Patrick Walters Earns Fourth NPFL Shield with Victory on Pickwick Lake
Patrick Walters' goal for championship Friday was to burn it all to the ground. With 24 pounds even on the final day and a 4-pound margin of victory, that is exactly what he did.
Early in the event, Walters realized he had located a school of bass on one of the biggest community holes on the lake, and to his surprise, he was the only angler in the area.
He caught 20 pounds, 3 ounces on day one to start strong and added 25 pounds, 15 ounces on day two, rotating between the community hole and a few other spots. With nothing left to save fish for, he had free range of his Tennessee River ledges and added 24 pounds on the final day, slamming the door shut on his fourth NPFL victory.
“I think the biggest key to this week was the lack of pressure in my areas, and capitalizing on the community holes that had nobody else fishing it,” he said. “On day one, I caught three of my fish there, two more on day two, and today I caught two fish there. It really allowed me to supplement my bags with my other areas. I truly have no idea why nobody else found those fish.”
Despite fishing for an early limit on days one and two, the South Carolina pro focused on big fish only today, and was fortunate to get together a solid bag quickly, taking some pressure off and allowing him to settle in and headhunt.
“I had some piles and hard spots saved and basically was trying to get on a good rotation today. I moved to some of those areas and the wind had baitfish moved in and I focused on big fish, and ended up getting two of them – a four and five-pounder.”
Then, as the afternoon progressed, and the current started to move, so did the wind. It blew against the current and made things tough, but the deed was already done by that point, and Walters knew he had done his job on the final day.
“I knew if I could catch one more big fish it would have been game over,” he concluded. “To catch big ones out here, the conditions need to be right, and they were not for us today. I did my job and knew that they would have needed to catch them to beat me. It was a great week; I am looking forward to heading up north and putting some largemouth rods away for a while.”
Drew Cook
Georgia pro Drew Cook started strong, taking the lead on day one with 22 pounds, 13 ounces. He followed up with 21 pounds, 10 ounces on day two, and added 21 pounds, 11 ounces today, bringing his total weight to 66 pounds, 2 ounces. Cook finished the tournament in second place. While the majority of the field opted for the ledge bite, Cook found out quickly in practice he was looking at the wrong waypoints, and turned his attention shallow.
“My spot was super shallow, and it was hard to graph,” he said. “It is a spot they are not supposed to be on now. I started fishing deeper in practice and did not like what I saw.”
The Georgia pro moved towards the bank and quickly found signs that he was fishing the wrong depth.
“I graphed some shallow stumps and they had bass. I started running my April/May waypoints and found two key areas that played throughout the tournament. They both were less than 5 feet of water and are typically places they go to after spawning – most of my fish had bloody tails.”
On day one, he sacked up a quick 18-pounds on one bar before moving to the second. In short order, he culled his entire bag and brought 22 pounds, 13 ounces to the scales and took the early lead. On day two he was able to catch over 20 pounds fairly quickly but laid off his area soon after.
“I thought it was going to be a tougher day for everyone and I stopped fishing,” he added. “That was a mistake and cost me the opportunity to make this closer at the end. Today, after I had caught a bunch, the fish scattered off and never got set back up due to pressure from other anglers. It was a great week regardless.”
Isaac Peavyhouse
Isaac Peavyhouse finished in third place with a total weight of 63 pounds, 12 ounces. On day one, he brought in 22 pounds, 7 ounces, including a 6-pound, 7-ounce kicker. He added 23 pounds, 2 ounces on day two, and 18 pounds, 3 ounces today. When his area dried up, he knew he had to make a change and opted to run new water to salvage the day.
“Everything I had was pressured and the fish got super smart. I scrapped it and fished new water, stuff I never even practiced,” he said. “I made the right adjustments this week and I am happy with it. If you told me after practice I would end up in third, I probably would have taken it. I would get a bite and leave, so I never knew what I had until the event started.”
Peavyhouse rotated between two key baits - a drop shot – and a damiki rig, with the majority of fish coming on the latter.
John Soukup
John Soukup finished in fourth place with a total weight of 61 pounds, 8 ounces. He started with 18 pounds, 13 ounces on day one, followed by 18 pounds, 12 ounces on day two, and recorded his biggest bag of the week today with 23 pounds, 15 ounces.
Kyle Welcher
Alabama pro Kyle Welcher ended the tournament in fifth place with a total weight of 61 pounds, 3 ounces. He kicked off with 18 pounds, 2 ounces on day one, followed by an impressive 22 pounds, 12 ounces on day two, and concluded with 20 pounds, 5 ounces today.
Corey Casey earns the Power Pole Big Bass award for his 9-pound, 10-ounce largemouth. Matt Looney earned $5,000 for being the highest placing Bass Cat Boat Owner.
Rest of the Best
Corey Casey 61-1
Trent Palmer 58-10
Bailey Gay 58-2
Hunter Sales 57-10
John Branch 57-10
Patrick Walters Surges to NPFL Lead at Pickwick
After a decent practice, Walters felt like Pickwick might be setting up to put out some heavy weights. After two days of competition and 46-pounds, 2-ounces later, the three-time NPFL champion Patrick Walters from South Carolina is one day away from adding number four.
Walters started strong with 20 pounds, 3 ounces on day one, and added an impressive 25 pounds, 15 ounces on day two. After some misfortune on day one that cost him several pounds, Walters opted to save some of his better areas for later in the event and focused on catching all he could elsewhere.
On day two, he fished several of the same spots and added a few more, resulting in the event's largest bag thus far, and a 9-ounce lead heading to Friday. “I am super excited for tomorrow,” he said. “Mostly because I saved some of my best places, but also because it’s the final day, and there is nothing left to save – we are going to burn everything to the
ground out there.”
Despite sharing some “community holes” with other anglers, Walters is pretty much being left alone. He focused on locating key areas in normally productive sections of the lake that he believes other anglers may have overlooked.
“I think it is a combo of things; it’s a different type of spot that I am looking for, and I think I have most of it to myself. Like the others, I am throwing the kitchen sink at them. Today, I weighed in five bass on five different baits. It is going to be fun out there tomorrow!”
Isaac Peavyhouse
Isaac Peavyhouse sits in second place after two days with a total of 45 pounds, 9 ounces. He weighed in 22 pounds, 7 ounces on day one, and followed up with 23 pounds, 3 ounces on day two. Relying on a big bite on day one, Peavyhouse waited until late in the day today to notch another lunker, culling him up over 3 pounds.
“I am still shaking,” he laughed. I spent 2.5 hours this afternoon running around practicing for tomorrow and ran into the big one 30 minutes ago. It was unreal.”
Peavyhouse started the day with a small limited by 1 pm but kept on with this “typical ledge” pattern. He culled a smaller fish with a 4-pounder shortly after and pulled the plug. “It was about the same for me today – around 10 to 12 keepers again,” he added. “I am certainly not smoking them but when I make one bite, it’s been pretty decent quality. Aside from my starting spot, which I shared with one guy this morning, everything else I had to myself. I look forward to getting out there on the final day.”
Opting to keep his bait selection under wraps for one more day, Peavyhouse, like others, has been rotating through several different baits. He did note, however, that two of his better presentations have been “semi-finesse.”
Drew Cook
Georgia pro Drew Cook holds third place at Pickwick Lake in the NPFL tournament with a two-day total of 44 pounds, 7 ounces. Cook started strong with 22 pounds, 13 ounces on day one, and added 21 pounds, 10 ounces today.
After catching his biggest fish of the day on his first cast this morning, another angler idling through busted the school up and scattered the fish. Once they settled back in, Cook went to work before laying off his key area with one more day to go tomorrow.
“I didn’t think they would catch them as well as they did and laid off the school once I got up over 19 pounds,” he said on stage. “I caught five bass yesterday, probably ten today, and tomorrow, I am going to catch every single one of them.”
Kyle Welcher
Alabama pro Kyle Welcher had a solid start with 18 pounds, 2 ounces on day one. He added an impressive 22 pounds, 12 ounces on day two, bringing his two-day total to 40 pounds, 14 ounces. Welcher sits in the fourth-place spot going into the final day tomorrow.
Focusing on a pattern he found late in practice, despite not catching any bigger fish, Welcher is keying in on sweet spots in areas with the presence of baitfish. He is rotating through several areas and capitalizing on the bass that are willing to bite.
“The biggest key to my event is I am fishing areas with the most bait, in the areas of the lake that have better quality fish,” he said. “I am rotating through a lot of different spots each day and capitalizing on the fish that are aggressive when I pull up.”
Welcher is letting the fish dictate his presentation and estimates he is rotating through around ten baits. “Everything I have out here I have fished now throughout two days of the event,” he added. “I have checked it all by now; when I pull up, I am gauging how the fish are and presenting different baits until I can get a bite. I plan on running my best stuff tomorrow and keeping moving.”
Trent Palmer
Georgia pro Trent Palmer secures fifth place at Pickwick Lake in the NPFL tournament with a total weight of 38 pounds, 11 ounces. Palmer started with 15 pounds, 2 ounces on day one, and significantly improved with 23 pounds, 9 ounces on day two.
Louis Fernandes
California pro Louis Fernandes brought in 17 pounds, 7 ounces on day one, and added 21 pounds, 4 ounces on day two, for a two-day total of 38 pounds, 11 ounces, putting him in 6th place, due to tiebreakers. After two and a half days of practice on the ledges, Fernandes did what he does and utilized his last few hours to make some shallow cover.
“I am fishing shallow and I love it,” he said. “Today I had a 3-pounder in my bag and hooked one over 6-pounds. I fought it around the boat and it popped off in my hand. I could have really moved up today, but I am happy.”
On day one, Fernandes never made a cast in his main area due to time constraints and has been fishing waypoints each day to catch his fish. He is slowly figuring out his best dots and is confident they are reloading with fish daily as the pressure on the ledges pushes fish in his direction.
“There was less wind today and I think it got them closer to the cover where I could get them,” he added. “And, I think those fish are getting beat on and are just moving off. I can see guys fishing ledges close by; I am fishing just off the side where the fish can roam and chase bait around, but quickly pull in to rest.”
With one day left in the event, Fernandes is confident there are more big fish in his area and he is looking forward to one more day on Pickwick.
Missouri angler Brock Bila took over the Power Pole big bass with a 7-pound, 13-ounce largemouth.
Rest of the Best
Trent Palmer 38-11
Hunter Sales 37-15
John Branch 37-13
Joey Bloom 37-0
John Soukup 37-9
Jason Burroughs 37-6
McKinney utilizes secret bait to take Day 1 lead at Bassmaster Open at Lake St. Clair
July 11, 2024
HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Trevor McKinney had never been to Lake St. Clair before the start of practice for the St. Croix Bassmaster Open presented by SEVIIN. But after one of the best days of fishing he’s ever experienced, he’s already planning return vacations in his head.
“I’ve never been somewhere as unique as St. Clair,” he said. “I’ll definitely be back. I was telling my wife that I’m going to start coming up here in the summers just to vacation. It’s an incredible place.”
On a day where 64 bags over 20 pounds hit the scales and 202 limits were weighed in, McKinney stood above the rest by catching a remarkable 27 pounds, 12 ounces to lead after one day of competition at the renowned smallmouth factory. The Noble, Ill., angler holds a 3-pound advantage over second-place Jack York.
After the remnants of Hurricane Beryl created treacherous conditions the final day of practice, sunny skies and lighter winds prevailed on Day 1, allowing the Opens boaters to catch more than 3,800 pounds of bass. Sunny conditions are expected to continue the rest of the tournament as well.
The 2020 College Bracket Champion had a good feeling about this tournament almost the moment he began practice. He caught more than 20 pounds of bass each day of the warm-up period but didn’t expect an increase in quality during the tournament.
“Everywhere I went in practice, I caught big ones,” McKinney said. “My worst day of practice I had 22 pounds. I was so excited to start this tournament, but I didn’t know I was going to catch 27 pounds.”
McKinney credited much of his success to an unreleased bait. That one presentation accounted for all 40 of his keeper bass Day 1, including three smallies that hit the 5-11 mark.
“I have a bait really dialed in,” he said. “I don’t know what it is about it, but they eat it. Every one I throw at bites, and they are all big. I think I caught probably 40 smallmouth. I caught 15 over 4 pounds and was culling constantly. It was unbelievable.”
While there is some grass around his primary area, McKinney has noticed the smallmouth are relating to a hard sand bottom between 8 and 12 feet of water and one sweet spot within that area is attracting more of the quality bass. Surprisingly, it’s an area he has mostly to himself.
Using his forward-facing sonar in practice involved learning to tell the difference between a drum and a smallmouth. Now that he knows what to look for, the McKendree University graduate can identify the bigger smallies in the area and make accurate pitches to them.
“There’s probably 100 there,” McKinney said. “To get my weight, I bet I made 100 casts. I made 50 casts where I didn’t catch one, and the other 50 casts I caught one. I don’t cast unless I see one, and I don’t cast unless it's big. There are quite a few little ones in the area, but a lot of big ones too.
“They are pretty tight to the bottom.”
McKinney filled out a limit around 8 a.m. and was constantly culling during the morning hours. By 11, McKinney stopped fishing in his primary area and started looking for new water he may need as the tournament progresses.
“After I caught the last 5 pounder, I couldn’t do it anymore. I went and did something else and kept catching 4-pounders after that. I’m pretty optimistic about tomorrow. My best area, I didn’t even hit it.”
Coming off a Top 10 at Lake Eufaula, York landed 24-12 in his Lake St. Clair debut. Unlike McKinney, however, York did not have the same level of confidence about catching over 20 pounds. The Lake Fork guide only picked up his trolling motor one time on Day 1, electing to mill around one popular area of Lake St. Clair. He caught bass between 9 and 12 feet of water.
“I picked up the trolling motor one time today, and that was to come to the weigh-in. I found the area I wanted to hunker down in. I felt like if I was running around a bunch, I would just be missing out on bass. I hunkered down and made the most of it.”
Three baits contributed to York’s success, notably a 6th Sense Party Minnow that landed four of the five smallies in his final tally, which included a 5-pounder.
“I literally don’t make a cast until I see a bass.”
York was able to separate himself from other competitors in two different ways. For one, he has located several sweet spots that other anglers haven’t fished. One particular sweet spot is loaded with perch, crawfish and goby.
“It’s the mecca of life there,” York said. “I’m not seeing a lot of bass in there, but when I get bit, it is a good one. Hopefully we can go catch some 4-pounders and then get a few key bites.”
York has noticed the smallmouth are nomadic and tend to show up randomly, so he is fishing faster than others in the area in an attempt to pick off as many as he can.
“They are random. You’ll try and get keyed in on ‘Oh, they are floating today,’ or ‘Oh, they are on bottom,’ but I haven’t been able to get anything like that keyed in. I just roll around as fast as I can. I went twice as fast as everyone else.”
Aaron Jagdfeld took advantage of his local knowledge to catch 24-4 and land in third place after Day 1. It is the first Open for the Rochester Hills, Mich., native, who is hoping to reach the Elite Series in the near future.
“I love this place,” he said. “I was super pumped when the schedule came out last year. I was coming to the tail end of my college career, and this is the path I want to take. There’s not a better way to start it than on Lake St. Clair.”
A recent Adrian College graduate, Jagdfeld targeted smallmouth located around a ½-mile stretch of hard sand and cabbage grass in 19 to 24 feet of water. There is plenty of bait for the smallmouth to feed on as well, including perch.
In the morning hours, he found the smallmouth were in big groups. In fact, Jagdfeld said there were three or four groups of 50 to 100 smallmouth in the area. As the day wore on, the bass spread out.
“It was insane. When you panned over on the ‘Scope, you could just see them stacked up on the bottom. I was throwing a drop shot and a Damiki-style bait and I would cast it in there, and 20 or 30 of them would come up to fight over it. That lasted an hour before they broke up.”
His first catch of the day was a 4½-pounder, and he caught the majority of his bass within the first hour and a half of the day. Late in the day, he caught a 4¾-pound smallmouth close to the ramp to upgrade one final time.
New Market, Minn., pro Seth Feider landed the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day, a 6-1 lunker smallmouth.
Niko Romero of Coldspring, Texas, leads the nonboater division with a three-bass limit measuring 12-13. Jay Jackson of Clio, Mich., is second with 12-12 and Joe Digiovanni of Sterling Heights, Mich., is third with 12-1. Kevin Newcomb of Saint Albans, W.V., caught a 5-2, which leads the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament honors.
The full field of anglers will launch from the Harley Ensign boat ramp beginning at 6 a.m. ET and will return for weigh-in beginning at 2 p.m. The Top 10 pros after the Day 2 weigh-in will advance to the final day while the co-angler champion will be crowned at the end of Friday’s festivities.
Tournament coverage begins Saturday at 8 a.m. on FS1 and runs through 1 p.m. Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com daily. All coverage times are ET.
The Detroit Sports Commission is hosting the tournament.
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Title Sponsor: St. Croix
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
About B.A.S.S.B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
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Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.
2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake St. Clair presented by SEVIIN 7/11-7/13
Lake St. Clair, Harrison Township MI.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Trevor McKinney Noble, IL 5 27-12 200
Day 1: 5 27-12
2. Jack York Emory, TX 5 24-12 199
Day 1: 5 24-12
3. Aaron Jagdfeld Rochester Hills, MI 5 24-04 198
Day 1: 5 24-04
4. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 5 24-03 197
Day 1: 5 24-03
5. Ish Monroe Oakdale, CA 5 23-14 196
Day 1: 5 23-14
6. Brett Cannon Kiln, MS 5 23-11 195
Day 1: 5 23-11
7. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 5 23-06 194
Day 1: 5 23-06
7. Tyler Lubbat Wheeling, IL 5 23-06 194
Day 1: 5 23-06
9. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 5 23-02 192
Day 1: 5 23-02
9. Trey Schroeder Theodosia, MO 5 23-02 192
Day 1: 5 23-02
11. Seth Feider New Market, MN 5 23-00 190
Day 1: 5 23-00
12. Lucas Murphy West Columbia, MI 5 22-14 189
Day 1: 5 22-14
13. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 5 22-13 188
Day 1: 5 22-13
14. Chris Hellebuyck White Lake, MI 5 22-12 187
Day 1: 5 22-12
15. Tai Au Glendale, AZ 5 22-10 186
Day 1: 5 22-10
16. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 5 22-08 185
Day 1: 5 22-08
17. Yui Aoki Minamitsurugun JAPAN 5 22-07 184
Day 1: 5 22-07
18. Billy Gilbert Hamburg, NY 5 22-06 183
Day 1: 5 22-06
19. Dakota Ebare Brookeland, TX 5 22-04 182
Day 1: 5 22-04
20. Cody Dawson Mount Vernon, OH 5 22-03 181
Day 1: 5 22-03
20. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 5 22-03 181
Day 1: 5 22-03
22. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 5 22-02 179
Day 1: 5 22-02
23. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 5 22-01 178
Day 1: 5 22-01
24. Blake Smith Lakeland, FL 5 22-00 177
Day 1: 5 22-00
24. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 22-00 177
Day 1: 5 22-00
26. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 5 21-14 175
Day 1: 5 21-14
26. Brad Leuthner Victoria, MN 5 21-14 175
Day 1: 5 21-14
28. Bobby Bakewell Orlando, FL 5 21-13 173
Day 1: 5 21-13
28. Connor Jacob Auburn, AL 5 21-13 173
Day 1: 5 21-13
30. Joseph Titus Bemidji, MN 5 21-13 171
Day 1: 5 21-13
31. Mike McClelland Blue Eye, MO 5 21-11 170
Day 1: 5 21-11
32. Garrett Warren Scottsboro, AL 5 21-08 169
Day 1: 5 21-08
33. Kollin Crawford Broken Bow, OK 5 21-06 168
Day 1: 5 21-06
33. Sam Hanggi Knoxville, TN 5 21-06 168
Day 1: 5 21-06
33. Rich Lindgren Lakeville, MN 5 21-06 168
Day 1: 5 21-06
36. Masayuki Matsushita Porter TX JAPAN 5 21-02 165
Day 1: 5 21-02
36. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 5 21-02 165
Day 1: 5 21-02
38. Jacob Bigelow Cecil, WI 5 21-01 163
Day 1: 5 21-01
39. Justin Eger Monticello, IN 5 21-00 162
Day 1: 5 21-00
40. Kenny Mittelstaedt Minnetonka, MN 5 20-15 161
Day 1: 5 20-15
40. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 5 20-15 161
Day 1: 5 20-15
42. Andrew Loberg Grant, AL 5 20-14 159
Day 1: 5 20-14
42. Tristan McCormick Burns, TN 5 20-14 159
Day 1: 5 20-14
44. Jamie Bruce Kenora Ontario CANADA 5 20-13 157
Day 1: 5 20-13
45. Darold Gleason Many, LA 5 20-12 156
Day 1: 5 20-12
45. Laker Howell Guntersville, AL 5 20-12 156
Day 1: 5 20-12
45. Joe Wieberg Freeburg, MO 5 20-12 156
Day 1: 5 20-12
48. Cody Steckel Las Vegas, NV 5 20-12 153
Day 1: 5 20-12
49. Elijah Benson Dahlonega, GA 5 20-11 152
Day 1: 5 20-11
50. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 5 20-11 151
Day 1: 5 20-11
51. Keith Tuma Brainerd, MN 5 20-10 150
Day 1: 5 20-10
51. Cole Zagrzebski Stevens Point, WI 5 20-10 150
Day 1: 5 20-10
53. Brock Belik Orchard, NE 5 20-08 148
Day 1: 5 20-08
54. Jimmy Washam Stantonville, TN 5 20-07 147
Day 1: 5 20-07
55. Adam Bartusek Clearwater, MN 5 20-06 146
Day 1: 5 20-06
56. Zach Goutremout Chaumont, NY 5 20-05 145
Day 1: 5 20-05
56. Reece Keeney Winneconne, WI 5 20-05 145
Day 1: 5 20-05
58. Bart Stanisz Austin, TX 5 20-04 143
Day 1: 5 20-04
59. Danny Ramsey Trinidad, TX 5 20-03 142
Day 1: 5 20-03
60. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 20-02 141
Day 1: 5 20-02
60. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 5 20-02 141
Day 1: 5 20-02
62. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 5 20-01 139
Day 1: 5 20-01
63. Nick Trim Galesville, WI 5 20-01 138
Day 1: 5 20-01
64. Lance Keene Manistee, MI 5 20-00 137
Day 1: 5 20-00
65. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 5 19-15 136
Day 1: 5 19-15
65. Dustin Bliss Brooklyn Park, MN 5 19-15 136
Day 1: 5 19-15
67. Andrew Hargrove Moody, TX 5 19-14 134
Day 1: 5 19-14
68. Austin Anderson Ashley, IN 5 19-12 133
Day 1: 5 19-12
68. Chris Beaudrie Princeton, KY 5 19-12 133
Day 1: 5 19-12
68. Austin Cranford Norman, OK 5 19-12 133
Day 1: 5 19-12
68. Ty Faber Pagosa Springs, CO 5 19-12 133
Day 1: 5 19-12
68. Ethen Preston Tower City, ND 5 19-12 133
Day 1: 5 19-12
73. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 5 19-11 128
Day 1: 5 19-11
74. Tadd Johnson Lakeville, MN 5 19-10 127
Day 1: 5 19-10
75. Jason Elliott Warsaw, IN 5 19-09 126
Day 1: 5 19-09
75. Andrew Harp Linden, TX 5 19-09 126
Day 1: 5 19-09
75. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 5 19-09 126
Day 1: 5 19-09
78. Matt Adams Oxford, AL 5 19-08 123
Day 1: 5 19-08
78. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 19-08 123
Day 1: 5 19-08
80. Bailey Bleser Burlington, WI 5 19-07 121
Day 1: 5 19-07
80. Adam Debono Washington, MI 5 19-07 121
Day 1: 5 19-07
80. Brayden Rakes Winston Salem, NC 5 19-07 121
Day 1: 5 19-07
83. Cade Laufenberg Onalaska, WI 5 19-06 118
Day 1: 5 19-06
84. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 5 19-04 117
Day 1: 5 19-04
85. Danny McGarry Newcastle CANADA 5 19-03 116
Day 1: 5 19-03
85. Nathan Thompson Eagan, MN 5 19-03 116
Day 1: 5 19-03
87. Jackson Swisher Lake City, FL 5 19-01 114
Day 1: 5 19-01
88. Manny Sciberras Liberty Twp, OH 5 19-00 113
Day 1: 5 19-00
89. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 5 18-15 112
Day 1: 5 18-15
90. Alexander Welter Onalaska, WI 5 18-14 111
Day 1: 5 18-14
91. Jim Moynagh Remer, MN 5 18-13 110
Day 1: 5 18-13
91. Randy Ramsey Burlington, MI 5 18-13 110
Day 1: 5 18-13
91. Dalton Smith Taylorsville, KY 5 18-13 110
Day 1: 5 18-13
94. Tommy Parker Delano, MN 5 18-12 107
Day 1: 5 18-12
95. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 5 18-10 106
Day 1: 5 18-10
96. Beau Browning Hot Springs National Pa 5 18-10 105
Day 1: 5 18-10
97. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 5 18-09 104
Day 1: 5 18-09
97. Lafe Messer Warfield, KY 5 18-09 104
Day 1: 5 18-09
99. Alex Heintze Denham Springs, LA 5 18-08 102
Day 1: 5 18-08
99. Kyle Palmer Winchester, TN 5 18-08 102
Day 1: 5 18-08
101. Jeffrey Copley Marengo, OH 5 18-07 100
Day 1: 5 18-07
101. Daisuke Kita Ostu Shiga JAPAN 5 18-07 100
Day 1: 5 18-07
103. Matt Pangrac Shawnee, OK 5 18-06 98
Day 1: 5 18-06
104. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 5 18-03 97
Day 1: 5 18-03
104. Casey Scanlon Eldon, MO 5 18-03 97
Day 1: 5 18-03
106. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 5 18-02 95
Day 1: 5 18-02
106. Mitchell Jacobs Prior Lake, MN 5 18-02 95
Day 1: 5 18-02
108. Brandon McMillan Clewiston, FL 5 18-01 93
Day 1: 5 18-01
108. Cody Salzmann Southgate, MI 5 18-01 93
Day 1: 5 18-01
110. Andrew Julson Stoughton, WI 5 18-00 91
Day 1: 5 18-00
110. Billy McDonald Greenwood, IN 5 18-00 91
Day 1: 5 18-00
110. Jeremy Radford Huntly, VA 5 18-00 91
Day 1: 5 18-00
110. Andrew Upshaw Hemphill, TX 5 18-00 91
Day 1: 5 18-00
110. Zack Williams Shell Knob, MO 5 18-00 91
Day 1: 5 18-00
115. Tommy Dunaway Havana, FL 5 17-15 86
Day 1: 5 17-15
115. Jack Tindel III Orange, TX 5 17-15 86
Day 1: 5 17-15
117. Freddy Palmer Estill Springs, TN 5 17-13 84
Day 1: 5 17-13
118. James Watson Lampe, MO 5 17-11 83
Day 1: 5 17-11
119. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 5 17-10 82
Day 1: 5 17-10
120. Travis Turcotte Pembroke CANADA 5 17-10 81
Day 1: 5 17-10
121. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 5 17-09 80
Day 1: 5 17-09
121. Phillip Kroll Otego, NY 5 17-09 80
Day 1: 5 17-09
123. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 5 17-07 78
Day 1: 5 17-07
123. Lance Crawford Broken Bow, OK 5 17-07 78
Day 1: 5 17-07
123. Sam George Athens, AL 5 17-07 78
Day 1: 5 17-07
123. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 5 17-07 78
Day 1: 5 17-07
127. Jack Dice Lynchburg, VA 5 17-06 74
Day 1: 5 17-06
127. Scout Echols Monticello, AR 5 17-06 74
Day 1: 5 17-06
127. Brady Vernon Sterrett, AL 5 17-06 74
Day 1: 5 17-06
130. Christian Ostrander Turlock, CA 5 17-06 71
Day 1: 5 17-06
131. Andy Newcomb Camdenton, MO 5 17-05 70
Day 1: 5 17-05
132. Ed Czerwinski Crown Point, IN 5 17-03 69
Day 1: 5 17-03
132. Clark Reehm Elm Grove, LA 5 17-03 69
Day 1: 5 17-03
132. John Voyles Petersburg, IN 5 17-03 69
Day 1: 5 17-03
135. Cody Donato Burlington, MI 5 17-03 66
Day 1: 5 17-03
136. Cliff Pace Ovett, MS 5 17-02 65
Day 1: 5 17-02
137. Tim Frederick Leesburg, FL 5 17-02 64
Day 1: 5 17-02
138. Andy Dassow Medford, WI 5 16-15 63
Day 1: 5 16-15
139. Fernando Lobato Sparta, WI 5 16-14 62
Day 1: 5 16-14
140. Kyle Minke Lindsrom, MN 5 16-14 61
Day 1: 5 16-14
141. Caden Cowan Stephenville, TX 5 16-13 60
Day 1: 5 16-13
141. Patrick Goodman Sturgis, MI 5 16-13 60
Day 1: 5 16-13
141. Logan Johnson Jasper, AL 5 16-13 60
Day 1: 5 16-13
144. Randy Huffman Charleston, WV 5 16-12 57
Day 1: 5 16-12
145. Brian Post Janesville, WI 5 16-09 56
Day 1: 5 16-09
146. Chris Blanchette Edisto Island, SC 5 16-08 55
Day 1: 5 16-08
147. Ralph Blasey Pinckney, MI 5 16-07 54
Day 1: 5 16-07
147. Josh Douglas Isle, MN 5 16-07 54
Day 1: 5 16-07
149. Kevin Langlands Macomb, MI 5 16-05 52
Day 1: 5 16-05
149. Bryan Partak Marseilles, IL 5 16-05 52
Day 1: 5 16-05
151. Blake Schroeder Whitehouse, TX 5 16-03 50
Day 1: 5 16-03
151. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 5 16-03 50
Day 1: 5 16-03
153. Avery Williams Murrells Inlt, SC 5 16-01 48
Day 1: 5 16-01
154. Jason Borofka Lavon, TX 5 15-15 47
Day 1: 5 15-15
154. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 5 15-15 47
Day 1: 5 15-15
156. Jason Lambert Savannah, TN 5 15-14 45
Day 1: 5 15-14
157. Brady Hanna Silvis, IL 5 15-13 44
Day 1: 5 15-13
158. Dylan Mayo Athens, TX 5 15-11 43
Day 1: 5 15-11
159. Andrew Behnke Fond Du Lac, WI 5 15-10 42
Day 1: 5 15-10
159. Josh Butler Hayden, AL 5 15-10 42
Day 1: 5 15-10
161. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 15-08 40
Day 1: 5 15-08
162. Jason Abram Piney Flats, TN 5 15-07 39
Day 1: 5 15-07
162. Keith Brumfield Vicksburg, MS 5 15-07 39
Day 1: 5 15-07
162. Steven Caldwell Whitesboro, TX 5 15-07 39
Day 1: 5 15-07
165. Derrick Sadlowski Monaca, PA 5 15-07 36
Day 1: 5 15-07
166. Kevin Dritschler Prosper, TX 5 15-06 35
Day 1: 5 15-06
167. Brad Swan North Ridgeville, OH 5 15-03 34
Day 1: 5 15-03
168. Evan Poroznik Nestleton Station Ontar 5 15-02 33
Day 1: 5 15-02
169. Greg Bohannan Bentonville, AR 5 15-01 32
Day 1: 5 15-01
170. Parker Knudsen Minnetonka, MN 5 15-01 31
Day 1: 5 15-01
171. Dave Parsons Yantis, TX 5 14-15 30
Day 1: 5 14-15
172. Mike Mayo Athens, TX 5 14-12 29
Day 1: 5 14-12
173. Vue Thao Madison, WI 5 14-11 28
Day 1: 5 14-11
174. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 5 14-09 27
Day 1: 5 14-09
175. Paul Browning Monahans, TX 5 14-09 26
Day 1: 5 14-09
175. Sean Clayton Seneca, SC 5 14-09 26
Day 1: 5 14-09
177. Scott Isaacs Ladonia, TX 5 14-04 24
Day 1: 5 14-04
178. Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, MN 5 14-02 23
Day 1: 5 14-02
178. Chris Miller Spirit Lake, IA 5 14-02 23
Day 1: 5 14-02
180. Brian Bengtson Bloomington, MN 5 13-15 21
Day 1: 5 13-15
180. Mark Tonjum Spencer, IA 5 13-15 21
Day 1: 5 13-15
182. Andrew Smith Chesterfield, MI 5 13-12 19
Day 1: 5 13-12
183. Tom Monsoor La Crosse, WI 5 13-11 18
Day 1: 5 13-11
184. Derek Lehtonen Woodruff, SC 5 13-09 17
Day 1: 5 13-09
185. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 5 13-07 16
Day 1: 5 13-07
186. Tripp Noojin Bryant, AL 5 13-06 15
Day 1: 5 13-06
187. Mike Surman Boca Raton, FL 5 13-02 14
Day 1: 5 13-02
188. Cody Bird Granbury, TX 5 12-10 13
Day 1: 5 12-10
188. Scott Kerslake Okeechobee, FL 5 12-10 13
Day 1: 5 12-10
188. Whitney Stephens Waverly, OH 5 12-10 13
Day 1: 5 12-10
191. Bryan Finch Belton, TX 5 12-08 10
Day 1: 5 12-08
192. Jody Gardner Tippecanoe, OH 5 12-03 9
Day 1: 5 12-03
193. Kyle Weisenburger Columbus Grv, OH 5 12-02 8
Day 1: 5 12-02
194. Richard Kaluba Litchfield, OH 5 12-00 7
Day 1: 5 12-00
195. Tyler Smith Portage, MI 5 11-13 6
Day 1: 5 11-13
196. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 5 11-11 5
Day 1: 5 11-11
196. Lance Owen Greer, SC 5 11-11 5
Day 1: 5 11-11
198. David Bromenshenkel Sauk Centre, MN 5 11-09 3
Day 1: 5 11-09
199. Matt Thompson Stacy, MN 4 11-09 2
Day 1: 4 11-09
200. Tony Dumitras Winston, GA 4 11-06 1
Day 1: 4 11-06
201. Louis Moratti Rockford, MI 5 11-05 0
Day 1: 5 11-05
202. Richard Lowitzki Fort Myers, FL 5 11-03 0
Day 1: 5 11-03
203. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 5 11-01 0
Day 1: 5 11-01
204. Daniel Larson Onamia, MN 4 10-10 0
Day 1: 4 10-10
205. Jordan Knutson Saint Croix Falls, WI 5 10-05 0
Day 1: 5 10-05
206. Wayne Hall Cottonwood, AZ 4 09-10 0
Day 1: 4 09-10
207. Doc Wootton Collierville, TN 3 08-13 0
Day 1: 3 08-13
208. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 3 08-12 0
Day 1: 3 08-12
209. A.J. Menssen Bloomington, IL 3 08-04 0
Day 1: 3 08-04
210. Philip Roesener Choctaw, OK 3 08-03 0
Day 1: 3 08-03
211. Tim Tyndell Mineola, TX 4 08-02 0
Day 1: 4 08-02
212. Kelvin Wilcox Hazlehurst, GA 4 07-15 0
Day 1: 4 07-15
213. Dale Salzmann Hazel Green, WI 3 07-08 0
Day 1: 3 07-08
214. Dan Welsh Elko New Mrkt, MN 2 06-13 0
Day 1: 2 06-13
215. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 3 06-10 0
Day 1: 3 06-10
216. Scott Noel Loveland, OH 2 06-04 0
Day 1: 2 06-04
217. Brady Schran Zumbrota, MN 2 05-09 0
Day 1: 2 05-09
218. Clint Leonard Jr Saint Cloud, FL 2 03-14 0
Day 1: 2 03-14
219. Paul Bouvier Kingston CANADA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
219. Joey Hanna Corsicana, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
219. Brent Shores Boise, ID 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 202 1060 3814-14
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202 1060 3814-14
2024 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake St. Clair presented by SEVIIN 7/11-7/13
Lake St. Clair, Harrison Township MI.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Niko Romero Coldspring, TX 3 12-13 200
Day 1: 3 12-13
2. Jay Jackson Clio, MI 3 12-12 199
Day 1: 3 12-12
3. Joe Digiovanni Sterling Heights, MI 3 12-01 198
Day 1: 3 12-01
4. Jeff Somers Crystal, MN 3 11-13 197
Day 1: 3 11-13
5. Scott Dondlinger Scottsboro, AL 3 11-11 196
Day 1: 3 11-11
6. Brandon Troupe Chicago, IL 3 11-10 195
Day 1: 3 11-10
7. Jimmy Obrien Southampton, NY 3 11-09 194
Day 1: 3 11-09
8. Brad Goetz Waunakee, WI 3 11-05 193
Day 1: 3 11-05
8. Craig Hanna Powell, OH 3 11-05 193
Day 1: 3 11-05
8. Richard Simmons Pewamo , MI 3 11-05 193
Day 1: 3 11-05
11. Andy Bulson Highland, MI 3 11-04 190
Day 1: 3 11-04
12. Benjamin Antoniewicz Kronenwetter, WI 3 11-03 189
Day 1: 3 11-03
12. Jed Lamb Chapel Hill, TN 3 11-03 189
Day 1: 3 11-03
14. Scott Bannerman Stratford CANADA 3 11-02 187
Day 1: 3 11-02
15. Travis Bradley Hurricane, WV 3 11-00 186
Day 1: 3 11-00
15. Kevin Yeska Madison, WI 3 11-00 186
Day 1: 3 11-00
17. Danny Mancini Necedah, WI 3 10-15 184
Day 1: 3 10-15
18. John Bolen Marshall, MI 3 10-14 183
Day 1: 3 10-14
19. Kevin Newcomb Saint Albans, WV 3 10-13 182
Day 1: 3 10-13
20. Shane Kuehn Bennington, NE 3 10-13 181
Day 1: 3 10-13
21. Gary Dennis Ravenswood, WV 3 10-12 180
Day 1: 3 10-12
21. Mark Lyons Marion, IN 3 10-12 180
Day 1: 3 10-12
23. Kristian Johnson Belvidere, NJ 3 10-11 178
Day 1: 3 10-11
23. Dawson Wisner Palatka, FL 3 10-11 178
Day 1: 3 10-11
25. Tom Lyskawka Arlington Heights , IL 3 10-11 176
Day 1: 3 10-11
26. Klaus Kuester Forest Park, IL 3 10-10 175
Day 1: 3 10-10
26. Pete Pisello Phillipsburg, NJ 3 10-10 175
Day 1: 3 10-10
26. Ronald Young New Braunfels, TX 3 10-10 175
Day 1: 3 10-10
29. Chad Stahl Barnesville, GA 3 10-09 172
Day 1: 3 10-09
30. Cullan Parker Avon Lake, OH 3 10-08 171
Day 1: 3 10-08
31. Jimmy Fellegy Mustang, OK 3 10-07 170
Day 1: 3 10-07
32. Jared Choiniere South Lyon, MI 3 10-06 169
Day 1: 3 10-06
32. Charlie Gabbeart Plymouth, MI 3 10-06 169
Day 1: 3 10-06
32. Arron Kowalczyk Newport, MI 3 10-06 169
Day 1: 3 10-06
32. Bob Morin Seymour, TN 3 10-06 169
Day 1: 3 10-06
32. Hayden Spradling Gilbert, AZ 3 10-06 169
Day 1: 3 10-06
37. Greg Davis Reynoldsburg, OH 3 10-05 164
Day 1: 3 10-05
37. Riku Hayashi Ritto Shiga JAPAN 3 10-05 164
Day 1: 3 10-05
39. Gary Emery III Gladwin, MI 3 10-04 162
Day 1: 3 10-04
40. Eugene Kim Lindenhurst, IL 3 10-03 161
Day 1: 3 10-03
41. Eric Gates Laurel, IN 3 10-01 160
Day 1: 3 10-01
42. Darren Gates Macon, IL 3 10-00 159
Day 1: 3 10-00
42. Adam Yeagley Mulberry, IN 3 10-00 159
Day 1: 3 10-00
44. Erik Fossum Porter, ME 3 09-15 157
Day 1: 3 09-15
44. Tom Stark III Angola, IN 3 09-15 157
Day 1: 3 09-15
44. Mike Steckel Las Vegas, NV 3 09-15 157
Day 1: 3 09-15
47. Gary Haraguchi Murfreesboro, TN 3 09-14 154
Day 1: 3 09-14
47. Tiffany Leal Austin, TX 3 09-14 154
Day 1: 3 09-14
49. Jerry Adamski Chicago, IL 3 09-13 152
Day 1: 3 09-13
49. Tony Grubb Ann Arbor, MI 3 09-13 152
Day 1: 3 09-13
51. Hunter Brinkman Wolcottville, IN 3 09-13 150
Day 1: 3 09-13
52. Corey Gue Huntington, WV 3 09-12 149
Day 1: 3 09-12
52. Ron Norris Portage, MI 3 09-12 149
Day 1: 3 09-12
52. Sean O'Brien Norman, OK 3 09-12 149
Day 1: 3 09-12
55. Eric Polenz Trenton, MI 3 09-11 146
Day 1: 3 09-11
56. Phil Cowan Fort Worth, TX 3 09-10 145
Day 1: 3 09-10
56. Darwin Griva Hampton, IN 3 09-10 145
Day 1: 3 09-10
56. Cody Harris Grand Blanc, MI 3 09-10 145
Day 1: 3 09-10
56. Kevin Lewis Lexington, KY 3 09-10 145
Day 1: 3 09-10
60. Mike Elkins Kalamazoo, MI 3 09-09 141
Day 1: 3 09-09
60. Russell Vandiver Greenfield, IN 3 09-09 141
Day 1: 3 09-09
62. Landon Lawson Jonesborough, TN 3 09-08 139
Day 1: 3 09-08
62. Perry See Rochester, MN 3 09-08 139
Day 1: 3 09-08
64. Tanner Visco Chicago, IL 3 09-07 137
Day 1: 3 09-07
65. Randal Burr Chesterfield, MI 3 09-07 136
Day 1: 3 09-07
66. Ken Bassler Clarkston, MI 3 09-06 135
Day 1: 3 09-06
66. Thy Dinh Charleston, WV 3 09-06 135
Day 1: 3 09-06
66. Jim Murphy Walker, MI 3 09-06 135
Day 1: 3 09-06
69. Bee Carchidi Baden CANADA 3 09-04 132
Day 1: 3 09-04
69. Dai Kitajima Otsu-Shi JAPAN 3 09-04 132
Day 1: 3 09-04
71. Jeff Jones West Seneca, NY 3 09-03 130
Day 1: 3 09-03
72. Todd Mason Three Rivers, MI 3 09-01 129
Day 1: 3 09-01
73. Aaron Anders Oakland FL CANADA 3 08-14 128
Day 1: 3 08-14
73. Jonathan Jackson Las Vegas, NV 3 08-14 128
Day 1: 3 08-14
75. Michael Leach Shenandoah, TX 3 08-13 126
Day 1: 3 08-13
76. Michael Hrynewycz Goshen, IN 3 08-12 125
Day 1: 3 08-12
76. Garry Osborn Kalamazoo, MI 3 08-12 125
Day 1: 3 08-12
78. Todd Robbins Chelsea, MI 2 08-11 123
Day 1: 2 08-11
79. Christopher Majerle Trenton, MI 3 08-10 122
Day 1: 3 08-10
80. Mohammad Rahimpour Oxford, MI 3 08-09 121
Day 1: 3 08-09
80. Stephen Wolownik Bloomingdale, MI 3 08-09 121
Day 1: 3 08-09
82. Jimmy Brumfield Madison, MS 3 08-08 119
Day 1: 3 08-08
82. Tadd Davis Colon, MI 3 08-08 119
Day 1: 3 08-08
84. Jason Barber Gun Barrel City, TX 3 08-07 117
Day 1: 3 08-07
84. John Davis Dowagiac, MI 3 08-07 117
Day 1: 3 08-07
86. Ethan Street Coal Valley, IL 3 08-06 115
Day 1: 3 08-06
86. Andrew Williams Fenton, MI 3 08-06 115
Day 1: 3 08-06
88. Ty Kenyon Dodgeville, WI 3 08-04 113
Day 1: 3 08-04
89. Jon Linneman Joliet, IL 3 08-02 112
Day 1: 3 08-02
89. Brandon Newman Arlington, IN 3 08-02 112
Day 1: 3 08-02
91. Eric Breitkreutz Sheboygan, WI 3 08-01 110
Day 1: 3 08-01
92. Owen Atchison Van Buren, OH 3 08-00 109
Day 1: 3 08-00
92. Martin Terveer Otsego, MN 3 08-00 109
Day 1: 3 08-00
92. Michael Willbur Battle Creek, MI 3 08-00 109
Day 1: 3 08-00
95. Mark Wolownik Paw Paw, MI 2 08-00 106
Day 1: 2 08-00
96. Bailey Rothrock Milan, MI 3 07-15 105
Day 1: 3 07-15
97. Doug Clifford Crooksville, OH 3 07-13 104
Day 1: 3 07-13
97. Kenny Stelter Forest Lake, MN 3 07-13 104
Day 1: 3 07-13
99. Gabe Sowash Gainesville, GA 3 07-12 102
Day 1: 3 07-12
99. Chip Wright Gobles, MI 3 07-12 102
Day 1: 3 07-12
101. Steven Pennington Delton, MI 3 07-12 100
Day 1: 3 07-12
102. Richard Greene Ocala, FL 3 07-11 99
Day 1: 3 07-11
102. Nathan Oxenberg Woodstock CANADA 3 07-11 99
Day 1: 3 07-11
102. Kenneth Taylor Shelby Township, MI 3 07-11 99
Day 1: 3 07-11
105. Matt Kelley Detroit, MI 2 07-11 96
Day 1: 2 07-11
106. Greg Shaughnessy Miami, FL 3 07-10 95
Day 1: 3 07-10
106. Brad Thieman Sioux City, IA 3 07-10 95
Day 1: 3 07-10
108. Rich Bleser Burlington, WI 3 07-08 93
Day 1: 3 07-08
108. Hiroya Hyodo Funabashi city Chibaken 3 07-08 93
Day 1: 3 07-08
110. Keith Gunsauls Dandridge, TN 3 07-06 91
Day 1: 3 07-06
110. Patrick Ricchi Waterford, MI 3 07-06 91
Day 1: 3 07-06
112. Philip Castrodale West Bloomfield, MI 3 06-15 89
Day 1: 3 06-15
113. Daniel Vasquez Boynton Beach, FL 2 06-15 88
Day 1: 2 06-15
114. Patrick Bartley Waconia, MN 2 06-14 87
Day 1: 2 06-14
115. Austin Koleszar Detroit, MI 3 06-11 86
Day 1: 3 06-11
115. Mark Saunders Sr Valley City, OH 3 06-11 86
Day 1: 3 06-11
117. Eric Nitz Lawton, MI 2 06-11 84
FREE Media Kit Template for Aspiring Anglers
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Looking to take your angling career to the next level? NPAA wants to help you navigate the waters of sponsorship with precision. |
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Forestville, WI (July 11, 2024) – Getting ahead in this fast-paced world means separating yourself from the pack – whether that’s finding a new job or advancing your position as an angling professional. And, when those two things collide, you’ve got to have your ducks in a row. There are literally thousands of anglers knocking at sponsors’ doors, so to help anglers stand out from the crowd, the NPAA has created the FREE NPAA Media Kit Template. Solid sponsorships are a necessity for aspiring professional anglers, with the reality of expenses like gas, food, and lodging—not to mention hefty entry fees for tournament anglers. So, unless you’re independently wealthy (which most of us aren’t), it’s best to seek out advice from a trusted source on how to present yourself professionally to build a network of sponsors that can help you achieve your professional dreams. Who knows what it takes to get sponsors? The NPAA does, an organization staffed by folks with decades of industry and professional angling experience who are there with the programs and services they know you need to be successful. That said, NPAA’s Pat Neu, EJ Saunders of Blaze Digital, and a group of successful pros sat down and listed out exactly what aspiring tournament and career anglers need to include in an effective media kit. |
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What’s a media kit? Look at it like a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) you’d use to apply for a job in the competitive work world. A media kit lists professional and personal history and lets your potential sponsors understand who you are, what you want to achieve, and what you will do for their business. For starters, stop the me, me, me, attitude that’s pervasive in the current digital era. Your focus needs to be on how you can help potential sponsors increase their sales – not what they can do for you! |
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What’s the best way to do that? Use the FREE NPAA Professional Angler Media Kit Template that was just released this week. Using it will save literally hours of research and will help you build a digital document that will help you stand out with tackle and marine manufacturers and even non-industry/non-endemic companies. The NPAA’s Pat Neu comments: “This template is designed to help you rise above the noise that exists in today’s world. First impressions are everything, and this media kit will give you the edge needed to make a lasting first impression.” Blaze Digital CEO, social media guru, and hardcore angler, EJ Saunders, adds: “We put a lot of work into creating the right template for helping aspiring tournament anglers and guides take the next steps to becoming a fulltime pro. It’s easy to use, streamlined, and you’ll end up with a turnkey document that will impress potential sponsors. It would be a mistake for anglers not to use it.” But the FREE NPAA MEDIA KIT isn’t just for aspiring pros, it’s for Guide/Captains, Angling Educators, and Content Creators and Reviewers. It’s the first step in a progression you need to take to be a successful pro. |
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The Next, Next Step You are proving seriousness about your future as a pro by downloading the FREE NPAA Media Kit Template. The next step is joining the NPAA... Not only will you get direct assistance with setting up your media kit, but you’ll also gain access to a full suite of member benefits that go beyond the basics. Here’s what some of the top names in the fishing business have had to say about the benefits of NPAA membership for a mere $100 a year. |
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The testimonials by successful anglers speak volumes about what NPAA can do for your angling career. If you’re serious about turning your passion into a profession, joining NPAA is your next big step. “If you’re looking at making a career in professional fishing, whether that’s as a tournament fisherman or a guide, one of the best places to find the tools you need is the NPAA organization.” Keith Kavajecz-Tournament Angler/The Next Bite Host “The people I’ve met through being a member of this organization have been truly invaluable to my career. I’ve got people I can call all over the country if I need advice. It’s a must to be a member of this organization.” Angie Scott, Woman Angler and Adventure podcast host “NPAA can really help you in with your career. They have a lot of resources that really help speed you along in the learning curve.” Gene Gilliland, Conservation Director for BASS “You want to be a member all year long. Catch all of the educational videos, catch all the information that’s out there shared with members across this network.” Dan Dannenmueller, Crappie Now and Catfish Now |
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Joining NPAA isn’t just about getting help with your media kit. It’s about:
If you’re still on the fence about becoming an NPAA member, we understand. But at only $100 annually, an NPAA membership is an investment that will pay dividends for years to come. So, we ask that you join us today and start advancing your angling career with NPAA by your side. |
Sonar Science Meets Next Level Lure Design
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Premium Line, Attractive Price
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DAIWA’s new 100% fluorocarbon J-FLUORO Mainline performs exquisitely and with today’s budgets in mind. |
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FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (July 11, 2024) – For years, DAIWA’s J-FLUORO Leader Material has been a mainstay for freshwater and saltwater anglers alike. And by popular demand, DAIWA introduces the economically priced J-FLUORO Mainline, also constructed with premium 100% fluorocarbon material and extruded with precision. “Made in Japan using a strict extrusion process, this 100% fluorocarbon mainline allows everyday anglers to experience the excellence of fishing with this style of line,” said DAIWA Field Marketing Manager, Chris Martin. Martin continued: “Despite its attractive price, J-FLUORO Mainline stands above the competition. For one, the formula for our mainline makes the finished product softer in heavier pound tests and stiffer in lighter strengths, while both maintain little to no stretch.” The benefits being manageability, as knots are much easier to tie. Moreover, backlash is significantly reduced, no matter what pound test you’re fishing. “J-FLUORO Mainline has a fast sink rate, too,” added Martin. Fluorocarbon has a higher specific gravity than water, so it helps lures like crankbaits achieve maximum diving depths. A faster sink rate also lets you fish baits deeper with heavier line, as well as keeping lighter baits down because of less bowing in the line. J-FLUORO is less visible to fish than other lines, too. “Fluorocarbon has a similar light-refraction index to water,” said Martin. “This can lead to more bites, especially in clear water. And, because fluorocarbon is less affected by UV light than monofilament, it lasts longer on your reel.” |
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The merits of DAIWA’s J-FLUORO Mainline don’t end there, either… Again, compared to monofilament, fluorocarbon is far more abrasion resistant. It can withstand contact with rocks, wood, gravel, etc., that monofilament cannot handle. Sensitivity is another hallmark of J-FLUORO Mainline. The line effectively transmits vibrations, letting you feel a bait’s movements as well as fish striking, even in deeper water. Lack of stretch is another benefit. Fluorocarbon stretches less than monofilament, improving feel as well as hook penetration. Specific to J-FLURO Mainline, you’ll appreciate the compact spool, as it holds more yardage at the same price. In fact, a filler spool of DAIWA’s J-FLUORO holds 200-yards and at only $14.99. And if you don’t spool it all, there’s a handy elastic band to hold the tag end, eliminating that all-to-familiar explosion of line. J-FLUORO Mainline FEATURES:
MSRP $14.99 |
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For Daiwa’s latest color catalog and/or information on Daiwa dealers in your area, call Daiwa’s Customer Service Department at 562-375-6800 or e-mail inquiries to: [email protected]. The URL for Daiwa’s web site is daiwa.us |
ABT Hires its First-Ever Media/Communications Director
Decatur, Ala. (July 11, 2024) - The Alabama Bass Trail (ABT) announces the addition of Angela Cross as the Media/Communications Director, a newly created role for the largest team trail tournament fishing organization in the Southeast. She assumed the position July 8, 2024.
In her role as Media/Communications Director, Cross reports to ABT Director Kay Donaldson and is responsible for the development and execution of the social media accounts, LIVE stream, paid broadcasting and communication plans for the Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Series and Alabama Bass Trail 100 Series.
Cross joins the ABT from Power-Pole®, a leading manufacturer in the fishing industry, where she spent four years developing brand strategic plans for marketing campaigns across various media channels and administering all streams of HR for approximately 200 employees. Prior to joining Power-Pole®, she was the HR manager and later promoted to vice president of operations for Coastal Marina Management.
According to ABT Director Kay Donaldson “The ABT is very excited to be adding an individual with the skill and experience needed to continue to grow the trail and tournament series. Angela brings a unique perspective shaped by her many years in the fishing industry, and along with her professional experience, her passion for the outdoors will help increase the Trail’s impact throughout the southeastern United States and beyond.”
Cross steps in the role of media/communications director with 16 years of operations, special events production, budget management, payroll administration, brand creation and management and streamline messaging experience in the fishing industry. Originally hailing from Texas, Angela's journey in the industry began in the scenic Florida Panhandle, where she established herself as a prominent figure in the marina management, billfish tournament and boat show industry.
After making her mark in the Panhandle, Angela made a move to the Tampa area. It was here that she joined forces with Power-Pole® where she has taken on various roles in marketing, media planning and buying, project management and sponsorships.
Cross said, “I am thrilled to embark on this new chapter as Alabama Bass Trail Media/Communications Director leveraging my extensive experience and expertise gained over a long and successful career in the fishing industry. I am eager to contribute to the team's efforts in the growth and development of the Alabama Bass Trail.”
In addition to her professional achievements, Cross is actively involved in community initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable fishing practices and conservation efforts including CAST Net Committee, CCA Florida, Tampa Bay Watch and Alaqua Animal Refuge.
Beyond her professional achievements, Cross's personal life is equally fulfilling. She is happily married and shares her home with two beloved dogs who undoubtedly rule the house. Angela's adventurous spirit shines through during her weekend adventures which include activities such as boating, fishing, camping, and mountain biking. Her love for the outdoors fuels her drive to contribute to the growth and development of the Alabama Bass Trail.
Cross may be reached at [email protected].
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About Alabama Bass Trail
The Alabama Bass Trail is a program of the Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association. Its mission is to promote Alabama as a year-round fishing destination, to preserve natural resources for generations to come, and to educate high school and college-aged students to be good stewards of natural resources. The 13 bass fishing lakes consist of Lake Guntersville, Wheeler Lake, Pickwick Lake, Lewis Smith Lake, Neely Henry Lake, Weiss Lake, Lake Martin, Lay Lake, Logan Martin Lake, Lake Jordan, Alabama River, Lake Eufaula, and the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta. For more information, visit www.alabamabasstrail.org.
COOK TAKES DAY ONE LEAD AT PICKWICK LAKE
Story by Justin Brouillard | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
Setting the pace on day one, Drew Cook of Cairo, Georgia takes the lead at Pickwick Lake with a total weight of 22 pounds, 13 ounces. Cook went to work fast and furious this morning on an area he had “mostly to himself.” After catching a solid limit, he left his main area and practiced for the final two days of the event.
“It was a good day and about what I expected,” he said. “I caught them pretty quick this morning and left them alone. I can’t wait to get out there tomorrow.”
Isaac Peavyhouse
Hailing from Jamestown, TN, Isaac Peavyhouse secures second place on day one at Pickwick Lake with 22 pounds, 7 ounces, anchored by a big bass weighing 6 pounds, 7 ounces.
Peavyhouse is focusing on “typical TVA River” stuff and has figured out how to get bites fishing behind other anglers. He is rotating through seven to ten spots and looking for quality bass.
“You need to get a big bite on a place like this, and I was fortunate to get one today,” he said. “Hopefully I can go out there tomorrow and get another one to keep the pace.”
Patrick Walters
South Carolina angler Patrick Walters sits in the third-place spot with a total weight of 20 pounds, 3 ounces on day one. Fishing how he wants to be on Pickwick Lake, Walters worked an offshore pattern and looks forward to getting going on day two.
John Branch
John Branch started strong on day one of the NPFL tournament at Pickwick Lake, hauling in a 20-pound, 1-ounce catch and sitting in fourth place. The angler from Magnolia, Kentucky, rode a productive practice to get off to a solid start with two days of competition remaining.
Branch spent the majority of his practice period doing a lot of looking and not a lot of casting. Like many others, he did not find a lot of places, but the places he did find was exactly what he was looking for.
“I got into them first thing and had to make a few key adjustments; once I did, it was game on,” he said. “I was done fishing around 1 pm and then had to play a little bit of defense for the afternoon.”
He is focusing on “offshore” areas and working over key spots. “I have a couple of areas I am confident in, as of now, that I can get a bite,” he added. “Ledge fishing is not my favorite way to fish, but I have been teaching myself to do it, and today it worked out.”
JT Russell
With a day one weight of 19 pounds, 10 ounces, JT Russell sits in fifth place after day one. The Alabama pro rallied after a tough practice and managed to put together five bites on spots he fished years ago.
“I fished here a bit in high school and college, but it was a tough few practice days for me,” he said. “I fished about a 5-mile stretch of the river where I have around ten spots and only got through four spots before I finished out my limit and caught my fifth fish.”
Russell is unsure what day two will bring but is confident he can get some bites for the rest of the tournament.
“Timing is key out here, and you only have so much time to do work when the water starts moving,” he added. “I did not see a ton of boats around, so hopefully that stays that way for me.”
Michael Yoder and Lonnie Cochran are tied for the Power-Pole Big Bass Award with a 7-pound, 5-ounce bass.
Rest of the Best:
Michael Yoder 19-7
Dustin Perry 18-13
John Soukup 18-13
Thomas Shelton 18-5
Zack Birge 18-4
Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Grants to Fund Eight Habitat Projects in U.S. and Canada
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – For Immediate Release – July 10, 2024 – As part of its mission to celebrate, promote and preserve the sport of bass fishing, the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors is again providing financial support to numerous conservation projects that will enhance fisheries in New Mexico, Illinois, Kansas, Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia and Ontario, Canada.
Over the past five years, the BFHOF’s Board has reached out to local and state bass fishing clubs working with state agencies to provide needed funding for various conservation projects they initiated.
“With these new grants, we’ll have committed more than $140,000 in support of fishery enhancement projects,” said BFHOF conservation committee chair Gene Gilliland. “These bass clubs have boots-on-the-ground members who donate their sweat equity on these projects, while the Hall provides financial support for needed equipment, fish-holding underwater structures, and other needed gear to help make the projects a reality.”
The eight fishing organizations and bass clubs receiving Bass Fishing Hall of Fame grants in 2024 to enhance and preserve bass fishing are:
New Mexico – The Canadian River Bass Club will engage members as well as area youth anglers to utilize abundant driftwood to create a new means of establishing man-made fish habitat in Cochiti Lake.
Illinois – The Friends of Everbloom, with help from Illinois DNR and area youth anglers, are enhancing various forms of habitat ranging from vegetation to MossBack Fish Habitat, at Lake Bloomington and Evergreen Lake.
Kansas – The Leavenworth Bass Club will build a 20–feet–by–24–feet greenhouse to propagate native aquatic plants to be planted along three miles of shoreline at Banner Creek Reservoir.
Kansas – The World Fishing Tour, Lady Bass Anglers Association and the Kansas B.A.S.S. Nation are working together to build a live release trailer with four 150-gallon tanks to serve 40 events a year in the Sunflower State.
Tennessee – The Tennessee B.A.S.S. Nation, its youth anglers, and TWRA fisheries personnel, are working together to further a decade-long habitat enhancement crusade at fisheries such as Halford Lake, Percy Priest, Normandy, Tims Ford and Watts Barr.
South Carolina – The Clarks Hill Committee of the CSRA is working with help from local high school fishing teams to establish viable eel grass colonies.
Virginia – Youth anglers will be building and placing habitat marked with shared GPS locations for use by the general angling public in Northeastern Virginia.
Ontario – The Ontario B.A.S.S. Nation plans to establish 140 brush piles in seven watersheds of the Ontario Great Lakes, an effort with nine successful years of positive impact to date.
The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame will hold its annual induction dinner on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 at Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Mo. There will also be a concurrent auction (visit www.BassFishingHOF.com for details) as part of the annual Celebrate Bass Fishing Week with funds raised going to assist the Board with funding conservation grants such as these and other worthy endeavors benefiting the sport of bass fishing.
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About the BFHOF -- The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is a nonprofit organization led by a volunteer board of directors and is dedicated to celebrating, promoting and preserving the sport of bass fishing. Since 2017, the Hall’s inductees and memorabilia representing the history of bass fishing is showcased in Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Museum and Aquarium in Springfield, Missouri, where it has rapidly become a popular destination.
For more information about the Hall, its mission, and to become a supporting member,
visit www.BassFishingHOF.com,
or contact BFHOF executive director Barbara Bowman at [email protected]
13th Annual Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament - Registration is OPEN!
The 13th Annual Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament is set for October 26-27th, 2024 and qualified anglers can register NOW.
According to tournament rules, "In order to be eligible to participate in the Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament, one member of the registered team must be a current, eligible Toyota Bonus Bucks Program member and team boat must be towed to event with the Toyota Bonus Bucks participant’s eligible Toyota tow vehicle. (2020 or newer Toyota Tundra, Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Sequoia, or Toyota 4Runner). Amateur teams only—Bassmaster Elite, Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour and Major League Fishing Invitational Pros are not eligible to participate in the Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners Tournament."
The 2024 event will be hosted at Green Pond Landing on Lake Hartwell in Anderson, South Carolina.
Check out this video and more details below!
Registration for this NO ENTRY FEE event is open to the first 300 qualified teams to register. You can sign up here: https://ownersevent.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com/registration/
CONNECT-EASE® INTRODUCES YAK-EASE™ POWER PACK PRO
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Portable, plug & play power system for the quickest, cleanest power kayak rigging possible |
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PRIOR LAKE, MN (July 10, 2024) - Rigging a fishing kayak with today’s sophisticated fishing electronics, lighting, and various accessories can take days, what with having to source and run wire and fuses, match leads, position batteries, etc. Connect-Ease has been providing the quickest, easiest, and cleanest power boat rigging possible for years. Now—with the recent introduction of YAK-EASE—the company has extended their expertise into the realms of kayak angling with numerous new, problem-solving rigging and power distribution products. Like the YAK-EASE Power Pack Pro, a self-contained, portable, plug & play power system that provides the quickest, easiest, and cleanest power kayak rigging possible—while saving hours and hours of sketchy rigging in the process. Whether you’re setting up a basic fishing kayak to a deluxe, tournament-ready fishing kayak—YAK-EASE Power Pack Pro is the best solution available today. |
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Put an end to confusing and time-intensive power, electronics, & accessories rigging with the turnkey, plug & play YAK-EASE™ Power Pak Pro |
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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
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Wish there was a better way? YAK-EASE™ Plug & Play color-coded connections for ease of installing correctly. |
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YAK-EASE™ POWER PAK PRO INCLUDES YAK-EASE™ GRAPH POWER® YAK EASE GRAPH POWER® is a permanent power solution for up to four powered kayak fishing accessories, all with a convenient and easy pack-in/pack-out battery connection. From the get-go, GRAPH POWER was designed to solve the connections and power issues associated with running today’s sophisticated fishing electronics common on modern kayaks, providing clear, clean power and direct connections. Now that extends into the realms of kayak angling with numerous new, problem-solving rigging and power distribution products. GRAPH POWER is designed to work with all manufacturers of fresh- and saltwater marine electronics. GRAPH POWER features marine-grade sheathed wire with multiple fused connections for your electronics. Works with Humminbird, Lowrance, Garmin, all forward-facing, side-, and down-imaging systems. Power multiple electronics, GoPRO cameras, cell phones, powered speakers, and other accessories with four fused connections. |
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Plug & play, clean power system for your fishing kayak’s advanced electronics and accessories. |
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ABOUT: THE YAK-EASE™ LIGHTNIN’ HARNESS (DIY)
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Take-Home If you’re rigging a fishing kayak with today’s sophisticated fishing electronics, lighting, GoPro cameras, and various accessories, skip having to source and run your own wire and fuses, scratching your head over leads, where to position batteries, etc. That can take days – and we’d all rather be on the water catching fish, right! YAK-EASE Power Pack Pro (by Connect-Ease), eliminates all of the above with its unique portable, turnkey plug & play power system design that provides the quickest, easiest, and cleanest power kayak rigging possible—while saving you hours and hours in the garage, getting you onto fish faster! Visit us next week at ICAST 2024, Booth #4558 on the Orlando Convention Center show floor and on Tuesday 16th, between 10am – 2pm at “On The Water” — held outside the Convention Center. Join us as we demo our unique line of kayak rigging and power systems, and grab a can or two of FREE BEER – good, icy-cold brews from Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Canada. Check out our fully-YAK-EASE-rigged Old Town Auto Pilot 120, complete with multiple graphs, Humminbird MEGA Live, an onboard Minn Kota trolling motor with i-Pilot/Spot Lock, Norsk Lithium batteries, YOLOtek, Spidertek, Rip-A-Lip, JT Outdoors custom rods, DAIWA, Northland Fishing Tackle, and a host of other cool kayak fishing accessories. |
Whitewater Apparel - Destined to Prevail
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Whitewater Fishing’s new Prevail Pant fuses functionality, fit, and freedom of movement. |
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MUSKEGON, Mich. (July 9, 2024) – There’s a reason you don’t wear your favorite jeans to the gym or cargo pants to church. Pants matter. This applies to boating and fishing as well. You want something that plays the part, moves with your actions, and offers features for the task at hand. Whitewater Fishing created that garment and calls it the Prevail Pant. Whether registering 30,000 “steps” on the deck of a bass boat, scouting from the tower, or simply looking for casual comfort docking at the rum bar, the Prevail Pant is for you. |
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KHAKI |
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CHARCOAL |
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Like all Whitewater creations, it begins with the fabric. “We nailed the stretch,” said Whitewater president Aaron Ambur. The Prevail Pant’s advanced 4-way stretch, nylon/spandex twill fabric is infinitely comfortable and gives with you every move, not constricting while kneeling or sitting like pants using traditional woven materials. Featuring a modern cut – not stiff and boxy – the Prevail Pant offers fabric-features beyond providing an optimal range of motion. The stretchy nylon/spandex material has exceptional moisture-wicking properties, too, drying quickly and breathing when it’s hot and steamy above board. Moreover, the material is treated with an antimicrobial to combat odors even after hours of wear. Whitewater also added UPF 50 potency to defy unwanted sunrays for maximum sun protection. |
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Freedom of motion doesn’t end with the fabric – it’s about the cut, too. The Prevail Pant’s articulated knees encourage bending, while its gusseted crotch yields a generous platform for unrestricted mobility. Finally, despite the fabric’s superb feel, the Prevail Pant is durable. The specialty material is remarkably stain resistant, barking back at fish slime and blood, even giving you a sporting chance of removing an accidental red wine spill while docked in the harbor. Bolstering durability, all seams are double stitched. Onto the wealth of functional-features on the Prevail Pant… Most notable are the pair of side-seam vent zippers, which allow for temperature regulation. So, when you leave the dock in darkness on a chilly morning, you won’t regret not bringing shorts for that hot afternoon wardrobe change. (This instead of the numbers of pants that unzip at the knees to morph into shorts. Ever tried keeping track of the leg sections? Good luck.) |
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Precisely positioned pockets are also in the Prevail Pant’s DNA. Standard are secure zip cargo pockets on the sides, pair of front hand pockets, zippered back pockets, and even a nifty knife pocket. Fortifying fit, you’ll appreciate the heavy-duty beltloops. And, the Prevail Pant comes in actual waist sizes, not uncertain sizing like Medium, Large, etc. These pants are poised to become your reliable everyday workhorse, whether you're on or off the water. |
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Prevail Pant DETAILS:
MSRP $99.99 |
Snag Proof Zoo Wake - A Hollow Body That Swims
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DAIWA’s new artisan Smelthead DX - Immaculate Design
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FOOTHILL RANCH, CA (July 9, 2024) – The art world has famed realists like Winslow Homer and Edgar Degas. High fashion has Valentino and Christian Dior. Even modern automotive design has Henry Fisker and Elon Musk. So, what about fishing? In the likes of lures, perhaps no one is more heralded for their contemporary designs than Hiroshi Nishine. Nishine’s website says it like this: “Hiroshi Nishine’s missions is simple – to stop at nothing and develop the most effective fishing lures in the world. His obsessive attention to detail, precision engineering, and endless testing ensure that nothing is left to chance. Even in mass production, Hiroshi still hand-carves the master prototype from which each mold is made.” So, when DAIWA set out to develop the world’s first ever saltwater grade underspin jig, Nishine was their first and only call. Welcome the Smelthead DX underspin jig. “We wanted to bring the new and popular bass fishing jig to saltwater,” said DAIWA Field Marketing Manager, Chris Martin, the company knowing underspin jigs could be equally as effective nearshore and offshore as they are on lakes and reservoirs. As with everything DAIWA does, the Smelthead DX is fully intellectualized in design, starting with its extraordinary head shape. “The line-tie placement on the sculpted head forces the nose of the jig downward, almost like a lipless crankbait,” said Martin. “This downward angle allows the short arm of the underspin the freedom to spin and flash.” The shape of the blade is unique, too, its upper and lower curves causing the blade to spin in a tight rotation, not striking the body of the jig. Keeping the blade tight to the body is also crucial as it forces predators to take the entire lure rather than merely striking the flashing blade. |
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FLAKE PEARL |
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GUN METAL |
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BLACK BACK |
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SMELT |
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UV FIRE ORANGE |
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UV CHARTREUSE GREEN BACK |
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UV BLACK BACK |
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The Smelthead DX’s hooks are perilously sharp, and nickel plated for maximum corrosion resistance. And its elongated bait-keeper is designed to keep plastics sturdily in place without requiring a dot of superglue. How do you fish DIAWA’s new Smelthead DX? Martin says there are multiple methods. “In the most elementary style, you can simply cast and retrieve it, either maintaining a steady pull, or letting the Smelthead DX swing pendulum-style to explore depths. You can also let it settle and then bump it along the bottom in less snaggy areas. It also performs well straight-up vertical jigging, especially if you’re on a drift and covering water.” A wealth of species is on the hitlist, too. “Consider the Smelthead DX a winner for striped bass, flounder, cod, cobia, snook, tarpon, redfish, and jacks,” said Martin. In western waters, Martin says the Smelthead DX is effective on calico bass, rockfish, lingcod, and cabrilla. Basically, anything that will smack a well placed soft plastic. The heavier weights of the Smelthead DX – 1 oz. and 1.5 oz. – make it effective out to 100 feet of water, and everything therein. Although the Smelthead DX pairs perfectly with a wealth of larger soft plastic swimbaits and grubs, DAIWA’s new 6-inch Tournament D-FIN swimbait was created specifically to partner with the Smelthead DX. The size, shape, length, and action are a match made in heaven. Color-wise, Martin says the array covers wide ranging water conditions. “Chartreuse Green Back, Fire Orange, and Motor Oil feature UV paint for added visibility in darker water, whereas the more natural Flake Pearl, Smelt, Gun Metal, and Black Back are geared for clearer conditions.” SMELTHEAD DX FEATURES:
MSRP $9.99 |
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For Daiwa’s latest color catalog and/or information on Daiwa dealers in your area, call Daiwa’s Customer Service Department at 562-375-6800 or e-mail inquiries to: [email protected]. The URL for Daiwa’s web site is daiwa.us |
Rays Against Sunrays
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Whitewater Fishing’s new Rays Performance Hoodie keeps sunrays and perspiration out, while delivering unmatched performance and comfort on the water. |
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MUSKEGON, Mich. (July 3, 2024) – Research and diagnoses continue to reveal that the sun is an enemy of anglers and boaters. At times, the warmth feels good on the skin, but prolonged exposure – especially when tabulated in years – can lead to skin cancer. Frequent targets are the oft exposed face and hands, as well as the entire torso for those choosing to fish shirtless. Anglers are wising up, however, many wearing long sleeve and hooded shirts with built-in sun protection. To that point, the new technologically advanced Rays Performance Hoodie from Whitewater Fishing offers UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) 50+ sun defense. That means it blocks 98% of the sun’s harmful rays. But that's only the beginning of what makes the Rays Performance Hoodie the best of the best... |
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OPEN WATER GREY |
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BLUE BELL |
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That same fabric is lavish, too, extremely comfortable against the skin. Moreover, the premium handpicked fabric offers exceptional stretch to promote range of motion, and its engineered with cutting-edge Touch-Activated cooling fabric technology that keeps you comfortable when temps rise. Lastly, Whitewater added an antimicrobial to the Rays Performance Hoodie to thwart unwanted smells that can accumulate with use. Beyond the fabric itself is intelligent design. Whitewater – applying its 100 years of combined apparel design experience – cut and sewed the material to fit the human form and articulate with every move. Additionally, all fabric panels are double stitched for strength. Drumroll please, as we move onto the Rays Performance Hoodie’s most significant physical features: the custom hood and built-in neck and face gaiter. Unlike your ordinary fishing hoodie, the Rays Performance Hoodie features a three-paneled design, better fitting over your head and staying in place. To that, Whitewater cleverly added a quick snap to the front of the hood to hold it in place under your chin, which is especially pertinent as you’re racing across the water or in heavy wind. |
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The cleverness continues… The Rays Performance Hoodie includes a breathable neck and face gaiter sewn inside the back of the neck. To deploy, simply slide your head through the gaiter while putting on the hoodie – it’s in place. Pull it all the way over your face, just cover your neck, or tuck it down underneath your chin. The gaiter is that versatile. Behold the anatomy of the finest fishing hoodie and make the Whitewater Rays Performance Hoodie your next don’t-leave-home-without-it piece of fishing and boating gear. |
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Rays Performance Hoodie FEATURES:
MSRP $79.99 |
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Redefined Lithium Technology
Norsk Lithium® partners with giant high-tech consumer electronics supplier to offer features, reliability, and longevity previously unheard of in the boat lithium battery segment
New Hope, Minn. (July 8, 2024) – The United States just celebrated its independence; lots of fun with family and friends, fireworks, BBQ, maybe a couple beers, and hopefully, some fishing.
Well, July 4th isn’t the only big bang this week…
Norsk Lithium® is proud to announce huge advances in lithium marine battery technology that completely shatters the current lithium boat battery paradigm. As such, the company will be revealing their completely reimagined product lineup and industry leading 10+2 year non-prorated warranty at ICAST 2024 in Orlando, June 16 – 19, at Booth 637.
“Norsk is poised to make fishing easier, better, and more powerful for all anglers,” says Norsk VP of Strategy & Development, James Holst.
“Our product design approach is solving the problems nobody else is addressing in the marine lithium battery space. It’s one thing to provide power, but that’s only one-half of the equation. Think about how the smart watch forever changed keeping track of time and you’ll have an understanding of how we’re approaching product development. We’re dedicated to creating the highest quality marine batteries possible, period, with a focus on offering an entirely new product line with a unique set of highly-desirable features other lithium companies just don’t have the ability to offer. Following this path was a lot more work but doing so got us away from being pigeonholed into using the small number of factories most lithium battery companies use, most licking and sticking their label on different price point designs sold by an almost limitless number of brands with the same features, and of course, the same design flaws. The net result is we’ve been able to brainstorm and implement some really exciting features that serious anglers really want from a lithium boat battery.”
Holst continues: “And while we didn’t set out to offer less expensive batteries, we are also proud to offer the absolute best lithium batteries on the market at prices that are often below our competitors’ pricing. Of course, that’s a good thing because it puts lithium power within reach of more anglers. And when potential customers compare our features, performance and price against featureless batteries with an inferior warranty offered by our competitors, we think the decision is a no-brainer. ”
Digging into the company’s new technologies, Holst says: “We’re on the constant watch for ways to utilize how smart lithium batteries can be and make the user experience more enjoyable and intuitive.”
Norsk Lithium’s solution to batteries discharging in storage? Deep Sleep technology.
One of the most maddening, frustrating and time-consuming problems any boat owner can ever be forced to deal with is having to track down a passive or phantom draw that slowly and painfully sucks the energy out of boat batteries when the boat is in storage.
Sometimes these low amp draws point back to faulty wiring that needs to be painstakingly tracked down and rewired. At other times, the source of the problem is the boat owner themselves. Ever accidentally left a radio or light on in your boat? Or perhaps you’ve forgotten to turn off all the master power switches? Yeah, we’ve done that more times than we care to admit and our oversight typically resulted in a boatload of dead batteries which is why we knew we needed to come up with a fix that would address the problem and provide an “easy button” solution.
“So we came up with the Deep Sleep concept, where we can use the BMS that sits on top of the battery to make it really easy for users to shut down every battery in their boat through the Guardian™ app with the simple touch of a button,” says Holst.
“Press the button, and all the batteries go into Deep Sleep, stopping current from hitting the battery terminals. This also makes sure that if your boat has any parasitic voltage draws that your batteries aren’t going to drain when docked, in the parking lot, or long-term storage,” offers Holst.
Holst elaborates: “And instead of having to crawl through your compartments and flip switches—we typically remember the master switches immediately after the cover is safely and securely on the boat—you can stand by the side of your boat looking like the smartest guy at the launch, hit one button in the Guardian App, and presto, all the batteries disconnect power to the terminals in an instant. Same thing for waking them back up when you’re ready to hit the water. Just open the Norsk Lithium Guardian™ app and tap a button. That’s just another example of how we’ve made our new batteries more efficient and user-friendly.”
But what if you forget your phone or want to do it manually?
Norsk Lithium has gone yet another step further by building in a Power Management Button right into the top of each battery.
“You’ve got a built in State of Charge (SOC) battery meter built into the top of the battery case you’re going to get a SOC read-out with a quick push of the battery management button which provides a quick visual check of the battery’s status without the need for the App on your phone. That same battery management button will also give you the opportunity to wake up the battery from Deep Sleep. A simple tap of the button and your battery wakes from Deep Sleep and you’re ready to roll.
But our commitment to innovation doesn’t end with Deep Sleep. For example, most experienced anglers carry a jump pack in the boat to ensure they can start their big motor if needed.
Get this: Norsk has eliminated the need for this with their new product design.
“Instead of anglers having to dig out a jump pack that all too often gets left at home, to eliminate the chance that the starting battery can be so deeply discharged that there’s not enough juice left to start the outboard, we built in an Emergency Start Reserve (ESR) right into our new line of starting batteries. 25% of the battery’s capacity is set aside, almost like an internal starting pack that you’ll never forget on the kitchen counter, so the angler can avoid ever being caught on the water or at the landing with a dead starting battery ever again! To access the Emergency Start Reserve you have the option to do so in the Norsk Guardian™ App or by pressing and holding the Battery Management button for 5 seconds. With the touch of a button you go from being dead on the water to running across the lake with the wind in your hair! With our new batteries, an angler will never get caught by surprise on the water with a dead starting battery.”
Another cool, new Norsk Lithium exclusive - Dual Voltage Batteries
How about a 36V 60Ah Deep Cycle battery for your trolling motor with… what’s that? A second set of terminals? Yup. Norsk Lithium is introducing the first dual voltage battery to the marine marketplace in response to the overwhelming consumer demand for batteries that can power their sonar modules at higher voltages. Remember, the operating voltage range of a sonar module, regardless of brand, is in excess of 30V, so feeding these power-hungry devices 28V, instead of the standard 12V, allows them to run more efficiently, offer longer runtimes when compared to a 12V battery due to the lower amp draw, and many feel better overall performance of their sonar system as a whole. Now, in most scenarios users chasing higher voltage solutions are forced to implement complicated wiring, additional power shut off switches, and external voltage regulators to provide higher voltage power. You won’t find any of that run-around over here. With Norsk Lithium’s Dual Voltage 36V 60Ah Deep Cycle, providing 28V of clean, consistent, regulated power is as simple as attaching the red wire from your sonar module to the positive 28V terminal and the black wire from the sonar wire to the negative 28V terminal and you’re ready to hit the water. All the power regulation, power management, and fancy wiring is handled INSIDE the battery. Did we mention we like to use our engineering prowess to solve problems and make things easier for anglers?
“Our mission is to make ownership of Norsk Lithium batteries enjoyable through increased efficiency and their ability to solve problems for you,” reiterates Holst.
Ultimately, the marriage of an extremely smart and unprecedented high-tech (but easy-to-use) marine battery is what Norsk Lithium has achieved in their new line of products, which we encourage you to experience first-hand at ICAST 2024 in Orlando, June 16 – 19, at Booth 637.
Holst concludes: “What’s really exciting is not only this new line of products and unprecedented design and technologies, but our forward-looking engineering, which promises to stay ahead of the cutting edge as we move forward into the ever-changing landscape of fishing in today’s world.”
At the end of the day, when you compare Norsk Lithium’s laundry list of new, high-tech features, it’s painfully clear. Norsk is at the head of the pack when it comes to competition in the marine lithium battery space. If you’re not using green, you’re not using the be-all, end-all.
Fuel Injection … for Fishing Lures!
What if you could take the most effective fishing scent ever created and inject it into your soft plastic lures so that the scent gradually oozed out — like a blood trail attracting sharks?
What if you had full control over where, when and how much attractant you put in your lures?
What if you could experiment with this attractant dosage and get dialed in on exactly what the fish want on any given day?
Now you can … with the new BaitFuel Injector Kit. BaitFuel — the revolutionary fishing scent that has dominated the market for the past few seasons — can now be injected into your soft plastic lures.
There’s actual science behind BaitFuel, and genius behind the BaitFuel Injector Kit. Why just dose your lures with the most powerful attractant ever devised when you can put the secret sauce inside where it will slowly and gradually disperse, more effectively and efficiently working its magic?
There’s simply no better way to put the fishing odds in your favor.
Each BaitFuel Injector Kit comes with 4 reusable vials prefilled with BaitFuel.
It debuts at ICAST. Look for it in the New Product Showcase and in the American Baitworks booth (#1623).
Travel Tuesday - First Rule of Fishing Travel – Just Get Bit
Written By Pete Robbins - Half Past First Cast
If you’ve done little or no billfishing and want to try it out, I strongly recommend that you visit Casa Vieja Lodge in Guatemala. It’s easy to get there, the fleet and service are top-notch, and there are few places with that combination where you’ll get so many bites. If you’re new to the game, though, you won’t be used to the style of fishing, or the gear, and nothing you can read about it or watch on YouTube will get you 100 percent of the way there.
That’s why I suggest that for at least your first day on the water you let the mates do the “bait and switch” to get the sailfish on the line. Then you can fight them to the boat. I know that many of you are used to doing everything on your own, and you’ve fished a lot of different places, but trust me on this one. The advantages of doing it this way are several. First, and perhaps most importantly, everyone flubs some chances, even the mates, but they do this every day. There aren’t many hookable fish that they miss. Even many experienced billfishermen will have a success rate only a fraction as good. When they hook that fish, and you get it to the boat, all of the pressure is off. You’ve caught a sailfish. You got your glory shot with it and you can go home with a fish story. All of the pressure is off. Even if you try to do the next 10 yourself and manage a new way to mess it up every time, you got what you came for. In contrast, if you go first and mess up the first five, then six, then seven, and so on, the pressure adds up. You’re going to start to doubt yourself and that leads to unforced errors.
Furthermore, by carefully watching the mates do their balletic movements with rod and reel, you’re able to mimic them. Ask lots of questions beforehand – they’re used to explaining what to do – and then put those words together with what you saw. It’s a recipe for maximizing success.
It’s not just billfishing where this rule applies. When we go to El Salto, I often see anglers arrive for the first time with an idea of how they want to catch fish – swimbaits or topwaters, for example. Or maybe on the prior trip, under similar conditions, they caught them a certain way and they’re sure it’ll work again. That’s a recipe for disaster. I’ve seen anglers waste a full day leaning heavily on a plopper or an A-Rig or some other situational tool. With only three to five days on the water for most travelers, that can be a huge waste of time.
Unlike in Guatemala, I’d never expect your Mexican bass guide to cast or set the hook for you, but you can still rely on his expertise. He knows generally what they’ve been eating and in which places. He’s on the water every damn day. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Instead, go with a lure or lures that he recommends, from a list of proven winners. Once you get that first bite, it will begin to tell you how, when and where you can expect the next one. After a few of them, it may even dictate how to use the lures that your guide has never seen before.
Again, getting this first bite, or first couple of bites, is the key for most anglers to calm down. You’ve caught a few and you don’t have to press. I’m convinced that’s why many of the “non-serious anglers” often do better than the hard core tournament guys down there. The former are just fishing, listening and paying attention. If the latter type hasn’t caught a giant after a few sessions he (it’s almost always a he) starts to stress and press, which leads to mental mistakes and lures in trees.
Remember, it takes at least two or three fish to make a pattern, and you have to try not to get false positives. On one trip, there were occasional patches of hyacinths up against the bank. My fishing partner skipped a jig up next to one such patch and caught a near-7-pounder. He was convinced that it was the skipping action that made the difference and spent the rest of the afternoon skipping into every nook and cranny he could find. Oddly enough, it only produced fish when the skip ended up right next to a small clump of hyacinths. It was the cover, not the cast, that made the difference. We’re all susceptible to jumping to conclusions. We’re also sometimes unable to flex when the dominant paradigm changes. We’re so used to relying on what was working before, that we’re too slow to move on.
You can even extend this concept to the entire trip. For example, if you want to check muskies off your list, Lake St. Clair is a great place to do it. Fish two or three days to improve your chances, and you can take that one step further by trolling the first day and casting the second and third. If that somehow violates your moral compass, it’s not necessary, but otherwise it can a fun and extremely productive way to pop the cherry.
Get that first fish in the boat. It doesn’t have to be the trophy of a lifetime. It doesn’t have to be caught on your “secret lure.” It will, however, enable you to play with house money from a position of power, and that’s the best way to have a great trip.
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If you’d like to join us on a trip to Mexico, Alaska, Guatemala or Panama, shoot us an email at [email protected]. We’ll do our best to “get you bit.”
St. Lawrence River named 2024’s Best Bass Lake by Bassmaster Magazine
July 3, 2024
St. Lawrence River named 2024’s Best Bass Lake by Bassmaster Magazine
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — There is a stretch of more than 50 miles of the St. Lawrence River (Thousand Islands) in New York, as well as eastern Lake Ontario, that constantly produces chunky, hard-fighting smallmouth bass. It’s this reputation for consistently giving up large numbers of quality bronzebacks that has earned the fishery the top spot in the 2024 Bassmaster Magazine 100 Best Bass Lakes standings.
The St. Lawrence River took top honors in the 2022 rankings. After slipping to No. 2 last year, the St. Lawrence has reclaimed the coveted title — and rightfully so. In 2023 the unrivaled smallmouth fishery gave up more than 100 pounds to the top four competitors in the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament held there in late August; it took a staggering 105 pounds to win the event. The unrivaled smallmouth fishery appears to be getting even better, as five-bass tournament limits of more than 20 pounds now seem to be commonplace.
Anglers face a variety of factors — weather, time of year, moon phases and more — every time they cast a line. And like the factors that affect a day of fishing, there are many factors that affect a body of water and can push a good, even great, fishery, into a “must-visit” destination for an angler — the 100 Best Bass Lakes list.
“I am always amazed at how much the rankings change each year,” said B.A.S.S. Vice President of Content James Hall. “It's a tremendous reminder that fisheries are living entities that have good years and bad years. According to the 2024 rankings based on months of research and data collection, our Top 100 fisheries are not just alive and well but thriving.
“Our goal with this project has always been to offer a current list of bass fisheries that the weekend angler, someone who doesn't get to fish but a few times a year, can visit and have the best chance at being successful,” Hall added. “Bassmaster's 100 Best Bass Lakes rankings continue to offer fishermen the ultimate bucket list of lakes and rivers that are hot right now.”
California, Florida and Texas lead the pack for the most fisheries in 2024’s Top 100 rankings with seven each. Arizona, Kentucky, Louisiana and Michigan all brought six bodies of water to the list, followed by Georgia, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee with five.
After taking the top spot in 2023, Texas’ O.H. Ivie Lake dropped to No. 2 in this year’s rankings, but the fishery is clearly no slouch. The 20,000-acre lake produced 35 Toyota ShareLunkers (8 pounds or heavier) in the first four months of 2024. Twelve of those fish qualified as Legacy Class bass — 13-plus pounds — caught between January and March and loaned to Texas Parks and Wildlife for use in its selective breeding program.
Florida’s Orange Lake made the Top 10 in the nation last year, placing eighth, and checks in at No. 3 this year. The 12,550-acre body of water features extensive aquatic vegetation such as lily pads and periodic hydrilla that give bass ample cover to thrive on forage and grow to massive proportions. Orange Lake has given up 33 bass over 8 pounds to the TrophyCatch program since January, 14 of which were in double digits.
The rankings identify the top lakes in the nation based on head-to-head comparisons, as well as the Top 25 lakes in four geographical regions — Central, Western, Southeastern and Northeastern.
“We divide the nations into four regions and rank the lakes in each region to give anglers perspective on the fisheries they can most likely reach,” Hall said.
Full rankings can be found in the July/August issue of Bassmaster Magazine and on Bassmaster.com.
Bassmaster Magazine’s Top 10 Best Bass Lakes of 2024
- St. Lawrence River (Thousand Islands), New York
- O.H. Ivie Lake, Texas
- Orange Lake, Florida
- Lake St. Clair, Michigan
- Lake Fork, Texas
- Lake Murray, South Carolina
- Lake Erie/Upper Niagara River, New York
- Clear Lake, California
- Bussey Brake Reservoir, Louisiana
- Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota
Best Bass Lakes — Central Division
- O.H. Ivie Lake, Texas
- Lake Fork, Texas
- Bussey Brake Reservoir, Louisiana
- Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota
- Caney Creek Reservoir, Louisiana
Best Bass Lakes — Western Division
- Clear Lake, California
- Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California
- Roosevelt Lake, Arizona
- Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
- El Capitan Reservoir, California
Best Bass Lakes — Southeastern Division
- Orange Lake, Florida
- Lake Murray, South Carolina
- Jordan Lake, North Carolina
- Santee Cooper Lakes (Marion/Moultrie), South Carolina
- Lake Guntersville, Alabama
Best Bass Lakes — Northeastern Division
- St. Lawrence River (Thousand Islands), New York
- Lake St. Clair, Michigan
- Lake Erie/Upper Niagara River, New York
- Lake Erie, Ohio
- Burt/Mullett lakes, Michigan
Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
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Media Contact: Chad Gay, B.A.S.S. Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, [email protected]
Anglers should see limits of healthy, heavy smallmouth in Bassmaster Open at St. Clair
July 3, 2024
MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. — Warmer than average temperatures have spread across the northern section of the country thus far this summer, which means the Lake St. Clair smallmouth should be healthy and heavy for the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Lake St. Clair presented by SEVIIN according to Michigan native Bo Thomas.
“I think they will be in a full-fledged summer pattern, and I think the weights will be really, really good,” the Tackle Warehouse Elite Qualifier pro said. “It should be a fun one.
“This is going to be a slugfest event. This isn’t going to be an event where everyone is going to struggle. Everyone is going to catch them.”
The sixth stop of the Opens season is scheduled for July 11-13. Anglers will launch from the Harley Ensign Boat Launch beginning at 6 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in starting at 2 p.m. The full field will compete the first two days before the Top 10 anglers after Day 2 compete for the top prize the final day.
Known for sheer numbers of quality smallmouth bass, Lake St. Clair is a favorite venue amongst anglers on the Bassmaster Tournament trail. Just look back to the 2023 Elite Series event won by Joey Cifuentes with 91 pounds, 8 ounces. The entire 102 boat field scored a limit during the first two days of the event.
Thomas believes the Opens anglers will catch the same numbers of bass, but separating from the field will be much more difficult to do.
“The X factor is going to be who can catch a 5- or 6-pounder each day,” Thomas said. “Whoever can get those two big bites that go along with three 4-pounders (is going to excel).”
With warm temperatures across the region to start the summer and the mayfly hatch mostly finished, Thomas expects the smallmouth to be in their summer patterns when anglers begin practice.
They will likely be targeting two different types of forage: perch and gobies. Several different types of vegetation will play a role, from cabbage to other thinner types of grass. That means Anchor Bay, which received a lot of attention during the Elite Series event in 2023, will be a popular destination for Opens anglers.
“During the summer, it seems like the smallmouth tend to move into the grass a lot more. That will be a big player. I think Anchor Bay will put out a lot of the weight in this tournament. I’m sure a lot of the field will be focusing on that area. It seems like that’s the trend for big tournaments right now. A lot of the Southern guys can relate to the fishing there. It’s shallower and it has grass. You can power fish to catch them.”
Lake Erie and Lake Huron will also be in play for Opens anglers, both of which have more rock features, but how much time Thomas will dedicate to those two fisheries all depends on the wind. The Detroit River and St. Clair River will also be in play, adding yet another element to the mix.
“Those fish will be relating to current breaks and hard bottom (in the rivers),” Thomas said. “(Erie) doesn’t look good for practice. The wind will be blowing out of the south each day. It is blowing right up the chute. There might be one day where I could go check some stuff, but Erie is one of those places I focus on the wind. If it is flat and calm, I’ll go look. If not, I won't mess with it.”
Several different techniques can come into play at St. Clair. A drop shot will be a popular choice as well as a tube and a Damiki-style presentation. Thomas also thinks a crankbait could be an important tool for some anglers in this event.
Thomas believes an all-smallmouth total weighing around 65 pounds will likely win this event. While St. Clair is an impressive largemouth fishery in its own right, a green-fish pattern can be hard to replicate day-to-day.
And while there are several popular areas that hold bass all the time, Thomas thinks an angler who can find a less pressured area will have the best chance at winning.
“It is going to be an event where being around a crowd isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but if you find something to yourself, it is going to play throughout the tournament,” he said.
Minnesota’s Easton Fothergill leads the Tackle Warehouse Elite Qualifier standings after five events with 878 points. Texas pro Dakota Ebare is second with 869 points, Canada’s Evan Kung is third with 853 points, Idaho’s Cody Meyer is fourth with 853 points and Alabama’s Matt Adams is fifth with 850 points. Ty Faber is sixth with 821 points, Tucker Smith is seventh with 808 points, Andrew Loberg is eighth with 808 points and Jack York is ninth with 799 points.
Tournament coverage begins Saturday at 8 a.m. on FS1 and runs through 1 p.m. Bassmaster LIVE will be streaming on Bassmaster.com daily. All coverage times are ET.
The Detroit Sports Commission is hosting the tournament.
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Presenting Sponsor: SEVIIN
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster Opens Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
About B.A.S.S.B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 205-313-0945, cgay@bassmaster.
MLF ‘Century Club’ Commemorative Coins Start Hitting Mailboxes
| BENTON, Ky. (July 3, 2024) – Last week, the first round of MLF Century Club coins headed out to anglers who have fished 100 or more events with MLF or its predecessors, FLW and Operation Bass. It’s a mailing list that includes Bass Pro Tour stalwarts like Jacob Wheeler and Andy Morgan as well as hundreds of regional anglers — and quite possibly someone you know.
“We have over 1,200 anglers that have fished 100 or more tournaments with us since 1994, when we started digital records retention,” said Kathy Fennel, MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager. “That number undoubtedly climbs even higher going back to our very first tournament season in 1980, and our team is working to honor those early participants as well as we comb through paper archives. These anglers have shaped the history of our sport, and we are proud to honor them.” Anyone with 100 or more tournaments to their name on the boater or co-angler side should receive a coin, which will certainly stoke some fond memories. As everyone knows, tournament fishing tends to turn into a lifestyle, and the trophies and paychecks are only a small part of the experience – the people you meet along the way can be just as special. |
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With more than 388 tournaments to his credit, Jim Tutt has competed with MLF and its predecessors more than anyone else. Tutt’s career started in the paper record days and is ongoing, and it’s one folks might remember for any number of reasons. Part of the Kellogg’s team for a long time on the FLW Tour, you could recall Tutt sporting the Rice Krispies wrap or have one of his various high finishes at Sam Rayburn locked into your mind. Or, perhaps you know him as one of the most personable and friendly anglers you could find.
“I’m so blessed to have been able to fish so much,” Tutt said. “I was able to fish for a long, long time and not have to work very much. I did the opposite of what most people do — I fished for a long time, and now I work a little bit. Most people work their whole lives and then retire and fish, but I got it backwards. Hopefully I can continue on for a lot more years.” Even now, after shelving a national fishing career, Tutt is still running the circuit back home — he’s sixth in the points in the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Cowboy Division this year. Over the years, Tutt has been fortunate to have his life align so he could be on the water a lot. “One thing that allowed me to fish so many was that I was fortunate enough early in my career to win several tournaments, so I had a good starting spot with money,” Tutt said. “When I was with Kellogg’s for so long, that was also a great basis financially to go out and be able to do all that. “Number one, I have great support from my wife,” he continued. “That’s No. 1 – she didn’t have a problem with me fishing. Number 2, no kids, that’s another thing. My dad traveled with me for a time; my family as a whole, I had good support from them. Truthfully, I didn’t realize it was that many (events), but the bottom line is I just love competing. Not always against the other fishermen, but the fish. I love fishing, but I love the competition of figuring it out on a given day.” Tutt has some treasured memories from over the years, including a 2002 EverStart Series win at home on Sam Rayburn. But, one of the best memories is of his first FLW Tour event – in 1999 at Lake Okeechobee. “The reason that stands out for me is I didn’t have any information about the lake, I had never been there before, I didn’t know anybody,” he said. “I just went fishing, I found the fish on my own, caught ‘em on my own, and at that point, I thought, ‘Man, this is pretty dang cool.’ I was proud. I didn’t have any help, no prior knowledge, I just showed up and went fishing.” Rolling into Florida to fish a giant bowl of vegetation must have been daunting, but it didn’t stop him. Finishing third in the event, Tutt cashed $20,000, which kicked off a 24-year run on the FLW Tour and Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit. Still, for Tutt, it’s the people as much as anything that have made bass fishing so special for him. “I’m sure I’ll forget someone, but there’s a short list of people I’m really fortunate to have met,” said Tutt. “Rick Lilegard, Joel Richardson, Troy Morrow, Mark Mowery, Jody White and Rick Taylor come to mind. These are guys I’ve met, fished against, roomed with and traveled with over the last 30 years, and they’ve become longtime close friends. Those guys really stand out, but holy smokes, I could go on and on. The best friends I’ve got, I’ve made through fishing.” At MLF, we’re genuinely grateful for every angler who decides to trust us with their weekend on the water. The Century Club program is just getting off the ground, and if you haven’t received a coin yet and should have, please reach out. Going forward, we’ll run the numbers at the end of every season, so if you’re in the 90s now and shooting for a coin, stay by the mailbox this fall. Additionally, anglers who fished Operation Bass tournaments from 1980 through 1993 are encouraged to contact MLF at [email protected] For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For tournament updates, photos, news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. About Major League Fishing |
Big Bass Tour Announces Addition to 2024 Schedule: Fall Smith Mountain Lake Big Bass Classic
Montgomery, TX – The Big Bass Tour is excited to announce an addition to our 2024 tournament schedule: Fall Smith Mountain Lake Big Bass Classic. This event will take place October 18-20, 2024, on Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia, offering anglers an exceptional opportunity to compete in one of the premier bass fishing locations in the nation for $150,000 in prizes and payouts. Registration is open and the first 250 anglers to register for two or three days will receive an early entry prize.
New Event Location: Mariners Landing
We are pleased to introduce Mariners Landing at Smith Mountain Lake as the new event location for the Fall Smith Mountain Lake Big Bass Classic. Mariners Landing is a premier lakeside resort offering excellent amenities, including a championship golf course, dining options, and luxurious accommodations.
Event Details
• Dates: October 18-20, 2024
• Location: Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia
• Entry Fees: $250 for three days, $165 for two days, $115 for one day, and $75 for youth
• Early Entry Prize: Fenwick Eagle Series Casting Rod
• Grand Prize: Fully rigged 2024 NITRO® Z18 with a Mercury® 150L Pro XS
• Guaranteed Total Hourly Paybacks: $63,525
• Hourly Weigh-Ins: 7 hourly weigh-ins each day
• Weigh-In Site: Mariners Landing, 1217 Graves Harbor Trail, Huddleston, VA 24104
• First Cast: To be announced the week of the tournament
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2300 Woodforest Parkway North, Suite 250-444
Montgomery Texas 77316
About Big Bass Tour
Founded in 2010, Big Bass Tour is the nation’s premier big bass tournament series, featuring events across the country with over $2,300,000 in guaranteed prizes for the 2024 season. Our mission is to provide a competitive and enjoyable tournament experience for amateur anglers of all levels.
Contact Information
Big Bass Tour
2300 Woodforest Pkwy. N Suite 250-444
Montgomery, TX 77316
Phone: 877-958-8687
Email: [email protected]
Plattsburgh Set to Host MLF Toyota Series at Lake Champlain Presented by Suzuki Marine
PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (July 2, 2024) – The Major League Fishing (MLF) Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats is set to continue its season in Plattsburgh next week, July 11-13, for the second event of the Northern Division – the Toyota Series at Lake Champlain Presented by Suzuki Marine.
The three-day tournament, hosted by the City of Plattsburgh and the Adirondack Coast Visitors Bureau, will feature the northeastern United States’ best bass-fishing pros and Strike King co-anglers competing for a top prize of up to $105,000 in the pro division and a new Phoenix 518 Pro boat with a 115-horsepower outboard motor in the co-angler division.
“The fish are biting good and expect to see some good weights in this one – even a little bit bigger than the (Tackle Warehouse) Invitational that was here a couple of weeks ago,” said pro Alec Morrison of Peru, New York, who has seven top-10 finishes on Lake Champlain in MLF competition. “The fish are going to be a little further ahead in their cycle – more into their summertime patterns. There are a lot of fish still mid-range, but the majority are moving out deep.
“I think the smallmouth will reign supreme, as usual,” Morrison continued. “But there have been some big largemouth weighed recently, not only in the Invitational but also in some local tournaments as well. I think we’ll see quite a few big largemouth in this one – more so than the Toyota Series event we had last year.”
Morrison said that he doesn’t think that anglers would be able to target and catch big largemouth for three days in a row, but that an angler could absolutely bring a limit of green bass to the scale.
“I think the angler who potentially can catch a good bag of smallmouth early – around 20 pounds – and then hunt for a big largemouth the rest of the day will likely be leading on the first day,” Morrison said.
Morrison predicts the standard smallmouth tactics to be strong, with a lot of drop-shot and jigging minnow presentations to be popular tactics. He mentioned that he would mix in a topwater and jerkbait for some shallow-water fish. For largemouth, Morrison said that he expects it to be a game of flipping grass, and maybe throwing a glide bait or a jig around docks.
“As a competitor, you have to go into a tournament at Champlain knowing that you’ll always need at least 20 pounds a day in order to be there at the end,” Morrison went on to say. “I think for this one it’ll take upwards of 63 pounds over three days to win. The top end weights will be similar to the Invitationals. But I expect the cutline weight to be a little higher for this one – maybe even a pound more.”
Anglers will launch at 6 a.m. ET each day from the Plattsburgh City Marina, located at 5 Dock Street in Plattsburgh. Weigh-ins will also be held at the marina and will begin at 2 p.m. each day. Fans are welcome to attend and encouraged to follow the event online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts and daily coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
In Toyota Series regular-season competition, payouts are based on the number of participants competing in the event, scaling up for every 20 boats over 160 and scaling down for every boat below 160. With a 160-boat field, pros fish for a top prize of up to $75,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard (valued at $33,500). With a 260-boat field, pros fish for a top award of up to $100,000, if Phoenix MLF Bonus qualified. Strike King co-anglers cast for the top prize of a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard plus $5,000 cash.
The 2024 Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats consists of six divisions – Central, Northern, Plains, Southern, Southwestern and the Western Division Presented by Tackle Warehouse – each holding three regular-season events, along with the International and Wild Card divisions. Anglers who fish in any of the six divisions or the Wild Card division and finish in the top 25 will qualify for the no-entry-fee Toyota Series Championship for a shot at winning up to $235,000 and a qualification to REDCREST 2025. The winning Strike King co-angler at the championship earns a new Phoenix 518 Pro bass boat with a 115-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2024 Toyota Series Championship will be held Nov. 7-9 on Wheeler Lake in Huntsville, Alabama, and is hosted by the Huntsville/Madison County Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Madison County Commission, and the Huntsville Sports Commission.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Toyota Series include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, FX Custom Rods, General Tire, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters, YETI.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Travel Tuesday - Cybersecurity on Your Fishing Vacation
By Pete Robbins - Half Past First Cast
Part of the reason that we go on distant fishing trips to remote locations is to “disconnect” from the electronic tethers that increasingly rule our lives. Other than fishing itself, I love nothing more about a vacation than setting up an out-of-office message that says “I am away until XXXX and will be unable to check voicemail or email during that time.”
Nevertheless, I’ll be the first to admit that even when I don’t have service my phone remains an important part of my daily life. It is my alarm clock, my camera, my calculator and my
translator. It’s the first thing I grab when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I check before going to sleep. While we may not have internet or cell service on the water, most lodges and hotels we’ve stayed at – even in Africa, the Amazon, Mexico and throughout Central America – enable us to connect.
You should always be careful about where and how you get online, but when you’re abroad (and particularly in an isolated place) you need to be especially vigilant about protecting your
online self. Hanna is the more technologically-savvy member of our duo, but I nevertheless try to be careful in the following caveman-friendly ways:
PHYSICALLY SECURE YOUR DEVICES
Do you really need to bring a phone, a tablet and a laptop? On most trips, one or at most two will cover all of your techie needs. No matter how many you bring, keep them with you or
secured (in a hotel safe, in your carry-on, NOT your checked luggage) at all times. Don’t leave your phone unattended and charging in the airport waiting area while you go and grab a snack, or hit the john. Don’t work on even slightly sensitive matters where others can see your screen. There’s simply no upside. While you’re at it, make sure that all of your devices are password protected and locked when not in use.
EXTRA CAUTION ON PUBLIC WI-FI
When you’re connected to public wi-fi, just assume that anything you send or download is now in the public sphere. That means your passwords and other personally-identifiable information. If you must input or send such data, if possible use a VPN, which encrypts the data you send for an added layer of security. If you fear that you’ve used public Wi-Fi and sent information that could be compromising, change those passwords as soon as you get home. Be sure when abroad to also turn off the functions that auto-connect to wireless and Bluetooth networks.
https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/cybersecurity-tips-international-travelers
FIND LOST DEVICES
If your phone does not come with a built-in means of finding your device, then add a Device Finder or enable the “Find My Device” feature. It may not help you if your phone is 30 feet
deep in Lake El Salto (here’s looking at you, Aaron Rygas!) but it might in some other circumstances. CONSIDER A SIM CARD (OR EVEN ANOTHER PHONE) You may have an international plan with your wireless carrier that enables you to connect, either all the time or for specified periods. Unfortunately, this can get rather expensive, rather quickly if you’re forced to churn through heavy amounts of data. One other option is to buy a SIM card in the country of origin (they’re often available at the airport upon arrival) and you can add a hefty data allowance for a small amount of money. It’ll give you a different phone number while you’re away (and may affect your ability to receive texts) but that may be a small price to pay. After all, you’re on a fishing trip, not a Tinder binge. Today some phones have “virtual eSIMs” which require a download rather than a separate card. Another option might be to bring/purchase an unlocked phone with prepaid minutes in the host country. That will also help you avoid having preloaded data compromised.
CARRY A SECOND CREDIT CARD
Recently, I got a notice from Chase that someone had tried to buy over $9,000 of industrial tools using my card, which happened to be in my pocket at that time. I called Chase, they confirmed that it was true, and that they had to cancel the card and overnight me a new one. What would have happened if I was at a remote international fishing lodge, with no mail
service, but would have needed the card for my trip home? I would’ve been screwed. It always pays to have a second card on hand, even if you never use it otherwise, just for emergencies like that. Many cards now have international capabilities built in, but if you’re not sure about yours call or email the issuer to make sure that you don’t need special authorization. No matter what, when you get home, check your online credit card and bank account statements to be sure there are no “fishy” charges.
More sorta-tech tips, as long as I’m at it...
When you’re searching for the best rates on a flight or a hotel, put your browser in “incognito” mode. Otherwise, you may be recognized through prior “cookies” and the search engines’
algorithms might fail to give you the best available rates.
Find downloadable apps that will be very necessary, often at times when you don’t have connectivity – like Google Maps and Google Translate.
I’ll write it for what seems like the hundredth time: Get WhatsApp so you can make calls anywhere you have Wi-Fi.
Get the right adapter (ideally an all-in-one) so that you don’t fry any of your devices when you try to charge them.
Sixth Season of Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour Set to Premiere Saturday on Discovery Channel
REDCREST 2024 to kick off sixth season of MLF Bass Pro Tour on Discovery Channel, new episodes premiere at 7 a.m. ET every Saturday through mid-November
BENTON, Ky. (July 2, 2024) – The sixth season of the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour is set to premiere this Saturday, July 6, at 7 a.m. ET with a two-hour episode on the Discovery Channel.
The 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour features a field of the top professional anglers in the world competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, fishing for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship, April 2-6, 2025, on Lake Guntersville in Huntsville, Alabama.
The first two-hour episode of Major League Fishing premiering Saturday will feature the Knockout Round from REDCREST 2024 Powered by OPTIMA Lithium at Alabama’s Lay Lake, the Bass Pro Tour Championship. Each week a new episode will premiere on Discovery Channel, through mid-November.
The complete air schedule for the 2024 Bass Pro Tour on Discovery Channel is:
- July 6 Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2024 at Lay Lake Powered by OPTIMA Lithium Knockout Round
- July 13 NO EPISODE – DISCOVERY CHANNEL SHARK WEEK
- July 20 Bass Pro Shops REDCREST 2024 at Lay Lake Powered by OPTIMA Lithium Championship Round
- July 27 B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole Knockout Round
- Aug. 3 B&W Trailer Hitches Stage One at Toledo Bend Presented by Power-Pole Championship Round
- Aug. 10 General Tire Heavy Hitters at Kissimmee Chain Presented by Bass Pro Shops, Qualifying Round Group A – Day 1
- Aug. 17 General Tire Heavy Hitters at Kissimmee Chain Presented by Bass Pro Shops, Qualifying Round Group B – Day 1
- Aug. 24 General Tire Heavy Hitters at Kissimmee Chain Presented by Bass Pro Shops, Qualifying Round Group A – Day 2
- Aug. 31 General Tire Heavy Hitters at Kissimmee Chain Presented by Bass Pro Shops, Qualifying Round Group B – Day 2
- Sept. 7 General Tire Heavy Hitters at Kissimmee Chain Presented by Bass Pro Shops, Knockout Round
- Sept. 14 General Tire Heavy Hitters at Kissimmee Chain Presented by Bass Pro Shops, Championship Round
- Sept. 21 Suzuki Stage Two at Santee Cooper Lakes Presented by Fenwick Knockout Round
- Sept. 28 Suzuki Stage Two at Santee Cooper Lakes Presented by Fenwick Championship Round
- Oct. 5 PowerStop Brakes Stage Three at Dale Hollow Lake Presented by Mercury Knockout Round
- Oct. 6 PowerStop Brakes Stage Three at Dale Hollow Lake Presented by Mercury Championship Round
- Oct. 12 MillerTech Stage Four at Lake Eufaula Presented by REDCON1 Knockout Round
- Oct. 19 MillerTech Stage Four at Lake Eufaula Presented by REDCON1 Championship Round
- Oct. 26 U.S. Air Force Stage Five at Chowan River Presented by WIX Filters Knockout Round
- Nov. 2 U.S. Air Force Stage Five at Chowan River Presented by WIX Filters Championship Round
- Nov. 9 General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts Championship Round
- Nov. 16 Minn Kota Stage Seven at St. Lawrence River Presented by Humminbird Championship Round
The full television schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, Rapala, REDCON1, Star brite, Suzuki, Toyota, U.S. Air Force and WIX Filters.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Bonnie’s Brookman Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Rend Lake
Adams and Johnson Tie for Win in Strike King Co-Angler Division
SESSER, Ill. (July 1, 2024) – Boater Adam Brookman of Bonnie, Illinois, caught a five-bass limit weighing 14 pounds, 8 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Rend Lake. The tournament was the second event of the season for the BFL Illini Division. Brookman earned $6,726, including the lucrative $3,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
The Rend Lake tournament was a classic “grind” for Brookman. To compete against the best local sticks on a small lake, he kept it simple, kept his head down and toughed it out, getting just five keeper bites all day long.
“I targeted main-lake rock points and riprap stretches with a jig, a Jig Shack shaky head and a crankbait. Pretty basic,” he said. “I practiced a few evenings this week and just stumbled upon some fish and just kind of grinded it out.”
Brookman said four of his keepers came on rocks and one came from a laydown.
“I was running six or eight spots,” he added. “I usually do a lot of running around, but I actually did less than what I typically do. I was just kind of rotating through some proven areas that usually pan out.”
Brookman thanked his partners at Rend Lake Sporting Goods for their support. This is his first BFL win on the boater side, to go with a previous co-angler win. To earn the win on Rend Lake was extra special for Brookman.
“It’s kind of cool because my dad used to take me to weigh-ins when I was 8 or 10 years old whenever the BFL would come to Rend Lake or some of the local lakes,” he said. “I always thought it would be kind of a cool deal to get to walk across the stage. I just kind of got lucky and pulled it off. It was kind of neat to see it come full circle.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Adam Brookman, Bonnie, Ill., five bass, 14-8, $6,726 (includes $3,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Mark O’Brien, Marion, Ill., five bass, 14-3, $1,713
3rd: Riley Walk, Neoga, Ill., five bass, 13-13, $1,141
4th: Greg Mullins, Mount Vernon, Ill., four bass, 11-4, $799
5th: Ethan Fields, Breese, Ill., five bass, 11-2, $685
6th: Curt Erpenbach, Anderson, Ind., four bass, 11-1, $628
7th: Toby Corn, Paducah, Ky., four bass, 10-11, $571
8th: Gary Schild, Mundelein, Ill., three bass, 10-10, $639
9th: William Walker, Mulkeytown, Ill., five bass, 9-6, $457
10th: Terry Holsapple, Greenup, Ill., three bass, 8-11, $400
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Jeffrey Lee of Olney, Illinois, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 7 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $430.
David Adams of Bloomington, Illinois, and Chase Johnson of Quincy, Illinois, tied for the win in the Strike King co-angler division Saturday with 10 pounds, 4 ounces. Adams brought four bass to the scale, while Johnson weighed a five-bass limit. They each took home $1,284.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: David Adams, Bloomington, Ill., four bass, 10-4, $1,284
1st: Chase Johnson, Quincy, Ill., five bass, 10-4, $1,284
3rd: Troy Boley, Mahomet, Ill., three bass, 9-3, $571
4th: Caleb Peck, Charleston, Ill., three bass, 8-0, $400
5th: Elmo Rogers, Albion, Ill., four bass, 7-10, $343
6th: Kim Sapetti, Chatham, Ill., two bass, 6-12, $314
7th: Zach Brookman, Opdyke, Ill., two bass, 5-14, $285
8th: Peyton Keathley, Ashland, Mo., two bass, 5-2, $257
9th: Ryan Murphy, Paris, Ill., two bass, 4-15, $228
10th: Jay Fields, Breese, Ill., one bass, 4-12, $415
Jay Fields of Breese, Illinois, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $215, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 12 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After two events, Riley Walk of Neoga, Illinois, leads the Fishing Clash Illini Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 495 points, while Chase Johnson of Quincy, Illinois, leads the Fishing Clash Illini Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 494 points.
The next event for BFL Illini Division anglers will be held July 13, at the Ohio River in Paducah, Kentucky. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-12 BFL Regional tournament on the Mississippi River Pools 13-17 in Quad Cities, Illinois. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.
The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Harrison Township’s Mandel Posts First Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Detroit River
Indiana’s Oliver Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
TRENTON, Mich. (July 1, 2024) – Boater Nolan Mandel of Harrison Township, Michigan, caught a five-fish limit of smallmouth bass weighing 24 pounds, 11 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Detroit River . The tournament was the first event of the season for the BFL Michigan Division. Mandel earned $10,964, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
Mandel spent his tournament fishing the Canadian waters of Lake St. Clair.
“The fish are really spread out still,” he said. “It got warm early this year, and there’s still fish shallow with the mayfly hatch. Covering a lot of water was really the key. I caught them on a drop-shot with a (Berkley PowerBait) MaxScent Flat Worm.”
On St. Clair, covering water doesn’t necessarily mean running and gunning. Mandel kept his trolling motor in the water most of the day, only pulling it up five or six times to move. Instead of running, he eased around on the trolling motor, throwing at isolated patches of grass. He says he was focusing on “getting away from the people and finding the little sneaky places off of the famous areas.”
The area that Mandel fished is one where he felt he could consistently catch 4-pound-class fish, but he tried to focus on keeping an open mind and not getting too “locked into” any waypoints.
“I kind of knew spots to let it unfold in the tournament,” he said. “I basically practiced in the tournament. I’ve been shooting myself in the foot getting locked into areas. I really just wanted to let it drift and expect the big bites to come. There were times I’d go 45 minutes without catching a fish and then catch 10 within 10 minutes. It was kind of like that all day.”
In addition to the drop-shot, Mandel caught a few fish on a Ned rig. He also caught one of his final five keepers on a swimbait.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Nolan Mandel, Harrison Township, Mich., five bass, 24-11, $10,964 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Heath Wagner, Angola, Ind., five bass, 24-5, $1,757
3rd: Brayden Federer, Adrian, Mich., five bass, 22-2, $1,172
4th: Dan Mittlestat, Woodhaven, Mich., five bass, 21-3, $1,120
5th: Charlie Land, Coatesville, Ind., five bass, 20-5, $703
6th: Cody Kelley, Plainwell, Mich., five bass, 19-4, $615
6th: Drake van Dike, Livonia, Mich., five bass, 19-4, $615
8th: Noah Stauffer, Gowen, Mich., five bass, 18-14, $527
9th: Jonathon Dewey, Fort Gratiot, Mich., five bass, 18-13, $469
10th: Rob Kelley, Rockwood, Mich., five bass, 17-14, $410
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Mandel caught a bass that weighed 6 pounds, 1 ounce, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $450.
Kade Oliver of Muncie, Indiana, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,757 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 21 pounds, 3 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Kade Oliver, Muncie, Ind., five bass, 21-3, $1,757
2nd: Gabriel Fishlock, Cincinnati, Ohio, five bass, 19-13, $1,104
3rd: Craig Fanning, Elwood, Ill., five bass, 17-5, $585
4th: Terry Bucciarelli, Ypsilanti, Mich., five bass, 17-3, $660
5th: Tommy Pritchard, Bargersville, Ind., five bass, 16-12, $351
6th: Grant Hatfield, Wadsworth, Ohio, five bass, 16-9, $322
7th: Scott Davis, Morenci, Mich., five bass, 16-6, $278
7th: Nicholas Yeung, Simcoe, Ontario, five bass, 16-6, $278
9th: Sage Uhes, Farmington Hills, Mich., five bass, 16-4, $234
10th: Doug Bradley, Syracuse, Ind., five bass, 16-1, $205
Gabriel Fishlock of Cincinnati, Ohio, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $225, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 12 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
The next event for BFL Michigan Division anglers will be held July 13, at Detroit River in Trenton, Michigan. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 10-12 BFL Regional tournament on the Mississippi River Pools 13-17 in Quad Cities, Illinois. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.
The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
New Lebanon’s Cunnagin Gets the Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Ohio River-Tanners Creek
Oxford’s Thome Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. (July 1, 2024) – Boater Jamie Cunnagin of New Lebanon, Ohio, caught a five-bass limit weighing 12 pounds, 2 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Ohio River at Tanners Creek. The tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Buckeye Division. Cunnagin earned $5,082 for his victory.
The Ohio River is a great place to break out classic shallow-water bass fishing tactics, and Cunnagin is a local stick who knows all the tricks.
“I basically threw a spinnerbait and a (Yamamoto) Senko most of the time,” he said. “I fished 2 feet or less most of the day. I fish down there a lot, and I kind of do the same thing usually.”
Cunnagin has some favorite creeks that he runs when he fishes out of Tanners Creek, and that’s exactly where he went for most of the tournament.
“It was just one of those days that what I was doing and where I was fishing they bit,” he said. “I just happened to stumble across a couple big fish. I actually came back in an hour early. I thought I had around 11 pounds at the time, and I had one small fish that I needed to get rid of – like a 1.16. I just went back in Tanners and milled around with 40 other boats in there the last hour. There’s a tree in there that I waited on a couple of guys to pull off of, and I actually flipped a (Zoom) Brush Hog in that tree and caught one like 2 pounds. I culled that fish (the 1.16) out, and that put me over 12 pounds.”
The majority of Cunnagin’s fish came on a 3/8-ounce spinnerbait. He was primarily targeting wood, but also caught fish on rock banks and in between pieces of cover during the cloudy hours of early morning.
“I rolled,” he added. “I was moving. I covered a lot of water in a short period of time. I had a limit in probably 35, 40 minutes.
“I just ran creeks that I like, that I feel comfortable fishing.”
The top 11 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Jamie Cunnagin, New Lebanon, Ohio, five bass, 12-2, $5,082
2nd: Nick Ryan, Cleves, Ohio, five bass, 10-11, $2,019
3rd: Hunter Colwell, Sidney, Ohio, five bass, 10-3, $1,845 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
4th: Michael Nesbitt, St. Paris, Ohio, five bass, 8-15, $942
5th: Chris Martinkovic, Hamilton, Ohio, five bass, 8-3, $1,107
6th: Brian Campbell, Oxford, Ohio, five bass, 8-2, $740
7th: James Rebholz, Morrow, Ohio, five bass, 7-13, $673
8th: Ryan Hipsher, Hillsboro, Ohio, five bass, 7-6, $606
9th: Matthew Strickland, Portsmouth, Ohio, five bass, 7-5, $538
10th: Seth Fricke, Oxford, Ohio, five bass, 7-4, $447
10th: Brandon Smith, Mason, Ohio, five bass, 7-4, $447
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Cunnagin caught a bass that weighed 4 pounds, 5 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $545.
Austin Thome of Oxford, Ohio, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,019 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 9 pounds, 9 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Austin Thome, Oxford, Ohio, five bass, 9-9, $2,019
2nd: Jeff Moorman, Liberty Township, Ohio, three bass, 8-5, $1,114
2nd: Jeffrey Smith, West Chester, Ohio, five bass, 8-5, $842
4th: Adam Radovic, Brecksville, Ohio, four bass, 6-6, $471
5th: Steve Sorrell, Beavercreek, Ohio, three bass, 5-7, $387
5th: Dan Goforth, Monroe, Ohio, two bass, 5-7, $387
7th: Bill Meyers, Urbana, Ohio, two bass, 5-1, $336
8th: Dylan Grace, Scottsburg, Ind., four bass, 4-15, $386
8th: Jacob Alltop, Lewistown, Ohio, four bass, 4-15, $286
10th: Scott Standafer, Felicity, Ohio, three bass, 4-12, $235
Jeff Moorman of Liberty Township, Ohio, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $272, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 13 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After three events, Sean Wieda of Alexandria, Kentucky, leads the Fishing Clash Buckeye Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 735 points, while Adam Radovic of Brecksville, Ohio, leads the Fishing Clash Buckeye Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 707 points.
The next event for BFL Buckeye Division anglers will be held Aug. 3, at Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-5 BFL Regional tournament on Kerr Lake in Henderson, South Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.
The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Chris Parks Claims Wire-To-Wire Win at Columbia River in BAM Tournament Trail Pro/Am
Bass Boat Technologies BAM Boardman Pro Am Presented by the the of Boardman Chamber of Commerce and Tackle Warehouse
Co-Angler Will Harris Also Goes Wire-To-Wire
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Skeet Reese Claims First Bass Pro Tour Win at MLF Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts at James River
General Tire pro catches 23 bass totaling 54-3 on final day to earn top award of $100,000
RICHMOND, Va. (June 30, 2024) – On his 55th birthday, Skeet Reese of Auburn, California, received one of the best presents of his life. The newly-announced Bass Fishing Hall of Famer added his first Bass Pro Tour trophy to his long list of accolades at the Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Stage Six Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts on the James River, plus the $100,000 top prize that came with it.
Reese totaled 54 pounds, 3 ounces on 23 scorable bass during Sunday’s Championship Round. He would need just about all of it, as pro Jeff Sprague of Wills Point, Texas, put together a furious late-day rally but ultimately fell 3-11 shy of Reese’s total.
The California pro said the 12th victory of his legendary career will go down as one of his most memorable, as each passing season has made him increasingly hungry to join the list of Bass Pro Tour champions.
“This I what I’ve been fishing for the last five years out here, trying to be able to be in a position to hoist one of these Bass Pro Tour trophies,” Reese said. “To beat the group of guys that we compete against – I mean, literally, this is the best group of anglers assembled ever in the history of the sport. So, to beat these guys, that means a lot to me.”
Between his highlighter yellow color scheme and effervescent personality, Reese has never been one to blend in. This week, standing out paid off.
Like just about everyone else in the field, Reese started each day of the Qualifying Round in the Chickahominy River, noting that the tides were perfect for the healthy bass population in the James tributary to feed each morning. Later in the day, he would run back up the James, chasing the low tide. A late flurry on the second day of qualifying near the mouth of the Appomattox River not only assured him a spot in the Knockout Round but showed him the potential of the area.
Assessing the changing tides and the cumulative fishing pressure on the Chickahominy, Reese decided to start both the Knockout and Championship Rounds around the mouth of the Appomattox. Fishing farther upriver than most of his peers gave him a lower tide during the morning – the one time of day bass seemed to feed regardless of tide.
“The tides weren’t getting right, plus the fish were getting pressured,” Reese explained. “So, I was trying to fish for fish that were not getting hammered as much as what was going on down in the Chick.”
On Championship Sunday, Reese’s decision paid off to the tune of six scorable bass in the first 20 minutes. He wound up totaling nearly 30 pounds during Period 1, taking a lead he would never relinquish.
While just about everyone found the bite best around low tide, the fact that Reese was able to generate bites amid higher water proved key. Sprague caught just one bass during the first three hours of competition. Despite stacking up 31-7 in the final period, he couldn’t quite dig out of that hole.
“I wasn’t expecting to catch as many as I did this morning, and I put the hammer on ‘em and caught almost 30 pounds that first period,” Reese said. “I was like, ‘So, you’re saying I have a chance?’”
Reese’s bait selection also differed from the rest of the field. Fishing “the way I like to fish” – that is, power fishing around shallow cover – Reese targeted docks and bridge pilings, primarily using a Lucky Craft BDS1 crankbait. He put on a close-quarters casting clinic with the Dive model from his newly released Reese Fishing line of rods, which he paired with a KastKing MG12 reel and 15-pound-test Berkley Trilene fluorocarbon.
“I fished a bladed jig a lot the first day, and I caught a decent amount of fish on it, but it just seemed like the Lucky Craft wound up getting bigger bites for me consistently,” Reese said. “Even if I was fishing water that other guys had fished, it’s something that they weren’t throwing. It was a different look and feel, and once I got dialed into it, I was like, alright, they’re eating this thing.”
After his morning flurry, Reese steadily added to his total throughout the day. He never went an hour of competition time without catching at least one scorable bass. A 2-2 and 1-10 caught within a few casts of one another with little more than an hour left proved to be the winning fish, although Reese had to sweat out the final few minutes as Sprague caught six bass for 12-5 in a 22-minute span, pulling within one big bite of the lead.
“I went from being, ‘I got this no problem’ to, ‘oh crap, what’s going to happen?” the ever-colorful Reese said. “Thank goodness I built up a big lead early … It was meant to be. I’m going to hold that trophy, and that means a lot.”
As the time ticked away and Reese got closer and closer to the win, it became evident how bad he wanted it. He punctuated most of his fish catches with a shout or a growl. When his boat official confirmed that he’d finished the day atop SCORETRACKER®, he unleashed his loudest yell yet.
The triumph added another highlight to an unforgettable year. In March, Reese learned that he’d been selected as one of five new members of the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. He’ll be formally inducted in September.
“Getting inducted into the Hall of Fame, they kind of tell you you’re old, and so to be able to get inducted into the Hall of Fame and win again the same year, that’s as good as it gets,” Reese said. “So, there’s a little exclamation point on it.”
The victory will also go a long way toward extending Reese’s Hall of Fame career beyond this year. With the Bass Pro Tour set to trim its roster to 65 anglers in 2025, Reese entered the season on the wrong side of the cut line. Two tough tournaments to start the year put him in a dire situation, 78th out of 80 anglers in points.
However, Reese turned it around with a Top 10 at Lake Eufaula, then added a 21st-place finish at the Chowan River and capped the charge with this week’s victory. He now sits 25th in the season-long standings – virtually guaranteed to keep his spot on the Bass Pro Tour roster and well positioned to qualify for REDCREST 2025 on Lake Guntersville, where he’s won twice.
Perhaps most important, he proved to himself that, as his career continues, he still has what it takes to hang with the top anglers on tour.
“I wanted to make sure, for myself, personally, that I was able to compete against the best group of anglers in the world and still win,” Reese said. “It’s just something I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve got lots of trophies, but I’ve been seeing how many guys have been winning the Bass Pro Tour trophies, and I said, I want one of those.”
The top 10 pros from the General Tire Stage 6 at the James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts finished:
1st: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 23 bass, 54-3, $100,000
2nd: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 25 bass, 50-8, $45,000
3rd: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 16 bass, 37-3, $38,000
4th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 16 bass, 35-9, $32,000
5th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 16 bass, 34-10, $30,000
6th: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 14 bass, 32-11, $26,000
7th: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 14 bass, 30-4, $23,000
8th: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 12 bass, 24-9, $21,000
9th: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 10 bass, 18-2, $19,000
10th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., seven bass, 14-6, $16,000
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 153 scorable bass weighing 332 pounds, 1 ounce, caught by 10 pros Sunday, which included one 5-pounder, three 4-pounders and 10 3-pounders.
Thrift earned Sunday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a 5-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bass that he caught on a speed worm during Period 3, while the $3,000 prize for heaviest bass of the tournament went to Pike Road, Alabama’s Keith Poche, who caught a largemouth weighing 7 pounds, 10 ounces on Day 1 of Group A competition.
Sunday’s action didn’t have much bearing on the battle for the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year crown, with the top four anglers in the points all missing out on the Championship Round. Thus, the situation remains the same: Jacob Wheeler will head to the season finale at the St. Lawrence River with a 19-point lead over Alton Jones Jr. Because Wheeler has won twice this year, even if Jones wins Stage Seven, Wheeler would prevail in a tiebreaker, which means if he makes the Knockout Round, he will claim his third AOY title in the past four years.
While a slip-up seems unlikely, should Wheeler falter, Jones, Dustin Connell and even rookie Drew Gill could be in the mix to win. Connell sits 16 points behind Jones, with Gill 8 points back of him.
Fishing Clash, an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide, is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League. You can download Fishing Clash for free in the App Store and on Google Play or log on to www.fishingclash.game for more information.
The General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts featured the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers caught as much weight as they could each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament featured anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The six-day tournament, hosted by Richmond Region Tourism, showcased 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
Television coverage of the General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts Championship Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 9 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, Rapala, REDCON1, Star brite, Suzuki, Toyota, U.S. Air Force and WIX Filters.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Japan's Ito spot-on in Alabama for win in TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake
June 30, 2024
CULLMAN, Ala. — The Bassmaster Elite Series Media Guide notes that Smith Lake is Taku Ito’s favorite U.S. fishery.
On Sunday, at the TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite Series stop at Smith Lake, he showed the world why.
Ito, a 38-year-old pro from Chiba, Japan, led a field of 98 Elites with a four-day total of 20 bass totaling 58 pounds. That was 4-1 more than Robert Gee, who finished second with 53-15, and 4-2 more than Jay Przekurat, who placed third with 53-14.
Ito claimed $100,000 for finishing first in the derby, which was the second Bassmaster Elite Series win of his career. He snagged $2,000 more for having the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag (he caught 16-9 on Championship Sunday) and separate $1,000 prizes for the 5-12 spotted bass that anchored the bag. That fish was both the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the day and of the tournament.
It was a wild finish to what had been a difficult tournament for many of the Elites. The Alabama heat made Smith’s fabled spotted bass bite go slack at times, and most bass caught ranged from 1 to 2 pounds. The heat index, which climbed into triple digits during the final three days of the tournament, made the sluggish bite that much more grueling.
But Ito had the right mix on Smith. He caught his best bass using a 14-millimeter OSP Saikoro Dice Rubber Magnum bait. The magnum-sized lure, which is not yet in distribution, was the difference maker, he said, with the bigger size sparking Smith’s spots into biting in the broiling heat. Ito said he was drop-shotting the lure rigged with a 3/16-ounce weight.
He also credited a thunderstorm that threatened north-central Alabama Sunday afternoon for changing his fortunes on Day 4.
“The storm coming brought many big fish to me, in 25 feet, 30 feet (of water),” he said. “They were on brush piles. I had some smaller fish in the morning, but it all changed when the storm (threatened). I lost a 3-pounder, but that 5-12 was so awesome.”
Ito had bags of 13-10, 13-11 and 14-2 leading up to his tournament-best bag on Day 4. His three-day total of 41-7 trailed only Gee, who had 41-9 and the pole position to start Sunday.
Ito, Gee and Przekurat battled throughout the morning, with each grabbing the lead at one point. A single ounce separated the trio at one point mid-morning, but Ito bagged a 2-5 bass before noon that gave him a slim five-ounce cushion on his top two rivals at Smith.
He blew the derby open an hour later with his 5-12, easily the biggest bass of the tournament.
“Smith Lake always is 100 percent my favorite lake,” he said. “It’s beautiful for sightseeing and it has beautiful bass. And the spotted bass, I like them. I don’t like so much the largemouth bass and there aren’t that many here. So, Smith Lake is perfect for me.”
Ito said he also threw a 3.6-inch Nories Flip Gill (Neko-rigged) and a Nories Wrapping Minnow Spy Bait for key bites earlier in the tournament.
Gee, of Knoxville, Tenn., was looking for his first B.A.S.S. win. Though he fell short of that goal, he was pleased with his finish. He caught 12-6 on Championship Sunday.
“I was LivesScoping the whole week for bait balls and fish roaming around the lake,” he said. “I was fishing in the middle of the lake for both single fish and wolfpacks. The main baits for me this week were a 4-inch Yamamoto Shad Shape in smoke color - a natural shad color. And what really saved my butt today was a homemade hair jig that a buddy of mine from Oklahoma ties. It’s like a crappie jig that’s sized for bass. It was big for me today.”
Przekurat, of Plover, Wis., caught 12-8 on Sunday.
“I was fishing timber in the middle of the lake that had a lot of bait around it, in anywhere from 40 to 120 feet,” he said. “The Strike King Baby Z-Too, in both Gray Glide and Smokey Shad, was my main bait … It was a big week for me. Taking a Top 3 in an Elite event is huge.”
Rounding out the Top 10 at Smith Lake are fourth, Cory Johnston, 53-1; fifth, Tyler Williams, 52-8; sixth, Cooper Gallant, 51-15; seventh, Kyle Patrick, 51-9; eighth, JT Thompkins, 50-7; ninth, Cody Huff, 49-13; and 10th, Justin Hamner, 49-10.
Alabama’s Hamner, winner of the 2024 Classic, leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 595 points. Illinois’ Trey McKinney is second with 571 points, followed by Missouri’s Huff in third with 569, Canada’s Chris Johnston in fourth with 556 and Tennessee’s Jacob Foutz in fifth with 556.
McKinney leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 571 points, followed by Tennessee’s John Garrett in second with 553 points and South Carolina’s Thompkins in third with 547.
Ito also took home an additional $3,000 for being the highest-placing entrant in the Toyota Bonus Bucks program, while Huff earned $2,000 for being the second-highest placing entrant.
As part of the Yamaha Power Pay program, Ito earned an additional $4,000 while Gee claimed an additional $1,500 for being the second-highest placing entrant.
Visit Cullman hosted the tournament.
2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
About B.A.S.S.B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.
2024 TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake 6/27-6/30
Smith Lake, Cullman AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 20 58-00 103 $105,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 13-11 Day 3: 5 14-02 Day 4: 5 16-09
2. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 20 53-15 102 $35,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 14-02 Day 4: 5 12-06
3. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 20 53-14 101 $30,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 14-08 Day 3: 5 13-03 Day 4: 5 12-08
4. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 20 53-01 100 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 13-05 Day 4: 5 12-06
5. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 20 52-08 99 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 11-04 Day 3: 5 13-12 Day 4: 5 14-10
6. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 20 51-15 98 $19,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 12-13 Day 4: 5 13-01
7. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 20 51-09 97 $18,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 5 13-07 Day 4: 5 11-07
8. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 20 50-07 96 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 5 11-14 Day 4: 5 12-00
9. Cody Huff Ava, MO 20 49-13 95 $16,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 5 11-04 Day 4: 5 09-08
10. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 20 49-10 94 $16,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 11-10 Day 4: 5 11-05
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PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 04-07 $1,000.00
2 Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 04-07 $1,000.00
3 Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 04-09 $1,000.00
4 Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 05-12 $1,000.00
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PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 05-12 $2,000.00
CRUSHCITY MONSTER BAG
Taku Ito Dalton, GA 16-09 $2,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 92 480 1098-15
2 88 460 1057-12
3 40 229 538-09
4 10 50 125-12
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230 1219 2821-00
Bigger Than Bass Fishing
By Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
Gerald Swindle had every right to be upset at the end of day two’s weigh-in at the TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite on Smith Lake. The fan favorite and Alabama native finished the day in 51st place, falling just one ounce short of the top 50 cut and the chance to fish on semifinal Saturday.
To throw a little salt in the wound, Swindle caught enough weight to finish well within Saturday’s cut, but a four-ounce dead fish penalty on Thursday cost him seven places and a $10,000 check. Anglers knew ounces would be critical on Smith Lake this week, with weights being stacked as tightly as any tournament in recent memory. Unfortunately for Swindle, a single ounce cost him big time.
But following the weigh-in the Team Toyota pro wasn’t complaining or gloomy, and instead was sporting a soft smile as he gave his new friend Aiden Beck a behind the scenes tour of a Bassmaster Elite Series tournament. Aiden is a fellow Alabamian and came to Smith Lake in hopes to meet his favorite angler, Gerald Swindle.
12-year-old Aiden Beck is battling cancer in the form of an inoperable brain tumor, but he doesn’t let that diminish his positivity or his love of the outdoors. Dan’O Sullivan of Advanced Angler is friends with Aiden’s family and made sure to make the introduction before Swindle crossed the stage on Friday.
Swindle heard his story, gave the young man a big hug and insisted he joined him on the Bassmaster stage to help him weigh his fish. The duo looked like old friends as they posed with a pair of Smith Lake spotted bass before Swindle summed up the moment in a genuine, heartfelt interview with emcee Dave Mercer.
“This puts things in perspective for me because I get so stressed with wanting to catch them and do good, but you come in and meet somebody who is fighting a bigger issue than trying to catch a stupid fish it kinda brings me back down to earth,” Swindle said.
“Sometimes we get caught up with work or what we’re doing, but we need to sit back and realize that our problems aren’t that bad. I guarantee if I asked everyone here to stand up and put your problems in a briefcase and you looked around at everyone else’s battles, you’d probably pick your problems back up and go home because you’d see your problems really aren’t too bad.”
Swindle closed this sentiment by asking for prayers and positivity for Aiden, reiterating that the young man is going to “bring it home” and continue to whoop cancers butt. The 8th grade outdoor obsessed young man from Rainbow, Alabama loves to fish Texas-rigged flukes and is determined to beat cancer so he can one day get back to the Bassmaster stage as a tournament angler.
Sure, Swindle was disappointed with his competitive result yesterday but as big of a personality as “G-man” is known to be, he’s got an even bigger heart, and he knows some things are bigger than bass fishing.
Arkansas’ Dylan Hays Paces Final 10 Anglers at MLF Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six
Hot Springs, Arkansas pro catches 22 bass weighing 53-13 to lead Saturday’s Knockout Round, field of 20 set for Sunday’s Final Day Championship Round
RICHMOND, Va. (June 29, 2024) – The James River has produced bass in bunches during General Tire Stage Six Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts, with anglers routinely catching 20-plus fish in a day. While the rate at which bass hit the scales flagged a bit during Saturday’s Knockout Round, pro Dylan Hays of Hot Springs, Arkansas, made up for it with some serious quality on his way to topping SCORETRACKER.
Hays totaled 53-13 on 22 scorable bass, which put him 3-6 ahead of Andy Montgomery. Four of the Arkansas pro’s fish weighed at least 4 pounds, including the Berkley Big Bass — a 5-12 that earned him an extra $1,000. His five biggest catches combined to weigh nearly 22 pounds.
Hays’ total marked the third-best day for any angler during Stage Six, and he said it could have been even better, noting that he lost another big one that likely would have topped 5 pounds at the boat. Still, after weights zero overnight, he predicted the Championship Round will be “anyone’s game.”
The tidal nature of the James has made for some pronounced bite windows this week. While that remained the case for Hays Saturday, with most of his weight coming during three distinct flurries, he didn’t only capitalize on low tide, when the bite has been best.
Even though high tide had just passed, Hays started the morning strong, boating five scorable bass in the first hour. He wound up totaling 13-1 during the first period. That marked a welcome change after he struggled during each of his first two mornings on the water. Hays knows finding a way to add to his total outside of the low-tide bite will be pivotal to his chances of earning his first Bass Pro Tour win.
“The biggest factor for me is trying to not have big slow periods on high tide,” he said. “That’s been so hard all week long, in practice and everything. I feel like I could have had a lot more weight today if I wanted to, but a big key to that was I caught like 13 pounds in the first couple hours.”
While his pair of 50-pound days might not suggest it, Hays said the James has tested his patience. Forcing himself not to run back to his low-tide juice when the tide is high and the bite is tough has been important. He’ll need to maintain that discipline Sunday, with low tide not forecast to arrive at the mouth of the Chickahominy River until around 3 p.m.
“One big key is not getting in a hurry and fishing the tide when it’s wrong, not fishing a good spot when the tide’s not right,” he said. “Because I haven’t caught a big one on a high-tide situation yet. Zero all week.”
Once low tide arrived, Hays took advantage. In a span of a little more than 30 minutes during the second period, he caught six fish for 15-12. That included a pair of 4-pounders one minute apart.
Running a pattern on a roughly 10-mile stretch of the Chickahominy Rover, Hays would continue to pick up a scorable bass here and there throughout the afternoon. With about 1 hour, 20 minutes left in the competition day, he knew his spot in the Championship Round field had been secured, so he decided to check on a spot he hadn’t visited since practice. There, he surprised himself by catching the aforementioned 5-12. He then ran to a brand new spot and promptly caught a 4-14. He's hopeful those spots can produce for him again during the Championship Round.
“I was like, you know what, I need to go just check some stuff, and I pulled up there and I caught the 5-12 like third cast,” Hays said. “I’m like, dang, I need to get off this. So, I was like, how about those over there? So, went over there, and something just looked good. Just trying to fish free — that’s something I’ve done a lot this week. And like third cast, catch another almost-5-pounder.”
Of the 14 bass of 4-plus pounds caught by the 20-angler Knockout Round field, Hays accounted for four of them. He admitted he’s not sure what, exactly, was the key to generating such big bites, but he attributed some credit to his bait choice. All of Hays’ fish ate a white 1/2-ounce bladed jig from Brazalo Custom Lures with a Zoom Z-Craw as the trailer. He tossed it on a 7-foot-3 Kistler Helium rod with a 7.3:1 Kistler Chromium reel spooled with 15-pound TUF-LINE fluorocarbon.
Between the fluctuating tide and fishing pressure, the bite has been different each day on the James. Add in the fact that just about every angler in the Top 10 has already experienced at least one day in which he’s topped 45 pounds, and Hays knows the competition will be wide open. Predicting it will take upwards of 60 pounds to win, he’s optimistic about his chances of lifting his first trophy on a national tour.
“Man, it’s anybody’s game,” he said. “There's a lot of guys that have caught a lot of weight this week. We’ll see what’s going on tomorrow, but I’m pumped to be able to go back.”
The top 10 pros from Saturday’s Knockout Round that now advance to the final day of competition on the James River are:
1st: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 22 bass, 53-13
2nd: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 23 bass, 50-7
3rd: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 23 bass, 48-13
4th: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 18 bass, 44-12
5th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 19 bass, 44-8
6th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 18 bass, 39-14
7th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 13 bass, 34-12
8th: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 16 bass, 34-8
9th: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 16 bass, 34-1
10th: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 14 bass, 32-15
Eliminated from competition are:
11th: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 13 bass, 28-0, $10,000
12th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 11 bass, 23-14, $10,000
13th: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 11 bass, 23-14, $10,000
14th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 12 bass, 23-0, $10,000
15th: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., eight bass, 21-6, $10,000
16th: Alton Jones, Jr., Waco, Texas, 10 bass, 20-2, $10,000
17th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., seven bass, 19-7, $10,000
18th: Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., eight bass, 18-5, $10,000
19th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., six bass, 17-11, $10,000
20th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., three bass, 5-14, $10,000
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 271 bass weighing 620 pounds even caught by the 20 pros Saturday. The catch included five 5-pounders, nine 4-pounders and 25 3-pounders.
Pro Dylan Hays earned Saturday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a largemouth weighing 5 pounds, 12 ounces. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The six-day tournament, hosted by Richmond Region Tourism, showcases 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The 39 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 39 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After the two-day Qualifying Round was complete, the anglers that finished first through 10th from both groups advanced to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights were zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers competed to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. Sunday, in the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
The final 10 anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from Osborne Landing, located at 9530 Osborne Turnpike in Richmond. MLF has enacted the Trailering Policy for the entirety of the event, meaning pros can trailer their boats and drive them to any ramp on the fishery closer to where they plan to start fishing. Pros taking advantage of the trailering policy will leave Osborne Landing at 6:45 a.m. ET daily and will begin fishing at 8 a.m. ET (Lines In) with the full field.
Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the landing, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on Championship Sunday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on
MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
On Sunday, June 30, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit Osborne Landing for the MLF Watch Party and Kids Fishing Derby. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.
The General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament features anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.
Fishing Clash, an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide, is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League. You can download Fishing Clash for free in the App Store and on Google Play or log on to www.fishingclash.game for more information.
Television coverage of the General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts Championship Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 9 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, Rapala, REDCON1, Star brite, Suzuki, Toyota, U.S. Air Force and WIX Filters.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Gee squeaks into Day 3 lead in Bassmaster Elite Series event at Smith Lake
June 29, 2024
CULLMAN, Ala. — With the leaderboard as tight as it’s been at the TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake, the door was open for any of the 50 remaining anglers in the tournament to move up the standings.
Robert Gee is that guy.
After lurking near the lead for the first half of the tournament, the 25-year-old Knoxville, Tenn., resident grabbed the pole position on Saturday with a 14-pound, 2-ounce bag that gave him a three-day total of 41-9.
It’s the slimmest of cushions, though, with every one of the remaining 10 anglers in the field less than four pounds from Gee’s lead. And that’s perfectly fitting for what could be one of the most competitive Championship Sundays in recent memory.
Taku Ito, the 38-year-old veteran from Chiba, Japan, is just behind Gee with a three-day weight of 41-7. Jay Przekurat, a 25-year-old Elite pro from Stevens Point, Wis., is third with 41-6.
Gee’s lead might be bigger, but he had three fish expire on Day 2 of the tournament, which resulted in a 12-ounce deduction to his daily total. In a difficult derby, when every ounce is precious, he’s hoping that unfortunate situation doesn’t come back to haunt him.
“It’s going to be a game of ounces,” Gee said. “And I might be up by a pound without that penalty. It was the heat. I guess I didn’t buy enough ice. It was just stress on the fish from being so hot.”
Better fish care on Saturday helped Gee count every ounce. He bagged 14-2 on Day 3, following 13-7 and 14-0 totals in the first half of the derby.
While many of the 98 anglers who started the tournament struggled for consistency, Gee’s steady hand has impressed. He’s fishing in the middle of the main channel within a mile or two of the Smith Lake Dam, LiveScoping for larger spotted bass chasing pods of threadfin shad and herring into 15 to 40 feet of water. He saw a 5-pound spotted bass on his electronics earlier in the week, and he’s hoping to catch that big one before the tournament ends.
“I lost a really fat one on the first day, a 4- or 5-pounder,” he said. “I’ve been using a smokey Yamamoto jighead minnow, and it’s worked so far. I don’t see myself fishing anywhere else.”
Gee said he’s confident he can catch another good bag to clinch what would be his first Bassmaster win.
“I’m only up a couple of ounces, and I usually like going into the final day being a little bit behind,” Gee said. “But I’ll be OK with the lead, too. It’s not much of one, anyway.”
Ito also has been consistent at Smith, despite the difficult bite and scorching temperatures (the heat index climbed into triple digits again on Saturday). He caught 14-2 on Day 3, the same weight posted by Gee, to compliment limits of 13-10 and 13-11 earlier in the week.
A trio of 3-pounders boosted Ito’s efforts Saturday. Though that might not stand out in a typical tournament, 3-pounders have been something of a brass ring on Smith this week when a $100,000 first prize is on the line.
“I got bites the whole day,” Ito said. “I found many schooling fish, and I used many different baits to get bites. I’m fishing about 25 feet deep on rocks and timber. There haven’t been very many big fish, but I found some this morning. I had a 3-2 and a couple of nice 2-pounders before I caught two more 3-pounders later in the day.”
Ito previously listed Smith Lake as one of his two favorite fisheries, though his best finish here was an eighth-place showing at a Southern Open in 2019. He expressed the same affection for Smith on Saturday.
“I love it here,” he said. “It’s very deep and there aren’t many largemouth, which is fine. I’m a spotted bass fan.”
Kyoya Fujita, of Lake Forest, Calif., won $1,000 for the 4-9 he caught Saturday, which was the Phoenix Big Bass of the Day. The catch also put him in the lead for the $2,000 Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament. Todd Auten, of Clover, S.C., caught a 16-pound limit on Friday, giving him the lead for the $2,000 Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag prize.
The field of 50 was cut to 10 for Championship Sunday. Behind Gee, Ito and Przekurat are fourth, Cory Johnston, 40-11; fifth, Cody Huff, 40-5; sixth, Kyle Patrick, 40-2; seventh, Cooper Gallant, 38-14; eighth, JT Thompkins, 38-7; ninth, Justin Hammer, 38-5; and 10th, Tyler Williams, 37-14.
The fourth and final day of the TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake will begin with a 6 am. CT take-off from Smith Lake Park. Weigh-in is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
Alabama’s Hamner, winner of the 2024 Classic, leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 596 points. Missouri’s Huff is second with 573 points, followed by Illinois’ Trey McKinney in third with 571, Canada’s Chris Johnston in fourth with 556 and Tennessee’s Jacob Foutz in fifth with 556.
McKinney leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 571 points, followed by Tennessee’s John Garrett in second with 553 points and South Carolina’s Thompkins in third with 547.
Sunday’s tournament coverage begins at 8 a.m. on FS1 and runs through 1 p.m. Sunday’s LIVE coverage will continue on Bassmaster.com at 1 p.m. All coverage times are ET.
The tournament is being hosted by Visit Cullman.
2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
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Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.
2024 TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake 6/27-6/30
Smith Lake, Cullman AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 15 41-09 103
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 14-02
2. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 15 41-07 102
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 13-11 Day 3: 5 14-02
3. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 15 41-06 101
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 14-08 Day 3: 5 13-03
4. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 15 40-11 100
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 13-05
5. Cody Huff Ava, MO 15 40-05 99
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 5 11-04
6. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 15 40-02 98
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 5 13-07
7. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 15 38-14 97
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 12-13
8. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 15 38-07 96
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 5 11-14
9. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 15 38-05 95
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 11-10
10. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 15 37-14 94
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 11-04 Day 3: 5 13-12
11. John Garrett Union City, TN 15 37-13 93 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 12-07 Day 3: 5 11-14
12. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 15 37-11 92 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 12-13
13. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 15 37-10 91 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 10-03 Day 3: 5 14-10
14. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 15 37-10 90 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 12-06 Day 3: 5 12-13
15. Cole Sands Calhoun , TN 15 37-09 89 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 5 11-11
16. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 15 37-09 88 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 12-11
17. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 15 37-08 87 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 13-05 Day 3: 5 11-15
18. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 15 37-04 86 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 12-09
19. Bryan New Leesville, SC 15 37-02 85 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 12-01 Day 3: 5 10-14
20. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 15 36-14 84 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 12-01 Day 3: 5 13-13
21. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 15 36-07 83 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 5 11-13
22. Wes Logan Springville, AL 15 36-03 82 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 5 11-07
23. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 15 36-03 81 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 5 11-13
24. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 15 36-02 80 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 12-02 Day 3: 5 13-00
25. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 15 36-02 79 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 12-05 Day 3: 5 11-15
26. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 15 36-01 78 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 12-02 Day 3: 5 10-03
27. Ben Milliken New Caney, TX 15 35-15 77 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 10-03 Day 3: 5 12-13
28. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 15 35-09 76 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 11-00 Day 3: 5 11-14
29. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 15 35-07 75 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 5 08-07
30. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 14 35-06 74 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 4 08-14
31. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 15 35-03 73 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 11-03 Day 3: 5 12-00
32. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 15 35-02 72 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 10-14 Day 3: 5 11-13
33. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 15 35-01 71 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 11-08 Day 3: 5 11-02
34. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 15 35-00 70 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-14 Day 3: 5 10-13
35. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 15 34-10 69 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 5 11-11
36. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 15 34-10 68 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 11-10 Day 3: 5 11-00
37. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 15 34-08 67 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 5 10-10
38. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 15 34-07 66 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 11-03 Day 3: 5 11-07
39. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 14 34-06 65 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 10-08 Day 3: 4 11-02
40. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 15 33-14 64 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 5 10-09
41. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 15 33-13 63 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 09-13
42. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 15 33-11 62 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 09-12 Day 3: 5 10-09
43. Seth Feider New Market, MN 14 32-14 61 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 14-07 Day 3: 4 09-02
44. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 14 32-12 60 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 12-11 Day 3: 4 07-03
45. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 13 32-06 59 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 13-08 Day 3: 3 04-12
46. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 14 32-01 58 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 4 07-12
47. Todd Auten Clover, SC 12 29-13 57 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 16-00 Day 3: 2 03-03
48. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 12 28-13 56 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 10-04 Day 3: 2 02-10
49. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 12 27-12 55 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 10-07 Day 3: 2 04-00
50. Mike Huff London, KY 10 23-01 54 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 12-13 Day 3: 0 00-00
------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 04-07 $1,000.00
2 Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 04-07 $1,000.00
3 Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 04-09 $1,000.00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 92 480 1098-15
2 88 460 1057-12
3 40 229 538-09
------------------------------
220 1169 2695-04
Custom Mugs and “Mindless” Fishing
By Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
Matt Arey had plenty to smile about after day one concluded for the TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite on Smith Lake. Not only did the Team Toyota pro bring over 12-pounds of spotted bass to the scales, which has him firmly inside the cut in this tight-weight tournament, he was also gifted two custom tumblers (drinking mugs) for his daughters Reese and Wren.
Arey had just finished weighing his fish and was walking back to his boat when he saw a familiar face with two gift bags in her hands.
“I met a sweet lady named Rhonda and her husband at Pickwick Lake two years ago and she gifted me the coolest custom mug,” Arey explained. “When I say custom, I mean straight up one of a kind. It had an almost exact replica of the sponsors on my jersey, and I just thought it was the coolest thing. Her business is called Custom Creations by Rhonda Mae. Today, I saw Rhonda again but this time she had two homemade tumblers for my daughters Reese and Wren. That’s gotta be the most thoughtful gift I’ve ever been given by a fan.”
The Shelby, North Carolina native is proud girl dad and isn’t ashamed to tell you just how much his Taylor Swift-loving daughters and wife Emily mean to him. While a gift for himself would have gotten Arey excited, it was plain to see that he was touched by the gesture because these mugs were for two of the people he loves most.
It took his mind off the Alabama heat and tricky fishing for a moment, which he welcomed. While his day one catch and 30th place standing wouldn’t reflect it, Arey explained he was somewhat struggling mentally with the way he is catching his fish on Smith.
Arey, like most of the field, is using forward-facing-sonar to target suspended or roaming spotted bass in extremely deep water near the main river channel of this beautiful fishery.
“I’m happy to have what I caught today but in a weird way I’m almost not proud of how I caught them if that makes any sense,” Arey said scratching his head. “All we (he and fellow Elite Series competitors) are doing is getting around a lot of bait and bass and zigzagging around with our heads down all day. 90% of the field is scoping, and you can absolutely catch fish doing it, so that’s what I’ll continue to do to cash a check and get points.
“But in my honest opinion, it doesn’t feel like bass fishing. I’m not following my instincts or using my brain really, outside of chasing down individual fish and maybe making minor bait adjustments. Lowrance Active Target 2 is a phenomenal tool and it’s one of the coolest products to ever hit our industry. But when the conditions setup like Smith this week, FFS has taken a lot of the sport out of tournament fishing.”
Arey has proven extremely adept at using FFS, cashing several checks this year “pinging a minnow” or scoping. For many competitors like Arey, this tournament is mentally taxing for a multitude of reasons. Not only are anglers battling summer heat and boat wakes, but they are having to fight the urge to go fish any techniques that don’t include staring at fish on their electronics.
While you could argue this has long been the case in summertime, offshore-dominated tournaments, Arey and many other pro anglers believe the efficiency FFS provides presents a whole new ball game. This has been an ongoing conversation the last few years, especially in 2024, and it seems as though the way Smith Lake is setting up this week will bring the topic to the forefront again.
Nick LeBrun Wins Group B Qualifying Round at MLF Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six
Louisiana pro catches two-day total of 95-3 to win Group B Qualifying Round, field of 20 set for Saturday’s Knockout Round
RICHMOND, Va. (June 28, 2024) – The James River continues to kick out impressive numbers of bass under the sweltering Virginia heat at the Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Stage Six Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts . The James is proving to be a very healthy fishery through four days of competition, the latest example being the 43 bass loaded onto SCORETRACKER® by Nick LeBrun of Bossier City, Louisiana, to the tune of 95 pounds, 3 ounces to win Group B.
With a 20-8 lead over second place heading into Friday and a cushion of over 30 pounds over the elimination line, LeBrun was never in doubt of advancing to the Knockout Round and spent most of his time Friday looking for more water. Still, LeBrun added another 21-9 to secure a nearly 10-pound margin over second-place angler Justin Lucas of Guntersville, Alabama, who had a day’s best 44-7 on 18 bass.
There was plenty of shuffling in the standings below LeBrun, but only one new entrant into the Top 10 who wasn’t there to begin the day. Brent Ehrler of Redlands, California, jumped from 13th into the final spot, and Clanton, Alabama's Dustin Connell fell from fourth to 11th.
As the winner of the 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit stop on the James, LeBrun has the most recent pro-level success in the field, and he's picking up right where he left off. His 73-10 on his first competition day would have been enough to advance to the Knockout Round, but he added some padding to his total and more information to his plan for the rest of the event.
"My game plan today was to catch a 5-pounder, but I never had that big bite," LeBrun said. "I threw topwater most of the day to get a big one, but it never happened. However, I still caught some scorable bass and learned a little bit."
LeBrun fished new water today but still monitored his best areas throughout the day. How many casts did he make in his primary areas?
"None,” LeBrun said. “I fished some good stuff but saved all of the main juice. I have two different areas, and one was getting a little pressure. The other one, I never saw a boat fishing it, and I ran past it a few times during the day. That was encouraging to see."
Looking ahead to Saturday’s Knockout Round, LeBrun is excited about the possibility of advancing to the Championship Round but is also tempering those expectations based on the tide schedule.
"I’m going to the spots that were good to me on the first day and hoping I can get on another flurry on the outgoing tide," he said. "That may not happen until the second period, though, because the tide keeps shifting later and later every day. The tide is going to be different and also during much hotter weather. That's my big 'what if?' that I'm thinking right now."
Overall, LeBrun likes his chances and feels right at home on the James, given his success in the past two years.
"I fished carefree today, and I'm excited for tomorrow,” LeBrun said. “I'm glad I was in Group B this time so I can get back there tomorrow without an off day without having to think about it. I'm excited to see what's going to happen tomorrow."
As for what he thinks it will take to advance, LeBrun believes things are getting more challenging each day.
"It may take 40 or 45 pounds, somewhere in there, to advance," he said. "There will be a lot of recreational traffic since it's a weekend and the Chickahominy has been getting all the pressure. It might not even take that much to move on.”
On a day with very little movement on SCORETRACKER, California's Ehrler was the only angler who vaulted into the Knockout Round that wasn't inside the cut when the day began. That alone is a win for Ehrler.
"I feel good because, at this point in the event, I can't fall any more places," he said. "The last one to make it in your group, 20th place, is the worst I can do even if I don't catch another bass."
His hesitation about the Knockout Round bite stems from the tide, but he also predicts some fireworks at the end of the day.
"I don't like the tide because we keep losing a little bit of the best bite every day," Ehrler said. "We'll catch a little bit of it tomorrow in the last 45 minutes, which should make things very interesting. I could see a guy 15 pounds out of the cut and way down the standings make a huge rally to make it. You have to be at the right place at the right time, and I don't know where that will be, so I'll be rotating spots a lot tomorrow."
The top 10 pros from Group B that now advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round on James River are:
1st: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 43 bass, 95-3
2nd: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 35 bass, 85-6
3rd: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 40 bass, 84-7
4th: Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 37 bass, 81-11
5th: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 35 bass, 80-5
6th: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 42 bass, 80-3
7th: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 37 bass, 78-6
8th: Greg Vinson, Wetumka, Ala., 34 bass, 75-5
9th: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 28 bass, 73-4
10th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 33 bass, 73-4
Eliminated from competition are:
11th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 35 bass, 70-12
12th: Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., 30 bass, 65-12
13th: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 29 bass, 60-12
14th: Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 29 bass, 59-12
15th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 25 bass, 59-3
16th: Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., 28 bass, 56-12
17th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 28 bass, 54-12
18th: Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., 24 bass, 52-0
19th: Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., 24 bass, 50-1
20th: Matthew Stefan, Junction City, Wis., 21 bass, 49-3
21st: James Elam, Tulsa, Okla., 20 bass, 46-10
22nd: John Murray, Spring City, Tenn., 21 bass, 46-10
23rd: Jesse Wiggins, Addison, Ala., 19 bass, 46-9
24th: Mark Davis, Mount Ida, Ark., 21 bass, 45-12
25th: Randy Howell, Guntersville, Ala., 21 bass, 44-5
26th: Mark Rose, Wynne, Ark., 22 bass, 44-4
27th: Boyd Duckett, Guntersville, Ala., 21 bass, 43-11
28th: Jason Vance, Battle Ground, Ind., 19 bass, 42-6
29th: Chris Lane, Guntersville, Ala., 17 bass, 40-6
30th: Jeremy Lawyer, Sarcoxie, Mo., 20 bass, 40-6
31st: Martin Villa, Charlottesville, Va., 18 bass, 40-1
32nd: Dave Lefebre, Erie, Penn., 16 bass, 38-14
33rd: Gary Klein, Mingus, Texas, 15 bass, 38-8
34th: Mark Daniels Jr., Tuskegee, Ala., 18 bass, 38-0
35th: Anthony Gagliardi, Prosperity, S.C., 20 bass, 36-9
36th: Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., 15 bass, 35-2
37th: Fred Roumbanis, Russellville, Ark., 16 bass, 34-14
38th: Bradley Roy, Lancaster, Ky., 15 bass, 34-3
39th: Colby Schrumpf, Highland, Ill., 11 bass, 21-5
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 439 scorable bass weighing 953 pounds, 8 ounces, caught by 39 pros Friday, which included one 5-pounder, seven 4-pounders and 37 3-pounders.
Jacob Wheeler came into the event 14 points ahead of Alton Jones Jr. in the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year race. Both anglers have advanced to the Knockout Round, so the points difference when the anglers leave Virginia is still to be determined.
With just one event to go in the Bass Pro Tour season, the stakes couldn't be higher. Behind Wheeler and Jones, Dustin Connell and Drew Gill both missed the Knockout Round, potentially turning the race into a nail-biting showdown between the top two anglers. The outcome of the next event will be crucial, making it a must-watch for fishing fans.
James Elam of Tulsa, Oklahoma, earned Friday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a 5-pound, 10-ounce largemouth bass that he caught on an unnamed worm during Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
The six-day tournament, hosted by Richmond Region Tourism, showcases 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The 39 Anglers in Group A competed in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 39 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. Now that each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finished first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from Osborne Landing, located at 9530 Osborne Turnpike in Richmond. Due to long boat runs, tides and high temperatures, MLF has enacted the Trailering Policy for the entirety of the event, meaning pros can trailer their boats and drive them to any ramp on the fishery closer to where they plan to start fishing. Pros taking advantage of the trailering policy will leave Osborne Landing at 6:45 a.m. ET daily and will begin fishing at 8 a.m. ET (Lines In) with the full field.
Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the landing, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on the final four days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
On Saturday and Sunday, June 29-30, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit Osborne Landing for the MLF Watch Party and Kids Fishing Derby. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing each day. Additional fishing gear will be provided onsite for the fishing derby or kids can bring their own. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.
The General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament features anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.
Fishing Clash, an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide, is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League. You can download Fishing Clash for free in the App Store and on Google Play or log on to www.fishingclash.game for more information.
Television coverage of the General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts Championship Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 9 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, Rapala, REDCON1, Star brite, Suzuki, Toyota, U.S. Air Force and WIX Filters.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Huff heats up, claims Day 2 lead in Bassmaster Elite Series event at Smith Lake
June 28, 2024
CULLMAN, Ala. — The heat was on, literally and figuratively, on Day 2 of the TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake.
And at the halfway point of this Elite Series derby, Cody Huff is the one holding fellow Elite feet to the fire.
Huff, a 27-year-old pro from Ava, Mo., leads the tournament with a two-day total of 10 bass for 29 pounds, 1 ounce. And while that might not be the eye-popping weight the sport’s best sticks regularly post, it’s certainly an impressive total given the slack bite on Day 1 followed by blistering temperatures that pushed the heat index into triple digits Friday.
The heat was extreme enough that Huff came to the scales more than an hour early on Friday, weighing in at approximately 1 p.m.
“I had a fish die on me, and I didn’t want to take the chance of losing any more,” Huff said.
His 15-4 total Friday was the heaviest of the day, even with the expired fish factored into his total. He bagged 13-13 on Thursday.
Huff may have the tournament lead, but the secret to his success remains a mystery, much like Smith Lake has been for all competitors this week.
“You never know what kind of fish you’re on here, really, because the fish are moving a lot,” he said. “I ran through some areas in practice that I thought might have fish, and I’ve just been circulating back through them and catching what I can.”
Huff said he’s sharing some spots with competitors, but for the most part has focused on secondary spots, trying to get away from boat traffic. The forecasted warm weekend should bring out a bevy of recreational boaters, too, so Huff said catching an early limit will remain important.
“I know it’s gonna be bumpy out there with some wake, but it might play to my favor, being out of the way of most traffic,” Huff said.
The goal, he added, is to remain consistent.
“I’m catching fish,” he said. “I caught 103 (on Day 1), but you obviously have to weed through a lot of them to get the bigger fish. I didn’t catch nearly as many today, but I had an early limit. Today, I had a 3-5, but I didn’t have a 3-pounder at all on Day 1.”
And yet, he’s still in the lead.
“That doesn’t happen very often, having only one 3-pounder and the lead,” he said, chuckling.
Jay Przekurat, a 25-year-old pro from Stevens Point, Wis., is in second place on Smith with a two-day total of 28-3. He said all his keeper fish have been spotted bass, and that mornings have been the only time he’s hooked up.
“My bite just stops at about 11 o’clock,” he said. “But all that could change. The fish are moody here right now. I haven’t fished much new water, but these fish are educated.”
Przekurat caught a 4-pounder on Friday – pretty much the gold standard anglers are gunning for on Smith this week.
“That 4 is a rare fish right now,” he said. “It’s like catching a 7 or 8 on Toledo Bend. You get one, it’s a game-changer. It was for me. Without the 4-pounder, I’m at 13 pounds today rather than the 14-8 I caught.”
Przekurat said he’s fishing for spotted bass on timber in about 40 feet of water. His best bites have come on a Strike King Z-Too jerkbait in either Gray Glimmer or Smokey Shad colors.
“You have to roam around to find them,” he said, “and I’ve been keying on certain sections of the lake with better timber and more bait. You can LiveScope in some areas and not see a thing. But the spots like to hide in that deep timber. And there’s a lot of bait down there for them – threadfin shad, herring. There’s a meal down there.”
Longtime Elite angler Steve Kennedy, who hails from Auburn, Ala., is third at the tournament’s halfway point, with a 27-10 total. Kennedy moved up from fifth place courtesy of a 3-10 spot he hooked just before 11 a.m.
“There were seven or eight of them that showed up, a real wolfpack,” Kennedy said. “I could’ve had a bigger bag today, but when I swung back around on that group, I got three bites on a Glide but didn’t catch one of them. I took out a Senko and hooked a 3-pound largemouth, but he broke off, then I took out an Original Glide and just missed on another 2-pound largemouth.”
Robert Gee, a 25-year-old pro from Knoxville, is in fourth place with 27-7. Canada’s Cory Johnston is in fifth place with 27-6.
Mukwonago, Wis., pro Caleb Kuphall won $1,000 for the 4-7 he caught Friday, the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day. That ties him with Day 1 leader Hunter Shryock for the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Tournament and the $2,000 prize that goes with it. Shryock’s 15-15 total on Day 1 still leads for the Rapala CrushCity Monster Bag prize of $2,000.
A total of 90 of the 98 Elite anglers competing in the TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake caught limits on Friday. The Top 50 anglers advanced to fish on Day 3 of the tournament, which will begin with a 6 a.m. CT take-off from Smith Lake Park. Weigh-in is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m.
The Top 10 anglers after Saturday’s weigh-in will advance to fish on Championship Sunday with the winner taking home a top prize of $100,000. Everyone in the cut also will earn additional points in the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings.
Carbondale, Ill., rookie Trey McKinney self-reported after weigh-in that he received a phone call from a family member asking his whereabouts during competition and was alerted that he was late to check in for weigh-in, which violated rule C3 xiv of the Practice and Competition of the Official Rules of Competition. As a result, McKinney’s weight was disqualified for the day.
“Unfortunately, we made a mistake today that will cost us greatly in the long run,” McKinney said. “We don’t know why the Lord lets some things happen, but He has a plan, and the positivity is we get to fish to win for the rest of the year. Sometimes we don’t always know God’s plan for the future.”
As a result of the disqualification, McKinney slipped out of the lead for the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings.
Alabama’s Justin Hamner, winner of the 2024 Classic, leads the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 597 points. Missouri’s Cody Huff is second with 577 points, followed by McKinney in third with 571, Tennessee’s Jacob Foutz in fourth with 551 and Przekurat in fifth with 550.
McKinney leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 571 points, followed by Tennessee’s John Garrett in second with 548 points and South Carolina’s J.T. Thompkins in third with 544.
Saturday’s tournament coverage begins at 8 a.m. on FS1 and runs through 11 a.m. Saturday’s LIVE coverage will continue on Bassmaster.com at 11 a.m. Sunday’s coverage begins at 8 a.m. on FS1 and runs through 1 p.m. Sunday’s LIVE coverage will continue on Bassmaster.com at 1 p.m. All coverage times are ET.
The tournament is being hosted by Visit Cullman.
2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.
2024 TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake 6/27-6/30
Smith Lake, Cullman AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Cody Huff Ava, MO 10 29-01 103
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 15-04
2. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 10 28-03 102
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 14-08
3. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 27-10 101
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 13-08
4. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 10 27-07 100
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 14-00
5. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 10 27-06 99
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 12-10
6. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 10 27-05 98
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 13-11
7. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 10 27-00 97
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 12-08
8. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 10 26-11 96
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 12-10
9. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 10 26-11 95
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 13-03
10. Todd Auten Clover, SC 10 26-10 94
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 16-00
11. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 10 26-09 93
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 13-15
12. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 10 26-08 92
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 13-04
13. Bryan New Leesville, SC 10 26-04 91
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 12-01
14. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 10 26-03 90 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 10-04
15. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 10 26-01 89
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 14-04
16. John Garrett Union City, TN 10 25-15 88
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 12-07
17. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 25-14 87
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 12-02
18. Cole Sands Calhoun , TN 10 25-14 86
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 13-04
19. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 10 25-09 85
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 13-05
20. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 25-09 84
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 12-11
21. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 10 24-14 83
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 12-12
21. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 10 24-14 83
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 12-12
23. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 10 24-13 81
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 12-06
24. Wes Logan Springville, AL 10 24-12 80
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 13-04
25. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 10 24-11 79
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 12-10
26. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 10 24-10 78
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 13-03
27. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 10 24-06 77
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 12-00
28. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 10 24-05 76 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 13-02
29. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 10 24-03 75
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-14
30. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 10 24-03 74
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 12-05
31. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 10 24-02 73
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 11-04
32. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 10 24-00 72
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 12-10
33. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 10 23-15 71
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 11-08
34. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 10 23-14 70
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 12-08
35. Seth Feider New Market, MN 10 23-12 69
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 14-07
36. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 10 23-12 68
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 10-07
37. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 10 23-11 67
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 11-00
38. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 10 23-10 66
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 11-10
39. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 10 23-05 65
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 10-14
40. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 10 23-05 64
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-00
41. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 23-04 63
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 10-08
42. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 10 23-03 62
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 11-03
43. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 10 23-02 61
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 09-12
44. Ben Milliken New Caney, TX 10 23-02 60
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 10-03
45. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 10 23-02 59
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 12-02
46. Mike Huff London, KY 10 23-01 58
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 12-13
47. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 10 23-01 57
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 12-01
48. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 10 23-00 56
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 10-03
49. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 10 23-00 55
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 11-03
50. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 10 22-15 54
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 12-04
------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 04-07 $1,000.00
2 Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 04-07 $1,000.00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 92 480 1098-15
2 88 460 1057-12
------------------------------
180 940 2156-11
2024-25 to Mark 20th Season for the Association of Collegiate Anglers
SAN ANTONIO, TX (June 25, 2024) – In 2005, the Association of Collegiate Anglers and the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship was formed out of a need and desire to provide college student anglers with a platform to compete and grow. The organization was led by key individuals, fueled by overwhelming sponsor support, and quickly began to grow a dedicated angler base across college campuses nationwide.
“At that time, we knew this was an important, untapped segment for the sport of bass fishing. We also knew that the fishing industry as a whole needed to help create opportunities for anglers in this age class and younger. Many of these anglers had been fishing since they were young children, but others had only started to fish recently, and as they grew older…they needed a place to compete and meet like-minded individuals,” said Wade Middleton, ACA Director and President of CarecoTV. “That first event was met with a lot of anticipation, as well as quite a few unknowns. But, the college anglers showed up in full support…and from that moment we’ve embarked on an incredible journey that has led us to here, where we’re thrilled to be celebrating the 20th anniversary of the ACA.”
The ACA’s first-ever event, the Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship, was contested as the BoatUS Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship on Lake Lewisville. That event is now college fishing’s longest-running National Championship tournament. This inaugural event saw dozens of teams from across the nation travel to Lake Lewisville in north Texas to compete for what would grow into one of college fishing’s most prestigious titles. ACA team members and industry leaders poured their full support behind this event, helping to launch a platform for these college students to grow as anglers and individuals, both on-the-water and off.
From day one, the ACA has strived to bring expansive media coverage to share the achievements of the competitors on the trail, as well as provide exposure and brand awareness to the companies and products that partnered with the organization. Our goal since that first event was to provide major events without an entry fee or membership, while also providing programs to help more anglers get on the water and pursue their passions. Every partner we have has developed some sort of a program to help grow college fishing and it’s become something we’re proud of.
Since the very first event, and continuing still today, the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series is the only dedicated nationally televised college bass fishing tournament trail. The series has been seen on a variety of networks and platforms, and as digital media has evolved over the past 20 years, the ACA has worked diligently to target these anglers across a variety of platforms and mediums. Today, across social media, television, and other properties, the ACA reach extends to millions of viewers and users worldwide to promote college fishing.
Following that first National Championship in Texas, the ACA established the Collegiate Bass Fishing Series, a dedicated tournament series featuring major no-entry-fee events over the course of 12 months. These events are now the backbone of college bass fishing and provide a platform to help these anglers grow both on-the-water, as well as into the business world.
In 2011, the ACA developed an all-encompassing National Rankings system for college bass fishing. The Bass Pro Shops School of the Year presented by Abu Garcia is a year-long race in which school bass fishing clubs and teams earn valuable points throughout the season. Thousands of anglers, representing hundreds of colleges and universities, compete to see how high up in the standings their school can finish at the end of the year. The ACA’s School of the Year standings is the only program of its kind to rank and reward college bass fishing clubs and teams for their success across all college bass fishing events nationwide.
“As a junior at the University of Arkansas, we finished in the Top 3 for the National Rankings in its very first year,” said Kyle Curry, ACA Managing Director. “Now in my 8th year working for the ACA and CarecoTV, I am privileged to be a part of this monumental 20th season. It is amazing to see what college fishing has grown into. The programs and opportunities offered to these anglers through the ACA are extremely valuable, and the quality of the angler competing at this level is reflective of that support…as well as the dedication of the anglers and teams.”
Today, the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series consists of three major regular-season events and a year-end National Championship tournament. Throughout the 2023-24 season, the ACA saw record numbers of participation at events, anglers requesting discount codes at a high rate, as well as strong engagement across social media platforms. Attendance at regular season events neared 600 total anglers at the Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley, and a record-breaking field of close to 250 boats at the AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open on Lake Dardanelle.
Here is a look at the 2024-25 schedule on the Bass Pro Shops Collegiate Bass Fishing Series:
Bass Pro Shops Big Bass Bash presented by Berkley
September 21-22, 2024 – Kentucky Lake – Henry County and Paris, TN
AFTCO Collegiate Bass Open
October 12-13, 2024 – Lake Dardanelle – Russellville, AR
Pickwick Slam
April 5-6, 2025 – Pickwick Lake – Florence, AL
Collegiate Bass Fishing Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops
May 22-23, 2025 – Lake Hartwell – Anderson, SC
Throughout the 2024-25 season, the ACA is excited to celebrate its 20th anniversary. This is a major milestone for the organization, student anglers, and series partners. Over the next 12 months, the ACA will be introducing new programs, promotions and features across digital media, as well as look backs at some of the great moments that have occurred over the years.
To the anglers, host sites, companies, and everyone that has helped to contribute to the growth of college fishing the past 20 years, the ACA would like to say, “thank you,” and we look forward to celebrating this accomplishment in the coming months…because without every one of you, this milestone wouldn’t have been possible and many of today’s anglers who now work in the industry, fish competitively or fish recreationally would never have had the chance to do so.
Jacob Wheeler Earns Group A Qualifying Round Win at MLF Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts at James River
Two-time Bass Pro Tour Angler of the Year boats two-day total of 107-9 to win Group A Qualifying Round, Top 10 pros advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round
RICHMOND, Va. (June 27, 2024) – Followers of the Bass Pro Tour know Jacob Wheeler’s MO by now. The two-time winner this season wants to catch as much weight as he can during the first day of Qualifying Rounds, then use the second day to explore new water and dial in his pattern in preparation for the Knockout and Championship Rounds.
The Harrison, Tennessee pro has used that strategy to rack up more victories, Angler of the Year (AOY) titles and earnings in Bass Pro Tour competition than any of his peers, and so far at the Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Stage Six Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts on the James River, he’s following the same blueprint. Wheeler, who amassed a big lead over the rest of Group A when he stacked nearly 80 pounds on SCORETRACKER® on Day 1, added 15 scorable bass for 29-1 Thursday. That brought his total to 107-9, 23-4 ahead of Zack Birge of Blanchard, Oklahoma.
Behind Wheeler, the weights remained tightly bunched throughout the day, allowing three anglers who started below 10th place to climb above the cut line and secure spots in Saturday’s Knockout Round. The battle to stave off elimination was so close that it took a tiebreaker to determine the final spot in the Top 10, with Andy Montgomery of Blacksburg, South Carolina, prevailing over Jared Lintner of Covington, Georgia , after both totaled 70-10.
The top 10 anglers advancing from Group A will now have an off day from competition Friday, while the 39 anglers competing in Group B will complete their two-day Qualifying Round. The top 10 anglers from each group advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to the Championship Round. In Sunday’s final day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
No surprise, Wheeler’s focus Thursday was less on adding to his weight total and more about learning the nuances of the fishery. However, there was one difference from his typical script. Instead of running new water once he felt he’d amassed enough weight to make the Knockout Round, the tidal nature of the James led Wheeler to revisit out several of the same spots he fished during practice and Day 1 on a different tide.
“Some places that I really thought looked good and I never got a bite in practice, I had to re-check them during a different tide and make sure, and I caught some fish,” Wheeler said. “It was a really good learning day just to understand what’s going on. It truly does make such an impact what tide you have and where the fish are at. It was definitely a learning experience for the future of understanding tidal fisheries.”
Like many in the field, Wheeler feels like he has a solid grasp of how to generate bites around low tide. The challenge has come when the water is high. Avoiding a high-tide lull will be increasingly important as the event progresses, with high tide scheduled to arrive right around lines in during the Knockout Round and shortly thereafter during the Championship Round.
Thus, Wheeler focused his efforts Thursday on finding spots that could hold groups of fish during high tide. He said he’s had more success with winding baits amid high water, whereas he’s slowing down and targeting “pinpoint locations” when it drops.
“The higher water is definitely a little bit tougher,” he explained. “It's harder to generate a bite. There’s just so much more cover available, and you just spread so many more fish out. That’s why it gets a little bit more difficult with the higher water, and that’s something that I’ll have to figure out — at least shoot par, if you will, on the higher water come Saturday.”
The other unknown that Wheeler and the rest of the Knockout Round field will have to contend with is fishing pressure. With much of the field congregated in and around the Chickahominy River, Wheeler found himself sharing water with more competitors Thursday. It remains to be seen how his spots will hold up to the pressure — and whether there are even more boats in the mix come Saturday.
“I feel good about it; I feel like I can catch some bass,” Wheeler said. “But I just don’t know until you put 10 more boats on that body of water what is going to be available to fish. Plus, local anglers, Saturdays, it gets a little bit more difficult.”
Despite those unknowns, Wheeler is optimistic about his chances of advancing to a sixth Championship Round in eight events this season. Having another day to learn the fishery couldn’t have hurt.
Starting strong typically bodes well for Wheeler’s end result. The Qualifying Round win marks the 10th time he’s won his group during his Bass Pro Tour career, easily the most of any angler. During five of his eight BPT victories, Wheeler led his group after at least one of the two qualifying days.
“I’m hopeful,” he said. “With the conditions and the tides changing, it’s hard to say for sure, but I’m hoping that I added a few more things to my rotation.”
Thanks to its live scoring, the Bass Pro Tour is no stranger to drama around the cut line, but it doesn’t get any closer than Thursday’s scramble to finish among the Top 10. For most of the third period, seven or so anglers grappled for the final two spots. Then, after Skeet Reese of Auburn, California, went on a tear that saw him add 22-2 to his total in less than an hour, the bubble shrunk to one spot.
Lintner looked like he would claim the final Knockout Round berth when he caught a 1-12 with 11 minutes before lines out, then followed it up with a 1-8 shortly thereafter. However, Montgomery came through in the clutch, boat-flipping a 1-11 with less than 2 minutes remaining. That fish tied him with Lintner in total weight, and Montgomery won the tiebreaker, which was determined by each angler’s biggest bass of the round. A 4-9 caught by Montgomery during the first period Thursday bested Lintner’s 3-3.
Montgomery, who began the day in 15th place, rocketed up SCORETRACKER® with 19-7 in the opening period then did just enough to hold on. Most of his 17 scorable bass, including the buzzer beater, ate a Strike King Thunder Cricket.
“They bit the Thunder Cricket today,” Montgomery said. “That was the difference. I was able to lay it in my hand and roll with it.
“I may take the Thunder Cricket for ice cream tonight. I’m getting ice cream; I may take the Thunder Cricket with me.”
The top 10 pros from Group A that now advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round on the James River are:
1st: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 48 bass, 107-9
2nd: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 34 bass, 84-7
3rd: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 35 bass, 84-2
4th: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 37 bass, 83-6
5th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 38 bass, 82-13
6th: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 36 bass, 82-4
7th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 39 bass, 81-6
8th: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 36 bass, 79-15
9th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 32 bass, 76-11
10th: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 31 bass, 70-10
Eliminated from competition are:
11th: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 36 bass, 70-10
12th: Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 31 bass, 68-5
13th: Drew Gill, Mount Carmel, Ill., 30 bass, 67-15
14th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 32 bass, 65-4
15th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 30 bass, 64-6
16th: Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 28 bass, 64-4
17th: Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan., 30 bass, 63-9
18th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 30 bass, 63-4
19th: Grae Buck, Green Lane, Penn., 25 bass, 51-10
20th: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 20 bass, 51-3
21st: Brandon Coulter, Knoxville, Tenn., 20 bass, 50-2
22nd: Britt Myers, Lake Wylie, S.C., 21 bass, 49-12
23rd: Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., 23 bass, 49-3
24th: Takahiro Omori, Tokyo, Japan, 21 bass, 47-10
25th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, 22 bass, 47-6
26th: Casey Ashley, Donalds, S.C., 21 bass, 44-9
27th: Shin Fukae, Osaka, Japan, 21 bass, 44-1
28th: Alton Jones, Lorena, Texas, 21 bass, 41-10
29th: Ryan Salzman, Huntsville, Ala., 18 bass, 40-9
30th: Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz., 18 bass, 38-12
31st: Cole Floyd, Leesburg, Ohio, 16 bass, 38-11
32nd: Kelly Jordon, Flint, Texas, 20 bass, 38-10
33rd: Jacopo Gallelli, Florence, Italy, 19 bass, 38-6
34th: Josh Bertrand, Queen Creek, Ariz., 16 bass, 34-3
35th: Keith Carson, DeBary, Fla., 12 bass, 31-3
36th: Ron Nelson, Berrien Springs, Mich., 12 bass, 29-12
37th: David Walker, Huntingdon, Tenn., 14 bass, 28-7
38th: Matt Lee, Cullman, Ala., 13 bass, 28-5
39th: Fletcher Shryock, Guntersville, Ala., 12 bass, 24-9
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 455 scorable bass weighing 1,014 pounds, 13 ounces, caught by 39 pros Thursday, which included one 6-pounder, seven 5-pounders, and 12 4-pounders.
Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Florida, earned Thursday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award with a 6-pound largemouth that he caught on a drop-shot rig during Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and a $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
Wheeler isn’t making things easy for his pursuers in the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year race. The two-time AOY winner arrived at the James River with a 14-point cushion over Alton Jones Jr. of Waco, Texas , meaning as long as he finishes in the top 14 of the Knockout Round, he’s guaranteed to hold the lead entering the final event of the season on the St. Lawrence River. Oh by the way, the last time the Bass Pro Tour visited the St. Lawrence, Wheeler won.
Jones and Dustin Connell of Clanton, Alabama, who sits third in the points, will try to join Wheeler in the Knockout Round when Group B returns to the water Friday.
The six-day tournament, hosted by Richmond Region Tourism, showcases 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from Osborne Landing, located at 9530 Osborne Turnpike in Richmond. Due to long boat runs, tides and high temperatures, MLF has enacted the Trailering Policy for the entirety of the event, meaning pros can trailer their boats and drive them to any ramp on the fishery closer to where they plan to start fishing. Pros taking advantage of the trailering policy will leave Osborne Landing at 6:45 a.m. ET daily and will begin fishing at 8 a.m. ET (Lines In) with the full field.
Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the landing, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on the final four days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
On Saturday and Sunday, June 29-30, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit Osborne Landing for the MLF Watch Party and Kids Fishing Derby. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing each day. Additional fishing gear will be provided onsite for the fishing derby or kids can bring their own. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.
The General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament features anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.
Fishing Clash, an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide, is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League. You can download Fishing Clash for free in the App Store and on Google Play or log on to www.fishingclash.game for more information.
Television coverage of the General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts Championship Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 9 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, Rapala, REDCON1, Star brite, Suzuki, Toyota, U.S. Air Force and WIX Filters.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Shryock jumps out to Day 1 lead in Bassmaster Elite Series event at Smith Lake
June 27, 2024
CULLMAN, Ala. — As predicted, catching a big bag on Day 1 of the TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake wasn’t the easiest proposition.
But a handful of competitors gutted out a tough day on the 21,000-acre fishery and gave themselves a slim edge on opening day of this derby in north-central Alabama.
Hunter Shryock, a 35-year-old resident of Ooltewah, Tenn., caught a five-bass limit weighing 15 pounds, 15 ounces to take the Day 1 lead. He’s just ahead of Canada’s Cory Johnston, who’s second with 14-12, and Ohio’s Alex Redwine, in third with 14-8.
In all, 76 of the 98 competitors are within 6 pounds of Shryock’s lead – underscoring not only how tough the fishing was on Smith, but also the unlikelihood anyone will run away with the lead.
Shryock did all he could, however, to put some distance between himself and the field on Day 1. Like most, he weighed spotted bass, but he added a trio of heftier largemouth to his catch, which isn’t exactly common on Smith Lake in June. One of them was a 4-7, earning Shryock $1,000 for having the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day.
With the leaderboard as close as it is, Shryock wasn’t sharing much after he weighed in the day’s best bag.
“There’s not a lot of bites, obviously, and I’m kinda playing with fire,” he said. “But I learned some stuff today. I only had two fish at 11 a.m. and then I went on a little run. Sunshine helps me, so I think the cloud cover earlier today messed me up a lot. But honestly, I’m not sure. I’m still trying to figure it all out.”
Despite having only two bass by the lunch hour, Shryock said he probably couldn’t have asked for a much better start on Smith.
“I qualified for the Elites here (in a 2017 Southern Open), so I’ve fished here quite a bit,” he said. “One thing I learned then is that however you catch them one day, you can pretty much forget about it the next day. Just start over. Every time I’ve fished here it’s been like that. You take the days one by one and don’t fight it.”
Johnston shared that sentiment on Day 1, when he pulled five spotted bass from different locations and on different lures.
“This place is extremely hard to find the better-than-average size fish right now,” Johnston said.
“I’m covering a lot of water, using the LiveScope, looking for a lot of individual fish,” he continued. “I caught a few on a jig, a few on a minnow, a few on drop shots. They’re biting pretty short, but when you see them on the LiveScope, you get a pretty good idea if they’re big or not. You just have to cover water and hope the bigger ones bite.”
Johnston said he just missed some bigger bass Thursday, and that gives him some confidence heading into Day 2 and, perhaps, the weekend.
“It was a good day,” he said, “and I think I figured a few things out. But you never know with this place. You could catch 8 pounds tomorrow or it could be 16 pounds. I’m just trying to get in the right area and cast in front of the right ones.”
Redwine, 24 and from Blue Ash, Ohio, said Day 1 was a study in patience.
“It was a decent one here, a decent one there,” he said. “I felt like I was catching slightly above-average fish all day.”
But it wasn’t much more than that, he said.
“There are qualify fish out here, bigger than the ones it seems like everyone’s catching,” Redwine noted. “You can see them on the electronics. I think they’re a little bit smarter, a little bit older. It might take a little more time and better execution to catch them, but those are the ones you need to win.”
Bryan New, of Leesville, S.C., is in fourth place with a 14-3 total. Steve Kennedy, of Auburn, Ala., is fifth with 14-2. All but six of the 98 Elites caught a limit on Thursday.
The Alabama summer wasn’t nearly as unrelenting as it could have been on Day 1, with temperatures hovering in the mid-80s and intermittent rain showers throughout the morning. Friday’s forecast calls for highs near 90 with mostly sunny skies and a slim chance for scattered showers.
How those conditions help, or hurt, competitors is anyone’s guess – fitting for this summer showdown on Smith.
Carbondale, Ill., rookie Trey McKinney continues to lead the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 634 points. Alabama’s Justin Hamner, winner of the 2024 Classic, is second with 599 points, followed by Missouri’s Cody Huff in third with 571, Tennessee’s John Garrett in fourth with 552 and Wisconsin’s Jay Przekurat in fifth with 543.
McKinney also leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 634 points, followed by Garrett in second with 552 points and Alabama’s Wesley Gore in third with 537.
Day 2 of the TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake will begin with a 6 a.m. CT take-off from Smith Lake Park. Weigh-in is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. The Top 50 anglers after Friday’s weigh-in will advance to fish on Day 3 while the Top 10 will make the cut to compete on Championship Sunday.
The winning angler will take home a top prize of $100,000 and valuable points in the Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings.
Bassmaster LIVE coverage begins Friday at 8 a.m. on Bassmaster.com. Saturday’s coverage begins at 8 a.m. on FS1 and runs through 11 a.m. Saturday’s LIVE coverage will continue on Bassmaster.com at 11 a.m. Sunday’s coverage begins at 8 a.m. on FS1 and runs through 1 p.m. Sunday’s LIVE coverage will continue on Bassmaster.com at 1 p.m. All coverage times are ET.
The tournament is being hosted by Visit Cullman.
2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew's, Lowrance, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
About B.A.S.S.B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting-edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
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Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitte
Media Contact: Chad Gay, Communications Manager, 256-424-2390, cgay@bassmaster.
2024 TNT Fireworks Bassmaster Elite at Smith Lake 6/27-6/30
Smith Lake, Cullman AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 5 15-15 103 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-15
2. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 5 14-12 102
Day 1: 5 14-12
3. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 5 14-08 101
Day 1: 5 14-08
4. Bryan New Leesville, SC 5 14-03 100
Day 1: 5 14-03
5. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 14-02 99
Day 1: 5 14-02
6. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 5 14-01 98
Day 1: 5 14-01
7. Cody Huff Ava, MO 5 13-13 97
Day 1: 5 13-13
8. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 13-12 96
Day 1: 5 13-12
9. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 5 13-11 95
Day 1: 5 13-11
10. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 5 13-10 94
Day 1: 5 13-10
11. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 5 13-08 93
Day 1: 5 13-08
12. John Garrett Union City, TN 5 13-08 92
Day 1: 5 13-08
13. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 5 13-07 91
Day 1: 5 13-07
14. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 5 13-06 90
Day 1: 5 13-06
15. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 5 13-05 89
Day 1: 5 13-05
16. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 5 13-04 88
Day 1: 5 13-04
17. Ben Milliken New Caney, TX 5 12-15 87
Day 1: 5 12-15
18. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 12-14 86
Day 1: 5 12-14
18. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 5 12-14 86
Day 1: 5 12-14
20. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 5 12-13 84
Day 1: 5 12-13
21. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 12-12 83
Day 1: 5 12-12
22. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 5 12-11 82
Day 1: 5 12-11
23. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 12-10 81
Day 1: 5 12-10
24. Cole Sands Calhoun , TN 5 12-10 80
Day 1: 5 12-10
25. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 5 12-07 79
Day 1: 5 12-07
25. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 12-07 79
Day 1: 5 12-07
27. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 5 12-07 77
Day 1: 5 12-07
28. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 5 12-06 76
Day 1: 5 12-06
29. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 5 12-04 75
Day 1: 5 12-04
30. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 5 12-02 74
Day 1: 5 12-02
30. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 5 12-02 74
Day 1: 5 12-02
30. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 5 12-02 74
Day 1: 5 12-02
33. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 5 12-01 71
Day 1: 5 12-01
34. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 5 12-00 70
Day 1: 5 12-00
34. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 12-00 70
Day 1: 5 12-00
36. Timothy Dube Nashua , NH 5 11-14 68
Day 1: 5 11-14
36. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 5 11-14 68
Day 1: 5 11-14
38. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 5 11-14 66
Day 1: 5 11-14
39. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 5 11-13 65
Day 1: 5 11-13
39. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 5 11-13 65
Day 1: 5 11-13
39. Joseph Webster Hamilton, AL 5 11-13 65
Day 1: 5 11-13
42. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 5 11-12 62
Day 1: 5 11-12
43. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 5 11-11 61
Day 1: 5 11-11
43. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 5 11-11 61
Day 1: 5 11-11
45. Wes Logan Springville, AL 5 11-08 59
Day 1: 5 11-08
46. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 5 11-07 58
Day 1: 5 11-07
47. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 5 11-06 57
Day 1: 5 11-06
47. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 5 11-06 57
Day 1: 5 11-06
47. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 5 11-06 57
Day 1: 5 11-06
50. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 11-06 54
Day 1: 5 11-06
51. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 5 11-05 53
Day 1: 5 11-05
51. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 5 11-05 53
Day 1: 5 11-05
53. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 5 11-05 51
Day 1: 5 11-05
54. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 5 11-03 50
Day 1: 5 11-03
55. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 5 11-00 49
Day 1: 5 11-00
55. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 5 11-00 49
Day 1: 5 11-00
55. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 5 11-00 49
Day 1: 5 11-00
58. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 5 10-15 46
Day 1: 5 10-15
59. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 5 10-11 45
Day 1: 5 10-11
59. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 5 10-11 45
Day 1: 5 10-11
61. John Cox Debary, FL 5 10-10 43
Day 1: 5 10-10
62. Todd Auten Clover, SC 5 10-10 42
Day 1: 5 10-10
63. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 5 10-09 41
Day 1: 5 10-09
63. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 10-09 41
Day 1: 5 10-09
65. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 5 10-08 39
Day 1: 5 10-08
66. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 5 10-07 38
Day 1: 5 10-07
66. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 5 10-07 38
Day 1: 5 10-07
68. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 10-05 36
Day 1: 5 10-05
69. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 5 10-04 35
Day 1: 5 10-04
69. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 10-04 35
Day 1: 5 10-04
69. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 5 10-04 35
Day 1: 5 10-04
72. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 5 10-04 32
Day 1: 5 10-04
73. Mike Huff London, KY 5 10-04 31
Day 1: 5 10-04
74. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 5 10-03 30
Day 1: 5 10-03
75. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 5 10-02 29
Day 1: 5 10-02
76. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 5 10-02 28
Day 1: 5 10-02
77. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 09-15 27
Day 1: 5 09-15
78. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 5 09-14 26
Day 1: 5 09-14
78. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 5 09-14 26
Day 1: 5 09-14
80. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 5 09-13 24
Day 1: 5 09-13
81. Frank Talley Belton, TX 5 09-12 23
Day 1: 5 09-12
82. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 09-10 22
Day 1: 5 09-10
82. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 5 09-10 22
Day 1: 5 09-10
84. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 5 09-07 20
Day 1: 5 09-07
85. Seth Feider New Market, MN 5 09-05 19
Day 1: 5 09-05
86. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 5 09-00 18
Day 1: 5 09-00
87. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 08-15 17
Day 1: 5 08-15
87. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 5 08-15 17
Day 1: 5 08-15
89. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 5 08-14 15
Day 1: 5 08-14
90. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 08-12 14
Day 1: 5 08-12
91. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 3 08-09 13
Day 1: 3 08-09
92. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 5 08-05 12
Day 1: 5 08-05
93. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 4 08-04 11
Day 1: 4 08-04
94. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 5 07-15 10
Day 1: 5 07-15
95. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 3 07-03 9
Day 1: 3 07-03
96. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 4 06-13 8
Day 1: 4 06-13
96. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 4 06-13 8
Day 1: 4 06-13
98. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 2 03-02 6
Day 1: 2 03-02
99. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
------------------------------
PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 04-07 $1,000.00
------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 92 480 1098-15
------------------------------
92 480 1098-15
Brackish and Tidal Water is All Good with Scroggins
Photo Credit: Major League Fishing
By Luke Stoner: Dynamic Sponsorships
Team Toyota pro Terry Scroggins is feeling right at home on the James River, thanks to his experience on the St. Johns River in Florida. The playing field for General Tires Stage Six may be a 10-hour haul in the Tundra from Big Show’s hometown of San Mateo, but his second-place effort during Group B’s day one of competition supports this familiarity.
According to Scroggins, the James and St Johns have plenty of differences, but what they have in common is they are tidal fisheries and are both influenced by the presence of saltwater fish and forage types.
“I don’t want to say too much this early in the event but my experience with understanding tide swings and bite windows definitely seems to be helping me here on the James,” Scroggins said. “I pre-practiced here a few months ago, but that was the first time I had ever made a cast on the James. The fish don’t live everywhere here but I got a little something figured out after practice and day one.”
Scroggins believes maximizing bite windows presented by changing tides is a lot different on the James River as opposed to the St Johns, but knowing what to look for has helped him spend time in productive water.
“At home I might run for 40 or 50 miles to stay with the right tide,” Scroggins offered. “Here it is more about choosing the right creeks or pockets to fish on different tides, and how the changing tide could affect the water clarity or quality. There is a lot of fishing pressure and a lot of us sharing water this week. Knowing when to fish a pocket and staying stealthy in shallow water by using my Power Poles to not stir things up too much could be key.”
Another similarity Scroggins is drawing from the St Johns to bring him success on the James River is the proximity of this fishery to the ocean, and the presence of marine crustaceans and fish. While many of his competitors see the existence of saltwater species as a bad sign during a bass tournament, it feels like home for Big Show.
“A bass will eat a fiddler crab just like he’ll eat a crawfish,” Scroggins said with a smile. “Seeing crabs or saltwater fish while looking for a bass spins a lot of these guys out a little bit. But I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve caught bass and redfish or flounder from the same spot with the same lure on the St. Johns. A lot of times they are looking for the same thing or using the same areas. It’s all good!”
Scroggins had to make several bait adjustments throughout his first competition day, logging scoreable bass to the SCORETRACKER with multiple lures and presentations. He believes he has one key area mostly to himself and is excited to get back on the water in hopes to notch another Knockout Round and continue his strong 2024 season.
Nick LeBrun Grabs Early Group B Lead at MLF Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six - James River
Louisiana pro leads Group B by 20 pounds, 8 ounces after Day 1, Group A to wrap up two-day Qualifying Round Thursday
RICHMOND, Va. (June 26, 2024) – The last time Nick LeBrun of Bossier City, Louisiana , visited the James River prior to Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Stage Six Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts, he left with a trophy, winning a Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit event on the Virginia fishery in 2022, en route to qualifying for the Bass Pro Tour.
While that win remains a highlight of LeBrun’s fishing career, to say he picked up where he left off doesn’t do justice to how he started Wednesday.
LeBrun wasted no time claiming the top spot on SCORETRACKER® and racing away from the rest of the field during Group B’s first day of the Qualifying Round. In the first hour and 45 minutes after Lines In, the Louisiana native boated 22 scorable bass totaling 51 pounds, 4 ounces. From there, he cruised to a 73-10 total, which has him more than 20 pounds clear of Terry Scroggins of San Mateo, Florida, at the top of the leaderboard.
“I don’t know what else to say besides just praise the Lord,” LeBrun said. “It was just an incredible day. I’ll never forget it the rest of my life.”
While LeBrun’s first period alone (54-2) would have eclipsed everyone else’s total for the day, he was far from the only angler to find the bite just as hot as the weather during another blazing day on the James. For the second day in a row, it took more than 40 pounds to claim a spot in the Top 10, and 29 of the 39 anglers on the water topped 20 pounds on the day.
The six-day tournament, hosted by Richmond Region Tourism , showcases 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The Louisiana pro knew he’d found some areas on the tidal river system during practice that would produce on a falling tide, which was the case for the entire first period Wednesday. However, he had no idea just how good they would be.
In fact, at one point he joked with his boat official that the two of them should jump into the water to cool off if he amassed 70 pounds on the day, not thinking he’d actually hit that mark. Once he got there early in the third period, though, he made good on his word.
“When the tide is right, I had a few places in practice where I just got a few bites and went on, and I didn’t really know what was there,” LeBrun said. “I knew that there were some fish there, but today, I got to see what was really there, and man, it was incredible.”
LeBrun didn’t want to share too many details about his approach but said he caught almost all his weight power fishing — chunking and winding with his Temple Fork Outfitters baitcasting rods. Once low tide passed and the tide changed, that pattern waned, and LeBrun used the rest of the day to explore new water.
“When the tide gets low and it starts coming back in, my spots aren’t as productive,” he said. “So, I really used the last period to try to just go and figure out something new and caught a few fish here and there.”
The good news for LeBrun is that the field will fish an outgoing tide longer and longer as the event progresses. The concern, though, is that as low tide gets later each day, the heat might make the bass less active. After temperatures reached triple digits Wednesday, the weather is forecast to cool off a bit in the days to come, but not much, with highs in the upper 80s and low 90s.
“I think I could ride it a little bit longer,” LeBrun said of his starting pattern. “It’s definitely an outgoing tide type of a thing, and so with these tidal days, the tide shifts about 30 minutes to an hour every day, and so if I whacked them in the first period, my bite might shift more toward the second period on Day 2. So, we’ll see.
“The heat is definitely not helping. In practice, when we had outgoing tide closer to daylight, it was really easy to get bites. But now that it’s so hot and the outgoing is getting pushed further in the morning and kind of midday, it’s making it more challenging.”
With a cushion of nearly 35 pounds over 11th place, LeBrun’s spot in the Knockout Round should be nearly secure. As a result, he plans to use the second day of qualifying as “a day of learning,” focusing especially on identifying a productive pattern around high tide.
While he knows he’ll need to make the right adjustments to have a shot at going back-to-back on the James, he made sure to soak in his special start. LeBrun called the day his most fun on the water in nearly two years on the Bass Pro Tour.
“This is a fun place,” LeBrun said. “I feel at home fishing here. It's a special place to me and my wife. And it would be real special to do well here again. I’m just really humbled, because the guys in my group and the guys on the Bass Pro Tour in general are such top-notch competitors, and man, to be leading the round is just really special to me, especially against this group of names. It’s really special to be competing against these guys and to be doing well, because they’re the best out there.”
The 39 anglers in Group B will now have an off day from competition Thursday, while the 39 anglers competing in Group A will wrap up their two-day Qualifying Round. Group B will finish their Qualifying Round on Friday.
The top 20 pros in Group B after Day 1 on the James River are:
1st: Nick LeBrun, Bossier City, La., 32 bass, 73-10
2nd: Terry Scroggins, San Mateo, Fla., 26 bass, 53-2
3rd: Jonathon VanDam, Kalamazoo, Mich., 22 bass, 52-12
4th: Dustin Connell, Clanton, Ala., 26 bass, 50-15
5th: Dylan Hays, Hot Springs, Ark., 19 bass, 50-8
6th: Spencer Shuffield, Hot Springs, Ark., 23 bass, 44-4
7th: Greg Vinson, Wetumpka, Ala., 19 bass, 43-1
8th: Alton Jones Jr., Waco, Texas, 20 bass, 42-13
9th: Bryan Thrift, Shelby, N.C., 19 bass, 41-0
10th: Justin Lucas, Guntersville, Ala., 17 bass, 40-15
11th: Luke Clausen, Spokane, Wash., 17 bass, 39-0
12th: Scott Suggs, Alexander, Ark., 17 bass, 37-6
13th: Brent Ehrler, Redlands, Calif., 14 bass, 34-4
14th: David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 16 bass, 34-0
15th: Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., 16 bass, 33-3
16th: Marty Robinson, Lyman, S.C., 17 bass, 32-12
17th: Jacob Wall, New Hope, Ala., 14 bass, 29-5
18th: Nick Hatfield, Greeneville, Tenn., 12 bass, 28-13
19th: Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., 14 bass, 28-9
20th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 12 bass, 27-15
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 543 scorable bass weighing 1,191 pounds, 3 ounces caught by 39 pros Wednesday, which included one 7-pounder, one 6-pounders, four 5-pounders and 11 4-pounders.
Luke Clausen of Spokane, Washington, earned the $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award after a 7-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bit his creature bait in Period 3. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and another $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
Fishing Clash Angler of the Year leader Jacob Wheeler threw down the gauntlet on Day 1, jumping out to a big lead in Group A with 78-8 and all but assuring himself a spot in the Knockout Round. Wednesday, his two closest pursuers showed they’re not going to let Wheeler run away with his third AOY award.
Alton Jones, Jr., who entered Stage Six 14 points back of Wheeler in the season-long competition, currently sits eighth in Group B with 42-13, while Dustin Connell is fourth with 50-15. Connell arrived at the James in third place, 24.5 points off Wheeler’s total. As of now, all three anglers are positioned to meet in the Knockout Round, although Connell and Jones still have some work to do to assure their spots in Saturday’s field.
The 39 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 39 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finish first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from Osborne Landing, located at 9530 Osborne Turnpike in Richmond. Due to long boat runs, tides and high temperatures, MLF has enacted the Trailering Policy for the entirety of the event, meaning pros can trailer their boats and drive them to any ramp on the fishery closer to where they plan to start fishing. Pros taking advantage of the trailering policy will leave Osborne Landing at 6:45 a.m. ET daily and will begin fishing at 8 a.m. ET (Lines In) with the full field.
Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the landing, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com .
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on the final four days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
On Saturday and Sunday, June 29-30, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit Osborne Landing for the MLF Watch Party and Kids Fishing Derby. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing each day. Additional fishing gear will be provided onsite for the fishing derby or kids can bring their own. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.
The General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament features anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.
Fishing Clash, an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide, is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League. You can download Fishing Clash for free in the App Store and on Google Play or log on to www.fishingclash.game for more information.
Television coverage of the General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts Championship Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 9 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, Rapala, REDCON1, Star brite, Suzuki, Toyota, U.S. Air Force and WIX Filters.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Revised Schedule for NPFL Event on Pickwick Lake
The National Professional Fishing League (NPFL) has announced changes to the tournament schedule and times for stop three on Pickwick Lake in Counce, TN. To maximize angler opportunities and alleviate fishing pressure on weekends, the NPFL has adjusted the schedule.
Anglers will now compete from Wednesday through Friday. Takeoff is scheduled for 10:30 AM, with the first flight checking in at 5:45 PM. Live coverage of the event will run from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM. These changes aim to optimize fishing conditions during typical afternoon flows and enhance overall fishing quality for the field.
"Water flow on any TVA system undeniably impacts fishing quality," said Brad Fuller, President of the NPFL. "Our goal is to maximize daily weights and overall catch numbers. After extensive discussions, we concluded that the 10:30 AM to 5:30 PM offers optimal conditions for our competitors."
Local angler Brandon Perkins, who won the last two events on Pickwick Lake in July 2021 and March 2023, commended the league for recognizing this opportunity.
"I appreciate the flexibility the league has shown with this event," said Perkins. "By avoiding a large event scheduled for Saturday and adjusting launch times, the league has opened up another feeding window for all competitors"
Perkins anticipates a challenging competition given the widespread understanding of ledge fishing among participants.
"Despite the post-spawn conditions and scattered fish, the later launch and check-in times should benefit the entire field," Perkins explained. "This change will not only improve overall fish care but also enhance the competitive dynamics of the event."
Jesse Wise, another competitor, echoed Perkins' sentiments, noting the potential impact of weather and TVA flow regulations on fishing conditions.
"The afternoon window will undoubtedly help us catch more fish," said Wise. "While we may miss the morning bite window, the extended fishing hours should level the playing field and contribute to a more exciting tournament."
As the event approaches, anglers are optimistic about the opportunities presented by these schedule adjustments, mindful of the dynamic conditions that could influence their strategies.
Pickwick Event Schedule:
Saturday, July 6: Community Outreach
Sunday, July 7: Official Practice
Monday, July 8: Official Practice
Tuesday, July 9: Official Practice
Wednesday, July 10: Day One
Thursday, July 11: Day Two
Friday, July 12: Day Three
Pickwick Tournament Hours (CST):
10:30 AM: Launch from the Pickwick Landing State Park Ramp
5:45 PM: First Flight Checks at Pickwick Landing State Park Ramp
6:00 PM: Weigh-in begins at Pickwick Landing State Park
7:30 PM: Last Flight Check-In
Live Coverage: Noon to 5:00 PM
To learn more about the NPFL, visit https://thenationalprofessionalfishingleague.com/.
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About the National Professional Fishing League
The NPFL was designed to bring simplicity back to professional bass fishing - one lake, the full field fishing all three days, and the heaviest combined three-day weight winning. The goal of the NPFL is to put the anglers first and build a trail that gets back to what the founders of bass fishing intended it to be.
Media Contacts:
Brad Fuller: [email protected]
Paul Benson: [email protected]
Jacob Wheeler Leads After Hot Start at MLF Bass Pro Tour General Tire Stage Six Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts at James River
Tennessee pro weighs in 78 pounds, 8 ounces to lead after Day 1 for Group A – Group B begins competition Wednesday
RICHMOND, Va. (June 25, 2024) – The heat wave that greeted the Bass Pro Tour field upon its arrival to the James River for practice prior to the Major League Fishing (MLF) General Tire Stage Six Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts relented during the opening day of competition, but only barely, with temperatures still climbing into the low 90s. The fishing, meanwhile, was just as hot.
Of the 39 pros who took to the water for the first day of qualifying in Group A, 27 stacked at least 20 pounds on SCORETRACKER® and 11 hit the 40-pound mark. It took 40 pounds, 6 ounces to claim a spot inside the cut line – the third-heaviest 10th-place total for an opening day of qualifying all season, narrowly trailing only the first two days of Stage Three at Dale Hollow.
And yet, despite that torrid pace, two-time Fishing Clash Angler of the Year Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tennessee , still managed to put plenty of distance between himself and the rest of the field. Wheeler stacked up 78-8 on 33 scorable bass, 30-15 ahead of General Tire pro Skeet Reese of Auburn, California, in second. Behind Wheeler, the weights are tightly bunched, with just 2-9 separating Reese from seventh place.
The six-day tournament, hosted by Richmond Region Tourism , showcases 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The 39 anglers in Group A will now have an off day from competition Wednesday, while the 39 anglers competing in Group B will begin their first day of competition. Group A will resume competition on Thursday.
Seeing Wheeler’s name atop SCORETRACKER® might not come as a surprise to anyone. A two-time winner this season, he’s made the Knockout Round in six of seven events and the Championship Round in five of them. But based on his practice, Wheeler said he didn’t anticipate such a strong start.
“I did not expect that at all,” he said. “You’d get a bite here, a bite there in practice, and then when you really lean on things, you start to realize what you have. Some places I thought were going to be really good, they were horrible, and I didn’t catch anything. And then other places that I thought were like ‘ehh’ were really good.”
Wheeler made it a point to cover water Tuesday. He caught fish in multiple areas using “five completely different techniques.” While that might sound random, it’s not; he’s matching the technique to the area to the tide.
The mouth of the Chickahominy River, a popular James tributary, experienced low tide (typically regarded as the best bite) around the end of the first period on Day 1. Wheeler’s most productive stretch came shortly thereafter. Between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., he racked up more than 60 pounds on 24 scorable bass.
“There are bite windows on this body of water, and the tide dictates that,” Wheeler explained. “There are bite windows at high tide, there are bite windows at incoming, outgoing. So, it’s just slowly dialing that in, and today, everything collided and worked out well.”
As impressive as Wheeler’s opening day was, he knows he’ll need to adapt as the tournament progresses. Even though he didn’t have much trouble accessing the spots he wanted to hit Tuesday, fishing pressure could impact the bite, with much of the field crowded in and around the Chickahominy. More important will be adjusting to the changing tide, with low tide getting later each day.
That’s where Wheeler’s sizable advantage over the cut line could help him. As usual, he caught as much weight as possible on Day 1 with the hope that he can use the second day of qualifying to continue to learn the fishery. More than 38 pounds clear of 11th place, he should only have to catch a few scorable bass to ensure himself a spot in the Knockout Round.
“I think I have some stuff that will continue, but it’s definitely temperamental,” Wheeler said. “Looking at paper, you’re like, ‘holy crap, Wheeler is going to win.’ But it’s not like that. We’re running an incoming tide on the Championship Day. I think we’re going to have a very little bit of an incoming tide on the Knockout Round. I mean, it’s just completely different conditions, and I’m going to have to make the right adjustments to have a really good finish in this tournament.”
Wheeler’s biggest takeaway from his first day of competition on the James was the fruitfulness of the fishery. He estimates he caught at least 80 bass on the day including those under the 1-8 minimum weight.
“This place is really healthy,” Wheeler said. “It’s got an insane number of bass in it. My thumbs are definitely sore.”
The top 20 pros in Group A after Day 1 on James River are:
1st: Jacob Wheeler, Harrison, Tenn., 33 bass, 78-8
2nd: Skeet Reese, Auburn, Calif., 21 bass, 47-9
3rd: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 21 bass, 47-5
4th: Gerald Spohrer, Gonzales, La., 21 bass, 47-0
5th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 21 bass, 46-6
6th: Justin Cooper, Zwolle, La., 22 bass, 45-3
7th: Bobby Lane, Lakeland, Fla., 20 bass, 45-0
8th: Matt Becker, Ten Mile, Tenn., 20 bass, 43-10
9th: Jeff Sprague, Wills Point, Texas, 21 bass, 41-9
10th: Keith Poche, Pike Road, Ala., 15 bass, 40-6
11th: Edwin Evers, Talala, Okla., 20 bass, 40-4
12th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., 15 bass, 39-6
13th: Adrian Avena, Vineland, N.J., 18 bass, 37-0
14th: Ott DeFoe, Blaine, Tenn., 17 bass, 34-10
15th: Andy Montgomery, Blacksburg, S.C., 14 bass, 33-5
16th: Marshall Robinson, Landrum, S.C., 14 bass, 33-1
17th: Jared Lintner, Covington, Ga., 15 bass, 31-1
18th: Cliff Crochet, Pierre Part, La., 13 bass, 30-9
19th: Todd Faircloth, Jasper, Texas, 13 bass, 29-7
20th: Grae Buck, Green Lane, Penn., 13 bass, 28-8
A complete list of results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Overall, there were 543 scorable bass weighing 1,194 pounds, 8 ounces caught by 39 pros Tuesday, which included one 7-pounder, one 6-pounder and two 5-pounders.
Keith Poche of Pike Road, Alabama, earned Tuesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award after a 7-pound, 10-ounce largemouth bit his shaky head rig in Period 2. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day, and another $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
Wheeler arrived at the James leading the Fishing Clash Angler of the Year race, and he’s not showing any signs of slowing. The two-time AOY winner started the event 14 points clear of Alton Jones Jr., with Dustin Connell another 10.5 back of Jones. Jones and Connell will take the water with Group B on Wednesday.
The 39 Anglers in Group A compete in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 40 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finish first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
Anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. ET each day from Osborne Landing, located at 9530 Osborne Turnpike in Richmond. Due to long boat runs, tides and high temperatures, MLF has enacted the Trailering Policy for the entirety of the event, meaning pros can trailer their boats and drive them to any ramp on the fishery closer to where they plan to start fishing. Pros taking advantage of the trailering policy will leave Osborne Landing at 6:45 a.m. ET daily and will begin fishing at 8 a.m. ET (Lines In) with the full field.
Each day’s General Tire Takeout will be held at the landing, beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW!® live stream and SCORETRACKER® coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com .
The MLFNOW!® broadcast team of Chad McKee and J.T. Kenney will break down the extended action live on the final four days of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW!® will be live streamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
On Saturday and Sunday, June 29-30, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. MLF welcomes fans of all ages to visit Osborne Landing for the MLF Watch Party and Kids Fishing Derby. Fans can watch the pros live on the MLFNOW! big screen, enjoy free food, enter to win hourly giveaways and cheer on their favorite pros. The first 50 kids 14 and under will receive a free rod and reel from Pure Fishing each day. Additional fishing gear will be provided onsite for the fishing derby or kids can bring their own. The final 10 Championship Round Bass Pro Tour anglers will be on hand at the trophy celebration on Championship Sunday to meet and greet fans, sign autographs and take selfies.
The General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts features the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, in which anglers catch as much weight as they can each day, while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the SCORETRACKER® leaderboard. The tournament features anglers competing with a 1-pound, 8-ounce minimum weight requirement for a bass to be deemed scorable. The MLF Fisheries Management Division determines minimum weights for each body of water that the Bass Pro Tour visits, based on the productivity, bass population and anticipated average size of fish in each fishery.
The Bass Pro Tour features a field of 78 of the top professional anglers in the world, competing across seven regular-season tournaments around the country, for millions of dollars and valuable points to qualify for the annual General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and the REDCREST 2025 championship.
Fishing Clash, an interactive 3D fishing simulation game that’s played by more than 80 million people worldwide, is the official AOY sponsor of the Bass Pro Tour, Tackle Warehouse Invitationals, Toyota Series and Phoenix Bass Fishing League. You can download Fishing Clash for free in the App Store and on Google Play or log on to www.fishingclash.game for more information.
Television coverage of the General Tire Stage Six at James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts Championship Round will air as a two-hour episode starting at 7 a.m. ET, on Saturday, Nov. 9 on Discovery. New MLF episodes premiere each Saturday morning on Discovery, with re-airings on Outdoor Channel.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Bass Pro Tour include: Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, BUBBA, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, Garmin, General Tire, Humminbird, Lowrance, Mercury, MillerTech, Minn Kota, Mossy Oak Fishing, NITRO, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Onyx, Plano, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, Rapala, REDCON1, Star brite, Suzuki, Toyota, U.S. Air Force and WIX Filters.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Game Wardens and Nixon Guide Young Anglers To Vexus Varsity™ Bonus
If the tiny community of Bee Branch, Arkansas, sounds familiar to serious bass fishing fans, blame it on Bass Fishing Hall of Famer Larry Nixon, who has called the rural community home for decades.
The area is also home to Nixon’s nephew and talented high school angler Cole Pennington, who partnered with Vexus® Boats angler Ely Hagans to become one of the very first teams to win a celebratory banner and $500 in Tackle Warehouse gift cards.
“Uncle Larry (Nixon) has been a huge influence. He’s taught us a lot about fishing but also to trust the Lord and His plan. He and Joey Cifuentes have told us to keep our faith, trust our gut, and never give up easily. We were both raised to believe that,” says Pennington.
The new Vexus Varsity program rewards qualifying high school teams who win a sanctioned tournament while competing in a Vexus boat with a Tackle Warehouse gift card for $500. Qualifying college teams who win a sanctioned tournament in a Vexus boat will win a $1,000 Tackle Warehouse gift card.
Pennington and Hagans won the Vexus Varsity prizes as a result of their victory at the Arkansas Game & Fish Commissioners’ Cup event on Lake Hamilton, where they cast big Zoom worms and Jewel finesse jigs on Powell rods to boat a winning weight of 13.92 pounds.
Ironically, Pennington’s grandfather and Hagan’s father worked together as Arkansas Game Wardens. So, there’s no doubt these two young fishermen have been mentored with a double helping of morality, integrity, and a rare insight into all things outdoors.
Hagans, who fishes out of a Vexus AVX1980 aluminum boat, says he’s already spent his portion of the $500 Tackle Warehouse gift card on Aaron’s Magic-colored drop-shot worms, light wire hooks, and Berkley Dredger 17.5 crankbaits.
When asked what he likes most about his Vexus, the future Bethel University angler responded without hesitation, “This boat floats in super shallow water, which allows us to fish in places some people won’t even try to take a fiberglass boat.”
Given the incredible guidance these two young anglers have been given, coupled with high aspirations to fish for a living someday, this will likely be their first of many times to hang a Vexus banner in their boat garage or dorm room. There’s also a strong chance they’ll keep Bee Branch, Clinton, and the rest of Van Buren County, Arkansas, recognizable to fishing fans for years to come.
Young anglers who wish to join the Vexus contingency programs are encouraged to register under the “Info” tab at vexusboats.com.
Weaver Withdraws from Final Two Bass Pro Tour Events of 2024, Trailering Policy Enacted for Week
WHAT:
Bass Pro Tour angler Joshua Weaver of Macon, Georgia, has withdrawn from the final two Bass Pro Tour events of 2024, including this week’s General Tire Stage Six at the James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts, due to undisclosed personal reasons.
Pro Kelly Jordon has been moved from Group B to Group A to even the fields at 39 anglers each for the event this week.
Bass Pro Tour Tournament Director Daniel Fennel has also enacted the MLF’s trailering policy this week on the James River at Stage Six – in effect for each day of competition.
Anglers can launch at any public boat launch within the tournament boundaries on the James River and can also put their boat back on the trailer and drive to a different boat ramp during competition hours, if they so choose.
WHEN:
Tuesday-Sunday, June 25-30
Departure from Osborne Landing for anglers launching from other landings: 6:45 a.m. ET
Takeoff from desired launch ramp: 7:30 a.m. ET
General Tire Takeout: 4 p.m. ET
WHERE:
*Osborne Landing, 9530 Osborne Turnpike, Richmond, Va.
*Trailering policy enacted – anglers can launch from any public ramp
NOTES:
Major League Fishing (MLF) and the Bass Pro Tour are visiting Richmond, Virginia, and the James River this week, June 25-30, for the sixth regular-season event of the 2024 Bass Pro Tour season – General Tire Stage Six at the James River Presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts.
The six-day tournament, hosted by Richmond Region Tourism, will feature a field of 78 professional anglers competing for a purse of $659,000, including a top payout of $100,000 and valuable Fishing Clash Angler of the Year (AOY) points in hopes of qualifying for the General Tire Heavy Hitters all-star event and REDCREST 2025, the Bass Pro Tour championship.
The 39 anglers in Group A will compete in their two-day Qualifying Round on Tuesday and Thursday – the 39 anglers in Group B on Wednesday and Friday. After each two-day Qualifying Round is complete, the anglers that finish first through 10th from both groups advance to Saturday’s Knockout Round. In the Knockout Round, weights are zeroed, and the remaining 20 anglers compete to finish in the top 10 to advance to Sunday’s Championship Round. In the final-day Championship Round, weights are zeroed, and the highest one-day total wins the top prize of $100,000.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing and the Bass Pro Tour, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 13 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
O’Connell Posts Second Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Clarks Hill
North Carolina’s Spurlin Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
APPLING, Ga. (June 24, 2024) – Boater Matt O’Connell of Brooks, Georgia, caught a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Clarks Hill . Hosted by Visit Columbia County, Georgia, the tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL South Carolina Division. O’Connell earned $6,805, including the lucrative $2,500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
O’Connell fished a Savannah River Division tournament on Clarks Hill a week prior and found some fish on brush piles. This time around, he realized the schools had set up a little bit shallower. He kicked the day off throwing a topwater.
“I used a CAST The OG to get a key fish early – a 4-pounder,” he said. “Last week, my biggest fish was like 3 1/2. Then I just kind of mixed in various other blueback baits; other topwaters, flukes, stuff like that. Basically, I caught most of my weight before 8 o’clock in the morning and then continued catching a bunch of other fish throughout the day, but they were mostly 1- to 2-pounders.”
A big boating event on the lake presented some challenges for O’Connell’s offshore bite in the middle of the day because he had to work around a lot of extra traffic. Thankfully, his first spot produced that 4-pounder, and his second put out a 4½ and 3¾ .
“My initial spot was a shallow hump,” he said. “There was a ton of bluebacks moving through. The fish would school around you off and on. The second spot wasn’t a hump. It was just a long point.”
After he left those areas, O’Connell targeted brush piles. The shining spot in the afternoon was a key cull that came with 45 minutes remaining. He was able to gain about a half-pound, giving him a solid cushion over second place.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Matt O’Connell, Brooks, Ga., five bass, 18-0, $6,805 (includes $2,500 Phoenix MLF Continency Bonus)
2nd: Aspen Martin, White, Ga., five bass, 16-15, $1,753
3rd: Jason Burroughs, Hodges, S.C., five bass, 15-10, $1,169
4th: Norm Attaway, Clearwater, S.C., five bass, 15-1, $1,258
5th: Hunter Eubanks, Landrum, S.C., five bass, 15-0, $672
5th: Logan Mills, Chapin, S.C., five bass, 15-0, $672
7th: Joe Anders, Easley, S.C., five bass, 14-15, $584
8th: Jeffrey Borne, Prosperity, S.C., five bass, 14-9, $526
9th: Tyler Campbell, Martin, Ga., five bass, 14-6, $438
9th: Jeff Coble, Manson, N.C., five bass, 14-6, $438
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Norm Attaway of Clearwater, South Carolina, caught a bass that weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $440.
Braxton Spurlin of Ellenboro, North Carolina, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,753 Saturday, after bringing four bass to the scale that totaled 11 pounds, 14 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Braxton Spurlin, Ellenboro, N.C., four bass, 11-14, $1,753
2nd: Wayne Smelser, Wytheville, Va., five bass, 9-14, $876
3rd: Ross Doolittle, Greenwood, S.C., five bass, 9-13, $585
4th: Riley Smallwood, Shallotte, N.C., five bass, 9-7, $509
5th: Trent Killian, Bostic, N.C., five bass, 8-11, $351
6th: Carter Jefferies, Mount Pleasant, S.C., five bass, 8-4, $321
7th: Jacob Yaden, Evans, Ga., five bass, 8-1, $442
8th: Rodney Tapp, Inman, S.C., five bass, 7-12, $263
9th: Kevin Henderson, Honea Path, S.C., five bass, 7-8, $219
9th: Dale Ball, Asheville, N.C., four bass, 7-8, $219
Travis Ruff of Connelly Springs, North Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $220, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 11 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Joe Anders of Easley, South Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash South Carolina Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 955 points, while Trent Killian of Bostic, North Carolina, leads the Fishing Clash South Carolina Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 952 points.
The next event for BFL South Carolina Division anglers will be held Sept.7-8, at Lake Murray in Prosperity, South Carolina. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-5 BFL Regional tournament on Kerr Lake in Henderson, North Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.
The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Muskogee’s Capps Secures the Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Arkansas River Presented by Suzuki Marine
Owasso’s Corriveau Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
MUSKOGEE, Okla. (June 24, 2024) – Boater Blake Capps of Muskogee, Oklahoma, caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 9 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Arkansas River Presented by Suzuki Marine . The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Okie Division. Capps earned $10,877, including the lucrative $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus, for his victory.
Capps employed simple, shallow-water river fishing tactics to get the win. He also decided not to lock to maximize his fishing time.
“There’s a lot of current on the main Arkansas River,” he said. “I was mainly focusing on the main-river eddies and stuff like that – places for them to kind of slide out of the current – whether that be a rock or bend in the river or laydown.”
Capps kicked off the morning throwing a Heddon Super Spook topwater bait in current seams, primarily around rock jetties. He also caught some on a Gene Larew Biffle Bug in those same areas. The topwater bait produced the biggest fish of the day.
“Later in the day, I went farther downriver, and I made some of my best culls on a Booyah (XCS1 Series) square bill,” he added. “The laydowns were the main thing I was focusing on with the square bill. There was a ton of current right on the logs.”
According to Capps, a depth of 2 feet of water was “deep” for this pattern. And it was clearly a quality bite, as his co-angler, Jeff Corriveau, also came out victorious.
“We caught ’em all day,” Capps said. “It was a lot of fun. It really surprised me there weren’t more people out there doing it with me. I never really had any company wherever I went.
“It was a pretty simple pattern,” he added. “Not a whole lot of rods out on the deck. My front graphs were turned off. I just went fishing. It was all visual stuff, too. It’s nice going to the bank and turning the locaters off and just going fishing.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Blake Capps, Muskogee, Okla., five bass, 20-9, $10,877 (includes $7,000 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
2nd: Joel Baker, Talala, Okla., five bass, 16-5, $1,408
2nd: Nic Conger, Fort Smith, Ark., five bass, 16-5, $1,823
4th: Dale Andrews, Jay, Okla., five bass, 15-15, $788
5th: Zachery Fowler, Konawa, Okla., five bass, 13-3, $675
6th: Shane Pickett, Rose Hill, Kan., five bass, 13-1, $919
7th: Ian Leybas, McAlester, Okla., five bass, 12-12, $563
8th: Brett Brumnett, Wagoner, Okla., five bass, 12-1, $507
9th: Mike Hesson, Hackett, Ark., five bass, 11-15, $450
10th: Shonn Goodwin, Moore, Okla., five bass, 11-7, $394
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Nic Conger of Fort Smith, Arkansas, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $415.
Jeff Corriveau of Owasso, Oklahoma, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,689 Saturday, after bringing four bass to the scale that totaled 12 pounds, 2 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Jeff Corriveau, Owasso, Okla., four bass, 12-2, $1,689
2nd: Thad Hewitt, Delaware, Okla., five bass, 11-14, $944
3rd: Russell Malone, Grove, Okla., four bass, 10-0, $564
4th: David Blankinship, Cushing, Okla., three bass, 9-12, $394
5th: Randy Peoples, Prairie Grove, Ark., three bass, 9-1, $338
6th: Nathan McCartney, Inola, Okla., four bass, 8-0, $310
7th: Charles Covington, Claremore, Okla., three bass, 7-10, $281
8th: Marco Flores, Topeka, Kan., four bass, 7-6, $253
9th: Daniel Payne, Warr Acres, Okla., three bass, 7-5, $225
10th: Lane McCartney, Braggs, Okla., three bass, 6-13, $197
Stephen Vogel of Muenster, Texas, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $207, catching a bass that weighed in at 4 pounds, 3 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Chris M. Jones of Bokoshe, Oklahoma, leads the Fishing Clash Okie Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 965 points, while Alan Hill of Ada, Oklahoma, leads the Fishing Clash Okie Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 936 points.
The next event for BFL Okie Division anglers will be held Sept. 14-15, at Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 17-19 BFL Regional tournament on Wright Patman Lake in Texarkana, Texas. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.
The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Brownsville’s Logsdon Earns First Career Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Barren River
Tennessee’s Suratt Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
SCOTTSVILLE, Ky. (June 24, 2024) – Boater Cole Logsdon of Brownsville, Kentucky, caught a three-bass limit weighing 12 pounds, 4 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on Barren River. The tournament was the fourth event of the season for the BFL Mountain Division. Logsdon earned $3,418 for his victory.
In the Barren River Lake event, anglers were limited to weighing three fish. Add in a field of more than 80 boaters on a small reservoir, and it was almost a guarantee that weights would be tight in this tournament. Logsdon overcame those challenges by relying on a ton of experience on the lake.
“I live 20 minutes down the road,” he said. “I’ve spent a lot of time out on Barren River over the years. Especially, I’ve had a lot of help over the years from some people who mentored me. That kind of came into play with the late boat draw I had. Some of the history stuff I had was the deal. I got lucky because I was the second-to-last boat out and I couldn’t get on a lot of my stuff.”
Logsdon spent most of his practice scanning the lake for offshore schools. He didn’t even take rods with him for practice. In the tournament, he started the morning by running to one of his better areas only to find another boat there. When he shifted to his second spot – a shallow drop – Logsdon found the type of school he’d been hunting for all through practice.
“I eased up the lake, set the trolling motor down and there they were,” he said. “I knew it was about to go down right then. I got right in a hurry.
“It’s a place that we’ve fished for a long time, and when they get there, they get there. It’s a place I knew, but it’s a place I wasn’t expecting the fish to be there. I sat there for probably 45 minutes.”
After he left that area, Logsdon started running and gunning. He figures he deployed the trolling motor 40 to 50 times throughout the day and wound up making some key culls that bumped up his three-fish limit to more than a pound better than second place.
“I knew with 80 boats it was going to be a packed house, and these guys are so good I knew they were going to find a lot,” Logsdon said. “I just got lucky and got on a spot I knew and they were there, and it worked out in my favor.”
Logsdon’s key lures were a homemade football-head jig, a Strike King 6XD crankbait and a Stealth Lures umbrella rig with 6th Sense 3.2-inch Divine Swimbaits.
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Cole Logsdon, Brownsville, Ky., three bass, 12-4, $3,418
2nd: Dathan Jones, Harrodsburg, Ky., three bass, 11-0, $1,709
3rd: Michael Morrison, Stamping Ground, Ky., three bass, 10-15, $1,263
4th: Trent Suratt, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., three bass, 10-14, $798
5th: Josh Boone, Richmond, Ky., three bass, 10-13, $655
5th: Christopher O’Bryan, Harned, Ky., three bass, 10-13, $1,075
7th: Lee Sinclair, Albany, Ky., three bass, 10-7, $570
8th: Isaac Peavyhouse, Jamestown, Tenn., three bass, 10-4, $513
9th: Grant Adams, Campbellsville, Ky., three bass, 9-12, $456
10th: Clint Brodsky, Burlington, Ky., three bass, 9-7, $1,199 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Christopher O’Bryan of Harned, Kentucky, caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 8 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $420.
Johnny Suratt of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, won the Strike King co-angler division and $1,709 Saturday, after bringing three bass to the scale that totaled 8 pounds, 14 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Johnny Suratt, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., three bass, 8-14, $1,709
2nd: Robert Pepiot III, Lexington, Ky., three bass, 8-12, $712
2nd: Devin Brown, Richmond, Ky., three bass, 8-12, $712
4th: Chevy King, Russell Springs, Ky., three bass, 8-10, $609
5th: Josh Smith, Williamsburg, Ky., three bass, 7-6, $342
6th: Jerry Wittmer, Shepherdsville, Ky., three bass, 7-3, $313
7th: Dan Basham, Taylorsville, Ky., three bass, 6-15, $285
8th: Jeff Johnston, Nashville, Tenn., three bass, 6-11, $256
9th: Ben Carter, Lancaster, Ky., three bass, 6-5, $228
10th: Pete Balishin, Sharps Chapel, Tenn., three bass, 6-1, $349
Chevy King of Russell Springs, Kentucky, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $210, catching a bass that weighed in at 5 pounds, 3 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After four events, Michael Morrison of Stamping Ground, Kentucky, leads the Fishing Clash Mountain Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 969 points, while Johnny Suratt of Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, leads the Fishing Clash Mountain Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 949 points.
The next event for BFL Mountain Division anglers will be held Sept. 14-15, at Lake Cumberland in Monticello, Kentucky. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-5 BFL Regional tournament on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tennessee. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.
The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
North Carolina Angler Hodges Mines One Spot for the Win at Phoenix Bass Fishing League Event at Potomac River
Virginia’s Steinberg Tops Strike King Co-Angler Division
MARBURY, Md. (June 24, 2024) – Boater Richard Hodges, Jr., of Camden, North Carolina, caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 10 ounces, Saturday to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League (BFL) Presented by T-H Marine on the Potomac River . Hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners, the tournament was the third event of the season for the BFL Shenandoah Division. Hodges earned $6,139 for his victory.
Hodges’ winning experience proves that even though things sometimes don’t start the way you expect, they can still turn around real quickly.
“It was a struggle for about the first hour,” he said. “I went to what I thought was my best spot, and I left there with one 13-inch fish. But the day before, I found a school of what I thought was 2-pounders. I went running to them – they were back in a deep hole – and they ended up being bigger than what I saw the first day (practice). I caught them on a swimbait and a ChatterBait Jack Hammer. My co-angler and I, out of a 50-yard stretch, we caught 40 or 50 bass.”
When Hodges found the spot in practice, the tide was at its lowest, and the water was clear enough that he could see the fish swimming around. In the tournament, the water had dirtied, so he couldn’t see them. So he sat on the edge of the hole and blind-cast into it.
The perimeter of the spot was about 2 feet deep, with the middle dropping to about 4 feet. He’d found it while trolling across a shallow flat.
“I’ve been fishing that area for years and never saw it before,” he added. “We sat there for probably four or five hours until we quit getting bites. I caught the first big one (a 5-pound, 12-ounce fish) on a ChatterBait almost instantly when we got there. We fished it and fished it until we quit getting bites, and then we left for an hour and went to fish some grass. When we came back, on my first cast with the ChatterBait I ended up catching a 5-4.”
The top 10 boaters finished the tournament:
1st: Richard Hodges, Jr., Camden, N.C., five bass, 20-10, $6,139
2nd: Jessie Moore, Severn, Md., five bass, 17-14, $2,952
3rd: Brian Laclair, Denton, Md., five bass, 17-13, $1,768
4th: Jonathan Hamilton, Newburg, Md., five bass, 17-7, $1,238
5th: John Duarte, Middle River, Md., five bass, 16-15, $1,686 (includes $500 Phoenix MLF Contingency Bonus)
6th: Ed Milton, Chester, Va., five bass, 16-13, $972
7th: Chris Brummett, Lynch Station, Va., five bass, 16-7, $884
8th: Michael Duarte, Baltimore, Md., five bass, 16-5, $796
9th: Jarvis Raynor, Spotsylvania, Va., five bass, 16-3, $707
10th: Joshua Greenberg, Bumpass, Va., five bass, 16-2, $619
Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Hodges caught a bass that weighed 5 pounds, 12 ounces, and earned the Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $835.
Josh Steinberg of Midland, Virginia, won the Strike King co-angler division and $2,631 Saturday, after bringing five bass to the scale that totaled 16 pounds, 14 ounces.
The top 10 Strike King co-anglers finished:
1st: Josh Steinberg, Midland, Va., five bass, 16-14, $2,631
2nd: Glenn Eskin, Henderson, N.C., five bass, 16-1, $1,725
3rd: Lenny Baird, Stafford, Va., five bass, 15-2, $1,127
4th: Lew Jenkins, Waldorf, Md., five bass, 15-0, $614
5th: Matthew Ross, Barton, Md., five bass, 14-12, $526
6th: Jeff McBeth, New Philadelphia, Ohio, five bass, 14-6, $482
7th: Eric Nelson, Gainesville, Va., five bass, 14-3, $438
8th: Keyshawn Bratcher, Altamonte Springs, Fla., five bass, 14-2, $395
9th: Jeff Turner, Morris, Ill., five bass, 14-1, $351
10th: Stephen Barr, Wilmington, N.C., five bass, 14-0, $307
Glenn Eskin of Henderson, North Carolina, earned the Berkley Big Bass co-angler award of $410, catching a bass that weighed in at 6 pounds, 4 ounces – the largest co-angler catch of the day.
After three events, Chris Brummett of Lynch Station, Virginia, leads the Fishing Clash Shenandoah Division Angler of the Year (AOY) race with 733 points, while David Williams of Fredericksburg, Virginia, leads the Fishing Clash Shenandoah Division Co-Angler of the Year race with 720 points.
The next event for BFL Shenandoah Division anglers will be held July 27, at James River in Henrico, Virginia. To register for the event as a boater or a co-angler, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com or call (270)-252-1000.
The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five tournament winners of each qualifying event, will qualify for the Oct. 3-5 BFL Regional tournament on Kerr Lake in Henderson, North Carolina. Boaters will fish for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will compete for a top award of $50,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury or Suzuki outboard.
The 2024 Phoenix BFL Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 events throughout the season, five qualifying tournaments in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five qualifying event winners, will advance to one of six BFL Regional tournaments where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the BFL All-American.
Proud sponsors of the 2024 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine include: 7Brew, Abu Garcia, B&W Trailer Hitches, Berkley, BUBBA, E3, Epic Baits, Fishing Clash, General Tire, GSM Outdoors, Lew’s, Mercury, Mossy Oak, Onyx, Phoenix, Polaris, Power-Pole, PowerStop Brakes, REDCON1, Strike King, Suzuki, Tackle Warehouse, T-H Marine, Toyota, WIX Filters and YETI.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
About Major League Fishing
Major League Fishing (MLF) is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, producing more than 250 events annually at some of the most prestigious fisheries in the world, while broadcasting to America’s living rooms on CBS, Discovery Channel, Outdoor Channel, CBS Sports Network, World Fishing Network and on demand on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV). Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, the MLF roster of bass anglers includes the world’s top pros and more than 30,000 competitors in all 50 states and 17 countries. Since its founding in 2011, MLF has advanced the sport of competitive fishing through its premier television broadcasts and livestreams and is dedicated to improving the quality of life for bass through research, education, fisheries enhancement and fish care.
Huk A1A Collection Elevates Anglers’ Experience with Style and Functionality
Charleston, SC (May 24, 2024) - Huk, a trailblazer in outdoor apparel, is thrilled to introduce its latest innovation, the A1A Performance Collection. Inspired by the iconic Florida highway known for its access to coveted fishing spots, this collection's meticulous design enhances every angler's experience on the water.
The A1A Performance Collection is committed to ensuring anglers' comfort, protection, and performance. Crafted from a blend of premium polyester and elastane materials, each garment in the A1A Collection ensures exceptional breathability and 4-way stretch. This thoughtful design allows anglers to cast, reel, and move effortlessly, enhancing the fishing experience by providing flexibility and comfort to fully enjoy long days on the water.
The standout feature of the A1A Performance Crew Neck is the exceptional UPF rating, which offers anglers the most protection against the sun's harmful rays while keeping them cool. With the 50+ UPF rating, anglers can fish with peace of mind, knowing they can rely on A1A Performance Shirts to keep them comfortable and shielded from the sun.
The A1A Performance Hoodie expands upon the performance of the A1A Performance Crew Neck shirt. Crafted with a full-mesh fabric to boost breathability, this hoodie ensures anglers remain focused on their catch, not the rising temperatures. The hood and built-in face gaiter provide exceptional sun protection, so anglers can fully immerse themselves in their passion without worrying about the sun's harsh rays.
The A1A Collection features a woven button-down shirt that blends style with functionality. This shirt features a full laser perforation for enhanced breathability, essential to staying cool on the water. Equipped with the same UPF protection and stretch as the performance shirts, the woven button-down shirt is for those who prefer a classic, long-sleeve option without sacrificing performance.
The collection includes lightweight and durable shorts for warmer days, ensuring comfort no matter the conditions. The A1A Short features full laser perforation, increasing breathability for long hours under the sun. Keep items secure and close by with the side cargo pockets. With the comfortable design, stain resistance, and 30+ UPF rating, anglers can rely on the A1A Short for wherever their adventure takes them.
The A1A Performance line enhances any fishing experience with a wide array of garments. With the A1A Collection, anglers can stay protected, cool, and comfortable without compromising style.
A1A Crew Neck Features
- Superior 50+ UPF Sun Protection
- Comfortable 4-Way Stretch
- 92% Polyester and 8% Elastane blend
- Available Sizes S-XXXL
A1A Hoodie Features
- Superior 50+ UPF Sun Protection
- Comfortable 4-Way Stretch
- 92% Polyester and 8% Elastane blend
- Built-in Face Gaiter
- Available Sizes S-XXXL
A1A Woven Button-down Features
- Superior 50+ UPF Sun Protection
- Comfortable 4-Way Stretch
- 92% Polyester and 8% Elastane blend
- Available Sizes S-XXXL
A1A Short Features
- 30+ UPF Sun Protection
- Comfortable 4-Way Stretch
- 89% Polyester and 11% Elastane blend
- Stain Resistant
- Superior Breathability
- 5-inch Inseam
- Available Sizes S-XXXL
About Marolina Outdoor
Marolina Outdoor Inc. was founded to bring deep-seated product expertise across all outdoor categories. Our innovative designs and technologically focused products create the foundation of our authentic outdoor apparel. Huk clothing represents a fresh take and a unique understanding of angling needs, offering functional styles that appeal to anglers of all ages. Huk is motivated to provide quality apparel so anglers can maximize their fishing adventures and provide quality comfort and style regardless of the size of the fish or where their pursuit leads them. For more information, please visit www.hukgear.com.
