Inaugural Anglers’ Choice Award Set to Launch
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Bassmaster Pro Pipkens Part Of Annual Charity Golf Event Benefiting JDRF
Bassmaster Elite Series pro Chad Pipkens (left) joined Douglas J President Scott Weaver and his wife, Mel, at the 20th annual Douglas J Golf Outing benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Photo courtesy of Chad Pipkens
August 8, 2022
WILLIAMSTON, Mich. — Bassmaster Elite Series angler Chad Pipkens was on the golf course Monday raising money for a great cause. The Douglas J Golf Outing benefiting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation has raised over $1 million to help combat type 1 diabetes through their charity tournament, silent auction and fundraising dinner over the past 20 years. JDRF is the leading global type 1 diabetes (T1D) research and advocacy organization.
Up for auction this year is a fishing trip for two on Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair with Pipkens. Along with the day’s outing, Pipkens will be supplying all of the tackle, rods and reels needed to take on these world-class smallmouth fisheries.
“It’s great when you can surround yourself with good people and be able to be part of an awesome company that gives back in so many ways,” said Pipkens, who has been part of the fundraising event for 10 years.
Douglas J President Scott Weaver has been a champion of JDRF for more than two decades after his daughter Sami became the youngest person in Michigan to be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at just 18 months old. Weaver’s nephew was also diagnosed just a few years later.
According to JDRF, about 200,000 youth (less than 20 years old) and 1.4 million adults in America are living with T1D, with 64,000 people being diagnosed each year in the U.S. Since 1970, the foundation has contributed more than $2 billion to T1D research and is currently funding more than 70 human clinical trials of potential T1D therapies.
To make a donation to the Douglas J Golf Outing benefiting JDRF, visit douglasj.com/jdrf.
Estes Claims Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Champlain
Chilluffo Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (Aug. 8, 2022) – Boater Stephen Estes of Auburn, New Hampshire, caught five bass Saturday weighing 21 pounds, 10 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Champlain . The tournament, hosted by the City of Plattsburgh, was the fourth event for the Bass Fishing League Northeast Division. Estes earned $13,057, including a $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
Estes said he focused on the northern end of the lake using a drop-shot rig to catch around 20 smallmouth keepers during the course of the day.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Stephen Estes, Auburn, N.H., five bass, 21-10, $13,057 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Tristan McCormick, Burns, Tenn., five bass, 20-10, $2,528
3rd: Rob Messenger, Sunapee, N.H., five bass, 20-6, $1,432
3rd: Joseph Thompson, Coatesville, Pa., five bass, 20-6, $1,432
5th: Josh Bragg, Fayetteville, Ga., five bass, 20-4, $1,011
6th: Brent Heyn, South Hero, Vt., five bass, 20-1, $927
7th: Matt Becker, Finleyville, Pa., five bass, 19-15, $843
8th: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 19-11, $758
9th: Colby Miller, Elmer, La., five bass, 19-1, $632
9th: Brett Carnright, Plattsburgh, N.Y., five bass, 19-1, $632
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
T.J. Daniels of Plattsburgh, New York, had a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 3 ounces that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division and earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $780.
Frederick Chilluffo of Camden, New York, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,628 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 19 pounds, 14 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
1st: Frederick Chilluffo, Camden, N.Y., five bass, 19-14, $2,628
2nd: Justin Bronson, Glenn Dale, Md., five bass, 17-11, $1,264
3rd: Nate Coy, Pennsburg, Pa., five bass, 17-9, $845
4th: David Paszkiewicz, Kearny, N.J., five bass, 17-0, $590
5th: Shawn Gokey, Georgia, Vt., five bass, 16-14, $506
6th: David Archibald, Somerset, Mass., five bass, 16-11, $464
7th: Corey Germano, Staatsburg, N.Y., five bass, 16-8, $771
8th: Andrew Hostler, Tyrone, Pa., five bass, 16-6, $579
9th: Benjamin Kapp, Benton, Pa., five bass, 16-3, $337
10th: Al Norman, Lake Mary, Fla., five bass, 16-2, $295
Erik Gaffron of Robbinsdale, Minnesota caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 2 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $390.
After four events, Joseph Thompson of Coatesville, Pennsylvania, leads the Bass Fishing League Northeast Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 912 points, while David Paszkiewicz of Kearny, New Jersey, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 918 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered 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.
The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.
Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, AFTCO, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Revital Outdoors, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X, YETI and Yo-Zuri.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Omega Custom Tackle Announces Change in Ownership
Professional Angler Taylor Watkins acquires Omega Custom Tackle
Knoxville, TN (August 5, 2022) — Omega Custom Tackle has changed ownership with professional angler Taylor Watkins, and wife Noel, acquiring the tackle company from current owners Brad and Michele Fuller. The change comes after six years of management by the Fuller’s which saw Omega grow substantially and laid a great foundation for the company to continue to build on.
“We are proud of what we accomplished and added many new, innovative products while working to make Omega Custom Tackle what it is today,” said Michele Fuller. “We are proud of the business and are excited to continue on our new journey with the National Professional Fishing League. We know Taylor and Noel will continue to grow the brand.”
Watkins is in his second year of fishing the NPFL trail and after winning the season one finale at Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees last fall, he recently earned his second victory at Lake Cumberland in February. Taylor and Noel plan to take their experience in the fishing industry to elevate the brand and take pride in offering a diverse selection of high-quality baits and colors.
“We are excited to take over Omega and do our part to continue the growth of the company and expand its reach,” Taylor Wakinssaid. “We are excited for this next chapter and want to thank all of the Omega customers, retailers and the team for their continued support.”
Michael Neal Leads Early for Group B at MLF Bass Pro Tour Fox Rent A Car Stage Six at Cayuga Lake
Tennessee Pro Boats 21 Scorable Bass Weighing 83 Pounds, 3 Ounces to Lead Group B by Nearly 8 Pounds – Group A to Wrap Up Qualifying Round Monday
UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. (Aug. 7, 2022) – The fishing wasn’t quite as fast and furious as it was for Group A competitors on Saturday, but it was still a fantastic day on the water for Group B anglers as they opened their two-day Qualifying Round Sunday at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Fox Rent A Car Stage Six on Cayuga Lake Presented by Googan Baits. Pro Michael Neal of Dayton, Tennessee , who just last week clinched his second straight Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Angler of the Year (AOY) title, kept his momentum train rolling, catching 21 scorable bass weighing 83 pounds, 3 ounces, to take the lead in Group B after their first day of competition.
Favorite Fishing pro Mark Daniels, Jr., of Tuskegee, Alabama, sits in second place, 7 pounds, 13 ounces back of Neal with 22 scorable bass totaling 75-6. Pro Brent Ehrler of Redlands, California, finished the day in third place with 25 bass for 72-8, while B&W Trailer Hitches pro Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Arkansas , caught 20 bass totaling 71-13 to end the day in fourth place. Lorena, Texas pro Alton Jones rounds out the top five, as he caught 25 bass weighing 71-4.
The 40 anglers in Group B will now have an off day on Monday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group A will complete their two-day Qualifying Round of competition. Group B will conclude their Qualifying Round on Tuesday.
The six-day tournament, hosted by the Village of Union Springs, showcases 80 of the best professional anglers in the world competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 to the winner. The tournament is livestreamed each day at MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MOTV app, and also filmed for television broadcast later this fall on the Discovery Channel.
“I’m super happy with how the day went,” Neal said in his post-game interview. “I caught a ton of fish roaming on the very outside break of the lake. The fish don’t have anything else to relate to out past there, besides bait, and I think that is the big key to where I’ve been fishing at –a ton of baitfish in the area. I’m looking for the bass that are chasing those balls of bait around on the edge of that drop.”
Neal credited his Lowrance ActiveTarget Live Sonar as being critical to his success. He caught his fish drop-shotting a pearl-colored Big Bite Baits Scentsation Swim Minnow, using a No. 1 Gamakatsu hook with a 3/8-ounce Denali Kovert tungsten weight. He threw the drop-shot rig on a 7-foot, 6-inch Denali Kovert rod with 8-pound Sunline Shooter fluorocarbon line.
“I feel like I’m definitely on the right pattern, catching both species of largemouth and smallmouth,” Neal said. “I expected to catch mostly smallmouth but was surprised at how many largemouth there were out here.
“It seems like everybody has found the same fish and it’s only going to get tougher and tougher because of the fishing pressure,” Neal went on to say. “Winning the Qualifying Round and getting that automatic berth into the Championship Round is a big deal this week, more so than normal. I’m trying to focus on getting to that point, but it is not going to be an easy task. I’m looking forward to getting back out there.”
The top 20 pros in Group B after Day 1 of their Qualifying Round on Cayuga Lake are:
1st: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 21 bass, 83-3
2nd: Mark Daniels, Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 22 bass, 75-6
3rd: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 25 bass, 72-8
4th: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 20 bass, 71-13
5th: Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, 25 bass, 71-4
6th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 19 bass, 63-3
7th: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, 16 bass, 58-5
8th: Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., 19 bass, 57-11
9th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 17. bass, 55-14
10th: Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., 16 bass, 52-10
11th: Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, 15 bass, 47-1
12th: Timmy Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala., 13 bass, 45-9
13th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 14 bass, 43-15
14th: Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla., 13 bass, 43-6
15th: James Watson, Lampe, Mo., 14 bass, 43-2
16th: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 15 bass, 41-4
17th: Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., 14 bass, 41-1
18th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 11 bass, 40-12
19th: Shinichi Fukae, Osaka, Japan, 12 bass, 38-10
20th: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 13 bass, 36-13
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 493 scorable bass weighing 1,585 pounds, 15 ounces caught by the 40 pros Sunday.
Pro Timmy Horton of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, earned Sunday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award after catching a 6-pound, 9-ounce largemouth in Period 1 that was the largest of the day. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Saturday and Monday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the anglers that finish in 2nd through 20th place from both groups advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round, while the winner of each group advances directly to Thursday’s Championship Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 38 anglers compete to finish in the top 8 to advance to the Championship Round. In the final day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
Anglers will launch each day at 7:30 a.m. ET from Frontenac Park, located at 15 Creamery Road in Union Springs. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the park, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
As a part of the event on Monday, Aug. 8 from 8 to 10 a.m., the MLF Fisheries Management Division (FMD) will be participating in a clean-up event at Frontenac Park – the FMD Costa Clean Water Matters Program. MLF Pro Anglers and Volunteers will walk the park and shorelines to clean up trash and debris from the shores of Cayuga Lake.
On Championship Thursday, Aug. 11, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF will host a Celebration Event for fans of all ages, inviting fans to come out and celebrate with the professional anglers from the Bass Pro Tour as they crown the champion of the Fox Rent A Car Stage Six on Cayuga Lake Presented by Googan Baits. Before the celebration, an MLF watch party starts at 1:30 p.m., and the first 50 middle school or high school anglers in attendance will receive a free Abu Garcia rod and reel combo valued at $100. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and take selfies.
The Fox Rent A Car Stage Six on Cayuga Lake Presented by Googan Baits will feature anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, competing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST IV, the Bass Pro Tour championship, which will be held next March on Lake Norman in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Fox Rent A Car Stage Six on Cayuga Lake Presented by Googan Baits will premiere as a two-hour episode at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 12 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on the Discovery Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel. Each two-hour long reality-based episode goes in-depth to break down each day of tournament competition.
Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Covercraft, Favorite Fishing, Garmin, General Tire, Googan Baits, Grundéns, Guaranteed Rate, Humminbird, Lowrance, Luminox, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Nitro Performance Boats, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Power Stop, Rapala, Starbrite, Toro, Toyota, Wrangler, Yellowstone Bourbon and Zoom.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Justin Lucas Leads Catch Fest at Day 1 of MLF Bass Pro Tour Fox Rent A Car Stage Six at Cayuga Lake
Lucas and Wheeler Both Target Largemouth, Catch 100+ Pounds Saturday to Pace Group A – Group B to Compete Sunday
UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. (Aug. 6, 2022) – It was a blazing fast start Saturday, on Day 1 of the the Fox Rent A Car Stage Six on Cayuga Lake Presented by Googan Baits. And Cayuga Lake was the day’s brightest star.
Two anglers broke the century mark, both tallying more than 100 pounds in just the first day of competition. As time expired on SCORETRACKER®, Abu Garcia pro Justin Lucas of Guntersville, Alabama, ended the day atop the leaderboard, catching 35 scorable bass, 34 of which were largemouth, totaling 127 pounds, 1 ounce. Academy Sports + Outdoors pro Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, also broke the 100-pound barrier, catching 37 scorable bass weighing 107-15 to finish the day in second place.
The six-day event, hosted by the Village of Union Springs, will showcase 80 of the best professional anglers in the world competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 to the winner. The tournament is livestreamed each day at MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MOTV app, and also filmed for television broadcast later this fall on the Discovery Channel.
Although Lucas and Wheeler seem to have a substantial lead on the rest of the field, numerous anglers held the lead throughout the day, including Favorite Fishing pro Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama, who finished the day in third place with 23 bass totaling 88-5. Waco, Texas’ Alton Jones, Jr., caught 26 bass weighing 82-8 to end the day in fourth. Spokane, Washington’s Luke Clausenrounds out the top five with 25 bass weighing 78-9.
The 40 anglers in Group A will now have an off day from competition, while the 40 anglers competing in Group B will begin their first day of competition Sunday. Group A will resume competition on Monday.
Lucas caught his 35 scorable bass from just three spots Saturday, drop-shotting a trio of Berkley baits. He caught plenty of fish on a Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Flat Worm and a Berkley Havoc Bottom Hopper, but most of his damage was done with a Berkley PowerBait The General . If competing in a five-fish limit format event, Lucas’ best five largemouth would have went for 27-14.
“Today was just an insane day,” Lucas said in his post-game interview. “I’m really, really stoked right now. I felt like I had two really good spots coming into the event, and I feel like I kind of found a third area today. Other than that, I caught some just junk-fishing around. But I feel really good with how my day went.
“As good as it was today, I do think it is only going to get tougher as the week goes on,” Lucas continued. “Catching all of these bass and not laying off of them – there is no way that this a fishery can pump out the heavy weight like it did today for every day of the tournament. It will still be really good, but I think its going to slow down a little bit.”
Lucas credited his gear as being crucial to his success, Saturday.
“The key today was my Fantasista X rod from Abu Garcia,” Lucas said. “The fish are biting really light. I’m shaking my drop-shot bait just a little bit, and I can feel the slightest tick in the line – it almost feels like a bluegill bite. But this rod is so sensitive, I’m catching them and that really was the reason why I think I caught so many, today.”
Like Lucas, Wheeler also caught and weighed all largemouth bass on Saturday. Unlike Lucas, however, Wheeler opted for a bluegill-colored Rapala DT 16 crankbait to catch his keepers.
“Man, how much fun to come up here to Cayuga Lake and smash them on a dang crankbait,” said Wheeler, the reigning Bally Bet Angler of the Year. “We never really got on them in the last period, and that was our downfall at the end. I was able to check out a few things, but it just wasn’t going down.
“I’m looking forward to the day off and getting a chance to regroup and put the full gameplan together,” Wheeler went on to say. “I’m not exactly sure how I’m going to go about this one, yet, but I’ll have it figured out by Monday.”
The top 20 pros in Group A after Day 1 on Cayuga Lake are:
1st: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 35 bass, 127-1
2nd: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 37 bass, 107-15
3rd: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 23 bass, 88-5
4th: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, 26 bass, 82-8
5th: Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., 25 bass, 78-9
6th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 20 bass, 76-12
7th: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 23 bass, 65-5
8th: Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., 22 bass, 63-14
9th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 18 bass, 63-1
10th: Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss., 20 bass, 58-7
11th: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 18 bass, 58-0
12th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 16 bass, 57-0
13th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 15 bass, 52-14
14th: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., 16 bass, 52-2
15th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, 16 bass, 49-7
16th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 15 bass, 46-1
17th: Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., 15 bass, 44-7
18th: Roy Hawk, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 12 bass, 44-4
19th: David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn., 11 bass, 43-0
20th: Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 12 bass, 42-12
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 580 scorable bass weighing 1,877 pounds, 6 ounces caught by the 40 pros Saturday.
Power-Pole pro Chris Lane of Guntersville, Alabama, boated a 6-pound, 13-ounce largemouth to earn the first $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award of the event. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Saturday and Monday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the anglers that finish in 2nd through 20th place from both groups advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round, while the winner of each group advances directly to Thursday’s Championship Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 38 anglers compete to finish in the top 8 to advance to the Championship Round. In the final day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
Pro Mark Rose of Wynne, Arkansas, who will be among the 40 anglers competing in Group B, Sunday, has been penalized one hour of fishing time and will begin his tournament at 9 a.m. ET tomorrow. Rose inadvertently fished one hour longer than allowed during the final day of the angler’s official practice period. When he returned to the launch ramp and realized his error, Rose immediately self-reported his violation to Tournament Director Aaron Beshears, who assessed the penalty.
Anglers will launch each day at 7:30 a.m. ET from Frontenac Park, located at 15 Creamery Road in Union Springs. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the park, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
As part of the event, on Sunday, Aug. 7, from Noon to 5 p.m., fans are invited out to the Major League Fishing Festival at the Frontenac Park. Hosted by the Village of Union Springs, the event will feature fans meeting and getting autographs from their favorite pro anglers that compete on the Bass Pro Tour. Children are welcome to visit the Kids Zone to meet Skye & Marshall from PAW Patrol, fish for live fish in the Kids Fishing Pond, show off their artistic skills at the coloring stations, and more. Vendor booths from MLF sponsors, food, prizes and giveaways, including a FREE Abu Garcia rod and reel combo for the first 50 youth in attendance both days. One lucky attendee will play for a brand-new Toro 42-inch TimeCutter Zero Turn Mower in the Toro Pick ‘Til You Win game, with runner up prizes of a new 70-inch LED 4K Smart TV or a $500 VISA gift card. For more information on the Major League Fishing Festival, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com/Attend.
On Monday, Aug. 8 from 8 to 10 a.m., the MLF Fisheries Management Division (FMD) will be participating in a clean-up event at Frontenac Park – the FMD Costa Clean Water Matters Program. MLF Pro Anglers and Volunteers will walk the park and shorelines to clean up trash and debris from the shores of Cayuga Lake.
On Championship Thursday, Aug. 11, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF will host a Celebration Event for fans of all ages, inviting fans to come out and celebrate with the professional anglers from the Bass Pro Tour as they crown the champion of the Fox Rent A Car Stage Six on Cayuga Lake Presented by Googan Baits. Before the celebration, an MLF watch party starts at 1:30 p.m., and the first 50 middle school or high school anglers in attendance will receive a free Abu Garcia rod and reel combo valued at $100. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and take selfies.
The Fox Rent A Car Stage Six on Cayuga Lake Presented by Googan Baits will feature anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, competing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST IV, the Bass Pro Tour championship, which will be held next March on Lake Norman in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Fox Rent A Car Stage Six on Cayuga Lake Presented by Googan Baits will premiere as a two-hour episode at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 12 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on the Discovery Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel. Each two-hour long reality-based episode goes in-depth to break down each day of tournament competition.
Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Covercraft, Favorite Fishing, Garmin, General Tire, Googan Baits, Grundéns, Guaranteed Rate, Humminbird, Lowrance, Luminox, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Nitro Performance Boats, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Power Stop, Rapala, Starbrite, Toro, Toyota, Wrangler, Yellowstone Bourbon and Zoom.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Options Abound on Cayuga Lake
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
Just like the slogan on the coffee mugs, postcards and t-shirts at the tourist trap reads, Terry Scroggins loves New York. While the Empire State is anything but close to his native Florida, “Big Show” looks forward to hopping in his Tundra and making the 20+ hour drive north each year.
Deep, clear, pristine fisheries full of willing bass, scenic views, and mild temperatures compared to the rest of the country aside; there are plenty of reasons to be fond of the Finger Lakes. But the response that seems to come up consistently is Cayuga’s versatility in terms of techniques, species, structure, and depth ranges. Bass Pro Tour anglers are afforded the ability to fish however they want on Cayuga.
Cayuga Lake and it’s 40,000 plus acres have not served as a playing field for the BPT until this week’s competition for the Fox Rent A Car Stage Six, though these waters have been home to Major League Fishing Cup events in the past. It seems theentire Bass Pro Tour field is excited to compete on Cayuga this week, regardless of where they call home.
“I’ve always loved fishing in New York in the summer and Cayuga is a really cool lake,” Scroggins said. “You can have a flipping stick with 65-lb. braid or 6-lb. fluorocarbon spooled on a spinning rod for the same area and you have no idea what you’ll end up using until the day starts to unfold. You can fish shallow or deep, focus on smallmouth or largemouth, and target plenty of different types of cover. Cayuga offers all kinds of options.”
You can count on the Bass Pro Tour field fully exploiting these options through Stage Six, with anglers being able to fish their strengths and show fans just how many scoreable bass swim in Cayuga.
Scroggins thought back to past tournaments and trips to Cayuga as he made the drive on Tuesday and Wednesday. The longtime Team Toyota pro fished a Cup Event in August on Cayuga two years ago and had a strong event, finishing in fourth.
An accomplished flipper and grass fisherman throughout his career, it’s no surprise that Big Show’s success here came focusing on aquatic vegetation.
“Last time I was here I got on a really good flipping bite that was starting to heat up as the tournament winded down,” Scroggins recalled. “I flipped grass on the north end of the lake with a craw I pour at home and, man, they couldn’t get enough of it. It was one of those tournaments where I wanted to go back out and keep fishing after they called ‘lines-out’. So, you could say I’ve been looking forward to getting back up here.”
Cayuga Currently – first glance
While taking cover from a mid-day storm during the first official practice day on Thursday, Scroggins gave me a call to check in. Big Show spent his morning sampling some areas where he’s done with in the past, and it only took him a couple of hours to realize the grass on Cayuga’s north end wasn’t the same as he remembered from previous trips.
He reported there was still plenty of grass, but it wasn’t quite set up like he was hoping.
“The grass definitely ain’t the same as what I remember from the last time we were here,” Scroggins confessed. “It’s so easy to get stubborn with history and preconceived notions, but you gotta steer clear from that trap. Luckily this place is full of fish and this time of year when you find one, there is usually a school with it. I’m going to cover a bunch of water the rest of practice and see what we turn up.”
HOBIE EYEWEAR SHINES AT ICAST
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With twice the features at half the price of competing sunglasses, Hobie’s new Floating Collection models really turned some heads. |
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OCEANSIDE, Calif. (August 5, 2022) - They may be back in the office now, but you can bet the Hobie Eyewear crew will be working overtime to follow-up on all the orders and contacts they generated at the 2022 ICAST fishing show held last month in Orlando, Florida. “What an incredibly successful show we had in terms of overall traffic and new eyeballs on our brand,” said Dylan Coates, senior marketing coordinator for Hobie Eyewear. “We’ve never had that much attention before, and it was exciting to see several new product stories and branding initiatives we’ve been working on come to life and gain the recognition they deserve from leaders in the fishing industry.” |
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Indeed, Hobie Eyewear’s Floating Series sunglasses captured the most buzz with its new Hank Cherry Champion Collectionand just released Monarch Float models generating the most customer remarks. The former is especially designed to meet the demands of bass fishing with input from its namesake two-time Bassmaster Classic Champion. The latter cuts through glare to provide a versatile angling edge under any condition, boasts easily removable side-shields, and sports a comfortable casual look that can’t be denied. Both are also lightweight, float, and cost half the price of competitive sunglasses. “We were really proud to have our Monarch Float model compete in the ICAST New Product Showcase and pleased that brought even more attention to their unique design,” added Stephen Vaughan, senior director for product development on the Hobie Eyewear team. “These are simply the most versatile sunglasses available today and it was nice to see them recognized as such.” |
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Customers stopping by the Hobie Booth were also intrigued and interested in the two interchange lens systems in the Hobie Eyewear line-up. The Huntington features a quick-release lens interchange system while the Hobie Dou Series is Rx ready and has magnetic interchange lens clips that instantly align and hold lenses in perfect position every time you swap them out. “It really was quite an experience to see our products garner so much positive attention at ICAST,” summed up Coates. “Interest was strong, the buzz was energizing, and the opportunity to sell our products while making so many important new high-level connections will really help us build our brand. We couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome and confirmation of our new tag line: “Twice The Features. Half The Price.” |
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Hobie Eyewear offers anglers cutting edge, versatile, polarized protective sunglasses with a variety of exceptional lens choices. There sunglasses are available at retail locations across the country, and online at www.hobieeyewear.com. |
The Increased Cost of Chasing Your Dreams
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How NPAA pros are tackling higher expenses on the tournament trail |
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Forestville, WI (August 4, 2022) – There’s no doubt professional anglers and weekend warriors are both feeling the sting of inflation these days. With gas prices still hovering around $4 per gallon, and food and lodging significantly more costly than last year, you can bet just about every tournament angler is reeling from the bites taken out of their bottom line. At the same time, many are rising to the challenge by increasing efficiency, cutting expenses, and plugging the leaks. That, says Patrick Neu, president of the National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA), is exactly what it takes to not only survive in the recreational fishing industry, but to thrive. “In short,” he says, “you need to increase your professionalism to stay afloat. A great way to do just that is follow the lead of NPAA members who are making the grade.” |
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Walleye pro and NPAA member Isaac Lakich. |
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Consider 27-year-old Isaac Lakich from Richfield, Wisconsin. The full-time angler fishes traveling walleye tournaments–including the National Walleye Tour (NWT)–and is also a full-time guide. “I got my start through the tourney world, but decided to diversify as the economy began to slip at the start of the pandemic,” Lakich says. “That’s an important part of being a tournament pro – keeping an eye on the horizon and reacting swiftly to changes in the game.” As a relatively young professional angler, Lakich may not have the most experience among circuit regulars, but his age provides an advantage when understanding the latest electronic technology. “In addition to guiding clients for walleye, I’ve started offering on-the-water electronics lessons,” says Lakich. “It has been a great move so far and I’m on pace to book 75 electronics trips for the year.” In staying ahead of the curve, Lakich advises other aspiring angling pros to recognize that if your sponsor contracts don’t increase from year-to-year, you’re losing ground. “Each year, I renegotiate my contracts and request a cost-of-living increase–plus a little extra–because I’m more experienced and better able to represent my sponsors. It’s early August now and I’m already cutting next year’s deals. That extra 5- to 8-percent you might get helps cover increasing costs,” Isaac says. “For me to stay in business, I need to maintain my standard of living. I’m a professional and I need to charge professional prices–so do you.” |
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While Lakich seems to be hitting full stride in his professional endeavors, NPAA member John Crews, 44, of Salem, Virginia, has been fishing at the highest levels for 20 years now. The full-time bass tournament angler has qualified for 14 Bassmaster Classics, won two Bassmaster Elite series events, and ran his own lure company, Missile Baits, for over a decade. “I’m sure this economy is putting the most hurt on anglers who are new to the trail, but it stings for all of us to some degree,” reveals Crews. “No matter what level you fish in the tournament world, your expenses are always increasing. For a professional bass angler, entry fees are usually your biggest expense, with fuel costs generally number two – more than lodging expenses or truck costs on a yearly basis.” To keep your head above water, Crews suggests cutting expenses wherever possible. “Rather than eating out every night on the road,” he advises, “Hit the grocery store and stock-up for a few days. Also, look for lower-cost lodging. You don’t have to stay in a flea-bag hotel, but there’s nothing wrong with midrange options.” At the same time, it’s important to not skimp on tackle, lures or electronics. Those, Crews points out, are the professional tools you need to succeed – so bite the bullet elsewhere. You can also help keep things in check by being a little more selective as to which tournaments to fish, cutting down on travel, and by staying with friends or splitting a room with other anglers. “We all go through some rough times when climbing the ladder,” says Crews with a chuckle. “When it comes to saving money, you name it and I have done it.” |
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Bass pro and NPAA member Griffin Fernandes |
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Which is exactly what NPAA member Griffin Fernandes is trying to do. At 22, you might think of him as a newcomer to the tourney trail, but he started fishing the junior circuit at 13, excelled on his high school team, and helped lead Michigan’s Adrian College to the 2021 Bassmaster College Series National Championship. Chat with him personally and you’ll discover a surprisingly seasoned professional angler. “I was fortunate to get off to a strong start in tournament fishing at the college level because Adrian College paid for a lot of our expenses. They covered our gas, lodging and food, and we had school trucks and school boats to use,” Fernandes says. “It was a great experience.” Now that he’s graduated, Griffin is doing all he can to keep expenses low, while fishing regional Buckeye Fishing League (BFL) events. “I’m saving money by living with my parents,” he says, “and I’m trying to keep my expenses under $500 per tourney. That breaks down to two boat and truck gas fills, plus entry fees. I usually lodge with a group of friends that travel the circuit together. We’ll buy two small pizzas for dinner and split up any leftovers for lunch on our boats.” Fernandes says that fishing events that are close to home and on smaller waters equates to big savings on lodging, gas and entry fees. |
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“The larger tourneys can put you in the hole $500 to $700 dollars before you’ve even made a cast,” he notes. “They’re great if you can afford them, and I aspire to compete at the highest levels, but I’m just not there yet. I plan to take my time, building up an emergency fund, and monitoring my tournament performances before jumping in head-first.” One tip Fernandes offers for anyone thinking about launching a professional career in the recreational fishing industry – whether joining the professional trail or some other fishing related occupation – is joining NPAA. “I attended the 2019 conference at the suggestion of my college coach,” he recalls. “It turned out to be a great opportunity to meet and introduce myself to significant movers and manufacturers in the industry. Now I have those connections, so I’m not a blank page when I’m looking to jump to the next level. Talking to more senior members of the organization also helped me realize that I don’t need to rush. It opened my eyes to new ways of thinking about professional fishing and staying on track. That help has been invaluable, both in learning to be patient and in looking ahead to my fishing future.” Lakich agrees with Fernandes’ NPAA assessment. “The NPAA has given me quite a few professional contacts over the years, and these have proved invaluable. I’ve met several people that have already gone to bat for me when I needed someone with more tenure in the industry to vouch for my abilities, strengths and character. Having that core NPAA group support is a really great membership perk.” As for Crews, he’s enjoyed the benefits of being an NPAA member and is happy to be in a position to return the favor. “It’s amazing how much even veteran anglers can learn when comparing notes with other members. It’s also important to give back to the sport and fishing community by sharing your knowledge and experience with others who are chasing their dreams,” he states. “I try to support the NPAA as much as possible. It’s a terrific organization with the potential to help a lot of people succeed in this industry.” For information on joining the NPAA and exploring the many benefits of membership, visit www.npaa.net. |
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About the National Professional Anglers Association The National Professional Anglers Association (NPAA) is a non-profit, member-based association dedicated to sportfishing. The NPAA’s membership is composed of professional guides, tournament anglers, angler educators and sportfishing/marine industry professionals who are passionate about the sport. For more NPAA partner, member and industry news, go to www.npaa.net . |
Massena Set for MLF Tackle Warehouse 2022 TITLE Championship Presented by Mercury
$235,000 and TITLE Championship Up for Grabs as Top 50 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Anglers Head to New York to Compete in Season Finale
MASSENA, N.Y. (Aug. 4, 2022) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Tackle Warehouse TITLE Presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship, is set to visit the St. Lawrence River and Massena, New York next week, Aug. 16-21. The six-day tournament will showcase the top 48 pros in the 2022 Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me standings, along with last year’s reigning TITLE champion and reigning Angler of the Year (AOY) – all competing for a guaranteed check and a grand prize of up to $235,000.
MLF has held 44 tournaments on the St. Lawrence River over the past 28 years, however this event marks the first Championship Event held on the fishery, and only the second Pro Circuit event.
“The Town of Massena is excited to welcome the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Championship to the St. Lawrence River,” said Don Meissner, Tournament Coordinator for the Town of Massena. “Having the opportunity to host this once-in-a-lifetime event in Massena and the North Country is a dream that I have been working on for the last several years. I am glad that our incredible resource will be featured as the backdrop for this week of fishing with anglers who are among the elite in their field. We can’t wait to see everyone on the shores of the St. Lawrence.”
The Pro Circuit last visited the smallmouth mecca in July 2021, where pro Cody Pike of Powhatan, Virginia, took home the win with a total weight of 82 pounds, 12 ounces. Pike finished 54th in the standings this season and did not qualify to compete in this event.
The 2022 TITLE, hosted by the Town of Massena, will feature a hybrid tournament format. All 50 anglers are seeded into two groups of 25 – Group A & Group B, based on points earned in 2022 qualifying events – where they will compete in Qualifying Rounds over the first four days of the tournament. Group A will fish Day 1 and Day 3, and Group B will fish Day 2 and Day 4, with total weight determined by the cumulative weight of their biggest five-bass limit from both days.
The winner of each group will then advance directly to the Championship Round, while pros who finish in second to 10th place in each group will battle it out with zeroed weights in the Knockout Round. On the sixth day of the event, the Championship Round, weights will again be zeroed and the top eight pros from the Knockout Round, plus the two Qualifying Round winners will compete. The winner will be determined by the heaviest five-bass limit of the final round.
Local Toyota Series pro Jesse Spellicy of Gouverneur, New York said fans and anglers alike can expect a fun tournament and to see a lot of fish catches throughout the event.
“The St. Lawrence River has been fishing really good this summer,” Spellicy said. “It seems like the weights get bigger and bigger every year and this year is no exception.
“The fish aren’t fully in their summertime pattern out deep, so there are still some fish that can be caught up shallow, but for the most part I think you’ll see guys targeting shoals in 25 to 35 feet of water.”
While the event will primarily be a smallmouth tournament, Spellicy said that largemouth could come into play as well.
“It wouldn’t shock me if an angler finds a largemouth pattern that they have all to themselves, and while I don’t believe they can win on that, it’s certainly a player every year and could result in a strong finish.”
Spellicy said drop-shots, tubes and Ned rigs will be key baits on the fishery, as well as jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and spybaits for anglers targeting fish up shallow.
“I expect it to take 21 pounds per day to make it into the Top 10 and over 24 pounds to win the one-day shootout in the Championship Round,” said the Virginia pro.
Anglers will take off at 7 a.m. ET each day of competition from the Massena Intake Boat Launch, located at 1415 State Hwy 131 in Massena. Weigh-ins will also be held at the boat launch daily at 3 p.m. The MLF NOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all six days of competition from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the MLF NOW! live stream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Along with the launch and weigh-in, fans and community members are invited to the MLF Fishing and Outdoor Expo on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 20-21 from noon to 8 p.m. ET at the Massena Intake Boat Launch, where fans can meet the pros and check out the latest in fishing and outdoor gear. The expo includes live music, food trucks, kids’ activities, giveaways, fireworks and more.
The first 100 kids (10 and under) will receive a free rod and reel at the Expo on Saturday and Sunday and fans can register for a Polaris Sportsman 570 ATV giveaway onsite at the Expo. The winner will be drawn after the final weigh-in on August 21. PAW Patrol’s Skye and Marshall will also be at the event with MLF pro Charlie Evans and will be available for photos. Appearance times may vary. Visit MajorLeagueFishing.com for updates and more details.
In addition to the launch, weigh-ins and Expo, youth 14 and under are also invited to attend a free Kid’s Fishing Derby on Saturday, Aug. 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Wilson Hill Causeway. Participants can bring their own fishing gear or use provided gear on a first come, first serve basis and will compete for tagged fish and cash prizes.
The 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit featured a field of 154 of the top professional anglers in the world competing at six regular-season events around the country. The top 50 anglers in the Angler of the Year (AOY) standings after the six events qualified to compete in the Tackle Warehouse TITLE Presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship.
Television coverage of the Tackle Warehouse TITLE Presented by Mercury event will be showcased across six two-hour episodes, premiering at 9 a.m. ET, Oct. 8 on the CBS Sports Network. Episodes premiere Sunday mornings on the Outdoor Channel, with additional re-airings on the Sportsman Channel. Each two-hour long episode goes in-depth to break down each day of competition. Episodes will run through Nov. 13.
Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Fuel Me, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Mixed Bags Will Likely Be Prominent During Bassmaster High School National Championship On Hartwell
High school teams from 39 states and Canada will compete on Lake Hartwell August 11-13 at the 2022 Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
Photo by Emily Hand/B.A.S.S.
August 4, 2022
ANDERSON, S.C. — Temperatures in South Carolina have heated up and so has the fishing on Lake Hartwell as young anglers from across the country prepare for the Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
Featuring eight members of the Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors and 23 All-State anglers, a field of 315 boats will compete on the historic fishery for a chance at earning the prestigious trophy. Tournament days are scheduled for Aug. 11-13 with the full field competing the first two days and the Top 10 competing on Championship Saturday.
Last year at Chickamauga Lake, hometown anglers Gage King and Banks Shaw of Sale Creek High School weighed in a three-bass limit of 20 pounds, 11 ounces on the final day to win with a three-day total of 45-6. Shaw will be competing again this year alongside a new partner, BJ Collins.
Unlike the previous championships held on Tennessee River reservoirs like Kentucky Lake and Chickamauga Lake, Hartwell features a large population of spotted bass that like to chase blueback herring.
While spotted bass will play a significant role, Bassmaster Elite Series champion Bryan New said largemouth will ultimately decide the winner. The South Carolina pro added that the overwhelming majority of bass caught by the winning team will be relating to the herring.
“More spots will be caught for sure. There are always more spots caught,” New said. “Now, winning-wise, you better have some largemouth. Period. I don’t care if you are there in July, March or December. You better have some largemouth or you aren’t going to win. It is rare that you have only largemouth, though.”
Hartwell is a vast fishery, with access to the Tugaloo and the Seneca River arms as well as Six and Twenty Creek, so teams should be able to spread out. New predicts canepiles will be the predominant focus while brushpiles may also factor.
“It’s a very well-known thing,” he said. “Running the canepiles with a Zoom Super Fluke or chrome topwater bait are two killers on that deal and, of course, a drop shot. Those canepiles are typically on the long, tapering points and there are about 1,000 of those on Hartwell. Of course, some are better than others.”
The last few weeks have seen several waves of afternoon thunderstorms, which have the shallows slightly stained. There have been plenty of active bass in those areas.
“The back ends of the creeks and up the river have a fair amount of stain to them,” New said. “There is a decent shallow-cranking bite, a ChatterBait bite and a good topwater deal going.”
While 20-pound bags can be caught this time of year, New notes it can also take closer to 14 pounds to win one-day summertime events. It all depends on the timing, but he added if a team can catch 15 or 16 pounds a day, they will have a good shot.
Teams will launch from Green Pond Landing and Event Center at 6:20 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in starting at 2:20 p.m.
Neal Wraps Up Back-to-Back Angler of the Year Titles
Courtesy of Major League Fishing.com
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – In the history of the FLW Tour and Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me, only Andy Morgan (2013, 2014) and David Dudley (2011, 2012) had won back-to-back Angler of the Year titles prior to the emergence of Michael Neal. Now, after finishing 15th at Covercraft Stop 6 Presented by Wiley X at Lake Champlain, Neal has locked up his second title in back-to-back fashion, becoming the third pro to win AOY in consecutive years and the sixth pro to win multiple AOY titles.
Neal’s win is also notable because of how extreme it was. Winning at Sam Rayburn to start the year off, he made the Top 10 four times, but also caught just one bass on Day 2 at Pickwick Lake to finish 105th. It’s the first time since Denny Brauer won AOY in 1998 that a pro has earned the points title with a finish below 100th on their ledger.
Trophy in hand, after sweating some and pretending to sweat some during weigh-in, Neal was more than appreciative of his newly secured place in history.
“Just to be mentioned in the same category as two of the guys I grew up fishing against and always looked up to … it’s surreal,” said Neal, who competes on the Bass Pro Tour against Morgan and Dudley. “To be fishing against the same guys and have an accolade like that, that a bunch of guys at the age of 30 never had the opportunity to do, I’ve been very fortunate to be where I’m at.”
Raised around pro fishing in East Tennessee, Neal has seemingly been destined for stardom for a long time. Now, he feels he’s living up to his potential.
“It feels like I finally got to the point in my career where I feel I should be,” Neal said. “For the first part of my career there were a lot of close calls. It feels like now I’ve got the confidence in myself and my abilities to get the job done.”
Neal has been on a tear for the last two years, and he credits confidence and time on the water for his success.
“Early in my career, I questioned it some, I think everybody is going to question it some,” he said. “But, you’ve got to have the confidence without the arrogance to believe you can do it. That’s a very fine line; but if you’re not confident and pull up to the best hole in the lake you’re not going to catch them.
“I’ve just made it a point now to go out and fish my strengths, and fishing both tours, spending a lot of time on the water – there’s no replacement for that.”
The Year That Was
Neal put together a sterling season overall, finishing first at Sam Rayburn, 10th at the Harris Chain, 105th at Pickwick, third at Guntersville, fourth at the James River and 15th at Champlain. Outside of Pickwick, it was a truly spectacular season, but it almost went too easily. In 2021, Neal had a moment or two every tournament where something lucky or special happened, when a pattern clicked into place or he made a perfect decision. This year, he struggled to come up with a standout moment other than his win at Rayburn.
“I didn’t have much, but I caught two big ones the first day,” Neal said. “I was lucky enough the second day to catch enough where I was going to be okay, and I could go practice. Then, I caught a couple big ones (later in the day on a jerkbait) and it set me up to win the tournament. Last year, every tournament I could look back and tell you one of those moments, this year, there’s not any.”
Of course, on the bad side was his second day at Pickwick, when he brought just one fish to the scale in an event that largely featured excellent fishing.
“One of my favorite lakes was the one that let me down so bad,” he said. “That was the one time in the last two years I can remember doing something that I knew I shouldn’t do, or that I don’t do. I ran up the river on Pickwick and fished the bank. On the Tennessee River, they live offshore, they spawn offshore, everything. For some reason, I gave up on it and it bit me. I didn’t give it enough time, I could have put the trolling motor down at the ramp and caught more than I did that day. In Angler of the Year stuff, typically you’re not going to have a chance if you don’t weigh a limit one of the days, let alone catch one fish.”
Neal’s Pickwick letdown didn’t end up costing him the title, though he didn’t lead AOY again until after Day 1 at Champlain – but it may prove instructive for others. One of the best offshore anglers in the game, Neal abandoned the ledges and bars that he’s made so much money on over the years.
“You’ve got guys like Andy Morgan and (Randall) Tharp that strictly power fish up shallow, and only so many fish live up there, and that’s in a 40-boat-a-day Bass Pro Tour event,” Neal said. “That’s what I’m going to do if I have to, but I’m going to fish my way as often as I can. If you don’t fish your way, just like what happened at Pickwick, you’re not going to do well, because you’re not fishing in your element.”
Neal’s Next Challenge
Going into the 2023 season, winning another Angler of the Year title will be at the top of the list for Neal. And with regular season wins under his belt, he’s good on that front. But, a major championship still eludes him, despite some close calls in the Forrest Wood Cup and REDCREST.
“I want to win a TITLE,” Neal said. “Angler of the Year is great, and a tournament win is great; I’ve done those and would love to do them 10 times over. But, now, the one thing that’s missing is a TITLE championship.”
At just 30 years old, recently married and fishing incredibly well, that goal seems pretty attainable for the Dayton, Tennessee, angler.
“I feel like I’ve got at least another 10 to 15 good years, prime years,” Neal said. “Whatever happens after that, happens.”
Z-Man Wins Two ICAST Awards
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Fresh Off Hosting MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, Lake Champlain Now Readies for Toyota Series Event
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (Aug. 3, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, can’t get enough of Upstate New York. After just wrapping up an extremely successful Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit event on Monday, the league is making its final preparations for another big tournament on Lake Champlain next week – the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at Lake Champlain Presented by BoatLogix , Aug. 9-11, in Plattsburgh. The three-day bass fishing tournament is the second of three regular-season events for the Toyota Series Northern Division.
The tournament will showcase a field of the best regional bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers casting for a top prize package of up to $75,000 in the pro division and a new Phoenix 518 pro boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor, in the co-angler division, and valuable points to qualify for November’s 2022 Toyota Series Championship.
“I think things are changing, and we’re going to see the lake quite a bit different for this Toyota Series event than we saw during the Pro Circuit event,” said Favorite Fishing pro Matt Becker of Finleyville, Pennsylvania, who has two top-10 finishes on Lake Champlain in MLF competition – including a 4th place finish in the Pro Circuit event earlier this week. “It’ll be a lot of the same type of techniques – drop-shotting and Livescoping for smallmouth, but I also think that a lot more largemouth will be in play.”
Becker said that he believes the largemouth will play a bigger role in this event due to two factors – more time to practice, and some strong local anglers that will be among the competitors.
“On the Pro Circuit, you’ve only got two days to practice, so you can’t explore a lot of options. It’s kind of pick an area, pick out a couple of things, and your two days is over,” Becker explained. “On the Toyota Series, with 3, 4, 5 days of practice, guys can explore a little more. And there are also some very strong local sticks in this event – I know (Hinesburg, Vermont’s) Bryan Labelle has been absolutely crushing largemouth this year.”
Becker said that he expects the weights to be pretty similar to the Pro Circuit event.
“I think you’re going to need to average around 18 pounds a day to make the final day of competition,” Becker said. “To win, it’s going to take more than 60 pounds over the three days. I predict the winner will have 63 or 64 pounds in this one. Someone could win with straight largemouth or straight smallmouth, but I think the winner is most likely going to be weighing in mixed bags.”
Anglers will launch each morning at 6 a.m. ET from the Plattsburgh City Marina, located at 5 Dock St. in Plattsburgh. Weigh-ins will also be held at marina, beginning at 2 p.m. each day. Fans are welcome to attend and encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of $40,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of $65,000, plus an extra $35,000 if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower outboard (valued at $33,500) plus $5,000 cash.
The 2022 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains Presented by Outlaw Ordnance, Southern, Southwestern Presented by Outlaw Ordnance and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions and finish in the top 25 – or the top 12 from the Wild Card division – will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 cash. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2022 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. Championship will be held Nov. 3-5 on Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Alabama, and is hosted by Marshall County Tourism and Sports.
Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. 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, Outlaw Ordnance, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF Toyota Series on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Sixth Annual Females In Fisheries Conservation Scholarships Awarded
August 2, 2022
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The sixth annual Noreen Clough Memorial Scholarships for Females in Fisheries have been awarded to Iowa State University student Madeline Lewis of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and Noel Schmitz, of Sparta, Wis., who is studying at The Ohio State University.
Noreen Clough blazed many trails in the field of fisheries. As the first female regional director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and later as the B.A.S.S. Conservation Director, her distinguished career was dedicated to the conservation and management of fish and wildlife. Clough passed away in January 2015. As a tribute, friends and colleagues established an endowment to provide a scholarship for female students working toward a career in fisheries conservation.
Lewis earned her master’s degree in Fish and Wildlife Management at Montana State University and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Fisheries Biology at Iowa State University.
“My family didn’t fish growing up but moved to a house on a lake before I left for college,” Lewis explained. “I bought a cheap rod-and-reel package and taught myself how to bass fish through trial and error. The satisfaction of finally figuring out those fish was what first got me interested in fishing. A few years later, I was working on a guest ranch in Montana for the summer and learned how to fly fish, which got me even more into fishing. After that, I changed my major to fisheries, transferred to the University of Montana for undergrad, and my life has revolved around fish and fisheries ever since.”
Her current research involves evaluating population and movement dynamics of walleye and muskellunge in two Iowa reservoirs to better understand how escapement, natural mortality and harvest mortality regulate sportfish populations. Lewis plans on graduating in spring 2025 and hopes to pursue a career as a state or federal research biologist.
Prior to starting her undergraduate work at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, Schmitz was part of the American Fisheries Society's prestigious Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program. As a Hutton Scholar, Schmitz completed an internship at La Crosse Fish Health Center, part of the US Fish & Wildlife Service.
Schmitz's thesis research is focused on climate-change-induced stressors, such as increased water temperature and hypoxia, impacting predator-prey interactions between smallmouth bass and invasive round gobies in the western basin of Lake Erie. She will be working on this project next summer as well to complete her master’s degree at The Ohio State University in December 2023. After finishing school, Schmitz plans to move home to Wisconsin to begin a career as a fisheries biologist with a natural resource agency.
Gene Gilliland, B.A.S.S. conservation director, noted, “Both of these young women have a bright future in fisheries, but in addition to their academic strengths, they stood out from many of the other applicants because they were avid anglers.”
Gordon Robertson, retired vice president of government affairs for the American Sportfishing Association and a long-time colleague of Noreen’s added, “Noreen put a high value on lessons learned from recreational fishing from both a resource understanding and appreciation perspective, but also from a perspective of understanding anglers and how they think and react to resource and social issues.”
Lewis and Schmitz will each be awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Southern Division American Fisheries Society Black Bass Conservation Committee to be used for college expenses.
McKendree University Wins MLF Wiley X College Faceoff at Mississippi River
LA CROSSE, Wis. (Aug. 2, 2022) – The McKendree University team of Kyle Hopping, Evan Sutton, Jaxson Freeman and Harmon Marien, won the Major League Fishing (MLF) Wiley X College Faceoff at the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Saturday. The Bearcats bass club boated 19 bass weighing 39 pounds, 9 ounces to win the second Wiley X College Faceoff Event of the 2022 season and earn the win by a 12-pound, 12-ounce margin over Purdue University.
The five teams that competed in the Wiley X College Faceoff at the Mississippi River finished:
1st: McKendree University – Kyle Hopping, Evan Sutton, Jaxson Freeman and Harmon Marien, 19 bass, 39-9
2nd: Purdue University – William Bruin, Ross Carter, Mason Bohland and Brady Metzger, 14 bass, 30-13
3rd: University of Iowa – Gannon Courtright, Pierce Knarr, Eli Johnson and Ryan Lowe, eight bass, 18-1
4th: University of Missouri – Brett Hurst, Hayden Moore, Luke Noel and Brian Walkup, five bass, 16-10
5th: University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point – Clay Dailey, Adam Rogge, Isaac Thompson and Ryan Van Cuick, five bass, 9-1
Complete results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The Wiley X College Faceoffs are single-day tournaments where competitors fish in an MLF-style catch, weigh, immediate-release team format at each event. The College Faceoff tournaments occur the Saturday following an Abu Garcia College Fishing competition, on the same body of water. The results from the College Fishing tournament the previous day determine the 20 competitors for the Wiley X College Faceoff, with the top two teams (four anglers) from the top five schools in the regular season tournament qualifying to fish in the ten-boat faceoff the following day.
The Wiley X College Faceoff tournament on the Mississippi River was the second of four Faceoff events for MLF collegiate anglers in 2022. The next Faceoff event for college anglers will take place on Saturday, Sept. 10 at Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio.
MLF College Fishing teams compete in three regular-season tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top 10 teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual Abu Garcia College Fishing Open will advance to the following season’s National Championship. The location for the 2023 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship will be announced soon.
Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular College Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Crankbait Supremecy
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The new Ever Green ZR-4 is destined to become your go-to bass bait |
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Cypress, CA (August 2, 2022) – Mindful crankbait anglers know all lures are not created equal. Inevitably, in-boat where anglers are throwing different baits, one rises to the top. Sometimes it’s the color. More often, however, it’s the standout lure’s more refined and compelling action that earns preferred and indisputable results. Ever Green’s new ZR-4 is that exceptional crankbait… right out of the box. Engineered by Japan’s most advanced lure makers, every millimeter of the ZR-4 was carefully conceived to serve a purpose. Outwardly, you’ll first notice the bait’s idyllic profile, emulating the shape of baitfish and edible juvenile fish worldwide. To that, Ever Green sculpted the body with great accuracy to include detailed eyeballs, scale patterns, and gills. Now detail at that level might not matter when burning a crankbait, but it certainly comes into play on slower retrieves and pauses, especially in clear conditions and on pressured fish. |
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And that’s just the beginning. Details abound to empower the lure’s locomotion. For one, the ZR-4 features a hybrid square and concave bill. The squaring elicits a tight action that also deflects off structure like timber and rocks. The curvature displaces more water than a traditional bill, causing more disruption in the water and a faster dive to its prescribed 4-to-5-foot range. The ZR-4’s unique bumped head and tapered tail were also orchestrated for an exclusive and precise action. Rare to find another crankbait body that’s better designed to produce a common goal: immaculate action. ZR-4’s color patterns are equally sophisticated. On the bluegill the pattern Green Pumpkin Gill, for example, airbrushed colors layer into one another, precisely as they’d appear on the real thing. Ever Green’s ten-color palette includes classic bass-catching hues as well as novel combinations. Patterns include Olive Crawdad, Glow Shad Dazzler, Flash Wakasagi, Magic Gill, Green Pumpkin Gill, Citrus Chart, Cold Shad and Olive Copper Shad. Ever Green also includes fixed weights inside the ZR-4’s body to lower the center of gravity. The result is a longer-and-straighter-casting crankbait that tracks in perfect position on the retrieve. Finally, the ZR-4 includes an offset hook on the front treble to prevent snags. Say hello to the crankbait that’ll soon become the standout in your boat. |
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COLD SHAD |
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GLOW SHAD DAZZLER |
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OLIVE COPPER SHAD |
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CITRUS CHART |
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FLASH WAKASAGI |
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FIRE CRAW |
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OLIVE CRAWDAD |
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MAGIC GILL |
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GREEN PUMPKIN GILL |
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FEATURES:
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For Daiwa’s latest color catalog and/or information on Daiwa dealers in your area, call Daiwa’s Customer Service Department at 562-375-6800 or e-mail inquiries to: [email protected]. The URL for Daiwa’s web site is daiwa.us. |
Darold Gleason’s picks for summer’s dog days
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
These are the days when temps soar so high even small dogs like Rowdy Gleason look for a cool slab of concrete to lay their bellies on.
His ‘dad’ Darold Gleason wouldn’t mind doing the same, but he gets paid to catch fish, not lay on the porch. So, what two lures does the Elite Series pro and famed Toledo Bend guide lean on to catch fish when the thermometer hits a hundred?
“Obviously, in the extreme heat of summer, you could go with a deep diving crankbait, big worm, or a football jig, but I chose two lures to help people catch fish in this heat, based on two factors – simplicity and versatility,” says Gleason.
“So Rowdy and I are choosing a V & M Baby Swamp Hog and a 4.5” Straight Shooter dropshot worm,” says the always comical Gleason, who was one of the very first anglers to register for Toyota’s Bonus Bucks program 14 years ago.
Baby Swamp Hog
“I can hook a Baby Swamp Hog on a Carolina Rig behind a 1-ounce egg weight and reach fish that are 20-25’ feet deep. But I can also pitch it around the shade of dock, as well as submerged vegetation,” he explains.
“Again, it’s versatile. A Gleason’s Candy colored 4” Baby Swamp Hog imitates everything from a crawfish to a bluegill, and it gets bites from big fish, even when it’s 100-degrees outside,” says Gleason, who has a wall full of 10-pound fiberglass replicas representing the many giant largemouth he’s caught from Toledo Bend.
4.5” V & M Straight Shooter finesse worm
“This choice might surprise some people, but the goal is to get bites during smokin hot conditions, and very few rigs in bass fishing generate more bites than a drop shot. If you don’t believe me, look at the front deck of nearly any pro’s boat, and you’ll see at least one drop shot rigged up everywhere we go on tour,” says the Yamaha pro.
“The Straight Shooter worm is super soft, so it’s loaded with action, but it also has a ton of salt, so fish hold on to it longer,” he adds.
Much like the Baby Swamp Hog, Gleason says he’ll cast a hot summer drop shot from docks to deep water. He adjusts the leader length between the hook and weight below depending on what habitat he’s fishing. He prefers 10” of line between hook and weight around docks, and more like 20” when fishing the deeper zones.
So while several options abound for dredging up summer bass by anglers brave enough to bear the heat, remember these two suggestions from Gleason as straight-up “bite getters” no matter how high the temp.
And remember, you can’t catch ‘em if you’re laying on the porch.
Scholastic Anglers Head Back to School
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Two top sticks – Trey McKinney and Jaxton Orr – talk about what it takes to win on the water and in the classroom |
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PARK FALLS, Wisc. (August 2, 2022) - Many passionate anglers over a certain age lament a particular foregone opportunity. Today, scholastic angling is hot; high schools, colleges and universities across the country have well-organized bass-fishing teams that provide incredible opportunities for young anglers to compete on the water while advancing their knowledge and skills. It’s a great thing for both the fishing industry and for those young people who participate, but it’s a fairly recent development. A lot of anglers over the age of 35 or so didn’t have the opportunities that 17-year-old Trey McKinney and 19-year-old Jaxton Orr enjoy today. That said, they probably don’t have these incredible anglers’ skills either. As scholastic anglers prepare to head back to the classroom this month, we sat down with McKinney, a home-schooled matriculating high school senior, and Orr, who’ll be a sophomore at fishing-powerhouse Carson-Newman University, for some Q&A. TREY MCKINNEY Young-gun Trey McKinney has flat-out earned his success and accolades in competitive bass fishing. The 17-year-old angler from Goreville, Illinois has already been fishing competitively for eight years and has racked up an impressive list of accomplishments including three junior division national championships and the Next Generation Championship. McKinney garnered national acclaim by becoming the first-ever angler to win both the B.A.S.S. and FLW Junior Championships in the same year. While the popularity of competitive high-school fishing has exploded in recent years, the talented McKinney has never had access to a high-school team, so his primary support has come from other sources. |
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Q – How have you been able to compete and win so often without the support of a high school team? A – It comes from my family and my faith. My mom, dad and other family members have always supported me and my fishing. We decided together that home schooling would be the best option for me to pursue my studies and my competitive angling, and that obviously took a big commitment on the part of my folks. Our family friend and my coach, Rick Cheatham, has also played a huge role in helping take my fishing to the next level. My family and Rick have always been there for me. They’ve given and taught me so much. That said, I know I’m where I’m at because I put my faith in God above everything else. Q – You’ll be a senior this year, right? What does high school look like for you? A – Yes, I’m finishing up my last year. Well, it’s like anything else. You have to put in the time to earn the results you want. It’s a great fit for my fishing because being home schooled provides some flexibility that other high-school anglers don’t have. I have ten books in each subject that I need to complete before the end of the school year. It’s something I’ve learned to manage pretty easily. I study and cross things off the list whenever I’m not fishing. Q – Do you have a favorite subject? A – I’d say science, in general. As an angler and bass fisherman, I’m often trying to unlock answers to questions that are real-life examples of biology, geography, geology, and chemistry. It works in my mind pretty well and all of it interests me. Q – So far this season you’ve won back-to-back Phoenix Bass Fishing League Illini division events, right? Where are you at in that series and what are your goals moving forward? A - There have been three events in that series so far, two at Lake Shelbyville and one at Rend Lake. I got sixth at the first event at Shelbyville and then won the last two. There are two more… one more regular qualifier on the Ohio River, then the two-day super tournament at Rend Lake, which earns double points. I won the Ilini super tournament on Shelbyville last year but didn’t make the cut at last year’s Phoenix BFL championship, so one of my primary short-term goals is to fish to my potential and hopefully win the Phoenix BFL Regional Championship on the Mississippi River, October 13-15 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, this season. Q - What else have you been fishing this season? A – I put my foot in the door with the Toyota Series. I had boat trouble at Guntersville and ended up finishing 35th there but made the cut at Dale Hollow and finished 18th. It was awesome making it to the last day with all those other great anglers. Q – What are your plans for this coming season? A – This year will be super exciting. I’m going to try and fish either all nine MLF Toyota Series events or all the Bassmaster Opens. I haven’t decided yet. Q - What are your plans beyond that? I’m sure a lot of collegiate programs would love to know if college in your future. A – Ultimately, I want to earn a spot in the Bassmaster Elite Series, so it’s really hard for me to think past the Opens right now. There’s so many guys who can catch them on the Opens Series. You need help to do well and I’d be fishing a lot of lakes I’ve never been to. Versatility will be key. I really want to test myself in this arena now – during my last year of high school – to see where I stand. The Lord will decide. If I don’t meet my goal this year I may fish in college. In addition to the education, it’s a great way to get to compete with your travel and expenses covered. It’s a good opportunity for a lot of people… maybe for me… we’ll see. College is still on the table. Q – What do you think you might study in college? A – Likely marketing or business. Either degree would help me as a professional angler Q – Give me three fishing rods you couldn’t live without. A – Okay, the fun part of the interview. Dock talk is everywhere, but anglers really need to pick their own tools to catch their own fish on their own confidence baits. For me, there’s actually four rods I seem to be using all the time. For sensing/bottom contact presentations it’d be the St. Croix Legend Xtreme 7’4” heavy fast (XFC74HF) for heavier applications like Carolina and Texas rigging, jigs, etc. and the Legend X 7’ medium power, fast-action spinning rod (XLS70MF) for finesse tactics like shakey heads, dropshots and wacky rigs. For moving baits, I’m usually fishing either the BassX 7’2” medium-heavy power, moderate action (BAC72MHM) rod for most cranking and topwater baits, or the Mojo Bass Glass 7’2” heavy moderate (LGC74HM) for chatterbaits, bigger crankbaits or lipless cranks. |
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Q – What advice do you have for young anglers who want to fish competitively? A - Everyone is different, so that’s a tough one. But I’d first point out that fishing is a mental sport. It requires setting high goals and then executing on those goals to succeed. Execute to your potential and you still may not win or reach your goal. That’s why it’s mental. Never stop and don’t let your losses or falling short bother you. You put in the time and maybe you were one fish short? Who cares. You take whatever you can from every experience and move forward. The Lord will always give you more options if you stay positive and keep working. Keep your head high and don’t let something or somebody bring you down. Critics come with success and you will always have them. Keep your own path straight and nothing else matters. JAXTON ORR Like McKinney, 19-year-old Jaxton Orr from Fort Wayne, Indiana didn’t have access to a high school fishing team. Now staring down the start of his sophomore year at Carson-Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee, Orr earned his right to fish on one of the most dominant and talent-stacked collegiate fishing teams in the nation by virtue of his remarkable kayak-fishing tournament resume, which includes over 20 first-place finishes and dozens of top-tens in both national and local tournaments. And all of this in just a few short years of competitive fishing. Specifically, Orr won the 2017 Hobie Bass Open (youth division) on Kentucky Lake at 14 years of age and placed second in the prestigious 2020 Kayak Bass Fishing (KBF) National Championship at Lake Guntersville, which included a field of many of the best kayak-bass anglers in the world. Despite his age, like McKinney, Orr is known as a feared competitor and a true hammer throughout the world of bass fishing. |
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Q – How did you get into fishing, Jaxton? A – Fishing has always been in my family. My grandpa had the bug and gave it to my dad. From the time I was three or four, we’d go to ponds in the neighborhood and catch whatever we could. For as long as I can remember, it’s been my dream to pursue fishing as a career. I always wanted a bass boat, but my dad found a Hobie kayak for sale on Facebook and bought it for me. The guy we bought it from was on the Hobie fishing team and he told my dad and me about a local Indiana kayak tournament trail. We started fishing them together and everything just kind of took off from there. Once I got into the kayak-fishing community, which is so extremely supportive, I knew this is what I wanted to do. Q - You’ve talked publicly in online forums about a recent health challenge. How are you feeling these days? A - I truly believe there is a reason for everything and that I am always right where I am supposed to be. It's taken me a couple of weeks to wrap my mind around this, but I am having some medical issues that are preventing me from travel, long car rides and just sitting for long periods of time in general. We’re getting it figured out though and I continue to have faith. I’ve been advised not to travel or sit down for more than four or five hours, but I’m told I’ll be back in the saddle within the next month or so. I believe God has seen me undergo much struggle this year – both mentally and physically – and is using this time for me to focus on my health, to take inventory of my many blessings, to get closer to Him.. and also to work and to fish out of a boat – not the kayak I’m most comfortable in – several times a week to get better and hone my skills in those areas that I am weakest in. Q - You’re going to be a sophomore at Carson-Newman University, right? How’s that going? A - Coming out of Indiana, high school fishing wasn’t as accessible as it is in some other states. I’m really enjoying being a part of this talented team. It’s nice to share the same passion with my teammates and learn from them. They’ve helped make me better mentally and physically. Coach Hunter Sales is super organized and our kayak coach Jacob Frazier is great, too. It’s nice to be able to just focus on fishing while they figure out all the monetary stuff. I’ve never had that opportunity before. Q - How are you balancing school and fishing? A – Pretty good. Besides the caliber of my teammates and coaches, I chose Carson-Newman University because of its location and facilities. We’ve got these boat barns right on campus, so it’s easy to grab the boat and head to the lake and go fishing even when you don’t have much time. Cherokee is only five minutes away and Douglas is only about 20. So overall, the environment makes it pretty easy to balance fishing with the academic side. I’m a business marketing major and have enjoyed most of my classes. My favorite last year was history. In addition to being able to fish competitively and gain all that great angling experience, the whole idea behind me going to college was to gain knowledge and an education that will help support me in the fishing industry moving forward. Q - You’ve proven you can catch bass consistently. What do you believe your strengths are as an angler? A - Probably finding fish… and having that mindset that you fish hard until the very end. Competitive angling quickly teaches… over and over again… that no matter how far ahead or behind you are it’s never over until it’s over. Your last 30 minutes on the water can deliver a win as long as you believe you can win and keep your mind in the game. Preparation and finding fish always helps, and that’s something I feel like I’m pretty good at. I enjoy the process of researching fisheries on Google Earth; it's like solving a puzzle, or at least preparing to solve a puzzle where the pieces are weather, water temperature, structure, cover, forage and various other forms of biology and geography. I also enjoy using today’s modern fishing electronics. As far as my actual fishing goes, my confidence lures tend to be stickbaits and anything Texas rigged. |
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Q – St. Croix Rod is one of your sponsors. Tell me what’s so special about that company and give me a couple of their rods that you always have with you. A – St. Croix was one of the first major companies that noticed me. From the start, they treated me like family, which is something you hear a lot about with respect to the St. Croix brand and people, but it’s true. Beyond that, I love that it’s an American company and their rods are amazing fishing tools. I still fish a lot of their Mojo Bass rods, but I’d say my favorite two St. Croix rods are the Victory 7’1” medium-heavy power, fast action casting rod and the Legend X 6’10” medium-light power, extra-fast action spinning rod. St. Croix calls that Victory model “The Grunt” because there’s almost nothing that rod won’t do. And that Legend X medium light… for me it’s just the ultimate dropshot and finesse rod… incredibly light and sensitive with awesome backbone when you need it. Q - What are your short and long-term fishing goals? A – Besides contributing to my team’s success and continued work on my charity fishing tournaments, I’d say mainly kayak fishing on the Hobie BOS. That series is very well run and consistently attracts the best kayak anglers in the world, so I’d like to fish as many of their events next season as I can. Q – Did I hear correctly that you bought a bass boat? A – I did. I’ve been working on it this summer and am trying to get it ready to fish some BFLs next year… maybe a Bass Open, too. Q – You are such a busy young man, yet you still make a deliberate choice to help others. Tell me about your annual charity tournament. A – It’s called KATCH, which stands for Kayak Anglers Together Can Help. It’s an annual catch, photo and release tournament I started in 2018 with my dad’s help. We had 47 anglers that first year and raised almost $1000 for charity. We got a bunch more sponsors in 2019 and had 137 anglers and raised $3000 for charity and it has continued to grow in the two years since. My name is on the tournament, but this is something the entire kayak-angling community has come together to support and make possible. I’m working on some of the details of this year’s tournament, which will be sometime in September or October. Q – Anything else you’d like the fishing industry or other anglers to know about Jaxton Orr? A – Just that I couldn’t feel more blessed or proud to be a part of the kayak-fishing community. I consider all of you a part of my family. I am also so incredibly thankful for all of my amazing sponsors, including St. Croix Rod, for all that they have done to help support me and to get me to where I am. I wouldn’t be here today without the support of all of them. As a 19 year old, I really couldn’t be more blessed. You may not see may name on the leaderboards right now, but I promise I’m getting this health issue figured out and I'll be back very soon and stronger than ever. If you are an aspiring high school or collegiate angler and want to learn more about the St. Croix Rod Scholastic Program, please send an email to [email protected] with the subject line “Scholastic”. |
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Kyle Hall Wins Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Covercraft Stop 6 on Lake Champlain
Granbury Pro Weighs in 21-6 on Final Day to Earn First Major Career Win and Top Prize of $135,000
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (Aug. 1, 2022) – The anticipation was palpable at the weigh-in on Championship Monday, with anglers, their families and fishing fans on the edge of their seats after the final day of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Covercraft Stop 6 at Lake Champlain Presented by Wiley X in Plattsburgh, New York. When the MLF NOW! livestream concluded, the unofficial results showed three pros tied at the top of the leaderboard with 21 pounds even – Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, Jon Canada of Helena, Alabama and Kyle Hall of Granbury, Texas – all in the race and in solid contention for the top payout of up to $135,000.
In typical fashion, Chris Jones – the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit emcee – called for the pros’ bass one at a time, among murmurs and exclamation from the crowd in attendance, as brown, foot-ball sized Champlain smallmouths were placed on the scales. As the scales settled, a multitude of expressions crossed the anglers’ faces, but it was Hall who came out on top, narrowly edging out Canada by 1-ounce to take home his first MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit win and earn the top payout of $135,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus.
“Out on the water, my scales said I had a pound less than I actually had, so I didn’t think I had enough to beat those guys,” said Hall. “I had seen some of their fish and knew Jon had a 5-pounder. Dakota said he had 21 pounds, so I figured I was out of it for sure.”
Hall and Ebare began traveling to tournaments together in 2016 and said they have become more like brothers over the years. Hall said the two friends spent 59 days together on northern fisheries, including Lake Champlain, in 2018, just to be on the water and learn to fish for smallmouths.
“Dakota and I spent every day on the water that we could during those two months, and it’s that time on the water that I credit to this win and the other successful tournaments I’ve had up here,” Hall said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to have a win on the Toyota Series before, and I know how close Dakota has come, so many times, so it was a little gut-wrenching to be in that tight of contention with him. I would have been just as happy for him to win one, but I was kicking myself in the weigh-in line for some of the decisions I’d made through the day.”
Hall said he spent the day haunting one of the same spots he’d been on all week, drop-shotting and throwing a Strike King 3X ElazTech Baby Z Too Soft Jerkbait, but said what varied in the Championship Round was his approach.
“I’d been hitting another area early and getting a quick limit, but I started today on a deep spot that has been playing well in the afternoons and caught a 4-pounder pretty quick. After that I drifted down the ledge a couple miles, but all I really did was waste time,” Hall laughed. “I fired up my engine about 12:30 and ran back to where I caught the 4-pounder and I was catching fish on every drop, as fast as I could. All I could think when I was sitting in that weigh-in line was how much time I wasted drifting away from the winning spot, and how that had cost me the win.”
But it didn’t cost Hall the win, or the coveted trophy, or the $135,000 paycheck and his hard work, positive mindset and perseverance paid off.
“I’ve been disappointed all year because I was having a terrible season, but I came here with the specific goal of winning this event and knowing I have what it takes to do well on this fishery, so to get it done feels great.”
The top 10 pros at the Covercraft Stop 6 on Lake Champlain finished:
2nd: Jon Canada of Helena, Ala., five bass, 21-5, $30,000
3rd: Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, five bass, 21-1, $25,000
4th: Matt Becker of Finleyville, Pa., five bass, 18-13, $20,000
5th: Andy Newcomb of Camdenton, Mo., five bass, 18-7, $19,000
6th: Joey Cifuentes of Clinton, Ark., five bass, 18-7, $18,000
7th: Kurt Mitchell of Milford, Del., five bass, 16-6, $17,000
8th: Kyle Cortiana of Broken Arrow, Okla., five bass, 12-0, $16,000
9th: Alex Davis of Albertville, Ala., five bass, 11-12, $15,000
10th: Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., zero bass, 0-0, $14,000
Overall, there were 45 bass weighing 159 pounds, 9 ounces caught by 9 pros Monday. The catch included nine five-bass limits.
Reese experienced mechanical issues on the way back to the weigh-in, resulting in a late check-in and the disqualification of his weight on Championship Monday. The General Tire pro finished the event in 10th place and earned a payout of $14,000.
The four-day Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me Covercraft Stop 6 at Lake Champlain Presented by Wiley X was hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau. The event will premiere September 3 on the CBS Sports Network.
In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of 154 anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Friday and Saturday. The top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advanced to Sunday, then only the top 10 pros, based on cumulative weight from the first three days, continued competition on Championship Monday, where weights were zeroed, and the winner was determined by the heaviest weight from the final day of competition.
The Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Covercraft Stop 6 on Lake Champlain Presented by Wiley X marked the sixth and final regular-season event of the year for the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me.
Pro Michael Neal of Dayton, Tennessee, clinched the 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Angler of the Year title Sunday, after finishing the event in 15th place. Neal will receive his entry fees paid for the entire 2023 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit season for his win.
Pro Nick Hatfield of Greeneville, Tennessee, clinched the Polaris 2022 Rookie of the Year (ROY) award on Saturday, which is awarded to the rookie pro angler who finishes the season with the highest point total. For his efforts, Hatfield won a Polaris Ranger 1000.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE Presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship, where they will compete for up to $235,000. The 2022 TITLE will be on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York on Aug. 16-21, and is hosted by the Town of Massena.
Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Fuel Me, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Minnesota’s Dover-Eyota High School Wins MLF High School Fishing Open on the Mississippi River
LA CROSSE, Wis. (Aug. 1, 2022) – The Dover-Eyota High School team of Brady Grupa of La Crescent, Minnesota, and Treyton Thesing of Eyota, Minnesota, brought five bass to the scale Saturday weighing 14 pounds, 5 ounces, to win the MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open at the Mississippi River.
A field of 44 teams competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which launched from Stoddard Park in Stoddard, Wisconsin. In MLF and The Bass Federation (TBF) High School Fishing competition, the top 10% of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.
The top four teams that advanced to the 2022 High School Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Dover-Eyota High School, Eyota, Minn. – Brady Grupa, La Crescent, Minn., and Treyton Thesing, Eyota, Minn., five bass, 14-5
2nd: Kaneland High School, Maple Park, Ill. – J.D. McBroom, Saint Charles, Ill., and Carter Pjesky, Sugar Grove, Ill., five bass, 12-3
3rd: Northeast Wisconsin Bass Club – Charlie Klug, Stevens Point, Wis., and John Kriz, Neenah, Wis., five bass, 11-9
4th: Oregon High School, Oregon, Wis. – Cameron Gates and Nick Schaefer, both of Oregon, Wis., five bass, 11-0
Rounding out the top 10 teams are:
5th: Century High School, Bismarck, N.D. – Ryan Bullinger and Logan Bullinger, both of Bismarck, N.D., four bass, 10-13
6th: Anacoco High School, Anacoco, La. – Caleb Taylor and Chase Taylor, both of Anacoco, La., five bass, 9-12
7th: McCracken County High School, Paducah, Ky. – Camden Baker and Harley Valerius, both of Paducah, Ky., four bass, 9-9
8th: Caledonia High School, Caledonia, Minn. – Kody Schroeder and Eric Welscher, both of Caledonia, Minn., five bass, 9-2
9th: Bangor High School, Bangor, Wis. – Mason Buehler, Bangor, Wis,. and Bradyn Glasspoole, Rockland, Wis., four bass, 7-12
10th: Broken Bow High School, Broken Bow, Okla. – Jace Anderson, Broken Bow, Okla., and Ty Downs, Newkirk, Okla., four bass, 7-3
Complete results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open at the Mississippi River was hosted by the La Crosse County Convention & Visitors Bureau. The next event for High School Fishing anglers will be the MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open on Lake Erie, Sept. 10 in Sandusky, Ohio.
MLF High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing tournaments are free, two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and are open to any MLF and TBF Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school club. The top 10% of teams at each Open event, along with the TBF High School Fishing state championships, will advance to the 2023 High School Fishing National Championship. The 2023 MLF High School Fishing National Championship will be held in La Crosse on the Mississippi River, June 20-24, 2023, and is also hosted by the La Crosse County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular High School Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
University of Nebraska Wins MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament on the Mississippi River
LA CROSSE, Wis. (Aug. 1, 2022) – The University of Nebraska-Lincoln duo of Logan Russell of Clarks, Nebraska, and Trevor Schleich of Lincoln, Nebraska, won the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on the Mississippi River Friday with a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 9 ounces. The victory earned the Cornhuskers’ bass club $2,000 and a slot in the 2023 MLF College Fishing National Championship.
“We hit our first hole and didn’t have any bites, so we moved to an area that was in some backwater that had current,” Schleich said. “We caught two pretty good ones there and left that spot to go to another backwater area, and fished some hydrilla that had some current as well. And that turned out to be the pattern we found – we needed to be in current, or at least have it nearby.”
Schleich said the team caught 10 fish during the course of the day, six of which were keepers. He said the pair used a variety of baits, but the largest bass came on flipping jigs and football-head jigs fished in seven to eight feet of water. The pair threw what Schleich described as “Junk Fishing 101” - a mixture of square-bill crankbaits, frogs, Fluke-style baits, Texas-rigs and drop-shot rigs to fill their limit.
“Later in the day, we had our limit and only had about an hour and a half left, so we went back to the main river and our first spot, and we caught our last fish – a 5-pounder,” Schleich said. “That culled our smallest fish and punched our ticket to finish as strong as we did.
“We just went out and had a good time, and really, this win feels pretty dang good,” Schleich added.
The top 10 teams that advanced to the 2023 College Fishing National Championship are:
1st: University of Nebraska-Lincoln – Logan Russell, Clarks, Neb., and Trevor Schleich, Lincoln, Neb., five bass, 16-9, $2,000
2nd: Adrian College – Griffin Fernandes, McCordsville, Ind., and Hayden Scott, Ann Arbor, Mich., five bass, 16-0, $1,000
3rd: Northeastern State University-Tahlequah – Levi Juby and Cooper Park both of Sperry, Okla., five bass, 15-9, $500
4th: University of Montevallo – Logan Plueger, Augusta, Ga., and Charlie Wright, Becker, Minn., five bass, 15-7, $500
5th: University of Missouri – Brett Hurst, Helena, Mont., and Hayden Moore, Sapulpa, Okla., five bass, 14-4, $500
6th: University of Iowa – Gannon Courtright, Fairfield, Iowa, and Pierce Knarr, Markesan, Wis., five bass, 13-15
7th: University of Iowa – Eli Johnson, McGregor, Iowa, and Ryan Lowe, Grinnell, Iowa, five bass, 13-14
8th: Illinois Central College – Brady Barth, Bartonville, Ill., and Nicholas Howell, Peoria, Ill., five bass, 13-14
9th: Emmanuel College – Easton Lindus, Woodville, Wis., and Matthew Zdrazil, Crawfordville, Fla., five bass, 13-12
10th: University of Wisconsin-Stout – Bryce Dallas, Fall Creek, Wis., and Camden Trautlein, Eau Claire, Wis., five bass, 13-5
MLF also advances one additional team to the National Championship for every 10 teams over 100 that compete. A total of 124 teams participated in this event, so also advancing to the 2023 College Fishing National Championship are:
11th: University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point – Nate Boenning, Waukesha, Wis., and Nathan Krause, Phelps, Wis., five bass, 13-5
12th: McKendree University – Kyle Hopping, Lake St. Louis, Mo., and Evan Sutton, Highland, Ill., five bass, 13-3
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on the Mississippi River was hosted by the La Crosse County Convention & Visitors Bureau. It was the second of three regular-season tournaments for Central Conference anglers. The next event for College Fishing anglers will be the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Lake Erie, Sept. 9 in Sandusky, Ohio.
MLF College Fishing teams compete in three regular-season tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top 10 teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual Abu Garcia College Fishing Open will advance to the following season’s National Championship.
Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular College Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Shimano Ingenuity Captures Two Honors at ICAST 2022
Stella FK and Spheros SW Combo Enhance Angling Excellence Across Wide-Ranging Global Fisheries
Shimano is no stranger to the winner’s circle. In the New Product Showcase at ICAST 2022, Stella FK and Spheros SW Combo rose to the top of the Freshwater Reel and Rod & Reel Combo categories, capturing coveted hardware and industry accolades.
ICAST Best of Category: Freshwater Reel
Whenever Shimano introduces a new Stella, the industry takes notice. Outshining a field of baitcasting and spinning reels from top manufacturers in the most revered New Product Showcase category, the Stella FK spinning reel leverages premium technologies to enhance power and durability, drag performance and line management.
Shimano’s legacy of high-precision gear development continues to evolve within the all-new InfinityXross system. Distributing contact points over a larger surface area, InfinityXross delivers unrivaled gear durability to enhance reel performance and longevity. Passed down from Stella’s larger saltwater models, Infinity Drive features a unique low-friction bushing that decreases frictional resistance, delivering smoother and more powerful winding.
The Stella FK features a litany of advanced technologies and refined aesthetics, highlighted by Shimano’s new InfinityLoop line management system. Extending spool oscillation during the retrieve, InfinityLoop ensures the line lays as evenly as possible on the spool. InfinityLoop benefits anglers on every cast, as smooth and even line lay results in reduced friction as line leaves the spool, yielding dramatically enhanced casting distance.
A foundation of premium technologies supports all the best-in-class innovations that permeate the Stella FK family. A lightweight and robust magnesium HAGANE Body and a cold-forged HAGANE Gear fortify Stella FK for enhanced durability. No other spinning reel can claim a stronger legacy or a brighter future than the award-winning Stella FK.
Stella FK Features:
· InfinityXross
· InfinityLoop
· Infinity Drive
· Anti-Twist Fin
· DuraCross Drag
· MicroModule Gear II
· HAGANE Gear
· HAGANE Body
· Long Stroke Spool
· CI4+
· X-Protect
· X-Ship
· Titanium One-Piece Bail
Best of Category: Rod & Reel Combo
Further demonstrating Shimano’s enduring passion and legacy of design and engineering excellence, the all-new Spheros SW Combo sets the new standard for best-in-class rod and reel combos with four models delivering a remarkable balance of performance and durability to a broad range of anglers and fishing styles.
High-quality graphite rods with tapered EVA handles and comfortable reel seats feature Fuji Aluminum Oxide guides allowing anglers to spool with monofilament or PowerPro braided line. Every Spheros SW Combo features a Spheros SW A reel, fortified with Shimano’s exclusive cold-forged HAGANE Gear for the smoothness and durability that saltwater anglers demand.
Drawing many of its design attributes from the flagship spinning reels, Spheros SW A integrates HAGANE Body technology to enhance rigidity and eliminate flexing, transforming angler inputs into more direct and effortless cranking power. Further improving winding torque under load, Infinity Drive and X-Ship technologies optimize the overall drive gear design for exceptionally smooth handle rotation and efficient power transmission.
Immune to harsh saltwater environments, Spheros SW A spinning reels feature X-Protect and X-Shield technologies to keep water and fine contaminants from disrupting the internal components of the reel. Shimano also incorporates sealed S A-RB bearings to eliminate the possibility of salt or sand inhibiting the bearing’s rotation. The Spheros SW Combo offers an amazing collection of benefits that are key for so many saltwater anglers, offering unparalleled versatility and a virtually endless range of applications.
Spheros SW Combo Features:
· HAGANE Gear
· HAGANE Body
· X-Ship
· Infinity Drive
· CoreProtect
· S A-RB Bearings
· Cross Carbon Drag
· X-Protect
· X-Shield
Synonymous with excellence, Shimano’s legacy of design and manufacturing supremacy continues with the ICAST New Product Showcase award-winning Stella FK and Spheros SW Combo.
Registration For 2022 Bassmaster High School Fishing Combine Ends Friday
The 2022 Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine presented by Skeeter will be held in Decatur, Ala., Sept. 16-18, giving high school anglers an opportunity to showcase their skills to college fishing coaches.
Photo by Kyle Jessie/B.A.S.S.
August 1, 2022
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — High school students interested in pursuing fishing at the college level have until Friday, August 5 to register for the 2022 Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine presented by Skeeter.
The Combine returns to Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Ala., Sept. 16-18 for a weekend combining skills challenges and recruiting visits in hopes of reeling in college fishing scholarship money. The first Combine generated more than $2.6 million in scholarship offers.
“These high school anglers represent some of the finest athletes in the country, and it took the same drive and commitment to get here as it does to excel in any sport,” said Abu Garcia Vice President of Marketing Communications Marc Kemper. “They truly represent the ethos of Abu Garcia — Fish to Win.”
Only schools offering bass fishing scholarships were invited to the inaugural High School Combine, and coaches from 19 colleges attended. The experience offered young anglers and college coaches a chance to leverage rare face time to find the best fit for students ready to further both their education and their fishing at the next level.
“The Combine has given me the opportunity to meet and recruit anglers that I would've never been able to evaluate otherwise,” said Campbellsville University coach Tony Miracle. “It also gives kids the opportunity to meet and talk to universities and coaches that they never would've had the chance to meet. It's an unbelievable opportunity for both sides.
“I signed two anglers from last year’s Bassmaster High School Combine and am excited to get them on campus and start their journey. I'm also recruiting several high school juniors for next year. I absolutely will be back this year. I wouldn't miss it!”
The Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine presented by Skeeter will be a three-day event where anglers will perform multiple tasks to showcase their skills not only on the water but also display their knowledge of the sport as a whole. Each of the disciplines will operate on a point system and will be timed by an official judge. Each angler will accumulate points to determine an overall winner.
After the first day, colleges will have the opportunity to select anglers for a “second look” where they can further explore everything that angler has to offer and see if they would be the perfect fit for their fishing program.
Fifty-seven scholarship offers came out of the first-ever High School Combine, with many students signing with a university on-site. Overall winner Levi Thibodaux of Thibodaux, La., inked an offer to fish for the Louisiana State University-Shreveport Pilots and Coach Charles Thompson, while Justin Frey of Landisburg, Pa., took home the victory in Casting Accuracy as well as an offer to fish for Bethel University.
“I connected with two universities during the combine that both have fantastic programs at an elite level,” said Frey. “What separated them the most in my mind was that both coaches were awesome, caring individuals. I was ecstatic and very blessed to sign with an athletic scholarship from Bethel University thanks to Coach Garry Mason ... it’s been a dream come true.”
Prior to the combine, Frey was not being recruited by Bethel University, which was the first college in America to offer bass fishing scholarships and has claimed 11 national titles.
“B.A.S.S. is constantly looking for ways to grow the High School and College platforms and give young anglers opportunities to excel not only in the sport, but also in the industry,” said Glenn Cale, B.A.S.S. Nation tournament manager — College, High School and Junior. “The inaugural Bassmaster High School Combine was a great success, and we’re looking forward to growing this experience for both these high school anglers and the coaches who attend.”
Registration for the Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine presented by Skeeter closes Friday, August 5. The $500 registration fee includes accommodations for two nights and all meals for the weekend.
Scent and Smallmouth – Must have scent to get more bites
OCEAN SPRINGS, MS – July 27, 2022. Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit angler Scott Dobson is a smallmouth catching machine. As a Michigan resident, Dobson has spent a great deal of time on big water lakes chasing smallmouth while he’s not on tour.
Dobson started fishing at the early age of five in a big sandpit pond at his aunt and uncle’s house. At the time he didn’t even know how to cast. Dobson recalls the event like it was yesterday… “My brother cast out a KNE Bass Stopper, a pre-rigged plastic worm, and that thing was so kinky I just kind of watched it floating there in the water. Out of nowhere, a largemouth came up, bit it, and I hooked it. I was so excited I ran back to the house with the fish still on the line.”
From that moment, Dobson was hooked on bass fishing. As a kid growing up in Trenton, Michigan his parents had a boat that they docked at the mouth of the Detroit River so he and his brother were able to fish off the pier and catch whatever would bite their line. In fact, that was the first time he caught smallmouth bass, and the fight is what kept him coming back.
In college at Michigan State University, Dobson and his best friend had a little aluminum boat they fished small local tournaments in and learned key smallmouth habits and patterns and also learned to sight fish and target shallow smallies. Since smallmouths are site feeders, Dobson shares that most anglers utilize soft plastics to catch them. Late winter and early spring are when you can catch the true trophy smallmouth.
BaitFuel Fish Attractant is the next generation of scent with the science to back it up. BaitFuel Fish Attractant gives other scents a run for their money, especially on the smallmouth scene. There is no better proving ground than in and around the Great Lakes.
“Adding BaitFuel to your smallmouth lineup is a no-brainer! Scent to smallmouth is like green pumpkin to a tube.”
Anglers have been using scent for years to lure in more bites from coffee to garlic and everything in between. However, BaitFuel Fish Attractant is the real deal. It is water activated, so to humans, there is no color or no smell, but to fish, it’s their flavor. If you want to watch your bites take off add a dab of BaitFuel Fish Attractant.
Dobson adds that as an angler he understands wanting to add one more element of appeal when fishing for smallmouth. He believes that element is scent. Give yourself that extra edge by adding BaitFuel Fish Attractant to your smallmouth arsenal.
“Use it as much as you can and don’t ever doubt yourself if it works or not. Be a user and love it”, Dobson proclaims.
BaitFuel Fish Attractant will also be infused into NetBait and Set the Hook plastics like the Drifter and the Tube. Dobson is especially excited to use them and highlights the LON Goby shade as it is a natural color that will appeal to the fish.
ABOUT BAITFUEL FISH ATTRACTANT
BaitFuel is a part of American Baitworks Co. and is propelling our sport forward with an increasing trajectory of growth.
American Baitworks Co. is an innovative American-based fishing tackle company that provides custom manufacturing of fishing lures and products for our customer’s specifications. Our family of brands includes BaitFuel, NetBait, Halo Fishing, Snag Proof, Scum Frog, Freedom Tackle, and STH Bait Co.
Our passion for fishing runs deep at American Baitworks Co. where our focus on innovation and advancing the sport of fishing never ends.
From our manufacturing and distribution center on the coast of Mississippi, USA, we want anglers of every level to have the best experience every time they’re on the water.
See the future of fishing scent technology of BaitFuel Fish Attractant updates at baitfuel.com
Zenon Low-Profile Baitcast Reels – Abu Garcia’s Newest Casting Reels
New level premium low-profile reels created with avid anglers in mind
COLUMBIA, S.C. (August 1, 2022) – Designed for anglers who appreciate compact and lightweight reel design, the Zenon Low-Profile Casting Reels meet the mark in both responsiveness and decreased weight with the three models weighing in at a featherlight weight between 4.6-5.5oz. This family of reels continues to build on the quality of the Zenon Spinning reels and have been optimized for top-tournament winning performance right out of the box.
The Zenon lineup offers three different models: Zenon MG-LTX, which is the most finesse-focused, the Zenon MG-X, which is the ultimate lightweight performance reel, and the Zenon X, which delivers power in a light, aluminum design.
Zenon MG-LTX
The Zenon MG-LTX is the most finesse focused of the Zenon casting family featuring a spool that is 10% lighter and a smaller diameter than MG-X and X models. The Ceramalite spool bearings facilitate a more free and lower start up inertia making it the ideal choice for accurately casting lighter baits.
Key Features
• New A-SYM body design
• EXD concept design to maximize casting performance
• Finesse-focused Model
• 30mm spool
• Spool 10% lighter than other Zenon models
• Ceramalite bearings
• Weight: 4.6 oz
• Unique One Piece Aluminum Cross Brace
• 8 SS HPCR Bearings + 1 Roller Bearing
• Chip resistant paint finish
• Gear ratio available: 8.3:1 - 31IPT
• Max Drag: 12lbs
MSRP: $549.95
Available: July 2022
Zenon MG-X
The mid-tier reel in the Zenon lineup, the MG-X offers anglers an ultimate lightweight performance reel in a compact package. Weighing in at 5.1 ounces, the reel combines the EXD body design for improved castability and the new A-SYM body design with a smaller palm side plate for a more comfortable feel while fishing.
Key Features
• New A-SYM body design
• EXD concept to maximize casting performance
• One piece X-Mag Alloy frame
• 9 SS HPCR Bearings + 1 Roller Bearing
• Compact bent carbon handle
• 90 mm Carbon handle with oversized handle knobs
• Weight 5.1 oz
• SHS-Gear Ratio 8.3:1 - 32IPT
• Regular - Gear Ratio 6.8:1 - 27IPT
• Max Drag 15lbs
MSRP: $449.95
Available: July 2022
Zenon X
The Zenon X delivers power in a small, lightweight aluminum frame featuring the same A-SYM body design and EXD concept for unmatched castability. This workhorse model provides the ability to throw anything from finesse baits to small jigs and is equipped with 90mm aluminum handles and oversized knobs to provide comfort in a compact reel.
Key Features
• New A-SYM body design
• EXD concept to maximize casting performance
• X2 Craftic Alloy frame
• 8 SS HPCR Bearings + 1 Roller Bearing
• Carbon Matrix drag system
• 90mm Aluminum handle with oversized knobs
• Gear Ratios: Zenon X – 6.8:1 (27” per turn) • Zenon X-SHS – 8.3:1 (32” per turn)
• Max Drag: 15lbs
• Weight: 5.5 oz
MSRP: $349.95
Available: July 2022
AnglersChannel.com Announces the August Awesomeness New Product Awards! - FINAL DAY TO VOTE ON ROUND 1
Now is the time for YOU to vote on what you think should be the hottest new product of the year!
Each year at the ICAST Fishing Trade Show, New Products are showcased for Media Members to vote on and decide what they think is the hottest New Product of the show.
We have turned the tables and now its YOUR turn to VOTE on what you think should be the New Product Showcase Winner!
Rules are simple. This is a bracket style voting format, divided into categories similar to what is used each year at ICAST.
We have narrowed this down to better fit our demographic, mainly freshwater.
For Round 1, simply vote for the product you like or are excited about in EACH bracket. THERE ARE MULTIPLE BRACKETS PER SECTION.
Voting will end Monday night August 1st for round 1, Winners will move on, the losers will go home.
Tuesday August 2nd, we will begin Round 2 and the voting will continue until we have a winner for each category.
Once we have come to a category winner then Overall Awesomeness Head to Head battle will begin until YOU, the fan, the viewer, the listener, the fisherman (or woman) decide who YOU Think is worthy enough to be named
THE ANGLERSCHANNEL AUGUST AWESOMENESS AWARD WINNER!
What’s in this for you, you ask? Each week and round we will randomly pick voters from each category for gift cards, swag, new products giveaways, etc… When the contest is over we will pile all the names into a Hat and the Big Bass Ninja himself will choose a Grandprize winner! (prize yet to be determined, but we can promise it will be AWESOME!
Kyle Hall Paces Final 10, Neal Clinches Second Consecutive AOY Title at MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Covercraft Stop 6 on Lake Champlain
Lake Champlain continues to show out for anglers across the board, including pro Andy Newcomb of Camdenton, Missouri, who maintained his third-place position with a limit weighing 19-4, good for a three-day total of 60-15. Favorite Fishing pro Matt Becker of Finleyville, Pennsylvania,finished the day in fourth place with a limit weighing 20-3 to bring his three-day total to 60-13, while pro Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, brought a limit to the stage weighing 20-4 for a three-day total of 60-4 to round out the top five.
The top prize of up to $135,000 is ripe for the picking as the final 10 anglers resume competition tomorrow on Championship Monday, where weights are zeroed and the angler that catches the heaviest five-fish weight will be crowned the champion of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Covercraft Stop 6 at Lake Champlain Presented by Wiley X.
Hall, who was the 2020 Pro Circuit Polaris Rookie of the Year, said he knew from the moment he saw the 2022 schedule that he would be hunting smallmouths on Lake Champlain, but the Texan never expected he would be leading the Top 10 into the Championship Round.
“I’ve had a terrible year, so it feels great to be sitting in first place going into the final day,” said Hall, who is going into his first Championship Round this season on the Pro Circuit. “If you had told me I’d be in first place after the third day of competition, I wouldn’t have believed you. I knew I had what it took, and I knew what to do and where to do it, but sometimes I’m a little stubborn.”
Hall said the difference this event is that he is forcing himself to sit and cover a lot of water on the trolling motor, instead of firing up his outboard and running to various areas across the lake.
“I’ve really only hit two spots this entire tournament, which is unusual for me,” Hall said. “I’m normally running and gunning but knew I couldn’t do that successfully at this event.
“I was going for 20 pounds today and caught 18 pounds pretty quick this morning, But, by 9 a.m., I couldn’t get another bite. I stayed on that spot until 12:30 – over three hours without a single bite – before running to my other area where I had success the first day. I fished there for 15 minutes and caught a 4½-pounder and three more that didn’t help, but that kicker fish made all the difference.”
While Hall said he plans to start the final day in the same location, he has several other places to fall back on if his primary spot dries up.
“My game plan tomorrow is to go stick it out on that spot because there are obviously big fish there and with the number of fish I saw today, compared to how many were there Friday, they are definitely loading up. I’ve just got to hunker down and sit on it like I’ve done on the other spot the last three days.”
The top 10 pros advancing to the final day of competition Monday on Lake Champlain are:
2nd: Kyle Cortiana of Broken Arrow, Okla., 15 bass, 60-15
3rd: Andy Newcomb of Camdenton, Mo., 15 bass, 60-15
4th: Matt Becker of Finleyville, Pa., 15 bass, 60-13
5th: Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, 15 bass, 60-4
6th: Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., 15 bass, 59-13
7th: Kurt Mitchell of Milford, Del., 15 bass, 58-9
8th: Alex Davis of Albertville, Ala., 15 bass, 57-12
9th: Jon Canada of Helena, Ala., 15 bass, 57-9
10th: Joey Cifuentes of Clinton, Ark., 15 bass, 57-8
12th: Martin Villa of Charlottesville, Va., 15 bass, 56-7, $11,000
13th: Cole Floyd of Leesburg, Ohio, 15 bass, 56-4, $11,000
14th: Justin Lucas of Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 55-13, $11,000
15th: Michael Neal of Dayton, Tenn., 15 bass, 55-6, $11,000
16th: Evan Barnes of Dardanelle, Ark., 15 bass, 55-2, $11,000
17th: Nick Hatfield of Greeneville, Tenn., 15 bass, 54-14, $11,000
18th: Scott Dobson of Clarkston, Mich., 15 bass, 54-10, $11,000
19th: Casey Scanlon of Eldon, Mo., 15 bass, 54-9, $11,000
20th: Nick Lebrun of Bossier City, La., 15 bass, 54-5, $11,000
21st: Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Mich., 15 bass, 54-4, $10,500
22nd: Cody Pike of Powhatan, Va., 15 bass, 54-4, $10,500
23rd: Lane Olson of Forest Grove, Ore., 15 bass, 53-12, $10,500
24th: Troy Stokes of Trenton, Mich., 15 bass, 53-12, $10,500
25th: Jim Moynagh of Shakopee, Minn., 15 bass, 53-8, $10,500
26th: David Walker of Sevierville, Tenn., 15 bass, 53-7, $10,500
27th: Billy Hines of Vacaville, Calif., 15 bass, 53-1, $10,500
28th: Mark Rose of Wynne, Ark., 15 bass, 52-14, $10,500
29th: Jared McMillan of Clewiston, Fla., 15 bass, 52-13, $10,500
30th: Chris Lane of Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 52-9, $10,500
31st: Terry Bolton of Benton, Ky., 15 bass, 52-6, $10,000
32nd: Grae Buck of Green Lane, Pa., 15 bass, 52-6, $10,000
33rd: Larry Nixon of Quitman, Ark., 15 bass, 52-4, $10,000
34th: Steve Lopez of Oconomowoc, Wis., 15 bass, 52-3, $10,000
35th: Tyler Stewart of Dubach, La., 15 bass, 52-0, $10,000
36th: Randy Howell of Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 51-15, $10,000
37th: Justin Cooper of Zwolle, La., 15 bass, 51-8, $10,000
38th: John Hunter of Shelbyville, Ky., 15 bass, 51-8, $10,000
39th: Corey Neece of Bristol, Tenn., 15 bass, 51-6, $10,000
40th: Jacob Wall of New Hope, Ala., 15 bass, 51-6, $10,000
41st: Chase Serafin of White Lake, Mich., 15 bass, 51-0, $10,000
42nd: Keith Carson of DeBary, Fla., 15 bass, 50-15, $10,000
43rd: Kyle Gelles of Pingree, Idaho, 15 bass, 50-15, $10,000
44th: Matt Greenblatt of Port St. Lucie, Fla., 15 bass, 50-13, $10,000
45th: Miles Burghoff of Dayton, Tenn., 15 bass, 50-12, $10,000
46th: Jason Reyes of Huffman, Texas, 15 bass, 50-12, $10,000
47th: John Voyles of Petersburg, Ind., 15 bass, 50-10, $10,000
48th: Shonn Goodwin of Moore, Okla., 15 bass, 50-6, $10,000
49th: Braxton Setzer of Wetumpka, Ala., 15 bass, 47-5, $10,000
50th: Tim Frederick of Leesburg, Fla., 15 bass, 46-14, $10,000
Anglers were also vying for the prestigious 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Angler of the Year (AOY) title that is determined by the most points accumulated over the six Pro Circuit events in 2022.
Reigning AOY Michael Neal of Dayton, Tennessee, once again clinched the 2022 Pro Circuit AOY title Sunday, after ending the event in 15th place. Neal overtook Josh Butler of Hayden, Alabama, who had a 14-point lead coming into the event, and now becomes the third pro in Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit history to win the AOY in consecutive years, joining Andy Morgan of Dayton, Tennessee (2013, 2014) and David Dudley of Lynchburg, Virginia (2011, 2012). Neal will receive his entry fees paid for the entire 2023 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit season for his win.
“I came into the year with the goal of winning AOY again, and while the reality of that didn’t seem very possible, you’ve always got to have those types of goals in mind,” Neal said. “However, to actually win it and to be in the company of the other anglers that have achieved that goal – that’s pretty special.”
The Tennessee pro said he is ecstatic for the win but has no intention of letting up on the gas, and plans to finish out the season strong at the Pro Circuit TITLE on the St. Lawrence River next month in Massena, New York.
“A championship win is what my career is lacking at this point,” Neal continued. “I had a good finish on the St. Lawrence River at the TITLE last year and I’m starting to figure out smallmouth a little better, so I’m looking forward to that as well.”
Overall, there were 250 bass weighing 857 pounds, 1 ounce caught by 50 pros Saturday. All 50 competitors brought a five-bass limit to the scale.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me Covercraft Stop 6 at Lake Champlain Presented by Wiley X is hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau and features a total purse of more than $850,000.
In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of 154 anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Friday and Saturday. The top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advanced to Sunday. Now, only the top 10 pros, based on cumulative weight from the first three days, will continue competition on Championship Monday, where weights will be zeroed and anglers will compete in a one-day shootout for the grand prize of up to $135,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE Presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship, where they will compete for up to $235,000. The 2022 TITLE will be on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York on Aug. 16-21, and is hosted by the Town of Massena.
The final 10 anglers will launch at 6:30 a.m. ET Monday from the Plattsburgh Waterfront, located at 5 Dock Street in Plattsburgh. Monday’s Championship weigh-in will also be held at the waterfront at 2:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to attend the event or follow the live on-the-water action all four days of competition online on MLF NOW! beginning at 7 a.m. ET at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Covercraft Stop 6 at Lake Champlain Presented by Wiley X will feature live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere September 3 on the CBS Sports Network.
Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Fuel Me, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Cerja And Richardson Win Bassmaster Junior National Championship
Mark Cerja Jr. and Gus Richardson of the Lone Star Junior Bassmasters have won the 2022 Bassmaster Junior National Championship on Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake with a two-day total of 18 pounds, 5 ounces.
Photo by Laura Agee/B.A.S.S.
July 30, 2022
HUNTINGDON, Tenn. — Victories are not always dramatic and glamorous, but Mark Cerja Jr. and Gus Richardson of the Lone Star Junior Bassmasters were proud of their gritty, gutsy effort.
Grinding through a stingy final round, they tallied a two-day total of 18 pounds, 5 ounces and won the Bassmaster Junior National Championship at the Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake.
A Day 1 limit of 10-7 put Cerja and Richardson in second place. Catching another limit of 7-14 in the final round, they claimed the top award — a $2,000 scholarship they’ll split.
“I’ve been fishing since I was 2, and I was taught to fish hard and grind and never give up,” Cerja said. “Today was a tough, tough bite; we didn’t get our limit until about noon, whereas yesterday, we were culling at 10 a.m.
“It’s just an exciting feeling to go home national champions. I’ll sleep well tonight.”
After capitalizing on the barometric fluctuation of Friday’s passing storm system, which triggered aggressive feeding, Cerja and Richardson found the bass less active on the final day.
“I think it was pretty hard on the fish because they had just been fished,” Richardson said. “This is a pretty small lake and 65 teams were hitting the same spots (multiple times).”
As Cerja explained, their winning strategy was pure persistence, with a good dose of mobility.
“We started fishing War Eagle Creek but only had two in the box, so we went over to Jaguar Creek and caught one that was about 12 1/2 (inches),” Cerja said. “We said ‘We need a couple of big ones if we really want to win this.’
“So, we went to Rocket Creek — that’s where I caught a 4 and (Richardson) caught a 2 1/2.”
Cerja said he and his partner caught their fish in 8 to 10 feet of water. Docks with grass and brushpiles were best, but they also fished the backs of shallow creek channels.
On Day 1, Richardson caught a 4-7 on a white fluke. The winners caught their other fish on 4-inch plum finesse worms, 7-inch Berkley Power Worms in blue fleck and Zoom U-Tale Worms in tequila green flake. The latter produced their largest Day 2 catch — the 4-pounder.
“We thought it was better just twitching it pretty slowly and making sure we paid attention to the action — just making it look like something a bass would want to eat,” Richardson said.
Owen Ray and Camdyn Cranfill of the Rhea County Eagle Anglers finished second with 17-3. After placing third on Day 1 with a limit of 10-3, they added a three-fish bag of 7 pounds.
Repeating their Day 1 game plan, Ray and Cranfill again targeted deeper docks. Unfortunately, the bass were less cooperative the second time around.
“It was a lot slower bite today; our offshore stuff where we could get a limit (on Friday) did not work today,” Cranfill said. “We threw a glide bait around docks and ended up with two decent ones. We caught one small one on a drop shot.”
Ray said the day’s cloudy conditions limited their opportunities. As he explained, they needed more sunshine to position bass on the docks.
Ander Cowan and Alex Fitzpatrick of the PA Bassin Juniors finished third with 17-2. Day 1 saw them place seventh with four bass that weighed 7 pounds, but they gained four spots by adding 10-2 during the final round.
Cowan and Fitzpatrick also missed their final-round limit by one fish, but anchoring their bag with Cowan’s 7-1 made their day. The fish bit a 1/4-ounce shaky head with a trick worm in the bruised banana color.
The bite, Cowan said, was pretty subtle — he simply lifted his rod and felt pressure. The most memorable part of the story was the utter fiasco that occurred during the netting process.
“The net got tangled with one of our poles and we actually netted that fish with the pole still in the net,” Cowan said. “That was a very good comeback; I was definitely not expecting that.”
Fitzpatrick said the key to his team’s success was fishing deep.
“A lot of the lake’s docks had been overfished,” he said. “We were sitting in about 18 feet of water and fishing in 20.”
Landon Gabby and Carson Bruner of Marion, Ill., won the Big Bass award with their 8-3.
2022 Bassmaster Junior National Championship - Carroll County Lake 7/29-7/30
Carroll County One Thousand Acre Recreational Lake, Huntingdon TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Mark Cerja Jr - Gus Richardson Lone Star Jr Bassmasters TX 0
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 07-14 Total: 10 18-05
2. Owen Ray - Camdyn Cranfill Rhea County Eagle Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 3 07-00 Total: 8 17-03
3. Ander Cowan - Alex Fitzpatrick PA Bassin Juniors 0
Day 1: 4 07-00 Day 2: 4 10-02 Total: 8 17-02
4. Rooksby Gordon - Fisher Deason American Christian Academy - AL 0
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 05-04 Total: 10 16-11
5. Caden Strawn - Drew Turner Sand Springs Clyde Boyd OK 0
Day 1: 3 02-06 Day 2: 3 13-15 Total: 6 16-05
6. Caleb Logue - Hayden Reynolds Three Rivers Bassmasters GA 0
Day 1: 5 04-14 Day 2: 4 09-13 Total: 9 14-11
7. Nic Sitton - Dawson Cooper Melbourne AR 0
Day 1: 5 05-02 Day 2: 5 09-08 Total: 10 14-10
8. Hayden Mallory - Archer Dill Ohio 0
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 05-00 Total: 10 14-09
9. Vegas Iaconelli - Maxsim Hughen Youth Division - NJ 0
Day 1: 5 06-10 Day 2: 5 07-15 Total: 10 14-09
10. Kieran Stephenson - Grady Stanley Fuquay Varina Middle School NC 0
Day 1: 5 05-00 Day 2: 5 09-05 Total: 10 14-05
11. Hunter Harrison - Austin Moreland Magnet Cove AR 0
Day 1: 2 01-05 Day 2: 5 12-13 Total: 7 14-02
12. River Huffman - Rob Barter Chatuge Anglers GA 0
Day 1: 5 03-15 Day 2: 5 09-12 Total: 10 13-11
13. Karson Dick - Kipton Dick Wayne Middle WV 0
Day 1: 5 04-03 Day 2: 5 09-02 Total: 10 13-05
14. Jaylin White - Colden Baker Lugoff-Elgin Middle SC 0
Day 1: 5 04-11 Day 2: 5 07-13 Total: 10 12-08
15. Sullivan Kraft - Beckett Kraft Horseheads NY 0
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 4 03-10 Total: 9 12-03
16. Judd Byrd - Samuel Nicholas Oak Grove MS 0
Day 1: 5 04-05 Day 2: 4 07-13 Total: 9 12-02
17. Brody Kellum - Carson Thompson Franklin County Middle School - 0
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 4 03-06 Total: 9 11-11
18. Camden Randall - Peyton Davidson Mount Pleasant TN 0
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 2 03-06 Total: 7 11-10
19. Landon Gabby - Carson Bruner Southern Illinois Future Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 02-07 Day 2: 1 08-03 Total: 4 10-10
20. Mitchell Henderson - Joseph Frierson Laurence Manning Academy SC 0
Day 1: 5 05-04 Day 2: 3 05-01 Total: 8 10-05
21. Bryce Rhody - Gavin Brubaker Susquehanna Valley Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 1 00-14 Day 2: 5 09-05 Total: 6 10-03
22. Luke Stewart - Austin Craze Southern WV Jr Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 5 05-08 Day 2: 5 04-10 Total: 10 10-02
23. Zac Arnold - Ross Clark Good Hope Fishing Team AL 0
Day 1: 5 04-11 Day 2: 5 05-04 Total: 10 09-15
24. Christopher Volpe - Brayden Rivest Off the Hook Bassmasters IL 0
Day 1: 5 06-07 Day 2: 4 03-03 Total: 9 09-10
25. Camdon Fauver - Thomas Newman Frederick County BASS VA 0
Day 1: 5 04-07 Day 2: 5 05-02 Total: 10 09-09
26. Turner Tharpe - Blake James Rhea County Eagle Anglers TN 0
Day 1: 3 03-02 Day 2: 5 06-06 Total: 8 09-08
27. Tristan Stewart - DJ Johnson III Mount Pleasant TN 0
Day 1: 5 06-00 Day 2: 4 03-02 Total: 9 09-02
28. Cameron Prokop - Tommy Shumowsky New Age Bass Fishing Club IL 0
Day 1: 5 04-10 Day 2: 5 04-08 Total: 10 09-02
29. Nolan Savage - Jake Paradis LA Jr Bassmasters ME 0
Day 1: 5 04-06 Day 2: 5 04-11 Total: 10 09-01
30. Landon Pierce - Korbin Neat Casey County - KY 0
Day 1: 5 03-14 Day 2: 5 04-15 Total: 10 08-13
31. Anderson Mesplay - Kelby Conrady Mid-Kansas Kastmasters 0
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 2 02-06 Total: 5 08-12
32. Clayton Barry - Tanner Sikes Columbia High School FL 0
Day 1: 5 04-00 Day 2: 5 04-10 Total: 10 08-10
33. Caden Stevens - Hunter Crittenden Franklin County Jr. Bass Team TN 0
Day 1: 5 04-10 Day 2: 5 04-00 Total: 10 08-10
34. Oliver Neumann - Grayden Neumann Zimmerman MN 0
Day 1: 5 04-02 Day 2: 5 04-04 Total: 10 08-06
35. Tugger McCuistion - 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 08-03 Total: 3 08-03
36. Jesse Lancaster - Fisher Lancaster Lancaster Academy NC 0
Day 1: 4 03-12 Day 2: 5 04-06 Total: 9 08-02
36. Conner McClellan - Drew Mcclellan Indiana Jr Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 5 04-06 Day 2: 4 03-12 Total: 9 08-02
38. Mason Samson - NH Junior Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 4 04-03 Day 2: 5 03-15 Total: 9 08-02
39. Caleb Jackson - Evrett Hunter Nassau Christian Bass Club FL 0
Day 1: 5 04-10 Day 2: 4 03-00 Total: 9 07-10
40. Maverick Hardebeck - Carson Tithof Grand Haven Lakeshore Middle Sch 0
Day 1: 4 03-08 Day 2: 4 03-09 Total: 8 07-01
41. Wyatt Reynolds - Peyton Roland Foothills Youth Anglers VA 0
Day 1: 5 05-14 Day 2: 1 00-14 Total: 6 06-12
42. Sawyer Knickerbocker - Grant Williams SWLA Jr Anglers LA 0
Day 1: 5 03-11 Day 2: 4 03-01 Total: 9 06-12
43. Beau McQuade - Kahl Cordell Jr. Potomac River Bassmasters PA 0
Day 1: 5 03-09 Day 2: 3 03-03 Total: 8 06-12
44. Jack Varnado - Dylan Johnson Jr. Southwest Bassmasters of Den 0
Day 1: 5 04-13 Day 2: 2 01-12 Total: 7 06-09
45. Parker Terrell - Port City Jr. Bassmasters NY 0
Day 1: 3 03-01 Day 2: 4 03-07 Total: 7 06-08
46. Ty Cooper - Landen Mclauchlin Central Florida Youth Anglers 0
Day 1: 2 01-08 Day 2: 5 04-15 Total: 7 06-07
47. Boone Baxter - Hunter Stewart Fort Jennings Crestview OH 0
Day 1: 5 06-00 Day 2: 5 00-06 Total: 10 06-06
48. Elijah Ambrose - Landon Hinkle Jr. Potomac River Bassmasters PA 0
Day 1: 5 04-10 Day 2: 2 01-11 Total: 7 06-05
49. Foster Hall - Caden Hall Hall Academy KY 0
Day 1: 5 05-02 Day 2: 1 01-01 Total: 6 06-03
50. Tucker Randolph - Kaleb Smarr Warrensburg Middle School MO 0
Day 1: 4 04-01 Day 2: 2 01-11 Total: 6 05-12
51. Andy Stewart - Trenton Wells Pisgah MS 0
Day 1: 4 03-14 Day 2: 2 01-13 Total: 6 05-11
52. James Barkley - Nikolas Foster New Hampshire Junior Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 5 03-03 Day 2: 2 02-08 Total: 7 05-11
53. Bo Hollen - Ari Clark Mon Valley Bassmaster's WV 0
Day 1: 5 04-01 Day 2: 1 01-01 Total: 6 05-02
54. Will Oberhoffer - Max Droessler Roosevelt Middle School IA 0
Day 1: 3 02-08 Day 2: 3 02-09 Total: 6 05-01
55. Lawson Gamble - Gray Hardy Headland Bass Team AL 0
Day 1: 2 01-13 Day 2: 4 03-03 Total: 6 05-00
56. Jonas Lawler-White - Cale Denney Lansing Middle School - Bobcat B 0
Day 1: 3 02-03 Day 2: 3 02-04 Total: 6 04-07
57. Bryce Cast - Ayden Cast St. Louis Area Bassmasters IL 0
Day 1: 4 03-05 Day 2: 1 01-01 Total: 5 04-06
58. Jaxton Collier - Reece Roberts South Side Anglers IN 0
Day 1: 3 02-05 Day 2: 3 02-01 Total: 6 04-06
59. Charlie Brekke - Michael Putman Fighting Fishsticks Jr Club CO 0
Day 1: 2 01-09 Day 2: 3 02-09 Total: 5 04-02
60. Peter Mcdonald - Preston Hartzell Rocky Mountain High School - CO 0
Day 1: 4 03-03 Day 2: 1 00-12 Total: 5 03-15
61. Dylan Frickey - Reid Scott Ontario Juniors 0
Day 1: 4 03-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 03-12
62. Brady Harrison - Bryce Blackmon Cayuga - TX 0
Day 1: 1 00-06 Day 2: 2 01-14 Total: 3 02-04
63. Dillyn Dill - Andrew Knight Shelby County Jr Anglers AL 0
Day 1: 2 00-00 Day 2: 3 02-02 Total: 5 02-02
64. Bradie Talaski - Carter Osantowski Bad Axe Junior - MI 0
Day 1: 2 01-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 01-09
65. Liam Northway - Eastern Iowa Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 38 264 283-06
2 25 229 295-12
----------------------------------
63 493 579-02
Oklahoma’s Cortiana Overtakes Lead on Day 2 of Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Covercraft Stop 6 on Lake Champlain
Hatfield Clinches Polaris Rookie of the Year Title – Top 50 Anglers Advance to Sunday
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (July 30, 2022) – The top of the leaderboard was stacked with 20-pound bags once again Saturday after Day 2 of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Covercraft Stop 6 at Lake Champlain Presented by Wiley X in Plattsburgh, New York, where 154 professional anglers are competing for a top prize of up to $135,000.
While 12 pros busted 20 pounds on the second day of competition, pro Kyle Cortiana of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, brought a limit weighing 22 pounds, 2 ounces to the scales Saturday to vault to the lead. Cortiana’s two-day total of 10 bass weighing 42-10 gives him a 15-ounce advantage over Phoenix pro Kyle Hall of Granbury, Texas, who led after Day 1 of the event. Hall brought a limit weighing 19-14 to the scales Saturday for a two-day total of 41-11, good for second place.
Pro Andy Newcomb of Camdenton, Missouri, finished the day in third place with 10 bass weighing 41-11, while Favorite Fishing pro Matt Becker of Finleyville, Pennsylvania, moved into fourth with a two-day total of 40-10. Milford, Delaware’s Kurt Mitchell finished the day with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 40-1 to round out the top five.
“Today was awesome and the Lord blessed me,” Cortiana said. “He puts it on my heart to throw a bait or to move from one place to another, so it’s truly Him that did it and not me.
“My dad got to fly up here and experience all of this with me for the first time, so that’s been amazing,” he continued. “He’s got such a big heart, so it’s been awesome to see his response to all of this and his excitement for me. It’s made me even more excited during this event because I know he’s able to watch and experience it all first-hand.”
Saturday marked the first time in his career that Cortiana has led a Pro Circuit event, making the experience all the more exhilarating for the Oklahoma pro, who has yet to make a championship round this year.
“I started on a spot where I caught them on Day 1, dragging a Carolina rig with a Yum Christie Craw on it and caught 18 pounds pretty quick before running new water,” Cortiana said. “I hit a few of the same areas because I knew there were multiple fish there, but for the most part my game plan is to get the weight I need to maintain my position and keep running new water to prep for the weights zeroing on Monday in the Championship Round.”
With several career-altering opportunities up for grabs this week – including the Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) title, Polaris Rookie of the Year (ROY) title, qualification for the TITLE Presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship, and the opportunity to advance to the MLF Bass Pro Tour – the pursuit for valuable points is on and the event is shaping up to be one of the tightest races in the history of the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit.
After ending Day 2 in 24th place, rookie pro Nick Hatfield of Greeneville, Tennessee solidified his position Saturday to win the Polaris ROY and take home the coveted hardware.
“This has been a great year,” Hatfield said. “I was already thrilled to have qualified for the Pro Circuit through the Toyota Series last year, but when the schedule came out, I got even more excited because it really fit my strengths. I think that has played a big part in being able to achieve this goal and I feel super blessed.”
Hatfield began fishing with MLF in 2013, coming up through the Abu Garcia College Fishing program, before making his way through the Phoenix Bass Fishing League and the Toyota Series to advance to the Pro Circuit.
“It’s all a process and I’ve dreamed of doing this since before I was in high school, so to be out here doing it and to see some success in my very first year as a pro, is pretty cool,” Hatfield said.
Although he is happy with the win, Hatfield said he wasn’t satisfied to stay where he is now.
“This isn’t it for me,” he continued. “I want to keep learning and keep moving up – I want to be one of the top dogs around here, so I’ve still got some work to do to make that happen.”
The top 50 pros that made the cut after Day 2 and will fish Sunday on Lake Champlain are:
2nd: Kyle Hall of Granbury, Texas, 10 bass, 41-11
3rd: Andy Newcomb of Camdenton, Mo., 10 bass, 41-11
4th: Matt Becker of Finleyville, Pa., 10 bass, 40-10
5th: Kurt Mitchell of Milford, Del., 10 bass, 40-1
6th: Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, 10 bass, 40-0
7th: Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., 10 bass, 39-7
8th: Michael Neal of Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 39-3
9th: Casey Scanlon of Eldon, Mo., 10 bass, 39-1
10th: Tyler Stewart of Dubach, La., 10 bass, 38-7
11th: Lane Olson of Forest Grove, Ore., 10 bass, 38-2
12th: Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Mich., 10 bass, 38-1
13th: Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 38-1
14th: Alex Davis of Albertville, Ala., 10 bass, 38-1
15th: Justin Lucas of Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 37-12
16th: Joey Cifuentes of Clinton, Ark., 10 bass, 37-11
17th: Cole Floyd of Leesburg, Ohio, 10 bass, 37-8
18th: Cody Pike of Powhatan, Va., 10 bass, 37-8
19th: Jim Moynagh of Shakopee, Minn., 10 bass, 37-5
20th: Mark Rose of Wynne, Ark., 10 bass, 37-4
21st: Jon Canada of Helena, Ala., 10 bass, 37-4
22nd: Shonn Goodwin of Moore, Okla., 10 bass, 36-15
23rd: Martin Villa of Charlottesville, Va., 10 bass, 36-15
24th: Nick Hatfield of Greeneville, Tenn., 10 bass, 36-13
25th: Evan Barnes of Dardanelle, Ark., 10 bass, 36-12
26th: Steve Lopez of Oconomowoc, Wis., 10 bass, 36-9
27th: Scott Dobson of Clarkston, Mich., 10 bass, 36-5
28th: Billy Hines of Vacaville, Calif., 10 bass, 36-5
29th: Jared McMillan of Clewiston, Fla., 10 bass, 36-4
30th: Matt Greenblatt of Port St. Lucie, Fla., 10 bass, 36-4
31st: Chase Serafin of White Lake, Mich., 10 bass, 36-3
32nd: Nick Lebrun of Bossier City, La., 10 bass, 35-13
33rd: David Walker of Sevierville, Tenn., 10 bass, 35-12
34th: Corey Neece of Bristol, Tenn., 10 bass, 35-11
35th: John Voyles of Petersburg, Ind., 10 bass, 35-9
36th: Chris Lane of Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 35-7
37th: Troy Stokes of Trenton, Mich., 10 bass, 35-6
38th: Justin Cooper of Zwolle, La., 10 bass, 35-1
39th: Keith Carson of DeBary, Fla., 10 bass, 35-0
40th: John Hunter of Shelbyville, Ky., 10 bass, 35-0
41st: Terry Bolton of Benton, Ky., 10 bass, 35-0
42nd: Randy Howell of Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 34-15
43rd: Braxton Setzer of Wetumpka, Ala., 10 bass, 34-12
44th: Miles Burghoff of Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 34-11
45th: Jason Reyes of Huffman, Texas, 10 bass, 34-9
46th: Larry Nixon of Quitman, Ark., 10 bass, 34-7
47th: Grae Buck of Green Lane, Pa., 10 bass, 34-7
48th: Tim Frederick of Leesburg, Fla., 10 bass, 34-4
49th: Jacob Wall of New Hope, Ala., 10 bass, 34-4
50th: Kyle Gelles of Pingree, Idaho, 10 bass, 34-4
Buck brought a bass weighing 5 pounds, 10 ounces to the scale on Saturday to win the day's $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award.
Overall, there were 761 bass weighing 2,421 pounds, 5 ounces caught by 153 pros Saturday. The catch included 152 five-bass limits.
The event, hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau, marks the sixth and final regular-season event of the year for the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me.
In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Friday and Saturday. Now, the top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advance to Sunday. Only the top 10 pros, based on cumulative weight from the first three days, will continue competition on Championship Monday, where weights will be zeroed, and anglers will compete in a one-day shootout for the grand prize of up to $135,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE Presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship, where they will compete for up to $235,000. The 2022 TITLE will be on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York on Aug. 16-21, and is hosted by the Town of Massena.
Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. ET each day from the Plattsburgh Waterfront, located at 5 Dock Street in Plattsburgh. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park daily at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the live on-the-water action all four days of competition online on MLF NOW! beginning at 7 a.m. ET at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Covercraft Stop 6 at Lake Champlain Presented by Wiley X will feature live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere September 3 on the CBS Sports Network.
Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Fuel Me, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Kyle Hall Takes Early Lead on Day 1 of Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Covercraft Stop 6 on Lake Champlain
While a combination of largemouth and smallmouth bass rolled across the weigh-in stage Friday, it seems brown fish may take the trophy this week at the sixth and final regular-season Pro Circuit event, where 154 of the world’s best bass fishing professionals are competing for a top prize of up to $135,000.
“Things kicked off on my very first cast and I had a blast this morning,” Hall said. “I ran to my first spot and had a limit within 10 to 15 minutes, with a total of 17 to 18 pounds right off the bat, including three fish that were close to 4-pounders.
“I hit two or three more spots before I landed on a school that I’d found in practice and it lit up,” Hall continued. “I culled several times on that spot and there were actually more fish today than I’d found in practice, so I think they are coming into the area.”
Hall said he spent most of Day 1 dissecting the fishery with his Garmin Livescope, targeting bass with a drop-shot and a swimbait, in 15 to 30 feet of water.
“My goal today was 20 pounds, and we got that, then caught two more that put me over, so I’m feeling really good going into Day 2,” Hall said. “There were a lot of fish in the first area that I hit. I think if I stay there, I can definitely get 20 pounds, but I didn’t want to waste a bunch of fish on the first day.”
However, with a solid group of anglers nipping at his heels, Hall said he didn’t plan on slowing down any time soon.
“I’m not in the points race, so I’m in it to win it this week,” he continued. “With weights zeroing on Championship Monday, I’m not too concerned with building a big lead. I’m just concentrating on staying in contention for the final day and I’m ready to get back out there on Day 2.”
The top 20 pros after Day 1 on Lake Champlain are:
2nd: Casey Scanlon of Eldon, Mo., five bass, 21-8
3rd: Evan Barnes of Dardanelle, Ark., five bass, 21-2
4th: Andy Newcomb of Camdenton, Mo., five bass, 20-14
5th: Cole Floyd of Leesburg, Ohio, five bass, 20-9
5th: Matt Becker of Finleyville, Pa., five bass, 20-9
7th: Kyle Cortiana of Broken Arrow, Okla., five bass, 20-8
8th: Shonn Goodwin of Moore, Okla., five bass, 20-1
9th: Kurt Mitchell of Milford, Del., five bass, 20-0
10th: Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, five bass, 19-13
11th: Cody Pike of Powhatan, Va., five bass, 19-8
12th: Mark Rose of Wynne, Ark., five bass, 19-7
13th: Alex Davis of Albertville, Ala., five bass, 19-6
14th: Braxton Setzer of Wetumpka, Ala., five bass, 19-5
14th: Scott Wiley of Bay Minette, Ala., five bass, 19-5
16th: Michael Neal of Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 19-2
16th: Lane Olson of Forest Grove, Ore., five bass, 19-2
18th: Larry Nixon of Quitman, Ark., five bass, 19-0
19th: Jason Reyes of Huffman, Texas, five bass, 18-12
19th: Brandon Mosley of Choctaw, Okla., five bass, 18-12
Goodwin brought a largemouth weighing 5 pounds, 14 ounces to the scale to win the day's $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award.
Overall, there were 752 bass weighing 2,417 pounds, 12 ounces caught by 154 pros Friday. The catch included 143 five-bass limits.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Covercraft Stop 6 at Lake Champlain Presented by Wiley X is hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau.
In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Friday and Saturday. The top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advance to Sunday. Only the top 10 pros continue competition on Monday, where weights are zeroed, and the winner is determined by the heaviest weight from the final day of competition.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE Presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship, where they will compete for up to $235,000. The 2022 TITLE will be on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York on Aug. 16-21, and is hosted by the Town of Massena.
Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. ET each day from the Plattsburgh Waterfront, located at 5 Dock Street in Plattsburgh. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park daily at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the live on-the-water action all four days of competition online on MLF NOW! beginning at 7 a.m. ET at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Covercraft Stop 6 at Lake Champlain Presented by Wiley X will feature live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere September 3 on the CBS Sports Network.
Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Fuel Me, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Gordon, Deason Capitalize On Early Opportunity For Junior National Championship Lead
Rooksby Gordon and Fisher Deason_.jpg
Rooksby Gordon and Fisher Deason of Alabama's American Christian Academy are leading after Day 1 of the 2022 Bassmaster Junior National Championship on
Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake with 11 pounds, 7 ounces.
Photo by Laura Agee/B.A.S.S.
July 29, 2022
HUNTINGDON, Tenn. — An early opportunity and a stellar save allowed Rooksby Gordon and Fisher Deason of American Christian Academy to turn in a limit of 11 pounds, 7 ounces and lead Day 1 of the Bassmaster Junior National Championship at the Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake.
Starting on the lake’s upper end, the anglers began their day by flipping cover in about 7 to 8 feet. After the anglers boated a couple of smaller fish, Gordon hooked what turned out to be one of the day’s biggest bass — a 4-13.
“When I hooked the fish, it swam right into a log,” Gordon said. “I thought it was going to come off, but I put the trolling motor on high and went over to it.
“The fish came off before we got to it, but (Deason) netted it before it got away.”
With a thunderstorm passing through central Tennessee this morning, the scheduled 5:45 a.m. takeoff was postponed 35 minutes due to lightning. Once the hazardous weather passed, anglers fished in rain for most of the morning.
Deason said this proved beneficial, as it complemented their overall game plan.
“We tried to find some deeper wood because the water temperature would be cooler,” Deason said. “We think the rain was an advantage for us because it cooled the water down.”
Gordon said he and Deason caught their bass on a mix of reaction baits and slower presentations.
“We were using the slower bait offshore on the deep wood and we were using the reaction baits shallow in the early morning,” Gordon said.
As Deason explained, dialing in spots with large bluegill populations was essential to their game plan. In their view, the fish feeding on the larger forage would likely be the size they wanted.
“We tried to present our baits with a lot of action,” Deason said. “We tried to (entice) the fish better.”
After securing their limit by mid-morning, the leaders upgraded a couple times throughout the day. With significantly less chance of rain in Saturday’s forecast, Gordon said he believes he and Deason will need to work at a faster pace.
“I feel like we’ll need to catch our fish faster tomorrow, because once the sun comes out, it will slow down,” he said.
Deason agreed and added this: “I feel like today, with the rain, they were on a feeding frenzy.”
Mark Cerja Jr. and Gus Richardson of the Lone Star Jr. Bassmasters are in second place with 10-7. As Cerja noted, he and his partner tried to put themselves in high-percentage areas.
“We were looking at big clumps of grass,” he said. “There’s a lot of wood cover on this lake, but there’s a lot of dead water too. Docks were a big factor, brushpiles were a big factor.”
Cerja said he and his partner came into the event planning to leverage slower presentations to entice summer-weary fish. A 4-inch finesse worm, a 7-inch Berkley Power Worm and a white fluke produced all of their bass. The latter yielded their biggest fish — Richardson’s 4-7.
“I caught that fish about 5 minutes before we came in,” Richardson said. “I just saw something that looked good and cast to it. I dead-sticked the bait near a weed clump and the fish ate it.”
Owen Ray and Camdyn Cranfill of the Rhea County Eagle Anglers are in third place with 10-3. Cranfill said he and his teammate did not have much practice success, so they started with a tried-and-true summertime pattern and found success.
“We targeted docks with reaction baits because of the shade,” he said. “Most of them were in 10 feet.
“We were mostly throwing topwaters because that seemed to be the most consistent with catching bigger fish.”
Ray said the bass preferred a slower presentation in the morning, but as the day progressed, increasing retrieve speeds seemed to help.
Brothers Sullivan and Beckett Kraft of Horseheads, N.Y., lead the big bass standings with a 5-4.
Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 5:45 a.m. CT at the Carroll County Lake Launch. The weigh-in will be held at 19463 West Main Street at 2:15 p.m.
2022 Bassmaster Junior National Championship - Carroll County Lake 7/29-7/30
Carroll County One Thousand Acre Recreational Lake, Huntingdon TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Rooksby Gordon - Fisher Deason American Christian Academy - AL 0
Day 1: 5 11-07 Total: 5 11-07
2. Mark Cerja Jr - Gus Richardson Lone Star Jr Bassmasters TX 0
Day 1: 5 10-07 Total: 5 10-07
3. Owen Ray - Camdyn Cranfill Rhea County Eagle Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 10-03 Total: 5 10-03
4. Hayden Mallory - Archer Dill Ohio 0
Day 1: 5 09-09 Total: 5 09-09
5. Sullivan Kraft - Beckett Kraft Horseheads NY 0
Day 1: 5 08-09 Total: 5 08-09
6. Brody Kellum - Carson Thompson Franklin County Middle School - 0
Day 1: 5 08-05 Total: 5 08-05
7. Camden Randall - Peyton Davidson Mount Pleasant TN 0
Day 1: 5 08-04 Total: 5 08-04
8. Ander Cowan - Alex Fitzpatrick PA Bassin Juniors 0
Day 1: 4 07-00 Total: 4 07-00
9. Vegas Iaconelli - Maxsim Hughen Youth Division - NJ 0
Day 1: 5 06-10 Total: 5 06-10
10. Christopher Volpe - Brayden Rivest Off the Hook Bassmasters IL 0
Day 1: 5 06-07 Total: 5 06-07
11. Anderson Mesplay - Kelby Conrady Mid-Kansas Kastmasters 0
Day 1: 3 06-06 Total: 3 06-06
12. Boone Baxter - Hunter Stewart Fort Jennings Crestview OH 0
Day 1: 5 06-00 Total: 5 06-00
13. Tristan Stewart - DJ Johnson III Mount Pleasant TN 0
Day 1: 5 06-00 Total: 5 06-00
14. Wyatt Reynolds - Peyton Roland Foothills Youth Anglers VA 0
Day 1: 5 05-14 Total: 5 05-14
15. Luke Stewart - Austin Craze Southern WV Jr Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 5 05-08 Total: 5 05-08
16. Mitchell Henderson - Joseph Frierson Laurence Manning Academy SC 0
Day 1: 5 05-04 Total: 5 05-04
17. Nic Sitton - Dawson Cooper Melbourne AR 0
Day 1: 5 05-02 Total: 5 05-02
18. Foster Hall - Caden Hall Hall Academy KY 0
Day 1: 5 05-02 Total: 5 05-02
19. Kieran Stephenson - Grady Stanley Fuquay Varina Middle School NC 0
Day 1: 5 05-00 Total: 5 05-00
20. Caleb Logue - Hayden Reynolds Three Rivers Bassmasters GA 0
Day 1: 5 04-14 Total: 5 04-14
21. Jack Varnado - Dylan Johnson Jr. Southwest Bassmasters of Den 0
Day 1: 5 04-13 Total: 5 04-13
22. Zac Arnold - Ross Clark Good Hope Fishing Team AL 0
Day 1: 5 04-11 Total: 5 04-11
22. Jaylin White - Colden Baker Lugoff-Elgin Middle SC 0
Day 1: 5 04-11 Total: 5 04-11
24. Elijah Ambrose - Landon Hinkle Jr. Potomac River Bassmasters PA 0
Day 1: 5 04-10 Total: 5 04-10
24. Caleb Jackson - Evrett Hunter Nassau Christian Bass Club FL 0
Day 1: 5 04-10 Total: 5 04-10
24. Cameron Prokop - Tommy Shumowsky New Age Bass Fishing Club IL 0
Day 1: 5 04-10 Total: 5 04-10
24. Caden Stevens - Hunter Crittenden Franklin County Jr. Bass Team TN 0
Day 1: 5 04-10 Total: 5 04-10
28. Camdon Fauver - Thomas Newman Frederick County BASS VA 0
Day 1: 5 04-07 Total: 5 04-07
29. Conner McClellan - Drew Mcclellan Indiana Jr Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 5 04-06 Total: 5 04-06
29. Nolan Savage - Jake Paradis LA Jr Bassmasters ME 0
Day 1: 5 04-06 Total: 5 04-06
31. Judd Byrd - Samuel Nicholas Oak Grove MS 0
Day 1: 5 04-05 Total: 5 04-05
32. Karson Dick - Kipton Dick Wayne Middle WV 0
Day 1: 5 04-03 Total: 5 04-03
33. Mason Samson - NH Junior Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 4 04-03 Total: 4 04-03
34. Oliver Neumann - Grayden Neumann Zimmerman MN 0
Day 1: 5 04-02 Total: 5 04-02
35. Bo Hollen - Ari Clark Mon Valley Bassmaster's WV 0
Day 1: 5 04-01 Total: 5 04-01
36. Tucker Randolph - Kaleb Smarr Warrensburg Middle School MO 0
Day 1: 4 04-01 Total: 4 04-01
37. Clayton Barry - Tanner Sikes Columbia High School FL 0
Day 1: 5 04-00 Total: 5 04-00
38. River Huffman - Rob Barter Chatuge Anglers GA 0
Day 1: 5 03-15 Total: 5 03-15
39. Landon Pierce - Korbin Neat Casey County - KY 0
Day 1: 5 03-14 Total: 5 03-14
40. Andy Stewart - Trenton Wells Pisgah MS 0
Day 1: 4 03-14 Total: 4 03-14
41. Dylan Frickey - Reid Scott Ontario Juniors 0
Day 1: 4 03-12 Total: 4 03-12
41. Jesse Lancaster - Fisher Lancaster Lancaster Academy NC 0
Day 1: 4 03-12 Total: 4 03-12
43. Sawyer Knickerbocker - Grant Williams SWLA Jr Anglers LA 0
Day 1: 5 03-11 Total: 5 03-11
44. Beau McQuade - Kahl Cordell Jr. Potomac River Bassmasters PA 0
Day 1: 5 03-09 Total: 5 03-09
45. Maverick Hardebeck - Carson Tithof Grand Haven Lakeshore Middle Sch 0
Day 1: 4 03-08 Total: 4 03-08
46. Bryce Cast - Ayden Cast St. Louis Area Bassmasters IL 0
Day 1: 4 03-05 Total: 4 03-05
47. James Barkley - Nikolas Foster New Hampshire Junior Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 5 03-03 Total: 5 03-03
48. Peter Mcdonald - Preston Hartzell Rocky Mountain High School - CO 0
Day 1: 4 03-03 Total: 4 03-03
49. Turner Tharpe - Blake James Rhea County Eagle Anglers TN 0
Day 1: 3 03-02 Total: 3 03-02
50. Parker Terrell - Port City Jr. Bassmasters NY 0
Day 1: 3 03-01 Total: 3 03-01
51. Will Oberhoffer - Max Droessler Roosevelt Middle School IA 0
Day 1: 3 02-08 Total: 3 02-08
52. Landon Gabby - Carson Bruner Southern Illinois Future Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 02-07 Total: 3 02-07
53. Caden Strawn - Drew Turner Sand Springs Clyde Boyd OK 0
Day 1: 3 02-06 Total: 3 02-06
54. Jaxton Collier - Reece Roberts South Side Anglers IN 0
Day 1: 3 02-05 Total: 3 02-05
55. Jonas Lawler-White - Cale Denney Lansing Middle School - Bobcat B 0
Day 1: 3 02-03 Total: 3 02-03
56. Lawson Gamble - Gray Hardy Headland Bass Team AL 0
Day 1: 2 01-13 Total: 2 01-13
57. Charlie Brekke - Michael Putman Fighting Fishsticks Jr Club CO 0
Day 1: 2 01-09 Total: 2 01-09
57. Bradie Talaski - Carter Osantowski Bad Axe Junior - MI 0
Day 1: 2 01-09 Total: 2 01-09
59. Ty Cooper - Landen Mclauchlin Central Florida Youth Anglers 0
Day 1: 2 01-08 Total: 2 01-08
60. Hunter Harrison - Austin Moreland Magnet Cove AR 0
Day 1: 2 01-05 Total: 2 01-05
61. Bryce Rhody - Gavin Brubaker Susquehanna Valley Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 1 00-14 Total: 1 00-14
62. Brady Harrison - Bryce Blackmon Cayuga - TX 0
Day 1: 1 00-06 Total: 1 00-06
63. Dillyn Dill - Andrew Knight Shelby County Jr Anglers AL 0
Day 1: 2 00-00 Total: 2 00-00
64. Tugger McCuistion - 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
64. Liam Northway - Eastern Iowa Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 38 264 283-06
----------------------------------
38 264 283-06
It's Confirmed...Anglers Win
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New St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass GRASP Swimbait rod recognized by the industry as Best New Freshwater Rod at ICAST 2022 |
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PARK FALLS, Wisc. (July 29, 2022) - Advancing and showcasing its mission to handcraft the Best Rods on Earth® that give anglers the upper hand in any angling situation, St. Croix Rod of Park Falls, Wisconsin unveiled an unprecedented 12 new or completely reengineered rod series at ICAST 2022 in Orlando last week. The 74-year-old family-owned American company was awarded Best of Category honors in the Freshwater Rod category of the ICAST 2022 New Product Showcase Awards for its three all-new Legend Tournament Bass GRASP swimbait models. |
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The International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades’ (ICAST) New Product Showcase Awards recognize the best new fishing products in multiple categories each year. Voted on by attending product buyers and members of the sportfishing media, these “Best of Category” awards represent the pinnacle of achievement in the fishing tackle industry and are fiercely competitive. Winning one of these prestigious awards isn’t easy; it takes good ideas and even better execution to develop a tangible product that helps anglers find more success on the water. “We’re humbled and honored that those industry professionals who report on or sell fishing tackle for a living selected Legend Tournament Bass GRASP as the best new freshwater rod amidst a packed category, which included 34 other significant new rods from other manufacturers,” says St. Croix CEO, Scott Forristall. “St. Croix is built – top to bottom – to seek out, understand, and serve the needs of anglers; it’s what drives each one of our St. Croix team members every day, so everyone in the St. Croix family feels great pride and a real sense of gratitude for this recognition. Ultimately though, this award is for every angler around the globe who takes as much pride in using a St. Croix fishing rod as we feel in making them. It’s also for our retail partners who are on the front lines of helping anglers choose the Best Rods on Earth®to meet their specific angling needs and objectives.” The trio of all-new Legend Tournament Bass swimbait models featuring St. Croix’s proprietary GRASP reel seat firmly establishes a new standard in heavy-bass-lure rod design and performance. Designed to excel in the presentation of swimbaits and Alabama rigs from ¾ to 8 ounces, these three all-new swimbait rods bring the newly reimagined Legend Tournament Bass Series to an expansive total of 27 distinct technique-specific high-performance models for the benefit of bass anglers worldwide. New Legend Tournament Bass swimbait models (LBTC710HF LIGHT SWIMBAIT, LBTC710XHF MID SWIMBAIT and LBTC86XXHFT HEAVY SWIMBAIT) have the distinction of being the first-ever contemporary St. Croix rods released with proprietary St. Croix-designed componentry – in this case, the all-new St. Croix GRASP real seat. |
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“The angler-requested St. Croix GRASP reel seat helps give anglers the upper hand by delivering superior ergonomic control of Legend Tournament Bass swimbait rods during the cast, retrieve, and throughout fight,” says St. Croix Brand Manager, Ryan Teach. GRASP effectively combats the hand and wrist fatigue that commonly sets in when casting and retrieving heavy lures and doing battle with large, powerful fish. GRASP accomplishes this by always keeping the wrist properly aligned while affording the most comfortable and efficient grip on the rod and casting reel – straight and in line with the rod in the ultimate palming position, not canted back or forward which commonly happens with traditional casting-rod grips. The result is total control over rod and fish, with less fatigue so anglers can fish longer, harder, and earn more success. |
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In addition to GRASP’s ergonomic design, its angler interface is sweetened with an extremely durable and tactile SoftTouch coating. “The selection of the proper coating took years of discovery and trial and error, and it’s a big part of what makes GRASP distinct in the marketplace,” Teach says. “The SoftTouch coating we landed on is just as important as the refined geometries that make GRASP a complete and unique design. It is incredibly resilient yet remains slightly tacky when wet.” New Legend Tournament GRASP swimbait models will be available to anglers at St. Croix dealers worldwide and at stcroixrodfactorystore.com in October. All 24 other new Legend Tournament Bass models which were announced earlier this year at the 2022 Bassmaster Classic are available right now. New Legend Tournament Bass rods feature markedly lighter and stronger next-generation hybrid SCIV+ carbon fiber blanks. Select reaction bait models feature all-new iACT Glass hybrid blanks. In addition to their unique combinations of proprietary materials, all-new Legend Tournament Bass rods also incorporate all of St. Croix’s top technologies and premium components. While every new Legend Tournament Bass rod is special and distinct, St. Croix Engineering Supervisor, Gavin Falk, says the three iACT Glass models – specifically engineered for hardbait applications like crankbaits and chatterbaits – represent an even greater technological achievement for anglers. “These rods introduce a third material – our linear S-Glass – to the hybrid SCIV+ blank to produce rods with the softer actions reaction presentations demand. We call the combination iACT Glass. It stands for Internally Active, and it allows us to deliver those slower, parabolic actions while maintaining peak sensitivity in a blank that’s significantly smaller in diameter and lighter than a pure glass cranking rod,” Falk says. “Our anglers have asked for this and we’re always listening, not being reactive but addressing ideas and opportunities as they come forward.” Falk wants to remind anglers that these are not “composite” rods. “All three materials in Legend Tournament Bass iACT Glass models – SCIV carbon, SCVI carbon, and Linear S-Glass – are individually patterned and laid up to spec, then all rolled together,” he says, emphasizing that each of the materials are distinct, and adding that Legend Tournament Bass iACT Glass models are the first carbon/glass hybrid rods ever to be rolled on St. Croix IPC mandrels. |
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Teach says these three iACT Glass models deliver everything anglers have asked for in a reaction-bait rod and more. “You can even walk a topwater with complete control using one of these Legend Tournament Bass iACT rods,” he says. “That’s not something typically thought to be possible with a rod that has any type of glass in it. You can walk these baits with precision and never even think you have a glass rod in yours hands until you’ve hooked up on a fish and the benefits of that moderate, parabolic action kick in. St. Croix is the only company I’m aware of that’s been able to do this.” |
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The ‘deepest’ cranking rod in the series with iACT Glass is the POWER GLASS CRANKER LBTC74MHM. “This is a 4/5/6XD cranking rod,” Teach says. “We’ve got an 8XD/10XD/DD22 rod in the lineup, too – the LBTC710XHM – but it’s all carbon. This is a rod Dennis Berhorst and Stephen Browning have become quite fond of. The other iACT Glass models are the LBTC72MM FINESSE GLASS CRANKER designed for smaller squarebills and the LTBC72HM RIP-N-CHATTER, which is optimized for fishing bladed jigs and lipless crankbaits.” Bassmaster Elite angler, Bob Downey says, “I was very impressed with the lighter weights and significantly reduced blank diameters of these new Legend Tournament Bass iACT rods when compared to a pure glass cranking rod. I’m not aware of anything else remotely like these rods on the market and I found their overall performance with chatterbaits and crankbaits to be in a class all their own.” MLF angler and crankster, Jesse Wiggins agrees. “I’ve always been a huge fan of St. Croix’s Legend Glass rods – and I still am – but these new blue iACT rods have really impressed me, especially in any cranking situation where you need that extra bit of sensitivity.” Despite the improvements, some things will stay the same: new Legend Tournament Bass rods remain handcrafted in Park Falls, Wisconsin, USA with a 15-year transferrable warranty backed by St. Croix Superstar Service. They also retain their iconic Tournament Blue Pearl color. New St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass Features
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New St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass Casting Models
*New at ICAST 2022, available October, 2022 |
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New St. Croix Legend Tournament Bass Spinning Models
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Berkley PowerBait Saltwater Gilly
A realistic and versatile swimbait that ensures you have the best chance to set the hook on every bite
COLUMBIA S.C. (July 27, 2022) – Berkley Fishing, the legendary fishing tackle company, offers ocean anglers their own version of the award-winning Berkley PowerBait Gilly now featuring four-HD saltwater colors.
Fishing enthusiasts were captivated by last year’s 2021 ICAST “Best in Show” win for the freshwater Berkley Powerbait Gilly, which was inspired by Japanese bass fishing techniques and translated into a masterful product, thoughtfully engineering into a pro-inspired design. The applications in the saltwater space soon became apparent to the Berkley team for this award-winning bait.
“We were thrilled when our bait beat out hundreds of new products in last year’s ICAST New Product Showcase and ever since the launch of the Gilly, the consumer demand for this unique bait has been off the charts.” said Jake Dawson, Director, Consumables for Berkley “We’ve since received a lot of feedback from the saltwater community asking for something that fits the bill for their fisheries, and now we are answering that call.”
Fishing in Japan continues to influence American anglers, especially when it comes to new finesse presentations and swimbaits - and the PowerBait Gilly finding its way to the US was no happenstance. Berkley Pro Mike Iaconelli regularly looks abroad to find the next big technique, which led to the inspiration for the PowerBait Gilly. Berkley’s bait scientists took Ike’s notes and put their own unique stamp on it, including the infusion of the bait with the famed PowerBait flavor and dispersion that both entices the fish to the bite and makes them hold on longer for more hooksets.
Often sold out in retail stores, consumers are finding that the PowerBait Gilly delivers on its technology and promises. Beyond flavor, Berkley designed the bait so the hollow head section is soft enough to collapse during strikes and keep the bait swimming upright regardless of how it’s rigged. The tabs built into the tail section give the bait a remarkably lifelike motion in the water, that looks like an easy meal for fish. Texas rigged sideways, on a jig head or even a dropshot, the new Gilly is as realistic as it is versatile and ensures you have the best chance to set the hook on every bite.
The award-winning Berkley-designed PowerBait Saltwater Gilly provides an unbelievably natural presentation in shape, color, and action. It is now available in four saltwater HD colors to match the hatch wherever it’s used and is available in three sizes: 90mm (3.5 inch), 110mm (4.3 inch) and 130mm (5.1 inch). It will be available in retail stores beginning in July and has an MSRP of $8.99
KEY FEATURES
• Pro-inspired design with heavy influence from Japanese designs and techniques
• Remarkably lifelike shape, color and action
• Hollow head section collapses easier with strikes
• Packed with Berkley’s famed PowerBait flavor
• Rigging versatility
• Available in Four-HD Tru Colors
Berkley PowerBait Saltwater Gilly
Sizes: 90mm HD • 110mm HD • 130mm HD
Package Count: 90mm – 4 • 110mm – 3 • 130mm – 2
Colors: HD Pinfish • HD Menhaden • HD Pilchard • HD Croaker
MSRP: $8.99 HD Tru Colors
Available: July 2022
The Mimicry Continues
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New Mimic Minnow Swim Jig combines Northland Fishing Tackle’s iconic sculpted head and performance with a precision Gamakatsu hook. |
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BEMIDJI, Minn. (July 28, 2022) – Swimbait fishing has its origins on the southern reservoirs of California. Back in the 80’s, anglers learned to mimic the looks and locomotion of trout. Why? Like stripers on mid-state reservoirs, gigantic black bass realize the full-meal-deal these stocked fish provide. Over time, bassers around the country applied the presentation to their local quarry, regardless if trout were on the menu, because swimbaits can emulate everything from bluegills to shiners and shad. Now, improving on what the market has to offer, Northland introduces the Mimic Minnow Swim Jig. This best-of-class swimbait jig is established on the cosmetics and effectiveness of the original Mimic Minnow Jig, which has been a multispecies darling for years. The Mimic Minnow Swim Jig commences on an authentic looking, sculpted jighead. The bait-shaped and detailed jighead features realistic eyeballs and flared gills, and its 60-degree line-tie promotes an even-keel action and ability to find its way through cover like cabbage and coontail. |
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Separating it from the pack, the extraordinary heavy-duty jighead is outfitted with a premium Gamakatsu hook, which is noticeably sharp and extremely strong for hearty hooksets. You’ll also appreciate the Mimic Minnow Swim Jig’s unique double bait keeper. The base keeper is forged into the jighead. Next, Northland added a stout wire keeper to amplify the Mimic Minnow Swim Jig’s ability to hold plastics in place. Northland pro Craig Peterson offers his take on swimbait fishing with the new Mimic Minnow Swim Jig: “Swimbaits are great for long casts and covering a lot of water, like big weed flats. You can also run them along the outside weed edge just as effectively.” “I fish heavier size Mimic Minnow Swim Jigs – like a ½- or ¾-ouncer – when I want to fish it fast or deep,” added Peterson. “The lighter and smaller ¼- and 3/8-ounce sizes are better for fishing slower and with more finesse. The lighter versions also work well for pounding shallow banks.” |
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Peterson has color preferences in specific situations, too. He likes darker patterns such as Black and Green Pumpkin in darker water, as they produce the natural shadowed silhouette bass experience in real life. In clearer conditions, he selects the brownish gold Walleye pattern. He says Smelt, a whitish pattern, produces just about anywhere. And to match-the-hatch, he picks Bluegill when bass are feeding on young-of-the-year and juvenile sunfish. In Peterson’s experience, it’s wise to look for what’s finning and creeping around the boat landing – like baitfish, bluegills, and crayfish – and emulate the size and coloration. As well, he suggests paying attention to what a landed bass might upchuck and match it. |
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Paddletails and soft jerkbaits are proven pairings with the Mimic Minnow Swim Jig. As a rule, you want to match up jig size with the appropriate bait length to give it an authentic baitfish profile and promote smooth swimming. Coordinating colors is the most popular process, too. For example, employing dark-patterned plastics with a Black Mimic Minnow Swim Jig, or white to silvers with a Smelt jighead. That said, don’t be afraid to contrast colors for extra pop. Swimbaits were concocted for bass fishing, but savvy walleye anglers have also tapped the tactic. Patterns like Perch, Sexy Shad, and Purple Shad sport combinations of favored walleye colors. Consider pairing them with aggressive plastic colors like chartreuse, blue and something purplish. |
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Green Pumpkin |
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Shad |
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Black |
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Walleye |
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Perch |
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Purple Shad |
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Sexy Shad |
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Northland’s new Mimic Minnow Swim Jig is available in 4 sizes and 8 tested colors. Sizes include ¼-, 3/8-, ½-, and ¾-ounce. Colors include Black, Smelt, Walleye, Perch, Bluegill, Sexy Shad, Green Pumpkin, and Purple Shad. Sold 2 per pack. MSRP is $6.49. Available now, the Mimic Minnow Swim Jig will be a surefire addition to your tackle arsenal. |
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Przekurat Rockets Back Into Bassmaster Rookie Of The Year Lead
With two events remaining in the 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series season, Jay Prezkurat of Stevens Point, Wis., is leading the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
July 28, 2022
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Jay Przekurat of Stevens Point, Wis., is back in first place in the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race. It’s where he’s been for five of the seven Elite Series tournaments this season. But Prezekurat entered the recent Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River in third place after posting finishes of 74th at Lake Fork and 66th at Pickwick Lake.
Przekurat, who turned 23 in June, was expected to thrive when the Elite Series made its annual end-of-season Northern Swing to fisheries dominated by smallmouth bass. However, no one expected him to win at the St. Lawrence River, where he’d never before competed, even if smallmouth bass were the dominant species.
And what did Przekurat do? He became the youngest angler to ever win an Elite Series tournament and became the first to win with over 100 pounds in an Elite Series tournament. Przekurat’s winning weight of 102 pounds, 9 ounces, over four days was thus remarkable in many ways.
With only two tournaments left, including a finale at the Mississippi River at La Crosse, Wis., Przekurat is back in the favorite’s position for the ROY title.
However, it would be unwise to overlook Jacob Foutz, the Charleston, Tenn., resident who grew up fishing for smallmouth bass on Lake Erie. He showed his strength on smallmouth waters by taking the lead on Day 1 at the St. Lawrence River before ultimately finishing 27th. Foutz had a rough start to his rookie year, finishing 84th, 62nd and 55th in the first three Elite events. He has since posted finishes of third at Chickamauga Lake, 28th at Lake Fork, fourth at Pickwick Lake and 27th at St. Lawrence. Foutz trails Przekurat by only 11 points after seven events.
The ROY standings were shaken up at the St. Lawrence when previous leader, Joseph Webster of Hamilton, Ala., finished 88th and fell to fourth place. Cody Huff of Ava, Mo., moved up to third place, his highest spot in the standings this season.
The strength of the 10-angler 2022 rookie class stood out, especially on Day 1 at the St. Lawrence when Foutz was in first place with 27-15 with Przekurat right behind in second with 26-13.
The Elite Series field takes to the water again August 18-21 at the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Lake Oahe in South Dakota.
ICAST Round-up & Cheaters Never Win.....
Chris and David are back from ICAST with some insight into this years show and Kenneth brings the heat with his take from the outside looking in during last weeks festivities. The trio also jump on the cheating bandwagon and look into some recent news as well. All this and more!
MLF Issues Statement on Bass Pro Tour Stage One Penalty for Sprague
JULY 26, 2022 • MLF • BASS PRO TOUR
Pro Jeff Sprague of Wills Point, Texas, will forfeit his fifth-place finish from the 2022 Stage One Bass Pro Tour event in West Monroe, Louisiana, for violating Bass Pro Tour rule No. 23-A. The disqualification was announced today by Don Rucks, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Major League Fishing. The rule states that Bass Pro Tour anglers are prohibited from intentionally soliciting or intentionally receiving any information pertaining to tournament waters from a non-competitor for the purpose of locating or catching bass. If any such information is unintentionally being received from a non-competitor, the MLF Bass Pro Tour angler must politely ask the non-competitor to cease from divulging the information.
Sprague issued a statement on the incident:
“I received information from a non-competitor regarding Lake D’Arbonne, which violated rule 23-A. I fully accept MLF’s penalty ruling of a disqualification for the Stage One event. I want to apologize for my mistake in this matter. I am ready to head north to finish the remainder of the 2022 season and I look forward to continuing my fishing career with MLF for many seasons to come.”
Bass Pro Tour point standings and payouts from Stage One will be adjusted accordingly.
For complete rules, details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Cayuga Lake Readies to Host Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour Fox Rent A Car Stage Six
Six-Day Tournament to Showcase 80 Pro Anglers Competing for Top Prize of $100,000 and Total Purse of $805,000
UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. (July 26, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF) is set to return to Upstate New York next week, Aug. 6-11, for the sixth event of the 2022 MLF Bass Pro Tour regular-season – the Fox Rent A Car Stage Six on Cayuga Lake Presented by Googan Baits.
The six-day event, hosted by the Village of Union Springs, will showcase 80 of the best professional anglers in the world, including bass-fishing superstars like Kevin VanDam, Ott DeFoe, Jacob Wheeler, Jordan Lee, and reigning REDCREST Champion Bobby Lane. They’ll be competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable points in hopes of qualifying for REDCREST IV, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
“The Village of Union Springs is once again excited and privileged to have the top professional bass fisherman in the world here from August 6-11,” said Union Springs Mayor Bud Shattuck. “Major League Fishing has an exciting format that will be a unique experience for the young people and adults alike to watch.”
While Cayuga Lake has seen plenty of bass tournaments over the years, the majority of MLF experience is limited to a handful of Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournaments and the 2020 MLF Heritage Cup, which featured the competitors competing on three different lakes, with the final-day Championship Round anglers competing on Cayuga Lake. This tournament will feature the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament will be filmed for broadcast later this year on the Discovery Channel.
“Cayuga is a really unique lake,” said Kalamazoo, Michigan’s Kevin VanDam. “It has a northern shallow end with a lot of grass and a big population of largemouth. During the summer, you can head back to the main lake and fish deeper rocky areas, and there is still grass. Zebra mussels cleared it up a lot, and now it has gobies, and a lot of 5-plus-pounders in the lake. It didn’t have fish that big previously. You can add 2 pounds to the average weight of a big fish from 10 years ago.
“The last time I fished there, I won an event. There were a ridiculous number of 5-pounders caught.”
VanDam said he believes that anglers can win with either largemouth or smallmouth bass.
“With the shallow grass fishing in the north end, a lot of anglers will focus on largemouth bass,” VanDam said. “The other big player for largemouth are shallow boat docks. Fishing deep rockpiles for smallmouth can also be extremely productive. Find the right one, and they concentrate there. They’re big, plentiful, and aggressive.
“The tournament could be won deep or dirt shallow. Whether Ish (Monroe) wants to throw a frog shallow, or (Justin) Lucas or (Josh) Bertrand fish their offshore strengths, they can all fish how they’d like to fish. It will definitely be a special week.”
After five events in the 2022 Bass Pro Tour regular season, reigning 2021 Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) Jacob Wheeler again sits in first place with 379 points, while the 2020 AOY Jordan Lee is right behind Wheeler in second place with 341 points. Dayton, Tennessee’s Andy Morgan sits in third with 315 points, while Kevin VanDam currently sits in fourth place with 302.5 points. Florida pro Randall Tharp rounds out the top five with 302 points.
Anglers will launch each day at 7:30 a.m. ET from Frontenac Park, located at 15 Creamery Road in Union Springs. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the park, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
As part of the event, on Saturday, Aug. 6 and Sunday, Aug. 7, from Noon to 5 p.m., fans are invited out to the Major League Fishing Festival at the Frontenac Park. Hosted by the Village of Union Springs, the event will feature fans meeting and getting autographs from their favorite pro anglers that compete on the Bass Pro Tour. Children are welcome to visit the Kids Zone to meet Skye & Marshall from PAW Patrol, fish for live fish in the Kids Fishing Pond, show off their artistic skills at the coloring stations, and more. Vendor booths from MLF sponsors, food, prizes and giveaways, including a FREE Abu Garcia rod and reel combo for the first 50 youth in attendance both days. On Saturday and Sunday, one lucky attendee will play for a brand-new Toro 42-inch TimeCutter Zero Turn Mower in the Toro Pick ‘Til You Win game, with runner up prizes of a new 70-inch LED 4K Smart TV or a $500 VISA gift card. For more information on the Major League Fishing Festival, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com/Attend.
On Monday, Aug. 8 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., the MLF Fisheries Management Division (FMD) will be participating in a clean-up event at Frontenac Park – the FMD Costa Clean Water Matters Program. MLF Pro Anglers and Volunteers will walk the park and shorelines to clean up trash and debris from the shores of Cayuga Lake.
On Championship Thursday, Aug. 11, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF will host a Celebration Event for fans of all ages, inviting fans to come out and celebrate with the professional anglers from the Bass Pro Tour as they crown the champion of the Fox Rent A Car Stage Six on Cayuga Lake Presented by Googan Baits. Before the celebration, an MLF watch party starts at 1:30 p.m., and the first 50 middle school or high school anglers in attendance will receive a free Abu Garcia rod and reel combo valued at $100. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, and take selfies.
The Fox Rent A Car Stage Six on Cayuga Lake Presented by Googan Baits will feature anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, competing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST IV, the Bass Pro Tour championship, which will be held next March on Lake Norman in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Saturday and Monday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the anglers that finish in 2nd through 20th place from both groups advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round, while the winner of each group advances directly to Thursday’s Championship Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 38 anglers compete to finish in the top 8 to advance to the Championship Round. In the final day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Fox Rent A Car Stage Six on Cayuga Lake Presented by Googan Baits will premiere as a two-hour episode at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 12 on the Discovery Channel. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on the Discovery Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel. Each two-hour long reality-based episode goes in-depth to break down each day of tournament competition.
Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Covercraft, Favorite Fishing, Garmin, General Tire, Googan Baits, Grundéns, Guaranteed Rate, Humminbird, Lowrance, Luminox, Mercury, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak, Nitro Performance Boats, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, Power Stop, Rapala, Starbrite, Toro, Toyota, Wrangler, Yellowstone Bourbon and Zoom.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Palaniuk’s Lead Widens In Bassmaster Angler Of The Year Race
With two events remaining in the 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series season, Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, is leading the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
July 26, 2022
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, knows he’s leading the race for the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year title. He insists that he doesn’t know by how much. His mindset is simply, “I’ve got a one-point lead — one point.”
In reality, despite turning in his second-worst event of the season, Palaniuk’s lead over second place grew from 18 points to 41 after the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River. When your worst performance is 26th at Florida’s Harris Chain and your second-worst is 25th at the St. Lawrence, clearly you’re having a remarkable season.
However, 25th place marked Palaniuk’s worst finish at the St. Lawrence, where he won in 2013 and has amassed four other Top 10s.
“It’s all about perspective,” he said. “I finished 26th at Florida, and I was ecstatic about it. I finished 25th at the St. Lawrence, and I feel like I got gut punched. But that’s because of the expectations I set for myself.”
After seven tournaments in the nine-tournament 2022 season, David Mullins of Mt. Carmel, Tenn., has moved into second place and shaved a few points off his deficit with a 16th-place finish at St. Lawrence. John Cox of DeBary, Fla., stumbled in New York, dropping to third place in the AOY standings after missing the Top 47 cut for the first time this season. Brandon Lester of Fayetteville, Tenn., and Drew Benton of Blakely, Ga., round out the Top 5.
The drama is more intense at the Bassmaster Classic cutline. Currently, four Elite Series pros are double qualifiers for the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, including three winners from the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Mossy Oak Fishing: Lester, fourth in AOY and winner of the Kissimmee Chain Southern Open; Japan’s Kenta Kimura, 14th in AOY and the James River Northern Open winner; Oklahoma pro Jason Christie, 21st in AOY and reigning Bassmaster Classic champion; and Texas angler Lee Livesay, 38th in AOY and the Ross Barnett Central Open winner.
With those double qualifiers, the list of Elite Series qualifiers for the 2023 Classic, which starts with the Top 39 in the final 2022 AOY standings, now extends to the Top 43. That could change if Livesay drops below 42nd in the final standings. But no matter what happens with Livesay, there are a dozen anglers separated by only 30 points around that qualifying number — from 37th-place Carl Jocumsen of Australia with 411 points to 48th-place Bill Lowen of Indiana with 381 points.
That also doesn’t preclude anglers above or below those rankings from making dramatic rises or falls in the last two tournaments of the year. Even this late in the season there are significant movements in the AOY standings after every event. Wisconsin rookie Jay Przekurat made a big move after his win at St. Lawrence, jumping from 36th to 20th in the AOY standings. Fellow Elite Series rookie Joseph Webster of Alabama experienced the other side of the coin, dropping from 29th to 47th after his 88th-place finish at St. Lawrence.
The Elite Series field takes to the water again August 18-21 at the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Lake Oahe in South Dakota.
Palaniuk asked a young fan for help
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
There’s a good chance 15-year old Preston Bartley of North Gower, Ontario is still shaking following a lifetime memory made possible by Brandon Palaniuk’s perceptive heart at the Bassmaster Elite on the St. Lawrence River.
The teenager who labels Palaniuk his favorite angler, was standing with his loving parents in a crowd of a couple dozen fans near the dock when the longtime Yamaha pro entered the harbor to sack-up yet another 20-pound limit of St. Lawrence smallies.
Most folks didn’t notice, but Palaniuk seemed to be stalling just a tad, but only because he was scanning the crowd, and looking to make a young angler’s day.
“I need a kid to help me bag these fish,” said Palaniuk to the crowd. Then quickly singled out Bartley to climb on to his Skeeter.
The Idaho pro was sure to tell the teen to close the bag after each fish was dropped-in, knowing how smallies love to jump, and based on the fact his admirable kindness nearly backfired earlier this year at Santee Cooper when a big bass nearly jumped back in the lake as a youngster helped him load his catch.
Sacked-up successfully with no escapees, Palaniuk toted his catch to the holding tanks, while Bartley stood next to his parents visibly shaken in a real good way.
“I just love Brandon’s social media content, and you can tell he’s an awesome human, and super approachable. Plus, I caught a 6-pound smallmouth last year on one of his X-Zone Finesse Slammer baits!” grins Gower.
Palaniuk says it’s not possible to involve a young fan every single time he loads up a limit, but whenever the situation fits, he makes a concerted effort to do so.
“It’s something I’ve tried to do for a couple seasons now, and hey, I do need help loading my fish, and I know how much it might mean to a kid, so everybody wins,” says the always thoughtful pro, and brand new dad.
Sure enough, everybody won. The Bartleys, who are longtime B.A.S.S. members, drove nearly two hours to take-in their first ever Bassmaster weigh-in, and thanks to Brandon Palaniuk’skind heart, it’s absolutely one they’ll never forget.
Wilkinson Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on the Ohio River
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Boater Chris Wilkinson of Farmersburg, Indiana, and Strike-King co-angler Joshua Guthrie of Athens, Ohio.
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| Ohio’s Guthrie Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
MAYSVILLE, Ky. (July 25, 2022) – Boater Chris Wilkinson of Farmersburg, Indiana, caught five bass Saturday weighing 8 pounds, 2 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on the Ohio River. The tournament was the third event for the Bass Fishing League Buckeye Division. Wilkinson earned $4,199 for his victory. Wilkinson, who notched his eighth career BFL victory - with his last coming last month on the Ohio River out of Tanners Creek - said this event was only his third time to ever fish the Ohio River. “I had heard the (Maysville) pool could fish really tough,” Wilkinson said. “And it sounds a little crazy, but I like it when the fishing is tough like that. “I started out in the back of a creek and caught two keepers and then moved out toward the mouth of the creek and caught one more,” Wilkinson added. “I fished the whole tournament in creeks, with the exception of my last fish, which I caught in the main river.” Wilkinson said he caught almost all of his fish on a Texas-rigged, gill-colored Hog Snatcher Baits tube. Wilkinson targeted bass holding on wood in less than a foot of water. “I caught 10 keepers during the day,” Wilkinson said. “I didn’t really upgrade a whole lot. I was due in at 2:20, and at 2:16 I culled my last fish. That was definitely the one that gave me enough to win. “I’ve seen six pounds win there, and I’ve seen seven pounds win there, and I had right at eight pounds, but yeah, it surprised me I won,” Wilkinson added. The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in: 1st: Chris Wilkinson, Farmersburg, Ind., five bass, 8-2, $4,199 Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were: 1st: Joshua Guthrie, Athens, Ohio, four bass, 5-11, $2,100 Whitehead caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 3 pounds, 10 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $292. After three events, Dave Fricke of Hamilton, Ohio, leads the Bass Fishing League Buckeye Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 730 points, while Jacob Alltop of Lewistown, Ohio, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 711 points. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered 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. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour. Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, AFTCO, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Revital Outdoors, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X, YETI and Yo-Zuri. For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. |
McCormick Making Memories and Building Momentum
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
Photos courtesy of Tristan McCormick
Tristan McCormick, the 2021 Bassmaster College Series Bracket Champion, will be the first to tell you he wasn’t overly happy with his performances in the first few Bassmaster Opens he competed in this year after being college fishing’s representative in the 2022 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell.
The Bethel University standout struggled to get in a groove during the first part of 2022, but fortunately McCormick is feeling the good mojo of momentum after posting back-to-back strong finishes in his last two tournaments; a Toyota Series event on the Potomac River where he finished 5th, and a 13th place finish in the Northern Bassmaster Open on Lake Oneida, missing the top-10 cut by mere ounces.
When questioned why a 23-year-old from central Tennessee was proving to be a force to be reckoned with on northern fisheries, McCormick offered two thoughts.
“I’ve kind of shot myself in the foot points wise with the (Bassmaster) Opens so I practiced for Oneida completely different,” McCormick admitted. “I practiced to win. I didn’t even think about points during practice on Oneida, and that’s going to be my goal in every remaining Open on the schedule.
“On top of that, both fisheries are places I was comfortable at, even though they are a full day’s drive away from my doorstep. Using my electronics and fishing grass is my favorite thing to do. Last summer I spent over two months in New York and the northeast trying to learn these northern fisheries and become better at catching smallmouth. Hopefully that decision continues to pay off.”
While I have no doubt McCormick is on point with his assessment of these recent finishes, I have another hypothesis to add to the conversation. It seems McCormick’s luck has changed since he landed the best catch of his life.
On June 18th, in front of their family and closest friends, McCormick dropped to one knee on the front deck of his Bethel University wrapped Nitro and asked his longtime girlfriend Elle to marry him. The two have been dating for six years, and McCormick has dreamed of popping the question on the Cumberland River in front of Elle’s uncles’ house since laying eyes on the magical spot over two years ago.
“I’ve known Elle was the one I wanted to marry since we starteddating, but the last couple years have just further cemented it,” McCormick said with a smile. “It takes a special person to deal with the hectic travel and lifestyle of an aspiring professional bass fisherman. Elle loves to fish, loves the outdoors, and takes my schedule in stride. I really don’t know what I would do without her support. June 18th was the best day of my life.”
Talk about a lasting memory and making the most out of his year as the reigning college fishing champ. Even if Tristan failedto catch a bass the rest of his 2022 season, there are plenty of reasons to chalk this year up as a massive success.
But McCormick has no intention of letting off the gas now. With nearly half of the Bassmaster Opens schedule left, he’s going toadd to the 23,000 miles he’s already put on the all-new 2022 Toyota Tundra he’s driving for the year as he keeps the pedal mashed in pursuit of his dreams.
Bass Mafia Unveils Rebranding, New Products at ICAST
Bass Mafia heads proudly and confidently into ICAST 2022 bolstering a brand-new logo and identity along with several new spectacularly engineered products. Since being acquired by House of Outdoors in October 2021, the team has continued its excitement and motivation to bring the best tackle storage solutions on the market to the most elite anglers. This time, with a fresh new logo and refinement of its product line.
“Bass Mafia set the standard for premium-tier tackle storage upon the brand’s inception and has continued to do so ever since. We felt that a refined brand look (including a new custom logo) would help elevate the brand’s marketing approach and give its consumers an edgy, yet first-class feel,” remarked Andy Baumbach, Director of Marketing. “The Bass Mafia brand resonates so well with the competitive angler that it’s easy to keep the market excited about the brand and products. We know this new branding will continue to fuel the fire.”, stated Baumbach.
The flagship series of tackle storage, bolsters an improved, reimagined take on its Coffin line of tackle boxes. “Along with the application of the new branding, we’ve made several improvements to the functionality of our Coffin series that I think anglers will appreciate.”, stated Isaac Payne, Director of Innovation & Design at House of Outdoors. “We’ve altered the hinges so the lid opens completely to 180° and created a very solid single latch design for these boxes. The lids and bases have been refined slightly so the boxes will nest and stack perfectly with each other and have kept the rugged industrial look that anglers love. We’ve also added rubber anti-skid feet to the bases to prevent sliding around on the deck of your boat.”
Bass Mafia is making other improvements to its legacy products as well, including fan favorites like the Money Bag – the first heavy-duty soft bag on the market. “There’s so much runway with this brand that we haven’t even scratched the surface. We’re excited about establishing this new brand language while improving long-standing industry favorites and venturing into new product categories.”, noted Trey Epich, SVP of Product. “There’s a lot on its way from Bass Mafia and we’re excited to unveil it, you’re going to want to keep your eyes peeled this year.”
Record Breaking Rookie Update!
While at ICAST DX Catches up with recent Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie Jay Przekurat on his Rookie win and his whirlwind year!
First Time Exhibitor Wins Best of Show at ICAST
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Major League Fishing Unveils General Tire Team Series Draft Results
Three-Man Teams Set to Compete for $300,000 Top Prize This Fall, Episodes Premiere in January on Outdoor Channel
ORLANDO, Fla. (July 21, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today the results of the inaugural General Tire Team Series Draft at a live press event at the International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST).
The General Tire Team Series will succeed the current MLF Cup events – following 11 highly successful seasons on the Outdoor Channel – and will showcase the 80 anglers that compete on the Bass Pro Tour, joined by the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE champion, competing as three-man teams across four events for hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash payouts.
The inaugural Team Series Draft took place on June 1, in Spring City, Tennessee, where the top 27 Bass Pro Tour anglers – based on 2021 Angler of the Year (AOY) point standings – selected two additional Bass Pro Tour anglers to create 27 three-man teams that will compete over the three qualifying events.
Team members will be in constant communication with their teammates during competition, via wireless earpieces, allowing them to work together to develop real-time strategies and adapt on the water to create an exciting new format never before seen on television.
Each qualifying event will feature nine teams, divided into three groups. Each group competition will feature three teams competing over two days to accumulate the highest total two-day weight. The group winners – three teams from each qualifying event – will advance to the General Tire Team Series Championship, which will showcase the nine winning teams competing for a top prize of $300,000.
“We’re incredibly excited to launch the General Tire Team Series following our extremely successful pilot episode that aired earlier this year, and reveal the team selections from the inaugural draft,” said Jim Wilburn, MLF President & CEO. “We’re confident that the unique partnerships throughout the field will result in some extraordinary matchups and create some exhilarating television for our anglers and fans alike.”
Following traditional MLF Cup event protocols, Team Series anglers will not be told the host destination until two weeks prior to each event and will only discover which fishery they are competing on after arriving at the boat ramp the morning of competition.
MLF announced filming dates for the 2022 Team Series in an earlier release, however the events will be shot in the dark, with the location of the fisheries kept private until the episodes premiere in January 2023 on the Outdoor Channel.
General Tire Team Series Draft Results:
CAPTAIN: Mark Rose, PICK 1: Jordan Lee, PICK 28: Luke Clausen
CAPTAIN: Alton Jones, Sr., PICK 2: Edwin Evers, PICK 29: John Murray
CAPTAIN: James Elam, PICK 3: Brent Chapman, PICK 30: Jonathon VanDam
CAPTAIN: Josh Bertrand, PICK 4: Andy Morgan, PICK 31: Brandon Coulter
CAPTAIN: Adrian Avena, PICK 5: Mark Daniels, Jr., PICK 32: Randy Howell
CAPTAIN: Dustin Connell, PICK 6: Cole Floyd, PICK 33: Fred Roumbanis
CAPTAIN: Andy Montgomery, PICK 7: Cody Meyer, PICK 34: James Watson
CAPTAIN: David Dudley, PICK 8: Zack Birge, PICK 35: Clabion Johns
CAPTAIN: Shin Fukae, PICK 9: Fletcher Shryock, PICK 36: Marty Robinson
CAPTAIN: Greg Vinson, PICK 10: Bradley Roy, PICK 37: Ryan Salzman
CAPTAIN: Kevin VanDam, PICK 11: Todd Faircloth, PICK 38: David Walker
CAPTAIN: Takahiro Omori, PICK 12: Casey Ashley, PICK 39: Dean Rojas
CAPTAIN: Bryan Thrift, PICK 13: Anthony Gagliardi, PICK 40: Terry Scroggins
CAPTAIN: Jesse Wiggins, PICK 14: Matt Lee, PICK 41: Dave Lefebre
CAPTAIN: Wesley Strader, PICK 15: Scott Suggs, PICK 42: Mike McClelland
CAPTAIN: Mark Davis, PICK 16: Gary Klein, PICK 43: Cliff Pace
CAPTAIN: Skeet Reese, PICK 17: Jeremy Lawyer, PICK 44: Shaw Grigsby
CAPTAIN: Bobby Lane, PICK 18: Chris Lane, PICK 45: Jimmy Washam
CAPTAIN: Jeff Sprague, PICK 19: Randall Tharp, PICK 46: Cliff Crochet
CAPTAIN: Gerald Spohrer, PICK 20: Dakota Ebare, PICK 47: Ish Monroe
CAPTAIN: Alton Jones, Jr., PICK 21: Britt Myers, PICK 48: Roy Hawk
CAPTAIN: Stephen Browning, PICK 22: Jeff Kriet, PICK 49: Timmy Horton
CAPTAIN: Justin Lucas, PICK 23: Jared Lintner, PICK 50: Boyd Duckett
CAPTAIN: Michael Neal, PICK 24: Russ Lane, PICK 51: Paul Elias
CAPTAIN: Brent Ehrler, PICK 25: Brett Hite, PICK 52: Tommy Biffle
CAPTAIN: Ott DeFoe, PICK 26: Keith Poche, PICK 53: Kelly Jordon
CAPTAIN: Jacob Wheeler, PICK 27: Dylan Hays, PICK 54: Jason Lambert
Link to General Tire Team Series Graphic
Link to FREE full episode – General Tire Team Invitational on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV)
Proud sponsors of the MLF General Tire Team Series include: Abu Garcia, B&W Hitches, Barbasol, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Builders FirstSource, C-MAP, Coasta, Crockett Creek Beef Jerky, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Ferguson, General Tire, Knighten Industries, Kubota, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Optima Batteries, Phoenix Boats, Plano, Power-Pole, Rapala Baits, Sqwincher, Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff, Sonic, Star Brite, Strike King, T-H Marine, Toyota, USAA and YETI.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the MLF General Tire Team Series events, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Dakota Lithium Selected As The Official Lithium Battery Of Bassmaster, Inks Multiyear Deal As Bassmaster Premier Sponsor
July 21, 2022
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Dakota Lithium, a U.S. battery manufacturer founded in 2008, has signed a three-year partnership with B.A.S.S. as a premier sponsor of the Bassmaster Tournament Trail and the Official Lithium Battery of Bassmaster through 2025.
“Here at Dakota Lithium, we are proud to be partnering with Bassmaster as the first Official Lithium Battery. Dakota Lithium is the top battery choice of professional anglers. Partnering with the leading professional fishing tournament series just made sense. We are looking forward to joining the elite brands that are supporting the future of fishing,” said Dakota Lithium CEO Andrew A. Jay.
Dakota Lithium already works with multiple current Bassmaster Elite Series pro anglers. Two-time Bassmaster Classic champion Hank Cherry, Greg DiPalma, Austin Felix, Marc Frazier, Brock Mosley, Chad Pipkens, Tyler Rivet, Matt Robertson and Kyle Welcher are all part of the Dakota Lithium pro staff.
“I was the first Bassmaster Elite angler to use Dakota Lithium batteries and have been on the team from the beginning,” said Mosley, who has notched five Top 10 Elite finishes in the past two seasons. “It is truly amazing to see how far they have come and to see them sponsor the 2023 Bassmaster season.”
Fellow Elite pro Matt Robertson echoed that enthusiasm for the partnership.
“When you combine the best lithium battery and the best fishing organization, you get Dakota Lithium and Bassmaster,” said Robertson, who has claimed two Top 10s this season. “Like Bassmaster, Dakota Lithium is the highest quality, longest lasting battery on the market. Nothing makes more sense than Dakota Lithium becoming the first Official Lithium Battery of Bassmaster.”
Dakota Lithium will be a premier sponsor for the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Mossy Oak Fishing, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship and the grass-roots TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation regional and championship tournaments.
In addition to their tournament sponsorship, Dakota Lithium will be highlighted during Bassmaster LIVE, which is streamed on Bassmaster.com and broadcast Saturday and Sunday mornings on the FOX Sports platforms, and will enjoy exposure in Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times magazines and across various industry-leading social media platforms.
Lithium batteries have become an industry standard for competitive fishing, providing twice the usable power at half the weight of traditional batteries. In a quickly growing market, Dakota Lithium has become the brand of choice for professional athletes, primarily due to Dakota Lithium’s performance, reliability, lifespan and best-in-class 11-year warranty.
“This new partnership with Bassmaster and Dakota Lithium shows how Dakota Lithium has become the go-to battery in the marine industry, and partnering with Bassmaster is the next step in continuing that dominance,” said Craig Storms, Dakota Lithium national sales representative and pro staff manager.
“We are proud to welcome Dakota Lithium as a new premier partner and look forward to connecting them with anglers and Bassmaster fans,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson. “Dakota Lithium already works alongside so many anglers at all levels, and we are excited to introduce their long-lasting batteries to our passionate fans over the next several years.”
ICAST Announces 30 New Product Showcase “Best of Category” Winners for 2022
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Spinnerbaits the Pros Use by SPRO®
Kennesaw, GA, Flash, action and vibration are a deadly combination when it comes to triggering a bass to bite. Few lures can cover water and grab a fish’s attention like a spinnerbait.
The pros at SPRO® recognize the deadly combination of flashing blades and thumping vibration for bass anglers and have developed spinnerbait offerings that are ready for the next strike.
SPRO Blade Spinnerbait
The SPRO Blade spinnerbait is constructed with versatility at center stage for fishing through submerged grass and vegetative cover. Throw it along weed bed edges, across grass mats, or over open water points, flats and channels that hold fish.
Built on industry-leading Gamakatsu nano alpha coated hooks, anglers can depend on clean hookups and fish fighting durability when fishing the SPRO Blade.
The Blade spinnerbait is ideal for clear or stained water and is available in eye-catching colors, designed with the SPRO mean eye to help trigger predator strikes. Gold and nickel-plated willow blades run on smooth ball bearing swivels, flashing effortlessly on the retrieve.
SPRO Blade Features:
- Flashy Willow Blades
- 4/0 Gamakatsu Nano Alpha Coated Hooks
- Ball Bearing Swivels
- Head Shape Comes Through Grass & Cover
- Flashy Gold, Nickel, and Painted Blades with blade sizes printed on blades
- SPRO Mean Eye
- Great for Clear or Lightly Stained Water
- MSRP $11.49
SPRO Thumper Spinnerbait
SPRO’s Thumper spinnerbait drives bass crazy by replicating forage fish vibrations in the water, utilizing hard-thumping Colorado and Indiana blades. Made with sticky sharp Gamakatsu Nano Alpha coated hooks. The Thumper is built with serious anglers in mind.
The SPRO Thumper bait head is designed to be fished around hard-hitting covers like rocks and wood, making it capable of fishing where the big ones hide. The custom gold and nickel-plated blades are printed with blade sizes and rotate on smooth ball-bearing swivels.
SPRO Thumper Features:
- Hard Thumping Colorado & Indiana Blades
- 4/0 Gamakatsu Nano Alpha Coated Hooks
- Ball Bearing Swivels
- Head Shape Made for Hitting Hard Cover like Rock & Timber
- Flashy Gold, Nickel, and Painted Blades with blade sizes printed in blades
- SPRO Mean Eye
- Great for Stained of Murky Water
- MSRP $5.64
SPRO Squealer
The SPRO Squealer Buzzbait comes equipped with Gamakatsu Nano Alpha Coated hooks for durability and practical functionality. Featuring the SPRO Mean Eye head and custom blade, the SPRO Squealer gets up quickly and makes a unique squealing sound.
Squealer Features:
- Combination of Blade and Head Shape causes Blade to get up Quickly
- 4/0 Gamakatsu Nano Alpha Coated Hooks
- Unique Blade that Makes a Squealing Sound
- SPRO Mean Eye
- 2 Sizes: 3/8 and 1/2
- MSRP $10.99
