Game on! MLF Launches Fantasy Fishing for 2022 Season
Two Free-To-Play Games Powered by Bally’s Technology Launched at FantasyFishing.com
TULSA, Okla. (Jan. 20, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today the launch of two new free-to-play games, powered by Bally’s Technology. These games offer fans a chance to engage with MLF competition and win great new fishing gear and fishing experiences of a lifetime with Major League Fishing anglers. Both games can be found at FantasyFishing.com.
Phoenix Boats MLF Fantasy Fishing Presented by Abu Garcia allows players to select a team of 10 anglers for each Bass Pro Tour and Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit event, earning points based on how many pounds of bass their anglers catch. Players can create and join private leagues to compete against friends and family, then watch the live streams and SCORETRACKER leaderboard to watch their team racking up the points. After an extremely successful pilot at the final Bass Pro Tour event last season, the Fenwick MLF Predictor Game Presented by Mercury – which challenges players to predict the outcome of various questions in conjunction with Bass Pro Tour events – will also return.
Top prizes for Fantasy Fishing include an all-expense-paid fishing trip with Bass Pro Tour angler Justin Lucas to the season-long winner on the Bass Pro Tour, an all-expense-paid fishing trip with Bobby Lane to the season-long winner on the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, and new Abu Garcia rod and reel combos to the overall top 25 point-scorers in each Bass Pro Tour and Pro Circuit event. The top scoring player in the Predictor Game season-long standings will receive an all-expense paid trip with Edwin Evers, and the overall top 25 point-scorers in each Bass Pro Tour Predictor event will receive a new Fenwick rod.
MLF worked closely to develop the games with SportCaller, a leading global B2B free-to-play game provider and Bally’s Interactive, a division of Bally’s Corporation that operates the omni-channel provider’s sports betting, iGaming, free-to-play, and daily fantasy sports platforms. The launch of the two free-to-play games marks the next phase in the partnership between MLF and Bally’s. Additional games and offerings for MLF and the Bass Pro Tour will be announced in the future.
For complete details and updated information about MLF Fantasy Fishing, visit FantasyFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
USE CODE "fd356ef5" to join the AnglersChannel League for prizes after each event!!
A NEW YEAR BRINGS NEW GEAR, AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Simms Makes Strategic Moves to Build Upon a Record Setting 2021
Bozeman, Mont. (January 19, 2022) – Simms Fishing Products, preeminent manufacturer of waders, outerwear, footwear, and technical apparel in fishing close the books on a record setting 2021 and kick off the new year with a solidified strategic plan designed for exponential growth in 2022 and beyond. In addition to the long awaited release of their Spring 2022 product collection, in January of this year, Simms officially made their foray into specialty retail, and also announced a newly appointed executive team poised to capitalize on the fishing industry’s forward momentum, and the unique opportunities it provides.
“There’s never been a more exciting time to be in the fishing industry,” says Simms CEO, Casey Sheahan. “We are thrilled with our 2021 results, but we are even more excited about what’s in store for 2022. I’m repeatedly humbled and amazed to witness just how relentless our team is and how committed they are to this brand. We’ve faced challenge after challenge but without fail, our team always manages to adapt, overcome, and excel.”
Simms steadfast commitment to provide anglers with the world’s most technologically advanced fishing gear continues with the release of their Spring 2022 product collection.
The new line encompasses fishing focused innovations across all categories and boasts several revolutionary standouts. The most noteworthy — an all-new version of Simms’ most iconic product, the G3 Guide™ Stockingfoot Wader (available in Men’s, Women’s, and a Pant). Built with an incredibly breathable 3-layer upper, the new G3 features an all new, exclusive to Simms 4-layer Gore-Tex® fabric package in the lower portion of the wader. When compared to its predecessor, the new 4-layer fabric has increased tear strength by 7.5%, standard puncture resistance by 23%, pinhole puncture resistance by 84%, and breathability by 33%. The latest iteration also coincides with the 20 year anniversary of G3 being part of the Simms line.
Spring 22 also brings with it a vast array of on-deck and wading footwear options.
Simms ever popular Challenger collection expands with the addition of the all-new Air Vent Shoe, Flip Flop, and 7” Deck Boot. Designed to meet performance demands from conventional and fly anglers fishing from a variety of vessel types, all Challenger footwear provide support and comfort on non-marking platforms that offer superior slip resistance on both wet and dry surfaces.
For river focused anglers, Simms is proud to introduce the all new Guide BOA® Boot. Ruggedly built, the Guide BOA® Boot offers stability and agility that’s bolstered by the precision and convenience derived from its BOA lacing system. Finally, Simms’ footwear collection is rounded out with arguably, the most innovative wading boot they’ve launched to date, the all-new Flyweight Access Boot. Cutting ounces in exchange for grip and stability, the Flyweight Access Boot is powered by a new, exclusive to Simms Vibram® Idrogrip Flex rubber outsole. This revolutionary compound provides more slip resistance than any other rubber outsole Simms has offered. Featuring a lightweight non-absorbent mesh upper, the Flyweight Access provides durability with welded TPU overlays in high abrasion zones and offers support via a comfortable and lightweight web lacing system.
Simms sportswear collection continues to grow with numerous new styles and updated colors in popular inline pieces. While Spring 22 includes performative lifestyle options, Simms has greatly expanded upon an already robust collection of sun protective clothing. New styles such as the SolarFlex® Guide Cooling Hoody, Tech Tees, W’s BugStopper® SolarFlex® Hoody, W’s SolarFlex® Cooling Hoody, and the SolarVent collection boast UPF50 sun protection, moisture wicking capabilities and respectively feature innovative technologies such as cooling fabrics, and built-in protection against bugs that bite back.
Check out the Spring 2022 Product Collection in its entirety by clicking here.
In addition to announcing a new product collection, Simms is also proud to announce their recent acquisition of longtime Bozeman based specialty retailer, Simms at The River’s Edge Fly Shop. Established in 1983, The River’s Edge has been the headquarters for Montana fly fishing since its inception. Under Simms’ ownership, The River’s Edge will continue their longstanding full-service experience, offering guided Montana fly fishing trips, fly tying/casting instruction, and expert product and fishing advice. The recent change in ownership will give Simms better insight on the retail landscape, allow Simms to explore new and innovative merchandising strategies, and receive direct product feedback from their consumers in order to better serve a vast wholesale and retail network.
Shortly after announcing the River’s Edge transaction Simms also announced a new executive leadership roster. The newly appointed team boasts a collective commitment to the continued growth and development of the brand and its employees, but also to the holistic fishing industry and community. Equipped with multiple longstanding conservation and philanthropic partnerships as well as a common understanding of the shared responsibility the group has to positively engage with new generations of anglers, the team of 10 consists of men and women that cumulatively represent almost 300 years of experience in the outdoor / fishing industry.
Ready to make a name for himself.
This week David welcomes in Southern Opens runner up Jacob Foutz to the show to talk about earning his stripes in the Bassmaster Opens and moving up to the Bassmaster Elites for this season. Jacob gives us some insight on his plans and how he intends to make a name for himself in the Pro Fishing World.
Ready to get after it!
This week Chris & the boys welcome in Bassmaster Elite Series Pro and disappointed Cowboys fan Chris Zaldain to the show to talk about his 10th year on tour, what #tackleprep2022 has been like and what's ahead for the CZ Train as it rolls into Florida in a few weeks!
MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Set to Kick Off 2022 Season Opener with Guaranteed Rate Stop 1 on Sam Rayburn Reservoir
158 Professional Anglers to Launch 27th Season and Compete for Top Prize of up to $135,000 and Total Season Purse of More Than $6 Million
BROOKELAND, Texas (Jan. 18, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, is set to return to Brookeland, Texas next week, Jan. 27-30, for the season-opening MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Guaranteed Rate Stop 1 at Sam Rayburn Reservoir Presented by Ark Fishing. In its 27th season, the Pro Circuit features a roster of 160 of the world’s best bass-fishing professionals competing across six regular-season events, each with a top award of up to $135,000.
Hosted by the Jasper County Development District, the tournament marks the first of six regular-season Pro Circuit events and offers competitors a total purse of more than $850,000. The field is also competing for valuable points to qualify for the 2022 Tackle Warehouse TITLE Presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship – held this year on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York – and the coveted Pro Circuit Angler of the Year (AOY) title.
“The Jasper County Development District is proud to welcome the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit to Lake Sam Rayburn,” said Gary Collins, President of Jasper County Development District. “This event is Stop 1 of one of the most prestigious and competitive national bass tournament circuits in existence today. The television broadcast keeps the viewer in the action throughout the tournament, and the fishing tips viewers learn from these pros are beneficial to every weekend fisherman. A top-notch event, on a great lake, promoted by great sponsors. What more could fisherman and viewers ask for from an event during the spring on Lake Rayburn.”
MLF has held 122 tournaments on the renowned bass fishery over the past 28 years, a staggering number that places it neatly inside the top 10 fisheries most visited by MLF.
The event will mark the sixth time the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit has competed on Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Pro Terry Bolton of Benton, Kentucky, holds the record-winning weight on the fishery, bringing home $125,000 in 2019 with a four-day total of 91 pounds, 3 ounces. Pro Nick Lebrun of Bossier City, Louisiana, weighed in a total of 90 pounds, 7 ounces that same year, good for second place. The biggest bass weighed on Sam Rayburn in Pro Circuit history goes to former pro Andy Wicker of Pomaria, South Carolina, who reeled in an 11-pound, 2-ounce whopper in 2019.
The star-studded field of pros includes local anglers Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, Lendell Martin, Jr. of Nacogdoches, Texas, Tommy Dickerson of Orange, Texas and rookie River Lee of Nacogdoches, Texas, along with a full field of returning pros and 22 rookies. They will be joined by 16 anglers that also compete on the Bass Pro Tour, including reigning 2021 Pro Circuit AOY Michael Neal of Dayton, Tennessee and 2021 Lake Okeechobee Pro Circuit champion Skeet Reese of Auburn, California .
In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of 158 anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Thursday and Friday. The top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight will advance to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros, based on cumulative weight from the first three days, will continue competition on Championship Sunday, where weights will be zeroed and anglers will compete in a one-day shootout for the grand prize of up to $135,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers.
Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit angler and accomplished Sam Rayburn pro Dicky Newberry of Houston, Texas, said he spent a lot of time on the reservoir prior to the off-limits cutoff.
“Sam Rayburn has got a tremendous number of fish in it – a huge population of bass, and a lot of really healthy, large bass,” said Newberry. “Unfortunately, the grass is really suffering and there’s less hydrilla in the lake than we’ve had in the past 25 years during this time of year. It can only be found in select areas of the lake, therefore, the fish that are using the grass are getting a lot of pressure right now, which will greatly affect the anglers that choose to fish the grass.”
Despite that fact, Newberry said he believes anglers will be able to play to their strengths and catch fish in a variety of ways, from 30 feet deep all the way up to 2 feet of water.
“It’s going to be wide open during this event and guys will be able to fish pretty much any strength they have,” said Newberry.
Newberry said the Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap in Rayburn Red is always one of the most popular baits on the reservoir this time of year and he suspects it will be one of the big players in this tournament, along with an assortment of Carolina rigs, football jigs and large crankbaits.
Newberry also believes that the weights being zeroed on Day 4, a new rule change for 2022, will be a huge factor during the event and will change the strategy for the anglers.
“I think a good 42 to 44 pounds after Day 3 will make the Top 10,” said Newberry. “The last day is anybody’s guess, but I suspect a solid bag in the mid-20’s on the final day will be strong. This lake can produce 40-pound stringers, but we are going to be here during a lot of the major local tournaments, so that could cut down on a lot of the large stringers.”
Anglers will take off at 7 a.m. CT, Thursday through Sunday, from the Umphrey Family Pavilion located at 5438 RR 255 in Brookeland. Weigh-ins will also be held at the pavilion daily at 3 p.m.Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the live on-the-water action all four days of competition online on MLF NOW! beginning at 7:30 a.m. CT at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit 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.
The 2022 season culminates with the Tackle Warehouse TITLE Presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship, where the top 48 pros in the points standings, along with 2021 TITLE Champion Jimmy Washam and 2021 AOY Michael Neal, will compete for a top prize of $235,000. The 2022 TITLE will be on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York, Aug. 16-21, and is hosted by the Town of Massena.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Kevin VanDam partners with Costa Sunglasses
Professional bass fishing champion and Hall of Fame winner sets sights on industry leading eyewear brand for 2022
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 18, 2022) – Leading performance eyewear brand, Costa Sunglasses, welcomes one of bass fishing's most decorated anglers to its roster, Kevin VanDam. Heading into the 2022 season, VanDam will depend on Costa’s high-performance eyewear for his continued success on the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour.
“I am so excited to be joining the Costa family. No eyewear brand is more committed to anglers than Costa. Their selection of frames, lens options and lens technology is simply the best,” said VanDam. “As a professional angler, my eyewear is a critical part of my gear, and I would never settle for second best. “
VanDam’s name, more commonly referred to as “KVD,” has become synonymous with bass fishing for the last 25 years. In 2018, VanDam was inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. In addition, he is a seven-time B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year champion, Fishing League Worldwide Angler of the Year champion, four-time Bassmaster Classic winner and four-time Major League Fishing winner.
In 2015, Kevin and his wife started the Kevin VanDam Foundation to benefit charitable organizations that focus on children’s health, education and outdoor experiences. Through the foundation they have contributed thousands of dollars to various children’s research hospitals and to the Michigan DNR Outdoor Adventure Center. The Foundation also supports the college fishing movement by sponsoring college events in the Midwest and awarding thousands of dollars in college scholarships.
“Since 1983 Costa has been on a mission to build the best sunglasses for getting out on the water and conserving the waterways and fisheries where we work and play. KVD is not only a legend in the fishing community, but he truly embodies our mission and culture,” said Costa’s Vice President of Marketing, John Acosta. “Aside from being a fierce competitor, Kevin’s passion for getting people on the water, promoting healthy competition and commitment to sustaining the sport for future generations is something we really value here at Costa.”
Last year, the brand expanded its longtime support of bass fishing by introducing the Costa Compete + Conserve contingency program. An industry first, the program not only awards the highest placing angler wearing Costa Sunglasses in select tournament trails, but it also donates to a purpose-aligned organization on the angler’s behalf.
For more information about Costa Sunglasses and its product offering, visit www.costadelmar.com. To learn more about Costa’s Compete + Conserve bass contingency program benefitting conservation, visit www.costacompeteandconserve.com.
About Costa Sunglasses
As the first manufacturer of color-enhancing all-polarized glass sunglass lenses, Costa combines superior lens technology with unparalleled fit and durability. Costa has made the highest quality, best performing sunglasses and prescription sunglasses (Rx) for outdoor enthusiasts since 1983, and now its product portfolio includes optical frames. Costa’s growing cult-brand status ties directly to its purpose to provide high-quality products with a focus on sustainability and conservation as the company works hard to protect the waters it calls home. From the use of sustainable materials to its Kick Plastic initiative, IndiFly Foundation, and strong partnership with shark research organization OCEARCH, Costa encourages people to help protect the Earth’s natural resources in any way they can. Find out more on Costa’s website and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter at @CostaSunglasses.
Bassmaster College Series Kicks Off At Harris Chain
Florida's Harris Chain of Lakes will host the Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops Jan. 21-22, 2022.
Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S.
January 17, 2022
LEESBURG, Fla. — For the first time since Cole Sands and Conner Dimauro’s record-breaking performance in the 2020 College National Championship, the Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops will return to the Harris Chain of Lakes to kick off the 2022 regular season.
The two-man college teams will arrive toward the end of January, one of John Cox’s favorite times of the year to fish the chain.
“That January time is my favorite time to be there,” the third-year Elite Series pro said. “What really happens is dependent on the weather and whether we’ve had a really cold December (and) New Year’s. If it has been cold and we haven’t had many warming trends, it can really dictate a big push of fish on a warming trend that time of year. But in a really mild winter, it doesn’t group them up like it would if it got cold for a couple days and dropped the water temperature. In that case, they will be in all stages. They will be scattered a lot more.”
The Harris Chain will be the first of four regular-season events and a Wild Card event, which will serve as qualifying tournaments for the 2022 Bassmaster College National Championship.
Competition days will be Jan. 21-22 with daily takeoffs from Venetian Gardens in Leesburg at 7:10 a.m. ET and weigh-ins each day at Venetian Gardens at 3:10 p.m. Weigh-in coverage will be streamed on Bassmaster.com.
Containing eight major lakes, the Harris Chain has been a big-bass destination for many years and will also host the 2022 SiteOne Bassmaster Elite at Harris Chain Feb. 17-20. During the 2020 National Championship, which was held in October, Sands and Dimauro sacked up 84 pounds, 12 ounces to secure the largest three-day winning weight in Bassmaster history.
Hailing from DeBary, Fla., Cox guided on the chain for several years and has watched the system evolve. When he started fishing, there was no offshore grass and the Kissimmee grass near the bank was the primary cover. Now, offshore hydrilla dominates in tournaments, even during the spawn.
“It is crazy to watch that lake evolve and (see) how good and healthy it is now that the offshore grass is out there,” Cox said. “You would think, ‘Okay, we’ve got a warming trend coming. These fish are going to hit the bank and spawn.’ But it has constantly been won offshore. It just doesn’t matter what time of year.”
Based on the recent trend, Cox said he expects the winning bag from this event will come from an offshore grass area, although an early spawning event could lead to a big day for a couple of teams. Of the eight lakes that make up the Harris Chain, Cox added it can be won from any of them, but Harris and Little Harris allow anglers to maximize their time.
“It might not be in the middle of the lake like we’ve seen in the past, it could be in 3 to 4 feet,” Cox said. “It depends on how the grass comes in that year and how much they decide to spray it. They are going to be around where they are going to bed. Wherever has the cleanest looking water, that’s more than likely going to be the better fishing.”
The prespawn bass, Cox said, will be targeting shad and shiner, making it a perfect time of year to throw a rattletrap, crankbait and other types of hard baits as well as ChatterBaits. The Carolina rig can also come into play that time of the year.
The Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors and Bassmaster Junior Series will take place on Jan. 23.
The tournaments are being hosted by Lake County, the City of Leesburg and Greater Orlando Sports Commission.
2022 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King
2022 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2022 Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2022 Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Berkley, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2022 Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Huk Performance Fishing, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
2022 Bassmaster College Series Youth Sponsors: Shimano, SPRO
Casting a Shadow..
Courtesy of Vance McCullough
I saw the shadow before I saw the squirrel.
The moving shadow.
Shadows and movement always give the game away.
When I taught my kids to sightfish, I taught them to look for shadows first. The fish may materialize after that, but even if not, you know where they are and may be able to sneak a lure into their path before they see you.
Bass do the same thing. Eyes positioned atop their head; they see what’s above very well. Our shadows and movement could end the game for us if we’re unaware of the fish’s’ position. Nothing spooks fish faster.
But we can use shadows to catch fish as well. One of the biggest revelations of the swimbait game is that the slow, wounded, vulnerable lures work brilliantly when the sun shines brightly. It’s hard to top the drawing power of a large opaque swimbait struggling overhead, casting a shadow through all columns of the water until it reaches the lake floor or dissolves into the depths, it’s cone of influence attracting attention from fish below.
While such lures are often associated with cloud cover and wind - those conditions can create memorable days - don’t overlook the value of a shadow and the ways you can use it to draw bass from big distances on calm, sunny days.
Take advantage of that.
Long rods and braided line increase casting distance, critical when fish are following a bait and need time to decide to attack, as happens constantly with swimbaits. Fluorocarbon lights up like a laser. It is not ‘invisible’ when the sun is beaming on it. Braid. Long, stiff rods will also let you reach out and touch someone when they eat the bait far from the boat.
Shadows.
Moving shadows always betray the prey. And the hunter.
Sometimes the game just comes down to ‘who casts the better shadow?’.
Gray Tapped to Oversee MLF Western Events in 2022
Former Walleye and Longtime Bass Fishing League Tournament Director Alan Gray Adds Western Toyota Series, College Fishing and High School Fishing Events to Duties
BENTON, Ky. (Jan. 13, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today that veteran Phoenix Bass Fishing League Tournament Director Alan Gray has been selected to oversee the league’s western events in 2022, including the Toyota Series, Abu Garcia College Fishing and High School Fishing tournaments. Gray will remain the Tournament Director for the BFL Michigan, Mississippi, Music City and Savannah River divisions in 2022. He will work alongside Toyota Series Tournament Director Mark McWha and Senior Director of Tournament Operations for College and High School Kevin Hunt on his new western responsibilities.
Gray brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Western events, as he has directed hundreds of events in his time with Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) and now MLF. Gray started in the Customer Service department in 2008 before being promoted to the operations staff in 2009. Gray assumed head tournament director duties of the FLW Walleye Tour in 2011 and 2012, then became a full-time Bass Fishing League tournament director in 2013, a role he has held since. Working more than 20 events each season has earned Gray the respect of his peers and the anglers he works with across the country.
“Alan is one of the most dependable, friendliest and efficient tournament directors employed at MLF, and he is beloved by our anglers,” said MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager Kathy Fennel. “We are fortunate to have him as part of our MLF family, and we are excited for him in this new role, where he will ensure a strong MLF presence in the west.”
Gray will oversee a total of nine events out west, starting in early March with the first Western Division events of the year at Lake Havasu. He will work closely with McWha and Hunt to ensure the events run smoothly.
“I have only been out west once before in my life, but I hear the lakes and the areas that we visit are absolutely gorgeous, and I know the fishing is great, so I’m really looking forward to the opportunity,” Gray said.
“I’ve worked dozens of High School tournaments over the years, but this will be the first time I’ve ever worked the College Fishing events,” Gray continued. “I love being around the student anglers – the enthusiasm, the excitement – those events are always extremely rewarding. I’m just excited to get out there and do the job that I’m being put out there to do – run a few great events and get more western anglers out on the water.”
Registration for the western events and all 2022 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E., Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI and High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing tournaments is now open. Anglers can register for the online at MajorLeagueFishing.com or by calling MLF Membership Services at 270.252.1000.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series, Abu Garcia College Fishing and High School Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
AC Rookie Pod with Elite Series Pro Jonathon Kelley
This week David welcomes in Jonathon Kelley to the show to talk about how he got involved in fishing, tournament fishing and eventually qualifying for the Bassmaster Elite Series through the Northern Opens.
Nominations Open For C.A.S.T. For Kids B.A.S.S. Humanitarian Award
Allen Nation, Founder and Executive Director of Adaptive Sports for Kids, was honored with the 2021 C.A.S.T. for Kids B.A.S.S. Humanitarian Award for his decade of work creating sports programs for special needs adults and children.
Photo courtesy of Adaptive Sports for Kids
January 12, 2022
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. and the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation are accepting nominations for their annual humanitarian award recognizing the important work being done by many anglers to support fragile populations. The C.A.S.T. for Kids B.A.S.S. Humanitarian Award will honor one B.A.S.S. member who has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to serving groups such as children with special needs, veterans, abuse survivors or any people who need extra help and support.
“We are proud to collaborate with the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation to honor the many volunteers in both of our organizations who make such a positive impact in their communities,” said B.A.S.S. chairman and CEO Chase Anderson. “While only one person will receive this award, we hope it will spotlight the incredible work being done by so many of our members across the country.”
The 2021 C.A.S.T. for Kids B.A.S.S. Humanitarian Award honored Allen Nation, Founder and Executive Director of Adaptive Sports for Kids during the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk. Nation, of Orange, Texas, was selected by a panel of judges from a strong field of nominations for his deep commitment to encourage kids of all ability levels to get outdoors.
“Having a daughter with special needs and enjoying playing a sport, it was only natural to do what was needed to make that happen,” said Nation. “There isn’t a better feeling than watching a child smile after playing a sport they never thought they could or would. They feel a sense of belonging. We get the pleasure to see these athletes grow in size, age, maturity and their abilities through the years.”
Adaptive Sports for Kids is a nonprofit founded in 2011 that gives children and adults with special needs the opportunity to play sports they may not otherwise be able to play, all at no cost to them. Each athlete is partnered with a “buddy” volunteer who will help their athlete with whatever they need; whether it’s batting, running, pushing their wheelchair or just playing alongside them.
To be considered for the award, a B.A.S.S. member must be nominated by February 4, 2022. Any member doing exemplary community service will be considered. The nomination form can be found at Bassmaster.com/award.
The Executive Director of the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation is Bassmaster Elite Series pro Jay Yelas, who is one of the most decorated anglers in the sport. After serving on the Foundation’s Board of Directors for 10 years, Yelas took over as Executive Director in 2015.
“The sport of bass fishing is full of folks with big hearts who enjoy serving others; we meet them all the time at C.A.S.T. for Kids events,” said Yelas. “I think it’s significant that the C.A.S.T. for Kids B.A.S.S. Humanitarian Award exists to recognize and show appreciation to those in the B.A.S.S. family who serve their community well.”
Judges from both B.A.S.S. and the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation will review all nominations as well as verify the humanitarian work of the honoree. It is important to note that, while C.A.S.T. for Kids focuses on giving special needs kids fishing opportunities, the nominations are open to B.A.S.S. members doing any form of good work to help a fragile population. The winner will be announced as part of the festivities surrounding March’s Bassmaster Classic in Greenville, S.C.
About C.A.S.T. for Kids
The C.A.S.T. for Kids program has been proven to enrich the lives of children with special needs by hosting events that prove children with disabilities can accomplish anything. These events allow them to enjoy a unique fishing and boating event, one where they can leave their cares on shore and feel “normal” for a day. The events have many lasting benefits. The kids feel genuinely loved, valued and accepted by their community, and are celebrated as winners at an awards ceremony. The Foundation has seen tremendous positive improvements in growing their social skills and overcoming behavioral issues through their interactions at events with community volunteers and children of similar disabilities. Encouraging the kids with a team-oriented approach, the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation has enhanced the lives of over 120,000 kids over the last three decades. To learn more, visit castforkids.org.
Strike King and Lew’s Announce Additions to Pro Staff
Rather Outdoors is pleased to welcome ten members to the Pro Teams of Strike King Lure Company and Lew’s. These ten join the ranks of one of the most accomplished rosters in professional competitive fishing.
First, Strike King announces that Major League Fishing pro Brent Chapman will join the team in 2022. The Kansas native is the 2012 Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year, with four first place Major League Fishing victories and an impressive 36 Top Ten career finishes.
Major League Fishing pro Scott Suggs, winner of the 2007 Forrest Wood Cup and top finishes in both FLW and MLF, also joins the family at Lew’s and Strike King. Notably, Suggs is the first angler ever to win a million-dollar event, the Forrest Wood Cup Championship, as well as the first Major League Select to win a Major League Cup.
Team Lew’s is pleased to welcome MLF Bass Pro Tour veteran Todd Faircloth. The Texan has long been a member of the Pro Team at Strike King, and now brings his six wins and 45 Top Ten finishes to Lew’s. Aside from the impressive finishes Faircloth has racked up in his 24 years as a professional angler, he also has 17 Bassmaster Classic appearances on his record.
MLF pro Marty Robinson joins the ranks of the Strike King Pro Staff in 2022. The South Carolinian comes to the team with 23 Top Ten finishes in his career, including two Bass Fishing League wins and top finishes in the Toyota Series. Robinson most recently battled to a first-place finish at the MLF 2021 Summit Cup on one of his home fisheries in South Carolina, the legendary Lake Murray.
Strike King and Lew’s are also pleased to welcome several newcomers to the professional ranks, anglers who have proven themselves on the water during their first seasons in the majors. Alabama native Josh Stracner, who recently earned the title of 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie of the Year, joins the teams, as does 22-year-old Jay Przekurat, who months ago qualified for 2022 Elite Series, becoming one of the youngest in the sport to do so. North Carolina’s KJ Queen, currently in his second season in the Bassmaster Elite Series, is a tournament veteran, competing locally and regionally since age seven. Rookie Tristan McCormick, a seasoned competitor and Champion of the 2021 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Tournament, has just earned a coveted berth in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic. Alabama pro Justin Hamner, who cut his teeth battling in Junior World Championships and the Bassmaster Opens, joins Team Lew’s as his first year in the Bassmaster Elite Series draws to a close and having just qualified for the Classic.
Rounding out the rookie class is Illinois native Trey McKinney. By far the youngest competitor on the Strike King and Lew’s team, Trey doesn’t lack the passion and grit, nor the resume to back up his placement on such a high-profile roster. Still in his teens, Trey has three career wins and seven Top Ten’s. He competes in the Illini Division of the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League.
Lew’s and Strike King are excited to grow their legendary ranks. CEO Ken Eubanks explains: “We are exceptionally proud of our Pro Team, and we invest a lot of time and energy in building the very best. We are honored to welcome iconic names like Chapman, Suggs, Faircloth and Robinson – gentlemen who have spent decades cultivating this sport and sharing their passion with others. Likewise, we could not be more pleased to earn the support and trust of a new generation of accomplished competitors. We are excited about the enthusiasm and innovation they bring.”
Cale Hired As New Bassmaster Youth Series Tournament Manager
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Veteran youth tournament manager Glenn Cale has been hired as the B.A.S.S. Nation Tournament Manager-College, High School and Junior, officials announced today. In this role, Cale will report to B.A.S.S. Nation Director Jon Stewart and will be responsible for both managing and helping to grow the popular Bassmaster youth circuits.
“We are excited to welcome Glenn to the home office as the new youth Tournament Manager,” said Stewart. “He has already been a part of the B.A.S.S. family as the Florida Youth Director and has done many great things with that program on the state level.
“I am confident his experience on the state level, as well as his passion and love for youth fishing, will serve all of the B.A.S.S. youth programs well!”
Prior to accepting the Tournament Manager position, Cale served as the Florida B.A.S.S. Nation Youth and College Director beginning in 2018 and as the Florida B.A.S.S. Nation State Tournament Director from 2015-2018. Under Cale’s leadership, participation in the youth tournaments tripled.
According to Cale, that growth can be attributed to ideas borrowed from the Elite Series: “We wanted to change the mindset of what a youth tournament looks like and more closely mirror the Elite Series stage and integrate a jumbotron for weigh-ins; really make Florida events more of a show for the kids.
“Working with Bassmaster is all about providing a platform for the best kids in the country to show off their fishing skills,” said Cale. “It’s an honor to share the stage with the future of the sport, and I am looking forward to bringing new ideas to the college, high school and junior ranks at all levels while representing the B.A.S.S. shield.”
In his professional life, Cale spent eight years as an umpire for Major League Baseball and 16 years as a District Sales Manager for the Southeast Toyota Service Rite Program.
The Strike King Bassmaster College Series kicks off next weekend with a two-day college tournament Jan. 21-22 on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes, with the Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Junior Series taking the stage in Leesburg on Sunday, Jan. 23.
Plano Expands Popular Stealth EVA Storage Line
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#Beyond The Boat
This week Chris and the boys welcome in your first winners for 2022 in the Emmanuel College team of TJ McKenzie and Seth Jenkins. They break down the Harris Chain for us and talk about what #Beyondtheboat Means to them.
Ron Ryals on the power of the Fluke
Courtesy of Vance McCullough
A popular guide on Florida’s famed Bienville Plantation, Ron Ryals often puts a fluke in the hands of a client, knowing they will soon be handling big bass as well. He doesn’t need shiners to produce memorable trips on the well-managed lakes that also serve as a great laboratory for the exploration of various techniques.
“All we use is artificials,” declares Ryals. The teacher is also a student, studying how different customers use the fluke. Likewise, he’s been taken to school by co-anglers throwing flukes behind him in his boat on competition days. All of this has helped Ryals to refine his approach with this simple piece of plastic, a tool he relies on heavily when fishing the Bassmaster Eastern Opens.
“I throw a fluke more than anything else,” says Ryals. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in it. I’ve always got one tied on.”
Co-anglers commonly follow the sport’s best pros with a fluke and rack up impressive weights. Once they make the jump to the front deck, the vast majority of these same anglers inexplicably stash the soft jerks in favor of more ‘sophisticated’ lures and techniques.
Ryals is not among them.
While the fluke has played a major role for him on Florida fisheries such as the Kissimmee Chain and Harris Chain, Ryals has used the simple lure to great advantage all across the nation for fun and profit. “Illinois, especially Rend Lake, Texas, Oklahoma, New York. I had a really good time on the Potomac River with them, fishing big grass flats at the mouths of major creeks,” he shares.
Perhaps most memorable for Ryals is the tournament, and again, the technique, that launched him into serious tournament competition. “It was in the fall,” he begins. “I was fishing the Paralyzed Veterans of America trail – you don’t have to be a veteran to fish them – and I threw a double fluke rig to place 7th on Clark’s Hill. That gave me the Angler of the Year title for the PVA trail which also qualified me for the 2010 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on the Red River. That river was very intimidating, and I didn’t do well but I watched Brandon Palaniuk win that tournament and qualify for the Classic and the Elite Series. We see where he is now. That experience gave me a lot of confidence. Up until that point, I had only fished the Opens a little bit. The fluke played a huge roll in all of that.”
Away from the pressures of tournament angling, the fluke produced a 10-pound, 9-ounce bass for Ryals from the Suwannee River while he was fun fishing near his home in Live Oak, Fla. Sasquatch sightings are more common than 10-pound bass along the river which drains from the Okefenokee Swamp, a hot spot for Big Foot encounters. The Suwannee is a much better place to catch numbers of spirited, smaller bass. Ryals is justifiably proud of his unusually large fish and the technique that produced it in an unlikely location, though true fluke practitioners are rarely surprised at their success.
Ryals says patience, or lack thereof, is likely the only thing that stops more tournament anglers from using it in competition. Soft jerkbaits seem to take too much precious time for many hyped-up fishing pros. “We fish one for fun all the time but in a tournament, sometimes we feel like we need to cover a hundred yards of bank in five minutes,” admits Ryals.
As a result, he sees “very few” competitors using it. Ryals is fine with that. He enjoys a high level of comfort when fishing behind other competitors. “I know I can go down the bank and pick up fish they are missing,” he grins.
As much as anglers hate to admit it, even on the best days, bass spend most hours in something other than all-out feeding mode. “If they’re not wanting to chase those moving baits as much, even though they’re chasing shad, if you twitch it, kill it and just let it sink down for a couple of feet that’s when they’re gonna eat it if they’re pressured, in my experience fishing behind somebody,” shares Ryals. “Twitch it, let it sink down, twitch it again, let it sink down – it’s different than a moving bait. They think ‘huh, that’s a little different. That’s a dying shad or herring.’ They’ll pick it up and you’re good to go.”
While the fluke may be the ultimate imitation of a dying baitfish during a winter shad kill, don’t make the mistake saving it for only the slowest times. It is among the most multifaceted lures ever devised and can be adapted to fit most any situation. “I literally fish it twelve months out of the year,” says Ryals. “In the spring you can pitch it across a bed, let it sink down and they’ll think it’s trying to mess with the bed. Then, especially at Bienville when we’re guiding, those fish will start schooling right after they come off the spawn and you can work it just as fast as you want to on top of the water with it jumping and darting everywhere and they really like it like that. The fluke is also great in the fall time when shad start bunching up in pockets.”
Ryals prefers the power of baitcasting gear to spinning outfits for the weightless presentation. “I like a 6’ 9” medium heavy baitcasting rod - Lew’s rods and reels have worked well for me - twelve-pound fluorocarbon line with a number twelve swivel about a foot, maybe fourteen inches, up the line.”
The swivel is an important component for Ryals. The extra weight gets the lure down to make it more efficient but also protects his line. “I originally did it just for the twist. The fluke spins in the water some, especially if it’s torn up or caught a few fish, but the swivel adds some weight too. It also adds a different action to it that I like.”
As for the question of when to set the hook, “I just make sure it’s heavy,” says Ryals. “I kind of give it a little bit and then set the hook. I don’t give them very long at all, but whether I feel that thump or see the blow up, I just make sure it’s heavy and then set the hook.”
The hook he’s setting these days is a 4/0 Mustad Grip-Pin Big Bite Soft Plastic Hook. It’s stealthy, especially when compared to an EWG style often favored by anglers for soft plastics. He believes a hook can be too big for the fluke, but the Big Bite model fits perfectly. “It comes right to the back of the hook pocket (in the lure), right before the bait gets thin.” The taper of the hook, combined with a modest bend, helps to give the lure a cone-shaped head which comes through cover well while keeping the plastic pinned. “That little epoxy bead near the eye of the hook holds the bait really well when you pop it or twitch it out of the grass.
“I tried wide gap hooks and I ended up losing more fish or didn’t get a good hookset and I just went back to the offset, round bend hook. It’s worked.”
Weather-wise, a breeze is helpful, but strong wind is the major limiting factor for this technique. It makes casting difficult, blows a big bow in the line that moves the lightweight offering out of the strike zone quickly and makes strike detection a challenge. Ryals has some great advice for fishing an unweighted fluke in the wind: “Don’t!”
Water clarity is another factor to consider. The clearer the water, the stronger the drawing power of the soft jerkbait.
Ryals is pretty basic in his size, brand, color selection. “I use the normal size, what are they, 5 inches? And I use a couple different brands, Zoom, and the one made by Bitter’s is good too.”
Watermelon red and watermelon candy are mainstays for Ryals who feels those colors represent a variety of baitfish, as does the fluke in general. He did use the pearl white color in the aforementioned tourney on Clarks Hill but said that he was imitating blueback herring, prevalent in the clear waters of the Savannah River impoundment, more so than shad. “I think the bass see it as any type of bait fish. It can kind of copy any of them. It depends more on how you work it and what you do with it than on color. You can work it slow, almost like a Senko – twitch it a little bit and let it sink down a ways or you can work it on top if they’re chasing bait on the surface. It’s pretty versatile in my opinion.
“Once you have the patience to throw it.”
Keith Carson Shares Spawn Techniques
By Justin Brouillard
When Keith was 17 years old growing up in Florida, he and close friend John Cox began to learn how to sight fish. It was 2004 when the duo started to expand on their skills and in 2005 they won the AOY in the Central Florida Bass Anglers club. The fire was lit, and Carson has since fine-tuned his craft and is successful in locating and catching big spawning bass.
The Technique
Carson has tried many different approaches over the years but seems to find himself having a great deal of success with one in particular. After studying baitfish and brim over his career, he learned how bass react to baitfish on their beds before and after the eggs have been laid.
“Brim are around the bass beds constantly during the spawn, patiently waiting to sneak in and grab a quick meal while the bass is not looking. I noticed how the bass reacts when this happens and have adapted an approach that takes advantage of the presence of brim.”
Carson likes to fish a Berkley Powerbait® Gilly around the spawn as he can closely mimic baitfish of different species. Prior to the laying of the eggs, the Debary, Florida angler Texas rigs his swimbait weightless as it keeps the bait higher in the strike zone for fish that are preparing to spawn.
“I will pitch that Gilly to the far side of the bed, let it sink and slowly swim it across the bed, killing it near the middle. I'll then hop it up and down and it usually gets finicky bass that have yet to lay eggs to bite. After they lay eggs, I'll add a weight to my presentation to keep the bait on the bottom where the eggs are.”
In Carson's experience, certain bass will sit outside the bed on purpose and let the brim swim in. Once enough are there, the fish will swim in and start knocking them off. By having a bait that looks like the brim, and waiting until other brim are on the bed, when the bass begins to chase the brim away, the Gilly remains and is often an easy meal for an angry fish.
“I used to start with jigs (they resemble a bluegill) or the Berkley General, but they wouldn't eat it in this case because it doesn't look enough like the baitfish. By using the Gilly, it's certainly opening doors to new possibilities to catching fish we have not seen before.”
Carson notes this tactic is not always quick, in some cases one cast can take longer than five minutes. After casting beyond the bed, it requires patience to present the bait simultaneously as other brim start to make their way in. Once you get it dialed, the fish will swim in, the brim scatter and the fish eat the bait.
Gear
Carson relies on two main set ups for his spawn fishing technique. The same rod and reel combo works for both, but changing between different lines allows him to present his baits to spawning fish in different cover and water clarity.
“Florida bass will spawn in thick cover in and around the Kissimmee grass and holes in hydrilla. When I set the hook, they always try to get you wrapped up and the percentage of landing those fish drastically goes down. In that situation, for thick cover, I use a 40-pound Berkley X5 braided line on a Zenon high-speed reel. I use a 7’6” Fantasista medium-heavy action rod all the time.”
When fishing in more open water scenarios, along the edges of the Kissimmee grass and out from it, Carson will throw the Gilly on 20-pound Berkley Big Game monofilament. A strong line for fish that often weigh over 7-pounds, monofilament is strong and will not break with big fish. If the water is cleaner, which often is when a natural spring is close by, Carson will reach for Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon in a 20-pound test.
Why medium-heavy?
“For me, the medium-heavy is better than heavier model rods because the Fantasista still has the power and bend to get big fish to the boat, but I feel like I lose and break off less fish by using the lighter power rod.”
Costa Sunglasses names John Acosta Vice President of Marketing
Acosta is tapped to lead global marketing efforts for the performance eyewear brand.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 11, 2022) – Costa Sunglasses, manufacturer of the first color-enhancing all-polarized glass sunglass lens, appointed industry veteran John Acosta as its Vice President of Marketing. With more than 20 years of experience in the outdoor and fishing industries, Acosta will oversee Costa’s global marketing efforts creating a consistent brand experience in every channel of its business.
Acosta brings a deep knowledge and connection to the fishing industry, as well as experience in branding, storytelling and grassroots marketing to his position. He joins the team as Costa comes off a year of record growth and looks ahead to the new year with a continued commitment to support its core community of anglers and water enthusiasts, while also growing the brand globally and in the outdoor market.
“We’re looking forward to working with John to not only continue expanding our brand globally, but to engage more directly with our core fans – the anglers, adventurers and explorers who live to be on the water,” said Justin Cupps, Senior Vice President at Costa. “Of course we’ve joked about how fitting his last name is (Acosta), but honestly, having John come on board – with his considerable talent, energy and industry reputation – is a huge win for Costa.”
Before joining Costa, Acosta served as the Vice President of Marketing & Business Development at Major League Fishing (MLF) where he was responsible for brand building and strategic partnerships to elevate the MLF brand and its platforms. Prior to MLF, Acosta served as the Director of Marketing for Bass Pro Shops for 12 years. In that role, Acosta was responsible for all broad-reach marketing initiatives — media, sports, entertainment, partnerships, sponsorships, brand marketing and content — helping to elevate the national profile of the Bass Pro Shops brand as it became an industry-leading outdoor retailer. John also spent time in various leadership positions at ad agencies in Chicago, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Boston and Springfield.
“At first I was bummed to hear Acosta was leaving Major League Fishing. He was a big part of the team,” said Casey Ashley, professional bass fisherman and Costa pro. “I was kind of thinking ‘who stole our guy?’ Then, I heard he was going to be a part of the Costa team and I couldn’t have been happier. I’ve been a part of the Costa team for a long time and it’s a family of hard working people that are passionate about what they do. I think he will fit right in.”
“Costa is such an incredible brand. Their commitment to building the best products, topped with their widespread efforts to protect waterways, fisheries and coastal communities, makes it a dream opportunity,” said Acosta. “With interest and participation in fishing growing right now, it’s an exciting time for the industry and brand. I’m honored to jump in amongst such a talented team.”
About Costa Sunglasses
As the first manufacturer of color-enhancing all-polarized glass sunglass lenses, Costa combines superior lens technology with unparalleled fit and durability. Costa has made the highest quality, best performing sunglasses and prescription sunglasses (Rx) for outdoor enthusiasts since 1983, and now its product portfolio includes optical frames. Costa’s growing cult-brand status ties directly to its purpose to provide high-quality products with a focus on sustainability and conservation as the company works hard to protect the waters it calls home. From the use of sustainable materials to its Kick Plastic initiative, IndiFly Foundation, and strong partnership with shark research organization OCEARCH, Costa encourages people to help protect the Earth’s natural resources in any way they can. Find out more on Costa’s website and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter at @CostaSunglasses.
MLF Korea's Television Broadcast of 2021 Toyota Series Championship
From MLF
MLF Korea has posted their version of the Toyota Series Championship show that is airing on MBC Korea, one of the leading television and radio companies in South Korea." It's very cool to see the unique way that they put their show together." Says Joe Opager, director of communications for Major League Fishing.
You can view the show below on their Facebook and/or their YouTube page.
https://www.facebook.com/1003362593088075/posts/4730824330341864
Here is a link directly to the episode, available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/_WqGz1Qb6pg
LurePartsOnline.com Sponsors American Bass Anglers
Athens, AL – January 5, 2022 – American Bass Anglers announced today the sponsorship of LurePartsOnline.com as a supporting sponsor and the Official Lure Parts partner of American Bass Anglers.
Bass anglers all over the planet love building their own lures and even repairing their most prized lures. LurePartsOnline.com offers more than 40,000 different parts to help anglers accomplish their goals.
Anglers can build premium tackle with the products and lure components and hard-to-find items the company offers. ABA members will discover that LuresPartsOnline is a complete source for fishing lure components and bulk items they need.
“Many of our members have been building their own lures for years and winning tournaments with them, LurePartsOnline.com will help them build lures even more successfully. LurePartsOnline.com is also the right place for the beginning lure builder to start. We are proud to have them as a sponsor”, said Morris Sheehan, President of American Bass Anglers.
LurePartsOnline.com CEO, Ron Stevens, agreed. “The ABA is a natural fit for us. We carry everything bass anglers need to create, improve and modify their lures and tackle.” He added, “We offer tournament bass anglers the opportunity to fine tune their presentations to a very high degree. Small changes can mean a big difference at weigh-in.”
LurePartsOnline.com was established in 1992 and is celebrating 30 years in the business. It all began in a garage and has since grown into the nation’s largest supplier of lure making, rod building, and fly tying supplies. Headquartered in Springfield, Il, LurePartsOnline.com now sells to avid anglers all over the world.
American Bass Anglers is sponsored by Caymas Boats, Mercury Marine, T-H Marine, Garmin Electronics, Power Pole, Lucas Oil, Monster Energy, REKS Sunglasses, Optima Batteries, Hotel Planner.com, and LurePartsOnline.com.
Marion County Bassmasters Wins First MLF High School Fishing Open of 2022 on Harris Chain of Lakes
LEESBURG, Fla. (Jan. 10, 2022) – The Marion County Bassmasters High School team of Claude Loftin of St. Augustine, Florida, and Tyson Verkaik of Eustis, Florida, brought five bass to the scale Saturday weighing 19 pounds, 14 ounces, to win the season-opening MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open at the Harris Chain of Lakes.
A field of 28 teams competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which launched from the Venetian Gardens in Leesburg. In MLF and The Bass Federation (TBF) High School Fishing competition, the top 10% of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.
The top two teams that advanced to the 2022 High School Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Marion County Bass Masters – Claude Loftin, St. Augustine, Fla., and Tyson Verkaik, Eustis, Fla., five bass, 19-14
2nd: Central Florida Youth Anglers – Logan Cardwell, Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla., and Kaden Snavely, Grand Island, Fla., five bass, 18-6
Rounding out the top 10 teams were:
3rd: Hidden Lake Big Bass – Dalton Defilice, Howe, Ind., and Elijah Meyers, Fort Wayne, Ind., five bass, 17-1
4th: Gainesville High School, Gainesville, Fla. – Julian Mendoza and Reginald Moore, five bass, 16-13
5th: Bass Tactix HS Fishing – Chance Shelby, Denim Springs, La., and Levi Thibodaux, Thibodaux, La., five bass, 16-9
6th: TSA Teen Sport Fishing Association – Patrick Bartolotta, Lake Mary, Fla., and Brady Biles, Sanford, Fla., five bass, 13-8
7th: Fishing Buddies – Isaac Dorland, Dunnellon, Fla., and Jason Haynes, Fruitland Park, Fla., five bass, 13-6
8th: Salt Homeschool Group – Drew Bradstreet and Kamden Bradstreet, both of Lutz, Fla., five bass, 13-3
9th: Rhea County High School, Evensville, Tenn. – Andon Goins and Blake Wheat, five bass, 12-14
10th: West Morgan High School, Trinity, Ala. – Ty Carruth and Lake Johnson, five bass, 12-12
Complete results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open at the Harris Chain of Lakes was hosted by Lake County, Florida. The next event for High School Fishing anglers will be the MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open on Toledo Bend, Jan. 22, in Many, Louisiana.
MLF High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing tournaments are free, two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and are open to any MLF and TBF Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school club. The top 10% of teams at each Open event, along with the TBF High School Fishing state championships, will advance to the 2022 High School Fishing National Championship. The 2022 MLF High School Fishing National Championship will be held on Pickwick and Wilson Lakes in Florence, Alabama, June 22-25, and is hosted by the Florence-Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The High School Fishing National Champions will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice and advance to the 2022 MLF Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular High School Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Casteel Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Season Opener on Sam Rayburn Reservoir
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Boater Austin Casteel of Sulphur, Louisiana, and Strike-King co-angler J.J. Matzke of League City, Texas
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League City’s Matzke Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
BROOKELAND, TEXAS (Jan. 10, 2022) – Boater Austin Casteel of Sulphur, Louisiana, caught five bass Saturday weighing 19 pounds, 3 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine season opener on Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Casteel earned $6,000 for his victory. “The lake is fishing tough right now, and I knew the wind was going to be kicking, so I just tried to make the right decisions,” Casteel said. “It was tough.” The win was Casteel’s first entry as a boater – his only previous Major League Fishing BFL event was as a Strike King co-angler. Casteel said he relied on a drop-shot rig tipped with a watermelon red Zoom Finesse Worm during the tournament to bag his limit. “I caught my kicker fish on my fourth or fifth cast of the day,” Casteel said. “The only pressure I felt after that was that I didn’t want to catch just one big fish.” Casteel said he boated 30 to 40 fish during the course of the day. “The only time it kind of slowed up was when a storm blew through and it was tough to get bit,” Casteel said. “But as soon as that started calming down, they started biting again.” The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in: 1st: Austin Casteel, Sulphur, La., five bass, 19-3, $6,000 Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com. Elliott caught 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 $1,000. J.J. Matzke of League City, Texas, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $3,000 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 21 pounds, 4 ounces. The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were: 1st: J.J. Matzke, League City, Texas, five bass, 21-4, $3,000 Singleton caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 8 pounds, 14 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 Oct. 20-22 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma. Boaters will compete for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Regional Championships where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. The 2022 All-American will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour. 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. |
Emmanuel College Wins MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Opener on Harris Chain of Lakes
LEESBURG, Fla. (Jan. 10, 2022) – The Emmanuel College duo of Seth Jenkins of Townville, South Carolina, and T.J. McKenzie of Andrews, South Carolina, won the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on the Harris Chain of Lakes Friday with a five-bass limit weighing 25 pounds, 14 ounces. The victory earned the Lion’s bass club $2,000 and a slot in the 2023 MLF College Fishing National Championship.
A total of 189 teams participated in this event, which was the largest season-opening field in MLF College Fishing history.
The Emmanuel College team had hoped to bag a limit of 30 pounds during competition, but their five fish weighed enough to give them a 1-ounce victory over Webber International University.
“We had the mindset that we didn’t want to come in with less than 30 pounds, because that’s what usually wins these college tournaments,” Jenkins said. “That was our complete drive all week.
“We had two offshore spots that we fished all day, and we alternated between those two spots every hour and a half,” Jenkins added. “We had people fishing down our stretches all day, but they were power-fishing and we were fishing slow. We probably spent a minute and a half on each cast.”
Jenkin said his bait of choice was a 6th Sense Ridge Worm, while McKenzie focused on a Zoom Speed Worm.
“We know for a fact there are bigger fish where we were fishing,” Jenkins said. “I think if we would have had two more hours we probably would have caught a fish over 8 pounds. But that didn’t happen.
“Our whole conversation idling back through the canal was that we were expecting a top-10 finish. We weren’t expecting to win, but we kept grinding all day.”
The top 10 teams that advanced to the 2023 College Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Emmanuel College – Seth Jenkins of Townville, South Carolina, and T.J. McKenzie of Andrews, South Carolina, five bass, 25-14, $2,000
2nd: Webber International University – Vincent Maffei, Lake Wales, Fla., and Andrew Ready, Auburndale, Fla., five bass, 25-13, $1,000
3rd: Florida Gateway College – Zack Barrera, Morriston, Fla., and Bryson Osteen, Live Oak, Fla., five bass, 25-9, $500
4th: University of Montevallo – Nicholas Dumke and Easton Fothergill, both of Grand Rapids, Minn., five bass, 22-1, $500
5th: University of Montevallo – Jack Alexander, Mountain Brook, Ala., and Brody Robison, Dawson, Ala., five bass, 20-14, $500
6th: Florida Gateway College – Seth Slanker and Jackson Swisher, both of Lake City, Fla., five bass, 20-3
7th: Carson Newman University – Ben Cully, Rockwall, Texas, and Hayden Gaddis, Dandridge, Tenn., five bass, 18-9
8th: Emmanuel College – Brooks Anderson, Marietta, Ga., and Parker Guy, Ocilla, Ga., five bass, 18-3
9th: Erskine College – Jeremy Dellinger, Denver, N.C., and Adam Seagle, Lincolnton, N.C., five bass, 18-1
10th: Florida State University – Luke McDaniel, Fort Myers, Fla., and Tanner Scarborough, Winter Haven, Fla., five bass, 17-15
MLF also advances one additional team to the National Championship for every 10 teams over 100 that compete. A total of 189 teams participated in this event, so also advancing to the 2023 College Fishing National Championship are:
11th: University of Montevallo – Ryan Branch, Chelsea, Ala., and Kopeland Rosser, Helena, Ala., five bass, 17-9
12th: Auburn University – James Cobbs and Conner Crosby, both of Auburn, Ala., five bass, 17-1
13th: Georgetown College – Cameron Cornelius, Mount Vernon, Ky., and Tyler Greenlee, Paris, Ky., five bass, 16-6
14th: University of Montevallo – Tyler Cory, Amherst, Wis., and Scott Sledge, Greenwood, Ind., five bass, 16-3
15th: University of Tennessee – Garrett Lewis, Knoxville, Tenn., and Chad Sentell, Cottontown, Tenn., five bass, 16-2
16th: Bryan College – Caleb Bridges and Jacob Davidson, both of Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 15-14
17th: Emannuel College – Kollin Smith, Bowersville, Ga., and Gabe Sowash, Gainesville, Ga., five bass, 15-4
18th: Bryan College – Andrew Fisher, Calhoun, Ga., and Elijah Kirk, Chattanooga, Tenn., five bass, 15-1
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on the Harris Chain of Lakes was hosted by Lake County, Florida. It was the first of three regular-season tournaments for Southeastern Conference anglers. The next event for College Fishing anglers will be the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Toledo Bend, Jan. 21 in Many, Louisiana.
MLF College Fishing teams compete in three regular-season tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top 10 teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual Abu Garcia College Fishing Open will advance to the following season’s National Championship. The 2022 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship Presented by Lowrance will be held on Fort Gibson Lake in Wagoner, Oklahoma, March 29-31, and is hosted by the Wagoner Area Chamber of Commerce.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular College Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
MLF Senior Director of Operations Bill Taylor Announces Retirement
Taylor to Step Down After 32-Year Ascension to MLF Senior Director of Operations
BENTON, Ky. (Jan. 7, 2022) – For the past few seasons, with words and actions, Major League Fishing (MLF) Senior Director of Operations Bill Taylor had laid the groundwork for his departure from the duties he's overseen and controlled since 2001. Taylor made it official this week, as MLF announced that the longest-tenured tournament director in the company’s history is stepping away.
Taylor, who was the tournament director for the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit (formerly FLW Tour) for more than 19 seasons, officially announced his retirement as of January 1. It marks the end of an incredibly successful reign during which Taylor helped usher in numerous tournament eras, from the first wrapped trucks and boats to the internet age, to expanded live-streamed tournament coverage, and through the acquisition of Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) by MLF in 2019.
“I told Kathy Fennel some time ago that I’d know when it’s time – and it has been such a fun ride – but it is time,” said Taylor, who turned 74 in August. “Those 4 a.m. wake-up times are getting pretty tough. I was blessed to have a great job that allowed me to do a little bit of fishing and hunting each year. But being tied up for several weeks each year, away from my family, my phone always ringing – it’s weighed on me quite a bit over the last few months. I’m happy that I am able to retire and I’ll have more time to spend with my family and do a little more fishing and hunting.”
A decorated tournament angler in his own right, Taylor fished in the first-ever Operation Bass (precursor to FLW) tournament in 1980. He worked full-time as a UPS driver for 30 years, from 1970 until he retired from the company in the year 2000. He first began working for Operation Bass in 1989, helping out at the Red Man Tournament Trail events as part of the operations staff. When Operation Bass was acquired by Irwin Jacobs and re-branded as FLW in 1996, Taylor was brought along as part of the operations crew and worked the inaugural season of the FLW Tour, using PTO time from UPS to fulfill his tournament duties. After his retirement from UPS, he was promoted to full-time tournament director of the FLW Tour in 2001, a role he held through the 2019 season. In his final two seasons with MLF, Taylor served as Senior Director of Operations, working with all of MLF’s tournament directors to help with planning logistics, venue selection, angler recruitment, on-the-water coverage and anything else that needed to be done to make sure the tournaments were successful.
“There are so many people that I want to thank and recognize, and if I tried to mention them all it would take a novel. But I need to thank my family – especially my wife Barbara – for always supporting me 100%, even when it would sometimes take me away for weeks at a time,” Taylor said. “I want to thank Charlie Evans and Kathy Fennel for giving me my first opportunity to work as a full-time tournament director. And I want to thank MLF, for allowing me to stay with the company through the acquisition of FLW and finish my career. I wish everyone at MLF nothing but the best, they will always have my support, and I will continue to be a strong ambassador for the company.
“It’s been a great run,” Taylor went on to say. “I got to work front and center with the best fishermen in the world. To be a part of this industry – working alongside the anglers and sponsors, making decisions, creating rules – it has truly been one of the most rewarding times of my life.”
“Bill Taylor is the most dedicated person that I have ever met,” stated MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager Kathy Fennel. “He is incredibly thorough and always prepared. He is not a procrastinator. It’s a quality that our staff has respected, admired and even joked about all of these years – you’re not going to beat Bill Taylor to the ramp in the morning. He was the first person there, every single day, and is the hardest-working person that I know. The man loves fishing – both working and on the other end of it with a rod and a reel in his hand. And that’s what has made him such a great tournament director. He has a huge heart, and he truly cares very much.
“More importantly, Bill is an amazing family man. He doesn’t put anything ahead of his family, and he’s the same way with his work family,” Fennel continued. “No matter the situation or task, I knew that if I called on Bill he’d be there to help me figure out a way to get it done. His honesty, integrity and passion has elevated not just our organization but the entire sport of professional bass fishing.”
MLF co-founder and longtime tournament competitor Boyd Duckett echoed Fennel’s sentiments.
“Bill Taylor is an individual that has as strong of a passion for the sport of bass fishing as any human that I’ve ever met,” Duckett said. “I’ve fished tournaments since 1977, and only a few tournament directors that I have worked with have the character needed to make the really tough decisions, no matter what anyone else thought. Bill Taylor is one of those individuals. Bill always had the answer, and it was always fair and never influenced.
“After the acquisition of FLW, I got to work alongside Bill on the business side of the sport and I was really impressed on how focused he was. Any problems or any ideas we had – Bill was 24-7. His lifetime passion for bass fishing is an impressive quality, and we thank him for his time at MLF.”
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 Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
FOX Sports Airing Best Of 2021 Bassmaster And Preview Episodes Leading To Start Of New Season
Nearly two million viewers watched live coverage of Hank Cherry's historic win in the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk on the FOX broadcast network and FS1.
Photo by Shane Durrance/B.A.S.S.
January 6, 2022
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Fishing fans can spend their winter weekends with the world’s best anglers as FS1 begins airing highlight shows from the 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series and Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk and previews the upcoming events. The shows are the ideal opportunity to meet the Elites and learn more about sportfishing in the run-up to the first tournament and live broadcasts of the 2022 season.
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. Beginning with the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite Feb. 10-13 on Florida’s famed St. Johns River, fishing fans can tune in for live, on-the-water action on tournament Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Upcoming episodes will feature highlights of the 2021 season as well as an in-depth look at Seth Feider, who notched four Top 10s en route to winning 2021 Angler of the Year honors, and Josh Stracner, who had to climb over four other anglers in the final event on the St. Lawrence River to win Rookie of the Year. Among the moments viewers can relive — or experience for the first time — is Lee Livesay’s Lake Fork victory featuring a whopping four-day total of 112 pounds, 5 ounces that was capped by a final-day catch of five bass weighing 42-3. 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 two anglers caught over 100 pounds.
Avid fans can also join the Bassmaster LIVE team beginning January 22 to preview the exciting new season and upcoming Bassmaster Classic.
Highlight shows will run throughout January and February on both FS1 and FS2. For a complete schedule, visit Bassmaster.com/tv-schedule.
January 8
10 a.m. ET
2021 Review: Alabama & Texas
FS1
January 8
11 a.m. ET
2021 Review: Lake Fork
FS1
January 9
6 a.m. ET
2021 Review: Florida & Tennessee (re-air)
FS1
January 15
9:30 a.m. ET
2021 Review: Alabama Swing
FS1
January 15
10 a.m. ET
2021 Review: New York Swing
FS1
January 15
10:30 a.m. ET
2021 Review: Angler of the Year & Rookie of the Year
FS1
January 15
11 a.m. ET
Best Moments of 2021
FS1
January 22
10 a.m. ET
2022 Preview: Florida Swing
FS1
January 22
10:30 a.m. ET
2022 Preview: South Carolina & Tennessee
FS1
January 22
11 a.m. ET
2022 Preview: Texas & Alabama
FS1
January 29
10 a.m. ET
2022 Preview: New York & South Dakota
FS1
January 29
11 a.m. ET
2022 Preview: Wisconsin & MVPs
FS1
February 5
10 a.m. ET
2021 Bassmaster Classic Review
FS1
February 5
11 a.m. ET
2022 Bassmaster Classic Preview
FS1
Schedule subject to change.
Revital Outdoors Signs Sponsorship Agreement with Major League Fishing
TULSA, Okla. (Jan. 6, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s premier tournament-fishing organization, announced today that Revital Outdoors, a family-owned health and wellness company offering a premium line of CBD products, is now an Official Sponsor of the 2022 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine and the Presenting Sponsor of the Phoenix Bass Fishing League’s Gator Division.
“We are pleased to welcome Revital Outdoors to our community of sponsors and advertisers,” said Jim Wilburn, MLF President and CEO. “With MLF’s expansive audience of outdoor enthusiasts who may benefit from Revital Outdoors’ healthy and effective solution, we are confident that this will be a lucrative relationship for both parties and are looking forward to a fantastic year.”
Revital Outdoors was founded upon recognition of a series of health ailments that were prevalent in the outdoors industry, including repetitive recreation and sporting activities that are notorious for leading to shoulder, wrist, hand, back, knee and joint discomfort. To combat these impediments, outdoorsmen historically turned to over-the-counter pain relievers. However, Revital Outdoors made it their mission to provide an all-natural, healthier and more effective solution to help extend the active years that outdoor enthusiasts can comfortably pursue their passions.
“We are very excited to partner with MLF as an Official Sponsor of the Phoenix Bass Fishing League,” said Kyle Smith, Founder and CEO of Revital Outdoors. “Working with MLF has been first class as they really understand and support our mission to help anglers deal with ailments, joint discomforts and sleep troubles in a healthier way. We look forward to a long-lasting relationship with MLF and their anglers.”
Revital Outdoors’ all-natural, all-inclusive list of products includes CBD Softgels, Tinctures, Softgels with Melatonin (sleep aid), Cream, Salve Sticks and Gummies, as well as a CBD treat for dogs who experience high anxiety and joint issues as they age.
For more information about Revital Outdoors and their products, visit RevitalOutdoors.com. To learn more about MLF, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com .
Expansion for the Future: Humminbird® Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony
EUFAULA, Ala. (December 16, 2021) –– Humminbird®, a leading global innovator of marine electronics products, is beginning construction to expand its Eufaula facilities to meet ongoing strong demand for its technologies. The expansion project will increase the production and assembly areas by 25 percent and is scheduled to be completed in late 2022.
“Participation in fishing has always been high, and it’s even higher now because on-the-water recreation affords people the space and tranquility they want right now. Over the last six years, Humminbird has seen tremendous growth and we expect it to continue to grow,” said Craig Packard, General Manager. “To increase our capacity to meet future demand, we are investing in continuing to expand our facilities.”
“Humminbird is an important part of the city’s history, and the same pioneering spirit that started the company is still alive today. The product innovation and industry-leading technology continue to make this a strong business,” said Mayor Jack Tibbs. “We are both proud and excited for this expansion, and we appreciate the investment and new jobs that have been created. We wish the company continued success in the future.”
The multimillion dollar 29,000 square-foot expansion project includes the installation of solar rooftop panels as well as four EV charging stations in the parking areas. This project follows a 17,000-square foot addition, which increased the warehouse space by 40 percent, that was recently completed in May 2021.
The groundbreaking ceremony for this expansion project took place on Dec. 15, 2021, and speakers included: Mayor Jack Tibbs, Eufaula; Jay Bostwick, Sperry & Associates, Inc.; and Craig Packard, Humminbird General Manager. Employees are a major part of Humminbird’s success, and Pattie Smith, an employee who has been with the company for 45 years, and Shantrice Brinson, one of the newest employees added as part of a major workforce expansion in 2021, also participated in the groundbreaking ceremony.
Santa Spent His Vacation After Christmas Fishing in Long Beach, California and Helped Berkley Give Away $22K and Gifts for Children and Adults Alike
On December 27th, Santa headed west to fish and help support the much-needed improvements at El Dorado Regional Park.
LONG BEACH, C.A. (December 27, 2021) — Santa wasted no time taking to the water in Long Beach as he stopped by El Dorado East Regional Park to meet with the local community and cast a line. He packed his fishing bag with extra fishy gifts for the community and a $22k check for the park.
Where Should Santa Fish After Christmas lived up to its name, drawing local community members to come and watch the fabled Christmas icon do some much needed fishing. The event, sponsored by fishing tackle manufacturer Berkley, took place at the El Dorado East Regional Park and Santa Claus dished out thousands of dollars in fishing equipment to the kids and adults in attendance, as well as a donation to the park.
“Traditionally, Santa enjoys his fishing trip after the holiday season alone and Berkley has always been a supporter of his trips”, said Jon Schlosser, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Berkley. “Even though this year was hectic for him, we asked Santa if he felt like he had one more gift in him to help the children of Long Beach get a chance to enjoy the sport he loves so much and he graciously agreed to help us out. In a time when more Americans are fishing than ever before, both Santa and all of us at Berkley Fishing wanted to continue in the tradition of ensuring that kids have an opportunity to enjoy the sport, which is why our donation to the park will be used to complete some much-needed improvements so the community of Long Beach can continue to enjoy the fishing in the park for many years to come.”
With the generous donation from Santa and Berkley, these improvements will now be possible. The project includes improved youth programs including an annual youth fishing derby, improvements to the 500-person capacity campground used by scouts and youth groups fishing the lakes, as well as education for the community and new trash can lids and fishing line disposal bins.
“We are so excited that Santa visited Long Beach and fished in our lake at El Dorado East Regional Park. This was a wonderful opportunity to educate our community and the nation about urban fishing opportunities in Long Beach and we look forward to educating park-goers about responsible fishing habits and conservation efforts.” - Trinka Rowsell, Executive Director of Partners for Parks.
AC Rookie Podcast - The Newest Elite Cheese Head
This week DX welcomes in fellow Wisconsonite in Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Jay Przerkurat to the Rookie Pod to talk about Cheese heads, Bass, food and more! Check this one out!
Strike King Signs On As Bassmaster College Title And Supporting Trail Sponsor
January 5, 2022
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — South Carolina-based lure company Strike King, part of Rather Outdoors, has signed on as the 2022 title sponsor for the Bassmaster College Series and will also serve as a new supporting sponsor for the entire Bassmaster Tournament Trail, B.A.S.S. officials announced today.
“This season the Bassmaster College Series enjoyed unprecedented coverage and interest, and we are thrilled to see what the 2022 season will bring,” said B.A.S.S. chairman and CEO Chase Anderson. “We are excited to partner with Strike King to continue growing the popularity of college fishing and then supporting these anglers and providing more avenues to compete as they move through the tournament ranks.
“There are already former College Series National Champions and College Classic Bracket competitors sprinkled throughout the Bassmaster Elite Series and Bassmaster Classic field. It’s likely just a matter of time before the majority of the Elite field will have some kind of experience in our youth programs.”
The Bassmaster College Series events have been an incredible tool for encouraging youth fishing participation across the country, and they’re beginning to have a pronounced effect on the highest levels of professional bass fishing. Since B.A.S.S. started the circuit in 2013, there has been a 97% growth in the number of participating schools and clubs at the college level.
When registration for the 2022 Bassmaster College Series opened in early December, the 250 boat field for each of the four regular-season tournaments filled in just one day.
“We believe one of the most powerful sources of influence and change in fishing lies with this generation of passionate and dedicated high school and collegiate anglers,” shared Strike King CEO Ken Eubanks. “We are devoted to supporting them as they blaze new trails in our industry.”
As a Supporting Sponsor for the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bassmaster Team Championship and the grass-roots TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation regional and championship tournaments, Strike King will also enjoy exposure in Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times magazines and on Bassmaster LIVE, which is broadcast and streamed on the FOX Sports platforms.
The 2022 Strike King Bassmaster College Series will open its regular season at the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Fla., Jan. 21-22 before stops in North Carolina, Arkansas and Michigan.
AC Insider Podcast - New Year & its time to roll!
Welcome to 2022 and the first episode of the new year for the boys as they welcome in Elite Series Pro Brandon Palanuik to talk about Christmas, Married Life, Humminbird and Minn Kota tips and tricks and more! The boys also look over what's been happening in the world of bass fishing over the break and more!
Heavy Metal No Noise
Courtesy of Vance McCollough
Photo courtesy of www.steelshad.com
Gonna share a secret I’d rather keep.
I picked it up from my travels over the years. This one works from coast-to-coast and form border-to-border and well beyond our borders, Canada and even Japan being hotbeds for the lure style and while you’ve definitely heard of blade baits, it’s doubtful you’ve fished them this way, especially in the Deep South on grass laden waters, even more especially in Florida where nearly every major tournament trail begins their season in the early months of each new year.
Blade baits, such as the Silver Buddy and the Gay Blade developed a reputation in deep drains and standing timber of stingy reservoirs decades ago. They work well with modern electronics as a changeup to the dropshot and jigging spoons for those who like to play videogames with suspended fish.
What a lot of people miss is just how well these thin slabs of metal work in skinny water when bass become fatigued by traditional shallow water techniques in late winter.
After seeing a barrage of Rat L Traps and Red Eye Shads, bass from Rayburn to Harris Chain may hunker deeper in their grass bed rather than attack these otherwise effective lures. That’s when a blade can call them out and get them going again. With no internal rattles to remind fish of the lipless cranks that have sore-mouthed them since Thanksgiving, blades seem more natural. There is a trick, though, to getting the most form these lures in shallow waters where bass will soon begin to show up for periodic feeding sprees, particularly in the South.
Most blades are designed to get deep fast. They are dense and small. This makes them difficult to use in shallow grass. The Steel Shad is special. It has an elongated body that helps it float over cover like no other. While the sinking lure can be fished at any depth - and get there quickly - it is more versatile than others. For instance, the rear tip of the blade can be bent to drive the lure to the right or left. It can be altered to incite more, or less, vibration or to change the running depth on a straight retrieve. Bend it into a banana shape and it will flutter up and around underwater objects like an injured baitfish. Experimentation is half the fun and as nice as I am, I will not share my best modification. You’ll have to figure that one out for yourself. It’s worth finding. I will say that it involves the weight, or lack thereof, of a given lure.
The Steel Shad comes in various sizes to mimic whatever your fish are eating. There’s even a tiny one that will call panfish. Saltwater fish of all species are game. It just looks and acts like something a fish would eat. The standard size in a gold finish duplicates the wild shiners preferred by bass and anglers in Florida.
Visual appeal aside, the real magic of the Steel Shad is its tight vibration, proven over the course of years to trigger cold water strikes from the biggest bass. Not many lures can draw bigger than average bites but still catch everything that swims in an area. The steel Shad does.
No matter where you fish this winter, add the Steel Shad to your arsenal. And if you’re coming to visit the sunshine State, pack a few gold ones!
The AC Rookie Podcast is BACK!!!
Welcome back to the 2022 AnglersChannel Rookie Podcast with your host David Xiong! This week David welcomes in Elite Series Rookie and Northern Opens Points Champ Alex Redwine to talk about how he got started in tournament bass fishing and how he made his way to the Elites. Check it out and make sure and share it with your friends!
2021 Finale
This week Chris & the boys say goodbye to 2021 as Christmas & the New Year are days away. Tristan White, High School angler from Thompson High School joins the show to talk about HS fishing in Alabama and what his goals and aspirations are down the road. See ya 2021, it's been real.
On the 11th Day of Giveaways!
Enter by 9:00pm EST Tonight (Thursday) to be entered to win a XZONE Lures Prize Pack and a $100 Vicious Fishing Gift Card!
Day 10 - Sign up to WIN!!!!
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Date Changes to 2022 NPFL Schedule
The National Professional Fishing League announces date changes to its 2022 tournament schedule.
The scheduling changes were made in regard to maximizing the quality of production, the quality of the fishing, industry events, and input from our anglers. The NPFL feels that any adjustments made to the schedule will positively affect the majority of our anglers and their ability to perform for both their sponsors and fanbases. We appreciate the support of the location hosts and fans in regards to these changes and look forward to an awesome 2022 season ahead!
Stop 1: Lake Cumberland - Feb 20th – 26th
Hosted by the City of Burnside, Kentucky
Stop 2: Lake Hartwell - April 17th – 23th
Hosted by the City of Anderson, South Carolina
Stop 3: Watts Bar - May 22nd – 27th (Compete Wednesday – Friday)
Hosted by Spring City, Tennessee
Stop 4: Saginaw Bay - June 26th - July 1st (Compete Wednesday – Friday)
Hosted by Bay City, Michigan
Stop 5: Sandusky Bay - August 28th - September 3rd
Hosted by the City of Sandusky, Ohio
Stop 6: Kissimmee Chain of Lakes - October 30th – November 5th
Hosted by the City of Kissimmee, Florida
Toyota Bonus Bucks leads Littlejohn to Free Tracker ATV
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Grand Lake, Oklahoma angler Micah Littlejohn is driving his second Toyota Tundra, and originally signed-up for the Toyota Bonus Bucks contingency program for tournament anglers eight years ago.
Wife Lani loves the incredible room their Tundra CrewMax’s huge back seat affords children Jase and Lexi, Micah appreciates its beasty towing power, and of course, the Bonus Bucks checks he wins as a competitor in Nichols Team Series tournaments.
And thanks to a generous prize they won from Bass Pro Shops in a random drawing at the recent 10th Annual Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners tournament on Table Rock, Christmas came a little early for the whole family when they picked-up their free Tracker OX 400 ATV on December 16th at the Broken Arrow, OK Bass Pro Shops.
In perfect timing, the Littlejohns just moved to a home on 10 acres with a fishing pond. So, their new Tracker OX 400 is sure to get plenty of use on their new plot of land for years to come.
In the short term, thanks to Bass Pro Shops and Toyota, Christmas, 2021 is off to a grateful start for the outdoor-loving young family from Grove, Oklahoma.
Much like Micah, you don’t have to be a pro angler to cash-in on Bonus Bucks, to get registered, please visit https://www.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com/.
Take a STEP above the rest - Day 8 Giveaway is underway!
Click HERE to sign up to win a brand new TRICKSTEP!
A $489 value!
Major League Fishing General Tire Heavy Hitters Event Presented by Bass Pro Shops to Air Sunday on CBS and Stream Live on Paramount+
WHAT: The Major League Fishing (MLF) 2021 General Tire Heavy Hitters Event Presented by Bass Pro Shops will premiere nationwide Sunday afternoon on CBS and stream live on Paramount+. The All-Star event, shot over six days in Raleigh, North Carolina, showcases 40 MLF anglers competing for more than $535,000, with a top prize of $100,000 going to the winner of the event, and Big Bass Bonuses during the competition with payouts of $25,000, $50,000 and $100,000 being awarded for the single biggest fish in the Qualifying, Knockout and Championship rounds.
WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, from 3-4 p.m. ET or 5-6 p.m. ET (check local listings)
WHERE: CBS and Paramount+
NOTES: The MLF 2021 General Tire Heavy Hitters Event Presented by Bass Pro Shops featured the top 40 pro anglers that qualified from the 2020 Bass Pro Tour season visiting Raleigh to compete on the same waters that produced a big-fish bonanza when the Bass Pro Tour visited Raleigh in 2019 – Jordan Lake, Falls Lake and Shearon Harris Reservoir. That event produced 57 largemouth bass weighing 6 pounds or more, including a 9-pound, 4-ounce giant caught by Texas pro Todd Faircloth.
To qualify for the MLF 2021 General Tire Heavy Hitters Event Presented by Bass Pro Shops, the weight of an angler’s single-largest bass from each of the five 2020 Bass Pro Tour events was recorded. The 40 anglers with the heaviest big-fish totals from those five events qualified to compete in this event.
The 40 anglers that competed in the MLF 2021 General Tire Heavy Hitters Event presented by Bass Pro Shops are: Adrian Avena, Josh Bertrand, Zack Birge, Stephen Browning, Brent Chapman, Luke Clausen, Dustin Connell, Brandon Coulter, Mark Daniels Jr., Mark Davis, Ott DeFoe, Boyd Duckett, David Dudley, Brent Ehrler, James Elam, Anthony Gagliardi, Mike Iaconelli, Alton Jones, Chris Lane, Jordan Lee, Dave Lefebre, Justin Lucas, Mike McClelland, Cody Meyer, Ish Monroe, Andy Morgan, Britt Myers, Michael Neal, Takahiro Omori, Cliff Pace, Dean Rojas, Mark Rose, Fred Roumbanis, Bradley Roy, Fletcher Shryock, Jeff Sprague, Randall Tharp, Bryan Thrift, Kevin VanDam and Jacob Wheeler.
The event was hosted by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance.
For complete details and updated information on MLF, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
2022 Bassmaster Kayak Series Registration Now Open
In 2022, anglers on the Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX will visit six states while pursuing the new Old Town Bassmaster Kayak Angler of the Year title.
Photo by Kara Wattunen//B.A.S.S.
December 17, 2021
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Registration is now open for the 2022 Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX season, which will visit iconic fisheries in six states. For the first time, the 2022 Kayak Series will feature the Old Town Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year award with $5,000 cash and a top-of-the-line Old Town kayak going to the angler who accumulates the most points during the regular season.
The 2022 Kayak Series schedule features five regular-season events and the Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship that will coincide with the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.
“In just two years we’ve been amazed by the growth of the series,” said B.A.S.S. Nation Director Jon Stewart, who oversees the Kayak Series. “We knew kayak fishing was experiencing major growth — that’s why we started this back in 2020. But I’m not sure we had any idea just how popular it was.
“It’s been really fun to watch anglers enjoy this trail as the sport continues to evolve.”
The schedule begins on one of the big bass capitals of the country as the Kayak Series visits Lake Fork in Alba, Texas, Feb. 5-6 for one of three two-day events this season. In the past, all events except the championship have been one-day tournaments. Nebraska’s Nate Gloria took home the Lake Fork title in 2021 with a five-bass limit measuring 98 inches while Arkansas pro Cody Milton earned a Century Belt with five bass measuring 100.5 inches in 2020’s inaugural tournament on this big bass factory.
From there, the next stop will be Richard B. Russell Lake in Anderson, S.C., for the two-day Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship, March 2-3. The tournament field will be comprised of qualifiers from the 2021 Kayak Series — and though the tournament will actually conclude on March 3, the winner will be revealed March 4 and receive a first-place prize of at least $20,000 on stage at Bon Secours Wellness Arena before the first-round weigh-in of the Bassmaster Classic.
The inaugural 2021 Championship tournament on Possum Kingdom Lake near Fort Worth, Texas, featured a record-breaking performance by hometown angler Mark Pendergraf who won with a two-day, 10 bass total of 209.25 inches — the highest two-day total in TourneyX history.
“That record-setting limit is the equivalent to weighing in a 30-plus-pound bag,” explained Stewart. “What a way to introduce the Classic crowd to the hammers on the Kayak Series!”
Among the Championship qualifiers in Anderson will be Bassmaster Elite Series veteran Mike Iaconelli from New Jersey, who won a Kayak Series event last year on the Upper Chesapeake Bay, as well as Tennessee angler Jim Davis, who became the first two-time Kayak Series winner with a victory last year on the Upper Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis.
“The series is not even three years old and it’s already developing its own rich history,” Stewart said. “Ike winning an event was a big deal in the fishing industry. He touted it himself as one of the accomplishments he’s most proud of — and that’s from a guy who has won a Classic, won Angler of the Year, won Elite Series events.
“Several big sticks are also emerging. Some guys are so serious about kayak fishing that they show up at every event with a genuine chance at winning.”
After the Championship in South Carolina, the Kayak Series will visit the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Fla., on March 19, Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in Grove, Okla., on April 16 and Lewis Smith Lake in Jasper, Ala., on May 21. All of those venues have been regular destinations for major B.A.S.S. events, and one — Grand Lake — was the site of the Bassmaster Classic in 2013 and 2016.
The Kayak Series will conclude with the third two-day event of the season on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tenn., on Oct. 8-9. That event will decide the final Old Town AOY race and the final qualifiers for the 2023 Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship. The Top 25 anglers in the AOY points race along with qualifiers from Bassmaster regional and state championships will earn a spot in the Kayak Series Championship. Anglers will earn points in every regular-season tournament with their lowest finish dropped to determine the final Angler of the Year standings.
As in the past, anglers will use the TourneyX app and photograph their bass on special measuring boards to submit their catches. The angler with the most inches of bass will be the winner. All 2021 winners had at least 85 inches of bass.
For more information and to register, visit Bassmaster.com/Kayak.
Major League Fishing Reels in Bally’s Corporation as Pro Bass Fishing’s First Sports Betting Partnership
Agreement Marks Bally’s Fifth Strategic Sports Betting Partnership With a Professional Sports League, Bally Bet Becomes Title Sponsor of MLF Bass Pro Tour Angler of the Year Award
TULSA, Okla. (Dec. 16, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament fishing organization, and Bally's Corporation (NYSE: BALY), a leading U.S. omni-channel provider of land-based gaming and interactive entertainment, announced today a groundbreaking deal designating Bally's as MLF’s exclusive Sports Betting, Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS), and Free-to-Play (F2P) Partner for MLF’s tournament circuits – all firsts for the professional fishing industry. This deal represents Bally’s fifth sports betting agreement with a professional sports league, following previously announced agreements with the National Hockey League, the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, and Major League Baseball.
The partnership includes Bally’s online sportsbook, Bally Bet, becoming the title sponsor of MLF’s coveted Angler of the Year (AOY) Award for the Bass Pro Tour, the sport’s most visible and competitive tournament circuit. The prize for the 2022 Bally Bet AOY winner will be $100,000. The partnership also includes rights for Bally’s to stream Bass Pro Tour events via its own apps.
"As we ready for the start of our 2022 season, our partnership with Bally's will offer our loyal fans and anglers another unique avenue to engage with professional fishing and the Bass Pro Tour," MLF President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Wilburn said. "This partnership marks an important moment for Major League Fishing in the growing U.S. gaming and sports betting sectors. Integrating Bally’s industry-best online sports betting and unique gaming offerings with MLF’s SCORETRACKER LIVE® and fan-friendly platforms position us to drive viewership, participation, and large-scale adoption among sports fans.”
As part of the agreement, Bally’s technology will power two new free-to-play fantasy fishing games for the 2022 season. The MLF Predictor Game, an engaging game that offers fans the chance to make predictions at Bass Pro Tour events for prizes, will be rolled out for a full season. MLF Fantasy Fishing will also debut in 2022 for both the MLF Bass Pro Tour and the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit. The free-to-play game will allow fans to select their team of anglers for each tournament, create private leagues with their family and friends, and win tens of thousands of dollars in cash and prizes. Additional details on the MLF Predictor and Fantasy Fishing games will be announced soon.
"We know how passionate the millions of recreational anglers are about the professional ranks of their sport,” said Adi Dhandhania, Chief Operating Officer of North America for Bally Interactive, the company's digital division. “This integrated partnership is a perfect showcase for Bally’s, allowing us to leverage our sports betting, daily fantasy sports, and free-to-play games to enhance the fishing fan experience across MLF media and live events.”
The 2022 professional bass fishing seasons will launch early next year, with the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 1 at Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Jan. 27-30, and the Bass Pro Tour Stage One in Monroe-West Monroe, Louisiana, Feb. 5-10.
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 Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Day 4! What more could ask for?!?!
DAY 4
Enter by 9:00pm EST Tonight (Thursday) to be entered to win a new 35L Backpack from YETI!
Items awarded may be different than what is shown.
Become a Better Map Reader - Advanced
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
Reading lake maps is something all anglers should do during the winter months to become a better fishermen. The truth is it’s hard to consistently get on the water this time of year. Whether it’s because you’re chasing deer and ducks, the holiday honey-dos are piling up, or you’re iced out of your favorite fishing hole; if you can’t be on the water the next best option is map study.
In part one of this series, Gerald Swindle laid out some of what he believes to be the foundations of lake map reading. The Team Toyota pro pointed out details like learning the lay of the lake, committing names of creeks / coves to memory, and locating areas like boat ramps or marinas before ever hitting the water.
For this go around, Swindle discussed some of the more advanced details he focuses on when studying a lake map that are applicable whether he’s preparing for an Elite Series tournament next year or you have a local jackpot derby next month.
Dial in based on time of the year
After getting a handle on how a fishery lays out, the first thing Swindle looks to do is break down features of the lake based on different seasonal patterns he expects to target, depending on time of the year. But he’s not trying to pick out “magic spots” from one end of the lake to the other.
Instead he’ll start with a small section of the lake and pick out a handful of places he believes to have potential, purposefully trying to avoid the feeling of being spread too thin when he hits the water.
“You aren’t reading a map to find fish, you are finding places to fish,” Swindle said. “Don’t get so bogged down in the fine details when looking at a map. Save that for when you’re actually out on the water. Find five or six places that have the general ingredients of you are looking for, based on the time of year, and start your search from there.”
Over his 26-year career, Swindle has learned his map time is more productive when he keeps it simple. So G-man focuses on established and somewhat basic details or features he has learned to target based on weather patterns and time of year.
Winter – “I’m looking for deep water. Tight contour lines indicating steep drops whether it’s close to the shoreline, off the side of a point, or in a creek channel. Bass want access to deep water this time of year.”
Spring – “I’m looking for flats and protected areas in the backs of coves, both major creeks and smaller potentially overlooked pockets off the main lake for when fish push to spawn. Locate a pile of these areas and think about how they’ll be affected by different wind directions.”
Summer – “In the summer I’m looking offshore, off the bank, whatever you want to call it. Irregularities along the main river channel, humps, and even long tapering points catch my eye and get marked down as a place to look for structure and fish with my electronics.”
Fall – “You’ve heard it before, but fall is all about baitfish in the creeks for me. A channel winding its way through the back of a flat creek with three or four little points is the kind of thing I’m looking for. Think about predominate wind directions the area has been getting and how that might position baitfish.“
We could write a 1,000 word article on each one of these seasons, but Swindle stresses to keep your map study more straightforward or universal and dial in to detailed nuances when you get to the lake.
Go fishing with a game plan
The whole purpose behind Swindle studying Humminbird’s FishSmart app, Google Earth, or paper maps over a cup of coffee in the morning is simple; it gives him a game plan.
“That’s the beautiful thing about map study – it helps you have a purpose when you hit the water, a game plan,” Swindle explained. “That way you don’t launch your boat and feel overwhelmed by the size and scale of the lake or river.”
Once you’re on the water you might fish through the first five areas you picked out on a map in two hours, and realize your best guess wasn’t even close. In fact, Swindle will tell you that happens more times than not. Still, you’re a step ahead because you’re familiar with the fishery and know where another boat ramp in a different section of the lake might be.
Once you get a couple bites and start to form a general idea of what the fish are doing, map study proves extremely useful as it helps you establish and run a pattern.
“Maybe you catch a couple fish off a deep point with a jerkbait on your next trip to the lake – that’s great,” Swindle offered. “But if you’ve put in time reading maps, you should know where a few more similar points are located… go fish them! You’ll either catch fish and put pieces of the puzzle together, or you might realize it was more of an area deal. Either way, studying maps will help shorten that learning curve.”
St. Croix To Title 2022 Bassmaster Opens Series
December 15, 2021
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — St. Croix Rods, handcrafter of premium casting, spinning, saltwater, ice fishing and fly rods, will serve as the title sponsor for the wildly popular Bassmaster Opens Series in 2022, officials announced today. Additionally, the St. Croix Rods Rewards program will award an extra $1,000 to a qualifying angler who wins a St. Croix Bassmaster Opens tournament fishing St. Croix rods or award $500 to the highest-finishing Top 10 angler fishing St. Croix rods.
“St. Croix exists to give every angler the upper hand, and that philosophy extends well beyond simply providing them with the Best Rods on Earth,” says St. Croix Vice President of Marketing Jesse Simpkins. “We couldn’t be more pleased to extend our support to the Bassmaster Opens Series, which provides hope and opportunity for so many talented and aspiring tournament anglers. It’s a chance to prove to themselves that they can compete with the very best and a realistic pathway they can follow — applying their skills along the way — that can quickly ascend them to the ultimate levels of bass-fishing competition.”
The popularity of the Opens tournaments has boomed in recent years with the expansion of live coverage options adding new audiences and increased participation numbers.
In 2022, an unprecedented 83 anglers have registered for all nine St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series tournaments as they compete for one of the circuit’s 12 coveted Elite Series invitations and nine berths into the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.
“The Opens have always been a critical proving ground for tournament anglers,” said Hank Weldon, tournament director for the Bassmaster Opens. “But now the series is not only a way for the sport’s biggest names to requalify for the Elites, it also combines Elite invitations, Classic spots and a ton of coverage for new anglers on FOX Sports and the B.A.S.S. platforms. All of that has led to record-breaking registration numbers as anglers try to get one of the 225 boater spots for each event.
“We’re thrilled to welcome St. Croix onboard this year as our title sponsor. The competition is going to be fierce.”
B.A.S.S. first added Bassmaster Opens LIVE final day on-the-water streaming coverage during the 2020 season. That expanded to live broadcasts from Championship Saturday of each of the division final tournaments on FS1 and the FOX Sports digital platforms in 2021, which peaked when 852,000 viewers watched live as Nick LeBrun claimed the title during the Bassmaster Open on Grand Lake. FOX Sports will continue broadcasting divisional final Championship Saturday coverage in 2022.
The 2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series season will feature nine tournaments in three divisions covering nine states. Tournament action starts Feb. 3-5 with the Bassmaster Southern Open on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Kissimmee, Fla.
For more information, visit Bassmaster.com/Opens.
AC Insider Podcast - "Unicorn Poop?....."
Thats right, you read it here first, Kenneth Grover loves him some Unicorn Poop. Why? Hit play and find out as the boys talk about the 13 Days of Holiday Extravaganza Giveaways and get into the Christmas spirit by telling everyone their 5 favorite things for the Holiday Season. They also spill the beans on what they "hope" is under the tree come Christmas morning. Check it out!
On the 3rd Day of Christmas Extravaganza Giveaways!
Enter HERE by 9:00pm EST Tonight to be entered to win one of Three (3) RELiON Gypsy Power Banks from our friends at RELiON Battery!
Minn Kota And Humminbird Extend Long-Standing Partnership With Bassmaster Tournament Trail
December 14, 2021
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Minn Kota and Humminbird, two preeminent brands in the fishing industry and part of the outdoor recreational company Johnson Outdoors, have extended their longtime sponsorship of the Bassmaster Tournament Trail. As Premier Sponsors, Minn Kota and Humminbird will be supporting B.A.S.S.’s six tournament circuits and the iconic Bassmaster Classic through 2024.
“We value our close relationship with Johnson Outdoors and their incredible brands,” said B.A.S.S. chairman and CEO Chase Anderson. “For more than a decade, they have partnered with B.A.S.S. to educate and inspire adventurers to experience fishing and connect with anglers of all skill levels. We’re thrilled to continue working together for the next three years.”
The Minn Kota and Humminbird pro teams feature 20 current Elite Series anglers, including 2021 Angler of the Year Seth Feider, 2021 Rookie of the Year Josh Stracner and four 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series champions — Jeff Gustafson, Lee Livesay, Wes Logan and Bill Lowen.
“Fishing the Elites is something that every kid dreams of who has ever picked up a fishing rod,” said Logan. “I am blessed to run the best products on the market from Johnson Outdoors, and I wouldn’t trust my livelihood to anything else.”
“Minn Kota and Humminbird are dedicated to giving every angler the best possible experience on the water,” said Johnson Outdoors Senior Director Joe Brown. “It’s a passion we’ve shared with B.A.S.S. over the course of our long partnership, and we couldn’t be prouder to renew that commitment today. From weekend warriors to Elite Series competitors, the sport of fishing is thriving and we’re proud to work with B.A.S.S. to give anglers more opportunity than ever to pursue their passion.”
In addition to connecting with tournament anglers through their sponsorship of the Bassmaster Classic, Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bassmaster Team Championship and the grass-roots TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation events, Minn Kota and Humminbird will reach anglers through B.A.S.S.’s diverse, industry-leading media platforms.
As Premier Sponsors, the brands will be highlighted during Bassmaster LIVE on the FOX Sports platforms, which had more than 14 million viewers during the 2021 season, and enjoy exposure in Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times magazines and across various social media platforms, which reach more than 2.2 million fans.
“Being a part of the Minn Kota and Humminbird team is going to be a huge help for me as I fish my first year on the Bassmaster Elite Series,” said Jay Przekurat, who is preparing to compete in his rookie season after finishing second in the Bassmaster Central Opens points standings. “Having the best equipment in the game gives me the confidence to compete against the best anglers on the water.”
Day 2 of the Holiday Extravaganza Giveaways Underway!
DAY 2
Enter by 9:00pm CST Tonight to be entered to win a Bow OR Console Mount from our friends at Hennessey Outdoor Electronics in Dayton, TN valued at over $250!!
Santa Will Be Pointing His Sleigh to the West for Some Post Christmas Fishing
On December 27th, Santa will be heading to Long Beach, California to fish and help support the much needed improvements at El Dorado Regional Park.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (December 14, 2021) – After Christmas, Santa will no doubt be exhausted from delivering presents to people all over the world with only one thing on his mind - fishing! On December 27th, Santa will be heading to Long Beach, California to do just that, and he is not coming empty-handed.
Santa’s sleigh will touch down in Long Beach, where he will spend some much needed time on the water, unwinding and fishing after Christmas. But before he goes fishing, with help from his friends at Berkley, he will be giving away a lot of fishy presents to the local community. Not only is Berkley helping the jolly old fella find a place to fish and donating fishing gear, but they are also presenting a big check to Partners of Parks to help with facilitating the renovations.
The town of Long Beach has steered their conservation efforts toward El Dorado Regional Park, which is celebrating its 50th birthday this year and desperately in need of improvements. With the generous donation from Santa and Berkley, these improvements will now be possible. The project includes improved youth programs including an annual youth fishing derby, improvements to the 500-person capacity campground used by scouts and youth groups fishing the lakes, as well as education for the community and new trash can and fishing line disposal bins.
Trinka Rowsell, Executive Director for Partners of Parks, said “We are so excited to have Santa visit Long Beach and fish in our lake at El Dorado East Regional Park. This is a wonderful opportunity to educate our community and the nation about urban fishing opportunities in Long Beach and we look forward to educating park-goers about responsible fishing habits and conservation efforts.”
To learn more about Berkley, visit: Berkley-Fishing.com.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all and to all tight lines!
Major League Fishing Wraps Production of Wiley X Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches in Palm Bay
Bass Fishing Event Completes Week-Long Television Shoot in Space Coast Area with 24 Pro Anglers Competing to Win Prestigious Summit Cup Championship
PALM BAY, Fla. (Dec. 13, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF) and 24 of the world’s best pro anglers wrapped up production of the MLF Wiley X Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches event Saturday in Palm Bay, Florida. The event, shot over six days this week and hosted by Florida's Space Coast Office of Tourism, was filmed entirely for television broadcast and featured anglers competing for the prestigious Summit Cup championship.
The Space Coast is a familiar destination for MLF, as the East Coast of South Florida played host to the now-defunct 2018 Major League Fishing World Championship, which showcased the top 12 anglers from that season’s MLF Cup events. That event was won by Louisiana’s Greg Hackney. As anglers battled a strong north wind on the final day of competition, Hackney ducked behind a levee on Kenansville Lake’s north end and went to work flipping mats to catch 32 pounds, 6 ounces of largemouth bass and earn the victory. Pro Skeet Reese of Auburn, California, finished fourth in that 2018 event, and was among the 24 competitors that competed again this past week.
The Wiley X Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches event marks the second time that MLF has visited Florida’s Space Coast with an event that showcases the catch, weigh, immediate-release tournament format.
“The Space Coast is a fishing paradise with the availability of freshwater, saltwater, surf, and deep-sea fishing opportunities. We are excited to have Major League Fishing here showing some of our top fishing spots to their viewers including new Headwaters Lake, the local trophy largemouth bass fishery. It’s unlike any other freshwater lake in the U.S.,” said Space Coast Office of Tourism Executive Director Peter Cranis.
The six-episode, two-hour series will feature professional anglers visiting the Space Coast area to compete over six days of competition on either Kenansville Lake (Jurassic Park), Lake Garcia, Stick Marsh, and for the first time ever, Fellsemere Reservoir (Headwaters Lake). The anglers do not learn where they are competing until they arrive to the launch ramp each morning, creating a reality-based television episode that showcases how the top anglers in the world break down new and unfamiliar waters.
“We had such a successful event when we were last here in 2018 that it really made returning for our Summit Cup championship a no-brainer,” said Michael Mulone, Senior Director of Events and Partnerships for MLF. “From the amazing fishing to the beautiful settings and scenery, to the community and people that we work closely with at the Space Coast Office of Tourism – all of them play a huge role in creating a fantastic television program for our national audience. It’s been a great week in Florida and we’re already looking forward to when we return.”
The 24 anglers competing in the 2021 Wiley X Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches are: Stephen Browning, Luke Clausen, Dustin Connell, Brandon Coulter, David Dudley, Paul Elias, Anthony Gagliardi, Alton Jones Jr., Gary Klein, Jason Lambert, Bobby Lane, Russ Lane, Matt Lee, Michael Neal, Skeet Reese, Mark Rose, Fred Roumbanis, Bradley Roy, Fletcher Shryock, Jeff Sprague, Wesley Strader, Bryan Thrift, Jacob Wheeler and Jesse Wiggins.
The MLF Wiley X Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches, hosted by Florida’s Space Coast Office of Tourism, will air on the Outdoor Channel as six, two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting April 2, 2022, airing from 2 to 4 p.m. EDT. The full television schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com/tv-schedule.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube . To learn more about Florida’s Space Coast, contact the Space Coast Office of Tourism at (877) 572-3224 or VisitSpaceCoast.com. Visit the Florida Space Coast us on social media at Facebook.com/visitspacecoast, Twitter.com/flaspacecoast, Instagram.com/floridaspacecoast, and YouTube.com/c/visitspacecoast.