Kay County Student Anglers Wins MLF High School Fishing Open on Toledo Bend
MANY, La. (Jan. 24, 2022) – The Kay County Student Anglers team of Jace Anderson of Broken Bow, Oklahoma, and Ty Downs of Newkirk, Oklahoma, brought five bass to the scale Saturday weighing 15 pounds, 5 ounces, to win the MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open at Toledo Bend and advance to the 2022 High School Fishing National Championship.
A field of 64 teams competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which launched from Cypress Bend Park in Many, Louisiana. In MLF and The Bass Federation (TBF) High School Fishing competition, the top 10% of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.
The top six teams that advanced to the 2022 High School Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Kay County Student Anglers, Kay County, Okla. – Jace Anderson, Broken Bow, Okla., and Ty Downs, Newkirk, Okla., five bass, 15-5
2nd: Northeast Louisiana High School Anglers, Sterlington, La. – Ian Carter, Bastrop, La., and Colby Dark, West Monroe, La., five bass, 14-12
3rd: North Desoto High School, Stonewall, La. – Evan Howe, Keatchie, La., and Drake Wadsworth, Frierson, La., five bass, 14-0
4th: Ruston High School, Ruston, La. – Peyton Bennett and Zachary McMillan, both of Choudrant, La., five bass, 13-15
5th: East Texas Thunder – Collin Foley and Zane Parker, both of Kingwood, Texas, five bass, 12-14
6th: Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School, Orange, Texas – Justin James and Jacob Longlois, both of Orange, Texas, four bass, 12-4
Rounding out the top 10 teams were:
7th: Highland Park, Dallas, Texas – Cullum Brown and Dylan Sorrells, both of Dallas, Texas, three bass, 8-13
8th: Captain Shreve High School, Shreveport, La. – Devyn Pennington, Shreveport, La., and Jonathan Sebren, Bethany, La., three bass, 7-12
9th: Huntington High School, Lufkin, Texas – Brise Hazelton, Kennard, Texas, and Braden Tucker, Lufkin, Texas, three bass, 7-9
10th: Live Oak High School, Watson, La. – Anthony Distefano and Rowdie Thacker, both of Denham Springs, La., one bass, 7-8
Complete results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open at Toledo Bend was hosted by the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission and Toledo Bend Lake Country. The next event for High School Fishing anglers will be the MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open on Lake Guntersville, March 5, in Guntersville, Alabama.
MLF High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing tournaments are free, two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and are open to any MLF and TBF Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school club. The top 10% of teams at each Open event, along with the TBF High School Fishing state championships, will advance to the 2022 High School Fishing National Championship. The 2022 MLF High School Fishing National Championship will be held on Pickwick and Wilson Lakes in Florence, Alabama, June 22-25, and is hosted by the Florence-Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The High School Fishing National Champions will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice and advance to the 2022 MLF Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular High School Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Lamar State College–Orange Wins MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Tournament on Toledo Bend
MANY, La. (Jan. 24, 2022) – The Lamar State College–Orange duo of Trent Buchholz of Beaumont, Texas, and Dakota Posey of Orange, Texas, won the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Toledo Bend Friday with a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 15 ounces. The victory earned the Gators’ bass club $2,000 and a slot in the 2023 MLF College Fishing National Championship.
“Dakota and I had been working up for this one,” said Buchholz. “And everything went right for us. When it’s your time, it’s your time. We just caught them. We never lost a fish, and it just happened. This feels awesome.”
Buchholz, who claims Sam Rayburn as his home lake, said he visited Toledo Bend the week before the tournament and fished for two days and established a pattern that produced 16 pounds one of those days. For the tournament, the team continued focusing on that pattern – targeting rocks in 5 to 15 feet of water. Buchholz said the key bait for the team was a Strike King Chick Magnet Flat-Sided Crankbait.
“The first rock point we pulled up to I caught one that was 5½ pounds on the Chick Magnet,” Buchholz said. “My partner caught two 2½-pounders on a jerkbait and we ended up culling up.”
The top 10 teams that advanced to the 2023 College Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Lamar State College–Orange – Trent Buchholz, Beaumont, Texas, and Dakota Posey, Orange, Texas, five bass, 16-15, $2,000
2nd: Tarleton State University – Sam Semper, Parker, Texas, five bass, 16-12, $1,000
3rd: Texas A&M University–Commerce – Iain McClelland, Celina, Texas, and Tristan White, Celina, Texas, five bass, 16-0, $500
4th: Louisiana Tech University – Cooper Arthur, Calhoun, La., and Brodie Paige, Biloxi, Miss., five bass, 15-7, $500
5th: Lamar State College–Orange – Brett Fregia and Jack Tindel, both of Orange, Texas, five bass, 14-8, $500
6th: Tarleton State University – Kreed Averhoff, Hico, Texas, and Jordan Kalsbeek, Stephenville, Texas, five bass, 13-14
7th: Louisiana Christian University – Harrison Bieber, Dry Prong, La., and Ben South, Jasper, Texas, five bass, 13-5
8th: Tarleton State University – Luke Lewis, Corsicana, Texas, and Blake Martinez, New Braunfels, Texas, five bass, 13-3
9th: East Texas Baptist University – Corey Morris, Rockwall, Texas, and Chase Walker, Burleson, Texas, five bass, 11-15
10th: Northwestern State University – Luke Iles, Saint Francisville, La., three bass, 11-13
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Toledo Bend was hosted by the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission and Toledo Bend Lake Country. It was the first of three regular-season tournaments for Southern Conference anglers. The next event for College Fishing anglers will be the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI OPEN event on Lake Chickamauga, Feb. 24-25, in Dayton, Tennessee.
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.
Professional Angler Mike McClelland is Fishing for Sweet Treats at Andy’s Frozen Custard®
Partnership Announced for the 2022 Season
Springfield, MO – January 19, 2022 – Professional Angler Mike McClelland has already landed his first big win for the 2022 season. The eight-time professional level tournament winner, with 35 top 10 finishes and more than $2.1 million in earnings, recently announced a partnership with Andy’s Frozen Custard® stores in Oklahoma, Texas, Florida and other select locations.
As part of the partnership, the Andy’s logo will be prominently displayed on McClelland’s boats, transport vehicles and uniforms this year, generating brand exposure among a coveted demographic. Millions of spectators and enthusiasts are expected to follow Major League Fishing’s Bass Pro Tour and Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, as McClelland competes throughout the 2022 season.
"I am a long time Andy's fan and I couldn’t be prouder to be displaying the Andy's Frozen Custard logo on my equipment and uniform this year,” McClelland said. “But even more important to me are what the sport of fishing and Andy’s have in common -- family and fun – two things that I really care about.”
To celebrate the partnership, Andy’s is giving away FREE frozen custard treats for a year to five lucky winners. Participants can enter by downloading the Yum Squad App and entering the promo code MMAFY122.
“This is a cool opportunity for me personally to not only be able to reconnect with a childhood friend whom I have followed for years, but to also be in a position professionally as an Andy’s Frozen Custard franchisee to support Mike and his career,” said Eric Reed, co-owner and CEO of Ranchers Custard Company, which operates multiple Andy’s Frozen Custard franchise locations in Oklahoma, Texas and Florida that are participating in the promotion.
McClelland fans can look forward to store visits and special events during his tour, with the opportunity to interact with the Blue Eye, Missouri pro, who has one of the best reputations in the fishing industry.
In its 36th year of “putting grins above chins” by offering the World’s Finest Frozen Custard treats, Andy’s has a growing portfolio of innovative regional and national sports marketing programs. In 2021, the brand announced agreements with motorsports and professional hockey.
Offering safe and lightning-fast drive-thru and walk-up service windows, Andy’s Frozen Custard is open from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. – 11:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Bright neon lights, a well-lit parking area and comfortable benches allow for guests to safely enjoy their treats on-site or on-the-go.
Customers can download the Andy’s Frozen Custard app to take advantage of touchless payment options and join the Yum Squad loyalty club to receive a free Concrete after the first visit. Sweet treat lovers can stay up-to-date on the latest from Andy’s on Instagram and Facebook or via Andy’s website.
Rather Outdoors Adds Industry Veteran to the Team
Rather Outdoors is pleased to announce that industry veteran Zack Swanson will join the North American operation on February 1, 2022, to lead the legendary brands of Lew’s, Strike King, Zebco and Quantum as Sr. Vice President of Brand Management.
Swanson joins the Rather family following a career spanning over two decades at Rapala VMC Corporation, where he served as Vice President of Sales and General Manager. While shepherding the team at Rapala, Swanson also served the broader industry as a member of the Board of Directors for the American Sportfishing Association, a position he has held since 2016.
Rocky Kalsow, President of North America for Rather Outdoors, sees the appointment of Zack Swanson as an important step forward for Rather’s industry leading brands. “Lew’s has been home to true American innovation since 1949, the same year the very first spincast reel rolled off the production line at a company that would later become known as Zebco. Both Strike King and Quantum have been creating groundbreaking tackle for nearly half a century,” Kalsow offered. “At Rather Outdoors, our brands have solidified themselves as legendary names, and they have a rich legacy of being built and guided by true giants of this industry. We continue this tradition by having Zack at the helm.”
Swanson, who is no stranger to avid outdoors brands and, in fact, has spent nearly his entire professional life adding value to them, is poised and ready to lead brand management at Rather. “I could not be more excited to be a part of this family. The leadership of Rather has worked tirelessly to build an environment where innovation and progress are celebrated,” Swanson said. “There is a deep history here at Rather that we will continue to honor and draw strength from. But make no mistake, there are exciting days ahead, and anglers who love these brands will want to pay attention!”
Balentine And Loos Claim Bassmaster High School Series Win At Harris Chain
Bryce Balentine and Dalton Loos of the Central Florida Youth Anglers have won the 2022 Bassmaster High School Series at Harris Chain of Lakes presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors with 25 pounds, 6 ounces.
Photo by Logan Crumley/B.A.S.S.
January 23, 2022
LEESBURG, Fla. — Bryce Balentine and Dalton Loos of the Central Florida Youth Anglers employed a balanced game plan based on quantity and quality to win the Bassmaster High School Series at Harris Chain of Lakes presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors with a limit catch of 25 pounds, 6 ounces.
Edging the second-place Sale Creek Anglers team of BJ Collins and Banks Shaw by a margin of 2-7, Balentine and Loos earned $770 each and a spot in the 2022 Bassmaster High School Series National Championship presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors. (Dates and location TBA). Shaw and former partner Gage King won the 2021 National Championship.
The winners spent their day in Lake Griffin and fished a 100-yard area of offshore grass in 9 to 10 feet. They chose their spot based on its seclusion and familiarity.
“We just wanted to get away from the crowd,” Loos said. “We’ve had history out there, so we went ahead and ran it.”
Balentine and Loos started their day fishing 1/2-ounce black/blue Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammers with green pumpkin swimbait trailers. Later in the day, they switched to a slow dragging presentation with Zoom Old Monster worms in the redbug and junebug colors Texas rigged on 5/0 hooks with 1/8-ounce weights.
The ChatterBaits earned Balentine and Loos a limit by midday. Then when the emerging sun warmed the lake, those big worms allowed them to make significant upgrades.
“When those fish are all lock-jawed, you put that big bait in front of them, they can’t resist it,” Balentine said.
Balentine, who placed third at last year’s event with Carson Russell, said it felt good to close out the win by fishing the same way he did in 2021.
“I just stuck with my gut and did what I know,” he said. “This is the biggest tournament I’ve won. It means a lot. It’s awesome. I have jitters, I’m still shaking.”
Loos said their win was especially meaningful, following a very difficult practice. “I fished a whole day and caught no fish.”
Collins and Shaw also targeted Lake Griffin’s offshore grass and boated a limit of 22-15. They caught all of their fish on 3/4-ounce white and chartreuse Strike King spinnerbaits with large willow-leaf blades.
“We stuck with a spinnerbait all day because we knew we could get five of the right bites doing that,” Shaw said. “We actually ended up catching a lot of fish. We didn’t lose any fish, we didn’t miss any fish, we caught everything that bit.”
Collins said he and Shaw had fished their area in previous visits to the Harris Chain, so they felt comfortable that they knew how the fish would position. Shaw noted they consistently caught better fish by monitoring their Humminbird 360 to detect key features.
“It was definitely the grass that was a little bit higher,” Shaw said. “The grass could be 4 feet high right here and 5 feet high right there. We just used 360 and Garmin LiveScope to find those sweet spots that nobody else saw.”
Peyton Sorrow of the Eagle Eye Anglers fished alone and finished third with 16-11.
Seventh-place Benjamin Hester and Mason Caldwell of Rhea County High School won the big fish award for their 9-7.
2022 Bassmaster High School at Harris Chain of Lakes presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors 1/23-1/23
Harris Chain Of Lakes, Leesburg FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Bryce Balentine - Dalton Loos Central Florida Youth Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 25-06 Total: 5 25-06
2. BJ Collins - Banks Shaw Sale Creek Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 22-15 Total: 5 22-15
3. Peyton Sorrow - The Eagle Eye Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 16-11 Total: 5 16-11
4. Kody Glass - Merrick Diaz Strawberry Crest High School 0
Day 1: 5 16-00 Total: 5 16-00
5. Mason Snider - Dalton Benson Mount Juliet Fishing 0
Day 1: 5 15-10 Total: 5 15-10
6. Hunter Daniels - Joshua King Okeechobee High School 0
Day 1: 5 14-15 Total: 5 14-15
7. Benjamin Hester - Mason Caldwell Rhea County High School 0
Day 1: 5 14-13 Total: 5 14-13
8. Kane Weekley - Trent Handley LaBelle High School 0
Day 1: 5 14-12 Total: 5 14-12
9. Aaron Yavorsky - Jett Stanley Tampa Bay Junior High School 0
Day 1: 4 14-07 Total: 4 14-07
10. Chance Bryars - Noah Bryars Baldwin County High School 0
Day 1: 5 13-14 Total: 5 13-14
11. Kasen Pemberton - Samuel Godwin Sneads High School 0
Day 1: 5 13-05 Total: 5 13-05
12. Kaden Snavely - Logan Cardwell Central Florida Youth Anglers (3 0
Day 1: 5 13-04 Total: 5 13-04
13. Landon Rollison - Michael Hackle dixie county high school 0
Day 1: 5 13-03 Total: 5 13-03
14. Presley Lannom - Morgan Lannom Mt Juliet Fishing 0
Day 1: 5 12-12 Total: 5 12-12
15. Anna Swisher - Ty Jackson Columbia High School 0
Day 1: 5 12-08 Total: 5 12-08
16. Brennan Starr - Jace Lacoss Nassau Christian Bass Club 0
Day 1: 5 12-03 Total: 5 12-03
17. Konner West - Aiden Howard upstate high school anglers 0
Day 1: 5 12-01 Total: 5 12-01
18. Cody Morgan - Brant Langley Marion County junior bassmasters 0
Day 1: 4 11-11 Total: 4 11-11
19. Easton Drennon - Aaron Lane Mt. Juliet Fishing 0
Day 1: 5 11-07 Total: 5 11-07
20. Tucker Cook - Cooper Wilson Mount juliet 0
Day 1: 4 11-07 Total: 4 11-07
21. Logan Mcmasters - Colton Mcpeak Okeechobee High School 0
Day 1: 5 11-06 Total: 5 11-06
22. Alexander Tyler - Briley West McKeel Junior Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 5 11-02 Total: 5 11-02
23. Dawson Ettinger - Camren Teuton Clay County High School BassMast 0
Day 1: 5 10-13 Total: 5 10-13
24. Jeremy Monda - Will Boyd Jr Quincy Jr. Bassmasters (308) 0
Day 1: 5 10-05 Total: 5 10-05
25. Kayden Waller - Luke Malik Mt. Juliet high school 0
Day 1: 3 10-05 Total: 3 10-05
26. Drew Pitts - Luke Romesburg Steinbrenner High 0
Day 1: 5 10-03 Total: 5 10-03
27. Clayburn Reed - Gabe Richardson Pasco High School 0
Day 1: 3 10-00 Total: 3 10-00
28. Braylan Tyler - Dakota Jones Franklin County High School 0
Day 1: 5 09-15 Total: 5 09-15
29. Miles Smith - Casen Rogers Central Lafourche High School 0
Day 1: 4 09-15 Total: 4 09-15
30. Drew Bradstreet - Kamden Bradstreet Seminole Junior Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 09-13 Total: 5 09-13
31. Brett Mouw - Danny Schlenbecker The Hill Toppers 0
Day 1: 4 09-12 Total: 4 09-12
32. William Cothran - Taedem Ashworth Mt. Pleasant High School 0
Day 1: 2 09-12 Total: 2 09-12
33. Lainie Holbert - Sarah Swindle Riverside Bass Team 0
Day 1: 4 09-04 Total: 4 09-04
34. Braxton Johnson - Braxton Williams Columbia High School (439) 0
Day 1: 3 09-04 Total: 3 09-04
35. Joe Vaulton - Walker LaRue Alcoa High School (644) 0
Day 1: 5 09-01 Total: 5 09-01
36. Tanner Seabolt - Emmett Sumner Okeechobee Brahmans 0
Day 1: 5 09-00 Total: 5 09-00
37. Makenzie Bailey - Dalton Bailey Winter Springs High School 0
Day 1: 5 08-15 Total: 5 08-15
38. Levi Thibodaux - Jace Andras Lafourche Bassmaster 0
Day 1: 3 08-13 Total: 3 08-13
39. Nathan Reynolds - Backwoods Bassin 0
Day 1: 4 08-11 Total: 4 08-11
40. Hudson Choquette - Cal McInnis Headland High School 0
Day 1: 5 08-09 Total: 5 08-09
41. Mateo Gaylord - Kayden DePeal Tavares HS 0
Day 1: 5 08-06 Total: 5 08-06
41. Andon Goins - Rhea County High School 0
Day 1: 5 08-06 Total: 5 08-06
43. Remington Potter - Caden Branch LC Anglers 0
Day 1: 4 08-04 Total: 4 08-04
44. Derek Davis - Connor Jaco Mt.Pleasant Bass Team 0
Day 1: 3 08-00 Total: 3 08-00
45. Dylan Holcomb - Grayson Faircloth Liberty County Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 07-14 Total: 3 07-14
46. Conner Frederick - Timothy Finley Nassau Christian Bass Club 0
Day 1: 3 07-12 Total: 3 07-12
47. Luke Lowery - Connor Rumohr Howell High School 0
Day 1: 5 07-10 Total: 5 07-10
48. Chase Bryan - Wyatt Bryan Saraland High School 0
Day 1: 3 07-09 Total: 3 07-09
49. Jake Ellis - Tyler Goethals Central Florida Youth Anglers Hi 0
Day 1: 4 07-03 Total: 4 07-03
50. Brodie Stuart - Brock Johnson Oak Grove High School 0
Day 1: 3 07-00 Total: 3 07-00
51. Annie Lassiter - Jameson Pursley warren county pioneer anglers 0
Day 1: 5 06-13 Total: 5 06-13
51. Brendin Simich - Sam Dameron Oak Mountain High School 0
Day 1: 5 06-13 Total: 5 06-13
53. Will Hughes - Corbin Olsson East Grand Rapids 0
Day 1: 5 06-12 Total: 5 06-12
54. Carter Nutt - John Nutt Sale Creek 0
Day 1: 5 06-10 Total: 5 06-10
55. Asher Peters - James Quinlivan Headland High School 0
Day 1: 3 06-10 Total: 3 06-10
56. Thomas Wright - Carter Burdette Seminole Junior High School Angl 0
Day 1: 3 06-09 Total: 3 06-09
57. Evan Newell - Michael Teate Mid Florida Youth Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 06-08 Total: 5 06-08
58. Kai Barnett - Justin Straate Shelby County High School 0
Day 1: 5 06-06 Total: 5 06-06
59. Colton Walker - Declan Hurst Capital City Basshunters 0
Day 1: 4 06-04 Total: 4 06-04
60. Charles Tillberg - Tyger Whitman steinbrenner 0
Day 1: 4 06-03 Total: 4 06-03
61. Sailor Whitehead - Luke Bramhall Rileys. Catch 0
Day 1: 4 06-02 Total: 4 06-02
62. Logan Withrow - Braden Crumley Chilhowee Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 2 05-13 Total: 2 05-13
63. Carson Aarup - Kyle Smith Downeast Fishing 0
Day 1: 5 05-11 Total: 5 05-11
64. Trey Woliver - Brandon Ward Heritage High School 0
Day 1: 3 05-11 Total: 3 05-11
65. Carson Falk - Eli Mcdaniel Capital City Bass Hunters 0
Day 1: 3 05-10 Total: 3 05-10
66. Cole Edwards - Seth Stubblefield DAR High School 0
Day 1: 5 05-09 Total: 5 05-09
67. Jack Hay - Jakob Stamper howell high school 0
Day 1: 3 05-06 Total: 3 05-06
68. Laindree Richardson - Gannon Stork Benton High School 0
Day 1: 2 05-06 Total: 2 05-06
69. Drew Walters - Jacob Gilliard Apopka High School 0
Day 1: 3 05-05 Total: 3 05-05
70. Cooper Hughes - Raymond Sanderfer West port high school 0
Day 1: 2 05-04 Total: 2 05-04
71. Jace Akers - Cody Mullis Palatka High School 0
Day 1: 3 05-03 Total: 3 05-03
72. Kaitlyn Johnson - Amber Rourks Columbia High School 0
Day 1: 2 05-03 Total: 2 05-03
73. Austin Young - Jared Bullock Highlands County Anglers 0
Day 1: 3 05-02 Total: 3 05-02
74. Caleb Hammock - Carter Herndon Stalvey plant city bassmasters 0
Day 1: 4 05-00 Total: 4 05-00
75. Jacob Hodge - Henry Garett Greenbrier Fishing Team 0
Day 1: 3 04-12 Total: 3 04-12
76. Nick Claussen - Central Florida Youth Anglers Hi 0
Day 1: 2 04-12 Total: 2 04-12
76. Langston Martin - Coleman Mezick Lee County Anglers 0
Day 1: 2 04-12 Total: 2 04-12
78. Carter Pjesky - JD McBroom Kaneland High School 0
Day 1: 3 04-11 Total: 3 04-11
79. Cayman Scott - Cooper Shaffett Central High School 0
Day 1: 3 04-10 Total: 3 04-10
80. Tyson Verkaik - Claude Loftin Marion County High School Bassma 0
Day 1: 1 04-06 Total: 1 04-06
81. Chase Woodham - Carson Deloney Rehobeth High School 0
Day 1: 3 04-03 Total: 3 04-03
82. Owen Hershberger - Wyatt Giddens Sebring High School 0
Day 1: 3 03-15 Total: 3 03-15
83. Jacob Anderson - Zander Marroquin Hendry County Bass Masters 0
Day 1: 2 03-12 Total: 2 03-12
84. Hunter Turner - Felix Flores LaBelle High School 0
Day 1: 2 03-10 Total: 2 03-10
85. Cayden Redd - Jack Helms Rehobeth High School 0
Day 1: 3 03-08 Total: 3 03-08
86. Charlie Mathis - Sheltin Varnon Dixie county high school 0
Day 1: 2 03-08 Total: 2 03-08
86. Cassie Mcnutt - Mason Melton Mt Juliet High School 0
Day 1: 2 03-08 Total: 2 03-08
88. Jaxon Melancon - Fletcher Brasington Headland High School 0
Day 1: 1 03-05 Total: 1 03-05
89. Talan Leith - Bryson Glover Chapman High School 0
Day 1: 1 03-00 Total: 1 03-00
90. Brody Shepherd - Parker Myers Rehobeth High School 0
Day 1: 2 02-15 Total: 2 02-15
90. Braden Watson - Logan Deloney Rehobeth High School 0
Day 1: 2 02-15 Total: 2 02-15
92. Austin Mairena - Dylan Quilatan Seminole County High School Angl 0
Day 1: 1 02-15 Total: 1 02-15
93. Brantley Tate - Tyler Covington Walker High School 0
Day 1: 2 02-12 Total: 2 02-12
94. Will Travis - Colton Teffer Rhea County High 0
Day 1: 1 02-11 Total: 1 02-11
95. Wayland Adkisson - Clayton George BGA High School 0
Day 1: 2 02-10 Total: 2 02-10
96. Drake Middleton - Riverside high school 0
Day 1: 1 02-09 Total: 1 02-09
97. Barrett Choquette - Hayden Buchanan Headland High School 0
Day 1: 1 02-05 Total: 1 02-05
98. Jabe Herring - Zibe McKenzie Dixie County High School 0
Day 1: 2 02-03 Total: 2 02-03
99. Austin Benson - Brendan Brown Mount Juliet 0
Day 1: 1 01-13 Total: 1 01-13
100. Evan Powell - Kolby Angell Iowa youth fishing league 0
Day 1: 2 01-10 Total: 2 01-10
101. Max Himmel - Tyler Morris Catholic High School of Baton Ro 0
Day 1: 1 01-10 Total: 1 01-10
101. Cade Walock - Brady Smith Central High School 0
Day 1: 1 01-10 Total: 1 01-10
103. Briar Dodson - Chris Fallon Gardendale High 0
Day 1: 1 01-08 Total: 1 01-08
104. Nathan Bennett - Johnathan Clark Seminole Junior Anglers 0
Day 1: 1 01-06 Total: 1 01-06
104. Ben Puckett - Jesse Klutts Henry County High School (236) 0
Day 1: 1 01-06 Total: 1 01-06
106. Brentlea Rodgers - Logan Evans Soddy Daisy High School (552) 0
Day 1: 1 00-13 Total: 1 00-13
107. Kyle Beasley - George Jenkins HS 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Tyler Boston - Devin Gonzalez Columbia High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Bryce Dimauro - Justin Lawrence Seminole Junior Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Wyatt Drawdy - Tyson Griffin plant city bassmasters 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Latt Durrance - Zack Zainitzer Okeechobee High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Rylan Green - Alex Bradley Chapman High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Mason Grose - Sailor McKinney Nicholas County High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Bryson Hatcher - Harlyn Nelson Wb 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Jason Haynes - Isaac Dorland Marion County Youth Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Nolan Holloway - Jackson Fanning Morgan county high school 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Eddie Hook - Evan Naile South Lake High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Ben Howard - Jason Burchfield Southwestern High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Caleb Jackson - Evrett Hunter Nassau Christian Bass Club 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Mo Katz - Conner Fair Headland Bass Team 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Ryder Krueger - Carson Yero parrish community high school 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Tyler Loudon - Dylan Kreps Johnston High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Jack Myers - Joseph Cotromano Nassau Christian 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Riley North - Karson Peterman Rehobeth High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Jace Patton - Spencer White Rhea Eagle Anglers 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Jack Peeler - Cole Davis Tampa Bay Junior Bass Club (338) 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Bracky Pfeuffer - Logan Tennant Tampa Bay Highschool 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Ryan Quinn - Gary Ray Auburndale High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Cole Rountree - Cooper Bishman Central Florida Youth Anglers (6 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Gabriel Sanders - Colby Sloan Chilhowee Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Chance Shelby - Live Oak High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Houston Snell - Logan Kirkland Rehobeth High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Parker Stalvey - Jacob Deel Clay High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Conner Swindle - Max Lofton Clewiston High school 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Lane Vitelli - Quentin Silas Plant City High School (495) 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Robert Warwick - Honor Parker Flanders Palatka High School 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Cambre Webb - Dakota Skipper Silliman Fishing 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Tanner Wolf - Kyle Grieshaber Central Florida youth anglers (4 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
107. Aaron Woodard - Levi Reynolds Auburndale High school 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG BASS OF TOURN
Benjamin Hester Spring City, TN 09-07 $0.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 39 364 803-14
Kentucky Christian's Messer Brothers Claim Record-Breaking Win At Bassmaster College Series On Harris Chain
Matt and Lafe Messer of Kentucky Christian University have won the 2022 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Harris Chain of Lakes presented by Bass Pro Shops with a two-day total of 61 pounds, 13 ounces.
Photo by Kyle Jessie/B.A.S.S.
January 22, 2022
LEESBURG, Fla. — A focused plan with patient presentations yielded monumental results for brothers Lafe and Matt Messer of Kentucky Christian University, who won the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Harris Chain of Lakes presented by Bass Pro Shops with a two-day total of 61 pounds, 13 ounces.
The Messers caught 25-6 on Day 1 and then electrified the final weigh-in with a massive limit of 36-7. They edged Day 1 leaders Seth Jenkins and T.J. McKenzie of Emmanuel College by a 1-2 margin.
The Kentucky Christian team earned $3,070 and a berth in the Bassmaster College Series National Championship (dates and location TBA).
“We went into today not knowing how doable it was to catch another big bag, but we wanted to make them beat us,” Lafe Messer said. “By about midday, we started thinking this will be a tough bag to beat. On stage, that winning moment — I can’t even describe the emotions.”
The winners split their time between Texas-rigged Magnum Trick Worms and Carolina-rigged creature baits on Day 1. By day’s end, they were sold on the latter and Day 2 saw them catch all of their weight on the C-rig.
“I think the most important thing was just how slow we were fishing it,” Matt Messer said. “I was fishing it as slow as I could stand to. It was probably a minute and a half a cast.”
Making their mark: The Messers’ Day 2 performance broke the Bassmaster College Series single-day record. The previous mark of 32-7 was set by Robert “Bo” Harkins and Michael Braswell of Chico State University on Day 1 of the 2013 Bassmaster College Series Western Conference Regional on California’s Clear Lake.
The Messers also broke the Series’ two-day catch record. Cole Sands and Conner Dimauro of Bryan College set the previous record of 55-12 after the first two rounds of the 2020 Bassmaster College Series Championship on the Harris Chain (three-day event).
“I told (Lafe) all week, ‘If it was God’s plan we were going to win,’” Matt Messer said. “It ended up working out right.”
Location, location, location: Both days, the Messers stayed in Lake Dora and fished shellbeds in about 10 feet and focused their efforts on a couple of sweet spots. The two main shellbars they fished presented classic prespawn staging areas outside of spawning canals.
“We fished shellbeds that were 500 yards long and there would be a little section about two boats wide that was just loaded with 100- to 150-bass schools,” Matt Messer said. “It was just the hardest spots where it was shell on top of shell on top of shell. New ones were pulling up there every day.”
State of the tournament: Matt Messer described a blistering start to a day that was done by lunchtime. “Out of the first four fish I set the hook on today, three of them were 8-pounders. We had over 30 at about noon.”
Key change: The Messers had a big school fired up on Day 1, but those fish didn’t want to participate a second day. Making a 200-yard move on the second morning yielded huge results.
“Yesterday, we were done fishing by 10 o’clock, but today we started there and didn’t get a bite,” Lafe Messer said. “We switched to our other school and they were biting. I don’t know if the cold messed up one school and the other one stuck around — I don’t really know what happened there.”
Trouble averted: Matt Messer described a hotel parking lot mistake after Day 1, which left their boat unplugged all night. Scrambling to overcome the potential disaster of starting the day with a severe power shortage, they were able to find an option at the last moment.
“This morning, we put in, pulled as close as we could to a power outlet, and charged the boat while we were waiting for takeoff,” Matt Messer said.
Quote of the day: “We thought we had something good coming in, but we never thought it was that good. I think it was God’s plan for us to catch them, and that’s what happened.”
Second place: Finishing second with 60-11, Jenkins and McKenzie repeated their Day 1 game plan, using Carolina-rigged Zoom Speed Worms over shellbars in Lake Dora. After establishing a big first-round lead with a 31-pound limit, they added another big limit of 29-11.
“The biggest thing I can say is having a partner who’s as driven as you are,” McKenzie said. “He and I kept our heads down, we kept a bait in the water the whole time and we just dragged it really slow. We couldn’t do it without one another. We gave it 100% all week.”
Third place: Bethel University’s Matthew Cummings and Levi Mullins finished third with 47-5. Their daily weights were 26-12 and 20-9.
Mirroring their first-round pattern, Cummings and Mullins targeted grasslines with lipless baits and jerkbaits. Keeping their distance and throwing to the edges of areas where prespawners were staging proved most productive.
“The key was upsizing to a larger lipless bait,” Cummings said. “We had been throwing 1/2-ounce baits, but I upsized to a 3/4 and caught our biggest fish — a 5-pounder.”
Catch of the tournament: Joseph Woods and Anthony Cicero of Bethel University won the big bass award for their 10-14 largemouth. Their fish had been tagged by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Mega Bag Puts Jenkins And McKenzie Atop College Series Event On Harris Chain
Seth Jenkins and T.J. McKenzie of Georgia's Emmanuel College are leading after Day 1 of the 2022 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Harris Chain of Lakes presented by Bass Pro Shops with 31 pounds.
Photo by Kyle Jessie/B.A.S.S.
January 21, 2022
LEESBURG, Fla. — Seth Jenkins and T.J. McKenzie of Emmanuel College knew exactly what they wanted to do and they proved their point by sacking up a 31-pound limit to lead Day 1 of the Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Harris Chain presented by Bass Pro Shops.
The leaders, who won another college event on the Harris Chain Jan. 10, split their time between two lakes, where they targeted prespawn bass and caught all of their fish offshore over shellbeds in 6 to 10 feet of water. Two key spots produced all of their weight, which included a 7-1 that briefly tied for the day’s big bass lead.
“We left our rods (in the truck) and idled for 16 hours in practice to find those spots,” Jenkins said. “We spent the first half of the day in the lake where we won two weeks ago.
“We worked really hard trying to find some similar stuff in practice this week — and halfway through the day, we moved to that and rounded up to 31.”
Notably, the anglers had 21 1/2 pounds when they left the first lake at 11:30 a.m. Their day started with a bang, as their biggest fish bit at 8.
Reaching their goal of breaking 30 less than an hour after moving to the second lake, Jenkins and McKenzie left their main pattern and spent the rest of their time scouting for Day 2.
“After we culled up to 31, we knew we didn’t want to beat up our stuff anymore,” McKenzie said. “We didn’t idle around that (second lake) anymore because we had idled the whole thing. We just bounced around to some stuff that we had prior knowledge of.”
Jenkins said their pattern commitment extended to their bait selection, as they caught all of their fish on one soft-plastic presentation.
“We both threw the same bait,” McKenzie said. “Later throughout the day, we switched it up and tried some different colors, but it ended up being the same bait.”
Jenkins noted that their success hinged on excruciatingly slow retrieves.
“We probably fished the bait for a minute and a half; slow dragging everything,” Jenkins said. “It had to be slow; they would not eat any reaction baits. I tried throwing a big swimbait, but I couldn’t get them to eat that.”
Also enjoying early success, Matthew Cummings and Levi Mullins of Bethel University are in second place with a limit of 26-12. They caught their fish by targeting grass edges and making long casts with reaction baits.
The first team to weigh in, they arrived shortly after the scales opened at 2:10 p.m., which was one hour prior to the first flight’s official check-in time. Mullins said they had their weight by about 11:30.
“We had a pretty good bag and one of them wasn’t doing too well, so we wanted to come in early instead of (risking a dead-fish penalty),” Cummings said.
Hayden Gaddis and Ben Cully of Carson-Newman University lead the big fish standings with an 8-7.
The tournament will conclude Saturday, with takeoff scheduled for 7:10 a.m. ET from Venetian Gardens. The weigh-in will be held back at Venetian Gardens at 3:10 p.m.
2022 Strike King Bassmaster College Series at Harris Chain of Lakes presented by Bass Pro Shops 1/21-1/22
Harris Chain Of Lakes, Leesburg FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Club/School Pts
1. Seth Jenkins - TJ McKenzie Emmanuel College 250
Day 1: 5 31-00 Total: 5 31-00
2. Matthew Cummings - Levi Mullins Bethel University 249
Day 1: 5 26-12 Total: 5 26-12
3. Lafe Messer - Matt Messer Kentucky Christian University 248
Day 1: 5 25-06 Total: 5 25-06
4. Zack Barrera - Bryson Osteen Florida Gateway College 247
Day 1: 5 24-11 Total: 5 24-11
5. Reece Martin - Dallas Baptist University 246
Day 1: 5 24-08 Total: 5 24-08
6. John Berry - Blake Bullock Blue Mountain College 245
Day 1: 5 22-12 Total: 5 22-12
6. Jackson Swisher - Seth Slanker Florida Gateway College 245
Day 1: 5 22-12 Total: 5 22-12
8. Hayden Gaddis - Ben Cully Carson-Newman University 243
Day 1: 5 22-05 Total: 5 22-05
9. Alex Cummings - Christopher Daniels Lander University 242
Day 1: 5 21-15 Total: 5 21-15
10. Brooks Anderson - Parker Guy Emmanuel College 241
Day 1: 5 21-04 Total: 5 21-04
11. Cason Ragsdale - Kaden Proffitt East Texas Baptist University 240
Day 1: 5 20-15 Total: 5 20-15
12. Cole Hopson - Callaway Robinson Georgia College 239
Day 1: 5 20-12 Total: 5 20-12
13. Drake Hemby - Jacob Frazier Carson-Newman University 238
Day 1: 5 20-09 Total: 5 20-09
14. Beau Browning - Jake Peck Drury University 237
Day 1: 5 19-10 Total: 5 19-10
15. Gabriel Talley - Reid Farris Texas AM University 236
Day 1: 5 19-05 Total: 5 19-05
16. Tanner Barclay - Lloyd Laconsay Auburn University 235
Day 1: 5 19-03 Total: 5 19-03
17. Andrew Ready - Vince Maffei Webber International University 234
Day 1: 5 18-15 Total: 5 18-15
18. Andrew Fisher - Elijah Kirk Bryan College 233
Day 1: 5 18-07 Total: 5 18-07
19. Harmon Marien - Bailey Bleser McKendree University 232
Day 1: 5 18-05 Total: 5 18-05
20. Aaron Hawkins - Broxson Daigle Texas A and M University 231
Day 1: 5 18-01 Total: 5 18-01
21. Lilly Smith - Anderson Jones Lander University 230
Day 1: 5 17-14 Total: 5 17-14
22. Jack Baron - Bradley Martin University of Montevallo 229
Day 1: 5 17-12 Total: 5 17-12
23. Drew Gill - Jonah Potts Wabash Valley College 228
Day 1: 5 17-07 Total: 5 17-07
24. Riley Underwood - Chandler Olivier University of Montevallo 227
Day 1: 5 17-04 Total: 5 17-04
25. Sydney Lewis - Hunter Luke University of Alabama 226
Day 1: 5 17-01 Total: 5 17-01
26. Spencer Black - Caleb Lonca Catawba Valley Community College 225
Day 1: 5 16-10 Total: 5 16-10
26. Chase Hubble - Brent May Florida Gateway College 225
Day 1: 5 16-10 Total: 5 16-10
26. Marshall Wiggins - Jonathan Waters University of Central Florida 225
Day 1: 5 16-10 Total: 5 16-10
29. Tyler Campbell - Brandon Martin Emmanuel College 222
Day 1: 5 16-09 Total: 5 16-09
30. Noah Campbell - Troy Harris Georgia College 221
Day 1: 5 16-08 Total: 5 16-08
30. Tyler Christy - Trey Schroeder McKendree University 221
Day 1: 5 16-08 Total: 5 16-08
32. Tyler Pendergrass - University of North Alabama 219
Day 1: 5 16-07 Total: 5 16-07
33. Evan Barker - Lane Pohlman Campbellsville University 218
Day 1: 5 16-05 Total: 5 16-05
34. Parker Brown - Layton Brown Dallas Baptist University 217
Day 1: 5 16-01 Total: 5 16-01
35. Koltyn Harbin - Baylor Howell Bethel University 216
Day 1: 5 15-15 Total: 5 15-15
36. Alec Berens - Joseph Bruener Mckendree University 215
Day 1: 5 15-10 Total: 5 15-10
37. Adam Carroll - Trey Dickert University of Montevallo 214
Day 1: 5 15-08 Total: 5 15-08
38. Cannon Bird - Jacob Keith East Texas Baptist University 213
Day 1: 5 15-05 Total: 5 15-05
38. Conner Giles - Christian Wright Bryan College 213
Day 1: 5 15-05 Total: 5 15-05
38. Britt Myers - Tyler Anderson Lander University 213
Day 1: 5 15-05 Total: 5 15-05
41. Garrett Thompson - Ethan Perry West Virginia University 210
Day 1: 5 15-04 Total: 5 15-04
42. Caleb Dachenhaus - Elliot Wielgopolski Adrian College 209
Day 1: 5 15-01 Total: 5 15-01
43. Easton Fothergill - Nick Dumke University of Montevallo 208
Day 1: 5 14-15 Total: 5 14-15
43. Brian Linder - Nathan Thompson Minnesota State - Mankato 208
Day 1: 5 14-15 Total: 5 14-15
45. Austin Aikins - Sean Obrien Bethel University 206
Day 1: 5 14-14 Total: 5 14-14
45. John Nowlin - Rudy Worley Blue Mountain College 206
Day 1: 5 14-14 Total: 5 14-14
47. Joseph Bissing - University of Tennessee 204
Day 1: 5 14-13 Total: 5 14-13
48. Louis Monetti - Michael Fugaro UNC Charlotte 203
Day 1: 5 14-09 Total: 5 14-09
49. Landon Lawson - Hunter MCClaskey King University 202
Day 1: 5 14-08 Total: 5 14-08
50. Nate Triplett - Cy Lambert University of North Alabama 201
Day 1: 5 14-06 Total: 5 14-06
51. Jackson Gill - Mason Barrett University of Central Florida 200
Day 1: 5 14-04 Total: 5 14-04
51. Josh Kelly - Christian Turner Kent State University 200
Day 1: 5 14-04 Total: 5 14-04
53. Camdon Lewis - TJ Edwards Jr Blue Mountain College 198
Day 1: 5 14-00 Total: 5 14-00
53. Caleb Sheldon - Chase Beale Lander University 198
Day 1: 5 14-00 Total: 5 14-00
55. Sam Hanggi - Sam Hoesley Auburn University 196
Day 1: 5 13-15 Total: 5 13-15
56. Cameron Tullis - Brayden Mercer East Texas Baptist University 195
Day 1: 5 13-12 Total: 5 13-12
57. Dalton Head - Will Holloway Montevallo 194
Day 1: 5 13-09 Total: 5 13-09
57. Braden Leffew - Colten Drawdy Bethel University 194
Day 1: 5 13-09 Total: 5 13-09
59. Garrett Warren - Hayden Marbut Auburn University 192
Day 1: 5 13-08 Total: 5 13-08
60. Clayton Primrose - Fisher Davis ETBU 191
Day 1: 5 13-08 Total: 5 13-08
61. Avery Whitwell - Jackson Holbert University of North Alabama 190
Day 1: 5 13-07 Total: 5 13-07
62. Chase Milholen - Cody Gregory Bethel University 189
Day 1: 5 13-05 Total: 5 13-05
63. Walker Brown - Chandler Brewer University of North Alabama 188
Day 1: 5 13-04 Total: 5 13-04
63. Wil Rigdon - Cade Hayford Campbellsville University 188
Day 1: 5 13-04 Total: 5 13-04
65. Calvin Landsberg - Jack Palaia University of Alabama 186
Day 1: 5 13-01 Total: 5 13-01
66. Jack York - Jacob Miller Stephen F Austin State Universit 185
Day 1: 5 12-15 Total: 5 12-15
67. Parker Lambert - Koby Horn Lander university 184
Day 1: 5 12-12 Total: 5 12-12
68. Evan Sutton - Kurt Litteken Jr McKendree University 183
Day 1: 5 12-11 Total: 5 12-11
69. Caz Anderson - Jaxton Orr Carson-Newman University 182
Day 1: 5 12-10 Total: 5 12-10
69. Brenton Godwin - Hunter Odom University of Montevallo 182
Day 1: 5 12-10 Total: 5 12-10
71. JD Clarke - Hunter Muncrief Stephen F Austin State Universit 180
Day 1: 5 12-09 Total: 5 12-09
71. Brady Duncan - Stevie Mills Carson-Newman University 180
Day 1: 5 12-09 Total: 5 12-09
71. Trevor Easter - Caden Cowan Tarleton State University 180
Day 1: 5 12-09 Total: 5 12-09
71. Riley Lawson - Chris Baker Kentucky Christian University 180
Day 1: 5 12-09 Total: 5 12-09
75. Tommy Sendek - Andrew Howell University of Montevallo 176
Day 1: 5 12-08 Total: 5 12-08
76. Rob Lindsey - Mason Cizek Bryan College 175
Day 1: 4 12-07 Total: 4 12-07
77. Ben Rand - Mason Grossbauer Davenport University 174
Day 1: 5 12-05 Total: 5 12-05
78. Will Oberman - Clay Oberman Campbellsville University 173
Day 1: 5 12-04 Total: 5 12-04
79. Weston Bison - Austin Gregory Lander University 172
Day 1: 5 12-03 Total: 5 12-03
79. Justin Botts - Conner Dimauro Bryan College 172
Day 1: 5 12-03 Total: 5 12-03
79. Avry Thomason - Alex Belin Georgia Southern University 172
Day 1: 5 12-03 Total: 5 12-03
79. Cole Thompson - John Heacock University of North Alabama 172
Day 1: 5 12-03 Total: 5 12-03
83. Steve Kinard - Jimmy Mitchum Lander University 168
Day 1: 5 11-14 Total: 5 11-14
84. John Sells - Cooper Hesling Georgia Southern University 167
Day 1: 5 11-13 Total: 5 11-13
85. Aidan Kerlin - Andrew Pittman East Carolina University 166
Day 1: 5 11-11 Total: 5 11-11
86. Carter Ball - Austin Tapley Adrian College 165
Day 1: 4 11-11 Total: 4 11-11
87. Robert Gee - Chad Sentell University of Tennessee 164
Day 1: 5 11-10 Total: 5 11-10
87. Ryan Thomas - Solomon Glenn University of Montevallo 164
Day 1: 5 11-10 Total: 5 11-10
89. Ben Brockwell - Justice Gayhart Kentucky Christian University 162
Day 1: 5 11-09 Total: 5 11-09
90. Andrew Rickman - Michael Postlewait Dallas Baptist University 161
Day 1: 5 11-04 Total: 5 11-04
91. Patrick Mcmurry - Jd Rorex University of Alabama 160
Day 1: 5 11-03 Total: 5 11-03
92. Lane Bailey - Justin Eggers Catawba Valley Community College 159
Day 1: 5 11-02 Total: 5 11-02
92. Connor Jacob - Sam Smith Auburn University 159
Day 1: 5 11-02 Total: 5 11-02
94. Kaleb Brown - Chad Mrazek Lander University 157
Day 1: 5 11-01 Total: 5 11-01
95. Grayson Morris - University of Montevallo 156
Day 1: 5 11-00 Total: 5 11-00
96. Hunter Fillmore - Dylan Fogarty Bethel University 155
Day 1: 5 10-15 Total: 5 10-15
96. Elliot Torode - Logan Plueger University of Montevallo 155
Day 1: 5 10-15 Total: 5 10-15
98. Brantley Anders - Kentucky Christian University 153
Day 1: 4 10-15 Total: 4 10-15
99. Will Carnes - Tavin Hodgens Campbellsville University 152
Day 1: 5 10-14 Total: 5 10-14
100. Caleb Jacob - Mitch Bender Illinois State University 151
Day 1: 4 10-14 Total: 4 10-14
101. Nathan Smith - Cabe Mackey Catawba Valley Community College 150
Day 1: 5 10-13 Total: 5 10-13
102. Ryan Park - Sam Niemeyer Murray State University 149
Day 1: 5 10-10 Total: 5 10-10
103. Lucas Smith - Dalton Mize Jacksonville State University 148
Day 1: 5 10-09 Total: 5 10-09
104. Tyler Cory - Scott Sledge University of Montevallo 147
Day 1: 5 10-08 Total: 5 10-08
105. Chase Carey - Dylan Akins Emmanuel College 146
Day 1: 5 10-07 Total: 5 10-07
106. Patrick Henry - Jared Minor Ohio State University 145
Day 1: 5 10-05 Total: 5 10-05
107. Shane Nelson - Aaron Jagdfeld Adrian College 144
Day 1: 5 10-04 Total: 5 10-04
108. Connor Hicks - Austin Wadzinski University of Tennessee 143
Day 1: 5 10-03 Total: 5 10-03
108. Jacob Welch - Lee Lambrecht Drury University 143
Day 1: 5 10-03 Total: 5 10-03
110. Brock Bila - Drury University 141
Day 1: 5 10-02 Total: 5 10-02
110. Cody Griffith - Drew Jennings Auburn University 141
Day 1: 5 10-02 Total: 5 10-02
112. Dustin Bauer - Wyatt Pearman Campbellsville University 139
Day 1: 5 10-01 Total: 5 10-01
112. Bennett Slinkard - Ty Mundhenke Auburn University 139
Day 1: 5 10-01 Total: 5 10-01
114. Hunter Bailey - JR Young Jr Jacksonville State University 137
Day 1: 5 09-15 Total: 5 09-15
115. Griffin Fernandes - Hayden Scott Adrian College 136
Day 1: 5 09-14 Total: 5 09-14
115. Bailey Mckinney - Levi Smith Marshall University 136
Day 1: 5 09-14 Total: 5 09-14
117. Tommy Dunaway - Seth Jones Florida Gateway College 134
Day 1: 5 09-12 Total: 5 09-12
117. Braden Perry - Aidan England Carson-Newman University 134
Day 1: 5 09-12 Total: 5 09-12
119. Keaton Smith - Dustin Jones Campbellsville University 132
Day 1: 5 09-12 Total: 5 09-12
120. Coleman Bingham - Jackson Staib Bethel University 131
Day 1: 5 09-11 Total: 5 09-11
121. Turner Hart - Summer Dees Bryan College 130
Day 1: 4 09-10 Total: 4 09-10
122. Cole Breeden - Hunter Baird Drury University 129
Day 1: 5 09-09 Total: 5 09-09
123. Carter Koza - Lee Koza Carson Newman University 128
Day 1: 4 09-09 Total: 4 09-09
124. Kopeland Rosser - Ryan Branch University of Montevallo 127
Day 1: 5 09-08 Total: 5 09-08
124. Chance Schwartz - James Willoughby University of Montevallo 127
Day 1: 5 09-08 Total: 5 09-08
126. Tyler Lubbat - Hayden O'barr University of Alabama 125
Day 1: 5 09-07 Total: 5 09-07
127. Kyle Knoll - Luke Morgan Southern Union State Community C 124
Day 1: 5 09-06 Total: 5 09-06
128. Cole Holloway - Taylor Mcmullen Emmanuel College 123
Day 1: 5 09-05 Total: 5 09-05
129. Kyle Kreger - Elliott Pritchett Southern Illinois University Car 122
Day 1: 5 09-04 Total: 5 09-04
129. Cody Ross - Ethan Thurston East Texas Baptist University 122
Day 1: 5 09-04 Total: 5 09-04
131. Cole Dodson - Tyler Cain University of Montevallo 120
Day 1: 5 09-03 Total: 5 09-03
132. Victor Alford - Dylan Johnson Bryan College 119
Day 1: 4 09-02 Total: 4 09-02
133. Blair Erickson - Charlie Wright University of Montevallo 118
Day 1: 5 09-01 Total: 5 09-01
134. Blair Cox - Zach Adamec Missouri State University 117
Day 1: 5 09-00 Total: 5 09-00
134. Tomas Matual - Grant Olsen McKendree University 117
Day 1: 5 09-00 Total: 5 09-00
136. Robert Cruvellier - Carson Maddux Auburn University 115
Day 1: 5 08-15 Total: 5 08-15
137. Nicholas Holtgrave - Matthew Cavanaugh McKendree University 114
Day 1: 5 08-14 Total: 5 08-14
138. Bryant Marsh - Tyler Hill Blue Mountain College 113
Day 1: 4 08-14 Total: 4 08-14
139. Jaxson Freeman - Kyle Hopping McKendree 112
Day 1: 5 08-13 Total: 5 08-13
139. Luke Glasgow - Brantley Bell AL BASS NAtion 112
Day 1: 5 08-13 Total: 5 08-13
139. Jake Kimbrough - Chandler Pruett Blue Mountain College 112
Day 1: 5 08-13 Total: 5 08-13
142. Dawson Burton - Trent Keltner Kentucky Christian University 109
Day 1: 4 08-13 Total: 4 08-13
143. Kyle Bahr - Nick Pemberton University of Montevallo 108
Day 1: 4 08-12 Total: 4 08-12
144. Austin Marley - Noah Simmons Georgia Southern University 107
Day 1: 5 08-09 Total: 5 08-09
144. Cole Taylor - Hunter Temples Lander 107
Day 1: 5 08-09 Total: 5 08-09
146. Grant Dohle - Wyatt Montle Missouri State University 105
Day 1: 2 08-09 Total: 2 08-09
147. Zachary Bowen - Harrison Terry Bethel University 104
Day 1: 5 08-08 Total: 5 08-08
148. Bryar Chambers - Clent Blackwood Wallace State Community College 103
Day 1: 5 08-07 Total: 5 08-07
148. Dalton Daniels - Hunter Bettner 103
Day 1: 5 08-07 Total: 5 08-07
148. Morgan Miracle - Jake Thornbury Campbellsville University 103
Day 1: 5 08-07 Total: 5 08-07
148. Jackson Stephens - Maxwell Trotter Mckendree University 103
Day 1: 5 08-07 Total: 5 08-07
152. Gage Sherrod - Thomas Millraney Bethel University 99
Day 1: 5 08-05 Total: 5 08-05
152. Caden Sweeten - Samuel Heichel Bemidji State University 99
Day 1: 5 08-05 Total: 5 08-05
152. Garrett Walters - Reese Walters University of Alabama 99
Day 1: 5 08-05 Total: 5 08-05
155. Brock Blazier - Matthew Wilson Southern Union State Community C 96
Day 1: 5 08-04 Total: 5 08-04
156. Tj Davis - Austin Callovini Greenville University 95
Day 1: 5 08-03 Total: 5 08-03
157. Adrian Urso - Corbin Templon Murray State University 94
Day 1: 5 08-02 Total: 5 08-02
158. Cordell Beckmann - Keaton Roadman Greenville University 93
Day 1: 5 08-01 Total: 5 08-01
158. Chase Mundhenke - Blake Milligan Auburn University 93
Day 1: 5 08-01 Total: 5 08-01
160. Caleb Bridges - Jacob Davidson Bryan College 91
Day 1: 4 08-01 Total: 4 08-01
161. Dan Hackney - Hans Sleipnes High Point University 90
Day 1: 3 08-01 Total: 3 08-01
162. Mathias Dahline - Jenson Kay Adrian College 89
Day 1: 5 08-00 Total: 5 08-00
163. Matthew Zdrazil - Spencer Bargfrede Emmanuel College 88
Day 1: 5 08-00 Total: 5 08-00
164. Chase Sansom - Tyler Drown Marshall University 87
Day 1: 5 07-14 Total: 5 07-14
165. Harrison Heins - Luke Fraley Tennessee Tech University 86
Day 1: 5 07-13 Total: 5 07-13
166. Mac Johnston-Herzberg - Aric Szambelan Missouri State University 85
Day 1: 5 07-11 Total: 5 07-11
167. Lex Thompson - Evan Rice Troy University 84
Day 1: 4 07-11 Total: 4 07-11
168. Keegan Barber - Tyler Flacke Missouri State University 83
Day 1: 4 07-10 Total: 4 07-10
169. Nick Staub - Lake Norsworthy Blue Mountain College 82
Day 1: 5 07-05 Total: 5 07-05
169. Drew Traffanstedt - Dakendrick Patterson University of Montevallo 82
Day 1: 5 07-05 Total: 5 07-05
171. Stone Payne - Hayden Baxter University of Tennessee- Knoxvil 80
Day 1: 5 07-04 Total: 5 07-04
172. Joshua DeKoning - Dalton Mollenkopf Adrian College 79
Day 1: 5 07-02 Total: 5 07-02
173. Hunter Palmer - Eli Stevenson Bryan College 78
Day 1: 5 07-00 Total: 5 07-00
174. Andrew Fryer - Logan Bozeman Southern Union 77
Day 1: 5 06-15 Total: 5 06-15
175. Isaac Irvin - Mason Gross Wabash Valley College 76
Day 1: 2 06-15 Total: 2 06-15
176. Brock Lederman - Kyle Schwibinger University of Wisconsin- Stevens 75
Day 1: 4 06-12 Total: 4 06-12
177. Tyler Altizer - Dylan Thomson King University 74
Day 1: 5 06-11 Total: 5 06-11
178. Lane Stephens - Devon Rathbun Mckendree University 73
Day 1: 4 06-11 Total: 4 06-11
179. James Romig - Coltyn Morris Florida Gateway College 72
Day 1: 2 06-10 Total: 2 06-10
180. Clay Osteen - Garett Cadenhead Tarleton State University 71
Day 1: 4 06-09 Total: 4 06-09
181. Jacob Highley - Autumn Belcher Kentucky Christian University 70
Day 1: 5 06-07 Total: 5 06-07
182. Aaron Shumaker - Hunter Enlow Lander University 69
Day 1: 4 06-07 Total: 4 06-07
183. Haydan Quesenberry - Ryan Diskin Auburn University 68
Day 1: 5 06-06 Total: 5 06-06
183. Jacob Witkowski - Hunter Jenkins Dallas Baptist Univesity 68
Day 1: 5 06-06 Total: 5 06-06
185. Drew Deloney - Michal Wolan University of Alabama 66
Day 1: 3 06-06 Total: 3 06-06
185. Carson Miller - Miller Dowling University of Montevallo 66
Day 1: 3 06-06 Total: 3 06-06
187. Hunter Waldrop - Reese Melven University of South Carolina Uni 64
Day 1: 5 06-05 Total: 5 06-05
188. Logan Parks - Tucker Smith Auburn University 63
Day 1: 4 06-05 Total: 4 06-05
189. Braedon Metzgar - Sid Wallace Texas AM University 62
Day 1: 3 06-05 Total: 3 06-05
190. Lane Bradley - Holden Kauble Wabash Valley College 61
Day 1: 5 06-03 Total: 5 06-03
191. Nathan Burdett - Grayson Davis Troy University 60
Day 1: 3 06-02 Total: 3 06-02
192. Cameron Loveless - Jameson Jenkins Texas AM 59
Day 1: 4 06-01 Total: 4 06-01
193. Jalen Bean - Jacob Douglas Southwest Mississippi Community 58
Day 1: 4 06-00 Total: 4 06-00
194. John Garrett Pearson - Rudy Pearson IV Georgia College 57
Day 1: 3 06-00 Total: 3 06-00
195. Cy Casey - Tanner Hadden Emmanuel College 56
Day 1: 5 05-15 Total: 5 05-15
196. Joseph Woods - Anthony Cicero Iv Bethel University 55
Day 1: 5 05-11 Total: 5 05-11
197. Kollin Smith - Gabe Sowash Emmanuel College 54
Day 1: 4 05-10 Total: 4 05-10
198. Jonathan Fraley - Cameron Dials Kentucky Christian University 53
Day 1: 1 05-10 Total: 1 05-10
199. Weston Hollar - Jordan Pennington University of Montevallo 52
Day 1: 4 05-08 Total: 4 05-08
199. Landon Howe - Makalie King Georgia Southern University 52
Day 1: 4 05-08 Total: 4 05-08
199. Fisher Overton - Isaac Duncan Blue Mountain College 52
Day 1: 4 05-08 Total: 4 05-08
202. Cameron Smith - Jacob Blackburn Ohio State University 49
Day 1: 5 05-07 Total: 5 05-07
203. Tim Herrmann - Austin Goins Bryan College 48
Day 1: 5 05-06 Total: 5 05-06
204. Cal Culpepper - Mason Waddell University of Montevallo 47
Day 1: 2 05-06 Total: 2 05-06
205. Parker Domschke - Harper Burkeen McKendree University 46
Day 1: 4 05-05 Total: 4 05-05
206. Tyler Dubois - Niko Romero Bethel University 45
Day 1: 4 05-04 Total: 4 05-04
207. Adam Troyer - Andrew Yazdi Indiana University 44
Day 1: 4 05-03 Total: 4 05-03
208. Bo Thomas - Mason Vernia Western Michigan University 43
Day 1: 2 05-03 Total: 2 05-03
209. Colby Kerr - Jonathan Fitch Kentucky Christian University 42
Day 1: 4 05-01 Total: 4 05-01
210. Adam Hollingsworth - Travis Pattillo University of Alabama 41
Day 1: 3 04-14 Total: 3 04-14
211. Justin Latham - Karsten Raney Campbellsville University 40
Day 1: 3 04-12 Total: 3 04-12
212. Briggs Alavezos - Colton White University Montevallo 39
Day 1: 4 04-10 Total: 4 04-10
213. Brycen Hendriks - Brennan Kenison UNC Charlotte 38
Day 1: 4 04-09 Total: 4 04-09
214. Blayner Leeman - Noah Hurford Kentucky Christian University 37
Day 1: 3 04-09 Total: 3 04-09
215. Logan Hawkins - Matthew Bradham Campbellsville University 36
Day 1: 3 04-08 Total: 3 04-08
216. Carson Palmer - Cole Rankin Carson-Newman University 35
Day 1: 2 04-08 Total: 2 04-08
217. Hunter Keller - Carson Eckard Catawba Valley Community College 34
Day 1: 3 04-07 Total: 3 04-07
218. Gunner Whitaker - Mitch Johnson Kentucky Christian University 33
Day 1: 3 04-03 Total: 3 04-03
219. Hayden Fuhr - Lander University 32
Day 1: 4 04-02 Total: 4 04-02
220. Matthew Benson - Nathanael Wright Emmanuel College 31
Day 1: 3 04-01 Total: 3 04-01
220. Brock Williams - Brandon Johnson Ohio State University 31
Day 1: 3 04-01 Total: 3 04-01
222. Evan Waggener - Kyle Workman Campbellsville University 29
Day 1: 2 03-14 Total: 2 03-14
223. Max Pierlott - Mike Pierlott UNC Charlotte 28
Day 1: 2 03-10 Total: 2 03-10
224. Thomas Mingle - Nathan Couch Univerity of Tennessee 27
Day 1: 2 03-08 Total: 2 03-08
225. Tyler Finley - Lane Lassiter University of North Alabama 26
Day 1: 3 03-03 Total: 3 03-03
226. Nolan Yeager - Riley Aebi Stephen F. Austin State Universi 25
Day 1: 3 03-02 Total: 3 03-02
227. Andrew Davis - Gracie Herbold Troy University 24
Day 1: 2 02-12 Total: 2 02-12
227. Anthony Ethridge - Trey Carr III Murray State University 24
Day 1: 2 02-12 Total: 2 02-12
227. Garrett Huddleston - Riley Voltz Auburn University 24
Day 1: 2 02-12 Total: 2 02-12
230. Corey Sexton - Garrett Jennings East Tennessee State University 21
Day 1: 2 02-11 Total: 2 02-11
231. Cole Jackson - Owen Moss University of North Georgia 20
Day 1: 2 02-08 Total: 2 02-08
232. Logan East - Bryan College 19
Day 1: 1 02-06 Total: 1 02-06
233. Drew Fromm - Hunter Capehart Wabash Valley College 18
Day 1: 2 02-05 Total: 2 02-05
234. Conner Crosby - James Cobbs Auburn University 17
Day 1: 2 02-04 Total: 2 02-04
235. Dalton Coleman - Joe Bob Burchett Kentucky Christian University 16
Day 1: 2 02-03 Total: 2 02-03
236. Nate Overocker - Adam Green Greenville University 15
Day 1: 2 02-01 Total: 2 02-01
237. Sam Harvey - Jordan Brewer Auburn University 14
Day 1: 1 02-01 Total: 1 02-01
238. Ben Tschoerner - Chance Thompson Stephen F Austin State Universit 13
Day 1: 1 02-00 Total: 1 02-00
239. Chad Smith - Finn Ash Wallace State 12
Day 1: 1 01-14 Total: 1 01-14
240. Wesley Smith - Grant Harris Catawba Valley Community College 11
Day 1: 2 01-13 Total: 2 01-13
241. John Michael Ortman - Emmanuel 10
Day 1: 1 01-02 Total: 1 01-02
242. Brody Robison - Jack Alexander University of Montevallo 9
Day 1: 4 00-00 Total: 4 00-00
243. Syon Barnes - Jeremy Till Jacksonville State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
243. Allen Bryan - Kevin Dunahoo University of North Georgia 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
243. Seth Elkins - Dale Hansard Jacksonville State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
243. Clark Garland - Justin Padgett University of North Georgia 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
243. Owen Januszewski - Matt Mosby Adrian College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
243. Easton Lindus - Parker Dickerson Emmanuel College 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
243. Sam Moll - Murray State University 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
243. Elijah Walker - Jess Taylor AUBURN 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 169 1065 2508-06
Puma STS Earns 2022 NMMA Innovation Award
MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. – When Bass Cat released the new Puma STS, feedback from initial test rides shared unanimous praise over the performance and features packed into the new twenty-footer. A wave of consumer interest ensued, never before seen in the company's history. This week, the hype was validated as the Puma STS earned the 2022 NMMA Innovation Award at the Minneapolis Progressive Boat, presented by Discover Boating.
"We are very appreciative of the judges' decision on behalf of the NMMA," said Rick Pierce, President of Bass Cat & Yar-Craft Boats. "The Puma STS truly is a very special boat! This is a credit to those who've worked hard to bring the model and it's features to the market. We appreciate the judges seeing those efforts."
Key considerations for the award were the many small details designed to enhance the angler experience. One such feature is the new, patent-pending lift-latch system. Flush, push-button access located outside of each box lip makes for efficient access and one less way for water to enter storages. Lightning detection, a new Reflex flooring concept, elevated mounting flats for graphs and many more new features set the Puma STS apart from others. Most importantly, the new STS (Soft Touch Series) hull concept was fitted to the wide, feature-rich cap. It carries a soft, stable ride that simply has to be experienced to believe.
Bass Cat President, Rick Pierce received the innovation award on Wednesday night. - Minneapolis, MN
Bass Cat has been pushing design concepts for over five decades and they're extremely proud of the STS. "We've designed dozens of fresh designs and this one likely has the strongest acceptance among anglers anyone's ever experienced. It's packed with new features and obviously the market wants those. I don't believe a bass boat ever moved to the top so fast before. Even with more molds than we've built in decades we can't meet consumer demand today."
Rick finished his thoughts with gratitude for the NMMA's recognition. "It's great to have these opportunities and we thank the NMMA for this platform. This gives us two in a row in this category, along with 2020 and the 219 TFX. We now have those back to back Bassmaster Classics with Hank Cherry."
Game on! MLF Launches Fantasy Fishing for 2022 Season
Two Free-To-Play Games Powered by Bally’s Technology Launched at FantasyFishing.com
TULSA, Okla. (Jan. 20, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, announced today the launch of two new free-to-play games, powered by Bally’s Technology. These games offer fans a chance to engage with MLF competition and win great new fishing gear and fishing experiences of a lifetime with Major League Fishing anglers. Both games can be found at FantasyFishing.com.
Phoenix Boats MLF Fantasy Fishing Presented by Abu Garcia allows players to select a team of 10 anglers for each Bass Pro Tour and Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit event, earning points based on how many pounds of bass their anglers catch. Players can create and join private leagues to compete against friends and family, then watch the live streams and SCORETRACKER leaderboard to watch their team racking up the points. After an extremely successful pilot at the final Bass Pro Tour event last season, the Fenwick MLF Predictor Game Presented by Mercury – which challenges players to predict the outcome of various questions in conjunction with Bass Pro Tour events – will also return.
Top prizes for Fantasy Fishing include an all-expense-paid fishing trip with Bass Pro Tour angler Justin Lucas to the season-long winner on the Bass Pro Tour, an all-expense-paid fishing trip with Bobby Lane to the season-long winner on the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit, and new Abu Garcia rod and reel combos to the overall top 25 point-scorers in each Bass Pro Tour and Pro Circuit event. The top scoring player in the Predictor Game season-long standings will receive an all-expense paid trip with Edwin Evers, and the overall top 25 point-scorers in each Bass Pro Tour Predictor event will receive a new Fenwick rod.
MLF worked closely to develop the games with SportCaller, a leading global B2B free-to-play game provider and Bally’s Interactive, a division of Bally’s Corporation that operates the omni-channel provider’s sports betting, iGaming, free-to-play, and daily fantasy sports platforms. The launch of the two free-to-play games marks the next phase in the partnership between MLF and Bally’s. Additional games and offerings for MLF and the Bass Pro Tour will be announced in the future.
For complete details and updated information about MLF Fantasy Fishing, visit FantasyFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
USE CODE "fd356ef5" to join the AnglersChannel League for prizes after each event!!
A NEW YEAR BRINGS NEW GEAR, AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Simms Makes Strategic Moves to Build Upon a Record Setting 2021
Bozeman, Mont. (January 19, 2022) – Simms Fishing Products, preeminent manufacturer of waders, outerwear, footwear, and technical apparel in fishing close the books on a record setting 2021 and kick off the new year with a solidified strategic plan designed for exponential growth in 2022 and beyond. In addition to the long awaited release of their Spring 2022 product collection, in January of this year, Simms officially made their foray into specialty retail, and also announced a newly appointed executive team poised to capitalize on the fishing industry’s forward momentum, and the unique opportunities it provides.
“There’s never been a more exciting time to be in the fishing industry,” says Simms CEO, Casey Sheahan. “We are thrilled with our 2021 results, but we are even more excited about what’s in store for 2022. I’m repeatedly humbled and amazed to witness just how relentless our team is and how committed they are to this brand. We’ve faced challenge after challenge but without fail, our team always manages to adapt, overcome, and excel.”
Simms steadfast commitment to provide anglers with the world’s most technologically advanced fishing gear continues with the release of their Spring 2022 product collection.
The new line encompasses fishing focused innovations across all categories and boasts several revolutionary standouts. The most noteworthy — an all-new version of Simms’ most iconic product, the G3 Guide™ Stockingfoot Wader (available in Men’s, Women’s, and a Pant). Built with an incredibly breathable 3-layer upper, the new G3 features an all new, exclusive to Simms 4-layer Gore-Tex® fabric package in the lower portion of the wader. When compared to its predecessor, the new 4-layer fabric has increased tear strength by 7.5%, standard puncture resistance by 23%, pinhole puncture resistance by 84%, and breathability by 33%. The latest iteration also coincides with the 20 year anniversary of G3 being part of the Simms line.
Spring 22 also brings with it a vast array of on-deck and wading footwear options.
Simms ever popular Challenger collection expands with the addition of the all-new Air Vent Shoe, Flip Flop, and 7” Deck Boot. Designed to meet performance demands from conventional and fly anglers fishing from a variety of vessel types, all Challenger footwear provide support and comfort on non-marking platforms that offer superior slip resistance on both wet and dry surfaces.
For river focused anglers, Simms is proud to introduce the all new Guide BOA® Boot. Ruggedly built, the Guide BOA® Boot offers stability and agility that’s bolstered by the precision and convenience derived from its BOA lacing system. Finally, Simms’ footwear collection is rounded out with arguably, the most innovative wading boot they’ve launched to date, the all-new Flyweight Access Boot. Cutting ounces in exchange for grip and stability, the Flyweight Access Boot is powered by a new, exclusive to Simms Vibram® Idrogrip Flex rubber outsole. This revolutionary compound provides more slip resistance than any other rubber outsole Simms has offered. Featuring a lightweight non-absorbent mesh upper, the Flyweight Access provides durability with welded TPU overlays in high abrasion zones and offers support via a comfortable and lightweight web lacing system.
Simms sportswear collection continues to grow with numerous new styles and updated colors in popular inline pieces. While Spring 22 includes performative lifestyle options, Simms has greatly expanded upon an already robust collection of sun protective clothing. New styles such as the SolarFlex® Guide Cooling Hoody, Tech Tees, W’s BugStopper® SolarFlex® Hoody, W’s SolarFlex® Cooling Hoody, and the SolarVent collection boast UPF50 sun protection, moisture wicking capabilities and respectively feature innovative technologies such as cooling fabrics, and built-in protection against bugs that bite back.
Check out the Spring 2022 Product Collection in its entirety by clicking here.
In addition to announcing a new product collection, Simms is also proud to announce their recent acquisition of longtime Bozeman based specialty retailer, Simms at The River’s Edge Fly Shop. Established in 1983, The River’s Edge has been the headquarters for Montana fly fishing since its inception. Under Simms’ ownership, The River’s Edge will continue their longstanding full-service experience, offering guided Montana fly fishing trips, fly tying/casting instruction, and expert product and fishing advice. The recent change in ownership will give Simms better insight on the retail landscape, allow Simms to explore new and innovative merchandising strategies, and receive direct product feedback from their consumers in order to better serve a vast wholesale and retail network.
Shortly after announcing the River’s Edge transaction Simms also announced a new executive leadership roster. The newly appointed team boasts a collective commitment to the continued growth and development of the brand and its employees, but also to the holistic fishing industry and community. Equipped with multiple longstanding conservation and philanthropic partnerships as well as a common understanding of the shared responsibility the group has to positively engage with new generations of anglers, the team of 10 consists of men and women that cumulatively represent almost 300 years of experience in the outdoor / fishing industry.
Ready to make a name for himself.
This week David welcomes in Southern Opens runner up Jacob Foutz to the show to talk about earning his stripes in the Bassmaster Opens and moving up to the Bassmaster Elites for this season. Jacob gives us some insight on his plans and how he intends to make a name for himself in the Pro Fishing World.
Ready to get after it!
This week Chris & the boys welcome in Bassmaster Elite Series Pro and disappointed Cowboys fan Chris Zaldain to the show to talk about his 10th year on tour, what #tackleprep2022 has been like and what's ahead for the CZ Train as it rolls into Florida in a few weeks!
MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Set to Kick Off 2022 Season Opener with Guaranteed Rate Stop 1 on Sam Rayburn Reservoir
158 Professional Anglers to Launch 27th Season and Compete for Top Prize of up to $135,000 and Total Season Purse of More Than $6 Million
BROOKELAND, Texas (Jan. 18, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, is set to return to Brookeland, Texas next week, Jan. 27-30, for the season-opening MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Guaranteed Rate Stop 1 at Sam Rayburn Reservoir Presented by Ark Fishing. In its 27th season, the Pro Circuit features a roster of 160 of the world’s best bass-fishing professionals competing across six regular-season events, each with a top award of up to $135,000.
Hosted by the Jasper County Development District, the tournament marks the first of six regular-season Pro Circuit events and offers competitors a total purse of more than $850,000. The field is also competing for valuable points to qualify for the 2022 Tackle Warehouse TITLE Presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship – held this year on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York – and the coveted Pro Circuit Angler of the Year (AOY) title.
“The Jasper County Development District is proud to welcome the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit to Lake Sam Rayburn,” said Gary Collins, President of Jasper County Development District. “This event is Stop 1 of one of the most prestigious and competitive national bass tournament circuits in existence today. The television broadcast keeps the viewer in the action throughout the tournament, and the fishing tips viewers learn from these pros are beneficial to every weekend fisherman. A top-notch event, on a great lake, promoted by great sponsors. What more could fisherman and viewers ask for from an event during the spring on Lake Rayburn.”
MLF has held 122 tournaments on the renowned bass fishery over the past 28 years, a staggering number that places it neatly inside the top 10 fisheries most visited by MLF.
The event will mark the sixth time the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit has competed on Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Pro Terry Bolton of Benton, Kentucky, holds the record-winning weight on the fishery, bringing home $125,000 in 2019 with a four-day total of 91 pounds, 3 ounces. Pro Nick Lebrun of Bossier City, Louisiana, weighed in a total of 90 pounds, 7 ounces that same year, good for second place. The biggest bass weighed on Sam Rayburn in Pro Circuit history goes to former pro Andy Wicker of Pomaria, South Carolina, who reeled in an 11-pound, 2-ounce whopper in 2019.
The star-studded field of pros includes local anglers Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, Lendell Martin, Jr. of Nacogdoches, Texas, Tommy Dickerson of Orange, Texas and rookie River Lee of Nacogdoches, Texas, along with a full field of returning pros and 22 rookies. They will be joined by 16 anglers that also compete on the Bass Pro Tour, including reigning 2021 Pro Circuit AOY Michael Neal of Dayton, Tennessee and 2021 Lake Okeechobee Pro Circuit champion Skeet Reese of Auburn, California .
In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of 158 anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Thursday and Friday. The top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight will advance to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros, based on cumulative weight from the first three days, will continue competition on Championship Sunday, where weights will be zeroed and anglers will compete in a one-day shootout for the grand prize of up to $135,000, including the lucrative $35,000 Phoenix MLF Bonus for qualified anglers.
Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit angler and accomplished Sam Rayburn pro Dicky Newberry of Houston, Texas, said he spent a lot of time on the reservoir prior to the off-limits cutoff.
“Sam Rayburn has got a tremendous number of fish in it – a huge population of bass, and a lot of really healthy, large bass,” said Newberry. “Unfortunately, the grass is really suffering and there’s less hydrilla in the lake than we’ve had in the past 25 years during this time of year. It can only be found in select areas of the lake, therefore, the fish that are using the grass are getting a lot of pressure right now, which will greatly affect the anglers that choose to fish the grass.”
Despite that fact, Newberry said he believes anglers will be able to play to their strengths and catch fish in a variety of ways, from 30 feet deep all the way up to 2 feet of water.
“It’s going to be wide open during this event and guys will be able to fish pretty much any strength they have,” said Newberry.
Newberry said the Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap in Rayburn Red is always one of the most popular baits on the reservoir this time of year and he suspects it will be one of the big players in this tournament, along with an assortment of Carolina rigs, football jigs and large crankbaits.
Newberry also believes that the weights being zeroed on Day 4, a new rule change for 2022, will be a huge factor during the event and will change the strategy for the anglers.
“I think a good 42 to 44 pounds after Day 3 will make the Top 10,” said Newberry. “The last day is anybody’s guess, but I suspect a solid bag in the mid-20’s on the final day will be strong. This lake can produce 40-pound stringers, but we are going to be here during a lot of the major local tournaments, so that could cut down on a lot of the large stringers.”
Anglers will take off at 7 a.m. CT, Thursday through Sunday, from the Umphrey Family Pavilion located at 5438 RR 255 in Brookeland. Weigh-ins will also be held at the pavilion daily at 3 p.m.Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the live on-the-water action all four days of competition online on MLF NOW! beginning at 7:30 a.m. CT at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit Guaranteed Rate Stop 1 at Sam Rayburn Reservoir Presented by Ark Fishing will feature live on-the-water coverage and a two-hour action-packed television show that will premiere on the CBS Sports Network on Saturday, July 2 from 7 to 9 a.m. ET.
The 2022 season culminates with the Tackle Warehouse TITLE Presented by Mercury, the Pro Circuit Championship, where the top 48 pros in the points standings, along with 2021 TITLE Champion Jimmy Washam and 2021 AOY Michael Neal, will compete for a top prize of $235,000. The 2022 TITLE will be on the St. Lawrence River in Massena, New York, Aug. 16-21, and is hosted by the Town of Massena.
For complete details and updated information visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit on the MLF5 social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
Kevin VanDam partners with Costa Sunglasses
Professional bass fishing champion and Hall of Fame winner sets sights on industry leading eyewear brand for 2022
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 18, 2022) – Leading performance eyewear brand, Costa Sunglasses, welcomes one of bass fishing's most decorated anglers to its roster, Kevin VanDam. Heading into the 2022 season, VanDam will depend on Costa’s high-performance eyewear for his continued success on the Major League Fishing (MLF) Bass Pro Tour.
“I am so excited to be joining the Costa family. No eyewear brand is more committed to anglers than Costa. Their selection of frames, lens options and lens technology is simply the best,” said VanDam. “As a professional angler, my eyewear is a critical part of my gear, and I would never settle for second best. “
VanDam’s name, more commonly referred to as “KVD,” has become synonymous with bass fishing for the last 25 years. In 2018, VanDam was inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame. In addition, he is a seven-time B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year champion, Fishing League Worldwide Angler of the Year champion, four-time Bassmaster Classic winner and four-time Major League Fishing winner.
In 2015, Kevin and his wife started the Kevin VanDam Foundation to benefit charitable organizations that focus on children’s health, education and outdoor experiences. Through the foundation they have contributed thousands of dollars to various children’s research hospitals and to the Michigan DNR Outdoor Adventure Center. The Foundation also supports the college fishing movement by sponsoring college events in the Midwest and awarding thousands of dollars in college scholarships.
“Since 1983 Costa has been on a mission to build the best sunglasses for getting out on the water and conserving the waterways and fisheries where we work and play. KVD is not only a legend in the fishing community, but he truly embodies our mission and culture,” said Costa’s Vice President of Marketing, John Acosta. “Aside from being a fierce competitor, Kevin’s passion for getting people on the water, promoting healthy competition and commitment to sustaining the sport for future generations is something we really value here at Costa.”
Last year, the brand expanded its longtime support of bass fishing by introducing the Costa Compete + Conserve contingency program. An industry first, the program not only awards the highest placing angler wearing Costa Sunglasses in select tournament trails, but it also donates to a purpose-aligned organization on the angler’s behalf.
For more information about Costa Sunglasses and its product offering, visit www.costadelmar.com. To learn more about Costa’s Compete + Conserve bass contingency program benefitting conservation, visit www.costacompeteandconserve.com.
About Costa Sunglasses
As the first manufacturer of color-enhancing all-polarized glass sunglass lenses, Costa combines superior lens technology with unparalleled fit and durability. Costa has made the highest quality, best performing sunglasses and prescription sunglasses (Rx) for outdoor enthusiasts since 1983, and now its product portfolio includes optical frames. Costa’s growing cult-brand status ties directly to its purpose to provide high-quality products with a focus on sustainability and conservation as the company works hard to protect the waters it calls home. From the use of sustainable materials to its Kick Plastic initiative, IndiFly Foundation, and strong partnership with shark research organization OCEARCH, Costa encourages people to help protect the Earth’s natural resources in any way they can. Find out more on Costa’s website and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter at @CostaSunglasses.
Bassmaster College Series Kicks Off At Harris Chain
Florida's Harris Chain of Lakes will host the Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops Jan. 21-22, 2022.
Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S.
January 17, 2022
LEESBURG, Fla. — For the first time since Cole Sands and Conner Dimauro’s record-breaking performance in the 2020 College National Championship, the Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops will return to the Harris Chain of Lakes to kick off the 2022 regular season.
The two-man college teams will arrive toward the end of January, one of John Cox’s favorite times of the year to fish the chain.
“That January time is my favorite time to be there,” the third-year Elite Series pro said. “What really happens is dependent on the weather and whether we’ve had a really cold December (and) New Year’s. If it has been cold and we haven’t had many warming trends, it can really dictate a big push of fish on a warming trend that time of year. But in a really mild winter, it doesn’t group them up like it would if it got cold for a couple days and dropped the water temperature. In that case, they will be in all stages. They will be scattered a lot more.”
The Harris Chain will be the first of four regular-season events and a Wild Card event, which will serve as qualifying tournaments for the 2022 Bassmaster College National Championship.
Competition days will be Jan. 21-22 with daily takeoffs from Venetian Gardens in Leesburg at 7:10 a.m. ET and weigh-ins each day at Venetian Gardens at 3:10 p.m. Weigh-in coverage will be streamed on Bassmaster.com.
Containing eight major lakes, the Harris Chain has been a big-bass destination for many years and will also host the 2022 SiteOne Bassmaster Elite at Harris Chain Feb. 17-20. During the 2020 National Championship, which was held in October, Sands and Dimauro sacked up 84 pounds, 12 ounces to secure the largest three-day winning weight in Bassmaster history.
Hailing from DeBary, Fla., Cox guided on the chain for several years and has watched the system evolve. When he started fishing, there was no offshore grass and the Kissimmee grass near the bank was the primary cover. Now, offshore hydrilla dominates in tournaments, even during the spawn.
“It is crazy to watch that lake evolve and (see) how good and healthy it is now that the offshore grass is out there,” Cox said. “You would think, ‘Okay, we’ve got a warming trend coming. These fish are going to hit the bank and spawn.’ But it has constantly been won offshore. It just doesn’t matter what time of year.”
Based on the recent trend, Cox said he expects the winning bag from this event will come from an offshore grass area, although an early spawning event could lead to a big day for a couple of teams. Of the eight lakes that make up the Harris Chain, Cox added it can be won from any of them, but Harris and Little Harris allow anglers to maximize their time.
“It might not be in the middle of the lake like we’ve seen in the past, it could be in 3 to 4 feet,” Cox said. “It depends on how the grass comes in that year and how much they decide to spray it. They are going to be around where they are going to bed. Wherever has the cleanest looking water, that’s more than likely going to be the better fishing.”
The prespawn bass, Cox said, will be targeting shad and shiner, making it a perfect time of year to throw a rattletrap, crankbait and other types of hard baits as well as ChatterBaits. The Carolina rig can also come into play that time of the year.
The Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors and Bassmaster Junior Series will take place on Jan. 23.
The tournaments are being hosted by Lake County, the City of Leesburg and Greater Orlando Sports Commission.
2022 Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Strike King
2022 Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2022 Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2022 Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Berkley, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2022 Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Huk Performance Fishing, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
2022 Bassmaster College Series Youth Sponsors: Shimano, SPRO
Casting a Shadow..
Courtesy of Vance McCullough
I saw the shadow before I saw the squirrel.
The moving shadow.
Shadows and movement always give the game away.
When I taught my kids to sightfish, I taught them to look for shadows first. The fish may materialize after that, but even if not, you know where they are and may be able to sneak a lure into their path before they see you.
Bass do the same thing. Eyes positioned atop their head; they see what’s above very well. Our shadows and movement could end the game for us if we’re unaware of the fish’s’ position. Nothing spooks fish faster.
But we can use shadows to catch fish as well. One of the biggest revelations of the swimbait game is that the slow, wounded, vulnerable lures work brilliantly when the sun shines brightly. It’s hard to top the drawing power of a large opaque swimbait struggling overhead, casting a shadow through all columns of the water until it reaches the lake floor or dissolves into the depths, it’s cone of influence attracting attention from fish below.
While such lures are often associated with cloud cover and wind - those conditions can create memorable days - don’t overlook the value of a shadow and the ways you can use it to draw bass from big distances on calm, sunny days.
Take advantage of that.
Long rods and braided line increase casting distance, critical when fish are following a bait and need time to decide to attack, as happens constantly with swimbaits. Fluorocarbon lights up like a laser. It is not ‘invisible’ when the sun is beaming on it. Braid. Long, stiff rods will also let you reach out and touch someone when they eat the bait far from the boat.
Shadows.
Moving shadows always betray the prey. And the hunter.
Sometimes the game just comes down to ‘who casts the better shadow?’.
Gray Tapped to Oversee MLF Western Events in 2022
Former Walleye and Longtime Bass Fishing League Tournament Director Alan Gray Adds Western Toyota Series, College Fishing and High School Fishing Events to Duties
BENTON, Ky. (Jan. 13, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF) announced today that veteran Phoenix Bass Fishing League Tournament Director Alan Gray has been selected to oversee the league’s western events in 2022, including the Toyota Series, Abu Garcia College Fishing and High School Fishing tournaments. Gray will remain the Tournament Director for the BFL Michigan, Mississippi, Music City and Savannah River divisions in 2022. He will work alongside Toyota Series Tournament Director Mark McWha and Senior Director of Tournament Operations for College and High School Kevin Hunt on his new western responsibilities.
Gray brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Western events, as he has directed hundreds of events in his time with Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) and now MLF. Gray started in the Customer Service department in 2008 before being promoted to the operations staff in 2009. Gray assumed head tournament director duties of the FLW Walleye Tour in 2011 and 2012, then became a full-time Bass Fishing League tournament director in 2013, a role he has held since. Working more than 20 events each season has earned Gray the respect of his peers and the anglers he works with across the country.
“Alan is one of the most dependable, friendliest and efficient tournament directors employed at MLF, and he is beloved by our anglers,” said MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager Kathy Fennel. “We are fortunate to have him as part of our MLF family, and we are excited for him in this new role, where he will ensure a strong MLF presence in the west.”
Gray will oversee a total of nine events out west, starting in early March with the first Western Division events of the year at Lake Havasu. He will work closely with McWha and Hunt to ensure the events run smoothly.
“I have only been out west once before in my life, but I hear the lakes and the areas that we visit are absolutely gorgeous, and I know the fishing is great, so I’m really looking forward to the opportunity,” Gray said.
“I’ve worked dozens of High School tournaments over the years, but this will be the first time I’ve ever worked the College Fishing events,” Gray continued. “I love being around the student anglers – the enthusiasm, the excitement – those events are always extremely rewarding. I’m just excited to get out there and do the job that I’m being put out there to do – run a few great events and get more western anglers out on the water.”
Registration for the western events and all 2022 Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E., Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI and High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing tournaments is now open. Anglers can register for the online at MajorLeagueFishing.com or by calling MLF Membership Services at 270.252.1000.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Toyota Series, Abu Garcia College Fishing and High School Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
AC Rookie Pod with Elite Series Pro Jonathon Kelley
This week David welcomes in Jonathon Kelley to the show to talk about how he got involved in fishing, tournament fishing and eventually qualifying for the Bassmaster Elite Series through the Northern Opens.
Nominations Open For C.A.S.T. For Kids B.A.S.S. Humanitarian Award
Allen Nation, Founder and Executive Director of Adaptive Sports for Kids, was honored with the 2021 C.A.S.T. for Kids B.A.S.S. Humanitarian Award for his decade of work creating sports programs for special needs adults and children.
Photo courtesy of Adaptive Sports for Kids
January 12, 2022
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. and the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation are accepting nominations for their annual humanitarian award recognizing the important work being done by many anglers to support fragile populations. The C.A.S.T. for Kids B.A.S.S. Humanitarian Award will honor one B.A.S.S. member who has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to serving groups such as children with special needs, veterans, abuse survivors or any people who need extra help and support.
“We are proud to collaborate with the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation to honor the many volunteers in both of our organizations who make such a positive impact in their communities,” said B.A.S.S. chairman and CEO Chase Anderson. “While only one person will receive this award, we hope it will spotlight the incredible work being done by so many of our members across the country.”
The 2021 C.A.S.T. for Kids B.A.S.S. Humanitarian Award honored Allen Nation, Founder and Executive Director of Adaptive Sports for Kids during the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk. Nation, of Orange, Texas, was selected by a panel of judges from a strong field of nominations for his deep commitment to encourage kids of all ability levels to get outdoors.
“Having a daughter with special needs and enjoying playing a sport, it was only natural to do what was needed to make that happen,” said Nation. “There isn’t a better feeling than watching a child smile after playing a sport they never thought they could or would. They feel a sense of belonging. We get the pleasure to see these athletes grow in size, age, maturity and their abilities through the years.”
Adaptive Sports for Kids is a nonprofit founded in 2011 that gives children and adults with special needs the opportunity to play sports they may not otherwise be able to play, all at no cost to them. Each athlete is partnered with a “buddy” volunteer who will help their athlete with whatever they need; whether it’s batting, running, pushing their wheelchair or just playing alongside them.
To be considered for the award, a B.A.S.S. member must be nominated by February 4, 2022. Any member doing exemplary community service will be considered. The nomination form can be found at Bassmaster.com/award.
The Executive Director of the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation is Bassmaster Elite Series pro Jay Yelas, who is one of the most decorated anglers in the sport. After serving on the Foundation’s Board of Directors for 10 years, Yelas took over as Executive Director in 2015.
“The sport of bass fishing is full of folks with big hearts who enjoy serving others; we meet them all the time at C.A.S.T. for Kids events,” said Yelas. “I think it’s significant that the C.A.S.T. for Kids B.A.S.S. Humanitarian Award exists to recognize and show appreciation to those in the B.A.S.S. family who serve their community well.”
Judges from both B.A.S.S. and the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation will review all nominations as well as verify the humanitarian work of the honoree. It is important to note that, while C.A.S.T. for Kids focuses on giving special needs kids fishing opportunities, the nominations are open to B.A.S.S. members doing any form of good work to help a fragile population. The winner will be announced as part of the festivities surrounding March’s Bassmaster Classic in Greenville, S.C.
About C.A.S.T. for Kids
The C.A.S.T. for Kids program has been proven to enrich the lives of children with special needs by hosting events that prove children with disabilities can accomplish anything. These events allow them to enjoy a unique fishing and boating event, one where they can leave their cares on shore and feel “normal” for a day. The events have many lasting benefits. The kids feel genuinely loved, valued and accepted by their community, and are celebrated as winners at an awards ceremony. The Foundation has seen tremendous positive improvements in growing their social skills and overcoming behavioral issues through their interactions at events with community volunteers and children of similar disabilities. Encouraging the kids with a team-oriented approach, the C.A.S.T. for Kids Foundation has enhanced the lives of over 120,000 kids over the last three decades. To learn more, visit castforkids.org.
Strike King and Lew’s Announce Additions to Pro Staff
Rather Outdoors is pleased to welcome ten members to the Pro Teams of Strike King Lure Company and Lew’s. These ten join the ranks of one of the most accomplished rosters in professional competitive fishing.
First, Strike King announces that Major League Fishing pro Brent Chapman will join the team in 2022. The Kansas native is the 2012 Bassmaster Elite Series Angler of the Year, with four first place Major League Fishing victories and an impressive 36 Top Ten career finishes.
Major League Fishing pro Scott Suggs, winner of the 2007 Forrest Wood Cup and top finishes in both FLW and MLF, also joins the family at Lew’s and Strike King. Notably, Suggs is the first angler ever to win a million-dollar event, the Forrest Wood Cup Championship, as well as the first Major League Select to win a Major League Cup.
Team Lew’s is pleased to welcome MLF Bass Pro Tour veteran Todd Faircloth. The Texan has long been a member of the Pro Team at Strike King, and now brings his six wins and 45 Top Ten finishes to Lew’s. Aside from the impressive finishes Faircloth has racked up in his 24 years as a professional angler, he also has 17 Bassmaster Classic appearances on his record.
MLF pro Marty Robinson joins the ranks of the Strike King Pro Staff in 2022. The South Carolinian comes to the team with 23 Top Ten finishes in his career, including two Bass Fishing League wins and top finishes in the Toyota Series. Robinson most recently battled to a first-place finish at the MLF 2021 Summit Cup on one of his home fisheries in South Carolina, the legendary Lake Murray.
Strike King and Lew’s are also pleased to welcome several newcomers to the professional ranks, anglers who have proven themselves on the water during their first seasons in the majors. Alabama native Josh Stracner, who recently earned the title of 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie of the Year, joins the teams, as does 22-year-old Jay Przekurat, who months ago qualified for 2022 Elite Series, becoming one of the youngest in the sport to do so. North Carolina’s KJ Queen, currently in his second season in the Bassmaster Elite Series, is a tournament veteran, competing locally and regionally since age seven. Rookie Tristan McCormick, a seasoned competitor and Champion of the 2021 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Tournament, has just earned a coveted berth in the 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic. Alabama pro Justin Hamner, who cut his teeth battling in Junior World Championships and the Bassmaster Opens, joins Team Lew’s as his first year in the Bassmaster Elite Series draws to a close and having just qualified for the Classic.
Rounding out the rookie class is Illinois native Trey McKinney. By far the youngest competitor on the Strike King and Lew’s team, Trey doesn’t lack the passion and grit, nor the resume to back up his placement on such a high-profile roster. Still in his teens, Trey has three career wins and seven Top Ten’s. He competes in the Illini Division of the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League.
Lew’s and Strike King are excited to grow their legendary ranks. CEO Ken Eubanks explains: “We are exceptionally proud of our Pro Team, and we invest a lot of time and energy in building the very best. We are honored to welcome iconic names like Chapman, Suggs, Faircloth and Robinson – gentlemen who have spent decades cultivating this sport and sharing their passion with others. Likewise, we could not be more pleased to earn the support and trust of a new generation of accomplished competitors. We are excited about the enthusiasm and innovation they bring.”
Cale Hired As New Bassmaster Youth Series Tournament Manager
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Veteran youth tournament manager Glenn Cale has been hired as the B.A.S.S. Nation Tournament Manager-College, High School and Junior, officials announced today. In this role, Cale will report to B.A.S.S. Nation Director Jon Stewart and will be responsible for both managing and helping to grow the popular Bassmaster youth circuits.
“We are excited to welcome Glenn to the home office as the new youth Tournament Manager,” said Stewart. “He has already been a part of the B.A.S.S. family as the Florida Youth Director and has done many great things with that program on the state level.
“I am confident his experience on the state level, as well as his passion and love for youth fishing, will serve all of the B.A.S.S. youth programs well!”
Prior to accepting the Tournament Manager position, Cale served as the Florida B.A.S.S. Nation Youth and College Director beginning in 2018 and as the Florida B.A.S.S. Nation State Tournament Director from 2015-2018. Under Cale’s leadership, participation in the youth tournaments tripled.
According to Cale, that growth can be attributed to ideas borrowed from the Elite Series: “We wanted to change the mindset of what a youth tournament looks like and more closely mirror the Elite Series stage and integrate a jumbotron for weigh-ins; really make Florida events more of a show for the kids.
“Working with Bassmaster is all about providing a platform for the best kids in the country to show off their fishing skills,” said Cale. “It’s an honor to share the stage with the future of the sport, and I am looking forward to bringing new ideas to the college, high school and junior ranks at all levels while representing the B.A.S.S. shield.”
In his professional life, Cale spent eight years as an umpire for Major League Baseball and 16 years as a District Sales Manager for the Southeast Toyota Service Rite Program.
The Strike King Bassmaster College Series kicks off next weekend with a two-day college tournament Jan. 21-22 on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes, with the Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Junior Series taking the stage in Leesburg on Sunday, Jan. 23.
Plano Expands Popular Stealth EVA Storage Line
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#Beyond The Boat
This week Chris and the boys welcome in your first winners for 2022 in the Emmanuel College team of TJ McKenzie and Seth Jenkins. They break down the Harris Chain for us and talk about what #Beyondtheboat Means to them.
Ron Ryals on the power of the Fluke
Courtesy of Vance McCullough
A popular guide on Florida’s famed Bienville Plantation, Ron Ryals often puts a fluke in the hands of a client, knowing they will soon be handling big bass as well. He doesn’t need shiners to produce memorable trips on the well-managed lakes that also serve as a great laboratory for the exploration of various techniques.
“All we use is artificials,” declares Ryals. The teacher is also a student, studying how different customers use the fluke. Likewise, he’s been taken to school by co-anglers throwing flukes behind him in his boat on competition days. All of this has helped Ryals to refine his approach with this simple piece of plastic, a tool he relies on heavily when fishing the Bassmaster Eastern Opens.
“I throw a fluke more than anything else,” says Ryals. “I’ve got a lot of confidence in it. I’ve always got one tied on.”
Co-anglers commonly follow the sport’s best pros with a fluke and rack up impressive weights. Once they make the jump to the front deck, the vast majority of these same anglers inexplicably stash the soft jerks in favor of more ‘sophisticated’ lures and techniques.
Ryals is not among them.
While the fluke has played a major role for him on Florida fisheries such as the Kissimmee Chain and Harris Chain, Ryals has used the simple lure to great advantage all across the nation for fun and profit. “Illinois, especially Rend Lake, Texas, Oklahoma, New York. I had a really good time on the Potomac River with them, fishing big grass flats at the mouths of major creeks,” he shares.
Perhaps most memorable for Ryals is the tournament, and again, the technique, that launched him into serious tournament competition. “It was in the fall,” he begins. “I was fishing the Paralyzed Veterans of America trail – you don’t have to be a veteran to fish them – and I threw a double fluke rig to place 7th on Clark’s Hill. That gave me the Angler of the Year title for the PVA trail which also qualified me for the 2010 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship on the Red River. That river was very intimidating, and I didn’t do well but I watched Brandon Palaniuk win that tournament and qualify for the Classic and the Elite Series. We see where he is now. That experience gave me a lot of confidence. Up until that point, I had only fished the Opens a little bit. The fluke played a huge roll in all of that.”
Away from the pressures of tournament angling, the fluke produced a 10-pound, 9-ounce bass for Ryals from the Suwannee River while he was fun fishing near his home in Live Oak, Fla. Sasquatch sightings are more common than 10-pound bass along the river which drains from the Okefenokee Swamp, a hot spot for Big Foot encounters. The Suwannee is a much better place to catch numbers of spirited, smaller bass. Ryals is justifiably proud of his unusually large fish and the technique that produced it in an unlikely location, though true fluke practitioners are rarely surprised at their success.
Ryals says patience, or lack thereof, is likely the only thing that stops more tournament anglers from using it in competition. Soft jerkbaits seem to take too much precious time for many hyped-up fishing pros. “We fish one for fun all the time but in a tournament, sometimes we feel like we need to cover a hundred yards of bank in five minutes,” admits Ryals.
As a result, he sees “very few” competitors using it. Ryals is fine with that. He enjoys a high level of comfort when fishing behind other competitors. “I know I can go down the bank and pick up fish they are missing,” he grins.
As much as anglers hate to admit it, even on the best days, bass spend most hours in something other than all-out feeding mode. “If they’re not wanting to chase those moving baits as much, even though they’re chasing shad, if you twitch it, kill it and just let it sink down for a couple of feet that’s when they’re gonna eat it if they’re pressured, in my experience fishing behind somebody,” shares Ryals. “Twitch it, let it sink down, twitch it again, let it sink down – it’s different than a moving bait. They think ‘huh, that’s a little different. That’s a dying shad or herring.’ They’ll pick it up and you’re good to go.”
While the fluke may be the ultimate imitation of a dying baitfish during a winter shad kill, don’t make the mistake saving it for only the slowest times. It is among the most multifaceted lures ever devised and can be adapted to fit most any situation. “I literally fish it twelve months out of the year,” says Ryals. “In the spring you can pitch it across a bed, let it sink down and they’ll think it’s trying to mess with the bed. Then, especially at Bienville when we’re guiding, those fish will start schooling right after they come off the spawn and you can work it just as fast as you want to on top of the water with it jumping and darting everywhere and they really like it like that. The fluke is also great in the fall time when shad start bunching up in pockets.”
Ryals prefers the power of baitcasting gear to spinning outfits for the weightless presentation. “I like a 6’ 9” medium heavy baitcasting rod - Lew’s rods and reels have worked well for me - twelve-pound fluorocarbon line with a number twelve swivel about a foot, maybe fourteen inches, up the line.”
The swivel is an important component for Ryals. The extra weight gets the lure down to make it more efficient but also protects his line. “I originally did it just for the twist. The fluke spins in the water some, especially if it’s torn up or caught a few fish, but the swivel adds some weight too. It also adds a different action to it that I like.”
As for the question of when to set the hook, “I just make sure it’s heavy,” says Ryals. “I kind of give it a little bit and then set the hook. I don’t give them very long at all, but whether I feel that thump or see the blow up, I just make sure it’s heavy and then set the hook.”
The hook he’s setting these days is a 4/0 Mustad Grip-Pin Big Bite Soft Plastic Hook. It’s stealthy, especially when compared to an EWG style often favored by anglers for soft plastics. He believes a hook can be too big for the fluke, but the Big Bite model fits perfectly. “It comes right to the back of the hook pocket (in the lure), right before the bait gets thin.” The taper of the hook, combined with a modest bend, helps to give the lure a cone-shaped head which comes through cover well while keeping the plastic pinned. “That little epoxy bead near the eye of the hook holds the bait really well when you pop it or twitch it out of the grass.
“I tried wide gap hooks and I ended up losing more fish or didn’t get a good hookset and I just went back to the offset, round bend hook. It’s worked.”
Weather-wise, a breeze is helpful, but strong wind is the major limiting factor for this technique. It makes casting difficult, blows a big bow in the line that moves the lightweight offering out of the strike zone quickly and makes strike detection a challenge. Ryals has some great advice for fishing an unweighted fluke in the wind: “Don’t!”
Water clarity is another factor to consider. The clearer the water, the stronger the drawing power of the soft jerkbait.
Ryals is pretty basic in his size, brand, color selection. “I use the normal size, what are they, 5 inches? And I use a couple different brands, Zoom, and the one made by Bitter’s is good too.”
Watermelon red and watermelon candy are mainstays for Ryals who feels those colors represent a variety of baitfish, as does the fluke in general. He did use the pearl white color in the aforementioned tourney on Clarks Hill but said that he was imitating blueback herring, prevalent in the clear waters of the Savannah River impoundment, more so than shad. “I think the bass see it as any type of bait fish. It can kind of copy any of them. It depends more on how you work it and what you do with it than on color. You can work it slow, almost like a Senko – twitch it a little bit and let it sink down a ways or you can work it on top if they’re chasing bait on the surface. It’s pretty versatile in my opinion.
“Once you have the patience to throw it.”
Keith Carson Shares Spawn Techniques
By Justin Brouillard
When Keith was 17 years old growing up in Florida, he and close friend John Cox began to learn how to sight fish. It was 2004 when the duo started to expand on their skills and in 2005 they won the AOY in the Central Florida Bass Anglers club. The fire was lit, and Carson has since fine-tuned his craft and is successful in locating and catching big spawning bass.
The Technique
Carson has tried many different approaches over the years but seems to find himself having a great deal of success with one in particular. After studying baitfish and brim over his career, he learned how bass react to baitfish on their beds before and after the eggs have been laid.
“Brim are around the bass beds constantly during the spawn, patiently waiting to sneak in and grab a quick meal while the bass is not looking. I noticed how the bass reacts when this happens and have adapted an approach that takes advantage of the presence of brim.”
Carson likes to fish a Berkley Powerbait® Gilly around the spawn as he can closely mimic baitfish of different species. Prior to the laying of the eggs, the Debary, Florida angler Texas rigs his swimbait weightless as it keeps the bait higher in the strike zone for fish that are preparing to spawn.
“I will pitch that Gilly to the far side of the bed, let it sink and slowly swim it across the bed, killing it near the middle. I'll then hop it up and down and it usually gets finicky bass that have yet to lay eggs to bite. After they lay eggs, I'll add a weight to my presentation to keep the bait on the bottom where the eggs are.”
In Carson's experience, certain bass will sit outside the bed on purpose and let the brim swim in. Once enough are there, the fish will swim in and start knocking them off. By having a bait that looks like the brim, and waiting until other brim are on the bed, when the bass begins to chase the brim away, the Gilly remains and is often an easy meal for an angry fish.
“I used to start with jigs (they resemble a bluegill) or the Berkley General, but they wouldn't eat it in this case because it doesn't look enough like the baitfish. By using the Gilly, it's certainly opening doors to new possibilities to catching fish we have not seen before.”
Carson notes this tactic is not always quick, in some cases one cast can take longer than five minutes. After casting beyond the bed, it requires patience to present the bait simultaneously as other brim start to make their way in. Once you get it dialed, the fish will swim in, the brim scatter and the fish eat the bait.
Gear
Carson relies on two main set ups for his spawn fishing technique. The same rod and reel combo works for both, but changing between different lines allows him to present his baits to spawning fish in different cover and water clarity.
“Florida bass will spawn in thick cover in and around the Kissimmee grass and holes in hydrilla. When I set the hook, they always try to get you wrapped up and the percentage of landing those fish drastically goes down. In that situation, for thick cover, I use a 40-pound Berkley X5 braided line on a Zenon high-speed reel. I use a 7’6” Fantasista medium-heavy action rod all the time.”
When fishing in more open water scenarios, along the edges of the Kissimmee grass and out from it, Carson will throw the Gilly on 20-pound Berkley Big Game monofilament. A strong line for fish that often weigh over 7-pounds, monofilament is strong and will not break with big fish. If the water is cleaner, which often is when a natural spring is close by, Carson will reach for Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon in a 20-pound test.
Why medium-heavy?
“For me, the medium-heavy is better than heavier model rods because the Fantasista still has the power and bend to get big fish to the boat, but I feel like I lose and break off less fish by using the lighter power rod.”
Costa Sunglasses names John Acosta Vice President of Marketing
Acosta is tapped to lead global marketing efforts for the performance eyewear brand.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (January 11, 2022) – Costa Sunglasses, manufacturer of the first color-enhancing all-polarized glass sunglass lens, appointed industry veteran John Acosta as its Vice President of Marketing. With more than 20 years of experience in the outdoor and fishing industries, Acosta will oversee Costa’s global marketing efforts creating a consistent brand experience in every channel of its business.
Acosta brings a deep knowledge and connection to the fishing industry, as well as experience in branding, storytelling and grassroots marketing to his position. He joins the team as Costa comes off a year of record growth and looks ahead to the new year with a continued commitment to support its core community of anglers and water enthusiasts, while also growing the brand globally and in the outdoor market.
“We’re looking forward to working with John to not only continue expanding our brand globally, but to engage more directly with our core fans – the anglers, adventurers and explorers who live to be on the water,” said Justin Cupps, Senior Vice President at Costa. “Of course we’ve joked about how fitting his last name is (Acosta), but honestly, having John come on board – with his considerable talent, energy and industry reputation – is a huge win for Costa.”
Before joining Costa, Acosta served as the Vice President of Marketing & Business Development at Major League Fishing (MLF) where he was responsible for brand building and strategic partnerships to elevate the MLF brand and its platforms. Prior to MLF, Acosta served as the Director of Marketing for Bass Pro Shops for 12 years. In that role, Acosta was responsible for all broad-reach marketing initiatives — media, sports, entertainment, partnerships, sponsorships, brand marketing and content — helping to elevate the national profile of the Bass Pro Shops brand as it became an industry-leading outdoor retailer. John also spent time in various leadership positions at ad agencies in Chicago, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Boston and Springfield.
“At first I was bummed to hear Acosta was leaving Major League Fishing. He was a big part of the team,” said Casey Ashley, professional bass fisherman and Costa pro. “I was kind of thinking ‘who stole our guy?’ Then, I heard he was going to be a part of the Costa team and I couldn’t have been happier. I’ve been a part of the Costa team for a long time and it’s a family of hard working people that are passionate about what they do. I think he will fit right in.”
“Costa is such an incredible brand. Their commitment to building the best products, topped with their widespread efforts to protect waterways, fisheries and coastal communities, makes it a dream opportunity,” said Acosta. “With interest and participation in fishing growing right now, it’s an exciting time for the industry and brand. I’m honored to jump in amongst such a talented team.”
About Costa Sunglasses
As the first manufacturer of color-enhancing all-polarized glass sunglass lenses, Costa combines superior lens technology with unparalleled fit and durability. Costa has made the highest quality, best performing sunglasses and prescription sunglasses (Rx) for outdoor enthusiasts since 1983, and now its product portfolio includes optical frames. Costa’s growing cult-brand status ties directly to its purpose to provide high-quality products with a focus on sustainability and conservation as the company works hard to protect the waters it calls home. From the use of sustainable materials to its Kick Plastic initiative, IndiFly Foundation, and strong partnership with shark research organization OCEARCH, Costa encourages people to help protect the Earth’s natural resources in any way they can. Find out more on Costa’s website and join the conversation on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter at @CostaSunglasses.
MLF Korea's Television Broadcast of 2021 Toyota Series Championship
From MLF
MLF Korea has posted their version of the Toyota Series Championship show that is airing on MBC Korea, one of the leading television and radio companies in South Korea." It's very cool to see the unique way that they put their show together." Says Joe Opager, director of communications for Major League Fishing.
You can view the show below on their Facebook and/or their YouTube page.
https://www.facebook.com/1003362593088075/posts/4730824330341864
Here is a link directly to the episode, available on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/_WqGz1Qb6pg
LurePartsOnline.com Sponsors American Bass Anglers
Athens, AL – January 5, 2022 – American Bass Anglers announced today the sponsorship of LurePartsOnline.com as a supporting sponsor and the Official Lure Parts partner of American Bass Anglers.
Bass anglers all over the planet love building their own lures and even repairing their most prized lures. LurePartsOnline.com offers more than 40,000 different parts to help anglers accomplish their goals.
Anglers can build premium tackle with the products and lure components and hard-to-find items the company offers. ABA members will discover that LuresPartsOnline is a complete source for fishing lure components and bulk items they need.
“Many of our members have been building their own lures for years and winning tournaments with them, LurePartsOnline.com will help them build lures even more successfully. LurePartsOnline.com is also the right place for the beginning lure builder to start. We are proud to have them as a sponsor”, said Morris Sheehan, President of American Bass Anglers.
LurePartsOnline.com CEO, Ron Stevens, agreed. “The ABA is a natural fit for us. We carry everything bass anglers need to create, improve and modify their lures and tackle.” He added, “We offer tournament bass anglers the opportunity to fine tune their presentations to a very high degree. Small changes can mean a big difference at weigh-in.”
LurePartsOnline.com was established in 1992 and is celebrating 30 years in the business. It all began in a garage and has since grown into the nation’s largest supplier of lure making, rod building, and fly tying supplies. Headquartered in Springfield, Il, LurePartsOnline.com now sells to avid anglers all over the world.
American Bass Anglers is sponsored by Caymas Boats, Mercury Marine, T-H Marine, Garmin Electronics, Power Pole, Lucas Oil, Monster Energy, REKS Sunglasses, Optima Batteries, Hotel Planner.com, and LurePartsOnline.com.
Marion County Bassmasters Wins First MLF High School Fishing Open of 2022 on Harris Chain of Lakes
LEESBURG, Fla. (Jan. 10, 2022) – The Marion County Bassmasters High School team of Claude Loftin of St. Augustine, Florida, and Tyson Verkaik of Eustis, Florida, brought five bass to the scale Saturday weighing 19 pounds, 14 ounces, to win the season-opening MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open at the Harris Chain of Lakes.
A field of 28 teams competed in the no-entry fee tournament, which launched from the Venetian Gardens in Leesburg. In MLF and The Bass Federation (TBF) High School Fishing competition, the top 10% of teams competing advance to the High School Fishing National Championship.
The top two teams that advanced to the 2022 High School Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Marion County Bass Masters – Claude Loftin, St. Augustine, Fla., and Tyson Verkaik, Eustis, Fla., five bass, 19-14
2nd: Central Florida Youth Anglers – Logan Cardwell, Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla., and Kaden Snavely, Grand Island, Fla., five bass, 18-6
Rounding out the top 10 teams were:
3rd: Hidden Lake Big Bass – Dalton Defilice, Howe, Ind., and Elijah Meyers, Fort Wayne, Ind., five bass, 17-1
4th: Gainesville High School, Gainesville, Fla. – Julian Mendoza and Reginald Moore, five bass, 16-13
5th: Bass Tactix HS Fishing – Chance Shelby, Denim Springs, La., and Levi Thibodaux, Thibodaux, La., five bass, 16-9
6th: TSA Teen Sport Fishing Association – Patrick Bartolotta, Lake Mary, Fla., and Brady Biles, Sanford, Fla., five bass, 13-8
7th: Fishing Buddies – Isaac Dorland, Dunnellon, Fla., and Jason Haynes, Fruitland Park, Fla., five bass, 13-6
8th: Salt Homeschool Group – Drew Bradstreet and Kamden Bradstreet, both of Lutz, Fla., five bass, 13-3
9th: Rhea County High School, Evensville, Tenn. – Andon Goins and Blake Wheat, five bass, 12-14
10th: West Morgan High School, Trinity, Ala. – Ty Carruth and Lake Johnson, five bass, 12-12
Complete results from the event can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open at the Harris Chain of Lakes was hosted by Lake County, Florida. The next event for High School Fishing anglers will be the MLF High School Fishing Presented by Favorite Fishing Open on Toledo Bend, Jan. 22, in Many, Louisiana.
MLF High School Fishing presented by Favorite Fishing tournaments are free, two-person (team) events for students in grades 7-12 and are open to any MLF and TBF Student Angler Federation-affiliated high school club. The top 10% of teams at each Open event, along with the TBF High School Fishing state championships, will advance to the 2022 High School Fishing National Championship. The 2022 MLF High School Fishing National Championship will be held on Pickwick and Wilson Lakes in Florence, Alabama, June 22-25, and is hosted by the Florence-Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.
The High School Fishing National Champions will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship to the school of their choice and advance to the 2022 MLF Toyota Series Championship to compete as co-anglers.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular High School Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Casteel Wins Phoenix Bass Fishing League Season Opener on Sam Rayburn Reservoir
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Boater Austin Casteel of Sulphur, Louisiana, and Strike-King co-angler J.J. Matzke of League City, Texas
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League City’s Matzke Wins Strike King Co-Angler Division
BROOKELAND, TEXAS (Jan. 10, 2022) – Boater Austin Casteel of Sulphur, Louisiana, caught five bass Saturday weighing 19 pounds, 3 ounces, to win the MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine season opener on Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Casteel earned $6,000 for his victory. “The lake is fishing tough right now, and I knew the wind was going to be kicking, so I just tried to make the right decisions,” Casteel said. “It was tough.” The win was Casteel’s first entry as a boater – his only previous Major League Fishing BFL event was as a Strike King co-angler. Casteel said he relied on a drop-shot rig tipped with a watermelon red Zoom Finesse Worm during the tournament to bag his limit. “I caught my kicker fish on my fourth or fifth cast of the day,” Casteel said. “The only pressure I felt after that was that I didn’t want to catch just one big fish.” Casteel said he boated 30 to 40 fish during the course of the day. “The only time it kind of slowed up was when a storm blew through and it was tough to get bit,” Casteel said. “But as soon as that started calming down, they started biting again.” The top 10 boaters finished the tournament in: 1st: Austin Casteel, Sulphur, La., five bass, 19-3, $6,000 Complete results can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com. Elliott caught 7-pound, 12-ounce largemouth that was the heaviest of the event in the Boater Division and earned the day’s Berkley Big Bass Boater award of $1,000. J.J. Matzke of League City, Texas, won the Strike King Co-angler Division and $3,000 Saturday after catching five bass weighing 21 pounds, 4 ounces. The top 10 Strike King co-anglers were: 1st: J.J. Matzke, League City, Texas, five bass, 21-4, $3,000 Singleton caught the largest bass in the Co-angler Division, a fish weighing in at 8 pounds, 14 ounces. The catch earned him the day’s Berkley Big Bass Co-angler award of $500. The top 45 boaters and co-anglers in the region based on point standings, along with the five winners in each qualifying event, will be entered in the Oct. 20-22 Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Grand Lake in Grove, Oklahoma. Boaters will compete for a top award of $60,000, including a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard and $10,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Phoenix 819 Pro with a 200-horsepower Mercury outboard. The 2022 Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 128 tournaments throughout the season, five qualifying events in each division. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers from each division, along with the five winners of the qualifying events, will advance to one of six Regional Championships where they are competing to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Phoenix Bass Fishing League All-American. The 2022 All-American will be held June 2-4 at Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs. The top 45 boaters and Strike King co-anglers plus tournament winners from each Phoenix Bass Fishing League division will also earn priority entry into the MLF Toyota Series, the pathway to the MLF Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit and ultimately the MLF Bass Pro Tour. For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular Bass Fishing League updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. |
Emmanuel College Wins MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Opener on Harris Chain of Lakes
LEESBURG, Fla. (Jan. 10, 2022) – The Emmanuel College duo of Seth Jenkins of Townville, South Carolina, and T.J. McKenzie of Andrews, South Carolina, won the MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on the Harris Chain of Lakes Friday with a five-bass limit weighing 25 pounds, 14 ounces. The victory earned the Lion’s bass club $2,000 and a slot in the 2023 MLF College Fishing National Championship.
A total of 189 teams participated in this event, which was the largest season-opening field in MLF College Fishing history.
The Emmanuel College team had hoped to bag a limit of 30 pounds during competition, but their five fish weighed enough to give them a 1-ounce victory over Webber International University.
“We had the mindset that we didn’t want to come in with less than 30 pounds, because that’s what usually wins these college tournaments,” Jenkins said. “That was our complete drive all week.
“We had two offshore spots that we fished all day, and we alternated between those two spots every hour and a half,” Jenkins added. “We had people fishing down our stretches all day, but they were power-fishing and we were fishing slow. We probably spent a minute and a half on each cast.”
Jenkin said his bait of choice was a 6th Sense Ridge Worm, while McKenzie focused on a Zoom Speed Worm.
“We know for a fact there are bigger fish where we were fishing,” Jenkins said. “I think if we would have had two more hours we probably would have caught a fish over 8 pounds. But that didn’t happen.
“Our whole conversation idling back through the canal was that we were expecting a top-10 finish. We weren’t expecting to win, but we kept grinding all day.”
The top 10 teams that advanced to the 2023 College Fishing National Championship are:
1st: Emmanuel College – Seth Jenkins of Townville, South Carolina, and T.J. McKenzie of Andrews, South Carolina, five bass, 25-14, $2,000
2nd: Webber International University – Vincent Maffei, Lake Wales, Fla., and Andrew Ready, Auburndale, Fla., five bass, 25-13, $1,000
3rd: Florida Gateway College – Zack Barrera, Morriston, Fla., and Bryson Osteen, Live Oak, Fla., five bass, 25-9, $500
4th: University of Montevallo – Nicholas Dumke and Easton Fothergill, both of Grand Rapids, Minn., five bass, 22-1, $500
5th: University of Montevallo – Jack Alexander, Mountain Brook, Ala., and Brody Robison, Dawson, Ala., five bass, 20-14, $500
6th: Florida Gateway College – Seth Slanker and Jackson Swisher, both of Lake City, Fla., five bass, 20-3
7th: Carson Newman University – Ben Cully, Rockwall, Texas, and Hayden Gaddis, Dandridge, Tenn., five bass, 18-9
8th: Emmanuel College – Brooks Anderson, Marietta, Ga., and Parker Guy, Ocilla, Ga., five bass, 18-3
9th: Erskine College – Jeremy Dellinger, Denver, N.C., and Adam Seagle, Lincolnton, N.C., five bass, 18-1
10th: Florida State University – Luke McDaniel, Fort Myers, Fla., and Tanner Scarborough, Winter Haven, Fla., five bass, 17-15
MLF also advances one additional team to the National Championship for every 10 teams over 100 that compete. A total of 189 teams participated in this event, so also advancing to the 2023 College Fishing National Championship are:
11th: University of Montevallo – Ryan Branch, Chelsea, Ala., and Kopeland Rosser, Helena, Ala., five bass, 17-9
12th: Auburn University – James Cobbs and Conner Crosby, both of Auburn, Ala., five bass, 17-1
13th: Georgetown College – Cameron Cornelius, Mount Vernon, Ky., and Tyler Greenlee, Paris, Ky., five bass, 16-6
14th: University of Montevallo – Tyler Cory, Amherst, Wis., and Scott Sledge, Greenwood, Ind., five bass, 16-3
15th: University of Tennessee – Garrett Lewis, Knoxville, Tenn., and Chad Sentell, Cottontown, Tenn., five bass, 16-2
16th: Bryan College – Caleb Bridges and Jacob Davidson, both of Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 15-14
17th: Emannuel College – Kollin Smith, Bowersville, Ga., and Gabe Sowash, Gainesville, Ga., five bass, 15-4
18th: Bryan College – Andrew Fisher, Calhoun, Ga., and Elijah Kirk, Chattanooga, Tenn., five bass, 15-1
Complete results for the entire field can be found at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on the Harris Chain of Lakes was hosted by Lake County, Florida. It was the first of three regular-season tournaments for Southeastern Conference anglers. The next event for College Fishing anglers will be the Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI event on Toledo Bend, Jan. 21 in Many, Louisiana.
MLF College Fishing teams compete in three regular-season tournaments in one of five conferences – Central, Northern, Southern, Southeastern and Western. The top 10 teams from each division’s three regular-season tournaments and the top 20 teams from the annual Abu Garcia College Fishing Open will advance to the following season’s National Championship. The 2022 MLF Abu Garcia College Fishing Presented by YETI National Championship Presented by Lowrance will be held on Fort Gibson Lake in Wagoner, Oklahoma, March 29-31, and is hosted by the Wagoner Area Chamber of Commerce.
For complete details and updated tournament information, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular College Fishing updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF5’s social media outlets at Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
MLF Senior Director of Operations Bill Taylor Announces Retirement
Taylor to Step Down After 32-Year Ascension to MLF Senior Director of Operations
BENTON, Ky. (Jan. 7, 2022) – For the past few seasons, with words and actions, Major League Fishing (MLF) Senior Director of Operations Bill Taylor had laid the groundwork for his departure from the duties he's overseen and controlled since 2001. Taylor made it official this week, as MLF announced that the longest-tenured tournament director in the company’s history is stepping away.
Taylor, who was the tournament director for the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit (formerly FLW Tour) for more than 19 seasons, officially announced his retirement as of January 1. It marks the end of an incredibly successful reign during which Taylor helped usher in numerous tournament eras, from the first wrapped trucks and boats to the internet age, to expanded live-streamed tournament coverage, and through the acquisition of Fishing League Worldwide (FLW) by MLF in 2019.
“I told Kathy Fennel some time ago that I’d know when it’s time – and it has been such a fun ride – but it is time,” said Taylor, who turned 74 in August. “Those 4 a.m. wake-up times are getting pretty tough. I was blessed to have a great job that allowed me to do a little bit of fishing and hunting each year. But being tied up for several weeks each year, away from my family, my phone always ringing – it’s weighed on me quite a bit over the last few months. I’m happy that I am able to retire and I’ll have more time to spend with my family and do a little more fishing and hunting.”
A decorated tournament angler in his own right, Taylor fished in the first-ever Operation Bass (precursor to FLW) tournament in 1980. He worked full-time as a UPS driver for 30 years, from 1970 until he retired from the company in the year 2000. He first began working for Operation Bass in 1989, helping out at the Red Man Tournament Trail events as part of the operations staff. When Operation Bass was acquired by Irwin Jacobs and re-branded as FLW in 1996, Taylor was brought along as part of the operations crew and worked the inaugural season of the FLW Tour, using PTO time from UPS to fulfill his tournament duties. After his retirement from UPS, he was promoted to full-time tournament director of the FLW Tour in 2001, a role he held through the 2019 season. In his final two seasons with MLF, Taylor served as Senior Director of Operations, working with all of MLF’s tournament directors to help with planning logistics, venue selection, angler recruitment, on-the-water coverage and anything else that needed to be done to make sure the tournaments were successful.
“There are so many people that I want to thank and recognize, and if I tried to mention them all it would take a novel. But I need to thank my family – especially my wife Barbara – for always supporting me 100%, even when it would sometimes take me away for weeks at a time,” Taylor said. “I want to thank Charlie Evans and Kathy Fennel for giving me my first opportunity to work as a full-time tournament director. And I want to thank MLF, for allowing me to stay with the company through the acquisition of FLW and finish my career. I wish everyone at MLF nothing but the best, they will always have my support, and I will continue to be a strong ambassador for the company.
“It’s been a great run,” Taylor went on to say. “I got to work front and center with the best fishermen in the world. To be a part of this industry – working alongside the anglers and sponsors, making decisions, creating rules – it has truly been one of the most rewarding times of my life.”
“Bill Taylor is the most dedicated person that I have ever met,” stated MLF Executive Vice President and General Manager Kathy Fennel. “He is incredibly thorough and always prepared. He is not a procrastinator. It’s a quality that our staff has respected, admired and even joked about all of these years – you’re not going to beat Bill Taylor to the ramp in the morning. He was the first person there, every single day, and is the hardest-working person that I know. The man loves fishing – both working and on the other end of it with a rod and a reel in his hand. And that’s what has made him such a great tournament director. He has a huge heart, and he truly cares very much.
“More importantly, Bill is an amazing family man. He doesn’t put anything ahead of his family, and he’s the same way with his work family,” Fennel continued. “No matter the situation or task, I knew that if I called on Bill he’d be there to help me figure out a way to get it done. His honesty, integrity and passion has elevated not just our organization but the entire sport of professional bass fishing.”
MLF co-founder and longtime tournament competitor Boyd Duckett echoed Fennel’s sentiments.
“Bill Taylor is an individual that has as strong of a passion for the sport of bass fishing as any human that I’ve ever met,” Duckett said. “I’ve fished tournaments since 1977, and only a few tournament directors that I have worked with have the character needed to make the really tough decisions, no matter what anyone else thought. Bill Taylor is one of those individuals. Bill always had the answer, and it was always fair and never influenced.
“After the acquisition of FLW, I got to work alongside Bill on the business side of the sport and I was really impressed on how focused he was. Any problems or any ideas we had – Bill was 24-7. His lifetime passion for bass fishing is an impressive quality, and we thank him for his time at MLF.”
For complete details and updated information on Major League Fishing, its tournaments, and sponsors, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow MLF’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
FOX Sports Airing Best Of 2021 Bassmaster And Preview Episodes Leading To Start Of New Season
Nearly two million viewers watched live coverage of Hank Cherry's historic win in the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk on the FOX broadcast network and FS1.
Photo by Shane Durrance/B.A.S.S.
January 6, 2022
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Fishing fans can spend their winter weekends with the world’s best anglers as FS1 begins airing highlight shows from the 2021 Bassmaster Elite Series and Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk and previews the upcoming events. The shows are the ideal opportunity to meet the Elites and learn more about sportfishing in the run-up to the first tournament and live broadcasts of the 2022 season.
After a successful first season where nearly 14 million viewers watched Bassmaster LIVE programming, once more all nine 2022 Elite events and the storied Bassmaster Classic will feature live television coverage on the FOX Sports platforms. Beginning with the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite Feb. 10-13 on Florida’s famed St. Johns River, fishing fans can tune in for live, on-the-water action on tournament Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Upcoming episodes will feature highlights of the 2021 season as well as an in-depth look at Seth Feider, who notched four Top 10s en route to winning 2021 Angler of the Year honors, and Josh Stracner, who had to climb over four other anglers in the final event on the St. Lawrence River to win Rookie of the Year. Among the moments viewers can relive — or experience for the first time — is Lee Livesay’s Lake Fork victory featuring a whopping four-day total of 112 pounds, 5 ounces that was capped by a final-day catch of five bass weighing 42-3. A captivated audience watched more than 51.4 million minutes of live tournament coverage as the Elite at Lake Fork produced three lead changes and two anglers caught over 100 pounds.
Avid fans can also join the Bassmaster LIVE team beginning January 22 to preview the exciting new season and upcoming Bassmaster Classic.
Highlight shows will run throughout January and February on both FS1 and FS2. For a complete schedule, visit Bassmaster.com/tv-schedule.
January 8
10 a.m. ET
2021 Review: Alabama & Texas
FS1
January 8
11 a.m. ET
2021 Review: Lake Fork
FS1
January 9
6 a.m. ET
2021 Review: Florida & Tennessee (re-air)
FS1
January 15
9:30 a.m. ET
2021 Review: Alabama Swing
FS1
January 15
10 a.m. ET
2021 Review: New York Swing
FS1
January 15
10:30 a.m. ET
2021 Review: Angler of the Year & Rookie of the Year
FS1
January 15
11 a.m. ET
Best Moments of 2021
FS1
January 22
10 a.m. ET
2022 Preview: Florida Swing
FS1
January 22
10:30 a.m. ET
2022 Preview: South Carolina & Tennessee
FS1
January 22
11 a.m. ET
2022 Preview: Texas & Alabama
FS1
January 29
10 a.m. ET
2022 Preview: New York & South Dakota
FS1
January 29
11 a.m. ET
2022 Preview: Wisconsin & MVPs
FS1
February 5
10 a.m. ET
2021 Bassmaster Classic Review
FS1
February 5
11 a.m. ET
2022 Bassmaster Classic Preview
FS1
Schedule subject to change.
Revital Outdoors Signs Sponsorship Agreement with Major League Fishing
TULSA, Okla. (Jan. 6, 2022) – Major League Fishing (MLF), the world’s premier tournament-fishing organization, announced today that Revital Outdoors, a family-owned health and wellness company offering a premium line of CBD products, is now an Official Sponsor of the 2022 MLF Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine and the Presenting Sponsor of the Phoenix Bass Fishing League’s Gator Division.
“We are pleased to welcome Revital Outdoors to our community of sponsors and advertisers,” said Jim Wilburn, MLF President and CEO. “With MLF’s expansive audience of outdoor enthusiasts who may benefit from Revital Outdoors’ healthy and effective solution, we are confident that this will be a lucrative relationship for both parties and are looking forward to a fantastic year.”
Revital Outdoors was founded upon recognition of a series of health ailments that were prevalent in the outdoors industry, including repetitive recreation and sporting activities that are notorious for leading to shoulder, wrist, hand, back, knee and joint discomfort. To combat these impediments, outdoorsmen historically turned to over-the-counter pain relievers. However, Revital Outdoors made it their mission to provide an all-natural, healthier and more effective solution to help extend the active years that outdoor enthusiasts can comfortably pursue their passions.
“We are very excited to partner with MLF as an Official Sponsor of the Phoenix Bass Fishing League,” said Kyle Smith, Founder and CEO of Revital Outdoors. “Working with MLF has been first class as they really understand and support our mission to help anglers deal with ailments, joint discomforts and sleep troubles in a healthier way. We look forward to a long-lasting relationship with MLF and their anglers.”
Revital Outdoors’ all-natural, all-inclusive list of products includes CBD Softgels, Tinctures, Softgels with Melatonin (sleep aid), Cream, Salve Sticks and Gummies, as well as a CBD treat for dogs who experience high anxiety and joint issues as they age.
For more information about Revital Outdoors and their products, visit RevitalOutdoors.com. To learn more about MLF, visit MajorLeagueFishing.com .
Expansion for the Future: Humminbird® Holds Groundbreaking Ceremony
EUFAULA, Ala. (December 16, 2021) –– Humminbird®, a leading global innovator of marine electronics products, is beginning construction to expand its Eufaula facilities to meet ongoing strong demand for its technologies. The expansion project will increase the production and assembly areas by 25 percent and is scheduled to be completed in late 2022.
“Participation in fishing has always been high, and it’s even higher now because on-the-water recreation affords people the space and tranquility they want right now. Over the last six years, Humminbird has seen tremendous growth and we expect it to continue to grow,” said Craig Packard, General Manager. “To increase our capacity to meet future demand, we are investing in continuing to expand our facilities.”
“Humminbird is an important part of the city’s history, and the same pioneering spirit that started the company is still alive today. The product innovation and industry-leading technology continue to make this a strong business,” said Mayor Jack Tibbs. “We are both proud and excited for this expansion, and we appreciate the investment and new jobs that have been created. We wish the company continued success in the future.”
The multimillion dollar 29,000 square-foot expansion project includes the installation of solar rooftop panels as well as four EV charging stations in the parking areas. This project follows a 17,000-square foot addition, which increased the warehouse space by 40 percent, that was recently completed in May 2021.
The groundbreaking ceremony for this expansion project took place on Dec. 15, 2021, and speakers included: Mayor Jack Tibbs, Eufaula; Jay Bostwick, Sperry & Associates, Inc.; and Craig Packard, Humminbird General Manager. Employees are a major part of Humminbird’s success, and Pattie Smith, an employee who has been with the company for 45 years, and Shantrice Brinson, one of the newest employees added as part of a major workforce expansion in 2021, also participated in the groundbreaking ceremony.
Santa Spent His Vacation After Christmas Fishing in Long Beach, California and Helped Berkley Give Away $22K and Gifts for Children and Adults Alike
On December 27th, Santa headed west to fish and help support the much-needed improvements at El Dorado Regional Park.
LONG BEACH, C.A. (December 27, 2021) — Santa wasted no time taking to the water in Long Beach as he stopped by El Dorado East Regional Park to meet with the local community and cast a line. He packed his fishing bag with extra fishy gifts for the community and a $22k check for the park.
Where Should Santa Fish After Christmas lived up to its name, drawing local community members to come and watch the fabled Christmas icon do some much needed fishing. The event, sponsored by fishing tackle manufacturer Berkley, took place at the El Dorado East Regional Park and Santa Claus dished out thousands of dollars in fishing equipment to the kids and adults in attendance, as well as a donation to the park.
“Traditionally, Santa enjoys his fishing trip after the holiday season alone and Berkley has always been a supporter of his trips”, said Jon Schlosser, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Berkley. “Even though this year was hectic for him, we asked Santa if he felt like he had one more gift in him to help the children of Long Beach get a chance to enjoy the sport he loves so much and he graciously agreed to help us out. In a time when more Americans are fishing than ever before, both Santa and all of us at Berkley Fishing wanted to continue in the tradition of ensuring that kids have an opportunity to enjoy the sport, which is why our donation to the park will be used to complete some much-needed improvements so the community of Long Beach can continue to enjoy the fishing in the park for many years to come.”
With the generous donation from Santa and Berkley, these improvements will now be possible. The project includes improved youth programs including an annual youth fishing derby, improvements to the 500-person capacity campground used by scouts and youth groups fishing the lakes, as well as education for the community and new trash can lids and fishing line disposal bins.
“We are so excited that Santa visited Long Beach and fished in our lake at El Dorado East Regional Park. This was a wonderful opportunity to educate our community and the nation about urban fishing opportunities in Long Beach and we look forward to educating park-goers about responsible fishing habits and conservation efforts.” - Trinka Rowsell, Executive Director of Partners for Parks.
AC Rookie Podcast - The Newest Elite Cheese Head
This week DX welcomes in fellow Wisconsonite in Bassmaster Elite Series Pro Jay Przerkurat to the Rookie Pod to talk about Cheese heads, Bass, food and more! Check this one out!
Strike King Signs On As Bassmaster College Title And Supporting Trail Sponsor
January 5, 2022
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — South Carolina-based lure company Strike King, part of Rather Outdoors, has signed on as the 2022 title sponsor for the Bassmaster College Series and will also serve as a new supporting sponsor for the entire Bassmaster Tournament Trail, B.A.S.S. officials announced today.
“This season the Bassmaster College Series enjoyed unprecedented coverage and interest, and we are thrilled to see what the 2022 season will bring,” said B.A.S.S. chairman and CEO Chase Anderson. “We are excited to partner with Strike King to continue growing the popularity of college fishing and then supporting these anglers and providing more avenues to compete as they move through the tournament ranks.
“There are already former College Series National Champions and College Classic Bracket competitors sprinkled throughout the Bassmaster Elite Series and Bassmaster Classic field. It’s likely just a matter of time before the majority of the Elite field will have some kind of experience in our youth programs.”
The Bassmaster College Series events have been an incredible tool for encouraging youth fishing participation across the country, and they’re beginning to have a pronounced effect on the highest levels of professional bass fishing. Since B.A.S.S. started the circuit in 2013, there has been a 97% growth in the number of participating schools and clubs at the college level.
When registration for the 2022 Bassmaster College Series opened in early December, the 250 boat field for each of the four regular-season tournaments filled in just one day.
“We believe one of the most powerful sources of influence and change in fishing lies with this generation of passionate and dedicated high school and collegiate anglers,” shared Strike King CEO Ken Eubanks. “We are devoted to supporting them as they blaze new trails in our industry.”
As a Supporting Sponsor for the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bassmaster Team Championship and the grass-roots TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation regional and championship tournaments, Strike King will also enjoy exposure in Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times magazines and on Bassmaster LIVE, which is broadcast and streamed on the FOX Sports platforms.
The 2022 Strike King Bassmaster College Series will open its regular season at the Harris Chain of Lakes in Leesburg, Fla., Jan. 21-22 before stops in North Carolina, Arkansas and Michigan.
AC Insider Podcast - New Year & its time to roll!
Welcome to 2022 and the first episode of the new year for the boys as they welcome in Elite Series Pro Brandon Palanuik to talk about Christmas, Married Life, Humminbird and Minn Kota tips and tricks and more! The boys also look over what's been happening in the world of bass fishing over the break and more!
Heavy Metal No Noise
Courtesy of Vance McCollough
Photo courtesy of www.steelshad.com
Gonna share a secret I’d rather keep.
I picked it up from my travels over the years. This one works from coast-to-coast and form border-to-border and well beyond our borders, Canada and even Japan being hotbeds for the lure style and while you’ve definitely heard of blade baits, it’s doubtful you’ve fished them this way, especially in the Deep South on grass laden waters, even more especially in Florida where nearly every major tournament trail begins their season in the early months of each new year.
Blade baits, such as the Silver Buddy and the Gay Blade developed a reputation in deep drains and standing timber of stingy reservoirs decades ago. They work well with modern electronics as a changeup to the dropshot and jigging spoons for those who like to play videogames with suspended fish.
What a lot of people miss is just how well these thin slabs of metal work in skinny water when bass become fatigued by traditional shallow water techniques in late winter.
After seeing a barrage of Rat L Traps and Red Eye Shads, bass from Rayburn to Harris Chain may hunker deeper in their grass bed rather than attack these otherwise effective lures. That’s when a blade can call them out and get them going again. With no internal rattles to remind fish of the lipless cranks that have sore-mouthed them since Thanksgiving, blades seem more natural. There is a trick, though, to getting the most form these lures in shallow waters where bass will soon begin to show up for periodic feeding sprees, particularly in the South.
Most blades are designed to get deep fast. They are dense and small. This makes them difficult to use in shallow grass. The Steel Shad is special. It has an elongated body that helps it float over cover like no other. While the sinking lure can be fished at any depth - and get there quickly - it is more versatile than others. For instance, the rear tip of the blade can be bent to drive the lure to the right or left. It can be altered to incite more, or less, vibration or to change the running depth on a straight retrieve. Bend it into a banana shape and it will flutter up and around underwater objects like an injured baitfish. Experimentation is half the fun and as nice as I am, I will not share my best modification. You’ll have to figure that one out for yourself. It’s worth finding. I will say that it involves the weight, or lack thereof, of a given lure.
The Steel Shad comes in various sizes to mimic whatever your fish are eating. There’s even a tiny one that will call panfish. Saltwater fish of all species are game. It just looks and acts like something a fish would eat. The standard size in a gold finish duplicates the wild shiners preferred by bass and anglers in Florida.
Visual appeal aside, the real magic of the Steel Shad is its tight vibration, proven over the course of years to trigger cold water strikes from the biggest bass. Not many lures can draw bigger than average bites but still catch everything that swims in an area. The steel Shad does.
No matter where you fish this winter, add the Steel Shad to your arsenal. And if you’re coming to visit the sunshine State, pack a few gold ones!
The AC Rookie Podcast is BACK!!!
Welcome back to the 2022 AnglersChannel Rookie Podcast with your host David Xiong! This week David welcomes in Elite Series Rookie and Northern Opens Points Champ Alex Redwine to talk about how he got started in tournament bass fishing and how he made his way to the Elites. Check it out and make sure and share it with your friends!
2021 Finale
This week Chris & the boys say goodbye to 2021 as Christmas & the New Year are days away. Tristan White, High School angler from Thompson High School joins the show to talk about HS fishing in Alabama and what his goals and aspirations are down the road. See ya 2021, it's been real.
On the 11th Day of Giveaways!
Enter by 9:00pm EST Tonight (Thursday) to be entered to win a XZONE Lures Prize Pack and a $100 Vicious Fishing Gift Card!
Day 10 - Sign up to WIN!!!!
Enter by 9:00pm EST Tonight (Wednesday) to be entered to win a FULLY LOADED Tobacco Free Dip Gift Card and Swag Pack!
Fully Loaded Tobacco Free Dip is a Tobacco Free, zero, half or full nicotine dip available in long cut or pouches and 9 awesome flavors!
Try Fully Loaded Tobacco Free Dip, It will be your best catch yet!
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.