Casteel Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Season Opener on Sam Rayburn Reservoir
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Boater Austin Casteel of Sulphur, Louisiana, and Strike-King co-angler J.J. Matzke of League City, Texas
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League City’s Matzke Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
BROOKELAND, TEXAS (Jan. 10, 2022) – Boater Austin Casteel of Sulphur, Louisiana, caught five bass Saturday weighing 19 pounds, 3 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine season opener on Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Casteel earned $6,000 for his victory. “The lake is fishing tough right now, and I knew the wind was going to be kicking, so I just tried to make the right decisions,” Casteel said. “It was tough.” The win was Casteel’s first entry as a boater – his only previous Major League Fishing BFL event was as a Strike King co-angler. Casteel said he relied on a drop-shot rig tipped with a watermelon red Zoom Finesse Worm during the tournament to bag his limit. “I caught my kicker fish on my fourth or fifth cast of the day,” Casteel said. “The only pressure I felt after that was that I didn’t want to catch just one big fish.” Casteel said he boated 30 to 40 fish during the course of the day. “The only time it kind of slowed up was when a storm blew through and it was tough to get bit,” Casteel said. “But as soon as that started calming down, they started biting again.” The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in: 1st: Austin Casteel, Sulphur, La., five bass, 19-3, $6,000 Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com. Elliott caught 7-pound, 12-ounce largemouth that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division and earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $1,000. J.J. Matzke of League City, Texas, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $3,000 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 21 pounds, 4 ounces. The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were: 1st: J.J. Matzke, League City, Texas, five bass, 21-4, $3,000 Singleton caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 8 pounds, 14 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $500. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 20-22 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma. Boaters will compete for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Regional Championships where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. The 2022 All-American will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour. For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. |
Emmanuel College Wins MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Opener on Harris Chain of Lakes
LEESBURG, Fla. (Jan. 10, 2022) – The Emmanuel College duo of Seth Jenkins of Townville, South Carolina, and T.J. McKenzie of Andrews, South Carolina, won the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on the Harris Chain of Lakes Friday with a five-bass limit weighing 25 pounds, 14 ounces. The victory earned the Lion’s bass club $2,000 and a slot in the 2023 MLF College Fishing National Championship.
A total of 189 teams participated in this event, which was the largest season-opening field in MLF College Fishing history.
The Emmanuel College team had hoped to bag a limit of 30 pounds during competition, but their five fish weighed enough to give them a 1-ounce victory over Webber International University.
“We had the mindset that we didn’t want to come in with less than 30 pounds, because that’s what usually wins these college tournaments,” Jenkins said. “That was our complete drive all week.
“We had two offshore spots that we fished all day, and we alternated between those two spots every hour and a half,” Jenkins added. “We had people fishing down our stretches all day, but they were power-fishing and we were fishing slow. We probably spent a minute and a half on each cast.”
Jenkin said his bait of choice was a 6th Sense Ridge Worm, while McKenzie focused on a Zoom Speed Worm.
“We know for a fact there are bigger fish where we were fishing,” Jenkins said. “I think if we would have had two more hours we probably would have caught a fish over 8 pounds. But that didn’t happen.
“Our whole conversation idling back through the canal was that we were expecting a top-10 finish. We weren’t expecting to win, but we kept grinding all day.”
The top 10 teams that advanced to the 2023 College Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Emmanuel College – Seth Jenkins of Townville, South Carolina, and T.J. McKenzie of Andrews, South Carolina, five bass, 25-14, $2,000
2nd: Webber International University – Vincent Maffei, Lake Wales, Fla., and Andrew Ready, Auburndale, Fla., five bass, 25-13, $1,000
3rd: Florida Gateway College – Zack Barrera, Morriston, Fla., and Bryson Osteen, Live Oak, Fla., five bass, 25-9, $500
4th: University of Montevallo – Nicholas Dumke and Easton Fothergill, both of Grand Rapids, Minn., five bass, 22-1, $500
5th: University of Montevallo – Jack Alexander, Mountain Brook, Ala., and Brody Robison, Dawson, Ala., five bass, 20-14, $500
6th: Florida Gateway College – Seth Slanker and Jackson Swisher, both of Lake City, Fla., five bass, 20-3
7th: Carson Newman University – Ben Cully, Rockwall, Texas, and Hayden Gaddis, Dandridge, Tenn., five bass, 18-9
8th: Emmanuel College – Brooks Anderson, Marietta, Ga., and Parker Guy, Ocilla, Ga., five bass, 18-3
9th: Erskine College – Jeremy Dellinger, Denver, N.C., and Adam Seagle, Lincolnton, N.C., five bass, 18-1
10th: Florida State University – Luke McDaniel, Fort Myers, Fla., and Tanner Scarborough, Winter Haven, Fla., five bass, 17-15
MLF also advances one additional team to the National Championship for every 10 teams over 100 that compete. A total of 189 teams participated in this event, so also advancing to the 2023 College Fishing National Championship are:
11th: University of Montevallo – Ryan Branch, Chelsea, Ala., and Kopeland Rosser, Helena, Ala., five bass, 17-9
12th: Auburn University – James Cobbs and Conner Crosby, both of Auburn, Ala., five bass, 17-1
13th: Georgetown College – Cameron Cornelius, Mount Vernon, Ky., and Tyler Greenlee, Paris, Ky., five bass, 16-6
14th: University of Montevallo – Tyler Cory, Amherst, Wis., and Scott Sledge, Greenwood, Ind., five bass, 16-3
15th: University of Tennessee – Garrett Lewis, Knoxville, Tenn., and Chad Sentell, Cottontown, Tenn., five bass, 16-2
16th: Bryan College – Caleb Bridges and Jacob Davidson, both of Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 15-14
17th: Emannuel College – Kollin Smith, Bowersville, Ga., and Gabe Sowash, Gainesville, Ga., five bass, 15-4
18th: Bryan College – Andrew Fisher, Calhoun, Ga., and Elijah Kirk, Chattanooga, Tenn., five bass, 15-1
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on the Harris Chain of Lakes was hosted by Lake County, Florida. It was the first of three regular-season tournaments for Southeastern Conference anglers. The next event for College Fishing anglers will be the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Toledo Bend, Jan. 21 in Many, Louisiana.
MLF College Fishing teams compete in three regular-season tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top 10 teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual Abu Garcia College Fishing Open will advance to the following season’s National Championship. The 2022 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship Presented by Lowrance will be held on Fort Gibson Lake in Wagoner, Oklahoma, March 29-31, and is hosted by the Wagoner Area Chamber of Commerce.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular College Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
MLF Senior Director of Operations Bill Taylor Announces Retirement
Taylor to Step Down After 32-Year Ascension to MLF Senior Director of Operations
BENTON, Ky. (Jan. 7, 2022) – For the past few seasons, with words and actions, Major League Fishing (MLF) Senior Director of Operations Bill Taylor had laid the groundwork for his departure from the duties he's overseen and controlled since 2001. Taylor made it official this week, as MLF announced that the longest-tenured tournament director in the company’s history is stepping away.
Taylor, who was the tournament director for the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit (formerly FLW Tour) for more than 19 seasons, officially announced his retirement as of January 1. It marks the end of an incredibly successful reign during which Taylor helped usher in numerous tournament eras, from the first wrapped trucks and boats to the internet age, to expanded live-streamed tournament coverage, and through the acquisition of Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) by MLF in 2019.
“I told Kathy Fennel some time ago that I’d know when it’s time – and it has been such a fun ride – but it is time,” said Taylor, who turned 74 in August. “Those 4 a.m. wake-up times are getting pretty tough. I was blessed to have a great job that allowed me to do a little bit of fishing and hunting each year. But being tied up for several weeks each year, away from my family, my phone always ringing – it’s weighed on me quite a bit over the last few months. I’m happy that I am able to retire and I’ll have more time to spend with my family and do a little more fishing and hunting.”
A decorated tournament angler in his own right, Taylor fished in the first-ever Operation Bass (precursor to FLW) tournament in 1980. He worked full-time as a UPS driver for 30 years, from 1970 until he retired from the company in the year 2000. He first began working for Operation Bass in 1989, helping out at the Red Man Tournament Trail events as part of the operations staff. When Operation Bass was acquired by Irwin Jacobs and re-branded as FLW in 1996, Taylor was brought along as part of the operations crew and worked the inaugural season of the FLW Tour, using PTO time from UPS to fulfill his tournament duties. After his retirement from UPS, he was promoted to full-time tournament director of the FLW Tour in 2001, a role he held through the 2019 season. In his final two seasons with MLF, Taylor served as Senior Director of Operations, working with all of MLF’s tournament directors to help with planning logistics, venue selection, angler recruitment, on-the-water coverage and anything else that needed to be done to make sure the tournaments were successful.
“There are so many people that I want to thank and recognize, and if I tried to mention them all it would take a novel. But I need to thank my family – especially my wife Barbara – for always supporting me 100%, even when it would sometimes take me away for weeks at a time,” Taylor said. “I want to thank Charlie Evans and Kathy Fennel for giving me my first opportunity to work as a full-time tournament director. And I want to thank MLF, for allowing me to stay with the company through the acquisition of FLW and finish my career. I wish everyone at MLF nothing but the best, they will always have my support, and I will continue to be a strong ambassador for the company.
“It’s been a great run,” Taylor went on to say. “I got to work front and center with the best fishermen in the world. To be a part of this industry – working alongside the anglers and sponsors, making decisions, creating rules – it has truly been one of the most rewarding times of my life.”
“Bill Taylor is the most dedicated person that I have ever met,” stated MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager Kathy Fennel. “He is incredibly thorough and always prepared. He is not a procrastinator. It’s a quality that our staff has respected, admired and even joked about all of these years – you’re not going to beat Bill Taylor to the ramp in the morning. He was the first person there, every single day, and is the hardest-working person that I know. The man loves fishing – both working and on the other end of it with a rod and a reel in his hand. And that’s what has made him such a great tournament director. He has a huge heart, and he truly cares very much.
“More importantly, Bill is an amazing family man. He doesn’t put anything ahead of his family, and he’s the same way with his work family,” Fennel continued. “No matter the situation or task, I knew that if I called on Bill he’d be there to help me figure out a way to get it done. His honesty, integrity and passion has elevated not just our organization but the entire sport of professional bass fishing.”
MLF co-founder and longtime tournament competitor Boyd Duckett echoed Fennel’s sentiments.
“Bill Taylor is an individual that has as strong of a passion for the sport of bass fishing as any human that I’ve ever met,” Duckett said. “I’ve fished tournaments since 1977, and only a few tournament directors that I have worked with have the character needed to make the really tough decisions, no matter what anyone else thought. Bill Taylor is one of those individuals. Bill always had the answer, and it was always fair and never influenced.
“After the acquisition of FLW, I got to work alongside Bill on the business side of the sport and I was really impressed on how focused he was. Any problems or any ideas we had – Bill was 24-7. His lifetime passion for bass fishing is an impressive quality, and we thank him for his time at MLF.”
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing, its tournaments, and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
FOX Sports Airing Best Of 2021 Bassmaster And Preview Episodes Leading To Start Of New Season
Nearly two million viewers watched live coverage of Hank Cherry's historic win in the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk on the FOX broadcast network and FS1.
Photo by Shane Durrance/B.A.S.S.
January 6, 2022
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Fishing fans can spend their winter weekends with the world’s best anglers as FS1 begins airing highlight shows from the 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series and Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk and previews the upcoming events. The shows are the ideal opportunity to meet the Elites and learn more about sportfishing in the run-up to the first tournament and live broadcasts of the 2022 season.
After a successful first season where nearly 14 million viewers watched Bassmaster LIVE programming, once more all nine 2022 Elite events and the storied Bassmaster Classic will feature live television coverage on the FOX Sports platforms. Beginning with the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite Feb. 10-13 on Florida’s famed St. Johns River, fishing fans can tune in for live, on-the-water action on tournament Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Upcoming episodes will feature highlights of the 2021 season as well as an in-depth look at Seth Feider, who notched four Top 10s en route to winning 2021 Angler of the Year honors, and Josh Stracner, who had to climb over four other anglers in the final event on the St. Lawrence River to win Rookie of the Year. Among the moments viewers can relive — or experience for the first time — is Lee Livesay’s Lake Fork victory featuring a whopping four-day total of 112 pounds, 5 ounces that was capped by a final-day catch of five bass weighing 42-3. A captivated audience watched more than 51.4 million minutes of live tournament coverage as the Elite at Lake Fork produced three lead changes and two anglers caught over 100 pounds.
Avid fans can also join the Bassmaster LIVE team beginning January 22 to preview the exciting new season and upcoming Bassmaster Classic.
Highlight shows will run throughout January and February on both FS1 and FS2. For a complete schedule, visit Bassmaster.com/tv-schedule.
January 8
10 a.m. ET
2021 Review: Alabama & Texas
FS1
January 8
11 a.m. ET
2021 Review: Lake Fork
FS1
January 9
6 a.m. ET
2021 Review: Florida & Tennessee (re-air)
FS1
January 15
9:30 a.m. ET
2021 Review: Alabama Swing
FS1
January 15
10 a.m. ET
2021 Review: New York Swing
FS1
January 15
10:30 a.m. ET
2021 Review: Angler of the Year & Rookie of the Year
FS1
January 15
11 a.m. ET
Best Moments of 2021
FS1
January 22
10 a.m. ET
2022 Preview: Florida Swing
FS1
January 22
10:30 a.m. ET
2022 Preview: South Carolina & Tennessee
FS1
January 22
11 a.m. ET
2022 Preview: Texas & Alabama
FS1
January 29
10 a.m. ET
2022 Preview: New York & South Dakota
FS1
January 29
11 a.m. ET
2022 Preview: Wisconsin & MVPs
FS1
February 5
10 a.m. ET
2021 Bassmaster Classic Review
FS1
February 5
11 a.m. ET
2022 Bassmaster Classic Preview
FS1
Schedule subject to change.
Revital Outdoors Signs Sponsorship Agreement with Major League Fishing
TULSA, Okla. (Jan. 6, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s premier tournament-fishing organization, announced today that Revital Outdoors, a family-owned health and wellness company offering a premium line of CBD products, is now an Official Sponsor of the 2022 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine and the Presenting Sponsor of the Phoenix Bass Fishing League’s Gator Division.
“We are pleased to welcome Revital Outdoors to our community of sponsors and advertisers,” said Jim Wilburn, MLF President and CEO. “With MLF’s expansive audience of outdoor enthusiasts who may benefit from Revital Outdoors’ healthy and effective solution, we are confident that this will be a lucrative relationship for both parties and are looking forward to a fantastic year.”
Revital Outdoors was founded upon recognition of a series of health ailments that were prevalent in the outdoors industry, including repetitive recreation and sporting activities that are notorious for leading to shoulder, wrist, hand, back, knee and joint discomfort. To combat these impediments, outdoorsmen historically turned to over-the-counter pain relievers. However, Revital Outdoors made it their mission to provide an all-natural, healthier and more effective solution to help extend the active years that outdoor enthusiasts can comfortably pursue their passions.
“We are very excited to partner with MLF as an Official Sponsor of the Phoenix Bass Fishing League,” said Kyle Smith, Founder and CEO of Revital Outdoors. “Working with MLF has been first class as they really understand and support our mission to help anglers deal with ailments, joint discomforts and sleep troubles in a healthier way. We look forward to a long-lasting relationship with MLF and their anglers.”
Revital Outdoors’ all-natural, all-inclusive list of products includes CBD Softgels, Tinctures, Softgels with Melatonin (sleep aid), Cream, Salve Sticks and Gummies, as well as a CBD treat for dogs who experience high anxiety and joint issues as they age.
For more information about Revital Outdoors and their products, visit RevitalOutdoors.com. To learn more about MLF, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com .
Expansion for the Future: Humminbird® Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony
EUFAULA, Ala. (December 16, 2021) –– Humminbird®, a leading global innovator of marine electronics products, is beginning construction to expand its Eufaula facilities to meet ongoing strong demand for its technologies. The expansion project will increase the production and assembly areas by 25 percent and is scheduled to be completed in late 2022.
“Participation in fishing has always been high, and it’s even higher now because on-the-water recreation affords people the space and tranquility they want right now. Over the last six years, Humminbird has seen tremendous growth and we expect it to continue to grow,” said Craig Packard, General Manager. “To increase our capacity to meet future demand, we are investing in continuing to expand our facilities.”
“Humminbird is an important part of the city’s history, and the same pioneering spirit that started the company is still alive today. The product innovation and industry-leading technology continue to make this a strong business,” said Mayor Jack Tibbs. “We are both proud and excited for this expansion, and we appreciate the investment and new jobs that have been created. We wish the company continued success in the future.”
The multimillion dollar 29,000 square-foot expansion project includes the installation of solar rooftop panels as well as four EV charging stations in the parking areas. This project follows a 17,000-square foot addition, which increased the warehouse space by 40 percent, that was recently completed in May 2021.
The groundbreaking ceremony for this expansion project took place on Dec. 15, 2021, and speakers included: Mayor Jack Tibbs, Eufaula; Jay Bostwick, Sperry & Associates, Inc.; and Craig Packard, Humminbird General Manager. Employees are a major part of Humminbird’s success, and Pattie Smith, an employee who has been with the company for 45 years, and Shantrice Brinson, one of the newest employees added as part of a major workforce expansion in 2021, also participated in the groundbreaking ceremony.
Santa Spent His Vacation After Christmas Fishing in Long Beach, California and Helped Berkley Give Away $22K and Gifts for Children and Adults Alike
On December 27th, Santa headed west to fish and help support the much-needed improvements at El Dorado Regional Park.
LONG BEACH, C.A. (December 27, 2021) — Santa wasted no time taking to the water in Long Beach as he stopped by El Dorado East Regional Park to meet with the local community and cast a line. He packed his fishing bag with extra fishy gifts for the community and a $22k check for the park.
Where Should Santa Fish After Christmas lived up to its name, drawing local community members to come and watch the fabled Christmas icon do some much needed fishing. The event, sponsored by fishing tackle manufacturer Berkley, took place at the El Dorado East Regional Park and Santa Claus dished out thousands of dollars in fishing equipment to the kids and adults in attendance, as well as a donation to the park.
“Traditionally, Santa enjoys his fishing trip after the holiday season alone and Berkley has always been a supporter of his trips”, said Jon Schlosser, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Berkley. “Even though this year was hectic for him, we asked Santa if he felt like he had one more gift in him to help the children of Long Beach get a chance to enjoy the sport he loves so much and he graciously agreed to help us out. In a time when more Americans are fishing than ever before, both Santa and all of us at Berkley Fishing wanted to continue in the tradition of ensuring that kids have an opportunity to enjoy the sport, which is why our donation to the park will be used to complete some much-needed improvements so the community of Long Beach can continue to enjoy the fishing in the park for many years to come.”
With the generous donation from Santa and Berkley, these improvements will now be possible. The project includes improved youth programs including an annual youth fishing derby, improvements to the 500-person capacity campground used by scouts and youth groups fishing the lakes, as well as education for the community and new trash can lids and fishing line disposal bins.
“We are so excited that Santa visited Long Beach and fished in our lake at El Dorado East Regional Park. This was a wonderful opportunity to educate our community and the nation about urban fishing opportunities in Long Beach and we look forward to educating park-goers about responsible fishing habits and conservation efforts.” - Trinka Rowsell, Executive Director of Partners for Parks.
AC Rookie Podcast - The Newest Elite Cheese Head
This week DX welcomes in fellow Wisconsonite in Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Jay Przerkurat to the Rookie Pod to talk about Cheese heads, Bass, food and more! Check this one out!
Strike King Signs On As Bassmaster College Title And Supporting Trail Sponsor
January 5, 2022
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — South Carolina-based lure company Strike King, part of Rather Outdoors, has signed on as the 2022 title sponsor for the Bassmaster College Series and will also serve as a new supporting sponsor for the entire Bassmaster Tournament Trail, B.A.S.S. officials announced today.
“This season the Bassmaster College Series enjoyed unprecedented coverage and interest, and we are thrilled to see what the 2022 season will bring,” said B.A.S.S. chairman and CEO Chase Anderson. “We are excited to partner with Strike King to continue growing the popularity of college fishing and then supporting these anglers and providing more avenues to compete as they move through the tournament ranks.
“There are already former College Series National Champions and College Classic Bracket competitors sprinkled throughout the Bassmaster Elite Series and Bassmaster Classic field. It’s likely just a matter of time before the majority of the Elite field will have some kind of experience in our youth programs.”
The Bassmaster College Series events have been an incredible tool for encouraging youth fishing participation across the country, and they’re beginning to have a pronounced effect on the highest levels of professional bass fishing. Since B.A.S.S. started the circuit in 2013, there has been a 97% growth in the number of participating schools and clubs at the college level.
When registration for the 2022 Bassmaster College Series opened in early December, the 250 boat field for each of the four regular-season tournaments filled in just one day.
“We believe one of the most powerful sources of influence and change in fishing lies with this generation of passionate and dedicated high school and collegiate anglers,” shared Strike King CEO Ken Eubanks. “We are devoted to supporting them as they blaze new trails in our industry.”
As a Supporting Sponsor for the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bassmaster Team Championship and the grass-roots TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation regional and championship tournaments, Strike King will also enjoy exposure in Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times magazines and on Bassmaster LIVE, which is broadcast and streamed on the FOX Sports platforms.
The 2022 Strike King Bassmaster College Series will open its regular season at the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Fla., Jan. 21-22 before stops in North Carolina, Arkansas and Michigan.
AC Insider Podcast - New Year & its time to roll!
Welcome to 2022 and the first episode of the new year for the boys as they welcome in Elite Series Pro Brandon Palanuik to talk about Christmas, Married Life, Humminbird and Minn Kota tips and tricks and more! The boys also look over what's been happening in the world of bass fishing over the break and more!
Heavy Metal No Noise
Courtesy of Vance McCollough
Photo courtesy of www.steelshad.com
Gonna share a secret I’d rather keep.
I picked it up from my travels over the years. This one works from coast-to-coast and form border-to-border and well beyond our borders, Canada and even Japan being hotbeds for the lure style and while you’ve definitely heard of blade baits, it’s doubtful you’ve fished them this way, especially in the Deep South on grass laden waters, even more especially in Florida where nearly every major tournament trail begins their season in the early months of each new year.
Blade baits, such as the Silver Buddy and the Gay Blade developed a reputation in deep drains and standing timber of stingy reservoirs decades ago. They work well with modern electronics as a changeup to the dropshot and jigging spoons for those who like to play videogames with suspended fish.
What a lot of people miss is just how well these thin slabs of metal work in skinny water when bass become fatigued by traditional shallow water techniques in late winter.
After seeing a barrage of Rat L Traps and Red Eye Shads, bass from Rayburn to Harris Chain may hunker deeper in their grass bed rather than attack these otherwise effective lures. That’s when a blade can call them out and get them going again. With no internal rattles to remind fish of the lipless cranks that have sore-mouthed them since Thanksgiving, blades seem more natural. There is a trick, though, to getting the most form these lures in shallow waters where bass will soon begin to show up for periodic feeding sprees, particularly in the South.
Most blades are designed to get deep fast. They are dense and small. This makes them difficult to use in shallow grass. The Steel Shad is special. It has an elongated body that helps it float over cover like no other. While the sinking lure can be fished at any depth - and get there quickly - it is more versatile than others. For instance, the rear tip of the blade can be bent to drive the lure to the right or left. It can be altered to incite more, or less, vibration or to change the running depth on a straight retrieve. Bend it into a banana shape and it will flutter up and around underwater objects like an injured baitfish. Experimentation is half the fun and as nice as I am, I will not share my best modification. You’ll have to figure that one out for yourself. It’s worth finding. I will say that it involves the weight, or lack thereof, of a given lure.
The Steel Shad comes in various sizes to mimic whatever your fish are eating. There’s even a tiny one that will call panfish. Saltwater fish of all species are game. It just looks and acts like something a fish would eat. The standard size in a gold finish duplicates the wild shiners preferred by bass and anglers in Florida.
Visual appeal aside, the real magic of the Steel Shad is its tight vibration, proven over the course of years to trigger cold water strikes from the biggest bass. Not many lures can draw bigger than average bites but still catch everything that swims in an area. The steel Shad does.
No matter where you fish this winter, add the Steel Shad to your arsenal. And if you’re coming to visit the sunshine State, pack a few gold ones!
The AC Rookie Podcast is BACK!!!
Welcome back to the 2022 AnglersChannel Rookie Podcast with your host David Xiong! This week David welcomes in Elite Series Rookie and Northern Opens Points Champ Alex Redwine to talk about how he got started in tournament bass fishing and how he made his way to the Elites. Check it out and make sure and share it with your friends!
2021 Finale
This week Chris & the boys say goodbye to 2021 as Christmas & the New Year are days away. Tristan White, High School angler from Thompson High School joins the show to talk about HS fishing in Alabama and what his goals and aspirations are down the road. See ya 2021, it's been real.
On the 11th Day of Giveaways!
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Date Changes to 2022 NPFL Schedule
The National Professional Fishing League announces date changes to its 2022 tournament schedule.
The scheduling changes were made in regard to maximizing the quality of production, the quality of the fishing, industry events, and input from our anglers. The NPFL feels that any adjustments made to the schedule will positively affect the majority of our anglers and their ability to perform for both their sponsors and fanbases. We appreciate the support of the location hosts and fans in regards to these changes and look forward to an awesome 2022 season ahead!
Stop 1: Lake Cumberland - Feb 20th – 26th
Hosted by the City of Burnside, Kentucky
Stop 2: Lake Hartwell - April 17th – 23th
Hosted by the City of Anderson, South Carolina
Stop 3: Watts Bar - May 22nd – 27th (Compete Wednesday – Friday)
Hosted by Spring City, Tennessee
Stop 4: Saginaw Bay - June 26th - July 1st (Compete Wednesday – Friday)
Hosted by Bay City, Michigan
Stop 5: Sandusky Bay - August 28th - September 3rd
Hosted by the City of Sandusky, Ohio
Stop 6: Kissimmee Chain of Lakes - October 30th – November 5th
Hosted by the City of Kissimmee, Florida
Toyota Bonus Bucks leads Littlejohn to Free Tracker ATV
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
Grand Lake, Oklahoma angler Micah Littlejohn is driving his second Toyota Tundra, and originally signed-up for the Toyota Bonus Bucks contingency program for tournament anglers eight years ago.
Wife Lani loves the incredible room their Tundra CrewMax’s huge back seat affords children Jase and Lexi, Micah appreciates its beasty towing power, and of course, the Bonus Bucks checks he wins as a competitor in Nichols Team Series tournaments.
And thanks to a generous prize they won from Bass Pro Shops in a random drawing at the recent 10th Annual Toyota Bonus Bucks Owners tournament on Table Rock, Christmas came a little early for the whole family when they picked-up their free Tracker OX 400 ATV on December 16th at the Broken Arrow, OK Bass Pro Shops.
In perfect timing, the Littlejohns just moved to a home on 10 acres with a fishing pond. So, their new Tracker OX 400 is sure to get plenty of use on their new plot of land for years to come.
In the short term, thanks to Bass Pro Shops and Toyota, Christmas, 2021 is off to a grateful start for the outdoor-loving young family from Grove, Oklahoma.
Much like Micah, you don’t have to be a pro angler to cash-in on Bonus Bucks, to get registered, please visit https://www.toyotatrucksbonusbucks.com/.
Take a STEP above the rest - Day 8 Giveaway is underway!
Click HERE to sign up to win a brand new TRICKSTEP!
A $489 value!
Major League Fishing General Tire Heavy Hitters Event Presented by Bass Pro Shops to Air Sunday on CBS and Stream Live on Paramount+
WHAT: The Major League Fishing (MLF) 2021 General Tire Heavy Hitters Event Presented by Bass Pro Shops will premiere nationwide Sunday afternoon on CBS and stream live on Paramount+. The All-Star event, shot over six days in Raleigh, North Carolina, showcases 40 MLF anglers competing for more than $535,000, with a top prize of $100,000 going to the winner of the event, and Big Bass Bonuses during the competition with payouts of $25,000, $50,000 and $100,000 being awarded for the single biggest fish in the Qualifying, Knockout and Championship rounds.
WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 19, 2021, from 3-4 p.m. ET or 5-6 p.m. ET (check local listings)
WHERE: CBS and Paramount+
NOTES: The MLF 2021 General Tire Heavy Hitters Event Presented by Bass Pro Shops featured the top 40 pro anglers that qualified from the 2020 Bass Pro Tour season visiting Raleigh to compete on the same waters that produced a big-fish bonanza when the Bass Pro Tour visited Raleigh in 2019 – Jordan Lake, Falls Lake and Shearon Harris Reservoir. That event produced 57 largemouth bass weighing 6 pounds or more, including a 9-pound, 4-ounce giant caught by Texas pro Todd Faircloth.
To qualify for the MLF 2021 General Tire Heavy Hitters Event Presented by Bass Pro Shops, the weight of an angler’s single-largest bass from each of the five 2020 Bass Pro Tour events was recorded. The 40 anglers with the heaviest big-fish totals from those five events qualified to compete in this event.
The 40 anglers that competed in the MLF 2021 General Tire Heavy Hitters Event presented by Bass Pro Shops are: Adrian Avena, Josh Bertrand, Zack Birge, Stephen Browning, Brent Chapman, Luke Clausen, Dustin Connell, Brandon Coulter, Mark Daniels Jr., Mark Davis, Ott DeFoe, Boyd Duckett, David Dudley, Brent Ehrler, James Elam, Anthony Gagliardi, Mike Iaconelli, Alton Jones, Chris Lane, Jordan Lee, Dave Lefebre, Justin Lucas, Mike McClelland, Cody Meyer, Ish Monroe, Andy Morgan, Britt Myers, Michael Neal, Takahiro Omori, Cliff Pace, Dean Rojas, Mark Rose, Fred Roumbanis, Bradley Roy, Fletcher Shryock, Jeff Sprague, Randall Tharp, Bryan Thrift, Kevin VanDam and Jacob Wheeler.
The event was hosted by the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance.
For complete details and updated information on MLF, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
2022 Bassmaster Kayak Series Registration Now Open
In 2022, anglers on the Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX will visit six states while pursuing the new Old Town Bassmaster Kayak Angler of the Year title.
Photo by Kara Wattunen//B.A.S.S.
December 17, 2021
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Registration is now open for the 2022 Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX season, which will visit iconic fisheries in six states. For the first time, the 2022 Kayak Series will feature the Old Town Bassmaster Kayak Series Angler of the Year award with $5,000 cash and a top-of-the-line Old Town kayak going to the angler who accumulates the most points during the regular season.
The 2022 Kayak Series schedule features five regular-season events and the Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship that will coincide with the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.
“In just two years we’ve been amazed by the growth of the series,” said B.A.S.S. Nation Director Jon Stewart, who oversees the Kayak Series. “We knew kayak fishing was experiencing major growth — that’s why we started this back in 2020. But I’m not sure we had any idea just how popular it was.
“It’s been really fun to watch anglers enjoy this trail as the sport continues to evolve.”
The schedule begins on one of the big bass capitals of the country as the Kayak Series visits Lake Fork in Alba, Texas, Feb. 5-6 for one of three two-day events this season. In the past, all events except the championship have been one-day tournaments. Nebraska’s Nate Gloria took home the Lake Fork title in 2021 with a five-bass limit measuring 98 inches while Arkansas pro Cody Milton earned a Century Belt with five bass measuring 100.5 inches in 2020’s inaugural tournament on this big bass factory.
From there, the next stop will be Richard B. Russell Lake in Anderson, S.C., for the two-day Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship, March 2-3. The tournament field will be comprised of qualifiers from the 2021 Kayak Series — and though the tournament will actually conclude on March 3, the winner will be revealed March 4 and receive a first-place prize of at least $20,000 on stage at Bon Secours Wellness Arena before the first-round weigh-in of the Bassmaster Classic.
The inaugural 2021 Championship tournament on Possum Kingdom Lake near Fort Worth, Texas, featured a record-breaking performance by hometown angler Mark Pendergraf who won with a two-day, 10 bass total of 209.25 inches — the highest two-day total in TourneyX history.
“That record-setting limit is the equivalent to weighing in a 30-plus-pound bag,” explained Stewart. “What a way to introduce the Classic crowd to the hammers on the Kayak Series!”
Among the Championship qualifiers in Anderson will be Bassmaster Elite Series veteran Mike Iaconelli from New Jersey, who won a Kayak Series event last year on the Upper Chesapeake Bay, as well as Tennessee angler Jim Davis, who became the first two-time Kayak Series winner with a victory last year on the Upper Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis.
“The series is not even three years old and it’s already developing its own rich history,” Stewart said. “Ike winning an event was a big deal in the fishing industry. He touted it himself as one of the accomplishments he’s most proud of — and that’s from a guy who has won a Classic, won Angler of the Year, won Elite Series events.
“Several big sticks are also emerging. Some guys are so serious about kayak fishing that they show up at every event with a genuine chance at winning.”
After the Championship in South Carolina, the Kayak Series will visit the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Fla., on March 19, Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees in Grove, Okla., on April 16 and Lewis Smith Lake in Jasper, Ala., on May 21. All of those venues have been regular destinations for major B.A.S.S. events, and one — Grand Lake — was the site of the Bassmaster Classic in 2013 and 2016.
The Kayak Series will conclude with the third two-day event of the season on Pickwick Lake in Counce, Tenn., on Oct. 8-9. That event will decide the final Old Town AOY race and the final qualifiers for the 2023 Bassmaster Kayak Series Championship. The Top 25 anglers in the AOY points race along with qualifiers from Bassmaster regional and state championships will earn a spot in the Kayak Series Championship. Anglers will earn points in every regular-season tournament with their lowest finish dropped to determine the final Angler of the Year standings.
As in the past, anglers will use the TourneyX app and photograph their bass on special measuring boards to submit their catches. The angler with the most inches of bass will be the winner. All 2021 winners had at least 85 inches of bass.
For more information and to register, visit Bassmaster.com/Kayak.
Major League Fishing Reels in Bally’s Corporation as Pro Bass Fishing’s First Sports Betting Partnership
Agreement Marks Bally’s Fifth Strategic Sports Betting Partnership With a Professional Sports League, Bally Bet Becomes Title Sponsor of MLF Bass Pro Tour Angler of the Year Award
TULSA, Okla. (Dec. 16, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament fishing organization, and Bally's Corporation (NYSE: BALY), a leading U.S. omni-channel provider of land-based gaming and interactive entertainment, announced today a groundbreaking deal designating Bally's as MLF’s exclusive Sports Betting, Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS), and Free-to-Play (F2P) Partner for MLF’s tournament circuits – all firsts for the professional fishing industry. This deal represents Bally’s fifth sports betting agreement with a professional sports league, following previously announced agreements with the National Hockey League, the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, and Major League Baseball.
The partnership includes Bally’s online sportsbook, Bally Bet, becoming the title sponsor of MLF’s coveted Angler of the Year (AOY) Award for the Bass Pro Tour, the sport’s most visible and competitive tournament circuit. The prize for the 2022 Bally Bet AOY winner will be $100,000. The partnership also includes rights for Bally’s to stream Bass Pro Tour events via its own apps.
"As we ready for the start of our 2022 season, our partnership with Bally's will offer our loyal fans and anglers another unique avenue to engage with professional fishing and the Bass Pro Tour," MLF President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Wilburn said. "This partnership marks an important moment for Major League Fishing in the growing U.S. gaming and sports betting sectors. Integrating Bally’s industry-best online sports betting and unique gaming offerings with MLF’s SCORETRACKER LIVE® and fan-friendly platforms position us to drive viewership, participation, and large-scale adoption among sports fans.”
As part of the agreement, Bally’s technology will power two new free-to-play fantasy fishing games for the 2022 season. The MLF Predictor Game, an engaging game that offers fans the chance to make predictions at Bass Pro Tour events for prizes, will be rolled out for a full season. MLF Fantasy Fishing will also debut in 2022 for both the MLF Bass Pro Tour and the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit. The free-to-play game will allow fans to select their team of anglers for each tournament, create private leagues with their family and friends, and win tens of thousands of dollars in cash and prizes. Additional details on the MLF Predictor and Fantasy Fishing games will be announced soon.
"We know how passionate the millions of recreational anglers are about the professional ranks of their sport,” said Adi Dhandhania, Chief Operating Officer of North America for Bally Interactive, the company's digital division. “This integrated partnership is a perfect showcase for Bally’s, allowing us to leverage our sports betting, daily fantasy sports, and free-to-play games to enhance the fishing fan experience across MLF media and live events.”
The 2022 professional bass fishing seasons will launch early next year, with the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Stop 1 at Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Jan. 27-30, and the Bass Pro Tour Stage One in Monroe-West Monroe, Louisiana, Feb. 5-10.
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing, its tournaments, and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Day 4! What more could ask for?!?!
DAY 4
Enter by 9:00pm EST Tonight (Thursday) to be entered to win a new 35L Backpack from YETI!
Items awarded may be different than what is shown.
Become a Better Map Reader - Advanced
Courtesy of Luke Stoner - Dynamic Sponsorships
Reading lake maps is something all anglers should do during the winter months to become a better fishermen. The truth is it’s hard to consistently get on the water this time of year. Whether it’s because you’re chasing deer and ducks, the holiday honey-dos are piling up, or you’re iced out of your favorite fishing hole; if you can’t be on the water the next best option is map study.
In part one of this series, Gerald Swindle laid out some of what he believes to be the foundations of lake map reading. The Team Toyota pro pointed out details like learning the lay of the lake, committing names of creeks / coves to memory, and locating areas like boat ramps or marinas before ever hitting the water.
For this go around, Swindle discussed some of the more advanced details he focuses on when studying a lake map that are applicable whether he’s preparing for an Elite Series tournament next year or you have a local jackpot derby next month.
Dial in based on time of the year
After getting a handle on how a fishery lays out, the first thing Swindle looks to do is break down features of the lake based on different seasonal patterns he expects to target, depending on time of the year. But he’s not trying to pick out “magic spots” from one end of the lake to the other.
Instead he’ll start with a small section of the lake and pick out a handful of places he believes to have potential, purposefully trying to avoid the feeling of being spread too thin when he hits the water.
“You aren’t reading a map to find fish, you are finding places to fish,” Swindle said. “Don’t get so bogged down in the fine details when looking at a map. Save that for when you’re actually out on the water. Find five or six places that have the general ingredients of you are looking for, based on the time of year, and start your search from there.”
Over his 26-year career, Swindle has learned his map time is more productive when he keeps it simple. So G-man focuses on established and somewhat basic details or features he has learned to target based on weather patterns and time of year.
Winter – “I’m looking for deep water. Tight contour lines indicating steep drops whether it’s close to the shoreline, off the side of a point, or in a creek channel. Bass want access to deep water this time of year.”
Spring – “I’m looking for flats and protected areas in the backs of coves, both major creeks and smaller potentially overlooked pockets off the main lake for when fish push to spawn. Locate a pile of these areas and think about how they’ll be affected by different wind directions.”
Summer – “In the summer I’m looking offshore, off the bank, whatever you want to call it. Irregularities along the main river channel, humps, and even long tapering points catch my eye and get marked down as a place to look for structure and fish with my electronics.”
Fall – “You’ve heard it before, but fall is all about baitfish in the creeks for me. A channel winding its way through the back of a flat creek with three or four little points is the kind of thing I’m looking for. Think about predominate wind directions the area has been getting and how that might position baitfish.“
We could write a 1,000 word article on each one of these seasons, but Swindle stresses to keep your map study more straightforward or universal and dial in to detailed nuances when you get to the lake.
Go fishing with a game plan
The whole purpose behind Swindle studying Humminbird’s FishSmart app, Google Earth, or paper maps over a cup of coffee in the morning is simple; it gives him a game plan.
“That’s the beautiful thing about map study – it helps you have a purpose when you hit the water, a game plan,” Swindle explained. “That way you don’t launch your boat and feel overwhelmed by the size and scale of the lake or river.”
Once you’re on the water you might fish through the first five areas you picked out on a map in two hours, and realize your best guess wasn’t even close. In fact, Swindle will tell you that happens more times than not. Still, you’re a step ahead because you’re familiar with the fishery and know where another boat ramp in a different section of the lake might be.
Once you get a couple bites and start to form a general idea of what the fish are doing, map study proves extremely useful as it helps you establish and run a pattern.
“Maybe you catch a couple fish off a deep point with a jerkbait on your next trip to the lake – that’s great,” Swindle offered. “But if you’ve put in time reading maps, you should know where a few more similar points are located… go fish them! You’ll either catch fish and put pieces of the puzzle together, or you might realize it was more of an area deal. Either way, studying maps will help shorten that learning curve.”
St. Croix To Title 2022 Bassmaster Opens Series
December 15, 2021
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — St. Croix Rods, handcrafter of premium casting, spinning, saltwater, ice fishing and fly rods, will serve as the title sponsor for the wildly popular Bassmaster Opens Series in 2022, officials announced today. Additionally, the St. Croix Rods Rewards program will award an extra $1,000 to a qualifying angler who wins a St. Croix Bassmaster Opens tournament fishing St. Croix rods or award $500 to the highest-finishing Top 10 angler fishing St. Croix rods.
“St. Croix exists to give every angler the upper hand, and that philosophy extends well beyond simply providing them with the Best Rods on Earth,” says St. Croix Vice President of Marketing Jesse Simpkins. “We couldn’t be more pleased to extend our support to the Bassmaster Opens Series, which provides hope and opportunity for so many talented and aspiring tournament anglers. It’s a chance to prove to themselves that they can compete with the very best and a realistic pathway they can follow — applying their skills along the way — that can quickly ascend them to the ultimate levels of bass-fishing competition.”
The popularity of the Opens tournaments has boomed in recent years with the expansion of live coverage options adding new audiences and increased participation numbers.
In 2022, an unprecedented 83 anglers have registered for all nine St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series tournaments as they compete for one of the circuit’s 12 coveted Elite Series invitations and nine berths into the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.
“The Opens have always been a critical proving ground for tournament anglers,” said Hank Weldon, tournament director for the Bassmaster Opens. “But now the series is not only a way for the sport’s biggest names to requalify for the Elites, it also combines Elite invitations, Classic spots and a ton of coverage for new anglers on FOX Sports and the B.A.S.S. platforms. All of that has led to record-breaking registration numbers as anglers try to get one of the 225 boater spots for each event.
“We’re thrilled to welcome St. Croix onboard this year as our title sponsor. The competition is going to be fierce.”
B.A.S.S. first added Bassmaster Opens LIVE final day on-the-water streaming coverage during the 2020 season. That expanded to live broadcasts from Championship Saturday of each of the division final tournaments on FS1 and the FOX Sports digital platforms in 2021, which peaked when 852,000 viewers watched live as Nick LeBrun claimed the title during the Bassmaster Open on Grand Lake. FOX Sports will continue broadcasting divisional final Championship Saturday coverage in 2022.
The 2022 St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series season will feature nine tournaments in three divisions covering nine states. Tournament action starts Feb. 3-5 with the Bassmaster Southern Open on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Kissimmee, Fla.
For more information, visit Bassmaster.com/Opens.
AC Insider Podcast - "Unicorn Poop?....."
Thats right, you read it here first, Kenneth Grover loves him some Unicorn Poop. Why? Hit play and find out as the boys talk about the 13 Days of Holiday Extravaganza Giveaways and get into the Christmas spirit by telling everyone their 5 favorite things for the Holiday Season. They also spill the beans on what they "hope" is under the tree come Christmas morning. Check it out!
On the 3rd Day of Christmas Extravaganza Giveaways!
Enter HERE by 9:00pm EST Tonight to be entered to win one of Three (3) RELiON Gypsy Power Banks from our friends at RELiON Battery!
Minn Kota And Humminbird Extend Long-Standing Partnership With Bassmaster Tournament Trail
December 14, 2021
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Minn Kota and Humminbird, two preeminent brands in the fishing industry and part of the outdoor recreational company Johnson Outdoors, have extended their longtime sponsorship of the Bassmaster Tournament Trail. As Premier Sponsors, Minn Kota and Humminbird will be supporting B.A.S.S.’s six tournament circuits and the iconic Bassmaster Classic through 2024.
“We value our close relationship with Johnson Outdoors and their incredible brands,” said B.A.S.S. chairman and CEO Chase Anderson. “For more than a decade, they have partnered with B.A.S.S. to educate and inspire adventurers to experience fishing and connect with anglers of all skill levels. We’re thrilled to continue working together for the next three years.”
The Minn Kota and Humminbird pro teams feature 20 current Elite Series anglers, including 2021 Angler of the Year Seth Feider, 2021 Rookie of the Year Josh Stracner and four 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series champions — Jeff Gustafson, Lee Livesay, Wes Logan and Bill Lowen.
“Fishing the Elites is something that every kid dreams of who has ever picked up a fishing rod,” said Logan. “I am blessed to run the best products on the market from Johnson Outdoors, and I wouldn’t trust my livelihood to anything else.”
“Minn Kota and Humminbird are dedicated to giving every angler the best possible experience on the water,” said Johnson Outdoors Senior Director Joe Brown. “It’s a passion we’ve shared with B.A.S.S. over the course of our long partnership, and we couldn’t be prouder to renew that commitment today. From weekend warriors to Elite Series competitors, the sport of fishing is thriving and we’re proud to work with B.A.S.S. to give anglers more opportunity than ever to pursue their passion.”
In addition to connecting with tournament anglers through their sponsorship of the Bassmaster Classic, Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bassmaster Team Championship and the grass-roots TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation events, Minn Kota and Humminbird will reach anglers through B.A.S.S.’s diverse, industry-leading media platforms.
As Premier Sponsors, the brands will be highlighted during Bassmaster LIVE on the FOX Sports platforms, which had more than 14 million viewers during the 2021 season, and enjoy exposure in Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times magazines and across various social media platforms, which reach more than 2.2 million fans.
“Being a part of the Minn Kota and Humminbird team is going to be a huge help for me as I fish my first year on the Bassmaster Elite Series,” said Jay Przekurat, who is preparing to compete in his rookie season after finishing second in the Bassmaster Central Opens points standings. “Having the best equipment in the game gives me the confidence to compete against the best anglers on the water.”
Day 2 of the Holiday Extravaganza Giveaways Underway!
DAY 2
Enter by 9:00pm CST Tonight to be entered to win a Bow OR Console Mount from our friends at Hennessey Outdoor Electronics in Dayton, TN valued at over $250!!
Santa Will Be Pointing His Sleigh to the West for Some Post Christmas Fishing
On December 27th, Santa will be heading to Long Beach, California to fish and help support the much needed improvements at El Dorado Regional Park.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (December 14, 2021) – After Christmas, Santa will no doubt be exhausted from delivering presents to people all over the world with only one thing on his mind - fishing! On December 27th, Santa will be heading to Long Beach, California to do just that, and he is not coming empty-handed.
Santa’s sleigh will touch down in Long Beach, where he will spend some much needed time on the water, unwinding and fishing after Christmas. But before he goes fishing, with help from his friends at Berkley, he will be giving away a lot of fishy presents to the local community. Not only is Berkley helping the jolly old fella find a place to fish and donating fishing gear, but they are also presenting a big check to Partners of Parks to help with facilitating the renovations.
The town of Long Beach has steered their conservation efforts toward El Dorado Regional Park, which is celebrating its 50th birthday this year and desperately in need of improvements. With the generous donation from Santa and Berkley, these improvements will now be possible. The project includes improved youth programs including an annual youth fishing derby, improvements to the 500-person capacity campground used by scouts and youth groups fishing the lakes, as well as education for the community and new trash can and fishing line disposal bins.
Trinka Rowsell, Executive Director for Partners of Parks, said “We are so excited to have Santa visit Long Beach and fish in our lake at El Dorado East Regional Park. This is a wonderful opportunity to educate our community and the nation about urban fishing opportunities in Long Beach and we look forward to educating park-goers about responsible fishing habits and conservation efforts.”
To learn more about Berkley, visit: Berkley-Fishing.com.
Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all and to all tight lines!
Major League Fishing Wraps Production of Wiley X Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches in Palm Bay
Bass Fishing Event Completes Week-Long Television Shoot in Space Coast Area with 24 Pro Anglers Competing to Win Prestigious Summit Cup Championship
PALM BAY, Fla. (Dec. 13, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF) and 24 of the world’s best pro anglers wrapped up production of the MLF Wiley X Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches event Saturday in Palm Bay, Florida. The event, shot over six days this week and hosted by Florida's Space Coast Office of Tourism, was filmed entirely for television broadcast and featured anglers competing for the prestigious Summit Cup championship.
The Space Coast is a familiar destination for MLF, as the East Coast of South Florida played host to the now-defunct 2018 Major League Fishing World Championship, which showcased the top 12 anglers from that season’s MLF Cup events. That event was won by Louisiana’s Greg Hackney. As anglers battled a strong north wind on the final day of competition, Hackney ducked behind a levee on Kenansville Lake’s north end and went to work flipping mats to catch 32 pounds, 6 ounces of largemouth bass and earn the victory. Pro Skeet Reese of Auburn, California, finished fourth in that 2018 event, and was among the 24 competitors that competed again this past week.
The Wiley X Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches event marks the second time that MLF has visited Florida’s Space Coast with an event that showcases the catch, weigh, immediate-release tournament format.
“The Space Coast is a fishing paradise with the availability of freshwater, saltwater, surf, and deep-sea fishing opportunities. We are excited to have Major League Fishing here showing some of our top fishing spots to their viewers including new Headwaters Lake, the local trophy largemouth bass fishery. It’s unlike any other freshwater lake in the U.S.,” said Space Coast Office of Tourism Executive Director Peter Cranis.
The six-episode, two-hour series will feature professional anglers visiting the Space Coast area to compete over six days of competition on either Kenansville Lake (Jurassic Park), Lake Garcia, Stick Marsh, and for the first time ever, Fellsemere Reservoir (Headwaters Lake). The anglers do not learn where they are competing until they arrive to the launch ramp each morning, creating a reality-based television episode that showcases how the top anglers in the world break down new and unfamiliar waters.
“We had such a successful event when we were last here in 2018 that it really made returning for our Summit Cup championship a no-brainer,” said Michael Mulone, Senior Director of Events and Partnerships for MLF. “From the amazing fishing to the beautiful settings and scenery, to the community and people that we work closely with at the Space Coast Office of Tourism – all of them play a huge role in creating a fantastic television program for our national audience. It’s been a great week in Florida and we’re already looking forward to when we return.”
The 24 anglers competing in the 2021 Wiley X Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches are: Stephen Browning, Luke Clausen, Dustin Connell, Brandon Coulter, David Dudley, Paul Elias, Anthony Gagliardi, Alton Jones Jr., Gary Klein, Jason Lambert, Bobby Lane, Russ Lane, Matt Lee, Michael Neal, Skeet Reese, Mark Rose, Fred Roumbanis, Bradley Roy, Fletcher Shryock, Jeff Sprague, Wesley Strader, Bryan Thrift, Jacob Wheeler and Jesse Wiggins.
The MLF Wiley X Summit Cup Presented by B&W Trailer Hitches, hosted by Florida’s Space Coast Office of Tourism, will air on the Outdoor Channel as six, two-hour original episodes each Saturday afternoon starting April 2, 2022, airing from 2 to 4 p.m. EDT. The full television schedule can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com/tv-schedule.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube . To learn more about Florida’s Space Coast, contact the Space Coast Office of Tourism at (877) 572-3224 or VisitSpaceCoast.com. Visit the Florida Space Coast us on social media at Facebook.com/visitspacecoast, Twitter.com/flaspacecoast, Instagram.com/floridaspacecoast, and YouTube.com/c/visitspacecoast.
13 Days of Holiday Extravaganza Giveaways are Here!
For the 2021 Holiday Season AnglersChannel.com is excited to announce the 13 days of Holiday Extravaganza Giveaways!
Prizes from some of our Partners include
Strike King Lure Company
Lews
TrickStep
Costa
Fully Loaded Tobacco Free Chew
TH Marine
YETI
Big Bass Tour
XZONE
Hennessey Outdoors Electronics Mounts
Pro Charging Systems and ReLion Lithium Batteries
Under Armour Apparel
Sportsmans Warehouse
And more!
Rules are simple, Check in each day and enter for a chance to win the prize for that day. Refer up to 3 friends for 3 extra entries and share the contest to your social channels to earn even more entries! Entries dont carry over so make sure you sign up each day and tell your friends!
Good Luck, Happy Holidays and Good Fishing!
Make sure and Click HERE to play!
Alabamian Powell Wins Classic Fish-Off On Lake Eufaula, Earns Berth In Bassmaster Classic
The Alabama Bass Trail's Shane Powell of Dothan, Ala., has won the 2021 Bassmaster Classic Fish-Off on Alabama's Lake Eufaula with a two-day total of 23 pounds, 5 ounces, earning a spot in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.
December 11, 2021
EUFAULA, Ala. — Shane Powell saw the Bassmaster Team Championship and the ensuing Classic Fish-Off as his chance to settle unfinished business.
Now, after watching friends and former Auburn University teammates reach the Bassmaster Classic in previous years, his time has arrived.
Powell won the Bassmaster Classic Fish-Off portion of the Team Championship here on Lake Eufaula Saturday, less than an hour from his lifelong home of Dothan, Ala. His two-day total of 23 pounds, 5 ounces was the best of the six anglers that survived to make the fish-off, and it earned him the final berth in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk when it’s held March 4-6 on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell.
The victory was no easy feat, with heavy rain, dense fog and significant temperature swings throughout. The conditions confounded anglers, from the 378 who competed in the team portion Wednesday and Thursday, to the final six who competed the past two days in the fish-off.
Powell credited a slight warming trend overnight for Saturday’s better catch. He had five-bass limits both days of the fish-off but improved from 10-2 on Day 1 to 13-3 on Day 2.
“I had three or four places I started on every day,” Powell said. “Yesterday, I ran through them all and I had zero keepers. This morning, I ran through the same areas and I had 12 pounds by 7:30 or 7:45.
“A buddy texted me last night and said if it was meant to be, that everything would fall into place. And it did.”
It was that kind of week for Powell, who teamed with Alabama Bass Trail partner Tim Fox to catch 27-4 and finish second in the two-day Bassmaster Team Championship that concluded Thursday. Fishing alone Friday, Powell stitched together enough weight to give himself a 1 1/2-pound lead heading into the final day.
But with five anglers hot on his heels, Powell knew he had to keep the pressure on the field. His knowledge of the lake, not to mention confidence in its ability to produce winning bags, allowed him to do just that.
Powell said most of his bass were caught in approximately 20 feet of water and off the old Chattahoochee River ledges that remain in the Eufaula impoundment.
“The first day or two, we caught them on a Strike King 6XD crankbait,” Powell said. “I went to a morning dawn (pink) drop shot when things got tougher and tougher ... It was all largemouth coming off the bottom.”
Powell and Fox won an Alabama Bass Trail tournament on Eufaula in March, and the champion said he's been eyeing a return to the storied fishery since.
“This was an extremely tough tournament,” Powell said. “But I knew we had to stick with it. Every cast we made this year was about trying to get back here for the Team Championship and into the finals. And If you think of the percentages of all this panning out, it’s crazy.”
Powell said he knows nothing about Lake Hartwell, but he's heard plenty about fishing in a Bassmaster Classic from former Auburn teammates who’ve participated in pro bass fishing’s biggest event.
Powell relishes the chance to fish in his first Classic, but his even-keeled personality won't let him get too worked up, now or in March.
“I'm excited,” he said. “But it's just like this tournament on Eufaula. You go out and do what you do.”
David Lowery, a Milledgeville, Ga., resident representing Berry's Tournament Trail, also grew up fishing Lake Eufaula. He finished second in the Bassmaster Classic Fish-Off with 18-9 over two days. Randy Tolbert, who paired with Gary Thompson to win the Team Championship on Thursday for the Alabama Bass Trail, placed third in the Fish-Off with 15-8.
Fox finished fourth with 8-12, James Murphy of Berry's was fifth with 8-9 and Thompson sixth with 4-14.
Tolbert and Thompson caught a two-day total of 28-14 in the team event and claimed a $20,600 cash prize from Ranger/Mercury. A total of 179 tandems representing more than 60 B.A.S.S. team trails from across North America competed for a cash purse of $91,600.
2021 Bassmaster Team Championship at Lake Eufaula - Fish-Off 12/10-12/11
Lake Eufaula, Eufaula AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Shane Powell - Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 13-03 Total: 10 23-05
2. David Lowery - Berry's Tournament Trail 0
Day 1: 4 08-09 Day 2: 5 10-00 Total: 9 18-09
3. Randy Tolbert - Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 07-04 Total: 10 15-08
4. Tim Fox - Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 4 07-00 Total: 5 08-12
5. James Murphy - Berry's Tournament Trail 0
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 3 04-03 Total: 6 08-09
6. Gary Thompson - Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 2 04-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 04-14
Powell Takes Day 1 Lead In Bassmaster Team Championship Classic Fish-Off
The Alabama Bass Trail's Shane Powell of Dothan, Ala., is leading after Day 1 of the 2021 Bassmaster Classic Fish-Off on Alabama's Lake Eufaula with 10 pounds, 2 ounces.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.
December 10, 2021
EUFAULA, Ala. — Shane Powell thought it might take a two-day total of 24 pounds to win the Classic Fish-Off portion of the Bassmaster Team Championship.
It might take less.
Powell, who hails from nearby Dothan, Ala., took the Day 1 lead of the fish-off Friday with five bass that totaled 10 pounds, 2 ounces. It certainly wasn’t a heavy load, but it was enough to give him an edge over the other five anglers that advanced to the fish-off portion of the championship on Lake Eufaula on the Alabama-Georgia border.
David Lowery of Milledgeville, Ga., is in second place with four bass weighing 8-9 and Randy Tolbert of Rome, Ga., is third with a five-bass limit of 8-4. Gary Thompson of Dallas, Ga., is fourth with two bass for 4-14, James Murphy of Columbus, Ga., is fifth with three bass weighing 4-6, and Tim Fox of Meridian, Miss., is sixth with one bass for 1-12.
Powell, Tolbert, Thompson and Fox represent the Alabama Bass Trail. Lowery and Murphy fish with Berry’s Tournament Trail. The six anglers were members of the Top 3 tandems in the team competition that ended Thursday, and now they’re battling individually in a two-day showdown for the final spot in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk to be held March 4-6 on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell.
Powell, 32, knows Lake Eufaula as well as anyone, having fished the storied impoundment of the Chattahoochee River since he was a boy. But difficult weather conditions, including temperature swings, fog and heavy rain, have thrown the bass bite for a loop this week. It has left Powell and the rest of the field scratching their heads, wondering when and where the biggest bass bites will occur.
“The way I’ve been fishing, sun would really help me, and we just haven’t had any,” Powell said. “That and the pressure of all the boats out there earlier this week have taken a toll. A lot of people have been fishing the same stuff I am. You catch one, maybe two, and they just leave. Or you just don’t get a bite from the get-go.”
Still, Powell was able to stitch together the heaviest bag on Day 1 of the fish-off. He and Fox paired to finish second in the team portion of the championship, and the former Auburn University angler said the fish-off is anyone’s to win, considering less than 8 1/2 pounds separates first and last place.
“I figured I’d be behind after what I caught today,” Powell said. “I’d much rather that than being in first. But it is what it is. I’ve been rotating through a couple of spots and it doesn’t take me very long to do it. So, I’ve been spending hours looking for something good. I just haven’t found it.”
Lowery has had similar issues. Like Powell, he grew up fishing Eufaula, but the lake has left him guessing this week.
“I had six bites and I caught four of them,” Lowery said. “I had another one that I felt was about a pound and a half, but it pulled off under the water. That would have put me at about 10 1/2 pounds. But I can’t look back. I was just fortunate to catch the ones I did.”
Lowery said he was expecting sun on Friday, so he headed south on Eufaula hoping to throw a jig to boat docks. The sun never broke through the gray blanket overhead, though, and Lowery lamented he didn’t try a different approach.
He said he won’t be as conservative on the final day of the Bassmaster Classic Fish-Off.
“I’m going way up (the lake), almost as far as you can go,” he said. “I’ll either be going to the Classic or I’ll be going home.”
Tolbert teamed with Thompson to catch 28-14 over two days and win the Bassmaster Team Championship on Thursday. Mustering only 8-4 on Friday could have been a disappointment, but he too knows everyone remains in the hunt for the fish-off title.
“No one’s out of this with the weights down,” said Tolbert, who fished the Bassmaster College Series while at the University of Georgia. “Obviously, Shane has set himself apart a little bit because two pounds is a lot right now. But tomorrow is a different day. They may bite better tomorrow, and two pounds may not be a whole lot.”
Tolbert and Thompson already claimed a $20,600 cash prize when they won the team championship. Powell and Fox were second with 27-4 and Lowery and Murphy teamed to finish third with 26-6. In all, a total of 179 tandems from around the U.S. and Canada competed in the team championship, with the Top 35 pairs sharing a total purse of $91,600.
The final day of the fish-off will begin Saturday at 6:15 a.m. CT from Lakepoint State Park. Weigh-in is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. and the final competitor in the 2022 Bassmaster Classic will be known shortly thereafter.
2021 Bassmaster Team Championship at Lake Eufaula - Fish off 12/10-12/11
Lake Eufaula, Eufaula AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Shane Powell - Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 10-02 Total: 5 10-02
2. David Lowery - Berry's Tournament Trail 0
Day 1: 4 08-09 Total: 4 08-09
3. Randy Tolbert - Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 08-04 Total: 5 08-04
4. Gary Thompson - Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 2 04-14 Total: 2 04-14
5. James Murphy - Berry's Tournament Trail 0
Day 1: 3 04-06 Total: 3 04-06
6. Tim Fox - Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Total: 1 01-12
Tolbert, Thompson Win Bassmaster Team Championship On Lake Eufaula; Six Qualify For Classic Fish-Off
Randy Tolbert and Gary Thompson of the Alabama Bass Trail have won the 2021 Bassmaster Team Championship on Alabama's Lake Eufaula with a two-day total of 28 pounds, 14 ounces.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.
December 9, 2021
EUFAULA, Ala. — Every time a competing team weighed their fish during Thursday’s final round of the Bassmaster Team Championship, Randy Tolbert and Gary Thompson nodded in approval.
“We’re good,” they told one another, knowing their lead remained intact.
Tolbert and Thompson were good until the end on Lake Eufaula, winning the final tournament of the 2021 Bassmaster season with a two-day total of 10 bass that weighed 28 pounds, 14 ounces.
Tolbert and Thompson, who represent the Alabama Bass Trail, earned a $20,600 cash prize provided by Ranger/Mercury. They also advanced to the Bassmaster Classic Fish-Off, a two-day competition starting Friday that will feature the Top 3 tandems (six individual anglers) competing for the final berth in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk which is scheduled for March 4-6 on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell.
“We had one over 4 pounds on both days and that really helped us,” said Tolbert, who fished the Bassmaster College Series while at the University of Georgia. “And out here this week, that’s a big one. We caught quite a few fish both days, but I really didn’t think we had a shot to win. Coming into today, I was thinking the best we could do is make the Top 3. But when these other guys started coming in, knowing what was out there, we knew we could win it.”
Tolbert and Thompson came into Day 2 tied for ninth with 14-1. A 90-minute delay Thursday because of fog didn’t keep them from posting the heaviest bag of the day – a 14-13 limit that vaulted them to the top of the leaderboard. They took the hot seats early in the weigh-in and remained there until the end.
Thompson said winning the team championship, not to mention having a 1-in-6 chance of making the Bassmaster Classic, seemed like a dream.
“It’s very exciting, but I don’t think it’s sunk in yet,” he said. “I’m surprised I was as calm as I was sitting up there.”
Tolbert said he and Thompson have caught their bass offshore in some of Eufaula’s deepest water.
“We’re using our (Lowrance) ActiveTarget and watching the fish eat the bait a lot of times,” Tolbert said. “To watch a fish follow your bait and know when it’s about to eat the bait, it’s a game changer.”
Shane Powell and Tim Fox, also of the Alabama Bass Trail, finished second with 27-4. Powell, who fished for Auburn University, said he and Fox targeted three or four key areas during the team championship. The native of Dothan, Ala., just south of Eufaula, said experience on the lake helped this week. His team was in seventh place after Day 1 with 14-9 and added a 12-11 limit on Day 2.
“You have to hit them at the right time, but you don’t really know when that is,” Powell said. “You just have to rotate through, go try some new stuff. I know eventually something will turn up.”
David Lowery and James Murphy of Berry’s Tournament Trail placed third with 26-6.
Lowery and Murphy also have intimate knowledge of Eufaula, having grown up in the Columbus, Ga./Phenix City, Ala., area just north of Lakepoint State Park, home base for this week’s event. After catching a 15-15 limit on Day 1, the duo caught only three bass Thursday for 10-7.
“We wanted to win it, but Top 3 was the goal,” said Lowery. “I’ll keep flipping jigs and try to go win this thing. I’ve been wanting to fish in the Classic my whole life.”
Each angler in the Top 3 teams qualified for the Bassmaster Classic Fish-Off.
Mark Hogan and Brian La Clair of the Delaware BASS Team Trail won $500 for having the big bass of the tournament — a 6-8 largemouth they hooked Thursday.
Day 1 of the Classic Fish-Off will begin Friday at 6:15 a.m. CT from Lakepoint State Park. Weigh-in is scheduled for 2:15 p.m.
A total of 179 teams took part in the Team Championship portion of the event, competing for part of a $91,600 total purse that was divvied among the Top 35 finishers Thursday.
2021 Bassmaster Team Championship at Lake Eufaula 12/8-12/9
Lake Eufaula, Eufaula AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Randy Tolbert - Gary Thompson Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 14-13 Total: 10 28-14
2. Shane Powell - Tim Fox Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 12-11 Total: 10 27-04
3. David Lowery - James Murphy Berry's Tournament Trail 0
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 3 10-07 Total: 8 26-06
4. Josh Wray - Donald Wray Ozark Mountain 0
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 10-01 Total: 10 25-12
5. William Nichols - Jake Young Coosa River Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 17-10 Day 2: 2 07-01 Total: 7 24-11
6. Brian Jones - Matt Russell Texas Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 4 09-14 Total: 9 24-10
7. Kyle Glasgow - Luke Glasgow AL BASS Nation 0
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 14-01 Total: 10 23-01
8. George Chlomoudis - Powell Kemp Anglers Choice Marine 0
Day 1: 4 10-12 Day 2: 5 12-04 Total: 9 23-00
9. Foster Bradley - Nick Harris Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 11-00 Total: 10 23-00
10. Wil Dieffenbauch - Pic Dieffenbauch Jr B.A.S.S. Nation of West Virginia 0
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 08-15 Total: 10 22-08
11. Jalen Shuffler - Nick Hatfield White Pine Marine 0
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 09-15 Total: 10 22-06
12. Camran Fleming - Jesse Elder LAKE HARTWELL 5 ALIVE 0
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 11-10 Total: 10 22-04
13. Mark Hogan - Brian La Clair Delaware BASS Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 3 10-13 Total: 8 22-00
14. Wesley Sams - Jordan Wiggins Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 11-06 Total: 10 21-15
15. Jeff Lewis - Fredrick Adkins Morristown Marine 0
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 11-12 Total: 10 21-14
16. Darryl Halbert - Lancen Halbert SC BASS Nation 0
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 5 14-04 Total: 8 21-11
17. Josh Shirley - Don Sanders Joe Bass 0
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 4 07-07 Total: 9 21-10
18. Brian Chandler - Jermey Jenks West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 4 07-08 Total: 9 21-03
19. Geoffrey Mcknight - Jay Estes Neely 5 Alive 0
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 4 07-11 Total: 9 21-00
20. Emmanuel Globetti - Cj Knight AL BN 0
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 11-02 Total: 10 20-15
21. Billy Hall - Ronnie Smith Anglers Outppst NTBA 0
Day 1: 4 08-05 Day 2: 5 11-15 Total: 9 20-04
22. Bill Kunz - Cory Kerber CenCal Elite Bass Tournaments 0
Day 1: 5 07-13 Day 2: 5 12-04 Total: 10 20-01
23. John Maldonado - Lance Maldonado Milford Lake Team Series 0
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 5 10-14 Total: 10 19-10
24. Charles Caudill - Ethan Caudill NTBA 0
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 1 03-12 Total: 6 19-08
25. Justin Davis - Nathan Wolfgang Media Bass 0
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 3 09-14 Total: 8 19-05
26. Michael Heatwole - Mark Heatwole VA Elite 0
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 07-12 Total: 10 18-15
27. Chuck James - Brad James Chattanooga Bass Association 0
Day 1: 4 12-03 Day 2: 2 06-07 Total: 6 18-10
28. Nick Ratliff - Bradley Dunagan NTBA 0
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 2 03-04 Total: 7 18-03
29. Nick Coleman - Randall Christopher KY Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 5 10-05 Total: 10 18-03
30. Earl Garrison - Shawn White Ozark Mountain Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 3 06-01 Total: 8 18-02
31. Don Ingram - Ronnie Grant ANGLERS OUTPOST NTBA 0
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 2 03-09 Total: 7 17-10
32. Josh Chapple - Paul Davis Airport Marine Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 4 05-12 Total: 9 17-10
33. Terry Tucker - Jeffrey Cannon 5 Alive tounament trail 0
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 07-04 Total: 10 17-06
34. Jason Burroughs - Darren Ashley Hartwell 5 Alive 0
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 09-02 Total: 10 17-06
35. Ryan Davidson - Chris Malone Anglers outpost NTBA 0
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 07-07 Total: 10 17-04
36. Ryan Groeteke - Brett Groeteke Ozark Mountain Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 09-01 Total: 10 17-03
37. Doug Stamper - Bruce Stamper Anglers outpost NTBA 0
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 5 09-01 Total: 10 17-01
38. Mark McCaig - Tim Hurst Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 08-08 Total: 10 17-00
39. Blain Bartley - Justin Kappeler Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit 0
Day 1: 4 09-15 Day 2: 4 06-13 Total: 8 16-12
40. Charlie Williams - Michael Smith Jr Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 3 04-00 Total: 8 16-11
41. Mark Thompson - Mark Thompson Joe Bass TT 0
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 3 06-04 Total: 8 16-09
42. Bryan Dowdy - Kyle Lewellen Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 5 08-09 Total: 10 16-07
43. Keith Daffron - Ryan Patterson Ozark Mountain Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 3 05-09 Total: 8 16-04
44. Steven Griffith - Tyler Rush PA BASS Nation 0
Day 1: 3 08-00 Day 2: 5 08-03 Total: 8 16-03
45. Dale Teaney - Randy Alexander Morristown marine team trail 0
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 2 03-07 Total: 7 15-11
46. Kelly Jones - Roger Satterfield Joe bass team trail 0
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 2 03-04 Total: 7 15-06
47. Steven Huegerich - Darrin Kirkland Iowa Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 4 06-07 Total: 9 15-00
48. Brandon Phillippe - Tony Grubbs Angler Nation 0
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 3 05-13 Total: 8 14-15
49. Michael Maness - Jake Plegge Kansas City Team Tour 0
Day 1: 3 09-06 Day 2: 2 05-02 Total: 5 14-08
50. Brandon Stanley - Shane Rawlings West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 3 05-14 Total: 8 14-07
51. Phillip Hegarty - Stephen Hegarty CSFL 0
Day 1: 4 09-11 Day 2: 2 04-11 Total: 6 14-06
52. John Frank - Mark Womack Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 3 08-10 Day 2: 3 05-12 Total: 6 14-06
53. Joey Solomon - Daniel Taylor Morristown Marine 0
Day 1: 4 09-09 Day 2: 2 04-07 Total: 6 14-00
54. Matt Headrick - Matt McClung Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 07-13 Day 2: 3 06-03 Total: 8 14-00
55. Edward Baker - Casey Baker Morristown Marine Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 2 06-05 Total: 7 13-14
56. Tom Statler - Dillon Statler Joe Bass Team Trail 0
Day 1: 4 09-02 Day 2: 2 04-00 Total: 6 13-02
57. Edward Gad - Eddie Gad Three Rivers Bass 0
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 2 02-14 Total: 7 12-15
58. Luke Kyle - Arch Cornett Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 3 05-00 Total: 8 12-15
59. Ryan Fingleton - Ryan Hubler West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 4 07-08 Day 2: 3 05-00 Total: 7 12-08
60. Cecil Burns - Daniel Robinson Coosa River Team Trail llc 0
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 11-15
61. Douglas Stephens - Jacob Wood Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 5 09-15 Total: 6 11-11
62. Rocky Carden - Dustin Besperat Joe Bass Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 1 02-07 Total: 6 11-10
63. John Warren - Eric Johnson USA Bassin 0
Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 2 03-12 Total: 7 11-10
64. John Krewson - Tony Powers Joebass 0
Day 1: 2 04-04 Day 2: 3 07-03 Total: 5 11-07
65. Tim Eaton - Abby Lewis West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 4 06-08 Day 2: 3 04-13 Total: 7 11-05
66. Stephen Mcavoy - Josh Butts Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 11-01
67. Carter Day - Cole Sands Chattanooga Bass Association 0
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 4 07-09 Total: 6 10-15
68. Brad Norris - Ryan Robinson IBN team series 0
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 10-10
69. David Pair - David Noakes AL BN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 10-04 Total: 4 10-04
70. Bryce Kalen - Bryan Kalen Indiana Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 10-03
71. Travis Hitchins - Colten Fink Cheat Lake Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 2 02-13 Total: 5 10-02
72. Tim Newberry Sr - Rusty Darnell Joe Bass Team Trail 0
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 3 04-09 Total: 6 09-13
73. Clay Samples - Scott Moser Anglers Choice 0
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 09-11
74. Jeffrey Brauneck - Fred Brauneck West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 3 08-01 Day 2: 1 01-07 Total: 4 09-08
75. Mark Bell - Daniel Sepeck NTBA 0
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 4 06-10 Total: 6 09-07
76. Casey Majni - Corey Brooks Morristown Marine Team Trail 0
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 4 06-09 Total: 6 09-04
77. Adam Rice - Emory Reiser IV Lake Hartwell 5 Alive Sunday Ser 0
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 09-03
78. Elivinio Nieto - Lupe Nieto Jr Bayou Bassin League 0
Day 1: 4 05-12 Day 2: 3 03-07 Total: 7 09-03
79. Richard Bright - Brian Closson WV BN Team Trail 0
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 3 04-10 Total: 6 08-14
80. David Taylor - Marc Thomas KY BN 0
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 08-12
81. Nick Bowden - Stephen Natale Florida Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 3 07-03 Day 2: 1 01-09 Total: 4 08-12
82. Brad Fowler - Brock Taylor Palmetto boat center 0
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 08-11
83. Mark Cooper - William Chumbler Kentucky Nation Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 08-09
84. Bobby Scott - John Hinckley Florida Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 08-09 Total: 4 08-09
85. Travis Guindon - Chris Carr Shootout Fishing 0
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 2 03-00 Total: 5 08-08
86. Rob Messenger Jr - John Levesque NH Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 4 08-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 08-07
87. Neil Vandebiezen - Joseph LaFountain D&R Sports Team Trail 0
Day 1: 4 08-06 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 08-06
88. Jason Cannon - Trent Suratt Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 4 08-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 08-04
89. Alex Korol - Cameron Alldredge Empire Team Trail 0
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 3 03-15 Total: 6 08-03
90. Greg Coleman - Travis Gillett US Anglers Choice 0
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 08-00
91. Jacob Novak - Jonathan Novak MNBN Team Trail 0
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 2 04-01 Total: 4 08-00
92. Brannon Hurst - Mike Freeman Jr Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 07-12
93. Keith Allen - David Warrior Angler Nation 0
Day 1: 4 07-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 07-12
94. Kenneth Reed - Brian Funkhouser IN BASS Nation 0
Day 1: 3 07-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 07-12
95. Keith Tuma - Andy Walls MN BASS Nation 0
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 2 05-10 Total: 3 07-12
96. Zach Vankeulen - Brendon Mcdonald Angler Nation 0
Day 1: 4 07-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 07-11
96. Kip Williamson - Matt Mabrey Coosa River Team Trail 0
Day 1: 4 07-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 07-11
98. Tyler Campbell - Joe Mitchell Hartwell 5 Alive 0
Day 1: 5 07-08 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 5 07-08
99. Phillip Kellogg - Darrell Finck Great Lakes Largemouth Series 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 3 05-10 Total: 4 07-08
100. Randy Huffman - Benjamin Huffman West Virginia BASS Nation 0
Day 1: 2 05-03 Day 2: 2 02-05 Total: 4 07-08
101. Trent Adkins - Ronnie Blaylock Morristown marine 0
Day 1: 4 07-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 07-07
102. Jason Walcott - Jimmy Vanden Berg Jr West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 4 05-10 Day 2: 1 01-11 Total: 5 07-05
103. Mark Donaldson - Nicole Donaldson 0
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 1 03-09 Total: 3 07-01
104. John Smith - Tyler Faulkner Morristown Marine 0
Day 1: 4 07-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 07-00
105. Grant Kelly - Jeffery Kelly Berrys Tournament Trail 0
Day 1: 4 06-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 06-11
106. Steven Weber - Sam Phillips Joe Bass Team Trail 0
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 2 02-10 Total: 4 06-11
107. Jeff Corley - William Mcree AL BASSNATION 0
Day 1: 4 06-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 06-09
108. John Durocher - Jared Mitchell Lakeland Bassmasters Team Trail 0
Day 1: 1 02-10 Day 2: 1 03-15 Total: 2 06-09
109. Jon Byrd - Brian Clark D AND R SPORTS 0
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 06-02
110. John Hogle - Daniel Hogle Masssachusetts BASS Nation 0
Day 1: 3 05-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-15
111. Vincent Lalli - JR Borror Joe Bass Team Trail 0
Day 1: 1 05-15 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 05-15
112. Josh Wilson - Shawn Wilson Shootout Fishing League 0
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-14
113. Jason Ammerman - Edwin Ammerman West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 3 04-09 Total: 4 05-14
114. Richard Meuth - Brian Carroll KY Bass Nation Team Trial 0
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-12
114. Marshall Robinson - Mitchell Robinson Palmetto Boat Center Team Trail 0
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-12
116. Lance Whitaker - Jeremy Briscoe Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 4 05-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 05-11
117. Greg Diggs - Adam Brown neely henry 5 alive 0
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-11
117. Corey Solomon - Clayton Haynes South Georgia Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-11
119. Marcus Sherman - Alan Quick Ozarks Mountain Team Trail 0
Day 1: 4 05-10 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 4 05-10
120. Johnathan Dorosh - Collin Jump Michigan Bassmaster Team Champio 0
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-09
121. Jeff Fletcher - Randall Hutson Ozark Mtn Team Trail 0
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-08
122. Samuel Drake - Wyatt Daily Florida Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 2 02-09 Day 2: 2 02-15 Total: 4 05-08
123. Matt Seiber - Mike Bridges Great Lakes Largemouth Series 0
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-06
124. Justin Hayden - Charlie Bogard III Ozark Mountain 0
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-05
125. Shane Howell - Milton Adams 3F Tournaments 0
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-04
126. Jason Morgan - Craig Whittemore Jr Coosa River Team Trail 0
Day 1: 2 05-02 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 05-02
127. Brad Adkins - Ethan Raleigh ANGLERS OUTPOST NTBA 0
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 05-01
128. Edward Garrison - Kevin Love Joe Bass Team Trail 0
Day 1: 3 04-14 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 04-14
129. Levi Cunningham - Joshua Murphree Media bass 0
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 1 01-05 Total: 3 04-10
130. Lawrence Curd - Lowell Everett Cossa River Team Trail 0
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 3 04-07
131. Dan Shoraga - Adam Eggertsen Anglers Choice 0
Day 1: 2 04-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 04-07
131. Josh Uthe - Kristopher Gaertner IL BN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 04-07 Total: 2 04-07
133. Joey Davidson - Tullis Lanier Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 2 04-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 04-04
134. James Copenhaver III - Adam Dysart Chattanooga Bass Association 0
Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 04-03
135. Dave Saterbak - Eric Schreurs Amateur Bass Series 0
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 1 02-09 Total: 2 04-03
136. Victor Morris - Tim Harper Shootout Fishing League 0
Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 04-00
137. Russell Sapp III - Logan Sims Coosa River 0
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 03-07
138. Keith Hendrix - Greggory Zumwalt Joe Bass 0
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 03-03
139. Anthony Mike - Bailey Madere Carnervon bass trail 0
Day 1: 2 03-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 03-00
139. Myles Palmer - William Wood Alabama BASS Nation 0
Day 1: 2 03-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 03-00
141. Zach Harman - Gavin Seffernick Great lakes largemouth series 0
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 1 01-05 Total: 2 02-14
142. Adam Deakin - Turner Mason Centennial Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 02-13
142. Seth Lafollette - Dalton Price Morristown Marine 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 02-13 Total: 2 02-13
142. Gordon Summers - Jacob Spillman Kentucky Team Bass nation 0
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 02-13
145. Randy Knight - Michael Curtsinger 3F Tournaments 0
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 02-11
146. David Ferguson - Andrew Scott ANGLERS OUTPOST NTBA 0
Day 1: 2 02-10 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 2 02-10
147. Kevin Farris - Dylan Welton West Michigan 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 02-06 Total: 2 02-06
148. Ronald Pate - Ernest Pate Jr KBBC Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-02 Total: 1 02-02
149. James Graham - Jayson Saliba csfl 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-15 Total: 1 01-15
149. Kory McIntire - Allyn Mcintire IA BN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-15 Total: 1 01-15
151. Drew Blackwood - Terry Blackwood Kansas BASS nation 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-12
151. Ricky Thompson - Mark Jenkins Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-12
153. Michael Cartwright - Nick Short Kentucky Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-11
154. Jeremy Strotheide - Jesus Alvarez West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-09
155. Scott Acheson - Matt Loudon Shootout Fishing League 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-07 Total: 1 01-07
155. Bill Ferris - Jacob Ferris West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-07
155. Dustin Neat - Mark Wethington NTBA 0
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-07
155. Jay Thompson - Don Thompson Shootout Fishing Legue 0
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-07
159. Tyler Thompson - Gavin Ballew 5 Alive 0
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-06
160. Greg Bent - Brian Knebel Empire Team Trail 0
Day 1: 1 01-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-04
160. Ty Nguyen - Michael Milbury West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 1 01-04 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 1 01-04
162. Sampsa Hamalainen - Daniel Boudreault Shootout Fishing League 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-01 Total: 1 01-01
163. Shannon Breeding - Aaron Lucas Anglers Choice Team Tournament T 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
163. Seth Brogan - Josh Ingram Anglers Choice Team Trail 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
163. Colby Davison - Mark Louderbaugh Joe Bass 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
163. Jimmy Dean - Charles Dean dean team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
163. Brett Govreau - Beau Govreau US Anglers Choice 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
163. Delton Gregory - Dexton Gregory Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
163. Melinda Hays - Lance Freeman 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
163. Bradley Jones - Broox Goza Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
163. Steve Lamser - Robert Lamser Amateur Bass Series 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
163. Jeff Marks - Chris Watkins Media Bass 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
163. Jason Nairn - Troy Bresee Shootout Fishing league 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
163. Rick Ryver - David Garbrick Western PA Team Trail 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
163. Garrett Seppala - Travis Salo NH Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
163. Kyle Smith - Neil Hartley Morristown Marine Team Trail 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
163. Scott Wilbanks - Randy Mcguire Florida Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
163. Steve Wilson - Harold Rogers Jr Tennessee Team Bass nation 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
163. Jared Winland - Brandan Becki Great Lakes Largemouth Series 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURN
Mark Hogan Milford, DE 06-08 $0.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 61 542 1116-09
2 27 307 623-13
Yamaha Marine’s Power Pay® Program Expands, Offers Payouts for 506 Tournaments in 2022
Kennesaw, Ga. - Dec. 9, 2021 – Yamaha Marine will expand its Power Pay contingency program in 2022 to include 506 tournaments, including 14 new trails. Power Pay, which recently surpassed 1,000 members, rewards anglers with cash payouts for running eligible Yamaha outboards in sanctioned tournaments.
New Power Pay tournaments for 2022 include the National Professional Fishing League, Champions Tour Minnesota, Alabama Bass Trail 100 Series, Arkansas Bass Team Series, Nixon’s Marine Team Trail, Minnesota Team Trail, Morristown Marine Team Series, Skeeter Bass Georgia Challenge, Salmon-A-Rama, Team Trail Outdoors Texas, Tennessee Team Trail, Professional Redfish League, Wyoming Walleye Stampede and Sunset Bay Walleye Shootout.
“The expansion of Yamaha Power Pay is a testament to the growth of competitive fishing. Anglers choose Yamaha for the best power and unmatched reliability, and this program rewards their loyalty and passion,” said Connor Megan, Senior Regional Marketing Specialist, Yamaha Marine Engine Systems. “We look forward to adding more anglers to the program, and we wish all competing anglers the best of luck during the 2022 season.”
Competitors don’t have to win a tournament to receive a Power Pay payout. The program rewards the highest placing angler in each sanctioned tournament running Yamaha power.
“Choosing Yamaha and signing up for Power Pay were some of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” said Jake Mims, a student at Brewton Parker College in Georgia and the first college angler to take home Power Pay cash. “I saw videos Chris Zaldain and Brandon Palaniuk posted about signing up for Power Pay and I’m glad I took their advice!”
Amateurs, pros and even families can register for Power Pay. The Engebretsons, a family of anglers from Wausau, Wisconsin, used the program to turn their weekend hobby into extra cash and lifelong memories together.
“We all enjoy fishing, and both my son and daughter have now begun competing in bass and walleye tournaments,” said Guy Engebretson after his family won their third Power Pay event last year. “When we learned about Power Pay, registering was a no-brainer for us. We own Yamaha outboards, and we compete in tournaments using those outboards. Why not use the product we know and trust to earn a little extra during the tournaments? It was a simple decision that paid off quickly.”
Since launching Power Pay in October 2019, Yamaha Marine has awarded more than $382,000 to anglers competing in saltwater and freshwater tournaments across the country. For a complete list of sanctioned tournaments and other Power Pay information including official rules, terms and conditions, visit www.yamahapowerpay.com.
Yamaha Marine products are marketed throughout the United States and around the world. Yamaha Marine U.S. Business Unit, based in Kennesaw, Ga., supports its 2,400 U.S. dealers and boat builders with marketing, training and parts for Yamaha’s full line of products and strives to be the industry leader in reliability, technology and customer service. Yamaha Marine is the only outboard brand to have earned NMMA®’s C.S.I. Customer Satisfaction Index award every year since its inception.
Snap or No Snap?
Kennesaw, GA (December 9, 2021) Many anglers like the efficiency of using a snap to affix their chosen lure to their fishing line. It makes swaps quick and easy and can even enhance the lure’s action by allowing it to affect a wider gait. Others, however, shudder at the idea of even the smallest piece of additional hardware. They want their lures to be natural and free-flowing.
Who’s right?
Well, they both are.
It’s all about efficiency, performance and confidence. When choosing whether to use a snap, try to figure out how you can best achieve a combination of those three factors, and you’re well on your way to maximizing your fish-catching success.
Fortunately, for anglers who prefer or otherwise need a snap, SPRO offers a complete selection of tools that won’t break the bank, inhibit your lures or fail unnecessarily. They start with the easy-to-operate Duo Locks in sizes from 0 to 06, rated up to an impressive 240 lbs. of strength. Whether you’re fishing in freshwater or saltwater, using a jig, a crankbait or a topwater, this tool will allow rocket-fast bait swaps while allowing you to remain confident in the integrity of your offerings.
If you need to reduce line twists but still make quick lure changes, the SPRO Power Swivel with Hyper Snap and SPRO Taru Swivel Interlock Snap keeps your line at full strength and your lures behaving properly. The former is offered in sizes 04, 06 and 08, and the latter comes in sizes 12, 10, 7, 5 and 3, all at an inexpensive cost per piece.
All of those traditional joining devices are rock solid and guaranteed to perform, but SPRO never stops innovating in lures and terminal tackle alike. That extends to snap technology as well. We’re very proud of our split snap with its figure-eight design and black nickel finish. They’re corrosion-resistant so that you can use them in fresh and saltwater alike, and they’re easy to operate with a single hand. They come in sizes 1, 2 and 3, rated up to 45 lbs. Similarly, the SPRO Prime Snap also maximizes performance and strength at the same time. It features 90-degree wire ends and a precise egg shape that maintain structural integrity, whether you’re using the smallest size that tests out at 10 pounds or the largest that will withstand an amazing 175 pounds of pressure.
We may never convince the true doubters to utilize snaps or snap swivels to change our lures, hooks and leaders. However, for those who understand that they can improve rather than reduce lure action – without sacrificing any strength – SPRO offers the specialized tools to keep you connected and help you catch more fish.
Mustang Survival acquires Stearns
Courtesy of BoatingIndustry.com
December 9, 2021
Mustang Survival announced the acquisition of the Government & Commercial Marine business of Stearns. The deal deepens Mustang Survival’s product offering for those that live beyond land to protect freedoms, and those that work on the water to put food on the table for their loved ones.
The products will be amalgamated into the Mustang Survival Branded assortments of life jackets, personal flotation devices and life-saving appliances.
“Mustang Survival exists to deliver confidence and the ultimate experience on the water for those that work, serve, or for recreation," said Mustang Survival president, Jason Leggatt. "We are obsessed with protecting and enhancing the performance of government and professional consumers because they use the products constantly and prove the durability and excellence of a great product solution. These markets are truly where steel sharpens the steel. In addition to the obvious growth this provides for us in core markets, the deal is extra exciting because many of the products acquired will be made onshore in our owned North American manufacturing sites”.
Mustang Survival’s CEO, Andrew Branagh, who oversees the Wing Group including Mustang Survival and sister companies, has been expanding the Wing Group’s power and presence with acquisitions aligned to its values and mission.
“The Wing Group is deeply embedded with top-tier government and professional users across the family of companies," Branagh said. "Stearns represented an incredible opportunity for Mustang Survival to be increasingly relevant to this strategic and valued customer base of ours. I am incredibly proud of how everyone in our company continues to demonstrate the entrepreneurial spirit of a little company, while we have grown immensely during the last eight years”.
Mustang Survival is currently working to transition the acquired product lines into its operations and will work with customers and suppliers to develop a smooth business transition. The acquired product lines and intellectual property will be branded Mustang Survival going forward and will be showcased and sold via Mustang Survival’s reseller partners, the Mustang Survival website, and all customer service will be handled by Mustang Survival teams.
Gamakatsu’s Newest Case is Built for Utility
Tacoma, Washington (December 9, 2021) – Gamakatsu® has developed a new case that allows anglers to carry large bulky items that are difficult to store. The new G-Box 3700D2 Deep Utility Case delivers more storage in a familiar footprint, adding utility to their existing tackle storage systems.
The G-Box 3700D2 Deep Utility Case features an open box layout with no dividers so anglers can easily stash bulky items like pliers, de-hooking tools, or bulk soft plastics. The hard shell keeps items protected, while the single-hand, easy-open lid clasp allows for easy access. In addition, the lid’s tight tolerances ensure even small items can’t work their way out when the boat encounters some chop or the road turns rough.
The standard 14 x 9 x 3.2-inch size of the G-Box 3700D2 means it will stash easily in existing systems so anglers can expand the usefulness of tackle bags or their boat’s storage cubbies. Use the 3700D2 to organize that heap of soft plastics, or get all of those rigging tools in one place to make them easier to find.
They can go from the garage to the boat with ease, so anglers never have to leave a valuable item behind.
Pick up Gamakatsu’s new G-Box 3700D2 Deep Utility Case and organize items that are challenging to store all in one place, with the protection and utility of a standard-sized tackle box.
G-Box 3700D2 Deep Utility Case Features:
Open-box design with no dividers
Designed to carry large bulky items that are difficult to store
Helps to organize items that are challenging to store all in one place
Keeps items protected and easy to access
Single hand, easy-open lid clasp and tight tolerances
Size: 14 x 9 x 3.2 inches
Nichols, Young Take Early Lead In Bassmaster Team Championship On Lake Eufaula
William Nichols and Jake Young of the Coosa River Team Trail are leading after Day 1 of the 2021 Bassmaster Team Championship on Alabama's Lake Eufaula with 17 pounds, 10 ounces.
Photo by Dalton Tumblin/B.A.S.S.
December 8, 2021
EUFAULA, Ala. — William Nichols and Jake Young grew up together in the small town of Alexandria, Ala., but they shined on the national stage Wednesday during Day 1 of the Bassmaster Team Championship.
Nichols and Young caught a five-bass limit of 17 pounds, 10 ounces to take the lead in the final tournament of the 2021 Bassmaster season. A total of 179 two-person teams representing 62 team trails from around the U.S. and Canada are participating in the championship here on the Alabama/Georgia border.
Nichols and Young represented the Coosa River Team Trail well on Wednesday, with Nichols hooking a pair of 4-8 largemouth bass to anchor the day’s heaviest bag.
“The first (4-8 bass) came in a flurry in the morning when the front was moving in,” said Nichols, 23. “We had a limit by about 7:30 a.m. but everything just stopped. Then at about 11 o’clock, we got that second 4-8, probably about 2 miles from where we caught the first one. We didn’t have many bites today, but we caught all of them.”
Young, 21, said he was pleased his teammate had the hot hand.
“I had to be the net man on both of the big catches and I was fine with that,” he said, laughing. “Hopefully we can duplicate tomorrow what we did today.”
Young said he and Nichols caught their limit on a variety of lures.
“We used pretty much everything but the kitchen sink,” Young said.
Nichols and Young were the ninth boat to take off Wednesday and steady rain wasn’t far behind — though skies did clear by midday. They’ll be 171st of 179 teams to begin fishing Thursday, and they said they aren’t sure if the later draw will prevent them from taking advantage of an early bite.
“It’s supposed to be a bit cooler than it was today,” Nichols said. “It may affect our (strategy) a little bit tomorrow. But if you can get six or seven bites here, you should have a good bag. That's what we’ll try to do.”
David Lowery and James Murphy grew up in the nearby Columbus, Ga./Phenix City, Ala., area, so they have experience on Lake Eufaula. They used their knowledge of the fishery to catch a 15-15 limit of largemouth bass, good enough for second place.
Lowery, who now resides in Milledgeville, Ga., said he and Murphy flipped jigs along Eufaula’s shorelines to start the tournament and likely will do the same on Day 2. They’re representing Berry’s Tournament Trail in the championship.
“I team-tournament fished with my dad down here all my life,” Murphy said. “It helped me in practice. They’ve been spraying the lake to kill the hydrilla the past few years, so it’s a bit different now. I used the same bait, but it was harder for me to catch them.”
Kentucky’s Charles and Ethan Caudill of the National Team Bass Association (NTBA) are in third place with a limit of 15-12. They’re joined in the Top 5 by Arkansas’ Josh and Donald Wray of the Ozark Mountain Trail, who are in fourth place with 15-11, and Kentucky’s Nick Ratliff and Bradley Dunagan of NTBA in fifth place with 14-15.
Ratliff and Dunagan caught the heaviest bass — a 6-pounder that gave them the early lead for the $500 prize awarded for biggest fish of the tournament. The former Campbellsville University anglers have shared success before, finishing second in the 2018 Bassmaster College Series National Championship on Lake Tenkiller in Oklahoma. Ratliff came back a few weeks later to win that year’s Bassmaster College Classic Bracket on Milford Lake in Kansas and finished 41st in the 2019 Bassmaster Classic on the Tennessee River in Knoxville.
The leading duo after Day 2 of this week’s Team Championship will claim a $20,600 cash prize provided by Ranger/Mercury, part of a $91,600 total purse that will be divvied among the Top 35 teams.
The Top 3 teams (six anglers) also will advance to the Bassmaster Classic Fish-Off portion of the championship. They’ll have their team weights zeroed and they’ll fish individually on Friday and Saturday with the leader clinching the final spot in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk. The Classic will be held March 4-6 on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell.
Day 2 of the Bassmaster Team Championship will begin at 6:15 a.m. CT from Lakepoint State Park Marina. Weigh-in is scheduled for 2:15 p.m. at Lakepoint.
2021 Bassmaster Team Championship at Eufaula Lake 12/8-12/9
Lake Eufaula, Eufaula AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Club/School Pts
1. William Nichols - Jake Young Coosa River Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 17-10 Total: 5 17-10
2. David Lowery - James Murphy Berry's Tournament Trail 0
Day 1: 5 15-15 Total: 5 15-15
3. Charles Caudill - Ethan Caudill NTBA 0
Day 1: 5 15-12 Total: 5 15-12
4. Josh Wray - Donald Wray Ozark Mountain 0
Day 1: 5 15-11 Total: 5 15-11
5. Nick Ratliff - Bradley Dunagan NTBA 0
Day 1: 5 14-15 Total: 5 14-15
6. Brian Jones - Matt Russell Texas Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 5 14-12 Total: 5 14-12
7. Shane Powell - Tim Fox Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 14-09 Total: 5 14-09
8. Josh Shirley - Don Sanders Joe Bass 0
Day 1: 5 14-03 Total: 5 14-03
9. Don Ingram - Ronnie Grant ANGLERS OUTPOST NTBA 0
Day 1: 5 14-01 Total: 5 14-01
9. Randy Tolbert - Gary Thompson Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 14-01 Total: 5 14-01
11. Brian Chandler - Jermey Jenks West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 5 13-11 Total: 5 13-11
12. Wil Dieffenbauch - Pic Dieffenbauch Jr B.A.S.S. Nation of West Virginia 0
Day 1: 5 13-09 Total: 5 13-09
13. Geoffrey Mcknight - Jay Estes Neely 5 Alive 0
Day 1: 5 13-05 Total: 5 13-05
14. Charlie Williams - Michael Smith Jr Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 12-11 Total: 5 12-11
15. Jalen Shuffler - Nick Hatfield White Pine Marine 0
Day 1: 5 12-07 Total: 5 12-07
16. Dale Teaney - Randy Alexander Morristown marine team trail 0
Day 1: 5 12-04 Total: 5 12-04
17. Chuck James - Brad James Chattanooga Bass Association 0
Day 1: 4 12-03 Total: 4 12-03
18. Kelly Jones - Roger Satterfield Joe bass team trail 0
Day 1: 5 12-02 Total: 5 12-02
19. Earl Garrison - Shawn White Ozark Mountain Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 12-01 Total: 5 12-01
20. Foster Bradley - Nick Harris Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 12-00 Total: 5 12-00
21. Cecil Burns - Daniel Robinson Coosa River Team Trail llc 0
Day 1: 5 11-15 Total: 5 11-15
22. Josh Chapple - Paul Davis Airport Marine Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 11-14 Total: 5 11-14
23. Michael Heatwole - Mark Heatwole VA Elite 0
Day 1: 5 11-03 Total: 5 11-03
23. Mark Hogan - Brian La Clair Delaware BASS Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 11-03 Total: 5 11-03
25. Stephen Mcavoy - Josh Butts Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 11-01 Total: 5 11-01
26. George Chlomoudis - Powell Kemp Anglers Choice Marine 0
Day 1: 4 10-12 Total: 4 10-12
27. Keith Daffron - Ryan Patterson Ozark Mountain Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 10-11 Total: 5 10-11
28. Camran Fleming - Jesse Elder LAKE HARTWELL 5 ALIVE 0
Day 1: 5 10-10 Total: 5 10-10
28. Brad Norris - Ryan Robinson IBN team series 0
Day 1: 5 10-10 Total: 5 10-10
30. Wesley Sams - Jordan Wiggins Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 10-09 Total: 5 10-09
31. Mark Thompson - Mark Thompson Joe Bass TT 0
Day 1: 5 10-05 Total: 5 10-05
32. Bryce Kalen - Bryan Kalen Indiana Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 5 10-03 Total: 5 10-03
33. Jeff Lewis - Fredrick Adkins Morristown Marine 0
Day 1: 5 10-02 Total: 5 10-02
33. Terry Tucker - Jeffrey Cannon 5 Alive tounament trail 0
Day 1: 5 10-02 Total: 5 10-02
35. Edward Gad - Eddie Gad Three Rivers Bass 0
Day 1: 5 10-01 Total: 5 10-01
36. Blain Bartley - Justin Kappeler Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit 0
Day 1: 4 09-15 Total: 4 09-15
37. Ryan Davidson - Chris Malone Anglers outpost NTBA 0
Day 1: 5 09-13 Total: 5 09-13
37. Emmanuel Globetti - Cj Knight AL BN 0
Day 1: 5 09-13 Total: 5 09-13
39. Clay Samples - Scott Moser Anglers Choice 0
Day 1: 5 09-11 Total: 5 09-11
40. Phillip Hegarty - Stephen Hegarty CSFL 0
Day 1: 4 09-11 Total: 4 09-11
41. Joey Solomon - Daniel Taylor Morristown Marine 0
Day 1: 4 09-09 Total: 4 09-09
42. Justin Davis - Nathan Wolfgang Media Bass 0
Day 1: 5 09-07 Total: 5 09-07
43. Michael Maness - Jake Plegge Kansas City Team Tour 0
Day 1: 3 09-06 Total: 3 09-06
44. Rocky Carden - Dustin Besperat Joe Bass Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 09-03 Total: 5 09-03
44. Adam Rice - Emory Reiser IV Lake Hartwell 5 Alive Sunday Ser 0
Day 1: 5 09-03 Total: 5 09-03
46. Brandon Phillippe - Tony Grubbs Angler Nation 0
Day 1: 5 09-02 Total: 5 09-02
47. Tom Statler - Dillon Statler Joe Bass Team Trail 0
Day 1: 4 09-02 Total: 4 09-02
48. Kyle Glasgow - Luke Glasgow AL BASS Nation 0
Day 1: 5 09-00 Total: 5 09-00
49. John Maldonado - Lance Maldonado Milford Lake Team Series 0
Day 1: 5 08-12 Total: 5 08-12
49. David Taylor - Marc Thomas KY BN 0
Day 1: 5 08-12 Total: 5 08-12
51. Brad Fowler - Brock Taylor Palmetto boat center 0
Day 1: 5 08-11 Total: 5 08-11
52. John Frank - Mark Womack Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 3 08-10 Total: 3 08-10
53. Mark Cooper - William Chumbler Kentucky Nation Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 08-09 Total: 5 08-09
53. Steven Huegerich - Darrin Kirkland Iowa Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 5 08-09 Total: 5 08-09
53. Brandon Stanley - Shane Rawlings West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 5 08-09 Total: 5 08-09
56. Mark McCaig - Tim Hurst Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 08-08 Total: 5 08-08
57. Rob Messenger Jr - John Levesque NH Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 4 08-07 Total: 4 08-07
58. Neil Vandebiezen - Joseph LaFountain D&R Sports Team Trail 0
Day 1: 4 08-06 Total: 4 08-06
59. Billy Hall - Ronnie Smith Anglers Outppst NTBA 0
Day 1: 4 08-05 Total: 4 08-05
60. Jason Burroughs - Darren Ashley Hartwell 5 Alive 0
Day 1: 5 08-04 Total: 5 08-04
61. Jason Cannon - Trent Suratt Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 4 08-04 Total: 4 08-04
62. Ryan Groeteke - Brett Groeteke Ozark Mountain Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 08-02 Total: 5 08-02
63. Jeffrey Brauneck - Fred Brauneck West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 3 08-01 Total: 3 08-01
64. Greg Coleman - Travis Gillett US Anglers Choice 0
Day 1: 5 08-00 Total: 5 08-00
64. Doug Stamper - Bruce Stamper Anglers outpost NTBA 0
Day 1: 5 08-00 Total: 5 08-00
66. Steven Griffith - Tyler Rush PA BASS Nation 0
Day 1: 3 08-00 Total: 3 08-00
67. Luke Kyle - Arch Cornett Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 07-15 Total: 5 07-15
68. Nick Coleman - Randall Christopher KY Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 5 07-14 Total: 5 07-14
68. Bryan Dowdy - Kyle Lewellen Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 07-14 Total: 5 07-14
68. John Warren - Eric Johnson USA Bassin 0
Day 1: 5 07-14 Total: 5 07-14
71. Matt Headrick - Matt McClung Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 07-13 Total: 5 07-13
71. Bill Kunz - Cory Kerber CenCal Elite Bass Tournaments 0
Day 1: 5 07-13 Total: 5 07-13
73. Brannon Hurst - Mike Freeman Jr Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 07-12 Total: 5 07-12
74. Keith Allen - David Warrior Angler Nation 0
Day 1: 4 07-12 Total: 4 07-12
75. Kenneth Reed - Brian Funkhouser IN BASS Nation 0
Day 1: 3 07-12 Total: 3 07-12
76. Zach Vankeulen - Brendon Mcdonald Angler Nation 0
Day 1: 4 07-11 Total: 4 07-11
76. Kip Williamson - Matt Mabrey Coosa River Team Trail 0
Day 1: 4 07-11 Total: 4 07-11
78. Edward Baker - Casey Baker Morristown Marine Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 07-09 Total: 5 07-09
79. Tyler Campbell - Joe Mitchell Hartwell 5 Alive 0
Day 1: 5 07-08 Total: 5 07-08
80. Ryan Fingleton - Ryan Hubler West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 4 07-08 Total: 4 07-08
81. Trent Adkins - Ronnie Blaylock Morristown marine 0
Day 1: 4 07-07 Total: 4 07-07
82. Darryl Halbert - Lancen Halbert SC BASS Nation 0
Day 1: 3 07-07 Total: 3 07-07
83. Travis Hitchins - Colten Fink Cheat Lake Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 07-05 Total: 3 07-05
84. Nick Bowden - Stephen Natale Florida Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 3 07-03 Total: 3 07-03
85. John Smith - Tyler Faulkner Morristown Marine 0
Day 1: 4 07-00 Total: 4 07-00
86. Grant Kelly - Jeffery Kelly Berrys Tournament Trail 0
Day 1: 4 06-11 Total: 4 06-11
87. Jeff Corley - William Mcree AL BASSNATION 0
Day 1: 4 06-09 Total: 4 06-09
88. Tim Eaton - Abby Lewis West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 4 06-08 Total: 4 06-08
89. Jon Byrd - Brian Clark D AND R SPORTS 0
Day 1: 3 06-02 Total: 3 06-02
90. John Hogle - Daniel Hogle Masssachusetts BASS Nation 0
Day 1: 3 05-15 Total: 3 05-15
91. Vincent Lalli - JR Borror Joe Bass Team Trail 0
Day 1: 1 05-15 Total: 1 05-15
92. Josh Wilson - Shawn Wilson Shootout Fishing League 0
Day 1: 3 05-14 Total: 3 05-14
93. Elivinio Nieto - Lupe Nieto Jr Bayou Bassin League 0
Day 1: 4 05-12 Total: 4 05-12
94. Richard Meuth - Brian Carroll KY Bass Nation Team Trial 0
Day 1: 3 05-12 Total: 3 05-12
94. Marshall Robinson - Mitchell Robinson Palmetto Boat Center Team Trail 0
Day 1: 3 05-12 Total: 3 05-12
96. Lance Whitaker - Jeremy Briscoe Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 4 05-11 Total: 4 05-11
97. Greg Diggs - Adam Brown neely henry 5 alive 0
Day 1: 3 05-11 Total: 3 05-11
97. Corey Solomon - Clayton Haynes South Georgia Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 3 05-11 Total: 3 05-11
99. Marcus Sherman - Alan Quick Ozarks Mountain Team Trail 0
Day 1: 4 05-10 Total: 4 05-10
99. Jason Walcott - Jimmy Vanden Berg Jr West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 4 05-10 Total: 4 05-10
101. Johnathan Dorosh - Collin Jump Michigan Bassmaster Team Champio 0
Day 1: 3 05-09 Total: 3 05-09
102. Jeff Fletcher - Randall Hutson Ozark Mtn Team Trail 0
Day 1: 3 05-08 Total: 3 05-08
102. Travis Guindon - Chris Carr Shootout Fishing 0
Day 1: 3 05-08 Total: 3 05-08
104. Matt Seiber - Mike Bridges Great Lakes Largemouth Series 0
Day 1: 3 05-06 Total: 3 05-06
105. Justin Hayden - Charlie Bogard III Ozark Mountain 0
Day 1: 3 05-05 Total: 3 05-05
106. Shane Howell - Milton Adams 3F Tournaments 0
Day 1: 3 05-04 Total: 3 05-04
106. Tim Newberry Sr - Rusty Darnell Joe Bass Team Trail 0
Day 1: 3 05-04 Total: 3 05-04
108. Randy Huffman - Benjamin Huffman West Virginia BASS Nation 0
Day 1: 2 05-03 Total: 2 05-03
109. Jason Morgan - Craig Whittemore Jr Coosa River Team Trail 0
Day 1: 2 05-02 Total: 2 05-02
110. Brad Adkins - Ethan Raleigh ANGLERS OUTPOST NTBA 0
Day 1: 3 05-01 Total: 3 05-01
111. Edward Garrison - Kevin Love Joe Bass Team Trail 0
Day 1: 3 04-14 Total: 3 04-14
112. Lawrence Curd - Lowell Everett Cossa River Team Trail 0
Day 1: 3 04-07 Total: 3 04-07
113. Dan Shoraga - Adam Eggertsen Anglers Choice 0
Day 1: 2 04-07 Total: 2 04-07
114. Richard Bright - Brian Closson WV BN Team Trail 0
Day 1: 3 04-04 Total: 3 04-04
114. Alex Korol - Cameron Alldredge Empire Team Trail 0
Day 1: 3 04-04 Total: 3 04-04
116. Joey Davidson - Tullis Lanier Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 2 04-04 Total: 2 04-04
116. John Krewson - Tony Powers Joebass 0
Day 1: 2 04-04 Total: 2 04-04
118. James Copenhaver III - Adam Dysart Chattanooga Bass Association 0
Day 1: 2 04-03 Total: 2 04-03
119. Steven Weber - Sam Phillips Joe Bass Team Trail 0
Day 1: 2 04-01 Total: 2 04-01
120. Victor Morris - Tim Harper Shootout Fishing League 0
Day 1: 2 04-00 Total: 2 04-00
121. Jacob Novak - Jonathan Novak MNBN Team Trail 0
Day 1: 2 03-15 Total: 2 03-15
122. Mark Donaldson - Nicole Donaldson 0
Day 1: 2 03-08 Total: 2 03-08
123. Russell Sapp III - Logan Sims Coosa River 0
Day 1: 2 03-07 Total: 2 03-07
124. Carter Day - Cole Sands Chattanooga Bass Association 0
Day 1: 2 03-06 Total: 2 03-06
125. Levi Cunningham - Joshua Murphree Media bass 0
Day 1: 2 03-05 Total: 2 03-05
126. Keith Hendrix - Greggory Zumwalt Joe Bass 0
Day 1: 2 03-03 Total: 2 03-03
127. Anthony Mike - Bailey Madere Carnervon bass trail 0
Day 1: 2 03-00 Total: 2 03-00
127. Myles Palmer - William Wood Alabama BASS Nation 0
Day 1: 2 03-00 Total: 2 03-00
129. Mark Bell - Daniel Sepeck NTBA 0
Day 1: 2 02-13 Total: 2 02-13
129. Adam Deakin - Turner Mason Centennial Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 2 02-13 Total: 2 02-13
129. Gordon Summers - Jacob Spillman Kentucky Team Bass nation 0
Day 1: 2 02-13 Total: 2 02-13
132. Randy Knight - Michael Curtsinger 3F Tournaments 0
Day 1: 2 02-11 Total: 2 02-11
132. Casey Majni - Corey Brooks Morristown Marine Team Trail 0
Day 1: 2 02-11 Total: 2 02-11
134. David Ferguson - Andrew Scott ANGLERS OUTPOST NTBA 0
Day 1: 2 02-10 Total: 2 02-10
135. John Durocher - Jared Mitchell Lakeland Bassmasters Team Trail 0
Day 1: 1 02-10 Total: 1 02-10
136. Samuel Drake - Wyatt Daily Florida Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 2 02-09 Total: 2 02-09
137. Keith Tuma - Andy Walls MN BASS Nation 0
Day 1: 1 02-02 Total: 1 02-02
138. Phillip Kellogg - Darrell Finck Great Lakes Largemouth Series 0
Day 1: 1 01-14 Total: 1 01-14
139. Drew Blackwood - Terry Blackwood Kansas BASS nation 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Total: 1 01-12
139. Douglas Stephens - Jacob Wood Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Total: 1 01-12
139. Ricky Thompson - Mark Jenkins Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Total: 1 01-12
142. Michael Cartwright - Nick Short Kentucky Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 1 01-11 Total: 1 01-11
143. Dave Saterbak - Eric Schreurs Amateur Bass Series 0
Day 1: 1 01-10 Total: 1 01-10
144. Zach Harman - Gavin Seffernick Great lakes largemouth series 0
Day 1: 1 01-09 Total: 1 01-09
144. Jeremy Strotheide - Jesus Alvarez West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 1 01-09 Total: 1 01-09
146. Bill Ferris - Jacob Ferris West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 1 01-07 Total: 1 01-07
146. Dustin Neat - Mark Wethington NTBA 0
Day 1: 1 01-07 Total: 1 01-07
146. Jay Thompson - Don Thompson Shootout Fishing Legue 0
Day 1: 1 01-07 Total: 1 01-07
149. Tyler Thompson - Gavin Ballew 5 Alive 0
Day 1: 1 01-06 Total: 1 01-06
150. Jason Ammerman - Edwin Ammerman West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 1 01-05 Total: 1 01-05
151. Greg Bent - Brian Knebel Empire Team Trail 0
Day 1: 1 01-04 Total: 1 01-04
151. Ty Nguyen - Michael Milbury West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 1 01-04 Total: 1 01-04
153. Scott Acheson - Matt Loudon Shootout Fishing League 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Shannon Breeding - Aaron Lucas Anglers Choice Team Tournament T 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Seth Brogan - Josh Ingram Anglers Choice Team Trail 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Colby Davison - Mark Louderbaugh Joe Bass 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Jimmy Dean - Charles Dean dean team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Kevin Farris - Dylan Welton West Michigan 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Brett Govreau - Beau Govreau US Anglers Choice 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. James Graham - Jayson Saliba csfl 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Delton Gregory - Dexton Gregory Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Sampsa Hamalainen - Daniel Boudreault Shootout Fishing League 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Melinda Hays - Lance Freeman 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Bradley Jones - Broox Goza Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Seth Lafollette - Dalton Price Morristown Marine 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Steve Lamser - Robert Lamser Amateur Bass Series 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Jeff Marks - Chris Watkins Media Bass 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Kory McIntire - Allyn Mcintire IA BN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Jason Nairn - Troy Bresee Shootout Fishing league 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. David Pair - David Noakes AL BN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Ronald Pate - Ernest Pate Jr KBBC Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Rick Ryver - David Garbrick Western PA Team Trail 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Bobby Scott - John Hinckley Florida Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Garrett Seppala - Travis Salo NH Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Kyle Smith - Neil Hartley Morristown Marine Team Trail 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Josh Uthe - Kristopher Gaertner IL BN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Scott Wilbanks - Randy Mcguire Florida Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Steve Wilson - Harold Rogers Jr Tennessee Team Bass nation 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
153. Jared Winland - Brandan Becki Great Lakes Largemouth Series 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 61 542 1116-09
Big Bass Eat Big Baits
Courtesy of Vance McCollough
Whether it’s grownup gizzard shad on TVA lakes, big bluegill all across the deep South or foot-long shiners in the Sunshine State, big baitfish top the menu for quality bass.
And a bass doesn’t have to be a trophy class fish in order to eat bream that would pass as table fare for humans. Think ‘three-pounds-and-up’. In fact, most days, a two-pounder will crush as big a lure as you dare to throw. This is especially true for Florida strain largemouth, which according to a recent study by fisheries biologists in numerous states, in conjunction with Auburn University, have historically been far more widespread across the South than previously believed.
Dan Dorosheff of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission once shed some light on this subject for me. “We did studies to determine the maximum size of prey a largemouth can safely consume. Shape has a lot to do with it. For round fish, such as bluegill, we found that a bass can eat one about a third the length of its body. For long, slender prey, such as shiners, they can eat one about half the length of their body.”
While the above guidelines indicate the size of prey a bass can reasonably digest, it’s worth noting that bass don’t have the ability to reason, nor to be reasonable. They often attack animals as big as themselves, bigger sometimes, simply to defend their territory.
We’ve all seen pictures of a bass with an almost equal sized bass stuffed mostly down its gullet, both floating dead.
So, how big is too big when it comes to lure selection?
You decide.
But first, consider this example, shared by Chris Zaldain from the 2019 Bassmaster Classic held on Tennessee’s Ft Loudon Lake in mid-March - a most unlikely place and time to throw a big swimbait - from my post-tournament report on AnglersChannel.com:
Zaldain Goes Big to Scare the Classic Field
The magician revealed his secret, but I was sworn to keep it such until the tournament was over. On Day 2 of the 2019 Bassmaster Classic Chris Zaldain caught what was easily the biggest bag of the 3-day event at 21 pounds, 12 ounces.
“I did it the way I love to fish, man,” said Zaldain. “A big swimbait. That’s how I roll.”
In a tournament on Tennessee’s Ft Loudon/Tellico Lakes that was dominated by small crankbaits, spinnerbaits and bladed jigs, Zaldain rebounded from a slow start in the opening round to become a contender by throwing a 6-inch Megabass Magdraft swimbait on the 2nd day.
“I didn’t do it yesterday. The conditions weren’t right. And I got led off by a 6-pounder I caught in practice way up Tellico, so I did that Day 1.”
Zaldain had spent most of his practice looking for a swimbait bite. When conditions got right for the technique on the 2nd day of competition, he knocked their lights out doing it.
“Today I threw a swimbait along bluff walls with laydowns.”
While the big bait may seem an odd choice, Zaldain was actually matching the hatch – at least as far as the big female bass were concerned, and those are the type of fish that make a difference in a major tournament.
“Large profile bait because they’re eating gizzard shad.”
A slight change in conditions opened the bite window for a swimbait. Zaldain was ready. “The biggest factor is the water is clearing so I replaced the big Jason Christie single Colorado spinnerbait that we used in practice - because of the mud - and replaced that with a big ol’ swimbait because the water cleared up and those big fish love that bait.”
Zaldain also threw the Magdraft just to give the fish a different look. “Here on the Tennessee River people still don’t throw the big swimbait. They just don’t do it. The fish have seen a million spinnerbaits, a million squarebills and DT6’s. So when you introduce a big ol’ piece of plastic, mixed in with the big, 9-inch gizzard shad that they’re eating, that bait just imitates them so well. And they haven’t seen it. I really think those big fish see a spinnerbait and shy away from it, but that swimbait – they connect every time.”
As for his set up, Zaldain always swims the 6-inch Magdraft on 15-pound Seaguar InvizX line paired with a 7:1 reel and a 7’2” Megabass Orochi XX Perfect Pitch jig rod.
Zaldain is happy with the stock hooks that come on the Magdraft.
Swimbait aficionados will tell you that most important thing to know about a swimbait is when to put it down, especially if you’re tournament fishing. Zaldain was committed to take the Classic title with his favorite lure but conditions on the final day did not help him. He cobbled together a pair of smallish bass and placed 12th.
But for a day, he smashed them with the swim bait.
Huk Brings Flannel to the Next Level
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Lester: Pokémon cards, princess dresses, and YouTube crappie
Courtesy of Alan McGuckin - Dynamic Sponsorships
I guess you could say I’ve already received my best gift. Because as most every pro angler will tell you, the 15 to 20 weeks we spend away from our families each year is the toughest part of the job, so being home for the entire Christmas season is something I absolutely treasure.
To make the season even more fun, my girls are sort of at the perfect ages, because they both believe in Santa Claus. Leann is hoping Santa will bring her some Pokémon trading cards, whereas our youngest, Shiloh, who is age 3, is totally into being a princess. So, I imagine she’ll be opening a few new princess dresses for Christmas.
Now don’t get me wrong, they both know Christmas is not all about gifts. We spend a lot of time talking about the story of Jesus’ birth – so I’ll promise you their little hearts are very clear on the real reason for the season.
And as for me, along with making memories here in Kim and I’s hometown of Fayetteville, TN over the holidays, I’m also excited for a new project I’m really ramping-up my efforts on – and that’s my multispecies YouTube channel “Brandon Lester Fishing.”
Nope, I don’t want it to be just another pro bass fishing channel, but instead a platform where I teach all levels of anglers how to catch all kinds of species throughout 2022. In fact, a recent episode I did about crappie fishing actually got more traction than any bass fishing video I’ve done to date.
So, in the new year, expect me to teach you how to catch good-eating bluegill using side-imaging sonar, as well big blue catfish using skipjack herring for bait. And of course, plenty of crappie and bass fishing episodes too.
I’ve always believed the more I know about every species in the ecosystem – the better I’ll become at understanding, locating, and catching bass. So, I want my YouTube channel to reflect that too.
Bottom line …. I want this channel to be educational and relatable to all anglers, not just bass fisherman.
That said, I’d be grateful if you’ll follow along. And I truly hope you find something just as exciting as Pokémon cards or a princess dress under the tree, as you make memories with your loved ones while reflecting on the real reason for the season.
Outlaws.... RELiON That is
This week Chris & the boys welcome in BPT Pro Ott Defoe to the show to talk about his 2021 Bass Pro Tour Season (All 278,000 reasons why he enjoyed 2021) as well as the Costa Compete and Conserve Contingency Program and the good Costa is doing for our sport. The boys talk This or That Christmas Edition, some new Partners join the show and more!
TH MArine - Atlas Awards 2022 Registration is Open!
Get Paid for Using T-H Marine Products
Year after year, anglers sign back up for our Atlas Awards Program and it's little wonder why — we pay tournament anglers who use T-H Marine Products!
A new year and a new fishing season is upon us, so Atlas Awards Registration is now open. Simply visit our site to get the full details, sign up, and get some swag at no additional cost when you register.
B.A.S.S. Hooks VMC As New Tournament Trail Supporting Sponsor
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — VMC, a Rapala Respected Brand known for their award-winning hooks for every style of fishing, rigs, jigs and terminal tackle, has signed a multiyear agreement to serve as a supporting sponsor for the Bassmaster Tournament Trail. Additionally, the new VMC Monster Bag prize will award an additional $2,000 to the angler who weighs in the heaviest single-day catch of the event at every Elite Series tournament.
The addition of the VMC Monster Bag prize is capturing the attention of fans and Elite Series pros alike.
“Take it from me, VMC is the sharpest, baddest hook in tournament fishing,” said two-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year Gerald Swindle. “I can’t wait to get paid to carry the VMC Monster Bag to the scales.”
As a tournament sponsor, VMC will not only be featured during Bassmaster LIVE broadcasts on the FOX Sports platforms, but will also enjoy exposure to enthusiastic fans of sportfishing and B.A.S.S. members during tournament weigh-ins as well as across Bassmaster.com, Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times magazines and various social media platforms.
“Our fans tune in to Bassmaster LIVE for incredible coverage of every catch, learning from the pros about techniques that will help them become a better angler, and then eagerly cheer on their favorite pros during weigh-ins,” said B.A.S.S. chairman and CEO Chase Anderson. “We’re excited to welcome VMC as a new partner and showcase the hooks some of the sport’s most successful pros — like Seth Feider, Brandon Palaniuk and Mike Iaconelli — use when landing every fish matters. The last few years, B.A.S.S. fans have been treated to record-breaking limits, and we can’t wait to see who will take home the new VMC Monster Bag prize when the Elite Series heads to some of the country’s best big bass factories during the 2022 season.”
In addition to sponsoring the Elite Series VMC Monster Bag prize, VMC will be a supporting sponsor for the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens Series, Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bassmaster Team Championship and the grass-roots TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation regional and championship tournaments.
“VMC is one of our most historic brands under the portfolio of brands at Rapala VMC,” said Matt Jensen, Rapala USA director of marketing. “Here in the U.S., it has been our fastest-growing brand year after year for the past eight years. With the innovation VMC has brought to market it has proven itself to be a top hook brand in tournament fishing today, and we are excited to partner with Bassmaster and grow VMC into a supporting sponsor.
“The VMC Monster Bag at Elite events is going to be the talk of the town. Bassmaster is all about ‘Big Bass. Big Stage. Big Dreams.’ Well now, VMC will add ‘Big Bags’ to the mix, and excite pros and fans with the new VMC Monster Bag prize!”
About VMC
With more than two centuries of experience, the innovative craftsmanship of VMC® design shows in every product. Award-winning hooks for every style of fishing, many with first-to-market features, plus rigs, jigs and terminal tackle second to none. VMC is one of several legendary fishing lure brands that belong to the Rapala family. Learn more, visit Rapala.com.
MLF Announces 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Roster
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157 Pros to Compete Across Six Regular-Season Five-Biggest-Fish Format Tournaments with a Total Purse of More Than $6 million
TULSA, Okla. (Dec. 7, 2021) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today the roster for the 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, showcasing a field of 157 of the top professional anglers in the world competing in the five-biggest-fish format across six regular-season tournaments. In its 27th season, the 2022 Pro Circuit roster features a solid field of veterans and a fresh crop of rookies from across the country, all competing for a total season purse of more than $6 million.
“We had a fantastic 2021 season and are excited to be going into the upcoming year stronger than ever,” said Daniel Fennel, MLF Senior Director of Tournament Operations. “We’re thrilled to offer our top pros an exciting 2022 schedule with expanded media coverage and more opportunities than ever before. We’re extremely proud of what we have accomplished over the last few years, and with this power-packed group of pros, we’re looking forward to very tough competition and the opportunity to continue that legacy in 2022.” The 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit roster features former FLW Cup champions Darrel Robertson (1999), Dion Hibdon (2000), Randall Tharp (2013), Brad Knight (2015) and John Cox (2016), TITLE champions Rusty Salewske (2020) and Jimmy Washam (2021), along with former Pro Circuit Angler of the Year (AOY) winners David Walker (1999), Ron Nelson (2020) and Michael Neal (2021). Bass-fishing legend “The General” Larry Nixon also returns to the field for his 24th season on the Pro Circuit. They’ll be joined by 23 rookies from the MLF Toyota Series, including Plains Division AOY Andy Newcomb, Southern Division AOY Lance Oligschlaeger, Western Division AOY Phillip Dutra and Ricardo Gonzales, who qualified via the MLF Mexico International Division. The star-studded roster also includes 16 Bass Pro Tour anglers, including reigning 2021 Pro Circuit AOY Michael Neal, Pro Circuit 2021 Lake Okeechobee champion Skeet Reese, Wesley Strader, Justin Lucas and seven other pros who fished both circuits in 2021. Competition kicks off on Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Jan. 27-30, in Brookeland, Texas and culminates with the 2022 Tackle Warehouse TITLE, the Pro Circuit championship, on the St. Lawrence River, Aug. 16-21, in Massena, New York. Each stop will be broadcast live on the Major League Fishing app, MyOutdoorTV (MOTV), and MajorLeagueFishing.com. The 2022 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit will air on the CBS Sports Network and the Sportsman Channel beginning in July 2022. The full field will compete on Days 1 & 2 of each regular-season event, with the top 50 pros based on cumulative weight from days 1 & 2 moving on to Day 3. Weights will be zeroed on Day 4, where the top 10 pros based on cumulative weight from the first three days will compete for the grand prize of up to $135,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers. The MLF Tackle Warehouse TITLE championship features a top award of $235,000, including a $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. For complete details and updated information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on Facebook , Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. The 157 professional anglers that will compete on the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit are:
*Denotes 2022 Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Rookie
2022 MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Schedule:
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Santa Calls for Help Choosing Post-Holiday Fishing Destination
A worldwide vote will now determine Santa’s whereabouts on December 27
COLUMBIA, S.C. (December 7, 2021) – After a month-long search for the perfect fishing destination, Santa’s pals at Berkley Fishing have helped him narrow his annual post-holiday fishing trip down to five deserving locations. And now he’s asking the world to weigh in on the big decision.
Cities and fisheries around the world submitted their town for the opportunity to win a visit from Santa on December 27, immediately following his busiest day of the year. Santa and the team at Berkley have narrowed down the location finalists to five epic fisheries across the United States and are now asking everyone to help select one lucky fishing destination. In addition to a relaxing day on the water, Santa will bring gifts for children in the community along with a donation of up to $25K from Berkley, which will support a fishing conservation project in the surrounding area.
After careful review of all the fantastic fishy places submitted across the world, Berkley and Santa have created their list (and checked it twice) of the top five fishing spots in consideration. Each town was chosen based on its submission, with many boasting about their tight-knit communities, the amazing fishing, and a clearly identified need for conservation funding or a special fishing access project in need of support from Santa and Berkley.
The final five towns are:
- Hartwell, GA
- Huntsville, AL
- Springfield, IL
- Panama City Beach, FL
- Long Beach, CA
And now Santa needs your help!
Santa is asking everyone to vote for the best fishing spot from now through December 12 here. And because Santa never stops giving, every vote includes an entry for a chance to win a Berkley prize package worth more than $500! The winning town will be announced on December 14!
To vote for your favorite town, go to: Santa Fishes.
To learn more about Berkley, visit: Berkley-Fishing.com.
The 2022 Strike King Big Bass Challenge is Back
Lexington, S.C. – November 15, 2021 – The teams at Strike King and Lew’s are excited to announce the return of this fan favorite tournament series, formatted for family-friendly competition and designed for anglers of all ages and skill levels. 2022 will be bigger and better than ever featuring more tournaments, bigger payouts and greater opportunities to win.
“Last year we welcomed over 600 competitors to the Strike King Big Bass Challenge weigh-ins and gave away over $40,000 in awards and prizes. We are gearing up for even more in 2022,” announced Strike King Vice President of Marketing Jason McKee. “Whether you have never fished a tournament or you are a local weekend hero, find the Big Bass Challenge near you and come join the fun!”
For anglers who are new to the Big Bass format, it works like this:
- A single-day event with a weigh-in every two hours. Anglers are free to bring their biggest bass of the period to the scales in each period throughout the day.
- We will award cash prizes for the five biggest bass caught during each weigh period.
- Every angler who weighs a fish is entered into a drawing for prizes from Lew’s, Strike King, and partnering Big Bass Challenge sponsors.
- The angler who catches the biggest bass of the day will win the Grand Prize Bonus, a $5,000 total boat makeover of Lew’s and Strike King gear.
The excitement is not just on the water and at the weigh-in. The mandatory Rules Briefing the night prior to the competition day at each event will provide attendees with an opportunity to hear from Strike King and Lew’s pro anglers and legends of the sport, as well as enter to win great prizes. Additionally, the first 100 anglers to register for each event will receive a Strike King gift card valued at $50, available for pick-up at the Rules Briefing.
The 2022 line-up is as follows:
Lake Toho, FL January 30th
Lake Cumberland, KY March 27th
Kentucky Lake, TN April 3rd
Lake Erie, OH April 24th
Lake Murray, SC May 15th
Table Rock Lake, MO June 11th
Anglers may register for upcoming Big Bass Challenge tournaments, download the rules and find additional information here at https://www.strikeking.com/en/learn/big-bass-challenge or at https://www.lews.com/en/learn/big-bass-challenge
Bassmaster Fantasy Games Feature More Than $100,000 In Prizes, Including Dream Fishing Trips
December 3, 2021
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Sports fans who enjoy watching the top bass pros in the world compete head-to-head on the Bassmaster Elite Series can take their passion to the next level and compete for more than $100,000 in prizes — including dream fishing trips — with Rapala Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing and the Mercury Drain the Lake Challenge.
“We're launching early this year because there is so much fan interest,” said B.A.S.S. vice president of digital Jim Sexton. “Over the past two years with Rapala entitling Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing, the game has grown by 45%, and even though Drain the Lake launched midway through last season, it still had more than 14,500 players.
“We wanted to give players more time to set their teams. The 2022 games have more prizes and there will be enhancements to the game coming next year.”
In 2021, Fantasy Fishing provided nearly 40,000 engaged fans with a competitive platform to test their knowledge of professional fishing and prognostication skills to win more than $90,000 in prizes, including Rapala gear packages, gift cards and more.
New for 2022, the Bassmaster Fantasy Fishing champion will win a trip to South Carolina to fish with former Bassmaster Classic champion and current Bassmaster LIVE host Davy Hite. The grand prize winner will also receive a $15,000 Bass Pro Shops gift card, $5,000 cash and a Rapala package — a total prize valued at more than $21,000.
“Fantasy Fishing has really been great for our sport,” said Hite. “It gives the fans an opportunity to engage and be a part of every single event.
“As much fun as Fantasy Fishing is, it is also very difficult, which is why the winner deserves a good prize. I’m really glad that I get to be a part of the prize pack.”
Participants select their best five-angler team for each of the nine Bassmaster Elite Series events and the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, then compete against other players to score the highest number of points. Points are awarded based on each angler’s final standings at the end of an Elite Series event, and every event will feature $6,500 in prizes, including an additional $500 Bass Pro Shops gift card if the winner is a B.A.S.S. member.
The Mercury Drain the Lake Challenge, using elimination pool rules, requires players to use an entirely different strategy than standard Fantasy Fishing. When building their team, players can only use an Elite Series angler once over the course of the season. Unlike traditional Fantasy Fishing, there are no buckets. Tournament players select any eight Elite Series anglers. After choosing an angler for a specific event, players can no longer select that angler for the remainder of the season.
Casey Kmiecik of Wisconsin won the inaugural season of the Mercury Drain the Lake Challenge, and while he has played Fantasy Fishing for a decade, he enjoyed the strategy behind selecting anglers for Drain the Lake: “I think they’re both a lot of fun. I’ll always play both of them, but I like Drain the Lake better because I feel like there is way more strategy involved.”
Kmiecik went on to remind other players, “If there is a smallmouth swing at the end, make sure to save your smallmouth anglers for those tournaments because they’re almost a lock on those Northern smallmouth fisheries.”
The Drain the Lake Challenge winning player, along with the rest of the Top 5 points leaders for each event, will receive a $200 Mercury gift card plus an additional $500 Bass Pro Shops gift card if they are a B.A.S.S. member. The 2022 Mercury Drain the Lake Challenge overall winner will enjoy a fishing trip with Bassmaster LIVE host Mark Zona in Michigan, with airfare, hotel and $150 in spending money included.
Registration for both games, along with full rules and a description of each prize package, can be found at Bassmaster.com/fantasy.
A-Mart GoFundme Information
From our friends at WON Bass
WON BASS and our anglers and industry partners have come together to create a day to celebrate the "LIFE" of our dear friend Aaron Martens. We are trying to raise funds that will be given to Leslie Martens to use as she sees fit for their family needs. We are trying to raise money to help her and the kids after the tragic loss of their beloved father and husband.
If you can not attend the December 18th "Celebration Of Life" gathering being held at Lake Casitas recreation area, then you can donate your $100 here! Donations of any size or denomination are welcome, but not required to attend. We would like to give this donation gift to Leslie at the event on December 18th, so please donate early. A portion of the donations will be used for expenses at the event, the remainder will 100% all go to the Martens family.
We will also be offering tickets for items that have been donated by sponsors to help raise additional funds. Your $100 donation includes one ticket. An additional $100 will get you 5 additional tickets. Tickets will be available on-site.
If you wish to donate product to the event. Please send to Western Outdoor News 1211 Puerta Del Sol, Suite 270, San Clemente CA 92673 before December 15th.
The event is scheduled from 12 noon until 6:00 PM. Food will be available for purchase. Bring your lawn chair and blanket and spend the day with the family and friends of Aaron. We hope to have live music and festivities during the celebration.
Thank you for your support and help. It is greatly appreciated.