, and cowboy hat.
So, when the folks at Vexus® Boats launched their REV Rewards™ bonus program for tournament anglers, they thought it would only be fitting to send each winner a commemorative western belt buckle too, and anglers like recent Bassmaster Open winner, Adam Rasmussen, will tell you they treasure the buckle as much as the cash bonus.
“Just about all boat companies have a contingency program, but only Vexus sends their winners a buckle, and that’s a pretty darn cool keepsake to set on your trophy shelf,” smiles Rasmussen, who is a fishing legend around his home in Sturgeon Bay, but qualified for the 2024 Bassmaster Classic as a result of his victory at the Bassmaster Open on Wheeler Lake, Alabama, more than 800 miles south of his home waters.
His victory at Wheeler was leveraged by a one-two punch that included a JackHammer vibrating jig cast shallow around the shad spawn and a VMC Rugby Jig out deeper on ledges.
This recent buckle is actually the second one Rasmussen has won. His first came as a result of a record setting win in a Champions Tour event on Pelican Lake, MN, where he tallied 98 keeper bass weighing a total of 247 pounds.
From bass to walleye, musky to redfish, the REV Rewards™program pays winners up to $10,000, along with the unique buckle. A huge variety of tournaments, from team events to the pros, are sanctioned by the program, but you can’t win if you don’t sign up. So please visit, vexusboats.com/rev-rewards/
The Savage Gear BFT Flyer Sets a New Standard for Realistic Flying Fish
This highly adaptable lure is based on a 3D scan of an actual flying fish
Columbia, S.C. (July 13, 2023) - Renowned for helping anglers relentlessly pursue the most thrilling catches in daring locations, Savage Gear has once again surpassed expectations with the introduction of the ultimate saltwater flying fish soft lure. Destined to captivate anglers with its unparalleled realism and cutting-edge features, the Savage Gear BFT Flyer is setting its sights on being the ultimate offshore lure for conquering the mightiest big-game species.
With a reputation for providing anglers with the tools needed to pursue large fish, Savage Gear’s BFT Flyer is no exception, delivering an unrivaled fishing experience that encapsulates the spirit of “Go big or go home”. At the heart of the BFT Flyer's exceptional performance lies its excellent design, which is based on a meticulous 3D scan of an actual flying fish. By capturing the intricate movement patterns of these majestic creatures, Savage Gear has crafted a lure that mimics a flying fish’s actions with astonishing realism. The 16-inch Flyer's wings and soft body design not only contribute to its lifelike appearance but also enhance its durability, ensuring it can withstand the force of even the most ferocious strikes.
Equipped with removable wings and a harness, the 16-inch BFT Flyer accurately emulates a flying fish in both appearance and action in the water. It is highly adaptable and can be presented in several ways, either trolling, or fished from a kite, with a variety of rigging options to suit your specific technique of fishing. The dynamic actions of this lure serve as a powerful attractant for predatory fish such as tuna, billfish and other impressive saltwater species.
One of the standout features of the BFT Flyer is its line-thru design. When a fish takes the lure and becomes hooked, the Flyer surges up the leader, preventing the fish from utilizing the lure's weight as leverage during the fight. This innovative mechanism ensures that anglers maintain control throughout the battle, increasing the chances of landing their trophy catch.
“We worked with a highly skilled team that specializes in catching giant bluefin tuna, and harnessing the meal that they love to feast on the most.” Says Theis Gronemann, Marketing Manager for Savage Gear. “The BFT Flyer is finely tuned for both topwater trolling and kite fishing, and will exceed the success of anything currently available.”
To further enhance the angling experience, the BFT Flyer comes complete with an additional set of wings, an extra rig, and the parts needed for easy rigging. This allows anglers to adapt the lure's presentation to suit specific fishing conditions and species, providing versatility and flexibility on every expedition.
BFT Flyer Key Features:
- Based on 3D Scans of a real flying fish
- Line thru system
- Designed for topwater trolling and lure fishing
- Durable PVC body construction
- Semi-soft PVC wings
- Super strong removable rigging
- Additional set of wings, an extra rig, and the parts needed for easy rigging
- 16-inch body with 16-inch wingspan
Available: September 2023
MSRP: $150.00
Two Opposing Layers of Titanium and Carbide-Diamond Sharpens as it Cuts!
| Relentless™ Perpetual Edge™ Fillet Knives, the world's first knife that sharpens as you cut!
History of Cut For centuries, bladesmiths focused on improving the blade’s rate of wear. By making the blade as hard as possible, the edge wears more slowly and stays sharp longer. However, making the blade harder also makes the edge more brittle and difficult to sharpen. Inspired by Nature The revolutionary Relentless™ Fillet Knife takes a completely different approach, it focused on the way the blade wears instead of the rate of wear resulting in a knife that can stay sharp for an entire season rather than for just a few fish. Relentless patented this Perpetual Edge™Technology which was inspired by the self-sharpening front teeth of the beaver. A beaver has really hard, iron-fortified enamel on the front side of its teeth and a relatively soft “dentin enamel” back side. This creates a differential in hardness between the front and the back which allows the softer dentin back side to wear more quickly relative to the harder iron-fortified front side, thereby leaving a thin, continuously razor-sharp edge, a perpetually lifelong edge that sharpens as it cuts. Proven in Technology In much the same way, the Relentless™ Fillet Knife blade is constructed of strong titanium on one side and an ultra-hard carbide and diamond "Power Strip" layer on the other side of the blade edge via spark-and-laser deposition which creates a differential hardness and acts like a beaver tooth that sharpens as it cuts and results in a perpetually-sharp edge that continually sharpens as you use it. This patented Perpetual Edge™ Technology is exclusive to Relentless and is unlike anything else on the market. Relentless™ Knives feature a 100% aerospace-grade titanium blade. Titanium is extremely lightweight and extraordinarily strong which results in less wrist fatigue and enhanced durability. And since titanium is extremely resistant to corrosion and degradation, your Relentless knife will never rust, ever, not even in a saltwater environment. New "Edge" Science The carbide/diamond cutting edge on a Relentless™ Knife is micro-serrated, meaning it has tiny jagged, saw-like protrusions that function like thousands of micro-blades that further enhance the ability of the knife to cut soft, pliable things like fish meat which might otherwise squish (like a tomato). Also, one side of every Relentless™ Fillet Knife is treated with "SlickCut", an anti-friction boron nitride compound which enhances the lubricity of the cutting edge to reduce friction and improve cutting performance. Ergonomic Invariably, the first thing people notice about a Relentless™ Fillet Knife is the extreme gripping ability of its "True Grit" handle. The handle is made of glass reinforced ABS covered with the same gritty material used to create the non-slip surface found adjacent to swimming pools. This ensures you won’t lose your grip while filleting fish even if you have wet or slimy hands. The black True Grit surface is also “faceted” so that those facets scatter light in every direction and results in preventing the blade handle from ever getting hot, even if left in the hot sun. The handle's “Expanding Oval Geometry” design tapers outward to the back to maximize hand-to-handle contact, preventing fatigue and slipping when gripping with either a firm or relaxed grip. This design allows you to choke up toward the front of the handle for more precise cutting while still maintaining a strong grip and accurate blade control. "...this is the most significant advance in the art and science of cut that I have seen in over 55 years in the knife community." Ed Fowler, Blade Magazine Field Editor
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Five Relentless Knife models: 10" Straight - This is the knife preferred for flatter fish like halibut and salmon, for which it has to maneuver around the spine during cutting. MSRP $239.99 9" Curved - Designed for bigger fish like large Mahi and other more significant fish. Allows for a single cut to slab out the side of a fish. MSRP $219.99 8" Straight - Our version of the traditional straight-blade knife that is known for maneuverability around fish spines and gills. Ideal for Grouper and bottom fish with stout, complex spines. MSRP $219.99 7" Curved - Ideal for the coastal fisherman for cleaning larger Mahi, Snapper and the like. Also, for the freshwater fisherman who prefers a larger knife. MSRP $209.99 6" Curved - Designed for the freshwater fisherman and inshore saltwater fisherman. Also a good knife for cutting bait. MSRP $209.99 For more information, please visit RelentlessKnivesUSA.com or contact Customer Service at customerservice@relentlessknivesusa.com |
Peavyhouse Claims Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Barren River
SCOTTSVILLE, Ky. (June 12, 2023) – Boater Isaac Peavyhouse of Jamestown, Tennessee, caught a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds, 11 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Barren River . The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Mountain Division. Peavyhouse earned $12,802, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
“I had maybe 20 to 25 offshore schools marked,” said Peavyhouse, who recently posted a BFL win on Dale Hollow Lake in March. “I pretty much rotated those schools all day long and got the fish I could. I ended up catching nine keepers.”
Peavyhouse said he caught all of his fish on a spoon in 10 to 15 feet of water on main-lake points. He said he had a limit by 9:20, and spent the rest of his day trying to upgrade his final weight.
“I ended up culling two times in the last 20 minutes, and that really sealed the deal,” Peavyhouse said. “I knew I needed one big one, and when I culled the last one, I called it quits.”
Peavyhouse said he hadn’t fished Barren River before 2022, when he posted a 17th-place BFL finish. He said he approached this tournament with the intention of redeeming himself.
“Things just went my way this time,” Peavyhouse said. “I threw off several fish, but that’s just part of throwing a bait like that. This feels great after what happened the last time I was here.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
2nd: Blake Smith, Byrdstown, Tenn., five bass, 17-2, $2,041
3rd: Billy Parrish, Bloomfield, Ky., four bass, 17-0, $1,922
4th: Nick Ratliff, Vine Grove, Ky., five bass, 16-2, $952
5th: Eldon Newcomb, Mount Vernon, Ky., five bass, 14-15, $816
6th: Michael Bean, Bowling Green, Ky., five bass, 14-8, $748
7th: Grant Adams, Campbellsville, Ky., five bass, 14-7, $680
8th: Brian Wade, Stanford, Ky., five bass, 13-0, $612
9th: Clint Knight, Lewisburg, Ky., five bass, 12-14, $744
10th: Joe Haunert, West Chester, Ohio, five bass, 12-10, $476
Billy Parrish of Bloomfield, Kentucky, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 10 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $560.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
2nd: Zach Jefferson, Lancaster, Ky., three bass, 11-3, $1,021
3rd: Joshua Mounce, Somerset, Ky., four bass, 8-14, $683
4th: Lucas Devere, Berea, Ky., four bass, 8-11, $476
5th: Christopher Stites Sr., Lebanon, Tenn., three bass, 8-5, $408
6th: James Warren, Flat Lick, Ky., three bass, 8-2, $374
7th: Noah Morgan, Sharon Grove, Ky., three bass, 7-4, $340
8th: Mark Redman, Bowling Green, Ky., two bass, 7-3, $306
9th: John Fitzpatrick, Baxter, Tenn., two bass, 6-7, $272
10th: Billy Hughes, Eubank, Ky., two bass, 5-12, $238
After four events, Christian Nash of Allons, Tennessee, leads the BFL Mountain Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 953 points, while John Fitzpatrick of Baxter, Tennessee, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 924 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake Norman in Huntersville, North Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Martin Notches Second Win of the Year at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Fort Gibson Lake
WAGONER, Okla. (June 12, 2023) – Boater T. J. Martin of Claremore, Oklahoma, caught a five-bass limit weighing 19 pounds, 6 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Fort Gibson Lake . The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Okie Division. Martin earned $12,686, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
“I paid attention to which way the boats went at takeoff because the lake fishes very small,” said Martin. “So, I went down the lake to start and caught my first fish – a 4-pounder – on a squarebill crankbait in the first 30 minutes. Then I went back to mid-lake, near the Toppers area, and caught a limit and culled up three or four times.”
Martin said he later began fishing offshore humps and rock piles dragging a large worm, and culled up to 19 pounds. He said his efforts resulted in 25 keepers during the competition.
“In the morning I was throwing a topwater, but there were storms in the area, and I think the lightning and the thunder had the fish messed up on top,” Martin said. “After the storms cleared out it was still cloudy, and I wound up making one big cull with a (Rebel) Pop-R.”
Martin said he’s very familiar with Fort Gibson and told his co-angler if he could catch 19 pounds, he would have a chance to win the event.
“When I got to 19 pounds, I thought I had a 50 percent chance to win,” said Martin, who also won the BFL Lake of the Ozarks event in March. “So, this feels awesome. I’ve fished BFLs for years, and I’ve been very consistent and very frustrated at times, and I’ve wondered when it was going to be my time to win. I’ve been fishing a long time and waiting for a win, and for it to happen twice in one year is really awesome.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
2nd: Jeremy Johnson, Sapulpa, Okla., five bass, 18-9, $2,343
3rd: Chase Washburn, Harrah, Okla., five bass, 18-3, $1,562
4th: Steven McLarty, Broken Arrow, Okla., five bass, 16-11, $1,093
5th: Chris Torkleson, Sand Springs, Okla., five bass, 16-0, $937
6th: Brett Brumnett, Wagoner, Okla., five bass, 15-13, $859
7th: Rodney Copeland, Sallisaw, Okla., five bass, 15-3, $781
8th: Shawn Mote, Ardmore, Okla., five bass, 15-0, $703
9th: Tate Brumnett, Wagoner, Okla., five bass, 14-13, $625
10th: Dennis Berhorst, Holts Summit, Mo., five bass, 14-11, $547
Chris Ogan of Bixby, Oklahoma, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 10 ounces to earn the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $690.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
2nd: Scott Stallings, Glencoe, Okla., five bass, 12-8, $1,172
3rd: Justin Nobles, Owasso, Okla., five bass, 12-4, $781
4th: Blake Gunderson, Claremore, Okla., five bass, 12-2, $547
5th: Jim Kopff, Old Monroe, Mo., five bass, 11-15, $469
6th: Thad Hewitt, Delaware, Okla., four bass, 11-8, $430
7th: David Hamilton, Rogers, Ark., four bass, 11-5, $391
8th: Tim Noyes, Broken Arrow, Okla., five bass, 11-4, $351
9th: Kurt Gordon, Cushing, Okla., five bass, 10-12, $462
10th: Cord Colwell, Pryor, Okla., four bass, 10-5, $473
After four events, Jeremy Johnson of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, leads the BFL Okie Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 930 points, while Porky Roberts of Morris, Oklahoma, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 892 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 19-21 BFL Regional tournament on Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Saint Jacob’s Diveley Cranks Out Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Rend Lake
SESSER, Ill. (June 12, 2023) – Boater Larry Diveley of Saint Jacob, Illinois, caught a five-bass limit weighing 14 pounds, 1 ounce, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Rend Lake . The tournament was the second event of the season for the BFL Illini Division. Diveley earned $3,832 for his victory.
“I struggled in the morning,” said Diveley. “I caught one fish pretty early and then lost one, and then I did a lot of running. I pretty much ran the whole lake and then ended up where I started out.”
Diveley said he keyed on mid-lake laydowns in 1 to 3 feet of water for most of the day, and covered them with a Bandit Lures Crankbait Series 100. Diveley said he caught 30 keepers during the course of the day, but the five fish he weighed were the only keepers he caught.
“My fifth fish I caught was a 4½-pounder, and I thought, ‘I might have a shot at this,’” Diveley said. “When I weighed in, I really thought somebody would beat me.
“This is just overwhelming,” Diveley went on to say. “It’s my first BFL win, and I just thank God I had the chance to do it.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
2nd: Scott Neighbors, Makanda, Ill., five bass, 13-9, $2,286
3rd: Colby Schrumpf, Highland, Ill., five bass, 13-8, $2,010 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
4th: Brennon McCord, Thompsonville, Ill., five bass, 13-5, $847
5th: Todd Blakeman, Chatham, Ill., five bass, 11-4, $726
6th: Garrett McDowell, Windsor, Ill., five bass, 9-14, $666
7th: Adam Brookman, Bonnie, Ill., four bass, 9-12, $605
8th: William Walker, Mulkeytown, Ill., four bass, 9-4, $545
9th: Levi Kohl, Edinburg, Ill., four bass, 9-2, $484
10th: Patrick Odell, Windsor, Ill., four bass, 8-15, $424
Jake Hurst of New Athens, Illinois, caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces to earn the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $465.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
2nd: Aaron Wehmeyer, Bloomington, Ill., four bass, 9-13, $1,140
3rd: Kim Sapetti, Chatham, Ill., four bass, 9-8, $606
4th: Caleb Peck, Charleston, Ill., four bass, 8-15, $424
5th: Josh Watkins, Fort Knox, Ky., four bass, 7-5, $363
6th: Andrew Williams, Homer, Ill., four bass, 7-3, $483
7th: Ryan Murphy, Paris, Ill., two bass, 6-6, $303
8th: Drake Marshall, Smithton, Ill., three bass, 5-8, $272
9th: Jason Korando, Chester, Ill., two bass, 5-6, $242
10th: Aaron Arning, Walnut Hill, Ill., three bass, 5-1, $212
After two events, Todd Blakeman of Chatham, Illinois, leads the BFL Illini Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 492 points, while Andrew Williams of Homer, Illinois, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 493 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 12-14 BFL Regional tournament on Dale Hollow Lake in Byrdstown, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2023 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American. The 2023 All-American event will take place May 31-June 2, on Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina. The event is hosted by Visit Oconee SC.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Avena Rockets To First BPT Victory
Abu Garcia pro Adrian Avena notches first Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour Victory with a final two-day weight of 85 pounds.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (June 12, 2023) – Adrian Avena secured his first Major League Fishing BPT win Sunday, June 11, on Cayuga Lake in New York. Avena locked down the win and a $100,000 paycheck by catching a dominating total weight of 105 pounds over his four fishing days.
Avena started the event in 17th place with 21 pounds, 2 ounces on day one of the qualifying round and jumped to seventh place after a monster comeback with a 24 pound, 14 ounce effort on day two. When weights zeroed to begin the knockout round, Avena started by catching a leading 29 pounds, 6 ounces on Saturday before slamming the door shut with 28 pounds, 10 ounces on the final day of the event.
“This event means a lot to me and my family, and it’s my first win since I won on Lake Champlain in my very first professional event ever,” said Avena. “It’s been a long time coming; I worked hard this week and tried to focus on fishing a little deeper than the other anglers and it paid off for me – I am super pumped and I have a lot of people who have believed in me.”
Avena focused on deeper spawning areas that had a little less pressure than most anglers and was able to catch some 6-pound quality bass each of the final days which was the difference in the event. He fished a chartreuse shad colored Berkley Gulp! Minnow on both a dropshot rig and a Berkley Half Head Jig which allowed him to see his bait better as the water dirtied up.
He fished both presentations with a 7-foot medium action Abu Garcia Fantasista X spinning rod and an Abu Garcia Revo Rocket spinning reel spooled with 10-pound Berkley x9 Braid and a Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon leader.
“We are proud of Adrian and his accomplishments throughout his professional career,” said Marc Kempter, VP of Marketing Communications. “Adrian has been a great ambassador and partner for both the Abu Garcia and Berkley brands for a long time, and his success on the water this week is well deserved.”
Jeremy Locke tops over 1750 Anglers at Skeeter Owners on Lake Fork
Angler City State Weight Prize Amount JEREMY LOCKE Pineville LA 9.74
2023 Skeeter FXR21 75th Edition powered by Yamaha NOAH ORTIZ Kingwood TX 3.08
2023 Skeeter ZX150 powered by Yamaha 150 SHO MEGAN WADE Garland TX 9.09
1st Place Ladies Division LISA SEPULVADO Converse LA 2.36
2nd Place Ladies Division NICOLE MEREDITH Florence TX 2.35
3rd Place Ladies Division JEREMY LOCKE Pineville LA 9.74
$775.00 KELLIS HIGGINBOTHAM Caledonia MS 9.57
$775.00 DWIGHT BICKHAM Denison TX 9.11
$775.00 MEGAN WADE Garland TX 9.09
$775.00 JESSE MCGREGOR Yantis TX 8.51
$775.00 DAVID BURTON Wylie TX 8.07
$775.00 ALAN RICHARDSON Millsap TX 7.96
$775.00 CHARLES BLUE Nashville AR 7.55
$775.00 NOAH ORTIZ Kingwood TX 3.08
$775.00 LEE NOACK Little Rock AR 2.66
$775.00 GREGORY HOLMES Quitman TX 2.56
$775.00 DALE WASHINGTON Godley TX 2.47
$775.00 ERIC JONES Holliday TX 2.44
$775.00 CHARLES BROWNING Mansfield TX 8.29
$675.00 DERRICK UNDERWOOD Rockwall TX 7.85
$675.00 MICHAEL WHISENHUNT Bullard TX 6.26
$675.00 ROD WHITE Deer Park TX 2.80
$675.00 LEONARD FLAKE Jewett TX 2.78
$675.00 DWAYNE ALEXANDER Quinlan TX 2.66
$675.00 DANIEL BARNES Belton TX 2.54
$675.00 MICHAEL PARDO JR Hale Center TX 2.53
$675.00 CHAD PENNY Mansfield TX 2.44
$675.00 KEVIN NOWELL Azle TX 2.44
$675.00 JOHN PENNOCK Granbury TX 2.42
$675.00 KRISTOPHER HAYDEN Watagua TX 2.40
$675.00 CECIL TUBB Dike TX 2.26
$675.00 JERRY STEPHENSON Longview TX 7.16
$575.00 STEVE RAETTIG Burleson TX 2.64
$575.00 CURTIS WILLIAMS Lake Charles LA 2.59
$575.00 JEFF MANOUS Hemphill TX 2.56
$575.00 CARL SMITH Denham Springs LA 2.45
$575.00 DAVID BURTON Wylie TX 2.44
$575.00 NIKOLAI JONES Conroe TX 2.42
$575.00 MICHAEL RICE Atlanta TX 2.41
$575.00 BRYCE EVERETT Arp TX 2.37
$575.00 LISA SEPULVADO Converse LA 2.36
$575.00 JUSTIN MCCOLLUM Corsicana TX 2.35
$575.00 ROY SCHEPPLER Alba TX 2.31
$575.00 CASEY MORACE Effie LA 2.25
$575.00 JASON SMITH Forney TX 2.85
$475.00 JESSE MCGREGOR Yantis TX 2.46
$475.00 JASON THOMPSON Gilmer TX 2.44
$475.00 JOSHUA MEDLIN Sterlington LA 2.43
$475.00 KEVIN MACKEY Overton TX 2.38
$475.00 ROBBY HERNDON Mesquite TX 2.38
$475.00
Avena Dominates to Earn First Career Win at Favorite Fishing Stage Five on Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler
New Jersey Pro Catches Five Smallmouth Weighing 28 Pounds, 10 Ounces to Top Win by 2-Pound Margin and Earn Top Payout of $100,000
UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. (June 11, 2023) – It was an emotional afternoon for Vineland, New Jersey pro Adrian Avena. After numerous seasons of watching his roommates and travel partners earn multiple wins and championship victories, the 12-year veteran finally earned his own red trophy. Avena caught eight scorable smallmouth bass Sunday, with his best five weighing 28 pounds, 10 ounces to win the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Favorite Fishing Stage Five on Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler and earn the top payout of $100,000.
Avena’s two-day Knockout and Championship Round total of 10 bass weighing 58 pounds even earned him the victory by a 2-pound margin over second-place finisher Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Arkansas, who finished with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 56 pounds even, good for $45,000.
Over his four days of competition, Avena weighed in 20 smallmouth bass totaling 105 pounds even. Also breaking the 100-pound mark over four days were five other pros – Shuffield (106-10), Jacob Wheeler (100-8), Alton Jones Jr. (102-4), Matt Becker (102-0) and Kevin VanDam (102-2).
It was an incredible week of fishing that will likely be looked back on as the greatest smallmouth event in Bass Pro Tour history.
“You have no idea what this win means to me,” Avena said on stage in his post-game interview. “I travel and room with three of the best guys in the world, and I ain’t going to say that I got tired of them winning all the time, but man, it was starting to take a toll on me.
“I love them guys, and when you surround yourself with a house full of guys that are straight hammers it rubs off a little bit. But watching them boys win trophy after trophy… I’m just so glad that now I’ve got mine.”
Throughout the week Avena targeted bedding smallmouth, using a flogger to locate the bass and then drop-shotting a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm or a 4-inch Berkley Gulp! Alive Minnow. He threw the setup on an Abu Garcia Fantasista rod with a Abu Garcia Revo Rocket spinning reel.
“The Gulp minnow was the deal, but the key was the chartreuse top,” Avena said. “The chartreuse color was a big player this week. Also, I used a very small leader – getting my bait close to the bottom really mimicked those perch that were getting into their beds.
“Another big key was fishing deeper than everyone else,” Avena continued. “After you’d hook a smallmouth they’d shoot straight up, so I had to have a spinning reel setup with a very fast gear ratio. I used the Revos all week.”
Despite starting the day with a lead, Avena said that he was never comfortable throughout the final day of competition.
“I told myself this morning that I was not stopping on a fish that was under 5½ pounds, as I knew they wouldn’t win this tournament,” Avena said. “This lake is chock full of 4-pounders, and I passed up on so many of them todaybecause I knew they wouldn’t help. I didn’t catch a whole lot of bass today, but I caught the right ones that I needed.
“I have so many people to thank, that have believed in me from the start, and this just feels really good to be able to do this for them,” Avena went on to say. “My dad has a weak heart, and he’s always telling me, ‘Adrian, I want to see you win a tournament before I pass away.’ Well, pop, we got it done this week. I’m still shaking, and I am freaking stoked!”
The final 10 pros from the Favorite Fishing Stage Five at Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler finished:
1st: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 10 bass, 58-0, $100,000
2nd: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 56-0, $45,000
3rd: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, 10 bass, 55-2, $38,000
4th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 10 bass, 54-0, $32,000
5th: Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 10 bass, 53-8, $30,000
6th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 10 bass, 52-4, $26,000
7th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 10 bass, 52-0, $23,000
8th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 10 bass, 51-15, $21,000
9th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 10 bass, 51-4, $19,000
10th: Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 10 bass, 49-11, $16,000
Full results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 97 scorable bass totaling 459 pounds even weighed by the 10 pros on Sunday.
Dakota Ebare earned Sunday’s Championship Round $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award with a 6-pound, 7-ounce smallmouth that bit in Period 1. Wheeler earned the $3,000 Berkley Big Bass award for the overall largest bass of the event with his 7-pound, 5-ounce smallmouth that he weighed during Saturday’s Knockout Round of competition.
After five events in the Bass Pro Tour regular season, Ott DeFoe of Blaine, Tennessee, remains the leader in the 2023 Bass Pro Tour Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) standings with 360 points. Pro Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, sits in second place with 332 points, while Bass Pro Tour Rookie Matt Becker of Ten Mile, Tennessee, rounds out the top three with 316.5 points. Bally Bet will award $100,000 to the 2023 Bass Pro Tour Bally Bet Angler of the Year winner.
The next regular season Bass Pro Tour event will take place later this month – the General Tire Stage Six at Lake St. Clair Presented by John Deere Utility Vehicles, June 24-29, at Lake St. Clair in Harrison Township, Michigan.
The Favorite Fishing Stage Five at Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler featured pros competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with each angler’s five (5) heaviest bass per day tallied as their day’s weight. Anglers strive to catch their heaviest five fish each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the live scoring SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The six-day bass-fishing event showcased 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
Television coverage of the Favorite Fishing Stage Five at Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler will air as two, two-hour episodes starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 28 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morningon Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG + Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
University of Montevallo’s Pennington and Oswalt take close win at Bassmaster College Wild Card at Lay Lake
Jordan Pennington and Andrew Oswalt of Alabama's University of Montevallo have won the Strike King Bassmaster College Wild Card at Lay Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops with a two-day total of 31 pounds, 11 ounces.
Photo by Tommy Sendek/B.A.S.S.
June 10, 2023
SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. — Capitalizing on an early start, then making key decisions that improved their numbers, Jordan Pennington and Andrew Oswalt of the University of Montevallo tallied a two-day total of 31 pounds, 11 ounces to win the Strike King Bassmaster College Series Wild Card at Lay Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops.
Placing fifth on Day 1 with 14-15, Pennington and Oswalt sealed their victory with a limit of 16-12 Saturday. The winners edged their University of Montevallo teammates Dalton Head and Peyton Harris by 7 ounces.
“This win means a lot to us because we’ve been struggling this season,” Pennington said. “Andrew and I have always dreamed of winning a Bassmaster trophy. To finally do it is amazing.”
Oswalt said that winning by such a close margin over a fellow Montevallo team enhanced the experience.
“It’s awesome we came away with first and second,” he said. “Peyton and Dalton are like brothers to us. I love them to death and it made it all so much sweeter.”
As Oswalt explained, Day 1 found him and his partner at a disadvantage, as their late boat draw — 150 out of a 152-boat field — deprived them of any significant morning bite. Spending their first day on offshore brushpiles, the anglers assembled a competitive limit by throwing 5/16-ounce shaky heads with Reaction Innovations Flirt Worms in magic craw swirl.
“Today, we were boat No. 3,” Oswalt said. “We stayed in Beeswax Creek (where takeoff occurred) and got a small limit on frogs and drop shots.
“After that, we had a bream bed we were saving, so we ran to that spot and, in a span of 15 minutes, we culled out all but one fish from our early limit.”
Pennington and Oswalt caught their two heaviest fish on a Texas-rigged 10 1/2-inch Zoom Ol' Monster worm in scuppernong royal and plum colors. They caught two more of their weight fish on drop shots with 6-inch Roboworms in Aaron’s morning dawn.
“After we fished the bream bed, we ran down to Paint Creek and hit one brushpile and culled a 2.05 with a 2.65,” Oswalt said. “We caught that fish on a shaky head.”
With all of their baits, Pennington said he and Oswalt adapted their presentations to the week’s weather.
“As hot as it was, we had to fish really, really, slow,” Pennington said. “With a lot of our casts, we’d take up to two to three minutes on the retrieve.”
Head and Harris turned in a Day 1 limit of 13-7 and took 13th place. Adding 17-13 — the event’s heaviest bag — nearly pushed them across the finish line with 31-4.
Sticking with the midlake region, Head and Harris fished deep brush in 9 to 12 feet.
“We started shallow each morning, but we didn’t catch anything that helped,” Harris said.
Head and Harris caught their bass on a drop shot with a 6-inch Roboworm in morning dawn and a 1/2-ounce Queen Tackle tungsten flipping jig with a Zoom Chunk trailer. Both baits produced quality and quantity.
“We were just consistently showing them different looks,” Harris said. “One of us always had a jig in our hand and one of us always had a drop shot. We just rotated through brushpiles.
“We were staying a pretty good ways off the brushpiles and dragging the baits. It seemed like they’d bite when you got the bait in the brush.”
Kayden Tanner and Trevor Easter of Tarleton State University finished in third place with 30-3. After placing third on Day 1 with 15-8, they added 14-11.
Following the same game plan they employed in the first round, Tanner and Easter fished from Lay’s south end to the midlake region. They worked a two-part strategy in which they fished shallow docks early and then moved out to brushpiles in 12 to 15 feet.
“Both days, we caught a big fish under docks,” Easter said. “We caught one of them on a 3/8-ounce Berkley flipping jig with a Berkley Power Chunk and we caught the other on a 3/16-ounce Berkley shaky head with a finesse worm.”
Easter said the same shaky head produced their deeper bites. As he recalled, the second day presented a challenging decision.
“This morning, on our third spot, we caught our third biggest fish and we had our limit at 9 o’clock,” Easter said. “We had two little ones that (were looking weak in the livewell), so we had to throw them back before they died.
“So, we were back down to three fish at 11 o’clock, but we were able to run into two more good ones.”
Tanner said their bite died after 11. Reflecting on the gutsy and environmentally responsible call to release two keepers, Tanner said he and his partner never doubted their actions.
“I think the best decision we made was throwing those two fish back because if they had died on us, we would not have been able to cull them,” Tanner said. “We knew we were around good fish, so thankfully it worked out for us.”
Day 1 leaders William Hammond and Cabe Mackey of Catawba Valley Community College won Big Bass honors with a 6-5 largemouth.
2023 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Lay Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops 6/9-6/10
Lay Lake, Shelby County AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Jordan Pennington - Andrew Oswalt University of Montevallo 250
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 16-12 Total: 10 31-11
2. Dalton Head - Peyton Harris University of Montevallo 249
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 17-13 Total: 10 31-04
3. Kayden Tanner - Trevor Easter Tarleton State University 248
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 14-11 Total: 10 30-03
4. Tyler Cain - Cole Dodson University of Montevallo 247
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 14-03 Total: 10 28-08
5. Levi Thibodaux - Chance Shelby LSU - Shreveport 246
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 14-05 Total: 10 28-03
6. Noah Trant - Evan Howe Northwestern State University (8 245
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 13-13 Total: 10 26-15
7. Merritt Arnold - Chance Schwartz University of Montevallo 244
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 12-08 Total: 10 26-10
8. William Hammond - Cabe Mackey Catawba Valley Community College 243
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 09-04 Total: 10 26-02
9. Dalton DeFelice - Connor Tonkel Southwestern Michigan College 242
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 14-09 Total: 10 25-15
10. Mitch Johnson - Gunner Whitaker Kentucky Christian University 241
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 13-06 Total: 10 25-04
11. Henry Mcpherson - Matthew German University Of Alabama 240
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 13-04 Total: 10 25-04
12. Tyler Hudson - Evan Mcnaughton Western Kentucky University 239
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 13-11 Total: 10 24-15
13. Tim Herrmann - Justin Botts Bryan College 238
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 13-14 Total: 10 24-13
14. Giancarlo Russo - Florida Gateway College 237
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 4 08-06 Total: 9 24-04
15. Tommy Dunaway - Seth Jones Florida Gateway College 236
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 08-15 Total: 10 24-01
16. Zeb Roberts - Dalton Eury Catawba Valley Community College 235
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 11-07 Total: 10 24-00
17. James Willoughby - University of Montevallo 234
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 12-11 Total: 10 23-05
18. Caleb Bridges - Bryan College 233
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 09-13 Total: 10 23-03
19. Benjamin Travis - Brendin Simich Auburn University 232
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 10-10 Total: 10 22-15
20. Jake Brown - Walker Brown University of North Alabama 231
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 11-15 Total: 10 22-15
21. Brennan Berglund - Brody Robison University of Montevallo 230
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 11-09 Total: 10 22-15
22. Hagan Marlin - Riley Underwood University of Montevallo 229
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 11-11 Total: 10 22-14
23. Caz Anderson - Will Harris Carson-Newman University 228
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 10-13 Total: 10 22-13
24. Jordan Hampton - Tucker Dottley Bethel University 227
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 09-06 Total: 10 22-10
25. Dakota Posey - Trent Buchholz Lamar State College Orange 226
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 07-12 Total: 10 22-09
26. Ethan Fields - Jason Qualich Mckendree University (7876) 225
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 10-08 Total: 10 22-09
27. Sellers Odom - Grayson Ball Calhoun Community College (11122 224
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 10-07 Total: 10 22-08
28. John Ortman - Stephen Brooks Emmanuel College 223
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 09-06 Total: 10 22-07
29. Hunter Palmer - Eli Stevenson Bryan College 222
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 09-04 Total: 10 22-05
30. Miller Dowling - Parker O'Bryan University of Montevallo 221
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 09-05 Total: 10 22-04
31. Drew Pitts - Carter Koza Carson-Newman University 220
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 10-05 Total: 10 22-04
32. Nick Pemberton - Will Holloway University of Montevallo 219
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 09-06 Total: 10 21-15
33. Kyle Knoll - Luke Morgan Southern Union State Community C 218
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 08-13 Total: 10 21-12
34. Colton White - Jack Alexander University of Montevallo 217
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 10-11 Total: 10 21-12
35. Hayden Gaddis - Ben Cully Carson-Newman University 216
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 09-08 Total: 10 21-10
36. Justin Eggers - Lane Bailey Catawba Valley Community College 215
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 12-14 Total: 10 21-08
37. Jack Baron - Dakendrick Patterson University of Montevallo 214
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 08-08 Total: 10 21-06
38. Wyatt Wood - Max Gosdin University of Montevallo (8716) 213
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 09-01 Total: 10 21-06
39. Carson Calvert - Austin Thomas University of North Alabama 212
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 07-05 Total: 10 21-04
40. Chase Martin - Jadon Spencer Catawba Valley Community College 211
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 08-07 Total: 10 21-03
41. Rudy Worley - Blue Mountain College 210
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 09-05 Total: 10 20-15
42. Aaron Hawkins - Cooper Mayes Texas A&M University 209
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 08-00 Total: 10 20-13
43. Cole Taylor - Clay Taylor Lander University 208
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 09-15 Total: 10 20-10
44. Pruitt Lansdale - Matt Short Eastern Kentucky University 207
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 10-05 Total: 10 20-10
45. Zach Pocos - Tucker Siminak McKendree University 206
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 09-11 Total: 10 20-09
46. Hunter Keller - Wesley Smith II Catawba Valley Community College 205
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 10-13 Total: 10 20-09
47. River Eubanks - Peyton Sorrow University of Montevallo (8418) 204
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 10-15 Total: 10 20-08
48. Avery Hammock - Jackson Ford Georgia College 203
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 11-08 Total: 10 20-07
49. Harmon Marien - Jack Stephens McKendree University 202
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 10-05 Total: 10 20-05
50. Braxton Hopper - Walker Whitworth Central Alabama Community College 201
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 09-01 Total: 10 20-01
51. Jeremy Dellinger - Garrett Smith Lander University 200
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 10-00 Total: 10 20-00
52. Corbin Templon - Adrian Urso Murray State University 199
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 06-15 Total: 10 19-13
53. Garrett Walters - Reese Walters University of Alabama 198
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 4 05-10 Total: 9 19-12
54. TJ McKenzie - Emmanuel College 197
Day 1: 4 07-03 Day 2: 5 12-09 Total: 9 19-12
55. Tyler Finley - Christopher Kistler University of North Alabama 196
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 10-05 Total: 10 19-12
56. Cal Culpepper - Andrew Howell University of Montevallo 195
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 09-07 Total: 10 19-10
57. Trey Dickert III - Andrew Thompson University of Montevallo 194
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 08-03 Total: 10 19-08
58. Connor Green - Skyler Stevens Faulkner University 193
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 07-14 Total: 10 19-03
59. Chase Milholen - Koltyn Harbin Bethel University 192
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 4 07-02 Total: 9 19-01
60. Hunter Shelton - Bethel (8133) 191
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 09-04 Total: 10 19-01
61. Brandon Martin - Cole Holloway Emmanuel College 190
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 09-11 Total: 10 19-01
62. Jacob Autry - Jackson Kulijof Murray State University 189
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 10-01 Total: 10 18-11
63. Wyatt Pearman - Ridge Rutledge Campbellsville University 188
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 09-11 Total: 10 18-09
64. Chandler Pruett - Blue Mountain College 187
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 07-04 Total: 10 18-08
65. Storm Cline - Gabe Fishlock Carson-Newman University 186
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 09-01 Total: 10 18-08
66. Landon Sexton - Christian Boyd Shelton State Community College 185
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 07-13 Total: 10 18-04
67. Jake Hope - Alex Nesmith Murray State University 184
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 10-02 Total: 10 18-01
68. Dustin Bauer - Lane Pohlman Campbellsville University 183
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 07-10 Total: 10 18-00
69. Billy Erdakos - Davis Klimczak Southwest Michigan College 182
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 08-11 Total: 10 17-15
70. Matthew Benson - Spencer Bargfrede Emmanuel College 181
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 07-06 Total: 10 17-14
71. Christian Wright - Logan East Bryan College 180
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 07-09 Total: 10 17-13
72. Joseph Woods - Anthony Cicero IV Bethel University 179
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 08-04 Total: 10 17-11
73. Dayne Kobriger - Camden Kozikoski Drury University 178
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 5 09-01 Total: 10 17-10
74. Isaac Warta - Hunter Jones Middle Tennessee State Universit 177
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 4 06-07 Total: 9 17-08
75. Scooter Ligon Jr - Levi Seagraves Emmanuel College (8750) 176
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 4 06-10 Total: 9 17-06
76. Butler Cochran - Bryce Evans University of South Carolina 175
Day 1: 5 07-01 Day 2: 5 10-05 Total: 10 17-06
77. Owen Wheeler - Tyler Dubois Bethel University 174
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 08-10 Total: 10 17-05
78. Parker Lambert - Aaron Shumaker Lander University 173
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 5 07-08 Total: 10 17-02
79. Kai Barnett - Connor Hall McKendree University (8714) 172
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 2 05-08 Total: 7 16-15
80. James Broderick - James Neill Mississippi State University 171
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 3 06-06 Total: 8 16-15
81. Mason Phillpotts - Grand Valley State University 170
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 3 05-10 Total: 8 16-12
82. Cameron Smith - Thomas Phillips Ohio State University 169
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 07-04 Total: 10 16-12
83. Taylor McMullen - Emmanuel College 168
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 2 02-15 Total: 7 16-11
84. Brycen Williamson - Tallis Morrison Erskine College 167
Day 1: 4 06-05 Day 2: 5 10-04 Total: 9 16-09
85. Brendan Vinton - Grant Harris Catawba Valley Community College 166
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 08-04 Total: 10 16-09
86. Garrett Huddleston - Riley Voltz Auburn University 165
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 2 03-03 Total: 7 16-07
87. Gage Starks - Hunter Holguin Murray State University 164
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 07-08 Total: 10 16-02
88. Walter Trulock - Zach Williams Mississippi State University 163
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 3 05-14 Total: 8 16-00
89. Benson Dowler - Benjamin Graves University of North Alabama 162
Day 1: 4 09-12 Day 2: 3 06-04 Total: 7 16-00
90. Brett Hill - Ryan Daugherty Campbellsville University 161
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 07-10 Total: 10 15-12
91. Wes Kinard - Preston Parker Shelton State Community College 160
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 3 04-12 Total: 8 15-10
92. Matt Brault - Dylan Mclaughlin Erskine College 159
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 3 04-10 Total: 8 15-06
93. Riley Miller - Hayden Parks Shelton State Community College 158
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 2 05-14 Total: 7 15-04
94. Ben Shinkunas - Mason Hill Calhoun Community College 157
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 5 09-11 Total: 8 15-00
95. Brock Bila - Dylan Chambers Drury University 156
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 3 05-02 Total: 8 14-13
96. Brantley Anders - Cameron Dials Kentucky Christian University 155
Day 1: 5 07-05 Day 2: 5 07-08 Total: 10 14-13
97. Camden Schwieterman - Lloyd Laconsay Auburn University 154
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 2 04-06 Total: 7 14-02
98. Jack Schable - Jack Simpson Western Michigan University (87 153
Day 1: 5 07-06 Day 2: 5 06-12 Total: 10 14-02
99. Brandon Berry - Hunter Bright University of Montevallo (8308) 152
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 3 04-00 Total: 8 13-12
100. Luke Willis - Brandon Wingo University of South Carolina 151
Day 1: 5 07-08 Day 2: 5 06-04 Total: 10 13-12
101. Logan Paul - Luke Champnella Western Michigan University 150
Day 1: 3 04-00 Day 2: 5 09-10 Total: 8 13-10
102. Jake Kimbrough - Tyler Hill Blue Mountain College 149
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 2 04-04 Total: 7 13-10
103. Cade Lipham - Caleb Coleman Drury University 148
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 5 09-02 Total: 8 13-06
104. Clay Henderson - Brant Rowland Drury University (8937) 147
Day 1: 5 06-02 Day 2: 4 07-00 Total: 9 13-02
105. David Ackerman V - Mackenzie Sanders Erskine College 146
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 2 02-15 Total: 7 12-15
106. Adam Hollingsworth - DJ McEachern University of Alabama 145
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 2 03-11 Total: 7 12-14
107. Trent Gilmore - Chandler Olivier University of Montevallo (8516) 144
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 3 03-12 Total: 8 12-13
108. Miles Smith - Zach Henderson Nichols State 143
Day 1: 4 09-14 Day 2: 2 02-10 Total: 6 12-08
109. Cole Hadlock - Braiden Koerber Murray State Univeristy 142
Day 1: 3 03-14 Day 2: 5 08-09 Total: 8 12-07
110. Justin Latham - Blaine Mattingly campbellsville university 141
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 12-02
111. Eric Noyes - Mason Mitchell II University of Central Oklahoma 140
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 3 03-01 Total: 8 11-14
112. William Vickery - Hunter Starling Georgia Southern University 139
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 4 07-04 Total: 7 11-14
113. Matthew Mcgregor - Wyatt Tomlin Calhoun Community College 138
Day 1: 4 05-02 Day 2: 3 06-10 Total: 7 11-12
114. Colton Odom - Auburn University 137
Day 1: 3 03-06 Day 2: 5 07-14 Total: 8 11-04
115. Roeh Burton - Spencer Brister Lamar State College Orange 136
Day 1: 4 04-15 Day 2: 5 06-05 Total: 9 11-04
116. Victor Alford - Christian Misciagna Bryan College 135
Day 1: 4 06-01 Day 2: 5 05-02 Total: 9 11-03
117. William Travis - JL Simmons Bryan College 134
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 11-01
118. Kyle Dillon - Jesse Mull Western Carolina University 133
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 11-00
119. Nathan Fideldy - Salina 132
Day 1: 5 07-13 Day 2: 3 03-02 Total: 8 10-15
120. Niko Romero - Coleman Bingham Bethel University 131
Day 1: 3 03-06 Day 2: 5 07-09 Total: 8 10-15
121. Dylan Breaux - Joel Richard Nicholls State University 130
Day 1: 5 06-04 Day 2: 3 04-07 Total: 8 10-11
122. Kyle Hopping - Will Hornsby McKendree University 129
Day 1: 4 09-05 Day 2: 1 01-02 Total: 5 10-07
123. Fischer Barber - Troy University 128
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 1 01-00 Total: 6 09-13
124. Drew Faulkenberry - Dawson Carden Emmanual College (8887) 127
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 3 06-14 Total: 5 09-11
125. Evan Ludlow - Trevor Wilson Southwestern Michigan College 126
Day 1: 5 06-13 Day 2: 2 02-13 Total: 7 09-10
126. Brycen Hendriks - Michael Fugaro The University of North Carolina 125
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 09-07
127. Davian Smith - Jordan Turner University of Montevallo 124
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 2 03-06 Total: 5 09-03
128. Austin Smith - Jaden Purkey Carson-Newman University 123
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 08-11
129. Jackson Holbert - Kolby Clark University of North Alabama 122
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 08-06
130. Brandon Leach - Devin Brown Eastern Kentucky Unversity 121
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 08-05
131. Noah Bryars - Colby Ullery Faulkner University 120
Day 1: 5 06-03 Day 2: 1 01-05 Total: 6 07-08
132. Evan Waggener - Colby Joseph Campbellsville University 119
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 2 02-14 Total: 5 07-07
133. Callaway Robinson - Tucker Pearson Georgia College 118
Day 1: 5 07-06 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 07-06
134. Cooper Combs - Shelton State Community College 117
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-15 Total: 3 06-15
135. Blake Stringer - Karsten Raney Campbellsville University 116
Day 1: 4 06-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 06-07
136. Cody Clifton - Missouri State University 115
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 2 03-10 Total: 3 06-07
137. Holden Johnson - Sam Schmitz University of North Alabama 114
Day 1: 5 06-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 06-01
138. Matthew Wilson - Southern Union State Community C 113
Day 1: 4 05-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 05-14
139. Kaden Buchmann - Lander University 112
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-13
140. Matthew Kahrs - Christopher Kahrs McNeese State University 111
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-11
141. Bryson Caudle - Lucas Hampton Faulkner University 110
Day 1: 4 04-06 Day 2: 1 01-04 Total: 5 05-10
142. Joshua Roberts - Josh Roberts 109
Day 1: 2 02-12 Day 2: 2 02-10 Total: 4 05-06
143. Gabe Brown - Evan Eckstrom University of South Carolina 108
Day 1: 4 05-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 05-05
144. Kolby Kindley - Western Carolina University 107
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-05
145. Gavin Schmitz - Addison Sikes University of Montevallo 106
Day 1: 2 05-02 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 05-02
146. Malcolm Patton - Kyle Johnson Calhoun Community College 105
Day 1: 4 04-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 04-13
147. Reese Melven - Hunter Waldrop University of South Carolina 104
Day 1: 3 04-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 04-01
148. John Such - Hayden Fuhr Lander University 0
Day 1: 2 02-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 02-12
149. Brayden Pritchard - Jackson Kelly Central Alabama Community Colleg 102
Day 1: 2 02-08 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 02-08
150. Dustin Bargo - Western Kentucky University 101
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01
151. Sawyer Brady - Dustin Weinberg Blue Mountain Christian Universi 100
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-14
152. Bucky Moore - Ryan Diskin Auburn University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURN
William Hammond Huntersville, NC 06-05 $0.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 116 683 1413-10
2 89 551 1064-02
----------------------------------
205 1234 2477-12
Adrian Avena Leads As Competition Set For Final Day at Favorite Fishing Stage Five on Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler
New Jersey Pro Catches Five Smallmouth Weighing 29 Pounds, 6 Ounces to Top Knockout Round, Final 10 Pros Set for Championship Sunday Shootout for $100,000
UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. (June 10, 2023) – It was another incredible day of fishing, Saturday, on Cayuga Lake, for the 40 remaining pros competing in the Knockout Round at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Favorite Fishing Stage Five on Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler. Pro Adrian Avena of Vineland, New Jersey , paced the field, catching 13 scorable smallmouth with his best five weighing a hefty 29 pounds, 6 ounces. Avena’s roommate and traveling partner on tour, reigning Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) Jacob Wheeler looms large in second place just 2 ounces behind Avena with 29-4.
Sure, the 29-pound limits of smallmouth are impressive, but even more impressive this week has been the sheer number of 4-, 5- and 6-pound bass being caught. Fifteen anglers caught a limit weighing greater than 25 pounds, Saturday. The average weight of every fish caught today was just over 4 pounds, 3 ounces. And Avena, a 12-year vet seeking his first career major win, has amassed 76 pounds, 6 ounces of smallmouth over his three days on the water.
“Today was the best smallmouth fishing day of my entire life,” Avena said in his post-game interview. “I caught three 6-pounders. This place is incredible. The flogger has done a lot of damage for me this week, as the big key has been finding the fish well off the bank.
“Another key is using a really fast-action spinning reel,” Avena continued. “Once I drop that flogger and I hook that fish, those smallmouth come straight to the top. I’ve been using a brand new Abu Garcia Revo3 Rocket reel, as it has a super, super-fast gear ratio, and that has been a crucial part of getting those fish in the boat.”
Although he was happy to have the lead, Avena is not at all comfortable with his position, yet.
“I’m definitely going to have to find some new fish tomorrow if I want to win,” Avena said. “I foul-hooked a 5-12 today that I’m hoping I can find tomorrow. I found a 6-6 earlier in the week that’s gone now as well as another 6-pounder that has moved out. There’s fish that are moving out, but also new ones moving in so I hope I can find a big 7-pounder like Wheeler did today. It’s going to be an absolute dog-race, tomorrow.
Qualifying Round winners Spencer Shuffield (28-1) and Kevin VanDam (25-15) also advanced inside the top 10, in third and 10th, respectively. Fourth-place pro David Dudley (27-8) qualified for his second-straight Championship Round appearance, as did Takahiro Omori (26-14) in sixth and Matt Becker (26-2) in ninth.
Tournament weights are stacked up – just 3-pounds, 7-ounces separates Avena in first from VanDam in 10th. Competition resumes Sunday morning with the final-day Championship Round, where weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total will win the top prize of $100,000.
The top 10 pros advancing to Sunday’s Championship Round on Cayuga Lake are:
1st: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., five bass, 29-6
2nd: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 29-4
3rd: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 28-1
4th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., five bass, 27-8
5th: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, five bass, 27-5
6th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, five bass, 26-14
7th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., five bass, 26-11
8th: Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, five bass, 26-8
9th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., five bass, 26-2
10th: Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 25-15
Finishing in 11th through 40th are:
11th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., five bass, 25-14, $10,000
12th: Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, five bass, 25-11, $10,000
13th: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., five bass, 25-9, $10,000
14th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., five bass, 25-6, $10,000
15th: Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., five bass, 25-3, $10,000
16th: Alton Jones Sr., Lorena, Texas, five bass, 24-11, $10,000
17th: Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., five bass, 24-11, $10,000
18th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., five bass, 24-8, $10,000
19th: Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., five bass, 24-7, $10,000
20th: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., five bass, 24-3, $10,000
21st: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., five bass, 23-13, $10,000
22nd: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 23-2, $10,000
23rd: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., five bass, 23-1, $10,000
24th: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, five bass, 23-0, $10,000
25th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., five bass, 22-6, $10,000
26th: Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., five bass, 22-1, $10,000
27th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., five bass, 21-13, $10,000
28th: Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss., five bass, 21-13, $10,000
29th: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., five bass, 21-9, $10,000
30th: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 21-1, $10,000
31st: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., five bass, 21-0, $10,000
32nd: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., five bass, 20-9, $10,000
33rd: Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 20-7, $10,000
34th: Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 20-4, $10,000
35th: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, five bass, 19-14, $10,000
36th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 19-9, $10,000
37th: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., five bass, 19-3, $10,000
38th: Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., five bass, 18-6, $10,000
39th: Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., five bass, 13-0, $10,000
40th: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., two bass, 8-8, $10,000
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 362 scorable bass weighing 1,522 pounds, 1 ounce caught by the 40 pros Saturday, which included 83 5-pounders, six 6-pounders and one 7-pounder.
Saturday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award went to pro Jacob Wheeler, who caught a 7-pound, 5-ounce smallmouth in Period 1 on a drop-shot rig to earn the payout. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The six-day bass-fishing event showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The 40 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day qualifying round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After the two-day qualifying round, the top 20 anglers from each group advanced to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights were zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers competed to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In the Championship Round on Sunday, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total will win the top prize of $100,000.
The final 10 anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET Sunday from Frontenac Park, located at 15 Creamery Road in Union Springs. The General Tire Takeout will be held at the park beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW! live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
As part of the event, on Sunday, June 11 the MLF Fan Experience will be taking place at Bass Pro Shops, located at 1579 Clark Street Road in Auburn, New York, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate fishing and the outdoors. Fans can hang out and watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen during the MLF Watch Party. At 5 p.m. the final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand for the trophy celebration and to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and take selfies.
The Favorite Fishing Stage Five at Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler features pros competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with each angler’s five (5) heaviest bass per day tallied as their day’s weight. Anglers strive to catch their heaviest five fish each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the live scoring SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, fishing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship, held March 13-17, 2024, on Lay Lake in Birmingham, Alabama.
The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Favorite Fishing Stage Five at Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler will air as two, two-hour episodes starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 28 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morningon Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG + Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Catawba Valley's Hammond and Mackey ride kicker largemouth to Bassmaster College Wild Card lead at Lay Lake
William Hammond and Cabe Mackey of Catawba Valley Community College are leading after Day 1 of the Strike King Bassmaster College Wild Card at Lay Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops with 16 pounds, 14 ounces.
Photo by Tommy Sendek/B.A.S.S.
June 9, 2023
SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. — After enduring a slow start, patience rewarded William Hammond and Cabe Mackey of Catawba Valley Community College with a Day 1 limit of 16 pounds, 14 ounces that leads the Strike King Bassmaster College Series Wild Card at Lay Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops.
Anchoring their bag with a 6-5 kicker, Hammond and Mackey head into Championship Saturday with a 1-pound lead over Giancarlo Russo of Florida Gateway College.
“It was just keeping our heads down and culling up by ounces,” said Mackey, who caught his team’s kicker. “The big fish bit around 11 or so. We just got lucky and made the right flip.
“When that big fish bit, we tried to get her in the boat as quickly as we could. We just tried to not do anything stupid.”
Fishing the mid- to lower-lake regions, the leaders focused on timber in 6 to 15 feet of water. Some of the cover was partially out of the water, some was submerged.
Hammond and Mackey caught their bass on a mix of jigs and Texas-rigged plastics. The latter earned their biggest bite.
“We had a couple different (soft plastics) and some were specifically for targeting big fish,” Mackey said.
Mackey said he and Hammond hit 30 to 40 spots. All set up about the same, but the anglers employed strategic planning.
“We were on a rotation of some spots that we thought might reload and there were some that we thought would hold fish at different times of the day,” Mackey said. “Midday was best for us, from about 10:30-11:30.
“We had a limit by about 10:15 and we made our last cull at 12:30. It was just cycling through different baits to show the fish different looks.”
Recounting a day of typically tough summer fishing in which slow, soaking presentations proved most effective, Mackey said he and Hammond feel confident with their Day 2 game plan.
“I think we’ll just put our heads down and fish the way we like to fish,” he said. “We won’t get spun out with what’s going on around us. We’ll just play our ballgame.”
Fishing solo, Russo adjusted to his team partner’s absence by taking a persistent approach that delivered a limit of 15-14. Starting in a midlake creek, he began by fishing shallow cover.
“I slowed down, worked the conditions and picked apart my area,” Russo said.
Essential to his productivity, Russo had to adjust his presentations throughout the day.
“There were hungry fish in there, but I had to make them react to my bait,” he said. “I had to change my presentations from how I was fishing it in the morning to get bit later in the day.”
Russo said he caught the majority of his bass, including his largest, in one creek. Exhausting his options, he struck out with a bold plan.
“I ran out of areas to fish and said, ‘I’m going to find a new area,’” Russo said. “I found a new spot just around the bend of the river — 10 minutes on the dot from my starting spot.
“In this new spot, I found a brushpile and made one cull on a reaction bait. Tomorrow, I’ll start there and once I run out of fish, I’ll go looking for new water again.”
Kayden Tanner and Trevor Easter of Tarleton State University are in third place with 15-8. Theirs was an active day that required multiple moves to assemble their weight.
“We hit 30 spots and we made a lot of culls today,” Easter said. “We had our limit by about 10 and we made our last cull at 2:20.”
Despite their success, Easter said their day presented early challenges.
“We started off pretty slow; there wasn’t any current in the morning and our fish were (not active),” he said. “Also, we had a 20-minute setback when the spring on our Hot Foot (throttle control) came off. That happened after we reached our first spot and we got it fixed on the water.”
Easter said he and Tanner caught fish shallow and deep. Knowing that the bass are in the process of making their summer offshore move, the anglers employed a mix of flipping and dragging techniques.
“I think our understanding of Garmin LiveScope made a big difference for us today,” Easter said. “We were able to tell how big the fish were, how many there were and if they were set up right.
“We’re going to go do the same thing tomorrow.”
Hammond and Mackey are in the lead for Big Bass honors with their 6-5.
Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 5:30 a.m. CT at Beeswax Creek Park. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 1:30 p.m. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.
La Clair goes with the flow to win B.A.S.S. Nation Regional at Potomac River
Brian La Clair of Denton, Md., who competed for Team Delaware, has won the 2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Northeast Regional at Potomac River with a three-day total of 50 pounds, 10 ounces.
Photo by Grant Moxley/B.A.S.S.
June 9, 2023
CHARLES COUNTY, Md. — From the moment Brian La Clair arrived in Charles County, Md., for the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Northeast Regional at Potomac River, he had a feeling things might go his way.
By staying patient and executing on almost every bite, the Denton, Md., boater was able to capitalize on his hunch and take home the victory with a three-day total of 50 pounds, 10 ounces, outlasting New Jersey’s Manuel Cruz and Maine’s Jonathan Carter.
By finishing at the top of the Delaware state team standings, La Clair will head to his fourth TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship and compete for a chance to go to his second Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota. His first Classic appearance came in 2011 in New Orleans.
“It feels good. I’m gonna say this might be one of the biggest tournaments I’ve ever won,” he said. “I have been fishing for a long time and I’ll be honest, I felt like it could happen. I don’t get that feeling too often. You have to go with the flow and see how it all works out. This trophy is really nice. It was a good week. I didn’t lose very many.”
Opening the tournament in third place with 16-12, La Clair caught 17-8 to move into the lead before landing the biggest bag of Championship Friday at 16-6.
One bay served as La Clair’s primary area. His best stretch in that bay featured five docks, a bulkhead and bank grass. Out in front of his best stretch was a sandbar where he saw bream spawning. At low tide, there was only about 8 inches of water. But when the tide moved in, the bass moved in with it to feed on those bream.
Each day it reloaded with bass, but he had to wait for the incoming tide to provide enough water to where he could move mostly undetected through the area with his Lowrance Ghost trolling motor.
“I went out looking for something different because I knew I wasn’t going to win doing what everyone else was doing,” he said. “You have to find strictly big fish, 3 pounds and above. I found a bunch of fish that were using one stretch.
“Those fish bite better when there is more water over the grass. When it was really skinny, they were too spooked. When they got 2 feet of water over their heads, they were good. There was also a depression that ran the length of the bulkhead and it was clean with spotty grass.”
On Day 1, La Clair caught the majority of his bag using a 6-inch glidebait in a bluegill pattern around the docks and bulkhead. On the second and third competition days, La Clair could not generate bites on the big bait and instead utilized a more traditional approach.
He caught the majority of his bass the final two days on a 3/8-ounce green pumpkin Dirty Jigs swim jig paired with a twin-tail trailer and either a weightless Texas-rigged or wacky-rigged Yamamoto Senko in a watermelon laminate color. He also mixed in a 1/4-ounce brown flipping jig.
The final day started a little slower for La Clair, but he watched his co-angler James D'Ambra catch two of the bass he needed to qualify for the Nation Championship. As the tide came in, the bite got better and better until about 11 a.m. Along with his primary spot, he caught bass out of a different grass bed, but could not upgrade anymore.
“I just kept my cool. I knew the bass were going to be there again and they showed themselves today even better,” he said. “It was a good day. I went out calm, cool and collected.”
New Jersey boater Manuel Cruz finished second with a three-day total of 47-14. After leading Day 1 with 17-9, Cruz stumbled slightly on Day 2 with 14-1 and fell to fifth. On the final day, however, Cruz caught 16-4 to claim a spot in the Nation Championship.
“This will be my first championship, which is awesome,” Cruz said. “I am happy and I am ready to go down there.”
During the week, Cruz targeted bream beds. The bream were setting up on the edge of a grass line just off the bank and the Clifton, N.J., native caught most of his Day 1 bag with a frog.
“The bass were feeding up shallow in less than a foot of water,” he said. “I picked up a frog the first day. I figured that would be the best thing that would look like an injured bluegill. They were eating it very well.”
The second day, a popper generated more bites and on the final day, he used the popper as well as a Texas-rigged Senko with a 1/4-ounce weight.
“This morning started off with a hiccup when I lost two right away,” he said. “But I was able to recover. The bite started to slow down later in the day and I had to change gears a little bit. The second half of the day, I put together a decent bag.”
Using some of the lessons he learned fishing the James River in the past, Maine boater Jonathan Carter finished third with a three-day total of 46-3. Carter opened the tournament with 14-14, a tally that unfortunately included a penalty for a culling infraction. He rebounded in a big way on Day 2 by catching 18-5, the biggest bag of the event. He followed that up with 13-0 in the championship round to finish at the top of his state.
Carter focused on isolated grass patches during the week, with one 30-yard area of milfoil producing the majority of his weight. With milfoil edges on either side of a hard spot in 3 feet of water and deeper water access close by, the Portland boater reeled a 1/2-ounce Z-Man Evergreen JackHammer in Hite’s Hot Craw with a green pumpkin Strike King Rage Craw.
“I was looking for grass that wasn’t part of a vast flat,” he said. “More isolated stuff that I could thoroughly fish and target groups of fish. I didn’t find a whole lot. I had one main area and four backups.
“On the first two days, you could pretty much catch them on whatever you wanted to throw.”
On the final day, he switched to a white Z-Man ChatterBait Mini Max with a 2.8 Keitech swimbait trailer.
With a 5-12 largemouth he caught on Day 1, Delaware’s Rodney Oberdick claimed Big Bass of the Tournament honors on the boater side and a $500 check.
Zachary Queeney from New Jersey took home the nonboater championship with a three-day total of 31-0. Starting the tournament with three-bass limits of 10-5 and 7-6 the first two days, Queeney landed the biggest nonboater bag of the tournament on Day 3 with a limit measuring 13-5.
“The bite here is crazy,” he said. “It was something different every day. I had nine rods with nine different baits and got bit on all of them.”
Massachusetts nonboater James D'Ambra finished second with 28-6, followed by fellow Massachusetts angler Rob Ross in third with 27-11. Pennsylvania's Ross Caruso earned $250 for winning the Big Bass of the Tournament award on the nonboater side with a 5-9 largemouth he caught on the final day.
The top finishing boater and nonboater from each state punched their tickets to the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Lake Hartwell scheduled for Oct. 18-20. The winner of that event will receive an invite to the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series roster and the top three anglers will qualify for the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota in Tulsa, Okla.
2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Northeastern Regional 6/7-6/10
Potomac River, Charles Co MD.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brian La Clair Denton, MD (DE) 15 50-10 0
2. Manuel Cruz Clifton, NJ (NJ) 15 47-14 0
3. Jonathan Carter Portland, ME (ME) 15 46-03 0
4. Jacob Marcantonio Moosup, CT (RI) 15 43-00 0
5. Aaron Green Everett, PA (PA) 15 43-00 0
6. Bill Kanwisher Ramsey, NJ (NJ) 14 42-02 0
7. Harry Colberg Pittsburgh, PA (PA) 14 41-07 0
8. Andrew Sams Easton, MD (MD) 15 41-05 0
9. Conor Cahill Swedesboro, NJ (NJ) 15 41-04 0
10. Phil Coffin Pittsburgh, PA (PA) 15 41-02 0
11. Cliff Humphreys Candler, PA (NJ) 14 41-01 0
12. Jeremy Sadowski Voluntown, CT (RI) 14 40-15 0
13. Lukas Matt Syracuse, NY (NY) 14 40-11 0
14. Keith Cleary Bethel, CT (NY) 15 39-15 0
15. Mickey Soler Newington, CT (CT) 15 39-10 0
16. Thomas Waltz St. Albans, VT (VT) 15 39-02 0
17. Joe Matt Syracuse, NY (NY) 15 38-13 0
18. Andrej Chowaniec Beeton Ontario CANADA ( 15 38-07 0
19. Tyler Conde Chepachet, RI (RI) 15 38-06 0
20. Nathan Quince Imperial, PA (PA) 14 38-01 0
21. Travis Surette Kingston Ontario CANADA 14 37-05 0
22. Matty Szczoczarz Cumberland, RI (RI) 12 37-04 0
23. Tony G Gelardi II Arundel, ME (ME) 13 35-09 0
24. Michael Mello Jr Manville, RI (MA) 14 34-06 0
25. Timothy Dube Nashua , NH (NH) 14 34-04 0
26. Noah Winslow Naugatuck, CT (CT) 13 33-10 0
27. Rodney Oberdick Felton, DE (DE) 12 33-02 0
28. Cameron Rhodes Warwick, RI (RI) 12 32-15 0
29. Keith Cowan Mount Ephraim, NJ (NJ) 11 31-10 0
30. Mark Burgess Norton, MA (MA) 13 31-08 0
31. Michael Nutter La Plata, MD (MD) 11 30-13 0
32. Casey Baroffio Northfield, VT (VT) 13 28-09 0
33. Kevin Miller Hollis, NH (NH) 11 27-06 0
34. Justin Bronson Glenn Dale, MD (MD) 10 26-08 0
35. George Yund Glenmont, NY (NY) 10 26-07 0
36. Nicholas Papotto Cheshire, CT (CT) 10 26-03 0
37. Jeremy Woodall Greenwood, DE (DE) 9 25-15 0
38. Kevin Steinruck Sodus, NY (NY) 10 25-13 0
39. Jason Gramada Les Cedres Quebec CANAD 10 25-12 0
40. Robert Brennan Forked River, NJ (NJ) 9 25-05 0
41. Mark Hogan Milford, DE (DE) 10 25-05 0
42. Robert Smith Farmington, ME (ME) 9 24-15 0
43. Fern Campeau Ottawa Province CANADA 9 24-02 0
44. Jared Leicht Millville, NJ (NJ) 10 23-13 0
45. Chuck Rowlee Fulton, NY (NY) 10 23-13 0
46. Michael Shay Cheshire, CT (CT) 9 23-04 0
47. Todd Rose Stafford Springs, CT (C 9 23-01 0
48. Doug Savino Tyrone, PA (PA) 10 22-15 0
49. Derek Severns Carnegie, PA (PA) 10 22-14 0
50. Ed Riley Jr Woodbine, MD (MD) 8 22-03 0
51. RJ Ricci Cranston, RI (RI) 9 22-03 0
52. Craig Morris Ocean City, DE (DE) 8 21-06 0
53. Bret Winegardner Swanton, MD (MD) 8 21-01 0
54. Scott Robert Greene, ME (ME) 8 20-10 0
55. Fabian Rodriguez Ocean City, MD (DE) 9 20-10 0
56. Ronald Konopka Hampton Falls, NH (NH) 8 20-06 0
57. Nick Deering Portland, ME (ME) 8 20-04 0
58. Amos Dixon Camden Wyoming, DE (DE) 9 20-04 0
59. Ed String Sewell, NJ (NJ) 8 20-03 0
60. Anthony Dulac Harpswell, ME (ME) 8 20-02 0
61. Charles Sim Wasaga Beach Ontario CA 7 20-01 0
62. Jason Vaughn Bridgeville, DE (DE) 7 19-08 0
63. Steven Hannah Woodstown, NJ (NJ) 7 19-06 0
64. Sean Howard Saugus, MA (MA) 9 19-05 0
65. Tom Hardy Penetanguishene Ontario 7 19-04 0
66. Jim Short Ocean Pines, MD (DE) 7 19-01 0
67. Steven Griffith Schellsburg, PA (PA) 8 18-15 0
68. Phil Curtis Rosseau ONTARIO CANADA 9 18-14 0
69. John Jeddry III White Hall, MD (MD) 7 18-12 0
70. Jean-Marie Landry Rutlandpierrefonds Queb 8 18-10 0
71. Tim Talento Meriden, CT (CT) 8 18-06 0
72. David Mathieu Woodstock, CT (VT) 7 18-06 0
73. John DiGennaro Melvin Village, NH (ME) 7 18-04 0
74. Mike Roselle La Plata, MD (MD) 7 18-02 0
75. Dean Diviesti Walden, NY (NY) 8 17-13 0
76. Erick Markstaller Brookfield, CT (CT) 8 17-11 0
77. Michael Duarte Middle River, MD (MD) 7 17-10 0
78. Richard Martin Jr Sparrows Point, MD (MD) 7 17-10 0
79. Sean Mckee IV Haddon Heights, NJ (NJ) 7 17-04 0
80. Kory Dominick Saugus, MA (MA) 7 17-03 0
81. Billy Gilbert Hamburg, NY (NY) 6 16-12 0
82. Kamil Jaskolski Dudley, MA (MA) 6 16-03 0
83. William Barrett Bridgewater, MA (MA) 7 16-01 0
84. Denis Carrier Skowhegan, ME (ME) 7 15-11 0
85. Tim McGlenn Welcome, MD (MD) 6 15-10 0
86. James Loomis III Parish, NY (NY) 7 15-06 0
87. Kevin McPhee Woodlawn Ontario CANADA 6 15-06 0
88. Mo Campbell Harrisburg, NC (MA) 7 15-06 0
89. John Farrand Lewiston, ME (ME) 6 15-01 0
90. Garrett Kruger Monroe, CT (CT) 6 14-15 0
91. Kevin Hagerman Scottdale, PA (PA) 6 14-15 0
92. Michael Zachodny Nashua, NH (NH) 5 14-13 0
93. Andrew Getsy Hastings , PA (PA) 8 14-13 0
94. Dan Konitsky Patton, PA (PA) 6 14-03 0
95. David Tsao Newburyport, MA (NH) 6 13-14 0
96. Jason Roberts Rutland, VT (VT) 5 13-13 0
97. Robert Ramasci Wakefield, MA (MA) 7 13-04 0
98. Patrick Martin St Roch De L Achigan Qu 5 13-01 0
99. Dave Andrews Hudson, MA (NH) 6 12-13 0
100. Robert Pepe Plainville, CT (CT) 5 12-10 0
101. Mathew Koprash North Bay Ontario CANAD 5 12-08 0
102. Neal Wharton Seaford, DE (DE) 5 12-07 0
103. Michael Comeau Alburgh, VT (VT) 6 12-01 0
104. Mario Villegas North Kingstown, RI (RI 5 11-06 0
105. Christian Hogue Blackstone, MA (RI) 5 11-01 0
106. Jim Morris Milford, CT (CT) 4 10-13 0
107. Austin Littler Camden, NY (NY) 5 10-09 0
108. Brian Morin Manchester, NH (NH) 4 09-01 0
109. Ben Hale Rowley, MA (MA) 3 08-11 0
110. John Fortier Sanbornton, NH (NH) 3 07-08 0
111. Joe Burchill Salem, NH (NH) 2 07-05 0
112. Brian Jarvis Coventry, RI (RI) 4 07-03 0
113. David Reiss Westport Island, ME (ME 2 06-10 0
114. Joshua Smith Coventry, RI (RI) 3 06-07 0
115. Tucker Bedard Verner CANADA (ON) 3 06-06 0
116. Aaron Orsi Millbury, MA (MA) 2 04-10 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 61 462 1213-06
2 58 437 1140-14
3 19 136 341-11
----------------------------------
138 1035 2695-15
TEAM STANDINGS Day 3
----------------------------------
State Lbs-Oz
1 NEW JERSEY 475-03
2 PENNSYLVANIA 423-00
3 NEW YORK 384-02
4 CONNECTICUT 366-01
5 RHODE ISLAND 360-11
6 DELAWARE 357-03
7 MARYLAND 342-13
8 MAINE 341-14
9 MASSACHUSETTS 294-03
10 ONTARIO 286-01
11 NEW HAMPSHIRE 249-14
12 VERMONT 201-15
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CONNECTICUT
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Mickey Soler Newington, CT 15 39-10 0
2 Noah Winslow Naugatuck, CT 13 33-10 0
3 Nicholas Papotto Cheshire, CT 10 26-03 0
4 Michael Shay Cheshire, CT 9 23-04 0
5 Todd Rose Stafford Springs, CT 9 23-01 0
6 Tim Talento Meriden, CT 8 18-06 0
7 Erick Markstaller Brookfield, CT 8 17-11 0
8 Garrett Kruger Monroe, CT 6 14-15 0
9 Robert Pepe Plainville, CT 5 12-10 0
10 Jim Morris Milford, CT 4 10-13 0
DELAWARE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Brian La Clair Denton, MD 15 50-10 0
2 Rodney Oberdick Felton, DE 12 33-02 0
3 Jeremy Woodall Greenwood, DE 9 25-15 0
4 Mark Hogan Milford, DE 10 25-05 0
5 Craig Morris Ocean City, DE 8 21-06 0
6 Fabian Rodriguez Ocean City, MD 9 20-10 0
7 Amos Dixon Camden Wyoming, DE 9 20-04 0
8 Jason Vaughn Bridgeville, DE 7 19-08 0
9 Jim Short Ocean Pines, MD 7 19-01 0
10 Neal Wharton Seaford, DE 5 12-07 0
MASSACHUSETTS
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Michael Mello Jr Manville, RI 14 34-06 0
2 Mark Burgess Norton, MA 13 31-08 0
3 Sean Howard Saugus, MA 9 19-05 0
4 Kory Dominick Saugus, MA 7 17-03 0
5 Kamil Jaskolski Dudley, MA 6 16-03 0
6 William Barrett Bridgewater, MA 7 16-01 0
7 Mo Campbell Harrisburg, NC 7 15-06 0
8 Robert Ramasci Wakefield, MA 7 13-04 0
9 Ben Hale Rowley, MA 3 08-11 0
10 Aaron Orsi Millbury, MA 2 04-10 0
MARYLAND
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Andrew Sams Easton, MD 15 41-05 0
2 Michael Nutter La Plata, MD 11 30-13 0
3 Justin Bronson Glenn Dale, MD 10 26-08 0
4 Ed Riley Jr Woodbine, MD 8 22-03 0
5 Bret Winegardner Swanton, MD 8 21-01 0
6 John Jeddry III White Hall, MD 7 18-12 0
7 Mike Roselle La Plata, MD 7 18-02 0
8 Michael Duarte Middle River, MD 7 17-10 0
9 Richard Martin Jr Sparrows Point, MD 7 17-10 0
10 Tim McGlenn Welcome, MD 6 15-10 0
MAINE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jonathan Carter Portland, ME 15 46-03 0
2 Tony G Gelardi II Arundel, ME 13 35-09 0
3 Robert Smith Farmington, ME 9 24-15 0
4 Scott Robert Greene, ME 8 20-10 0
5 Nick Deering Portland, ME 8 20-04 0
6 Anthony Dulac Harpswell, ME 8 20-02 0
7 John DiGennaro Melvin Village, NH 7 18-04 0
8 Denis Carrier Skowhegan, ME 7 15-11 0
9 John Farrand Lewiston, ME 6 15-01 0
10 David Reiss Westport Island, ME 2 06-10 0
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Timothy Dube Nashua , NH 14 34-04 0
2 Kevin Miller Hollis, NH 11 27-06 0
3 Ronald Konopka Hampton Falls, NH 8 20-06 0
4 Michael Zachodny Nashua, NH 5 14-13 0
5 David Tsao Newburyport, MA 6 13-14 0
6 Dave Andrews Hudson, MA 6 12-13 0
7 Brian Morin Manchester, NH 4 09-01 0
8 John Fortier Sanbornton, NH 3 07-08 0
9 Joe Burchill Salem, NH 2 07-05 0
NEW JERSEY
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Manuel Cruz Clifton, NJ 15 47-14 0
2 Bill Kanwisher Ramsey, NJ 14 42-02 0
3 Conor Cahill Swedesboro, NJ 15 41-04 0
4 Cliff Humphreys Candler, PA 14 41-01 0
5 Keith Cowan Mount Ephraim, NJ 11 31-10 0
6 Robert Brennan Forked River, NJ 9 25-05 0
7 Jared Leicht Millville, NJ 10 23-13 0
8 Ed String Sewell, NJ 8 20-03 0
9 Steven Hannah Woodstown, NJ 7 19-06 0
10 Sean Mckee IV Haddon Heights, NJ 7 17-04 0
NEW YORK
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Lukas Matt Syracuse, NY 14 40-11 0
2 Keith Cleary Bethel, CT 15 39-15 0
3 Joe Matt Syracuse, NY 15 38-13 0
4 George Yund Glenmont, NY 10 26-07 0
5 Kevin Steinruck Sodus, NY 10 25-13 0
6 Chuck Rowlee Fulton, NY 10 23-13 0
7 Dean Diviesti Walden, NY 8 17-13 0
8 Billy Gilbert Hamburg, NY 6 16-12 0
9 James Loomis III Parish, NY 7 15-06 0
10 Austin Littler Camden, NY 5 10-09 0
PENNSYLVANIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Aaron Green Everett, PA 15 43-00 0
2 Harry Colberg Pittsburgh, PA 14 41-07 0
3 Phil Coffin Pittsburgh, PA 15 41-02 0
4 Nathan Quince Imperial, PA 14 38-01 0
5 Doug Savino Tyrone, PA 10 22-15 0
6 Derek Severns Carnegie, PA 10 22-14 0
7 Steven Griffith Schellsburg, PA 8 18-15 0
8 Kevin Hagerman Scottdale, PA 6 14-15 0
9 Andrew Getsy Hastings , PA 8 14-13 0
10 Dan Konitsky Patton, PA 6 14-03 0
RHODE ISLAND
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jacob Marcantonio Moosup, CT 15 43-00 0
2 Jeremy Sadowski Voluntown, CT 14 40-15 0
3 Tyler Conde Chepachet, RI 15 38-06 0
4 Matty Szczoczarz Cumberland, RI 12 37-04 0
5 Cameron Rhodes Warwick, RI 12 32-15 0
6 RJ Ricci Cranston, RI 9 22-03 0
7 Mario Villegas North Kingstown, RI 5 11-06 0
8 Christian Hogue Blackstone, MA 5 11-01 0
9 Brian Jarvis Coventry, RI 4 07-03 0
10 Joshua Smith Coventry, RI 3 06-07 0
VERMONT
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Thomas Waltz St. Albans, VT 15 39-02 0
2 Casey Baroffio Northfield, VT 13 28-09 0
3 Jean-Marie Landry Rutlandpierrefonds Queb 8 18-10 0
4 David Mathieu Woodstock, CT 7 18-06 0
5 Jason Roberts Rutland, VT 5 13-13 0
6 Patrick Martin St Roch De L Achigan Qu 5 13-01 0
7 Michael Comeau Alburgh, VT 6 12-01 0
ONTARIO
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Andrej Chowaniec Beeton Ontario CANADA 15 38-07 0
2 Travis Surette Kingston Ontario CANADA 14 37-05 0
3 Jason Gramada Les Cedres Quebec CANAD 10 25-12 0
4 Fern Campeau Ottawa Province CANADA 9 24-02 0
5 Charles Sim Wasaga Beach Ontario CA 7 20-01 0
6 Tom Hardy Penetanguishene Ontario 7 19-04 0
7 Phil Curtis Rosseau ONTARIO CANADA 9 18-14 0
8 Kevin McPhee Woodlawn Ontario CANADA 6 15-06 0
9 Mathew Koprash North Bay Ontario CANAD 5 12-08 0
10 Tucker Bedard Verner CANADA 3 06-06 0
2023 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Northeastern Regional 6/7-6/10
Potomac River, Charles Co MD.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Zachary Queeney Atco, NJ (NJ) 9 31-00 0
2. James D'Ambra Hanover, MA (MA) 9 28-06 0
3. Rob Ross Hopedale, MA (MA) 9 27-11 0
4. Patrick Staszewski Wayne, NJ (NJ) 8 26-13 0
5. Cooper Haase Duncannon, PA (PA) 9 25-14 0
6. Ross Caruso Pittsburgh, PA (PA) 8 25-01 0
7. Roger Foraker Magnolia, DE (DE) 9 24-05 0
8. Gary Belanger Plainville, CT (CT) 8 23-02 0
9. Mike Bell Ogdensburg, NY (NY) 9 22-13 0
10. Alex Shaffer Brookville, PA (PA) 8 22-07 0
11. Jon Metot Phoenix, NY (NY) 8 22-04 0
12. Bob Jeffrey Prospect, CT (CT) 9 21-15 0
13. Eric Moulton Enfield, NH (NH) 8 21-09 0
14. Paul Baker New Fairfield, CT (CT) 8 21-08 0
15. Ron Stierstorfer Middle River, MD (MD) 8 21-07 0
16. Peter Owen Jr Barnstead, NH (NH) 8 21-01 0
17. Eric Boehm Jr Lumberton, NJ (NJ) 9 21-01 0
18. Mark Mounts Washington, PA (PA) 8 20-14 0
19. Dave Haas Sewell, NJ (NJ) 7 20-14 0
20. Tyler Hawthorne Waynesboro, PA (MD) 8 19-15 0
21. Garrett Sicely Albany, VT (VT) 7 19-13 0
22. David Pfeiffer Milton Mills, NH (ME) 7 19-08 0
23. Bryce Poulin Lisbon, ME (ME) 7 18-09 0
24. Chris Miller Flanders, NJ (NJ) 8 18-07 0
25. Robert Rull Jr Coventry, RI (RI) 7 17-09 0
26. Bob Wetzler Rutland, VT (VT) 7 17-03 0
27. Hayden Kent Denton, MD (DE) 7 16-13 0
28. Steven Conde Chepachet, RI (RI) 6 15-14 0
29. Evan Miller Cumberland, ME (ME) 7 15-08 0
30. Andrew Krauss Seabright CANADA (ON) 6 14-04 0
31. Cameron Norton Cambridge, MA (MA) 6 13-09 0
32. Josh Giran Elizabeth, PA (PA) 5 13-08 0
33. Chris McCarthy Woonsocket, RI (RI) 6 13-05 0
34. Wes Vyverberg Rochester, NY (NY) 5 13-01 0
35. Joe Sodora Garfield, NJ (CT) 5 13-00 0
36. Bobby Smith Laurel, DE (DE) 5 12-15 0
37. Peter Knight Fulton, NY (NY) 5 12-15 0
38. Devin Hines West Haven, CT (CT) 5 12-13 0
39. Joe Devoe Aberdeen, MD (MD) 6 12-07 0
40. Robert Baillargeon Kingston, NH (NH) 5 12-04 0
41. Neil Talento Meriden, CT (CT) 6 12-04 0
42. Mike Krauss Lindsay Ontario CANADA 5 12-02 0
43. Randy Marshall Sr. Belgrade, ME (ME) 5 12-01 0
44. Shane Gagnon Livermore Falls, ME (ME 5 11-12 0
45. Vinny Mucci North Haven, CT (CT) 4 11-11 0
46. Ernest Weathersby Leominster, MA (MA) 5 11-10 0
47. Jacob Zaremski Rochester, NY (NY) 4 11-03 0
48. Charlie Clifford Walkersville, MD (MD) 5 11-02 0
49. Aaron Busch East Syracuse, NY (NY) 5 11-01 0
50. Gregory Ledwell White Marsh, MD (MD) 4 11-01 0
51. Michael Trimarchi Saugus, MA (MA) 5 11-00 0
52. Mike Crepp Alexandria, KY (PA) 5 11-00 0
53. Timothy Rivet Pascoag, RI (RI) 4 10-15 0
54. Michael Stewart Wrentham, MA (NH) 4 10-13 0
55. CJ Tuite Mount Arlington, NJ (NJ 4 10-11 0
56. Paul Decker Milford, PA (NY) 4 10-11 0
57. John Miller Jr Bridgeville, DE (DE) 4 10-08 0
58. Jimmy Eney Baltimore, MD (MD) 4 10-07 0
59. Chris Adams Bow, NH (NH) 4 10-07 0
60. John Nichols Milford, DE (DE) 4 10-05 0
61. Brian Pineau Milford, CT (CT) 4 10-02 0
62. Brent Temple BREWERTON, NY (NY) 4 10-02 0
63. Robert Serer Naugatuck, CT (CT) 3 10-00 0
64. Brandon Regnault Providence, RI (RI) 4 10-00 0
65. Andrew Senecal Putnam, CT (RI) 3 09-15 0
66. Jacob Muir Milford, DE (DE) 4 09-15 0
67. Jerald Conley Franklinville, NJ (NJ) 4 09-08 0
68. Ray Rios Lafayette , NJ (NJ) 3 09-08 0
69. Luis Paredes Milford, CT (CT) 4 09-07 0
70. Bruce Wood Jr Sabattus, ME (ME) 4 09-06 0
71. James Lowe Harrison, ME (ME) 3 09-04 0
72. Tyler Rush Clearville, PA (PA) 4 09-04 0
73. Scott Breichner Hagerstown, MD (PA) 3 09-03 0
74. Jonathan Stewart Manahawkin, NJ (NJ) 4 09-02 0
75. Steven Davis Dover, PA (MD) 4 09-00 0
76. Butch Van Drunen Hardeson, DE (DE) 3 08-14 0
77. Skyler Morris Parkville, MD (MD) 4 08-10 0
78. Logan Riley Westport, MA (MA) 4 08-10 0
79. Julian Felix Fitchburg, MA (RI) 4 08-08 0
80. Christopher Tacelli Smithfield, RI (RI) 3 08-05 0
81. Jon Ruch Jersey City, NJ (NJ) 3 08-05 0
82. Steven Tessier Russell Ontario CANADA 4 08-05 0
83. Toby Cross Bowdoinham, ME (ME) 3 08-03 0
83. Richard Martin Chapeau CANADA (ON) 3 08-03 0
85. Alex Gross Jefferson, NH (NH) 4 08-02 0
86. Dave Metivier Gray, ME (NH) 4 08-01 0
87. Ron Horton Dover, DE (DE) 3 07-15 0
88. Scott Leppanen Byfield, MA (NH) 4 07-15 0
89. Michael Schrader North Attleboro, MA (RI 3 07-13 0
90. Guiseppe Andreoli Foster, RI (RI) 3 07-11 0
91. Lee Corazzi Fredericktown, PA (PA) 3 07-10 0
92. Carl Borelli Highland, NY (NY) 3 07-07 0
93. Tom O'Brien Alfred, ME (ME) 3 07-06 0
94. Olivia Baroffio Northfield, VT (VT) 4 07-04 0
95. Ron Pelkie Jr Fryeburg, ME (ME) 3 07-00 0
96. Sammy Chhoeun Fall River, MA (MA) 3 06-09 0
96. Isaac Hastings Schenectady, NY (NY) 3 06-09 0
98. Dan Marson Elmvale Ontario CANADA 3 06-02 0
99. Michael Trial York, PA (PA) 2 05-14 0
100. Jerry Ramasci Wakefield, MA (MA) 3 05-13 0
101. Jay Walls Milford, DE (DE) 3 05-09 0
102. Tracy Rich North Bay CANADA (ON) 2 05-06 0
103. Dylan Stowe Weybridge, VT (VT) 2 05-05 0
104. Vic Brown II Glen Burnie, MD (MD) 2 04-15 0
105. Greg Decell Bridgewater, VT (VT) 2 04-07 0
106. Jesse Manning Athol, MA (MA) 2 04-06 0
107. Adam Poe Manchester, MD (MD) 2 04-03 0
108. Michael Street Russell Ontario CANADA 2 04-02 0
109. Remi Fanelli Innisfil Ontario CANADA 2 03-14 0
110. Richard Bilodeau Corbeil Ontario CANADA 2 03-08 0
111. Jason Betourney Bridport, VT (VT) 1 02-13 0
112. Jeff Moore Center Barnstead, NH (N 1 02-04 0
113. Anthony Skanes Cambridge Ontario CANAD 1 02-02 0
114. Andrew Dick Wilmington, DE (DE) 1 01-12 0
115. Lynn Gervais Pierrefonds Quebec CANA 1 01-08 0
116. Ryan Parker Lisbon, ME (MA) 0 00-00 0
116. Bob Severns Carnegie, PA (PA) 0 00-00 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 53 229 569-01
2 57 243 622-12
3 16 70 195-04
----------------------------------
126 542 1387-01
TEAM STANDINGS Day 3
----------------------------------
State Lbs-Oz
1 NEW JERSEY 475-03
2 PENNSYLVANIA 423-00
3 NEW YORK 384-02
4 CONNECTICUT 366-01
5 RHODE ISLAND 360-11
6 DELAWARE 357-03
7 MARYLAND 342-13
8 MAINE 341-14
9 MASSACHUSETTS 294-03
10 ONTARIO 286-01
11 NEW HAMPSHIRE 249-14
12 VERMONT 201-15
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
CONNECTICUT
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Gary Belanger Plainville, CT 8 23-02 0
2 Bob Jeffrey Prospect, CT 9 21-15 0
3 Paul Baker New Fairfield, CT 8 21-08 0
4 Joe Sodora Garfield, NJ 5 13-00 0
5 Devin Hines West Haven, CT 5 12-13 0
6 Neil Talento Meriden, CT 6 12-04 0
7 Vinny Mucci North Haven, CT 4 11-11 0
8 Brian Pineau Milford, CT 4 10-02 0
9 Robert Serer Naugatuck, CT 3 10-00 0
10 Luis Paredes Milford, CT 4 09-07 0
DELAWARE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Roger Foraker Magnolia, DE 9 24-05 0
2 Hayden Kent Denton, MD 7 16-13 0
3 Bobby Smith Laurel, DE 5 12-15 0
4 John Miller Jr Bridgeville, DE 4 10-08 0
5 John Nichols Milford, DE 4 10-05 0
6 Jacob Muir Milford, DE 4 09-15 0
7 Butch Van Drunen Hardeson, DE 3 08-14 0
8 Ron Horton Dover, DE 3 07-15 0
9 Jay Walls Milford, DE 3 05-09 0
10 Andrew Dick Wilmington, DE 1 01-12 0
MASSACHUSETTS
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 James D'Ambra Hanover, MA 9 28-06 0
2 Rob Ross Hopedale, MA 9 27-11 0
3 Cameron Norton Cambridge, MA 6 13-09 0
4 Ernest Weathersby Leominster, MA 5 11-10 0
5 Michael Trimarchi Saugus, MA 5 11-00 0
6 Logan Riley Westport, MA 4 08-10 0
7 Sammy Chhoeun Fall River, MA 3 06-09 0
8 Jerry Ramasci Wakefield, MA 3 05-13 0
9 Jesse Manning Athol, MA 2 04-06 0
10 Ryan Parker Lisbon, ME 0 00-00 0
MARYLAND
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Ron Stierstorfer Middle River, MD 8 21-07 0
2 Tyler Hawthorne Waynesboro, PA 8 19-15 0
3 Joe Devoe Aberdeen, MD 6 12-07 0
4 Charlie Clifford Walkersville, MD 5 11-02 0
5 Gregory Ledwell White Marsh, MD 4 11-01 0
6 Jimmy Eney Baltimore, MD 4 10-07 0
7 Steven Davis Dover, PA 4 09-00 0
8 Skyler Morris Parkville, MD 4 08-10 0
9 Vic Brown II Glen Burnie, MD 2 04-15 0
10 Adam Poe Manchester, MD 2 04-03 0
MAINE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 David Pfeiffer Milton Mills, NH 7 19-08 0
2 Bryce Poulin Lisbon, ME 7 18-09 0
3 Evan Miller Cumberland, ME 7 15-08 0
4 Randy Marshall Sr. Belgrade, ME 5 12-01 0
5 Shane Gagnon Livermore Falls, ME 5 11-12 0
6 Bruce Wood Jr Sabattus, ME 4 09-06 0
7 James Lowe Harrison, ME 3 09-04 0
8 Toby Cross Bowdoinham, ME 3 08-03 0
9 Tom O'Brien Alfred, ME 3 07-06 0
10 Ron Pelkie Jr Fryeburg, ME 3 07-00 0
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Eric Moulton Enfield, NH 8 21-09 0
2 Peter Owen Jr Barnstead, NH 8 21-01 0
3 Robert Baillargeon Kingston, NH 5 12-04 0
4 Michael Stewart Wrentham, MA 4 10-13 0
5 Chris Adams Bow, NH 4 10-07 0
6 Alex Gross Jefferson, NH 4 08-02 0
7 Dave Metivier Gray, ME 4 08-01 0
8 Scott Leppanen Byfield, MA 4 07-15 0
9 Jeff Moore Center Barnstead, NH 1 02-04 0
NEW JERSEY
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Zachary Queeney Atco, NJ 9 31-00 0
2 Patrick Staszewski Wayne, NJ 8 26-13 0
3 Eric Boehm Jr Lumberton, NJ 9 21-01 0
4 Dave Haas Sewell, NJ 7 20-14 0
5 Chris Miller Flanders, NJ 8 18-07 0
6 CJ Tuite Mount Arlington, NJ 4 10-11 0
7 Jerald Conley Franklinville, NJ 4 09-08 0
8 Ray Rios Lafayette , NJ 3 09-08 0
9 Jonathan Stewart Manahawkin, NJ 4 09-02 0
10 Jon Ruch Jersey City, NJ 3 08-05 0
NEW YORK
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Mike Bell Ogdensburg, NY 9 22-13 0
2 Jon Metot Phoenix, NY 8 22-04 0
3 Wes Vyverberg Rochester, NY 5 13-01 0
4 Peter Knight Fulton, NY 5 12-15 0
5 Jacob Zaremski Rochester, NY 4 11-03 0
6 Aaron Busch East Syracuse, NY 5 11-01 0
7 Paul Decker Milford, PA 4 10-11 0
8 Brent Temple BREWERTON, NY 4 10-02 0
9 Carl Borelli Highland, NY 3 07-07 0
10 Isaac Hastings Schenectady, NY 3 06-09 0
PENNSYLVANIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Cooper Haase Duncannon, PA 9 25-14 0
2 Ross Caruso Pittsburgh, PA 8 25-01 0
3 Alex Shaffer Brookville, PA 8 22-07 0
4 Mark Mounts Washington, PA 8 20-14 0
5 Josh Giran Elizabeth, PA 5 13-08 0
6 Mike Crepp Alexandria, KY 5 11-00 0
7 Tyler Rush Clearville, PA 4 09-04 0
8 Scott Breichner Hagerstown, MD 3 09-03 0
9 Lee Corazzi Fredericktown, PA 3 07-10 0
10 Michael Trial York, PA 2 05-14 0
11 Bob Severns Carnegie, PA 0 00-00 0
RHODE ISLAND
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Robert Rull Jr Coventry, RI 7 17-09 0
2 Steven Conde Chepachet, RI 6 15-14 0
3 Chris McCarthy Woonsocket, RI 6 13-05 0
4 Timothy Rivet Pascoag, RI 4 10-15 0
5 Brandon Regnault Providence, RI 4 10-00 0
6 Andrew Senecal Putnam, CT 3 09-15 0
7 Julian Felix Fitchburg, MA 4 08-08 0
8 Christopher Tacelli Smithfield, RI 3 08-05 0
9 Michael Schrader North Attleboro, MA 3 07-13 0
10 Guiseppe Andreoli Foster, RI 3 07-11 0
VERMONT
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Garrett Sicely Albany, VT 7 19-13 0
2 Bob Wetzler Rutland, VT 7 17-03 0
3 Olivia Baroffio Northfield, VT 4 07-04 0
4 Dylan Stowe Weybridge, VT 2 05-05 0
5 Greg Decell Bridgewater, VT 2 04-07 0
6 Jason Betourney Bridport, VT 1 02-13 0
7 Lynn Gervais Pierrefonds Quebec CANA 1 01-08 0
ONTARIO
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Andrew Krauss Seabright CANADA 6 14-04 0
2 Mike Krauss Lindsay Ontario CANADA 5 12-02 0
3 Steven Tessier Russell Ontario CANADA 4 08-05 0
4 Richard Martin Chapeau CANADA 3 08-03 0
5 Dan Marson Elmvale Ontario CANADA 3 06-02 0
6 Tracy Rich North Bay CANADA 2 05-06 0
7 Michael Street Russell Ontario CANADA 2 04-02 0
8 Remi Fanelli Innisfil Ontario CANADA 2 03-14 0
9 Richard Bilodeau Corbeil Ontario CANADA 2 03-08 0
10 Anthony Skanes Cambridge Ontario CANAD 1 02-02 0
Spencer Shuffield Tops Group B at Favorite Fishing Stage Five on Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler
Hot Springs, Arkansas Pro Paces Group B Qualifying Round with Two-Day Total of 10 Bass Weighing 50-10, Field of 40 Set for Saturday’s Knockout Round
UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. (June 9, 2023) – Bass Pro Tour angler Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Arkansas, caught 13 scorable bass Friday, with his best five weighing 24 pounds, 9 ounces to win the two-day Qualifying Group B round at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Favorite Fishing Stage Five on Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler . Shuffield’s two-day total of 10 bass weighing 50 pounds, 10 ounces, earned him the victory by a 10-ounce margin and advances him, along with the remaining top 20 pros from Group B, into Saturday’s Knockout Round of competition.
Cayuga Lake, however, was the real star of the tournament on Friday as the fishery absolutely showed out with numerous limits of huge, healthy smallmouth and largemouth bass being caught. Of the 40 anglers that were competing Friday, 35 of them weighed in five-bass limits greater than 20 pounds – an astonishing figure that had MLFNOW! broadcaster J.T. Kenney calling Cayuga Lake the ‘Big Bass Factory of the North.”
Favorite Fishing pro Matt Becker of Ten Mile, Tennessee, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 50 pounds even to end the round in second- place, and Heavy Hitters 2023 Champion Alton Jones Jr., of Waco, Texas, finished the round in third place with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 48-12. Day 1 leader Cody Meyer of Star, Idaho, finished the round in fourth place with a two-day total of 10 bass for 47-11. Rounding out the top five was General Tire pro Mark Rose of Wynne, Arkansas, who caught 26-2 on Friday to finish with a two-day total of 10 bass for 47-6 and advance in fifth place.
The remaining 40 anglers – the top 20 from each group – now advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round, where weights are zeroed, and the anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round on Sunday. Weights will carry over from the Knockout Round into the Championship Round, which will feature the final 10 anglers competing for the heaviest two-day cumulative total and the top prize of $100,000.
“Today was a very productive day,” Shuffield said in his post-game interview. “I broke 50 pounds and that’s what I really wanted to do – break 50 with all smallmouth – and we did it. It was a great day, and I can’t wait to get back out here again tomorrow.”
Like the majority of the field, Shuffield sight-fished for smallmouth bass on Friday, and he caught his fish drop-shotting a Strike King Baby Z-Too.
“I’ve been throwing the chartreuse color called siren, but I honestly don’t think color even matters,” Shuffield said. “I threw it on an Ark Reinforcer 7-foot, 3-inch medium-light rod paired with 15-pound Yo-Zuri SuperBraid line and an 8-pound Yo-Zuri T7 Premium fluorocarbon leader. I just worked down the bank, finding big smallmouth on beds.”
After catching his limit, Shuffield was able to spend the rest of the afternoon scouting new areas and looking for smallmouth to target during the Knockout Round.
“I marked probably 8 or 9 more bass over 5 pounds, and one that was for sure over 6+,” Shuffield said. “And the 6-pounder is sneaky, so I feel really good about that one.
“The guy that wins this thing is going to be the guy that finds them again tomorrow in the Knockout Round,” Shuffield went on to say. “The key will be finding a stretch that a bunch of guys aren’t already fishing, and then find 4 to 7 good ones on it. If you can find the smallmouth, they’re absolutely ready and willing to bite. I’m looking forward to it.”
The top 20 pros from Group B that now advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round on Cayuga Lake are:
1st: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 50-10
2nd: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 10 bass, 50-0
3rd: Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 10 bass, 48-12
4th: Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, 10 bass, 47-11
5th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 10 bass, 47-6
6th: Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 10 bass, 47-3
7th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 10 bass, 47-0
8th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 10 bass, 46-6
9th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 10 bass, 45-2
10th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 10 bass, 44-12
11th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 10 bass, 44-9
12th: Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., 10 bass, 44-3
13th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 10 bass, 44-3
14th: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 10 bass, 44-1
15th: Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 44-0
16th: Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 43-6
17th: Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., 10 bass, 43-1
18th: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 10 bass, 42-12
19th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 10 bass, 42-7
20th: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 10 bass, 42-6
Eliminated from competition are:
21st: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 42-2
22nd: Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., 10 bass, 41-10
23rd: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 10 bass, 41-3
24th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 41-2
25th: Boyd Duckett, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 40-12
26th: Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., 10 bass, 40-10
27th: Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 40-10
28th: James Watson, Lampe, Mo., 10 bass, 40-9
29th: Josh Butler, Hayden, Ala., 10 bass, 40-7
30th: Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., five bass, 39-15
31st: Mitch Crane, Columbus, Miss., eight bass, 39-8
32nd: Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 39-8
33rd: Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla., 10 bass, 39-0
34th: Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., 10 bass, 38-9
35th: Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas, 10 bass, 37-12
36th: Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 10 bass, 37-11
37th: David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn., 10 bass, 35-15
38th: Timmy Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala., 10 bass, 35-10
39th: Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., 10 bass, 33-2
40th: Roy Hawk, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., eight bass, 30-15
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 319 scorable bass weighing 1,251 pounds, 1 ounce caught by the 40 pros Friday, which included 55 5-pounders, four 6-pounders and two 7-pounders.
Friday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award was awarded to pro Takahiro Omori, who weighed in a 7-pound, 2-ounce smallmouth which bit his drop-shot rig in Period 2. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The six-day bass-fishing event showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The 40 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day qualifying round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. Now that each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top 20 anglers from each group advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Sunday’s final day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
Anglers will launch each day at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from Frontenac Park, located at 15 Creamery Road in Union Springs. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the park beginning at 4 p.m.Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW! live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
As part of the event, on Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11 the MLF Fan Experience will be taking place at Bass Pro Shops, located at 1579 Clark Street Road in Auburn, New York, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate fishing and the outdoors. Fans can hang out and watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen during the MLF Watch Party. On Sunday at 5 p.m., the final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand for the trophy celebration and to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and take selfies.
The Favorite Fishing Stage Five at Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler features pros competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with each angler’s five (5) heaviest bass per day tallied as their day’s weight. Anglers strive to catch their heaviest five fish each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the live scoring SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, fishing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship, held March 13-17, 2024, on Lay Lake in Birmingham, Alabama.
The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Favorite Fishing Stage Five at Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler will air as two, two-hour episodes starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 28 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morningon Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG + Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Orange sets another Bassmaster Elite attendance record
Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River champion Brock Mosley celebrates with the record-breaking crowd at Orange, Texas. The event set a new Elite Series attendance record, drawing 42,448 fans to events throughout the week.
Photo by Shane Durrance/B.A.S.S.
June 9, 2023
Orange sets another Bassmaster Elite attendance record
ORANGE, Texas — The 2023 Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River is officially an event for the record books. Local officials announced a total of 42,448 attended events throughout the week, which included not only takeoffs and weigh-in festivities, but an outdoors expo, the Orange County River Festival and nightly concerts featuring Casey Chesnutt, The Molly Ringwalds, Cole Whittlesey and legendary Texas act the Randy Rogers Band.
“We are very proud that we set a record once again in attendance for the Bassmaster Elite Series on the Sabine,” said Ida Schossow, president of the Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce, which hosted the event. “This community never ceases to amaze me! They love the event, and they continue to show up to support B.A.S.S. and the anglers. Our relationship over the past 10 years with B.A.S.S has been fantastic, and we are looking forward to bringing future events to Orange County.”
Event co-chair David Jones echoed the excitement and thanked the many volunteers from across the region who helped to carry out the long-term vision of success that began 10 years ago.
“I’m ecstatic to hear we beat our record once again,” said Jones. “The spirit of the southeast Texas community never ceases to amaze me. They are tough, resilient and always deliver. They have overcome so much over the years from recessions, several hurricanes, floods and even a pandemic. They always unite and come out on top.
“When you bring a great organization like Bassmaster to town — along with professional anglers, entertainment, food and fun — then pour some of that southeast Texas, Orange County love on, it becomes a catalyst for success. Some call it magic, I call it the 'Bassmaster Fever!' We did it again! I am beyond proud of our community and incredibly thankful to our committee, sponsors and all our volunteers that truly made this event incredibly successful. Thank you Orange County! Let’s continue to grow.”
Previous Elite events in Orange, Texas, have also drawn record-breaking crowds — in four previous visits, the crowds totaled more than 136,000. In fact, Orange currently holds five of the Top 10 highest-attended Elite Series events of all time.
“Our partnership with Bassmaster and Folds of Honor has once again set the record for attendance at an Elite Series tournament, which continues to show our citizens' commitment and support of the great sport of professional bass fishing,” said Orange County Judge John Gothia. “The hard work of our committee and volunteers insured another family fun experience which continues to grow this fantastic sport. We look forward to hosting another event in the future.”
Over the past decade, Orange has hosted six major B.A.S.S. events — five Bassmaster Elite Series tournaments and a St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series derby.
“The event marked the 10th anniversary of our great relationship with Orange,” said Eric Lopez, director of operations for B.A.S.S. “It’s amazing to see how the entire town and communities across southeast Texas come together to put on a huge party welcoming B.A.S.S. and our anglers. We are extremely grateful to everyone involved in making this our biggest event ever.”
VanDam Cruises to Qualifying Round Win at Favorite Fishing Stage Five on Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler
Michigan Pro Boats Two-Day Total of 52-7 To Pace Group A Field, Top 20 Pros Advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round
UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. (June 8, 2023) – Bass Pro Tour angler Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Michigan, caught eight scorable bass Thursday, with his best five going for 24 pounds, 6 ounces. VanDam’s two-day total of 10 bass weighing 52 pounds, 7 ounces was enough to best the 39 other anglers in Group A and win the Qualifying Round for Group A at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Favorite Fishing Stage Five on Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler.
“So far, the tournament is going real well for me,” VanDam said in his post-game interview. “I feel like today was a productive day. I knew that I’d have to catch a good limit to move on to the Knockout Round, so I was able to do that early and then spend the rest of the day moving around trying to find more fish.”
Like Day 1 on Tuesday, VanDam caught the majority of his weight early sight-fishing with a drop-shot rig.
“When I put 28-1 on the scales, it opened everybody’s eyes that first day and it got a lot of people sight-fishing for smallmouth (today) that didn’t the first day. And some of those guys ended up getting in(to the Knockout Round). I think the majority of the field will likely be fishing for smallmouth, and probably in very similar sections of the lake. So the Knockout Round is going to be the real challenging day.
“I know I’m just going to have to execute,” VanDam continued. “The history that I have fishing for smallmouth this time of year definitely gives me a lot of confidence. I’ve got a lot of fish located, I’ve covered a whole lot of water, and I feel like I’ve got a really good gameplan. It’s going to come down to getting a couple of those bigger bites – it’s going to take a lot of weight just to make the Championship Round. We’ll see what happens, I’m looking forward to it.”
VanDam’s weight was 2 pounds heavier than his nearest competitor, pro Jared Lintner of Covington, Georgia, who finished the round in second place with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 50-7. Googan Baits pro Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama, boated a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 49-5 to end the round in third place, while Hot Springs, Arkansas’ Dylan Hays , finished the day in fourth place with a two-day total of 10 bass for 49-5. Reigning Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, rounded out the top five with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 46-8.
The top 20 anglers from Group A will now have an off day from competition Friday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group B will complete their two-day Qualifying Round. The top 20 anglers from each group will advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Sunday’s final day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
The top 20 pros from Group A that now advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round on Cayuga Lake are:
1st: Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 10 bass, 52-7
2nd: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 10 bass, 50-7
3rd: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 10 bass, 49-5
4th: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 47-2
5th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 10 bass, 46-8
6th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 10 bass, 46-6
7th: Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., 10 bass, 45-5
8th: Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss., 10 bass, 44-12
9th: Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 10 bass, 44-9
10th: Alton Jones Sr., Lorena, Texas, 10 bass, 44-5
11th: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, 10 bass, 43-2
12th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 10 bass, 42-13
13th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 10 bass, 42-11
14th: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 10 bass, 42-8
15th: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 10 bass, 41-15
16th: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 10 bass, 41-6
17th: Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., 10 bass, 41-2
18th: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 10 bass, 41-2
19th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 40-15
20th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 10 bass, 40-12
Eliminated from competition are:
21st: Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., 10 bass, 40-4
22nd: Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., 10 bass, 40-0
23rd: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 10 bass, 40-0
24th: Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala., 10 bass, 39-12
25th: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., 10 bass, 39-1
26th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 10 bass, 37-12
27th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, 10 bass, 37-11
28th: John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., 10 bass, 37-1
29th: Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla., 10 bass, 36-11
30th: Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., 10 bass, 36-5
31st: Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, 10 bass, 36-3
32nd: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 10 bass, 35-12
33rd: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 35-9
34th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 10 bass, 35-4
35th: Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., 10 bass, 33-9
36th: Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., nine bass, 33-5
37th: Shinichi Fukae, Osaka, Japan, 10 bass, 31-3
38th: Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., eight bass, 23-12
39th: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., seven bass, 22-15
40th: Jeff Kriet, Ardmore, Okla., eight bass, 21-10
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 317 scorable bass weighing 1,122 pounds, 7 ounces caught by the 40 pros Thursday, which included 35 5-pounders, three 6-pounders and one 7-pounder.
Lintner caught the largest five-bass weight on the day – 27 pounds, 4 ounces – and he also earned Thursday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a 7-pound, 2-ounce smallmouth bass that he caught on a drop-shot rig – the second-largest smallmouth ever weighed in Bass Pro Tour history. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The six-day bass-fishing event showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The 40 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day qualifying round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top 20 anglers from each group advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Sunday’s final day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
Anglers will launch each day at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from Frontenac Park, located at 15 Creamery Road in Union Springs. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the park beginning at 4 p.m.Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW! live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
As part of the event, on Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11 the MLF Fan Experience will be taking place at Bass Pro Shops, located at 1579 Clark Street Road in Auburn, New York, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate fishing and the outdoors. Fans can hang out and watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen during the MLF Watch Party. On Sunday at 5 p.m., the final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand for the trophy celebration and to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and take selfies.
The Favorite Fishing Stage Five at Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler features pros competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with each angler’s five (5) heaviest bass per day tallied as their day’s weight. Anglers strive to catch their heaviest five fish each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the live scoring SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, fishing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship, held March 13-17, 2024, on Lay Lake in Birmingham, Alabama.
The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Favorite Fishing Stage Five at Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler will air as two, two-hour episodes starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 28 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morningon Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG + Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Berkley PowerBait CullShad
Berkley’s new weapon that big bass can’t refuse
COLUMBIA, S.C. (June 8, 2023) – There’s no question that the big bait trend is the strongest it has ever been. Anglers have been asking for Berkley to join the movement and Berkley has answered the call. With the new Berkley PowerBait CullShad – more big bass are being caught than ever before. There’s also no question that the perfect shallow water harnessed swimbait doesn’t exist…until now.
The PowerBait CullShad produces immediately for anglers, as seen at the 2023 Major League Fishing REDCREST where the bait created a craze amongst many competitors, as well as on social media. Through countless design iterations, feedback generation, and testing the CullShad answers the call providing a solution to many of the frustrations anglers experience with harnessed swimbaits. In addition, the CullShad brings the added benefit of taste to the category of large swimbaits. Infused with Berkley’s famous and scientifically engineered taste of PowerBait it’s easy to see why the CullShad garnered fast praise from the pros.
For anglers looking to take their shallow water swim-baiting to a new level, the CullShad combines big profile drawing power with proprietary Honey Comb Technology for next-level action and durability. In addition, the smart weighting ability, hassle-free harness and hook clip ensures you’ve got the Berkley advantage on every cast. An advantage so strongly requested by anglers that Berkley moved up the production cycle to meet that demand.
KEY FEATURES
• PowerBait Honey Comb technology increases durability without sacrificing action
• Pre-rigged harness that comes ready to fish
• Swimbait body designed to reduce blowout and keep the bait running flawlessly at a variety of speeds – allowing the tail to kick at the slowest of speeds and the bait not blowing out at higher speeds.
• Smart weighting options that give anglers the ability to control the bait’s sink rate with the use of nail weights
• Hook retention clip that keeps the treble hook secured to body to allow for more efficient skipping
• First in class finish featuring painted and HD printed forage matching colorways
Sizes: 6-inch • 8-inch
Colors: Albino • Electric Shad • Ghost Morning Dawn • Green Pumpkin Pearl White • HD Blue Shad • HD Ghost Gizzard • HD Gizzard Shad • HD Rainbow Trout • HD Yellow Perch • Hitch • Lime Ice • Sight Flash
MSRP: $11.99 – 6-inch • $14.99 – 8-inch
Available: June 2023
Monster playing field awaits Opens anglers at Oklahoma’s Lake Eufaula
Oklahoma's Lake Eufaula will host the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series June 15-17.
Photo courtesy of Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
June 8, 2023
Monster playing field awaits Opens anglers at Oklahoma’s Lake Eufaula
EUFAULA, Okla. — A giant playing field awaits anglers competing in the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula, Okla., and Elite Series pro and local stick Luke Palmer believes every inch of the lake could produce a winning bag of bass.
“It is a neat lake because it can be won out of any section of the lake,” the 2023 Santee Cooper Lakes Elite champion said. “It is just a good fishery. It has a lot of 2 1/2- to 3-pound bass in it. An angler can do what he wants.”
Tournament days are scheduled for June 15-17, with takeoffs beginning daily at 6 a.m. CT from Nichols Point. Anglers will return for weigh-in beginning at 2 p.m. Following the Day 2 weigh-in, the field will be cut to the Top 10 and the winner will punch their ticket to the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota in Tulsa.
This is the first time the Bassmaster Tournament Trail has visited the more northwest version of Lake Eufaula since 2014. Covering over 105,000 acres with 800 miles of shoreline, Eufaula is Oklahoma’s largest reservoir and is one of the largest playing fields the Opens anglers will fish this season.
Palmer, who lives close by in Coalgate, Okla., has won several big events on Eufaula, including a 400-boat tournament last fall. While he would prefer this tournament to be a couple of weeks earlier, he believes competitors will be able to fish to their strengths.
“It has a little bit of everything,” he said. “We are putting in at the dead center of the lake, so you can run 35 or 40 miles one way or you can stay close. You will have a variety of water colors, too.
“It will be pretty clean toward the dam, and I think the midlake (area) is clearing up as well. You can fish deep if you want to, and then there will be some guys who will be in the dirt the whole time.”
All three species of bass live in Eufaula. Largemouth tend to be the bigger, more consistent player. With several major floods, Palmer has seen smallmouth fishing become less productive in recent years.
For anglers fishing for points or needing a solid keeper to fill out a good bag, spotted bass can also come into play. While they used to be more of a nuisance in tournaments, Palmer has seen the spotted bass size improve, with many of those spots measuring in the 2 to 2 1/2-pound range in recent years.
While Eufaula has a great bass population, it doesn’t necessarily hold groups of quality fish like a Tennessee River reservoir. It also doesn’t reload as quickly. An angler can catch 20 pounds one day and return to the same area the next day and only land 10 pounds. Palmer anticipates the winner will catch over 20 pounds at least one day and back it up with around 15 or 16 pounds the other two days.
“Whoever wins this event is going to have to use multiple areas to do it,” Palmer said. “We have a good population of fish, but there is only so much structure for them to be on. It isn’t like Guntersville where you roll up on a point and catch 25 pounds in six casts. If you catch two off a point in Oklahoma, that is a good spot and you better leave it alone. They are more scattered out.”
Temperatures across the country have been on the rise and full summertime patterns are beginning to emerge. During the tournament days, the forecast calls for high temperatures in the mid-90s with lows only dropping into the 70s. Shad and crawfish will be the main forage, while some anglers may find some hanging around late-spawning bream.
With the water level close to full pool and out of the bushes that line the banks, Palmer said the reservoir mostly consists of rock. Midlake down, standing timber starts to factor in, and that is where Palmer believes newbies will have the most opportunity to do something unique.
“I think that will play more than it does in local derbies. I think guys will really look at it differently,” he said. “They are going to do stuff differently than the local anglers. This tournament will probably be won out of something none of us (locals) would ever fish. Something off the wall.”
While something off the wall may win, Palmer anticipates a few Oklahoma staples will catch bass as well, including a jig, spinnerbait, squarebill and some type of topwater walking bait. A shaky head is also a popular choice on Eufaula.
John Garrett of Union City, Tenn., leads the Opens Elite Qualifiers points race after four events with 755 points. Japanese angler Kenta Kimura is second with 725 points, followed by Illinois youngster Trey McKinney in third with 722, Georgia’s Matt Henry in fourth with 706 and South Carolina’s JT Thompkins in fifth with 706.
At the conclusion of the season, the top nine anglers from the EQ field will receive invitations to fish the 2024 Bassmaster Elite Series. Full standings for the EQ division can be found at Bassmaster.com.
You can follow all the action from the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake Eufaula on Bassmaster.com.
Fish On! Charles County Readies for MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals T-H Marine Stop 5 on the Potomac River
Field of 150 Professional Anglers to Compete Next Week for Top Prize of up to $115,000 and Qualification into REDCREST 2024
MARBURY, Md. (June 8, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, is set to return to Marbury, Maryland, next week, June 17-19, for the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational T-H Marine Stop 5 at the Potomac River. The Invitational tournament will feature a roster of 150 professional anglers competing for a top prize of up to $115,000, and an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024 – the Bass Pro Tour championship – for the chance to win up to $300,000.
Hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners, the tournament marks the fifth of six Invitational events in 2023, offering competitors a total season purse of more than $3.9 million. In addition to the top payout of $115,000, the field is also competing for valuable points to win the coveted Invitational Angler of the Year (AOY) title. The top eight pros in the Tackle Warehouse Invitational AOY standings at the end of the season will receive an invitation to compete on the Bass Pro Tour in 2024.
“The Potomac River is a world-class fishery, and the Charles County Recreation, Parks and Tourism Department is excited to continue to welcome anglers and their families for fishing tournaments,” said Maggie Boyden, Tourism Marketing Coordinator for Charles County. “These events yield substantial economic impact to our local economy which supports businesses, hotels, restaurants, and future development.”
The tidal fishery is a very familiar destination for MLF and many of the pro anglers competing in this tournament, as the Potomac River has hosted countless major bass-fishing tournaments. Historically, milfoil has always played a huge role on the river, but that hasn’t totally been the case in tournaments as of late. Eelgrass and star grass have become important players. Notably, some of the best eelgrass stretches have been on the main river, which has expanded the playing field a little bit as well.
Green Lane, Pennsylvania pro Grae Buck has quite a bit of experience fishing on the Potomac River, and he believes we’re headed for another good event on the historic fishery.
“The fishing should be pretty strong, and it won’t be too hot,” Buck said. “The majority of fish should be postspawn and getting into their summertime patterns, when they’re eating. My favorite time to fish the Potomac is early May, but the fishing should be fun and this will be a good one.”
“I’ll be interested to see what the weights are this year,” Buck continued. “When we were there in ’21, the average was way higher than I thought it would be. I didn’t see that coming, I knew we would catch fish, but I thought 12 pounds a day would make a Top 50.
“The last few years, it seems like the river is getting stronger and the weights are getting higher,” Buck said. “Overall, the weights have gotten stronger, and I think that has a lot to do with the grass. It’s not necessarily milfoil, there’s other grass, but it lets the fish have more habitat to grow in.”
In MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational competition, the full field of 150 anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Saturday and Sunday in a five-fish, weigh-in format. Only the top 50 pros, based on their two-day cumulative weight, will advance to the final round on Championship Monday, where they will compete for the grand prize of up to $115,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers.
The winner of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational T-H Marine Stop 5 at the Potomac River will be determined by the heaviest three-day cumulative weight and will receive an invitation to compete at REDCREST 2024. In addition, the season-long Invitational AOY will also earn a berth into REDCREST 2024.
Anglers will launch each day at 6:30 a.m. ET, Saturday through Monday, from Smallwood State Park, located at 2750 Sweden Point Road in Marbury, Maryland. Weigh-ins will also be held at the boat ramp daily beginning at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the live on-the-water action all three days of competition online on MLF NOW! beginning at 7 a.m. CT at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational T-H Marine Stop 5 at the Potomac River will feature live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere on the CBS Sports Network on Saturday, October 28.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Fox Rent a Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Big Bass Tour - Lake Previews for St. Lawrence River & Upper Mississippi River (La Crosse)
By Pete Robbins
After establishing a popular and ever-growing series of tournaments throughout the southeast, ranging from Virginia down to Florida and over to Texas, the Big Bass Tour has heeded the call of northern anglers and will expand to smallmouth country this year. The 10th and 11th events of the 2023 BBT season will take place at the St. Lawrence River and the Mississippi River (La Crosse, Wisconsin), in July and August, respectively.
Actually, referring to the northern fisheries as “smallmouth country” is a bit misleading, because both of these venues have exceptional largemouth fishing, too – a sneaky-good an almost untouched one in New York, and a better-known one in Wisconsin.
The St. Lawrence may currently be the country’s premier smallmouth tournament venue. Last year in an Elite Series event two anglers topped the 100 pound mark with four limits of smallies apiece, and it seems that each major tournament produces at least one 7-plus-pounder, if not a near-8. The waters of Lake Ontario will be off-limits to the competition, but the main river and it’s tributaries and canals hold more than enough fish to produce a compelling outcome.
Oftentimes anglers cull through dozens if not more 4- and 5-pound fish, moving up by ounces, so this event will be one where hourly awards are tightly packed, and paying attention to the live leaderboard will be critical. This is the fishery that made the Berkley Flatworm famous – and, for a period of time, hard to obtain – but power fishing techniques like a Berkley Stunna jerkbait will also come into play. A spy bait or deep diving crankbait, along with Ned Rigs, will likely be on the decks of many top competitors’ boats, too.
In Wisconsin, anglers may have to choose between the main river smallmouths, who live on wing dams, rock cover and various spillways, versus traversing the numerous weedy backwaters in search of the ample largemouths. Both species will be in play for the overall big bass winner, and again weights will be jam-packed in the 3- to 4-pound range, with 5-pounders being likely contenders, although the occasional 6-pounder shows up, too.
For the smallmouths, various finesse plastics, crankbaits and ribbed swimbaits will produce quality fish, while the largemouths under the canopies respond well to hollow bodied frogs and punched creature baits. This is also the venue that made northern swim jigging famous and helped the local masters refine it, so expect those chasing both species to have one or more of those on deck. They may not be doing the “Alabama Shake” with them, but they’ll be setting the hook plenty nonetheless.
The BBT will compete on the St. Lawrence from July 28-30, and on the Mighty Mississippi from August 4-6, and will then resume the schedule at the end of September with consecutive tournaments on Smith Mountain Lake, Douglas Lake and Guntersville to cap off what we expect to be a record-setting and prolific season of big bass weigh ins.
Cecil & Castledine win third Texas Team Trail ‘Progressive Team of the Year’ title!
SPRINGFIELD, MO. (June 8, 2023) –Widely regarded as one of the most prestigious accomplishments in tournament bass fishing, winning an “Angler of the Year” or “Team of the Year” title is a well-respected feat. For Russell Cecil and Todd Castledine, this achievement is another drop in the bucket, having now secured the title three times on the Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s Texas Team Trail presented by Progressive. The duo clinched their third title – and the shiny prize that went with it – after finishing in third place this past weekend at the 2023 Texas Team Trail Championship on Choke Canyon Reservoir.
Having fished together since the inception of TXTT, Cecil and Castledine have proven to be top competitors year after year. In addition to the Progressive Team of the Year honors in 2023, the team cashed out tournament winnings at every regular season event, never landing outside of the Top 20 with two Top-5 finishes.
“We never really knew each other until Texas Team Trail started several years ago,” said Castledine. “When this started it gave us the chance to not only recognize how good the other one was, but then combine it and start fishing together in the trail. The year we started fishing this together, we won the ‘Team of the Year’ title. Now to fast-forward winning our third (TOY award), it’s not only an honor, but I hope it shows other teams that when you work as well as Russell and I do together in the boat, great things can happen.”
“The biggest factor to our success is trust,” Cecil commented on stage on the final day of the 2023 Texas Team Trail Championship. “We work hard during practice to stay out of each other’s way, and every action we do contributes to the overall success of our tournament day – and that goes further than just being out on the water.”
Cecil also reflected on capturing another TXTT TOY title, “Man, this one feels good. The teams this year in the Texas Team Trail seemed to be as strong as I can remember, and it did not come easy. We were backed up against a wall right up until the very end”.
Castledine added, “We would like to tip our boys from Arizona [Seth Furmanek & Robert Kettner]. They kept us on our toes all day, and we knew with how good they were fishing that one little slip up and they would have us. They made an insane amount of traveling this year, and not only that, they held their own against the best in the state of Texas, where guys fish all the time and know these lakes like the back of their hand.”
At the close of the 2023 season, Cecil and Castledine amassed $11,921 in cash, won a $500 Garmin Owner Contingency payout at Ray Roberts, and walked away with a new 2023 Ranger Z-518 powered by a 150 Mercury Pro XS for winning the 2023 Progressive Team of the Year title. In all, the team won a total of $64,916 in cash and prizes.
Top 10 Progressive Team of the Year final rankings with 2023 total earnings
1st Place: Russell Cecil & Todd Castledine, $64,916
2nd Place: Seth Furmanek & Robert Kettner, $8,569
3rd Place: Spencer Fair & Blake Castleberry, $4,637
4th Place: Travis Loyd & Brien Vaughn, $5,941
5th Place: Austin Miles & Jacob Keith, $8,719.50
6th Place: Michael Johnson & Byron Albrecht, $1,070
7th Place: James Martin & Hunter Muncrie, $500
8th Place: Jeff Bridges & Jerome Cope, $3,119
9th Place: Rich Dalbey & David Gillham, $1,302
10th Place: Chris Zachry & Randy Qualls, $5,438
Throwback Thursday - Season at a Glance: 1970 Bass Master Trail - Part Two
By Terry Battisti - Bass Fishing Archives
Editor’s Note: This is part two of the 1970 Bass Master Trail. To read part one, click here.
In the first part of the 1970 Bass Master Trail we covered the first three events of the season and also talked a bit about the new rookie on the tour, Roland Martin. Bill Dance had been the tour’s reigning champion since the inception of the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society with four Bass Master wins to his credit between 1968 and ’69. It was obvious that Martin had placed a target on his head when he came to play in 1970.
The 1970 Bass Master Trail started at Toledo Bend in Texas where Martin quickly showed his dominance by placing second in his first-ever event. The second event saw the anglers move on to Lake Seminole in Georgia, where Martin would come away the winner. The third event at Ross Barnett would be a different story, though. Martin missed the event, which gave Dance some breathing room. Dance ended up the victor of the tournament. By the end of three tournaments, Dance was in the lead for the new Bass Master Angler of the Year award by 7500 points.
That’s where things really started to get interesting.
HENSHALL MEMORIAL – ADAIR WINS MARTIN SECOND
The fourth event of the 1970 Bass Master Trail was the Henshall Memorial tournament held on Walter F. George Lake (GA) or, Lake Eufaula. It was the fourth event held on the lake and since the past year, when Blake Honeycutt won with 138-06, anglers were chomping at the bit to fish.
Unfortunately, heavy rains and high water prior to the tournament scattered the fish. The 108 anglers who entered would have their work cut out for them.
Bill Adair found the fish in practice that would lead him to victory. But things didn’t start out as he would have liked. Adair’s spot was located by a stump and he placed a marker on the spot for reference. Unfortunately, when he came back on the first day of the tournament, he didn’t realize that his marker had floated about 100 yards off the spot. It took him two hours before he realized the mishap and when he did, he moved to the right spot and proceeded to boat 14 fish that weighed 22-12. That was good enough for the 6th spot going into day two. Billy Lewis of Alabama was in the first position with 39-09.
Roland Martin was still giving Bill Dance a run and placed second with 94-07, while Bass Master veteran John Powell placed third with 93-06. Rounding out the top 5 were Kentucky angler Ralph Polly with 85-04 and Texas football player Harold Hays with 80-11. With his spot confirmed, Adair set out on day two to redeem himself. By the end of the day, he’d boated 13 fish that pushed the scales down to 64-14, topped by an 8-01 largemouth. That gave him the lead with 87-10. The next day Adair added another 28-12 to win the event with 116-06.
Adair’s fish all came on plastic worms and cemented the soft bait as the number-one lure in Bass Master competition. Bass Master magazine stated that, “In 18 tournaments some 47,000 pounds of bass have been weighed-in with over 41,000 falling victim to plastic worm fishermen.”
In the non-pro division, J. S. (Shy) Powell of Georgia took top honors with 104-06. Had he fished the pro division he’d have placed second. Second place in the non-pro division was Larry Blakey (GA) with 61-04 and third place went to Wyndell Black (GA) with 56-08. The fourth spot went to H. W. Settles (GA) with 47-06 and Jim Hefner (KY) rounded out the top 5 with 37-05.
In all, 1,208 bass were weighed in for 2,940-02. Although this was one of the best “big fish action contests” to date, there were only five full limits weighed in. Clark Gable caught the big bass of the event, a 9-07 largemouth, and received $10 per pound plus a Motor Guide trolling motor.
For the top 20 see the table below.
OKLAHOMA NATIONAL – HADAD TRICKS THEM
The fifth event of the 1970 Bass Master Trail was held for the first time at Oklahoma’s Lake Eufaula. Temperatures pushed well past the 100-degree mark at the event and nearly all of the 110 contestants swore the winning fish would be caught in deep water. John Hadad III’s opinion would differ, though.
Hadad won the event by nearly 13 pounds (29 fish for 82-15) fishing a plastic worm in 5 to 7 feet of water. He concentrated on stick-ups and brush he’d located on a ridge along the North Canadian River channel. His technique was to make fast casts to the stick-ups, peel line off his reel so the bait would sink vertically, and then wait for the line to move or jump. It was reported he made 3 to 5 casts a minute.
“I’d just let the bass chew on the worm, jerk it away, and mark the spot to come back when the tournament gun fired.”Another interesting thing about Hadad’s victory was his practice technique. He reportedly practiced for five days and during that time used a plastic worm without a hook.
That was pretty advanced thinking for back then and that technique is widely used in today’s competitive fishing.
The 2nd-place angler was Oklahoma resident Don Siebert with 20 bass that weighed 68-00. He also caught his fish on plastic worms. Third-place went to another Oklahoman, Ron Hagler with 67-04 and the fourth spot went to John Dixon (OK) with 62.-01. Al St. Romain (LA) filled out the top 5 with 51-09.
The heat really made the conditions difficult and the total tally proved that. Overall, the 110 pro and non-pro anglers weighed in 834 bass for 1,788-07. Big fish of the event went to Tommy Payne and Wes Woosley who both weighed in a 5-15 largemouth.
In the non-pro division, Butch Stevenson (OK) took top honors with 20 bass that weighed 43-01. Gerald Maxwell (OK) weighed in 30-06, good enough for 2nd place. Fourteen-year-old Chip Morris (GA) took 3rd place with 23-07. In the fourth spot was possibly the youngest angler to ever compete in a Bass Master event, 13-year-old Greg Dorris (OK), who weighed in 22-15. David Lockhart (AL) rounded out the top 5 with 21-06.
The top 20 of the pro division are shown in the table below.
SAM RAYBURN – DANCE AGAIN
Prior to the 1970 Bass Master Trail, there was only one angler in the history of B.A.S.S. that had won more than one tournament in a season. That angler was Bill Dance. In 1968 Dance won three events – Ross Barnett, Sam Rayburn and Smith Lake (AL). In 1970 Dance had already won the Ross Barnett tournament, would he be able to win again on old Sam Rayburn?
As had happened throughout the 1970 season, bad weather hurt Sam Rayburn’s famed fishing. Wind and rain kept the fish count down to 1,379 bass and only five limits were weighed for the entire event.
Veteran B.A.S.S. angler Blake Honeycutt (NC) weighed in 38 fish for 57-02 and 2nd place, while Jimmy Harris (MS) took 3rd-place honors with 55-01. Charles LeFevor (TN) weighed in 54-02 for 4th-place and Roland Martin (SC) rounded out the top 5 with 52-12. Honeycutt reported that he caught his fish on drop offs by vertically jigging Hopkins spoons. Still, over the course of three days, Dance was able to haul in 22 fish that tipped the scales 62-06, giving him his 6th career win with B.A.S.S. It also gave him two wins on Rayburn out of three contests. Dance caught over half of his fish (12) and nearly half of his weight (30-06) on the last day of the event and jumped from 5th place to the winner’s circle. He reported catching his fish on purple plastic worms fished along a drop located on the Angelina River channel. His fish came from 27 to 45 feet of water.
Elroy Krueger (TX) weighed in the big bass of the event, a 7-05 largemouth, which netted him $80 and a new Motor Guide trolling motor. There was no report on the non-pro division so I am not sure if it was dropped after the Oklahoma National.
The top 20 are presented below.
ALL-AMERICAN – 3-PEAT
For the final event of the year, B.A.S.S. ventured to a lake never before fished on the Bass Master Trail – Table Rock Reservoir. The last event on the 1970 Bass Master Trail would greet anglers with more than adverse weather. High winds swamped at least one boat and the cold November weather was less than ideal.
In the end, it was a two-horse race between Roland Martin and Bill Dance – not just for the tournament win but for the first Angler of the Year award. It came down to the last day.
Going into the final round, Martin had a 6-06 advantage over Dance. It looked like Martin would become only the second angler in B.A.S.S. history to win more than one event in a season. Martin was first to weigh in with six fish that topped the scales at 11-05, giving him 51-15 total. Then Dance came to the scales with nine fish that weighed 18-02 totaling 52-06. Dance won by a mere 7 ounces.
For those of you who actually check my math, you might have noticed that over the course of seven events, Martin had more weight (points) than Dance. Still Dance was crowned the first Angler of the Year. It’s a bit confusing from reading the 1970 and ‘71 Bass Master Magazines. In the Jan/Feb issue the author (assumed to be Bob Cobb) specifically states, “A victory would give either the point championship.” It’s obvious from the math that Martin should have been the AOY but in another part of the article it states Dance won based on money earned ($6,635 to Martin’s $5,689) that year. In any event, we have Harold Sharp working on this to straighten it up.
The 3rd-place angler was local Jimmy Winchester (AR) who weighed in 39-06. Another local, Dave Livingston (MO) captured the 4th spot with 36-13. Veteran angler Tom Mann of Alabama rounded out the top 5 with 36-03.
Alabama angler Dennis Townsend weighed in big fish for the event, a 7-13 largemouth. In all, 97 anglers caught 661 bass – a testament to how tough the event was.
A fact about this tournament was Dance and Martin practiced together. Each also reported that they caught their fish on yellow singlespins – a lure that Martin had shown Dance in practice – around brush in 2 to 5 feet of water. Dance said that everyone expected the fish to be deeper but the cloudy conditions kept the fish shallow in the flooded brush.
The top 20 for the tournament are listed in the table below.
Costas Key for KVD’s Monster Day on Cayuga
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
Sight fishing played a major role in Kevin VanDam’s monstrous 28-pound 1-ounce five bass limit on Cayuga Lake to kick off competition for Favorite Fishing Stage Five Presented by ATG by Wrangler. In fact, the Team Toyota pro looked at every bass he added to the SCORETRACKER with his eyes before he caught them.
VanDam was quick to give a lot of credit to his Costa Sunglasses for what he said was the best tournament day of smallmouth fishing he’s experienced throughout his illustrious 33-year career. KVD prefers Costa’s Blackfin PRO frames when sight-fishing as they block a lot of side-light, and he was rotating between two different lens colors based on the conditions and how deep the fish were bedding.
Sunrise Silver is his go to lens 95% of the time when on the water, but he also mixed in a prototype lens he is currently working on with the iconic sunglasses brand.
“I started looking for spawning and cruising fish as soon as I put my trolling motor in the water for practice,” VanDam said. “I had a feeling this tournament could be a spawning slugfest, so I committed to it almost immediately. I didn’t know it until after day one, but I think I’m seeing a lot of fish other anglers aren’t. That 100% has to be attributed to my Costa lenses. They are no-doubt the best in the game.”
Wildfires north of the border in Canada have caused an eerie layer of smoke to settle in on Cayuga Lake and many anglers commented the haze has made it tough to see into the water. Quality sunglasses are always a necessity for pro anglers, but the conditions this week have accentuated this importance.
The weights after day one speak for themselves, many anglers were able to put together an impressive day of fishing on Cayuga, but KVD’s 28-01 stood out above the rest and firmly held the first-place position. A twenty-eight-pound bag of fish is strong no matter the circumstances, but to do that in New York with five smallmouth is incredible.
“It was truly a special day,” VanDam said with a smile. “The first five fish I caught weighed over 25-pounds and I was legitimately done fishing 30 minutes into the second period. After reaching 28-pounds, I kept my eyes to the water and tried to locate as many fish over four-pounds as possible for the Knockout Round and beyond. I think I have found around fifty fish over that four-pound mark, now I just gotta see if I can catch them.”
The BPT’s catch, weigh, and release format is extremely conducive for a sight-fishing tournament as the anglers release the fish to go back to their spawning beds immediately. KVD commented that as fun as it is to catch a big bass, it’s even cooler to see them swim right back to their beds.
Along with producing best in class sunglasses for those who love the water, Costa’s popular contingency program Costa Compete + Conserve is tailor made for bass anglers. Whether you’re a pro like KVD, fish tournaments on the weekends, or a high school / college angler you can win bonus money and prizes through Compete + Conserve.
Compete + Conserve supports over 300 tournaments and is completely free to sign-up for. On top of benefitting anglers,Costa makes a cash donation to one of five program conservation partners based on the winning angler’s choosing for every single event. Visit https://www.costacompeteandconserve.com/ for more information or to get registered.
Consistent Cody Meyer Leads Early for Group B at Favorite Fishing Stage Five on Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler
Idaho Pro Catches Five Cookie-Cutter 5-Pound Smallmouth to Pace Group B, Group A Anglers to Wrap Qualifying Round Thursday
UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. (June 7, 2023) – Cayuga Lake is on fire. Literally, and figuratively.
The smoke blowing through upstate New York from the Canadian wildfires has created a very unique environment for the 80 pros on the Bass Pro Tour competing on Cayuga Lake this week, as many of the anglers fished Wednesday in an orange-tinted haze, with low visibility conditions. The good news is it had zero effect on the fishing, however, as Cayuga Lake showed out again and demonstrated why it is one of the premiere fisheries in the country.
Pro Cody Meyer of Star, Idaho, caught seven scorable bass Wednesday, with his best five weighing 26 pounds, 11 ounces, to lead Day 1 for Qualifying Group B of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Favorite Fishing Stage Five on Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler. Pro Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Arkansas , sits just 10 ounces behind Meyer in second place with five bass weighing 26-1.
The 40 anglers in Group B will now have an off day on Thursday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group A will complete their two-day Qualifying Round of competition. Group B will conclude their Qualifying Round on Friday.
Meyer came into the day with a couple of patterns in mind, but it turned out he only needed one — fishing for spawning smallmouth.
“I had a couple of smallmouth marked on beds from practice, but I really didn’t plan to focus on smallmouth all day,” Meyer said. “I thought I would catch a few spawning then move to the grass for largemouth, but the smallmouth I found were just too big to pass up.”
Meyer caught all of his scorable bass Wednesday on a drop-shot rig, using a Yamamoto Shad Shape worm on the southern end of the lake. While he was focused on spawners, it turned out that the smallmouth didn’t necessarily care about the bottom composition of where they built their beds. It was more about the general area, according to Meyer.
“I caught one on a bluff and one on a boat dock, but it was more about this 5-mile stretch of water,” Meyer said. “These fish were all massive and anchored down hard in that area. If you could find them, there was a good chance you could get them to bite.”
Meyer plans to head back out on Friday with a similar plan to make the cut.
“I want to get down south again and keep trying to look for smallmouth,” Meyer went on to say. “It was just so windy and rough today that it was really hard to go looking for them after the second period. Everyone is catching them so well right now I’m going to need another really good day just to make the cut.”
The standings for the 40 pros in Group B after Day 1 on Cayuga Lake are:
1st: Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, five bass, 26-11
2nd: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 26-1
3rd: Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., five bass, 25-10
4th: Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, five bass, 24-12
5th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 24-10
6th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., five bass, 24-2
7th: Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 23-4
8th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., five bass, 23-2
9th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., five bass, 22-14
10th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., five bass, 22-13
11th: Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., five bass, 21-14
12th: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, five bass, 21-9
13th: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., five bass, 21-6
14th: Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., five bass, 21-6
15th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., five bass, 21-4
16th: Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., five bass, 21-3
17th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., five bass, 21-2
18th: Roy Hawk, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., five bass, 21-1
19th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 20-1
20th: Timmy Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala., five bass, 19-11
21st: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 19-11
22nd: James Watson, Lampe, Mo., five bass, 19-10
23rd: Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., five bass, 19-5
24th: Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 19-2
25th: Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., five bass, 18-8
26th: Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 18-4
27th: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., five bass, 18-4
28th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., five bass, 18-0
29th: Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 17-11
30th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, five bass, 17-10
31st: Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., five bass, 17-7
32nd: Josh Butler, Hayden, Ala., five bass, 17-2
33rd: Boyd Duckett, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 17-2
34th: Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., five bass, 17-1
35th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., five bass, 15-13
36th: Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas, five bass, 15-0
37th: Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla., five bass, 14-4
38th: Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., five bass, 13-13
39th: Mitch Crane, Columbus, Miss., three bass, 12-1
40th: David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn., five bass, 11-15
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 346 scorable bass weighing 1,203 pounds, 10 ounces caught by the 40 pros Wednesday, which included 30 5-pounders and three 6-pounders.
Throwing a spinnerbait, Greg Vinson caught a 6-pound, 14-ounce largemouth in Period 3 to earn Wednesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The six-day bass-fishing event showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top 20 anglers from each group advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Sunday’s final day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
Anglers will launch each day at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from Frontenac Park, located at 15 Creamery Road in Union Springs. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the park beginning at 4 p.m.Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW! live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Also, as part of the event, on Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11 the MLF Fan Experience will be taking place at Bass Pro Shops, located at 1579 Clark Street Road in Auburn, New York, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate fishing and the outdoors. Fans can hang out and watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen during the MLF Watch Party. On Sunday at 5 p.m., the final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand for the trophy celebration and to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and take selfies.
The Favorite Fishing Stage Five at Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler features pros competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with each angler’s five (5) heaviest bass per day tallied as their day’s weight. Anglers strive to catch their heaviest five fish each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the live scoring SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, fishing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship, held March 13-17, 2024, on Lay Lake in Birmingham, Alabama.
The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Favorite Fishing Stage Five at Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler will air as two, two-hour episodes starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 28 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morningon Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG + Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
The Best of the Best
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A long-standing tradition at Daiwa’s annual North American sales meeting, the company announced it ‘Summit Award’ winners for sales achievements. Pictured here (left to right) is Daiwa’s national sales manager Gerad Cawhorn; Jackson Gillaspie with Rogers Sports Marketing, winner of the ‘Summit Dealer Development’ award; Graywood Sporting Group’s Warren McRae, winner of the ‘Summit Change Leader’ award; Greg McIntyre, principal at Graywood representing the agency as winner of the ‘Summit Rep Group’ award; Ferguson-Keller’s Jeff Allen, winner of the ‘Summit Outstanding Leadership’ award; and Daiwa USA president Carey Graves. |
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SUMMIT AWARD WINNERS RECOGNIZED AT DAIWA NATIONAL SALES MEETING |
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Cypress, CA (June 7, 2023) – With its emphasis being on new tackle introduced at ICAST and beyond, and sales strategies that this year focused on market share gains within independent tackle shops, Daiwa’s sales representatives looked forward to the company’s announcement of its achievement awards at its recent national sales meeting. Daiwa’s key recognition honors are its ‘Summit’ awards, which this year went to Jeff Allen with Ferguson-Keller Associates, Graywood Sporting Group, Jackson Gillaspie with Rogers Sports Marketing, and Warren McRae with Graywood. In being recognized with the ‘Summit Outstanding Leadership’ award, Daiwa’s regional sales manager Greg Johnson noted Jeff Allen’s personal success in growing his own accounts in tough economic times and also the assistance he provides to not only other Ferguson-Keller reps, but also other Daiwa reps groups through his responsibilities with buying groups. Allen has more than 16 of service to Daiwa in his sales and management roles with Ferguson-Keller. Noting the impact Canadian anglers and the Canada tackle market has on Daiwa’s overall business, especially in the bass fishing market over the past year, Peterborough, Ontario-based Graywood Sporting Group was honored with the ‘Summit Rep Group’ award for the overall impact from the entire rep group for its sales success across all the Canadian provinces. When presenting Graywood principal rep Greg McIntyre with the ‘Summit’ trophy, Daiwa president Carey Graves noted that with Canada now having its first Bassmaster Classic winner and its first angler recognized with a major service award from the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, how appropriate it was for Graywood to be acknowledged in 2023 for their efforts also. The Graywood Sporting Group also won Daiwa’s rep group of the year ‘Summit’ award in 2021. |
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Daiwa USA president Carey Graves welcomes the company’s manufacturer representatives from across the U.S. and Canada to its annual North American sales meeting, taking place again at the The Dana on Mission Bay in San Diego. Graves noted in his opening remarks that Daiwa is a manufacturer first, with its main goal being to challenge the fishing tackle market with new and innovative products to attain an industry leading role. |
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Daiwa’s ‘Summit Dealer Development’ award winner Jackson Gillaspie with Rogers Sports Marketing is a “walking textbook on bass fishing, and his dealers took a quick understanding of his skill set to help them manage their Daiwa business,” said Daiwa’s Johnson. “His support abilities at the recent Bassmaster Classic with exhibiting tackle dealers brought a great deal of success to both the dealers and Daiwa’s efforts.” In being recognized with Daiwa’s ‘Summit Change Leader’ award, McRae continued the major role the Canadian fishing market has on Daiwa’s business. This award recognizes his efforts with key programs and initiatives to enhance his independent tackle retailer business with Daiwa, including added rod placement, in-store event, demo programs and quickest to market with new items. Also recognized with ‘Key Objective’ awards for specific product category sales and faster -to-market efforts include Brad Olson with Ferguson-Keller, Drake Hollander with Rogers Sports Marketing), and Ben Babbitt, Scott Byrne, and Cale Engelage all with Maschmedt & Associates. “Our ‘Summit’ and ‘Key Objective’ awards have been Daiwa’s way of recognizing both individual and group performance for what we consider above-and-beyond efforts to continually grow Daiwa market share in the U.S. and Canada,” said Daiwa’s national sales manager Gerad Cawhorn. “Our reps learned this year that is wasn’t about double-digit growth or opening more retailers, but their commitment to sustaining our business as both tackle retailers and the angling public deal with our current economic issues not only in the U.S. and Canada, but across the globe. From all of us at Daiwa, we say congratulations to not only our award winners, but also the nearly 60 other individuals with our five rep groups who proudly represent Daiwa in the marketplace.” |
Clark and Kenta Capture a Yamaha Power Pay Bonus
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Clark Wendlandt can attest that if there’s any consolation to a second-place finish, a bonus from the Yamaha Power Pay program might very well be it.His fellow Elite Series pro, Kenta Kimura, will be the first to agree that one of the best parts of the program is you don’t have to win your tournament to take home a Power Pay bonus.
Just as he did at Okeechobee to begin the season, Wendlandt finished second at the Sabine River, and was awarded $2,500 from Yamaha. Kimura’s 9th place finish in Orange, Texas this past weekend was good enough for yet another of the many Power Pay checks he’s collected the past two years.
“I was running 45 miles one way to my best area this week. That’s 360 miles in just four days of competition, and I never had a hint of doubt about the reliability of my Yamaha,” said Wendlandt.
Kimura relates clearly to Wendlandt’s confidence in Yamaha’s quality.
“My favorite thing about my Yamaha is its durability. Since I switched to Yamaha two years ago, I’ve never had a breakdown,” said angler who designed the Deps squarebill crankbait he used to score his latest Top 10.
The confidence to make the long run and the knowledge that you don’t have to win the tournament to win the Yamaha Power Pay bonus are two fantastic reasons to power-up with a Yamaha and sign-up for the free Power Pay program.
In just four short years, Yamaha anglers of all levels, from college to the pros, freshwater and saltwater, redfish to walleye, have won nearly $1 Million dollars in Power Pay bonuses. You can’t win if you don’t sign up, so please visit https://yamahapowerpay.com/to get registered.
KVD Hammers 28-Pound Limit of Smallmouth to Take Early Lead at Favorite Fishing Stage Five on Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler
Pace, Wheeler & Evers All Catch 25+ Pound Limits to End Day Close Behind VanDam, 40 Anglers in Group B Begin Competition Tomorrow
UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. (June 6, 2023) – Just prior to the start of the 2023 Bass Pro Tour season, the winningest professional bass angler of all-time, Kalamazoo, Michigan’s Kevin VanDam, announced that he is retiring and that the 2023 season would be his last as a touring professional. The seven-event Bass Pro Tour season would be his farewell tour.
Tuesday, on Cayuga Lake, VanDam showed that he is not going away quietly.
VanDam caught 12 scorable smallmouth bass, with his best five weighing 28 pounds, 1 ounce to take the early lead in Qualifying Group A on Day 1 of the of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Favorite Fishing Stage Five on Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler. Weights remain fairly tight throughout the remainder of the top 20, as 20 pounds, 1 ounce is the current mark to break inside the Toro Cutline and advance to the Knockout Round.
Pro Cliff Pace of Petal, Mississippi, had his best day of the year catching a limit weighing 25-15 to end the day in second place, while reigning Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, ended the day in third with five bass weighing 25-10. General Tire pro Edwin Evers of Talala, Oklahoma , caught 25-3 to end the day in fourth, while B&W Trailer Hitches pro Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Arkansas, rounds out the top five with five bass weighing 24-11.
The 40 anglers in Group A will now have an off day from competition on Wednesday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group B will begin their first day of competition. Group A will resume competition on Thursday.
“Today was a really good day. I got to do what I really love to do – sight-fish for smallmouth,” VanDam said in his post-game interview. “I love to fish that way, it’s something that I’ve been doing my whole life. Just put a spinning rod in my hand, grab a Ned rig, a drop-shot rig, a big tube – all of those finesse baits. A lot of the time they’ll bite on one cast, but today I really had to work for it.”
VanDam targeted spawning smallmouth with a mix of techniques and Strike King baits, including a Baby Z-Too, a Dream Shot and a Half Shell.
“This lake is a tremendous fishery and they’re all really healthy fish – they weigh so big,” VanDam said. “The good thing is it should keep getting better as the week goes on – there should be a lot more fish coming in. There is a huge population of bass in this lake, and they spawn the whole month of June up here.
“We’re off to a really good start, and hopefully we can do the same thing again on Thursday and then we’ll go from there,” VanDam went on to say. “We’re in a great position right now and I feel really good about it, but it is a long week.”
The standings for the 40 pros in Group A after Day 1 on Cayuga Lake are:
1st: Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 28-1
2nd: Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss., five bass, 25-15
3rd: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 25-10
4th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., five bass, 25-3
5th: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., five bass, 24-11
6th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., five bass, 24-6
7th: Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., five bass, 24-3
8th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 23-12
9th: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., five bass, 23-3
10th: Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., five bass, 22-15
11th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., five bass, 22-10
12th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., five bass, 22-3
13th: Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., five bass, 22-2
14th: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 22-1
15th: Alton Jones Sr., Lorena, Texas, five bass, 21-15
16th: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, five bass, 21-9
17th: Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., five bass, 21-8
18th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., five bass, 21-4
19th: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, five bass, 20-14
20th: Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 20-1
21st: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., five bass, 19-15
22nd: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., five bass, 19-4
23rd: Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala., five bass, 19-1
24th: Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., five bass, 19-0
25th: Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., five bass, 18-7
26th: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., five bass, 18-3
27th: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 17-15
28th: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., five bass, 16-12
29th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., five bass, 16-9
30th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., five bass, 16-9
31st: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., five bass, 15-7
32nd: Shinichi Fukae, Osaka, Japan, five bass, 15-6
33rd: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, five bass, 15-4
34th: Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., five bass, 15-2
35th: Jeff Kriet, Ardmore, Okla., five bass, 15-1
36th: Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, five bass, 14-11
37th: Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla., five bass, 14-3
38th: Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., four bass, 12-9
39th: John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., five bass, 12-8
40th: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., two bass, 5-13
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 444 scorable bass weighing 1,447 pounds, 2 ounces caught by the 40 pros Tuesday, which included 32 5-pounders and four 6-pounders.
Pros Dakota Ebare and Brandon Coulter tied for Tuesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award, as each weighed in a largemouth totaling 6-pounds, 9-ounces, to claim a share of the daily award. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The six-day bass-fishing event showcases 80 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top 20 anglers from each group advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Sunday’s final day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
Anglers will launch each day at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from Frontenac Park, located at 15 Creamery Road in Union Springs. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the park beginning at 4 p.m.Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW! live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Also, as part of the event, on Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11 the MLF Fan Experience will be taking place at Bass Pro Shops, located at 1579 Clark Street Road in Auburn, New York, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate fishing and the outdoors. Fans can hang out and watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen during the MLF Watch Party. On Sunday at 5 p.m., the final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand for the trophy celebration and to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and take selfies.
The Favorite Fishing Stage Five at Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler features pros competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with each angler’s five (5) heaviest bass per day tallied as their day’s weight. Anglers strive to catch their heaviest five fish each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the live scoring SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, fishing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship, held March 13-17, 2024, on Lay Lake in Birmingham, Alabama.
The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Favorite Fishing Stage Five at Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG by Wrangler will air as two, two-hour episodes starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 28 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morningon Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG + Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Travel Tuesday - Is It Safe to Take a Fishing Trip to Panama?
By Hanna Robbins - Half Past First Cast
You’re considering a trip to Panama. Before putting down your deposit, you probably want to know “Is it safe?” That’s almost always the first question I get when I speak to people about traveling to Panama to fish at one of our most favorite resorts, Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge.
Look it up on any travel site and you’ll see that Panama City is considered one of the safest countries in the region. In fact, the UK’s travel advice page states that most visits to Panama are “trouble-free.”
The country has a low crime rate and strong economy, but you still need to be careful to avoid trouble. Make sure that you always have ID, as it is legally required and when paying with US currency in denominations larger than $20 you may be asked to show it and sign a register. Some places won’t even take anything over a twenty, so bring a credit card, one that doesn’t charge foreign fees. Counterfeit money is an issue in this country. Wear a money belt to avoid the infrequent pickpockets.
Now for the good news: Unlike some other countries in Central America it is safe to drink the tap water. SFPIL has nearly unlimited bottled water, but we brush our teeth from the sink. Same with the Hilton in Panama City, where we overnight on the way to the lodge.
Ladies may have particular concerns. We’re just as strong as the men, but we may be targeted. I would have no problem walking in Panama City, and certainly no issues at the lodge, but if you have concerns take measures to avoid bringing attention to yourself. Don’t wear expensive jewelry, clothing or anything that would make you stand out. No matter what, stay alert of your surroundings and stay exclusively in populated areas of town.
Panama City reminds me of a little Miami, Florida (yet, probably safer) – big buildings, cosmopolitan people, an overall happy vibe.
Now that I have taken the first steps to put your mind at ease, let’s talk about what makes the Half Past First Cast trip to Panama especially safe and simple.
Go For the All-Inclusive Panama Fishing Package
The lodge’s “Premium Package” includes pick up and drop off at the David Airport – basically you are on your own from YOUR HOME to the DAVID AIRPORT. That means you have to:
- Get through the large airport
- Transit customs and immigration
- Work out in-city transportation
- Book an overnight stay
- Purchase domestic airline tickets from Panama City to David
- If anything goes wrong, you need to solve it on your own.
By contrast, for a relatively small amount extra, the “VIP Package” covers everything once you land at the Panama City, Panama Airport.
- Diplomat service at Tocumen International Airport by English speaking agents. They meet you at the gate, take you through immigration and customs and help with your baggage
- If you arrive shortly before some of your group, they’ll plant you in a private lounge with a drink and take care of the details for you
- Transfers from the Tocumen International Airport, by English speaking drivers, to the 4-star Hilton Panama for your overnight stay
- There is an “on-call” personal travel agent to assist you if you have any issues our want assistance with dinner reservations or any other tours
- Transfers back to the airport for the domestic flight to/from David Airport and the drivers make sure everything is on time and you get to your flight before leaving the airport
- Upon arrival at the David Airport -- A SFPIL representative meets you right outside the airport door and takes you to the marina to get aboard the boats that take you to your final destination, the lodge on Isla Paridas.
Several Tripadvisor write ups stated that the Panama City, Panama (PTY) airport is huge and you could walk forever to find immigration, customs and baggage claim. You might as well pay a little more and play it safe and treat yourself.
Public transportation, including Uber, is reasonably cheap but since you are in a foreign country it may be worth a little more to take the known route and car service that can be arranged by the SFPIL advisor.
Forget something? There is a pharmacy walking distance (5 min) from the Hilton hotel and it’s “very very safe” – per Tripadvisor testimonials.
On our first trip, Pete and I had an afternoon in a new city and weren’t going to sit in the hotel room so we decided to walk, explore and observe. We found a little league baseball game going on in the center of town, people were friendly when passing by and there was even a dog park with agility equipment and the convenience stores were equivalent to the 7-Elevens we have on every corner in the US. Panama City feels like home.
No country, city, or state is completely protected from crime and each and every one of us should take precautions wherever we travel, including to the grocery store.
Pete isn’t going to take me to unsafe places. If something happened who would take care of Rooster? Take that as our endorsement of Panama as a primary place for even skittish travelers.
If you’d like to join us on our next hosted trip to Sport Fish Panama Island Lodge in May of 2024, please email me as soon as possible. I can also get you set up with a trip at any other time there is availability.
Trent Menees goes solo to win over $20k on Tawakoni. Skeeter Owners on Fork is this weekend
Place Boat Truck Angler 1 Angler 2 Fish Big Bass Wt. Prize Amt. 1 TRENT MENEES
NORTHLAKE , TXTERRY BOLLOM
FRISCO , TX5 0 21.39
$21,100.00 w/ Garmin, PowerPole, and Sure-Life 2 DON MCFARLIN
GORDENVILLE , TXJAMES FENNELL
GORDONVILLE , TX5 0 21.30
$4000.00 3 MARK MAYBEN
PLANO , TXJOHN MAYBEN
DALLAS , TX5 0 18.83
$5,750.00 with Skeeter Bonus Cash 4 CHUCK BISHOP
SANGER , TXLEVI SMITHERS
SANGER , TX5 6.60 18.75
$4,200.00 w/ Skeeter Bonus Cash , Fun n Sun Bonus 5 SHANE GRAY
PALESTINE , TXCOLETON GRAY
PALESTINE , TX5 7.40 18.62
$2,750.00 with Big Bass 6 BRANNON MCMILLAN
QUINLAN , TXGERALD BARBOUR
EAST TAWAKONI , TX5 0 18.09
$1500.00 7 JUSTIN DUBOSE
NEVADA , TXSTEVE LYNAM
SOUTHLAKE , TX5 0 17.93
$6,500.00 with James Wood Motors Bonus 8 CARL TODD JR
QUINLAN , TXJASON TODD
QUINLAN , TX5 0 16.49
$1300.00 9 CODY BURDINE
BRIDGEPORT , TXBOBBY POINTER
ALVORD , TX5 0 16.47
$1200.00 10 KEITH CULLUM
CORINTH , TXLANCE CULLUM
CORINTH , TX5 0 16.10
$1100.00 2023 North AOY 11 AARON ASHMORE
IVANHOE , TXROBERT NULL
DENISON , TX5 0 16.09
$1090.00 12 CASEY NATION
QUINLAN , TXSHAWN BURRIS
LONE OAK , TX5 0 15.68
$1080.00 13 WESLEY BARNARD
HALLSVILLE , TXANDREW SCOTT
MARSHALL , TX5 0 15.61
$1070.00 14 COLE TEMPLE
GRAPEVINE , TXDAVID DOONAN
CALDWELL , TX5 0 15.43
$1060.00 15 ARCHIE HAYLEY
MT VERNON , TXGAGE IVEY
WINNSBORO , TX5 0 15.33
$1050.00 16 KELLY FERGUSON
FATE , TXJAXON FERGUSON
FATE , TX5 6.92 15.22
$1040.00 17 CLINT YEAGER
ROCKWALL , TXNOLAN YEAGER
ROCKWALL , TX5 0 14.95
$1030.00 18 MARK SPURGIN
MCKINNEY , TXTYLER HOLMES
RICHARDSON , TX5 0 14.75
$1020.00 19 BRANDEN HOLLINGSHEAD
AZLE , TXJEREMY LAMBERT
DECATUR , TX5 0 14.56
$1,510.00 with Skeeter Bonus Cash 20 TOMMY MURRAY
BEDFORD , TXKEITH IVY
PONDER , TX5 0 14.42
$1000.00 21 CASEY MARTZ
EMORY , TXTHOMAS BIBLES
FORNEY , TX5 0 14.14
$1000.00 22 CHAD MADDUX
WYLIE , TXJAKE MEEKS
FARMERSVILLE , TX4 0 13.97
$950.00 23 DOUG BRUNDIDGE
FARMERSVILLE , TXBERNARD GUNN JR
FARMERSVILLE , TX5 0 13.89
$900.00 24 NICK BROWN
LINDALE , TXBYRON CHAVES
MINEOLA , TX5 0 13.74
$900.00 25 GENE DEVORE
SHERMAN , TXTIMOTHY SMEAL
FORT WORTH , TX5 0 13.57
$900.00 26 ROB MEDDERS
CELINA , TXROB WILSON
SHERMAN , TX5 0 13.47
$100 Fun n Sun First Out Bonus 27 JODY HOLUBEK
FORT WORTH , TXDANIEL HERRING
WATUAGA , TX5 0 13.30
28 JONATHAN LANCASTER
QUITMAN , TXJOSH PRIEST
QUITMAN , TX5 0 13.19
29 CURTIS DANIELS
ALBA , TXWENDELL MOON
EMORY , TX5 0 12.89
30 RYAN AUTERY
TERRELL , TXJAMIE WILLABY
CADDO MILLS , TX5 0 12.78
31 STEVE TRIMBLE
ATHENS , TXTREVER DYKEMA
YANTS , TX5 0 12.75
32 MIKE BURNS
LUCAS , TXROB BURNS
PLANO , TX5 0 12.49
33 DAVID BAUMANN
GREENVILLE , TXWARREN SPRAGUE
WILLS POINT , TX5 4.80 12.13
34 BRYON HARRISON
QUINLAN , TXDIRK SMITH
CADDO MILLS , TX5 0 12.06
35 RUGER LONG
TEAGUE , TXSCOOTER LONG
TEAGUE , TX5 0 11.93
36 KENT SIKES
ROANOKE , TXDARRELL CAMPBELL
ALBA , TX5 0 11.88
37 BRADY WINANS
CADDO MILLS , TXSTAN LAWING
POETRY , TX5 0 11.83
38 DAKOTA MCBRIDE
WINNSBORO , TXJEFF MCBRIDE
WINNSBORO , TX5 0 11.78
39 CODY MASON
SULPHUR SPRINGS , TXMONTECO HAWTHORNE
RICHARDSON , TX4 0 11.71
40 KY MARTIN
GRANDVIEW , TXCHRIS MOORE
ROCKWALL , TX5 0 11.56
41 KEITH CARNEY
ARLINGTON , TXKEVIN CARNEY
ARLINGTON , TX5 0 11.34
42 BILLY FOWLER
KAUFMAN , TXBRIAN BROOKE
MESQUITE , TX4 0 11.30
43 LARRY BENCH
DENISON , TXHI HILLBURN
COLBERT , OK5 0 11.28
44 PAKE SOUTH
WINNSBORO , TXKYLE EVANS
EMORY , TX5 0 11.19
45 KEITH TAYLOR
ROCKWALL , TXLARRY LADNIER
ROCKWALL , TX5 0 11.08
46 TERRY PEACOCK
ROYSE CITY , TXSCOTT DEAN
TERRELL , TX5 0 11.06
47 TREVOR ROMANS
CELINA , TXMATT MCMILLAN
FORT WORTH , TX5 0 11.05
48 KEVIN DRITSCHLER
PROSPER , TXMIKE WITHROW
CORSICANA , TX5 0 11.02
49 RANDY TURNER
GREENVILLE , TXTREY TURNER
ROYSE CITY , TX5 0 11.00
50 DREW SLOAN
SCURRY , TXNOLAN JACKSON
ROYSE CITY , TX5 0 10.93
Cates tames Possum Kingdom for a second-straight day to win Bassmaster Kayak Series event
Michael Cates of Arlington, Texas, has won the 2023 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX at Possum Kingdom Lake with a two-day total of 210.25 inches.
Photo by Mark Cisneros/B.A.S.S.
June 4, 2023
GRAFORD, Texas — “Go west, young man!”
It’s a saying Michael Cates likely should repeat to himself, given years of good fortune on Possum Kingdom Lake — a run of luck that continued Sunday with his victory in the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX.
Cates, a 51-year-old resident of Arlington, Texas, caught 10 bass measuring 210.25 total inches to win the derby on the 17,000-acre reservoir of the Brazos River about 90 minutes west of his home. He measured a limit of five bass for 109.75 inches on Day 1, and though his catch dropped to 100.5 inches Sunday, he had more than enough length to secure the victory.
Cates earned a cash prize of $7,846 with the win, besting 128 other anglers from around the U.S. vying for a total purse of $25,800.
Cates said he considers Lake Fork his home water and he often finds himself “heading east” from Arlington to fish there, rather than west to Possum Kingdom. But he plans on fishing more at the reservoir with a funny name and a growing reputation as one of the nation’s top bass fisheries.
“This is a special place, man,” he said. “I’m truly blessed to win and had an incredible time.”
Cates staked himself to the Day 1 lead fishing a sweet spot he found in practice — an underwater flat with steep sides where bass would bombard just about any lure he threw to the area. So good was the catching on Saturday that Cates had a pair of bass simultaneously eat his lure three different times.
He primarily used a Strike King 6XD (sexy shad) but also used a small variety of black/chartreuse crankbaits, a Carolina-rigged plum worm and even spoons to catch bass.
The spot produced again Sunday, but not until the afternoon — a wait that had Cates on edge.
“I started there, and by 10:30, I only had two sand bass, two drum and a channel cat,” he said. “So, I hit the bank and started trucking along trying to get a limit. I went into the back of a pocket, and I caught 18 fish to get into the mid-90s (inches). That allowed me to breathe again.
“Then I went back out to my original spot and culled every single one of them. The biggest was 22 inches, but they all were really nice 4- to 6-pounders.”
The secret, Cates said, was timing the arrival of gizzard shad that were bountiful Saturday. They returned Sunday afternoon, just in time for him to inch his way into the title finish.
“The sun drove the gizzard shad farther down today,” he said. “Yesterday was an anomaly. You don’t ever expect to catch ‘em like that. The whole thing was covered with gizzard shad, only about 100 yards or so across, and it happened all day long. There were all kinds of different fish just feasting on them.”
On both days, Cates positioned his kayak in about 21 to 22 feet of water and threw back to the underwater flat, letting his lure hit one of two steep embankments that quickly dropped from 10 to 20 or more feet.
“The bass were waiting for bait to bump off those spots,” he said. “If I could hit one of those ledges, I’d get bit just about every time.”
The Top 5 finishers, a quartet of Texans among them, qualified for the 2024 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series National Championship. Besides Cates, they include Texas’ Joe Camareno, second, 202 inches, $3,542; Nebraska’s Marty Hughes, third, 196 inches, $2,340; Texas’ Matthew Scotch, fourth, 191 inches, $1,771; and Texas’ Matthew Flett, fifth, 190.5 inches, $1,664.
Texas’ Corey Geisendorff won the $500 Big Bass Award for a 24.75-inch lunker he caught on Day 1. He hooked the fish using a 12-inch, Carolina-rigged green pumpkin worm. A nearby boater with a hand scale weighed the bass, which came in at right at 9 pounds, Geisendorff said.
The derby at Possum Kingdom was the third of five stops on the Bassmaster Kayak Series this year. Additional tournaments follow on the upper Mississippi River in Lacrosse, Wis., July 8-9 and on the Susquehanna River in Lewisburg, Penn., Oct. 7-8. At each stop, anglers are earning points towards the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year race.
Keith & Chuck Cole Catch 39.06 pounds on Day Two to Rally From 60th Place to Win The 2023 Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s Texas Team Trail Presented by Progressive Championship on Choke Canyon Reservoir
CALLIHAM, Tx. (June 4, 2023) – After the first day of competition on Choke Canyon Reservoir, Texas Team Trail anglers Keith & Chuck Cole were sitting in 60th place after catching just 5 pounds. Contemplating going home, the team decided to go ahead and fish the final day and give it their best shot since they worked all year to make the championship event. At the end of Championship Sunday, the duo hauled in the biggest limit weighed in on the Texas Team Trail stage all year as they carried a massive five bass limit of 39.06 pounds to the scales, giving them a two-day total of 44.07 and the win. They walked away with $42,515.00 in cash and prizes, including a 2023 Nitro Z-18 powered by a Mercury Marine 150hp Pro XS.
“I don’t know what to say…. they say days like today are what you live and dream about, but the day we had on the water was beyond that”, said Mercury angler Keith Cole. “We started out the morning with an 8 pounder fishing shallow grass, and the fish just kept coming and getting bigger”.
The team qualified for the 2023 Texas Team Trail Championship after finishing in 20th place in The Progressive Team of the Year points. “We just scrapped everything and just went fun fishing today in an area we found in practice that we knew had some decent ones, but we had no idea that the bag we caught today,” reported Triton owner Chuck Cole.
The team said that they caught the majority of their fish relating to shallow grass throwing a soft swimbait.
Miles & Keith finish in Second
Day 1 leaders Austin Miles & Jacob Keith finished the tournament in second place with a total of 40.08, and for their efforts are awarded $6,615.
“Man we are excited with how we finished our tournament”, said Mercury angler Austin Miles. “Of course we wanted to win, but how can you overcome someone bringing in nearly a 40 pound bag- that’s just insane, dude. We are definitely happy with second place and look forward to getting back to Rayburn in February. The schedule next year for Texas Team Trail is awesome and we hope to get our redemption at the 2024 Championship on Toledo Bend”.
The team also tied for Power-Pole Big Bass with a 9.09 and won the Garmin Contingency Bonus. Miles & Keith reported catching most of their fish up shallow flipping a 6th Sense soft plastic.
Cecil & Castledine Take Home Third and Earn Progressive Team of the Year Honors
Russell Cecil and Todd Castledine finished the 2023 Texas Team Trail Championship in third place after catching a two day total of 34.04 and took home a check worth $3,410. The team also took home their third Progressive Texas Team Trail Team of the Year title.
“Man this really feels great, Todd and I are not only great friends and fish a lot of tournaments traveling together, but we also work so well together in the boat and that is the most critical element to being successful in team tournaments. We just, get one another,” said Sunline angler Russell Cecil. “We don’t take this for granted, those boys from Arizona had us on our toes. It takes a lot to travel that much and commit to fishing in the state of Texas against the crop of anglers we have in this state. They not only did it, but they also had us worried right up until it was announced that we had won. We tip our hats to those boys,” reported Garmin angler Todd Castledine. A complete recap of the Progressive Team of the Year standings and story will be released in the days ahead.
Power-Pole Big Bass Award was a tie with fish weighing 9.09 caught by Austin Miles & Jacob Keith and Clinton Mayfield & Terry Mayfield.
4th-10th Final Results:
4th: CHRIS ZACHRY-RANDY QUALLS – 34.01
5th: SETH KELM & JAMES WILLIAMS- 32.04
6th: CLINTON MAYFIELD & TERRY MAYFIELD- 31.09
7th: GARRETT DOKTER & COURTNEY HOBGOOD- 31.03
8th: MICHAEL MURPHREY & BOB WALTON- 30.09
9th: ZANE DRAKE & LOGAN PARSONS- 29.00
10th: WILL ANDRIE & CAMRON MILLS- 28.04
For complete 2023 Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s Texas Team Trail presented by Progressive results, click the link: https://outdoorteamworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/2023-TXTT-Championship-Choke-Canyon_Final-Results.pdf
Mosley breaks bridesmaid streak with Bassmaster Elite Series win at Sabine River
Brock Mosley of Collinsville, Miss., has won the Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River with a four-day total of 44 pounds, 3 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
June 4, 2023
ORANGE, Texas — Brock Mosley got the monkey off his back and put the blue trophy on his mantle.
After enduring five second-place finishes, including the 2021 Elite event at the Sabine River, the angler from Collinsville, Miss., in his eighth year on the Elite Series, tallied a four-day total of 44 pounds, 3 ounces to claim his first pro-level win at the Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River.
“After five times walking off the stage and seeing my wife crying, I was starting to think it would never happen,” Mosley said with a quaking voice. “But I always said, ‘When it’s God’s timing, I’ll win one of these.’”
Mosley got off to a solid start with a 12th-place, Day 1 limit of 9-15. Despite losing two hours to a mechanical issue in the second round, he added 11-7 and took over the lead on Day 2.
On Semifinal Saturday, Mosley anchored his best effort — a five-bass limit that weighed 12-14 — with a 4 1/2-pound kicker and expanded his lead to 3-1 going into Championship Sunday. While big bites eluded him during the final round, Mosley’s limit of 9-15 pushed him past a charging Clark Wendlandt of Leander, Texas, by a margin of 2-13.
Along with the coveted Elite Series trophy, Mosley won the $100,000 top prize, pushing his career earnings with B.A.S.S. over $785,000.
“I never dreamed I’d be standing here after the practice I had,” Mosley said. “After the first day, I kinda got into a rhythm and every day I got a little more dialed in.”
Mosley’s strategy contrasted his 2021 game plan, in which the first three days saw him running 110 miles to fish in Clear Creek on Houston’s east side. He’d end up spending his final day of that event in local waters near Orange.
This time around, Mosley split his first three days between a Sabine offshoot a couple miles downriver from the takeoff site and Taylor Bayou, about 45 minutes south. His first area was an industrial waterway encompassing Orange Harbor Island with barges, seawalls and tie-up posts.
“I didn’t think it would be won in one specific area this week,” he said. “I thought this year it would be won out of a mixture of places. I didn’t feel like I could catch a big one in the Sabine River. So, every day I started (in the Harbor Island waterway) and then ran to Taylor to upgrade. You gotta have a big fish to get you to the end.”
Taylor Bayou delivered multiple culls on Days 1 and 2 but offered nothing helpful for Day 3.
“Today, when I started out with a quick limit for 8 1/2 pounds, I said, ‘I’m going to make them beat me today. I’m not going to lose it by making a long run and wasting a bunch of time.’ So, I stuck around and grinded it out.”
After enduring a mid-morning drought, Mosley admittedly struggled with his decision to ditch his Taylor Bayou trip and stick with local waters. Sensing he needed more weight and watching his fishing time dwindle, he pondered his options.
“At 11 o’clock, I was starting to question myself and I almost pulled the plug and made the run,” he said. “But I made myself stay and it wasn’t long after I caught one that helped. That calmed me down, and I ended up culling two or three times this afternoon.”
Mosley started his mornings with an old Rebel Pop-R that required retrofitting.
“I pulled it out of my tackle box and the hooks were rusted, so I changed them to Trokar treble hooks,” Mosley said. “I didn’t lose any fish on that bait.”
After the morning topwater window, he turned to a 4-inch Yamamoto Senko in black/blue and junebug. He Texas-rigged the plastic bait for flipping Taylor Bayou’s natural shorelines and rigged it on a power shot when he targeted seawalls with subsurface rails.
Placing second with 41-6, Wendlandt improved daily with weights of 10-3, 8-13, 10-6 and 12-0. Wendlandt anchored his final limit with a 4-2 that bit around 9:10 and rocketed him into the unofficial second-place spot on BassTrakk.
“When I set the hook on that fish, I said, ‘This is the one I need,’” Wendlandt recalled. “I broke one off late in the day. Where I was fishing, there were a lot of abrasions and it just happens.”
Spending most of his time in Hildebrandt Bayou, Wendlandt caught his bass on a 1/2-ounce Strike King tungsten jig with a Strike King Baby Rage Craw trailer and a 5/16-ounce Strike King spinnerbait with double Colorado blades.
Matty Wong of Honolulu, Hi., finished third with 39-8. Making his first Top 10 appearance, Wong turned in daily weights of 6-7, 13-13, 8-13 and 10-7.
Also fishing the Orange Harbor Island waters, Wong caught his fish on a Megabass Super-Z Z3 spinnerbait, a Megabass Super-Z Z2 crankbait and a flipping rig comprising a Megabass Rock Hog on a 3/0 Gamakatsu G-Finesse flipping hook with a 1/4-ounce Freedom Tungsten weight.
“When (Bassmaster Emcee Dave Mercer) announced the Top 10 on Day 3, it made me start to cry,” Wong said. “Less than two years ago, I was driving a 1991 Ranger with one working graph and one working gas tank. The fact that I get to chase these little green monsters across the nation as a job completely blows my mind.”
Mosley took home an additional $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program while Wong earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.
As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Wendlandt earned an additional $2,500 as the highest-placing entrant and ninth-place angler Kenta Kimura of Japan claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.
Day 1 leader Chad Pipkens of DeWitt, Mich., won the $2,000 Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament award with the 5-12 largemouth he caught on Day 1. Wendlandt earned the daily $1,000 Big Bass award Sunday for his 4-2. Oklahoma’s Jason Christie is still leading the field for Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Year honors thanks to the 9-4 largemouth he caught at Lay Lake.
Pipkens also won the $2,000 VMC Monster Bag award with his opening limit of 14-7.
Clifford Pirch of Payson, Ariz., won the $1,000 BassTrakk Contingency award for the most accurate weight reporting.
Alabama pro Kyle Welcher finished seventh with 36-6 and leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 511 points. Brandon Cobb of Greenwood, S.C., is in second with 499 points, followed by John Cox of DeBary, Fla., with 483, Tyler Rivet of Raceland, La., with 467, and Drew Cook of Cairo, Ga., with 456.
Will Davis Jr. of Sylacauga, Ala., finished 39th with 21-6 and leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 449 points.
2023 Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River 6/1-6/4
Sabine River, Orange TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 20 44-03 104 $100,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 11-07 Day 3: 5 12-14 Day 4: 5 09-15
2. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 20 41-06 103 $36,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 08-13 Day 3: 5 10-06 Day 4: 5 12-00
3. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 20 39-08 102 $30,000.00
Day 1: 5 06-07 Day 2: 5 13-13 Day 3: 5 08-13 Day 4: 5 10-07
4. Keith Poche Cecil, AL 20 39-00 101 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 09-08 Day 3: 5 10-09 Day 4: 5 07-13
5. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 20 37-03 100 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 07-05 Day 3: 5 12-13 Day 4: 5 08-12
6. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 19 36-11 99 $19,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 4 05-08 Day 3: 5 08-04 Day 4: 5 09-13
7. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 20 36-06 98 $19,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 11-08 Day 3: 5 06-13 Day 4: 5 08-11
8. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 20 36-01 97 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 06-02 Day 3: 5 10-02 Day 4: 5 08-04
9. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 20 35-04 96 $16,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 06-08 Day 3: 5 08-02 Day 4: 5 07-09
10. Chad Pipkens DeWitt, MI 20 35-00 95 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 05-15 Day 3: 5 07-01 Day 4: 5 07-09
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Chad Pipkens DeWitt, MI 05-12 $1,000.00
2 David Williams Newton, NC 05-08 $1,000.00
3 Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 05-08 $1,000.00
4 Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 04-02 $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Chad Pipkens DeWitt, MI 05-12 $2,000.00
VMC MONSTER BAG
Chad Pipkens DeWitt, MI 14-07 $2,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 88 486 720-09
2 84 473 678-05
3 41 228 360-06
4 10 50 90-13
----------------------------------
223 1237 1850-01
Miles & Keith Take Day 1 Lead at 2023 TXTT Championship
CALLIHAM, Tx. (June 3, 2023) – The 2023 Bass Pro Shops/ Cabela’s Texas Team Trail presented by Progressive Championship has completed day one. The top qualifying teams faced unexpected tough fishing conditions that included, bright blue skies, little to no wind, and hot Texas temperatures. When the scales closed after day one, the leading team had brought in a five fish limit weighing 24.11 pounds. That team is Austin Miles & Jacob Keith who have a lead of slightly more than four pounds over second place.
“We expected to catch a pretty decent bag after the practice we had. Everything started out right this morning with a quick limit in an area we know holds a lot of keeper”, said Mercury angler Austin Miles. His partner, Jacob Keith went on to report, “When the sun popped out and the wind died, we made a long run down the lake fishing off the bank and were able to upgrade”. Austin also said the majority of the teams quality fish came catching them on his Garmin LiveScope, including the unofficial Power-Pole Big Fish that weighed 9.04.
“It was truly a dream day, my partner and I both caught a big one and things just fell into place. We know this lake has a much bigger sack swimming around in it, so tomorrow we are going out with the same mindset to fish clean and put as many keepers as we can in the boat,” Austin said.
The two-day 2023 Texas Team Trail Championship winner on Choke Canyon Reservior has a potential to cash in on over $45,000 in cash and prizes for winning the event as well as earn points towards all the prizes for the Progressive Team of the Year payout that will also be awarded at the conclusion of the event.
Drake & Parson Bring in 20.06 for Second Place
Second Place after Day 1 of the 2023 Texas Team Trail Championship on Choke Canyon Reservior belongs to Zane Drake & Logan Parsons after weighing in a five fish limit totaling 20.06.
“This was not the day we expected, we left the dock thinking we could have 14 to 15 if we got the right bites. But today just went our direction and we are very blessed,” said Triton/ Mercury angler Zane Drake. The team also reported struggling the first few hours but junk fishing in the afternoon they were able to catch six keeper bites to give them their Day 1 weight.
“We caught them a little different than we did in practice, the water seemed to clean up a little more today and we were able to excel on one particular bait that we only had one of and lost. Needless to say [laughing] we are headed to Bass Pro Shops right now in San Antonio to get some more,’’ said Parsons.
Third Place Garret Dokter & Courtney Hobgood
Texas Team Trail anglers Garrett Dotor and Courntry Hobgood finished Day 1 of the 2023 Championship rounding out the Top-3 with a limit of Choke Canyon Reservior bass weighing 18.05 leaving them just over six pounds behind the leader, but Choke Canyon has a history of kicking out big limits so anything is possible on Day Two.
The leader of the Power-Pole Big Bass Award after Day 1 is Austin Miles.
4th-10th Day 1 Results:
4th: KEVIN ALLEN & BRANDON BROSSETT- 17.10
5th: EDWARD NORRIS & STEVEN FOSTER- 16.03
6th: JAKE GOODRUM & JOSEPH GOODRUM- 15.10
7th: SETH FURMANEK & ROBERT KETTNER- 15.00
8th-Tie: DAVE REDINGTON & CHAD MCCLENDON- 14.11
8th-Tie: SETH KELM & JAMES WILLIAMS- 14.11
10th: KURT LUKER & JASON STOVALL- 14.10
Official 2023 Bass Pro Shops & Cabela’s Texas Team Trail presented by Progressive Championship Day 1 Results: https://outdoorteamworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/2023-TXTT-Championship-Choke-Canyon_Day-1-Results.pdf
Progressive Team of the Year Race Heating Up but Cecil and Castledine still lead.
After Day 1 of the 2023 Texas Team Trail Championship, the second place team going into the event of Seth Furmanek & Robert Kettner gained a few places on the Team of the Year leaders Russell Cecil & Todd Castledine. Furmanek & Kettner finished Day 1 sitting in 8th place with 14.11. But Cecil & Castledine are sitting in the Top-20 after finishing Day 1 in 11th with 14.07. Tomorrow will decide who will be crowned the 2023 Progressive Team of the Year and it is a tight race!
Current 2023 Progressive Team of the Year Standings: https://outdoorteamworks.com/trail/txtt/team-of-the-year/
Mosley expands lead with his biggest catch yet in Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River
Brock Mosley of Collinsville, Miss., is leading after Day 3 of the Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River with a three-day total of 34 pounds, 4 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
June 3, 2023
Mosley expands lead with his biggest catch yet in Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River
ORANGE, Texas — Following an upward trajectory into an enviable final-round advantage, Brock Mosley of Collinsville, Miss., leads Day 3 of the Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River with a three-day total of 34 pounds, 4 ounces.
Posting his best effort of the week — a five-bass limit that weighed 12-14 — on Semifinal Saturday, Mosley heads into Championship Sunday with a lead of 3-1 over Alabama pro Keith Poche.
“It was a fun day,” Mosley said. “I caught a bunch of fish and I finally got a good bite. I just have to go out and catch 10 to 11 pounds tomorrow.”
Mosley began his third morning at a blistering pace, with a limit of 12 pounds just past 7 a.m. Boxing his first keeper — a 2-pounder — 17 minutes after the 6 a.m. takeoff, Mosley anchored his bag with a 4 1/2-pounder around 6:30.
During the first three days of the Elite’s previous trip to the Sabine in 2021, Mosley ran 110 miles to fish Clear Creek on Houston’s east side. This year, he started each morning within a couple miles of takeoff and then closed out his day looking for upgrades around reeds and pads in Taylor Bayou.
He caught his bass fishing a popper, a Texas-rigged Senko and a power shot around seawalls, barge tie-ups, laydowns and grass.
“It has worked out differently every day,” Mosley said. “The first day, I started out with a small limit (close) and then I ran over to Taylor and caught my two best fish. Friday, all my fish here were about the same size and when I ran to Taylor, I only culled up a couple of ounces.
“Today, I had that 4 1/2-pound kicker and that boosted me up. I caught six or seven in Taylor but none of them helped.”
With 14 Top 10s to his credit, Mosley has recorded five second-place finishes. In 2021, he notched back-to-back runner-up finishes at Pickwick Lake and the Sabine River.
Despite a 3-pound advantage on a fishery where big bites are scarce, Mosley said he’ll likely stay in his starting area all day and squeeze it for all its worth.
With his first Elite win just one solid limit away, Mosley said he’s motivated by the quest for redemption, as well as the desire to perform well in front of one of the largest crowds to show up for Bassmaster events.
“It would be awesome,” Mosley said. “These people here are awesome, they love us, everyone is so nice, the crowds are huge and they put on a big party.”
Poche added a third-round catch of 10-9 to his previous two limits of 11-2 and 9-8. He holds a three-day total of 31-3.
Sticking with the game plan that has served him well the previous two days, Poche started his day in a deep backwater pond linked to the Neches River by a narrow canal. Notably, the Day 3 bite was a little different from the previous two days, in which the canal produced best.
“The first two days, I fished all around that thing, but this was the first day I had a decent bite in there — it was always little rats,” Poche said. “Today, I caught three inside and one in the canal.
“The fish were up around the edge on laydowns and grass patches. Today, it was as low as it’s been since I’ve been fishing. I think that might have pulled out some of those better fish that were way tight to the bank. My first bite was my biggest one.”
Poche caught three of his pond/canal bass on a SPRO Bronzeye popping frog and one on a Texas-rigged Berkley Pit Boss. After leaving the pond, Poche finished his day in Cow Bayou where the Pit Boss produced his fifth keeper.
Despite his success, Poche said he’s contemplating a Championship Sunday change.
“I was (considering) running up the Sabine River this morning,” he said. “I may do that tomorrow. I just feel like I’m not catching enough weight. I’m doing good, but I feel like I’m scrapping and if I’m not fishing other places, I’m not getting what I need.
“I can’t continue laying on one place. I may throw up a Hail Mary and go up the Sabine. I’m here to win.”
Clark Wendlandt of Leander, Texas, is in third place with 29-6. After posting 10-3 and 8-13 the first two days, Wendlandt entered Saturday in ninth place. Adding 10-6 moved him up six spots.
“I think they’re biting better in the afternoon; I just caught my better ones in the morning,” Wendlandt said.
Wendlandt caught his fish by flipping soft plastics. He tried reaction baits but couldn’t get bit.
“I got some reaction bites earlier in the week, but in the mornings every day of the tournament, it’s been dead slick, calm and no breeze,” Wendlandt said. “The sun’s been up, there’s been (little to no) cloud cover and I just think that messes them up. They’re just not ready to chase.”
Day 1 leader Chad Pipkens of DeWitt, Mich., is in the lead for the $2,000 Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament award with the 5-12 largemouth he caught on Day 1. Clifford Pirch of Payson, Ariz., earned Saturday’s daily $1,000 Big Bass award for a 5-8.
Pipkens also leads for the VMC Monster Bag award with his opening limit of 14-7.
Alabama pro Kyle Welcher is in eighth place with 27-11 and has taken the lead in the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 510 points. Brandon Cobb of Greenwood, S.C., is in second with 499 points, followed by John Cox of DeBary, Fla., with 483, Tyler Rivet of Raceland, La., with 467 and Drew Cook of Cairo, Ga., with 456.
Will Davis Jr. of Sylacauga, Ala., leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 449 points.
The Top 10 remaining anglers will take off at 6 a.m. CT Sunday from the City of Orange Boat Ramp. The weigh-in will be held at the ramp at 3 p.m., with the winning angler earning $100,000. FS1 will broadcast live with the leaders beginning at 7 a.m. CT with continuing coverage on Bassmaster.com.
The Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River is being hosted by the Greater Orange Chamber of Commerce.
2023 Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River 6/1-6/4
Sabine River, Orange TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 15 34-04 104
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 11-07 Day 3: 5 12-14
2. Keith Poche Cecil, AL 15 31-03 103
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 09-08 Day 3: 5 10-09
3. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 15 29-06 102
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 08-13 Day 3: 5 10-06
4. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 15 29-01 101
Day 1: 5 06-07 Day 2: 5 13-13 Day 3: 5 08-13
5. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 15 28-07 100
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 07-05 Day 3: 5 12-13
6. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 15 27-13 99
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 06-02 Day 3: 5 10-02
7. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 15 27-11 98
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 06-08 Day 3: 5 08-02
8. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 15 27-11 97
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 11-08 Day 3: 5 06-13
9. Chad Pipkens DeWitt, MI 15 27-07 96 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 05-15 Day 3: 5 07-01
10. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 14 26-14 95
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 4 05-08 Day 3: 5 08-04
11. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 15 26-12 94 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 08-10 Day 3: 5 06-13
12. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 15 26-07 93 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 07-08 Day 2: 5 06-12 Day 3: 5 12-03
13. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 15 26-06 92 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 06-06 Day 2: 5 07-11 Day 3: 5 12-05
14. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 15 26-01 91 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 07-09 Day 3: 5 09-09
15. Wes Logan Springville, AL 15 25-12 90 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 08-11 Day 3: 5 07-08
16. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 15 25-11 89 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 05-14 Day 2: 5 12-07 Day 3: 5 07-06
17. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 15 25-03 88 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 5 06-10 Day 3: 5 10-11
18. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 15 24-10 87 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 05-02 Day 2: 5 10-14 Day 3: 5 08-10
19. Kyoya Fujita Minamitsuru, Yamanashi 15 24-10 86 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 07-05 Day 2: 5 07-07 Day 3: 5 09-14
20. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 15 24-09 85 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 07-01 Day 2: 5 07-10 Day 3: 5 09-14
21. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 15 24-09 84 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 5 08-05 Day 3: 5 07-11
22. David Williams Newton, NC 15 24-04 83 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 06-01 Day 2: 5 11-11 Day 3: 5 06-08
23. Bryan New Saluda, SC 15 24-03 82 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 5 08-08 Day 3: 5 07-02
24. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 15 23-15 81 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 05-09 Day 3: 5 07-07
25. Masayuki Matsushita Tokoname-Aichi JAPAN 15 23-11 80 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 06-12 Day 3: 5 07-08
26. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, AR 13 23-10 79 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 08-08 Day 3: 3 04-05
27. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 15 23-10 78 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 07-15 Day 3: 5 06-12
28. Frank Talley Temple, TX 15 23-07 77 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 5 08-05 Day 3: 5 06-09
29. Seth Feider New Market, MN 15 23-05 76 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 07-03 Day 2: 5 08-01 Day 3: 5 08-01
30. Mike Huff London, KY 15 23-04 75 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 06-03 Day 3: 5 06-09
31. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 15 23-03 74 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 06-09 Day 3: 5 07-11
32. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 15 23-02 73 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 06-06 Day 2: 5 09-08 Day 3: 5 07-04
33. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 15 22-13 72 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 05-10 Day 2: 5 08-02 Day 3: 5 09-01
34. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 15 22-10 71 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 07-06 Day 3: 5 07-08
35. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 15 22-01 70 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 07-05 Day 2: 5 08-05 Day 3: 5 06-07
36. John Cox DeBary, FL 12 21-12 69 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 07-02 Day 2: 5 11-02 Day 3: 2 03-08
37. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 15 21-11 68 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 5 08-09 Day 3: 5 05-09
38. Cole Sands Calhoun, TN 15 21-10 67 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 05-09 Day 3: 5 06-15
39. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 15 21-06 66 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 05-06 Day 2: 5 10-03 Day 3: 5 05-13
40. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 15 20-09 65 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 07-04 Day 3: 5 05-09
41. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 14 20-08 64 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 10-04 Day 3: 4 03-04
42. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 12 20-06 63 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 06-13 Day 3: 2 02-06
43. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 15 20-00 62 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 5 05-04 Day 3: 5 05-09
44. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 15 19-12 61 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 05-10 Day 2: 5 07-10 Day 3: 5 06-08
45. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 12 18-12 60 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 07-04 Day 3: 2 03-06
46. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 15 18-08 59 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 05-05 Day 2: 5 08-03 Day 3: 5 05-00
47. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 13 17-09 58 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 5 06-06 Day 3: 3 03-02
48. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 14 17-00 57 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 06-02 Day 2: 5 07-06 Day 3: 4 03-08
49. Joseph Webster Hamilton, AL 11 16-12 56 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 3 04-00 Day 3: 3 03-04
50. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 10 14-00 55 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 06-12 Day 2: 5 07-04 Day 3: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 05-12 $1,000.00
2 David Williams Newton, NC 05-08 $1,000.00
3 Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 05-08 $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 88 486 720-09
2 84 473 678-05
3 41 228 360-06
----------------------------------
213 1187 1759-04
Mosley overcomes adversity and takes lead in Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River
Brock Mosley of Collinsville, Miss., is leading after Day 2 of the Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River with a two-day total of 21 pounds, 6 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
June 2, 2023
Mosley overcomes adversity and takes lead in Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River
ORANGE, Texas — Despite losing about two hours of fishing time to a mechanical issue, Brock Mosley of Collinsville, Miss., tallied a two-day total of 21 pounds, 6 ounces to take the lead in the Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River.
After placing 12th on Day 1 with 9-15, Mosley added a second-round limit of 11-7 on Friday. He heads into Semifinal Saturday with a half-pound lead over Kyle Welcher of Opelika, Ala., and a 3/4-pound margin over Keith Poche of Cecil, Ala.
“This place fishes a lot like how I do back home,” Mosley said. “You just put your head down and grind it out and know that you’re only going to get a handful of bites and you’re going to have to capitalize on them.”
Mosley, who finished second the last time the Elites fished the Sabine (2021), spent the first three days of that event fishing 110 miles west in the Houston area. This time, he traded that long-range game plan for a more local strategy that began on the main river within a couple miles of takeoff.
“Every year, I’ve caught them a different way,” Mosley said. “This morning I got off to a good start and then I made a long run up Taylor Bayou, but I had boat problems and had to come back in. The service crews did a good job getting me back on the water and I ended up making that long run (back up Taylor) and got some bites.
“I was kind of questioning if I had enough fuel to make the run again, so I took my time, eased over there and conserved my fuel. I got over there and realized that I still had enough fuel to make it back.”
Mosley began his day with a mix of topwater and flipping baits. Prior to his mechanical issue, he had about 10 pounds in his livewell.
“I had 8 pounds pretty quickly and then I slowly culled up,” he said. “I caught one that I lost in practice by trying to boat flip it. The fish was on a piece of structure I fished today. It looked like about the same quality.
“I have a whole other deal going in Taylor that’s different from in the Sabine. Over here, I just want to get a limit and get my day started. They just seemed to be a little better quality.”
Noting a key difference in his first two days, Mosley said Day 1 saw him lose a couple of nice bass early. Fishing clean on Day 2 propelled him to the top of the leaderboard.
Summarizing his improvement, Mosley said: “Everything just went right today, other than the boat problem.”
Welcher placed 17th on Day 1 with a limit that weighed 9-6. Adding 11-8 and climbing 15 spots to second with 20-14 was a matter of capitalizing on the right opportunities.
“Yesterday, I got two quality bites — two 2 1/2-pounders — and today I got two quality bites, but one of them just happened to be a 4-pounder,” Welcher said. “That’s the difference maker. A lot of us are catching a bunch of 1- to 1 1/4-pound fish. The person that catches two fish over 2 pounds a day stays up (high) on the leaderboard.”
Welcher said he’s catching his bass on a mix of flipping and reaction baits. He found the latter produced his best results.
“Yesterday, both of my biggest bites were on reaction baits,” he said. “Today, my 4-pounder was on a reaction bait. I caught my 3-pounder today flipping.”
Welcher said he figured out that proximity was his ally. In his mind, it is all about physics.
“I actually get really close to the bank because when you’re fishing really shallow cover and you know the fish are up there tight to the cover, I don’t want my bait to make a big splash when it hits the water,” Welcher said. “I don’t feel like fish are boat shy. I feel like they’re trolling motor shy. So, when I’m up there around those trees and grass, I want a really natural presentation.”
Poche caught a seventh-place limit of 11-2 on Day 1 and moved into third with a second-round bag that went 9-8. His two-day total was 20-10.
Employing his signature strategy of seeking secluded backwaters, Poche drove his 18-foot Gatortrax aluminum boat through a narrow passage off the Neches River, which led to an inner sanctum with 20-foot depths.
The deep water had produced good bites in practice. But today, Poche could only find quality fish on the shallow flow-through. After boating a few keepers in his backwater area, Poche moved to Cow Bayou and finished his bag.
“I like this place. It sets up well for me because I’m a shallow-water guy,” Poche said. “The tides were terrible today, so I’m so fortunate to have those fish I had. I had two good bites, but I had to run all over the place to get my limit today.”
Poche caught his fish flipping a Texas-rigged 3-inch Berkley Pit Boss.
Day 1 leader Chad Pipkens of DeWitt, Mich., is in the lead for the $2,000 Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament award with a 5-12. David Williams of Newton, N.C., earned the daily $1,000 Big Bass award for a 5-8.
Pipkens is currently in the lead for the VMC Monster Bag award with his opening-round limit of 14-7.
By placing second, Welcher took the lead in the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 516 points. John Cox of DeBary, Fla., is in second with 507, while Brandon Cobb of Greenwood, S.C. — the AOY leader coming into the event — fell to third place with 499. Tyler Rivet of Raceland, La., is fourth with 467, and Will Davis, Jr. of Sylacauga, Ala., is fifth with 457.
Davis, Jr. also leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 457 points.
The Top 50 remaining anglers will take off Saturday at 6 a.m. CT from the City of Orange Boat Ramp. The weigh-in will be held at the ramp at 3 p.m., with only the Top 10 advancing to Championship Sunday with a chance to win the $100,000 first-place prize.
FS1 will broadcast live with the leaders beginning at 6 a.m. CT with continuing coverage on Bassmaster.com.
2023 Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River 6/1-6/4
Sabine River, Orange TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 10 21-06 104
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 11-07
2. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 10 20-14 103
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 11-08
3. Keith Poche Cecil, AL 10 20-10 102
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 09-08
4. Chad Pipkens DeWitt, MI 10 20-06 101 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 05-15
5. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 10 20-04 100
Day 1: 5 06-07 Day 2: 5 13-13
6. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 10 19-15 99
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 08-10
7. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 10 19-09 98
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 06-08
8. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, AR 10 19-05 97
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 08-08
9. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 10 19-00 96
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 08-13
10. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 9 18-10 95
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 4 05-08
11. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 10 18-05 94
Day 1: 5 05-14 Day 2: 5 12-07
12. John Cox DeBary, FL 10 18-04 93
Day 1: 5 07-02 Day 2: 5 11-02
13. Wes Logan Springville, AL 10 18-04 92
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 08-11
14. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 10 18-00 91
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 06-13
15. David Williams Newton, NC 10 17-12 90 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 06-01 Day 2: 5 11-11
16. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 10 17-11 89
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 06-02
17. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 10 17-04 88
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 10-04
18. Bryan New Saluda, SC 10 17-01 87
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 5 08-08
19. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 10 16-14 86
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 07-15
20. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 10 16-14 85
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 5 08-05
20. Frank Talley Temple, TX 10 16-14 85
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 5 08-05
22. Mike Huff London, KY 10 16-11 83
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 06-03
23. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 10 16-08 82
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 05-09
24. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 10 16-08 81
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 07-09
25. Masayuki Matsushita Tokoname-Aichi JAPAN 10 16-03 80
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 06-12
26. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 10 16-02 79
Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 5 08-09
27. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 10 16-00 78
Day 1: 5 05-02 Day 2: 5 10-14
28. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 10 15-14 77
Day 1: 5 06-06 Day 2: 5 09-08
29. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 10 15-10 76
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 07-05
29. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 10 15-10 76
Day 1: 5 07-05 Day 2: 5 08-05
31. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 10 15-09 74
Day 1: 5 05-06 Day 2: 5 10-03
32. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 10 15-08 73
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 06-09
33. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 10 15-06 72
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 07-04
34. Seth Feider New Market, MN 10 15-04 71
Day 1: 5 07-03 Day 2: 5 08-01
35. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 10 15-02 70
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 07-06
36. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 10 15-00 69
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 07-04
37. Kyoya Fujita Minamitsuru, Yamanashi 10 14-12 68
Day 1: 5 07-05 Day 2: 5 07-07
38. Cole Sands Calhoun, TN 10 14-11 67
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 05-09
39. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 10 14-11 66
Day 1: 5 07-01 Day 2: 5 07-10
40. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 14-08 65
Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 5 06-10
41. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 14-07 64
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 5 05-04
42. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 10 14-07 63
Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 5 06-06
43. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 14-04 62
Day 1: 5 07-08 Day 2: 5 06-12
44. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 10 14-01 61
Day 1: 5 06-06 Day 2: 5 07-11
45. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 10 14-00 60
Day 1: 5 06-12 Day 2: 5 07-04
46. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 10 13-12 59
Day 1: 5 05-10 Day 2: 5 08-02
47. Joseph Webster Hamilton, AL 8 13-08 58
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 3 04-00
48. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 10 13-08 57
Day 1: 5 05-05 Day 2: 5 08-03
49. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 10 13-08 56
Day 1: 5 06-02 Day 2: 5 07-06
50. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 10 13-04 55
Day 1: 5 05-10 Day 2: 5 07-10
51. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 10 13-03 54 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 5 05-05
52. Taku Ito Chiba JAPAN 9 13-01 53 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 06-13 Day 2: 4 06-04
53. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 10 12-15 52 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 07-08 Day 2: 5 05-07
54. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 10 12-15 51 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 06-00 Day 2: 5 06-15
55. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 10 12-13 50 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 07-08 Day 2: 5 05-05
56. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 10 12-12 49 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 05-07 Day 2: 5 07-05
57. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 10 12-08 48 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 05-06 Day 2: 5 07-02
58. Derek Hudnall Zachary, LA 10 12-08 47 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 05-14 Day 2: 5 06-10
59. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 12-08 46 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 06-06 Day 2: 5 06-02
60. Josh Douglas Isle, MN 10 12-07 45 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 06-11 Day 2: 5 05-12
61. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 10 12-06 44 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 06-09 Day 2: 5 05-13
62. Skylar Hamilton Jefferson, TN 8 12-05 43 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 04-07 Day 2: 4 07-14
63. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 10 12-05 42 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 05-05
64. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 12-05 41 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 05-08 Day 2: 5 06-13
65. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 9 12-03 40 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 4 03-14
66. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 10 12-03 39 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 06-10 Day 2: 5 05-09
67. Darold Gleason Many, LA 8 12-00 38 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 3 03-13
68. Michael Iaconelli Pittsgrove, NJ 10 11-15 37 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 04-15
69. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 10 11-12 36 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 05-11 Day 2: 5 06-01
70. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 10 11-11 35 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 04-09 Day 2: 5 07-02
71. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 11-11 34 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 05-09 Day 2: 5 06-02
72. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 10 11-08 33 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 04-15 Day 2: 5 06-09
73. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 9 11-08 32 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 05-06 Day 2: 5 06-02
74. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 10 11-04 31 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 06-07 Day 2: 5 04-13
75. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 10 11-04 30 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 06-03 Day 2: 5 05-01
76. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 10 11-04 29 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 06-00 Day 2: 5 05-04
77. KJ Queen Conover, NC 8 11-03 28 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 03-05 Day 2: 5 07-14
78. Jeff Gustafson Kenora Ontario CANADA 9 11-03 27
Day 1: 4 03-14 Day 2: 5 07-05
79. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 8 11-03 26
Day 1: 3 04-00 Day 2: 5 07-03
80. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 7 11-02 25
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 2 01-10
81. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 10 11-01 24
Day 1: 5 05-08 Day 2: 5 05-09
82. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 10 10-15 23
Day 1: 5 05-01 Day 2: 5 05-14
83. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 10 10-15 22
Day 1: 5 05-09 Day 2: 5 05-06
84. Bradley Hallman Edmond, OK 8 10-13 21
Day 1: 4 05-09 Day 2: 4 05-04
85. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 10 10-11 20
Day 1: 5 05-15 Day 2: 5 04-12
86. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 8 10-08 19
Day 1: 3 02-11 Day 2: 5 07-13
87. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 9 10-05 18
Day 1: 5 06-03 Day 2: 4 04-02
88. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 10 09-15 17
Day 1: 5 04-13 Day 2: 5 05-02
89. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 9 09-13 16
Day 1: 5 05-15 Day 2: 4 03-14
90. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 8 09-12 15
Day 1: 3 03-00 Day 2: 5 06-12
91. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 9 09-09 14
Day 1: 5 06-03 Day 2: 4 03-06
92. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 9 09-09 13
Day 1: 4 04-09 Day 2: 5 05-00
93. Carl Jocumsen Queensland AUSTRALIA 8 09-08 12
Day 1: 3 03-02 Day 2: 5 06-06
94. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 7 09-02 11
Day 1: 2 01-12 Day 2: 5 07-06
95. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 6 09-00 10
Day 1: 2 04-09 Day 2: 4 04-07
96. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 8 08-14 9
Day 1: 5 05-13 Day 2: 3 03-01
97. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 7 08-13 8
Day 1: 5 06-09 Day 2: 2 02-04
98. Cody Huff Ava, MO 5 08-03 7
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
99. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 6 07-15 6
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 1 00-15
100. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 6 07-06 5
Day 1: 5 05-02 Day 2: 1 02-04
101. David Fritts Lexington, NC 6 06-07 4
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 5 05-06
102. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 5 06-03 3
Day 1: 3 03-10 Day 2: 2 02-09
103. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 3 04-06 2
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
104. Joshua Stracner Vandiver, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
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PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Chad Pipkens DeWitt, MI 05-12 $1,000.00
2 David Williams Newton, NC 05-08 $1,000.00
Emil Wagner Hangs on for Win at 40th Phoenix All-American Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Hartwell
Marietta Angler’s Time Spent on Lake Hartwell Pays Off With All-American Championship Title and Top Payout of $122,300
SENECA, S.C. (June 2, 2023) – Boater Emil Wagner of Marietta, Georgia, a 25-year-old bass-fishing guide on Lake Lanier who competes in the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Bulldog Division, said after Thursday’s weigh-in that he would need at least18 pounds a day, with a 20-pound limit on at least one of the days to win this week on Lake Hartwell.
On Day 1 of competition on Wednesday, Wagner posted 18 pounds, 2 ounces. He got his 20-pound limit on Thursday but fell just short of his predicted 18-pound mark on Championship Friday. However, his limit weighing 17 pounds, 7 ounces, was still enough to win the 40th annual Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship on Lake Hartwell Presented by T-H Marine in Seneca, South Carolina. With the win, Wagner also earned a qualification into REDCREST 2024, Major League Fishing’s most prestigious event.
Wagner led after the second day of competition and sealed the deal Friday with a three-day total of 55 pounds, 11 ounces – a 1-pound, 5-ounce margin of victory. For his victory Wagner earned $122,300, including the lucrative $20,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, and joined a list of heavy hitters such as Rick Clunn, Shaw Grigsby, Clark Wendlant, Jacob Wheeler and Jeremy Lawyer that call themselves BFL All-American Champions.
“It’s crazy,” Wagner said with a laugh. “I’ll buy dinner for anyone who wants it. That’s more money than I’ve ever had, that’s for sure.
“I’ve been waiting for this event ever since it was announced,” Wagner continued. “This is the one tournament that’s been on my mind the entire time. I put a bunch of hard work into it, and to have it pay off is unreal, especially in front of my buddies. It’s unreal.”
Wagner said he prepared for the All-American from “daylight to dark” probing the water with his graph looking for structure on banks and points.
“A lot of my better fish didn’t even come off of brush piles, which I think is what a lot of people were fishing,” Wagner said. “They were coming off of drops, really shallow, like 6 to 10 feet where it drops to 20, and they’d just be on top of the drop.”
Wagner said he used baits that mimicked blue herring, and caught every fish he weighed during the tournament on either a Sebile Swimbait, a chrome and purple 6th Sense Catwalk Topwater Walking Bait or a Texas-rigged Zoom Fluke on a 4/0 Gamakatsu worm hook . He said he fished from Green Pond Landing to the dam and “everywhere in between.” Wagner’s largemouth came from Anderson Island to Green Pond and his big spotted bass came near the dam.
“Today I put some weight on the fluke because it was so tough and they didn’t want to come up on anything,” Wagner said. “If you could twitch it and it stay a foot or two below the surface, they’d see it better, and that made them eat it.
“Any time I had wind, I threw the swimbait,” Wagner added. “But I got way less bites on it. You’d throw over 10 schools and not catch anything, but when you did catch one it was usually a good one.”
Although Wagner said he’s excited about his All-American win, he’s already looking forward to one weekend in 2024 – REDCREST on Lay Lake in Birmingham, Alabama, March 13-17, 2024.
“Obviously the money is awesome, but I’m more excited for REDCREST than anything, “Wagner said. “To get to fish against those guys – the pros on the Bass Pro Tour – that doesn’t even seem real.”
The top 10 boaters at the 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American on Lake Hartwell are:
1st: Emil Wagner, Marietta, Ga., 15 bass, 55-11, $122,300 (includes $20,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Matthew O’Connell, Brooks, Ga., 15 bass, 54-6, $35,500 (includes $15,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
3rd: Buddy Benson, Dahlonega, Ga., 15 bass, 47-10, $25,000 (includes $10,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
4th: Anthony Johnson, Excelsior Springs, Mo., 15 bass, 42-9, $21,000 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
5th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 15 bass, 41-6, $13,000
6th: Tyler Trent, Nathalie, Va., 15 bass, 39-9, $14,000 (includes $2,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
7th: Brian Laclair, Denton, Md., 15 bass, 38-5, $11,000
8th: Jimmy Neece, Jr., 15 bass, 37-12, $10,000
9th: Ian Leybas, McAlester, Okla., 15 bass, 37-5, $9,200
10th: Nick Ubelhor, Jasper, Ind., 13 bass, 32-10, $8,000
Full results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 48 bass weighing 121 pounds, 14 ounces caught by the final 10 boaters Friday. Nine of the final 10 boaters caught a five-bass limit.
The highest-finishing boater from each Regional Championship (including the Wild Card) at the All-American now advance to the Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning $235,000.
The eight boaters that finished highest from their region earned an automatic qualification in to the 2023 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Simms on Table Rock Lake are:
Edward Gettys, Dover, Tenn.
Anthony Johnson, Excelsior Springs, Mo.
Brian LaClair, Denton, Md.
Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo.
Ian Leybas, McAlester, Okla.
Chandler Todd, Wake Forest, N.C.
Emil Wagner, Marietta, Ga.
Jesse Wiggins, Logan, Ala.
After starting the day in ninth place, Larry Taylor of Seaford, Delaware, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Friday with a three-day total of 11 bass weighing 24 pounds, 8 ounces to earn the top prize package of $50,000. Co-angler Gary Haraguchi of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, finished runner up with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 23 pounds, 4 ounces, good for $10,000.
“This hasn’t sunken in yet,” said Taylor, who qualified for the All-American by placing fifth at the TBF National Championship on Lake of the Ozarks. “I thought there would be another 10-pound bag today, but that’s fishing.”
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers at the 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American on Lake Hartwell finished:
1st: Larry Taylor, Seaford, Del., 11 bass, 24-8, $50,000
2nd: Gary Haraguchi, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 15 bass, 23-4, $10,000
3rd: Keith Gunsauls, Dandridge, Tenn., 12 bass, 23-3, $6,000
4th: Daniel Bryant, Scott, La., 11 bass, 22-1, $5,000
5th: Brandon Bell, Starkville, Miss., 13 bass, 20-7, $4,500
6th: Aaron Calvert, Russellville, Ark., 14 bass, 19-10, $4,000
7th: Chris Wilson, Easley, S.C., 12 bass, 19-3, $3,700
8th: Joshua Jernigan, Rocky Top, Tenn., 10 bass, 16-2, $3,000
9th: Benjie Winkler, Cleveland, Ga., 10 bass, 15-8, $2,500
10th: Jerry Armstrong, Shelbyville, Tenn., 8 bass, 15-4, $2,000
Overall, there were 25 bass weighing 41 pounds, 12 ounces caught by eight the final 10 Strike King Co-anglers on Friday. Taylor and Haraguchi were the only co-anglers to bring five-bass limits to the scale on Friday.
The highest-finishing Strike King Co-angler from each Regional Championship (including the Wild Card) at the All-American advance to the Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning $33,500.
The eight Strike King Co-anglers that finished highest from their region and earned an automatic qualification in to the 2023 Toyota Series Championship Presented by Simms on Table Rock Lake are:
Daniel Bryant, Scott, La.
Keith Gunsauls, Dandridge, Tenn.
Gary Haraguchi, Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Trent Killian, Bostic, N.C.
Shawn Overton, Coal Valley, Ill.
Larry Taylor, Seaford, Del.
Daren Tindle, Owensboro, Ky.
Benji Winkler, Cleveland, Ga.
The three-day Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Hartwell was hosted by Visit Oconee SC. The event featured the nation’s best weekend grassroots anglers competing for a top prize of up to $120,000, and a top prize of $50,000 for the winning Strike King co-angler.
Television coverage of the 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American will premiere November 11 on CBS Sports and the Sportsman Channel. The full television air schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The full field of 49 boaters and 49 Strike King co-anglers competed on Days 1 (Wednesday) and 2 (Thursday) of the event. After two days of competition the field was cut to just the top 10 boaters and co-anglers based on two-day total cumulative weight, and the final 10 anglers competed on Championship Friday. The boater and co-angler that caught the heaviest three-day total weight earned the title of the 40th Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Champions.
The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine was 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, advanced to one of six Regional Championships where they competed to finish in the top six, which then advanced them to compete in the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
2024 Texas Team Trail Schedule Announcement!
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (June 2, 2023) – With the 2023 Bass Pro Shops & Cabela's Texas Team Trail presented by Progressive season ending this weekend at Choke Canyon Reservoir, Texas Team Trail is already getting primed for another go-round as the 2024 schedule and locations was announced today.
The schedule will once again feature four regular-season events with a healthy mix of some great bass fishing lakes at the right time of the year. Throughout the 2024 season, the best team anglers in the state of Texas will battle each other, for hefty contingency bonuses, and a new boat and motor as the winning prize at each event.
The final event of the 2024 season will conclude in June with the best 75 teams from 2024 Progressive Team of the Year points competing for a new White River Marine Group brand boat and motor package, plus an additional White River Marine Group brand boat and motor package will be awarded to the 2024 Progressive Team of the Year points champion. In addition the Texas Team Trail will be expanding the Team of the Year Payout even deeper in 2024.
2024 Bass Pro Shops & Cabela's Texas Team Trail presented by Progressive schedule:
Feb 17th- Sam Rayburn
March 23rd- Sam Rayburn
April 13th- Lake Fork
May 4th- Belton Lake
June 8th & 9th- Toledo Bend *Championship*
The schedule will see stops at Rayburn twice in the early season, which has become the normal times for Texas Team Trail to be there. Then for the first time ever the trail will stop on Lake Fork for what promises to be a shootout. The last regular season stop the trail will visit Central Texas where the anglers will fish on Belton Lake which has hosted a few Texas Team Trail events in the past. After that the top 75 qualifying teams will compete on Toledo Bend for the season ending championship. It’s been several years since the Texas Team Trail has visited this famous fishery and we’re excited to be going back.
Texas Team Trail tournament director Mike Hastings commended the schedule as another great opportunity to fish one of the best team tournament trails in the nation on exceptional fisheries for a great payout, at an entry fee that hasn’t increased.
“The 2023 Texas Team Trail has been a great success, and we just can't thank the anglers and our great sponsors for helping us all have such a great year. We are excited to be crowning our 2023 TXTT Champion this week, but even more excited to unveil next year schedule to give the anglers something to start planning and look forward to".
Registration dates will be announced soon! 2024 Texas Team Trail regular season entry fees will be $250 per event and each angler membership fee is $50. Additionally, anglers have an exceptional opportunity to earn contingency bonuses based on numerous brand loyalty programs, more information about at the www.texasteamtrail.com website.
Forced to Pre-Launch!
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Tom Huynh describes his check-cashing “system” that matches Northland’s NEW Eye Candy™ Soft Plastics with Northland Tungsten Jigs |
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BEMIDJI, Minn. (June 2, 2023) – Recent exposure via tournament websites, social media, and TV has created a wildfire of interest in a brand-new line of walleye soft plastics from Northland Fishing Tackle. Aptly-named “Eye Candy™,” an extensive team of tournament pros, guides, influencers, and product designers put the paces through countless iterations of shapes and actions to provide walleye anglers with the best new soft plastics on the walleye scene. Fact: Northland Tackle’s Eye Candy™ wasn’t intended to launch yet. However, given the success Northland team pros have been fishing the baits, the company decided to ramp up production to provide anglers of all walks with the winning walleye baits. “We’ve been fishing the snot out of these plastics for over a year and feel super confident in the designs. Given what Tom Hunyh has been doing with them on the NWT and AIM trails and Jason Mitchell is doing via TV and social on the waters he visits, what Brad Hawthorne, Bro, and Nick Lindner are doing with them between Mille Lacs and the north, we knew we had to get them into the hands of walleye anglers everywhere now,” says Northland Fishing Tackle’s Marketing Director, Mike Anselmo. |
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Huynh Dials In Winnebago NWT Bite with NEW Northland Eye Candy™ Case in point, top-placing NWT/AIM tournament and Northland Tackle walleye pro, Tom Huynh, has been using Eye Candy™ since the first NWT event on the Illinois River this past March. Since, he’s used the new soft plastics to top-finishing tournament success. “The recent NWT tournament on Lake Winnebago was my first introduction to the lake. The day before I got there I looked at my maps and put a plan together, but my plan to fish the big lake soon changed. Our Airbnb was on one of the upper lakes and there was a little two-boat launch right across the street, so I used that during pre-fishing,” says Huynh. “Rather than trek over to Winnebago, I got sidetracked in a shallow, tea-colored lake attached to Winnebago by a river—and decided to look around. I caught a few random fish here and there without a pattern until I found an old river channel that looked almost like a shell bed on my SideVu. I was marking fish like crazy: catfish, drum, white bass, walleyes, and sturgeon. With that many species, running LiveScope wasn’t easy. I had to cast at every single fish I saw to gauge their reaction and figure out what they were,” notes Huynh. “After a couple of days, I learned to recognize the reactions of the white bass and drum. The two species that seemed to act about the same were catfish and walleyes. So, for every two or three 10-12 pound catfish I’d catch, I’d hook a 3-pound or better walleye. After I figured that out I was catching 5 or 6 walleyes a day during pre-fish without even entering the big lake. I knew the historical weights for Winnebago tournaments, and since what I was catching were good fish, we decided to stay there. On the Monday and Tuesday before the tournament we had between 13 and 15 pounds each day, so we figured if we could do that in the tournament we’d make the top 10,” adds Huynh. Huynh says it took him until the last day of pre-fishing to really dial in his presentation. “Basically, I used the same black Northland Eye Candy™ Grub I used on the Illinois River—actually still the same bag of baits—and threaded it on a 1/8-ounce black Northland Tungsten Jig. It just seemed to cast the right silhouette in the stained water to get bit,” divulges Huynh. |
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This isn’t the first tournament that Tom has relied on black to either win or place in the Top 10. “Every single fish I’ve caught in a tournament this year casting has been on a solid black Northland Tungsten Jig—either regular shank or short-shank. Not one fish has come on anything else. For Winnebago, I paired that Northland Eye Candy Grub in black with a black Northland Tungsten. I thought I had an extra bag of the plastics in my boat, but I left them in another tote at home, so I had to rely on the few baits I had. Luckily, they’re made of a super-tough and spongy TPE plastic that holds up to dozens of fish on just one plastic. You don’t burn through ‘em. So I had just enough to do the job. I also caught a couple fish on a minnow and Northland Tungsten, too,” laughs Huynh. “However, if it hadn’t been for the Eye Candy™ plastics and their crazy ability to hold the scent I use, I don’t think I would have been able to dial in the first two good bites of the tournament that put us into 2nd place,” adds Huynh. Huynh adds that the Winnebago NWT tournament May 17-18 was the first event this year where he and a partner were able to catch decent-size walleyes. “I ended up catching two 4’s and a 5-pounder with my other fish. It all came down to the entire system—a black Northland Tungsten jighead, the new Northland Eye Candy™ Grub in black, 10-pound high-vis Daiwa J-Braid Grand X8 to 8-pound Daiwa fluorocarbon, and a Daiwa Kage 1000 spinning reel on a Rosemore rod. The 1000 size reel keeps me from horsing big walleyes in on small jigs and hooks.” Huynh says he “couldn’t be happier” with the 2nd Place NWT finish that he ended up with, especially considering he figured out a system with no prior knowledge or experience on the Winnebago system coming into the event. Huynh cashed a $24,122 check plus a Garmin contingency award. |
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Northland Short-Shank Tungstens Crack Leech Lake ‘Eyes Following the Winnebago NWT, Huynh bee-lined to Leech Lake, Minnesota, to fish an AIM Tournament—and admits the timing was “completely out of his element” although he and co-angler Nate Wolske have a history of top finishes there. “We’d never fished Leech that early in the season,” says Hunyh. “We’d won there in the summer and knew how to seasonally pattern those fish, but cold water was completely out of our wheelhouse.” “The water was 48-49 degrees in the morning so I knew our chance of fishing plastics was fairly slim, but we did get a few bites on Eye Candy. So we switched to minnows tipped on 1/8-ounce Northland Short-Shank Jigs—again, in black,” says Huynh. Huynh notes that partner Nate Wolske hadn’t fished black Short-Shank Tungsten Jigs to date and was mystified by what happened with a simple change in jig color. “Nate turned to me and said, ‘I just don’t get it. They’ll hit these black jigs a lot quicker and way more often.’ So, we both used black Short-Shank Tungsten Jigs for every single cast of the Leech Lake Tournament—and it put us in 2nd place at the end of the event,” shares Huynh. |
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Hunyh says the difficulty was getting the big females to bite, which had been squirting eggs only a few days prior to the event. “The big girls were in a funk,” says Huynh. “They don’t come off the spawn and just start eating. They’re exhausted. So they go and stage somewhere. If something comes right at them and it’s convenient, they’ll eat it, but they’re not going to chase anything down.” Huynh explains: “So we had to slow our presentations way-way down. And the fish weren’t positioned on our electronics like they typically are. They were really close to the bottom making it hard to differentiate walleyes from rocks. Then you’d see a rock move on the screen and we’d get bit and set the hook, but a lot times the jig came back clean, no fish, even though we were fishing our typical routine. They were biting and eating so light that the dense Short-Shank Tungsten was absolutely critical, especially considering we were casting 40- to 50-feet out. With the tungsten you could actually feel the walleyes put the bait in their mouth, a sensation that would carry up through our fluoro leaders, braid, through our rods, into our reels, and up into our hands. With the tungsten—as well as the rest of our gear—we could feel those subtle bites 50 feet away,” concludes Hunyh. Currently, Northland Pro Tom Huynh is pre-fishing in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, for the AIM National Championship Shootout to be held on Friday, June 2. You can bet Northland Tackle Eye Candy™ and Tungsten Jigs will be very much in play… |
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Lotta buzz around the Sabine
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Here that? That’s not a mosquito or a cicada. That’s a huge percentage of the Bassmaster Elite Series field slinging buzzbaits in an effort to garner an above average sized bite from a Sabine River bass, and Team Toyota’s Brandon Lester is one of them.
“I learned early in my pro career that anytime we competed at a venue with the word ‘river’ in it, you’d better have a buzzbait tied on,” grins Lester.
“I don’t care if it’s the James River, Potomac River, Tennessee River or Sabine River, especially during the hot weather post-spawn events, you’d better be throwing a buzzbait,” emphasizes the highly likeable Tennessee pro.
He estimates he caught a dozen non-keeper largemouth on a buzzbait during Day 1 of the Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite on the Sabine River, but just never got lucky enough to score a big one. However, that won’t stop him from throwing it again on Friday.
“I feel like a buzzbait gets you a bigger-than-average bite, and that’s so critical here, so I’ll definitely continue to throw it,” he says.
As far as the specifics of what he’ll throw, gold blades are for sure his favorite, and a 5/16-ounce garners more playing time than any other size. He’ll mix in a chrome blade if he knows they’re feeding heavily on shad, and he always adds a soft plastic trailer beneath the skirt.
“There’s so many people throwing buzzbaits with just a soft plastic craw or toad these days, that I feel the traditional skirt actually makes your bait look a little different, but I always add a plastic trailer, and no trailer hook,” says Lester.
Hopefully, his slightly different looking offering gets the attention of a bigger than average Sabine largemouth Friday, because one thing’s for certain, he’ll need to stand out in a crowd amid the swarm of topwater buzzers being thrown in order to separate himself from the pack and make a major leap in the standings.
Pipkens takes early lead at Bassmaster Elite event on Sabine River
Chad Pipkens of DeWitt, Mich., is leading after Day 1 of the Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River with 14 pounds, 7 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
June 1, 2023
ORANGE, Texas — Chad Pipkens of DeWitt, Mich., broke with two of his historical patterns and sacked up a 14-pound, 7-ounce limit to lead Thursday’s opening round of the Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River.
On a fishery where limits are never assumed and only 11 anglers eclipsed 10 pounds, Pipkens heads into Day 2 with a lead of 1-5 over Hunter Shryock of Ooltewah, Tenn. Suffice it to say, Pipkens has positioned himself well to end a streak he’d rather forget.
“It’s about time Sabine River!” Pipkens happily exclaimed. “I have fun at this place, but I have gotten my teeth kicked in every time I come here. This is the fifth time I’ve fished here and the good news is I think I can fish Saturday without catching a fish.
“I’m going to go out tomorrow and have some fun and try to put a few in the boat. We’ll see what happens.”
As Pipkens explained, breaking his streak of Sabine disappointment was the result of abandoning his previous preference.
“It was just a good day,” he said. “I had a good start and I was just able to mill around. That has not been the deal for me in the past. I would have three or four different areas and I would fish too quickly.
“That’s how I like to fish, but it’s not the deal in this place. You have to mill around (an area). It changes every 30 to 40 minutes and you might roll up and catch one.”
Pipkens caught his bass on a mix of reaction baits and slower presentations. Doing so produced several day-changing opportunities. Two-pound bass are welcome on the Sabine, so Pipkens was stoked to put a 5-12, a 3 and a 2 1/2 in the boat.
He said his main area has a few sweet spots that he’s cycling through and trying to get a bite every hour.
“I’m not getting a lot of bites, but there was one place that was pretty special this morning,” he said. “I caught a limit on my first spot. I caught probably half a dozen keepers. They weren’t there in practice, but they were there today.
“Outside of those sweet spots, I’m just fishing — keeping my bait wet. In years past, I tried to run too much. I didn’t fish where the fish moved to. Today, I fished where they moved to.”
Pipkens said most of that fish movement was tide related. The early morning’s combination of low light and incoming tide proved most productive. Surprisingly, his biggest fish came later in the day.
Looking ahead to Day 2, Pipkens said: “I’ll just keep my head down and stay focused. You need a bite about every hour to hour and a half.”
Shryock is in second place with 13-2. Making a bold decision to trash his pre-event work and opt for minimal running proved to be the right call.
“My practice was just a waste,” he said. “I tried to go to so many different areas and never really found something, so I stayed close and maximized my fishing time. I knew I had a long day, so I knew if I could keep my line wet for as long as possible, that was going to give me my best chance.”
Shryock said his success was predicated on being in the right place when the fish started biting. He found the morning outgoing tide most productive. Although he managed a couple of bites later in the day, all of his weight came earlier.
“I fished everything — rock, wood, grass; it didn’t matter,” Shryock said. “Basically, I fished whatever was in front of me. I just put my head down and kept fishing.
“It was mostly reaction baits that produced my weight, but I did catch a few flipping and dragging baits.”
Kenta Kimura of Osaka, Japan, is in third place with 13-1. Running about 100 miles from takeoff, he benefitted from the recent heavy rains.
“I didn’t expect this,” Kimura said. “That spot I fished was dry in practice. The rain from yesterday raised the water level. I know it’s going to be dry tomorrow, so I’m not going to do it again.
“I just tried to catch as many as I could catch because I don’t think I’m going there (on Friday).”
Describing an active day that produced 30 keepers, Kimura said he caught the majority of his fish on a Deps Evoke 1.2 squarebill. Multiple colors produced keepers, but Kimura found precision casting critical to his success.
“All of my fish were concentrated on one spot about the size of (a golf cart),” Kimura said. “That was the coolest experience I’ve had in a tournament day.
“I think current is the whole key. That’s what I’m concentrating on.”
Brandon Cobb of Greenwood, S.C., placed 60th with 6-3, but still leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 530 points. Kyle Welcher of Opelika, Ala., is in second with 501 points, followed by Tyler Rivet of Raceland, La., with 483, John Cox of DeBary, Fla., with 476, and Drew Cook of Cairo, Ga., with 474.
Joey Cifuentes III of Clinton, Ark., is in 20th place with 8-15 and reclaimed the lead in the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 419 points. Previous ROY leader Will Davis Jr. fell to second with 407 points.
Pipkens took Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day honors with his 5-12 largemouth. He also currently leads for the VMC Monster Bag award with his catch of 14-7.
Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6 a.m. CT at the City of Orange Boat Ramp. The weigh-in will be held at the ramp at 3 p.m., with only the Top 50 anglers advancing to Championship Saturday. Bassmaster LIVE coverage starts at 7 a.m. on Bassmaster.com, Tubi and the FOX Sports digital platforms.
2023 Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River 6/1-6/4
Sabine River, Orange TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Chad Pipkens DeWitt, MI 5 14-07 104 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-07
2. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 5 13-02 103
Day 1: 5 13-02
3. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 5 13-01 102
Day 1: 5 13-01
4. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 5 11-09 101
Day 1: 5 11-09
5. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 5 11-05 100
Day 1: 5 11-05
6. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 5 11-03 99
Day 1: 5 11-03
7. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 11-02 98
Day 1: 5 11-02
8. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 5 10-15 97
Day 1: 5 10-15
9. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, AR 5 10-13 96
Day 1: 5 10-13
10. Mike Huff London, KY 5 10-08 95
Day 1: 5 10-08
11. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 5 10-03 94
Day 1: 5 10-03
12. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 09-15 93
Day 1: 5 09-15
13. Wes Logan Springville, AL 5 09-09 92
Day 1: 5 09-09
14. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 09-08 91
Day 1: 5 09-08
14. Joseph Webster Hamilton, AL 5 09-08 91
Day 1: 5 09-08
16. Masayuki Matsushita Tokoname-Aichi JAPAN 5 09-07 89
Day 1: 5 09-07
17. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 5 09-06 88
Day 1: 5 09-06
18. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 09-03 87
Day 1: 5 09-03
19. Cole Sands Calhoun, TN 5 09-02 86
Day 1: 5 09-02
20. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 5 08-15 85
Day 1: 5 08-15
20. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 5 08-15 85
Day 1: 5 08-15
20. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 5 08-15 85
Day 1: 5 08-15
23. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 5 08-09 82
Day 1: 5 08-09
23. Bryan New Saluda, SC 5 08-09 82
Day 1: 5 08-09
23. Frank Talley Temple, TX 5 08-09 82
Day 1: 5 08-09
26. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 5 08-05 79
Day 1: 5 08-05
26. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 5 08-05 79
Day 1: 5 08-05
28. Darold Gleason Many, LA 5 08-03 77
Day 1: 5 08-03
28. Cody Huff Ava, MO 5 08-03 77
Day 1: 5 08-03
30. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 5 08-02 75
Day 1: 5 08-02
31. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 08-01 74
Day 1: 5 08-01
32. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 07-14 73
Day 1: 5 07-14
32. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 5 07-14 73
Day 1: 5 07-14
34. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 5 07-12 71
Day 1: 5 07-12
34. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 5 07-12 71
Day 1: 5 07-12
36. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 5 07-09 69
Day 1: 5 07-09
37. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 5 07-08 68
Day 1: 5 07-08
37. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 07-08 68
Day 1: 5 07-08
37. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 5 07-08 68
Day 1: 5 07-08
40. Kyoya Fujita Minamitsuru, Yamanashi 5 07-05 65
Day 1: 5 07-05
40. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 5 07-05 65
Day 1: 5 07-05
42. Seth Feider New Market, MN 5 07-03 63
Day 1: 5 07-03
43. John Cox DeBary, FL 5 07-02 62
Day 1: 5 07-02
44. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 5 07-01 61
Day 1: 5 07-01
45. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 5 07-00 60
Day 1: 5 07-00
45. Michael Iaconelli Pittsgrove, NJ 5 07-00 60
Day 1: 5 07-00
45. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 5 07-00 60
Day 1: 5 07-00
45. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 5 07-00 60
Day 1: 5 07-00
49. Taku Ito Chiba, JAPAN 5 06-13 56
Day 1: 5 06-13
50. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 5 06-12 55
Day 1: 5 06-12
51. Josh Douglas Isle, MN 5 06-11 54
Day 1: 5 06-11
52. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 5 06-10 53
Day 1: 5 06-10
53. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 5 06-09 52
Day 1: 5 06-09
53. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 06-09 52
Day 1: 5 06-09
55. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 5 06-07 50
Day 1: 5 06-07
55. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 5 06-07 50
Day 1: 5 06-07
57. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 5 06-06 48
Day 1: 5 06-06
57. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 06-06 48
Day 1: 5 06-06
57. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 06-06 48
Day 1: 5 06-06
60. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 5 06-03 45
Day 1: 5 06-03
60. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 5 06-03 45
Day 1: 5 06-03
60. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 06-03 45
Day 1: 5 06-03
63. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 5 06-02 42
Day 1: 5 06-02
64. David Williams Newton, NC 5 06-01 41
Day 1: 5 06-01
65. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 5 06-00 40
Day 1: 5 06-00
65. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 5 06-00 40
Day 1: 5 06-00
67. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 5 05-15 38
Day 1: 5 05-15
67. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 5 05-15 38
Day 1: 5 05-15
69. Derek Hudnall Zachary, LA 5 05-14 36
Day 1: 5 05-14
69. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 5 05-14 36
Day 1: 5 05-14
71. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 5 05-13 34
Day 1: 5 05-13
72. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 5 05-11 33
Day 1: 5 05-11
73. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 5 05-10 32
Day 1: 5 05-10
73. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 5 05-10 32
Day 1: 5 05-10
75. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 05-09 30
Day 1: 5 05-09
75. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 5 05-09 30
Day 1: 5 05-09
77. Bradley Hallman Edmond, OK 4 05-09 28
Day 1: 4 05-09
78. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 05-08 27
Day 1: 5 05-08
78. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 05-08 27
Day 1: 5 05-08
80. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 5 05-07 25
Day 1: 5 05-07
81. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 5 05-06 24
Day 1: 5 05-06
81. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 5 05-06 24
Day 1: 5 05-06
83. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 4 05-06 22
Day 1: 4 05-06
84. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 5 05-05 21
Day 1: 5 05-05
85. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 05-02 20
Day 1: 5 05-02
85. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 5 05-02 20
Day 1: 5 05-02
87. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 05-01 18
Day 1: 5 05-01
88. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 04-15 17
Day 1: 5 04-15
89. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 5 04-13 16
Day 1: 5 04-13
90. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 5 04-09 15
Day 1: 5 04-09
91. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 4 04-09 14
Day 1: 4 04-09
92. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 2 04-09 13
Day 1: 2 04-09
93. Skylar Hamilton Jefferson, TN 4 04-07 12
Day 1: 4 04-07
94. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 3 04-06 11
Day 1: 3 04-06
95. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 3 04-00 10
Day 1: 3 04-00
96. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, Ontario CANADA 4 03-14 9
Day 1: 4 03-14
97. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 3 03-10 8
Day 1: 3 03-10
98. KJ Queen Conover, NC 3 03-05 7
Day 1: 3 03-05
99. Carl Jocumsen Queensland AUSTRALIA 3 03-02 6
Day 1: 3 03-02
100. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 3 03-00 5
Day 1: 3 03-00
101. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 3 02-11 4
Day 1: 3 02-11
102. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 2 01-12 3
Day 1: 2 01-12
103. David Fritts Lexington, NC 1 01-01 2
Day 1: 1 01-01
104. Joshua Stracner Vandiver, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Chad Pipkens DeWitt, MI 05-12 $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 88 486 720-09
----------------------------------
88 486 720-09
Wagner Takes Lead into Final Day of Phoenix All-American Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Hartwell
Bulldog Division Boater Catches 20-Pound, 2-Ounce Limit to Take Slim Lead of 12 Ounces, Final 10 Boaters and Co-anglers Ready for Championship Friday
SENECA, S.C. (June 1, 2023) – After the first day of competition of the 40th annual Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship on Lake Hartwell Presented by T-H Marine in Seneca, South Carolina, Emil Wagner of Marietta, Georgia, sat in second place behind leader Elijah “Buddy” Benson of Dahlonega, Georgia. Wagner predicted he would need 18 pounds a day with a 20-pound limit at least one of the days to win the tournament. On Thursday, Wagner got his 20-pound weight – 20 pounds, 2 ounces to be exact – and now holds a slim 12-ounce lead going into Championship Friday.
Wagner has a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 38-4 heading into the final day of competition. Boater Matthew O’Connell of Brooks, Georgia, weighed in a two-day total of 10 bass for 37 pounds, 8 ounces to finish Day 2 in second place and easily within striking distance of the title, while Day 1 leader Benson rounds out the close top three with a two-day total of 35 pounds even.
The final 10 boaters and Strike King Co-anglers are now set, and competition will resume tomorrow morning on Championship Friday. The three-day tournament, hosted by Visit Oconee SC, showcases the nation’s best weekend grassroots anglers, and awards the winning boater a top prize of up to $120,000, and a top prize of $50,000 for the winning Strike King co-angler.
“There was a boat on my best place when I pulled up there (this morning),” said Wagner. “I hadn’t seen anyone there, so I went to another place that I found late yesterday and caught quite a few there.”
Wagner said he started culling fish when he changed locations and caught one of the fish he weighed. After a few more keepers, he boated a 4½-pound spotted bass. Wagner said at noon he hit a stretch where he caught two big largemouth within 10 minutes of each other. He estimated he hit about 40 spots during the day and caught one more spotted bass to add to his livewell late in the afternoon.
“I did the same thing today that I did yesterday – fishing offshore,” Wagner said. “I put in about seven days graphing and looking around before the cutoff and did the same thing in the official practice. I’ve just been running all the places I found.
“The fish move around a lot,” Wagner added. “I’m sure tomorrow will be different, and I’ll have to adjust.”
Second-place angler O’Connell said he hit 50 to 60 spots during the second day of competition and keyed in on one-hour bite windows or “flurries.”
“I’d cull three or four times in an hour and then go maybe an hour without culling,” O’Connell said.
O’Connell said he was mimicking Lake Hartwell’s blueback herring with topwater baits and swimbaits to fill his limit. He said he knows it will take a solid weight on Championship Friday and predicts a total 3-day weight of 55 pounds, to secure the title.
“I think Emil or Buddy will catch a big bag again,” O’Connell said.
After leading the first day of the All-American Championship, Benson chalked his slide to third place on Day 2 up to missed opportunities.
“I lost a couple of big ones and broke one off in my trolling motor,” Benson said. “I could have had at least 18 or 19 pounds. Hopefully tomorrow I can get the same bites and not break them off and get them in the boat.”
The top 10 boaters advancing to the final day of the All-American on Lake Hartwell are:
1st: Emil Wagner, Marietta, Ga., 10 bass, 38-4
2nd: Matthew O’Connell, Brooks, Ga., 10 bass, 37-8, $500
3rd: Buddy Benson, Dahlonega, Ga., 10 bass, 35-0
4th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 10 bass, 31-3
5th: Anthony Johnson, Excelsior Springs, Mo., 10 bass, 30-12
6th: Tyler Trent, Nathalie, Va., 10 bass, 27-10
7th: Jimmy Neece, Jr., Bristol, Tenn., 10 bass, 26-14
8th: Nick Ubelhor, Jasper, Ind., 10 bass, 26-9
9th: Brian Laclair, Denton, Md., 10 bass, 26-4
10th: Ian Leybas, McAlester, Okla., 10 bass, 25-5
Finishing in 11th through 49th are:
11th: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., 10 bass, 25-0, $3,000
12th: Darren Ashley, Calhoun Falls, S.C., 10 bass, 24-5, $3,000
13th: Jeremy York, Conyers, Ga., 10 bass, 24-5, $3,000
14th: Tristan Abbott, Somerset, Ky., 10 bass, 23-5, $3,000
15th: Travis Harriman, Huntsville, Ark., 10 bass, 23-4, $3,000
16th: Edward Gettys, Dover, Tenn., 10 bass, 22-14, $3,000
17th: Dave Hodges, Farmington, Ark., 10 bass, 22-6, $3,000
18th: Jack Daniel Williams, Kingsport, Tenn., 10 bass, 22-5, $3,000
19th: Chandler Todd, Wake Forest, N.C., 10 bass, 22-2, $3,000
20th: Dustin Lippe, Blue Eye, Mo., 10 bass, 22-1, $3,000
21st: Grant Adams, Campbellsville, Ky., 10 bass, 21-5, $2,000
22nd: Hunter Baird, Salina, Kan., 10 bass, 21-3, $2,000
23rd: Mike Brueggen, Lacrosse, Wis., 10 bass, 20-14, $2,000
24th: Joe Anders, Easley, S.C., 10 bass, 20-14, $2,000
25th: Brian Wilson, Nancy, Ky., 10 bass, 20-12, $2,000
26th: Cade Laufenberg, Onalaska, Wis., nine bass, 20-8, $2,000
27th: Tony Eckler, Lebanon, Tenn., nine bass, 19-7, $2,000
28rd: Cody Casey, Chester, Va., 10 bass, 19-3, $2,000
29rd: Chris Atwell, Mechanicsville, Va., nine bass, 18-13, $2,000
30th: Shane Long, Willard, Mo., eight bass, 18-11, $2,000
31th: Andy Fryer, Sidney, Ohio, 10 bass, 18-5, $1,500
32nd: Keith Estes, Spring Grove, Va., 10 bass, 18-4, $1,500
33th: Jake Lee, Powell, Tenn., 10 bass, 18-1, $1,500
34th: Timothy Kelley, Irmo, S.C., 10 bass, 18-0, $1,500
35th: Chris Huselton, Conway, Ark., 10 bass, 17-14, $1,500
36th: Chris Baldwin, Lexington, N.C., 10 bass, 17-11, $1,500
37th: Kip Carter, Eatonton, Ga., 10 bass, 17-3, $1,500
38th: Trey McKinney, Carbondale, Ill., nine bass, 16-11, $1,500
39th: John Levesque, Nashua, N.H., nine bass, 16-11, $1,500
40th: Rick Taylor, Hooper, Utah, 10 bass, 16-2, $1,500
41nd: Michael Downes, S. Chesterfield, Va., 10 bass, 15-8, $1,500
42th: Chad Poteat, Mount Airy, N.C., nine bass, 14-2, $1,500
43th: Drew Boggs, Lebanon, Tenn., nine bass, 12-9, $1,500
44th: Yeej Moua, Missoula, Mont., seven bass, 12-6, $1,500
45th: Phillip Lunceford, Stigler, Okla., five bass, 10-4, $1,500
46rd: Michael Pruitt, Martinsville, Ind., eight bass, 10-3, $1,500
47st: Robert Holland, Columbia, S.C., three bass, 7-10, $1,500
48nd: Jason Lambert, Savannah, Tenn., three bass, 6-2, $1,500
49th: David McLean, Carrollton, Va., three bass, 3-13, $1,500
A full list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 232 bass weighing 505 pounds, 15 ounces caught by 49 boaters Thursday. The catch included 43 five-bass limits.
After two days of competition, co-angler Keith Gunsauls of Dandridge, Tennessee, leads the Strike King Co-angler Division at Lake Hartwell with a total of 10 bass weighing 19 pounds, 7 ounces. Gunsauls will bring a 2-pound, 6-ounce lead into Championship Friday over second-place co-angler Chris Wilson of Easley, South Carolina, who weighed in a two-day total of 10 bass totaling 17 pounds, 1 ounce.
“Neither day has been easy at all,” said Gunsauls. “It’s been claw and scratch. I had five keepers yesterday and six today, and I could get zero tomorrow. Just go out and fish hard is all I can do.”
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers advancing to the final day of competition at the All-American on Lake Hartwell are:
1st: Keith Gunsauls, Dandridge, Tenn., 10 bass, 19-7
2nd: Chris Wilson, Easley, S.C., 10 bass, 17-1
3rd: Gary Haraguchi, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 10 bass, 16-6
4th: Brandon Bell, Starkville, Miss., 10 bass, 15-14
5th: Benjie Winkler, Cleveland, Ga., 10 bass, 15-8
6th: Jerry Armstrong, Shelbyville, Tenn., eight bass, 15-4
7th: Joshua Jernigan, Rocky Top, Tenn., nine bass, 15-1
8th: Daniel Bryant, Scott, La., eight bass, 14-11
9th: Larry Taylor, Seaford, Del., six bass, 14-7
10th: Aaron Calvert, Russellville, Ark., 10 bass, 13-11
Finishing in 11th through 49th are:
11th: Chris Bunk, Sullivan, Mo., eight bass, 13-9, $1,500
12th: Daren Tindle, Owensboro, Ky., eight bass, 13-7, $1,500
13th: Trent Killian, Bostic, N.C., seven bass, 13-3, $1,750
14th: Safulla Rana, Warrenton, Va., eight bass, 12-15, $1,500
15th: Shawn Overton, Coal Valley, Ill., seven bass, 12-13, $1,500
16th: Brent Jones, Okeana, Ohio, seven bass, 11-8, $1,500
17th: Cody Carl, Lake Lotawana, Mo., six bass, 10-13, $1,500
18th: Michael Miller, Greenville, S.C., seven bass, 10-1, $1,500
19th: Bobby Simmons, Chancellor, Ala., six bass, 9-13, $1,500
20th: Eric Eden, Hartsville, Tenn., five bass, 9-10, $1,500
21st: Alan Bernicky, Joliet, Ill., six bass, 9-8, $1,000
22nd: John Walker, Log Cabin, Texas, four bass, 9-7, $1,000
23rd: Clint Horton, Falkner, Miss., six bass, 8-15, $1,000
24th: Dustin Riddle, Hiwassee, Va., six bass, 8-11, $1,000
25th: David Allen, Mableton, Ga., four bass, 8-7, $1,000
26th: Chuck Davis, Farmington, Ill., five bass, 7-13, $1,000
27th: Christopher Stites Jr., La Vergne, Tenn., six bass, 7-11, $1,000
28th: Branden Hardesty, Nineveh, Ind.., three bass, 7-10, $1,000
29th: Mekye Barnes, Raleigh, N.C., four bass, 7-3, $1,000
30th: Will Doud-Martin, Essex Junction, Vt., three bass, 7-0, $1,000
31st: Billy French, Hamilton, Ohio, five bass, 6-15, $750
32nd: Ronnie Cutshall, Piedmont, S.C., five bass, 6-13, $750
33rd: Joe Harmon, Wooster, Ohio, five bass, 6-7, $750
34th: Wayne Smelser, Wytheville, Va., three bass, 5-13, $750
35th: Brian Brecka, Alma, Wis., four bass, 5-11, $750
36th: David Deciucis, Chester, Va., three bass, 5-9, $750
37th: Bullet Helms, Charlotte, N.C., four bass, 5-5, $750
38th: John Robinson, Montpelier, Va., three bass, 5-0, $750
39th: John Hankins, Atkins, Ark., three bass, 4-14, $750
40th: Dominic Bogolo, Hamilton, Ohio, three bass, 4-11, $750
41st: Mandy Myers, Santaquin, Utah, three bass, 4-11, $750
42nd: William Chadick, Auburn, Ala., three bass, 4-8, $750
43rd: Tim Privette Jr., Wendell, N.C., two bass, 4-2, $750
44th: Brian Umstead, New Brockton, Ala., two bass, 3-14, $750
45th: Cornell Badra, Clarksburg, Md., two bass, 2-8, $750
46th: Steve Duncan, Amarillo, Texas, one bass, 2-6, $750
47th: Barry Gunter, Trafalger, Ind., two bass, 2-4, $750
48th: Marc Proctor, Gilbert, S.C., two bass, 2-0, $750
48th: Jason Anderson, Heron, Mont., two bass, 2-0, $750
Overall, there were 140 bass weighing 226 pounds, 15 ounces caught by 45 Strike King Co-anglers on Thursday. The catch included 15 five-bass limits.
The full field of 49 boaters and 49 Strike King co-anglers competed on Days 1 (Wednesday) and 2 (Thursday) of the event. Now, after two days of competition, the field is cut to just the top 10 boaters and co-anglers based on two-day total cumulative weight, and the final 10 anglers compete tomorrow on Championship Friday. The boater and co-angler that catch the heaviest three-day total weight will be crowned the 40th Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Champions.
The final 10 boaters and Strike King Co-anglers will launch Friday morning at 6:30 a.m. ET from the Seneca Creek Boat Ramp, located at 280 Seneca Creek Road in Seneca. Weigh-in Friday will be held at the boat ramp and will begin at 2:50 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and weigh-in events and encouraged to follow the event’s online coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine was 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, advanced to one of six Regional Championships where they competed to finish in the top six, which then advanced them to compete in the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.
Television coverage of the 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American will premiere November 11 on CBS Sports and the Sportsman Channel. The full television air schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Bassmaster College Series takes on Lay Lake for last-chance championship qualifier
College teams from around the country will compete on Lay Lake June 9-10 at the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster College Series Wild Card presented by Bass Pro Shops.
Photo by Kyle Jessie/B.A.S.S.
June 1, 2023
SHELBY COUNTY, Ala. — For the third year in a row, the Strike King Bassmaster College Series Wild Card presented by Bass Pro Shops will return to the Coosa River. This time anglers will take on Lay Lake, and Bassmaster Elite Series rookie David Gaston believes consistency will be the key to success.
“There will be a lot of mixing up of the standings from Day 1 to Day 2,” Gaston said. “If you have 15 a day, you will do really well. I’m sure there will be one or two 20-pound bags, but they can’t back that up two days in a row.”
Competition days will be June 9-10 with teams taking off from Beeswax Creek Park each day at 5:30 a.m. CT and returning to the park at 1:30 p.m. for weigh-in. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.
With the four regular-season events complete, this will be the last chance for anglers to punch their tickets to the 2023 Strike King Bassmaster College Series National Championship at Pickwick Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops August 10-12.
Lay Lake has played host to several historic moments in Bassmaster history, and earlier this year, the Elite Series made its return to the fishery that features spotted and largemouth bass. Most of these bass will be keying on shad, although the bass on the upper end of the lake will target crawfish.
When the college teams hit the water, Gaston anticipates the bass will be at the beginning of their summer patterns.
“This time of year, it is either won with all largemouth or with a good mixed bag,” Gaston said. “Unless someone figures it out around the dam and they are able to catch 15 or 16 pounds a day doing it.”
Offshore, Gaston said you will find largemouth and spotted bass in the same areas. Shallow ledges and gravel bars will be key areas, and further down south, there is standing timber and stump fields the bass will relate to.
Traditional ledge baits like football head jigs, shaky heads, big worms and crankbaits have been historically productive at the beginning of June, while LiveScope will be key to dialing in the deep timber bite.
“It isn’t real deep stuff either,” he said. “The ledges are between 3 and 6 feet on the top, so you aren’t fishing very deep.”
Depending on rainfall and water levels, the tailrace of the Logan Martin Dam could also come into play. But if low-water conditions are present, Gaston said it will be too shallow to safely navigate.
“Whether you are on the upper end of the lake or the lower end of the lake, current will play an important role,” Gaston said.
The largemouth will also gravitate to healthy willow grass, although Gaston said this can be hard to come by depending on how much lake management has sprayed. Flipping and pitching will come into play in the grass, and a frog and swim jig could also play early in the morning.
Throwback Thursday - Season at a Glance: 1970 Bass Master Trail - Part 1
By Terry Battisti - Bass Fishing Archives
Editor’s note: This is part one of a two-part series on the 1970 Bass Master Trail. Part one will cover the first three events of the season while part two will cover the last four events.
The 1970 Bass Master Trail was the third full year of Bass Master tournament competition and would be the year of a number of firsts. To start off it was the year when the Bass Master Angler of the Year would begin. Although this award didn’t offer much more than bragging rights and a nice piece of hardware, it’s become arguably the most-cherished award on any tour.
Second, it would be the first year where a single angler would win three events in the season. For those of you that know your history, I’m sure you can figure that one out pretty easily. But for those of you who either don’t remember or just don’t know, I’ll save it for later.
Third, and this would become pretty significant, was that Roland Martin would make his Bass Master tournament debut. Martin’s debut almost didn’t happen after he saw the weights posted at the Eufaula National in 1969. It took some cajoling from Ray Scott to get Martin to test the waters that year – Martin never looked back.
The 1970 Bass Master Trail would feature seven events starting in the state of Texas and finishing in Missouri. To date, it was the most tournaments held by the fledgling Bass Anglers Sportsman Society in one year. 1969 had six events and 1968 featured only four. Here’s a chronological list of the tournaments:
- January 29-31, 1970 – Toledo Bend Invitational, Many, LA
- March 19-21, 1970 – Seminole Lunker Hunt, Bainbridge, GA
- April 30 – May 2, 1970 – Rebel Invitational Ross Barnett, Jackson, MS
- June 11-13, 1970 – Lake Eufaula Henshall Memorial, Florence Landing, GA
- August 5-7, 1970 – Oklahoma National Lake Eufaula, Eufaula, OK
- September 24-26, 1970 – Texas National Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Jasper, TX
- November 12-14, 1970 – All-American Table Rock Lake, Kimberling, MO
Back in the 1970 time frame, Bassmaster Magazine was a quarterly publication. It focused on teaching anglers to be better bass fishermen. Unfortunately, its tournament coverage doesn’t provide much knowledge of the anglers other than the winners. Still, we’ll give you what we know of the events from reading the reports.
Toledo Bend Reservoir, dubbed as the “hottest bass lake in the country,” would kick off the 1970 Bass Master Trail season with 79 contestants. It’s reported that the weather had been cold but turned for the better with three “June in January days.” This played a significant role in the outcome of the event.
Local angler Mike Bono would catch his limit all three days of the tournament (45 fish total) and take the top honors with 94-04. Bono, not only knew the fish at Toledo Bend, he also knew the lake probably better than anyone in the derby, having walked the lake countless times prior to its being filled. He won the event fishing in 55 feet of water using silver jigging spoons and Fliptail worms.
For his efforts, Bono won $2000 worth of cash and prizes, which included a new Skeeter Hawk boat powered by an 85-hp Chrysler motor and a V.E.T. trailer.
In the second spot was rookie angler Roland Martin of Cross, SC with a total of 77-06. There are two things that stick out in that sentence. One, the word rookie and two, he hailed from South Carolina. Martin would show bass anglers that year he was far from a rookie and the next year he would move from South Carolina to Montgomery, AL. Martin would become somewhat of a nomad, living all over the United States in order to learn as much as he could about bass and their habits.
Third place went to B.A.S.S. veteran Gerald Blanchard (TN) with 72-10, Carlos Mayo (AR) took 4th-place honors with 70-15. Rounding out the top 5 was Elroy Krueger (TX) with 69-00.
Unfortunately, Bass Master Magazine didn’t post the results below 20th place. At this time B.A.S.S. was giving 10 points per ounce and live fish were not worth any extra points.
Tournament totals for the Toledo Bend event were 1791 bass that weighed 2715-08. Gerald Blanchard took big fish with a 7-15 largemouth.
The top 20 for the Toledo Bend Invitational are shown in the table below.
SEMINOLE LUNKER HUNT – WHO ELSE?
The title of the Spring issue of Bass Master Magazine’s Tournament Trail report says it all. “Roland Martin Bright New Star On BASS Horizon.” In his second event, Roland Martin would become B.A.S.S.’s new star. He followed up his second-place finish at Toledo Bend with a win at Seminole against 115 other pros from 19 states.
Roland Martin didn’t do it wire-to-wire by no means, though. He wasn’t even in the top 20 on the first day of the event. But on the second day, he caught the tournament’s only 15-fish limit and propelled himself into the number-1 spot. On the last day, he brought 13 bass to the scales and took top honors by over 3-1/2 pounds.
After the dust had settled, Martin weighed 32 fish for 53-14. He reported catching spawning fish in water 18 inches or less on black Mann’s Jelly worms and a local topwater bait known as a Diamond Eye Rattler made by Capt. Jim Strader. He won $2000 in cash along with Motor Guide foot-controlled trolling motor.
Second place went to R. C. Billingsley (AR) with 50-03 and third place went Howard Holmes (MO) with 48-10. In the fourth spot was veteran Bill Dance with 47-14 and the fifth spot was taken by Mac B. Greer (AL). Greer also caught big fish each day of the event, a first at the time and may still be. His big fish were 6-13, 8-05 and 8-05.
Overall, there were 1109 fish weighed for a total of 1956-02. The top 20 anglers from the Seminole Lunker Hunt are presented below.
REBEL INVITATIONAL ROSS BARNETT – DANCE ON TOP AGAIN
In 1970, AOY standings were not even a consideration. But this would change at the end of the year with what has become a bit of a controversy. If one were tracking AOY at this time, by the start of the third tournament, rookie Roland Martin leading by nearly 5000 points over 2nd-place angler Bill Dance. But Dance wouldn’t be a pushover this year. He would make Martin work for his acclaim on the trail.
The Ross Barnett tournament featured a new twist to bass tournaments with a non-professional division. From the “letters to the editor” in the 1969 and ’70 Bass Master Magazines, anglers had been complaining that the pro entry fees were too high for the weekend angler and B.A.S.S. complied by making another division. There is no mention of what the cost was for the non-pro entry or whether or not the non-pros fished with pros. Maybe someone out there knows and can clear that up for us.
The tournament report about the first two days of the event provided little information other than Bill Dance was in a “disappointing 11th place” at the start of day 3. It also mentions he had weighed “almost limits” (15 fish) the two prior days.
The last day featured nasty weather, which kept many of the anglers off the areas they’d fished the prior two days. But Dance had an ace up his sleeve. He’d located fish on both ends of the lake and on the last day caught his limit within sight of the tournament launch. His 15-fish limit that day went 33-12 and gave him a 2-03 lead over the second-place angler, New Orleans Saints Football player, Harold Hays (TX).
In all, Dance weighed 43 fish for a total of 75-12. He caught his fish on a blue plastic worm fished with the “weedless slip-sinker rig in a ditch located with his depthfinder.” It was his 5th Bass Master win at the time.
As stated previously, Harold Hays took the 2nd-place honors with 73-09 and local favorite Bob Ponds, Pete Ponds’ father) took third with 72-09. Fourth place went to Ralph Polly with 65-00 and Emmett Chiles rounded out the top 5 for the pros with 63-14.
Pete Henson (GA) won big bass with a 7-09 largemouth. He won $75 and a “Herschede Clock Company (Motor Guide) foot-controlled electric trolling motor.”
In the non-professional category, Jess Farmer (IL) took top honors with 26-15. He beat out Ron Johnson who weighed 23-03 for second. Third place went to John Stacey (OH) with 22-00 and Earl Williamson (OH) took 4th place with 21-13. The fifth spot was taken by Fred Looper (TN) 19-15. For his win, Farmer earned a 4-day trip to Dick Malloy’s Club de Pasca Novillo in Mexico along with a Lowrance Fish Lo-K-Tor, Fishthometer, a lifetime membership to B.A.S.S. and the $125 entry into the next professional tournament.
By the end of the Ross Barnett event, Dance had racked up $16,025 in B.A.S.S. winnings. The highest winnings of anyone on the Trail. He was also the first repeat champion on the same lake – he’d also won the 1968 tournament on Ross Barnett.
After the event, Dance announced that he’d be leaving the Creme Worm Company. He moved on with Charles Spence as a partner with the Strike King Lure Company.
Overall results for the event showed 129 anglers (pros and non-pros) from 18 states weighed 1617 bass for 2787-14. There were only 18 limits weighed throughout the event.
It was also stated in the tournament report that by now the public had started complaining that professional tournaments were hurting the fish populations at lakes. B.A.S.S. stated that “To further protect against the loss of young fish, the BASS tournament rules have been strengthened to ‘issue penalty points’ for any undersized fish checked in. The Society imposes a special 12-inch minimum limit on all tournament bass.”
The top 20 for the Ross Barnett event are shown in the table below. Also shown are the AOY standings through the third event of the season as far as we could figure out.
In Part Two of the Season at a Glance: 1970 Bass Master Trail we’ll talk about the second half of the season, which included the events held at Eufaula, GA, Lake Eufaula, OK, Sam Rayburn, TX and Table Rock, AR.
Why Swindle loves The Sabine and Orange, Texas
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Orange, Texas, population 20,000, situated along Interstate 10 between Beaumont and Lake Charles. A blue-collar town where ship building and the lumber industry keep the bills paid, and people are absolutely crazy about bass fishing and the outdoors.
Bassmaster Elite Series weigh-in crowds have historically resembled outdoor festivals headlined by local country music stars like Tracy Byrd and Mark Chessnut back in the day. And based on the number of folks begging for a photo with Team Toyota’s Gerald Swindle in a rainstorm, as he wrapped practice Wednesday, this year will be a party along the Sabine too.
“That’s why I love it here,” smiled Swindle as rain poured down. “The guy who wins here Sunday will probably only average 10 or 11 pounds a day, but when we pull into to weigh-in, these folks don’t care how big the weights are, they just want to cheer us on,” he says.
Swindle should know. He’s been to Orange numerous times in his highly decorated career, and he gave winner Greg Hackney a darn good run for his money before finishing second here in 2018.
A slow rising tide will push dingy water back into tournament waters this week to heighten the challenge, so Swindle plans to spend a lot of time pitching a Zoom Z Craw Jr. and a 3/8-ounce black-blue Buckeye Ballin’ Out jig.
“Not every Elite Series tournament can offer up 100-pounds of bass in four days like Lake Fork or the St. Lawrence River. Don’t get me wrong, that’s cool. But so is weighing-in in front of thousands of fans,” says Swindle.
Heck, even the t-shirt he’s wearing in the photo was custom made for him by locally owned Pink Rooster Treasures. Why? Because like Swindle says, everybody in Orange loves when the Bassmaster Elite Series comes to town, and that includes the local businesses too.
Bass Fishing Archives, Half Past First Cast Newest Angler’s Channel Contributors
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The two leading websites for fishing travel and bass fishing history — Half Past First Cast and the Bass Fishing Archives — have joined Anglers Channel to provide more content opportunities for the top tournament site in the country.
“We’re excited to add Terry, Pete and Hanna to our growing AC Insider content offerings,” said Danny Blandford, Director of Business Development for Anglers Channel. “They have strong, deep backgrounds in the bass fishing world, along with cool experiences fishing for other species, and I know will provide more benefit to our site’s visitors. We’re always looking for ways to add more to Anglers Channel.”
Terry Battisti and the team at Bass Fishing Archives chronicle the history of bass fishing. It is the only site dedicated to the history of the sport. It has scads of old advertisements, catalogs, and stories from some of the biggest names with a great depth of institutional knowledge. From the big bass wars and new techniques of the West Coast to the origins of lures from small companies that grew into behemoths, Bass Fishing Archives has the details.
"When Danny approached me about a collaboration between our sites, I thought it would be a great opportunity for both the Bass Fishing Archives and the Anglers Channel," Battisti said. "It gives the Bass Fishing Archives a chance to reach a wider audience who may not know about us and gives the Anglers Channel some historical content, too.
"Our sport has a lineage that dates back to the late 1800s. Most anglers today can't even name the stars of the ‘70s and ‘80s, much less the giants from the turn of the 19th century through the 1950s. Having a platform like Anglers Channel hopefully will show the younger anglers how important the history of their sport is."
Pete and Hanna Robbins have taken Half Past First Cast to new heights with tried-and-true information about fishing-related travel including tackle, lures, apparel and more. They visit El Salto in Mexico a couple of times a year, along with other trips for saltwater species including sailfish and deepwater fish. They’ve tangled with everything from thumb-rasping smallmouth on the Niagara River and Lake Erie to muskies in the Midwest, bass across the border and more.
Their Half Past First Cast motto is, "Providing you with the tools and information to keep fishing fun and make the most of your remaining casts, through travel hacks, equipment advice, trip reports and unfiltered opinions." They seek the best operators on the best fisheries at the best times, and are keen on enjoying life experiences while also sharing them with others.
“Through my connections in the world of bass fishing, I'd seen the power of AnglersChannel and we are eager to spread our word through similar-minded outlets,” Pete said. “After nearly 20 fishing trips to Mexico, I realized no one had written extensively about how to make the most of that experience, so we set out to do that with Half Past First Cast. Also, I became a much better and much more satisfied bass angler when I started chasing other species. It made me appreciate all the things that are great about bass fishing through a decent lens.”
A trip to Panama for big tuna on giant topwater poppers almost made Robbins lose his bass-fishing soul. But it was more of an awakening than anything.
“When we came back from popping for tuna in Panama, I told Hanna that I'd sell my bass boat if I could do that 30 days a year,” he said, laughing. “Fortunately, it didn't come to that. But it made me realize that there are lots of fishing experiences I've yet to try that are on my ever-growing bucket list.
Hanna agrees, and says their goal is to help others on Anglers Channel with new information, destinations and booking the trip to get there for a successful, fun adventure.
“I love seeing some of the places we go through newcomers' eyes — introducing them not just to the fishing, but also to the culture, the food and everything we've grown to love about places like Mexico, Panama, Guatemala and Alaska,” she said. “My goal is to make your travel as easy as possible. We have trips for a variety of budgets and physical abilities, and we only work with the best of the best. I am particularly interested in getting women involved in the sport. As someone who came to fishing relatively late in life, I know that you need a mentor or two and a helping hand to get started.”
Georgia Boater Buddy Benson Leads Day 1 of Phoenix All-American Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Hartwell
Bulldog Division Angler Catches 19-Pound, 9-Ounce Limit to Take Early lead
SENECA, S.C. (May 31, 2023) – Cool weather greeted anglers Wednesday morning at Lake Hartwell and the bite started out slow, but after the scales were closed one angler stood alone atop the leaderboard at the 40th annual Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship on Lake Hartwell Presented by T-H Marine in Seneca, South Carolina. Anchored by a stout 5-pound largemouth, 18-year-old boater Elijah “Buddy” Benson of Dahlonega, Georgia, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Wednesday weighing 19 pounds, 9 ounces, to jump out to the early lead.
Benson, who competes in the Bulldog Presented by Mystik Lubricants division, will start Day 2 with a slim 1-pound, 7-ounce advantage over second place boater Emil Wagner of Marietta, Georgia, who caught five bass totaling 18 pounds, 2 ounces. Of the 98 competitors – 49 boaters and 49 Strike King co-anglers – competing in the event, 50 anglers weighed in a five-bass limit.
The three-day tournament, hosted by Visit Oconee SC, showcases the nation’s best weekend grassroots anglers, and awards the winning boater a top prize of up to $120,000, and a top prize of $50,000 for the winning Strike King co-angler.
“I caught most of my fish early – before 10 o’clock – just running and gunning down the lake on brush,” said Benson, who said he fishes Hartwell a couple of times every week and calls it his home water.
Benson said he caught most of his bass on main-lake points and humps with topwater baits and a swimbait.
“The weather was perfect for what I was doing today,” Benson said. “I’m hoping I can repeat it. I’m hoping I can stay consistent at 18 plus (pounds) a day.”
Second-place angler Emil Wagner got off to a shaky start, but quickly adjusted to Hartwell’s conditions, and his day turned around with the change in approach.
“It started off super slow, and I did my typical missing fish and losing fish,” Wagner said. “I filled a limit really quick – between 8:30 and 9. Around noon I made a critical adjustment and culled out almost everything I had. I lost quite a few big ones, too. I think I know what to do for tomorrow.”
Wagner, who guides on Lake Lanier, said he spent a lot of time searching for “special” offshore spots with his graph. Those spots, along with a knowledge of Lake Hartwell, kept him within striking distance of the lead.
“I fish up here a decent bit,” Wagner said. “I wouldn’t say I’m a local, but I have fished here quite a bit. I feel really good about (tomorrow). I had some motor issues today, and as long as they don’t impair me the next two days, I think I can be pretty consistent.
“I said it would take around mid-50s to win it, so I think if I catch 18 a day and maybe catch 20 one of the days, I’ll be pretty close,” Wagner added.
The top 20 boaters after Day 1 of the All-American on Lake Hartwell are:
1st: Buddy Benson, Dahlonega, Ga., five bass, 19-9
2nd: Emil Wagner, Marietta, Ga., five bass, 18-2
3rd: Anthony Johnson, Excelsior Springs, Mo., five bass, 18-1
4th: Matthew O’Connell, Brooks, Ga., five bass, 17-4
5th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., five bass, 14-11
6th: Tyler Trent, Nathalie, Va., five bass, 14-1
7th: Cade Laufenberg, Onalaska, Wis., five bass, 14-0
8th: Jimmy Neece, Jr., Bristol, Tenn., five bass, 13-8
9th: Nick Ubelhor, Jasper, Ind., five bass, 13-1
10th: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., five bass, 13-0
11th: Ian Leybas, McAlester, Okla., five bass, 12-15
11th: Brian Laclair, Denton, Md., five bass, 12-15
13th: Jack Daniel Williams, Kingsport, Tenn., five bass, 12-14
14th: Jeremy York, Conyers, Ga., five bass, 12-5
15th: Andy Fryer, Sidney, Ohio, five bass, 12-3
16th: Chandler Todd, Wake Forest, N.C., five bass, 12-2
17th: Travis Harriman, Huntsville, Ark., five bass, 12-1
17th: Dave Hodges, Farmington, Ark, five bass, 12-1
19th: Edward Gettys, Dover, Tenn., five bass, 12-0
19th: Keith Estes, Spring Grove, Va., five bass, 12-0
A full list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 218 bass weighing 500 pounds, 6 ounces caught by 47 boaters Wednesday. The catch included 37 five-bass limits.
Larry Taylor of Seaford, Delaware, leads the Strike King Co-angler Division at Lake Hartwell after Day 1 with four bass weighing 11 pounds, 1 ounce. Taylor will begin Day 2 of competition on Thursday with a 1-pound, 2-ounce advantage over second-place co-angler Safulla Rana of Warrenton, Virginia, who weighed in five bass totaling 9 pounds, 15 ounces.
Taylor was paired with Day 1 third-place boater Anthony Johnson, who caught fish early in the day. Taylor, however, struggled to boat a bass until mid-morning, when he caught his first fish – a 2½-pound spotted bass.
“All day I was fan casting around,” Taylor said. “I caught my last two at the end of the day when Anthony was helping me and telling me some places to cast. The key was fishing really slow and making long casts. You also had to weed through all of the stripers – this place is full of them.
“I thought I had around 9 pounds,” Taylor added. “The big fish weighed more than I thought. We went to a shoal and I cast way up on it and caught the 5-11. It was a tough day, though.
Tylor qualified for the All-American through the TBF by winning the semifinal on his home river, the Nanticoke River in Seaford, Delaware. He then finished fifth on Lake of the Ozarks and won the Mid-Atlantic Division.
“The only reason this is even happing was because my buddy back home, Jason Vaughn, needed a co-angler to guarantee his spot as a boater in the TBF,” Taylor said. “It’s crazy to be here, and all of this is just a bonus.”
The top 20 Strike King co-anglers after Day 1 of the All-American on Lake Hartwell are:
1st: Larry Taylor, Seaford, Del., four bass, 11-1
2nd: Safulla Rana, Warrenton, Va., five bass, 9-15
3rd: Brandon Bell, Starkville, Miss., five bass, 9-10
3rd: Joshua Jernigan, Rocky Top, Tenn., five bass, 9-10
5th: Chris Bunk, Sullivan, Mo., five bass, 9-4
6th: Benjie Winkler, Cleveland, Ga., five bass, 9-2
7th: Chris Wilson, Easley, S.C., five bass, 8-14
8th: Keith Gunsauls, Dandridge, Tenn., five bass, 8-10
9th: Gary Haraguchi, Murfreesboro, Tenn., five bass, 8-7
10th: Brent Jones, Okeana, Ohio, five bass, 7-14
11th: Branden Hardesty, Nineveh, Ind., three bass, 7-10
12th: Aaron Calvert, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 7-3
12th: Daniel Bryant, Scott, La., three bass, 7-3
12th: Bobby Simmons, Chancellor, Ala., five bass, 7-3
15th: Chuck Davis, Farmington, Ill., four bass, 6-8
16th: Joe Harmon, Wooster, Ohio, five bass, 6-7
16th: Daren Tindle, Owensboro, Ky., five bass, 6-7
18th: Mekye Barnes, Raleigh, N.C., three bass, 5-9
19th: Christopher Stites Jr., La Vergne, Tenn., four bass, 5-2
20th: John Robinson, Montpelier, Va., three bass, 5-0
Overall, there were 124 bass weighing 215 pounds, 15 ounces caught by 43 Strike King co-anglers on Wednesday. The catch included 13 five-bass limits.
The full field of 49 boaters and 49 Strike King co-anglers compete on Days 1 (Wednesday) and 2 (Thursday) of the event. After two days of competition, the field is cut to just the top 10 boaters and co-anglers, based on two-day total cumulative weight, and the final 10 anglers compete on Championship Friday. The boater and co-angler that catch the heaviest three-day total weight will be crowned the 40th Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Champions.
Anglers will launch each day at 6:30 a.m. ET from the Seneca Creek Boat Ramp, located at 280 Seneca Creek Road in Seneca. Weigh-in each day will be held at the boat ramp and will begin at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and weigh-in events and encouraged to follow the event’s online coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine was 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, advanced to one of six Regional Championships where they competed to finish in the top six, which then advanced them to compete in the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.
Television coverage of the 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American will premiere November 11 on CBS Sports and the Sportsman Channel. The full television air schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, General Tire, Grundéns, Gill, Lew’s, Lowrance, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Mystik Lubricants, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Stracner not fishing Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River
May 31, 2023
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Elite Series pro Josh Stracner of Vandiver, Ala., will not be fishing this week’s Folds of Honor Bassmaster Elite at Sabine River. B.A.S.S. officials have ruled him ineligible for the sixth stop of the 2023 Bassmaster Elite Series season because he is unable to secure the required Texas fishing license.
Bassmaster Elite Rule C6. IV, for Sportsmanship states: “In both official practice and competition, competitors are required to have all licenses and permits required on the tournament waters in which they fish.”
After contacting the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department in an attempt to resolve the issue, Stracner notified B.A.S.S. officials in advance of the tournament.
Major League Fishing Combines Technology and Conservation to Host Bass Pro Tour on Cayuga Lake Prior to Fishing Season Start
Unique MLF Catch-Weigh-Immediate Release Format Brings the Favorite Fishing Stage Five Presented by ATG + Wrangler to Union Springs, N.Y., June 6-11
UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. (May 30, 2023) – Major League Fishing (MLF) and the Bass Pro Tour, featuring the top professional anglers in bass fishing, is set to return to Union Springs, New York, and Cayuga Lake next week, June 6-11, for the fifth event of the 2023 Bass Pro Tour season – the Favorite Fishing Stage Five at Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG + Wrangler.
Cayuga Lake has hosted hundreds of bass tournaments over the years, including the Bass Pro Tour in 2022. However, the June timeline for this event is extremely unique. The traditional bass season officially start until June 15, yet the catch and immediate-release season runs from Dec. 1-June 14 on inland waters in New York. MLF received confirmation from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation that the Bass Pro Tour format of catch, weigh, immediate release is compliant under state guidelines.
The six-day tournament will feature a field of 80 professional anglers, including bass-fishing superstars like Kevin VanDam, REDCREST 2023 Champion Bryan Thrift, reigning back-to-back Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) Jacob Wheeler, Jordan Lee, and last year’s Cayuga Lake Champion, Alabama’s Dustin Connell. They’ll be competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
“The Village of Union Springs is excited and looking forward to once again hosting our friends from Major League Fishing,” said Robert Thurston, Jr, Mayor of the Village of Union Springs. “Village residents and our neighboring communities appreciate MLF for bringing some of the most talented and friendliest athletes to our community. We are looking forward to the tournament and wish all MLF anglers a safe and successful tournament.”
In June of 2022, angler Thomas Russell Jr. caught an 8-pound, 6-ounce smallmouth on Cayuga Lake to set the New York state record. Pro Dustin Connell, who won the 2022 Bass Pro Tour stop on the lake, believes Russell’s record could be in danger during the event.
“There are so many 5- to 7-pound smallmouth in there and some that are much bigger,” Connell said. “Sight fishing should be a big factor, and I wouldn’t be surprised if someone catches a new record. It will be fun – the lake is full of big bass, and most of them will be up shallow.”
Traditionally, largemouth have been the way to win, but Connell changed that mindset with his victory with smallmouth in 2022. This time, he expects a split and says both can produce a winning total.
“It’ll be a battle between the species and nobody knows how it’s going to turn out,” Connell said. “Fishing for big smallmouth may be a good option, but you can also go down a stretch and catch a bunch of largemouth. The grass should just be starting to grow, and the fishing should be incredible no matter which species you decide on.”
Anglers will launch each day at 7:30 a.m. CT each day from Frontenac Park, located at 15 Creamery Road in Union Springs. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the park beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW! live stream and SCORETRACKER coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Fans are encouraged to attend Meet The Pros Night on Saturday, June 3 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Bass Pro Tour anglers will be onsite at the Bass Pro Shops, located at 1579 Clark Street Road in Auburn, New York, to meet fans, sign autographs and take photos.
Also, as part of the event, on Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11 the MLF Fan Experience will be taking place at the Bass Pro Shops in Auburn from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF will welcome fans of all ages to celebrate fishing and the outdoors. Fans can hang out and watch the pros live on the MLF NOW! big screen during the MLF Watch Party. On Sunday at 5 p.m., the final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand for the trophy celebration and to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and take selfies.
The Favorite Fishing Stage Five at Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG + Wrangler will feature pros competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with each angler’s five (5) heaviest bass per day tallied as their day’s weight. Anglers strive to catch their heaviest five fish each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the live scoring SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, fishing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2024, the Bass Pro Tour championship, held March 13-17, 2024, on Lay Lake in Birmingham, Alabama.
The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the top 20 anglers from each group advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 40 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Sunday’s final day Championship Round, weight carries over from the Knockout Round and the angler with the heaviest two-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
The MLF NOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Favorite Fishing Stage Five at Cayuga Lake Presented by ATG + Wrangler will air as two, two-hour episodes starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 21 and Saturday, Oct. 28 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on the Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2023 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, Ark Fishing, ATG + Wrangler, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, Daiwa, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, Fox Rent A Car, General Tire, Grundéns, Humminbird, Lowrance, Minn Kota, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Power-Pole, Rapala, Star tron, T-H Marine, TORO, Toyota, U.S. Air Force, Yellowstone Bourbon, Yo-Zuri and Zoom Baits.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Bassmaster Kayak Series returns to Possum Kingdom
Mark Pendergraf, who won the 2021 Bassmaster Kayak Series National Championship, will be among the field at the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX at Possum Kingdom Lake June 3-4.
Photo by Mark Cisneros/B.A.S.S.
May 30, 2023
GRAFORD, Texas — For just the second time in its young history, the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX will head to Possum Kingdom Lake June 3-4 — and while Texas angler Mark Pendergraf thinks the bass might be in a postspawn funk when they arrive, anglers will still have the opportunity to catch big bass.
Located east of Fort Worth, Possum Kingdom flies under the radar compared to some of the other powerhouse lakes in Texas. But, as kayak anglers proved during the 2021 National Championship that Pendergraf won, Possum Kingdom has impressive numbers of lunker bass.
This will be the third of five regular-season Kayak Series events in 2023, and anglers will be competing for Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year points as well as a spot in the 2024 Bassmaster Kayak Series National Championship.
Those who fished the 2021 Championship will likely have to come up with a different strategy for this event, as that tournament was fished under high-water conditions.
Overall, Possum Kingdom is a rocky reservoir and it features all three major species of black bass. Largemouth, however, are the only species likely to help anglers win tournaments.
Compared to other reservoirs in Texas, the Brazos River impoundment is much deeper. That means the bass tend to spawn later in the year, and when kayak anglers arrive for tournament competition, they will find the lake in transition from spawn to summer patterns.
“It will be about the secondary points and docks. We are looking at the transition into the postspawn,” Pendergraf said. “There are tons of creek channels with secondary points they will stack up on and they will stack up on the boathouses on the main channel. They will be everywhere.”
With only a little bit of vegetation, the bass will mostly be set up on hard cover like docks, standing timber, bluffs and rock. As more of a postspawn event — and with different water conditions — Pendergraf anticipates the bass to be more spread out than during the 2021 event.
“The bass will still stage in the usual spots, but there won’t be the piles of fish like I and a couple of other people ran into,” Pendergraf said. “There (likely) won’t be flooding and they won’t have to tuck up under things.”
Many of the bass will be targeting gizzard shad. Those shad could be spawning depending on how the weather is trending.
Big, ribbon-tailed worms are a popular choice that time of year for anglers, as well as crankbaits and stickworms. Topwater baits like poppers will catch fish in the morning hours.
With 484 points after two regular-season events, Rus Snyders is leading the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year standings by just one point over Nick Dyer. 2022 Bassmaster Kayak Series national champion Eric Siddiqi and Bassmaster Elite Series pro Greg DiPalma are both sitting in third place with 481 points.
The event will follow a catch-measure-release format. The live leaderboard can be found on Bassmaster.com throughout the tournament with the awards streaming live on the Bassmaster YouTube channel June 4 at 4 p.m. CT.
It's Tournament Week on Pickwick - Minn Kota Owners Tournament
If you haven't already, it's time to get registered for the first Annual Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners Tournament to be held this weekend at Pickwick Landing State Park, June 3-4, 2023.
Minn Kota and Humminbird Owners Tournament presented by Hardin County - $150,000+ Guaranteed Prizes & Payouts
2 DAY EVENT (SATURDAY & SUNDAY)
Entry Fee:
Two Day $175 | One Day $125 (Entry fees are per angler)
Start fishing time (first cast) will be announced the week of the tournament.
Click here to see rules and qualifications for entering the tournament
Location:
Pickwick Lake, Tennessee
The states of Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi have a reciprocal agreement for fishing at Pickwick Lake. It is the anglers responsibility to know the law and acquire the correct license, based on where they plan to fish.
Tennessee License Info: https://www.tn.gov/twra/license-sales.html
Alabama License Info: https://www.outdooralabama.com/license-information
Mississippi License Info: https://www.mdwfp.com/license/
Weigh in Site:
Pickwick Landing State Park, 120 Playground Loop, Counce, TN 38326
Click here for park details.
Guaranteed Overall Grand Prize: $50,000
1st Place for the largest bass of the tournament.
Overall Prizes: $13,000+
2nd Place Overall: Minn Kota Ultrex 52" Trolling Motor.
3rd Place Overall: Minn Kota Ultrex 52" Trolling Motor.
4th Place Overall: Minn Kota Ultrex 52" Trolling Motor.
5th Place Overall: Minn Kota Ultrex 52" Trolling Motor.
Draw Prizes: $15,000+
Minn Kota, Humminbird, and Raptor draw prizes. Drawing will be Friday June 2nd at the dinner/meeting from 5-8pm. (Must be present to win draw prizes)
Guaranteed Total Hourly Paybacks: $42,350
1st: $1000, 2nd: $500, 3rd: $300, 4th: $250, 5th: $225, 6th: $200, 7th: $175, 8th: $150, 9th: $125, 10th: $100
Early Entry Prizes: $30,000+
The first 200 online two day entrants will receive a LakeMaster chip Southeast States V1 from Humminbird. A one-day entry is not eligible for the early entry prize.
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Early entry LakeMaster chips may be picked up at the dinner/meeting on Friday June 2nd from 5 – 8 PM. Chips are gone when counter on the website shows zero. We will post the date the counter goes to zero on the site. *Another angler may pick up your chip for you if you're unable to be present.
LakeMaster Chip Product Description:
LakeMaster cartography map with coverage of the Southeast region of the U.S.. These new charts feature VX technology, providing exceptional map performance and customizable color palettes. It also includes SmartStrike, chart presets, depth highlights, and shallow water highlights.
Event Registration:
Registration to fish the Event closes at 5 pm Friday June 2nd, 2023. There will be no morning registration on any days of the Event.
Pre-Tournament Meeting/Dinner:
On Friday June 2nd from 5-8 pm, We will host a dinner and meeting for all anglers. (One angler per boat must attend the meeting). Meeting will be at The Lodge at Pickwick Landing, 120 Playground Loop, Counce, TN 38326.
Eligibility:
Each boat owner (“captain”) must own either one Minn Kota product and/or one Humminbird product (trolling motor, shallow water anchor, electronics and/or battery charger). Each captain is allowed to be accompanied by up to two participants who are not owners of either a Minn Kota or Humminbird product. Each captain will be checked by a tournament official on site for such product(s).
Text System:
You may enter yourself in the text system for this event by texting the word minnkota to the number 90294. We will enter your number in the system, but some carriers block this type of message, so by entering yourself this will prevent the chance of being blocked.
Start Time:
Due to the varying times of year that we host our tournaments, we will notify every one of the start time the week of the tournament. We will notify you via text message. Start time (first cast) for each tournament will be safe light and set by the tournament director. You may launch and be on the water, but you may not begin fishing until we notify you of first cast. Please do not call our offices related to start time. We will post start fishing time on this page and text out the time the week of the event. You will also be sent a live leaderboard link once the event starts.
Weigh in Times:
All days of event. 7-8am, 8-9am, 9-10am, 10-11am, 11am-12pm, 12-1pm, 1-2pm
Lake Off Limits:
The Event off-limits time begins at 4:00 p.m. June 2nd, 2023. Participants must be off the water on or before 4:00 p.m. on the day prior to the Event and may not begin fishing until the official Event start time on the following day, which will be announced via text message the morning of the Event. The Event Lake is off-limits to fishing after 2:00 p.m. on the first day of the Event. ALL participants must follow the off-limits rules for the previous day(s), even if you're not fishing all both days of the event. Participants may return to their respective launch site by boat but are not allowed to fish or use electronics and/or other devices (including lights) or attempt to locate or mark, for the purposes of finding fish, after the off-limits time.
Permitted Fishing Waters: See map below
Pickwick Dam (North West), Bay Springs Dam (South West), Hwy 72 (South) and Wilson Dam (East). Locking at any time during the event is prohibited.