Stanley Comes from Behind to Win Toyota Series Event on Lake Chickamauga
Hosted by Chattanooga Sports, the tournament is the third and final event of the season for the Toyota Series Central Division anglers and will feature the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers casting for a top prize of up to $75,000.
Stanley said he is typically hard-headed and tries to win the event on Day One, then ends up struggling toward the end of the tournament. However, he decided to switch up his mindset for this event.
“I fished a little slower during this tournament and made sure I caught five fish each time I went out,” Stanley said. “I just focused on maintaining a solid bag, that way I could have a shot of making it to the final day, then on the final day, I swung for the fences. I went from catching 8-15 keepers per day on the first two days, to only catching five on Day Three, but I dramatically increased my weights.”
Stanley said he threw a variety of baits over the three days, including a ¾-ounce Picasso Inviz R Wire Double Willow Spinnerbait with a 6-inch Culprit Skinny Jerk trailer, as well as a 5-inch Gary Yamamoto Senko, wacky-rigged, in bubble gum color.
“I feel like I got really lucky, getting on a big bite,” Stanley said. “The guys at the top after the first two days had at least one big fish, so I knew that was going to be the key to making it to the top of the leaderboard.”
Stanley said he only caught five fish on the final day, but one of those fish was a 9-pounder that was one of the catches of a lifetime, and that was all he needed.
“I’d been catching the outskirts of a large group of fish throughout the tournament and on Day Three I was finally the only one fishing that group but couldn’t get them to bite anything I was throwing,” Stanley said. “Eventually I had one hit the spinnerbait, so I knew they were bass. I pulled out a Megabass Jerkbait and tied it on 10-pound Seaguar Red Label Fluorocarabon Line on a Lew’s Speed Spool LFS Casting Reel with an iROD Genesis III Series Casting Rod, and they started biting.”
After catching a catfish earlier that morning that had completely wrecked his line and hooks, Stanley said he re-tied his jerkbait and blindly threw it out toward a shallow area, where he got another bite that he was positive was just another catfish.
“It was swimming away slowly, so I just held pressure on it, then it shook its head three times and I realized it was a giant bass. My line started coming up real slow, then the bass jumped about 40 yards from the boat, and we could see how big it was and I said, ‘Oh my God, what a bass.’
“It hit the water, then realized it was hooked and the fight was on. It jumped around and was being super erratic, acting crazy like a smallmouth and jumping several more times,” Stanley continued. “I told my co-angler I couldn’t look at it, because if it came off the hook, I was going to be sick.”
His co-angler netted the bass neatly, and Stanley had his limit – and a 9-pound kicker fish – by 9:30 a.m.
“This win feels great – It’s not really about the money, because I love fishing so much, but catching that 9-pounder made the whole week for me,” said the first time Toyota Series winner. “The trophy, money and bragging rights are an extra bonus, but catching a fish like that is the reason every guy out there started fishing in the first place.
“Everyone wants to win. You aren’t going to need all that money when you’re 100 years old, but you will look back and remember catching a fish like that,” Stanley added.
The top 10 pros on Lake Chickamauga finished:
2nd: Kevin Meunier of Lamar, Ind., 15 bass, 50-0, $25,500
3rd: Tommy Brown of Louisville, Tenn., 14 bass, 48-12, $17,000
4th: Andrew Nordbye of Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 48-7, $15,000
5th: Cody Nichols of Fayette, Ala., 15 bass, 46-8, $14,000
6th: Kevin Drake of Cleveland, Tenn., 15 bass, 45-11, $11,500
7th: Clay Reece of Lexington, Ky., 15 bass, 45-4, $9,000
8th: Michael Black of Toledo, Ill., 14 bass, 44-15, $8,000
9th: Carl Gillespie of Old Hickory, Tenn., 15 bass, 44-15, $7,000
10th: Casey Martin of Brownsboro, Ala., 15 bass, 44-8, $5,000
Pro Andrew Johnson of Glencoe, Alabama won the $500 Day One Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division Thursday, bringing a bass weighing 9 pounds, 13 ounces to the scale. Meunier won Friday’s $500 Berkley Big Bass award, bringing a 7-pound, 11-ounce bass to the scale.
Drake took home an extra $1,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $35,000 per event in each Toyota Series tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Jeremy Bouldin of Kings Mountain, North Carolina won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 14 bass weighing 44 pounds, 6 ounces. Bouldin took home the top prize package of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on Lake Chickamauga finished:
2nd: Anthony Mondo of Ooltewah, Tenn., 13 bass, 32-12, $7,700
3rd: Pop Catalin of Cookeville, Tenn., 12 bass, 32-1, $6,000
4th: James S. Burns of Nancy, Ky., 12 bass, 30-7, $4,500
5th: Richard Arnold of Owens Cross Roads, La., 12 bass, 28-12, $4,000
6th: Randy Wiggins of Birmingham, Ala., 11 bass, 27-6, $3,650
7th: Mitch Friedman of Colleyville, Texas, 10 bass, 26-7, $3,000
8th: Tommy Pritchard of Bargersville, Ind., eight bass, 24-12, $2,250
9th: Charlie Crouch of Waterloo, Ala., nine bass, 23-8, $1,700
10th: Andy Vance of Danville, Ind., 11 bass, 23-7, $1,700
The Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at Lake Chickamauga was hosted by Chattanooga Sports. It was the third and final tournament in the Central Division. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will take place on May 19-21 – the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E on the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Florida, hosted by the Visit Lake County, Florida. For a complete schedule, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2022 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern 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 Ordinance, 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.
Hayden Heck Wins Toyota Series Event on Sam Rayburn
BROOKELAND, Texas (May 7, 2022) – Pro Hayden Heck of Lufkin, Texas, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Friday weighing 18 pounds, 1 ounce to win the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at Sam Rayburn and earn the top payout of $75,300, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus. Heck’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 65-3 earned him the victory by a 2-pound, 7-ounce margin over second place pro Keith Combs of Huntington, Texas, who caught 15 bass weighing 62-12 to finish second.
The three-day bass fishing tournament, hosted by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Chamber of Commerce, was the third and final event of the regular season for the Toyota Series Southwestern Division Presented by Outlaw Ordnance.
Heck moved to Sam Rayburn two years ago to dedicate himself to becoming a professional angler. He’s spent 4 to 5 days a week out on the lake graphing and learning all it’s nuances. So, he’s put in the time, and Friday, it showed.
“This feels amazing,” Heck said after the win. “I moved out from California to do this, for moments like this. So, it’s crazy it happened. Crazy [to beat Combs]. I mean, I fished with him on the final day of a B.A.S.S. Open as a co-angler a couple years ago, and I won that event. So, it was crazy to be back up on stage with him and to pull this thing off.”
How he was doing it was how many others this week found success – targeting brush piles and hard spots right at the mouths of spawning areas – the first areas the big girls would transition to on their way out from the shallows.
The areas weren’t technically deep, offshore places, but they weren’t close enough to the bank, either. Just 40-50 little sweet spots that Heck would check with his Garmin LiveScope to see if fish were suspended above the piles.
If the fish were there and shot off the bottom when he cranked his Strike King 5XD over their heads, he knew he was going to catch them. Be it on the crankbait, a Roboworm Straight Tail Worm (mean green) on a drop-shot or a rare 6-inch swimbait. However, if they didn’t, they’d just follow his lures in, which is unfortunately what happened a lot on Friday.
“Today, the fish were more in the brush piles with the high sun,” Heck said. “Yesterday’s clouds had them roaming around a bit more off to the sides of the brush piles, which made it better for me.”
Considering he figured it would take 25 pounds to beat Combs, his 18-1 bag had him truly feeling he’d come up short. That is, until he got the surprise he’d dreamed of for two years.
“My heart is still pounding so much,” Heck said while holding the trophy. “I mean, I 100% felt I needed 25 pounds. Keith is a hammer. So, this is just crazy.”
The top 10 pros on Sam Rayburn finished:
1st: Hayden Heck, Lufkin, Texas, 15 bass, 65-3, $75,300
2nd: Keith Combs, Huntington, Texas, 15 bass, 62-12, $15,535
3rd: Brian Schott, Longview, Texas, 15 bass, 57-9, $11,640
4th: Wyatt Frankens, Corrigan, Texas, 13 bass, 52-12, $9,700
5th: Kevin Lasyone, Dry Prong, La., 15 bass, 52-0, $8,730
6th: Cole Stewart, Hemphill, Texas, 15 bass, 49-2, $7,760
7th: Chris Jones, Bokoshe, Okla., 15 bass, 49-2, $6,790
8th: Jack York, Nacogdoches, Texas, 15 bass, 48-10, $5,820
9th: River Lee, Nacogdoches, Texas, 15 bass, 48-2, $4,850
10th: Marshall Hughes, Hemphill, Texas, 15 bass, 47-13, $3,880
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Pro Cal Cameron of Coppell, Texas, won the $500 Day 1 Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division Wednesday with a largemouth weighing 9 pounds, 3 ounces. Huntington’s Keith Combs earned Thursday’s $500 Berkley Big Bass award with an 11-pound, 5-ounce behemoth.
Heck took home an extra $35,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $35,000 per event in each Toyota Series tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
James Moore, Jr., of Lampasas, Texas, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Friday with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 41 pounds, 6 ounces. Moore took home the top prize package of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on Sam Rayburn finished:
1st: James Moore, Jr., Lampasas, Texas, 15 bass, 41-6, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard
2nd: Daniel May, La Porte, Texas, 15 bass, 36-11, $4,868
3rd: Erik Knutson, Saint Croix Falls, Wis., 14 bass, 36-9, $3,894
4th: James Allen Pruitt, Houston, Texas, 15 bass, 34-12, $3,407
5th: Brody Hardaway, Broken Bow, Okla., 13 bass, 33-6, $2,921
6th: Alan Bernicky, Joliet, Ill., 14 bass, 32-3, $2,434
7th: Joe Lee, Midlothian, Texas, 13 bass, 31-9, $1,947
8th: Bryan Allen, Conroe, Texas, 15 bass, 31-7, $1,704
9th: Scott Pickett, Chandler, Texas, 15 bass, 30-9, $1,460
10th: Kevin Carter, Spring, Texas, 15 bass, 29-4, $1,217
The Day 1 Berkley Big Bass $150 award winner in the Strike King co-angler division, was Donny Davis of Livingston, Louisiana, with a 6-pound, 12-ounce bass, while the Day 2 $150 award went to Justin Overstreet of Poolville, Texas, who weighed in a 7-pound, 2-ounce largemouth.
Now that the three regular-season events in the Toyota Series Southwestern Division Presented by Outlaw Ordnance are complete, pro Kris Wilson of Montgomery, Texas, has won the Toyota Series Western Division Pro Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 744 points, while Robert Chavers of Knoxville, Arkansas, won the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 753 points.
The next event for Toyota Series anglers will take place May 19-21 – the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Florida. For a complete schedule, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
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.
Tiebreaker Lifts Thompson To Victory At B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional On Grand Lake
Doug Thompson, of Mabelvale, Ark., has won the 2022 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional at Grand Lake with a three-day total of 42 pounds, 7 ounces.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.
May 6, 2022
GROVE, Okla. — Doug Thompson and Tim Carmouche finished in a statistical tie for the lead after Friday’s final round of the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional at Grand Lake, each with a three-day total of 42 pounds, 7 ounces.
But because Thompson had the biggest single-day bag between the two of them — a five-bass limit that weighed 18-11 on Day 1 — he was named the victor and earned $5,500.
With a Day 2 bag weighing 13-9 and a final-day limit of 10-3, Thompson also earned a spot in the 2022 Nation Championship in November as the top finishing Arkansas B.A.S.S. Nation boater.
While Thompson has qualified for three Nation Championships previously, with one of those trips ultimately resulting in a ninth-place finish at the 2014 Bassmaster Classic at Lake Guntersville, the Mabelvale, Ark., angler had never won a Regional before Friday.
“I’ve been fishing this since ‘07 and you get to know the guys you have to beat in this thing,” Thompson said. “They were all lined up there this morning and I thought, ‘This is going to be tough.’ I’ve wanted (this trophy) for a long time. This is an amazing program. Guys who aren’t fishing it are missing out.”
Heavy rains throughout practice and the first two days of the tournament caused Grand Lake to change every day. The first day, the lake was well below full pool. Day 2 saw it rise to just above full pool.
On Day 3, the Bassmaster crew was forced to move the weigh-in stage away from the pavilion at Wolf Creek Park as the water rose close to 5 feet overnight and left anglers scrambling to find patterns.
Fishing a mix of rock and wood, Thompson weighed in the second-biggest bag of the tournament on Day 1 in an area where he had not practiced but knew about from a previous tournament. He said several other key areas played a role as well.
He cranked a squarebill around rock each day before flipping a tube at wooded cover.
“I wasn’t expecting that bag. I didn’t touch it in practice because I didn’t want to stick any,” Thompson said. “I just pulled in and it was on. I was able to ride that spot and a couple of other places for the three days.”
On the second day, Thompson had to slow down and use a shaky head and a Senko to catch his limit and maintain his second-place position. By Day 3, several of his spots began to muddy up, including his primary area, and the rock points he had been fishing were completely submerged. The water temperature had also dropped.
Around the corner from his primary area, however, was some cleaner water, and Thompson used a ChatterBait and the tube to secure a limit.
With bags of 16-4, 10-15 and 15-4, Carmouche ended his tournament with a three-day total of 42-7. While he may have lost the tiebreaker for the overall win, the Gonzales, La., native qualified for the Championship as the highest finishing Louisiana boater.
“I can remember exactly how many times I’ve made the state team, but this tournament has always been my crutch,” he said. “I have never done better than 11th overall in these Regionals and never won my state. This is awesome. I’m looking forward to representing Louisiana.”
After spending several days of practice up North, Carmouche spent the final day of practice on the South end of the lake and had 20 keeper bites. That strong bite continued into the first day of the tournament, as he caught 25 to 30 keeper bass on a wacky-rigged Senko and landed in sixth place.
Debris from the storms made it difficult for Carmouche to fish his primary area and he fell to 13th on Day 2 with a smaller limit.
“Down South, they were on beds. With the bad weather we had, you couldn’t really see them the first day. The second day, the water rose and you couldn’t see them, but I knew they were there. They just weren’t as active.”
With water continuing to rise, Carmouche moved to the mid-lake area where the muddy water and clear water began to mix. In the clearer pockets, he found bass holding in 10 to 15 feet of water and used a jig to land his 15-4 bag, the largest of Championship Friday.
“I just got on some deeper ledges and they were aggressive and they were all prespawn females,” Carmouche said. “They are in all stages right now.”
On his way to Grand Lake, Ryan Lavigne was involved in an accident, forcing him to return home and pick up another boat before coming to Oklahoma. Despite the rocky start to the week, the Louisiana boater finished third with a 40-12 total that included bags of 15-8, 14-11 and 10-9.
“I’m very blessed to be where I am at. From a rough start to the trip to a rough practice and then building on what little I found every day,” he said. “I haven’t been fishing much the last few years and it feels good to get back into it and actually compete.”
Day 2 leader Mike Webster earned $500 for catching the Big Bass of the Tournament, a 6-4 largemouth on Day 1.
Thompson took home an additional $500 as the winner of the Garmin Tournament Rewards.
Kansas native Ray Cates took home the victory in the nonboater division with a three-day total of 25-10. After landing in 23rd with 7-5 on Day 1, Cates put together bags of 10-3 and 8-2 the final two days to claim the trophy. Cates has made a name for himself as a nonboater, winning that division at the 2021 Nation Championship on the Ouachita River and nearly winning two years ago at Pickwick Lake as well.
“I missed winning the championship (at Pickwick) by 2 ounces and managed to get the win down in Louisiana. I got back here today and made it happen,” he said.
The top boater and nonboater from each state represented in this week’s event punched a ticket to the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship scheduled for Nov. 9-11 on Pickwick, where three berths will be awarded to the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk. The top boater from the Nation Championship will also earn an invitation to the Bassmaster Elite Series.
Alabama Bass Trail Announces 2023 Tournament Schedule and Payout and Celebrates Tenth Anniversary with Additional Prize Money
Decatur, Ala. (May 6, 2022) – The Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series will enter its tenth season next year as the state’s premier weekend tournament trail for amateur bass anglers with an 11-event schedule offering more than $590,000 in awards including $10K in prize money in celebration of the tournament’s tenth anniversary. The season gets underway February 11, 2023, on Lewis Smith Lake and concludes Oct. 20-21, 2023, with the championship on Weiss Lake.
“We are thrilled to celebrate ten years of tournament fishing in the great state of Alabama,” said Alabama Bass Trail Program Director Kay Donaldson. “It has been exciting to watch the Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series grow since its inception in 2013. From our sponsors and supporters to the anglers and their families, there are no words to adequately express my appreciation. We set out ten years ago to create an opportunity for anglers to experience what makes Alabama so special when it comes to bass fishing, and year after year, the host cities step up to create a world class angler experience that exceeds everyone’s expectations. Not only have we won the support and trust from anglers who return year after year, local communities are realizing the economic impact from hosting a tournament of this caliber. Everyone, from our lodging partners to local attractions, restaurants, shops and gas stations, see an impact from the Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series.”
Sanctioned by BASS (Bass Anglers Sportsman Society), the ABT Tournament Series contains two divisions, North and South, and each division is made up of five tournaments on five different lakes. The maximum number of boats for each tournament is 225. Teams must fish in all five tournaments in their respective division; no single entries will be allowed.
North Division:
February 11, 2023 Lewis Smith Lake in Jasper, Ala.
March 18, 2023 Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Ala.
April 15, 2023 Neely Henry Lake in Gadsden, Ala.
May 13, 2023 Pickwick Lake in Florence, Ala.
June 24, 2023 Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Ala.
South Division:
February 25, 2023 Lake Martin in Alexander City, Ala.
March 11, 2023 Lay Lake in Columbiana, Ala.
April 29, 2023 Lake Eufaula in Eufaula, Ala.
May 20, 2023 Logan Martin Lake in Lincoln, Ala.
June 10, 2023 Alabama River (Cooter's Pond) in Prattville, Ala.
Hosted by the town of Leesburg, the championship tournament will be held October 20-21, 2023, on Weiss Lake.
The no-entry fee championship event will include up to 185 boats. The 185 boats are comprised of the 10 regular season winners, top 75 teams in points from both divisions that fished all five events in their respective divisions, along with the top 15 student teams, top five college teams and the top five couples teams collectively from both divisions that fished all five events in their respective division.
Each regular season tournament features a $10,000 guaranteed first place prize and pays 40 places totaling $47,400. In celebration of the tournament series’ tenth anniversary, the Alabama Bass Trail will pay two additional teams $500 at each of the 10 regular season tournaments. The two additional paychecks will be awarded to teams who finish in 75th place and 150th place at each regular season tournament in 2023.
The no-entry fee championship will feature a $100,000 payout with a first place prize of $50,000. There is also a $5,000 bonus cash prize for Angler of the Year and $2,500 for runner-up Angler of the Year.
2023 Payout Schedule:
First place $10,000
Second place $ 5,000
Third place $ 4,000
Fourth place $ 3,000
Fifth place $ 2,000
Sixth place $ 1,500
Seventh place $ 1,100
Eighth place $ 1,100
Ninth place $ 1,100
Tenth place $ 1,100
11th – 20th $ 750 each
21st – 40th $ 500 each
75th and 150th $ 500 each
2023 Championship Payout:
First place $50,000
Second place $10,000
Third place $ 5,000
Fourth place $ 4,000
Fifth place $ 3,000
Sixth place $ 2,500
Seventh place $ 2,200
Eighth place $ 2,000
Ninth place $ 1,800
Tenth place $ 1,500
11th-15th $ 1,200 each
16th-25th $ 1,100 each
Big Fish $500 daily
In addition to their entry fees paid, the Alabama Bass Trail will award $500 per team to the 18 teams who qualify for the B.A.S.S. Team Championship to be used for travel expenses. According to Donaldson, nearly $600,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded when the Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series wraps up its season in 2023. “We are excited to announce the additional prize money to commemorate our tenth year. The first nine years have been successful and we look forward to the next ten years in reaching more anglers and showcasing the outstanding fishing opportunities that exist throughout Alabama,” added Donaldson.
Anglers who fished all five events in their respective divisions in 2022 will be given a priority entry period beginning August 1, 2022, at 6 a.m. CST online at www.alabamabasstrail.org. Registration opens for new teams August 15 at 6 a.m. CST. The entry fee remains at $1,300 per team, which includes registration for all five tournaments in the respective division. Each team may choose to pay a $500 nonrefundable deposit to hold the team’s spot. The balance of $800 is due on or before January 11, 2023.
Alabama Bass Trail Tournament sponsors include Phoenix Bass Boats, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Advantage Trailer Rentals, Alabama Power Foundation, Alabama State Parks, Berkley, Bajio Sunglasses, Big Bite Baits, Black Rifle Coffee Company, Buck N’ Bass, Busch Light, E3 Sport Apparel, Fish Neely Henry Lake, Jack’s, Lew’s Fishing, Mountain Dew, FishAlabama.org, Bill Penney Automotive, America’s First Federal Credit Union, Visit North Alabama, Alabama Tourism Department, T-H Marine Supplies, Inc., Power-Pole Total Boat Control, Strike King Lure Company, Yamaha, Yeti Coolers, Wedowee Marine and Garmin.
Angler’s Channel will continue the live-streaming and will film and produce the Alabama Bass Trail television series for Bally Sports Southeast to air at a later date.
Jesse Wiggins Wins MLF Bass Pro Tour Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks
Addison, Alabama, Angler Weighs in 11 Bass Totaling 27 Pounds, 11 Ounces to Earn First Career Bass Pro Tour Win and Top Payout of $100,000
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (May 5, 2022) – All week long, Addison, Alabama, pro Jesse Wiggins said that when he closed his eyes, Lake of the Ozarks felt exactly like his home fishery – Lewis Smith Lake in North Alabama. That hometown “feel” was just what Wiggins needed this week. The 32-year-old Alabama angler caught 11 scorable bass Thursday weighing 27 pounds, 11 ounces to win the MLF Bass Pro Tour Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat in Osage Beach, Missouri, and take home the top prize of $100,000.
“Oh my gosh,” said an emotional Wiggins as time expired. “I’m shaking, my videographers shaking, my official is shaking – we’re freaking tore up. I’m just a redneck from Alabama that likes to fish and loves to throw a shaky-head.
“I get here, and the banks look identical to Smith Lake. I mean, identical. And the fish set up identical. It seemed like I could call my shot, all week long.”
Wiggins spent the tournament targeting boat docks with a homemade shaky-head rig. After winning the Group A Qualifying Round, he advanced directly into Thursday’s Championship Round.
“I did exactly what I wanted to do, all week,” Wiggins said. “I grew up throwing a worm – that’s all we did. And we finally get a lake where they’re spawning and they’re biting the shaky-head. When they’re on that thing, I feel like I can win.”
Wiggins shaky-head rig was homemade – he fished both a 1/8-ounce and a 3/16-ounce – and he credited his key bait as being a watermelon-candy-colored Jackall Flick Shake worm.
“I always throw my shaky-heads on my 7-foot, 1-inch extra fast St. Croix Legend Elite rod – medium-heavy – with a Quantum Smoke S3 reel,” Wiggins said. “My line was Seaguar – Smackdown 30-pound braid and a 12-pound (Seaguar) Invisx leader . I worked with 12-pound because the water was dingy, and I was throwing it mainly around docks and cables.
“To come away with a win, first place against these guys – Lord have mercy, I can’t even put it into words,” Wiggins went on to say. “My support system back home – they all sacrifice so much. My wife Haley, River, my mom, Haley’s mom, Haley’s sisters, my grandma, my brothers – it’s crazy how much they sacrifice just for me to come out here and chase these things. I am so happy to win this for them. I can’t wait to bring this trophy back home to Addison.”
The top 10 pros from the Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat finished:
1st: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 11 bass, 27-11, $100,000
2nd: Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., nine bass, 25-4, $45,000
3rd: Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., six bass, 17-11, $38,000
4rd: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 14-0, $32,000
5th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., five bass, 13-2, $30,000
6th: Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas, four bass, 11-11, $26,000
7th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., four bass, 10-9, $23,000
8th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., three bass, 10-4, $21,000
9th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., two bass, 4-3, $19,000
10th: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., zero bass, 0-0, $16,000
Full results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall there were 49 scorable bass weighing 134 pounds, 7 ounces caught by the final 10 pros Thursday.
General Tire pro Mark Rose earned Thursday’s Championship Round $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award – his second Big Bass Award of the event – with a 4-pound, 9-ounce largemouth that bit a Strike King Finesse jig in Period 1. Brookeland, Texas, pro Dakota Ebare earned the $3,000 Berkley Big Bass award for the overall largest bass of the event with his 6-pound, 14-ounce largemouth that he weighed on Day 1 of competition.
After four regular-season events down in the 2022 Bass Pro Tour season, reigning Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) Jacob Wheeler currently leads with 300 pounds, while Jordan Lee sits right behind Wheeler in second place with 284 points. Dayton, Tennessee’s Andy Morgan sits in third with 255 points. Jesse Wiggins currently sits in fourth place with 251.5 points, while Alton Jones, Jr., rounds out the top five with 231 points.
The Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat featured 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 Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat was hosted by Central Missouri’s Tri-County Lodging Association, the Lake of the Ozarks Fishing Council and BassingBob.com. The event showcased 80 of the top professional bass-fishing anglers in the world competing for a purse of $805,000, including a top cash prize of $100,000 to the winner.
Television coverage of the Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat will premiere as two two-hour episodes at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 15 and Saturday, Oct. 22 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 competition.
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 the REDCREST 2023 championship.
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.
MLF Announces Details for 2022 Wiley X College Fishing Faceoff Events
TULSA, Okla. (May 5, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today the schedule and details for the 2022 Wiley X College Fishing Faceoffs. The Wiley X College Faceoffs – originally launched in 2019 – are single-day tournaments in a four-event series where competitors will fish in an MLF-style catch, weigh, immediate-release format at each event. The College Faceoff tournaments occur on the Saturdays following an Abu Garcia College Fishing competition on the same body of water.
“The Wiley X College Fishing Faceoff events are a great way for our student anglers to feel the excitement and intensity of the SCORETRACKER™ leaderboard and compete in MLF’s catch, weigh, immediate-release format,” said Kevin Hunt, MLF Senior Director of Tournament Operations, College and High School Fishing. “The anglers that competed in last year’s Faceoff events all thoroughly enjoyed competing in them, and I am sure that the anglers that compete in these events will also find them very fun and beneficial.”
The results from the College Fishing tournament the previous day will 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.
Coverage will be provided for each Wiley X College Faceoff at MajorLeagueFishing.com and on MLF social media outlets, including interviews and a trophy presentation for top finishers. Top individual teams will be recognized, and the school with the highest total combined weight from their two participating teams will be crowned the Wiley X Faceoff Champions. Sponsor prizes, including Wiley X sunglasses, will be awarded to the top finishers.
2022 MLF Wiley X College Faceoff Schedule
Saturday Smith Mountain Lake
June 4 Huddleston, Va.
Saturday Mississippi River
July 30 La Crosse, Wis.
Saturday Lake Erie
Sept. 10 Sandusky, Ohio
Saturday Pickwick Lake
Oct. 22 Counce, Tenn.
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.
Wesley Strader Paces Knockout Round Field, Final 10 Set for Championship Thursday at MLF Bass Pro Tour Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks
Spring City, Tennessee Angler Catches 11 Scorable Bass Totaling 34-2 to Earn First Knockout Round Win, Final 10 Anglers Set for Championship Thursday and Final-Day Shootout for $100,000
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (May 4, 2022) – “The W” got it done Wednesday at Lake of the Ozarks. Spring City, Tennessee, pro Wesley Strader caught 11 scorable largemouth weighing 34 pounds, 2 ounces, to best the 38 anglers competing and win the Knockout Round at the MLF Bass Pro Tour Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat in Osage Beach, Missouri. The final 10 anglers are now set, and competition will resume Thursday morning with the Championship Round when weights are zeroed, and the angler that catches the most one-day weight will take home top prize of $100,000.
The six-day tournament, hosted by Central Missouri’s Tri-County Lodging Association, the Lake of the Ozarks Fishing Council and BassingBob.com, showcases 80 of the top pro bass-fishing anglers in the world competing for a purse of $805,000, including a top cash prize of $100,000 to the winner. The tournament is livestreamed each day at MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MOTV app, and also filmed for broadcast later this fall on the Discovery Channel.
The top eight pros from Wednesday’s Knockout Round that will compete in Thursday’s final-day Championship Round on Lake of the Ozarks are:
1st: Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 11 bass, 34-2
2nd: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 12 bass, 33-7
3rd: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 32-11
4th: Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., nine bass, 29-11
5th: Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas, nine bass, 27-11
6th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., seven bass, 27-0
7th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., seven bass, 24-5
8th: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., eight bass, 23-12
They’ll be joined by Qualifying Round Winners:
Group A: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala.
Group B: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn.
Full results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
“What an amazing, blessed day,” Strader said in his post-game interview. “I’m happy to win a round. I know it’s not the Qualifying Round day that you really want to win, but it feels nice to just get a win.”
Strader caught an early 4-pound, 10-ounce largemouth on a Z-Man ChatterBait in Period 1, then switched to the bait that he did most of his damage on – a green-pumpkin-colored 3/8-ounce compact jig with a Zoom Speed Craw trailer. He credited his Lowrance electronics as being crucial to his success this week.
“My Lowrance has been a big key for me,” Strader said. “Being able to see how those contours fell in – most of the bites were kind of halfway back, and out, and you had to have some steeper stuff nearby. I found all of that on my C-Map.
“I’m excited about making it to the Championship round, I just hope they bite as good as they did today,” Strader said. “I think I found an area of the lake that has some fish that are willing to bite – some of them are up spawning, and some of them aren’t. We’re going to go home, sharpen our hooks, then go to the store and see if we can find any more of these jigs. I’m going to buy every one they have in the tackle shop, spool up some new Shooter Sunline and get ready to go for tomorrow.”
Rounding out the top 40 finishers were:
11th: Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, seven bass, 23-2, $10,000
12th: Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., eight bass, 22-11, $10,000
13th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., eight bass, 22-2, $10,000
14th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., eight bass, 21-5, $10,000
15th: Timmy Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala., seven bass, 20-2, $10,000
16th: Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., six bass, 19-8, $10,000
17th: Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., seven bass, 19-1, $10,000
18th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., seven bass, 18-15, $10,000
19th: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, six bass, 18-11, $10,000
20th: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, seven bass, 18-8, $10,000
21st: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., eight bass, 18-4, $10,000
22nd: Mark Daniels, Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., six bass, 17-3, $10,000
23rd: Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., seven bass, 16-4, $10,000
24th: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., six bass, 16-1, $10,000
25th: Jeff Kriet, Ardmore, Okla., four bass, 15-3, $10,000
26th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, five bass, 14-14, $10,000
27th: Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla., five bass, 14-13, $10,000
28th: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., four bass, 14-12, $10,000
29th: Shaw Grigsby, Gainesville, Fla., five bass, 14-11, $10,000
30th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., six bass, 14-10, $10,000
31st: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., five bass, 14-6, $10,000
32nd: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., five bass, 14-5, $10,000
33rd: James Watson, Lampe, Mo., five bass, 13-0, $10,000
34th: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., four bass, 11-15, $10,000
35th: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., four bass, 10-15, $10,000
36th: Shin Fukae, Osaka, Japan, four bass, 10-15, $10,000
37th: Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., four bass, 10-12, $10,000
38th: Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., four bass, 10-10, $10,000
39th: Alton Jones, Sr., Lorena, Texas, three bass, 9-9, $10,000
40th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., three bass, 7-6, $10,000
Overall, there were 241 scorable bass weighing 707 pounds, 4 ounces caught by the 38 pros Wednesday. The catch included 23 four-pounders, nine five-pounders and one six-pounder.
General Tire pro Mark Rose earned the $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award Wednesday, catching a 6-pound, 1-ounce largemouth on a jig in Period 1. 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 competed in their two-day qualifying round on Saturday and Monday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. After the two-day Qualifying Round, the anglers that finished in 2nd through 20th place from both groups advanced to Wednesday’s Knockout Round, while the winner of each group advanced directly to Thursday’s Championship Round. In the Knockout Round weights wereiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii zeroed, and the remaining 38 anglers competed to finish in the top 8 to advance to the Championship Round. Tomorrow, in the final day Championship Round, weights are zeroed and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
The final 10 anglers will launch Thursday at 7:30 a.m. from the Grand Glaize Marina Recreation Area, located at 711 Public Beach Road in Osage Beach. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the Marina, 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.
On Championship Thursday, May 5, from 4 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 Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat. The FREE, family-friendly event will be fun for fishing fans of all ages. The first 50 middle school or high school anglers 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 to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, take selfies and participate in tackle giveaways.
The Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat features 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 the REDCREST 2023 championship.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on Championship Thursday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat will premiere as two two-hour episodes at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 15 and Saturday, Oct. 22 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 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.
NETBAIT PRO LEE LIVESAY RELIES ON BAITFUEL TO TAKE THE WIN AT BASSMASTER CENTRAL OPEN
OCEAN SPRINGS, MS – May 3, 2022.
Lee Livesay, Bassmaster Elite Series Pro and Lake Fork Guide, uses BaitFuel Fish Attractant to give him an advantage while fishing pressured bass – Lee demonstrated this when he used BaitFuel for his recent Bassmaster Central Open win on Ross Barnett. Livesay relied on a Carolina rig with a 6-inch NetBait Lizard scented with BaitFuel, rigged on 4/0 Gamakatsu Superline Extra Wide Gap Hook with a 1/2-ounce weight.
Lee’s first BaitFuel experience was in Florida fishing, the first Bassmaster Elite Series event of the season, focusing on an area with a lot of pressure from competitors and locals – Flipping pads with no one getting many bites. That was until Lee flipped the switch applying BaitFuel to his bait presentation and instantly started boating fish. At that moment, Lee knew BaitFuel would be a main staple on the front deck of his boat, like his favorite Halo Fishing Rod, the Lee Livesay Signature Series HFX 7’3” Medium Heavy.
“BaitFuel gives me that extra edge by stimulating fish into BITE MODE.” Lee adds. “ I believe that with pressured fish or post spawn, you know they are being picky, and the best baits in the world won’t get bit without something to stimulate them from neutral into predator mode. BaitFuel makes that happen like nothing else.”BaitFuel Gel works with any bait type. It can easily be added to your favorite bag of soft plastics to marinate your baits overnight or on tournament day, giving you the full power of BaitFuel with every cast. Because it’s a gel, BaitFuel will stay on longer and is super-slick to help your lure slide through cover easier. Unlike other scents, BaitFuel Gel is virtually odorless to humans and won’t stain your carpets.
BaitFuel products have undergone extensive scientific research and testing to ensure the mix of bite-inducing ingredients is fully optimized for maximum performance in both BaitFuel Gel and BaitFuel integrated soft plastics. BaitFuel is supercharged with F.A.S.T. (Fish Active Scent Technology), water-based technology that releases scent easily and mimics the smell and taste of actual prey.
BaitFuel provokes key predatory aggression habits in fish, stimulating more bites and longer hold times for your bait. It keeps fish biting, cast after cast, even on pressured bass by creating a supercharged scent cloud behind your bait. BaitFuel expands your strike zone and brings more fish to your bait.
Learn more about BaitFuel by visiting BaitFuel.com
MLF Wraps 16-Tournament Weekend with Impressive Numbers
TULSA, Okla. (May 4, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, recently wrapped up one of the busiest weekends in the company’s history last weekend, April 28-May 1, with 16 unique MLF-sanctioned tournaments taking place around the country – a new MLF record for most tournaments ever held in a single week. From those 16 events came some eye-popping statistics.
- 16 Tournaments
- Bass Pro Tour at Lake of the Ozarks, Osage Beach, Mo.
- Toyota Series at Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, Grove, Okla.
- Toyota Series at Clear Lake, Clearlake, Calif.
- Phoenix Bass Fishing League at Lake Guntersville, Guntersville, Ala.
- Phoenix Bass Fishing League at Mississippi River – La Crosse, Wis.
- Phoenix Bass Fishing League at Rough River Lake, Falls of Rough, Ky.
- Phoenix Bass Fishing League at Kerr Lake, Henderson, N.C.
- Phoenix Bass Fishing League at Lake Hartwell, Lavonia, Ga.
- Phoenix Bass Fishing League at South Holston Reservoir, Bristol, Tenn.
- Phoenix Bass Fishing League at Kerr Lake (Sunday), Henderson, N.C.
- Abu Garcia College Fishing at Smith Mountain Lake, Huddleston, Va.
- Abu Garcia College Fishing at Clear Lake, Clearlake, Calif.
- High School Fishing at Smith Mountain Lake, Huddleston, Va.
- High School Fishing at Clear Lake, Clearlake, Calif.
- Kentucky High School Athletic Association - Region 1 at Lake Barkley, Kuttawa, Ky.
- Kentucky High School Athletic Association - Region 2 at Lake Cumberland, Jamestown, Ky.
- Total number of Unique MLF Anglers That Competed: 3,031
- Total number of Fish Caught: 10,555
- Number of Five-Fish Limits: 1,279
- Total Weight: 25,663 Pounds, 5 Ounces
- Total Tournament Payouts: $1,480,940.99
After the 16-tournament slate last weekend, MLF will showcase nine tournaments this upcoming weekend. So far in 2022, 84 tournaments have taken place and the season is 43% completed.
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.
Wall-To-Wall, Tree-Top Tall
This week Chris & DX welcome in Fat Cat Newton to talk about the 24th Annual Dick Hiley Big Bass Classic benefiiting St. Jude and Childhood Cancer. Fat Cat is a childhood cancer survivor and we hear his story and more in an in-depth interview. You need to check this one out.
MLF’s Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 4 Set to Visit Guntersville, Alabama
B&W Trailer Hitches Stop 4 on Lake Guntersville Presented by A.R.E. to Showcase 158 Professional Anglers Competing over Four Days for Top Prize up to $135,000
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (May 4, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, is set to return to Guntersville, Alabama next week, May 12-15, for the fourth event of the 2022 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me regular-season – the B&W Trailer Hitches Stop 4 on Lake Guntersville Presented by A.R.E. The four-day event – hosted by Marshall County Tourism and Sports – will mark the fifth time the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit has competed on Lake Guntersville and will showcase 158 professional anglers competing for a total purse of more than $850,000.
"Lake Guntersville offers some of the most challenging and exciting bass fishing in the country,” said Katy Norton, President of Marshall County Tourism and Sports. “We look forward to hosting the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit in North Alabama and invite our community to come out to the Lake Guntersville State Park to meet the pros and join us for the daily weigh-ins and weekend activities."
Over the past 22 years, MLF has held 127 tournaments on Lake Guntersville, placing it in fourth place in the top 10 fisheries most visited by MLF. When the Pro Circuit last visited the lake in 2017, General Tire pro Mark Rose of Wynne, Arkansas , stacked up a four-day total of 79 pounds, 11 ounces to take home the top award of $125,000 while pro Larry “The General” Nixon of Quitman, Arkansas, showed off the big bass on the fishery, bringing in an 8-pound, 6-ounce whopper at that same event. Tennessee pro David Walker of Sevierville, holds the MLF record for the highest one-day total on the fishery, bringing in a limit weighing 29 pounds, 3 ounces back in 2009.
In its 27th season, the Pro Circuit features a roster of 158 of the world’s best bass-fishing professionals – including 16 pros from Tennessee – competing across six regular-season events, each with a top award of up to $135,000. The field is also competing for valuable points to qualify for the 2022 Tackle Warehouse TITLE Presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship – held this year on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York – and the coveted Pro Circuit Angler of the Year (AOY) title.
In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of 158 anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Thursday and Friday. The top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight will advance to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros, based on cumulative weight from the first three days, will continue competition on Championship Sunday, 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.
Local pro and Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit angler Alex Davis of Albertville, Alabama, is a full-time guide on Lake Guntersville and said he is excited to see how the fishery is setting up for the tournament.
“The bass were spawning everywhere on Lake Guntersville that last week in April, so I think we will see a spawn, post-spawn and possibly a shad-spawn bite during the event,” Davis said. “The shad-spawn bite is hit or miss the last few years, so it’s just a roll of the dice when that will happen, but it could definitely come into play next week.
“The temperatures are supposed to be in the 90’s during the event, which is about 10 degrees above average for this time of year, so I expect we will see some fish moving offshore as well.”
Davis said with the broad range of techniques available on the fishery, anglers will be able to play to their strengths during the event.
“I expect we’ll see a lot of frogging and flipping grass in the shallow water, as well as wacky rigs, ChatterBaits, spinnerbaits, swimjigs and topwater baits being thrown,” Davis said. “A Shimano Macbeth Crankbait could be a pretty big player – that’s a good one that mimics shad during the shad spawn, so it could definitely come into play.
“Out deep, I expect we’ll see big crankbaits, football-head jigs, big spoons, hair jigs and that whole gamut of deep stuff being thrown as well,” Davis added.
Even more importantly than the warmer temps, stable weather is expected throughout the event, so anglers can expect their areas and patterns during practice to carry over during the competition days as well.
“Thankfully we’re not expected to have these crazy fronts and winds that we’ve been fighting all year on the Pro Circuit,” Davis said. “Unless something unexpected happens and the bass are just in a funk, this will probably be the best tournament we’ve had all year as far as numbers of fish catches.”
Davis said he anticipates it will take 17½ to 18 pounds per day to make it into the Top 10, and 22 pounds on the final one-day shootout to win the championship round.
“You know going in that you’re going to have bites and you’re going to have shots on goal all day on Guntersville, so catching a limit shouldn’t be a struggle,” Davis said. “This is going to be a fun event.”
After three events in the 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit regular season, Arkansas pro Spencer Shuffield leads the Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 538 points. Fellow Arkie, General Tire pro Mark Rose, the 2018 AOY, sits right behind Shuffield in second place with 532 points, while Mississippi’s Mitch Crane sits in third with 526 points. Florence, Italy’s Jacopo Gallelli currently sits in fourth place with 526 points, while Josh Butler of Hayden, Alabama, rounds out the top five with 524 points.
Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. CT, Thursday through Sunday, from the Lake Guntersville State Park, located at 1155 Lodge Drive, in Guntersville. 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. CT at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
As part of the event, on Saturday, May 11 from 9 a.m. to Noon, the MLF Fisheries Management Division (FMD) in partnership with Berkley Labs will be participating in a Habitat Restoration Project supported by Mercury Marine and MossBack Fish Habitat at the Duck River Reservoir, located at 419 County Road 1650 in Cullman, Alabama. Volunteers from the MLF-FMD and the Union Sportsman’s Alliance will build 85 MossBack fish structures and place the habitats at various locations throughout the reservoir.
Fans are also invited out to a FREE Expo on Saturday, May 14 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. where they can join MLF staff, Alabama State Parks and the TVA Aquarium for Make and Take Outdoor Crafts, Camping 101, inflatables, animals, info booths, food trucks and a Kids’ Fishing Derby from 1-2:30 p.m. Registration takes place on site and bait will be provided, as well as the use of 50 rods and reels during the event. Prizes will be awarded to the first and second place youth anglers who catch the most fish.
Fans can also meet PAW Patrol’s Marshall and Skye prior to the weigh-in from 1-2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, May 14-15 and Abu Garcia will be giving away a FREE rod and reel combo on Sunday, May 15th from 12:30-2:30 p.m. to the first 100 high school anglers to check in at the MLF booth.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit B&W Trailer Hitches Stop 4 at Lake Guntersville Presented by A.R.E. will feature live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere in July on the CBS Sports Network.
The 2022 season culminates with the Tackle Warehouse TITLE Presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship, where the top 48 pros in the points standings, along with 2021 TITLE Champion Jimmy Washam and 2021 AOY Michael Neal, will compete for a top prize of $235,000. The 2022 TITLE will be on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York, Aug. 16-21, and is hosted by the Town of Massena.
Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit 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 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.
Yamaha Power Pay Punctuates Christie’s Classic Win
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
When Jason Christie was driving back to the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C. after fishing concluded on the final day of the 2022 Bassmaster Classic®, he didn’t think he had enough weight to win.
While anything other than first place would have been a disappointment, Christie did admit to one positive thought on the drive to weigh-in – the Yamaha Power Pay $20,000 bonuspaid to the highest finishing angler running an eligible Yamaha outboard.
“I figured I would be a few ounces short of the win,” Christie said. “But at one point before weigh-in I did think about Power Pay and that perked me up a bit. I thought I had enough to beat the other Yamaha pros, which is all you need to win Power Pay money.”
Christie weighed 17-pounds, 9-ounces of Lake Hartwell bass on that final day, finishing in the top spot and closing the book on his first Bassmaster Classic trophy. The Oklahoma native took home both the $300K first-place tournament payout and Yamaha’s incredible contingency bonus. The Power Pay money punctuated just one of several reasons he’s so fond of his Yamaha.
“I’ve been running this motor for two seasons now, and I just haven’t had to worry about mechanical issues – at all,” Christie said. “Yamaha has always had a reputation for reliability and my experience has been a testament to that. Stay on top of maintenance and that V MAX SHO will be your best friend.”
More than the dependability, Christie said the ability of his outboard to jump his aluminum Xpress Boat on plane in skinny water suits his fishing style.
“I primarily fished shallow in both the Classic and the win on Lake Chickamauga – in water four feet deep or less,” Christie explained. “The hole shot from my Xpress-Yamaha allows me to get up on pad in literally 18 inches of water. I’m good in any water deeper than a foot-and-a-half, which saves me a lot of idling time. It may only be five minutes here, or three minutes there, but add that up throughout a multi-day tournament and all the sudden I’ve gotten 45-minutes of fishing time back. That’s a huge deal.”
Christie has certainly had an impressive start to his 2022 season;winning trophies, big checks, and contingency bonuses. However, you don’t have to be a professional bass angler or win tournaments to cash-in with Yamaha’s popular Power Pay program.
Power Pay’s list of supported events includes saltwater and walleye tournaments, along with a myriad of high school, college, and team tournament bass fishing trails. Anglers just need to be the highest placing registered participant in a supported tournament and they’re eligible for payouts.
For more information, to get registered for free, or for complete terms and conditions about Power Pay follow this link: https://yamahapowerpay.com/ or send Chip an email at [email protected] .
Wheeler Coasts to Qualifying Round Win at MLF Bass Pro Tour Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks
Harrison, Tennessee Pro Catches Two-Day Total of 19 Scorable Largemouth Weighing 64 Pounds, 2 Ounces to Advance Straight to Thursday’s Championship Round, Field of 38 Set for Knockout Round Wednesday
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (May 3, 2022) – Academy Sports + Outdoors pro Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, boated just four scorable bass weighing 16 pounds, 9 ounces, Tuesday, but it was still enough to hold off a hard-charging Keith Poche of Pike Road, Alabama, and win the two-day Qualifying Group B round at the MLF Bass Pro Tour Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat in Osage Beach, Missouri. After Wheeler started the day with a 16-pound, 5-ounce lead, Poche, who started the day in 15th place, caught 14 bass weighing 40-15 to rally to within 7¼ pounds of Wheeler’s lead late in the third period, but alas Wheeler had already caught enough to earn the victory with a two-day total of 19 bass weighing 64 pounds, 2 ounces.
Poche caught a two-day total of 19 bass weighing 57 pounds even to end the round in second place, while Hot Springs, Arkansas pro Stephen Browning, finished the round in third place with a two-day total of 16 bass weighing 47 pounds, 5 ounces. Favorite Fishing pro Zack Birge of Blanchard, Oklahoma, ended the round in fourth place with a two-day total of 17 bass for 45-12. Rounding out the top five was local favorite, Bass Pro Shops pro Jeremy Lawyer of Sarcoxie, Missouri, who caught 16 bass for 43-8 to advance in fifth place.
The remaining 38 anglers – 19 from each group – now advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round, where weights are zeroed, and the anglers compete to finish in the top eight to advance to the Championship Round on Thursday. The Championship Round will feature Group A winner Jordan Lee, Group B winner Jacob Wheeler, and the top eight finishers from the Knockout Round competing in a final-day shootout for the top prize of $100,000.
“Man, that turned in to a little bit of a nail-biter towards the end, but we got it done,” Wheeler said in his postgame interview. “I was sitting on a decent bed fish, and I really didn’t want to catch it if I didn’t have to. I was on it for kind of a safety thing – if Keith caught one near the end, I wanted to make sure that I had enough to still win and earn the auto-qualification into the Championship Round.”
Wheeler didn’t fish much, Tuesday. He caught two good scorable bass off of the beds in Period 1, then spent most of the day looking for more bed fish and trying to find developing patterns for Thursday’s Championship Round.
“I caught a lot of fish the last couple of days, but I shook some fish off a couple of different times as well,” Wheeler said. “I didn’t go to any of the 4+ pounders that I have marked on the bed. Ultimately, I feel like those fish are the ones that are going to help you win the Championship Round.”
Wheeler has sight-fished this week with a white craw-style bait and a bait that he said is more “translucent.”
“Some fish are a little bit goofier and you have to throw the more natural-type colors, and then some of the fish want more of a visual-type thing and I can get those fish to bite the straight white craw,” Wheeler said.
“They’re saying we’re going to have lots of rain, clouds and wind for our final day,” Wheeler went on to say. “The fish I shook off today gave me an idea of some different baits that I think I can use to trigger the fish into biting. It’s my third Championship Round auto-qualification this season, so maybe the third time is the charm and we can close this thing out and get the win.”
Poche had the best day on the water among the 40 competitors today but was disappointed that he wasn’t able to catch Wheeler.
“Man, I was so close,” Poche said in his post-game interview. “I had a really good day and I fought hard; I almost got it done. I lost some key fish that would have really put me over the top. But that’s just the way it goes, sometimes.
“I was catching them on a (Berkley) MaxScent General,” Poche continued. “It was a 5-inch, green-pumpkin, and I fished it on a shaky-head rig – nice and simple. But they were smoking it. I figured out some stuff and was looking for the right kind of banks – a little wind blowing on them really helped.
“We did all we could, and it was a lot of fun, but we came up a little bit short today,” Poche went on to say. “Hopefully we’ll catch them good in the Knockout Round tomorrow.”
The six-day tournament, hosted by Central Missouri’s Tri-County Lodging Association, the Lake of the Ozarks Fishing Council and BassingBob.com, showcases 80 of the top pro bass-fishing anglers in the world competing for a purse of $805,000, including a top cash prize of $100,000 to the winner. The tournament is livestreamed each day at MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MOTV app, and also filmed for broadcast later this fall on the Discovery Channel.
The top 20 pros in Qualifying Group B that now advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round on Lake of the Ozarks are:
1st: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 19 bass, 64-2
2nd: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 19 bass, 57-0
3rd: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 16 bass, 47-5
5th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 17 bass, 45-12
4th: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., 16 bass, 43-8
6th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 13 bass, 42-1
9th: Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 12 bass, 41-13
7th: Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe., 12 bass, 41-11
8th: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 13 bass, 39-11
10th: Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, 13 bass, 39-2
11th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 14 bass, 38-9
12th: James Watson, Lampe, Mo., 12 bass, 38-6
13th: Mark Daniels, Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 13 bass, 37-9
14th: Dave Lefebre, Erie, Pa., 12 bass, 37-9
15th: Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., 11 bass, 37-4
16th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 14 bass, 36-9
17th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 12 bass, 35-3
18th: Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas, 11 bass, 34-7
19th: Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 12 bass, 34-3
20th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 34-0
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 203 scorable bass weighing 600 pounds, 14 ounces caught by 39 pros Tuesday, which included 23 four-pounders and 12 five-pounders.
Flint, Texas, pro Kelly Jordon earned Tuesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award, catching a 5-pound, 14-ounce largemouth on a worm in Period 1. 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 competed in their two-day Qualifying Round on Saturday and Monday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. Now that the Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finished 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. from the Grand Glaize Marina Recreation Area, located at 711 Public Beach Road in Osage Beach. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the Marina, 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.
On Championship Thursday, May 5, from 4 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 Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat. The FREE, family-friendly event will be fun for fishing fans of all ages. The first 50 middle school or high school anglers 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 to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, take selfies and participate in tackle giveaways.
The Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat features 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 the REDCREST 2023 championship.
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. CT. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat will premiere as two two-hour episodes at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 15 and Saturday, Oct. 22 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 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.
Omnia Fishing To Simulcast Bassmaster LIVE As Shoppable Feed For Two Elite Series Events
May 3, 2022
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Fishing fans streaming two upcoming Bassmaster Elite Series events will be able to watch, learn and shop in one seamless experience. During Days 1 and 2 of the Simms Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork and the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Lake Oahe, Omnia Fishing and B.A.S.S. have partnered to simulcast Bassmaster LIVE as a shoppable stream on Omnia’s website and mobile app.
"We're thrilled to provide an enhanced simulcast of Bassmaster Elite Series events where viewers can see and shop the products they see the pros using on screen in real time,” said Matt Johnson, CEO of Omnia Fishing. “We're blown away by how passionate our customers are about learning and improving their skills. We can't wait to see what they're able to accomplish when they have a direct path from inspiration at Bassmaster events to trying new gear on their local waters.”
Anglers often use their time on camera during Bassmaster LIVE to help educate anglers of all levels on how to break down a fishery and what techniques and gear will help them be most successful. The Omnia Fishing Bassmaster LIVE simulcast will provide an opportunity for enthusiastic fans to follow along as their favorite Elite anglers adjust to two very different bodies of water while Omnia’s live shopping platform guides detail-hungry anglers through the pros’ bait, rod and reel selections.
Omnia Fishing currently sponsors three Elite Series anglers — Wisconsin’s Bob Downey, who already has a second-place finish this season, 2021 Bassmaster Angler of the Year Seth Feider of Minnesota and South Carolina’s Patrick Walters, who has earned Century Belts in two consecutive stops at Lake Fork.
Fans will be able to shop along with the pros May 19-20 during the Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork and August 18-19 during the Bassmaster Elite at Lake Oahe at OmniaFishing.com and on the soon to be released Omnia Fishing app, which will be available free in the Apple and Google Play stores.
VanDam counting on cookies and a horseshoe
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Given the legendary success of Kevin VanDam’s pro angling career, some might say he doesn’t really need any additional luck. But even the best there’s ever been says a little extra positive mojo is always welcome in his boat.
So, after a tough opening round Sunday at MLF’s Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four Presented by BassCat at Lake of the Ozarks, the classy pro from Michigan is carrying a very old horseshoe he found while taking part in a shoreline trash cleanup Saturday during a Costa Clean Water Matters Program.
“I’m not really a superstitious person, but I figure the horseshoe can’t hurt. I’m having fun with it. It didn’t help a ton on Sunday, but I’m leaving it in the boat,” grins VanDam.
This week’s event is largely a sight-fishing event, but VanDam focused on slightly dirtier water uplake using a spinnerbait, a Thunder Cricket, and Strike King’s new Hybrid Hunter crankbait, but thinks maybe falling water levels Sunday kept the heavy pre-spawn females away from the bank.
He ended the day with five scoreable bass totaling 11-pounds and sits middle-of-the-pack to begin the day Tuesday -- stillvery much within striking distance of moving onward to Wednesday’s Knockout Round.
He’ll likely stick to his power fishing strengths in dingier water now that rain and clouds have moved in, and he’ll also be carrying a bag of cookies with a proven track record of delivering sweet success.
“My wife Sherry always made cookies for me to take on the road, and when Davy Hite was my roommate he called them ‘lucky cookies’ – but more recently, Momma Guck gave me a bag of her homemade cookies before I won Cayuga Lake in 2016, the St. Lawrence River in 2017, and Grand Lake in 2018 – so I’m pretty fired up to have a fresh bag of them in the boat here at Lake of the Ozarks,” grinned VanDam.
So, while VanDam may not be superstitious, he’s a firm believer that an upbeat positive attitude is critical to success, and few things bring better vibes than a history-rich horseshoe and a bag full of homemade cookies made from a recipe proven to deliver wins.
Kelseyville Teens Win MLF High School Fishing Open on Clear Lake
CLEARLAKE, Calif. (May 2, 2022) – The High School Fishing team of Tyler Bryant and Joey Gentle, both of Kelseyville, California, brought five bass to the scale Sunday weighing 16 pounds, 10 ounces, to win the MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open at Clear Lake.
A field of 34 teams competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which launched from Redbud Park in Clearlake. 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 three teams that advanced to the 2022 High School Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Lake County High School Fishing Club – Tyler Bryant and Joey Gentle, both of Kelseyville, Calif., five bass, 16-10
2nd: Grizzly Bass Masters, Georgetown, Calif. – Jon Loya, Georgetown, Calif., and Earl Nattrass, Cool, Calif., five bass, 16-9
3rd: Liberty High School, Brentwood, Calif. – Tanner Cleghorn and J.D. Farage, both of Discovery Bay, Calif., five bass, 15-13
Rounding out the top 10 teams were:
4th: Delta Teen Team – Maxwell Kaneko, Berkeley, Calif., and Sam Shimabukuro, Alameda, Calif., five bass, 15-2
5th: Delta Teen Team – Justin Navarro, San Ramon, Calif., and Tyler Wood, Danville, Calif., five bass, 14-15
6th: Vista del Lago, Folsom, Calif. – Daniel Crouse, Folsom, Calif., and Hudson Hannaman, El Dorado Hills, Calif., five bass, 14-6
7th: Oakdale High School, Oakdale, Calif. – Troy Cox and Zane Ravalin, both of Oakdale, Calif., five bass, 13-14
8th: Nor Cal Junior Bass Club – Danial Hutchinson and Caleb Wolff, both of Redding, Calif., five bass, 13-13
9th: Lake County High School Fishing Club – Dylan Watson, Novato, Calif., and Cody Whitehurst, Redding, Calif., five bass, 13-12
10th: Skullcrushers – Dominic Pucci, Sonoma, Calif., and Tyler Trainor, Ashburn, Va., five bass, 13-9
Complete results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The next event for High School Fishing anglers will be the MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open on Smith Mountain Lake, June 4 in Huddleston, Virginia.
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 2022 High School Fishing National Championship. The 2022 MLF High School Fishing National Championship will be held on Pickwick and Wilson Lakes in Florence, Alabama, June 22-25, and is hosted by the Florence-Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The High School Fishing National Champions will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice and advance to the 2022 MLF Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers.
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.
Pittsford Mendon High School Wins MLF High School Fishing Open on Smith Mountain Lake
HUDDLESTON, Va. (May 2, 2022) – The Pittsford Mendon High School team of Rein Golub of Pittsford, New York, and Matthew Pitcher, of Rochester, New York, brought five bass to the scale Saturday weighing 15 pounds, 1 ounce, to win the MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open at Smith Mountain Lake and earn their way into the 2022 High School Fishing National Championship.
Rounding out the top 10 teams were:
2nd: HS Potomac River Bass Master – Joah Coley, Kearneysville, W.V., and Jarren Crowder, Clearspring, Md., five bass, 14-8
3rd: Capital City Jr Bass Masters – Wade Detweiler, Dillsburg, Pa., and Jacob Vanscoik, Dauphin, Pa., five bass, 12-13
4th: Badin Bandits Fishing Team – Bo Helms, Albemarle, N.C., and Ethan Palmer, Richfield, N.C., five bass, 11-5
5th: Madison High School, Marshall, N.C. – Matthew Crawford, Marshall, N.C., and Gavin Gault, Mars Hill, N.C., three bass, 10-13
6th: Pulaski County, Dublin, Va. – Logan Martin and Dustin Martin, both of Dublin, Va., five bass, 10-10
7th: Lisbon Central High School, Lisbon, N.Y. – Connor Bell and Matthew Kinney, both of Lisbon, N.Y., five bass, 10-1
8th: Pequannock Township High School, Pequannock Township, N.J. – Nicholas Dellaporta, Pequannock, N.J., and Taylor Marcel, Accord, N.Y., five bass, 8-7, $400
9th: West Laurens High School, Dexter, Ga. – Cameron Boston and Ryan Soles, both of Dublin, Ga., three bass, 8-4
10th: Elizabethton High School, Elizabethton, Tenn. – Owen Wheeler, Kingsport, Tenn., and Spencer Winstead, Johnson City, Tenn., four bass, 7-0
Complete results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open at Smith Mountain Lake was hosted by Destination Bedford. The next event for High School Fishing anglers will be the MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open again on Smith Mountain Lake, June 4, in Huddleston, Virginia.
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 2022 High School Fishing National Championship. The 2022 MLF High School Fishing National Championship will be held on Pickwick and Wilson Lakes in Florence, Alabama, June 22-25, and is hosted by the Florence-Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The High School Fishing National Champions will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice and advance to the 2022 MLF Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers.
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.
Jesse Wiggins Wins Qualifying Round A at MLF Bass Pro Tour Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks
Alabama Pro Catches Two-Day Total of 24 Bass Weighing 63 Pounds, 4 Ounces to Advance Straight to Thursday’s Championship Round, 19 Anglers Advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (May 2, 2022) – It was a dramatic finish on the SCORETRACKER®Monday afternoon, as several pros battled it out for the automatic berth to the Championship Round on Thursday. With less than five minutes left in the competition day, pro Jesse Wiggins of Addison, Alabama caught a largemouth to take over the top spot, giving him 13 scorable bass weighing 34 pounds even to earn the win Monday during the Group A Qualifying Round at the MLF Bass Pro Tour Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat in Osage Beach, Missouri.
There was a flurry of movement along the Toro Cut Line as well as the day wrapped up, with Cullman, Alabama pro Matt Lee catching two largemouth with minutes to spare, to squeeze into the Top 20 and end the day in 17th place. Bass Pro Shops pro Timmy Horton of Muscle Shoals, Alabama also caught two bass within the final minutes to slide up into 18th place, but Toyota pro Terry Scroggins of San Mateo, Florida made the biggest moves in period three, including a 5-pound, 3-ounce kicker at the end of the day, to jump from 36th place up to 13th and move on to Wednesday’s Knockout Round.
The top 20 anglers from Group A will now have an off day from competition Tuesday, while the 40 anglers competing in Qualifying Group B will complete their two-day Qualifying Round. The Knockout Round, featuring 38 anglers competing to finish in the top eight, will take place Wednesday. Thursday’s Championship Round will feature Wiggins, Tuesday’s Group B winner and the top eight anglers from the Knockout Round competing in a final-day shootout for the top prize of $100,000.
“We’re in the Championship Round after back-to-back top 10’s – I can’t believe it,” Wiggins said. “Especially after the day I’ve had – I lost a 3 ½-pounder and multiple 2-pounders right here at the boat. It’s just been crazy. Getting behind these cables around the docks, you just never know what’s going to happen. I’m used to it though, so I don’t panic, and it worked today – we pulled off a miracle here at the end.”
This marks the Alabama pro's second time to win the Qualifying Round for his group, although the first time was in 2019 on Smith Lake, before the automatic berth was offered to anglers.
“I saved this best stretch for the end of the day,” Wiggins said. “I caught tons of 14-inch bucks during practice and I knew if any of those big ones slid up in here, it could get interesting. It’s where I caught them on Day One as well. I let them set up all day today, nobody touched it, and I came back at the end of the day and caught three good ones.”
Wiggins said the last stretch of the day gave him great confidence that he’ll be able to go back through all his other areas during the Championship Round because he believes there are more of those big ones coming.
“I caught all my fish on a 7-foot, 1-inch St. Croix Legend Elite Casting Rod, medium-heavy with extra-fast action with Seaguar 30-pound Smackdown Braided Line in Stealth Gray and a 12-pound Seaguar Red Label Fluorocarbon Line ,” Wiggins said. “It’s bigger, but the water’s dirty and these fish are spawning so you can get away with bigger line.”
Wiggins said he threw a homemade 3/16-ounce shaky head, but the key was the Jackall 6.8 Flick Shake Worm.
“I bit the Flick Shake off to about 5 inches, but it’s got that little tail on it – something about that tail just drives them crazy,” Wiggins said. “The water’s dirty and I wanted a thicker profile with a short worm, kind of like a stick worm-style bait, but that tail makes all the difference.
“If you think being on the cutline is stressful – that right there is stressful,” Wiggins added. “I wasn’t showing it because I had one thing in mind, to get that jighead in front of another bass, but lordy mercy. All my lines are broke, no leaders, all my worms are cut in half, I got millions of Flick Shake worms laying around, but we are in the Championship now and we got two days to get everything rigged and ready.”
The six-day tournament, hosted by Central Missouri’s Tri-County Lodging Association, the Lake of the Ozarks Fishing Council and BassingBob.com , showcases 80 of the top pro bass-fishing anglers in the world competing for a purse of $805,000, including a top cash prize of $100,000 to the winner. The tournament is livestreamed each day at MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MOTV app, and also filmed for broadcast later this fall on the Discovery Channel.
The top 20 pros in Qualifying Group A that now advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round on Lake of the Ozarks are:
2nd: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, 23 bass, 62-9
3rd: Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, 17 bass, 57-11
4th: Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., 19 bass, 57-8
5th: Shaw Grigsby, Gainesville, Fla., 20 bass, 56-3
6th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 15 bass, 49-9
7th: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 17 bass, 47-5
8th: Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., 12 bass, 43-1
9th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 13 bass, 41-1
10th: Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 13 bass, 40-5
11th: Shin Fukae, Thomson, Ga. and Osaka, Japan, 13 bass, 40-4
12th: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 13 bass, 38-3
13th: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 12 bass, 38-1
14th: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 14 bass, 37-11
15th: Jeff Kriet, Ardmore, Okla., 12 bass, 37-11
16th: Anthony, Gagliardi, 14 bass, 36-14
17th: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., 14 bass, 36-13
18th: Timmy Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala., 11 bass, 36-12
19th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, 13 bass, 34-13
20th: Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., 11 bass, 34-11
Overall, there were 229 scorable bass weighing 667 pounds, 6 ounces caught by 38 pros Monday, which included 23 four-pounders, seven five-pounders and one six-pounder.
Gunterville, Alabama’s Chris Lane caught a 6-pound, 1-ounce largemouth in Period 2, throwing a River2Sea Whopper Plopper in a pocket to earn the day’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The 40 Anglers in Group A competed 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. from the Grand Glaize Marina Recreation Area, located at 711 Public Beach Road in Osage Beach. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the Marina, 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.
On Championship Thursday, May 5, from 4 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 Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat. The FREE, family-friendly event will be fun for fishing fans of all ages. The first 50 middle school or high school anglers 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 to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, take selfies and participate in tackle giveaways.
The Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat features 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 the REDCREST 2023 championship.
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. CT. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat will premiere as two two-hour episodes at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 15 and Saturday, Oct. 22 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 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.
University of Idaho Wins MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament on Clear Lake
CLEARLAKE, Calif. (May 2, 2022) – The University of Idaho duo of Matthew Kavanaugh and Nate Kimberling, both of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, won the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Clear Lake Saturday with a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds, 13 ounces. The victory earned the Vandals’ bass club a slot in the 2023 MLF College Fishing National Championship.
“This win was really cool,” Kimberling said. “We just started this club four months ago and had never fished here before, so to put it together and beat these schools … it really meant something to us.”
Kimberling said the day’s competition started out as anything but typical.
“In the morning we went to fish Monitor Island, and water was blowing us all over and back. I jumped off a 4-pounder on a drop-shot and then a flying goose hit my fishing pole as I was casting. It was a very eventful 10 minutes,” Kimberling laughed.
“After that debacle, we decided to run across the lake to the point across from Monitor Island,” Kimberling continued. “We caught two fish and moved over to Fraser Point. There was one 200-yard stretch where there weren’t any boats, so we went in there and fished a dock. Matt caught a 2-pounder on his first cast. I cast right in there and caught another 2-pounder. Then I made a cast to the bank and caught another 4-pounder that got wrapped around a cable and broke off.”
Kimberling said the team had their five weigh-in fish by 10 o’clock. They filled their limit with drop-shot rigs baited with an Aaron’s Morning Dawn-colored Roboworm in 10 to 20 feet of water on banks with large rocks.
“After that, the wind was really bad, so we decided to make a run back to the launch to fish the creek there,” Kimberling said. “We started punching mats in there, flipping a toxic grape Missile Baits D Bomb. We went about 200 yards into the creek and caught a 5-pounder and a 3-pounder out of the same mat within two casts of each other.
“After a bit of a lull, Matt flipped up against a tree and swam the bait out,” Kimberling added. “A fish followed it and ate it on the swim. Matt thought it was a carp, then he finally set the hook, and it was our big fish at 6 pounds, 1 ounce.”
Kimberling said the duo caught nine bass – all keepers – during the course of the day.
The top 10 teams that advanced to the 2023 College Fishing National Championship are:
1st: University of Idaho – Matthew Kavanaugh and Nate Kimberling, both of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, five bass, 18-13
2nd: Simpson University – Jayden Nezy, Page, Ariz., and Nathan Phillips, Kelseyville, Calif., five bass, 18-11
3rd: Simpson University – Ty Manterola, Pasco, Wash., and Taj White, Glendale, Ariz., five bass, 16-10
4th: Cal Poly – Dane Morris, Agoura Hills, Calif., and Sam West, Fort Bragg, Calif., five bass, 16-6
5th: Fresno State – Brendan Holden and Clark Vue, both of Clovis, Calif., five bass, 15-12
6th: Fresno State – Liam Cornell, Fresno, Calif., and Kelby Keeling, Visalia, Calif., five bass, 15-6
7th: Chico State – Peter Khoury and Grant Loberg, both of Chico, Calif., five bass, 15-0
8th: Chico State – Jack Geist, Davis, Calif., and Miles Kaneko, Berkeley, Calif., five bass, 14-13
9th: Simpson University – Ryan Beaty, Martinez, Calif., and James Hawkinson, Granite Bay, Calif., five bass, 14-8
10th: Sonoma State University – Dawson Stroud, Waterford, Calif., and Owen Ward, Modesto, Calif., five bass, 13-15
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Clear Lake was the second of three regular-season tournaments for Western Conference anglers. The next event for College Fishing anglers will be the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event Smith Mountain Lake, June 3 in Huddleston, Virginia.
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 2022 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship Presented by Lowrance will be held on Fort Gibson Lake in Wagoner, Oklahoma, March 29-31, and is hosted by the Wagoner Area Chamber of Commerce.
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.
David Williams Wins Rescheduled Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Kerr Lake
Brown Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
HENDERSON, N.C. (May 2, 2022) – Boater David Williams of Newton, North Carolina, caught five bass Sunday weighing 18 pounds, 2 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Kerr Lake . The Bass Fishing League Piedmont Division tournament, hosted by the Vance County Tourism Development Authority, had been rescheduled from March 12 because of severe storms and inclement weather. Williams earned $3,756 for his victory.
“I started off just covering a lot of water with an Evergreen Shower Blows Topwater bait,” Williams said. “I had been getting a couple of fish like that each morning, and if they blew up on it and I didn’t catch them, usually I could go back later and catch them. I think a lot of them were bedding and I was getting a reaction bite.”
Williams said he focused his efforts in the Nutbush Bridge area of Kerr, and added if wind was present he could catch fish on a spinnerbait around rocks on points where shad or blueback herring were spawning. Later in the day, he shifted tactics to swimming a jig or a jig fished on the bottom around wood or docks. Williams said his jig setup consisted of a ½-ounce Queen Tackle Jig with a Zoom Z Craw Jr. trailer. Williams said 12 to 15 of the 20 bass he caught during competition were keepers.
Williams finished third in Saturday’s MLF BFL tournament on Kerr Lake and thought it would take 18 pounds to be in the running for a win Sunday. Williams edged that number and said the successful weekend held special meaning for him.
“I lost my mom last week and actually came up the day after I lost her and started fishing,” Williams said. “I dedicate this win to her. She was always my biggest fan.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: David Williams, Newton, NC., five bass, 18-2, $3,756
2nd: Kevin Walton, Norfolk, Va., five bass, 17-0, $1,878
3rd: Dennis Middleton, Madison Heights, Va., five bass, 15-11, $1,253
4th: Aaron Falwell, Forest, Va., five bass, 15-1, $876
5th: Kevin Chandler, New London, N.C., five bass, 14-12, $751
6th: Shawn Hammack, Gasburg, Va., five bass, 14-11, $1,679 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
7th: Keith Roberts, Hurt, Va., five bass, 14-10, $1,026
8th: Ben Dalton, Keeling, Va., five bass, 14-5, $563
9th: Jeremy Talbert, Albemarle, N.C., five bass, 14-3, $501
10th: Michael Maull, Fayetteville, N.C., five bass, 13-14, $438
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Hammack had a largemouth that weighed 5 pounds, 13 ounces that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division and earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $490.
Kenneth Brown of Leesburg, Virginia, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,101 Sunday after catching five bass weighing 14 pounds, 13 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
1st: Kenneth Brown, Leesburg, Va., five bass, 14-13, $2,101
2nd: Arthur Harris, York, S.C., five bass, 12-14, $929
3rd: David Deciucis, Chester, Va., five bass, 11-15, $619
4th: Nathan Reeves, Lynchburg, Va., four bass, 11-10, $534
5th: Greg Ravitsky, Palmyra, Va., five bass, 10-14, $372
6th: Anthony Pulley, Chester, Va., five bass, 10-12, $341
7th: Darrell Medley, Chesapeake, Va., four bass, 10-7, $310
8th: Scott McKay, New London, N.C., four bass, 10-4, $279
9th: Pat Kendrick, Bumpass, Va., four bass, 9-5, $448
10th: James Williams, Sims, N.C., three bass, 9-4, $217
Brown caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 8 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $242.
After three events, Eric Johnson of Partlow, Virginia, leads the Bass Fishing League Piedmont Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 703 points, while Nathan Reeves of Lynchburg, Virginia, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 742 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. 6-8 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake Murray in Prosperity, South Carolina. Boaters will compete for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Regional Championships where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. The 2022 All-American will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.
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.
Austin Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on South Holston Reservoir
Sweet Takes Strike King Co-Angler Division
BRISTOL, Tenn. (May 2, 2022) – Boater Doug Austin of Bristol, Virginia, caught five bass Saturday weighing 18 pounds, 4 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on South Holston Reservoir. The tournament was the second event for the Bass Fishing League Volunteer Division. Austin earned $5,024 for his victory.
“I had two or three fish I had located before the tournament that I thought I could catch, and that was my main plan – to catch them right at the start and then settle in on the bank and go from there,” Austin said. “I caught two out of the three pretty quickly, and then the rest of the day was spent just jumping from here to there, catching little ones and every now and then a good one. It was real spotty.”
Austin said he used a green-pumpkin Berkley Powerbait Power Worm on a 1/0 hook with a 1/8-ounce weight on 7-pound-test line. He said the light line was key to helping the rig get down deeper more quickly. Austin said the rig resulted in 10 or 12 fish – nine of which were keepers.
“We’d hit a bank and get a good one, and then I’d catch two or three 2-pounders,” Austin said. “The last fish I caught that I weighed I caught with 30 or 45 minutes to spare.”
Austin said he expected the winning weight to be 19 or 19½ pounds.
“When I came in, I was thinking I had a top-5 finish,” Austin said. “It was at the end of the spawn, and the weights tend to go down.”
Austin said his longtime fishing companion passed away days before the tournament, with memorial services scheduled the day of competition. His friends encouraged him to fish on.
“They told me he would want me to go ahead and fish today, and I did,” Austin said. “To win it was a special thing. When I found out I had won, I just went off and had myself a moment and cried and talked to him.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Doug Austin, Bristol, Va., five bass, 18-4, $5,024
2nd: J.R. Henard, Rogersville, Tenn., five bass, 17-1, $2,512
3rd: Tyler Altizer, Abingdon, Va., five bass, 16-10, $1,674
4th: Colton Chambers, Elizabethton, Tenn., five bass, 16-7, $1,172
5th: Jimmy Neece Jr., Bristol, Tenn., five bass, 16-4, $1,463 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
5th: Jack Daniel Williams, Kingsport, Tenn., five bass, 16-4, $963
7th: Bryan Leonard, Blountville, Tenn., five bass, 16-3, $837
8th: Clayton Winebarger, Abingdon, Va., five bass, 16-1, $754
9th: Brian Barnett, Bluff City, Tenn., five bass, 15-14, $628
9th: Brandon Stanley, Johnson City, Tenn., five bass, 15-14, $628
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Joshua Short of Bean Station, Tennessee, and Tim Smiley of White Pine, Tennessee, both caught largemouth that weighed 4 pounds, 12 ounces in the Boater Division and split the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $774.
Konnor Sweet of Abingdon, Virginia, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,419 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 15 pounds, 12 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
1st: Konnor Sweet, Abingdon, Va., five bass, 15-12, $2,419
2nd: Ryan Lee, Pound, Va., five bass, 15-8, $1,210
3rd: Kevin King, Blountville, Tenn., five bass, 15-7, $807
4th: Stephen Brady, Woodlawn, Va., five bass, 15-5, $524
4th: Travis Malone, Wartburg, Tenn., five bass, 15-5, $524
6th: Brian Bailey, Austinville, Va., five bass, 15-2, $444
7th: Brad Barton, Middlesboro, Ky., five bass, 14-11, $403
8th: Mike Roten, Creston, N.C., five bass, 14-7, $363
9th: Joshua Rasnake, Jonesborough, Tenn., five bass, 13-14, $323
10th: Rod Grayson, Oxford, Iowa, five bass, 13-10, $282
James Reece of Big Stone Gap, Virginia, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 13 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $365.
After two events, J.R. Henard of Rogersville, Tennessee, leads the Bass Fishing League Volunteer Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 480 points, while Konnor Sweet of Abingdon, Virginia, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 498 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 Smith Lake in Cullman, Alabama. 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 2022 All-American will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.
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.
Burroughs Posts Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Hartwell
LAVONIA, Ga. (May 2, 2022) – Boater Jason Burroughs of Hodges, South Carolina, caught five bass Saturday weighing 18 pounds, 5 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Hartwell . The tournament, hosted by the City of Lavonia, was the third event for the Bass Fishing League Savannah River Division. Burroughs earned $13,472, which includes the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
“I fished the lower end of the lake from Andersonville Island to the dam,” said Burroughs, who tabs Lake Hartwell as his home body of water. “I caught 10 or 11 fish during the day, and they were all keepers.”
Burroughs said he focused on fishing blueback herring patterns by utilizing a white swimbait and chrome topwater bait, as well as a shaky-head rig to catch his bass.
“The fishing was just spread out all during the day,” Burroughs said. “I had one fish that weighed 6 pounds, 3 ounces, and it made all the difference in the world. I caught it at 1:45.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
2nd: Greg Glouse, Liberty, S.C., five bass, 17-2, $2,436
3rd: Joe Anders, Easley, S.C., five bass, 16-5, $1,623
4th: Baylor Ronemus, Tiger, Ga., five bass, 15-10, $1,137
5th: Austin Davis, Pelzer, S.C., five bass, 15-7, $974
6th: Blake Campbell, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 14-13, $852
6th: Michael Webster, Gastonia, N.C., five bass, 14-13, $852
8th: Daulton Smith, Martin, Ga., five bass, 14-10, $1,466
9th: Darren Ashley, Calhoun Falls, S.C., five bass, 14-5, $609
9th: Jayme Rampey, Liberty, S.C., five bass, 14-5, $609
Smith earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $735 with a largemouth that weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces.
Sammy Evans of Hodges, South Carolina, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,664 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 13 pounds, 5 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
2nd: Jason Goldman, Commerce, Ga., five bass, 12-4, $1,182
3rd: Gavin Ballew, Travelers Rest, S.C., five bass, 11-8, $670
3rd: Brandon Hendrix, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 11-8, $670
5th: Harold Grizzle, Gainesville, Ga., five bass, 11-7, $473
6th: Kevin Dye, Central, S.C., five bass, 11-5, $413
6th: Scott Gardner, Seneca, S.C., five bass, 11-5, $413
8th: Johnny Hancox, West Union, S.C., five bass, 10-15, $335
8th: Matthew Bourgoin, North Augusta, S.C., five bass, 10-15, $335
10th: Casey McQuerns, Appling, Ga., five bass, 10-13, $628
After three events, Jason Burroughs of Hodges, South Carolina, leads the Bass Fishing League Savannah River Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 744 points, while Eduardo Pabon of Gainesville, Georgia, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 717 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 Smith Lake in Cullman, Alabama. 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 2022 All-American will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas and is hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.
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.
Chandler Bests Field at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Kerr Lake
HENDERSON, N.C. (May 2, 2022) – Boater Kevin Chandler of New London, North Carolina, caught five bass Saturday weighing 18 pounds, 12 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Kerr Lake . The tournament, hosted by Vance County Tourism, was the third event for the Bass Fishing League Piedmont Division. Chandler earned $3,804 for his victory.
“Fishing wasn’t extremely good; I’ve caught them a lot better than what I did today,” Chandler said. “I caught one right off the bat throwing a spinnerbait. So that kind of got the day rolling.”
Chandler said he used a War Eagle spinnerbait to catch his early bass. He caught one under a pier on a jig, two on shallow brush laydowns, and landed several 14- and 15-inch bass for the next couple of hours before catching another solid 4-pound bass to add to his weigh-in total.
“I caught 10 or 12 keepers, but I only caught five really good ones all day,” Chandler said. “It’s been a while since I’ve won, so this feels great.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
2nd: Tyler Trent, Nathalie, Va., five bass, 17-8, $2,402 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
3rd: David Williams, Newton, N.C., five bass, 16-5, $1,267
4th: David Wright, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 15-15, $1,088
5th: Eric Johnson, Partlow, Va., five bass, 14-2, $761
6th: Brian Calloway, Danville, Va., five bass, 14-1, $697
7th: Johnathan Crossland, Chapin, S.C., five bass, 13-12, $1,134
8th: Greg Chuhta, Germantown, Md., five bass, 13-10, $539
8th: Richard Hodges Jr., Camden, N.C., five bass, 13-10, $539
10th: Billy Shelton III, La Crosse, Va., five bass, 13-8, $644
Ryan Harrell of Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $505 with a largemouth that weighed 5 pounds, 6 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
2nd: Travis Ruff, Connelly Springs, N.C., five bass, 10-11, $951
3rd: Tony Toombs, Drakes Branch, Va., five bass, 10-10, $634
4th: Callahan Cochran, Chantilly, Va., five bass, 10-4, $444
5th: Pat Kendrick, Bumpass, Va., five bass, 9-14, $580
6th: Mekye Barnes, Raleigh, N.C., four bass, 9-10, $601
7th: Greg Ravitsky, Palmyra, Va., four bass, 9-7, $269
7th: Justin Lee, Liberty, N.C., four bass, 9-7, $269
7th: James Calhoun, Norfolk, Va., four bass, 9-7, $269
7th: William Dalton, Laurel Fork, Va., four bass, 9-7, $269
After three events, Eric Johnson of Partlow, Virginia, leads the Bass Fishing League Piedmont Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 703 points, while Nathan Reeves of Lynchburg, Virginia, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 742 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. 6-8 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake Murray in Prosperity, South Carolina. Boaters will compete for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Regional Championships where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. The 2022 All-American will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas and is hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.
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.
Hardesty Takes Top Spot at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Rough River Lake
FALLS OF ROUGH, Ky. (May 2, 2022) – Boater Eric Hardesty of Nineveh, Indiana, caught five bass Saturday weighing 13 pounds, 2 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Rough River Lake . The tournament was the season-opener for the Bass Fishing League Hoosier Division. Hardesty earned $5,201 for his victory.
“It was a slow bite, and the fish were staging on hardwood trees,” Hardesty said. “I was flipping a green pumpkin Zoom Super Speed Craw three or four feet deep, and I really had to soak it.”
By soaking it, Hardesty meant he would let the Speed Craw sit for “10 to 15 seconds” before he moved it. The tactic resulted in 10 fish in the boat coming from the north arm of Rough River Lake, seven of which were keepers.
“The fish were biting just really weird,” Hardesty said. “It was a mushy bite at times. At other times they’d try to take the rod out of your hands, and the next bite you wouldn’t even know you had until they had already spit it out.
“I caught my biggest bass at 8:30 and thought if I could just fill out the limit I could be in the hunt for the win,” Hardesty added.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
2nd: Chris Martinkovic, Hamilton, Ohio, five bass, 12-0, $3,170
3rd: Blake Knies, Jasper, Ind., five bass, 11-14, $1,514
4th: Michael Bailey, Richmond, Ind., five bass, 10-4, $1,060
5th: Michael Seals, Terre Haute, Ind., five bass, 10-3, $908
6th: Jonny Norris, Bloomington, Ind., four bass, 9-10, $833
7th: Brody Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, five bass, 9-9, $757
8th: Tyler Land, Coatsville, Ind., five bass, 9-7, $681
9th: Clint Bissonett, Beavercreek, Ohio, five bass, 9-3, $605
10th: Jordan Tong, Owensboro, Ky., five bass, 9-0, $530
Hardesty earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $660 with a largemouth that weighed 5 pounds, 13 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
2nd: Rob Campbell, Martinsville, Ind., five bass, 7-14, $1,116
3rd: Hunter Coats, Martinsville, Ind., five bass, 7-9, $743
4th: Heath Kohlmeier, Mackey, Ind., four bass, 7-4, $671
5th: Jarrod Pickel, Indianapolis, Ind., four bass, 6-11, $446
6th: Marty Bryant, North Vernon, Ind., four bass, 6-10, $409
7th: Daniel Hurst, Troy, Ohio, five bass, 5-15, $372
8th: Jordan Bean, Pimento, Ind., five bass, 5-13, $335
9th: Collin Hillen, Evansville, Ind., four bass, 5-11, $298
10th: David Rector, Brazil, Ind., four bass, 5-10, $260
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. 13-15 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin. 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 2022 All-American will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas and is hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.
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.
Zumach Claims Phoenix Bass Fishing League Victory on the Mississippi River
LA CROSSE, Wis. (May 2, 2022) – Boater Darren Zumach of Onalaska, Wisconsin, caught five bass Saturday weighing 17 pounds, 8 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on the Mississippi River . The tournament, hosted by the La Crosse County Convention and Visitors Bureau, was the season-opener for the Bass Fishing League Great Lakes Division. Zumach earned $4,884 for his victory.
“The wind really helped me out a lot,” Zumach said. “It actually set me up against the current with the current coming down and the wind coming up, so it kept me in one spot. Once I figured out the fish had moved to shell beds, that wind did nothing but help me.”
Zumach said he fished a shad-colored Strike King KVD Jerkbait and a lipless crankbait in eight feet of water to target the shell-bed bass.
Zumach is a veteran Phoenix Bass Fishing League tournament angler, with a total of 111 MLF events fished since the mid-1990s. Zumach said he caught only seven fish during the course of the tournament – all keepers – but those fish resulted in the right five weigh-in fish on the right day.
“This feels amazing to finally pull off a win,” Zumach said. “I’ve been close and fishing these for a long time, and I finally got the win.
“When I got the 6-pound, 4-ounce smallmouth at 11 o’clock, I thought, ‘Yeah, I might have a chance here,’” Zumach added.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
2nd: Kyle von Ruden, Stoddard, Wis., five bass, 16-14, $2,740
3rd: Mike Brueggen, La Crosse, Wis., five bass, 16-12, $1,426
4th: Dan Mohn, Lansing, Iowa, five bass, 16-7, $998
5th: Devin Teigen, Nelson, Wis., five bass, 16-5, $1,320 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
5th: Jeremy Nokken, La Crosse, Wis., five bass, 16-5, $820
7th: Kevin Ruh, Onalaska, Wis., five bass, 15-15, $713
8th: Joe Pollak, Lake Geneva, Wis., five bass, 15-8, $942
9th: Hunter Litchfield, Macomb, Ill., five bass, 15-7, $571
10th: Austin Brimeyer, Dubuque, Iowa, five bass, 15-6, $499
Zumach earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $605 with a smallmouth that weighed 6 pounds, 4 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
2nd: Alan Bernicky, Joliet, Ill., five bass, 15-13, $1,520
3rd: Shawn Overton, Coal Valley, Ill., five bass, 13-3, $712
4th: Justin Bowder, Rochester, Minn., five bass, 11-8, $499
5th: Thomas Bridges, Kankakee, Ill., four bass, 10-14, $428
6th: Mongshoua Xiong, La Crosse, Wis., four bass, 10-7, $392
7th: Mark Folsom, Waterville, Iowa, five bass, 10-6, $357
8th: Richard Conrad, Arcadia, Wis., four bass, 9-14, $321
9th: Michael Watson, Trempealeau, Wis., four bass, 9-9, $285
10th: Hertz Skaer, Holmen, Wis., three bass, 9-4, $552
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 Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma. Boaters will compete for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Regional Championships where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. The 2022 All-American will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas and is hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.
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.
Gardner Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Guntersville
Mulga’s Mitchell Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (May 2, 2022) – Boater Jacob Gardner of Arab, Alabama, caught five bass Saturday weighing 19 pounds, 8 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Guntersville . The tournament, hosted by the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce, was the fourth event of the season for the Bass Fishing League Choo Choo Division. Gardner earned $5,119 for his victory.
“This feels pretty awesome,” Gardner said. “I’m originally from Idaho and have only been bass fishing for eight years now. I caught my first bass when I was 20 years old, and I moved across the country to chase the dream of tournament fishing.”
Gardner said he had caught 14 or 15 pounds by 8:30 by flipping grass with a Berkley Powerbait Crazy Legs Chigger Craw rigged with a 3/16-ounce tungsten weight and a 3/0 hook. The bite slowed for him around 11:30, so he made a run up the river. The location change paid off with back-to-back 5-pounders, and Gardner was on his way to victory. Gardner said he caught 13 fish during the course of the day, including eight keepers.
“I figured it would take 21 or 22 pounds to win, and I figured I had 17 or 18,” Gardner said. “When you catch back-to-back 5-pounders, it’s something special, but I didn’t figure I’d have enough to get the win.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Jacob Gardner, Arab, Ala., five bass, 19-8, $5,119
2nd: Charles Hemm, Huntsville, Ala., five bass, 19-3, $2,059
3rd: Jesse Rigsby, Old Hickory, Tenn., five bass, 19-1, $2,439 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
4th: Daniel Davis, Albertville, Ala., five bass, 17-13, $1,161
5th: Will Robinson, Columbia, Tenn., five bass, 16-13, $824
6th: Dawson Lenz, Newnan, Ga., five bass, 16-11, $755
7th: Kyle Palmer, Winchester, Tenn., five bass, 16-7, $886
8th: Eddie Walker, Pinson, Ala., five bass, 16-0, $618
9th: Walker Brown, Loretto, Tenn., five bass, 15-12, $549
10th: Keith Miller, Chattanooga, Tenn., five bass, 15-9, $480
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Rigsby earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $565 with a largemouth that weighed 5 pounds, 11 ounces, the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division.
Jackson Mitchell of Mulga, Alabama, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,159 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 16 pounds, 12 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
1st: Jackson Mitchell, Mulga, Ala., five bass, 16-12, $2,159
2nd: Randall Kramer, Signal Mountain, Tenn., five bass, 15-14, $1,030
3rd: Dennis Sandoval, Decatur, Ala., five bass, 15-11, $887
4th: Craig Dye, Canton, Ga., five bass, 15-7, $480
5th: Marcus Corbett, Anniston, Ala., five bass, 14-13, $412
6th: Kevin Lankford, Hollywood, Ala., four bass, 14-11, $378
7th: Justin Stephenson, Jasper, Ala., five bass, 13-6, $343
8th: Frank Spacil, Downers Grove, Ill., five bass, 12-10, $309
9th: Vaughn Dennis, Moody, Ala., five bass, 12-8, $275
10th: Preston Kendrick, Mt. Olive, Ala., five bass, 12-0, $228
10th: Ethan Shaw, Raymond, Miss., five bass, 12-0, $228
Anthony Doby of Harvest, Alabama, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 6 pounds, 1 ounce. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $282.
After four events, Casey Martin of Brownsboro, Alabama, leads the Bass Fishing League Choo Choo Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 933 points, while Justin Stephenson of Jasper, Alabama, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 933 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. 6-8 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake Murray in Prosperity, South Carolina. Boaters will compete for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Regional Championships where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. The 2022 All-American will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.
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.
Moore & White top 224 teams, win $20,000 on Ray Roberts with 29.29 lbs.
Place | Boat | Truck | Angler 1 | Angler 2 | Fish | Big Bass | Wt. | Prize Amt. | |
1 | ADAM MOORE FRANKSTON , TX |
NATHAN WHITE FRANKSTON , TX |
5 | 0 | 29.29 |
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2 | BRANDEN HOLLINGSHEAD AZLE , TX |
JEREMY LAMBERT DECATUR , TX |
5 | 0 | 23.78 |
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3 | ZACH PARKER DENTON , TX |
BUSTER JOHNSON KRUM , TX |
5 | 0 | 23.27 |
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4 | TERRY PEACOCK ROYSE CITY , TX |
SCOTT DEAN TERRELL , TX |
5 | 6.38 | 23.23 |
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5 | TAD KIRCHOFF GAINESVILLE , TX |
SCOTT FORD GAINESVILLE , TX |
5 | 0 | 22.81 |
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6 | RYAN SHUFLIN LAKE KIOWA , TX |
BRAD SHUFLIN LAKE KIOWA , TX |
5 | 0 | 22.44 |
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7 | TRENT MENEES NORTHLAKE , TX |
TERRY BOLLOM FRISCO , TX |
5 | 8.07 | 22.21 |
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8 | JOSH KEITHLEY FORT WORTH , TX |
JUSTIN KEITHLEY ARLINGTON , TX |
5 | 0 | 21.80 |
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9 | JONATHAN BOOTEN FORT WORTH , TX |
JACOB PARKER FT WORTH , TX |
5 | 0 | 21.79 |
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10 | STEVE ELDRED JR ALBA , TX |
BRIAN HALL BRONTE , TX |
5 | 0 | 21.40 |
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11 | WESLEY BARNARD HALLSVILLE , TX |
ANDREW SCOTT MARSHALL , TX |
5 | 0 | 19.81 |
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12 | ZACH HUGHES QUITMAN , TX |
JEREMY SIMS EMORY , TX |
5 | 0 | 19.58 |
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13 | STEVEN RIZZO PROSPER , TX |
CHRIS STRATTA LITTLE ELM , TX |
5 | 0 | 19.50 |
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14 | JOHNNY TRAMMELL BOYD , TX |
DOYLE REDDELL MINERAL WELLS , TX |
5 | 0 | 19.48 |
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15 | TONY CLIMER MESQUITE , TX |
TOMMY CLIMER JR MESQUITE , TX |
5 | 8.63 | 18.96 |
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16 | KENT SKOGLUND TIOGA , TX |
KYLE SKOGLUND DECATUR , TX |
5 | 0 | 18.23 |
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17 | KEVIN DRITSCHLER PROSPER , TX |
MIKE WITHROW CORSICANA , TX |
5 | 0 | 18.03 |
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18 | DELL BROWN ARLINGTON , TX |
MARK MCCLURE NORTH RICHLAND HILLS , TX |
5 | 0 | 17.95 |
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19 | DREW SLOAN SCURRY , TX |
NOLAN JACKSON ROYSE CITY , TX |
5 | 0 | 17.93 |
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20 | DENNIS HASTINGS FLOWER MOUND , TX |
RONNIE SIMS LEWISVILLE , TX |
5 | 0 | 17.78 |
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21 | STEVE TRIMBLE ATHENS , TX |
DAKOTA TRIMBLE KAUFMAN , TX |
5 | 0 | 17.50 |
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22 | TOMMY HULSEY JR CORSICANA , TX |
JUSTIN GARNETT FAIRFIELD , TX |
5 | 0 | 17.02 |
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23 | COLE BREWER LEESVILLE , LA |
GEORGE SHIPPEY MT PLEASANT , TX |
5 | 0 | 16.95 |
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24 | RYAN AUTERY RICHARDSON , TX |
THOMAS ROSS ROCKWALL , TX |
5 | 0 | 16.84 |
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25 | DARRYL ROACH DECATUR , TX |
DANIEL HERRING WATUAGA , TX |
5 | 0 | 16.83 |
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26 | CRAIG DOWIS DALLAS , TX |
MICHAEL VASQUEZ TEMPLE , TX |
5 | 0 | 16.75 |
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27 | ROBERT CASE JR POINT , TX |
MORRIS MCCUTCHEON WINNSBORO , TX |
5 | 0 | 16.74 |
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28 | KURT KLOSOWSKI PLANO , TX |
TOM MOCNY QUITMAN , TX |
5 | 0 | 16.63 |
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29 | HEATH MOODY SOUTHLAKE , TX |
CODY MORRISON COLLINSVILLE , TX |
5 | 0 | 16.12 |
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30 | HEATH COLEMAN FRISCO , TX |
ZACHARY SHIMON MCKINNEY , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.79 |
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31 | MIKE BURNS ALLEN , TX |
ROB BURNS PLANO , TX |
5 | 8.68 | 15.73 |
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32 | KELLY FERGUSON FATE , TX |
JAXON FERGUSON FATE , TX |
4 | 0 | 15.70 |
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33 | JOE ROME FLOWER MOUND , TX |
JOEL MCBRIDE CORINTH , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.40 |
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34 | SHAWN TEMPLE KRUGERVILLE , TX |
COLE TEMPLE FORT WORTH , TX |
4 | 0 | 15.25 |
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34 | DENNIS MATLOCK COLLINSVILLE , TX |
DON MCFARLIN GORDENVILLE , TX |
5 | 0 | 15.25 |
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36 | CHRIS BAUGH PROSPER , TX |
MATTHEW LEE NORTH RICHLAND HILLS , TX |
4 | 8.06 | 15.21 |
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37 | BRYON HARRISON QUINLAN , TX |
DIRK SMITH FARMERSVILLE , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.88 |
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38 | CHRIS MOORE ROCKWALL , TX |
KY MARTIN GRANDVIEW , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.79 |
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39 | TOMMY MURRAY BEDFORD , TX |
KEITH IVY PONDER , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.68 |
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40 | CHRIS BAKER POWDERLY , TX |
BRANDON BEERS PARIS , TX |
4 | 0 | 14.40 |
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41 | TIM WILCOXSON ROCKWALL , TX |
ERIC ELDER SCROGGINS , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.11 |
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42 | KEITH CARNEY ARLINGTON , TX |
KEVIN CARNEY ARLINGTON , TX |
5 | 0 | 14.03 |
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43 | MARK SPURGIN MCKINNEY , TX |
TYLER HOLMES RICHARDSON , TX |
4 | 0 | 13.67 |
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44 | STEVE WHITE EUSTACE , TX |
RAY PAGE JR CRANDALL , TX |
5 | 0 | 13.48 |
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45 | WILLIAM PALMER MIDLOTHIAN , TX |
JERAMIE BYRD MIDLOTHIAN , TX |
4 | 0 | 13.34 |
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46 | KENT SIKES ROANOKE , TX |
DARRELL CAMPBELL ALBA , TX |
5 | 0 | 13.32 |
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47 | KEITH BRYAN DECATUR , TX |
JASON DUNNING DECATUR , TX |
5 | 0 | 13.29 |
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48 | JAKE MARSHALL WEATHERFORD , TX |
KEVIN LAIN KELLER , TX |
5 | 0 | 13.08 |
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49 | JACOB KINARD ROCKWALL , TX |
GARY KINARD FORNEY , TX |
5 | 0 | 13.06 |
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50 | SCOTT TROUTT CORINTH , TX |
DENNIS BUSHLAND DENTON , TX |
2 | 0 | 12.83 |
King University Wins MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament on Smith Mountain Lake
HUDDLESTON, Va. (May 2, 2022) – The King University duo of Landon Lawson of Jonesborough, Tennessee, and Hunter McClaskey of Elizabethton, Tennessee, won the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Smith Mountain Lake Friday with a five-bass limit weighing 19 pounds, 15 ounces. The victory earned the Tornado bass club $2,000 and a slot in the 2023 MLF College Fishing National Championship.
“Our day started with a discussion at the ramp about if we were going to try to just go catch a limit or just go fish for the big bite,” McClaskey said. “About 10 seconds before blastoff we looked at each other and said, ‘Let’s just go fish big.’ And 27 minutes later Landon caught one that weighed 6-12. We had a limit of 18½ pounds by 9:45.”
McClaskey said the team fished near the Crazy Horse Marina area and targeted bass they could see holding on docks by casting swimbaits – a shad-colored 6-inch Megabass Magdraft Swimbait and a KGB Chad Shad. McClaskey said their deepest fish came from docks in only five feet of water.
“At 1:53 we were fishing a dock and I was trolling out, and I cast the Chad Shad to the end of dock, popped it twice, and got the 4-pounder that bumped us up to right at 20 pounds,” McClaskey said. “It was a last-second fish. We had to pick up the trolling motor and run back to weigh-in. I looked at Landon and said, ‘If someone beats us today, they earned it.’
“This win hasn’t set in yet, but already it feels great,” McClaskey added. “We both have come close so many times. This win was a long time coming.”
The top 10 teams that advanced to the 2023 College Fishing National Championship are:
1st: King University – Landon Lawson, Jonesborough, Tenn., and Hunter McClaskey, Elizabethton, Tenn., five bass, 19-15, $2,000
2nd: Virginia Tech – Matthew Echols, and Paul Southern, Pulaski, Va., five bass, 18-0, $1,000
3rd: Lander University – Parker Lambert, Riegelsville, Pa., and Aaron Shumaker, Charlotte, N.C., five bass, 17-5, $500
4th: Kentucky Christian University – Lafe Messer and Matt Messer, both of Warfield, Ky., five bass, 17-0, $500
5th: Virginia Tech – Caden Canaday, Pembroke, Va., and Lynn Chitwood, Wirtz, Va., five bass, 16-14, $500
6th: University of Massachusetts-Amherst – Jared Muzyka, Hadley, Mass., and Sean Prendergast, Northboro, Mass., five bass, 16-12
7th: Radford University – Kent Clark, Buchanan, Va., and Jackson Norton, Ferrum, Va., five bass, 16-10
8th: Western Michigan University – Bo Thomas, Edwardsburg, Mich., and Mason Vernia, Schoolcraft, Mich., five bass, 16-8
9th: Auburn University – Chase Clarke, Auburn, Ala., and Ty Mundhenke, Springfield, Ill., five bass, 16-7
10th: Liberty University – Evan Thomas, Winterport, Maine, and Joseph Williams, Great Falls, Va., five bass, 16-7
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Smith Mountain Lake was hosted by Destination Bedford. It was the first of three regular-season tournaments for Northern Conference anglers. The next event for College Fishing anglers will again be on Smith Mountain Lake – the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Smith Mountain Lake, June 3, in Huddleston, Virginia.
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 2022 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship Presented by Lowrance will be held on Fort Gibson Lake in Wagoner, Oklahoma, March 29-31, and is hosted by the Wagoner Area Chamber of Commerce.
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.
Reynolds Wins Toyota Series Event on Grand Lake
Hosted by the City of Grove, the three-day tournament was the second event of the season for the Toyota Series Plains Division anglers and featured the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers, competing for up to $75,000 and the opportunity to advance to the Toyota Series Championship for the chance to win up to $235,000.
This event marks the second Toyota Series win for the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit pro, who previously won on Lake Texoma in 2017.
“This event was all sight fishing – This is my favorite time of year, and I caught every one of my fish on beds,” Reynolds said. “I didn’t find a lot of big fish in practice, and I caught the two I did find on the first day of competition, so I didn’t really have a whole lot left after that first day.”
Reynolds ended Day One in second place, with a limit weighing 21 pounds, 8 ounces, but quickly fell to sixth by the end of Day Two.
“I knew where a lot of fish were, but not any big ones,” Reynolds said. “I went back on the second day and found some decent ones and thankfully I caught a good 4 ½ pounder later in the day that bumped me up to the 14-pound mark to finish out Day Two.
“When I found that fish, it didn’t take me long to get it to bite, but I foul-hooked it and had to throw it back,” Reynolds continued. “Then it took another 30 minutes to get it back to the bed, so I could catch him again.”
While he didn’t bring in a large limit on Day Two, that kicker fish did give him a limit weighing 14-7, a solid bag that kept him in contention for the final day.
Reynolds said his key baits were a white-colored, Texas-rigged Strike King Game Hawg and an Okeechobee Craw-colored Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver. He threw the baits on a 7-foot, 3-inch heavy Crotalus Custom Rod with 5-pound Sunline FX2 Braided Line and 22-pound Sunline Shooter Fluorocarbon line.
“Sight fishing is mainly reacting to what the fish do, so I throw that white bait when the fish are really locked on the bed and I want to be able to see that they lock on, have it in their mouth and aren’t foul-hooked,” Reynolds said. “I throw the neutral Okeechobee Craw-colored bait when they aren’t locked on. Sometimes I can flip that in the bed and get them to bite.”
Reynolds also said a big player for his win were his Amphibia Performance Sunglasses.
“They are the best sunglasses for sight fishing,” Reynolds said. “I’ve tried a bunch of different ones because I love sight fishing and I feel like I can see a lot more fish, even in dirtier water, with those glasses. They make a huge difference.”
Aside from competing on the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit throughout the year, the Phoenix pro typically only fishes the Southwestern Division events on the Toyota Series, but said he registered for the Plains Division event as a safeguard to make sure he qualifies for the Toyota Series Championship.
Outside of their division, Toyota Series pros and Strike King co-anglers have a second chance at qualifying for the Toyota Series Championship in the Wild Card Division, by fishing four or more tournaments in any combination of divisions and keeping their three highest finishes. Twelve pros and 12 co-anglers advance to the Toyota Series Championship based on Wild Card division points with ties resolved by the highest finish in a tournament.
“I’m currently sitting 5th in points for the Southwestern Division and I’m about to head to that final event, but I’d already entered the Grand Lake tournament to give myself a fourth event for the Wild Card division,” Reynolds said.
With the Grand Lake win however, Reynolds can now rest easy knowing the win automatically advances him to the Toyota Series Championship and the opportunity to win up to $235,000.
“A lot of guys will say they appreciate the hardware, but I’m not too concerned about the trophies,” Reynolds laughed. “I care about the money that comes with it and am excited about this win and the opportunities it opens up for me.”
The top 10 pros on Grand Lake finished:
2nd: Cade Alsbury of Gentry, Ark., 15 bass, 53-7, $15,500
3rd: Kyle Schutta of Forest Lake, Minn., 15 bass, 52-15, $12,000
4th: Michael Harlin of Sunrise Beach, Mo., 15 bass, 52-11, $10,900
5th: Nicky Parsons of West Fork, Ark., 12 bass, 48-1, $9,000
6th: Curt Warren of Rose, Okla., 15 bass, 47-14, $8,000
7th: Kyle Kitts of Joplin, Mo., 15 bass, 46-14, $7,000
8th: Orlean Smith of McAlester, Okla., 15 bass, 46-6, $6,000
9th: Jeremy Johnson of Kansas City, Kan., 14 bass, 45-14, $5,000
10th: Jason Bonds of Lufkin, Texas, 15 bass, 44-12, $4,000
Pros William Gaddis of Afton, Oklahoma and Brett Brumnett of Wagoner, Oklahoma, tied for the $500 Day One Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division Thursday, both bringing a bass weighing 6 pounds, 2 ounces to the scale and taking home $250 each. Michael Harlin of Sunrise Beach, Missouri won Friday’s $500 Berkley Big Bass award, bringing a 6-pound, 1-ounce bass to the scale.
Reynolds took home an extra $35,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $35,000 per event in each Toyota Series tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Steven Bale of Grove, Oklahoma won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 13 bass weighing 35 pounds, 9 ounces. Bale took home the top prize package of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on Grand Lake finished:
2nd: Bryan Barnard of Harrison, Ark., 15 bass, 33-5, $5,000
3rd: Matthew Hargarten of Bolivar, Mo., 12 bass, 30-9, $4,000
4th: Scott McCleery of Winchester, Ill., 11 bass, 30-3, $3,700
5th: Nathan Christie of Claremore, Okla., 11 bass, 27-4, $3,000
6th: Steve Gregg of Florissant, Mo., 10 bass, 26-8, $2,650
7th: Tate Brumnett of Wagoner, Okla., 13 bass, 26-1, $2,000
8th: Bobby Dennison of St. Louis, Mo., 10 bass, 24-10, $1,750
9th: Matt Krekovich of Granite City, Ill., nine bass, 24-0, $1,500
10th: Jason Clark of Bixby, Okla., 10 bass, 23-13, $1,250
The Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at Grand Lake Presented by Outlaw Ordnance was hosted by the City of Grove. It was the second tournament in the Plains Division. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will take place on May 4-6 – the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E on Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Brookeland, Texas, hosted by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Chamber of Commerce. For a complete schedule, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The 2022 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern 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 Ordinance, 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.
Bryan Grier Wins Toyota Series Event on Clear Lake
CLEARLAKE, Calif. (May 2, 2022) – Pro Bryan Grier of Hollister, California, brought five bass to the stage Saturday weighing 21 pounds, 12 ounces to win the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at Clear Lake and earn the top payout of $25,129. Grier’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 58-5 earned him the victory by a 2-pound, 9-ounce margin over second place boater Joshua Adams of Cloverdale, California.
The three-day event, which launched from Redbud Park in Clearlake, was the second event of the season for the Toyota Series Western Division.
Grier noted that a major difference-maker for him was targeting fish in the right stage of the spawn cycle. He felt this improved his chances at the quality bites that could (and eventually did) put him at the top on the final day.
“The big thing was fishing the prespawn fish,” Grier said. “A lot of the lake has spawning fish, some postspawn fish, but I found a pretty big group of prespawn fish, and they were just a lot heavier. It wasn’t necessarily that they were ‘bigger’, but they weighed a lot more. They were still feeding up. They were still prespawn, and they were just moving up.”
Grier worked over his prespawn fish with a 7-inch Osprey Inline Tournament Talon swimbait and a Daiwa Yamamoto Neko Fat Worm consistently throughout the week. But, unlike many anglers in the Top 10, Grier opted to target boulders as opposed to vegetation and spawning fish.
“I just had a very large wad of fish, they didn’t really change much,” he said. “The first day I just kind of got blown off of it. I think I could have stuck it out, but I didn’t feel safe. There were big waves coming right into where I was fishing. Today though, I had nothing to lose so I just stuck out there. It was brutal.”
Grier also noted that depth was a predominant factor as many anglers cruised the banks, he opted to target fish deeper that were less affected by windy conditions and were more likely to be in a prespawn pattern.
“I was looking for them a little deeper,” Grier said. “I was looking for my fish in anywhere from 10 to 14 feet. Where most people were up shallow fishing the flats, I stuck out deeper trying to get those prespawn fish.”
For Grier, the come-from-behind victory is not only a culmination of 20 years of professional tournament fishing on the west coast, but also a proper send-off for the San Jose area, pro as he prepares to migrate east in the coming month.
“It’s amazing, I’ve been fishing off and on … for the last 20 years, I’ve been fishing as a pro somewhat, here and there,” said Grier. “Some years more than others. I actually just sold my house here and bought a house in Texas. In 30 days, I’ve got to be out of my house. I was just bummed because I’ve done it so long here and never won a (major) tournament in California. So, I’m excited to get one in California.”
The top 10 pros on Clear Lake finished:
1st: Bryan Grier, Hollister, Calif., 15 bass, 58-5, $25,129
2nd: Joshua Adams, Cloverdale, Calif., 15 bass, 55-12, $9,738
3rd: Kyle Grover, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., 15 bass, 54-9, $7,539
4th: Daniel Andrusaitis, Lakeport, Calif., 13 bass, 53-2, $6,282
5th: Scott MacKenzie, Hercules, Calif., 15 bass, 52-14, $5,654
6th: Ronald Lorenzo, Princeton, Calif., 15 bass, 52-13, $5,026
7th: Jordan Collom, Canyon Lake, Calif., 15 bass, 51-12, $4,398
8th: Patrick Touey, Santa Maria, Calif., 15 bass, 51-11, $4,269
9th: David Valdivia, Norwalk, Calif., 15 bass, 51-5, $3,141
10th: Justin Kerr, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 15 bass, 50-1, $2,513
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Pro Joshua Glenn of Temecula, California, won the $500 Day 1 Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division Thursday with a largemouth weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces. Patrick Touey of Santa Maria, California, earned Friday’s $500 Berkley Big Bass award with a 6-pound, 6-ouncer.
Pro Randy Pierson of Oakdale, California, took home an extra $1,000 as the highest finishing Phoenix MLF Bonus member. Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $35,000 per event in each Toyota Series tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
Blaine Christiansen of San Jose, California, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 49 pounds, 15 ounces. Christiansen took home the top prize package of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on Clear Lake finished:
1st: Blaine Christiansen, San Jose, Calif., 15 bass, 49-15, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard
2nd: Jose Juarez, Jr., Kelseyville, Calif., 15 bass, 49-14, $3,261
3rd: George Fedor, Yucaipa, Calif., 15 bass, 45-1, $2,609
4th: David Zavvar, Concord, Calif., 15 bass, 44-14, $2,283
5th: Jonathan Green, San Pablo, Calif., 15 bass, 44-8, $1,957
6th: Kirk Marshall, Discovery Bay, Calif., 15 bass, 44-6, $1,631
7th: Ty Crofts, Cedar City, Utah, 15 bass, 43-10, $1,304
8th: Mike Walsh, El Cajon, Calif., 15 bass, 43-8, $1,291
9th: Bruce Harris, Oakdale, Calif., 15 bass, 42-6, $978
10th: Kristian Puga, La Mirada, Calif., 15 bass, 41-5, $815
The Day 1 Berkley Big Bass $150 award winner in the Strike King co-angler division, was Daniel Riportella of Exeter, California, with a 6-pound, 14-ounce bass, while the Day 2 $150 award went to Christiansen, also with a 6-pound, 14-ounce fish.
After two events in the Toyota Series Western Division, boater Kyle Grover of Rancho Santa Margarita, California, leads the Toyota Series Western Division Pro Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 517 points, while Zack Eggleston of Goleta, California, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 507 points.
The next event for Toyota Series Western Division anglers will take place June 1-3 – the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at the California Delta win Bethel Island, California. For a complete schedule, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
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.
Britt and “Big Show” break down Lake of the Ozarks
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Britt Myers and Terry “Big Show” Scroggins have been roommates for a decade as touring professional anglers. Both struggled Saturday to begin Major League Fishing’s fourth stop of the season at Lake of the Ozarks, but were kind enough to share their insight with fans prior to the start of Monday’s competition.
Q1: You two have been roommates for 10 years as touring pros. What do you like most about your ‘roomie’?
Scroggins: Britt’s a lot like me – carefree and laid back. He’s not picky about where we eat, and he’s mechanically inclined, so together, we can fix just about anything that breaks.
Myers: “Big Show” is always positive. No matter how good or bad his day on the water, he brings positive energy with a big heart. I’ll promise you, he’d give you the last two Senkos in his boat if you needed them, even if that’s what he was catching them on.
Q2: You both struggled Saturday. How do you plan to turn it around Monday?
Scroggins: Monday will bring clouds and rain. I need to fish faster and target better quality fish, versus catching 40 bass like I did Saturday – but almost none of them were big enough to count.
Myers: I caught them so good in practice on a buzzbait I could hardly sleep Friday night. But apparently the rain and lightning killed that bite Saturday. I don’t care. I’m riding the buzzbait, because I truly believe I can catch 30 pounds on it.
Q3: What has surprised you most about Lake of the Ozarks?
Scroggins: The 70,000 boat docks. You get worn-out trying to fish between them all. It’s hard to “read” the shoreline because there’s so many docks.
Myers: The docks. There’s so many of them you can’t hardly fish any stretch of shoreline without dealing with docks.
Q4: Name three lures you’ll definitely have tied on Monday morning.
Scroggins: Buzzbait, spinnerbait, and a jerkbait.
Myers: Buzzbait, weightless Senko, and a skipping jig.
Q5: Mother’s Day is this coming Sunday – what will that special day consist of for you?
Scroggins: Hanging out with my mom -- “Momma Show” – she doesn’t really care what we do, just so we’re all together.
Myers: My mom recently moved three hours away to a town near Myrtle Beach. So, my wife Missy and I will hang out, and we might drive down to the beach to see my mom.
Wheeler Leads Big Early for Group B at MLF Bass Pro Tour Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks
Academy Sports + Outdoors Pro Catches 15 Scorable Bass Weighing 47 Pounds, 9 Ounces to Lead Group B by 16 Pounds – Group A to Wrap Up Qualifying Round Monday
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (May 1, 2022) – The reigning Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) is doing it again. Academy Sports + Outdoors pro Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, caught 15 scorable bass – five more than any other competitor – to jump out to the early lead in the Group B Qualifying Round at the Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat in Osage Beach, Missouri. Wheeler’s total of 47 pounds, 9 ounces will give him a 16-pound, 5-ounce lead over second-place angler James “Worldwide” Watson, the Lampe, Missouri, pro who caught 10 scorable bass weighing 31-4 to end the day in second place.
The six-day event, hosted by Central Missouri’s Tri-County Lodging Association, the Lake of the Ozarks Fishing Council and BassingBob.com, showcases 80 of the top pro bass-fishing anglers in the world competing for a purse of $805,000, including a top cash prize of $100,000 to the winner. The tournament is livestreamed each day at MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MOTV app, and also filmed for broadcast later this fall on the Discovery Channel.
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.
Wheeler struggled early, catching only two scorable bass in the first period. However, once the sun came out it helped Wheeler, and the other anglers sight-fishing, turn it on.
“Today was a really fun day – definitely no complaints here in the Academy boat,” Wheeler said in his postgame interview. “The first period was a struggle. But then the sun came out, and the sun is your friend when you’re using your eyes. My Wiley X signature series glasses were definitely a major key today. I truly believe I can see a little bit better than most anglers with these glasses.”
In addition to his sunglasses, Wheeler credited a Texas rig as being his key bait while sight-fishing.
“Another key today was the Texas rig – I was throwing white to more translucent, more green-pumpkin colors,” Wheeler said. “I was throwing them on my 7-foot, 3-inch (Duckett) Heavy Action Signature Series rod with 20-pound Sufix fluorocarbon line and a 4/0 VMC straight-shank hook. That sucker absolutely TKOs them.
“I didn’t catch any great big ones today, but I got a ton of really nice ones,” Wheeler went on to say. “I wanted to catch as much as I possibly could, and I’m very happy with how the day ended up. It was a great day, but now we’re going to see what the conditions are for Day 2 and go from there.”
The top 20 pros in Group B after Day 1 on Lake of the Ozarks are:
1st: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 15 bass, 47-9
2nd: James Watson, Lampe, Mo., 10 bass, 31-4
3rd: Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., nine bass, 30-11
4th: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., 10 bass, 27-14
5th: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., eight bass, 25-6
6th: Mark Daniels, Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., eight bass, 24-7
7th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., eight bass, 24-6
8th: Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., seven bass, 24-1
9th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., nine bass, 22-0
10th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., seven bass, 21-6
11th: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., five bass, 19-9
12th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., seven bass, 19-5
13th: Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., seven bass, 18-6
14th: Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., five bass, 16-15
15th: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., five bass, 16-1
16th: Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., six bass, 15-10
17th: Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., four bass, 15-2
18th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., four bass, 14-13
19th: Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas, five bass, 14-8
20th: Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe., five bass, 13-6
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 205 scorable bass weighing 609 pounds, 4 ounces caught by the 40 pros Sunday, which included 29 four-pounders and six five-pounders.
Pro Stephen Browning of Hot Springs, Arkansas, earned Sunday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award after catching a 5-pound, 13-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. from the Grand Glaize Marina Recreation Area, located at 711 Public Beach Road in Osage Beach. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the Marina, 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.
On Championship Thursday, May 5, from 4 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 Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat. The FREE, family-friendly event will be fun for fishing fans of all ages. The first 50 middle school or high school anglers 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 to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, take selfies and participate in tackle giveaways.
The Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat features 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 the REDCREST 2023 championship.
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. CT. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat will premiere as two two-hour episodes at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 15 and Saturday, Oct. 22 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 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.
Shaw Grigsby Leads Day 1 at MLF Bass Pro Tour Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks
Hall-of-Famer Boats 14 Scorable Bass Totaling 37 Pounds, 15 Ounces to Lead By 11 Ounces After Day 1 for Group A – Group B to Compete Sunday
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (April 30, 2022) – It was a sight-fishing seminar for fishing fans Saturday, and after the final bass had been tallied on SCORETRACKER®, two of the best of all-time sat atop the leaderboard after Day 1 of the Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat in Osage Beach, Missouri. Bass Fishing Hall-of-Famer Shaw Grigsby of Gainesville, Florida , sight-fished his way to 14 scorable largemouth totaling 37 pounds, 15 ounces, to grab the early lead in the Qualifying Round for Group A.
The six-day tournament, hosted by Central Missouri’s Tri-County Lodging Association, the Lake of the Ozarks Fishing Council and BassingBob.com, showcases 80 of the top pro bass-fishing anglers in the world competing for a purse of $805,000, including a top cash prize of $100,000 to the winner. The tournament is livestreamed each day at MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MOTV app, and also filmed for broadcast later this fall on the Discovery Channel.
Grigsby will bring a slim 11-ounce lead into Monday’s second day of competition for Group A, with fellow sight-fishing guru Alton Jones of Lorena, Texas, right behind him in second place with 11 bass weighing 37-4. Redlands, California pro Brent Ehrler also spent the day targeting bedding fish and boated 11 bass totaling 34-10, as did current Bally Bet Angler of the Year leader Jordan Lee of Cullman, Alabama, who caught 10 bass totaling 32-13. Alton Jones, Jr., of Waco, Texas, rounds out the top five with 12 bass weighing 32-3.
Grigsby was in his element, Saturday, catching all of his 14 keepers sight-fishing with several different baits. His key bait was a 4-inch Strike King KVD Ocho, in bubble gum and sweet potato pie colors.
“I’m pretty pleased to finally catch them in a Bass Pro Tour event,” the affable Florida pro said. “Today was such a fun day. But it wasn’t easy – especially this afternoon. I’ve done this a long time and usually when we’re sight-fishing and the sun comes out and it gets warm, the fish start biting. That really didn’t happen this afternoon.
“We had 20+ mile-per-hour winds blowing and we’ve had all that rain, so the water is pretty stained up,” Grigsby continued. “My biggest two fish that I found, I couldn’t even fish – the water went to chocolate milk from the rain run-off. I know it’s only Day 1, but every fish matters here, and the good thing is that I only lost one scorable fish. Execution wise, I had pretty much a flawless today so I can’t complain.”
Despite the challenging day on the water, Grigsby is still very much looking forward to finishing out the Qualifying Round on Monday.
“I’m excited about getting back out and going fishing on Monday – I sure hope that I can do it again,” Grigsby said. “I’m looking forward to my off-day tomorrow – I need it. I tore up every one of my spinning rods today. I’ll be tying FG knots all over and getting my new Triton XRT gassed up and ready to get after them again on Monday.”
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.
The top 20 pros in Group A after Day 1 on Lake of the Ozarks are:
1st: Shaw Grigsby, Gainesville, Fla., 14 bass, 37-15
2nd: Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, 11 bass, 37-4
3rd: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 11 bass, 34-10
4th: Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 32-13
5th: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, 12 bass, 32-3
6th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., nine bass, 30-3
7th: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 11 bass, 29-4
8th: Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., eight bass, 28-1
9th: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., eight bass, 22-4
10th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, seven bass, 22-0
11th: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., seven bass, 20-6
12th: Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., six bass, 20-2
13th: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., seven bass, 19-11
14th: Clabion Johns, Social Circle, Ga., four bass, 17-9
15th: Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., four bass, 17-1
16th: Dakota Ebare, Brookeland, Texas, four bass, 16-14
17th: Boyd Duckett, Guntersville, Ala., six bass, 16-3
18th: Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., six bass, 15-8
19th: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, six bass, 15-5
20th: David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn., five bass, 14-1
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 217 scorable bass weighing 640 pounds, 3 ounces caught by 39 pros Saturday, which included 26 four-pounders, four five-pounders, and five six-pounders.
Pro Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, boated a 6-pound, 14-ounce largemouth that earned him 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.
Anglers will launch each day at 7:30 a.m. from the Grand Glaize Marina Recreation Area, located at 711 Public Beach Road in Osage Beach. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the Marina, 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.
On Championship Thursday, May 5, from 4 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 Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat. The FREE, family-friendly event will be fun for fishing fans of all ages. The first 50 middle school or high school anglers 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 to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, take selfies and participate in tackle giveaways.
The Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat features 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 the REDCREST 2023 championship.
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. CT. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat will premiere as two two-hour episodes at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Oct. 15 and Saturday, Oct. 22 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 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.
Livesay Notches First Bassmaster Opens Victory On Ross Barnett Reservoir
Lee Livesay of Longview, Texas, has won the 2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Central Open at Ross Barnett Reservoir presented by Mossy Oak Fishing with a three-day total of 48 pounds, 11 ounces.
Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S.
April 30, 2022
RIDGELAND, Miss. — Lee Livesay’s family recently expanded and he’s pretty certain that motivation helped him expand his trophy collection with a winning total of 48 pounds, 11 ounces at the St. Croix Bassmaster Central Open at Ross Barnett presented by Mossy Oak Fishing.
Buoyed by a Day 1 limit of 25-12 — the event’s second-largest — the Bassmaster Elite Series pro from Longview, Texas, powered through two days of tougher conditions that yielded limits of 10-4 and 12-11. Livesay won the top prize of $52,500 and a berth in the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, to be held in Knoxville, Tenn., March 24-26.
“I struggled the last two days; I’m really thankful I caught that big bag the first day,” Livesay said.
After Elite wins on Chickamauga Lake (2020) and Lake Fork (2021), this is Livesay’s first Bassmaster Opens win. Watching his victory was Livesay’s wife Taren and their month-old daughter Lane.
“It took me 36 years to have (a child) so I never thought about it until I had one, but I figured out I couldn’t love anything more than that little baby and my wife,” Livesay said. “It definitely focused me.”
With minimal experience on Ross Barnett, Livesay spent most of his time on a community hole flat on the lake’s east side. He had plenty of company, but having located a narrow drain flanked by a mix of dollar pads, pepper grass and hydrilla, he had a legitimate sweet spot all to himself.
A Texas-rigged and Carolina-rigged Netbait 6-inch lizard produced all of his first-round weight. The former fared best in the thicker spots.
Day 2 saw him struggling, as the spot seemed to have dried up. So, Livesay shifted gears and caught a couple of keepers on shoreline spots and in a marina.
Day 3, while a little more productive, also required a multi-level effort.
“Today, I had to go junk fishing; my fish were gone,” Livesay said. “I started on my drain today, but a little farther down — about two casts from where I caught them on Day 1.”
After a slow start on his drain, Livesay moved shallow and caught his first keeper on a white Snagproof Bobby’s Perfect Frog. Giving his drain another shot, Livesay caught his biggest bass — a 4-pounder — on the Carolina rig.
“Four casts later, I lost a great big one — a 5- or 6-pounder,” he said. “That was it for the flat.”
Returning to the bank, he added his third keeper on the frog. After that, a frustrating slump prompted him to try a new scenario.
“I said, ‘I have to go junk fish,’ so I went out to the cypress trees in front of that area that I had never fished,” Livesay said. “I pulled out a white 6th Sense Braid swim jig with a white Netbait twin-tail trailer, skipped it up under a tree and caught a good one.
“I kept going up to the next bay and just flipped, flipped, flipped with a Netbait B Bug. After 30 minutes of flipping reeds, I caught No. 5 — a 3-pounder.”
Relishing his first Opens title, Livesay said his win gives him some much-needed breathing room.
“I’ve had a really rough year on the Elites. I’m 71st in Angler of the Year standings — almost impossible to make the Classic,” he said. “I just punched my ticket for (the Classic) so I can swing for the fence the rest of the year.”
Nick LeBrun of Bossier City, La., finished second with 47-11. After placing 11th on Day 1 with 15-3, he pulled up to second with 17-9 on Day 2. He finished with 14-15.
Targeting specific shoreline structure and cover, LeBrun was fishing an area where he suspected a late wave of spawners had pulled up shallow. Covering water to find bass he couldn’t see in the lake’s muddy water, he caught fish on a bladed jig, a Texas-rigged V&M Chopstick and a frog.
“I just stayed on my Lowrance Ghost trolling motor, just junk fishing; fishing what’s in front of me,” LeBrun said. “Probably 12 of my 15 fish came out of Pelahatchie Bay. I also had some offshore stuff that I stopped on today.”
Trevor McKinney of Benton, Ill., finished third with 45-9. His daily weights were 12-13, 17-2 and 15-10.
McKinney did his best to get away from the crowds and that meant skinny water.
“I ran my Crestliner (aluminum) boat as shallow as I could get it,” he said. “I actually found a little shad spawn going on. I was catching most of my fish on a Terminator Swim Jig and a Terminator Frog.
“I was just throwing up as shallow as I could and shad were jumping up on the bank. Yesterday, I caught one on a frog and it spit up two shad on my deck. I threw them back in the water and they swam off. The fish were just gorging themselves.”
As the highest-placing eligible angler in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, McKinney earned an additional $1,500.
As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, LeBrun took home an additional $1,500.
Day 1 leader Neal Gilmore won the $750 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award for his 8-12.
Cole Sands of Calhoun, Tenn., won the $500 Garmin Tournament Rewards for being the highest-placing competitor using Garmin products.
Livesay leads the Central Opens season standings with 200 points. LeBrun is in second with 199, followed by McKinney with 198, Sands with 197 and Jimmy Washam of Covington, Tenn., with 196.
John Soukup of Sapulpa, Okla., leads the overall Bassmaster Opens points standings with 671 points.
2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Central at Ross Barnett presented by Mossy Oak Fishing 4/28-4/30
Ross Barnett Reservoir, Ridgeland MS.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 15 48-11 200 $52,500.00
Day 1: 5 25-12 Day 2: 5 10-04 Day 3: 5 12-11
2. Nick LeBrun Bossier City, LA 15 47-11 199 $25,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 17-09 Day 3: 5 14-15
3. Trevor McKinney Benton, IL 15 45-09 198 $18,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 17-02 Day 3: 5 15-10
4. Cole Sands Calhoun , TN 15 45-01 197 $15,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 14-10 Day 3: 5 14-00
5. Jimmy Washam Covington, TN 15 44-12 196 $13,050.00
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 11-08 Day 3: 5 17-02
6. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 15 42-02 195 $12,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 5 14-03
7. Nathan Donnell China Spring, TX 14 40-14 194 $11,250.00
Day 1: 4 12-02 Day 2: 5 15-12 Day 3: 5 13-00
8. Jeff Avery El Dorado, AR 15 39-09 193 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 17-10 Day 3: 5 11-01
9. Alfred Williams Jackson, MS 15 38-12 192 $8,250.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 14-08 Day 3: 5 07-13
10. Neal Gilmore Magnolia, TX 9 32-14 191 $7,500.00
Day 1: 5 26-09 Day 2: 3 04-13 Day 3: 1 01-08
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Neal Gilmore Magnolia, TX 08-12 $750.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 86 756 1759-02
2 77 697 1632-10
3 9 46 121-15
----------------------------------
172 1499 3513-11
Livesay Endures Slow Day To Take Over Lead At Bassmaster Open On Ross Barnett
2022 Ross Barnett Open Day 2 Leader.jpg
Lee Livesay of Longview, Texas, is leading after Day 2 of the 2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Central Open at Ross Barnett Reservoir presented by Mossy Oak Fishing with a two-day total of 36 pounds.
Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S.
April 29, 2022
RIDGELAND, Miss. — Ross Barnett was in a stingy mood today, but the right combination of persistence and adjustment allowed Bassmaster Elite Series pro Lee Livesay to take over the Day 2 lead at the St. Croix Bassmaster Central Open at Ross Barnett Reservoir presented by Mossy Oak Fishing with a total of 36 pounds.
After trailing Day 1 leader Neal Gilmore by 13 ounces going into the day, Livesay now holds a 3-pound, 4-ounce advantage over Nick LeBrun of Bossier City, La. The Longview, Texas, pro added a limit of 10-4 to the 25-12 he caught on Day 1.
“They weren’t there; I think I caught them all,” Livesay said of his decreased productivity. “Some people caught fish around me and I had three or four in there. I got to my spot, got where I wanted to be, and just didn’t catch them.”
Livesay returned to the same main-lake area where he did his Day 1 work. The general area is a staging flat with a mix of dollar pads, pepper grass and hydrilla, but Livesay’s main target was the point of a drain with a little hard spot.
Mirroring his Day 1 positioning and making the same casts with a Carolina-rigged Netbait 6-inch lizard in junebug, he found the opportunity significantly lower Friday. Livesay suspects it could be a seasonal movement.
“I saw something happen today — I saw some guys catch them on the bank,” he said. “They shut the floodgates and the lake stabilized. I think a lot of those fish went up (to spawning positions).”
Following this hunch, Livesay left his main spot late in the day, moved shallow and caught his fifth keeper on a white Snagproof Bobby’s Perfect Frog. He would later cull that bass with one he caught on a Carolina-rigged Netbait C-Mac worm outside a marina near the takeoff site.
“Nobody caught anything (on my starting area) for three or four hours,” Livesay said. “I saw the same thing yesterday; they started biting again around 2. But I had some stuff in my head. I came over here and fished a big hole by the marina.”
With only a 10-boat field on Championship Saturday, Livesay believes less fishing pressure will allow his main spot to reload and offer better opportunity.
“If I’m going to win, it’s going to be there, within 200 yards on either side,” he said. “After 10 o’clock, I’m going to go up on the bank and throw a frog and then jump back out to some other sections.”
LeBrun, who weighed 15-3 on Day 1, added 17-9 — one of the second round’s better bags — and tallied a second-place total of 32-12.
“The key today was I didn’t lose any,” LeBrun said. “Yesterday, I had the bites to have about 17. I didn’t make any mistakes, sometimes they just come off. Today, I boated every key fish that bit.
“I’m excited to go out tomorrow. I think I have some fish coming to me.”
LeBrun caught most of his bass in what he believes were spawning positions. He mostly threw moving baits to cover water and locate unseen bed fish. He caught one of his keepers with a Carolina rig on a shallow offshore spot.
Hailing from Magnolia, Texas, Gilmore set the Day 1 mark at 26-9 but had a challenging second day that yielded only three keepers that went 4-13. He sits in third with 31-6.
Gilmore had planned on returning to the main-lake community hole flat where he caught his opening limit. He made it to that spot, but a mechanical issue at takeoff limited his speed and prevented him from making any adjustments.
“We were boat 214 today, so by the time we got to the spot, there were about 34 boats in a couple hundred yards,” Gilmore said. “It’s a good area, but there are only a few good spots within that area. I think we got on one for the first time at 11:30.”
Gilmore was trying to target what he described as the flat’s sweet spots — basically, hard-bottom staging areas interspersed amid the vegetation. He’s using a particular bait in what he called a dragging technique.
“I’m dragging really slow-moving baits,” Gilmore said. “I think the bait is still pretty critical and the technique is important.”
Gilmore leads the Phoenix Boats Big Bass standings with the 8-12 he caught on Day 1.
Ricky Fulk of Shenandoah, Va., won the co-angler division with a two-day total of 18-11. After catching a Day 1 limit of 7-5, he added another limit of 11-6 Friday and took home the top prize of $23,687.
Making his Bassmaster Opens debut, Fulk also met Ross Barnett for the first time. He caught all of his bass on a Texas-rigged Zoom Ultravibe Speed Worm. The key, he said, was a technique tip from his Day 1 pro, Justin Hymel.
“Justin put me on the fish and showed me a technique, so I took my knowledge of fishing and I slowed down,” Fulk said. “I drug it so slow that it was barely moving at all.
“Today, I fished with Chad Murray and if it wasn’t for him, I probably wouldn’t have caught what I caught today. He actually went to the spot I wanted to fish.”
Fulk’s Day 2 spot comprised lily pads and hydrilla with adjacent shell bottom. This staging scenario attracted prespawn and postspawn fish.
“Today, I slowed down even more, because with the wind blowing, I knew I needed to stay in contact with the bottom,” Fulk said. “I was throwing three different worm colors — junebug, black and red and black and blue. I was just showing them different looks.”
Clayton Stoerning of Waterville, Minn., won the $250 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award among co-anglers for his 6-5.
Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6 a.m. CT at Madison Landing. The weigh-in will be held back at the landing at 2 p.m. Coverage is available on Bassmaster.com.
2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Central at Ross Barnett presented by Mossy Oak Fishing 4/28-4/30
Ross Barnett Reservoir, Ridgeland MS.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 10 36-00 200
Day 1: 5 25-12 Day 2: 5 10-04
2. Nick LeBrun Bossier City, LA 10 32-12 199
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 17-09
3. Neal Gilmore Magnolia, TX 8 31-06 198
Day 1: 5 26-09 Day 2: 3 04-13
4. Cole Sands Calhoun, TN 10 31-01 197
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 14-10
5. Alfred Williams Jackson, MS 10 30-15 196
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 14-08
6. Trevor McKinney Benton, IL 10 29-15 195
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 17-02
7. Jeff Avery El Dorado, AR 10 28-08 194
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 17-10
8. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 10 27-15 193
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 12-15
9. Nathan Donnell China Spring, TX 9 27-14 192
Day 1: 4 12-02 Day 2: 5 15-12
10. Jimmy Washam Covington, TN 10 27-10 191
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 11-08
11. Cody Bird Granbury, TX 10 27-08 190 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 11-15
12. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 10 26-10 189 $5,250.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 13-02
13. Doug Guins Lake Charles, LA 9 26-03 188 $4,125.00
Day 1: 4 10-14 Day 2: 5 15-05
14. Bradley Hallman Edmond, OK 9 26-01 187 $4,125.00
Day 1: 4 08-04 Day 2: 5 17-13
15. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 10 25-13 186 $4,125.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 12-05
16. Randy Craft Seminary, MS 10 25-10 185 $4,125.00
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 13-15
17. Brett Preuett Monroe, LA 10 25-10 184 $4,125.00
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 13-05
18. Todd Risinger West Monroe, LA 7 25-09 183 $4,125.00
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 2 06-06
19. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 10 25-00 182 $4,125.00
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 13-04
20. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 10 24-13 181 $4,125.00
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 16-11
21. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 10 24-13 180 $3,750.00
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 14-10
22. Chris Keeble Lenoir City, TN 8 24-12 179 $3,750.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 3 10-05
23. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 10 24-05 178 $3,750.00
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 13-10
24. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 9 24-04 177 $3,750.00
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 4 10-03
25. Zack Birge Blanchard, OK 10 24-02 176 $3,750.00
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 09-12
26. Kirk Tisdale Ellisville, MS 9 24-00 175 $3,450.00
Day 1: 4 08-00 Day 2: 5 16-00
26. Joel Willert Prior Lake, MN 9 24-00 175 $3,450.00
Day 1: 4 08-00 Day 2: 5 16-00
28. Todd Castledine Nacogdoches, TX 10 24-00 173 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-11
29. Coop Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 10 24-00 172 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 12-02
30. Nick Brown Lindale, TX 10 23-15 171 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 11-09
31. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 7 23-12 170 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 2 04-11
32. Chris McCall Kirbyville, TX 9 23-11 169 $3,450.00
Day 1: 4 10-10 Day 2: 5 13-01
33. Cody Nichols Fayette, AL 10 23-11 168 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 12-00
34. Jim Dillard West Monroe, LA 10 23-09 167 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 08-13
35. Jake Maddux Birmingham, AL 10 23-08 166 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 12-05
36. Scott Isaacs Ladonia, TX 10 23-06 165 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 11-14
37. Jason Borofka Lavon, TX 10 23-03 164 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 12-00
38. Quentin Cappo Prairieville, LA 10 23-02 163 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 10-01
39. Christopher Thornton Morgan City, LA 7 22-08 162 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 2 03-14
40. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 10 22-06 161 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 10-07
41. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 9 22-02 160
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 4 07-00
42. Josh Ray Alexander, AR 8 22-02 159
Day 1: 3 09-08 Day 2: 5 12-10
43. Blake Sylvester Plaquemine, LA 10 22-00 158
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 13-09
44. Zack Holwerda Wittmann, AZ 7 21-14 157
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 2 05-00
45. Bradford Beavers Summerville, SC 10 21-12 156
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 5 12-09
46. Kyoya Fujita Minamitsuru, Yamanashi 10 21-11 155
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 11-13
47. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 10 21-11 154
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 11-06
48. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 10 21-09 153
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 09-02
49. Chad Smith Minnetonka, MN 10 21-09 152
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 09-15
50. Bart Stanisz Wichita Falls, TX 10 21-09 151
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 11-01
51. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 10 21-08 150
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 11-02
52. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 10 21-07 149
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 5 12-11
53. Connor Rushing Zachary, LA 8 21-07 148
Day 1: 3 11-01 Day 2: 5 10-06
54. Jason Casteel Ocoee, FL 10 21-06 147
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 12-05
55. Tanner Sanderson Ackerly, TX 9 21-02 146
Day 1: 4 08-06 Day 2: 5 12-12
56. Allen Stewart Lakeview, AR 8 20-15 145
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 3 06-06
57. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 8 20-13 144
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 3 06-13
58. Jared Miller Norman, OK 10 20-12 143
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 10-10
59. Darold Gleason Many, LA 9 20-11 142
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 4 07-09
60. Alex Heintze Denham Springs, LA 9 20-07 141
Day 1: 4 07-06 Day 2: 5 13-01
61. B.J. Usie Bourg, LA 8 20-06 140
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 3 06-06
62. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 9 20-01 139
Day 1: 4 09-04 Day 2: 5 10-13
63. Noah Schultz Waseca, MN 9 19-13 138
Day 1: 4 08-02 Day 2: 5 11-11
64. John Hunter Jr Shelbyville, KY 9 19-10 137
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 4 08-09
65. Austin Cranford Moore, OK 8 19-05 136
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 3 05-04
66. Ryan Lavigne Gonzales, LA 10 19-05 135
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 09-03
67. Branden Hollingshead Azle, TX 7 19-00 134
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 2 05-06
68. Terry Peacock Royse City, TX 8 18-13 133
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 3 06-09
69. Caiden Sinclair Wilsonville, AL 7 18-11 132
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 2 03-13
70. Cory Leita Victoria, TX 9 18-11 131
Day 1: 4 08-05 Day 2: 5 10-06
71. Richard Ballard Sulphur, LA 9 18-10 130
Day 1: 4 06-14 Day 2: 5 11-12
72. Blake Whatley Harleton, TX 8 18-09 129
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 3 09-05
73. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 9 18-07 128
Day 1: 4 06-08 Day 2: 5 11-15
74. Zach Goutremout Chaumont, NY 9 18-07 127
Day 1: 4 07-00 Day 2: 5 11-07
75. Brett Cannon Willis, TX 9 18-07 126
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 4 07-05
76. Tim Malone Kodak, TN 7 18-06 125
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 5 14-08
77. Sterling Martin Comfort, TX 7 18-05 124
Day 1: 2 04-05 Day 2: 5 14-00
78. Kurt Dove Del Rio, TX 8 18-05 123
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 5 12-07
79. Connor Graham Minneapolis, MN 9 18-05 122
Day 1: 4 08-10 Day 2: 5 09-11
80. Lucas Bradley Flippin, AR 7 18-03 121
Day 1: 2 05-15 Day 2: 5 12-04
81. Clark Reehm Elm Groove, LA 8 18-00 120
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 3 07-02
82. Jason Smith Forney, TX 7 17-13 119
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 2 05-06
83. Jeff Lugar Princeton, TX 5 17-13 118
Day 1: 3 10-15 Day 2: 2 06-14
84. Caden Acree Powder Springs, GA 10 17-11 117
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 08-05
85. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 8 17-10 116
Day 1: 3 08-03 Day 2: 5 09-07
86. Darrell Newman Bruceville, TX 8 17-04 115
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 5 11-11
87. Blake Schroeder Whitehouse, TX 7 17-01 114
Day 1: 2 05-14 Day 2: 5 11-03
88. T-Roy Broussard Port Arthur, TX 9 16-15 113
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 4 07-13
89. Daisuke Kita Ohtsu Shiga JAPAN 7 16-14 112
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 2 02-15
90. Robert Crowe Denham Springs, LA 9 16-14 111
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 4 07-05
91. Nick Abshire Sulphur, LA 6 16-13 110
Day 1: 2 05-10 Day 2: 4 11-03
92. Mark Watson Midlothian, TX 7 16-12 109
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 2 06-11
93. Kylie Sparks Denham Spgs, LA 9 16-12 108
Day 1: 4 06-12 Day 2: 5 10-00
94. Dave Redington Winnsboro, TX 6 16-11 107
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 4 12-05
95. Richard Cathey San Antonio, TX 7 16-09 106
Day 1: 3 07-14 Day 2: 4 08-11
96. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 8 16-08 105
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 3 05-13
97. Jeremy Johnson Mansfield, TX 7 16-08 104
Day 1: 4 07-04 Day 2: 3 09-04
98. Michael Wooten White House, TN 6 16-07 103
Day 1: 4 13-00 Day 2: 2 03-07
99. Brent Shores Boise, ID 8 16-06 102
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 3 05-15
100. Hayden Newberry Jonesboro, IL 7 16-05 101
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 5 11-14
101. Tom Redington Royse City, TX 9 16-05 100
Day 1: 4 08-03 Day 2: 5 08-02
102. Matt Pangrac Bixby, OK 8 16-04 99
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 3 06-09
103. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 8 15-15 98
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 3 05-10
104. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 7 15-15 97
Day 1: 4 09-15 Day 2: 3 06-00
105. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 8 15-15 96
Day 1: 4 08-12 Day 2: 4 07-03
106. Brady Vernon Birmingham, AL 7 15-14 95
Day 1: 2 05-01 Day 2: 5 10-13
107. Kayden Tanner Tolar, TX 7 15-14 94
Day 1: 4 07-01 Day 2: 3 08-13
108. Seiji Kato Outsu Shiga JAPAN 8 15-14 93
Day 1: 4 07-05 Day 2: 4 08-09
109. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 6 15-13 92
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 4 11-07
110. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 9 15-12 91
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 4 06-08
111. Jack Tindel Orange, TX 6 15-12 90
Day 1: 3 07-09 Day 2: 3 08-03
112. Adam Puckett Magnolia, TX 6 15-09 89
Day 1: 2 05-12 Day 2: 4 09-13
113. Bruce Whitmire Channelview, TX 4 15-06 88
Day 1: 3 12-12 Day 2: 1 02-10
114. Lonnie Cochran Section, AL 8 15-05 87
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 3 06-00
115. Danny Ramsey Trinidad, TX 7 15-04 86
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 2 04-05
116. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 7 15-04 85
Day 1: 4 10-04 Day 2: 3 05-00
117. Lawson Hibdon Versailles, MO 8 15-00 84
Day 1: 3 06-01 Day 2: 5 08-15
118. Michael Kinard Concord, NC 7 14-13 83
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 2 04-10
119. Chris Jones Bokoshe, OK 9 14-13 82
Day 1: 4 05-13 Day 2: 5 09-00
120. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 6 14-11 81
Day 1: 3 05-03 Day 2: 3 09-08
121. Tanner Crim Devine, TX 7 14-10 80
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 5 10-09
122. Jean-Christophe David Bordeaux LA Bodeaux FRA 7 14-10 79
Day 1: 4 07-01 Day 2: 3 07-09
123. Tommy Williams Shepherdsville, KY 7 14-10 78
Day 1: 3 07-08 Day 2: 4 07-02
124. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 14-07 77
Day 1: 4 08-06 Day 2: 1 06-01
125. Wyatt Frankens Corrigan , TX 5 14-06 76
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 2 07-11
126. Justin Margraves Diana, TX 7 14-03 75
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 5 10-08
127. Justin Hymel Norco, LA 7 14-02 74
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 2 03-04
128. Billy Billeaud Lafayette, LA 7 14-01 73
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 2 04-05
129. Dustin Reneau Mckinney, TX 7 13-13 72
Day 1: 4 07-12 Day 2: 3 06-01
130. Chandler Stewart Canyon Lake, TX 6 13-12 71
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 5 12-07
131. Kyle Owen Guntersville, AL 6 13-12 70
Day 1: 4 08-04 Day 2: 2 05-08
132. David Cavell Prairieville, LA 6 13-11 69
Day 1: 4 09-08 Day 2: 2 04-03
133. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 8 13-09 68
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 3 04-10
134. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 7 13-09 67
Day 1: 4 06-14 Day 2: 3 06-11
135. James Davis Jr Ferriday, LA 6 13-08 66
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 4 10-03
136. Andy Beloat Montgomery, TX 6 13-06 65
Day 1: 4 08-06 Day 2: 2 05-00
137. Bailey Boutries Springfield, MO 5 13-04 64
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 13-04
138. Shannon Denson Brandon, MS 6 13-04 63
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 1 01-11
139. Jacob Walker Springville, AL 7 12-15 62
Day 1: 2 02-15 Day 2: 5 10-00
140. Dion Hibdon Versailles, MO 7 12-13 61
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 5 09-07
141. Brian Post Janesville, WI 6 12-13 60
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 3 07-05
142. Tristan McCormick Burns, TN 7 12-11 59
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 2 03-15
143. Larry Puckett Decatur, TX 6 12-05 58
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 1 01-10
144. Joey Hanna Corsicana, TX 6 12-05 57
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 3 05-10
145. Mikey Oncale Port Allen, LA 6 12-04 56
Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 3 05-03
146. Tommy Murray Bedford, TX 7 12-03 55
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 2 04-03
147. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 6 12-03 54
Day 1: 2 04-05 Day 2: 4 07-14
148. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 6 12-00 53
Day 1: 3 06-15 Day 2: 3 05-01
149. Joseph Hardy Hewitt, TX 6 11-13 52
Day 1: 4 07-14 Day 2: 2 03-15
150. Chance Woodard Paris, TX 7 11-12 51
Day 1: 4 07-12 Day 2: 3 04-00
151. Julius Mazy Phoenix, AZ 5 11-11 50
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 3 08-03
152. Marvin Ettredge Shreveport, LA 4 11-08 49
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 3 09-06
153. John Garrett Union City, TN 5 11-08 48
Day 1: 1 02-03 Day 2: 4 09-05
154. Chad Petrie Scroggins, TX 6 11-07 47
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 3 05-15
155. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 6 11-06 46
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 1 01-12
156. Spencer Peters Corryton, TN 3 11-06 45
Day 1: 1 03-11 Day 2: 2 07-11
157. Chris Johnson Farmington, AR 5 11-03 44
Day 1: 3 08-06 Day 2: 2 02-13
158. Jon Canada Helena, AL 5 11-03 43
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 2 05-08
159. Hunter Sales Blaine, TN 7 11-02 42
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 2 03-06
160. Jacob Ormond Sterlington, LA 6 11-00 41
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 1 01-11
161. Randy Sullivan Breckenridge, TX 5 11-00 40
Day 1: 4 07-15 Day 2: 1 03-01
162. William Mcnutt II Benton, LA 5 11-00 39
Day 1: 4 07-11 Day 2: 1 03-05
163. Travis Loyd Brookeland, TX 5 11-00 38
Day 1: 3 07-06 Day 2: 2 03-10
164. Hugh Cosculluela Spring, TX 6 10-15 37
Day 1: 2 02-12 Day 2: 4 08-03
165. Logan Johnson Jasper, AL 4 10-14 36
Day 1: 4 10-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
166. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 6 10-13 35
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 1 03-02
167. Kazuki Kitajima Corinth, TX 6 10-13 34
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 3 05-13
168. Keith Nabours Hemphill, TX 5 10-10 33
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 3 07-07
169. Ronald Young New Braunfels, TX 4 10-10 32
Day 1: 2 07-00 Day 2: 2 03-10
170. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 4 10-08 31
Day 1: 3 08-13 Day 2: 1 01-11
171. Sam George Athens, AL 5 10-05 30
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 4 08-08
172. Tommy Robinson Westland, MI 5 10-04 29
Day 1: 2 04-04 Day 2: 3 06-00
173. Bill Hutchison Jr. Bessemer, AL 5 09-12 28
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Chris Bailey Eddy, TX 4 09-09 27
Day 1: 2 05-02 Day 2: 2 04-07
175. James Caldemeyer III Gilmer, TX 4 09-06 26
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 2 06-04
176. Bill McNutt Henry, IL 4 09-04 25
Day 1: 4 09-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
177. Kyle Cortiana Broken Arrow, OK 4 09-04 24
Day 1: 3 07-11 Day 2: 1 01-09
178. Jimmy Green Jenks, OK 4 08-14 23
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 1 03-02
179. Andrew Upshaw Hemphill, TX 5 08-07 22
Day 1: 3 04-12 Day 2: 2 03-11
180. Mamoru Kagiya Takahama JAPAN 4 07-15 21
Day 1: 4 07-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
181. Mark Russell Yantis, TX 4 07-13 20
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 2 04-07
182. Scott Pellegrin Chippewa Falls, WI 3 07-10 19
Day 1: 1 03-06 Day 2: 2 04-04
183. Steve Tennison Lexington, OK 3 07-05 18
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 2 04-08
184. D.J. Ellis Crestview, FL 4 07-04 17
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 07-04
185. Joe McClosky Swanton, MD 3 07-04 16
Day 1: 1 03-01 Day 2: 2 04-03
186. Jason Pittman Covington, MS 3 07-03 15
Day 1: 1 03-03 Day 2: 2 04-00
187. Stephanie Hemphill Village Mills, TX 4 07-00 14
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 2 02-10
188. Austin Howard Granby, CO 4 06-12 13
Day 1: 3 04-12 Day 2: 1 02-00
189. Daniel Rodriquez New Braunfels, TX 2 06-12 12
Day 1: 1 04-01 Day 2: 1 02-11
190. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 3 06-08 11
Day 1: 2 03-09 Day 2: 1 02-15
191. Todd Childs Waxahachie, TX 3 06-05 10
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-05
192. Theron Caldwell Decatur, TX 4 06-04 9
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 3 04-14
193. Greg Secord Salem, SC 1 05-14 8
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 05-14
194. Zak Fadden Plymouth, MI 3 05-08 7
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
195. Edgar Romero Renteria Leon MEXICO 3 05-08 6
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 2 03-15
196. Travis Kelehan Many, LA 3 05-08 5
Day 1: 2 03-09 Day 2: 1 01-15
197. Victor Hawkins Sugar Land, TX 1 05-03 4
Day 1: 1 05-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
198. Tyler Carriere Youngsville, LA 2 05-02 3
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 1 02-09
199. Marshall Hughes Hemphill, TX 3 05-00 2
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 2 03-06
200. Robert Terkla Prosper, TX 4 04-15 1
Day 1: 4 04-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
201. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 3 04-15 0
Day 1: 2 03-09 Day 2: 1 01-06
202. Dustin Wilkey Durant, OK 2 04-08 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-08
203. Dane Thibodeaux Lake Charles, LA 3 04-07 0
Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 1 01-09
204. Gary Caruso Baton Rouge, LA 2 04-04 0
Day 1: 2 04-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
205. Troy Roder Brookeland, TX 2 04-04 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 1 02-06
206. Drew Sloan Scurry, TX 2 04-01 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-01
207. Brad Hillebrandt Florien, LA 2 03-14 0
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
208. Brad Hollowell Azle, TX 2 03-13 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-13
209. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 2 03-01 0
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 1 01-06
210. Bert Worrell Jr Longview, TX 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-10
211. Mike Picha Decatur, TX 1 02-08 0
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
212. Tony Dumitras Winston, GA 1 02-05 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-05
213. Andy Williamson Lake Andes, SD 1 02-04 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-04
214. A.J. Menssen Bloomington, IL 1 02-02 0
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
215. Noah Boyett Mountain Home, AR 1 01-13 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-13
216. Travis Franks Lake Charles, LA 1 01-10 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-10
216. Michael Harter Westminster, SC 1 01-10 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-10
216. Chad Murray Ferriday , LA 1 01-10 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-10
219. Eric Pinter Little Rock, AR 1 01-06 0
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
220. Clay Dyer Hazel Green, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
220. Steven Gilliam Blanchard, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
220. Johnny Grice Arp, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
220. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
220. Michael Quatrone Atoka, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
220. Hermilo Salgado-Zavaleta Artemus, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 86 756 1759-02
2 77 697 1632-10
----------------------------------
163 1453 3391-12
2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Central Open at Ross Barnett presented by Mossy Oak Fishing 4/28-4/30
Ross Barnett Reservoir, Ridgeland MS.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Ricky Fulk Shenandoah, VA 6 18-11 200 $23,687.00
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 3 11-06
2. Ross Bryant Alexandria, LA 6 16-08 199 $5,573.00
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 3 09-03
3. Tiffany Leal Austin, TX 6 15-14 198 $4,180.00
Day 1: 3 07-14 Day 2: 3 08-00
4. Clifton Overstreet Dothan, AL 6 15-13 197 $3,135.00
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 3 10-07
5. Jason Switzer Sapulpa, OK 6 15-06 196 $2,926.00
Day 1: 3 09-04 Day 2: 3 06-02
6. Adam Tims Royse City, TX 4 15-00 195 $2,787.00
Day 1: 3 12-13 Day 2: 1 02-03
7. Steven West Mooreville, MS 6 14-10 194 $2,647.00
Day 1: 3 06-08 Day 2: 3 08-02
8. Mickael Weill Sallanches FRANCE 6 14-08 193 $2,508.00
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 3 07-13
9. Brian Toth Brandon, MS 6 13-15 192 $2,299.00
Day 1: 3 09-01 Day 2: 3 04-14
10. Forrest Reasons Big Rock, TN 5 13-15 191 $2,090.00
Day 1: 3 08-08 Day 2: 2 05-07
11. Skip Rayborn Hammond, LA 5 13-13 190 $1,951.00
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 2 06-09
12. Sawyer Wallace Bogue Chitto, MS 6 13-06 189 $1,811.00
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 3 06-08
13. Taylor Odom Flowood, MS 6 13-00 188 $1,533.00
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 3 07-08
14. Logan Slaughter Dallas, TX 6 12-12 187 $1,393.00
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 3 05-08
15. Bernard Crump Jackson, MS 6 12-03 186 $1,254.00
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 3 05-05
16. Marian Hall Hattiesburg, MS 5 12-01 185 $1,115.00
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 3 08-02
17. Timmy Ming Louisville, MS 6 12-01 184 $1,045.00
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 3 06-13
18. Kenny Johnson Hattiesburg, MS 5 11-15 183 $1,045.00
Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 3 07-12
19. Harrison Creel Mt. Hermon, LA 5 11-14 182 $1,045.00
Day 1: 3 07-09 Day 2: 2 04-05
20. Chad Gawel Bossier City, LA 4 11-14 181 $1,045.00
Day 1: 1 05-00 Day 2: 3 06-14
21. Clayton Stoering Waterville, MN 3 11-11 180 $1,225.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 11-11
22. Jason Campbell Berwick, LA 4 11-11 179 $975.00
Day 1: 1 05-00 Day 2: 3 06-11
23. Grant Bourque Prairieville, LA 5 11-10 178 $975.00
Day 1: 3 05-10 Day 2: 2 06-00
24. Blake Alford West Monroe, LA 4 11-09 177 $975.00
Day 1: 3 10-01 Day 2: 1 01-08
25. Jordan Lane Conroe, TX 4 11-09 176 $975.00
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 3 09-02
26. Gary Hall Wardville, OK 4 11-07 175 $836.00
Day 1: 1 04-10 Day 2: 3 06-13
27. Thomas Smith Brandon, MS 5 11-07 174 $836.00
Day 1: 2 04-13 Day 2: 3 06-10
28. Jacob Shelby Brandon, MS 5 11-01 173 $836.00
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 2 05-04
29. Taurian Parks Clinton, MS 3 10-13 172 $836.00
Day 1: 2 08-13 Day 2: 1 02-00
30. Michael Sojourner Crystal Springs, MS 4 10-13 171 $836.00
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 3 08-00
31. John Purvis Brandon, MS 4 10-13 170 $766.00
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 2 06-12
32. Todd Fowlkes Collierville, TN 5 10-06 169 $766.00
Day 1: 3 07-13 Day 2: 2 02-09
33. Stuart Woodman Prairieville, LA 5 10-06 168 $766.00
Day 1: 2 04-11 Day 2: 3 05-11
34. Jason Hannah Forest, MS 4 10-01 167 $766.00
Day 1: 2 05-02 Day 2: 2 04-15
35. John Melton Brandon, MS 3 09-14 166 $766.00
Day 1: 3 09-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
36. Ed Melton Houston, TX 4 09-07 165 $766.00
Day 1: 3 07-15 Day 2: 1 01-08
37. Chuck Halbert Jr Lexa, AR 4 09-05 164 $766.00
Day 1: 3 05-15 Day 2: 1 03-06
38. Craig Danna West Monroe, LA 5 09-00 163 $766.00
Day 1: 3 06-01 Day 2: 2 02-15
39. Kevin Mallow Kansas, OK 3 08-13 162 $766.00
Day 1: 3 08-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
40. Trey Brafford Kings Mtn, NC 3 08-11 161 $766.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 08-11
41. Mike Alls Fort Worth, TX 4 08-11 160
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 3 07-00
42. Jason Barber Gun Barrel City, TX 5 08-11 159
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 2 03-05
43. Darrell Hille Springfield, TN 3 08-10 158
Day 1: 1 04-07 Day 2: 2 04-03
44. Joshua McGeary Mt. Pleasant, PA 3 08-07 157
Day 1: 2 06-12 Day 2: 1 01-11
45. Garrett Posey Brookhaven, MS 3 08-07 156
Day 1: 2 06-02 Day 2: 1 02-05
46. Clay Osteen Fort Worth, TX 4 08-03 155
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 3 07-00
47. Vincent Todaro Luling, LA 4 08-01 154
Day 1: 2 04-12 Day 2: 2 03-05
48. Chris Gaudin Camden, AR 3 07-15 153
Day 1: 2 06-09 Day 2: 1 01-06
49. John Gaumnitz Oak Ridge, LA 3 07-14 152
Day 1: 3 07-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
50. Ray Thomasson Jr El Dorado, AR 3 07-13 151
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 07-13
51. Nathan Bourque Prairieville, LA 4 07-13 150
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 3 05-14
52. Caleb Mccaffery Mccomb, MS 4 07-12 149
Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 2 03-09
53. Vern Deatherage Ava, MO 2 07-11 148
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 07-11
54. Bill Mcright Vicksburg, MS 4 07-10 147
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 1 01-13
55. Granger Samaha Denham Springs, LA 3 07-09 146
Day 1: 3 07-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
56. David Dove Columbus, MS 4 07-09 145
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 2 04-04
57. Justin Gilliard Kearney, NE 3 07-08 144
Day 1: 1 02-15 Day 2: 2 04-09
58. Tacorrie Johnson Royse City, TX 3 07-07 143
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
59. Joe Stokes Kentwood, LA 4 07-05 142
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 3 05-10
60. David Riggs Hillsboro, IL 3 07-05 141
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 2 05-08
61. Scott Sullins Laurel, MS 3 07-03 140
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 2 04-15
62. David Sherrer Elm Grove, LA 4 07-02 139
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 1 02-00
63. Curtis King Plaquemine, LA 3 07-01 138
Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
64. Bryan Dunnaway Brandon, MS 4 07-00 137
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 3 05-07
65. Jason Swanner Olive Branch, MS 2 06-15 136
Day 1: 2 06-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
66. John Stewart Lone Jack, MO 4 06-15 135
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 3 05-03
67. WK Luckett Jr Ridgeland, MS 3 06-14 134
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
67. Cory Weaver Ankeny, IA 3 06-14 134
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-14
69. Levi Allgeier Bardstown, KY 3 06-14 132
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 2 04-12
70. Angela Mayo Maiden, NC 2 06-12 131
Day 1: 2 06-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
71. Neal Wisinski Stevens Point, WI 4 06-11 130
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 3 04-13
72. Michael Page Shreveport, LA 3 06-11 129
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 2 04-12
73. Michael Scalise Port Allen, LA 4 06-10 128
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 2 03-05
74. Marty Tanner Tolar, TX 2 06-09 127
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 06-09
75. Andrew Harp Linden, TX 3 06-09 126
Day 1: 2 04-11 Day 2: 1 01-14
76. Drew Felder Denham Springs, LA 3 06-07 125
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 1 02-06
77. Nick Melcher Gypsum, CO 4 06-04 124
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 2 02-14
78. Scott Maness Minden, LA 3 06-03 123
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 2 04-01
79. Cody Richardson Gautier, MS 3 06-01 122
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-01
80. Joseph Hart Brookhaven, MS 3 05-15 121
Day 1: 2 04-02 Day 2: 1 01-13
81. Matt Michel Gonzales, LA 3 05-14 120
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 05-14
81. Bert Petrie Garland, TX 3 05-14 120
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
81. Rod Robinson Florence, MS 3 05-14 120
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
84. Joseph Marshall Moss Point, MS 2 05-14 117
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 05-14
85. William Young Livingston, TX 1 05-14 116
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 05-14
86. Jay Case Brookhaven, MS 3 05-14 115
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 2 04-08
87. Kevin Smith Yazoo City, MS 2 05-13 114
Day 1: 2 05-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Michael Murphy Brandon, MS 3 05-12 113
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
89. David Hug Sr Eads, TN 2 05-11 112
Day 1: 2 05-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
90. Anthony Thomas Jackson, MS 3 05-11 111
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 2 03-13
91. Shane Soriano Merced, CA 2 05-10 110
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 1 03-09
92. Bill Watts Beaumont, TX 3 05-10 109
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 2 03-02
93. Bryan Gibson Arlington, TN 3 05-09 108
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 05-09
94. Bob Burgess Millington, TN 2 05-03 107
Day 1: 2 05-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
95. Jeremy Duke Gautier, MS 3 05-03 106
Day 1: 1 02-03 Day 2: 2 03-00
96. Robert Pennell Cuero, TX 2 05-02 105
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 05-02
97. Anthony Boris Kansasville, WI 2 05-02 104
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 1 02-10
98. Ramey Harrell Lena, MS 3 05-01 103
Day 1: 2 03-04 Day 2: 1 01-13
99. Denny Bowers Jr Fort Hood, TX 3 05-00 102
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 05-00
100. Corey Dear Brandon, MS 2 04-15 101
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 1 02-10
101. James Newsom Memphis, TN 2 04-13 100
Day 1: 2 04-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
102. Jim Opetaia-Williamson Winter Garden, FL 1 04-12 99
Day 1: 1 04-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
103. Jason Phillips Whitehouse, TX 2 04-09 98
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-09
104. Morris Collins Fairfield, OH 1 04-09 97
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 04-09
105. John Goul Philadelphia, MS 2 04-08 96
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-08
105. Tim Neumann Humble, TX 2 04-08 96
Day 1: 2 04-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
107. Marcus Horace Harvey, IL 2 04-07 94
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-07
108. Laken Howard Bogue Chitto, MS 3 04-07 93
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 2 03-00
109. Jake White Cleveland, MS 2 04-07 92
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 1 02-14
110. Domonick Poullard Conroe, TX 2 04-06 91
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
111. Chris Mitchell Millport, AL 2 04-05 90
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 1 01-13
112. Jacob Collins Hillsboro, IL 2 04-04 89
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-04
113. Jeff Collier Mount Pleasant, TX 2 04-04 88
Day 1: 1 02-12 Day 2: 1 01-08
114. Randy Waddell Guntersville, AL 2 04-03 87
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 1 02-11
115. David Patterson Flowood, MS 1 04-01 86
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 04-01
116. David Booth Erin, TN 1 04-00 85
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 04-00
117. Derek Caldwell Fyffe, AL 2 03-15 84
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
118. Terry Barnson Bullard, TX 1 03-15 83
Day 1: 1 03-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
118. Jeff Cox Walker, LA 1 03-15 83
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-15
120. Jacob Vincent Abbeville, LA 2 03-12 81
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 1 01-05
121. Dewayne Lewis Arlington, TX 2 03-12 80
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 1 01-14
122. Terry Morris Spearsville, LA 2 03-10 79
Day 1: 2 03-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
123. Kyle Gelles Pingree, ID 2 03-08 78
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-08
124. Jason Bruner Chipley, FL 2 03-07 77
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-07
124. Michael Spiers Brandon, MS 2 03-07 77
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
126. Joe Schonhoff Slidell, LA 2 03-07 75
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 1 02-02
127. AJ Jones Lutz, FL 2 03-07 74
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 1 01-06
128. Bob Meder New Braunfels, TX 2 03-06 73
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 1 01-15
129. John Higginbotham Clinton, LA 2 03-05 72
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
130. John Harrell Lena, MS 2 03-03 71
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 1 01-07
131. Matteo Turano Naperville, IL 2 03-02 70
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-02
132. Christian Kuper Burleson, TX 2 03-01 69
Day 1: 2 03-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
133. Ryker Holmes Arlington, TX 2 03-01 68
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 1 01-08
134. Jason Fontenot Lake Charles, LA 2 03-00 67
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-00
134. Ryan Lloyd Brandon, MS 2 03-00 67
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-00
136. Kris Mccarter Pheba, MS 2 03-00 65
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 1 01-09
137. Steven Miller Ackerman, MS 1 02-15 64
Day 1: 1 02-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
138. Rick Ivy Ponder, TX 1 02-13 63
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
139. John Anderson Bay Springs, MS 2 02-11 62
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Noel Allen Jr Brandon, MS 1 02-10 61
Day 1: 1 02-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Adam Boyd Humble, TX 1 02-10 61
Day 1: 1 02-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
142. Johnnie Garrett Union City, TN 1 02-08 59
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-08
142. Dale Jackson Lindale, TX 1 02-08 59
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
144. Daniel Dantoni Florence, MS 1 02-06 57
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-06
144. Allen Heston Pittsburg, TX 1 02-06 57
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-06
146. Michael Nichols Pearl, MS 1 02-05 55
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
147. Steven Phillips Bowie, TX 1 02-04 54
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-04
148. Jaime Venegas Chihuahua MEXICO 1 02-02 53
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
149. Patrick Butler Hemphill, TX 1 02-00 52
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-00
150. James Boyett Mountain Home, AR 1 01-14 51
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-14
150. Robert Brewer Trafford, AL 1 01-14 51
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-14
152. Jacob Altman Olathe, CO 1 01-13 49
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
152. Steve Kline Hilltop Lakes, TX 1 01-13 49
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
154. Clay Chancellor Louisville, MS 1 01-12 47
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-12
154. Tim Faircloth Bossier City, LA 1 01-12 47
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-12
154. Johnny Matthews China Spring, TX 1 01-12 47
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
154. Rodney Teel Ponchatoula, LA 1 01-12 47
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-12
158. Will Major Port Allen, LA 1 01-11 43
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Nick Richey Aledo, TX 1 01-11 43
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-11
160. Hunter Neuville New Iberia, LA 1 01-10 41
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-10
161. Reed Eiland Florence, MS 1 01-09 40
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
161. Salvador Garcia Lowell, AR 1 01-09 40
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
161. Steven Hatch Long Beach, MS 1 01-09 40
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
161. John Holtz Gardner, KS 1 01-09 40
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-09
161. Justin Ketteringham Pearl, MS 1 01-09 40
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
166. Seth Laster Steens, MS 1 01-08 35
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-08
166. Chris Shaw Yukon, OK 1 01-08 35
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-08
166. Frank Williams Jackson, MO 1 01-08 35
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
169. Jimmy Kimbrell Jonesboro, AR 1 01-07 32
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
170. Garrett Cole Florence, MS 1 01-06 31
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-06
171. Tony Brossette Vidor, TX 1 01-05 30
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-05
172. Bryan Flenniken Fort Worth, TX 1 01-04 29
Day 1: 1 01-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
172. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 1 01-04 29
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-04
174. Byron Allen Taylor, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. George Autenreath Monticello, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Gary Bates Athens, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Larry Beauboeuf Bossier City, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Calvin Bogan Livingston, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Bill Boggan Brandon, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Jake Brake Kila, MT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Alonzo Evans Jr Topeka, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Nicholas Ezernack Many, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Justin Ferrill Picayune, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Walter Gillis Jackson, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Mark Goldman Brandon, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Cody Ryan Greaney Ledbetter, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Michael Greer Deridder, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. David Harrell Downsville, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Dalton Haynes Hamburg, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Timothy Hedrick Andrews, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Cedric Jackson Sicily Island, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Cody Jones Winnsboro, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Chris Marshall Moss Point, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Casey Mccaffery Bogue Chitto, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Eric Melton Flowood, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Sam Milazzo Niles, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Bret Miller Lafayette, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Jon Mohon Sr Port Neches, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Gary Mumphrey Gonzales, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Mike Myers Oklahoma City, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Lance Owen Greer, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Stephen Parnell Brandon, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. T.J. Reed Fredericktown, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Charles Reed Batesville, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Ben Shuler Midland, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Jason Smith Manvel, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Donald Terry Jackson, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Carlton Tipp Grand Bay, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Karl Voss Sulphur, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 37 236 551-13
2 37 243 549-09
----------------------------------
74 479 1101-06
37 236 551-13
Davis Comes From Behind To Win B.AS.S. Nation Southeast Regional On Smith Lake
Will Davis Jr., of Sylacauga, Ala., has won the 2022 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Southeast Regional on Lewis Smith Lake with a three-day total of 38 pounds, 3 ounces.
Photo by Breanne Jackson/B.A.S.S.
April 29, 2022
Alabama's Davis Comes From Behind To Win B.AS.S. Nation Southeast Regional On Smith Lake
JASPER, Ala. — Only 15 minutes remained Friday in the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Southeast Regional at Lewis Smith Lake and Will Davis Jr. figured the limit in his livewell gave him a chance to win.
He also knew his chances greatly improved if he left his favored spot in Rock Creek and hooked a big bedding bass on the main channel.
He made the move — and it was a good choice.
Davis caught a 4-pounder at the mouth of Rock Creek just before zooming back to the Smith Lake Dam Access where the regional’s final weigh-in was about to begin. The catch allowed him to upgrade more than a pound and it helped him to a 13-pound, 5-ounce limit of five bass on the final day.
That capped a three-day total of 38-3, which earned him a come-from-behind win on Smith Lake, some 90 miles from his hometown of Sylacauga, Ala.
“I told my nonboater ‘I’m 5 pounds out from winning this thing,’” Davis said, noting the distance between him and North Carolina’s David Winters, who led the field after Days 1 and 2.
“I knew I had to find a big one on a bed,” Davis said. “I saw a big female there earlier in the week and she was there again when we pulled up. I picked up a Davis Bait Company 1/2-ounce wood jig with a green pumpkin Big Bite Fighting Frog on it. I flipped it over there and she sucked it right in.”
Davis, 29, collected a $5,000 cash prize courtesy of Skeeter with the win. He also secured a spot in the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship scheduled for Nov. 9-11 on Pickwick Lake in Florence, Ala. Davis is taking home an additional $500 as winner of the Garmin Tournament Rewards.
“It’ll be my first time fishing in the Nation Championship,” he said. “It’s hard to get there because there are a lot of great sticks in Alabama. Making it to the regional and now nationals, it’s a special feeling.”
Davis caught an 11-9 limit on Day 1 which put him in 13th place in the boater division. He improved to 13-5 on Day 2 and replicated the weight on Day 3. He said changing patterns allowed him to increase his weight when some of the early leaders were going backwards.
“My dad (William, owner of Davis Bait Company) makes a bait called a Shaky Fish,” Davis said. “It’s a jighead with a bill on it. And he has a minnow bait that has a great quiver, an X Swim Slim Minnow (albino).
“I started getting into these ditches in Rock Creek and I could see them on my LiveScope suspended in 8 to 10 feet of water. I reeled it fast past the fish. Six out of 10 times, they hit it.”
While Davis was getting bit, Winters was having troubles. He caught only three bass Friday for 6-11, but was able to hang onto second place overall, earning $4,000. Winters won an additional $500 for having the heaviest bass of the tournament — a 6-8 largemouth that anchored his 18-9 haul on Day 1.
“A lot of things went wrong today,” Winters said. “My morning spot dried up. I had a lot of pressure in my area. I tried it for an hour and a half, but I went looking for something big. It just didn’t happen.”
JJ Dickens of Beaver, W.V., claimed $2,500 cash from Yamaha for winning the nonboater division. Dickens caught nine bass over three days totaling 22-3. He edged West Virginia teammate J.C. Christopher II, who finished second with 22-1.
“I used a drop shot with a Yamamoto Shad Shape with a finesse presentation,” Dickens said. “I also used a Keitech 3/32-ounce micro jig with a three-inch swimmer. Both were in green pumpkin.”
A total of 200 competitors from 10 states started the derby on Wednesday and the field was cut to 56 anglers for Day 3. The Top 20 in both the boater and nonboater divisions collected cash prizes and qualified for November’s B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.
A total cash purse of $43,000 was awarded in the regional.
West Virginia won the team portion of the tournament, which was decided on Day 2. The Mountain State’s 20 anglers totaled 133 bass weighing 270-2 over two days, good enough for $6,250. North Carolina finished second (129 bass, 268 pounds, $3,750) and Alabama was third (120, 251-5, $2,500).
Rounding out the team standings are Virginia (123, 251-4); fifth, Georgia (120, 246-7); sixth, South Carolina (118, 238-0); seventh, Kentucky, (121, 237-9); eighth, Mississippi (113, 218-6); ninth, Tennessee (105, 200-4); and 10th, Florida (98, 183-15).
2022 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S Nation Southeastern Regional Lewis Smith Lake 4/27-4/29
Lewis Smith Lake, Jasper AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL (AL) 15 38-03 0
2. David Winters Rock Hill, SC (NC) 13 36-06 0
3. Brent Tullis Tyrone, GA (GA) 15 35-04 0
4. Chris Carnes York, SC (NC) 15 35-01 0
5. James Graves III Syria, VA (VA) 15 35-01 0
6. Wil Dieffenbauch Morgantown, WV (WV) 15 34-14 0
7. Mark McCaig Oxford, AL (AL) 15 34-13 0
8. Randy Huffman Charleston, WV (WV) 15 34-00 0
9. Matt Judy Moncks Corner, SC (SC) 15 33-13 0
10. Matt Martin Brookhaven, MS (MS) 15 33-05 0
11. Bradley West Vincent, OH (WV) 14 33-03 0
12. Allan Glasgow Ashville, AL (AL) 15 32-14 0
13. Brendan Smith Lavonia, GA (GA) 15 32-08 0
14. Norman Mullinax Wilmington, NC (NC) 13 32-02 0
15. John Duvall Madison, GA (GA) 12 32-02 0
16. Bryan Asay Newnan, GA (GA) 15 32-01 0
17. Waine Pittman Villa Rica, GA (GA) 15 32-01 0
18. Samuel Nowalk Milton, WV (WV) 15 32-00 0
19. Chris Blair Newnan, GA (GA) 15 31-13 0
20. Hayes Hudson Conway, SC (SC) 15 30-15 0
21. Joe Johnson Clarksville, TN (TN) 14 29-11 0
22. Michael Boggs II Wheelersburg, OH (KY) 13 29-01 0
23. Sawyer Mcmurphy Saucier, MS (MS) 15 28-03 0
24. Dave Turner Crystal River, FL (FL) 14 27-06 0
25. Rusty Satterfield Knoxville, TN (TN) 13 26-15 0
26. Dan Carrigan Citrus Springs, FL (FL) 14 24-14 0
27. Michael Gunn Mechanicsville, VA (VA) 11 23-04 0
28. Craig Lonkard Florence, KY (KY) 10 21-14 0
29. Kipton Burba Columbia, SC (SC) 9 19-06 0
30. David Swain Wilson, NC (NC) 10 19-05 0
31. Reid McDowell Galivants Ferry, SC (SC 10 19-05 0
32. Jay Wright Spring Hope, NC (NC) 10 18-09 0
33. Jason Moyer Greenwood, SC (SC) 7 18-04 0
34. Casey West Laurel, MS (MS) 9 18-01 0
35. Brian Nelson Adams, TN (TN) 10 18-01 0
36. Johnny Bihlear Eutawville, SC (SC) 10 18-01 0
37. Bert Collins Heaters, WV (WV) 10 18-00 0
38. Jeff Corley Trussville, AL (AL) 10 17-14 0
39. Lyle Atkins Culloden, WV (WV) 8 17-12 0
40. Jeff Salmon Chester, VA (VA) 8 17-08 0
41. Brian O'Connell Lexington, SC (SC) 10 17-06 0
42. Brent Reaves Alexander City, AL (AL) 8 17-02 0
43. Nick Ward Newnan, GA (GA) 8 17-01 0
44. Michael Cash Louisburg, NC (NC) 9 17-00 0
45. Barry Stover Ripley, WV (WV) 10 16-14 0
46. Ray Trudeau Saint Cloud, FL (FL) 8 16-13 0
47. Kyle Glasgow Guin, AL (AL) 8 16-09 0
48. Brian Stalls Robersonville, NC (NC) 8 16-08 0
49. Randall Christopher Danville, KY (KY) 9 16-08 0
50. Mark Pierce Cadiz, KY (TN) 8 16-06 0
51. Richard Cobb Berea , KY (KY) 9 16-06 0
52. Ken Thompson Roaring Spring, PA (VA) 8 16-04 0
53. Eric Dell Cumming, GA (GA) 8 16-04 0
54. Mikey Batten Grantsville, WV (WV) 7 16-03 0
55. Will Smith Moncks Corner, SC (SC) 8 16-00 0
56. Richard Owen Bracey, VA (VA) 8 15-14 0
57. Nick Coleman Kuttawa, KY (KY) 8 15-14 0
58. Bryant Copley Altavista, VA (VA) 8 15-10 0
59. Billy Black Monroeville, AL (AL) 8 15-04 0
60. Gary Bonnet Borden, IN (KY) 9 15-03 0
61. Richard Young Jr Melbourne, KY (KY) 8 15-01 0
62. Tim Harris Pink Hill, NC (NC) 9 14-12 0
63. Gary Little Soso, MS (MS) 8 14-12 0
64. Tracy Maxfield Bedford, VA (VA) 8 14-10 0
65. Gene Gibbs Lexington, SC (SC) 7 14-07 0
66. Adam Richardson Littleton, NC (VA) 7 14-06 0
67. Scott Brison Clarksville, TN (TN) 8 14-03 0
68. Trenton Pittman Covington, LA (MS) 8 14-02 0
69. Nobuyuki Terajima Hermitage, TN (TN) 8 14-01 0
70. Jeffery Lawson Ellisville, MS (MS) 8 13-13 0
71. David Boyd Jr Quincy, FL (FL) 7 13-12 0
72. Steven Mccrea Vancleave, MS (MS) 7 13-11 0
73. Steve Wilson Union City, TN (TN) 7 13-10 0
74. Johnny Roth Lawrenceburg, IN (KY) 7 13-06 0
75. Steve Marks Walton, WV (WV) 7 13-06 0
76. Brad Smith Collierville, TN (TN) 7 13-00 0
77. Ryan Crowley Fleming Island, FL (FL) 7 12-10 0
78. Mike Saleeba Sebring, FL (FL) 7 12-06 0
79. Dave Carson Burnsville, WV (WV) 7 12-03 0
80. Tim Byers Emporia, VA (VA) 6 12-00 0
81. Skipper Smith Jr Moss Point, MS (MS) 6 11-05 0
82. David Morton Sugar Hill, GA (GA) 7 11-03 0
83. Bo Goodin Harrogate, TN (TN) 6 11-03 0
84. Bud Stone Fairfield Twp, OH (KY) 5 10-13 0
85. Marty Giddens Eclectic, AL (AL) 6 10-03 0
86. George Crain Cropwell, AL (AL) 5 09-15 0
87. Austin Burton North Prince George, VA 5 09-06 0
88. Robert Pasionek Clarksville, TN (TN) 5 09-03 0
89. Richard Meuth Henderson, KY (KY) 4 08-10 0
90. Andy Smith Jacksonville, FL (FL) 4 08-00 0
91. Kevin Alford Johnsonville, SC (SC) 4 07-10 0
92. Chad Warnol Moss Point, MS (MS) 5 07-06 0
93. Yoan Alvarez Palmetto Bay, FL (FL) 4 06-15 0
94. Charles Anderson Grimesland, NC (NC) 4 06-14 0
95. Derek Lilley Charlotte, NC (NC) 3 04-14 0
96. Michael Cass Palm Beach Gardens, FL 3 04-14 0
97. Steven Ingram Tallassee, AL (AL) 2 04-07 0
98. Joel Noble Laurel, MS (MS) 2 03-11 0
99. Layton Jones Vidalia, GA (GA) 2 02-14 0
100. Jarrod Stroud Orlando, FL (FL) 0 00-00 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 58 406 836-07
2 46 371 734-09
3 20 127 283-07
----------------------------------
124 904 1854-07
TEAM STANDINGS Day 3
----------------------------------
State Lbs-Oz
1 WEST VIRGINIA 344-12
2 GEORGIA 323-08
3 NORTH CAROLINA 315-04
4 ALABAMA 297-12
5 VIRGINIA 280-12
6 SOUTH CAROLINA 267-03
7 KENTUCKY 262-06
8 MISSISSIPPI 246-01
9 TENNESSEE 221-13
10 FLORIDA 209-08
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 James Graves III Syria, VA 15 35-01 0
2 Michael Gunn Mechanicsville, VA 11 23-04 0
3 Jeff Salmon Chester, VA 8 17-08 0
4 Ken Thompson Roaring Spring, PA 8 16-04 0
5 Richard Owen Bracey, VA 8 15-14 0
6 Bryant Copley Altavista, VA 8 15-10 0
7 Tracy Maxfield Bedford, VA 8 14-10 0
8 Adam Richardson Littleton, NC 7 14-06 0
9 Tim Byers Emporia, VA 6 12-00 0
10 Austin Burton North Prince George, VA 5 09-06 0
WEST VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Wil Dieffenbauch Morgantown, WV 15 34-14 0
2 Randy Huffman Charleston, WV 15 34-00 0
3 Bradley West Vincent, OH 14 33-03 0
4 Samuel Nowalk Milton, WV 15 32-00 0
5 Bert Collins Heaters, WV 10 18-00 0
6 Lyle Atkins Culloden, WV 8 17-12 0
7 Barry Stover Ripley, WV 10 16-14 0
8 Mikey Batten Grantsville, WV 7 16-03 0
9 Steve Marks Walton, WV 7 13-06 0
10 Dave Carson Burnsville, WV 7 12-03 0
MISSISSIPPI
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Matt Martin Brookhaven, MS 15 33-05 0
2 Sawyer Mcmurphy Saucier, MS 15 28-03 0
3 Casey West Laurel, MS 9 18-01 0
4 Gary Little Soso, MS 8 14-12 0
5 Trenton Pittman Covington, LA 8 14-02 0
6 Jeffery Lawson Ellisville, MS 8 13-13 0
7 Steven Mccrea Vancleave, MS 7 13-11 0
8 Skipper Smith Jr Moss Point, MS 6 11-05 0
9 Chad Warnol Moss Point, MS 5 07-06 0
10 Joel Noble Laurel, MS 2 03-11 0
GEORGIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Brent Tullis Tyrone, GA 15 35-04 0
2 Brendan Smith Lavonia, GA 15 32-08 0
3 John Duvall Madison, GA 12 32-02 0
4 Bryan Asay Newnan, GA 15 32-01 0
5 Waine Pittman Villa Rica, GA 15 32-01 0
6 Chris Blair Newnan, GA 15 31-13 0
7 Nick Ward Newnan, GA 8 17-01 0
8 Eric Dell Cumming, GA 8 16-04 0
9 David Morton Sugar Hill, GA 7 11-03 0
10 Layton Jones Vidalia, GA 2 02-14 0
SOUTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Matt Judy Moncks Corner, SC 15 33-13 0
2 Hayes Hudson Conway, SC 15 30-15 0
3 Kipton Burba Columbia, SC 9 19-06 0
4 Reid McDowell Galivants Ferry, SC 10 19-05 0
5 Jason Moyer Greenwood, SC 7 18-04 0
6 Johnny Bihlear Eutawville, SC 10 18-01 0
7 Brian O'Connell Lexington, SC 10 17-06 0
8 Will Smith Moncks Corner, SC 8 16-00 0
9 Gene Gibbs Lexington, SC 7 14-07 0
10 Kevin Alford Johnsonville, SC 4 07-10 0
FLORIDA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Dave Turner Crystal River, FL 14 27-06 0
2 Dan Carrigan Citrus Springs, FL 14 24-14 0
3 Ray Trudeau Saint Cloud, FL 8 16-13 0
4 David Boyd Jr Quincy, FL 7 13-12 0
5 Ryan Crowley Fleming Island, FL 7 12-10 0
6 Mike Saleeba Sebring, FL 7 12-06 0
7 Andy Smith Jacksonville, FL 4 08-00 0
8 Yoan Alvarez Palmetto Bay, FL 4 06-15 0
9 Michael Cass Palm Beach Gardens, FL 3 04-14 0
10 Jarrod Stroud Orlando, FL 0 00-00 0
ALABAMA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 15 38-03 0
2 Mark McCaig Oxford, AL 15 34-13 0
3 Allan Glasgow Ashville, AL 15 32-14 0
4 Jeff Corley Trussville, AL 10 17-14 0
5 Brent Reaves Alexander City, AL 8 17-02 0
6 Kyle Glasgow Guin, AL 8 16-09 0
7 Billy Black Monroeville, AL 8 15-04 0
8 Marty Giddens Eclectic, AL 6 10-03 0
9 George Crain Cropwell, AL 5 09-15 0
10 Steven Ingram Tallassee, AL 2 04-07 0
NORTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 David Winters Rock Hill, SC 13 36-06 0
2 Chris Carnes York, SC 15 35-01 0
3 Norman Mullinax Wilmington, NC 13 32-02 0
4 David Swain Wilson, NC 10 19-05 0
5 Jay Wright Spring Hope, NC 10 18-09 0
6 Michael Cash Louisburg, NC 9 17-00 0
7 Brian Stalls Robersonville, NC 8 16-08 0
8 Tim Harris Pink Hill, NC 9 14-12 0
9 Charles Anderson Grimesland, NC 4 06-14 0
10 Derek Lilley Charlotte, NC 3 04-14 0
KENTUCKY
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Michael Boggs II Wheelersburg, OH 13 29-01 0
2 Craig Lonkard Florence, KY 10 21-14 0
3 Randall Christopher Danville, KY 9 16-08 0
4 Richard Cobb Berea , KY 9 16-06 0
5 Nick Coleman Kuttawa, KY 8 15-14 0
6 Gary Bonnet Borden, IN 9 15-03 0
7 Richard Young Jr Melbourne, KY 8 15-01 0
8 Johnny Roth Lawrenceburg, IN 7 13-06 0
9 Bud Stone Fairfield Twp, OH 5 10-13 0
10 Richard Meuth Henderson, KY 4 08-10 0
TENNESSEE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Joe Johnson Clarksville, TN 14 29-11 0
2 Rusty Satterfield Knoxville, TN 13 26-15 0
3 Brian Nelson Adams, TN 10 18-01 0
4 Mark Pierce Cadiz, KY 8 16-06 0
5 Scott Brison Clarksville, TN 8 14-03 0
6 Nobuyuki Terajima Hermitage, TN 8 14-01 0
7 Steve Wilson Union City, TN 7 13-10 0
8 Brad Smith Collierville, TN 7 13-00 0
9 Bo Goodin Harrogate, TN 6 11-03 0
10 Robert Pasionek Clarksville, TN 5 09-03 0
2022 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S Nation Southeastern Regional Lewis Smith Lake 4/27-4/29
Lewis Smith Lake, Jasper AL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. JJ Dickens Beaver, WV (WV) 9 22-03 0
2. J.C Christopher II Clarksburg, WV (WV) 8 22-01 0
3. Johnny Clark Northport, AL (AL) 9 18-13 0
4. Jonathan Lee Honea Path, SC (SC) 9 18-11 0
5. Eric Frazier Newport, VA (VA) 9 18-08 0
6. Parker Brogan Moneta, VA (VA) 8 18-03 0
7. Bailey Madere Madisonville, LA (MS) 8 18-00 0
8. Dion Bright Fairmont, WV (WV) 9 17-07 0
9. Scott McNeely Acworth , GA (GA) 9 17-06 0
10. Michael Smith Laurel Hill, FL (FL) 9 17-06 0
11. Keith Thompson Mooresville, NC (NC) 9 17-04 0
12. Danny Hayes Wilson, NC (NC) 9 17-03 0
13. Chad McMurrian Hawkinsville, GA (GA) 9 17-01 0
14. Courtney Hammett Gadsden, AL (AL) 9 17-00 0
15. Chuck Knight Mount Holly, NC (NC) 8 17-00 0
16. Will Martin Red House, WV (WV) 8 16-09 0
17. David Eades Lexington, KY (KY) 9 16-02 0
18. James Wathen Richmond, KY (KY) 9 16-01 0
19. Roger Thomas Snow Hill, NC (NC) 9 16-01 0
20. Jeremy Barbour Lucedale, MS (MS) 8 15-06 0
21. Aaron Cherry Kinsey, AL (AL) 7 14-15 0
22. Matt Hall Frankfort, KY (KY) 7 14-12 0
23. Jacob Bull Seymour, TN (TN) 7 14-08 0
24. William Wood West Palm Beach, FL (FL 7 13-11 0
25. Justin Grigg Clover, SC (NC) 7 12-10 0
26. Austin Minton Prince George, VA (VA) 7 12-08 0
27. Joey Timmerman Summerville, SC (SC) 6 11-01 0
28. Heath Willard Brookhaven, MS (MS) 4 10-13 0
29. William Davis Sylacauga, AL (AL) 6 10-08 0
30. Al Kolasa BLAIRSTOWN, NJ (FL) 5 10-08 0
31. Danny Goble Lagrange, KY (KY) 5 10-04 0
32. David Wheat Choctaw, MS (MS) 5 10-02 0
33. Justin Talkington Lost Creek, WV (WV) 5 10-01 0
34. Dale Cook Chesapeake, VA (VA) 5 10-01 0
35. James Collins Holden, WV (WV) 6 10-00 0
36. Clinton Lacinak Jr Homosassa, FL (FL) 6 09-14 0
37. Steve Watson Panama City Beach, FL ( 4 09-13 0
38. Parrish Argo Thorsby, AL (AL) 5 09-13 0
39. Allen Smith Knoxville, TN (TN) 5 09-09 0
40. Greg Chesnut Bedford, VA (VA) 5 09-07 0
41. Kyle Hatfield Mt Washington, KY (KY) 5 09-02 0
42. Zach Leech Gastonia, NC (NC) 5 09-00 0
43. Kourtney Funk Jamestown, KY (KY) 5 08-14 0
44. Robert Carter Pamplico, SC (SC) 4 08-12 0
45. Johndale Robertson Ponchatoula, LA (MS) 5 08-11 0
46. Lucas Oliver Morganton, NC (NC) 4 08-09 0
47. Matt Brawner Ghent, KY (KY) 5 08-09 0
48. Dale Robertson Ponchatoula, LA (MS) 5 08-07 0
49. Derek White Greenwood, SC (SC) 4 08-05 0
50. Jacob Novak Virginia Beach, VA (VA) 3 08-04 0
51. Pedro Quinones Lilburn, GA (GA) 5 08-04 0
52. Michael Wilson Brooklet, GA (GA) 4 08-04 0
53. Chip Martin Bumpass, VA (VA) 4 08-04 0
54. Jeramie Vance Scottsville, KY (TN) 5 08-03 0
55. Barry Ward Fisherville, KY (KY) 5 07-14 0
56. Jeffrey Balent Gallatin, TN (TN) 4 07-13 0
57. Ivan Morris Virginia Beach, VA (VA) 4 07-10 0
58. Amy Schwartz Virginia Beach, VA (VA) 4 07-09 0
59. Donny Davis Waterloo, AL (AL) 4 07-09 0
60. William Saddoris Nashville, TN (TN) 4 07-07 0
61. Paul Montoney Orlando, FL (FL) 4 07-07 0
62. Dan Fay Orlando, FL (FL) 4 07-04 0
63. Jarrett Hughes Conway, SC (SC) 4 07-00 0
64. Sterling Roberts Cleveland, GA (GA) 4 06-15 0
65. William Pontius Sugar HIll , GA (GA) 4 06-14 0
66. Steve Garrett Bishop, GA (GA) 4 06-13 0
67. Terry Weese Petersburg, WV (VA) 4 06-07 0
68. Richard White Alexander City, AL (AL) 3 06-06 0
69. Cary Wien Groveland, FL (FL) 3 05-15 0
70. David Fortenberry Canton, GA (GA) 3 05-15 0
71. Sidney Weaver Blacksburg, SC (SC) 3 05-14 0
72. Brian Ebert Forest City, NC (NC) 3 05-11 0
73. Jonathan Canaday Benson, NC (NC) 3 05-10 0
74. Mike Spurlock Ripley, WV (WV) 3 05-07 0
75. Buddy French Brookhaven, MS (MS) 3 05-05 0
76. Greg Barnes Morning View, KY (KY) 2 04-15 0
77. Caden Branch Bristol, FL (FL) 3 04-13 0
78. Ryan Hayes Lucama, NC (NC) 2 04-13 0
79. Kevin Cole Hurricane, WV (WV) 3 04-12 0
80. Peter Evanovich Grafton, WV (WV) 2 04-10 0
81. Ethan Monk Long Creek, SC (SC) 2 04-07 0
82. George Lewis Madison, MS (MS) 3 04-04 0
83. Phillip Sherrell Pell City, AL (AL) 2 04-03 0
84. Jared Gaston Portland, TN (TN) 3 03-15 0
85. Dan Gentry Summerfield, FL (FL) 2 03-08 0
86. Emile Gennaro Sr Wesson, MS (MS) 2 03-06 0
86. Justin Jensen Laurel, MS (MS) 2 03-06 0
86. Richard Young Rutherfordton, NC (SC) 2 03-06 0
89. Chris Adkins Huntington, WV (WV) 2 03-03 0
90. Simon Willett Bardstown, KY (KY) 1 03-01 0
91. David Roddy Inman, SC (SC) 1 02-14 0
92. Jimmie Presley Ten Mile, TN (TN) 1 02-13 0
93. Brian Howard Andrews, SC (SC) 1 01-10 0
94. Winston Codling Boston, GA (GA) 1 01-08 0
94. Chad Dorland Dunnellon, FL (FL) 1 01-08 0
94. William McRee Birmingham, AL (AL) 1 01-08 0
97. Chance Rogers Grayson, GA (GA) 1 01-05 0
98. Graham Raines Humboldt, TN (TN) 1 01-04 0
99. Chad Danter Jackson, TN (TN) 0 00-00 0
99. David Oney Harrogate, TN (TN) 0 00-00 0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 51 212 434-00
2 0 192 360-04
3 17 65 120-04
----------------------------------
68 469 914-08
TEAM STANDINGS Day 3
----------------------------------
State Lbs-Oz
1 WEST VIRGINIA 344-12
2 GEORGIA 323-08
3 NORTH CAROLINA 315-04
4 ALABAMA 297-12
5 VIRGINIA 280-12
6 SOUTH CAROLINA 267-03
7 KENTUCKY 262-06
8 MISSISSIPPI 246-01
9 TENNESSEE 221-13
10 FLORIDA 209-08
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Eric Frazier Newport, VA 9 18-08 0
2 Parker Brogan Moneta, VA 8 18-03 0
3 Austin Minton Prince George, VA 7 12-08 0
4 Dale Cook Chesapeake, VA 5 10-01 0
5 Greg Chesnut Bedford, VA 5 09-07 0
6 Jacob Novak Virginia Beach, VA 3 08-04 0
7 Chip Martin Bumpass, VA 4 08-04 0
8 Ivan Morris Virginia Beach, VA 4 07-10 0
9 Amy Schwartz Virginia Beach, VA 4 07-09 0
10 Terry Weese Petersburg, WV 4 06-07 0
WEST VIRGINIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 JJ Dickens Beaver, WV 9 22-03 0
2 J.C Christopher II Clarksburg, WV 8 22-01 0
3 Dion Bright Fairmont, WV 9 17-07 0
4 Will Martin Red House, WV 8 16-09 0
5 Justin Talkington Lost Creek, WV 5 10-01 0
6 James Collins Holden, WV 6 10-00 0
7 Mike Spurlock Ripley, WV 3 05-07 0
8 Kevin Cole Hurricane, WV 3 04-12 0
9 Peter Evanovich Grafton, WV 2 04-10 0
10 Chris Adkins Huntington, WV 2 03-03 0
MISSISSIPPI
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Bailey Madere Madisonville, LA 8 18-00 0
2 Jeremy Barbour Lucedale, MS 8 15-06 0
3 Heath Willard Brookhaven, MS 4 10-13 0
4 David Wheat Choctaw, MS 5 10-02 0
5 Johndale Robertson Ponchatoula, LA 5 08-11 0
6 Dale Robertson Ponchatoula, LA 5 08-07 0
7 Buddy French Brookhaven, MS 3 05-05 0
8 George Lewis Madison, MS 3 04-04 0
9 Emile Gennaro Sr Wesson, MS 2 03-06 0
9 Justin Jensen Laurel, MS 2 03-06 0
GEORGIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Scott McNeely Acworth , GA 9 17-06 0
2 Chad McMurrian Hawkinsville, GA 9 17-01 0
3 Pedro Quinones Lilburn, GA 5 08-04 0
4 Michael Wilson Brooklet, GA 4 08-04 0
5 Sterling Roberts Cleveland, GA 4 06-15 0
6 William Pontius Sugar HIll , GA 4 06-14 0
7 Steve Garrett Bishop, GA 4 06-13 0
8 David Fortenberry Canton, GA 3 05-15 0
9 Winston Codling Boston, GA 1 01-08 0
10 Chance Rogers Grayson, GA 1 01-05 0
SOUTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jonathan Lee Honea Path, SC 9 18-11 0
2 Joey Timmerman Summerville, SC 6 11-01 0
3 Robert Carter Pamplico, SC 4 08-12 0
4 Derek White Greenwood, SC 4 08-05 0
5 Jarrett Hughes Conway, SC 4 07-00 0
6 Sidney Weaver Blacksburg, SC 3 05-14 0
7 Ethan Monk Long Creek, SC 2 04-07 0
8 Richard Young Rutherfordton, NC 2 03-06 0
9 David Roddy Inman, SC 1 02-14 0
10 Brian Howard Andrews, SC 1 01-10 0
FLORIDA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Michael Smith Laurel Hill, FL 9 17-06 0
2 William Wood West Palm Beach, FL 7 13-11 0
3 Al Kolasa BLAIRSTOWN, NJ 5 10-08 0
4 Clinton Lacinak Jr Homosassa, FL 6 09-14 0
5 Paul Montoney Orlando, FL 4 07-07 0
6 Dan Fay Orlando, FL 4 07-04 0
7 Cary Wien Groveland, FL 3 05-15 0
8 Caden Branch Bristol, FL 3 04-13 0
9 Dan Gentry Summerfield, FL 2 03-08 0
10 Chad Dorland Dunnellon, FL 1 01-08 0
ALABAMA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Johnny Clark Northport, AL 9 18-13 0
2 Courtney Hammett Gadsden, AL 9 17-00 0
3 Aaron Cherry Kinsey, AL 7 14-15 0
4 William Davis Sylacauga, AL 6 10-08 0
5 Steve Watson Panama City Beach, FL 4 09-13 0
6 Parrish Argo Thorsby, AL 5 09-13 0
7 Donny Davis Waterloo, AL 4 07-09 0
8 Richard White Alexander City, AL 3 06-06 0
9 Phillip Sherrell Pell City, AL 2 04-03 0
10 William McRee Birmingham, AL 1 01-08 0
NORTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Keith Thompson Mooresville, NC 9 17-04 0
2 Danny Hayes Wilson, NC 9 17-03 0
3 Chuck Knight Mount Holly, NC 8 17-00 0
4 Roger Thomas Snow Hill, NC 9 16-01 0
5 Justin Grigg Clover, SC 7 12-10 0
6 Zach Leech Gastonia, NC 5 09-00 0
7 Lucas Oliver Morganton, NC 4 08-09 0
8 Brian Ebert Forest City, NC 3 05-11 0
9 Jonathan Canaday Benson, NC 3 05-10 0
10 Ryan Hayes Lucama, NC 2 04-13 0
KENTUCKY
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 David Eades Lexington, KY 9 16-02 0
2 James Wathen Richmond, KY 9 16-01 0
3 Matt Hall Frankfort, KY 7 14-12 0
4 Danny Goble Lagrange, KY 5 10-04 0
5 Kyle Hatfield Mt Washington, KY 5 09-02 0
6 Kourtney Funk Jamestown, KY 5 08-14 0
7 Matt Brawner Ghent, KY 5 08-09 0
8 Barry Ward Fisherville, KY 5 07-14 0
9 Greg Barnes Morning View, KY 2 04-15 0
10 Simon Willett Bardstown, KY 1 03-01 0
TENNESSEE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Jacob Bull Seymour, TN 7 14-08 0
2 Allen Smith Knoxville, TN 5 09-09 0
3 Jeramie Vance Scottsville, KY 5 08-03 0
4 Jeffrey Balent Gallatin, TN 4 07-13 0
5 William Saddoris Nashville, TN 4 07-07 0
6 Jared Gaston Portland, TN 3 03-15 0
7 Jimmie Presley Ten Mile, TN 1 02-13 0
8 Graham Raines Humboldt, TN 1 01-04 0
9 Chad Danter Jackson, TN 0 00-00 0
9 David Oney Harrogate, TN 0 00-00 0
Lake Hartwell Reels In 2022 Bassmaster Team Championship Event
South Carolina's legendary Lake Hartwell will host the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship and Classic Fish-Off Dec. 7-10.
hoto by Shane Durrance/B.A.S.S.
April 29, 2022
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship will be held on storied Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C., Dec. 7-10, 2022, filling the last spot in the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.
“We are very excited about the opportunity to host the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship once again in Anderson County, Green Pond Landing and Lake Hartwell,” said Neil Paul, executive director of Visit Anderson. “Coming off the record-setting Bassmaster Classic, we have a tremendous amount of momentum in our community for fishing. The Team Championship is another very impactful event among the Bassmaster platforms and will heavily impact our community. Serving as a host for events across the Bassmaster platforms highlights the versatility of our lake and our facilities as well as the tremendous support from our community and further cements our status as a destination for bass fishing.”
Battling for that coveted berth in the Bassmaster Classic will be the grass-roots anglers competing at the Bassmaster Team Championship. The team portion of the event will be held Dec. 7-8 and will feature anglers from across the country. The winning duo will not only win a cash prize, but they’ll also lead the charge into the Classic Fish-Off which will take place Dec. 9-10.
The Top 3 teams through Day 2 — six anglers in all — will have their weights zeroed and then compete individually in the Fish-Off. The competitor with the heaviest two-day total of the group will earn their spot in the Classic.
In 2021, that honor went to Shane Powell of Dothan, Ala., a former Auburn University angler who earned his spot in the Team Championship through the ultracompetitive Alabama Bass Trail.
Since it was launched in 2014, the Team Championship has seen tremendous growth. Originally, 38 trails signed up. That number grew to 62 trails (with more than 11,500 members) last season when the annual Team Championship drew 179 two-angler teams to Alabama’s Lake Eufaula.
In addition to the Team Championship event, Lake Hartwell will also play host to the 2022 Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors Aug. 11-13 and the St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open at Lake Hartwell presented by Mossy Oak Fishing Oct. 6-8.
The Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship is being hosted by Visit Anderson.
Early Start Gives Gilmore The Day 1 Lead At Bassmaster Open On Ross Barnett
Neal Gilmore of Magnolia, Texas, is leading after Day 1 of the 2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Central Open at Ross Barnett Reservoir presented by Mossy Oak Fishing with 26 pounds, 9 ounces.
Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S.
April 28, 2022
RIDGELAND, Miss. — Heeding an early-morning suggestion, Neal Gilmore made a prudent decision that delivered a 26-pound, 9-ounce limit that leads Day 1 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Central Open at Ross Barnett presented by Mossy Oak Fishing.
Hailing from Magnolia, Texas, Gilmore anchored his bag with an 8-12 that leads the Phoenix Boats Big Bass standings. He leads Bassmaster Elite Series pro Lee Livesay of Longview, Texas, by 13 ounces.
“I was going to spend most of my day up the river and my co-angler mentioned a little spot on the way up,” Gilmore said. “We were going to spend a little bit there, but it turned into a whole-day deal.
“It’s just an area where the fish are moving in and moving out. It’s just a stopping place on the way to and from the bank.”
The magic area was a main-lake spot with vegetation. He caught his fish in about 4 feet.
Gilmore said one of the keys to his success was strategically working an area that he shared with 20 other boats.
“It was crowded, so I worked my way in and optimized the situation around everybody,” Gilmore said. “It’s very much technique-specific. A lot of guys are doing different things, and we had to work together and be patient.
“It was a very quiet group today. Everybody was very serious; no (disagreements). It was a very good group today.”
Gilmore said he used slow presentations and caught his fish on a single bait. After the fast start, he closed up shop just a few hours into his day.
“I had most of that weight by 8:30 and it had slowed down,” he said. “I was trying to focus on my co-angler getting some fish. I spent most of the (day) just sitting on the deck.”
Fishing a main-lake flat near a spawning area, Livesay focused on a drain bass are using for prespawn and postspawn travel. He caught all of his bass — a 25-12 limit — in an area the size of a pickup truck.
“There’s a little point in that drain, and there’s a little hard spot that has a mix of the three (vegetations),” Livesay said. “In practice, I caught them on the right side. I started there and caught two. Then I threw over on the other side and caught a big one.
“I kept throwing over there. I kinda found the sweet spot today.”
Livesay got his work done early and then spent the rest of the day guarding his spot.
“I never picked up my Minn Kota Raptors all day, and I never threw a hook after 9:08 a.m. either,” Livesay said. “I caught every one of them on a NetBait lizard in junebug.”
Livesay said he fished his lizard on a Texas rig and a Carolina rig. With a mix of dollar pads, peppergrass and hydrilla covering his spot, Livesay used the Texas rig for the thicker cover.
Livesay dedicated his day to the newest member of his family: “We just had a baby girl, Lane, who was 6 pounds, 1 ounce. I caught a couple of 6-pounders today, so this is for her.”
Todd Risinger of West Monroe, La., is in third place with 19-3. Spending all of his day on one main-lake spot, he fished around shallow vegetation.
Productivity was lean, but Risinger believed in his spot’s potential.
“I was fishing around grass and lily pads and I caught my better fish on frogs,” he said. “I didn’t get my fourth fish until about 1 o’clock and the final fish about 2:45. I got my other fish on a swim jig, a Brush Hog and a Speed Worm.
“Today, the weather hurt me; I needed more wind. It got a little better later in the day when the wind picked up. Tomorrow, it’s supposed to be a south wind so, hopefully, that will help us.”
Adam Tims of Royse City, Texas, leads the co-angler division with 12-13. Although he and his boater attempted an aggressive technique change, returning to his primary technique proved to be the right call for Tims.
“I was using slower techniques today and we were going to try and get some bigger bites with frogs and cull up, but it didn’t happen for us,” Tims said. “I’m glad we went back to what I did (earlier) and I stuck with it.
“I caught all of my fish on a particular bait. Until we turned to the frog, I had that one bait in my hand all day.”
Kevin Mallow of Kansas, Okla., holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead among co-anglers with a 5-12. Mallow currently sits in sixth place with 8-13.
Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6 a.m. CT at Madison Landing. The weigh-in will be held back at the landing at 2 p.m. Coverage is available on Bassmaster.com.
2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Central Open at Ross Barnett presented by Mossy Oak Fishing 4/28-4/30
Ross Barnett Reservoir, Ridgeland MS.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Neal Gilmore Magnolia, TX 5 26-09 200
Day 1: 5 26-09
2. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 5 25-12 199
Day 1: 5 25-12
3. Todd Risinger West Monroe, LA 5 19-03 198
Day 1: 5 19-03
4. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 19-01 197
Day 1: 5 19-01
5. Christopher Thornton Morgan City, LA 5 18-10 196
Day 1: 5 18-10
6. Zack Holwerda Wittmann, AZ 5 16-14 195
Day 1: 5 16-14
7. Cole Sands Calhoun , TN 5 16-07 194
Day 1: 5 16-07
7. Alfred Williams Jackson, MS 5 16-07 194
Day 1: 5 16-07
9. Jimmy Washam Covington, TN 5 16-02 192
Day 1: 5 16-02
10. Cody Bird Granbury, TX 5 15-09 191
Day 1: 5 15-09
11. Nick LeBrun Bossier City, LA 5 15-03 190
Day 1: 5 15-03
12. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 5 15-02 189
Day 1: 5 15-02
13. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 5 15-00 188
Day 1: 5 15-00
14. Caiden Sinclair Wilsonville, AL 5 14-14 187
Day 1: 5 14-14
15. Jim Dillard West Monroe, LA 5 14-12 186
Day 1: 5 14-12
16. Allen Stewart Lakeview, AR 5 14-09 185
Day 1: 5 14-09
17. Chris Keeble Lenoir City, TN 5 14-07 184
Day 1: 5 14-07
18. Zack Birge Blanchard, OK 5 14-06 183
Day 1: 5 14-06
19. Austin Cranford Moore, OK 5 14-01 182
Day 1: 5 14-01
19. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 5 14-01 182
Day 1: 5 14-01
21. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 5 14-00 180
Day 1: 5 14-00
22. B.J. Usie Bourg, LA 5 14-00 179
Day 1: 5 14-00
23. Daisuke Kita Ohtsu Shiga JAPAN 5 13-15 178
Day 1: 5 13-15
24. Branden Hollingshead Azle, TX 5 13-10 177
Day 1: 5 13-10
25. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 5 13-08 176
Day 1: 5 13-08
25. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 5 13-08 176
Day 1: 5 13-08
27. Darold Gleason Many, LA 5 13-02 174
Day 1: 5 13-02
28. Quentin Cappo Prairieville, LA 5 13-01 173
Day 1: 5 13-01
29. Michael Wooten White House, TN 4 13-00 172
Day 1: 4 13-00
30. Trevor McKinney Benton, IL 5 12-13 171
Day 1: 5 12-13
31. Bruce Whitmire Channelview, TX 3 12-12 170
Day 1: 3 12-12
32. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 5 12-07 169
Day 1: 5 12-07
32. Jason Smith Forney, TX 5 12-07 169
Day 1: 5 12-07
34. Nick Brown Lindale, TX 5 12-06 167
Day 1: 5 12-06
35. Brett Preuett Monroe, LA 5 12-05 166
Day 1: 5 12-05
36. Terry Peacock Royse City, TX 5 12-04 165
Day 1: 5 12-04
37. Nathan Donnell China Spring, TX 4 12-02 164
Day 1: 4 12-02
38. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 11-15 163
Day 1: 5 11-15
39. Coop Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 5 11-14 162
Day 1: 5 11-14
40. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 11-12 161
Day 1: 5 11-12
41. Randy Craft Seminary, MS 5 11-11 160
Day 1: 5 11-11
41. Cody Nichols Fayette, AL 5 11-11 160
Day 1: 5 11-11
43. Chad Smith Minnetonka, MN 5 11-10 158
Day 1: 5 11-10
44. Shannon Denson Brandon, MS 5 11-09 157
Day 1: 5 11-09
45. Scott Isaacs Ladonia, TX 5 11-08 156
Day 1: 5 11-08
46. Todd Castledine Nacogdoches, TX 5 11-05 155
Day 1: 5 11-05
47. Jake Maddux Birmingham, AL 5 11-03 154
Day 1: 5 11-03
48. Jason Borofka Lavon, TX 5 11-03 153
Day 1: 5 11-03
49. Brett Cannon Willis, TX 5 11-02 152
Day 1: 5 11-02
50. John Hunter Jr Shelbyville, KY 5 11-01 151
Day 1: 5 11-01
51. Connor Rushing Zachary, LA 3 11-01 150
Day 1: 3 11-01
52. Danny Ramsey Trinidad, TX 5 10-15 149
Day 1: 5 10-15
53. Jeff Lugar Princeton, TX 3 10-15 148
Day 1: 3 10-15
54. Jeff Avery El Dorado, AR 5 10-14 147
Day 1: 5 10-14
54. Justin Hymel Norco, LA 5 10-14 147
Day 1: 5 10-14
54. Clark Reehm Elm Groove, LA 5 10-14 147
Day 1: 5 10-14
57. Doug Guins Lake Charles, LA 4 10-14 144
Day 1: 4 10-14
57. Logan Johnson Jasper, AL 4 10-14 144
Day 1: 4 10-14
59. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 10-11 142
Day 1: 5 10-11
59. Larry Puckett Decatur, TX 5 10-11 142
Day 1: 5 10-11
61. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 5 10-11 140
Day 1: 5 10-11
62. Chris McCall Kirbyville, TX 4 10-10 139
Day 1: 4 10-10
63. Bart Stanisz Wichita Falls , TX 5 10-08 138
Day 1: 5 10-08
64. Brent Shores Boise, ID 5 10-07 137
Day 1: 5 10-07
65. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 5 10-06 136
Day 1: 5 10-06
66. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 5 10-05 135
Day 1: 5 10-05
66. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 5 10-05 135
Day 1: 5 10-05
68. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 4 10-04 133
Day 1: 4 10-04
69. Michael Kinard Concord, NC 5 10-03 132
Day 1: 5 10-03
69. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 5 10-03 132
Day 1: 5 10-03
71. Ryan Lavigne Gonzales, LA 5 10-02 130
Day 1: 5 10-02
71. Jared Miller Norman, OK 5 10-02 130
Day 1: 5 10-02
73. Mark Watson Midlothian, TX 5 10-01 128
Day 1: 5 10-01
74. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 4 09-15 127
Day 1: 4 09-15
75. Kyoya Fujita Minamitsuru, Yamanashi 5 09-14 126
Day 1: 5 09-14
76. Billy Billeaud Lafayette, LA 5 09-12 125
Day 1: 5 09-12
76. Bill Hutchison Jr. Bessemer, AL 5 09-12 125
Day 1: 5 09-12
78. Matt Pangrac Bixby, OK 5 09-11 123
Day 1: 5 09-11
79. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 09-10 122
Day 1: 5 09-10
80. Robert Crowe Denham Springs, LA 5 09-09 121
Day 1: 5 09-09
81. David Cavell Prairieville, LA 4 09-08 120
Day 1: 4 09-08
82. Josh Ray Alexander, AR 3 09-08 119
Day 1: 3 09-08
83. Caden Acree Powder Springs, GA 5 09-06 118
Day 1: 5 09-06
84. Lonnie Cochran Section, AL 5 09-05 117
Day 1: 5 09-05
84. Jacob Ormond Sterlington, LA 5 09-05 117
Day 1: 5 09-05
86. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 09-04 115
Day 1: 5 09-04
86. Blake Whatley Harleton, TX 5 09-04 115
Day 1: 5 09-04
88. Bill McNutt Henry, IL 4 09-04 113
Day 1: 4 09-04
88. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 4 09-04 113
Day 1: 4 09-04
90. Bradford Beavers Summerville, SC 5 09-03 111
Day 1: 5 09-03
91. T-Roy Broussard Port Arthur, TX 5 09-02 110
Day 1: 5 09-02
92. Jason Casteel Ocoee, FL 5 09-01 109
Day 1: 5 09-01
93. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 5 08-15 108
Day 1: 5 08-15
94. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 3 08-13 107
Day 1: 3 08-13
95. Tristan McCormick Burns, TN 5 08-12 106
Day 1: 5 08-12
95. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 5 08-12 106
Day 1: 5 08-12
97. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 4 08-12 104
Day 1: 4 08-12
98. Connor Graham Minneapolis, MN 4 08-10 103
Day 1: 4 08-10
99. Blake Sylvester Plaquemine, LA 5 08-07 102
Day 1: 5 08-07
100. Andy Beloat Montgomery, TX 4 08-06 101
Day 1: 4 08-06
100. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 4 08-06 101
Day 1: 4 08-06
100. Tanner Sanderson Ackerly, TX 4 08-06 101
Day 1: 4 08-06
103. Chris Johnson Farmington, AR 3 08-06 98
Day 1: 3 08-06
104. Cory Leita Victoria, TX 4 08-05 97
Day 1: 4 08-05
105. Bradley Hallman Edmond, OK 4 08-04 96
Day 1: 4 08-04
106. Kyle Owen Guntersville, AL 4 08-04 95
Day 1: 4 08-04
107. Tom Redington Royse City, TX 4 08-03 94
Day 1: 4 08-03
108. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 3 08-03 93
Day 1: 3 08-03
109. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 5 08-02 92
Day 1: 5 08-02
110. Noah Schultz Waseca, MN 4 08-02 91
Day 1: 4 08-02
111. Tommy Murray Bedford, TX 5 08-00 90
Day 1: 5 08-00
112. Kirk Tisdale Ellisville, MS 4 08-00 89
Day 1: 4 08-00
112. Joel Willert Prior Lake, MN 4 08-00 89
Day 1: 4 08-00
114. Mamoru Kagiya Takahama JAPAN 4 07-15 87
Day 1: 4 07-15
114. Randy Sullivan Breckenridge, TX 4 07-15 87
Day 1: 4 07-15
116. Joseph Hardy Hewitt, TX 4 07-14 85
Day 1: 4 07-14
117. Richard Cathey San Antonio, TX 3 07-14 84
Day 1: 3 07-14
118. Hunter Sales Blaine, TN 5 07-12 83
Day 1: 5 07-12
119. Dustin Reneau Mckinney, TX 4 07-12 82
Day 1: 4 07-12
119. Chance Woodard Paris, TX 4 07-12 82
Day 1: 4 07-12
121. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 5 07-11 80
Day 1: 5 07-11
122. William Mcnutt II Benton, LA 4 07-11 79
Day 1: 4 07-11
123. Kyle Cortiana Broken Arrow, OK 3 07-11 78
Day 1: 3 07-11
124. Jack Tindel Orange, TX 3 07-09 77
Day 1: 3 07-09
125. Tommy Williams Shepherdsville, KY 3 07-08 76
Day 1: 3 07-08
126. Alex Heintze Denham Springs, LA 4 07-06 75
Day 1: 4 07-06
127. Travis Loyd Brookeland, TX 3 07-06 74
Day 1: 3 07-06
128. Seiji Kato Outsu Shiga JAPAN 4 07-05 73
Day 1: 4 07-05
129. Jeremy Johnson Mansfield, TX 4 07-04 72
Day 1: 4 07-04
130. Jean-Christophe David Bordeaux LA Bodeaux FRA 4 07-01 71
Day 1: 4 07-01
130. Kayden Tanner Tolar, TX 4 07-01 71
Day 1: 4 07-01
132. Mikey Oncale Port Allen, LA 3 07-01 69
Day 1: 3 07-01
133. Zach Goutremout Chaumont, NY 4 07-00 68
Day 1: 4 07-00
134. Ronald Young New Braunfels, TX 2 07-00 67
Day 1: 2 07-00
135. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 3 06-15 66
Day 1: 3 06-15
136. Richard Ballard Sulphur, LA 4 06-14 65
Day 1: 4 06-14
136. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 4 06-14 65
Day 1: 4 06-14
138. Kylie Sparks Denham Spgs, LA 4 06-12 63
Day 1: 4 06-12
139. Wyatt Frankens Corrigan , TX 3 06-11 62
Day 1: 3 06-11
139. Joey Hanna Corsicana, TX 3 06-11 62
Day 1: 3 06-11
141. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 4 06-08 60
Day 1: 4 06-08
142. Lawson Hibdon Versailles, MO 3 06-01 59
Day 1: 3 06-01
143. Lucas Bradley Flippin, AR 2 05-15 58
Day 1: 2 05-15
144. Kurt Dove Del Rio, TX 3 05-14 57
Day 1: 3 05-14
145. Blake Schroeder Whitehouse, TX 2 05-14 56
Day 1: 2 05-14
146. Chris Jones Bokoshe, OK 4 05-13 55
Day 1: 4 05-13
147. Jimmy Green Jenks, OK 3 05-12 54
Day 1: 3 05-12
148. Adam Puckett Magnolia, TX 2 05-12 53
Day 1: 2 05-12
149. Jon Canada Helena, AL 3 05-11 52
Day 1: 3 05-11
150. Nick Abshire Sulphur, LA 2 05-10 51
Day 1: 2 05-10
151. Darrell Newman Bruceville, TX 3 05-09 50
Day 1: 3 05-09
152. Zak Fadden Plymouth, MI 3 05-08 49
Day 1: 3 05-08
152. Chad Petrie Scroggins, TX 3 05-08 49
Day 1: 3 05-08
152. Brian Post Janesville, WI 3 05-08 49
Day 1: 3 05-08
155. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 3 05-03 46
Day 1: 3 05-03
156. Victor Hawkins Sugar Land, TX 1 05-03 45
Day 1: 1 05-03
157. Chris Bailey Eddy, TX 2 05-02 44
Day 1: 2 05-02
158. Brady Vernon Birmingham, AL 2 05-01 43
Day 1: 2 05-01
159. Kazuki Kitajima Corinth, TX 3 05-00 42
Day 1: 3 05-00
160. Robert Terkla Prosper, TX 4 04-15 41
Day 1: 4 04-15
161. Austin Howard Granby, CO 3 04-12 40
Day 1: 3 04-12
161. Andrew Upshaw Hemphill, TX 3 04-12 40
Day 1: 3 04-12
163. Hayden Newberry Jonesboro, IL 2 04-07 38
Day 1: 2 04-07
164. Stephanie Hemphill Village Mills, TX 2 04-06 37
Day 1: 2 04-06
164. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 2 04-06 37
Day 1: 2 04-06
164. Dave Redington Winnsboro, TX 2 04-06 37
Day 1: 2 04-06
167. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 2 04-05 34
Day 1: 2 04-05
167. Sterling Martin Comfort, TX 2 04-05 34
Day 1: 2 04-05
169. Gary Caruso Baton Rouge, LA 2 04-04 32
Day 1: 2 04-04
169. Tommy Robinson Westland, MI 2 04-04 32
Day 1: 2 04-04
171. Tanner Crim Devine, TX 2 04-01 30
Day 1: 2 04-01
172. Daniel Rodriquez New Braunfels, TX 1 04-01 29
Day 1: 1 04-01
173. Brad Hillebrandt Florien, LA 2 03-14 28
Day 1: 2 03-14
173. Tim Malone Kodak, TN 2 03-14 28
Day 1: 2 03-14
175. Justin Margraves Diana, TX 2 03-11 26
Day 1: 2 03-11
176. Spencer Peters Corryton, TN 1 03-11 25
Day 1: 1 03-11
177. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 2 03-09 24
Day 1: 2 03-09
177. Travis Kelehan Many, LA 2 03-09 24
Day 1: 2 03-09
177. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 2 03-09 24
Day 1: 2 03-09
180. Julius Mazy Phoenix, AZ 2 03-08 21
Day 1: 2 03-08
181. Dion Hibdon Versailles, MO 2 03-06 20
Day 1: 2 03-06
181. Mark Russell Yantis, TX 2 03-06 20
Day 1: 2 03-06
183. Scott Pellegrin Chippewa Falls, WI 1 03-06 18
Day 1: 1 03-06
184. James Davis Jr Ferriday, LA 2 03-05 17
Day 1: 2 03-05
185. Keith Nabours Hemphill, TX 2 03-03 16
Day 1: 2 03-03
186. Jason Pittman Covington, MS 1 03-03 15
Day 1: 1 03-03
187. James Caldemeyer III Gilmer, TX 2 03-02 14
Day 1: 2 03-02
188. Joe McClosky Swanton, MD 1 03-01 13
Day 1: 1 03-01
189. Jacob Walker Springville, AL 2 02-15 12
Day 1: 2 02-15
190. Dane Thibodeaux Lake Charles, LA 2 02-14 11
Day 1: 2 02-14
191. Steve Tennison Lexington, OK 1 02-13 10
Day 1: 1 02-13
192. Hugh Cosculluela Spring, TX 2 02-12 9
Day 1: 2 02-12
193. Tyler Carriere Youngsville, LA 1 02-09 8
Day 1: 1 02-09
194. Mike Picha Decatur, TX 1 02-08 7
Day 1: 1 02-08
195. John Garrett Union City, TN 1 02-03 6
Day 1: 1 02-03
196. Marvin Ettredge Shreveport, LA 1 02-02 5
Day 1: 1 02-02
196. A.J. Menssen Bloomington, IL 1 02-02 5
Day 1: 1 02-02
198. Troy Roder Brookeland, TX 1 01-14 3
Day 1: 1 01-14
199. Sam George Athens, AL 1 01-13 2
Day 1: 1 01-13
200. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 1 01-11 1
Day 1: 1 01-11
201. Marshall Hughes Hemphill, TX 1 01-10 0
Day 1: 1 01-10
202. Edgar Romero Renteria Leon MEXICO 1 01-09 0
Day 1: 1 01-09
203. Theron Caldwell Decatur, TX 1 01-06 0
Day 1: 1 01-06
203. Eric Pinter Little Rock, AR 1 01-06 0
Day 1: 1 01-06
205. Chandler Stewart Canyon Lake, TX 1 01-05 0
Day 1: 1 01-05
206. Bailey Boutries Springfield, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Noah Boyett Mountain Home, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Todd Childs Waxahachie, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Tony Dumitras Winston, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Clay Dyer Hazel Green, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. D.J. Ellis Crestview, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Travis Franks Lake Charles, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Steven Gilliam Blanchard, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Johnny Grice Arp, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Michael Harter Westminster, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Brad Hollowell Azle, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Chad Murray Ferriday , LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Michael Quatrone Atoka, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Hermilo Salgado-Zavaleta Artemus, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Greg Secord Salem, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Drew Sloan Scurry, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Dustin Wilkey Durant, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Andy Williamson Lake Andes, SD 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Bert Worrell Jr Longview, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 86 756 1759-02
----------------------------------
86 756 1759-02
2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Central Open at Ross Barnett presented by Mossy Oak Fishing 4/28-4/30
Ross Barnett Reservoir, Ridgeland MS.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Adam Tims Royse City, TX 3 12-13 200
Day 1: 3 12-13
2. Blake Alford West Monroe, LA 3 10-01 199
Day 1: 3 10-01
3. John Melton Brandon, MS 3 09-14 198
Day 1: 3 09-14
4. Jason Switzer Sapulpa, OK 3 09-04 197
Day 1: 3 09-04
5. Brian Toth Brandon, MS 3 09-01 196
Day 1: 3 09-01
6. Kevin Mallow Kansas, OK 3 08-13 195
Day 1: 3 08-13
7. Taurian Parks Clinton, MS 2 08-13 194
Day 1: 2 08-13
8. Forrest Reasons Big Rock, TN 3 08-08 193
Day 1: 3 08-08
9. Ed Melton Houston, TX 3 07-15 192
Day 1: 3 07-15
10. John Gaumnitz Oak Ridge, LA 3 07-14 191
Day 1: 3 07-14
10. Tiffany Leal Austin, TX 3 07-14 191
Day 1: 3 07-14
12. Todd Fowlkes Collierville, TN 3 07-13 189
Day 1: 3 07-13
13. Harrison Creel Mt. Hermon, LA 3 07-09 188
Day 1: 3 07-09
13. Granger Samaha Denham Springs, LA 3 07-09 188
Day 1: 3 07-09
15. Tacorrie Johnson Royse City, TX 3 07-07 186
Day 1: 3 07-07
16. Ricky Fulk Shenandoah, VA 3 07-05 185
Day 1: 3 07-05
17. Ross Bryant Alexandria, LA 3 07-05 184
Day 1: 3 07-05
18. Skip Rayborn Hammond, LA 3 07-04 183
Day 1: 3 07-04
18. Logan Slaughter Dallas, TX 3 07-04 183
Day 1: 3 07-04
20. Curtis King Plaquemine, LA 3 07-01 181
Day 1: 3 07-01
21. Jason Swanner Olive Branch, MS 2 06-15 180
Day 1: 2 06-15
22. Bernard Crump Jackson, MS 3 06-14 179
Day 1: 3 06-14
22. WK Luckett Jr Ridgeland, MS 3 06-14 179
Day 1: 3 06-14
22. Sawyer Wallace Bogue Chitto, MS 3 06-14 179
Day 1: 3 06-14
25. Angela Mayo Maiden, NC 2 06-12 176
Day 1: 2 06-12
25. Joshua McGeary Mt. Pleasant, PA 2 06-12 176
Day 1: 2 06-12
27. Mickael Weill Sallanches FRANCE 3 06-11 174
Day 1: 3 06-11
28. Chris Gaudin Camden, AR 2 06-09 173
Day 1: 2 06-09
29. Steven West Mooreville, MS 3 06-08 172
Day 1: 3 06-08
30. Garrett Posey Brookhaven, MS 2 06-02 171
Day 1: 2 06-02
31. Craig Danna West Monroe, LA 3 06-01 170
Day 1: 3 06-01
32. Chuck Halbert Jr Lexa, AR 3 05-15 169
Day 1: 3 05-15
33. Bert Petrie Garland, TX 3 05-14 168
Day 1: 3 05-14
33. Rod Robinson Florence, MS 3 05-14 168
Day 1: 3 05-14
35. Bill Mcright Vicksburg, MS 3 05-13 166
Day 1: 3 05-13
35. Jacob Shelby Brandon, MS 3 05-13 166
Day 1: 3 05-13
37. Kevin Smith Yazoo City, MS 2 05-13 164
Day 1: 2 05-13
38. Michael Murphy Brandon, MS 3 05-12 163
Day 1: 3 05-12
39. David Hug Sr Eads, TN 2 05-11 162
Day 1: 2 05-11
40. Grant Bourque Prairieville, LA 3 05-10 161
Day 1: 3 05-10
41. Taylor Odom Flowood, MS 3 05-08 160
Day 1: 3 05-08
42. Jason Barber Gun Barrel City, TX 3 05-06 159
Day 1: 3 05-06
42. Clifton Overstreet Dothan, AL 3 05-06 159
Day 1: 3 05-06
44. Timmy Ming Louisville, MS 3 05-04 157
Day 1: 3 05-04
45. Bob Burgess Millington, TN 2 05-03 156
Day 1: 2 05-03
46. David Sherrer Elm Grove, LA 3 05-02 155
Day 1: 3 05-02
47. Jason Hannah Forest, MS 2 05-02 154
Day 1: 2 05-02
48. Jason Campbell Berwick, LA 1 05-00 153
Day 1: 1 05-00
48. Chad Gawel Bossier City, LA 1 05-00 153
Day 1: 1 05-00
50. James Newsom Memphis, TN 2 04-13 151
Day 1: 2 04-13
50. Thomas Smith Brandon, MS 2 04-13 151
Day 1: 2 04-13
52. Vincent Todaro Luling, LA 2 04-12 149
Day 1: 2 04-12
53. Jim Opetaia-Williamson Winter Garden, FL 1 04-12 148
Day 1: 1 04-12
54. Andrew Harp Linden, TX 2 04-11 147
Day 1: 2 04-11
54. Stuart Woodman Prairieville, LA 2 04-11 147
Day 1: 2 04-11
56. Gary Hall Wardville, OK 1 04-10 145
Day 1: 1 04-10
57. Tim Neumann Humble, TX 2 04-08 144
Day 1: 2 04-08
58. Darrell Hille Springfield, TN 1 04-07 143
Day 1: 1 04-07
59. Domonick Poullard Conroe, TX 2 04-06 142
Day 1: 2 04-06
60. Kenny Johnson Hattiesburg, MS 2 04-03 141
Day 1: 2 04-03
60. Caleb Mccaffery Mccomb, MS 2 04-03 141
Day 1: 2 04-03
62. Joseph Hart Brookhaven, MS 2 04-02 139
Day 1: 2 04-02
63. Drew Felder Denham Springs, LA 2 04-01 138
Day 1: 2 04-01
63. John Purvis Brandon, MS 2 04-01 138
Day 1: 2 04-01
65. Derek Caldwell Fyffe, AL 2 03-15 136
Day 1: 2 03-15
65. Marian Hall Hattiesburg, MS 2 03-15 136
Day 1: 2 03-15
67. Terry Barnson Bullard, TX 1 03-15 134
Day 1: 1 03-15
68. Terry Morris Spearsville, LA 2 03-10 133
Day 1: 2 03-10
69. Michael Spiers Brandon, MS 2 03-07 132
Day 1: 2 03-07
70. Nick Melcher Gypsum, CO 2 03-06 131
Day 1: 2 03-06
71. David Dove Columbus, MS 2 03-05 130
Day 1: 2 03-05
71. John Higginbotham Clinton, LA 2 03-05 130
Day 1: 2 03-05
71. Michael Scalise Port Allen, LA 2 03-05 130
Day 1: 2 03-05
74. Ramey Harrell Lena, MS 2 03-04 127
Day 1: 2 03-04
75. Christian Kuper Burleson, TX 2 03-01 126
Day 1: 2 03-01
76. Justin Gilliard Kearney, NE 1 02-15 125
Day 1: 1 02-15
76. Steven Miller Ackerman, MS 1 02-15 125
Day 1: 1 02-15
78. Rick Ivy Ponder, TX 1 02-13 123
Day 1: 1 02-13
78. Michael Sojourner Crystal Springs, MS 1 02-13 123
Day 1: 1 02-13
80. Jeff Collier Mount Pleasant, TX 1 02-12 121
Day 1: 1 02-12
81. John Anderson Bay Springs, MS 2 02-11 120
Day 1: 2 02-11
82. Noel Allen Jr Brandon, MS 1 02-10 119
Day 1: 1 02-10
82. Adam Boyd Humble, TX 1 02-10 119
Day 1: 1 02-10
84. Anthony Boris Kansasville, WI 1 02-08 117
Day 1: 1 02-08
84. Dale Jackson Lindale, TX 1 02-08 117
Day 1: 1 02-08
84. Chris Mitchell Millport, AL 1 02-08 117
Day 1: 1 02-08
84. Bill Watts Beaumont, TX 1 02-08 117
Day 1: 1 02-08
88. Jordan Lane Conroe, TX 1 02-07 113
Day 1: 1 02-07
88. Jacob Vincent Abbeville, LA 1 02-07 113
Day 1: 1 02-07
90. Corey Dear Brandon, MS 1 02-05 111
Day 1: 1 02-05
90. Michael Nichols Pearl, MS 1 02-05 111
Day 1: 1 02-05
92. Scott Sullins Laurel, MS 1 02-04 109
Day 1: 1 02-04
93. Jeremy Duke Gautier, MS 1 02-03 108
Day 1: 1 02-03
94. Levi Allgeier Bardstown, KY 1 02-02 107
Day 1: 1 02-02
94. Scott Maness Minden, LA 1 02-02 107
Day 1: 1 02-02
94. Jaime Venegas Chihuahua MEXICO 1 02-02 107
Day 1: 1 02-02
97. AJ Jones Lutz, FL 1 02-01 104
Day 1: 1 02-01
97. Shane Soriano Merced, CA 1 02-01 104
Day 1: 1 02-01
99. Nathan Bourque Prairieville, LA 1 01-15 102
Day 1: 1 01-15
99. Michael Page Shreveport, LA 1 01-15 102
Day 1: 1 01-15
101. Dewayne Lewis Arlington, TX 1 01-14 100
Day 1: 1 01-14
101. Anthony Thomas Jackson, MS 1 01-14 100
Day 1: 1 01-14
101. Neal Wisinski Stevens Point, WI 1 01-14 100
Day 1: 1 01-14
104. Jacob Altman Olathe, CO 1 01-13 97
Day 1: 1 01-13
104. Steve Kline Hilltop Lakes, TX 1 01-13 97
Day 1: 1 01-13
104. David Riggs Hillsboro, IL 1 01-13 97
Day 1: 1 01-13
107. John Harrell Lena, MS 1 01-12 94
Day 1: 1 01-12
107. Johnny Matthews China Spring, TX 1 01-12 94
Day 1: 1 01-12
107. John Stewart Lone Jack, MO 1 01-12 94
Day 1: 1 01-12
110. Mike Alls Fort Worth, TX 1 01-11 91
Day 1: 1 01-11
110. Will Major Port Allen, LA 1 01-11 91
Day 1: 1 01-11
110. Joe Stokes Kentwood, LA 1 01-11 91
Day 1: 1 01-11
113. Bryan Dunnaway Brandon, MS 1 01-09 88
Day 1: 1 01-09
113. Reed Eiland Florence, MS 1 01-09 88
Day 1: 1 01-09
113. Salvador Garcia Lowell, AR 1 01-09 88
Day 1: 1 01-09
113. Steven Hatch Long Beach, MS 1 01-09 88
Day 1: 1 01-09
113. Ryker Holmes Arlington, TX 1 01-09 88
Day 1: 1 01-09
113. Justin Ketteringham Pearl, MS 1 01-09 88
Day 1: 1 01-09
113. Jake White Cleveland, MS 1 01-09 88
Day 1: 1 01-09
120. Randy Waddell Guntersville, AL 1 01-08 81
Day 1: 1 01-08
120. Frank Williams Jackson, MO 1 01-08 81
Day 1: 1 01-08
122. Laken Howard Bogue Chitto, MS 1 01-07 79
Day 1: 1 01-07
122. Jimmy Kimbrell Jonesboro, AR 1 01-07 79
Day 1: 1 01-07
122. Kris Mccarter Pheba, MS 1 01-07 79
Day 1: 1 01-07
122. Bob Meder New Braunfels, TX 1 01-07 79
Day 1: 1 01-07
126. Jay Case Brookhaven, MS 1 01-06 75
Day 1: 1 01-06
127. Joe Schonhoff Slidell, LA 1 01-05 74
Day 1: 1 01-05
128. Bryan Flenniken Fort Worth, TX 1 01-04 73
Day 1: 1 01-04
129. Clay Osteen Fort Worth, TX 1 01-03 72
Day 1: 1 01-03
130. Byron Allen Taylor, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. George Autenreath Monticello, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Gary Bates Athens, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Larry Beauboeuf Bossier City, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Calvin Bogan Livingston, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Bill Boggan Brandon, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. David Booth Erin, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Denny Bowers Jr Fort Hood, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. James Boyett Mountain Home, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Trey Brafford Kings Mtn, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Jake Brake Kila, MT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Robert Brewer Trafford, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Tony Brossette Vidor, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Jason Bruner Chipley, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Patrick Butler Hemphill, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Clay Chancellor Louisville, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Garrett Cole Florence, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Morris Collins Fairfield, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Jacob Collins Hillsboro, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Jeff Cox Walker, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Daniel Dantoni Florence, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Vern Deatherage Ava, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Alonzo Evans Jr Topeka, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Nicholas Ezernack Many, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Tim Faircloth Bossier City, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Justin Ferrill Picayune, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Jason Fontenot Lake Charles, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Johnnie Garrett Union City, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Kyle Gelles Pingree, ID 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Bryan Gibson Arlington, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Walter Gillis Jackson, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Mark Goldman Brandon, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. John Goul Philadelphia, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Cody Ryan Greaney Ledbetter, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Michael Greer Deridder, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. David Harrell Downsville, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Dalton Haynes Hamburg, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Timothy Hedrick Andrews, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Allen Heston Pittsburg, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. John Holtz Gardner, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Marcus Horace Harvey, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Cedric Jackson Sicily Island, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Cody Jones Winnsboro, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Seth Laster Steens, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Ryan Lloyd Brandon, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Joseph Marshall Moss Point, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Chris Marshall Moss Point, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Casey Mccaffery Bogue Chitto, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Eric Melton Flowood, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Matt Michel Gonzales, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Sam Milazzo Niles, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Bret Miller Lafayette, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Jon Mohon Sr Port Neches, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Gary Mumphrey Gonzales, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Mike Myers Oklahoma City, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Hunter Neuville New Iberia, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Lance Owen Greer, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Stephen Parnell Brandon, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. David Patterson Flowood, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Robert Pennell Cuero, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Steven Phillips Bowie, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Jason Phillips Whitehouse, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. T.J. Reed Fredericktown, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Charles Reed Batesville, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Cody Richardson Gautier, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Nick Richey Aledo, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Chris Shaw Yukon, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Ben Shuler Midland, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Jason Smith Manvel, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Clayton Stoering Waterville, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Marty Tanner Tolar, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Rodney Teel Ponchatoula, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Donald Terry Jackson, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Ray Thomasson Jr El Dorado, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Carlton Tipp Grand Bay, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Matteo Turano Naperville, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Karl Voss Sulphur, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. Cory Weaver Ankeny, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
130. William Young Livingston, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 37 236 551-13
----------------------------------
37 236 551-13
Carroll County To Host Bassmaster Junior National Championship
Talented young anglers from across the country will compete in the 2022 Bassmaster Junior National Championship July 29-30 on Tennessee's Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake.
Photo by Emily Hand/B.A.S.S.
April 28, 2022
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Talented young anglers from across the country will converge on Huntingdon, Tenn., July 29-30 for the 2022 Bassmaster Junior National Championship for second- through eighth-grade anglers. This will mark the seventh year that Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake, the largest man-made lake in West Tennessee, has hosted the Bassmaster Junior National Championship.
“We are excited to once again be hosting the Bassmaster Junior National Championship,” said Brad Hurley, president of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce. “We are working with our team to make the 2022 Championship the best ever.”
As many as 70 youth teams are expected to compete for the junior championship crown after qualifying for the tournament through four Opens held on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes, Alabama’s Lewis Smith Lake, Arkansas’s Norfork Lake and Michigan’s Saginaw Bay.
“I think people will be amazed, not only by the knowledge these young anglers have of the sport, but by the size of the fish they bring to the scales,” said Glenn Cale, B.A.S.S. Nation tournament manager — College, High School and Junior. “What they know and how they perform at such a young age really shows how the sport of competitive bass fishing is evolving — and gives us a good idea of the kind of competition we’ll see at the higher ranks in the future.”
In 2021, Bo Hollen and Ari Clark of West Virginia’s Mon Valley Bassmasters took home the title with a two-day total of 19 pounds, 11 ounces. Hollen and Clark, who competed in their first Junior National Championship in 2019, were honored during the Night of Champions at the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.
Each two-angler team is accompanied by a coach who runs the boat and can give advice on fishing techniques and patterns.
Lake Chickamauga Set to Host Final Event for Toyota Series Central Division
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (April 28, 2022) – The Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. Central Division will continue its 2022 season next week in Chattanooga, Tenn., May 5-7, with the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at Lake Chickamauga. Hosted by Chattanooga Sports, the three-day tournament is the third and final event of the season for the Toyota Series Central Division anglers and will feature the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers casting for a top prize of up to $75,000.
Mercury pro Miles Burghoff of Dayton, Tennessee said he expects to see the fish in full spawning mode during the tournament.
“On Lake Chickamauga, the bass tend to wait until the water gets up to the reeds for the main wave of spawners, so for this event the majority of the guys that do well will be fishing shallow,” Burghoff said. “Chick doesn’t normally get good off-shore until the end of May, early June, so while there will still be some guys fishing offshore, they will be the minority.”
With temperature predictions in the mid-70’s throughout the event, the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit pro said the fishery will be set up nicely for the shallow bite.
“I think we’ll see a lot of wacky rigs and stick baits like the Z-Man Zinkerz during the tournament, as well as swim jigs and some big swimbaits,” Burghoff said. “Guys could flip or pitch a little bit, but I honestly think the water is going to be about a foot too low by the time the tournament begins.
“As for off-shore, I expect to see crankbaits, big spoons and guys dragging jigs – just the usual Tennessee River players.”
Burghoff said while the event will be exciting, especially for anglers targeting fish on beds, he doesn’t anticipate big weights during the tournament.
“I think it’s going to take 14 ½ to 16 pounds to get into the top 25 and around 18 pounds per day to win the event, just considering how tough the lake has been fishing,” Burghoff said.
While he spends most of the year traveling around the country on the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, Burghoff said he is looking forward to the challenge the local Toyota Series event offers.
“The Toyota Series is a great opportunity for me to fish against the best anglers in the region,” Burghoff said. “On the Pro Circuit, we are generally competing on fisheries that we don’t fish often, so we all put our own spin on those bodies of water. However, at a Toyota Series event, you’re fishing against guys who live around those lakes and likely fish them very often – and they’re tough to beat. These regional events are extremely competitive and are a great opportunity to get out there and learn from the locals.”
Anglers will take off daily at 6 a.m. ET from Chester Frost Park located at 2318 Gold Point Circle North in Hixson. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park and will begin at 2 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action 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 BIG5 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, Southern, Southwestern 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 Ordinance, 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 .
College Anglers Win Cash, Protect Bass with Costa
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
East Texas Baptist University (ETBU) anglers Cason Ragsdale and Kaden Proffitt added a $2,500 bonus to their bank accountsafter hoisting the 2022 Abu Garcia College Fishing National Championship trophies thanks to Costa Compete + Conserve. After leading days one and two by a single ounce, Proffitt and Ragsdale grinded out a big bag on a tough final day to lock up their wire-to-wire win by over three pounds.
Proffitt and Ragsdale are both seniors studying Business Administration with plans to continue their education at ETBU, but the duo says they didn’t need a college education to know what pair of sunglasses to wear on the water.
“Costas have always been the best sunglasses for fishing,” Proffitt said. “Compete + Conserve just makes them even better! We won the Compete + Conserve prize for a regular season MLF College Fishing tournament on Lake Dardanelle last year. We each received a new pair of Costas, a backpack, hats, t-shirts, and more swag. So, we already knew about the program, but didn’t know until the final day it paid out $2,500 for the Championship.”
Compete + Conserve added over 200 tournaments to its list of supported events, including both college and high school fishing trails. The program is completely free to sign-up for, but it can pay out big as Ragsdale and Proffitt can attest.
“We are both wearing the Broadbill and Reefton frames we won last year for this tournament,” Ragsdale added. “And now those sunglasses won us a bunch of money, which is a huge deal for a couple of college dudes!”
On top of their own winnings, the ETBU Tigers chose the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation to receive their $500 conservation donation. Each winner of Compete + Conserve gets to choose a conservation partner to receive an allotted cash contribution for every single tournament. The bigger picture of protecting our fisheries is not lost on the college fishing champs.
“We’re all about more bass,” Ragsdale said with a laugh. “In all seriousness, protecting the fish we love to chase and the waters they swim in, is super important. It’s something all bass fishermen need to be thinking of. We can’t thank Costa enough for everything they do for this sport.”
For a full list of supported tournaments and payouts, or to get yourself registered for Compete + Conserve follow this link: https://www.costacompeteandconserve.com/register/ or send an email to Luke at [email protected].
AC Insider Podcast - From the Classic to Kayaks!
This week Chris & the boys welcome in 2022 Classic Champ THE Jason Christie to the show to recapo his 2022 YTD and look ahead at the reaminder of the Elites. Bailey Eigbrett, your Eufuala HOBIE BOS Champ joins the show as well to talk about his recent win and what he learned about gators in the Eufuala backwaters. All this and more right here!
Big Sam Showdown – MLF Toyota Series Southwestern Division Presented by Outlaw Ordnance Finale Set for Sam Rayburn
BROOKELAND, Texas (April 27, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF) is set to return to Jasper and Sam Rayburn for a tournament next week, May 4-6, with the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at Sam Rayburn Reservoir. The three-day bass fishing tournament, hosted by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Chamber of Commerce, is the third and final event of the regular season for the Toyota Series Southwestern Division Presented by Outlaw Ordnance.
The tournament will showcase a field of the region’s best 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.
With just one event remaining in the Toyota Series Southwestern Division Presented by Outlaw Ordnance regular season, Kris Wilson of Montgomery, Texas, leads the Pro Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 510 points, while Albert Ignacio of Dallas, Texas, and Robert Chavers of Knoxville, Arkansas are tied atop the leaderboard in the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 505 points. The AOY in the Pro Division will receive $5,000 and the winning Strike King Co-angler will receive $2,000.
“This is going to be a real good event,” said Wilson, who has nine top-10 finishes on Sam Rayburn in MLF competition. “The weights on Rayburn have been good but I look for them to drop off a little bit, just because of the season.
“I think it’s going to be primarily a spawn and postspawn tournament,” Wilson continued. “I think the lake is still a couple of weeks behind, so there may still possibly be a few fish on beds, but it’s mainly going to be a postspawn deal. The water levels have come up recently – it’s just over a foot below normal pool. And there is enough water in the bushes to where a shallow-water bite is going to be a huge player – especially the guys targeting the shad spawn in the mornings.”
Wilson said that he expects frogs and swimjigs to be the most popular lures thrown by tournament anglers, but he also predicts that guys fishing offshore will catch them cranking – in less than 15 feet – and throwing a Carolina rig.
“The Carolina rig is always a player at Rayburn,” Wilson said.
“I think if a guy can catch 20 pounds a day, that will be really strong – definitely finish in the top three,” Wilson went on to say. “I think 20 pounds a day would be good, but I think 65 (pounds) will do it for the win.”
Anglers will take off each day at 6:30 a.m. CT from the Umphrey Family Pavilion, located at 5438 Sam Rayburn Parkway in Brookeland, Texas. Weigh-ins will also be held at the Pavilion, beginning at 2:30 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.
B.A.S.S. Nation Anglers Gear Up For Central Regional On Grand Lake
Oklahoma's Grand Lake will host the 2022 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional May 4-6.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
April 27, 2022
GROVE, Okla. — As Bassmaster Classic champion Jason Christie knows, Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees is one of the best lakes in the country, and anglers fishing the 2022 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional at Grand Lake May 4-6 will have a multitude of options to find a winning bag.
“Generally, the first week of May is wide open,” the Oklahoma native said. “It would not surprise me if someone won deep or if someone won it in less than 2 feet or if someone won it somewhere in the middle.
“The good thing about that first week of May is the entire lake is wide open. There isn’t a creek or section of the lake that will be dead. As an angler, that’s what you want. Guys can spread out.”
This will be the second trip to Grand Lake of the 2022 season for the Bassmaster tournament trail after the 2022 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX visited the historic venue in April.
Anglers from across the country qualified for this event through their respective state Nation chapters, and the top boater and top co-angler from each state will qualify for the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship Nov. 9-11 on Pickwick Lake.
Barring a major rain event, Christie said anglers will likely be able to fish to their strengths and find the water clarity and depth they feel most comfortable in. There have been times when the bass will still be spawning in the early part of May and, historically, the shad spawn will also be starting.
“It has been said that Grand Lake is the best lake in the country that doesn’t have grass,” Christie said. “One of the reasons, I think, is (because) there is just a ton of bait in the lake. The shad population in the lake has been crazy for years. The second thing that helps those fish grow up is the amount of boat docks and marinas. These fish have areas where they never see a bait.”
Along with the docks, there is also plenty of rock and wood in the lake. With plenty of cover and miles of fishable water to investigate, Christie believes a variety of techniques will play. A Biffle Bug paired with a swinghead is a popular technique along with spinnerbaits around the shad spawn.
Squarebills, jigs, Spooks and creature baits will play around docks as well.
“The water could be 3 feet high and they could be flipping willows,” Christie said. “The first week of May, if I had to put my finger on it, will probably be a shad spawn deal in the morning and then maybe in the afternoon they go sight fishing.”
Competition for the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Central Regional will be held May 4-6. Anglers representing Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Louisiana will launch from Wolf Creek Park each day at 6:15 a.m. CT and return for weigh-in at 2:15 p.m. The field will be cut to the Top 16 boaters and nonboaters plus the Top 2 boaters and nonboaters from each state if they are not already in that range.
Tacoronte Exits Elites To Focus On Family
April 26, 2022
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After missing the 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series season with a medical hardship, Florida pro Jesse Tacoronte is withdrawing from the Elites to take care of his family.
“I’ve gotta call it quits because family comes first. End of story,” said Tacoronte, who also owns Enigma Fishing. “I have two elderly parents at my home on hospice and a 12-year-old nephew to take care of. I've got a lot of stuff on my plate. Family is absolutely first.”
It has been a trying year for the Tacorontes as tragedy struck multiple family members around the Elite Series opener in early February.
Tacoronte’s mother was hospitalized prior to passing away Feb. 13. Just days before that, Shane Platter, who manages sales and shows for Enigma, suffered a heart attack. Platter, unconscious for some time at his home, is currently in a rehabilitation home with no short-term memory — some long-term memory is just returning. Tacoronte and his wife, Danielle, are caring for his 12-year-old son. About that same time, Tacoronte’s mother-in-law, who suffers from severe lung issues and has needed multiple treatments, was in and out of the hospital. The Tacorontes are overseeing her care as well as his 84-year-old father’s care at their Orlando home.
“When you’ve got a great mother-in-law and a great dad, they deserve for you to take care of them when they need you,” Tacoronte said. “I’m not going to let my wife be the sole caretaker to three people. It’s not fair to her.
“While I love fishing, my family is way more important. Always has been. I’ve proven it once, I’ll prove it again.”
Tacoronte was a force in his early days fishing on the West Coast, but he quit traveling to tournaments at 26 and concentrated on raising his son and starting his businesses, which included real estate and fishing tackle.
“I was a pretty hot stick on the West Coast. I was winning every other tournament,” he said. “When Cody was born, I quit. That’s when we moved to Florida. I didn’t want Cody’s first words to be ‘stranger.’ Unfortunately, that’s fishing. You’re either traveling or you’re not fishing.”
Tacoronte returned to fishing a fuller schedule about a decade ago and qualified to compete on the Elite circuit in 2017 after a great run in the Bassmaster Northern Opens.
Tacoronte has long held the dream of fishing in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, and that dream is simply being put on hold, he said. Tacoronte will fish some of the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Mossy Oak Fishing tournaments and might even try to get to the championship via the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation.
“Right now, I just can’t be gone for 10 days to New York, or three weeks to South Dakota and Wisconsin,” he said. “The Classic dream is still alive. That will never stop.”
DECKED Partners With Bassmaster To Create The Ultimate Angler Tundra
DECKED has partnered with B.A.S.S. and Toyota to create the ultimate angler truck, and fans can enter to win an all-new 2022 Toyota Tundra with a DECKED System.
Photo by Chris Mitchell/B.A.S.S.
April 26, 2022
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — DECKED, which designs and manufactures innovative tool boxes, pickup truck storage and accessories, has partnered with B.A.S.S. and Toyota to create the ultimate angler truck. After hitting Bassmaster Elite Series events throughout the country, this DECKED-outfitted 2022 Toyota Tundra will be donated to a worthy nonprofit organization after the season. Plus, one lucky fan will have a chance to win a new 2022 Toyota Tundra rigged-out with a DECKED System.
Enthusiastic fans attending Elite Series events will get an opportunity to explore an all-new Tundra equipped with the DECKED Drawer System and a host of custom add-ons that make it perfect for delving into outdoor adventure. While there, fans can scan a special code to be the first to find out when the sweepstakes is launched later this year. The next opportunity to see the DECKED Toyota Tundra will be at the Simms Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork May 19-22 in Quitman, Texas.
“We’re a company of people who love the outdoors, and everyone on our team does everything we can to make our customers’ lives better,” said Greg Randolph, DECKED vice president of marketing. “Whether you hunt, fish, camp or bike, the ability to store, organize, protect and secure your gear is essential.
“DECKED is excited to be at Bassmaster tournaments to meet real people already using our products and to reach a new audience of fans.”
The Idaho-based brand is best known for its Tool Box and modular Drawer System, which is 100% American-made. The Drawer System is made from 100% recycled materials. Once assembled, the DECKED Drawer System is easily installed and removed with no drilling or other alteration of the truck bed.
“The DECKED Drawer System allows me to be organized and ready at all times,” said Bassmaster Elite Series pro Scott Martin. “Keeping my tackle, tools and important items safe and secure in my tuck with the DECKED System is one of the most important tools as a professional fisherman. I can’t imagine having a truck without a DECKED System. Every truck owner needs this in their truck.”
In addition to Martin, DECKED also currently partners with Bassmaster Classic champion and former Bassmaster Angler of the Year Mike Iaconelli.
Follow along on Bassmaster.com for more information on the DECKED storage system’s easy installation and a deep-dive into accessory options to keep all of your gear organized and secure, a tour of their new manufacturing facility in Defiance, Ohio, check out the new shallow tool box later this summer and discover how Iaconelli makes the most of his DECKED accessories while on the road.
More details on the Toyota Tundra giveaway and Tundra donation to a nonprofit organization will be released as the season progresses.
Lucky 13 Nets Oklahoma Angler An All-new Tundra
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Some folks have a fear or avoidance of the number 13. It’s a condition described as “triskaidekaphobia” – a really long word that’s tough to pronounce, and absolutely does not apply to Oklahoma fishing fan an avid angler, Allen Hill.
Hill chose box #13 as finalist in a sweepstakes drawing at the recent Major League Fishing Toyota REDCREST event and discovered the keys to an all new 2022 Tundra inside.
“I’ve always been one to pick 13 anytime I can,” says the 53-year-old Hill, who works at a Tulsa welding gas and supply store.
“When Kevin VanDam first handed me box 13 up on stage, all I saw was a Toyota hat inside. Then the keys fell out and the rush of adrenaline hit me. The next thing I know I’m giving KVD a hug and going crazy,” laughed Hill.
Hill attended the REDCREST Outdoor Sports Expo presented by Costa on both Saturday and Sunday because of his love for bass fishing, but also purposely for the chance to win the all-new Tundra.
“I had a great time Saturday at the Expo, but on Sunday I purposely went back to visit all the vehicles in the Toyota booth to become eligible for the Tundra sweepstakes giveaway. I knew you had to be present to win. And it turns out, the first person’s name they drew was not there, but the next name they drew was mine,” grins Hill.
Humbled by the win, Hill says it was 15 years ago when he last drove a brand-new truck, and after talking to MLF pro James Elam, a longtime Tundra buyer and Bonus Bucks participant, there’s no way he’ll sell his new prize.
“James Elam had a ton of great things to say about his Tundra, and everybody knows Toyotas tend to run forever, so we’ll definitely be using it to tow our 22-foot bass boat to Grand Lake, Lake Hudson, or wherever our next tournament is. I plan to drive it for years to come,” says Hill, who loves to pitch a 3/8 black-blue Jewel jig or cast firetiger-colored Bomber 6A crankbait.
Perhaps Hill should pack exactly 13 rod and reel combos in the boat for the next tournament, and pump exactly 13-gallons of gas in his all-new 2022 Tundra on his drive to the boat ramp. If his incredibly good fortune at REDCREST is any indication of 13’s goodness, there’s no telling what he might catch.
Floyd Wins at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Kentucky-Barkley Lake
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (April 25, 2022) – Boater Steve Floyd of Leesburg, Ohio, caught five bass Saturday weighing 22 pounds, 10 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Kentucky-Barkley Lake . The tournament, hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau, was the second event of the season for the Bass Fishing League LBL Division. Floyd earned $12,618, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
“I ran south and fished in the Blood River area and flipped bushes in pockets,” Floyd said. “I thought I’d catch maybe 14 pounds. I didn’t think I’d get very many big bites, but my second fish right out of the gate was a 6-pounder, and that made me feel a little bit better.”
Floyd said he caught 25 keepers during the tournament, including two 6-pounders and one that weighed more than five pounds. Floyd said he caught his fish on a green-pumpkin Strike King Rage Bug.
“This win is awesome,” Floyd said. “I’m from Ohio, but the most fun thing I can do is come down here and flip bushes in my favorite place. If I could go anywhere and fish any style it would be to do just what I did to win this.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Steve Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, five bass, 22-10, $12,618 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Seth Roberts, Jacksboro, Tenn., five bass, 20-2, $2,309
3rd: Brian Futch, Herrin, Ill., five bass, 17-7, $1,539
4th: Larry Frasier, Eddyville, Ky., five bass, 15-14, $1,078
5th: Brad Hutcheson, Troy, Tenn., five bass, 15-13, $924
6th: Lonnie Bowlin, Benton, Ill., four bass, 15-11, $1,527
7th: Puggy Deberry, Calvert City, Ky., four bass, 15-9, $770
8th: Clint Knight, Lewisburg, Ky., five bass, 15-3, $693
9th: David Brunaugh, Carbondale, Ill., five bass, 14-4, $616
10th: Jon Fatheree, Grantsburg, Ill., five bass, 14-0, $512
10th: Drew Boggs, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 14-0, $512
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Bowlin had a largemouth that weighed 6 pounds, 5 ounces that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division and earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $680.
Gary Huber II of Saint Charles, Missouri, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,270 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 13 pounds even.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
1st: Gary Huber, Saint Charles, Mo., five bass, 13-0, $2,270
2nd: Carl Oelker, Greenbrier, Tenn., five bass, 12-13, $1,235
3rd: Gabe Montgomery, Jackson, Mo., five bass, 11-15, $757
4th: Jesse Gustafson, Gilbertsville, Ky., four bass, 11-8, $530
5th: Andrew Bailey, Woodlawn, Tenn., three bass, 10-10, $784
6th: Alexis Joyce, Benton, Ky., five bass, 10-3, $416
7th: Secret York, Benton, Ky., five bass, 9-9, $378
8th: Tim Rampaul, Dickson, Tenn., four bass, 9-3, $341
9th: Michael Harvel, Jonesboro, Ill., four bass, 9-1, $303
10th: Pat Rapp, Hawesville, Ky., three bass, 8-15, $465
Bailey caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 6 pounds, 3 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $330.
After two events, Drew Boggs of Lebanon, Tennessee, leads the Bass Fishing League LBL Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 486 points, while Ed Daniell of West Frankfort, Illinois, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 476 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. 13-15 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee. Boaters will compete for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Regional Championships where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. The 2022 All-American will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.
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.
Carper Claims Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Percy Priest Lake
SMYRNA, Tenn. (April 25, 2022) – Boater Brian Carper of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, caught five bass Saturday weighing 17 pounds, 12 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Percy Priest Lake. The tournament was the second event for the Bass Fishing League Music City Division. Carper earned $4,541 for his victory.
“I pulled up to my first spot and there was somebody already there, so I had another spot close by and made a pass down the bank that resulted in three keepers,” Carper said. “We went up and down that bank about 10 times over the next four or five hours.”
Carper said he relocated after catching a limit, but returned to that area and caught two on the other side of that island. Carper, who guides on Percy Priest, said he threw an Alabama rig with four 4-inch swimbaits and a 5-inch swimbait in the middle all day and targeted “typical smallmouth territory this time of year” – mid-lake gravel banks with boulders in 8 to 12 feet of water. Carper said he caught one keeper and two short largemouth as well during the day.
“This win is awesome,” said Carper. “I’ve been fishing tournaments for a long time, and I’m coming off of another tournament win, so I’m going to take it easy for a while and just enjoy being on Cloud Nine.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Brian Carper, Murfreesboro, Tenn., five bass, 17-12, $4,541
2nd: Joel Trevino, Mt. Juliet, Tenn., five bass, 16-9, $2,470
3rd: Joshua Newsome, Rock Bridge, Tenn., five bass, 13-5, $1,514
4th: John Smith, Christiana, Tenn., four bass, 13-4, $1,060
5th: Joey Mallicoat, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 13-0, $1,408 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
6th: Jay Melton, Murfreesboro, Tenn., five bass, 12-13, $833
7th: Matt Underhill, Lascassas, Tenn., five bass, 11-13, $719
7th: James Ball, Elmwood, Tenn., five bass, 11-13, $719
9th: Scott Brummett, Brentwood, Tenn., five bass, 11-9, $605
10th: Eric Blankendaal, Murfreesboro, Tenn., five bass, 11-7, $530
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Paul Thomas of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, and Brent Anderson of Kingston Springs, Tennessee, both caught largemouth that weighed 4 pounds, 9 ounces in the Boater Division and split the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $660.
Logan Stewart of Nashville, Tennessee, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,193 Saturday after catching four bass weighing 7 pounds, 10 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
1st: Logan Stewart, Nashville, Tenn., four bass, 7-10, $2,193
2nd: Grayson Butler, Lebanon, Tenn., three bass, 7-2, $1,096
3rd: Pop Catalin, Cookeville, Tenn., three bass, 5-14, $730
4th: Chris Rushing, Gamaliel, Ky., one bass, 5-13, $822
5th: Ted Piechota, Berkley, Mich., two bass, 5-6, $439
6th: Dennis Putthoff, Old Hickory, Tenn., one bass, 5-4, $402
7th: Andy Miles, White House, Tenn., two bass, 4-14, $365
8th: Rocky Williams, Portland, Tenn., two bass, 4-12, $529
9th: Teddy Baggett, Nashville, Tenn., two bass, 3-14, $292
10th: Bob Wiles, Huntington, W.Va., one bass, 3-13, $256
Rushing caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 13 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $310.
After two events, Brent Anderson of Kingston Springs, Tennessee, leads the Bass Fishing League Music City Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 486 points, while Pop Catalin of Cookeville, Tennessee, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 495 points.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 13-15 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee. Boaters will compete for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.
The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Regional Championships where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. The 2022 All-American will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.
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.
Morgan Takes Top Spot at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on High Rock Lake
SALISBURY, N.C. (April 25, 2022) – Boater Brian Morgan of Maiden, North Carolina, caught five bass Saturday weighing 23 pounds, 9 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on High Rock Lake. The tournament was the second event for the Bass Fishing League North Carolina Division. Morgan earned $5,304 for his victory.
“How this tournament unfolded was something else,” Morgan said. “I was very young when my grandpa started me fishing. All we ever did was throw a vintage Heddon Chugger Jr. topwater bait. The first box I pulled out of my boat and opened up had four Heddon Chuggers staring me in the face. So I said, ‘This one’s for you, Pop.’ I pulled one out and tied it on. One of my buddies looked at it and said, ‘What is that?’ I told him, ‘I’ll tell you after the tournament.’”
The vintage bait paid off, as Morgan caught a bass weighing 4 pounds, 7 ounces on his third cast of the day. The Chugger continued to produce keepers throughout the day – all 15 fish he caught during the tournament were keepers.
“I know for a fact Pop was looking down on me,” Morgan said. “When I left Flat Swamp, I had 19 pounds in the box and every fish except two had come on that Chugger. And two of those were the biggest fish I had.
“This is my most memorable win,” Morgan added. “On my Facebook I posted, ‘Pop, this one is for you. I love you up in heaven.’ I teared up out on the water. It hit me pretty hard.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Brian Morgan, Maiden, N.C., five bass, 23-9, $5,304
2nd: David Wright, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 22-7, $3,152 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
3rd: Chris Baldwin, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 19-0, $1,968
4th: John Wiese, Charlotte, N.C., five bass, 18-11, $1,238
5th: Michael Belter, Reidsville, N.C., five bass, 18-4, $1,361
6th: Doug Young, Salisbury, N.C., five bass, 16-9, $972
7th: Jake Monti, Mooresville, N.C., five bass, 16-4, $884
8th: Ben Robertson, Walnut Cove, N.C., five bass, 15-10, $996
9th: Mark Cannon, Youngsville, N.C., four bass, 15-7, $707
10th: Bradley Staley, Pleasant Garden, N.C., five bass, 15-3, $619
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Noah Beck of Lexington, North Carolina, had a largemouth that weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division and earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $835.
Frank White of Marion, North Carolina, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,631 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 21 pounds, 6 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
1st: Frank White, Marion, N.C., five bass, 21-6, $2,631
2nd: Gregory Haverlock, Concord, N.C., four bass, 13-10, $1,315
3rd: Eric O’Connell, Harrisburg, N.C., three bass, 11-9, $877
4th: Wes House, Knightdale, N.C., five bass, 10-12, $614
5th: Kolton Hawks, Thomasville, N.C., four bass, 10-6, $526
6th: Eric Osborne, Jefferson, N.C., two bass, 9-13, $870
6th: Robert Raymond, Farmville, Va., five bass, 9-13, $560
8th: Samuel Jones, Fuquay Varina, N.C., three bass, 8-9, $373
8th: Lewis Brown, Asheboro, N.C., three bass, 8-9, $373
10th: Justin Bach, Kannapolis, N.C., three bass, 8-8, $291
10th: Robert Adams, Greensboro, N.C., two bass, 8-8, $291
Osborne caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 6 pounds, 2 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $410.
After two events, Jake Monti of Mooresville, North Carolina, leads the Bass Fishing League North Carolina Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 494 points, while Frank White of Marion, North Carolina, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 488 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 2022 All-American will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.
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.