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Lake Ouachita Readies to Host Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship

Top Prize of $60,000 and a Shot at the 2022 All-American Championship up for Grabs, Four-Hundred Boaters and Co-anglers Head to Mt. Ida

Mt. Ida, Ark. (Oct. 14, 2021) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine’s Cowboy, Great Lakes, Mississippi and Okie divisions will finish out their 2021 season next week in Mt. Ida, Arkansas, Oct. 21-23, with the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Ouachita . The three-day regional championship – hosted by Visit Hot Springs – will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners in all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.

Anglers will take off daily at 7:30 a.m. CT from Mountain Harbor Marina in Mt. Ida. Weigh-ins will also be held at the marina and will begin at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships.

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

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

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

by AnglersChannel

Bassmaster Opens Will Feature Nine Events In Nine States During The 2022 Season

The 2022 Bassmaster Opens Series will feature nine tournaments in three divisions covering nine states.

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

October 14, 2021

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. officials announced the slate for the 2022 Bassmaster Opens Series, with nine tournaments in three divisions covering nine states as the pathway to some of the most-coveted invitations in all of professional bass fishing.

After starting late in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Opens schedule will return in 2022 to a late-winter start date with the first tournament, a Southern Division event, set for Feb. 3-5 on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Kissimmee, Fla.

From there, the Opens will wind through Tennessee, South Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, New York and Maryland.

“Interest in the Opens from both anglers and fans has been at an all-time high the past few seasons,” said B.A.S.S. chairman and CEO Chase Anderson. “The excitement is only growing as Opens anglers enjoy success on the Bassmaster Elite Series. In fact, 2020 Opens Angler of the Year Bryan New won his first Elite event in February this year on the St. Johns River. The competition has been intense, and we’re thrilled to spotlight the future stars of our sport.”

The winners of all nine Opens will earn a berth into the 2023 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk, provided they have fished all three events in the division where their win occurred. In addition to Classic berths, the Top 3 anglers in every division and the Top 3 in the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year overall standings will receive invitations to fish the 2023 Bassmaster Elite Series.

“Twelve anglers will earn the right to fish professionally — to live their dreams on the most prestigious professional tour in bass fishing,” Anderson said. “And just like Chris Jones, who finished third at this year’s Bassmaster Classic as an Opens qualifier, nine anglers will have a chance at instant stardom in the Classic.

“Those are the things that will be on the line every time anglers take off for an Open.”

Starting the season in Florida has become a tradition for most of the major trails at B.A.S.S., and the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes has been a favored destination of late. The organization’s most recent visit there was for a 2020 Eastern Open that was won by New.

After Kissimmee, the Southern Division will visit Cherokee Lake in Jefferson County, Tenn., March 31-April 2, and Lake Hartwell in Anderson, S.C., Oct. 6-8.

B.A.S.S.’s most recent visit to Cherokee was for a 2020 Eastern Open won by Kentucky pro Matt Robertson, while Hartwell is a common B.A.S.S. destination that is scheduled to host the iconic Bassmaster Classic for the fourth time, March 4-6, 2022.

In the Central Division, events will be held on Ross Barnett Reservoir in Ridgeland, Miss., April 28-30, the Red River in Shreveport-Bossier, La., Sept. 22-24, and Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Jasper, Texas, Oct. 20-22. It’ll mark the first visit to Ross Barnett since 2018 and 35th time B.A.S.S. has held a major event on Sam Rayburn, dating back to 1968.

The trip to the Red River will be the first one for B.A.S.S. since the 2018 Central Open won by South Carolina pro Patrick Walters. Most notably, the fishery was the site of the Bassmaster Classic in 2009 and 2012.

“Shreveport-Bossier City is excited to host the 2022 Bassmaster Open on the Red River,” said Kelly Wells, executive director of the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission. “We look forward to providing world-class hospitality for anglers and their families here in Sportsman’s Paradise! We also want to give a special thank you to the Red River Waterway Commission for co-hosting this incredible event.”

The Northern Division slate will include visits to the James River in Richmond, Va., April 14-16, Oneida Lake in Syracuse, N.Y., July 7-9 and the Upper Chesapeake Bay in Cecil County, Md., Sept. 8-10. The latter tournament will mark B.A.S.S.’s first visit to the Chesapeake since a 2015 Elite Series event won by Alabama pro Aaron Martens.

“We are thrilled to be hosting a prestigious Bassmaster Open tournament in Cecil County’s Upper Bay waters,” said Cecil County Executive Danielle Hornberger. “We consider Bassmaster anglers to be VIPs and look forward to showcasing the best of Cecil throughout their visit. Competitors and fans can expect to find beautiful scenery, vibrant small towns and fabulous Chesapeake Bay inspired cuisine while exploring Cecil County, Maryland.”
As in the past, the full field will compete the first two days before the boater side is cut to 10 anglers on Championship Saturday. The co-angler champion will be crowned after the Day 2 weigh-in.

Entry fees will remain the same for the 2022 Opens circuit. Pro anglers will pay $1,800 per event with an $800 deposit due up front, while co-anglers will pay $475 per event with a $200 deposit. Online registration for both pro and co-anglers will begin Nov. 9 for B.A.S.S Nation and Life members and B.A.S.S. members Nov. 11.

“It’s always nice to have a good mix of fisheries that are familiar to us and places we haven’t been to in a while,” said Opens Tournament Director Chris Bowes. “We definitely have that with the 2022 schedule — and we have a diverse collection of fisheries that will test the versatility of our anglers.

“That always makes for a great tournament season.”

In 2022, FOX Sports will continue to broadcast live coverage from Championship Saturday of each of the division final tournaments on FS1 and the FOX Sports digital platforms.

by AnglersChannel

Mobility And Diversity Will Be Key For Bassmaster Central Open On Grand Lake

Oklahoma's Grand Lake will host the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open Oct. 21-23, 2021.

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

October 14, 2021

GROVE, Okla. — Bassmaster Elite Series pro Jason Christie has seen just about every inch of Grand Lake and he’s making two predictions for the upcoming Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open: anglers can catch fish just about anywhere, but they won’t be able to win in any one spot.

Competition days will be Oct. 21-23 with takeoffs from Wolf Creek Park at 7:15 a.m. CT. Weigh-ins the first two days will be at the park at 3:15 p.m., with the final day’s weigh-in shifting to the Bass Pro Shops in Broken Arrow, Okla., at 4:45 p.m.

“It’s really wide open in the fall,” said Christie, who won’t be taking part in this event. “That’s one of the things that has made Grand so good: it can be won from one end to the other and it can be won from 30 feet to on the bank.

“I don’t think there’s any way to win off one spot. An angler will need multiple spots and probably multiple areas. The fish will be moving. We haven’t had enough cold water to have them funneling through one area.”

Properly named, Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, this Grand River (lower Neosho River) impoundment stretches 60 miles down to the Pensacola Dam and covers approximately 46,500 surface acres. A mostly rocky, wood-strewn lake, Grand will offer anglers plenty of opportunities and, according to Christie, the wise will consider them all.

“I think you’re going to have some lingering summer patterns and then you’re going to have a lot of fall patterns working,” Christie said of his home lake. “It’s just that time of year when anything could happen.

“You’re going to see someone catch them 30 feet deep and you can see someone catch them on the bank. It’s probably going to be a mix of a lot of that stuff. You may have guys fishing deep and shallow patterns in one day.”

Common Grand Lake shallow patterns include throwing topwaters, jigs, spinnerbaits, shallow-diving crankbaits, swimbaits, and bladed jigs around boat docks, points, rocks and laydowns. Offshore targets include drop-offs, brushpiles and bait schools spotted on forward-facing sonar. Likely baits include deep-diving crankbaits, football jigs and 1-ounce tandem willow-leaf spinnerbaits.

“The problem with deep is that it’s inconsistent; you’ll catch a big bag one day and nothing the next because those fish moved according to the bait,” Christie said. “Typically, when you see those giant bags of 20 to 25 pounds, 90 percent of the time, they came from deep.

“You’re not going to have giant schools, but you can have enough to where you can live off of it for a day. That’s the problem, it’s hard to make it work for three days.”

Similarly, Christie said that shallow success demands mobility. Limits shouldn’t be terribly difficult, but finding those key bites will make the difference.

“You have to be able to run enough water to cover enough high-percentage targets to catch some. A big one — 5 pounds or bigger — will give you a high finish. A couple of big ones each day will give you a chance to win.”

A week and a half before the tournament, Grand’s water level stood at 743.02 feet — about a foot below the full pool mark of 744. With no major rains over the summer, the water has been fairly stable for a couple of months and clarity is about where it should be for fall.

The stage is set for a good event, but Christie said the lake is never a cakewalk — especially during the dynamic fall period. Opportunity abounds, but only the open-minded will excel.

“It’s been consistent and local tournament results have been really good,” Christie said. “Weights have been a little above average, but October fishing is hit or miss on Grand. I’ve seen days when somebody will catch a big bag and then the next day, not catch anything.

“A lot of it’s based on the weather. If you get some colder days and colder nights, that seems to help the fishing. When summer lingers on, it can get pretty tough.”

A cold front the weekend before the tournament will send overnight lows into the mid-40s and hold daytime highs in the low 70s. The weather should serve up several pleasant days on the water, but most importantly, it should crack the whip on fall feeding.

“That’s what those tournament anglers are going to need — some cooler weather to get these fish moving; get them headed toward the bank and get those shad up in the water column,” Christie said. “We have some chilly weather coming and that should do nothing but make it better.”

Christie said he expects 14 1/2 pounds a day to make the Top 10 cut for Championship Saturday. He believes it will take a three-day total of approximately 52 pounds to win.

“Getting a big bite will be key,” he said. “There are a lot of fish in the lake and guys can get caught up in catching 2- to 2 1/2-pounders, but getting that big bite is what will make a difference. It could come out of 2 feet of water, or it could come out of 20.”
The tournament will decide the final Central Opens points standings, with Elite Series invitations going to the top three finishers. Prior to the event, Joseph Webster leads the race with 381 points, followed by Jay Przekurat with 378 and Brandon Lester with 378. Lester is double-qualified as a current Bassmaster Elite angler, leaving the door open for another angler to earn an Elite spot. Currently, Daisuke Aoki (376), Jesse Wiggins (375) and Cody Huff (372) round out the Top 6.

The final Open event of the season will also decide the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year race.

Veteran Virginia pro Jacob Powroznik all but locked up that title with a win at the Central Open on Smith Lake last week. Powroznik leads with 1,371 points, followed by Tommy Williams with 1,301 and Aoki with 1,269.

The Top 3 from the overall Opens standings will also receive invitations to fish the 2022 Bassmaster Elite Series.

The full field will compete the first two days before the boater side is cut to the Top 10 anglers for Championship Saturday. The co-angler champion will be crowned after the Day 2 weigh-in.

Bassmaster Opens LIVE presented by Bassmaster Fishing 2022, the Official Video Game, kicks off with the leaders Saturday morning at 7 a.m. CT on FS1, Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms.

by AnglersChannel

Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Set for St. Johns River

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

PALATKA, Fla. (Oct. 14, 2021) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine’s Bulldog, Choo Choo, Gator and South Carolina divisions will finish out their 2021 season next week in Palatka, Florida Oct. 21-23, with the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Presented by T-H Marine at St. Johns River . Hosted by the Putnam County Tourist Development Council, the three-day regional championship will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners in all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.

Anglers will take off daily at 7:30 a.m. ET from Palatka Riverfront Park in Palatka. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park and will begin at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships.

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

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

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

by AnglersChannel

Field Announced For 2021 Redfish Cup Championship

October 13, 2021

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 10-team field has been set for the revived Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter. A combination of all-star teams and redfish champions will do battle for a top prize of $50,000 Nov. 12-14 on Texas’ Port Aransas.

The six all-star teams featuring Bassmaster pro anglers paired with redfish pros are:

Eight-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier and former Texas Bass Classic champion Matt Herren and Elite Pro Redfish Tour Championship qualifier Chad Manning
Bassmaster Classic qualifier Derek Hudnall and former IFA Redfish Tour and FLW Redfish Tour winner Ron Hueston
Elite Series champion Mark Menendez and veteran multispecies pro Ricky Bort
Seven-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier Chris Zaldain and veteran IFA Redfish Tour angler Ryan Rickard
Basspro.com Bassmaster Opens angler Trait Zaldain and 30-year veteran pro Matt McCabe
Elite Series champion Patrick Walters and former FLW Redfish Championship winner Dwayne Eschete
“For the first time, fans will get to witness the top pros from perhaps the two most popular sportfishing realms in the U.S. come together as one,” said Hudnall, an Elite Series pro who grew up chasing redfish in southern Louisiana. “Our industry as a whole has never been more popular than it is today. Now, this unique format will not only increase the interest of the biggest bass and redfish fans, but will also cater to the many multispecies anglers.

“I have never fished with my partner, Ron Hueston, but know of his success in the professional redfish circuits. I cannot wait to put our skills together and chase down the Redfish Championship trophy.”

Joining these all-star teams will be four teams from the Elite Redfish Tournament Series and Power-Pole Pro Redfish Tour. Multiple tour championship angler Travis Land and former IFA Redfish Tour Team of the Year angler and NFL tight end Nicky Savoie along with two-time 2021 tournament champions Glenn Vann and Thomas Barlow will represent the Elite Redfish Tour. Competing from the Power-Pole Pro Redfish Tour are its Top 2 in the 2021 Team of the Year standings Jeremy Heimes, a five-time Team of the Year angler, and decorated veteran Mickey Gibbs and the multievent championship team of Chris Cenci and Chris Kennedy, who has won nine tournaments in his career.

Fans can catch Bassmaster Redfish LIVE coverage all three days of the tournament as cameras capture all of the action beginning at 7 a.m. CT each day on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will broadcast live Nov. 13-14 from 7-10 a.m.

“We handpicked this fishery, so we think it should be exciting and all 10 teams should be in contention all the way to the end of the third day,” said tournament director Hank Weldon. “We’re expecting Port Aransas to prove its reputation as the ‘Fishing Capital of Texas.’”

by AnglersChannel

Marbury to Host Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on the Potomac River

Top Prize of $60,000 and a Shot at the 2022 All-American Championship Up for Grabs as Four-Hundred Boaters and Co-anglers Head to Marbury

MARBURY, Md. (Oct. 12, 2021) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine’s Buckeye, Michigan, Northeast and Piedmont divisions will finish out their 2021 season this week in Marbury, Maryland, Oct. 14-16, with the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Presented by T-H Marine at the Potomac River Presented by THE BASS UNIVERSITY TV . The three-day regional championship – hosted by the Charles County Board of Commissioners – will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners in all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.

Anglers will take off daily at 7:30 a.m. ET from Smallwood State Park in Marbury. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park and will begin at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships.

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

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

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

by AnglersChannel

Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Set for Lake Murray

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

PROSPERITY, S.C. (Oct. 12, 2021) – The Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine’s North Carolina, Savannah River, Shenandoah and Volunteer divisions will finish out their 2021 season this week in Prosperity, South Carolina, Oct. 14-16, with the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championship Presented by T-H Marine at Lake Murray . Hosted by the Capital City Lake Murray Country Regional Tourism Board, the three-day regional championship will feature the top 45 boaters and co-anglers plus tournament winners in all four divisions, battling it out for a top prize of $60,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, along with lucrative contingency awards, including up to an additional $7,000 Phoenix MLF BIG5 Bonus. Strike King co-anglers will compete for a top prize of $50,000, including a Phoenix 819 Pro bass boat with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. Winners will be determined by the heaviest three-day catch.

Anglers will take off daily at 7:30 a.m. ET from Dreher Island State Park in Prosperity. Weigh-ins will also be held at the park and will begin at 3:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the “MLF Live” weigh-in broadcasts at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

The 2021 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine consisted of 24-divisions devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season and five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, advance to one of six Phoenix Bass Fishing League Regional Championships.

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

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

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

by AnglersChannel