TEAM MARKLEY FINDS SUNSHINE ON A CLOUDY DAY

CLEWISTON, FL — Welcome to the Sunshine State. Well, usually. Seems Mother Nature decided to throw our anglers a little curve for Qualfier #3 of the Roland Martin Marine Center Series presented by HUK. Sorry Mom, you’re going to have to try a little harder to throw these sticks off their game.

Our anglers knocked the rust off their bilge pumps and got down to work on legendary Lake Okeechobee on Saturday with hopes of filling the well and padding their bank accounts. As it turns out, the winning team shares the same account. 

With a 24.7 pound limit, the husband and wife team of Adam and Melinda Markley collected the winner’s check along with half of the other contingency awards. The happy couple was even happier with quite a payday for their second trip to the winner’s circle in the series history.

“We caught about 10 flipping before we decided to head in early,” Adam said. “We waited but never went back out.”

So what’s it like as a husband and wife team on the tournament trail?

“It’s great,” admitted Adam. “I don’t have to split anything, it just all goes to her.”

The couple didn’t pre-fish and didn’t even risk heading back out with the remaining time in the afternoon to pad their weight. As it turned out, they didn’t need it. All they needed was a calculator to add up the winning checks.

The first place check netted them $6,100. The highest finishing angler to cross the stage in HUK Gear added another $250. The top Lady Anglerearned Melinda $100 from Mary Ann Martin. A kicker in the bag weighing 7.94 ended up being the US Sugar Big Bass of the tournament and added another $500. That left the couple singing in the rain to the tune of $6,950.

The second place team of William Bennion and Kenny Harris bagged 22.95 pounds. They lost one that might have given them the edge but were comforted with a $3,100 second place check. Harris also added another $250 as the highest finisher with a Mercury under warranty. 

“We were about 15 from the locks,” Harris said. “We were flipping all day. We caught one on a trap, but for the most part, we were flipping.”  

Rounding out the top three was the team of Mike Keyso and John Perry. A prolific team that always seems to be a top resident on the leaderboard. Even with Perry doing his best while on crutches with a broken leg.

“We had the winning fish on,” Keyso Said. “We had it near the boat and he (Perry) ended up falling in trying to net it.”

The team admitted it was a grind all day but they managed 22.64 for a 3rd place finish and a check for $1,550.

Despite the weather, a majority of the field still brought a limit to the stage and battled for the remaining checks the Markley’s didn’t already have their name on.

As the highest paying team tournament trail in Florida, the payouts extended to the top 26 places. Additional contingencies kept the rewards coming. The 17-year-old angler, Conner Swindle, collected $100 from Mercury as the Highest Fishing Youth Angler. 2nd Big Bass awarded the team of Val Osinksi and Todd Scherr $100 Gambler Bucks for their 7.89 bass (the only fish they weighed). Gilbert Chevrolet, with feature vehicles on display at the weigh-in from the South Florida Chevy Dealers, awarded the highest finishing Gilbert Chevrolet vehicle owners, Rick Wilhelm and Dell Hatfiled  $500 for their ride. And last but not least. Well, actually it was the least. The team of John Tavano and Doug Caldwell collected $300 from AV Inspection for the smallest limit.

That puts a wrap on Qualifier #3 with one more on November 20th before the 2-Day Championship December 11-12. Teams must fish 3 of the 4 qualifiers to qualify for the Championship. So make sure you don’t miss out on what’s gearing up to be another record payout for the Series Championship. Register today and we’ll see you in November.

by AnglersChannel

Scroggins feeds finicky bass a Petey Rig

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships

The first time Florida bass fishing legends Terry “Big Show” Scroggins and Peter “T” Thliveros met, Scroggins was 10 years old and mowing the lawn at Ditto lure company where Thliveros worked as a teen pouring Ditto’s famous Fire Claws, and Gator Tail worms.

Both youngsters had dreams of fishing for a living, but it’s doubtful they imagined back in 1979 that Peter “T” would later create a unique finesse Carolina Rig that would put thousands of dollars in their pockets as pros. 

Yes indeed, credit the “Petey Rig” for a portion of the $4 million dollars the two best buddies have won as pros, including Scroggins’ Bassmaster Open win at Lake Toho, and Thliveros’ victory at the 2007 Bassmaster Memorial at Onondaga Lake near Syracuse. 

“Yup, I’ve known Pete for 42 years. And anytime you’re struggling to get a bite, that Petey Rig he came up with will save your butt,” insists Scroggins who also shares a love of cooking and grilling with Thliveros.

So, what exactly is a Petey Rig?

It’s sort of a finesse Carolina Rig without a glass bead or 2-way swivel. Scroggins throws it on spinning tackle. He first slides a 1/8 to 3/8-ounce worm weight on his line, then adds not one, but two bobber stoppers immediately behind. 

He keeps about 18” of line between the bobber stoppers and the hook – to which he most often attaches either a 5” Zoom Super Fluke or a Big Show Kicker Tail worm. Of course, you can adjust the distance between your worm weight and the lure by simply sliding the bobber stoppers up or down your line. 

The main line on Scroggins’ spinning reel is 10-pound braid, but he ties it to a 10-pound fluorocarbon leader. 

Year round, and all three species – just Don’t fish it fast 

“You’d think since we’re Florida boys this would be a warm water largemouth rig, but it’s not. It’ll catch smallmouth and spotted bass too. In fact, some of Pete and I’s best days with the Petey Rig have been up north around aquatic vegetation,” says Scroggins.

Scroggins says it really seems to shine in the fall of the year around vegetation, but he can’t emphasize enough that much like a shaky head or drop shot, the Petey Rig is an all seasons rig from north to south, hydrilla to rocks – anytime you need a bit of finesse to make ‘em bite. 

“The whole key is to not get in a hurry. The best way to get bites is to leave it dead still for a couple seconds between every short hop or drag. If you fish it slow and let that Fluke or Kicker Tail sit still for a couple seconds, that’s where the magic is,” he emphasizes. 

But what about the grub, bub?

Thliveros worked as chef for years in the family restaurant when not on the road competing, and Scroggins has been featured in his own grilling blog series. Neither men ever lack for a healthy appetite. Scroggins says Pete can even cook a wild hog on a rotisserie that is “off the chain delicious.” 

But when bass seem to lack an appetite you can bet both these veteran Florida pros will serve up a Petey Rig as the featured menu item. 

by AnglersChannel

Pinell & Knowles From LSU Win the 2021 AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open

RUSSELLVILLE, AR (October 10, 2021) – The first Association of Collegiate Anglers event of the season is in the books as the scales are closed and prizes have been awarded for the 2021 AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open on Lake Dardanelle. 432 of the top collegiate anglers in the nation competed for two days in hopes of claiming their share of the more than $20,000 in prizes & contingencies that were on the line, as well as double points towards the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia. Heath Pinell and Taylor Knowles from Louisiana State University claim first place honors with a two-day total weight of 24.89 pounds. Robert Gee and Luke Byerly from the University of Tennessee take second, and Griffin Fernandes and Zach Manneback from Adrian College finish the event in third.
Heath Pinell and Taylor Knowles from LSU surged up from back in the standings to claim the school’s first-ever major victory out on the collegiate trail. Pinell and Knowles entered Day 2 in 18th place after weighing in 10.74 pounds on the first day of competition. The duo rallied to weigh in the second biggest bag brought to the scales on Day 2 with 14.15 pounds. Their two day total of 24.89 pounds bests second place by just under one quarter of a pound.
For their first place overall finish, Pinell and Knowles earn a $1,000 Bass Pro Shops gift card, a $50 AFTCO gift card, two HydroWave H2 units, a Rapala tackle package, and a 13 Fishing prize package. Along with the long list of prizes, the team from LSU also earns $1,000 in contingencies. This includes $500 for the ACA logo contingency, as well as an additional $500 for the Yamaha ACA Contingency Bonus. The team’s Top 5 finish also earns them automatic qualification to compete in the 2022 BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops at Pickwick Lake. 1,250 points will also be awarded to LSU for the Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia.
Finishing the event in second place overall are Robert Gee and Luke Byerly from the University of Tennessee. The Day 1 leaders stumbled slightly on Day 2, weighing in just 7.51 pounds for a combined two-day total of 24.76 pounds. Gee and Byerly caught their Day 1 weight by locking down on the Arkansas River system. Today, their time down there was cut short by barge traffic moving through the lock. The team had four fish when they locked back through, and failed to catch a fifth keeper fish. Second place earns them valuable prizes, 1,240 School of the Year points, and qualification into the 2022 ACA Championship.

by AnglersChannel

Big Morning Lifts Hollen And Clark To Bassmaster Junior Championship Win

Bo Hollen and Ari Clark, of West Virginia's Mon Valley Bassmasters, have won the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Junior National Championship at Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake with a two-day total of 19 pounds, 11 ounces.

Photo by Emily Hand/B.A.S.S.

October 9, 2021

HUNTINGDON, Tenn. — A double dose of early excitement set Bo Hollen and Ari Clark of the Mon Valley Bassmasters on course to winning the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Junior National Championship on Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake. They had a two-day total of 19 pounds, 11 ounces.

Starting their day on a windward mid-lake point that went from about 7 to 25 feet, the anglers threw Carolina rigs with 1-ounce weights, 3-foot leaders and green pumpkin Strike King Space Monkey baits.

“We caught our first big one (an 8-pounder) around 7:20,” Clark said. “Then the 5-pounder was at 7:45, so they were near each other. We knew we’d get in the Top 10, but I told myself ‘We need to catch another one at least 4 pounds if we’re going to get first.’

“We tried; we didn’t get it, but we still won.”

After placing 28th on Day 1 with a four-fish bag of 3-8, the anglers from West Virginia more than quadrupled their productivity by turning in a final-round limit of 16-3 — the event’s heaviest catch. For their efforts, Hollen and Clark will split a $2,000 scholarship.

Hollen said the point they fished was a place they had visited during a previous Bassmaster Junior National Championship event. Patient presentations were the key.

“We made long casts and reeled it kind of slow,” Hollen said.

Hollen and Clark caught a few fish — including their first keeper of the day — on a drop shot. They fished this finesse rig with 4- and 6-inch Roboworms in the morning dawn color.

Hollen, who had plenty to say on stage, was nearly speechless when he lifted his trophy. Clark shared the enthusiasm and noted that catching a pair of kickers sweetens the experience.

“I’m shocked because I don’t get to see bass that big a lot,” he said. “The fact that I got to see an 8- and 5-pounder just blows my mind.”

Clayburn Reed and Gavin Gooding of Academy at the Farm finished second with 16-7. After placing 11th on Day 1 with a 5-pound limit, the Florida anglers added a four-fish bag of 11-7, which included a 6-12. Reed and Gooding earned a $1,000 scholarship.

“We changed things up today after we figured something out yesterday,” Reed said. “Today, we figured we should fish topwaters shallow in the morning. We were mostly fishing offshore yesterday, but we saw some bigger fish moving up shallow.

“This morning, we went to a cove and fished shallow and caught (that big fish) on a Yo-Zuri Pencil Popper in a translucent shad color.”

Gooding said he and his partner caught the other three keepers on a Texas-rigged pink stickworm. They fished that bait around shallow trees and offshore grass.

Brooks Hibbit and Grant Buzard of the Hartley’s Hawgs Youth Fishing Club finished third with 16-3. Catching an 8-1 gave them a big Day 1 lead with a 12-1 limit. Today, they could manage only 4 fish for 4-2.

“If we hadn’t caught that big fish (on Friday), we probably would have had only 8 pounds (total),” Hibbit said. “We weren’t on them today. It kind of started like it did on Day 1; about two hours in, no fish.

“But we got three fish in like 10 to 15 minutes. It was probably 10 casts, but that was the only hot action we had. We probably moved back and forth across the lake three or four times, just looking for spots, but it didn’t work that well.”

Sticking with their Day 1 strategy, Hibbit and Buzard slow-rolled Carolina-rigged green pumpkin Venom Trench Hogs. They used 4-foot leaders to allow the bait to float up as the weight impacted bottom structure.

For their third-place finish, Hibbit and Buzard won a $500 scholarship. They also took home the $200 Big Bass scholarship for their 8-1.

2021 Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Junior National Championship 10/8-10/9
Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake, Huntington TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

Angler Club/School Pts

1. Bo Hollen - Ari Clark Mon Valley Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 4 03-08 Day 2: 5 16-03 Total: 9 19-11
2. Clayburn Reed - Gavin Gooding Academy at the Farm 0
Day 1: 5 05-00 Day 2: 4 11-07 Total: 9 16-07
3. Grant Buzard - Brooks Hibbit Hartleys Hawgs Youth Fishing Clu 0
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 4 04-02 Total: 9 16-03
4. Trey Richardson Iii - Reid Luckett Free State Bass 0
Day 1: 5 04-15 Day 2: 5 11-00 Total: 10 15-15
5. Parker Adair - Jackson Miller Arkansas Youth Anglers 0
Day 1: 2 09-05 Day 2: 5 05-04 Total: 7 14-09
6. Wes Warnock - Ryan Seitz Southeastern Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 2 01-15 Day 2: 5 12-02 Total: 7 14-01
7. Drew Lee - Cole Mcausland American Christian Academy 0
Day 1: 5 04-09 Day 2: 4 08-07 Total: 9 13-00
8. Luke Stewart - Austin Craze Clay Co Middle School and Clay C 0
Day 1: 5 04-14 Day 2: 5 08-00 Total: 10 12-14
9. Nolan Savage - Jake Paradis LA Jr Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 04-09 Total: 10 12-13
10. Nolan Holloway - Jackson Fanning Morgan County Middle School 0
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 3 02-09 Total: 8 12-01
11. Milam Mcillwain - Landon Lewis CREEKWOOD FISHING 0
Day 1: 3 03-01 Day 2: 5 07-02 Total: 8 10-03
12. James Barkley - Tanner Moulton New Hampshire Junior Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 5 05-08 Day 2: 5 04-11 Total: 10 10-03
13. Dominic Bianchi - Ethan Haley Rochester Bassmaster 0
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 1 01-02 Total: 6 10-01
14. Chase Black - Cayden Collins South side middle 0
Day 1: 5 05-10 Day 2: 4 03-15 Total: 9 09-09
15. Lucas D'angelo - Drew Hinzman Elkins 0
Day 1: 4 03-10 Day 2: 5 05-13 Total: 9 09-07
16. Presley Lannom - Preston Maddux Mt Juliet Fishing 0
Day 1: 5 04-05 Day 2: 5 05-02 Total: 10 09-07
17. Kent Falls - Colby Falls York Middle School 0
Day 1: 4 03-01 Day 2: 5 06-01 Total: 9 09-02
18. Jackson Rogers - Caden Sellers Jr. Southwest Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 5 04-08 Day 2: 5 04-07 Total: 10 08-15
19. Tate Reynolds - Blane Smith Russell County High School 0
Day 1: 4 03-04 Day 2: 3 05-09 Total: 7 08-13
20. Caleb Hildenbrand - Ethan Denu Port City Jr. Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 5 04-08 Day 2: 5 04-05 Total: 10 08-13
21. Jase Johnson - Keaton Coe Anoka Ramsey Jr Bassers 0
Day 1: 5 04-08 Day 2: 5 03-15 Total: 10 08-07
22. Aiden King - Dillyn Dill Shelby County Jr Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 00-13 Day 2: 5 07-07 Total: 6 08-04
23. Connor Kennedy - Hayden Johns Mulberry High School 0
Day 1: 5 06-08 Day 2: 2 01-11 Total: 7 08-03
24. Rhiauna Switzer - Abigail Panak Pretty Water Junior Bass Club 0
Day 1: 5 03-09 Day 2: 5 04-06 Total: 10 07-15
25. Murphy Childers - Ryder Colee 0
Day 1: 1 00-12 Day 2: 5 07-00 Total: 6 07-12
26. Charles Klug - Brock Huebner PJ Jacobs Junior High 0
Day 1: 1 06-13 Day 2: 1 00-15 Total: 2 07-12
27. Alexander Tyler - Briley West McKeel Junior Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 07-07 Total: 5 07-07
28. Wyatt Massey - Leland Pageler Phoenix Junior Bass Masters 0
Day 1: 5 04-01 Day 2: 4 03-05 Total: 9 07-06
29. Lainie Holbert - Sarah Swindle Riverside Bass Team 0
Day 1: 3 02-06 Day 2: 5 04-06 Total: 8 06-12
30. Cameron Prokop - Tom Shumowsky New Age Bass Fishing Club 0
Day 1: 5 04-05 Day 2: 3 02-07 Total: 8 06-12
31. Alex Meland - Carter Michalek Eastern Iowa Jr Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 5 05-03 Day 2: 3 01-08 Total: 8 06-11
32. Nathan Chiasson - Evan Breaux Lafourche Junior Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 2 01-07 Day 2: 3 05-03 Total: 5 06-10
33. Ty Magargle - Quintin Bergey Wildcat Fishing 0
Day 1: 5 04-12 Day 2: 2 01-09 Total: 7 06-05
34. Cole Bowen - Tate Bowen Mecklenburg 0
Day 1: 5 04-06 Day 2: 2 01-15 Total: 7 06-05
35. Terryn Boland - Wyatt Becker West Salem 0
Day 1: 5 03-13 Day 2: 2 01-15 Total: 7 05-12
36. Cassidy Sawyer - Vaughn Mckay L A Junior Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 1 00-11 Day 2: 5 04-06 Total: 6 05-01
37. Caleb Moore - Joseph Siegel Off The Hook IL Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 2 01-09 Day 2: 2 03-08 Total: 4 05-01
38. Parker Eubanks - Garrett Evans Plainview Jr. Bass Club 0
Day 1: 5 03-09 Day 2: 1 01-00 Total: 6 04-09
39. Boots Burleson - Brady Mikes Texas Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 4 03-06 Total: 5 04-05
40. Cameron Mcdonel - Trenton Zoellner Swatara and CD Middle 0
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 3 03-04 Total: 4 04-04
41. Cason Redwine - Bo Helms Bear Creek Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 2 02-01 Total: 3 03-15
42. Justin Waggener - Eli Pauley Burgin Independent School 0
Day 1: 3 03-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 03-14
43. Brayden Vallie - Easton Fett Fruitport 0
Day 1: 2 01-15 Day 2: 2 01-11 Total: 4 03-10
44. Beau McQuade - Elijah Ambrose Jr. Potomac River Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 2 01-12 Day 2: 2 01-14 Total: 4 03-10
45. Jack Meiser - Blake Meiser Eureka 0
Day 1: 3 02-03 Day 2: 1 01-00 Total: 4 03-03
46. Lucas Sheafer - Steele Smith Louisburg Middle School 0
Day 1: 2 02-02 Day 2: 1 00-13 Total: 3 02-15
47. Avery Bowen - Laiken Emanuel Jefferson West High School 0
Day 1: 1 00-10 Day 2: 2 02-03 Total: 3 02-13
48. Carter Gaines - Charlie Brekke Poudre School District 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 02-12 Total: 2 02-12
49. Princeton Jordan - Peyton Jordan Marshfield Blue Jays 0
Day 1: 3 02-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 02-11
49. Troy Watson - Shockley Hiatt Mount Airy Middle School - Maybe 0
Day 1: 3 02-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 02-11
51. Tyler Camp - Kason Carmichiel Pine Grove 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 02-11 Total: 3 02-11
52. Jonathan Jarvis - Tanner Trawick Seminole Co. Middle High School 0
Day 1: 2 02-03 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 02-03
53. Connor Krech - Landon Bizal Anoka Ramsey 0
Day 1: 1 00-09 Day 2: 2 01-10 Total: 3 02-03
54. Nicholas Syrett - Landon Homrich Howell Highlander Way Middle Sch 0
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 1 00-15 Total: 2 01-15
55. Grant Rees - Keegan Carnicle West Delaware 0
Day 1: 1 00-11 Day 2: 1 01-03 Total: 2 01-14
56. Leo Yonkman - Drew Wagner Southside Junior Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-02 Total: 1 01-02
57. Mackenzie Muntz - Jacob Muntz Gibsonburg 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-00 Total: 1 01-00
58. Austin Evans - Trevor Wallace Mecklenburg Youth Bass Masters 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 00-15 Total: 1 00-15
58. Levi Sowell - Maggie Miller Broaddus 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 00-15 Total: 1 00-15
60. Nikolas Foster - Massachusetts BASS Nation 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
60. Kaleb Harris - Dakota Power Ark-La-Tex Bassmaster 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
60. John Pharr - Collin Pharr 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00

by AnglersChannel

Powroznik Storms Back To Win Bassmaster Central Open On Lewis Smith Lake

Jacob Powroznik, of North Prince George, Va.., has won the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Lewis Smith Lake with a three-day total of 37 pounds, 9 ounces.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.

October 9, 2021

JASPER, Ala. — Jacob Powroznik had one goal in mind when he signed up for the entire 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens schedule: requalify for the Bassmaster Elite Series.

Saturday was another major step toward accomplishing that goal, as Powroznik rallied in the final round to win the second Central Open of the season, on Alabama’s Lewis Smith Lake, with a three-day total of 37 pounds, 9 ounces.

After catching 11-12 on Day 1 and 11-8 on the second day, the North Prince George, Va., native landed 14-5 of spotted bass on the final day, propelling him past Days 1 and 2 leader Nick LeBrun, who caught just three keeper bass on the final day to finish with a three-day total of 33-6.

Not only does Powroznik maintain his lead in the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year standings, but he also punches his ticket to the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk at Lake Hartwell. The win is his fifth in Bassmaster competition.

“It is a dream come true. That is what you fish for,” Powroznik said. “My best friend Hank (Cherry) has won it two years in a row, so now I’ve got something to shoot for. I put myself in to requalify for the Elite Series, and then to be able to come here and win this tournament is a blessing.

“It all kind of came together and I can’t wait to get to Hartwell. God is good and I love bass fishing.”

Powroznik’s pattern all week centered around standing timber in deep water areas where suspended spotted bass were feeding on blueback herring. Some of the trees he was fishing were in over 100 feet of water, but the bass were suspended only 20 feet deep.

“I was fishing in ditches that run into pockets and they had to have standing timber that was taller than anything else,” he said. “The thermocline was at about 35 feet this week, so those bass would never go below that.”

After experimenting with several techniques in practice, Powroznik settled on a V&M Drop Shad rigged on a 3/16- or 1/4-ounce jighead paired with a Quantum Smoke spinning outfit and 10-pound High Seas braid and an 8-pound fluorocarbon leader. He added his Lowrance Active Target units were essential as he could watch how the bass reacted to the bait as it fell to them.

“The technique is called tight-lining,” he said. “When I know it is going to fall right to them, I’ll hold my rod and it will pendulum down. It looks like a dying shad or a herring, whatever they are after. They didn’t want anything with a paddletail, they wanted it kind of clean and one of them was going to get it.”

Powroznik noticed distinct feeding windows for the spotted bass.

“They would bite right off the bat and then there would be an hour or two lull,” he said. “Once it got to be around noon, that’s when they clustered around those trees a whole lot better. And then they would slack off toward the end.”

While there had been a couple of striper fishing boats in his areas throughout the tournament, Powroznik didn’t have very much fishing pressure around him throughout the week. When he arrived at his spot Saturday, there were a few more boats, but he was able to find success.

“I don’t ever say this, but I told my buddy that I might have found the winning bag of fish,” Powroznik said. “I ended up catching a big one right off the bat and then I caught another one. I am never sitting still, so I moved around and ended up catching another big one. They were bigger than the ones I had been catching all week.

“Being around the striper fisherman, they know what is in there and the stripers feed on herring and so do the big spots.”

After leading through the first two days with 15-2 on Day 1 and 12-13 on Day 2, LeBrun weighed in just three bass for 5-7 to drop into second place.

“It was a great week,” LeBrun said. “Something changed with those suspended fish. It was tough to get bites and when they did they were small and I hadn’t had that problem all week. It seemed like the bait was up at the surface a lot more and I think that was due to the lack of boat traffic. When the fish were busting, I couldn’t catch them.”

Hometown favorite Jesse Wiggins finished in third with 33-3, jumping up from fifth place with a Day 3 bag that weighed 10-10.

“Overall, I’m not satisfied but I’m pleased,” Wiggins said. “It could have been a lot worse. I know how fickle it is and it could have been a really bad deal. I’m excited to be in the Top 10. It was a tough week and this lake doesn’t handle boat pressure really well, especially during a tough time of year.”

After a tough Day 1, Wiggins went all in on a largemouth pattern on Day 2 to catch 12-6 to get to the final day.

“The water cleaned up a little and I was able to grind out 10 pounds on Day 1,” Wiggins said. “I started on my river stuff Day 2 and they were biting. I caught them all on a Jackall Firecracker Buzzbait and then one on a squarebill.

“Today I went back up there and caught a few on a buzzbait and a couple on a shaky head and my second biggest one on a squarebill.”

With a 5-15 largemouth on Day 1, Brandon Ackerson won the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament and earned $750.

With 1,371 points, Powroznik leads the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year standings. Tommy Williams is second with 1,301 and Daisuke Aoki is third with 1,269.

Joseph Webster leads the Central Opens standings with 381 points while Jay Przekurat and Brandon Lester are tied for second with 378.

The final Central Open is scheduled for Grand Lake in Grove, Okla., Oct. 21-23. The final three Central Opens Elite Series invites will be awarded at the conclusion of that tournament as well as the invites from the overall Opens standings.

2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Open at Lewis Smith Lake 10/7-10/9
Smith Lake, Jasper AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3

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

1. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 15 37-09 200 $50,400.00
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 11-08 Day 3: 5 14-05
2. Nick LeBrun Bossier City, LA 13 33-06 199 $24,480.00
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 12-13 Day 3: 3 05-07
3. Jesse Wiggins Logan, AL 15 33-03 198 $17,280.00
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 12-06 Day 3: 5 10-10
4. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 15 31-08 197 $14,900.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 10-10 Day 3: 5 10-10
5. Cody Huff Ava, MO 14 28-15 196 $12,528.00
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 09-10 Day 3: 4 08-01
6. Tom Frink Cedartown, GA 10 27-08 195 $11,520.00
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 13-06 Day 3: 0 00-00
7. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 10 24-15 194 $10,800.00
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 4 10-02 Day 3: 1 01-10
8. Cody Bird Granbury, TX 10 23-06 193 $10,080.00
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 4 07-07 Day 3: 1 01-05
9. Allen Stewart Lakeview, AR 11 23-00 192 $7,920.00
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 11-14 Day 3: 1 01-07
10. Robin Erb Crane Hill, AL 9 20-14 191 $6,480.00
Day 1: 4 08-08 Day 2: 5 12-06 Day 3: 0 00-00

by AnglersChannel

LeBrun Maintains Lead At Bassmaster Central Open On Lewis Smith Lake

Nick LeBrun, of Bossier City, La., is leading after Day 2 of the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Lewis Smith Lake with a two-day total of 27 pounds, 15 ounces.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.

October 8, 2021

JASPER, Ala. — Nick LeBrun has been using Lowrance Active Target for nearly a year to target crappie in deep water back in his home state of Louisiana. During that time, he has learned he often has one opportunity to make the perfect cast and lead those fish to the bait.

LeBrun has used that same mindset to catch quality spotted bass this week and lead both days of the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Lewis Smith Lake. He caught 12 pounds, 13 ounces Friday to increase his total weight to 27-15.

“I fished a pro circuit event here in February and had the bites to do really well and couldn’t get them in the boat and kind of stubbed my toe,” said LeBrun, a Bossier City resident. “It feels good to come back here when it is tough against so many top-notch anglers and catch them two days in a row.”

After weighing a mixed bag of 15-2 Thursday, LeBrun’s Friday bag contained all spotted bass that he saw using his Active Target units. Using a Damiki rig — a Hayabusa Ball Head jig rigged with a V&M Drop Shad — he caught all the spotted bass suspended over 50 feet of water.

The main difference between his crappie tactics and his spotted bass approach was when the bass would eat his bait.

“You have one shot to make one perfect cast and then you marry the fish and the bait on screen,” LeBrun said. “But every one I caught today, while the bait was falling 10 feet above their head, they would come up and smoke it.

“If it gets down to them, they won’t eat it. But if you can get them to come up at it, that increases your chances.”

LeBrun said the larger groups of fish were more likely to eat the bait while little packs of four or five would only look at it.

While there was a short period of fog early, sunny skies soon prevailed and LeBrun said that shut down his largemouth bite.

“The lack of cloud cover hurt me on the power fishing thing and on my largemouth tactic,” he said. “I only caught one short doing that and I know I reeled that bait on some good banks and behind some good docks. I just could never get a bite on it. The lack of clouds shut them down.”

Tom Frink of Cedartown, Ga., jumped from fourth to second with a 13-6 limit on Day 2 after securing 14-2 on the first day. With a two-day total of 27-8, he trails LeBrun by only 7 ounces heading into the final day.

With a later boat draw Friday, Frink decided to stay close to the ramp to take advantage of the morning bite and it paid off with three keepers in the first hour. From there, Frink weeded through several nonkeeper bass before filling his limit around noon.

“Thirty minutes later I caught a 2 3/4-pounder and culled a 2-pounder,” he said. “I think I caught eight keepers and around 25 fish today. This afternoon they just started biting kind of funny.”

After about 2 p.m., Frink decided to scout some new water in hopes of finding some areas that might produce on Championship Saturday.

Covering as much water as possible has been important for Frink this week. Each day he has found new water to fish as well and caught most of his weight in areas where he hadn’t previously made a cast.

Despite landing only four keepers for 10-2, Wisconsin native and two-time Bassmaster Open co-angler winner Jay Przekurat moved into third place with a two-day total of 23-5. After landing in sixth place on Day 1 with 13-3, Przekurat struggled to find bites Friday, landing his first keeper largemouth around 9:30 a.m.

He did not land another keeper until he hit an early-afternoon flurry when he landed a 3-pound spotted bass, a 2-pounder and another keeper. His fifth bite never came.

“Today was way tougher. The blue-bird skies and the post-front conditions absolutely shut down the fishing,” he said. “I hardly saw any fish busting or anything. It’s not a great day and you can tell by the weights.”

Although he battled tough conditions on Day 2, Przekurat said he is excited to head back to the water Saturday for a chance to potentially win his first trophy on the boater side after a 17th-place finish at the first Central Open earlier this year at Pickwick Lake.

“Anytime you are fishing on the final day, you have a chance at a big bag,” he said. “This is my first Top 10 as a pro in my first year as a pro. This is great.”

Although he stumbled on Day 2, Brandon Ackerson still holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the tournament on the boater side, a 5-15 largemouth he landed on Day 1.

Kelly Townson of Hartselle, Ala., took home the nonboater title and just over $16,000. He landed 5-0 on Day 2 to increase his two-day total to 11-13, edging out second-place Justin Stephenson by over a pound.

Townson said he used a buzzbait and a shaky head primarily on Day 1, while the shaky head was the biggest producer on the final day.

Jeffrey Jennings of Lanett, Ala., took home the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament on the co-angler side with a 4-9 he caught on Day 2, earning $250.

With a two-day total of 23-4, Jacob Powroznik jumped into the Top 10 cut, maintaining his lead in the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year standings with 1,368 points. Tommy Williams is second with 1,301 and Daisuke Aoki is third with 1,269.

In the Central Open standings, Przekurat jumped into the top spot with 382 points. He leads second-place Joseph Webster (381) by just one point while Brandon Lester is third with 378.

The Top 10 boaters earned a spot to compete on Championship Saturday and will takeoff from Smith Lake Public Boat Ramp starting at 6:30 a.m. CT and return for check-in at 2:30 p.m. Saturday’s weigh-in will be held at the Bass Pro Shops in Leeds, Ala., and is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. CT.

JASPER, Ala. — Nick LeBrun has been using Lowrance Active Target for nearly a year to target crappie in deep water back in his home state of Louisiana. During that time, he has learned he often has one opportunity to make the perfect cast and lead those fish to the bait.

LeBrun has used that same mindset to catch quality spotted bass this week and lead both days of the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Lewis Smith Lake. He caught 12 pounds, 13 ounces Friday to increase his total weight to 27-15.

“I fished a pro circuit event here in February and had the bites to do really well and couldn’t get them in the boat and kind of stubbed my toe,” said LeBrun, a Bossier City resident. “It feels good to come back here when it is tough against so many top-notch anglers and catch them two days in a row.”

After weighing a mixed bag of 15-2 Thursday, LeBrun’s Friday bag contained all spotted bass that he saw using his Active Target units. Using a Damiki rig — a Hayabusa Ball Head jig rigged with a V&M Drop Shad — he caught all the spotted bass suspended over 50 feet of water.

The main difference between his crappie tactics and his spotted bass approach was when the bass would eat his bait.

“You have one shot to make one perfect cast and then you marry the fish and the bait on screen,” LeBrun said. “But every one I caught today, while the bait was falling 10 feet above their head, they would come up and smoke it.

“If it gets down to them, they won’t eat it. But if you can get them to come up at it, that increases your chances.”

LeBrun said the larger groups of fish were more likely to eat the bait while little packs of four or five would only look at it.

While there was a short period of fog early, sunny skies soon prevailed and LeBrun said that shut down his largemouth bite.

“The lack of cloud cover hurt me on the power fishing thing and on my largemouth tactic,” he said. “I only caught one short doing that and I know I reeled that bait on some good banks and behind some good docks. I just could never get a bite on it. The lack of clouds shut them down.”

Tom Frink of Cedartown, Ga., jumped from fourth to second with a 13-6 limit on Day 2 after securing 14-2 on the first day. With a two-day total of 27-8, he trails LeBrun by only 7 ounces heading into the final day.

With a later boat draw Friday, Frink decided to stay close to the ramp to take advantage of the morning bite and it paid off with three keepers in the first hour. From there, Frink weeded through several nonkeeper bass before filling his limit around noon.

“Thirty minutes later I caught a 2 3/4-pounder and culled a 2-pounder,” he said. “I think I caught eight keepers and around 25 fish today. This afternoon they just started biting kind of funny.”

After about 2 p.m., Frink decided to scout some new water in hopes of finding some areas that might produce on Championship Saturday.

Covering as much water as possible has been important for Frink this week. Each day he has found new water to fish as well and caught most of his weight in areas where he hadn’t previously made a cast.

Despite landing only four keepers for 10-2, Wisconsin native and two-time Bassmaster Open co-angler winner Jay Przekurat moved into third place with a two-day total of 23-5. After landing in sixth place on Day 1 with 13-3, Przekurat struggled to find bites Friday, landing his first keeper largemouth around 9:30 a.m.

He did not land another keeper until he hit an early-afternoon flurry when he landed a 3-pound spotted bass, a 2-pounder and another keeper. His fifth bite never came.

“Today was way tougher. The blue-bird skies and the post-front conditions absolutely shut down the fishing,” he said. “I hardly saw any fish busting or anything. It’s not a great day and you can tell by the weights.”

Although he battled tough conditions on Day 2, Przekurat said he is excited to head back to the water Saturday for a chance to potentially win his first trophy on the boater side after a 17th-place finish at the first Central Open earlier this year at Pickwick Lake.

“Anytime you are fishing on the final day, you have a chance at a big bag,” he said. “This is my first Top 10 as a pro in my first year as a pro. This is great.”

Although he stumbled on Day 2, Brandon Ackerson still holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the tournament on the boater side, a 5-15 largemouth he landed on Day 1.

Kelly Townson of Hartselle, Ala., took home the nonboater title and just over $16,000. He landed 5-0 on Day 2 to increase his two-day total to 11-13, edging out second-place Justin Stephenson by over a pound.

Townson said he used a buzzbait and a shaky head primarily on Day 1, while the shaky head was the biggest producer on the final day.

Jeffrey Jennings of Lanett, Ala., took home the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament on the co-angler side with a 4-9 he caught on Day 2, earning $250.

With a two-day total of 23-4, Jacob Powroznik jumped into the Top 10 cut, maintaining his lead in the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year standings with 1,368 points. Tommy Williams is second with 1,301 and Daisuke Aoki is third with 1,269.

In the Central Open standings, Przekurat jumped into the top spot with 382 points. He leads second-place Joseph Webster (381) by just one point while Brandon Lester is third with 378.

The Top 10 boaters earned a spot to compete on Championship Saturday and will takeoff from Smith Lake Public Boat Ramp starting at 6:30 a.m. CT and return for check-in at 2:30 p.m. Saturday’s weigh-in will be held at the Bass Pro Shops in Leeds, Ala., and is scheduled to start at 4 p.m. CT.

by AnglersChannel

Huge Kicker Lifts Hibbit And Buzard To Bassmaster Junior Championship Lead

Ohio's Grant Buzard and Brooks Hibbit, of the Hartley's Hawgs Youth Fishing Club, are leading after Day 1 of the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Junior National Championship at Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake with 12 pounds, 1 ounce.

Photo by Emily Hand/B.A.S.S.

October 8, 2021

HUNTINGDON, Tenn. — Brooks Hibbit and Grant Buzard of the Hartley’s Hawgs Youth Fishing Club used an 8-pound, 1-ounce kicker largemouth to anchor a five-bass limit of 12-1 that leads the opening round of the Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster Junior National Championship on Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake.

“That was our first fish of the day,” Hibbit said of his big catch. “We were about two hours into our day and we weren’t off to a great start. We pulled up to a new spot and I caught it on the fifth cast.

“I thought I was snagged on something at first, but then it started moving and fighting back. It swam under the boat and jumped on the other side.”

The only team with a double-digit weight, Hibbit and Buzard caught their fish on finesse baits. As Hibbit explained, their day turned out much differently than they had anticipated.

“In practice, we found a spot where we caught fish, but it didn’t seem to work today,” he said. “Then we fished another spot where we only caught a 1 1/2-pounder in practice. We thought there would be a bunch of people on it, but there was no one there.

“We sat there and fished for probably 2 1/2 hours. We actually got our limit there.”

Noting that he and Buzard caught their bass in 15 to 25 feet of water, Hibbit said knowing when to abandon an unproductive effort was key to his team’s performance.

“The fish are pretty much in their fall pattern, but (not many) are coming up shallow, they’re still hanging deep,” Hibbit said. “We thought they’d be pretty shallow because it’s still pretty warm out, but they’re not. We had to switch up and fish deeper water.

“We were marking bait on the fish finder, so we tried throwing crankbaits. It didn’t seem like crankbaits were working, so we switched to finesse and started catching fish.”

With stocked Florida-strain largemouth swimming its waters, the Carroll County 1000 Acre Recreational Lake has a reputation for producing impressive catches. Hibbit said he was thrilled the lake saved its quality for when it mattered.

“At the registration meeting last night, we heard that the lake has verified 10-pounders,” he said. “In practice, the biggest thing we caught was 1 1/2, so we thought that we were going to have maybe 6 pounds today.

“That big fish shook us up a little bit. I had to take a 10-minute break to cool down. I was getting jumpy and setting hooks on logs. I took a break and then got back to it and in the next hour and a half, we had a limit.”

Nolan Holloway and Jackson Fanning of Morgan County Middle School are in second place with 9-8. The anglers initially tried throwing reaction baits but ended up getting all their bites on slower presentations.

“We came into this event thinking a moving bite was going to work for fish that were pushing shad up, but we really couldn’t find a pattern on that, so we just moved back and forth from deep to shallow all day,” Holloway said. “We were fishing 1/4-ounce War Eagle shaky heads with Zoom Trick worms around deep brushpiles. We caught our biggest shallow fish on a Texas-rigged Zoom Old Monster worm.”

Fanning said that remaining diligent was their formula for success.

Parker Adair and Jackson Miller of the Arkansas Youth Anglers team are in third place with 9-5. While they weighed only two bass, one of them was Adair’s personal best — a 7-14 that ranked as the event’s second-heaviest bass.

Adair caught the big fish around noon by fishing a soft plastic bait with a slow presentation.

“I had just changed from a reaction bait to this slower technique,” he said. “I caught that fish in about 4 feet of water. It was close to wood and sandy bank.

“I didn’t think it was a 7-pounder, I thought it was more like a 2-pounder. But when it got up and jumped, it was like ‘Oh man, we gotta get that one.’”

Miller added: “We were on the trolling motor most of the day; we didn’t really use the big motor much. Once we got that fish, we tried to find a similar pattern. If the conditions are the same tomorrow, we’re hoping to do the same thing.”

Hibbit and Buzard are in the lead for Big Bass honors with their 8-1.

Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. CT at the Carroll County Lake Launch. The weigh-in will be held in downtown Huntingdonat 19463 West Main Street at 3:30 p.m.

by AnglersChannel

NPFL - The Progressive 2021 NPFL Angler of the Year is Keith Carson Inbox

Keith Carson

The final stop of the 6-event NPFL season came to a close at Grand Lake with Taylor Watkins taking the crown, but the Progressive Angler of the Year Title was the one that came down to the final minutes in Grove, Oklahoma. When the dust settled on the final weigh-in, Keith Carson took the golden AOY trophy back to Florida, capping off a stellar season that included his first NPFL win at Wright Patman Lake in Texas.

Edging second place angler Brandon Perkins by one point, Carson averaged an 11.17 place finish for the season through six events, cashed a check at every event throughout the season, and his worst finish was 29th at Pickwick Lake where some on the water trouble led to being 6-minutes late to check in, costing him almost 10-places in the standings and $1000 in earnings. In the end, it didn’t matter, as Carson solidified his season by qualifying for the No-Entry Fee Championship at Nickajack Lake in November, and proving to himself that competing at the highest level was something he could do.

“I am a big believer of coming up through the ranks. I fished when I was a teen, then went to ABAs and BFLs, then fished Costas and B.A.S.S. Opens. I had success at every level. When you are able to do well locally and regionally, it’s a good time to fish nationally and it not only solidifies the fact that I can do it for myself, it’s a huge confidence builder. Making decisions on the fly was something I had to trust in myself, and not second guessing anything. The way the weather and the wind change during multi day events, you have to change and adapt every day. Doing it with faith and trust is different than doing it reluctantly.”

There are no shortcuts in fishing, and there is no better way to learn than to do so from experience. There were several times throughout the season where Carson made a decision that changed his entire event. One of those times was at Wright Patman Lake in Texarkana, Texas. Carson was able to follow the moving water to stay ahead of moving fish. A lesson he had learned just a week before at Lake Chickamauga told him rather than staying on the same bushes and catching smaller fish, the bigger ones were moving with the water.

“When we got to Wright Patman, we were in falling water conditions and I think it fell like 3-foot throughout practice and the event. The week before I was on the water and it was doing the same thing. As it was falling, I was able to see new spawning fish that I couldn’t see the day before. It didn’t mean I could catch the, but they were out there and I knew what they were doing during the changing water levels. In Texas, I knew where the fish wanted to be and it turned out to be one of those events you just get dialed. I can't explain it, but some decisions come easy on the fly.”

Another example was a near victory on Lake Winnebago, Wisconsin. Carson was facing a tough practice and made a decision to put the motor down and fish for hours straight. 

“When I don’t know what to do and I am struggling with practice, I'll go to an area that looks good, decent water clarity, good grass, cover, whatever. I dropped my motor on day two of practice and went 7-miles until I figured out a few key areas. I started on those areas the first day and it kept reloading over and over. It was the perfect recipe.”

After boxing a good limit early on day one, a decision to save fish and work back towards the ramp was in order. During the run, Carson noticed a spot with matted grass way back off the channel. It was another decision to explore that mat that led to the day one lead.

“That mat was way back there, and it was not easy to get to. I had to navigate all back through this stuff, shallow water, laydowns to get back there and make one flip.”

The one flip was a 3.2-pound largemouth and that gave him the lead in the event. Having never been to Grand Lake, Carson explored the standings and decided to go and trust what he does. Finishing 16th, it was enough to cash his 6th NPFL check in a row, cashing at every event, and enough to seal the AOY.

I had heard I could have zeroed and still been in the top 25 in points to make the Championship. I didn’t want to do that, but I had pretty much written AOY off and was able to focus on finding fish to cash a check. Brandon Perkins did what he needed on day one catching over 17-pounds, and Carson knew he had to step it up.

“On day two, I knew I had to catch more weight. I ended up with 14-pounds, but so did Perkins. He fell a couple spots on the leaderboard but I made a big jump. On the final day, with the storms and such, I knew it was going to be tough, but I had to keep catching fish. I had planned before the storm hit where I was going to go to tuck out of it. There was a dock close by that I had settled on. When the time came, I made a last second decision to head to a bridge instead. For, whatever reason, it felt right.”

When the storms passed, Carson started fishing around the bridge and caught 3 keepers. In the midst of catching a ton of bass and striped bass, those 3 keepers combined with the one fish caught earlier in the day, was enough to do what was needed to be in the hunt for a solid check in the event and gave him a shot for AOY. The shot was all that was needed. Perkins was dealing with boat troubles and Carsons decision not to fold on the final day got it done.

Brandon Perkins

To end the year in 2nd place AOY is accomplishment. To make 3 top ten finishes. To win an event on the home body of water. To cash a check at every event. Major accomplishments. Brandon Perkins had a season like he had hoped, checking off all the items on his list of goals, and having himself in position to win the AOY crown, on the last day of the last event of the season. Brandon Perkins is humble. He understands when it's your time, it's your time, and you won't understand why.

“I don’t understand how things happen or why, but when I was on that boat, making phone calls, trying to figure out how to get back to weigh in, I went through a lot of different stages. When God says it's not your time, it's just not. But, selfishly I'm like when is my time. I don’t understand and I won't understand it as bad as I wanted it.”

On the final day, Perkins stopped his run back to weigh in. Set off pad, put the boat in neutral. Because of a massive storm that had blown through, the rain was coming down. Perkins stopped to get a helmet on to keep the rain from hitting him in the face. The boat would not go back into gear. The shift actuator had quit, and his hopes of AOY were gone.

As bad as it hurt, when the event began on Grand Lake, there were a few anglers who had a shot to win. Perkins was not looking to play to play it safe. Even on the last day of the event, sitting in the top 5. Perkins had located fish near the ramp, and opted to pass on them to hunt for the winning fish.

“I was not going to win with those fish, and my travel partner asked if I was going to play it safe. I said no. He was scuffling for a check and I told him to run to this dock, in the creek by the ramp. In the first 30-minutes, he caught 13-pounds. I knew I wouldn’t be able to win the tournament there and I went to try to win. If I had played it safe all season, I wouldn’t be where I am, so I went to win.”

Keith Carson had caught enough fish after a spectacular season to finish in 16th place. It was exactly enough to win the AOY by one point. Carson had an average finish of 11.17, while Perkins's average was 11.33. Super close, one single point. 

“I just want Keith to know, he 100% earned the Angler of the Year. He was in that position to be there at the end. I had a good Grand Lake tournament; it just didn't work out for me. When I went live on my way home, I had shut my phone off for 24-hours or so before that. The response helped give me a better understanding of why that happened to me. I might ask Keith sometime, he can keep the money, but can I borrow that gold trophy for a few weeks a year,” laughed the Counce, Tennessee angler.

Perkins understood that he and everyone else needed to hear the message. Someone reached out after and told him they had been on the fence with the lord. His message helped them get back in line and it also helped to better understand the situation.

“I dumped a lot into this season. I have fished everywhere and I have been beat bad. All the hard lessons came into play this season and helped me. I turned adversity from the past into the good fortune this year. That was a tough moment for me. I cried a lot. I asked why. As much work that goes into it, its stinks and hurts. I am thankful for the messages from everyone,” Perkins said.

“My biggest take away, the NPFL is awesome, its growing and moving upwards. Anyone reading this should know, you can work your butt off for something, and you won't always get what you want. But this. This has increased my faith in God.”

 

Bryant Smith

After beginning the season cashing checks finishing 24th at Eufaula, and 28th at Wright Patman, Bryant Smith rallied for four top 10 finishes in a row to end his season on a high note and in the 3rd place spot in points. With an average finish of just over 12th place, Smith earned a cool $74,000 in earnings, and was the only angler in the top 5 to not take home a win in 2021.

“The biggest thing for me was getting that top 10 at Harris Chain. That gave me the confidence to trust my decisions and not second guess anything. My travel partner, Jake Boomer, and I tried not to get outer influence for any event going in. With him having a good tournament in Florida, and me as well, we just rode that wave all season.”

Decisions are key to success on and off the water. When it comes to crunch time, little decisions can make or break your day or entire season. It was leading up to Winnebago where Smith had to make that call, and it continued a string of dominance that carried him throughout the rest of the season.

“In practice I had fished all four lakes but only had one little creek on the main lake that going in I felt good about getting some bites. I went there on day one and caught my 14-pounds by 9am, and then went practicing. I ran the entire west side and never was able to cull. I then fished a secondary pattern of flipping super shallow and also struck out. I thought I was screwed.”

On day two, the creek that had produced the day before had dried up and Smith had one keeper bite to show for it. While doing research before the event, all signs had told him to avoid the east side of the lake. However, on the final day of practice, Smith sampled a small stretch and shook off seven bites on 10 docks.

“I got some bites, but I had no idea if they were bass, or bluegill, or what. After catching one fish in the little creek, and then striking out on the West side, I had no choice but to fish those docks. I rolled in around 10am caught a good keeper instantly. I fished down that strip for two hours and dialed in where I could get bites. That stretched changed mt whole event and my outlook. Having those fish helped me big time and I am glad I sampled them even though the research told me otherwise.”

Coming into the season, Smith wanted to compete and learn. With how things played out, and the lessons learned, and money earned, the California angler has to thank Jake Boomer for lighting the fire.

“Jake got the seed planted. I had thought about fishing (the NPFL), but he talked me along. I had no expectations coming in but it was a good opportunity and I took the shot. The schedule was tough, and on top, guys who can figure fish out extremely well. To end in 3rd, and make some money, it exceeded my expectations, and I can't wait for the championship in November!”

 

John Soukup

Winner of the first ever NPFL event at Lake Eufaula, and winner of stop number three at the Harris Chain of Lakes, John Soukup averaged a 15th place finish for the season and pocketed a cook $138,000 for his efforts. 

Setting goals at the beginning of the season, Soukup reached and exceeded his expectations. Key decisions along the way and trusting himself at every stop, Soukup was consistently finishing near the top and catching them at every lake all around the country.

“The second half of the year, I made some decisions I wish I didn’t. At Pickwick, I decided to fish for more money, and a higher finish paid more than AOY. Same thing at Grand, I went off away from the where the majority of the fish were and pushed into areas where others were not with hopes of blowing it up. I figured to win AOY, I needed to win Grand while others stumbled. 5-minutes into that event I caught a fish and knew I made the championship.”

Soukup admits he fished differently in the second half of the season, and realized he made a mistake. Learning to fish more conservatively when necessary is on the agenda for 2022, but it's hard to argue with the two wins and top five in AOY – the season was a success.

“Anyone in the top this year will tell you they fished open minded, and a good example for me was at Grand Lake. A voice in my head kept telling me I wasn’t fishing how I needed to. I finally swapped rods, picked up a whopper plopper, and I caught a 3-pounder on my first cast. At 2pm, I had only 4 fish, on the final day I mind you, my gut told me to run 35 minutes in the wrong direction to fish a dock. I finally decided to go for it. I got there, caught two more keepers and filled my limit. For the most part, I didn’t listen to the voices and it worked out well. I learned to trust it, and not fish with a preconceived notion.”

Looking forward to the Championship, Soukup has never been to Nickajack but does bring some Tennessee River experience with him. Some time on Guntersville in the spring, Kentucky Lake in the fall, and of course Pickwick, its setting up to be interesting and enjoyable.

“I don’t think anyone is going to be fishing for 2nd place. I am not going to study much before, I'm done with that. I am going to gear up with fall ledge gras fishing stuff and use practice to figure it out. With two half days, and 2 full days, I don’t know if I'll even pick up a rod. I may leave them out of the boat actually and see everything I can see. Ill rely on the gut decisions and the key will be getting bigger bites.”

 

Taylor Watkins

Grand Lake champion Taylor Watkins saved his best for last after a season of consistency on new lakes. Watkins took the win at Grand Lake and earned a solid $99,000 for his season efforts. Averaging an 18th place finish for the year, Watkins worst finish was 33rd place, but he still cashed a check at every event.

“My original goal was to cash a check at each event, and then on top of that, make the championship. That was the biggest goal. If I was able to make that, the no entry fee, I would have made enough money (by qualifying), and I have a shot to win more to get me to next season. 

Watkins didn’t spend too much time thinking about the AOY in general, but after Harris, was sitting in 7th, and a little far back. With half a season left, he fished hard and if not for a missed opportunity at Pickwick, the points race would have been a little tighter.

“I had a bad day one. I made an adjustment late and was able to finish a small limit. On day two I started there and cracked them good in the first 3-hours and then while looking for big fish, my livewells quit, and I had 4 dead fish. That’s a 4-pound penalty. Weighed in 12-pounds and was sitting decent, but should have been in the top 10 with one day left. I did get a check, but some unfortunate mishaps caused me to stumble. It was a salvaged event. I fell to 10th in AOY.”

At Winnebago, more unfortunate things caused Watkins his worst event of the season. Finishing in 33rd place, his practice revealed a stellar offshore bite, but unfavorable weather during the event killed all hopes of moving up in the AOY standings. Another event viewed as a survival event.

“Going into Grand, I was still in 10th place and knew I survived. I just needed to catch a few fish to make the championship. I literally put my head down and swung for the fence, not technically, but I went looking for bigger fish regardless. I had no spinning rods, and was able to uncover a dock pattern that revealed some larger fish. “

The move paid off as Watkins was able to seal the victory with a big bag on the final day. With a guaranteed spot in the championship, Watkins played the weather changing game and was able to execute where others were not. A win is huge, but there is still unfinished business.

“I never said this all season, but I still have another goal. I want to win the championship. Nobody ever forgets who wins the championship, especially the first one. I didn’t know where it was going to be, but regardless, it's no pressure, still getting paid no matter what, I can go out, relax, and fish free. That’s when I am at my best. To top it all off, it's on a place where I have countless hours on the river in the fall – I cannot wait.” 

See the final Progressive Angler of the Year results, here!

 

by AnglersChannel

FIRST SEASON OF “MY WORLD WITH MIKE IACONELLI” A BIG HIT

After Season 1, Iaconelli’s new television series a cult watch for anglers, sport fans and more.

COLUMBIA, S.C. ­­(October 7, 2021) –– The exciting inaugural season of Mike Iaconelli’s new television series “My World With Mike Iaconelli” came to a close Monday night with the epic season finale featuring LPGA Tour Professional, Marina Alex.

To recap the second half of the show’s inaugural season, in Episode Four Iaconelli stepped into the ring with UFC Fighter Jim Miller and experienced firsthand how tough being a fighter truly is. When Miller was able to hop in the boat with Iaconelli, both were able to see that in their respective sports, there are no days off.  In Episode Five with Professional Bull Rider Keyshawn Whitehorse, Iaconelli took this adventure by the reins and came face-to-face with what life is like as a traveling professional bull rider before inviting Whitehorse onto the front deck of his bass boat to experience the mental stamina and patience required of a professional angler.

In the sixth and final episode with LPGA Tour Professional Marina Alex, Iaconelli broke out the clubs to face one of the most talented athletes in women’s golf and quickly learned that focus and coordination is the name of the golf game. Alex then put away her clubs and picked up a spinning rod while they compared the crossover mindset needed in both sports.

After the first season, one thing is certain; Iaconelli and his guests are dedicated to their sports and passionate about sharing their industries with others. Season one reeled in attention from those who fish and gained the attention of those who do not...yet!

Check out the lures, rods, reels and techniques that worked during each episode on Ike’s YouTube series “Ike In the Shop” on his YouTube channel:

Ep. 1 – Lane Johnson
Ep. 2 – Martin Truex Jr.
Ep. 3 – Kyle Troup
Ep. 4 – Jim Miller
Ep. 5 – Keyshawn Whitehorse
Ep. 6 – Marina Alex

About Mike Iaconelli: Mike Iaconelli, an icon in the world of professional bass fishing, is a South Philadelphia native who now lives in New Jersey. He’s had a passion for fishing since childhood and has been competing in fishing tournaments since high school. Iaconelli has won, or come close to winning, almost every major award in tournament bass fishing, most notably the 2003 Bassmaster Classic, 2006 Angler-of-the-Year awards. For more information, visit mikeiaconelli.com

by AnglersChannel

Battle For The Trophy In Bassmaster Fishing 2022’s “Bassmaster Royale” Multiplayer Mode

October 8, 2021

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — When Bassmaster Fishing 2022, the Official Video Game, launches later this fall, angling aficionados will enjoy two multiplayer options for relaxing fun or ultracompetitive gaming.

Enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon playing with friends on the Sabine River or the relaxing waters of Chickamauga Lake in a noncompetitive environment, exploring the waters for the ideal fishing spots and showing off custom characters or, for a more adrenaline-pumping experience, battle other gamers to become the Bassmaster Royale champion.

Bassmaster Royale mode, a game mode never before offered in a fishing game, challenges players to find hot spots and catch more fish than other anglers. Players will need to stay above the cut line, a moving target setting a minimum combined weight of all fish caught, to avoid being eliminated during four events taking place throughout the match. Players will need to keep their eyes on the leaderboard to avoid being culled.

Anglers will begin their competitions in one of three different spots, where they’ll need to quickly race to their favorite fishing hot spot to start hooking bass while keeping an eye out for other anglers trying to muscle in on their territory. Like in a real tournament, changing locations can waste precious time but pay dividends if other anglers are packed closely together and competing for the same bass. Those who don’t make the cut during each event will be eliminated while the angler with the highest combined weight at the end of the four events is declared the Bassmaster Royale Champion!

Dovetail Games, maker of Bassmaster Fishing 2022, offers full support for multiplayer cross-play across all platforms so anglers can compete against each other, or relax together, no matter what system they use.

Post launch, the Dovetail Games team has exciting plans to bring new multiplayer modes where players can fish against others to be the Bassmaster Classic champion online or become the angler of the month in the global Dovetail Fishing League! More information about post launch multiplayer plans will be revealed later this year.

Bassmaster Fishing 2022 will be available beginning Oct. 28 in North America and Europe on the PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox One family of devices, including the Xbox One X and Xbox Game Pass, and Windows PC via Steam. The game is available for preorder now on PlayStation, and Playstation®Plus members get a 10% discount.

For regular updates and more information, please visit Bassmasterthegame.com.

by AnglersChannel

Roster Set for Major League Fishing’s REDCREST 2022 in Tulsa

Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees to Host 41 Anglers Competing for Top Prize of $300,000, Outdoor Sports Expo to Be Held at Tulsa’s Expo Square
 
TULSA, Okla. (Oct. 8, 2021) – Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees is ready. The field of 41 professional anglers is confirmed. The Outdoor Sports Expo planning is underway. REDCREST 2022, the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour Championship, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is set to be a massive event for fishing and outdoors enthusiasts.

Originally scheduled for February of 2021, the event was postponed a year after mounting uncertainties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions and a guest capacity reduction at Expo Square. With relaxed restrictions and Tulsa once again open for business, it’s full steam ahead for MLF and event hosts VisitTulsa, the City of Grove, and the Grove Area Chamber of Commerce.

“With our MLF headquarters based in Tulsa, this is a homecoming for Major League Fishing and we are honored to showcase our sport and the outdoors to the Tulsa community with our world championship event,” said Michael Mulone, Senior Director of Events and Partnerships for MLF. “REDCREST 2022 is going to be a show like no other, and we look forward to highlighting Grand Lake and Tulsa to the tens of thousands of passionate fishing and outdoors fans that will attend the event and the hundreds of thousands of fans that will be watching from around the world.”

The five-day bass-fishing world championship, shot for television broadcast on CBS, the Discovery Channel and the Outdoor Channel, will showcase the top 41 Bass Pro Tour anglers from the 2021 season competing for the prestigious REDCREST Championship and the top prize of $300,000.

According to MLF rules, the REDCREST field of 40 is determined by Angler of the Year (AOY) points ranking at the end of the seven-Stage 2021 Bass Pro Tour. This year, MLF and the MLF Anglers Association agreed upon a structure that allowed all 76 anglers on the Bass Pro Tour roster to drop their lowest finishes from the 2021 regular season. That helped to level the playing field after multiple anglers sat out of events due to health and safety concerns that fell under MLF’s CDC-recommended Healthy Operating Protocols and Executions (HOPE) guidelines.

When all of the AOY points were tallied, one angler that had qualified to compete in the event was negatively affected and dropped out of the 40-angler qualification. In the interest of fairness, that angler will still be allowed to compete in the event as the lowest-finish drop was not meant to penalize an angler that had already qualified. REDCREST 2022 will feature 41 anglers competing over the five-day competition.

The 41 pros from the 2021 Bass Pro Tour season that will compete in REDCREST 2022 at Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees are:

Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C.
Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J.
Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz.
Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla.
Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark.
Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan.
Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash.
Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala.
Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn.
John Cox, DeBary, Fla.
Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark.
Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn.
David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va.
Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif.
James Elam, Tulsa, Okla.
Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla.
Shinichi Fukae, Osaka, Japan
Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C.
Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas
Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas
Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla.
Russ Lane, Prattville, Ala.
Jordan Lee, Cullman, Ala.
Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala.
Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C.
Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn.
Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn.
Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan
Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif.
Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark.
Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky.
Fletcher Shryock of Guntersville, Ala.
Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La.
Jeff Sprague, Point, Texas
Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn.
Scott Suggs, Harrison, Ark.
Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C.
Kevin VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich.
Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala.
Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn.
Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala.

In addition to the competition, REDCREST 2022 will feature an Outdoor Sports Expo at Tulsa’s Expo Square on March 25-27, 2022. Tens of thousands of passionate MLF fans will pack the halls ready to see the latest in tackle and gear innovation, meet their fishing heroes, learn from the greatest anglers in the world, spend their money on merchandise and celebrate all things bass fishing. Bass Pro Tour anglers will conduct seminars and will be available for meet and greets with fans. Additional celebrities of the outdoors will be on site. All activities are free and open to the public.

Exhibitor space if filling up fast, but a limited number of spaces are still available. If your business is interested in being a part of the consumer outdoor sports show, please visit MajorLeagueFishing.com/REDCREST.

For complete details and updated information on the REDCREST 2022 and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter,  Instagram, and  YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

MLF Announces Fort Loudoun and Tellico Lakes as Venue for 2021 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Wild Card Tournament

TULSA, Okla. (October 7, 2021) – Major League Fishing, the world’s largest tournament fishing organization, announced that the 2021 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine Wild Card Regional will take place on Fort Loudoun and Tellico Lakes in Lenoir City, Tennessee, Nov. 5-6. The two-day event, hosted by Visit Loudon County and City of Lenoir City , will launch from the Tellico Dam Reservation Boat Ramp in Lenoir City.

Anglers must have entered all five events within a Phoenix Bass Fishing League division during the 2021 season and fished at least two of them in order to be eligible to fish the no-entry-fee Wild Card. In addition, anglers who fish in a regular BFL Regional Championship are ineligible.

Anglers will take off from Tellico Dam Reservation Boat Ramp, located at 1075 US-321 in Lenoir City, at 8 a.m. ET each day of competition. Weigh-ins will be held at the ramp both days beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The full field competes both days at the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Wild Card, with winners determined by the heaviest two-day catch. The top six boaters and top six Strike King co-anglers will advance to the 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine All-American, held on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, June 2-4, hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.

An optional pot is available to anglers who elect to participate at the Wild Card tournament. Entry fees for the optional pot is $300 for boaters and $150 for co-anglers, with the top 20 percent of anglers who elect to participate in the optional pot receiving checks. There will be no official practice period or off-limits period prior to the pre-tournament meeting for the Wild Card. No contestant may be on tournament waters for the purpose of locating bass or potential fishing waters after the start of the pre-tournament meeting except during tournament hours.

Entry for the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Wild Card is now open and runs through Thursday, November 4, 2021, at 5 p.m. CT. Anglers can enter by phone at 270.252.1000.

The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and 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, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships.

The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and  YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Mixed Bag Lifts LeBrun To Day 1 Lead In Bassmaster Central Open At Lewis Smith Lake

2021 Day 1 Smith Open Leader.jpg
Nick LeBrun, of Bossier City, La., is leading after Day 1 of the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Lewis Smith Lake with 15 pounds, 2 ounces.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.
October 7, 2021

JASPER, Ala. — While the bites were hard to come by, Louisiana angler Nick LeBrun caught 15 pounds, 2 ounces of spotted and largemouth bass Thursday to take the Day 1 lead of the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Open at Lewis Smith Lake.

After a practice filled with thunderstorms and drenching rains that brought the lake up several feet, Mother Nature threw one more curveball Thursday morning as the Day 1 takeoff was delayed nearly two hours by fog.

“I didn’t start fishing until after 9 o’clock and that was kind of in my head a little bit,” said LeBrun, who leads Cody Bird by 8 ounces and Brandon Ackerson by 15 ounces. “I was rushing and really wasn’t seeing much on the graph and I changed things up and caught a 3 1/2 about 10 o’clock. That got the momentum going.”

From there, LeBrun was able to add quality spotted bass and largemouth to his bag.

The bass he is targeting are chasing bait over deep water — as deep as 80 feet — but are suspended in the 10- to 20-foot zone. A Damiki rig on 12-pound Sunline SX1 braid with a Sunline FC Sniper 8-pound leader was his most productive bait.

Later in the day, LeBrun said he was able to also find a shallow bite that helped him make a few key culls. He added that some of the areas he’s been fishing got better with the rising water levels.

“I was using ActiveTarget most of the day,” he said. “Nine out of 10 fish that looked like they were good size would dart up at (my bait) and stare at it and follow it. But every once in a while, you’d find one that acted like it hadn’t seen a bait before.

“There wasn’t any getting it away from it. But the key is covering enough water and finding those active fish.”

Of his seven keepers, LeBrun landed four spotted bass and three largemouth. While he has one particular pattern going to target largemouth, the spotted bass aren’t that far away.

“If you point that transducer out there while you are fishing, you can stumble on some schools,” LeBrun said. “I’m being intentional about largemouth fishing, but every once in a while, I need to stop and look around out there. The spots are out there on that bait.”

Meanwhile, Bird also found a pattern centered around largemouth bass, securing 14-10 to land in second.

The winner of the 2020 Central Open on Alabama’s Neely Henry Lake and a qualifier for the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, Bird said many of the areas he found in practice were dirtier than expected after the heavy rains. He didn’t land a keeper until around 1 p.m.

“During practice, I only caught two 3-pounders,” Bird said. “This is the best day I’ve had since Friday. I stayed shallow and decided not to chase those herring fish.”

While a weather delay messed with his mindset during the Classic, a later boat draw and check-in time Thursday helped the Texas native stay focused.

In his years of experience on Lewis Smith Lake, Bird knows the largemouth bite can be finicky and that makes him unsure how the rest of the tournament will go.

“I may not catch one tomorrow,” he said. “I’ve got some other stuff, but when you run around you waste so much time and I have a short day tomorrow. I’m going to have to stick it to them earlier tomorrow.”

He added that he has caught keeper spotted bass in practice and was surprised he didn’t land any Thursday.

Ackerson caught 14-3 and anchored his bag with a 5-15 largemouth, which leads the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament standings.

“I thought I was hung up in a brushpile,” the Oklahoma native said. “I knew I had a bite and I set the hook and it didn’t move. Then I felt the head shake, and then it came free and still didn’t come up. And I said, ‘I’m in trouble.’ I cranked hard on it and never stopped and brought it right over the gunnel and right in the boat.”

While Ackerson had quality bites, they were few and far between. His first stop was in an area where he caught fish on a topwater bait in practice, but he was unable to get those fish to commit. From there, he moved close to 40 times throughout the day.

“The zones I was targeting were pretty specific. It was hit it and move,” Ackerson said. “I had a good first day of practice but it progressively got worse every day. I was pretty limited to what I thought was good, so I stuck with that and never put it down. I knew I wasn’t going to get a lot of bites, but I thought I could get five.”

On the co-angler side, Kelly Townson of Hartselle, Ala., leads with 6-13 followed by Levi Allgeier with 6-11 and Ruben Arevalos with 6-7. Curtis King of Plaquemine, La., caught the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day on the co-angler side with a 3-15.

After landing in 11th with 11-12 on Day 1, Jacob Powroznik from North Prince George, Va., maintained his lead in the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year standings with 1,361 points. Tommy Williams is second with 1,315, followed by Sam George with 1,240.

John Garrett leads the Central Opens standings with 387 points, while Brandon Lester and Jay Przekurat are tied for second with 379.

The full field will launch from Smith Lake Public Boat Ramp Friday at 6:30 a.m. CT and will return for weigh-in at 2:30 p.m. The nonboater champion will be crowned at the conclusion of weigh-in, while the Top 10 boaters will compete on Championship Saturday. Saturday’s weigh-in will be held at the Bass Pro Shops in Leeds, Ala. Full coverage of the event will be available at Bassmaster.com.
The Chamber of Commerce of Walker County is hosting the event.

2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Open at Lewis Smith Lake 10/7-10/9
Smith Lake, Jasper AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1. Nick LeBrun Bossier City, LA 5 15-02 200
Day 1: 5 15-02
2. Cody Bird Granbury, TX 5 14-10 199
Day 1: 5 14-10
3. Brandon Ackerson Afton, OK 5 14-03 198
Day 1: 5 14-03
4. Tom Frink Cedartown, GA 5 14-02 197
Day 1: 5 14-02
4. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 14-02 197
Day 1: 5 14-02
6. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 5 13-03 195
Day 1: 5 13-03
7. Joseph Hardy Hewitt, TX 5 12-09 194
Day 1: 5 12-09
8. Teb Jones Hattiesburg, MS 5 12-06 193
Day 1: 5 12-06
9. Casey Scanlon Eldon, MO 5 12-00 192
Day 1: 5 12-00
10. Tommy Williams Shepherdsville, KY 5 11-15 191
Day 1: 5 11-15
11. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 5 11-12 190
Day 1: 5 11-12
12. John Garrett Union City, TN 5 11-11 189
Day 1: 5 11-11
13. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 11-07 188
Day 1: 5 11-07
14. Cody Huff Ava, MO 5 11-04 187
Day 1: 5 11-04
15. Bradley Hallman Edmond, OK 5 11-03 186
Day 1: 5 11-03
16. Kyle Glasgow Guin, AL 5 11-02 185
Day 1: 5 11-02
17. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 5 11-00 184
Day 1: 5 11-00
17. Johnny McCombs Morris, AL 5 11-00 184
Day 1: 5 11-00
19. Seiji Kato Outsu Shiga JAPAN 5 10-15 182
Day 1: 5 10-15
20. Griffin Phillips Mount Olive, AL 5 10-14 181
Day 1: 5 10-14
20. Greg Vance Delhi, IA 5 10-14 181
Day 1: 5 10-14
22. Connor Graham Minneapolis, MN 4 10-06 179
Day 1: 4 10-06
23. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 5 10-04 178
Day 1: 5 10-04
24. Jesse Wiggins Logan, AL 5 10-03 177
Day 1: 5 10-03
25. Jim Dillard West Monroe, LA 5 10-01 176
Day 1: 5 10-01
26. Matt Pangrac Bixby, OK 5 10-00 175
Day 1: 5 10-00
27. Brian Peterson Sauk City, WI 4 09-15 174
Day 1: 4 09-15
28. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 5 09-13 173
Day 1: 5 09-13
28. Nick Ratliff Vine Grove, KY 5 09-13 173
Day 1: 5 09-13
30. Jeff Kitchens Auburn, AL 5 09-12 171
Day 1: 5 09-12
31. Allen Stewart Lakeview, AR 5 09-11 170
Day 1: 5 09-11
31. Brandon Tallhamer Parkersburg, WV 5 09-11 170
Day 1: 5 09-11
33. Allen Mcreath Cullman, AL 4 09-09 168
Day 1: 4 09-09
34. Jacob Bigelow Cecil, WI 5 09-08 167
Day 1: 5 09-08
35. Justin Hymel Norco, LA 5 09-05 166
Day 1: 5 09-05
36. Chris White Russiaville, IN 5 09-04 165
Day 1: 5 09-04
37. Dustin Williamson Aiken, SC 4 09-04 164
Day 1: 4 09-04
38. Allan Glasgow Ashville, AL 5 09-01 163
Day 1: 5 09-01
39. Lee Black Moulton, AL 5 09-00 162
Day 1: 5 09-00
40. Jordan Wiggins Cullman, AL 5 08-15 161
Day 1: 5 08-15
41. Terry Luedtke Burton, TX 4 08-15 160
Day 1: 4 08-15
41. Jimmy Steed Zapata, TX 4 08-15 160
Day 1: 4 08-15
43. Jennings Earnest Guin, AL 3 08-15 158
Day 1: 3 08-15
44. Jay Nyce Jr. Rogers, AR 5 08-14 157
Day 1: 5 08-14
45. Justin Kerr Lake Havasu, AZ 5 08-12 156
Day 1: 5 08-12
46. Greg Pugh Cullman, AL 4 08-12 155
Day 1: 4 08-12
47. Austin Cranford Moore, OK 3 08-11 154
Day 1: 3 08-11
48. Robin Erb Crane Hill, AL 4 08-08 153
Day 1: 4 08-08
49. Jacob Walker Alabaster, AL 5 08-06 152
Day 1: 5 08-06
50. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 4 08-04 151
Day 1: 4 08-04
50. Hensley Powell Whitwell, TN 4 08-04 151
Day 1: 4 08-04
52. Daisuke Aoki Minamitsurugun Yamanash 4 08-03 149
Day 1: 4 08-03
52. Joseph Webster Winfield, AL 4 08-03 149
Day 1: 4 08-03
54. David Kilgore Jasper, AL 3 08-03 147
Day 1: 3 08-03
55. Brent Shores Boise, ID 4 08-01 146
Day 1: 4 08-01
56. Todd Castledine Nacogdoches, TX 4 08-00 145
Day 1: 4 08-00
56. Bobby Taylor Jasper, AL 4 08-00 145
Day 1: 4 08-00
58. Marshall Hughes Hemphill, TX 4 07-15 143
Day 1: 4 07-15
59. Austin Brimeyer Dubuque, IA 4 07-14 142
Day 1: 4 07-14
59. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 4 07-14 142
Day 1: 4 07-14
61. Billy Smith Montgomery, TX 4 07-13 140
Day 1: 4 07-13
62. Randy Blaukat Springfield, MO 4 07-04 139
Day 1: 4 07-04
63. Dustin Reneau Mckinney, TX 4 07-03 138
Day 1: 4 07-03
64. Dustin Neat Dunnville, KY 4 07-02 137
Day 1: 4 07-02
65. Robbie McDonald Little Rock, AR 3 07-02 136
Day 1: 3 07-02
66. Zeke Gossett Pell City, AL 3 06-15 135
Day 1: 3 06-15
67. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 4 06-14 134
Day 1: 4 06-14
68. Todd Risinger West Monroe, LA 4 06-12 133
Day 1: 4 06-12
69. Oliver Ngy Frisco, TX 3 06-12 132
Day 1: 3 06-12
70. Daisuke Kita Ootsu-Shi JAPAN 3 06-11 131
Day 1: 3 06-11
71. Scott Isaacs Ladonia, TX 4 06-08 130
Day 1: 4 06-08
72. James Christian Dickson, TN 4 06-04 129
Day 1: 4 06-04
72. Sam George Athens, AL 4 06-04 129
Day 1: 4 06-04
72. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 4 06-04 129
Day 1: 4 06-04
75. Jarrett Brown Montevallo, AL 3 06-00 126
Day 1: 3 06-00
75. Lucas Ragusa Gonzales, LA 3 06-00 126
Day 1: 3 06-00
77. Chris Groh Spring Grove, IL 3 05-14 124
Day 1: 3 05-14
78. Jay Brainard Mountain Home, AR 3 05-13 123
Day 1: 3 05-13
78. Josh Oliver Southside, AL 3 05-13 123
Day 1: 3 05-13
80. Caleb Gibson Tahlequah, OK 4 05-11 121
Day 1: 4 05-11
80. David Williams Newton, NC 4 05-11 121
Day 1: 4 05-11
82. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 3 05-11 119
Day 1: 3 05-11
83. Matt Green Cartersville, GA 3 05-10 118
Day 1: 3 05-10
84. Blake Whatley Harleton, TX 2 05-10 117
Day 1: 2 05-10
85. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 3 05-09 116
Day 1: 3 05-09
86. Chris Jones Bokoshe, OK 2 05-09 115
Day 1: 2 05-09
87. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 3 05-08 114
Day 1: 3 05-08
88. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 3 05-07 113
Day 1: 3 05-07
89. Brandon Looney Athens, AL 3 05-05 112
Day 1: 3 05-05
90. Lance Crawford Broken Bow, OK 3 05-03 111
Day 1: 3 05-03
91. Philip Atkins Killen, AL 3 05-02 110
Day 1: 3 05-02
91. Randy Plyler Arkadelphia, AR 3 05-02 110
Day 1: 3 05-02
93. Nathan Harbison Madera, CA 3 05-01 108
Day 1: 3 05-01
93. Cory Leita Victoria, TX 3 05-01 108
Day 1: 3 05-01
95. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 3 05-00 106
Day 1: 3 05-00
96. Josh Bragg Jacksonville, AL 3 05-00 105
Day 1: 3 05-00
97. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 2 04-15 104
Day 1: 2 04-15
97. Adam Neu Forestville, WI 2 04-15 104
Day 1: 2 04-15
99. Derek Hicks Rocky Face, GA 2 04-14 102
Day 1: 2 04-14
99. James Rampey Liberty, SC 2 04-14 102
Day 1: 2 04-14
101. Andrew Upshaw Hemphill, TX 3 04-13 100
Day 1: 3 04-13
102. Julius Mazy Phoenix, AZ 2 04-11 99
Day 1: 2 04-11
103. Ryan Heavener Tulsa, OK 2 04-09 98
Day 1: 2 04-09
103. Masayuki Matsushita Tokoname-Shi JAPAN 2 04-09 98
Day 1: 2 04-09
105. Darrell Newman Bruceville, TX 2 04-08 96
Day 1: 2 04-08
105. Cody Shry Pinehrst, TX 2 04-08 96
Day 1: 2 04-08
105. Caiden Sinclair Wilsonville, AL 2 04-08 96
Day 1: 2 04-08
108. Mark Hicks Glouster, OH 2 04-06 93
Day 1: 2 04-06
108. Brian Robison Bellville, TX 2 04-06 93
Day 1: 2 04-06
110. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 2 04-05 91
Day 1: 2 04-05
111. Jimmy Mason Rogersville, AL 2 04-04 90
Day 1: 2 04-04
111. Kaoru O'Bryan Benton, KY 2 04-04 90
Day 1: 2 04-04
113. Mark Russell Mt Vernon, TX 2 04-03 88
Day 1: 2 04-03
114. Adam Knowles Trevor, WI 2 03-14 87
Day 1: 2 03-14
114. Myles Palmer Alexander City, AL 2 03-14 87
Day 1: 2 03-14
114. Brian Post Janesville, WI 2 03-14 87
Day 1: 2 03-14
117. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 2 03-13 84
Day 1: 2 03-13
118. Briana Tucker Trinity, AL 1 03-13 83
Day 1: 1 03-13
119. Brent Crow Hartselle, AL 2 03-12 82
Day 1: 2 03-12
119. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 2 03-12 82
Day 1: 2 03-12
119. Luke Plunkett Pinson, AL 2 03-12 82
Day 1: 2 03-12
122. BJ Baxter Willshire, OH 2 03-11 79
Day 1: 2 03-11
122. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 2 03-11 79
Day 1: 2 03-11
124. Justin Nichols Tuscaloosa, AL 2 03-10 77
Day 1: 2 03-10
125. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 2 03-08 76
Day 1: 2 03-08
125. Chad Smith Minnetonka, MN 2 03-08 76
Day 1: 2 03-08
125. Mark Watson Midlothian, TX 2 03-08 76
Day 1: 2 03-08
128. Clayton Barnes Clanton, AL 2 03-05 73
Day 1: 2 03-05
128. Andy Hribar Lakeville, MN 2 03-05 73
Day 1: 2 03-05
130. Randall Carter Maplesville, AL 2 03-04 71
Day 1: 2 03-04
130. Dustin Wheeler Hulbert, OK 2 03-04 71
Day 1: 2 03-04
132. John Maner Falkville, AL 2 03-03 69
Day 1: 2 03-03
132. Corey Stewart III Lees Summit, MO 2 03-03 69
Day 1: 2 03-03
134. Cody Steckel Las Vegas, NV 2 03-02 67
Day 1: 2 03-02
135. Tim Arnold Cullman, AL 2 03-00 66
Day 1: 2 03-00
135. Cody Detweiler Guntersville, AL 2 03-00 66
Day 1: 2 03-00
135. Danny Hardy Cantonment, FL 2 03-00 66
Day 1: 2 03-00
135. Mitchell Jennings Valley, AL 2 03-00 66
Day 1: 2 03-00
139. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 1 03-00 62
Day 1: 1 03-00
140. Billy McCaghren Jr Mayflower, AR 1 02-15 61
Day 1: 1 02-15
140. Connor Rushing Zachary, LA 1 02-15 61
Day 1: 1 02-15
142. Richard Kaluba Litchfield, OH 2 02-14 59
Day 1: 2 02-14
142. Christian Mazzola Sr Walnutport, PA 2 02-14 59
Day 1: 2 02-14
144. Gary Caruso Baton Rouge, LA 2 02-12 57
Day 1: 2 02-12
145. Chris Bailey Eddy, TX 1 02-12 56
Day 1: 1 02-12
146. Clay Dyer Hamilton, AL 2 02-11 55
Day 1: 2 02-11
147. Ken Iyobe Tokoname-Shi JAPAN 1 02-06 54
Day 1: 1 02-06
148. Chris Keeble Lenoir City, TN 1 02-05 53
Day 1: 1 02-05
149. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 1 02-04 52
Day 1: 1 02-04
150. Michael Wooten White House, TN 1 02-02 51
Day 1: 1 02-02
151. James Meers Rome, GA 1 02-01 50
Day 1: 1 02-01
151. Crispin Powley Camden, TN 1 02-01 50
Day 1: 1 02-01
153. Travis Burch La Cygne, KS 1 02-00 48
Day 1: 1 02-00
154. Greg Mansfield Olathe, KS 1 01-15 47
Day 1: 1 01-15
154. Jaxon Sullivan Reagan, TN 1 01-15 47
Day 1: 1 01-15
156. Travis Harriman Huntsville, AR 1 01-14 45
Day 1: 1 01-14
156. Jerod Hawkes Eagle Pass, TX 1 01-14 45
Day 1: 1 01-14
158. Luke Dunkin Lawrenceburg, TN 1 01-13 43
Day 1: 1 01-13
158. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 1 01-13 43
Day 1: 1 01-13
158. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 1 01-13 43
Day 1: 1 01-13
158. Joel Willert Prior Lake, MN 1 01-13 43
Day 1: 1 01-13
162. Trevor McKinney Benton, IL 1 01-12 39
Day 1: 1 01-12
162. Blake Sylvester Plaquemine, LA 1 01-12 39
Day 1: 1 01-12
164. Shane Melton Kokomo, IN 1 01-11 37
Day 1: 1 01-11
164. Brian Morris Cullman, AL 1 01-11 37
Day 1: 1 01-11
166. Austin Archer Anniston, AL 1 01-10 35
Day 1: 1 01-10
166. Wyatt Burkhalter Coker, AL 1 01-10 35
Day 1: 1 01-10
166. Shaine Campbell Brookeland, TX 1 01-10 35
Day 1: 1 01-10
166. Cody Ryan Greaney La Grange, TX 1 01-10 35
Day 1: 1 01-10
166. Ethan King Wilsonville, AL 1 01-10 35
Day 1: 1 01-10
171. Bill McNutt Henry, IL 1 01-09 30
Day 1: 1 01-09
172. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 1 01-08 29
Day 1: 1 01-08
173. David Dove Columbus, MS 1 01-07 28
Day 1: 1 01-07
173. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 1 01-07 28
Day 1: 1 01-07
173. Travis Loyd Brookeland , TX 1 01-07 28
Day 1: 1 01-07
176. Billy Billeaud Lafayette, LA 1 01-06 25
Day 1: 1 01-06
176. Joe Combs Paragould, AR 1 01-06 25
Day 1: 1 01-06
176. Jeff Lugar Princeton, TX 1 01-06 25
Day 1: 1 01-06
179. Tom Statler Kimberling City, MO 1 01-05 22
Day 1: 1 01-05
180. Todd Childs Waxahachie, TX 1 01-04 21
Day 1: 1 01-04
180. Toby Hartsell Afton, OK 1 01-04 21
Day 1: 1 01-04
182. Bill Weidler Helena, AL 1 00-07 19
Day 1: 1 00-07
183. Rutger Hyche Double Springs, AL 1 00-06 18
Day 1: 1 00-06
184. Scott Allgood Fair Play, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Adrian Barnes Belton, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Adam Bartusek Lakeville, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Andrew Behnke Fond Du Lac, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Lucas Bradley Flippin, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Phillip Brannon Sylacauga, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Jon Canada Helena, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. RJ Chandler Jr. Vinton, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Conner Choate Toddville, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Lonnie Cochran Section, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. John Connell Marion, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Neal Gilmore Magnolia, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Darold Gleason Many, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Johnny Grice Arp, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Mitchell Grimsley Hiawassee, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Wayne Hall Cottonwood, AZ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Brent Homan Graham, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Larry Jenkins Leesburg, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Jeremy Johnson Mansfield, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Tadd Johnson Lakeville, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Rick Nishio Southside, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Troy O'Rourke Bentonville, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Josh Pladies Belton, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Dave Redington Winnsboro, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Tom Redington Winnsboro, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Jason Reyes Huffman, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Tommy Robinson Westland, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Luke Shrader Barrington, NJ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Spike Stoker Cisco, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Austin Sudduth Waterford, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Dustin Wilkey Durant, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Skyler Williams Arley, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
184. Chris Wooten West Point, MS 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 39 527 1073-00
----------------------------------
39 527 1073-00

2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Lewis Smith Lake 10/7-10/9
Smith Lake, Jasper AL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1. Kelly Townson Hartselle, AL 3 06-13 200
Day 1: 3 06-13
2. Levi Allgeier Bardstown, KY 3 06-11 199
Day 1: 3 06-11
3. Ruben Arevalos Poth, TX 3 06-07 198
Day 1: 3 06-07
4. Jacob Novak Clear Lake, MN 3 06-04 197
Day 1: 3 06-04
5. Jamey Sickafoose Dora, AL 3 05-15 196
Day 1: 3 05-15
6. Travis Culbreth Alexander City, AL 3 05-11 195
Day 1: 3 05-11
7. David Harrell Downsville, LA 3 05-10 194
Day 1: 3 05-10
8. Curtis King Plaquemine, LA 2 05-09 193
Day 1: 2 05-09
9. Mitch Van Ert Watertown, WI 3 05-07 192
Day 1: 3 05-07
10. Todd Lee Jasper, AL 3 05-06 191
Day 1: 3 05-06
11. Justin Stephenson Jasper, AL 3 05-05 190
Day 1: 3 05-05
12. Riley Kilpatrick Jasper, AL 2 03-13 189
Day 1: 2 03-13
13. Vernon Cooksey Bossier City, LA 1 03-12 188
Day 1: 1 03-12
14. John Jacobs Birmingham, AL 2 03-11 187
Day 1: 2 03-11
15. Joseph Shaw Madison, WI 2 03-09 186
Day 1: 2 03-09
16. Brad Hollowell Azle, TX 2 03-07 185
Day 1: 2 03-07
16. Terry Neal Magnolia, AR 2 03-07 185
Day 1: 2 03-07
16. Clayton Torson Cedar Rapids, IA 2 03-07 185
Day 1: 2 03-07
19. Charles Reed Batesville, MS 2 03-06 182
Day 1: 2 03-06
20. Collin Allison Vestavia, AL 2 03-04 181
Day 1: 2 03-04
20. Marty Tanner Tolar, TX 2 03-04 181
Day 1: 2 03-04
22. Jim Ford Magnolia, AR 2 03-02 179
Day 1: 2 03-02
23. Michael Butler Lake In The Hills, IL 2 03-01 178
Day 1: 2 03-01
23. Jacob Collins Hillsboro, IL 2 03-01 178
Day 1: 2 03-01
23. Kolten Goolsby Palestine, TX 2 03-01 178
Day 1: 2 03-01
23. Shane Soriano Merced, CA 2 03-01 178
Day 1: 2 03-01
27. Noah Armstrong Fayetteville, GA 2 03-00 174
Day 1: 2 03-00
28. James Scott Moore, OK 1 02-14 173
Day 1: 1 02-14
29. John Goul Philadelphia, MS 1 02-12 172
Day 1: 1 02-12
30. Jonathan Barnette Jasper, AL 1 02-11 171
Day 1: 1 02-11
30. Sherman Marbutt Hackleburg, AL 1 02-11 171
Day 1: 1 02-11
30. Ken Yamate Richardson, TX 1 02-11 171
Day 1: 1 02-11
33. Adam Tims Royse City, TX 1 02-08 168
Day 1: 1 02-08
34. Gabe Pearce Logan, AL 1 02-07 167
Day 1: 1 02-07
35. Jeremy Duke Gautier, MS 1 02-06 166
Day 1: 1 02-06
36. John Stewart Lees Summit, MO 1 02-02 165
Day 1: 1 02-02
37. Matt Schiefelbein Marseilles, IL 1 02-00 164
Day 1: 1 02-00
38. Don Harvey Franklin, TN 1 01-13 163
Day 1: 1 01-13
39. Johnny Ward Jr Waynesville, MO 1 01-12 162
Day 1: 1 01-12
40. Blake McAnnally Springville, AL 1 01-11 161
Day 1: 1 01-11
40. Tim Rath Lake Havasu City, AZ 1 01-11 161
Day 1: 1 01-11
42. W Luckett Jr Ridgeland, MS 1 01-10 159
Day 1: 1 01-10
43. Trae Anderson Jasper, AL 1 01-09 158
Day 1: 1 01-09
43. Wade Garcia Alma, AR 1 01-09 158
Day 1: 1 01-09
43. Joshua Griffith Huntsville, AL 1 01-09 158
Day 1: 1 01-09
43. Steven Hatch Long Beach, MS 1 01-09 158
Day 1: 1 01-09
43. Clifton Overstreet Dothan, AL 1 01-09 158
Day 1: 1 01-09
43. Hunter Reifschneider Marion, IA 1 01-09 158
Day 1: 1 01-09
43. Gary Roberts Monroe, LA 1 01-09 158
Day 1: 1 01-09
43. Douglas Vaughn Houston, AL 1 01-09 158
Day 1: 1 01-09
51. Hunter Miles Collinsville, MS 1 01-08 150
Day 1: 1 01-08
51. Dirk Wenzlaff Frisco, TX 1 01-08 150
Day 1: 1 01-08
53. Michael Benson Cullman, AL 1 01-07 148
Day 1: 1 01-07
53. Chase Cook Guin, AL 1 01-07 148
Day 1: 1 01-07
53. Carson Denmark Malcolm, AL 1 01-07 148
Day 1: 1 01-07
53. Jonathan Majors Chelsea, AL 1 01-07 148
Day 1: 1 01-07
53. Larry Mcneil Meridianville, AL 1 01-07 148
Day 1: 1 01-07
53. Frank Williams Saint Charles, MO 1 01-07 148
Day 1: 1 01-07
59. Keith Eddleman Buda, TX 1 01-06 142
Day 1: 1 01-06
59. Steve Madar Starkville, MS 1 01-06 142
Day 1: 1 01-06
59. Stephen Parnell Brandon, MS 1 01-06 142
Day 1: 1 01-06
62. Ryker Holmes Arlington, TX 1 01-04 139
Day 1: 1 01-04
62. John Keith Remlap, AL 1 01-04 139
Day 1: 1 01-04
62. Teron Prince New Hope, AL 1 01-04 139
Day 1: 1 01-04
65. Thomas Abraham Winchester, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Jason Adams Raceland, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Colten Anders Burton, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Gary Bates Athens, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. James Bell Pace, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Andy Beloat Montgomery, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Matthew Bierman Nashville, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Aaron Bishop Hamilton, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. David Booth Erin, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Kevin Booty Many, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Cole Boyd Springfield, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. James Boyett Mountain Home, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Noah Boyett Mountain Home, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Skyler Browning Crosby, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Scott Burnett Warrior, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Jamie Butler Jasper, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Jeffrey Chapman Chunchula, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Andy Chappell Warrior, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Morris Collins Fairfield, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. David Cortinas Keller, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Rock Crowe Valley, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. John Cummings Maumelle, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Ethan Flack Baileyton, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Robert Fortner Conway, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Elliot Gardner Brenham, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Ralph Gibson Locust Grove, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Gerald Grace Jasper, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Bruce Griffin Jasper, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Brian Hamaker Huntsville, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Gary Haraguchi Murfreesboro, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Chad Harvey Cave Creek, AZ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Nikki Jo Hatten Clanton, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Christopher Haynes Memphis, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Allen Heston Pittsburg, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Darrell Hille Springfield, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Yo Howard Bolingbrook, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Mike Isaak Caryle, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Jeffrey Jennings Lanett, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Jon Jezierski Troy, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Kevin Johns Eads, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Joe Laseter Addison, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Will Major Port Allen, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Kevin Mallow Kansas, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Kevin Maxwell Laneville, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Michael Mayo Collierville, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Angela Mayo Maiden, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. David McMurphy Wilsonville, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. A.J. Menssen Bloomington, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Jim Opetaia-Williamson Winter Garden, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Blake Oswalt Jasper, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Terry Petchinsky Lewisville, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Ethen Preston Tower City, ND 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Dawain Rhudy Guin, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Cory Richard Carencro, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. David Riggs Hillsboro, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Ronald Robbs Fredericktown, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Richard Roulston Little Rock, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Dillon Saffle Eureka, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Kelly Salow Delhi, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Jeffrey Salter Bay Minette, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Grayson Sanders Lewisville, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Greg Secord Salem, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Lamar Shelton Athens, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Ben Shuler Midland, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Leland Smith Warrior, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Timmy Smith Jemison, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Sam Sobieck New Prague, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. William Spencer Maplesville, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Randy Tallhamer Parkersburg, WV 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Kayden Tanner Tolar, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Benjamin Townson Hartselle, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Daniel Valois Gomez Caracas FL VENEZUELA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Dwain Vogelpohl Cambridge, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Randy Waddell Guntersville, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Cory Weaver Ankeny, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Mark Wethington Liberty, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Kaden Wiedenfeld Boerne, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Tray Williams Danville, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
65. Steve Wilson Empire, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
144. Andrew Packard Fresno, CA 0 -1-00 0
Day 1: 0 -01-00

by AnglersChannel

Autumn is Top Time for Action Craws

Courtesy of Vance McCullough

Some lures get hot during certain seasons and then seem to wane in popularity, if not productivity. Not so for soft plastics. These workhorse staples of the tackle box can always be counted on to save a trip no matter the conditions. But anglers who pay special attention to the design of their plastisol dupes can maximize the action of both, their lures and the fish that begin to feed heavily this time of year.

As days continue to shorten and waters cool, fish feel the need to feed up before winter. While subtle, straight tailed worms and flipping baits that feature slick, low action appendages were the ticket during the doldrums of late summer and into September, now is the time to kick up a fuss with action-oriented tails and claws on your creatures and craws. Some examples include the old reliable Zoom Ultra Vibe Speedcraw, the aptly named Z-Man Turbo Crawz, and perhaps the king of all flapping baits, the Strike King Rage Craw.

Now’s the time to pick up the pace and take advantage of these lures’ undulating antics. Not only are action craws suitable for flipping and dragging on a Texas rig, but they make great trailers on swim jigs, bladed jigs and even buzzbaits. Of course, you can just swim one on a light Texas rig, same as you would on a swim jig, and the smaller profile will generate more strikes under many conditions including the occasional fall cold front or Nor’easter. Cagey anglers have been quietly kicking up a surface fuss with weightless craws rather than the common toad for years. Again, the idea is to draw attention to a struggling lure without additional bulk.

There are times when a bulky bait is called for, but fall is a season wherein you can catch numbers of fish of all sizes and a simple craw bait is going to deliver more strikes more often than a skirted lure or a larger soft plastic.

Additionally, if you do want to pitch a jig or similar to upgrade your bag, now would be a great time to consider using a flapping-type craw as a trailer. You get the bulk, but also the action. Besides, you’ll be nursing a humble, lethargic spilt tail pork imitating trailer all winter so turn and burn while you can. You might even be among the small but growing group that is rediscovering the power of real pork trailers as Uncle Josh emerges from a decades-long hibernation this winter (more on that trend to follow here on AnglersChannel.com).

Whether you’re burning grass flats, seining miles of riprap, or surgically picking apart docks and laydowns this fall, kick up a fish-catching commotion with the motion of action craws!

by AnglersChannel

Become a Better Map Reader – Foundations

Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships

 

Learning how to read a lake map will make you a better bass fisherman. While folks in the south still have a few months of great fishing ahead of them, the bass fishing season in many parts of the country is starting to wind down.

 

Whether you can get out on the water this fall and winter or not, Gerald Swindle believes becoming a better map-reader should be high on your list of goals.

 

“I have old memories of giant paper maps spread all over my mom’s kitchen counter with soda cans or coasters weighing down the corners so they didn’t fold up on me,” Swindle said with a laugh. “Reading maps is pretty simple but a lot of people make it more complicated than it needs to be.”

 

Nowadays Swindle has traded old paper maps for apps on his iPad like Humminbird’s FishSmart app, Navionics Web App, and Google Maps but he still loves to spend thirty minutes studying maps over a cup of coffee. The Team Toyota pro offered a few basic tips to make you more efficient at reading and understanding these tools.

 

Learn the lay of the lake

 

“Everyone wants to find the winning school of fish from their couch but that’s not really what map study is to me,” Swindle admitted. “I’m trying to learn all the basic information I can before I get to the fishery.

 

“Like how does a lake lay out? Are there rivers flowing in to the lake, and if so, are they on the north or south end? Where is the dam? How will different wind directions affect different sides of the lake?”

 

These questions Swindle poses are tangible factors anglers of all skill levels can learn at home, and they’ll be super helpful when you get to the water. His wind direction example is something Swindle still uses regularly at the highest level.

 

After a day of practice Swindle will pull up a Google Maps view of the lake he is fishing, along with a weather app. If he sees high winds forecasted for a day of competition, he may alter his game plan depending upon how vulnerable certain areas of the lake are to high winds.

 

On the flip side, maybe he’s fishing a clear water reservoir and he needs the wind for a certain pattern. Swindle may rule in (or rule out) areas of the lake simply based on the weather forecast and map study.

 

Learn the names of the creeks / coves

 

Swindle’s next tip, as simple as it may sound, is to learn the names of different sections of a lake you are focused on. Study the names of major rivers, creeks, or coves throughout the body of water. Then commit these names to memory.

 

“If you’re a high school or college kid traveling for a fishing tournament and you hear an old man at a gas station tell his buddy they were chewing in Shoelace Creek… you better know where that is,” Swindle exclaimed. “That’s one example, but knowing the names to different areas on a lake helps in a lot of ways.”

 

Outside of the occasional fishing tip you may overhear, memorizing specific names to creeks or rivers helps when talking about the body of water to someone. Whether that’s your fishing buddy at the end of a long day or in the case of an issue on the water and you’re directing someone to your location.

 

Find the boat ramps and any major marinas

 

Another worthwhile piece of basic info Swindle pays attention to on a lake map is locating several different boat ramps and any major marinas on a body of water.

 

Swindle often prefers to drive his Tundra around a lake rather than making a long, unnecessary run in his Phoenix boat when not in competition. Knowing where numerous boat ramps are helps him be more efficient with his time on the water.

 

“Knowing boat ramps and marinas will also make you more prepared for emergencies on the water,” Swindle explained. “If your boat breaks down or runs out of gas, knowing the nearest place to troll to could save a lot of time. God forbid you experience a medical emergency on the water, whether it’s you or someone else, knowing how to get to the nearest ramp or marina means getting to safety.”

 

Mechanical or medical emergencies aren’t something we like to think about when preparing for a lake day, but having a game plan is imperative. Spending a few minutes on map study and following these suggestions from Swindle will assist in formulating that plan.

 

These tips will improve your time on the water whether you are fishing a tournament or heading to the lake to have some fun.

by AnglersChannel

Salzman Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament on Lake Guntersville

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (Oct. 6, 2021) – Boater Ryan Salzman of Huntsville, Alabama wins the two-day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Guntersville Presented by Googan Baits in Scottsboro, Alabama on Sunday. Salzman earned $15,088 for his victory at the event, hosted by the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Ryan Salzman of Huntsville, Ala. 10 34-6 $15,088
2nd Logan Brewer of Town Creek, Ala. 10 34-2 $3,544
3rd Jordan Lee of Cullman, Ala. 10 33-2 $2,363
4th John Davenport of Huntsville, Ala. 10 32-15 $1,654
5th John Maner of Falkville, Ala. 10 32-5 $1,418
6th Evan Horne of Tuscumbia, Ala. 10 31-8 $1,299
7th Brad Vice of Tanner, Ala. 10 31-3 $1,181
8th Harl Romine of Grant, Ala. 10 31-2 $1,063
9th Ryan Davidson of Branchland, W.V. 10 31-0 $1,445
10th Eric Lampkin of Guntersville, Ala. 10 30-3 $827

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Chris Harcrow of Dawson, Ala. 10 28-4 $3,512
2nd Red Calvert of Perdido Key, Fla. 9 27-2 $1,756
3rd Trey Pinke of Huntsville, Ala. 10 23-13 $1,171
4th Daniel Buswell, Jr. of Fayetteville, Ga. 9 20-6 $819
5th BJ Collins of Robbinsville, N.C. 7 19-9 $902
6th  Brandon Bright of Crossville, Ala. 9 19-7 $644
7th Ben Foster of Tucson, Ariz. 7 19-3 $585
8th Scott Bussey of Hayden, Ala. 9 19-0 $527
9th Landon McDaniel of Killen, Ala. 7 18-6 $468
10th Kevin Lankford of Hollywood, Ala. 8 17-3 $410

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass Corey McMullen of Madison, Ala. 6-pound, 6-ounce bass $1,057
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Randy Hill of Athens, Ala. 8-pound, 8-ounce bass $517
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus Ryan Salzman of Huntsville, Alabama Eligible Phoenix Boat* $7,000

* Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

WINNING BAITS

ANGLER BAIT COLOR
Boater Did Not Divulge
Strike King Co-Angler Stanley Ribbit Floating Frog White

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
Choo Choo Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Oct. 21-23 St. Johns River, Palatka, Fla. Putnam County Tourist Development Council
2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American June 2-4 Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark. Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism & Visit Hot Springs

The 2021 MLF 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 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while Strike King co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The top six finishers in each regional will then qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook,  Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube .

by AnglersChannel

B. Lester: 2 tips for fishing the fall “cheese”

Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships

 

The formation of thick yellow matts of algae atop hydrilla, coontail, and milfoil beds each autumn is often comically called “cheese” by anglers. And it becomes as much a part of October for some bass anglers as treestand locations and college football rivalries.

 

Few look forward to tossing a topwater frog across the melted gouda-looking goodness more than 7-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier, Brandon Lester. But before Lester shares two tips for picking apart this annual unique bassin’ habitat, recent Bass Fishing Hall of Fame inductee, Gene Gilliland graciously shared his scientific perspective on the aquatic event.

 

“The ‘cheese’ is actually dying algae,” says Gilliland. “As it dies, it turns yellow, and gasses emitted from the decay cause it to float. It can be found just about anywhere in the United States this time of year as long as the fishery has thick beds of hydrilla, coontail, eel grass, or milfoil for the dying algae to attach to,” he explains.

Lester, who lives near the southern epicenter of cheese-topped waters like Guntersville, has learned two key things to increase his hook-ups. First, don’t get in a hurry. Once you get bit, stay put. And secondly, have two different sizes of frogs tied on.

 

Asked to pick just one frog for the next year, he chose the original Spro Bronzeye size 65 in color Natural Red, but he never leaves the dock with just one size and color tied on.

 

“I can’t tell you exactly which size of frog to throw at a particular time. I’ve never really figured out why some days they prefer one versus the other – they just do. So, you have to experiment some days with a couple different sizes until you figure out which size they want most,” advises Lester.

 

Once you get a bite … stop! Don’t go hard-charging onward through the cheddar slop. Instead, stay put right where you got the bite, and make numerous casts to the same area that is likely not much bigger than a backyard swimming pool.

 

“Once you get one to blow-up you can pretty much bet there are more bass right in that super specific spot,” says Lester. “Don’t make the mistake of moving on like you’re going down the bank covering water with a crankbait,” he emphasizes.

 

“A lot of times, fishing the cheese can put a good limit in the boat from a spot twice the size of my Tundra. But you gotta stop and make several casts to that area once you get that first blow-up. Once you find ‘em, you’ll be dang near shaking on every cast as you anticipate another one crushing your frog,” Lester grins in conclusion.

 

Keep a couple different sizes of Kermie tied on and saturate a small area with casts once you get a bite. Two simple but critical pieces of advice from Lester that are sure to improve your chances in the cheese this fall as much as smoked sharp cheddar brings grins to tailgate parties.

 

by AnglersChannel

MLF Announces 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Pr

TULSA, Okla. (October 5, 2021) – Major League Fishing announced today the schedule, rules, payouts and entry dates for the 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine, the only circuit offering weekend anglers a clear path to the Toyota Series, Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour. The Phoenix Bass Fishing League is the premier circuit for weekend tournaments, maintaining the best payouts and advancement opportunities for the lowest entry fees available in the sport.

The Phoenix Bass Fishing League allows anglers to fish close to home with opportunities to advance to the prestigious All-American and Toyota Series Championships for a shot at winning top boater awards of $120,000 and $235,000, respectively, including lucrative Phoenix MLF Bonuses.

Each qualifying tournament offers a top boater award of up to $13,000, including a $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, and a top Strike King co-angler award of $3,000. Top awards jump up to $16,000 for boaters, including a $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus, and $4,500 for Strike King co-anglers in super-tournaments. Entry fees remain unchanged for qualifying and super-tournaments - $200 per boater and $100 per co-angler for one-day qualifying tournaments and $300 per boater and $150 per co-angler for two-day super-tournaments. Six Regionals will also have a $300 per boater and $150 per co-angler entry fee in 2022, resulting in enhanced payouts of more than 200 percent per tournament with the top 40 boaters and co-anglers receiving checks – up from 24 in previous seasons.

Boaters in each regional compete for a $67,000 top award, including a Phoenix 819 Pro with 200 HP Mercury and $10,000 plus a $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers. Co-anglers in each regional compete for a $50,000 Phoenix 819 Pro with 200 HP Mercury. Additionally, the highest finishing boater from each division in each regional receives a $1,000 bonus and the highest finishing co-angler from each division receives a $500 bonus – you only have to beat 49 anglers from your division to win big.

“We pride ourselves on continuing to provide the absolute best tournaments for the lowest cost of participation available anywhere,” said MLF Senior Director of Tournament Operations Daniel Fennel. “Our team has put together a great schedule that will uphold that tradition, providing a competitive outlet for weekend bass anglers with multiple advancement opportunities for those looking to launch professional careers. We’ve had a fantastic 2021 season and are excited to carry that momentum into 2022.”

The extremely popular Phoenix MLF Bonus contingency award will also continue for the 2022 season. The Phoenix MLF Bonus enhances payouts from $500 to $7,000 for registered Phoenix boat owners in every qualifier, super-tournament and regional, an additional $20,000 in the All-American, and $35,000 in the Toyota Series Championship.

  • The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers, plus the five tournament winners in each division, advance to a regional.
  • Enter all five events in a division, fish at least two and automatically advance to the Wild Card if you weren’t pre-qualified for a regional.
  • The Wild Card offers a $13,000 top boater award, including Phoenix MLF Bonus, and a top co-angler award of $3,000. Entry fees are $200 for boaters and $100 for co-anglers.
  • The top six boaters and co-anglers from each regional and the Wild Card advance to the 2023 All-American.
  • The highest-finishing boater and co-angler from each regional and the Wild Card at the All-American advance to the Toyota Series Championship – anglers only need to beat five anglers from their regional to advance.
With every tournament featuring live streaming weigh-in coverage, the Phoenix Bass Fishing League places anglers in front of the sport’s largest fan base with coverage on MajorLeagueFishing.com and MLF’s social media outlets. The 2022 All-American and Toyota Series Championship will be nationally televised, offering Bass Fishing League anglers unprecedented media exposure.

The complete 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League schedule, rules and payouts can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Anglers can register for the 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League season at MajorLeagueFishing.comor by calling 270.252.1000, beginning at 8 a.m. CDT on the dates listed below:

  • December 6, 2021 – Cowboy, Gator, Hoosier and Music City.
  • December 7, 2021 – Bulldog, Bama, Illini, Mississippi and Volunteer.
  • December 8, 2021 – Buckeye, Choo Choo, Great Lakes, Mountain and Ozark.
  • December 9, 2021 – Arkie, LBL, North Carolina, Northeast and Okie.
  • December 10, 2021 – Michigan, Piedmont, Savannah River, Shenandoah and South Carolina.
  • Phoenix boat owners (Phoenix owners with current registrations or confirmation of a boat on order who will use their Phoenix boat in Bass Fishing League competition) and TBF members may enter all divisions by phone starting December 3, 2021.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and  YouTube.

2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Schedule:
Arkie Division                                   
Feb 12                    Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark.
Feb 26                    Lake Ouachita, Mount Ida, Ark.
Apr 9                      Greers Ferry Lake, Greers Ferry, Ark.
May 21                   Lake Dardanelle, Russellville, Ark.
Oct 1-2                   Lake Dardanelle, Russellville, Ark.

Bama Division                 
Mar 5                      Lake Martin, Alexander City, Ala.
Apr 2                       Lake Mitchell, Clanton, Ala.
May 7                      Alabama River, Prattville, Ala.
Jun 11                      Neely Henry Lake, Gadsden, Ala.
Oct 1-2                    Lake Eufaula, Eufaula, Ala.

Buckeye Division                            
May 21                    Indian Lake, Lakeview, Ohio
Jun 25                      Ohio River-Tanners Creek, Lawrenceburg, Ind.
Jul 23                       Ohio River-Maysville, Maysville, Ky.
Aug 13                     Ohio River-Tanners Creek, Lawrenceburg, Ind.
Sep 10-11                 Mosquito Lake, Cortland, Ohio

Bulldog Division                              
Feb 26                     Lake Lanier, Gainesville, Ga.
Mar 12                     Lake Oconee, Buckhead, Ga.
May 7                      Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, Ga.
Jun 11                      Lake Eufaula, Eufaula, Ala.
Aug 27-28               Lake Lanier, Gainesville, Ga.

Choo Choo Division     
Feb 5                       Lake Guntersville, Scottsboro, Ala.
Feb 26                     Pickwick Lake, Counce, Tenn.
Apr 9                       Wheeler Lake, Decatur, Ala.
Apr 30                     Lake Guntersville, Scottsboro, Ala.
Sep 24-25                Pickwick Lake, Florence, Ala.

Cowboy Division           
Jan 8                        Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Brookeland, Texas
Feb 5                       Toledo Bend Lake, Zwolle, La.
Apr 2                       Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Brookeland, Texas
May 14                    Lake O’ the Pines, Jefferson, Texas
Aug 27-28               Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Brookeland, Texas

Gator Division                                   
Jan 29                      Harris Chain of Lakes, Leesburg, Fla.
Feb 12                      Lake Toho, Kissimmee, Fla.
Mar 5                       Harris Chain of Lakes, Leesburg, Fla.
Apr 2                       Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston, Fla.
Sep 24-25                Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston, Fla.

Great Lakes Division                   
Apr 30                     Mississippi River-La Crosse, La Crosse, Wis.
May 21                    Mississippi River-La Crosse, La Crosse, Wis.
Jun 18                     Wolf River Chain of Lakes, Winneconne, Wis.
Aug 13                    Mississippi River-Prairie du Chien, Prairie du Chien, Wis.
Sep 10-11                Mississippi River-La Crosse, La Crosse, Wis.

Hoosier Division                             
Apr 30                    Rough River Lake, Falls of Rough, Ky.
May 14                   Patoka Lake, Birdseye, Ind.
Jul 16                      Lake Monroe, Bloomington, Ind.
Aug 6                     Ohio River-Rocky Point, Cannelton, Ind.
Aug 27-28              Ohio River-Tanners Creek, Lawrenceburg, Ind.

Illini Division 
May 14                   Lake Shelbyville, Shelbyville, Ill.
Jun 18                     Lake Shelbyville, Shelbyville, Ill.
Jul 16                      Rend Lake, Whittington, Ill.
Aug 20                    Ohio River, Paducah, Ky.
Sep 17-18                Rend Lake, Whittington, Ill.

LBL Division                     
Mar 5                      Kentucky-Barkley Lake, Gilbertsville, Ky.
Apr 23                    Kentucky-Barkley Lake, Gilbertsville, Ky.
Jun 11                     Kentucky-Barkley Lake, Gilbertsville, Ky.
Jul 9                        Kentucky-Barkley Lake, Gilbertsville, Ky.
Sep 10-11               Kentucky-Barkley Lake, Buchanan, Tenn.

Michigan Division        
Jun 25                     Lake St. Clair, Harrison Township, Mich.
Jul 16                      Lake St. Clair, Harrison Township, Mich.
Aug 6                      Detroit River, Trenton, Mich.
Aug 27                    Detroit River, Trenton, Mich.
Sep 24-25                Detroit River, Trenton, Mich.

Mississippi Division                     
Feb 19                    Pickwick Lake, Iuka, Miss.
Mar 12                    Ross Barnett Reservoir, Brandon, Miss.
Apr 2                      Grenada Lake, Grenada, Miss.
May 7                     Columbus Pool, Columbus, Miss.
Sep 17-18               Pickwick Lake, Iuka, Miss.

Mountain Division                         
Mar 19                    Dale Hollow Lake, Byrdstown, Tenn.
Apr 9                      Dale Hollow Lake, Byrdstown, Tenn.
May 21                   Lake Cumberland, Monticello, Ky.
Jun 25                     Barren River, Scottsville, Ky.
Sep 17-18               Lake Cherokee, Jefferson City, Tenn.

Music City Division                       
Mar 5                      Dale Hollow Lake, Byrdstown, Tenn.
Apr 23                    Percy Priest Lake, Smyrna, Tenn.
May 14                   Percy Priest Lake, Smyrna, Tenn.
Jun 18                     Old Hickory Lake, Gallatin, Tenn.
Oct 1-2                   Old Hickory Lake, Gallatin, Tenn.

North Carolina Division                              
Mar 5                      Lake Norman, Huntersville, N.C.
Apr 23                    High Rock Lake, Salisbury, N.C.
May 14                   Kerr Lake, Henderson, N.C.
Jun 25                     High Rock Lake, Salisbury, N.C.
Sep 10-11               Kerr Lake, Henderson, N.C.

Northeast Division                        
May 7                     Potomac River, Marbury, Md.
Jun 11                     Potomac River, Marbury, Md.
Jul 9                        St. Lawrence River, Massena, N.Y.
Aug 6                      Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
Aug 27-28               Lake Cayuga, Union Springs, N.Y.

Okie Division 
Mar 19                    Lake Eufaula, Eufaula, Okla.
Apr 23                    Arkansas River, Muskogee, Okla.
May 14                   Lake Eufaula, Eufaula, Okla.
Jul 9                        Fort Gibson, Wagoner, Okla.
Sep 17-18               Grand Lake, Grove, Okla.

Ozark Division                
Mar 12                    Lake of the Ozarks, Osage Beach, Mo.
Apr 2                      Table Rock Lake, Kimberling City, Mo.
May 7                     Table Rock Lake, Kimberling City, Mo.
Jun 18                     Lake Truman, Warsaw, Mo.
Sep 24-25               Lake of the Ozarks, Osage Beach, Mo.

Piedmont Division      
Mar 12                    Kerr Lake, Henderson, N.C.
Apr 2                      Smith Mountain Lake, Huddleston, Va.
Apr 30                    Kerr Lake, Henderson, N.C.
Jul 16                     James River, Henrico, Va.
Sep 17-18              High Rock Lake, Salisbury, N.C.

Savannah River Division                            
Mar 19                   Lake Keowee, Seneca, S.C.
Apr 9                      Lake Hartwell, Anderson, S.C.
Apr 30                    Lake Hartwell, Lavonia, Ga.
May 21                  Clarks Hill Lake, Appling, Ga.
Sep 10-11               Lake Hartwell, Lavonia, Ga.

Shenandoah Division
Mar 5                      Kerr Lake, Henderson, N.C.
Apr 9                      Smith Mountain Lake, Huddleston, Va.
Apr 23                    Potomac River, Marbury, Md.
May 15*                 Kerr Lake, Henderson, N.C.
Oct 1-2                   Potomac River, Marbury, Md.

South Carolina Division                              
Feb 12                    Lake Hartwell, Anderson, S.C.
Feb 26                    Santee Cooper Lakes, Summerton, S.C.
May 7                    Lake Murray, Prosperity, S.C.
Jun 18                    Clarks Hill Lake, Appling, Ga.
Sep 24-25              Lake Wateree, Camden, S.C.

Volunteer Division      
Jan 29                     Lake Chickamauga, Dayton, Tenn.
Mar 12                    Cherokee Lake, Jefferson City, Tenn.
Apr 30                    South Holston Reservoir, Bristol, Tenn.
May 21                   Douglas Lake, Dandridge, Tenn.
Sep 10-11               Watts Bar Lake, Spring City, Tenn.

* Sunday

2022 Regionals:
Oct 6-8                 Lake Murray, Prosperity, S.C.
Divisions: Bulldog, Choo Choo, Gator and Piedmont
Hosted by Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board

Oct 13-15            Pickwick Lake, Counce, Tenn.
Divisions: Bama, LBL, Music City and South Carolina
Hosted by Hardin County Convention & Visitors Bureau

Oct 13-15            Mississippi River - La Crosse, La Crosse, Wis.              
Divisions: Hoosier, Illini, Michigan and Okie
Hosted by Explore La Crosse

Oct 20-22            Grand Lake, Grove, Okla.
Divisions: Arkie, Cowboy, Great Lakes and Ozark

   Hosted by City of Grove and Grove Convention & Tourism Bureau
Oct 20-22            James River, Richmond, Va.
Divisions: Buckeye, North Carolina, Northeast and Shenandoah
Hosted by Richmond Region Tourism

Oct 20-22            Smith Lake, Cullman, Ala.
Divisions: Mississippi, Mountain, Savannah River and Volunteer
Hosted by Cullman Area LOC (Local Organizing Committee)

Nov 11-12           Wild Card: TBA

2022 All-American:
Jun 2-4                 Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark.
                                Hosted by Visit Hot Springs and Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism

by AnglersChannel

Trent Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament on Kerr Lake

Badra Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
HENDERSON, N.C. (Oct. 5, 2021) – Boater Tyler Trent of Nathalie, Virginia wins the two-day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament Presented by T-H Marine at Kerr Lake in Henderson, North Carolina on Sunday. Trent earned $14,295 for his victory at the event, hosted by the Vance County Tourism Development Authority.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Tyler Trent of Nathalie, Va. 10 29-13 $14,295
2nd Bryan Elrod of Mechanicsville, Va. 10 27-1 $3,148
3rd Todd Langford of Great Falls, Va. 10 24-1 $2,096
4th Ryan Powroznik of Hopewell, Va. 10 24-0 $1,469
5th Martin Villa of Charlottesville, Va. 8 21-0 $1,259
6th Chris Brummett of Lynch Station, Va. 10 20-15 $1,854
7th Adam Lester of Huddleston, Va. 9 20-8 $1,049
8th Rodney Bell of Salisbury, N.C. 8 19-4 $944
9th Eric Johnson of Partlow, Va. 8 17-14 $839
10th Andy Nix of Thomasville, N.C. 7 16-7 $734

 

RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Cornell Badra of Clarksburg, Md. 7 13-14 $3,148
2nd Timothy Kinder of Manassas, Va. 6 13-1 $1,824
3rd Michael Luckey of Roanoke, Va. 7 12-10 $1,050
4th Paul Worthington of Benson, N.C. 6 12-3 $734
5th Jason Hinger of Timberlake, N.C. 5 10-1 $830
6th Dexter Andrews of Huddleston, Va. 5 9-12 $577
7th Scott Howard of Bedford, Va. 5 9-8 $525
8th Matt Leicester of Hertford, N.C. 4 9-1 $472
9th Jarrod Egolf of Walkersville, Md. 3 8-15 $859
10th Ed Milton of Chester, Va. 4 8-5 $367

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass Jeff Farmer of Jacksonville, N.C. 4-pound, 0-ounce bass $877
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Jarrod Egolf of Walkersville, Md. 5-pound, 2-ounce bass $439
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus Tyler Trent of Nathalie, Va. Eligible Phoenix Boat* $14,295

* Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

WINNING BAITS

ANGLER BAIT COLOR
Boater Did Not Divulge
Strike King Co-Angler Did Not Divulge

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
Piedmont Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Oct. 14-16 Potomac River, Marbury, Md. Charles County Board of Commissioners
2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American June 2-4 Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark. Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism & Visit Hot Springs

The 2021 MLF 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 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while Strike King co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The top six finishers in each regional will then qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook,  Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube .

by AnglersChannel

B.A.S.S. And The Fan-Brand Ink Home Décor Licensing Agreement

Bassmaster fans can enjoy a range of new licensed décor thanks to a new partnership between B.A.S.S. and The Fan-Brand.

October 5, 2021

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. and The Fan-Brand have announced a new partnership to develop and sell officially licensed Bassmaster lighted wall signs, pool table lights and an assortment of wall décor. These products are now available on The Fan-Brand’s direct-to-consumer website, TheFan-Brand.com.

“B.A.S.S. and Bassmaster are incredible standard-bearers for the sport of bass fishing and conservation, and we are honored to be selected as their licensing partner,” said Harrison Grimm, founder and CEO of The Fan-Brand. “Bass fishing is a lifestyle for many who participate, and we look forward to helping them share their passion for the sport through this new product line.”

The Fan-Brand offers a distinct way for sports enthusiasts to express their fandom. Whether decorating their home theater, garage, “fan-cave” or office, The Fan-Brand’s high-quality licensed products are conversation starters and perfect for fans looking to make a statement.

“We’re excited to bring the iconic Bassmaster brand into the homes of enthusiastic fishing fans,” said B.A.S.S. chairman and CEO Chase Anderson. “Like B.A.S.S., The Fan-Brand is a family-owned company, and we’re proud to partner with them to bring quality, American-made décor to our fans.”

To see the full range of décor, visit TheFan-Brand.com/collections/bassmaster.

by AnglersChannel

Missouri’s Cooter High School Wins U.S. Army High School Fishing Open at Lake Dardanelle

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (Oct. 5, 2021) – The Cooter High School duo of Garrett Angotti of Steele, Missouri, and Brice Davis of Blytheville, Arkansas, won the U.S. Army High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing Open at Lake Dardanelle Presented by Googan Baits on Saturday in Russellville, Arkansas.

According to post-tournament reports, the duo caught their fish targeting rock piles in 12 feet of water with a crankbait, a buzzbait, and flipping a jig.

The event was hosted by Russellville Advertising & Promotions and the victory advanced the winning team to the 2022 U.S. Army High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing National Championship.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK SCHOOL/CLUB NAME/CITY ANGLER NAME BASS WEIGHT
1st Cooter High School, Cooter, Mo.* Garrett Angotti, Steele, Mo.
Brice Davis, Blytheville, Ark.		 5 14-11
2nd Russellville High School, Russellville, Ark.* Jackson Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark.
Jadon Spencer, London, Ark.		 5 12-11
3rd Broken Arrow High School, Broken Arrow, Okla. Cody Hays, Broken Arrow, Okla.
Jessee Muller, Broken Arrow, Okla.		 5 11-14
4th Vilonia High School, Vilonia, Ark. Casey Tissue, Vilonia, Ark.
Clayton Vote, Greenbrier, Ark.		 5 11-0
5th Bryant High School, Bryant, Ark. Tucker Dottley, Little Rock, Ark.
Brandon Gabe, Alexander, Ark.		 4 8-9
6th Sequoyah High School, Tahlequah, Okla. Carl Robbins, Park Hill, Okla.
Logan Taulbee, Tahlequah, Okla.		 4 7-10
7th Lamar High School, Lamar, Ark. Emelia Mize, Clarksville, Ark.
Jack Mize, Clarksville, Ark.		 3 7-2
8th NCA Fishing Lane King, Harrison, Ark.
Coleman Phillips, Harrison, Ark.		 2 6-11
9th Vilonia High School, Vilonia, Ark. Mason Davis, Vilonia, Ark.
Kevin Finch, Conway, Ark.		 3 5-15
10th Wagoner High School, Wagoner, Okla. Garrett Barton, Wagoner, Okla.
Braden Lankford, Wagoner, Okla.		 3 5-13

*National Championship Qualifier. The top 10% of teams advance to the 2021 U.S. Army High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing National Championship

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

2022 UPCOMING QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
2022 U.S. Army High School Fishing National Championship & World Finals June 22-25, 2022 Pickwick Lake & Wilson Lake Florence-Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau

U.S. Army 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 Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school club. The top 10 percent of teams at each Open event along with the TBF High School Fishing state championships will advance to the 2021 U.S. Army High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing National Championship. The U.S. Army High School Fishing national champions will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice.

The first 25 high school teams that enter each U.S. Army High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing tournament will receive a free Favorite Fishing package, including one Favorite Fishing casting rod and reel, one Favorite Fishing spinning rod and reel, six packs of Googan Baits and two Favorite Fishing hats, a total package value of $230. Most tournaments are also hosted by a Bass Pro Tour angler or Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit angler, giving high school students the chance to meet the sport’s top pros. As an added bonus, the winning team at each tournament will receive a guided fishing trip with their pro angler host.

In addition to the U.S. Army High School Fishing National Championship, all High School Fishing anglers nationwide automatically qualify for the world’s largest open high school bass tournament, the 2022 High School Fishing World Finals, held in conjunction with the National Championship. More than $2.8 million in scholarships and prizes were offered at the 2021 World Finals.

Full schedules and the latest announcements, photos and articles  are available at HighSchoolFishing.org and MajorLeagueFishing.com.

by AnglersChannel

Drury University’s Baird & Browning Earn Victory at Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament on Lake Dardanelle

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (Oct. 5, 2021) – The Drury University duo of Hunter Baird of Salina, Kansas, and Beau Browning of Hot Springs, Arkansas, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 16 pounds, 10 ounces to earn the win last weekend at the Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI at Lake Dardanelle. The victory earned the Panther’s bass club $2,000 and qualified the duo to compete in the 2022 College Fishing National Championship.

According to post-tournament reports, the duo caught their fish targeting deep offshore structure with a deep-diving crankbait and a shaky-head rig.

TOP 10 RESULTS*

RANK COLLEGE NAME ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Drury University Hunter Baird, Salina, Kan.
Beau Browning, Hot Springs, Ark.		 5 16-10 $2,000
2nd Tarleton State University Drew Hargrove, Moody, Texas 5 15-3 $1,000
3rd East Texas Baptist University Kaden Proffitt, Pittsburg, Texas
Carson Ragsdale, Winnsboro, Texas		 5 14-0 $500
4th Arkansas Tech University Jade Craft, Paragould, Ark.
Remington Lawrence, Russellville, Ark.		 5 13-13 $500
5th Texas Tech University Logan Bronnenberg, Gainesville, Texas
Corbin Craft, Lubbock, Texas		 5 13-0 $500
6th University of Nebraska Elijah Strom, Sioux City, Neb.
Hunter Suchsland, Kearney, Neb.		 5 12-13
7th Drury University Cole Breeden, Eldridge, Mo.
Nathan Fideldy, Hutchinson, Kan.		 5 12-7
8th University of North Alabama John Heacock, Oxford, Ala.
Cole Thompson, St. Cloud, Fla.		 5 11-15
9th Sam Houston State University Blake Castleberry, Huntsville, Texas
Garrett Moss, Huntsville, Texas		 5 11-11
10th National Park College Luke Dodd, Hot Springs, Ark.
Michael McIntyre, Hot Springs, Ark.		 5 11-3

*Top 10 teams advance to the 2022 College Fishing National Championship

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

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI National Championship TBD TBD TBD

The event was the third and final qualifying tournaments for Southern Conference anglers and was hosted by Russellville Advertising & Promotions.

Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI teams compete in regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top ten teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual Abu Garcia College Fishing Open advance to the following year’s Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI National Championship.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and  YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Carson Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament on Watts Bar Lake

ROCKWOOD, Tenn. (Oct. 5, 2021) – Boater Donovan Carson of Bluff City, Tennessee, won the two-day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament Presented by T-H Marine at Watts Bar Lake Presented by Googan Baits Sunday in Rockwood, Tennessee. Carson earned $6,415 for his victory in the event, which was by the Roane County Visitors Bureau.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Donavan Carson of Bluff City, Tenn. 10 21-0 $6,415
2nd Casey Majni of Knoxville, Tenn. 7 20-0 $4,115
3rd John Murray of Spring City, Tenn. 8 19-9 $2,841
4th Tim Hoskins of Middlesboro, Ky. 7 19-9 $1,997
5th Chase Henley of Kingston, Tenn. 7 19-4 $1,283
6th Jeffery Moore of Harriman, Tenn. 8 18-14 $1,176
7th Archie Wilson Jr. of Corryton, Tenn. 8 18-1 $1,069
8th Dale Pelfrey of Rockwood, Tenn. 5 14-10 $962
9th Tommy Brown of Louisville, Tenn. 6 13-3 $855
10th Justin Beeler of Luttrell, Tenn. 5 12-11 $748

 

 

RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Darren Kelly of Wartburg, Tenn. 6 17-11 $3,571
2nd Ashley Lewis of Easley, S.C. 5 11-10 $1,560
3rd Scott Peters of Knoxville, Tenn. 5 10-9 $1,042
4th Ronald Musgrave of Knoxville, Tenn. 4 10-1 $1,163
5th Jason Hueble of Whitmire, S.C. 5 9-12 $624
6th Jake Tipton of Kingston, Tenn. 4 8-0 $572
7th Travis Malone of Wartburg, Tenn. 3 7-10 $520
8th Todd Adkins of Knoxville, Tenn. 4 7-0 $468
9th Charles Smith of Knoxville, Tenn. 4 6-15 $416
10th Dennis Lewis of Powell, Tenn. 3 6-13 $364

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass Casey Majni of Knoxville, Tenn. 4-pound, 4-ounce bass $907
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Ronald Musgrave of Knoxville, Tenn. 4-pound, 2-ounce bass $435
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus Tim Hoskins of Middlesboro, Ky. Eligible Phoenix Boat* $1,000

* Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

WINNING BAITS

ANGLER BAIT COLOR
Boater Strike King Swimjig White
Strike King Co-Angler Wacky-rigged Yamamoto Senko
Drop-shot rig
Grub		 N/A

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
Volunteer Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Oct. 14-16 Lake Murray, Columbia, S.C. Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board
2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American June 2-4, 2022 Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark. Arkansas Dept. of Parks and Tourism & Visit Hot Springs

The 2021 MLF 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 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while Strike King co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The top six finishers in each regional will then qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and  YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Brueggen Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament on Mississippi River-La Crosse

Bernicky Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
LA CROSSE, Wis. (Oct. 4, 2021) – Boater Mike Brueggen of La Crosse, Wisconsin wins the two-day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament Presented by T-H Marine at the Mississippi River-La Crosse Presented by TINCUP Whiskey in La Crosse, Wisconsin on Sunday. Brueggen earned $6,053 for his victory at the event, hosted by the La Crosse County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
TOP 10 RESULTS
RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Mike Brueggen of La Crosse, Wis. 10 35-3 $6,053
2nd Dan Mohn of Lansing, Ind. 10 33-6 $3,026
3rd Cade Laufenberg of La Crosse, Wis. 10 32-10 $2,518
4th Tom Monsoor of La Crosse, Wis. 10 32-5 $1,412
5th Brandon Gann of Sparta, Wis. 10 31-13 $1,211
6th Kevin Wolfram of Chicago, Ill. 10 31-8 $1,110
7th Matt Finkeldei of Davenport, Ind. 10 31-5 $1,509
8th Kevin Ruh of Onalaska, Wis. 10 31-3 $908
9th Hunter Litchfield of Macomb, Ill. 10 31-0 $807
10th Ron Cherkas of Ankeny, Ind. 10 29-15 $706
RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Alan Bernicky of Joliet, Ill. 10 33-10 $3,449
2nd Luke Kerstetter of Brookfield, Wis. 10 25-7 $1,499
3rd Dan McAdams of Reedsburg, Wis. 10 25-5 $996
4th Casey Goode of La Crosse, Wis. 10 24-12 $700
5th Christopher Morgan of Greendale, Wis. 10 24-12 $600
6th Logan Sullivan of Waunakee, Wis. 10 24-4 $550
7th Nick Kramersmeier of Johnston, Ind. 10 24-1 $500
8th Jeff Pfeffer of Isanti, Minn. 10 23-11 $450
9th Nicholas Oates of Marengo, Ill. 9 23-4 $400
10th Brett Anderson of Grantsburg, Wis. 9 20-3 $350
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass Phillip Butera of Aurora, Ill. 5-pound, 6-ounce bass $817
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Scott Miller of Burlington, Wis. 4-pound, 9-ounce bass $405
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus Cade Laufenberg of La Crosse, Wis. Eligible Phoenix Boat* $500
* Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
WINNING BAITS
ANGLER BAIT COLOR
Boater Unspecified Swim Jig Did Not Divulge
Strike King Co-Angler Bizz Baits Sassy Stick Did Not Divulge
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
Great Lakes Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Oct. 21-23 Lake Ouachita, Mount Ida, Ark. Visit Hot Springs
2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American June 2-4 Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark. Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism & Visit Hot Springs
The 2021 MLF 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 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while Strike King co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The top six finishers in each regional will then qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook,  Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube .

by AnglersChannel

Mason Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament on Pickwick Lake

McMahan Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
IUKA, Miss. (Oct. 4, 2021) – Boater Jimmy Mason of Rogersville, Arkansas wins the two-day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament Presented by T-H Marine at Pickwick Lake in Iuka, Mississippi on Sunday. Mason earned $14,188 for his victory at the event.
TOP 10 RESULTS
RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Jimmy Mason of Rogersville, Ark. 10 39-0 $14,188
2nd Trent Suratt of Lawrenceburg, Tenn. 10 34-3 $3,094
3rd Mitch Crane of Columbus, Miss. 10 32-8 $2,062
4th Taylor Luna of Prattville, Ala. 10 31-3 $1,444
5th Christopher Whitehead of Fulton, Miss. 10 29-9 $1,238
6th Lake Blasingame of Killen, Ala. 10 29-7 $1,134
7th Alan Langford of Tupelo, Miss. 10 28-15 $1,031
8th Lloyd Pickett, Jr. of Bartlett, Tenn. 10 27-11 $928
9th Cody Nichols of Fayette, Ala. 8 27-8 $1,687
10th James Byrd of Florence, Ala. 9 25-15 $722
RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Chaz McMahan of Leoma, Tenn. 9 26-8 $3,094
2nd Brandon Hylander of Walls, Miss. 9 23-1 $1,547
3rd Jacob Denton of Muscle Shoals, Ala. 10 22-12 $1,229
4th Walter Gillis of Jackson, Miss. 7 19-13 $722
5th Kayden Tanner of Tolar, Texas 7 17-6 $619
6th Lance Jackson of Starkville, Miss. 7 15-14 $567
7th Jeffery Reece of Guys, Tenn. 6 14-15 $516
8th John Thomas of Pontotoc, Miss. 6 14-11 $895
9th Scott Kirk of Houston, Miss. 5 13-13 $413
10th Ben Cox of Ripley, Miss. 5 13-6 $361
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass Cody Nichols of Fayette, Ala. 6-pound, 3-ounce bass $862
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass John Thomas of Pontotoc, Miss. 4-pound, 4-ounce bass $431
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus Jimmy Mason of Rogersville, Ala. Eligible Phoenix Boat* $7,000
* Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
WINNING BAITS
ANGLER BAIT COLOR
Boater Did Not Divulge
Strike King Co-Angler Did Not Divulge
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
Mississippi Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Oct. 21-23 Lake Ouachita, Mount Ida, Arkansas Visit Hot Springs
2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American June 2-4 Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark. Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism & Visit Hot Springs
The 2021 MLF 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 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while Strike King co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The top six finishers in each regional will then qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook,  Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube .

by AnglersChannel

McCormick’s Afternoon Rally Lifts Him To Bassmaster College Classic Bracket Victory

Bethel University's Tristan McCormick, of Burns, Tenn., has won the 2021 Carhartt Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Bass Pro Shops on the Coosa River.
Photo by Kyle Jessie/B.A.S.S.

October 4, 2021

WETUMPKA, Ala. — For the first several hours of Championship Monday at the Carhartt Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Bass Pro Shops on the Coosa River, Bethel University angler Tristan McCormick struggled to find quality bass.

To make matters worse, he watched his opponent Tucker Smith of Auburn University catch over 9 pounds of bass under Bouldin Dam before the 10:45 a.m. halftime break.

But despite the morning deficit, McCormick managed an early-afternoon flurry that saw him cull four times with several 2-pound bass for an 11-pound total weight that earned him the victory by 3 ounces. McCormick earned one of the most coveted prizes in bass fishing — a berth in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk scheduled for March 4-6 at Lake Hartwell.

“It hasn’t sunk in and it won’t for a while,” said McCormick, who also earned $7,500, paid entry fees into all 2022 Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens and the use of a fully-rigged Nitro Z20 and Toyota Tundra. “It’s such a blessing. I’m so fortunate and I’ve worked so hard for so many years just trying to get to this moment and I’ve finally got it. That means a lot to me.”

McCormick secured the overall No. 1 seed during the qualifying day by catching 10-9. He then won his first-round matchup against Hayden Scott with 9-9 and advanced to the final round over Conner Crosby with 10-14.

The final-day total he used to slip by Smith was the biggest bag of the event.

For much of the tournament, McCormick and Smith were within sight of each other fishing the tailrace under Bouldin Dam. They focused on current seams in the water moving from Jordan Lake into a diversion canal and on into the Coosa River.

McCormick caught the majority of his bass in that area on a specific current seam using a topwater walking bait, a drop shot with a 1/2-ounce weight and a pink Roboworm and a couple of fish on a smaller-profile swimbait.

With storms and a cold front moving through the area the past couple of days, the water had risen in the tailrace to the point where McCormick had to make very precise casts to get bites.

“I had that one seam I caught everything off of this afternoon,” McCormick said. “If that seam had a lot of current, it kind of backwashed into the seam. Today, there was just a little bitty area that you could throw it where slack water was, and every fish I caught on that drop shot, as soon as I threw it in there, that’s when they had it.”

Finding bass that weighed over 3 pounds had been the key to success for both anglers over the course of the week — and early on Championship Monday, Smith landed a 3-12 largemouth. Within 20 minutes of arriving at his primary area, he landed four keepers.

After a lull of about an hour, Smith landed his fifth bass and made several important culls before the halftime break. McCormick, meanwhile, filled his limit throughout the morning but watched as several quality fish missed his topwater bait and as one close to 3 pounds pulled off the hook.

As Smith continued to catch fish in the tailrace, McCormick exited the area before halftime.

“I saw a bunch of big ones this morning missing my Spook and I just had a gut feeling to go back. I put my hat down real low to where he was out of my vision and focused on what I was doing,” McCormick said. “I knew I had to catch up and knew the only way to do it was to go back up there around a big population of fish and grind it out the rest of the day.”

After returning to the area around noon, McCormick began a flurry with a 2-pounder, followed by a 2-6, a 2-5 and then a 2-13 to take the lead — all on the drop shot.

“I wasn’t 10 casts in when I hooked that first largemouth,” McCormick said. “I threw back in there and caught a really big largemouth. After all of the pressure from the storms and everything the last two days, they settled down and they fed this morning a lot.

“That was the most activity I’ve seen all week up there. I knew they were feeding heavy and I stuck with what was best for me to catch them.”

Heavy storms moved into the area with 40 minutes to go, delaying the event until late afternoon. With a 1-8 bass still in his bag, McCormick thought he needed to cull one more time to seal the deal.

“I felt like I needed 12 pounds and I was a pound short of that goal,” he said. “If I could have just hooked one of those Spook fish this morning we would be golden. I caught all that weight in a 30- to 45-minute window and felt like it was happening. When we went under the bridge (to take cover) it hit me.

“I was thinking, ‘Gosh, I needed one more bite and we can do this.’”

With the win, McCormick became the third Bethel University angler to win the Bracket and advance to the Bassmaster Classic. Cole Floyd and Cody Huff were the first two to accomplish that feat.

2021 Carhartt Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Bass Pro Shops 10/1-10/4
Coosa River, Wetumpka, AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3

Angler Club/School No./Weight

Tristan McCormick Bethel University 5 11-00
Tucker Smith Auburn University 5 10-13

by AnglersChannel

Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Set for Norfork Lake

Nearly Four-Hundred Boaters and Co-anglers Head to Mountain Home to Compete for $60,000 and Their Shot at the 2022 All-American Championship

MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. (Oct. 4, 2021) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine’s Arkie, Illini, LBL and Ozark divisions will finish out their 2021 season this week in Mountain Home, Arkansas, Oct. 7-9, with the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Presented by T-H Marine at Norfork Lake . Hosted by the Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce, the three-day regional championship will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners in the four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.

Anglers will take off daily at 7 a.m. CT from Buzzard Roost Marina in Mountain Home. Weigh-ins will also be held at the marina and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and 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, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships.

The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American, which will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.

The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook , Twitter, Instagram and  YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Decatur to Host Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Wheeler Lake

Four-Hundred Boaters and Co-anglers Descend on Decatur to Compete for $60,000 and Their Shot at the 2022 All-American Championship

DECATUR, Ala. (Oct. 4, 2021) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine’s Bama, Hoosier, Mountain and Music City divisions will finish out their 2021 season this week in Decatur, Alabama, Oct. 7-9, with the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Presented by T-H Marine at Wheeler Lake . Hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism, the three-day regional championship will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners in the Bama division, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.

Anglers will take off daily at 7 a.m. CT from Ingalls Harbor in Decatur. Weigh-ins will also be held at the harbor and will begin at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and 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, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships.

The top six finishers in each regional will qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American, which will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.

The top boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the Bass Pro Tour.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook , Twitter, Instagram and  YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

"Ike's World"

 

This week Chris and David welcome in Mike Iaconelli to an early episode to talk about Ike's new TV show "My World with Mike Iaconnelli" which airs its final season 1 episode tonight. We talk about his crazy year what's ahead for 2022. Check it out, its a great show!

by AnglersChannel

Smith, McCormick Advance To Bassmaster College Classic Bracket Championship

Tristan McCormick of Bethel University and Tucker Smith of Auburn University have advanced to the final round of head-to-head competition in the 2021 Carhartt Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Bass Pro Shops on the Coosa River.
Photo by Kyle Jessie/B.A.S.S.

October 3, 2021

WETUMPKA, Ala. — Bethel University senior and overall top seed Tristan McCormick and Auburn University sophomore Tucker Smith, the No. 2 seed, both won their individual matchups Sunday to advance to the final round of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Bass Pro Shops on the Coosa River.

McCormick led all anglers in total weight during the semifinal round, securing 10 pounds, 14 ounces to beat Auburn’s Conner Crosby, who landed a 6-11 limit.

“It hasn’t even hit me yet. I’m just trying to enjoy each and every moment,” McCormick said. “It is my last (college) tournament and that makes it pretty special to make it to the final day and shoot it out with Tucker, one of my best friends. We know each other pretty well. It’s going to be a fun one for sure.”

Unlike Day 1 where he missed on several opportunities for big bites, McCormick fished clean throughout the semifinals.

“Everything I hooked I kept on,” he said. “That was a key thing, especially when you aren’t getting that many big blow-ups. Those 2-pound and above sized fish are what separates you and they are hard to come by. So, when you hook one, you have to take your time and be careful with it.”

He started the day with a couple of nice bites, including a 3-2 largemouth that set the tone.

“It was slack water and the current wasn’t supposed to turn on until 10 a.m., but it turned on within 30 minutes of me being there,” McCormick said. “I let the current get back out there and let everything set up and started fishing the seams and caught several. No more big ones.”

With his limit filled before the halftime break, McCormick said he started looking for the better than average largemouth after the break.

“The cloud cover and the rain was a big deal for me after I left the dam,” he said. “I relied on that and knew it was going to be cloudy all day so I shot out (away from the dam). I felt like it was the right thing to do and went and did what I do comfortably, which is throw a Spook.”

If conditions are similar on Championship Monday, McCormick said he is confident in his strategy.

“If it is cloudy all day tomorrow I know what I’m going to do,” he said. “These fish need cloud cover to be active on topwater. Every day I have gone out and gone at it the same way.”

Meanwhile, Smith caught 7-11 Sunday to edge Bethel University angler Stevie Mills by over a pound. The day did not start smoothly for the three-time high school national champion, however.

“After fishing the first day, this morning I got a little bit nervous and it all sank in,” Smith said. “I missed a bunch of fish this morning and some good ones. I had to calm down and sit down, retie my baits and get more focused. Once I got focused I caught some fish.”

When he arrived at his first spot, Smith said he lost five or six fish before moving to his next area. After losing one or two there, he recovered and secured a limit of mostly spotted bass that powered him past Mills.

“I started culling up and then I caught a decent one,” he said. “I fished around and caught a bunch of fish, just didn’t catch that 3-plus pound size. That’s what I’m looking for tomorrow.

“I’m just going to look for big ones all day. You are going to have to catch them tomorrow to win, and I’m going to try and have fun and whatever happens, happens. I’m super blessed to be able to make it this far in the tournament.”

Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. CT and will conclude their day at 2:30 p.m. Bassmaster College Classic Bracket LIVE presented by Bassmaster Fishing 2022, the Official Video Game, will stream live on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms beginning at 7 a.m.

The winner will earn a spot in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk at Lake Hartwell, plus paid entry fees into the 2022 Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens with the use of a fully rigged Nitro and Toyota Tundra.

2021 Carhartt Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Bass Pro Shops 10/1-10/4
Coosa River, Wetumpka, AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

Angler Club/School No./Weight

Tristan McCormick Bethel University 5 10-14
Conner Crosby Auburn University 5 06-11

Tucker Smith Auburn University 5 07-11
Stevie Mills Bethel University 5 06-04

by AnglersChannel

Watkins Wins it all on Grand Lake

 

GROVE, Oklahoma - With his biggest bag of the week on the final day, Taylor Watkins added 17-pounds, 10-ounces to finish with a total weight of 50-pounds, 3-ounces to take the victory at Grand Lake. While planning on a topwater bite for the event, Watkins evolved a jig pattern to catch his fish and give him his first NPFL victory.

“It was awesome, it pretty well went to plan. This morning I went where I have been starting and lost a 3-pounder that ended up not costing me, but it would have culled a pound or more. As soon as I got to my docks this morning the storm hit, and I had to take cover. When the storm passed, I fished both of those docks and never got bit.”

After not getting bit, Watkins picked up a buzzbait and picked up a few fish. After jumping around on his way back to Wolf Creek, Watkins got to work with his jig to finish out his day.

“I figured out there five docks close by to the take-off that held fish and I cycled through those three times and caught some each time. I knew the weather would change things, but it didn’t play out at all like I thought. The topwater bite never materialized but I figure out the jig deal and went with it. Big thanks to Mustad Hooks, Tuff Line, and the jig was a True South Custom Lures.”

Sheldon Collings

Grove, Oklahoma angler Sheldon Collings added 13-pounds, 3-ounces to his total for a total weight of 48-pounds, 11-ounces to finish in 2nd place. Leading after two days on Grand Lake, Collings fished a mixture of docks and offshore brush and rock piles to catch his fish this week.

Bryant Smith

Adding 15-pounds, 2-ounces on the final day, Bryant Smith finished the event in the 3rd spot with a three-day total of 45-pounds, 13-ounces. The Roseville, California angler relied on a topwater and flipping bite on shallow flat banks with isolated timber to catch his fish.

James Biggs

With 12-pounds, 7-ounces on the final day, James Biggs finished in 4th place with a grand total of 42-pounds, 14-ounces. With the slowest day of the tournament on day three, Biggs weighed in a five bass limit every day to accomplish his goal of making the NPFL championship.

“Today was horrible. When my camera guy got out of the boat around 1 pm, I had two little fish. I went to a rock pile and caught two quick, turned around, threw a crankbait up on the bank and caught my 5th fish.”

The goal all season was to make the championship. Biggs knew Grand Lake would be his best lake and was happy to have it at the end of the season.

“I can't wait for Nickajack, I have some history there. Outside of Pickwick, I finished in the top 40’s everywhere, just had a couple bad ones, so it was nice to rebound here this week. My in-laws followed me around today, all day, the watched me not catch fish for several hours.”

Jeff Dobson

Jeff Dobson weighed 12-pounds, 14-ounces on day three to finish with a total weight of 42-pounds, 6-ounces. Dobson relied on local knowledge and an Omega Custom Tackle Pro Mega jig fishing vertical structure to finish the event in the 5th place spot.

“I started this morning and caught 12-pounds and then went deep to try and cull. I had two bites, one small and one big one, and I broke the big one off.”

With a tough year on the NPFL trail, the Bartlesville, Oklahoma angler is happy to have a good finish on his home body of water but had this one penciled on his calendar all year.

“Its Grand Lake, I wanted to win, man. I had a rough season, one of the roughest I can remember as a pro, but I am definitely glad to finish on a good note.”

Rest of the Best:

6th Timmy Reams​​41-1

7th John Polasini​​40-14

8th Paul Browning​​40-13

9th Derrick Blake​​40-0

10th Matt Mollohan​​39-5

 

by AnglersChannel

Big Largemouth Lifts Smith To Day 1 Win At College Classic Bracket On The Coosa River

Conner Crosby and Tucker Smith of Auburn University and Tristan McCormick and Stevie Mills of Bethel University have advanced to the second round of head-to-head competition in the 2021 Carhartt Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Bass Pro Shops on the Coosa River.
Photo by Kyle Jessie/B.A.S.S.

October 2, 2021

WETUMPKA, Ala. — Anchored by a 3-pound, 7-ounce largemouth, Tucker Smith weighed in a five-bass limit Saturday that tipped the scales at 10-2 to advance past his Auburn University teammate and partner Logan Parks and into the semifinal round of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Bass Pro Shops on the Coosa River.

Smith led all anglers in total weight, edging out No. 1 seed Tristan McCormick by 9 ounces in the overall standings.

While Smith has experience on this section of the Coosa River, growing up just over an hour away from the takeoff site, he practiced like it was a new body of water and found the topwater bite was good during cloudy conditions. The clouds Smith was hoping for, however, did not materialize during Day 1.

“It wasn’t as good as it could have been,” Smith said. “Hopefully tomorrow it will be cloudier and they will bite better during the day. Cloud cover is the biggest thing for me. I can catch a few with the sun out, but if there are clouds it would be better for sure.”

After catching 8-11 on qualifying day to secure the No. 2 seed, the morning bite on Day 1 was key for Smith, who landed around 15 total bass in the first couple hours of the event, including the big largemouth in a system known for its quality population of spotted bass.

“That really separates you when the fishing is this tough,” Smith said. “I was really excited about that one. The largemouth get [big] up there, and usually, when you catch one, they are going to be superfat.

“I had it on a spinning rod so it was kind of frightening. On 10-pound test it wasn’t a very fun fight. It changed my day around and it got the ball rolling.”

From there, the three-time high school national champion moved out of his most productive area and tried some different stuff, but didn’t find the quality he found early in the morning. With warmer temperatures still hanging around southern Alabama, Smith said the bass aren’t fully committed to a fall pattern and it has made the fishing a lot more challenging.

“It doesn’t seem like you can go throw a topwater all day and catch them,” he said. “You kind of have to grind it out after the sun comes out.”

The general game plan will remain the same for Smith Sunday, but changing with the weather conditions will be the key to his success.

“I’m going to fish the conditions and see how it goes,” Smith said. “I learned a lot this afternoon so I’m going to try and use that to adjust and catch more.”

Meanwhile, McCormick overcame adversity to end the day with a 9-9 limit and defeat Hayden Scott from Adrian College.

Early in the morning, the Bethel angler missed a couple of key fish on a topwater. Then later, he swung a quality largemouth into his boat, only for it to come unbuttoned and slide across the front deck and back into the water.

“I tried not to get spun out and I was telling myself I needed to stay in it mentally,” McCormick said. “I kind of laughed about it and moved on.”

McCormick shifted through a couple of areas throughout the day, starting in a spot with a lot of current. After losing the first big one, he landed a 3-4 bass as well as a few smaller fish to move his total weight to around 7 pounds early in the day.

From there, he moved downriver where he flipped and threw a topwater bait to catch a few smaller bass before losing the largemouth over the side of the boat. With a few hours to go, McCormick moved back to his starting area and found the current had slacked off, but on his second cast he landed a quality fish that helped him advance.

With over 10 pounds on qualifying day, McCormick earned the overall No. 1 seed for the event and during practice, he learned that the morning bite would be key.

“The first day of practice, it was cloudy for most of the morning and the topwater bite lasted a lot longer,” he said. “There is a lot more activity and fish busting on the surface. I knew it was going to be tough when the sun came out.”

With a front moving into the area Sunday, McCormick said he hopes that the cloud cover will return and fire up the bass.

“It's tough, but you still catch a bunch of fish. It is just trying to get the quality,” he said.

Fellow Bethel University angler Stevie Mills, the No. 3 seed, caught 6-13 to advance against Auburn angler James Cobbs, who landed 5-15. Meanwhile, fifth-seeded Conner Crosby caught 6-2 and earned the victory over Adrian College angler Griffin Fernandes, who fell short of a limit and weighed in 4-15.

In the Final Four, it will be Auburn against Bethel on both sides of the bracket as McCormick will face off against Crosby and Smith will go head-to-head against Mills.

The winners of the head-to-head matchups will advance to the championship round Monday for a chance to qualify for the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk at Lake Hartwell. The final champion will also earn paid entry fees into the 2022 Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens with a fully-rigged Nitro and Toyota Tundra.

Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. CT and will conclude their day at 2:30 p.m. Bassmaster College Classic Bracket LIVE presented by Bassmaster Fishing 2022, the Official Video Game, will stream live on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms beginning at 7 a.m.

2021 Carhartt Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Bass Pro Shops 10/1-10/4
Coosa River, Wetumpka, AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

Angler Club/School No./Weight

Tucker Smith Auburn University 5 10-02
Logan Parks Auburn University 4 06-10

Tristan McCormick Bethel University 5 09-09
Hayden Scott Adrian College 5 07-04

Stevie Mills Bethel University 5 06-13
James Cobbs Auburn University 5 05-15

Conner Crosby Auburn University 5 06-02
Griffin Fernandes Adrian College 2 04-15

by AnglersChannel

Collings Extends Grand Lake Lead, Perkins Holds AOY Lead

Courtesy of The National Professional Fishing League

 

GROVE – Oklahoma. Adding 16-pounds, 8-ounces to his day one total of 19-pounds, Grove, Oklahoma angler Sheldon Collings maintains his lead going into Showdown Saturday with a two-day total of 35-pounds, 8 ounces. Collings takes a 2-pound, 15-ounce lead into Showdown Saturday.

Starting off his morning not like he had planned, Collings was sitting on one bass at 9AM. The local knowledge kicked in and the local angler made the trek way down the lake. Flipping some docks to get a limit, the day turned around in a big way.

“This morning was pretty terrible. I had a small fish and decided to make a move. I got on some docks I thought I could catch some keepers and caught a limit for like 10-pounds or so. Around noon, I fished around and never got a bite.”

Knowing the offshore bite would settle in, Collings got back to where he caught some fish on day one and caught a 4-pounder, culling to around 12-pounds. The next couple hours were tough, but he maintained his focus and revisited some offshore areas as live coverage ended.

“Once again, live goes off and I got to an offshore spot and basically back-to-back I caught two that were almost 4-pounds. I went from 12-pounds to 14-pounds to 16-pounds on those two bass. Each one was like 2-pounds worth of upgrades.”

Collings understands the timing of his offshore areas and doesn’t get discouraged with a slow start. In the fall, Grand lakes seems to turn on in the evening when the shad pull up and the bass get to biting.

“The timing is key. You can fish them all day, but they don’t bite. I am fishing community holes; I know how they set up and when they bite. I can tell they are set up to feed. I want to win this more than anything. I told my camera man, if the weather is right tomorrow, I'll stay on my big fish holes all day cause the wind positions them and they will bite all day.”

If the weather is right, Collings will fish for bigger bites but isn't afraid to go and catch a limit. After a limit, 5 to 6-hours on his offshore areas to end the day and hopefully take the win on his home pond.

“If it's meant to be, its meant to be. If not, I'm going to go and have fun regardless and see what I can do.”

Taylor Watkins

Taylor Watkins added 15-pounds to his day one weight of 17-pounds, 9-ounces to finish the day in the 2nd place spot with a two-day total of 32-pounds, 9-ounces. Fishing a topwater first thing, Watkins went back to work on his dock deal and was able to catch his two biggest quality fish for the day.

“I fished on top this morning and basically wasted a bunch of time. I made a move to my primary area and got a small limit, then moved back further in the creek to some docks. I caught two good fish there today, and two good ones yesterday.”

The magic docks have produced several 3.75 to 4-pound quality bass for Watkins the first two days and its unknow whether the area is reloading or if those are resident fish.

“Either way, I am and planning on not catching any there tomorrow. Other than that, I lost a 6-pounder with like ten minutes left today – I'll probably spend some time there tomorrow, too.”

With his main area way down the lake, and the big fish spot close to the takeoff, the Clinton, Tennessee angler is unsure how tomorrow will go, and hasn’t made a game plan yet.

“I saw a lot of quality fish in practice in my areas, but I didn’t think they would hold up, but that’s all I have. I saved one area, fished it today, and didn’t get a bite. There is one small stretch I got several bites in practice there, I may try it again tomorrow.”

Brandon Perkins

Progressive AOY Leader Brandon Perkins added 14-pounds, 11-ounces to his day one weight of 17-pounds to end the day in the 3rd place spot with a two-day total of 31-pounds, 11-ounces. Getting off to an early start this morning, Perkins felt some pressure fall off his shoulder and was able to fish for bigger bass for the rest of the day.

“I made a mental mistake, I hung out in a place thinking I could catch some bigger fish, and unfortunately never did. A place I caught some big fish in practice, I got in there today with the intention of just fishing through, but I ended up gambling and tried to catch big ones. I'll take it thought, I was able to give my fish a break and I am ready to get after them again tomorrow.”

With the goal this week to win the Progressive AOY, Perkins is not taking his foot off the pedal. Playing it safe is not in the cards and knows that with as little experience as he has on Grand Lake, he is around fish and getting enough bites a day to hang.

“I am good, I am where I want to be, and I am thrilled with it so far. I am not playing it safe at all. Every day in practice I got a big fish over 4-pounds, and today was the first day I didn’t. I got more bites today than yesterday. I have two or three areas I have fished both days, but I didn’t touch my second-best area today. I wasn’t saving anything, I just felt like with the weight I had, I had to find bigger bites.”

Bryant Smith

With a 15-pound, 10-ounce bag today, Bryant Smith added to his day one weight of 15-pounds, 1-ounce for a total weight of 30-pounds, 11-ounces to finish in the 4th Spot. Utilizing a mix of topwater and flipping presentations, Smith has gone to work on a shallow pattern to catch his fish this week.

“On day one, I caught a few good ones on top and a few flipping. Today, I think all but one was on a topwater. I am basically looking for flat banks, and if it has isolated wood, it's even better.”

Fishing a mix of areas, he found in practice and a few areas he located during the tournament, the Roseville, California anglers has fixed a mix of new water every day to keep his areas fresh.

“I'm fishing a little new water every day, some stuff from practice and some stuff I found while fishing. I am basically fishing a Strike King Sexy Dog Hard Knocker and slipping a Strike King Rage Bug in Black/Blue. I’ve been mixing in a buzzbait as well – just mixing it up.”

The key to his areas?

“The flatter the bank, the better it is. And, I am casting right up on the bank”

James Biggs

With a two-day total of 30-pounds, 7-ounces, James Biggs added 13-pounds, 2-ounces to his day one weight of 17-pounds, 5-ounces to finish the day in the 5th place spot. Running a similar program as yesterday, Biggs wasn’t able to capitalize on some bigger bites on day two.

“I didn’t get as many big bites, but I also missed a lot more, missed several, they just were not eating it good. I either missed them or they came off today.”

Fishing some of the same water, Biggs only hit one or two of his areas and fished lots of new water. With an early limit, he took advantage of the extra time to try and focus on bigger bites.

“I saved a bunch of stuff for tomorrow, and I have been having fun. I don’t worry about pressure. My goal was to make the Championship and I have to catch them tomorrow. I am a firefighter, I deal with real pressure, these are just green fish. If I lose one, or catch one, I know the goal and just keep fishing. I did catch my biggest fish today offshore.”

Jeff Dobson

Local Jeff Dobson added 14-pounds, 12-ounces to his day one weight of 14-pounds, 12-ounces for a two-day total of 29-pounds, 8-ounces to finish in 6th place. Locating fish adjacent to feeding areas, Dobson is fishing an Omega Custom Tackle jig and fishing vertical cover.

“I am fishing the bridges, bluff walls, suspended fish. I'm flipping the big jig and forcing them to eat it, it’s a reaction bite. Only one fish this week I casted and dragged it by and got bit. They are biting it on the fall, I am not feeling it. I just pick up and they are moving off with it.”

Rest of the Best:

7th Paul Browning                      29-4

8th David Hoheisel                     27-7

9th John Polasini                        27-6

10th Bret Loomis                        26-10

by AnglersChannel

Road To The Classic Starts Now With Bassmaster Fishing 2022

October 1, 2021

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — For one talented college angler, the road to competing in the iconic Bassmaster Classic and launching an incredible fishing career starts this weekend. But thanks to Bassmaster Fishing 2022, the Official Video Game, gamers and anglers alike can start their climb to angling immortality October 28.

Eight of the country’s top college anglers will face off on Alabama’s Coosa River in the Carhartt Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Bass Pro Shops, which runs Oct. 1-4. Fans can stay up-to-date on the action by following Bassmaster College Classic Bracket LIVE presented by Bassmaster Fishing 2022, the Official Video Game, which will feature real-time coverage from all eight boats on Saturday as anglers battle to advance and win a coveted berth into the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk. Continuing coverage of the tournament can be streamed on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms.

Dovetail Games, developer and publisher of Bassmaster Fishing 2022 and other authentic sports simulation titles, is celebrating the launch of the game and their sponsorship of event coverage — as well as championing upcoming angling talent — by including the College Classic Bracket champion as one of the game’s playable anglers.

The young champion will find themselves in good company, appearing alongside a playable lineup of 10 Elite Series pros. Players can choose to play as their favorite angler or design their own before setting out to begin their journey to the Classic. Much like the young anglers squaring off on the Coosa River, players can use the game’s Career Mode to work their way to the Classic, beginning in the College Series. Taking the real-life progression of professional anglers and recreating it in-game, players start their careers in the College Series before moving on to the Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens. If players have the skills to win in the Opens events, they’ll be invited to the Elite Series to try and gain enough qualifying points to go to the Bassmaster Classic.

“These events provide opportunities for anglers of all ages and backgrounds that might have otherwise just kept to bass fishing as a hobby,” said two-time Bassmaster Classic champion Hank Cherry. “You never know who the next Bassmaster Classic winner might be. It’s great to see Dovetail Games bringing a career mode to Bassmaster Fishing 2022 so that more people can experience what it’s like to be a professional angler.”

Becoming the Bassmaster Classic champion is about more than just catching bass — it takes passion, pride and skill. To be the best, anglers will need to know their way around their equipment, trust their instincts and know when to go big. In Bassmaster Fishing 2022, players can make a name for themselves by climbing the ranks and becoming a master of the water.

Dovetail Games will sponsor live coverage of the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Grand Lake Oct. 21-23 and is partnering with B.A.S.S. on the inaugural Abu Garcia Bassmaster High School Combine Oct. 15-17 in Decatur, Ala.

Bassmaster Fishing 2022 will be available beginning Oct. 28 in North America and Europe on the PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, the Xbox One family of devices, including the Xbox One X and Xbox Game Pass, and Windows PC via Steam. The game is available for preorder now on PlayStation, and Playstation®Plus members get a 10% discount.

For regular updates and more information, please visit Bassmasterthegame.com.

by AnglersChannel

Collings Captures Day One Lead at Grand Lake

Courtesy of The National Professional Fishing League

 

Making two late culls after Live Coverage had ended, local favorite Sheldon Collings put together a 19-pound day with a 5-pound, 3-ounce kicker to take the day one lead here at Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees.

Collings sampled both shallow and deeper areas to catch his bag and started off with a big bite early in the morning. After the lunker got the day started, Collings caught fish slow and steady all day long.

“I stayed in one part of the lake today and fished anywhere between 1-foot and 30-foot, and I caught fish on everything I fished today, besides a topwater bait.”

Saving some areas for later in the week, the Grove, Oklahoma angler fished one section of the lake on day one and it was a decision to visit an offshore area again later in the day that made it happen.

“I fished a spot earlier this morning and never got bit. They were there, I could see them on active target, but they were suspended and there was no bait around. After Live Coverage ended, I slipped back in there and caught a 4-pounder and another 3.5-pounder real fast.”

The offshore bite is a timing deal according to Collings and while fishing a combination of reaction baits and dragging baits, covering water fishing productive areas produced the leading weight.

“I have a lot of stuff on the opposite side of the lake that I left alone for the next couple days. I had like 14-pounds with four bass all day and thankfully got those bigger ones to go later in the day.

Taylor Watkins

Taylor Watkins caught 17-pounds, 9-ounces of Grand Lake bass to finish the day in the 2nd place spot. After fishing his main area this morning with several other boats, and only one bite to show for it, a decision to slow down his presentation led to several key fish, including a 3-pound, 14-ounce lunker.

“I had a good practice and I truly thought I was going to catch them, but in a different way than I did today. I fished until around 10 am and only had that one bite. I swung back through there, swapped up my presentation and got a few bites. That really settled me down and I was able to catch my weight.”

Saving some good areas from practice for later in the week, a repeat of day one on the same area may not happen, but the Clinton, Tennessee angler is just looking to get back out there.

“I knew there was quality in that area, and I don’t know if I can catch them on that stuff, but I saved a decent area I got some good bites and I'll give that a go.”

James Biggs

With 17-pounds, 5-ounces on day one, James Biggs fished conservatively to save fish for the rest of the week. Fishing a combination of docks and other shallow areas, Biggs ended the day in the 3rd place spot.

“I made one cull after live went out, but I basically fished docks with brush and saved some other stuff. I caught some fish early and made a bait switch and caught a couple more. My smallest fish were 3-pounders, but my biggest fish was only a 4-pounder. I was semi surprised with the weight I had today.”

Brandon Perkins

In the 4th place spot, the current Progressive Angler of the Year leader Brandon Perkins kept the pressure on his competitors with a day one weight of 17-pounds. Although the bite was slower than expected, the Tennessee angler stuck with his shallow dock pattern and put quality bass in the boat.

“I really thought I would catch more fish today, and it honestly has me a little bothered. I expected to catch 12 to 14-pounds easy, a few times, so I don’t know what the deal was.”

With folks watching on live, Perkins fished around docks with a flipping bait and worked some areas in between as well. The bite was not fast and furious, but the NPFL Pickwick champion caught enough to finish in the top five after day one, keeping his spot atop the AOY standings alive.

“Other than the no wind, I don’t know what the deal is and the weather coming in is going to be unique for what I am doing. I can make some adjustments, I mean I caught a few on some other baits today, but the docks have been the deal. I am not dialed on docks though. If the sun goes away, the fish will roam, or go away totally.”

Bret Loomis

With 16-pounds, 7-ounces, Bret Loomis sits in the 5th place spot after day one. Working a combination of shallow and offshore spots, Loomis caught fish on topwater, flipping a jig, and a big hair jig.

“This morning I started out shallow with a whopper plopper and caught one. Then I went to a dock I found in practice and flipped in and caught my biggest one.”

Using a borrowed boat after losing his trolling motor, Loomis spent the rest of the day offshore working a shaky head and hair jig to catch the rest of his limit.

“I had a few places from practice, and I don’t know if I can duplicate it tomorrow, but I didn’t set the hook in practice, so I don’t know how many are there. Caught one of my better fish on a Brown Dog Tackle Hair jig after they got off the shaky head.”

by AnglersChannel

B.A.S.S. Nation 2022 Regional Championship Schedule Announced

The 2022 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series schedule features five regional championship events, beginning in February on Lake Havasu.

Photo by Brenden Kanies/B.A.S.S.

September 30, 2021

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 2022 TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series schedule features five opportunities for grass-roots anglers to battle some of the country’s best bass fisheries. Each regional championship will provide opportunities for everyday anglers to qualify for the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Championship and a shot at one of three berths in the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.

“The B.A.S.S. Nation can be a fantastic opportunity for weekend anglers to fish for big money on a big stage or the gateway to a stellar career in professional fishing,” said B.A.S.S. Nation director Jon Stewart. “In 2022, all of these anglers — regardless of their future goals — are going to have the opportunity to compete on fantastic and historic fisheries.”

For the second consecutive year, the schedule will kick off with the Western Regional at Lake Havasu in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Feb. 23-25. This Western fishery, which offers a combination of crystal-clear waters and stark desert beauty, ranked No. 8 in 2021 on Bassmaster Magazine’s annual list of 100 Best Bass Lakes (Western Division).

Spring will see Nation anglers take on Lewis Smith Lake in Jasper, Ala., for the Southeast Regional April 27-29 before the Central Regional on Grand Lake in Grove, Okla., May 4-6.

The schedule will swing to the upper region of the United States with the Northeast Regional on the St. Lawrence River in Waddington, N.Y., June 22-24. This smallmouth mecca ranked No. 4 overall on the 2021 100 Best Bass Lakes list and hosted three events in 2021 — a Bassmaster Elite Series tournament, a Basspro.com Bassmaster Northern Open and the Carhartt Bassmaster College National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.

The final regular-season event, the Northern Regional, will be held on the Upper Mississippi River out of Clinton, Iowa, June 29-July 1.

“The City of Clinton is excited to host the 2022 B.A.S.S Nation Regional Championship in Iowa at our wonderfully maintained Clinton Marina located on our beautiful riverfront along the mighty Mississippi,” said Lesley Webster, director of the Clinton, Iowa Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The majestic treelines and one-of-a-kind sunrises will surely make Clinton a memorable experience for anglers and their families. In Clinton there are many things to do with a river view, and the Bassmaster anglers will be treated to a variety of attractions right on our riverfront!”

The date and location for the 2022 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship will be released at a later time. The Championship tournament will be made up of qualifiers from all five regions, and the Top 3 anglers from the overall standings will earn a berth to the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.

“We’re proud to offer three Nation anglers the opportunity to compete in the iconic Bassmaster Classic, where anything is possible,” said B.A.S.S. Chairman and CEO Chase Anderson. “Just this year, we saw Justin Kerr qualify for the Classic through the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship and finish fourth in Fort Worth.

“The B.A.S.S. Nation local clubs have been the foundation of our organization for more than five decades. Beyond their tournaments, the Nation adds so much to the culture and growth of our sport through their conservation efforts and youth events and initiatives.”

The winner of the 2022 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship will also receive a cash prize, an invitation to join the 2023 Bassmaster Elite Series and paid Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens entry fees for all divisions. The second- and third-place finishers and nonboater Champion will each earn paid Opens entry fees for all divisions as well.

by AnglersChannel

Taming Spotted Bass Could Be Key To Winning Bassmaster Central Open On Lewis Smith Lake

Alabama's Lewis Smith Lake will host the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open Oct. 7-9, 2021.

Photo by Justin Brouillard/B.A.S.S.

September 30, 2021

JASPER, Ala. — While Alabama native David Kilgore thinks many anglers will be around big spotted bass during the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open on Lewis Smith Lake Oct. 7-9, catching them will be the real trick.

“You can find them a lot of times, but catching them in the fall is difficult,” Kilgore said. “The last Open we had in the fall here, it was so frustrating because you could be around a pile of 3- and 4-pounders and you could not catch them.

“It’s not really going to be getting around them, because a lot of people will get around them, it is just going to be figuring out how to catch them.”

This summer was the wettest summer that Kilgore can remember and those rainy conditions have continued to affect the 21,000-acre reservoir located just north of Birmingham into the early fall.

“While I was gone to Norman (for the Southern Open in late September), my rain gauge had 3 inches in it and I looked on my phone and the lake had come up 3 feet again,” Kilgore said. “They are on their way to pulling it back down again. It is down from full pool now about 8 or 9 feet, which is not out of the normal this time of year.

“We've just had so much rain this summer they’ve barely been able to get it down that far. They’ve been having to pull it a lot to get it down. I really don’t know what to expect with the water going up and down. We’ve got a lot of bare banks and very little stuff in the water. It is going to be interesting.”

Kilgore was also expecting some cooler weather to move into the area ahead of the tournament, but looking at the forecast he doesn’t see that happening now.

Smith Lake is a generally rocky reservoir with plenty of creek arms and a multitude of docks. In the fall, however, the big spotted bass will be roaming the lake searching for groups of blueback herring, according to Kilgore, and cover matters very little.

“It will be like any herring lake — a Fluke, topwater, whatever you want to try and catch them on,” Kilgore said. “It won’t be reinventing the wheel, just trying to figure out one little subtlety out there in the middle and in the fall that seems really hard to do compared to the spring.”

While there is a solid population of largemouth, Kilgore doesn’t expect them to play for multiple days.

Smith Lake was originally scheduled to be the first stop of the Central Opens season back in April, but flooding and severe storms postponed the event until October.

Virginia native Jacob Powroznik enters the tournament leading the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year standings with 1,171 points with Tommy Williams of Shepherdsville, Ky., second with 1,124 and Sam George of Athens, Ala., third with 1,111.

With a win at Pickwick earlier this year, Joey Nania of Cropwell, Ala., leads the Central Open standings with 200 points, followed by Lonnie Cochran of Section, Ala., with 199 and John Garrett of Union City, Tenn., with 198.

Anglers will take off from Smith Lake Public Boat Ramp at 6:30 a.m. CT each day. Weigh-ins on Days 1 and 2 will be held at Smith Lake Public Boat Ramp starting at 2:30 p.m., and the final day weigh-in will move to Bass Pro Shops in Leeds, Ala., at 4 p.m.

The full field will compete the first two days before the boater side is cut to 10 anglers on Championship Saturday. The co-angler champion will be crowned after the Day 2 weigh-in. Coverage of the event will be available at Bassmaster.com.

by AnglersChannel

Catch Bassmaster College Classic Bracket Coverage Live This Weekend

2021 Bassmaster College Team of the Year, Logan Parks and Tucker Smith from Auburn University, will be among the eight competitors at the Carhartt Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Bass Pro Shops Oct. 1-4 on Alabama's Coosa River.
Photo by Kyle Jessie/B.A.S.S.

September 29, 2021

WETUMPKA, Ala. — Fans of the rapidly growing sport of college fishing will have three days to catch live coverage of the Carhartt Bassmaster College Classic Bracket presented by Bass Pro Shops, which runs Oct. 1-4 on the Coosa River out of Wetumpka, Ala.

The event pits the season’s eight top college anglers against one another for a coveted spot in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk. New for this year, on Day 1 of the event, all eight anglers will compete individually to determine seeding and set the bracket for head-to-head competition.

FS1 kicks off a day of college sports with morning action from Day 2 of the tournament beginning at 7 a.m. CT. Bassmaster College Classic Bracket LIVE presented by Bassmaster Fishing 2022, the Official Video Game, will feature real-time coverage from all eight boats on Saturday as anglers battle to advance. Continuing coverage of the tournament can be streamed on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms.

Date
Time (All times Central)
Network

Saturday, October 2
7 a.m. – 11 a.m.
FS1; FOX Sports Digital

12 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Bassmaster.com; FOX Sports Digital

Sunday, October 3
7 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Bassmaster.com; FOX Sports Digital

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Bassmaster.com; FOX Sports Digital

Monday, October 4
7 a.m. – 10 a.m.
Bassmaster.com; FOX Sports Digital

11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Bassmaster.com; FOX Sports Digital

For the first time, the 2021 Bassmaster College Team of the Year — Auburn University’s Logan Parks and Tucker Smith — automatically punched their ticket to the College Classic Bracket to compete alongside the Top 3 teams from the Bassmaster College National Championship in this individual, elimination-style tournament. Joining Parks and Smith will be National Champions Hayden Scott and Griffin Fernandes from Michigan’s Adrian College, Tristan McCormick and Stevie Mills from bass fishing powerhouse Bethel University and a second team from Auburn, Conner Crosby and James Cobbs.

by AnglersChannel

How the West was won & late Breaking News!

This week Chris & the boys welcome in your back-to-back Western Toyota Series Winner Andrew Loberg to talk about his wins, the opportunities ahead of him and how the West was won. Big shakeup in the U-Pick-Em and then some late Breaking News from a major tournament platform. Check it out!

by AnglersChannel

Simpson University Wins Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament on Lake Havasu

LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. (Sept. 28, 2021) – The Simpson University duo of Quinn Hawkinson of Chico, California, and Jayden Nezy of Page, Arizona, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 10 pounds, 1 ounce to earn the win last weekend at the Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI at Lake Havasu. The victory earned the Red Hawk’s bass club $2,000 and qualified the duo to compete in the 2022 College Fishing National Championship.

TOP FIVE RESULTS*

RANK COLLEGE NAME ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Simpson University Quinn Hawkinson, Chico, Calif.
Jayden Nezy, Page, Ariz.		 5 10-1 $2,000
2nd Dallas Baptist University Mark Harris, Lindale, Texas
Michael Postlewait, Astoria, Ore.		 4 9-0 $1,000
3rd Simpson University Nathan Phillips, Kelseyville, Calif.
Austin Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz.		 4 8-10 $500
4th Dallas Baptist University Reece Martin, Lindale, Texas
Jacob Witkowski, Dallas, Texas		 4 7-3 $500
5th Simpson University Ryan Beaty, Martinez, Calif.
Taj White, Glendale, Ariz.		 2 5-9 $500

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

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI National Championship March 29-31, 2022 Fort Gibson Lake, Wagoner, Okla. TBD

The event was the third and final qualifying tournaments for Western Conference anglers and was hosted by Go Lake Havasu.
Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI teams compete in regular-season qualifying tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top ten teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual Abu Garcia College Fishing Open advance to the following year’s Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI National Championship.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Abu Garcia College Fishing presented by YETI on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and  YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Beavers Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament on Lake Murray

Dipietro Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

PROSPERITY, S.C. (Sept. 27, 2021) – Boater Bradford Beavers of Summerville, South Carolina wins the two-day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Murray in Prosperity, South Carolina on Sunday. Beavers earned $13,197 for his victory at the event.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Bradford Beavers of Summerville, S.C. 10 36-2 $13,197
2nd Christopher Chavis of Guyton, Ga. 10 35-13 $2,598
3rd Fisher Rodgers of Camden, S.C. 10 34-10 $1,733
4th Gregory McDavid of Blountville, Tenn. 9 32-10 $1,713
5th Wesley Sandifer of Chapin, S.C. 10 31-8 $1,039
6th Andy Wicker of Pomaria, S.C. 10 30-12 $953
7th Tom Rubbo of West Columbia, S.C. 10 30-8 $866
8th Karson Grubbs of West Columbia, S.C. 10 29-4 $780
9th Tracy Hewitt of Orangeburg, S.C. 10 28-11 $693
10th Jason Burroughs of Hodges, S.C. 10 27-0 $606
RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st AJ Dipietro of Columbia, S.C. 5 24-12 $2,925
2nd Kenny Mathis of Boiling Springs, S.C. 7 17-8 $1,299
3rd Jack Daniel Hoy of Hollywood, S.C. 7 17-1 $1,317
4th Terry Jarvis of Inman, S.C. 6 16-0 $606
5th Joshua Wix of Chesnee, S.C. 6 15-13 $520
6th Terry Coleman of Sumter, S.C. 5 14-2 $476
7th Jerry Pruitt of Vale, N.C. 5 13-5 $433
8th Kevin Henderson of Honea Path, S.C. 5 12-5 $390
9th Jeffery Stout of Dalzell, S.C. 3 9-11 $346
10th Danny Bickley of Chapin, S.C. 3 9-1 $303
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass Zack Catoe of Lancaster, S.C. 5-pound, 13-ounce bass $652
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass AJ Dipietro of Columbia, S.C. 6-pound, 10-ounce bass $326
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus Bradford Beavers of Summerville, S.C. Eligible Phoenix Boat* $7,000
* Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
WINNING BAITS
ANGLER BAIT COLOR
Boater Did Not Divulge N/A
Strike King Co-Angler Did Not Divulge N/A
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
South Carolina Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Oct. 21-23 St. Johns River, Palatka, Fla. Putnam County Tourist Development Council
2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American June 2-4 Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark. Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism & Visit Hot Springs
The 2021 MLF 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 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while Strike King co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The top six finishers in each regional will then qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook,  Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube .

by AnglersChannel

Jarvis Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament on Potomac River

Wedding Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division

MARBURY, Md.  (Sept. 27, 2021) – Boater Jim Jarvis of Timberville, Virginia wins the two-day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament Presented by T-H Marine at the Potomac River in Marbury, Maryland on Sunday. Jarvis earned $4,869 for his victory at the event, hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Jim Jarvis of Timberville, Va. 10 22-1 $4,869
2nd Todd Langford of Great Falls, Va. 6 21-14 $3,019
3rd Michael Birr of Franklinton, N.C. 10 21-2 $1,623
4th John Hauserman of Ellicott City, Md. 8 19-13 $1,136
5th Keith Estes of Spring Grove, Va. 9 18-13 $1,174
6th Robert Grabow of Morgantown, W.V. 10 18-12 $1,393
7th Bud Conley of Pasadena, Md. 8 17-7 $811
8th Mike Coleman of S. Chester, Va. 8 17-2 $730
9th Jacob Melrose of Quantico, Va. 10 17-1 $649
10th Tom Bateman of Welcome, Md. 8 16-14 $568
RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Robert Wedding of Welcome, Md. 6 17-10 $2,884
2nd Richard Stewart of Chesterfield, Va. 10 15-15 $1,217
3rd Timothy Trible of Gaithersburg, Md. 8 13-3 $813
4th Tyrone Adams of Fredericksburg, Va. 8 13-2 $568
5th Jonathan Patkus of Columbia, Md. 5 11-1 $487
6th Troy Pipkin of Sterling, Va. 6 11-0 $446
7th Ben Haynes of Richmond, Va. 5 9-10 $406
8th Ricky Grant of Callands, Va. 5 9-4 $365
9th Tracy Gravely of Petersburg, Va. 5 8-14 $325
10th Gee Kim of Melfa, Va. 5 8-7 $284
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass Todd Langford of Great Falls, Va. 6-pound, 7-ounce bass $585
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass James Henderson of McLean, Va. 4-pound bass $292
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus Michael Downes of South Chesterfield, Va. Eligible Phoenix Boat* $500
* Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
WINNING BAITS
ANGLER BAIT COLOR
Boater Z- Man Evergreen ChatterBait Jack Hammer White
Strike King Co-Angler Davis Baits Elite Swim Jig White
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
Shenandoah Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Oct. 14-16 Lake Murray, Columbia, S.C. Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board
2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American June 2-4 Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark. Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism & Visit Hot Springs
The 2021 MLF 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 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while Strike King co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The top six finishers in each regional will then qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook,  Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube .

by AnglersChannel

Moving Water Will Have Douglas Bass Chomping

By Pete Robbins

Ott DeFoe may have more knowledge of Tennessee’s Douglas Lake than anyone alive, and he’d be licking his chops to fish in the upcoming Big Bass Tour event on the winding Tennessee impoundment. The tournament will be held from October 8-10, and the former Bassmaster Classic champion said that’s normally prime time for the fall feed, and it’ll be made better by the was this year’s weather has played out.

“It was kind of a late, wet year,” he said. “We had quite a bit of rain in August, as well as some in September. The lake is still up a bit, certainly not as low as it would normally be. By the time the tournament starts, they should really be pulling water hard, trying to get it down to the right level for winter pool. That takes an already good situation and compounds a good bite. It’s ok when they’re not pulling water, but when it’s moving it tends to be really good.”

That should give anglers options. He expects that a fair number of fish will still be out deep, relating to offshore and deep structure like points and breaks. “If you can find some rock with current running across it, that’s the key for that bite,” the veteran pro stated. If that was his chosen depth zone, he’d deep crank and also rely on spoons and football jigs.

His preference, however, would be to stay shallow.

“I’m sure that lots of the hourly money will be won deep, but I’d be surprised if the overall winner didn’t come up closer to the bank.” He’d expect to put his trolling motor and batteries to the test, covering water with a big square bill or a topwater. “Once the water starts falling, fish any cover you can find. It could be a piece of wood or rock or concrete.” That’s not what holds the fish, though. A lot of times his biggest bites come “on almost nothing.” That’s because the bass are keyed in on bait. That would be his focus in practice: finding the largest concentrations of baitfish, because the bass will be right behind them.

Local hammer Casey Majni agreed with DeFoe’s preference to stay shallow. With cooler nights coming, he’d likewise put in heavy duty work with topwaters, including Berkley’s Cane Walker, J-Walker and Choppo, the bigger the better. Bone colored baits are a consistent favorite, but he also likes shad patterns including “Perfect Ghost.” He said it pays to stay on point because “before you know it they’ll erupt, so you’ve got to get the bait to them quick.” On the rare days when the shallow bass are hesitant to break the surface, he’ll go with a Frittside crankbait, especially the “Biggun’” which as the name suggests tends to get bigger bites.

Majni added that as the water goes down, he tends to target the backs of pockets with a ¾ ounce Berkley Warpig lipless bait, hitting the flat spots as far back as he can cast. His strategy: “Turn and burn.”

DeFoe is a noted river rat, so you might expect to find him in the far upper reaches of Douglas come tournament time. That might happen, and might be a player – in any event, he expects that the mid- to upper-half of the impoundment will produce most of the top ten.

“That’s shifted,” he explained. “It used to be that the biggest fish almost always came from the lower end of the lake. Big ones still get caught down there, but they’ve spread out.” The one opportunity that has exploded down the lake is the smallmouth population. “They’ve grown up a lot,” and while they too might not win the overall top prize, he expects to see some quality brown fish in the weigh-in line.

One other wildcard that an angler focused on a single giant could pursue is to throw a big glide bait or swimbait all day. DeFoe said that’s an increasingly popular way to approach the lake, and someone who committed to the big fish strategy “could get on bluffs with current hitting them and catch a truly big one that way.”

For anglers who choose to pursue the deep bite, Majni urges them to dropshot a white Berkley Maxscent Flat Wormor rig a Berkley Hollow Belly swimbait on a 1 ounce jig head and hunt individual specimens with forward-facing sonar.

The weights at the top of the leaderboard are typically tightly-packed in the BBT tournaments on Douglas. It usually takes over 5 pounds to make the top 10, although in both 2018 and 2020 slightly smaller fish snuck in. In 2019 there was a 6.09 weighed in. In 2016 there were two over 6 and another over 7, and in 2017 Sam Harris weighed in a remarkable 7.44 pound brute. Accordingly, it’s critical to pay attention to the live leaderboard to maximize your chances and your winnings.

by AnglersChannel

Hibdon Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament on Lake of the Ozarks

Excelsior Springs’ Johnson Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
OSAGE BEACH, Mo. (Sept. 27, 2021) – Boater Payden Hibdon of Versailles, Missouri wins the two-day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament Presented by T-H Marine at Lake of the Ozarks Presented by Fenwick in Osage Beach, Missouri on Sunday. Payden earned $8,438 for his victory at the event, hosted by the Central Missouri’s Tri-County Lodging Association.
TOP 10 RESULTS
RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Payden Hibdon of Versailles, Mo. 10 32-14 $8,438
2nd Corey Cook of Lebanon, Mo. 10 32-4 $4,219
3rd Casey Scanlon of Eldon, Mo. 10 31-11 $2,812
4th Lawson Hibdon of Versaillies, Mo. 10 31-11 $1,969
5th Lance Williams of Billings, Mo. 10 31-9 $1,688
6th Rick Fishback of Springfield, Mo. 10 29-14 $1,547
7th Brock Reinkemeyer of Warsaw, Mo. 10 28-10 $1,406
8th Roger Fitzpatrick of Eldon, Mo. 10 27-11 $1,266
9th Early Garrison, IV of Bull Shoals, Ark. 10 27-9 $1,125
10th Joe Grafeman of Camdenton, Mo. 10 27-5 $984
RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Anthony Johnson of Excelsior Springs, Mo. 8 20-7 $4,219
2nd Troy Karafa of Racine, Wis. 8 18-14 $2,110
3rd Cody Carl of Lake Latawana, Mo. 7 17-2 $1,406
4th Bryan Barnard of Harrison, Ark. 9 15-12 $984
5th Shane McGinnis of Springfield, Mo. 7 15-11 $844
6th Joshua Allison of Carl Junction, Mo. 6 15-0 $774
7th Kelby Humble of Rogersville, Mo. 7 14-11 $703
8th Chris Bunk of Sullivan, Mo. 6 14-10 $633
9th Mark Glover of Raytown, Mo. 5 13-0 $563
10th Christian Singer of Bunceton, Mo. 6 12-5 $492
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass Adam Caldwell of Springfield, Mo. 5-pound, 11-ounce bass $1,365
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Brock Krohne of Belton, Mo. 5-pound, 4-ounce bass $682
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus Brad Jelinek of Lincoln, Mo. Eligible Phoenix Boat* $500
* Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
WINNING BAITS
ANGLER BAIT COLOR
Boater Guido Jig N/A
Strike King Co-Angler Unspecified Cut Tail Worm N/A
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
Ozark Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Oct. 7-9 Norfork Lake, Mountain Home, Ark. Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce
2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American June 2-4 Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark. Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism & Visit Hot Springs
The 2021 MLF 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 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while Strike King co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The top six finishers in each regional will then qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook,  Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube .

by AnglersChannel

Myers Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament on Lake Wylie

Myers Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament on Lake Wylie

LAKE WYLIE, S.C.  (Sept. 27, 2021) – Pro Britt Myers of Lake Wylie, South Carolina wins the two-day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Wylie in Lake Wylie, South Carolina on Sunday. Myers earned $6,270 for his victory at the event.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Britt Myers of Lake Wylie, S.C. 10 22-12 $6,270
2nd Michael Stephens of Gastonia, N.C. 10 21-0 $2,635
3rd Buddy Black of Lawndale, N.C. 10 19-1 $1,758
4th Stephen Cannon of Wilkesboro, N.C. 9 16-12 $1,230
5th Jake Frye of Charlotte, N.C. 6 16-2 $1,054
6th Ross Burns of Columbia, S.C. 9 15-4 $966
7th Chris Dover of Blacksburg, S.C. 7 14-10 $878
8th Lee Endicott of Sherills Ford, N.C. 5 14-5 $1,465
9th Jeremy Talbert of Albemarle, N.C. 7 14-2 $703
10th Josh Warren of York, S.C. 9 14-2 $615
RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Eric Osborne of Jefferson, N.C. 8 15-1 $2,635
2nd Barry Burford of Charlotte, N.C. 8 13-15 $1,317
3rd Ernest McIntyre of Fayetteville, N.C. 7 11-2 $1,330
4th Greg Robertson of King, N.C. 6 11-1 $615
5th Thomas Davis of West Jefferson, N.C. 4 10-9 $527
6th Justin Wilson of Mooresville, N.C. 6 9-12 $483
7th Billy Taylor of Newton, N.C. 5 9-12 $439
8th Travis Ruff of Connelly Springs, N.C. 4 8-8 $395
9th Justin Johnson of Apex, N.C. 4 7-15 $351
10th Brad Burns of Kernersville, N.C. 3 7-14 $644
CONTINGENCY AWARDS
AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass Lee Endicott of Sherills Ford, N.C. 5-pound, 1-ounce bass $675
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Brad Burns of Kernersville, N.C. 4-pound, 2-ounce bass $337
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus Khris Williams of Mount Holly, N.C. Eligible Phoenix Boat* $500
* Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.
WINNING BAITS
ANGLER BAIT COLOR
Boater Jig/Deep Crank N/A
Strike King Co-Angler Jig/Drop-Shot N/A
2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES
EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
North Carolina Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Oct. 14-16 Lake Murray, Columbia, S.C. Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board
2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American June 2-4 Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark. Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism & Visit Hot Springs
The 2021 MLF 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 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while Strike King co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The top six finishers in each regional will then qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook,  Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube .

by AnglersChannel

Marks Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament on Lake Lanier

GAINESVILLE, Ga. (Sept. 27, 2021) – Boater Paul Marks of Cumming, Georgia, won the two-day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Lanier Sunday in Gainesville, Georgia. Marks earned $15,678 for his victory in the event, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 contingency bonus.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Paul Marks of Cumming, Ga. 10 34-9 $15,678
2nd Drew Harbin of Winder, Ga. 10 32-5 $3,839
3rd Michael Anders of Anderson, S.C. 10 32-1 $2,558
4th J.R. McCay of Robertstown, Ga. 10 31-10 $1,792
5th Brock Turner of Jasper, Ga. 10 30-10 $1,536
6th Brad Wiley of Alto, Ga. 10 30-8 $1,408
7th Matthew O’Connell of Brooks, Ga. 10 29-14 $1,530
8th Elijah Benson of Dawsonville, Ga. 10 29-4 $1,152
9th David Lowery of Milledgeville, Ga. 10 29-3 $1,024
10th Emil Wagner of Marietta, Ga. 10 29-2 $896

 

 

RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Joe Morgan of Woodstock, Ga. 9 24-0 $3,733
2nd Jeff Walker of Cumming, Ga. 10 21-3 $1,867
3rd Chandler White of Covington, Ga. 10 21-1 $1,244
4th Colby Elliott of Blairsville, Ga. 9 19-1 $871
5th Donald Peppers of Good Hope, Ga. 8 18-0 $747
6th Cody Cantrell of Fairmount, Ga. 8 17-13 $684
7th Joshua Boyd of Gainesville, Ga. 9 17-13 $622
8th Theron Asbery of Longwood, Fla. 7 16-13 $810
9th Thomas Pierce of Calhoun, Ga. 9 16-13 $498
10th J.B. Banks of Gainesville, Ga. 7 15-8 $436

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass Grant Kelly of Milledgeville, Ga. 5-pound, 12-ounce bass $1,185
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Stephen Waldon of Ellenwood, Ga. 5-pound, 4-ounce bass $570
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus Paul Marks of Cumming, Ga. Eligible Phoenix Boat* $7,000

* Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

WINNING BAITS

ANGLER BAIT COLOR
Boater Sebile Magic Swimmer Swimbait N/A
Strike King Co-Angler Sebile Magic Swimmer Swimbait N/A

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
Bulldog Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Oct. 21-23 St. Johns River, Palatka, Fla. Putnam County Tourist Development Council
2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American June 2-4, 2022 Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark. Arkansas Dept. of Parks and Tourism & Visit Hot Springs

The 2021 MLF 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 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while Strike King co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The top six finishers in each regional will then qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.
The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and  YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Drury Wins Two-Day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament on Lake Cumberland

MONTICELLO, Ky. (Sept. 27, 2021) – Boater Bryan Drury of Richmond, Kentucky, won the two-day Phoenix Bass Fishing League Super-Tournament Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Cumberland Presented by Googan Baits  Sunday in Monticello, Kentucky. Marks earned $14,468 for his victory in the event, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 contingency bonus.

TOP 10 RESULTS

RANK BOATER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Bryan Drury of Richmond, Ky. 7 18-10 $14,468
2nd Dakota Bell of Monticello, Ky. 10 17-2 $3,234
3rd Sean Wieda of Walton, Ky. 9 15-12 $2,158
4th Kyle Christopher of Danville, Ky. 6 13-7 $1,509
5th Russ Simpson of Given, W. Va. 6 13-0 $1,294
6th Jarrod Conn of Burgin, Ky. 5 12-8 $1,186
7th Nick Uebelhor of Jasper, Ind. 7 12-4 $1,328
8th Jesse Horseman of Junction City, Ky. 7 12-1 $970
9th Talmadge Marcum of McKee, Ky. 6 11-15 $862
10th Laine Bull of Cincinnati, Ohio 5 10-5 $755

 

 

RANK STRIKE KING CO-ANGLER NAME/HOMETOWN BASS WEIGHT AWARD
1st Ronnie Gill of Indianapolis, Ind. 4 8-9 $3,631
2nd Jake Mattingly of Stanford, Ky. 4 8-0 $1,591
3rd Joshua Mounce of Somerset, Ky. 4 6-14 $1,061
4th Brent Clark of Bowling Green, Ky. 4 6-1 $742
5th Buyrl Shirly of Sparta, Tenn. 5 5-15 $636
6th Bryan Whittaker of Richmond, Ky. 2 5-9 $583
7th Gary Slaughter of Waddy, Ky. 3 5-7 $530
8th Brian Dillard of Bowling Green, Ky. 2 5-1 $477
9th Walter Smith of Hardy, Ky. 1 4-10 $874
10th Travis Lloyd of Jamestown, Tenn. 2 4-5 $371

CONTINGENCY AWARDS

AWARD NAME CONTINGENCY PAYOUT
Boater Big Bass Grant Kelly of Milledgeville, Ga. 4-pound, 13-ounce bass $915
Strike King Co-Angler Berkley Big Bass Walter Smith of Hardy, Ky. 4-pound, 10-ounce bass $450
Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus Bryan Drury of Richmond, Ky. Eligible Phoenix Boat* $7,000

* Boaters are eligible to win up to an extra $7,000 per event in each Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine tournament if all requirements are met. More information on the Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus contingency program can be found at PhoenixBassBoats.com.

WINNING BAITS

ANGLER BAIT COLOR
Boater Spinnerbait White & Chartreuse
Strike King Co-Angler Spinnerbait with Double Willow Blades N/A

2021 QUALIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES

EVENT DATE LOCATION HOST
Mountain Division – Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Oct. 7-9 Wheeler Lake, Decatur, Ala. Decatur Morgan County Tourism
2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American June 2-4, 2022 Lake Hamilton, Hot Springs, Ark. Arkansas Dept. of Parks and Tourism & Visit Hot Springs

The 2021 MLF 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 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships. Boaters will compete for a $60,000 prize package, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while Strike King co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard.

The top six finishers in each regional will then qualify for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American.

The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the Toyota Series, the pathway to the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour.

For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Phoenix Bass Fishing League presented by T-H Marine on MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and  YouTube.

by AnglersChannel

Andrew Loberg Earns Second-Straight Western Division Win at MLF Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. on Lake Havasu

by AnglersChannel

Jim Davis Takes B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series Victory On The Mississippi River

Jim Davis, of Dandridge, Tenn., has won the Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series powered by TourneyX at the Mississippi River with a five-fish limit measuring 85.5 inches.

Photo by Kara Pasma/B.A.S.S.

September 25, 2021

LA CROSSE, Wis. — With his five biggest bass measuring 85.50 inches, Jim Davis won the Bassmaster B.A.S.S. Nation Kayak Series powered by TourneyX at the Mississippi River.

Fishing in Pool 7, Davis made a short paddle in the morning and got off to a nice start.

“It actually started out quick with a fish that was 17.25 inches and then they got small on me,” Davis said. “There were around 30 local boats, mostly bluegill and crappie guys and it got tough — I don’t think I had another good fish until around 10 am.”

After making a bait change, the Dandridge, Tenn., angler got two more good bites with 16.25- and 17-inch bass. Once again, the small fish started biting and they were not what Davis was looking for.

“The one key was the spinnerbait color. I was using white/chartreuse all day, but I started with silver blades and changed to a bait the exact same color, but it had gold blades. That was the key to getting those two bigger bites.”

With a small limit when the leaderboard went out before 2 p.m., Davis put the spinnerbait down and made yet again another important change.

“The bite slowed, and I had noticed that nobody was fishing supershallow around me, so I picked up the Senko, rigged it weightless Texas rig and went to work around the lily pads. It was less than a foot.”

Catching his two biggest bass with less than 30 minutes left — 18.75- and 17.75-inch fish — he made a move from 19th place at 1:45 pm to the eventual victory. Davis has been fishing from a kayak for over 15 years and fishing competitively since 2015, but a shoulder surgery has put a damper on his 2021 season.

“This was my first competitive event since that shoulder reconstructive surgery, and it feels good,” he said. “I was finally able to even paddle. I tried to do a couple of other events and one I had to drop out and the other was tough — I just couldn’t do it. It feels really satisfying to be out and come back. I just want to thank Old Town Kayaks and Frontier Outdoors for the help.”

With 84.50 inches, Anthony Winkleman took the second-place spot finishing just 1-inch behind Davis. Launching on Pool 9, Winkleman relied on bass he had located in a previous event and used that confidence to adapt to changes in his main areas.

“There was nobody at the launch I used, and I saw one guy (on the water) but he came in from another ramp,” Winkleman said. “I was confident in the stuff I had but I didn’t know I would do this well. I had a slow start to the morning throwing a swimbait and was catching a lot of little fish.”

When he was forced to make a move, the Paducah, Ky., angler paddled down the bank further to flip timber but noticed some bass busting bait close by.

“My first fish when I picked up that Spook was a 16.5-inch and then I had a really good smallmouth blow it up and miss it. There was lots of floating debris and it made it hard to throw the Spook or the swimbait.”

Utilizing Spot-Lock, Winkleman was able to take advantage of schooling bass in small areas 3 to 4 feet deep where main-river current from three sides was pushing in. After catching more than 30 bass without moving and tossing back several fish over 15 inches, it was a decision to fish an area from practice that helped him later in the day.

“In practice we had a wind that pushed debris around and it made it hard to fish,” he said. “I noticed the wind had changed slightly, and I went to that spot and threw that Spook in — and on back-to-back casts, I caught two 17-inch fish. The next cast I doubled up with a 17-inch and 12-inch fish. Then right after doubled again with a 16.5- and 15-inch.

Sticking it out until almost the end, Winkleman was met with stronger currents than expected and had to work hard to get back to get his fish entered in time with a spotty cell phone signal.

“I literally got back, jumped out in 4 feet of water and almost didn’t make it in time,” he said. “That current was tough. I threw the rods in the truck, loaded the kayak on the trailer and hauled to get signal to submit my fish. It was crazy.”

Todd Martens rounded out the Top 3 with 83.75 inches. Spending his day in an area where he’d found a school of smallmouth during the recent TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Northern Regional, he was able to do his damage on a current seam near the bottom of Pool 8.

“I checked that area this week and they were still there,” he said. “I started on them, and first thing stuck three fish in the 18- to 19-inch range and somehow managed to lose them all — I thought my event was over.”

Throwing a Rapala DT-4 in a perch color, the Rockton, Ill., angler backed off, took a breather, regrouped and was able to get to work.

“I got back up there, and it was like every third cast until 11 a.m., then it shut off. The ones I lost were footballs, the same as the 18-inch fish I ended up measuring and it was a close one, losing by less than 2 inches total.”

When the bite died, Martens worked over a shallow pattern with 2K Jigs and Get Bit Baits soft plastics but was unable to upgrade his smallmouth.

Matt Hines took the Big Bass award with a 19.25-inch bass.

The top nine anglers from the event punched their tickets to the 2022 Kayak Series National Championship, which will be held in conjunction with the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk at Lake Hartwell.

by AnglersChannel

Hoyle Notches First B.A.S.S. Win At Bassmaster Southern Open On Norman

Cody Hoyle, of Rutherfordton, N.C., has won the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Southern Open on Lake Norman with a three-day total of 40 pounds, 4 ounces.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
September 25, 2021

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Cody Hoyle called it on Day 2, but it took the North Carolina pro nearly all of Championship Saturday to catch the 9-pound, 2-ounce bag that completed a winning three-day total of 40-4 at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Southern Open on Lake Norman.

“I thought 8 to 10 pounds today was going to do it,” Hoyle said after establishing a sizable lead in Friday’s Semifinal round.

On Day 1, Hoyle was in second place, trailing Blake Smith by 14 ounces. A day later, he owned a 6-7 lead over Joey Nania of Cropwell, Ala. Then on Championship Saturday, Hoyle edged Nania with a winning margin of 3-9.

“This is pretty amazing; I really wasn’t expecting to win,” said Hoyle, who earned $43,533. “I entered this tournament thinking I’d get 11 pounds a day. I was actually surprised that I caught what I caught. This is probably the best I’ve done on this lake.”

Because Hoyle did not fish all three of the Southern Opens, he is not eligible for the automatic berth into the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk. That spot now goes back to the Bassmaster Elite Series where Tyler Rivet of Raceland, La., the first man out of the cut, will receive a Classic invitation.

After spending the first two days in Mountain Creek where he targeted docks in 10 to 20 feet, Hoyle made a switch for Day 3 and fished docks and marinas in Davidson and Ramsey creeks. Concerned he had fished out his area’s potential, Hoyle decided a change of scenery was due.

A painfully slow day unfolded for Hoyle on Bassmaster LIVE, as the local pro found himself with one keeper at 1 o’clock. Hoyle admitted this was a stressful scenario, but knowing his better Day 2 bites came in the afternoon, he embraced a statement he made after each of the first two days: “You just have to keep moving and keep your bait wet.”

At 1:15, Hoyle came tight on the first of two big fish, an estimated 3 1/2-pounder. Fifteen minutes later, he boat-flipped a 3-pounder that sealed the deal.

“I thought I was just going to have that one, to be honest,” Hoyle said. “I just started running stuff that I’ve caught them on in the past. That marina where I caught those fish, I’ve fished it for 10 years. It’s always been good to me.”

While a drop shot with a 6-inch Roboworm in morning dawn produced a couple of keepers on Days 1 and 2, Hoyle caught most of his fish on a homemade 1/2-ounce Arkie-style jig with a Zoom Twin trailer. Using green pumpkin and orange for the head and skirt allowed him to leverage two common forage items.

“I tied that jig to look like a bream or a crawfish,” Hoyle said. “The crawfish on this lake have a green back and their bellies are orange. That’s what the jig looked like.”

Nania, who notched his first Bassmaster win at the Bassmaster Central Open on Pickwick Lake on May 1, placed 14th on Day 1 with 11-4. He added 12-13 on Day 2 and improved to second. Today, Nania caught 12 pounds and ended with 36-11.

After spending a relatively slow morning on a main-lake shoal in 30 to 35 feet, Nania made a late-day transition that accounted for most of his weight.

“I was struggling out there, but my wife had written me this awesome note with a Bible verse about staying steadfast,” Nania said. “I only had 8 pounds at that point and after I fished some docks, I was looking around with my Garmin LiveScope and I saw a tree out in 40 feet of water. I threw out there and caught a (3.8-pound spotted bass).

“After that, I said ‘I’m going to run more trees,’ so I went and caught another 2.6 off a tree I’d fished three times in the tournament and never got a bite. It just worked out.”

Nania caught most of his fish on a Nedmiki rig — Z-Man’s version of the Damiki or “moping” rig. Comprising a Z-Man Finesse EyeZ jig with a 3.75 StreakZ trailer, Nania’s rig proved effective at teasing fish out of brushpiles and tempting the bites he needed.

Cole Huskins of Gastonia, N.C., finished third with 34-7. On Day 1, Huskins tied Rick Hawkins of Roanoke, Va., for 12th place with 11-15. Catching 10-3 in the second round moved him into sixth. Huskins closed Day 3 with 12-5 — the day’s heaviest catch.

“The past two days have been a grind, but today I got on a little deal doing something I love — I put a homemade 1/4-ounce buzzbait with a white Zoom Horny Toad in my hand and I locked it. I was covering flats and they were all over it.

“I found a wolf pack of fish running the shoreline. It was exciting; some of them would hit it right at the boat.”

Shane Lineberger of Lincolnton, N.C., won the $750 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award with a 5-7.

Hoyle won the $500 Garmin Tournament Rewards.

David Williams of Newton, N.C., won the Southern Open standings with 577 points. Jacob Foutz of Charleston, Tenn., finished second with 568, followed by Josh Douglas of Isle, Minn., with 545, Blake Smith of Lakeland, Fla., with 541 and Sam George of Athens, Ala., with 528. Williams, Foutz and Douglas will receive invitations to fish the 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series.

Jacob Powroznik of North Prince George, Va., leads the overall Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year standings with 1,171 points.

Visit Lake Norman hosted the event.

by AnglersChannel

Hoyle Surges To Bassmaster Southern Open Lead On Lake Norman

Cody Hoyle, of Rutherfordton, N.C., is leading after Day 2 of the 2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Southern Open at Lake Norman with a two-day total of 31 pounds, 2 ounces.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.

September 24, 2021

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Despite a slow start, North Carolina pro Cody Hoyle stuck to his game plan, made a couple of key decisions and took over the Day 2 lead at the Basspro.com Bassmaster Southern Open on Lake Norman with a two-day total of 31 pounds, 2 ounces.

After placing second on Day 1 with 14-9, Hoyle trailed Blake Smith by 14 ounces. Adding a Day 2 limit of 16-9 — the event’s heaviest bag, which included a 4-10 — Hoyle now leads second-place angler Joey Nania of Cropwell, Ala., by 6-7.

Confident in his pattern from Day 1, Hoyle returned to the Mountain Creek area and targeted docks in 10 to 20 feet. He targeted the area because he knows the locals have planted a lot of brush near their docks.

“It was the same thing today, it just took longer to get them,” Hoyle said. “I guess it was just a timing deal right now. I fished one dock four times and I went back the fifth time and that big one was there.”

On Thursday, Hoyle fished 150 docks, but Friday he only needed 70. With a better idea of the most productive areas, he caught fish on a few of the ones that produced on Day 2.

Focusing mainly on the docks’ deeper outer ends, Hoyle caught his bass on two different finesse rigs — one for the bottom, one for fish suspending around brush. The latter delivered the most consistency.

“I had three keepers around 11 o’clock and then I moved to the mouth of the creek and caught two big ones between 12 and 1,” Hoyle said. “I culled up a few more times throughout the day. It was really consistent, I’d catch one good one an hour.

“I was really just going out there trying to get 10 pounds. I just got lucky and came across the right ones.”

With 15 keepers on Day 2, Hoyle said it took him all day to amass his weight. Heading back to weigh-in, he made a final stop and managed a couple of upgrades.

“Around 5:45 (p.m.), I just went right across from Blythe Landing (weigh-in site) and fished a little dock I’ve fished before and there was fish under it,” Hoyle said. “They were smaller fish, but I got a couple more ounces out of those culls.”

Looking ahead to Championship Saturday, Hoyle intends to execute the same game plan one more time.

“I’m going to go out and try to catch 8 to 10 pounds,” he said. “That ought to do it.”

With a two-day total of 24-11, Nania gained 12 spots after placing 14th on Day 1 with 11-14. Turning up the heat on Day 2 with 12-13 was a matter of dialing in a strategic presentation.

While many of his offshore competitors stayed busy chasing schooling fish, Nania focused on a main-lake point in 30 to 35 feet and targeted fish relating to the bottom. He used his Garmin LiveScope to spot bass and then used a light braid-to-fluorocarbon setup to cast an unnamed finesse bait and let it sink down to the fish.

“Yesterday, I figured it out when my co-angler caught one off the bottom and I caught three good ones late in the day,” said Nania, who qualified for the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk with a win in a Southern Open on Pickwick earlier this year. “Today, I knew if I just committed to fishing deep, I’d have a shot at a better average.

“I caught about 40 fish yesterday. Today, I caught only 25, but they were better quality. I had two over 3 pounds. That was the goal — stay clear of the fish that were up in the water column schooling and stay deep.”

Christian Shoda of Homosassa, Fla., is in third place with 23-1. After placing fourth on Day 1 with 13-1, he added 10 pounds and rose one spot Friday.

Shoda caught his bass around docks both days. While Day 1 saw a good topwater bite, his prop bait only produced two keepers Friday. For the rest of his Day 2 bag, Shoda had to slow down and catch most of his keepers on a 5/8-ounce tungsten jig with a chunk-style trailer.

“I only had one fish at noon and then I figured out what was going on,” Shoda said. “They moved shallower for me today. Usually, the second day after a cold front is tougher, so I was not expecting that. All the ones I was after today are up there eating bream and crawfish.”

Bassmaster Elite Series pro Shane Lineberger of Lincolnton, N.C., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with a 5-7.

Alex Reece of Greenville, S.C., won the co-angler division with 11-11. On Day 1, he caught a three-fish limit of 5-5 and found himself in a three-way tie for ninth place. Adding 6-6 Friday clinched the win and earned Reece the top prize of $17,000.

“I don’t know what to say; I fished my heart out the last two days,” Reece said. “I fished harder than I’ve ever fished and we had everyone praying.”

Reece caught fish on a Megabass Vision 110 jerkbait in white and clear blue colors and a drop shot with a 4-inch Roboworm in morning dawn and bold bluegill colors. He fished the jerkbait in shallow water, while the drop shot delivered in greater depths.

Using 3/16- and 3/8-ounce weights, depending on depth, Reece would cast his drop shot and fish it at an angle to keep the bait away from the boat and hold it closer to the bottom.

Christopher Teague of Lincolnton, N.C., won the $250 Phoenix Boats Big Bass among co-anglers with a 3-14.

David Williams of Newton, N.C., leads the Southern Open standings with 573 points. Jacob Foutz of Charleston, Tenn., is second with 568, followed by Josh Douglas of Isle, Minn., with 545, Blake Smith of Lakeland, Fla., with 541 and Masayuki Matsushita of Tokoname-Shi of Japan with 529.

Based on their points standings, Williams, Foutz and Douglas will receive invitations to fish the 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series.

Jacob Powroznik of North Prince George, Va., leads the overall Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year standings with 1,171 points.

The Top 10 remaining anglers will take off Saturday at 7 a.m. ET from Blythe Landing Park. Weigh-in will be at the Bass Pro Shops in Concord Mills, N.C., at 4 p.m.

Bassmaster Opens LIVE presented by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can be streamed on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will also broadcast live with the tournament leaders beginning at 8 a.m.

2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Open at Lake Norman 9/23-9/25
Lake Norman, Charlotte NC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1. Cody Hoyle Rutherfordton, NC 10 31-02 200
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 16-09
2. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 10 24-11 199
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 12-13
3. Christian Shoda Homosassa, FL 10 23-01 198
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 10-00
4. Masayuki Matsushita Tokoname-Shi JAPAN 10 23-01 197
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 11-14
5. Cole Sands Calhoun , TN 10 22-06 196
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 10-06
6. Cole Huskins Gastonia, NC 10 22-02 195
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 10-03
7. Josh Douglas Isle, MN 10 22-00 194
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 09-01
8. David Williams Newton, NC 10 22-00 193
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 10-15
9. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 10 21-12 192
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 08-04
10. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 10 21-09 191
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 13-05
11. Michael Kinard Concord, NC 10 21-06 190 $5,147.00
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 11-10
12. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 10 21-03 189 $4,503.00
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 10-14
13. Dustin Williamson Aiken, SC 10 21-01 188 $3,538.00
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 11-08
14. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 10 21-00 187 $3,538.00
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 12-06
15. Sam George Athens, AL 10 21-00 186 $3,538.00
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 09-09
16. Woo Daves Spring Grove, VA 10 20-15 185 $3,538.00
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 11-00
17. KC Choosakul Sanford, NC 10 20-11 184 $3,538.00
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 09-15
18. Billy McCaghren Jr Mayflower, AR 10 20-07 183 $3,538.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 09-14
19. Rob Digh Denver, NC 10 20-06 182 $3,538.00
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 07-13
20. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 10 20-05 181 $3,538.00
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 12-00
21. Matt Pangrac Bixby, OK 10 20-02 180 $3,217.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 08-01
22. Rodney Jones Anderson, SC 10 20-01 179 $3,217.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 07-15
23. Dave Turner Crystal River, FL 10 20-01 178 $3,217.00
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 10-06
24. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 10 19-14 177 $3,217.00
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 09-00
25. Todd Goade White Pine, TN 10 19-14 176 $3,217.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 09-01
26. Greg Mansfield Olathe, KS 10 19-14 175 $2,959.00
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 09-02
27. Daisuke Aoki Minamitsurugun Yamanash 9 19-14 174 $2,959.00
Day 1: 4 10-08 Day 2: 5 09-06
28. Rick Hawkins Roanoke, VA 10 19-13 173 $2,959.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 07-14
29. Blake Smith Lakeland, FL 8 19-06 172 $2,959.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 3 03-15
30. Joel Willert Prior Lake, MN 10 19-06 171 $2,959.00
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 08-11
31. Chad Smith Minnetonka, MN 10 19-02 170 $2,959.00
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 10-13
32. Jason Wilson Lincolnton, NC 10 19-02 169 $2,959.00
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 09-02
33. Andy Hribar Lakeville, MN 10 19-02 168 $2,959.00
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 09-06
34. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 19-00 167 $2,959.00
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 10-00
35. Kameron Harbin Abbeville, SC 10 18-14 166 $2,959.00
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 5 10-05
36. Jacob Walker Alabaster, AL 9 18-09 165 $2,959.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 4 05-12
37. Timmy Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 18-08 164 $2,959.00
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 09-04
38. Andrew Thomasson Dublin, VA 10 18-05 163 $2,959.00
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 09-11
39. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 10 18-04 162 $2,959.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 06-14
40. Andrew Upshaw Hemphill, TX 10 18-02 161 $2,959.00
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 5 08-15
41. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 10 17-15 160
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 07-15
42. David Kilgore Jasper, AL 10 17-15 159
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 09-00
43. Ben Stone Donalds, SC 9 17-14 158
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 4 07-13
44. Hunter Sales Blaine, TN 10 17-13 157
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 06-12
45. Dylan Fulk Mount Pleasant, NC 10 17-11 156
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 07-14
46. Brian Post Janesville, WI 10 17-10 155
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 07-09
47. Luke Plunkett Pinson, AL 10 17-10 154
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 09-11
48. Chris Dover Blacksburg, SC 10 17-09 153
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 08-00
49. Alvin Shaw Camden, SC 10 17-09 152
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 08-01
50. Jay Przekurat Stevens Point, WI 10 17-07 151
Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 5 09-14
51. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 9 17-05 150
Day 1: 4 06-05 Day 2: 5 11-00
52. John Hunter Jr Shelbyville, KY 8 17-05 149
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 3 06-05
53. Jacob Norris Lugoff, SC 9 17-05 148
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 4 07-05
54. Jeremy Gordon Rutledge, TN 10 17-03 147
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 5 08-10
55. Johnny Bigger II Spring Hill, FL 9 17-00 146
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 4 04-01
56. Tommy Williams Shepherdsville, KY 7 16-12 145
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 2 06-03
57. Blake Sylvester Plaquemine, LA 10 16-10 144
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 06-15
58. Marc Schilling Shady Shores, TX 10 16-10 143
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 07-08
59. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 10 16-09 142
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 08-01
60. Scott Patton Dayton, TN 9 16-06 141
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 4 07-05
61. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 10 16-06 140
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 07-09
62. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 10 16-04 139
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 07-15
63. Kenny Mittelstaedt Paynesville, MN 10 16-01 138
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 07-04
64. Sean Torgrude Henderson, NV 9 15-15 137
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 4 04-13
65. Austin Cranford Moore, OK 10 15-14 136
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 07-03
66. Carter McNeil Abbeville, SC 9 15-12 135
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 4 06-09
67. Joey Sabbagha Prosperity, SC 8 15-11 134
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 3 04-01
68. John Garrett Union City, TN 10 15-11 133
Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 5 07-13
69. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 8 15-10 132
Day 1: 3 06-01 Day 2: 5 09-09
70. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 10 15-07 131
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 5 07-01
71. Corey Lindsey Blacklick, OH 8 15-05 130
Day 1: 4 08-02 Day 2: 4 07-03
72. Jeff Queen Catawba, NC 9 15-04 129
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 4 05-04
73. Phillip Brannon Sylacauga, AL 9 15-01 128
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 4 05-08
74. Richard Kaluba Litchfield, OH 9 15-00 127
Day 1: 4 05-14 Day 2: 5 09-02
75. Dylan Hays Hot Springs, AR 9 14-15 126
Day 1: 4 06-09 Day 2: 5 08-06
76. Jacob Moore Wake Forest, NC 10 14-15 125
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 5 07-04
77. Josh Hubbard Braidwood, IL 8 14-13 124
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 3 03-15
78. Cody Huff Ava, MO 10 14-13 123
Day 1: 5 07-01 Day 2: 5 07-12
79. Jeff Bauler Santee, CA 8 14-12 122
Day 1: 4 06-11 Day 2: 4 08-01
80. Tucker Veronee Gilbert, SC 9 14-11 121
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 4 06-09
81. Scott Pellegrin Chippewa Falls, WI 9 14-10 120
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 4 06-00
82. Michael Webster Gastonia, NC 10 14-10 119
Day 1: 5 07-08 Day 2: 5 07-02
83. Freddy Palmer Estill Springs, TN 9 14-09 118
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 4 05-09
84. Devon Fuller Pacolet, SC 10 14-09 117
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 05-14
85. Bailey Boutries Mobile, AL 6 14-08 116
Day 1: 1 03-13 Day 2: 5 10-11
86. Randy Huffman Charleston, WV 8 14-08 115
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 3 04-08
87. Chris Blanchette Pawleys Island, SC 9 14-08 114
Day 1: 4 06-06 Day 2: 5 08-02
88. Christian Greico Tampa, FL 9 14-07 113
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 4 05-12
89. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 10 14-07 112
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 07-07
90. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 9 14-05 111
Day 1: 4 06-06 Day 2: 5 07-15
91. Trevor McKinney Benton, IL 9 14-05 110
Day 1: 5 06-14 Day 2: 4 07-07
92. Jackson Swisher LAKE CITY, FL 7 14-04 109
Day 1: 2 05-03 Day 2: 5 09-01
93. Jamey Caldwell Carthage, NC 7 14-03 108
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 2 03-00
94. Brent Long Lincolnton, NC 8 13-14 107
Day 1: 4 06-13 Day 2: 4 07-01
95. Tim Frederick Leesburg, FL 9 13-12 106
Day 1: 4 06-05 Day 2: 5 07-07
96. Carson Orellana Mooresville, NC 8 13-09 105
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 3 04-15
97. Greg Alexander Hebron, MD 5 13-01 104
Day 1: 2 04-02 Day 2: 3 08-15
98. Garrett Rocamora Lithia, FL 8 12-13 103
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 3 04-02
99. Buddy Cipoletti Naples, FL 8 12-12 102
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 3 04-08
100. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 8 12-12 101
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 3 04-12
101. Jared Turnbloom Calera, AL 7 12-11 100
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 2 02-04
102. Chris Payne Vance, AL 7 12-10 99
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 2 02-10
103. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 9 12-10 98
Day 1: 5 07-03 Day 2: 4 05-07
104. Christiana Bradley Goldvein, VA 7 12-07 97
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 2 03-10
105. Ronnie Mccoy Lamar, SC 7 12-06 96
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 2 02-03
106. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 8 12-06 95
Day 1: 3 04-14 Day 2: 5 07-08
107. Preston Harris State Road, NC 8 12-04 94
Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 3 04-03
108. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 7 12-04 93
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 4 06-14
109. Jake Monti Mooresville, NC 8 12-02 92
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 3 04-06
110. Jerry Gallogly Jr North Tazewell, VA 8 12-01 91
Day 1: 4 06-05 Day 2: 4 05-12
111. Chris Whitson Louisville, TN 7 12-00 90
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 5 09-03
112. Troy O'Rourke Bentonville, AR 8 11-12 89
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 3 04-00
113. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 8 11-12 88
Day 1: 3 04-13 Day 2: 5 06-15
114. Josh Herren Ashville, AL 6 10-13 87
Day 1: 2 05-12 Day 2: 4 05-01
115. Jerod Hawkes Eagle Pass, TX 4 10-11 86
Day 1: 3 09-07 Day 2: 1 01-04
116. John Pollard Eclectic, AL 6 10-11 85
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 5 09-05
117. Derek Lehtonen Woodruff, SC 7 10-10 84
Day 1: 5 06-11 Day 2: 2 03-15
118. Lucas Bradley Flippin, AR 9 10-10 83
Day 1: 5 06-01 Day 2: 4 04-09
119. Colby Robertson Summerfield, FL 8 10-09 82
Day 1: 4 04-10 Day 2: 4 05-15
120. Billy Messer Jr. Spartanburg, SC 8 10-09 81
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 5 05-14
121. Teb Jones Hattiesburg, MS 7 10-01 80
Day 1: 2 02-12 Day 2: 5 07-05
122. Hermilo Salgado-Zavaleta Artemus, KY 7 09-12 79
Day 1: 4 06-00 Day 2: 3 03-12
123. Mark Pappas Dandridge, TN 7 09-10 78
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 5 06-15
124. Raymond Jones III Mocksville, NC 5 09-07 77
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 4 08-04
125. Brandon Tallhamer Parkersburg, WV 7 09-03 76
Day 1: 2 03-01 Day 2: 5 06-02
126. Brad Burkhart II Speedwell, TN 6 09-02 75
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 5 07-13
127. Chris Moody Brooks, GA 6 09-00 74
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 5 07-13
128. Brayden Rakes Winston Salem, NC 6 08-14 73
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 5 07-07
129. Drew Boggs Lebanon, TN 5 08-13 72
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
130. Spike Stoker Cisco, TX 6 08-12 71
Day 1: 3 03-08 Day 2: 3 05-04
131. Drew Benton Blakely, GA 5 08-08 70
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 08-08
131. Jamie Lanier Jr. Branford, FL 5 08-08 70
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 08-08
133. Spencer Peters Corryton, TN 6 08-08 68
Day 1: 4 05-10 Day 2: 2 02-14
134. Nick Tate Knoxville, TN 5 08-06 67
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 3 04-07
135. Hunter Bland Williston, FL 6 08-05 66
Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 4 05-07
136. Mike Toney Blacksburg, VA 6 08-02 65
Day 1: 5 07-06 Day 2: 1 00-12
137. D.J. Ellis Crestview, FL 6 08-00 64
Day 1: 1 00-14 Day 2: 5 07-02
138. Casey Majni Knoxville, TN 5 08-00 63
Day 1: 3 04-08 Day 2: 2 03-08
139. Charles Proctor Conway, SC 4 07-15 62
Day 1: 4 07-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Austin Archer Anniston, AL 5 07-15 61
Day 1: 1 02-03 Day 2: 4 05-12
141. Craig Cavanna Spring Hill, FL 6 07-15 60
Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 4 05-01
142. Vernon Kemp Umatilla, FL 5 07-15 59
Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 3 03-12
143. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 5 07-14 58
Day 1: 3 04-13 Day 2: 2 03-01
144. Eddie Ball Newport, TN 5 07-11 57
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
145. George Hirapetian Charlotte, NC 5 07-11 56
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
146. Brandon Vaughan Elizabeth City, NC 4 07-08 55
Day 1: 3 06-01 Day 2: 1 01-07
147. Daisuke Kita Ootsu-Shi JAPAN 5 07-08 54
Day 1: 2 02-08 Day 2: 3 05-00
148. Wyatt Burkhalter Coker, AL 5 07-06 53
Day 1: 5 07-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
149. Ronald Farrow Rock Hill, SC 4 07-01 52
Day 1: 4 07-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
150. Christian Mazzola Sr Walnutport, PA 5 06-14 51
Day 1: 5 06-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
151. Clayton Wiggins Eustis, FL 3 06-14 50
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
152. Seiji Kato Outsu Shiga JAPAN 4 06-14 49
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 1 01-09
153. Oliver Ngy Frisco, TX 3 06-13 48
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 1 03-05
154. Jesus Loaces Moorseboro, NC 4 06-11 47
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 2 02-05
155. Blake Tomlin Greenville, GA 4 06-09 46
Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 2 02-09
156. John Duarte Jr Conway, SC 3 06-07 45
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
157. Scott Lindstam Jr. Largo, FL 5 06-05 44
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 4 05-03
158. Dustin Reneau Mckinney, TX 4 06-04 43
Day 1: 2 03-09 Day 2: 2 02-11
159. Keith Tuma Brainerd, MN 4 06-03 42
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 3 04-12
160. Billy Myatt Charlotte, NC 3 06-03 41
Day 1: 2 02-12 Day 2: 1 03-07
161. Briana Tucker Trinity, AL 4 06-02 40
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 1 00-12
162. Cody Detweiler Orlando, FL 4 05-14 39
Day 1: 4 05-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
163. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 4 05-13 38
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 2 02-11
164. Nick Prince Maryville, TN 2 05-09 37
Day 1: 2 05-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Tim Malone Kodak, TN 4 05-05 36
Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 2 02-07
166. Wayman Coleman Abbeville, SC 4 05-03 35
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 1 00-15
167. Jenny Nevans Dayton, TN 3 05-02 34
Day 1: 1 02-12 Day 2: 2 02-06
168. Michael Delvisco Dandridge, TN 3 05-01 33
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 2 03-08
169. Chris Dillow Waynesboro, VA 3 05-00 32
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 1 00-15
170. Denny Mcglon Wewahitchka, FL 3 04-14 31
Day 1: 3 04-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
171. Ron Ryals Jr Live Oak, FL 2 04-14 30
Day 1: 2 04-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
172. Caleb Gibson Tahlequah, OK 3 04-08 29
Day 1: 3 04-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
173. Daniel Rogers Dunnellon, FL 3 04-07 28
Day 1: 2 02-15 Day 2: 1 01-08
174. Randy Elliott Severn, MD 3 04-03 27
Day 1: 3 04-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
175. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 3 04-00 26
Day 1: 2 02-07 Day 2: 1 01-09
176. Craig Chambers Midland, NC 3 03-15 25
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
177. Brad Staley Sophia, NC 2 03-14 24
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
178. Shawn Hendrix Sharpsburg, GA 2 03-11 23
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
179. Blake Whatley Harleton, TX 2 03-04 22
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-04
180. Chuck Stratton Chaffee, MO 2 03-02 21
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
181. Rick Hamer Charleston, WV 2 02-03 20
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 02-03
182. Preston Julian Seymour, TN 1 01-11 19
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-11
182. Sandy Melvin Boca Grande, FL 1 01-11 19
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
182. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 1 01-11 19
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
185. Robert Parkison Marshall, TX 1 01-09 16
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-09
186. Matt Coughlin Dandridge, TN 1 01-07 15
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
187. Scott Gibbs Rome, GA 1 01-04 14
Day 1: 1 01-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
188. Anthony Lutz Stanley, NC 1 01-00 13
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
189. Tony Dumitras Winston, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
189. Toney Gravely Greenville, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
189. Eric Johnson Kingston, MA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
189. Bill Pioch Beckley, WV 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
189. Tyler Purcell Townsville, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 102 706 1321-07
2 85 645 1096-06
----------------------------------
187 1351 2417-13

2021 Basspro.com Bassmaster Open at Lake Norman 9/23-9/25
Lake Norman, Charlotte NC.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2

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

1. Alex Reece Greenville, SC 6 11-11 200 $17,000.00
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 3 06-06
2. Scott Beattie Sherrills Ford, NC 6 11-08 199 $4,000.00
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 3 04-04
3. David Deciucis CHESTER, VA 6 11-07 198 $3,000.00
Day 1: 3 07-00 Day 2: 3 04-07
4. Elijah Benson Dawsonville, GA 6 11-05 197 $2,250.00
Day 1: 3 04-02 Day 2: 3 07-03
5. Kibbee Mccoy Knoxville, TN 6 10-07 196 $2,100.00
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 3 04-11
6. Travis Culbreth Alexander City, AL 6 10-06 195 $2,000.00
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 3 04-08
7. Stephen Davis Blacksburg, VA 6 09-15 194 $1,900.00
Day 1: 3 04-01 Day 2: 3 05-14
8. Rodney Tapp Inman, SC 6 09-14 193 $1,800.00
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 3 05-08
9. James Roten West Jefferson, NC 6 09-13 192 $1,650.00
Day 1: 3 04-14 Day 2: 3 04-15
10. Duane Rinkus Denver, NC 6 09-12 191 $1,500.00
Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 3 05-15
11. Jon Jezierski Troy, MI 5 09-08 190 $1,400.00
Day 1: 2 02-05 Day 2: 3 07-03
12. Jimmy Hayes Fayetteville, NC 5 09-07 189 $1,300.00
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 2 03-00
13. Russell Hoyle Hickory, NC 6 09-07 188 $1,100.00
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 3 04-14
14. Justin Foster Zebulon, GA 6 09-04 187 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 3 04-04
15. Ronald Young New Braunfels, TX 6 09-03 186 $900.00
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 3 04-10
16. Alex Prince Blue Ridge, GA 4 09-00 185 $800.00
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 3 07-06
17. Daniel Hanniford Florence, SC 6 08-13 184 $750.00
Day 1: 3 03-14 Day 2: 3 04-15
18. Charles Bowman II Kernersville, NC 3 08-11 183 $750.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 08-11
19. Gary Abernethy Skyland, NC 5 08-09 182 $750.00
Day 1: 2 03-00 Day 2: 3 05-09
20. Gary Haraguchi Murfreesboro, TN 5 08-08 181 $750.00
Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 3 05-10
21. Jeffrey Lotierzo II Fort Mill, SC 5 08-08 180 $700.00
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 3 05-06
22. David Few Lake Wylie, SC 4 08-07 179 $700.00
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 1 02-05
23. Harry Linsinbigler IV Dover, FL 6 08-06 178 $700.00
Day 1: 3 03-14 Day 2: 3 04-08
24. Christopher Teague Lincolnton, NC 4 08-06 177 $950.00
Day 1: 3 04-08 Day 2: 1 03-14
25. Skyler Anderson Harlem, GA 4 08-05 176 $700.00
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 1 01-14
26. Steven Roosen Charlotte, NC 4 08-01 175 $600.00
Day 1: 1 03-07 Day 2: 3 04-10
27. Brandon Willis Knoxville, TN 5 07-13 174 $600.00
Day 1: 2 03-00 Day 2: 3 04-13
28. Barney Boutries Mobile, AL 5 07-10 173 $600.00
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 2 02-09
29. Eric Testerman Galax, VA 4 07-10 172 $600.00
Day 1: 1 02-12 Day 2: 3 04-14
30. Kiel Guin Knoxville, TN 5 07-09 171 $600.00
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 2 02-05
31. Morris Collins Fairfield, OH 4 07-08 170 $550.00
Day 1: 2 04-14 Day 2: 2 02-10
32. Jeff Norris Lugoff, SC 5 07-07 169 $550.00
Day 1: 2 02-07 Day 2: 3 05-00
33. Mike Anderson Harlem, GA 4 07-05 168 $550.00
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 2 03-06
34. Alton Rockett Newton, NC 4 07-04 167 $550.00
Day 1: 1 00-14 Day 2: 3 06-06
35. Aram Hirapetyan Charlotte, NC 4 07-04 166 $550.00
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 3 04-12
36. Denise Sustaita Etoile, TX 5 07-02 165 $550.00
Day 1: 2 03-04 Day 2: 3 03-14
37. Jef Fox Jr East Flat Rock, NC 3 07-00 164 $550.00
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 2 04-09
38. Eric Osborne Jefferson, NC 4 07-00 163 $550.00
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 2 02-15
39. Tommy Young II Linden, NC 4 06-14 162 $550.00
Day 1: 3 05-10 Day 2: 1 01-04
40. Stephen Brady Woodlawn, VA 4 06-14 161 $550.00
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 1 01-09
41. Eric Camarote Rogers, MN 5 06-13 160
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 3 04-02
42. Frank Williams Saint Charles, MO 3 06-12 159
Day 1: 2 03-12 Day 2: 1 03-00
43. Don Bible II Knoxville, TN 4 06-11 158
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 1 01-06
44. O'Neil Williams Asheboro, NC 3 06-10 157
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-10
45. Harold Addison Columbia, SC 4 06-10 156
Day 1: 3 04-03 Day 2: 1 02-07
46. Andy Simm Piney Flats, TN 5 06-07 155
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 3 03-12
47. Bobby Williams Salisbury, NC 4 06-05 154
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 3 04-14
48. Gary Preston Madison, NC 4 06-03 153
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 1 01-08
49. Stacey Jefferson Conway, SC 4 05-15 152
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 3 04-06
50. Sergio Render Christiansburg, VA 5 05-15 151
Day 1: 2 02-05 Day 2: 3 03-10
51. Clayton Weber West Salem, WI 3 05-12 150
Day 1: 2 04-04 Day 2: 1 01-08
52. Tyler Ward Grover, NC 4 05-12 149
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 3 04-00
53. Roy Winkler III Charlotte, NC 4 05-11 148
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 1 01-00
54. Taylor Trantham Thomasville, NC 4 05-11 147
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 3 04-01
55. Noah Nicholson Union Mills, NC 4 05-11 146
Day 1: 2 02-10 Day 2: 2 03-01
56. Daniel Valois Gomez Caracas FL VENEZUELA 4 05-09 145
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 1 01-03
57. Dawson Wisner Westminster, MD 4 05-09 144
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 3 04-03
58. Michael O'Harold Cross Hill, SC 4 05-08 143
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 3 03-15
59. Clyde Roberts Marshall, NC 4 05-08 142
Day 1: 2 02-09 Day 2: 2 02-15
60. Brian Bailey Austinville, VA 3 05-06 141
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 05-06
61. Charles Saucier New Orleans, LA 4 05-05 140
Day 1: 3 04-03 Day 2: 1 01-02
62. Jason George Farragut, TN 3 05-05 139
Day 1: 2 03-04 Day 2: 1 02-01
63. Caleb Warrington IV Austin, TX 3 05-04 138
Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 1 01-01
64. William Gaston Sylacauga, AL 4 05-04 137
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 1 01-05
65. Matt Melton Fairlawn, VA 4 05-03 136
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 1 01-04
66. Tyler Dover Blacksburg, SC 4 05-03 135
Day 1: 2 02-08 Day 2: 2 02-11
66. Matt Schiefelbein Marseilles, IL 4 05-03 135
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 2 02-08
68. Dalton Tankersley Copperhill, GA 3 05-02 133
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
69. Dan Noel Huntersville, NC 4 04-15 132
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 2 02-02
70. Masaya Yamaguchi New York, NY 3 04-12 131
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 04-12
71. Blake Gillispie Reidsville, NC 3 04-12 130
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 1 01-05
72. Bobby Henderson Charlotte, NC 2 04-11 129
Day 1: 2 04-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
73. Patrick Brondos Wilkesboro, NC 3 04-10 128
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 1 01-03
74. Derrick Bustle Statesville, NC 3 04-10 127
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 1 01-05
75. Ben Smith Little Mountain, SC 3 04-10 126
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 2 02-09
76. Mike Bush Chapin, SC 3 04-10 125
Day 1: 2 02-08 Day 2: 1 02-02
77. Stanton Harris State Road, NC 3 04-08 124
Day 1: 1 02-04 Day 2: 2 02-04
78. Levi Allgeier Bardstown, KY 3 04-05 123
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
79. Marty Williams Thomasville, NC 3 04-04 122
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 2 02-06
80. Marvin Godard Charlotte, NC 3 04-03 121
Day 1: 2 03-00 Day 2: 1 01-03
80. Jeff Stone Jackson, GA 3 04-03 121
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 2 03-00
82. Jason Gibson Iron Station, NC 2 04-03 119
Day 1: 1 03-00 Day 2: 1 01-03
83. Eric Winter Concord, NC 3 04-01 118
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 2 02-15
84. David Booth Erin, TN 3 04-01 117
Day 1: 1 01-04 Day 2: 2 02-13
85. Bradley Sterner Manchester, PA 2 04-01 116
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 1 02-00
86. Richard Roulston Little Rock, AR 3 04-00 115
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 04-00
87. Jason Hinger Timberlake, NC 2 03-10 114
Day 1: 1 02-12 Day 2: 1 00-14
88. Jack Pollio Lincolnton, NC 2 03-09 113
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-09
89. Ray Hill Lake City, FL 2 03-06 112
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-06
90. Gary Huff Mebane, NC 2 03-04 111
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 1 02-03
91. Ernest McIntyre Jr Fayetteville, NC 2 03-02 110
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
91. Lance Owen Greer, SC 2 03-02 110
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
93. MIke Spears Jasper, AL 2 03-00 108
Day 1: 2 03-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
93. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 2 03-00 108
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-00
95. Will Dalton Laurel Fork, VA 2 02-15 106
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 02-15
96. Teri Cindric Mount Juliet, TN 1 02-13 105
Day 1: 1 02-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. Nikki Hames Gaffney, SC 2 02-11 104
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 02-11
97. James Williams Sims, NC 2 02-11 104
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
99. Hunter Baynes Statesville, NC 2 02-10 102
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 02-10
99. Bill Bruce Hendersonville, TN 2 02-10 102
Day 1: 2 02-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
101. Jarvis Ellis Albany, GA 2 02-09 100
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 02-09
101. Jerry Morris Jr Charlotte, NC 2 02-09 100
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 02-09
103. James Williams Franklin, VA 2 02-05 98
Day 1: 2 02-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
104. Carl Hunter Snellville, GA 1 02-05 97
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
105. Tanner Higgins Fairhope, AL 2 02-04 96
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 1 01-02
106. Cameron Shoda Crystal River, FL 2 02-03 95
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 1 01-01
107. Jonathan Theisen Cornelius, NC 1 02-02 94
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-02
108. Brian Huskins Mount Holly, NC 2 01-15 93
Day 1: 2 01-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
109. Bryant Preston Belews Creek, NC 1 01-15 92
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
109. Tyler Watts Mount Airy, GA 1 01-15 92
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
111. Lee Whitworth II Charlotte, NC 1 01-13 90
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
112. Sheldon Hipps Mooresville, NC 1 01-12 89
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
113. Ryan Godsey Chickamauga, GA 1 01-07 88
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
113. Kevin Gonyea Franklinton, NC 1 01-07 88
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
113. Eric Vyborny Sorrento, FL 1 01-07 88
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
116. Matt Kraemer Wellesley ONTARIO CANAD 1 01-06 85
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
116. Randy Lewis Crumpler, NC 1 01-06 85
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
116. Christopher Mcmillan Charlotte, NC 1 01-06 85
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-06
116. Jim Opetaia-Williamson Winter Garden, FL 1 01-06 85
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
116. Greg Secord Salem, SC 1 01-06 85
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
116. Cody Wade Zebulon, GA 1 01-06 85
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
122. Austin Cole Rutherfordton, NC 1 01-05 79
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
122. Byong Lee Stedman, NC 1 01-05 79
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
122. Nick Ward Newnan, GA 1 01-05 79
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
125. Ralph Gibson Locust Grove, OK 1 01-04 76
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-04
126. Dean Dalton Keeling, VA 1 01-03 75
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
126. Thomas Davis West Jefferson, NC 1 01-03 75
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
126. Cameron Debity Boca Raton, FL 1 01-03 75
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
126. A J Negley Charlotte, NC 1 01-03 75
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
126. Asa Putnam Tunnel Hill, GA 1 01-03 75
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
131. Randy Waddell Guntersville, AL 1 01-02 70
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
132. Mike Dalton Laurel Fork, VA 1 01-01 69
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-01
133. Jimmy Fellegy Lakeville, MN 1 01-00 68
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-00
133. Kevin Stewart Sevierville, TN 1 01-00 68
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-00
135. Michelle Armstrong Denver, NC 1 00-15 66
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 00-15
135. Zach Huey Mebane, NC 1 00-15 66
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 00-15
135. Brett Reece Jonesborough, TN 1 00-15 66
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
138. Zachery Kuhn Summerfield, FL 1 00-14 63
Day 1: 1 00-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
139. David Nunnally Emporia, VA 1 00-14 62
Day 1: 1 00-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Glenn Bailey Temple Terrace, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Bill Capps Auburn, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Charles Cotton Hemingway, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Ed Laroche Gilllespie, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Angela Mayo Maiden, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Trent Peace Moore, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Paul Propst Jr. Kearneysville, WV 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Stephen Sargent South Hamilton, MA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. James Staton Sorrento, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Randy Tallhamer Parkersburg, WV 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
140. Donald West II Apex, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00

by AnglersChannel