Crews Leverages Two-Stage Strategy To Lead Bassmaster Elite On St. Johns

John Crews of Salem, Va., is leading after Day 1 of the 2022 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River with 28 pounds.

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

February 10, 2022

PALATKA, Fla. — Looking past current conditions and considering the forthcoming weather patterns, John Crews of Salem, Va., employed a two-stage strategy and sacked up a Day 1 limit of 28 pounds to lead the season-opening AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River.

Leading Bob Downey of Hudson, Wis., by 12 ounces, Crews also sits atop the VMC Monster Bag standings for the event’s heaviest limit.

Following the miserably rainy, cold conditions that plagued practice, Day 1 dawned clear and bright. It was definitely a postfrontal, high-pressure scenario, but air temperatures quickly rose and spurred the fish.

“At the beginning of practice, I was practicing for these conditions, so it made me look really smart, like I made a good decision,” Crews said. “Hopefully, it will hold up. I think we’ll have the same weather tomorrow.”

Running upriver from Palatka, Crews started his day in Rodman Reservoir. While 22 other boats passed through the Buckman Lock with him, Crews said he never felt cramped or crowded. Covering a 2-mile area, he had to hit several spots to secure a limit.

“There was no aggregation of boats; there were three or four boats in sight of where I was at, but nobody was on top of anybody,” Crews said. “I don’t think anything is that good — at least I didn’t find it.

“It was one here, one there, one here. Then, at the end of the day, it was like, ‘You smoked them.’ But it wasn’t like that.”

Anchoring his bag with an 8-1, Crews said he used multiple techniques in Rodman and combined moving baits with slower presentations.

“I used these baits in relationship to similar places,” he said. “All the places I fished in Rodman were similar. I think I can go back tomorrow and catch some more fish, but catching big fish like that — I don’t know.”

Around 1 p.m., Crews locked out of Rodman. While he waited, he spoke with the Bassmaster LIVE crew and told them his plan was to return to the St. Johns and look for another big bite. He checked that box around 2:45 by relocating to a familiar spot and adding a 4 1/2-pounder.

“I had some things in mind; I tried some offshore stuff and I tried some other shallow stuff,” Crews said. “It’s an area where I’ve caught some in the past. I caught a 2 1/4-pounder and then I caught that 4 1/2 and then I left. It’s one of those places where you can usually catch one or two, but I’ve never caught a limit there.”

As Crews explained, his decision to leave Rodman was based on factors beyond his control.

“With (Rodman), you have to lock when you can lock (based on the predetermined schedule),” he said. “I thought, ‘When I come back to the river, maybe I can get another bite or two, and maybe it will help me at some point.’ It helped me today.”

Overcoming an early mechanical issue, Downey placed second with 27-4. He would eventually leave the water around 11:30 a.m. to have the service crew address the issues, but not before reaching his planned destination south of Palatka.

“I limped down to my area and had all my weight by 10 o’clock,” Downey said. “I caught a good fish in that area in practice and I think the weather conditions set up right — the cold last night just sucked them into this area. I only caught five fish today.

“I would have loved to have gone and practiced elsewhere today; I had some stuff south of Lake George and I would have loved to run some canals later today just to see if I could find a bigger one, but I didn’t do that because I didn’t know if I could get back or not.”

Downey caught his fish in what he described as a backwater creek. He caught his fish off the bank and used his Humminbird 360 to locate key areas. Winding a reaction bait produced all of his fish.

Stetson Blaylock of Benton, Ark., is in third place with 22 pounds. Starting with a solid game plan, Blaylock realized the situation was not going to produce, so he made a wholesale change and salvaged his day.

“There are a couple of little places that people keep overlooking and every year that I’ve caught them (well) here, I’ve caught some key fish in those areas and this year was no different,” Blaylock said. “I just happened to catch a couple of really nice ones midday that really helped the cause.

“In my primary stuff, only one place out of all the stuff I’d found in practice had a fish on it. I just got one bite and that was it. Hopefully, there’s enough left in that backup spot to carry me on to a Top 10.”

Blaylock caught his bass on a trio of moving baits. His strategy was to “buzz through” the area to locate active fish that were positioning off the bank in open water.

“I definitely left them biting today,” he said. “But it’s not like you just pull up and just throw at one spot and catch them; you have to work hard to get those bites.”

Brandon Cobb of Greenwood, S.C., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 9-13 largemouth.

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. ET from Palatka City Docks. The weigh-in will be held at Palatka Riverfront Park at 3:30 p.m.

After Friday’s weigh-in, the Top 47 remaining anglers will advance to Saturday’s semifinal round.

2022 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River 2/10-2/13
St. Johns River, Palatka FL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

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

1. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 28-00 100
Day 1: 5 28-00
2. Bob Downey Hudson, WI 5 27-04 99
Day 1: 5 27-04
3. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 5 22-00 98
Day 1: 5 22-00
4. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 5 20-04 97
Day 1: 5 20-04
5. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 20-00 96
Day 1: 5 20-00
6. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 5 19-14 95
Day 1: 5 19-14
7. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 19-07 94
Day 1: 5 19-07
8. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 5 19-03 93
Day 1: 5 19-03
9. Chad Pipkens DeWitt, MI 5 19-00 92
Day 1: 5 19-00
10. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 5 18-15 91
Day 1: 5 18-15
11. Bryan New Saluda, SC 5 18-11 90
Day 1: 5 18-11
12. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 5 18-04 89
Day 1: 5 18-04
13. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 5 17-12 88
Day 1: 5 17-12
14. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 5 17-09 87
Day 1: 5 17-09
15. Buddy Gross Chatanooga, TN 5 17-02 86
Day 1: 5 17-02
16. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 5 16-07 85
Day 1: 5 16-07
17. Taku Ito Chiba JAPAN 5 16-04 84
Day 1: 5 16-04
18. Seth Feider New Market, MN 5 15-00 83
Day 1: 5 15-00
18. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 5 15-00 83
Day 1: 5 15-00
18. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 15-00 83
Day 1: 5 15-00
21. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 5 14-13 80
Day 1: 5 14-13
22. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 5 14-10 79
Day 1: 5 14-10
23. Frank Talley Temple, TX 5 14-07 78
Day 1: 5 14-07
24. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 5 14-05 77
Day 1: 5 14-05
25. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 5 14-02 76
Day 1: 5 14-02
26. Wes Logan Springville, AL 5 13-15 75
Day 1: 5 13-15
27. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 5 13-14 74
Day 1: 5 13-14
28. Jay Yelas Turner, OR 5 13-12 73
Day 1: 5 13-12
29. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 13-07 72
Day 1: 5 13-07
30. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 13-04 71
Day 1: 5 13-04
31. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 5 13-02 70
Day 1: 5 13-02
32. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 5 13-01 69
Day 1: 5 13-01
33. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 4 13-01 68
Day 1: 4 13-01
34. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 5 13-00 67
Day 1: 5 13-00
35. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 5 12-13 66
Day 1: 5 12-13
35. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 5 12-13 66
Day 1: 5 12-13
37. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 5 12-12 64
Day 1: 5 12-12
37. Jake Whitaker Fairview, NC 5 12-12 64
Day 1: 5 12-12
39. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 5 12-10 62
Day 1: 5 12-10
40. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 5 12-04 61
Day 1: 5 12-04
41. Masayuki Matsushita Tokoname-Shi JAPAN 5 12-01 60
Day 1: 5 12-01
42. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 5 11-14 59
Day 1: 5 11-14
43. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 5 11-13 58
Day 1: 5 11-13
44. David Williams Newton, NC 5 11-11 57
Day 1: 5 11-11
45. Drew Benton Blakely, GA 5 11-05 56
Day 1: 5 11-05
45. Joseph Webster Hamilton, AL 5 11-05 56
Day 1: 5 11-05
47. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 11-03 54
Day 1: 5 11-03
48. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 5 10-14 53
Day 1: 5 10-14
49. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 4 10-14 52
Day 1: 4 10-14
50. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 5 10-08 51
Day 1: 5 10-08
51. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 5 09-15 50
Day 1: 5 09-15
52. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 1 09-13 49
Day 1: 1 09-13
53. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 4 09-11 48
Day 1: 4 09-11
54. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 09-10 47
Day 1: 5 09-10
55. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 2 09-08 46
Day 1: 2 09-08
56. Cody Huff Ava, MO 5 09-07 45
Day 1: 5 09-07
57. John Cox Debary, FL 5 09-06 44
Day 1: 5 09-06
57. Carl Jocumsen Queensland AUSTRALIA 5 09-06 44
Day 1: 5 09-06
59. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 4 09-05 42
Day 1: 4 09-05
60. Jeff Gustafson Keewatin Ontario CANADA 5 09-03 41
Day 1: 5 09-03
61. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 08-15 40
Day 1: 5 08-15
62. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 3 08-14 39
Day 1: 3 08-14
63. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 4 08-11 38
Day 1: 4 08-11
64. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 4 08-09 37
Day 1: 4 08-09
65. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 3 08-07 36
Day 1: 3 08-07
66. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 4 08-04 35
Day 1: 4 08-04
67. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 08-00 34
Day 1: 5 08-00
68. Mike Huff London, KY 5 07-10 33
Day 1: 5 07-10
69. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 4 07-07 32
Day 1: 4 07-07
70. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 4 07-05 31
Day 1: 4 07-05
71. Darold Gleason Many, LA 4 07-03 30
Day 1: 4 07-03
72. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 4 07-00 29
Day 1: 4 07-00
72. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 4 07-00 29
Day 1: 4 07-00
74. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 4 06-14 27
Day 1: 4 06-14
75. Joshua Stracner Vandiver, AL 5 06-08 26
Day 1: 5 06-08
76. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 5 06-00 25
Day 1: 5 06-00
77. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 2 05-14 24
Day 1: 2 05-14
78. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 4 05-10 23
Day 1: 4 05-10
79. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 3 05-04 22
Day 1: 3 05-04
80. Jesse Tacoronte Kissimmee, FL 3 04-13 21
Day 1: 3 04-13
81. Derek Hudnall Denham Springs, LA 3 04-11 20
Day 1: 3 04-11
81. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 3 04-11 20
Day 1: 3 04-11
83. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 3 04-09 18
Day 1: 3 04-09
84. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 3 04-00 17
Day 1: 3 04-00
85. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 2 03-15 16
Day 1: 2 03-15
86. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 1 03-14 15
Day 1: 1 03-14
87. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 2 03-12 14
Day 1: 2 03-12
88. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 2 03-09 13
Day 1: 2 03-09
89. Josh Douglas Isle, MN 1 02-07 12
Day 1: 1 02-07
90. David Fritts Lexington, NC 1 02-06 11
Day 1: 1 02-06
91. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 2 02-05 10
Day 1: 2 02-05
92. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 1 01-11 9
Day 1: 1 01-11
93. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 1 00-14 8
Day 1: 1 00-14
94. Daisuke Aoki Minamitsurugun Yamanash 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 09-13 $1000.00

VMC MONSTER BAG
Day
1 John Crews Jr Salem, VA 28-00 $0.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 59 393 1045-09


Elite Series rookie Cody Huff isn’t tied in knots

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin / Dynamic Sponsorships

 

The lifelong dream of a kid from rural Southwest Missouri came true on a frosty Thursday morning at the St. Johns River in Palatka River as Cody Huff tied his Nitro to a dock, and waited to make his first cast moments later as a Bassmaster Elite Series pro.

 

Turns out the rope in his hands was as new as his pro career.

 

“My mind is in the right place, and my nerves are good, but I had a really weird wiring issue in my boat yesterday. So I bought this new dock rope at Bass Pro Shops in Gainesville yesterday while the folks in their boat service department were working hard to get me fixed-up,” smiled the always easy going Huff.

 

Huff is absolutely one of the most talented and accomplished bass anglers in the world under the age of 25, but until practice started Sunday, he had never made a cast on the St. Johns.

 

“I found one area in practice where I caught two 7-pounders. So, my plan for today is to go to that area, stay focused, keep the trolling motor in the water, and fish it super thoroughly,” says Huff.

 

“Because even though the fishing has been tough, I’m confident if I can get five bites in that area, they’ll be the quality I need to do really well,” he reasons.

 

Frosty coolness in his veins. A new dock rope in his hands. Dreams in his heart. And a solid game plan in his head.

 

Keep a close eye on Cody Huff, fishing fans. He may only be age 24, but he’s going to be a major player in this sport for a very long time.


Lester knows Florida bass love golden shiner colored lures

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin / Dynamic Sponsorships


His hometown Lincoln County
High School Falcons wear blue and white. His home state Vols wear orange. But when Brandon Lester is in Florida, he knows “golden shiner” is the winning color.

 

His victory last week at the Bassmaster Southern Open on Florida’s Kissimmee Chain proves it. And you can bet he’ll be slinging the same shade this week at the Bassmaster Elite on the St. Johns River.

 

“I’ll put it to you this way, I had my buddy Jeff Shelton make me several golden shiner colored skirts to make sure I was ready for three weeks of competition in Florida. That skirt color has caught me several bass over the years in Florida, but last week it was just absolutely magical,” smiles Lester.

 

Turns out, according to Florida fisheries biologists, golden shiners make up a small percentage of local largemouth bass’ diet, but they sure do love ‘em. Sort of like us, we seldom get a shot at filet mignon, but when we do, we hammer it.

 

“Golden shiners are hands down the best live bait for catching giant Florida largemouth,” says Allen Martin, regional freshwater fisheries biologist for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

 

“They’re bite-sized for big bass and they don’t have a lot of spines on their fins for bass to contend with, so you can bet if a big largemouth sees a golden shiner, he’s going after it!he adds.

 

Biologist Martin will get no debate from Brandon Lester.

 

When in Florida, feed ‘em lures that resemble a golden shiner, and there’s a good chance they’ll pounce on it like Lincoln County Falcons hunting down free pizza on a Friday night.


BRYAN THRIFT GOES NEXT LEVEL WITH BAITFUEL FISH ATTRACTANT THIS MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING SEASON

OCEAN SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI – Feb 10, 2022.

American Baitworks is excited to announce the addition of Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour angler Bryan Thrift to our pro fishing team, supporting the company’s all-new BaitFuel Fish Attractant launching in Spring 2022.

Thrift joins American Baitworks Pro’s Cliff Crochet (MLF), Greg Vinson (MLF), JT Kenney (MLF), Jeremy Lawyer (MLF), Scott Dobson (MLF), Lee Livesay (Bassmaster Elite), Justin Hamner (Bassmaster Elite), Scott Canterbury (Bassmaster Elite), Bryan New (Bassmaster Elite), Matty Wong (Bassmaster Elite), Matt Robertson (Bassmaster Elite), Chris Zaldain (Bassmaster Elite) and Patrick Walters (Bassmaster Elite).

Bryan Thrift

Known as one of the most consistent anglers in the world, Thrift is a versatile fisherman with an inherent ability to learn any body of water quickly, allowing Bryan to dominate at junk-fishing, winning with tactics like swimbaits and jigs. BaitFuel Fish Attractant Gel will now be in his fishing arsenal, giving him a competitive edge in every tournament he fishes this season.

“BaitFuel is by far one of the coolest new products on the market, and I can’t say enough incredible things about it,” said Bryan Thrift. “I first had the opportunity to use it during a Toyota Series on the St. Lawrence and hands down BaitFuel got me more bites – catching 40-50 smallmouth a day! Bottom line, BaitFuel Fish Attractant works, and I am excited to put it to work this season.” 

In his professional fishing career, Thrift has nine major wins, including the 2019 Fo

 


MATTY WONG BRINGS HIS HAWAIIAN VIBES TO THE 2022 BASSMASTER ELITE SERIES WITH BAITFUEL FISH ATTRACTANT & FREEDOM TACKLE

OCEAN SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI – February 10, 2022, American Baitworks is excited to announce the addition of Bassmaster Elite Series angler Matty Wong to our pro fishing team. Wong will add American Baitworks products from Freedom Tackle and BaitFuel Fish Attractant to his tackle arsenal this season.

Wong joins American Baitworks Pro’s Cliff Crochet (MLF), Greg Vinson (MLF), JT Kenney (MLF), Jeremy Lawyer (MLF), Bryan Thrift (MLF), Scott Dobson (MLF), Lee Livesay (Bassmaster Elite), Justin Hamner (Bassmaster Elite), Scott Canterbury (Bassmaster Elite), Bryan New (Bassmaster Elite), Matt Robertson (Bassmaster Elite), Chris Zaldain (Bassmaster Elite) and Patrick Walters (Bassmaster Elite). 

Matty Wong

If you haven’t heard the name Matty Wong yet, you soon will. Matty brings new excitement to the Bassmaster Elite Series and is expected to become a fan favorite quickly. Learning how to fish on the island Oahu, Hawaii, Wong has been addicted to fishing since his first hookset. At 33, he is the first Hawaiian angler to qualify for the Bassmaster Elite Series. Wong brings a unique perspective and fresh approach to the series. His imaginative mindset stems from his passion for photography, videography and his diverse portfolio of fishing styles which can be found on his YouTube channel: Capture Fish

Matty qualified for the Elite Series by coming up through the ranks and winning the 2021 Bass Nation.  

“I’m excited to partner with American Baitworks for my rookie season on the Bassmaster Elite Series tour.” said Matty Wong “I’m a fishing geek and the technical design of fishing products really matters to me. Having Freedom Tackle products and BaitFuel tied on this season are going be major tools to help me compete at the highest level in the sport.”

 


From one Cheesehead to Another

 

David Hooks up with another fellow Cheesehead this week on the PRo Circuit side with Rookie Steve Lopez. Recorded prior to the first PC event, DX gets into what makes Steve tick. Check it out!


CHRIS ZALDIAN GETS EVEN MORE ZALDANGEROUS WITH BAITFUEL SCENT ATTRACTANT

OCEAN SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI – February 10, 2022.

American Baitworks is pleased to announce the addition of Bassmaster Elite Series angler Chris Zaldain, one of the hottest anglers in the country, who has joined the company’s pro fishing team. Zaldain will represent BaitFuel Fish Attractant Gel. 

Zaldain joins American Baitworks Pro’s Cliff Crochet (MLF), Greg Vinson (MLF), JT Kenney (MLF), Jeremy Lawyer (MLF), Bryan Thrift (MLF), Scott Dobson (MLF), Lee Livesay (Bassmaster Elite), Justin Hamner (Bassmaster Elite), Scott Canterbury (Bassmaster Elite), Bryan New (Bassmaster Elite), Matty Wong (Bassmaster Elite), Matt Robertson (Bassmaster Elite) and Patrick Walters (Bassmaster Elite). 

Chris Zaldain 

Zaldain is a Bassmaster Elite Series angler and YouTube personality and shares his fishing experiences and travels alongside his wife Trait Zaldain and their dogs Nebo and Micci.

Chris has been fishing professionally for 10+ years, becoming one of the most well-known anglers in the country. Known for flipping, drop shotting, big swimbaits and giant flutter spoons, Zaldain was an early adopter of BaitFuel scent technology in its testing phase and knows first-hand the advantages of the next generation fish attractant.

“There’s no doubt that BaitFuel is a game changer for fishing. It’s VERY effective on both largemouth and smallmouth bass. It consistently gets more bites and has definitively made a difference for me putting more fish in the boat,” said Chris Zaldain. “BaitFuel was developed based on the science of how fish smell, not humans – it’s water-based and designed to work specifically with fish scent receptors. It works because the science is solid!”

Chris enters his 10th season on the Bassmaster Elite Series with six Bassmaster Classic appearances, his 2015 Angler of the Year Tournament win and 24 Top Ten’s.

 


Wheeler and Lee Pace Eight Anglers That Advance From Knockout Round at MLF Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One

Howell Weighs a 10-11 – Heaviest Bass in Bass Pro Tour History in Period 1, Final 10 Anglers Set for Championship Thursday and Final-Day Shootout for $100,000

MONROE-WEST MONROE, La. (Feb. 9, 2022) – After surviving a tough four-day Qualifying Round on Lake D’Arbonne, the 38 Bass Pro Tour anglers that advanced to Wednesday’s Knockout Round on Caney Creek Reservoir were rewarded with an incredible day of fishing, that included a new record for the all-time heaviest bass weighed in Bass Pro Tour competition.

When time expired at 5 p.m., Academy Sports + Outdoors pro Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee, had tallied “one of the best fishing days of his entire life” – nine bass totaling 43 pounds, 7 ounces – to win the Knockout Round and advance to the final day of competition at the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour  B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole in Monroe-West Monroe, Louisiana. Wheeler’s closest competitor was Berkley pro Jordan Lee of Cullman, Alabama, who boated six bass – including a pair of 8-pounders – for a total weight of 34 pounds, 10 ounces.

MLF NOW! analyst Marty Stone often likes to say, the best anglers will catch fish and win, no matter the format. His point was well proven, Wednesday, as Wheeler’s best five-fish weight would have been 32 pounds, 5 ounces, and Lee’s best five would have gone for 32 pounds even – magical days by any format.

Guntersville, Alabama’s Randy Howell won the day’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award after he caught the largest bass ever weighed in Bass Pro Tour competition – a 10-pound, 11-ounce giant that bit his lipless crankbait in Period 1. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

The final 10 anglers are now set, and competition will resume Thursday morning with the Championship Round when weights are zeroed, and the angler that catches the most one-day weight will win the top prize of $100,000.

The six-day event, hosted by Discover Monroe-West Monroe, showcases 80 of the top professional bass-fishing anglers in the world competing for a total purse of $805,000.

The top eight pros from Wednesday’s Knockout Round that will compete in Thursday’s Championship Round on Bussey Brake are:

1st:          Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., nine bass, 43-7
2nd:         Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., six bass, 34-10
3rd:         Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., six bass, 27-12
4th:         Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., six bass, 23-0
5th:         Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., three bass, 18-3
6th:         Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, five bass, 18-1
7th:         Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, four bass, 15-6
8th:         Shinichi Fukae, Osaka, Japan, three bass, 14-9

They’ll be joined by Qualifying Round winners:

Group A: Mark Daniels, Jr., Tuskegee, Ala.
Group B: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga.

Full results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

“What an unbelievable day,” said an excited Wheeler said in his post-game interview. “That was so much fun. As many big ones as I caught – it was definitely the best tournament fishing day I’ve ever had. One of the best fishing days of my entire life.”

Wheeler spent the day throwing a jerkbait, targeting offshore structure – rock, points and brush.

“Multiple different jerkbaits played for me today,” Wheeler said. “It was pretty much Jerkbait Fishing 101. I threw it on a 6-foot, 8-inch medium-action (Duckett) Kelly Jordon Pro Series rod with 12-pound Sufix line.

“I promise that this isn’t the last time that you’ll see me here,” Wheeler went on to say. “I’ll definitely be making a couple of trips back to Caney Lake, this place was unreal.”

Also having a special day on the water was Alabama’s Jordan Lee, who weighed in two fish over 8 pounds and one over 7 pounds.

“Today was just crazy, the size of fish that I caught today,” Lee said. “I only caught six, but they were big. It was an incredible day.

“I caught the first fish on a ½-ounce football jig with a Berkley Chigger Craw, and it was one of those 8s,” Lee said. “From then on, I couldn’t get those fish to bite. I could see them on my Lowrance, so that’s when I went to a little Ned Rig.

“I was cutting a Berkley Hit Worm in half and using that on a spinning rod, and that was pretty much my 1-2 punch out deep.”

Rounding out the top 40 finishers were:

11th:       Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., four bass, 14-5, $10,000
12th:       Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., three bass, 12-2, $10,000
13th:       David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., three bass, 10-13, $10,000
14th:       Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., three bass, 8-15, $1, $10,000
15th:       Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., three bass, 7-13, $10,000
16th:       Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., three bass, 7-12, $10,000
17th:       Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., two bass, 7-11, $10,000
18th:       Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., three bass, 7-4, $10,000
19th:       Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., three bass, 7-1, $10,000
20th:       Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., two bass, 6-6, $10,000
21st:       Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., three bass, 6-5, $10,000
22nd:      Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., two bass, 6-0, $10,000
23rd:      Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla., two bass, 5-15, $10,000
24th:       Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., two bass, 5-5, $10,000
25th:       Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., one bass, 5-1, $10,000
26th:       Roy Hawk, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., two bass, 4-14, $10,000
27th:       Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., one bass, 4-7, $10,000
28th:       Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., one bass, 3-12, $10,000
29th:       Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., one bass, 3-11, $10,000
30th:       James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., one bass, 3-2, $10,000
31st:       Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, one bass, 2-7, $10,000
32nd:      Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., one bass, 2-6, $10,000
33rd:      Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., one bass, 2-5, $10,000
34th:       Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., one bass, 2-2, $10,000
35th:       Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, zero bass, $10,000
35th:       Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., zero bass, $10,000
35th:       Timmy Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala., zero bass, $10,000
35th:       Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., zero bass, $10,000
35th:       Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., zero bass, $10,000
35th:       Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., zero bass, $10,000

Overall, there were 91 scorable bass weighing 342 pounds, 14 ounces caught by 32 pros on Wednesday, which included six 7-pounders, two 8-pounders, and one 10-pounder.

The 40 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day qualifying round on Lake D’Arbonne Saturday and Monday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. After the two-day Qualifying Round, the anglers that finished in 2nd through 20th place from both groups advanced to Wednesday’s Knockout Round on Caney Creek Reservoir, while the winner of each group advanced directly to Thursday’s Championship Round. In the Knockout Round weights are zeroed, and the remaining 38 anglers competed to finish in the top 8 to advance to the Championship Round on Bussey Brake. Tomorrow, in the final day Championship Round, weights are zeroed and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

The final 10 anglers competing in Thursday’s Championship Round on Bussey Brake will launch from Bonner Ferry Road, five miles northwest of Bastrop off of Hwy 593 at 8:30 a.m. The General Tire Takeout will be held at the launch ramp, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all takeoff and takeout ceremonies and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole features anglers competing in the Championship Round with a 2-pound minimum weight requirement on Bussey Brake for a bass to be deemed scorable. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, competing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2023 championship.

The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all six days of competition from 8:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET. MLF NOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

Television coverage of the B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole will premiere at 7 a.m. ET, Sept. 3 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, BallyBet, 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, TwitterInstagram, and  YouTube.


Arey and Cherry preview St. Johns River Elite

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin / Dynamic Sponsorships

Both call North Carolina home. They’ve known each other for years. One became a back-to-back Bassmaster Classic last June, the other finished second. Yet they remain good buddies and gracious souls.

 

And on the eve of a brand new Bassmaster Elite Series season, they shared their thoughts on what fans can expect this year at the St. Johns River.

 

Q: What was the highlight of your off-season?

Arey: Seeing my oldest daughter Reese get accepted into her school’s academically gifted program. She’s worked really hard to achieve that.

Cherry: Hunting with Mark Zona in Texas, and killing a giant 192” whitetail.

 

Q: How many 20-pound limits can fans expect to see weighed-in Thursday?

Arey: 7

Cherry: 4

 

Q: What will be the biggest challenge this week on the St. Johns?

Arey: It’s Florida, and I’ve always struggled in this state.

Cherry: Being patient for the next bite, because I haven’t had a ton of bites in practice.

 

Q: Tell us two lures you won’t leave the dock without Thursday.

Arey: A salty Lunkerhunt Lunker Stick, and a jerkbait.

Cherry: 5” Berkley General and a topwater prop bait.

 

Q: Each of you are towing with the all new 2022 Toyota Tundra. What are your two favorite attributes of this new truck?

Arey: The 14” touchscreen on the dash, and it’s the most comfortable truck I’ve ever driven.

Cherry: The body cosmetics are so cool, and it tows like a dream.

 

Q: Valentine’s Day is this coming Monday, name two things you love most about your wife.

Arey: I love Emily’s selflessness and her work ethic.

Cherry: I love Jaclyn’s positive attitude and her passion for life.

 


BASS FISHING HOF BOARD OF DIRECTORS ADDS TO ITS RANKS WITH KEY PRO ANGLERS, INDUSTRY EXPERTS

Photo: L to R Top:  Mark Copley, Joe Opager, Brandon Palaniuk and Mike Valster

L to R Bottom: Neil Paul, Dan Quinn, Jay Yelas and Kevin VanDam

 

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – For Immediate Release – February 9, 2022Eight new members have stepped in to assist with the efforts of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Board of Directors, volunteering their time and talent to help celebrate, promote and preserve the sport of bass fishing.

“This group includes individuals who rank among the best professional bass anglers of all times, as well as those who know the ins-and-outs of the bass fishing industry and tournament operations, and their talents will only strengthen the Board,” said Todd Hammill of Wired2fish.com, who as chair of the Board’s nomination committee is charged with the all-important ‘road to induction’ process, and identifying both new Board and induction Selection Committee members

The new Board members include Mark Copley, who oversees media relations/pro staff management for Rather Outdoors; Joe Opager, director of communications for Major League Fishing (MLF); pro angler Brandon Palaniuk who burst onto the national bass fishing scene in 2010 by winning the B.A.S.S. Nation national championship; Neil Paul who serves as the Executive Director of Visit Anderson (South Carolina) and was instrumental in the development of Anderson County’s Green Pond Landing and Event Center on Lake Hartwell; Dan Quinn with Rapala where he is the Director of Field Promotions and Research & Development; Mike Valster whose Outdoor Brand Team firm assists fishing industry  companies in multiple roles of sales, management, marketing and brand building at all levels; and also two recent Bass Fishing HOF inductees including Kevin VanDamwho currently competes on the  Bass Pro Tour, and Elite Series pro Jay Yelas who also serves as executive director of the C.A.S.T. For Kids Foundation.

“The new Board members, and their respective talents, are much needed as we move forward in fulfilling the mission of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame,” notes Board president John Mazurkiewicz. “Since establishing our partnership, and most importantly a permanent location for the Hall, within Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium, our efforts in honoring the greats of our sport have gained added recognition in the bass fishing world, as has the Board’s work is providing financial assistance to worthy organizations for conservation and participation awareness projects.”

The new Board members replace in part previous members Curt Arakawa with Daiwa, noted pro angler Guy Eaker, and T-H Marine founder Bill Huntley, all of whom served multiple terms on the Board. “We can’t thank Curt, Guy and Bill enough for not only being involved while the Bass Fishing HOF worked to discover its identity, but also for assisting us as it has become a key entity in the bass fishing world,” Mazurkiewicz added.

Other Board members for the Hall include Vice Presidents Daren Cole with Blue Heron Communications and Tim Carini with B.A.S.S., Treasurer (and past Board president) Donald Howell with Southern Sky Aviation, Steve Bowman with JM Associates/B.A.S.S., Todd Ceisner with In-Fisherman/OSG, Kathy Fennel with MLF, Gene Gilliland with B.A.S.S., Hammill, pro angler and Bass Talk Live host Matt Pangrac, Tim Price with Johnson Outdoors (Minn Kota/Humminbird), fishing/travel journalist Pete Robbins, restaurant executive Clifton Rutledge, Casey Shedd with AFTCO, and Bruce Stanton with PRADCO. Barbara Bowman serves as the organization’s executive director.

Additional information on all the Bass Fishing HOF Board members can be found on the organization’s website at https://www.bassfishinghof.com/the-board.


Fantasy Land

 

This week Chris & The boys have to back up and punt and thanks to our buddy Ronnie Moore, The punt landed on the 1 yard line and we pinned the offense deep in their own end. Fantasy Fishing, Fantasy Fishing and little Elite Series Kick-off, Check it out!


Lintner Runs Away with Group B Qualifying Round Win at MLF Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One

Covington, Georgia Pro Bests Kentucky’s Bradley Roy by 17 Pounds to Cruise to Thursday’s Championship Round, 19 Anglers Advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round

MONROE-WEST MONROE, La. (Feb. 8, 2022) – Although he didn’t have as quite of good of a day as he did Sunday, pro Jared Lintner of Covington, Georgia, had enough of a cushion that it really was never close. Lintner weighed in a two-day total of 11 scorable bass on Lake D’Arbonne totaling 47 pounds, 5 ounces, to cruise to a Qualifying Round win for Group B at the B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole in Monroe-West Monroe, Louisiana, and advance straight into the final-day Championship Round.

Covercraft pro Bradley Roy of Lancaster, Kentucky, caught a two-day total of 11 bass weighing 30-5 to end the round in second place, while Lynchburg, Virginia’s David Dudley, finished the round in third place with a two-day total of 11 bass weighing 29-10. Toro pro Jeff Sprague of Point, Texas , caught 10 bass weighing 26-13 to finish in fourth, while Kalamazoo, Michigan’s Kevin VanDam, the most decorated angler in the sport, advanced to the Knockout Round in fifth place with a two-day total of nine bass weighing 25 pounds even.

The remaining 38 anglers – 19 from each group – now advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round, where weights are zeroed, and the anglers compete to finish in the top eight to advance to the Championship Round on Thursday. The Championship Round will feature Group A winner Mark Daniels Jr., Group B winner Jared Lintner, and the top eight anglers from the Knockout Round competing in a final-day shootout for the top prize of $100,000.

The six-day event, hosted by Discover Monroe-West Monroe, showcases 80 of the top professional bass-fishing anglers in the world competing for a total purse of $805,000.

“You can’t win it if you’re not in it, and I am thrilled to know that we are in it,” Lintner said in his post-game interview. “It has been a grind this week – very few bites to be had. When the fishing is tough, you have to go with what you have confidence in and that’s what I have done this week fishing the Bubba Shot.

“It wasn’t a pretty day, today,” Lintner continued. “I didn’t catch any big ones. And I really started feeling some heat from Bradley Roy in the third period, but luckily I caught enough to hold him off.”

Like Sunday, Lintner spent the day targeting boat docks with his Bubba Shot-rig – a Marten’s Madness-colored Roboworm, dipped in Pautzke Fire Gel bait scent, rigged on 16-pound Sunline Shooter fluorocarbon line with a 3/0 Trokar hook and a ¼-ounce Eco Pro Tungsten Full Contact Drop Shot weight,

“The Pautzke’s is making a difference,” Lintner said. “Several times throughout this first round I’d have a moment where I thought I’d feel a bite, or I’d miss one. I’d re-lather that worm up in the Fire Gel and they’d choke it.

“I’ve come close to winning several times before – and I’ve also been the guy knocked out at the last minute – so I am so happy to finally win my round,” Lintner went on to say. “I know things are going to be very different on Bussey Brake, so I’ll go back to the house and revamp everything, and I’ll be ready to go.”

After not having a scorable bass well into the third period on Sunday, VanDam caught four bass in the final 10 minutes of the day to start Tuesday in seventh place, He added four more bass Tuesday weighing 11 pounds, 12 ounces to comfortably advance to the Knockout Round in fifth place.

“The only thing that I had left was the upper end of the lake, fishing the river points and tree lines up the river,” VanDam said. “I was throwing a Strike King KVD 300 Jerkbait series and a Strike King Series 3 crankbait – crawfish, or baby carp, or Denny Brauer craw – any kind of brownish crawfish color.

“I’m moving on to Caney Lake, and that was my main goal – I wanted to start the season off strong,” VanDam went on to say. “Hopefully tomorrow we can get into that top eight and move on to the Championship Round.

The top 20 pros in Qualifying Group B that advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round on Caney Creek are:

1st:          Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 18 bass, 47-5 – ADVANCES TO CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND
2nd:         Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., 11 bass, 30-5
3rd:         David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 11 bass, 29-10
4th:         Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 10 bass, 26-13
5th:         Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., nine bass, 25-0
6th:         Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 13 bass, 24-15
7th:         Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 10 bass, 23-7
8th:         Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., eight bass, 22-2
9th:         Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., seven bass, 21-4
10th:       Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., nine bass, 20-5
11th:       Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 20-4
12th:       Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., eight bass, 19-8
13th:       Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., six bass, 18-11
14th:       Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., eight bass, 18-10
15th:       Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., eight bass, 18-4
16th:       Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., nine bass, 18-2
17th:       Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., seven bass, 16-12
18th:       James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., five bass, 15-4
19th:       Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., seven bass, 14-2
20th:       Randall Tharp, Port Saint Joe, Fla., three bass, 13-15

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 121 scorable bass weighing 319 pounds, 1 ounce caught by 33 pros on Tuesday.

Shryock and Tharp split the day’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award, taking home $500 apiece as each weighed in a bass totaling 5 pounds, 7 ounces. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

The 40 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day qualifying round on Lake D’Arbonne Saturday and Monday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Sunday and Tuesday. With the two-day Qualifying Round now complete, the anglers that finished in 2nd through 20th place from both groups advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round on Caney Creek Reservoir, 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 on Bussey Brake. In the final day Championship Round weights are zeroed and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

The 38 anglers competing in the Knockout Round will launch Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. from Caney Creek Hooks Marina, located at 400 Spillway Road in Chatham, Louisiana. Thursday’s final day Championship Round on Bussey Brake will launch at 8:30 a.m. from Bonner Ferry Road, five miles northwest of Bastrop off of Hwy 593.

Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the respective launch ramps, beginning at 5:30 p.m.Fans are welcome to attend all takeoff and takeout ceremonies and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole features anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement on Lake D’Arbonne, and a 2-pound minimum weight requirement on Caney Creek and Bussey Brake for a bass to be deemed scorable. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, competing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2023 championship.

The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all six days of competition from 8:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET. MLF NOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

Television coverage of the B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole will premiere at 7 a.m. ET, Sept. 3 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, BallyBet, 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, TwitterInstagram, and  YouTube.


Fully Loaded Chew Signs with National Professional Fishing League for 2022 Season

The NPFL extends its partnership with Fully Loaded Chew for the 2022 season

Festus, MO (February 8,2022) — The National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) announces its continued partnership with Fully Loaded Chew, makers of 100% tobacco free alternative to dips and pouches. After a successful partnership in its inaugural season, the NPFL will continue building its relationship for season two.

“We are proud to have a partnership with Full Loaded again for 2022. The product and the people who created it have a strong moral compass to do good. The folks at Fully Loaded have created a truly revolutionary product that allows Tobacco Users to Fully quit after years of tobacco use.  As a former Dipper I understand firsthand how hard it is for folks to quit the addiction and we are proud that our Partners at Fully Loaded are helping folks to quit easier and faster with a quality product,” says Paul Benson, VP of Partnership Sales at TNPFL.

Built with TFN® Nicotine which is created in state-of-the-art labs, Fully Loaded offers extremely clean and pure tobacco free dips to help anglers break free from tobacco use. Made with a mix of kudzu root and spearmint leaves, dipper can expect a clean pack, spit and buzz with three levels of nicotine to choose from – Full, half and zero. Anglers can get the satisfaction of a good, made in the USA dip while working off of tobacco products once and for all.

“We are very excited to renew our partnership with TNPFL for 2022. The organization and anglers have shown tremendous support for our mission to help folks quit tobacco. Fishing and dipping tobacco have gone hand in hand for generations and we are committed to breaking that cycle,” says Ken Dawson, Executive VP at Fully Loaded.

Learn more about the NPFL, here.

Learn more about Fully Loaded Chew, here.


VanDam lives “It’s all about the attitude” mantra

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin / Dynamic Sponsorships

If you want to know what’s made Kevin VanDam the most dominant professional bass angler of the past thirty years, the decal on the rear window of his Toyota Tundra’s truck cap provides profound insight.

 

Like most hall of famers, greatness is anchored in their heads and hearts. VanDam is no exception. And the “It’s the all about the attitude” decal is glaring proof.

 

“My wife Sherry has said positive things like “I know you can do it” to me thousands of times in my career, and so our “It’s all about the attitude” slogan is just a derivative of that positive mental mindset,” he explains.

 

“You can say it, but if you don’t believe it in your heart, it ain’t gonna happen,” says VanDam.

 

VanDam believed it in his heart once again during Day 1 of competition at the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour on Lake D’Arbonne near West Monroe, Louisiana.

 

The fish he found in practice the day before were good ones. He had six bites in one small area, and three of them were game changers, but on tournament morning he never had a sniff. In fact, he went several hours without catching a scoreable bass on Day 1.

 

“During the 15-minute break between periods 2 and 3, I sat down and re-grouped. I thought about pulling up stakes and trying a whole new area. But I told myself, “Nope! I’m gonna give this area a full day and try to make it happen,” he recalled.

 

Finally, with just 1 hour and 20 minutes left in an otherwise scoreless day, VanDam caught the first one that counted, and you could say King Kong starting drinking jet fuel at the point.

 

“I actually hooked and lost what looked like a 4-pounder right after that, but instead of throwing a fit, I used it as a confidence booster, because it told me I was for sure in the right area,” grins VanDam.

 

Indeed, he was. In the last 20 minutes, he caught four more scoreable bass, including the last one with just 1-minute remaining in the tournament day, vaulting him from “out of the cut” to yet another Top 10.

 

“I can’t tell you how many times in my 30-year career I’ve caught a bass in the last five minutes of the day that changed my day or the entire tournament. And that’s why I try to live in a positive mindset. Be positive and good things can happen. Not just in fishing, but in every aspect of life,” emphasizes VanDam.

 

If you don’t believe him, just look to the 4” tall decal proudly displayed on the rear window of his Tundra’s truck cap.

 


MDJ Grinds to Qualifying Round Win for Group A at MLF Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One

Tuskegee, Alabama Pro Advances Straight to Thursday’s Championship Round on Bussey Brake, 19 Anglers Advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round on Caney Creek

MONROE-WEST MONROE, La. (Feb. 7, 2022)Favorite Fishing pro Mark Daniels Jr. of Tuskegee, Alabama, boated eight scorable bass totaling 15 pounds, 7 ounces to earn the win Monday during the Group A Qualifying Round at the season-opening MLF Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole in Monroe-West Monroe, Louisiana. Daniels now advances directly to Thursday’s final-day Championship Round on Bussey Brake.

Daniels’ two-day Qualifying Round total of 16 bass weighing 33 pounds, 5 ounces, earned him the win by a comfortable 8½-pound margin over Nitro pro Edwin Evers of Talala, Oklahoma, who caught a two-day total of nine bass weighing 24-13 to finish the round in second place. Bryan Thrift of Shelby, North Carolina, boated a two-day total of 11 bass weighing 23-15 to end the round in third, while Shinichi Fukae of Osaka, Japan , finished the round in fourth place with a two-day total of eight bass for 22-6. Rounding out the top five was Day 1 leader Stephen Browning of Hot Springs, Arkansas, who caught six bass for 21-2 to advance in fifth place.

The six-day event, hosted by Discover Monroe-West Monroe, showcases 80 of the top professional bass-fishing anglers in the world competing for a purse of $805,000, including a top cash prize of $100,000 to the winner.

“To be honest, I was really looking forward to going to Caney Creek, but I’m even happier now that I’m going straight to Bussey Brake with an opportunity to win this thing,” Daniels said in his post-game interview. “The automatic top-10 berth makes it an already awesome week and I could not be any happier with how this round went.”

Daniels dominated early Monday, catching five scorable bass on a jerkbait before 10 a.m. Seven of his eight keepers came on the jerkbait – he also added one in the afternoon on a ¼-ounce Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap.

“That ¼ ounce Trap is a little sneaky – not a lot of people throw it,” Daniels said. “Most of the time I’m throwing it trying to match the bait, but I’m throwing it this week because I’m targeting that 1-to-3-foot depth.

“I’m throwing the jerkbait on my 6-foot, 8-inch Favorite Pro Series casting rod,” Daniels continued. “It’s a little bit shorter and allows me to impart a good action on the bait without slapping the water, which happens to me with a longer rod. I’m throwing the Trap on a 6-foot, 10-inch Favorite Signature B-Lat Sick Stick with a 6:8:1 gear ratio reel and 12-pound Seaguar Fluorcarbon line.”

With Daniels now advancing to the Championship Round for the fifth time in his career, he’ll be looking to earn his first career victory on Thursday.

“I’m looking forward to spending a little bit of time scouting Bussey Brake on my day off. It’s been a grinder, but I’m super grateful to make the Championship Round. I’ve got a shot and I can’t ask for anything else – that’s why I’m here.”

The top 20 anglers from Group A will now enjoy an off day, while the 40 anglers in Qualifying Group B will complete their two-day Qualifying Round of competition on Tuesday. The Knockout Round, featuring 38 anglers competing to finish in the top eight, will take place Wednesday on Caney Creek. Thursday’s Championship Round on Bussey Brake will feature Thrift, 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.

The top 20 pros in Qualifying Group A that now advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round on Caney Creek Reservoir are:

1st:          Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 16 bass, 33-5 – ADVANCES TO CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND
2nd:         Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., nine bass, 24-13
3rd:         Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 11 bass, 23-15
4th:         Shinichi Fukae, Osaka, Japan, eight bass, 22-6
5th:         Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., six bass, 21-2
6th:         Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., six bass, 21-1
7th:         Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., 10 bass, 19-3
8th:         Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., seven bass, 18-9
9th:         Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, seven bass, 18-5
10th:       Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, six bass, 18-5
11th:       Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, eight bass, 16-15
12th:       Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., six bass, 16-9
13th:       Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., six bass, 15-9
14th:       Roy Hawk, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., five bass, 15-9
15th:       Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., seven bass, 14-14
16th:       Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 14-11
17th:       Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., five bass, 12-14
18th:       Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., six bass, 12-12
19th:       Timmy Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala., four bass, 12-11
20th:       Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 12-5

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall on Monday there were 104 scorable bass caught weighing 250 pounds, 13 ounces caught by 34 pros.

Evers earned the $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award Monday with a 5-pound, 13-ounce largemouth that bit a jerkbait at the start of Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

The 40 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day qualifying round on Lake D’Arbonne 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 on Caney Creek Reservoir, 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 on Bussey Brake. In the final day Championship Round, weights are zeroed and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

In the four-day opening Qualifying Rounds, anglers will launch at 8:30 a.m. from the Lake D’Arbonne State Park, located at 3628 Evergreen Road in Farmerville, Louisiana. The Knockout Round will launch Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. from the Caney Creek Hooks Marina, located at 400 Spillway Road in Chatham, Louisiana. Thursday’s final day Championship Round on Bussey Brake will launch at 8:30 a.m. from Bonner Ferry Road, five miles northwest of Bastrop off of Hwy 593.

Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the respective launch ramps, beginning at 5:30 p.m.Fans are welcome to attend all takeoff and takeout ceremonies and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole features anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement on Lake D’Arbonne, and a 2-pound minimum weight requirement on Caney Creek and Bussey Brake for a bass to be deemed scorable. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, competing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2023 championship.

The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all six days of competition from 8:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET. MLF NOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

Television coverage of the B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole will premiere at 7 a.m. ET, Sept. 3 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, BallyBet, 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, TwitterInstagram, and  YouTube.


Reynolds Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Toledo Bend Reservoir

Ville Platte’s Lafleur Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

ZWOLLE, La. (Feb. 7, 2022) – Boater Tater Reynolds of Florien, Louisiana, caught five bass Saturday weighing 27 pounds, 14 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Toledo Bend Reservoir. Reynolds earned $4,541 for his victory.

“I made a long 25-minute run to fish the south end and it was cold,” Reynolds said. “I caught my first fish in the first 30 minutes, but then things slowed down. At 10:30 a.m. I only had two fish. Thankfully I pulled out a 7-pounder later in the day.”

Reynolds said he caught his fish on an Alabama rig and was just trying to catch his limit but ended up culling out with a 3¾-pound fish. A 7-pounder at 2:50 p.m. finished his final weight, only giving him an additional 30 minutes to fish before beginning his long ride back to the weigh-in.

“I caught 25 fish throughout the day and probably 12 were keepers,” Reynolds said. “It was different. I was fishing under the boat and then throwing out.

“I was just fortunate and got the right bites at the right time,” Reynolds continued. “Usually, a good day for me here is 40 to 60 fish. I didn’t catch as many as I wanted, but they ended up being the right ones.”

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:          Tater Reynolds, Florien, La., five bass, 27-14, $4,541
2nd:        Cody Pitt, Elmer, La., five bass, 26-12, $2,770 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Bonus)
3rd:        Joshua Moore, Grand Cane, La., five bass, 22-10, $1,514
4th:         Anthony Templeton, Beckville, Texas, five bass, 21-1, $1,060
5th:         Randy Kvapil, Crandall, Texas, five bass, 17-5, $908
6th:         Jayce Garrison, Conroe, Texas, five bass, 16-13, $833
7th:         Logan Sherrer, Karnack, Texas, five bass, 16-12, $757
8th:         Michael Scalise, Port Allen, La., five bass, 16-2, $681
9th:         Robert Lafitte, Many, La., five bass, 14-7, $605
10th:      James Allen Pruitt, Houston, Texas, five bass, 14-4, $530

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Chance Burton of Brock, Texas, had a 7-pound, 12-ounce largemouth that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division and earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $660.

Quincy Lafleur of Ville Platte, Louisiana, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $2,270 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 12 pounds, 2 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

1st:          Quincy Lafleur, Ville Platte, La., five bass, 12-2, $2,270
2nd:        Cody Canerday, Jennings, La, five bass, 12-0, $1,135
3rd:        Steve Duncan, Amarillo, Texas, four bass, 11-10, $957
4th:         Ryan Robinson, Bullard, Texas, five bass, 11-2, $530
5th:         Charles Jones, Rogers, Ark., five bass, 10-12, $454
6th:         Albert Ignacio, Dallas, Texas, four bass, 10-0, $416
7th:         Jacob Smith, McKinney, Texas, two bass, 9-4, $378
8th:         Michael Wall, Slaughter, La., four bass, 8-4, $341
9th:         Donny Davis, Livingston, La., three bass, 8-3, $303
10th:      Ron Wooten, Crosby, Texas, four bass, 7-10, $265

David Sherer of Elm Grove, Texas, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 6 pounds, 2 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $330.

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 Aug. 27-28 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on the Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Brookeland, Texas. 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.


Martin Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Guntersville

Huntsville’s Salvail Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (Feb. 7, 2022) – Boater Casey Martin of Brownsboro, Alabama, caught five bass Saturday weighing 26 pounds, 14 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on Lake Guntersville. Martin earned $6,000 for his victory.

“I started off close and got three keepers in the livewell early,” Martin said. “They came on a Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap. I made a run and ended up catching a limit and started culling. About noon I caught two 6-pounders, so I kept fishing that area.”

Martin said he caught seven to 10 keepers, with a total of 12 fish caught.

“I was just covering a lot of water and hitting a lot of spots,” Martin said. “When it’s that cold in the morning it’s just a matter of finding the right spot that hasn’t been hit hard or guys haven’t picked off.”

Martin said he fished the Rat-L-Trap in varying retrieves to understand what the fish were doing and the color of bait he chose varied with the color of the water. Martin said he would go to a shad-colored-bait when the water was clearer, fishing it hard when they were actively biting and slowing his retrieve as the bite slowed.

“It just worked out for me,” Martin said.

The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in:

1st:          Casey Martin, Brownsboro, Ala., five bass, 26-14, $6,000
2nd:        Jim Leary, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 25-2, $4,500 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Bonus)
3rd:        Mickey Beck, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 22-1, $2,000
4th:         Cole Wade, Athens, Ala., five bass, 20-14, $1,400
5th:         Brian Merriman, Falkville, Ala., five bass, 20-8, $1,200
6th:         Brad Ableman, Watervliet, N.Y., five bass, 20-6, $1,100
7th:         Andrew Clayton, Westpoint, Tenn., five bass, 17-13, $1,000
8th:         Brandon Bright, Crossville, Ala., five bass, 17-9, $900
9th:         Ian Hudson, Toney, Ala., five bass, 17-6, $800
10th:      Corey McMullen, Gurley, Ala., five bass, 17-5, $700

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Leary’s 7-pound, 8-ounce largemouth was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division and earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $1,000.

Luke Salvail of Huntsville, Alabama, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $3,000 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 19 pounds, 5 ounces.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were:

1st:          Luke Salvail, Huntsville, Ala., five bass, 19-5, $3,000
2nd:        Justin Stringer, Hartselle, Ala, five bass, 18-15, $1,500
3rd:        Jake Staley, Tuxedo, Ga., five bass, 18-8, $1,000
4th:         Michael Morrison, Stamping Ground, Ky., five bass, 17-12, $700
5th:         Allen Rhodes, Decherd, Tenn., five bass, 15-7, $600
6th:         Bennett Slinkard, Huntsville, Ala., three bass, 15-4, $550
7th:         Kyle Holt, Section, Ala., five bass, 13-14, $500
8th:         Rick Webster, Knoxville, Tenn., four bass, 12-3, $450
9th:         Randy Wilson, Murfreesboro, Tenn., four bass, 12-1, $400
10th:      Robert W. Spurgeon, Jasonville, Ind., three bass, 11-15, $350

Roger Barnette, of Elkmont, Alabama, caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 9 pounds, 11 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $500.

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 Sept. 24-25 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Pickwick Lake in Florence, 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.

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.


AFTCO Sponsors Elite Event On St. Johns River For Third Year

February 7, 2022

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — For the third consecutive year, AFTCO has signed on as title sponsor for the premier event of the Bassmaster Elite Series season. The 2022 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River will be held Feb. 10-13 in Palatka, Fla.

Additionally, AFTCO will continue its long-standing partnership with B.A.S.S. as a conservation partner and supporting sponsor for the six circuits of the Bassmaster Tournament Trail as well as outfitting all staff and marshals with performance fishing clothing for these events.

“For the third year in a row, AFTCO is pumped to kick off the Bassmaster Elite Series season as the title sponsor at the St. Johns River,” said AFTCO Marketing Director Matt Florentino. “We’re also sponsoring the upcoming B.A.S.S. Conservation Summit and cannot wait to get to work with the entire B.A.S.S. Nation! Bassmaster’s continued commitment to the sport and their audience of die-hard fans keeps us coming back year after year.”

Among the AFTCO-aligned pro anglers ready to kick off the 2022 season is Bryan New, who took a victory at the 2021 Elite event on the St. Johns River. With a four-day total of 79 pounds, 7 ounces, New climbed from sixth place on Championship Sunday to claim his first Elite event after winning the Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year title.

“I cannot say enough about the support AFTCO gives to anglers,” said New. “They’ve stepped up to partner with many of my fellow Elite pros, but AFTCO is also dedicated to supporting competitive fishing at all levels and working to ensure the future of fishing with their 10% pledge to protect and conserve fisheries.

“We’re all looking forward to the season, and it would be great to kick off 2022 with another win at the St. Johns!”

This will mark the fourth-straight year the Elite Series has held its season-opener on the St. Johns River — a quintessential Florida fishery that features vast shoreline cover, big Florida-strain largemouth and breathtaking scenery with Spanish moss-covered trees, alligators and manatees.

Full coverage from all four days of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River will be available on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will also broadcast live with the tournament leaders on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 12-13 beginning at 8 a.m. ET.


Brent Ehrler Wins 2022 Lucas Oil Challenge Cup in York County, S.C.

California Pro Throws Neko Rig to Catch 20 Pounds, 12 Ounces and Win Second Challenge Cup Title of Career

ROCK HILL, S.C. (Feb. 7, 2022) – Ten years ago, California pro Brent Ehrler rolled into the first ever Major League Fishing (MLF) Cup Event – the 2012 MLF Challenge Cup on Texas’ Lake Amistad – rocking Converse Chuck Taylors and no one knew what to expect. Ehrler walked away the victor that week, topping 23 other anglers and winning the first of what everyone thought would be many Major League Fishing titles. Fast forward 10 years later, and Ehrler has done it again.

In an episode that premiered Saturday on the Outdoor Channel and Monday on the MyOutdoorTV app, Ehrler caught 12 bass weighing 20 pounds, 12 ounces, to narrowly win the second Challenge Cup of his career at the 2022 Lucas Oil Challenge Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches in York County, South Carolina.

“I’ve got goosebumps right now – it’s about fricking time,” said an emotional Ehrler on the water after he learned he had clinched his second career Challenge Cup win. “Man, I’m speechless. It’s been a long time since I won… and it’s been eating away at me.

“This group of guys – they’re so good, they’re so tough to beat, and they keep getting better every year,” Ehrler continued. “I’ve had some close calls the last few years, but this has been a longtime coming for sure. And it’s great that it happened on the 10-year anniversary of my last one.”

Ehrler’s key bait in the Championship Round on Lake Wylie was a Neko rig, which he skipped round boat docks.

“I was very excited after the first two rounds – I won both of them and really felt like I had things pretty dialed in,” Ehrler went on to say. “I had some momentum and felt like I was doing the right things. Everything just felt right, and sometime that’s what it takes to win.”

The final eight anglers at the 2022 Lucas Oil Challenge Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches in York County, South Carolina, finished:

1st: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 12 bass, 20-12
2nd: Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 13 bass, 18-3
3rd: Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., eight bass, 15-11
4th: Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., 10 bass, 13-14
5th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., nine bass, 11-15
6th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., six bass, 11-7
7th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., eight bass, 10-5
8th: Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., three bass, 5-0

Complete results along with photos from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

DeFoe caught the Championship Round Berkley Big Bass – a solid 3-pound, 14-ounce largemouth that bit his Creature Craw during Period 3.

Overall, there were 69 bass weighing 107 pounds, 3 ounces caught by the final eight pros during the Championship Round of competition on Lake Wylie.

The 2021 Lucas Oil Challenge Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches was hosted by Visit York County and premiered on the Outdoor Channel as six, two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon debuting on Jan. 1, 2022, and running through Feb. 5, 2022.

The event was shot over six days in September in York County, South Carolina, and featured 23 MLF pro anglers visiting the Rock Hill area to compete on two different fisheries across the region, Lake Wateree and Lake Wylie. The fisheries were unknown to the anglers – they did not learn where they were competing until they arrived to the launch ramp each morning of competition.

All six episodes of the event are now available for viewing on the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) streaming app. The full television schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

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


How Matt Lee stays warm on bass fishing’s coldest days

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin / Dynamic Sponsorships

 

If Matt Lee had it his way, he’d wear flip flop sandals, shorts and a t-shirt every day of his life. But as a touring professional angler, that’s simply not reality. Instead, life on tour has forced the former Auburn engineering major to adopt numerous tricks for staying warm amid the absolute coldest days on the water.

 

“I guess you could say I had to learn really quick how to stay warm in below freezing temperatures, because the very first pro tournament of my life was the 2013 Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake, OK. It snowed the final day of practice, and it was 23 degrees to start Day 1 of competition,” Lee remembers vividly.

 

He qualified for that event through the Carhartt College Bass Fishing ranks. And in the nine years since, has figured out several helpful tricks to stay comfortable when chasing bass on days that begin with a thick layer of frost on the boat cover, and never get above 40-dgrees -- as was the case the first couple of days at the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour near West Monroe, Louisiana.

 

Use your boat cover, and if not, find some old bath towels

 

“Here I am sharing advice on how to combat freezing weather, and yet, I have to admit, I got lazy after a long 37-degree day of practice on Lake D’Arbonne last Friday, and left my boat cover off that night. I paid for that mistake the next day. It took hours to get enough ice off the carpet to even be able to open my battery compartment,” admits Lee.

 

So, use your boat cover on brutally cold nights. And if you don’t have a boat cover, Lee recommends laying an old bath towel between your storage lids and the carpet that surrounds them, so they don’t freeze shut.

 

Buy a Little Buddy

 

For a little more than a hundred-bucks, investing in a Mr. Heater Little Buddy portable propane heater may very well be the best Ben Franklin you’ll ever spend in your efforts to stay comfortable amid bass fishing’s most frigid days. Just be sure the space around it is totally in the open air, far removed from any gasoline fumes near the rear of the boat. This little propane-operated gadget will serve as the perfect means to keep your fingers and feet warm.

 

 

 

 

 

Thermos full of chicken soup

 

One of Matt’s favorite treats and methods for warming up his innards is a thermos full of hot chicken soup. Not just at lunch, but sporadically throughout the day, to give warm fuel from the inside out. So, don’t just consider coffee, but a thermos full of Campbell’s too.

 

Pack 5 pair of gloves

 

“Most people will hesitantly wear one pair of gloves, and when those get wet from the excess water spraying off your reel, then they’re totally worthless. So, I literally pack about five pair of thin Carhartt gloves. When one pair gets wet, I change to the next dry pair. And then throw all of them in the dryer at the end of the day to get them ready for the next day. I can’t tell you how critical this tip is to dealing with super cold fishing conditions,” emphasizes Lee.

 

Lee swears by Yukon Extremes

 

“Carhartt’s Yukon Extreme series of jackets and bibs are absolutely awesome as outerwear during the coldest days on the water. And that’s not some sales plug. That’s a fact. My legs and body don’t get cold when I wear Yukon Extreme. I absolutely swear by their quality,” says Lee.

 

Made with a Cordura nylon shell to stop the frigid wind, and lined with 3M Thinsulate, Yukon Extreme garments are indeed built to beat the cold.

 

Are the fish frozen too?

 

“No, with the recent advance forward-looking sonar you can literally see the fish swimming, and trust me they’re not all moving as slow in the dead of winter as we’ve always thought they were. In fact, I think we move slower than the fish on super cold days,” grins Lee in conclusion.


Morgan Targets Trees To Win 2022 Bassmaster Kayak Series Opener At Lake Fork

Garrett Morgan of Conway, Ark., has won the 2022 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX at Lake Fork with a two-day total measuring 201.75 inches.

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

February 6, 2022

ALBA, Texas — Specific targeting discipline and strategic presentations paid off for Garrett Morgan of Conway, Ark., who tallied a two-day total of 201.75 inches to win the Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX at Lake Fork.

The only competitor in the 150-boat field to break the 200-inch mark, Morgan took the Day 1 lead with 102.5 inches — the event’s second-largest single-day total. Morgan’s first-round lengths were 22, 21.75, 20, 19.5 and 19.25 inches.

On Sunday, Morgan added 99.25 inches, with his five best fish measuring 21.5, 20.75, 20, 18.5 and 18.5. For his win, Morgan earned $7,500.

Fishing from a 10 1/2-foot Old Town PDL, Morgan focused most of his efforts on main-lake standing timber in about 7 feet. When the sun was higher in the sky, he also caught a few fish on small residential concrete boat ramps near main channel swings.

“What I was able to figure out in practice, and it held true to the event, was that it wasn’t the isolated timber I was catching my fish on — it had to be two trees that were about 4 feet or so apart where you could work a jig between the two trees or around the base of the two trees,” Morgan said. “I would face the kayak into the wind and come up from behind the trees, throw it past the trees and work it back.

“A lot of times, I find those fish set up facing the wind, so that tended to be the key.”

Morgan caught his bass on a 1/2-ounce JP Custom Baits jig in a custom color. He paired that with a Strike King Rage Bug in green pumpkin orange. With a total of seven bass on Day 2, Morgan said he fared best in the morning hours.

“The main difference between the two days was that on Day 2, the wind died,” Morgan said. “Both mornings the wind was about 7 mph out of the south or so; a little heavier today.

“In my practice, that didn’t really hurt me too much, but today, I noticed when that wind died around 12:30, my bite died. I caught a few short fish, but I never caught another keeper.”

Chris Longshore of Hastings, Neb., placed second with 197 inches. He placed third on Day 1 with 97 inches and added 100 on Sunday.

Fishing out of a 12-foot, 9-inch Hobie Outback, Longshore spent his tournament in Birch Creek, where he targeted prespawn staging fish that were relating to larger stumps in 7 to 8 feet of water. Longshore caught his bass on a Rapala DT6 crankbait in a white and purple pattern.

“You had to throw it pretty far past the stump and reel it down and you had to hit the stump too,” he said. “I fished 100-yard stretches and there were three of them within a mile.”

Longshore said his better bites came in the morning hours when the temperatures were cooler. Once the day warmed, the smaller fish became more active. Longshore earned $3,250.

James Busch of Carrsville, Va., finished third with 183 inches. With daily totals of 93.25 and 89.75, Busch improved from seventh place on Day 1 and earned $2,250.

Competing out of a 14-foot Hobie Pro Angler 360, Busch fished a main-lake creek near the Lake Fork Dam. He targeted isolated brushpiles on a point and found his bass in shallower brushpiles on Day 1. But on Sunday, he had to move from those 8-foot spots to 11 feet.

“I don’t know if it was the colder night, but the bite was slower this morning than it was (on Saturday),” Busch said.

Busch caught his Day 1 fish on a 3/8-ounce jig with a green pumpkin Berkley PowerBait MaxScent Meaty Chunk. But he had to switch to a bone colored Berkley Stunna jerkbait to coax his second-round bites, working the lure through the tops of the brush.

Rolando Nanin of San Antonio, Texas, earned the $500 Big Bass award for his 24.5-inch largemouth. After placing second on Day 1 with 99.5 inches, Nanin added 64.5 on Sunday and finished fourth with 164.


Jared Lintner Dominant in Group B at MLF Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One

Covington, Georgia Pro Catches 11 Bass Totaling 33 Pounds, 2 Ounces to Lead Big Early for Group B – Group A to Conclude Qualifying Round Monday

MONROE-WEST MONROE, La. (Feb. 6, 2022) – Fishing what he called a “Bubba Shot”, pro Jared Lintner of Covington, Georgia, weighed in 11 scorable bass on Lake D’Arbonne Sunday totaling 33 pounds, 2 ounces, to take a commanding lead on Day 1 for Group B at the B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole in Monroe-West Monroe, Louisiana.

Lintner grabbed the lead around 11 a.m. and never relinquished control, increasing his lead by another 10 pounds in this third period alone. He will bring a 14½-pound lead into Tuesday’s Qualifying Round finale for Group B. Gonzales, Louisiana pro Gerald Spohrer ended the day in second place, catching six bass for 18-11, while David Dudley of Lynchburg, Virginia, boated seven scorable bass totaling 16-6 for third place. Covercraft pro Bradley Roy of Lancaster, Kentucky, also weighed in 16-6, but sits in fourth place due to tiebreaker rules, and Favorite Fishing pro Jonathon VanDam of Kalamazoo, Michigan, rounds out the top five with eight bass for 16-1.

The 40 anglers in Group B will now have an off day on Monday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group A will complete their two-day Qualifying Round of competition. Group B will conclude their Qualifying Round on Tuesday. The six-day event, hosted by Discover Monroe-West Monroe, showcases 80 of the top professional bass-fishing anglers in the world competing for a purse of $805,000, including a top cash prize of $100,000 to the winner.

“Today was a good day,” said Lintner, a California native who recently moved east to Georgia. “I assumed it was going to be tough, and it was. I threw crankbaits and flipping jigs and vibrating jigs – at one point I even broke out a buzzbait – but I never had any bites on anything other than my Bubba Shot.

“It’s basically a drop-shot rig with heavier line,” Lintner continued. “I’m using 16-pound Sunline Shooter with a Roboworm, Aaron’s Madness-colored, and just making a lot of casts. It ended up being a really great day.”

Lintner threw his Bubba Shot around boat docks and brush near docks. He fished it painstakingly slow and would often make multiple casts and presentations to the same spots. He threw his Bubba Shot rig on a 7-foot, 3-inch medium-heavy Daiwa Tatula Elite rod with a Daiwa Zillion TW HDreel. His Bubba Shot consisted of a 3/0 Trokar hook, an Eco Pro Tungsten Full Contact Drop Shot weight, 16-pound Sunline Shooter fluorocarbon line, and a Marten’s Madness-colored Roboworm, dipped in Pautzke Fire Gel bait scent.

“I’m really looking forward to getting back out here and fishing again on Tuesday,” Lintner went on to say. “This is a neat lake, and the people out here are awesome.”

Unlike Lintner who mainly targeted docks, second-place pro Gerald Spohrer did most of his damage cranking around riprap on the lower end of the lake.

“It was very hard for me to get fish to bite, but the ones that did for me came on a Nomad squarebill crankbait, and that was the key,” Spohrer said. “I fished it with a very slow retrieve, letting it tick off of every single rock. Sometimes I had to make six or seven casts in a row to get a fish to bite it. But that’s what it took to trigger those fish. They didn’t want to chase anything, they wanted it right across their mouth.”

The top 20 pros in Group B after Day 1 on Lake D’Arbonne are:

1st:          Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 11 bass, 33-2
2nd:         Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., six bass, 18-11
3rd:         David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., seven bass, 16-6
4th:         Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., seven bass, 16-6
5th:         Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., eight bass, 16-1
6th:         Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., six bass, 14-9
7th:         Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., five bass, 13-4
8th:         Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., six bass, 12-4
9th:         Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, five bass, 12-4
10th:       Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., three bass, 12-3
11th:       Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 11-3
12th:       Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., four bass, 8-7
13th:       Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., four bass, 7-7
14th:       James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., two bass, 6-7
15th:       Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, three bass, 6-0
16th:       Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., one bass, 5-2
17th:       Paul Elias, Laurel, Miss., one bass, 4-10
18th:       Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., one bass, 4-3
19th:       Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., two bass, 3-15
20th:       Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., two bass, 3-15

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

There were 102 scorable bass weighing 253 pounds, 13 ounces caught Sunday by 32 pros.

Montgomery boated a 5-pound, 12-ounce largemouth in Period 1 – the largest of the day – to earn Sunday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award. The fish came on a jig. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Lake D’Arbonne 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 Tuesday’s Knockout Round on Caney Creek Reservoir, while the winner of each group advances directly to Wednesday’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 on Bussey Brake. In the final day Championship Round weights are zeroed and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

In the four-day opening Qualifying Rounds, anglers will launch at 8:30 a.m. from the Lake D’Arbonne State Park, located at 3628 Evergreen Road in Farmerville, Louisiana. The Knockout Round will launch Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. from the Caney Creek Hooks Marina, located at 400 Spillway Road in Chatham, Louisiana. Thursday’s final day Championship Round on Bussey Brake will launch at 8:30 a.m. from Bonner Ferry Road, five miles northwest of Bastrop off of Hwy 593.

Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the respective launch ramps, beginning at 5:30 p.m.Fans are welcome to attend all takeoff and takeout ceremonies and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole features anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement on Lake D’Arbonne, and a 2-pound minimum weight requirement on Caney Creek and Bussey Brake for a bass to be deemed scorable. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, competing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2023 championship.

The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all six days of competition from 8:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET. MLF NOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

Television coverage of the B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole will premiere at 7 a.m. ET, Sept. 3 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, BallyBet, Bass Cat, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Covercraft, Favorite Fishing, Garmin, General Tire, Googan Baits, Grundéns, Guaranteed Rate, Humminbird, John Deere Gator UTVs, 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.


Branagh Wins Toyota Series Season Opener on Lake Okeechobee

CLEWISTON, Fla. (Feb. 5, 2022) – Although numerous bigger limits were weighed in by anglers throughout the week at Lake Okeechobee, no one could match the consistency of pro Rob Branagh of Malabar, Florida. Branagh brought a final-day total of five bass weighing 19 pounds, 11 ounces to the scale Saturday to win the season-opening Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. event at Lake Okeechobee . Branagh’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 51-5 earned him the win by a 9-ounce margin over second-pro Nicholas Hoinig of Port Saint Lucie, Florida, and earned Branagh the top payout of $66,500 in the first tournament of the 2022 Toyota Series Southern Division.

“I knew I could catch a 12-to-15-pound limit every day, and I figured that would be okay on Day 1, but on Day 2 I thought I was going to get smoked by the guys that were bed fishing, because those fish were coming in,” said Branagh, who earned his first career victory in MLF competition. “But I wasn’t going to bank on that. It was a gamble, and I made the right gamble at the right time. I just fished where there was a bunch of fish and hoped I could get the right bites, and this morning I did.”

Branagh said that he fished on the south end of the lake, near Rita Island. He targeted clean water, keying in on underwater cattail stops with a Texas-rigged Netbait Big Bopper.

“It was a muck bottom,” Branagh said. “I used a 1/8-ounce weight so I could roll it slow. My plan was to catch five baits on the Big Bopper and then switch to a bigger bait to catch bigger fish, but the fish just kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger on that Bopper, so I never put it down all weekend.”

When asked what he planned to do with his winnings, Branagh said that he plans to help his daughter.

“My daughter has two kids and works her butt off. I’m so proud of her, I’m probably going to buy her a car,” Branagh went on to say.

The top 10 pros on Lake Okeechobee finished:

1st:          Robert Branagh, Malabar, Fla., 15 bass, 51-5, $66,500
2nd:         Nicholas Hoinig, Port Saint Lucie, Fla., 15 bass, 50-12, $27,500
3rd:         Lance Pemble, Leesburg, Fla., 15 bass, 50-6, $18,000
4th:         Chris McBeath, Bradenton, Fla., 13 bass, 49-6, $16,000
5th:         Brandon Medlock, Lake Placid, Fla., 15 bass, 48-10, $15,000
6th:         Lee Stalvey, Palatka, Fla., 15 bass, 48-10, $11,500
7th:         Bryan Honnerlaw, Moore Haven, Fla., 15 bass, 47-10, $10,000
8th:         Frank Kitchens III, Oxford, Ga., 15 bass, 47-8, $9,500 (includes $1,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus)
9th:         Willy Dennison, Willoughby Hills, Ohio, 15 bass, 47-4, $7,500
10th:       Terry Olinger, Louisa, Va., 14 bass, 47-1, $5,500

Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Pro Mike Jackson of San Mateo, Florida, won the $500 Day One Berkley Big Bass award in the pro division Thursday with a bass weighing 8 pounds, 9 ounces. Hoinig won Friday’s $500 Berkley Big Bass award, bringing a 9-pound, 5-ounce bass to the scale.

Kitchens 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.

Brent Jones of Okeana, Ohio, won the Strike King Co-angler Division Saturday with a three-day total of 13 bass weighing 37 pounds, 3 ounces. Jones took home the top prize package worth $38,700, including a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard motor and $5,000 cash.

The top 10 Strike King co-anglers on Lake Okeechobee finished:

1st:          Brent Jones, Okeana, Ohio, 13 bass, 37-3, Phoenix 518 Pro boat w/115-hp Mercury outboard + $5,000
2nd:         Mason Chapman, Lenexa, Kan., 15 bass, 37-1, $8,000
3rd:         John Stahl, Land O’ Lakes, Fla., 11bass, 34-2, $6,500
4th:         Jason Cooper, Shelbyville, Tenn., 14 bass, 33-12, $5,000
5th:         Alan Hults, Gautier, Miss., 15 bass, 32-13, $4,650
6th:         Jeff Turner, Plainfield, Ill., 15 bass, 32-3, $3,750
7th:         Joseph Solenski, West Palm Beach, Fla., 15 bass, 32-2, $3,250
8th:         Andy Niles, Ocean Springs, Miss., 13 bass, 31-13, $2,500
9th:         Art Burgess, Delray, Fla., 11 bass, 31-12, $1,800
10th:       Stephen Draghi, Sparrowbush, N.Y., 14 bass, 29-0, $1,600

The Day One Berkley Big Bass $150 award winner in the Strike King co-angler division, was Stephen Toth of Alachua, Florida, with an 8-pound, 1-ounce bass, while the Day Two $150 award went to Hults with a 9-pound, 7-ounce largemouth.

The Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at Lake Okeechobee was hosted by the Hendry County Tourism Development Council. It was the first regular-season Toyota Series event of 2022 and the first tournament in the Southern Division. The next event for Toyota Series anglers will take place on Feb. 10-12 – the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E on Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Brookeland, Texas, hosted by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Chamber of Commerce. For a complete schedule, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2022 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and Western – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions and finish in the top 25 – or the top 12 from the Wild Card division – will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 cash. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2022 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. Championship will be held Nov. 3-5 on Lake Guntersville in Guntersville, Alabama, and is hosted by Marshall County Tourism and Sports.

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

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF Toyota Series on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.


Lester Notches First Bassmaster Win At Southern Open On Kissimmee Chain

Brandon Lester of Fayetteville, Tenn., has won the 2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open at Kissimmee Chain with a three-day total of 51 pounds, 2 ounces.

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

February 5, 2022

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Steady productivity paved the path to success for Bassmaster Elite Series pro Brandon Lester, who tallied a three-day total of 51 pounds, 2 ounces to win the St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open on Kissimmee Chain of Lakes.

Recording his first Bassmaster victory, the pro from Fayetteville, Tenn., placed 13th on Day 1 with 14-13, added a second-round limit of 18-1 and earned his Championship Saturday berth in second place. With a final-round limit of 18-4, Lester edged Joey Cifuentes of Clinton, Ark. (48-12), who led the first two days.

Lester won $52,500 and earned a berth in the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, to be held in Knoxville, Tenn., March 24-26.

“There were 225 hammers fishing this event — I feel like this is harder to win than an Elite Series tournament,” said Lester, who was fishing his 114th major tournament with B.A.S.S. “I’ve been close; I’ve finished second here, I’ve finished third here, I have I don’t know how many Top 10s in the Opens. I love fishing these events and it feels really good to finally pull one off.

“Now the Classic qualification is off my mind the rest of the year. I couldn’t be happier because it was just announced that the (2023) Classic will be in my home state of Tennessee.”

All three days, Lester locked down to the lower Kissimmee Chain waters and split his time between Lake Kissimmee and Cypress Lake. The latter yielded most of his weight and dominated his final-round productivity.

“Cypress had a ton of hydrilla; this is the first year with this much grass in it,” said Lester, who now has 22 Top 10 finishes with B.A.S.S. “When I went in there in practice, I noticed right off the bat that I was seeing empty beds everywhere. That was the whole key to me winning this tournament, there’s no doubt.

“I knew they were bass beds and I knew that with that many beds around and a warming trend coming, those fish would be coming in — and they did.”

Days 1 and 2 saw Lester catching his fish on a 5-inch junebug-colored Gambler Fat Ace (soft stickbait) rigged on a 3/0 Mustad Grip Pin Big Bite hook with a 3/16-ounce Mustad Tungsten weight. With an approaching cold front bringing cloudy skies, light afternoon rain and cooling temperatures, Lester switched to a reaction-based presentation.

“I knew if I was going to catch them today, I needed some type of moving bait, so I caught them on a 3/8-ounce Evergreen JackHammer ChatterBait in the golden shiner color with a 3.3-inch Keitech Swing Impact Fat trailer in Tennessee shad,” Lester said. “It was pretty much just a chunk-and-wind deal, but once I found the area where it went down, I just milked that one area all day.”

Lester spent the first two days on the north side of Cypress Lake, but when Day 3 brought north winds of 10 to 15 mph, he switched to the south shore.

“The spot where I had been catching them the last two days got blown out by the mud (from strong winds),” he said. “I just got on that south side because it hadn’t been getting much pressure, and I thought with that wind in there, maybe there’d be some bait in there and I was right.”

Cifuentes took the early lead by catching a Day 1 limit of 28-10, which ranks in the Top 15 single-day weights in Bassmaster Opens history. Retaining his lead on Day 2 with a limit of 10-13, he entered Championship Saturday leading Lester by 6-9. On Day 3, Cifuentes added 9-5 and ended with 48-12.

A key prespawn staging spot amid deep grass produced Cifuentes’ Day 1 weight by 8:30 a.m. But Day 2 found the spot devoid of bass, so he caught a limit by punching grass. On Saturday, Cifuentes gave his best spot another look, but it offered nothing and he ended up catching his fish on a Berkley Stunna jerkbait.

“That big bag did good; it just didn’t do enough,” Cifuentes said. “It was fun. I had a blast and it was a great way to start the year.”

In addition to a $25,500 second-place prize, Cifuentes also earned the $500 Garmin Tournament Rewards for being the highest-placing competitor using Garmin products.

Tom Frink of Southside, Ala., finished third with 47-8. He placed 19th on Day 1 with a limit of 13-9, rose to eighth by catching 17-3 on Day 2 and gained five more spots with a final-round bag that weighed 16-12.

While he spent some of his time throwing a 1/2-ounce Evergreen lipless bait offshore in Cypress Lake, Frink fared best when he focused on shallow reeds. Targeting clear, sandy spots in the reed lines with a beaver-style bait rigged with a Ryugi Black Bean sliding sinker.

“I’d go a couple hundred yards and not get bit, then I’d hit a 50-yard stretch where I’d catch three or four fish,” Frink said. “On Day 2, I got lucky and caught a 7-pounder doing that. Today, I started offshore for (a brief time), but I went shallow again and had one 50-yard stretch where I caught all my fish.”

Elite Series pro Frank Talley of Temple, Texas, won the $750 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award for his 9-7 largemouth.

As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Adam Neu of Sturgeon Bay, Wis., took home an additional $1,500 while John Soukup of Sapulpa, Okla., claimed an additional $750 for being the second-highest placing entrant.

Toyota will also award $1,500 to the highest-placing entrant in their Bonus Bucks program and an additional $1,000 to the second-highest placing entrant.

Additionally, the St. Croix Rods Rewards program will award an extra $500 to the highest-finishing Top 10 angler fishing St. Croix rods.

2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open #1 Kissimmee Chain Of Lakes 2/3-2/5
Lake Tohopekaliga, Kissimmee FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3

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

1. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 15 51-02 200 $52,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 18-01 Day 3: 5 18-04
2. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 15 48-12 199 $26,000.00
Day 1: 5 28-10 Day 2: 5 10-13 Day 3: 5 09-05
3. Tom Frink Southside, AL 15 47-08 198 $18,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 5 16-12
4. Adam Neu Sturgeon Bay, WI 15 41-13 197 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 17-01 Day 3: 5 10-05
5. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 15 40-11 196 $13,050.00
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 11-10 Day 3: 5 11-09
6. Ryan Hoover Lithia, FL 15 40-04 195 $12,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 14-08 Day 3: 5 11-04
7. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 14 40-00 194 $11,250.00
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 14-15 Day 3: 4 07-08
8. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 15 39-06 193 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 5 08-04
9. Zack Birge Blanchard, OK 15 37-08 192 $8,250.00
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 15-15 Day 3: 5 06-04
10. Cole Sands Calhoun, TN 11 37-01 191 $6,750.00
Day 1: 5 21-15 Day 2: 3 09-03 Day 3: 3 05-15
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Frank Talley Temple, TX 09-07 $750.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 121 821 1655-04
2 137 878 1705-01
3 8 47 105-06


Two Third-Period Lunkers Propel Arkansas’ Browning to Early Lead at MLF Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One

Mercury Pro Boats Six Bass Totaling 21 Pounds, 2 Ounces to Lead Day 1 for Group A – Group B to Fish Sunday

MONROE-WEST MONROE, La. (Feb. 5, 2022) – Chilly temperatures in the mid-20s greeted the 40 Bass Pro Tour anglers in Group A competing on Lake D’Arbonne Saturday morning. It was a cold, tough day on the water for most, but a few 5-, 6- and 7-pound D’Arbonne largemouth still made their national debuts on the MLF NOW! livestream.

After the final bass had been tallied, Hot Springs, Arkansas, pro “The Puma” Stephen Browningcaught six bass weighing 21 pounds, 2 ounces, to grab the early lead for Group A on Day 1 of the B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole in Monroe-West Monroe, Louisiana.

The six-day event, hosted by Discover Monroe-West Monroe, showcases 80 of the top professional bass-fishing anglers in the world competing for a purse of $805,000, including a top cash prize of $100,000 to the winner. The tournament is livestreamed each day at MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MOTV app, and also being filmed for broadcast later this fall on the Discovery Channel.

Browning will bring a 3-pound, 4-ounce, lead into Monday’s second day of competition for Group A. In second place on the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard is Favorite Fishing pro Mark Daniels Jr. of Tuskegee, Alabama, who caught eight bass totaling 17-14. Shelby, North Carolina’s Bryan Thrift, sits in third place with eight bass weighing 17-1. Rounding out the top five are pro Cody Meyer of Star, Idaho , who caught four bass for 14-9 and Bass Pro Tour newcomer Jeremy Lawyer of Sarcoxie, Missouri, who weighed in four bass totaling 13 pounds even.

The 40 anglers in Group A will now have an off day from competition Sunday, while the 40 anglers competing in Group B will begin their first day of competition. Group A will resume competition on Monday.

Browning had a tough morning, catching only one bass for 2½ pounds in the first period. He added two more in the second period, then three in the third period – including a 6-pound, 4-ounce brute and a solid 4-pound, 4-ounce scorable bass – to catapult to the top of the leaderboard.

“It’s been a good day – you can’t complain when you’re in the lead against this crew of anglers,” Browning said. “I’m up in the D’Arbonne Bayou area of Lake D’Arbonne, fishing shallow flats – future spawning areas for these fish. It was tough, but I’ve got confidence in my bait, confidence in my equipment and confidence in my area. That is a big key to success in these grinder-tournaments.”

Browning said that he targeted standing timber and trees – specifically cypress trees that were still alive with green leaves – in 4 to 6 feet of water.

“If I fished any shallower than that, I didn’t get bit,” Browning said. “My key bait was a 3/8-ounce black and blue jig, with a 7-foot, 4-inch St. Croix Legend Elite and a Lew’s Tournament Pro 8:3:1 reel, with 20-pound Gamma Fluorocarbon Edge line. It’s a combination that I’ve got a lot of confidence in, and we put it to work today.

“Overall, it’s a good start to the 2022 season and that is a big deal,” Browning went on to say. “Momentum is very important – we saw what Michael Neal did last week at Sam Rayburn. I had a good day, and now I am looking forward to the challenge of Day 2. I don’t want to go to the Knockout Round on Caney – I want to go straight to Bussey Brake.”

The top 20 pros in Group A after Day 1 on Lake D’Arbonne are:

1st:          Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., six bass, 21-2
2nd:         Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., eight bass, 17-14
3rd:         Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., eight bass, 17-1
4th:         Cody Meyer, Star, Idaho, four bass, 14-9
5th:         Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., four bass, 13-0
6th:         Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, five bass, 11-7
7th:         Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., two bass, 11-6
8th:         Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., four bass, 10-13
9th:         Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., three bass, 10-6
10th:       Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., four bass, 9-10
11th:       Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., four bass, 9-8
12th:       Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., three bass, 9-5
13th:       Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, two bass, 8-12
14th:       Shinichi Fukae, Osaka, Japan, three bass, 8-10
15th:       Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, three bass, 7-15
16th:       Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., three bass, 7-8
17th:       Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., four bass, 6-15
18th:       Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., three bass, 6-13
19th:       Timmy Horton, Muscle Shoals, Ala., two bass, 6-2
20th:       Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., two bass, 5-9

A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 101 scorable bass weighing 269 pounds, 6 ounces caught by 37 pros on Saturday.

Cody Meyer earned the first $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award of the season Saturday, weighing a 7-pound, 8-ounce largemouth that bit his squarebill crankbait during Period 3 to earn the award. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.

The 40 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day qualifying round on Lake D’Arbonne 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 Tuesday’s Knockout Round on Caney Creek Reservoir, while the winner of each group advances directly to Wednesday’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 on Bussey Brake. In the final day Championship Round, weights are zeroed and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.

In the four-day opening Qualifying Rounds, anglers will launch at 8:30 a.m. from the Lake D’Arbonne State Park, located at 3628 Evergreen Road in Farmerville, Louisiana. The Knockout Round will launch Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. from the Caney Creek Hooks Marina, located at 400 Spillway Road in Chatham, Louisiana. Thursday’s final day Championship Round on Bussey Brake will launch at 8:30 a.m. from Bonner Ferry Road, five miles northwest of Bastrop off of Hwy 593.

Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the respective launch ramps, beginning at 5:30 p.m.Fans are welcome to attend all takeoff and takeout ceremonies and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

As part of the event, fans will also have the opportunity to come out take part in the Major League Fishing Festival, part of the North Delta Boat & Outdoor Show at the Monroe Civic on Sun. Feb. 6, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festival is a chance for fishing fans to meet pro anglers, register for the “Pick ‘Til You Win” game with a top prize of a 2022 Toyota Tundra or a 70-inch 4K UHD Smart TV, visit the MLF Kids Zone and the fishing pond, meet characters from the PAW Patrol courtesy of Kid Casters, and enjoy live concerts from local musicians each day. For more information on the Major League Fishing Festival and the North Delta Boat & Outdoor Show, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole features anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement on Lake D’Arbonne, and a 2-pound minimum weight requirement on Caney Creek and Bussey Brake for a bass to be deemed scorable. Minimum weights are determined individually for each competition waters that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.

The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 80 of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, competing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2023 championship.

The MLF NOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action on all six days of competition from 8:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET. MLF NOW!®  will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

Television coverage of the B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole will premiere at 7 a.m. ET, Sept. 3 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, BallyBet, Bass Cat, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Covercraft, Favorite Fishing, Garmin, General Tire, Googan Baits, Grundéns, Guaranteed Rate, Humminbird, John Deere Gator UTVs, 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, TwitterInstagram, and  YouTube.


Cifuentes Shifts Gears To Retain Bassmaster Open Lead On Kissimmee Chain

Joey Cifuentes of Clinton, Ark., is leading after Day 2 of the 2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open at Kissimmee Chain with a two-day total of 39 pounds, 7 ounces.

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

February 4, 2022

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — After struggling for a few hours and ultimately making a wholesale game plan change, Joey Cifuentes of Clinton, Ark., leveraged a big first-round margin to maintain his lead on Day 2 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes with a two-day total of 39-7.

Cifuentes set the early mark by posting a Day 1 limit of 28-10, which ranks in the Top 15 single-day weights in Bassmaster Opens history. That catch gave Cifuentes a lead of 6-11 over Cole Sands of Calhoun, Tenn., who today slipped from second to sixth.

Adding a Day 2 limit of 10-13, Cifuentes now leads Bassmaster Elite Series pro Brandon Lester of Tennessee by 6-9.

“I barely survived today,” Cifuentes said of his diminished productivity. “I didn’t even get a bite on (my Day 1) spot; it was crazy.”

Cifuentes started his day on the same place that quickly produced his massive Day 1 bag — a hard-bottom clearing amid offshore hydrilla. He fished that spot for three hours Friday but with little to show for it.

“I guess it’s possible that there weren’t as many fish as I thought, or they were just staging there for a little bit and the warming trend prompted them to move to the bank to spawn,” Cifuentes said. “I left there with one small fish, but it really wasn’t on my spot; I was just fishing around trying to find them.”

Once he determined his primary plan was not happening, Cifuentes tried a few more offshore spots, but finally relocated to shallow grass mats near the weigh-in site at Kissimmee Lakefront Park. He punched a Berkley MaxScent Creature Hawg in black/blue fleck rigged with a 1 1/2-ounce weight.

“I was having to fish slow; I had to yo-yo it two or three times,” Cifuentes said. “I finished my limit about 3:30.”

With a cold front heading toward the area, anglers will see winds increasing and shifting from the north. Cifuentes said this will likely impact what he’s able to do on Championship Saturday.

“The temperature probably isn’t going to drop that fast, but if the wind gets bad it might hurt the offshore bite, so I may have to go flipping shallow,” he said. “It might turn on the offshore bite, so I’m going to check all of it. I’m going to start on my little honey hole and go from there.”

Hailing from Fayetteville, Tenn., Lester added 18-1 to the 14-13 he weighed on Day 1 and tallied 32-14. He attributed the increased productivity to the continued warming trend.

“I’m fishing an area that has a bunch of beds in there and they’re coming in,” Lester said. “I’m not actually seeing them bite, but I’m pitching at beds. I’m just seeing a bright spot and pitching to it.

“I’d love to be able to see them, but it’s been so windy I just have to float along with the wind until I see (a bed). They’re actually spawning, but I’m not sight fishing.”

Lester said he caught his fish on a junebug-colored 5-inch soft stickbait. He Texas-rigged his bait with a 3/16-ounce weight, which helped him cast efficiently in the wind.

“I’d just pitch it in there and shake it in place; I didn’t move it much at all,” Lester said. “My biggest fish was about 5 3/4 pounds and I had one about 4.”

Cole Drummond of Effingham, S.C., remained in third place with 32-8. After weighing a limit of 17-9 on Day 1, he added 14-15 Friday.

Drummond again locked down to Lake Cypress, where he fished a 300-yard spawning area where he was catching pre- and post-spawn fish. In depths of 2 to 3 feet, the fish were relating to shellbars scattered amid hydrilla.

“It was a little bit tougher on me today, but I forced myself to stay there because I knew they were there and it finally paid off around lunchtime,” Drummond said. “I caught them on one bait all day. I was just cutting circles around my area all day.”

Elite Series pro Frank Talley of Temple, Texas, leads the Phoenix Boats Big Bass standings with a 9-7 largemouth.

Ron Shakespeare of St. Cloud, Fla., won the co-angler division with a two-day total of 19-10. After taking the Day 1 lead with 13-8, he added another limit of 6-2 and earned $24,820.

Spending his day in Lake Toho, Shakespeare fished hydrilla in 6 to 8 feet and caught his bass on the same bait he used Thursday — a Texas-rigged CPF Lures trick worm in the Dirty Albright color. The color is named for Shakespeare’s team partner, Jerrod Albright of Kissimmee, who won the $250 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award among co-anglers for his 7-11 largemouth.

“We stayed offshore for about three hours and I caught all three of my fish by 10:30 and I didn’t catch another fish all day,” Shakespeare said. “We moved around a little bit offshore and then we went flipping to try and find a big one.

“Offshore, we were targeting pockets and thinned-out areas. The bite went away really quickly this morning. My boater caught two and I caught two within the first 30 minutes and then it was just done.”

The Top 10 pros will now advance to Saturday’s championship round with takeoff scheduled for Big Toho Marina (Kissimmee Lakefront Park) at 7 a.m. ET. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 3 p.m. Full coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com.

2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open #1 Kissimmee Chain Of Lakes 2/3-2/5
Lake Tohopekaliga, Kissimmee FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 10 39-07 200
Day 1: 5 28-10 Day 2: 5 10-13
2. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 32-14 199
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 18-01
3. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 10 32-08 198
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 14-15
4. Adam Neu Sturgeon Bay, WI 10 31-08 197
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 17-01
5. Zack Birge Blanchard, OK 10 31-04 196
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 15-15
6. Cole Sands Calhoun, TN 8 31-02 195
Day 1: 5 21-15 Day 2: 3 09-03
7. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 10 31-02 194
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 15-04
8. Tom Frink Southside, AL 10 30-12 193
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 17-03
9. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 10 29-02 192
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 11-10
10. Ryan Hoover Lithia, FL 10 29-00 191
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 14-08
11. Logan Shaddix Cullman, GA 10 28-07 190 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 13-09
12. Rich Howes Oviedo, FL 10 28-06 189 $5,250.00
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 13-12
13. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 10 27-07 188 $4,125.00
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 13-04
14. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 10 27-02 187 $4,125.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 14-00
15. Nic Rand Kalamazoo, MI 10 26-03 186 $4,125.00
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 14-00
16. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 10 25-15 185 $4,125.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 12-04
17. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 10 25-11 184 $4,125.00
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 13-15
18. Frank Talley Temple, TX 10 25-10 183 $4,125.00
Day 1: 5 06-13 Day 2: 5 18-13
19. Ronald Young New Braunfels, TX 10 25-07 182 $4,125.00
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 09-06
20. Jordan McDonald Jackson, GA 10 25-01 181 $4,125.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 12-03
21. John Hunter Jr Shelbyville, KY 10 24-15 180 $3,750.00
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 14-14
22. Hayden Newberry Jonesboro, IL 10 24-15 179 $3,750.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 11-07
23. Lucas Murphy West Columbia, MI 10 24-05 178 $3,750.00
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 12-07
24. Bryan New Saluda, SC 10 24-02 177 $3,750.00
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 11-14
25. Carter McNeil Abbeville, SC 8 23-15 176 $3,750.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 3 11-01
26. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 10 23-11 175 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 10-03
27. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 10 23-08 174 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 13-00
28. Buddy Gross Chatanooga, TN 10 23-06 173 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 13-07
29. Garrett Rocamora Lithia, FL 10 23-03 172 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 12-00
30. Mike Huff London, KY 10 23-01 171 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 10-08
31. Chris Neau Gretna, LA 10 22-15 170 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 07-11
32. Lonnie Cochran Section, AL 8 22-13 169 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 3 06-06
33. Jake Maddux Birmingham, AL 10 22-11 168 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 5 13-15
34. Sam George Athens, AL 10 22-01 167 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 12-11
35. Kayden Tanner Tolar, TX 10 22-00 166 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 10-10
36. Daisuke Kita Ohtsu Shiga JAPAN 10 21-11 165 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 13-04
37. Jayme Rampey Liberty, SC 10 21-11 164 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 09-03
38. Jon Canada Helena, AL 9 21-10 163 $3,450.00
Day 1: 4 09-03 Day 2: 5 12-07
39. Brian Post Janesville, WI 10 21-08 162 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 13-04
40. Julius Mazy Phoenix, AZ 10 21-07 161 $3,450.00
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 09-03
41. Hermilo Salgado-Zavaleta Artemus, KY 10 21-02 160
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 12-04
42. Coop Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 10 21-01 159
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 07-09
43. Jon Jezierski Troy, MI 10 21-01 158
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 12-15
44. Colby Robertson Summerfield, FL 10 20-10 157
Day 1: 5 06-13 Day 2: 5 13-13
45. Johnny Bigger II Spring Hill, FL 10 20-05 156
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 11-13
46. Logan Johnson Jasper, AL 8 20-05 155
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 3 10-00
47. Caden Acree Powder Springs, GA 10 20-01 154
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 11-10
48. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 5 19-15 153
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 19-15
49. Matt Pangrac Bixby, OK 9 19-14 152
Day 1: 4 12-07 Day 2: 5 07-07
50. Billy McDonald Greenwood, IN 10 19-13 151
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 08-05
51. Jacob Moore Wake Forest, NC 10 19-07 150
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 09-07
52. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 10 19-06 149
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 06-15
53. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 19-06 148
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 08-15
54. Dave Turner Crystal River, FL 10 19-06 147
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 09-01
55. Michael Cooper Mobile, AL 10 19-04 146
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 12-04
56. Jason Borofka Lavon, TX 10 19-01 145
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 12-01
57. Bradley Hallman Edmond, OK 10 19-01 144
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 5 09-14
58. Zach Goutremout Chaumont, NY 7 19-00 143
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 2 02-14
59. Bradford Beavers Summerville, SC 8 19-00 142
Day 1: 4 06-13 Day 2: 4 12-03
60. John Garrett Union City, TN 10 18-15 141
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 07-13
61. Danny Ramsey Trinidad, TX 10 18-11 140
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 08-07
62. Corey Lindsey Marion, OH 10 18-10 139
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 07-04
63. Darold Gleason Many, LA 10 18-09 138
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 08-01
64. Chris Blanchette Charleston, SC 10 18-08 137
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 07-03
65. Greg Mansfield Olathe, KS 9 18-08 136
Day 1: 4 07-05 Day 2: 5 11-03
66. Jeremy Gordon Rutledge, TN 10 18-07 135
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 5 10-07
67. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 10 18-06 134
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 5 10-06
68. Rob Digh Denver, NC 9 18-04 133
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 4 05-11
69. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 10 18-03 132
Day 1: 5 07-08 Day 2: 5 10-11
70. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 7 18-01 131
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 2 02-08
71. Mason Gunter Newnan, GA 10 18-00 130
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 07-10
72. Chad Smith Minnetonka, MN 9 17-15 129
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 4 05-14
73. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 9 17-15 128
Day 1: 4 09-06 Day 2: 5 08-09
74. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 10 17-14 127
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 06-06
75. Jim Dillard West Monroe, LA 10 17-13 126
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 08-01
76. Troy Roder Brookeland, TX 10 17-13 125
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 08-02
77. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 7 17-11 124
Day 1: 2 06-14 Day 2: 5 10-13
78. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 10 17-10 123
Day 1: 5 07-01 Day 2: 5 10-09
79. Michael Hall Annandale, VA 10 17-10 122
Day 1: 5 07-10 Day 2: 5 10-00
80. Justin Margraves Diana, TX 10 17-09 121
Day 1: 5 07-06 Day 2: 5 10-03
81. Connor Neal Hoover, AL 9 17-08 120
Day 1: 4 09-12 Day 2: 5 07-12
82. Quentin Cappo Prairieville, LA 10 17-06 119
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 07-11
83. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 10 17-04 118
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 5 08-14
84. Zak Fadden Plymouth, MI 6 16-14 117
Day 1: 3 11-09 Day 2: 3 05-05
85. James Castillo West Richland, WA 10 16-14 116
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 06-00
86. Joseph Webster Hamilton, AL 10 16-14 115
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 08-15
87. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 16-10 114
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 07-03
88. Douglas Reed Bridgeton, NJ 9 16-10 113
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 4 08-07
89. Tristan McCormick Burns, TN 9 16-07 112
Day 1: 4 05-09 Day 2: 5 10-14
90. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 10 16-07 111
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 06-12
91. Jamey Caldwell Carthage, NC 9 16-07 110
Day 1: 4 06-13 Day 2: 5 09-10
92. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 7 16-06 109
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 2 05-00
93. Andrew Thomasson Dublin, VA 10 16-06 108
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 09-06
94. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 10 16-05 107
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 05-05
95. Brandon Edel White House, TN 10 16-05 106
Day 1: 5 07-03 Day 2: 5 09-02
96. Dave Frost Mount Dora, FL 6 16-04 105
Day 1: 1 02-12 Day 2: 5 13-08
97. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 10 16-04 104
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 07-10
98. Jeff Fellows Orlando, FL 10 16-03 103
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 06-06
99. Parker Mott Winter Garden, FL 10 16-02 102
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 07-04
100. Kyle Cortiana Broken Arrow, OK 9 16-00 101
Day 1: 4 05-06 Day 2: 5 10-10
101. David Williams Newton, NC 10 15-15 100
Day 1: 5 06-08 Day 2: 5 09-07
102. Blake Sylvester Plaquemine, LA 5 15-13 99
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 15-13
103. Alex Sherrill Clanton, AL 8 15-13 98
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 3 04-13
104. Brad Leuthner Independence, MN 10 15-12 97
Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 5 07-14
105. Brady Vernon Birmingham, AL 10 15-11 96
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 5 07-02
106. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 7 15-10 95
Day 1: 2 06-14 Day 2: 5 08-12
107. Griffin Heffington Cumming, GA 10 15-10 94
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 07-05
108. Joel Willert Prior Lake, MN 9 15-09 93
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 4 04-12
109. Dustin Wilkey Durant, OK 8 15-07 92
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 5 10-08
110. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 7 15-06 91
Day 1: 2 04-12 Day 2: 5 10-10
111. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 6 15-03 90
Day 1: 2 02-06 Day 2: 4 12-13
112. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 9 15-03 89
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 4 04-06
113. Bob Behrle Hoover, AL 10 15-02 88
Day 1: 5 06-09 Day 2: 5 08-09
114. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 7 15-02 87
Day 1: 2 06-11 Day 2: 5 08-07
115. Tucker Smith Shoal Creek, AL 8 15-01 86
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 3 05-01
116. Caiden Sinclair Wilsonville, AL 7 14-13 85
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 2 03-06
117. Cody Bertrand Dyer, IN 6 14-13 84
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 3 10-02
118. Todd Goade White Pine, TN 10 14-13 83
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 05-13
119. Jacob Bigelow Cecil, WI 7 14-07 82
Day 1: 2 06-08 Day 2: 5 07-15
120. Hunter Sales Blaine, TN 6 14-04 81
Day 1: 3 08-12 Day 2: 3 05-08
121. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 8 14-03 80
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 3 03-12
122. Chris Keeble Lenoir City, TN 7 14-03 79
Day 1: 2 04-04 Day 2: 5 09-15
123. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 10 14-02 78
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 05-08
124. Gary Ginter Bellefontaine, OH 8 14-02 77
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 3 06-00
125. Derek Lehtonen Woodruff, SC 10 14-01 76
Day 1: 5 06-10 Day 2: 5 07-07
126. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 9 13-15 75
Day 1: 4 04-10 Day 2: 5 09-05
127. Scott Pellegrin Chippewa Falls, WI 9 13-14 74
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 4 05-07
128. Blake Smith Lakeland, FL 10 13-14 73
Day 1: 5 06-12 Day 2: 5 07-02
129. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 7 13-12 72
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 2 02-14
130. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 8 13-11 71
Day 1: 4 05-10 Day 2: 4 08-01
131. Andy Hribar Lakeville, MN 8 13-09 70
Day 1: 3 03-05 Day 2: 5 10-04
132. Connor Graham Minneapolis, MN 9 13-09 69
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 4 05-14
133. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 5 13-08 68
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 13-08
134. T-Roy Broussard Port Arthur, TX 10 13-08 67
Day 1: 5 07-06 Day 2: 5 06-02
135. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 8 13-07 66
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 5 07-00
136. Tanner Sanderson Ackerly, TX 8 13-03 65
Day 1: 3 02-14 Day 2: 5 10-05
137. Lucas Bradley Flippin, AR 10 13-00 64
Day 1: 5 05-14 Day 2: 5 07-02
138. Chris Moody Brooks, GA 9 13-00 63
Day 1: 5 07-01 Day 2: 4 05-15
139. Chance Woodard Paris, TX 7 12-15 62
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 5 09-12
140. Dustin Reneau Mckinney, TX 8 12-15 61
Day 1: 5 07-05 Day 2: 3 05-10
141. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 7 12-14 60
Day 1: 2 04-12 Day 2: 5 08-02
142. Aaron Digh Denver, NC 10 12-10 59
Day 1: 5 05-14 Day 2: 5 06-12
143. Jacob Walker Springville, AL 6 12-09 58
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 1 01-13
144. Dustin Williamson Aiken, SC 8 12-09 57
Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 5 08-12
145. Destin DeMarion Harborcreek, PA 6 12-06 56
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 5 10-07
146. Hugh Cosculluela Spring, TX 6 12-06 55
Day 1: 4 10-00 Day 2: 2 02-06
147. Nick Brown Lindale, TX 6 12-05 54
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 5 11-03
148. Derek Freeman Anderson, SC 7 12-05 53
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 5 09-02
149. Bart Stanisz Wichita Falls , TX 9 12-05 52
Day 1: 4 06-00 Day 2: 5 06-05
150. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 8 12-03 51
Day 1: 3 03-03 Day 2: 5 09-00
151. Andrew Mlotek Indianapolis, IN 8 11-15 50
Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 3 03-14
152. Darrell Davis Dover, FL 7 11-14 49
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 2 03-00
153. Andrew Upshaw Hemphill, TX 6 11-13 48
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 5 10-06
154. Randy Blaukat Springfield, MO 7 11-10 47
Day 1: 4 06-03 Day 2: 3 05-07
155. Seiji Kato Outsu Shiga JAPAN 6 11-09 46
Day 1: 2 04-09 Day 2: 4 07-00
156. Bryden Mugleston Mount Juliet, TN 9 11-08 45
Day 1: 4 04-07 Day 2: 5 07-01
157. Keith Nemcek St Charles, IL 8 11-07 44
Day 1: 4 06-01 Day 2: 4 05-06
158. Jason Casteel Ocoee, FL 6 11-07 43
Day 1: 3 06-01 Day 2: 3 05-06
159. Bailey Fain Lenoir City, TN 6 11-03 42
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 1 02-01
160. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 5 10-14 41
Day 1: 2 02-05 Day 2: 3 08-09
161. Kenny Mittelstaedt Minnetonka, MN 7 10-14 40
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 5 07-06
162. Joey Sabbagha Prosperity, SC 8 10-11 39
Day 1: 3 07-06 Day 2: 5 03-05
163. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 8 10-10 38
Day 1: 5 06-08 Day 2: 3 04-02
164. Trevor McKinney Benton, IL 6 10-09 37
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 5 09-02
165. Randall Carter Maplesville, AL 6 10-07 36
Day 1: 3 03-14 Day 2: 3 06-09
166. Ben Stone Iva, SC 8 10-07 35
Day 1: 3 04-02 Day 2: 5 06-05
167. David Kilgore Jasper, AL 7 10-06 34
Day 1: 2 02-01 Day 2: 5 08-05
168. Scott Allgood Fair Play, SC 8 10-06 33
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 5 06-01
169. Buddy Cipoletti Naples, FL 6 10-02 32
Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 3 06-05
170. Matt Green Cartersville, GA 7 10-01 31
Day 1: 4 04-13 Day 2: 3 05-04
171. Tommy Williams Shepherdsville, KY 7 09-14 30
Day 1: 2 03-04 Day 2: 5 06-10
172. Spencer Peters Corryton, TN 5 09-07 29
Day 1: 2 05-06 Day 2: 3 04-01
173. Jesse Tacoronte Kissimmee, FL 5 09-06 28
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 6 09-06 27
Day 1: 4 06-11 Day 2: 2 02-11
175. Tyler Caton Clanton, AL 6 09-04 26
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 5 07-10
176. Jeff Bauler Chapin, SC 7 09-02 25
Day 1: 3 02-08 Day 2: 4 06-10
177. Danny Lavoie Franklin, GA 7 09-02 24
Day 1: 4 04-12 Day 2: 3 04-06
178. Tim Frederick Leesburg, FL 6 09-01 23
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 5 08-02
179. Tim Malone Kodak, TN 6 08-13 22
Day 1: 3 05-07 Day 2: 3 03-06
180. Luke Dunkin Lawrenceburg, TN 5 08-09 21
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
181. Brandon Ackerson Afton, OK 7 08-07 20
Day 1: 2 01-15 Day 2: 5 06-08
182. Bailey Boutries Springfield, MO 5 08-06 19
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 08-06
183. Steven Mack Queen Creek, AZ 7 08-03 18
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 5 05-01
184. Daniel Smith Blountsville, AL 6 08-03 17
Day 1: 3 04-08 Day 2: 3 03-11
185. Chuck Stratton Chaffee, MO 5 08-02 16
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
186. Travis Loyd Brookeland, TX 5 07-14 15
Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
187. Zachary Kuehler Seymour, TX 5 07-14 14
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 2 02-05
188. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 5 07-05 13
Day 1: 4 04-13 Day 2: 1 02-08
189. Greg Secord Salem, SC 5 07-03 12
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 2 03-04
190. Sean Torgrude Jacksonville, FL 3 07-02 11
Day 1: 3 07-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
191. Austin Cranford Moore, OK 5 07-02 10
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 3 03-04
192. Jared Miller Norman, OK 6 07-01 9
Day 1: 5 05-06 Day 2: 1 01-11
193. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 4 06-15 8
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 06-15
194. Nick Ward Newnan, GA 5 06-10 7
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 06-10
195. Michael Kinard Concord, NC 3 06-06 6
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 2 05-01
196. D.J. Ellis Crestview, FL 3 06-05 5
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 2 05-06
197. Ron Ryals Jr Live Oak, FL 5 06-01 4
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 4 05-00
198. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 6 06-00 3
Day 1: 1 00-14 Day 2: 5 05-02
199. Zeke Gossett Pell City, AL 3 06-00 2
Day 1: 2 02-02 Day 2: 1 03-14
200. Drew Coker Murrayville, GA 3 05-10 1
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 05-10
201. Joe McClosky Swanton, MD 3 05-10 0
Day 1: 2 04-05 Day 2: 1 01-05
202. Darren Gallaher Hixson, TN 4 05-10 0
Day 1: 3 04-02 Day 2: 1 01-08
203. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 5 05-07 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 05-07
204. Marshall Harrelson Clarksville, GA 3 05-07 0
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 2 03-03
205. Teddie Scalf Corbin, KY 4 05-03 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 05-03
206. Randy Elliott Severn, MD 3 05-00 0
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
207. Joe Mitchell Martin, GA 4 04-13 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 04-13
208. Wayman Coleman Abbeville, SC 4 04-11 0
Day 1: 1 00-13 Day 2: 3 03-14
209. Eric Talley Corsicana, TX 3 04-05 0
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 1 00-15
210. Matt Coughlin Dandridge, TN 3 04-02 0
Day 1: 3 04-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
211. Kibbee Mccoy Knoxville, TN 2 03-10 0
Day 1: 2 03-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
212. Tommy Parker Minnetonka, MN 2 03-09 0
Day 1: 2 03-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
213. Brent Crow Hartselle, AL 2 03-02 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-02
214. Frank Ramsey Spring Grove, IL 2 02-11 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 1 00-15
215. Dustin O'shaughnessy Junction City, WI 2 02-07 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 02-07
216. Christiana Bradley Goldvein, VA 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-00
217. Ronnie Mccoy Lamar, SC 1 01-05 0
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
218. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 1 01-03 0
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
219. Ben Ballou Dickson, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
219. Noah Boyett Mountain Home, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
219. Craig Cavanna Spring Hill, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
219. Tony Dumitras Winston, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
219. Michael Harter Westminster, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
219. Rick Perez Naples, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
219. Gary Pilkenton Morristown, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 121 821 1655-04
2 137 878 1705-01
----------------------------------
258 1699 3360-05

2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open #1 Kissimmee Chain Of Lakes 2/3-2/5
Lake Tohopekaliga, Kissimmee FL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1. Ron Shakespeare Saint Cloud, FL 6 19-10 200 $24,820.00
Day 1: 3 13-08 Day 2: 3 06-02
2. Jerrod Albright Kissimmee, FL 6 17-00 199 $6,090.00
Day 1: 3 13-04 Day 2: 3 03-12
3. Donald Ciacchi Cleveland, OH 6 16-14 198 $4,380.00
Day 1: 3 11-06 Day 2: 3 05-08
4. JW Battle Jr. Orlando, FL 6 15-07 197 $3,285.00
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 3 09-14
5. Darrin Mallow Kansas, OK 5 14-03 196 $3,066.00
Day 1: 3 09-10 Day 2: 2 04-09
6. Barry Brunges Gainesville, FL 6 14-01 195 $2,920.00
Day 1: 3 09-12 Day 2: 3 04-05
7. Skyler Anderson Harlem, GA 6 13-09 194 $2,774.00
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 3 09-00
8. Parker Knudsen Minnetonka, MN 6 13-07 193 $2,628.00
Day 1: 3 07-08 Day 2: 3 05-15
9. James Roten West Jefferson, NC 6 12-12 192 $2,409.00
Day 1: 3 08-14 Day 2: 3 03-14
10. Chad Stahl Barnesville, GA 6 12-02 191 $2,190.00
Day 1: 3 06-08 Day 2: 3 05-10
11. Kevin Mallow Kansas, OK 6 12-01 190 $2,044.00
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 3 06-03
12. Austin Nelson Apopka, FL 6 11-15 189 $1,898.00
Day 1: 3 06-01 Day 2: 3 05-14
13. Wallace Coward Beech Island, SC 6 11-07 188 $1,606.00
Day 1: 3 03-04 Day 2: 3 08-03
14. Stephen Carrick Lexington, NC 5 11-04 187 $1,460.00
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 2 04-11
15. Levi Allgeier Bardstown, KY 5 11-00 186 $1,314.00
Day 1: 3 08-02 Day 2: 2 02-14
16. Billy Shelton La Crosse, VA 6 10-15 185 $1,168.00
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 3 05-07
17. John Goul Philadelphia, MS 4 10-14 184 $1,095.00
Day 1: 3 08-10 Day 2: 1 02-04
18. Brooks Parker Bridgeville, DE 5 10-14 183 $1,095.00
Day 1: 3 07-10 Day 2: 2 03-04
19. Mike Mckinney Benton, IL 6 10-13 182 $1,095.00
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 3 03-06
20. Robert Taylor Jr Saint Cloud, FL 4 10-10 181 $1,095.00
Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 1 03-09
21. Dehn Ganey Bonneau, SC 5 10-10 180 $1,022.00
Day 1: 2 04-09 Day 2: 3 06-01
22. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 5 10-07 179 $1,022.00
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 2 04-04
23. Clifton Overstreet Dothan, AL 4 10-03 178 $1,022.00
Day 1: 3 08-06 Day 2: 1 01-13
24. David Waack Cary, NC 3 10-02 177 $1,022.00
Day 1: 3 10-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
25. Bob Morin Seymour, TN 6 10-01 176 $1,022.00
Day 1: 3 07-00 Day 2: 3 03-01
26. Avery Williams Murrells Inlt, SC 5 09-15 175 $876.00
Day 1: 2 02-15 Day 2: 3 07-00
27. Jonathon Dewey Fort Gratiot, MI 5 09-12 174 $876.00
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 2 02-14
28. Corey Yaden Grovetown, GA 3 09-09 173 $876.00
Day 1: 3 09-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
29. Horace Hubbard Albany, GA 4 09-09 172 $876.00
Day 1: 2 06-05 Day 2: 2 03-04
30. Kevin Edwards Ruskin, FL 3 09-08 171 $876.00
Day 1: 3 09-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
31. Tyler Morrison Locust Grove, GA 4 09-07 170 $803.00
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 3 08-08
32. Greg Moore Orlando, FL 4 09-07 169 $803.00
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 3 07-13
33. Cary Wien Groveland, FL 6 09-05 168 $803.00
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 3 05-01
34. Erik Tilson Auburndale, FL 3 09-04 167 $803.00
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 2 06-11
35. Wayne Foriest Nashville, TN 5 09-02 166 $803.00
Day 1: 2 04-14 Day 2: 3 04-04
36. Jimmy Dereta Joshua, TX 4 09-00 165 $803.00
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 3 07-13
37. Eric Camarote Rogers, MN 5 09-00 164 $803.00
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 2 02-05
38. Kevin Heard Saint Cloud, FL 5 08-14 163 $803.00
Day 1: 2 03-01 Day 2: 3 05-13
39. Mack Traynor Hanover, MN 3 08-13 162 $803.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 08-13
40. Hunter Reifschneider Marion, IA 4 08-13 161 $803.00
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 3 07-11
41. Ryan Chambers Chandler, AZ 4 08-11 160
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 1 01-04
42. Matt Molitor Canton, IL 5 08-10 159
Day 1: 2 02-10 Day 2: 3 06-00
43. Ryan Shriber Franklin, TN 6 08-10 158
Day 1: 3 03-11 Day 2: 3 04-15
44. Mike Anderson Harlem, GA 6 08-08 157
Day 1: 3 03-12 Day 2: 3 04-12
45. Bradley Sterner Manchester, PA 5 08-07 156
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 3 05-00
46. Will Brown Wesley Chapel, AL 6 08-06 155
Day 1: 3 03-02 Day 2: 3 05-04
47. Alex Barbour Crystal Lake, IL 4 08-04 154
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 3 07-04
48. Erik Brztowski Lemont, IL 5 08-04 153
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 2 03-05
49. Angela Mayo Maiden, NC 4 08-02 152
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 1 02-05
50. Brian Rothrock Monticello, IN 5 08-02 151
Day 1: 2 02-09 Day 2: 3 05-09
51. Kevin Devine Windermere, FL 4 08-02 150
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 1 02-09
52. Alex Reece Greenville, SC 4 08-00 149
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 3 05-15
53. Steven Robbins Piketon, OH 5 08-00 148
Day 1: 2 02-05 Day 2: 3 05-11
54. Corey Owens Gray, KY 5 07-14 147
Day 1: 2 02-09 Day 2: 3 05-05
55. Bill Richards Whitmore Lak, MI 5 07-11 146
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 2 02-12
56. Rick Hamer Charleston, WV 6 07-09 145
Day 1: 3 03-04 Day 2: 3 04-05
57. Deantre Burch High Springs, FL 6 07-07 144
Day 1: 3 03-06 Day 2: 3 04-01
58. Ryan Godsey Chickamauga, GA 4 07-06 143
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 1 02-04
59. Stephen Davis Blacksburg, VA 4 07-06 142
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 1 02-15
60. Todd Lee Jasper, AL 5 07-05 141
Day 1: 2 03-04 Day 2: 3 04-01
61. Ryan Dillner Isle, MN 5 07-05 140
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 3 03-15
62. Jeff Somers Crystal, MN 3 07-04 139
Day 1: 2 06-02 Day 2: 1 01-02
63. Adam Sangster Sanford, FL 4 07-04 138
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 2 03-03
64. Rusty Odom Simpsonville, SC 3 07-03 137
Day 1: 2 04-14 Day 2: 1 02-05
65. Brandon Smith Knightdale, NC 4 07-02 136
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 1 01-10
66. Bill Bruce Hendersonville, TN 4 07-02 135
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 3 05-06
67. Matthew Mccarthy Marysville, OH 4 07-02 134
Day 1: 2 03-13 Day 2: 2 03-05
68. Gus Kneidinger Prospect, PA 4 07-01 133
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 1 03-02
69. Floyd Willis Grayson, KY 5 07-00 132
Day 1: 2 02-12 Day 2: 3 04-04
70. Kevin Humbard Dandridge, TN 5 07-00 131
Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 2 03-03
71. Mickey Soler Newington, CT 5 06-14 130
Day 1: 2 03-01 Day 2: 3 03-13
72. Dustin Bonnell Titusville, FL 3 06-13 129
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-13
73. Rick Adams Lake Wales, FL 3 06-13 128
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 1 03-07
74. Riley Kolich Long Beach, CA 3 06-12 127
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-12
75. Christopher Tinsley Pisgah Forest, NC 3 06-12 126
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 1 02-05
76. Christopher Donavant Yorktown, VA 4 06-11 125
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 3 05-10
77. Jonathan Barnette Jasper, AL 5 06-11 124
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 2 02-02
78. Tony Sears Dahlonega, GA 4 06-11 123
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 3 04-07
79. Cal Teneyck Shakopee, MN 3 06-11 122
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 1 02-12
80. Cory Weaver Ankeny, IA 4 06-10 121
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 3 05-01
81. David Delucca Long Beach, CA 4 06-09 120
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 1 01-09
82. Justin Baldridge Greenup, KY 5 06-09 119
Day 1: 2 01-14 Day 2: 3 04-11
83. Scott Mciver Windermere, FL 5 06-09 118
Day 1: 3 03-03 Day 2: 2 03-06
84. Tristan Bramblett Tiger, GA 4 06-08 117
Day 1: 1 03-00 Day 2: 3 03-08
85. Sakae Ushio Tonawanda, NY 3 06-07 116
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-07
86. Michael Gabel St Charles, IL 4 06-07 115
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 3 04-10
87. Ashton Smith Lake Helen, FL 4 06-07 114
Day 1: 3 04-01 Day 2: 1 02-06
88. Tim Rasmussen Orlando, FL 3 06-05 113
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
89. Shon Pulley Trenton, SC 5 06-05 112
Day 1: 3 03-06 Day 2: 2 02-15
90. Mark Schafer Williamstown, NJ 3 06-03 111
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
91. Jimmy Bass Ocala, FL 4 06-03 110
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 3 05-03
92. Blake Stephenson Evans, GA 4 06-03 109
Day 1: 2 03-12 Day 2: 2 02-07
93. Craig Cassella Wallingford, CT 5 06-03 108
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 3 02-11
94. Larry Beauboeuf Bossier City, LA 3 06-02 107
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 2 04-06
95. Joshua McGeary Mt. Pleasant, PA 3 06-02 106
Day 1: 2 02-05 Day 2: 1 03-13
96. Tom Mullins Clarmont, FL 3 06-01 105
Day 1: 3 06-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. Dawson Wisner Westminster, MD 4 06-01 104
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 3 05-00
98. Liam Oneill Belleair Bluffs, FL 4 06-00 103
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 3 05-00
99. Jason George Farragut, TN 4 06-00 102
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 3 04-14
100. Gregory Mauldin Archdale, NC 3 06-00 101
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 2 04-05
101. Ashley Bishop Chesapeake, VA 2 06-00 100
Day 1: 1 04-00 Day 2: 1 02-00
102. Jacob Robinson Temple, GA 4 05-15 99
Day 1: 1 01-04 Day 2: 3 04-11
103. Jerry Morris Jr Charlotte, NC 3 05-14 98
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 2 03-05
104. Daniel Valois Gomez Caracas FL VENEZUELA 4 05-12 97
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 3 04-05
105. Dee Powell Hope Hull, AL 2 05-10 96
Day 1: 2 05-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
106. Stacey Jefferson Conway, SC 4 05-10 95
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 3 04-08
107. John Lewis Centreville, VA 4 05-10 94
Day 1: 2 01-12 Day 2: 2 03-14
108. Justin Salisbury Binghamton, NY 3 05-09 93
Day 1: 2 03-10 Day 2: 1 01-15
109. Troy Mims Suwanee, GA 6 05-08 92
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 3 01-01
110. Chase Traeger Lino Lakes, MN 2 05-08 91
Day 1: 1 04-01 Day 2: 1 01-07
111. Greg Mauldin Archdale, NC 4 05-07 90
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 3 04-05
112. Robert Brewer Trafford, AL 3 05-06 89
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 2 04-01
113. Ken Yamate Richardson, TX 4 05-05 88
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 3 04-05
114. Tommy Lee Young Orlando, FL 4 05-05 87
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 3 03-10
115. Nathaniel Kilgore Franklin, VA 4 05-03 86
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 3 03-05
116. Bill Beard Prosperity, SC 2 05-02 85
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 05-02
117. Robby Robinson Longwood, FL 3 05-02 84
Day 1: 2 04-05 Day 2: 1 00-13
118. Derek Caldwell Fyffe, AL 4 05-02 83
Day 1: 3 03-06 Day 2: 1 01-12
119. Ron Horton Dover, DE 3 05-02 82
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 1 02-00
120. Nicholas Bowman Port Charlotte, FL 3 05-01 81
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
121. Byong Lee Stedman, NC 3 05-01 80
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 2 03-06
122. Kenneth Bivins Orlando, FL 3 05-00 79
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 05-00
123. Michael Carter Grayson, KY 3 04-15 78
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
123. Don Harvey Franklin, TN 3 04-15 78
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
125. William Beekman Diamond Point, NY 1 04-15 76
Day 1: 1 04-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
126. Charles Bowman II Kernersville, NC 3 04-15 75
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 2 03-13
127. Brian Kendzior Bradenton, FL 3 04-12 74
Day 1: 3 04-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
128. Eric Vyborny Sorrento, FL 2 04-12 73
Day 1: 1 03-06 Day 2: 1 01-06
129. James Staton Sorrento, FL 3 04-11 72
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 04-11
130. Bailey Rothrock Monticello, IN 3 04-11 71
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 1 01-03
131. Anthony Harris Bellview, FL 3 04-11 70
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 2 03-06
132. William Norris II Ocoee, FL 2 04-09 69
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-09
133. Ray Cates Overland Park, KS 3 04-08 68
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 04-08
134. Mike Sather Beech Island, SC 3 04-08 67
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 1 01-01
135. Craig Cullen Port St Lucie, FL 2 04-07 66
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 1 02-08
136. Michael Schrader North Attleboro, MA 3 04-05 65
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 2 03-00
137. Brandon Downs Eden Prairie, MN 2 04-04 64
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-04
138. Frank Williams Jackson, MO 3 04-03 63
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 04-03
139. David Camp Sterling, OH 2 04-02 62
Day 1: 2 04-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Jeremiah Hitt Lutz, FL 3 04-02 61
Day 1: 2 02-08 Day 2: 1 01-10
141. Thomas Abraham Winchester, TN 2 04-00 60
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 1 02-09
142. Russell Hoyle Newton, NC 3 03-15 59
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 03-15
143. Gary Abernethy Skyland, NC 4 03-15 58
Day 1: 1 00-14 Day 2: 3 03-01
144. Russell Jones Simpsonville, SC 3 03-14 57
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 03-14
145. Jimmy Fellegy Lakeville, MN 3 03-14 56
Day 1: 2 02-10 Day 2: 1 01-04
146. Frank Mitchum Orlando , FL 3 03-13 55
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 03-13
146. Terry Wien Lakeland, FL 3 03-13 55
Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
148. Steve Kline Hilltop Lakes, TX 3 03-13 53
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 2 02-06
149. Bruce Touchstone Madison Heights, VA 2 03-11 52
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 1 01-10
150. Michael Mayo Collierville, TN 2 03-10 51
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 1 02-10
151. Alonzo Evans Jr Topeka, KS 2 03-10 50
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 1 01-11
152. Michael Garner Skippers, VA 3 03-09 49
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 03-09
153. Blake Johnson Box Elder, SD 2 03-09 48
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-09
153. Dusty Wood Belton, SC 2 03-09 48
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-09
155. Pete Patterson Kingsport, TN 3 03-09 46
Day 1: 1 01-04 Day 2: 2 02-05
156. Douglas Lubs Indianapolis, IN 3 03-06 45
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 2 02-07
157. Trey Brafford Kings Mtn, NC 3 03-06 44
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 2 02-03
158. Johnny Dease Orlando, FL 2 03-06 43
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 1 02-00
159. Lee Noland Madison Lake, MN 2 03-06 42
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 1 01-12
160. David Booth Erin, TN 2 03-05 41
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-05
161. Mitch Mitchell Appling, GA 3 03-05 40
Day 1: 2 02-05 Day 2: 1 01-00
162. Donald Poteat Connelly Spg, NC 1 03-04 39
Day 1: 1 03-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
163. Bobby Williams Salisbury, NC 2 03-03 38
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 1 01-01
164. James Madden Holly Hill, FL 2 03-03 37
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 1 01-07
165. Steve Deyton Forest City, NC 2 03-01 36
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-01
165. Marshall Mccallum Lakeland, FL 2 03-01 36
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-01
167. Dan O'callaghan Chalfont, PA 2 02-15 34
Day 1: 2 02-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
168. Kenneth Townson Kissimmee, FL 2 02-13 33
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
169. Vic Riveras Newport News, VA 3 02-10 32
Day 1: 3 02-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
170. Scotty Ingle Asheville, NC 2 02-10 31
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 1 01-07
171. Anthony Boris Kansasville, WI 2 02-10 30
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 1 01-04
172. David Rushing Orlando, FL 1 02-09 29
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
173. Ahmed Behery Farmington, CT 2 02-09 28
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 1 00-14
174. Darrell Curl Winston Salem, NC 2 02-09 27
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 1 01-10
175. Charles Reed Batesville, MS 2 02-08 26
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 1 01-03
176. Taylor Trantham Thomasville, NC 2 02-06 25
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 02-06
177. Justin Westergreen Dahinda, IL 2 02-05 24
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 02-05
178. Johnnie Garrett Union City, TN 2 02-04 23
Day 1: 2 02-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
179. Jacob Altman Olathe, CO 1 02-04 22
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
180. Justin Thomas Panama City, FL 2 02-03 21
Day 1: 2 02-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
181. Jim Rozelle Jr Moncks Corner, SC 2 02-01 20
Day 1: 1 00-11 Day 2: 1 01-06
182. RJ Mitchell Appling, GA 2 02-01 19
Day 1: 1 00-13 Day 2: 1 01-04
183. John Hatfield Panama City, FL 2 01-15 18
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 01-15
183. Steven Kellam Dry Ridge, KY 2 01-15 18
Day 1: 2 01-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
185. Joseph Barnes Locust Grove, GA 2 01-13 16
Day 1: 2 01-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
186. MIke Spears Jasper, AL 1 01-13 15
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
187. Jon Brown Tampa, VA 2 01-12 14
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 01-12
188. Spencer Caruso Palm Bay, FL 1 01-10 13
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-10
189. Barney Boutries Mobile, AL 1 01-08 12
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
189. Brett Bowman Sophia, NC 1 01-08 12
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-08
189. Christopher House Walworth, NY 1 01-08 12
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-08
192. Jimmy Hayes Fayetteville, NC 1 01-07 9
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
193. Nathan Fritz Greenwood, IN 1 01-06 8
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
193. Will Hartsell Vestavia Hills, AL 1 01-06 8
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-06
195. Tommy Hamilton Disputanta, VA 1 01-05 6
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
196. Chip Stith Piscataway, NJ 1 01-03 5
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-03
197. Jeremy Booth Albertville, MN 1 01-02 4
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
197. David Dimauro Longwood, FL 1 01-02 4
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
199. Kevin Gonyea Franklinton, NC 1 01-01 2
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
200. John Barnes Henrico, VA 1 01-00 1
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
200. Edie Wilkinson Middlebury, IN 1 01-00 1
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
202. Rod Longnecker Tampa, FL 1 00-15 0
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
202. Thomas Rutkowski Deland, FL 1 00-15 0
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
204. Andy Beloat Montgomery, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
204. Ben Brumley Anderson, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
204. James Cornell Longwood, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
204. Carey Gallant Bowmanville CANADA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
204. Brian Geisel Kitchener CANADA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
204. Barry Hughes Plant City, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
204. Tom Mccarthy Marysville, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
204. Jon Pollock Lakewood, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
204. Gerald Robbins Jr. Asheboro, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
204. Buddy Rohn Jacksonville, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
204. John Roth III Kuttawa, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
204. Kevin Steele Kissimmee, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
204. Rodney Vaow Huntersville, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
204. Andy Wiedmann Titusville, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
204. Tyler Wipf West Richland, WA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
219. Allen Mccallister Murrayville, GA 0 -1-00 0
Day 1: 0 -01-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 60 336 622-09
2 73 356 615-03


Diverse St. Johns River Set To Host Bassmaster Elite Series Season-Opener

The Bassmaster Elite Series will open its nine-event 2022 season on Florida's scenic St. Johns River Feb. 10-13.

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

February 4, 2022

PALATKA, Fla. — Nature’s constant cycle of give and take often expands opportunities and forces anglers to dig deep into their well of experience and know-how. That’s the situation awaiting a field of 94 anglers at the season-opening AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River.

Competition days will be Feb. 10-13 with daily takeoffs from Palatka City Docks at 7:30 a.m. ET and weigh-ins each day at Palatka Riverfront Park at 3:30 p.m.

For the past several years, St. Johns discussions have centered on the eelgrass — or specifically, the lack thereof. But Hurricanes Matthew (2016) and Irma (2017) decimated the native river grass and forced bass to seek out other habitat options. Fortunately, the north-flowing St. Johns abounds with options, as recent Elite events have shown.

“Without the eelgrass, it has made us fish different areas that weren’t productive before the eelgrass died,” said local pro Cliff Prince. “It’s just a totally different fishery now. It’s fishing a lot smaller, but the guys that venture out and find new stuff away from the crowd are the ones who have had success.”

Two years ago, Paul Mueller of Naugatuck, Conn., won by running about 25 miles north of Palatka to fish pads in Trout Creek and Six-Mile Creek. Last year, Tennessee pro Gary Clouse dominated the first two days after running two hours upriver from Palatka and fishing the previously unmentioned Spring Garden Lake.

Prince reports little change in the eelgrass status since the 2021 Elite, which saw rookie Bryan New of Saluda, S.C., win his debut event. Spending part of his time on main-river shellbars, New did most of his damage in lily pads at the lower end of the Lake George pool.

Shellbars are no secret, but recent years have seen increased focus on this habitat. Attracting loads of bait and concentrating the warmth that prespawn bass seek, these bivalve mounds offer ideal staging areas, as well as general bass-friendly features.

Jerkbaits are a common presentation tool here, and we’ll likely see Prince spending a good bit of his time casting suspending baits over key spots. Others have also fared well with this technique, and if someone lands on the right bar when a school of heavyweights arrives, it could be a lights-out deal.

Elsewhere, cypress trees can be a serious player in this fishery, as Louisiana pro Greg Hackney proved with his second-place performance last year. Targeting trees adjacent to what used to be a prime eelgrass spawning area in Lake George, Hackney caught his fish by flipping to specific spots in the cypress knees.

Considering February’s notoriously fickle nature, the timing of cold fronts often impacts a tournament’s pace and productivity. Last year’s event started with a three-hour, Day 1 fog delay and 2020 saw a fierce storm postpone the start of the St. Johns Elite by two days.

“I’ll be closely watching the weather because that’s going to determine everything,” New said. “We’ll have a cold front a week before the tournament, so if we get a warming trend, (the bass) are going to start pushing up to spawn. It’s that time of year in Florida for them.

“They trickle spawn throughout several months starting in November to December, but I think that bigger wave comes from late February to March, depending on the weather.”

New said he expects the tournament to see fish in all three stages of the spawn. Some anglers will search for bedding bass, while others seek their fortunes in prespawners moving up and/or postspawners dropping back out.

“If we get a major warming trend, there’s going to be a lot of fish spawning,” New said. “If not, it’s going to be a little bit of this and a little bit of that.”

Wherever anglers fish, their game plans will have to consider daily ebb and flow. Tidal waters like the St. Johns can complicate matters by moving bait and bass throughout the day. Conversely, moving water stimulates feeding and tide changes often open brief, but intense, bite windows.

The exception is Rodman Reservoir, which is considered part of tournament waters and accessible through a canal and lock upriver from Palatka. In 2021, Patrick Walters of Summerville, S.C., earned a fourth-place finish on this Ocklawaha River impoundment.

“I’m sure Rodman will be in play this year,” New said. “I didn’t fish there last year, but I know a lot of guys caught ’em in there, so I’ll probably check it out this year just because it’s a lake; it’s more stable. You don’t have the fish waiting on the tide to come in or go out.”

While the standard Texas-rigged creature baits and worms will tempt any bed fish, anglers will probably cover the St. Johns with a mix of swim jigs, spinnerbaits, bladed jigs, shallow crankbaits, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and wacky worms. Frogs may also account for big bites, especially in warming conditions.

Last year, New won with a four-day total of 79-7. Reaching Championship Sunday’s Top 10 required nearly 51 pounds for three days. Barring any weather extremes, we will likely see similar numbers this year.

Noting that he expects the entirety of tournament waters to be in play, New stressed the home run potential that could be found just about anywhere. Given the enormous growth potential of Florida-strain largemouth bass, it doesn’t take much to see fortunes dramatically shift.

“One stretch can carry you through the tournament, and if you find the right stretch, you can win the tournament,” New said. “You don’t even have to find it in practice; you can find it the last two hours of the first day of the tournament and you can go win the tournament.

“You just have to keep an open mind. A magical stretch is far more (likely) in Florida than anywhere else in the country.”

Full coverage from all four days of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River will be available on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will also broadcast live with the tournament leaders on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 12-13 beginning at 8 a.m. ET.


VanDam: Everything but an ice scraper

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsroships

 

If you ask Kevin VanDam where he’d like to live other than his native Michigan, he’ll grin and tell you, “Michigan.”

From Kalamazoo to Traverse City, bass fishing’s most accomplished angler of all time leaves no doubt about his love of “The Great Lakes State” – and that includes harsh winters that find him plowing the family driveway and scraping frozen precipitation off windshields.

Ask him about his brand-new tow vehicle, and you can expect the same confident kind of response.

“For as long as there’s been a full-sized Tundra, I’ve been towing with one. That’s about 640,000 miles the past 16 seasons, and let me tell you, this all new 2022 is absolutely incredible!” says VanDam.

“I was skeptical of what it would be like to tow with a twin-turbo V6 versus a V8, but after 14 hours of towing from home to West Monroe, I can tell you it’s absolutely hands-down better,” insist VanDam. “It’s a torque and horsepower-packed beast with impressive fuel economy too.”

Fuel mileage numbers can often vary like the behavior of largemouth bass, but so far he’s getting about 17 mpg overall, and 14 mpg while towing a 21-foot Nitro Z21 XL, loaded with enough tungsten worm weights, tools, and spare outboard props to stock a Bass Pro Shops.

“That 14” touchscreen on the dash with voice activated texting, detailed maps, and music just makes life on the road so much safer and easier. I’ll tell you man, you kind of feel like you’re floating down the road in this truck like one of those giant luxury cars American families cruised around in when I was a kid in the 70s and 80s,” he smiles.

“When you talk to Toyota owners the first thing you’re going to hear over-and-over is reliability. Relentless reliability is the first ingredient in Toyota’s pedigree, and they’ve nailed it again with this ’22 Tundra. I’m just super proud and grateful to be driving it,” he says.

“Between the quality of the vehicle and the chance to win Bonus Bucks, if you’re a tournament angler, in my opinion, you’re doing yourself a disservice if you’re not towing with a Tundra,” concludes VanDam.

However, the new Tundra doesn’t come with an ice scraper for the windshield. So VanDam brought one with him from Michigan. And if the weather forecast holds true, he’ll need it during the first stop of the 2022 Major League Fishing season near West Monroe, LA.


MLF Adjusts Tournament Start Times at B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole, Cancels Kids Fishing Event

WHAT:
Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today that tournament officials have shifted the six-day B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole tournament hours one hour later, at request from the MLF Angler Representative Board.

In the four-day opening Qualifying Rounds, anglers will compete on Lake D’Arbonne and now launch at 8:30 a.m. from the Lake D’Arbonne State Park, located at 3628 Evergreen Road in Farmerville, Louisiana. The Knockout Round will take place on Caney Creek Reservoir, where anglers will launch at 8:30 a.m. from the Caney Creek Hooks Marina, located at 400 Spillway Road in Chatham, Louisiana. For the final day Championship Round, the final 10 anglers will compete on Bussey Brake, launching at 8:30 a.m. from Bonner Ferry Road, five miles northwest of Bastrop off of Hwy 593. Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the respective launch ramps, now beginning at 5:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all takeoff and takeout ceremonies and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

MLF‘s kids fishing event for youth from the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Louisiana today, Feb. 4, has been cancelled due to inclement weather. The remaining two days of the Major League Fishing Festival, Feb. 5-6, and the North Delta Boat & Outdoor Show, Feb. 4-6, will remain unchanged.

The Major League Fishing Festival (www.majorleaguefishing.com/monroe) is a FREE, family-friendly event taking place Saturday and Sunday at the Monroe Civic Center in conjunction with the North Delta Boat & Outdoor Show. The festival will feature a wide-range of acitivities including live music; the MLF Pick ‘Til Win Game with the top prize of a Toyota Ruck or a 70-inch Smart TV; appearances by pro anglers and the PAW Patrol; and the Kids Fishing Pond. At the end of the festival, MLF will donate the fish from the fish pond to the Food Bank of Northeast Louisiana through the Hunters for the Hungry program.

NOTES:
(MLF) is set to kick-off the fourth season of the MLF Bass Pro Tour, the most competitive circuit in professional fishing, in Monroe and West Monroe, Louisiana, this week, Feb. 5-10, with the first regular-season tournament of the 2022 season – the B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole.

Hosted by Discover Monroe-West Monroe, the six-day event will showcase 80 of the best professional anglers in the world, including bass-fishing superstars like Kevin VanDam, Ott DeFoe, Jacob Wheeler, and Louisiana pros Gerald Spohrer of Gonzales and Cliff Crochet of Pierre Part, fishing for a purse of more than $805,000

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 9:45 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET. MLF NOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

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.


Big Kicker Anchors Cifuentes’ Leading Bag At Bassmaster Open On Kissimmee Chain

Joey Cifuentes of Clinton, Ark., is leading after Day 1 of the 2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open at Kissimmee Chain with 28 pounds, 10 ounces.

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

February 3, 2022

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Lake Toho covers approximately 18,810 acres, but Joey Cifuentes of Clinton, Ark., needed only a sliver to bag a limit of 28 pounds, 10 ounces and lead Day 1 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open at Kissimmee Chain.

Cifuentes’ bag, which ranks in the Top 15 single-day weights in Bassmaster Opens history, gives him a lead of 6-11 over Cole Sands of Calhoun, Tenn., who caught 21-15.

Describing a blistering start to his day, Cifuentes anchored his bag with a 9-5 that leads the Phoenix Boats Big Bass standings. That fish bit around 8 a.m. and shortly thereafter Cifuentes had his leading weight.

“It was first thing this morning, and I was done at 8:15,” he said. “After I got my limit, I left the spot. I tried to get my co-angler his limit, so I spent the rest of the day flipping.”

Noting that he threw Berkley reaction baits, Cifuentes attributed his success to finding a magical spot in Lake Toho where a large group of big bass were ready to eat. Targeting offshore grass outside spawning areas, he located what he believes is the kind of hard sand spot that prespawn bass favor.

“I had a terrible practice and I had a limited practice because I was coming from another tournament,” Cifuentes said. “In the last two hours of my practice day, I just drifted through this area and several fish were trying to eat my bait. I shook it out of two fish’s mouths on one cast — they were all trying to eat it.

“It was just one of those places you dream about. It was literally the size of my boat. I pulled up today and it was a one-cast deal. It was just by the grace of God.”

Cifuentes said his spot was in 8 feet of water. The bass were likely parking on an attractive area where they could feed up while awaiting the next full moon phase to trigger their spawning movement.

Cifuentes is hopeful that leaving his fish early will allow him a similar opportunity on Day 2.

“These fish are pretty far offshore, so I don’t think they’re going anywhere,” he said. “I don’t know if there will be any more coming to me, but they’re just hanging out there. It’s just a typical prespawn, Toho spot.

“So many times, these tournaments are one-cast deals and that’s how they’re won. Those are the kind of places you hope to find.”

Sands spent his day in Lake Toho and focused on bass that were occupying key staging areas. A tough practice left him with little to go on, so he decided he’d fare best by maximizing his fishing time.

“It’s all grass related, and I never caught two fish off the same spot,” Sands said. “A certain depth seemed to be the deal and I have a certain bait figured out. I fished around boats all day, and I’m pretty sure I’m the only one who caught fish in that area.”

Sands said he employed two reaction baits and had to work hard to coax bites.

“I started this morning with a Yo-Zuri jerkbait and caught a couple of fish on it,” Sands said. “As the day went on, I made a switch and caught several of the fish I weighed in.”

“It seems like you have to force these fish to bite,” he said. “They’ve seen a lot of baits and they’ve been stunned by (recent cold fronts) so they’re not biting really well.”

Cole Drummond of Effingham, S.C., is in third place with 17-9. He targeted prespawn bass in mid-depth grass where he caught them on a slow presentation with a plastic bait.

“It seems like the longer my cast, the greater my chances of getting bit,” Drummond said.

Drummond ran down to Lake Kissimmee, but while waiting for the lock, he fished a spot in lower Lake Toho and caught a 3 1/2-pounder. He filled his limit, including a 6-8 in Kissimmee, and then made a final cull at 4:15 right outside the weigh-in site.

Ron Shakespeare of St. Cloud, Fla., leads the co-angler division with 13-8. Fishing Lake Kissimmee, Shakespeare caught his fish on a Texas-rigged CPF Lures trick worm in the dirty Albright color — named for Shakespeare’s team partner, Jerrod Albright, of Kissimmee, who holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead among co-anglers with a 7-11.

“I used a small weight, fished it slow and let the trick worm do its magic,” Shakespeare said. “They were eating the bait funny, which was surprising because of (this week’s) warm up, so you definitely had to let them eat it.

“The first few just picked it up and put it back down, then I made a conscious effort to make sure they ate it for about three seconds before I set the hook. I caught two fish on back-to-back casts around 11:30 and then on my last cast, I culled.”

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for Big Toho Marina (Kissimmee Lakefront Park) at 7 a.m. ET. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 3 p.m.

After Friday’s weigh-in, only the Top 10 pros will advance to Saturday’s championship round. The co-angler championship will be decided Friday.

2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open #1 Kissimmee Chain Of Lakes 2/3-2/5
Lake Tohopekaliga, Kissimmee FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 5 28-10 200
Day 1: 5 28-10
2. Cole Sands Calhoun, TN 5 21-15 199
Day 1: 5 21-15
3. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 5 17-09 198
Day 1: 5 17-09
4. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 5 17-08 197
Day 1: 5 17-08
5. Lonnie Cochran Section, AL 5 16-07 196
Day 1: 5 16-07
6. Zach Goutremout Chaumont, NY 5 16-02 195
Day 1: 5 16-02
7. Ronald Young New Braunfels, TX 5 16-01 194
Day 1: 5 16-01
8. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 5 15-14 193
Day 1: 5 15-14
9. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 15-09 192
Day 1: 5 15-09
10. Zack Birge Blanchard, OK 5 15-05 191
Day 1: 5 15-05
11. Chris Neau Gretna, LA 5 15-04 190
Day 1: 5 15-04
12. Logan Shaddix Cullman, GA 5 14-14 189
Day 1: 5 14-14
13. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 14-13 188
Day 1: 5 14-13
14. Rich Howes Oviedo, FL 5 14-10 187
Day 1: 5 14-10
15. Ryan Hoover Lithia, FL 5 14-08 186
Day 1: 5 14-08
16. Adam Neu Sturgeon Bay, WI 5 14-07 185
Day 1: 5 14-07
17. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 5 14-03 184
Day 1: 5 14-03
18. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 13-11 183
Day 1: 5 13-11
19. Tom Frink Southside, AL 5 13-09 182
Day 1: 5 13-09
20. Coop Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 5 13-08 181
Day 1: 5 13-08
20. Hayden Newberry Jonesboro, IL 5 13-08 181
Day 1: 5 13-08
20. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 5 13-08 181
Day 1: 5 13-08
23. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 13-02 178
Day 1: 5 13-02
24. Jordan McDonald Jackson, GA 5 12-14 177
Day 1: 5 12-14
24. Carter McNeil Abbeville, SC 5 12-14 177
Day 1: 5 12-14
26. Rob Digh Denver, NC 5 12-09 175
Day 1: 5 12-09
26. Mike Huff London, KY 5 12-09 175
Day 1: 5 12-09
28. Jayme Rampey Liberty, SC 5 12-08 173
Day 1: 5 12-08
29. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 5 12-07 172
Day 1: 5 12-07
30. Matt Pangrac Bixby, OK 4 12-07 171
Day 1: 4 12-07
31. Julius Mazy Phoenix, AZ 5 12-04 170
Day 1: 5 12-04
31. Bryan New Saluda, SC 5 12-04 170
Day 1: 5 12-04
33. Nic Rand Kalamazoo, MI 5 12-03 168
Day 1: 5 12-03
34. Chad Smith Minnetonka, MN 5 12-01 167
Day 1: 5 12-01
35. Lucas Murphy West Columbia, MI 5 11-14 166
Day 1: 5 11-14
36. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 5 11-12 165
Day 1: 5 11-12
37. Zak Fadden Plymouth, MI 3 11-09 164
Day 1: 3 11-09
38. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 5 11-08 163
Day 1: 5 11-08
38. Billy McDonald Greenwood, IN 5 11-08 163
Day 1: 5 11-08
40. Caiden Sinclair Wilsonville, AL 5 11-07 161
Day 1: 5 11-07
41. Corey Lindsey Marion, OH 5 11-06 160
Day 1: 5 11-06
41. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 5 11-06 160
Day 1: 5 11-06
41. Kayden Tanner Tolar, TX 5 11-06 160
Day 1: 5 11-06
44. Chris Blanchette Charleston, SC 5 11-05 157
Day 1: 5 11-05
45. Garrett Rocamora Lithia, FL 5 11-03 156
Day 1: 5 11-03
46. John Garrett Union City, TN 5 11-02 155
Day 1: 5 11-02
47. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 5 11-00 154
Day 1: 5 11-00
47. Alex Sherrill Clanton, AL 5 11-00 154
Day 1: 5 11-00
49. James Castillo West Richland, WA 5 10-14 152
Day 1: 5 10-14
49. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 5 10-14 152
Day 1: 5 10-14
51. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 5 10-13 150
Day 1: 5 10-13
51. Joel Willert Prior Lake, MN 5 10-13 150
Day 1: 5 10-13
53. Jacob Walker Springville, AL 5 10-12 148
Day 1: 5 10-12
54. Darold Gleason Many, LA 5 10-08 147
Day 1: 5 10-08
54. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 5 10-08 147
Day 1: 5 10-08
56. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 5 10-07 145
Day 1: 5 10-07
56. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 10-07 145
Day 1: 5 10-07
58. Mason Gunter Newnan, GA 5 10-06 143
Day 1: 5 10-06
59. Logan Johnson Jasper, AL 5 10-05 142
Day 1: 5 10-05
59. Dave Turner Crystal River, FL 5 10-05 142
Day 1: 5 10-05
61. Danny Ramsey Trinidad, TX 5 10-04 140
Day 1: 5 10-04
62. John Hunter Jr Shelbyville, KY 5 10-01 139
Day 1: 5 10-01
63. Jacob Moore Wake Forest, NC 5 10-00 138
Day 1: 5 10-00
63. Tucker Smith Shoal Creek, AL 5 10-00 138
Day 1: 5 10-00
65. Hugh Cosculluela Spring, TX 4 10-00 136
Day 1: 4 10-00
66. Buddy Gross Chatanooga, TN 5 09-15 135
Day 1: 5 09-15
67. Jeff Fellows Orlando, FL 5 09-13 134
Day 1: 5 09-13
68. Jim Dillard West Monroe, LA 5 09-12 133
Day 1: 5 09-12
69. Connor Neal Hoover, AL 4 09-12 132
Day 1: 4 09-12
70. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 5 09-11 131
Day 1: 5 09-11
70. Quentin Cappo Prairieville, LA 5 09-11 131
Day 1: 5 09-11
70. Troy Roder Brookeland, TX 5 09-11 131
Day 1: 5 09-11
73. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 09-07 128
Day 1: 5 09-07
74. Sam George Athens, AL 5 09-06 127
Day 1: 5 09-06
74. Jesse Tacoronte Kissimmee, FL 5 09-06 127
Day 1: 5 09-06
76. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 4 09-06 125
Day 1: 4 09-06
77. Bradley Hallman Edmond, OK 5 09-03 124
Day 1: 5 09-03
78. Jon Canada Helena, AL 4 09-03 123
Day 1: 4 09-03
79. Bailey Fain Lenoir City, TN 5 09-02 122
Day 1: 5 09-02
80. Todd Goade White Pine, TN 5 09-00 121
Day 1: 5 09-00
81. Darrell Davis Dover, FL 5 08-14 120
Day 1: 5 08-14
81. Parker Mott Winter Garden, FL 5 08-14 120
Day 1: 5 08-14
81. Hermilo Salgado-Zavaleta Artemus, KY 5 08-14 120
Day 1: 5 08-14
84. Jake Maddux Birmingham, AL 5 08-12 117
Day 1: 5 08-12
85. Hunter Sales Blaine, TN 3 08-12 116
Day 1: 3 08-12
86. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 5 08-10 115
Day 1: 5 08-10
86. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 5 08-10 115
Day 1: 5 08-10
88. Luke Dunkin Lawrenceburg, TN 5 08-09 113
Day 1: 5 08-09
88. Brady Vernon Birmingham, AL 5 08-09 113
Day 1: 5 08-09
90. Johnny Bigger II Spring Hill, FL 5 08-08 111
Day 1: 5 08-08
91. Caden Acree Powder Springs, GA 5 08-07 110
Day 1: 5 08-07
91. Daisuke Kita Ohtsu Shiga JAPAN 5 08-07 110
Day 1: 5 08-07
91. Scott Pellegrin Chippewa Falls, WI 5 08-07 110
Day 1: 5 08-07
94. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 5 08-06 107
Day 1: 5 08-06
95. Griffin Heffington Cumming, GA 5 08-05 106
Day 1: 5 08-05
96. Brian Post Janesville, WI 5 08-04 105
Day 1: 5 08-04
97. Douglas Reed Bridgeton, NJ 5 08-03 104
Day 1: 5 08-03
98. Gary Ginter Bellefontaine, OH 5 08-02 103
Day 1: 5 08-02
98. Jon Jezierski Troy, MI 5 08-02 103
Day 1: 5 08-02
98. Chuck Stratton Chaffee, MO 5 08-02 103
Day 1: 5 08-02
101. Andrew Mlotek Indianapolis, IN 5 08-01 100
Day 1: 5 08-01
102. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 5 08-00 99
Day 1: 5 08-00
102. Jeremy Gordon Rutledge, TN 5 08-00 99
Day 1: 5 08-00
104. Joseph Webster Hamilton, AL 5 07-15 97
Day 1: 5 07-15
105. Brad Leuthner Independence, MN 5 07-14 96
Day 1: 5 07-14
105. Travis Loyd Brookeland, TX 5 07-14 96
Day 1: 5 07-14
107. Connor Graham Minneapolis, MN 5 07-11 94
Day 1: 5 07-11
108. Michael Hall Annandale, VA 5 07-10 93
Day 1: 5 07-10
109. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 5 07-08 92
Day 1: 5 07-08
110. T-Roy Broussard Port Arthur, TX 5 07-06 91
Day 1: 5 07-06
110. Justin Margraves Diana, TX 5 07-06 91
Day 1: 5 07-06
112. Joey Sabbagha Prosperity, SC 3 07-06 89
Day 1: 3 07-06
113. Dustin Reneau Mckinney, TX 5 07-05 88
Day 1: 5 07-05
114. Greg Mansfield Olathe, KS 4 07-05 87
Day 1: 4 07-05
115. Brandon Edel White House, TN 5 07-03 86
Day 1: 5 07-03
116. Sean Torgrude Jacksonville, FL 3 07-02 85
Day 1: 3 07-02
117. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 5 07-01 84
Day 1: 5 07-01
117. Chris Moody Brooks, GA 5 07-01 84
Day 1: 5 07-01
119. Jason Borofka Lavon, TX 5 07-00 82
Day 1: 5 07-00
119. Michael Cooper Mobile, AL 5 07-00 82
Day 1: 5 07-00
119. Andrew Thomasson Dublin, VA 5 07-00 82
Day 1: 5 07-00
122. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 2 06-14 79
Day 1: 2 06-14
122. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 2 06-14 79
Day 1: 2 06-14
124. Colby Robertson Summerfield, FL 5 06-13 77
Day 1: 5 06-13
124. Frank Talley Temple, TX 5 06-13 77
Day 1: 5 06-13
126. Bradford Beavers Summerville, SC 4 06-13 75
Day 1: 4 06-13
126. Jamey Caldwell Carthage, NC 4 06-13 75
Day 1: 4 06-13
128. Blake Smith Lakeland, FL 5 06-12 73
Day 1: 5 06-12
129. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 4 06-11 72
Day 1: 4 06-11
130. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 2 06-11 71
Day 1: 2 06-11
131. Derek Lehtonen Woodruff, SC 5 06-10 70
Day 1: 5 06-10
132. Bob Behrle Hoover, AL 5 06-09 69
Day 1: 5 06-09
133. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 5 06-08 68
Day 1: 5 06-08
133. David Williams Newton, NC 5 06-08 68
Day 1: 5 06-08
135. Jacob Bigelow Cecil, WI 2 06-08 66
Day 1: 2 06-08
136. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 3 06-07 65
Day 1: 3 06-07
137. Randy Blaukat Springfield, MO 4 06-03 64
Day 1: 4 06-03
138. Keith Nemcek St Charles, IL 4 06-01 63
Day 1: 4 06-01
139. Jason Casteel Ocoee, FL 3 06-01 62
Day 1: 3 06-01
140. Bart Stanisz Wichita Falls , TX 4 06-00 61
Day 1: 4 06-00
141. Lucas Bradley Flippin, AR 5 05-14 60
Day 1: 5 05-14
141. Aaron Digh Denver, NC 5 05-14 60
Day 1: 5 05-14
143. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 4 05-10 58
Day 1: 4 05-10
144. Tristan McCormick Burns, TN 4 05-09 57
Day 1: 4 05-09
145. Zachary Kuehler Seymour, TX 3 05-09 56
Day 1: 3 05-09
146. Tim Malone Kodak, TN 3 05-07 55
Day 1: 3 05-07
147. Jared Miller Norman, OK 5 05-06 54
Day 1: 5 05-06
148. Kyle Cortiana Broken Arrow, OK 4 05-06 53
Day 1: 4 05-06
149. Spencer Peters Corryton, TN 2 05-06 52
Day 1: 2 05-06
150. Randy Elliott Severn, MD 3 05-00 51
Day 1: 3 05-00
151. Dustin Wilkey Durant, OK 3 04-15 50
Day 1: 3 04-15
152. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 4 04-13 49
Day 1: 4 04-13
152. Matt Green Cartersville, GA 4 04-13 49
Day 1: 4 04-13
154. Danny Lavoie Franklin, GA 4 04-12 47
Day 1: 4 04-12
155. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 2 04-12 46
Day 1: 2 04-12
155. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 2 04-12 46
Day 1: 2 04-12
157. Cody Bertrand Dyer, IN 3 04-11 44
Day 1: 3 04-11
158. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 4 04-10 43
Day 1: 4 04-10
159. Seiji Kato Outsu Shiga JAPAN 2 04-09 42
Day 1: 2 04-09
160. Daniel Smith Blountsville, AL 3 04-08 41
Day 1: 3 04-08
161. Bryden Mugleston Mount Juliet, TN 4 04-07 40
Day 1: 4 04-07
162. Scott Allgood Fair Play, SC 3 04-05 39
Day 1: 3 04-05
163. Joe McClosky Swanton, MD 2 04-05 38
Day 1: 2 04-05
164. Chris Keeble Lenoir City, TN 2 04-04 37
Day 1: 2 04-04
165. Matt Coughlin Dandridge, TN 3 04-02 36
Day 1: 3 04-02
165. Darren Gallaher Hixson, TN 3 04-02 36
Day 1: 3 04-02
165. Ben Stone Iva, SC 3 04-02 36
Day 1: 3 04-02
168. Greg Secord Salem, SC 3 03-15 33
Day 1: 3 03-15
169. Randall Carter Maplesville, AL 3 03-14 32
Day 1: 3 03-14
170. Austin Cranford Moore, OK 2 03-14 31
Day 1: 2 03-14
171. Buddy Cipoletti Naples, FL 3 03-13 30
Day 1: 3 03-13
171. Dustin Williamson Aiken, SC 3 03-13 30
Day 1: 3 03-13
173. Kibbee Mccoy Knoxville, TN 2 03-10 28
Day 1: 2 03-10
174. Tommy Parker Minnetonka, MN 2 03-09 27
Day 1: 2 03-09
175. Kenny Mittelstaedt Minnetonka, MN 2 03-08 26
Day 1: 2 03-08
176. Eric Talley Corsicana, TX 2 03-06 25
Day 1: 2 03-06
177. Andy Hribar Lakeville, MN 3 03-05 24
Day 1: 3 03-05
178. Tommy Williams Shepherdsville, KY 2 03-04 23
Day 1: 2 03-04
179. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 3 03-03 22
Day 1: 3 03-03
180. Derek Freeman Anderson, SC 2 03-03 21
Day 1: 2 03-03
180. Chance Woodard Paris, TX 2 03-03 21
Day 1: 2 03-03
182. Steven Mack Queen Creek, AZ 2 03-02 19
Day 1: 2 03-02
183. Tanner Sanderson Ackerly, TX 3 02-14 18
Day 1: 3 02-14
184. Dave Frost Mount Dora, FL 1 02-12 17
Day 1: 1 02-12
185. Jeff Bauler Chapin, SC 3 02-08 16
Day 1: 3 02-08
186. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 2 02-06 15
Day 1: 2 02-06
187. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 2 02-05 14
Day 1: 2 02-05
188. Marshall Harrelson Clarksville, GA 1 02-04 13
Day 1: 1 02-04
189. Zeke Gossett Pell City, AL 2 02-02 12
Day 1: 2 02-02
190. David Kilgore Jasper, AL 2 02-01 11
Day 1: 2 02-01
191. Brandon Ackerson Afton, OK 2 01-15 10
Day 1: 2 01-15
192. Destin DeMarion Harborcreek, PA 1 01-15 9
Day 1: 1 01-15
193. Frank Ramsey Spring Grove, IL 1 01-12 8
Day 1: 1 01-12
194. Tyler Caton Clanton, AL 1 01-10 7
Day 1: 1 01-10
195. Trevor McKinney Benton, IL 1 01-07 6
Day 1: 1 01-07
195. Andrew Upshaw Hemphill, TX 1 01-07 6
Day 1: 1 01-07
197. Michael Kinard Concord, NC 1 01-05 4
Day 1: 1 01-05
197. Ronnie Mccoy Lamar, SC 1 01-05 4
Day 1: 1 01-05
199. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 1 01-03 2
Day 1: 1 01-03
200. Nick Brown Lindale, TX 1 01-02 1
Day 1: 1 01-02
201. Ron Ryals Jr Live Oak, FL 1 01-01 0
Day 1: 1 01-01
202. D.J. Ellis Crestview, FL 1 00-15 0
Day 1: 1 00-15
202. Tim Frederick Leesburg, FL 1 00-15 0
Day 1: 1 00-15
204. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 1 00-14 0
Day 1: 1 00-14
205. Wayman Coleman Abbeville, SC 1 00-13 0
Day 1: 1 00-13
206. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Ben Ballou Dickson, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Bailey Boutries Springfield, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Noah Boyett Mountain Home, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Christiana Bradley Goldvein, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Craig Cavanna Spring Hill, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Drew Coker Murrayville, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Brent Crow Hartselle, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Tony Dumitras Winston, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Michael Harter Westminster, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Joe Mitchell Martin, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Dustin O'shaughnessy Junction City, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Rick Perez Naples, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Gary Pilkenton Morristown, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Teddie Scalf Corbin, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Blake Sylvester Plaquemine, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
206. Nick Ward Newnan, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 121 821 1655-04
----------------------------------
121 821 1655-04

2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Southern Open #1 Kissimmee Chain Of Lakes 2/3-2/5
Lake Tohopekaliga, Kissimmee FL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1. Ron Shakespeare Saint Cloud, FL 3 13-08 200
Day 1: 3 13-08
2. Jerrod Albright Kissimmee, FL 3 13-04 199
Day 1: 3 13-04
3. Donald Ciacchi Cleveland, OH 3 11-06 198
Day 1: 3 11-06
4. David Waack Cary, NC 3 10-02 197
Day 1: 3 10-02
5. Barry Brunges Gainesville, FL 3 09-12 196
Day 1: 3 09-12
6. Darrin Mallow Kansas, OK 3 09-10 195
Day 1: 3 09-10
7. Corey Yaden Grovetown, GA 3 09-09 194
Day 1: 3 09-09
8. Kevin Edwards Ruskin, FL 3 09-08 193
Day 1: 3 09-08
9. James Roten West Jefferson, NC 3 08-14 192
Day 1: 3 08-14
10. John Goul Philadelphia, MS 3 08-10 191
Day 1: 3 08-10
11. Clifton Overstreet Dothan, AL 3 08-06 190
Day 1: 3 08-06
12. Levi Allgeier Bardstown, KY 3 08-02 189
Day 1: 3 08-02
13. Brooks Parker Bridgeville, DE 3 07-10 188
Day 1: 3 07-10
14. Parker Knudsen Minnetonka, MN 3 07-08 187
Day 1: 3 07-08
15. Ryan Chambers Chandler, AZ 3 07-07 186
Day 1: 3 07-07
15. Mike Mckinney Benton, IL 3 07-07 186
Day 1: 3 07-07
17. Robert Taylor Jr Saint Cloud, FL 3 07-01 184
Day 1: 3 07-01
18. Bob Morin Seymour, TN 3 07-00 183
Day 1: 3 07-00
19. Jonathon Dewey Fort Gratiot, MI 3 06-14 182
Day 1: 3 06-14
20. Eric Camarote Rogers, MN 3 06-11 181
Day 1: 3 06-11
21. Stephen Carrick Lexington, NC 3 06-09 180
Day 1: 3 06-09
22. Chad Stahl Barnesville, GA 3 06-08 179
Day 1: 3 06-08
23. Tim Rasmussen Orlando, FL 3 06-05 178
Day 1: 3 06-05
24. Horace Hubbard Albany, GA 2 06-05 177
Day 1: 2 06-05
25. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 3 06-03 176
Day 1: 3 06-03
25. Mark Schafer Williamstown, NJ 3 06-03 176
Day 1: 3 06-03
27. Jeff Somers Crystal, MN 2 06-02 174
Day 1: 2 06-02
28. Tom Mullins Clarmont, FL 3 06-01 173
Day 1: 3 06-01
28. Austin Nelson Apopka, FL 3 06-01 173
Day 1: 3 06-01
30. Kevin Mallow Kansas, OK 3 05-14 171
Day 1: 3 05-14
31. Angela Mayo Maiden, NC 3 05-13 170
Day 1: 3 05-13
32. Dee Powell Hope Hull, AL 2 05-10 169
Day 1: 2 05-10
33. JW Battle Jr. Orlando, FL 3 05-09 168
Day 1: 3 05-09
33. Kevin Devine Windermere, FL 3 05-09 168
Day 1: 3 05-09
35. Billy Shelton La Crosse, VA 3 05-08 166
Day 1: 3 05-08
35. Brandon Smith Knightdale, NC 3 05-08 166
Day 1: 3 05-08
37. Ryan Godsey Chickamauga, GA 3 05-02 164
Day 1: 3 05-02
38. Nicholas Bowman Port Charlotte, FL 3 05-01 163
Day 1: 3 05-01
39. David Delucca Long Beach, CA 3 05-00 162
Day 1: 3 05-00
40. Erik Brztowski Lemont, IL 3 04-15 161
Day 1: 3 04-15
40. Michael Carter Grayson, KY 3 04-15 161
Day 1: 3 04-15
40. Don Harvey Franklin, TN 3 04-15 161
Day 1: 3 04-15
40. Bill Richards Whitmore Lak, MI 3 04-15 161
Day 1: 3 04-15
44. William Beekman Diamond Point, NY 1 04-15 157
Day 1: 1 04-15
45. Wayne Foriest Nashville, TN 2 04-14 156
Day 1: 2 04-14
45. Rusty Odom Simpsonville, SC 2 04-14 156
Day 1: 2 04-14
47. Brian Kendzior Bradenton, FL 3 04-12 154
Day 1: 3 04-12
48. Skyler Anderson Harlem, GA 3 04-09 153
Day 1: 3 04-09
48. Jonathan Barnette Jasper, AL 3 04-09 153
Day 1: 3 04-09
50. Dehn Ganey Bonneau, SC 2 04-09 151
Day 1: 2 04-09
51. Stephen Davis Blacksburg, VA 3 04-07 150
Day 1: 3 04-07
51. Troy Mims Suwanee, GA 3 04-07 150
Day 1: 3 04-07
53. Christopher Tinsley Pisgah Forest, NC 2 04-07 148
Day 1: 2 04-07
54. Robby Robinson Longwood, FL 2 04-05 147
Day 1: 2 04-05
55. Cary Wien Groveland, FL 3 04-04 146
Day 1: 3 04-04
56. David Camp Sterling, OH 2 04-02 145
Day 1: 2 04-02
57. Ashton Smith Lake Helen, FL 3 04-01 144
Day 1: 3 04-01
58. Adam Sangster Sanford, FL 2 04-01 143
Day 1: 2 04-01
59. Chase Traeger Lino Lakes, MN 1 04-01 142
Day 1: 1 04-01
60. Ashley Bishop Chesapeake, VA 1 04-00 141
Day 1: 1 04-00
61. Gus Kneidinger Prospect, PA 3 03-15 140
Day 1: 3 03-15
62. Cal Teneyck Shakopee, MN 2 03-15 139
Day 1: 2 03-15
63. Kevin Humbard Dandridge, TN 3 03-13 138
Day 1: 3 03-13
63. Terry Wien Lakeland, FL 3 03-13 138
Day 1: 3 03-13
65. Matthew Mccarthy Marysville, OH 2 03-13 136
Day 1: 2 03-13
66. Mike Anderson Harlem, GA 3 03-12 135
Day 1: 3 03-12
67. Blake Stephenson Evans, GA 2 03-12 134
Day 1: 2 03-12
68. Ryan Shriber Franklin, TN 3 03-11 133
Day 1: 3 03-11
69. Justin Salisbury Binghamton, NY 2 03-10 132
Day 1: 2 03-10
70. Craig Cassella Wallingford, CT 2 03-08 131
Day 1: 2 03-08
70. Bailey Rothrock Monticello, IN 2 03-08 131
Day 1: 2 03-08
72. Mike Sather Beech Island, SC 2 03-07 129
Day 1: 2 03-07
72. Bradley Sterner Manchester, PA 2 03-07 129
Day 1: 2 03-07
74. Deantre Burch High Springs, FL 3 03-06 127
Day 1: 3 03-06
74. Derek Caldwell Fyffe, AL 3 03-06 127
Day 1: 3 03-06
74. Shon Pulley Trenton, SC 3 03-06 127
Day 1: 3 03-06
77. Rick Adams Lake Wales, FL 2 03-06 124
Day 1: 2 03-06
77. Ryan Dillner Isle, MN 2 03-06 124
Day 1: 2 03-06
79. Eric Vyborny Sorrento, FL 1 03-06 122
Day 1: 1 03-06
80. Wallace Coward Beech Island, SC 3 03-04 121
Day 1: 3 03-04
80. Rick Hamer Charleston, WV 3 03-04 121
Day 1: 3 03-04
82. Todd Lee Jasper, AL 2 03-04 119
Day 1: 2 03-04
83. Donald Poteat Connelly Spg, NC 1 03-04 118
Day 1: 1 03-04
84. Scott Mciver Windermere, FL 3 03-03 117
Day 1: 3 03-03
85. Will Brown Wesley Chapel, AL 3 03-02 116
Day 1: 3 03-02
86. Ron Horton Dover, DE 2 03-02 115
Day 1: 2 03-02
87. Kevin Heard Saint Cloud, FL 2 03-01 114
Day 1: 2 03-01
87. Mickey Soler Newington, CT 2 03-01 114
Day 1: 2 03-01
89. Tristan Bramblett Tiger, GA 1 03-00 112
Day 1: 1 03-00
90. Dan O'callaghan Chalfont, PA 2 02-15 111
Day 1: 2 02-15
90. Avery Williams Murrells Inlt, SC 2 02-15 111
Day 1: 2 02-15
92. Kenneth Townson Kissimmee, FL 2 02-13 109
Day 1: 2 02-13
93. Floyd Willis Grayson, KY 2 02-12 108
Day 1: 2 02-12
94. Vic Riveras Newport News, VA 3 02-10 107
Day 1: 3 02-10
95. Jimmy Fellegy Lakeville, MN 2 02-10 106
Day 1: 2 02-10
95. Matt Molitor Canton, IL 2 02-10 106
Day 1: 2 02-10
97. Corey Owens Gray, KY 2 02-09 104
Day 1: 2 02-09
97. Brian Rothrock Monticello, IN 2 02-09 104
Day 1: 2 02-09
99. Jerry Morris Jr Charlotte, NC 1 02-09 102
Day 1: 1 02-09
99. David Rushing Orlando, FL 1 02-09 102
Day 1: 1 02-09
99. Erik Tilson Auburndale, FL 1 02-09 102
Day 1: 1 02-09
102. Jeremiah Hitt Lutz, FL 2 02-08 99
Day 1: 2 02-08
103. Joshua McGeary Mt. Pleasant, PA 2 02-05 98
Day 1: 2 02-05
103. Mitch Mitchell Appling, GA 2 02-05 98
Day 1: 2 02-05
103. Steven Robbins Piketon, OH 2 02-05 98
Day 1: 2 02-05
106. Johnnie Garrett Union City, TN 2 02-04 95
Day 1: 2 02-04
107. Jacob Altman Olathe, CO 1 02-04 94
Day 1: 1 02-04
107. Tony Sears Dahlonega, GA 1 02-04 94
Day 1: 1 02-04
109. Justin Thomas Panama City, FL 2 02-03 92
Day 1: 2 02-03
110. Bobby Williams Salisbury, NC 1 02-02 91
Day 1: 1 02-02
111. Alex Reece Greenville, SC 1 02-01 90
Day 1: 1 02-01
111. Bruce Touchstone Madison Heights, VA 1 02-01 90
Day 1: 1 02-01
113. Steven Kellam Dry Ridge, KY 2 01-15 88
Day 1: 2 01-15
114. Craig Cullen Port St Lucie, FL 1 01-15 87
Day 1: 1 01-15
114. Alonzo Evans Jr Topeka, KS 1 01-15 87
Day 1: 1 01-15
116. Justin Baldridge Greenup, KY 2 01-14 85
Day 1: 2 01-14
117. Nathaniel Kilgore Franklin, VA 1 01-14 84
Day 1: 1 01-14
118. Joseph Barnes Locust Grove, GA 2 01-13 83
Day 1: 2 01-13
119. Michael Gabel St Charles, IL 1 01-13 82
Day 1: 1 01-13
119. MIke Spears Jasper, AL 1 01-13 82
Day 1: 1 01-13
121. John Lewis Centreville, VA 2 01-12 80
Day 1: 2 01-12
122. Larry Beauboeuf Bossier City, LA 1 01-12 79
Day 1: 1 01-12
122. Bill Bruce Hendersonville, TN 1 01-12 79
Day 1: 1 01-12
122. James Madden Holly Hill, FL 1 01-12 79
Day 1: 1 01-12
125. Byong Lee Stedman, NC 1 01-11 76
Day 1: 1 01-11
125. Tommy Lee Young Orlando, FL 1 01-11 76
Day 1: 1 01-11
125. Gregory Mauldin Archdale, NC 1 01-11 76
Day 1: 1 01-11
128. Ahmed Behery Farmington, CT 1 01-11 73
Day 1: 1 01-11
129. Greg Moore Orlando, FL 1 01-10 72
Day 1: 1 01-10
129. Lee Noland Madison Lake, MN 1 01-10 72
Day 1: 1 01-10
131. Cory Weaver Ankeny, IA 1 01-09 70
Day 1: 1 01-09
132. Barney Boutries Mobile, AL 1 01-08 69
Day 1: 1 01-08
133. Thomas Abraham Winchester, TN 1 01-07 68
Day 1: 1 01-07
133. Jimmy Hayes Fayetteville, NC 1 01-07 68
Day 1: 1 01-07
133. Steve Kline Hilltop Lakes, TX 1 01-07 68
Day 1: 1 01-07
133. Daniel Valois Gomez Caracas FL VENEZUELA 1 01-07 68
Day 1: 1 01-07
137. Anthony Boris Kansasville, WI 1 01-06 64
Day 1: 1 01-06
137. Johnny Dease Orlando, FL 1 01-06 64
Day 1: 1 01-06
137. Nathan Fritz Greenwood, IN 1 01-06 64
Day 1: 1 01-06
140. Robert Brewer Trafford, AL 1 01-05 61
Day 1: 1 01-05
140. Tommy Hamilton Disputanta, VA 1 01-05 61
Day 1: 1 01-05
140. Anthony Harris Bellview, FL 1 01-05 61
Day 1: 1 01-05
140. Charles Reed Batesville, MS 1 01-05 61
Day 1: 1 01-05
140. Michael Schrader North Attleboro, MA 1 01-05 61
Day 1: 1 01-05
145. Pete Patterson Kingsport, TN 1 01-04 56
Day 1: 1 01-04
145. Jacob Robinson Temple, GA 1 01-04 56
Day 1: 1 01-04
147. Trey Brafford Kings Mtn, NC 1 01-03 54
Day 1: 1 01-03
147. Jimmy Dereta Joshua, TX 1 01-03 54
Day 1: 1 01-03
147. Scotty Ingle Asheville, NC 1 01-03 54
Day 1: 1 01-03
150. Jeremy Booth Albertville, MN 1 01-02 51
Day 1: 1 01-02
150. Charles Bowman II Kernersville, NC 1 01-02 51
Day 1: 1 01-02
150. David Dimauro Longwood, FL 1 01-02 51
Day 1: 1 01-02
150. Jason George Farragut, TN 1 01-02 51
Day 1: 1 01-02
150. Stacey Jefferson Conway, SC 1 01-02 51
Day 1: 1 01-02
150. Greg Mauldin Archdale, NC 1 01-02 51
Day 1: 1 01-02
150. Hunter Reifschneider Marion, IA 1 01-02 51
Day 1: 1 01-02
157. Christopher Donavant Yorktown, VA 1 01-01 44
Day 1: 1 01-01
157. Kevin Gonyea Franklinton, NC 1 01-01 44
Day 1: 1 01-01
157. Dawson Wisner Westminster, MD 1 01-01 44
Day 1: 1 01-01
160. Alex Barbour Crystal Lake, IL 1 01-00 41
Day 1: 1 01-00
160. John Barnes Henrico, VA 1 01-00 41
Day 1: 1 01-00
160. Jimmy Bass Ocala, FL 1 01-00 41
Day 1: 1 01-00
160. Michael Mayo Collierville, TN 1 01-00 41
Day 1: 1 01-00
160. Liam Oneill Belleair Bluffs, FL 1 01-00 41
Day 1: 1 01-00
160. Edie Wilkinson Middlebury, IN 1 01-00 41
Day 1: 1 01-00
160. Ken Yamate Richardson, TX 1 01-00 41
Day 1: 1 01-00
167. Darrell Curl Winston Salem, NC 1 00-15 34
Day 1: 1 00-15
167. Rod Longnecker Tampa, FL 1 00-15 34
Day 1: 1 00-15
167. Douglas Lubs Indianapolis, IN 1 00-15 34
Day 1: 1 00-15
167. Tyler Morrison Locust Grove, GA 1 00-15 34
Day 1: 1 00-15
167. Thomas Rutkowski Deland, FL 1 00-15 34
Day 1: 1 00-15
172. Gary Abernethy Skyland, NC 1 00-14 29
Day 1: 1 00-14
173. RJ Mitchell Appling, GA 1 00-13 28
Day 1: 1 00-13
174. Jim Rozelle Jr Moncks Corner, SC 1 00-11 27
Day 1: 1 00-11
175. Bill Beard Prosperity, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Andy Beloat Montgomery, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Kenneth Bivins Orlando, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Dustin Bonnell Titusville, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. David Booth Erin, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Brett Bowman Sophia, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Jon Brown Tampa, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Ben Brumley Anderson, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Spencer Caruso Palm Bay, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Ray Cates Overland Park, KS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. James Cornell Longwood, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Steve Deyton Forest City, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Brandon Downs Eden Prairie, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Carey Gallant Bowmanville CANADA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Michael Garner Skippers, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Brian Geisel Kitchener CANADA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Will Hartsell Vestavia Hills, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. John Hatfield Panama City, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Christopher House Walworth, NY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Russell Hoyle Newton, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Barry Hughes Plant City, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Blake Johnson Box Elder, SD 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Russell Jones Simpsonville, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Riley Kolich Long Beach, CA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Marshall Mccallum Lakeland, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Tom Mccarthy Marysville, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Frank Mitchum Orlando , FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. William Norris II Ocoee, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Jon Pollock Lakewood, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Gerald Robbins Jr. Asheboro, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Buddy Rohn Jacksonville, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. John Roth III Kuttawa, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. James Staton Sorrento, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Kevin Steele Kissimmee, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Chip Stith Piscataway, NJ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Taylor Trantham Thomasville, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Mack Traynor Hanover, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Sakae Ushio Tonawanda, NY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Rodney Vaow Huntersville, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Justin Westergreen Dahinda, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Andy Wiedmann Titusville, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Frank Williams Jackson, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Tyler Wipf West Richland, WA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
175. Dusty Wood Belton, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
219. Allen Mccallister Murrayville, GA 0 -1-00 0
Day 1: 0 -01-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 60 336 622-09


Top Five Ice Fishing Baits You Need This Season

OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi – January 20, 2022. With this year’s ice fishing season approaching, here are the top five ice fishing lures you should add to your arsenal. American Baitworks brands’ Freedom Tackle and STH Bait Co. have you covered with some of the best ice fishing lures available.  

Freedom Tackle Minnow Jigging Spoon

The Freedom Minnow jigging spoon delivers a combination of flash, one-of-a-kind action, and bait-fish appeal that all species find irresistible. 

Highly reactive, the Freedom Minnow can be worked with several retrieves to draw strikes, including a quick, attention-grabbing jerk and a slow stop-and-go. On the drop, the Freedom Minnow Spoon delivers a slow-falling flutter and an abundance of bite-inducing flash. 

On the top and bottom of the center wire shaft, the Freedom Minnow Spoon is fitted with a metal bead and a glass bead that bang against the body to create a unique underwater sound. Armed with chemically sharpened hooks, the Freedom Minnow Spoon delivers a highly individualized presentation that will catch a wide range of species.

 

Freedom Tackle Turnback Shad - Vertical Jigging

The Freedom Tackle Turnback Shad is the perfect vertical jig for open water or through the ice. The lure features a full metal body that swings freely on the metal line tie shaft. 

With a jerk of the rod, the lure will dart off in random directions, turn around and swim back the other way, covering more water and imparting a more life-like action. The Glass beads on the metal shaft offer a visual and audio attraction to compliment the beautifully sculpted metal body. 

Available in 4 sizes (3/32oz, 3/16oz, 5/8oz, 1oz) and 8 colors, including natural, glow, and UV colors for any situation.

 

Freedom Tackle Blade Bait

The most versatile Blade Bait on the market, the Freedom Blade Bait is a three in one tool to get the job done through the ice. The lure features multiple ways to rig the hooks to match your desired presentation. 

The Blade Bait delivers maximum vibration and flash that draws in fish. Designed with a unique feature, the ability to rig the double hook on the top of the lure head and lock it into place on the custom design hook notch.

 

STH Bait Co. Drifter 

A legend for targeting walleye and whitefish through the ice, the Drifter is one of the best baits available for catching these sometimes-tight-lipped species. 

A classic, handcrafted, and hand-poured bait with year-round application, the Drifter is 2.75”/69 mm in length. Super soft with 3D eyes gives the Drifter a life-like appearance, giving fish the visual cues and makes them think it’s real prey. Try rigging this bait as a drop shot or on a jig head to maximize its action and fish catching ability. 

STH Bait Co. Dart Minnow

Uniquely designed to target panfish, walleye, and whitefish, the Dart Minnow delivers a lot of fish catching power in its relatively small size at 2.3”. Designed to be used on a jig head or as a drop shot, the Dart Minnow is a consistent performer and a must-have in your ice fishing arsenal. 

 

American Baitworks Keeps You Fishing in Every Season of the Year

Undoubtedly, American Baitworks’ ice fishing lures will keep you pulling fish throughout the ice season. Carrying mix of vertical jigs, multiuse hard baits, and finesse soft plastics from Freedom Tackle and STH Bait Co. will give you more variety to throw at your target species this winter. 

For more information about and to check out our full line of ice fishing products, please visit www.americanbaitworks.com.


How “Big Show” Scroggins Breaks Down Unfamiliar Water

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin / Dynamic Sponsorships

 

Like local highway maintenance crews trying to keep ice off exit ramps, veteran pro Terry “Big Show” Scroggins arrived at the first stop of the 2022 Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour near West Monroe, Louisiana knowing he and his fellow pros have their work cut out for them.

 

Threats of freezing rain wiped-out the first day of practice, and on top of that, Scroggins has never seen Lake D’Arbonne. So, with just one day to figure it out, and freezing air temps, how will the Florida pro break down 15,000 acres of unfamiliar water on a lake that’s absolutely filled with stumps and standing timber during just one day of practice?

 

Map study before leaving home

 

Rather than just show-up at the ramp in a state of confusion, most pros study maps while at home like a college kid cramming for a geography exam.

 

“I looked at Google Earth a lot and noticed the upper half of the lake features two major creeks and a lot of good-looking spawning flats. These fish aren’t close to spawning, but they never venture too far from prime areas like that. It’s not like they swim to the other end of the lake between spawning periods, so that’s the area of the lake I’ll spend my time in,” explains Scroggins.

 

Don’t try to fish it all

 

Notice Scroggins chose a very specific area. His veteran wisdom and common sense tell him there’s no way he can try to learn all 15,000 acres in one day, so he essentially slices it into fractions to make it far more manageable.

 

“If you start by choosing just the upper half, you’ve instantly cut the lake from 15,000 acres to 7,500 acres. Then you choose the best looking 20% of that half, and now you only have to figure out 1,500 acres,” reasons Scroggins.

 

The John Cox approach

 

“You could say I’m gonna “John Cox” this one,” laughs Scroggins referring to his highly accomplished fellow Florida pro angler, John Cox, who has carved-out an illustrious career by choosing small shallow areas of a fishery, and running his trolling motor far more than his outboard to thoroughly pick the area apart.

 

“John’s the master of putting the trolling motor down and going wide open until he’s fished every last part of a small area, and that’s what I’ll do during one day of practice on D’Arbonne,” says Scroggins.

 

“I’ll have about 12 different baits on the front deck of this Triton, and keep that trolling motor in the water. We’re going to throw everything from a Carolina Rig to a ChatterBait, and fish from 3-feet to 20-feet in that one small area of the lake until we figure it out,” concludes Scroggins.

 

Of course, step 1 this week will be launching safely on what could be an icy boat ramp as overnight temps touch 23-degrees. So perhaps having the phone number of the local Farmerville, LA road crew, and a warm pair of gloves would be part of a good strategy too.


Guaranteed Rate Becomes Title Sponsor Of Five 2022 Bassmaster Elite Events

Guaranteed Rate will serve as the title sponsor for five Bassmaster Elite Series events in 2022.

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

February 3, 2022

Deal comes during a time of record-breaking interest in sportfishing

Guaranteed Rate Logo.pngBIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Guaranteed Rate, a leader in mortgage lending and digital financial services, announces it has expanded its relationship with B.A.S.S., the worldwide authority on bass fishing, to serve as the title sponsor for five Bassmaster Elite Series events in 2022.

Guaranteed Rate will be the title sponsor of the following events: Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes, March 17-20; Bassmaster Elite at Chickamauga Lake, April 7-10; Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River, July 14-17; Bassmaster Elite at Lake Oahe, Aug. 18-21; and Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River, Aug. 26-29.

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Guaranteed Rate to reach even more enthusiastic sportfishing fans during a time when we’ve seen record-breaking levels of interest in the Elite Series and huge participation in fishing and outdoor activities,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson.

B.A.S.S. is among Guaranteed Rate’s highly successful sports partnerships, including NASCAR driver Tyler Reddick, NHL, National Lacrosse League (NLL) and the Professional Bowlers Association (PBA).

“We are excited to strengthen our relationship with B.A.S.S. as the title sponsor of these highly anticipated events,” said Guaranteed Rate Vice President of Sports Marketing and Partnerships Steve McNelley. “We can’t wait to experience more record-breaking action as the anglers head out on the water this season.”

In 2021, Guaranteed Rate sponsored four Elite Series events, including the Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork. During that tournament, Lee Livesay finished with a whopping total of 112 pounds, 5 ounces that was capped by a final-day catch of five bass that weighed 42 pounds, 3 ounces. A captivated audience watched more than 51.4 million minutes of live tournament coverage as the Elite at Lake Fork produced three lead changes and saw two anglers catch over 100 pounds. Livesay also won the 2020 Guaranteed Rate Bassmaster Elite at Chickamauga Lake, his first Elite victory.

“Both of my Elite Series wins have come in tournaments sponsored by Guaranteed Rate, and I appreciate their continued support of the sport,” said Livesay. “Hopefully, I can bring home another blue trophy with that Guaranteed Rate logo this season.”

Three other anglers — Jeff Gustafson, Tennessee River; Bill Lowen, Pickwick Lake; and Bryan Schmitt, Lake Champlain — won their first Elite Series tournament at Guaranteed Rate-sponsored events in 2021.

Enthusiasm for fishing is booming beyond the professional ranks, with studies showing that 1 in 5 Americans are more likely to try fishing now than they were before the pandemic started. According to studies from the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation, nearly 55 million Americans fished at least once in 2020, the highest number recorded since participation tracking began in 2007.

After a successful first season where nearly 14 million viewers watched Bassmaster LIVE programming, once more all nine 2022 Elite events and the storied Bassmaster Classic will feature live television coverage on the FOX Sports platforms. For more information on the tournaments, visit Bassmaster.com.


Johnson Outdoors Signs on as Official Sponsor of the MLF Bass Pro Tour

Minn Kota® and Humminbird® to Be Showcased Across Multiple MLF Media Platforms

TULSA, Okla. (Feb. 3, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today that Johnson Outdoors, a leading global outdoor recreation company that designs, manufactures and markets a portfolio of winning, consumer-preferred brands, has signed on as an Official Sponsor of Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour and named the Presenting Sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour Stage Seven event on Mille Lacs Lake in Onamia, Minnesota.

For more than 50 years, Johnson Outdoors has made it their mission to inspire more people to experience the awe of the great outdoors by creating innovative, top-quality products across four major categories: Watercraft, Fishing, Diving and Camping. Their breakthrough technology product lines include Minn Kota®, the world’s leading manufacturer of one of the toughest, most innovative trolling motors and the fastest, deepest-reaching shallow water anchors and Humminbird®, a leading global innovator and manufacturer of marine electronics products including sonar fish-finders and accessories, providing anglers with amazing detail and crystal clarity to the world beneath their boat.

“As leaders in the fishing industry, our core mission at Minn Kota® and Humminbird® has been to help anglers get the most out of their time on the water,” said Joe Brown, Senior Director of Brand Management at Johnson Outdoors Marine Electronics, Inc. “This new partnership with Major League Fishing gives us one more tool to help demonstrate how the One-Boat Network can help real anglers find, stay on and catch more fish.”

Johnson Outdoors’ sponsorship includes commercials and graphic billboards in Bass Pro Tour television programming and a strong brand presence within the tour’s in-show and on-site opportunities, as well as MLF NOW! livestream exposure and Stage Seven event logo, graphics, bumpers and voiceovers throughout all event coverage.

“We are thrilled to bring the enthusiastic outdoorsmen and women at Johnson Outdoors into the Major League Fishing family,” said Randy Gerstenblatt, MLF Senior Vice President of Sponsorship and Media Sales. “Major League Fishing began with the desire to elevate the sport of bass fishing and bring people together in the outdoors – an endeavor that Johnson Outdoors is extremely passionate about. Combining their consumer insights and emerging technologies with MLF’s action-packed tournament coverage and premiere television programming sets us up for great synergy with both brands as we move forward into 2022.”

The 2022 MLF Bass Pro Tour regular season will begin next month, with Stage One of the Bass Pro Tour in Monroe and West Monroe, Louisiana, Feb. 5-10 and conclude with Stage Seven Presented by Johnson Outdoors in Onamia, Minnesota, Sep. 10-15. The 2022 Bass Pro Tour will air on the Discovery Channel beginning in July 2022 and the Outdoor Channel in early 2023.

For more information on Johnson Outdoors, visit JohnsonOutdoors.com. For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing, its tournaments and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com . For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at FacebookTwitterInstagram and  YouTube.


Huk Partners with Basketball Phenom Keon Johnson

Charleston, SC (February 3, 2022) – Huk, the nation’s leading manufacturer of performance fishing gear, has partnered with basketball phenom Keon Johnson to elevate awareness of Huk’s exciting apparel line through Keon’s growing fan base. The story is an uncommon combination of a "regular guy" with a great talent for basketball and a deep love for fishing and the great outdoors.
While most of his fans know all about Keon’s accomplishments on the court, very few have seen what drives him when he’s not in the gym. “Most of my fans know all about my drive for basketball, but I want to share with them how much I’m into fishing,” said Keon. He continued, “I want to share my love of fishing with my fans so they can see how fun it is and want to try it themselves.”
Keon's love of fishing began when his father introduced him to fishing for catfish as a young boy below Joe Wheeler Dam. Over the years, the two made memories to last a lifetime – such as when Keon caught a huge 45-pound catfish! Keon was equally dedicated to both sports since his childhood, observing they both take work and dedication. “Basketball is a lot like fishing,” said Keon. “To become better at both, you must have patience and be willing to practice.”
As Keon’s career began to take shape on a national stage, he looked to Huk to help him expose more basketball fans to fishing, and vice versa... especially among his own younger generation. Huk is proud to be working with him to achieve that goal. Keon added, “Some people don't know you can look good and still go fishing. I love the way Huk fits me and the way their clothes look. I even wear their gear around town just to chill.”
In a world dominated by professional anglers, expensive gear, and high-end boats, those looking to try out fishing can often be intimidated by the sport. Huk looks to partners like Keon to combat this notion and make the sport more accessible to more people. “Huk understands what I’m about. I’m passionate about basketball, fishing, and the outdoors, and that you don’t need a big boat or all kinds of gear to do it” said Keon. “I want people to know you can have a great time fishing without all of those things. You just need time, patience and a rod and reel – and don’t forget your Huk shirt so you can look cool and be comfortable while you are doing it.”

X Zone Lures Signs Two Young Guns

 

X Zone Lures is pleased to announce that they will be joining forces with two bright young stars for the 2022 Season. Freshly minted Elite Series Pro, Jonathan Kelley and Bassmaster Opens contender, Cooper Gallant. Jonathan qualified for 2022 Elite Series by winning the Northern Opens Angler of the Year title.  Cooper will be fishing all 9 Opens this year in his quest to fish the Elite Series.

Jonathan Kelley says "As a young angler, growing up and being introduced to the slammer, I’ve had the opportunity to see the X Zone brand grow over the years. I am honored, excited, and blessed to have the opportunity to grow with one of my childhood favorite brands and become part of the team. X Zone has created the best line of soft plastics with a variety of colors to meet any style or application needed from beginner to professional anglers. "

Gallant says "The very first smallmouth I caught on a dropshot was with the Original Slammer, which I still use to this day. I am beyond thankful and excited to be part of the X Zone family. With the unique lineup of baits already available, and the knowledgeable group of guys behind bait design, 2022 is lining up to be a very exciting and successful year!"

Jonathan and Cooper join fellow X Zone pro staffers – Elite Series Pros, Brandon Palaniuk and Carl Jocumsen.

“X Zone Lures is very excited to have both Cooper and Jonathan join our team” says X Zone Lures owner, Jim Van Ryn. “We have known these two young anglers for a long time. They both align well with our brand and what it represents. We look forward to having them contribute to both bait design and overall awareness of our brand.”

For more about X Zone Lures, visit their site at www.xzonelures.com


Yamaha Rightwaters™ Demonstrates Commitment To All Anglers With Sponsorship Of Bassmaster Kayak Series

February 3, 2022

 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Yamaha Rightwaters, which champions environmental stewardship as part of Yamaha’s long-standing commitment to natural resource conservation, will serve as the title sponsor for the growing Bassmaster Kayak Series. The Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX kicks off its 2022 season on Lake Fork Feb. 5.

“The growth of competitive fishing is directly related to the health of the waterways that host the tournaments,” said Martin Peters, Division Manager, Government Relations, Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit. “Like B.A.S.S., Yamaha Rightwaters advocates for conservation and sustainability as a means by which we can continue to enjoy the sport and expand it to larger audiences, including competitive kayak anglers. We look forward to a successful season ahead.”

Yamaha has been a longtime supporter of the Bassmaster Tournament Trail as a premier sponsor and, in 2021, partnered with B.A.S.S. to bring back the Redfish Cup Championship after a 12-year hiatus. The Yamaha Rightwaters sponsorship of the Bassmaster Kayak Series is another example of the brand’s continued support of anglers at all levels and deep commitment to ensuring a bright future for sportfishing.

“The fact that Yamaha Rightwaters advocates conservation and sustainability across all platforms is awesome,” said B.A.S.S. Nation Director Jon Stewart, who oversees the Kayak Series. “Conservation and sustainability also includes access. These are all things that are very important to the kayak anglers who support B.A.S.S., which makes this a perfect partnership between us all.”

More than 55 million Americans reported fishing at least once in 2020 and 2021. While participation in fishing is at an all-time high, growth of the sport and continued access to healthy waters is vital to budding fishermen, avid anglers and anyone who loves spending time on the water.

Yamaha WaterCraft now offers a fishing platform for its WaveRunners. These and other Yamaha WaterCraft products will be on display at select Bassmater Kayak Series events.

“The Bassmaster Kayak Series is perfectly aligned with our goals to make competitive angling more accessible to the public,” said Yamaha WaterCraft General Manager Bryan Seti, who oversees the marketing and sales of Yamaha WaveRunners and boats in the United States. “Like kayaks, we're seeing more watercraft buyers choose our WaveRunners as an affordable fishing platform, which makes entry into the sport more attainable.”

In its first two years, the Bassmaster Kayak Series has seen increased attention among traditional fishing fans as the trail begins building its own rich history, including a 10 bass total of 209.25 inches — the highest two-day total in TourneyX history — for 2021 Kayak National Champion Mark Pendergraf, who was crowned in front of thousands of fans on the Classic stage, and fishing superstar Mike Iaconelli taking a series victory on the Upper Chesapeake.

Veteran bass anglers, who have long depended on Yamaha for their reliable outboards, are recognizing the benefit of bringing attention to both kayak angling and the sustainability work being done by Yamaha Rightwaters across the industry-leading B.A.S.S. platforms.

“I was very excited when I heard Yamaha Rightwaters was sponsoring the Bassmaster Kayak Series,” said avid kayak angler and Elite Series pro Keith Combs. “It will be a great opportunity for another group of outdoorsmen and women to learn about — and appreciate — what Yamaha is doing to improve and enhance our fishing and boating waters. It really shows Yamaha's commitment to conservation and to anglers at all levels of our sport.”

Full coverage of the 2022 Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX and Old Town Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year race can be found at Bassmaster.com/Kayak.


Creating His Own Path

 

This week DX welcomes in MLF Pro Circuit Rookie Phil Dutra to the show. Phil talks about what has been happening in California and the reasons why he moved hie family east into the heart of Bass fishing. Check it out!


Sam Rayburn Reservoir Set to Launch Toyota Series Southwestern Division

BROOKELAND, Texas (Feb. 2, 2022) – The Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. Southwestern Division Presented by Outlaw Ordnance will launch  its 2022 season with a tournament next week in Brookeland, Texas, Feb. 10-12, with the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. at Sam Rayburn Reservoir . Hosted by the Jasper-Lake Sam Rayburn Chamber of Commerce, the three-day tournament will feature the region’s best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers casting for a top prize of up to $65,000, plus an additional $35,000 bonus if the winner is a qualified Phoenix Boat owner.

Outlaw Ordnance, an Outdoor and Sporting Goods Company that offers custom marine graph mounts, laser engraving, coatings and fabrication along with outdoor lifestyle products and merchandise, has been announced as the presenting sponsor of the Toyota Series Southwestern Division and Plains Division.

“Outlaw Ordnance is honored to become a sponsor of the 2022 MLF Toyota Series,” said Chip Pierce, Co-Owner and Sr. Vice President of Outlaw Ordnance. “We are looking forward to launching the toughest, most versatile and most customizable graph mounts on the market.”

Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit rookie Jeff Bridges of Prosper, Texas, who came in ninth this past weekend at the Pro Circuit season-opener on the Sam Rayburn Reservoir and said he is looking forward to hitting the water again next week.

“I think the Toyota Series event on Sam Rayburn will turn out to be a good event with heavy weights,” said Bridges. “The cold weather pushes the fish to bunch up more and pack together, so I think that we will have anglers who will find packs of fish that will really increase their numbers.

“This is the time of year that 50-pound-stringers have been caught on Rayburn,” continued Bridges. “We’ll also be coming off the cold weather into a slight warming trend, which will make the fish more active and ready to eat. So when you find them, you’re going to find a lot of them.”

Bridges said although the amount of hydrilla on the fishery is down significantly this year, there are still areas of the lake with hydrilla where a lot of the fish will live.

“Over the three-day event, I suspect it will take approximately 17½ pounds per day to get you in the top 10, and 20 pounds per day to be in the top 5,” said Bridges. “I think there will be a big sack caught as well, so I anticipate it will probably take 60 to 62 pounds to win the tournament.

“I expect crankbaits to be the big producer for the event, with the majority of the field throwing (Z-Man) ChatterBaits  and (Bill Lewis) Rat-L-Traps – they will have the most consistent bite this time of year. The Carolina rig is also going to play in this event.”

Bridges said he’s excited to go back out on the fishery when it’s ramping up and his only concern is the amount of pressure it will get prior to the event.

“There was a lot of advertisement of the areas I was fishing last week, so I know those spots are going to be pressured by the time this event gets underway,” said Bridges. “I plan to get out there again and do some pre-fishing. I feel pretty good about knowing what the fish are going to do this time of year in the areas that do produce quality fish.”

Anglers will take off daily at 7 a.m. CT from the Umphrey Family Pavilion in Brookeland. Weigh-ins will also be held at the pavilion and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts 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.

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.


Picking up where he left off.

 

This week Chris & the boys welcome in 2022 PC Sam Rayburn Champ Michael Neal to the show to talk about his recent win, ther recap of his 2021 seasn and whats ahead for the 10th year Pro.


Bassmaster Classic Heads Back To Knoxville And Tennessee River In 2023

Knoxville, Tenn., will host the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk March 24-26.

Photo by Laurie Tisdale/B.A.S.S.

February 2, 2022 

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The venue that was home to one of the most successful and well-received Classics of all-time will once again be the host for professional bass fishing’s biggest celebration in 2023.

B.A.S.S. officials announced today that the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk will be held in Knoxville, Tenn., March 24-26 with competition on the Tennessee River lakes of Fort Loudoun and Tellico. Daily weigh-ins will be held at Thompson-Boling Arena — the palatial 20,000-seat venue on the University of Tennessee campus — and the annual Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo will take place at the Knoxville Convention Center and the adjacent World’s Fair Exhibition Hall.

The Visit Knoxville Sports Commission will once again serve as host.

“Our first Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville produced record-breaking fan attendance and was one of the best Classics we’ve ever had,” said B.A.S.S. CEO Chase Anderson. “The Bassmaster Classic is the Super Bowl of Professional Bass Fishing. It’s not just a great competition; it is a true celebration of the competitors, the fans and the sport as a whole.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to be headed back to Knoxville.”

With daily takeoffs from Volunteer Landing, located downtown at the head of the beautiful Tennessee River, the 2019 Classic drew a record crowd of 153,809 spectators and generated an economic impact of $32.2 million for Knoxville and East Tennessee, according to a report released by the Visit Knoxville Sports Commission.

“We are thrilled to welcome B.A.S.S. back to Knoxville and East Tennessee,” said Chad Culver, Senior Director of the Visit Knoxville Sports Commission. “This will be their fourth major event hosted in Knoxville, (with Elite Series events in 2017 and 2021, and the Classic in 2019). With Knoxville having the distinction of their highest-attended Classic to date, we look forward to an exciting, record-breaking 2023 Classic.”

According to the same study, the Classic provided a direct economic impact of $17.7 million and an indirect boost in business sales of $14.5 million. The event generated $2.75 million in state and local tax revenue, including taxes on sales, restaurant purchases and lodging. Classic attendees, who traveled to Knoxville from almost every state and foreign countries as far away as Australia, Japan and Italy, paid for 29,232 room nights in local hotels.

The event was recognized as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism (Mid-Market Division) by Sports Destination Management. Won by Tennessee native Ott DeFoe, the tournament was the first major B.A.S.S. event held on Fort Loudoun and Tellico lakes, but it spawned a relationship that is still flourishing today.

While a previous event visited Cherokee Lake, the Bassmaster Elite Series — the top circuit in professional bass fishing — made its first trip to Fort Loudoun and Tellico in Knoxville in 2021. Canadian pro Jeff Gustafson won that event with a four-day weight of 63 pounds.

Now, Knoxville will join the prestigious list of cities that have hosted multiple Classics.

“We’re honored to host B.A.S.S. for the fourth time in seven years,” said Kim Bumpas, President of Visit Knoxville. “We are proud of the continued successful partnership between B.A.S.S., our own Visit Knoxville Sports Commission, the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, and Knox County and the City of Knoxville.”

In just two events, Fort Loudoun and Tellico have shown what a full buffet they offer to bass anglers.

DeFoe won his 2019 Classic title in mid-March with largemouth bass. Then in late February 2021, Gustafson relied largely on one magic spot for daily bags of smallmouth. During that same event, anglers like Steve Kennedy, John Cox and Brandon Card pushed Gustafson hard with largemouth.

Though the 2023 Classic will be later in the year than either of those events, both species are still likely to come into play.

“That’s one of the things that makes this venue so interesting — just the variety of species and patterns that anglers have available to them,” said Chris Bowes, B.A.S.S. Vice President of Tournaments. “You could see someone win it with all largemouth, all smallmouth or a mixed bag of the two. That always makes for a great event.”

Fort Loudoun and Tellico lakes are twin reservoirs that cover about 30,000 acres. With the lakes connected by a canal, Classic competitors will be allowed to fish both. They’ll also find good fishing along the Tennessee River upstream from Fort Loudoun Dam to the Interstate 40 bridge on the Holston River and the Highway 168 bridge on the French Broad River.

The field will include 55 anglers who will qualify through the Bassmaster Elite Series, the St. Croix Bassmaster Opens, the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, the Strike King College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops and the Bassmaster Team Championship. They’ll all be vying for a $300,000 first-place prize and a total purse of over $1 million.

“Knoxville has every element necessary for an incredible Classic,” Anderson said. “It is a great sports town, in general, and bass fishing is incredibly popular in East Tennessee. There will be a lot of local interest in the event, and people who are visiting Knoxville for the first time are likely to keep coming back because the city and East Tennessee have so much to offer.”


Major League Fishing Cancels First Practice Day, Extends Practice Period for Anglers at B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole in Louisiana

Bass Pro Tour angler Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Arkansas, Makes a Cast During a Chilly Practice Morning

Forecasted Icy Conditions in Northeast Louisiana Prompts Tournament Officials to Cancel Official Opening Practice Period Thursday

MONROE-WEST MONROE, La. (Feb. 1, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF) has announced that the first day of practice for the 80 anglers competing in the Bass Pro Tour B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One Presented by Power-Pole, scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 3, has been canceled due to forecasted freezing rain and high winds.

“Initially, our anglers were slated for two days of practice on either Lake D’Arbonne or Caney Creek Reservoir,” said MLF Bass Pro Tour Tournament Director Aaron Beshears. “However, with the forecasted weather conditions, we have deemed it unsafe for our anglers to head out for the first day of practice on Thursday.

“We’re expecting some heavy rain on Wednesday night, and with the freezing temperatures forecast for Thursday it is going to be extremely icy. For the safety of our anglers, we’ll delay the start of practice one day and we’ll get after it starting Friday.”

Anglers will be allowed to begin practice on either Lake D’Arbonne or Caney Creek Reservoir from 6:30 a.m. until 6:15 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 4. Competition will begin as planned on Saturday, Feb. 5.

The 40 anglers in Group B will be allowed to practice on Caney Creek Reservoir ONLY on their first scheduled day off – Saturday, Feb. 5, from 6:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m. The 40 anglers in Group A will also be allowed to practice on Caney Creek Reservoir ONLY on their first scheduled day off – Sunday, Feb. 6, from 6:30 a.m. to 6:15 p.m.

Each group will also be allowed to proceed with a planned 4-hour ride through on Bussey Brake on their second off day, as previously scheduled. Group B will conduct their ride through on Monday, Feb. 7 and Group A will complete their ride through on Tuesday, Feb. 8. No fishing is allowed during the ride throughs.

In the four-day opening Qualifying Rounds, anglers will compete on Lake D’Arbonne and launch at 7:30 a.m. from the Lake D’Arbonne State Park, located at 3628 Evergreen Road in Farmerville, Louisiana. The Knockout Round will take place on Caney Creek Reservoir, where anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. from the Caney Creek Hooks Marina, located at 400 Spillway Road in Chatham, Louisiana. For the final day Championship Round, the final 10 anglers will compete on Bussey Brake, launching at 7:30 a.m. from Bonner Ferry Road, five miles northwest of Bastrop off of Hwy 593.

Each day’s General Tire Takeout Ceremonies will be held at the respective launch ramps, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all takeoff and takeout ceremonies and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLF NOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

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.


T-H Marine Announces Acquisition of JIF Marine LLC

BUFORD, GA – February 1, 2022 – OneWater Marine Inc. (NASDAQ: ONEW) (“OneWater” or “the Company”) announced today that its subsidiary, T-H Marine, has acquired JIF Marine LLC (“JIF”), an industry-leading supplier of stainless steel ladders, dock products, and other accessories for recreational marine applications based in Memphis, Tennessee.  

 

“JIF Marine has a strong reputation for service, value, and selection, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring them onboard. This will be our first, of hopefully many acquisitions, since joining the OneWater team, which we believe creates an additional springboard for long-term growth,” said Jeff Huntley Sr., Chief Executive Officer for T-H Marine. “T-H Marine has the opportunity to fold in great companies to further enhance our business utilizing our blueprint for acquisitions. We look forward to expanding JIF’s renowned product lines to reach more customers, leveraging our omni-channel strategy and the combined resources of T-H Marine and OneWater.” 

 

JIF Marine, a third-generation family-owned business, is a category leader in stainless steel ladders and dock products, among other marine accessories to major boat manufacturers, distributors, and big box stores. JIF will continue to operate as a standalone division of T-H Marine at its current Memphis facility. 

 

“The OneWater family looks forward to welcoming Jimmy Freudenberg and the JIF Marine team as we continue to grow the higher margin marine parts and accessories business. T-H Marine made a great fit for us back in November, as their history of accretive acquisitions aligns well with OneWater’s business model and growth strategy. We were very optimistic about the additional platform for growth with T-H Marine having its own acquisition pipeline, and we are seeing the benefits materialize with the first opportunity of many in JIF Marine.” said Austin Singleton, Chief Executive Officer for OneWater. 

 

About T-H Marine

T-H Marine, a subsidiary of OneWater Marine, has grown to be one of the largest suppliers of marine parts and accessories in the United States. T-H Marine is based in Huntsville, Alabama, where it provides various products including jack plates, outboard tilt and trim controls, rigging components, boat plumbing, hatches, LED lights, livewell aeration, and more. The line-up also includes an expanding selection of products that are part of T-H Marine’s BOATING ESSENTIALS® collection: a one stop shop for a multitude of widely used marine parts and accessories. To learn more about T-H Marine, please visit thmarine.com/about-us. 

About OneWater Marine Inc.

OneWater Marine Inc. is one of the largest and fastest-growing premium marine retailers in the United States. OneWater operates a total of 75 retail locations, 9 distribution centers/warehouses and multiple online marketplaces in 16 different states, several of which are in the top twenty states for marine retail expenditures. OneWater offers a broad range of products and services and has diversified revenue streams, which include the sale of new and pre-owned boats, finance and insurance products, parts and accessories, maintenance, repair and other services.


Major League Fishing Pro Matt Lee Partners with Deps Japan, Optimum Baits, and ima Lures 

Temecula, CA: California based lure manufacturer Optimum Baits, who also distributes Japanese brands ima Lures and Deps Japan, has announced a partnership with Major League Fishing pro Matt Lee.
The agreement will help strengthen the national presence and brand awareness across the country, especially in Lee's home in the southeast. The partnership resulted from a recommendation from a media partner and Lee's interest in working with Japanese lure companies.
An admitted tackle fanatic, Lee is already familiar with the Deps lineup thanks to a friendship with Deps Japan and Bassmaster Elite Series pro Kenta Kimura.
"I've always been very intrigued with the Japanese culture and JDM tackle and have been buddies with Kenta since 2013 when we were both fishing the Bassmaster Opens," said Lee. "He gave me some Evoke squarebills, and I've caught them everywhere from the Red River to Lake Erie with them. They're some of the most used and beat up crankbaits in my box because they catch fish."
Optimum Baits Co. CEO Matt Paino is thrilled to bring Lee aboard and sees it as a perfect fit for all of the brands he will be representing. Paino has been working with Deps since 2005. With the growing presence and product availability in states, the Japan team was searching for an American professional angler to share their product lineup.
"Connecting the dots led us to Matt Lee," said Paino. "We wanted another pro that competes on the top level of the sport who had a strong social media presence and good skills in front of the camera. When going over the product lineups from all three brands, Matt not only knew the names of the products but had confidence with a lot of them."
The Optimum Bait Co. motto is innovation, design, and performance. The company has a passion for fishing and providing lures and fishing tackle that give anglers an edge. That was a plus for Lee.
"I love that all of the products aren't the same old stuff and are all designed and engineered to catch more fish," he said. "None of the products from the brands are copycats and there are some very unique products that work on pressured fisheries when everyone is throwing the same things. There's even more out there that's untouched and I can't wait to fish the products on the Bass Pro Tour."
Deps Japan currently supports and works with two Bassmaster Elite anglers, Kenta Kimura and Masayuki Matsushita.
"I like building long-term relationships with anglers and look forward to growing and winning with Matt with Deps, Optimum, and ima," said Paino.

Nominations Now Open For 2022 Class Of Bassmaster High School All-Americans

February 1, 2022

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. is seeking nominations for the best and brightest high school bass anglers in the country.

The Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors recognizes the 12 most outstanding high school anglers in the nation. The program is designed to reward young athletes for their performance in tournaments, leadership in their communities and involvement in conservation efforts.

Applications for the team, which is now in its eighth year, will be accepted today through March 8.

To be considered, a student must be nominated by a parent, coach, teacher or other school official. Students currently enrolled in grades 10 through 12 with a current grade point average of 2.5 or higher are eligible.

Judges will select up to two student anglers in each state. These All-State Fishing Team members will become semifinalists in the selection of the 12-member Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors. Criteria include success in high school fishing tournaments and involvement in conservation efforts and other community service activities.

The anglers chosen will compete in a one-day Bassmaster High School All-American Tournament to be held in conjunction with a 2022 Bassmaster Elite tournament, to be announced at a later date. Elite Series anglers will serve as “coaches” for the student anglers in the one-day fishing event. The high school standouts and Elite Series coaches will be honored before the weigh-in crowd.

“I am super excited to share this platform with the best high school anglers in the country,” said Glenn Cale, B.A.S.S. Nation Tournament Manager – College, High School and Junior. “Balancing school and fishing is key and hard work.”

All students who compete in high school fishing events are eligible, regardless if they are affiliated with B.A.S.S. or another fishing organization.

Notices have been sent to youth fishing directors of the B.A.S.S. Nation and other organizations, as well as leaders of state high school fishing programs. Adults can nominate students by filling out an online form at Bassmaster.com/allamerican. Nominations must be submitted before midnight on March 8. Please send all questions to [email protected].


BASS FISHING HALL OF FAME ENHANCES ITS MISSION WITH CONSERVATION AND PARTICIPATION FOCUSED GRANTS

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – For Immediate Release – February 1, 2022 – Beyond honoring and celebrating those inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame, the HOF’s Board also focuses on its mission of promoting and preserving the sport of bass fishing. In recognition of their on-going projects in furtherance of that mission, the Board announces financial grants to three worthy organizations whose efforts will greatly benefit the sport.

Fishing’s Future (https://fishingsfuture.org), Friends of Reservoirs Foundation (www.friendsofreservoirs.com), and the Mille Lacs Smallmouth Alliance (https://millelacssmallmouthalliance.com) will each receive a $4,000 grant to assist with their 2022 projects.

“BFHOF Board members Gene Gilliland and Casey Shedd identified and vetted these three groups not only for the success each has had in the past, but also for their future plans where our financial support can bring even more success to their efforts,” said BFHOF Board president John Mazurkiewicz. “The support the HOF receives from its inductees, companies in the fishing and marine industries, and bass anglers nationwide through our induction dinner auctions and other fundraising projects enables the Board to recognize and assist those organizations who also celebrate, promote and preserve the sport of bass fishing.”

Gilliland noted that the BFHOF financial aid will help fund the Friends of Reservoirs Foundation’s ‘Small Project’ habitat grant program where any of its 130 chapters can receive funding to encourage anglers and other reservoir users to work with the fisheries managers to address the habitat issues on impoundments nationwide.

With the Mille Lacs Smallmouth Alliance, the HOF money will support the organizations ‘Free The Fighter’ billboard campaign around Lake Mille Lacs to promote catch-and-release smallmouth bass fishing. “This outreach program continues to reinforce the message that the Mille Lacs smallmouth fishery is unique and extremely valuable to the local economy,” said Gilliland.

Taking kids fishing is the main mission for the Fishing’s Future organization. “This group plans nearly 3,000 events every year connecting kids and families with nature through fishing adventures, said Shedd, who recommended the group for the BFHOF grant. “Our funds will be used for upcoming events focusing on bass fishing that are coordinated by one of the group’s 19 state affiliate clubs.

With these financial awards, the BFHOF Board has now earmarked more than $30,000 since 2019 to various fishing organizations for bass fishing conservation and education projects.


Big Bass Tour - Berkley Lake Breakdown - Harris Chain

Carson Tells Anglers to Expect Shallow Giants at the Harris Chain

By Pete Robbins

A season-opening tournament on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes has become a ritual for the Big Bass Tour, and with good reason – not only is it a chance to start the season off in warm weather, but it usually produces some of our best weights of the year. In fact, over the last five years, we’ve had multiple fish over 10 pounds in four of them, including four in 2020. Last year was the only time in that period when we didn’t broach double digits, but that’s OK because a 9.99 pound beast topped a top 10 that required 8.80 pounds to squeak inside.

Despite recent cold weather that normally renders Florida-strain bass nearly uncatchable, there’s reason to believe that the chain is as healthy as ever and poised to spit out boatloads of monsters. During a recent college tournament, a team from Kentucky weighed in a five bass limit of 25-06 on Day One and five more for 36-07 on Day Two to claim the crown. They fished offshore shell beds with Texas Rigged and Carolina Rigged soft plastics. A team from Bethel University weighed in a 10-14 tagged largemouth for big fish honors.

While the winning pattern may have been offshore, that’s not where Florida pro Keith Carson would look first.

“There have been some cold fronts, but now there’s a warming trend,” he said. “Those college guys were fishing for pre-spawn females that were filling up with eggs. By the time this tournament starts, there should be spawners everywhere. If I were looking to catch one giant, I would go sight fishing and I’d fish other places shallow where I presumed they might be spawning.”

He thinks that the entire chain has the ability “to produce one over 12 pounds,” but noted that Lake Griffin consistently produces many of the biggest tournament-caught fish. When sight fishing he’d look slightly deeper for the bigger fish, around hydrilla, lily pads and buggy whips. He’d fish both a Texas Rigged black and blue 6-inch Berkley General and a Berkley Gilly for both fish he can see and those that he can’t see but suspects are there. If the nights are warm, he’d expect the fish to be in their best bedding areas at first light, but if they were a little bit colder he might wait until the sun gets up a bit and warms the water.

Fortunately, while many of the fish are moving away from the shell beds, “the offshore bite can be good year round,” Carson said. “If you were fishing for a five fish limit, you could still win that way, and it’s still a good way to catch a big one.” He’d probe the shell beds with a Carolina Rigged Berkley General or a Dredger crankbait if this was his preferred zone.

If you can’t find the bed fish, or don’t want to share the offshore bite, a third option is put a flipping stick on the deck and go to work. “You could stay on Harris,” Carson said. “There’s plenty of Kissimmee grass to flip. I’d put a Powerbait Crash Craw behind a half ounce weight and go to work.”

This tournament will take place over the course of three days, and on a fish factory like the Harris Chain no one is out of it until the last bass is weighed in. Hourly winners may be able to scrape by with smaller fish, but over the past five years it’s taken at least an 8.28 pounder to get a coveted spot in the top 10. You can’t expect to win with anything short of a double digit, and even then you’ll have competition, so bring your “A” game and explore the Harris Chain’s options.


It's Back! Same Awesome Game, Brand New Name!

The "Fully Loaded" U-Pick-Em Game is back with a new name, new awesome prizes and some new ways to win!

The game is simple, Each Monday we send out 6 or so tournaments for you to "Pick the Winning Weight" on. Be the closest without going over and you could win a point. Be DEAD ON the weight and double your chances!

We will have some weekly winners, some bonus questions from time to time and each month the player with the most points Wins the Prize Pack for the month plus an awesome "Fully Loaded U-Pick-Em" Trophy!

You can't win if you don't Play!


Drake Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event on Lake Chickamauga

 


HOBIE B.O.S. ANCHORED BY POWER-POLE PUSHES CHAMPIONSHIP PURSE TO $100,000!

Prestigious kayak fishing championship now boasts $45,000 first-place finish.

OCEANSIDE, Calif. (January 28, 2022) - There’s big news on the 2022 Hobie Bass Open Series (B.O.S.) Anchored by Power-Pole trail. Hobie has just bumped the total purse for its Tournament of Champions (T.O.C.) series finale from $75,000 to a whopping $100,000. Included in the increase is a $45,000 reward for the first-place finisher. That’s some big bass bucks!

Launched in 2019, The Hobie B.O.S. Anchored by Power-Pole is widely recognized as one of the premier kayak fishing circuits. Featuring nine, two-day open events that visit some of the most famous bass fisheries in the country, plus the three-day T.O.C. in which 50 qualifying anglers compete for the ultimate prize and bragging rights, the B.O.S. trail is open to everyone and gathers together an exceptionally competitive and diverse field that includes some of the best kayak bass anglers in the world.

“I’m proud to see how much we’ve grown in just four years and to have our prize money reflect that growth,” says Tournament Director, A.J. McWhorter. “This is what we’ve been working for since the start. We believe kayak anglers should have these opportunities in our sport, and we feel both privileged and excited to guarantee such a tremendous championship purse before the season even starts. This $100,000 T.O.C. total payout gives every one of our participants an opportunity to aim for the highest levels, both in terms of the competition itself and the final prize.”

Jody Queen, of Bluefield, WV, captured the inaugural T.O.C. title on Arkansas’ fabled Lake Ouachita back in 2019, cashing a $20,000 first-place check. Like McWhorter, he appreciates how the series has grown with the sport. “Kayak fishing is growing in leaps and bounds,” says Queen, “and it’s great to see Hobie’s purse matching that growth. With tournament payouts like this, there’s no denying this sport is the real deal.”

Ryan Lambert, winner of Hobie’s second T.O.C., held on the Tennessee River in Knoxville, TN, agrees with both McWhorter and Queen. “Wow, this is big news,” says Lambert. “With an additional $10,000 for first place, you’re now seeing  a payout for a 50-person event that’s equivalent to 300-participant pay outs from other organizations. The new payout reflects not only the difficulty in qualifying against such great competition, but also the challenge of winning against what could arguably be the best 50 kayak anglers in the country.”

Lambert notes the Hobie B.O.S. trail as being the most prestigious kayak fishing series in North America, and says the T.O.C., in particular, is in a league of its own. “There’s not another season ending event that is on the same scale as the Hobie T.O.C.,” he explains, “and the competition gets more intense every year. You really have to bring your A-game to be competitive in this field. With a bigger purse, I think you’ll be seeing some traditional bass anglers crossing over into kayak fishing and collegiate anglers choosing the kayak route. This is going to elevate everyone while helping the sport to continue to grow.”

Kristine Fischer took home a $35,000 check and the Hobie T.O.C. 2021 crown last November on Alabama’s Lake Eufaula, and she couldn’t be more excited to learn of Hobie’s new $100,000 guaranteed payout.

“Holy cow, that is a big deal,” she states. “I realized when I first started out on this trail that Hobie and tournament director A.J. McWhorter were carefully playing the long game by planning for steady growth. Now, to see the participation, the payouts and caliber of anglers that have rallied behind the Hobie B.O.S. increase so much over the years is really something special. It’s just incredible to see how far we’ve come.”

For his part, McWhorter couldn’t be more pleased. Winning the T.O.C. $45,000 first-place prize, he explains, can change the trajectory of an angler’s year – or even career – while potentially allowing them to fulfill dreams of becoming more professional fisherman in the kayak space.

That, concludes Fischer, is right on point. “This larger purse speaks highly of the limitless opportunities available to us,” she says definitively. “It truly lets us know there is a future in professional, even full-time, kayak fishing and that’s really exciting. I can’t wait to defend my crown this fall.”

For it all to come to a head with so much at stake on renown Caddo Lake in Shreveport, Louisiana – one of the hottest bass waters in the country – is sure to make for a super-exciting finale to the 2022 Hobie B.O.S. Sponsored by Power-Pole season. Who will make the cut and cash out on top? Only time will tell, but the journey certainly promises to be a blast.


Michael Neal Clinches Win at Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Guaranteed Rate Stop 1 on Sam Rayburn Reservoir

Dayton, Tennessee Pro Grabs Second Consecutive Major Win of His Career, Takes Home Top Prize of $100,000

BROOKELAND, Texas (Jan. 30, 2022) – Continuing to roll his momentum from one year to the next, reigning 2021 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Angler of the Year (AOY) Michael Neal of Dayton, Tennessee brought a five-bass-limit to the scale Sunday weighing 26 pounds, 5 ounces to win the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me Guaranteed Rate Stop 1 at Sam Rayburn Reservoir Presented by Ark Fishing. With weights zeroed on the final day, Neal’s limit of 26-5 earned him the win by a whopping 8-pound, 3-ounce margin over pro Josh Bragg of Jacksonville, Alabama and the top prize of $100,000.

With back-to-back major career wins across two pro trails, Neal is quickly becoming a dominant force in the sport of bass fishing, finishing the 2021 season with a win at the MLF Bass Pro Tour Carparts.com Stage Seven at Lake St. Clair Presented by Covercraft and taking the 2021 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit AOY title, before cruising to his most recent win on Sam Rayburn Reservoir.

“It’s exciting to just pick up right where I left off last year,” said Neal. “I don’t know how long this streak will continue but it’s been a great two years so far.

“I think the reason my fishing has picked up so much last year and this year is just the amount of time I’m spending on the water,” continued Neal. “Fishing both the Pro Circuit and the Bass Pro Tour, I fished more than 20 tournaments last year and I’m looking at about the same number of events this year as well. You’ve got to be versatile, and I definitely struggled with that early on in my career, wanting to fish with big rods and big line all the time, but I’m learning to let the fish tell me what they’re going to do and to not try to force things.”

With an 8-pound, 9-ounce kicker to start the final day, Neal seemed to be more than happy following what the fish wanted to do.

“That fish really whipped me,” said Neal. “It took a long time to get it in the boat – it seemed like 10 minutes. I was trying to stay where I was to keep fishing that spot, but once that fish came up and I saw how big it was, I decided to go chase it down.

“It’s been a great week and it’s taken a long time to get to this point, but momentum is everything. We’ve spent a lot of time on this stage coming in second and third, but I finally got the monkey off my back in the Pro Circuit and that feels really good.

“I thought there would be a couple 20-pound-bags today, but 26-5 is a big bag,” continued Neal. “I knew whoever was going to win was going to have to have five good bites, and I was fortunate enough to have five good bites. I actually lost a couple more that would have really helped my bag out, but in the end, I didn’t need them.”

Neal said on Day 1 he caught pretty much everything on a spinning rod and a drop-shot, fishing out deeper at 20 to 22 feet, but his strategy changed as the tournament progressed.

“They seemed to pull up a little bit on Day 3, up in that 8- to 12-foot range,” said Neal. “I caught one on a Big Bite Baits Suicide Shad Swimbait, another one on a SPRO John Crews Little John MD 50 Crankbait and a couple others on a jerkbait. I caught all of my fish on a jerkbait today.”

Neal said he found a lot of his fish during the tournament, just trolling around looking at his Lowrance ActiveTarget Sonar.

“I’m really looking forward to the start of the Bass Pro Tour,” said Neal. “I want to see if we can keep this momentum going for the whole 2022 season.”

The top 10 pros at the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Guaranteed Rate Stop 1 on the Sam Rayburn Reservoir finished:

1st:           Michael Neal of Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 26-5, $100,000
2nd:          Josh Bragg of Jacksonville, Ala., five bass, 18-2, $30,000
3rd:          Randy Despino of Colfax, La., five bass, 16-11, $25,000
4th:           Spencer Shuffield of Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 14-6, $20,000
5th:           Evan Barnes of Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 13-2, $19,000
6th:           Josh Butler of Hayden, Ala., five bass, 11-12, $18,000
7th:           Pete Ponds of Madison, Miss., five bass, 11-1, $17,000
8th:           Dylan Hays of Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 10-7, $16,000
9th:           Jeff Bridges of Prosper, Texas, five bass, 10-4, $15,000
10th:        Matt Becker of Finleyville, Pa., four bass, 9-15, $14,000

For a full list of results visit MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Overall, there were 49 bass weighing 142 pounds, 1 ounce caught by 10 pros Sunday. The catch included 9 five-bass limits.

The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me Guaranteed Rate Stop 1 at Sam Rayburn Reservoir Presented by Ark Fishing is hosted by the Jasper County Development District.

The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Presented by Fuel Me Guaranteed Rate Stop 1 at Sam Rayburn Reservoir Presented by Ark Fishing will feature live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere on the CBS Sports Network on Saturday, July 2 from 7 to 9 a.m. ET.

In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of anglers typically compete in the two-day opening round on Thursday and Friday. With Friday’s competition canceled due to weather, the full field advanced to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros continued competition on Sunday, where weights were zeroed and the winner was 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.

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 FacebookInstagram and YouTube.