Six Wins on Lake Hartwell
Saving the best for last, Drew Six weighed in his biggest bag of the tournament on Showdown Saturday to capture his first NPFL victory. With 17-pounds, 7-ounces on day one, 14-pounds, 13-ounces on day two and 19-pounds, 1-ounce on day three, Sixhad a three-day total of 51-pounds, 5-ounces to secure the victory.
With and copy and paste method, running the same program all week, Six executed a shallow water sight fishing bite by catching a mix of spawning bass, fry guarders and bluegill chasing bass, different each day.
“Day one we had all three phases of the spawn, day two spawn was wearing off, and today was a new wave of spawners.”
Opting for super light line, Six fished a Z-Man StreakZ 3.75-inch shad bait in the shiner color rigged on a Z-Man Texas eye Jig head on 6-pound Seaguar Tatsu fluorocarbon. Focusing on sharp drops near long points off the main channel, he fished all new water on Showdown Saturday and relied on Lowrance mapping to replicate his deal all over the lake.
“The keys for me this week were that Z-Man bait, the light line and Lowrance C-Map Reveal. I used the exact same jig head and plastic all three days and today I fished all new water and was able to identify spots on the Lowrance map and I would pull up and they all had fish. This is my biggest win and it was a phenomenal week. By using that light line, I was able to fish behind and around people all week and catch some key fish that others were not able to.”
Patrick Walters
After losing several key bass on day one, Patrick Walters caught 19-pounds, 6-ounces on day two to take the lead and added 13-pounds on Showdown Saturday to finish the event in the 2ndplace spot with a three-day total of 46-pounds, 14-ounces.
Keying on the shad spawn, Walters employed a mix of several moving baits to temp schooling bass. Noting he did have some key areas, but the trick to herring fish is to keep moving and covering water until you run into fish that will bite.
Jason Wilson
With a three-day total of 46-pounds, 14-ounces, Jason Wilson added 17-pounds, 10-ounces to go with an excellent day one to finish the event in 3rd place. Fishing a primarily shallow sight fishing pattern, the North Carolina pro spent his practice period marking fish on the bed and returned throughout the tournament to catch what was around.
“I had some key areas but basically, I was covering water – I would start at the mouth and work through until I saw a fish and lock down and catch it. I caught a 4 and 5-pounder in one pocket today and I have had a lot of success in previous tournaments on Hartwell, it's one of my favorite lakes.”
Bryant Smith
Finishing in the 4th place spot, California pro Bryant Smith wrapped up a very consistent week by bringing 15-pounds, 6-ounces to the scales on Showdown Saturday to finish with a three-day total of 46-pounds, 11-ounces. Fishing the ultimate junk pattern, Smith rotated between herring fish and shallow sight fishing to catch his fish every day.
“The keys for me this week were the really flat points for the schoolers and the flat banks for sight fishing. If there was red clay it was better, but the flat banks and points overall has the most fish. I was randomly looking in pockets and if the bigger pocket had several smaller pockets, that was where most of the bites would come from.”
Burning over 100 gallons of gas throughout the event, Smith fished a variety of baits including the most important – a soft jerkbait.
“I was using that Lews Custom Lite reel and that was key for making very long casts with basically a weightless bait. I was easily getting another 10 to 15-yards out of each cast. I ran that Ranger, Mercury all over the lake it got me back here every day.”
With his biggest bag of the week on the final day, including a 6-pound, 2-ounce kicker, T.R. Andreas brought 19-pounds, 4-ounces to the scales on Showdown Saturday to finish tied for 5thwith a three-day total of 45-pounds, 1-ounce. Sticking to a sight fishing bite all week, Andreas was keying on East facing banks.
“I was basically just moving around looking for fish locked on beds and I was throwing three baits to get them to bite. A 3/0 Gamakatsu hook with a 5/16-ounce weight and 15-pound Seaguar fluorocarbon, I was using both a Yum Dinger and a Rage bug on that, and the third was a wacky rigged green pumpkin Yamamoto Senko. I would rotate through and once I would make a switch, they would bite.”
Jason Williamson
Bringing 18-pounds, 9-ounces to the scales on Showdown Saturday, Jason Williamson finished tied for 5th place with a three-day total of 45-pounds, 1-ounce. Williamson caught 16-pounds, 6-ounces on day one and 10-pounds, 2-ounces on day two before bringing in his heaviest catch on the final day.
Rest of the best:
7 Jesse Millsaps44-9
8Jesse Wise44-6
9Josh Ray44-6
10Mike Corbishley43-13
Southerly Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on the Potomac River
MARBURY, Md. (April 25, 2022) – Boater Jeremy Southerly of Fulks Run, Virginia, caught five bass Saturday weighing 19 pounds, 6 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on the Potomac River . The tournament, hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners, was the third event for the Bass Fishing League Shenandoah Division. Southerly earned $5,154 for his victory.
“I started out on some sight fish I had found Friday afternoon,” Southerly said. “I caught them and had about 18 pounds by 9 o’clock.”
Southerly said he caught two of his early-morning fish in the southern part of the Potomac on a drop-shot rig and two others on a Zoom Speed Craw, before relocating to target fish mid-river. Southerly said he caught 20 bass during the course of the day, 15 of which were keepers.
“Everything just went really smoothly, and I never lost a fish,” Southerly said. “In order to get the win you have to fish clean, and every fish that bit I put in the boat.
“This win feels really good,” Southerly added. “These Potomac fishermen are a tough group to win against.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: Jeremy Southerly, Fulks Run, Va., five bass, 19-6, $5,154
2nd: Joseph Thompson, Coatesville, Pa., five bass, 19-2, $2,577
3rd: Terry Olinger, Louisa, Va., five bass, 18-11, $1,719
4th: Jeffrey Ware, Warrenton, Va., five bass, 17-11, $1,203
5th: Travis Lively, Vinton, Va., five bass, 17-2, $1,031
6th: Fredderick Chandler, Mount Airy, Md., five bass, 16-5, $945
7th: John Duarte, Middle River, Md., five bass, 16-3, $859
8th: Kermit Crowder, Matoaca, Va., five bass, 15-13, $730
8th: Ryan Ingalls, Manassas, Va., five bass, 15-13, $730
10th: David Barker, Hagerstown, Md., five bass, 15-12, $601
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
John Lorenzo of Kane, Pennsylvania, had a largemouth that weighed 8 pounds, 2 ounces that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division and earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $795.
Doug Jenkins of Saint Leonard, Maryland, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,577 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 18 pounds, 11 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
1st: Doug Jenkins, Saint Leonard, Md., five bass, 18-11, $2,577
2nd: Bryan Conley, Fulks Run, Va., five bass, 17-10, $1,288
3rd: Thomas Smith, Chester, Va., five bass, 16-8, $858
4th: Robert Wedding, Welcome, Md., five bass, 16-7, $601
5th: Shawn Holder, Washington, D.C., five bass, 16-4, $515
6th: Larry Freeman Jr., La Crosse, Va., five bass, 15-12, $472
7th: Michael Luckey, Roanoke, Va., five bass, 15-9, $408
7th: Tracy Gravely, Petersburg, Va., five bass, 15-9, $408
9th: Nathan Pulley, Chester, Va., five bass, 14-14, $344
10th: Andy Jones, Seaford, Del., five bass, 14-13, $286
10th: Tyrone Adams Jr., Fredericksburg, Va., five bass, 14-13, $286
Conley caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 5 pounds, 4 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $397.
After three events, Chris Brummett of Lynch Station, Virginia, leads the Bass Fishing League Shenandoah Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 715 points, while Jeramy Evans of Forest, Virginia, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 694 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.
Mitch Mitchell and Candler Mccollum Take the win on Wiess Lake the 100th ABT Event
By Jason Duran
Leesburg, Ala — Weiss Lake, known as the Crappie Capital of the World and home to some great bass fishing, hosted the third stop for the North Division on warm and sunny Saturday. 225 teams fished for the top prize of $10,000, and many anglers located fish on the bed spending most of their day fishing for those often hard to catch fish.
This event was the 100th tournament hosted by the ABT since its beginning in 2014. Prior to this event the ABT has paid out over $5.1 million. Kay Donaldson, Program Director for the ABT reminisces, “looking back, I thought we had a good idea and a good plan, but I guess I didn’t really understand until we sold out in 29 minutes. Then, it sunk in that what we have is something special. Add to that the way the fans turn out to support us and our sponsors. This is all built around a great group of anglers. We feel like we have 1,100 of the best salespeople out there, and I am very moved by that.” Next year is the 10th year, and we have plans to be even better with additional prize money and a new schedule announcement on May 6th at 10am.
The team of Mitch Mitchell and Candler McCollum claimed their 4th victory on the ABT with 19.96 pounds. Coming into this event, they decided to spend their practice locating bed fish. They shook off one fish in practice and decided not to catch any more and instead work on locating bed fish. On tournament day, they returned to the area where they had located fish on the bed. “We started our morning shallow just flipping around the grass in the area where we knew they were. We caught a good keeper quick.” They spent the rest of their day targeting bed fish. “The water depth was very shallow, and we only fished two areas using two baits.” “We caught a total of 10 fish today. Three of the fish we caught today were caught by blind casting to them; the rest were all caught sight fishing for them. We had one fish caught outside the mouth, so we had to release it. We went back to that fish and caught it inside the mouth later. At the end of the day, we lost a fish with ten minutes to go, but we continued to fish for it and finally caught it! That helped us cull up four more ounces. That wasn’t the difference today, but it sure would have been closer if we had lost it again.” Their total payout with bonuses was $17,000.
The second-place team of Zachary Taylor and Josh Austin caught 19.29 pounds. They have fished the ABT for the last five years and cashed 3 checks in four events here at Weiss Lake. “Practice for us on this lake has always been horrible, but we had a top ten finish last year. We woke up this morning knowing we were going to catch five; it was just a question of what fish were going to show up. They showed up for us today. We spent practice finding grass and watercolor we wanted to fish on tournament day probably marking 25 different areas. The first spot we pulled into today had 8 boats sitting on it. We got our confidence back when we moved to our second spot and quickly caught our largest fish of the day at 4.61 pounds. We spent the rest of the day with our heads down focusing on watercolor grass and presentation and it worked out.” The grass they were looking for “was the typical Coosa Riverbank Grass, but the grass was not right on the bank. It needed to be 15-20 yards off the bank with some type of hard structure mixed in, either a wooden lay down or a dock. We didn’t really catch any fish on the bank; it was more in the scattered grass off the bank. The water depth we targeted these fish in was six inches to three feet.” They gathered their solid limit fishing shallow and moved out later in the day to focus on humps. “We really aren’t shallow water fishermen, and we prefer to be offshore. We located the fish in practice shallow, so we decided to run that pattern. Later in the day we shifted to our offshore pattern of fishing shallow humps with a Shaky Head.” Their payday for this event was $,5750 including the bonus from Garmin and ABT Gear.
Third place went to the team of Bryan Dowdy and Kyle Lewellen with 18.48. This is their fourth year fishing the ABT. The team described their pattern as “junk fishing. During practice we located a few fish on the bed. However, due to the wind and water clarity, we could not see them on the bed on Saturday. We made a change and decided to stay back away from them and make casts to where we had located them in practice. We targeted these fish using a yellow Magic Topwater early in the morning and caught some flipping soft plastic.” They caught a limit fairly quick using this pattern. Later in the day, they spent lots of time looking for a larger fish because they knew they needed to cull one more fish to get the win- they never were able to cull. “We call the Tennessee River home, but we have had our better finishes on the Coosa River lakes with 4 top 10 finishes.” For their third-place finish, they collected $4000.
The Top 10 places are below for a complete list of standings visit: https://www.alabamabasstrail.org/weiss-lake/results/
Download and listen to the ABT Podcast on your favorite Podcast app by searching for “Alabama Bass Trail Podcast.” The podcast is released each week on Tuesday.
Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour Stage Four Set to Visit Lake of the Ozarks
Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat to Showcase 80 Pro Anglers Competing Over Six Days for Purse of $805,000
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (April 25, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF) is set to visit Central Missouri this week, April 30-May 5, for the fourth event of the 2022 MLF Bass Pro Tour regular-season – the Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat.
The six-day event, hosted by Central Missouri’s Tri-County Lodging Association and BassingBob.com, will showcase 80 of the best professional anglers in the world, including bass-fishing superstars like Kevin VanDam, Ott DeFoe, Jacob Wheeler, Angler of the Year leader Jordan Lee, reigning REDCREST Champion Bobby Lane, and three Missouri pros – Jeremy Lawyer (Sarcoxie), Mike McClelland (Blue Eye), and James Watson (Lampe) . They’ll be competing for a purse of more than $805,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable points in hopes of qualifying for REDCREST 2023, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
Although Lake of the Ozarks has played host to dozens of MLF (and former FLW) tournaments over the years, this event will mark the first time that the MLF Bass Pro Tour will visit Lake of the Ozarks. The tournament will feature the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament will be filmed for broadcast later this year on the Discovery Channel.
“It’s going to be a shallow-water tournament, no doubt,” said Sarcoxie’s Jeremy Lawyer, who has numerous top-10 finishes – and a 2018 Toyota Series victory – on Lake of the Ozarks. “The most disappointing thing about competing here this time of the year is that there is no home-field advantage. The fish are spread out and the lake is wide open.
“It’s kind of scary because everyone that fishes their strength can do well. KVD throwing a squarebill (crankbait) and burning through water might do just as well as Dudley picking apart areas with a wacky worm. It’s kind of intimidating.”
Lawyer said that the bass are way behind the typical spawn timeframe, and that he expects sight-fishing and targeting boat docks to be popular tactics.
“No doubt, a wacky-rigged Zoom Zlinky is going to play well,” Lawyer said. “I’ll have a Freedom Tackle Structure jig tied on for flipping, and I think topwater baits could be strong as well. Catching numbers is going to be the name of this game, and this lake has got plenty of them in it – a lot of 3- to 5-pounders.
“I think the lake is going to really show out,” Lawyer went on to say. “A low day will be 10 to 12 scorable bass – that won’t be that good. I think somewhere from 16 to 20 keepers a day is very realistic and will have you looking good. If someone gets in the right pocket with a bunch of spawners, 25 to 30 scorables is definitely not out of the question.”
After three events in the 2022 Bass Pro Tour regular season, Alabama pro Jordan Lee leads the Bally Bet Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 226 points. Reigning 2021 AOY Jacob Wheeler is right behind Lee in second place with 224 points, while North Carolina’s Bryan Thrift sits in third with 203 points. Kevin VanDam currently sits in fourth place with 198 points, while Randy Howell rounds out the top five with 194 points.
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.
Fans are encouraged to come out to Meet The Pros Day on Saturday, April 30 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.All 80 Bass pro Tour anglers will be onsite at the Grand Glaize Marina Recreation Area to meet fans, sign autographs, snap selfies, participate in tackle giveaways and talk fishing on Lake of the Ozarks. The first 50 children will receive a free Dora the Explorer rod and reel combo, and free food will be provided for all.
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.
As part of the event, on Saturday, April 30 from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., the MLF Fisheries Management Division (FMD) will also be participating in a clean-up event at the Grand Glaize Recreation Area – the FMD Costa Clean Water Matters Program supported by SeaArk. Volunteers will walk the trails and shorelines to clean up trash and debris from the shores of Lake of the Ozarks and the walking trails at the State Park. SeaArk Boats will support the FMD and Costa’s efforts by providing their revolutionary trash clean-up boat for use on the water during the event.
The Bass Boat Technologies Stage Four on Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Bass Cat will feature anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, competing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2023 championship.
The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Saturday and Monday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the anglers that finish in 2nd through 20th place from both groups advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round, while the winner of each group advances directly to Thursday’s Championship Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 38 anglers compete to finish in the top 8 to advance to the Championship Round. In the final day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all six days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 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.
Jon Canada Wins Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Lithium Pros Stop 3 on Pickwick
Helena, Alabama Pro Earns First Major Win of His Career, Takes Home Top Prize of $100,000
COUNCE, Tenn. (April 24, 2022) – Pro Jon Canada of Helena, Alabama , brought a five-bass limit to the scale Sunday weighing 20 pounds even – his biggest limit of the event – to win the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Lithium Pros Stop 3 at Pickwick Lake Presented by Covercraft in Counce, Tennessee. Canada edged out the second-place angler Abu Garcia pro Justin Lucas of Guntersville, Alabama, by 1-pound, 2-ounces to earn the top payout of $100,000.
After ending Day One in 74th place with only 12 pounds, 13 ounces, Canada weighed in the largest limit of Day Two – five bass totaling 19-15 – to catapult into seventh place. He brought another solid limit of 17-8 to the scale on Day Three, putting him in third place and qualifying him into Championship Sunday.
“This win is just the good Lord above, I don’t know what else to say – It was just meant to be,” Canada said. “I came here and practiced for two days when the water was down, idling up and down this thing – marking every stump, shell bed, everything you can think of on a 5- to 8-mile stretch of the river and I ended up catching them in some of the areas where I did my homework.
“I spent most of the event fishing around the same areas as Lucas and (Andrew) Loberg , just fishing a little bit of grass and isolated stumps,” Canada continued. “I caught two of the biggest bass I’ve ever caught on Pickwick in this one area during pre-practice for another tournament – a 7-pounder and an 8-pounder.
“I only had two fish at lunchtime on Day Two and decided to change it up and run out to that spot. I’m not typically a drop-shot guy, but if it works, I’ll do it. I pitched the first couple stumps and had 19 or 20 pounds within 40 minutes, and I knew there was something special going on.”
With weights zeroed on the final day, the tournament was anyone’s to win, but Canada found himself trailing behind Lucas in the number two spot on the unofficial leaderboard throughout most of the day.
“I felt like the stumps I’d been fishing had a little extra pressure yesterday,” Canada said. “I could see the fish, but they wouldn’t bite and just kept running around and picking at my worm. I decided to idle to a new spot today that I’d never fished before, marked about 20 stumps and caught two big ones.”
This last-minute move upriver proved very profitable for the Alabama pro, who caught a good kicker fish in the final hour of Championship Sunday to finally push him over the top.
“Catching that fish this afternoon absolutely saved my tail,” Canada said. “I didn’t realize it was the winning fish, and knew it was going to be close, but I also knew that it definitely put me in contention for the top spot.”
Canada said most of his fish were caught on isolated stumps in 4- to 8-feet of water.
“I spent the first two days swimming a jig with a Reactions Innovations Twerk on the back of it, white-colored with chartreuse tipped ends, then I flipped a Reaction Innovations Spicy Beaver. I caught a lot on the first day doing that,” Canada continued. “When I went offshore, I threw a shaky head with a Reaction Innovations Flirt Worm , green-pumpkin colored, and caught a 4-pounder. I decided to switch to a drop-shot because it was faster and allowed me to work the stumps more quickly and thoroughly.”
Canada said he’s been fishing pretty good this year, but everything just finally came together during this event.
“The win hasn’t really sunk in yet,” Canada laughed. “It feels great to finally win one. This has been a long time coming.”
The top 10 pros at the Lithium Pros Stop 3 on Pickwick Lake finished:
1st: Jon Canada of Helena, Ala., five bass, 20-0, $100,000
2nd: Justin Lucas of Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 18-14, $30,000
3rd: Mitch Crane of Columbus, Miss., five bass, 15-14, $25,000
4th: Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Mich., five bass, 15-3, $20,000
5th: Nick Hatfield of Greeneville, Tenn., four bass, 14-4, $19,000
6th: John Hunter of Shelbyville, Ky., five bass, 13-12, $18,000
7th: John Cox of DeBary, Fla., five bass, 11-10, $17,000
8th: Andrew Loberg of Rocklin, Calif., four bass, 9-15, $16,000
9th: Nick LeBrun of Bossier City, La., four bass, 7-10, $15,000
10th: Troy Stokes of Trenton, Mich., zero bass, 0-0, $14,000
For a full list of results visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 42 bass weighing 127 pounds, 2 ounces caught by nine pros Sunday. The catch included six five-bass limits.
The four-day Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Lithium Pros Stop 3 on Pickwick Lake Presented by Covercraft was hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau. The event will premiere on the CBS Sports Network this summer in July.
In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Thursday and Friday. The top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advanced to Saturday, then only the top 10 pros, based on cumulative weight from the first three days continued competition on Championship Sunday, where weights were zeroed, and the winner was determined by the heaviest weight from the final day of competition.
The Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Lithium Pros Stop 3 on Pickwick Lake Presented by Covercraft marked the third regular-season event of the year for the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me. The next event for Pro Circuit anglers will be Stop 4 at Lake Guntersville Presented by A.R.E., May 12-15 in Guntersville, Alabama.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE Presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship, where they will compete for up to $235,000. The 2022 TITLE will be on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York on Aug. 16-21, and is hosted by the Town of Massena.
Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Fuel Me, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
York And Smith Of Y&S Fishing Club Win Bassmaster High School Event At Norfork
Huntlee York and Colton Smith of the Y&S Fishing Club have won the Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Series at Norfork Lake presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors with a total of 13 pounds, 7 ounces.
Photo by Logan Crumley/B.A.S.S.
April 24, 2022
York And Smith Of Y&S Fishing Club Win Bassmaster High School Event At Norfork
MOUNTAIN HOME Ark. — Without any practice time, Huntlee York and Colton Smith of the Y&S Fishing Club completely fished on instincts to take home the victory in the Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Series at Norfork Lake presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
Their five-bass limit weighed 13 pounds, 7 ounces.
The pair of 14-year-olds, who attend Salem School District just 27 miles from Norfork Lake, were still eligible to fish the Junior Series in 2022 but decided that they were going to make the jump to fish the High School Series. It paid off with a win on their home body of water.
The winners were fishing the Bass Cat Boats Owners Tournament on nearby Beaver Lake over the weekend, which didn’t allow them to practice for the event. Having a pretty good idea of what the bass may be doing, York and Smith used their local knowledge that had produced in the past.
“We had a pretty good idea of what the fish were going to be doing, and they were doing just what we thought — they were spawning,” said York. “It started off pretty well. He (Colton Smith) caught the first and second fish on a topwater and then we started throwing what we wanted and ran into the right ones.”
Although the Y&S duo caught a couple of their keepers by sight fishing later in the day, their early keepers came from targeting fish that were pushing up bait in the backs of pockets. The anglers later went on to call it a “junk-fishing” pattern.
“They started in the backs of spawning pockets where some shad were getting blown up,” added Trapper York, the Y&S Fishing team boat captain. “Later in the day they went to the bank and were able to pick off a few on beds.”
When the fish were schooling on the surface, the anglers were able to catch their fish on a topwater, but later had to switch to a swimbait when the fish moved down in the water column. Once they made the move to the bank to target spawning fish, a floating worm was their key bait.
“This means everything — we come and fish here almost every weekend,” said Huntlee York in closing.
Garrett Thomas and Hunter Holland of Walker High School finished second with 12-12.
Langston Martin of Lee County Anglers fished solo to finish third with 12-0.
2022 Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Series at Norfork Lake presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors 4/24-4/24
Norfork Lake, Mountain Home AR.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Huntlee York - Colton Smith Y&S Fishing Club 0
Day 1: 5 13-07 Total: 5 13-07
2. Garrett Thomas - Hunter Holland Walker High School 0
Day 1: 5 12-12 Total: 5 12-12
3. Langston Martin - Lee County Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 12-00 Total: 5 12-00
4. Fisher Tyler - Blake Ingram Salem 0
Day 1: 5 11-05 Total: 5 11-05
5. Brice Davis - Garrett Angotti Cooter High School 0
Day 1: 5 11-03 Total: 5 11-03
6. Dustin Swafford - Mason Long Stilwell High School 0
Day 1: 5 11-00 Total: 5 11-00
7. Evan Newell - Michael Teate Mid Florida Youth Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 10-15 Total: 5 10-15
8. Hunter Stuckey - Joseph Horne 0
Day 1: 5 10-12 Total: 5 10-12
9. Ely Hagans - Cole Pennington Clinton High School 0
Day 1: 5 10-09 Total: 5 10-09
10. Dallas Taylor - Wyatt Nelson Stilwell High School 0
Day 1: 5 10-05 Total: 5 10-05
11. Colson Brust - Tristan Beck Bam Squad 0
Day 1: 5 10-01 Total: 5 10-01
12. Brett Mouw - Danny Schlenbecker The Hill Toppers 0
Day 1: 5 09-15 Total: 5 09-15
13. Mason Snider - Dalton Benson Mount Juliet Fishing 0
Day 1: 5 09-09 Total: 5 09-09
14. Brendin Simich - Jon James Coco Oak Mountain High School 0
Day 1: 5 09-08 Total: 5 09-08
14. Kendall Smith - Kelton Wilson Bruno Pyatt 0
Day 1: 5 09-08 Total: 5 09-08
16. Nick Carter - Cole Parks Rogers High School 0
Day 1: 5 09-06 Total: 5 09-06
17. Ben Puckett - Jesse Klutts Henry County High School (236) 0
Day 1: 4 08-12 Total: 4 08-12
18. Karson Hubbard - Aden Yarger Gainesville 0
Day 1: 3 08-12 Total: 3 08-12
19. Stone Grove - Wyatt Hamilton Creek Wood High School 0
Day 1: 5 08-10 Total: 5 08-10
19. Jackson Smith - Eric Pilkington Fayetteville High School 0
Day 1: 5 08-10 Total: 5 08-10
21. Garrett Ring - Cole Sanford Greenbrier High School 0
Day 1: 4 08-10 Total: 4 08-10
22. Alexander Costanza - Alabama Christian Academy 0
Day 1: 5 08-01 Total: 5 08-01
23. Austin Benson - Brendan Brown Mount Juliet 0
Day 1: 5 08-00 Total: 5 08-00
24. Cade Calkins - Brayden Vallie Fruitport High School 0
Day 1: 5 07-14 Total: 5 07-14
24. Reece Chambless - Temern Pfaffenberger DeWitt High School 0
Day 1: 5 07-14 Total: 5 07-14
26. Devon Kessler - Charlie Ellis Lakeside Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 5 07-13 Total: 5 07-13
27. Kayden Waller - Mt. Juliet high school 0
Day 1: 5 07-11 Total: 5 07-11
28. Caleb Kuykendall - Asher Williams Murfreesboro High School 0
Day 1: 5 07-09 Total: 5 07-09
29. Wade Roberts - Zachary Lambert Barbe Fishing Club 0
Day 1: 4 07-08 Total: 4 07-08
30. Lainie Holbert - Sarah Swindle Riverside Bass Team 0
Day 1: 5 07-04 Total: 5 07-04
31. Annie Lassiter - warren county pioneer anglers 0
Day 1: 3 06-14 Total: 3 06-14
32. Easton Bouma - Logan Luebker Rogers High School 0
Day 1: 3 06-10 Total: 3 06-10
33. Brady Horton - Rhett Horton Greenbrier High School 0
Day 1: 4 06-02 Total: 4 06-02
34. Kort Rutledge - Kira Calvert Natchitoches Central High School 0
Day 1: 5 05-13 Total: 5 05-13
35. Parker Welch - Derek Landis Kickback high school bass club 0
Day 1: 3 05-13 Total: 3 05-13
36. Grant Priesmeyer - Brent Ryan Eureka Wildcat Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 3 05-13 Total: 3 05-13
37. Parker Adair - Jackson Miller Arkansas Youth Anglers 0
Day 1: 2 05-12 Total: 2 05-12
38. Camden Bruner - Logan Webb Southern Illinois Future Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 05-08 Total: 3 05-08
39. Briley Knowles - Kayden Townsend Genoa Central 0
Day 1: 3 05-04 Total: 3 05-04
40. Presley Lannom - Morgan Lannom Mt Juliet Fishing 0
Day 1: 3 05-02 Total: 3 05-02
41. Hayes Finch - James Lamberth Alabama Christian Academy 0
Day 1: 3 04-01 Total: 3 04-01
42. Kolby Angell - Evan Powell Iowa youth fishing league 0
Day 1: 3 03-13 Total: 3 03-13
43. William Hoskins - Joshua Vanderpool Wilson Christian Academy 0
Day 1: 3 03-05 Total: 3 03-05
44. Copeland Cross - Cohen Duncan Huntsville 0
Day 1: 2 03-05 Total: 2 03-05
45. Carter Pjesky - JD McBroom Kaneland High School 0
Day 1: 2 02-02 Total: 2 02-02
46. Hayden Vavak - Grayson Bryant Rector High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-15 Total: 1 01-15
47. Madison Busch - Keaton Bassham Salem High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-11 Total: 1 01-11
47. Houston Nance - Kayla Philpott Gentry Youth Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 01-11 Total: 1 01-11
49. Landon Mausser - Canaan Horton Marshall high 0
Day 1: 1 01-05 Total: 1 01-05
50. Fischer Barber - Heritage Christian Academy 0
Day 1: 1 01-03 Total: 1 01-03
51. Derek Davis - Connor Jaco Mt.Pleasant Bass Team 0
Day 1: 1 00-13 Total: 1 00-13
51. Laindree Richardson - Luke Dardeen Benton High School 0
Day 1: 1 00-13 Total: 1 00-13
53. Hinesley Bryant - Central High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
53. Collier Declerk - Ryan Leiffer Bentonville West and Bentonville 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
53. Anthony Loggins - Sawyer Horton Marshall High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
53. Cason Mcnutt - Mason Melton Mt Juliet High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
53. Gabriel Sanders - Bryan Martin Chilhowee Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
53. Braylan Tyler - Michael Brewer Jr Franklin County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURN
Karson Hubbard Hardenville, MO 04-05 $0.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 27 197 369-15
----------------------------------
Drury’s Browning And Peck Capture Bassmaster College Series Title On Norfork
Beau Browning and Jake Peck of Drury University have won the 2022 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Norfork Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops with a two-day total of 30 pounds, 3 ounces.
Photo by Kyle Jessie/B.A.S.S.
April 23, 2022
MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. — Dropping a big bag on Day 1 helped Drury University’s Beau Browning and Jake Peck get their “vibe” back heading into Day 2, and with a two-day total of 30 pounds, 3 ounces they’ll be taking home a whole new vibe and the winners’ trophy from the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Norfork Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops.
Despite a Day 2 weight of just 11-2, they edged the second-place team of Kaleb Brown and Chad Mrazek from Lander University by 1-1. Browning and Peck took home $2,699 ($1,349 apiece).
“This just feels so good,” said Browning, a Hot Springs, Ark., native. “I told Peck yesterday that we just needed an event to get our vibe back and this event did just that. I feel like we’ve been so close all year to making it happen, so this is just rejuvenating.”
“All those days where you were just one bite away or you get your teeth kicked in makes days like today so worth it,” added Peck, who hails from Tulsa, Okla.
Sharing water with a pair of teammates from Drury — a small school with an enrollment of about 2,600 in Springfield, Mo. — Browning and Peck targeted specific sweet spots on offshore flats that were 2 to 4 feet deep. They estimated they caught nearly 100 bass a day. However, catching keepers was not that easy on Day 2, as the duo only boated eight.
“We ran straight to the same little offshore school that we banked on during Day 1 and, as soon as I dropped the trolling motor in the water, I could tell on my Active Target that they were not set up the same,” said Browning. “We knew we were going to have to switch it up a little and try to expand on what we had.”
Rotating baits: The Drury teammates noted that rotating lures was key. They covered water on the flat until they were able to get bites. Then, once they found an area where there was a group of fish, they would slow down and fish a number of different baits before leaving.
“A lot of the areas that would hold fish were little depressions, ditch bends or stumps,” Browning said. “As soon as we’d get bit, we would Power-Pole down and really pick apart the area with a different bait.”
A 1/2-ounce Z-Man JackHammer ChatterBait and a 1/2-ounce jig were two of their key lures.
White River history: Although neither of the Drury anglers has spent much time on Norfork Lake, they both said their experience on other White River lakes such as Table Rock and Bull Shoals helped them tremendously.
“White River lakes are really unlike any other lakes in the country,” Browning said. “Being so close to Table Rock and fishing there so much really helped us out a lot.”
B.A.S.S. baby: Watching his father, Stephen Browning, fish the Bassmaster Elite Series during his childhood made the win that much sweeter for Beau Browning.
“I’ve grown up in the Bassmaster family since I was born, and I’ve always wanted to win on that stage,” Browning said. “I guess you could say I’ve grown up as a B.A.S.S. baby.”
Second place: After weighing 13-0 on Day 1, Brown and Mrazek of Lander University, which is located in Greenwood, S.C., came back with an impressive 16-2 on Day 2 to finish in second with 29-2. Practicing for the conditions played a huge role for them.
“We practiced for different conditions because we knew the fish we were on were changing by the hour,” said Mrazek. “We knew early on this morning that we were going to have to make some adjustments and the adjustments worked out.”
“We targeted typical prespawn areas with a jig and a ChatterBait,” Brown added. “It was kind of a junk-fishing pattern on secondary points and hard cover.”
Third place: Weighing in 17 pounds, 14 ounces on Day 2 (the biggest bag of the day), Ryan Thomas and Solomon Glenn of the University of Montevallo (Ala.) jumped from 35th place all the way to third. A couple of key bites late in the day helped jolt them up the leaderboard.
“We didn’t really make too many adjustments from yesterday to today,” said Glenn. “We had a couple of big ones pull up late in the day which helped out a lot.”
With limited practice time, the Montevallo team ran new water most of the tournament.
“We just started running new water yesterday and ended up finding one key area where we caught most of them today,” Glenn said. “We just went fishing and ran into them.”
A Megabass Magdraft and a wacky-rigged worm were two of the key baits for Glenn and Thomas.
Competition will continue Sunday with the Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Series at Norfork Lake presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors and the Bassmaster Junior Series at Norfork Lake.
2022 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Norfork Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops 4/22-4/23
Norfork Lake, Mountain Home AR.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Beau Browning - Jake Peck Drury University 250
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 11-02 Total: 10 30-03
2. Kaleb Brown - Chad Mrazek Lander University 249
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 16-02 Total: 10 29-02
3. Ryan Thomas - Solomon Glenn University of Montevallo 248
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 17-14 Total: 10 29-00
4. Jack Dice - Liberty University 247
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 13-03 Total: 10 27-10
5. Hunter Palmer - Eli Stevenson bryan college 246
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 11-07 Total: 10 27-07
6. Sam Engelmeyer - Brant Rowland Drury University 245
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 11-02 Total: 10 26-15
7. Lafe Messer - Matt Messer Kentucky Christian University 244
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 11-12 Total: 10 26-06
8. Jacob Welch - Lee Lambrecht Drury University 243
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 15-01 Total: 10 26-00
9. Colton Hill - Trey Budach McKendree University 242
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 11-09 Total: 10 25-07
10. Cole Lamb - Arkansas Tech University 241
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 13-08 Total: 10 24-12
11. Justin Botts - Conner Dimauro Bryan college 240
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 11-03 Total: 10 24-04
12. Cole Breeden - Hunter Baird Drury University 239
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 12-12 Total: 10 24-03
13. Logan Parks - Tucker Smith Auburn University 238
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 4 10-12 Total: 9 23-15
14. Griffin Fernandes - Hayden Scott Adrian College 237
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 11-04 Total: 10 23-10
15. Jack Tindell - Brett Fregia Lamar State College Orange 236
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 09-05 Total: 10 23-01
16. Koltyn Harbin - Baylor Howell Bethel University 235
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 10-05 Total: 10 23-01
17. Brock Bila - Dylan Chambers Drury University 234
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 10-03 Total: 10 22-14
18. Louis Monetti - Michael Fugaro UNC Charlotte 233
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 07-15 Total: 10 22-12
19. Connor Jacob - Sam Smith Auburn University 232
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 08-14 Total: 10 22-11
20. Harmon Marien - Bailey Bleser McKendree University 231
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 10-10 Total: 10 22-10
21. Logan Bozeman - Andrew Fryer Southern Union State Community C 230
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 12-00 Total: 10 22-09
22. Braden Perry - Aidan England Carson-Newman University 229
Day 1: 3 11-11 Day 2: 5 10-13 Total: 8 22-08
23. Jaxson Freeman - Kyle Hopping McKendree 228
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 12-04 Total: 10 22-04
24. Kyle Knoll - Luke Morgan Southern Union State Community C 227
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 10-03 Total: 10 22-03
25. Cal Culpepper - Aaron Cherry University of Montevallo 226
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 5 12-08 Total: 10 22-02
26. Robert Cruvellier - Carson Maddux Auburn University 225
Day 1: 4 08-07 Day 2: 5 13-07 Total: 9 21-14
27. Braedon Metzgar - Sid Wallace Texas AM University 224
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 10-10 Total: 10 21-11
28. Cordell Beckmann - Mark Burnham Greenville University 223
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 12-04 Total: 10 21-10
29. Spencer Black - Caleb Lonca Catawba Valley Community College 222
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 4 09-08 Total: 9 21-10
30. Jackson Pontius - Trey Dickert University of Montevallo 0
Day 1: 4 09-15 Day 2: 5 11-08 Total: 9 21-07
31. Parker Lambert - Koby Horn Lander university 220
Day 1: 4 09-00 Day 2: 5 11-14 Total: 9 20-14
32. Tyler Cory - Scott Sledge University of Montevallo 219
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 5 12-07 Total: 10 20-13
33. Cody Clifton - Missouri State University 218
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 11-02 Total: 10 20-10
34. Brooks Anderson - Parker Guy Emmanuel College 217
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 09-02 Total: 10 20-09
35. Cameron Smith - Jacob Blackburn Ohio State University 216
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 10-01 Total: 10 20-08
36. Hunter Bailey - JR Young Jr Jacksonville State University 215
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 08-05 Total: 10 19-15
37. Britt Myers - Tyler Anderson Lander University 214
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 09-13 Total: 10 19-15
38. Jack York - Jacob Miller Stephen F Austin State Universit 213
Day 1: 3 09-00 Day 2: 5 10-12 Total: 8 19-12
39. Coleman Bingham - Jackson Staib Bethel University 212
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 4 08-12 Total: 9 19-08
40. Alec Berens - Joseph Bruener Mckendree University 211
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 10-06 Total: 10 19-08
41. Hunter Keller - Carson Eckard Catawba Valley Community College 210
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 4 08-00 Total: 9 19-05
42. Mac Johnston-Herzberg - Aric Szambelan Missouri State University 209
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 09-09 Total: 10 19-04
43. Cole Rankin - Ely Dennison Carson-Newman University 208
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 07-06 Total: 10 19-01
44. Drew Traffanstedt - Dakendrick Patterson University of Montevallo 207
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 5 11-05 Total: 10 19-00
45. John Garrett Pearson - Rudy Pearson IV Georgia College 206
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 08-10 Total: 10 19-00
46. Walter Trulock - Paden Chrisman Mississippi State University 205
Day 1: 4 08-13 Day 2: 5 10-03 Total: 9 19-00
47. Cole Dodson - Tyler Cain University of Montevallo 204
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 08-11 Total: 10 18-13
48. John Nowlin - Rudy Worley Blue Mountain College 203
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 3 06-08 Total: 8 18-11
49. Teddy Peznola - Garrett Lewis University of Tennessee 202
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 4 08-06 Total: 9 18-09
50. Tyler Pendergrass - Benson Dowler University of North Alabama 201
Day 1: 4 10-10 Day 2: 4 07-13 Total: 8 18-07
51. Reece Martin - Mark Harris Dallas Baptist University 200
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 09-13 Total: 10 18-07
52. Walker Brown - Chandler Brewer University of North Alabama 199
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 10-04 Total: 10 18-06
53. Jacob Butts - Mark Kershaw Erskine College 198
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 4 08-09 Total: 9 18-05
54. Brody Kitchings - Elijah Hughey Mississippi State 197
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 09-07 Total: 10 18-05
55. Kopeland Rosser - Ryan Branch University of Montevallo 196
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 1 01-13 Total: 6 18-01
56. Conner Giles - Christian Wright Bryan College 195
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 4 07-09 Total: 9 18-01
57. Drew Gill - Jonah Potts Wabash Valley College 194
Day 1: 5 07-05 Day 2: 5 10-11 Total: 10 18-00
58. Jacob Witkowski - Hunter Jenkins Dallas Baptist Univesity 193
Day 1: 4 10-12 Day 2: 2 07-00 Total: 6 17-12
59. Jackson Kennedy - Tristan Friesner Southern Illinois University edw 192
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 3 07-04 Total: 8 17-12
60. Calvin Landsberg - University of Alabama 191
Day 1: 3 08-06 Day 2: 4 09-04 Total: 7 17-10
61. Carter Ball - Austin Tapley Adrian College 190
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 3 06-05 Total: 8 17-09
62. Easton Fothergill - Nick Dumke University of Montevallo 189
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 2 04-04 Total: 7 17-07
63. Garrett Warren - Hayden Marbut Auburn University 188
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 08-08 Total: 10 17-07
64. Trevor Easter - Tarleton State University 187
Day 1: 2 03-04 Day 2: 5 14-00 Total: 7 17-04
65. Tommy Sendek - Andrew Howell University of Montevallo 186
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 3 05-10 Total: 8 17-03
66. Caden Sweeten - Samuel Heichel Bemidji State University 185
Day 1: 4 08-05 Day 2: 4 08-12 Total: 8 17-01
67. Landon Lawson - Hunter MCClaskey King University 184
Day 1: 2 05-00 Day 2: 5 11-15 Total: 7 16-15
68. James Willoughby - Jacob Pfundt University of Montevallo 183
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 4 06-15 Total: 9 16-12
69. Lucas Smith - Dalton Mize Jacksonville State University 182
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 3 07-00 Total: 8 16-11
70. Brantley Anders - Will Rooker Kentucky Christian University 181
Day 1: 4 07-05 Day 2: 4 09-05 Total: 8 16-10
71. Brady Duncan - Stevie Mills Carson-Newman University 180
Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 5 13-10 Total: 7 16-08
72. Chase Carey - Dylan Akins Emmanuel College 179
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 5 10-13 Total: 8 16-08
73. Weston Hollar - Jordan Pennington University of Montevallo 178
Day 1: 3 05-15 Day 2: 5 10-08 Total: 8 16-07
74. Collin Reyes - Reagan Nelson Tarleton State University 177
Day 1: 3 06-13 Day 2: 5 09-10 Total: 8 16-07
75. Andrew Yazdi - Adam Troyer Indiana University 176
Day 1: 2 04-02 Day 2: 5 12-02 Total: 7 16-04
76. Austin Woody - Bryce Fowler East Carolina University 175
Day 1: 3 08-00 Day 2: 5 07-12 Total: 8 15-12
77. Cy Casey - Tanner Hadden Emmanuel College 174
Day 1: 4 08-10 Day 2: 4 07-01 Total: 8 15-11
78. Michael Zawicki - Carson Tucker UW Whitewater 173
Day 1: 3 07-00 Day 2: 4 08-01 Total: 7 15-01
79. Caz Anderson - Jacob Frazier Carson-Newman University 172
Day 1: 2 05-14 Day 2: 5 08-15 Total: 7 14-13
80. Nathan Burdett - Evan Rice Troy University 171
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 1 01-06 Total: 6 14-11
81. Nate Lesch - Tennessee Tech University 170
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 3 03-02 Total: 8 14-10
82. Evan Barker - Kyle Workman Campbellsville University 169
Day 1: 4 10-12 Day 2: 3 03-14 Total: 7 14-10
83. Russel Buffa - Nick Owens Adrian College 168
Day 1: 4 07-06 Day 2: 2 07-04 Total: 6 14-10
84. Lane Bailey - Justin Eggers Catawba Valley Community College 167
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 3 06-01 Total: 8 14-09
85. Jameson Jenkins - Cameron Loveless Texas AM 166
Day 1: 3 07-06 Day 2: 3 07-00 Total: 6 14-06
86. Jackson Stephens - Maxwell Trotter Mckendree University 165
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 3 04-09 Total: 8 14-04
87. Riley Lawson - Chris Baker Kentucky Christian University 164
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 4 08-15 Total: 7 14-03
88. Wil Rigdon - Cade Hayford Campbellsville University 163
Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 4 09-14 Total: 6 14-01
89. Avery Whitwell - Jackson Holbert University of North Alabama 162
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 3 04-12 Total: 8 14-01
90. Logan East - Tim Herrmann Bryan College 161
Day 1: 4 06-09 Day 2: 3 07-07 Total: 7 14-00
91. Nate Triplett - Cy Lambert University of North Alabama 160
Day 1: 4 07-02 Day 2: 3 06-13 Total: 7 13-15
92. Tomas Matual - Grant Olsen McKendree University 159
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 2 03-10 Total: 7 13-14
93. Briggs Alavezos - Colton White University Montevallo 158
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 5 09-05 Total: 7 13-12
94. Christopher Kistler - Malcolm Patton Calhoun Community College 157
Day 1: 4 09-09 Day 2: 1 04-02 Total: 5 13-11
95. Aaron Shumaker - Hunter Enlow Lander University 156
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 1 04-11 Total: 6 13-11
96. Matthew Pufahl - Alex Ripplinger Bemidji State University 155
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 2 03-02 Total: 7 13-09
97. Blair Cox - Zach Adamec Missouri State University 154
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 1 01-15 Total: 6 13-08
98. Caleb Dachenhaus - Elliot Wielgopolski Adrian College 153
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 2 04-06 Total: 7 13-08
99. Rob Lindsey - Mason Cizek Bryan College 152
Day 1: 3 04-08 Day 2: 5 08-15 Total: 8 13-07
100. Chase Mundhenke - Blake Milligan Auburn University 151
Day 1: 4 08-05 Day 2: 2 05-02 Total: 6 13-07
101. Fisher Overton - Isaac Duncan Blue Mountain College 150
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 3 05-00 Total: 8 13-04
102. Andrew Rickman - Michael Postlewait Dallas Baptist University 149
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 2 02-14 Total: 7 13-03
103. Joseph Woods - Anthony Cicero Iv Bethel University 148
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 1 02-04 Total: 6 13-00
104. Merritt Arnold - Chance Schwartz University of Montevallo 147
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 2 03-07 Total: 7 13-00
105. Ryan Park - Samuel Niemeyer Murray State University 146
Day 1: 2 02-01 Day 2: 5 10-14 Total: 7 12-15
106. Tyler Christy - Trey Schroeder McKendree University 145
Day 1: 4 05-01 Day 2: 5 07-14 Total: 9 12-15
107. Seth Elkins - Dale Hansard Jacksonville State University 144
Day 1: 4 09-01 Day 2: 2 03-12 Total: 6 12-13
108. Keaton Roadman - Cole Klasing Greenville University 143
Day 1: 3 08-10 Day 2: 2 04-01 Total: 5 12-11
109. Morgan Miracle - Jake Thornbury Campbellsville University 142
Day 1: 2 05-14 Day 2: 3 06-13 Total: 5 12-11
110. Nate Overocker - Adam Green Greenville University 141
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 2 03-03 Total: 7 12-09
111. Matthew Cummings - Levi Mullins Bethel University 140
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 12-06
112. Alex Cummings - Christopher Daniels Lander University 139
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 2 03-09 Total: 7 12-04
113. Nick Mallmann Conto - Nick Harenda University of Wisconsin-Whitewat 138
Day 1: 2 04-04 Day 2: 3 07-15 Total: 5 12-03
114. Jake Kimbrough - Chandler Pruett Blue Mountain College 137
Day 1: 3 09-02 Day 2: 3 03-00 Total: 6 12-02
115. Brock Blazier - Matthew Wilson Southern union state community c 136
Day 1: 3 09-00 Day 2: 2 03-02 Total: 5 12-02
116. Robert Gee - Chad Sentell University of Tennessee 135
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 1 02-05 Total: 6 12-01
117. JD Clarke - Hunter Muncrief Stephen F Austin State Universit 134
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 5 08-10 Total: 7 12-00
118. Weston Bison - Austin Gregory Lander University 133
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 2 04-09 Total: 5 12-00
119. Brian Linder - Nathan Thompson Minnesota State - Mankato 132
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 1 01-04 Total: 6 11-15
120. Peyton Harris - Dalton Head Montevallo 131
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 2 01-14 Total: 7 11-09
121. Nicholas Holtgrave - Matthew Cavanaugh McKendree University 130
Day 1: 2 03-09 Day 2: 5 07-14 Total: 7 11-07
122. Hunter Fillmore - Dylan Fogarty Bethel University 129
Day 1: 3 06-10 Day 2: 3 04-11 Total: 6 11-05
123. Tyler Lubbat - Hayden O'barr University of Alabama 128
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 2 06-13 Total: 4 11-03
124. Bryant Marsh - Tyler Hill Blue Mountain College 127
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 1 02-02 Total: 6 11-02
125. Justin Latham - Karsten Raney Campbellsville university 126
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 3 10-00 Total: 4 11-00
126. Bryar Chambers - Clent Blackwood Wallace State Community College 125
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 3 06-09 Total: 5 10-15
127. Adam Hollingsworth - Hunter Luke University of Alabama 124
Day 1: 1 04-02 Day 2: 5 06-12 Total: 6 10-14
128. Sam Hanggi - Sam Hoesley Auburn University 123
Day 1: 2 06-12 Day 2: 2 04-02 Total: 4 10-14
129. Caleb Sheldon - Chase Beale Lander University 122
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 10-13 Total: 4 10-13
130. Christian Hernandez - Evan Sutton McKendree University 121
Day 1: 2 04-02 Day 2: 3 06-09 Total: 5 10-11
131. Tyler Campbell - Brandon Martin Emmanuel College 120
Day 1: 4 05-15 Day 2: 2 04-11 Total: 6 10-10
132. Brenton Godwin - Carson Miller University of Montevallo 119
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 4 06-01 Total: 6 10-08
133. Shane Nelson - Aaron Jagdfeld Adrian College 118
Day 1: 2 05-00 Day 2: 3 05-08 Total: 5 10-08
134. Chase Sansom - Marshall University 117
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 10-07 Total: 5 10-07
135. Ben Brockwell - Justice Gayhart Kentucky Christian University 116
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 4 06-15 Total: 6 10-07
136. Wyatt Montle - Grant Dohle Missouri State University 115
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 3 08-03 Total: 4 10-05
137. Blake Stringer - Colby Joseph Campbellsville University 114
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 4 06-14 Total: 6 10-05
138. Cole Hopson - Cody Gaynes Georgia College 113
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 10-04 Total: 4 10-04
139. Conner Crosby - James Cobbs Auburn University 112
Day 1: 4 05-04 Day 2: 2 05-00 Total: 6 10-04
140. Dawson Burton - Trent Keltner Kentucky Christian University 111
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 2 04-08 Total: 5 10-00
141. Hayden Gaddis - Ben Cully Carson-Newman University 110
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 3 08-09 Total: 4 09-10
142. Colby Kerr - Jonathan Fitch Kentucky Christian University 109
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 09-09
142. Haden Smith - Stephen Bovia Louisiana Tech 109
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 09-09
144. Drew Morgan - Jackson Kulijof Murray State University 107
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 4 08-09 Total: 5 09-09
145. Trenton Webster - Hunter Alsip Drury University 106
Day 1: 4 05-04 Day 2: 2 04-05 Total: 6 09-09
146. Will Carnes - Tavin Hodgens Campbellsville university 105
Day 1: 4 05-11 Day 2: 2 03-11 Total: 6 09-06
147. Chase Milholen - Cody Gregory Bethel University 104
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 09-04
148. Clay Henderson - Zachary Ward Drury University 103
Day 1: 1 01-04 Day 2: 5 07-13 Total: 6 09-01
149. Zachary Bowen - Harrison Terry Bethel University 102
Day 1: 4 06-13 Day 2: 1 02-03 Total: 5 09-00
150. Gunner Whitaker - Kentucky Christian University 101
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 1 02-11 Total: 4 09-00
151. Wesley Smith - Grant Harris Catawba Valley Community College 100
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 2 03-14 Total: 5 09-00
152. Syon Barnes - Jeremy Till Jacksonville State University 99
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 08-15
153. Easton Lindus - Matthew Zdrazil Emmanuel College 98
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 08-14 Total: 5 08-14
154. Brody Robison - Jack Alexander University of Montevallo 97
Day 1: 4 08-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 08-13
155. Keegan Barber - Tyler Flacke Missouri State University 96
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 08-10
156. Dalton Coleman - Joe Bob Burchett Kentucky Christian University 95
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 08-07
157. Logan Hawkins - Jordan Smallwood Campbellsville University 94
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 2 03-12 Total: 5 08-07
158. Drew Fromm - Hunter Capehart Wabash Valley College 93
Day 1: 4 05-08 Day 2: 2 02-14 Total: 6 08-06
159. Masen Wade - Davis Coleman University of Arkansas 92
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 1 02-01 Total: 4 08-04
160. Carter Andreae - Jack Zenil University of Wisconsin Stevens 91
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 08-02
161. Layton Brown - Parker Brown Dallas Baptist University 90
Day 1: 2 03-13 Day 2: 2 04-04 Total: 4 08-01
162. Doug Wintle - Arkansas State University 89
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 3 04-01 Total: 6 08-00
163. Lane Stephens - Devon Rathbun Mckendree University 88
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 2 02-13 Total: 5 07-15
164. Will Oberman - Clay Oberman Campbellsville University 87
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 2 03-09 Total: 5 07-15
165. Chris Brooks - David Bartlett Greenville University 86
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 3 05-14 Total: 4 07-14
166. Sean Obrien - Austin Aikins Bethel University 85
Day 1: 4 04-11 Day 2: 2 03-03 Total: 6 07-14
167. Jon Gekiere - Carter Welch University of Arkansas 84
Day 1: 4 07-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 07-12
168. Jacob Swerdloff - Carson Hyles University of Arkansas 83
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 2 03-03 Total: 4 07-09
169. Allen Bryan - Lane Collier University of North Georgia 82
Day 1: 5 07-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 07-05
170. John Berry - Blake Bullock Blue Mountain College 81
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 1 02-09 Total: 4 07-03
171. Matthew Benson - Nathanael Wright Emmanuel College 80
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 06-13 Total: 5 06-13
172. Patrick Henry - Jared Minor Ohio State University 79
Day 1: 3 06-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 06-13
173. Kurt Litteken Jr - Colsyn Head McKendree University 78
Day 1: 2 04-02 Day 2: 1 02-07 Total: 3 06-09
174. Turner Hart - Summer Dees Bryan College 77
Day 1: 2 03-04 Day 2: 2 03-05 Total: 4 06-09
175. Nick Staub - Lake Norsworthy Blue Mountain College 76
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 06-04
176. Caleb Bridges - Jacob Davidson bryan college 75
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 2 03-15 Total: 3 06-00
177. Lane Bradley - Holden Kauble Wabash Valley College 74
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 1 02-00 Total: 4 05-15
178. Connor Hicks - Austin Wadzinski University of Tennessee 73
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-13
179. Victor Alford - Dylan Johnson bryan college 72
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-05
180. Cameron Dials - Jonathan Fraley Kentucky Christian University 71
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 1 02-00 Total: 3 05-02
181. Cody Griffith - Drew Jennings Auburn University 70
Day 1: 2 05-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 05-00
182. Matthew Huffman - Grayson Hudson Northeastern State University 69
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 04-15
183. Caleb Jacob - Austin Sloan Illinois State University 68
Day 1: 2 04-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 04-14
184. Kaden Liles - Hunter Lepping University of North Alabama 67
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-08 Total: 2 04-08
185. Seth Jenkins - TJ McKenzie Emmanuel College 66
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 1 03-01 Total: 2 04-08
186. Blayner Leeman - Noah Hurford Kentucky Christian University 65
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-07 Total: 2 04-07
187. Connor Cartmell - Andrew Vereen Coastal Carolina University 64
Day 1: 1 04-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 04-07
188. Taylor Mcmullen - Emmanuel College 63
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 04-05 Total: 3 04-05
189. Jacob Highley - Autumn Belcher Kentucky Christian University 62
Day 1: 2 04-02 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 04-02
190. Ethan Chase - Will Sams University Of Kentucky 61
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 03-15
191. Dakota Posey - Trent Buchholz Lamar State College Orange 60
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 03-14
192. Cole Thompson - John Heacock University of North Alabama 59
Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 03-13
193. Clay Osteen - Garett Cadenhead Tarleton State University 58
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 03-07
194. Camden Lewis - TJ Edwards Jr Blue Mountain College 57
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 1 02-00 Total: 2 03-02
195. Braden Leffew - Colten Drawdy Bethel University 56
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-01 Total: 2 03-01
195. Ben Rand - Mason Grossbauer Davenport University 56
Day 1: 2 03-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 03-01
197. Tyler Dubois - Niko Romero Bethel University 54
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-09 Total: 1 02-09
198. Cooper Arthur - Brodie Paige Louisiana Tech University 53
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 02-05
199. Bo Thomas - Mason Vernia Western Michigan University 52
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 02-02
200. John Karisny - Louisiana Tech University 51
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-15
200. Sam Moll - Adrian Urso Murray State University 51
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-15
202. Camden Hurst - Preston Bowers Missouri Western State Universit 49
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-14
202. Sam Shoemaker - Derek Rodriguez Jr. Adrian College 49
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-14
204. Nolan Yeager - Riley Aebi Stephen F. Austin State Universi 47
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-13
205. Joseph Bissing - Jackson Paden University of Tennessee 46
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-12
206. Finn Ash - Wallace State 45
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-05
207. Remington Lawrence - Jade Craft Arkansas Tech University 44
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-02
208. Logan Barrett - Brantley Bell Mississippi State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
208. Tyler Finley - Lane Lassiter University of North Alabama 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
208. Thomas Hessil - Logan Spice University Of Wisconsin Plattevi 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
208. Isaac Irvin - Mason Gross Wabash valley college 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
208. Terry Moore - Travis Clingensmith Arkansas State University- Mount 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
208. John Ortman - Garrett Ankerich Emmanuel 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
208. Haydan Quesenberry - Ryan Diskin Auburn University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
208. Walker Sahagun - University of North Alabama 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
208. Grant Schmidt - Elliott Pritchett Southern Illinois University Car 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
208. Chad Smith - Wallace State 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
208. Trenton Thibault - Micheal Davis Tarleton State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
208. Ben Tschoerner - Stephen F Austin State Universit 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 86 715 1510-12
2 68 600 1263-07
----------------------------------
154 1315 2774-03
California Rookie Loberg Moves Ahead on Day 3 of Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Lithium Pros Stop 3 on Pickwick Lake
Final 10 Anglers Set for Final-Day Shootout for $135k on Championship Sunday
COUNCE, Tenn. (April 23, 2022) – Rookie Andrew Loberg of Rocklin, California caught a five-bass limit Saturday weighing 18 pounds, 11 ounces to advance and lead the top 10 anglers to the final day of competition at the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Lithium Pros Stop 3 at Pickwick Lake Presented by Covercraft in Counce, Tennessee. Loberg’s three-day total of 52-8 gives him a 1-pound, 3-ounce margin over second place pro and 2020 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Angler of the Year (AOY) Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Michigan who brought a five-bass limit weighing 16-10 on Day 3 for a three-day total of 51 pounds, 5 ounces.
The final 10 anglers are set and competition will resume on Championship Sunday, where weights are zeroed, and the angler that catches the heaviest five-fish limit will earn the top prize of up to $135,000.
The event, hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau, marks the third regular-season event of the year for the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me.
“I didn’t really know what to expect after practice this week,” Loberg said. “There are so many changing conditions and springtime bass fishing is ever changing. I just kind of stuck to my guns this week. I’ve been up in one area, making a long run every day and today got a little sketchy, but I figured it out and was able to catch five.”
Loberg said he caught his biggest fish, a 5-pounder, “right off the bat” within the first 10 minutes of fishing.
“It died down after that, but I had a little flurry a while later and caught three fairly quick, before losing a good one,” Loberg said. “I had four fish around noon and ran to a spot that was semi-close. I just planned to hit it for 20 minutes or so then head back but I caught a 4-pounder and thought, ‘alright I’m done, that should be enough’.”
Although he didn’t catch another keeper in his spot all afternoon, Loberg said he’s hopeful that it will continue to perform on Championship Sunday.
“Tomorrow will be interesting,” Loberg said. “There are definitely fish around that area, but the water level keeps changing and I don’t know if they are spreading out and moving to the bank or what.
“Everybody’s been in that area, including the high school tournament anglers today, but Pickwick is notorious for handling a lot of pressure, so if we get the right conditions and the bait pushes back up in there, they could certainly feed again.”
Loberg led going into the final day at the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 2 at the Harris Chain of Lakes in March and finished the event in second place, but said he hopes to take it all the way to the number one spot and the top prize of $135,000 on Championship Sunday.
“I plan to start in my main area and just play it by ear – if I can catch some fish, great – but I’m definitely prepared to make a change and try something different if needed,” Loberg said. “I don’t have anything else like that, but I do have another shallow pattern running a bunch of different stuff. I caught the 4-pounder on a stretch where I caught some fish in practice and that showed me that maybe some fish have moved up shallow. So, if the main area doesn’t pan out, I’m just going to start fresh and run some water where I think they could be.”
While he said he would feel more confident if his main area was still stirred up, he also said he knows things could change on a dime on the final day.
“If they were really firing today, they could have done the same thing tomorrow and just shut off, so I could have wasted the day there waiting for bites.
“I’m just super fired up about how this whole week has gone,” Loberg continued. “Everything’s run very smooth, and I haven’t really had too many missed opportunities, so it’s been fun. Tomorrow I just plan to go out there, have a good time, get after them and hope for the best.”
The top 10 pros advancing to the final day of competition on Pickwick Lake are:
2nd: Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Mich., 15 bass, 51-5
3rd: Jon Canada of Helena, Ala., 15 bass, 50-4
4th: Troy Stokes of Trenton, Mich., 15 bass, 49-14
5th: John Cox of DeBary, Fla., 15 bass, 49-13
6th: Mitch Crane of Columbus, Miss., 15 bass, 49-11
7th: Nick Hatfield of Greeneville, Tenn., 15 bass, 48-8
8th: John Hunter of Shelbyville, Ky., 15 bass, 48-5
9th: Nick Lebrun of Bossier City, La., 15 bass, 48-1
10th: Justin Lucas of Guntersville, Ala., 15 bass, 47-1
12th: Mark Rose of Wynne, Ark., 15 bass, 46-12, $11,000
13th: Jacopo Gallelli of Florence, Italy, 13 bass, 46-6, $11,000
14th: Corey Neece of Bristol, Tenn., 15 bass, 44-15, $11,000
15th: Brad Knight of Lancing, Tenn., 15 bass, 44-14, $11,000
16th: Wesley Strader of Spring City, Tenn., 15 bass, 44-14, $11,000
17th: Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., 15 bass, 44-12, $11,000
18th: Josh Butler of Hayden, Ala., 15 bass, 43-13, $11,000
19th: Brian Latimer of Belton, S.C., 15 bass, 43-9, $11,000
20th: Joey Cifuentes of Clinton, Ark., 15 bass, 43-7, $11,000
21st: Jim Moynagh of Shakopee, Minn., 15 bass, 42-12, $10,500
22nd: Steve Lopez of Oconomowoc, Wis., 15 bass, 42-9, $10,500
23rd: Blake Hall of Decatur, Ala., 15 bass, 42-9, $10,500
24th: Miles Burghoff of Dayton, Tenn., 15 bass, 42-3, $10,500
25th: Cameron Mattison of Benton, La., 15 bass, 41-5, $10,500
26th: Mike Surman of Boca Raton, Fla., 13 bass, 40-10, $10,500
27th: Darrell Davis of Dover, Fla., 15 bass, 40-9, $10,500
28th: Kyle Gelles of Pingree, Idaho, 15 bass, 40-8, $10,500
29th: Jim Tutt of Longview, Texas, 15 bass, 40-1, $10,500
30th: Mitchell Webb of Skiatook, Okla., 14 bass, 39-14, $10,500
31st: Josh Bragg of Fayetteville, Ga., 15 bass, 39-14, $10,000
32nd: Kurt Mitchell of Milford, Del., 15 bass, 39-11, $10,000
33rd: Andy Newcomb of Camdenton, Mo., 15 bass, 39-1, $10,000
34th: Larry Nixon of Quitman, Ark., 13 bass, 38-13, $10,000
35th: Brett Hite of Phoenix, Ariz., 14 bass, 38-4, $10,000
36th: Barron Adams of Mineral Bluff, Ga., 15 bass, 37-15, $10,000
37th: Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Ark., 13 bass, 37-14, $10,000
38th: Mike McClelland of Blue Eye, Mo., 13 bass, 35-15, $10,000
39th: Shane Lineberger of Lincolnton, N.C., 11 bass, 35-8, $10,000
40th: Randy Howell of Guntersville, Ala., 12 bass, 35-3, $10,000
41st: John Voyles of Petersburg, Ind., 14 bass, 34-15, $10,000
42nd: Kyle Cortiana of Broken Arrow, Okla., 13 bass, 34-11, $10,000
43rd: Cal Lane of Guntersville, Ala., 12 bass, 33-8, $10,000
44th: Chad Warren of Sand Springs, Okla., 12 bass, 33-5, $10,000
45th: Justin Cooper of Zwolle, La.,13 bass, 33-2, $10,000
46th: Lane Olson of Forest Grove, Ore., 12 bass, 32-9, $10,000
47th: Colby Schrumpf of Highland, Ill., 11 bass, 32-4, $10,000
48th: Joshua Weaver of Macon, Ga., 13 bass, 31-15, $10,000
49th: Philip Dutra of Guntersville, Ala., 12 bass, 31-11, $10,000
50th: Braxton Setzer of Wetumpka, Ala., 11 bass, 30-8, $10,000
Overall, there were 207 bass weighing 567 pounds, 12 ounces caught by 50 pros Saturday. The catch included 33 five-bass limits.
In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Thursday and Friday. The top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advanced to Saturday. Now, 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.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE Presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship, where they will compete for up to $235,000. The 2022 TITLE will be on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York on Aug. 16-21, and is hosted by the Town of Massena.
The final 10 anglers will launch at 6:30 a.m. CT Sunday from the Pickwick Landing State Park located at 120 Playground Loop in Counce. Sunday’s Championship weigh-in will also be held at the park at 2:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to attend the event or follow the live on-the-water action all four days of competition online on MLF NOW! beginning at 7 a.m. CT at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Lithium Pros Stop 3 at Pickwick Lake Presented by Covercraft 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.
Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Fuel Me, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Italy’s Jacopo Gallelli Maintains Lead on Day 2 of Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Lithium Pros Stop 3 on Pickwick Lake
Florence Pro Catches Limit Weighing 16-15 To Lead by 1 Pound, 8 Ounces – Top 50 Advance to Saturday
COUNCE, Tenn. (April 22, 2022) – Phoenix pro Jacopo Gallelli of Florence, Italy , kept his Day 1 lead Friday, bringing a five-bass limit to the scale weighing 16 pounds, 15 ounces to remain in control of the leaderboard after Day 2 of the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Lithium Pros Stop 3 at Pickwick Lake Presented by Covercraft in Counce, Tennessee. Gallelli’s two-day total of 10 bass for 39-15 give him a 1-pound, 8-ounce lead heading into the third day of the competition as 156 professional anglers compete for up to $135,000.
Pro John Hunter of Shelbyville, Kentucky, slid into second place with five bass weighing 17 pounds, 7 ounces, for a two-day total of 38-7. The 2020 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Angler of the Year (AOY) Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Michigan finished the day in third place with 10 bass weighing 34-11, while Berkley pro John Cox of DeBary, Florida, moved into fourth with a two-day total of 34 pounds even. Rocklin, California, rookie Andrew Loberg started the day in 18thplace, then brought a five-bass limit weighing 17-6 to the scale for a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 33-13 to round out the top five. Louisiana’s Nick Lebrun of Bossier City made the biggest leap of the day, with a stringer weighing 19-13 to move from 88th place into 11th.
That certainly seems to be the case for the Italian pro, who caught a 3-pound bass on his first cast of the day.
“I hit a grand slam today,” Gallelli said. “I caught a big smallmouth, a big largemouth and a big spotted bass – I don’t think I’ve ever caught large bass from three different species in one day before.
“There was another angler on my spot when I arrived there today, but he was pretty fair and left the area shortly after I arrived. I caught a small limit there and a big smallmouth on a log that I saw on the (Garmin) Livescope.”
Gallelli continued to be tight-lipped about his location, bait and patterns, but said he found another area where he caught a 5-pound largemouth; however, he doesn’t expect that spot to hold up after fishing it for three hours with only one keeper.
“I don’t know if I will try to fish that area again tomorrow,” Gallelli said. “I think if I can just get a limit tomorrow, I will be happy.”
With weights zeroing on Championship Sunday, Gallelli said he may get a limit and then just spend time practicing for the final day.
“The weights resetting takes a lot of pressure off, with the lead I currently have,” Gallelli said. “I think if I come back with 12-13 pounds tomorrow, I will make it into the top 10.
Gallelli said he believes it will take 20 pounds to win the event on Day Four.
“There were two limits around 20 pounds today, so with only 10 boats in the water, it will take at least 20 pounds to win, but I don’t want to overthink this tournament. I just try to keep it very simple and very basic. I do a lot of finesse-fishing in Italy but have never found an opportunity to do well here in the states. I’ve found a way to use those finesse skills in this tournament, so it’s been really nice.”
Although he’s spent the last two days at the top of the leaderboard, Gallelli said that isn’t his favorite position to be in leading up to the final day of an event.
“I like to work from behind and don’t really like to have the spotlight on me, but I know a lot of people are cheering for me in Europe. It really means a lot to be representing an entire continent, although sometimes I do feel the weight of it because the attention is on you when you do good, but it’s also on you when you do bad,” Gallelli laughed.
The top 50 pros that made the cut after Day 2 and will fish Saturday on Pickwick Lake are:
2nd: John Hunter of Shelbyville, Ky., 10 bass, 38-7
3rd: Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Mich., 10 bass, 34-11
4th: John Cox of DeBary, Fla., 10 bass, 34-0
5th: Andrew Loberg of Rocklin, Calif., 10 bass, 33-13
6th: Mark Rose of Wynne, Ark., 10 bass, 33-0
7th: Jon Canada of Helena, Ala., 10 bass, 32-12
8th: Larry Nixon of Quitman, Ark., 10 bass, 32-7
9th: Corey Neece of Bristol, Tenn., 10 bass, 31-10
10th: Chris Lane of Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 31-9
11th: Nick Lebrun of Bossier City, La., 10 bass, 31-7
12th: Jim Moynagh of Shakopee, Minn., 10 bass, 31-3
13th: Justin Lucas of Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 31-0
14th: Shane Lineberger of Lincolnton, N.C., 10 bass, 30-15
15th: Steve Lopez of Oconomowoc, Wis., 10 bass, 30-11
16th: Josh Butler of Hayden, Ala., 10 bass, 30-7
17th: Nick Hatfield of Greeneville, Tenn., 10 bass, 30-7
18th: Randy Howell of Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 30-5
19th: Cameron Mattison of Benton, La., 10 bass, 30-3
20th: Mitch Crane of Columbus, Miss., 10 bass, 30-2
21st: Brian Latimer of Belton, S.C., 10 bass, 30-0
22nd: Darrell Davis of Dover, Fla., 10 bass, 29-12
23rd: Brett Hite of Phoenix, Ariz., 10 bass, 29-11
24th: Troy Stokes of Trenton, Mich., 10 bass, 29-11
25th: Miles Burghoff of Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 29-5
26th: Mike McClelland of Blue Eye, Mo., 10 bass, 29-4
27th: Cal Lane of Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 29-4
28th: Kurt Mitchell of Milford, Del., 10 bass, 29-2
29th: Mitchell Webb of Skiatook, Okla., nine bass, 29-1
30th: Josh Bragg of Fayetteville, Ga., 10 bass, 29-0
31st: Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Ark., 10 bass, 29-0
32nd: Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., 10 bass, 28-15
33rd: Chad Warren of Sand Springs, Okla., 10 bass, 28-14
34th: Colby Schrumpf of Highland, Ill., 10 bass, 28-12
35th: Kyle Gelles of Pingree, Idaho, 10 bass, 28-12
36th: Lane Olson of Forest Grove, Ore., 10 bass, 28-6
37th: Blake Hall of Decatur, Ala., 10 bass, 28-6
38th: Joey Cifuentes of Clinton, Ark., 10 bass, 28-5
39th: Mike Surman of Boca Raton, Fla., eight bass, 27-15
40th: Brad Knight of Lancing, Tenn., 10 bass, 27-15
41st: Braxton Setzer of Wetumpka, Ala., 10 bass, 27-11
42nd: Kyle Cortiana of Broken Arrow, Okla., 10 bass, 27-7
43rd: Wesley Strader of Spring City, Tenn., 10 bass, 27-5
44th: John Voyles of Petersburg, Ind., 10 bass, 27-4
45th: Andy Newcomb of Camdenton, Mo., 10 bass, 27-0
46th: Philip Dutra of Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 26-12
47th: Jim Tutt of Longview, Texas, 10 bass, 26-10
48th: Justin Cooper of Zwolle, La., 10 bass, 26-7
49th: Joshua Weaver of Macon, Ga., 10 bass, 26-6
50th: Barron Adams of Mineral Bluff, Ga., 10 bass, 26-3
Pro Miles Howe of San Juan Capistrano, California earned Friday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award with a bass weighing 8 pounds, 8 ounces.
Overall, there were 626 bass weighing 1,653 pounds, 6 ounces caught by 150 pros Friday. The catch included 88 five-bass limits.
The event, hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau, marks the third regular-season event of the year for the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me.
In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Thursday and Friday. Now, the top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight 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.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE Presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship, where they will compete for up to $235,000. The 2022 TITLE will be on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York on Aug. 16-21, and is hosted by the Town of Massena.
Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. CT each day from the Pickwick Landing State Park located at 120 Playground Loop in Counce. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park daily at 2:30 p.m. Fans are encouraged to attend the event or follow the live on-the-water action all four days of competition online on MLF NOW! beginning at 7 a.m. CT at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Lithium Pros Stop 3 at Pickwick Lake Presented by Covercraft 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.
Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Fuel Me, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Walters Takes Over Hartwell Lead
Summerville, South Carolina Pro Patrick Walters Grabs Day Two Lead
Adding the biggest bag of the tournament to his day one weight of 14-pounds, 8-ounces, Summerville, South Carolina Pro Patrick Walters takes the lead with a day two weight of 19-pounds, 6-ounces, and a total weight of 33-pounds, 14-ounces. Starting the morning on a spot he located at the end of day one with no luck, Walters made a change at 10:30 AM with only two small fish in his bag.
“I got on some good herring bites yesterday afternoon and I started on those fishing this morning but it wasn’t happening. I scrapped it and went after some spawning fish to fill a limit and it was for only about 7 to 8-pounds.”
Once the wind picked up, Walters knew what he had to do. Slipping back out into “the deal,” he was able to get to work and landed all of his bigger bites. He is fishing a variety of moving baits to target schooling bass and noted the key to success off shore is to cover water and find fish willing to bite.
“Tomorrow, I have a few stretches of shallow fish I have not even been to yet and I am really curious as to what's going on up in those areas. After that, I'm going to run some new water and rotate through my key herring spots.”
Adding 15-pounds, 12-ounces on day two, day one co leader Brandon Perkins sits in the 2nd spot with a two-day total of 33-pounds, 8-ounces. Seen on live coverage working a combination schooling fish and sight fishing, Perkins got off to a slower start this morning and went to work with his swimbait to catch his weight for the day.
“I started where I started yesterday and caught four little babies pretty quick. I stayed in that same area and caught a 4.25-pounder on the swimbait and then a 3.75-pounder to get the day off on the right direction.”
After bouncing around with no luck, the Counce, Tennessee pro put his head down and worked on his shallow fish. Locating a group of quality bass chasing fry behind a dock, Perkins left the area alone and returned for a few casts later in the day.
“I skipped up under that cable and one knocked slack into it but it never got the bait. Those fish are around the bed but they are chasing brim and not actually locked on. You can't fish for them how you normally would sight fishing and they are super hard to catch. I know where the big ones are and it's just a matter of getting them to bite.”
With some wind projected for Showdown Saturday, Perkins is hoping to get his morning off to a good start similar to a few days in practice.
“Two days in practice I was getting bites on a spook and they were all big ones. Tomorrow, I am going to start on that shoal and hope to get off to a good start so I can keep that swimbait in my hand and really go after them hard the rest of the day.”
Mike Corbishley
With another solid day, Mike Corbishley added 16-pound, 7-ounces to his day one weight to finish the day tied for the 2ndplace spot with a total weight of 33-pounds, 8-ounces. Corbishley continued his junk fishing pattern of rotating between herring fish and sight fishing to catch his day two bag.
“There were boats on all of my areas so I basically fished my B areas this morning. I was able to catch a few to get the day going including that big one (seen on live coverage). After that, I went through some key areas up shallow and caught one fish, and lost another one that would have given me the lead.”
After returning to his herring fish when the wind picked up in the afternoon, Corbishley went back to work culling several times late in the day. Spending several hours looking for new water for Showdown Saturday, he utilized his Lowrance electronics to find several areas similar to those he has fished thus far.
“I am basically looking at the Lowrance C-Map Reveal, using the South East card, and finding herring spawning areas with specific contour breaks that hold fish. Once I find the spot, the Active Target helps me find those schools of bait and I can make high percentage casts. Tomorrow I am going to try and bust them for all they are worth.”
Drew Six
Backing up his day one weight of 17-pounds, 7-ounces, Drew Six added a 14-pound, 13-ounce bag to his two-day weight of 32-pounds, 4-ounces to finish the day in the 4th place spot. When asked about his day two on the water, Six laughed and noted an almost identical day as yesterday but with one change.
“Basically, copy that same story from yesterday, and change the bass I caught to bluegill chasers.”
As a self-proclaimed offshore angler, Six says his game plan this week is “freaky” but has worked flawlessly to putting him in contention to take home the win on Showdown Saturday.
“The ones from today were chasing bluegills and bait all day and I am basically covering a ton of water. Looking ahead to tomorrow, I do have some fish I hope to catch (on beds), but I am going to just swing as hard as I can and see what happens.”
Bryant Smith
Catching his biggest bag of the event, Bryant Smith added 16-pounds to his total weight to finish the day in the 5th place spot, just 2-pounds, 9-ounces behind the leader. Bryant has executed his “junk fishing mess” flawlessly and is fishing whatever he comes across throughout his day.
“I have tried it all – I am fishing docks, fishing herring fish, fishing for spawners, cruisers, you name it. I went into the event open minded as it’s a very volatile time of year and I am just rolling with what happens and not getting stuck on one thing.”
Starting off both days with a limit by around 9 AM, Smith is bouncing around both deep and shallow to catch his fish.
“I have not been able to get a big fish at all in the morning which is frustrating, but tomorrow I will run more of it. I had a late day today and a good bag so I snuck up to some shallow stuff and found some good ones to try to catch tomorrow.”
The Rest of the Best:
6 Justin Kimmel30-11
7 William Fletcher29-12
8 Josh Ray 29-12
9 David Gaston29-7
10 Jason Wilson29-4
Drury University Leads First Round Of Bassmaster College Series Event On Norfork Lake
Beau Browning and Jake Peck of Drury University are leading after Day 1 of the 2022 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Norfork Lake presented by Bass Pro Shops with 19 pounds, 1 ounce.
Photo by Kyle Jessie/B.A.S.S.
April 22, 2022
MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. — Despite a slow start, Drury University’s Beau Browning and Jake Peck were able to capitalize on a later bite that jolted them to the top of the leaderboard on Day 1 of the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Norfork Lake presented by Bass Pros Shops.
With their 19-pound, 1-ounce bag, the duo from Drury, which is located in Springfield, Mo., holds a 2-13 lead over the second-place team of Kopeland Rosser and Ryan Branch of the University of Montevallo (Ala.) heading into the second and final day of competition.
Finding a school of fish late in the day was the key to success for Browning and Peck.
“We started the morning in an area that we found during practice and it ended up being blown out,” said the Hot Springs, Ark., native Browning. “After we left that area, we ran down the lake and found a big school of fish and we leaned on them until we had to check back in.”
Considering Drury is just over two hours from Norfork Lake, Browning and Peck had this event circled on their calendars since the schedule was announced. After an up-and-down practice, they were uncertain how Day 1 would turn out.
“Practice wasn’t that great to be honest,” Browning said. “We were kind of nervous because we knew that there was potential to have a giant day like that, but we also knew that we could potentially fall on our face.
“We knew that if it went decent today and we basically survived, we could use enough of what we learned to piece it together on Day 2. We’re definitely in a better position than we realistically expected.”
Holding on to a lead for two days of competition has proven difficult this year in College Series competition, as a Day 1 leader has yet to take home a victory this season. Backing up their impressive Day 1 start on Day 2 will be the key to taking home the trophy and the $2,699 ($1,349 apiece) check.
“This is just halftime,” said Peck, who calls Tulsa, Okla., home. “It’s not time to get complacent and celebrate. We have to get back out there tomorrow and do the same thing, and if it’s meant to be it’s meant to be.”
All 219 boats will head back out Saturday for a chance to take home the title and to punch their ticket to the 2022 Strike King Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.
Competitors will take off 6:10 a.m. CT from Norfork Lake Marina/Henderson Park. The final weigh-in will begin back at the park at 2:10 p.m.
MLF Bass Fishing League Okie Division Tournament on Arkansas River Cancelled Due to High Winds
WHAT:
The BFL Okie Division tournament on the Arkansas River, scheduled for Saturday, April 23, has been cancelled due to forecasted high winds and unsafe conditions. The event, set to launch at Three Forks Harbor in Muskogee, has been canceled and a new date will be announced in the coming days.
NOTES:
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each Okie Division qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 13-15 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
After one event, Tad Sweitzer of Eufaula, Oklahoma, leads the BFL Okie Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 250 points, while Fred Fielder, Tahlequah, Oklahoma leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 250 points.
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.
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.
Spring’s Fluctuations Present Challenges For Bassmaster Open On Ross Barnett
Mississippi's Ross Barnett Reservoir will host the St. Croix Bassmaster Central Open presented by Mossy Oak Fishing April 28-30, 2022.
Photo by Brenden Kanies/B.A.S.S.
April 22, 2022
RIDGELAND, Miss. — It’s nothing new, but Bassmaster Elite Series pro Brock Mosley advises competitors to expect a moody and inconsistent playing field when the St. Croix Bassmaster Central Open presented by Mossy Oak Fishing visits Ross Barnett Reservoir.
Competition days will be April 28-30 with daily takeoffs from Madison Landing at 6 a.m. CT and weigh-ins each day back at the landing at 2 p.m. Full coverage can be found on Bassmaster.com.
A week before the tournament, Ross Barnett’s water level was right at normal pool. But, as Mosley explains, this 33,000-acre Pearl River impoundment is feeling the effects of unsettled spring conditions, courtesy of late-season cold fronts and fluctuating water levels.
“We’ve had a lot of rain recently; Easter weekend, it rained three days nonstop,” said Mosley, who lives in Collinsville, Miss., about 90 minutes east of Ross Barnett. “We probably got 5 or 6 inches of water up my way, upstream from Ross Barnett. The river has been up and down and I think the lake has also been up and down most of the spring.
“I’ve talked to several of my buddies that fish there every week, and they said we haven’t had a big wave of fish come up and spawn. Not saying they haven’t spawned; but with the water up and down and the cold fronts we’ve had every week this spring, they’ve just been trickling in and out.”
Mosley’s generally expecting a postspawn event with isolated bed fish opportunities. Given the lake’s current turbidity — caused by rainfall runoff and persistent wind — he said the latter won’t offer any sight-fishing scenarios. Instead, anyone seeking bed fish will be blind casting to likely areas.
“Usually by mid- to late April, we’re into the shad spawn and some fish are starting to show up on some offshore places by late April or the first of May, but everything is behind,” Mosley said. “More than likely, with the warm weather coming, we’ll see some of that next week.
“I don’t think the lake has been fishing terribly well, but I do know that it took nearly 22 pounds to win (an Easter weekend tournament). It was a full moon and there could have been some spawning fish that moved up.”
With stocked Florida-strain largemouth bass swimming in tournament waters, Ross Barnett offers the kind of potential where one swing could dramatically change someone’s day. Mosley reports an 8-pounder was weighed in during Easter weekend, with another 8 showing up about a month ago.
These stocked fish retain much of their genetic predispositions, with a distinct intolerance to weather changes topping the list. Fortunately for anglers, the ill effects of spring cold fronts lessen as the season progresses.
A week before the event, a warming trend had daytime highs in the mid-80s, but another cooldown will pull that number to the low 70s, with an overnight low in the upper 40s by Tuesday. Warm weather returns quickly and the tournament should see highs in the low to mid-80s.
A key factor will be the overnight lows, which are forecast to remain fairly warm — upper 50s to low 60s. That should have the fish in a good mood each morning.
In nature’s perpetual give and take, mostly sunny conditions will help warm the shallows and possibly stimulate those morning shad spawns that Mosley mentioned. Those frantic periods of baitfish reproduction often produce a furious bite with opportunistic bass, but bright sunshine usually terminates the soiree shortly after daybreak.
Overall, Mosley predicts a junk-fishing tournament in which anglers will need multiple areas to fare well. From shallow wood, lily pads, cypress trees and mats to offshore structure, success will favor those who pair a mobile strategy with a big dose of open-minded diversity.
“There’s going to be a lot of things guys can do to catch them,” Mosley said. “It’s going to be a shallow-water tournament, and I don’t know that it will be won out of a specific spot or just a guy just running into them every day.
“It’s a lake where a lot of stuff works; it’s just that time of year, whether it’s cranking, flipping, frogging, topwaters — you name it. I think the fish are up there shallow and it will just be a matter of guys figuring out how they’re most comfortable catching them.”
Fry guarders also could factor into an angler’s overall game plan. Those males protecting the new hatchlings won’t be the bigger fish, but they can definitely help fill limits. Swim jigs, poppers, frogs and wacky rigs typically trigger these bass to bite.
While muddy conditions may limit the river’s productivity, Mosley believes the entire lake will be in play. That being said, Mosley points out that Ross Barnett tends to fish small — especially with a 225-boat field.
“This is one of those lakes where you’re constantly fishing behind people, no matter what you do,” Mosley said. “You just have to accept that and keep fishing.”
Predicting what he called a “postspawn grinder event,” Mosley said 15 pounds a day will give an angler a solid shot at fishing on Championship Saturday. Twenty-pound bags are possible, but it’ll be difficult to do that more than once.
“Ross Barnett is one of my favorite lakes, because it wakes up in a different mood every day,” Mosley said. “Just because you caught 100 doing one thing doesn’t mean you’ll catch 10 the next day doing the same thing. It’s a lake that keeps you on your toes.”
Bassmaster High School Championship Heads To Lake Hartwell
High school teams from across the country will compete on Lake Hartwell August 11-13 at the 2022 Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
Photo by Emily Hand/B.A.S.S.
April 22, 2022
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 2022 national championship for the hugely popular Bassmaster High School Series will be decided on the renowned waters of Lake Hartwell. The 2022 Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors will head to Anderson, S.C., August 11-13.
2022 will mark the first time the Bassmaster High School National Championship has been held on Lake Hartwell, which has previously hosted four Bassmaster Classics, including the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.
“To say that we’re excited about the opportunity to host the Bassmaster High School National Championship is an understatement,” said Neil Paul, executive director of Visit Anderson, which is hosting the event. “This championship event has been on our list of ‘must-haves’ for Anderson County, Green Pond Landing and Lake Hartwell for several years. The youth angler is our future, and our community is all about family. When you combine family, fishing and Anderson County hospitality, we look forward to hosting another winning event in our community.
“The leadership in Anderson County has made a significant commitment to our facilities — such as the legendary Green Pond Landing — and we look forward to hosting the next generation of anglers and their families in the same facility that hosted the record-breaking Bassmaster Classic.”
As many as 275 high school teams are expected to compete for the high school championship crown. Each two-angler team is accompanied by a coach who runs the boat and can give advice on fishing techniques and patterns.
Student anglers qualify for the championship through four High School Opens held on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes, Alabama’s Lewis Smith Lake, Arkansas’ Norfork Lake and Michigan’s Saginaw Bay.
“They are the best of the best among 13,000 high school B.A.S.S. members representing more than 1,300 high school fishing clubs nationwide,” said Glenn Cale, B.A.S.S. Nation tournament manager — College, High School and Junior. “We are thrilled to give these high school anglers an opportunity to tackle Hartwell — one of the most storied fisheries in Bassmaster history — as they compete for a national title.”
The Bassmaster High School Series debuted in 2013 and has grown immensely since its inception. The program emphasizes sportsmanship, academics and conservation while giving young anglers a chance to improve and test their fishing skills in competition among their peers.
Banks Shaw and Gage King, of Sale Creek (Tenn.) High School, won the 2021 National Championship on Chickamauga Lake. While King has moved on to college, Shaw was recently named to the prestigious Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors. Shaw, now fishing with new partner BJ Collins, has already earned a spot in the National Championship on Hartwell by virtue of a second-place finish at the season’s first tournament on Harris Chain.
The 2022 Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors is being hosted by Visit Anderson.
Costa celebrates Earth Day with new film
In honor of Earth week, our friends at Costa Del Mar put this awesome video together to show how anglers protect and conserve the waters we traverse
https://youtu.be/YPOusup-Cz4
B.A.S.S. Nation Anglers Gearing Up For Southeast Regional On Smith Lake
Alabama's Lewis Smith Lake will host the 2022 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Southeast Regional April 27-29.
Photo by Justin Brouillard/B.A.S.S.
April 22, 2022
JASPER, Ala. — Anglers fishing the 2022 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Southeast Regional will likely enjoy one of the best times of year to fish Lewis Smith Lake, according to Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Joseph Webster.
Competition days will be April 27-29 with takeoffs each day at 6 a.m. CT from Smith Lake Dam and weigh-ins back at the facility at 2 p.m.
“The lake should be at full pool, and everything around the lake will be blooming. Spring is going to be well and alive,” said Webster, who lives in Hamilton, Ala. “I tell everyone if you are going to fish Smith Lake, fish it between October and May. The months of February, March and April are prime fishing. These guys are going to blast them.”
Located just northwest of Birmingham, Lewis Smith Lake has played host to multiple Bassmaster events over the last couple of years, including a 2021 Bassmaster Open won by Jacob Powroznik in early October of 2021. Featuring qualified anglers from Nation chapters across the country, this is the second of five Nation Regionals of the season.
By tournament time, Webster says the spotted bass and largemouth will likely be in postspawn with some bass closing out their spawning periods. As soon as the spotted bass finish spawning, the only thing on their minds will be feeding on blueback herring.
“What you run into now with the (blueback) herring in the lake, they are going to run to the bank as fast as they can and then they will leave the bank as fast as they can,” Webster said. “These fish will be open-water swimmers.”
While the bass will be either finished with or finishing their spawn, the herring will traditionally be starting their spawn. Bridges, standing timber, main-lake docks and longer points will be the predominant structure that bass will follow the herring to.
Topwater walking baits have traditionally caught a lot of bass when the baitfish are spawning, as well as jerkbaits and swimbaits.
“These postspawn fish will be eating. I like to chase the shad spawn early and then as soon as that plays off I go to chasing them,” Webster said. “This (Lowrance) ActiveTarget and front-facing sonar stuff is where it is going to be at.
“They are going to chase them around and throw swimbaits on them and drop on them. That is how they are going to be caught. You are going to have to chase around little wolf packs. The bigger ones aren’t going to be in a group of fish.”
He added that there are plenty of striped bass in the lake that chase the herring as well, and occasionally, anglers will find lunker-sized spotted bass mixed in. Largemouth will also come into play during this time of year, and Webster says they can be found in a lot of the same areas where spotted bass will be caught.
“There will be some shallow largemouth. But when I’ve been up there, you’ll catch some where the shad spawn is going on — and now that the bluebacks are in there, you will be shocked at how many largemouth you find chasing them around,” Webster said.
The top boater and nonboater from each state will earn a berth to the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship to be held Nov. 9-11 on Pickwick Lake.
Mallory, Perkins Share NPFL Hartwell Lead
Each catching five bass limits of 17-pounds, 12-ounces, 2021 NPFL Champions Buck Mallory and Brandon Perkins take a share of the day one lead at Lake Hartwell.
Starting off the day fast, Mallory’s third bass of the morning was a 4.5-pound largemouth and it was all uphill from there. Culling about six times throughout the day, the Lawton, Michigan pro ran a junk fishing pattern of “random areas with good bass” to catch his fish and credits a late adjustment for his share of the leading weight.
“I am fishing a good mix of spotted and largemouth bass and later this afternoon, I made a bait change after losing three nice fish and really got dialed. I am hitting and missing guys fishing similar type stuff but I had nobody pull in on me and I never pulled in on anyone. Once I figured out the changes, I made some adjustments with that different bait and went to work. I am looking forward to the rest of this week.”
Understandably, Mallory declined to share too much information until after the day two weigh in.
Tied with Mallory for the day one lead, Brandon Perkins went into the morning after a subpar practice and was able to secure a solid limit early, and then went to work doing what he likes to do.
“My practice wasn’t awesome; I really don’t like to catch a lot anyways and I ran three spots this morning and finally landed on them on the third stop. I really don’t know if I found a shad spawn deal or what but I had one bite in practice and it was a good spotted bass.”
Catching a fish on his first cast, a big fish blew up close by and Perkins fired a bait over and quickly landed a 3-pound spot. Moving on to spot number two, he wasn’t feeling it and another boat was close by. On the third spot, it all came together and the Counce, Tennessee angler went to work catching the majority of his bag.
“I caught them really good on that deal and I think I left with 15-pounds. I was fairly comfortable with that weight and I probably could have caught more if I stayed but I felt like I should leave it. I had a good weight and wanted to go fish how I was comfortable and try to cull up.”
After making a move shallow, Perkins got to looking and was able to catch a few other bigger fish including a lost “6 plus pounder” that bit a bait and quickly got wrapped up in some brush.
“She was super shallow and I couldn’t get in there to get to her but I was actually surprised she bit to begin with. She did spit out my bait so I got that back and I know where she lives. I have to keep looking for them but with an early check in tomorrow, I have a feeling that big one is going to end up hurting me bad – it would have been a 3-pound or bigger cull.”
Eddie Carper
Ending the day in the 3rd place spot, Valliant, Oklahoma pro Eddie Carper landed a 5-pound, 5-ounce kicker to anchor his five bass limit of 17-pounds, 9-ounces. Sticking with his practice plan, he was able to get off to a fast start and secured a limit by 7:30 this morning.
“That was my goal weight, I was hoping to catch 17-pounds and was planning to quit. I made a short run this morning and caught them fast but the big ones didn’t show up. I fished for a while before making a move down by the dam to some fish I had on deep timber in practice.”
After fishing around at the lakes south end, Carper made his move back up the lake and noticed a point he had some schooling fish in practice was vacant. Trying to ditch his small limit, he was able to catch a few schooling bass before they vanished as the sun got high.
“I was able to cull up but it died fast and I just went junk fishing the rest of the day. I found a creek in practice back up near take off with a log jam and on my second flip today I got that 5-pounder. It was the same flip I caught a 4-pounder in practice.”
That fish gave him the confidence to keep his head down in that creek. A short while later in some flooded bushes, a 3 and a 3.5-pounder brough his weight from 14-pounds to over 17 and his official weight for the day.
“It's all a timing deal for me and those herring fish school up at certain times when the sun is bright and after that, it's all junk fishing for me. I am looking forward to going tomorrow as it should be even better.”
Drew Six
With a five bass limit of 17-pounds, 7-ounces, Drew Six worked a “three phase” spawning pattern to end the day in the 4th place spot. With an early limit, including his bigger fish, a 5-pound, 12-ounce kicker sealed the deal on a solid day one.
“I had a limit by 9 AM including my big fish. I landed that big one on 6-pound test and I am using a Z-Man StreakZ and Texas Swivel Head and fishing on key areas next to deep cuts.”
With high skies and little wind projected the next two days, the Clinton, Ohio pro will continue to fish his spawning deal but expects the quality to drop off throughout the rest of the event.
“I knew I would catch them good but I didn’t expect this quality. I can see it with the weights today, we are going into a post spawn period and it may happen fast. I am fishing some pre-spawn, some fry guarders and fry chasers. I expect to keep getting bites but the quality will probably drop off.”
Mike Corbishley
Starting fast and furious, Mike Corbishley began his day with a fast limit with one weighable fish and ran a junk fishing pattern to catch weight of 17-pounds, 1-ounce. Ending the day in the 5th place spot, the Raleigh, North Carolina angler is fishing a mix of structure, with different baits, and fishing all phases of the spawn.
“I thought I would have a decent day this morning but it all depended on getting a big bite or not. Ironically, today, I had one 4-pounder and a bunch of good quality bass in my bag.”
After his quick start, Corbishley ran a few more “timing deals” to begin his day before the high skies shut down the fish. Losing some quality fish and getting short strikes, he knew it was time to pivot and find some bigger quality bass.
“I think I will be good the rest of the week but the one thing that might hurt me is that several guys saw me catching them this morning and I am a little worried that more people fished those areas after I left.”
Italy’s Jacopo Gallelli Leads Day 1 of Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Lithium Pros Stop 3 on Pickwick Lake
The Pro Circuit competition awards a top prize of up to $135,000 and marks the third of six regular-season Pro Circuit events offering competitors a total season purse of more than $850,000.
“I honestly don’t know how I did it,” said Gallelli. “I caught six fish in three days during practice, so I guess the takeaway is never give up. I got lucky – I only caught seven fish all day long – so it was tough, but I caught the right ones.
“This is probably the biggest limit I’ve caught in my life,” Gallelli continued. “We don’t have Florida strain bass in Italy, and I think the biggest bag I’ve ever weighed in a tournament there or in the U.S. weighed 22 pounds, 8 ounces.”
Gallelli said his ‘luck’, which brought him three big smallmouth and two good-sized largemouth, was a top-secret combination of a special location and a lure that he preferred to keep under wraps.
“The area where I started is pretty special – I had a limit of 19 pounds by 9 a.m. this morning, then was able to cull three times later in the day,” said Gallelli. “I didn’t go to that spot during practice, but I’ve fished there in the past and was so desperate this morning, I thought I’d give it a try. Within 15 minutes I caught a 3-pound smallmouth, then caught a 5-pound smallmouth a bit later. I fished it very slow and methodical, picking it apart, and came out of that area with more than 20 pounds.
“I could see the fish with my (Garmin) Livescope, and I really think I caught all the ones in that area, but if I can catch a big one over there on Day 2, that would be perfect.
“I feel like I did an awesome job, and I could not be happier,” continued Gallelli. “I had such a bad practice on Pickwick Lake and had a rough time at my last tournament at the James River, so I was happy to come here and have some redemption.”
Gallelli said he’d already received many messages from friends and family who are rooting for him in Italy.
“I didn’t expect this to happen today, and I don’t know if I can do this again tomorrow,” said Gallelli. “I’m currently 14th in Angler of the Year (AOY) points and one of my season goals is to qualify for the Bass Pro Tour, so if I get 12 pounds tomorrow, I’ll be super happy.”
Gallelli said his game plan for Day 2 is to go back to the same spot to see if his lucky streak will continue.
“I also have another area where I caught several quality fish today and lost a big fish against a structure, so hopefully I can fill up a limit on Friday between the two spots.”
The top 20 pros after Day 1 on Pickwick Lake are:
2nd: Mike Surman of Boca Raton, Fla., five bass, 21-5
3rd: Corey Neece of Bristol, Tenn., five bass, 21-1
4th: John Hunter of Shelbyville, Ky., five bass, 21-0
5th: Cameron Mattison of Benton, La., five bass, 19-11
6th: Jimmy Neece, Jr. of Bristol, Tenn., five bass, 18-7
7th: Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Mich., five bass, 18-6
8th: Steve Lopez of Oconomowoc, Wis., five bass, 18-4
9th: Larry Nixon of Quitman, Ark., five bass, 17-13
10th: Miles Burghoff of Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 17-12
11th: John Cox of DeBary, Fla., five bass, 17-2
12th: Mark Rose of Wynne, Ark., five bass, 16-14
13th: Chris Lane of Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 16-11
13th: Josh Butler of Hayden, Ala., five bass, 16-11
15th: David Walker of Sevierville, Tenn., five bass, 16-10
16th: Brett Hite of Phoenix, Ariz., five bass, 16-9
16th: Billy Hines of Vacaville, Calif., five bass, 16-9
18th: Andrew Loberg of Rocklin, Calif., five bass, 16-7
19th: Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., five bass, 16-3
19th: John Voyles of Petersburg, Ind., five bass, 16-3
Pro Matt Reed of Madisonville, Texas brought a bass weighing 7 pounds, 9 ounces to the scale to win the day's $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award.
Overall, there were 649 bass weighing 1,779 pounds, 9 ounces caught by 152 pros Thursday. The catch included 103 five-bass limits.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Lithium Pros Stop 3 at Pickwick Lake Presented by Covercraft is hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Thursday and Friday. The top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advance to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros continue competition on Sunday, where weights are zeroed, and the winner is determined by the heaviest weight from the final day of competition.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit TITLE Presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship, where they will compete for up to $235,000. The 2022 TITLE will be on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York on Aug. 16-21, and is hosted by the Town of Massena.
Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. CT each day from the Pickwick Landing State Park located at 120 Playground Loop in Counce. 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.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Lithium Pros Stop 3 at Pickwick Lake Presented by Covercraft 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.
Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me include: 4WP, 13 Fishing, Abu Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, Black Rifle Coffee, E3, Epic Baits, Favorite Fishing, Fuel Me, Gary Yamamoto Baits, General Tire, Lew’s, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, Strike King, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, Wiley X and YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
2022 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship Returns To Pickwick Lake
Florence, Ala., will host the 2022 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on Pickwick Lake Nov. 9-11.
Photo by B.A.S.S.
April 21, 2022
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Grass-roots anglers from around the country will take to the waters of Pickwick Lake to compete for one of three berths into the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk during the 2022 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship Nov. 9-11 in Florence, Ala.
"We are looking forward to having the B.A.S.S. National Championship back in the Shoals area,” said Tyler Dolan, manager, Group + Sport Sales for Florence-Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. “This tournament is a great event for our local economy, and we know that this year will be no different. It's always great to see the amount of support that the anglers receive from their friends, family and also local spectators."
The B.A.S.S. Nation Championship was last held on Pickwick Lake in 2020, when Wisconsin angler Pat Schlapper claimed the coveted Bryan V. Kerchal Memorial Trophy, dominating the field and winning by a margin of more than 7 pounds. That same year, Schlapper finished third in the Bassmaster Eastern Opens Angler of the Year points, allowing him to double-qualify for the Bassmaster Elite Series.
In the most recent Bassmaster Elite Series event on Chickamauga Lake, Schlapper took Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors while 2021 B.A.S.S. Nation Champion Matty Wong claimed the VMC Monster Bag prize for weighing in the tournament’s heaviest bag.
“B.A.S.S. has had such great experiences in Florence that we’re extremely excited to return,” said Jon Stewart, B.A.S.S. Nation director. “As in years past, the competition should be incredible.
“It is fun and inspirational to see the talented anglers coming out of the B.A.S.S. Nation and to watch as Nation Champions go on to success at the Elite level, whether it's Brandon Palaniuk’s five Elite Series wins or guys like Caleb Sumrall, who had a breakout season last year with two Top 10s.”
Anglers from across the country will qualify via regional championship tournaments held on Arizona’s Lake Havasu, Alabama’s Lewis Smith Lake, Oklahoma’s Grand Lake, New York’s St. Lawrence River and the Upper Mississippi River in Iowa. The Paralyzed Veterans of American Tour will also send its Angler of the Year winner to compete.
The Top 3 anglers from the overall championship standings will not only earn a berth to the 2023 Bassmaster Classic, but the B.A.S.S. Nation champion will earn the title of “Nation’s Best,” which includes an Elite Series berth and the use of a fully-rigged Nation’s Best tournament boat for a year. The second- and third-place finishers and nonboater Champion will each earn paid entry fees for all divisions of the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series presented by Mossy Oak Fishing.
The championship tournament is being hosted by Florence-Lauderdale Tourism.
For more information and a complete schedule, visit Bassmaster.com.
2022 Bassmaster High School All-American Team Names 12 New Members
The Top 12 high school anglers in the country have been named to the 2022 Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
April 20, 2022
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Twelve of the top high school anglers in the country have been selected as new members of the notable Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
“For eight years, the Bassmaster High School All-American program has identified and honored some of the most accomplished student athletes in the country,” said Chase Anderson, B.A.S.S. CEO. “We’ve seen past members go on to decorated college fishing careers, compete in the iconic Bassmaster Classic and begin promising careers in the fishing industry. This group of 12 outstanding All-Americans is equally as talented and poised to do amazing things. We appreciate Academy Sports + Outdoors for partnering with B.A.S.S. to recognize these athletes’ fishing skills and commitment to academics, conservation and community service.”
Nearly 400 applications nominating students in grades 10-12 were submitted from 34 states across the nation. Of these, 53 students were chosen as Bassmaster All-State anglers. After considering tournament résumés, conservation efforts, community service activities and recommendations from school officials and coaches, a panel of judges consisting of representatives from the sportfishing industry, media and conservation groups further narrowed the field to the Top 12 high school anglers in the country.
“Congratulations! This goes to show your efforts on and off the water do not go unnoticed,” said Glenn Cale, B.A.S.S. Nation Tournament Manager — College, High School and Junior, to the student anglers. “I’m superproud of you all and look forward to sharing this special moment with you. Be sure to chase all of your dreams, because they do not chase you back.”
The 2022 All-American team has been invited to participate in an exclusive Bassmaster High School All-American Tournament, which will be held in conjunction with the 2022 Simms Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork, scheduled to take place May 19-22 in Quitman, Texas. Each All-American angler will be paired with an Elite Series pro for the one-day derby to be held on a nearby fishery.
Congratulations to the following student athletes for being named to the 2022 Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors. Following are short biographies of the 2022 team members. (Only tournament records from the past 12 months were considered.)
Braxton Hopper, Chelsea, Ala.
Braxton Hopper, a senior at Chelsea High School, amassed an impressive six tournament wins during the 2021 season, as well as eight Top 5 and two Top 20 finishes. He also won the 2021 “King of the Coosa” title with a perfect score of 900 out of 900 points, winning three out of four events — a feat never accomplished before in the history of the King of the Coosa Trail.
“[King of the Coosa] is a coveted title for a number of reasons. First, it is a solo trail. So, it is advantageous to fish alone ... However, Braxton always brings a younger angler in the boat with him to teach them how to become winners and leaders in the future. This is just one way he leads,” said Curtis Gossett, District 3 director for the Alabama Student Angler Bass Fishing Association and tournament director of the King of the Coosa High School Solo Bass Fishing Trail.
Outside of tournaments, Hopper mentors junior anglers by taking them on the water and helping them develop skills with bait selection, casting and knot tying. He is also fully trained in fish care and handling and has put those skills to use volunteering at multiple B.A.S.S. tournaments. Hopper plans on fishing at the collegiate level and one day wants to compete at the professional level.
Hudson Choquette, Headland, Ala.
Headland High School senior Hudson Choquette won three tournaments over the course of the 2021 tournament season, placed in the Top 5 once and the Top 20 eight times. He is a five-time Bassmaster High School National Championship qualifier and a six-time Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation High School State Championship qualifier. In 2021, he earned the title of 2021 Wiregrass Student Angler Trail Angler of the Year and was named a 2021 Bassmaster High School All-American Honorable Mention.
Christopher Tate, Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation high school social media director, describes Choquette as humble and modest, saying, “Hudson’s work ethic is beyond reproach as he attempts to seek perfection in his academic, personal and fishing career. He is a year-round sportsman but is truly passionate about conservation and advocates using his social media platform. His passion for conservation has resulted in numerous clean-ups at Lake Eufaula.”
Choquette serves as the Headland High School SGA President, as well as a Headland City Chamber Ambassador and an elected Headland High School Boys State attendee, all whilst maintaining a 4.14 GPA. He has served as the president of the Headland High School Bass Team, and in 2021, he led a tackle drive to get fishing equipment to the Boys Home in Dothan, Ala. He has volunteered with multiple organizations, including Southern Outdoor Sports, Fish Head Spin at ICAST and Go Fish, Alabama!
Tyson Verkaik, Eustis, Fla.
Tyson Verkaik, a senior at First Academy-Leesburg, collected five wins during the 2021 tournament season, alongside five Top 5 finishes and eight Top 20 finishes. In 2021, he was named a member of the Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team and was the 2020 Florida B.A.S.S. Nation Fall Trail winner and part of the 2020/2021 Florida B.A.S.S. Nation High School Team of the Year.
When he is not competing, Verkaik is a citizen volunteer with the University of Florida Lake Watch program and volunteers at school and church as a video production specialist. His favorite community service project is hosting local underprivileged children at his school’s pond for shore fishing excursions. In 2021 he led a group of student volunteers in assisting children from a local shelter so that they could experience fishing for the first time.
“Tyson demonstrates impressive character in the classroom as well as in the community. He has given over 200 hours of his time to help others. His altruistic character leads him to generous acts of service to those around him,” said Erin Myers, a teacher at First Academy-Leesburg. “Tyson has a true servant’s heart, which I personally believe he will use to bring well-being and aid to our community.”
Gabriel Clark, Ellerslie, Ga.
A junior at Harris County High School, Gabriel “Storm” Clark amassed an impressive seven wins during the 2021 tournament season, as well as three Top 5 finishes and four Top 20 finishes, all in fields of 100-plus anglers. He was also a qualifier for the Alabama Bass Trail Championship and is currently tied for first in the Reel Money Student Angler Federation Angler of the Year race.
“Storm’s fishing accomplishments speak for themselves. He has done very well in tournaments and leads the team in a positive manner. He helps younger fishermen be better through both example and encouragement,” said J. Bryce Robinson, athletic director and assistant principal at Harris County High School. “Storm is a big reason that the fishing team at Harris County High School is thriving.”
Clark has helped organize and assist with fishing events that are held at his church and has volunteered with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and Georgia Power to place fish attractors in local waterways. Clark’s goals are to qualify for and win a state tournament and a national tournament.
Cole Berry, Terre Haute, Ind.
Cole Berry, a junior at Terre Haute North Vigo High School, earned three wins during the 2021 tournament season, as well as four Top 5 finishes and one Top 20 finish. He was named a 2021 Bassmaster High School All-State winner for the state of Indiana and was the first-ever Gold Medal Award winner in bass fishing at Terre Haute North High School.
Robert Haworth, superintendent of Vigo County Schools, said, “Cole has been active in our community, not only participating in community projects but excelling as a leader. His personality and quick wit make Cole admired by teachers, coaches and teammates. He is a young man of exceptional moral and social character.”
When he’s not on the water, Berry volunteers within his community, including building handicap-accessible boat docks and working with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to teach elementary school students the importance of conservation. He has worked to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and worked with Terre Haute Firefighters Local 758 to provide presents for needy families. Berry does all of this while maintaining a 3.935 GPA.
Evan Fields, Shelbyville, Ky.
A senior at Martha Layne Collins High School, Evan Fields collected three wins during the 2021 tournament season, alongside four Top 5 wins and four Top 20 wins. He earned the title of Collins High School Angler of the Year for 2020-2021 and was also named to the 2021 Bassmaster High School All-State Fishing Team.
“Evan sets forth plans for success, then implements his plans with work. As an angler, Evan has earned everything he has been given and set the standard for his younger teammates,” said L. Powell Miller, athletic director at Martha Layne Collins High School. “It is true that Evan Fields distinguished himself by his personal hard work, but [he has] also earned respect for his demonstrated ability to help his younger teammates. At the high school level it takes much courage to lead, and Evan possesses such courage.”
Fields was a link leader in the Link Crew at his school, a leadership training program designed to support freshmen by assigning them a senior leader. He has also volunteered his time with Operation Christmas Child and the Adopt A Child Program and works year-round to maintain the habitat at his local lake. Fields also runs his own rod repair and custom bait business, all while maintaining a 4.174 GPA. Fields recently committed to Campbellsville University and intends to pursue a career in professional bass fishing or the fishing industry after graduating.
Levi Thibodaux, Thibodaux, La.
Levi Thibodaux, a senior at Thibodaux High School, amassed three wins and seven Top 5s during the 2021 tournament season, as well as two Top 20 finishes. In 2021, he was the East Division Louisiana B.A.S.S. Nation Champion and the overall points winner for the inaugural 2021 Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine. He qualified for the 2021 Bassmaster and MLF National Championships, has qualified for the Louisiana B.A.S.S. Nation Championship for the last four years and has finished in overall first place in the Lafourche Bassmasters Club for the last three years.
“Levi’s talent on the water, upstanding character, humility, leadership and mentoring skills, his passion for preserving and protecting freshwater fisheries, and his love for his community are qualities that make him an All-American,” said Thomas “T.J.” Boudreaux, Lafourche Bassmasters President. “Levi has a proven track record of success on the water at the high school level. Last weekend marked the completion of the 2022 Louisiana High School B.A.S.S. Nation’s qualifying season. Levi and his partner finished with the highest point total in the state of Louisiana to win the coveted Team Angler of the Year Award.”
Thibodaux has been the president of the Lafourche Bassmasters for the past three years and has been instrumental in running meetings, hosting fundraising events and preparing activities for the team. He has also been key in growing the high school bass team from one to 17 members. When Thibodaux is not excelling on the water and in the classroom, he is spending time mentoring young anglers and teaching them the importance of fishery conservation. He also volunteered countless hours after Hurricane Ida, cleaning yards, cutting down trees, demoing houses and removing debris.
Rein Golubjatnikov, Pittsford, N.Y.
Rein Golubjatnikov, a senior at Pittsford Central School District, earned an impressive four tournament wins, three Top 5 finishes and a Top 20 finish during the 2021 tournament season. One of those wins included the New York High School Championship held on Oneida Lake. He also made the New York State Bass Team (an adult-level team) and will be participating in the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Northeast Regional Championship. He also triple-qualified for the 2021 Bassmaster High School National Championship.
“Our local fishing community is a better place because of Rein’s involvement in clubs and community activities. He stood out among his peers with his participation in local fishing chapters,” said Kevin Cutaia, Pittsford fishing coach. “Rein’s work ethic and dedication to the sport have led his efforts to expand the sport to all levels of anglers. He is one of the most helpful, respectful and dependable athletes I have ever coached.”
Golubjatnikov is the creator and captain of the Pittsford Fishing Team, which now has more than 150 members. He is very involved in his community and participates in a plethora of clubs and community activities. Rein hosts “fizzing” education at local club events and weigh-ins in order to ensure all fish are properly cared for. He will be attending the University of Alabama in the fall, where he plans on continuing his fishing career.
Banks Shaw, Harrison, Tenn.
Banks Shaw, a senior at Sale Creek High School, amassed four wins, two Top 5 finishes and eight Top 20 finishes in the 2021 tournament season. He and his partner won the 2021 Bassmaster High School National Championship on Lake Chickamauga, beating out a field of 300-plus competitors. He is a three-time National Championship qualifier and triple-qualified for the 2022 Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School National Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
“Banks Shaw is an outstanding young man and angler. He was one half of Tennessee's first national championship team and has been a dominant angler over the last couple of seasons,” said David Lowrie, Tennessee B.A.S.S. Nation High School and Youth state director. “Banks is an excellent ambassador for the sport.”
When he is not competing, Shaw volunteers his time by mentoring younger anglers and taking them out on the water. He also recently helped in organizing a benefit tournament for a local family. Shaw plans to continue fishing on the college level at the University of North Alabama and hopes to one day earn a place on the Bassmaster Elite Series.
Nathan Reynolds, Nashville, Tenn.
Nathan Reynolds, a senior at Valor Flagship Academy, earned four wins during the 2021 tournament season, as well as three Top 5 finishes and five Top 20 finishes. He also competes in adult tournament trails, including the Alabama Bass Trail. In 2021, he was named a member of the Bassmaster High School All-State Fishing Team.
Jackson Sprayberry, head of school at Valor College Prep, said, “In a society where the number of checks in the win column is the sole determination of one’s merits, Nathan not only excels in that regard, but is also a standout student as it relates to his conservation efforts and his commitment to keeping a strong academic record as he navigates school and his rigorous fishing schedule. Nathan embodies diligence, tenacity and leadership in the broader fishing community as a participant and [in his] commitment to conservation efforts.”
Reynolds founded the Backwoods Bassin’ fishing team, which he has nurtured into one of the most competitive teams in Tennessee. He has also created informational social media videos for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), to help encourage boat safety. He has been involved in conservation efforts, including collecting thousands of Christmas trees to fortify habitats in the middle Tennessee area. As the trees were placed, Reynolds and his partners logged the GPS coordinates to send to TWRA so that they could be shared with other anglers.
Connor Dunn, Lucas, Texas
Lovejoy High School senior Connor Dunn earned two big wins during the 2021 tournament season, placing first in fields of 200-plus boats, as well as amassing three Top 5 and five Top 20 finishes. He also earned the Angler of the Year title for the 2020-2021 Texas High School Bass Association North Division.
Describing Dunn as positive and personable, Superintendent of Lovejoy Independent School District Katie Kordel said, “Connor is an exceptional student with significant academic accomplishments. Connor is graduating at the top of his class and is an AP scholar with honors. Connor has a heart of service and carries through with action.”
Outside of competition, Dunn is involved in both his school and community, serving as the captain of the Leopard Fishing Team and leader of the Lovejoy High School Fishing Club, as well as president of the Young Men’s Service League Lovejoy Chapter. He has completed over 400 hours of community service, volunteering his time at a myriad of organizations including Cornerstone Ranch, where he worked to establish “pond days” to host fishing days at local ponds, as well as McKinney Roots, Allen Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry, Kids Against Hunger and many more.
Jared Mizell, Pearland, Texas
Jared Mizell, a senior at Turner College & Career High School, amassed an impressive six wins during the 2021 tournament season, as well as one Top 5 finish and five Top 20 finishes. During 2022, he has placed in the Top 10 in Angler of the Year points for the Texas High School Bass Association (THSBA) Bayou City Division and is a qualifier for the upcoming Texas B.A.S.S. Nation Youth Series Championship on Lake O’ the Pines as well as the THSBA State Championship on Belton Lake.
“Jared is respectful, shows leadership abilities, is humble and hardworking and wants to get better each day,” says LJA Engineering Vice President, Christopher LeBlanc. “He spends most weekends on the water, whether it's at tournaments or pre-fishing, all while maintaining his schoolwork and grades.”
Mizell is the founder and club president of the Dawson Anglers fishing club and has volunteered over 500 hours of his time to community service, focusing on events that bring awareness to the outdoors and conservation. In 2021, he participated in a C.A.S.T. for Kids event as well as the Kid Fish Fest with Texas Parks & Wildlife. As president of the Dawson Anglers, Mizell has worked to help the club organize and sponsor the C.A.S.T. for Kids Pearland event.
Alton Jones Jr!!
This week Chris is in rare form as he and the boys welcome in Bass Pro Tour Angler Alton Jones Jr. to talk about life as a Pro, Cashing checks at Heavy Hitters and a whole lot more! The boys also jump into some new "Angler Polls" that might peak your interest and Chris explains why his Wife has hidden all the knives in the house. All this & more! #Donttakeitpersonal.....
MLF Toyota Series Set for Western Division Tournament on Clear Lake
CLEARLAKE, Calif. (April 19, 2022) –Major League Fishing (MLF) is set to visit California and Clearlake, for a tournament next week, April 28-30, with the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at Clear Lake. The three-day bass fishing tournament is the second event of the season for the Toyota Series Western Division.
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.
While still excellent fishing, Clear Lake has not been immune from the drought that has affected the West in recent years. The last three years in California have been the driest on record since 1895, which means Clear Lake is a bit different than some of MLF’s prior visits.
Despite the low water levels, pro Todd Woods of Long Beach, California, who won at Clear Lake in 2016, still thinks the fishing will be really good.
“It’s still about 5 feet below normal pool, and when I won it was about 4 feet above normal pool,” Woods said. “The fishing is great right now – you can catch all the 2-pounders you want. But, the days of 35-pound limits are almost completely gone – a huge bag there is 27 pounds now. To make the Top 25, I would say it’s going to take 16 pounds a day.
“Typically you might catch 20 that are 2-pounders, and then all of a sudden you’ll catch a 6-pounder,” Woods said. “The days of pulling up on a spot and catching five 5-pounders, that’s very unusual.”
Still, even with some of the size not there, the fishing should be pretty good, and Woods expects a lot of different techniques to play that time of year.
“They spawn there ‘til June, so it’ll definitely be a prespawn-spawn-postspawn deal, just depending on the weather and the moon phase,” Woods said. “There will be a shad spawn. The year that I won, there were shad everywhere, I would throw an underspin, and there would be six or seven shad trying to spawn with it every cast. It’s not like that anymore. Now, I think it’s a hitch deal, if you find the hitch, you’ll find the better quality of fish.”
Even if the weights aren’t truly amazing like the old days, Woods still expects to see a good event.
“I absolutely love Clear Lake any time of the year,” Woods said. “I absolutely love Clear Lake, because even when I don’t cash a check I have a really good time catching fish.”
For this event, Woods expects basically anything in the tackle box to work.
“Sight fishing, swimbaits, finesse fishing – like Senkos and drop-shots – reaction baits, a ChatterBait and a little bit of crankbait,” Woods said. “Really, you’ll be able to do whatever you want to do.”
Anglers will take off each day at 6:30 a.m. PT from Redbud Park, located at 14655 Lakeshore Drive in Clearlake, California. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park, 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.
Currently after one event in the Toyota Series Western Division, Patrick Touey of Santa Maria, California, leads the Pro Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 260 points, while Colby Huntze of Discovery Bay, California, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 260 points.
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.
Big Bass Tour - Berkley Lake Breakdown - Smith Mountain
Crews Says All of Smith Mountain Lake in Play for Giant Bass
By Pete Robbins
As the Big Bass Tour crosses the country in search of the best fisheries available, we’ve been pleasantly surprised with Virginia’s Smith Mountain Lake in recent years. Not only is the Blue Ridge gem remarkably scenic, but an already-fantastic venue just keeps on getting better. Expect that to continue this week, said veteran tour pro John Crews.
Historically, this has been a lake that was chock-full of chunky 3- to 5-pound largemouths and smallmouths, but of late there’s been a big bass explosion. In fact, during two of the last four Big Bass Tour tournaments on Smith Mountain we’ve seen 8-pound-plus largemouths brought to the scales. In April of 2018 we saw a massive 8.32 pounder, and then last fall a contestant barely topped that with a massive 8.37. There’s almost aways one over 7, and usually a handful of sixes to go with it. The days of being competitive for the top prize with a fish under 6 pounds are likely over.
That’s particularly true now, said Crews, not only because the lake keeps getting healthier, but because multiple patterns should be in play.
“The fish really just started spawning, so they’ll still be spawning when the contestants get there,” he explained. “But by the time they arrive there should also be a shad spawn kicking off at night. It’ll start any day now.”
Recent tournament results have been exceptional, with it consistently taking over 20 pounds for a five-fish limit to claim victory, and invariably there’s a bass in the 7-pound class brought to the scales.
“The thing I really like about Smith Mountain is that all of the creek arms can be productive,” Crews explained. “Because there’s no vegetation, there’s no one area with a higher concentration of fish. I believe one year the BBT was won way up the river and the next year it was one down on the lower end. You can find any area you want with the water clarity you like and start fishing.”
For bedding fish he’d look for protected pockets and secondary points with hard bottoms. “You have to find those fish as they pull up,” he said. “If we have some weather, you can power fish for them with a spinnerbait or even a swimbait, but if you’re sight fishing for them a big creature bait is tough to beat.”
Unlike some lakes where the shad spawn primarily on rocks or dock floats, Crews said that at Smith Mountain it’s “more of a bank oriented deal.” The great thing, again, is that it exists all over the lake, although it tends to last longer in stained water. Wind may kill it off, but calm conditions with overcast or drizzle can prolong it up to an hour or two. Again, power fishing is the way to capitalize on “big ones up there to get heavy.” A swimbait, topwater and swim jig are all prime choices, but Crews said that “it’s hard not to throw a spinnerbait.”
For anglers who don’t care to pursue either of those patterns, Crews added that “there are always fish on docks,” He’d fish as many as he could, focusing shallower than usual, and close to bedding areas. “If they’re not on the beds, they’ll be close by,” he concluded.
Big Bass Tour Berkley Top Lure Choices:
Bedding Fish
- Berkley Maxscent The General
- Berkley Powerbait Maxscent Creature Hawg
- Berkley Powerbait Hollow Belly
Shad Spawn
- Berkley Powerbait Finesse Swim Jigs
- Berkley Powerbait Gilly Swimbait
Dock Fishing
- Berkley Maxscent The General
- Berkley Powerbait Skippin’ Jigs
Grand Lake Set to Host Toyota Series Plains Division Presented
GROVE, Okla. (April 19, 2022) – The Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. Plains Division will continue its 2022 season next week in Grove, Oklahoma, Apr. 28-30, with the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at Grand Lake Presented by Outlaw Ordnance. Hosted by the City of Grove, the three-day tournament is the second event of the season for the Toyota Series Plains 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.
Local pro James Elam of Tulsa, Oklahoma said Grand Lake makes for fun fishing in the spring and this event should be an exciting time for anglers to be out on the water.
“We’ve had a bit of a later year in terms of fish spawning, due to a warmer winter,” said Elam. “You might think that would make the fish spawn earlier, but we really need a hard, cold winter to signal winter-time to the fish, then a solid warming trend to move them up. That seems to make for a bigger bang for the spawn, and we just didn’t get that this year.”
Elam said some of the fish have been up at the bank for a long time, due to the unusual weather patterns, but anglers should still be able to catch them right in the heart of the spawn next week.
“We’ve had a lot of cold nights around here, and the fish are all ready to be spawning at the same time, but it’s been an odd season because of the low temperatures at night. We should see a couple warm nights right before the tournament begins and that’s definitely going to change things and make for better fishing.”
Elam said anglers should expect to see a lot of numbers caught during the event, but that will require them to continually adapt on the water.
“I expect to see a lot of junk fishing at the current stage of the spawn,” continued Elam. “Depending on where guys are fishing, they’ll have to figure out the 5 to 6 rods to have on their deck and I expect it will be junkier than it was a month or so ago. Things are changing every day – hour by hour – so adapting to that will be crucial and guys will have to mix it up quite a bit to stay on top.”
Elam said it’s hard to predict weights at this point in the spring, especially with the pressure this lake has gotten and the number of guys that will be practicing and fishing.
“With all those factors in play, I think it will be difficult to catch the 22- to 24-pound bags that Grand Lake is known for,” said Elam. “I expect we’ll see one or two of those big bags, but I think an average of 20 pounds per day can win the event.
“It’s definitely going to take consistency and mixing it up a little bit though. I don’t think you can do the same thing every single day and catch 20 pounds per day.”
Anglers will take off daily at 6:30 a.m. CT from Wolf Creek Park, located at 963 N. 16th Street in Kingston. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park and will begin at 2:30 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 .
Females In Fisheries Scholarship Application Deadline May 1
April 19, 2022
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Applications are being accepted until May 1 for the 2022 Noreen Clough Memorial Scholarship for Females in Fisheries. The two scholarships will honor female graduate students with a demonstrated commitment to pursuing a career in fishery management and conservation. The women selected will best reflect Noreen’s passion and commitment to the profession and to the sport of fishing.
This will be the sixth year that the American Fisheries Society Black Bass Conservation Committee and B.A.S.S. have awarded the scholarships. In 2021 the honors went to AnaSara Gillem, of Andalusia, Ala., a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and Shaley Valentine, of Hudsonville, Mich., a doctoral student at Southern Illinois University.
Clough blazed many trails in the field of fisheries. As the first female regional director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and later as the B.A.S.S. Conservation Director, her long and distinguished career was dedicated to the conservation and management of fish and wildlife. Clough passed away in January 2015 from pancreatic cancer. As a tribute to her, friends and colleagues established an endowment to provide a scholarship for female students working toward a career in fisheries conservation.
More information on the scholarship requirements and judging criteria can be found at Bassmaster.com/conservation-news or by contacting B.A.S.S. National Conservation Director Gene Gilliland at [email protected].
Inspired by the Pacific shores, Costa Lido combines technical chops with west coast vibe
Costa grows its spring 2022 collection with a new hybrid frame built for anything the water sends your way
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 19, 2022) – Costa Sunglasses, manufacturer of the first color-enhancing all-polarized glass sunglass lens, brings next-level performance and style to its spring 2022 collection with the new Lido. Versatile, stylish and packed with performance features, Lido is where form meets function.
Lido might have a laid back vibe, but don’t let it fool you, its pro-level features compete with some of Costa’s best. The vented, adjustable nose pads help reduce fogging and provide a custom fit. Sweat channels and eyewire drains move sweat and water away from your eyes. Hydrolite® grips on the nose pad and temples help keep your frames locked in place when the water gets rough. Top shields and side hooding minimize light leak and protect your eyes from the sun. Spring hinges allow for flexibility in fit and the thin temple fits perfectly underneath a hat.
“Lido is a brand new category for us,” said John Acosta, Vice President of Marketing at Costa. “We took the performance features that Costa is famous for and added them to a more modern frame designed for the west coast consumer. The Lido moves seamlessly from the water - fishing, surfing, paddling - to happy hour after a long day in the sun.”
Lido comes with Costa’s polarized, color-enhancing 580® glass lens technology for next-level clarity. The scratch-resistant lens cuts haze and blur and enhances key colors for superior clarity and definition. The lightweight Bio-Resin frame reduces the carbon footprint of each frame and maintains the durability standards required for long days on the water.
From east to west, whether watching waves or riding them, Lido is there for the adventure. For more information about Lido and Costa’s full collection of best-selling sunglasses, visit Costadelmar.com.
About Costa Sunglasses
As the first manufacturer of color-enhancing all-polarized glass sunglass lenses, Costa combines superior lens technology with unparalleled fit and durability. Costa has made the highest quality, best-performing sunglasses and prescription sunglasses (Rx) for outdoor enthusiasts since 1983, and now its product portfolio includes optical frames. Costa’s growing cult-brand status ties directly to its purpose to provide high-quality products with a focus on sustainability and conservation as the company works hard to protect the waters it calls home. From the use of sustainable and water-friendly materials to its Kick Plastic initiative, IndiFly Foundation, and meaningful partnerships with mission-aligned organizations, Costa encourages people to help protect the Earth’s natural resources in any way they can. Find out more on Costa’s website and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter at @CostaSunglasses.
Gregory Notches First Bassmaster Kayak Series Victory On Oklahoma’s Grand Lake
Drew Gregory of Canton, Ohio, has won the 2022 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series at Grand Lake powered by TourneyX with a five-fish limit of 91.5 inches.
Photo by Mark Cisneros/B.A.S.S.
April 16, 2022
GROVE, Okla. — When Drew Gregory first saw the schedule for the 2022 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX, he told his wife that he was going to win at Grand Lake.
Then on Saturday, the Canton, Ohio, native made good on that promise, catching a five-bass limit that measured 91.50 inches to earn his first Bassmaster Kayak Series event victory and a $3,400 check.
Anchoring his bag with a 20.25-incher, Gregory beat second-place angler Daniel Maffei by over 8 inches and third-place angler Mark Pendergraf by over 9 inches.
“I said I was going to win this tournament and figure it out,” Gregory said. “It has been my plan all year to fish four of the five to have a chance for the (Old Town) Angler of the Year title. I have a kayak I designed that is coming out really soon for Crescent Kayaks and it is pretty crazy to win this right before this boat is coming out.”
Gregory had never been to the Oklahoma reservoir, but through map study he thought it might set up similarly to Lake Dardanelle in Arkansas, a lake where he won a Hobie Bass Open Series event.
“(Dardanelle) has some clear Ozark streams feeding it and then part of the lake is muddier coming from the farmlands,” he explained. “This lake is similar to that. It has clearer streams and then it has some creeks that are muddier.”
In practice, Gregory pinpointed a spawning pocket where prespawn bass were staging and fattening up for the spawn. When he arrived on tournament day, the bass he found had relocated and it took a little while for Gregory to find them.
“I was getting really concerned. I realized they couldn’t have gone far. The water has been coming up on this lake. It was under full pool by half a foot and has risen about a foot,” Gregory said. “When the water had risen, the fish had moved to the bank and were in about a foot of water getting on those beds.”
After starting the day by catching a couple on a Z-Man SlingBladeZ spinnerbait, Gregory used a 3/8-ounce Z-Man CrossEyeZ Flipping Jig paired with a Z-Man Pro CrawZ trailer to target undercut roots and trees located on steeper banks. His limit was mostly full of fatter females that were preparing to spawn.
He noted a couple of those females could have been on bed but had not dropped their eggs. The bucks he caught, meanwhile, had torn up tails and were preparing beds.
“I caught two or three on the spinnerbait, but my whole day changed when I picked up the jig,” he said. “I flipped this one bush and the line jumped, I set the hook and it was an 18-incher, my first big fish. That clued me in to maybe the moving baits aren’t the deal today. I went around the pocket again with the jig and started getting bit like crazy.”
Gregory went back to the basics of kayak fishing, using arm strength and a paddle to maneuver his 10-foot Crescent UltraLite Kayak. With no graphs, motor or shallow-water anchor on this particular model, he was able to focus on what was happening in the moment.
“In my map work and study, there were enough good-looking places that were my kind of place — hard to get to and where you almost need a lightweight kayak to get in them,” he said. “When everyone else has that stuff, they can’t help but use it.
“The reason I got into kayak fishing was the simplicity of it. That kayak opens up a lot of water for me that other people don’t look at. I enjoy rivers, creeks and backwaters. That is the reason kayak fishing started.”
Despite not having any practice on Grand Lake prior to Saturday, Maffei landed 83.25 inches to take home second place and $2,000. Using mostly a finesse Carolina rig with a watermelon candy Zoom Baby Brush Hog, the Dennis, Kan., native targeted prespawn bass that were relating to bigger rocks.
“It was all map study and I picked a cove I thought looked good that fished to my strengths. I focused on areas where I thought the prespawn fish were staging in the cove,” he said. “I had my first two fish pretty early on with a spinnerbait and then I was working a secondary point flat and missed three on a Texas rig. After that, I went to the finesse Carolina rig.”
Most of his damage in that cove was done in a 100-yard stretch.
Pendergraf caught all of his 82-inch limit on a wacky-rigged XCite Baits Xtreme Stix in Duck Creek around root balls as well as the backs of docks and walkways on the docks. With rising water affecting his areas as well, the 2021 National Champion said the bass were pushed up and ready to start spawning.
Most of the bass Pendergraf caught today were likely buck bass, and fishing his bait slowly produced the majority of his bites.
“In prefishing, there was the Angler’s Choice Classic and 300 boats were on the water Thursday and Friday,” he said. “The lake was highly pressured and I had to fish superslow to get my bites.”
Tennessee native Keith Shadwick only landed one bass, but his 22.75-inch largemouth earned him Big Bass honors and $500.
The next Bassmaster Kayak Series event will be held on Lewis Smith Lake in Alabama on May 21 followed by the season finale at Pickwick Lake in Tennessee on Oct. 8-9.
Elite Pro Kimura Wins Bassmaster Northern Open In His James River Debut
Kenta Kimura of Osaka, Japan, has won the 2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Northern Open at James River presented by Mossy Oak Fishing with a three-day total of 65 pounds.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
April 16, 2022
RICHMOND, Va. — Bassmaster Elite Series angler Kenta Kimura said earlier in the week that he did not know what he was doing on the James River. But now that he’s won the St. Croix Bassmaster Northern Open at James River presented by Mossy Oak Fishing with a three-day total of 65 pounds, his story seems less than convincing.
After a Day 1 limit of 17 pounds put him in 19th place, the pro from Osaka, Japan, added 23-5 a day later and surged into second. Finishing Championship Saturday with 24-11 — the event’s second-heaviest bag — Kimura edged Keith Poche of Pike Road, Ala., by a margin of 3-9.
Kimura, who was fishing the James River for the first time, earned the top prize of $52,500, along with the $500 Garmin contingency bonus for being the top finishing pro using Garmin products. He also earned a berth in the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, to be held in Knoxville, Tenn., March 24-26.
“I really didn’t expect this because I had a horrible practice,” Kimura said. “I was going to be happy with 14 pounds a day, but I figured some things out.
“Some guys said it was going to take 18 pounds a day to make the cut, but I said, ‘No way.’ But this river is full of big fish. This might be the best river I’ve ever been to in the whole world. I love the James River.”
Complicating his first trip to the James River, Kimura left last week’s Elite event on Chickamauga Lake with little time to practice. But what he brought played a key role in his win.
He caught several of his bass this week on the same DRT Tiny Klash swimbait he used to catch his 19-pound Day 2 bag on Chickamauga. The jointed swimbait with a lateral tail and adjustable ABS plastic bill produced a 6-pounder in the tournament’s waning minutes.
“I culled out a 2-pounder with that fish,” Kimura said. “Without that fish, I wouldn’t have won.”
Kimura also caught bass on a spinnerbait and a Deps Evoke 2.0 squarebill. Those baits produced some of his limit fish, but his other big fish bait was a 3/8-ounce buzzbait. Kimura added a Berkley creature bait trailer and removed the side appendages for a more streamlined look.
“Anywhere in the world, the bigger fish like buzzbaits in a river,” he said. “Especially this place; all the fish are pressured.”
Kimura said he overcame his lack of James River experience with time management. He spent about half of his practice in the popular Chickahominy River — a major downstream tributary — but couldn’t put together what he considered a winning plan.
Ultimately, Kimura did all of his damage within 5 miles of the takeoff site at Osborne Park & Boat Landing. He said one of his spots was 30 seconds away.
“Every time I’ve fished rivers, I make a long run, but I stayed closer to give me time to figure out what tide they liked,” he said. “The first day I was just running around a lot of different places and caught all of my fish on the buzzbait. I had a good day, but it was only 19th place.
“The second day, I caught a limit pretty easy on the squarebill and the spinnerbait, but I couldn’t get a big one, so I switched to the big swimbait. They really liked the bigger profile.”
Kimura concluded with a show of respect for his U.S. competitors: “I want to thank the American anglers. You guys have created a great sport. This is my dream. It’s what I’ve wanted to do all my life since I was a little kid.”
Poche finished second with 61-7. After placing 14th on Day 1 with 17-6, he added 23-10 to take over the Day 2 lead and closed the event with a Day 3 limit of 20-7.
Fishing out of a 17 1/2-foot Gator Trax aluminum boat with a 90-horsepower Mercury outboard and a low-water pickup, Poche committed to fishing shallow tributaries, where he targeted spawning and prespawn bass with a Texas-rigged Berkley PowerBait The General and a Berkley Warpig lipless bait.
“It really slacked off (on Day 2) and I was really able to see those beds right off the bank,” Poche said. “The first day it was windy and today it was windy, so it was a little bit tougher.
“I was throwing that General weightless on a 7-3 heavy Fenwick rod and it was just really tough today to pinpoint those spots. This was my first time here and this river really showed out; I’d definitely like to come back.”
John Soukup of Sapulpa, Okla., finished third with 60-0. His daily weights were 21-9, 17-8 and 20-15.
Soukup spent his time targeting bed fish with a War Eagle Jiu-Jigsu Jig and a Yum Craw Chunk trailer and prespawners with a 3/8-ounce Booyah Covert spinnerbait. Day 3 ended with a difference-maker.
“At the end of the day with about five minutes left, I made a cast and kept getting caught in some fishing line,” Soukup said. “Eventually, I made another cast and it just stopped. I thought I was caught in that line, so I’m just pulling and pulling and pulling, trying to get it unhung.
“The next thing I know, it’s under the boat digging and now I think I have a catfish and I’m just trying to rip this thing up. All of a sudden, this thing comes up and it’s this giant bass — a 6-4. That was just a gift. God blessed me on that one.”
Joey Murphy of Elkton, Md., won the $750 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award with his 7-11 largemouth that he caught on Day 1.
Kimura leads the Bassmaster Northern Opens Angler of the Year season standings with 200 points. Poche is second with 199, followed by Soukup with 198, Alex Wetherell of Middletown, Conn., with 197 and Bassmaster Elite angler Koby Kreiger of Alva, Fla., with 196.
Kimura also leads the overall Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year standings with 543 points.
2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Northern Open #1 James River presented by Mossy Oak Fishing 4/14-4/16
James River, Richmond VA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 15 65-00 200 $53,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 23-05 Day 3: 5 24-11
2. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 15 61-07 199 $25,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-06 Day 2: 5 23-10 Day 3: 5 20-07
3. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 15 60-00 198 $18,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-09 Day 2: 5 17-08 Day 3: 5 20-15
4. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 15 57-01 197 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 25-09 Day 2: 5 13-14 Day 3: 5 17-10
5. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 15 55-02 196 $13,050.00
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 18-15 Day 3: 5 19-01
6. Brad Leuthner Independence, MN 15 50-06 195 $12,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-04 Day 2: 5 15-02 Day 3: 5 13-00
7. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 15 48-14 194 $11,250.00
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 15-13 Day 3: 5 15-12
8. Brian Post Janesville, WI 15 47-09 193 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 15-13 Day 3: 5 13-09
9. Tj Milton Chester, VA 15 45-12 192 $8,250.00
Day 1: 5 20-11 Day 2: 5 15-07 Day 3: 5 09-10
10. Kyoya Fujita Minamitsuru, Yamanashi 15 45-12 191 $6,750.00
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 18-12 Day 3: 5 11-01
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Joey Murphy Elkton, MD 07-11 $750.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 185 1011 2537-06
2 176 989 2326-03
3 10 50 165-12
----------------------------------
371 2050 5029-05
Poche Goes Shallow For Day 2 Lead At Bassmaster Open On James River
Keith Poche of Pike Road, Ala., is leading after Day 2 of the 2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Northern Open at James River presented by Mossy Oak Fishing with a two-day total of 41 pounds.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
April 15, 2022
RICHMOND, Va. — Keith Poche was equipped to do what no one else could do, and it helped him take over the Day 2 lead at the St. Croix Bassmaster Northern Open at James River presented by Mossy Oak Fishing with a two-day total of 41 pounds.
Hailing from Pike Road, Ala., Poche caught a Day 1 limit of 17-6 and tied Texas pro Randy Sullivan for 14th place. On Friday, he added 23-10 — the event’s second-heaviest bag — which was anchored by a 6-4 largemouth.
Committing to the far reaches of shallow tributaries, Poche fished out of a 17 1/2-foot Gator Trax aluminum boat with a 90-horsepower Mercury outboard. The lightweight vessel has low-water pickup, which allows Poche to run supershallow.
Poche left his push pole at home, so he improvised with a 2x4, using the simple tool to negotiate the tighter spots.
“I found a little deal in practice and I had a lot of bites on Monday,” Poche said. “I never went back (in practice), so I went back yesterday and caught a ton of fish. I should have had over 20 pounds yesterday, but it was really windy, they bit funny and a lot of fish just came unbuttoned.
“It slicked off today and I was really able to pick some stuff apart, really fine-tune it and really capitalize on some of those bigger bites. I quit early and left about 12 o’clock because I wasn’t doing myself any good culling a 3- or 4-pounder I may need (on Championship Saturday).”
Targeting a mix of cover in a foot of water or less, Poche was looking for spawning bass. He caught his fish on a Texas-rigged Berkley PowerBait The General and a Berkley Warpig lipless bait.
“I noticed that I did better when the tide was out, and I think that’s going to help me tomorrow,” Poche said. “When the water is low, I’m able to see those stumps and dark spots on the flat where they’re spawning and I’m able to pinpoint them. Yesterday, the wind was so bad, that I was just casting around.
“I lost so many yesterday because I was throwing a moving bait and they were just nipping at it. They weren’t really eating it; they were just running it off their bed. I had a lot of short strikes and that’s why they came off.”
With today’s improved visibility, Poche’s hook-up percentage was significantly higher. He caught one of his limit fish on the lipless bait and the other four on the Texas rig.
Timing was key for Poche, as he found bass moving up to the spawning locations later in the day.
“I went by a stump first thing this morning that had deep water pretty close, and I went by a couple of hours later and I saw a big fish up there next to a log,” he said. “I pitched over there and she ate it.
“I think that, as it warms up, they’re pulling up and getting ready to do their thing and backing off at night. They’re in the vicinity; it’s just catching them when they’re right there.”
Bassmaster Elite Series pro Kenta Kimura of Osaka, Japan, is in second place with 40-5. He added 23-5 Friday to the 17 pounds he caught on Day 1.
“After the Elite event on Chickamauga (April 7-10), I had less than three days to practice,” he said. “I spent a day and a half in the Chickahominy River (a major tributary downstream from takeoff), but it took me all day to catch 14 to 15 pounds.
“I figured just stay close and try to figure something out. I had two main areas; one was 10 minutes from takeoff and one was 30 seconds away.”
Relying on techniques he mastered on his home waters of Japan’s Lake Biwa, Kimura caught his bass on a large hard-body swimbait and a 3/8-ounce buzzbait with a prototype Berkley PowerBait creature bait.
“I just went back and forth between my two areas,” Kimura said. “Yesterday, I probably caught six keepers, but today I caught 20 keepers.”
Hailing from Middletown, Conn., Alex Wetherell is in third place with 39-7. After setting the high mark on Day 1 with a 25-9 limit that included a couple of 7-pounders, he added a Day 2 bag of 13-14.
Returning to the same creek scenario he fished on Day 1, Wetherell lamented the morning’s 80-minute fog delay, which cost him a critical morning bite.
“On tidal water, timing is everything, so having that delay definitely hurt me,” he said. “I’m definitely still around the fish, so I feel good about tomorrow.”
Wetherell fished a mix of reaction baits and targeted presentations with a jig and a Texas-rigged worm. During the higher tide stage, slowing down proved helpful.
Joey Murphy of Elkton, Md., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 7-11 largemouth caught on Day 1.
James Nealy of Yale, Va., won the co-angler division with a two-day total of 26-14. After leading Day 1 with 15-2, he added 11-12 and took home the $25,183 top prize.
Focusing on shallow wood, Nealy relied mainly on a 5/16-ounce chartreuse/white spinnerbait with tandem gold and silver Colorado blades. Making contact with the hard cover was the key to getting bites.
“Every fish I caught except for one was on a spinnerbait,” Nealy said. “Around midday today, the spinnerbait bite slowed down and I needed one more keeper, so I went to flipping a craw bait and got my last one.”
Nealy’s first-round bag included an 8-2, which earned the $250 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award for the co-angler division. He also won the $500 St. Croix Rods bonus for being the highest finishing co-angler who fished with St. Croix Rods.
Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. ET at Osborne Park & Boat Landing. The weigh-in will be held back at the Landing at 2:30 p.m. Coverage is available on Bassmaster.com.
2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Northern Open #1 James River presented by Mossy Oak Fishing 4/14-4/16
James River, Richmond VA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 10 41-00 200
Day 1: 5 17-06 Day 2: 5 23-10
2. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 10 40-05 199
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 23-05
3. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 10 39-07 198
Day 1: 5 25-09 Day 2: 5 13-14
4. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 10 39-01 197
Day 1: 5 21-09 Day 2: 5 17-08
5. Brad Leuthner Independence, MN 10 37-06 196
Day 1: 5 22-04 Day 2: 5 15-02
6. Tj Milton Chester, VA 10 36-02 195
Day 1: 5 20-11 Day 2: 5 15-07
7. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 10 36-01 194
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 18-15
8. Kyoya Fujita Minamitsuru, Yamanashi 10 34-11 193
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 18-12
9. Brian Post Janesville, WI 10 34-00 192
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 15-13
10. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 10 33-02 191
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 15-13
11. Justin Margraves Diana, TX 10 33-01 190 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 18-01
12. Hunter Sales Blaine, TN 10 32-15 189 $5,250.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 17-14
13. Ryan Broughman Corapeake, NC 10 32-15 188 $4,125.00
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 16-07
14. Keith Tuma Brainerd, MN 10 32-13 187 $4,125.00
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 17-03
15. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 32-10 186 $4,125.00
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 17-11
16. Chaz Carrington Suffolk, VA 10 32-04 185 $4,125.00
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 15-06
17. Michael Iaconelli Pittsgrove, NJ 10 31-13 184 $4,125.00
Day 1: 5 20-03 Day 2: 5 11-10
18. danny Snyder Annandale, VA 10 31-10 183 $4,125.00
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 17-14
19. Jacob Walker Springville, AL 10 31-05 182 $4,125.00
Day 1: 5 19-13 Day 2: 5 11-08
20. Randy Sullivan Breckenridge, TX 10 31-01 181 $4,125.00
Day 1: 5 17-06 Day 2: 5 13-11
21. Andrew Upshaw Hemphill, TX 10 31-01 180 $3,750.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 17-04
22. Cody Bertrand Dyer, IN 10 31-00 179 $3,750.00
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 18-09
23. Raymond Jones III Mocksville, NC 10 31-00 178 $3,750.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 17-08
24. Douglas Reed Bridgeton, NJ 10 31-00 177 $3,750.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 15-02
25. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 10 30-13 176 $3,750.00
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 13-11
26. John Garrett Union City, TN 10 30-04 175 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 20-00
27. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 10 30-02 174 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 17-15
28. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 10 30-02 173 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 15-02
29. Nick Radtke Greenwood Lake, NY 10 30-01 172 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 16-07
30. Tanner Sanderson Ackerly, TX 10 29-09 171 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 14-10
31. Donnie Bell Jr Hopewell, VA 10 29-08 170 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 13-13
32. Frank Poirier North Prince George, VA 10 29-07 169 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 12-15
33. Christiana Bradley Goldvein, VA 10 29-07 168 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 15-14
34. Chris Price Church Hill, MD 10 29-03 167 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 13-00
35. Joey Murphy Elkton, MD 9 29-02 166 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 22-03 Day 2: 4 06-15
36. John Vanore Mullica Hill, NJ 10 29-02 165 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 18-05
37. Brad Webb Hampton, VA 10 28-15 164 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 12-08
38. Whitney Stephens Waverly, OH 10 28-12 163 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 11-01
39. Steve Morella Townshend, VT 10 28-11 162 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 16-12
40. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 10 28-08 161 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 11-01
41. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 10 28-07 160
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 17-11
42. Hugh Cosculluela Spring, TX 10 28-07 159
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 13-13
43. Jefferson Hamilton Henrico, VA 10 28-05 158
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 16-06
44. Jared Miller Norman, OK 10 28-04 157
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 11-10
45. Cole Huskins Gastonia, NC 10 28-04 156
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 12-15
46. Sam George Athens, AL 10 27-11 155
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 5 10-12
47. Gunnar Meger Otsego, MN 10 27-08 154
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 10-08
48. Ronald Young New Braunfels, TX 10 27-06 153
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 11-14
49. Quentin Cappo Prairieville, LA 10 27-06 152
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 12-03
50. Cody Salzmann Southgate, MI 10 27-04 151
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 13-02
51. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 10 27-04 150
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 13-10
52. Pete Gluszek Mount Laurel, NJ 10 27-01 149
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 12-06
53. Michael Duarte Middle River, MD 9 26-14 148
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 4 09-07
54. Greg Fernandez Chesterfield, VA 10 26-13 147
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 15-05
55. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 10 26-13 146
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 12-05
56. Chance Woodard Paris, TX 10 26-12 145
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 13-14
57. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 10 26-11 144
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 12-12
58. Caden Acree Powder Springs, GA 10 26-10 143
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 12-00
59. John Murray Spring City, TN 9 26-10 142
Day 1: 4 14-09 Day 2: 5 12-01
60. Jamey Caldwell Carthage, NC 10 26-09 141
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 10-09
61. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 10 26-08 140
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 12-05
62. Tyler Morgan Pine Grove, PA 10 26-08 139
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 12-14
63. Seiji Kato Outsu Shiga JAPAN 10 26-06 138
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 12-14
64. Tommy Little Chester, VA 10 26-04 137
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 13-10
65. Austin Cranford Moore, OK 10 26-03 136
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 12-00
66. Chris Keeble Lenoir City, TN 10 26-02 135
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 15-00
67. Greg Alexander Hebron, MD 10 26-01 134
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 07-14
68. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 10 26-01 133
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 10-14
69. Tommy Williams Shepherdsville, KY 10 26-01 132
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 11-12
70. John Duarte Jr Conway, SC 10 25-13 131
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 11-14
71. Logan Johnson Jasper, AL 10 25-09 130
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 13-04
72. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 10 25-09 129
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 13-01
73. Timothy Reams Morgantown, WV 10 25-08 128
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 11-08
74. Kerry Frey Middlebury, IN 10 25-08 127
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 13-15
75. Cody Pike Powhatan, VA 10 25-07 126
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 11-00
76. Cole Sands Calhoun , TN 10 25-06 125
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 10-10
77. Julius Mazy Phoenix, AZ 10 25-04 124
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 10-14
78. Matt Pangrac Bixby, OK 10 25-04 123
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 12-11
79. Jeff Salmon Chester, VA 10 25-03 122
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 11-00
80. Casey Smith Victor, NY 10 25-00 121
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 15-10
81. Tanner Ward Woodsfield, OH 10 24-15 120
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 10-15
82. Trevor McKinney Benton, IL 10 24-15 119
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 13-06
83. Jacopo Gallelli Horton AL ITALY 10 24-11 118
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 13-10
84. Patrick Martin St Roch De L Achigan Qu 10 24-11 117
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 11-14
85. Ryan Whitacre Chicago, IL 10 24-11 116
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 12-09
86. Jason Borofka Lavon, TX 10 24-10 115
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 06-05
87. Ryan Powroznik Prince George, VA 10 24-10 114
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 09-15
88. Brian Mullaney Ijamsville, MD 10 24-09 113
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 14-00
89. Billy Gilbert Hamburg, NY 10 24-08 112
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 13-05
89. Jon Jezierski Troy, MI 10 24-08 112
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 13-05
91. Darold Gleason Many, LA 10 24-05 110
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 07-11
92. Bailey Boutries Springfield, MO 10 24-04 109
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 15-13
93. Jared Williams Hampton, VA 10 24-04 108
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 14-11
94. Joe Labarbera Montrose, PA 10 24-04 107
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 13-03
95. Caiden Sinclair Wilsonville, AL 10 24-04 106
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 11-08
96. Bradley Hallman Edmond, OK 10 24-04 105
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 12-05
97. Craig Chambers Midland, NC 10 24-02 104
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 11-00
98. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 10 24-01 103
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 11-03
99. Chris Hellebuyck Waterford, MI 10 24-00 102
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 08-00
100. Jon Canada Helena, AL 10 24-00 101
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 08-14
101. Mike Raber Elkhart, IN 10 23-12 100
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 10-04
102. Grae Buck Green Lane, PA 10 23-11 99
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 13-04
103. Tristan McCormick Burns, TN 10 23-10 98
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 10-00
104. Stanley Sypeck Jr Sugarloaf, PA 10 23-08 97
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 10-07
105. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 10 23-02 96
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 11-00
106. Sheron Brown Leominster, MA 10 22-15 95
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 12-10
107. Jody Gardner Tippecanoe, OH 10 22-13 94
Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 5 15-09
108. Reese Hudson Broomall, PA 10 22-12 93
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 13-03
109. Michael Crocker Pasadena, MD 8 22-12 92
Day 1: 4 11-01 Day 2: 4 11-11
110. Jake Maddux Birmingham, AL 10 22-09 91
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 11-02
111. Brian Trieschman Ellicott City, MD 10 22-08 90
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 08-11
112. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 10 22-08 89
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 11-10
113. Luke Shrader Maple Shade, NJ 10 22-03 88
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 09-05
114. James Loomis III Parish, NY 10 22-02 87
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 11-02
115. Josh Cotier Clinton, MA 10 22-01 86
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 11-03
116. Brock Belik Orchard, NE 9 22-00 85
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 4 09-04
117. Jacob Otto Lagrange, IN 10 21-14 84
Day 1: 5 06-11 Day 2: 5 15-03
118. Travis Lugar McGaheysville, VA 10 21-14 83
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 10-13
119. Scott Pellegrin Chippewa Falls, WI 10 21-10 82
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 07-09
120. Destin DeMarion Harborcreek, PA 10 21-10 81
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 09-15
121. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 10 21-10 80
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 10-11
122. Jeremy Radford Huntly, VA 10 21-09 79
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 10-01
123. Blake Sylvester Plaquemine, LA 9 21-08 78
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 4 08-08
124. Coop Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 10 21-07 77
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 11-02
125. Michael Rowe Providence Forge, VA 10 21-05 76
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 09-14
126. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 10 21-02 75
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 08-11
127. Zak Fadden Plymouth, MI 10 21-02 74
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 09-09
128. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 10 20-15 73
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 10-01
129. Bobby "J" Nakatomi Sacramento, CA 7 20-14 72
Day 1: 2 07-03 Day 2: 5 13-11
130. Spencer Peters Corryton, TN 10 20-14 71
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 10-09
131. Jeremy Sadowski Voluntown, CT 9 20-13 70
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 4 04-08
132. Wesley Cashwell Roanoke Rapids, NC 8 20-13 69
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 3 07-00
133. Bart Stanisz Wichita Falls , TX 10 20-08 68
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 06-08
134. Jordan Sypeck Weston, PA 9 20-08 67
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 4 09-05
135. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 8 20-07 66
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 3 07-02
136. Daisuke Kita Ohtsu Shiga JAPAN 10 20-06 65
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 08-06
137. Jonathan Carter Portland, ME 10 20-06 64
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 11-09
138. Mamoru Kagiya Takahama JAPAN 10 20-06 63
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 10-09
139. Barry Brandt Jr. Newport News, VA 10 20-05 62
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 10-00
140. Joel Willert Prior Lake, MN 10 20-00 61
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 07-01
141. Kenny Mittelstaedt Minnetonka, MN 10 19-15 60
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 06-13
142. Josh Summerville Lilly, PA 10 19-14 59
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 06-10
143. Jason Casteel Ocoee, FL 10 19-11 58
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 09-15
144. Trent Cole Mullica Hill, NJ 8 19-06 57
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 3 06-01
145. Marshall Johnson Montpelier, VA 8 19-01 56
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 3 04-09
146. Zach Goutremout Chaumont, NY 10 19-00 55
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 08-04
147. Brent Shores Boise, ID 9 18-15 54
Day 1: 4 07-09 Day 2: 5 11-06
148. Jason Bishop North Prince George, VA 10 18-14 53
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 08-06
149. Chad Smith Minnetonka, MN 10 18-13 52
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 09-05
150. Rick Hawkins Roanoke, VA 9 18-12 51
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 4 06-15
151. Woo Daves Spring Grove, VA 10 18-08 50
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 06-11
152. Kane Stein Jeannette, PA 7 18-07 49
Day 1: 2 05-00 Day 2: 5 13-07
153. Danny Rodriguez Monkton, MD 9 18-05 48
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 4 07-15
154. Greg Secord Salem, SC 10 18-04 47
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 5 10-09
155. Jeff Jensen Beech Creek, PA 10 18-03 46
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 07-05
156. Shayne Berlo Mclean, VA 10 18-02 45
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 5 09-09
157. Kurt Dove Del Rio, TX 10 18-01 44
Day 1: 5 07-03 Day 2: 5 10-14
158. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 10 18-00 43
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 04-12
159. Paul Kimball Glastonbury, CT 9 18-00 42
Day 1: 4 05-09 Day 2: 5 12-07
160. Tony Dumitras Winston, GA 10 18-00 41
Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 5 10-02
161. Dave Husnay Conklin, NY 6 17-15 40
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 1 03-11
162. Tom Knee Newtown Square, PA 6 17-15 39
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 3 11-12
163. Eddie Casey Whiteford, MD 10 17-15 38
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 5 09-03
164. Vincent Melfi Bellmawr, NJ 10 17-14 37
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 07-00
165. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 7 17-13 36
Day 1: 2 05-05 Day 2: 5 12-08
166. Jim Dillard West Monroe, LA 10 17-13 35
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 08-00
167. Ken Golubjatnikov Pittsford, NY 10 17-11 34
Day 1: 5 06-04 Day 2: 5 11-07
168. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 10 17-11 33
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 09-09
169. Randy Huffman Charleston, WV 10 17-09 32
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 08-11
170. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 9 17-08 31
Day 1: 4 04-09 Day 2: 5 12-15
171. Craig Townsend Westampton, NJ 7 17-04 30
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 4 12-04
172. Joe McClosky Swanton, MD 6 16-15 29
Day 1: 4 10-09 Day 2: 2 06-06
173. Steven Camp Mechanicsvlle, VA 10 16-14 28
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 08-00
174. Mark Dimarzio McDonald, PA 9 16-13 27
Day 1: 4 06-09 Day 2: 5 10-04
175. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 10 16-10 26
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 07-08
176. Mike McKay Manlius, NY 6 16-08 25
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 1 01-10
177. Joe Ford Bewdely CANADA 9 16-07 24
Day 1: 4 09-00 Day 2: 5 07-07
178. Cass Terrance Akwewsane, NY 7 16-04 23
Day 1: 2 03-10 Day 2: 5 12-10
179. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 8 16-01 22
Day 1: 3 05-10 Day 2: 5 10-07
180. Brian Brooks Sea Isle City, NJ 10 15-08 21
Day 1: 5 06-13 Day 2: 5 08-11
181. Linwood Shores Powhatan, VA 7 15-06 20
Day 1: 2 03-01 Day 2: 5 12-05
182. Christopher Fiore Midlothian, VA 7 15-05 19
Day 1: 2 02-08 Day 2: 5 12-13
183. Michael Kinard Concord, NC 9 15-01 18
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 4 06-05
184. Marcus Griffin North East, MD 7 15-00 17
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 5 11-01
185. Brandon Brown Lockport, NY 9 14-13 16
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 4 06-08
186. Michael Zampese Haskell, NJ 10 14-10 15
Day 1: 5 06-05 Day 2: 5 08-05
187. Lucas Bogosian Harrington Park, NJ 10 14-05 14
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 07-05
188. Randy Elliott Severn, MD 6 14-01 13
Day 1: 3 10-06 Day 2: 3 03-11
189. Cody Detweiler Guntersville, AL 10 13-15 12
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 05-11
190. Noah Boyett Mountain Home, AR 10 13-11 11
Day 1: 5 06-09 Day 2: 5 07-02
191. Shaun Brown Slippery Rock, PA 5 13-00 10
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
192. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 7 12-14 9
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 4 08-08
193. Richard Ortiz Fort Ann, NY 7 12-12 8
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 2 03-06
194. Hunter Bland Williston, FL 10 12-11 7
Day 1: 5 06-05 Day 2: 5 06-06
195. Hermilo Salgado-Zavaleta Artemus, KY 7 12-10 6
Day 1: 5 06-11 Day 2: 2 05-15
196. Christopher Bryant Disputanta, VA 5 12-07 5
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
197. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 7 12-00 4
Day 1: 5 07-05 Day 2: 2 04-11
198. Kayden Tanner Tolar, TX 9 11-12 3
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 4 04-01
199. Tim Malone Kodak, TN 8 11-10 2
Day 1: 3 04-13 Day 2: 5 06-13
200. Carmen Peluso Pittsburgh, PA 6 11-08 1
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 5 09-13
201. D.J. Ellis Crestview, FL 9 11-01 0
Day 1: 5 06-08 Day 2: 4 04-09
202. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 5 10-13 0
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
203. Douglas Dulin Apex, NC 7 10-10 0
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 5 06-04
204. Ed Stiefel Mahwah, NJ 5 10-06 0
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
205. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 6 10-04 0
Day 1: 1 02-11 Day 2: 5 07-09
206. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 5 10-01 0
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
207. John Conway Jr Henrico, VA 6 10-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 5 07-03
208. Chris Dillow Waynesboro, VA 6 09-15 0
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 1 01-07
209. Bridget Allen Manheim, PA 4 09-09 0
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 3 08-02
210. Michael Harter Westminster, SC 6 09-01 0
Day 1: 2 02-06 Day 2: 4 06-11
211. John Watts Jr Flushing, MI 6 08-15 0
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 5 07-06
212. Bo Boltz Jr New Kent, VA 4 08-09 0
Day 1: 4 08-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
213. Wayne Hall Cottonwood, AZ 3 07-02 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 07-02
214. Vince Troiano Chesterfield, NJ 5 06-11 0
Day 1: 5 06-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
215. Daniel Dooner Wyckoff, NJ 5 05-05 0
Day 1: 5 05-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
216. Troy Coney Endicott, NY 2 05-05 0
Day 1: 2 05-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
217. Richard Kaluba Litchfield, OH 4 04-13 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 04-13
217. Shane Oltjenbruns Neligh, NE 4 04-13 0
Day 1: 4 04-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
219. Richard Vonnordick Jarrettsville, MD 2 04-10 0
Day 1: 2 04-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
220. Ethen Preston Tower City, ND 1 03-06 0
Day 1: 1 03-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
221. Douglas Lyon Glendale, OH 3 03-05 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 03-05
222. Burley Warf Moneta, VA 3 03-04 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 03-04
223. Anthony Cicero Palmyra, PA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
223. Oliver Ngy Frisco, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
223. Kaoru O'Bryan Louisville, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 185 1011 2537-06
2 176 989 2326-03
----------------------------------
361 2000 4863-09
2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Northern Open #1 James River presented by Mossy Oak Fishing 4/14-4/16
James River, Richmond VA.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. James Nealy Yale, VA 6 26-14 200 $25,183.00
Day 1: 3 15-02 Day 2: 3 11-12
2. Mathew Thompson Hogansburg, NY 6 23-09 199 $5,867.00
Day 1: 3 14-15 Day 2: 3 08-10
3. Anthony Ross Hopewell, VA 6 20-08 198 $4,400.00
Day 1: 3 08-09 Day 2: 3 11-15
4. David Williams Fredericksburg, VA 6 18-11 197 $3,300.00
Day 1: 3 08-12 Day 2: 3 09-15
5. Greg Mauldin Archdale, NC 6 18-10 196 $3,080.00
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 3 12-08
6. Francis Andrews Petersburg,, VA 6 18-09 195 $2,933.00
Day 1: 3 13-08 Day 2: 3 05-01
7. EJ Thomas Roanoke, VA 6 18-06 194 $2,787.00
Day 1: 3 11-13 Day 2: 3 06-09
8. Brooks Parker Bridgeville, DE 6 18-03 193 $2,640.00
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 3 11-12
9. Levi Allgeier Bardstown, KY 6 18-00 192 $2,420.00
Day 1: 3 07-03 Day 2: 3 10-13
10. Jason Sherwood Damascus, MD 6 18-00 191 $2,200.00
Day 1: 3 08-05 Day 2: 3 09-11
11. Joe Lineberry Selwn CANADA 6 17-12 190 $2,053.00
Day 1: 3 08-03 Day 2: 3 09-09
12. Lynn Hoeffer Newport News, VA 6 17-04 189 $1,907.00
Day 1: 3 10-14 Day 2: 3 06-06
13. Rob Tipton III Pitman, NJ 6 17-03 188 $1,613.00
Day 1: 3 09-15 Day 2: 3 07-04
14. Ashley Bishop Chesapeake, VA 6 16-02 187 $1,467.00
Day 1: 3 08-08 Day 2: 3 07-10
15. Alex Richard Hampton, VA 6 16-00 186 $1,320.00
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 3 09-02
16. Joe Franzwa Pittsgrove, NJ 6 15-15 185 $1,173.00
Day 1: 3 09-12 Day 2: 3 06-03
17. Ryan Drewery South Prince George, VA 6 15-10 184 $1,100.00
Day 1: 3 10-06 Day 2: 3 05-04
18. Tony Long Moseley, VA 6 15-10 183 $1,100.00
Day 1: 3 09-06 Day 2: 3 06-04
19. Erik Brztowski Lemont, IL 6 15-09 182 $1,100.00
Day 1: 3 09-01 Day 2: 3 06-08
20. Jeremy Hise Midlothian, VA 6 15-09 181 $1,100.00
Day 1: 3 06-13 Day 2: 3 08-12
21. Cody Wilson Ladson, SC 6 15-07 180 $1,027.00
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 3 10-08
22. David Deciucis CHESTER, VA 6 15-05 179 $1,027.00
Day 1: 3 10-09 Day 2: 3 04-12
23. John Cary Ruther Glen, VA 6 15-05 178 $1,027.00
Day 1: 3 09-09 Day 2: 3 05-12
24. David Camp Sterling, OH 6 15-02 177 $1,027.00
Day 1: 3 09-08 Day 2: 3 05-10
25. Richard Roselle La Plata, MD 6 14-13 176 $1,027.00
Day 1: 3 07-13 Day 2: 3 07-00
26. Richard Rodriguez Williamsburg, VA 6 14-13 175 $880.00
Day 1: 3 07-08 Day 2: 3 07-05
27. Clayton Payne The Plains, VA 6 14-10 174 $880.00
Day 1: 3 09-04 Day 2: 3 05-06
28. Phillip Arnold Powhatan, VA 6 14-10 173 $880.00
Day 1: 3 08-14 Day 2: 3 05-12
29. Scott Devault New Philadelphia, OH 6 14-10 172 $880.00
Day 1: 3 08-06 Day 2: 3 06-04
30. Michael Martinez Lanexa, VA 5 14-09 171 $880.00
Day 1: 3 09-01 Day 2: 2 05-08
31. Maurice Curley Prince George, VA 6 14-07 170 $807.00
Day 1: 3 08-12 Day 2: 3 05-11
32. Travis Heath Chester, VA 6 14-06 169 $807.00
Day 1: 3 08-03 Day 2: 3 06-03
33. Bryce Bason Mill Hall, PA 6 14-06 168 $807.00
Day 1: 3 08-01 Day 2: 3 06-05
34. Lenny Baird Stafford, VA 6 14-04 167 $807.00
Day 1: 3 09-11 Day 2: 3 04-09
35. Sakae Ushio Tonawanda, NY 6 14-01 166 $807.00
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 3 09-02
36. John Barnes Henrico, VA 6 14-00 165 $807.00
Day 1: 3 08-09 Day 2: 3 05-07
37. Hunter Reifschneider Marion, IA 6 14-00 164 $807.00
Day 1: 3 07-02 Day 2: 3 06-14
38. Stacey Jefferson Conway, SC 6 13-15 163 $807.00
Day 1: 3 07-13 Day 2: 3 06-02
39. Brian Setlock Lancaster, PA 6 13-14 162 $807.00
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 3 07-05
40. Christopher Mcdaniel Victoria , VA 5 13-12 161 $807.00
Day 1: 3 10-12 Day 2: 2 03-00
41. Joseph Zapf Oak Ridge, NJ 6 13-12 160
Day 1: 3 07-12 Day 2: 3 06-00
42. Brent Temple BREWERTON, NY 4 13-09 159
Day 1: 3 11-01 Day 2: 1 02-08
43. Jason Holder Powhatan, VA 6 13-09 158
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 3 06-11
44. Scott Spencer Raleigh, NC 6 13-08 157
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 3 07-11
45. Ernest McIntyre Jr Fayetteville, NC 6 13-07 156
Day 1: 3 03-12 Day 2: 3 09-11
46. Cory Weaver Ankeny, IA 6 13-06 155
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 3 08-07
47. Tim Mcglenn Welcome, MD 6 13-05 154
Day 1: 3 03-08 Day 2: 3 09-13
48. Thomas Edmunds Mechanicsville, VA 6 13-05 153
Day 1: 3 06-15 Day 2: 3 06-06
49. Alex Watts Roanoke, VA 6 13-04 152
Day 1: 3 08-08 Day 2: 3 04-12
50. Joe Stalb Manheim, PA 6 13-02 151
Day 1: 3 08-10 Day 2: 3 04-08
51. Tyler Caldwell Portsmouth, VA 6 13-02 150
Day 1: 3 08-04 Day 2: 3 04-14
52. Jimmy Schaffer Oak Ridge, NJ 5 13-02 149
Day 1: 2 07-13 Day 2: 3 05-05
53. David Booth Erin, TN 6 13-02 148
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 3 07-09
54. Derek Brown Charlottesville, VA 6 13-01 147
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 3 06-03
55. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 6 12-15 146
Day 1: 3 07-12 Day 2: 3 05-03
56. Joey Deluke Glen Allen, VA 6 12-15 145
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 3 05-10
57. Craig Ferguson Emporia, VA 6 12-15 144
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 3 06-04
58. Les Forrest Chesterfield, VA 4 12-14 143
Day 1: 3 09-00 Day 2: 1 03-14
59. Christopher Underwood Oak Hill, VA 5 12-14 142
Day 1: 2 05-03 Day 2: 3 07-11
60. James Williams Sims, NC 6 12-13 141
Day 1: 3 08-02 Day 2: 3 04-11
61. Ray Cates Overland Park, KS 6 12-11 140
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 3 07-02
62. Aaron Bartlett New Kent, VA 6 12-10 139
Day 1: 3 08-05 Day 2: 3 04-05
63. Christopher Trovinger Sabillasville, MD 6 12-08 138
Day 1: 3 03-03 Day 2: 3 09-05
64. Mike Roselle La Plata, MD 6 12-08 137
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 3 08-01
65. Akira Okuyama Forest Hills, NY 6 12-06 136
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 3 05-01
66. Nicole Jacobs Saint Paul, MN 5 12-06 135
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 2 05-01
67. Logan Buttolph Doswell, VA 6 12-05 134
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 3 07-11
68. David Dickerson Colonial Heights, VA 4 12-04 133
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 3 09-15
69. Nathaniel Kilgore Franklin, VA 5 12-04 132
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 2 06-00
70. Michael Baldwin Jr South Chesterfield, VA 6 12-03 131
Day 1: 3 07-11 Day 2: 3 04-08
71. Charles James Richmond, VA 6 12-03 130
Day 1: 3 06-15 Day 2: 3 05-04
72. Bill Turonis Jr Kill Devil Hills, NC 4 12-02 129
Day 1: 1 03-08 Day 2: 3 08-10
73. Todd Long Midlothian, VA 6 12-01 128
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 3 06-08
74. Richard Griswold Jr Windsor, VA 6 11-15 127
Day 1: 3 07-00 Day 2: 3 04-15
75. Richard Stewart Chesterfield, VA 6 11-13 126
Day 1: 3 07-08 Day 2: 3 04-05
76. Johnnie Garrett Union City, TN 6 11-12 125
Day 1: 3 03-09 Day 2: 3 08-03
77. Michael Rustin Henrico, VA 6 11-12 124
Day 1: 3 04-00 Day 2: 3 07-12
78. Rick Jerman Springfield, VA 5 11-12 123
Day 1: 2 07-05 Day 2: 3 04-07
79. Chris Whittaker Waverly, VA 5 11-12 122
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 2 04-08
80. Matt Noraas Pamplin, VA 6 11-11 121
Day 1: 3 03-12 Day 2: 3 07-15
81. Kenny Stelter Forest Lake, MN 5 11-11 120
Day 1: 2 05-02 Day 2: 3 06-09
82. Joseph Strauss Lititz, PA 6 11-10 119
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 3 05-06
83. Jonathan Patkus Columbia, MD 6 11-07 118
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 3 04-02
84. Gerald Heffler Chester, VA 6 11-07 117
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 3 07-00
85. Jessie Moore Severn, MD 6 11-07 116
Day 1: 3 06-15 Day 2: 3 04-08
86. Jordan LaClair Ogdensburg, NY 6 11-07 115
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 3 05-15
87. Robert Bruguiere Roseland, VA 6 11-06 114
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 3 05-11
88. Charles Pulay Fulton, MD 6 11-05 113
Day 1: 3 06-15 Day 2: 3 04-06
89. Jonathan Lakota Memphis, NY 5 11-05 112
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 3 06-14
90. Joe Mantione West Milford, NJ 6 11-05 111
Day 1: 3 04-13 Day 2: 3 06-08
91. Joshua Torres Port Tobacco, MD 6 11-04 110
Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 3 04-03
92. Tommy Young II Linden, NC 4 11-03 109
Day 1: 3 08-11 Day 2: 1 02-08
93. Roger Walters Jr Colonial Heights, VA 6 11-00 108
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 3 03-12
94. Kelly Robinette Colonial Heights, VA 6 10-13 107
Day 1: 3 06-01 Day 2: 3 04-12
95. Chris Donavant Yorktown, VA 6 10-11 106
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 3 05-06
96. Brian Langford Petersburg, VA 5 10-10 105
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 2 05-10
97. William Stallings Midlothian, VA 4 10-09 104
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 3 09-07
98. Mark Kines Virginia Beach, VA 6 10-09 103
Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 3 03-08
99. John Dunn Deltaville, VA 6 10-08 102
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 3 04-06
100. Jared Phillips Addison, NY 5 10-07 101
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 3 06-12
101. Trey Grow III Mechanicsville, VA 6 10-07 100
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 3 05-12
102. Mark Westrick Hastings, PA 4 10-05 99
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 3 09-02
103. Brian Durham Dinwiddie, VA 6 10-04 98
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 3 05-00
104. Eric Bedford Keswick, VA 4 10-02 97
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 3 08-01
105. Andy Lavin Lanexa, VA 6 10-01 96
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 3 04-04
106. Michael Mcmanama Hopewell, VA 4 10-00 95
Day 1: 3 08-05 Day 2: 1 01-11
107. William Gaston Sylacauga, AL 6 09-15 94
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 3 06-00
108. Kevin Pfautz Barboursville, VA 6 09-14 93
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 3 03-07
109. Burley Langford III South Chesterfield, VA 5 09-12 92
Day 1: 3 06-01 Day 2: 2 03-11
110. Frank Elasavage Owings Mills, MD 6 09-12 91
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 3 04-07
111. Travis Wyatt Gloucester, VA 4 09-11 90
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 1 02-06
112. Eric Osborne Jefferson, NC 6 09-11 89
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 3 03-08
113. Hamilton Derricott Chesterfield, VA 6 09-11 88
Day 1: 3 05-03 Day 2: 3 04-08
114. Bird Jones Loxahatchee, FL 5 09-10 87
Day 1: 2 01-13 Day 2: 3 07-13
115. Todd Hughes Mount Bethel, PA 5 09-10 86
Day 1: 2 02-04 Day 2: 3 07-06
116. Mark Kendra Great Meadows, NJ 3 09-06 85
Day 1: 3 09-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
117. Mickey Soler Newington, CT 6 09-06 84
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 3 04-11
118. Bill Butler Chester, VA 3 09-05 83
Day 1: 1 04-04 Day 2: 2 05-01
119. Jim Opetaia-Williamson Winter Garden, FL 5 09-04 82
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 2 03-02
120. Devon Norwood Kitson Montclair , NJ 6 09-03 81
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 3 04-15
121. Donnie Meade Richmond, VA 6 09-03 80
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 3 04-08
122. Laz Durham Dumfries, VA 3 09-02 79
Day 1: 3 09-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
123. Rodney Manson Glen Burnie, MD 6 09-02 78
Day 1: 3 03-06 Day 2: 3 05-12
124. Stephen Brady Woodlawn, VA 6 09-02 77
Day 1: 3 03-11 Day 2: 3 05-07
125. Riley Kolich Long Beach, CA 4 09-01 76
Day 1: 3 08-01 Day 2: 1 01-00
126. Keith Jones Newport News, VA 6 09-01 75
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 3 04-12
127. Rich Knisely Jr. Disputanta, VA 5 08-15 74
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 2 03-03
128. Tom Tennity Ontario, NY 6 08-15 73
Day 1: 3 03-10 Day 2: 3 05-05
129. Amos Troyer Millersburg, IN 5 08-14 72
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 2 02-05
130. Arthur Carrier Colonial Heights, VA 5 08-14 71
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 2 03-15
131. Eugene Kim Lindenhurst, IL 5 08-14 70
Day 1: 2 04-11 Day 2: 3 04-03
132. Rich Williams Sutherland, VA 4 08-12 69
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 1 02-03
133. Jonathan Ceaser Maidens, VA 6 08-12 68
Day 1: 3 04-00 Day 2: 3 04-12
134. Yousel Torres Hampton, VA 6 08-11 67
Day 1: 3 03-03 Day 2: 3 05-08
135. Jc Condrey Saxe, VA 6 08-11 66
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 3 04-00
136. William Condrey Chesterfield, VA 6 08-10 65
Day 1: 3 04-00 Day 2: 3 04-10
137. Mike Mueller Mechanicsburg, PA 4 08-09 64
Day 1: 1 02-11 Day 2: 3 05-14
138. Gavin English Atwater, OH 5 08-09 63
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 3 04-08
139. Joshua Geyer Loganton, PA 6 08-09 62
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 3 04-03
140. Ryan Patterson Scott Township, PA 5 08-08 61
Day 1: 3 04-14 Day 2: 2 03-10
141. Ron Ryals Jr Live Oak, FL 6 08-08 60
Day 1: 3 04-08 Day 2: 3 04-00
142. Avery Neely Richmond, VA 6 08-08 59
Day 1: 3 04-03 Day 2: 3 04-05
143. Steven Bowling Chesterfield, VA 6 08-05 58
Day 1: 3 03-09 Day 2: 3 04-12
144. Hunter Atkins Carrsville, VA 4 08-04 57
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 3 06-14
145. Guy Cisternino Oak Ridge, NJ 3 08-02 56
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 08-02
146. David Slaybaugh Colonial Heights, VA 4 08-02 55
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 3 06-15
147. Jiles Richards New Carrollton, MD 6 08-01 54
Day 1: 3 03-07 Day 2: 3 04-10
148. Robert Mcgarry Clarks Summit, PA 5 08-01 53
Day 1: 2 03-10 Day 2: 3 04-07
149. Doug Griles Providence Forge, VA 6 08-00 52
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 3 03-01
150. Cj Combs Sandston, VA 6 08-00 51
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 3 04-01
151. Richard Slomba Dundalk, MD 5 07-15 50
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 2 02-10
152. Todd Fisher Hopewell, VA 5 07-15 49
Day 1: 3 04-08 Day 2: 2 03-07
153. Paul Propst Jr. Kearneysville, WV 4 07-14 48
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 1 02-13
154. Burley Langford Jr. South Chesterfield, VA 5 07-14 47
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 2 02-14
155. David Compton Mount Bethel, PA 5 07-14 46
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 2 03-05
156. Benjamin Fisher Elizabeth City, NC 5 07-14 45
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 3 04-06
157. Gus Kneidinger Prospect, PA 4 07-13 44
Day 1: 3 05-15 Day 2: 1 01-14
158. Chris McCarthy Woonsocket, RI 5 07-10 43
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 2 02-10
159. Wesley Watson Huntington, WV 4 07-10 42
Day 1: 1 03-07 Day 2: 3 04-03
160. Tevinn Rollins Hampton, VA 5 07-08 41
Day 1: 2 02-15 Day 2: 3 04-09
161. Paul Kimball Philadelphia, PA 4 07-06 40
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 3 05-13
162. Harry Nurk Elkton, MD 6 07-06 39
Day 1: 3 03-04 Day 2: 3 04-02
163. Mark Ely Chester Springs, PA 4 07-03 38
Day 1: 1 00-12 Day 2: 3 06-07
164. Joe Sodora Garfield, NJ 6 07-03 37
Day 1: 3 03-06 Day 2: 3 03-13
165. Tommy Hamilton Disputanta, VA 4 07-02 36
Day 1: 1 02-12 Day 2: 3 04-06
166. James Johnson Chester, VA 4 07-00 35
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 3 04-11
167. Chip Stith Piscataway, NJ 5 07-00 34
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 2 02-09
168. David Everhart Kearneysville, WV 5 06-14 33
Day 1: 3 04-00 Day 2: 2 02-14
169. John Stoughtenger Waterloo, NY 3 06-13 32
Day 1: 3 06-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
170. Kyle Bolenske Goochland, VA 4 06-12 31
Day 1: 1 02-15 Day 2: 3 03-13
171. Steve Webb Montpelier, VA 3 06-11 30
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
172. Mike Hedrick Chester, VA 4 06-11 29
Day 1: 1 02-10 Day 2: 3 04-01
173. Wayne Morris Somerdale, NJ 4 06-09 28
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 1 01-04
174. Joshua McGeary Mt. Pleasant, PA 5 06-09 27
Day 1: 3 04-03 Day 2: 2 02-06
175. Christopher House Walworth, NY 4 06-07 26
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 3 04-14
176. Jim O'Connell Jr Castle Rock, CO 4 06-07 25
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 2 02-09
177. Anthony Boris Kansasville, WI 3 06-07 24
Day 1: 1 03-05 Day 2: 2 03-02
178. AJ Jones Lutz, FL 3 06-00 23
Day 1: 3 06-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
178. James Tilley Aylett, VA 3 06-00 23
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-00
178. Robert Winward Jr Newark, DE 3 06-00 23
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-00
181. Brad Goetz Montello, WI 3 05-13 20
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
182. David Waack Cary, NC 4 05-13 19
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 3 04-05
183. Steve Ritchie Franklin, OH 5 05-13 18
Day 1: 3 03-08 Day 2: 2 02-05
184. Roland Gittings Perryville, MD 4 05-10 17
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 3 04-09
185. Steven Miller Glen Allen, VA 3 05-09 16
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 05-09
186. Kevin Fore Powhatan, VA 3 05-08 15
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
187. Angela Mayo Maiden, NC 4 05-08 14
Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 2 02-10
188. Jacob Kidd Petersburg, VA 4 05-06 13
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 3 04-07
189. Jared Sutton Chester, VA 3 05-05 12
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
190. Kent Barker Sterling, VA 4 05-05 11
Day 1: 3 04-01 Day 2: 1 01-04
191. Troy Bowings Essex, MD 3 05-03 10
Day 1: 3 05-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
191. George Epley Livingston Manor, NY 3 05-03 10
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 05-03
193. Joey Price Jr Powhatan, VA 4 05-03 8
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 3 04-00
194. Kevin Gregory Midlothian, VA 3 05-02 7
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 05-02
194. Chris Moore Mechanicsville, VA 3 05-02 7
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
196. Rick Lemocks Carson, VA 4 05-02 5
Day 1: 3 03-09 Day 2: 1 01-09
197. Jimmy Fellegy Lakeville, MN 4 05-01 4
Day 1: 2 02-10 Day 2: 2 02-07
198. Travis Ruddock Mechanicsville, VA 3 05-00 3
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 05-00
199. Andy Semonco Chester, VA 3 04-12 2
Day 1: 3 04-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
200. Frank Williams Jackson, MO 3 04-12 1
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 1 01-07
201. Michael Mawyer Midlothian, VA 2 04-07 0
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 1 01-10
202. Dante Gray Ruther Glen, VA 3 04-03 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 04-03
203. Tom Cahill Danville, VA 2 04-03 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-03
204. Tim Byers Emporia, VA 3 03-14 0
Day 1: 3 03-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
205. Antuan Vincent Newport News, VA 2 03-14 0
Day 1: 1 00-12 Day 2: 1 03-02
206. Lance Owen Greer, SC 2 03-06 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-06
206. Steve Plude Franklin, VA 2 03-06 0
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
208. Bob Harper Lombard, IL 1 03-05 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 03-05
209. Tyrone Adams Fredericksburg, VA 5 03-03 0
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 3 00-00
210. Mark Ludwig Chesterfield, VA 3 03-02 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 03-02
211. Jeffrey Ball Richmond, VA 2 02-11 0
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 1 01-11
212. James Burtner Penn Laird, VA 2 02-10 0
Day 1: 2 02-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
213. Ricky Meyers Fredericksburg, VA 1 02-06 0
Day 1: 1 02-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
214. Lou Britos Disputanta, VA 2 01-14 0
Day 1: 2 01-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
215. Danny Ware Shacklefords, VA 1 01-07 0
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
216. Matt Martin Colonial Heights, VA 1 01-03 0
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
217. Larry Beauboeuf Bossier City, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
217. John Brzozowski Plymouth, PA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
217. David Patterson Flowood, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
217. Kevin Ritchie Trenton, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 155 535 1145-03
2 153 532 1057-13
----------------------------------
308 1067 2203-00
Wetherell Follows Two-Stage Plan To Lead Bassmaster Open On James River
Alex Wetherell of Middletown, Conn., is leading the 2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Northern Open at the James River presented by Mossy Oak Fishing with 25 pounds, 9 ounces.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
April 14, 2022
Wetherell Follows Two-Stage Plan To Lead Bassmaster Open On James River
RICHMOND, Va. — Alex Wetherell was not particularly thrilled with his practice, but his mood changed dramatically after catching a five-bass limit that weighed 25 pounds, 9 ounces to lead Day 1 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Northern Open at the James River presented by Mossy Oak Fishing.
“This is proof that practice does not matter,” said Wetherell, who lives in Middletown, Conn. “This was not a good practice at all. I sampled (various areas) and, thankfully, that sampling turned into a pretty good bag today.
“In practice, I’d catch a fish and get out of there. I didn’t sting too many of these fish and, come tournament time, I expanded on these areas and caught some good ones.”
Wetherell’s leading bag — his biggest in tournament competition — included a pair of 7-pounders. One of those big fish bit during the first 20 minutes.
Making a long run, Wetherell spent his day in tributary waters where he targeted a mix of cypress trees and pads with moving baits. Some of the bass in his areas were prespawners, but some had moved onto beds.
“I’m running into both in the same areas, but (prespawn and spawning fish) are 20 yards apart,” Wetherell said. “I’m fishing stuff right near the areas where they’re spawning. I caught some of my bigger fish doing that, and I caught 2- to 4-pound fish that seemed to be on beds.”
Wetherell knew the week’s warming trend would hasten the fish’s seasonal pattern, but with the low-visibility characteristic of tidal rivers, he couldn’t count on seeing any spawning fish.
“It scared me that we’re having all this warm weather and all these fish were going to move in for the spawn because I didn’t feel like I had areas where I thought they would spawn,” he said. “Today I just kind of figured it out just by the way they would hit. The deal I found was a prespawn deal and the spawn deal was just kind of a bonus.”
Typically, fish that are guarding beds will only nip at intrusive baits and try to carry them off their property. This often yields multiple missed bites, but Wetherell was able to dial in a presentation that allowed him to hook several bed fish.
“The key was slowing down and really picking apart the areas,” he said. “As windy as it was, I would just put my Minn Kota Raptors down, fancast an area and really work it through. Having a couple of big fish early settled me down and allowed me to work thoroughly and that gave me some of those key bites.
“In practice, I really didn’t catch many fish that were very big and I thought, ‘If I catch 15 pounds today, I’ll be really happy.’ I’m over the moon about the bag I had today. From yesterday to today, I feel totally different.”
Looking ahead to Day 2, Wetherell said, “There are definitely fish around. I don’t know if I’m going to catch another 7-pounder, but I’ll definitely be around them.”
Brad Leuthner of Independence, Minn., is in second place with 22-4. Catching a 7-5 kicker eased the pain of seeing what could have been a monster bag diminished by tough breaks.
“That 7-pounder goes a long way, but I had another one on that was that big if not bigger,” Leuthner said. “This morning, I got some mud in my livewell pump and I had a 2 1/2-pound fish die. I could have had another 3 or 4 pounds today.”
Leuthner said he fished the Chickahominy — a major tributary downstream from takeoff — and sought areas with the gravel bottom that spawning fish favor. He said he caught all prespawners, but they were located adjacent to those hard-bottom areas.
“I mixed it up throughout the day,” Leuthner said of his bait selections. “When the tide was right, I could throw a moving bait, but when the tide (was unfavorable), I had to slow down with plastic baits.”
Joey Murphy of Elkton, Md., is in third place with 22-3. Fishing shallow cover with slower presentations, Murphy said his best strategy involved making the most of the day’s different tide stages.
“For what I was fishing, I wanted more water over their heads, but I was able to get them on the lower tides as well,” Murphy said. “It seemed like you had to transition with them as the tide changed.”
Murphy caught good bass throughout the day, but he ended with a bang.
“I caught a 7-11 25 minutes before check-in time,” he said. “I culled out a 2 1/2-pounder with that one.”
Murphy is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with that 7-11.
James Nealy of Yale, Va., leads the co-angler division with 15-2. Fishing shallow wood cover with reaction baits, Nealy’s day got off to a quick start and included an 8-2 that leads the Phoenix Boats Big Bass standings for the co-angler division.
“When you get your limit early and you catch a big kicker fish (8-2) early, it makes you feel good and makes the rest of the day easy,” Nealy said. “I had my limit in the first hour and a half, then I caught the big one around 11 o’clock.
“About an hour before we came in, I made one final cull with a 4-pounder.”
Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. ET at Osborne Park & Boat Landing. The weigh-in will be held back at the Landing at 2:30 p.m. Coverage is available on Bassmaster.com.
2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Northern Open #1 James River presented by Mossy Oak Fishing 4/14-4/16
James River, Richmond VA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 5 25-09 200
Day 1: 5 25-09
2. Brad Leuthner Independence, MN 5 22-04 199
Day 1: 5 22-04
3. Joey Murphy Elkton, MD 5 22-03 198
Day 1: 5 22-03
4. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 5 21-09 197
Day 1: 5 21-09
5. Tj Milton Chester, VA 5 20-11 196
Day 1: 5 20-11
6. Michael Iaconelli Pittsgrove, NJ 5 20-03 195
Day 1: 5 20-03
7. Jacob Walker Springville, AL 5 19-13 194
Day 1: 5 19-13
8. Jason Borofka Lavon, TX 5 18-05 193
Day 1: 5 18-05
9. Brian Post Janesville, WI 5 18-03 192
Day 1: 5 18-03
10. Greg Alexander Hebron, MD 5 18-03 191
Day 1: 5 18-03
11. Whitney Stephens Waverly, OH 5 17-11 190
Day 1: 5 17-11
12. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 5 17-07 189
Day 1: 5 17-07
12. Michael Duarte Middle River, MD 5 17-07 189
Day 1: 5 17-07
14. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 17-06 187
Day 1: 5 17-06
14. Randy Sullivan Breckenridge, TX 5 17-06 187
Day 1: 5 17-06
16. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 5 17-05 185
Day 1: 5 17-05
17. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 5 17-02 184
Day 1: 5 17-02
17. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 5 17-02 184
Day 1: 5 17-02
19. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 5 17-00 182
Day 1: 5 17-00
19. Gunnar Meger Otsego, MN 5 17-00 182
Day 1: 5 17-00
21. Sam George Athens, AL 5 16-15 180
Day 1: 5 16-15
22. Chaz Carrington Suffolk, VA 5 16-14 179
Day 1: 5 16-14
23. Darold Gleason Many, LA 5 16-10 178
Day 1: 5 16-10
23. Jared Miller Norman, OK 5 16-10 178
Day 1: 5 16-10
25. Ryan Broughman Corapeake, NC 5 16-08 176
Day 1: 5 16-08
25. Frank Poirier North Prince George, VA 5 16-08 176
Day 1: 5 16-08
27. Brad Webb Hampton, VA 5 16-07 174
Day 1: 5 16-07
28. Jeremy Sadowski Voluntown, CT 5 16-05 173
Day 1: 5 16-05
29. Chris Price Church Hill, MD 5 16-03 172
Day 1: 5 16-03
30. Chris Hellebuyck Waterford, MI 5 16-00 171
Day 1: 5 16-00
31. Jamey Caldwell Carthage, NC 5 16-00 170
Day 1: 5 16-00
32. Kyoya Fujita Minamitsuru, Yamanashi 5 15-15 169
Day 1: 5 15-15
33. Douglas Reed Bridgeton, NJ 5 15-14 168
Day 1: 5 15-14
34. Donnie Bell Jr Hopewell, VA 5 15-11 167
Day 1: 5 15-11
35. Keith Tuma Brainerd, MN 5 15-10 166
Day 1: 5 15-10
36. Ronald Young New Braunfels, TX 5 15-08 165
Day 1: 5 15-08
37. Cole Huskins Gastonia, NC 5 15-05 164
Day 1: 5 15-05
38. Quentin Cappo Prairieville, LA 5 15-03 163
Day 1: 5 15-03
38. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 5 15-03 163
Day 1: 5 15-03
40. Jon Canada Helena, AL 5 15-02 161
Day 1: 5 15-02
41. Hunter Sales Blaine, TN 5 15-01 160
Day 1: 5 15-01
42. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 5 15-00 159
Day 1: 5 15-00
42. Justin Margraves Diana, TX 5 15-00 159
Day 1: 5 15-00
44. Tanner Sanderson Ackerly, TX 5 14-15 157
Day 1: 5 14-15
45. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 14-15 156
Day 1: 5 14-15
46. Mike McKay Manlius, NY 5 14-14 155
Day 1: 5 14-14
47. Cole Sands Calhoun , TN 5 14-12 154
Day 1: 5 14-12
48. Pete Gluszek Mount Laurel, NJ 5 14-11 153
Day 1: 5 14-11
48. Ryan Powroznik Prince George, VA 5 14-11 153
Day 1: 5 14-11
50. Caden Acree Powder Springs, GA 5 14-10 151
Day 1: 5 14-10
51. Hugh Cosculluela Spring, TX 5 14-10 150
Day 1: 5 14-10
52. John Murray Spring City, TN 4 14-09 149
Day 1: 4 14-09
53. Marshall Johnson Montpelier, VA 5 14-08 148
Day 1: 5 14-08
53. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 5 14-08 148
Day 1: 5 14-08
55. Cody Pike Powhatan, VA 5 14-07 146
Day 1: 5 14-07
56. Julius Mazy Phoenix, AZ 5 14-06 145
Day 1: 5 14-06
57. Tommy Williams Shepherdsville, KY 5 14-05 144
Day 1: 5 14-05
58. Dave Husnay Conklin, NY 5 14-04 143
Day 1: 5 14-04
59. Austin Cranford Moore, OK 5 14-03 142
Day 1: 5 14-03
59. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 5 14-03 142
Day 1: 5 14-03
59. Jeff Salmon Chester, VA 5 14-03 142
Day 1: 5 14-03
62. Cody Salzmann Southgate, MI 5 14-02 139
Day 1: 5 14-02
63. Scott Pellegrin Chippewa Falls, WI 5 14-01 138
Day 1: 5 14-01
64. Timothy Reams Morgantown, WV 5 14-00 137
Day 1: 5 14-00
64. Bart Stanisz Wichita Falls , TX 5 14-00 137
Day 1: 5 14-00
64. Tanner Ward Woodsfield, OH 5 14-00 137
Day 1: 5 14-00
67. John Duarte Jr Conway, SC 5 13-15 134
Day 1: 5 13-15
67. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 5 13-15 134
Day 1: 5 13-15
69. Wesley Cashwell Roanoke Rapids, NC 5 13-13 132
Day 1: 5 13-13
69. Brian Trieschman Ellicott City, MD 5 13-13 132
Day 1: 5 13-13
69. Andrew Upshaw Hemphill, TX 5 13-13 132
Day 1: 5 13-13
72. danny Snyder Annandale, VA 5 13-12 129
Day 1: 5 13-12
73. Tristan McCormick Burns, TN 5 13-10 128
Day 1: 5 13-10
73. Tyler Morgan Pine Grove, PA 5 13-10 128
Day 1: 5 13-10
73. Nick Radtke Greenwood Lake, NY 5 13-10 128
Day 1: 5 13-10
73. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 5 13-10 128
Day 1: 5 13-10
77. Christiana Bradley Goldvein, VA 5 13-09 124
Day 1: 5 13-09
78. Raymond Jones III Mocksville, NC 5 13-08 123
Day 1: 5 13-08
78. Seiji Kato Outsu Shiga JAPAN 5 13-08 123
Day 1: 5 13-08
78. Mike Raber Elkhart, IN 5 13-08 123
Day 1: 5 13-08
81. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 5 13-05 120
Day 1: 5 13-05
81. Trent Cole Mullica Hill, NJ 5 13-05 120
Day 1: 5 13-05
83. Josh Summerville Lilly, PA 5 13-04 118
Day 1: 5 13-04
83. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 5 13-04 118
Day 1: 5 13-04
85. Craig Chambers Midland, NC 5 13-02 116
Day 1: 5 13-02
85. Kenny Mittelstaedt Minnetonka, MN 5 13-02 116
Day 1: 5 13-02
87. Stanley Sypeck Jr Sugarloaf, PA 5 13-01 114
Day 1: 5 13-01
88. Shaun Brown Slippery Rock, PA 5 13-00 113
Day 1: 5 13-00
88. Blake Sylvester Plaquemine, LA 5 13-00 113
Day 1: 5 13-00
90. Joel Willert Prior Lake, MN 5 12-15 111
Day 1: 5 12-15
91. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 5 12-14 110
Day 1: 5 12-14
91. Luke Shrader Maple Shade, NJ 5 12-14 110
Day 1: 5 12-14
91. Chance Woodard Paris, TX 5 12-14 110
Day 1: 5 12-14
94. Patrick Martin St Roch De L Achigan Qu 5 12-13 107
Day 1: 5 12-13
95. Brock Belik Orchard, NE 5 12-12 106
Day 1: 5 12-12
95. Caiden Sinclair Wilsonville, AL 5 12-12 106
Day 1: 5 12-12
97. Tommy Little Chester, VA 5 12-10 104
Day 1: 5 12-10
98. Matt Pangrac Bixby, OK 5 12-09 103
Day 1: 5 12-09
99. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 5 12-08 102
Day 1: 5 12-08
100. Cody Bertrand Dyer, IN 5 12-07 101
Day 1: 5 12-07
100. Christopher Bryant Disputanta, VA 5 12-07 101
Day 1: 5 12-07
100. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 12-07 101
Day 1: 5 12-07
103. Logan Johnson Jasper, AL 5 12-05 98
Day 1: 5 12-05
104. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 5 12-03 97
Day 1: 5 12-03
105. Ryan Whitacre Chicago, IL 5 12-02 96
Day 1: 5 12-02
105. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 5 12-02 96
Day 1: 5 12-02
107. Daisuke Kita Ohtsu Shiga JAPAN 5 12-00 94
Day 1: 5 12-00
108. Bradley Hallman Edmond, OK 5 11-15 93
Day 1: 5 11-15
108. Jefferson Hamilton Henrico, VA 5 11-15 93
Day 1: 5 11-15
108. Steve Morella Townshend, VT 5 11-15 93
Day 1: 5 11-15
111. Woo Daves Spring Grove, VA 5 11-13 90
Day 1: 5 11-13
111. Rick Hawkins Roanoke, VA 5 11-13 90
Day 1: 5 11-13
113. Destin DeMarion Harborcreek, PA 5 11-11 88
Day 1: 5 11-11
114. Zak Fadden Plymouth, MI 5 11-09 87
Day 1: 5 11-09
114. Kerry Frey Middlebury, IN 5 11-09 87
Day 1: 5 11-09
114. Trevor McKinney Benton, IL 5 11-09 87
Day 1: 5 11-09
117. Greg Fernandez Chesterfield, VA 5 11-08 84
Day 1: 5 11-08
117. Jeremy Radford Huntly, VA 5 11-08 84
Day 1: 5 11-08
119. Michael Rowe Providence Forge, VA 5 11-07 82
Day 1: 5 11-07
120. Jake Maddux Birmingham, AL 5 11-07 81
Day 1: 5 11-07
121. Billy Gilbert Hamburg, NY 5 11-03 80
Day 1: 5 11-03
121. Jon Jezierski Troy, MI 5 11-03 80
Day 1: 5 11-03
121. Jordan Sypeck Weston, PA 5 11-03 80
Day 1: 5 11-03
124. Chris Keeble Lenoir City, TN 5 11-02 77
Day 1: 5 11-02
125. Jacopo Gallelli Horton AL ITALY 5 11-01 76
Day 1: 5 11-01
125. Travis Lugar McGaheysville, VA 5 11-01 76
Day 1: 5 11-01
127. Joe Labarbera Montrose, PA 5 11-01 74
Day 1: 5 11-01
128. Michael Crocker Pasadena, MD 4 11-01 73
Day 1: 4 11-01
129. James Loomis III Parish, NY 5 11-00 72
Day 1: 5 11-00
130. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 5 10-15 71
Day 1: 5 10-15
131. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 5 10-14 70
Day 1: 5 10-14
131. Josh Cotier Clinton, MA 5 10-14 70
Day 1: 5 10-14
131. Jeff Jensen Beech Creek, PA 5 10-14 70
Day 1: 5 10-14
131. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 5 10-14 70
Day 1: 5 10-14
131. Vincent Melfi Bellmawr, NJ 5 10-14 70
Day 1: 5 10-14
136. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 5 10-13 65
Day 1: 5 10-13
136. John Vanore Mullica Hill, NJ 5 10-13 65
Day 1: 5 10-13
138. Zach Goutremout Chaumont, NY 5 10-12 63
Day 1: 5 10-12
138. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 10-12 63
Day 1: 5 10-12
140. Brian Mullaney Ijamsville, MD 5 10-09 61
Day 1: 5 10-09
141. Joe McClosky Swanton, MD 4 10-09 60
Day 1: 4 10-09
142. Jason Bishop North Prince George, VA 5 10-08 59
Day 1: 5 10-08
143. Grae Buck Green Lane, PA 5 10-07 58
Day 1: 5 10-07
144. Danny Rodriguez Monkton, MD 5 10-06 57
Day 1: 5 10-06
144. Ed Stiefel Mahwah, NJ 5 10-06 57
Day 1: 5 10-06
146. Randy Elliott Severn, MD 3 10-06 55
Day 1: 3 10-06
147. Barry Brandt Jr. Newport News, VA 5 10-05 54
Day 1: 5 10-05
147. Sheron Brown Leominster, MA 5 10-05 54
Day 1: 5 10-05
147. Coop Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 5 10-05 54
Day 1: 5 10-05
147. Spencer Peters Corryton, TN 5 10-05 54
Day 1: 5 10-05
151. John Garrett Union City, TN 5 10-04 50
Day 1: 5 10-04
152. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 5 10-01 49
Day 1: 5 10-01
153. Jim Dillard West Monroe, LA 5 09-13 48
Day 1: 5 09-13
153. Mamoru Kagiya Takahama JAPAN 5 09-13 48
Day 1: 5 09-13
155. Jason Casteel Ocoee, FL 5 09-12 46
Day 1: 5 09-12
156. Reese Hudson Broomall, PA 5 09-09 45
Day 1: 5 09-09
156. Jared Williams Hampton, VA 5 09-09 45
Day 1: 5 09-09
158. Chad Smith Minnetonka, MN 5 09-08 43
Day 1: 5 09-08
159. Richard Ortiz Fort Ann, NY 5 09-06 42
Day 1: 5 09-06
159. Casey Smith Victor, NY 5 09-06 42
Day 1: 5 09-06
161. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 5 09-02 40
Day 1: 5 09-02
162. Joe Ford Bewdely CANADA 4 09-00 39
Day 1: 4 09-00
163. Steven Camp Mechanicsvlle, VA 5 08-14 38
Day 1: 5 08-14
163. Randy Huffman Charleston, WV 5 08-14 38
Day 1: 5 08-14
165. Jonathan Carter Portland, ME 5 08-13 36
Day 1: 5 08-13
166. Eddie Casey Whiteford, MD 5 08-12 35
Day 1: 5 08-12
166. Michael Kinard Concord, NC 5 08-12 35
Day 1: 5 08-12
168. Shayne Berlo Mclean, VA 5 08-09 33
Day 1: 5 08-09
169. Bo Boltz Jr New Kent, VA 4 08-09 32
Day 1: 4 08-09
170. Chris Dillow Waynesboro, VA 5 08-08 31
Day 1: 5 08-08
171. Bailey Boutries Springfield, MO 5 08-07 30
Day 1: 5 08-07
172. Brandon Brown Lockport, NY 5 08-05 29
Day 1: 5 08-05
173. Cody Detweiler Guntersville, AL 5 08-04 28
Day 1: 5 08-04
174. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 5 08-02 27
Day 1: 5 08-02
175. Tony Dumitras Winston, GA 5 07-14 26
Day 1: 5 07-14
176. Greg Secord Salem, SC 5 07-11 25
Day 1: 5 07-11
176. Kayden Tanner Tolar, TX 5 07-11 25
Day 1: 5 07-11
178. Brent Shores Boise, ID 4 07-09 23
Day 1: 4 07-09
179. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 5 07-05 22
Day 1: 5 07-05
180. Jody Gardner Tippecanoe, OH 5 07-04 21
Day 1: 5 07-04
181. Kurt Dove Del Rio, TX 5 07-03 20
Day 1: 5 07-03
182. Bobby "J" Nakatomi Sacramento, CA 2 07-03 19
Day 1: 2 07-03
183. Lucas Bogosian Harrington Park, NJ 5 07-00 18
Day 1: 5 07-00
184. Brian Brooks Sea Isle City, NJ 5 06-13 17
Day 1: 5 06-13
185. Jacob Otto Lagrange, IN 5 06-11 16
Day 1: 5 06-11
185. Hermilo Salgado-Zavaleta Artemus, KY 5 06-11 16
Day 1: 5 06-11
185. Vince Troiano Chesterfield, NJ 5 06-11 16
Day 1: 5 06-11
188. Noah Boyett Mountain Home, AR 5 06-09 13
Day 1: 5 06-09
189. Mark Dimarzio McDonald, PA 4 06-09 12
Day 1: 4 06-09
190. D.J. Ellis Crestview, FL 5 06-08 11
Day 1: 5 06-08
191. Hunter Bland Williston, FL 5 06-05 10
Day 1: 5 06-05
191. Michael Zampese Haskell, NJ 5 06-05 10
Day 1: 5 06-05
193. Ken Golubjatnikov Pittsford, NY 5 06-04 8
Day 1: 5 06-04
194. Tom Knee Newtown Square, PA 3 06-03 7
Day 1: 3 06-03
195. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 3 05-10 6
Day 1: 3 05-10
196. Paul Kimball Glastonbury, CT 4 05-09 5
Day 1: 4 05-09
197. Daniel Dooner Wyckoff, NJ 5 05-05 4
Day 1: 5 05-05
198. Troy Coney Endicott, NY 2 05-05 3
Day 1: 2 05-05
198. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 2 05-05 3
Day 1: 2 05-05
200. Craig Townsend Westampton, NJ 3 05-00 1
Day 1: 3 05-00
201. Kane Stein Jeannette, PA 2 05-00 0
Day 1: 2 05-00
202. Shane Oltjenbruns Neligh, NE 4 04-13 0
Day 1: 4 04-13
203. Tim Malone Kodak, TN 3 04-13 0
Day 1: 3 04-13
204. Richard Vonnordick Jarrettsville, MD 2 04-10 0
Day 1: 2 04-10
205. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 4 04-09 0
Day 1: 4 04-09
206. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 3 04-06 0
Day 1: 3 04-06
207. Douglas Dulin Apex, NC 2 04-06 0
Day 1: 2 04-06
208. Marcus Griffin North East, MD 2 03-15 0
Day 1: 2 03-15
209. Cass Terrance Akwewsane, NY 2 03-10 0
Day 1: 2 03-10
210. Ethen Preston Tower City, ND 1 03-06 0
Day 1: 1 03-06
211. Linwood Shores Powhatan, VA 2 03-01 0
Day 1: 2 03-01
212. John Conway Jr Henrico, VA 1 02-13 0
Day 1: 1 02-13
213. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 1 02-11 0
Day 1: 1 02-11
214. Christopher Fiore Midlothian, VA 2 02-08 0
Day 1: 2 02-08
215. Michael Harter Westminster, SC 2 02-06 0
Day 1: 2 02-06
216. Carmen Peluso Pittsburgh, PA 1 01-11 0
Day 1: 1 01-11
217. John Watts Jr Flushing, MI 1 01-09 0
Day 1: 1 01-09
218. Bridget Allen Manheim, PA 1 01-07 0
Day 1: 1 01-07
219. Anthony Cicero Palmyra, PA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
219. Wayne Hall Cottonwood, AZ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
219. Richard Kaluba Litchfield, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
219. Douglas Lyon Glendale, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
219. Oliver Ngy Frisco, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
219. Kaoru O'Bryan Louisville, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
219. Burley Warf Moneta, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 185 1011 2537-06
----------------------------------
185 1011 2537-06
2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Northern Open #1 James River presented by Mossy Oak Fishing 4/14-4/16
James River, Richmond VA.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. James Nealy Yale, VA 3 15-02 200
Day 1: 3 15-02
2. Mathew Thompson Hogansburg, NY 3 14-15 199
Day 1: 3 14-15
3. Francis Andrews Petersburg, VA 3 13-08 198
Day 1: 3 13-08
4. EJ Thomas Roanoke, VA 3 11-13 197
Day 1: 3 11-13
5. Brent Temple BREWERTON, NY 3 11-01 196
Day 1: 3 11-01
6. Lynn Hoeffer Newport News, VA 3 10-14 195
Day 1: 3 10-14
7. Christopher Mcdaniel Victoria , VA 3 10-12 194
Day 1: 3 10-12
8. David Deciucis CHESTER, VA 3 10-09 193
Day 1: 3 10-09
9. Ryan Drewery South Prince George, VA 3 10-06 192
Day 1: 3 10-06
10. Rob Tipton III Pitman, NJ 3 09-15 191
Day 1: 3 09-15
11. Joe Franzwa Pittsgrove, NJ 3 09-12 190
Day 1: 3 09-12
12. Lenny Baird Stafford, VA 3 09-11 189
Day 1: 3 09-11
13. John Cary Ruther Glen, VA 3 09-09 188
Day 1: 3 09-09
14. David Camp Sterling, OH 3 09-08 187
Day 1: 3 09-08
15. Mark Kendra Great Meadows, NJ 3 09-06 186
Day 1: 3 09-06
15. Tony Long Moseley, VA 3 09-06 186
Day 1: 3 09-06
17. Clayton Payne The Plains, VA 3 09-04 184
Day 1: 3 09-04
18. Laz Durham Dumfries, VA 3 09-02 183
Day 1: 3 09-02
19. Erik Brztowski Lemont, IL 3 09-01 182
Day 1: 3 09-01
19. Michael Martinez Lanexa, VA 3 09-01 182
Day 1: 3 09-01
21. Les Forrest Chesterfield, VA 3 09-00 180
Day 1: 3 09-00
22. Phillip Arnold Powhatan, VA 3 08-14 179
Day 1: 3 08-14
23. Maurice Curley Prince George, VA 3 08-12 178
Day 1: 3 08-12
23. David Williams Fredericksburg, VA 3 08-12 178
Day 1: 3 08-12
25. Tommy Young II Linden, NC 3 08-11 176
Day 1: 3 08-11
26. Joe Stalb Manheim, PA 3 08-10 175
Day 1: 3 08-10
27. John Barnes Henrico, VA 3 08-09 174
Day 1: 3 08-09
27. Anthony Ross Hopewell, VA 3 08-09 174
Day 1: 3 08-09
29. Ashley Bishop Chesapeake, VA 3 08-08 172
Day 1: 3 08-08
29. Alex Watts Roanoke, VA 3 08-08 172
Day 1: 3 08-08
31. Scott Devault New Philadelphia, OH 3 08-06 170
Day 1: 3 08-06
32. Aaron Bartlett New Kent, VA 3 08-05 169
Day 1: 3 08-05
32. Michael Mcmanama Hopewell, VA 3 08-05 169
Day 1: 3 08-05
32. Jason Sherwood Damascus, MD 3 08-05 169
Day 1: 3 08-05
35. Tyler Caldwell Portsmouth, VA 3 08-04 166
Day 1: 3 08-04
36. Travis Heath Chester, VA 3 08-03 165
Day 1: 3 08-03
36. Joe Lineberry Selwn CANADA 3 08-03 165
Day 1: 3 08-03
38. James Williams Sims, NC 3 08-02 163
Day 1: 3 08-02
39. Bryce Bason Mill Hall, PA 3 08-01 162
Day 1: 3 08-01
39. Riley Kolich Long Beach, CA 3 08-01 162
Day 1: 3 08-01
41. Stacey Jefferson Conway, SC 3 07-13 160
Day 1: 3 07-13
41. Richard Roselle La Plata, MD 3 07-13 160
Day 1: 3 07-13
43. Jimmy Schaffer Oak Ridge, NJ 2 07-13 158
Day 1: 2 07-13
44. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 3 07-12 157
Day 1: 3 07-12
44. Joseph Zapf Oak Ridge, NJ 3 07-12 157
Day 1: 3 07-12
46. Michael Baldwin Jr South Chesterfield, VA 3 07-11 155
Day 1: 3 07-11
47. Richard Rodriguez Williamsburg, VA 3 07-08 154
Day 1: 3 07-08
47. Richard Stewart Chesterfield, VA 3 07-08 154
Day 1: 3 07-08
49. Joey Deluke Glen Allen, VA 3 07-05 152
Day 1: 3 07-05
49. Nicole Jacobs Saint Paul, MN 3 07-05 152
Day 1: 3 07-05
49. Jonathan Patkus Columbia, MD 3 07-05 152
Day 1: 3 07-05
49. Travis Wyatt Gloucester, VA 3 07-05 152
Day 1: 3 07-05
53. Akira Okuyama Forest Hills, NY 3 07-05 148
Day 1: 3 07-05
54. Rick Jerman Springfield, VA 2 07-05 147
Day 1: 2 07-05
55. Roger Walters Jr Colonial Heights, VA 3 07-04 146
Day 1: 3 07-04
55. Chris Whittaker Waverly, VA 3 07-04 146
Day 1: 3 07-04
57. Levi Allgeier Bardstown, KY 3 07-03 144
Day 1: 3 07-03
58. Hunter Reifschneider Marion, IA 3 07-02 143
Day 1: 3 07-02
59. Mark Kines Virginia Beach, VA 3 07-01 142
Day 1: 3 07-01
59. Joshua Torres Port Tobacco, MD 3 07-01 142
Day 1: 3 07-01
61. Richard Griswold Jr Windsor, VA 3 07-00 140
Day 1: 3 07-00
62. Thomas Edmunds Mechanicsville, VA 3 06-15 139
Day 1: 3 06-15
62. Charles James Richmond, VA 3 06-15 139
Day 1: 3 06-15
62. Jessie Moore Severn, MD 3 06-15 139
Day 1: 3 06-15
62. Charles Pulay Fulton, MD 3 06-15 139
Day 1: 3 06-15
66. Derek Brown Charlottesville, VA 3 06-14 135
Day 1: 3 06-14
66. Jason Holder Powhatan, VA 3 06-14 135
Day 1: 3 06-14
66. Alex Richard Hampton, VA 3 06-14 135
Day 1: 3 06-14
69. Jeremy Hise Midlothian, VA 3 06-13 132
Day 1: 3 06-13
69. John Stoughtenger Waterloo, NY 3 06-13 132
Day 1: 3 06-13
71. Craig Ferguson Emporia, VA 3 06-11 130
Day 1: 3 06-11
71. Steve Webb Montpelier, VA 3 06-11 130
Day 1: 3 06-11
73. Brian Setlock Lancaster, PA 3 06-09 128
Day 1: 3 06-09
73. Amos Troyer Millersburg, IN 3 06-09 128
Day 1: 3 06-09
73. Rich Williams Sutherland, VA 3 06-09 128
Day 1: 3 06-09
76. Brooks Parker Bridgeville, DE 3 06-07 125
Day 1: 3 06-07
76. Kevin Pfautz Barboursville, VA 3 06-07 125
Day 1: 3 06-07
78. Nathaniel Kilgore Franklin, VA 3 06-04 123
Day 1: 3 06-04
78. Joseph Strauss Lititz, PA 3 06-04 123
Day 1: 3 06-04
80. Eric Osborne Jefferson, NC 3 06-03 121
Day 1: 3 06-03
81. John Dunn Deltaville, VA 3 06-02 120
Day 1: 3 06-02
81. Greg Mauldin Archdale, NC 3 06-02 120
Day 1: 3 06-02
81. Jim Opetaia-Williamson Winter Garden, FL 3 06-02 120
Day 1: 3 06-02
84. Burley Langford III South Chesterfield, VA 3 06-01 117
Day 1: 3 06-01
84. Kelly Robinette Colonial Heights, VA 3 06-01 117
Day 1: 3 06-01
86. AJ Jones Lutz, FL 3 06-00 115
Day 1: 3 06-00
87. Gus Kneidinger Prospect, PA 3 05-15 114
Day 1: 3 05-15
88. Brad Goetz Montello, WI 3 05-13 113
Day 1: 3 05-13
88. Andy Lavin Lanexa, VA 3 05-13 113
Day 1: 3 05-13
88. Scott Spencer Raleigh, NC 3 05-13 113
Day 1: 3 05-13
91. Rich Knisely Jr. Disputanta, VA 3 05-12 110
Day 1: 3 05-12
92. Robert Bruguiere Roseland, VA 3 05-11 109
Day 1: 3 05-11
93. David Booth Erin, TN 3 05-09 108
Day 1: 3 05-09
93. Ray Cates Overland Park, KS 3 05-09 108
Day 1: 3 05-09
93. Todd Long Midlothian, VA 3 05-09 108
Day 1: 3 05-09
96. Kevin Fore Powhatan, VA 3 05-08 105
Day 1: 3 05-08
96. Jordan LaClair Ogdensburg, NY 3 05-08 105
Day 1: 3 05-08
98. Chris Donavant Yorktown, VA 3 05-05 103
Day 1: 3 05-05
98. Frank Elasavage Owings Mills, MD 3 05-05 103
Day 1: 3 05-05
98. Wayne Morris Somerdale, NJ 3 05-05 103
Day 1: 3 05-05
98. Richard Slomba Dundalk, MD 3 05-05 103
Day 1: 3 05-05
98. Jared Sutton Chester, VA 3 05-05 103
Day 1: 3 05-05
103. Brian Durham Dinwiddie, VA 3 05-04 98
Day 1: 3 05-04
104. Troy Bowings Essex, MD 3 05-03 97
Day 1: 3 05-03
104. Hamilton Derricott Chesterfield, VA 3 05-03 97
Day 1: 3 05-03
106. Christopher Underwood Oak Hill, VA 2 05-03 95
Day 1: 2 05-03
107. Chris Moore Mechanicsville, VA 3 05-02 94
Day 1: 3 05-02
108. Kenny Stelter Forest Lake, MN 2 05-02 93
Day 1: 2 05-02
109. Paul Propst Jr. Kearneysville, WV 3 05-01 92
Day 1: 3 05-01
110. Brian Langford Petersburg, VA 3 05-00 91
Day 1: 3 05-00
110. Burley Langford Jr. South Chesterfield, VA 3 05-00 91
Day 1: 3 05-00
110. Chris McCarthy Woonsocket, RI 3 05-00 91
Day 1: 3 05-00
113. Arthur Carrier Colonial Heights, VA 3 04-15 88
Day 1: 3 04-15
113. Doug Griles Providence Forge, VA 3 04-15 88
Day 1: 3 04-15
113. Sakae Ushio Tonawanda, NY 3 04-15 88
Day 1: 3 04-15
113. Cory Weaver Ankeny, IA 3 04-15 88
Day 1: 3 04-15
113. Cody Wilson Ladson, SC 3 04-15 88
Day 1: 3 04-15
118. Ryan Patterson Scott Township, PA 3 04-14 83
Day 1: 3 04-14
119. Joe Mantione West Milford, NJ 3 04-13 82
Day 1: 3 04-13
120. Andy Semonco Chester, VA 3 04-12 81
Day 1: 3 04-12
121. Jc Condrey Saxe, VA 3 04-11 80
Day 1: 3 04-11
121. Trey Grow III Mechanicsville, VA 3 04-11 80
Day 1: 3 04-11
121. Donnie Meade Richmond, VA 3 04-11 80
Day 1: 3 04-11
121. Mickey Soler Newington, CT 3 04-11 80
Day 1: 3 04-11
125. Eugene Kim Lindenhurst, IL 2 04-11 76
Day 1: 2 04-11
126. Logan Buttolph Doswell, VA 3 04-10 75
Day 1: 3 04-10
127. David Compton Mount Bethel, PA 3 04-09 74
Day 1: 3 04-09
128. Todd Fisher Hopewell, VA 3 04-08 73
Day 1: 3 04-08
128. Ron Ryals Jr Live Oak, FL 3 04-08 73
Day 1: 3 04-08
130. Gerald Heffler Chester, VA 3 04-07 71
Day 1: 3 04-07
130. Mike Roselle La Plata, MD 3 04-07 71
Day 1: 3 04-07
130. Chip Stith Piscataway, NJ 3 04-07 71
Day 1: 3 04-07
133. Jonathan Lakota Memphis, NY 2 04-07 68
Day 1: 2 04-07
134. Joshua Geyer Loganton, PA 3 04-06 67
Day 1: 3 04-06
135. Keith Jones Newport News, VA 3 04-05 66
Day 1: 3 04-05
136. Devon Norwood Kitson Montclair , NJ 3 04-04 65
Day 1: 3 04-04
137. Bill Butler Chester, VA 1 04-04 64
Day 1: 1 04-04
138. Joshua McGeary Mt. Pleasant, PA 3 04-03 63
Day 1: 3 04-03
138. Avery Neely Richmond, VA 3 04-03 63
Day 1: 3 04-03
140. Kent Barker Sterling, VA 3 04-01 61
Day 1: 3 04-01
141. Gavin English Atwater, OH 2 04-01 60
Day 1: 2 04-01
142. Jonathan Ceaser Maidens, VA 3 04-00 59
Day 1: 3 04-00
142. William Condrey Chesterfield, VA 3 04-00 59
Day 1: 3 04-00
142. David Everhart Kearneysville, WV 3 04-00 59
Day 1: 3 04-00
142. Michael Rustin Henrico, VA 3 04-00 59
Day 1: 3 04-00
146. Cj Combs Sandston, VA 3 03-15 55
Day 1: 3 03-15
146. William Gaston Sylacauga, AL 3 03-15 55
Day 1: 3 03-15
148. Tim Byers Emporia, VA 3 03-14 53
Day 1: 3 03-14
149. Jim O'Connell Jr Castle Rock, CO 2 03-14 52
Day 1: 2 03-14
150. Ernest McIntyre Jr Fayetteville, NC 3 03-12 51
Day 1: 3 03-12
150. Matt Noraas Pamplin, VA 3 03-12 51
Day 1: 3 03-12
152. Stephen Brady Woodlawn, VA 3 03-11 49
Day 1: 3 03-11
153. Jared Phillips Addison, NY 2 03-11 48
Day 1: 2 03-11
154. Tom Tennity Ontario, NY 3 03-10 47
Day 1: 3 03-10
155. Robert Mcgarry Clarks Summit, PA 2 03-10 46
Day 1: 2 03-10
156. Johnnie Garrett Union City, TN 3 03-09 45
Day 1: 3 03-09
156. Rick Lemocks Carson, VA 3 03-09 45
Day 1: 3 03-09
158. Steven Bowling Chesterfield, VA 3 03-09 43
Day 1: 3 03-09
159. Tim Mcglenn Welcome, MD 3 03-08 42
Day 1: 3 03-08
159. Steve Ritchie Franklin, OH 3 03-08 42
Day 1: 3 03-08
161. Benjamin Fisher Elizabeth City, NC 2 03-08 40
Day 1: 2 03-08
162. Bill Turonis Jr Kill Devil Hills, NC 1 03-08 39
Day 1: 1 03-08
163. Jiles Richards New Carrollton, MD 3 03-07 38
Day 1: 3 03-07
164. Wesley Watson Huntington, WV 1 03-07 37
Day 1: 1 03-07
165. Rodney Manson Glen Burnie, MD 3 03-06 36
Day 1: 3 03-06
165. Joe Sodora Garfield, NJ 3 03-06 36
Day 1: 3 03-06
167. Steve Plude Franklin, VA 2 03-06 34
Day 1: 2 03-06
168. Frank Williams Jackson, MO 2 03-05 33
Day 1: 2 03-05
169. Anthony Boris Kansasville, WI 1 03-05 32
Day 1: 1 03-05
170. Harry Nurk Elkton, MD 3 03-04 31
Day 1: 3 03-04
171. Yousel Torres Hampton, VA 3 03-03 30
Day 1: 3 03-03
171. Christopher Trovinger Sabillasville, MD 3 03-03 30
Day 1: 3 03-03
173. Tyrone Adams Fredericksburg, VA 2 03-03 28
Day 1: 2 03-03
174. Tevinn Rollins Hampton, VA 2 02-15 27
Day 1: 2 02-15
175. Kyle Bolenske Goochland, VA 1 02-15 26
Day 1: 1 02-15
176. Angela Mayo Maiden, NC 2 02-14 25
Day 1: 2 02-14
177. Michael Mawyer Midlothian, VA 1 02-13 24
Day 1: 1 02-13
178. Tommy Hamilton Disputanta, VA 1 02-12 23
Day 1: 1 02-12
179. Mike Mueller Mechanicsburg, PA 1 02-11 22
Day 1: 1 02-11
180. James Burtner Penn Laird, VA 2 02-10 21
Day 1: 2 02-10
180. Jimmy Fellegy Lakeville, MN 2 02-10 21
Day 1: 2 02-10
182. Mike Hedrick Chester, VA 1 02-10 19
Day 1: 1 02-10
183. Ricky Meyers Fredericksburg, VA 1 02-06 18
Day 1: 1 02-06
184. David Dickerson Colonial Heights, VA 1 02-05 17
Day 1: 1 02-05
184. James Johnson Chester, VA 1 02-05 17
Day 1: 1 02-05
186. Todd Hughes Mount Bethel, PA 2 02-04 15
Day 1: 2 02-04
187. Eric Bedford Keswick, VA 1 02-01 14
Day 1: 1 02-01
188. Lou Britos Disputanta, VA 2 01-14 13
Day 1: 2 01-14
189. Bird Jones Loxahatchee, FL 2 01-13 12
Day 1: 2 01-13
190. Christopher House Walworth, NY 1 01-09 11
Day 1: 1 01-09
190. Paul Kimball Philadelphia, PA 1 01-09 11
Day 1: 1 01-09
192. David Waack Cary, NC 1 01-08 9
Day 1: 1 01-08
193. Danny Ware Shacklefords, VA 1 01-07 8
Day 1: 1 01-07
194. Hunter Atkins Carrsville, VA 1 01-06 7
Day 1: 1 01-06
195. Matt Martin Colonial Heights, VA 1 01-03 6
Day 1: 1 01-03
195. Joey Price Jr Powhatan, VA 1 01-03 6
Day 1: 1 01-03
195. David Slaybaugh Colonial Heights, VA 1 01-03 6
Day 1: 1 01-03
195. Mark Westrick Hastings, PA 1 01-03 6
Day 1: 1 01-03
199. William Stallings Midlothian, VA 1 01-02 2
Day 1: 1 01-02
200. Roland Gittings Perryville, MD 1 01-01 1
Day 1: 1 01-01
201. Jeffrey Ball Richmond, VA 1 01-00 0
Day 1: 1 01-00
202. Jacob Kidd Petersburg, VA 1 00-15 0
Day 1: 1 00-15
203. Mark Ely Chester Springs, PA 1 00-12 0
Day 1: 1 00-12
203. Antuan Vincent Newport News, VA 1 00-12 0
Day 1: 1 00-12
205. Larry Beauboeuf Bossier City, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
205. John Brzozowski Plymouth, PA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
205. Tom Cahill Danville, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
205. Guy Cisternino Oak Ridge, NJ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
205. George Epley Livingston Manor, NY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
205. Dante Gray Ruther Glen, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
205. Kevin Gregory Midlothian, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
205. Bob Harper Lombard, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
205. Mark Ludwig Chesterfield, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
205. Steven Miller Glen Allen, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
205. Lance Owen Greer, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
205. David Patterson Flowood, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
205. Kevin Ritchie Trenton, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
205. Travis Ruddock Mechanicsville, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
205. James Tilley Aylett, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
205. Robert Winward Jr Newark, DE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 155 535 1145-03
----------------------------------
155 535 1145-03
Ott DeFoe Wins General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops on Lake Palestine to Earn $100K, Alton Jones Jr. Catches $100K Big Bass
Tennessee Pro Grinds Out Four Bass Weighing 16 Pounds, 6 Ounces to Win Heavy Hitters Title and $100,000, Alton Jones, Jr. Lands 6-Pound, 4-Ounce Largemouth to Earn $100,000 Big Bass Bonus
TYLER, Texas (April 15, 2022) – Despite being from Tennessee, something about Texas just ‘fits’ with pro angler Ott DeFoe. DeFoe, of Blaine, Tennessee, boated four scorable bass weighing 16 pounds, 6 ounces to top the final-day Championship Round and win the top prize of $100,000 at the Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops on Lake Palestine. DeFoe won by a narrow 12-ounce margin over pro Justin Lucas of Guntersville, Alabama, who caught four bass totaling 15-10.
The victory marks DeFoe’s fourth career victory on the Bass Pro Tour, three of which have come on Texas fisheries – Lake Fork, Sam Rayburn Reservoir, and now Lake Palestine.
“Man, I love Texas,” a jubilant DeFoe said as the SCORETRACKER® clock expired. “I’m so thankful to have pulled it out. It was a hard day of fishing, and when it’s the 3-pound minimum like we had today, you have to really make every bite count.
“After the first period, I felt like I was out of it,” DeFoe continued. “I had fished all through this area and hadn’t caught anything. It really killed my confidence. I was around a ton of fish on the lower end, and there were some big ones. But I couldn’t get anything going. I came back up here for the last hour or so and I got it done.”
At 3:20 p.m., with just 40 minutes remaining in the competition, DeFoe had weighed in just two scorable bass for 8-2 and was in the bottom half of the leaderboard. In the final 35 minutes, DeFoe caught a 4-10 and a 3-10 to overtake Lucas and earn the top spot.
“Two main baits were the key for me this week,” DeFoe said. “The first was a 4½-inch swimbait, rigged on a VMC Tokyo Rig with a 3/8-ounce weight. I caught some key fish on that, but the big thing was I’d use that to get the fish aggravated and then catch them with the Texas rig. I fished the Tokyo Rig on a 7-foot, 3-inch (Bass Pro Shops) Johnny Morris CarbonLite 2.0 with an 8:3:1 gear ratio CarbonLite reel and 40-pound braided line with a 20- pound (Bass Pro Shops) XPS fluorocarbon leader.
“The other one – that did most of my damage this week – was a Texas-rigged Bass Pro Magnum Fin-Eke Worm. I used the Sooner Run color, with a new VMC hook that is not available yet – but the heavy-duty worm hook works really well with that – and fished it on my favorite setup, a 7-foot, 1-inch medium-heavy Johnny Morris Platinum rod and an 8:3:1 gear ratio Platinum reel with 40-pound braided line and a 17-pound (Bass Pro Shops) XPS fluorocarbon leader.
“I am so thankful, it has been an absolutely awesome week,” DeFoe went on to say. “I really enjoy it when we visit Texas. It doesn’t always work out in a win for me, but it’s treated me well over these past few years.”
Although DeFoe will bring the Heavy Hitters Title and $100,000 top prize back to Tennessee, the big money will be staying in Texas. After catching the $50,000 Berkley Big Bass in the Knockout Round on Wednesday, Waco, Texas, pro Alton Jones, Jr. added another to his resume in the Championship Round Thursday – this one weighing 6 pounds, 4 ounces – to also earn the Championship Round $100,000 Berkley Big Bass Award. All told, the young angler will earn $165,000 for his two Big Bass bonuses and prize money for his 5th place finish.
“Man, we have made some money on (Lake) Palestine this week catching big bass,” Jones said. “$50,000 yesterday, $100,000 today – I can not believe it. Sight fishing in the springtime is what I love to do, it’s my favorite thing in the world. Kind of like how my dad won Heavy Hitters last year. He taught me a lot when it comes to sight fishing, and what I learned really paid off for me this week.”
Jones said both of his Big Bass Award winners came on a bait that will be released around ICAST this year – a Geecrack Bellow Shad, in AJ’s Juice color.
“Just like yesterday, I caught my fish on the Bellow Shad,” Jones said. “It’s not available yet, but I can’t wait to roll it out later this year – it’s going to be my signature bait. It’s pretty cool to be throwing things out here that nobody else has.
“It’s already been a special year, and I didn’t think anything could top winning Lake Fork earlier this season, but we managed to do it this week,” Jones said. “This is a heck of a payday - $165,000. I think that’s probably the best you can get without winning REDCREST. I’m so excited – life is good in the Jones’ household.”
The top 10 pros from the General Tire Heavy Hitters event on Lake Palestine are:
1st: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., four bass, 16-6, $100,000
2nd: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., four bass, 15-10, $25,000
3rd: Ish Monroe, Oakdale, Calif., three bass, 12-11, $20,000
4th: Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., three bass, 12-1, $18,000
5th: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, two bass, 9-6, $165,000
6th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., two bass, 8-6, $14,500
7th: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., two bass, 7-6, $13,500
8th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., two bass, 6-12, $12,500
9th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, one bass, 3-6, $11,000
10th: Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala., one bass, 3-2, $8,000
Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 24 scorable bass weighing 95 pounds, 2 ounces caught by the final 10 pros in Thursday’s Championship Round. A bass had to weigh at least 3 pounds to be deemed scorable in the Championship Round.
Berkley Big Bass Bonus Award Winners:
Qualifying Round Group A: Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky. (6-9), $25,000
Qualifying Round Group B: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif. (8-5), $25,000
Knockout Round: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas (8-3), $50,000
Championship Round: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas (6-4), $100,000
The General Tire Heavy Hitters 2022 featured the 32 anglers with the heaviest five-fish totals from the 2021 season competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable in the Qualifying and Knockout Rounds, and a 3-pound minimum in the final day Championship Round. 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.
Television coverage of the General Tire Heavy Hitters 2022 Event will be showcased across six two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, July 16 and running each Saturday through August 20 on the Discovery Channel. A one-hour special episode of MLF Inside Heavy Hitters will also air on CBS in late 2022. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on the Discovery Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman Channel. Each two-hour long reality-based episode goes in-depth to break down each day of competition.
Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF General Tire Heavy Hitters Event include: Abu Garcia, B&W Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Builders First Source, Covercraft, Ferguson, FuelMe, GEICO, General Tire, Guaranteed Rate, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, NITRO Boats, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Plano, Power-Pole, Power Stop Brakes, Shore Lunch, Sonic, StarBrite, Sqwincher, T-H Marine, Toyota, United States Airforce, Wiley X, Yellowstone Bourbon, and YETI.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Bassmaster College Series Takes On Norfork Lake
Norfork Lake will host the third regular-season stop on the 2022 Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops trail April 22-23.
Photo by B.A.S.S.
April 14, 2022
MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. — Many teams will face unfamiliar waters when the country’s top college anglers travel to Norfork Lake in northeast Arkansas April 22-23 for the third stop of the 2022 Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, but Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Cody Huff of Ava, Mo., believes the tournament could be a bed fishing bonanza.
“It will be a cool event,” Huff said. “There will be a lot of bass caught.”
This will be the first trip to Norfork Lake for the Bassmaster College Series and the first B.A.S.S. event there since the Bassmaster Elite Series visited the Arkansas reservoir in 2016, an event that was split between Norfork and Bull Shoals.
“It is a highland reservoir and has clear water unless we get a big flood, and then we’ll have some off-colored water,” Huff said. “It is a very healthy fishery.”
The fishery features largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass, but Huff said it will likely take all largemouth to contend.
Historically during the end of April, depending on the weather trends, Huff said bass are typically in the middle of the spawn and will be shallow around flooded bushes, ledge rock and around docks, although docks are not as common.
“There will no doubt be fish spawning,” he said. “It just depends on whether the majority of them have already come or if the majority of them are still coming on how it is won. But I would say it will be won by bed fishing or blind flipping. There will be guys that catch them on ledge rock as well.”
This time of the year, flipping soft-plastic baits like creature baits, Senkos, floating worms and flukes will all come into play, as well as a jig. Huff added that topwater baits like poppers could also catch fish during the event and, if the weather sets up right, spinnerbaits, ChatterBaits and big swimbaits like a Megabass Magdraft could excel.
The Bassmaster College Series will compete April 22-23 with daily takeoffs from Norfork Lake Marina/Henderson Park at 6:10 a.m. CT. Weigh-ins will take place back at the marina at 3:10 p.m. Coverage can be found on Bassmaster.com.
The 2022 Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Series at Norfork Lake presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors event and the one-day Bassmaster Junior Series event will follow on April 24.
Alton Jones Jr. Catches 8-Pound, 3-Ounce Lunker to Win $50K, Final 10 Set for Championship Round at General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops Event on Lake Palestine
Birge Paces Knockout Round Field as Eight Anglers Advance, $100K Top Prize and $100K Big Bass Bonus Up for Grabs Thursday
TYLER, Texas (April 13, 2022) – Last year at the 2021 Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Heavy Hitters All-Star Event, pro Alton Jones, Sr. put on a Championship Round sight-fishing clinic enroute to winning the Championship Title and the $100,000 top prize. This year, Jr. wants a crack at the belt.
Pro Alton Jones, Jr., of Waco, Texas, caught an 8-pound, 3-ounce largemouth Wednesday afternoonon Lake Palestine – the heaviest bass of the day – to win the $50,000 Berkley Big Bass Bonus at the General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops on Lake Palestine. Jones, Jr. finished the day in 6th place and now earns his way into Thursday’s final-day Championship Round and a shot at the $100,000 top prize, and the $100,000 Big Bass Bonus.
| I finished in sixth place, but I feel like I won,” Jones, Jr. said. “Man, 50 grand isn’t too bad for one bite. You always hope you’re going to get that bite, and with big fish it can be a little bit of luck. But I caught the biggest and the second-biggest today, and it was just a really fun day.”
Jones, Sr. won the Heavy Hitters title last year despite not earning a Berkley Big Bass Bonus Award during the event. Jones, Jr. said his strategy tomorrow will be a little different. “It would be cool to win that belt, but I’ve got one goal on my mind tomorrow and that’s catching the biggest bass of the day for $100,000,” the Waco, Texas pro said. “It’s going to be hard to catch a bunch of 3-pounders, but if you can catch an 8 or a 9, you’ll be sitting in a really good position. I’m going to treat this event like a big bass tournament – but it would be very cool to get back-to-back Heavy Hitters titles for the Jones’. “Tomorrow we’re going have bluebird skies, light winds, and it’s going to be the best sight-fishing day we’ve had all week,” Jones, Jr. went on to say. “It’s going to be hard for me to keep up numbers wise, but I’m going to really try hard to put myself in front of the biggest bass on this lake and make her bite.” Joining Jones, Jr. in the Championship Round Thursday will be pro Zack Birge of Blanchard, Oklahoma, who won Wednesday’s Knockout Round with 10 scorable bass weighing 37 pounds, 14 ounces – including an 18-pound third period.
|
| “It was a good day. Frustrating, but good,” Birge said. “I ended up with 37 pounds, but I should have had 37 pounds this morning in the first couple of couple of hours if I just could have got them stuck. I’m just thankful I finally got a few of them pegged and got enough bites to fish tomorrow.
“Tomorrow I’ll come back out and start fresh, and hopefully we’ll stick a few more of those early in the day bites,” Birge continued. “It would be nice to get up 20 to 30 pounds before lunch and then continue to do what we did this afternoon. That would be perfect. If any day is going to go perfect, tomorrow is the day. I’ve got my fingers crossed – tomorrow will be better.” The top eight pros from the Knockout Round that will compete Thursday’s Knockout Round on Lake Palestine are: 1st: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 10 bass, 37-14 They’ll be joined by Qualifying Round Winners: Group A: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn. Eliminated from competition after the Knockout Round on Lake Palestine are: 9th: Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., seven bass, 18-7 Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com. Overall, there were 90 scorable bass weighing 301 pounds, 5 ounces caught by the 14 pros on Wednesday. Berkley Big Bass Bonus Award Winners: Qualifying Round Group A: Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky. (6-9), $25,000 The final 10 anglers competing in Thursday’s Championship Round will depart at 7 a.m. from the Villages Marina, located at Big Eddy Road in Flint, Texas. Anglers are allowed to trailer to any boat ramp of their choosing on Lake Palestine, but competition begins with “lines in” at 8 a.m. Fans are encouraged to come out and celebrate with the professional anglers from the Bass Pro Tour on Thursday, April 14, starting at 3:30 p.m. at the Villages Marina in Flint, Texas, as they crown the champion of the General Tire Heavy Hitters 2022 Presented by Bass Pro Shops. The first 50 children at the event will receive a free Dora the Explorer rod and reel, and the first 50 High School Fishing anglers will receive a free Abu Garcia rod and reel combo, valued at $100. Free food will be provided for all, and the Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, take selfies and participate in tackle giveaways. 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. The General Tire Heavy Hitters 2022 features anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable in the Qualifying and Knockout Rounds, but for the final day Championship Round a bass must weigh at least 3 pounds 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. To qualify for the General Tire Heavy Hitters 2022 event, the weight of an angler’s single-largest bass from each event of the seven 2021 Bass Pro Tour events was recorded. The 32 anglers with the heaviest five big-fish totals from those seven events qualified to compete in this event. The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action from the Championship Round on Thursday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app. Television coverage of the General Tire Heavy Hitters 2022 Event will be showcased across six two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, July 16 and running each Saturday through August 20 on the Discovery Channel. A one-hour special episode of MLF Inside Heavy Hitters will also air on CBS in late 2022. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on the Discovery Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman Channel. Each two-hour long reality-based episode goes in-depth to break down each day of competition. Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF General Tire Heavy Hitters Event include: Abu Garcia, B&W Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Builders First Source, Covercraft, Ferguson, FuelMe, GEICO, General Tire, Guaranteed Rate, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, NITRO Boats, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Plano, Power-Pole, Power Stop Brakes, Shore Lunch, Sonic, StarBrite, Sqwincher, T-H Marine, Toyota, United States Airforce, Wiley X, Yellowstone Bourbon, and YETI. For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. |
Bassmaster Clean-Up Challenge Volunteers Haul In Nearly 13,000 Pounds Of Trash At Chickamauga Lake
Volunteers pulled 12,982 pounds of trash from the ramps and shores of Chickamauga Lake as part of the Lake Clean-Up Challenge sponsored by AFTCO and Yamaha RightwatersTM.
Photo by Kyle Jessie/B.A.S.S.
April 13, 2022
DAYTON, Tenn. — Before the world’s best anglers took to the water for the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Chickamauga Lake, 155 volunteers spread out along the area’s shores and ramps to collect trash as part of the Lake Clean-Up Challenge sponsored by AFTCO and Yamaha Rightwaters™.
The volunteers, who represented 12 different organizations from across East Tennessee, gathered a staggering 12,982 pounds of garbage, including 61 tires, a camper shell and even a mattress. Teamwork played a huge role in the clean-up, with young anglers from seven junior and high school teams participating in the afternoon-long challenge. Those teams included Rhea County, Meigs County, Sale Creek, Chilhowee, Soddy-Daisy, Whitwell and Alcoa.
“When these kids are out here picking up trash it really makes them think about where the garbage at the ramps and along the water comes from and where it goes when you drop used line, for example, in the water,” said Meigs County Anglers Coach Terry Elliott. “This gets them thinking about disposing of their own trash in the proper place. At their young age, it reinforces just doing the right thing.”
“People should be more responsible and manage their garbage,” said eighth-grade angler Gaige Lunsford of Meigs County. “It’s bad for the fish, and without healthy fish, we can’t keep weighing in big bags.”
According to statistics from Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful, 80% of trash pulled from waterways originated on land, making clean-up efforts at ramps and parks adjacent to waterways even more critical for the long-term health of American fisheries.
Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful along with the TVA, Tactical Bassin’ and AFTCO staff worked alongside 95 junior and high school anglers and seven Bassmaster Elite Series pros during the Lake Clean-Up Challenge at Chickamauga.
“Our mission is to rally communities to keep the river beautiful for generations to come, and the most important part of the goal are the words ‘future generations,’” said Kathleen Gibi, executive director of Keep the Tennessee River Beautiful. “Today was a physical example of what can happen when we come together, and we’re grateful to AFTCO, Yamaha Rightwaters, B.A.S.S. and all of these people from the community for coming together to clean up one of the most beautiful parts of the Tennessee River.”
Participants received a gift package from AFTCO and Yamaha Rightwaters. Plus, registered volunteer organizations are eligible for conservation grants from AFTCO and Yamaha Rightwaters. The brands will select the conservations grants — totaling over $25,000 across the three 2022 challenges — based on their participation in the Lake Clean-Up Challenges and the group’s overall conservation or public service mission.
“If everyone does their part, we can help control and even alleviate the issue with trash on our lakes. But it has to be a team effort,” said Jason Christie, the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk champion who would go on to win the weekend’s Elite event at Chickamauga. Christie was joined by fellow Elite Series pros Jeff Gustafson, Taku Ito, Carl Jocumsen, Luke Palmer, Matty Wong and Jay Yelas at the Lake Clean-Up Challenge.
As the groups brought in trash, their haul was weighed on an industrial scale donated by Chattanooga’s Wingfield Scale.
The next Lake Clean-Up Challenge will be held June 4 in Counce, Tenn., as part of the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Pickwick Lake. The final event will be August 27 in La Crosse, Wis.
In order to participate, volunteers and groups must preregister by contacting Gene Gilliland, B.A.S.S. Conservation Director, at [email protected].
“Whether they’re part of a junior Bassmaster club, fishing team, church group, Scout troop or a group of civic-minded friends, anyone who wants our waters to be clean and free of trash is welcome to join us lake-side for these events,” said Gilliland.
For full details, visit Bassmaster.com/Conservation-News.
Christie and Costa Make Waves for Conservation via Classic Victory
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
Bassmaster Classic champion Jason Christie won an extra $7,500 for himself and a $1,000 cash donation to a conservation partner of his choice through Costa’s Compete + Conservecontingency program for his finish at the 2022 Classic. Compete + Conserve rewards the highest finishing angler wearing Costa Sunglasses on the water for over 300+ supported tournaments.
In conjunction with the angler payout / prize, there is an allotted conservation contribution included with every event. For his Classic win, Christie chose the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame to receive his $1,000 donation.
“I’ve been ate up with the outdoors long before I was a professional bass fisherman,” Christie said. “Growing up I fished, hunted, camped, hiked, and walked in creeks or the woods every chance I could get. I didn’t care what it was, as long as it was outside.
“That’s what’s so cool about the Compete + Conserve program, more than just earning bonus money, it allows anglers to give back. To donate to organizations working to protect and improve our lakes and rivers for us now and for future generations.”
“Unfinished business” was the phrase coined around Christie’s return to Bassmaster Elite Series, and he wasn’t afraid to admit it had everything to do with the Classic. Christie’s near misses in previous Classics are well-documented and have been talked about ad nauseum since 2018, the last time he came up short of bass fishing’s biggest prize. While he was at peace with his decision making on Lake Hartwell in 2018, the end result still left a bad taste in his mouth.
For him to leave the Elite Series in 2019, requalify through the Bassmaster Opens in 2020, make it back to the Classic via his performance in 2021, and then win the Classic on Lake Hartwell four years removed from his third-place finish on the same fishery is truly incredible. Hollywood screenwriters couldn’t come up with a better story.
Christie certainly isn’t done winning tournaments. Heck, he just proved that on Lake Chickamauga, capturing his fifth Bassmaster Elite Series trophy, but in many ways, he’s put a bow around his unfinished business on the water. The bass fishing phenom from a small town in eastern Oklahoma is now thinking more about the bigger picture of enhancing opportunities in the outdoors.
“Honestly this conservation donation from Costa has lit my fire a little bit and got me thinking,” Christie said. “For years I’ve wanted to do more in my local or regional area to get kids fishing and more people outside. We’ve been hosting a Children’s Fishing Day with the Cherokee Nation for several years and it’s truly one of my favorite days of the year. There is nothing better than helping young people discover the magic of the outdoors.
“I don’t have my hands around exactly what it is yet, but I want to do more things like that. If we want to get more kids outdoors, we need to have healthy lakes, rivers, and woods for them to get out in. Costa’s commitment to conservation through Compete + Conserve helps with that and gets us bass anglers thinking about what more we can do.”
As long as you own a pair of Costas, Compete + Conserve is completely free to register. Get signed up here and start earning rewards for yourself and the watery resources we all love.
Counce, Tennessee Set to Host MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Lithium Pros Stop 3 on Pickwick Lake
158 Professional Anglers to Compete over Four Days for Top Prize of up to $135,000 and Season Purse of More Than $6 Million
COUNCE, Tenn. (April 13, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, is set to return to Counce, Tennessee, next week, April 21-24, for the third event of the 2022 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me regular-season – the Lithium Pros Stop 3 on Pickwick Lake Presented by Covercraft. Hosted by the Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau, the tournament will showcase professional anglers competing for a total purse of more than $850,000.
“This is a really exciting time for Hardin County,” said Beth Pippin, Tourism Director, Hardin County Convention and Visitors Bureau, “We are honored to have Major League Fishing back on Pickwick Lake, Tennessee for the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit event. Our partnerships with the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, TWRA and Tennessee State Parks continue to grow our reputation as a great place to fish for professionals, amateurs or visiting families. We welcome MLF anytime to our waters.”
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.
MLF has held 72 tournaments on Pickwick Lake over the past 22 years, placing it just inside the top 10 fisheries most visited by MLF. This event will mark the seventh time the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit has competed on Pickwick Lake. When the Pro Circuit visited the lake in 2011, pro Mark Rose of Wynne, Arkansas racked up a four-day total of 77 pounds, 11 ounces, to take home the top prize. When the Pro Circuit last visited, local pro Buddy Gross earned the victory over four days with 74 pounds, 5 ounces. The reigning Pro Circuit AOY Michael Neal, who will be competing in this event, has finished runner up twice in the last two Pro Circuit visits to the fishery.
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.
Pro Circuit angler and reigning 2021 TITLE champ Jimmy Washam of Stantonville, Tennessee ,has spent a lot of time on the fishery recently and said he is excited to see how the tournament is shaping up.
“The fish were biting well and had started making a push to the bank,” said Washam. “The lake seemed really healthy, with a lot of 2½-pound chunky largemouth and even more healthy smallmouth than we normally see. There was a lot of bait and the lake seems to be in really great shape for the event.”
With heavy rains in the forecast, Washam said guys will have to be on the lookout for fluctuating water levels, which will affect the fishing.
“The thing about TVA fisheries is, if necessary, they can put an extra 2- to 3-foot of water in the lake at the snap of a finger, which would definitely throw a curveball for the whole field, displacing fish and shaking things up.
“If we get pretty heavy rain out east, they may have to pull the water down real hard, then fill it back up to allow for the water to flow through this system. This time of year, you can definitely see some extreme water fluctuation – 3- to 4-foot in a matter of a couple days – and that will definitely change things drastically.”
While there are many variables to the fishing conditions, patterns and baits expected to be used during the event, with anglers catching fish around docks, on drop-offs and out a little deeper, Washam said he believes the event will mostly feature standard bank-fishing on visible targets.
“Some guys will have a spinning reel in hand and others will be flipping a Texas rig or jig – just your standard stuff to fish targets and cover when the fish move up to the bank,” said Washam. “I expect to see a lot of Texas-rigged and Carolina-rigged plastics, finesse stuff, a lot of shaky heads, Ned rigs and wacky rigs.
“There’s always the wild card on the Tennessee river where someone could catch a mega-bag, but I think somewhere around the 80-pound mark will probably be the winning weight for the event,” continued Washam. “Daily weights can be hard to predict because when fish are really into spawn mode they can get harder to catch, but I think a little shy of 18 pounds per day should get you into the top 10.”
Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. CT, Thursday through Sunday, from the Pickwick Landing State Park located at 120 Playground Loop in Counce. 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.
Fans can also meet PAW Patrol’s Marshal and Skye prior to the weigh-in from 1-2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, April 23-24, and youth can fish in the Kids’ Fishing Derby on Saturday, April 23 from 1-2:30 p.m. 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.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Lithium Pros Stop 3 at Pickwick Lake Presented by Covercraft 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.
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.
Browning Wins Round, Ehrler’s Big Bass Wins $25K at General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops Event on Lake Palestine
Arkansas Pro Weighs Two-Day Total of 27 Bass for 83 Pounds, 10 Ounces to Top Group B, 14 Anglers Set for Wednesday’s Knockout Round
TYLER, Texas (April 12, 2022) – Pro Stephen Browning of Hot Springs, Arkansas, caught 11 scorable bass totaling 32 pounds, 6 ounces, to win the Qualifying Round for Group B at the General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops on Lake Palestine. Browning’s two-day total of 27 bass weighing 83 pounds, 10 ounces earned him the round win by a 29-pound, 6-ounce margin and advances him straight into Thursday’s Championship Round of competition.
The six-day all-star event showcases the 32 pros that qualified from the Bass Pro Tour competing in the no-entry fee tournament for a purse of more than $500,000.
Pro Russ Lane of Prattville, Alabama finished the day in second place with a two-day total of 17 bass weighing 54-4, while Berkley pro Jordan Lee of Cullman, Alabama finished in third with 16 bass weighing 50-5. Period three brought big moves for Favorite Fishing pro Zack Birge of Blanchard, Oklahoma, who slid into fourth with a two-day total of 15 bass weighing 47 pounds even, but Tennessee pro Michael Neal made the biggest jump of the day – moving from 14th place to round out the top five, with 17 bass weighing 45 pounds, 9 ounces.
Pro Brent Ehrler of Redlands, California, caught the heaviest bass of the Group B Qualifying Round on Sunday, weighing 8 pounds, 5 ounces, to win the Group B Qualifying Round Berkley Big Bass Bonus of $25,000. Another prize of $50,000 will be awarded to the heaviest fish landed Wednesday in the Knockout Round, and $100,000 will be awarded for the single biggest fish in Thursday’s Championship Round.
With the Qualifying Round now complete, the anglers that finished in 2nd through 8th place from each group advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round. The Knockout Round will feature 14 anglers competing to finish in the top eight. Thursday’s Championship Round will feature DeFoe, Browning and the top eight anglers from the Knockout Round competing in a final-day shootout for the top prize of $100,000 along with the $100,000 Berkley Big Bass Bonus.
“It was really nerve wracking this morning,” said Browning. “Russ (Lane) put a lot of pressure on us right out of the gate, but I just stuck to my game plan to go back to the area where I caught them all on Day One and just catch enough to make sure we won the Qualifying Round and could skip straight to the Championship Round – and we did that.”
This will mark the first time Browning has won the Qualifying Round for his group and the berth straight through to the Championship Round.
“I got a little impatient with the slow bite this morning, but I knew there were plenty of fish where I started to accomplish what I needed to do. Those fish just decided not to bite early, which is typical of true, shallow spawning fish. Once they got fired up late in the first period, we had a great second period and was able to explore at the end of the day to eliminate some areas for the Championship Round.
“That’s the most important thing on this fishery, being able to home in on where you want to be. You need to have a game plan and have an area to fish, but on Lake Palestine you can’t just jump up and run all over the place. You’ve got to have a couple of areas you feel you can catch fish in, and you just have to stick with them. Thankfully we’ve been able to do that.”
Browning said he caught most of his fish on the Z-Man (ChatterBait) Jack Hammer again today and caught a few others on a basic Green Pumpkin-colored lizard with a chartreuse-dipped tail, on a 3/16-ounce weight.
“I also caught a few later in the day on the Z-Man Big Blade ChatterBait, trying to catch a 9-pounder and chase down Ehrler’s big bass award,” said Browning. “That’s my go to bait for big fish, but I didn’t make that happen.
“I feel really good about what I’m doing though – I feel good about my technique and my set up going into the final round,” continued Browning. “I missed it just a bit on Day One, but I’ve made a few changes and I’m looking forward to the challenge in the Championship Round.”
The top eight pros from Qualifying Group B that now advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round on Lake Palestine are:
1st: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 27 bass, 83-10
2nd: Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala., 17 bass, 54-4
3rd: Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., 16 bass, 50-5
4th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 15 bass, 47-0
5th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 17 bass, 45-9
6th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 16 bass, 43-4
7th: Jeff Kriet, Ardmore, Okla., 13 bass, 39-6
8th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 10 bass, 37-14
Finishing in 9th through 16th in the Group B Qualifying Round are:
9th: Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss., 10 bass, 32-14
10th: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 11 bass, 32-6
11th: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 10 bass, 30-9
12th: Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., eight bass, 28-8
13th: Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla., nine bass, 27-2
14th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 10 bass, 27-0
15th: Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., 10 bass, 26-13
16th: Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., eight bass, 21-13
Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 111 scorable bass weighing 336 pounds, 7 ounces caught by the 16 pros Tuesday.
Anglers will depart at 7 a.m. on Wednesday from the Villages Marina, located at Big Eddy Road in Flint, Texas. Anglers are allowed to trailer to any boat ramp of their choosing on Lake Palestine, but competition begins with “lines in” at 8 a.m. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the Marina, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Fans are encouraged to come out and celebrate with the professional anglers from the Bass Pro Tour on Thursday, April 14, starting at 3:30 p.m. at the Villages Marina in Flint, Texas, as they crown the champion of the General Tire Heavy Hitters 2022 Presented by Bass Pro Shops. The first 50 children at the event will receive a free Dora the Explorer rod and reel, and the first 50 High School Fishing anglers will receive a free Abu Garcia rod and reel combo, valued at $100. Free food will be provided for all, and the Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, take selfies and participate in tackle giveaways.
The General Tire Heavy Hitters 2022 features anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable in the Qualifying and Knockout Rounds, but for the final day Championship Round a bass must weigh at least 3 pounds 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.
To qualify for the General Tire Heavy Hitters 2022 event, the weight of an angler’s single-largest bass from each event of the seven 2021 Bass Pro Tour events was recorded. The 32 anglers with the heaviest five big-fish totals from those seven events qualified to compete in this event.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all five days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the General Tire Heavy Hitters 2022 Event will be showcased across six two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, July 16 and running each Saturday through August 20on the Discovery Channel. A one-hour special episode of MLF Inside Heavy Hitters will also air on CBS in late 2022. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on the Discovery Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman Channel. Each two-hour long reality-based episode goes in-depth to break down each day of competition.
Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF General Tire Heavy Hitters Event include: Abu Garcia, B&W Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Builders First Source, Covercraft, Ferguson, FuelMe, GEICO, General Tire, Guaranteed Rate, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, NITRO Boats, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Plano, Power-Pole, Power Stop Brakes, Shore Lunch, Sonic, StarBrite, Sqwincher, T-H Marine, Toyota, United States Airforce, Wiley X, Yellowstone Bourbon, and YETI.
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.
Bobby Lane continuing to collect checks from REDCREST
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin / Dynamic Sponsorships
Bobby Lane says two of the best post-victory experiences following his REDCREST win on March 27th have been his youngest daughter Amberly asking to have her picture taken with the trophy nearly every day, and a surprise party his wife Madeline hosted in his honor at a local Beef ‘O’ Brady’s sports bar so all their friends who weren’t in Tulsa could share in the celebration.
Not to mention, checks from contingency bonus programs Lane believes in like Costa’s Compete + Conserve, Yamaha Power Pay, and Toyota Bonus Bucks keep rolling in.
“I can still remember the very first Toyota Bonus Bucks check I won. It was from an Elite Series event on Smith Mountain Lake about a dozen years ago. I finished around 20th place, and still won a Bonus Bucks check. I told my wife how awesome it was that I didn’t have to win the tournament to win the Bonus Bucks,” says Lane.
“We’ve now bought four more Toyotas, and have been huge believers in the Bonus Bucks program since that first check hit our mailbox back in 2010,” adds Lane.
And if you ask Lane what’s kept him loyal to Toyota beyond the Bonus Bucks program, you’ll receive a response dipped in the same straight-forward common sense he applies to all facets of life.
“It’s simple. In 12 years of towing with a Toyota, the only thing I ever have to worry about is changing the oil and buying new tires. No other truck offers you that kind of reliability, plus it tows my Phoenix like a beast, and pays you Bonus Bucks too. I mean seriously, why in the world would you tow with another brand of truck if you fish tournaments?” challenges Lane.
“I’ll tell you this much, my current Tundra is a 2018 with 130,000 miles on it, and I’m already talking to my buddy Travis at Scott Clark Toyota about getting my hands on an all new 2022 Tundra,” grinned Lane in conclusion.
To learn more about Toyota Bonus Bucks, and to register for the program, please visit https://www.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com/
Garmin announces support for Power-Pole Shallow Water Anchors and CHARGE Power Management Station
Latest software update enables Power-Pole control from compatible Garmin chartplotters
OLATHE, Kan., April 12, 2022 – Garmin® International, Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd., the world’s largest1 and most innovative marine electronics manufacturer, today announced that select ECHOMAP™ and GPSMAP® chartplotters are now compatible with Power-Pole® Shallow Water Anchors. This added support allows anglers to stow and deploy their Power-Poles directly from their compatible Garmin chartplotter for even more onboard control. Support for Power-Pole CHARGE Power Management Station integration is expected in a future release, which will allow anglers to also monitor their battery charge from their compatible Garmin chartplotter.
Power-Pole Anchor integration is available to existing Garmin customers via the Q2 2022 marine software update, which is available now as a free download at Garmin.com, or through the ActiveCaptain® app under the “My Marine Device” tab. In addition to a compatible ECHOMAP or GPSMAP chartplotter, a Power-Pole C-Monster Gateway is required for anchoring control.
The new Power-Pole control functionality is available for the following Garmin chartplotters:
GPSMAP 8600/8600xsv series, GPSMAP 10x2/12x2, GPSMAP 7x3/9x3/12x3, GPSMAP 7x2/9x2/12x2 Plus series, and the ECHOMAP Ultra and ECHOMAP UHD 7- and 9-inch Touch series.
DeFoe Coasts to Qualifying Round Win, Roy’s Big Bass Holds on For $25K at General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops Event on Lake Palestine
Tennessee Pro Advances Straight into Thursday’s Championship Round, Group B to Conclude Qualifying Round Tuesday
TYLER, Texas (April 11, 2022) – After jumping out to an early lead on Saturday, pro Ott DeFoe of Blaine, Tennessee, put the pedal down and ran away with the Qualifying Round victory Monday for Group A at the General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops on Lake Palestine. DeFoe caught seven scorable bass weighing 21 pounds, 7 ounces – both high totals among the 16 anglers competing Monday – to earn the Qualifying Round win and advance directly to Thursday’s final-day Championship Round.
DeFoe’s two day total of 18 bass weighing 57 pounds even earned him the win by a 14-pound, 15-ounce margin over pro Takahiro Omori of Tokyo, Japan, who finished second in the round with 13 scorable bass good for 42 pounds, 1 ounce. Reigning REDCREST 2022 Champion Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Florida, rounded out the top three with a two-day total of 12 scorable bass for 36-13.
Lancaster, Kentucky pro Bradley Roy, caught the heaviest bass of the Group A Qualifying Round on Saturday – a healthy 6-pound, 9-ounce largemouth – to win the Group A Qualifying Round Berkley Big Bass Bonus of $25,000. Another $25,000 Berkley Big Bass Bonus will be awarded Tuesday to the heaviest bass weighed by Group B in their Qualifying Round, and prizes of $50,000 and $100,000 will be awarded for the single biggest fish in the Knockout and Championship rounds.
The eight anglers advancing from Group A will have a day off Tuesday, while the 16 anglers in Group B will complete their two-day Qualifying Round of competition. The Knockout Round, featuring 14 anglers competing to finish in the top eight, will take place on Wednesday. Thursday’s Championship Round will feature DeFoe, 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 along with the $100,000 Berkley Big Bass Bonus. The six-day all-star event showcases the 32 pros that qualified from the Bass Pro Tour competing in the no-entry fee event for a purse of more than $500,000.
“Coming out today the goal was to hang onto the top spot and advance, and it feels pretty good to get that automatic bid to the Championship Round,” DeFoe said. “I had to adapt a little bit this morning – I wasn’t able to catch anything on the shad spawn. But I was able to catch some off of the beds – some I could see, some that I couldn’t – and there are a lot more fish up today than there were two days ago. So that’s really exciting.”
DeFoe said he was a “one-rod Todd” Monday, sight fishing with just one setup.
“I did catch one early on a Tokyo rig, but it was pretty much all about one rod for me, today,” DeFoe said. “Same thing I was throwing on Day 1 – a Texas-rigged Bass Pro Magnum Fin-Eke Worm. I used Sooner Run color – kind of a dark watermelon with red fleck – and fished it on my favorite setup, a Johnny Morris Platinum rod and reel with 40-pound braided line and a 17-pound (Bass Pro Shops) XPS fluorocarbon leader.
“I actually saw Alton (Jones) Jr. today in the same area, and I feel like I was catching more fish than him because I was throwing the Texas rig. I tried throwing a wacky rig, with that same exact worm, and they just don’t like that for whatever reason right now. And that’s what it looked like he was throwing. For some reason that Texas rig is absolutely getting it done. We are in Texas, so… when in Texas, right?”
Not only did Kentucky pro Bradley Roy take home the $25,000 Berkley Big Bass Award for Group A, he also had the second best day of the 16 anglers on the water to vault up inside the top 8 after starting the day in 10th place and advance with seven bass weighing 18-15.
“It was a super good day for me – I jumped inside the cut, which was the most important thing, and earned $25,000 for the big bass,” Roy said. “This event is all about big bass. That’s what got us here, and that’s what this tournament is all about this week. I’m super thankful that my big fish from Day 1 held up.”
The top eight pros from Qualifying Group A that now advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round on Lake Palestine are:
1st: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 18 bass, 57-0
2nd: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 13 bass, 42-1
3rd: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 12 bass, 36-13
4th: Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., 11 bass, 35-10
5th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 33-3
6th: Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., nine bass, 28-10
7th: Ish Monroe, Oakdale, Calif., nine bass, 25-13
8th: Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, nine bass, 25-12
Finishing in 9th through 20th in the Group A Qualifying Round are:
9th: Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., seven bass, 23-6
10th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., seven bass, 22-10
11th: James Watson, Lampe, Mo., six bass, 19-15
12th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., seven bass, 18-5
13th: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., five bass, 14-13
14th: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., four bass, 13-9
15th: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., four bass, 9-14
16th: Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla., three bass, 8-2
Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 66 scorable bass weighing 197 pounds, 14 ounces caught by the 16 pros Monday.
Anglers will depart at 7 a.m. from the Villages Marina, located at Big Eddy Road in Flint, Texas. Anglers are allowed to trailer to any boat ramp of their choosing on Lake Palestine, but competition begins with “lines in” at 8 a.m. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the Marina, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Fans are encouraged to come out and celebrate with the professional anglers from the Bass Pro Tour on Thursday, April 14, starting at 3:30 p.m. at the Villages Marina in Flint, Texas, as they crown the champion of the General Tire Heavy Hitters 2022 Presented by Bass Pro Shops. The first 50 children at the event will receive a free Dora the Explorer rod and reel, and the first 50 High School Fishing anglers will receive a free Abu Garcia rod and reel combo, valued at $100. Free food will be provided for all, and the Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, take selfies and participate in tackle giveaways.
The General Tire Heavy Hitters 2022 features anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable in the Qualifying and Knockout Rounds, but for the final day Championship Round a bass must weigh at least 3 pounds 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.
To qualify for the General Tire Heavy Hitters 2022 event, the weight of an angler’s single-largest bass from each event of the seven 2021 Bass Pro Tour events was recorded. The 32 anglers with the heaviest five big-fish totals from those seven events qualified to compete in this event.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all five days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the General Tire Heavy Hitters 2022 Event will be showcased across six two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, July 16 and running each Saturday through August 20 on the Discovery Channel. A one-hour special episode of MLF Inside Heavy Hitters will also air on CBS in late 2022. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on the Discovery Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman Channel. Each two-hour long reality-based episode goes in-depth to break down each day of competition.
Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF General Tire Heavy Hitters Event include: Abu Garcia, B&W Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Builders First Source, Covercraft, Ferguson, FuelMe, GEICO, General Tire, Guaranteed Rate, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, NITRO Boats, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Plano, Power-Pole, Power Stop Brakes, Shore Lunch, Sonic, StarBrite, Sqwincher, T-H Marine, Toyota, United States Airforce, Wiley X, Yellowstone Bourbon, and YETI.
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.
Morrison Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Dale Hollow Lake
BYRDSTOWN, Tenn. (April 11, 2022) – Boater Michael Morrison of Stamping Ground, Kentucky, caught five bass Saturday weighing 19 pounds, 14 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Dale Hollow Lake . The tournament, hosted by Star Point Marina and Resort, was the second event for the Bass Fishing League Mountain Division. Morrison earned $5,475 for his victory.
“We started out on a spot I had found during the Toyota Series Central Division event two weeks ago,” Morrison said. “The fish were still there, and I made the first drop and caught one about 4 pounds, then I caught a 14-inch keeper smallmouth.
“I had some Carolina-rig spots that I had caught some fish on, and I thought I could get a quick limit doing that, but I hit those places and didn’t do any good,” Morrison added.
Morrison said he decided to relocate and made a run toward the dam and filled out his limit in 30 minutes. A 4-pound, 14-ounce bass replaced the 14-inch smallmouth, and his weigh bag was set at 2:15 p.m.
“We started back up the lake about 2:45, and I got about midway, and it started sinking in a little bit,” Morrison said. “I told myself, ‘I think I just won this thing.’
“To beat these guys here on Dale Hollow is an accomplishment I can’t describe,” Morrison added.
Morrison said his baits of choice were a Damiki Armor Shad Soft Jerkbait and a Venom Lures Dream Craw on a wobble-head jighead. He also caught fish on a Carolina rig tipped with a Zoom Brush Hog.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
2nd: Tristan Abbott, Somerset, Ky., five bass, 18-13, $2,937
3rd: Brian Wilson, Somerset, Ky., five bass, 18-10, $1,827
4th: Tim McDonald, Paintsville, Ky., five bass, 18-8, $1,277
5th: Bailey Gay, Union, Ky., five bass, 18-7, $1,595, (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
6th: Tony Eckler, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 18-3, $1,004
7th: Branden Grubb, Lily, Ky., five bass, 18-2, $1,112
8th: Brett Graham, Cold Spring, Ky., five bass, 17-11, $821
9th: Nathan Adams, High Ridge, Mo., five bass, 17-8, $730
10th: Matthew Mullins, Russellville, Ky., five bass, 17-6, $639
Jim Dean of Huntington, West Virginia, had a largemouth that weighed 5 pounds, 8 ounces that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division and earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $870.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
2nd: Lee Sinclair, Albany, Ky., five bass, 15-11, $1,315
3rd: Timothy Jolley, Monroe, Tenn., five bass, 14-14, $877
4th: Will Bandy, Edmonton, Ky., five bass, 14-11, $614
5th: Bill Haunert, Byrdstown, Tenn., five bass, 14-6, $526
6th: Curt Fannin, Prestonsburg, Ky., five bass, 13-10, $582
7th: Brent Clark, Bowling Green, Ky., five bass, 13-7, $438
8th: Mike Morrison, Staffordsville, Ky., five bass, 13-4, $395
9th: Jake Mattingly, Stanford, Ky., five bass, 12-11, $551
10th: Todd Stopher, London, Ky., four bass, 10-10, $307
After two events, Tristan Abbott of Somerset, Kentucky, leads the Bass Fishing League Mountain Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 499 points, while Timothy Jolley of Monroe, Tennessee, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 497 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.
Jarvis Claims Victory at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Smith Mountain Lake
Miskell Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
HUDDLESTON, Va. (April 11, 2022) – Boater Jim Jarvis of Timberville, Virginia, caught five bass Saturday weighing 19 pounds, 13 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Smith Mountain Lake . The tournament was the second event for the Bass Fishing League Shenandoah Division. Jarvis earned $4,981 for his victory.
“I started off the day on one of my rock piles,” Jarvis said. “I wasn’t feeling it. I had found some beds earlier in the week, so I ran to them and caught all of my fish on the beds with a drop-shot and a Roboworm.”
Jarvis said he caught eight keepers during the tournament – seven on the Roboworm and one on a Strike King Thunder Cricket Vibrating Jig.
“I didn’t know if I could win the tournament, just because of the quality of fishermen on the lake,” Jarvis said. “But by 2 o’clock I figured I was good enough for a top-5 finish. But, when I caught the last one at 3:30 and it put me close to 20 pounds, I thought then I might have a shot.
“This win feels great because I’m a river guy, so to win one on a lake is an accomplishment for me,” Jarvis added.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
2nd: Billy Kohls, Huddleston, Va., five bass, 19-6, $2,490
3rd: Bryan Elrod, Mechanicsville, Va., five bass, 18-4, $1,662
4th: Chris Brummett, Lynch Station, Va., five bass, 17-8, $1,762
5th: Ryan Powroznik, Hopewell, Va., five bass, 17-7, $996
6th: Dennis Burdette, Pembroke, Va., five bass, 17-0, $1,631
6th: Chris Atwell, Mechanicsville, Va., five bass, 17-0, $1,371 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
8th: Chad Green, Moneta, Va., four bass, 16-14, $747
9th: Boogie Atkins, Greenville, Va., five bass, 16-0, $664
10th: Rick Tilley, Vinton, Va., five bass, 15-9, $581
2nd: Seth Brogan, Montvale, Va., three bass, 9-15, $1,229
3rd: Matthew Rock, Bristol, Va., five bass, 9-12, $817
4th: Fred Mojica, Taneytown, Md., four bass, 9-10, $573
5th: Scott Howard, Bedford, Va., five bass, 8-10, $492
6th: Wyatt Novak, Virginia Beach, Va., three bass, 8-7, $451
7th: John Robinson, Fairfax, Va., three bass, 8-5, $389
7th: Jeramy Evans, Forest, Va., three bass, 8-5, $389
9th: Anthony Pulley, Chester, Va., three bass, 7-13, $428
10th: Jeff Rollins, Roanoke, Va., three bass, 7-11, $272
10th: Phillip Ragland Jr., Rustburg, Va., two bass, 7-11, $472
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.
Alvarez Tops Field at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Hartwell
Pabon Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
ANDERSON, S.C. (April 11, 2022) – Boater Sean Alvarez of Anderson, South Carolina, caught five bass Saturday weighing 21 pounds, 10 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Hartwell . The tournament, hosted by the Anderson Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, was the second event for the Bass Fishing League Savannah River Division. Alvarez earned $11,133, including the lucrative $5,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
“When we got out on the water we had forecasts for high winds, and I was pretty excited,” Alvarez said. “I’m pretty old-school when it comes to some of my favorite styles of bass fishing. When that wind blows I go right to my spinnerbait, and I knew I was going to be able to do that as long as the wind blew and it would allow me to do it in areas where other fishermen were going to avoid.”
Alvarez, who lives on Lake Hartwell, said he had about 30 spots where baitfish were present that he was keying in on during the week leading up to the tournament. Windy conditions prevailed for three days prior to the competition, so Alvarez felt confident in his approach.
“The second cast of the morning landed me a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 12 ounces,” Alvarez said. “Another dozen casts later, I caught a 4-pounder. It was nice to get two fish out of the same area.”
Alvarez said he was targeting post-spawn largemouth that were feeding on main points outside of spawning areas. After his first stop, he relocated to another main point that produced a 4- and 5-pounder to add to his bag.
“I was just moving around trying to target active fish that were nose into the wind,” Alvarez said. “I never was able to cull up, but fish bit every place I went.”
Alvarez said he caught about 30 keepers during the course of the day on a modified BOOYAH spinnerbait.
“The action was just so fast,” Alvarez said. “It was just net the fish, grab the fish, throw it in the livewell and get back up and do it again.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
2nd: Tracy Watkins, Belton, S.C., five bass, 18-11, $2,566
3rd: Jayme Rampey, Liberty, S.C., five bass, 18-10, $1,710
4th: Jody Wilson, Blue Ridge, Ga., five bass, 18-5, $1,998
5th: Cody Hoyle, Rutherfordton, N.C., five bass, 18-4, $1,027
6th: Jason Burroughs, Hodges, S.C., five bass, 17-15, $1,541
7th: Michael Webster, Gastonia, N.C., five bass, 16-6, $855
8th: Justin Raines, Easley, S.C., five bass, 16-5, $770
9th: Bradley Day, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 16-4, $684
10th: Brad Benfield, Demorest, Ga., five bass, 15-10, $599
2nd: Dale Ball, Asheville, N.C., five bass, 13-11, $1,283
3rd: William Chris Bensel, Abbeville, S.C., five bass, 12-10, $955
4th: Paul Ellis, Cumming, Ga., five bass, 12-2, $599
5th: Johnny Hancox, West Union, S.C., five bass, 12-1, $513
6th: Aiden Free, Hodges, S.C., five bass, 11-13, $471
7th: Chris Wilson, Easley, S.C., five bass, 11-12, $428
8th: Kevin Henderson, Honea Path, S.C., five bass, 11-7, $385
9th: Gerald Glouse, Easley, S.C., five bass, 11-2, $342
10th: Don Meury, Marietta, S.C., four bass, 11-0, $899
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.
Ray Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Greers Ferry Lake
Choate Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
GREERS FERRY, Ark. (April 11, 2022) – Boater Josh Ray of Alexander, Arkansas, caught five bass Saturday weighing 13 pounds, 8 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Greers Ferry Lake . The tournament was the third event for the Bass Fishing League Arkie Division. Ray earned $13,024, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
“It took all day to grind them out,” Ray said. “I found the fish in practice, but I only caught nine or 10 keepers all day.
“I’m somewhat familiar with Greers Ferry,” Ray added. “I’ve been coming up here pretty regularly for tournaments.”
Ray said his fish fell for a shaky-head tipped with a green-pumpkin trick worm in 20 to 25 feet of water. He said he focused on deep brush in the mid-lake area.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
2nd: Chuck Hamby, Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 13-4, $2,093
2nd: Brian Bean, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 13-4, $2,093
4th: Justin Hake, Conway, Ark., five bass, 13-1, $1,947
5th: Bradley McDaniel, Wynne, Ark., five bass, 10-11, $1,005
6th: Terry Cordum, Cotter, Ark., five bass, 10-10, $921
7th: Cody Davis, Higden, Ark., five bass, 10-9, $837
8th: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 10-8, $754
9th: Kevin Brown, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 10-5, $1,028
9th: Jamey Black, Sheridan, Ark., five bass, 10-5, $628
2nd: Dustin Forsythe, Amity, Ark., five bass, 11-3, $1,256
3rd: Randy Allen, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 10-11, $1,038
4th: Joseph Aguilar, Bauxite, Ark., five bass, 9-10, $586
5th: Jody Jones, Harvey, Ark., five bass, 9-6, $602
6th: Jonathan Dotson, Dover, Ark., five bass, 9-2, $461
7th: Rusty Allen, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 8-14, $398
7th: Kyle Huneycutt, Malvern, Ark., five bass, 8-14, $398
9th: Terry Owens, Danville, Ark., five bass, 8-11, $335
10th: Kelby Humble, Rogersville, Mo., five bass, 8-9, $293
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.
Johnson Claims Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event Title on Wheeler Lake
Lamon Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
DECATUR, Ala. (April 11, 2022) – Boater James Johnson of Trinity, Alabama, caught five bass Sunday weighing 24 pounds, 2 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Wheeler Lake. The tournament, hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism, was the third event for the Bass Fishing League Choo Choo Division. Johnson earned $4,963 for his victory.
“For the past couple of weeks my fish had been staying out on the river channel,” Johnson said. “I had several shell beds that they were on, but I couldn’t get them to bite. I threw a shaky-head rig just to try to get a bite, and I caught one close to 3 pounds, and then one that was 6 pounds, 12 ounces, so I just didn’t put the shaky-head down.”
Johnson said he caught 14 fish – all keepers – on flats near Decatur during the course of the tournament, which Johnson described as “very slow.” His biggest five, however, provided him with a sought-after win.
“I’ve had four or five top top-five finishes in BFL and Toyota Series tournaments, but I never could get the win,” Johnson said.
“I don’t typically get nervous at the scales, but during weigh-in I went out to the parking lot and stayed away from the stage,” Johnson continued. “I kind of knew I had a chance. And I ended up finally getting that trophy that says ‘Champion.’ To get this win was special to me.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:
1st: James Johnson, Trinity, Ala., five bass, 24-2, $4,963
2nd: Mickey Beck, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 20-0, $1,981
3rd: Casey Martin, Brownsboro, Ala., five bass, 19-8, $1,322
4th: Chad Hall, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 19-2, $925
5th: Chris Webb, Decatur, Ala., five bass, 18-6, $793
6th: Hunter Brewer, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., five bass, 18-4, $927
7th: Brad Vice, Tanner, Ala., five bass, 17-12, $660
8th: Mason Smith, Danville, Ala., five bass, 17-10, $594
9th: Lavoyd Lemmond, Decatur, Ala., five bass, 17-5, $528
10th: Shawn Diehl, Harvest, Ala., five bass, 16-12, $462
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Mitchell Gowen of Decatur, Ala., had a largemouth that weighed 6 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 $535.
Paul Lamon of Trinity, Alabama, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,248 Sunday after catching five bass weighing 18 pounds, 10 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:
1st: Paul Lamon, Trinity, Ala., five bass, 18-10, $2,248
2nd: Alex Gault, Flintville, Tenn., five bass, 15-10, $991
3rd: Jason Bladow, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 15-2, $662
4th: Briar Terry, Moulton, Ala., four bass, 13-9, $462
5th: Justin Stephenson, Jasper, Ala., five bass, 13-7, $396
6th: Chase Owens, Elkmont, Ala., five bass, 12-6, $363
7th: Bradley Mealer, Columbia, Tenn., five bass, 11-15, $330
8th: Donald Cawthon, Auburn, Ala., five bass, 11-14, $297
9th: Jerry Armstrong, Shelbyville, Tenn., five bass, 11-13, $264
10th: Matt Cameron, Southside, Ala., five bass, 10-15, $231
Lamon caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 7 pounds even. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $267.
After three events, Mickey Beck of Lebanon, Tennessee, leads the Bass Fishing League Choo Choo Division Boater Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 739 points, while Craig Johnson of Trinity, Alabama, leads the Strike King Co-Angler Division AOY race with 716 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.
Drury University Wins MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament on Table Rock Lake
BRANSON, Mo. (April 11, 2022) – The Drury University duo of Clay Henderson of Purdy, Missouri, and Zachery Ward of Cabot, Arkansas, won the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event Table Rock Lake Saturday with a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 4 ounces. The victory earned the Panthers’ bass club $2,000 and a slot in the 2023 MLF College Fishing National Championship.
“We made a bit of a long run because I felt the majority of the field was going to fish from the dam to the Kimberling City area,” said Henderson, a Drury freshman. “I grew up on Table Rock, so I ran up past Kimberling City and went to an area I was familiar with.”
Henderson said the morning action was slower than he expected, and the team had only two keepers at 1 p.m., so he changed areas to try to fill their limit. The anglers relocated to a spot Henderson had caught fish on a couple of weeks prior to the tournament. The duo used a Garmin Panoptix LiveScope System to locate a school of fish feeding on shad and filled out their limit in 30 minutes.
Henderson said the morning bite was triggered by a 2.8-inch Keitech Swing Impact FAT Swimbaitin Rainbow Shad and Sexy Shad colors and a 2.8-inch Rainbow Shad-colored Berkley Powerbait Power Swimmer Swimbait. The team’s afternoon baits of choice were a 4-inch Sexy Shad-colored Storm Largo Shad as well as the 2.8-inch Keitech swimbait. Henderson said the team caught 25 short fish and eight keepers during the course of the day.
“If we weren’t looking at the fish on the LiveScope we were targeting pea gravel flats in anywhere from 15 to 20 feet of water,” Henderson said. “We were just scrubbing the bottom. Then when we threw it through schools of fish, it just depended on how deep the bait was; the fish were directly under them. It varied from 5 to 15 feet deep.
“Growing up on Table Rock, I’ve seen how tough that lake can be in post-front conditions,” Henderson added. “To catch 20 pounds on a lake I know and love feels great - especially to do it my freshman year. This feels great.”
The top 10 teams that advanced to the 2023 College Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Drury University – Clay Henderson, Purdy, Mo., and Zachery Ward, Cabot, Ark., five bass, 20-4, $2,000
2nd: McKendree University – Devon Rathbun, Springfield, Mo., and Lane Stephens, Grove, Okla., five bass, 18-6, $1,000
3rd: University of Missouri – Evan Japlon, Columbia, Mo., and Brian Walkup, Eureka, Mo., five bass, 18-4, $500
4th: University of Missouri – Cale McCandless, Wentzville, Mo., and Nick Trusso, Columbia, Mo., five bass, 16-15, $500
5th: Campbellsville University – Dustin Bauer, Louisville, Ky., and Wyatt Pearman, Hodgenville, Ky., five bass, 15-12, $500
6th: University of Nebraska – Cade Ludwig, Lincoln, Neb., and Hunter Suchsland, Kearney, Neb., five bass, 15-7
7th: University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point – Nate Boenning, Waukesha, Wis., and Reed Kochan, Middleton, Wis., five bass, 15-5
8th: Missouri State University – Blair Cox, Branson, Mo., and Ryder Parkhill, Ozark, Mo., five bass, 15-3
9th: Drury University – Stanislav Sedletskii, Springfield, Mo., and Brycen Soliday, Noble, Okla., five bass, 14-14
10th: Campbellsville University – Cade Hayford, Blissfield, Mich., and Wil Rigdon, Campbellsville, Ky., five bass, 14-8
MLF also advances one additional team to the National Championship for every 10 teams over 100 that compete. A total of 149 teams participated in this event, so also advancing to the 2023 College Fishing National Championship in 11th through 14th place are:
11th: University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point – Brock Lederman, Deforest, Wis., and Kyle Schwibinger, Plymouth, Wis., five bass, 14-0
12th: University of Missouri – Payton Sapp, Osage Beach, Mo., and Max Valkner, Columbia, Mo., five bass, 13-13
13th: Arkansas Tech University – Cole Lamb, Melbourne, Ark., and Tristan Weaver, Sage, Ark., five bass, 13-13
14th: Arkansas Tech University – John Foster Case, Clarksville, Ark., and Mat Higby, Lamar, Ark., five bass, 13-7
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Table Rock Lake was hosted by Explore Branson. It was the first of three regular-season tournaments for Central Conference anglers. The next event for College Fishing anglers will be the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Smith Mountain Lake, April 29, 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.
Eureka High School Wins MLF High School Fishing Open on Table Rock Lake
BRANSON, Mo. (April 11, 2022) – The Eureka Senior High School team of Jacob Hiebsch and Justin Rodenberg, both of Eureka, Missouri, brought five bass to the scale Saturday weighing 12 pounds, 5 ounces, to win the MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open at Table Rock Lake.
A field of 49 teams competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which launched from Table Rock State Park Marina in Branson. In MLF and The Bass Federation (TBF) High School Fishing competition, the top 10% of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.
The top four teams that advanced to the 2022 High School Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Eureka Senior High School, Eureka, Mo. – Jacob Hiebsch and Justin Rodenberg, both of Eureka, Mo., five bass, 12-5
2nd: Trigg County High School, Cadiz, Ky. – Jordan Hampton and Hunter Shelton, both of Cadiz, Ky., five bass, 11-15
3rd: NCA Fishing – Carter Phillips and Coleman Phillips, both of Harrison, Ark., four bass, 10-5
4th: Blue Eye High School, Blue Eye, Mo. – Trey Lippe, Blue Eye, Mo., and Colton Spinning, Lampe, Mo., four bass, 9-12
Rounding out the top 10 teams were:
5th: Ketchum High School, Ketchum, Okla. – Tyler Lake and Jesse Woodward, both of Vinita, Okla., three bass, 9-10
6th: Bobcat Bass, Basehor, Kan. – Wyatt Eidson and Grant Matthews, both of Basehor, Kan., two bass, 7-11
7th: Camdenton High School, Camdenton, Mo. – Tommy McElyea and Kasen Uthe, both of Camdenton, Mo., two bass, 7-3
8th: Cambridge-Isanti High School, Cambridge, Minn. – Ty Iten and Wyatt Landt, both of Cambridge, Minn., three bass, 6-14
9th: Century High School, Ullin, Ill. – Bryce McClellan, Grand Chain, Ill., and Trevor Wilburn, Pulaski, Ill., three bass, 6-8
10th: Peoria Notre Dame High School, Peoria, Ill. – James Hodskins and Charles Woolsey, both of Peoria, Ill., three bass, 6-1
Complete results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open at Table Rock Lake was hosted by Explore Branson. The next event for High School Fishing anglers will be the MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open on Smith Mountain Lake, April 30 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.
Brian Stiffler and Wesley Gore catch 20.19 pounds in 24 minutes to claim victory
By Jason Duran
Prattville, Ala April 9 – The South Division reached the midway point at the Alabama River- Cooter’s Pond. The river system has seen an abundance in water and current from recent rains. The banks were overflowing with water and pushed many fish into the back water areas and to areas normally not reachable by boat. Anglers made long runs and found non-typical areas to find the fish needed to win this event.
Brian Stiffler and Wesley Gore reeled in 20.19 pounds, a record weight in the ABT South Division for Alabama River, to claim first place and 10,000 plus bonuses and contingency money. The goal for them today was just to survive and collect some points. “Before this event we were doing well in the points, and we just wanted to keep adding to that. We had a good practice on Friday and found a spot that was holding some fish, so we hoped it would be there come tournament day.”
Each day of practice they paid close attention to the water levels. Recent rains caused the water to rise to flood levels. They noticed how the water was rising on the docks at the ramp and used that as an indicator for where levels were. They knew the water level needed to be high to reach the spot they had found. Wesley said he did some “really extensive google map study to locate these back water areas. “If you looked at the trails on our electronics for this event you would think we were fishing in the woods.” He noted this was an unmapped area, but it held water and was only accessible when the water is high. It was a risk, but it was something they were willing to give it a shot.
On tournament morning they noticed for the first time in the week the water had fallen over night. This did cause them some concern as to whether they were going to be able to get to their fishing spot. They decided to make the run and give it their best shot. Ryan describes this spot as “a ditch about the size of the front of his truck just stacked with fish. When the water fell overnight, it concentrated even more fish in the area.” They made it to the magical spot and quickly went to work using four key baits. A Zman 5/8 CrossEyez black and blue flipping jig, Megabass Magdraft 6 inch swimbait, Crusher lures swimbait head with a 3.8 rage swimmer and a Dirty Jig Canterbury crush jig. Time was not on their side. When they arrived at the spot the key to them was making the right cast. It was difficult to fish because of how specific the cast needed to be.
When they started making the right cast, the fish quickly came, and for 24 minutes they caught fish cast after cast and probably caught 20 fish. They culled up to what they felt like was a solid 19 pounds of fish then decided time was not on their side. They needed to leave because the water was falling fast, and they risked not being able to get out of the back water area if they didn’t leave quickly. Thankfully they made it back to the river and decided to head back to the ramp early. They made this decision because they didn’t want to risk tearing up their equipment and not making it back to the ramp to weigh in. When they arrived back around 9 am, they decided to order pizza and spend the remainder of the tournament resting in the shade. It was a long wait for the scales to open so they could weigh their limit. They not only held on to their points, but they moved up to second place in the standings just 14 points behind the leaders.
The second and third place teams made the long run to fish the Jordan Dam. This area is normally extremely shallow year-round and prevents boats from traveling as far as they did. This is a rocky area and can be seen from the bridges just how dangerously rocky is it at a lower river level. However, when the water rises it sends lots of spotted bass that love the current to feed. The rocks and high water make for some very strong current and causes fish to group up just out of the current and wait for the bait to flow by.
Adam Bain and Kris Colley weighed 19.27 pounds to claim second place and $5,000. This morning our main concern was “how low the water is going to be when we go upriver, we don’t know a lot about this place. We have only been here a few times, but everyone says they really bite up there when the flood gates turn on. We got just a couple bites in practice, and we felt it was our best shot to go upriver.” Throughout the day the team had to make changes and adjust to the flowing current conditions. “When we made changes, we caught fish. We really didn’t have fish particularly located so we had to move a lot. We worked an area of about a mile long and within sight of Jordan Dam.” When they found a good-looking spot,
they “made casts that were really close to the boat in the current seams.” The key for them were baits that could be fished in the current to create flash for the bass to see. “We use 1oz spinner bait with willow leaf blades, and we also used a 1 oz jig to flip to the current seam and let current pull the bait back to the boat just past the fish.” They said it was difficult to navigate the river up there. “We didn’t know much about the terrain up there other than what we have seen from the bridge when the water is down.” They caught two large spotted bass- one over 5 pounds at 5.10 and one just blow 5 pounds. Those two fish were the key to their second-place weight. “We really needed to cull one more fish to win today, but we are happy with our day.” They are currently sitting in seventh place in AOY Points for the year after this event.
James White Eugene Davis claimed third place with 18.61 pounds and $4000. The team shared they know this lake well. “Our experience on this river dates back 30 years.” Their practice was productive very early in the week and then it seemed to fade. “The bite has been tough in recent weeks. We spent a lot of time in practice last week and located a group of fish. However, the last couple days of practice the fish just seemed to go away.” Like the second-place team they made the long run up to the Jordan Dam to fish the areas they had located in practice. “Thankfully today the fish returned.” The team spent their day using a ¾ oz jig all day fishing current breaks and rock eddies. They shared, “this area is a really tough area to navigate, and it is easy to tear up your equipment in the rocks and rough current.” They looked for a couple key indicators when navigating, “real high waves are great indicators for where the rocks are. It’s important to steer away from the rocks and go between them.” We caught all our fish in a 50-yard stretch behind the rocks and current breaks. The water was so high it pushed water back into the woods, so we couldn’t reach where the water touched the bank.” They stuck with the plan of fishing the rocks and it paid off.
The Top 10 places are below for a complete list of standings visit: https://www.alabamabasstrail.org/alabama-river-cooters-pond/results/
Download and listen to the ABT Podcast on your favorite Podcast app by searching for “Alabama Bass Trail Podcast.” The podcast is released each week on Tuesday.
Harris Wins One-Day Shootout at Toyota Series on Lake Texoma
“I had a decent practice prior to all the wind and weather coming in, but I think the two days being cancelled actually helped me,” said Harris. “A lot of the things you plan for a three-day event just go out the window in a one-day tournament, so you either make it or break it.”
Harris’ limit of 21-13 gave him a three-pound margin over second place Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and Phoenix Boats pro Jeff Reynolds of Calera, Oklahoma, who finished the day with a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds, 13 ounces. While the three-pound gap between first and second place at the end of the day may look as though it were a ‘slam dunk’ for Harris, the Texas pro said that couldn’t be further from the truth.
“I started the morning in Highport and there were a ton of boats in there fishing a high school tournament,” said Harris. “I fished in that area all morning, but never got a bite. I made a move to Big Mineral and caught a 2 ½-pounder on a ¾-ounce BOOYAH Covert Series spinnerbait with a Hayabusa Trailer Hook pretty quickly, but didn’t catch another fish for over two hours.
“Around 1:30 in the afternoon I had just decided to leave that spot when I caught a 6-11 on my Ark Tharp Series Casting Rod 7’ Fast Hammer. That gave me a little hope that I could salvage out a limit and finish well.”
With only two fish in the box and the time clock ticking, Harris was on the hunt for more bass – and more water.
“I ran around for over an hour and a half, just trying to find an area where there wasn’t a boat – everywhere I ran there were six or seven boats,” said Harris. “I tried fishing those places, but it just wasn’t working.
“Around 3 p.m. I was running back and remembered I’d found a fish on a bed earlier in the week, so I pulled in that pocket to see if she was still there. She wasn’t, but as I was about to leave, I pitched my bait and caught a 3-pounder on a point.”
With only 20 minutes left until check-in, Harris said he decided to spend the remainder of his time fishing down that bank.
“We had planned to leave there at 3:25, and I’d told my co-angler, ‘this is my last flip, get your things ready to go’”, said Harris. “I made a flip and hopped a homemade jig with a green-pumpkin-colored Reins Ring Craw trailer, and got nothing. As I’m reeling the jig in and turning the boat away to leave, I see a 6-pounder following my bait.
“I flip back in there with my Ark Tharp Series 7’6” Heavy King Cobra rod and catch a 3-pounder – put it in the box, flip in there again and catch a 6-pounder – then we raced back to check-in, where we made it with only 30 seconds to spare.”
With mere ounces separating second through fourth place, losing either of those two fish would have meant an entirely different outcome for Harris, who is celebrating his first MLF win.
“I had three in the box and was heading back to check-in without a limit – that just blows my mind,” said Harris. “It’s been very humbling to receive all the calls and text messages after winning the event. When we went to bed that night, I had 280 text messages to reply to – I still can’t believe it.”
The top 10 pros on Lake Texoma finished:
2nd: Jeff Reynolds of Calera, Okla., five bass, 18-13, $16,500
3rd: Evan Barnes of Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 18-11, $12,000
4th: Todd Castledine of Nacogdoches, Texas, five bass, 18-2, $10,000
5th: Jake Goodrum of Cleveland, Texas, five bass, 17-9, $9,000
6th: Kyle Hall of Granbury, Texas, five bass, 16-9, $8,000
7th: Kris Wilson of Montgomery, Texas, five bass, 16-8, $7,000
8th: Bret Stafford of Temple, Texas, five bass, 15-15, $6,000
9th: Jason Bonds of Lufkin, Texas, five bass, 15-13, $5,000
10th: Tommy Martin of Hemphill, Texas, five bass, 15-2, $4,000
Pro Wardell Motley of Cleburne, Texas won the $500 Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division Saturday with a bass weighing 7 pounds, 2 ounces.
Reynolds 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.
Ricky Friedrich of Pearland, Texas won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a one-day total of four bass weighing 13 pounds, 8 ounces. Friedrich took home the top prize package worth $33,500, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on Lake Texoma finished:
2nd: Joe Lee of Midlothian, Texas, three bass, 12-15, $5,150
3rd: Robert Chavers of Knoxville, Ark., five bass, 12-12, $4,400
4th: Johnny Matthews of Laguna Park, Texas, five bass, 11-11, $3,500
5th: Kevin Hitt of Yukon, Okla., five bass, 11-11, $3,000
6th: Gilbert Herald of Pittsburg, Texas, three bass, 11-9, $2,500
7th: Domonick Poullard of Conroe, Texas, three bass, 9-15, $2,000
8th: Kevin Carter of Spring, Texas, four bass, 9-10, $1,750
9th: Jason Sandidge of Centerton, Ark., four bass, 9-9, $1,500
10th: Albert Ignacio of Dallas, Texas, four bass, 9-6, $1,250
The Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at Lake Texoma was hosted by Discover Durant. It was the second tournament in the Southwestern Division Presented by Outlaw Ordnance. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will take place on Apr. 28-30 – the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma hosted by the City of Grove and the Grove Convention and Tourism Bureau. 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 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 .
Stephen Browning Out Front for Group B at General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops Event on Lake Palestine
Hot Springs, Arkansas Angler Weighs 51 Pounds, 4 Ounces of Scorable Bass to Lead Group B, Group A to Wrap Up Qualifying Round Monday
TYLER, Texas (April 10, 2022) – Hot Springs, Arkansas pro ”The Puma” Stephen Browning, caught 16 scorable bass weighing 51 pounds, 4 ounces to grab the early lead for Group B in the Qualifying Round of the General Tire Heavy Hitters Presented by Bass Pro Shops at Lake Palestine. The six-day all-star event showcases the 32 pros that qualified from the Bass Pro Tour competing for a purse of more than $500,000, with a top prize of $100,000 to the winner along with massive Big Bass Bonus payouts.
Redlands, California pro Brent Ehrler, caught an 8-pound, 5-ounce lunker that was the heaviest bass of the day Sunday. The big fish engulfed Ehrler’s frog midway through the third period. If Ehrler’s fish remains the largest bass weighed by Group B after the conclusion of the two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday, he will take home a $25,000 Big Bass Bonus. Big Bass Bonuses are awarded throughout the competition, with payouts of $25,000, $50,000 and $100,000 being awarded for the single biggest fish in the Qualifying, Knockout and Championship rounds.
Browning will bring a 18-pound, 6-ounce, lead over second-place pro Jordan Lee of Cullman, Alabama, into Tuesday’s second day of competition in the Qualifying Round for Group B. Lee landed 10 scorable bass totaling 32-14, while pro Jeff Kriet of Ardmore, Oklahoma, rounds out the top three, catching nine bass weighing 28-2 to end the day in third place.
The 16 anglers in Group B will now have the day off Monday, while the 16 anglers in Group A will wrap up their two-day Qualifying Round. Group B anglers will complete their Qualifying Round of competition on Tuesday.
“Today was so fun – exactly how I grew up fishing, this time of the year on the lower Arkansas River. It just felt like home,” Browning said. “I had several bites, and some quality, and anytime I can put a Z-Man (ChatterBait) Jack Hammer in my hand and they’re biting it, we’re going to hold our own.”
Browning spent most of his day Sunday throwing the vibrating jig and targeting fish spawning on the numerous backwater stumps.
“Some of the water I’m fishing is about 2½ to 3 feet, and some of it is only 2 feet,” Browning said. “When I get into that 2-foot range, I put the (Z-Man) DieZel MinnowZ on the back end of it. When I’m fishing a little bit deeper, I can get away with the (Z-Man) RaZor ShadZ. I’m throwing a 3/8-ounce Jack Hammer – bluegill-colored – with my 7-foot 10-inch Extra Heavy Moderate St. Croix Legend Tournament (Bass) series rod.
“On Tuesday we’re going to go with a little softer rod – probably a heavy-moderate – just to lighten it up a little bit, so when I set the hook on these fish I don’t bring them to the top like I did today,” Browning continued. “We had a little misfortune – one took our bait from us, and I’d missed that fish earlier on a crankbait off that same bush. So, if we can get her to bite before the day is over, we might even give Ehrler a run for his money on that 8-pounder.”
Second-place pro Jordan Lee had a very successful first and second period before his day slowed in the afternoon. Lee caught all of his fish Sunday throwing a frog.
“I’m definitely excited about second, but I’m even more excited about how I was catching them today,” Lee said in his postgame interview. “I caught them on a frog – I used a white one early, then switched to a black one when the sun got up. I used my (Abu Garcia) Signature Series Frog rod – it’s a 7-foot, 3-inch heavy – with 50-pound-test Berkley X9 braided line with an (Abu Garcia) Revo Premier reel . And just made casts to where I feel like a lot of guys weren’t throwing a bait.
“It wasn’t automatic, but I had a really good two periods doing that. Overall, I’m excited about what I found and definitely have something to build off of for Day 2,” Lee went on to say.
Oklahoma pro Jeff Kriet mainly fished in the mid-lake area, having a lot of water to himself and catching most of his fish on a worm.
“I started off this morning before the wind got up and I was swinging around a wacky-rigged Yamamoto Senko with a 1/0 Gamakatsu (G-Finesse) weedless hook,” Kriet said. “I’m catching them way up in the grass, and you’d be amazed at how weedless that hook is.
“When it got windy, I had to go to flipping a weight and I switched to McClelland’s (Gamakatsu G-Finesse) Hybrid hook,” Kriet continued. “I didn’t lose any fish today, and in this much wind that is hard to do. All in all it was a good day, a challenging day with the wind, but I’m really happy and I fished good.”
The standings for the 16 pros from Qualifying Group B on Lake Palestine are:
1st: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 16 bass, 51-4
2nd: Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., 10 bass, 32-14
3rd: Jeff Kriet, Ardmore, Okla., nine bass, 28-2
4th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., seven bass, 26-4
7th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., nine bass, 25-10
6th: Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala., nine bass, 25-6
4th: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., seven bass, 22-5
14th: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., five bass, 13-0
13th: Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, Okla., four bass, 11-10
10th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., four bass, 10-9
8th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., three bass, 9-9
15th: Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C.., four bass, 9-3
9th: Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., three bass, 8-5
11th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., three bass, 7-10
12th: Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss., two bass, 7-9
16th: Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., one bass, 2-10
Full results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 96 bass weighing 291 pounds, 14 ounces caught by the 16 pros Sunday, which included one 8-pounder, one 7-pounder, and two 6-pounders caught from Lake Palestine.
The 16 anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Saturday and Monday – the 16 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. After each two-day qualifying round is complete, the anglers that finish in 2nd through 8th 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 14 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.
Anglers will depart at 7 a.m. from the Villages Marina, located at Big Eddy Road in Flint, Texas. Anglers are allowed to trailer to any boat ramp of their choosing on Lake Palestine, but competition begins with “lines in” at 8 a.m. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the Marina, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Fans are encouraged to come out and celebrate with the professional anglers from the Bass Pro Tour starting at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 14 at the Villages Marina in Flint, Texas, as they crown the champion of the General Tire Heavy Hitters 2022 Presented by Bass Pro Shops. The first 50 children at the event will receive a free Dora the Explorer rod and reel, and the first 50 High School Fishing anglers will receive a free Abu Garcia rod and reel combo valued at $100. Free food will be provided for all, and the Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand to meet and greet fans, sign autographs, take selfies and participate in tackle giveaways.
The General Tire Heavy Hitters 2022 features anglers competing with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable in the Qualifying and Knockout Rounds, but for the final day Championship Round a bass must weigh at least 3 pounds 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.
To qualify for the General Tire Heavy Hitters 2022 event, the weight of an angler’s single-largest bass from each event of the seven 2021 Bass Pro Tour events was recorded. The 32 anglers with the heaviest five big-fish totals from those seven events qualified to compete in this event.
The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all five days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Television coverage of the General Tire Heavy Hitters 2022 Event will be showcased across six two-hour episodes, premiering at 7 a.m. ET, July 16 and running each Saturday through August 20 on the Discovery Channel. A one-hour special episode of MLF Inside Heavy Hitters will also air on CBS in late 2022. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on the Discovery Channel, with additional re-airings on the Outdoor Channel and the Sportsman Channel. Each two-hour long reality-based episode goes in-depth to break down each day of competition.
Proud sponsors of the 2022 MLF General Tire Heavy Hitters Event include: Abu Garcia, B&W Hitches, Bally Bet, Bass Cat Boats, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Builders First Source, Covercraft, Ferguson, FuelMe, GEICO, General Tire, Guaranteed Rate, Kubota, Lowrance, Lucas Oil, Mercury, Mossy Oak, NITRO Boats, Onyx, Phoenix Boats, Plano, Power-Pole, Power Stop Brakes, Shore Lunch, Sonic, StarBrite, Sqwincher, T-H Marine, Toyota, United States Airforce, Wiley X, Yellowstone Bourbon, and YETI.
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.
Christie Rights His Ship, Wins Bassmaster Elite Series Event At Chickamauga Lake
Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., has won the 2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Chickamauga Lake with a four-day total of 73 pounds, 7 ounces.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
April 10, 2022
DAYTON, Tenn. — Jason Christie left Dayton Municipal Park on Championship Sunday just 6 ounces out of the lead with a crystal-clear plan for where he wanted to start.
But thick fog created by temperatures that had plunged into the 30s overnight changed that plan — and ultimately played a huge role in his eighth career victory with B.A.S.S.
To let the fog clear, Christie stopped on a bank he hadn’t fished all week and quickly put a solid limit in his livewell. He culled up a few ounces throughout the day until he reached a five-bass limit of 15 pounds, 12 ounces that helped him win the Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Chickamauga Lake with a four-day total of 73-7.
“The fog is why I won,” said Christie, who is a little more than a month removed from winning the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk on Lake Hartwell. “I went through one fogbank at about 25 mph going to where I was going to start. But then I hit another fogbank and I saw a boat wave that I knew didn’t come from one of our guys, so I just immediately peeled off to an area that I fished three or four years ago in another event.”
After a warm start on Thursday, Days 2 and 3 were the polar opposite with cloudy skies, temperatures in the 40s and a spattering of rain, sleet and snow. But the low-light conditions played into the hands of Christie, who fished all week with a 1/2-ounce Booyah Covert Spinnerbait (chartreuse, white and blue with a white Yum Swim’n Dinger as a trailer), a bladed jig and the same War Eagle Jiu-Jigsu Jig (green pumpkin) he used at the Classic.
The conditions made another sharp turn Sunday, with the return of the sun, calm winds and a high temperature near 70 degrees. But Christie once again took advantage of a short window of low visibility aided by the early morning fog.
“I knew the spot I stopped at had had a lot of traffic, but I figured I would just go in there and fish until the fog lifted,” Christie said. “But really it set up perfectly because it was shaded and had all the right stuff.”
While much of the field was still navigating the fog, Christie caught a quick limit, taking the unofficial lead on BassTrakk by 8 a.m. and never relinquishing it.
“That was the key, just getting off to a good start,” he said. “What was weird is every day those fish have been tight to cover. But the first big one I caught today was halfway back to the boat. Then the next bite was about the same — and that’s how I ended up catching them.
“I think the bait would come by the cover, and they were sitting right out in front of it.”
The win provided a bit of redemption for Christie, who followed his Classic victory with a 93rd-place finish at the next Elite Series event at Santee Cooper Lakes — one of the worst finishes of his career. He said the same stubbornness that cost him at Santee Cooper Lakes might have helped him to the victory on Chickamauga.
“I certainly don’t like to make excuses,” he said. “But during practice for Santee, I was doing every interview, every podcast about the Classic win — I didn’t turn anyone down. I still thought I was on a good deal there and that I would catch them. But I was too stubborn to give up on it when it didn’t work.
“That’s just like today. The fishing was a lot tougher than it had been the last two days, but I stuck with what I was doing.”
Like Christie, Mississippi pro Brock Mosley stayed with the program he had been using all week, alternating between a bladed jig, a jig, a Senko and a spinnerbait. But with a modest limit of 11-14, he finished second with a four-day total of 69-15.
It marked his fifth career second-place finish on the Elite Series and the third time he’s finished one spot behind Christie.
“I caught plenty of fish today, but I just didn’t run into any big fish,” Mosley said. “I thought as good as I was catching them, everybody else was probably catching them too. So late in the day, I decided to run down the lake and try to catch a couple of big ones on a big swimbait.
“Looking back, I probably should have just stuck with what I was doing.”
Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day honors went to Arizona pro Clifford Pirch for a 5-4 largemouth. Wisconsin pro Pat Schlapper won Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Week with the 10-5 he caught Thursday.
Hawaiian Matty Wong failed to make the Top 10 cut for Championship Sunday, placing 14th with 48-5. But he earned the VMC Monster Bag of the Week award for the 25-13 limit he weighed in Friday.
Christie took home $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, and Mosley earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.
As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Christie also earned $4,000 for winning while Australian Carl Jocumsen claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.
Ed Loughran III won the $1,000 BassTrakk Contingency award for the most accurate weight reporting.
With a 33rd-place finish, Florida pro John Cox maintained his lead in the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 353 points. Idaho pro Brandon Palaniuk moved into second with 343, followed by Pirch (338), David Mullins of Tennessee (321) and Drew Benton of Georgia (321).
Wisconsin pro Jay Przekurat leads the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race with 293 points, followed by Joseph Webster of Alabama (249) and Tennessee pro Jacob Foutz (200).
2022 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Chickamauga Lake 4/7-4/10
Chickamauga Lake, Dayton TN.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 20 73-07 100 $100,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 20-15 Day 3: 5 20-12 Day 4: 5 15-12
2. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 20 69-15 99 $35,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-06 Day 2: 5 18-11 Day 3: 5 20-00 Day 4: 5 11-14
3. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 20 67-06 98 $31,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 17-01 Day 3: 5 23-08 Day 4: 5 11-09
4. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 19 66-01 97 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-13 Day 2: 5 18-08 Day 3: 5 14-06 Day 4: 4 11-06
5. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 18 64-13 96 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-14 Day 2: 5 17-01 Day 3: 5 16-04 Day 4: 3 10-10
6. Daisuke Aoki Minamitsurugun Yamanash 18 63-15 95 $19,000.00
Day 1: 5 23-12 Day 2: 5 16-08 Day 3: 5 17-10 Day 4: 3 06-01
7. Carl Jocumsen Queensland AUSTRALIA 19 63-04 94 $18,000.00
Day 1: 5 24-12 Day 2: 4 08-04 Day 3: 5 18-03 Day 4: 5 12-01
8. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 17 58-00 93 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 5 22-10 Day 4: 2 05-15
9. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 18 58-00 92 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 19-12 Day 3: 5 16-11 Day 4: 3 09-03
10. Drew Benton Blakely, GA 16 51-14 91 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 18-14 Day 3: 5 12-00 Day 4: 1 02-09
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 10-05 $1,000.00
2 Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 09-12 $1,000.00
3 Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 07-12 $1,000.00
4 Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 05-04 $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 10-05 $1,000.00
VMC MONSTER BAG
Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 25-13 $2,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 61 394 1192-01
2 54 390 1182-02
3 29 194 557-00
4 4 36 97-00
----------------------------------
148 1014 3028-03
