AnglersChannel

Registration For 2023 Bassmaster Opens Starts November 8

October 12, 2022

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Anglers hoping to compete for an Elite Series invitation or make their dreams come true by competing in the 2024 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic can now mark their calendars. Registration dates for the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by Mossy Oak Fishing have been announced and will open in early November, beginning with anglers who want to fish all nine events and participate in the Opens Elite Qualifiers (EQ) Division.

The popularity of the Opens tournaments has boomed in recent years with the expansion of live coverage options adding new audiences and increased participation numbers. In 2022, an unprecedented 83 anglers registered for all nine tournaments and divisions filled quickly, even prompting Classic champion Hank Cherry to give up his spot in the Southern Opens so that another angler could get a shot to compete.

“The Opens have always been a critical proving ground for tournament anglers,” said Executive Director of Tournaments Hank Weldon, who oversees the Bassmaster Opens. “But now the series combines the fierce competition of the EQ, dream-making Classic berths and a ton of coverage for anglers on FOX Sports and the B.A.S.S. platforms.

“The last few seasons have seen record-breaking registration numbers as anglers try to get one of the 225 boater spots for each event, and we expect that trend to continue when registration starts in November.”

Opens EQ anglers can register online beginning Nov. 8 for B.A.S.S Nation and Life members and Nov. 10 for all B.A.S.S. members. Single division registration for both pros and co-anglers opens online for B.A.S.S. Nation and Life members Nov. 15 and Nov. 17 for all B.A.S.S. members. Anyone interested in registering for a single event can do so online beginning Nov. 22.

All registration slots will open at 9 a.m. CT.

Entry fees will remain the same for the 2023 Opens circuit. Pro anglers will pay $1,800 per event with an $800 deposit due up front, while co-anglers will pay $475 per event with a $200 deposit.

2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by Mossy Oak Fishing Schedule

Division 1

March 2-4, Lake Eufaula, Eufaula, Ala.
May 18-20, Wheeler Lake, Decatur, Ala.
Oct. 12-14, Harris Chain of Lakes, Leesburg, Fla.

Division 2

April 13-15, Toledo Bend, Many, La.
June 15-17, Lake Eufaula, Eufaula, Okla.
Sept. 21-23, Lake of the Ozarks, Osage, Mo.

Division 3

May 3-5, Buggs Island Reservoir, Clarksville, Va.
July 20-22, St. Lawrence River, Waddington, N.Y.
Sept. 13-15, Watts Bar Reservoir, Kingston, Tenn.

by AnglersChannel

Josh Bertrand Holds Lead on Day Two of 2022 WON Bass U.S. Open

Spencer Shuffield Jumps to Second Place

Laughlin, Nev. - October 11, 2022 – When the second day of the 2022Bass Cat / Mercury WON BASS U.S. Open presented by Laughlin Tourism Commission and Visit Laughlin began, the setting was nearly identical to the warm, slick conditions that greeted the anglers on day one.

With the temperatures and high skies mirroring day one, the same could be said for the top of the leaderboard as Arizona pro Josh Bertrand held onto his lead with another limit of smallmouth that eclipsed 20 pounds.

Pre-tournament logic said that someone would bring in a 20-pound bag, but many wondered if it would be a feat that was repeatable. Bertrandproved that it was by backing up his 23.45-pounds day one limit with 20.39 pounds to retain his lead on day two with a total of 43.79 pounds.

Bertrand, who revealed that he had been holding some areas for the final day of competition on day one, had to touch those areas today. “It was a tougher day for me today numbers wise, and I had to expand on my approach a little,” said Bertrand. “I didn’t have to lean on the areas I’d been saving, but I did have to add a couple fish later in the day to top 20 pounds.”

He added that he feels good about the final day. “It’s no secret that I’m using one of my confidence baits, and I have good areas, so I feel like I have a good chance,” he said. “If I can put my Berkley Flatworm in front a enough smallmouth, I feel like I’ll give myself a chance to close it out.”

Arkansas Major League Fishing Big 5 Pro Circuit Title Champion Spencer Shuffield from was the final angler to weigh-in, and the Arkansas pro put an exclamation point on day two. Shuffield brought a 20.73-pound limit to the scales to jump into second place with 39.43 pounds.

Shuffield, fresh off his MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Title victory finds comfort in his settings. “I’ve always looked forward to fishing the U.S. Open, and Mohave is an amazing smallmouth fishery,” he said. “I have been expanding on my areas every day, and I feel like if I can do it again tomorrow, I’ll have a chance.”

Hot on his heels in third place is three-time WON Bass U.S. Open champion Clifford Pirch, who posted his second consecutive 19-pound limit to finish third with a total weight of 39.36 pounds heading into championship day. Patrick Touey, who started the event in second place fell to fourth place with a 17.33-pound limit to push his two-day total to 37.75 pounds, and Todd Kline caught 19.54 pounds to push his total weight to 36.31 pounds to round out the top five in the pro division.

On the AA side, day one leader Kyle Keegan added 11.48 pounds to keep the day two lead with 34.93 pounds. Jim Vretzos weighed 19.89 pounds to end the day in second place with a total weight of 31.74 pounds. Third place AAA Nick Lara added 18.98 pounds to bring his total to 31.16 pounds. Brian Tressen added 20.73 pounds to make his total 29.80 pounds to finish fourth and Gary Freeman’s 15.32 pounds on day two brought his total to 29.32 to round out the top five in the AAA division.

Complete standings can be found below.

The final day of the 2022 Bass Cat / Mercury WON BASS U.S. Open presented by Laughlin Tourism Commission and Visit Laughlin begin Wednesday, October 12, with a champion being crowned at the conclusion of the final weigh-in with awards to be held at the E Center in Laughlin, Nev. Takeoff with 189 pro and AAA anglers will commence at safe light and weigh-ins will occur in the afternoons each day. Takeoff and weigh-ins will be held at Katherine Landing at Lake Mohave Marina located at 2690 Katherine Spur, Bullhead City, AZ 86429.

Join us for an historic event and look to wonbass.com and WONews.comalong with WON BASS and Western Outdoor News social media platforms for event details and updates.

The 40th Anniversary 2022 WON BASS U.S. Open is presented by the following sponsors; Bass Cat Boats, Mercury Marine, Costa, CenturyMarine, Power-Pole, Western Outdoor News, Next Gen Lithium, Daiwa, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Frabill, Plano, Seaguar, Chevron Techron Marine, Lowrance, DD26 Fishing, Phenix Rods, Gamakatsu, Livingston Lures,Roboworm, HydroHoist, Bridgford Foods, Last Chance Performance Marine, Anglers Marine, Katherine Landing, Sure Life, LifeSource Water Systems, Huntington Beach Honda, Anderson Ford, Tuff Bunk, Laughlin Tourism Commission, Visit Laughlin and Edgewater Hotel, Casino & Resort.

Day One Pro Standings

Place	Angler	Hometown	Penalty	Big Fish	Day 1	Day 2	Total Weight
1	Josh Bertrand	San Tan Valley AZ		4.71	23.45	20.34	43.79
2	Spencer Shuffield	Hot Springs AK		4.28	18.70	20.73	39.43
3	Clifford Pirch	Payson AZ		4.98	19.47	19.89	39.36
4	Patrick Touey	Nipomo CA		5.36	20.42	17.33	37.75
5	Todd Kline	San Clemente CA	0.40		16.77	19.54	36.31
6	Zach VerBrugge	Lake Havasu AZ		4.19	16.78	18.98	35.76
7	Sean Coffey	Mesa AZ	0.20		18.97	15.97	34.94
8	Mark Williams	Lake Havasu City AZ	0.20		17.75	15.22	32.97
9	Chris Zaldain	Fort Worth TX	0.20		13.94	18.84	32.78
10	Scott Hellesen	Paso Robles CA	0.20		16.37	16.38	32.75
11	Luke Clausen	Otis Orchards WA	0.60		15.68	16.30	31.98
12	Conrad Demecs	Phoenix AZ	0.40		13.00	18.61	31.61
13	Clayton Meyer	Henderson NV	0.40	5.52	15.97	14.34	30.31
14	Austin Bonjour	Templeton CA	0.20		18.37	11.37	29.74
15	Joe Uribe, Jr.	Surprise AZ		3.91	15.92	13.69	29.61
16	John Basmadjian	Fullerton CA	0.40		14.09	15.47	29.56
17	Jeremy McKay	Eugene OR			12.02	16.71	28.73
18	Justin Kerr	Lake Havasu City AZ			15.62	12.54	28.16
19	Dylan Maxon	Pioera AZ		5.09	18.89	8.78	27.67
20	Brett Leber	Dixon CA		4.67	15.26	12.35	27.61
21	Bryan Grier	Hollister CA			15.51	11.76	27.27
22	Kyle Grover	RCHO STA MARG CA		4.72	14.78	12.47	27.25
23	Mike Steckel	Las Vegas NV			15.01	11.91	26.92
24	Samuel Collins	Peoria AZ	0.40	4.08	10.34	16.27	26.61
25	Jonathan Schuyler	Henderson NV		4.97	12.92	13.47	26.39
26	Dan Frazier	Paso Robles CA	0.20		12.07	13.95	26.02
27	Kevin Johnson	Peoria AZ			13.71	11.98	25.69
28	Kevin Wiggins	Winterheaven CA	0.20		11.35	14.31	25.66
29	Michael Phua	Chino CA			12.38	13.19	25.57
30	John Fuqua	Payson AZ		4.60	14.55	10.99	25.54
31	Johnny Johnson	Lakeside AZ			15.98	9.37	25.35
32	Dennis Kolender	Santee CA			12.46	12.73	25.19
33	Mike Bird	Tonopah NV	0.20	4.86	9.71	15.32	25.03
34	Ken Whalen	Lompoc CA			10.62	14.22	24.84
35	Max Hernandez	Queen Creek AZ	0.20	4.11	10.95	13.64	24.59
36	Jason Reyes	Humble TX	0.20		12.74	11.78	24.52
37	Anthony Salazar	Henderson NV		4.97	16.48	7.37	23.85
38	John Martinez	Las Vegas NV	0.40		17.73	6.04	23.77
39	Roy Hawk	Lake Havasu City AZ	0.20		11.94	11.73	23.67
40	Ben Byrd	Moab UT			17.52	6.12	23.64
41	Kalib Lund	Cave Creek AZ		4.32	8.90	14.53	23.43
42	Kevin Hugo	Canyon Lake CA	0.20	5.35	14.00	9.41	23.41
43	Bill Brown	Grand Junction CO			11.46	11.81	23.27
44	Jon Bell	Campo CA			11.13	12.05	23.18
45	Jordan Collom	Canyon Lake CA			13.62	9.44	23.06
46	Byron Velvick	San Antonio TX		4.85	10.72	12.33	23.05
47	Tony Lain	Lake Havasu City AZ	0.20	4.52	17.00	5.85	22.85
48	Marvin Finley	Peoria AZ			12.38	10.20	22.58
49	Cody Kurz	Oxnard CA	0.20	3.82	10.46	11.81	22.27
50	Tim Klinger	Boulder City NV			8.38	13.89	22.27
51	Chris Patek	Chula Vista CA	0.20		12.60	9.36	21.96
52	Marty Lawrence	Mesa AZ			16.86	5.06	21.92
53	Douglas Jones	North Las vegas NV			7.28	14.60	21.88
54	Carl Limbrick, Jr.	Bonita CA	0.20		7.98	13.60	21.58
55	Chris Costello	Gilroy CA	0.20		12.04	9.21	21.25
56	Gunnar Stanton	Boulder City NV	0.20		8.00	13.16	21.16
57	Billy Hines	Vacaville CA			9.91	11.19	21.10
58	Kyle Richins	Washington UT			12.85	8.17	21.02
59	Mike Folkestad	Villa Park CA		4.21	10.19	10.61	20.80
60	James Weaver	Lehi UT			11.85	8.80	20.65
61	John Morrow	Kingman AZ		5.19	14.65	5.59	20.24
62	Jim Herrero	Kingman AZ			7.98	12.15	20.13
63	Mark Poe	Coolidge AZ		4.67	10.18	9.80	19.98
64	Jeff Baird	Washington UT			13.73	6.19	19.92
65	Steve Lund	Cave Creek AZ			12.32	7.48	19.80
66	Louis Fernandes	Santa Maria CA			13.11	6.42	19.53
67	Aaron Bartelt	Elk City OK			12.36	6.60	18.96
68	Micah Jones	Kingman AZ	0.20		7.55	10.86	18.41
69	Eddie Rodriguez	Evergreen CO			12.74	5.49	18.23
70	Paul Hodges	Glendale AZ			4.12	14.03	18.15
71	Jerry Ballesteros	Rancho Cucamonga CA			9.04	9.05	18.09
72	Tom Kilduff	Phoenix AZ		3.65	13.37	4.70	18.07
73	Patrick Whitaker	Pinetop AZ			3.15	14.83	17.98
74	Sunny Hawk	Midvale UT			8.74	9.08	17.82
75	Phillip Emery	Santa Barbara CA	0.20		9.51	8.13	17.64
76	Brandon Morton	San Tan Valley AZ			6.55	10.77	17.32
77	Chris Kinley	Lake Havasu City AZ			9.39	7.82	17.21
78	Jamie Shaw	Coolidge AZ			12.40	4.48	16.88
79	Ricky Shabazz	La Mesa CA	0.60	4.52	9.98	6.77	16.75
80	Todd Holverson	San Diego CA			12.38	4.10	16.48
81	Joe Cole	Coalville UT			6.74	9.67	16.41
82	Christopher Allen	Grand Junction CO			9.07	7.34	16.41
83	Mark Rauenzahn	San Diego CA		5.05	12.18	4.22	16.40
84	Tom Ormsby	Parowan UT		4.16	5.66	10.73	16.39
85	Dan Davis	Hurrican UT			10.58	5.50	16.08
86	Mike Williams	Lake Havasu City AZ			9.10	6.85	15.95
87	Steve Molinari	Waddell AZ		3.64	11.42	4.42	15.84
88	Travis Pitt	Henderson NV			11.59	3.75	15.34
89	Andrew Napoleon	Mesa AZ	0.40		10.99	4.33	15.32
90	Cody Steckel	Las Vegas NV			6.00	9.21	15.21
91	Paul Bailey	Kelseyville CA	0.20		8.07	7.10	15.17
92	Rick Clunn	Ava MO		4.46	10.64	4.46	15.10
93	Adam Cacal	Las Vegas NV		3.77	10.09	4.96	15.05
94	Allen Clark	Florence AZ	0.20		7.32	7.53	14.85
95	Chris Nickerson	Hemet CA			6.88	7.96	14.84
96	Kevin Martin	El Cajon CA	0.40		11.36	3.37	14.73
97	Rusty Salewske	Alpine CA	0.20			14.62	14.62
98	Robert Lutes	Los Angeles CA			7.16	7.30	14.46
99	Daniel Uptain	Mesa AZ	0.20		8.14	6.30	14.44
100	Scooter Griffith	Mesa AZ	0.40		9.53	4.81	14.34
101	Robert Sedillo, Jr.	Chino CA			11.76	2.53	14.29
102	Levi Samz	Green River WY	0.40		14.18		14.18
103	Robert Morales	Williams AZ		4.73	1.96	12.19	14.15
104	Robert Ostercamp	Chandler AZ		4.41	1.70	11.95	13.65
105	Russ Barger	Boise ID	0.20		11.59	1.94	13.53
106	Jeff Rutt	Lake Havasu City AZ			9.05	4.42	13.47
107	Corey Williams	Boulder City CA	0.20		6.34	6.96	13.30
108	Matt Shura	Gilbert AZ			6.00	7.03	13.03
109	Shawn Herring	Las Vegas NV			4.28	8.62	12.90
110	Jesse A. Marquez	Lake Havasu City AZ			3.53	9.15	12.68
111	Jimmy Reese	Ukiah CA	0.20		3.34	9.07	12.41
112	Mike Bartley	Greenwood Village CO			8.87	3.52	12.39
113	Lowell Mickelson	Anahiem CA			12.36		12.36
114	Wayne St. John	Henderson NV			7.62	4.40	12.02
115	Brad Szarkowski	Santa Clarita CA	0.40	5.73	9.87	2.11	11.98
116	Kazuki Kodama	Tokyo Japan			9.36	2.59	11.95
117	CJ Hinkle	Fort Mohave AZ			7.87	4.03	11.90
118	Jiggs Benn	Myrtle Creek OR			4.19	7.70	11.89
119	Chip Gilbert	Yuma AZ			4.44	7.45	11.89
120	Frankie Mueller	Kingman AZ		4.32	11.82		11.82
121	Shawn Cooley	Qual Valley CA	0.40		10.02	1.80	11.82
122	Gil Valadez	Fullerton CA			5.16	6.56	11.72
123	Jeff Hudson	Las Vegas NV	0.20			11.48	11.48
124	Ray Arbesu	Henderson NV	0.40		8.23	3.19	11.42
125	Rob Sanford	San Diego CA			6.48	4.83	11.31
126	Travis Darrough	Round Mountain NV			8.33	2.84	11.17
127	Benjamin Green	Jasper TN			2.11	8.90	11.01
128	Jason Bryan	Henderson NV			1.39	9.34	10.73
129	Rodney Reed	Chelan WA		4.72	9.38	1.32	10.70
130	Matt Frazier	Denair CA		3.88	6.72	3.88	10.60
131	Garrett Howard	Riverside CA		4.79	6.85	3.59	10.44
132	Brent Becker	Boulder City NV			10.34		10.34
133	Mike Huseman	Bullhead City AZ		3.34	3.34	6.85	10.19
134	Tom Leedom	Escondido CA			3.18	6.98	10.16
135	Austin Gutzwiller	Mesa AZ	0.40		10.15		10.15
136	David Valdivia	Riverside CA			10.01		10.01
137	Donnie Scroggins	Kingman AZ			6.25	3.60	9.85
138	Allen Bratton	Cedar City UT			5.22	4.59	9.81
139	Dung Van Vu	Paramount CA			6.74	2.96	9.70
140	Kevin Finley	Phoenix AZ			4.18	5.19	9.37
141	Mike Luiere	Henderson NV		3.88	3.16	6.12	9.28
142	Tom White Jr.	Costa Mesa CA			3.61	5.66	9.27
143	Darius Arberry	Las Vegas NV			5.54	3.65	9.19
144	Brian Nunn	Bakersfield CA			1.67	7.36	9.03
145	James Hansen	Las Vegas NV			7.26	1.74	9.00
146	Steven Bowlin	Atlanta TX			4.43	4.54	8.97
147	Daylon Smith	Frazier Park CA			3.72	5.22	8.94
148	Tyler Ivie	West Haven UT			4.00	4.93	8.93
149	Mag Gimbel	Las Vegas NV			5.40	3.48	8.88
150	Ron Hammett	La Mesa CA			2.18	6.66	8.84
151	Jeremy Mann	San Jose CA			5.91	2.92	8.83
152	Travis Jewell	Tyler TX			1.54	7.19	8.73
153	Jesse Halstead	Bonney Lake WA			4.51	4.16	8.67
154	Dan Merchant	Canyon Lake CA			3.13	5.29	8.42
155	Justin Patti	Peoria AZ			5.10	3.06	8.16
156	Cameron Karber	Munds Park AZ	0.20		1.36	6.52	7.88
157	Lyle Dalby	Apache Junction AZ			2.22	5.64	7.86
158	Michael Kuzara	Hemet CA			7.75		7.75
159	Jim Hawkes	Apache Junction AZ			3.11	4.58	7.69
160	Dick Watson	Boulder City NV			4.84	2.48	7.32
161	Marco Fenelli	San Diego CA			7.24		7.24
162	Shane Noel	California City CA			2.13	5.03	7.16
163	Louis Ulrich	Santee CA			4.81	2.18	6.99
164	John Gayo	Lake Havasu City AZ		4.32	2.48	4.32	6.80
165	Andy Manahl	Mesa AZ			6.77		6.77
166	Victor Azevedo	Filer ID			4.82	1.87	6.69
167	Bill O'Shinn	Auburn CA	0.20			6.61	6.61
168	Josh Albee	Golden Valley AZ			6.36		6.36
169	Zachary Elrite	San Jose CA			6.23		6.23
170	Greg Garcia	Cibola AZ				6.11	6.11
171	Scott Davis	Preston ID			2.47	3.63	6.10
172	Jeffery Klicka	Brawley CA	0.20			5.92	5.92
173	Shane Spinning	Canyon Lake CA			5.79		5.79
174	Matthew Luna	Santee CA				5.73	5.73
175	Greg Halliman	Littlerock CA			5.59		5.59
176	David Kemper	Tempe AZ				4.88	4.88
177	Mike Menne	Cottonwood CA			4.85		4.85
178	Tony Capparelli	Camarillo CA				4.63	4.63
179	Keith Newby	Pine Top AZ			1.67	2.82	4.49
180	Ayaaz Ismail	Las Vegas NV			4.41		4.41
181	Ryan Yamagata	Las Vegas NV			1.38	2.71	4.09
182	Joshua Glenn	Temecula CA			1.57	2.46	4.03
183	David Gliebe	Manteca CA			3.90		3.90
184	Hermie Romero	Henderson NV			3.89		3.89
185	Kevin Duncan	Las Vegas NV			2.52		2.52
186	Shannon Perkins	Corona CA				2.33	2.33
187	Sheldon Johnson	Kingman AZ				2.08	2.08
188	Rusty Brown	Alpine CA			1.56		1.56
189	Melvin Williams	Chula Vista CA					0.00

Day One AAA Standings

Place	Angler	Hometown	Penalty	Big Fish	Day 1	Day 2	Total
1	Kyle Keegan	Mesa CA	0.20		23.45	11.48	34.93
2	Jim Vretzos	El Dorodo Hills CA		4.24	11.85	19.89	31.74
3	Nick Lara	Bishop CA		4.76	12.18	18.98	31.16
4	Brian Tressen	Corona CA			9.07	20.73	29.80
5	Gary Freeman	Las Vegas NV	0.20		14.00	15.32	29.32
6	Tyler Head	Eugene OR		4.48	16.48	12.54	29.02
7	Eric Hammer	Peoria AZ		4.32	19.47	8.80	28.27
8	Joe Ahrens	San Diego CA		3.60	12.74	14.83	27.57
9	Ty Crofts	Cedar City UT	0.20	5.14	7.32	19.54	26.86
10	Michael Nugent	Surprise AZ		4.25	15.01	11.81	26.82
11	Joseph Riordan	Bullhead City AZ			15.98	10.73	26.71
12	Tom Kruse	Cayucos CA			9.36	17.33	26.69
13	Max Howarth	West Jordan UT			17.52	8.78	26.30
14	Pete Marino	Moreno Valley CA		4.30	12.74	13.47	26.21
15	Brian Kemp	Murrieta CA	0.20		12.46	13.64	26.10
16	Mike Crothers	Chandler AZ		4.40	18.70	7.34	26.04
17	Michael Gabrielson	Bullhead City AZ			13.62	11.76	25.38
18	Dave Phillips	Nampa ID			18.89	6.12	25.01
19	Melanie McBride	Searchlight NV			15.51	9.44	24.95
20	Mike Gowey	Snowflake AZ	0.20		18.37	6.52	24.89
21	Joe Uribe, Sr.	Lake Havasu City AZ	0.40	4.05	17.73	6.85	24.58
22	Kurt Hodges	Lakewood CA		3.92	12.38	11.98	24.36
23	Anthony Stanfa	Phoenix AZ	0.40		16.77	7.53	24.30
24	Alf Penland	Tucson AZ	0.20		7.87	16.30	24.17
25	Brandon Diamond	Los Altos CA	0.40	4.40	5.54	18.61	24.15
26	Michael Reynolds	Overgaard AZ		4.81	10.19	13.95	24.14
27	Dylan Watson	Hayward CA			13.71	10.20	23.91
28	Fisher Griffith	Mesa AZ	0.20		18.97	4.93	23.90
29	Brian Avila	Lenmoore CA	0.20	4.97	9.51	14.31	23.82
30	Tom Warren	Maricopa AZ		3.64	10.95	12.73	23.68
31	Trait Zaldain	Fort Worth TX	0.20		14.09	9.34	23.43
32	Bryan Davis	Goleta CA			11.46	11.91	23.37
33	R. Stephen Gustafson	Santa Monica CA			12.32	10.99	23.31
34	John Bitting	Kingman AZ	0.20		11.42	11.81	23.23
35	Clif Gallagher	Saint George UT		4.55	12.36	10.77	23.13
36	Chuck Turner	Golden Valley AZ			20.42	2.59	23.01
37	Junior Mora	Fresno CA			15.62	7.37	22.99
38	Tony Witt	Orange CA	0.20		6.48	16.38	22.86
39	Andrew Packard	Fresno CA	0.20		12.07	10.61	22.68
40	Gary Wasson	Visalia CA		5.17	5.91	16.71	22.62
41	Robert Brondyke	Las Vegas NV	0.40		10.02	12.15	22.17
42	Lyle Valador	Boulder City AZ			14.55	7.48	22.03
43	Colton Underwood-Garside	Riverside CA	0.20		6.77	15.22	21.99
44	Patrick S. Donoho	Las Vegas NV	0.40		5.22	16.27	21.49
45	Creston Carroll	Payson AZ			16.37	4.83	21.20
46	Nathan Hill	Henderson NV			9.10	12.05	21.15
47	Randy Ricafort	Clearlake CA	0.20		2.22	18.84	21.06
47	Makoto Otani	Japan		3.64	6.72	14.34	21.06
49	David Hutto	Escondido CA			16.78	4.22	21.00
50	Steve W. Clark	Fresno CA			8.33	12.47	20.80
51	Bridger Richins	Washington UT			6.74	14.03	20.77
52	Ray Kawabata	Bothel WA			7.24	13.19	20.43
53	Zach Gines	Stansberry Park UT				20.34	20.34
54	Phillip Dijulio	Glendale AZ			13.37	6.96	20.33
55	Rick Mason	Glendale AZ	0.40	3.52	14.18	6.11	20.29
56	Daymond Allen	Murrieta CA		4.18	4.00	15.97	19.97
57	Charles Jett	Las Vegas NV	0.40		15.97	3.88	19.85
58	Jonathan Green	San Pablo CA		4.86	10.58	9.21	19.79
59	James Pena	Stevensen Ranch CA	0.40		15.68	4.03	19.71
60	Kenneth Murata	Irvine CA			10.34	9.36	19.70
61	Matt Thomas	Scottsdale AZ			13.94	5.64	19.58
62	Mike Rasso	Phoenix AZ			17.00	2.53	19.53
63	Matthew Matus	Salt Lake City UT	0.20		11.35	8.13	19.48
64	Todd Belzner	Cave Creek AZ			7.26	11.95	19.21
65	John Younce	Castaic CA			6.85	12.35	19.20
66	Bo McNeely	Rancho Cucamunga CA	0.20		9.71	9.41	19.12
67	Tom Creasy	Covina CA	0.20		11.59	7.45	19.04
68	Craig Duvall	Kingman AZ		4.15	15.26	3.59	18.85
69	Ron Goldshine	Los Angeles CA			13.11	5.66	18.77
70	Ray Gauerke	Porterville CA			4.18	14.53	18.71
71	Kelly Burns	Avondale AZ			4.43	14.22	18.65
72	Nathan Foreman	Queen Creek AZ		3.72	15.92	2.71	18.63
73	David Thies	Upland CA	0.40		11.94	6.61	18.55
74	Mark Chadeayne	Pomona CA			14.65	3.75	18.40
75	Jordan Werner	Hurricane UT	0.20		3.53	14.62	18.15
76	Andrew Jayne	Coeur Dalene ID			11.13	6.85	17.98
77	Zack Willis	Roy WA			12.92	5.03	17.95
78	Jonathan Jackson	Las Vegas NV			17.75		17.75
79	Dylan Moore	Bakersfield CA			5.40	12.33	17.73
80	Mark J. White	Kingman AZ			14.78	2.84	17.62
81	Noah Sanford	San Diego CA	0.20		11.76	5.85	17.61
82	Hayden Metz	Eastvalle CA	0.20		12.04	5.50	17.54
83	Lonnie Foster	Kneeland CA	0.20		3.90	13.60	17.50
84	Joseph Weber	Albuquerque NM	0.40		8.23	9.08	17.31
85	Dean Yamagata	Las Vegas NV		4.17	6.00	11.19	17.19
86	Jeff Giffen	Phoenix AZ		4.64	11.59	5.59	17.18
87	Joe Ramos	Arvada CO	0.20		10.99	6.12	17.11
88	Wade Goodwin	Wilton CA		4.16	12.85	4.16	17.01
89	David Childress	Bakersfield CA			9.91	7.03	16.94
90	Todd Tobiasson	Las Vegas NV		5.07	16.86		16.86
90	Brian Reaves	Bullhead City AZ	0.20	4.18	1.39	15.47	16.86
92	Chris Harvey	Idaho Falls ID			12.36	4.42	16.78
93	Ken Hromada	Gilbert AZ			2.11	14.60	16.71
94	Jay Corbett	Surprise AZ			13.00	3.65	16.65
95	William McAninch	Palos Verde Estates CA	0.20	3.90	5.59	10.86	16.45
96	David Stanberry	Wasilla AK			2.52	13.89	16.41
97	Gerred Curwick	Kingman AZ			9.38	6.98	16.36
98	Geoff Pierce	El Cajon CA	0.40		11.36	4.88	16.24
99	Kaden Argyle	West Bountiful UT			11.82	4.40	16.22
100	Roger Nelson	Henderson NV		4.92	7.28	8.90	16.18
101	Kevin Burgess	Kingman AZ	0.20		10.18	5.92	16.10
102	Tim Domingues	San Jose CA			12.38	3.60	15.98
103	Sonny Yee	Queen Creek AZ	0.20		8.87	7.10	15.97
104	Shawn Byrne	Scottsdale AZ	0.20		8.14	7.82	15.96
105	Robbie Espinosa	Yorba Linda CA			9.39	6.30	15.69
106	Brandon Smith	Indio CA		3.89	6.36	9.05	15.41
107	Bryan Ledford	Henderson NV			10.62	4.54	15.16
108	Jeff Stuart	Las Vegas NV	0.20		6.00	9.07	15.07
108	Scott Robertson	Norco CA			1.38	13.69	15.07
110	Mick Karshner	Meridian ID			5.66	9.37	15.03
111	Geoff Peterson	Huntington Beach CA			12.02	2.92	14.94
112	Adam Arp-Romero	Flagstaff AZ			10.34	4.59	14.93
112	Fred Buelna	Chandler AZ	0.20		3.15	11.78	14.93
114	Mike Kizis	Belle River ON	0.20		10.09	4.81	14.90
115	Bill Eastes	Boulder Creek CA			10.46	4.42	14.88
116	Kenny Johnson	Eager AZ	0.20		1.56	13.16	14.72
117	Richard Johnson	San Pedro CA	0.20		12.40	2.11	14.51
118	Mike Dailey	Overton NV	0.20		9.53	4.96	14.49
119	Greg Stevens	Las Vegas NV	0.20	4.48	9.87	4.48	14.35
120	William Penrod	Salome AZ			10.72	3.48	14.20
121	Joey Aliberto	Lomita CA			8.90	5.19	14.09
122	Colin Harrell	Rock Springs WY			7.75	6.19	13.94
123	Darin Folkestad	Huntington Beach CA			4.12	9.67	13.79
124	Darren Wilson	Las Vegas NV			13.73		13.73
125	Rick Correa	Wilsonville OR		4.31	6.23	7.36	13.59
126	Tim Demecs	Pheonix AZ			6.55	6.60	13.15
127	Shawn Carnahan	Gilbert AZ	0.40		10.15	2.96	13.11
128	Douglas Bullard	Anaheim CA			5.79	7.30	13.09
129	Ethan Hammer	Peoria AZ	0.20		1.36	11.37	12.73
130	Chris Thatcher	Tuscon AZ			4.51	8.17	12.68
131	Kevin A. Smith	Phoenix AZ	0.20		12.60		12.60
132	Chris Beverly	Queen Creek AZ			3.34	9.21	12.55
133	James Scott	Lancaster CA	0.40		9.98	2.48	12.46
134	Norman Uptain	Globe AZ			12.38		12.38
135	DJ Virzuela	Gilbert AZ			10.01	2.33	12.34
136	Ron Smith	Apache Junction AZ				12.19	12.19
137	Steven Cook	Willow AK			8.74	3.19	11.93
138	Steve Baker	Canyon Lake CA				11.73	11.73
139	David Shearrer	Trabuco Canyon CA			5.10	6.56	11.66
140	Logan Walker	Winterhaven CA	0.20		4.84	6.77	11.61
141	Anthony Romano	New River AZ			8.07	3.52	11.59
142	Vincent Alcantara	Phoenix AZ			4.82	6.66	11.48
143	Thor Dusenberry	Pheonix CA			2.48	8.62	11.10
144	Bret Felter	Malad ID	0.20		6.34	4.70	11.04
145	Blake Rose	Tucson AZ		4.09	3.11	7.70	10.81
146	Jeremie Wraight	Imperial Beach CA			10.64		10.64
147	Tim Roden	Gilbert AZ			6.25	4.10	10.35
148	Mike Hawkins	Boulder City NV			3.61	6.42	10.03
149	Stephen Byrum	Avondale AZ			4.85	5.06	9.91
150	Kirk Beardsley	Canyon Lake CA				9.80	9.80
151	Steve Larsen	Henderson NV			7.98	1.80	9.78
152	Rick Moore	Salinas CA			3.34	6.04	9.38
153	William Hill Sr	Carmichael CA				9.15	9.15
154	Darin Guglielmo	Santa Barbara CA			3.89	5.22	9.11
155	Stacy Teeters	Jasper TN			9.05		9.05
156	Josh Buller	San Diego CA			9.04		9.04
157	Mark Sheldahl	Baltimore MD			6.88	2.08	8.96
158	Brian P. Day	San Diego CA			4.19	4.58	8.77
159	Rod Livermore	Fort Mohave AZ			4.28	4.32	8.60
160	Gerald Kimzey	Willcox AZ			8.38		8.38
161	Michael Grisham	Glendale AZ		3.06	5.16	3.06	8.22
162	John D. Helm	Tempe AZ			8.00		8.00
163	Len Scinto	Santa Clarita CA			7.98		7.98
164	Larry Ballesteros	Canyon Country CA				7.96	7.96
165	J.D. Madden	Morgan Hill CA		3.12	7.62		7.62
165	Anthony Souza	Rio Vista CA			2.13	5.49	7.62
167	Steve Rice	Ashland OR			7.55		7.55
168	Adam Glasscock	Payson AZ	0.20		3.16	4.33	7.49
169	Joe Leonard	Windsor CA			1.54	5.73	7.27
170	Adam Gragg	Acton CA				7.19	7.19
171	Joel Chin	Rosemead CA			7.16		7.16
172	Melvin Cromwell	Idaho Falls ID			1.57	5.29	6.86
173	Trevor Love	Poncha Springs CO			6.74		6.74
174	Ralph Wells	Lake Havasu City AZ			4.41	2.18	6.59
174	Chris Ricci	Ignacio CO			1.96	4.63	6.59
176	Kevin Holmgreen	Lake Havasu City AZ			4.44	1.94	6.38
177	Scott Holman	Orange CA			3.13	2.46	5.59
178	Brayden Weaver	Lehi UT			1.67	3.63	5.30
179	Rick Cofield	Las Vegas NV			2.47	2.82	5.29
180	Willie Waller	Temecula CA			4.81		4.81
181	David Zrebiec	North Las Vegas NV			3.18	1.32	4.50
182	Kevin McBean	Shafter CA				4.46	4.46
183	Jamie Johnson	Kingman AZ			2.18	1.87	4.05
184	Ellison Hubbard	LAS VEGAS NV			3.72		3.72
185	Wayne Larsen	Round Mountain NV			1.70	1.74	3.44
186	Gary Volpe	Payson AZ				3.37	3.37
187	David Meza	Westlake Village CA		1.67	1.67		1.67
188	Rick Melead	Yorba Linda CA					0.00
188	David King	Compton CA					0.00

by AnglersChannel

Lake Toho Selected to Host Major League Fishing’s 2023 Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (Oct. 11, 2022) – The 2023 Major League Fishing (MLF) Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship Presented by Lowrance, the national championship of college bass fishing, is coming to Kissimmee.

MLF, in conjunction with the Kissimmee Sports Commission, announced today that Lake Tohopekaliga – commonly referred to as Lake Toho – has been named the location of the 2023 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship Presented by Lowrance, Feb. 21-23, 2023.

The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship Presented by Lowrance will showcase the top teams from the 2022 College Fishing season competing for a top prize of $43,500, including a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro boat powered by a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000. The winning team also advances to the 2023 Toyota Series Championship to compete as pros for a shot at winning as much as $235,000. The highest finishing team member at the Toyota Series Championship advances to REDCREST 2024 to compete against the world’s best pros for the sport’s top prize of $300,000.

The second-place club at the 2023 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship Presented by Lowrance receives a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro boat powered by a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The team also advances to the 2023 Toyota Series Championship to compete as pros. The third-place finishers at the 2023 National Championship receives $4,000, and the team advances to the 2023 Toyota Series Championship as co-anglers for a shot at winning a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro powered by a 115 HP Mercury. Every team in the top 10 at the 2023 College Fishing National Championship receives at least $1,000.

“Major League Fishing has been a great partner over the years,” said Tyler Weyant, Senior Manager of Sports Development at the Kissimmee Sports Commission. “We have had the pleasure of hosting many of Major League Fishing’s professional events, and now adding the College National Championship to Kissimmee is an excellent opportunity for these competitors and local businesses to showcase all that Kissimmee has to offer.”

“We couldn’t be more excited to be bringing our 2023 College Fishing National Championship to Kissimmee and Lake Toho,” said Kevin Hunt, MLF Senior Director of Tournament Operations, College and High School. “We’ve had great success hosting previous MLF events in Kissimmee, and the phenomenal fishing and local enthusiasm at our previous tournaments has made bringing our National Championship to Lake Toho an obvious choice. We look forward to showcasing the top college anglers from the 2022 season to our fans in Florida and those watching across the country.”

Although Lake Toho has played host to dozens of MLF (and former FLW) tournaments over the years, this event will mark the first time that the MLF College Fishing circuit has ever visited the largest lake in Osceola County, Florida. In addition to the College Fishing National Championship, the venue will also play host to the MLF Bass Pro Tour (Feb. 13-18), and the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (Feb. 25) in 2023.

Each day of competition at the 2023 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship Presented by Lowrance will feature weigh-ins livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com. Television coverage of the event will be showcased in the fall of 2023 on the CBS Sports Network.

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

by AnglersChannel

Josh Bertrand Leads Day One of 2022 WON Bass U.S. Open Patrick Touey in Second Place in Opening Round

Laughlin, Nev. - October 10, 2022 – For the first time in its history, the Bass Cat / Mercury WON BASS U.S. Open presented by Laughlin Tourism Commission and Visit Laughlin is being held at a fishery other than Lake Mead as a result of historic record low water levels. With those developments, the City of Laughlin, Nev. was at the ready to host the event and Lake Mohave stood as the new playing field for the 40thAnniversary of the most prestigious bass fishing event in the Western United States.

With the change in scenery, the possibility existed for heavier weights tobe presented at the tournament scales at Katherine Landing. At any desert fishery, the possibility for high winds and big waves are always a possibility, and rarely are slick conditions are the reality. However, high skies, slight wind and slick water was what greeted the anglers on day one of the event.

But this field always features some of the best anglers in the west, and where there are bass, the field will show out. That is precisely the outcome of the day’s competition.

Leading the pack on day one was Arizona Major League Fishing BPT pro Josh Bertrand who brought 23.45 pounds of smallmouth bass to the scales. He and his day one AAA partner Kyle Keegan spent the day running through their areas and culled through a pair of limits to set the pace.

Bertrand declined to state what his exact pattern was, but said he feels comfortable with whatever the conditions present. “I can fish fast if I need to or slow down depending on the conditions,” he said. “My practice was good, but I wasn’t sure exactly what kind of weights to expect, so this is a really good start.”

Patrick Touey, who is fishing his first event on Mohave and his AAA partner Chuck Turner spent the day cycling through several areas looking for active fish and found enough smallmouth to bring 20.42 pounds to start the event in second place. “I started practicing on the bank and didn’t like what I found, so I looked deeper and found some deeper grass to target,” he said. “We’d pull up and find them there, catch a few and move on to the next spot; it was a good day.”

Three-time U.S. Open Champion Clifford Pirch, a Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Payson, Ariz. and Eric Hammer brought 19.47 pounds to the scales to finish third and give Pirch a very realistic chance of becoming the first angler to claim four U.S. Open championship.

Sean Coffey and Fisher Griffith weighed in 18.97 pounds to put them in fourth place and Dylan Maxon and Dave Phillips posted 18.89 pounds to round out the top five.

Complete standings can be found below.

Day two of the 2022 Bass Cat / Mercury WON BASS U.S. Open presented by Laughlin Tourism Commission and Visit Laughlincompetition itself will begin Monday, October 10, with a champion being crowned on October 12 at the conclusion of the final weigh-in. Takeoff with nearly 189 pro and AAA anglers will commence at safe light and weigh-ins will occur in the afternoons each day. Takeoff and weigh-ins will be held at Katherine Landing at Lake Mohave Marina located at 2690 Katherine Spur, Bullhead City, AZ 86429.

Join us for an historic event and look to wonbass.com and WONews.comalong with WON BASS and Western Outdoor News social media platforms for event details and updates.

Day One Pro Standings

Place	Angler	Hometown	Penalty	Big Fish	Total
1	Josh Bertrand	San Tan Valley AZ			23.45
2	Patrick Touey	Nipomo CA		5.36	20.42
3	Clifford Pirch	Payson AZ		4.98	19.47
4	Sean Coffey	Mesa AZ	0.20		18.97
5	Dylan Maxon	Pioera AZ		5.09	18.89
6	Spencer Shuffield	Hot Springs AK		4.28	18.70
7	Austin Bonjour	Templeton CA	0.20		18.37
8	Mark Williams	Lake Havasu City AZ			17.75
9	John Martinez	Las Vegas NV	0.40		17.73
10	Ben Byrd	Moab UT			17.52
11	Tony Lain	Lake Havasu City AZ		4.52	17.00
12	Marty Lawrence	Mesa AZ			16.86
13	Zach VerBrugge	Lake Havasu AZ		4.19	16.78
14	Todd Kline	San Clemente CA	0.20		16.77
15	Anthony Salazar	Henderson NV			16.48
16	Scott Hellesen	Paso Robles CA			16.37
17	Johnny Johnson	Lakeside AZ			15.98
18	Clayton Meyer	Henderson NV	0.40	5.52	15.97
19	Joe Uribe, Jr.	Surprise AZ		3.91	15.92
20	Luke Clausen	Otis Orchards WA	0.40		15.68
21	Justin Kerr	Lake Havasu City AZ			15.62
22	Bryan Grier	Hollister CA			15.51
23	Brett Leber	Dixon CA		4.67	15.26
24	Mike Steckel	Las Vegas NV			15.01
25	Kyle Grover	RCHO STA MARG CA		4.72	14.78
26	John Morrow	Kingman AZ		5.19	14.65
27	John Fuqua	Payson AZ			14.55
28	Levi Samz	Green River WY	0.40		14.18
29	John Basmadjian	Fullerton CA	0.20		14.09
30	Kevin Hugo	Canyon Lake CA	0.20	5.35	14.00
31	Chris Zaldain	Fort Worth TX			13.94
32	Jeff Baird	Washington UT			13.73
33	Kevin Johnson	Peoria AZ			13.71
34	Jordan Collom	Canyon Lake CA			13.62
35	Tom Kilduff	Phoenix AZ		3.65	13.37
36	Louis Fernandes	Santa Maria CA			13.11
37	Conrad Demecs	Phoenix AZ			13.00
38	Jonathan Schuyler	Henderson NV		4.97	12.92
39	Kyle Richins	Washington UT			12.85
40	Eddie Rodriguez	Evergreen CO			12.74
40	Jason Reyes	Humble TX			12.74
42	Chris Patek	Chula Vista CA	0.20		12.60
43	Dennis Kolender	Santee CA			12.46
44	Jamie Shaw	Coolidge AZ			12.40
45	Marvin Finley	Peoria AZ			12.38
45	Michael Phua	Chino CA			12.38
45	Todd Holverson	San Diego CA			12.38
48	Aaron Bartelt	Elk City OK			12.36
48	Lowell Mickelson	Anahiem CA			12.36
50	Steve Lund	Cave Creek AZ			12.32
51	Mark Rauenzahn	San Diego CA		5.05	12.18
52	Dan Frazier	Paso Robles CA	0.20		12.07
53	Chris Costello	Gilroy CA	0.20		12.04
54	Jeremy McKay	Eugene OR			12.02
55	Roy Hawk	Lake Havasu City AZ	0.20		11.94
56	James Weaver	Lehi UT			11.85
57	Frankie Mueller	Kingman AZ		4.32	11.82
58	Robert Sedillo, Jr.	Chino CA			11.76
59	Russ Barger	Boise ID	0.20		11.59
59	Travis Pitt	Henderson NV			11.59
61	Bill Brown	Grand Junction CO			11.46
62	Steve Molinari	Waddell AZ		3.64	11.42
63	Kevin Martin	El Cajon CA	0.40		11.36
64	Kevin Wiggins	Winterheaven CA	0.20		11.35
65	Jon Bell	Campo CA			11.13
66	Andrew Napoleon	Mesa AZ	0.20		10.99
67	Max Hernandez	Queen Creek AZ		4.11	10.95
68	Byron Velvick	San Antonio TX		4.85	10.72
69	Rick Clunn	Ava MO			10.64
70	Ken Whalen	Lompoc CA			10.62
71	Dan Davis	Hurrican UT			10.58
72	Cody Kurz	Oxnard CA		3.82	10.46
73	Brent Becker	Boulder City NV			10.34
73	Samuel Collins	Peoria AZ		4.08	10.34
75	Mike Folkestad	Villa Park CA			10.19
76	Mark Poe	Coolidge AZ			10.18
77	Austin Gutzwiller	Mesa AZ	0.40		10.15
78	Adam Cacal	Las Vegas NV			10.09
79	Shawn Cooley	Qual Valley CA	0.40		10.02
80	David Valdivia	Riverside CA			10.01
81	Ricky Shabazz	La Mesa CA	0.40		9.98
82	Billy Hines	Vacaville CA			9.91
83	Brad Szarkowski	Santa Clarita CA	0.20	5.73	9.87
84	Mike Bird	Tonopah NV	0.20		9.71
85	Scooter Griffith	Mesa AZ	0.20		9.53
86	Phillip Emery	Santa Barbara CA	0.20		9.51
87	Chris Kinley	Lake Havasu City AZ			9.39
88	Rodney Reed	Chelan WA		4.72	9.38
89	Kazuki Kodama	Tokyo Japan			9.36
90	Mike Williams	Lake Havasu City AZ			9.10
91	Christopher Allen	Grand Junction CO			9.07
92	Jeff Rutt	Lake Havasu City AZ			9.05
93	Jerry Ballesteros	Rancho Cucamonga CA			9.04
94	Kalib Lund	Cave Creek AZ		4.32	8.90
95	Mike Bartley	Greenwood Village CO			8.87
96	Sunny Hawk	Midvale UT			8.74
97	Tim Klinger	Boulder City NV			8.38
98	Travis Darrough	Round Mountain NV			8.33
99	Ray Arbesu	Henderson NV	0.40		8.23
100	Daniel Uptain	Mesa AZ	0.20		8.14
101	Paul Bailey	Kelseyville CA			8.07
102	Gunnar Stanton	Boulder City NV			8.00
103	Carl Limbrick, Jr.	Bonita CA			7.98
103	Jim Herrero	Kingman AZ			7.98
105	CJ Hinkle	Fort Mohave AZ			7.87
106	Michael Kuzara	Hemet CA			7.75
107	Wayne St. John	Henderson NV			7.62
108	Micah Jones	Kingman AZ			7.55
109	Allen Clark	Florence AZ			7.32
110	Douglas Jones	North Las vegas NV			7.28
111	James Hansen	Las Vegas NV			7.26
112	Marco Fenelli	San Diego CA			7.24
113	Robert Lutes	Los Angeles CA			7.16
114	Chris Nickerson	Hemet CA			6.88
115	Garrett Howard	Riverside CA		4.79	6.85
116	Andy Manahl	Mesa AZ			6.77
117	Joe Cole	Coalville UT			6.74
117	Dung Van Vu	Paramount CA			6.74
119	Matt Frazier	Denair CA			6.72
120	Brandon Morton	San Tan Valley AZ			6.55
121	Rob Sanford	San Diego CA			6.48
122	Josh Albee	Golden Valley AZ			6.36
123	Corey Williams	Boulder City CA	0.20		6.34
124	Donnie Scroggins	Kingman AZ			6.25
125	Zachary Elrite	San Jose CA			6.23
126	Cody Steckel	Las Vegas NV			6.00
126	Matt Shura	Gilbert AZ			6.00
128	Jeremy Mann	San Jose CA			5.91
129	Shane Spinning	Canyon Lake CA			5.79
130	Tom Ormsby	Parowan UT			5.66
131	Greg Halliman	Littlerock CA			5.59
132	Darius Arberry	Las Vegas NV			5.54
133	Mag Gimbel	Las Vegas NV			5.40
134	Allen Bratton	Cedar City UT			5.22
135	Gil Valadez	Fullerton CA			5.16
136	Justin Patti	Peoria AZ			5.10
137	Mike Menne	Cottonwood CA			4.85
138	Dick Watson	Boulder City NV			4.84
139	Victor Azevedo	Filer ID			4.82
140	Louis Ulrich	Santee CA			4.81
141	Jesse Halstead	Bonney Lake WA			4.51
142	Chip Gilbert	Yuma AZ			4.44
143	Steven Bowlin	Atlanta TX			4.43
144	Ayaaz Ismail	Las Vegas NV			4.41
145	Shawn Herring	Las Vegas NV			4.28
146	Jiggs Benn	Myrtle Creek OR			4.19
147	Kevin Finley	Phoenix AZ			4.18
148	Paul Hodges	Glendale AZ			4.12
149	Tyler Ivie	West Haven UT			4.00
150	David Gliebe	Manteca CA			3.90
151	Hermie Romero	Henderson NV			3.89
152	Daylon Smith	Frazier Park CA			3.72
153	Tom White Jr.	Costa Mesa CA			3.61
154	Jesse A. Marquez	Lake Havasu City AZ			3.53
155	Mike Huseman	Bullhead City AZ		3.34	3.34
155	Jimmy Reese	Ukiah CA			3.34
157	Tom Leedom	Escondido CA			3.18
158	Mike Luiere	Henderson NV			3.16
159	Patrick Whitaker	Pinetop AZ			3.15
160	Dan Merchant	Canyon Lake CA			3.13
161	Jim Hawkes	Apache Junction AZ			3.11
162	Kevin Duncan	Las Vegas NV			2.52
163	John Gayo	Lake Havasu City AZ			2.48
164	Scott Davis	Preston ID			2.47
165	Lyle Dalby	Apache Junction AZ			2.22
166	Ron Hammett	La Mesa CA			2.18
167	Shane Noel	California City CA			2.13
168	Benjamin Green	Jasper TN			2.11
169	Robert Morales	Williams AZ			1.96
170	Robert Ostercamp	Chandler AZ			1.70
171	Keith Newby	Pine Top AZ			1.67
171	Brian Nunn	Bakersfield CA			1.67
173	Joshua Glenn	Temecula CA			1.57
174	Rusty Brown	Alpine CA			1.56
175	Travis Jewell	Tyler TX			1.54
176	Jason Bryan	Henderson NV			1.39
177	Ryan Yamagata	Las Vegas NV			1.38
178	Cameron Karber	Munds Park AZ	0.20		1.36
179	Greg Garcia	Cibola AZ			0.00
179	Jeffery Klicka	Brawley CA			0.00
179	David Kemper	Tempe AZ			0.00
179	Bill O'Shinn	Auburn CA			0.00
179	Rusty Salewske	Alpine CA			0.00
179	Tony Capparelli	Camarillo CA			0.00
179	Matthew Luna	Santee CA			0.00
179	Jeff Hudson	Las Vegas NV			0.00
179	Sheldon Johnson	Kingman AZ			0.00
179	Shannon Perkins	Corona CA			0.00
179	Melvin Williams	Chula Vista CA			0.00

Day One AAA Standings

Place	Angler	Hometown	Penalty	Big Fish	Total
1	Kyle Keegan	Mesa CA			23.45
2	Chuck Turner	Golden Valley AZ			20.42
3	Eric Hammer	Peoria AZ		4.32	19.47
4	Fisher Griffith	Mesa AZ	0.20		18.97
5	Dave Phillips	Nampa ID			18.89
6	Mike Crothers	Chandler AZ		4.40	18.70
7	Mike Gowey	Snowflake AZ	0.20		18.37
8	Jonathan Jackson	Las Vegas NV			17.75
9	Joe Uribe, Sr.	Lake Havasu City AZ	0.40	4.05	17.73
10	Max Howarth	West Jordan UT			17.52
11	Mike Rasso	Phoenix AZ			17.00
12	Todd Tobiasson	Las Vegas NV		5.07	16.86
13	David Hutto	Escondido CA			16.78
14	Anthony Stanfa	Phoenix AZ	0.20		16.77
15	Tyler Head	Eugene OR		4.48	16.48
16	Creston Carroll	Payson AZ			16.37
17	Joseph Riordan	Bullhead City AZ			15.98
18	Charles Jett	Las Vegas NV	0.40		15.97
19	Nathan Foreman	Queen Creek AZ		3.72	15.92
20	James Pena	Stevensen Ranch CA	0.40		15.68
21	Junior Mora	Fresno CA			15.62
22	Melanie McBride	Searchlight NV			15.51
23	Craig Duvall	Kingman AZ		4.15	15.26
24	Michael Nugent	Surprise AZ		4.25	15.01
25	Mark J. White	Kingman AZ			14.78
26	Mark Chadeayne	Pomona CA			14.65
27	Lyle Valador	Boulder City AZ			14.55
28	Rick Mason	Glendale AZ	0.40	3.52	14.18
29	Trait Zaldain	Fort Worth TX	0.20		14.09
30	Gary Freeman	Las Vegas NV	0.20		14.00
31	Matt Thomas	Scottsdale AZ			13.94
32	Darren Wilson	Las Vegas NV			13.73
33	Dylan Watson	Hayward CA			13.71
34	Michael Gabrielson	Bullhead City AZ			13.62
35	Phillip Dijulio	Glendale AZ			13.37
36	Ron Goldshine	Los Angeles CA			13.11
37	Jay Corbett	Surprise AZ			13.00
38	Zack Willis	Roy WA			12.92
39	Wade Goodwin	Wilton CA			12.85
40	Pete Marino	Moreno Valley CA		3.86	12.74
40	Joe Ahrens	San Diego CA		3.60	12.74
42	Kevin A. Smith	Phoenix AZ	0.20		12.60
43	Brian Kemp	Murrieta CA			12.46
44	Richard Johnson	San Pedro CA			12.40
45	Tim Domingues	San Jose CA			12.38
45	Kurt Hodges	Lakewood CA		3.92	12.38
45	Norman Uptain	Globe AZ			12.38
48	Chris Harvey	Idaho Falls ID			12.36
48	Clif Gallagher	Saint George UT			12.36
50	R. Stephen Gustafson	Santa Monica CA			12.32
51	Nick Lara	Bishop CA			12.18
52	Andrew Packard	Fresno CA	0.20		12.07
53	Hayden Metz	Eastvalle CA	0.20		12.04
54	Geoff Peterson	Huntington Beach CA			12.02
55	David Thies	Upland CA	0.20		11.94
56	Jim Vretzos	El Dorodo Hills CA		4.24	11.85
57	Kaden Argyle	West Bountiful UT			11.82
58	Noah Sanford	San Diego CA			11.76
59	Jeff Giffen	Phoenix AZ		4.64	11.59
59	Tom Creasy	Covina CA	0.20		11.59
61	Bryan Davis	Goleta CA			11.46
62	John Bitting	Kingman AZ			11.42
63	Geoff Pierce	El Cajon CA	0.40		11.36
64	Matthew Matus	Salt Lake City UT	0.20		11.35
65	Andrew Jayne	Coeur Dalene ID			11.13
66	Joe Ramos	Arvada CO	0.20		10.99
67	Tom Warren	Maricopa AZ		3.64	10.95
68	William Penrod	Salome AZ			10.72
69	Jeremie Wraight	Imperial Beach CA			10.64
70	Bryan Ledford	Henderson NV			10.62
71	Jonathan Green	San Pablo CA		4.86	10.58
72	Bill Eastes	Boulder Creek CA			10.46
73	Kenneth Murata	Irvine CA			10.34
73	Adam Arp-Romero	Flagstaff AZ			10.34
75	Michael Reynolds	Overgaard AZ			10.19
76	Kevin Burgess	Kingman AZ			10.18
77	Shawn Carnahan	Gilbert AZ	0.40		10.15
78	Mike Kizis	Belle River ON			10.09
79	Robert Brondyke	Las Vegas NV	0.40		10.02
80	DJ Virzuela	Gilbert AZ			10.01
81	James Scott	Lancaster CA	0.40		9.98
82	David Childress	Bakersfield CA			9.91
83	Greg Stevens	Las Vegas NV	0.20		9.87
84	Bo McNeely	Rancho Cucamunga CA	0.20		9.71
85	Mike Dailey	Overton NV	0.20		9.53
86	Brian Avila	Lenmoore CA	0.20	4.97	9.51
87	Robbie Espinosa	Yorba Linda CA			9.39
88	Gerred Curwick	Kingman AZ			9.38
89	Tom Kruse	Cayucos CA			9.36
90	Nathan Hill	Henderson NV			9.10
91	Brian Tressen	Corona CA			9.07
92	Stacy Teeters	Jasper TN			9.05
93	Josh Buller	San Diego CA			9.04
94	Joey Aliberto	Lomita CA			8.90
95	Sonny Yee	Queen Creek AZ			8.87
96	Steven Cook	Willow AK			8.74
97	Gerald Kimzey	Willcox AZ			8.38
98	Steve W. Clark	Fresno CA			8.33
99	Joseph Weber	Albuquerque NM	0.40		8.23
100	Shawn Byrne	Scottsdale AZ	0.20		8.14
101	Anthony Romano	New River AZ			8.07
102	John D. Helm	Tempe AZ			8.00
103	Len Scinto	Santa Clarita CA			7.98
103	Steve Larsen	Henderson NV			7.98
105	Alf Penland	Tucson AZ			7.87
106	Colin Harrell	Rock Springs WY			7.75
107	J.D. Madden	Morgan Hill CA		3.12	7.62
108	Steve Rice	Ashland OR			7.55
109	Ty Crofts	Cedar City UT			7.32
110	Roger Nelson	Henderson NV			7.28
111	Todd Belzner	Cave Creek AZ			7.26
112	Ray Kawabata	Bothel WA			7.24
113	Joel Chin	Rosemead CA			7.16
114	Mark Sheldahl	Baltimore MD			6.88
115	John Younce	Castaic CA			6.85
116	Colton Underwood-Garside	Riverside CA			6.77
117	Bridger Richins	Washington UT			6.74
117	Trevor Love	Poncha Springs CO			6.74
119	Makoto Otani	Japan			6.72
120	Tim Demecs	Pheonix AZ			6.55
121	Tony Witt	Orange CA			6.48
122	Brandon Smith	Indio CA			6.36
123	Bret Felter	Malad ID	0.20		6.34
124	Tim Roden	Gilbert AZ			6.25
125	Rick Correa	Wilsonville OR		4.31	6.23
126	Jeff Stuart	Las Vegas NV			6.00
126	Dean Yamagata	Las Vegas NV		4.17	6.00
128	Gary Wasson	Visalia CA			5.91
129	Douglas Bullard	Anaheim CA			5.79
130	Mick Karshner	Meridian ID			5.66
131	William McAninch	Palos Verde Estates CA		3.90	5.59
132	Brandon Diamond	Los Altos CA			5.54
133	Dylan Moore	Bakersfield CA			5.40
134	Patrick S. Donoho	Las Vegas NV			5.22
135	Michael Grisham	Glendale AZ			5.16
136	David Shearrer	Trabuco Canyon CA			5.10
137	Stephen Byrum	Avondale AZ			4.85
138	Logan Walker	Winterhaven CA			4.84
139	Vincent Alcantara	Phoenix AZ			4.82
140	Willie Waller	Temecula CA			4.81
141	Chris Thatcher	Tuscon AZ			4.51
142	Kevin Holmgreen	Lake Havasu City AZ			4.44
143	Kelly Burns	Avondale AZ			4.43
144	Ralph Wells	Lake Havasu City AZ			4.41
145	Rod Livermore	Fort Mohave AZ			4.28
146	Brian P. Day	San Diego CA			4.19
147	Ray Gauerke	Porterville CA			4.18
148	Darin Folkestad	Huntington Beach CA			4.12
149	Daymond Allen	Murrieta CA			4.00
150	Lonnie Foster	Kneeland CA			3.90
151	Darin Guglielmo	Santa Barbara CA			3.89
152	Ellison Hubbard	LAS VEGAS NV			3.72
153	Mike Hawkins	Boulder City NV			3.61
154	Jordan Werner	Hurricane UT			3.53
155	Rick Moore	Salinas CA			3.34
155	Chris Beverly	Queen Creek AZ			3.34
157	David Zrebiec	North Las Vegas NV			3.18
158	Adam Glasscock	Payson AZ			3.16
159	Fred Buelna	Chandler AZ			3.15
160	Scott Holman	Orange CA			3.13
161	Blake Rose	Tucson AZ			3.11
162	David Stanberry	Wasilla AK			2.52
163	Thor Dusenberry	Pheonix CA			2.48
164	Rick Cofield	Las Vegas NV			2.47
165	Randy Ricafort	Clearlake CA			2.22
166	Jamie Johnson	Kingman AZ			2.18
167	Anthony Souza	Rio Vista CA			2.13
168	Ken Hromada	Gilbert AZ			2.11
169	Chris Ricci	Ignacio CO			1.96
170	Wayne Larsen	Round Mountain NV			1.70
171	Brayden Weaver	Lehi UT			1.67
171	David Meza	Westlake Village CA		1.67	1.67
173	Melvin Cromwell	Idaho Falls ID			1.57
174	Kenny Johnson	Eager AZ			1.56
175	Joe Leonard	Windsor CA			1.54
176	Brian Reaves	Bullhead City AZ			1.39
177	Scott Robertson	Norco CA			1.38
178	Ethan Hammer	Peoria AZ	0.20		1.36
179	Steve Baker	Canyon Lake CA			0.00
179	Kevin McBean	Shafter CA			0.00
179	Ron Smith	Apache Junction AZ			0.00
179	Gary Volpe	Payson AZ			0.00
179	Rick Melead	Yorba Linda CA			0.00
179	David King	Compton CA			0.00
179	Zach Gines	Stansberry Park UT			0.00
179	Larry Ballesteros	Canyon Country CA			0.00
179	William Hill Sr	Carmichael CA			0.00
179	Kirk Beardsley	Canyon Lake CA			0.00
179	Adam Gragg	Acton CA			0.00

by AnglersChannel

Trent Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament on Lake Murray

Strike King Co-angler Victory Goes to North Carolina’s Privette Jr.

PROSPERITY, S.C. (Oct. 10, 2022) – Boater Tyler Trent of Nathalie, Virginia, brought a three-day total of 15 bass to the scale weighing 49 pounds, 3 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Event on Lake Murray in Prosperity, South Carolina. For his victory, Trent earned $67,604, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF contingency bonus. Trent also received automatic entry into the 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American Championship, May 31-June 2, at Lake Hartwell in Seneca, South Carolina.

“This was my first time to fish Lake Murray, but I knew it was known for offshore fishing,” Trent said. “All I did in practice was idle from the state park area to the dam – that was the biggest key. I found plenty of places to hit for the three days of the tournament.”

Trent said he thought a topwater bait would be most effective for the fish he had located but ended up catching only two bass that way. Every fish he weighed in came on a drop-shot rig with a 6-inch green-pumpkin straight worm, targeting cane piles, brush piles and stumps in 20 to 30 feet of water for the first two days of the competition. Trent said the fish were holding in the tops of the structure at about 10 to 15 feet and on the last day of the tournament he caught a few fish suspended around baitfish in open water.

Trent credited his Lowrance ActiveTarget Live Sonar as the key to locating his target bass.

“Finesse fishing and being consistent with my weights were the key to my win,” Trent said. “I had basically the same weight (16-5, 16-7, 16-7) every day of the tournament.

“I prefer a multi-day tournament, and this win just feels really good,” Trent added. “Three of my BFL wins have been multi-day tournaments. I just like to fish where I can be consistent with my weights.”

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

1st:          Tyler Trent, Nathalie, Va., 15 bass, 49-3, $67,604
2nd:        Matthew O’Connell, Brooks, Ga., 15 bass, 48-1, $10,904
3rd:        Chad Poteat, Mount Airy, N.C., 15 bass, 45-9, $7,208
4th:         Emil Wagner, Marietta, Ga., 15 bass, 41-13, $2,881
5th:         Buddy Benson, Dawsonville, Ga., 12 bass, 39-9, $1,921
6th:         Kip Carter, Eatonton, Ga., 15 bass, 38-15, $1,729

Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:

7th:         Zac Bennett, Loganville, Ga., 14 bass, 38-8, $1,537
8th:         Alex Prince, Blue Ridge, Ga., 15 bass, 38-1, $1,345
9th:         Rodney Bell, Salisbury, N.C., 15 bass, 37-9, $1,152
10th:      Corey McMullen, Gurley, Ala., 12 bass, 30-11, $2,056

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The top four boaters from each division that earned a $1,000 bonus for placing highest in the event were:

Bulldog: Matthew O’Connell, Brooks, Ga., 2nd Place, $1,000
Choo Choo: Corey McMullen, Gurley, Ala. 10th Place, $1,000
Gator: John Dial, Winter Haven, Fla., 13th Place, $1,000
Piedmont: Chad Poteat, Mount Airy, N.C., 3rd Place $1,000

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

Tim Privette, Jr. of Wendell, North Carolina, weighed in 10 bass over three days totaling 21 pounds, 3 ounces to win the top Strike King co-angler prize package of $50,200, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

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

1^st:           Tim Privette Jr., Wendell, N.C., 10 bass, 21-3, $50,200
2^nd:          Wayne Smelser, Wytheville, Va., nine bass, 19-5, $5,414
3^rd:          Jerry Armstrong, Shelbyville, Tenn., nine bass, 18-3, $4,806
4^th:           Dustin Riddle, Hiwassee, Va., six bass, 18-3, $1,444
5^th:           Benjie Winkler, Cleveland, Ga., seven bass, 18-2, $1,463
6^th:           Mekye Barnes, Raleigh, N.C., nine bass, 15-4, $867

Rounding out the top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

7^th:           Stephen Waldon, Ellenwood, Ga., four bass, 13-14, $770
8^th:           Jared Kutil, Beaufort, S.C., five bass, 12-14, $824
9^th:           Caleb Gwaltney, Athens, Ala., seven bass, 12-12, $578
10^th:        Rex Henry, Hixson, Tenn., four bass, 11-7, $530

The top four Strike King Co-anglers from each division that earned a $1,000 bonus for placing highest in the event were:

Bulldog: Benjie Winkler, Cleveland, Ga., 5th Place, $500
Choo Choo: Jerry Armstrong, Shelbyville, Tenn. 3rd Place, $500
Gator: Shaun Ireland, Lake Worth, Fla., 11th Place, $500 (not pictured)
Piedmont: Wayne Smelser, Wytheville, Va., 2nd Place $500

The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Regional Tournament on Lake Murray was hosted by the Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board. It featured the top pros and Strike King co-anglers from the Gator, Choo Choo, Bulldog and Piedmont divisions.

The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advanced to one of six Regional Championships where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

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

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

by AnglersChannel

Blake & Olivo Win Red River Championship - Berkley Big Bass on Fork this weekend

Team Championship - October 8-9
Red River, Shreveport, LA

Total Entries: 197 Teams

Total Collected: $77,200

Total Payback (C&P): $231,290

Payback Percentage: 299%

Total Fish: 924

Total Weight: 1,577.67 lbs

Average Weight: 1.71 lbs

Number of limits: 20

Number of zero's: 35

Top 50 finishers listed below for complete results
go to hhttp://www.basschamps.com

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

1 JASON OLIVO
KYLE , TX TRENT BLAKE
MARBLE FALLS , TX 10 4.89 25.03

SKEETER FXR 21 YAMAHA SHO+Big Bass+Techron

2 BRINTON HASKINS
NEW BRAUNFELS , TX 10 0 24.51

SKEETER ZXR 19 YAMAHA SHO

3 COLT DIETZ
AUSTIN , TX JOHN WARDEN
DRIPPING SPRINGS , TX 10 0 22.84

$11,000.00 with James Wood Motors Bonus

4 WILL CARSTENS
ALEXANDRIA , LA ROSS BRYANT
ALEXANDRIA , LA 10 0 22.33

$5000.00

5 DARRYL ROACH
DECATUR , TX DANIEL HERRING
WATUAGA , TX 10 0 22.09

$4000.00

6 ALLEN SHELTON
FARMERS BRANCH , TX STRIDER BROWNING
TIMPSON , TX 10 0 21.40

$3000.00

7 JACOB KINARD
ROCKWALL , TX GARY KINARD
FORNEY , TX 10 3.93 20.97

$2000.00

8 BRANDON DAVIDSON
LITTLE ELM , TX JIM FURR
HEMPHILL , TX 10 3.82 20.50

$1800.00

9 TIM BLANCHETTE
BLESSING , TX DAVID DAY
GOLIAD , TX 10 0 20.45

$1700.00

10 MARSHALL HUGHES
HEMPHILL , TX COLE STEWART
HEMPHILL , TX 10 0 19.80

$1600.00

11 TREVOR ROMANS
CELINA , TX MATT MCMILLAN
FORT WORTH , TX 10 0 19.58

$4000.00 with Skeeter Bonus Cash

11 KEITH BRYAN
DECATUR , TX JASON DUNNING
DECATUR , TX 10 0 19.58

$1500.00

13 BRANNON MIRE
BROUSSARD , LA BEN MATSUBU
MANY , LA 10 0 18.82

$1500.00

14 HAROLD ALLEN
SHELBYVILLE , TX MATT LOETSCHER
MANY , LA 10 0 18.75

$2500.00 with Skeeter Bonus Cash

15 JJ LARSON
LEANDER , TX CHARLES WHITED
SAN MARCOS , TX 10 3.26 18.47

$1500.00

16 WESLEY DAWSON
CHESTER , TX TEDDY CLOIDE
VIDOR , TX 10 0 18.39

$1500.00

17 JOSH KEITHLEY
FORT WORTH , TX JUSTIN KEITHLEY
ARLINGTON , TX 8 0 18.22

$1500.00

18 GENE FUESSEL
AUSTIN , TX GERALD MUELLER JR
HUTTO , TX 10 5.42 18.10

$1500.00 + $750.00 Big Bass

19 JUSTIN KELLEY
JOSHUA , TX RAY BOSQUEZ JR
FORT WORTH , TX 10 0 18.07

$2000.00 with Skeeter Bonus Cash

20 KURT KLOSOWSKI
PLANO , TX TOM MOCNY
QUITMAN , TX 8 0 18.02

$1500.00

21 DYLAN THOMPSON
DEL RIO , TX CURTIS STOCK
DEL RIO , TX 10 0 17.91

$1500.00

22 BRANDON DAY
BROWNWOOD , TX CADE WILSON
EARLY , TX 10 0 17.33

$1500.00

23 RYAN AUTERY
RICHARDSON , TX THOMAS ROSS
ROCKWALL , TX 10 0 17.30

$1500.00

24 BILLY BREWER
LORENA , TX L J CASTILLO
WACO , TX 10 0 17.24

$1500.00

25 BRANDEN HOLLINGSHEAD
AZLE , TX JEREMY LAMBERT
DECATUR , TX 9 0 16.51

$1500.00

26 CHRIS STUDINGER
KYLE , TX JOSHUA RHODES
SAN ANTONIO , TX 8 0 16.45

$1200.00

26 BOB SIGNORIN
OAKHURST , TX TRAVIS SIGNORIN
WILLIS , TX 10 0 16.45

$1200.00

28 DWIGHT MINOGUE
BENTON , LA DUANE PITTMAN
GONZALES , LA 9 0 16.30

$1200.00

29 TERRY KIRCUS
BURNET , TX JASON BUCHANAN
BURNET , TX 10 0 16.27

$1200.00

30 CHAD BLACK
CANYON LAKE , TX CHUCK BLACK
LOGAN , NM 10 3.52 15.78

$1200.00

31 BRENNAN FERTIG
BELLVILLE , TX JAMES BEAUCHAMP
SUNRISE BEACH , TX 8 3.23 15.66

$1200.00

32 TIM CLINE
SHERMAN , TX JAXON CLINE
SHERMAN , TX 10 0 15.65

$1200.00

33 ROBERT KESSLER
SPRING , TX RUSSELL KESSLER
LA VERNIA , TX 8 0 15.18

$1200.00

34 WILLIAM BLAINE
SAN ANGELO , TX ROSS JEWELL
SAN ANGELO , TX 10 0 15.13

$1200.00

35 DAVID CHILES
WACO , TX KYLE ROWE
WACO , TX 10 0 14.83

$1200.00

36 BYRON BIONDI
BURLESON , TX JASON GREENFIELD
KENNEDALE , TX 10 0 14.59

$1000.00

37 BRANDON JONES
BOERNE , TX JARRETT WEIMER
CEDAR PARK , TX 9 0 14.41

$1000.00

38 TOBY JONES
STONEWALL , LA CARL JONES
DAYTON , TX 8 0 14.32

$1000.00

39 MATHEW ARMAND
HESSMER , LA 10 0 14.31

$1000.00

40 LAMARCUS MCCRAY
HOUSTON , TX JAMES ROZELL
NEW CANEY , TX 9 0 14.24

$1000.00

41 DEAN ALEXANDER
GEORGETOWN , TX THOMAS MARTENS
CEDAR PARK , TX 8 0 14.19

42 DAVID UNDERWOOD
WACO , TX CHARLES SIMMONS
WACO , TX 8 0 13.91

43 WENDELL RAMSEY SR
SAN ANGELO , TX WENDELL RAMSEY JR
WEBBERVILLE , TX 8 0 13.73

44 KEVIN DRITSCHLER
PROSPER , TX MIKE WITHROW
CORSICANA , TX 9 0 13.70

45 JONATHAN LANCASTER
QUITMAN , TX JONATHAN SHORT
RUSK , TX 9 0 13.62

46 JOEY EAVES
NEVADA , TX JASON HADLEY
FATE , TX 10 0 13.49

47 ANDY ALLEN
SAN ANGELO , TX RYAN MONREAL
SAN ANGELO , TX 8 3.36 13.47

48 TIM WILCOXSON
ROCKWALL , TX ERIC ELDER
SCROGGINS , TX 7 0 13.41

49 KEITH IVY
PONDER , TX 10 0 13.40

50 ANDREW GOLDENbr /> JOAQUIN , TX JOHN BARRERA
MILAM , TX 6 0 13.38

by AnglersChannel

Gregory Seals Third Win Of Season At Bassmaster Kayak Series Event On Pickwick Lake

Drew Gregory of Kent, Ohio, has won the 2022 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series at Pickwick Lake presented by TourneyX with a two-day total of 175.5 inches.

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

October 9, 2022

COUNCE, TENN. — Tournament bass fishing is usually hard, but Drew Gregory has made it look easy this year.

With a two-day total of 175.5 inches, the Ohio native won the 2022 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series at Pickwick Lake powered by TourneyX on Sunday, earning his third trophy of the season and almost certainly earning Old Town Angler of the Year honors in the process.

Gregory took the lead on Day 1 with 94.5 inches and never looked back, adding 81 inches on Day 2 to beat Guillermo Gonzalez by just over 8 inches.

“Last year, I didn’t win any national tournaments and the year before I only won one,” Gregory said. “It never crossed my mind this could happen. It is really only my third year focusing on tournament fishing, and I am starting to get history on places and get better and learn the little nuances and the things you don’t think about.”

It was only Gregory’s second time fishing Pickwick and the first time was last year, when the lake was flooded from heavy rains. This time, the lake was low and relatively clear. Even still, Gregory did what he does best, find a shallow, backwater area where he could find unpressured bass and easily navigate with his Crescent Shoalie paddle-style kayak.

In his backwater were pods of bass and schools of gizzard shad. Gregory’s bites came from several ambush points that were often in inches of water, from mats of fallen leaves on the surface to cypress trees and knees.

Keeping his baits moving was a big key as most of his bass bite within the first couple of cranks.

“There’d be mats of leaves against branches on the back based on wind and current. They were hiding under that stuff,” he said. “That was one of the main keys. It was important to have your bait moving the second it hit the water. When they are that shallow, they are ready to pounce.”

While he knew there were plenty of bass back there for limits, he had no idea he would catch the size he did on Day 1. Topwaters, a Z-Man CrossEyeZ Power Finesse Jig paired with a Pro CrawZ trailer and a Z-Man Goat ToadZ all produced quality bass.

A cold front moved through and brought winds and cooler temperatures, and the size vanished in Gregory’s area on Day 2 as well as the gizzard shad. But he achieved his goal of catching a solid limit by 10:30 a.m. and held on for the win.

“Day 1 was the key. I don’t know where these fish came from,” Gregory said. “I think they were chasing migratory shad up a creek and I was concentrating on a two or three-mile section. They were there and eating on Day 1 and I saw other ones in the water. Today the big ones didn’t exist. The biggest one I caught was 17 inches. But it was a solid bag after that Day 1 performance.”

Fishing a small area, Gregory switched his presentations a bit, adding a Z-Man Sling BladeZ spinnerbait, a Z-Man CrossEyeZ Power Finesse Jig paired with a Pro CrawZ, as well as a Project Z ChatterBait and a Berkley Choppo.

“I couldn’t lock one bait in my hand today,” he said. “I never found what they were on. Once I got my five, I was looking for what was going to catch a big one. Everything I would throw I would still catch the same type of 14-, 15- and 16-inch fish.”

Gonzales finished second with 167.25 two-day total of largemouth, following up his 86.5-inch Day 1 performance by catching 80.75 inches on the second day. He also landed the Big Bass of the tournament, a 22-incher he caught on Day 1.

While he only has been to Pickwick one time, that first trip resulted in a win for Gonzales in last year's September Hobie event.

The Texan focused on shallow water and spent the first 90 minutes each day navigating a 5-mile run to his primary area. He targeted wood cover with a little grass mixed in. The water was relatively clear and that made the bite tougher as the tournament progressed.

A Fluke, Yamamoto Senko and a frog were his best techniques.

“I caught them in practice power fishing,” he said. “But I had to really downsize and fish as quietly as I could. I noticed the fish seemed pretty spooky. That seemed to be a big key for me and being willing to break down certain little areas that had fish. It didn’t seem you could just go down the bank and catch them. When you caught one there was always another one nearby and you had to pick the area apart.”

On Championship Sunday, Gonzales filled his limit around 10 a.m. and used the rest of the day to make important upgrades.

Kristine Fischer finished third with a two-day total of 166.25 inches. The Nebraska angler has an extensive history of success kayak fishing at Pickwick, including a victory and second-place finish in national events. So, her third-place finish left her with mixed emotions.

“I come into events expecting to win them here,” she said. “For whatever reason, it seems like the lake is a little off right now. I couldn’t find anything that was really consistent.”

In her trips to Pickwick in the past, Fischer has visited one specific area to find quality bites. This time around, however, low water conditions messed with her best smallmouth areas and forced her to find new water. After a terrible practice, she rigged 14 rods and bounced from ramp to ramp to land 82.25 inches.

On the final day, she settled into a creek where she caught her limit on Day 1 — and while it took longer than expected, she filled a limit by midmorning. In the afternoon, Fischer moved to a big mud flat, grabbed her spinnerbait rod and caught several quality fish, including one over 21 inches.

“I know sometime in the fall there will be bait on these mud flats,” she said. “They warm up faster and the big fish might move up on them. I took a super finessy spinnerbait and started combing that flat and caught a 21.75-incher, a 16 and then made another cull.”

by AnglersChannel

Arkansas Tech’s Case and Higby Take Day 1 Lead at the 2022 AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open

RUSSELLVILLE, AR (October 8, 2022) – Day 1 of tournament competition is in the books at the 2022 AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open.  218 of the top collegiate bass fishing teams in the nation took to Lake Dardanelle in search of the best five bites they could catch and bring to weigh-in at Lake Dardanelle State Park.  Numerous quality limits were brought to the scales, and Mat Higby & John Foster Case from Arkansas Tech University take the Day 1 lead with 15.56 pounds.  Lane Stephens & Colsyn Head from McKendree University are in 2nd place, and Remington Lawrence and Jade Craft of Arkansas Tech University round out the Top 3.

View the complete Day 1 results.

The host site for the 2022 AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open is the city of Russellville, AR.  Russellville is a great host, and home to a great fishery in Lake Dardanelle.  Also located in the city of Russellville is Arkansas Tech University.  Arkansas Tech won the first-ever title of Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia more than 10 years ago, and the ATU bass fishing club always shows well at this event on their home fishery.

Mat Higby & John Foster Case from Arkansas Tech University represent their local waters well by bringing in a limit of over 15 pounds on Day 1.  The two weighed in 15.56 pounds to claim a more than two pound lead over second place.  Higby & Case said that they ran some familiar spots in which they’ve had recent success.  That milk run of familiar spots has them sitting atop the leaderboard of this elite field comprised of 218 of the top teams in the country.

Remington Lawrence and Jade Craft, also from Arkansas Tech University, are in third with 13.33 pounds.

Sitting in 2nd place are Lane Stephens and Colsyn Head from third ranked McKendree University.  Stephens and Head brought in a five bass limit weighing 13.53 pounds.  After weighing in their fish, the duo stated that they dialed in on a pattern mid-morning that yielded the day’s catch.  On Day 2 they will be looking to catch five more quality fish, and possibly even add in a nice kicker fish to threaten for the overall tournament title.

The AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open is a double points event in the race for Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.  Arkansas Tech stands to gain valuable points if they can back up their Day 1 showing of 1st and 3rd overall.  McKendree University is in good shape after Day 1, with its two highest placed teams being 2nd and 10th. Colsyn Head and Lane Stephens are in 2nd place as mentioned above, and Jack Stephens and Nick Holtgrave are in 10th.  Second ranked University of Montevallo also stands to gain valuable points as they have teams in 11th and 12th overall.

Day 2 will mark the final day of tournament competition at the 2022 AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open.  Following the conclusion of weigh-in tomorrow, over $20,000 in prizes and contingencies will be awarded, along with double points in the race for Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.  Be sure to follow along with live blog coverage at www.collegiatebasschampionship.com, and tune in for final day weigh-in starting at 1:00 PM on the Outdoor Action TV app.

by AnglersChannel

AnglersChannel Bass Wrap Up 2022 is HERE!

The 2022 Season of the AnglersChannel Bass Wrap Up kicks off with the Grandaddy of them all, the Bassmaster Classic, BUT with a behind the scenes viewpoint thanks to our pal Neil Paul with Visit Anderson. Todd Auten takes you for a tour of his Man Cave, we ride along in the Sportsmans Warehouse "Fish with Thrift" Sweepstakes winner and we introduce a new "Under the Lid" segment to showcase some new products. The new Season of ACBW is here, Check it out!

by AnglersChannel

Gregory Takes Lead On Day 1 Of Bassmaster Kayak Tournament At Pickwick

The final event of the 2022 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series presented by TourneyX will wrap up tomorrow on Pickwick Lake, Tenn. After one day, Ohio's Drew Gregory is leading the tournament.

Photo by Mark Cisneros

October 8, 2022

COUNCE, Tenn. — With two wins already this season, Drew Gregory entered the 2022 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series at Pickwick Lake powered by TourneyX simply looking for solid limits in the two-day event in hopes of securing the Old Town Angler of the Year title.

The Ohio native found much more than a solid limit on Day 1, catching 94.5 inches of bass to take the lead. He anchored his bag with a 20.25-incher with four more measuring 18 inches or more.

“I felt like it was a consistent bite and honestly I was hedging a little bit,” he said. “I may not have the top-end largemouth or smallmouth, but I felt like I could get a solid limit for two days and I would probably lock up AOY. That was the goal and I was surprised to see that so far, I have myself in the running for the tournament win as well as AOY.”

Gregory entered Pickwick with wins on Grand Lake and Smith Lake as well as a seventh-place showing at the Harris Chain. That had him in 11th place in points. With four of the five tournaments counting toward the points race, another good day will likely give Gregory the title.

Texas angler Guillermo Gonzales is second with 86.5 and also claimed the Big Bass of the Day, a 22-incher. Brand Jackson is third with 86.25.

Gregory knew the area he was fishing held plenty of bass, but he was surprised by the size he caught on Day 1. He started the day with an 18-incher three minutes in on a topwater bait and then caught a quality keeper every hour.

He also used a Z-Man CrossEyeZ Power Finesse Jig paired with a Pro CrawZ trailer as well as a Z-Man Goat ToadZ. Every bass he caught came in 1 1/2 feet of water or less.

“I had everything I had by about 10:30 and didn’t know what to do with the rest of my day,” he said. “I wanted to manage fish so I took it easy the rest of the day. They were mostly in a 3 1/2-mile stretch. I don’t know if they are up there because they are chasing the shad up the creek or if they are up there for cooler water. I just found a zone where they seem to want to be.”

Anglers can begin fishing on Day 2 at 6:30 a.m. CT with lines out scheduled for 2:30 p.m. A winner will be crowned at 4 p.m. at The Lodge on Pickwick Landing.

by AnglersChannel

McCormick Rallies To Win Bassmaster Southern Open At Lake Hartwell

Former Bethel University angler Tristan McCormick of Burns, Tenn., has won the 2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open at Lake Hartwell presented by Mossy Oak Fishing with a three-day total of 45 pounds.

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

October 8, 2022

ANDERSON, S.C. — By catching 14 pounds, 13 ounces of spotted bass Saturday, Tristan McCormick won the St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open at Lake Hartwell presented by Mossy Oak Fishing with a three-day total of 45 pounds, besting California pro Bryant Smith by 9 ounces.

The victory brought McCormick’s season full circle in the sweetest kind of way.

The 2021 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket champion, McCormick, started his 2022 season by competing in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic at Lake Hartwell. His victory Saturday — once again on Hartwell — earned him a second Classic berth, this time for the 2023 event scheduled for March 24-26 in Knoxville, Tenn.

“I had a target weight in my head and I didn’t reach it,” McCormick said. “When we pulled in at check-in I asked (B.A.S.S. cameraman) Jake Latendresse, ‘How bad did I get beat?’ and he told me I was leading. I didn’t think there was any way. But God has it all planned out for us. I just go have fun and control what I can control.”

After catching bags of 16-2 and 14-1 the first two days, McCormick entered Championship Saturday with a 3-pound gap between him and Day 2 leader Derek Lehtonen. But his final-day catch of 14-13 proved to be just enough.

McCormick rotated through four main-lake shoals, using his forward-facing sonar to locate and cast to small groups of spotted bass that were roaming and eating blueback herring.

“They were in big wolf packs and I would throw a Sexy Dawg or Caffeine Shad over them and they would destroy it,” he said. “I had several places like that and thought I had the potential to do it. I rolled up on Day 1 and I just kept seeing singles and doubles. I hadn’t tried it all week, so I picked up a drop shot and caught a 4-pounder as my first fish.

“I was like, ‘There you go, you big dummy. You just figured it out.’ And that is what I stuck with the rest of the week.”

He built his drop shot with a Strike King Filler Worm, a bait revealed at ICAST in July, rigged on a 2/0 Owner Cover Shot and a 3/8-ounce 1st Contact Tungsten weight. He also mixed in the Strike King Caffeine Shad and the chrome-colored Strike King Sexy Dawg, both of which produced important bites.

Every fish he weighed was roaming the water column, and the Bethel University graduate found he would only have one opportunity to catch them.

“You have the trolling motor at 100 and when you see one, you have one perfect cast because you are going superfast and they will be under the boat before you know it,” he said. “I got really dialed in on my distance. I told Jake today I felt dialed. I didn’t miss a cast and I was landing it right in front of them. It was amazing.”

It defies conventional wisdom, but the smaller groups were the most productive for McCormick.

“I didn’t want any more than five bass in a group, just because there is so much going on,” he explained. “When you would throw a drop shot in a school of 20 of them, they would just sit there. They wouldn’t move. When you throw between two or three, it was like a fight over it. It makes zero sense, but you could watch it happen (on my graph).”

On the final day, McCormick started close to the ramp and achieved a small limit, but once he moved to his primary area, he found the quality he was looking for. Around midday, McCormick lost what he thought might have been a winning spotted bass, but stayed positive and caught his biggest one of the day not long after, a 3 1/4-pounder. He completed his bag around 1:30 p.m.

“I had four magical shoals and I did circle around every one of them three times apiece today,” he said. “I would throw at 30 and get one to bite. It wasn’t that good of a ratio by any means, but I knew that’s what I needed to do to catch quality fish.”

Following the final Open of the season at Sam Rayburn, McCormick will begin preparation for his second Classic appearance, which will be in his home state of Tennessee.

After earning an Elite Series berth Friday with a third-place finish in the Southern Open points, Smith finished with a three-day total of 44-7 and added a second-place trophy to his impressive season. Smith’s spotted bass prowess is deep, starting with his roots in California. As a National Professional Fishing League pro, he has learned more about the Eastern spotted bass as well and Lake Hartwell has become one of his favorite places.

“I can’t put it into words, and to do it on this lake (is amazing),” Smith said. “This is by far my favorite lake. I love coming here. It suits my style and it has spotted bass, which is my favorite. Having that comfort level here is huge and I think it played a lot in my success.”

For most of the tournament, Smith targeted brushpiles with either a 3/4-ounce or 1/2-ounce green pumpkin homemade football jig. He paired the heavier one with a Strike King Rage Menace and the lighter one with a Baby Rage Craw.

“In practice, I got sick of them following my topwater or following my Caffeine Shad or drop shot,” he said. “So, I tried something kind of silly and the jig seemed kind of silly. It ended up working and it was the only way I could trigger them into biting.”

Smith’s final day got off to a slow start, but once he found a rhythm, the quality spotted bass showed up. He switched between jigs sizes based on how they reacted on his forward-facing graph. If they followed it down fast, he would throw the heavier jig. If they weren’t aggressive, he would throw the lighter one.

Bryan New finished third with 43-4. After landing in 98th with 10-8 on Day 1, he rocketed up the leaderboard with 19-0 Friday and finished Championship Sunday with 13-12. His last two days were centered around a largemouth bite up the Tugaloo River.

He targeted brushpiles and docks with several baits, including a Spro Little John Baby MD, a Greenfish Tackle Brandon Cobb All Purpose jig and a Z-Man Evergreen JackHammer.

“Those piles have been there since at least 2020 because I found them practicing for the Open in 2020,” he said. “It is the only structure in the area and there is bait in the area as well. I would say everything I fished was less than 15 feet of water.”

With a 6-8 largemouth he caught on a buzzbait, Shane Lineberger claimed the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the tournament award worth $750. Smith added an extra $500 to his winnings for being the highest-finishing Garmin pro.

As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, another former Bethel University angler, John Garrett, took home an additional $1,500.

With one event to go in the Opens season, Alabama pro Keith Poche leads the overall points race with 1,321 points. He is followed by Alabama pro David Gaston with 1,282 and Canadian pro Cooper Gallant with 1,262.

With Poche and Gallant already qualified for the Elite Series via the Northern and Southern Opens, respectively, and Gaston leading the Central points standings heading into the final event on Sam Rayburn Reservoir, that opens the door for several anglers to earn Elite berths in the overall standings.

The next three anglers in line for Elite Series berths if that scenario were to play out are Cole Sands with 1,253 points, Logan Parks with 1,215 and John Soukup 1,208.

The tournament was hosted by Visit Anderson.

2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open #3 Lake Hartwell presented by Mossy Oak Fishing 10/6-10/8
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3

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

1. Tristan McCormick Burns, TN 15 45-00 200 $43,634.00
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 5 14-13
2. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 15 44-07 199 $21,694.00
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 14-03 Day 3: 5 15-09
3. Bryan New Saluda, SC 15 43-04 198 $14,960.00
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 19-00 Day 3: 5 13-12
4. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 15 42-07 197 $13,217.00
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 10-11 Day 3: 5 13-15
5. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 15 42-03 196 $10,846.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 13-11 Day 3: 5 13-01
6. John Garrett Union City, TN 15 42-03 195 $9,973.00
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 12-14 Day 3: 5 14-02
7. Derek Lehtonen Woodruff, SC 15 41-09 194 $9,350.00
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 15-05 Day 3: 5 08-07
8. Lucas Murphy West Columbia, MI 15 40-14 193 $8,727.00
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 14-12 Day 3: 5 11-03
9. Matt Pangrac Bixby, OK 15 40-12 192 $6,857.00
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 12-05 Day 3: 5 12-03
10. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 15 40-05 191 $5,610.00
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 14-14 Day 3: 5 10-02
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 06-08 $750.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 170 902 1966-08
2 154 831 1747-08
3 10 50 127-03
----------------------------------
334 1783 3841-03

by AnglersChannel

Lehtonen Claims Lead In Bassmaster Southern Open At South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell

Derek Lehtonen of Woodruff, S.C., is leading after Day 2 of the 2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open at Lake Hartwell presented by Mossy Oak Fishing with a two-day total of 33 pounds, 2 ounces.

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

October 7, 2022

ANDERSON, S.C. — With another successful day on his home pond, Derek Lehtonen is one day away from the biggest win of his angling career.

With 15 pounds, 5 ounces on Day 2, Lehtonen took sole possession of first place at the St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open at Lake Hartwell presented by Mossy Oak Fishing with a total of 33-2.

He began the day tied for the lead with Shane Lineberger with 17-13, but now the Woodruff, S.C., native holds nearly a 3-pound advantage over Tristan McCormick and David Gaston, who both have 30-3.

“It would be amazing (to make the Classic),” said Lehtonen, who would earn a berth to the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic with a victory this week. “I would love it. I just want to have fun and to say I did it.”

After struggling the morning of Day 1, Lehtonen got off to a much better start on Day 2 and filled his limit of largemouth around noon. He caught two of his bass on one cast.

“I did catch two fish on one cast and that helped,” he said. “But after 2 o’clock I didn’t get another bite. I was fortunate to catch what I caught. I tried to leave a lot of stuff alone. I was trying to do a semi-milk run to keep fish for tomorrow.”

While he went offshore for a short time on Thursday to calm his nerves and secure a limit, on Friday he focused solely on largemouth. Lehtonen has picked apart very specific areas and targets with two baits in his primary area.

“It is structure oriented. I am making very specific casts,” he said. “It is not just going down the bank and fishing. It is a specific throw.”

McCormick entered the day in sixth place with 16-2 before landing 14-1 on Day 2 to secure a spot inside the Top 10 cut. With conditions nearly identical to what he experienced on Day 1, the Tennessee native was expecting the spotted bass bite to come easier.

That was not the case, but he made key moves later in the day to land his bag.

“I rolled up to my primary area and started throwing at them and they weren’t reacting as much,” McCormick said. “I had 8 pounds pretty quickly, but I knew right then I was going to start running new water. From 11 a.m. to check-in, I ran new water.”

On Thursday, two 4-pounders lifted last year's College Classic Bracket champion up the leaderboard, and while he caught nearly 60 fish Friday, he struggled to get the size he wanted.

“I couldn’t ever catch a big one,” McCormick said. “I got lucky and had two 4-pounders in my bag and those are what separate you. Whoever finds those tomorrow is probably going to win.”

Using his Garmin LiveScope, he found his spotted bass locked on the bottom. But the ones that are willing to eat will come up and investigate his drop shot. After leaving his primary area, he was able to find a section of lake where he could bounce around easily and quickly.

“I’m not really focusing on the cane and the brush,” he said. “I have caught some out of it, don't get me wrong, but I am looking for two or three roamers. If I make a cast, it is at a fish.”

Following up his 15-5 Day 1 bag with 14-14, Gaston jumped from 12th to third and secured his fourth Top 10 finish of the season.

This week, Gaston is sight fishing for cruising largemouth in shallow waters with a topwater popper. If he sees a bass, he casts to it, but he has to be sure not to get too close.

“I’m fishing secondary points, little rolling points and little white sandy beaches,” he said. “I’m pulling up and looking for one swimming. I’m looking for wolf packs. You might see 10 fish in one school or two fish in one school. The shallower they are, the better they will bite.

“You have to make sure a little one doesn’t bite first, and that has been the problem two days in a row. The little one always bites first and it is irritating.”

With a later boat draw Friday, the Alabama angler struggled to find momentum early in the morning. His fortunes turned around as the morning wore on, however, landing a 5-pounder around midmorning before upgrading throughout the day. Although he was scheduled to fish until 5:45 p.m., battery troubles forced him in early.

Jon Jezierski from Troy, Mich., remains atop of the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament race with a 6-6 largemouth he caught on Day 1.

Sakae Ushio won the co-angler division with a two-day total of 15-8. On Day 1, the Tonawanda, N.Y., angler secured a three-bass limit weighing 10-0 and followed that with 5-8 Friday. Mike Spears from Jasper, Ala., finished second with 14-14, and Jacob Thompkins from Myrtle Beach, S.C., was third with 14-11.

Clifton Overstreet of Dothan, Ala., earned the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors on the co-angler side with a 5-10 largemouth he caught on Day 1.

Thanks to a 19-0 Day 2 sack that lifted him into the Top 10 cut, Elite Series pro Bryan New from Saluda, S.C., is the Southern Opens Division champion with 572 points. Bryant Smith from Roseville, Calif., finished second with 547 points, followed by Canadian Cooper Gallant with 546 and Joey Cifuentes III with 536 points.

Since New is already a Bassmaster Elite Series pro, Smith, Gallant and Cifuentes earned invites to the 2023 Elite Series.

In the overall points race, Alabama pro Keith Poche continues to lead with 1,321 points. Gaston is second with 1,289, and Gallant is now third with 1,262.

The Top 10 boaters will launch from Green Pond Landing and Event Center Saturday at 7:15 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in beginning at 3:15 p.m. FS1 will broadcast live with the leaders beginning at 8 a.m. with continuing coverage on Bassmaster.com.

2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open #3 Lake Hartwell presented by Mossy Oak Fishing 10/6-10/8
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1. Derek Lehtonen Woodruff, SC 10 33-02 200
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 15-05
2. Tristan McCormick Burns, TN 10 30-03 199
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 14-01
3. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 10 30-03 198
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 14-14
4. Lucas Murphy West Columbia, MI 10 29-11 197
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 14-12
5. Bryan New Saluda, SC 10 29-08 196
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 19-00
6. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 10 29-02 195
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 13-11
7. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 10 28-14 194
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 14-03
8. Matt Pangrac Bixby, OK 10 28-09 193
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 12-05
9. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 10 28-08 192
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 10-11
10. John Garrett Union City, TN 10 28-01 191
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 12-14
11. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 10 28-00 190 $4,987.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 11-09
12. Kayden Tanner Tolar, TX 10 27-14 189 $4,363.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 11-14
13. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 10 27-11 188 $3,428.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 14-03
14. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 10 27-08 187 $3,428.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 14-06
15. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 10 27-07 186 $3,428.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 14-03
16. Adam Neu Sturgeon Bay, WI 10 27-06 185 $3,428.00
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 11-09
17. Blake Sylvester Plaquemine, LA 10 27-05 184 $3,428.00
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 11-08
18. Destin DeMarion Harborcreek, PA 10 27-05 183 $3,428.00
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 15-01
19. Jamie Bruce Kenora Ontario CANADA 10 27-04 182 $3,428.00
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 13-01
20. Cole Sands Calhoun , TN 10 27-00 181 $3,428.00
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 14-13
21. Darold Gleason Many, LA 10 26-15 180 $3,117.00
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 13-00
22. Todd Goade White Pine, TN 10 26-15 179 $3,117.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 13-07
23. Tucker Smith Shoal Creek, AL 10 26-14 178 $3,117.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 12-07
24. Shannon Poore Walhalla, SC 10 26-03 177 $3,117.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 12-10
25. Dustin Williamson Aiken, SC 10 26-00 176 $3,117.00
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 13-11
26. Jacob Walker Springville, AL 10 26-00 175 $2,867.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 12-09
27. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 10 25-13 174 $2,867.00
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 14-03
28. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 10 25-13 173 $2,867.00
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 11-11
29. Rob Digh Denver, NC 10 25-12 172 $2,867.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 11-05
30. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 10 25-11 171 $2,867.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 12-01
31. Zach Goutremout Chaumont, NY 10 25-09 170 $2,867.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 11-00
32. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 10 25-05 169 $2,867.00
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 15-00
33. Jeremy Gordon Rutledge, TN 10 25-01 168 $2,867.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 12-03
34. John Hunter Jr Shelbyville, KY 10 25-00 167 $2,867.00
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 12-11
35. Hunter Sales Blaine, TN 10 24-15 166 $2,867.00
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 08-14
36. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 10 24-08 165 $2,867.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 11-12
37. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 10 24-07 164 $2,867.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 11-00
38. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 24-07 163 $2,867.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 13-01
39. Logan Shaddix Cummings, GA 10 24-07 162 $2,867.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 11-15
40. Austin Cranford Moore, OK 10 24-06 161 $2,867.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-02
41. Corey Lindsey Marion, OH 10 24-04 160
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 14-01
42. Billy McDonald Greenwood, IN 10 24-03 159
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 13-03
43. Joe Mitchell Martin, GA 10 24-00 158
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 10-14
44. David Williams Newton, NC 10 23-14 157
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 10-12
45. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 10 23-13 156
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 09-15
46. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 10 23-13 155
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-08
47. Danny Lavoie Franklin, GA 10 23-12 154
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 09-07
48. Jon Canada Helena, AL 10 23-11 153
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 12-05
49. Tom Frink Southside, AL 10 23-10 152
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 11-02
50. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 10 23-09 151
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 09-06
51. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 10 23-09 150
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 10-07
52. Jacob Bigelow Cecil, WI 10 23-09 149
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 12-06
53. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 10 23-06 148
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 5 15-00
54. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 10 23-03 147
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 12-12
55. Dustin Wilkey Durant, OK 10 23-03 146
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 11-06
56. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 23-02 145
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 09-06
57. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 10 23-00 144
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 09-12
58. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 10 23-00 143
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 12-07
59. Scott Pellegrin Chippewa Falls, WI 10 23-00 142
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 11-07
60. Danny Ramsey Trinidad, TX 10 22-15 141
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 10-11
61. Ben Stone Iva, SC 10 22-14 140
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 11-03
62. Frank Talley Temple, TX 9 22-13 139
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 4 09-11
63. Michael Cooper Mobile, AL 10 22-13 138
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 11-01
64. David Kilgore Jasper, AL 10 22-11 137
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 11-01
65. Julius Mazy Phoenix, AZ 10 22-09 136
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 11-00
66. Marshall Harrelson Clarksville, GA 10 22-07 135
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 09-03
67. Hugh Cosculluela Spring, TX 10 22-06 134
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 11-14
68. Brent Crow Hartselle, AL 10 22-05 133
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 11-06
69. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 10 22-04 132
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 5 13-01
70. Cameron Smith Wareham, MA 10 22-03 131
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 11-09
71. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 10 22-03 130
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 11-02
72. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 10 22-02 129
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 11-06
73. Brandon Ackerson Afton, OK 10 22-01 128
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 10-15
74. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 10 22-00 127
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 13-09
75. Jacob Moore Wake Forest, NC 9 21-15 126
Day 1: 4 07-13 Day 2: 5 14-02
76. Logan Johnson Jasper, AL 10 21-15 125
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 09-14
77. Zack Birge Blanchard, OK 10 21-15 124
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 10-06
78. Joel Willert Prior Lake, MN 10 21-14 123
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 12-08
79. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 10 21-13 122
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 11-00
80. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 10 21-11 121
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 08-12
81. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 10 21-11 120
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 12-10
82. Caden Acree Powder Springs, GA 10 21-11 119
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 10-12
83. Matt Green Cartersville, GA 10 21-10 118
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 11-06
84. Andrew Mlotek Indianapolis, IN 10 21-09 117
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 11-09
85. Joey Sabbagha Prosperity, SC 10 21-07 116
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 10-05
86. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 10 21-02 115
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 06-13
87. Darryl Halbert Enoree, SC 10 21-01 114
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 10-08
88. Jake Maddux Birmingham, AL 10 21-00 113
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 09-09
89. D.J. Ellis Crestview, FL 10 20-15 112
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 11-11
90. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 10 20-13 111
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 10-05
91. Joe McClosky Swanton, MD 10 20-12 110
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 5 12-00
92. Jerry Gallogly Jr North Tazewell, VA 10 20-12 109
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 08-13
93. Michael Kinard Concord, NC 10 20-11 108
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 09-02
94. Jon Jezierski Troy, MI 7 20-10 107
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 2 03-13
95. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 10 20-10 106
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 08-09
96. Tommy Guthke Townville, SC 10 20-08 105
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 09-09
97. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 10 20-06 104
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 09-00
98. Kyle Cortiana Broken Arrow, OK 10 20-05 103
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 07-03
99. Chris Blanchette Charleston, SC 10 20-05 102
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 09-01
100. Zeke Gossett Pell City, AL 10 20-03 101
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 10-05
101. Bradley Hallman Edmond, OK 10 20-03 100
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 10-04
102. Parker Mott Winter Garden, FL 10 20-02 99
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 10-00
103. Cody Hoyle Rutherfordton, NC 10 20-01 98
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 08-12
104. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 10 19-15 97
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 06-11
105. Rodney Jones Anderson, SC 10 19-14 96
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 5 11-08
106. Trevor McKinney Benton, IL 9 19-14 95
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 4 08-07
107. Jordan McDonald Jackson, GA 10 19-14 94
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 09-09
108. Scott Allgood Fair Play, SC 10 19-13 93
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 10-12
109. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 10 19-13 92
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 10-01
110. Brady Vernon Birmingham, AL 10 19-11 91
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 11-12
111. Chad Smith Minnetonka, MN 10 19-11 90
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 09-13
112. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 10 19-09 89
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 07-09
113. Brad Leuthner Independence, MN 10 19-08 88
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 10-04
114. Tim Frederick Leesburg, FL 10 19-07 87
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 08-12
115. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 9 19-06 86
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 4 08-03
116. Lonnie Cochran Section, AL 10 19-06 85
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 08-11
117. Derek Freeman Anderson, SC 10 19-05 84
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 08-04
118. Griffin Heffington Cumming, GA 10 19-05 83
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 10-08
119. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 10 19-03 82
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 09-07
120. Blake Smith Lakeland, FL 10 19-02 81
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 09-07
121. Ben Ballou Dickson, TN 10 19-01 80
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 5 09-14
122. Aaron Digh Denver, NC 10 19-00 79
Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 5 11-02
123. Matt Mollohan Batesburg, SC 10 18-13 78
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 10-02
124. Jeff Bauler Chapin, SC 10 18-12 77
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 06-08
125. Ronnie Mccoy Lamar, SC 7 18-07 76
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 5 14-09
126. Bryden Mugleston Mount Juliet, TN 10 18-07 75
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 5 09-11
127. Daniel Smith Blountsville, AL 9 18-06 74
Day 1: 4 07-12 Day 2: 5 10-10
128. Drew Coker Murrayville, GA 10 18-06 73
Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 5 10-08
129. Andrew Upshaw Hemphill, TX 10 18-03 72
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 07-06
130. Brian Post Janesville, WI 10 18-02 71
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 09-04
131. Jason Borofka Lavon, TX 10 18-01 70
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 07-12
132. Daisuke Kita Ohtsu Shiga JAPAN 10 18-00 69
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 08-07
133. Chris Keeble Lenoir City, TN 10 17-15 68
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 06-15
134. Nic Rand Kalamazoo, MI 10 17-15 67
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 07-13
135. Kibbee Mccoy Knoxville, TN 10 17-15 66
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 09-10
136. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 8 17-13 65
Day 1: 3 03-06 Day 2: 5 14-07
137. Garrett Rocamora Lithia, FL 10 17-07 64
Day 1: 5 06-08 Day 2: 5 10-15
138. Tommy Williams Shepherdsville, KY 10 17-05 63
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 08-00
139. Stacey James Campobello, SC 10 17-05 62
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 5 08-02
140. Hermilo Salgado-Zavaleta Artemus, KY 10 17-00 61
Day 1: 5 07-13 Day 2: 5 09-03
141. Colby Robertson Summerfield, FL 10 16-15 60
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 07-11
142. Noah Boyett Mountain Home, AR 10 16-14 59
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 08-11
143. Bart Stanisz Wichita Falls , TX 10 16-12 58
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 08-05
144. Todd Harris Lexington, NC 10 16-11 57
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 07-09
145. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 10 16-05 56
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 06-10
146. Ron Ryals Jr Live Oak, FL 10 15-14 55
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 07-11
147. Cody Bertrand Dyer, IN 10 15-11 54
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 05-15
148. Keith Nemcek St Charles, IL 9 15-10 53
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 4 04-15
149. Seiji Kato Outsu Shiga JAPAN 10 15-10 52
Day 1: 5 06-10 Day 2: 5 09-00
150. T-Roy Broussard Port Arthur, TX 10 15-10 51
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 07-07
151. Chris Neau Gretna, LA 10 15-10 50
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 07-11
152. Brandon Edel White House, TN 10 15-08 49
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 08-08
153. Carter McNeil Abbeville, SC 9 15-07 48
Day 1: 4 07-15 Day 2: 5 07-08
154. Connor Neal Hoover, AL 10 14-08 47
Day 1: 5 06-04 Day 2: 5 08-04
155. Bailey Boutries Springfield, MO 7 14-04 46
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 2 03-01
156. Lucas Bradley Flippin, AR 7 13-15 45
Day 1: 3 08-09 Day 2: 4 05-06
157. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 9 13-11 44
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 4 05-09
158. Justin Margraves Diana, TX 5 13-09 43
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
159. Tim Malone Kodak, TN 10 13-09 42
Day 1: 5 07-07 Day 2: 5 06-02
160. Jason Casteel Ocoee, FL 7 12-11 41
Day 1: 4 08-09 Day 2: 3 04-02
161. Wayman Coleman Abbeville, SC 10 12-07 40
Day 1: 5 05-00 Day 2: 5 07-07
162. Douglas Reed Bridgeton, NJ 7 12-04 39
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 2 02-09
163. Dave Turner Crystal River, FL 8 12-01 38
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 3 03-14
164. Hayden Newberry Jonesboro, IL 10 12-00 37
Day 1: 5 06-00 Day 2: 5 06-00
165. Randy Blaukat Springfield, MO 6 11-14 36
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 1 02-09
166. Randall Carter Maplesville, AL 7 11-06 35
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 4 07-00
167. Randy Elliott Severn, MD 7 11-05 34
Day 1: 5 07-13 Day 2: 2 03-08
168. Jim Dillard West Monroe, LA 7 11-00 33
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 2 02-07
169. Jayme Rampey Liberty, SC 5 10-08 32
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
170. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 7 10-08 31
Day 1: 5 07-10 Day 2: 2 02-14
171. Michael Hall Annandale, VA 8 10-05 30
Day 1: 3 03-04 Day 2: 5 07-01
172. Bailey Fain Lenoir City, TN 8 10-00 29
Day 1: 5 06-02 Day 2: 3 03-14
173. Bradford Beavers Summerville, SC 5 09-14 28
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 5 09-00 27
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
175. Carl Whitfield Anderson, SC 5 08-14 26
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
176. Jeff Fellows Orlando, FL 4 08-10 25
Day 1: 4 08-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
177. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 6 08-03 24
Day 1: 2 02-00 Day 2: 4 06-03
178. Sean Torgrude Jacksonville, FL 6 08-02 23
Day 1: 5 06-08 Day 2: 1 01-10
179. James Meers Rome, GA 5 07-07 22
Day 1: 5 07-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
180. Johnny Bigger II Spring Hill, FL 5 07-03 21
Day 1: 3 04-13 Day 2: 2 02-06
181. Tony Dumitras Winston, GA 5 06-14 20
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 06-14
182. Frank Ramsey Spring Grove, IL 9 06-10 19
Day 1: 5 01-05 Day 2: 4 05-05
183. Dan Geurtsen Fletcher, NC 4 05-12 18
Day 1: 4 05-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
184. Greg Secord Salem, SC 4 05-11 17
Day 1: 4 05-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
185. Gary Ginter Bellefontaine, OH 5 04-09 16
Day 1: 5 04-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
186. Michael Harter Westminster, SC 3 04-00 15
Day 1: 3 04-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
187. Craig Cavanna Spring Hill, FL 2 03-05 14
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 170 902 1966-08
2 154 831 1747-08
----------------------------------
324 1733 3714-00

2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open #3 Lake Hartwell presented by Mossy Oak Fishing 10/6-10/8
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1. Sakae Ushio Tonawanda, NY 6 15-08 200 $18,927.00
Day 1: 3 10-00 Day 2: 3 05-08
2. Mike Spears Jasper, AL 6 14-14 199 $4,454.00
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 3 09-03
3. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 6 14-11 198 $3,341.00
Day 1: 3 08-03 Day 2: 3 06-08
4. Trey Brafford Kings Mtn, NC 6 14-10 197 $2,505.00
Day 1: 3 06-00 Day 2: 3 08-10
5. Cory Weaver Ankeny, IA 6 14-07 196 $2,338.00
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 3 08-11
6. Clifton Overstreet Dothan, AL 6 14-02 195 $2,477.00
Day 1: 3 09-05 Day 2: 3 04-13
7. John Wesley Wardlaw Central, SC 6 13-12 194 $2,116.00
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 3 06-07
8. David Deciucis CHESTER, VA 6 13-10 193 $2,004.00
Day 1: 3 08-03 Day 2: 3 05-07
9. Matt Noraas Pamplin, VA 6 13-10 192 $1,837.00
Day 1: 3 07-09 Day 2: 3 06-01
10. Don Bible II Knoxville, TN 6 13-02 191 $1,670.00
Day 1: 3 06-01 Day 2: 3 07-01
11. Floyd Willis Grayson, KY 5 13-01 190 $1,559.00
Day 1: 3 08-10 Day 2: 2 04-07
12. Tyler Carrick Lexington, NC 6 12-15 189 $1,448.00
Day 1: 3 07-08 Day 2: 3 05-07
13. James Roten West Jefferson, NC 6 12-14 188 $1,225.00
Day 1: 3 07-09 Day 2: 3 05-05
14. Jacob Robinson Temple, GA 6 12-10 187 $1,114.00
Day 1: 3 07-00 Day 2: 3 05-10
15. Corey Yaden Grovetown, GA 6 12-06 186 $1,002.00
Day 1: 3 06-12 Day 2: 3 05-10
16. Harold Addison Columbia, SC 6 12-04 185 $891.00
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 3 04-13
17. Blake Stephenson Evans, GA 5 12-00 184 $835.00
Day 1: 3 08-06 Day 2: 2 03-10
18. Rick Hamer Charleston, WV 6 11-15 183 $835.00
Day 1: 3 05-10 Day 2: 3 06-05
19. AJ Jones Lutz, FL 6 11-12 182 $835.00
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 3 04-07
20. Erik Brztowski Lemont, IL 6 11-12 181 $835.00
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 3 06-01
21. David Mcginnis Hartwell, GA 6 11-08 180 $779.00
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 3 06-00
22. Chip Stith Piscataway, NJ 6 11-06 179 $779.00
Day 1: 3 03-14 Day 2: 3 07-08
23. Christopher Tinsley Pisgah Forest, NC 6 11-06 178 $779.00
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 3 06-06
24. Bradley Brooks Easley, SC 6 11-01 177 $779.00
Day 1: 3 04-00 Day 2: 3 07-01
25. Travis Culbreth Alexander City, AL 6 11-01 176 $779.00
Day 1: 3 06-08 Day 2: 3 04-09
26. Thomas Crosswhite Hartwell, GA 5 11-00 175 $668.00
Day 1: 3 08-13 Day 2: 2 02-03
27. Austin Cole Rutherfordton, NC 5 11-00 174 $668.00
Day 1: 3 08-12 Day 2: 2 02-04
28. Keith Gunsauls Dandridge, TN 6 11-00 173 $668.00
Day 1: 3 04-13 Day 2: 3 06-03
29. Cody Wilson Ladson, SC 5 11-00 172 $668.00
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 2 05-08
30. Russell Hoyle Newton, NC 6 10-14 171 $668.00
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 3 06-04
31. Leon Brown Belton, SC 6 10-14 170 $613.00
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 3 05-14
32. Skyler Anderson Harlem, GA 6 10-12 169 $613.00
Day 1: 3 04-01 Day 2: 3 06-11
33. Ray Hill Lake City, FL 6 10-11 168 $613.00
Day 1: 3 05-15 Day 2: 3 04-12
34. Wesley Mullins Guyton, GA 6 10-10 167 $613.00
Day 1: 3 06-15 Day 2: 3 03-11
35. James Fender Hanahan, SC 6 10-06 166 $613.00
Day 1: 3 06-00 Day 2: 3 04-06
36. David Rush Summerville, SC 6 10-06 165 $613.00
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 3 04-09
37. Kevin Dye Central,, SC 6 10-03 164 $613.00
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 3 03-12
38. Dustin Shirley Royston, GA 6 10-03 163 $613.00
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 3 06-04
39. Alex Reece Greenville, SC 6 10-03 162 $613.00
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 3 04-14
40. Shannon Wheeler Vinton, VA 6 10-01 161 $613.00
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 3 05-12
41. Logan Stewart Nashville, TN 5 10-01 160
Day 1: 2 04-09 Day 2: 3 05-08
42. Troy Mims Suwanee, GA 6 10-01 159
Day 1: 3 04-12 Day 2: 3 05-05
43. Tyler Watts Cornelia, GA 6 10-01 158
Day 1: 3 04-14 Day 2: 3 05-03
44. Dawson Wisner Westminster, MD 5 09-13 157
Day 1: 3 07-00 Day 2: 2 02-13
45. Justin Thomas Panama City, FL 5 09-13 156
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 3 07-00
46. Jason George Farragut, TN 4 09-13 155
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 1 03-06
47. Rusty Odom Simpsonville, SC 5 09-11 154
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 2 04-07
48. Donald Poteat Connelly Spg, NC 5 09-09 153
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 2 04-00
49. Joe Case Easley, NC 4 09-06 152
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 3 07-10
50. Ken Yamate Richardson, TX 6 09-06 151
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 3 03-03
51. Todd Lee Jasper, AL 6 09-06 150
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 3 04-13
52. Curtis Crooke Washburn, TN 6 09-06 149
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 3 04-12
53. Yua Kishimoto Osaka JAPAN 5 09-06 148
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 2 04-12
54. Jef Fox Jr East Flat Rock, NC 5 09-05 147
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 2 02-07
55. Mark Yarborough Salem, SC 6 09-04 146
Day 1: 3 04-02 Day 2: 3 05-02
56. Scott Spencer Raleigh, NC 6 09-04 145
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 3 04-05
57. Dusty Wood Belton, SC 6 09-03 144
Day 1: 3 03-11 Day 2: 3 05-08
58. Jonathan Barnette Jasper, AL 4 09-02 143
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 3 07-02
59. Justin Eger Monticello, IN 5 09-01 142
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 2 02-10
60. Bill Bruce Hendersonville, TN 5 08-15 141
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 3 05-12
61. Justin Baldridge Greenup, KY 6 08-15 140
Day 1: 3 03-07 Day 2: 3 05-08
62. Timmy Cales Beckley, WV 4 08-15 139
Day 1: 2 03-09 Day 2: 2 05-06
63. Andy Simm Piney Flats, TN 6 08-14 138
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 3 03-01
64. Rick Bales Indianapolis, IN 6 08-13 137
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 3 03-11
65. Robert Brewer LANGSTON, AL 5 08-11 136
Day 1: 2 03-00 Day 2: 3 05-11
66. Brian Anthony Pickens, SC 4 08-10 135
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 3 06-02
67. Ben Brumley Anderson, SC 5 08-08 134
Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 3 05-10
68. Angela Mayo Maiden, NC 6 08-08 133
Day 1: 3 03-11 Day 2: 3 04-13
69. Russell Jones Simpsonville, SC 6 08-07 132
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 3 02-15
70. Jody Wilson Morganton, GA 5 08-06 131
Day 1: 2 02-10 Day 2: 3 05-12
71. Jerry Morris Jr Charlotte, NC 5 08-02 130
Day 1: 3 04-12 Day 2: 2 03-06
72. Howard Gaston Chatom, AL 6 08-00 129
Day 1: 3 02-07 Day 2: 3 05-09
73. Mitch Mitchell Appling, GA 6 08-00 128
Day 1: 3 03-01 Day 2: 3 04-15
74. Lance Owen Greer, SC 5 08-00 127
Day 1: 2 04-10 Day 2: 3 03-06
75. Levi Allgeier Bardstown, KY 6 08-00 126
Day 1: 3 04-02 Day 2: 3 03-14
76. Frank Williams Jackson, MO 6 07-15 125
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 3 02-14
77. Bruce Touchstone Madison Heights, VA 5 07-15 124
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 2 02-15
78. Johnnie Garrett Union City, TN 5 07-15 123
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 2 03-04
79. Greg Mauldin Archdale, NC 3 07-11 122
Day 1: 3 07-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
80. Horace Hubbard Albany, GA 5 07-10 121
Day 1: 3 05-07 Day 2: 2 02-03
81. Bo Brown Simpsonville, SC 5 07-10 120
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 2 02-05
82. Yu Kawamura Kashiwashi JAPAN 6 07-06 119
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 3 03-02
83. Nelson Norred Sharpsburg, GA 3 07-05 118
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 07-05
84. David Everhart Kearneysville, WV 6 07-05 117
Day 1: 3 02-14 Day 2: 3 04-07
85. Darrell Curl Winston Salem, NC 4 07-05 116
Day 1: 1 03-04 Day 2: 3 04-01
86. Charles Bowman II Kernersville, NC 4 07-03 115
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 3 06-00
87. Tyler Morrison Locust Grove, GA 4 07-02 114
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 3 06-00
88. Ryan Shriber Franklin, TN 4 07-02 113
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 1 02-07
89. Justin Westergreen Dahinda, IL 4 07-00 112
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 1 01-05
90. Satoshi Egawa New York, NY 4 07-00 111
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 3 05-07
91. Ben Grubbs III Hampstead, NC 4 07-00 110
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 1 02-10
92. Bryan Collins Jefferson, GA 3 06-14 109
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
93. Avery Williams Murrells Inlt, SC 5 06-14 108
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 2 02-07
94. Jeff Keever Tignall, GA 4 06-13 107
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 1 01-12
95. Byong Lee Stedman, NC 5 06-12 106
Day 1: 2 02-07 Day 2: 3 04-05
96. David Booth Erin, TN 4 06-11 105
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 1 01-05
97. Ronald Miller Gadsden, AL 3 06-08 104
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-08
98. Anthony Harris Bellview, FL 4 06-07 103
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 1 01-13
99. Ashton Smith Lake Helen, FL 4 06-06 102
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 3 04-14
100. Matt Molitor Canton, IL 4 06-06 101
Day 1: 2 03-12 Day 2: 2 02-10
101. Jonathan Ceaser Maidens, VA 3 06-05 100
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
102. Mike Mckinney Benton, IL 3 06-04 99
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
103. Thomas Abraham Winchester, TN 3 05-14 98
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 05-14
104. Jimmy Fellegy Lakeville, MN 3 05-14 97
Day 1: 2 05-01 Day 2: 1 00-13
105. Michael Schrader North Attleboro, MA 4 05-14 96
Day 1: 2 02-03 Day 2: 2 03-11
106. Grover Jones Jr Starr, SC 5 05-13 95
Day 1: 3 03-09 Day 2: 2 02-04
107. Jimmy Hayes Fayetteville, NC 4 05-12 94
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 3 04-11
108. Justin Salisbury Binghamton, NY 4 05-11 93
Day 1: 1 00-14 Day 2: 3 04-13
109. Jamie Petrowski Westfield, IN 4 05-10 92
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 2 02-07
110. Joseph Barnes Locust Grove, GA 4 05-08 91
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 2 02-02
111. David Few Clover, SC 3 05-03 90
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 2 03-05
112. Regan Coffey North Chesterfield, VA 3 05-02 89
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 2 03-15
113. RJ Mitchell Appling, GA 3 05-01 88
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
114. Douglas Lubs Indianapolis, IN 4 05-01 87
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 3 03-09
115. Bradley Sterner Manchester, PA 4 05-00 86
Day 1: 3 04-01 Day 2: 1 00-15
116. Caleb Warrington IV Watkinsville, TX 4 05-00 85
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 1 01-01
117. Jacob Altman Olathe, CO 5 05-00 84
Day 1: 2 02-00 Day 2: 3 03-00
118. Chad Stahl Barnesville, GA 3 04-14 83
Day 1: 3 04-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
119. Jose Diaz Sein De Hona, FL 3 04-14 82
Day 1: 2 02-12 Day 2: 1 02-02
120. Brian Kendzior Bradenton, FL 3 04-13 81
Day 1: 3 04-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
121. Morgan Ellingson Stevens Point, WI 2 04-10 80
Day 1: 1 02-03 Day 2: 1 02-07
122. John Roth III Kuttawa, KY 3 04-09 79
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
123. Mark Glende Raleigh, NC 4 04-08 78
Day 1: 3 03-08 Day 2: 1 01-00
124. Steve Kline Hilltop Lakes, TX 3 04-08 77
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 1 01-05
125. Joshua McGeary Mt. Pleasant, PA 3 04-08 76
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 2 01-15
126. Shon Pulley Trenton, SC 3 04-04 75
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
127. Cody Wood Atikokan CANADA 3 04-02 74
Day 1: 2 02-10 Day 2: 1 01-08
128. Mark Meadows Hendersonville, NC 3 04-01 73
Day 1: 1 01-04 Day 2: 2 02-13
129. Mike Anderson Harlem, GA 2 03-15 72
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
130. Bobby Williams Salisbury, NC 3 03-11 71
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 2 02-09
131. Daniel Valois Gomez Caracas FL VENEZUELA 2 03-11 70
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 1 01-03
132. Carl Hunter Snellville, GA 3 03-11 69
Day 1: 2 02-05 Day 2: 1 01-06
133. Michael O'Harold Cross Hill, SC 2 03-10 68
Day 1: 2 03-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
134. Christopher House Walworth, NY 2 03-08 67
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-08
135. Kenneth Malone Columbiana, AL 2 03-05 66
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
136. Heath Cox Macon, GA 2 03-05 65
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 1 02-04
137. Brandon Smith Knightdale, NC 3 03-03 64
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 03-03
138. Laz Durham Dumfries, VA 3 03-01 63
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 2 02-02
139. David Camp Sterling, OH 2 03-00 62
Day 1: 2 03-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Ronald Young New Braunfels, TX 3 02-15 61
Day 1: 3 02-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
141. Stacey Jefferson Conway, SC 3 02-09 60
Day 1: 3 02-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
142. Paul Propst Jr. Kearneysville, WV 2 02-08 59
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 02-08
143. Cal Teneyck Shakopee, MN 1 02-06 58
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-06
144. William Cooley Belton, SC 2 02-05 57
Day 1: 2 02-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
145. Joseph Dames Woodbridge, VA 1 02-05 56
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
146. Kevin Jones Ft Campbell, KY 3 01-14 55
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 2 00-15
147. Wallace Coward Beech Island, SC 1 01-13 54
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
148. Tristan Bramblett Tiger, GA 1 01-07 53
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-07
149. Kevin Humbard Dandridge, TN 1 01-06 52
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
150. Anthony Boris Kansasville, WI 1 01-03 51
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Nathan Hubbell Columbus, IN 1 01-02 50
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-02
152. Jim Opetaia-Williamson Winter Garden, FL 1 01-01 49
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
153. Kevin Gonyea Franklinton, NC 1 01-00 48
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
153. Eric Vyborny Sorrento, FL 1 01-00 48
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-00
155. Kevin Mallow Kansas, OK 1 00-15 46
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
156. Jeremiah Hitt Lutz, FL 1 00-14 45
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 00-14
156. Sandra Sullivan Duluth, GA 1 00-14 45
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 00-14
158. David Compton Mount Bethel, PA 1 00-13 43
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 00-13
159. Brent Giles Taylors, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
159. Terry Harris Dothan, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
159. Don Harvey Franklin, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
159. John Hatfield Panama City, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
159. Gregory Mauldin Archdale, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
159. Mike Penney Columbia, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
159. Lane Poston Easley, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
159. Stephen Toth Alachua, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
159. Jacob Turner Hodges, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 355 633-00
2 78 323 555-07
----------------------------------
171 678 1188-07

by AnglersChannel

"Dream Maker"

This week Chris and the boys welcome in Bassmaster College Classic Bracket Champ Lou Monetti to talk about Team of the Year, The Bracket and how he overcame a slow morning to take home the trophy and the qualification to the Bassmasters Classic all the while doing it in a 1998 Ranger Sport R72 Bass Boat, a beat up ole girl with some awesome memories. Check it out!

by AnglersChannel

Swindle Says Go Big For Guntersville Giants in BIG BASS TOUR October Event

By Pete Robbins

Lake Guntersville, the gem of Alabama and perhaps the most consistent big bass lake in the country, is in a time of transition said former Bassmaster Angler of the Year Gerald Swindle. Catching fish won’t be a problem for the anglers competing in the upcoming Big Bass Tour event, but sacking one of the giants might be. The coming cooler nighttime temperatures should accelerate the process, and should allow for a lot of different ways to get earn a check – or a boat.

“The wind is starting to break up the mats,” he said. “That should help the frog fishing improve. There’s simply not as much to cover, and frogging is one way to get paid.”

He’d also look to exploit an oversized topwater walking bait on the grass edges and in between the mats. While eelgrass has taken over sections of the lake, he’d focus on areas with hydrilla and milfoil, ideally a mix of the two, which provides the most distinct and gaping canopies. Narrowing it down further, he’d keep his boat between the center of the lake and the BB Comer bridge, a region that he feels has the greatest big fish potential. The key is to find sections that have life. When you hear bluegill popping, or see birds diving, that’s where you want to be. There are vast dead sections – when you get in one, and it doesn’t produce quickly, it's time to pull up stakes and head to somewhere with more bait and more activity. The best mats could be a foot deep or substantially deeper, but they’ll all share the common characteristic of being full of other members of the food chain.

“If you’re just trying to win the boat – and you don’t care as much about the hourly checks – I’d throw a big glide bait, something that represents a gizzard shad. Commit to it. You won’t get many bites during the day, but your chances of catching a really big fish go way up.”

Of course, there are plenty of other solid patterns on this grass-laden and structure-rich impoundment. Swindle said that the heavy line flippers can get their tungsten and creature baitsready and rely upon them all day. It’s a technique that he excels at, but would not necessarily rely upon this week, simply because it’s “tough to target big fish.” For the same reason, he’d avoid smaller crankbaits and vibrating jigs. They’ll produce bass, but it’s hard to ensure that you won’t be sorting through smaller specimens.

As the cooler nights persist, schooling action should start to pick up. Swindle said he’s already seen some of it, but he expects it to intensify in the near term. While these schools will occasionally feature some true big bass candidates, generally they will be full of smaller to midsize specimens. Anglers in search of an hourly prize can have a blast chasing them, but those exclusively focused on making the overall top ten should go with other patterns. “It’s easy to get distracted by them,” he said.

Swindle and his nephew have been jackpotting standalone night tournaments on the Big G in recent months, and he said it has consistently taken about 6 ¾ pounds to win the big fish prize. With the full field at Guntersville, expect it to take a bit more than that. In the history of the BBT there, it has never taken less than 7.37 pounds to win the boat. On the flip side of that, we haven’t seen a 9-pounder since 2015. While 8-pounders show up nearly every year, there will be lots of jockeying at the 7-pound mark to make the top 10. Focus on fish 6 pounds and above to earn the big money, but assume that a 4-pounder can get you something back.

To discover what baits are hot on Guntersville right now, tap this link: https://www.berkley-fishing.com/pages/lake-guntersville

by AnglersChannel

Big Largemouth Lift Lineberger, Lehtonen To Lead At Bassmaster Southern Open On Hartwell

Derek Lehtonen of Woodruff, S.C., and Shane Lineberger of Lincolnton, N.C., are tied for the lead after Day 1 of the 2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open at Lake Hartwell presented by Mossy Oak Fishing with 17 pounds, 13 ounces.

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

October 6, 2022

ANDERSON, S.C. — It is a battle of the Carolinas at the top of the St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open at Lake Hartwell presented by Mossy Oak Fishing.

With 17 pounds, 13 ounces, North Carolina pro Shane Lineberger and South Carolina’s Derek Lehtonen are tied for the top spot after one day. The two anglers hold a 1-pound advantage over Michigan boater Jon Jezierski.

On top of having an extensive history on Lake Hartwell, Lineberger said it sets up exactly like his home waters of Lake Norman which has helped him find success. He targeted largemouth, anchoring his bag with a 5-3, although he did weigh one spotted bass.

“I started out throwing some topwater around. I think I’m doing something different than everyone else,” he said. “The fish I am fishing for are a lot less pressured than these brushpile, canepile fish.

“It sets up just like Lake Norman. Everyone is so keyed in on the offshore stuff that they leave the other stuff alone. I hope it stays that way for two more days.”

Lineberger used two primary baits as he ran through several areas. Three of his five bass were caught before 8:30 a.m., and he made several key culls.

“I kind of backed off what I was doing when my small fish was a 2 3/4-pounder,” he explained. “It is kind of pointless to sit here and catch 2 1/2-pounders and throw them back when you are going to need them later in the week. Hopefully, I can get another lucky 5-pounder. If not, we are going down swinging.”

As many of the other boaters in the field are focusing on spotted bass, Lineberger is committed to his largemouth game plan. With the largemouth in their fall feeding phase, he has found his bass are keying in on a particular type of forage.

“I tell everyone, it doesn’t matter where you are at this time of year, the biggest fish in the lake eat bream,” he said. “And that is what I am fishing for, the ones that are up there eating bream. This place is full of fish and one of the best fisheries in the Southeast. This lake patterns so well.”

Lehtonen is also mostly targeting largemouth in an area where he’s found success in the past. Fishing in a crowd, his local knowledge helped him secure a better quality bite while anglers around him struggled.

“It was very slow,” Lehtonen said. “I caught my first fish around 10 a.m. From there I slowly started upgrading. I was targeting brush and hoping for a bite.”

With such a slow start, Lehtonen ventured offshore and fished for spotted bass, one of which made the final tally. He filled his limit around 1 p.m. while his biggest bass, a 5-3 largemouth, came with about 10 minutes to go before check-in.

Similar to Lineberger, two baits produced most of Lehtonen’s weight. While he is tied for the lead, Lehtonen said the lake has turned over and that has made the fishing a lot more difficult than it was even a week ago. Last weekend, he caught just over 17 pounds in a local tournament and that resulted in a ninth-place finish.

“The turnover has ruined it and the drawdown from where they are pulling water,” Lehtonen said. “It has moved these fish big time. They are sucking it out every day. There are less and less filtering in where I am fishing.”

Lehtonen hopes the calm conditions on Day 1 will continue into Day 2, saying cloud cover will hurt his bite even more.

Anchoring his bag with a 6-6 largemouth that earned him the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the day, Jezierski caught 16-13 to land in third place. After spending most of his practice attempting to fish for spotted bass offshore, he went back to his Michigan roots and targeted largemouth on tournament day.

“I caught one 3-pound largemouth in practice and I told my co-angler we would go for some spots in the morning to get a limit and then target largies later,” he said. “My co-angler told me that the largemouth would probably bite in the morning. So, we went largie fishing.”

Jezierski landed the big bass in the first 30 minutes on a Z-Man Evergreen JackHammer before filling his limit around 10 a.m. and then wrapping up his bag before noon. His final limit had four largemouth and one spot. Fishing around wood, the JackHammer produced big bites, as well as a Berkley Power Hawg flipping bait.

With very little fishing pressure around him, Jezierski feels confident he can catch another limit Friday.

“I found this area last year with a buddy of mine,” he said. “I went back there this year and there was just baitfish everywhere and fish busting. It was just the backend of a creek as far as you can go, and I caught the big one in a foot and a half of water.”

Sakae Ushio leads the co-angler division with 10-0 followed by Clifton Overstreet in second with 9-5 and Thomas Crosswhite in third with 8-13. Overstreet also landed the Big Bass of the day on the co-angler side, a 5-10 largemouth.

With two days left in the Southern Opens season, Arkansas pro Joey Cifuentes leads the Southern Division standings with 556 points while Tennessee pro Brandon Lester is second with 555. California pro Bryant Smith is third with 539, followed by Kayden Tanner with 533 and Cooper Gallant with 521.

Alabama pro Keith Poche remains atop the overall standings with 1,350 points. He is followed by Alabama’s David Gaston in second with 1,280 points and Oklahoma’s John Soukup is third with 1,275.

The full field will launch from Green Pond Landing starting at 7:15 a.m. ET and will return for weigh-in at 3:15 p.m. The co-angler champion will be crowned at the end of Friday’s weigh-in.

The Top 10 boaters after Day 2 will earn a spot on Championship Saturday and compete for a potential berth in the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic scheduled for March 24-26 in Knoxville, Tenn.

The tournament is being hosted by Visit Anderson.

2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open #3 Lake Hartwell presented by Mossy Oak Fishing 10/6-10/8
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1. Derek Lehtonen Woodruff, SC 5 17-13 200
Day 1: 5 17-13
1. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 5 17-13 200
Day 1: 5 17-13
3. Jon Jezierski Troy, MI 5 16-13 198
Day 1: 5 16-13
4. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 5 16-07 197
Day 1: 5 16-07
5. Matt Pangrac Bixby, OK 5 16-04 196
Day 1: 5 16-04
6. Tristan McCormick Burns, TN 5 16-02 195
Day 1: 5 16-02
7. Hunter Sales Blaine, TN 5 16-01 194
Day 1: 5 16-01
8. Kayden Tanner Tolar, TX 5 16-00 193
Day 1: 5 16-00
9. Adam Neu Sturgeon Bay, WI 5 15-13 192
Day 1: 5 15-13
9. Blake Sylvester Plaquemine, LA 5 15-13 192
Day 1: 5 15-13
11. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 5 15-07 190
Day 1: 5 15-07
12. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 5 15-05 189
Day 1: 5 15-05
13. John Garrett Union City, TN 5 15-03 188
Day 1: 5 15-03
14. Lucas Murphy West Columbia, MI 5 14-15 187
Day 1: 5 14-15
15. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 5 14-11 186
Day 1: 5 14-11
16. Zach Goutremout Chaumont, NY 5 14-09 185
Day 1: 5 14-09
17. Rob Digh Denver, NC 5 14-07 184
Day 1: 5 14-07
17. Tucker Smith Shoal Creek, AL 5 14-07 184
Day 1: 5 14-07
19. Danny Lavoie Franklin, GA 5 14-05 182
Day 1: 5 14-05
19. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 5 14-05 182
Day 1: 5 14-05
21. Jamie Bruce Kenora Ontario CANADA 5 14-03 180
Day 1: 5 14-03
21. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 14-03 180
Day 1: 5 14-03
23. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 5 14-02 178
Day 1: 5 14-02
24. Darold Gleason Many, LA 5 13-15 177
Day 1: 5 13-15
25. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 5 13-14 176
Day 1: 5 13-14
26. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 13-12 175
Day 1: 5 13-12
27. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 5 13-10 174
Day 1: 5 13-10
28. Justin Margraves Diana, TX 5 13-09 173
Day 1: 5 13-09
28. Shannon Poore Walhalla, SC 5 13-09 173
Day 1: 5 13-09
30. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 5 13-08 171
Day 1: 5 13-08
30. Todd Goade White Pine, TN 5 13-08 171
Day 1: 5 13-08
32. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 5 13-07 169
Day 1: 5 13-07
32. Jacob Walker Springville, AL 5 13-07 169
Day 1: 5 13-07
34. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 5 13-04 167
Day 1: 5 13-04
34. Austin Cranford Moore, OK 5 13-04 167
Day 1: 5 13-04
34. Marshall Harrelson Clarksville, GA 5 13-04 167
Day 1: 5 13-04
34. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 5 13-04 167
Day 1: 5 13-04
34. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 13-04 167
Day 1: 5 13-04
39. Kyle Cortiana Broken Arrow, OK 5 13-02 162
Day 1: 5 13-02
39. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 5 13-02 162
Day 1: 5 13-02
39. Joe Mitchell Martin, GA 5 13-02 162
Day 1: 5 13-02
39. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 5 13-02 162
Day 1: 5 13-02
39. Frank Talley Temple, TX 5 13-02 162
Day 1: 5 13-02
39. David Williams Newton, NC 5 13-02 162
Day 1: 5 13-02
45. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 5 12-15 156
Day 1: 5 12-15
46. Jeremy Gordon Rutledge, TN 5 12-14 155
Day 1: 5 12-14
47. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 5 12-12 154
Day 1: 5 12-12
48. Tom Frink Southside, AL 5 12-08 153
Day 1: 5 12-08
48. Logan Shaddix Cummings, GA 5 12-08 153
Day 1: 5 12-08
50. John Hunter Jr Shelbyville, KY 5 12-05 151
Day 1: 5 12-05
50. Dustin Williamson Aiken, SC 5 12-05 151
Day 1: 5 12-05
52. Destin DeMarion Harborcreek, PA 5 12-04 149
Day 1: 5 12-04
52. Danny Ramsey Trinidad, TX 5 12-04 149
Day 1: 5 12-04
54. Jeff Bauler Chapin, SC 5 12-04 147
Day 1: 5 12-04
55. Cole Sands Calhoun , TN 5 12-03 146
Day 1: 5 12-03
56. Logan Johnson Jasper, AL 5 12-01 145
Day 1: 5 12-01
56. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 5 12-01 145
Day 1: 5 12-01
58. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 5 12-00 143
Day 1: 5 12-00
59. Jerry Gallogly Jr North Tazewell, VA 5 11-15 142
Day 1: 5 11-15
60. Dustin Wilkey Durant, OK 5 11-13 141
Day 1: 5 11-13
61. Michael Cooper Mobile, AL 5 11-12 140
Day 1: 5 11-12
62. Ben Stone Iva, SC 5 11-11 139
Day 1: 5 11-11
63. David Kilgore Jasper, AL 5 11-10 138
Day 1: 5 11-10
63. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 5 11-10 138
Day 1: 5 11-10
65. Zack Birge Blanchard, OK 5 11-09 136
Day 1: 5 11-09
65. Michael Kinard Concord, NC 5 11-09 136
Day 1: 5 11-09
65. Julius Mazy Phoenix, AZ 5 11-09 136
Day 1: 5 11-09
65. Scott Pellegrin Chippewa Falls, WI 5 11-09 136
Day 1: 5 11-09
69. Jake Maddux Birmingham, AL 5 11-07 132
Day 1: 5 11-07
69. Trevor McKinney Benton, IL 5 11-07 132
Day 1: 5 11-07
71. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 5 11-06 130
Day 1: 5 11-06
71. Jon Canada Helena, AL 5 11-06 130
Day 1: 5 11-06
71. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 11-06 130
Day 1: 5 11-06
74. Cody Hoyle Rutherfordton, NC 5 11-05 127
Day 1: 5 11-05
74. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 5 11-05 127
Day 1: 5 11-05
76. Chris Blanchette Charleston, SC 5 11-04 125
Day 1: 5 11-04
77. Jacob Bigelow Cecil, WI 5 11-03 124
Day 1: 5 11-03
77. Bailey Boutries Springfield, MO 5 11-03 124
Day 1: 5 11-03
77. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 5 11-03 124
Day 1: 5 11-03
80. Brandon Ackerson Afton, OK 5 11-02 121
Day 1: 5 11-02
80. Joey Sabbagha Prosperity, SC 5 11-02 121
Day 1: 5 11-02
82. Derek Freeman Anderson, SC 5 11-01 119
Day 1: 5 11-01
82. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 5 11-01 119
Day 1: 5 11-01
84. Chris Keeble Lenoir City, TN 5 11-00 117
Day 1: 5 11-00
84. Billy McDonald Greenwood, IN 5 11-00 117
Day 1: 5 11-00
86. Caden Acree Powder Springs, GA 5 10-15 115
Day 1: 5 10-15
86. Brent Crow Hartselle, AL 5 10-15 115
Day 1: 5 10-15
86. Tommy Guthke Townville, SC 5 10-15 115
Day 1: 5 10-15
89. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 10-13 112
Day 1: 5 10-13
89. Andrew Upshaw Hemphill, TX 5 10-13 112
Day 1: 5 10-13
91. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 5 10-12 110
Day 1: 5 10-12
92. Lonnie Cochran Section, AL 5 10-11 109
Day 1: 5 10-11
92. Tim Frederick Leesburg, FL 5 10-11 109
Day 1: 5 10-11
92. Keith Nemcek St Charles, IL 5 10-11 109
Day 1: 5 10-11
95. Cameron Smith Wareham, MA 5 10-10 106
Day 1: 5 10-10
96. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 5 10-09 105
Day 1: 5 10-09
96. Darryl Halbert Enoree, SC 5 10-09 105
Day 1: 5 10-09
98. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 5 10-08 103
Day 1: 5 10-08
98. Hugh Cosculluela Spring, TX 5 10-08 103
Day 1: 5 10-08
98. Bryan New Saluda, SC 5 10-08 103
Day 1: 5 10-08
98. Jayme Rampey Liberty, SC 5 10-08 103
Day 1: 5 10-08
102. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 5 10-07 99
Day 1: 5 10-07
103. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 5 10-05 98
Day 1: 5 10-05
103. Jordan McDonald Jackson, GA 5 10-05 98
Day 1: 5 10-05
105. Jason Borofka Lavon, TX 5 10-05 96
Day 1: 5 10-05
106. Matt Green Cartersville, GA 5 10-04 95
Day 1: 5 10-04
107. Corey Lindsey Marion, OH 5 10-03 94
Day 1: 5 10-03
108. Parker Mott Winter Garden, FL 5 10-02 93
Day 1: 5 10-02
108. Nic Rand Kalamazoo, MI 5 10-02 93
Day 1: 5 10-02
110. Andrew Mlotek Indianapolis, IN 5 10-00 91
Day 1: 5 10-00
111. Bradley Hallman Edmond, OK 5 09-15 90
Day 1: 5 09-15
112. Bradford Beavers Summerville, SC 5 09-14 89
Day 1: 5 09-14
112. Zeke Gossett Pell City, AL 5 09-14 89
Day 1: 5 09-14
112. Chad Smith Minnetonka, MN 5 09-14 89
Day 1: 5 09-14
115. Cody Bertrand Dyer, IN 5 09-12 86
Day 1: 5 09-12
115. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 5 09-12 86
Day 1: 5 09-12
115. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 5 09-12 86
Day 1: 5 09-12
118. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 5 09-11 83
Day 1: 5 09-11
118. Douglas Reed Bridgeton, NJ 5 09-11 83
Day 1: 5 09-11
118. Blake Smith Lakeland, FL 5 09-11 83
Day 1: 5 09-11
121. Daisuke Kita Ohtsu Shiga JAPAN 5 09-09 80
Day 1: 5 09-09
122. Joel Willert Prior Lake, MN 5 09-06 79
Day 1: 5 09-06
123. Randy Blaukat Springfield, MO 5 09-05 78
Day 1: 5 09-05
123. Tommy Williams Shepherdsville, KY 5 09-05 78
Day 1: 5 09-05
125. D.J. Ellis Crestview, FL 5 09-04 76
Day 1: 5 09-04
125. Brad Leuthner Independence, MN 5 09-04 76
Day 1: 5 09-04
125. Colby Robertson Summerfield, FL 5 09-04 76
Day 1: 5 09-04
128. Stacey James Campobello, SC 5 09-03 73
Day 1: 5 09-03
128. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 5 09-03 73
Day 1: 5 09-03
130. Ben Ballou Dickson, TN 5 09-03 71
Day 1: 5 09-03
131. Todd Harris Lexington, NC 5 09-02 70
Day 1: 5 09-02
132. Scott Allgood Fair Play, SC 5 09-01 69
Day 1: 5 09-01
132. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 5 09-01 69
Day 1: 5 09-01
134. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 5 09-00 67
Day 1: 5 09-00
135. Brian Post Janesville, WI 5 08-14 66
Day 1: 5 08-14
135. Carl Whitfield Anderson, SC 5 08-14 66
Day 1: 5 08-14
137. Griffin Heffington Cumming, GA 5 08-13 64
Day 1: 5 08-13
138. Joe McClosky Swanton, MD 5 08-12 63
Day 1: 5 08-12
138. Bryden Mugleston Mount Juliet, TN 5 08-12 63
Day 1: 5 08-12
140. Matt Mollohan Batesburg, SC 5 08-11 61
Day 1: 5 08-11
141. Jeff Fellows Orlando, FL 4 08-10 60
Day 1: 4 08-10
142. Jim Dillard West Monroe, LA 5 08-09 59
Day 1: 5 08-09
143. Jason Casteel Ocoee, FL 4 08-09 58
Day 1: 4 08-09
144. Lucas Bradley Flippin, AR 3 08-09 57
Day 1: 3 08-09
145. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 5 08-07 56
Day 1: 5 08-07
145. Bart Stanisz Wichita Falls , TX 5 08-07 56
Day 1: 5 08-07
147. Rodney Jones Anderson, SC 5 08-06 54
Day 1: 5 08-06
147. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 08-06 54
Day 1: 5 08-06
149. Kibbee Mccoy Knoxville, TN 5 08-05 52
Day 1: 5 08-05
150. Noah Boyett Mountain Home, AR 5 08-03 51
Day 1: 5 08-03
150. T-Roy Broussard Port Arthur, TX 5 08-03 51
Day 1: 5 08-03
150. Ron Ryals Jr Live Oak, FL 5 08-03 51
Day 1: 5 08-03
150. Dave Turner Crystal River, FL 5 08-03 51
Day 1: 5 08-03
154. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 5 08-02 47
Day 1: 5 08-02
155. Chris Neau Gretna, LA 5 07-15 46
Day 1: 5 07-15
155. Brady Vernon Birmingham, AL 5 07-15 46
Day 1: 5 07-15
157. Carter McNeil Abbeville, SC 4 07-15 44
Day 1: 4 07-15
158. Drew Coker Murrayville, GA 5 07-14 43
Day 1: 5 07-14
158. Aaron Digh Denver, NC 5 07-14 43
Day 1: 5 07-14
160. Randy Elliott Severn, MD 5 07-13 41
Day 1: 5 07-13
160. Hermilo Salgado-Zavaleta Artemus, KY 5 07-13 41
Day 1: 5 07-13
162. Jacob Moore Wake Forest, NC 4 07-13 39
Day 1: 4 07-13
163. Daniel Smith Blountsville, AL 4 07-12 38
Day 1: 4 07-12
164. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 5 07-10 37
Day 1: 5 07-10
165. Tim Malone Kodak, TN 5 07-07 36
Day 1: 5 07-07
165. James Meers Rome, GA 5 07-07 36
Day 1: 5 07-07
167. Brandon Edel White House, TN 5 07-00 34
Day 1: 5 07-00
168. Seiji Kato Outsu Shiga JAPAN 5 06-10 33
Day 1: 5 06-10
169. Garrett Rocamora Lithia, FL 5 06-08 32
Day 1: 5 06-08
169. Sean Torgrude Jacksonville, FL 5 06-08 32
Day 1: 5 06-08
171. Connor Neal Hoover, AL 5 06-04 30
Day 1: 5 06-04
172. Bailey Fain Lenoir City, TN 5 06-02 29
Day 1: 5 06-02
173. Hayden Newberry Jonesboro, IL 5 06-00 28
Day 1: 5 06-00
174. Dan Geurtsen Fletcher, NC 4 05-12 27
Day 1: 4 05-12
175. Greg Secord Salem, SC 4 05-11 26
Day 1: 4 05-11
176. Wayman Coleman Abbeville, SC 5 05-00 25
Day 1: 5 05-00
177. Johnny Bigger II Spring Hill, FL 3 04-13 24
Day 1: 3 04-13
178. Gary Ginter Bellefontaine, OH 5 04-09 23
Day 1: 5 04-09
179. Randall Carter Maplesville, AL 3 04-06 22
Day 1: 3 04-06
180. Michael Harter Westminster, SC 3 04-00 21
Day 1: 3 04-00
181. Ronnie Mccoy Lamar, SC 2 03-14 20
Day 1: 2 03-14
182. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 3 03-06 19
Day 1: 3 03-06
183. Craig Cavanna Spring Hill, FL 2 03-05 18
Day 1: 2 03-05
184. Michael Hall Annandale, VA 3 03-04 17
Day 1: 3 03-04
185. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 2 02-00 16
Day 1: 2 02-00
186. Frank Ramsey Spring Grove, IL 5 01-05 15
Day 1: 5 01-05
187. Tony Dumitras Winston, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00

by AnglersChannel

MLF Adds Additional Abu Garcia College Fishing Event to 2023 Schedule

TULSA, Okla. (Oct. 6, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today the addition of a tournament on Lake Champlain, June 25, in Plattsburgh, New York, to the 2023 Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI schedule. The additional event now provides College Fishing anglers nine opportunities to qualify for the MLF College Fishing National Championship, and advancement opportunities to compete in the 2023 Toyota Series Championship and against the world’s best pros at REDCREST 2024 for a top prize of $300,000.

“I am happy to announce that we are adding an event at Lake Champlain for our loyal college anglers in the northern part of the country,” said Kevin Hunt, MLF Senior Director of Tournament Operations, College and High School. “It’s a bucket-list destination that will be attractive to College Fishing anglers from the south and Midwest as well. We’re excited to see a highly competitive 2023 season based on our new national schedule.”

*Updated* 2023 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI Schedule:
Jan. 20* Harris Chain of Lakes Leesburg, Fla.
Feb. 4 Lake Havasu Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
March 17* Lake of the Ozarks Osage Beach, Mo.
March 18 California Delta** Oakley, Calif.
April 22 California Delta** Oakley, Calif.
April 28* Lake Guntersville Guntersville, Ala.
June 25 Lake Champlain Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Sept. 8* Sam Rayburn Reservoir Brookeland, Texas
Oct. 27 Lake Hartwell Anderson, S.C.
TBA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP TBA
* Includes Wiley X College Faceoff
** Subject to California DNR approval.

The winning team at the 2023 Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship Presented by Lowrance will receive $43,500, including a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro powered by a 115-horsepower Mercury and $10,000. The winning team also advances to the 2023 Toyota Series Championship to compete as pros for a shot at winning as much as $235,000. The highest finishing team member at the Toyota Series Championship advances to REDCREST 2024. The runner-up at the 2023 College Fishing National Championship will receive a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro powered by Mercury. The team will also advance to the 2023 Toyota Series Championship to compete as pros. Third place at the 2023 National Championship will receive $4,000 and advance to the 2023 Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers for the chance to win a $33,500 Phoenix 518 Pro powered by a 115-horsepower Mercury. Fourth and fifth place will receive $3,000 and $2,000, respectively, with sixth through 10^th receiving $1,000 each.

Additionally, each angler finishing in the top 10 at the 2023 College Fishing National Championship will receive priority entry into the 2024 Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Invitationals and the Bass Pro Tour. Every tournament will feature live weigh-in coverage on MLF NOW!, and the National Championship will receive national television coverage on CBS Sports.

MLF will recognize the top performing school with the Tackle Warehouse School of the Year Presented by QuikTrip title, which includes a $10,000 award. Each school receives the total points earned by its top two teams in each tournament. School of the Year is awarded to the school with the highest point total from its three best tournaments.

MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing teams can compete in up to nine qualifying tournaments around the country. The top 12 percent of teams from each event will advance to the following year’s College Fishing National Championship.

Registration for the 2023 season opens at 8 a.m. CT on Dec. 12, 2022, for teams from school clubs represented in the 2022 College Fishing National Championship. All other teams may enter beginning Dec. 13. Fields are capped at 250 boats per tournament, so teams are encouraged to enter at their earliest opportunity. Teams can register at MajorLeagueFishing.com or by calling 270.252.1000. The entry fee is $100 per team.

by AnglersChannel

Frabill Conservation Folding Net

Salt and freshwater net with folding yoke for optimized storage

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Oct 6, 2022) — Building on the success from previous Frabill Conservation net models, the new Conservation Folding Net makes in-season and off-season storage even easier with its new magnetic Pow’R Loc folding yoke.

Constructed with key Frabill net features, the Conservation Folding Net is equipped with the extendable aluminum handle Frabill is known for with a molded rubber grip for extra control in wet conditions, a flat bottom knotless dipped micro-mesh netting for better fish care, and a meshguard hoop design. Available in six models and sizes, ranging from $79.99 to $129.99, there is a folding net for any fishing situation.

Key Features
• Folding design for easy storage
• Magnetic Pow’R Loc folding yoke
• Meshguard hoop design
• Knotless dipped micro-mesh netting
• Flat bottom to protect fish
• Aluminum handle with molded rubber grip

MSRP: $79.99 - $129.99
Available: October 2022

by AnglersChannel

James River Set to Host Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Tournament

Richmond, Virginia Set to Host 200 Boaters and Co-anglers from Four BFL Divisions Competing for Spot in 2023 All-American, $60,000

RICHMOND, Va. (Oct. 5, 2022) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine’s Northeast, Shenandoah, Buckeye and North Carolina divisions will finish out their 2022 season in Richmond, Virginia, Oct. 20-22, with the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Presented by T-H Marine at the James River.

Hosted by Richmond Region Tourism, the three-day regional tournament will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners from all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.

The highest finishing boater from each division will also receive a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division will receive a $500 bonus.

“The James River is one of the best bass fisheries in the country in the fall,” said pro Martin Villa of Charlottesville, Virginia, who finished in ninth place when the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit visited the James River in June. “This time of year you can fish any way that you want to and catch them.

“One thing that is a little worrisome is that it’s hurricane season,” Villa continued. “If there is a storm anywhere near the coast, it can drastically change the fishery. But there is fish on the main river, and there is fish in every creek. It’s going to be a fun event – I was I was fishing in it.”

Villa mentioned numerous different baits that would be in play, including swimjigs, creature baits, drop-shot rigs and crankbaits.

“I think whomever finds the crankbait fish will win,” Villa went on to say. “To make it to the third and final day, you’re going to have to have 15 pounds a day. I think 17 pounds a day – around 52 pounds total – will win this event. All depending on the weather, of course.”

Anglers will launch at 7 a.m. ET each morning from the Osborne Landing, located at 9530 Osborne Turnpike, in Richmond. Weigh-ins will also be held at the landing and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2022 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and 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, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regionals.

The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. Dates and location for the 2023 All-American will be announced soon.

The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Invitationals and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.

by AnglersChannel

The coasts are places we ALL love to explore and PROTECT - especially in Florida, where Costa calls home.

Courtesy of Costa Del Mar

One week ago today, Hurricane Ian made landfall on Sept. 28, causing catastrophic damage to Fort Myers, Naples and surrounding areas in Southwest Florida (photos here). Even though we were preparing and closely monitoring the storm with our local Costa team and cause partners across the Keys and Florida, the aftermath is far worse than we imagined, and these communities are suffering a devastating loss.

As #OneCoast, we will rebuild and restore these areas that have been drastically impacted by Hurricane Ian. We’re proud to be a part of an industry, where we’ve seen countless brands, organizations and individuals step up to provide as much help as possible.

If you’d like to join Costa in our efforts, here are five ways you can directly help those in need.

Contribute to Captains for Clean Water: Hurricane Ian Relief Fund on the front lines.

Our friends at Captains for Clean Water have been boots on the ground from the get-go. Despite the loss of the CFCW office and many members’ homes, these captains and guides have been working around the clock - navigating the waters for rescue missions, setting up drop-off locations in Eastern Florida, and getting locals the supplies they need.

Donate to WARF (Worldwide Anglers Relief Fund) to support local captains, guides, crews + outfitters.

Professional, recreational angling is often the cornerstone of coastal economies, and the ability for these small businesses to get back on their feet after natural disasters like Ian, is critical. The IGFA (International Game Fish Association) and Costa Sunglasses created WARF in 2017 to provide financial aid to local charter captains, guides, and outfitters in the wake of major natural disasters. To date, the WARF has distributed a total of $225,000 to recreational angling associations. Learn more here.

Place a bid or host an auction using #FliesforIan on Instagram.

What started as one Instagram auction by Josh Mills to raise funds for those impacted by Hurricane Ian, #FliesforIan has quickly gained momentum across the industry with auctions for guided trips, fishing gear and more. Already raising close to $50,000 in just five days, all proceeds from #FliesforIan auction will directly benefit IGFA + Costa’s WARF fund. Visit Mills’ Instagram page, @millsfly to get involved.

Purchase Costa’s #OneCoast apparel, with 100% of proceeds going directly to relief efforts.

Established by Costa Sunglasses in 2017, after Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria ravaged our coasts, #OneCoast continues to provide relief to those affected by natural disasters through the purchase of OneCoast apparel, direct donations and volunteering. Shop the collection here.

Spread the word by posting and sharing on your social channels.

Join @CostaSunglasses’ #OneCoast mission by posting and sharing your stories to support those in need. Together we can make a difference.

by AnglersChannel

Humminbird Clearing the Path for Unrivaled Mapping with All-New LakeMaster Charts

Humminbird releases an upgraded premium mapping solution in Humminbird LakeMaster VX to help anglers understand what is under the water’s surface better than ever before.

RACINE, Wis. (Oct 3, 2022) – For decades, Humminbird LakeMaster^® has led the charge with the most accurate and advanced mapping available for anglers. Now, LakeMaster is taking it to an entirely new level with the introduction of Humminbird LakeMaster maps with VX Technology.

The LakeMaster name has been praised among anglers for having the highest quality mapping for fishing, often collected by a team of GIS analyst cartographers. Now with VX Technology, LakeMaster maps are packed with more information than ever before, including five new customizable color palettes, exceptional map performance, and a powerful combination of features.

The new LakeMaster lineup maintains the same regions as the current lineup, but with two options per region: LakeMaster and LakeMaster Premium. Both products now include SmartStrike technology as a feature, allowing anglers to enter search parameters like season, time of day, temperature and targeted fish species to create a custom chart that highlights areas of the map where fish are most likely to be biting. LakeMaster and LakeMaster Premium also include customizable Chart Presets, four Depth Highlights with customizable colors, Shallow Water Highlight, Water Level Offset, and One-Boat Network capability. And for an added advantage, LakeMaster Premium includes two additional features: 2D Shaded Relief and Aerial Imagery.

“Anglers trust Humminbird LakeMaster to help them identify high-percentage areas to catch fish.” said Kyle Gilbert, Associate Brand Manager of Humminbird. “Now with VX Technology, the new Humminbird LakeMaster maps are packed with features designed to provide the angler with every advantage possible.”

LakeMaster has been the go-to road map for anglers, and compared to the competition, what you see on the map is actually on the lake bottom. With the introduction of LakeMaster with VX Technology, Humminbird LakeMaster solidifies its place as the most accurate and detailed fishing map on the market.

Humminbird LakeMaster Premium

VX Technology – Provides exceptional map performance and customizable color palettes.
SmartStrike – Highlights areas of the lake map where fish are most likely biting. (*Select HD Lakes Only)
Chart Presets – Simple and easy to change between your own custom view settings.
Depth Highlight – Highlight up to four depth ranges with customizable colors so you can target productive water and stay where the fish are.
Shallow Water Highlight – Easy-to-see red shading highlights shallow water areas on an adjustable range from 0 to 60 feet.
Water Level Offset – Synchronize the depth contours and shorelines of your LakeMaster charts with the actual water levels of lakes, reservoirs and rivers.
One-Boat Network – Connects your Humminbird LakeMaster chart and Minn Kota trolling motor, allowing your boat to automatically follow a depth contour line.
2D Shaded Relief – Quickly identify fish holding areas with 2D shaded relief, which make bottom detail and depth changes easy to spot.
Aerial Imagery – Navigate confidently and find new fishing spots with the help of enhanced aerial imagery.
MSRP: $199.99

Humminbird LakeMaster

VX Technology – Provides exceptional map performance and customizable color palettes.
SmartStrike – Highlights areas of the lake map where fish are most likely biting. (*Select HD Lakes Only)
Chart Presets – Simple and easy to change between your own custom view settings.
Depth Highlight – Highlight a selected depth range so you can target productive water and stay where the fish are.
Shallow Water Highlight – Easy-to-see red shading highlights shallow water areas on an adjustable range from 0 to 60 feet.
Water Level Offset – Synchronize the depth contours and shorelines of your LakeMaster charts with the actual water levels of lakes, reservoirs and rivers.
One-Boat Network – Connects your Humminbird LakeMaster chart and Minn Kota trolling motor, allowing your boat to automatically follow a depth contour line.
MSRP: $149.99

Available: October 2022

To learn more about the advantages of Humminbird LakeMaster mapping, click here .

by AnglersChannel

Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Set for Grand Lake

2023 All-American Championship Opportunity and $60,000 up for Grabs as Hundreds of Boaters and Co-anglers Descend on Grove, Oklahoma

GROVE, Okla. (Oct. 4, 2022) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine’s Arkie, Cowboy, Great Lakes and Ozark divisions will finish out their 2022 season later this month in Grove, Oklahoma, Oct. 20-22, with the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Presented by T-H Marine at Grand Lake.

Hosted by the City of Grove and the Grove Convention and Tourism Bureau, the three-day regional will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners in all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.

The highest finishing boater from each division will also receive a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division will receive a $500 bonus.

Local pro Darrel Robertson of Jay, Oklahoma said he expects this to be a good, but tough, competition.

“Now that we’re into October, the brush piles and that type of stuff won’t really play a big role like they typically would in the summertime or spring on Grand Lake,” Robertson said. “The way the sun has been shining, there may still be a lot of fish around docks, but there will also be a lot of big fish following the shad into back pockets.”

Robertson said he thinks it’ll be tough to catch 45 pounds, but if an angler can get up around 45 pounds for three days, they’ll have a good shot at winning the event.

“We are supposed to get some cooler nights over the next couple weeks, so if that water temperature starts to drop, I expect we’ll see a good spinnerbait bite,” Robertson said. “If it drops 8 to 10 degrees, I think we’ll see a lot of spinnerbaits, as well as buzzbaits, spooks, and River2Sea Whopper Ploppers play a big role in catching fish.

“There are just a large number of 2-pounders on Grand Lake right now, so there will be a lot of 10- to 11-pound stringers, which makes it a little harder,” Robertson continued. “It seems like the bigger fish are just a lot harder to catch right now on Grand, so it should be a good competition.”

Anglers will take off daily at 7 a.m. CT from Wolf Creek Park in Grove. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Set for Lewis Smith Lake

Hundreds of Boaters and Co-anglers to Compete in Cullman for $60,000 and Their Shot at the 2023 All-American Championship

CULLMAN, Ala. (Oct. 4, 2022) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine’s Mississippi, Mountain, Savannah River and Volunteer divisions will finish out their 2022 season later this month in Cullman, Alabama, Oct. 20-22, with the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Presented by T-H Marine at Lewis Smith Lake.

Hosted by the Cullman Area Local Organizing Committee, the three-day regional will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners in all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.

The highest finishing boater from each division will also receive a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division will receive a $500 bonus.

Local pro Alex Davis of Albertville, Alabama said the event is hitting at a time of year that can be incredibly unique on Lewis Smith Lake.

“The fish typically feed on really small shad for most of the later part of the summer and early part of the fall, however this event gets closer to a special time on the fishery, where they start eating bigger baits and herring show up out of nowhere,” Davis said. “When that happens it’s a recipe for awesomeness. I’ve had days on Smith Lake during this time where I’ve caught 50 to 60 bass chasing herring.”

Davis said the fishery is pretty diverse this time of year, but he expects most anglers will be fishing one of two different patterns – targeting spotted bass chasing herring or fishing shallow for largemouth.

“The largemouth population on Smith Lake has really increased over the past few years, so I expect to see guys throwing topwater baits, including buzzbaits and River2Sea Whopper Ploppers for largemouth, as well as spooks, pencil poppers and Lucky Craft Gunfish for spotted bass.”

For anglers who choose not to fish either of those patterns, Davis said they will most likely focus on brush piles, throwing shaky heads, Ned rigs and drop shots.

“I expect it will take between 45 to 49 pounds to win the event, so 16 to 17 pounds per day should get you in the top spot,” Davis concluded.

Anglers will take off daily at 7 a.m. CT from Smith Lake Park in Cullman. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Major League Fishing General Tire Team Series Wraps Production of First Event in Alexandria, Minnesota

New Team Bass Fishing Event Completes Week-Long Television Shoot in Alexandria, Minnesota, with Nine Three-Man Teams Competing to Advance to General Tire Team Series Championship

ALEXANDRIA, Minn. (Oct. 4, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF) and 27 of the world’s best pro anglers wrapped production this past weekend at the General Tire Team Series Lucas Oil Qualifier presented by B&W Trailer Hitches in Alexandria, Minnesota. The event, hosted by Explore Alexandria Tourism, and filmed entirely for television broadcast, was shot over six days this week and featured nine teams of three anglers competing to finish in the top three to advance to the General Tire Team Series Championship.

Central Minnesota and Alexandria have played host to numerous bass-fishing tournaments over the years, however, the General Tire Team Series Lucas Oil Qualifier presented by B&W Trailer Hitches event will mark the first time that MLF has visited Alexandria with an event that showcases the catch, weigh, immediate-release tournament format.

“The Alexandria area has long been a destination for fishermen, but that’s been somewhat overshadowed by all of the families who spend their time here in the heart of lakes country, not only enjoying time on the water, but also the golf courses, the parks and our other great vacation venues,” said Joe Korkowski, Executive Director of Explore Alexandria. “Having the Major League Fishing anglers put their expertise to the test on a few of our lakes brings the attention on fishing to a whole new level.

“Living in Minnesota, with our four very distinct seasons, we know the importance of being adaptable,” Korkowski continued. “These pros are demonstrating just how good they are at figuring out all of the elements that go into a successful day on the water and showing the average fisherman what’s possible. Alexandria is a great community for many reasons, including the fishing, hunting and other outdoor recreation, but the friendships, collaborations and community spirit are why we say it’s easy to get to, but hard to leave.”

The six-episode, two-hour series features the professional anglers visiting the Alexandria area to compete on Lake Le Homme Dieu or Lake Ida on each day of competition. The anglers do not learn where they are competing until they arrive to the launch ramp each morning of competition, creating a reality-based television episode that showcases how the top anglers in the world break down new and unfamiliar waters.

The nine teams that competed in the General Tire Team Series Lucas Oil Qualifier presented by B&W Trailer Hitches in Alexandria, Minnesota, are:

Team B&W Trailer Hitches:
Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark.
Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas
Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss.

Team Builders FirstSource:
Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark.
Jeff Kriet, Ardmore, Okla.
Timmy Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala.

Team Crockett Creek:
Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn.
Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark.
Jason Lambert, Michie, Tenn.

Team Ferguson:
Shinichi Fukae, Osaka, Japan
Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala.
Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C.

Team Fox Rent A Car:
James Elam, Tulsa, Okla.
Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan.
Jonathan VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Team Knighten Industries:
Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn.
Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark.
Mike McClelland, Blue Eye, Mo.

Team Kubota:
Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala.
Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky.
Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala.

Team Smokey Mountain:
Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz.
Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn.
Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn.

Team Starbrite:
Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas
Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C.
Roy Hawk, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.

The MLF General Tire Team Series Lucas Oil Qualifier presented by B&W Trailer Hitches, hosted by Explore Alexandria Tourism, will air on the Outdoor Channel as six, two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting Dec. 31, 2022, airing from 2 to 4 p.m. EDT. The full television schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com/tv-schedule.

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

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

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

by AnglersChannel

Ever Green Adds Extensive Colors to Shallow-Running Cranks

New SH-3 colors bring bass anglers an option for every situation and forage type

Cypress, CA (October 4, 2022) – The mother of all shallow crankbaits, the Ever Green SH-3 attracts big bass with its powerful, water-moving action.

Development of the Ever Green SH-3 was initiated by bass pros Brett Hite and Justin Kerr, professional staff for Ever Green US. The SH-3 has undergone rigorous testing in various conditions and waters in both Japan and the U.S. The result is a highly refined shallow-diving crankbait that produces powerful water movement.

Ever Green SH-3 (SKELETON PUMPKINSEED)

Its highly buoyant, fat body and square lip produces an action response on par with wood crankbaits, while its characteristic super-wide wobble action make a strong appeal to big bass. The SH-3 is free from the problems typical of shallow-diving crankbaits, such as lack of distance or difficulty casting. The tungsten weight transfer system promises incredible distance; its body density commands presence and yet offers superior accuracy with less effort when casting. The SH-3 represents a dramatic increase in cover cranking precision and efficiency.

The SH-3 is versatile and performs in variety of situations—from expansive, shallow flats to bluff banks and reeds, to cut grass and other vegetation, as well as slowly maneuvered through wood and rock. It simply excels at drawing reaction bites.

Satoshi Ito, Ever Green Product Manager, comments, “With the input of Brett Hite and Justin Kerr, we’ve been able to really refine the SH-3 product line and expand its efficacy on the water with nine new bass-catching colors. There’s now a pattern and color to match the forage base on any U.S. big bass body of water.”

New colors include SPEED CRAW, GHOST BABY GILL, CHAMPION SHAD, SKELETON PUMPKINSEED, COLD SHAD, ALBINO CRAW, CHART SHAD, GHOST GREEN GIZZARD, and GHOST WAKASAGI. Existing colors include FIRE CRAW, OLIVE CRAWDAD, GREEN PUMPKIN GILL, and BIG BITE SHAD.

Gear up for a whole new range of shallow-diving cranks that rocket-cast to match any situation, on any body of water. Experience for yourself the overwhelming power of this world-class shallow crankbait.

GHOST WAKASAGI

COLD SHAD

CHART SHAD

GHOST GREEN GIZZARD

ALBINO CRAW

SKELETON PUMPKINSEED

CHAMPION SHAD

GHOST BABY GILL

SPEED CRAW

FEATURES:

Nine additional colors added to the SH Series
Floating crankbait
Diving Depth: 2- to 3-feet
Length: 2 ¾-inches (69mm)
Weight: 11/16-ounces (19.0 grams)
Hook size: Front #3; Rear: #3

Available November 2022. MSRP $15.95

by AnglersChannel

Bassmaster Kayak Series Wraps 2022 Season On Pickwick Lake

The Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX will wrap up the 2022 season on Tennessee's Pickwick Lake Oct. 8-9.

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

October 4, 2022

COUNCE, Tenn. — Talented kayak anglers from around the country take to the waters of Pickwick Lake, Tenn., October 8-9 for the final regular-season stop of the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX season.

Competition starts each day at 6:30 a.m. CT, with lines out at 2:30 p.m. An award ceremony will be held Sunday at The Lodge at Pickwick Landing at 4:00 p.m.

The Tennessee B.A.S.S. Nation ranks Pickwick as the best lake in the state and, in the recent Bassmaster Magazine ranking of the country's 100 Best Bass Lakes, beautiful scenery paired with a chance to catch a trophy trifecta — smallmouth, largemouth and spotted bass of above-average size — helped Pickwick claim the No. 16 spot in the Southeastern division.

Not only will the Old Town Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year be crowned, but it will be the final chance to qualify for the Kayak Series Championship that will be held on Chickamauga Lake in conjunction with the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville, Tenn.

Sitting atop the field with 972 points in the Angler of the Year race is Justin Largen of Roanoke, Va., who won the second event at Florida's Harris Chain of Lakes and followed that up with Top 10 finishes in the next two tournaments at Oklahoma's Grand Lake and Lewis Smith Lake in Alabama.

“When I saw B.A.S.S. was doing an Angler of the Year, I signed up for all of them right away,” Largen said. “The win was huge for me. It was my first win at a national level and there were a bunch of big names fishing. It was a huge confidence boost.

“Going into Grand and into Smith, they weren’t places I have fished before and I didn’t have a ton of confidence, but my goal was to be competitive and stay relevant. Don’t have a bomb and take myself out of it. To be leading it feels great.”

Largen is followed closely by West Virginia angler Larry Edwards (967 points) and Garrett Morgan (950), who led the AOY standings through the first three events and took the victory in the season’s first tournament at Lake Fork.

Instead of a standard weigh-in that requires scales measuring pounds and ounces, anglers will practice “catch, photograph and release” to determine the kayak tournament standings.

When an angler catches a bass, he or she will photograph it lying on an approved measuring board and submit the photo through a special mobile app provided by TourneyX. The boards will measure each bass in inches down to a quarter of an inch, and the angler with the longest five-bass limit will win.

by AnglersChannel

Late Rally Pushes Monetti To Victory In Bassmaster College Classic Bracket

UNC Charlotte's Louis Monetti, of Brielle, N.J., has won the 2022 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket on Lake Greenwood presented by Lew’s and will compete in the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic.

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

October 3, 2022

GREENWOOD, S.C. — As he ran back to Greenwood State Park on Championship Monday of the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s, Louis Monetti was heartbroken. Although he had a limit, Monetti had fallen short of the target weight he thought he would need to beat his opponent, Florida Gateway College’s Seth Slanker.

So, as he stood shoulder to shoulder with Slanker on shore at day's end, convinced he didn’t catch enough, Monetti was stunned when he flipped over a card that revealed he was the winner.

With a final-day weight of 8 pounds, 13 ounces, Monetti claimed the Bracket title over Slanker, who led most of the day but ultimately fell short with 7-11.

“I thought the whole time I had lost. I had it in my head that Seth had caught somewhere between 9 and 10 pounds,” Monetti said. “He has been incredibly consistent with that this week. I said it on camera; I was heartbroken and thought it was a blown opportunity.

“So, when I turned over that card, I didn’t believe the words I was reading and I thought it was a prank.”

With the win, Monetti earned a berth into the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic scheduled for March 24-26 in Knoxville, Tenn. He will also receive paid entry fees into all nine 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by Mossy Oak Fishing and the use of a fully rigged Toyota Tundra and Nitro boat.

“I’m speechless. It is a dream come true,” Monetti said. “I have been thinking about this moment since I was 13 years old when I first started tournament fishing, and for it to actually be happening hasn’t sunk in. It has come a lot earlier than expected.”

The Bracket victory is the exclamation point on a phenomenal season for the now-graduate of UNC Charlotte. After fishing solo for several years, he and partner Michael Fugaro won the 2022 College Series Team of the Year title to qualify for the Bracket out of Monetti’s ’96 Ranger, a boat with torn-up seats, frayed carpet and no electronics on the bow.

“More than anything, I feel like this is a legitimizing win,” he explained. “I felt inside myself, especially in the last two or three years, that I am a solid and capable angler. There were just some key mistakes along the way, whether it was fish losses or mental breaks.

“Funds and time haven’t allowed me to enter as many tournaments as I would have liked to prove who I am. This year, committing to fishing the College Series as hard as we did just to get here, let alone try and win it, feels great. I am more than blessed to have the opportunity.”

For the first two days, Monetti put his trolling motor on high and cruised down the bank throwing a True South V-TWIN buzzbait, a Whopper Plopper 90 and a wacky-rigged Bizz Baits 5-inch Sassy Stick. He opened the event by catching 10-4 to defeat Trey Schroeder in the first round and then caught the biggest bag of the event in the semifinal round with 16-14 to advance over Florida Gateway College’s Jackson Swisher.

In a normal tournament setting, Monetti would have felt really comfortable with his cumulative weight. But with weights zeroing each day, he never felt great about his chances.

“The week was incredibly stressful, today especially,” he said. “I feel like I did a good job blocking it out, but I thought about it yesterday, and if it was your everyday tournament, I would have had to catch only 5 or 6 pounds today. You have a big day like I did yesterday, and then today I had a terrible day, to put it plainly. I thought yesterday had been all for naught.”

With stronger winds than the previous two days — conditions Monetti struggled in during practice — he and Slanker battled a much tougher Lake Greenwood on Championship Monday. While Slanker found an early limit, Monetti could not recapture the magic he found in the semifinal round.

He trailed Slanker most of the morning but cut the deficit to a couple of ounces before the midday break at 11 a.m. with a 2 1/2-pounder that ate his True South Fathead Jig with a chunk trailer.

“My teammate Jake Monti turned me on to the chunk as a trailer and I have lived and died by it ever since,” Monetti said. “That bite was the absolute turning point. I don’t want to say I was spinning out, but I was losing confidence. I had been talking all week that on Lake Norman in the fall, you can get a good bite on a jig. Being this is a similar lake to Norman, I thought it would set up well for a jig and it never did until today.

“This morning I pulled up on a dock and caught a 1 1/2-pound spot and then I caught that fish, and I said, ‘Okay, I am really going to roll with today being a jig day.’”

Late in the day, Monetti discovered a pattern where he could get bites with the jig on the first dock inside of a river channel bend and used that to rally to the lead in the final two hours by catching a 2 1/2-pounder at 12:45 p.m. before he sealed the win with a 1-5 bass that entered the boat with two minutes to go.

“I feel like I figured it out, but a little too late,” Monetti said. “But it ended up being just enough.”

As seen on Bassmaster LIVE, Slanker hooked one he believed could have won the tournament with around a half hour to go, but the bass wrapped him around a dock pole and broke off.

With the Bracket trophy secured, Monetti will set his sights on Knoxville and begin his research for Fort Loudoun and Tellico.

“I have watched all the shows that have been there and was at the Classic in 2019,” he said. “I watched the Elite event there last year. It seems like it is going to be interesting. I’m a smallmouth guy; I’m not sure if it is my kind of smallmouth fishing. But I am so excited to get there, and I don’t know how to put it into words knowing that I am going to go. I’m excited to be there and experience it.”

by AnglersChannel

Smith Victorious at Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament on Lake Dardanelle

Blackwell Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (Oct. 3, 2022) – Boater Kirk Smith of Edmond, Oklahoma, caught 10 bass weighing 27 pounds, 8 ounces, to win the two-day MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Dardanelle in Russellville, Arkansas. The tournament, hosted by Russellville Advertising and Promotion, was the fifth and final regular-season event for the Bass Fishing League Arkie Division. Smith earned $6,367 for his victory.

“I’m pretty familiar with Dardanelle and started running all of my old stuff,” said Smith, who notched his second win on Lake Dardanelle in MLF competition. “I was running down the lake and noticed there were a lot of shad on the main lake and not a lot in the backwaters. So, I started targeting little pockets off the main river that had the shad, where I think bass were hanging out to ambush them.”

Smith said he relied on a vibrating jig and a square-bill crankbait in three to four feet of water in the mid- to upper-Dardanelle area to catch his bass. He targeted laydowns or brush on both days of competition, but admits fishing was tougher on Sunday.

“I caught 20 to 25 fish during the tournament,” Smith said. “About 15 of those were keepers. Fishing got a lot tougher for everybody on Day 2. Saturday there was a little bit of wind, but there was none on Sunday.

“This win feels fantastic,” Smith added. “I really love to win multiple-day events because it shows you were on something really strong instead of just a one-day fluke.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:          Kirk Smith, Edmond, Okla., 10 bass, 27-8, $6,367
2nd:        Eugene Moore, III, Little Rock, Ark., 10 bass, 22-11, $2,816
3rd:        Shonn Goodwin, Moore, Okla., 10 bass, 21-7, $2,177
4th:         Jason Lieblong, Conway, Ark., 10 bass, 20-13, $1,314
5th:         Chris Huselton, Conway, Ark., nine bass, 20-5, $1,126
6th:         Kevin Brown, Hot Springs, Ark., nine bass, 19-15, $1,933 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF5 contingency bonus)
7th:         Blake Martin, Dardanelle, Ark., 10 bass, 19-0, $939
8th:         Brandon Lee, Ratcliff, Ark., 10 bass, 17-7, $845
9th:         Aaron Mize, Clarksville, Ark., nine bass, 17-3, $751
10th:      Derrick Damon, Clarksville, Ark., eight bass, 16-14, $657

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Smith also caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 7 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – to earn the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $735.

Buck Blackwell of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $3,116 Sunday after catching a two-day total of eight bass weighing 19 pounds, 6 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

1st:          Buck Blackwell, Pine Bluff, Ark., eight bass, 19-6, $3,116
2nd:        Reagan Brown, Hot Springs, Ark., six bass, 13-12, $1,775
3rd:        Jonathan Simms, Hot Springs, Ark., seven bass, 12-2, $941
4th:         Don Billiot, Hot Springs Village, Ark., five bass, 12-0, $657
5th:         Cody Mangrum, West Memphis, Ark., five bass, 11-10, $563
6th:         Corey Ruff, Jacksonville, Ark., four bass, 11-9, $516
7th:         John Foster Case, Clarksville, Ark., eight bass, 11-6, $469
8th:         Ryan Glenn, Mansfield, Ark., four bass, 11-3, $422
9th:         Randy Allen, Russellville, Ark., six bass, 9-11, $375
10th:      Jonathan Dotson, Dover, Ark., five bass, 9-4, $329

Reagan Brown of Hot Springs, Arkansas, caught the largest bass in the Strike King Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 2 ounces. The catch earned him the Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $367.

With the regular season now complete, boater Kevin Brown of Hot Springs, Arkansas, won the 2022 Bass Fishing League Arkie Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with a five-event total of 1,337 points to earn the $1,000 boater AOY award. Andrew Wooley of Little Rock, Arkansas, won the 2022 Strike King Co-Angler Arkie Division AOY race with 1,307 points and earned the $500 Strike King Co-angler of the Year award.

Now, the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will advance to compete in the Oct. 20-22 Bass Fishing League Regional on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma. Boaters will compete 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 fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Regionals where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

by AnglersChannel

Greenberg Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament on the Potomac River

Dacey Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division

MARBURY, Md. (Oct. 3, 2022) – Boater Joshua Greenberg of Montpelier, Virginia, caught 10 bass weighing 29 pounds, 2 ounces, to win the two-day MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland. The tournament, hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners, was the fifth and final regular-season event for the Bass Fishing League Shenandoah Division. Greenberg earned $5,137 for his victory.

Greenberg said he began the tournament by relying on past experience as a co-angler and focused on a ditch in the Mattawoman Creek area to catch bass. Greenberg said he threw a topwater frog on the matted grass there.

“I told my co-angler, ‘We going to hunker down here, and if we start catching them here, we’re going to stay here and pick it apart,’” Greenberg said. “We got lucky with some fortunate bites but missed a lot of fish.

“We missed a lot of fish because they would either miss the frog or blow up behind it,” Greenberg said. “I ended up having over 30 blowups on a frog and only caught one of them. It was tough. We tried following it up with a small finesse bait and caught two keepers doing that. I tried flipping as well but didn’t have any luck doing that.”

Greenberg said he returned to his Day 1 spot on Sunday, but the water had dropped overnight, so he relocated to another area nearby. On his first cast there, he landed a 4-pound bass and his luck seemed to change.

“My co-angler had his limit in about 10 minutes, and I was wondering what I was doing wrong,” Greenberg said. “Then I caught two fish right away, and before you know it, in 15 minutes we both had our limit. That’s river fishing. One minute it’s dead, the next minute it’s game on, and everybody is having a good time.

“This win is great. I helped start the College Fishing team at Radford University and fell in love with the sport,” added Greenberg, who made appearances at the College Fishing National Championships in 2019 and 2020. “I fished BFL events as a co-angler, and I fished this year as a boater in the BFLs and put a win in my goals for this year; I’m just blessed.

“My co-angler on Sunday went to Radford as well, and when we both got a limit, we high-fived and he screamed, ‘The Radford boys have a limit.’ That was just awesome.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:          Joshua Greenberg, Montpelier, Md., 10 bass, 29-2, $5,137
2nd:        Todd Langford, Great Falls, Va., 10 bass, 28-10, $3,269 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF5 contingency bonus)
3rd:        Brian Gmerek, Frederick, Md., nine bass, 26-6, $1,712
4th:         Michael Wilburn, Spotsylvania, Va., 10 bass, 25-12, $1,199
5th:         Tom Bateman, Welcome, Md., 10 bass, 24-12, $1,027
6th:         Chris Daves, Spring Grove, Va., 10 bass, 21-12, $942
7th:         Robert Grike, Dumfries, Va., eight bass, 17-14, $1,056
8th:         Wesley Harris, Rustburg, Va., eight bass, 16-15, $771
9th:         Chris Brummett, Lynch Station, Va., seven bass, 16-11, $1,285
10th:      Richard Hare, King William, Va., eight bass, 16-7, $599

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Christopher Milton of Prince George, Virginia, caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 2 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – to earn the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $645.

Wes Dacey of Henrico, Virginia, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,669 Sunday after catching a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 26 pounds, 5 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

1st:          Wes Dacey, Henrico, Va., 10 bass, 26-5, $2,669
2nd:        Rodney Coles, Petersburg, Va., eight bass, 20-12, $1,284
3rd:        Safulla Rana, Warrenton, Va., nine bass, 17-5, $858
4th:         Christopher Mills, Manassas, Va., seven bass, 17-4, $599
5th:         James Calhoun, Norfolk, Va., eight bass, 17-3, $514
6th:         Robert Wedding, Welcome, Md., six bass, 15-14, $1,143
7th:         Matt Hummel, Dillsburg, Pa., six bass, 15-11, $428
8th:         Jesse Ketchum, Columbia, Md., six bass, 14-6, $385
9th:         Lew Jenkins, Waldorf, Md., five bass, 12-2, $342
10th:      Cornell Badra, Clarksburg, Md., six bass, 11-15, $300

Robert Wedding of Welcome, Maryland, caught the largest bass in the Strike King Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 4 ounces. The catch earned him the Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $322.

With the regular season now complete, boater Chris Brummett of Lynch Station, Virginia, won the 2022 Bass Fishing League Shenandoah Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with a five-event total of 1,308 points to earn the $1,000 boater AOY award. Lenny Baird of Stafford, Virginia, won the 2022 Strike King Co-Angler Shenandoah Division AOY race with 1,285 points and earned the $500 Strike King Co-angler of the Year award.

Now, the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will advance to compete in the Oct. 20-22 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on the James River in Richmond, Virginia. Boaters will compete 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 fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Regional Championships where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

by AnglersChannel

Jason Lambert Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament on Old Hickory Lake

Barton Bests Field in Strike King Co-Angler Division

GALLATIN, Tenn. (Oct. 3, 2022) – Pro Jason Lambert of Michie, Tennessee, caught 10 bass weighing 19 pounds, 14 ounces, to win the two-day MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Old Hickory Lake Presented by Lithium Pros in Gallatin, Tennessee. The tournament, hosted by Sumner County Tourism, was the fifth and final regular-season event for the Bass Fishing League Music City Division. Lambert earned $5,504 for his victory.

“Old Hickory has always been a notoriously tough lake to fish for me,” said Lambert, who earned his seventh career win in MLF competition. “To go up there and fish against the local guys and squeak one out – it’s harder to win a BFL event than a Toyota Series or a Bass Pro Tour event because you’re fishing against every local hammer on the lake.”

Lambert said he focused on outside grass lines - milfoil and hydrilla in particular – on the bottom third of Old Hickory and caught every fish he weighed in on a white ChatterBait with a Green Shad-colored Castaic Baits Jerky J trailer.

“On Saturday I had seven keeper bites and lost two of them,” Lambert said. “Sunday I only had five keeper bites all day. But my first fish Sunday morning was a 3-pounder, which is huge there,” Lambert said.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:          Jason Lambert, Michie, Tenn., 10 bass, 19-14, $5,504
2nd:        Kelly Woodruff, Portland, Tenn., nine bass, 19-4, $3,252 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF5 contingency bonus)
3rd:        Beau Grissim, Lebanon, Tenn., nine bass, 17-10, $1,835
4th:         Anthony Guffie, Lafayette, Tenn., eight bass, 17-10, $1,284
5th:         Dylan Wright, Murfreesboro, Tenn., four bass, 17-7, $1,806
6th:         Adam Wagner, Cookeville, Tenn., 10 bass, 16-5, $1,009
7th:         Matt Underhill, Lascassas, Tenn., six bass, 16-1, $917
8th:         Corey Steakley, Lebanon, Tenn., seven bass, 15-10, $826
9th:         John Wilkerson, Nashville, Tenn., eight bass, 15-9, $734
10th:      Joe Manley, Bowling Green, Ky., six bass, 15-4, $642

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Dylan Wright of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 2 ounces – the heaviest in the Boater Division – to earn the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $705.

Mike Barton of Lafayette, Tennessee, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $3,104 Sunday after catching a two-day total of six bass weighing 13 pounds, 11 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

1st:          Mike Barton, Lafayette, Tenn., six bass, 13-11, $3,104
2nd:        Darryl Lee, Franklin, Ky., four bass, 9-15, $1,376
3rd:        Justin Clark, White House, Tenn., five bass, 8-9, $918
4th:         Todd Mowery, Madison, Ala., four bass, 8-8, $642
5th:         Casey Carpenter, Gallatin, Tenn., three bass, 7-9, $550
6th:         Howard Dowdy, Livingston, Tenn., two bass, 6-15, $505
7th:         Gary Haraguchi, Murfreesboro, Tenn., three bass, 6-2, $459
8th:         John Lawson, Hampshire, Tenn., two bass, 5-9, $413
9th:         Robert Moore, Elkmont, Ala., three bass, 5-2, $467
10th:      William McCandless, Lewisburg, Tenn., two bass, 4-6, $321

Barton also caught the largest bass in the Strike King Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 4 pounds, 2 ounces. The catch earned him the Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $352.

With the regular season now complete, boater Josh Tramel of Smithville, Tennessee, won the 2022 Bass Fishing League Music City Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with a five-event total of 1,271 points to earn the $1,000 boater AOY award. John Lawson of Hampshire, Tennessee, won the 2022 Strike King Co-Angler Music City Division AOY race with 1,243 points and earned the $500 Strike King Co-angler of the Year award.

Now, the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will advance to compete in the Oct. 13-15 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee. Boaters will compete 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 fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Regional Championships where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

by AnglersChannel

Lee Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament on Lake Eufaula

Suratt Claims Victory in Strike King Co-Angler Division

EUFAULA, Ala. (Oct. 3, 2022) – Boater John Lee of Cataula, Georgia, caught 10 bass weighing 35 pounds, 4 ounces, to win the two-day MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Alabama. The tournament, hosted by the Eufaula County Chamber of Commerce, was the fifth and final regular-season event for the Bass Fishing League Bama Division. Lee earned $6,143 for his victory.

Lee said he focused his fishing between Cheneyhatchee Creek and Pataula Creek and relied on crankbaits to fill his livewell.

“We fished a medium-deep pattern, mid-lake, in 16 to 18 feet of water,” Lee said. “The bite was really strong. On Saturday I caught about 18 fish and culled a lot of really nice fish.”

What started out as a hot bite turned south for Lee on Sunday when forces of nature came into play. Lee stuck with his game plan, however.

“The wind picked up on Sunday, and it was ferocious, and I could not get a bite,” Lee added. “I got seven bites all day and culled two fish. What carried me through was the nice ones I caught Saturday.

“This is the biggest win I’ve ever had,” Lee added. “I’ve been close before but have never been able to seal the deal. This is just unbelievable and I’m elated.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:          John Lee, Cataula, Ga., 10 bass, 35-4, $6,143
2nd:        Mark Stillwell, Salem, Ala., 10 bass, 31-10, $2,723
3rd:        Kyle Welcher, Opelika, Ala., 10 bass, 29-2, $1,816
4th:         Ethan Greene, Eufaula, Ala., 10 bass, 28-1, $1,271
5th:         Tucker Smith, Birmingham, Ala., 10 bass, 28-0, $1,089
6th:         Mike Cavender, Phenix City, Ala., 10 bass, 27-10, $998
7th:         Hunter Nanney, Dumas, Miss., 10 bass, 24-7, $1,108
8th:         Nathan Ashmore, Baldwyn, Miss., 10 bass, 23-14, $1,017
9th:         Jimmy Mason, Rogersville, Ala., 10 bass, 22-6, $1,826 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF5 contingency bonus)
10th:      Steve Graziano, Phenix City, Ala., eight bass, 22-0, $635

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Lee also earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $697 with a bass that he caught on Day 1 weighing 5 pounds, 8 ounces.

Johnny Suratt of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,723 Sunday after catching a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 25 pounds, 15 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

1st:          Johnny Suratt, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., 10 bass, 25-15, $2,723
2nd:        Rodney Thompson, Highland Home, Ala., nine bass, 23-0, $1,361
3rd:        Daniel Buswell Jr., Fayetteville, Ga., nine bass, 22-7, $908
4th:         Ethan Shaw, Raymond, Miss., eight bass, 16-9, $935
5th:         Mark Black, Selma, Ala., five bass, 15-15, $545
6th:         Robert Enke, Columbus, Ga., eight bass, 15-10, $499
7th:         Daniel Corkern, Florence, Miss., seven bass, 15-8, $604
8th:         Justin Nalley, Fayetteville, Ga., seven bass, 13-7, $408
9th:         Justin Foster, Thomaston, Ga., seven bass, 13-2, $363
10th:      Richard White, Alexander City, Ala., seven bass, 13-1, $318

Cole Bedsole of Prattville, Alabama, caught the largest bass in the Strike King Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 4 pounds, 1 ounce. The catch earned him the Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $349.

With the regular season now complete, boater Robbie Robinson of Mobile, Alabama, won the 2022 Bass Fishing League Bama Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with a five-event total of 1,287 points to earn the $1,000 boater AOY award. Mike Langdale of Sycamore, Georgia, won the 2022 Strike King Co-Angler Bama Division AOY race with 1,303 points and earned the $500 Strike King Co-angler of the Year award.

The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Regional Championships where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

by AnglersChannel

Chickamauga To Host Bassmaster Kayak Series National Championship

Tennessee's Chickamauga Lake will host the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship March 22-23, 2023.

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

October 3, 2022

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The country’s best kayak anglers are heading back to Tennessee, this time competing for a National Championship. The Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship powered by TourneyX will be held at legendary Chickamauga Lake in Dayton, Tenn., as part of festivities surrounding the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville.

The championship at Chickamauga Lake will be a two-day event, March 22-23, 2023. The awards ceremony will be held on the Bassmaster Classic stage at Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus on March 24 prior to the Day 1 Classic weigh-in.

Chickamauga, which recently ranked No. 18 on Bassmaster Magazine’s annual 100 Best Bass Lakes list, Southeastern Division, last hosted the Bassmaster Kayak Series in 2020. The winner of the season-ending tournament was Iowa’s Tyler Cole, with five bass measuring 89.5 inches. The big bass of that event was a largemouth coming in at a whopping 23 inches.

Since 2019, this rich fishery has hosted six B.A.S.S. tournaments, including two Elite Series events and the 2021 Bassmaster High School Series National Championship.

When the Kayak Series returns to eastern Tennessee in 2023, Dandridge native and two-time Bassmaster Kayak Series champion Jim Davis is expected to compete. Davis took home titles at the inaugural tournament on Alabama’s Logan Martin Lake in 2020 and followed that up in 2021 with a win on the Upper Mississippi River. With just one event remaining in the 2022 season, Davis is currently sitting in eighth place in the Old Town Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year race.

Anglers will take to the waters of Pickwick Lake, Tenn., October 8-9 for one last chance to qualify for the championship. Competitors can register for the event through October 4, 2022 at Bassmaster.com.

Instead of a standard weigh-in that uses scales to measure pounds and ounces, anglers will practice “catch, photograph and release” to determine the standings.

When an angler catches a bass, he or she will photograph the fish lying on a standard-issue measuring board and submit the photo through a special mobile app provided by TourneyX. The boards will measure each fish in inches down to a quarter of an inch, and the angler with the longest five-bass limit will win.

by AnglersChannel

MLF Announces Wheeler Lake as Venue for 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Wild Card Regional

TULSA, Okla. (Oct. 3, 2022) – Major League Fishing, the world’s largest tournament fishing organization, announced that the 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Wild Card Regional will take place on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Alabama, Nov. 11-12. The two-day event, hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism, will launch from Ingalls Harbor in Decatur.

Anglers must have entered all five events within a Phoenix Bass Fishing League division during the 2022 season and fished at least two of them in order to be eligible to fish the Wild Card. In addition, anglers who fish in a regular BFL Regional are ineligible.

Anglers will take off from Ingalls Harbor, located at 701 Market St. NW in Decatur, at 7 a.m. CTeach day of competition. Weigh-ins will be held at the harbor both days beginning at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The full field competes both days at the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Wild Card, with winners determined by the heaviest two-day catch. The top six boaters and top six Strike King co-anglers will advance to the 2023 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine All-American, held on Lake Harwell in Seneca, South Carolina, May 31 – June 2, hosted by Visit Oconee SC.

There will be no official practice period or off-limits period prior to the pretournament meeting for the Wild Card. No contestant may be on tournament waters for the purpose of locating bass or potential fishing waters after the start of the pretournament meeting except during tournament hours.

Entry for the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Wild Card is now open and runs through Thursday, November 3, 2022, at 5 p.m. CT. Anglers can enter by phone at 270.252.1000.

The 2022 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and 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, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regionals.

The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Big Largemouth Vault Monetti Into Final Day Of Bassmaster College Classic Bracket

Collegiate anglers Louis Monetti from UNC Charlotte and Seth Slanker from Florida Gateway College have advanced to the final round of the 2022 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket on Lake Greenwood presented by Lew’s and will compete for a spot in the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.

October 2, 2022

GREENWOOD, S.C. — On a lake where 1- to 2-pound spotted bass are plentiful, catching a big largemouth or two becomes paramount to success. UNC Charlotte’s Louis Monetti did just that on Semifinal Sunday at the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket at Lake Greenwood presented by Lew’s, landing a 6-pounder and a 4-pounder on his way to a 16-pound, 14-ounce day.

By catching the biggest bag of the tournament thus far, Monetti powered past Florida Gateway College’s Jackson Swisher in the head-to-head matchup to advance to Championship Monday. There, he will face Florida Gateway College’s Seth Slanker, who caught 9-11 and defeated McKendree University’s Tyler Christy, who caught 8-12 Sunday.

Although a spot in the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic will be awarded Monday, Monetti said he is doing his best not to think about it.

“I have not and will not think about it,” he said. “I am doing everything I can to keep that out of my mind. I am doing everything I can do to go out there and just have a good time. Every one of my marshals and cameramen has been awesome and kept a good vibe going in the boat.

“Every day, we have a job to do and I am going to go out tomorrow and have a good time and we will see what happens.”

Coming into the event, Monetti expected 14 or 15 pounds would be a really big bag. With overcast and calm conditions on Day 1, he landed 10-4 to advance. On Sunday, sunnier and breezier conditions took over, although Monetti said he wasn’t sure how much that contributed to his increase in quality.

While the final tally looked good on paper, Monetti said he lost several key bass. But just as he and his partner Michael Fugaro did throughout their 2022 Team of the Year campaign, Monetti kept a positive mindset and was rewarded.

“Keeping a positive mindset has been the key to the whole year and the key to today,” he said. “I went down hard early. I lost some really key fish. Fish that were as big or bigger than the one I caught yesterday.

“Being able to shake that off, I was impressed with myself, honestly. It was something special, and to rebound with a giant like that, there’s no better way to turn a day around. It really encapsulates what this year was.”

After losing a couple of bass between 2 and 4 pounds early in the day, Monetti made a short move to the other side of the lake to clear his head. He picked up a Whopper Plopper, and after a few casts, he hooked and landed the biggest bass of the tournament.

“I was reeling that Plopper down the bank and she ate it,” Monetti said. “I felt like I had a really good chance of landing her. She jumped and the bait was visible to me. I had 30-pound braid and put brand-new hooks on it. That really eased my mind and made me feel like I was going to be able to do this today.”

Most of the day was spent chasing that shallow bite, which yielded a bass over 4 pounds and then filled his limit with a couple of 1 1/2-pound bass. As the day came to a close, he switched to a different shallow tactic and caught a 3 1/2-pounder.

Monetti has taken lessons he has learned from living around Lake Norman, a fishery with a healthy population of spotted bass and largemouth, and applied them to Lake Greenwood this week. His bag today featured four largemouth and a spotted bass.

He has been confused by one thing, however, and that is how to get a quality spotted bass bite. That will be his focus Monday if more big largemouth don’t show up early.

“I am planning on doing the same thing,” he said. “But I would like to find some way to get that better than average bite, like in the 2 to 2 1/2-pound range. Fishing for only big ones is very stressful. At least there are a couple of limit fillers along the way. I feel like I got enough of those big bites today to make it happen, and I don’t see why it’s something that couldn’t happen tomorrow, too.”

Slanker meanwhile had a tougher start to the morning. After several bass blew up on his topwater bait but did not get hooked, he made a move to an area where he caught fish on Saturday and caught three on a ChatterBait.

From there, he ran new water and landed a 2-pounder for his fourth fish but went a long while before landing his fifth keeper. Around midday, he learned he was slightly behind Christy but was able to fight the nerves and stay focused on the bass.

“I didn’t want to let it get to my head. I didn’t want to get thrown off my deal,” Slanker said. “It is a big mental game and I didn’t want to worry about it. I picked up my jig and started pitching around docks, and finally, I got back to my good dock stretch and caught one.”

He officially sealed his win over Christy with about two minutes to go by catching a keeper bass that lifted him close to 10 pounds.

The areas he has been fishing haven’t produced as well during the event as they did in practice. Slanker isn’t sure what changed, but later in the day, he noticed his ChatterBait bite began to improve and he hopes that will continue into the final day.

Most of his bites have been spotted bass, but Slanker added he would love to have a kicker largemouth in his bag Monday.

“I’m going to pick up a ChatterBait more and throw it around,” Slanker said. “I would hope to catch a bunch more largemouth. My chances of getting a bigger bite would be a lot better. I know if I can get some quality spotted bass and a kicker largemouth, I’ll be happy.”

Monetti and Slanker will take off from Greenwood State Park at 7 a.m. ET and will have until 3 p.m. to catch their five biggest bass. The winner will earn their spot in the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic scheduled for March 24-26 in Knoxville, Tenn., as well as paid entries into the 2023 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens presented by Mossy Oak Fishing with use of a fully loaded Toyota Tundra and Nitro boat.

Live coverage will be available starting at 8 a.m. on Bassmaster.com. With this being a catch, weigh, release event, all scores will be official on BassTrakk.

2022 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew's 10/1-10/3
Lake Greenwood, Greenwood SC
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

Angler Club/School Total

Louis Monetti UNC Charlotte 5 16-14
Jackson Swisher Florida Gateway College 5 09-06

Seth Slanker Florida Gateway College 5 09-11
Tyler Christy McKendree University 5 08-12

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 6 36 66-14
2 4 20 44-11
----------------------------------
10 56 111-09

by AnglersChannel

Big Bite Powers Swisher To Semifinal Round Of Bassmaster College Classic Bracket

Collegiate anglers Louis Monetti from UNC Charlotte, Tyler Christy from McKendree University and Jackson Swisher and Seth Slanker, both from Florida Gateway College, are moving forward after Day 1 of the 2022 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket on Lake Greenwood presented by Lew’s.
Photos by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.

October 1, 2022

GREENWOOD, S.C. — A season ago, Jackson Swisher from Florida Gateway College fell just short of qualifying for the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic with a sixth-place finish at the Bassmaster Southern Open at Douglas Lake.

But with a stellar Day 1 performance at the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket at Lake Greenwood presented by Lew’s, he is now in range of redemption.

Swisher, who entered Saturday as the No. 5 seed, secured the victory in his head-to-head matchup with No. 4 seed Connor Cartmell from Coastal Carolina University by catching a mixed bag of largemouth and spotted bass weighing 11 pounds, 12 ounces, the heaviest of any competitor for the day. He anchored his bag with a 4-2 largemouth that was also big bass of the day.

“As I fished the Opens, I wanted to win one to make the Classic,” he said. “I look at this the same way. I am only fishing to win. Second place doesn’t do you any good. That is the mindset I came in with. I am going to swing for the fences tomorrow.”

Swisher advances to the semifinals and will face the No. 1 seed Louis Monetti from UNC Charlotte. Monetti caught 10-4 Saturday to defeat No. 8 seed Trey Schroeder from McKendree University, who landed 8-12.

Swisher's partner No. 6 seed Seth Slanker from Florida Gateway College caught the second-heaviest bag, 10-13, and advanced over No. 3 seed Andrew Vereen from Coastal Carolina University, who caught 7-9 and fell just shy of a limit. Slanker will face No. 7 seed Tyler Christy from McKendree University in the semifinals. Christy caught 7-10 to earn a win over No. 2 seed Michael Fugaro from UNC Charlotte, who finished with 2-5.

One of the four anglers remaining will clinch a spot in the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic, which is scheduled for March 24-26 in Knoxville, Tenn.

Although it did cancel the seeding day for anglers on Friday, Hurricane Ian left behind relatively calm and stable conditions on Lake Greenwood on Saturday, although Swisher mentioned it muddied some areas he wanted to try.

A former member of the Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors with five Opens under his belt, Swisher has felt the pressure of fishing as an individual as well as the nerves that being in contention brings. He has learned from some of the mistakes he made at Douglas, which has helped him navigate the emotions this tournament brings so far.

“Fishing the Opens, you can’t let the pressure get to you, and you block it out and just go,” Swisher said. “After leading the Open (at Douglas Lake), having all that pressure on me and not blocking it out, I used that as a learning experience. I don’t want to make the same mistake again.”

While he is from Florida, Swisher has fished Lake Hartwell several times in his young career and used his experience there to break down Lake Greenwood, which features a hefty population of spotted and largemouth bass.

“I figured this place would fish a lot like Hartwell,” Swisher said. “There are a lot of 2-pound fish here. I had a really good practice. I caught more fish in practice than I did today just bouncing around. I got a lot more topwater bites in practice.”

A topwater walking bait produced the first three keepers of the day for Swisher, but with several more blowing up and missing the bait entirely, he decided to make a move. Skipping a ChatterBait under a dock produced the big largemouth of the day.

“I had three or four really good ones just blow my topwater out of the water and never commit,” he said. “The day changer was fish number four. That is what got me to the next day. As soon as I caught that fish, it took a bunch of pressure off of me. I fished freely the rest of the day. I knew he would have to catch them to beat me.”

Swisher had three spotted bass and two largemouth in his final total, but he landed six largemouth throughout the course of the day, an encouraging sign moving forward.

“I still think I have to have around 12 pounds tomorrow to advance,” he said. “I’m just going to fish for the win. I am going to fish for five bites as opposed to going around today and culling by ounces. I want to cull by pounds tomorrow. As soon as I catch a limit I am going to go headhunting.”

Slanker, meanwhile, also used his and his partner’s experience on Hartwell to evaluate Greenwood. Trolling motor issues messed up his practice, but on tournament morning he was able to find early success.

“This morning I caught four or five on a Spook and they were all smaller. Not the ones I was looking for,” Slanker said. “I never got a 2-pound bite in that area. I went from there and started looking for a bigger bite. I picked up a jig and started skipping docks.

“The fish were few and far between, but I caught a 3-5 in the middle of the day and that helped me quite a bit.”

A lot of the bass Slanker has found are chasing bait, but he found some of the areas he practiced in are more stained now due to the hurricane.

“It hurt a few of my areas. I am throwing a ChatterBait around the docks, and I don’t think they can see the ChatterBait as well now. I am trying to fish fluently and cast where I think the fish will be so it lands on top of them.”

He hopes he will be able to capitalize on a couple more big bites Sunday and reach the 12-pound mark.

The final four anglers will launch from Greenwood State Park at 7 a.m. ET and will have until 3 p.m. to catch their five biggest bass. This is a catch, weigh, release event, so all weights will be official on BassTrakk throughout the day.

Live coverage on FS1 will begin at 8 a.m. and run through 10:30 a.m. before switching to Bassmaster.com.

The tournament is being hosted by Discover Greenwood, S.C.

Sunday’s Matchups
(1) Louis Monetti, UNC Charlotte vs. (5) Jackson Swisher, Florida Gateway College
(6) Seth Slanker, Florida Gateway College vs. (7) Tyler Christy, McKendree University

2022 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew's 10/1-10/3
Lake Greenwood, Greenwood, SC
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

Angler Club/School Total

Louis Monetti UNC Charlotte 5 10-04
Trey Schroeder McKendree University 5 08-12

Tyler Christy McKendree University 5 07-10
Michael Fugaro UNC Charlotte 2 02-05

Seth Slanker Florida Gateway College 5 10-13
Andrew Vereen Coastal Carolina University 4 07-09

Jackson Swisher Florida Gateway College 5 11-12
Connor Cartmell Coastal Carolina University 5 07-13

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 6 36 66-14
----------------------------------
6 36 66-14

by AnglersChannel

Hurricane Ian Forces Cancellation Of Bassmaster College Bracket Seeding Day

GREENWOOD, S.C. —- Due to high winds and rough lake conditions caused by Hurricane Ian, seeding day at the 2022 Bassmaster College Classic Bracket at Lake Greenwood presented by Lew’s has been canceled.

“I spoke with the anglers this morning at the ramp and assured them safety is our first priority,” said Glenn Cale, tournament manager for college, high school and youth. “They all agreed, and it was the right call. We will resume tomorrow as planned and scheduled.”

While not as destructive as it has been in Florida to this point, Ian has brought north winds from 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph to the area, forcing the National Weather Service to issue a wind advisory that extends through Saturday morning. Heavy rains and thunderstorms are also expected today.

With the canceled day, Louis Monetti and Michael Fugaro from UNC Charlotte will claim the first two seeds respectively by virtue of winning the Bassmaster Team of the Year title. From there, the seeding is based on each team’s finish in the Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops. The 2022 National Champions Andrew Vereen and Connor Cartmell from Coastal Carolina University claim the No. 3 and No. 4 seeds, followed by Florida Gateway College’s Jackson Swisher and Seth Slanker in the No. 5 and No. 6 positions. McKendree University anglers Tyler Christy and Trey Schroeder round out the field as the No. 7 and No. 8 seeds.

In the head-to-head, elimination-style event, anglers will compete as individuals and the winner will earn a berth in the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic scheduled for March 24-26 in Knoxville. Anglers will launch from Greenwood State Park starting at 7 a.m. ET for this catch, weigh, release tournament and end their day at 3 p.m.

Live coverage will be available Saturday starting at 8 a.m. on FS1 before switching to Bassmaster.com and FOX Sports Digital for the afternoon session.

The tournament is being hosted by Discover Greenwood, S.C.

Here are the matchups for Day 1:

(1) Louis Monetti, UNC Charlotte vs. (8) Trey Schroeder, McKendree University

Prior to this year, Monetti had fished by himself at UNC Charlotte, so he is no stranger to handling big moments as a solo angler. With UNC Charlotte close to Lake Norman, he is also very familiar with lakes that are fully spotted bass lakes. Monetti and Fugaro won the Team of the Year title and finished no worse than 26th during the regular season.

Schroeder, meanwhile, qualified for the College Classic Bracket in 2019 and that experience will likely benefit him in this event. Schroeder and his partner Tyler Christy have been one of the most consistent teams in the Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops throughout their careers, and a third-place finish at the National Championship at Winyah Bay proved that once again.

(2) Michael Fugaro, UNC Charlotte vs. (7) Tyler Christy, McKendree University

Fugaro is in the middle of his first season as a tournament angler and has learned a ton from Monetti on his way to their Team of the Year title. He will be tested again this week, as he will be in full control of the boat and his decisions, which will be a tall task against the experienced Christy.

Since his first trip to the College Classic Bracket in 2019, Christy has been itching to get back. Now, he will have a great chance of competing for the Classic berth as one of the more experienced anglers in the field. In their four years at McKendree, he and Schroeder have finished in the Top 12 of the National Championship three times, each on vastly different types of fisheries. That versatility will go a long way on Lake Greenwood, a fishery that will likely undergo a lot of changes this weekend from the hurricane.

(3) Andrew Vereen, Coastal Carolina University vs (6) Seth Slanker, Florida Gateway College

Vereen is a tidal specialist and used that experience to help him and Cartmell win the National Championship. Vereen and Cartmell weren’t even qualified for the Championship until they fished the College Series Wild Card event at Logan Martin Lake, a lake with spotted bass and largemouth, and finished in eighth.

Slanker is also a tidal specialist from the St. Johns River area and came close to upsetting Vereen and Cartmell in the National Championship. Slanker and Swisher qualified for the National Championship at the first event of the season at the Harris Chain of Lakes. A buzzbait was his main presentation at Winyah Bay, and that could potentially carry into this event.

(4) Connor Cartmell, Coastal Carolina University vs (5) Jackson Swisher, Florida Gateway College

While Vereen had the true home field advantage at Winyah Bay, Cartmell will have it this week. A Columbia area native, Cartmell knows his way around the midlands of South Carolina and grew up fishing Lake Murray, which is just below Lake Greenwood. That local knowledge will be a huge help this week with the changing conditions.

Meanwhile, Swisher has been on a mission to get to the Classic since he nearly won the 2021 Bassmaster Southern Open at Douglas Lake. A former member of the Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, he ended up finishing sixth in that event, and while sixth-place is a good finish, Swisher views it as a missed opportunity. Swisher’s Open experience last year will go a long way fishing as an individual this weekend.

by AnglersChannel

Giving Hurricane Ian the Middle Finger

NPAA lends support to the Florida fishing community; annual conference will go forward.

Forestville, WI (September 30, 2022) – Turn off the weather channels for a minute. The National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA) has been in close contact with sources in Fort Meyers, Florida, and want to share some good news. The 2023 Annual Conference is a go – take that Hurricane Ian – and NPAA is joining the cause to rebuild the fishing industry in Southwest Florida.

“Our entire organization knows how catastrophic this storm has been to the fishing community,” said NPAA President Pat Neu. “Especially the guides, charter captains, and fishing businesses like marinas and tackle shops.”

To that point, the NPAA has created a fundraising campaign to support local relief efforts in Southwest Florida. NPAA will be lobbying its membership to contribute to the relief fund and to support fellow angling professionals. After all, the fishing community is tightknit. We’re all in this together.

If you’re concerned about the recreation opportunities following the hurricane, Neu says the fishing after 2017’s Hurricane Irma recovered quickly. In fact, if there’s any sliver-lining, the aftermath created new habitat that the fish quickly occupied.

“Don’t immediately cancel your fishing plans,” Neu says. “Now more than ever, Florida’s coastal communities need the tourism revenue. There will be plenty of places to stay very soon – coastal Florida is resilient. Guides and charter captains are incredibly resourceful. Trust that they’re already taking steps to assure they will be back on the water in the very near future.”

Fortunately, NPAA conference headquarters – Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport /Town Center – did not sustain any major structural damage and expects to reopen in the next few days once water and power are restored. However, many throughout Florida will be facing a long road to recovery.

The 2023 NPAA Conference will be held January 6 through 8, 2023. Member’s Only Registration begins at 7 a.m. (CST) on October 5 and continues through October 6. Open registration begins at 7 a.m (CST) on October 7.

Footnote: NPAA President Pat Neu owns a condominium in Everglades City, Florida. At the time of this writing, his homestead was under 3-feet of water.

by AnglersChannel

Torn Boat Seats and College Team of the Year Titles

Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships

When I phoned Louis Monetti earlier this week he was on Lake Norman, “skipping a jig under every pontoon boat on the lake”, trying to stay primed for the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew’s that takes place September 30th – October 3rd. Spending time on the water and putting in the work is largely what led Monetti and his partner Michael Fugaro to winning the coveted College Series Team of the Year title.

The TOY award was the culmination of a yearlong effort Fugaroand Monetti strived for after starting the season with a 26th place finish on the Harris Chain. Throughout the rest of the season, the UNC Charlotte duo never finished below that 26th spot, which is truly impressive given the diverse fisheries they competed on.

But I didn’t call Monetti and Fugaro to talk about their incredible season. Instead, I wanted to hear more about the message they promoted on-stage in front of their peers at the Strike King Bassmaster College Series National Championship on Winyah Bay a few weeks ago. It’s something every young, aspiring angler could benefit from hearing.

“Just encourage people. Whether they’ve never fished a tournament before or they are just starting out, let them know they can do it,” Monetti said. “Having the latest and greatest equipment is awesome, but it doesn’t take a brand-new bass boat and truck to have fun on the water, or even tournament fish at a high level. We proved that this year. If you have the opportunity,just encourage those who might look up to you.”

Powerful words from a couple twenty-something year oldcollege anglers.

Everything about Monetti and Fugaro’s 2022 Team of the Year campaign is unique and inspiring. For starters, both are laid back dudes who somewhat buck the trend of your average tournament angler. Monetti grew up saltwater fishing before getting bit by the bass bug at 12 when he started fishing local clubs around New Jersey, and the BASS Nation out of the back of the boat.

While Fugaro had never competed in a bass tournament before 2021 when he met Monetti and eventually started fishing UNC Charlotte club tournaments with him. As a senior, 2022 was Fugaro’s first year fishing the Bassmaster College Series.

“This whole year has been an incredible experience, but truth be told I started out just trying to not mess anything up,” Fugarohumbly said with a smile. “Louis is super good at fishing and so dedicated, I just tried to stay focused while keeping things light-hearted and fun. Throughout the year I surprised myself. I was able to catch some key fish and contribute more than I expected. I learned so much from Louis, it was just an awesome year.”

On top of their unassuming nature, the duo competed the entire year somewhat infamously out of Monetti’s 1996 Ranger bass boat, with the original 115-hp outboard on the back. The seats and carpet were in impressively bad shape, and they each employed a half dozen well-worn discount rods and reels. Their boat didn’t have a graph on the front deck until the last tournament of the season and 44mph was the fastest they ever cruised to a fishing spot.

There is absolutely nothing flashy about the equipment these two used enroute to the Team of the Year title, and that’s partially why their story is so cool.

In this modern world of tournament fishing where it seems you “have to have” the latest technology, the best and brightest equipment, the shiny new boat, all the bells and whistles; it’s refreshing to see guys like Monetti and Fugaro reach the pinnacle with some old, beat-up gear and a can-do attitude.

“That’s why Team of the Year was our goal all season, we wanted to prove to people in our situation that the gear you own is capable,” Monetti explained. “One of the negative aspects of tournament fishing is it can be intimidating from the outside looking in if you don’t have a lot of money. We didn’t have the gear going for us, so we relied on hard work, guts, and a positive attitude. You can do that, too!”

Fugaro and Monetti are realistic and know this way of thinking only gets tougher in higher levels of tournament fishing, but they are proud of what they accomplished this year, and they should be. Following in the footsteps of some of their fishing heroes like Matty Wong and John Cox, they proved anything is possible regardless of equipment if you stay true to yourself and put in the time.

It’ll be hard not to pull for these two as they compete in the College Classic Bracket this weekend with a one-in-eight shot at winning a brand-new Toyota Tundra and Nitro Boat along with a ticket to the 2023 Bassmaster Classic.

by AnglersChannel

Lake Hartwell Fishing At Its Best Ahead Of Final Bassmaster Southern Open

South Carolina's Lake Hartwell will host the St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open presented by Mossy Oak Fishing Oct. 6-8, 2022.

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

September 29, 2022

Lake Hartwell Fishing At Its Best Ahead Of Final Bassmaster Southern Open

ANDERSON, S.C. — With 7-, 8- and even 9-pound bass being caught on a regular basis this year, South Carolina native Jayme Rampey says Lake Hartwell is fishing the best he has ever seen, and he expects that to continue when the final St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open presented by Mossy Oak Fishing begins next week.

“It has fished really good all spring and all summer,” Rampey said. “I’d say it has fished the best and taken more weight to win tournaments this year than I have ever seen it. It has been phenomenal this year.”

Tournament days are scheduled for Oct. 6-8 with teams launching each day from Green Pond Landing and Event Center beginning at 7:15 a.m. ETand weigh-ins scheduled for 3:15 p.m. The full field will compete the first two days before the field is cut to the Top 10 on Championship Saturday. The event’s winner will qualify for the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic if they have fished all three Southern Opens.

The Savannah River impoundment is no stranger to historic moments. This year alone, it hosted one of the most compelling Bassmaster Classicsever as Jason Christie fought off Kyle Welcher and Stetson Blaylock to claim his first win in pro fishing’s biggest event. The last time Hartwell hosted an Open, in September 2020, South Carolina’s Patrick Walters claimed the title, edging Rampey by 2 pounds.

For the past three or four years, Lake Hartwell has had higher-than-normal water levels, which is part of the reason Rampey believes the lake is fishing so well now.

“The lake has been high for three straight springs, and I think a lot of those bass got to spawn and the bait got to spawn,” he said. “That is the size of fish that are out there now.

“Those 3- to 5-pound fish, which should be 3 to 5 years old, there’s a pile of those right now. You used to not catch a lot of 3-pounders, but now in the last few tournaments, I’ve seen 8-pounders and 9-pounders. Crazy stuff for here.”

Not only are the spotted and largemouth bass growing larger, so are the numbers and size of the blueback herring.

“The herring roam so much and move so much that someone may not have a clue they are on them and show up Thursday and win off of one place,” Rampey said. “There are more bluebacks and big bluebacks than I have seen in years. The funny thing is, they are everywhere.

“Typically, they are (down) midlake, but I have seen big bluebacks up the rivers. There is a healthy population right now.”

As it stands, the water level is 3 or 4 feet below full pool with mostly clear water conditions, but Hurricane Ian is expected to bring heavy rains and winds to the area this weekend. That will likely bring the water level up some, but how much will depend on the path of the storm and the exact rainfall totals.

With chilly rains and colder daytime and overnight lows, the system could also speed up the turnover process, which will affect fishing in some areas of the lake.

“The lake isn’t far from turning over, so that hurricane could turn it over and if it does, that could change a lot of stuff,” Rampey said. “I don’t know if it will, but it could. In some parts of the lake it will. It will be cold and raining and we already have 77-degree water temps now. You are five or six degrees from turnover.”

Depending on if the lake turns over, Rampey said conditions will likely be about back to normal come tournament time and anglers will be able to do a lot of different things to catch both spotted and largemouth bass in this tournament, from fishing way up the Tugaloo and Seneca rivers to fishing clear water closer to takeoff. Both species will be a factor as well.

“You could weigh in 18 or 19 pounds of largemouth one day and then 18 or 19 pounds of spotted bass the next day or have a mixed bag,” he said. “Usually the spotted bass and largemouth don’t bite on the same day. Some days the spots bite better than the largemouth and other days the largemouth bite better than the spots.”

The herring will be roaming the main lake and the spotted bass will follow. Offshore brush and cane piles will also hold fish. Topwaters, swimbaits and even some finesse techniques will come into play.

Meanwhile, the shallow bite has been excellent all year and Rampey expects that to continue, especially with some stained water likely entering the lake from the hurricane. Docks, laydowns and points will be the main draw and if the water rises enough, some of the bushes might factor.

The shad population in the creeks and shallow areas is also prominent right now.

“You’ll see a lot of offshore stuff and schooling fish,” he said. “You will see people running brush and throwing spybaits and topwaters. And then half the field will be fishing shallow because the shallow bite is just as good.

“The whole lake is fishing well. It is going to make it challenging because you can go to the bank and get a bite and then go offshore and get a bite. It has been very interesting to me how many bass are showing up.”

With bass showing up everywhere on the lake, Rampey anticipates it will take a lot more weight to win this time around than it did in 2020.

“It will take at least 17 a day to win, unless it turns over, in which case it could be around 15 per day,” he said. “There was a tournament here this past weekend and I think 20th-place was 15 1/2 pounds. The lake is fishing really well and it has been like this since April.”

The Top 3 anglers in the Southern Opens point race will also be extended invitations to the 2023 Bassmaster Elite Series. As it stands, Joey Cifuentes III and current Elite Series pro Brandon Lester are tied with 380 points, while Elite Series pro Bryan New is third with 376 points. If Lester and New finish in the Top 3, their invitations will be extended to the next two anglers in the standings who are not Elite pros.

Keith Poche currently leads the overall Bassmaster Opens standings with 1,170 points with two events remaining. He is followed by John Soukupwith 1,093 points and David Gaston in third with 1,091.

Full coverage of the St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open presented by Mossy Oak Fishing can be found on Bassmaster.com and live coverage of Championship Saturday will be available on FS1 beginning at 8 a.m. ET.

by AnglersChannel

One lucky Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners attendee will win a 4Runner

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships

The fast approaching no-entry fee Toyota Bonus Bucks event at Table Rock Lake is known for truckloads of fun and fellowship, and this year’s 11th annual event will be no exception when one lucky attendee will win a brand new Toyota 4Runner in a random drawing to highlight the registration dinner on Saturday October 15th.

Last year’s randomly chosen winner of a new Tundra was 24-year old Cole Anderson, an Arkansas angler known for his love of casting oversized swimbaits, and whose family owns three Toyota trucks, plans to attend again this year.

“Last year was my first Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners event, but everybody made me feel so welcome. And while winning the Tundra was obviously the memory of a lifetime, it was also awesome to be surrounded by so many likeminded Toyota owners as we shared countless memories made with our trucks, and strategized our next outdoor adventures,” smiles Anderson.

The weekend kicks-off earlier Saturday afternoon with a registration meeting at the Bass Pro Shops Outdoor Shooting Academy where Team Toyota Pro Anglers will be on hand to greet guests and talk fishing tips and tricks of the trade.

B.A.S.S. tournament staff will conduct the tournament and be onsite Saturday afternoon for angler registration, where participants will receive a generous amount of commemorative gear, along with a complimentary dinner.

Only one of the two team members must be currently registered in the Toyota Bonus Bucks Program to be eligible to compete in the 2022 Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament. (To be eligible to participate in the Toyota Bonus Bucks Program- participant must own or lease a 2018or newer Toyota Tundra, Tacoma, Sequoia, or 4Runner).

Bassmaster Elite Series, MLF Bass Pro Tour and Pro Circuit anglers are not eligible to participate in the Toyota Owners Tournament. Participants are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible for this prize-rich event. Registration is limited to 300 teams.

Please visit https://www.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com/ to get signed-up.

by AnglersChannel

BASS FISHING HALL OF FAME SET TO HONOR 2022 INDUCTEES, OFFER EXCITING ONLINE AUCTION DURING ‘CELEBRATE BASS FISHING WEEK’

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – For Immediate Release – September 28, 2022 – ‘Celebrate Bass Fishing Week’ kicks off on Monday, Oct. 3 with the start of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame’s annual online auction - https://one.bidpal.net/bassfishinghof22/browse/all - all leading up to induction of the 2022 class at the Hall’s annual plaque unveiling ceremony and dinner gala at the Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium on Oct. 6.

“This is the one night of the year when everyone in the bass fishing world gathers to celebrate our sport,” said Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Board president John Mazurkiewicz. “There’s a great deal of excitement over the exceptional support we’ve received for our online auction, and the induction dinner is on track to have its largest number of attendees in our history.”

To provide financial assistance to the Hall’s mission of celebrating, promoting and preserving the sport of bass fishing, the online auction (and live auction during the induction dinner with 2018 HOF inductee Kevin VanDam serving at auctioneer), will include a large selection of bucket list trips with Hall of Fame inductees, plenty of other fishing and hunting experiences, unique fishing art items and memorabilia, tournament jerseys from leading professional bass anglers, fishing tackle, and much more. Here’s just a short list of some of the major items up for bid:

Bass fishing trip in Tennessee with Bill Dance
Original artwork featuring Hall of Famer’s Ray Scott and Aaron Martens
Fishing trips with leading pro anglers including Skeet Reese, Johnathon VanDam, Edwin Evers, Jason Christie, Bobby Lane, Randy Howell, Tako Ito, and Hall of Famers Denny Brauer and Larry Nixon
Guitar signed by country music star Luke Bryan & Bill Dance
Grenada Lake (MS) guided crappie trip for 2
Rods, reels and lures from leading brands including Daiwa, Strike King, Lew’s, PRADCO, Rapala, Big Bite Baits, SPRO, Sunline, Gamakatsu, St. Croix, Shimano, Duckett Fishing, and more
Technical fishing clothing from AFTCO, Simms, HUK, and Marsh Wear
Handmade custom swimbaits and glide baits, some valued at up to $1,200
Fishing adventures for redfish on the Mississippi River Delta, big bass action at Grosse Savanne Resort in Louisiana, and crappie fishing with ‘Mr. Crappie’ Wally Marshall.

The online auction can be accessed by bass fishing enthusiasts throughout the U.S. and Canada on their smartphones, tablets and computers.

The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame wishes to acknowledge the financial support provided by presenting sponsors B.A.S.S., Major League Fishing, Phoenix Boats; gold sponsors PRADCO Outdoor Brands, Wired2fish, and Bass Pro Shops/Cabela’s; silver sponsors AFTCO, Daiwa, Rapala, Rather Outdoors, Shimano; and bronze sponsors In-Fisherman, St. Croix, Simms Fishing, Bass Fishing Archives, Costa Compete & Conserve.

by AnglersChannel

Catching up and moving forward

This week Chris & the boys welcome in Elite Series Toyota Pro Darold Gleason to talk about the upcoming Toyota Trucks Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament coming up in October. CB brings some Lithium vs Mercury news, they recap the Duckett Interview and Chris has a few words for those who think they can do his job better than him...... Short, fun show. Enjoy.

by AnglersChannel

MLF Announces Schedule, Details, Entry Dates for 2023 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals

TULSA, Okla. (Sept. 28, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today details for the new 2023 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals. Highlighted by six events with a total season purse of more than $3.9 million, the Invitationals will showcase 150 anglers in each event competing for a top prize of up to $115,000 and an invitation to compete in REDCREST 2024 for a shot at winning $300,000. The 2023 season will kick off in early February at Florida’s famed bass-fishing paradise, Lake Okeechobee, and wrap up in late July on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitational anglers will compete over three days in a five-fish, weigh-in format. All 150 anglers will compete the first two days, with the top 50 pros advancing to the third and final day. The winner of each Invitational will be determined by heaviest three-day cumulative weight. The winner of each of the six Invitationals in 2023 will also receive an invitation to compete in REDCREST 2024. The season-long Invitational Angler of the Year (AOY) will also earn a berth into REDCREST for a total of seven REDCREST qualification opportunities.

“The MLF/Tackle Warehouse Invitationals schedule offers a diverse group of fisheries – some old favorites with a lot of history, and some new locations that we haven’t been to for quite some time,” said MLF Senior Director of Tournament Operations Daniel Fennel. “We expect the Invitationals to fill quickly, as they are an attractive offering for anglers who qualified to test their mettle against some of the best pros in the country en route to qualifying for the Bass Pro Tour and REDCREST 2024.”

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

The top eight pros in Tackle Warehouse Invitational Angler of the Year standings at the end of the season qualify for the Bass Pro Tour.

2023 MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals Schedule:

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

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

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

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

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

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

To fill the 150-angler field, invitations have been extended to the top 75 pros from the 2022 Pro Circuit AOY standings (round 1 qualifiers), the top 15 pros from the 2022 Pro Circuit based on lifetime AOY rank average (excluding their worst year every four years) not included in round 1 qualification (round 2 qualifiers), the top five pros from each U.S. division of the 2022 Toyota Series as defined in Toyota Series rules (round 3 qualifiers), the 2022 All-American boater-division winner, the 2022 TBF National Championship boater-division winner, the highest finishing pro from the International division at the 2021 Toyota Series Championship (round 4 qualifiers), and Bass Pro Tour pros who did not requalify for the 2023 Bass Pro Tour season. These anglers can enter beginning Oct. 10 and have until Nov. 7, 2022, to secure entry in all six Invitationals.

Remaining invitations into the 150-angler field will first be extended to 2023 Bass Pro Tour anglers fishing all six Invitationals and will be accepted Nov. 8, 2022. Entries from 2023 Bass Pro Tour anglers fishing five or fewer Invitationals will be accepted Nov. 9, 2022, based on availability. Entries from 2022 Pro Circuit anglers not included in round 1 and 2 fishing all six Invitationals will be accepted Nov. 10, 2022, based on availability, starting with the highest-ranked angler in 2022 AOY standings. Entries from 2022 Pro Circuit anglers fishing five or fewer Invitationals will be accepted Nov. 11, 2022, based on availability, starting with the highest-ranked angler in 2022 Angler of the Year standings. Any remaining spots will be filled by league invitation beginning Nov. 14, 2022. Anglers must enter and pay deposits by 5 p.m. Central time on their assigned entry date or the date an invitation is received. Entries must be made by calling MLF at 270.252.1000.

Complete rules for the MLF Tackle Warehouse Invitationals will be distributed to qualified anglers and posted at MajorLeagueFishing.com early next week.

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

by AnglersChannel

All-Star Teams Announced For 2022 Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship

The Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter returns to Port Aransas, Texas, Nov. 4-6. Five all-star teams will be in the field, including 2021 Redfish Cup champions Elite Series pro Chris Zaldain and IFA Redfish Tour angler Ryan Rickard.

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

September 28, 2022

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The five all-star teams who will compete in the 2022 Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter have been set, and headlining this group are returning champions Chris Zaldain and Ryan Rickard. A combination of all-star teams and redfish champions will battle for a top prize of $75,000 Nov. 4-6 on Texas’ Port Aransas.

The five all-star teams featuring Bassmaster pro anglers paired with redfish pros are:

Eight-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier Zaldain and veteran IFA Redfish Tour angler Rickard
2022 Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year Brandon Palaniuk and social media sensation and saltwater fishing lecturer Mike Goodwine, one of Florida’s most in-demand guides
Elite Series champion and 2019 Rookie of the Year Drew Cook and Elite Redfish Series pro Kevin Akin, who won the 2021 Waterloo Rods National Championship
Elite Series champion Wes Logan and veteran multispecies charter captain Brent Roy
Bassmaster Classic qualifier and Forrest Wood Cup champion Scott Martin and redfish charter guide Johnathan Willis

“After fishing with Capt. Ryan for a whole week during the 2021 Redfish Cup, I feel like I’ve been fishing with him for years,” said Zaldain of the advantage he and Rickard will have in trying to defend their title. “The Redfish Cup is truly a team effort, and we definitely have the chemistry required to win. This year, I already know what to expect from him, and he knows what he’s getting with me. All we have to do is focus on locating fish together. The rest of it is easy and natural.”

Joining these all-star teams will be five teams from the Professional Redfish League, Elite Redfish Series and Power-Pole Pro Redfish Tour. Elite Redfish Series Team of the Year Barnie White and Dwayne Mills, who started the 2022 Elite Redfish Series season with a second-place finish, won the second event and never finished out of the Top 3, will be joined by fellow Elite Redfish Series pros Gary Moreno and Bo Favre, who locked up the Top 2 spots in the Angler of the Year standings fishing solo tournaments. Competing from the Power-Pole Pro Redfish Tour are its 2022 Team of the Year Chris Cenci and Chris Kennedy, the multispecies championship team who competed in last year’s Redfish Cup Championship, and 2022 Redfish World Series qualifiers Graham Taylor and Copeland More. The last qualifying team will be announced at a later date.

“It was a long season fishing against the best sportsmen across the Southeast,” Cenci said. “We got lucky and finished first in Team of the Year and are the only (professional) team to have qualified two years to fish the Redfish Cup Championship. We feel blessed and lucky to be going back. Hopefully, we can have a better showing this time around.”

Fans can catch Bassmaster Redfish LIVE coverage all three days of the tournament on Bassmaster.com. FS1 will broadcast live Nov. 5-6. Once more, Capt. Rick Murphy will co-host LIVE coverage. The host of three fishing shows, Murphy is the winningest saltwater tournament angler in the U.S. with 139 titles, including three redfish titles in a single year.

by AnglersChannel

New Jersey BFL Angler Wins Major League Fishing – Favorite Fishing Boat Giveaway Sweepstakes

Bass Fishing League Competitor Anthony Ell of Stanhope, New Jersey, Wins Special Favorite Edition Lowe Stinger 198 Boat

TULSA, Okla. (Sept. 28, 2022) – The next time Phoenix Bass Fishing League competitor Anthony Ell launches his boat at a Northeast Division event, he expects that quite a few more heads will be turning to scope out his new rig. The 52-year-old boater from Stanhope, New Jersey, was selected from the hundreds of thousands of entries into the online sweepstakes courtesy of Favorite Fishing and Major League Fishing (MLF) and was awarded his beautiful new boat on the final day of competition at the Bass Pro Tour Stage Seven event at Mille Lacs Lake.

The sweepstakes began at REDCREST 2022 in March of this year and ran through the conclusion of the Bass Pro Tour Stage Six event at Lake Cayuga. Ell’s new boat was awarded to him by Favorite Fishing Founder and CEO Winston Tucker at the event. The special Favorite edition Lowe Stinger 198 boat was valued at a total of $55,000.

“This is absolutely amazing,” an excited Ell said as he was handed the keys. “I’m looking at this setup, and I am speechless. This is just an amazing package – the boat, rods, reels, electronics. The only thing I need to do now is just go fishing.”

Ell has competed in Bass Fishing League events for more than 25 years, competing both as a boater and more recently as a co-angler.

“I decided not to fish out of the front of the boat this year, but I actually qualified for the upcoming Regional Championship at the James River as a co-angler. Now, with my new setup, you will absolutely see me competing out of the front of the boat again as a boater.”

For another chance to win, fans can enter the MLF Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro & More Sweepstakes, currently underway at MajorLeagueFishing.com. The winner will receive a new Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro, while runner-up prizes include prize packages each in excess of $1,000 from General Tire, Abu Garcia, Favorite Fishing, Grundéns, Power-Pole, frogg toggs, Onyx Outdoors, and 13 Fishing. In addition, a daily prize is awarded each day from one of 10 additional MLF sponsors.

The Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro and More Sweepstakes is open now through Nov. 6.

For more information on Major League Fishing sweepstakes visit MajorLeagueFishing.com/promos.

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

by AnglersChannel

La Crosse Readies for Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional

Hundreds of Boaters and Co-anglers Descend on La Crosse to Compete for $60,000 and Their Shot at the 2023 All-American Championship

LA CROSSE, Wis. (Sept. 27, 2022) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine’s Hoosier, Illini, Michigan and Okie divisions will finish out their 2022 season next month in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Oct. 13-15, with the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Presented by T-H Marine at the Mississippi River - La Crosse.

Hosted by Explore La Crosse, the three-day event will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners in all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.

The highest finishing boater from each division will also receive a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division will receive a $500 bonus.

Local pro Matt Stefan of Junction City, Wisconsin, said the Mighty Miss is setting up for a fantastic event.

“We’ve had some really cold weather come in, with a frost warning the past couple nights and highs only in the mid-50’s, which will ignite the bite,” Stefan said. “By mid-October, the shad will have started their migration into backwaters with deep holes, anywhere from 8 to 25 feet of water, and the largemouth will follow, so depth is going to be key.

“They will still be caught relatively shallow, in probably 2 to 6 feet of water, but those deep holes will attract the shad and will have bass around them, so areas like the Black River are going to be a major player in this event.”

Stefan said he expects the smallmouth to be set up pretty good as well, either on wing dams or general current-break areas where the shad will also be schooling.

“There will be a lot of 14-pound bags, but I think an angler who can consistently catch 16 pounds per day will have a shot at winning the event,” Stefan continued. “I expect to see various baits, including swimbaits, big topwater walking baits, spinnerbaits, swim jigs and crankbaits. The Berkley Choppo and the Dirty Jigs Swim Jig should be big players as well.”

Anglers will take off daily at 7 a.m. CT from Veterans Freedom Park in La Crosse. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Set for Pickwick Lake, Tennessee

Hundreds of Boaters and Co-anglers to Compete in Counce, Tennessee for $60,000 and Their Shot at the 2023 All-American Championship

COUNCE, Tenn. (Sept. 27, 2022) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine’s Bama, LBL, Music City and South Carolina divisions will finish out their 2022 season next month in Counce, Tennessee, Oct. 13-15, with the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Presented by T-H Marine at Pickwick Lake.

Hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the three-day regional championship will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners in all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.

The highest finishing boater from each division will also receive a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division will receive a $500 bonus.

Local pro and guide on the fishery, Jimmy Washam of Stantonville, Tennessee, said he’s been seeing the late summer lull and many fish out in “no man’s land”, but expects to see cooler temperatures create some changes by mid-October.

“As the temperature starts to drop, we should see a push toward shallow water,” Washam said. “The fish will really get oriented on bait and start chasing gizzard shad in the grass. Any of the shallow water stuff that’s got a shad population around it should have some bass nearby.

“The topwater bite will start heating up and we typically see a smallmouth push toward the tailraces as well. The Wilson Lake tailrace will probably play in this event, for guys that like to target smallmouth in current.”

Washam said he expects to see a lot of shad-imitation lures and topwater baits, including walking baits, River2Sea Whopper Ploppers and popping baits, along with spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits. Smallmouth finesse tactics are also expected to play a big role, such as a shaky head, Ned rig and other finesse jigs.

“The Azuma Z Dog Topwater Walker is a walking bait by Profound Outdoors that I’ve caught a lot of fish on recently, so I think it will be a big player in the event, as well as the Azuma Shaker Z Lipless Crankbait . I think both of those will weigh in a lot of fish right now,” Washam continued. “There’s usually a lingering deep bite this time of year and there’s a good chance that someone could have that to themselves if they find some quality fish that are still offshore.

“That would be the ‘sleeper pattern’ that I think we will probably see someone be successful with, utilizing traditional offshore baits like a football jig, swimbait and crankbait.”

Washam said he predicts it will take 18 pounds per day to put anglers in contention to win the event.

Anglers will take off daily at 7 a.m. CT from Pickwick Landing State Park in Counce. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Catch Bassmaster College Classic Bracket Coverage Live From South Carolina

Andrew Vereen and Connor Cartmell from Coastal Carolina University, who won the 2022 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops, will be among the eight competitors at the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew's Sept. 30-Oct. 3 on South Carolina's Lake Greenwood.

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

September 27, 2022

Catch Bassmaster College Classic Bracket Coverage Live From South Carolina

GREENWOOD, S.C. — Fishing fans and college sports enthusiasts alike will have three days to catch live coverage of the Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Lew's on Lake Greenwood from Greenwood, S.C. The tournament runs Sept. 30-Oct. 3.

The event pits the season’s eight top college anglers against one another for a coveted spot in the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic. On Day 1 of the event, all eight anglers will compete individually to determine seeding and set the bracket for head-to-head competition.

FS1 kicks off a day of college sports with morning action from Day 2 of the tournament beginning at 8 a.m. ET. Bassmaster College Classic Bracket LIVE will feature real-time coverage from every boat on Saturday and Sunday as anglers battle to advance. Continuing coverage of the tournament can be streamed on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms.

The 2022 Bassmaster College Team of the Year — UNC Charlotte's Louis Monetti and Michael Fugaro — automatically punched their ticket to the College Classic Bracket to compete alongside the Top 3 teams from the Strike King Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops in this individual, elimination-style tournament

Joining Monetti and Fugaro will be National champions Andrew Vereen and Connor Cartmell from Coastal Carolina University, former Bassmaster High School All-American Jackson Swisher and Seth Slanker from Florida Gateway College and Tyler Christy and Trey Schroeder from McKendree University in Illinois. Christy also qualified for the 2019 College Classic Bracket.

The 2022 College Classic Bracket is being hosted by Discover Greenwood, S.C.

Date	Time (All times Eastern)	Network
Saturday, October 1	8 a.m. – 12 p.m.	FS1; FOX Sports Digital
	1 p.m. – 2 p.m.	Bassmaster.com; FOX Sports Digital
Sunday, October 2	8 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.	FS1; FOX Sports Digital
	11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.	Bassmaster.com; FOX Sports Digital
Monday, October 3	8 a.m. – 11 a.m.	Bassmaster.com; FOX Sports Digital
	12 p.m. – 2 p.m.	Bassmaster.com; FOX Sports Digital

by AnglersChannel

Plano Expands EDGE Tackle Storage Line

EDGE series continues to solve anglers’ storage problems one box at a time.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (September 27, 2022) — With a mission to solve every angler’s storage problems, Plano has expanded their line of EDGE boxes offering even more customization and storage options to their already award-winning offerings. With input from anglers and pros alike, the newest expansions include added solutions for leader management, hooks, jigs and bladed jigs, and spinnerbaits. This line expansion gives anglers the EDGE they need to customize their tackle storage to fit their individual needs.

Plano EDGE Leader Management

The new EDGE Leader Management box is perfect for those who demand quick and convenient leader and line storage that gets the job done and gets them back to fishing. It is designed to easily manage filler spools of line and leaders for faster line changes. Each box comes with eight user-adjusted tension bands to keep the spools secure to avoid tangled messes.

Key Features
• Designed to manage leader and filler spools, includes eight tension bands
• Holds eight 300-yard spools
• WaterWick with reusable moisture-wicking packet
• Dri-Loc O-Ring seal
• Rustrictor technology delivers 360 degree rust-preventative protection
• EZ Label system for quick identification
• DuraView crystal-clear polycarbonate lid

MSRP: $49.99
Available: September 2022

Plano EDGE 3600 & 3700 Hook Box

Storing and managing a variety of hooks has always been a challenge, until now. The EDGE 3600 & 3700 hook boxes take customizable organization a step further by giving anglers a clean and protective environment to store hooks. The 3600 model features a soft compound mat that holds hooks for easy organization and identification in a smaller-sized footprint. The larger 3700 size box features a dual-level design for organization of both loose and packaged hooks giving anglers even more flexibility to always have the equipment they need.

Key Features
• Soft compound mat holds hooks for easy organization and identification
• Dual-level design offers organization of booth loose and packaged hooks (3700 only)
• WaterWick with reusable moisture-wicking packet
• Dri-Loc O-Ring seal
• Rustrictor technology delivers 360 degree rust-preventative protection
• EZ Label system for quick identification
• DuraView crystal-clear polycarbonate lid

MSRP: 3600 Hook Box: $34.99, 3700 Hook Box: $59.99
Available: September 2022

Plano EDGE 3600 Jig/Bladed Jig Box

Bladed jigs and jigs have met their match in the EDGE 3600 Jig/Bladed Jig Box. As an addition to the 3700 size box, this uniquely designed, smaller 3600 size box comes equipped with vertical dividers to maximize storage space while protecting the baits - giving anglers even more options when building a storage solution to fit their needs.

Key Features
• Vertical dividers that maximize storage and protection for jigs and bladed jigs
• WaterWick with reusable moisture-wicking packet
• Dri-Loc O-Ring seal
• Rustrictor technology delivers 360 degree rust-preventative protection
• EZ Label system for quick identification
• DuraView crystal-clear polycarbonate lid

MSRP: $32.99
Available: September 2022

Plano EDGE 3700 Spinnerbait Box

Holding up to 36 baits, the new EDGE 3700 Spinnerbait Box is the real deal. The traditional 3700 size EDGE box is now designed for spinnerbaits, giving anglers yet another useful solution for wire baits that previously required a larger and hard-to-store box.

Key Features
• Innovative spinnerbait retainers hold up to 36 baits
• Dri-Loc O-Ring seal
• Rustrictor technology delivers 360 degree rust-preventative protection
• EZ Label system for quick identification
• DuraView crystal-clear polycarbonate lid

MSRP: $34.99
Available: September 2022

by AnglersChannel

New CH-1 Shallow-Running Crankbait Patterns

New colors bring bass anglers an option for every situation and forage type

Cypress, CA (September 27, 2022) – One of the most bass-appealing super-shallow running crankbaits ever designed is the brainchild of Ever Green’s Japanese bait designer and big bass fanatic, Morizo Shimizu. With a target running range of less than one-foot, it’s the perfect bait to mimic forage running just below or breaking the surface.

A floating crankbait, the diminutive 2 ¼-inch, 7/16-ounce crankbait dives just below the water surface to bring aggressive reaction bites from bass feeding near or on the water’s surface.

The problem with small crankbaits, though, especially when fished on baitcasting gear is casting distance. No issues here. The Ever Green CH-1 features a rattle room at the end of its body filled with both tungsten and stainless-steel balls, allowing remarkable casting distance to cover wide, watery expanses, especially flats and open water.

Ever Green CH-1 (FIRE CRAW)

The dive curve is less than one-foot at a normal retrieve, but the angler can adjust the running depth with the angle of the rod and retrieve speed to attract fish that stay just below—and feed—on the water’s surface.

For those already hip to the benefits of the Ever Green CH-1 crankbait, they already know it’s a. real fish-catcher. The secret behind the bait is its quick response upon retrieving and a powerful action whether fished fast or slow. Due to the circuit board design and fixed weight at a low center of gravity, the CH-1 responds quickly upon contact with the water. The action and the rattle attract fish from an extensive area. Even at low speed, the CH-1 takes firm hold of the water with action and during high-speed retrieval it does not break the water so the angler can use it stress free without problems with how the bait is running or fouling.

A mixture of tungsten and stainless-steel, the weight transfer system offers a complex, low-pitched sound that is appealing to big bass on waters around the globe. It also produces a unique and powerful high-pitched wobble that has proven irresistible.

The CH-1’s wide grip and wide action helps avoid cover. Even after contact with wood or vegetation it recovers quickly and keys in on the strike zone.

The CH-1 is currently available in BLUE BACK CHART and FIRECRAW, new patterns to include MATTE TIGER, BLACK BLUE CRAW, MYSTIQUE BONE, CHAMPION SHAD, CHART SHAD, PRE-SPAWN DYNAMITE, ROOTBEER, and GHOST WAKASAGI.

GHOST WAKASAGI

ROOT BEER

PRE SPAWN DYNAMITE

CHART SHAD

CHAMPION SHAD

MYSTIQUE BONE

BLACK BLUE CRAW

MATTE TIGER

BLUE BACK CHART

FEATURES:

Floating crankbait
Weight: 7/16 ounce (12.5 grams)
Length: 2 ¼ inches (58mm)
Diving curve: 0-1 feet
Hook size: Front #5; Rear: #6

Daiwa Senior Marketing Manager, Marc Mills, comments, “This bait has some strong Japanese design heritage and has proven itself on the most difficult clear bass waters in the world. It’s going to be perfect for anglers fishing shallow waters and cover as well as anywhere there’s bait breaking, and bass are grouped up on the feed. And now with the new colors there’s an option for every situation, everywhere.”

Looking for that perfect shallow-running crankbait? You better give the Ever Green CH-1 a shot—and don’t skip on the colors, either—bass feed on a lot of different prey, so it’s best to have baits on hand that match all of the possible forage!

Available November 2022. MSRP $15.95

by AnglersChannel

Warren Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament on Pickwick Lake

McMahan Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

FLORENCE, Ala. (Sept. 26, 2022) – Boater Garrett Warren of Hoover, Alabama, caught 10 bass weighing 35 pounds even to win the two-day MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Pickwick Lake in Florence, Alabama. The tournament, hosted by Florence-Lauderdale Tourism, was the fifth and final regular-season event for the Bass Fishing League Choo Choo Division. Warren earned $5,831 for his victory.

Warren said he keyed in on Pickwick’s Seven Mile Island area and fished to his strengths to claim the victory. He said he flipped a ½-ounce jig tipped with a green-pumpkin Zoom Z-Craw Jr. with a hand-dyed chartreuse tail to bushes on the bank where current had cut the bank to 2-to-4-feet deep. He said a mixture of oxygen in the water and a good presence of bluegill had the bass holding and actively feeding.

“I’ve had a pretty good history with BFLs on Pickwick,” Warren said. “In all three of the BFL events I’ve fished there, I’ve caught all of my fish shallow. I fish the Chattahoochee River in a 17-foot boat and fish a lot of channel-swing banks, and I’m able to really understand current now.”

Warren said he lost a good fish early Saturday but filled his limit on three different stretches of water as he “fished by the seat of his pants” to hook five keeper bass on the first day of competition. Warren said his last keeper of the day came just seven minutes before his afternoon check-in.

Sunday was more of the same grind, as Warren had only two keepers at 1:30.

“I caught one on a buzzbait early Sunday, then proceeded to lose three really big fish – one on a buzzbait and two on a frog skipping around the bushes,” Warren said.

“I never lost confidence, because I knew if I got mentally out of it in the last hour I would lose,” Warren added. “I had to focus and make perfect skips and flips for the last hour, and it really paid off. It’s just unreal to win on Pickwick. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s made me want to strive harder for the next win.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:          Garrett Warren, Hoover, Ala., 10 bass, 35-0, $5,831
2nd:        Casey Martin, Brownsboro, Ala, 10 bass, 31-8, $2,915
3rd:        Christopher Whitehead, Fulton, Miss., 10 bass, 31-7, $1,945
4th:         Jade Keeton, Florence, Ala., 10 bass, 31-4, $1,661
5th:         Scott Towry, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., 10 bass, 30-5, $2,453
6th:         Trent Suratt, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., nine bass, 28-15, $1,069
7th:         Edward Gettys, Paris, Tenn., 10 bass, 27-4, $1,472 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF5 contingency bonus)
8th:         Blake Fritts, Florence, Ala., 10 bass, 26-15, $875
9th:         Keith Miller, Chattanooga, Tenn., nine bass, 25-7, $777
10th:      Jared Kawalec, Waterloo, Ala., eight bass, 24-11, $680

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Scott Towry of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, caught a bass weighing 4 pounds, 13 ounces – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – to earn the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $787.

Chaz McMahan of Saint Joseph, Tennessee, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,909 Sunday after catching a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 34 pounds, 9 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

1st:          Chaz McMahan, Saint Joseph, Tennessee, 10 bass, 34-9, $2,909
2nd:        John Anderson, Baysprings, Miss., 10 bass, 26-14, $1,904
3rd:        Kevin Lankford, Hollywood, Ala., nine bass, 25-7, $970
4th:         Isaac Warta, Mount Juliet, Tenn., eight bass, 23-13, $679
5th:         Rex Henry, Hixson, Tenn., seven bass, 21-14, $582
6th:         Nick Quaintance, Russellville, Ala., six bass, 18-13, $533
7th:         Ray Higginbotham, Estill Springs, Tenn., four bass, 17-12, $485
8th:         Joe Cornelius, Corinth, Miss., six bass, 15-4, $436
9th:         Allen Rhodes, Decherd, Tenn., four bass, 11-12, $774
10th:      Roger Schilling, Athens, Ala., five bass, 11-7, $339

Allen Rhodes of Decherd, Tennessee, caught the largest bass in the Strike King Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 3 ounces. The catch earned him the Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $386.

With the regular season now complete, boater Casey Martin of Brownsboro, Alabama, won the 2022 Bass Fishing League Choo Choo Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with a five-event total of 1,307 points to earn the $1,000 boater AOY award. Randy Wilson of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, won the 2022 Strike King Co-Angler Choo Choo Division AOY race with 1,282 points and earned the $500 Strike King Co-angler of the Year award.

Now, the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will advance to compete in the Oct. 6-8 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake Murray in Prosperity, South Carolina. Boaters will compete 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 fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Regional Championships where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

by AnglersChannel

Ells Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super Tournament on Lake of the Ozarks

Maxwell Bests Field of Strike King Co-Angler Anglers

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (Sept. 26, 2022) – Boater Matt Ells of Shell Knob, Missouri, caught 10 bass weighing 35 pounds, 7 ounces, to win the two-day MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. The tournament, hosted by the Tri-County Lodging Association, was the fifth and final regular-season event for the Bass Fishing League Ozark Division. Ells earned $10,749 for his victory.

“I caught everything pitching a jig under and inside docks,” Ells said. “The deepest fish I caught was probably six feet deep. The key was swimming the jig instead of hopping it.”

Ells said Saturday was a struggle for him, as he had only two fish in the livewell with 20 minutes left to fish. He pulled up to a group of docks where he had lost three bass in last year’s Super Tournament. He caught four bass there and culled a 12-inch Kentucky bass to finish the first day of competition.

Ells said he used the same plan of attack Sunday in the Osage River area, and he caught 12 keepers on the final day of competition. Ells said a Jewel Baits football-head jig provided the action needed to entice bites. He used a 1/2-ounce jig for most of his fish but switched to a ¾-ounce size when he targeted larger docks with longer casts where fish were holding in three feet of water.

“There are so many legends that fish Lake of the Ozarks,” Ells said. “To even compete with those guys and make it to the final day is an accomplishment. My goal going into this was just to make the cut. I’m just so humbled. I just can’t believe I could catch enough fish to win the tournament.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:          Matt Ells, Shell Knob, Mo., 10 bass, 35-7, $10,749
2nd:        Dion Hibdon, Versailles, Mo., 10 bass, 32-14, $4,196
3rd:        Adam Boehle, Warrenton, Mo., 10 bass, 32-10, $2,798
4th:         James Dill, Sunrise Beach, Mo., 10 bass, 32-0, $2,158
5th:         Chris Macy, Diamond, Mo., 10 bass, 30-5, $1,678
6th:         Paul Davis, Battlefield, Mo., 10 bass, 29-5, $1,539
7th:         Lawson Hibdon, Versailles, Mo., 10 bass, 29-4, $1,399
8th:         Casey Scanlon, Eldon, Mo., 10 bass, 29-3, $1,259
9th:         Payden Hibdon, Versailles, Mo., 10 bass, 28-3, $1,119
10th:      Brad Jelinek, Lincoln, Mo., 10 bass, 27-12, $1,479 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF5 contingency bonus)

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Ells also caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 1 ounce – the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division – to earn the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $1,357.

Dustin Maxwell of Fairway, Kansas, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $4,196 Sunday after catching a two-day total of seven bass weighing 19 pounds, 8 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

1st:          Dustin Maxwell, Fairway, Kansas, seven bass, 19-8, $4,196
2nd:        Max Weigel, Shawnee, Kansas, five bass, 19-5, $2,098
3rd:        Jeff Moss, Oronogo, Mo., seven bass, 17-5, $1,847
4th:         Chris Bunk, Sullivan, Mo., eight bass, 16-2, $979
5th:         Mark Horton, Clinton, Mo., eight bass, 15-15, $839
6th:         Oliver Siebert, Fenton, Mo., eight bass, 15-5, $769
7th:         Caleb Welch, Bolivar, Mo., five bass, 14-1, $699
8th:         Jake Stras, Las Vegas, Nev., six bass, 13-11, $629
9th:         Jo Cook, Marble Hill, Mo., five bass, 13-7, $559
10th:      Jeremy Greil, Imperial, Mo., six bass, 13-1, $490

Jeremy Flynn of Liberty, Missouri, caught the largest bass in the Strike King Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 15 ounces. The catch earned him the Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $679.

With the regular season now complete, boater Cole Breeden of Eldridge, Missouri, won the 2022 Bass Fishing League Ozark Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with a five-event total of 1,231 points to earn the $1,000 boater AOY award. Jeff Moss of Oronogo, Missouri, won the 2022 Strike King Co-Angler Ozark Division AOY race with 1,194 points and earned the $500 Strike King Co-angler of the Year award.

Now, the top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the division based on point standings, along with the five winners of each qualifying event, will advance to compete in the Oct. 20-22 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma. Boaters will compete 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 fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Regional Championships where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

by AnglersChannel

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